SMYD3 promotes implant metastasis of ovarian cancer via H3K4 trimethylation of integrin promoters

Cell-adhesive double network self-healing hydrogel capable of cell and drug encapsulation: New platform to construct biomimetic environment with bottom-up approach

This study presents the development and characterization of a novel double-network self-healing hydrogel based on N-carboxyethyl chitosan (CEC) and oxidized dextran (OD) with the incorporation of crosslinked collagen (CEC-OD/COL-GP) to enhance its biological and physicochemical properties. The hydrogel formed via dynamic imine bond formation exhibited efficient self-healing within 30 min, and a compressive modulus recovery of 92 % within 2 h. In addition to its self-healing ability, CEC-OD/COL-GP possesses unique physicochemical characteristics including transparency, injectability, and adhesiveness to various substrates and tissues. Cell encapsulation studies confirmed the biocompatibility and suitability of the hydrogel as a cell-culture scaffold, with the presence of a collagen network that enhances cell adhesion, spreading, long-term cell viability, and proliferation. Leveraging their unique properties, we engineered assemblies of self-healing hydrogel modules for controlled spatiotemporal drug delivery and constructed co-culture models that simulate angiogenesis in tumor microenvironments. Overall, the CEC-OD/COL-GP hydrogel is a versatile and promising material for biomedical applications, offering a bottom-up approach for constructing complex structures with self-healing capabilities, controlled drug release, and support for diverse cell types in 3D environments. This hydrogel platform has considerable potential for advancements in tissue engineering and therapeutic interventions.

Exploring the role of ITGB6: fibrosis, cancer, and other diseases

Integrin β6 (ITGB6), a member of the integrin family of proteins, is only present in epithelial tissues and frequently associates with integrin subunit αv to form transmembrane heterodimers named integrin αvβ6. Importantly, ITGB6 determines αvβ6 expression and availability. In addition to being engaged in organ fibrosis, ITGB6 is also directly linked to the emergence of cancer, periodontitis, and several potential genetic diseases. Therefore, it is of great significance to study the molecular-biological mechanism of ITGB6, which could provide novel insights for future clinical diagnosis and therapy. This review introduces the structure, distribution, and biological function of ITGB6. This review also expounds on ITGB6-related diseases, detailing the known biological effects of ITGB6.

The Roles of Histone Deacetylases in the Regulation of Ovarian Cancer Metastasis

Ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynecologic malignancy, and metastasis is the major cause of death in patients with ovarian cancer, which is regulated by the coordinated interplay of genetic and epigenetic mechanisms. Histone deacetylases (HDACs) are enzymes that can catalyze the deacetylation of histone and some non-histone proteins and that are involved in the regulation of a variety of biological processes via the regulation of gene transcription and the functions of non-histone proteins such as transcription factors and enzymes. Aberrant expressions of HDACs are common in ovarian cancer. Many studies have found that HDACs are involved in regulating a variety of events associated with ovarian cancer metastasis, including cell migration, invasion, and the epithelial-mesenchymal transformation. Herein, we provide a brief overview of ovarian cancer metastasis and the dysregulated expression of HDACs in ovarian cancer. In addition, we discuss the roles of HDACs in the regulation of ovarian cancer metastasis. Finally, we discuss the development of compounds that target HDACs and highlight their importance in the future of ovarian cancer therapy.

SMYD3 drives the proliferation in gastric cancer cells via reducing EMP1 expression in an H4K20me3-dependent manner

Protein lysine methyltransferase SET and MYND domain-containing 3 (SMYD3) is aberrantly expressed in various cancer settings. The mechanisms that SMYD3 activates the expression of critical pro-tumoral genes in an H3K4me3-dependent manner have been well described in previous reports. Besides H3K4me3, H4K20me3 is another catalytic product of SMYD3, however it is a transcriptionally repressive hallmark. Since it is not clear that how SMYD3-elicited transcriptionally repressive program functions in cancer, we used gastric cancer (GC) as a model to investigate the roles of SMYD3-H4K20me3. Herein, online bioinformatics tools, quantitative PCR, western blotting and immunohistochemistry assays demonstrated that SMYD3 expression was markedly increased in GC tissues from our institutional and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) cohort. Additionally, aberrantly increased SMYD3 expression was closely associated with aggressive clinical characteristics and poor prognosis. Depletion of endogenous SMYD3 expression using shRNAs significantly attenuates the proliferation in GC cells and Akt signaling pathway in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay showed that SMYD3 epigenetically repressed the expression of epithelial membrane protein 1 (EMP1) in an H4K20me3-dependent manner. Gain-of-function and rescue experiments validated that EMP1 inhibited the propagation of GC cells and reduced p-Akt (S473) level. Based on these data, pharmaceutical inhibition of SMYD3 activity using the small inhibitor BCI-121 deactivated Akt signaling pathway in GC cells and further impaired the cellular viability in vitro and in vivo. Together, these results demonstrate that SMYD3 promotes the proliferation in GC cells and may be a valid target for therapeutic intervention of patients with GC.

