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Kawale AS, Zou L. Regulation, functional impact, and therapeutic targeting of APOBEC3A in cancer. DNA Repair (Amst) 2024; 141:103734. [PMID: 39047499 PMCID: PMC11330346 DOI: 10.1016/j.dnarep.2024.103734] [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: 05/02/2024] [Revised: 07/16/2024] [Accepted: 07/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
Enzymes of the apolipoprotein B mRNA editing catalytic polypeptide like (APOBEC) family are cytosine deaminases that convert cytosine to uracil in DNA and RNA. Among these proteins, APOBEC3 sub-family members, APOBEC3A (A3A) and APOBEC3B (A3B), are prominent sources of mutagenesis in cancer cells. The aberrant expression of A3A and A3B in cancer cells leads to accumulation of mutations with specific single-base substitution (SBS) signatures, characterized by C→T and C→G changes, in a number of tumor types. In addition to fueling mutagenesis, A3A and A3B, particularly A3A, induce DNA replication stress, DNA damage, and chromosomal instability through their catalytic activities, triggering a range of cellular responses. Thus, A3A/B have emerged as key drivers of genome evolution during cancer development, contributing to tumorigenesis, tumor heterogeneity, and therapeutic resistance. Yet, the expression of A3A/B in cancer cells presents a cancer vulnerability that can be exploited therapeutically. In this review, we discuss the recent studies that shed light on the mechanisms regulating A3A expression and the impact of A3A in cancer. We also review recent advances in the development of A3A inhibitors and provide perspectives on the future directions of A3A research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ajinkya S Kawale
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Lee Zou
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
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2
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Piskorz WM, Krętowski R, Cechowska-Pasko M. Marizomib (Salinosporamide A) Promotes Apoptosis in A375 and G361 Melanoma Cancer Cells. Mar Drugs 2024; 22:315. [PMID: 39057424 PMCID: PMC11278368 DOI: 10.3390/md22070315] [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: 06/21/2024] [Revised: 07/12/2024] [Accepted: 07/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Malignant melanoma-a tumor originating from melanocytes-is characterized by dynamic growth and frequent metastases in the early stage of development. Current therapy methods are still insufficient, and there is a need to search for new ways of treating this malady. The induction of apoptosis-physiological cell death-by proteasome inhibitors is recognized as an effective method of non-invasive elimination of cancer cells. In our research, we wanted to check the potential of marizomib (MZB, salinosporamide A, NPI-0052)-an irreversible proteasome inhibitor derived from the marine actinomycete Salinispora tropica-to induce apoptosis in A375 and G361 malignant melanoma cells. We determined the cytotoxic activity of marizomib by performing an MTT test. Ethidium bromide and acridine orange staining demonstrated the disruption of membrane integrity in the examined cell lines. We confirmed the proapoptotic activity of marizomib by flow cytometry with the use of an FITC-Annexin V assay. A Western blot analysis presented an increase in the expression of proteins related to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress as well as markers of the apoptosis. The gathered findings suggest that marizomib induced the ER stress in the examined melanoma cancer cells and directed them towards the apoptosis pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Marzanna Cechowska-Pasko
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biochemistry, Medical University of Bialystok, Mickiewicza 2A, 15-222 Białystok, Poland
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3
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Lagunes L, Briggs K, Martin-Holder P, Xu Z, Maurer D, Ghabra K, Deeds EJ. Modeling reveals the strength of weak interactions in stacked-ring assembly. Biophys J 2024; 123:1763-1780. [PMID: 38762753 PMCID: PMC11267433 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2024.05.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2024] [Revised: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Cells employ many large macromolecular machines for the execution and regulation of processes that are vital for cell and organismal viability. Interestingly, cells cannot synthesize these machines as functioning units. Instead, cells synthesize the molecular parts that must then assemble into the functional complex. Many important machines, including chaperones such as GroEL and proteases such as the proteasome, comprise protein rings that are stacked on top of one another. While there is some experimental data regarding how stacked-ring complexes such as the proteasome self-assemble, a comprehensive understanding of the dynamics of stacked-ring assembly is currently lacking. Here, we developed a mathematical model of stacked-trimer assembly and performed an analysis of the assembly of the stacked homomeric trimer, which is the simplest stacked-ring architecture. We found that stacked rings are particularly susceptible to a form of kinetic trapping that we term "deadlock," in which the system gets stuck in a state where there are many large intermediates that are not the fully assembled structure but that cannot productively react. When interaction affinities are uniformly strong, deadlock severely limits assembly yield. We thus predicted that stacked rings would avoid situations where all interfaces in the structure have high affinity. Analysis of available crystal structures indicated that indeed the majority-if not all-of stacked trimers do not contain uniformly strong interactions. Finally, to better understand the origins of deadlock, we developed a formal pathway analysis and showed that, when all the binding affinities are strong, many of the possible pathways are utilized. In contrast, optimal assembly strategies utilize only a small number of pathways. Our work suggests that deadlock is a critical factor influencing the evolution of macromolecular machines and provides general principles for understanding the self-assembly efficiency of existing machines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonila Lagunes
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, UCLA, Los Angeles, California; Institute for Quantitative and Computational Biosciences, UCLA, Los Angeles, California
| | - Koan Briggs
- Department of Physics, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas
| | - Paige Martin-Holder
- Department of Molecular Immunology, Microbiology and Genetics, UCLA, Los Angeles, California
| | - Zaikun Xu
- Center for Computational Biology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas
| | - Dustin Maurer
- Center for Computational Biology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas
| | - Karim Ghabra
- Computational and Systems Biology IDP, UCLA, Los Angeles, California
| | - Eric J Deeds
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, UCLA, Los Angeles, California; Institute for Quantitative and Computational Biosciences, UCLA, Los Angeles, California; Center for Computational Biology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas.
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4
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Cascio P. PA28γ, the ring that makes tumors invisible to the immune system? Biochimie 2024:S0300-9084(24)00078-6. [PMID: 38631454 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2024.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Revised: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
PA28γ is a proteasomal interactor whose main and most known function is to stimulate the hydrolytic activity of the 20 S proteasome independently of ubiquitin and ATP. Unlike its two paralogues, PA28α and PA28β, PA28γ is largely present in the nuclear compartment and plays pivotal functions in important pathways such as cellular division, apoptosis, neoplastic transformation, chromatin structure and organization, fertility, lipid metabolism, and DNA repair mechanisms. Although it is known that a substantial fraction of PA28γ is found in the cell in a free form (i.e. not associated with 20 S), almost all of the studies so far have focused on its ability to modulate proteasomal enzymatic activities. In this respect, the ability of PA28γ to strongly stimulate degradation of proteins, especially if intrinsically disordered and therefore devoid of three-dimensional tightly folded structure, appears to be the main molecular mechanism underlying its multiple biological effects. Initial studies, conducted more than 20 years ago, came to the conclusion that among the many biological functions of PA28γ, the immunological ones were rather limited and circumscribed. In this review, we focus on recent evidence showing that PA28γ fulfills significant functions in cell-mediated acquired immunity, with a particular role in attenuating MHC class I antigen presentation, especially in relation to neoplastic transformation and autoimmune diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Cascio
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Largo P. Braccini 2, 10095, Grugliasco, Turin, Italy.
