Endoplasmic reticulum stress response in the roadway for the effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

Abstract Over the past decade, a handful of evidence has been provided that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) display effects on the homeostasis of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Their uptake into cells will eventually lead to activation or inhibition of key molecules that mediate ER stress responses, raising not only a growing interest for a pharmacological target in ER stress responses but also important questions how the ER-stress mediated effects induced by NSAIDs could be therapeutically advantageous or not. We review here the toxicity effects and therapeutic applications of NSAIDs involving the three majors ER stress arms namely PERK, IRE1, and ATF6. First, we provide brief introduction on the well-established and characterized downstream events mediated by these ER stress players, followed by presentation of the NSAIDs compounds and mode of action, and finally their effects on ER stress response. NSAIDs present promising drug agents targeting the components of ER stress in different aspects of cancer and other diseases, but a better comprehension of the mechanisms underlying their benefits and harms will certainly pave the road for several diseases’ therapy.