The lncRNA TP73-AS1 promotes ovarian cancer cell proliferation and metastasis via modulation of MMP2 and MMP9

LncRNA HOXA‑AS2 promotes the progression of epithelial ovarian cancer via the regulation of miR‑372

Long non-coding RNAs, such as homeobox A cluster antisense RNA2 (HOXA-AS2) are understood to be involved in tumor growth and development of numerous cancers. However, the role of HOXA-AS2 in the progression of human epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) remains unclear. In the present study, the expression of HOXA-AS2 was found to be upregulated in EOC tissues compared with noncancerous tissues, and to be strongly correlated to an advanced Federation International of Gynecology and Obstetrics grade and poor prognosis. Knockdown of HOXA-AS2 in the EOC cells inhibited cell proliferation, invasion and migration, as well as inducing cell apoptosis. The ENCORI database was used to screen the microRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) that bound to HOXA-AS2, and one was tested using RNA pull-down and luciferase reporter assays. It was demonstrated that HOXA-AS2 functioned through the competing endogenous RNA mechanism to regulate miR-372. It was also demonstrated that the downregulation of miR-372 reversed the inhibitory effects of the knockdown of HOXA-AS2 in EOC cells. These results indicated that HOXA-AS2 promoted EOC progression by regulating the miR-372, which suggests that HOXA-AS2 may be a therapy target for EOC.

Identification of the biological functions and chemo-therapeutic responses of ITGB superfamily in ovarian cancer

BACKGROUND

Patients with ovarian cancer (OC) tend to face a poor prognosis due to a lack of typical symptoms and a high rate of recurrence and chemo-resistance. Therefore, identifying representative and reliable biomarkers for early diagnosis and prediction of chemo-therapeutic responses is vital for improving the prognosis of OC.

METHODS

Expression levels, IHC staining, and subcellular distribution of eight ITGBs were analyzed using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA)-Ovarian Serous Cystadenocarcinoma (OV) database, GEO DataSets, and the HPA website. PrognoScan and Univariate Cox were used for prognostic analysis. TIDE database, TIMER database, and GSCA database were used to analyze the correlation between immune functions and ITGBs. Consensus clustering analysis was performed to subtype OC patients in the TCGA database. LASSO regression was used to construct the predictive model. The Cytoscape software was used for identifying hub genes. The 'pRRophetic' R package was applied to predict chemo-therapeutic responses of ITGBs.

RESULTS

ITGBs were upregulated in OC tissues except ITGB1 and ITGB3. High expression of ITGBs correlated with an unfavorable prognosis of OC except ITGB2. In OC, there was a strong correlation between immune responses and ITGB2, 6, and 7. In addition, the expression matrix of eight ITGBs divided the TCGA-OV database into two subgroups. Subgroup A showed upregulation of eight ITGBs. The predictive model distinguishes OC patients from favorable prognosis to poor prognosis. Chemo-therapeutic responses showed that ITGBs were able to predict responses of common chemo-therapeutic drugs for patients with OC.

CONCLUSIONS

This article provides evidence for predicting prognosis, immuno-, and chemo-therapeutic responses of ITGBs in OC and reveals related biological functions of ITGBs in OC.

PAX8-AS1/microRNA-25-3p/LATS2 regulates malignant progression of ovarian cancer via Hippo signaling

BACKGROUND

Ovarian cancer (OC) is a frequent malignancy of the female reproductive system. Recently, the aberrant expression of numerous lncRNAs has been confirmed as a key factor for cancer development. The regulatory role of PAX8-AS1 in some cancers has been investigated, but its role in OC progression remains unclear. This study focuses on the role and molecular mechanism of PAX8-AS1 in the malignant progression of OC.

METHODS

Bioinformatics means were adopted to analyze the expression of PAX8-AS1, microRNA-25-3p, and LATS2 in OC tissues and the binding sites between the three. qRT-PCR was employed to determine the expression of these genes in OC cells. CCK-8, colony formation, scratch healing, and Transwell assays were used to see cell viability, proliferation, migration, and invasion, respectively. Fluorescence in situ Hybridization was performed to probe the subcellular localization of PAX8-AS1. Western blot was applied to evaluate the expression and phosphorylation levels of YAP and TAZ, and an immunofluorescence assay was used to detect the translocation of them. Dual luciferase assay was applied to validate the binding relationship between PAX8-AS1 and microRNA-25-3p, as well as between microRNA-25-3p and LATS2.

RESULTS

PAX8-AS1 and LATS2 were lowly expressed. MicroRNA-25-3p was highly expressed in OC. PAX8-AS1 was expressed in cytoplasm and regulated LATS2 expression by sponging microRNA-25-3p. Overexpressing PAX8-AS1 can suppress the malignant behaviors of OC cells, whereas treatment with microRNA-mimic can reverse these results. In addition, the phosphorylation levels of YAP and TAZ increased upon oe-LATS2 treatment, and oe-LATS2 could promote YAP and TAZ translocate from the nucleus to cytoplasm. Rescue experiments demonstrated that sh-PAX8-AS1 fostered malignant progression of OC, which was reversed by simultaneous oe-LATS2.

CONCLUSION

In summary, PAX8-AS1/microRNA-25-3p/LATS2 regulated the malignant progression of OC through Hippo signaling, which suggested that PAX8-AS1/microRNA-25-3p/LATS2 axis may be a novel target for OC treatment.

Oct4 activates IL-17A to orchestrate M2 macrophage polarization and cervical cancer metastasis

BACKGROUND

Cervical cancer is a common malignant tumor in the female. Interleukin (IL)-17A is a proinflammatory factor and exerts a vital function in inflammatory diseases and cancers. M2 macrophage has been confirmed to promote tumor development. Nevertheless, it is not yet known whether IL-17A facilitates cervical cancer development by inducing M2 macrophage polarization. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the regulatory effect of IL-17A on M2 macrophage polarization and the underlying mechanism in cervical cancer development.

METHODS

RT-qPCR was utilized for testing IL-17A expression in cancer tissues and cells. Flow cytometry was applied to evaluate the M1 or M2 macrophage polarization. Cell proliferative, migratory, and invasive capabilities were measured through colony formation and transwell assays. ChIP and luciferase reporter assays were applied to determine the interaction between IL-17A and octamer-binding transcription factor 4 (OCT4).

RESULTS

IL-17A expression and concentration were high in metastatic tissues and cells of cervical cancer. IL-17A was found to facilitate M2 macrophage polarization in cervical cancer. Furthermore, IL-17A facilitated the macrophage-mediated promotion of cervical cancer cell proliferative, migratory, and invasive capabilities. Mechanistic assays manifested that Oct4 binds to and transcriptionally activated IL-17A in cervical cancer cells. Furthermore, Oct4 promoted cervical cancer cell malignant phenotype and M2 macrophage polarization by activating the p38 pathway that, in turn, upregulated IL-17A. Additionally, in vivo experiments confirmed that Oct4 knockdown reduced tumor growth and metastasis.

CONCLUSION

Oct4 triggers IL-17A to facilitate the polarization of M2 macrophages, which promotes cervical cancer cell metastasis.

Long non-coding RNAs in cancer: multifaceted roles and potential targets for immunotherapy

Cancer remains a major global health concern with high mortality rates mainly due to late diagnosis and poor prognosis. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are emerging as key regulators of gene expression in human cancer, functioning through various mechanisms including as competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) and indirectly regulating miRNA expression. LncRNAs have been found to have both oncogenic and tumor-suppressive roles in cancer, with the former promoting cancer cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and poor prognosis. Recent research has shown that lncRNAs are expressed in various immune cells and are involved in cancer cell immune escape and the modulation of the tumor microenvironment, thus highlighting their potential as targets for cancer immunotherapy. Targeting lncRNAs in cancer or immune cells could enhance the anti-tumor immune response and improve cancer immunotherapy outcomes. However, further research is required to fully understand the functional roles of lncRNAs in cancer and the immune system and their potential as targets for cancer immunotherapy. This review offers a comprehensive examination of the multifaceted roles of lncRNAs in human cancers, with a focus on their potential as targets for cancer immunotherapy. By exploring the intricate mechanisms underlying lncRNA-mediated regulation of cancer cell proliferation, invasion, and immune evasion, we provide insights into the diverse therapeutic applications of these molecules.

Sevoflurane inhibits oral squamous carcinoma progression by modulating the circ_0000857/miR-145-5p axis

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a kind of oral malignant tumor with the highest incidence. This study investigated whether sevoflurane (SEV) inhibited OSCC cell progression by regulating circular RNA_0000857 (circ_0000857). OSCC cells were anesthetized with SEV at different concentrations. The expression of circ_0000857 and microRNA-145-5p (miR-145-5p) were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Cell viability was assayed by the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), and cell migration and invasion were examined by the wound-healing assay and transwell. Tube formation assay detected angiogenesis. Western blot was used to detect the expression of related proteins. Compared with the control group, SEV inhibited OSCC cell migration, invasion, and angiogenesis. SEV treatment significantly decreased circ_0000857 expression level, but increased miR-145-5p expression level in SCC4 and HSC3 cells. MiR-145-5p was a target of circ_0000857, and miR-145-5p inhibitor reversed the suppressing effects mediated by circ_0000857 silencing on OSCC cell migration, invasion, and angiogenesis. SEV inhibited the level of matrix metalloproteinases 2 (MMP2), MMP9, and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) protein by regulating the circ_0000857/miR-145-5p axis. In all, SEV regulated the migration, invasion, and angiogenesis of OSCC cells through the circ_0000857/miR-145-5p axis, which provided a basis for the potential role of SEV in the treatment of OSCC.

