Heat shock protein 47 regulated by miR-29a to enhance glioma tumor growth and invasion

Overexpression of heat shock protein 47 is associated with increased proliferation and metastasis in gastric cancer

Here, we investigated that the heat shock protein 47 (HSP47) plays a crucial role in the progression of gastric cancer (GC). We analyzed HSP47 gene expression in GC cell lines and patient tissues. The HSP47 mRNA and protein expression levels were significantly higher in GC cell lines and tumor tissues compared to normal gastric mucosa. Using siRNA to silence the expression of HSP47 in GC cells resulted in a significant reduction in their proliferation, wound healing, migration, and invasion capacities. Additionally, we also showed that the mRNA expression of matrix metallopeptidase-7 (MMP-7), a metastasis-promoting gene, was significantly reduced in HSP47 siRNA-transfected GC cells. We confirmed that the HSP47 promoter region was methylated in the SNU-216 GC cell line expressing low levels of HSP47 and in most non-cancerous gastric tissues. It means that the expression of HSP47 is regulated by epigenetic regulatory mechanisms. These findings suggest that targeting HSP47, potentially through its promoter methylation, could be a useful new therapeutic strategy for treating GC.

Integrative analysis of bulk RNA-seq and scRNA-seq data indicates the prognostic and immunologic values of SERPINH1 in glioma

BACKGROUND

SERPINH1 is abnormally expressed in multiple cancers and is associated with malignant progression. However, few reports detail its role in the etiopathogenesis of glioma. Hence, the aim of this article was to investigate the potential value of SERPINH1 in glioma using an integrative analysis.

METHODS

Data of RNA-seq and scRNA-seq was obtained and evaluated using online databases. The expression of SERPINH1 was confirmed by qRT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. The prognostic value of SERPINH1 was evaluated using univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses. SERPINH1-related signaling pathways and the interaction of SERPINH1 with immunity were also investigated.

RESULTS

SERPINH1 exhibited a markedly elevated expression in glioma compared to normal brain tissues in the online databases. Similar results were confirmed by qRT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. SERPINH1 was found to be an independent prognosis factor, and high expression of SERPINH1 indicated poor survival. Moreover, a nomogram was constructed to predict prognosis more accurately and intuitively. GSEA analysis showed that SERPINH1 was involved in seven signaling pathways, including JAK-STAT pathway. Further analysis indicated SERPINH1 was significantly associated with immunity, especially in low-grade glioma. Additionally, an examination of scRNA-seq data revealed that SERPINH1 was primarily expressed in T cells of the CD4+ and CD8+ subsets.

CONCLUSIONS

SERPINH1 is a key biomarker of glioma prognosis and is immunologically relevant, which provides additional options for targeted therapy of glioma.

Alteration of SERPINH1 is associated with elevated expression in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas and its clinicopathological significance

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide and contributes significantly to the burden of disease in South Asia, partially due to the lack of effective screening strategies. Identifying essential biomarkers is crucial for improved prognosis and treatment. This study investigates the potential of SERPINH1 as a prognostic marker in HNSCC, highlighting its significance amidst the molecular complexity.

METHODS

The Cancer Genome Atlas HNSCC cohort, comprised of 520 tumors and 44 normal tissues, was analyzed using cBioportal, UALCAN, and Protein atlas tools. Expression patterns, survival outcomes, and clinical correlations of SERPINH1 were evaluated. In-depth analyses involved oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patient samples, protein expression, and functional exploration using various in-silico tools.

RESULTS

SERPINH1 exhibited significant alteration and upregulation in HNSCC and OSCC, indicating its pan-cancer potential. Immunohistochemistry confirmed its overexpression in primary HNSCC tumors. Association analyses linked altered SERPINH1 levels with tumor stage, grade, metastasis, human papillomavirus (HPV) status, and patient prognosis. Functional analyses unveiled SERPINH1's involvement in critical cellular pathways and interactions with various proteins.

CONCLUSION

The significant alteration of SERPINH1 associated with upregulated expression in HNSCC and OSCC positions it as a promising diagnostic and prognostic marker. Further investigations are warranted to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms, paving the way for targeted therapeutic interventions and continued exploration of various malignancies.

Serpin family H member 1 and its related collagen gene network are the potential prognostic biomarkers and anticancer targets for glioma

Serpin family H member 1 (SERPINH1) is responsible for encoding the protein known as heat shock protein 47, which functions as a molecular chaperone specific to collagen (COL). This protein has been identified as a potential therapeutic target for COL-related disorders. In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of SERPINH1 in the tumorigenicity of gliomas. To achieve this, we utilized various bioinformatics tools to analyze gene expression, overall survival, protein-protein interactions, Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment, and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA). Based on The Cancer Genome Atlas database revealed that SERPINH1 and four COL family members (COL1A1, COL3A1, COL4A1, and COL4A2) expression are significantly upregulated in glioma tissues compared with normal nontumor tissues. GO, KEGG, and GSEA analyses exhibited that SERPINH1 is implicated in the establishment and degradation of COL-containing extracellular matrix (ECM), focal adhesion, and ECM-receptor interaction in glioma. SERPINH1 is an independent prognostic factor, exhibiting a positive association with the augmentation of neutrophils and macrophages, as well as the manifestation of immune checkpoint molecules within glioma. Experimental assessments conducted both in vitro and in vivo demonstrated that the suppression of SERPINH1 impeded the migratory, invasive, and proliferative capacities of glioma cells, while concurrently fostering cellular apoptosis. Consequently, SERPINH1 emerges as an oncogenic gene and an independent prognostic marker for glioma, potentially facilitating the advancement of immunotherapeutic interventions for the treatment of glioma.

SERPINH1 enhances the malignancy of osteosarcoma via PI3K-Akt signaling pathway

BACKGROUND

Serpin Family H Member 1 (SERPINH1) may be involved in the regulation of occurrence and development of tumors. However, the role and mechanism of SERPINH1 in osteosarcoma remain poorly understood. The aim of this study is to investigate the expression and role of SRPINH1 in osteosarcoma and to elucidate its underlying mechanisms.

METHODS

First, we examined the expression of SERPINH1 in osteosarcoma and analyzed publicly available datasets to investigate whether SERPINH1 expression was associated with the prognosis of osteosarcoma. Then we constructed SERPINH1 overexpression and knockdown systems in osteosarcoma cells, and examined the proliferation, migration and invasion ability of osteosarcoma cells after SERPINH1 expression changes using CCK-8 assay, wound healing assay and transwell invasion assay. In addition, we constructed a subcutaneous xenograft tumor model to study the function of SERPINH1 in vivo. We also examined the downstream pathways of SERPINH1 by functional analysis and performed subsequent validation.

RESULTS

SERPINH1 was upregulated and associated with poor survival in patients with osteosarcoma. SERPINH1 promoted the proliferation, migration and invasion of osteosarcoma cells and promotes the growth of osteosarcoma in vivo by activating the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway.

CONCLUSION

SERPINH1 partakes in the biological process of osteosarcoma as a tumor promotor and may be an emerging biomarker in osteosarcoma.

