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Lewis J, Guilcher GMT, Greenway SC. Reviewing the impact of hydroxyurea on DNA methylation and its potential clinical implications in sickle cell disease. Eur J Haematol 2024; 113:264-272. [PMID: 38831675 DOI: 10.1111/ejh.14247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Revised: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
Hydroxyurea (HU) is the most common drug therapy for sickle cell disease (SCD). The clinical benefits of HU derive from its upregulation of fetal hemoglobin (HbF), which reduces aggregation of the mutated sickle hemoglobin protein (HbS) and reduces SCD symptoms and complications. However, some individuals do not respond to HU, or stop responding over time. Unfortunately, current understanding of the mechanism of action of HU is limited, hindering the ability of clinicians to identify those patients who will respond to HU and to optimize treatment for those receiving HU. Given that epigenetic modifications are essential to erythropoiesis and HbF expression, we hypothesize that some effects of HU may be mediated by epigenetic modifications, specifically DNA methylation. However, few studies have investigated this possibility and the effects of HU on DNA methylation remain relatively understudied. In this review, we discuss the evidence linking HU treatment to DNA methylation changes and associated gene expression changes, with an emphasis on studies that were performed in individuals with SCD. Overall, although HU can affect DNA methylation, research on these changes and their clinical effects remains limited. Further study is likely to contribute to our understanding of hematopoiesis and benefit patients suffering from SCD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmine Lewis
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Cardiac Sciences and Libin Cardiovascular Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics and Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Gregory M T Guilcher
- Department of Pediatrics and Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Oncology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Steven C Greenway
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Cardiac Sciences and Libin Cardiovascular Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics and Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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2
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Rao X, Yang S, Lü S, Yang P. DNA Methylation Dynamics in Response to Drought Stress in Crops. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 13:1977. [PMID: 39065503 PMCID: PMC11280950 DOI: 10.3390/plants13141977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2024] [Revised: 07/15/2024] [Accepted: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024]
Abstract
Drought is one of the most hazardous environmental factors due to its severe damage on plant growth, development and productivity. Plants have evolved complex regulatory networks and resistance strategies for adaptation to drought stress. As a conserved epigenetic regulation, DNA methylation dynamically alters gene expression and chromosome interactions in plants' response to abiotic stresses. The development of omics technologies on genomics, epigenomics and transcriptomics has led to a rapid increase in research on epigenetic variation in non-model crop species. In this review, we summarize the most recent findings on the roles of DNA methylation under drought stress in crops, including methylating and demethylating enzymes, the global methylation dynamics, the dual regulation of DNA methylation on gene expression, the RNA-dependent DNA methylation (RdDM) pathway, alternative splicing (AS) events and long non-coding RNAs (lnc RNAs). We also discuss drought-induced stress memory. These epigenomic findings provide valuable potential for developing strategies to improve crop drought tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Pingfang Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China; (X.R.); (S.Y.); (S.L.)
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3
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Zhao N, Lai C, Wang Y, Dai S, Gu H. Understanding the role of DNA methylation in colorectal cancer: Mechanisms, detection, and clinical significance. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2024; 1879:189096. [PMID: 38499079 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2024.189096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 02/18/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the deadliest malignancies worldwide, ranking third in incidence and second in mortality. Remarkably, early stage localized CRC has a 5-year survival rate of over 90%; in stark contrast, the corresponding 5-year survival rate for metastatic CRC (mCRC) is only 14%. Compounding this problem is the staggering lack of effective therapeutic strategies. Beyond genetic mutations, which have been identified as critical instigators of CRC initiation and progression, the importance of epigenetic modifications, particularly DNA methylation (DNAm), cannot be underestimated, given that DNAm can be used for diagnosis, treatment monitoring and prognostic evaluation. This review addresses the intricate mechanisms governing aberrant DNAm in CRC and its profound impact on critical oncogenic pathways. In addition, a comprehensive review of the various techniques used to detect DNAm alterations in CRC is provided, along with an exploration of the clinical utility of cancer-specific DNAm alterations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ningning Zhao
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Medical Physics and Technology, Institute of Health and Medical Technology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230031, China; Hefei Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230031, China
| | - Chuanxi Lai
- Division of Colorectal Surgery, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310016, China
| | - Yunfei Wang
- Zhejiang ShengTing Biotech. Ltd, Hangzhou 310000, China
| | - Sheng Dai
- Division of Colorectal Surgery, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310016, China.
| | - Hongcang Gu
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Medical Physics and Technology, Institute of Health and Medical Technology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230031, China; Hefei Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230031, China.
