B-cell lymphoma 3-encoded protein is a protein that in humans is encoded by the BCL3 gene. [5] [6]
This gene is a proto-oncogene candidate. It is identified by its translocation into the immunoglobulin alpha-locus in some cases of B-cell leukemia. The protein encoded by this gene contains seven ankyrin repeats, which are most closely related to those found in I kappa B proteins. This protein functions as a transcriptional coactivator that activates through its association with NF-kappa B homodimers. The expression of this gene can be induced by NF-kappa B, which forms a part of the autoregulatory loop that controls the nuclear residence of p50 NF-kappa B. [7]
Like BCL2, BCL5, BCL6, BCL7A, BCL9, and BCL10, it has clinical significance in lymphoma.
BCL3 has been shown to interact with:
Genetic variations in BCL3 gene have been associated with late-onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. β-amyloid accumulation in neurons of Alzheimer's patients results in activation of NF-κB, which induces BCL3 expression. [16] Increased expression of BCL3 has been observed in the brains of patients with LOAD. [17]
The role of Bcl3 in solid tumors was established through the ability of Bcl3 to promote metastasis without affecting primary tumor growth or normal mammary function, within models of ErbB2-positive breast cancer. [18] Further research has uncovered the role of Bcl3 in promoting progression of other solid tumors. The role of Bcl3 in promoting tumor hallmarks has been most widely reported for advanced colorectal cancer; where Bcl3 expression is up-regulated in >30% of colorectal cancer cases and is associated with a poor prognosis. For example, in colorectal cancer models, elevated Bcl3 expression was found to activate AKT signalling, [19] drive a cancer stem cell phenotype through enhancing β-catenin signalling, [20] drive the COX-2 mediated response to inflammatory cytokines, [21] and protect colorectal tumor cells against DNA damage. [22] The role of Bcl3 in enabling multiple cancer hallmarks in colorectal carcinogenesis has been reviewed. [23]
More recently other cancer cell signalling pathways have been shown to be modulated by Bcl3. These include Wnt/beta-catenin through direct protein interaction; [20] Smad3, through an unknown mechanism of protein stabilisation [24] and transcriptional regulation of Stat3. [25] [26] Other pathways influenced by Bcl3 activity include phosphorylation of AKT through an unknown mechanism. [19]
Bcl3 also influences responses of cancer cells to treatment. Bcl3 promotes resistance to alkylating chemotherapy in gliomas, [27] DNA damaging agents in colorectal cancer, [22] and regulates the cancer immune checkpoint control gene PD-L1 in ovarian cancer cells. [28]
The first discovery of a small molecule anti-metastatic Bcl3 inhibitor was reported utilising a virtual drug design and screening approach, targeting the protein-protein interaction between Bcl3 and partner protein p50. [29] The virtual screening hit compound showed potent intracellular Bcl3-inhibitory activity, and led to reductions in NF-κB signalling, tumor colony formation and cancer cell migration within in vitro cellular models of breast cancer. In vivo inhibition of tumor growth and anti-metastatic activity was observed in invasive breast cancer models, without overt systemic toxicity.
TNA Therapeutics, is the only company engaged in developing a BCL3 inhibitor. TNAT-101, is an orally bioavailable, small molecule inhibitor of the novel target BCL3. BCL3 is a transcriptional regulator of multiple pathways critical for cancer initiation, maintenance and progression. It plays an important role in tumor growth, cell death, migration, metastasis and cancer stem cell viability.
Nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) is a family of transcription factor protein complexes that controls transcription of DNA, cytokine production and cell survival. NF-κB is found in almost all animal cell types and is involved in cellular responses to stimuli such as stress, cytokines, free radicals, heavy metals, ultraviolet irradiation, oxidized LDL, and bacterial or viral antigens. NF-κB plays a key role in regulating the immune response to infection. Incorrect regulation of NF-κB has been linked to cancer, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, septic shock, viral infection, and improper immune development. NF-κB has also been implicated in processes of synaptic plasticity and memory.
Zbtb7, whose protein product is also known as Pokemon, is a gene that functions as a regulator of cellular growth and a proto oncogene.
