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Bakrim S, El Hachlafi N, Khalid A, Abdalla AN, El Omari N, Aboulaghras S, Sakran AM, Goh KW, Ming LC, Razi P, Bouyahya A. Recent advances and molecular mechanisms of TGF-β signaling in colorectal cancer, with focus on bioactive compounds targeting. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 177:116886. [PMID: 38945700 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2024] [Revised: 05/30/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most significant forms of human cancer. It is characterized by its heterogeneity because several molecular factors are involved in contiguity and can link it to others without having a linear correlation. Among the factors influencing tumor transformation in CRC, transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) plays a key promoter role. This factor is associated with human colorectal tumors with a very high prognosis: it increases the survival, invasion, and metastasis of CRC cells, thus functioning as an oncogene. The inhibition of this factor can constitute a major therapeutic route for CRC treatment. Various chemical drugs including synthetic molecules and biotherapies have been developed as TGF-β inhibitors. Moreover, the scientific community has recently shown a major interest in screening natural drugs inhibiting TGF-β in CRC. In this context, we carried out this review article using computerized databases, such as PubMed, Google Scholar, Springer Link, Science Direct, Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus, to highlight the molecular mechanism of TGF-β in CRC induction and progression and current advances in the pharmacodynamic effects of natural bioactive substances targeting TGF-β in CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saad Bakrim
- Geo-Bio-Environment Engineering and Innovation Laboratory, Molecular Engineering, Biotechnology and Innovation Team, Polydisciplinary Faculty of Taroudant, Ibn Zohr University, Agadir 80000, Morocco
| | - Naoufal El Hachlafi
- Microbial Biotechnology and Bioactive Molecules Laboratory, Sciences and Technologies Faculty, Sidi Mohmed Ben Abdellah University, P.O.Box-2002, Imouzzer Road, Fez, Morocco
| | - Asaad Khalid
- Health Research Center, Jazan University, P.O. Box: 114, Jazan 45142, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Ashraf N Abdalla
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah 21955, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nasreddine El Omari
- High Institute of Nursing Professions and Health Techniques of Tetouan, Tetouan, Morocco
| | - Sara Aboulaghras
- Laboratory of Human Pathologies Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Rabat 10106, Morocco
| | - Ashraf M Sakran
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Umm Alqura University, Makkah 21955, Saudi Arabia
| | - Khang Wen Goh
- Faculty of Data Science and Information Technology, INTI International University, Nilai, Malaysia
| | - Long Chiau Ming
- School of Medical and Life Sciences, Sunway University, Sunway City, Malaysia.
| | - Pakhrur Razi
- Center of Disaster Monitoring and Earth Observation, Universitas Negeri Padang, Padang, Indonesia.
| | - Abdelhakim Bouyahya
- Laboratory of Human Pathologies Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Rabat 10106, Morocco
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2
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Bakhsh T, Alhazmi S, Farsi A, Yusuf AS, Alharthi A, Qahl SH, Alghamdi MA, Alzahrani FA, Elgaddar OH, Ibrahim MA, Bahieldin A. Molecular detection of exosomal miRNAs of blood serum for prognosis of colorectal cancer. Sci Rep 2024; 14:8902. [PMID: 38632250 PMCID: PMC11024162 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-58536-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer affecting people. The discovery of new, non-invasive, specific, and sensitive molecular biomarkers for CRC may assist in the diagnosis and support therapeutic decision making. Exosomal miRNAs have been demonstrated in carcinogenesis and CRC development, which makes these miRNAs strong biomarkers for CRC. Deep sequencing allows a robust high-throughput informatics investigation of the types and abundance of exosomal miRNAs. Thus, exosomal miRNAs can be efficiently examined as diagnostic biomarkers for disease screening. In the present study, a number of 660 mature miRNAs were detected in patients diagnosed with CRC at different stages. Of which, 29 miRNAs were differentially expressed in CRC patients compared with healthy controls. Twenty-nine miRNAs with high abundance levels were further selected for subsequent analysis. These miRNAs were either highly up-regulated (e.g., let-7a-5p, let-7c-5p, let-7f-5p, let-7d-3p, miR-423-5p, miR-3184-5p, and miR-584) or down-regulated (e.g., miR-30a-5p, miR-99-5p, miR-150-5p, miR-26-5p and miR-204-5p). These miRNAs influence critical genes in CRC, leading to either tumor growth or suppression. Most of the reported diagnostic exosomal miRNAs were shown to be circulating in blood serum. The latter is a novel miRNA that was found in exosomal profile of blood serum. Some of the predicted target genes of highly expressed miRNAs participate in several cancer pathways, including CRC pathway. These target genes include tumor suppressor genes, oncogenes and DNA repair genes. Main focus was given to multiple critical signaling cross-talking pathways including transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) signaling pathways that are directly linked to CRC. In conclusion, we recommend further analysis in order to experimentally confirm exact relationships between selected differentially expressed miRNAs and their predicted target genes and downstream functional consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tahani Bakhsh
- Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Jeddah, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Safiah Alhazmi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, 21589, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Immunology Unit, King Fahad Medical Research Centre, King Abdulaziz University, 80200, Jedaah, Saudi Arabia
- Neuroscience and Geroscience Research Unit, King Fahad Medical Research Centre, King Abdulaziz University, 80200, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Central lab of biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, 80200, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ali Farsi
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, 21589, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdulaziz S Yusuf
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of science, Stem Cell Unit, King Fahad Center for Medical Research, King Abdulaziz University, 21589, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Medical Laboratory Sciences Department, Fakeeh College for Medical Sciences, 21461, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Amani Alharthi
- Department of Biology, College of Science Al-Zulfi, Majmaah University, 11952, Majmaah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Safa H Qahl
- Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Jeddah, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Maha Ali Alghamdi
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Science, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia
| | - Faisal A Alzahrani
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of science, Stem Cell Unit, King Fahad Center for Medical Research, King Abdulaziz University, 21589, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ola H Elgaddar
- Department of Chemical Pathology, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Mohanad A Ibrahim
- Data Science Program, King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, 11481, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmed Bahieldin
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, 21589, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
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3
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Chai C, Tang X, Chi X, Li X, Zhang H, Wu L. Therapeutic effects of coptisine derivative EHLJ7 on colorectal cancer by inhibiting PI3K/AKT pathway. Cell Signal 2024; 116:111053. [PMID: 38224723 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2024.111053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 01/17/2024]
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer in the world with high mortality rate. EHLJ7 is a quaternary coptisine derivative synthesized by our institute. In this study, the role and mechanism of EHLJ7 on CRC are further elucidated. Using target fishing, colon cancer-associated target screening and molecular docking analysis, PI3K/AKT pathway was selected for the target of EHLJ7 at CRC. Results of Flow cytometry, wound healing assay and transwell migration assay confirmed that EHLJ7 could inhibit migration and apoptosis of colon cancer cells by specifically inhibiting PI3K/AKT pathway in vitro. Xenograft tumor models and a newly established azoxymethane (AOM)/dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)/Peptostreptococcus anaerobiu (P.anaerobius)-induced CRC mouse model are applied to access the anti-cancer action and mechanism of EHLJ7 using western-blot, immunohistochemistry and analysis of exosomes. The key findings in this study are listed as follows: (1) EHLJ7 exerts superior anti-tumor effect with good safety on Xenograft tumor model and CRC model; (2) EHLJ7 exerted its anti-CRC effect by specifically inhibiting PI3K/AKT pathway and apoptosis in vivo and in vitro. In summary, we demonstrated that EHLJ7 exerts therapeutic effect against CRC by PI3K/AKT pathway, which made it possible as a potentially effective compound for the treatment of CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- ChangWei Chai
- State Key Laboratory of Digestive Health, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
| | - XiaoNan Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Digestive Health, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
| | - XiaoQian Chi
- State Key Laboratory of Digestive Health, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Xiang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Digestive Health, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
| | - HaiJing Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Digestive Health, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China.
| | - LianQiu Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Digestive Health, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China.
