FAM64A aggravates proliferation, invasion, lipid droplet formation, and chemoresistance in gastric cancer: A biomarker for aggressiveness and a gene therapy target

FAM64A regulates the malignant phenotype and tumor microenvironment of non-small cell lung cancer by activating the JAK/STAT3/PDL1 axis

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a life-threatening disease that still lacks effective targeted treatment. Family with sequence similarity 64, member A (FAM64A) is dysregulated in different malignancies and participates in the cancer progression. To address the role of FAM64A in NSCLC. The FAM64A expression was detected by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting. Short-hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) against FAM64A were transfected into A549 and H460 cells. The role of FAM64A in vitro was evaluated by cell counting kit-8, transwell, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, immunofluorescence and western blotting. In vivo role of FAM64A was addressed in xenografted mice using immunohistochemistry and western blotting. FAM64A was upregulated in NSCLC that predicted a dismal prognosis for NSCLC patients. Knockdown of FAM64A diminished cell viability, invaded cell numbers, the Vimentin expression and the concentrations of TGF-β and IL-10, but fostered the E-cadherin expression and the concentrations of IL-2 and IFN-γ in NSCLC cells. Mechanistically, silencing of FAM64A declined the expression of JAK/STAT3/PD-L1 pathway, which was restored with the application of RO8191, an activator of JAK/STAT3 pathway. The inhibitory role of FAM64A knockdown in NSCLC cell proliferation, invasion, EMT and immune escape was inverted by the management of RO8191. In vivo, knockdown of FAM64A reduced tumor size and weight, the level of Vimentin and PD-L1, and the expression of JAK/STAT3/PD-L1 pathway, but enhanced the IFN-γ level. Upregulation of FAM64A promoted proliferation, invasion, EMT and immune escape through activating JAK/STAT3/PD-L1 axis.

Knockout of the ING5 epigenetic regulator confirms roles in stem cell maintenance and tumor suppression in vivo

INhibitor of Growth (ING1-5) proteins are epigenetic readers that target histone acetyltransferase (HAT) or histone deacetylase (HDAC) complexes to the H3K4Me3 mark of active transcription. ING5 targets Moz/Morf and HBO1 HAT complexes that alter acetylation of H3 and H4 core histones, affecting gene expression. Previous experiments in vitro indicated that ING5 functions to maintain stem cell character in normal and in cancer stem cells. Here we find that CRISPR/Cas9 ING5 knockout (KO) mice are sub-fertile but show no decrease in lifespan or ability to heal wounds despite indications of depleted stem cell pools in several tissues. ING5 KO mouse embryo fibroblasts accumulate in G2 of the cell cycle, have high levels of abnormal nuclei and show high basal levels of the γH2AX indicator of DNA damage. KO animals also develop severe dermatitis at a 5-fold higher rate that wild-type littermates. Consistent with ING5 serving a tumor suppressive role, ING5 KO mice developed germinal centre diffuse large B-cell lymphomas at a rate 6-fold higher than control mice at 18 months of age. These data suggest that ING5 functions in vivo to maintain stem cell character in multiple organs, that reduction of stem cell populations is not limiting for murine lifespan and that like a subset of other ING family members, ING5 functions as a tumor suppressor in hematopoietic cells in vivo.

Dysregulation of autophagy in gastric carcinoma: Pathways to tumor progression and resistance to therapy

The considerable death rates and lack of symptoms in early stages of gastric cancer (GC) make it a major health problem worldwide. One of the most prominent risk factors is infection with Helicobacter pylori. Many biological processes, including those linked with cell death, are disrupted in GC. The cellular "self-digestion" mechanism necessary for regular balance maintenance, autophagy, is at the center of this disturbance. Misregulation of autophagy, however, plays a role in the development of GC. In this review, we will examine how autophagy interacts with other cell death processes, such as apoptosis and ferroptosis, and how it affects the progression of GC. In addition to wonderful its role in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition, it is engaged in GC metastasis. The role of autophagy in GC in promoting drug resistance stands out. There is growing interest in modulating autophagy for GC treatment, with research focusing on natural compounds, small-molecule inhibitors, and nanoparticles. These approaches could lead to breakthroughs in GC therapy, offering new hope in the fight against this challenging disease.