title: PAR-4: a possible new target for age-related disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Apoptosis plays an important role in age-related disease, and prostate apoptosis response-4 (PAR-4) is a novel apoptosis-inducing factor that regulates apoptosis in most cells. Recent studies suggest that PAR-4 plays an important role in the progression of many age-related diseases. This review highlights the significance of PAR-4 and builds a strong case supporting its role as a possible therapeutic target in age-related disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  This review covers the advancements over the last 15 years with respect to PAR-4 and its significance in age-related disease. Additionally, it provides knowledge regarding the significance of PAR-4 in age-related disease as well as its role in apoptotic signaling pathways, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, and other mechanisms that may induce age-related disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PAR-4 may be a potential therapeutic target that can trigger selective apoptosis in cancer cells. It is induced by ER stress and increased ER stress, and it is involved in the activity of the dopamine D2 receptor. Abnormal expression of PAR-4 may be associated with cardiovascular disease and diabetes. PAR-4 agonists and inhibitors must be identified before gene therapy can commence.
authors.affiliation: The First Affiliated Hospital of the Third Military Medical University, Endocrine Department , Post number: 400038, Chongqing , China chenbingxnyy@126.com.
authors.forename: Wu
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Qinan
authors.forename: Zhang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ling
authors.forename: Chen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bing
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D015195:Drug Design; D059865:Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; C101296:prostate apoptosis response-4 protein
keywords: age-related disease; apoptosis; endoplasmic reticulum stress; prostate apoptosis response-4