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Safavi P, Moghadam KB, Haghighi Z, Ferns GA, Rahmani F. Interplay between LncRNA/miRNA and TGF-β Signaling in the Tumorigenesis of Gynecological Cancer. Curr Pharm Des 2024; 30:352-361. [PMID: 38303530 DOI: 10.2174/0113816128284380240123071409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
Gynecologic cancers are among the most common malignancies with aggressive features and poor prognosis. Tumorigenesis in gynecologic cancers is a complicated process that is influenced by multiple factors, including genetic mutations that activate various oncogenic signaling pathways, including the TGF-β pathway. Aberrant activation of TGF-β signaling is correlated with tumor recurrence and metastasis. It has been shown that non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) have crucial effects on cancer cell proliferation, migration, and metastasis. Upregulation of various ncRNAs, including long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA) and microRNAs (miRNAs), has been reported in several tumors, like cervical, ovarian, and endometrial cancers, but their cellular mechanisms remain to be investigated. Thus, recognizing the role of ncRNAs in regulating the TGF-β pathway may provide novel strategies for better treatment of cancer patients. The present study summarizes recent findings on the role of ncRNAs in regulating the TGF-β signaling involved in tumor progression and metastasis in gynecologic cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pegah Safavi
- Department of Medical Radiation, Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch, Tehran, Iran
| | - Kimia Behrouz Moghadam
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Zabol, Iran
| | - Zahra Haghighi
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Kashmar School of Medical Sciences, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Gordon A Ferns
- Division of Medical Education, Brighton & Sussex Medical School, Falmer, Brighton, Sussex BN1 9PH, UK
| | - Farzad Rahmani
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Kashmar School of Medical Sciences, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
- Metabolic Syndrome Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
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5
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Amirsasan R, Akbarzadeh M, Akbarzadeh S. Exercise and colorectal cancer: prevention and molecular mechanisms. Cancer Cell Int 2022; 22:247. [PMID: 35945569 PMCID: PMC9361674 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-022-02670-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Exercise and physical activity have been shown to be strongly associated with a decreased incidence rate of various chronic diseases especially numerous human malignancies. A huge number of clinical trials and meta-analysis have demonstrated that exercise is significantly effective in lowering the risk of colorectal cancer. In addition, it is suggested as an effective therapeutic modality against this cancer type. Therefore, in this review, we will review comprehensibly the effects of exercise in preventing, treating, and alleviating the adverse effects of conventional therapeutic options in colorectal cancer. Moreover, the possible mechanisms underlying the positive effects of exercise and physical activity in colorectal cancer, including regulation of inflammation, apoptosis, growth factor axis, immunity, epigenetic, etc. will be also discussed. Exercise is an effective post-treatment management program in colorectal cancer survivals Exercise improves muscle strength, cardiorespiratory fitness, emotional distress, physical activity, fatigue, and sleep quality in colorectal patients undergoing chemotherapy Targeting and modulating insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system, inflammation, apoptosis, immunity, epigenetic, Leptin and Ghrelin, and signaling pathways are major underlying mechanisms for preventive effects of exercise in colorectal cancer
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramin Amirsasan
- Department of Exercise Physiology, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Maryam Akbarzadeh
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Shabnam Akbarzadeh
- Department of Exercise Physiology, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran.
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Ahluwalia P, Mondal AK, Ahluwalia M, Sahajpal NS, Jones K, Jilani Y, Gahlay GK, Barrett A, Kota V, Rojiani AM, Kolhe R. Clinical and molecular assessment of an onco-immune signature with prognostic significance in patients with colorectal cancer. Cancer Med 2022; 11:1573-1586. [PMID: 35137551 PMCID: PMC8921909 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.4568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Revised: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the complex tumor microenvironment is key to the development of personalized therapies for the treatment of cancer including colorectal cancer (CRC). In the past decade, significant advances in the field of immunotherapy have changed the paradigm of cancer treatment. Despite significant improvements, tumor heterogeneity and lack of appropriate classification tools for CRC have prevented accurate risk stratification and identification of a wider patient population that may potentially benefit from targeted therapies. To identify novel signatures for accurate prognostication of CRC, we quantified gene expression of 12 immune‐related genes using a medium‐throughput NanoString quantification platform in 93 CRC patients. Multivariate prognostic analysis identified a combined four‐gene prognostic signature (TGFB1, PTK2, RORC, and SOCS1) (HR: 1.76, 95% CI: 1.05–2.95, *p < 0.02). The survival trend was captured in an independent gene expression data set: GSE17536 (177 patients; HR: 3.31, 95% CI: 1.99–5.55, *p < 0.01) and GSE14333 (226 patients; HR: 2.47, 95% CI: 1.35–4.53, *p < 0.01). Further, gene set enrichment analysis of the TCGA data set associated higher prognostic scores with epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and inflammatory pathways. Comparatively, a lower prognostic score was correlated with oxidative phosphorylation and MYC and E2F targets. Analysis of immune parameters identified infiltration of T‐reg cells, CD8+ T cells, M2 macrophages, and B cells in high‐risk patient groups along with upregulation of immune exhaustion genes. This molecular study has identified a novel prognostic gene signature with clinical utility in CRC. Therefore, along with prognostic features, characterization of immune cell infiltrates and immunosuppression provides actionable information that should be considered while employing personalized medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pankaj Ahluwalia
- Department of Pathology, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, USA
| | - Ashis K Mondal
- Department of Pathology, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, USA
| | | | - Nikhil S Sahajpal
- Department of Pathology, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, USA
| | - Kimya Jones
- Department of Pathology, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, USA
| | - Yasmeen Jilani
- Department of Pathology, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, USA
| | - Gagandeep K Gahlay
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, India
| | - Amanda Barrett
- Department of Pathology, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, USA
| | - Vamsi Kota
- Department of Medicine, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, USA
| | - Amyn M Rojiani
- Department of Pathology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, USA
| | - Ravindra Kolhe
- Department of Pathology, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, USA
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7
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Ashrafizadeh M, Ahmadi Z, Farkhondeh T, Samarghandian S. Autophagy as a molecular target of quercetin underlying its protective effects in human diseases. Arch Physiol Biochem 2022; 128:200-208. [PMID: 31564166 DOI: 10.1080/13813455.2019.1671458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Autophagy, known as a "self-eating" process, is associated with degradation of aged or damaged components and organelles. Generally, autophagy is a survival mechanism that provides energy during nutritional deprivation. This mechanism plays a remarkable role during the physiological condition by maintaining homeostasis and energy balance and several pathological conditions, particularly neurological disorders. Due to the critical role of autophagy in cancer, much attention has been made in the regulation of autophagy using both naturally occurring and synthetic drugs. Quercetin is a plant-derived chemical belonging to the family of flavonoids. Quercetin has valuable biological and therapeutic effects such as anti-tumor, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, hepatoprotective, and cardioprotective. At the present review, we first provide an introduction about quercetin and autophagy with its related molecular pathways. We also describe how quercetin modulates autophagy mechanism to exert its therapeutic effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milad Ashrafizadeh
- Department of Basic Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Zahra Ahmadi
- Department of basic science, Shoushtar Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shoushtar, Iran
| | - Tahereh Farkhondeh