MicroRNA-29a inhibits collagen expression and induces apoptosis in human fetal scleral fibroblasts by targeting the Hsp47/Smad3 signaling pathway

Members of the microRNA-29 (miR-29) gene family have been implicated as suppressors of collagen in several human diseases. The present study aimed to explore the function of miR-29a in human fetal scleral fibroblasts (HFSFs) and to investigate potential mechanisms by which the molecule regulates cellular functioning. First, HFSFs were transfected with miR-29a mimic, miR-29a inhibitor, or their corresponding controls. Then, cell proliferation and apoptosis were assessed using a CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry, respectively. Further, using real-time PCR, western blotting, and immunofluorescence staining, levels of miR-29a, heat shock protein 47 (Hsp47), COL1A1, Smad3, P-Smad3, Bax, and Bcl-2 were investigated. Next, empty vectors and SERPINH1-overexpressing vectors were used to transfect HFSFs. Western blotting and flow cytometry were performed to assess changes in levels of HFSF protein expression and apoptosis, respectively. Results indicated that the miR-29a mimic significantly inhibited Hsp47, Smad3, P-Smad3, and COL1A1 expression. Conversely, the miR-29a inhibitor enhanced the expression of the same genes. Furthermore, miR-29a overexpression inhibited HFSFs proliferation and enhanced the rate of HFSFs apoptosis. Consistent with this finding, miR-29a overexpression led to the downregulation of Bcl-2 and upregulation of Bax. In contrast, miR-29a suppression led to the upregulation of Bcl-2 and downregulation of Bax expression and reduced the rate of apoptosis. Additional research revealed that overexpression of Hsp47 prevented HFSFs apoptosis and enhanced collagen production. Findings that miR-29a overexpression reduces collagen expression levels, slows proliferation, and promotes apoptosis in HFSFs highlight the key role of miR-29a in scleral remodeling. The effects of miR-29a on scleral remodeling might mediate by targeting Hsp47 and repressing the Smad3 pathway.

Prognostic and immunological role of SERPINH1 in pan-cancer

Background: The SERPINH1 gene plays a vital part in tumorigenesis and development, whereas its potential as an immunotherapy target is still unknown. Hence, this research aimed to probe the roles of SERPINH1 in human tumors.

Method: Using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) database, Oncomine, and SangerBox software, the pan-cancer expression of SERPINH1 and its correlation were systematically analyzed. SERPINH1 protein information was detected by the Human Protein Atlas (HPA) database and STRING database. The genomic alterations of SERPINH1 were studied using the c-BioPortal database. The influence of SERPINH1 on prognosis was analyzed using Kaplan–Meier plotter. The R package “clusterProfiler” was used for enrichment analysis to detect the role of SERPINH1. The TIMER2 database was used to further analyze the correlation between the immune cell infiltration score of TCGA samples and the expression of SERPINH1.

Results: SERPINH1 overexpression was related to worse survival status in pan-cancer. In addition, high expression of SERPINH1 was positively associated with tumor stage and poor prognosis. Moreover, SERPINH1 played an important role in tumor microenvironment and immune regulation. Our study revealed that SERPINH1 expression has a strong correlation with immune cell filtration, immune regulation, chemokines, and immune checkpoints.

Conclusion: Our research found that SERPINH1 was a risk factor and predictor of poor prognosis in various tumors. High expression of SERPINH1 may contribute to tumor immune-suppressive status. Also, SERPINH1 may become a potential immunotherapy target in pan-cancer.

Correlation of Matrisome-Associatted Gene Expressions with LOX Family Members in Astrocytomas Stratified by IDH Mutation Status

Tumor cell infiltrative ability into surrounding brain tissue is a characteristic of diffusely infiltrative astrocytoma and is strongly associated with extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffness. Collagens are the most abundant ECM scaffolding proteins and contribute to matrix organization and stiffness. LOX family members, copper-dependent amine oxidases, participate in the collagen and elastin crosslinking that determine ECM tensile strength. Common IDH mutations in lower-grade gliomas (LGG) impact prognosis and have been associated with ECM stiffness. We analyzed the expression levels of LOX family members and matrisome-associated genes in astrocytoma stratified by malignancy grade and IDH mutation status. A progressive increase in expression of all five LOX family members according to malignancy grade was found. LOX, LOXL1, and LOXL3 expression correlated with matrisome gene expressions. LOXL1 correlations were detected in LGG with IDH mutation (IDH^mut), LOXL3 correlations in LGG with IDH wild type (IDH^wt) and strong LOX correlations in glioblastoma (GBM) were found. These increasing correlations may explain the increment of ECM stiffness and tumor aggressiveness from LGG-IDH^mut and LGG-IDH^wt through to GBM. The expression of the mechanosensitive transcription factor, β-catenin, also increased with malignancy grade and was correlated with LOXL1 and LOXL3 expression, suggesting involvement of this factor in the outside–in signaling pathway.

Porcn as a novel therapeutic target in cancer therapy: A review

Wingless-related integration site (Wnt) signaling is one of the main oncogenic pathways in different malignancies. Therefore, targeting this pathway has been considered an exciting strategy in cancer treatment. Porcn is among the central enzymes in this pathway that has recently been considered for cancer-targeted therapy. As a membrane-bound O-acyltransferase, Porcn plays a critical role in wnt ligand palmitoylation and its subsequent secretion. In addition to Porcn's role in stem cell signaling and differentiation, recent findings have shown its role in developing and progressing colorectal, pancreatic, liver, head, and neck cancers. Developed small molecule inhibitors have also opened a promising window toward cancer treatment strategies. In this review, the structure and biological role of Porcn in different cancer-related signaling pathways and inhibitors used for inhibiting this enzyme are discussed.

MiR-29a Increase in Aging May Function as a Compensatory Mechanism Against Cardiac Fibrosis Through SERPINH1 Downregulation

Deregulation of microRNA (miRNA) profile has been reportedly linked to the aging process, which is a dominant risk factor for many pathologies. Among the miRNAs with documented roles in aging-related cardiac diseases, miR-18a, -21a, -22, and -29a were mainly associated with hypertrophy and/or fibrosis; however, their relationship to aging was not fully addressed before. The purpose of this paper was to evaluate the variations in the expression levels of these miRNAs in the aging process. To this aim, multiple organs were harvested from young (2–3-months-old), old (16–18-months-old), and very old (24–25-months-old) mice, and the abundance of the miRNAs was evaluated by quantitative real-time (RT)-PCR. Our studies demonstrated that miR-21a, miR-22, and miR-29a were upregulated in the aged heart. Among them, miR-29a was highly expressed in many other organs, i.e., the brain, the skeletal muscle, the pancreas, and the kidney, and its expression was further upregulated during the natural aging process. Western blot, immunofluorescence, and xCELLigence analyses concurrently indicated that overexpression of miR-29a in the muscle cells decreased the collagen levels as well as cell migration and proliferation. Computational prediction analysis and overexpression studies identified SERPINH1, a specific chaperone of procollagens, as a potential miR-29a target. Corroborating to this, significantly downregulated SERPINH1 levels were found in the skeletal muscle, the heart, the brain, the kidney, and the pancreas harvested from very old animals, thereby indicating the role of the miR-29a-SERPINH1 axis in the aging process. In vitro analysis of miR-29a effects on fibroblast and cardiac muscle cells pointed toward a protective role of miR-29a on aging-related fibrosis, by reducing cell migration and proliferation. In conclusion, our study indicates an adaptive increase of miR-29 in the natural aging process and suggests its role as a transcriptional repressor of SERPINH1, with a potential therapeutic value against adverse matrix remodeling and aging-associated tissue fibrosis.