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5
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Coxon M, Dennis MA, Dananberg A, Collins C, Wilson H, Meekma J, Savenkova M, Ng D, Osbron C, Mertz T, Goodman A, Duttke S, Maciejowski J, Roberts S. An impaired ubiquitin-proteasome system increases APOBEC3A abundance. NAR Cancer 2023; 5:zcad058. [PMID: 38155930 PMCID: PMC10753533 DOI: 10.1093/narcan/zcad058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Apolipoprotein B messenger RNA (mRNA) editing enzyme, catalytic polypeptide-like (APOBEC) cytidine deaminases cause genetic instability during cancer development. Elevated APOBEC3A (A3A) levels result in APOBEC signature mutations; however, mechanisms regulating A3A abundance in breast cancer are unknown. Here, we show that dysregulating the ubiquitin-proteasome system with proteasome inhibitors, including Food and Drug Administration-approved anticancer drugs, increased A3A abundance in breast cancer and multiple myeloma cell lines. Unexpectedly, elevated A3A occurs via an ∼100-fold increase in A3A mRNA levels, indicating that proteasome inhibition triggers a transcriptional response as opposed to or in addition to blocking A3A degradation. This transcriptional regulation is mediated in part through FBXO22, a protein that functions in SKP1-cullin-F-box ubiquitin ligase complexes and becomes dysregulated during carcinogenesis. Proteasome inhibitors increased cellular cytidine deaminase activity, decreased cellular proliferation and increased genomic DNA damage in an A3A-dependent manner. Our findings suggest that proteasome dysfunction, either acquired during cancer development or induced therapeutically, could increase A3A-induced genetic heterogeneity and thereby influence therapeutic responses in patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margo Coxon
- School of Molecular Biosciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-7520, USA
| | - Madeline A Dennis
- School of Molecular Biosciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-7520, USA
| | - Alexandra Dananberg
- Molecular Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Christopher D Collins
- School of Molecular Biosciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-7520, USA
| | - Hannah E Wilson
- School of Molecular Biosciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-7520, USA
| | - Jordyn Meekma
- School of Molecular Biosciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-7520, USA
| | - Marina I Savenkova
- School of Molecular Biosciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-7520, USA
| | - Daniel Ng
- School of Molecular Biosciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-7520, USA
| | - Chelsea A Osbron
- School of Molecular Biosciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-7520, USA
| | - Tony M Mertz
- School of Molecular Biosciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-7520, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Vermont Cancer Center, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA
| | - Alan G Goodman
- School of Molecular Biosciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-7520, USA
| | - Sascha H Duttke
- School of Molecular Biosciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-7520, USA
| | - John Maciejowski
- Molecular Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Steven A Roberts
- School of Molecular Biosciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-7520, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Vermont Cancer Center, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA
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6
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Ren Y, Yang J, Ding Z, Zheng M, Qiu L, Tang A, Huang D. NFE2L3 drives hepatocellular carcinoma cell proliferation by regulating the proteasome-dependent degradation of ISGylated p53. Cancer Sci 2023; 114:3523-3536. [PMID: 37350063 PMCID: PMC10475773 DOI: 10.1111/cas.15887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Revised: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Nuclear factor erythroid 2-like 3 (NFE2L3) is a member of the cap 'n' collar basic-region leucine zipper (CNC-bZIP) transcription factor family that plays a vital role in modulating oxidation-reduction steady-state and proteolysis. Accumulating evidence suggests that NFE2L3 participates in cancer development; however, little is known about the mechanism by which NFE2L3 regulates hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell growth. Here, we confirmed that NFE2L3 promotes HCC cell proliferation by acting as a transcription factor, which directly induces the expression of proteasome and interferon-stimulated gene 15 (ISG15) to enhance the proteasome-dependent degradation of ISGylated p53. Post-translational ISGylation abated the stability of p53 and facilitated HCC cell growth. In summary, we uncovered the pivotal role of NFE2L3 in promoting HCC cell proliferation during proteostasis. This finding may provide a new target for the clinical treatment of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yonggang Ren
- Institute of Basic Medicine and Forensic MedicineNorth Sichuan Medical CollegeNanchongChina
- Research Center of Clinical Medical SciencesAffiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical CollegeNanchongChina
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Systems Biology and Synthetic Biology for Urogenital Tumors, Institute of Translational Medicine, Shenzhen Second People's HospitalThe First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen UniversityShenzhenChina
| | - Jing Yang
- Institute of Basic Medicine and Forensic MedicineNorth Sichuan Medical CollegeNanchongChina
| | - Zhiran Ding
- Institute of Basic Medicine and Forensic MedicineNorth Sichuan Medical CollegeNanchongChina
| | - Menghua Zheng
- Institute of Basic Medicine and Forensic MedicineNorth Sichuan Medical CollegeNanchongChina
| | - Lu Qiu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Shenzhen)Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat‐Sen UniversityShenzhenChina
| | - Aifa Tang
- Shenzhen Luohu Hospital GroupThe Third Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen UniversityShenzhenChina
| | - Dandan Huang
- Institute of Basic Medicine and Forensic MedicineNorth Sichuan Medical CollegeNanchongChina
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7
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Han Z, Wang Y, Han L, Yang C. RPN2 in cancer: An overview. Gene 2023; 857:147168. [PMID: 36621657 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2023.147168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Oncogenes together with tumor suppresser genes are confirmed to regulate tumor phenotype in human cancers. RPN2, widely verified as an oncogene, encodes a protein that is part of an N-oligosaccharyl transferase, and is observed to be aberrantly expressed in human malignancies. Accumulating evidence unveils the vital functions of RPN2, contributing to tumorigenicity, metastasis, progression, and multi-drug resistance. Furthermore, previous studies partly indicated that RPN2 was involved in tumor progression via contributing to N-glycosylation and regulating multiple signaling pathways. In addition, RPN2 was also confirmed as a downstream target involved in tumor progression. Moreover, with demonstrated prognosis value and therapeutic target, RPN2 was also determined as a promising biomarker for forecasting patients' prognostic and therapy efficacy. In the present review, we aimed to summarize the present studies of RPN2 in cancer, and enhance the understanding of RPN2's extensive functions and clinical significances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengxuan Han
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumour Biological Behaviours, Wuhan, China; Hubei Cancer Clinical Study Center, Wuhan, China; The Clinical Medical Research Center of Peritoneal Cancer of Wuhan, Wuhan, China
| | - You Wang
- Department of Stomatology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Lei Han
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumour Biological Behaviours, Wuhan, China; Hubei Cancer Clinical Study Center, Wuhan, China; The Clinical Medical Research Center of Peritoneal Cancer of Wuhan, Wuhan, China
| | - Chaogang Yang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumour Biological Behaviours, Wuhan, China; Hubei Cancer Clinical Study Center, Wuhan, China; The Clinical Medical Research Center of Peritoneal Cancer of Wuhan, Wuhan, China.
