title: BAG3: a new therapeutic target of human cancers?
abstract: Bcl-2-associated athanogene (BAG) family proteins share the BAG domain, which is characterized by their interaction with a variety of partners (heat shock proteins, steroid hormone receptors, Raf-1 and others) and is involved in regulating a number of cellular processes. BAG3, also known as CAIR-1 or Bis, mediates protein delivery to proteasome and modulates apoptosis by interfering with cytochrome c release, apoptosome assembly and other events in the cellular death program. Moreover, it takes part in the processes of cell adhesion and migration. It has been shown that, in human cancer cells, including lymphocytic and myeloblastic leukemic cells, BAG3 sustains cell survival and underlies resistance to chemotherapy, through down-modulation of apoptosis. BAG3 knocking down could enhance the effectiveness of chemotherapy. This review summarizes the physiological and pathological roles of BAG3 in cancer cells and its potential as a therapeutic target of human malignancies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Huayuan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jianyong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017209:Apoptosis; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002465:Cell Movement; D002470:Cell Survival; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; C414431:BAG3 protein, human