Abstract
Although evidence over the last 30 years suggests that the autonomic nervous system (ANS) mediates stress-induced allostatic and immune responses, the crucial role that it plays in the tumor micro-environment has only recently been reported. Here, we review the action of ANS signaling in this micro-environment. Emerging data suggest that primary tumors are innervated by the ANS which mediates stress-related effects on tumor progression. The activation of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) takes advantage of neurotransmitters and neuropeptides from the innervating neural circuitry and/or hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis glucocorticoids via their receptors to modulate the gene expression associated with oncogenesis, the proliferation and apoptosis of tumor cells, angiogenesis, and the tumor-associated immune response. The parasympathetic nervous system has also been implicated in some tumor types, but its contribution in the tumor micro-environment remains unclear. In addition to identifying the ANS signaling pathways involved in tumor progression, recent reports suggest that the ANS could be a potential biomarker to predict tumor progression, and have identified new pharmacological strategies, such as the use of β-adrenergic blockers, to inhibit tumor progression and metastasis by targeting this system. These findings are reviewed here.
Keywords: Autonomic nervous system, tumor microenvironment, immune response, sympathetic nervous system, adrenergic signaling.
Current Pharmaceutical Design
Title:Role of the Autonomic Nervous System in the Tumor Micro-Environment and its Therapeutic Potential
Volume: 23 Issue: 11
Author(s): Zhifang Xu, Seiji Shioda, Jinushi Masahisa, Yutaka Kawakami, Hirokazu Ohtaki, Huimin Calista Lim, Shenjun Wang, Xue Zhao, Yangyang Liu, Dan Zhou and Yi Guo*
Affiliation:
- Acu-moxibustion and Tuina Department, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 300193,China
Keywords: Autonomic nervous system, tumor microenvironment, immune response, sympathetic nervous system, adrenergic signaling.
Abstract: Although evidence over the last 30 years suggests that the autonomic nervous system (ANS) mediates stress-induced allostatic and immune responses, the crucial role that it plays in the tumor micro-environment has only recently been reported. Here, we review the action of ANS signaling in this micro-environment. Emerging data suggest that primary tumors are innervated by the ANS which mediates stress-related effects on tumor progression. The activation of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) takes advantage of neurotransmitters and neuropeptides from the innervating neural circuitry and/or hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis glucocorticoids via their receptors to modulate the gene expression associated with oncogenesis, the proliferation and apoptosis of tumor cells, angiogenesis, and the tumor-associated immune response. The parasympathetic nervous system has also been implicated in some tumor types, but its contribution in the tumor micro-environment remains unclear. In addition to identifying the ANS signaling pathways involved in tumor progression, recent reports suggest that the ANS could be a potential biomarker to predict tumor progression, and have identified new pharmacological strategies, such as the use of β-adrenergic blockers, to inhibit tumor progression and metastasis by targeting this system. These findings are reviewed here.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Xu Zhifang, Shioda Seiji, Masahisa Jinushi, Kawakami Yutaka, Ohtaki Hirokazu, Lim Calista Huimin, Wang Shenjun, Zhao Xue, Liu Yangyang, Zhou Dan and Guo Yi*, Role of the Autonomic Nervous System in the Tumor Micro-Environment and its Therapeutic Potential, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2017; 23 (11) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1381612822666161025152942
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1381612822666161025152942 |
Print ISSN 1381-6128 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-4286 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
"Tuberculosis Prevention, Diagnosis and Drug Discovery"
The Nobel Prize-winning discoveries of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and streptomycin have enabled an appropriate diagnosis and an effective treatment of tuberculosis (TB). Since then, many newer diagnosis methods and drugs have been saving millions of lives. Despite advances in the past, TB is still a leading cause of infectious disease mortality ...read more
Current Pharmaceutical challenges in the treatment and diagnosis of neurological dysfunctions
Neurological dysfunctions (MND, ALS, MS, PD, AD, HD, ALS, Autism, OCD etc..) present significant challenges in both diagnosis and treatment, often necessitating innovative approaches and therapeutic interventions. This thematic issue aims to explore the current pharmaceutical landscape surrounding neurological disorders, shedding light on the challenges faced by researchers, clinicians, and ...read more
Emerging and re-emerging diseases
Faced with a possible endemic situation of COVID-19, the world has experienced two important phenomena, the emergence of new infectious diseases and/or the resurgence of previously eradicated infectious diseases. Furthermore, the geographic distribution of such diseases has also undergone changes. This context, in turn, may have a strong relationship with ...read more
Melanoma and Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer Treatment: Standard of Care and Recent Advances
In this thematic issue, we aim to provide a standard of care of the diagnosis and treatment of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer. The editor will invite authors from different countries who will write review articles of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers. The Diagnosis, Staging, Surgical Treatment, Non-Surgical Treatment all ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor-Related Proteins (LRPs), Alzheimers and Cognition
Current Drug Targets - CNS & Neurological Disorders Withdrawal Notice: Emerging Biomarkers and Contributing Factors of Prostate Cancer
Current Cancer Therapy Reviews A Review of the Possible Mechanisms of Action of Tocotrienol – A Potential Antiosteoporotic Agent
Current Drug Targets Localisation of Endothelin-1 and its Receptors in Vascular Tissue as Seen at the Electron Microscopic Level
Current Vascular Pharmacology The Glutathione System and its Regulation by Neurohormone Melatonin in the Central Nervous System
Central Nervous System Agents in Medicinal Chemistry HIF-1α and Calcium Signaling as Targets for Treatment of Prostate Cancer by Cardiac Glycosides
Current Cancer Drug Targets Natural Product-Derived Small Molecule Activators of Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1 (HIF-1)
Current Pharmaceutical Design Molecular Treatment of Different Breast Cancers
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Forms of Iron Binding in the Cells and the Chemical Features of Chelation Therapy
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry Synthesis, Characterization of 4-Anilino-6,7-Dimethoxy Quinazoline Derivatives as Potential Anti-Angiogenic Agents
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry The NK-1 Receptor: A New Target in Cancer Therapy
Current Drug Targets Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors (TKIs) in Lung Cancer Treatment: A Comprehensive Analysis
Current Cancer Drug Targets Editorial (Thematic Issue: Research and Regulation: Challenges of Nanoproducts)
Recent Patents on Nanomedicine Tankyrase as a Novel Molecular Target in Cancer and Fibrotic Diseases
Current Drug Targets Specificity of Binding in Protein Kinases
Current Enzyme Inhibition Animal Mitochondria: Evolution, Function, and Disease
Current Molecular Medicine C-terminus of Hsp70 Interacting Protein (CHIP) and Neurodegeneration: Lessons from the Bench and Bedside
Current Neuropharmacology Overcoming the Drug Resistance Problem with Second-Generation Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors: From Enzymology to Structural Models
Current Medicinal Chemistry The Effects of Vitamin C on Adriamycin-Induced Hypercholesterolemia in Rat
Current Nutrition & Food Science Effects of Iron Chelation in Osteosarcoma
Current Cancer Drug Targets