Protein c-Fos is a proto-oncogene that is the human homolog of the retroviral oncogene v-fos. It is encoded in humans by the FOS gene. It was first discovered in rat fibroblasts as the transforming gene of the FBJ MSV. It is a part of a bigger Fos family of transcription factors which includes c-Fos, FosB, Fra-1 and Fra-2. It has been mapped to chromosome region 14q21→q31. c-Fos encodes a 62 kDa protein, which forms heterodimer with c-jun, resulting in the formation of AP-1 complex which binds DNA at AP-1 specific sites at the promoter and enhancer regions of target genes and converts extracellular signals into changes of gene expression. It plays an important role in many cellular functions and has been found to be overexpressed in a variety of cancers.
Transcription factor Jun is a protein that in humans is encoded by the JUN gene. c-Jun, in combination with protein c-Fos, forms the AP-1 early response transcription factor. It was first identified as the Fos-binding protein p39 and only later rediscovered as the product of the JUN gene. c-jun was the first oncogenic transcription factor discovered. The proto-oncogene c-Jun is the cellular homolog of the viral oncoprotein v-jun. The viral homolog v-jun was discovered in avian sarcoma virus 17 and was named for ju-nana, the Japanese word for 17. The human JUN encodes a protein that is highly similar to the viral protein, which interacts directly with specific target DNA sequences to regulate gene expression. This gene is intronless and is mapped to 1p32-p31, a chromosomal region involved in both translocations and deletions in human malignancies.
IKK-β also known as inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa-B kinase subunit beta is a protein that in humans is encoded by the IKBKB gene.
Nuclear factor NF-kappa-B p105 subunit is a protein that in humans is encoded by the NFKB1 gene.
The IκB kinase is an enzyme complex that is involved in propagating the cellular response to inflammation, specifically the regulation of lymphocytes.
IκBα is one member of a family of cellular proteins that function to inhibit the NF-κB transcription factor. IκBα inhibits NF-κB by masking the nuclear localization signals (NLS) of NF-κB proteins and keeping them sequestered in an inactive state in the cytoplasm. In addition, IκBα blocks the ability of NF-κB transcription factors to bind to DNA, which is required for NF-κB's proper functioning.
Transcription factor p65 also known as nuclear factor NF-kappa-B p65 subunit is a protein that in humans is encoded by the RELA gene.
Nuclear factor NF-kappa-B p100 subunit is a protein that in humans is encoded by the NFKB2 gene.
Inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa-B kinase subunit alpha (IKK-α) also known as IKK1 or conserved helix-loop-helix ubiquitous kinase (CHUK) is a protein kinase that in humans is encoded by the CHUK gene. IKK-α is part of the IκB kinase complex that plays an important role in regulating the NF-κB transcription factor. However, IKK-α has many additional cellular targets, and is thought to function independently of the NF-κB pathway to regulate epidermal differentiation.
Transcription factor RelB is a protein that in humans is encoded by the RELB gene.
The proto-oncogene c-Rel is a protein that in humans is encoded by the REL gene. The c-Rel protein is a member of the NF-κB family of transcription factors and contains a Rel homology domain (RHD) at its N-terminus and two C-terminal transactivation domains. c-Rel is a myeloid checkpoint protein that can be targeted for treating cancer. c-Rel has an important role in B-cell survival and proliferation. The REL gene is amplified or mutated in several human B-cell lymphomas, including diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and Hodgkin's lymphoma.
F-box/WD repeat-containing protein 1A (FBXW1A) also known as βTrCP1 or Fbxw1 or hsSlimb or pIkappaBalpha-E3 receptor subunit is a protein that in humans is encoded by the BTRC gene.
Bcl-2-related protein A1 is a protein in humans which is encoded by the BCL2A1 gene.
Mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 14 also known as NF-kappa-B-inducing kinase (NIK) is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the MAP3K14 gene.
Mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 8 is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the MAP3K8 gene.
NF-kappa-B inhibitor zeta (IκBζ) is a protein that in humans is encoded by the NFKBIZ gene. This gene is a member of the ankyrin-repeat family and is induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The C-terminal portion of the encoded product which contains the ankyrin repeats, shares high sequence similarity with the I kappa B family of proteins. The latter are known to play a role in inflammatory responses to LPS by their interaction with NF-κB proteins through ankyrin-repeat domains. Studies in mouse indicate that this gene product is one of the nuclear I kappa B proteins and an activator of IL-6 production. Two transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been found for this gene.
Pirin is a protein that in humans is encoded by the PIR gene.
Nuclear factor of kappa light polypeptide gene enhancer in B-cells inhibitor, delta also known as IκBNS is a protein in humans that is encoded by the NFKBID gene.