title: Autocrine activity of BDNF induced by the STAT3 signaling pathway causes prolonged TrkB activation and promotes human non-small-cell lung cancer proliferation.
abstract: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a member of the neurotrophin superfamily, which has been implicated in the pathophysiology of the nervous system. Recently, several studies have suggested that BDNF and/or its receptor, tropomyosin related kinase B (TrkB), are involved in tumor growth and metastasis in several cancers, including prostate cancer, neuroblastoma, pancreatic ductal carcinoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, and lung cancer. Despite the increasing emphasis on BDNF/TrkB signaling in human tumors, how it participates in primary tumors has not yet been determined. Additionally, little is known about the molecular mechanisms that elicit signaling downstream of TrkB in the progression of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In this study, we report the significant expression of BDNF in NSCLC samples and show that BDNF stimulation increases the synthesis of BDNF itself through activation of STAT3 in lung cancer cells. The release of BDNF can in turn activate TrkB signaling. The activation of both TrkB and STAT3 contribute to downstream signaling and promote human non-small-cell lung cancer proliferation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing 210029, China.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing 210029, China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Beijing Centre for Physical and Chemical Analysis, 7 Fengxian Road, Beijing 10089, China.
authors.forename: Zheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Beijing Centre for Physical and Chemical Analysis, 7 Fengxian Road, Beijing 10089, China.
authors.forename: Yunhe
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: An
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing 210029, China.
authors.forename: Weihong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing 210029, China.
authors.forename: Jianqing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D019898:Autocrine Communication; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D020813:Receptor, trkB / Q000378:metabolism*; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor; D020813:Receptor, trkB