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4
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Wang X, Dong Y, Zhang H, Zhao Y, Miao T, Mohseni G, Du L, Wang C. DNA methylation drives a new path in gastric cancer early detection: Current impact and prospects. Genes Dis 2024; 11:847-860. [PMID: 37692483 PMCID: PMC10491876 DOI: 10.1016/j.gendis.2023.02.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common and deadly cancers worldwide. Early detection offers the best chance for curative treatment and reducing its mortality. However, the optimal population-based early screening for GC remains unmet. Aberrant DNA methylation occurs in the early stage of GC, exhibiting cancer-specific genetic and epigenetic changes, and can be detected in the media such as blood, gastric juice, and feces, constituting a valuable biomarker for cancer early detection. Furthermore, DNA methylation is a stable epigenetic alteration, and many innovative methods have been developed to quantify it rapidly and accurately. Nonetheless, large-scale clinical validation of DNA methylation serving as tumor biomarkers is still lacking, precluding their implementation in clinical practice. In conclusion, after a critical analysis of the recent existing literature, we summarized the evolving roles of DNA methylation during GC occurrence, expounded the newly discovered noninvasive DNA methylation biomarkers for early detection of GC, and discussed its challenges and prospects in clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinhui Wang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250033, China
| | - Yaqi Dong
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250033, China
| | - Hong Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250033, China
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Fuling Hospital, Chongqing University, Chongqing 402774, China
| | - Yinghui Zhao
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250033, China
- Suzhou Research Institute of Shandong University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, China
| | - Tianshu Miao
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shandong University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China
| | - Ghazal Mohseni
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250033, China
| | - Lutao Du
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250033, China
- Shandong Engineering & Technology Research Center for Tumor Marker Detection, Jinan, Shandong 250033, China
- Shandong Provincial Clinical Medicine Research Center for Clinical Laboratory, Jinan, Shandong 250033, China
| | - Chuanxin Wang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250033, China
- Shandong Engineering & Technology Research Center for Tumor Marker Detection, Jinan, Shandong 250033, China
- Shandong Provincial Clinical Medicine Research Center for Clinical Laboratory, Jinan, Shandong 250033, China
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5
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Liu H, Li C, Wang L, Fang L, Huang H, Deng J, Hu Y, Li M, Ran X, Li L, Zheng J. Photoelectrochemical sensor based on AuNPs@WO 3@TpPa-1-COF for quantification of DNA methylation levels. Mikrochim Acta 2024; 191:167. [PMID: 38418644 DOI: 10.1007/s00604-024-06235-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
A "signal-off" photoelectrochemical (PEC) sensing platform has been designed for the ultrasensitive detection of DNA methylation levels and multiple methylated sites. The platform employs tungsten trioxide and TpPa-1-COF loaded by gold nanoparticle (AuNPs@WO3@TpPa-1-COF) composite material as the photoactive component and p-type reduced graphene (rGO) as an efficient quencher. The PEC signal of AuNPs@WO3@TpPa-1-COF composite is effectively quenched in the presence of p-type rGO, because p-type rGO can compete with AuNPs@WO3@TpPa-1-COF to deplete light energy and electron donors. In addition, a hybrid strand reaction (HCR) amplification strategy fixes more target DNA and then combines with rGO-modified anti-5-methylcytosine antibody to facilitate ultrasensitive DNA methylation detection. Under optimal conditions, DNA methylation can be measured within a linear concentration range of 10-14 to 10-8 M, with an exceptionally low detection limit of 0.19 fM (S/N = 3). At the same time, the platform can conduct quantitative determination of multi-site methylation, with the linear equation △I = 44.19LogA + 61.43, and the maximum number of methylation sites is 5. The sensor demonstrates high sensitivity, excellent selectivity, and satisfactory stability. Furthermore, the proposed signal-off PEC strategy was successfully employed to detect DNA methylation in spiked human serum samples, with recoveries ranging from 93.17 to 107.28% and relative standard deviation (RSD) ranging from 1.15 to 5.49%.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huamin Liu
- Department of Clinical and Military Laboratory Medicine, College of Medical Laboratory Science, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Chenghong Li
- Department of Clinical and Military Laboratory Medicine, College of Medical Laboratory Science, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Lina Wang
- Department of Clinical and Military Laboratory Medicine, College of Medical Laboratory Science, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Lichao Fang
- Department of Clinical and Military Laboratory Medicine, College of Medical Laboratory Science, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Hui Huang
- Department of Clinical and Military Laboratory Medicine, College of Medical Laboratory Science, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Jun Deng
- Department of Clinical and Military Laboratory Medicine, College of Medical Laboratory Science, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Yue Hu
- Emergency Department, 2, Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400010, China
| | - Mimi Li
- Emergency Department, 2, Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400010, China
| | - Xiaoping Ran
- Department of Clinical and Military Laboratory Medicine, College of Medical Laboratory Science, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Lulu Li
- Department of Clinical and Military Laboratory Medicine, College of Medical Laboratory Science, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Junsong Zheng
- Department of Clinical and Military Laboratory Medicine, College of Medical Laboratory Science, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China.
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Kim SH, Haynes KA. Reader-Effectors as Actuators of Epigenome Editing. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2842:103-127. [PMID: 39012592 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-4051-7_5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/17/2024]
Abstract
Epigenome editing applications are gaining broader use for targeted transcriptional control as more enzymes with diverse chromatin-modifying functions are being incorporated into fusion proteins. Development of these fusion proteins, called epigenome editors, has outpaced the study of proteins that interact with edited chromatin. One type of protein that acts downstream of chromatin editing is the reader-effector, which bridges epigenetic marks with biological effects like gene regulation. As the name suggests, a reader-effector protein is generally composed of a reader domain and an effector domain. Reader domains directly bind epigenetic marks, while effector domains often recruit protein complexes that mediate transcription, chromatin remodeling, and DNA repair. In this chapter, we discuss the role of reader-effectors in driving the outputs of epigenome editing and highlight instances where abnormal and context-specific reader-effectors might impair the effects of epigenome editing. Lastly, we discuss how engineered reader-effectors may complement the epigenome editing toolbox to achieve robust and reliable gene regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seong Hu Kim
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Karmella A Haynes
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
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7
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A Systematic Pan-Cancer Analysis of MEIS1 in Human Tumors as Prognostic Biomarker and Immunotherapy Target. J Clin Med 2023; 12:jcm12041646. [PMID: 36836180 PMCID: PMC9964192 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12041646] [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: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND We intended to explore the potential immunological functions and prognostic value of Myeloid Ecotropic Viral Integration Site 1 (MEIS1) across 33 cancer types. METHODS The data were acquired from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) and Gene expression omnibus (GEO) datasets. Bioinformatics was used to excavate the potential mechanisms of MEIS1 across different cancers. RESULTS MEIS1 was downregulated in most tumors, and it was linked to the immune infiltration level of cancer patients. MEIS1 expression was different in various immune subtypes including C2 (IFN-gamma dominant), C5 (immunologically quiet), C3 (inflammatory), C4 (lymphocyte depleted), C6 (TGF-b dominant) and C1 (wound healing) in various cancers. MEIS1 expression was correlated with Macrophages_M2, CD8+T cells, Macrophages_M1, Macrophages_M0 and neutrophils in many cancers. MEIS1 expression was negatively related to tumor mutational burden (TMB), microsatellite instability (MSI) and neoantigen (NEO) in several cancers. Low MEIS1 expression predicts poor overall survival (OS) in adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC), head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSC), and kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC) patients, while high MEIS1 expression predicts poor OS in colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) and low grade glioma (LGG) patients. CONCLUSION Our findings revealed that MEIS1 is likely to be a potential new target for immuno-oncology.
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8
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Identifying Tumor-Associated Genes from Bilayer Networks of DNA Methylation Sites and RNAs. LIFE (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 13:life13010076. [PMID: 36676027 PMCID: PMC9861397 DOI: 10.3390/life13010076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Network theory has attracted much attention from the biological community because of its high efficacy in identifying tumor-associated genes. However, most researchers have focused on single networks of single omics, which have less predictive power. With the available multiomics data, multilayer networks can now be used in molecular research. In this study, we achieved this with the construction of a bilayer network of DNA methylation sites and RNAs. We applied the network model to five types of tumor data to identify key genes associated with tumors. Compared with the single network, the proposed bilayer network resulted in more tumor-associated DNA methylation sites and genes, which we verified with prognostic and KEGG enrichment analyses.