Heat shock protein 47 promotes cell migration and invasion through AKT signal in non-small cell lung cancer

Lung cancer is one of the most lethal malignancies, with the highest number of cases and deaths. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most ordinary type of pathology in lung cancer. Meanwhile, various researchers have reported that heat shock protein 47 (HSP47) plays a vital regulatory role in cancer. However, the role of HSP47 in NSCLC is not clear. Consequently, the current study set out to investigate the role of HSP47 in the pathogenesis of NSCLC. First, we evaluated the expression patterns of HSP47 in NSCLC cell lines related to human normal lung epithelial cells, and HSP47 was found to be highly expressed in NSCLC cell lines. In addition, inhibiting the expression of HSP47 brought about marked repression in cell proliferation, migration and invasion in PC-9 cells. On the contrary, cell proliferation, migration and invasion were all elevated after over-expression of HSP47. Mechanistical experimentation further illustrated that protein kinase B (AKT) signal was repressed after inhibition of HSP47, and the influence of sh-HSP47 on cell proliferation, migration and invasion was countered by epidermal growth factor. Lastly, in-vivo animal models demonstrated that inhibition of HSP47 repressed cell tumorigenesis and AKT signal. Collectively, our findings illustrated that HSP47 was highly expressed in NSCLC cell lines, whereas inhibition of HSP47 repressed cell migration and invasion by diminishing the AKT signal. Inhibition of HSP47 also exhibited strong therapeutic effects on NSCLC in vivo.

A novel patient stratification strategy to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of dasatinib in glioblastoma

BACKGROUND

Glioblastoma is the most common primary malignancy of the central nervous system with dismal prognosis. Genomic signatures classify isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH)-wildtype glioblastoma into three subtypes: proneural, mesenchymal and classical. Dasatinib, an inhibitor of proto-oncogene kinase Src (SRC), is one of many therapeutics which, despite promising preclinical results, has failed to improve overall survival in glioblastoma patients in clinical trials. We examined whether glioblastoma subtypes differ in their response to dasatinib and could hence be evaluated for patient enrichment strategies in clinical trials.

METHODS

We carried out in silico analyses on glioblastoma gene expression (TCGA) and single-cell RNA-Seq data. In addition, in vitro experiments using glioblastoma stem-like cells (GSCs) derived from primary patient tumors were performed, with complementary gene expression profiling and immunohistochemistry analysis of tumor samples.

RESULTS

Patients with the mesenchymal subtype of glioblastoma showed higher SRC pathway activation based on gene expression profiling. Accordingly, mesenchymal GSCs were more sensitive to SRC inhibition by dasatinib compared to proneural and classical GSCs. Notably, SRC phosphorylation status did not predict response to dasatinib treatment. Furthermore, serpin peptidase inhibitor clade H member 1 (SERPINH1), a collagen related heat-shock protein associated with cancer progression, was shown to correlate with dasatinib response and with the mesenchymal subtype.

CONCLUSION

This work highlights further molecular-based patient selection strategies in clinical trials and suggests the mesenchymal subtype as well as SERPINH1 to be associated with response to dasatinib. Our findings indicate that stratification based on gene expression subtyping should be considered in future dasatinib trials.

Heat shock protein 47 confers chemoresistance on pancreatic cancer cells by interacting with calreticulin and IRE1α

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most chemoresistant cancers. An understanding of the molecular mechanism by which PDAC cells have a high chemoresistant potential is important for improvement of the poor prognosis of patients with PDAC. Here we show for the first time that disruption of heat shock protein 47 (HSP47) enhances the efficacy of the therapeutic agent gemcitabine for PDAC cells and that the efficacy is suppressed by reconstituting HSP47 expression. HSP47 interacts with calreticulin (CALR) and the unfolded protein response transducer IRE1α in PDAC cells. Ablation of HSP47 promotes both the interaction of CALR with sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ -ATPase 2 and interaction of IRE1α with inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate receptor, which generates a condition in which an increase in intracellular Ca2+ level is prone to be induced by oxidative stimuli. Disruption of HSP47 enhances NADPH oxidase-induced generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and subsequent increase in intracellular Ca2+ level in PDAC cells after treatment with gemcitabine, resulting in the death of PDAC cells by activation of the Ca2+ /caspases axis. Ablation of HSP47 promotes gemcitabine-induced suppression of tumor growth in PDAC cell-bearing mice. Overall, these results indicated that HSP47 confers chemoresistance on PDAC cells and suggested that disruption of HSP47 may improve the efficacy of chemotherapy for patients with PDAC.

Quality Control of Procollagen in Cells

Collagen is the most abundant protein in mammals. A unique feature of collagen is its triple-helical structure formed by the Gly-Xaa-Yaa repeats. Three single chains of procollagen make a trimer, and the triple-helical structure is then folded in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). This unique structure is essential for collagen's functions in vivo, including imparting bone strength, allowing signal transduction, and forming basement membranes. The triple-helical structure of procollagen is stabilized by posttranslational modifications and intermolecular interactions, but collagen is labile even at normal body temperature. Heat shock protein 47 (Hsp47) is a collagen-specific molecular chaperone residing in the ER that plays a pivotal role in collagen biosynthesis and quality control of procollagen in the ER. Mutations that affect the triple-helical structure or result in loss of Hsp47 activity cause the destabilization of procollagen, which is then degraded by autophagy. In this review, we present the current state of the field regarding quality control of procollagen.

Selenium-mediated gga-miR-29a-3p regulates LMH cell proliferation, invasion, and migration by targeting COL4A2

Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element that has several functions in cellular processes related to cancer prevention. While the cancericidal effect of Se has been reported in liver cancer, the mechanism has not been clarified. MiR-29a has widely been reported as a tumor suppressor; however, it also acts as a carcinogenic agent by increasing cell invasion in human epithelial cancer cells and hepatoma cells. In a previous study, we found that miR-29a-3p is a Se-sensitive miRNA. However, its effect in the chicken hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (LMH) is still unknown. In the present study, we found that the expression of miR-29a-3p in LMH cells was decreased by Se supplementation and increased under Se-deficient conditions. Flow cytometry and CCK-8 results suggested that Se decreased LMH cell proliferation induced by miR-29a-3p overexpression. Transwell and gap-closure assays implied that Se mediated LMH cell invasion and migration by downregulating miR-29a-3p. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting results suggested that Se mitigated miR-29a-3p overexpression-induced LMH cell proliferation by downregulating CDK2, cyclin-D1, CDK6, and cyclin-E1. We further demonstrated that collagen type IV alpha 2 (COL4A2) is a target gene of miR-29a-3p. COL4A2 activates the RhoA/ROCK pathway to promote LMH cell invasion and migration. In conclusion, Se mediated miR-29a-3p overexpression induced LMH cell invasion and migration by targeting COL4A2 to inactivate the RhoA/ROCK pathway.

SERPINH1, Targeted by miR-29b, Modulated Proliferation and Migration of Human Retinal Endothelial Cells Under High Glucose Conditions

AIM

In the present study, we performed bioinformatics studies and in vitro functional assays to explore the underlying role of serpin family H member 1 (SERPINH1) in the diabetic retinopathy.

METHODS

Common differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between diabetic retinal tissues and normal retinal tissues were analyzed using Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. The proliferation and migration of human retinal endothelial cells (HRECs) was evaluated by MTS, EdU and wound healing assays, respectively; the miRNA and mRNAs expression levels of hub genes in HRECs were determined using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Protein levels were determined using a Western blot assay.