- Cardiovascular Diseases Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
| | - Saeed Samarghandian
- Noncommunicable Diseases Research Center, Neyshabur University of Medical Sciences, Neyshabur, Iran
- Department of Basic Medical Science, Neyshabur University of Medical Sciences, Neyshabur, Iran
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8
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Ashrafizadeh M, Ahmadi Z, Farkhondeh T, Samarghandian S. Anti-tumor Activity of Propofol: A Focus on MicroRNAs. Curr Cancer Drug Targets 2021; 20:104-114. [PMID: 31657687 DOI: 10.2174/1568009619666191023100046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2019] [Revised: 09/02/2019] [Accepted: 09/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND MicroRNAs are endogenous, short, non-coding RNAs with the length as low as 20 to 25 nucleotides. These RNAs are able to negatively affect the gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. It has been demonstrated that microRNAs play a significant role in cell proliferation, cell migration, cell death, cell differentiation, infection, immune response, and metabolism. Besides, the dysfunction of microRNAs has been observed in a variety of cancers. So, modulation of microRNAs is of interest in the treatment of disorders. OBJECTIVE The aim of the current review is to investigate the modulatory effect of propofol on microRNAs in cancer therapy. METHODS This review was performed at PubMed, SCOPUS and Web of Science data-bases using keywords "propofol', "microRNA", "cancer therapy", "propofol + microRNA" and "propofol + miR". RESULTS It was found that propofol dually down-regulates/upregulates microRNAs to exert its antitumor activity. In terms of oncogenesis microRNAs, propofol exert an inhibitory effect, while propofol significantly enhances the expression of oncosuppressor microRNAs. CONCLUSION It seems that propofol is a potential modulator of microRNAs and this capability can be used in the treatment of various cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milad Ashrafizadeh
- Department of Basic Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Zahra Ahmadi
- Department of Basic Science, Veterinary Medicine Faculty, Shushtar University, Khuzestan, Iran
| | - Tahereh Farkhondeh
- Cardiovascular Diseases Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
| | - Saeed Samarghandian
- Noncommunicable Diseases Research Center, Neyshabur University of Medical Sciences, Neyshabur, Iran
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9
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Huangfu L, He Q, Han J, Shi J, Li X, Cheng X, Guo T, Du H, Zhang W, Gao X, Luan F, Xing X, Ji J. MicroRNA-135b/CAMK2D Axis Contribute to Malignant Progression of Gastric Cancer through EMT Process Remodeling. Int J Biol Sci 2021; 17:1940-1952. [PMID: 34131397 PMCID: PMC8193265 DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.58062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
There is a continued need for investigating the roles of microRNAs (miRNAs) and their targets on the progression of gastric cancer (GC), especially metastasis. Here, we performed an integrated study to identify dysregulated miRNAs critical for GC development and progression. miR-135b was determined as a promising biomarker for GC. The expression level of miR-135b was increased among GC cell lines, patient tumor tissues, serum samples, and correlation with aggravation of the GC patients. The in vitro functional assays demonstrated overexpression of miR-135b promoted cell proliferation, migration and invasion in GC, while miR-135b inhibition led to the opposite results. CAMK2D was found to be the direct target of miR-135b, serving as a tumor suppressor in GC cells. Based on our and public datasets, we confirmed the attenuation of CAMK2D expression in GC tissues. And, the expression levels of miR-135b and CAMK2D were closely associated with prognosis of GC patients. Ectopic expression of miR-135b resulted in the down-regulation of CAMK2D. Additionally, CAMK2D was a prerequisite for miR-135b to promote GC cells proliferation and migration by regulating the EMT process, which was confirmed by the in vivo experiments. Importantly, in vivo injection of miR-135b antagomir significantly repressed the tumor growth and metastasis of xenograft models, which suggested that the miR-135b antagomir were promising for clinical applications. Taken together, these results indicate that miR-135b/CAMK2D axis drives GC progression by EMT process remodeling, suggesting that miR-135b may be utilized as a new therapeutic target and prognostic marker for GC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Longtao Huangfu
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Division of Gastrointestinal Cancer Translational Research Laboratory, Peking University Cancer Hospital, Fu-Cheng Road, Beijing, 100142, China
| | - Qifei He
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Division of Gastrointestinal Cancer Translational Research Laboratory, Peking University Cancer Hospital, Fu-Cheng Road, Beijing, 100142, China.,Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, Shenzhen, 518000, China
| | - Jing Han
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Division of Gastrointestinal Cancer Translational Research Laboratory, Peking University Cancer Hospital, Fu-Cheng Road, Beijing, 100142, China
| | - Jingyao Shi
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Division of Gastrointestinal Cancer Translational Research Laboratory, Peking University Cancer Hospital, Fu-Cheng Road, Beijing, 100142, China
| | - Xiaomei Li
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Division of Gastrointestinal Cancer Translational Research Laboratory, Peking University Cancer Hospital, Fu-Cheng Road, Beijing, 100142, China
| | - Xiaojing Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Division of Gastrointestinal Cancer Translational Research Laboratory, Peking University Cancer Hospital, Fu-Cheng Road, Beijing, 100142, China
| | - Ting Guo
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Division of Gastrointestinal Cancer Translational Research Laboratory, Peking University Cancer Hospital, Fu-Cheng Road, Beijing, 100142, China
| | - Hong Du
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Division of Gastrointestinal Cancer Translational Research Laboratory, Peking University Cancer Hospital, Fu-Cheng Road, Beijing, 100142, China
| | - Wanhong Zhang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Peking University Cancer Hospital, Beijing, Fu-Cheng Road, Beijing, 100142, China.,Center of Minimally Invasive Gastrointestinal Surgery, Shanxi Cancer Hospital, Zhigong New Street, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China
| | - Xiangyu Gao
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Peking University Cancer Hospital, Beijing, Fu-Cheng Road, Beijing, 100142, China
| | - Fengming Luan
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Division of Gastrointestinal Cancer Translational Research Laboratory, Peking University Cancer Hospital, Fu-Cheng Road, Beijing, 100142, China
| | - Xiaofang Xing
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Division of Gastrointestinal Cancer Translational Research Laboratory, Peking University Cancer Hospital, Fu-Cheng Road, Beijing, 100142, China
| | - Jiafu Ji
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Division of Gastrointestinal Cancer Translational Research Laboratory, Peking University Cancer Hospital, Fu-Cheng Road, Beijing, 100142, China.,Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Peking University Cancer Hospital, Beijing, Fu-Cheng Road, Beijing, 100142, China
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10
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Molecular Landscape of the Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Endometrioid Endometrial Cancer. J Clin Med 2021; 10:jcm10071520. [PMID: 33917330 PMCID: PMC8038735 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10071520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Modern diagnostics are based on molecular analysis and have been focused on searching for new molecular markers to use in diagnostics. Included in this has been the search for the correlation between gene expression in tissue samples and liquid biological materials. The aim of this study was to evaluate the differences in the expression profile of messenger RNA (mRNA) and micro-RNA (miRNA) related to the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in different grades of endometrial cancer (G1-G3), in order to select the most promising molecular markers. The study material consisted of tissue samples and whole blood collected from 30 patients with endometrial cancer (study group; G1 = 15; G2 = 8; G3 = 7) and 30 without neoplastic changes (control group). The molecular analysis included the use of the microarray technique and RTqPCR. Microarray analysis indicated the following number of mRNA differentiating the endometrial cancer samples from the control (tissue/blood): G1 vs. C = 21/18 mRNAs, G2 vs. C = 19/14 mRNAs, and G3 vs. C = 10/9 mRNAs. The common genes for the tissue and blood samples (Fold Change; FC > 3.0) were G1 vs. C: TGFB1, WNT5A, TGFB2, and NOTCH1; G2 vs. C: BCL2L, SOX9, BAMBI, and SMAD4; G3 vs. C STAT1 and TGFB1. In addition, mRNA TGFB1, NOTCH1, and BCL2L are common for all grades of endometrial cancer. The analysis showed that miR-144, miR-106a, and miR-30d are most strongly associated with EMT, making them potential diagnostic markers.