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9
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Guan Z, Luo L, Liu S, Guan Z, Zhang Q, Wu Z, Tao K. The role of TGR5 as an onco-immunological biomarker in tumor staging and prognosis by encompassing the tumor microenvironment. Front Oncol 2022; 12:953091. [PMID: 36338742 PMCID: PMC9630950 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.953091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The relationship between G protein–coupled bile acid receptor 1 (TGR5, GPBAR1) and, specifically, cancer has been studied in in vivo and in vitro experiments, but there is still a lack of pan-cancer analysis to understand the prognostic significance and functioning mechanism of TGR5 in different cancer-driving oncogenic processes. Here, we used Gene Expression Integration, Human Protein Atlas, and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) to perform a pan-cancer analysis of the role of TGR5 in all 33 tumors. In all TCGA tumors, the TGR5 gene expression has been assessed, and we found that the high TGR5 gene expression in most cancers is associated with poor prognosis of overall survival for cancers such as glioblastoma multiforme (p = 0.0048), kidney renal papillary cell carcinoma (p = 0.033), lower grade glioma (p = 0.0028), thymoma (p = 0.048), and uveal melanoma (p = 0.004), and then the lower expression of TGR5 was linked with poor prognosis in cervical squamous cell carcinoma and endocervical adenocarcinoma (p = 0.014), malignant mesothelioma (MESO) (p = 0.048), sarcoma (p = 0.018), and skin cutaneous melanoma (p = 0.0085). The TGR5 expression was linked with the immune infiltration level of the macrophage M2_TIDE and was also associated with DNA methylation in ovarian and breast cancers. The regulation of hormone secretion, Rap1 pathway, osteoclast differentiation, and bile acid pathway was involved in the functional mechanism of TGR5. Besides, gene expressions were different in different tumors detected by RT-PCR, and cell activity experiments have also found that TGR5 can increase the activity of renal cell carcinoma and reduce the activity of skin cancer and osteosarcoma cells. In this investigation, the aim was to assess the comprehensive overview of the oncogenic roles of TGR5 in all TCGA tumors using pan-analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiyuan Guan
- Department of Orthopedics, The Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital of Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Liying Luo
- Department of Ophthalmology, Tongren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Shengfu Liu
- Department of Orthopedics, The Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital of Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhiqiang Guan
- Department of Dermatology, Xuzhou Municipal Hospital Affiliated With Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Kun Tao, ; Zhong Wu, ; Qinggang Zhang, ; Zhiqiang Guan,
| | - Qinggang Zhang
- Department of Orthopedics, The Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital of Tongji University, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Kun Tao, ; Zhong Wu, ; Qinggang Zhang, ; Zhiqiang Guan,
| | - Zhong Wu
- Department of Orthopedics, The Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital of Tongji University, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Kun Tao, ; Zhong Wu, ; Qinggang Zhang, ; Zhiqiang Guan,
| | - Kun Tao
- Department of Orthopedics, The Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital of Tongji University, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Kun Tao, ; Zhong Wu, ; Qinggang Zhang, ; Zhiqiang Guan,
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10
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Song D, Zhou Z, Wu J, Wei T, Zhao G, Ren H, Zhang B. DNA methylation regulators-related molecular patterns and tumor immune landscape in hepatocellular carcinoma. Front Oncol 2022; 12:877817. [PMID: 36091162 PMCID: PMC9459088 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.877817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Increasing evidence showed that the dysregulation of DNA methylation regulators is a decisive feature of almost all cancer types and affects tumor progressions. However, few studies focused on the underlying influences of DNA methylation regulators-related genes (DMRegs) in immune cell-infiltration characteristics, tumor microenvironment (TME) and immunotherapy in HCC patients. In our study, the alterations of DNA methylation regulators modification patterns (DMRPs) were clustered from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) samples based on the expression of DNA methylation regulators as well as genetic and transcriptional features. In addition, based on molecular identification of three distinct molecular subtypes, we found that different DMRPs alterations were related to different clinicopathological characteristics, prognosis, and immune cells infiltration features. Moreover, we constructed and validated a DNA methylation regulators-related genes score (DMRegs_score) to predict the survival of HCC patients. A high DMRegs _score, which was characterized by more TP53 wild mutation, high expression of PD-1, CTLA-4, and remarkable immunity activation, was indicative of poor prognosis. Furthermore, we validated the expression of eight genes which were used for the prognostic signature in this risk score by RT-qPCR using tissues from our center. More importantly, DMRegs_score was highly correlated with targeted drug sensitivity. Additionally, we developed a highly accurate scoring system that could be used to improve the clinical applicability of DMRegs _score. In conclusion, these findings may contribute to a better understanding of DNA methylation regulators and provide new strategies for evaluating prognosis and developing more effective combination therapy for HCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dingli Song
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Zhenyu Zhou
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jie Wu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Tao Wei
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, School of Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Guang Zhao
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Hong Ren
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
- *Correspondence: Hong Ren, ; Boxiang Zhang,
| | - Boxiang Zhang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
- *Correspondence: Hong Ren, ; Boxiang Zhang,
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11
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Liu K, Cui L, Li C, Tang C, Niu Y, Hao J, Bu Y, Chen B. Pan-cancer analysis of the prognostic and immunological role of ANLN: An onco-immunological biomarker. Front Genet 2022; 13:922472. [PMID: 35991576 PMCID: PMC9390797 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.922472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Anillin actin-binding protein (ANLN) is crucially involved in cell proliferation and migration. Moreover, ANLN is significantly in tumor progression in several types of human malignant tumors; however, it remains unclear whether ANLN acts through common molecular pathways within different tumor microenvironments, pathogeneses, prognoses and immunotherapy contexts. Therefore, this study aimed to perform bioinformatics analysis to examine the correlation of ANLN with tumor immune infiltration, immune evasion, tumor progression, immunotherapy, and tumor prognosis. We observed increased ANLN expression in multiple tumors, which could be involved in tumor cell proliferation, migration, infiltration, and prognosis. The level of ANLN methylation and genetic alteration was associated with prognosis in numerous tumors. ANLN facilitates tumor immune evasion through different mechanisms, which involve T-cell exclusion in different cancer types and tumor-infiltrating immune cells in colon adenocarcinoma, kidney renal clear cell carcinoma, liver hepatocellular carcinoma, and prostate adenocarcinoma. Additionally, ANLN is correlated with immune or chemotherapeutic outcomes in malignant cancers. Notably, ANLN expression may be a predictive biomarker for the response to immune checkpoint inhibitors. Taken together, our findings suggest that ANLN can be used as an onco-immunological biomarker and could serve as a hallmark for tumor screening, prognosis, individualized treatment design, and follow-up.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kejun Liu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
- Ningxia Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgical Diseases Clinical Medical Research Center, Yinchuan, China
| | - Lei Cui
- School of Clinical Medicine, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Cunquan Li
- Ningxia Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgical Diseases Clinical Medical Research Center, Yinchuan, China
| | - Chaofeng Tang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
- Ningxia Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgical Diseases Clinical Medical Research Center, Yinchuan, China
| | - Yiming Niu
- School of Clinical Medicine, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Ji Hao
- School of Clinical Medicine, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Yang Bu