Histone lysine methyltransferase SMYD3 promotes oral squamous cell carcinoma tumorigenesis via H3K4me3-mediated HMGA2 transcription

BACKGROUND

Epigenetic dysregulation is essential to the tumorigenesis of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). SET and MYND domain-containing protein 3 (SMYD3), a histone lysine methyltransferase, is implicated in gene transcription regulation and tumor development. However, the roles of SMYD3 in OSCC initiation are not fully understood. The present study investigated the biological functions and mechanisms involved in the SMYD3-mediated tumorigenesis of OSCC utilizing bioinformatic approaches and validation assays with the aim of informing the development of targeted therapies for OSCC.

RESULTS

429 chromatin regulators were screened by a machine learning approach and aberrant expression of SMYD3 was found to be closely associated with OSCC formation and poor prognosis. Data profiling of single-cell and tissue demonstrated that upregulated SMYD3 significantly correlated with aggressive clinicopathological features of OSCC. Alterations in copy number and DNA methylation patterns may contribute to SMYD3 overexpression. Functional experimental results suggested that SMYD3 enhanced cancer cell stemness and proliferation in vitro and tumor growth in vivo. SMYD3 was observed to bind to the High Mobility Group AT-Hook 2 (HMGA2) promoter and elevated tri-methylation of histone H3 lysine 4 at the corresponding site was responsible for transactivating HMGA2. SMYD3 also was positively linked to HMGA2 expression in OSCC samples. Furthermore, treatment with the SMYD3 chemical inhibitor BCI-121 exerted anti-tumor effects.

CONCLUSIONS

Histone methyltransferase activity and transcription-potentiating function of SMYD3 were found to be essential for tumorigenesis and the SMYD3-HMGA2 is a potential therapeutic target in OSCC.

SMYD Family Members Serve as Potential Prognostic Markers and Correlate with Immune Infiltrates in Gastric Cancer

Background

The SMYD family comprises a group of genes encoding lysine methyltransferases, which are closely related to tumorigenesis. However, a systematic understanding of their role in gastric cancer (GC) is lacking.

Methods

Using databases and tools such as the Cancer Genome Atlas, Human Protein Atlas, Kaplan-Meier Plotter, Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis, and Metascape, we comprehensively analyzed differences in SMYD expression and its prognostic value as well as the association of SMYDs with immune cell infiltration, tumor mutational burden (TMB), and microsatellite instability (MSI). We conducted functional enrichment analysis and explored a competing endogenous RNA mechanism regulating SMYD mRNA and protein levels in patients with GC.

Results

In GC, the expression of SMYD2/3/4/5 mRNA was significantly upregulated, as opposed to that of SMYD1 mRNA, which was significantly downregulated. The protein levels of SMYDs were consistent with mRNA levels. SMYD1/2/4/5 was negatively correlated with overall survival; SMYD1/2/3/5 was negatively correlated with progression-free survival. Our SMYD-based signature and nomogram model may be useful for inferring the prognosis of GC. All SMYDs were closely associated with the infiltration of six immune cell types: uncharacterized, CD8⁺ T, CD4⁺ T, macrophage, endothelial, and B cells. TMB was significantly negatively correlated with SMYD1 expression, while a significant positive correlation was observed with SMYD2/5. Furthermore, MSI was significantly positively correlated with SMYD2/5 expression. Long non-coding RNAs, such as chr22-38_28785274-29006793.1, XLOC_002309, and CTD-2008N3.1, were suggested to regulate SMYD expression by sponging multiple microRNAs.

Conclusion

SMYDs are differentially expressed in GC and are thus potential prognostic markers. SMYD expression is closely related to immune infiltration, TMB, and MSI, all of which are closely related to the response to targeted immune therapy.

Systematic analysis of prognostic and immunologic characteristics associated with coronavirus disease 2019 regulators in acute myeloid leukemia

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has so far damaged the health of millions and has made the treatment of cancer patients more complicated, and so did acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The current problem is the lack of understanding of their interactions and suggestions of evidence-based guidelines or historical experience for the treatment of such patients. Here, we first identified the COVID-19-related differentially expressed genes (C-DEGs) in AML patients by analyzing RNA-seq from public databases and explored their enrichment pathways and candidate drugs. A total of 76 C-DEGs associated with the progress of AML and COVID-19 infection were ultimately identified, and the functional analysis suggested that there are some shared links between them. Their protein–protein interactions (PPIs) and protein–drug interactions were then recognized by multiple bioinformatics algorithms. Moreover, a COVID-19 gene-associated prognostic model (C-GPM) with riskScore was constructed, patients with a high riskScore had poor survival and apparently immune-activated phenotypes, such as stronger monocyte and neutrophil cell infiltrations and higher immunosuppressants targeting expressions, meaning which may be one of the common denominators between COVID-19 and AML and the reason what complicates the treatment of the latter. Among the study’s drawbacks is that these results relied heavily on publicly available datasets rather than being clinically confirmed. Yet, these findings visualized those C-DEGs’ enrichment pathways and inner associations, and the C-GPM based on them could accurately predict survival outcomes in AML patients, which will be helpful for further optimizing therapies for AML patients with COVID-19 infections.