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8
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Luo QW, Yao L, Li L, Yang Z, Zhao MM, Zheng YZ, Zhuo FF, Liu TT, Zhang XW, Liu D, Tu PF, Zeng KW. Inherent Capability of Self-Assembling Nanostructures in Specific Proteasome Activation for Cancer Cell Pyroptosis. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2023; 19:e2205531. [PMID: 36549896 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202205531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the direct interaction of nanostructures per se with biological systems is important for biomedical applications. However, whether nanostructures regulate biological systems by targeting specific cellular proteins remains largely unknown. In the present work, self-assembling nanomicelles are constructed using small-molecule oleanolic acid (OA) as a molecular template. Unexpectedly, without modifications by functional ligands, OA nanomicelles significantly activate cellular proteasome function by directly binding to 20S proteasome subunit alpha 6 (PSMA6). Mechanism study reveals that OA nanomicelles interact with PSMA6 to dynamically modulate its N-terminal domain conformation change, thereby controlling the entry of proteins into 20S proteasome. Subsequently, OA nanomicelles accelerate the degradation of several crucial proteins, thus potently driving cancer cell pyroptosis. For translational medicine, OA nanomicelles exhibit a significant anticancer potential in tumor-bearing mouse models and stimulate immune cell infiltration. Collectively, this proof-of-concept study advances the mechanical understanding of nanostructure-guided biological effects via their inherent capacity to activate proteasome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian-Wei Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Lu Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Ling Li
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Zhuo Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Mei-Mei Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Yong-Zhe Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Fang-Fang Zhuo
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Ting-Ting Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Xiao-Wen Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Dan Liu
- Proteomics Laboratory, Medical and Healthy Analytical Center, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Peng-Fei Tu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Ke-Wu Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
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Yang F, Zhang X, Wang X, Xue Y, Liu X. The new oncogene transmembrane protein 60 is a potential therapeutic target in glioma. Front Genet 2023; 13:1029270. [PMID: 36744183 PMCID: PMC9895843 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.1029270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Glioma is a malignant tumor with a high fatality rate, originating in the central nervous system. Even after standard treatment, the prognosis remains unsatisfactory, probably due to the lack of effective therapeutic targets. The family of transmembrane proteins (TMEM) is a large family of genes that encode proteins closely related to the malicious behavior of tumors. Thus, it is necessary to explore the molecular and clinical characteristics of newly identified oncogenes, such as transmembrane protein 60 (TMEM60), to develop effective treating options for glioma. We used bioinformatic methods and basic experiments to verify the expression of transmembrane protein 60 in gliomas and its relationship with 1p and 19q (1p19q) status, isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) status, patient prognosis, and immune cell infiltration using public databases and clinical samples. In addition, Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were performed to detect co-expressed genes. Thus, we inhibited the expression of transmembrane protein 60 to observe the proliferation and activity of glioma LN229 cells. We found transmembrane protein 60 was significantly upregulated in glioma compared with that in normal brain tissue at the mRNA. In the subgroups of World Health Organization high grade, isocitrate dehydrogenase wildtype, 1p and 19q non-codeletion, or isocitrate dehydrogenase wild combined with 1p and 19q non-codeletion, the expression of transmembrane protein 60 increased, and the prognosis of glioma patients worsened. In the transmembrane protein 60 high expression group, infiltration of immune cells and stromal cells in the tumor microenvironment increased, tumor purity decreased, and immune cells and pathways were activated. The immune cells mainly included regulatory T-cell, gamma delta T-cell, macrophages M0, neutrophils, and CD8+ T-cells. Overexpression of co-inhibitory receptors (CTLA4, PDL1 and CD96) may promote the increase of depletion of T-cell, thus losing the anti-tumor function in the transmembrane protein 60 high expression group. Finally, we found that transmembrane protein 60 silencing weakened the viability, proliferation, and colony formation of glioma LN229 cells. This is the 0 report on the abnormally high expression of transmembrane protein 60 in glioma and its related clinical features, such as tumor microenvironment, immune response, tumor heterogeneity, and patient prognosis. We also found that transmembrane protein 60 silencing weakened the proliferation and colony formation of glioma LN229 cells. Thus, the new oncogene transmembrane protein 60 might be an effective therapeutic target for the clinical treatment of glioma.
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Li SC, Yan LJ, Wei XL, Jia ZK, Yang JJ, Ning XH. A novel risk model of three SUMOylation genes based on RNA expression for potential prognosis and treatment sensitivity prediction in kidney cancer. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1038457. [PMID: 37201027 PMCID: PMC10185777 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1038457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Kidney cancer is one of the most common and lethal urological malignancies. Discovering a biomarker that can predict prognosis and potential drug treatment sensitivity is necessary for managing patients with kidney cancer. SUMOylation is a type of posttranslational modification that could impact many tumor-related pathways through the mediation of SUMOylation substrates. In addition, enzymes that participate in the process of SUMOylation can also influence tumorigenesis and development. Methods: We analyzed the clinical and molecular data which were obtanied from three databases, The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), the National Cancer Institute's Clinical Proteomic Tumor Analysis Consortium (CPTAC), and ArrayExpress. Results: Through analysis of differentially expressed RNA based on the total TCGA-KIRC cohort, it was found that 29 SUMOylation genes were abnormally expressed, of which 17 genes were upregulated and 12 genes were downregulated in kidney cancer tissues. A SUMOylation risk model was built based on the discovery TCGA cohort and then validated successfully in the validation TCGA cohort, total TCGA cohort, CPTAC cohort, and E-TMAB-1980 cohort. Furthermore, the SUMOylation risk score was analyzed as an independent risk factor in all five cohorts, and a nomogram was constructed. Tumor tissues in different SUMOylation risk groups showed different immune statuses and varying sensitivity to the targeted drug treatment. Discussion: In conclusion, we examined the RNA expression status of SUMOylation genes in kidney cancer tissues and developed and validated a prognostic model for predicting kidney cancer outcomes using three databases and five cohorts. Furthermore, the SUMOylation model can serve as a biomarker for selecting appropriate therapeutic drugs for kidney cancer patients based on their RNA expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Song-Chao Li
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Li-Jie Yan
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Xu-Liang Wei
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Zhan-Kui Jia
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Jin-Jian Yang
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Xiang-Hui Ning
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Xiang-Hui Ning,
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11
