Displacement of nutritional receptors on cell membrane as an initiation factor in carcinogenesis.
Carcinogenesis is a multi-step process, and initiation is the first step. The cell membrane may hold the key to the entry of carcinogens. According to our hypothesis, the cell membrane may have receptors for nutrients including the essential vitamins, in addition to hormones, immune modulators, prostaglandins and neurotransmitters. In addition, there may be cytoplasmic counter receptors to the above. Carcinogens after prolonged contact with cell membrane may displace nutritional receptors to gain an abnormal foothold on cell membrane before entering the cytoplasm and cell nucleus and activating the oncogenes. If this is proven to be correct, there is a possibility of cancer prevention at the cellular level. A possible experimental approach is also described.
Narasimhan
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P
Narasimhan
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S
D002462:Cell Membrane; D003593:Cytoplasm; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D011984:Sensory Receptor Cells / Q000378:metabolism*