Aberrant Kank1 expression regulates YAP to promote apoptosis and inhibit proliferation in OSCC

Microarray data analysis of antileukemic action of Cinnamoylated benzaldehyde LQB-461 in Jurkat cell line

BACKGROUND

Leukemias stand out for being the main type of childhood cancer in the world. Current treatments have strong side effects for patients, and there is still a high rate of development of resistance to multidrug therapy. Previously, our research group developed a structure-activity study with novel synthetic molecules analogous to LQB-278, described as an essential molecule with in vitro antileukemic action. Among these analogs, LQB-461 stood out, presenting more significant antileukemic action compared to its derivative LQB-278, with cytostatic and cytotoxicity effect by apoptosis, inducing caspase-3, and increased sub-G1 phase on cell cycle analysis.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Deepening the study of the mechanism of action of LQB-461 in Jurkat cells in vitro, a microarray assay was carried out, which confirmed the importance of the apoptosis pathway in the LQB-461 activity. Through real-time PCR, we validated an increased expression of CDKN1A and BAX genes, essential mediators of the apoptosis intrinsic pathway. Through the extrinsic apoptosis pathway, we found an increased expression of the Fas receptor by flow cytometry, showing the presence of a more sensitive population and another more resistant to death. Considering the importance of autophagy in cellular resistance, it was demonstrated by western blotting that LQB-461 decreased LC-3 protein expression, an autophagic marker.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that this synthetic molecule LQB-461 induces cell death by apoptosis in Jurkat cells through intrinsic and extrinsic pathways and inhibits autophagy, overcoming some mechanisms of cell resistance related to this process, which differentiates LQB-461 of other drugs used for the leukemia treatment.

Loss of the KN Motif and AnKyrin Repeat Domain 1 (KANK1) Leads to Lymphoid Compartment Dysregulation in Murine Model

The KN Motif and AnKyrin Repeat Domain 1 (KANK1) is proposed as a tumour suppressor gene, as its expression is reduced or absent in several types of tumour tissue, and over-expressing the protein inhibited the proliferation of tumour cells in solid cancer models. We report a novel germline loss of heterozygosity mutation encompassing the KANK1 gene in a young patient diagnosed with myelodysplastic neoplasm (MDS) with no additional disease-related genomic aberrations. To study the potential role of KANK1 in haematopoiesis, we generated a new transgenic mouse model with a confirmed loss of KANK1 expression. KANK1 knockout mice did not develop any haematological abnormalities; however, the loss of its expression led to alteration in the colony forming and proliferative potential of bone marrow (BM) cells and a decrease in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) population frequency. A comprehensive marker expression analysis of lineage cell populations indicated a role for Kank1 in lymphoid cell development, and total protein analysis suggests the involvement of Kank1 in BM cells' cytoskeleton formation and mobility.

KANK3 mediates the p38 MAPK pathway to regulate the proliferation and invasion of lung adenocarcinoma cells

BACKGROUND

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is one of the major subtypes of lung cancer and is the most common cause of cancer deaths globally. The Kank (kidney or KN motif and ankyrin repeat domain-containing) family of proteins has been characterized as critical for regulating the capacity of cells to migrate and their anti-tumor drug sensitivity. The current research designs to explore the specific effects and potential regulatory molecular mechanism of KANK3 on LUAD cells.

METHOD

Two datasets (TCGA-LUAD and GSE116959) were analyzed to confirm the differently expressed genes. qRT-PCR was carried out to measure KANK3 level in LUAD tissue samples and adjacent non-cancerous tissue samples. Western blot assay was utilized to investigate the KANK3, p-p38 and p38 protein levels. MTT assay were employed to investigate the cell proliferation. Cell invasion and migration were assessed using Transwell and wound healing assay.

RESULT

KANK3 was down-regulated in LUAD tissues and the expressions of KANK3 had a strong influence on prognosis of LUAD patients. Overexpression of KANK3 significantly inhibited， whereas KANK3 silencing observably enhanced the capacity of NCI-H1975 and PC-9 cells to proliferate, invade and migrate. GSEA showed that, differentially expressed genes which regulated by KANK3 enriched in cell adhesion, chemokine, focal adhesion or MAPK signaling pathway. Further experiments proved that KANK3 regulated LUAD cells proliferation and metastasis through p38 MAPK pathway.

CONCLUSION

KANK3 exerts antitumor effect in LUAD through regulation of p38 MAPK signaling pathway. These outcomes foreboded that KANK3 could be a novel therapeutic target for further study of LUAD.