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Zhang M, Liu Y, Shi L, Fang L, Xu L, Cao Y. Neural stemness unifies cell tumorigenicity and pluripotent differentiation potential. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:102106. [PMID: 35671824 PMCID: PMC9254501 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Revised: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Neural stemness is suggested to be the ground state of tumorigenicity and pluripotent differentiation potential. However, the relationship between these cell properties is unclear. Here, by disrupting the neural regulatory network in neural stem and cancer cells and by serial transplantation of cancer cells, we show that tumorigenicity and pluripotent differentiation potential are coupled cell properties unified by neural stemness. We show that loss of neural stemness via inhibition of SETDB1, an oncoprotein with enriched expression in embryonic neural cells during vertebrate embryogenesis, led to neuronal differentiation with reduced tumorigenicity and pluripotent differentiation potential in neural stem and cancer cells, whereas enhancement of neural stemness by SETDB1 overexpression caused the opposite effects. SETDB1 maintains a regulatory network comprising proteins involved in developmental programs and basic cellular functional machineries, including epigenetic modifications (EZH2), ribosome biogenesis (RPS3), translation initiation (EIF4G), and spliceosome assembly (SF3B1); all of these proteins are enriched in embryonic neural cells and play active roles in cancers. In addition, SETDB1 represses the transcription of genes promoting differentiation and cell cycle and growth arrest. Serial transplantation of cancer cells showed that neural stemness, tumorigenicity, and pluripotent differentiation potential were simultaneously enhanced; these effects were accompanied by increased expression of proteins involved in developmental programs and basic machineries, including SETDB1 and the abovementioned proteins, as well as by increased alternative splicing events. These results indicate that basic machineries work together to define a highly proliferative state with pluripotent differentiation potential and also suggest that neural stemness unifies tumorigenicity and differentiation potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Zhang
- Shenzhen Research Institute of Nanjing University, Shenzhen, China; MOE Key Laboratory of Model Animals for Disease Study and State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Model Animal Research Center of Medical School
| | - Yang Liu
- Shenzhen Research Institute of Nanjing University, Shenzhen, China; MOE Key Laboratory of Model Animals for Disease Study and State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Model Animal Research Center of Medical School
| | - Lihua Shi
- MOE Key Laboratory of Model Animals for Disease Study and State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Model Animal Research Center of Medical School
| | - Lei Fang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Liyang Xu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Model Animals for Disease Study and State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Model Animal Research Center of Medical School
| | - Ying Cao
- Shenzhen Research Institute of Nanjing University, Shenzhen, China; MOE Key Laboratory of Model Animals for Disease Study and State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Model Animal Research Center of Medical School.
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Flores-Martin JB, Bonnet LV, Palandri A, Zamanillo Hermida S, Hallak MH, Galiano MR. The 19S proteasome subunit Rpt5 reversibly associates with cold-stable microtubules in glial cells at low temperatures. FEBS Lett 2022; 596:1165-1177. [PMID: 35114005 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.14307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
The ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) degrades intracellular proteins through the 26S proteasome. We analyzed how cold stress affects the UPS in glial cells. Together with a reduction in the 20S proteolytic activity and increased levels of polyubiquitinated proteins, exposure of glial cell cultures to cold induces a partial disassembly of the 26S proteasome. In particular, we found that Rpt5, a subunit of the 19S proteasome, relocates to cold-stable microtubules, although no apparent cytoskeletal redistribution was detected for other analyzed subunits of the 19S or 20S complexes. Furthermore, we demonstrate that both the expression of the microtubule-associated protein MAP6 and the post-translational acetylation of α-tubulin modulate the association of Rpt5 with microtubules. This reversible association could be related to functional preservation of the proteolytic complex during cold stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jésica B Flores-Martin
- Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Departamento de Química Biológica Ranwel Caputto, Centro de Investigaciones en Química Biológica de Córdoba (CIQUIBIC-CONICET), Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, 5000, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Laura V Bonnet
- Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Departamento de Química Biológica Ranwel Caputto, Centro de Investigaciones en Química Biológica de Córdoba (CIQUIBIC-CONICET), Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, 5000, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Anabela Palandri
- Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Departamento de Química Biológica Ranwel Caputto, Centro de Investigaciones en Química Biológica de Córdoba (CIQUIBIC-CONICET), Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, 5000, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Sofía Zamanillo Hermida
- Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Departamento de Química Biológica Ranwel Caputto, Centro de Investigaciones en Química Biológica de Córdoba (CIQUIBIC-CONICET), Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, 5000, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Marta H Hallak
- Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Departamento de Química Biológica Ranwel Caputto, Centro de Investigaciones en Química Biológica de Córdoba (CIQUIBIC-CONICET), Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, 5000, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Mauricio R Galiano
- Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Departamento de Química Biológica Ranwel Caputto, Centro de Investigaciones en Química Biológica de Córdoba (CIQUIBIC-CONICET), Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, 5000, Córdoba, Argentina
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Li N, Zhan X. Integrated genomic analysis of proteasome alterations across 11,057 patients with 33 cancer types: clinically relevant outcomes in framework of 3P medicine. EPMA J 2021; 12:605-627. [PMID: 34956426 DOI: 10.1007/s13167-021-00256-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Relevance Proteasome, a cylindrical complex containing 19S regulatory particle lid, 19S regulatory particle base, and 20S core particle, acted as a major mechanism to regulate the levels of intracellular proteins and degrade misfolded proteins, which involved in many cellular processes, and played important roles in cancer biological processes. Elucidation of proteasome alterations across multiple cancer types will directly contribute to cancer medical services in the context of predictive, preventive, and personalized medicine (PPPM / 3P medicine). Purpose This study aimed to investigate proteasome gene alterations across 33 cancer types for discovery of effective biomarkers and therapeutic targets in the framework of PPPM practice in cancers. Methods Proteasome gene data, including gene expression RNAseq, somatic mutation, tumor mutation burden (TMB), copy number variant (CNV), microsatellite instability (MSI) score, clinical characteristics, immune phenotype, 22 immune cells, cancer stemness index, drug sensitivity, and related pathways, were systematically analyzed with publically available database and bioinformatics across 11,057 patients with 33 cancer types. Results Differentially expressed proteasome genes were extensively found between tumor and control tissues. PSMB4 occurred the top mutation event among proteasome genes, and those proteasome genes were significantly associated with TMB and MSI score. Most of proteasome genes were positively related to CNV among single deletion, control copy number, and single gain. Kaplan-Meier curves and COX regression survival analysis showed proteasome genes were significantly associated with patient survival rate across 33 cancer types. Furthermore, the expressions of proteasome genes were significantly different among different clinical stages and immune subtypes. The expressions of proteasome genes were correlated with immune-related scores (ImmuneScore, StromalScore, and ESTIMATEScore), 22 immune cells, and cancer stemness. The sensitivities of multiple drugs were closely related to proteasome gene expressions. The identified proteasome and proteasome-interacted proteins were significantly enriched in various cancer-related pathways. Conclusions This study provided the first landscape of proteasome alterations across 11,057 patients with 33 cancer types and revealed that proteasome played a significant and wide functional role in cancer biological processes. These findings are the precious scientific data to reveal the common and specific alterations of proteasome genes among 33 cancer types, which benefits the research and practice of PPPM in cancers. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13167-021-00256-z.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na Li
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University, 440 Jiyan Road, Jinan, Shandong 250117 People's Republic of China.,Medical Science and Technology Innovation Center, Shandong First Medical University, 6699 Qingdao Road, Jinan, Shandong 250117 People's Republic of China
| | - Xianquan Zhan