Targeting B4GALT7 suppresses the proliferation, migration and invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma through the Cdc2/CyclinB1 and miR-338-3p/MMP2 pathway

Background

As a three-dimensional network involving glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), proteoglycans (PGs) and other glycoproteins, the role of extracellular matrix (ECM) in tumorigenesis is well revealed. Abnormal glycosylation in liver cancer is correlated with tumorigenesis and chemoresistance. However, the role of galactosyltransferase in HCC (hepatocellular carcinoma) is largely unknown.

Methods

Here, the oncogenic functions of B4GALT7 (beta-1,4-galactosyltransferase 7) were identified in HCC by a panel of in vitro experiments, including MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide), colony formation, transwell and flow cytometry assay. The expression of B4GALT7 in HCC cell lines and tissues were examined by qPCR (real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction) and western blot assay. The binding between B4GALT7 and miR-338-3p was examined by dual-luciferase reporter assay.

Results

B4GALT7 encodes galactosyltransferase I and it is highly expressed in HCC cells and human HCC tissues compared with para-tumor specimens. MiR-338-3p was identified to bind the 3' UTR (untranslated region) of B4GALT7. Highly expressed miR-338-3p suppressed HCC cell invasive abilities and rescued the tumor-promoting effect of B4GALT7 in HCC. ShRNA (short hairpin RNA) mediated B4GALT7 suppression reduced HCC cell invasive abilities, and inhibited the expression of MMP-2 and Erk signaling.

Conclusion

These findings identified B4GALT7 as a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for HCC.

Tumor-derived exosomal linc00881 induces lung fibroblast activation and promotes osteosarcoma lung migration

Osteosarcoma (OS) commonly metastasizes to the lung, yet the underlying molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. Exosomes play a crucial role in tumor migration, including OS lung migration. However, the underlying mechanism by which exosome-derived long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) contribute to lung migration in osteosarcoma (OS) remains unclear. This study presents a newly discovered lncRNA, linc00881, derived from OS exosomes. Our study shows that linc00881 promotes the migration of OS cells to the lung and induces the conversion of normal lung fibroblasts into cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). Subsequently, we found that exosomal linc00881 secreted by OS cells can regulate the expression of matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2) in HFL-1 cells by sponging miR-29c-3p, thereby activating the NF-κB signaling in lung fibroblasts. Finally, we discovered that pro-inflammatory cytokines, namely IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-8, were secreted through the linc00881/miR-29c-3p/MMP2 axis. These results suggest that OS-derived exosomes can mediate the intercellular crosstalk between OS cells and lung fibroblasts, ultimately impacting OS lung migration. Our study provides a potential target for the treatment of OS lung migration.

ANKRD49 promotes the metastasis of NSCLC via activating JNK-ATF2/c-Jun-MMP-2/9 axis

BACKGROUND

Ankyrin repeat domain 49 (ANKRD49) has been found to be highly expressed in multiple cancer including lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) and lung squamous carcinoma (LUSC). However, the function of ANKRD49 in the pathogenesis of NSCLC still remains elusive. Previously, ANKRD49 has been demonstrated to promote the invasion and metastasis of A549 cells, a LUAD cell line, via activating the p38-ATF-2-MMP2/MMP9 pathways. Considering the heterogeneity of tumor cells, the function and mechanism of ANKRD49 in NSCLC need more NSCLC-originated cells to clarify.

METHODS

Real-time qPCR was employed to test ANKRD49 expression levels in nine pairs of fresh NSCLC tissues and the corresponding adjacent normal tissues. The function of ANKRD49 was investigated using overexpression and RNA interference assays in lung adenocarcinoma cell line (NCI-H1299) and lung squamous carcinoma cell line (NCI-H1703) through gelatin zymography, cell counting kit-8, colony formation, wound healing, migration and invasion assays mmunoprecipitation was performed to in vitro. Immunoprecipitation was performed to test the interaction of c-Jun and ATF2. Chromatin immunoprecipitation was conducted to assess the transcriptional regulation of ATF2/c-Jun on MMP-2/9. Moreover, the tumorigenicity of ANKRD49 was evaluated in nude mice models and the involved signal molecular was also measured by immunohistochemical method.

RESULTS

We found that the levels of ANKRD49 in cancerous tissues were higher than those in adjacent normal tissues. in vitro assay showed that ANKRD49 promoted the migration and invasion of NCI-H1299 and NCI-H1703 cells via enhancing the levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9. Furthermore, ANKRD49 elevated phosphorylation of JNK and then activated c-Jun and ATF2 which interact in nucleus to promote the binding of ATF2:c-Jun with the promoter MMP-2 or MMP-9. In vivo assay showed that ANKRD49 promoted lung metastasis of injected-NSCLC cells and the high metastatic rate was positively correlated with the high expression of ANKRD49, MMP-2, MMP-9, p-JNK, p-c-Jun and p-ATF2.

CONCLUSION

The present study indicated that ANKRD49 accelerated the invasion and metastasis of NSCLC cells via JNK-mediated transcription activation of c-Jun and ATF2 which regulated the expression of MMP-2/MMP-9. The molecular mechanisms of ANKRD49's function is different from those found in A549 cells. The current study is a supplement and improvement to the previous research.

The siRNA-mediated knockdown of SNHG4 efficiently induced pro-apoptotic signaling and suppressed metastasis in SW1116 colorectal cancer cell line

BACKGROUND

Long non-coding RNAs are broadly dysregulated in disease conditions, especially cancer, and are associated with tumor initiation, invasion, and overall survival. This study aimed to elucidate the expression level of Small Nucleolar RNA Host Gene 4 (SNHG4) lncRNA in colorectal cancer (CRC) and its effect on cell cycle progression, invasion, and death.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We evaluated the expression level of SNHG4 in clinical samples, including CRC tissues, adenomatous colorectal polyps (ACP), and their marginals. SNHG4-silenced SW1116 cells were used to evaluate the cell viability, cycle arrest, invasion, and apoptosis using MTT assay, scratching, flow cytometry, and immunoblotting. We also predicted molecular networks related to the SNHG4 involvement in CRC development. Results showed that SNHG4 expresses in cancerous tissues significantly higher than in polyps and marginals. This overexpression discriminated CRC from marginals and ACP with a suitable prognostic potential. Silencing of SNHG4 arrested the cell cycle at S and G2 phases and promoted early apoptosis in SW1116. It affected the active form of MMP2 and prevented cell invasion. Sponging of miRNAs which promotes the choline metabolism is the probable mechanism of SNHG4 involvement in CRC.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, SNHG4 promotes CRC by dysregulating apoptosis and cell migration, and shows significant prognostic potential for CRC.

LncRNA ASB16-AS1 accelerates cellular process and chemoresistance of ovarian cancer cells by regulating GOLM1 expression via targeting miR-3918

BACKGROUND

Reportedly, ovarian cancer (OC) is a major threat to women's health. Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) ASB16-AS1 has been uncovered to participate in cancer progression. Nevertheless, the role of ASB16-AS1 in OC remains to be revealed.

PURPOSE

This study aimed to unveil the biological function of ASB16-AS1 and its underlying mechanisms in OC cells.

METHODS

QRT-PCR was done to test ASB16-AS1 expression in OC cells. Functional assays were performed to evaluate the malignant behaviors and cisplatin resistance of OC cells. Mechanistic analyses were done to investigate the regulatory molecular mechanism in OC cells.

RESULTS

ASB16-AS1 was found to be highly expressed in OC cells. ASB16-AS1 knockdown repressed proliferation, migration, and invasion of OC cells, while facilitating cell apoptosis. ASB16-AS1 was further validated to up-regulate GOLM1 through competitively binding with miR-3918. Moreover, miR-3918 overexpression was corroborated to suppress OC cell growth. Rescue assays further uncovered that ASB16-AS1 modulated the malignant processes of OC cells via targeting miR-3918/GOLM1 axis.

CONCLUSION

ASB16-AS1 facilitates the malignant processes and chemoresistance of OC cells via serving as miR-3918 sponge and positively modulating GOLM1 expression.

Cancer invasion and metastasis: Insights from murine pubertal mammary gland morphogenesis

Cancer invasion and metastasis accounts for the majority of cancer related mortality. A better understanding of the players that drive the aberrant invasion and migration of tumors cells will provide critical targets to inhibit metastasis. Postnatal pubertal mammary gland morphogenesis is characterized by highly proliferative, invasive, and migratory normal epithelial cells. Identifying the molecular regulators of pubertal gland development is a promising strategy since tumorigenesis and metastasis is postulated to be a consequence of aberrant reactivation of developmental stages. In this review, we summarize the pubertal morphogenesis regulators that are involved in cancer metastasis and revisit pubertal mammary gland transcriptome profiling to uncover both known and unknown metastasis genes. Our updated list of pubertal morphogenesis regulators shows that most are implicated in invasion and metastasis. This review highlights molecular linkages between development and metastasis and provides a guide for exploring novel metastatic drivers.

ADT-OH synergistically enhanced the antitumor activity of celecoxib in human colorectal cancer cells

BACKGROUND

Colorectal cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers in the world, but the research on its prevention, early diagnosis and treatment is still a major challenge in clinical oncology. Thus, there is a pressing requirement to find effective strategies to improve the survival of colon cancer patients.