S100A11 activates the pentose phosphate pathway to induce malignant biological behaviour of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most refractory malignancies and has a poor prognosis. In recent years, increasing evidence has shown that an imbalance of metabolism may contribute to unrestricted pancreatic tumour progression and that the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) plays a pivotal role in cellular metabolism. S100A11 has been shown to regulate multiple biological functions related to the progression and metastasis of various cancer types. However, the exact mechanisms and prognostic value of S100A11 in PDAC remain unclear. Here, we found that S100A11 expression was increased in PDAC and significantly associated with worse prognosis and disease progression. Mechanistically, S100A11 knockdown suppressed the PPP by impairing nascent mRNA synthesis of TKT (transketolase). The current study also demonstrated that H3K4me3 at the -268/+77 region of the TKT promoter was required for its transcriptional activation and S100A11 promoted H3K4me3 loading to the TKT promoter by interacting with SMYD3 protein. Taking these findings together, this study provided new insights into the potential value of S100A11 for treating pancreatic cancer, suggesting that it could be a therapeutic target for PDAC patients.

Serum exosomal proteomics analysis of lung adenocarcinoma to discover new tumor markers

BACKGROUND

Among the most aggressive and rapidly lethal types of lung cancer, lung adenocarcinoma is the most common type. Exosomes, as a hot area, play an influential role in cancer. By using proteomics analysis, we aimed to identify potential markers of lung adenocarcinoma in serum.

METHODS

In our study, we used the ultracentrifugation method to isolate serum exosomes. The Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and bioinformatics analysis were used to identify potential serum exosomal proteins with altered expression among patients with advanced lung adenocarcinoma, early lung adenocarcinoma, and healthy controls. A western blot (WB) was performed to confirm the above differential expression levels in a separate serum sample-isolated exosome, and immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining was conducted to detect expression levels of the above differential proteins of serum exosomes in lung adenocarcinoma tissues and adjacent tissues. Furthermore, we compared different expression models of the above differential proteins in serum and exosomes.

RESULT

According to the ITGAM (Integrin alpha M chain) and CLU (Clusterin) were differentially expressed in serum exosomes among different groups as well as tumor tissues and adjacent tissues. ITGAM was significantly and specifically enriched in exosomes. As compared to serum, CLU did not appear to be significantly enriched in exosomes. ITGAM and CLU were identified as serum exosomal protein markers of lung adenocarcinoma.

CONCLUSIONS

This study can provide novel ideas and a research basis for targeting lung adenocarcinoma treatment as a preliminary study.

Structural Analysis of SMYD3 Lysine Methyltransferase for the Development of Competitive and Specific Enzyme Inhibitors

Lysine methylation is among the key posttranslational modifications to histones that contribute to epigenetic regulation. SMYD3 is a lysine methyltransferase that is essential for the proliferation of a range of tumorigenic cells. The findings that SMYD3 is significantly upregulated in most colorectal carcinomas, hepatocellular carcinomas, and breast cell carcinomas support a model in which its aberrant expression modifies established patterns of gene expression, ultimately driving unrestrained proliferation. Herein, we dissect the unique structural features of SMYD3 relative to other SET enzymes, with an emphasis on the implications for selective design of therapeutics for the clinical management of cancer. Further, we illustrate the ability of inhibitors targeting the SET domain of SMYD3 to reduce the viability of colorectal and lung carcinoma cells.

Functions of SMYD proteins in biological processes: What do we know? An updated review

BACKGROUND

Epigenetic modifiers, such as methyltransferases, play crucial roles in the regulation of many biological processes, including development, cancer and multiple physiopathological conditions.

SUMMARY

The Su(Var)3-9, Enhancer-of-zeste and Trithorax (SET) and Myeloid, Nervy, and DEAF-1 (MYND) domain-containing (SMYD) protein family consists of five members in humans and mice (i.e. SMYD1, SMYD2, SMYD3, SMYD4 and SMYD5), which are known or predicted to have methyltransferase activity on histone and non-histone substrates. The abundance of information concerning SMYD2 and SMYD3 is of note, whereas the other members of the SMYD family have not been so thoroughly studied CONCLUSION: Here we review the literature regarding SMYD proteins published in the last five years, including basic molecular biology mechanistic studies using in vitro systems and animal models, as well as human studies with a more translational or clinical approach.

Histone Methyltransferase KMT2D Regulates H3K4 Methylation and is Involved in the Pathogenesis of Ovarian Cancer

