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Han X, Zhang A, Wang P, Bi H, Ren K, Li E, Yang X, Aydemir I, Tao K, Lin J, Abdulkadir SA, Yang J, Ji P. Pleckstrin-2 Mediates the Activation of AKT in Prostate Cancer and Is Repressed by Androgen Receptor. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2024:S0002-9440(24)00246-3. [PMID: 39069167 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2024.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2024] [Revised: 06/16/2024] [Accepted: 07/09/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-AKT and androgen receptor (AR) pathways are commonly activated in prostate cancers. Their reciprocal regulation makes advanced prostate cancers difficult to treat. The current study shows that pleckstrin-2 (PLEK-2, a proto-oncoprotein involved in the activation and stabilization of AKT, connects these two pathways. Genetic evidence is provided that suggests that Plek2 deficiency largely reverted tumorigenesis in Pten prostate-specific knockout mice and that overexpression of PLEK2 promoted the proliferation and colony formation of prostate cancer cells in vitro. In addition, it was found that PLEK2 was negatively regulated by AR, that AR transcriptionally repressed PLEK2 through binding to the PLEK2 promoter region, and that overexpression of AR reduced PLEK2 expression, which inactivated AKT. Conversely, knockdown of AR in prostate cancer cells increased PLEK2 expression and activated the AKT pathway. This reciprocal inhibitory loop can be pharmacologically targeted using the PLEK2 inhibitor. It is shown that the PLEK2 inhibitor dose-dependently inhibited prostate cancer cell proliferation with the inactivation of AKT. Overall, the current study uncovers the crucial role of PLEK2 in prostate cancer proliferation and provides the rationale for targeting PLEK2 to treat prostate cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu Han
- Department of Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois; Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Ali Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois; Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Pan Wang
- Department of Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois; Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Honghao Bi
- Department of Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois; Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Kehan Ren
- Department of Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois; Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Ermin Li
- Department of Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois; Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Ximing Yang
- Department of Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois; Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Inci Aydemir
- Department of Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois; Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Kara Tao
- Department of Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Jeffrey Lin
- Department of Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Sarki A Abdulkadir
- Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois; Department of Urology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Jing Yang
- Department of Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois; Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Peng Ji
- Department of Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois; Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois.
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2
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Wang Y, Zhang YJ. Tankyrase 2 promotes lung cancer cell malignancy. World J Clin Oncol 2024; 15:755-764. [PMID: 38946832 PMCID: PMC11212605 DOI: 10.5306/wjco.v15.i6.755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2024] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/24/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tankyrase 2 (TNKS2) is a potential candidate molecular target for the prognosis and treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but its biological functions are unclear. AIM To investigate the biological functions of TNKS2 in NSCLC. METHODS Using a lentiviral vector, we generated H647 model cells with TNKS2 knockdown by RNA interference and A549 model cells with TNKS2 overexpression by transfection with a TNKS2 overexpressing plasmid. Increased and decreased expression levels of TNKS2 in the two cell lines were verified using real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analyses. Cell apoptosis, proliferation, and migration were determined using flow cytometry, carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl ester staining, and scratch assay, respectively. Immunofluorescence staining was conducted to examine TNKS2 and β-catenin expression levels in the two transfected cell lines and the non-transfected cells. RESULTS TNKS2 mRNA and protein expression was significantly higher in the highly malignant NCI-H647 cells, while it remained at a low level in the less malignant A549 cells. Lentivirus-mediated overexpression of TNKS2 in A549 cells resulted in a 3-fold increase in gene expression and a 1.7-fold increase in protein expression (P < 0.01). Conversely, shRNA interference targeting TNKS2 Led to an 8-fold decrease in gene expression and a 3-fold decrease in protein expression (P < 0.01) in NCI-H647 cells. Furthermore, the cell apoptosis rate was significantly reduced (50%) and cell migration rate was increased (35%) in the TNKS2 overexpression group than in the control group (P < 0.05). In contrast, shTNKS2 promoted apoptosis by more than one fold and reduced migration by 60% (P < 0.05). Immunofluorescence analysis revealed enhanced nuclear localization of β-catenin fluorescence signal associated with high TNKS2 expression levels. Western blot analysis investigating TNKS2/β-catenin-related proteins indicated consistent changes between TNKS2 and β-catenin expression in lung cancer cells, whereas Axin displayed an opposite trend (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION The obtained results revealed that TNKS2 may serve as an adverse prognostic factor and a potential therapeutic target in NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Wang
- Department of Gynecological Oncology, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou 310022, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Yong-Jun Zhang
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou 310022, Zhejiang Province, China
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3
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Zhang W, Yu L, Xu C, Tang T, Cao J, Chen L, Pang X, Ren W. PLEK2 activates the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway to drive lung adenocarcinoma progression by upregulating SPC25. Cell Biol Int 2024. [PMID: 38894536 DOI: 10.1002/cbin.12197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is the most common subtype of NSCLC, characterized by poor prognosis and frequently diagnosed at advanced. While previous studies have demonstrated pleckstrin-2 (PLEK2) as aberrantly expressed and implicated in tumorigenesis across various tumor types, including LUAD, the molecular mechanisms underlying PLEK2-mediated LUAD progression remain incompletely understood. In this study, we obtained data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database to assess PLEK2 expression in LUAD, a finding further confirmed through analysis of human tissue specimens. PLEK2-silenced LUAD cellular models were subsequently constructed to examine the functional role of PLEK2 both in vitro and in vivo. Our results showed elevated PLEK2 expression in LUAD, correlating with poor patients' prognosis. PLEK2 knockdown led to a significant suppression of LUAD cell proliferation and migration, accompanied by enhanced apoptosis. Moreover, tumor growth in mice injected with PLEK2-silencing LUAD cells was impaired. Gene expression profiling and Co-IP assays suggested direct interaction between PLEK2 and SPC25, with downregulation of SPC25 similarly impairing cell proliferation and migration. Additionally, we revealed phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT signaling activation as requisite for PLEK2-induced malignant phenotypes in LUAD. Collectively, our findings underscore PLEK2's oncogenic potential in LUAD, suggesting its utility as a prognostic indicator and therapeutic target for LUAD management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenqian Zhang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Peking University Shougang Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Lei Yu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Peking University Shougang Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Cong Xu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Peking University Shougang Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Tian Tang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Peking University Shougang Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Jianguang Cao
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Peking University Shougang Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Lei Chen
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Peking University Shougang Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Xinya Pang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Peking University Shougang Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Weihao Ren
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Peking University Shougang Hospital, Beijing, China
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4
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Li Q, Li J, Wang J, Wang J, Lu T, Jia Y, Sun H, Ma X. PLEK2 mediates metastasis and invasion via α5-nAChR activation in nicotine-induced lung adenocarcinoma. Mol Carcinog 2024; 63:253-265. [PMID: 37921560 DOI: 10.1002/mc.23649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
Evidence has shown a strong relationship between smoking and epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT). α5-nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α5-nAChR) contributes to nicotine-induced lung cancer cell EMT. The cytoskeleton-associated protein PLEK2 is mainly involved in cytoskeletal protein recombination and cell stretch migration regulation, which is closely related to EMT. However, little is known about the link between nicotine/α5-nAChR and PLEK2 in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). Here, we identified a link between α5-nAChR and PLEK2 in LUAD. α5-nAChR expression was correlated with PLEK2 expression, smoking status and lower survival in vivo. α5-nAChR mediated nicotine-induced PLEK2 expression via STAT3. α5-nAChR/PLEK2 signaling is involved in LUAD cell migration, invasion and stemness. Moreover, PLEK2 was found to interact with CFL1 in nicotine-induced EMT in LUAD cells. Furthermore, the functional link among α5-nAChR, PLEK2 and CFL1 was confirmed in mouse xenograft tissues and human LUAD tissues. These findings reveal a novel α5-nAChR/PLEK2/CFL1 pathway involved in nicotine-induced LUAD progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Li
- Research Center of Basic Medicine, Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Jingtan Li
- Research Center of Basic Medicine, Jinan Central Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Jingting Wang
- Research Center of Basic Medicine, Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Research Center of Basic Medicine, Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Tong Lu
- Research Center of Basic Medicine, Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, China
- Shandong Intelligent Technology Innovation Center, Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
| | - Yanfei Jia
- Research Center of Basic Medicine, Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Haiji Sun
- Shandong Intelligent Technology Innovation Center, Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
- College of Life Science, Shandong Normal University, Shandong, China
| | - Xiaoli Ma
- Research Center of Basic Medicine, Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, China
- Research Center of Basic Medicine, Jinan Central Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Shandong Intelligent Technology Innovation Center, Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
- Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine & Stress Injury of Shandong Province, Shandong, China
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5
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Basu B, Kal S, Karmakar S, Basu M, Ghosh MK. E3 ubiquitin ligases in lung cancer: Emerging insights and therapeutic opportunities. Life Sci 2024; 336:122333. [PMID: 38061537 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2023.122333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Revised: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
Aim In this review, we have attempted to provide the readers with an updated account of the role of a family of proteins known as E3 ligases in different aspects of lung cancer progression, along with insights into the deregulation of expression of these proteins during lung cancer. A detailed account of the therapeutic strategies involving E3 ligases that have been developed or currently under development has also been provided in this review. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The review article employs extensive literature search, along with differential gene expression analysis of lung cancer associated E3 ligases using the DESeq2 package in R, and the Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) database (http://gepia.cancer-pku.cn/). Protein expression analysis of CPTAC lung cancer samples was carried out using the UALCAN webtool (https://ualcan.path.uab.edu/index.html). Assessment of patient overall survival (OS) in response to high and low expression of selected E3 ligases was performed using the online Kaplan-Meier plotter (https://kmplot.com/analysis/index.php?p=background). KEY FINDINGS: SIGNIFICANCE: The review provides an in-depth understanding of the role of E3 ligases in lung cancer progression and an up-to-date account of the different therapeutic strategies targeting oncogenic E3 ligases for improved lung cancer management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bhaskar Basu
- Cancer Biology and Inflammatory Disorder Division, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology (CSIR-IICB), TRUE Campus, CN-6, Sector-V, Salt Lake, Kolkata- 700091 & 4, Raja S.C. Mullick Road, Jadavpur, Kolkata 700032, India
| | - Satadeepa Kal
- Cancer Biology and Inflammatory Disorder Division, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology (CSIR-IICB), TRUE Campus, CN-6, Sector-V, Salt Lake, Kolkata- 700091 & 4, Raja S.C. Mullick Road, Jadavpur, Kolkata 700032, India
| | - Subhajit Karmakar
- Cancer Biology and Inflammatory Disorder Division, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology (CSIR-IICB), TRUE Campus, CN-6, Sector-V, Salt Lake, Kolkata- 700091 & 4, Raja S.C. Mullick Road, Jadavpur, Kolkata 700032, India
| | - Malini Basu
- Department of Microbiology, Dhruba Chand Halder College, Dakshin Barasat, South 24 Parganas, PIN -743372, India
| | - Mrinal K Ghosh
- Cancer Biology and Inflammatory Disorder Division, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology (CSIR-IICB), TRUE Campus, CN-6, Sector-V, Salt Lake, Kolkata- 700091 & 4, Raja S.C. Mullick Road, Jadavpur, Kolkata 700032, India.