METHODS

Celecoxib has been accounted to be an effective antitumor drug, but may exhibit significant side effects. In recent studies, 5-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3H-1,2-dithiole-3-thione (ADT-OH), one of the most commonly used reagents for the synthesis of sustained-release H2 S donors, has also been reported to inhibit cancer progression by affecting processes such as cell cycle, angiogenesis, and apoptosis. Therefore, we evaluated the therapeutic effect of the combination of ADT-OH and celecoxib on colorectal cancer through in vitro and in vivo, hoping to achieve better therapeutic effect and reduce the effect of celecoxib on gastric injury through exogenous administration of H2 S.

RESULTS

Our results demonstrated that ADT-OH combined with celecoxib synergistically inhibited the proliferation and migration ability of human colorectal cancer HCT116 cells, altered cell cycle and cytoskeleton, increased intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), and promoted cell apoptosis. Noteworthy, in vivo studies also indicated the excellent antitumor therapeutic effect of the combination therapy without apparent toxicity.

CONCLUSIONS

In general, our results provide a reasonable combination strategy of low-dose ADT-OH and celecoxib in the preclinical application of colorectal cancer.

Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi and Their Natural Flavonoid Compounds in the Treatment of Ovarian Cancer: A Review

Ovarian cancer (OC) is one of the most common types of cancer in women with a high mortality rate, and the treatment of OC is prone to high recurrence rates and side effects. Scutellaria baicalensis (SB) is a herbal medicine with good anti-cancer activity, and several studies have shown that SB and its flavonoids have some anti-OC properties. This paper elucidated the common pathogenesis of OC, including cell proliferation and cell cycle regulation, cell invasion and metastasis, apoptosis and autophagy, drug resistance and angiogenesis. The mechanisms of SB and its flavonoids, wogonin, baicalein, baicalin, Oroxylin A, and scutellarein, in the treatment of OC, are revealed, such as wogonin inhibits proliferation, induces apoptosis, inhibits invasion and metastasis, and increases the cytotoxicity of the drug. Baicalein also inhibits vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression etc. Analyzing their advantages and disadvantages in treating OC provides a new perspective on the role of SB and its flavonoids in OC treatment. It serves as a resource for future OC research and development.

Identification of novel candidate targets for suppressing ovarian cancer progression through IL-33/ST2 axis components using the system biology approach

Background: Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) of ovarian cancer (OvC) are the most prevalent element of the tumor microenvironment (TM). By promoting angiogenesis, immunological suppression, and invasion, CAFs speed up the growth of tumors by changing the extracellular matrix's structure and composition and/or initiating the epithelial cells (EPT). IL-33/ST2 signaling has drawn a lot of attention since it acts as a pro-tumor alarmin and encourages spread by altering TM. Methods: Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of the OvC tumor microenvironment were found in the GEO database, qRT-PCR, western blotting, and immunohistochemistry, and their presence and changes in healthy and tumor tissue content were examined. Primary cultures of healthy fibroblasts and CAFs obtained from healthy and tumor tissues retrieved from OvC samples were used for in vitro and in vivo investigations. Cultured primary human CAFs were utilized to investigate the regulation and the IL-33/ST2 axis role in the inflammation reactions. Results: Although ST2 and IL-33 expression was detected in both epithelial (EPT) and fibroblast cells of ovarian cancer, they are more abundant in CAFs. Lipopolysaccharides, serum amyloid A1, and IL-1β, the inflammatory mediators, could all induce IL-33 expression through NF-κB activation in human CAFs. In turn, via the ST2 receptor, IL-33 affected the production of IL-6, IL-1β, and PTGS2 in human CAFs via the MAPKs-NF-κB pathway. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that IL-33/ST2 is affected by the interaction of CAFs and epithelial cells inside the tumor microenvironment. Activation of this axis leads to increased expression of inflammatory factors in tumor CAFs and EPT cells. Therefore, targeting the IL-33/ST2 axis could have potential value in the prevention of OvC progression.

Chronic PFOA exposure in vitro causes acquisition of multiple tumor cell characteristics in rat liver cells

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is tumorigenic in rats and mice and potentially tumorigenic in humans. Here, we studied long-term PFOA exposure with an in vitro transformation model using the rat liver epithelial cell, TRL 1215. Cells were cultured in 10 μM (T10), 50 μM (T50) and 100 μM (T100) PFOA for 38 weeks and compared to passage-matched control cells. T100 cells showed morphological changes, loss of cell contact inhibition, formation of multinucleated giant and spindle-shaped cells. T10, T50, and T100 cells showed increased LC50 values 20%, 29% to 35% above control with acute PFOA treatment, indicating a resistance to PFOA toxicity. PFOA-treated cells showed increases in Matrix metalloproteinase-9 secretion, cell migration, and developed more and larger colonies in soft agar. Microarray data showed Myc pathway activation at T50 and T100, associating Myc upregulation with PFOA-induced morphological transformation. Western blot confirmed that PFOA produced significant increases in c-MYC protein expression in a time- and concentration-related manner. Tumor invasion indicators MMP-2 and MMP-9, cell cycle regulator cyclin D1, and oxidative stress protein GST were all significantly overexpressed in T100 cells. Taken together, chronic in vitro PFOA exposure produced multiple cell characteristics of malignant progression and differential gene expression changes suggestive of rat liver cell transformation.

LncRNA Pnky Positively Regulates Neural Stem Cell Migration by Modulating mRNA Splicing and Export of Target Genes

Directed migration of neural stem cells (NSCs) is critical for embryonic neurogenesis and the healing of neurological injuries. The long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) Pnky has been reported to regulate neuronal differentiation of NSCs by interacting with PTBP1. However, its regulatory effect on NSC migration remains to be determined. Herein, we identified that Pnky is also a key regulator of NSC migration in mice, as underscored by the finding that Pnky silencing suppressed but Pnky overexpression promoted the in vitro migration of both C17.2 and NE4C murine NSCs. Additionally, in vivo cell tracking demonstrated that Pnky depletion attenuated but Pnky overexpression facilitated the migration of NE4C cells in the spinal canal after transplantation via injection into the spinal canal. Mechanistically, Pnky regulated the expression of a core set of critical regulators that direct NSC migration, including MMP2, MMP9, Connexin43, Paxillin, AKT, ERK, and P38MAPK. Using catRAPID, a web server for large-scale prediction of protein-RNA interactions, the splicing factors U2AF1 and U2AF1L4, as well as the mRNA export adaptors SARNP, Aly/Ref, and THOC7, were predicted to interact strongly with Pnky. Further investigations using colocalization and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays confirmed the direct binding of Pnky to U2AF1, SARNP, Aly/Ref, and THOC7. Transcriptomic profiling revealed that as many as 5319 differential splicing events of 3848 genes, which were highly enriched in focal adhesion, PI3K-Akt and MAPK signaling pathways, were affected by Pnky depletion. The predominant subtype of differential splicing by Pnky depletion is intron retention, followed by alternative 5' and 3' splice sites and mutually exclusive exons. Moreover, Pnky knockdown substantially blocked but Pnky overexpression facilitated the export of MMP2, Paxillin, AKT, p38MAPK, and other mRNAs to the cytosol. Collectively, our data showed that through interacting with U2AF1, SARNP, Aly/Ref, and THOC7, Pnky couples and modulates the splicing and export of target mRNAs, which consequently controlling NSC migration. These findings provide a possible theoretical basis of NSC migration regulation.

L1CAM promotes vasculogenic mimicry formation by miR-143-3p-induced expression of hexokinase 2 in glioma

In recent decades, antiangiogenic therapy, which blocks the supply of oxygen and nutrition to tumor cells, has become a promising clinical strategy for the treatment of patients with tumors. However, recent studies revealed that vasculogenic mimicry (VM), which is the process by which vascular morphological structures are formed by highly invasive tumor cells, has been considered a potential factor for the failure of antiangiogenic therapy in patients with tumors. Thus, inhibition of VM formation might be a potential target for improving the outcome of antiangiogenic strategies. However, the mechanism underlying VM formation is still incompletely elucidated. Herein, we report that L1CAM might be a critical regulator of VM formation in glioma, and might be associated with the resistance of glioma to antiangiogenic therapy. We found that the tumor-invasion and tube-formation capabilities of L1CAM-overexpressing cells were significantly enhanced in vitro and in vivo. In addition, the results indicated that miR-143-3p, which might directly target the 3'UTR of the hexokinase 2 (HK2) gene to regulate its protein expression, was subsequently involved in L1CAM-mediated VM formation by glioma cells. Further study revealed that the regulation of MMP2, MMP9, and VEGFA expression was involved in this process. Moreover, we identified that activation of the downstream PI3K/AKT signaling pathway of the L1CAM/HK2 cascade is critical for VM formation by glioma cells. Furthermore, we found that the combined treatment of anti-L1CAM neutralizing monoclonal antibody and bevacizumab increases efficacy beyond that of bevacizumab alone, and suppresses glioma growth in vivo, indicating that the inhibition of L1CAM-mediated VM formation might efficiently improve the effect of antiangiogenic treatment for glioma patients. Together, our findings demonstrated a critical role of L1CAM in regulating VM formation in glioma, and that L1CAM might be a potential target for ameliorating tumor resistance to antiangiogenic therapy in glioma patients.

