Cells 2014, 3, 112-128; doi:10.3390/cells3010112 OPEN ACCESS cells ISSN 2073-4409 www.mdpi.com/journal/cells Review Loss of TRPV2 Homeostatic Control of Cell Proliferation Drives Tumor Progression Sonia Liberati 1,2, Maria Beatrice Morelli 1, Consuelo Amantini 1, Valerio Farfariello 1, Matteo Santoni 3,4,*, Alessandro Conti 3, Massimo Nabissi 1, Stefano Cascinu 3 and Giorgio Santoni 1 1 School of Pharmacy, Section of Experimental Medicine, University of Camerino, P.zza dei Costanti, 63032, Camerino, Macerata, Italy; E-Mails:
[email protected] (S.L.);
[email protected] (M.B.M.);
[email protected] (C.A.);
[email protected] (V.F.);
[email protected] (M.N.);
[email protected] (G.S.) 2 Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161, Rome, Italy 3 Medical Oncology, Polytechnic University of the Marche Region, Via Tronto 10, 60020, Ancona, Italy; E-Mails:
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[email protected] (S.C.) 4 Department of Medical Oncology, “Ospedali Riuniti” University Hospital, Polytechnic University of the Marche, Via Tronto 10/a, Torrette, Ancona, Italy * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail:
[email protected]; Tel.: +39-0733-598-540. Received: 19 December 2013; in revised form: 22 January 2014 / Accepted: 8 February 2014 / Published: 19 February 2014 Abstract: Herein we evaluate the involvement of the TRPV2 channel, belonging to the Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid channel family (TRPVs), in development and progression of different tumor types. In normal cells, the activation of TRPV2 channels by growth factors, hormones, and endocannabinoids induces a translocation of the receptor from the endosomal compartment to the plasma membrane, which results in abrogation of cell proliferation and induction of cell death.