The role of Fibrinogen-like proteins in Cancer

Jing Yu^1,2#, Jing Li^3#, Jing Shen^1,2, Fukuan Du^1,2, Xu Wu^1,2, Mingxing Li^1,2, Yu Chen^1,2, Chi Hin Cho^1,2, Xiaobing Li^1✉, Zhangang Xiao^1,2✉, Yueshui Zhao^1,2,4✉

1. Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, China.
2. South Sichuan Institute of Translational Medicine, Luzhou, Sichuan, China.
3. Department of Oncology and Hematology, Hospital (T.C.M) Affiliated to Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, China.
4. Department of Pharmacy, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, China.
# These authors contributed equally to this work.

✉ Corresponding authors: Yueshui Zhao, Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University; South Sichuan Institute of Translational Medicine; Department of Pharmacy, The Affiliated Hospit More

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Citation:
Yu J, Li J, Shen J, Du F, Wu X, Li M, Chen Y, Cho CH, Li X, Xiao Z, Zhao Y. The role of Fibrinogen-like proteins in Cancer. Int J Biol Sci 2021; 17(4):1079-1087. doi:10.7150/ijbs.56748. Available from https://www.ijbs.com/v17p1079.htm

Abstract

Fibrinogen-associated protein (FREP) family is a family of proteins with a fibrin domain at the carboxyl terminus. Recent investigations illustrated that two members of FREP family, fibrinogen-like protein-1 (FGL1) and fibrinogen-like protein-2 (FGL2), play crucial roles in cancer by regulating the proliferation, invasion, and migration of tumor cells, or regulating the functions of immune cells in tumor microenvironment. Meanwhile, they are potential targets for medical intervention of tumor development. In this review, we discussed the structure, and the roles of FGL1 and FGL2 in tumors, especially the roles in regulating immune cell functions.

Keywords: FGF1, FGF2, Cancer