The Wnt-dependent and Wnt-independent functions of BCL9 in development, tumorigenesis, and immunity: Implications in therapeutic opportunities

Minjie Wu; Heng Dong; Chao Xu; Mengqing Sun; Haojin Gao; Fangtian Bu; Jianxiang Chen

doi:10.1016/j.gendis.2023.03.012

The Wnt-dependent and Wnt-independent functions of BCL9 in development, tumorigenesis, and immunity: Implications in therapeutic opportunities

Genes Dis. 2023 Apr 11;11(2):701-710. doi: 10.1016/j.gendis.2023.03.012. eCollection 2024 Mar.

Authors

Minjie Wu^{1

2}, Heng Dong^{1

2}, Chao Xu^{1

2}, Mengqing Sun^{1

2}, Haojin Gao^{1

2}, Fangtian Bu^{1

2}, Jianxiang Chen^{1

3

2}

Affiliations

¹ College of Pharmacy and Department of Hepatology, Institute of Hepatology and Metabolic Diseases, The Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311121, China.
² Key Laboratory of Elemene Class Anti-Cancer Chinese Medicines, Engineering Laboratory of Development and Application of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicines of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311121, China.
³ Laboratory of Cancer Genomics, Division of Cellular and Molecular Research, National Cancer Centre, Singapore 169610, Singapore.

Abstract

B-cell CLL/lymphoma 9 (BCL9) is considered a key developmental regulator and a well-established oncogenic driver in multiple cancer types, mainly through potentiating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling. However, increasing evidences indicate that BCL9 also plays multiple Wnt-independent roles. Herein, we summarized the updates of the canonical and non-canonical functions of BCL9 in cellular, physiological, or pathological processes. Moreover, we also concluded that the targeted inhibitors disrupt the interaction of β-catenin with BCL9 reported recently.

Keywords: BCL9; Development; Immunity; Multifaceted functions; Therapeutic target; Tumorigenesis.

Publication types

Review