To investigate the function of histone-lysine N-methyltransferase 2D (KMT2D) on the methylation of H3 lysine 4 (H3K4) in the progression of Ovarian cancer (OV). KMT2D, ESR1 and H3K4me expressions in surgical resected tumors and tumor adjacent tissues of OV from 198 patients were determined using immunohistochemistry (IHC). Human OV cell lines including SKOV3, HO-8910 cells and normal ovarian epithelial cell line IOSE80 were employed for in vitro experiment, and BALB/C female nude mice were used for in vivo study. qRT-PCR and Western blotting were implemented for measuring the KMT2D, ESR1, PTGS2, STAT3, VEGFR2, H3K4me and ELF3 levels. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) analysis was used for studying the binding between ESR1 and H3K4me. Edu staining assay was executed to determine cell viability, and colony formation and cell invasion assay. The immunofluorescence method was utilized for the visualization of protein expression and distribution in cells. In this study, KMT2D, ESR1 and H3K4me were found upregulated in OV progression. Mutated H3K4me could inhibit the proliferation, colony formation and invasion ability of OV cells. Mutated H3K4me could also hinder the ESR1 in SKOV3 expressions and HO-8910 cells, which would further mediate PTGS2/STAT3/VEGF pathway. In vivo studies also demonstrated that mutated H3K4me inhibited OV progression via targeting ESR1. All the ChIP-PCR analysis indicated the moderator effect of H3K4me on ESR1. Our findings indicated that ESR1 played an important role in the OV progression. Besides, H3K4me could promote cell proliferation and inhibit apoptosis of OV cells. Meanwhile, it could also targets the ESR1 production to enhance the migration and invasion of OV cells, which was through the activation of ESR1-ELF3-PTGS2-STAT3-VEGF cascade signaling pathway.

A SMYD3/ITGB6/TGFβ1 Positive Feedback Loop Promotes the Invasion and Adhesion of Ovarian Cancer Spheroids

Background

Implantation metastasis is the main means of dissemination in ovarian cancer. Our previous studies showed that SET and MYND domain-containing protein 3 (SMYD3) expression was higher in ovarian cancer spheroids than in monolayers. SMYD3 enhancement of spheroid invasion and adhesion is mediated by the downstream effectors ITGB6 and ITGAM. However, the potential mechanisms underlying the SMYD3/integrin-mediated invasion and adhesion of spheroids still need to be explored.

Methods

Western blotting was used to examine the expression of SMYD3, ITGB6 and downstream molecules under different treatments. Immunofluorescence was used to detect the expression of F-actin, E-cadherin and N-cadherin. Anti-ITGB6 antibody-based inhibition and dual-luciferase reporter assays were used to confirm the binding between ITGB6 and latent TGFβ1. Transwell invasion, adherence and 3D tumor spheroid invasion assays were employed to test the effects of TGFβ1 on the invasion and adhesion of ovarian cancer spheroids. ELISA was performed to assess the release of latent TGFβ1 from ovarian cancer spheroids.

Results

SMYD3 and ITGB6 activated the TGFβ1/Smad3 pathway and then induced the upregulation of Snail, Vimentin and N-cadherin and the downregulation of E-cadherin in 3D-cultured ovarian cancer spheroids. In this process, latent TGFβ1 could bind to ITGB6 and become activated to stimulate the Smad3 pathway. Moreover, SMYD3 and ITGB6 could facilitate the release of latent TGFβ1 from 3D-cultured ovarian cancer spheroids. Interestingly, TGFβ1 could promote the expression of SMYD3 and ITGB6 via feedback. This positive feedback loop could further amplify the biological effect and promote the invasion and adhesion of ovarian cancer spheroids.

Conclusion

Our results demonstrated that the SMYD3/ITGB6/TGFβ1-Smad3 positive feedback loop could promote the invasion and adhesion of ovarian cancer spheroids by upregulating the expression of N-cadherin, Snail, and Vimentin and downregulating the expression of E-cadherin. Thus, our study unmasked the mechanism of SMYD3- and ITGB6-induced ovarian cancer metastasis and provides new ideas for targeted ovarian cancer treatment.

TYROBP, TLR4 and ITGAM regulated macrophages polarization and immune checkpoints expression in osteosarcoma

We established a relationship among the immune-related genes, tumor-infiltrating immune cells (TIICs), and immune checkpoints in patients with osteosarcoma. The gene expression data for osteosarcoma were downloaded from UCSC Xena and GEO database. Immune-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were detected to calculate the risk score. “Estimate” was used for immune infiltrating estimation and “xCell” was used to obtain 64 immune cell subtypes. Furthermore, the relationship among the risk scores, immune cell subtypes, and immune checkpoints was evaluated. The three immune-related genes (TYROBP, TLR4, and ITGAM) were selected to establish a risk scoring system based on their integrated prognostic relevance. The GSEA results for the Hallmark and KEGG pathways revealed that the low-risk score group exhibited the most gene sets that were related to immune-related pathways. The risk score significantly correlated with the xCell score of macrophages, M1 macrophages, and M2 macrophages, which significantly affected the prognosis of osteosarcoma. Thus, patients with low-risk scores showed better results with the immune checkpoints inhibitor therapy. A three immune-related, gene-based risk model can regulate macrophage activation and predict the treatment outcomes the survival rate in osteosarcoma.

Elevated placental histone H3K4 methylation via upregulated histone methyltransferases SETD1A and SMYD3 in preeclampsia and its possible involvement in hypoxia-induced pathophysiological process

INTRODUCTION

Disturbance in placental epigenetic regulation contributes to the pathogenesis of preeclampsia (PE). Although aberrant placental DNA methylation status in PE has been thoroughly studied, the role of histone modifications, including histone methylation, in PE remains unclear. Moreover, no study has ever reported the association between PE and placental histone methylation status by focusing on histone methyltransferases. The present study aimed to investigate the possible involvement of placental epigenetic regulation by histone methylation via histone methyltransferases in the pathophysiology of PE.