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University, 440 Jiyan Road, Jinan, Shandong 250117 People's Republic of China.,Medical Science and Technology Innovation Center, Shandong First Medical University, 6699 Qingdao Road, Jinan, Shandong 250117 People's Republic of China.,Gastroenterology Research Institute and Clinical Center, Shandong First Medical University, 38 Wuying Shan Road, Jinan, Shandong 250031 People's Republic of China
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14
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Chen L, Zhang M, Fang L, Yang X, Cao N, Xu L, Shi L, Cao Y. Coordinated regulation of the ribosome and proteasome by PRMT1 in the maintenance of neural stemness in cancer cells and neural stem cells. J Biol Chem 2021; 297:101275. [PMID: 34619150 PMCID: PMC8546425 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.101275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2021] [Revised: 09/19/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous studies suggested that cancer cells resemble neural stem/progenitor cells in regulatory network, tumorigenicity, and differentiation potential, and that neural stemness might represent the ground or basal state of differentiation and tumorigenicity. The neural ground state is reflected in the upregulation and enrichment of basic cell machineries and developmental programs, such as cell cycle, ribosomes, proteasomes, and epigenetic factors, in cancers and in embryonic neural or neural stem cells. However, how these machineries are concertedly regulated is unclear. Here, we show that loss of neural stemness in cancer or neural stem cells via muscle-like differentiation or neuronal differentiation, respectively, caused downregulation of ribosome and proteasome components and major epigenetic factors, including PRMT1, EZH2, and LSD1. Furthermore, inhibition of PRMT1, an oncoprotein that is enriched in neural cells during embryogenesis, caused neuronal-like differentiation, downregulation of a similar set of proteins downregulated by differentiation, and alteration of subcellular distribution of ribosome and proteasome components. By contrast, PRMT1 overexpression led to an upregulation of these proteins. PRMT1 interacted with these components and protected them from degradation via recruitment of the deubiquitinase USP7, also known to promote cancer and enriched in embryonic neural cells, thereby maintaining a high level of epigenetic factors that maintain neural stemness, such as EZH2 and LSD1. Taken together, our data indicate that PRMT1 inhibition resulted in repression of cell tumorigenicity. We conclude that PRMT1 coordinates ribosome and proteasome activity to match the needs for high production and homeostasis of proteins that maintain stemness in cancer and neural stem cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Chen
- Research Institute of Nanjing University in Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China; MOE Key Laboratory of Model Animals for Disease Study, Model Animal Research Center, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine of the Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Min Zhang
- Research Institute of Nanjing University in Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China; MOE Key Laboratory of Model Animals for Disease Study, Model Animal Research Center, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine of the Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Lei Fang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine of the Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiaoli Yang
- Research Institute of Nanjing University in Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China; MOE Key Laboratory of Model Animals for Disease Study, Model Animal Research Center, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine of the Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ning Cao
- Research Institute of Nanjing University in Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China; MOE Key Laboratory of Model Animals for Disease Study, Model Animal Research Center, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine of the Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Liyang Xu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Model Animals for Disease Study, Model Animal Research Center, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine of the Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Lihua Shi
- MOE Key Laboratory of Model Animals for Disease Study, Model Animal Research Center, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine of the Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ying Cao
- Research Institute of Nanjing University in Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China; MOE Key Laboratory of Model Animals for Disease Study, Model Animal Research Center, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine of the Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
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15
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Neural is Fundamental: Neural Stemness as the Ground State of Cell Tumorigenicity and Differentiation Potential. Stem Cell Rev Rep 2021; 18:37-55. [PMID: 34714532 DOI: 10.1007/s12015-021-10275-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Tumorigenic cells are similar to neural stem cells or embryonic neural cells in regulatory networks, tumorigenicity and pluripotent differentiation potential. By integrating the evidence from developmental biology, tumor biology and evolution, I will make a detailed discussion on the observations and propose that neural stemness underlies two coupled cell properties, tumorigenicity and pluripotent differentiation potential. Neural stemness property of tumorigenic cells can hopefully integrate different observations/concepts underlying tumorigenesis. Neural stem cells and tumorigenic cells share regulatory networks; both exhibit neural stemness, tumorigenicity and pluripotent differentiation potential; both depend on expression or activation of ancestral genes; both rely primarily on aerobic glycolytic metabolism; both can differentiate into various cells/tissues that are derived from three germ layers, leading to tumor formation resembling severely disorganized or more degenerated process of embryonic tissue differentiation; both are enriched in long genes with more splice variants that provide more plastic scaffolds for cell differentiation, etc. Neural regulatory networks, which include higher levels of basic machineries of cell physiological functions and developmental programs, work concertedly to define a basic state with fast cell cycle and proliferation. This is predestined by the evolutionary advantage of neural state, the ground or initial state for multicellularity with adaptation to an ancient environment. Tumorigenesis might represent a process of restoration of neural ground state, thereby restoring a state with fast proliferation and pluripotent differentiation potential in somatic cells. Tumorigenesis and pluripotent differentiation potential might be better understood from understanding neural stemness, and cancer therapy should benefit more from targeting neural stemness.
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16
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Pan-cancer analysis of the prognostic and immunological role of PSMB8. Sci Rep 2021; 11:20492. [PMID: 34650125 PMCID: PMC8516870 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-99724-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Recently some evidence has demonstrated the significance of PSMB8 in various malignancies. Nevertheless, PSMB8 (proteasome subunit beta 8), more familiar in the field of immunology contributing to the process of antigen presentation, is indeterminate in the role as a survival predictor of human pan-cancer. Besides, how PSMB8 interacts with immune cell infiltration in the tumor microenvironment requires further research. We then penetrated into the analysis of the PSMB8 expression profile among 33 types of cancer in the TCGA database. The results show that overexpression of PSMB8 was associated with poor clinical outcomes in overall survival (Sartorius et al. in Oncogene 35(22):2881–2892, 2016), disease-specific survival (DSS), disease-free interval (DFI), and progression-free interval (PFI) in most cancer varieties. In addition, there existed distinctly positive correlations between PSMB8 and immunity, reflected straightforwardly in the form of immune scores, tumor-infiltrating immune cells (TIICs) abundance, microsatellite instability, tumor mutation burden, and neoantigen level. Notably, specific markers of dendrite cells exhibited the tightest association with PSMB8 expression in terms of tumor-related immune infiltration patterns. Moreover, gene enrichment analysis showed that elevated PSMB8 expression was related to multiple immune-related pathways. We finally validated the PSMB8 expression in our local breast samples via quantitative PCR assays and concluded that PSMB8 appeared to perform well in predicting the survival outcome of BRCA patients. These findings elucidate the pivotal role of the antigen presentation-related gene PSMB8, which could potentially serve as a robust biomarker for prognosis determination in multiple cancers.
