Insulin Receptor Substrate (IRS) proteins are the main cytoplasmic adaptor molecules involved in transducing extracellular signals from receptors to downstream proteins. This protein family have pivotal roles on maintenance, distribution and regulation of signaling networks. Since IRS1/2 interact with and transmits signals from the receptors of insulin, Insulin Like Growth Factor 1 (IGF1), prolactin, growth hormone (GH), leptin, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF), TrkB, ALK and integrins this promoted scientist to think that IRS1 may have functions in cell proliferation, tumorigenesis and metastasis. Therefore, over the past decade, studies on IRS proteins and their functions in cancer has been increased and these studies provided valuable results claiming the involvement of IRS1/2 in cancer development. In this review, we discuss the function and contributions of IRS1 and IRS2 in development of  breast cancer.

Mammalian Target of Rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway has important roles in the regulation of puberty onset, gonadotropin secretion, follicular development and ovulation. Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) is a lipophilic hormone has multiple functions in regulating the fertility. Recent studies have shown that melatonin affected the number or maturation of follicles in the ovary. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of melatonin on mTOR expression and quantity of follicle in rat ovary. In the present study, a total of 45 female rats were randomly divided into three groups. Group 1; Control (C), Group 2: Vehicle (V) and Group 3; Melatonin (M). Melatonin was administered intraperitoneally at a dose of 50 mg/kg/day for 30 days in Melatonin group. The effects of Melatonin on the expression of mTOR and downstream components  were determined by Western Blot and Reverse Transcriptase PCR analysis. Upon Western Blot and RT-PCR evaluations, we detected higher expression and activation of mTOR, P70S6K, PKCalpha, PCNA and higher numbers of primordial  follicles in melatonin group compared with V and C group. In addition to this results, melatonin decreased oxidative stress markers, such as MDA, on the contrary, levels of antioxidative markers, such as CAT and GPx, were increased by melatonin in rat ovary. This study indicated that melatonin may have a significant protective effect on primordial follicles and increase the expression of mTOR and downstream components in rat ovary. Melatonin treatment may have a beneficial effect on fertility.

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Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death, and NSCLC constitutes nearly 85%–90% of all cases. The IRS proteins function as adaptors and transmit signals from multiple receptors. Upon binding of insulin to the insulin receptor (IR), IRS1 is phosphorylated at several YXXM motifs creating docking sites for the binding of PI3Kp85, which activates AKT kinase. Therefore, we thought that gain of function mutantions of IRS1 could be related to development of lung cancer. In line with this, we wanted determine whether the IRS1 gene was mutated in the coding regions surrounding YXXM motifs. We sequenced the coding regions surrounding YXXM motifs of IRS1 using tumor samples of 42 NSCLC patients and 40 matching controls and found heterozygote p.S668T mutation in nine of 42 samples and four of nine also had the p.D674H mutation. We generated IRS1 expression vectors harboring p.S668T, p.D674H and double mutants. Expression of the mutants differentially affected insulin-induced phosphorylation of IRS1, AKT, ERK, and STAT3. Also, our mutants induced proliferation, glucose uptake, inhibited the migration of 293T cells and affected the responsiveness of the cells to cisplatin and radiation. Our results suggest that these novel mutations play a role in the phenotype of lung cancer.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and malignant type of central nervous system tumours in adults. Strict regulation of glucose homeostasis has a significant role in GBM pathogenesis. Insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1) protein is the most important adaptor molecule involved in the regulation of glucose metabolism. It interacts with many cancer-related receptors and its overexpression is strongly associated with cell proliferation and survival. Our study was aimed to understand the role of IRS1 proteins in GBM cell viability. U-87 MG cells were transfected with pcDNA3.1-flagtagged-human IRS1 expression vector. Insulin induced phosphorylation levels of IRS1, AKT1 and ERK1/2 and Grb2 expression were examined to determine the effects of ectopic IRS1 overexpression on insulin signalling and the viability levels of U-87 MG cells were determined by MTT analysis. Overexpression of IRS1 in U-87 MG cells led to an increase in cell viability. Its overexpression also increased Grb2 expression and phosphorylation of AKT1 through elevation of IRS1 tyrosine phosphorylation in IRS1-transfected U-87 MG cells compared to control and mock transfected groups. Our study showed that increased IRS1 expression and activation may promote the cell viability via AKT1 activation. IRS1 signalling may be considered as a therapeutic target for further studies.

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