RESULTS

A total of 189 common DEGs were screened between two GEO datasets (GSE60436 and GSE94019), and ten potential hub genes that may link to the progression of diabetic retinopathy were detected. The qRT-PCR results showed that collagen, type I, alpha 1 (COL1A1), Collagen, type I, alpha 2 (COL1A2) and serpin family H member 1 (SERPINH1) mRNA expression levels were up-regulated in the HRECs after being exposed to high glucose for 48 h. Silence of SERPINH1 repressed the high glucose-induced increase in proliferation and migration of HRECs. SERPINH1 was a target of miR-29b and was suppressed by miR-29 in HRECs. SERPINH1 overexpression promoted HREC proliferation and migration. Furthermore, miR-29b suppressed HREC proliferation and migration under high-glucose stimulation, which was significantly attenuated by enforced expression of SERPINH1.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, by performing the integrated bioinformatics analysis, the present study suggested that 3 hub genes (COL1A1, COL1A2 and SERPINH1) may be associated with diabetic retinopathy pathophysiology. Further mechanistic studies indicated that miR-29b/SERPINH1 signaling participated in high glucose-induced enhancement in the proliferation and migration of HRECs.

Brain Tumor-Derived Extracellular Vesicles as Carriers of Disease Markers: Molecular Chaperones and MicroRNAs

Primary and metastatic brain tumors are usually serious conditions with poor prognosis, which reveal the urgent need of developing rapid diagnostic tools and efficacious treatments. To achieve these objectives, progress must be made in the understanding of brain tumor biology, for example, how they resist natural defenses and therapeutic intervention. One resistance mechanism involves extracellular vesicles that are released by tumors to meet target cells nearby or distant via circulation and reprogram them by introducing their cargo. This consists of different molecules among which are microRNAs (miRNAs) and molecular chaperones, the focus of this article. miRNAs modify target cells in the immune system to avoid antitumor reaction and chaperones are key survival molecules for the tumor cell. Extracellular vesicles cargo reflects the composition and metabolism of the original tumor cell; therefore, it is a source of markers, including the miRNAs and chaperones discussed in this article, with potential diagnostic and prognostic value. This and their relatively easy availability by minimally invasive procedures (e.g., drawing venous blood) illustrate the potential of extracellular vesicles as useful materials to manage brain tumor patients. Furthermore, understanding extracellular vesicles circulation and interaction with target cells will provide the basis for using this vesicle for delivering therapeutic compounds to selected tumor cells.

Bioinformatic Profiling of Prognosis-Related Genes in Malignant Glioma Microenvironment

BACKGROUND Gliomas are the most common primary tumors of the brain and spinal cord. The tumor microenvironment (TME) is the cellular environment in which tumors exist. This study aimed to identify the role of the TME and the effects of genes involved in the TME of malignant glioma. MATERIAL AND METHODS The ESTIMATE algorithms in the R package were used to calculate the immune and stromal scores of samples in the TCGA and GSE4290 datasets. The associations of stromal and immune scores with clinicopathological characteristics and overall survival of malignant glioma patients were assessed by analysis of variance and Kaplan-Meier analysis. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were obtained through the median immune and stromal score using the R package "limma". Functional enrichment analysis and the PPI network MCODE were used to analyze DEGs. RESULTS Increased immune and stromal scores were closely related with advanced glioma grade and poor prognosis (all P<0.01). In total, 558 DEGs were found and most were related to tumor prognosis. Functional enrichment analysis showed that DEGs were associated with cell-matrix regulation and immune response. Four hub modules related to tumor angiogenesis, collagen formation, and immune response were found and analyzed. Previously overlooked microenvironment-related genes such as LAMB1, FN1, ACTN1, TRIM, SERPINH1, CYBA, LAIR1, and LILRB2 showed prognostic values in malignant glioma patients. CONCLUSIONS The glioma stromal/immune scores are closely related to glioma grade, histology, and survival time. Some glioma microenvironment-related genes including LAMB1, FN1, ACTN1, TRIM6, SERPINH1, CYBA, LAIR1, and LILRB2 show prognostic values in malignant gliomas and serve as potential biomarkers.

Network Analyses of the Differential Expression of Heat Shock Proteins in Glioma

Heat shock protein (HSP) is a family of highly conserved protein, which exists widely in various organisms and has a variety of important physiological functions. Currently, there is no systematic analysis of HSPs in human glioma. The aim of this study was to investigate the characteristics of HSPs through constructing protein-protein interaction network (PPIN) considering the expression level of HSPs in glioma. After the identification of the differentially expressed HSPs in glioma tissues, a specific PPIN was constructed and found that there were many interactions between the differentially expressed HSPs in glioma. Subcellular localization analysis shows that HSPs and their interacting proteins distribute from the cell membrane to the nucleus in a multilayer structure. By functional enrichment analysis, gene ontology analysis, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis, the potential function of HSPs and two meaningful enrichment pathways was revealed. In addition, nine HSPs (DNAJA4, DNAJC6, DNAJC12, HSPA6, HSP90B1, DNAJB1, DNAJB6, DNAJC10, and SERPINH1) are prognostic markers for human brain glioma. These analyses provide a full view of HSPs about their expression, biological process, as well as clinical significance in glioma.

HSP47 promotes metastasis of breast cancer by interacting with myosin IIA via the unfolded protein response transducer IRE1α

Breast cancer (BC) is an aggressive cancer that is a leading cause of cancer-associated death in women worldwide. Although increased expression of heat shock protein 47 (HSP47), a collagen-specific chaperone, is associated with the high malignancy of BC, its role in BC remains largely unclear. Here we show that a small population of high-invasive BC cells expresses HSP47 and that HSP47-positive high-invasive BC cells have a high metastatic potential that is completely abolished by disruption of HSP47. HSP47 interacts with non-muscle myosin IIA (NMIIA) via the unfolded protein response transducer IRE1α, resulting in enhancement of the metastatic potential of high-invasive BC cells by augmenting the contractile force of actin filaments. Ablation of NMIIA abrogates the metastatic potential of HSP47-positive high-invasive BC cells. We further show that forced expression of NMIIA confers a high metastatic potential on low-invasive BC cells in which HSP47 but not NMIIA is expressed. Overall, our study indicates that HSP47 acts as a stimulator for metastasis of BC cells and suggest that HSP47 may be a candidate for a therapeutic target against BC.

Identifying the hub gene in gastric cancer by bioinformatics analysis and in vitro experiments

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the main causes of the high death rate in the world. But the molecular mechanisms of GC carcinogenesis remain little known. This study aimed to identify novel promising biomarkers of GC and reveal its potential molecular mechanisms by integrating bioinformatics analysis. We screened the overlapped differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of TCGA and several GEO datasets. Among these DEGs, we used protein-protein interactions network analysis to recognize the hub genes. Moreover, functional enrichment analysis including GO and KEGG pathway analysis and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) were performed to study the role of DEGs and potential underlying mechanisms of GC. Based on integrated bioinformatics analysis, SERPINH1, COL1A2, COL8A1, COL4A1, COL5A1, COL12A1, and COL1A1 were screened as candidate diagnostic marker genes. In addition, SERPINH1 was identified as a core gene in the regulation of GC development. Furthermore, we confirmed that SERPINH1 could promote the proliferation, migration, and cell cycle of GC cells. Our present study demonstrated that SERPINH1 was a core therapeutic biomarker in the regulation of candidate genes involved in GC progression.

