Endothelial monocyte-activating polypeptide II, a tumor-derived cytokine that plays an important role in inflammation, apoptosis, and angiogenesis.
The interactions between a tumor and its surrounding environment are complex and characterized by a variety of factors. Tumors produce a number of proteins that enable them to recruit a vascular supply, invade into surrounding tissues, and metastasize to distant sites. The host, in turn, responds to these signals by producing its own repertoire of molecules that may either assist or prevent the actions of the tumor. A thorough understanding of this relationship is critical to the development of novel anti-cancer therapies. The tumor-derived cytokine endothelial monocyte-activating polypeptide II (EMAP-II) has profound effects on the tumor as well as on host response. These effects target the inflammatory cascade as well as the processes involved in angiogenesis. In this review the authors describe the current understanding of the role of EMAP-II in inflammation, apoptosis, and angiogenesis and use this molecule to illustrate the complex interactions that occur in the tumor microenvironment.
Berger
A C
AC
Metabolism Section, Surgery Branch, Division of Clinical Sciences, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
Tang
G
G
Alexander
H R
HR
Libutti
S K
SK
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D051379:Mice; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D016207:Cytokines; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; C077219:small inducible cytokine subfamily E, member 1