Anln, also known as anillin, is a mitosis-related protein that promotes contractile ring formation and cytokinesis, which are crucial processes in cell division. It may be involved in multiple signaling pathways, such as PI3K/AKT, MAPK, JNK, and ERK-MAPK pathways [1,4,5,6,10]. Aberrant Anln expression has been associated with the development and progression of various cancers, highlighting its biological importance in disease [1-10]. Genetic models, especially gene knockout (KO) or conditional knockout (CKO) mouse models, could potentially be valuable for further in-depth functional studies of Anln.

In esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), high Anln expression promotes cytokinesis and proliferation, and is associated with poor prognosis. Targeting the USP10-Anln axis can inhibit ESCC cell-cycle progression, as the deubiquitinating enzyme USP10 interacts with Anln to prevent its degradation [1]. In hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the TAZ-TEAD2 pathway drives HCC growth via Anln, suggesting it as a potential therapeutic target [2]. In lung adenocarcinoma, miR-30a-5p restrains the malignant progression by targeting Anln [3]. In colorectal carcinoma, Anln promotes cell proliferation through the PI3K/AKT and MAPK pathways [4]. In oral cancer, Anln affects the activation of the PI3K/mTOR signaling pathway and contributes to cancer progression [5]. In bladder urothelial carcinoma, Anln acts as an oncogene by activating the JNK signal pathway [6]. In lung adenocarcinoma, knockdown of Anln inhibits tumor progression via pyroptosis activation [7]. In pancreatic cancer, Anln promotes cancer progression by regulating the EZH2/miR-218-5p/LASP1 signaling axis [8]. In triple-negative breast cancer, Anln enhances cancer stemness through TWIST1 and BMP2 [9]. In head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, Anln promotes cancer progression by upregulating PD-L1 via the ERK-MAPK pathway [10].

In conclusion, Anln plays a significant role in promoting cytokinesis and cell proliferation. Its dysregulation is closely associated with the development and progression of multiple cancers, including ESCC, HCC, lung adenocarcinoma, colorectal carcinoma, oral cancer, bladder urothelial carcinoma, pancreatic cancer, triple-negative breast cancer, and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. The study of Anln using KO/CKO mouse models could potentially offer new insights into the mechanisms of these diseases and provide novel therapeutic targets.

References:

1. Cao, Yu-Fei, Xie, Lei, Tong, Bei-Bei, Xu, Li-Yan, Li, En-Min. 2022. Targeting USP10 induces degradation of oncogenic ANLN in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. In Cell death and differentiation, 30, 527-543. doi:10.1038/s41418-022-01104-x. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36526897/

2. Saito, Yoshinobu, Yin, Dingzi, Kubota, Naoto, Wangensteen, Kirk J, Schwabe, Robert F. 2023. A Therapeutically Targetable TAZ-TEAD2 Pathway Drives the Growth of Hepatocellular Carcinoma via ANLN and KIF23. In Gastroenterology, 164, 1279-1292. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2023.02.043. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36894036/

3. Deng, Feng, Xu, Zhili, Zhou, Jun, Zhang, Ruhu, Gong, Xiaowei. 2021. ANLN Regulated by miR-30a-5p Mediates Malignant Progression of Lung Adenocarcinoma. In Computational and mathematical methods in medicine, 2021, 9549287. doi:10.1155/2021/9549287. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34777569/

4. Liu, Yanwei, Cao, Pengwei, Cao, Feng, Xu, Yanyan, Wang, Yong. 2021. ANLN, Regulated by SP2, Promotes Colorectal Carcinoma Cell Proliferation via PI3K/AKT and MAPK Signaling Pathway. In Journal of investigative surgery : the official journal of the Academy of Surgical Research, 35, 268-277. doi:10.1080/08941939.2020.1850939. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33757382/

5. Wang, Bing, Zhang, Xiao-Li, Li, Chen-Xi, Hu, Min, Gong, Zhong-Cheng. 2021. ANLN promotes carcinogenesis in oral cancer by regulating the PI3K/mTOR signaling pathway. In Head & face medicine, 17, 18. doi:10.1186/s13005-021-00269-z. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34082790/

6. Chen, Sheng, Gao, Yi, Chen, Fei, Wang, Tian-Bao. 2022. ANLN Serves as an Oncogene in Bladder Urothelial Carcinoma via Activating JNK Signaling Pathway. In Urologia internationalis, 107, 310-320. doi:10.1159/000524204. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35504258/

7. Sheng, Li, Kang, Yanhai, Chen, Denglin, Shi, Linyang. 2023. Knockdown of ANLN inhibits the progression of lung adenocarcinoma via pyroptosis activation. In Molecular medicine reports, 28, . doi:10.3892/mmr.2023.13064. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37539739/

8. Wang, Anbin, Dai, Haisu, Gong, Yi, Liu, Wei, Bie, Ping. 2019. ANLN-induced EZH2 upregulation promotes pancreatic cancer progression by mediating miR-218-5p/LASP1 signaling axis. In Journal of experimental & clinical cancer research : CR, 38, 347. doi:10.1186/s13046-019-1340-7. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31395079/

9. Maryam, Alishba, Chin, Y Rebecca. 2021. ANLN Enhances Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Stemness Through TWIST1 and BMP2 and Promotes its Spheroid Growth. In Frontiers in molecular biosciences, 8, 700973. doi:10.3389/fmolb.2021.700973. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34277708/

10. Wang, Lei, Wang, Junrong, Wang, Nana, Guo, Erliang, Miao, Susheng. 2024. ANLN promotes head and neck squamous cell carcinoma progression by upregulating PD-L1 via the ERK-MAPK pathway. In iScience, 28, 111633. doi:10.1016/j.isci.2024.111633. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39967877/