Heat Shock Protein 47 Maintains Cancer Cell Growth by Inhibiting the Unfolded Protein Response Transducer IRE1α

HSP47 is a collagen-specific protein chaperone expressed in fibroblasts, myofibroblasts, and stromal cells. HSP47 is also expressed in and involved in growth of cancer cells in which collagen levels are extremely low. However, its role in cancer remains largely unclear. Here, we showed that HSP47 maintains cancer cell growth via the unfolded protein response (UPR), the activation of which is well known to be induced by endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. We observed that HSP47 forms a complex with both the UPR transducer inositol-requiring enzyme 1α (IRE1α) and ER chaperone BiP in cancer cells. Moreover, HSP47 silencing triggered dissociation of BiP from IRE1α and IRE1α activation, followed by an increase in the intracellular level of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Increase in ROS induced accumulation of 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal-protein adducts and activated two UPR transducers, PKR-like ER kinase (PERK) and activating transcription factor 6α (ATF6α), resulting in impaired cancer cell growth. Our work indicates that HSP47 expressed in cancer cells relieves the ER stress arising from protein synthesis overload within these cells and tumor environments, such as stress induced by hypoxia, low glucose, and pH. We also propose that HSP47 has a biological role that is distinct from its normal function as a collagen-specific chaperone. IMPLICATIONS: HSP47 maintains cancer cell growth by inhibiting IRE1α.

SERPINH1 regulates EMT and gastric cancer metastasis via the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway

In this study, we investigated the role of SERPINH1 in gastric cancer (GC) progression. GC patient tissues show significantly higher SERPINH1 mRNA and protein levels than normal gastric mucosal tissues. GC patients with high SERPINH1 expression are associated with lymph node metastasis and poor prognosis. SERPINH1 mRNA levels negatively correlate with E-cadherin mRNA levels and positively correlate with levels of N-cadherin, MMP2, and MMP9 mRNA levels. This suggests SERPINH1 regulates epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT). SERPINH1 expression was significantly higher in the HGC-27, AGS, MGC-803, and SGC-7901 GC cell lines than in the GES-1 normal gastric mucosal cell line. In SERPINH1-silenced SGC-7901 cells, survival, colony formation, migration and invasion were all reduced, whereas they were all enhanced in SERPINH1-overexpressing MGC-803 cells. Levels of WNT/β-catenin signaling pathway proteins, including β-catenin, Wnt2, GSK-3β, p-GSK-3β, NF-κB P65, Snail1, Slug and TWIST, were all reduced in SERPINH1-silenced SGC-7901 cells, and increased in the SERPINH1-overexpressing MGC-803 cells. Inhibition of SERPINH1 protein using Co1003 significantly decreased survival, invasion, and migration of GC cells. SERPINH1 thus appears to regulate EMT and GC progression via the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, making SERPINH1 a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target in GC patients.

Screening and Survival Analysis of Hub Genes in Gastric Cancer Based on Bioinformatics

Screening for hub genes associated with gastric cancer and elucidating possible molecular mechanisms of gastric cancer. Five gastric cancer-related gene expression profiles were extracted from the GEO database, and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were obtained using GEO2R. Gene ontology (GO) enrichment analyses were performed by DAVID, and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of the DEGs was constructed by STRING and Cytoscape software. Survival value for hub gene comes from the Kaplan-Meier plotter platform. In addition, potential miRNAs of hub genes were predicted by miRWalk. Four hundred seventy-six DEGs were identified in the five expression profiles, these genes are mainly involved in extracellular matrix (ECM)-receptor interaction, chemical carcinogenesis, gastric acid secretion, and PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. Combined with the results of the PPI network and CytoHubba, six hub genes were screened: SERPINH1, NPY, PTGDR, GPER, ADHFE1, and AKR1C1. These genes are highly expressed in gastric cancer tissues, and the overexpression level of these genes is associated with poor survival. A series of miRNAs such as hsa-miRNA-92a-1, hsa-miRNA-647, and hsa-miRNA-507 may play a key role in hub gene regulation. Our studies indicate that SERPINH1, NPY, PTGDR, GPER, ADHFE1, and AKR1C1 may be potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for gastric cancer in the future.

miR-29a inhibits proliferation, invasion, and migration of papillary thyroid cancer by targeting DPP4

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of miR-29a on papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) and its underlying mechanisms.

Methods: Primary tumor tissues and adjacent tissues of 69 patients with PTC were obtained. Human thyroid cell line Nthy-ori3-1 and PTC cell lines K1, BCPAP, TPC-1 were cultured. K1 cells were transfected and divided into following groups: blank group (without any treatment), miR-29a mimics group, control mimics group, miR-29a inhibitor group, control inhibitor group, DPP4 siRNA group, control siRNA group and miR-29a inhibitor + DPP4 siRNA group. qRT-PCR and Western blot were used to detect miR-29a and DPP4 expression. 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and transwell assay were performed to detect cells proliferation, migration, and invasion. A nude mice xenograft experiment was performed.

Results: miR-29a was significantly downregulated in PTC tissues, K1 and TPC-1 cells (P<0.01). DPP4 was significantly upregulated in the miR-29a inhibitor group and significantly downregulated in the miR-29a mimics group (P<0.01). DPP4 was the target gene of miR-29a. miR-29a significantly inhibited K1 cell proliferation, invasion, migration and PTC growth in nude mice by targeting DPP4 (P<0.01).

Conclusion: miR-29a inhibits proliferation, migration, and invasion of PTC by targeting DPP4, which might provide a new target for clinical treatment of PTC.

Chromatin run-on and sequencing maps the transcriptional regulatory landscape of glioblastoma multiforme

The human genome encodes a variety of poorly understood RNA species that remain challenging to identify using existing genomic tools. We developed chromatin run-on and sequencing (ChRO-seq) to map the location of RNA polymerase for almost any input sample, including samples with degraded RNA that are intractable to RNA sequencing. We used ChRO-seq to map nascent transcription in primary human glioblastoma (GBM) brain tumors. Enhancers identified in primary GBMs resemble open chromatin in the normal human brain. Rare enhancers that are activated in malignant tissue drive regulatory programs similar to the developing nervous system. We identified enhancers that regulate groups of genes that are characteristic of each known GBM subtype and transcription factors that drive them. Finally we discovered a core group of transcription factors that control the expression of genes associated with clinical outcomes. This study characterizes the transcriptional landscape of GBM and introduces ChRO-seq as a method to map regulatory programs that contribute to complex diseases.

The heat shock protein 47 as a potential biomarker and a therapeutic agent in cancer research

Heat shock protein 47 (HSP47) is an important chaperone required for the correct folding and secretion of collagen. Several studies revealed that HSP47 has a role in numerous steps of collagen synthesis, preventing procollagen aggregation and inducing hydroxylation of proline and lysine residues. HSP47 is encoded by the SERPINH1 gene, which is located on chromosome 11q13.5, one of the most frequently amplified regions in human cancer. The altered expression levels of HSP47 have been correlated with several types of cancer, such as cervical, breast, pancreatic and gastric cancers. Studies have shown that HSP47 promotes tumor angiogenesis, growth, migration and metastatic capacity. In this review, we highlight the fundamental aspects of the interaction between HSP47 and collagen and the recent discoveries of the role of this chaperone in different types of malignant neoplasias. We also discuss recent treatments using HSP47 as a therapeutic target, and present evidences that HSP47 is an essential protein for cancer biology and a potential molecular target for chemotherapy.

