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Jiang S, Zheng J, Cui Z, Li Y, Wu Q, Cai X, Zheng C, Sun Y. FBXO5 acts as a novel prognostic biomarker for patients with cervical cancer. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1200197. [PMID: 37457292 PMCID: PMC10338834 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1200197] [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: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Cervical cancer (CC) remains one of the most common and deadly malignancies in women worldwide. FBXO5, a protein-coding gene, is highly expressed in a variety of primary tumors and promotes tumor progression, however, its role and prognostic value in CC remain largely unknown. Methods: A key differential gene, FBXO5, was screened according to WGCNA based on immunohistochemical assays of clinical samples, multiple analyses of the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) databases, including survival analysis, tumor mutational burden, GO, KEGG, tumor immune infiltration, and chemotherapeutic drug sensitivity, to explore the expression and prognostic value of FBXO5 in CC. The migration and invasiveness of cervical cancer cells following FBXO5 knockdown and overexpression were examined using wound healing and transwell assays, and the viability of cancer cells was assessed using CCK8 and EdU assays. Results: FBXO5 was discovered to be substantially expressed in CC tissues using data from our CC cohort and the TCGA database, and a survival analysis indicated FBXO5 as a predictive factor for poor overall survival in CC patients. In vitro, CC cells were more inclined to proliferate, migrate, and invade when FBXO5 was upregulated as opposed to when it was knocked down.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan Jiang
- Department of Gynecology, Clinical Oncology School of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Cancer Hospital, Fuzhou, China
- College of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, China
| | - Jianfeng Zheng
- Department of Gynecology, Clinical Oncology School of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Cancer Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Zhaolei Cui
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Research, Department of Clinical Laboratory, Clinical Oncology School of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Cancer Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Yanhong Li
- Department of Gynecology, Clinical Oncology School of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Cancer Hospital, Fuzhou, China
- College of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, China
| | - Qiaoling Wu
- Department of Gynecology, Clinical Oncology School of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Cancer Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Xintong Cai
- Department of Gynecology, Clinical Oncology School of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Cancer Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Chaoqiang Zheng
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Research, Department of Clinical Laboratory, Clinical Oncology School of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Cancer Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Yang Sun
- Department of Gynecology, Clinical Oncology School of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Cancer Hospital, Fuzhou, China
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Xing Y, Ye Y, Zuo H, Li Y. Progress on the Function and Application of Thymosin β4. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2021; 12:767785. [PMID: 34992578 PMCID: PMC8724243 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2021.767785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Thymosin β4 (Tβ4) is a multifunctional and widely distributed peptide that plays a pivotal role in several physiological and pathological processes in the body, namely, increasing angiogenesis and proliferation and inhibiting apoptosis and inflammation. Moreover, Tβ4 is effectively utilized for several indications in animal experiments or clinical trials, such as myocardial infarction and myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury, xerophthalmia, liver and renal fibrosis, ulcerative colitis and colon cancer, and skin trauma. Recent studies have reported the potential application of Tβ4 and its underlying mechanisms. The present study reveals the progress regarding functions and applications of Tβ4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Xing
- Department of Experimental Pathology, Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing, China
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei North University, Zhangjiakou, China
| | - Yumeng Ye
- Department of Experimental Pathology, Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Hongyan Zuo
- Department of Experimental Pathology, Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Hongyan Zuo, ; Yang Li,
| | - Yang Li
- Department of Experimental Pathology, Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing, China
- Academy of Life Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei City, China
- *Correspondence: Hongyan Zuo, ; Yang Li,