METHODS

Placental mRNA expression of histone methyltransferases was examined using quantitative RT-PCR. Protein expression of histone methyltransferases and histone methylation status in placentas and trophoblast cell lines were assessed by immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

Expression profile of histone methyltransferases in the placentas using quantitative RT-PCR revealed that the mRNA expression levels of histone 3 lysine 4 (H3K4) methyltransferases, SETD1A and SMYD3, were significantly increased in placentas from PE patients. Immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry revealed that not only protein expression levels of SETD1A and SMYD3, but also H3K4 methylation status was increased in the trophoblasts from PE placentas. In vitro studies using HTR-8/SV-neo and BeWo cells showed that hypoxia induced the expression levels of SETD1A and SMYD3, and subsequently enhanced H3K4 methylation. Furthermore, the overexpression of SETD1A and SMYD3 in HTR-8/SV-neo cells enhanced H3K4 methylation in response to hypoxia.

DISCUSSION

Our study results suggest that placental epigenetic alteration by enhanced histone H3K4 methylation through upregulated SETD1A and SMYD3 might play a role in the pathophysiological process of PE associated with hypoxia.

Novel insights into SMYD2 and SMYD3 inhibitors: from potential anti-tumoural therapy to a variety of new applications

The revelance of the epigenetic regulation of cancer led to the design and testing of many drugs targeting epigenetic modifiers. The Su(Var)3-9, Enhancer-of-zeste and Trithorax (SET) and myeloid, Nervy, and DEAF-1 (MYND) domain-containing protein 2 (SMYD2) and 3 (SMYD3) are methyltransferases which act on histone and non-histone proteins to promote tumorigenesis in many cancer types. In addition to their oncogenic roles, SMYD2 and SMYD3 are involved in many other physiopathological conditions. In this review we will focus on the advances made in the last five years in the field of pharmacology regarding drugs targeting SMYD2 (such as LLY-507 or AZ505) and SMYD3 (such as BCI-121 or EPZ031686) and their potential cellular and molecular mechanisms of action and application in anti-tumoural therapy and/or against other diseases.

Identification and Functional Validation of Differentially Expressed microRNAs in Ascites-Derived Ovarian Cancer Cells Compared with Primary Tumour Tissue

Purpose

Ovarian cancer, manifested by malignant ascites, is the most lethal gynaecological cancer. Suspended ascites-derived spheroids may contribute to ovarian cancer metastasis. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are also associated with ovarian cancer metastasis. Here, we aimed to investigate the differentially expressed miRNAs (DE-miRNAs) in ascites-derived spheroids compared with primary tumour tissues, which may regulate ovarian cancer metastasis.

Methods

The DE-miRNAs between ovarian cancer primary tumour tissues and ascites-derived spheroids were identified by GEO2R screening in samples from 3 high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) patients of dataset GSE65819. We used MiRTarBase, TargetScanHuman7.2 and STRING to predict the target hub genes of DE-miRNAs and DAVID to perform functional analysis of hub genes. ALGGEN PROMO and TransmiR v2.0 were used to predict transcription factors (TFs) that potentially regulate DE-miRNAs expression. The observed differences in DE-miRNAs expression were validated with samples from 12 HGSOC patients and 2 ovarian cancer cell lines using PCR. The functions of DE-miRNAs on ovarian cancer progression were verified by invasion, adherent, and angiogenesis assays.

Results

Through bioinformatics screening and experimental validation, miR-199a-3p, miR-199b-3p, miR-199a-5p, miR-126-3p and miR-145-5p were identified as being significantly downregulated in ascites-derived spheroids compared with primary tumour tissues. In addition, TFAP2A was identified as a potentially common upstream TF regulating the expression of the above mentioned DE-miRNAs. The overexpression of miR-199a-3p, miR-199b-3p, miR-199a-5p lead to invasion inhibition, and the overexpression of miR-126-3p, miR-145-5p, miR-199a-5p and miR-199b-3p lead to adhesion inhibition of suspended ovarian cancer cells. High-expressed miR-126-3p, miR-199a-3p, miR-199a-5p and miR-199b-3p contributed to apoptosis of suspended ovarian cancer cells.

Conclusion

The downregulated expression of miR-199a-3p, miR-199b-3p, miR-199a-5p, miR-126-3p and miR-145-5p in ascites-derived spheroids plays a key role in promoting ovarian cancer progression, which may represent novel molecules for targeted therapy for ovarian cancer.

Exploring new targets for the treatment of hepatitis-B virus and hepatitis-B virus-associated hepatocellular carcinoma: A new perspective in bioinformatics

BACKGROUND

Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infection is a global public health problem. After infection, patients experience a natural course from chronic hepatitis to cirrhosis and even Hepatitis B associated Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HBV-HCC). With the multi-omics research, many differentially expressed genes from chronic hepatitis to HCC stages have been discovered. All these provide important clues for new biomarkers and therapeutic targets. The purpose of this study is to explore the differential gene expression of HBV and HBV-related liver cancer, and analyze their enrichments and significance of related pathways.

