PIWI/piRNA-mediated regulation of signaling pathways in cell apoptosis.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

This study aims to summarize the role of PIWIs/piRNAs in cell apoptosis through multiple signaling pathways. The PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) are among the small non-coding RNAs (sncRNAs) and are mainly expressed in germline cells. PIWI protein is the key to the biogenesis of piRNA. With the deepening of research in recent years, the PIWIs/piRNAs are expressed in a tissue-specific way in somatic cells outside the germline. In addition, researchers have found that the PIWIs/piRNAs play a regulatory role in cell apoptosis, proliferation, and necrosis by regulating key signaling pathways, such as PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, STAT signaling pathway, TGF-β signaling pathway, and Fas signaling pathway at the transcriptional or post-transcriptional level. However, the PIWIs/piRNAs' role in cell apoptosis and its underlying mechanisms are still not fully understood. This study reviews the regulatory functions of PIWIs/piRNAs in apoptosis from the perspective of the signal pathway.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

This study is a narrative review. PubMed and MEDLINE were used as the primary sources to search the following keywords: PIWI/piRNAs, signal pathway, pro-apoptotic, anti-apoptotic, and signaling pathway.

RESULTS:

PIWIs/piRNAs modulated pro-apoptotic or anti-apoptotic effects in a variety of cells: PIWIs/piRNAs through PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, STAT signaling pathway, TGF-β signaling pathway, and Fas signaling pathway for pro-apoptotic or anti-apoptotic effects in cells.

CONCLUSIONS:

Apoptosis is a basic biological phenomenon of cell death, and it also has a great significance and complex molecular biological mechanisms. PIWI/piRNAs are closely related to various types of diseases and play a pro-apoptotic or anti-apoptotic role through the following pathways: PI3K/Akt signaling, STAT signaling, TGF-β signaling, and Fas signaling pathways.

• Authors: Y Tan, J-N Qin, H-Q Wan, S-M Zhao, Q Zeng, C Zhang, S-L Qu
• Journal: European review for medical and pharmacological sciences (Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci) Vol. 26 Issue 16 Pg. 5689-5697 (08 2022) ISSN: 2284-0729 [Electronic] Italy
• PMID: 36066141 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• RNA, Small Interfering
• Transforming Growth Factor beta
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt

Topics

• Apoptosis
• Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases (metabolism)
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt (metabolism)
• RNA, Small Interfering (metabolism)
• Signal Transduction
• Transforming Growth Factor beta