- School of Clinical Medicine, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, People’s Hospital of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Yinchuan, China
- *Correspondence: Yang Bu, ; Bendong Chen,
| | - Bendong Chen
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
- Ningxia Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgical Diseases Clinical Medical Research Center, Yinchuan, China
- School of Clinical Medicine, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
- *Correspondence: Yang Bu, ; Bendong Chen,
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12
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Wang J, Li D, Yang J, Chang L, Zhang R, Li J. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated epigenetic editing tool: An optimized strategy for targeting de novo DNA methylation with stable status via homology directed repair pathway. Biochimie 2022; 202:190-205. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2022.07.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Revised: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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13
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Zhang S, Duan S, Xie Z, Bao W, Xu B, Yang W, Zhou L. Epigenetic Therapeutics Targeting NRF2/KEAP1 Signaling in Cancer Oxidative Stress. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:924817. [PMID: 35754474 PMCID: PMC9218606 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.924817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The transcription factor nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) and its negative regulator kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (KEAP1) regulate various genes involved in redox homeostasis, which protects cells from stress conditions such as reactive oxygen species and therefore exerts beneficial effects on suppression of carcinogenesis. In addition to their pivotal role in cellular physiology, accumulating innovative studies indicated that NRF2/KEAP1-governed pathways may conversely be oncogenic and cause therapy resistance, which was profoundly modulated by epigenetic mechanism. Therefore, targeting epigenetic regulation in NRF2/KEAP1 signaling is a potential strategy for cancer treatment. In this paper, the current knowledge on the role of NRF2/KEAP1 signaling in cancer oxidative stress is presented, with a focus on how epigenetic modifications might influence cancer initiation and progression. Furthermore, the prospect that epigenetic changes may be used as therapeutic targets for tumor treatment is also investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shunhao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Sining Duan
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Zhuojun Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Wanlin Bao
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Bo Xu
- Department of Stomatology, Panzhihua Central Hospital, Panzhihua, China
| | - Wenbin Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Department of Medical Affairs, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Lingyun Zhou
- Center of Infectious Diseases, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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CRISPR/Cas9 application in cancer therapy: a pioneering genome editing tool. Cell Mol Biol Lett 2022; 27:35. [PMID: 35508982 PMCID: PMC9066929 DOI: 10.1186/s11658-022-00336-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The progress of genetic engineering in the 1970s brought about a paradigm shift in genome editing technology. The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR associated protein 9 (CRISPR/Cas9) system is a flexible means to target and modify particular DNA sequences in the genome. Several applications of CRISPR/Cas9 are presently being studied in cancer biology and oncology to provide vigorous site-specific gene editing to enhance its biological and clinical uses. CRISPR's flexibility and ease of use have enabled the prompt achievement of almost any preferred alteration with greater efficiency and lower cost than preceding modalities. Also, CRISPR/Cas9 technology has recently been applied to improve the safety and efficacy of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapies and defeat tumor cell resistance to conventional treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The current review summarizes the application of CRISPR/Cas9 in cancer therapy. We also discuss the present obstacles and contemplate future possibilities in this context.
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Luo JF, Yao YD, Cheng CS, Lio CK, Liu JX, Huang YF, He F, Xie Y, Liu L, Liu ZQ, Zhou H. Sinomenine increases the methylation level at specific GCG site in mPGES-1 promoter to facilitate its specific inhibitory effect on mPGES-1. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. GENE REGULATORY MECHANISMS 2022; 1865:194813. [PMID: 35417776 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagrm.2022.194813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in cancer and inflammatory diseases is a key mediator of disease progression. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are widely used to inhibit the expression of PGE2 by depressing cyclooxygenase (COX) in inflammatory treatments. However, the inhibition to COXs may cause serious side effects. Thus, it is urgent to develop new anti-inflammatory drugs aiming new targets to inhibit PGE2 production. Microsomal prostaglandin E synthase 1 (mPGES-1) catalyzes the final step of PGE2 biosynthesis. Therefore, the selective inhibition of mPGES-1 has become a promising strategy in the treatments of cancer and inflammatory diseases. Our previous studies confirmed that sinomenine (SIN) is a specific mPGES-1 inhibitor. However, the exact mechanism by which SIN inhibits mPGES-1 remains unknown. This study aimed to explain the regulation effect of SIN to mPGES-1 gene expression by its DNA methylation induction effect. We found that the demethylating agent 5-azacytidine (5-AzaC) reversed the inhibitory effect of SIN to mPGES-1. Besides, SIN selectively increased the methylation level of the promoter region in the mPGES-1 gene while the pretreatment of 5-AzaC suppressed this effect. The results also shows that pretreatment with SIN increased the methylation level of specific GCG sites in the promoter region of mPGES-1. This specific methylation site may become a new biomarker for predicting and diagnosing RA and cancer with high expression of mPGES-1. Also, our research provides new ideas and solutions for clinical diagnosis and treatment of diseases related to mPGES-1 and for targeted methylation strategy in drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin-Fang Luo
- Faculty of Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology and State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine (Macau University of Science and Technology), Taipa, Macao, PR China; Basic Medical College, Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guian District, Guiyang, Guizhou, PR China
| | - Yun-Da Yao
- Faculty of Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology and State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine (Macau University of Science and Technology), Taipa, Macao, PR China
| | - Chun-Song Cheng
- Faculty of Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology and State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine (Macau University of Science and Technology), Taipa, Macao, PR China; Key Laboratory of Plant Ex-situ Conservation and Research Center of Resource Plant, Lushan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Science, Jiujiang City, Jiangxi Province, PR China
| | - Chon-Kit Lio
- Faculty of Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology and State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine (Macau University of Science and Technology), Taipa, Macao, PR China
| | - Jian-Xin Liu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hunan University of Medicine, Huaihua, Hunan, PR China
| | - Yu-Feng Huang
- Faculty of Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology and State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine (Macau University of Science and Technology), Taipa, Macao, PR China; Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Dampness Syndrome of Chinese Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Joint Lab on Chinese Medicine and Immune Disease Research, Guangzhou, Guangdong, PR China
| | - Fan He
- Faculty of Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology and State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine (Macau University of Science and Technology), Taipa, Macao, PR China; Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Dampness Syndrome of Chinese Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Joint Lab on Chinese Medicine and Immune Disease Research, Guangzhou, Guangdong, PR China
| | - Ying Xie
- Faculty of Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology and State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine (Macau University of Science and Technology), Taipa, Macao, PR China; Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Dampness Syndrome of Chinese Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Joint Lab on Chinese Medicine and Immune Disease Research, Guangzhou, Guangdong, PR China.