METHODS

In this study, we downloaded four microarray datasets GSE121248, GSE67764, GSE55092, GSE55092 and GSE83148 from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Using these four datasets, patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) differentially expressed genes (CHB DEGs) and patients with HBV-related HCC differentially expressed genes (HBV-HCC DEGs) were identified. Then Protein-protein Interaction (PPI) network analysis, Gene Ontology (GO) functional analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis were performed to excavate the functional interaction of these two groups of DEGs and the common DEGs. Finally, the Kaplan website was used to analyze the role of these genes in HCC prognostic.

RESULTS

A total of 241 CHB DEGs, 276 HBV-HCC DEGs, and 4 common DEGs (cytochrome P450 family 26 subfamily A member 1 (CYP26A1), family with sequence similarity 110 member C(FAM110C), SET and MYND domain containing 3(SMYD3) and zymogen granule protein 16(ZG16)) were identified. CYP26A1, FAM110C, SMYD3 and ZG16 exist in 4 models and interact with 33 genes in the PPI network of CHB and HBV-HCC DEGs,. GO function analysis showed that: CYP26A1, FAM110C, SMYD3, ZG16, and the 33 genes in their models mainly affect the regulation of synaptic vesicle transport, tangential migration from the subventricular zone to the olfactory bulb, cellular response to manganese ion, protein localization to mitochondrion, cellular response to dopamine, negative regulation of neuron death in the biological process of CHB. In the biological process of HBV-HCC, they mainly affect tryptophan catabolic process, ethanol oxidation, drug metabolic process, tryptophan catabolic process to kynurenine, xenobiotic metabolic process, retinoic acid metabolic process, steroid metabolic process, retinoid metabolic process, steroid catabolic process, retinal metabolic process, and rogen metabolic process. The analysis of the 4 common DEGs related to the prognosis of liver cancer showed that: CYP26A1, FAM110C, SMYD3 and ZG16 are closely related to the development of liver cancer and patient survival. Besides, further investigation of the research status of the four genes showed that CYP26A1 and SMYD3 could also affect HBV replication and the prognosis of liver cancer.

CONCLUSION

CYP26A1, FAM110C, SMYD3 and ZG16 are unique genes to differentiate HBV infection and HBV-related HCC, and expected to be novel targets for HBV-related HCC occurrence and prognostic judgement.

Advanced maternal age causes premature placental senescence and malformation via dysregulated α-Klotho expression in trophoblasts

Advanced maternal age (AMA) pregnancy is associated with higher risks of adverse perinatal outcomes, which may result from premature senescence of the placenta. α-Klotho is a well-known antiaging protein; however, its expression and effect on the placenta in AMA pregnancies have not yet been fully elucidated. The expression patterns of α-Klotho in mouse and human placentas from AMA pregnancies were determined by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining. α-Klotho expression in JAR cells was manipulated to investigate its role in trophoblastic senescence, and transwell assays were performed to assess trophoblast invasion. The downstream genes regulated by α-Klotho in JAR cells were first screened by mRNA sequencing in α-Klotho-knockdown and control JAR cells and then validated. α-Klotho-deficient mice were generated by injecting klotho-interfering adenovirus (Ad-Klotho) via the tail vein on GD8.5. Ablation of α-Klotho resulted in not only a senescent phenotype and loss of invasiveness in JAR cells but also a reduction in the transcription of cell adhesion molecule (CAM) genes. Overexpression of α-Klotho significantly improved invasion but did not alter the expression of senescence biomarkers. α-Klotho-deficient mice exhibited placental malformation and, consequently, lower placental and fetal weights. In conclusion, AMA results in reduced α-Klotho expression in placental trophoblasts, therefore leading to premature senescence and loss of invasion (possibly through the downregulation of CAMs), both of which ultimately result in placental malformation and adverse perinatal outcomes.

SMYD3 confers cisplatin chemoresistance of NSCLC cells in an ANKHD1-dependent manner

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Up-regulated SMYD3 correlates with worse prognosis and controls DDP resistance of NSCLC.

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ANKHD1 interacts with and is essential for SMYD3-induced DDP resistance.

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CDK2 is identified to be a downstream effector of SMYD3-ANKHD1 in NSCLC.

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SMYD3-ANKHD1 critically regulates the growth DDP-resistant NSCLC cells in vivo.

Background

Cisplatin (DDP) remains the backbone of chemotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), yet its clinical efficacy is limited by DDP resistance. We aim to investigate the role of the SET and MYND domain-containing protein 3 (SMYD3) in DDP resistance of NSCLC.

Methods

Expression pattern of SMYD3 was determined in NSCLC tissues using qRT-PCR, which also validated its correlation with NSCLC clinicopathological stages. Impacts of SMYD3 on DDP resistance were evaluated by knocking down SMYD3 in DDP-resistant cells and overexpressing it in DDP-sensitive cells, and assessed for several phenotypes: IC₅₀ by MTT, long-term proliferation by colony formation, apoptosis and cell-cycle distribution by flow cytometry. The interaction between Ankyrin Repeat and KH Domain Containing 1 (ANKHD1) and SMYD3 was examined by co-immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence. The transcriptional regulation of SMYD3 on cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) promoter regions was confirmed using chromatin-immunoprecipitation. The in vivo experiments using DDP-resistant cells with altered SMYD3 and ANKHD1 expression were further performed to verify the SMYD3/ANKHD1 axis.