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Ashrafizadeh M, Rafiei H, Mohammadinejad R, Farkhondeh T, Samarghandian S. Anti-tumor activity of resveratrol against gastric cancer: a review of recent advances with an emphasis on molecular pathways. Cancer Cell Int 2021; 21:66. [PMID: 33478512 PMCID: PMC7818776 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-021-01773-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common cancers with high malignancy. In spite of the great development in diagnostic tools and application of anti-tumor drugs, we have not witnessed a significant increase in the survival time of patients with GC. Multiple studies have revealed that Wnt, Nrf2, MAPK, and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways are involved in GC invasion. Besides, long non-coding RNAs and microRNAs function as upstream mediators in GC malignancy. GC cells have acquired resistance to currently applied anti-tumor drugs. Besides, combination therapy is associated with higher anti-tumor activity. Resveratrol (Res) is a non-flavonoid polyphenol with high anti-tumor activity used in treatment of various cancers. A number of studies have demonstrated the potential of Res in regulation of molecular pathways involved in cancer malignancy. At the present review, we show that Res targets a variety of signaling pathways to induce apoptotic cell death and simultaneously, to inhibit the migration and metastasis of GC cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milad Ashrafizadeh
- Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Sabanci University, Orta Mahalle, Üniversite Caddesi No. 27, Orhanlı, Tuzla, Istanbul, 34956, Turkey
- Sabanci University Nanotechnology Research and Application Center (SUNUM), Tuzla, Istanbul, 34956, Turkey
| | - Hossein Rafiei
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Shiraz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Reza Mohammadinejad
- Pharmaceutics Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Tahereh Farkhondeh
- Medical Toxicology and Drug Abuse Research Center (MTDRC), Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
| | - Saeed Samarghandian
- Noncommunicable Diseases Research Center, Neyshabur University of Medical Sciences, Neyshabur, 9318614139, Iran.
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12
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Ashrafizadeh M, Zarrabi A, Hushmandi K, Zarrin V, Moghadam ER, Hashemi F, Makvandi P, Samarghandian S, Khan H, Hashemi F, Najafi M, Mirzaei H. Toward Regulatory Effects of Curcumin on Transforming Growth Factor-Beta Across Different Diseases: A Review. Front Pharmacol 2020; 11:585413. [PMID: 33381035 PMCID: PMC7767860 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2020.585413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Immune response, proliferation, migration and angiogenesis are juts a few of cellular events that are regulated by transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) in cells. A number of studies have documented that TGF-β undergoes abnormal expression in different diseases, e.g., diabetes, cancer, fibrosis, asthma, arthritis, among others. This has led to great fascination into this signaling pathway and developing agents with modulatory impact on TGF-β. Curcumin, a natural-based compound, is obtained from rhizome and roots of turmeric plant. It has a number of pharmacological activities including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-diabetes and so on. Noteworthy, it has been demonstrated that curcumin affects different molecular signaling pathways such as Wnt/β-catenin, Nrf2, AMPK, mitogen-activated protein kinase and so on. In the present review, we evaluate the potential of curcumin in regulation of TGF-β signaling pathway to corelate it with therapeutic impacts of curcumin. By modulation of TGF-β (both upregulation and down-regulation), curcumin ameliorates fibrosis, neurological disorders, liver disease, diabetes and asthma. Besides, curcumin targets TGF-β signaling pathway which is capable of suppressing proliferation of tumor cells and invading cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milad Ashrafizadeh
- Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Sabanci University, Orta Mahalle, Istanbul, Turkey
- Sabanci University Nanotechnology Research and Application Center (SUNUM), Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Ali Zarrabi
- Sabanci University Nanotechnology Research and Application Center (SUNUM), Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Kiavash Hushmandi
- Department of Food Hygiene and Quality Control, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Vahideh Zarrin
- Laboratory for Stem Cell Research, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Ebrahim Rahmani Moghadam
- Department of Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Student Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | | | - Pooyan Makvandi
- Centre for Micro-BioRobotics, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Haroon Khan
- Student Research Committee, Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Rehabilitation, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Fardin Hashemi
- Medical Technology Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - Masoud Najafi
- Radiology and Nuclear Medicine Department, School of Paramedical Sciences, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
- Research Center for Biochemistry and Nutrition in Metabolic Diseases, Institute for Basic Sciences, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
| | - Hamed Mirzaei
- Research Center for Biochemistry and Nutrition in Metabolic Diseases, Institute for Basic Sciences, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
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Thakur A, Kondadasula SV, Ji K, Schalk DL, Bliemeister E, Ung J, Aboukameel A, Casarez E, Sloane BF, Lum LG. Anti-tumor and immune modulating activity of T cell induced tumor-targeting effectors (TITE). Cancer Immunol Immunother 2020; 70:633-656. [PMID: 32865605 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-020-02692-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Accepted: 08/04/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Adoptive transfer of Bispecific antibody Armed activated T cells (BATs) showed promising anti-tumor activity in clinical trials in solid tumors. The cytotoxic activity of BATs occurs upon engagement with tumor cells via the bispecific antibody (BiAb) bridge, which stimulates BATs to release cytotoxic molecules, cytokines, chemokines, and other signaling molecules extracellularly. We hypothesized that the release of BATs Induced Tumor-Targeting Effectors (TITE) by this complex interaction of T cells, bispecific antibody, and tumor cells may serve as a potent anti-tumor and immune-activating immunotherapeutic approach. In a 3D tumorsphere model, TITE showed potent cytotoxic activity against multiple breast cancer cell lines compared to control conditioned media (CM): Tumor-CM (T-CM), BATs-CM (B-CM), BiAb Armed PBMC-CM (BAP-CM) or PBMC-CM (P-CM). Multiplex cytokine analysis showed high levels of Th1 cytokines and chemokines; phospho-protein signaling array data suggest that the prominent JAK1/STAT1 pathway may be responsible for the induction and release of Th1 cytokines/chemokines in TITE. In xenograft breast cancer models, IV injections of 10× concentrated TITE (3×/week for 3 weeks; 150 μl TITE/injection) was able to inhibit tumor growth significantly (ICR/scid, p < 0.003; NSG p < 0.008) compared to the control mice. We tested the key components of the TITE for immune activating and anti-tumor activity individually and in combinations, the combination of IFN-γ, TNF-α and MIP-1β recapitulates the key activities of the TITE. In summary, master mix of active components of BATs-Tumor complex-derived TITE can provide a clinically controllable cell-free platform to target various tumor types regardless of the heterogeneous nature of the tumor cells and mutational tumor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Archana Thakur
- Bone Marrow Transplant Program, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Virginia Cancer Center, 1335 Lee Street, West Complex 7191, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA.