TP73-AS1 rs3737589 Polymorphism is Associated With the Clinical Stage of Colorectal Cancer

Objective

TP73-AS1 can promote the occurrence and development of a variety of tumors, including colorectal cancer (CRC). The current study aimed to investigate the association between a potentially functional genetic polymorphism (rs3737589 T > C) on the TP73-AS1 gene and the susceptibility and clinical stage of CRC in a Chinese Han population.

Methods

The polymorphic genotyping was performed by the SNaPshot method. The real-time quantitative PCR method and the luciferase assay were used separately to explore genotype-tissue expression and the function of the genetic polymorphism.

Results

A total of 576 CRC patients and 896 healthy controls were included in the current study. The rs3737589 polymorphism was not associated with CRC susceptibility but was associated with the CRC stage (CC vs. TT: OR = 0.25, 95% CI = 0.12 - 0.54, P=0.0003; C vs. T: OR = 0.69, 95% CI = 0.53-0.89, P=0.006; and CC vs. (TC + TT): OR = 0.26, 95% CI = 0.12-0.56, P=0.0004). CRC patients carrying the rs3737589 CC genotype or C allele were less likely to have stage III/IV tumors than those carrying the rs3737589 TT genotype or T allele. The expression of TP73-AS1 was lower in CRC tissues with the rs3737589 CC genotype compared to those with the TT genotype. Bioinformatics analysis and the luciferase assay revealed that the C allele could promote the binding of miR-3166 and miR-4771 to TP73-AS1.

Conclusion

The TP73-AS1 gene rs3737589 polymorphism affecting miRNAs binding is associated with the CRC stage and may serve as a biomarker for predicting CRC progression.

Diagnostic and prognostic values of MMP-9 expression in ovarian cancer: A study based on bioinformatics analysis and meta-analysis

Background

This study aims to explore the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) associated with both diagnostic and prognostic value in ovarian cancer by meta-analysis and bioinformatics analyses.

Methods

We investigated the prognostic value of MMP-9 expression in ovarian cancer based on The Cancer Genome Atlas. Five databases were used to collect records about MMP-9 expression related to diagnostic and prognostic values in ovarian cancer from inception to June 2022. Using Stata 15.0 software, hazard ratio (HR) and odds ratio (OR) were calculated as the effect index of prognosis. We chose the pooled sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve (AUC) to judge the diagnostic utility of MMP-9 for ovarian cancer.

Results

A total of 23 studies on prognosis, and five studies on diagnosis were entered into the meta-analysis. These suggest that high MMP-9 expression was detrimental to the overall survival of patients with ovarian cancer (HR = 1.34; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.08∼1.66; P<0.01). High MMP-9 expression increased the risk of tumor stage (OR = 3.66; 95% CI 1.89∼7.07), but was not related to the tumor grade of ovarian cancer ( P>0.05). The pooled analysis of serum MMP-9 diagnosing for ovarian cancer gave the pooled sensitivity, specificity, and AUC the values of 0.72 (95% CI 0.61∼0.81), 0.81 (95% CI 0.77∼0.85), and 0.84 (95% CI 0.81∼0.87), respectively.

Conclusion

High MMP-9 expression can increase the tumor stage, and a correlation exists between high MMP-9 expression and poor prognosis in patients with ovarian cancer. Also, serum MMP-9 has a good diagnostic value for ovarian cancer.

Role of GLI1 in Hypoxia-Driven Endometrial Stromal Cell Migration and Invasion in Endometriosis

Endometriosis (EMs) is a benign disease with the characteristics of invasion and migration, and its pathogenesis is related to hypoxia. The abnormal activation of glioma-associated oncogene homolog 1 (GLI1) plays an important role in the metastasis of multiple types of tumors. However, it is not clear whether GLI1 regulates the migration and invasion of endometrial stromal cells under hypoxic condition. Therefore, we use comprehensive analysis to explore the effects of hypoxic on GLI1 expression and their regulation on the pathogenesis of EMs. In this study, from immunohistochemistry, RT-qPCR, and western blot analysis, we discovered that the expression of hypoxia-induced factor-1α (HIF-1α) and GLI1 was significantly increased in eutopic and ectopic endometrium of patients with EMs. In human primary eutopic endometrial stromal cells (ESCs), hypoxia can increase the expression of HIF-1α and GLI1 in a time-dependent manner. And hypoxia could promote GLI1 expression in a HIF-1α-dependent manner. Moreover, data from transwell assays manifested that the migration and invasion ability of ESCs was significantly enhanced under hypoxia, and this effect could be reversed by silencing GLI1. Furthermore, the expression of MMP2 and MMP9 was also increased under hypoxia, while silencing GLI1 could reverse this event. In summary, our research verified that GLI1, which activated by hypoxia, may contribute to the migration and invasion of ESCs through the upregulation of MMP2 and MMP9 and can be a novel therapeutic target in EMs.

Evaluate the immune-related eRNA models and signature score to predict the response to immunotherapy in thyroid carcinoma

BACKGROUND

The functional alterations of eRNAs have been reported to be correlated with tumorigenesis. However, the roles of eRNAs in thyroid cancer (THCA) remain still unclear. This study aimed to construct an immune-related eRNA prognostic signature that could effectively predict the survival and prognosis for THCA.

METHODS

The Weighted Gene Co-Expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) was performed to identify THCA-specific immune-related hub genes and immune-related eRNAs were obtained using Pearson correlation analysis. Univariate and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) Cox regression were conducted to construct an immune-related eRNA prognostic signature in training cohort, and the predictive capability was verified in test cohort and entire cohort. Kaplan-Meier analysis, principal component analysis (PCA), receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, and nomogram were used to validate the risk signature. Furthermore, CIBERSORT, ESTIMATE and ssGSEA were analyzed to explore the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) of the risk signature, and the response of potential immunotherapeutic were also discussed.

RESULTS

A total of 125 immune-related eRNAs were obtained and 16 immune-related eRNAs were significantly correlated with overall survival (OS). A 9-immune-related eRNA prognostic signature was constructed, and the risk score was identified as an independent predictor. High-risk groups were associated with a poorer OS. Immune microenvironment analysis indicated that low risk score was correlated with higher immuneScore, high immune cell infiltration, and the better response of immunotherapy. Additionally, we also detected 9 immune-related eRNA expression levels in sixty-two matched tumorous and non-tumorous tissues using qRT-PCR analysis.

CONCLUSION

Our immune-related eRNA risk signature that was an independent prognostic factor was strongly correlated with the immune microenvironment and may be promising for the clinical prediction of prognosis and immunotherapeutic responses in THCA patients.

LncRNA LAMTOR5-AS1 sponges miR-210-3p and regulates cervical cancer progression

AIM

Cervical cancer has attracted increasing attention in recent years, and the incidence has shown a trend of younger age. Therefore, it is an effective method to regulate the progression of cervical cancer through new prognostic biomarkers. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential of lncRNA LAMTOR5-AS1 (LAMTOR5-AS1) as a prognostic biomarker and reveal its regulatory role in cervical cancer.

METHODS

A total of 120 patients with cervical cancer were selected as research subjects to verify the prognostic effect of LAMTOR5-AS1 in a series of experiments. The expression of LAMTOR5-AS1 in cervical cancer tissues and cells was determined by polymerase chain reaction assay. The proliferation, migration, and invasion ability of cervical cancer cells were evaluated by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and Transwell assay. Luciferase reporter gene detection was used to determine the mechanism of LAMTOR5-AS1 targeting miR-210-3p, and to reflect the prognostic value of LAMTOR5-AS1 according to statistical methods.

RESULTS

LAMTOR5-AS1 decreased in cervical cancer tissues, while miR-210-3p expression increased. In the study of cervical cancer cells, it was found that the LAMTOR5-AS1 sponge miR-210-3p was associated with the malignant progression of cervical cancer. Overexpression of LAMTOR5-AS1 could effectively inhibit the development of cervical cancer cells and might be chosen as a prognostic biomarker of cervical cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

LAMTOR5-AS1 sponges miR-210-3p and modulates the progression of cervical cancer, which predict the prognosis of cervical cancer patients.

LncRNA KCNQ1OT1 accelerates ovarian cancer progression via miR-125b-5p/CD147 axis

BACKGROUND

Ovarian cancer (OC) is one of the most common gynecological malignancies with a high incidence. Researches showed that lncRNA KCNQ1OT1 (KCNQ1OT1) was involved various tumors progression, including OC. However, the precise mechanism of KCNQ1OT1 in OC needs to be further clarified.

OBJECTIVE

For investigate the underlying mechanism of KCNQ1OT1 regulating OC progression.

METHODS

CCK-8 assay, colony formation assay, Transwell assay, Western blot and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) were performed to examine viability, proliferation, migration and invasion, genes and proteins' level. To identify KCNQ1OT1 as a regulator of miR-125b-5p and miR-125b-5p as a regulator of CD147, we used miRNA target prediction algorithms, Pearson's correlation analysis and dual-luciferase reporter gene assay.

RESULTS

KCNQ1OT1 was high expression and miR-125b-5p was low expression in OC, and KCNQ1OT1 was negatively correlated with that of miR-125b-5p in OC specimens. KCNQ1OT1 promoted OC cell proliferation and metastasis by binding to miR-125b-5p. miR-125b-5p targeted CD147, and which was negatively correlated with that of miR-125b-5p in OC specimens. KCNQ1OT1 was positively correlated with that of CD147 in OC specimens, and KCNQ1OT1 accelerated OC progression via miR-125b-5p/CD147 axis.