Results

Highly expressed SMYD3 was observed in NSCLC tissues or cells, acted as a sensitive indicator for NSCLC, correlated with higher TNM stages or resistant to DDP treatment, and shorter overall survival. The promotion of SMYD3 on DDP resistance requires co-regulator, ANKHD1. CDK2 was identified as a downstream effector. In vivo, SMYD3 knockdown inhibited the growth of DDP-resistant NSCLC cells, which was abolished by ANKHD1 overexpression.

Conclusions

SMYD3 confers NSCLC cells chemoresistance to DDP in an ANKHD1-dependent manner, providing novel therapeutic targets to overcome DDP resistance in NSCLC .

Tumor microenvironment-associated gene C3 can predict the prognosis of colorectal adenocarcinoma: a study based on TCGA

BACKGROUND

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common malignancies. With continuous exploration of the interaction between tumor cells and the immune system, tumor immunotherapy has become a revolution. However, CRC remains one of the less effective tumors for immunotherapy. The tumor microenvironment plays an important role in tumorigenesis and progression. The aim of this study is to explore tumor microenvironment-related genes that can predict the prognosis of colorectal adenocarcinoma, and also to provide new ideas for the mechanism of tumor development as well as immunotherapy.

METHODS

After estimating Stromalscore and Immunescore of colorectal adenocarcinoma tumor samples according to RNA-Seq expression data downloaded from TCGA, we screened for TME-related differential genes. We filtered prognosis-related core genes by constructing protein-protein interaction networks and making one-factor cox analysis for prognosis. Finally, the relative content of 22 immune cells in tumor tissues was evaluated, and then immune cells associated with core genes were identified.

RESULTS

We screened 773 differential genes related to the TME. Then we identified C3 as a core gene associated with prognosis. Single gene analysis showed that C3 expression was significantly higher in tumor tissues than in normal tissues (p < 0.001). High C3 expression was associated with lower overall survival (p = 0.046). Tumor immune cell analysis showed that mast cells resting, mast cells activated, T cells CD4 memory activated, eosinophils, and macrophages M0 were C3-associated immune cells.

CONCLUSIONS

C3 has potential as a biomarker for colorectal adenocarcinoma and could provide new research ideas for the diagnosis and treatment of colorectal adenocarcinoma, especially for immunotherapy.

SMYD3: a regulator of epigenetic and signaling pathways in cancer

Chromatin modifiers and their implications in oncogenesis have been an exciting area of cancer research. These are enzymes that modify chromatin via post-translational modifications such as methylation, acetylation, sumoylation, phosphorylation, in addition to others. Depending on the modification, chromatin modifiers can either promote or repress transcription. SET and MYN-domain containing 3 (SMYD3) is a chromatin modifier that has been implicated in the development and progression of various cancer types. It was first reported to tri-methylate Histone 3 Lysine 4 (H3K4), a methylation mark known to promote transcription. However, since this discovery, other histone (H4K5 and H4K20, for example) and non-histone (VEGFR, HER2, MAP3K2, ER, and others) substrates of SMYD3 have been described, primarily in the context of cancer. This review aims to provide a background on basic characteristics of SMYD3, such as its protein structure and tissue expression profiles, discuss reported histone and non-histone substrates of SMYD3, and underscore prognostic and functional implications of SMYD3 in cancer. Finally, we briefly discuss ongoing efforts to develop inhibitors of SMYD3 for future therapeutic use. It is our hope that this review will help synthesize existing research on SMYD3 in an effort to propel future discovery.

Three-gene prognostic biomarkers for seminoma identified by weighted gene co-expression network analysis

Testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs) are common in young males, and seminoma accounts for a large proportion of TGCTs. However, there are limited records on the exploration of novel biomarkers for seminoma. Hence, we aimed to identify new biomarkers associated with overall survival in seminoma. mRNA-seq and clinical traits of TGCTs were downloaded from UCSC XENA and analyzed by weighted gene co-expression network analysis. After intersection with differentially expressed genes in GSE8607, common genes were subjected to protein-protein interaction (PPI) network construction and enrichment analyses. Then, the top 10 common genes were investigated by Kaplan–Meier (KM) survival analyses and univariate Cox regression analyses. Ultimately, TYROBP, CD68, and ITGAM were considered three prognostic biomarkers in seminoma. Based on correlation analysis between these genes and immune infiltrates, we suggest that the three biomarkers influence the survival of seminoma patients, possibly through regulating the infiltration of immune cells. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that TYROBP, CD68, and ITGAM could be regarded as prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for seminoma patients.

