The Role of Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3-β in Immunity and Cell Cycle: Implications in Esophageal Cancer

Esophageal cancer (EC) is one of the most aggressive gastrointestinal malignancies, possessing an insidious onset and a poor prognosis. Numerous transcription factors and inflammatory mediators have been reported to play a pivotal role in the initiation and progression of this cancer. However, the specifics of the signaling network responsible for said factors, especially which elements are the critical regulators, are still being elucidated. Glycogen synthesis kinases 3 (GSK3)beta was originally regarded as a kinase regulating glucose metabolism. Accumulating evidence demonstrated that it also played an essential role in a variety of cellular processes including proliferation, differentiation, inflammation, motility, and survival by regulating various transcription factors such as c-Jun, AP-1, beta-catenin, CREB, and NF-kappa B. Aberrant regulation of GSK3 beta has been shown to promote cell growth in some cancers, while suppressing it in others, and thus may play an important role in the development of EC. This review will discuss our current understanding of GSK3 beta signaling, and its control of the expression and activation of various transcription factors that mediate the inflammatory response. We will also explore some of the known mediators of EC progression, and based on current literature, elucidate the potential roles and implications of GSK3 in this disease.