CONCLUSION

KCNQ1OT1 accelerated OC progression via miR-125b-5p/CD147 axis indicating KCNQ1OT1 serve as a novel biomarker for OC treatment. Our research provides a new direction for OC treatment.

Increased expression of MMP17 predicts poor clinical outcomes in epithelial ovarian cancer patients

Ovarian cancer has the highest fatality rate among female reproductive system cancers, which is due to lack of biomarker for diagnosis and prognosis. We aimed to evaluate the role of matrix metalloproteinase 17 (MMP17) in ovarian cancer tumorigenesis and prognosis. Based on the epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) in The Cancer Genome Atlas database, we determined the expression of MMP17 using the Wilcoxon rank-sum test. The biological functions of MMP17 were evaluated using the Metascape database and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis. The association between MMP17 and immune cell infiltration was investigated by single sample Gene Set Enrichment Analysis. Logistic analysis was applied to study the correlation between MMP17 expression and clinicopathological characteristics. Finally, Cox regression analysis, Kaplan-Meier analysis, and nomograms were used to determine the predictive value of MMP17 on clinical outcomes in EOC patients. The expression of MMP17 was much higher in EOC patients than in pericarcinomatous tissues (P < .001). MMP17-associated differentially expressed genes were significantly enriched in cell extracellular matrix (ECM) degrading and corresponding pathways in the high MMP17 expression phenotype. MMP17 has a high sensitivity and specificity for EOC diagnosis, with an area under the curve of 0.988. MMP17 expression was found to be an independent risk factor for overall survival (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.488, P < .001), progression-free interval (HR: 1.347, P < .01), and disease-specific survival (HR: 1.548, P < .01). Increased MMP17 expression in EOC may contribute to carcinogenesis by degrading ECM and provide diagnostic and prognostic value for clinical outcomes.

LINC00665 affects the malignant biological behavior of ovarian cancer via the miR-148b-3p/KLF5

This study investigated the expression and clinical significance of long intergenic noncoding RNA 00665 (LINC00665) in ovarian cancer (OC), as well as its effect on the malignant biological behavior of OC cells. The expression of LINC00665, miR-148b-3p, and Krüppel-like factor 5 (KLF5) in OC tissues and cells were determined by RT-qPCR. Western blot was used to detect the protein expression of KLF5. The expression patterns of LINC00665 in nuclear and cytoplasm fractions were undertaken using RT-qPCR. In addition, CCK-8 assay, clone formation assay, transwell, scratch test, and flow cytometry were respectively used to detect the cell activity, proliferation, invasiveness, healing of cells, and apoptosis rate of OC cells. Furthermore, the interactions between LINC00665 and miR-148b-3p and between miR-148b-3p and KLF5 were verified by the luciferase reporter assay, and the correlations among these three genes were analyzed. LINC00665 expression was upregulated both in OC cell lines and tissues. Si-LINC00665 inhibited cell proliferation, invasion, and migration and induced apoptosis to a certain extent. The subcellular fraction assay revealed LINC00665 to be located mainly in the cytoplasm. miR-148b-3p was a target of LINC00665, and KLF5 was directly targeted by miR-148b-3p. Si-LINC00665 inhibited KLF5 expression, miR-148b-3p inhibitor promoted KLF5 expression, and si-KLF5 inhibited LINC00665 expression. Interestingly, the expression of LINC00665 was reversely associated with miR-148b-3p expression but positively correlated with KLF5. Furthermore, miR-148b-3p expression was negatively correlated with KLF5. In addition, si-KLF5 inhibited the malignant biological behavior of OC cells, whereas miR-148b-3p inhibitor had the opposite effect. Most importantly, the si-LINC00665 could reverse the promotion effect of the miR-148b-3p inhibitor on the malignant biological behavior of OC cells. LINC00665 can be used as an effective prognostic indicator of OC, which has the potential to be a new therapeutic target.

Recent advances of non-coding RNAs in ovarian cancer prognosis and therapeutics

Ovarian cancer (OC) is the third most common gynecological malignancy with the highest mortality worldwide. OC is usually diagnosed at an advanced stage, and the standard treatment is surgery combined with platinum or paclitaxel chemotherapy. However, chemoresistance inevitably appears coupled with the easy recurrence and poor prognosis. Thus, early diagnosis, predicting prognosis, and reducing chemoresistance are of great significance for controlling the progression and improving treatment effects of OC. Recently, much insight has been gained into the non-coding RNA (ncRNA) that is employed for RNAs but does not encode a protein, and many types of ncRNAs have been characterized including long-chain non-coding RNAs, microRNAs, and circular RNAs. Accumulating evidence indicates these ncRNAs play very active roles in OC progression and metastasis. In this review, we briefly discuss the ncRNAs as biomarkers for OC prognosis. We focus on the recent advances of ncRNAs as therapeutic targets in preventing OC metastasis, chemoresistance, immune escape, and metabolism. The novel strategies for ncRNAs-targeted therapy are also exploited for improving the survival of OC patients.

Revealing the crosstalk between nasopharyngeal carcinoma and immune cells in the tumor microenvironment

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) arises from the epithelial cells located in the nasopharynx and has a distinct geographic distribution. Chronic Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection, as its most common causative agents, can be detected in 100% of NPC types. In-depth studies of the cellular and molecular events leading to immunosuppression in NPC have revealed new therapeutic targets and diverse combinations that promise to benefit patients with highly refractory, advanced and metastatic NPC. This paper reviews the mechanisms by which NPC cells to circumvent immune surveillance and approaches being attempted to restore immunity. We integrate existing insights into anti-NPC immunity and molecular signaling pathways as well as targeting therapies in anticipation of broader applicability and effectiveness in advanced metastatic NPC.

LncRNA HLA-F-AS1 attenuates the ovarian cancer development by targeting miR-21-3p/PEG3 axis

Dysregulated long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) HLA-F-AS1 is depicted in numerous cancers. However, its function in ovarian cancer has yet to be clarified. LncRNA HLA-F-AS1, miR-21-3p, and PEG3 expressions in ovarian cancer tissues and cells were measured via reverse transcription quantitative PCR. Scratch and CCK8 assays were performed to evaluate the cells' migratory and proliferative abilities, respectively. To assess the expressions of the apoptosis-related proteins Bax and Bcl-2, Western blotting was conducted. Anti-AGO2 RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) and dual-luciferase reporter assays were executed to study lncRNA HLA-F-AS1's and PEG3 3'UTR's interactions to miR-21-3p. Finally, the tumor growth in vivo was inspected by performing a xenograft experiment. Among the ovarian cancer tissues and cells, the expressions of PEG3 and lncRNA HLA-F-AS1 were depleted while an elevated miR-21-3p expression was observed. HLA-F-AS1's overexpression attenuated ovarian cancer development in vivo and in vitro . MiR-21-3p targeted PEG3 3'UTR while HLA-F-AS1 targeted miR-21-3p. HLA-F-AS1 overexpression mitigated the enhancement brought about by miR-21-3p mimic on ovarian cancer cells' proliferation and migration. Meanwhile, PEG3 overexpression abrogated miR-21-3p mimic's function as an oncogene in the progression of ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancer development is suppressed when lncRNA HLA-F-AS1 targets the miR-21-3p/PEG3 axis. This may possibly be a novel therapeutic target for ovarian cancer.

Circulating TP73-AS1 and CRNDE serve as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for non-small cell lung cancer

BACKGROUND

Circulating long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are considered a new class of biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of various malignancies. We aimed to identify circulating lncRNAs as biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

METHODS

The expression of 14 candidate lncRNAs was measured in matched cancer and ipsilateral normal lung tissues of 20 patients with NSCLC using quantitative reverse-transcription PCR. In plasma samples from training and testing sets, significantly and aberrantly expressed lncRNAs, TA73-AS1 and CRNDE, were further analyzed. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed, and the areas under the ROC curves (AUC) were obtained to assess diagnostic performance. The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to assess the impact of plasma TA73-AS1 and CRNDE expression on tumor-free survival (TFS) of patients with NSCLC. The effect of TP73-AS1 expression on NSCLC cells was investigated in vitro.

RESULTS

AUC values of plasma TA73-AS1 and CRNDE were 0.822 and 0.815 in the training set and 0.843 and 0.804 in the testing set, respectively, to distinguish NSCLC from healthy controls. The combination of plasma TP73-AS1, CRNDE, and two classical tumor markers, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and cytokeratin 19 fragment (CYFRA21-1), showed excellent diagnostic performance for NSCLC (AUC =0.927 in the training set; AUC = 0.925 in the testing set). Furthermore, the high expression of the two plasma lncRNAs correlated with worse TFS in patients with NSCLC. In vitro cell model studies revealed that TP73-AS1 overexpression facilitated NSCLC cell survival, invasion, and migration.

CONCLUSION

Circulating TP73-AS1 and CRNDE could be potential biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognostic prediction of NSCLC.