Osmanthus-Loaded PVP/PVA Hydrogel Inhibits the Proliferation and Migration of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells CAL-27

Conventional medical agents for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) with some adverse effects no longer meet the needs of the public. In this study, the prognosis-related hub genes of osmanthus-targeted therapy for OSCC were predicted and analyzed by network pharmacology and molecular docking. Osmanthus was extracted using the ethanol reflux method and osmanthus-loaded PVP/PVA (OF/PVP/PVA) hydrogel was prepared by electron beam radiation. The molecular structure, crystal structure and microscopic morphology of hydrogels were observed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. OSCC cells CAL-27 were cultured with OF/PVP/PVA hydrogel at different concentrations of extract to discover cell proliferation by MTT assay. The scratching test and JC-1 staining were used to observe the migration and mitochondrial membrane potential. Through experimental exploration, we found that a total of six prognosis-related targets were predicted, which are PYGL, AURKA, SQLE, etc., and osmanthus extract had good binding activity to AURKA. In vitro, except for proliferation inhibition, OF/PVP/PVA hydrogel prevented cell migration and changed the mitochondrial membrane potential of CAL-27 cells at a concentration equal to or greater than 50 μg/mL (p < 0.05). The addition of autophagy inhibitor chloroquine and 3-methyladenine weakened the migration inhibition of hydrogel (p < 0.05).

Mouse Models for Immune Checkpoint Blockade Therapeutic Research in Oral Cancer

The most prevalent oral cancer globally is oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). The invasion of adjacent bones and the metastasis to regional lymph nodes often lead to poor prognoses and shortened survival times in patients with OSCC. Encouraging immunotherapeutic responses have been seen with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs); however, these positive responses to monotherapy have been limited to a small subset of patients. Therefore, it is urgent that further investigations into optimizing immunotherapies are conducted. Areas of research include identifying novel immune checkpoints and targets and tailoring treatment programs to meet the needs of individual patients. Furthermore, the advancement of combination therapies against OSCC is also critical. Thus, additional studies are needed to ensure clinical trials are successful. Mice models are advantageous in immunotherapy research with several advantages, such as relatively low costs and high tumor growth success rate. This review paper divided methods for establishing OSCC mouse models into four categories: syngeneic tumor models, chemical carcinogen induction, genetically engineered mouse, and humanized mouse. Each method has advantages and disadvantages that influence its application in OSCC research. This review comprehensively surveys the literature and summarizes the current mouse models used in immunotherapy, their advantages and disadvantages, and details relating to the cell lines for oral cancer growth. This review aims to present evidence and considerations for choosing a suitable model establishment method to investigate the early diagnosis, clinical treatment, and related pathogenesis of OSCC.

Kank1 Is Essential for Myogenic Differentiation by Regulating Actin Remodeling and Cell Proliferation in C2C12 Progenitor Cells

Actin cytoskeleton dynamics are essential regulatory processes in muscle development, growth, and regeneration due to their modulation of mechanotransduction, cell proliferation, differentiation, and morphological changes. Although the KN motif and ankyrin repeat domain-containing protein 1 (Kank1) plays a significant role in cell adhesion dynamics, actin polymerization, and cell proliferation in various cells, the functional significance of Kank1 during the myogenic differentiation of progenitor cells has not been explored. Here, we report that Kank1 acts as a critical regulator of the proliferation and differentiation of muscle progenitor cells. Kank1 was found to be expressed at a relatively high level in C2C12 myoblasts, and its expression was modulated during the differentiation. Depletion of Kank1 by siRNA (siKank1) increased the accumulation of filamentous actin (F-actin). Furthermore, it facilitated the nuclear localization of Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1) by diminishing YAP1 phosphorylation in the cytoplasm, which activated the transcriptions of YAP1 target genes and promoted proliferation and cell cycle progression in myoblasts. Notably, depletion of Kank1 suppressed the protein expression of myogenic regulatory factors (i.e., MyoD and MyoG) and dramatically inhibited myoblast differentiation and myotube formation. Our results show that Kank1 is an essential regulator of actin dynamics, YAP1 activation, and cell proliferation and that its depletion impairs the myogenic differentiation of progenitor cells by promoting myoblast proliferation triggered by the F-actin-induced nuclear translocation of YAP1.

The Regulatory Network and Role of the circRNA-miRNA-mRNA ceRNA Network in the Progression and the Immune Response of Wilms Tumor Based on RNA-Seq

