Mg2+ Transporters in Digestive Cancers

Abstract

Despite magnesium (Mg2+) representing the second most abundant cation in the cell, its role in cellular physiology and pathology is far from being elucidated. Mg2+ homeostasis is regulated by Mg2+ transporters including Mitochondrial RNA Splicing Protein 2 (MRS2), Transient Receptor Potential Cation Channel Subfamily M, Member 6/7 (TRPM6/7), Magnesium Transporter 1 (MAGT1), Solute Carrier Family 41 Member 1 (SCL41A1), and Cyclin and CBS Domain Divalent Metal Cation Transport Mediator (CNNM) proteins. Recent data show that Mg2+ transporters may regulate several cancer cell hallmarks. In this review, we describe the expression of Mg2+ transporters in digestive cancers, the most common and deadliest malignancies worldwide. Moreover, Mg2+ transporters’ expression, correlation and impact on patient overall and disease-free survival is analyzed using Genotype Tissue Expression (GTEx) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) datasets. Finally, we discuss the role of these Mg2+ transporters in the regulation of cancer cell fates and oncogenic signaling pathways.

A Comparison of Doxorubicin-Resistant Colon Cancer LoVo and Leukemia HL60 Cells: Common Features, Different Underlying Mechanisms

“…We have also demonstrated that Mg homeostasis in LoVo-R is maintained through the overexpression of Magnesium Transporter protein 1 (MagT1) and the downregulation of Transient Receptor Potential Cation Channel Subfamily M Member 7 (TRPM7), two ubiquitously expressed Mg transporters [13]. Notably, the involvement of Mg transporters is well documented in several types of digestive cancers including colorectal adenocarcinomas [14]. In the cell Mg is stored primarily in the mitochondria [15], and, interestingly, we described different structural organization of these organelles in LoVo-R vs. LoVo-S [10].…”

TCF12 activates MAGT1 expression to regulate the malignant progression of pancreatic carcinoma cells

“…Zheng et al (13) stated that the high mRNA expression level of MAGT1 in colorectal cancer also indicated a poor prognosis. Notably, magnesium transporters have been shown to play an important role in digestive cancer (32). In addition, the magnesium transporter protein solute carrier family 41 member 1 was reported to suppress human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (33).…”

The Effects of Vitamins and Micronutrients on Helicobacter pylori Pathogenicity, Survival, and Eradication: A Crosstalk between Micronutrients and Immune System

“…On the other hand, in the human body, Mg 2+ is mainly absorbed in the small intestine through paracellular transport and membrane transporters. Due to the poor expression of claudins in the small intestine, paracellular transport is the most common mechanism for magnesium transportation [ 247 ].…”