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17
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Tundo GR, Sbardella D, Oddone F, Kudriaeva AA, Lacal PM, Belogurov AA, Graziani G, Marini S. At the Cutting Edge against Cancer: A Perspective on Immunoproteasome and Immune Checkpoints Modulation as a Potential Therapeutic Intervention. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:4852. [PMID: 34638337 PMCID: PMC8507813 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13194852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2021] [Revised: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunoproteasome is a noncanonical form of proteasome with enzymological properties optimized for the generation of antigenic peptides presented in complex with class I MHC molecules. This enzymatic property makes the modulation of its activity a promising area of research. Nevertheless, immunotherapy has emerged as a front-line treatment of advanced/metastatic tumors providing outstanding improvement of life expectancy, even though not all patients achieve a long-lasting clinical benefit. To enhance the efficacy of the currently available immunotherapies and enable the development of new strategies, a broader knowledge of the dynamics of antigen repertoire processing by cancer cells is needed. Therefore, a better understanding of the role of immunoproteasome in antigen processing and of the therapeutic implication of its modulation is mandatory. Studies on the potential crosstalk between proteasome modulators and immune checkpoint inhibitors could provide novel perspectives and an unexplored treatment option for a variety of cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Anna A. Kudriaeva
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya 16/10, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (A.A.K.)
| | - Pedro M. Lacal
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, IDI-IRCCS, 00167 Rome, Italy;
| | - Alexey A. Belogurov
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya 16/10, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (A.A.K.)
- Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Grazia Graziani
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, IDI-IRCCS, 00167 Rome, Italy;
- Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Stefano Marini
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy;
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18
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Kirk JA, Cheung JY, Feldman AM. Therapeutic targeting of BAG3: considering its complexity in cancer and heart disease. J Clin Invest 2021; 131:e149415. [PMID: 34396980 DOI: 10.1172/jci149415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Bcl2-associated athanogene-3 (BAG3) is expressed ubiquitously in humans, but its levels are highest in the heart, the skeletal muscle, and the central nervous system; it is also elevated in many cancers. BAG3's diverse functions are supported by its multiple protein-protein binding domains, which couple with small and large heat shock proteins, members of the Bcl2 family, other antiapoptotic proteins, and various sarcomere proteins. In the heart, BAG3 inhibits apoptosis, promotes autophagy, couples the β-adrenergic receptor with the L-type Ca2+ channel, and maintains the structure of the sarcomere. In cancer cells, BAG3 binds to and supports an identical array of prosurvival proteins, and it may represent a therapeutic target. However, the development of strategies to block BAG3 function in cancer cells may be challenging, as they are likely to interfere with the essential roles of BAG3 in the heart. In this Review, we present the current knowledge regarding the biology of this complex protein in the heart and in cancer and suggest several therapeutic options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan A Kirk
- Department of Cell and Molecular Physiology, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Joseph Y Cheung
- Division of Renal Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Arthur M Feldman
- Department of Medicine, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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Abstract
Next-generation sequencing technologies have revolutionized our ability to catalog the landscape of somatic mutations in tumor genomes. These mutations can sometimes create so-called neoantigens, which allow the immune system to detect and eliminate tumor cells. However, efforts that stimulate the immune system to eliminate tumors based on their molecular differences have had less success than has been hoped for, and there are conflicting reports about the role of neoantigens in the success of this approach. Here we review some of the conflicting evidence in the literature and highlight key aspects of the tumor-immune interface that are emerging as major determinants of whether mutation-derived neoantigens will contribute to an immunotherapy response. Accounting for these factors is expected to improve success rates of future immunotherapy approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Castro
- Biomedical Informatics Program, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA;
| | - Maurizio Zanetti
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA
- The Laboratory of Immunology, Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA
| | - Hannah Carter
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA;
- The Laboratory of Immunology, Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA
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20
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Zhang Z, Chen C, Fang Y, Li S, Wang X, Sun L, Zhou G, Ye J. Development of a prognostic signature for esophageal cancer based on nine immune related genes. BMC Cancer 2021; 21:113. [PMID: 33541291 PMCID: PMC7860013 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-021-07813-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2020] [Accepted: 01/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Function of the immune system is correlated with the prognosis of the tumor. The effect of immune microenvironment on esophageal cancer (EC) development has not been fully investigated. Methods This study aimed to explore a prognostic model based on immune-related genes (IRGs) for EC. We obtained the RNA-seq dataset and clinical information of EC from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Results We identified 247 upregulated IRGs and 56 downregulated IRGs. Pathway analysis revealed that the most differentially expressed IRGs were enriched in Cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction. We further screened 13 survival-related IRGs and constructed regulatory networks involving related transcription factors (TFs). Finally, a prognostic model was constructed with 9 IRGs (HSPA6, S100A12, CACYBP, NOS2, DKK1, OSM, STC2, NGPTL3 and NR2F2) by multivariate Cox regression analysis. The patients were classified into two subgroups with different outcomes. When adjusted with clinical factors, this model was verified as an independent predictor, which performed accurately in prognostic prediction. Next, M0 and M2 macrophages and activated mast cells were significantly enriched in high-risk group, while CD8 T cells and regulatory T cells (Tregs) were significantly enriched in low-risk group. Conclusions Prognosis related IRGs were identified and a prognostic signature for esophageal cancer based on nine IRGs was developed. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12885-021-07813-9.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi Zhang
- Jiangsu Cancer Hospital & Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research & Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Cancer Hospital, 42 Bai Zi Ting Road, Nanjing, 210000, Jiangsu, China
| | - Cheng Chen
- Jiangsu Cancer Hospital & Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research & Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Cancer Hospital, 42 Bai Zi Ting Road, Nanjing, 210000, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ying Fang
- Jiangsu Cancer Hospital & Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research & Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Cancer Hospital, 42 Bai Zi Ting Road, Nanjing, 210000, Jiangsu, China
| | - Sheng Li
- Jiangsu Cancer Hospital & Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research & Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Cancer Hospital, 42 Bai Zi Ting Road, Nanjing, 210000, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiaohua Wang
- Jiangsu Cancer Hospital & Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research & Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Cancer Hospital, 42 Bai Zi Ting Road, Nanjing, 210000, Jiangsu, China
| | - Lei Sun
- Jiangsu Cancer Hospital & Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research & Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Cancer Hospital, 42 Bai Zi Ting Road, Nanjing, 210000, Jiangsu, China
| | - Guoren Zhou
- Jiangsu Cancer Hospital & Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research & Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Cancer Hospital, 42 Bai Zi Ting Road, Nanjing, 210000, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Jinjun Ye
- Jiangsu Cancer Hospital & Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research & Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Cancer Hospital, 42 Bai Zi Ting Road, Nanjing, 210000, Jiangsu, China.