MiR-29a: a potential therapeutic target and promising biomarker in tumors

MiRNAs, small non-coding RNA molecules, were recognized to be associated with the incidence and development of diverse neoplasms. MiRNAs were small non-coding RNAs that could regulate post-transcriptional level by binding to 3'-UTR of target mRNAs. Amongst which, miR-29a was demonstrated that it had significant impact on oncogenicity in various neoplasms through binding to critical genes which enhanced or inhibited the progression of cancers. MiR-29a participated in kinds of physiological and pathological processes, including virus replication, cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, fibrosis, angiogenesis, tumorigenicity, metastasis, drug-resistance, and so on. According to its sufficient sensitivity and specificity, many studies showed that miR-29a might serve as a potential therapeutic target and promising biomarker in various tumors. In this review, we discussed the functions of miR-29a and its potential application in the diagnosis, treatment and stages of carcinoma, which could provide additional insight to develop a novel therapeutic strategy.

Loss of miR-107, miR-181c and miR-29a-3p Promote Activation of Notch2 Signaling in Pediatric High-Grade Gliomas (pHGGs)

The mechanisms by which microRNAs control pediatric high-grade gliomas (pHGGs) have yet to be fully elucidated. Our studies of patient-derived pHGG tissues and of the pHGG cell line KNS42 revealed down-regulation in these tumors of three microRNAs, specifically miR-107, miR-181c, and miR-29a-3p. This down-regulation increases the proliferation of KNS42 cells by de-repressing expression of the Notch2 receptor (Notch2), a validated target of miR-107 and miR-181c and a putative target of miR-29a-3p. Inhibition (either pharmacologic or genetic) of Notch2 or re-expression of the implicated microRNAs (all three combined but also individually) significantly reduced KNS42 cell proliferation. These findings suggest that Notch2 pathway activation plays a critical role in pHGGs growth and reveal a direct epigenetic mechanism that controls Notch2 expression, which could potentially be targeted by novel forms of therapy for these childhood tumors characterized by high-morbidity and high-mortality.

SERPINH1 overexpression in clear cell renal cell carcinoma: association with poor clinical outcome and its potential as a novel prognostic marker

Precision therapy for clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) requires molecular biomarkers ascertaining disease prognosis. In this study, we performed integrated proteomic and transcriptomic screening in all four tumour‐node‐metastasis stages of ccRCC and adjacent normal tissues (n = 18) to investigate differentially expressed genes. Most identified differentially expressed genes revealed a strong association with transforming growth factor‐β level and the epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition process. Of them, Serpin peptidase inhibitor clade H member 1 (SERPINH1) revealed the strongest association with poor prognosis and regulation on the expression levels of epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition markers. Subsequently, two independent sets (n = 532 and 105) verified the high level of SERPINH1 in ccRCC tissues and its association with reduced overall survival and disease‐free survival in all tumour‐node‐metastasis stages and patients with von Hippel–Lindau wild‐type (VHL‐WT). SERPINH1 was an independent predictor of poor overall survival (hazard ratio 0.696 for all patients) and disease‐free survival (hazard ratio 0.433 for all patients and 0.362 for patients with VHL‐WT) in ccRCC. We have thus shown for the first time that SERPINH1 is an independent precision predictor for unfavourable prognosis in ccRCC. This could assist in identifying patients who need early aggressive management and deepen our understanding of the pathogenesis of VHL‐WT ccRCC.

HSP47 is associated with the prognosis of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma by inhibiting cell viability and invasion and promoting apoptosis

Heat shock protein 47 (HSP47) is a 47 kDa collagen binding protein that has a close relationship with the development and progression of tumours. However, little is known concerning the expression profile of HSP47 in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) patients and there is still insufficient data concerning the underlying mechanisms. The aim of the present study was to explore the expression of HSP47 in LSCC and provide an overview of its association with tumourigenicity and clinical prognosis. The expression of HSP47 in LSCC and adjacent non-cancerous laryngeal tissues was assessed via western blotting and immunohistochemical studies. The prognostic significance of HSP47 expression was analysed using a Kaplan-Meier survival curve. To investigate the influence of HSP47 on the viability, invasion and apoptosis of a LSCC cell line, we performed an in vitro analysis with plasmid vectors and small interfering RNA (siRNA). Our results showed that HSP47 protein expression in the LSCC tissues was markedly decreased compared to that noted in the adjacent non-cancerous tissues, and low expression of HSP47 was correlated with poor prognosis in LSCC patients. Upregulation of HSP47 via plasmid vectors inhibited the proliferation, reduced the invasive ability, increased the sensitivity to cisplatin chemotherapy, promoted apoptosis, and induced the G1 phase arrest of LSCC cells in vitro. The expression of apoptosis-regulating proteins was also altered when HSP47 was upregulated, involving increased expression of cleaved caspase-7/-8/-9, PARP, and Bax and decreased expression of Bcl-2. Our present data suggest that HSP47 is an important prognostic factor and an attractive therapeutic target in LSCC due to its influence on the biological behaviour of LSCC cells.

Proteomics analysis of differential protein expression identifies heat shock protein 47 as a predictive marker for lymph node metastasis in patients with colorectal cancer

The discovery of biomarkers to predict the potential for lymph node (LN) metastasis in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) is essential for developing improved strategies for treating CRC. In the present study, they used isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation to conduct a proteomic analysis designed to identify novel biomarkers for predicting LN metastasis in patients with CRC. They identified 60 differentially expressed proteins specifically associated with LN metastasis in CRC patients and classified the molecular and functional characteristics of these proteins by bioinformatic approaches. A literature search led them to select heat shock protein 47 (HSP47) as the most suitable candidate biomarker for predicting LN metastasis. Validation analysis by immunohistochemistry showed that HSP47 expression in patients with CRC and the number of HSP47-positive spindle cells in the tumor stroma were significantly higher compared with those in adjacent normal colonic mucosa, and the number of the latter cells increased with tumor progression. Further, the number of HSP47-positive spindle cells in stroma was a more informative marker for identifying LN metastasis than HSP47expression. Multivariate analysis identified spindle cells that expressed elevated levels of HSP47 as an independent predictive biomarker for CRC with LN metastasis. Moreover, these cells served as an independent marker of disease-free and overall survival of patients with CRC. Their data indicate that the number of HSP47-positive spindle cells in the stroma of CRC may serve as a novel predictive biomarker of LN metastasis, early recurrence and poor prognosis.

miR-30a inhibits glioma progression and stem cell‑like properties by repression of Wnt5a

miR-30a has been found to be dysregulated in diverse cancers and involved in the regulation of tumor progression. However, there is scarce research on the role of miR-30a in glioma. In the present study, we assessed the expression level of miR-30a in glioma tissues and cell lines. The microRNA microarray analysis revealed low expression of miR-30a in glioma tissues and cells vs. the control. Furthermore, we found that stable miR-30a inhibited cell proliferation, G1 phase arrest and stem cell-like formation in glioma. Moreover, to investigate the molecular mechanism of miR-30a on glioma cell phenotypes, we identified Wnt5a as a new direct target gene for miR-30a by bioinformatic assay, luciferase assay and western blot analysis. Further functional studies suggested that miR-30a suppressed metastasis, sphere formation and glioma growth by targeting Wnt5a signal pathway. Collectively, our findings suggested for the first time that miR-30a may function as a tumor suppressor in glioma by targeting Wnt5a.