| | - Sri Vidya Kondadasula
- Departments of Oncology and Medicine, Wayne State University and Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
| | - Kyungmin Ji
- Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University and Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
| | - Dana L Schalk
- Bone Marrow Transplant Program, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Virginia Cancer Center, 1335 Lee Street, West Complex 7191, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA
| | - Edwin Bliemeister
- Bone Marrow Transplant Program, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Virginia Cancer Center, 1335 Lee Street, West Complex 7191, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA
| | - Johnson Ung
- Bone Marrow Transplant Program, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Virginia Cancer Center, 1335 Lee Street, West Complex 7191, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA
| | - Amro Aboukameel
- Departments of Oncology and Medicine, Wayne State University and Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
| | - Eli Casarez
- Bone Marrow Transplant Program, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Virginia Cancer Center, 1335 Lee Street, West Complex 7191, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA
| | - Bonnie F Sloane
- Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University and Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
| | - Lawrence G Lum
- Bone Marrow Transplant Program, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Virginia Cancer Center, 1335 Lee Street, West Complex 7191, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA
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Sharma P, Bharat, Dogra N, Singh S. Small Regulatory Molecules Acting Big in Cancer: Potential Role of Mito-miRs in Cancer. Curr Mol Med 2020; 19:621-631. [PMID: 31340735 DOI: 10.2174/1566524019666190723165357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2019] [Revised: 07/08/2019] [Accepted: 07/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
MicroRNAs [miRNAs] are short, non-coding, single stranded RNA molecules regulating gene expression of their targets at the posttranscriptional level by either degrading mRNA or by inhibiting translation. Previously, miRNAs have been reported to be present inside the mitochondria and these miRNAs have been termed as mito-miRs. Origin of these mito-miRs may either be from mitochondrial genome or import from nucleus. The second class of mito-miRs makes it important to unravel the involvement of miRNAs in crosstalk between nucleus and mitochondria. Since miRNAs are involved in various physiological processes, their deregulation is often associated with disease progression, including cancer. The current review focuses on the involvement of miRNAs in different mitochondrial mediated processes. It also highlights the importance of exploring the interaction of miRNAs with mitochondrial genome, which may lead to the development of small regulatory RNA based therapeutic options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Praveen Sharma
- Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Medicine, School of Health Sciences, Central University of Punjab, Mansa Road, Bathinda 151001, Punjab, India
| | - Bharat
- Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Medicine, School of Health Sciences, Central University of Punjab, Mansa Road, Bathinda 151001, Punjab, India
| | - Nilambra Dogra
- Centre for Systems Biology and Bioinformatics, Panjab University, Sector-25, Chandigarh 160014, India
| | - Sandeep Singh
- Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Medicine, School of Health Sciences, Central University of Punjab, Mansa Road, Bathinda 151001, Punjab, India
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15
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Peng Q, Shen Y, Zhao P, Cheng M, Zhu Y, Xu B. Biomarker roles identification of miR-106 family for predicting the risk and poor survival of colorectal cancer. BMC Cancer 2020; 20:506. [PMID: 32493303 PMCID: PMC7268235 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-020-06863-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2019] [Accepted: 04/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Recent studies have extensively investigated the roles of miR-106 in colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the associations and molecular mechanism underlying the roles of miR-106 in CRC remain unclear. We aimed to thoroughly investigate the biomarker roles of miR-106 for predicting the risk and survival outcome in CRC. Methods We first conducted a comprehensive meta-analysis to quantitatively evaluate the roles of miR-106 in the diagnosis and prognosis of CRC. Then, we qualitatively explored the biomarker roles of miR-106 in CRC through an integrative bioinformatics analysis. Results The results indicated that miR-106 yielded a combined AUC of 0.79 (95% CI: 0.76–0.83), with a pooled sensitivity of 0.50 (95% CI: 0.32–0.68) and a pooled specificity of 0.93 (95% CI: 0.79–0.98) for discriminating CRC cases from normal controls. Moreover, patients with higher expression of miR-106 were significantly associated with shorter disease-free survival (HR: 1.73; 95%CI: 1.23–2.44) and overall survival (HR: 1.39; 95%CI: 1.09–1.77). Finally, gene ontology and pathway analysis demonstrated that miR-106 family was highly involved in the initiation and progression of CRC and indicated the potential molecular mechanism for miR-106 in CRC. Conclusions Our results indicated that miR-106 showed promising potential as diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for CRC. Nevertheless, the underlying molecular mechanism of miR-106 family involved in CRC requires further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiliang Peng
- Department of Radiotherapy & Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China.,Institute of Radiotherapy & Oncology, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Yi Shen
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The Affiliated Suzhou Science & Technology Town Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, China
| | - Peifeng Zhao
- Department of Radiotherapy & Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China.,Institute of Radiotherapy & Oncology, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Ming Cheng
- Dept. of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, San Xiang Road No. 1055, Suzhou, 215004, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yaqun Zhu
- Department of Radiotherapy & Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China.,Institute of Radiotherapy & Oncology, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Bo Xu
- Dept. of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, San Xiang Road No. 1055, Suzhou, 215004, Jiangsu, China.