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Saidijam M, Afshar S, Taherkhani A. Identifying Potential Biomarkers in Colorectal Cancer and Developing Non-invasive Diagnostic Models Using Bioinformatics Approaches. AVICENNA JOURNAL OF MEDICAL BIOCHEMISTRY 2020. [DOI: 10.34172/ajmb.2020.15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most frequent causes of gastrointestinal tumors. Due to the invasiveness of the current diagnostic methods, there is an urgent need to develop non-invasive diagnostic approaches for CRC. The exact mechanisms and the most important genes associated with the development of CRC are not fully demonstrated. Objectives: This study aimed to identify differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs), key genes, and their regulators associated with the pathogenesis of CRC. The signaling pathways and biological processes (BPs) that were significantly affected in CRC were also indicated. Moreover, two non-invasive models were constructed for CRC diagnosis. Methods: The miRNA dataset GSE59856 was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and analyzed to identify DEMs in CRC patients compared with healthy controls (HCs). A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was built and analyzed. Significant clusters in the PPI networks were identified, and the BPs and pathways associated with these clusters were studied. The hub genes in the PPI network, as well as their regulators were identified. Results: A total of 569 DEMs were demonstrated with the criteria of P value <0.001. A total of 110 essential genes and 30 modules were identified in the PPI network. Functional analysis revealed that 1005 BPs, 9 molecular functions (MFs), 14 cellular components (CCs), and 887 pathways were significantly affected in CRC. A total of 22 transcription factors (TFs) were demonstrated as the regulators of the hubs. Conclusion: Our results may provide new insight into the pathogenesis of CRC and advance the diagnostic and therapeutic methods of the disease. However, confirmation is required in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Massoud Saidijam
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Research Center for Molecular Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Saeid Afshar
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Research Center for Molecular Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Amir Taherkhani
- Research Center for Molecular Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
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Thymosin β4 dynamics during chicken enteroid development. Mol Cell Biochem 2020; 476:1303-1312. [PMID: 33301106 PMCID: PMC7873109 DOI: 10.1007/s11010-020-04008-x] [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: 06/10/2020] [Accepted: 11/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
The sheared avian intestinal villus-crypts exhibit high tendency to self-repair and develop enteroids in culture. Presuming that this transition process involves differential biomolecular changes, we employed matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF–MS) to find whether there were differences in the spectral profiles of sheared villi versus the enteroids, assessed in the mass range of 2–18 kDa. The results showed substantial differences in the intensities of the spectral peaks, one particularly corresponding to the mass of 4963 Da, which was significantly low in the sheared villus-crypts compared with the enteroids. Based on our previous results with other avian tissues and further molecular characterization by LC-ESI-IT-TOF–MS, and multiple reaction monitoring (MRM), the peak was identified to be thymosin β4 (Tβ4), a ubiquitously occurring regulatory peptide implicated in wound healing process. The identity of the peptide was further confirmed by immunohistochemistry which showed it to be present in a very low levels in the sheared villi but replete in the enteroids. Since Tβ4 sequesters G-actin preventing its polymerization to F-actin, we compared the changes in F-actin by its immunohistochemical localization that showed no significant differences between the sheared villi and enteroids. We propose that depletion of Tβ4 likely precedes villous reparation process. The possible mechanism for the differences in Tβ4 profile in relation to the healing of the villus-crypts to developing enteroids is discussed.
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Zheng XY, Lv YF, Li S, Li Q, Zhang QN, Zhang XT, Hao ZM. Recombinant adeno-associated virus carrying thymosin β 4 suppresses experimental colitis in mice. World J Gastroenterol 2017; 23:242-255. [PMID: 28127198 PMCID: PMC5236504 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v23.i2.242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2016] [Revised: 10/04/2016] [Accepted: 11/13/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM To investigate the protective effect of a recombinant adeno-associated virus carrying thymosin β4 (AAV-Tβ4) on murine colitis via intracolonic administration.
METHODS AAV-Tβ4 was prepared and intracolonically used to mediate the secretory expression of Tβ4 in mouse colons. Dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) was applied to induce the murine ulcerative colitis, and 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) was used to establish a mouse colitis model resembling Crohn’s disease. The disease severity and colon injuries were observed and graded to reveal the effects of AAV-Tβ4 on colitis. The activities of myeloperoxidase (MPO) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) were determined using biochemical assays. Colonic levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-10 were measured using ELISA, and mucosal epithelial cell apoptosis and proliferation were detected by TUNEL assay and immunochemistry, respectively.