| | - Liang Liu
- Faculty of Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology and State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine (Macau University of Science and Technology), Taipa, Macao, PR China; Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Dampness Syndrome of Chinese Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Joint Lab on Chinese Medicine and Immune Disease Research, Guangzhou, Guangdong, PR China.
| | - Zhong-Qiu Liu
- Joint Laboratory for Translational Cancer Research of Chinese Medicine of the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, PR China.
| | - Hua Zhou
- Faculty of Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology and State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine (Macau University of Science and Technology), Taipa, Macao, PR China; Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Dampness Syndrome of Chinese Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Joint Lab on Chinese Medicine and Immune Disease Research, Guangzhou, Guangdong, PR China; Joint Laboratory for Translational Cancer Research of Chinese Medicine of the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, PR China.
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16
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Cao J, Zhang R, Zhang Y, Wang Y. Combined screening analysis of aberrantly methylated-differentially expressed genes and pathways in hepatocellular carcinoma. J Gastrointest Oncol 2022; 13:311-325. [PMID: 35284134 PMCID: PMC8899745 DOI: 10.21037/jgo-21-866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Methylation plays an important role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by altering the expression of key genes. The aim of this study was to screen the aberrantly methylated-differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in HCC and elucidate their underlying molecular mechanism. METHODS Gene expression microarrays (GSE101685) and gene methylation microarrays (GSE44909) were selected. DEGs and differentially methylated genes (DMGs) were screened. Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses were performed using the Database for Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated discovery (DAVID). The Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes (STRING) database was used to analyze the functional protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. Molecular Complex Detection (MCODE) analysis was performed using the Cytoscape software. Hub genes were verified in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. RESULTS A total of 80 hypomethylation-high expression genes (Hypo-HGs) were identified. Pathway enrichment analysis showed DNA replication, cell cycle, viral carcinogenesis, and the spliceosome. The top 5 hub genes were minichromosome maintenance complex component 3 (MCM3), checkpoint kinase 1 (CHEK1), kinesin family member 11 (KIF11), PDZ binding kinase (PBK), and Rac GTPase activating protein 1 (RACGAP1). In addition, 189 hypermethylation-low expression genes (Hyper-LGs) were identified. Pathway enrichment analysis indicated enrichment in metabolic pathways, drug metabolism-other enzymes, and chemical carcinogenesis. The top 5 hub genes were leukocyte immunoglobulin like receptor B2 (LILRB2), formyl peptide receptor 1 (FPR1), S100 calcium binding protein A9 (S100A9), S100 calcium binding protein A8 (S100A8), and myeloid cell nuclear differentiation antigen (MNDA). The methylation status and mRNA expression of MCM3, CHEK1, KIF11, PBK, and S100A9 were consistent in the TCGA database and significantly correlated with the prognosis of patients. CONCLUSIONS Combined screening of aberrantly methylated-DEGs based on bioinformatic analysis may provide new clues for elucidating the epigenetic mechanism in HCC. Hub genes, including MCM3, CHEK1, KIF11, PBK, and S100A9, may serve as biomarkers for the precise diagnosis of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jisen Cao
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Third Central Hospital of Tianjin, Tianjin, China
| | - Ruiqiang Zhang
- Department of Orthopedics, General Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Ye Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Third Central Hospital of Tianjin, Tianjin, China
| | - Yijun Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Third Central Hospital of Tianjin, Tianjin, China
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17
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Liu J, Yao S, Jia J, Chen Z, Yuan Y, He Y, Wasti B, Duan W, Li D, Wang G, Jia A, Sun W, Qiu S, Ma L, Li J, Liu Y, Zheng J, Xiang X, Zhang X, Liu S, He Z, Peng Z, Zhang H, Zhang D, Xiao B. Loss of MBD2 ameliorates LPS‐induced alveolar epithelial cell apoptosis and ALI in mice via modulating intracellular zinc homeostasis. FASEB J 2022; 36:e22162. [PMID: 35061304 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202100924rr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2021] [Revised: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 12/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jiqiang Liu
- Department of Emergency Medicine The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Emergency and Difficult Diseases Institute of Central South University Changsha P.R. China
| | - Shuo Yao
- Department of Emergency Medicine The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Emergency and Difficult Diseases Institute of Central South University Changsha P.R. China
| | - Jingsi Jia
- Department of Emergency Medicine The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Emergency and Difficult Diseases Institute of Central South University Changsha P.R. China
| | - Zhifeng Chen
- Department of Respiratory Medicine Hunan Center for Evidence‐Based Medicine Research Unit of Respiratory Diseases The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University Changsha P.R. China
| | - Yu Yuan
- Department of Respiratory Medicine Hunan Center for Evidence‐Based Medicine Research Unit of Respiratory Diseases The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University Changsha P.R. China
| | - Yi He
- Department of Respiratory Medicine Hunan Center for Evidence‐Based Medicine Research Unit of Respiratory Diseases The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University Changsha P.R. China
| | - Binaya Wasti
- Department of Respiratory Medicine Hunan Center for Evidence‐Based Medicine Research Unit of Respiratory Diseases The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University Changsha P.R. China
| | - Wentao Duan
- Department of Respiratory Medicine Hunan Center for Evidence‐Based Medicine Research Unit of Respiratory Diseases The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University Changsha P.R. China
| | - Danhong Li
- Department of Respiratory Medicine Hunan Center for Evidence‐Based Medicine Research Unit of Respiratory Diseases The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University Changsha P.R. China
| | - Guyi Wang
- Department of Intensive Care Medicine The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University Changsha P.R. China
| | - Aijun Jia
- Department of the Third Emergency of Yuelushan Hospital District Hunan Provincial People's Hospital Changsha P.R. China
| | - Wenjin Sun
- Department of General Medicine West China Hospital, Sichuan University Chengdu P.R. China
| | - Shuangfa Qiu
- Department of Emergency Medicine The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Emergency and Difficult Diseases Institute of Central South University Changsha P.R. China
| | - Libing Ma
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine The Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University Guangxi P.R. China
| | - Jianmin Li
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine Hunan Provincial People's Hospital Changsha P.R. China
| | - Yi Liu
- Department of Respiratory Medicine Zhuzhou City Central Hospital Zhuzhou P.R. China
| | - Jianfei Zheng
