Tyrosine kinase 2 – Surveillant of tumours and bona fide oncogene

Nicole R. Leitner, Agnieszka Witalisz-Siepracka, Birgit Strobl, Mathias Müller*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Journal article (peer-reviewed)Review article

44 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2) is a member of the Janus kinase (JAK) family, which transduces cytokine and growth factor signalling. Analysis of TYK2 loss-of-function revealed its important role in immunity to infection, (auto-) immunity and (auto-) inflammation. TYK2-deficient patients unravelled high similarity between mice and men with respect to cellular signalling functions and basic immunology. Genome-wide association studies link TYK2 to several autoimmune and inflammatory diseases as well as carcinogenesis. Due to its cytokine signalling functions TYK2 was found to be essential in tumour surveillance. Lately TYK2 activating mutants and fusion proteins were detected in patients diagnosed with leukaemic diseases suggesting that TYK2 is a potent oncogene. Here we review the cell intrinsic and extrinsic functions of TYK2 in the characteristics preventing and enabling carcinogenesis. In addition we describe an unexpected function of kinase-inactive TYK2 in tumour rejection.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)209-218
Number of pages10
JournalCytokine
Volume89
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jan 2017
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Cytokine signalling
  • Hallmarks of cancer
  • JAK-STAT pathway
  • Non-receptor tyrosine kinases

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Immunology and Allergy
  • Immunology
  • Biochemistry
  • Hematology
  • Molecular Biology

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