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21
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Bányai L, Trexler M, Kerekes K, Csuka O, Patthy L. Use of signals of positive and negative selection to distinguish cancer genes and passenger genes. eLife 2021; 10:e59629. [PMID: 33427197 PMCID: PMC7877913 DOI: 10.7554/elife.59629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Accepted: 01/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
A major goal of cancer genomics is to identify all genes that play critical roles in carcinogenesis. Most approaches focused on genes positively selected for mutations that drive carcinogenesis and neglected the role of negative selection. Some studies have actually concluded that negative selection has no role in cancer evolution. We have re-examined the role of negative selection in tumor evolution through the analysis of the patterns of somatic mutations affecting the coding sequences of human genes. Our analyses have confirmed that tumor suppressor genes are positively selected for inactivating mutations, oncogenes, however, were found to display signals of both negative selection for inactivating mutations and positive selection for activating mutations. Significantly, we have identified numerous human genes that show signs of strong negative selection during tumor evolution, suggesting that their functional integrity is essential for the growth and survival of tumor cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- László Bányai
- Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural SciencesBudapestHungary
| | - Maria Trexler
- Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural SciencesBudapestHungary
| | - Krisztina Kerekes
- Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural SciencesBudapestHungary
| | - Orsolya Csuka
- Department of Pathogenetics, National Institute of OncologyBudapestHungary
| | - László Patthy
- Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural SciencesBudapestHungary
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22
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Maresh ME, Salazar-Chaparro AF, Trader DJ. Methods for the discovery of small molecules to monitor and perturb the activity of the human proteasome. Future Med Chem 2021; 13:99-116. [PMID: 33275045 PMCID: PMC7857359 DOI: 10.4155/fmc-2020-0288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2020] [Accepted: 10/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Regulating protein production and degradation is critical to maintaining cellular homeostasis. The proteasome is a key player in keeping proteins at the proper levels. However, proteasome activity can be altered in certain disease states, such as blood cancers and neurodegenerative diseases. Cancers often exhibit enhanced proteasomal activity, as protein synthesis is increased in these cells compared with normal cells. Conversely, neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by protein accumulation, leading to reduced proteasome activity. As a result, the proteasome has emerged as a target for therapeutic intervention. The potential of the proteasome as a therapeutic target has come from studies involving chemical stimulators and inhibitors, and the development of a suite of assays and probes that can be used to monitor proteasome activity with purified enzyme and in live cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianne E Maresh
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry & Molecular Pharmacology, Purdue University, 575 West Stadium Avenue, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Andres F Salazar-Chaparro
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry & Molecular Pharmacology, Purdue University, 575 West Stadium Avenue, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Darci J Trader
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry & Molecular Pharmacology, Purdue University, 575 West Stadium Avenue, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
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23
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Chen X, Chen J, Feng Y, Guan W. Prognostic Value of SLC4A4 and its Correlation with Immune Infiltration in Colon Adenocarcinoma. Med Sci Monit 2020; 26:e925016. [PMID: 32949121 PMCID: PMC7526338 DOI: 10.12659/msm.925016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND SLC4A4 is differentially expressed in a variety of tumors, but its significance in colon adenocarcinoma has not been determined. MATERIAL AND METHODS Transcriptomes of two cohorts, GSE41258 and GSE32323, contained in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) were analysed to determine differences in SLC4A4 expression between tumor and normal tissue and their correlations with overall survival. The relationships between SLC4A4 expression and clinical characteristics were determined by COX regression analysis and logistic regression analysis, and correlations of SLC4A4 levels with tumor infiltrating immune cells (TIICs) and genes with high mutation frequency were evaluated by Pearson correlation analysis. Molecular functions and signaling pathways that might be affected by changes in SLC4A4 expression were determined by gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). The overall distribution of TIICs was determined by two web servers: tumor immune estimation resource (TIMER) and CIBERSORT. RESULTS SLC4A4 expression was lower in colon adenocarcinoma than in normal colon tissue, suggesting that SLC4A4 was associated with poor prognosis. Reduced SLC4A4 expression was also associated with lymph node invasion and distant metastasis and was moderately correlated with increased expression of MUC4 and SMAD4, two genes with high mutation frequency in colon adenocarcinoma. GSEA indicated that changes in SLC4A4 expression affects several biological processes, including mismatch repair, base excision repair, and DNA replication. Eight TIICs in the tumor microenvironment differed significantly in groups with low and high expression of SLC4A4. CONCLUSIONS SLC4A4 may be a novel biomarker predicting prognosis in patients with colon adenocarcinoma. TIICs differed significantly in samples with higher and lower expression of SLC4A4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoli Chen
- Department of Pathology, The First People's Hospital of Nantong, Nantong, Jiangsu, China (mainland)
| | - Jianing Chen
- Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China (mainland)
| | - Yan Feng
- Department of Pathology, The First People's Hospital of Nantong, Nantong, Jiangsu, China (mainland)
| | - Wei Guan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China (mainland)
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Listro R, Stotani S, Rossino G, Rui M, Malacrida A, Cavaletti G, Cortesi M, Arienti C, Tesei A, Rossi D, Giacomo MD, Miloso M, Collina S. Exploring the RC-106 Chemical Space: Design and Synthesis of Novel ( E)-1-(3-Arylbut-2-en-1-yl)-4-(Substituted) Piperazine Derivatives as Potential Anticancer Agents. Front Chem 2020; 8:495. [PMID: 32695745 PMCID: PMC7338850 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2020.00495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2020] [Accepted: 05/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite the fact that significant advances in treatment of common cancers have been achieved over the years, orphan tumors still represent an important unmet medical need. Due to their complex multifactorial origin and limited number of cases, such pathologies often have very limited treatment options and poor prognosis. In the search for new anticancer agents, our group recently identified RC-106, a Sigma receptor modulator endowed with proteasome inhibition activity. This compound showed antiproliferative activity toward different cancer cell lines, among them glioblastoma (GB) and multiple myeloma (MM), two currently unmet medical conditions. In this work, we directed our efforts toward the exploration of chemical space around RC-106 to identify new active compounds potentially useful in cancer treatment. Thanks to a combinatorial approach, we prepared 41 derivatives of the compound and evaluated their cytotoxic potential against MM and GB. Three novel potential anticancer agents have been identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Listro
- Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technology Section, Department of Drug Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Silvia Stotani
- Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technology Section, Department of Drug Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.,Medicinal Chemistry, Taros Chemicals GmbH and Co. KG, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Giacomo Rossino
- Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technology Section, Department of Drug Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Marta Rui
- Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technology Section, Department of Drug Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Alessio Malacrida
- Experimental Neurology Unit, School of Medicine and Surgery & Milan Center for Neuroscience, University of Milan Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Guido Cavaletti