SMYD3 promotes colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) progression by mediating cell proliferation and apoptosis

Colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) is a type of common malignant tumor originating in the digestive tract. Recently, targeted therapy has had significant effects on the treatment of COAD. However, more effective molecular targets need to be developed. SET and MYND domain-containing protein 3 (SMYD3) is a type of methyltransferase which methylates histone and non-histone proteins. The effects of SMYD3 on cancer progression and metastasis have been widely revealed. However, its possible role in COAD remains unclear. The current study demonstrated that SMYD3 expression was upregulated in human COAD tissues via analyzing the The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and the immunohistochemical assays. Furthermore, the expression of SMYD3 was correlated with prognosis and tumor stage (P=0.038) in patients with COAD. Colony formation, MTT, FCM assays and animal assays indicated SMYD3 affected the proliferation, apoptosis and the cell cycle of COAD cells in vitro and promoted tumor growth in mice in vivo. In summary, the results demonstrated the effects of SMYD3 on COAD progression and we hypothesized that SMYD3 is a novel molecular target for COAD treatment.

Estrogen receptor α is involved in the regulation of ITGA8 methylation in estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer

Background

Integrin subunit α 8 (ITGA8) methylation has been associated with the development of several cancers, but its contribution to breast cancer remains unclear. The present study aimed to investigate the methylation status of ITGA8, and the underlying regulatory mechanisms of ITGA8 methylation in breast cancer.

Methods

ITGA8 expression was investigated using the Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis 2 (GEPIA2) database and the Breast Cancer Gene-Expression Miner v.4.4 (bc-GenExMiner v4.4). The association between ITGA8 expression levels and the survival rate of breast cancer patients was evaluated using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and Gene Expression-based Outcome for Breast Cancer Online (GOBO): Gene Set Analysis. Methylation-specific PCR (MSP) was used to detect the methylation of ITGA8. Protein level of ITGA8 was determined by Western blot analysis.

Results

ITGA8 was expressed at low levels in human breast cancer cells compared to non-tumorigenic breast cells and breast tissue, and was upregulated in estrogen receptor (ER)-positive tissue compared with ER-negative tissue (P<0.01). ITGA8 gene expression was negatively associated with breast tumor stage and survival rate in all breast cancer patients. However, ER-positive patients with low ITGA8 expression showed poorer distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) rates than patients with high ITGA8 expression. This was not observed in the ER-negative population. Mechanistically speaking, hypermethylation of ITGA8 was discovered in ER-positive breast cancer cells. Administration of the methylation inhibitor, 5-aza-2’-deoxycytidine (5-aza-dC), significantly elevated protein expression of ITGA8 in ER-positive breast cancer cells compared to ER-negative cells. The positive association between ITGA8 status and methylation was also observed in clinical tissue specimens. When treated with 17-beta-estradiol, an antagonist of ERα, 5-aza-dC-induced upregulation of ITGA8 in ER-positive breast cancer cells was no longer observed.

Conclusions

Low ITGA8 expression in ER-positive breast cancer might be caused by the hypermethylation of ITGA8, a process dependent on ERα. Our findings provide an important foundation for investigations into ITGA8-targeted treatment strategies for ER-positive breast cancer.

The Application of Patient-Derived Xenograft Models in Gynecologic Cancers

Recently, due to the limitations of cell line models and animal models in the preclinical research with insufficient reflecting the physiological situation of humans, patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models of many cancers have been widely developed because of their better representation of the tumor heterogeneity and tumor microenvironment with retention of the cellular complexity, cytogenetics, and stromal architecture. PDX models now have been identified as a powerful tool for determining cancer characteristics, developing new treatment, and predicting drug efficacy. An increase in attempts to generate PDX models in gynecologic cancers has emerged in recent years to understand tumorigenesis. Hence, this review summarized the generation of PDX models and engraftment success of PDX models in gynecologic cancers. Furthermore, we illustrated the similarity between PDX model and original tumor, and described preclinical utilization of PDX models in gynecologic cancers. It would help supply better personalized therapy for gynecologic cancer patients.

SMYD3: An Oncogenic Driver Targeting Epigenetic Regulation and Signaling Pathways

SMYD3 is a member of the SMYD lysine methylase family and plays an important role in the methylation of various histone and non-histone targets. Aberrant SMYD3 expression contributes to carcinogenesis and SMYD3 upregulation was proposed as a prognostic marker in various solid cancers. Here we summarize SMYD3-mediated regulatory mechanisms, which are implicated in the pathophysiology of cancer, as drivers of distinct oncogenic pathways. We describe SMYD3-dependent mechanisms affecting cancer progression, highlighting SMYD3 interplay with proteins and RNAs involved in the regulation of cancer cell proliferation, migration and invasion. We also address the effectiveness and mechanisms of action for the currently available SMYD3 inhibitors. The findings analyzed herein demonstrate that a complex network of SMYD3-mediated cytoplasmic and nuclear interactions promote oncogenesis across different cancer types. These evidences depict SMYD3 as a modulator of the transcriptional response and of key signaling pathways, orchestrating multiple oncogenic inputs and ultimately, promoting transcriptional reprogramming and tumor transformation. Further insights into the oncogenic role of SMYD3 and its targeting of different synergistic oncogenic signals may be beneficial for effective cancer treatment.