Institute for Medical Immunology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, 06112 Halle (Saale), Germany.
Int J Mol Sci. 2020 Jul 23;21(15):5209. doi: 10.3390/ijms21155209.
The muscle excess 3 (MEX-3) protein was first identified in , and its respective homologues were also observed in vertebrates, including humans. It is a RNA-binding protein (RBP) with an additional ubiquitin E3 ligase function, which further acts as a post-transcriptional repressor through unknown mechanisms. In humans, MEX-3 proteins post-transcriptionally regulate a number of biological processes, including tumor immunological relevant ones. These have been shown to be involved in various diseases, including tumor diseases of distinct origins. This review provides information on the expression and function of the human MEX-3 family in healthy tissues, as well after malignant transformation. Indeed, the MEX-3 expression was shown to be deregulated in several cancers and to affect tumor biological functions, including apoptosis regulation, antigen processing, and presentation, thereby, contributing to the immune evasion of tumor cells. Furthermore, current research suggests MEX-3 proteins as putative markers for prognosis and as novel targets for the anti-cancer treatment.
肌肉过剩 3（MEX-3）蛋白最初在 中被发现，其相应的同源物也在脊椎动物中被观察到，包括人类。它是一种 RNA 结合蛋白（RBP），具有额外的泛素 E3 连接酶功能，通过未知机制进一步充当转录后抑制剂。在人类中，MEX-3 蛋白在后转录水平上调节许多生物学过程，包括与肿瘤免疫相关的过程。这些过程已被证明与各种疾病有关，包括不同来源的肿瘤疾病。本综述提供了有关人类 MEX-3 家族在健康组织中的表达和功能的信息，以及在恶性转化后的情况。事实上，已经表明 MEX-3 的表达在几种癌症中失调，并影响肿瘤生物学功能，包括凋亡调节、抗原加工和呈递，从而有助于肿瘤细胞的免疫逃逸。此外，目前的研究表明 MEX-3 蛋白作为预后的潜在标志物和用于癌症治疗的新型靶点。
