Priority Reviews:
Regulation of Bim in Health and Disease
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Abstract
Ronit Vogt Sionov1, Spiros A. Vlahopoulos2 and Zvi Granot1
1 Department of Developmental Biology and Cancer Research, Institute for Medical Research Israel Canada, Hebrew University, Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel
2 First Department of Pediatrics, University of Athens, Horemeio Research Laboratory, Thivon and Levadias, Goudi, Athens, Greece
Correspondence to:
Ronit Vogt Sionov, email:
Keywords: Bim, apoptosis, cancer, autoimmunity, neurodegenerative diseases
Received: July 28, 2015 Accepted: August 08, 2015 Published: September 05, 2015
Abstract
The BH3-only Bim protein is a major determinant for initiating the intrinsic apoptotic pathway under both physiological and pathophysiological conditions. Tight regulation of its expression and activity at the transcriptional, translational and post-translational levels together with the induction of alternatively spliced isoforms with different pro-apoptotic potential, ensure timely activation of Bim. Under physiological conditions, Bim is essential for shaping immune responses where its absence promotes autoimmunity, while too early Bim induction eliminates cytotoxic T cells prematurely, resulting in chronic inflammation and tumor progression. Enhanced Bim induction in neurons causes neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Huntington’s diseases. Moreover, type I diabetes is promoted by genetically predisposed elevation of Bim in β-cells. On the contrary, cancer cells have developed mechanisms that suppress Bim expression necessary for tumor progression and metastasis. This review focuses on the intricate network regulating Bim activity and its involvement in physiological and pathophysiological processes.
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