- Department of Emergency Medicine The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Emergency and Difficult Diseases Institute of Central South University Changsha P.R. China
| | - Xudong Xiang
- Department of Emergency Medicine The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Emergency and Difficult Diseases Institute of Central South University Changsha P.R. China
| | - Xiufeng Zhang
- Department of Respiratory Medicine The Second Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University Haikou P.R. China
| | - Shaokun Liu
- Department of Respiratory Medicine Hunan Center for Evidence‐Based Medicine Research Unit of Respiratory Diseases The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University Changsha P.R. China
| | - Zhibiao He
- Department of Emergency Medicine The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Emergency and Difficult Diseases Institute of Central South University Changsha P.R. China
| | - Zhenyu Peng
- Department of Emergency Medicine The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Emergency and Difficult Diseases Institute of Central South University Changsha P.R. China
| | - Hongliang Zhang
- Department of Emergency Medicine The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Emergency and Difficult Diseases Institute of Central South University Changsha P.R. China
| | - Dongshan Zhang
- Department of Emergency Medicine The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Emergency and Difficult Diseases Institute of Central South University Changsha P.R. China
| | - Bing Xiao
- Department of Emergency Medicine The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Emergency and Difficult Diseases Institute of Central South University Changsha P.R. China
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18
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Pan W, Wang K, Li J, Li H, Cai Y, Zhang M, Wang A, Wu Y, Gao W, Weng W. Restoring HOXD10 Exhibits Therapeutic Potential for Ameliorating Malignant Progression and 5-Fluorouracil Resistance in Colorectal Cancer. Front Oncol 2021; 11:771528. [PMID: 34790580 PMCID: PMC8591167 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.771528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Emerging evidence suggests that hypermethylation of HOXD10 plays an important role in human cancers. However, the biological and clinical impacts of HOXD10 overmethylation and its downstream targets in colorectal cancer remain unknown. We evaluated the methylation level of HOXD10 in paired cancer and normal tissues (n = 42) by using pyrosequencing, followed by validation of the methylation status of HOXD10 from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) datasets with 302 cancer tissues and 38 normal tissues. The biological function of HOXD10 was characterized in cell lines. We further evaluated the effects of HOXD10 and its targets on chemoresistance in our established resistant cell lines and clinical cohort (n = 66). HOXD10 was found frequently methylated in colorectal cancer, and its hypermethylation correlates with its low expression level, advanced disease, and lymph node metastasis. Functionally, HOXD10 acts as a tumor suppressor gene, in which HOXD10-expressing cells showed suppressed cell proliferation, colony formation ability, and migration and invasion capacity. Mechanistically, DNMT1, DNMT3B, and MeCP2 were recruited in the HOXD10 promoter, and demethylation by 5-Aza-2′-deoxycytidine (5-Aza-CdR) treatment or MeCP2 knockdown can sufficiently induce HOXD10 expression. HOXD10 regulates the expressions of miR-7 and IGFBP3 in a promoter-dependent manner. Restoration of the expression of HOXD10 in 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-resistant cells significantly upregulates the expressions of miR-7 and IGFBP3 and enhances chemosensitivity to 5-FU. In conclusion, we provide novel evidence that HOXD10 is frequently methylated, silenced, and contributes to the development of colorectal cancers. Restoration of HOXD10 activates the expressions of miR-7 and IGFBP3 and results in an inhibited phenotype biologically, suggesting its potential therapeutic relevance in colorectal cancer (CRC).
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Affiliation(s)
- Weijie Pan
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Yangpu Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Kaijing Wang
- Department of Hepatological Surgery, General Surgery, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiayong Li
- Clinical Laboratory Medicine Center, Shanghai General Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hanhua Li
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Yangpu Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuchan Cai
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Yangpu Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Min Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Yangpu Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Aili Wang
- Center for Clinical Research and Translational Medicine, Yangpu Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Institute of Gastrointestinal Surgery and Translational Medicine, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yazhou Wu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Yangpu Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei Gao
- Department of General Surgery, Shanghai General Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wenhao Weng
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Yangpu Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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Jing X, Xu G, Gong Y, Li J, LingfengWu, Zhu W, He Y, Li Z, Pan S. A five-gene methylation signature predicts overall survival of patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma. J Clin Lab Anal 2021; 35:e24031. [PMID: 34716619 PMCID: PMC8649352 DOI: 10.1002/jcla.24031] [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: 07/07/2021] [Revised: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In this study, we aimed to screen methylation signatures associated with the prognosis of patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). METHODS Gene expression and methylation profiles of ccRCC patients were downloaded from publicly available databases, and differentially expressed genes (DEGs)-differentially methylated genes (DMGs) were obtained. Subsequently, gene set enrichment and transcription factor (TF) regulatory network analyses were performed. In addition, a prognostic model was constructed and the relationship between disease progression and immunity was analyzed. RESULTS A total of 23 common DEGs-DMGs were analyzed, among which 14 DEGs-DMGs were obtained with a cutoff value of PCC < 0 and p < 0.05. The enrichment analysis showed that the 14 DEGs-DMGs were enriched in three GO terms and three KEGG pathways. In addition, a total of six TFs were shown to be associated with the 14 DEGs-DMGs, including RP58, SOX9, NF-κB65, ATF6, OCT, and IK2. A prognostic model using five optimized DEGs-DMGs which efficiently predicted survival was constructed and validated using the GSE105288 dataset. Additionally, four types of immune cells (NK cells, macrophages, neutrophils, and cancer-associated fibroblasts), as well as ESTIMATE, immune, and stromal scores were found to be significantly correlated with ccRCC progression (normal, primary, and metastasis) in addition to the five optimized DEGs-DMGs. CONCLUSION A five-gene methylation signature with the predictive ability for ccRCC prognosis was investigated in this study, consisting of CCNB2, CDKN1C, CTSH, E2F2, and ERMP1. In addition, potential targets for methylation-mediated immunotherapy were highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Jing
- Department of Urology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Gang Xu
- Department of Urology, Shaoxing People's Hospital, Shaoxing, China
| | - Yu Gong
- Department of Urology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Junlong Li
- Department of Urology, Shaoxing People's Hospital, Shaoxing, China
| | - LingfengWu
- Department of Urology, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, China
