Current implications of cyclophilins in human cancers

Cyclophilins (Cyps), the intracellular receptor for immunosuppressant cyclosporine A (CsA), play important cellular roles through activities of peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase (PPIase) and chaperones. Cyps are structurally conserved and found in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms, including humans which contain 16 Cyp isoforms. Although human Cyps were identified about 25 years ago, their physiological and pathological roles have only been the focus of attention recently because of their possible involvement in diseases and ailments such as HIV infection, hepatitis B and C viral infection, atherosclerosis, ER stress-related diseases and neurodegenerative diseases, etc. There are reports for upregulated Cyps in many human cancers and there are also strong correlations found between Cyps overexpression and malignant transformation. This review discusses the important and diverse roles of Cyps overexpression in human cancers. Understanding biological functions of Cyps will eventually lead to improved strategies for cancer treatment and prevention.