HSP47 Promotes Glioblastoma Stemlike Cell Survival by Modulating Tumor Microenvironment Extracellular Matrix through TGF-β Pathway

Grade IV glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most malignant form of gliomas. HSP47, encoded by SERPINH1 gene, is a serpin which serves as a human chaperone protein for collagen. We have shown that HSP47 is significantly overexpressed in GBM and associated with tumor grade. However, the role of HSP47 on GBM progression and stemlike property remains unclear. The stable overexpression of HSP47 in primary GBM cells was established by lentivirus infection. The effects of HSP47 overexpression on tumor growth and the effects of blocking the TGF-β pathway on tumor regression were investigated by animal study. The expression of HSP47 was examined by real time qRT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. The stemlike property was investigated by sphere formation and CD44 cell population analysis using flow cytometry. We found that overexpression of HSP47 promotes primary glioma cell tumor formation, invasion, angiogenesis, and stemlike properties. The overexpression of HSP47 was correlated and promoted extracellular matrix (ECM) related genes through the TGF-β pathway in GBM. Blocking TGF-β pathway overcomes HSP47 induced tumorigenesis and stemness. This study demonstrated that HSP47 promotes GBM stemlike cell survival by modulating tumor microenvironment ECM through TGF-β pathway. Blocking the TGF-β pathway provides a promising therapeutic potential for HSP47 overexpressed GBM.

MicroRNA-29a plays a suppressive role in non-small cell lung cancer cells via targeting LASP1

MicroRNA (miR)-29a has been implicated in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but the mechanism remains largely unclear. LASP1, a cAMP- and cGMP-dependent signaling protein, was recently found to promote proliferation and aggressiveness in NSCLC. However, the regulatory mechanism of LASP1 expression in NSCLC, as well as the relationship between LASP1 and miR-29a, has never been previously studied. In this study, we found that miR-29a was remarkably downregulated and low expression of miR-29a was associated with the malignant progression of NSCLC. Moreover, the expression of LASP1 was markedly increased in NSCLC tissues and cell lines. Bioinformatics analysis and luciferase reporter assay data further identified LASP1 as a target gene of miR-29a, and the expression of LASP1 was negatively mediated by miR-29a at the post-transcriptional level in NSCLC cells. Overexpression of miR-29a reduced the proliferation, migration, and invasion of NSCLC cells, just as the effects of LASP1 knockdown. Moreover, overexpression of LASP1 attenuated the suppressive effect of miR-29a on the malignant phenotypes of NSCLC cells. In addition, upregulation of miR-29a decreased the growth of A549 cells in nude mice and protected the animals from tumor-induced death. Therefore, we demonstrate that miR-29a plays a suppressive role in NSCLC via targeting LASP1, suggesting that the miR-29a/LASP1 axis may become a promising therapeutic target for NSCLC.

Overexpression of HSP47 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: clinical implications and functional analysis

Several biomarkers of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) have been explored to improve the prognosis of this disease. One of these, the 47-kDa heat shock protein (HSP47), has been screened as a potential biomarker by genomic profiling and is known to be overexpressed in some malignant diseases. In this study, we explored the role and evaluated the prognostic value of HSP47 expression in ESCC. The function of this protein was analyzed by assaying proliferation, wound healing, and colony formation in an HSP47-knockdown ESCC line. The prognostic implication of HSP47 expression was analyzed by immunohistochemical staining in 157 surgical specimens. HSP47 expression level and other clinical variables were analyzed using multivariate Cox proportional hazards models. Silencing of the HSP47 gene in the ESCC cell line inhibited cell proliferation and colony formation. HSP47 was highly expressed in ESCC tissue samples, compared with normal esophageal tissues. The level of immunohistochemical staining of HSP47 and pathologic stage were significantly correlated with overall and recurrence-free survival, as shown by multivariate analysis (P = 0.014 and 0.044, respectively). We found that overexpression of HSP47 is associated with poor prognosis in patients with ESCC and that this is consistent with the function of HSP47 in terms of increased cell proliferation and colony formation. These results suggest that HSP47 is a potential prognostic biomarker for ESCC and merits further research for novel diagnostic and therapeutic applications.

Long non-coding RNA H19 regulates glioma angiogenesis and the biological behavior of glioma-associated endothelial cells by inhibiting microRNA-29a

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play crucial roles in the development and progression of glioma. Previous studies indicated that lncRNA H19 regulated tumor carcinogenesis, angiogenesis and metastasis. This study aimed to investigate its functional role in glioma-induced endothelial cell proliferation, migration and tube formation as well as its possible molecular mechanisms. H19 was up-regulated in microvessels from glioma tissues and glioma-associated endothelial cells (GEC) cultured in glioma conditioned medium. Knockdown of H19 suppressed glioma-induced endothelial cell proliferation, migration and tube formation in vitro and meanwhile up-regulated the expression of miR-29a. Bioinformatics analysis and luciferase reporter assay defined that H19 mediated the above effects via directly binding to miR-29a. In addition, miR-29a targeted 3'-UTR region of vasohibin 2 (VASH2) and decreased its expression. VASH2 has been identified as an angiogenic factor. Knockdown of H19 also decreased the VASH2 expression by up-regulating miR-29a. In conclusion, the results indicated that knockdown of H19 suppressed glioma induced angiogenesis by inhibiting microRNA-29a, which may modulate the onset of glioma by regulating biological behaviors of glioma vascular endothelial cells.

Novel immunohistochemical markers differentiate intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma from benign bile duct lesions

AIMS

The distinction between intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) and benign bile duct lesions can be challenging. Using our previously identified potential biomarkers for ICC, we examined whether these are useful for the differential diagnosis of ICC, bile duct adenoma and reactive bile duct proliferations in an immunohistochemical approach and identified a diagnostic marker panel including known biomarkers.

METHODS

Subjects included samples from 77 patients with ICC, 33 patients with bile duct adenoma and 47 patients with ductular reactions in liver cirrhosis. Our previously identified biomarkers (stress-induced phosphoprotein 1 (STIP1), SerpinH1, 14-3-3Sigma) were tested immunohistochemically following comparison with candidates from the literature (cluster of differentiation 56, heat shock protein (HSP)27, HSP70, B-cell-lymphoma2, p53, ki67).

RESULTS

The expression of SerpinH1 and 14-3-3Sigma was significantly higher in ICC than in bile duct adenomas and ductular reactions (p<0.05), whereas STIP1 expression was significantly higher (p<0.05) in ICC than in ductular reactions, but the difference to the bile duct adenoma group was not significant. A panel of the biomarker SerpinH1, 14-3-3Sigma and ki67 (≥2 marker positive) showed a high diagnostic accuracy (sensitivity 87.8%, specificity 95.9%, accuracy 91.8%) in the differential diagnosis of ICC versus non-malignant bile duct lesions.

CONCLUSIONS

This suggests that 14-3-3Sigma and SerpinH1 may be useful in the differential diagnosis of malignant, benign and reactive bile duct lesions in addition to ki67 where a cut-off of >5% might be used for the distinction of malignant and non-malignant lesions.

