Double-Edge Effects of Leucine on Cancer Cells
Leucine is an essential amino acid that cannot be produced endogenously in the human body and therefore needs to be obtained from dietary sources. Leucine plays a pivotal role in stimulating muscle protein synthesis, along with isoleucine and valine, as the group of branched-chain amino acids, makin...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2024-11-01
|
| Series: | Biomolecules |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/14/11/1401 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850267233947746304 |
|---|---|
| author | Burkitkan Akbay Zhannur Omarova Alexander Trofimov Bayan Sailike Orynbassar Karapina Ferdinand Molnár Tursonjan Tokay |
| author_facet | Burkitkan Akbay Zhannur Omarova Alexander Trofimov Bayan Sailike Orynbassar Karapina Ferdinand Molnár Tursonjan Tokay |
| author_sort | Burkitkan Akbay |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Leucine is an essential amino acid that cannot be produced endogenously in the human body and therefore needs to be obtained from dietary sources. Leucine plays a pivotal role in stimulating muscle protein synthesis, along with isoleucine and valine, as the group of branched-chain amino acids, making them one of the most popular dietary supplements for athletes and gym-goers. The individual effects of leucine, however, have not been fully clarified, as most of the studies so far have focused on the grouped effects of branched-chain amino acids. In recent years, leucine and its metabolites have been shown to stimulate muscle protein synthesis mainly via the mammalian target of the rapamycin complex 1 signaling pathway, thereby improving muscle atrophy in cancer cachexia. Interestingly, cancer research suggests that leucine may have either anti-cancer or pro-tumorigenic effects. In the current manuscript, we aim to review leucine’s roles in muscle protein synthesis, tumor suppression, and tumor progression, specifically summarizing the molecular mechanisms of leucine’s action. The role of leucine is controversial in hepatocellular carcinoma, whereas its pro-tumorigenic effects have been demonstrated in breast and pancreatic cancers. In summary, leucine being used as nutritional supplement for athletes needs more attention, as its pro-oncogenic effects may have been identified by recent studies. Anti-cancer or pro-tumorigenic effects of leucine in various cancers should be further investigated to achieve clear conclusions. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4dcd9cfb22bf4cfe8b02e59280674e42 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2218-273X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Biomolecules |
| spelling | doaj-art-4dcd9cfb22bf4cfe8b02e59280674e422025-08-20T01:53:52ZengMDPI AGBiomolecules2218-273X2024-11-011411140110.3390/biom14111401Double-Edge Effects of Leucine on Cancer CellsBurkitkan Akbay0Zhannur Omarova1Alexander Trofimov2Bayan Sailike3Orynbassar Karapina4Ferdinand Molnár5Tursonjan Tokay6Department of Biology, School of Sciences and Humanities, Nazarbayev University, Kabanbay Batyr 53, Astana 010000, KazakhstanDepartment of Biology, School of Sciences and Humanities, Nazarbayev University, Kabanbay Batyr 53, Astana 010000, KazakhstanDepartment of Biology, School of Sciences and Humanities, Nazarbayev University, Kabanbay Batyr 53, Astana 010000, KazakhstanDepartment of Biology, School of Sciences and Humanities, Nazarbayev University, Kabanbay Batyr 53, Astana 010000, KazakhstanDepartment of Biology, School of Sciences and Humanities, Nazarbayev University, Kabanbay Batyr 53, Astana 010000, KazakhstanDepartment of Biology, School of Sciences and Humanities, Nazarbayev University, Kabanbay Batyr 53, Astana 010000, KazakhstanDepartment of Biology, School of Sciences and Humanities, Nazarbayev University, Kabanbay Batyr 53, Astana 010000, KazakhstanLeucine is an essential amino acid that cannot be produced endogenously in the human body and therefore needs to be obtained from dietary sources. Leucine plays a pivotal role in stimulating muscle protein synthesis, along with isoleucine and valine, as the group of branched-chain amino acids, making them one of the most popular dietary supplements for athletes and gym-goers. The individual effects of leucine, however, have not been fully clarified, as most of the studies so far have focused on the grouped effects of branched-chain amino acids. In recent years, leucine and its metabolites have been shown to stimulate muscle protein synthesis mainly via the mammalian target of the rapamycin complex 1 signaling pathway, thereby improving muscle atrophy in cancer cachexia. Interestingly, cancer research suggests that leucine may have either anti-cancer or pro-tumorigenic effects. In the current manuscript, we aim to review leucine’s roles in muscle protein synthesis, tumor suppression, and tumor progression, specifically summarizing the molecular mechanisms of leucine’s action. The role of leucine is controversial in hepatocellular carcinoma, whereas its pro-tumorigenic effects have been demonstrated in breast and pancreatic cancers. In summary, leucine being used as nutritional supplement for athletes needs more attention, as its pro-oncogenic effects may have been identified by recent studies. Anti-cancer or pro-tumorigenic effects of leucine in various cancers should be further investigated to achieve clear conclusions.https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/14/11/1401amino acidleucinemuscle proteincancersignaling pathway |
| spellingShingle | Burkitkan Akbay Zhannur Omarova Alexander Trofimov Bayan Sailike Orynbassar Karapina Ferdinand Molnár Tursonjan Tokay Double-Edge Effects of Leucine on Cancer Cells Biomolecules amino acid leucine muscle protein cancer signaling pathway |
| title | Double-Edge Effects of Leucine on Cancer Cells |
| title_full | Double-Edge Effects of Leucine on Cancer Cells |
| title_fullStr | Double-Edge Effects of Leucine on Cancer Cells |
| title_full_unstemmed | Double-Edge Effects of Leucine on Cancer Cells |
| title_short | Double-Edge Effects of Leucine on Cancer Cells |
| title_sort | double edge effects of leucine on cancer cells |
| topic | amino acid leucine muscle protein cancer signaling pathway |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/14/11/1401 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT burkitkanakbay doubleedgeeffectsofleucineoncancercells AT zhannuromarova doubleedgeeffectsofleucineoncancercells AT alexandertrofimov doubleedgeeffectsofleucineoncancercells AT bayansailike doubleedgeeffectsofleucineoncancercells AT orynbassarkarapina doubleedgeeffectsofleucineoncancercells AT ferdinandmolnar doubleedgeeffectsofleucineoncancercells AT tursonjantokay doubleedgeeffectsofleucineoncancercells |