PHLPPing the Script: Emerging Roles of PHLPP Phosphatases in Cell Signaling.

Whereas protein kinases have been successfully targeted for a variety of diseases, protein phosphatases remain an underutilized therapeutic target, in part because of incomplete characterization of their effects on signaling networks. The pleckstrin homology domain leucine-rich repeat protein phosphatase (PHLPP) is a relatively new player in the cell signaling field, and new roles in controlling the balance among cell survival, proliferation, and apoptosis are being increasingly identified. Originally characterized for its tumor-suppressive function in deactivating the prosurvival kinase Akt, PHLPP may have an opposing role in promoting survival, as recent evidence suggests. Additionally, identification of the transcription factor STAT1 as a substrate unveils a role for PHLPP as a critical mediator of transcriptional programs in cancer and the inflammatory response. This review summarizes the current knowledge of PHLPP as both a tumor suppressor and an oncogene and highlights emerging functions in regulating gene expression and the immune system. Understanding the context-dependent functions of PHLPP is essential for appropriate therapeutic intervention. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Volume 61 is January 7, 2021. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.