Circular RNA (circRNA), which is a newly discovered non-coding RNA, has been documented to play important roles in miRNA sponges, and the dysregulation of which is involved in cancer development. However, circRNA expression profiles and their role in initiation and progression of Wilms tumor (WT) remain largely unclear at present. Here, we used paired WT samples and high-throughput RNA sequencing to identify differentially expressed circRNAs (DE-circRs) and mRNAs (DE-mRs). A total of 314 DE-circRs and 1612 DE-mRs were identified. The expression of a subset of differentially expressed genes was validated by qRT–PCR. A complete circRNA-miRNA-mRNA network was then constructed based on the common miRNA targets of DE-circRs and DE-mRs identified by miRanda prediction tool. The Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) indicated that several signaling pathways involving targeted DE-mRs within the ceRNA network were associated with cell cycle and immune response, which implies their participation in WT development to some extent. Subsequently, these targeted DE-mRs were subjected to implement PPI analysis and to identify 10 hub genes. Four hub genes were closely related to the survival of WT patients. We then filtered prognosis-related hub genes by Cox regression and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analysis to construct a prognosis-related risk score system based on a three-gene signature, which showed good discrimination and predictive ability for WT patient survival. Additionally, we analyzed the mutational landscape of these genes and the associations between their expression levels and those of immune checkpoint molecules and further demonstrated their potential impact on the efficacy of immunotherapy. qRT–PCR and western blotting (WB) analysis were used to validate key differentially expressed molecules at the RNA and protein levels, respectively. Besides these, we selected a key circRNA, circEYA1, for function validation. Overall, the current study presents the full-scale expression profiles of circRNAs and the circRNA-related ceRNA network in WT for the first time, deepening our understanding of the roles and downstream regulatory mechanisms of circRNAs in WT development and progression. We further constructed a useful immune-related prognostic signature, which could improve clinical outcome prediction and guide individualized treatment.

Identification of Candidate Target Genes and Immune Cells in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Background

The advance of new treatment strategies for more effective management of oral cancer requires identification of novel biological targets. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to identify novel biomarkers associated with oral tumorigenesis and prognostic signature by comparing gene expression profile of oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs).

Methods

Four datasets including GSE25099, GSE30784, GSE37991, and GSE41613 were collected from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Gene Ontology (GO) and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis, Cox model analysis, identification of key genes, and Kaplan-Meier analysis were also performed. The xCell was utilized to analyze the infiltration levels of immune cells.

Results

A total of 235 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were found to be dysregulated in OSCC. These genes were mainly enriched in ECM receptor interaction and focal adhesion. Cox regression analysis identified 10 genes considered as key genes. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that low expression of SERPINE1 (also known as PAI-1), high expression of CD1C, and C-X3-C motif chemokine receptor 1 (CX3CR1) were associated with well prognostic status in OSCC patients. In addition, we constructed a 3-immune-cell signature (myeloid dendritic cell, T cell CD4⁺ central memory, and common myeloid progenitor) that may be used to predict the survival status of OSCC patients.

Conclusion

Three key genes and 3-immune-cell signature were potential biomarkers for the prognosis of OSCC, and they may serve as potential targets for the treatment of OSCC patients.

TRAIP modulates the IGFBP3/AKT pathway to enhance the invasion and proliferation of osteosarcoma by promoting KANK1 degradation

Osteosarcoma is one of the most common primary malignancies in bones and is characterized by high metastatic rates. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) derived from solid tumors can give rise to metastatic lesions, increasing the risk of death in patients with cancer. Here, we used bioinformatics tools to compare the gene expression between CTCs and metastatic lesions in osteosarcoma to identify novel molecular mechanisms underlying osteosarcoma metastasis. We identified TRAIP as a key differentially expressed gene with prognostic significance in osteosarcoma. We demonstrated that TRAIP regulated the proliferation and invasion of osteosarcoma cells. In addition, we found that TRAIP promoted KANK1 polyubiquitination and subsequent degradation, downregulating IGFBP3 and activating the AKT pathway in osteosarcoma cells. These results support the critical role of the TRAIP/KANK1/IGFBP3/AKT signaling axis in osteosarcoma progression and suggest that TRAIP may represent a promising therapeutic target for osteosarcoma.

Context-dependent roles of YAP/TAZ in stem cell fates and cancer

Hippo effectors YAP and TAZ control cell fate and survival through various mechanisms, including transcriptional regulation of key genes. However, much of this research has been marked by conflicting results, as well as controversy over whether YAP and TAZ are redundant. A substantial portion of the discordance stems from their contradictory roles in stem cell self-renewal vs. differentiation and cancer cell survival vs. apoptosis. In this review, we present an overview of the multiple context-dependent functions of YAP and TAZ in regulating cell fate decisions in stem cells and organoids, as well as their mechanisms of controlling programmed cell death pathways in cancer.

KANK family proteins in cancer

The Kank (kidney or KN motif and ankyrin repeat domain-containing) family of proteins has been described as essential for crosstalk between actin and microtubules. Kank1, 2, 3 and 4 arose by gene duplication and diversification and share conserved structural domains. KANK proteins are localised mainly to the plasma membrane in focal adhesions, indirectly affecting RhoA and Rac1 thus regulating actin cytoskeleton. In addition, Kank proteins are part of the cortical microtubule stabilisation complex regulating microtubules. Most of the data have been collected for Kank1 protein whose expression promotes apoptosis and cell-cycle arrest while Kank3 was identified as hypoxia-inducible proapoptotic target of p53. A discrepancy in Kanks role in regulation of cell migration and sensitivity to antitumour drugs has been observed in different cell models. Since expression of Kank1 and 3 correlate positively with tumour progression and patient outcome, at least in some tumour types, they are candidates for tumour suppressors.