Polypeptide induced perylene probe excimer formation and its application in the noncovalent ratiometric detection of matrix metalloproteinase activity

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are important biomarkers for a number of diseases. Thus, the precise determination of MMP activity is of crucial importance. Herein, we report a ratiometric fluorescence method for the sensitive and selective sensing of MMP activity. A number of positively charged MMP substrates (polypeptides) were designed and prepared. These polypeptides could induce aggregation of a negatively charged perylene diimide derivative (PC1). As a result, excimer fluorescence of PC1 was observed. Addition of the corresponding MMP resulted in cleavage of the polypeptide chain and dis-aggregation of PC1, which led to turning on of the PC1 monomer fluorescence. Based on the ratio of the monomer (545 nm, I_M) and the excimer (680 nm, I_M) fluorescence intensity changes, a ratiometric method I₅₄₅/I₆₈₀) was established to detect MMP activity. The enzymatic activity of a number of MMPs (MMP-1, 2, 3, 7, 9 and 13) could be determined with a limit of detection of 4.8, 2.2, 16, 6.0, 1.7 and 5.5 ng mL^-1, respectively. Using MMP-2 and MMP-9 as examples, flavonoid herbal extracts as potential inhibitors were studied. It was observed that mangiferin, apigenin, quercetin and isoliquiritigenin had significant inhibiting effects on the enzyme activity. And these herbal extracts also inhibited tumor cell metastasis. Moreover, the developed strategy was also employed to determine the concentration of MMP-9 in human saliva samples. Since the method relies on only noncovalent interactions between the polypeptide and PC1, no covalent labeling of fluorescence dye on the polypeptide substrate is required, and the method is thus simple, broad-spectrum inexpensive and effective. It has the potential to be developed into a clinical test kit.

Silencing of TP73-AS1 impairs prostate cancer cell proliferation and induces apoptosis via regulation of TP73

BACKGROUND

Prostate cancer is a malignant disease that severely affects the health and comfort of the male population. The long non-coding RNA TP73-AS1 has been shown to be involved in the malignant transformation of various human cancers. However, whether TP73-AS1 contributes to prostate cancer progression has not been reported yet. Accordingly, here we aimed to report the role of TP73-AS1 in the development and progression of prostate cancer and determine its relationship with TP73.

METHODS AND RESULTS

TP73-AS1-specific siRNA oligo duplexes were used to silence TP73-AS1 in DU-145 and PC-3 cells. Results indicated that TP73-AS1 was upregulated whereas TP73 was downregulated in prostate cancer cells compared to normal prostate cells and there was a negative correlation between them. Besides, loss of function experiments of TP73-AS1 in prostate cancer cells strongly induced cellular apoptosis, interfered with the cell cycle progression, and modulated related pro- and anti-apoptotic gene expression. Colony formation and migration capacities of TP73-AS1-silenced prostate cancer cells were also found to be dramatically reduced.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings provide novel evidence that suggests a chief regulatory role for the TP73-TP73-AS1 axis in prostate cancer development and progression, suggesting that the TP73/TP73-AS1 axis can be a promising diagnostic and therapeutic target for prostate cancer.

Manganese-Based Prussian Blue Nanocatalysts Suppress Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Growth and Metastasis via Photothermal and Chemodynamic Therapy

Based on the safety of prussian blue (PB) in biomedical application, we prepared manganese-based prussian blue (MnPB) nanocatalysts to achieve enhanced photothermal therapy and chemodynamic therapy. And we conducted a series of experiments to explore the therapeutic effects of MnPB nanoparticles (NPs) on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in vivo and in vitro. For in vitro experiments, the MnPB NPs suppressed growth of A549 cells by reactive oxygen species upregulation and near-infrared irradiation. Moreover, the MnPB NPs could inhibit lung cancer metastasis through downregulating the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 expression in A549 cells. And for in vivo experiments, the MnPB NPs inhibited the growth of xenografted tumor effectively and were biologically safe. Meanwhile, Mn²⁺ as a T1-weighted agent could realize magnetic resonance imaging-guided diagnosis and treatment. To sum up, the results in this study clearly demonstrated that the MnPB NPs had remarkable effects for inhibiting the growth and metastasis of NSCLC and might serve as a promising multifunctional nanoplatform for NSCLC treatment.

TP73-AS1 as a predictor of clinicopathological parameters and prognosis in human malignancies: a meta and bioinformatics analysis

Background

Long non-coding RNA P73 antisense RNA 1 T (non-protein coding), also known as Lnc RNA TP73-AS1, is dysregulated in various tumors but the correlation between its expression and clinicopathological parameters and/or prognoses in cancer patients is inconclusive. Here, we performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the prognostic value of Lnc RNA TP73-AS1 for malignancies.

Methods

We systematically searched four online databases including PubMed, the Web of Science, Embase, and the Cochrane Library for eligible articles published up to June 29/2020. Odds ratios (ORs) and Pooled hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were used to assess the association of TP73-AS1 expression with prognostic and clinicopathological parameters. We further validated TP73-AS1 expression in various malignancies and its potential prognostic value using the GEPIA online database. We predicted potential biological processes and relevant signal mechanisms through the public databases.

Results

A total of 26 studies examining 14 cancers were analyzed to evaluate the relationship between TP73-AS1 expression, clinicopathological features and prognostic indicators. The results indicated that TP73-AS1 expression markedly correlates with TNM stage (OR = 3.27,95% CI:2.43–4.39, P < 0.00001), tumor size (OR = 3.00, 95%CI:2.08–4.35, P < 0.00001), lymph node metastasis (OR = 2.77, 95%CI:1.42–5.38,P < 0.00001) and distant metastasis (OR = 4.50,95%CI:2.

62–7.73,P < 0.00001). No correlation with age (OR = 1.12,95%CI:0.77–1.64, P > 0.05), gender (OR = 1.08, 95%CI:0.84–1.38, P > 0.05) or differentiation (OR = 1.39, 95%CI:0.71–2.70, P = 0.340) was observed. TP73-AS1 overexpression was a biomarker of poor Overall survival(OS)(HR = 1.85,95%CI:1.53–2.22, P < 0.00001) and Disease-Free-Survival (DFS) (HR = 1.57,95%CI:1.03–2.42, P < 0.05). Dysregulated TP73-AS1 expression and its prognostic value in various cancers was validated based on The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Further biological function predictions indicated that TP73-AS1 was involved in pro-oncogenic signaling.

Conclusions

The upregulation of Lnc RNA TP73-AS1 was related to detrimental clinicopathological parameters and can be considered an indicator of poor prognosis for cancer malignancies.

Derivation and Validation of a Necroptosis-Related lncRNA Signature in Patients with Ovarian Cancer

Background

Ovarian cancer (OC) is the leading cause of gynecologic malignant tumors. The role of necroptosis-related lncRNAs (NRLs) in OC remains unclear. This study aims to explore the association between NRLs and prognosis in OC patients.

Methods

The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and GTEx datasets were used to obtain OC's data. A NRLs signature associated with overall survival (OS) was constructed by Cox-LASSO regression analysis in training cohort for calculating risk score and then validated in testing cohort. Subsequently, the area under the curve (AUC) and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis were used to evaluate the predictive accuracy of the risk score. Finally, the immune infiltration and functional enrichment were compared between different risk groups.

Results

A 8-NRLs signature including AC245128.3, AL355488.1, AC092794.1, AC068888.2, AL590652.1, AC008982.2, FOXP4-AS1, and Z94721.1 was identified to assess the OS of OC. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, AUC value, and Cox regression analysis confirmed its predictive value and showed that the clinical outcomes were worse for high-risk patients. There were also differences in immunological functioning and immune pathways between the high-risk and low-risk groups.

Conclusions

The signature based on eight NRLs has significant values in predicting prognostic prediction in OC, as well as providing a new sight for targeted therapies.

Extracellular Vesicles Secreted by Corneal Myofibroblasts Promote Corneal Epithelial Cell Migration

Corneal epithelial wound healing is a multifaceted process that encompasses cell proliferation, migration, and communication from the corneal stroma. Upon corneal injury, bidirectional crosstalk between the epithelium and stroma via extracellular vesicles (EVs) has been reported. However, the mechanisms by which the EVs from human corneal keratocytes (HCKs), fibroblasts (HCFs), and/or myofibroblasts (HCMs) exert their effects on the corneal epithelium remain unclear. In this study, HCK-, HCF-, and HCM-EVs were isolated and characterized, and human corneal epithelial (HCE) cell migration was assessed in a scratch assay following PKH26-labeled HCK-, HCF-, or HCM-EV treatment. HCE cells proliferative and apoptotic activity following EV treatment was assessed. HCF-/HCM-EVs were enriched for CD63, CD81, ITGAV, and THBS1 compared to HCK-EV. All EVs were negative for GM130 and showed minimal differences in biophysical properties. At the proteomic level, we showed HCM-EV with a log >two-fold change in CXCL6, CXCL12, MMP1, and MMP2 expression compared to HCK-/HCF-EVs; these proteins are associated with cellular movement pathways. Upon HCM-EV treatment, HCE cell migration, velocity, and proliferation were significantly increased compared to HCK-/HCF-EVs. This study concludes that the HCM-EV protein cargo influences HCE cell migration and proliferation, and understanding these elements may provide a novel therapeutic avenue for corneal wound healing.