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16
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Taleb Agha M, Baharetha HM, Al-Mansoub MA, Tabana YM, Kaz Abdul Aziz NH, Yam MF, Abdul Majid AMS. Proapoptotic and Antiangiogenic Activities of Arctium Lappa L. on Breast Cancer Cell Lines. SCIENTIFICA 2020; 2020:7286053. [PMID: 32509375 PMCID: PMC7254072 DOI: 10.1155/2020/7286053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2019] [Revised: 03/16/2020] [Accepted: 04/23/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
In this study, the bioactivity-guided fractionation was conducted on the aerial parts of Arctium lappa L. and then the extracts were tested in vitro on breast cancer (MCF-7), colorectal cancer (HCT-116), and normal cells (EA.hy926). The n-hexane fraction (EHX) of the ethanolic extract showed strong activity against both MCF-7 and EA.hy926 cell lines (IC50 values: 14.08 ± 3.64 and 27.25 ± 3.45 μg/mL, respectively). The proapoptotic activity of EHX was assessed using MCF-7. Morphological alterations were visualized using Hoechst staining and a transmission electron microscope. Cancer cell signal transduction pathways were investigated, and EHX significantly upregulated p53, TGF-β, and NF-κB. Furthermore, EHX was found to disrupt the metastatic cascade of breast cancer cells by the inhibition of cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and colonization. The antiangiogenic activity of EHX fraction showed potent inhibition of rat aorta microvessels with IC50 value: 4.34 ± 1.64 μg/mL. This result was supported by the downregulation of VEGF-A expression up to 54%. Over 20 compounds were identified in EHX using GC-MS, of which stigmasterol, ß-sitosterol, and 3-O-acetyllupeol are the major active compounds. Phytochemical analysis of EHX showed higher phenolic and flavonoid contents with a substantial antioxidant activity. In conclusion, this work demonstrated that A. lappa has valuable anticancer activity and antiangiogenic properties that might be useful in breast cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamad Taleb Agha
- EMAN Testing & Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Minden 11800, Pinang, Malaysia
| | - Hussein M. Baharetha
- EMAN Testing & Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Minden 11800, Pinang, Malaysia
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Hadhramout University, Al Mukalla, Hadhramout, Yemen
| | - Majed Ahmed Al-Mansoub
- EMAN Testing & Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Minden 11800, Pinang, Malaysia
| | - Yasser M. Tabana
- EMAN Testing & Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Minden 11800, Pinang, Malaysia
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Nur Hidayah Kaz Abdul Aziz
- EMAN Testing & Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Minden 11800, Pinang, Malaysia
| | - Mun Fei Yam
- EMAN Testing & Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Minden 11800, Pinang, Malaysia
| | - Amin Malik Shah Abdul Majid
- EMAN Testing & Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Minden 11800, Pinang, Malaysia
- ACRF Department of Cancer Biology and Therapeutics, The John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
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17
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Ma C, Nie ZK, Guo HM, Kong Y. MiR-671-5p plays a promising role in restraining osteosarcoma cell characteristics through targeting TUFT1. J Biochem Mol Toxicol 2020; 34:e22490. [PMID: 32115852 DOI: 10.1002/jbt.22490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2019] [Revised: 01/14/2020] [Accepted: 02/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The aim of our study was to explore the roles of miR-671-5p in mediating biological processes of osteosarcoma (OS) cells and clinical implications. On the basis of the OS samples acquired from the GEO database, the expression difference and overall survival analyses of miR-671-5p and TUFT1 were determined. The expression of MiR-671-5p was verified using OS cell lines. 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide, wound-healing, and Transwell assays were respectively carried out to probe whether miR-671-5p regulated OS cell vitality, migration, and invasion. The expression of miR-671-5p was downregulated in OS tissues and cell lines. High expression of MiR-671-5p blocked OS cell growth, migration, and invasion. TUFT1 was predicted and validated as the target of miR-671-5p in OS cells using in silico analysis and luciferase reporter assays. Forced expression of TUFT1 reversed the suppressive influence of miR-671-5p on cell viability, migration, and invasion of OS cells. Moreover, the low expression of miR-671-5p and the high expression of TUFT1 led to poor prognosis. Taken together, targeting miR-671-5p/TUFT1 may be a promising strategy for treating OS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cao Ma
- Department of Bone and Joint Surgery, Jining No. 1 People's Hospital, Jining, Shandong, China
| | - Zhi-Kui Nie
- Department of Bone and Joint Surgery, Jining No. 1 People's Hospital, Jining, Shandong, China
| | - Hong-Min Guo
- Department of Bone and Joint Surgery, Jining No. 1 People's Hospital, Jining, Shandong, China
| | - Yao Kong
- Department of Bone and Joint Surgery, Jining No. 1 People's Hospital, Jining, Shandong, China
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18
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Rafiei H, Ashrafizadeh M, Ahmadi Z. MicroRNAs as novel targets of sulforaphane in cancer therapy: The beginning of a new tale? Phytother Res 2020; 34:721-728. [PMID: 31972874 DOI: 10.1002/ptr.6572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2019] [Revised: 09/30/2019] [Accepted: 11/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Effective management and treatment of cancer depend on developing novel antitumor drugs with the capability of targeting various molecular pathways. Identification and subsequent targeting of these pathways are of importance in cancer therapy. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNA molecules responsible for post-transcriptional regulation of genes. Notably, miRNAs participate in a number of biological processes such as proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation, and cell cycle regulation. So, any impairment in the expression and function of miRNAs is associated with development of disorders, particularly cancer. Naturally occurring nutraceutical compounds have attracted much attention due to their great antitumor activity. Among them, sulforaphane isolated from Brassica oleracea (broccoli) is of interest due to its therapeutic and biological activities such as antidiabetic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotection, and cardiprotection. Sulforaphane has demonstrated great antitumor activity and is able to significantly inhibit proliferation, viability, migration, malignancy, and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition of cancer cells. These antitumor effects have widely been investigated, and it appears that there is a need for a precise review to demonstrate the molecular pathway that sulforaphane follows to exert its antitumor activity. At the present review, we focus on the modulatory impact of sulforaphane on miRNAs and exhibit that how various miRNAs in different cancers are regulated by sulforaphane.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hossein Rafiei
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Shiraz Branch, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Milad Ashrafizadeh
- Department of Basic Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Zahra Ahmadi
- Department of basic science, Islamic Azad university, Shoushtar Branch, Shoushtar, Iran
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Ashrafizadeh M, Mohammadinejad R, Samarghandian S, Yaribeygi H, Johnston TP, Sahebkar A. Anti-Tumor Effects of Osthole on Different Malignant Tissues: A Review of Molecular Mechanisms. Anticancer Agents Med Chem 2020; 20:918-931. [PMID: 32108003 DOI: 10.2174/1871520620666200228110704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2019] [Revised: 12/09/2019] [Accepted: 01/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Cancer management and/or treatment require a comprehensive understanding of the molecular and signaling pathways involved. Recently, much attention has been directed to these molecular and signaling pathways, and it has been suggested that a number of biomolecules/players involved in such pathways, such as PI3K/Akt, NF-kB, STAT, and Nrf2 contribute to the progression, invasion, proliferation, and metastasis of malignant cells. Synthetic anti-tumor agents and chemotherapeutic drugs have been a mainstay in cancer therapy and are widely used to suppress the progression and, hopefully, halt the proliferation of malignant cells. However, these agents have some undesirable side-effects and, therefore, naturally-occurring compounds with high potency and fewer side-effects are now of great interest. Osthole is a plant-derived chemical compound that can inhibit the proliferation of malignant cells and provide potent anti-cancer effects in various tissues. Therefore, in this review, we presented the main findings concerning the potential anti-tumor effects of osthole and its derivatives and described possible molecular mechanisms by which osthole may suppress malignant cell proliferation in different tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milad Ashrafizadeh