The KN Motif and Ankyrin Repeat Domains 1/CXXC Finger Protein 5 Axis Regulates Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transformation, Metastasis and Apoptosis of Gastric Cancer via Wnt Signaling

Background

Emerging research indicates that CXXC finger protein 5 (CXXC5) is involved in the development of various cancers. Besides, KN motif and ankyrin repeat domains 1 (KANK1) was proved as a tumor suppressor in multiple cancers. Our study aimed to illustrate the functional role and mechanism of CXXC5 and KANK1 in gastric cancer (GC) pathogenesis.

Methods

The tissues of 55 GC patients and six GC cell lines were used to investigate CXXC5 and KANK1 expression using RT-qPCR. Western blot assay was conducted to measure the protein levels of CXXC5, KANK1, epithelial-mesenchymal transformation (EMT) proteins (Vimentin, E-cadherin) and Wnt signaling proteins (β-catenin, Axin2). The correlation between KANK1 and CXXC5 was estimated by Pearson’s correlation analysis. The results of Transwell assays showed the migration and invasion abilities of GC cells, while the apoptosis rate was detected by flow cytometry.

Results

The expressions of CXXC5 and KANK1 were both decreased in GC tissues and cells, compared with the normal ones (P < 0.01). Overexpressing CXXC5 significantly induced apoptosis (P < 0.05) and inhibited EMT, migration (P < 0.05) and invasion (P < 0.01) in GC cells. Wnt/β-catenin/Axin2 signaling was suppressed by CXXC5 overexpression, and activating Wnt/β-catenin/Axin2 signaling reversed the effects of CXXC5. The expression of KANK1 was found to be positively correlated with CXXC5 (r² = 0.4024). KANK1 presented similar effects with CXXC5 on GC cells; however, silencing CXXC5 or activating Wnt/β-catenin/Axin2 signaling antagonized the effects of KANK1 overexpression on EMT and apoptosis in GC (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Our study suggested that CXXC5 was downregulated in GC and participated in EMT and apoptosis regulations via the Wnt/β-catenin/Axin2 pathway. Besides, the decreased expression of CXXC5 in GC was caused by KANK1 dysregulation.

Circular RNA HIPK3: A Key Circular RNA in a Variety of Human Cancers

Circular RNAs (circRNAs), which act as initiators and promoters of various diseases, were thought to be mostly noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) in eukaryotes, until recent studies confirmed that some circRNAs have the function of encoding proteins. Accumulating research findings have proved that dysregulation of circRNAs is associated with the developmental process of multiple cancers. circHIPK3, an example of circRNA, is frequently expressed in many diseases, such as diabetes, age-related cataract, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, preeclampsia, osteoblasts, and retinal vascular dysfunction, leading to disease development and progression. In addition, circHIPK3 may also serve as a potential biomarker, to help us know more about the rules of occurrence and development of cancers. In recent studies, many circHIPK3-related cancers have been identified, including nasopharyngeal carcinoma, gallbladder cancer, lung cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, osteosarcoma, glioma, colorectal cancer, ovarian cancer, bladder cancer, prostate cancer, gastric cancer, oral squamous cell carcinoma, and chronic myeloid leukemia. This review summarizes recent studies on the biological mechanisms of circHIPK3 and expounds the molecular mechanisms of circHIPK3 in these malignant tumors.

Mouse Tumor-Bearing Models as Preclinical Study Platforms for Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Preclinical animal models of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) have been extensively studied in recent years. Investigating the pathogenesis and potential therapeutic strategies of OSCC is required to further progress in this field, and a suitable research animal model that reflects the intricacies of cancer biology is crucial. Of the animal models established for the study of cancers, mouse tumor-bearing models are among the most popular and widely deployed for their high fertility, low cost, and molecular and physiological similarity to humans, as well as the ease of rearing experimental mice. Currently, the different methods of establishing OSCC mouse models can be divided into three categories: chemical carcinogen-induced, transplanted and genetically engineered mouse models. Each of these methods has unique advantages and limitations, and the appropriate application of these techniques in OSCC research deserves our attention. Therefore, this review comprehensively investigates and summarizes the tumorigenesis mechanisms, characteristics, establishment methods, and current applications of OSCC mouse models in published papers. The objective of this review is to provide foundations and considerations for choosing suitable model establishment methods to study the relevant pathogenesis, early diagnosis, and clinical treatment of OSCC.