ZNF703 is Overexpressed in Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma Tissues and Mediates K1 Cell Proliferation

Insights into the pleiotropic roles of ZNF703 in cancer

Zinc finger proteins (ZNFs) belong to the NET/NLZ protein family. In physiological functions, ZNF703 play significant roles in embryonic development, especially in the nervous system. As an transcription factors with zinc finger domains, abnormal regulation of the ZNF703 protein is associated with enhanced proliferation, invasion, and metastasis as well as drug resistance in many tumors, although mechanisms of action vary depending on the specific tumor microenvironment. ZNF703 lacks a nuclear localization sequence despite its function requiring nuclear DNA binding. The purpose of this review is to summarize the architecture of ZNF703, its roles in tumorigenesis, and tumor progression, as well as future oncology therapeutic prospects, which have implications for understanding tumor susceptibility and progression.

The role of zinc finger proteins in malignant tumors

Zinc finger proteins (ZNFs) are the largest family of transcriptional factors in mammalian cells. Recently, their role in the development, progression, and metastasis of malignant tumors via regulating gene transcription and translation processes has become evident. Besides, their possible involvement in drug resistance has also been found, indicating that ZNFs have the potential to become new biological markers and therapeutic targets. In this review, we summarize the oncogenic and suppressive roles of various ZNFs in malignant tumors, including lung, breast, liver, gastric, colorectal, pancreatic, and other cancers, highlighting their role as prognostic markers, and hopefully provide new ideas for the treatment of malignant tumors in the future.

ZNF703 mRNA-Targeting Antisense Oligonucleotide Blocks Cell Proliferation and Induces Apoptosis in Breast Cancer Cell Lines

The luminal B molecular subtype of breast cancers (BC) accounts for more than a third of BCs and is associated with aggressive clinical behavior and poor prognosis. The use of endocrine therapy in BC treatment has significantly contributed to the decrease in the number of deaths in recent years. However, most BC patients with prolonged exposure to estrogen receptor (ER) selective modulators such as tamoxifen develop resistance and become non-responsive over time. Recent studies have implicated overexpression of the ZNF703 gene in BC resistance to endocrine drugs, thereby highlighting ZNF703 inhibition as an attractive modality in BC treatment, especially luminal B BCs. However, there is no known inhibitor of ZNF703 due to its nuclear association and non-enzymatic activity. Here, we have developed an antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) against ZNF703 mRNA and shown that it downregulates ZNF703 protein expression. ZNF703 inhibition decreased cell proliferation and induced apoptosis. Combined with cisplatin, the anti-cancer effects of ZNF703-ASO9 were improved. Moreover, our work shows that ASO technology may be used to increase the number of targetable cancer genes.

Transcription Factor E2F1 Exacerbates Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma Cell Growth and Invasion via Upregulation of LINC00152

Background

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most common thyroid neoplasm, whereas transcription factor E2F1 has been previously implicated in PTC progression. The current study sought to elucidate the underlying mechanism of E2F1 in PTC cell biological activities via regulation of long intergenic noncoding RNA 152 (LINC00152).

Methods

Firstly, the expression patterns of LINC00152 and E2F1 in PTC were determined. Besides, TPC-1 and IHH-4 cells were adopted to carry out a series of experiments. Cell proliferation was detected by means of a cell counting kit-8 assay and colony formation assay, while cell migration and invasion abilities were assessed using a Transwell assay. Next, the interaction between E2F1 and LINC00152 was certified. Lastly, xenograft transplantation was carried out to validate the effects of E2F1 depletion on PTC.

Results

Both LINC00152 and E2F1 were highly expressed in PTC cells. Knockdown of LINC00152 led to reduced cell activity, while LINC00152 overexpression brought about the opposing trends. Likewise, E2F1 knockdown quenched cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. However, the combination of E2F1 knockdown and LINC00152 overexpression resulted in augmented cell growth. In addition, E2F1 induced LINC00152 overexpression, which accelerated cell proliferation, migration, and invasion by activating the PI3K/AKT axis, whereas the administration of LY294002, the inhibitor of PI3K, led to reversal of the same. Finally, xenograft transplantation validated that E2F1 inhibition could suppress LY294002, thereby discouraging tumor growth.