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6
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Sadrkhanloo M, Paskeh MDA, Hashemi M, Raesi R, Bahonar A, Nakhaee Z, Entezari M, Beig Goharrizi MAS, Salimimoghadam S, Ren J, Nabavi N, Rashidi M, Dehkhoda F, Taheriazam A, Tan SC, Hushmandi K. New emerging targets in osteosarcoma therapy: PTEN and PI3K/Akt crosstalk in carcinogenesis. Pathol Res Pract 2023; 251:154902. [PMID: 37922723 DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2023.154902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Revised: 10/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
Osteosarcoma (OS) is a malignant bone carcinoma that affects people in childhood and adulthood. The heterogeneous nature and chromosomal instability represent certain characteristics of OS cells. These cancer cells grow and migrate abnormally, making the prognosis undesirable for patients. Conventional and current treatments fail to completely eradicate tumor cells, so new therapeutics targeting genes may be considered. PI3K/Akt is a regulator of events such as growth, cell death, migration, and differentiation, and its expression changes during cancer progression. PTEN reduces PI3K/Akt expression, and its mutations and depletions have been reported in various tumors. Experimental evidence shows that there is upregulation of PI3K/Akt and downregulation of PTEN in OS. Increasing PTEN expression may suppress PI3K/Akt to minimize tumorigenesis. In addition, PI3K/Akt shows a positive association with growth, metastasis, EMT and metabolism of OS cells and inhibits apoptosis. Importantly, overexpression of PI3K/Akt causes drug resistance and radio-resistance and its level can be modulated by miRNAs, lncRNAs and circRNAs. Silencing PI3K/Akt by compounds and drugs can suppress OS. Here, we review in detail the function of the PTEN/PI3K/Akt in OS, revealing its biological function, function in tumor progression, resistance to therapy, and pharmacological significance.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mahshid Deldar Abad Paskeh
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran; Farhikhtegan Medical Convergence Sciences Research Center, Farhikhtegan Hospital Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mehrdad Hashemi
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran; Farhikhtegan Medical Convergence Sciences Research Center, Farhikhtegan Hospital Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Rasoul Raesi
- Department of Health Services Management, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Department of Medical-Surgical Nursing, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Alireza Bahonar
- Department of Food Hygiene and Quality Control, Division of Epidemiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zahra Nakhaee
- Medical School, Gonabad University of Medical Sciences, Gonabad, Iran
| | - Maliheh Entezari
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran; Farhikhtegan Medical Convergence Sciences Research Center, Farhikhtegan Hospital Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Shokooh Salimimoghadam
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Jun Ren
- Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Department of Cardiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Noushin Nabavi
- Department of Urologic Sciences and Vancouver Prostate Centre, University of British Columbia, V6H3Z6 Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Mohsen Rashidi
- Department Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran; The Health of Plant and Livestock Products Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
| | - Farshid Dehkhoda
- Department of Orthopedics, Imam Hossein Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Afshin Taheriazam
- Farhikhtegan Medical Convergence Sciences Research Center, Farhikhtegan Hospital Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran; Department of Orthopedics, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Shing Cheng Tan
- UKM Medical Molecular Biology Institute, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Kiavash Hushmandi
- Department of Food Hygiene and Quality Control, Division of Epidemiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
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7
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Mao D, Zhou Z, Chen H, Liu X, Li D, Chen X, He Y, Liu M, Zhang C. Pleckstrin-2 promotes tumour immune escape from NK cells by activating the MT1-MMP-MICA signalling axis in gastric cancer. Cancer Lett 2023; 572:216351. [PMID: 37591356 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2023.216351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023]
Abstract
Immune escape is a major challenge in tumour immunotherapy. Pleckstrin-2(PLEK2) plays a critical role in tumour progression, but its role in immune escape in gastric cancer (GC) remains uncharacterized. RNA sequencing was used to explore the differentially expressed genes in a GC cell line that was resistant to the antitumor effect of Natural killer (NK) cells. Apoptosis and the expression of IFN-γ and TNF-α were detected by flow cytometry (FCM). PLEK2 expression was examined by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry (IHC). PLEK2 was upregulated in MGC803R cells that were resistant to the antitumor effect of NK cells. PLEK2 knockout increased the sensitivity of GC cells to NK cell killing. PLEK2 expression was negatively correlated with MICA and positively correlated with MT1-MMP expression both in vitro and in vivo. PLEK2 promoted Sp1 phosphorylation through the PI3K-AKT pathway, thereby upregulating MT1-MMP expression, which ultimately led to MICA shedding. In mouse xenograft models, PLEK2 knockout inhibited intraperitoneal metastasis of GC cells and promoted NK cell infiltration. In summary, PLEK2 suppressed NK cell immune surveillance by promoting MICA shedding, which serves as a potential therapeutic target for GC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deli Mao
- Digestive Diseases Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, No. 628 Zhenyuan Road, Shenzhen, 518107, Guangdong, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Digestive Cancer Research, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, No. 628 Zhenyuan Road, Shenzhen, 518107, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhijun Zhou
- Digestive Diseases Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, No. 628 Zhenyuan Road, Shenzhen, 518107, Guangdong, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Digestive Cancer Research, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, No. 628 Zhenyuan Road, Shenzhen, 518107, Guangdong, China; Department of Medicine, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, United States
| | - Hengxing Chen
- Digestive Diseases Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, No. 628 Zhenyuan Road, Shenzhen, 518107, Guangdong, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Digestive Cancer Research, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, No. 628 Zhenyuan Road, Shenzhen, 518107, Guangdong, China
| | - Xinran Liu
- Digestive Diseases Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, No. 628 Zhenyuan Road, Shenzhen, 518107, Guangdong, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Digestive Cancer Research, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, No. 628 Zhenyuan Road, Shenzhen, 518107, Guangdong, China
| | - Dongsheng Li
- Digestive Diseases Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, No. 628 Zhenyuan Road, Shenzhen, 518107, Guangdong, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Digestive Cancer Research, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, No. 628 Zhenyuan Road, Shenzhen, 518107, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiancong Chen
- Digestive Diseases Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, No. 628 Zhenyuan Road, Shenzhen, 518107, Guangdong, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Digestive Cancer Research, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, No. 628 Zhenyuan Road, Shenzhen, 518107, Guangdong, China
| | - Yulong He
- Digestive Diseases Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, No. 628 Zhenyuan Road, Shenzhen, 518107, Guangdong, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Digestive Cancer Research, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, No. 628 Zhenyuan Road, Shenzhen, 518107, Guangdong, China; Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, No. 58 Zhongshan 2nd Road, Guangzhou, 510080, Guangdong, China
| | - Mingyang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, China.
| | - Changhua Zhang
- Digestive Diseases Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, No. 628 Zhenyuan Road, Shenzhen, 518107, Guangdong, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Digestive Cancer Research, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, No. 628 Zhenyuan Road, Shenzhen, 518107, Guangdong, China.
