The SLIT–ROBO pathway: a regulator of cell function with implications for the reproductive system
Open accessAbstract
The secreted SLIT glycoproteins and their Roundabout (ROBO) receptors were originally identified as important axon guidance molecules. They function as a repulsive cue with an evolutionarily conserved role in preventing axons from migrating to inappropriate locations during the assembly of the nervous system. In addition the SLIT-ROBO interaction is involved in the regulation of cell migration, cell death and angiogenesis and, as such, has a pivotal role during the development of other tissues such as the lung, kidney, liver and breast. The cellular functions that the SLIT/ROBO pathway controls during tissue morphogenesis are processes that are dysregulated during cancer development. Therefore inactivation of certain SLITs and ROBOs is associated with advanced tumour formation and progression in disparate tissues. Recent research has indicated that the SLIT/ROBO pathway could also have important functions in the reproductive system. The fetal ovary expresses most members of the SLIT and ROBO families. The SLITs and ROBOs also appear to be regulated by steroid hormones and regulate physiological cell functions in adult reproductive tissues such as the ovary and endometrium. Furthermore several SLITs and ROBOs are aberrantly expressed during the development of ovarian, endometrial, cervical and prostate cancer. This review will examine the roles this pathway could have in the development, physiology and pathology of the reproductive system and highlight areas for future research that could further dissect the influence of the SLIT/ROBO pathway in reproduction.
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ROBO silences the attractive effect that Netrin 1 has on DCC, allowing SLIT2 to bind to this ligand and enabling axon pathfinding in the developing brain.
“ROBO silences the attractive effect that Netrin 1 has on DCC, allowing SLIT2 to bind to this ligand and enabling axon pathfinding in the developing brain [106, 107].”
From Self-domestication in Homo sapiens: Insights from comparative genomics (2017) · cites this paper as [107]
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Research works printed but not linked: 1
- Liao W-X Zhang H-H Feng L Zheng J Chen D-B Slit/Robo signalling promotes placental artery endothelial cell angiogenesis via activation of multiple intracellular signalling pathways [abstract] 668 Proceedings Of the Society for Gynecologic Investigation 56th Annual Meeting 2009
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Self-domestication in Homo sapiens: Insights from comparative genomics
Theofanopoulou, C., Gastaldon, S., O’Rourke, T., Samuels, B. D., Messner, A., Martins, P. T., Delogu, F., Alamri, S., & Boeckx, C. (2017) · PLOS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0185306 · Cited by 174 · see citing works
- Authors
- Dickinson, R. E., & Duncan, W. C.
- Affiliations
- The Queen's Medical Research Institute (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Dickinson, Rachel E
- Venue
- Reproduction
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 2010-04-01
- Volume
- 139
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 697-704
- ISSN
- 1470-1626 (ISSN-L)
- 1741-7899
- PMC
- PMC2971463
- OpenAlex
- W2172085189
- Cited by
- 123
- References
- 50
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 14 · 2013: 11 · 2012: 6
- FWCI
- 0.66
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Locations
- Reproduction (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Edinburgh Research Explorer (University of Edinburgh) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Newcastle University ePrints (Newcastle Univesity)
- Funders
- Scottish Funding Council
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Axon Guidance and Neuronal Signaling
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Developmental Biology and Gene Regulation
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Reproductive Biology and Fertility
- Keywords
- Roundabout receptors, axon guidance, cell migration, angiogenesis, cell death, tissue morphogenesis, tumor progression, steroid hormone regulation, ovary, endometrium, ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer, cervical cancer, prostate cancer, reproductive system
- MeSH terms
- Roundabout Proteins, Animals, Blood Vessels, Cell Movement, Glycoproteins, Humans, Models, Biological, Nerve Tissue Proteins, Protein Binding, Receptors, Immunologic, Reproduction, Urogenital System, Signal Transduction, Organogenesis
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