AUTHOR=Liu Zaoqu , Ren Yuqing , Meng Lingfang , Li Lifeng , Beatson Richard , Deng Jinhai , Zhang Tengfei , Liu Junqi , Han Xinwei TITLE=Epigenetic Signaling of Cancer Stem Cells During Inflammation JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology VOLUME=9 YEAR=2021 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cell-and-developmental-biology/articles/10.3389/fcell.2021.772211 DOI=10.3389/fcell.2021.772211 ISSN=2296-634X ABSTRACT=

Malignant tumors pose a great challenge to human health, which has led to many studies increasingly elucidating the tumorigenic process. Cancer Stem Cells (CSCs) have profound impacts on tumorigenesis and development of drug resistance. Recently, there has been increased interest in the relationship between inflammation and CSCs but the mechanism underlying this relationship has not been fully elucidated. Inflammatory cytokines produced during chronic inflammation activate signaling pathways that regulate the generation of CSCs through epigenetic mechanisms. In this review, we focus on the effects of inflammation on cancer stem cells, particularly the role of signaling pathways such as NF-κB pathway, STAT3 pathway and Smad pathway involved in regulating epigenetic changes. We hope to provide a novel perspective for improving strategies for tumor treatment.