Ethoxy-erianin phosphate and afatinib synergistically inhibit liver tumor growth and angiogenesis via regulating VEGF and EGFR signaling pathways

The therapeutic efficacy of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) on solid tumors is limited by drug resistance and side effects. Currently, the combination therapy comprises of TKIs and angiogenesis inhibitors have been corroborated as an effective approach in cancer therapy. Ethoxy-erianin phosphate (EBTP) is an anti-angiogenic compound with low toxicity obtained by structural modification of the natural product erianin. Here, we aimed to evaluate whether EBTP can cooperate with TKIs to inhibit the proliferation and angiogenesis of tumor cells and reduce toxic effects. First, CCK-8 results showed that EBTP can effectively inhibit the proliferation of liver cancer cell line HepG2. We combined EBTP with four TKIs (Bosutinib, Apatinib, Afatinib and Erlotinib) to treat HepG2 cells and CompuSyn software analysis suggested that EBTP/Afatinib(Afa)shows the best synergistic inhibitory effect. Meanwhile, EBTP/Afa can significantly suppress the proliferation, invasion, migration and angiogenesis of HepG2 and HUVECs. ELISA results revealed that EBTP/Afa inhibits the secretion of VEGF in HepG2. EBTP/Afa down-regulates the expression of VEGF, p-VEGFR1, p-VEGFR2 and p-EGFR in both HepG2 and HUVECs. Further, the supernatant of HepG2 cells treated with EBTP/Afa blocks the intracellular downstream signal transduction shared by VEGF and EGFR in HUVECs. Finally, EBTP/Afa significantly inhibits tumor growth and angiogenesis in vivo. To conclude, EBTP/Afa targets VEGF and EGFR signaling pathways in liver cancer cells and tumor vasculature, thereby inhibiting the proliferation, motion and angiogenesis of liver cancer cells. Overall, this study provides a new combined strategy for the clinical treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Repression of lncRNA PART1 attenuates ovarian cancer cell viability, migration and invasion through the miR-503-5p/FOXK1 axis

BACKGROUND

Ovarian cancer (OC) is a female malignant tumor with a high fatality rate. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are deeply involved in OC progression. The aim of this study is to explore the specific mechanism of lncRNA prostate androgen-regulated transcript 1 (PART1) in OC.

METHODS

Quantitative real time PCR was utilized to determine the expression levels of PART1, microRNA (miR)-503-5p and forkhead-box k1 (FOXK1) in OC tissues and/or cells. The cell viability, migration, and invasion in OC were evaluated by 3-(4, 5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2, 5-diphenyl-2-h-tetrazolium bromide assay, wound healing assay and transwell invasion assay, respectively. Flow cytometry was used to analyze the cell apoptosis. The xenograft tumor was conducted in nude mice to verify the effect of PART1 knockdown on OC in vivo. The target relationships among PART1, miR-503-5p and FOXK1 were predicted by StarBase, and verified by luciferase reporter assay. The level of FOXK1 was assessed by western blot.

RESULTS

Increased expression of PART1 and FOXK1 was observed in OC tissues or cells, whereas miR-503-5p was downregulated. PART1 silencing or miR-503-5p overexpression repressed the cell viability, migration and invasion, and protomed apoptosis. Meanwhile, miR-503-5p was a target of PART1, and FOXK1 was a direct target gene of miR-503-5p. Both downregulation of miR-503-5p and upregulation of FOXK1 partly relieved the suppressive effects of PART1 knockdown on the oncogenicity of OC in vitro.

CONCLUSION

Decreased PART1 represses the cell viability, migration and invasion of OC via regulating the miR-503-5p/FOXK1 axis, which provided an underlying target for treating OC.

LncRNA TP73-AS1 promotes nasopharyngeal carcinoma progression through targeting miR-342-3p and M2 polarization via exosomes

BACKGROUND

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a deadly cancer, mainly presenting in southeast and east Asia. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play essential roles in cancer progression. Exosomes are critical for intercellular communication. Thus, the aim of this study was to identify the functional lncRNAs in NPC and its relevant mechanisms.

METHODS

Data from public databases were utilized to screen for functional lncRNAs in NPC. Functional and mechanical experiments were performed to determine the role of lncRNAs in NPC and its relative molecular mechanisms. Exosomes derived from NPC cells were isolated to determine their function in tumor-associated macrophages.

RESULTS

LncRNA TP73-AS1 was increased in NPC cells and tissues and was associated with a poor prognosis. TP73-AS1 overexpression promoted proliferation, colony formation, and DNA synthesis of NPC cells while TP73-AS1 knockdown showed opposite roles. TP73-AS1 could directly bind with miR-342-3p. MiR-342-3p overexpression attenuated the effect of TP73-AS1 in NPC cells. Furthermore, TP73-AS1 was transferred by exosomes to promote M2 polarization of macrophages. Lastly, exosomal TP73-AS1 enhanced the motility and tube formation of macrophages.

CONCLUSIONS

Together, this study suggests that TP73-AS1 promotes NPC progression through targeting miR-342-3p and exosome-based communication with macrophages and that TP73-AS1 might be an emerging biomarker for NPC.

Extracorporeal shockwave relieves endothelial injury and dysfunction in steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head via miR-135b targeting FOXO1: in vitro and in vivo studies

Injury and dysfunction of endothelial cells (ECs) are closely related to the pathogenesis of steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH), while MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play an essential role in the processes. Extracorporeal shockwave treatment (ESWT) has been used in the non-invasive treatment of various diseases including musculoskeletal and vascular disorders. In particular, ESWT with low energy levels showed a beneficial effect in ischemic tissues. However, there has been no comprehensive assessment of the effect of ESWT and miRNAs on steroid-induced ONFH. In the present study, we investigated the role and mechanism of ESWT and miRNAs both in vitro and in vivo. Using a steroid-induced ONFH rat model, we found that ESWT significantly enhances proliferation and angiogenesis as well as alleviates apoptosis. In two types of ECs, ESWT can promote cell proliferation and migration, enhance angiogenesis, and inhibit apoptosis. Notably, our study demonstrates that miR-135b is downregulated and modulated forkhead box protein O1 (FOXO1) in ECs treated with dexamethasone. Remarkably, both miR-135b knockdown and FOXO1 overexpression reversed the beneficial effect of ESWT on ECs. Additionally, our data suggest that ESWT activates the FOXO1-related pathway to impact proliferation, apoptosis, and angiogenesis. Taken together, this study indicates that ESWT relieves endothelial injury and dysfunction in steroid-induced ONFH via miR-135b targeting FOXO1.

LINC00974 sponges miR-33a to facilitate cell proliferation, invasion, and EMT of ovarian cancer through HMGB2 upregulation

The function and mechanism of long intergenic non-protein coding RNA 974 (LINC00974) are rarely reported in ovarian cancer (OC). The study aimed to investigate how LINC00974 affects the progression of OC. The expression levels of LINC00974, microRNA-33a (miR-33a), and high mobility group box 2 (HMGB2) mRNA were detected by qRT-PCR. The LINC00974/miR-33a/HMGB2 axis was confirmed by dual-luciferase reporter, RNA-binding protein immunoprecipitation (RIP), and biotinylated RNA pull-down assays. A series of in vitro experiments were employed to assess the effects of LINC00974/miR-33a/HMGB2 axis on the proliferation, invasion and epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) of OC cells. Results showed that LINC00974 and HMGB2 mRNA expression were upregulated in OC cells, while miR-33a expression was downregulated. HMGB2 was a direct target gene of miR-33a. LINC00974 act as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) to directly bind with miR-33a, thereby upregulated HMGB2 expression. Notably, silencing of LINC00974 suppressed cell proliferation, invasion and EMT of OC cells, whereas miR-33a knockdown partially reversed the phenotypes of LINC00974 on OC cells. Overall, our study demonstrated that LINC00974 sponges miR-33a to promote cell proliferation, invasion, and EMT of OC through HMGB2 upregulation. LINC00974/miR-33a/HMGB2 axis may be an important signaling pathway in the progression of OC.

Insights Into the Regulation of Gynecological Inflammation-Mediated Malignancy by Metalloproteinases

Gynecological illness accounts for around 4.5% of the global disease burden, which is higher than other key global health concerns such as malaria (1.04%), TB (1.9%), ischemic heart disease (2.2%), and maternal disorders (3.5%). Gynecological conditions in women of reproductive age are linked to both in terms of diagnosis and treatment, especially in low-income economies, which poses a serious social problem. A greater understanding of health promotion and illness management can help to prevent diseases in gynecology. Due to the lack of established biomarkers, the identification of gynecological diseases, including malignancies, has proven to be challenging in most situations, and histological exams remain the gold standard. Metalloproteinases (MMPs, ADAMs, ADAMTSs) and their endogenous inhibitors (TIMPs) modulate the protease-dependent bioavailability of local niche components (e.g., growth factors), matrix turnover, and cellular interactions to govern specific physical and biochemical characteristics of the environment. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), A Disintegrin and Metalloproteinase (ADAM), and A Disintegrin and Metalloproteinase with Thrombospondin Motif (ADAMTS) are zinc-dependent endopeptidases that contribute significantly to the disintegration of extracellular matrix proteins and shedding of membrane-bound receptor molecules in several diseases, including arthritis. MMPs are noteworthy genes associated with cancer development, functional angiogenesis, invasion, metastasis, and immune surveillance evasion. These genes are often elevated in cancer and multiple benign gynecological disorders like endometriosis, according to research. Migration through the extracellular matrix, which involves proteolytic activity, is an essential step in tumor cell extravasation and metastasis. However, none of the MMPs’ expression patterns, as well as their diagnostic and prognostic potential, have been studied in a pan-cancer context. The latter plays a very important role in cell signaling and might be used as a cancer treatment target. ADAMs are implicated in tumor cell proliferation, angiogenesis, and metastasis. This review will focus on the contribution of the aforementioned metalloproteinases in regulating gynecological disorders and their subsequent manipulation for therapeutic intervention.