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8
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Aguayo F, Perez-Dominguez F, Osorio JC, Oliva C, Calaf GM. PI3K/AKT/mTOR Signaling Pathway in HPV-Driven Head and Neck Carcinogenesis: Therapeutic Implications. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:biology12050672. [PMID: 37237486 DOI: 10.3390/biology12050672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2022] [Revised: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
High-risk human papillomaviruses (HR-HPVs) are the causal agents of cervical, anogenital and a subset of head and neck carcinomas (HNCs). Indeed, oropharyngeal cancers are a type of HNC highly associated with HR-HPV infections and constitute a specific clinical entity. The oncogenic mechanism of HR-HPV involves E6/E7 oncoprotein overexpression for promoting cell immortalization and transformation, through the downregulation of p53 and pRB tumor suppressor proteins, among other cellular targets. Additionally, E6/E7 proteins are involved in promoting PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway alterations. In this review, we address the relationship between HR-HPV and PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway activation in HNC with an emphasis on its therapeutic importance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Aguayo
- Departamento de Biomedicina, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Tarapacá, Arica 1000000, Chile
| | - Francisco Perez-Dominguez
- Laboratorio de Oncovirología, Programa de Virología, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas (ICBM), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8380000, Chile
| | - Julio C Osorio
- Laboratorio de Oncovirología, Programa de Virología, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas (ICBM), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8380000, Chile
| | - Carolina Oliva
- Laboratorio de Oncovirología, Programa de Virología, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas (ICBM), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8380000, Chile
| | - Gloria M Calaf
- Instituto de Alta Investigación, Universidad de Tarapacá, Arica 1000000, Chile
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9
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Han X, Mei Y, Mishra RK, Bi H, Jain AD, Schiltz GE, Zhao B, Sukhanova M, Wang P, Grigorescu AA, Weber PC, Piwinski JJ, Prado MA, Paulo JA, Stephens L, Anderson KE, Abrams CS, Yang J, Ji P. Targeting pleckstrin-2/Akt signaling reduces proliferation in myeloproliferative neoplasm models. J Clin Invest 2023; 133:159638. [PMID: 36719747 PMCID: PMC10014099 DOI: 10.1172/jci159638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) are characterized by the activated JAK2/STAT pathway. Pleckstrin-2 (Plek2) is a downstream target of the JAK2/STAT5 pathway and is overexpressed in patients with MPNs. We previously revealed that Plek2 plays critical roles in the pathogenesis of JAK2-mutated MPNs. The nonessential roles of Plek2 under physiologic conditions make it an ideal target for MPN therapy. Here, we identified first-in-class Plek2 inhibitors through an in silico high-throughput screening approach and cell-based assays, followed by the synthesis of analogs. Plek2-specific small-molecule inhibitors showed potent inhibitory effects on cell proliferation. Mechanistically, Plek2 interacts with and enhances the activity of Akt through the recruitment of downstream effector proteins. The Plek2-signaling complex also includes Hsp72, which protects Akt from degradation. These functions were blocked by Plek2 inhibitors via their direct binding to the Plek2 dishevelled, Egl-10 and pleckstrin (DEP) domain. The role of Plek2 in activating Akt signaling was further confirmed in vivo using a hematopoietic-specific Pten-knockout mouse model. We next tested Plek2 inhibitors alone or in combination with an Akt inhibitor in various MPN mouse models, which showed significant therapeutic efficacies similar to that seen with the genetic depletion of Plek2. The Plek2 inhibitor was also effective in reducing proliferation of CD34-positive cells from MPN patients. Our studies reveal a Plek2/Akt complex that drives cell proliferation and can be targeted by a class of antiproliferative compounds for MPN therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu Han
- Department of Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine.,Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center
| | - Yang Mei
- Department of Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine.,Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center
| | - Rama K Mishra
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Feinberg School of Medicine
| | - Honghao Bi
- Department of Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine.,Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center
| | | | - Gary E Schiltz
- Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center.,Department of Chemistry, and.,Department of Pharmacology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Baobing Zhao
- Department of Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine.,Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center
| | - Madina Sukhanova
- Department of Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine.,Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center
| | - Pan Wang
- Department of Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine
| | - Arabela A Grigorescu
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Weinberg College of Arts & Sciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA
| | | | | | - Miguel A Prado
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Joao A Paulo
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Len Stephens
- Signaling Programme, The Babraham Institute, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Karen E Anderson
- Signaling Programme, The Babraham Institute, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Charles S Abrams
- Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Jing Yang
- Department of Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine.,Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center
| | - Peng Ji
- Department of Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine.,Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center
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10
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Li Z, Zhou B, Zhu X, Yang F, Jin K, Dai J, Zhu Y, Song X, Jiang G. Differentiation-related genes in tumor-associated macrophages as potential prognostic biomarkers in non-small cell lung cancer. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1123840. [PMID: 36969247 PMCID: PMC10033599 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1123840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of differentiation-related genes (DRGs) in tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).MethodsSingle cell RNA-seq (scRNA-seq) data from GEO and bulk RNA-seq data from TCGA were analyzed to identify DRGs using trajectory method. Functional gene analysis was carried out by GO/KEGG enrichment analysis. The mRNA and protein expression in human tissue were analyzed by HPA and GEPIA databases. To investigate the prognostic value of these genes, three risk score (RS) models in different pathological types of NSCLC were generated and predicted NSCLC prognosis in datasets from TCGA, UCSC and GEO databases.Results1,738 DRGs were identified through trajectory analysis. GO/KEGG analysis showed that these genes were predominantly related to myeloid leukocyte activation and leukocyte migration. 13 DRGs (C1QB, CCL4, CD14, CD84, FGL2, MS4A6A, NLRP3, PLEK, RNASE6, SAMSN1, SPN, TMEM176B, ZEB2) related to prognosis were obtained through univariate Cox analysis and Lasso regression. C1QB, CD84, FGL2, MS4A6A, NLRP3, PLEK, SAMSN1, SPN, and ZEB2 were downregulated in NSCLC compared to non-cancer tissue. The mRNA of 13 genes were significantly expressed in pulmonary macrophages with strong cell specificity. Meanwhile, immunohistochemical staining showed that C1QB, CCL4, SPN, CD14, NLRP3, SAMSN1, MS4A6A, TMEM176B were expressed in different degrees in lung cancer tissues. ZEB2 (HR=1.4, P<0.05) and CD14 (HR=1.6, P<0.05) expression were associated with a worse prognosis in lung squamous cell carcinoma; ZEB2 (HR=0.64, P<0.05), CD84 (HR=0.65, P<0.05), PLEK (HR=0.71, P<0.05) and FGL2 (HR=0.61, P<0.05) expression were associated with a better prognosis in lung adenocarcinoma. Three RS models based on 13 DRGs both showed that the high RS was significantly associated with poor prognosis in different pathological types of NSCLC.ConclusionsThis study highlights the prognostic value of DRGs in TAMs in NSCLC patients, providing novel insights for the development of therapeutic and prognostic targets based on TAM functional differences.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Xiao Song
- *Correspondence: Xiao Song, ; Gening Jiang,
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11
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Intratumoral and peritumoral radiomics nomograms for the preoperative prediction of lymphovascular invasion and overall survival in non-small cell lung cancer. Eur Radiol 2023; 33:947-958. [PMID: 36064979 DOI: 10.1007/s00330-022-09109-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Revised: 06/03/2022] [Accepted: 07/24/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To evaluate the predictive value of intratumoral and peritumoral radiomics and radiomics nomogram for preoperative lymphovascular invasion (LVI) status and overall survival (OS) in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS In total, 240 NSCLC patients from our institution were randomly divided into the training cohort (n = 145) and internal validation cohort (n = 95) with a ratio of 6:4, and 65 patients from the Cancer Imaging Archive were enrolled as the external validation cohort. We extracted 1217 CT-based radiomics features from the gross tumor volume (GTV) and gross tumor volume incorporating peritumoral 3, 6, and 9 mm regions (GPTV3, GPTV6, GPTV9). A radiomics nomogram based on clinical independent predictors and radiomics score (Radscore) of the best radiomics model was constructed. The correlation between factors and OS was evaluated with the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox proportional hazards regression analysis. RESULTS Compared with GTV, GPTV3, and GPTV6 radiomics models, GPTV9 radiomics model exhibited better prediction performance with the AUCs of 0.82, 0.75, and 0.67 in the training, internal validation, and external validation cohorts, respectively. In the clinical model, smoking and clinical stage were independent predictors. The nomogram incorporating independent predictors and GPTV9-Radscore was clinically useful, with the AUCs of 0.89, 0.83, and 0.66 in three cohorts. Pathological LVI, GPTV9-Radscore-predicted, and Nomoscore-predicted LVI were associated with poor OS (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS CT-based radiomics nomogram can predict LVI and OS in patients with NSCLC and may help in making personalized treatment strategies before surgery. KEY POINTS • Compared with GTV, GPTV3, and GPTV6 radiomics models, GPTV9 radiomics model showed better prediction performance for LVI status in NSCLC. • The radiomics nomogram based on GPTV9 radiomics features and clinical independent predictors could effectively predict LVI status and OS in NSCLC and outperformed the clinical model. • The radiomics nomogram had a wider scope of clinical application.
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12
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Xia QL, He XM, Ma Y, Li QY, Du YZ, Wang J. 5-mRNA-based prognostic signature of survival in lung adenocarcinoma. World J Clin Oncol 2023; 14:27-39. [PMID: 36699627 PMCID: PMC9850667 DOI: 10.5306/wjco.v14.i1.27] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Revised: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is the most common non-small-cell lung cancer, with a high incidence and a poor prognosis.
AIM To construct effective predictive models to evaluate the prognosis of LUAD patients.
METHODS In this study, we thoroughly mined LUAD genomic data from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) (GSE43458, GSE32863, and GSE27262) and the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) datasets, including 698 LUAD and 172 healthy (or adjacent normal) lung tissue samples. Univariate regression and LASSO regression analyses were used to screen differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to patient prognosis, and multivariate Cox regression analysis was applied to establish the risk score equation and construct the survival prognosis model. Receiver operating characteristic curve and Kaplan-Meier survival analyses with clinically independent prognostic parameters were performed to verify the predictive power of the model and further establish a prognostic nomogram.
RESULTS A total of 380 DEGs were identified in LUAD tissues through GEO and TCGA datasets, and 5 DEGs (TCN1, CENPF, MAOB, CRTAC1 and PLEK2) were screened out by multivariate Cox regression analysis, indicating that the prognostic risk model could be used as an independent prognostic factor (Hazard ratio = 1.520, P < 0.001). Internal and external validation of the model confirmed that the prediction model had good sensitivity and specificity (Area under the curve = 0.754, 0.737). Combining genetic models and clinical prognostic factors, nomograms can also predict overall survival more effectively.