| | - Wei Zhu
- Department of Urology, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, China
| | - Yi He
- Department of Urology, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, China
| | - Zhongyi Li
- Department of Urology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Shouhua Pan
- Department of Urology, Shaoxing People's Hospital, Shaoxing, China
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Xu Y, Yu X, Zhang M, Zheng Q, Sun Z, He Y, Guo W. Promising Advances in LINC01116 Related to Cancer. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:736927. [PMID: 34722518 PMCID: PMC8553226 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.736927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are RNAs with a length of no less than 200 nucleotides that are not translated into proteins. Accumulating evidence indicates that lncRNAs are pivotal regulators of biological processes in several diseases, particularly in several malignant tumors. Long intergenic non-protein coding RNA 1116 (LINC01116) is a lncRNA, whose aberrant expression is correlated with a variety of cancers, including lung cancer, gastric cancer, colorectal cancer, glioma, and osteosarcoma. LINC01116 plays a crucial role in facilitating cell proliferation, invasion, migration, and apoptosis. In addition, numerous studies have recently suggested that LINC01116 has emerged as a novel biomarker for prognosis and therapy in malignant tumors. Consequently, we summarize the clinical significance of LINC01116 associated with biological processes in various tumors and provide a hopeful orientation to guide clinical treatment of various cancers in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yating Xu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery and Digestive Organ Transplantation of Henan Province, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Open and Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery and Digestive Organ Transplantation at Henan Universities, Zhengzhou, China
- Henan Key Laboratory of Digestive Organ Transplantation, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Xiao Yu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery and Digestive Organ Transplantation of Henan Province, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Open and Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery and Digestive Organ Transplantation at Henan Universities, Zhengzhou, China
- Henan Key Laboratory of Digestive Organ Transplantation, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Menggang Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery and Digestive Organ Transplantation of Henan Province, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Open and Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery and Digestive Organ Transplantation at Henan Universities, Zhengzhou, China
- Henan Key Laboratory of Digestive Organ Transplantation, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Qingyuan Zheng
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery and Digestive Organ Transplantation of Henan Province, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Open and Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery and Digestive Organ Transplantation at Henan Universities, Zhengzhou, China
- Henan Key Laboratory of Digestive Organ Transplantation, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Zongzong Sun
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yuting He
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery and Digestive Organ Transplantation of Henan Province, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Open and Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery and Digestive Organ Transplantation at Henan Universities, Zhengzhou, China
- Henan Key Laboratory of Digestive Organ Transplantation, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Wenzhi Guo
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery and Digestive Organ Transplantation of Henan Province, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Open and Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery and Digestive Organ Transplantation at Henan Universities, Zhengzhou, China
- Henan Key Laboratory of Digestive Organ Transplantation, Zhengzhou, China
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21
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Chen X, Lu Y, Yu H, Du K, Zhang Y, Nan Y, Huang Q. Pan-cancer analysis indicates that MYBL2 is associated with the prognosis and immunotherapy of multiple cancers as an oncogene. Cell Cycle 2021; 20:2291-2308. [PMID: 34585645 DOI: 10.1080/15384101.2021.1982494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
MYBL2 has been demonstrated to be an oncogene in some cancers, but there is no pan-cancer analysis at the macro level. We used multiple online or offline bioinformatic tools to examine the effects of MYBL2 in human cancers. We first identified that MYBL2 was highly expressed and related to the stage and grade of most cancers. The results of survival analysis from two databases showed that high MYBL2 expression was positively correlated with a poor prognosis for most cancer patients. We observed a significant difference in the promoter methylation level of MYBL2 in cancers such as colon adenocarcinoma and liver hepatocellular carcinoma versus normal controls. We found that MYBL2 can affect the tumor immune microenvironment by influencing the immune infiltration level and expression level of CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and immune checkpoint-associated cells. Functional enrichment analysis of MYBL2 identified that MYBL2 can play a crucial role in cancers by regulating spliceosomes, DNA replication and the cell cycle. Moreover, we verified the function of MYBL2 in three cancer cells of glioma, breast cancers and liver cancers, and the results showed that MYBL2 can regulate the cell cycle and proliferation ability of cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingjie Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China.,Tianjin Key Laboratory of Injuries, Variations and Regeneration of Nervous System, Tianjin, China.,Key Laboratory of Post-Trauma Neuro-Repair and Regeneration in Central Nervous System, Ministry of Education and Tianjin City, Tianjin, China
| | - Yalin Lu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China.,Tianjin Key Laboratory of Injuries, Variations and Regeneration of Nervous System, Tianjin, China.,Key Laboratory of Post-Trauma Neuro-Repair and Regeneration in Central Nervous System, Ministry of Education and Tianjin City, Tianjin, China
| | - Hao Yu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China.,Tianjin Key Laboratory of Injuries, Variations and Regeneration of Nervous System, Tianjin, China.,Key Laboratory of Post-Trauma Neuro-Repair and Regeneration in Central Nervous System, Ministry of Education and Tianjin City, Tianjin, China
| | - Kangjie Du
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China.,Tianjin Key Laboratory of Injuries, Variations and Regeneration of Nervous System, Tianjin, China.,Key Laboratory of Post-Trauma Neuro-Repair and Regeneration in Central Nervous System, Ministry of Education and Tianjin City, Tianjin, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China.,Tianjin Key Laboratory of Injuries, Variations and Regeneration of Nervous System, Tianjin, China.,Key Laboratory of Post-Trauma Neuro-Repair and Regeneration in Central Nervous System, Ministry of Education and Tianjin City, Tianjin, China
| | - Yang Nan
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China.,Tianjin Key Laboratory of Injuries, Variations and Regeneration of Nervous System, Tianjin, China.,Key Laboratory of Post-Trauma Neuro-Repair and Regeneration in Central Nervous System, Ministry of Education and Tianjin City, Tianjin, China
| | - Qiang Huang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China.,Tianjin Key Laboratory of Injuries, Variations and Regeneration of Nervous System, Tianjin, China.,Key Laboratory of Post-Trauma Neuro-Repair and Regeneration in Central Nervous System, Ministry of Education and Tianjin City, Tianjin, China