- Department of Basic Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Reza Mohammadinejad
- Pharmaceutics Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Saeed Samarghandian
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neyshabur University of Medical Sciences, Neyshabur, Iran
| | - Habib Yaribeygi
- Research Center of Physiology, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran
| | - Thomas P Johnston
- Division of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, United States
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20
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Januszyk K, Januszyk P, Grabarek BO, Boroń D, Oplawski M. The Influence of Salinomycin on the Expression Profile of mRNAs Encoding Selected Caspases and MiRNAs Regulating their Expression in Endometrial Cancer Cell Line. Curr Pharm Biotechnol 2020; 21:1505-1515. [PMID: 32407273 PMCID: PMC8206191 DOI: 10.2174/1389201021666200514095043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2020] [Revised: 03/19/2020] [Accepted: 04/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Apoptosis could take place in the pathway dependent on death receptors or pathways dependent on mitochondria. In both, a key role is played by enzymes with protease activity, known as caspases. AIM The aim of this study was to assess the variances in the expression pattern of caspase-dependent signaling pathways in the endometrial cancer cell line when treated with salinomycin. Additionally, the changes in the level of miRNA that potentially regulate these mRNAs were evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS Endometrial cancer cells were treated with 1 μM of salinomycin for 12, 24 and 48 hours. Untreated cells made up the control culture. The molecular analysis consisted of screening mRNA and miRNA microarray expression profiles of caspases, and the evaluation of the expression of caspases 3,8 and 9 by RTqPCR, also on the protein level. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION It was observed that 5 of the 14 differentiating mRNAs were commonly found for all incubation times of the cells and they corresponded with CASP3, CASP8, and CASP9 genes. The highest impact probability was determined between CASP3(up-regulated) and hsa- miR- 30d (FC -2.01), CASP8 (down-regulated) and hsa-miR-21 (FC +1.39) and between CASP9 (upregulated) and hsa-miR-1271 (FC +1.71). CONCLUSION Salinomycin induces the apoptosis of endometrial cancer cells. The largest increase in activity was noted for caspases 3 and 9, while the expression of caspase 8 was decreased. Salinomycin causes a regulatory effect on the transcriptomes of mRNA and miRNA in in vitro endometrial cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krzysztof Januszyk
- Address correspondence to this author at the Faculty of Health Science, Public Higher Medical Professional School in Opole, Poland;, E-mail:
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21
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Kieszkowski P, Dąbruś D, Grabarek BO, Boroń D. Differences in the Expression Pattern of mRNA Protein SEMA3F in Endometrial Cancer in vitro under Cisplatin Treatment. Curr Pharm Biotechnol 2020; 21:1119-1128. [PMID: 32297576 PMCID: PMC7536788 DOI: 10.2174/1389201021666200416102540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2019] [Revised: 02/04/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Semaphorin 3F (SEMA3F) plays a substantial role in carcinogenesis, because of its role in inducing angiogenesis, and creating a microenvironment for the developing tumor. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this work was to assess the impact of cisplatin, depending on the concentration and exposure time on the expression pattern of SEMA3F in an endometrial cancer cell line. MATERIALS AND METHODS Cultures of the Ishikawa endometrial cancer cells were incubated with cisplatin with the following concentrations: 2.5μM; 5μM; and 10μM and for the following periods of time: 12; 24; and 48 hours. Cells not incubated with the drug constituted the control in the experiment. To determine the effect of cisplatin on the expression of SEMA3F, the real-time quantitative reverse transcription reaction (RtqPCR; mRNA) was used, as well as the ELISA assay (protein). The statistical analysis was done with the admission of p<0.05. RESULTS The silencing of SEMA3F expression on the transcriptome and proteome levels in a culture unexposed to the effects of cisplatin in comparison to endometrial cancer cells under the influence of cisplatin (p<0.05) were noted. Along with an increase in the concentration of the drug used, the number of copies of the gene transcript, during the shortest incubation period had a gradual increase. Only for the highest concentration of the drug, substantial statistical differences in the expression of the SEMA3F protein between 24 and 48 hour incubation periods (p<0.05) were determined. CONCLUSION Using cisplatin in an endometrial cancer cell culture results in an increased expression of SEMA3F, which advantageously affects the normalization of the neoplastic angiogenic process and lowers the proliferation of the cells making up the mass of the tumor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Przemysław Kieszkowski
- Address correspondence to this author at the Voivodeship Specialist Hospital in Wloclawek, Wloclawek. Poland; E-mail:
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Ashrafizadeh M, Ahmadi Z, Kotla NG, Afshar EG, Samarghandian S, Mandegary A, Pardakhty A, Mohammadinejad R, Sethi G. Nanoparticles Targeting STATs in Cancer Therapy. Cells 2019; 8:E1158. [PMID: 31569687 PMCID: PMC6829305 DOI: 10.3390/cells8101158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2019] [Revised: 09/20/2019] [Accepted: 09/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the past decades, an increase in the incidence rate of cancer has been witnessed. Although many efforts have been made to manage and treat this life threatening condition, it is still one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Therefore, scientists have attempted to target molecular signaling pathways involved in cancer initiation and metastasis. It has been shown that signal transducers and activator of transcription (STAT) contributes to the progression of cancer cells. This important signaling pathway is associated with a number of biological processes including cell cycle, differentiation, proliferation and apoptosis. It appears that dysregulation of the STAT signaling pathway promotes the migration, viability and malignancy of various tumor cells. Hence, there have been many attempts to target the STAT signaling pathway. However, it seems that currently applied therapeutics may not be able to effectively modulate the STAT signaling pathway and suffer from a variety of drawbacks such as low bioavailability and lack of specific tumor targeting. In the present review, we demonstrate how nanocarriers can be successfully applied for encapsulation of STAT modulators in cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milad Ashrafizadeh
- Department of Basic Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tabriz, Tabriz 5166616471, Iran.
| | - Zahra Ahmadi
- Department of Basic Science, Shoushtar Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shoushtar 6451741117, Iran.
| | - Niranjan G Kotla
- Centre for Research in Medical Devices (CÚRAM), National University of Ireland Galway, Newcastle, Galway H91 W2TY, Ireland.
| | - Elham Ghasemipour Afshar
- Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman 7619813159, Iran.
| | - Saeed Samarghandian
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neyshabur University of Medical Sciences, Neyshabur 9318614139, Iran.
| | - Ali Mandegary
- Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman 7619813159, Iran.
| | - Abbas Pardakhty
- Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman 7619813159, Iran.
| | - Reza Mohammadinejad
- Pharmaceutics Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman 7616911319, Iran.
| | - Gautam Sethi
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117600, Singapore.