RESULTS Recombinant AAVs efficiently delivered LacZ and Tβ4 into the colonic tissues of the mice, and AAV-Tβ4 led to a strong expression of Tβ4 in mouse colons. In both the DSS and TNBS colitis models, AAV-Tβ4-treated mice displayed distinctly attenuated colon injuries and reduced apoptosis rate of colonic mucosal epithelia. AAV-Tβ4 significantly reduced inflammatory cell infiltrations and relieved oxidative stress in the inflamed colons of the mice, as evidenced by decreases in MPO activity and MDA content and increases in SOD activity. AAV-Tβ4 also modulated colonic TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-10 levels and suppressed the compensatory proliferation of colonic epithelial cells in DSS- and TNBS-treated mice.
CONCLUSION Tβ4 exerts a protective effect on murine colitis, indicating that AAV-Tβ4 could potentially be developed into a promising agent for the therapy of inflammatory bowel diseases.
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Thymosin β4 induces proliferation, invasion, and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition of oral squamous cell carcinoma. Amino Acids 2015; 48:117-27. [PMID: 26276576 DOI: 10.1007/s00726-015-2070-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2015] [Accepted: 08/10/2015] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays a vital role in carcinogenesis, invasion, and metastasis of many epithelial tumors including oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), a common malignancy of the head and neck. However, the functional role of the actin-sequestering protein thymosin β4 (Tβ4) in the EMT in OSCCs remains unclear. Thus, we investigated whether overexpression of Tβ4 could induce in vitro tumorigenesis such as cell proliferation and anchorage independency and an EMT-like phenotype in OSCCs. Also, we examined whether it affects invasiveness and cell motility-associated signaling molecules. Tβ4-overexpressing OSCCs, SCC-15_Tβ4 and SCC-25_Tβ4, enhanced cell proliferation and colony formation. In addition, we observed that Tβ4 overexpression induced an EMT-like phenotype, accompanied by a decrease in expression of the epithelial cell marker E-cadherin and an increase in expression of mesenchymal cell markers vimentin and N-cadherin. Also, the expression level of Twist1, an EMT-inducing transcription factor, was significantly enhanced in SCC-15_Tβ4 and SCC-25_Tβ4 cells. Tβ4 overexpression augmented in vitro invasion and MMP-2 activity and enhanced the phosphorylation of paxillin and cortactin and expression of LIMK1. Taken together, these results suggest that Tβ4 overexpression could be one of the causes of tumorigenesis and progression in OSCCs. Further investigation on the Tβ4 molecule would encourage the development of specific targets for cancer treatment.
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In vivo growth suppression of CT-26 mouse colorectal cancer cells by adenovirus-expressed small hairpin RNA specifically targeting thymosin beta-4 mRNA. Cancer Gene Ther 2014; 21:389-96. [PMID: 25124811 DOI: 10.1038/cgt.2014.43] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2014] [Revised: 07/19/2014] [Accepted: 07/21/2014] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Thymosin beta-4 (Tβ4) is known to be involved in tumorigenesis. Overexpression of this polypeptide has been observed in a wide variety of cancers, including colorectal carcinoma (CRC). Accordingly, Tβ4 has been proposed to be a novel therapeutic target for CRC, especially in its metastatic form. Although in vitro tumor-suppressive effects of Tβ4 gene silencing mediated by small hairpin RNA (shRNA) have already been demonstrated, the in vivo efficacy of such an approach has not yet been reported. Herein, we demonstrated that infection with recombinant adenovirus expressing an shRNA targeting Tβ4 markedly reduced the growth of and robustly induced apoptosis in CT-26 mouse CRC cells in culture. Additionally, tumors grown in nude mice from the CT-26 cells whose Tβ4 expression already been downregulated by virus infection were also drastically reduced. Most importantly, significant growth arrest of tumors derived from the parental CT-26 cells was observed after multiple intratumoral injections of these viruses. Together, our results show for the first time that in vivo silencing of Tβ4 expression by its shRNA generated after adenoviral infection can suppress CRC growth. These results further demonstrate the feasibility of treating CRC by a Tβ4 knockdown gene therapeutic approach.
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