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22
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Chan DW, Lam WY, Chen F, Yung MMH, Chan YS, Chan WS, He F, Liu SS, Chan KKL, Li B, Ngan HYS. Genome-wide DNA methylome analysis identifies methylation signatures associated with survival and drug resistance of ovarian cancers. Clin Epigenetics 2021; 13:142. [PMID: 34294135 PMCID: PMC8296615 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-021-01130-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In contrast to stable genetic events, epigenetic changes are highly plastic and play crucial roles in tumor evolution and development. Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is a highly heterogeneous disease that is generally associated with poor prognosis and treatment failure. Profiling epigenome-wide DNA methylation status is therefore essential to better characterize the impact of epigenetic alterations on the heterogeneity of EOC. METHODS An epigenome-wide association study was conducted to evaluate global DNA methylation in a retrospective cohort of 80 mixed subtypes of primary ovarian cancers and 30 patients with high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC). Three demethylating agents, azacytidine, decitabine, and thioguanine, were tested their anti-cancer and anti-chemoresistant effects on HGSOC cells. RESULTS Global DNA hypermethylation was significantly associated with high-grade tumors, platinum resistance, and poor prognosis. We determined that 9313 differentially methylated probes (DMPs) were enriched in their relative gene regions of 4938 genes involved in small GTPases and were significantly correlated with the PI3K-AKT, MAPK, RAS, and WNT oncogenic pathways. On the other hand, global DNA hypermethylation was preferentially associated with recurrent HGSOC. A total of 2969 DMPs corresponding to 1471 genes were involved in olfactory transduction, and calcium and cAMP signaling. Co-treatment with demethylating agents showed significant growth retardation in ovarian cancer cells through differential inductions, such as cell apoptosis by azacytidine or G2/M cell cycle arrest by decitabine and thioguanine. Notably, azacytidine and decitabine, though not thioguanine, synergistically enhanced cisplatin-mediated cytotoxicity in HGSOC cells. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates the significant association of global hypermethylation with poor prognosis and drug resistance in high-grade EOC and highlights the potential of demethylating agents in cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- David W Chan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, L747 Laboratory Block, LKS Faculty of Medicine, 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, SAR, People's Republic of China.
| | - Wai-Yip Lam
- Lee's Pharmaceutical (HK) Ltd, 1/F Building 20E, Phase 3, Hong Kong Science Park, Shatin, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
| | - Fushun Chen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, L747 Laboratory Block, LKS Faculty of Medicine, 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, SAR, People's Republic of China
| | - Mingo M H Yung
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, L747 Laboratory Block, LKS Faculty of Medicine, 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, SAR, People's Republic of China
| | - Yau-Sang Chan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, L747 Laboratory Block, LKS Faculty of Medicine, 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, SAR, People's Republic of China
| | - Wai-Sun Chan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, L747 Laboratory Block, LKS Faculty of Medicine, 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, SAR, People's Republic of China
| | - Fangfang He
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, L747 Laboratory Block, LKS Faculty of Medicine, 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, SAR, People's Republic of China
| | - Stephanie S Liu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, L747 Laboratory Block, LKS Faculty of Medicine, 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, SAR, People's Republic of China
| | - Karen K L Chan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, L747 Laboratory Block, LKS Faculty of Medicine, 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, SAR, People's Republic of China
| | - Benjamin Li
- Lee's Pharmaceutical (HK) Ltd, 1/F Building 20E, Phase 3, Hong Kong Science Park, Shatin, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
| | - Hextan Y S Ngan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, L747 Laboratory Block, LKS Faculty of Medicine, 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, SAR, People's Republic of China. .,Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 6/F Professorial Block, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China.
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23
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Zhong GC, Zhao ZB, Cheng Y, Wang YB, Qiu C, Mao LH, Hu JJ, Cai D, Liu Y, Gong JP, Li SW. Epigenetic silencing of GCH1promotes hepatocellular carcinoma growth by activating superoxide anion-mediated ASK1/p38 signaling via inhibiting tetrahydrobiopterin de novo biosynthesis. Free Radic Biol Med 2021; 168:81-94. [PMID: 33781891 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2021.03.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2020] [Revised: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Metabolic reprogramming is a hallmark of cancer, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, its role in HCC remains to be elucidated. Herein, we identified GTP cyclohydrolase 1 (GCH1), the first rate-limiting enzyme in tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) de novo biosynthesis, as a novel metabolic regulator of HCC. GCH1 was frequently down-regulated in HCC tissues and cell lines by promoter methylation. Low GCH1 expression was associated with larger tumor size, increased tumor number, and worse prognosis in two independent cohorts of HCC patients. Functionally, GCH1 silencing promoted HCC growth in vitro and in vivo, while GCH1 overexpression exerted an opposite effect. The metabolite BH4 inhibited HCC growth in vitro and in vivo. GCH1 silencing exerted its growth-promoting effect through directly inhibiting BH4 de novo biosynthesis. Mechanistically, GCH1 silencing activated ASK1/p38 signaling; pharmacological or genetic inhibition of ASK1 or p38 abolished GCH1 silencing-induced growth-promoting effect. Further mechanistic studies found that GCH1 silencing-induced BH4 reduction resulted in an increase of intracellular superoxide anion levels in a dose-dependent manner, which mediated the activation of ASK1/p38 signaling. Collectively, our study reveals that epigenetic silencing of GCH1 promotes HCC growth by activating superoxide anion-mediated ASK1/p38 signaling via inhibiting BH4 de novo biosynthesis, suggesting that targeting GCH1/BH4 pathway may be a promising therapeutic strategy to combat HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guo-Chao Zhong
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Zhi-Bo Zhao
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yao Cheng
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yun-Bing Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Chan Qiu
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Lin-Hong Mao
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jie-Jun Hu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Dong Cai
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yan Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Fifth People's Hospital of Chengdu, Chengdu, China
| | - Jian-Ping Gong
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
| | - Sheng-Wei Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
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