Table 3 Biological activities of MST3 and the underlying mechanisms

Apoptosis

 Induce apoptosis

Activate caspase 3 in human trophoblast cells

[30]

Suppress JNK in human colon carcinoma cells

[6]

Upregulate cytoprotective HO-1 in colon carcinoma cells

[6]

Disrupt mitochondrial membrane potential in human cervix HeLa cells

[3]

Immune regulation

 Inhibit neutrophil-mediated inflammatory response

Inhibit neutrophil degranulation

[37]

 Promote anti-tumoral immune response

Associate with decreased ratio of MDSCs and TAMs in gastric tumor tissue

[38, 39]

Associate with increased percentage of CD4⁺ T cells in gastric tumor tissue

[38, 39]

Metabolism

 Increase insulin resistance and blood glucose levels

Deactivate IRS1-FOXO1 pathway

[40]

 Promote lipid accumulation

Increase the expression of lipogenic genes and ACC

[41]

Inhibit β-oxidation and triacylglycerol secretion

[42]

Increase fatty acid influx and lipid synthesis

[42]

Hypertension

 Maintain Na⁺/K⁺ homeostasis and blood pressure stability

Inhibit Na⁺ channel and Na⁺-K⁺-Cl⁻ cotransporter activities

[20, 43]

Suppress WNK4 expression

[43]

Tumor progression

 Promote breast cancer growth

Activate VAV2-Rac1-cyclin D1 pathway

[4]

 Promote gastric cancer growth

Enhance p21 expression

[7]

 Inhibit migration of adenocarcinoma

Inhibit paxillin phosphorylation via PTP-PEST

[28]

Suppress migration of gastric cancer

Increase expression of CDH1 (E-Cadherin) and CD44

[38]

CNS development

 Promote radial neuronal migration and final neuronal positioning

Suppress Rho-GTPase activity of RhoA

[31]

 Promote the development of filopodia, dendritic spine and excitatory synapse

Phosphorylate TAO1/2 kinases

[44]

 Promote neuronal regeneration

Activate P42/44MAPK and LIMK/Cofilin pathway

[45]