CONCLUSION A 5-mRNA-based model was constructed to predict the prognosis of lung adenocarcinoma, which may provide clinicians with reliable prognostic assessment tools and help clinical treatment decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian-Lin Xia
- Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200233, China
| | - Xiao-Meng He
- Scientific Research Center, Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Shanghai 201508, China
| | - Yan Ma
- Scientific Research Center, Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Shanghai 201508, China
| | - Qiu-Yue Li
- Scientific Research Center, Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Shanghai 201508, China
| | - Yu-Zhen Du
- Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200233, China
| | - Jin Wang
- Scientific Research Center, Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Shanghai 201508, China
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Jia H, Tang WJ, Sun L, Wan C, Zhou Y, Shen WZ. Pan-cancer analysis identifies proteasome 26S subunit, ATPase (PSMC) family genes, and related signatures associated with prognosis, immune profile, and therapeutic response in lung adenocarcinoma. Front Genet 2023; 13:1017866. [PMID: 36699466 PMCID: PMC9868736 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.1017866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Proteasome 26S subunit, ATPase gene (PSMC) family members play a critical role in regulating protein degradation and are essential for tumor development. However, little is known about the integrative function and prognostic significance of the PSMC gene family members in lung cancer. Methods: First, we assessed the expression and prognostic features of six PSMC family members in pan-cancer from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset. Hence, by focusing on the relationship between PSMC genes and the prognostic, genomic, and tumor microenvironment features in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), a PSMC-based prognostic signature was established using consensus clustering and multiple machine learning algorithms, including the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) Cox regression, CoxBoost, and survival random forest analysis in TCGA and GSE72094. We then validated it in three independent cohorts from GEO and estimated the correlation between risk score and clinical features: genomic features (alterations, tumor mutation burden, and copy number variants), immune profiles (immune score, TIDE score, tumor-infiltrated immune cells, and immune checkpoints), sensitivity to chemotherapy (GDSC, GSE42127, and GSE14814), and immunotherapy (IMvigor210, GSE63557, and immunophenoscore). Twenty-one patients with LUAD were included in our local cohort, and tumor samples were submitted for evaluation of risk gene and PD-L1 expression. Results: Nearly all six PSMC genes were overexpressed in pan-cancer tumor tissues; however, in LUAD alone, they were all significantly correlated with overall survival. Notably, they all shared a positive association with increased TMB, TIDE score, expression of immune checkpoints (CD276 and PVR), and more M1 macrophages but decreased B-cell abundance. A PSMC-based prognostic signature was established based on five hub genes derived from the differential expression clusters of PSMC genes, and it was used to dichotomize LUAD patients into high- and low-risk groups according to the median risk score. The area under the curve (AUC) values for predicting survival at 1, 3, and 5 years in the training cohorts were all >.71, and the predictive accuracy was also robust and stable in the GSE72094, GSE31210, and GSE13213 datasets. The risk score was significantly correlated with advanced tumor, lymph node, and neoplasm disease stages as an independent risk factor for LUAD. Furthermore, the risk score shared a similar genomic and immune feature as PSMC genes, and high-risk tumors exhibited significant genomic and chromosomal instability, a higher TIDE score but lower immune score, and a decreased abundance of B and CD8+ T cells. Finally, high-risk patients were suggested to be less sensitive to immunotherapy but had a higher possibility of responding to platinum-based chemotherapy. The LUAD samples from the local cohort supported the difference in the expression levels of these five hub genes between tumor and normal tissues and the correlation between the risk score and PD-L1 expression. Conclusion: Overall, our results provide deep insight into PSMC genes in LUAD, especially the prognostic effect and related immune profile that may predict therapeutic responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Jia
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Wen-Jin Tang
- Department of Nursing, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Lei Sun
- Department of Interventional Radiology, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Chong Wan
- Yangtze Delta Region Institute of Tsinghua University, Jiaxing, China
| | - Yun Zhou
- Department of Medical Oncology, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China,*Correspondence: Yun Zhou, ; Wei-Zhong Shen,
| | - Wei-Zhong Shen
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China,*Correspondence: Yun Zhou, ; Wei-Zhong Shen,
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14
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Cheng Y, Yao J, Fang Q, Chen B, Zang G. A circadian rhythm-related biomarker for predicting prognosis and immunotherapy efficacy in lung adenocarcinoma. Aging (Albany NY) 2022; 14:9617-9631. [PMID: 36455876 PMCID: PMC9792196 DOI: 10.18632/aging.204411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) remains a major reason of cancer-associated mortality globally, and there exists a lack of indicators for survival in LUAD patients. Therefore, it is clinically required to obtain a novel prognostically indicator for guiding clinical management. In this study, we established a circadian rhythm (CR) related signature by a combinative investigation of multiple datasets. The newly-established signature showed an acceptable ability to predict survival and could serve as an independent indicator for prognosis. Moreover, the newly-established signature was critically associated with tumor malignancy, including proliferation, invasion, EMT and metastasis. The newly-established signature was predictive of response to immune checkpoint blockade. Collectively, we established a CR-related gene signature that could forecast survival, tumor malignancy and therapeutic response; our findings could help guiding clinical management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanjun Cheng
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, People’s Hospital of Chizhou, Chizhou, China
| | - Jie Yao
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, People’s Hospital of Chizhou, Chizhou, China
| | - Qianru Fang
- Department of Obstetrics, People’s Hospital of Chizhou, Chizhou, China
| | - Bin Chen
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, People’s Hospital of Chizhou, Chizhou, China
| | - Guohui Zang
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, People’s Hospital of Chizhou, Chizhou, China
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Zhao X, Shu D, Sun W, Si S, Ran W, Guo B, Cui L. PLEK2 promotes cancer stemness and tumorigenesis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma via the c-Myc-mediated positive feedback loop. CANCER COMMUNICATIONS (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2022; 42:987-1007. [PMID: 36002342 PMCID: PMC9558684 DOI: 10.1002/cac2.12349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Revised: 06/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Background Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is one of the most frequent malignancies worldwide and is characterized by unfavorable prognosis, high lymph node metastasis and early recurrence. However, the molecular events regulating HNSCC tumorigenesis remain poorly understood. Therefore, uncovering the underlying mechanisms is urgently needed to identify novel and promising therapeutic targets for HNSCC. In this study, we aimed to explore the role of pleckstrin‐2 (PLEK2) in regulating HNSCC tumorigenesis. Methods The expression pattern of PLEK2 and its clinical significance in HNSCC were determined by analyzing publicly assessable datasets and our own independent HNSCC cohort. In vitro and in vivo experiments, including cell proliferation, colony formation, Matrigel invasion, tumor sphere formation, ALDEFLUOR, Western blotting assays and xenograft mouse models, were used to investigate the role of PLEK2 in regulating the malignant behaviors of HNSCC cells. The underlying molecular mechanisms for the tumor‐promoting role of PLEK2 were elucidated using co‐immunoprecipitation, cycloheximide chase analysis, ubiquitination assays, chromatin immunoprecipitation‐quantitative polymerase chain reaction, luciferase reporter assays and rescue experiments. Results The expression levels of PLEK2 mRNA and protein were significantly increased in HNSCC tissues, and PLEK2 overexpression was strongly associated with poor overall survival and therapeutic resistance. Additionally, PLEK2 was important for maintaining the proliferation, invasion, epithelial‐mesenchymal transition, cancer stemness and tumorigenesis of HNSCC cells and could alter the cellular metabolism of the cancer cells. Mechanistically, PLEK2 interacted with c‐Myc and reduced the association of F‐box and WD repeat domain containing 7 (FBXW7) with c‐Myc, thereby avoiding ubiquitination and subsequent proteasome‐mediated degradation of c‐Myc. Moreover, the c‐Myc signaling activated by PLEK2 was important for sustaining the aggressive malignant phenotypes and tumorigenesis of HNSCC cells. c‐Myc also directly bounded to the PLEK2 promoter and activated its transcription, forming a positive feedback loop. Conclusions Collectively, these findings uncover a previously unknown molecular basis of PLEK2‐enhanced c‐Myc signaling in HNSCC, suggesting that PLEK2 may represent a promising therapeutic target for treating HNSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyuan Zhao
- Department of Endodontics, Stomatological Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510280, P. R. China
| | - Dalong Shu
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, P. R. China
| | - Wenjuan Sun
- Department of Stomatology, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510630, P. R. China
| | - Shanshan Si
- Department of Oral Emergency, Stomatological Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510280, P. R. China
| | - Wei Ran
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, P. R. China
| | - Bing Guo
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, P. R. China.,Department of Dentistry, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, P. R. China
| | - Li Cui
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Stomatological Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510280, P. R. China.,Division of Oral Biology and Medicine, School of Dentistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, 90095, United States
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16
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Wen Y, Guo G, Yang L, Chen L, Zhao D, He X, Zhang R, Huang Z, Wang G, Zhang L. A tumor microenvironment gene set–Based prognostic signature for non-small-cell lung cancer. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 9:849108. [PMID: 36032673 PMCID: PMC9400803 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.849108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The tumor microenvironment (TME) is involved in the development and progression of lung carcinomas. A deeper understanding of TME landscape would offer insight into prognostic biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets investigation. To this end, we aimed to identify the TME components of lung cancer and develop a prognostic signature to predict overall survival (OS).Methods: Expression data was retrieved from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and differentially expressed TME-related genes were calculated between tumor and normal tissues. Then nonnegative matrix factorization (NMF) clustering was used to identify two distinct subtypes.Results: Our analysis yielded a gene panel consisting of seven TME-related genes as candidate signature set. With this panel, our model showed that the high-risk group experienced a shorter survival time. This model was further validated by an independent cohort with data from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database (GSE50081 and GSE13213). Additionally, we integrated the clinical factors and risk score to construct a nomogram for predicting prognosis. Our data suggested less immune cells infiltration but more fibroblasts were found in tumor tissues derived from patients at high-risk and those patients exhibited a worse immunotherapy response.Conclusion: The signature set proposed in this work could be an effective model for estimating OS in lung cancer patients. Hopefully analysis of the TME could have the potential to provide novel diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic opportunities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingsheng Wen
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Guangran Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Longjun Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lianjuan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Dechang Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaotian He
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Rusi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zirui Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Gongming Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lanjun Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Lanjun Zhang,
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Zhou B, Zang R, Zhang M, Song P, Liu L, Bie F, Peng Y, Bai G, Gao S. Identifying novel tumor-related antigens and immune phenotypes for developing mRNA vaccines in lung adenocarcinoma. Int Immunopharmacol 2022; 109:108816. [PMID: 35504200 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2022.108816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2022] [Revised: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