Knockdown of CCL28 inhibits endometriosis stromal cell proliferation and invasion via ERK signaling pathway inactivation

Endometriosis (EM), the presence of functional endometrial glands and stroma outside the uterine cavity, is a common gynecological disorder. At present, the pathogenesis of EM has not been fully elucidated, so there is still a lack of effective therapy. The present study aimed to explore the role of C-C motif chemokine ligand 28 (CCL28) and its underlying mechanism in endometrial stromal cells to propose a novel therapy for EM treatment. The expression of CCL28 and CC chemokine receptor 10 (CCR10) were examined. After CCL28 knockdown or overexpression by lentivirus infection, cell proliferation and invasion were measured. It was revealed that compared with normal, the expression levels of CCL28 and CCR10 were significantly elevated in endometrial tissues of patients with EM. Knockdown of CCL28 in endometrial stromal cells significantly suppressed cell proliferation and invasion, and this was accompanied by significantly reduced expression levels of CCR10, MMP2, MMP9, integrin β1 (ITGB1) and phosphorylated (p)-ERK/ERK ratio. The addition of the CCL28 recombinant protein had an opposite effect to CCL28 downregulation. Furthermore, the ERK inhibitor, PD98059, reduced CCL28-induced cell proliferation and invasion, as well as the expression levels of MMP2, MMP9, ITGB1 and p-ERK. Therefore, the present study indicated that CCL28 may contribute to the progression of EM by regulating MMP2, MMP9 and ITGB1 expression and function via the activation of the ERK signaling pathway.

TC2N: A Novel Vital Oncogene or Tumor Suppressor Gene In Cancers

Several C2 domain-containing proteins play key roles in tumorigenesis, signal transduction, and mediating protein–protein interactions. Tandem C2 domains nuclear protein (TC2N) is a tandem C2 domain-containing protein that is differentially expressed in several types of cancers and is closely associated with tumorigenesis and tumor progression. Notably, TC2N has been identified as an oncogene in lung and gastric cancer but as a tumor suppressor gene in breast cancer. Recently, a large number of tumor-associated antigens (TAAs), such as heat shock proteins, alpha-fetoprotein, and carcinoembryonic antigen, have been identified in a variety of malignant tumors. Differences in the expression levels of TAAs between cancer cells and normal cells have led to these antigens being investigated as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers and as novel targets in cancer treatment. In this review, we summarize the clinical characteristics of TC2N-positive cancers and potential mechanisms of action of TC2N in the occurrence and development of specific cancers. This article provides an exploration of TC2N as a potential target for the diagnosis and treatment of different types of cancers.

Rhophilin rho GTPase binding protein 1-antisense RNA 1 (RHPN1-AS1) promotes ovarian carcinogenesis by sponging microRNA-485-5p and releasing DNA topoisomerase II alpha (TOP2A)

Ovarian cancer (OC) is the most common and lethal gynecological cancer worldwide. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and sponging microRNAs (miRNAs) serve as key regulators in the biological processes of OC. We sought to evaluate the effect of the RHPN1-AS1-miR-485-5p-DNA topoisomerase II alpha (TOP2A) axis in regulating OC progression. RHPN1-AS1, miR-485-5p, and TOP2A levels in OC tissues and cells were determined by RT-qPCR. The interaction of RHPN1-AS1/miR-485-5p/TOP2A was assessed using luciferase, RNA immunoprecipitation, and RNA pull-down assays. RHPN1-AS1 silencing allowed us to explore its biological function by measuring cell viability, proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis in OC cells. In vivo experiments were performed to verify the in vitro findings. We found that the RHPN1-AS1 and TOP2A levels were significantly enhanced, whereas the miR-485-5p levels were reduced in OC tissues and cells. RHPN1-AS1 silencing attenuated cell growth, facilitated apoptosis in OC cells, and inhibited tumor growth in vivo. Notably, RHPN1-AS1 negatively regulating miR-485-5p promoted the TOP2A expression in OC cells. In conclusion, RHPN1-AS1 sponging miR-485-5p accelerated the progression of OC by elevating TOP2A expression, which makes it a promising target for the treatment of OC patients.

PPy@Fe3O4 Nanoparticles Inhibit Tumor Growth and Metastasis Through Chemodynamic and Photothermal Therapy in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is considered to be a principal cause of cancer death across the world, and nanomedicine has provided promising alternatives for the treatment of NSCLC in recent years. Photothermal therapy (PTT) and chemodynamic therapy (CDT) have represented novel therapeutic modalities for cancer treatment with excellent performance. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the effects of PPy@Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles (NPs) on inhibiting growth and metastasis of NSCLC by combination of PTT and CDT. In this study, we synthesized PPy@Fe₃O₄ NPs through a very facile electrostatic absorption method. And we detected reactive oxygen species production, cell apoptosis, migration and protein expression in different groups of A549 cells and established xenograft models to evaluate the effects of PPy@Fe₃O₄ NPs for inhibiting the growth of NSCLC. The results showed that the PPy@Fe₃O₄ NPs had negligible cytotoxicity and could efficiently inhibit the cell growth and metastasis of NSCLC in vitro. In addition, the PPy@Fe₃O₄ NPs decreased tumor volume and growth in vivo and endowed their excellent MRI capability of observing the location and size of tumor. To sum up, our study displayed that the PPy@Fe₃O₄ NPs had significant synergistic effects of PTT and CDT, and had good biocompatibility and safety in vivo and in vitro. The PPy@Fe₃O₄ NPs may be an effective drug platform for the treatment of NSCLC.

Celastrol inhibits the proliferation and induces apoptosis of colorectal cancer cells via downregulating NF-κB/COX-2 signaling pathways

BACKGROUND

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third-ranked malignant tumor in the world that contributes to the death of a major population of the world. Celastrol, a bioactive natural product isolated from the medicinal plant Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F, has been proved to be an effective anti-tumor inhibitor for multiple tumors.

OBJECTIVE

To reveal the therapeutic effect and underlying mechanisms of celastrol on CRC cells.

METHODS

CCK-8 and clonogenic assay were used to analyze the cell proliferation in CRC cells. Flow cytometry analysis was conducted to assess the cell cycle and cell apoptosis. Wound-healing and cell invasion assay were used to evaluate the migrating and invasion capability of CRC cells. The potential antitumor mechanism of celastrol was investigated by qPCR, western blot, and confocal immunofluorescence analyses.

RESULTS

Celastrol effectively inhibited CRC cell proliferation by activating caspase-dependent cell apoptosis and facilitating G1 cell cycle arrest in a dose-dependent manner, as well as cell migration and invasion by downregulating the MMP2 and MMP9. Mechanistic protein expression revealed that celastrol suppressed the expression of COX-2 by inhibiting the phosphorylation of NF-κB p65 and subsequently leading to cytoplasmic retention of p65 protein, thereby inhibiting its nuclear translocation and transcription activities.

CONCLUSION

These findings indicate that celastrol is an effective inhibitor for CRC, regulating the NF-κB/COX-2 pathway, leading to the inhibition of cell proliferation characterized by cell cycle arrest and caspase-dependent apoptosis, providing a potential alternative therapeutic agent for CRC patients.

Attenuation of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine on the invasive potential of bladder cancer through targeting matrix metalloproteinase 2 expression

Bladder cancer (BC), one of the most common urological neoplastic disorders in men, has an extremely low survival rate because of its tendency to metastasize. The anticancer drugs chloroquine (CQ) and hydroxy CQ (HCQ) might inhibit tumor progression and invasiveness. However, the mechanism by which CQ and HCQ influence BC is undetermined. In this study, CQ and HCQ treatments inhibited the migration and invasion of two BC cell types (5637 and T24) through expression modulation of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), which belongs to the matrix MMP family and is a key mediator of cancer progression. Moreover, additional data revealed that the migrative and invasive effects of BC cells treated with CQ or HCQ were abolished after treatment with rapamycin, which induces autophagy, demonstrating that CQ and HCQ functions in BC are based on autophagy inhibition. In conclusion, our research demonstrated that CQ and HCQ regulated cell motility in BC through MMP-2 downregulation by targeting autophagy functions, providing a novel therapeutic strategy for BC treatment.

Acer mono Extract Inhibits Invasive Activities and G1/S Transition of HT1080 Fibrosarcoma Cells

Acer mono is known to contain bioactive substances that exhibit beneficial effects in osteoporosis, gastric ulcers, hepatic damage, and pathologic angiogenesis. The current study aimed to investigate the effects of Acer mono extract on the invasive activities and cell-cycle progression of human fibrosarcoma cells. Cytotoxicity of Acer mono extract was assessed by MTT assay, in-vitro invasiveness of HT1080 fibrosarcoma cells was measured using matrigel assay, expression of invasion- and cell-cycle-related proteins was analyzed by western blot analysis, and that of E2F target genes was quantified using qRT-PCR. Acer mono extract did not show distinct cytotoxicity in the experimental concentrations used. Invasiveness of HT1080 fibrosarcoma cells and expression of cyclin D1 and CDK4 in them were significantly reduced in a dose-dependent manner after treatment with Acer mono extract. Acer mono extract showed inhibitory effects on the G1/S transition during cell-cycle progression; the active phosphorylated Rb protein level was decreased, and expression of E2F target genes was downregulated by the Acer mono extract. Our data collectively demonstrated that Acer mono extract exerts inhibitory effects on the invasiveness and cell-cycle progression of HT1080 human fibrosarcoma cells.