- Experimental Neurology Unit, School of Medicine and Surgery & Milan Center for Neuroscience, University of Milan Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Michela Cortesi
- Biosciences Laboratory, Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRCCS), Meldola, Italy
| | - Chiara Arienti
- Biosciences Laboratory, Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRCCS), Meldola, Italy
| | - Anna Tesei
- Biosciences Laboratory, Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRCCS), Meldola, Italy
| | - Daniela Rossi
- Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technology Section, Department of Drug Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Marcello Di Giacomo
- Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technology Section, Department of Drug Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Mariarosaria Miloso
- Experimental Neurology Unit, School of Medicine and Surgery & Milan Center for Neuroscience, University of Milan Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Simona Collina
- Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technology Section, Department of Drug Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
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A Driver Never Works Alone-Interplay Networks of Mutant p53, MYC, RAS, and Other Universal Oncogenic Drivers in Human Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12061532. [PMID: 32545208 PMCID: PMC7353041 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12061532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2020] [Revised: 06/03/2020] [Accepted: 06/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The knowledge accumulating on the occurrence and mechanisms of the activation of oncogenes in human neoplasia necessitates an increasingly detailed understanding of their systemic interactions. None of the known oncogenic drivers work in isolation from the other oncogenic pathways. The cooperation between these pathways is an indispensable element of a multistep carcinogenesis, which apart from inactivation of tumor suppressors, always includes the activation of two or more proto-oncogenes. In this review we focus on representative examples of the interaction of major oncogenic drivers with one another. The drivers are selected according to the following criteria: (1) the highest frequency of known activation in human neoplasia (by mutations or otherwise), (2) activation in a wide range of neoplasia types (universality) and (3) as a part of a distinguishable pathway, (4) being a known cause of phenotypic addiction of neoplastic cells and thus a promising therapeutic target. Each of these universal oncogenic factors—mutant p53, KRAS and CMYC proteins, telomerase ribonucleoprotein, proteasome machinery, HSP molecular chaperones, NF-κB and WNT pathways, AP-1 and YAP/TAZ transcription factors and non-coding RNAs—has a vast network of molecular interrelations and common partners. Understanding this network allows for the hunt for novel therapeutic targets and protocols to counteract drug resistance in a clinical neoplasia treatment.
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Zerfas BL, Maresh ME, Trader DJ. The Immunoproteasome: An Emerging Target in Cancer and Autoimmune and Neurological Disorders. J Med Chem 2019; 63:1841-1858. [PMID: 31670954 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.9b01226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The immunoproteasome (iCP) is an isoform of the 20S proteasome that is expressed when cells are stressed or receive an inflammatory signal. The primary role of the iCP is to hydrolyze proteins into peptides that are compatible with being loaded into a MHC-I complex. When the activity of the iCP is dysregulated or highly expressed, it can lead to unwanted cell death. Some cancer types express the iCP rather than the standard proteasome, and selective inhibitors have been developed to exploit this difference. Here, we describe diseases known to be influenced by iCP activity and the current status for targeting the iCP to elicit a therapeutic response. We also describe a variety of chemical tools that have been developed to monitor the activity of the iCP in cells. Finally, we present the future outlook for targeting the iCP in a variety of disease types and with mechanisms besides inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Breanna L Zerfas
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Purdue University, 575 West Stadium Avenue, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Marianne E Maresh
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Purdue University, 575 West Stadium Avenue, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Darci J Trader
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Purdue University, 575 West Stadium Avenue, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
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Yang X, Xie S, Yang X, Cueva JC, Hou X, Tang Z, Yao H, Mo F, Yin S, Liu A, Lu X. Opportunities and Challenges for Antibodies against Intracellular Antigens. Am J Cancer Res 2019; 9:7792-7806. [PMID: 31695801 PMCID: PMC6831482 DOI: 10.7150/thno.35486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2019] [Accepted: 07/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Therapeutic antibodies are one most significant advances in immunotherapy, the development of antibodies against disease-associated MHC-peptide complexes led to the introduction of TCR-like antibodies. TCR-like antibodies combine the recognition of intracellular proteins with the therapeutic potency and versatility of monoclonal antibodies (mAb), offering an unparalleled opportunity to expand the repertoire of therapeutic antibodies available to treat diseases like cancer. This review details the current state of TCR-like antibodies and describes their production, mechanisms as well as their applications. In addition, it presents an insight on the challenges that they must overcome in order to become commercially and clinically validated.
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Dolcino M, Pelosi A, Fiore PF, Patuzzo G, Tinazzi E, Lunardi C, Puccetti A. Gene Profiling in Patients with Systemic Sclerosis Reveals the Presence of Oncogenic Gene Signatures. Front Immunol 2018; 9:449. [PMID: 29559981 PMCID: PMC5845728 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.00449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2017] [Accepted: 02/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a rare connective tissue disease characterized by three pathogenetic hallmarks: vasculopathy, dysregulation of the immune system, and fibrosis. A particular feature of SSc is the increased frequency of some types of malignancies, namely breast, lung, and hematological malignancies. Moreover, SSc may also be a paraneoplastic disease, again indicating a strong link between cancer and scleroderma. The reason of this association is still unknown; therefore, we aimed at investigating whether particular genetic or epigenetic factors may play a role in promoting cancer development in patients with SSc and whether some features are shared by the two conditions. We therefore performed a gene expression profiling of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) derived from patients with limited and diffuse SSc, showing that the various classes of genes potentially linked to the pathogenesis of SSc (such as apoptosis, endothelial cell activation, extracellular matrix remodeling, immune response, and inflammation) include genes that directly participate in the development of malignancies or that are involved in pathways known to be associated with carcinogenesis. The transcriptional analysis was then complemented by a complex network analysis of modulated genes which further confirmed the presence of signaling pathways associated with carcinogenesis. Since epigenetic mechanisms, such as microRNAs (miRNAs), are believed to play a central role in the pathogenesis of SSc, we also evaluated whether specific cancer-related miRNAs could be deregulated in the serum of SSc patients. We focused our attention on miRNAs already found upregulated in SSc such as miR-21-5p, miR-92a-3p, and on miR-155-5p, miR 126-3p and miR-16-5p known to be deregulated in malignancies associated to SSc, i.e., breast, lung, and hematological malignancies. miR-21-5p, miR-92a-3p, miR-155-5p, and miR-16-5p expression was significantly higher in SSc sera compared to healthy controls. Our findings indicate the presence of modulated genes and miRNAs that can play a predisposing role in the development of malignancies in SSc and are important for a better risk stratification of patients and for the identification of a better individualized precision medicine strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marzia Dolcino
- Department of Medicine, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Andrea Pelosi
- Immunology Area, Pediatric Hospital Bambino Gesù, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Elisa Tinazzi
- Department of Medicine, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | | | - Antonio Puccetti
- Immunology Area, Pediatric Hospital Bambino Gesù, Rome, Italy.,Department of Experimental Medicine - Section of Histology, University of Genova, Genova, Italy
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