The Role of TRAF7 in Tumorigenesis

Abstract

The tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNF-R)-associated factor (TRAF) family has seven members and is characterized as signaling transduction molecules coupled to the cytoplasmic regions of the TNF-R superfamily. All the TRAFs proteins functionally act as a scaffold and/or enzymatic proteins to regulate activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and transcription factors of nuclear factor-κB family (NF-κB). All TRAFs have been identified to be widely involved in embryonic development, tissue homeostasis, and regulation of innate and adaptive immune responses. TRAF7, as the last discovered member of the TRAFs protein with E3 ligase activation, containing an N-terminal RING finger domain and a C-terminal WD40 domain, has been identified to be involved in the genesis and progression of several human cancers, suggesting TRAF7 as a novel tumor suppressor protein. The paper attempts to review the role of TRAF7 in the genesis and progression of Meningioma, Mesothelioma and Hepatocellular Carcinoma, hoping to be helpful for understanding tumor pathogenesis and therapeutic targets.