Association between small heat shock protein B11 and the prognostic value of MGMT promoter methylation in patients with high-grade glioma

OBJECT This study investigated the role and prognostic value of heat shock proteins (HSPs) in glioma. METHODS Data from 3 large databases of glioma samples (Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas, Repository for Molecular Brain Neoplasia Data, and GSE16011), which contained whole-genome messenger RNA microarray expression data and patients' clinical data, were analyzed. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed to validate protein expression in another set of 50 glioma specimens. RESULTS Of 28 HSPs, 11 were overexpressed in high-grade glioma (HGG) compared with low-grade glioma. A univariate Cox analysis revealed that HSPB11 has significant prognostic value for each glioma grade, which was validated by a Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. HSPB11 expression was associated with poor prognosis and was independently correlated with overall survival (OS) in HGG. This study further explored the combined role of HSPB11 and other molecular markers in HGG, such as isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) mutation and O(6)-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter methylation status. HSPB11 expression was able to refine the prognostic value of IDH1 mutation in patients with HGG. However, when combined with MGMT promoter methylation status, among patients with a methylated MGMT promoter, those with lower levels of HSPB11 expression had longer OS and progression-free survival than patients with higher levels of HSPB11 expression or with an unmethylated MGMT promoter. Moreover, within the MGMT promoter methylation group, patients with low levels of HSPB11 expression were more sensitive to combined radiochemotherapy than those with high levels of HSPB11 expression, which may explain why some patients with HGG with a methylated MGMT promoter show tolerance to radiochemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS HSPB11 was identified as a novel prognostic marker in patients with HGG. Together with MGMT promoter methylation status, HSPB11 expression can predict outcome for patients with HGG and identify those who would most benefit from combined radiochemotherapy.

MicroRNA-29a inhibits cell migration and invasion via targeting Roundabout homolog 1 in gastric cancer cells

Deregulation of Roundabout homolog 1 (Robo1) has been demonstrated to be associated with several types of human cancer, including gastric cancer. However, the detailed role of Robo1 and its regulatory mechanism in gastric cancer remain largely unclear. In the current study, it was demonstrated that the expression of microRNA (miR)‑29a was frequently reduced in gastric cancer tissues, compared with their matched normal adjacent tissues. Similar results were additionally observed in AGS and SGC‑7901 human gastric cancer cells. Overexpression of miR‑29a led to reduced migration and invasion of AGS cells. To explore the targets of miR‑29a in gastric cancer, bioinformatics analysis was conducted and Robo1 was identified as a putative target of miR‑29a. Further western blotting and luciferase activity assay data confirmed that miR‑29a was able to negatively regulate the protein expression of Robo1, through directly binding to the 3'‑untranslated region of Robo1 mRNA in gastric cancer cells. In addition, it was demonstrated that Robo1 was frequently upregulated in gastric cancer tissues compared with their matched adjacent normal tissues, and a significant inverse correlation was identified between miR‑29a and Robo1 expression. In addition, knockdown of Robo1 by small interfering RNA markedly inhibited the migratory and invasive capabilities of AGS cells, which the results obtained with overexpression of miR‑29a. In conclusion, to the best of our knowledge the current study suggested for the first time, that miR‑29a inhibits migration and invasion in part via direct inhibition of Robo1 in gastric cancer cells. Therefore, Robo1 and miR‑29a may serve as diagnostic or therapeutic targets for gastric cancer.

MicroRNA-29a inhibits cell migration and invasion by targeting Roundabout 1 in breast cancer cells

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) remains a major gynecological problem, with a poor 5-year-survival rate due to distant metastases. The identification of microRNAs (miRNAs) may provide a novel avenue for diagnostic and treatment regimens for EOC. Several miRNAs have been reported to be involved in the progression of EOC, among which miRNA (miR)-137 has been observed to be downregulated in the ovarian tissues of patients with EOC. However, the functions of miR-137 in EOC cell apoptosis, migration and invasion remain to be elucidated. In the present study, the expression of miR-137 was measured in clinical ovarian cancer specimens and cell lines using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The role of miR-137 in the growth and survival of the SKOV3 human ovarian cancer cell line was determined using several in vitro approaches and in nude mouse models. The results demonstrated that the expression of miR-137 was downregulated in the ovarian cancer specimens and cell lines. It was also observed that enforced expression of miR-137 in the EOC cell lines decreased cell proliferation, clonogenicity, migration and invasion, and induced G1 arrest and cell apoptosis in vitro. Notably, the enforced expression of miR-137 suppressed tumor growth in the nude mice models. These findings suggested that miR-137 may act as a tumor suppressor and be used as a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of EOC.

Heat Shock Protein 47 Promotes Glioma Angiogenesis

Heat shock protein 47 (HSP47) is a collagen-binding protein, which has been recently found to express in glioma vessels. However, the expression profile of HSP47 in glioma patients and the underlying mechanisms of HSP47 on glioma angiogenesis are not fully explored. In the current study, we found that expression of HSP47 in glioma vessels was correlated with the grades of gliomas. HSP47 knockdown by siRNAs significantly decreased cell viability in vitro and tumor volume in vivo; moreover, it reduced the microvessel density (MVD) by CD31 immunohistochemistry in vivo. HSP47 knockdown significantly inhibited tube formation, invasion and proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Furthermore, conditional medium derived from HSP47 knockdown cells significantly inhibited HUVECs tube formation and migration, while it increased chemosensitivity of HUVECs cells to Avastin. Silencing of HSP47 decreased VEGF expression in glioma cells consistently, and reduced glioma vasculature. Furthermore, HSP47 promoted glioma angiogenesis through HIF1α-VEGFR2 signaling. The present study demonstrates that HSP47 promotes glioma angiogenesis and highlights the importance of HSP47 as an attractive therapeutic target of GBM.

Chaperone Hsp47 Drives Malignant Growth and Invasion by Modulating an ECM Gene Network

The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a determining factor in the tumor microenvironment that restrains or promotes malignant growth. In this report, we show how the molecular chaperone protein Hsp47 functions as a nodal hub in regulating an ECM gene transcription network. A transcription network analysis showed that Hsp47 expression was activated during breast cancer development and progression. Hsp47 silencing reprogrammed human breast cancer cells to form growth-arrested and/or noninvasive structures in 3D cultures, and to limit tumor growth in xenograft assays by reducing deposition of collagen and fibronectin. Coexpression network analysis also showed that levels of microRNA(miR)-29b and -29c were inversely correlated with expression of Hsp47 and ECM network genes in human breast cancer tissues. We found that miR-29 repressed expression of Hsp47 along with multiple ECM network genes. Ectopic expression of miR-29b suppressed malignant phenotypes of breast cancer cells in 3D culture. Clinically, increased expression of Hsp47 and reduced levels of miR-29b and -29c were associated with poor survival outcomes in breast cancer patients. Our results show that Hsp47 is regulated by miR-29 during breast cancer development and progression, and that increased Hsp47 expression promotes cancer progression in part by enhancing deposition of ECM proteins.

The role of miR-29 in pulmonary fibrosis

Pulmonary fibrosis is a pathological condition in which lungs become scarred due to the excess extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition and structural alterations in the interstitium of lung parenchyma. Many patients with interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) caused by long-term exposure to toxic substances, chronic infections, or autoimmune responses develop fibrosis. Etiologies for many ILDs are unknown, such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a devastating, relentless form of pulmonary fibrosis with a median survival of 2-3 years. Despite several decades of research, factors that initiate and sustain the fibrotic response in lungs remain unclear and there is no effective treatment to block progression of fibrosis. Here we summarize recent findings on the antifibrotic activity of miR-29, a small noncoding regulatory RNA, in the pathogenesis of fibrosis by regulating ECM production and deposition, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). We also describe interactions of miR-29 with multiple profibrotic and inflammatory pathways. Finally, we review the antifibrotic activity of miR-29 in animal models of fibrosis and highlight miR-29 as a promising therapeutic reagent or target for the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis.