Neuropilins (NRPs) are transmembrane proteins involved in vascular and nervous system development by regulating angiogenesis and axon guidance cues. Several published reports have established their role in tumorigenesis. NRPs are detectable in tumor cells of several cancer types and participate in cancer progression. NRP2 is also expressed in endothelial and immune cells in the tumor microenvironment and promotes functions such as lymphangiogenesis and immune suppression important for cancer progression. In this review, we have taken a comprehensive approach to discussing various aspects of NRP2-signaling in cancer, including its regulation, functional significance in cancer progression, and how we could utilize our current knowledge to advance the studies and target NRP2 to develop effective cancer therapies.
Wilson's disease (WD), an inborn error of copper metabolism caused by mutations in the ATPase copper transporting beta (ATP7B) gene, manifests variable age of onset and different degrees of hepatic and neurological disturbances. This complex phenotypical outcome of a classical monogenic disease can possibly be explained by modifier loci regulating the clinical course of the disease. The brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF), critical for the survival, morphogenesis, and plasticity of the neurons, and the dopamine receptor D2 (DRD2), one of the most abundant dopamine receptors in the brain, have been highlighted in the pathophysiology of various neuropsychiatric diseases. This study aims to identify the potential association between BDNF and DRD2 gene polymorphisms and WD and its clinical characteristics. A total of 164 WD patients and 270 controls from India were included in this study. Two BDNF polymorphisms [p.Val66Met (c.G196A) and c.C270T] and the DRD2 Taq1A (A2/A1 or C/T) polymorphism were examined for their association with WD and some of its clinical attributes, using polymerase chain reaction, restriction fragment length digestion, and bidirectional sequencing. The C allele and CC genotype of BDNF C270T were significantly overrepresented among controls compared to WD patients. In addition, a significantly higher proportion of the allele coding for Val and the corresponding homozygous genotype of BDNF Val66Met polymorphism was found among WD patients with age of onset later than 10 years. Furthermore, the A1A1 genotype of DRD2 Taq1A polymorphism was significantly more common among WD patients with rigidity. Our data suggest that both BDNF and DRD2 may act as potential modifiers of WD phenotype in the Indian context.
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