ATF3

ATF3, a member of the ATF/CREB transcription factor family, consists of 181 amino acids and contains a basic region and a leucine zipper region bZIP, which is responsible for binding to DNA and forming dimers to regulate transcription. As a stress-induced transcription factor, ATF3 plays a central role in the cellular adaptive response network, participating in regulating cell proliferation, differentiation, metabolism, and immune response. ATF3 plays a key role in the occurrence, development, treatment, and prognosis of tumors, and its specific role may vary depending on cell type and environment, exhibiting dual properties of promoting or suppressing cancer. ATF3 is involved in multiple signaling pathways, including the JNK signaling pathway, the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway, the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, and the p38/Nrf2 signaling pathway. For example, it mediates the inhibitory effect of TNF-α on osteoblast differentiation through the JNK signaling pathway, plays an anti-cancer role in breast cancer through the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway, affects the proliferation of breast cancer cells through the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, and regulates oxidative stress and extracellular matrix degradation through the p38/Nrf2 signaling pathway. The regulatory effects of these signaling pathways make ATF3's function in tumor development complex. Further research on its mechanism and signaling pathways in different tumors will help to provide new ideas and potential targets for tumor treatment.