Conclusion

Our findings highlighted that E2F1 augmented PTC cell proliferation and invasion by upregulating LINC00152 and the PI3K/AKT axis. Our discovery provides therapeutic implications for PTC alleviation.

Prognostic Roles of ZNF703 and SMAD4 Expression in Patients with Papillary Thyroid Cancer and Association with Nodal Metastasis

It is important to detect novel predictive biomarkers of cervical lymph node metastasis (CLNM) in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) to help the surgeons in making early decision of performing central lymph node dissection and aggressive management strategies in selected high-risk patients, thus improving their prognosis. Zinc finger protein 703 (ZNF703) is a member of the neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) transcription factors family which has roles in proliferation and invasion of cancer cells. SMAD4 is a protein that has a role in cellular processes including cell proliferation, invasion, and metastasis through many genes' transcription. In this study, we aimed to assess the expression of ZNF703 and SMAD4 in PTC and evaluated the correlation between its expression, clinicopathological features of PTC cases, and prognostic parameters of patients to evaluate their roles in PTC progression. This is a retrospective study which included 40 cases with PTC. For immunohistochemistry, tissues stained their paraffin blocks with ZNF703 and SMAD4. We followed patients to detect disease progression and recurrence. Positive ZNF703 expression and negative SMAD4 expression were associated with higher incidence of CLNM, advanced stage and large tumor size, higher incidence of disease progression, recurrence, unfavorable PFS, and unfavorable OS rates. The higher ZNF703 expression and the lower SMAD4 expression were significantly increased in PTC patients with cervical LNM compared with those without. ZNF703 over expression and downregulation SMAD4 expression was significantly increased in PTC patients. Elevated expression of ZNF703 in tumor tissue with CLNM can be considered a predictive factor for the development of metastasis.

A novel bioavailable curcumin-galactomannan complex modulates the genes responsible for the development of chronic diseases in mice: A RNA sequence analysis

BACKGROUND

Chronic diseases or non-communicable diseases are a major burden worldwide due to the lack of highly efficacious treatment modalities and the serious side effects associated with the available therapies.

PURPOSE/STUDY DESIGN

A novel self-emulsifying formulation of curcumin with fenugreek galactomannan hydrogel scaffold as a water-dispersible non-covalent curcumin-galactomannan molecular complex (curcumagalactomannosides, CGM) has shown better bioavailability than curcumin and can be used for the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases. However, the exact potential of this formulation has not been studied, which would pave the way for its use for the prevention and treatment of multiple chronic diseases.

METHODS

The whole transcriptome analysis (RNAseq) was used to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the liver tissues of mice treated with LPS to investigate the potential of CGM on the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases. Expression analysis using DESeq2 package, GO, and pathway analysis of the differentially expressed transcripts was performed using UniProtKB and KEGG-KAAS server.

RESULTS

The results showed that 559 genes differentially expressed between the liver tissue of control mice and CGM treated mice (100 mg/kg b.wt. for 14 days), with adjusted p-value below 0.05, of which 318 genes were significantly upregulated and 241 were downregulated. Further analysis showed that 33 genes which were upregulated (log2FC > 8) in the disease conditions were significantly downregulated, and 32 genes which were downregulated (log2FC < -8) in the disease conditions were significantly upregulated after the treatment with CGM.

CONCLUSION

Overall, our study showed CGM has high potential in the prevention and treatment of multiple chronic diseases.

[Advancement of E2F1 in Common Tumors]

细胞周期相关转录因子E2F1（E2F transcription factor 1）是细胞周期相关转录因子E2F家族成员之一，主要参与包括细胞周期进展、DNA修复、DNA复制、细胞分化，增殖和凋亡等多种细胞过程。E2F1在全身多种肿瘤组织和细胞中呈高表达，起着促癌基因的作用，E2F1表达上调与肿瘤的发生、发展、转移及预后密切相关。因此，E2F1有望成为肿瘤治疗的新靶点。本文就E2F1在目前常见肿瘤中的最新研究进展做一综述。