The mRNA vaccines have been a novel strategy of immunotherapies for multiple cancers. Although several types of mRNA vaccines have been investigated and validated in some studies, their efficacy among patients with lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) remains largely unknown. The number of tumor-associated antigens is not enough and no study focuses on stratifying the subgroup of LUAD patients suitable for vaccination. Based on the expression profiles of immune-related genes, consensus clustering was performed to identify the most appropriate phenotype for vaccination. The immune landscape of LUAD was shown via the graph learning-based dimensionality reduction analysis. We screened for five mutated and upregulated LUAD-related antigens (CCNB1, KIAA0101, PBK, OIP5 and PLEK2) that were highly correlated with immune infiltrating cells and unfavorable clinical outcomes. And three distinct immune phenotypes were identified in the TCGA and GSE72094 cohorts. Group S1 was an immunological "hot" cluster and related to a better prognosis, whereas Group S2&S3 was an immunological "cold" cluster and associated with a poorer prognosis. At last, the results revealed heterogeneity of LUAD patients in the immune landscape. We identified five potential cancer-related antigens for mRNA vaccines, and Group S2&S3 were the most suitable phenotypes for vaccination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bolun Zhou
- Thoracic Surgery Department, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Ruochuan Zang
- Thoracic Surgery Department, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Moyan Zhang
- Thoracic Surgery Department, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Peng Song
- Thoracic Surgery Department, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Lei Liu
- Thoracic Surgery Department, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Fenglong Bie
- Thoracic Surgery Department, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Yue Peng
- Thoracic Surgery Department, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Guangyu Bai
- Thoracic Surgery Department, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Shugeng Gao
- Thoracic Surgery Department, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
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Souren NY, Fusenig NE, Heck S, Dirks WG, Capes-Davis A, Bianchini F, Plass C. Cell line authentication: a necessity for reproducible biomedical research. EMBO J 2022; 41:e111307. [PMID: 35758134 PMCID: PMC9289526 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2022111307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Immortalized or continuous cell lines are invaluable tools in basic and preclinical research. However, the widespread use of misidentified cell lines is a serious threat to scientific reproducibility. Based on the experiences of mandatory cell line authentication at the International Journal of Cancer (IJC), we provide an overview of the issues pertinent to misidentified cell lines and discuss available solutions. We also summarize the lessons learned, revealing that at least 5% of the human cell lines used in manuscripts considered for peer review are misidentified. About 4% of the considered manuscripts are rejected for severe cell line problems, and most are subsequently published in other journals. In order to diminish such malpractice and its consequences for the scientific record, we postulate that strict multi-layered quality control is essential. Besides journals and publishers, we encourage scientists, research institutions, and funders to take action on the matter and revise their respective policies. Hence, we provide concrete recommendations on introducing regular authentication schemes and staff training, and discuss future steps for enhancing good cell culture practices.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Stefanie Heck
- International Journal of Cancer, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Wilhelm G Dirks
- Leibniz-Institute DSMZ - Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen und Zellkulturen, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Amanda Capes-Davis
- CellBank Australia, Children's Medical Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW, Australia
| | | | - Christoph Plass
- International Journal of Cancer, Heidelberg, Germany.,Division of Cancer Epigenomics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
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19
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Tian W, Hao H, Chu M, Gong J, Li W, Fang Y, Zhang J, Zhang C, Huang Y, Pei F, Duan L. Berberine Suppresses Lung Metastasis of Cancer via Inhibiting Endothelial Transforming Growth Factor Beta Receptor 1. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:917827. [PMID: 35784732 PMCID: PMC9243563 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.917827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
This study investigated the effects of berberine (BBR) on pancreatic cancer (PC) lung metastasis and explored the underlying mechanisms, using a BALB/C-nu/nu nude mouse model injected with PC cells (AsPC-1). Intragastric administration of BBR dose-dependently improves survival of mice intravenously injected with AsPC-1 cells, and reduces lung metastasis. Especially, BBR significantly reduces lung infiltration of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) 24 h after AsPC-1 cells injection. In vitro, tumor cells (TCs) trigger endothelial barrier disruption and promote trans-endothelial migration of CFSE-labeled TCs. BBR treatment effectively ameliorates TC-induced endothelial disruption, an effect that is diminished by inhibiting transforming growth factor-β receptor 1 (TGFBR1). Blocking TGFBR1 blunts the anti-metastatic effect of BBR in vivo. Mechanistically, BBR binds to the intercellular portion of TGFBR1, suppresses its enzyme activities, and protects endothelial barrier disruption by TCs which express higher levels of TGF-β1. Hence, BBR might be a promising drug for reducing PC lung metastasis in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjia Tian
- Department of Gastroenterology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- Department of Gastroenterology, Peking University International Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Huifeng Hao
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education Beijing), Department of Integration of Chinese and Western Medicine, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Ming Chu
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, NHC Key Laboratory of Medical Immunology (Peking University), Beijing, China
| | - Jingjing Gong
- Institute of Systems Biomedicine, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | - Wenzhe Li
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | - Yuan Fang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Jindong Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Cunzheng Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yonghui Huang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Fei Pei
- Department of Pathology, Peking University Third Hospital, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | - Liping Duan
- Department of Gastroenterology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Liping Duan,
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20
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Cai T, Yao W, Qiu L, Zhu AR, Shi Z, Du Y. PLEK2 promotes the proliferation and migration of non-small cell lung cancer cells in a BRD4-dependent manner. Mol Biol Rep 2022; 49:3693-3704. [DOI: 10.1007/s11033-022-07209-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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21
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Wang G, Zhou Q, Xu Y, Zhao B. Emerging Roles of Pleckstrin-2 Beyond Cell Spreading. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:768238. [PMID: 34869363 PMCID: PMC8637889 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.768238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 10/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Pleckstrin-2 is a member of pleckstrin family with well-defined structural features that was first identified in 1999. Over the past 20 years, our understanding of PLEK2 biology has been limited to cell spreading. Recently, increasing evidences support that PLEK2 plays important roles in other cellular events beyond cell spreading, such as erythropoiesis, tumorigenesis and metastasis. It serves as a potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarker as well as an attractive target for the treatment of cancers. Herein, we summary the protein structure and molecular interactions of pleckstrin-2, with an emphasis on its regulatory roles in tumorigenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gengchen Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Qian Zhou
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Yan Xu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Baobing Zhao
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China.,Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
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22
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Chai B, Guo Y, Zhu N, Jia J, Zhang Z, Ping M, Jia K, Cui X, Suo Y. Pleckstrin 2 is a potential drug target for colorectal carcinoma with activation of APC/β‑catenin. Mol Med Rep 2021; 24:862. [PMID: 34676872 PMCID: PMC8554384 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2021.12502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The tumor suppressor gene adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) is frequently inactivated or absent in colorectal carcinoma (CRC). Loss-of-function of APC promotes the expression of β-catenin, which is critical for CRC development. Since β-catenin acts as an important transcription factor, blockage of β-catenin may have side effects, including impairment of tissue homeostasis and regeneration, thus limiting the application of β-catenin inhibitors for the treatment of patients with CRC. Therefore, identifying a novel substrate of APC/β-catenin may provide essential clues to develop effective drugs. Small interfering RNA technology and lentivirus-mediated overexpression were performed for knockdown and overexpression of pleckstrin 2 (PLEK2) in CRC cells. Cell Counting Kit-8 and colony formation assays, and cell cycle analysis and cell apoptosis detection were used to detect the capacity of cell proliferation, cell cycle distribution and apoptosis. The present study demonstrated that the APC/β-catenin signaling cascade transcriptionally activated PLEK2 in CRC cells. PLEK2 expression was markedly increased in CRC tissues. There was an inverse correlation between APC and PLEK2 expression in patients with CRC. In vitro, overexpression of PLEK2 increased the proliferation of CRC cells. Opposite results were observed in the cells with knockdown of PLEK2. Furthermore, PLEK2 promoted cell cycle progression and suppressed apoptosis. In summary, upregulation of PLEK2 contributed to CRC proliferation and colony formation activated by the APC/β-catenin signal pathway. Targeting PLEK2 may be important for the treatment of patients with CRC with activation of the APC/β-catenin signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bao Chai
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shanxi Academy of Medical Science, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030032, P.R. China
| | - Yarong Guo
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030001, P.R. China
| | - Na Zhu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shanxi Academy of Medical Science, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030032, P.R. China
| | - Junmei Jia
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030001, P.R. China
| | - Zhuowei Zhang
- Medical Imaging Department, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030031, P.R. China
| | - Mei Ping
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030001, P.R. China
| | - Kai Jia
- Department of Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030031, P.R. China
| | - Xiaolong Cui
- Department of Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030031, P.R. China
| | - Yuhong Suo
- Liver Cancer Center, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin 300181, P.R. China
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23
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Wang F, Zhang C, Cheng H, Liu C, Lu Z, Zheng S, Wang S, Sun N, He J. TGF-β-induced PLEK2 promotes metastasis and chemoresistance in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma by regulating LCN2. Cell Death Dis 2021; 12:901. [PMID: 34601488 PMCID: PMC8487427 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-021-04155-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Revised: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) has a relatively unfavourable prognosis due to metastasis and chemoresistance. Our previous research established a comprehensive ESCC database (GSE53625). After analysing data from TCGA database and GSE53625, we found that PLEK2 predicted poor prognosis in ESCC. Moreover, PLEK2 expression was also related to the overall survival of ESCC patients undergoing chemotherapy. Repression of PLEK2 decreased the proliferation, migration, invasion and chemoresistance of ESCC cells in vitro and decreased tumorigenicity and distant metastasis in vivo. Mechanistically, luciferase reporter assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation assay suggested that TGF-β stimulated the process that Smad2/3 binds to the promoter sequences of PLEK2 and induced its expression. RNA-seq suggested LCN2 might a key molecular regulated by PLEK2. LCN2 overexpression in PLEK2 knockdown ESCC cells reversed the effects of decreased migration and invasion. In addition, TGF-β induced the expression of LCN2, but the effect disappeared when PLEK2 was knockdown. Moreover, AKT was phosphorylated in all regulatory processes. This study detected the major role of PLEK2 in driving metastasis and chemoresistance in ESCC by regulating LCN2, which indicates the potential use of PLEK2 as a biomarker to predict prognosis and as a therapeutic target for ESCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Wang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Chaoqi Zhang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Hong Cheng
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Chengming Liu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Zhiliang Lu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Sufei Zheng
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Sihui Wang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Nan Sun
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
- National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing,, China.
| | - Jie He
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
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24
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The induction of a mesenchymal phenotype by platelet cloaking of cancer cells is a universal phenomenon. Transl Oncol 2021; 14:101229. [PMID: 34592589 PMCID: PMC8488306 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2021.101229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Platelet cancer cell interactions are a key factor in driving the pro-metastatic phenotype. Platelet cancer cell interactions appear to be mediated by 5 key genes which have established roles in metastasis. Targeting these mediators of metastasis could improve outcomes for cancer patients.
Tumour metastasis accounts for over 90% of cancer related deaths. The platelet is a key blood component, which facilitates efficient metastasis. This study aimed to understand the molecular mechanisms involved in tumour-platelet cell interactions. The interaction between cancer cells and platelets was examined in 15 epithelial cell lines, representing 7 cancer types. Gene expression analysis of EMT-associated and cancer stemness genes was performed by RT-PCR. Whole transcriptome analysis (WTA) was performed using Affymetrix 2.0ST arrays on a platelet co-cultured ovarian model. Platelet adhesion and activation occurred across all tumour types. WTA identified increases in cellular movement, migration, invasion, adhesion, development, differentiation and inflammation genes and decreases in processes associated with cell death and survival following platelet interaction. Increased invasive capacity was also observed in a subset of cell lines. A cross-comparison with a platelet co-cultured mouse model identified 5 common altered genes; PAI-1, PLEK2, CD73, TNC, and SDPR. Platelet cancer cell interactions are a key factor in driving the pro-metastatic phenotype and appear to be mediated by 5 key genes which have established roles in metastasis. Targeting these metastasis mediators could improve cancer patient outcomes.
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25
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Yang W, Ma X, Zhu Y, Meng X, Tian R, Yang Z. Paraquat but not diquat induces TGF-β expression and thus activates calcium-NFAT axis for epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Toxicol Res (Camb) 2021; 10:733-741. [PMID: 34484664 DOI: 10.1093/toxres/tfab055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Revised: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Paraquat (PQ) and diquat (DQ), two highly efficient herbicides sharing similar chemical backbone, both induce reactive oxygen species and are highly toxic to humans and livestock, however, PQ but not DQ poisoning result in pulmonary fibrosis, the leading cause of high mortality rate in patients suffering PQ toxicity. Understanding the unique mechanism of PQ different from DQ therefore would provide potential strategies to reduce PQ-induced pulmonary fibrosis. Here, we identified that PQ but not DQ continuously upregulates TGF-β expression in alveolar type II (AT II) cells. Importantly, such high expression of TGF-β increases cytosolic calcium levels and further promotes the activation of calcineurin-NFAT axis. TGF-β mainly activates NFATc1 and NFATc2, but not NFATc3 or NFATc4. Administration of the inhibitors targeting cytosolic calcium or calcineurin largely reverses PQ-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), whereas DQ has little effects on activation of NFAT and EMT. Ultimately, PQ poisoned patients exhibit significantly reduced blood calcium levels compared to DQ poisoning, possibly via the large usage of calcium by AT II cells. All in all, we found a vicious cycle that the upregulated TGF-β in PQ-induced EMT further aggravates EMT via promotion of the calcium-calcineurin axis, which could be potential drug targets for treating PQ-induced pulmonary fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenyu Yang
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, School of Medicine, 650 Xingsongjiang Road, Shanghai 201620, China
| | - Xinrun Ma
- Institute of clinical Immunology, Center for Translational Medicine, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, School of Medicine, 650 Xingsongjiang Road, Shanghai 201620, China
| | - Yong Zhu
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, School of Medicine, 650 Xingsongjiang Road, Shanghai 201620, China
| | - Xiaoxiao Meng
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, School of Medicine, 650 Xingsongjiang Road, Shanghai 201620, China
| | - Rui Tian
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, School of Medicine, 650 Xingsongjiang Road, Shanghai 201620, China
| | - Zhengfeng Yang
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, School of Medicine, 650 Xingsongjiang Road, Shanghai 201620, China
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Pleckstrin-2 as a Prognostic Factor and Mediator of Gastric Cancer Progression. Gastroenterol Res Pract 2021; 2021:5527387. [PMID: 34394345 PMCID: PMC8360755 DOI: 10.1155/2021/5527387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Pleckstrin-2 (PLEK2) is a crucial mediator of cytoskeletal reorganization. However, the potential roles of PLEK2 in gastric cancer are still unknown. PLEK2 expression in gastric cancer was examined by western blotting and real-time PCR. Survival analysis was utilized to test the clinical impacts of the levels of PLEK2 in gastric cancer patients. In vitro and in vivo studies were used to estimate the potential roles played by PLEK2 in modulating gastric cancer proliferation, self-renewal, and tumourigenicity. Bioinformatics approaches were used to monitor the effect of PLEK2 on epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) signalling pathways. PLEK2 expression was significantly upregulated in gastric cancer as compared with nontumour samples. Kaplan-Meier plotter analysis revealed that gastric cancer patients with higher PLEK2 levels had substantially poorer overall survival compared with gastric cancer patients with lower PLEK2 levels. The upregulation or downregulation of PLEK2 in gastric cancer cell lines effectively enhanced or inhibited cell proliferation and proinvasive behaviour, respectively. Additionally, we also found that PLEK2 enhanced EMT through downregulating E-cadherin expression and upregulating Vimentin expression. Our findings demonstrated that PLEK2 plays a potential role in gastric cancer and may be a novel therapeutic target for gastric cancer.
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27
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Wang J, Sun Z, Wang J, Tian Q, Huang R, Wang H, Wang X, Han F. Expression and prognostic potential of PLEK2 in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma based on bioinformatics analysis. Cancer Med 2021; 10:6515-6533. [PMID: 34331382 PMCID: PMC8446404 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.4163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Revised: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background PLEK2 (pleckstrin) could bind to membrane‐bound phosphatidylinositols and further promote cell spread. Recently, several studies have noted the importance of PLEK2 in tumor metastasis. However, the role of PLEK2 in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remains to be elucidated. Methods The PLEK2 expression in HNSCC was identified using Oncomine, Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), UALCAN databases, and western blot analysis. Prognosis analysis was performed using Kaplan–Meier plotter, DriverDBv3, UALCAN, UCSC Xena, and GEO databases. Single‐cell functional analysis was further performed using the cancerSEA database. The PLEK2‐related co‑expressed genes were identified, and gene set enrichment analysis was performed using LinkedOmics. Furthermore, the top 10 hub genes were identified using the cytoHubba plug‐in of Cytoscape. Then, gene enrichment analysis, pathway activity, and drug sensitivity analyses of the hub genes were performed using the R package “clusterProfiler” and GSCAlite. Finally, the UCSC Xena browser was utilized to explore the hub gene most likely to play a synergic role with PLEK2 in HNSCC. Results Elevated expression of PLEK2 was observed in HNSCC and even in HNSCC subgroups based on diverse clinicopathological features, portending a poor prognosis in HNSCC. PLEK2 was correlated with metastasis and hypoxia in HNSCC, and the PLEK2‐related co‐expressed genes were mainly involved in the focal adhesion pathway. The top 10 hub genes were primarily enriched in focal adhesion, HPV infection, ECM‐receptor interaction, and PI3K‐AKT signaling pathway, and epithelial–mesenchymal transition pathway was activated. Furthermore, the expression levels of the hub genes were associated with sensitivity and resistance to various small molecules and anti‐cancer drugs. Further study suggested that ITGA3 and PLEK2 might be viewed as inextricably linked in facilitating HNSCC metastasis. Conclusions In general, PLEK2 might serve as a potential biomarker for the diagnosis of HNSCC and guide the development of targeted therapies for HNSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingyun Wang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China.,State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China.,Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China.,Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhuang Sun
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China.,State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China.,Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China.,Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China.,State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China.,Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China.,Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Qihai Tian
- West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Runda Huang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China.,State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China.,Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China.,Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Hanyu Wang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China.,State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China.,Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China.,Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaohui Wang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China.,State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China.,Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China.,Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Fei Han
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China.,State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China.,Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China.,Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China
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28
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Zeng Y, Shi Y, Xu L, Zeng Y, Cui X, Wang Y, Yang N, Zhou F, Zhou Y. Prognostic Value and Related Regulatory Networks of MRPL15 in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer. Front Oncol 2021; 11:656172. [PMID: 34026630 PMCID: PMC8138120 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.656172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Mitochondrial ribosomal protein L15 (MRPL15), a member of mitochondrial ribosomal proteins whose abnormal expression is related to tumorigenesis. However, the prognostic value and regulatory mechanisms of MRPL15 in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remain unclear. Methods GEPIA, ONCOMINE, Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), UALCAN, Kaplan–Meier plotter, PrognoScan, LinkedOmics and GeneMANIA database were utilized to explore the expression and prognostic value of MRPL15 in NSCLC. Additionally, immune infiltration patterns were evaluated via ESTIMATE algorithm and TISIDB database. Furthermore, the expression and prognostic value of MRPL15 in lung cancer were validated via immunohistochemistry (IHC) assays. Results In NSCLC, multiple cohorts including GEPIA, ONCOMINE and 8 GEO series (GSE8569, GSE101929, GSE33532, GSE27262, GSE21933, GSE19804, GSE19188, GSE18842) described that MRPL15 was up-regulated. Moreover, MRPL15 was notably linked to gender, clinical stage, lymph node status and the TP53 mutation status. And patients with high MRPL15 expression showed poor overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), disease-free survival (DFS) and relapse-free survival (RFS) in NSCLC. Then, functional network analysis suggested that MRPL15 participated in metabolism-related pathways, DNA replication and cell cycle signaling via pathways involving several kinases, miRNAs and transcription factors. Additionally, it was found that MRPL15 expression was negatively related to immune infiltration, including immune scores, stromal scores and several tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). Furthermore, IHC results further confirmed the high MRPL15 expression and its prognostic potential in lung cancer. Conclusions These findings demonstrate that high MRPL15 expression indicates poor prognosis in NSCLC and reveal potential regulatory networks as well as the negative relationship with immune infiltration. Thus, MRPL15 may be an attractive predictor and therapeutic strategy for NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yangyang Zeng
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Biological Behaviors, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.,Department of Radiation and Medical Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yingying Shi
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Biological Behaviors, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.,Department of Radiation and Medical Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Lu Xu
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Biological Behaviors, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.,Department of Radiation and Medical Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yulan Zeng
- Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiao Cui
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Biological Behaviors, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.,Department of Radiation and Medical Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yuan Wang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Biological Behaviors, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.,Department of Radiation and Medical Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Ningning Yang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Biological Behaviors, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.,Department of Radiation and Medical Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Fuxiang Zhou
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Biological Behaviors, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.,Department of Radiation and Medical Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yunfeng Zhou
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Biological Behaviors, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.,Department of Radiation and Medical Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
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29
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Yang XL, Ma YS, Liu YS, Jiang XH, Ding H, Shi Y, Jia CY, Lu GX, Zhang DD, Wang HM, Wang PY, Lv ZW, Yu F, Liu JB, Fu D. microRNA-873 inhibits self-renewal and proliferation of pancreatic cancer stem cells through pleckstrin-2-dependent PI3K/AKT pathway. Cell Signal 2021; 84:110025. [PMID: 33915247 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2021.110025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Revised: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Recent studies have emphasized microRNAs (miRs) as crucial regulators in the occurrence and development of pancreatic cancer that continues to be one of the deadliest malignancies with few effective therapies. The study aimed to investigate the functional role of miR-873 and its associated mechanism to unravel the biological characteristics of pancreatic cancer stem cells in tumor growth. The expression patterns of pleckstrin-2 (PLEK2) and miR-873 were detected in the pancreatic cancer tissues. Then to further investigate specific role of miR-873, the pancreatic cancer stem cells were treated with miR-873 mimic, PLEK2, small interfering RNA against PLEK2, LY294002 (inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B [PI3K/AKT] pathway) to detect the relative gene expression as well as their effects on cell self-renewal, proliferation and apoptosis. Finally, the tumor formation in nude mice was measured to verify the preceding results in vivo. Pancreatic cancer tissues exhibited a decline of miR-873 expression and an enhancement of PLEK2 expression. miR-873 targeted PLEK2 and downregulated its expression, leading to inhibition of PI3K/AKT pathway. Overexpressed miR-873 or silenced PLEK2 inhibited the self-renewal and proliferation while promoting the apoptosis of pancreatic cancer stem cells. Tumor formation was inhibited by overexpressed miR-873 or silenced PLEK2 in nude mice. Overall, miR-873 can suppress the self-renewal and proliferation of pancreatic cancer stem cells by blocking PLEK2-dependent PI3K/AKT pathway. Hence, this study contributes to understanding the role of miR-873 in pancreatic cancer stem cells and its underlying molecular mechanisms to aid in the development of effective pancreatic cancer therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Li Yang
- Central Laboratory for Medical Research, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tenth People's Hospital of Tongji University, Shanghai 200072, China
| | - Yu-Shui Ma
- Central Laboratory for Medical Research, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tenth People's Hospital of Tongji University, Shanghai 200072, China; Department of Pathology, Nantong Tumor Hospital, Nantong 226631, China
| | - Yu-Shan Liu
- Department of Pathology, Nantong Tumor Hospital, Nantong 226631, China
| | - Xiao-Hui Jiang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Nantong Tumor Hospital, Nantong 226631, China
| | - Hua Ding
- Department of Radiotherapy, Nantong Tumor Hospital, Nantong 226631, China
| | - Yi Shi
- Central Laboratory for Medical Research, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tenth People's Hospital of Tongji University, Shanghai 200072, China
| | - Cheng-You Jia
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tenth People's Hospital of Tongji University, Shanghai 200072, China
| | - Gai-Xia Lu
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tenth People's Hospital of Tongji University, Shanghai 200072, China
| | - Dan-Dan Zhang
- Central Laboratory for Medical Research, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tenth People's Hospital of Tongji University, Shanghai 200072, China
| | - Hui-Min Wang
- Central Laboratory for Medical Research, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tenth People's Hospital of Tongji University, Shanghai 200072, China
| | - Pei-Yao Wang
- Central Laboratory for Medical Research, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tenth People's Hospital of Tongji University, Shanghai 200072, China
| | - Zhong-Wei Lv
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tenth People's Hospital of Tongji University, Shanghai 200072, China
| | - Fei Yu
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tenth People's Hospital of Tongji University, Shanghai 200072, China
| | - Ji-Bin Liu
- Cancer Institute, Nantong Tumor Hospital, Nantong 226631, China.
| | - Da Fu
- Central Laboratory for Medical Research, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tenth People's Hospital of Tongji University, Shanghai 200072, China.
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30
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Bai Y, Qi W, Liu L, Zhang J, Pang L, Gan T, Wang P, Wang C, Chen H. Identification of Seven-Gene Hypoxia Signature for Predicting Overall Survival of Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Front Genet 2021; 12:637418. [PMID: 33912215 PMCID: PMC8075060 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.637418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2020] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is ranked fifth among the most common cancer worldwide. Hypoxia can induce tumor growth, but the relationship with HCC prognosis remains unclear. Our study aims to construct a hypoxia-related multigene model to predict the prognosis of HCC. Methods RNA-seq expression data and related clinical information were download from TCGA database and ICGC database, respectively. Univariate/multivariate Cox regression analysis was used to construct prognostic models. KM curve analysis, and ROC curve were used to evaluate the prognostic models, which were further verified in the clinical traits and ICGC database. GSEA analyzed pathway enrichment in high-risk groups. Nomogram was constructed to predict the personalized treatment of patients. Finally, real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was used to detect the expressions of KDELR3 and SCARB1 in normal hepatocytes and 4 HCC cells. The expressions of SCARB1 in hepatocellular carcinoma tissue in 46 patients were detected by immunohistochemistry, and the correlation between its expressions and disease free survival of patient was calculated. Results Through a series of analyses, seven prognostic markers related to HCC survival were constructed. HCC patients were divided into the high and low risk group, and the results of KM curve showed that there was a significant difference between the two groups. Stratified analysis, found that there were significant differences in risk values of different ages, genders, stages and grades, which could be used as independent predictors. In addition, we assessed the risk value in the clinical traits analysis and found that it could accelerate the progression of cancer, while the results of GSEA enrichment analysis showed that the high-risk group patients were mainly distributed in the cell cycle and other pathways. Then, Nomogram was constructed to predict the overall survival of patients. Finally, RT-qPCR showed that KDELR3 and SCARB1 were highly expressed in HepG2 and L02, respectively. Results of IHC staining showed that SCARB1 was highly expressed in cancer tissues compared to adjacent normal liver tissues and its expression was related to hepatocellular carcinoma differentiation status. The Kaplan-Meier survival showed a poor percent survival in the SCARB1 high group compared to that in the SCARB1 low group. Conclusion This study provides a potential diagnostic indicator for HCC patients, and help clinicians to deepen the comprehension in HCC pathogenesis so as to make personalized medical decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuping Bai
- Department of MR, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, China.,The Key Laboratory of the Digestive System Tumors of Gansu Province, Second Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Wenbo Qi
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, China.,The Key Laboratory of the Digestive System Tumors of Gansu Province, Second Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Le Liu
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, China.,The Key Laboratory of the Digestive System Tumors of Gansu Province, Second Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- Department of MR, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, China
| | - Lan Pang
- Department of MR, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, China
| | - Tiejun Gan
- Department of MR, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, China
| | - Pengfei Wang
- Department of MR, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, China
| | - Chen Wang
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, China
| | - Hao Chen
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, China.,The Key Laboratory of the Digestive System Tumors of Gansu Province, Second Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
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31
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Stevens MT, Saunders BM. Targets and regulation of microRNA-652-3p in homoeostasis and disease. J Mol Med (Berl) 2021; 99:755-769. [PMID: 33712860 DOI: 10.1007/s00109-021-02060-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2020] [Revised: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
microRNA are small non-coding RNA molecules which inhibit gene expression by binding mRNA, preventing its translation. As important regulators of gene expression, there is increasing interest in microRNAs as potential diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Studies investigating the role of one of the miRNA-miR-652-3p-detail diverse roles for this miRNA in normal cell homoeostasis and disease states, including cancers, cardiovascular disease, mental health, and central nervous system diseases. Here, we review recent literature surrounding miR-652-3p, discussing its known target genes and their relevance to disease progression. These studies demonstrate that miR-652-3p targets LLGL1 and ZEB1 to modulate cell polarity mechanisms, with impacts on cancer metastasis and asymmetric cell division. Inhibition of the NOTCH ligand JAG1 by miR-652-3p can have diverse effects on angiogenesis and immune cell regulation. Investigation of miR-652-3p and other dysregulated miRNAs identified a number of pathways potentially regulated by miR-652-3p. This review demonstrates that miR-652-3p has great promise as a diagnostic or therapeutic target due to its activity across multiple cellular systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxwell T Stevens
- School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Bernadette M Saunders
- School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
- Centenary Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
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miR-324-3p reverses cisplatin resistance by inducing GPX4-mediated ferroptosis in lung adenocarcinoma cell line A549. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2021; 549:54-60. [PMID: 33662669 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2021.02.077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE MicroRNAs act as crucial regulators of a diverse range of biological processes, including chemoresistance. Our study aimed to investigate the effect of miR-324-3p on lung adenocarcinoma cell line A549 resistant to cis-diamminedichloroplatinum II (DDP, aka cisplatin). METHODS The miR-324-3p expression levels in cisplatin-sensitive A549(A549) and cisplatin-resistant A549 (A549/DDP) cells were determined by qRT-PCR assay. Cell proliferation was determined with the commercial kit CCK-8 and colony formation assay, whereas cell death was analyzed using flow cytometry. The target gene of miR-324-3p was identified and validated with the luciferase reporter and western blot assays. The role of miR-324-3p in modulating cisplatin resistance was evaluated in vitro. RESULTS The expression of miR-324-3p was found to be significantly downregulated in the A549/DDP cells. Conversely, miR-324-3p overexpression reversed cisplatin resistance in the cells. With regard to the possible mechanism underlying this phenomenon, we identified the glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) gene as the direct target of miR-324-3p, where overexpression of the gene reversed the miR-324-3p effect of sensitizing the A549/DDP cells to cisplatin. Furthermore, the GPX4 inhibitor RSL3 could mimic the effect of miR-324-3p upregulation in increasing the sensitivity of the cisplatin-resistant cells to the drug. Significantly, miR-324-3p enhanced cisplatin-induced ferroptosis in the A549/DDP cells. CONCLUSION Our findings revealed the role of the miR-324-3p-GPX4 signaling axis in A549/DDP cells and how the targeting of this axis could be a potential strategy for reversing cisplatin resistance in human non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
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Teschendorff AE, Zhu T, Breeze CE, Beck S. EPISCORE: cell type deconvolution of bulk tissue DNA methylomes from single-cell RNA-Seq data. Genome Biol 2020; 21:221. [PMID: 32883324 PMCID: PMC7650528 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-020-02126-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2020] [Accepted: 07/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell type heterogeneity presents a challenge to the interpretation of epigenome data, compounded by the difficulty in generating reliable single-cell DNA methylomes for large numbers of cells and samples. We present EPISCORE, a computational algorithm that performs virtual microdissection of bulk tissue DNA methylation data at single cell-type resolution for any solid tissue. EPISCORE applies a probabilistic epigenetic model of gene regulation to a single-cell RNA-seq tissue atlas to generate a tissue-specific DNA methylation reference matrix, allowing quantification of cell-type proportions and cell-type-specific differential methylation signals in bulk tissue data. We validate EPISCORE in multiple epigenome studies and tissue types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew E Teschendorff
- CAS Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, CAS-MPG Partner Institute for Computational Biology, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 320 Yue Yang Road, Shanghai, 200031, China.
- UCL Cancer Institute, Paul O'Gorman Building, University College London, 72 Huntley Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK.
| | - Tianyu Zhu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, CAS-MPG Partner Institute for Computational Biology, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 320 Yue Yang Road, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Charles E Breeze
- Altius Institute for Biomedical Sciences, 2211 Elliott Avenue, Seattle, USA
| | - Stephan Beck
- UCL Cancer Institute, Paul O'Gorman Building, University College London, 72 Huntley Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
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34
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Jiang H, Xu S, Chen C. A ten-gene signature-based risk assessment model predicts the prognosis of lung adenocarcinoma. BMC Cancer 2020; 20:782. [PMID: 32819300 PMCID: PMC7439715 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-020-07235-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2020] [Accepted: 07/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is a major cause of cancer death. Therefore, identifying potential prognostic risk factors is critical to improve the survival of patients with LUAD. Methods Here, relevant datasets were downloaded from TCGA and GEO databases to screen the differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Univariate Cox analysis, LASSO regression analysis and multivariate Cox analysis were conducted on the DEGs combined with TCGA clinical data, and finally a risk assessment model based on 10 feature genes was constructed. Results The prognosis of patients was evaluated after the patients were grouped based on the median risk score and the results showed that the survival time of patients in the high-risk group was significantly shorter than that in the low-risk group. ROC analysis showed that the AUC values of the 1, 3, 5-year survival were 0.753, 0.724, and 0.73, respectively, indicating that the model was precise in predicting the prognosis, which was also verified in the external dataset GSE72094. In addition, a significant correlation was found between the risk score and the clinical stages of LUAD, that is, a later stage always corresponded to a higher risk score. Then, we performed survival analysis on the 10 feature genes independently in the TCGA-LUAD dataset through the GEPIA database, finding that the high expression of 6 genes (COL5A2, PLEK2, BAIAP2L2, S100P, ZIC2, SFXN1) was associated with the poor prognosis of LUAD patients. Conclusion To sum, this study established a 10-gene risk assessment model and further evaluated its value in predicting LUAD prognosis, which provided a new method for the prognosis prediction of LUAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanliang Jiang
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, No. 3 Eastern Qingchun Road, Hangzhou, 310016, China.
| | - Shan Xu
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, No. 3 Eastern Qingchun Road, Hangzhou, 310016, China
| | - Chunhua Chen
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, No. 3 Eastern Qingchun Road, Hangzhou, 310016, China
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35
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Endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition in anticancer therapy and normal tissue damage. Exp Mol Med 2020; 52:781-792. [PMID: 32467609 PMCID: PMC7272420 DOI: 10.1038/s12276-020-0439-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2020] [Revised: 03/28/2020] [Accepted: 04/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) involves the phenotypic conversion of endothelial-to-mesenchymal cells, and was first discovered in association with embryonic heart development. EndMT can regulate various processes, such as tissue fibrosis and cancer. Recent findings have shown that EndMT is related to resistance to cancer therapy, such as chemotherapy, antiangiogenic therapy, and radiation therapy. Based on the known effects of EndMT on the cardiac toxicity of anticancer therapy and tissue damage of radiation therapy, we propose that EndMT can be targeted as a strategy for overcoming tumor resistance while reducing complications, such as tissue damage. In this review, we discuss EndMT and its roles in damaging cardiac and lung tissues, as well as EndMT-related effects on tumor vasculature and resistance in anticancer therapy. Modulating EndMT in radioresistant tumors and radiation-induced tissue fibrosis can especially increase the efficacy of radiation therapy. In addition, we review the role of hypoxia and reactive oxygen species as the main stimulating factors of tissue damage due to vascular damage and EndMT. We consider drugs that may be clinically useful for regulating EndMT in various diseases. Finally, we argue the importance of EndMT as a therapeutic target in anticancer therapy for reducing tissue damage. A process of cellular conversion known as endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) may offer a valuable target for treating cancer and other diseases. In EndMT, the cells lining blood vessels undergo a striking change in shape and physiology, acquiring features of cells called fibroblasts. Fibroblasts form the body’s connective tissue, but also produce scar tissue that impairs organ function. Researchers led by Yoon-Jin Lee of the Korea Institute of Radiological & Medical Sciences in Seoul, South Korea, have reviewed the impact of this transformation on human disease. EndMT is seen as a prelude to heart failure, in lung tissue affected by pulmonary fibrosis, and within tumors, where the process recruits cells that further stimulate cancer progression. The authors highlight the potential of using drugs that target EndMT to bolster the efficacy and safety of tumor therapy.
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