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Liu H, Gu X, Wang G, Huang Y, Ju S, Huang J, Wang X. Copy number variations primed lncRNAs deregulation contribute to poor prognosis in colorectal cancer. Aging (Albany NY) 2019; 11:6089-6108. [PMID: 31442207 PMCID: PMC6738420 DOI: 10.18632/aging.102168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2019] [Accepted: 08/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Copy number variations (CNVs) are crucial genetic change elements in malignancies, and lncRNAs deregulation induced by genomic and epigenomic aberrations plays key driving role in tumorigenesis, including colorectal cancer (CRC). However, effects of CNVs associated with lncRNAs in CRC is largely unknown. Here, we perform integrative analysis considering messenger RNA expression levels, DNA methylation and DNA copy numbers from 289 cases of CRC specimens. There are five prognostic subtypes of CRC determined by multi-omics integration, and differentially expressed lncRNAs (DE-lncRNAs) are acquired among five subtypes and normal cases. Finally, CNVs pattern matched with DE-lncRNAs reveals a signature including 10 lncRNAs (LOC101927604, LOC105377267, CASC15, LINC-PINT, CLDN10-AS1, C14orf132, LMF1, LINC00675, CCDC144NL-AS1, LOC284454), conspicuously contributing to poor prognosis in CRC, which can be validated in another independent dataset. Together, our research is interested in copy number changes relevant with lncRNAs, not only expending the spectrum of CNVs, but also perfecting the regulation network of lncRNAs in CRC. The main purpose is to provide novel biomarkers for prognostic managements of CRC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huimin Liu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China.,Clinical Biobank, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiaoyu Gu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China.,Clinical Biobank, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Guihua Wang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ying Huang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Shaoqing Ju
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jianfei Huang
- Clinical Biobank, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xudong Wang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China.,Clinical Biobank, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
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Del Amo-Maestro L, Marino-Puertas L, Goulas T, Gomis-Rüth FX. Recombinant production, purification, crystallization, and structure analysis of human transforming growth factor β2 in a new conformation. Sci Rep 2019; 9:8660. [PMID: 31209258 PMCID: PMC6572864 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-44943-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2019] [Accepted: 05/16/2019] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Transforming growth factor β is a disulfide-linked dimeric cytokine that occurs in three highly related isoforms (TGFβ1–TGFβ3) engaged in signaling functions through binding of cognate TGFβ receptors. To regulate this pathway, the cytokines are biosynthesized as inactive pro-TGFβs with an N-terminal latency-associated protein preceding the mature moieties. Due to their pleiotropic implications in physiology and pathology, TGFβs are privileged objects of in vitro studies. However, such studies have long been limited by the lack of efficient human recombinant expression systems of native, glycosylated, and homogenous proteins. Here, we developed pro-TGFβ2 production systems based on human Expi293F cells, which yielded >2 mg of pure histidine- or Strep-tagged protein per liter of cell culture. We assayed this material biophysically and in crystallization assays and obtained a different crystal form of mature TGFβ2, which adopted a conformation deviating from previous structures, with a distinct dimeric conformation that would require significant rearrangement for binding of TGFβ receptors. This new conformation may be reversibly adopted by a certain fraction of the mature TGβ2 population and represent a hitherto undescribed additional level of activity regulation of the mature growth factor once the latency-associated protein has been separated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Del Amo-Maestro
- Proteolysis Lab; Structural Biology Unit; "María-de-Maeztu" Unit of Excellence, Molecular Biology Institute of Barcelona (CSIC); Barcelona Science Park, c/Baldiri Reixac, 15-21, 08028, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Laura Marino-Puertas
- Proteolysis Lab; Structural Biology Unit; "María-de-Maeztu" Unit of Excellence, Molecular Biology Institute of Barcelona (CSIC); Barcelona Science Park, c/Baldiri Reixac, 15-21, 08028, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Theodoros Goulas
- Proteolysis Lab; Structural Biology Unit; "María-de-Maeztu" Unit of Excellence, Molecular Biology Institute of Barcelona (CSIC); Barcelona Science Park, c/Baldiri Reixac, 15-21, 08028, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
| | - F Xavier Gomis-Rüth
- Proteolysis Lab; Structural Biology Unit; "María-de-Maeztu" Unit of Excellence, Molecular Biology Institute of Barcelona (CSIC); Barcelona Science Park, c/Baldiri Reixac, 15-21, 08028, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
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Jin D, Guo J, Wu Y, Du J, Wang X, An J, Hu B, Kong L, Di W, Wang W. UBE2C, Directly Targeted by miR-548e-5p, Increases the Cellular Growth and Invasive Abilities of Cancer Cells Interacting with the EMT Marker Protein Zinc Finger E-box Binding Homeobox 1/2 in NSCLC. Am J Cancer Res 2019; 9:2036-2055. [PMID: 31037155 PMCID: PMC6485292 DOI: 10.7150/thno.32738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2019] [Accepted: 02/03/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Recent evidence indicates that UBE2C participates in carcinogenesis by regulating the cell cycle, apoptosis, metastasis, and transcriptional processes. Additionally, miR-548e-5p dysregulation plays a vital role in tumor progression. However, the molecular mechanism via which UBE2C is directly targeted by miR-548-5p, resulting in increase in cellular growth and invasiveness of cancer cells, and its interactions with the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) marker protein ZEB1/2 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is not understood. Methods: Expression of UBE2C and miR-548e-5p was analyzed using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The protein level of UBE2C and ZEB1/2 was analyzed using western blotting and immunofluorescence staining. Cellular proliferation was detected using the cell counting kit 8 (CCK8) and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-Yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays. Cell migration, invasion, and growth were analyzed using the wound healing and transwell assay. Promoter activity and transcription was analyzed using the luciferase reporter assay. Chromatin immunoprecipitation was used to detect binding of UBE2C to 5′UTR-ZEB1/2. Results: We observed that 4,5-ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2C (UBE2C) expression was higher in NSCLC tissue than in the adjacent normal tissue and was associated with increased cell proliferation and invasion. UBE2C enhanced NSCLC progression and metastasis by affecting the cell cycle and inhibiting apoptosis. We also observed that miR-548e-5p was significantly downregulated in lung cancer tissue specimens, which decreased the expression of its direct substrate, UBE2C. Moreover, miR-548e-5p overexpression and UBE2C under-expression significantly suppressed lung cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Luciferase reporter and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays indicated that miR-548e-5p directly binds to the 3′-UTR of UBE2C and decreases UBE2C mRNA expression. Furthermore, UBE2C knockdown downregulated the mesenchymal marker vimentin and upregulated the epithelial marker E-cadherin. Bioinformatics assays, coupled with western blotting and luciferase assays, revealed that UBE2C directly binds to the 5′-untranslated region (UTR) of the transcript of the E-cadherin repressor ZEB1/2 and promotes EMT in lung cancer cells. Conclusion: miR-548e-5p directly binds to the 3′-UTR of UBE2C and decreases UBE2C mRNA expression. UBE2C is an oncogene that promotes EMT in lung cancer cells by directly targeting the 5′-UTR of the transcript encoding the E-cadherin repressor ZEB1/2. miR-548e-5p, UBE2C, and ZEB1/2 constitute the miR-548e-5p-UBE2C-ZEB1/2 signal axis, which enhances cancer cell invasiveness by directly interacting with e EMT marker proteins. We believe that the miR-548e-5p-UBE2C-ZEB1/2 signal axis may be a suitable diagnostic marker and a potential target for lung cancer therapy.
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