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Gene & Protein in Disease MOR in cancer

Figure 4. Possible mechanisms by which morphine promotes tumor progression and metastasis after activating MOR. Morphine combined with MOR can activate
the Src/PI3k/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway, thereby promoting tumor proliferation, while inhibiting the expression of Bax and inhibiting tumor apoptosis.
AKT: Protein kinase B; Bax: Bcl-2-associated X protein; Bcl-2: B-cell lymphoma 2; MOR: Mu (µ)-opioid receptor; mTOR: Mammalian target of rapamycin;
PI3k: Phosphoinositide 3 kinase; Src: Rous sarcoma oncogene cellular homolog. Image created with BioRender.com.

A B

Figure 5. (A) MOR and CD147 interact to promote tumor progression. The interaction between MOR and CD147 inhibits the expression of
p53/p21 but activates the MAKP and RAS/RAF/ERK pathways, thereby promoting the expression of Bcl-2 and inhibiting tumor apoptosis.
(B) MOR mAb inhibits the progression of cancer cells. The combination of MOR and mAb results in increased p53/p21 production and an
inhibition of MAPK pathway activation, which can inhibit tumor proliferation, while Bax expression increases, promoting tumor apoptosis.
Bax: Bcl-2-associated X protein; Bcl-2: B-cell lymphoma 2; ERK: Extracellular signal-regulated kinase; mAb: Monoclonal antibody; MOR: Mu (µ)-opioid
receptor. Image created with BioRender.com.

angiogenic factors . Vascular endothelial growth factor response of tumor cells to hypoxia, which activates genes,
[90]
(VEGF) is a potent angiogenic factor secreted by hypoxic such as VEGF, and the transcription of VEGF receptor genes
tumor cells within a developing tumor mass that initiates through binding of hypoxia response element (HRE) in the
endothelial cell germination, migration, and proliferation , gene promoter region, thereby promoting the production of
[91]
while hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) regulates the adaptive blood vessels within solid tumors.

Volume 2 Issue 2 (2023) 9 https://doi.org/10.36922/gpd.282