Human leukaemia cells have an often unique ability to either undergo apoptotic cell death mechanisms or, at other times, undergo proliferative expansion, sometimes to the same stimulus such as the pluripotent cytokine TNFα (tumour necrosis factor α). This potential for life/death switching helps us to understand the molecular signalling machinery that underlies these cellular processes. Furthermore, looking at the involvement of these switching signalling pathways that may be aberrant in leukaemia informs us of their importance in cancer tumorigenesis and how they may be targeted pharmacologically to treat various types of human leukaemias. Furthermore, these important pathways may play a crucial role in acquired chemotherapy resistance and should be studied further to overcome in the clinic many drug-resistant forms of blood cancers. In the present article, we uncover the relationship that exists in human leukaemia life/death switching between the anti-apoptotic pro-inflammatory transcription factor NF-κB (nuclear factor κB) and the cytoprotective antioxidant-responsive transcription factor Nrf2 (nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2). We also discuss recent findings that reveal a major role for Btk (Bruton's tyrosine kinase) in both lymphocytic and myeloid forms of human leukaemias and lymphomas.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
August 2014
-
Cover Image
Cover Image
- PDF Icon PDF LinkFront Matter
- PDF Icon PDF LinkTable of Contents
Conference Article|
August 11 2014
Understanding life and death decisions in human leukaemias
David J. MacEwan;
David J. MacEwan
1
*Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GE, U.K.
1To whom correspondence should be addressed (emailmacewan@liverpool.ac.uk).
Search for other works by this author on:
Lawrence N. Barrera;
Lawrence N. Barrera
*Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GE, U.K.
Search for other works by this author on:
Sujitra Keadsanti;
Sujitra Keadsanti
*Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GE, U.K.
Search for other works by this author on:
Stuart A. Rushworth;
Stuart A. Rushworth
†Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7TJ, U.K.
Search for other works by this author on:
Niraj M. Shah;
Niraj M. Shah
*Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GE, U.K.
Search for other works by this author on:
Tianma Yuan;
Tianma Yuan
*Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GE, U.K.
Search for other works by this author on:
Lyubov Zaitseva
Lyubov Zaitseva
†Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7TJ, U.K.
Search for other works by this author on:
Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Received:
April 30 2014
Online ISSN: 1470-8752
Print ISSN: 0300-5127
© The Authors Journal compilation © 2014 Biochemical Society
2014
Biochem Soc Trans (2014) 42 (4): 747–751.
Article history
Received:
April 30 2014
Citation
David J. MacEwan, Lawrence N. Barrera, Sujitra Keadsanti, Stuart A. Rushworth, Niraj M. Shah, Tianma Yuan, Lyubov Zaitseva; Understanding life and death decisions in human leukaemias. Biochem Soc Trans 1 August 2014; 42 (4): 747–751. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/BST20140127
Download citation file:
Sign in
Don't already have an account? Register
Sign in to your personal account
You could not be signed in. Please check your email address / username and password and try again.
Captcha Validation Error. Please try again.
Biochemical Society Member Sign in
Sign InSign in via your Institution
Sign in via your InstitutionGet Access To This Article
73
Views