Deciphering Mechanisms of Action of Sortilin/Neurotensin Receptor-3 in the Proliferation Regulation of Colorectal and Other Cancers.

The purpose of this review is to decipher the mechanisms of the pathways leading to the complex roles of neurotensin (NTS) receptor-3, also called sortilin, and of its soluble counterpart (sSortilin/NTSR3) in a large amount of physiological and pathological functions, particularly in cancer progression and metastasis. Sortilin/NTSR3 belongs to the family of type I transmembrane proteins that can be shed to release its extracellular domain from all the cells expressing the protein. Since its discovery, extensive investigations into the role of both forms of Sortilin/NTSR3 (membrane-bound and soluble form) have demonstrated their involvement in many pathophysiological processes from cancer development to cardiovascular diseases, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, and major depression.

Sortilin-derived peptides promote pancreatic beta-cell survival through CREB signaling pathway.

Deterioration of insulin secretion and pancreatic beta-cell mass by inflammatory attacks is one of the main pathophysiological features of type 2 diabetes (T2D). Therefore, preserving beta-cell mass and stimulating insulin secretion only in response to glucose for avoiding the hypoglycemia risks, are the most state-of-the-art option for the treatment of T2D. In this study we tested two correlated hypothesis that 1/ the endogenous peptide released from sortilin, known as PE, that stimulates insulin secretion only in response to glucose, protects beta-cells against death induced by cytokines, and 2/ Spadin and Mini-Spadin, two synthetic peptides derived from PE, that mimic the effects of PE in insulin secretion, also provide beneficial effect on beta-cells survival.

Therapeutic potential of prenylated stilbenoid macasiamenene F through its anti-inflammatory and cytoprotective effects on LPS-challenged monocytes and microglia.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Macaranga Thou. (Euphorbiaceae) is a large genus that comprises over 300 species distributed between Western Africa and the islands of the South Pacific. Plants of this genus have a long-standing history of use in traditional medicine for different purposes, including the treatment of inflammation.