Advances in Thymosin β10 Research: Differential Expression, Molecular Mechanisms, and Clinical Implications in Cancer and Other Conditions

Abstract

Thymosin beta 10 (Tbeta10) is a member of the beta-thymosin family, which has biological activities as an actin-sequestering protein involved in cell motility. Tbeta10 may be correlated with tumor biology such as cell proliferation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, and metastasis behavior. However, the molecular mechanisms of action of Tbeta10 in cancer are largely unknown. Tbeta10 is differentially expressed in embryogenesis and neuronal development. Its expression is also increased in many inflammatory conditions and tumorigenesis. This review briefly summarizes recent advances in Tbeta10 research including differential expression, functions, mechanisms, gene regulation, and therapeutic applications in cancer, wound healing, and other diseases.

Hypomethylation of the Thymosin β10 Gene Is Not Associated with Its Overexpression in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

“…Unlike its proposed oncogenic role, TMSB10 has been found to be down-regulated in prostate cancer (Cho-Vega et al, 2007) and there are contradicting findings regarding TMSB10 expression in ovarian and lung cancers (Gu et al, 2009;Lee et al, 2001;McDoniels-Silvers et al, 2002;Santelli et al, 1999). Moreover, it is not clear whether TMSB10 can inhibit or promote tumor growth (Sribenja et al, 2009). Although most studies indicate that TMSB10 levels are mainly regulated at the transcriptional stage (Santelli et al, 1999;Sribenja et al, 2009), the detailed regulatory mechanisms are largely unknown.…”

“…Thus, elucidating the functions of TMSB10 in cancer remains a significant scientific and therapeutic challenge. TMSB10 induction is a general event in a wide variety of human carcinomas (Santelli et al, 1999;Sribenja et al, 2009). In contrast, some reports have described that retinoic acid responsive TMSB10 accelerates apoptosis and acts as a tumor suppressor by disrupting the actin structure and inhibiting Ras signal transduction (Hall, 1995;Lee et al, 2005).…”

“…Moreover, it is not clear whether TMSB10 can inhibit or promote tumor growth (Sribenja et al, 2009). Although most studies indicate that TMSB10 levels are mainly regulated at the transcriptional stage (Santelli et al, 1999;Sribenja et al, 2009), the detailed regulatory mechanisms are largely unknown. In order to understand the potential role of the TMSB10 gene in lung cancer and the molecular mechanisms of gene regulation, we evaluated the methylation status of the promoter region and the expression of the TMSB10 gene in non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs).…”

“…Importantly, TMSB10 may be correlated with tumor biology such as cell proliferation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, and metastasis behavior (Sribenja et al, 2009). Elevated TMSB10 expression has been associated with various human tumors such as pancreatic, colon, breast, thyroid, and gastric cancer (Santelli et al, 1999;Sribenja et al, 2009). Similarly, several reports have shown the correlation of TMSB10 expression level with progression and metastasis as well as poor patient outcome (Califano et al, 1998;Gu et al, 2009;Liu et al, 2004).…”

“…Importantly, TMSB10 may be correlated with tumor biology such as cell proliferation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, and metastasis behavior (Sribenja et al, 2009). Elevated TMSB10 expression has been associated with various human tumors such as pancreatic, colon, breast, thyroid, and gastric cancer (Santelli et al, 1999;Sribenja et al, 2009).…”