ADAM19 autolysis is activated by LPS and promotes non-classical secretion of cysteine-rich protein 2

Role of circular RNAs in retinoblastoma

Retinoblastoma (RB), the most common malignant retinal tumor among children under 3 years old, is lethal if left untreated. Early diagnosis, together with timely and effective treatment, is important to improve retinoblastoma-related outcomes. Circular RNAs (circRNAs), a new class of non-coding RNAs with the capacity to regulate cellular activities, have great potential in retinoblastoma diagnosis and treatment. Recent studies have identified circular RNAs that regulate multiple cellular processes involved in retinoblastoma, including cell viability, proliferation, apoptosis, autophagy, migration, and invasion. Six circular RNAs (circ-FAM158A, circ-DHDDS, circ-E2F3, circ-TRHDE, circ-E2F5, and circ-RNF20) promote disease progression and metastasis in retinoblastoma and function as oncogenic factors. Other circular RNAs, such as circ-TET1, circ-SHPRH, circ-MKLN1, and circ-CUL2, play tumor suppressive roles in retinoblastoma. At present, the studies on the regulatory mechanism of circular RNAs in retinoblastoma are not very clear. The purpose of this review is to summarize recent studies on the functional roles and molecular mechanisms of circular RNAs in retinoblastoma and highlight novel strategies for retinoblastoma diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment.

The human olfactory cleft mucus proteome and its age-related changes

Age-related decreases in olfactory sensitivity are often accompanied by a decrease in the quality of life. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying these changes are not well described. Inhaled substances including odorants are detected by sensory neurons in the olfactory cleft covered with a layer of mucus. This olfactory mucus is the first molecular machinery responsible for tissue protection and for detection of environmental odorants. Yet, little is known about the molecular identities of the actors because of the lack of information on the mucus proteome and its age-related changes. Here, we sampled human mucus from different nasal locations and from young and elderly subjects. The composition of the mucus was extensively analyzed by shotgun proteomic analysis for a vast array of proteins. We also explored correlations between the levels of each mucus proteins with the olfactory sensitivity of subjects. This analysis revealed previously unrecognized proteins with potentially important functions in olfaction. Taken together, this report describes the most comprehensive catalogue of the nasal mucus proteins to date, their positional and age-related differences, and candidate proteins associated with olfaction. This catalogue will provide fundamental information useful for future studies, such as identification of olfactory auxiliary proteins, causes of age-related declines in olfaction, and biomarkers for neurodegenerative disorders.

Genetic and cellular studies highlight that A Disintegrin and Metalloproteinase 19 is a protective biomarker in human prostate cancer

Background

Prostate cancer is the second most frequently diagnosed cancer in men worldwide. Current treatments include surgery, androgen ablation and radiation. Introduction of more targeted therapies in prostate cancer, based on a detailed knowledge of the signalling pathways, aims to reduce side effects, leading to better clinical outcomes for the patient. ADAM19 (A Disintegrin And Metalloproteinase 19) is a transmembrane and soluble protein which can regulate cell phenotype through cell adhesion and proteolysis. ADAM19 has been positively associated with numerous diseases, but has not been shown to be a tumor suppressor in the pathogenesis of any human cancers. Our group sought to investigate the role of ADAM19 in human prostate cancer.

Methods

ADAM19 mRNA and protein levels were assessed in well characterised human prostate cancer cohorts. ADAM19 expression was assessed in normal prostate epithelial cells (RWPE-1) and prostate cancer cells (LNCaP, PC3) using western blotting and immunocytochemistry. Proliferation assays were conducted in LNCaP cells in which ADAM19 was over-expressed. In vitro scratch assays were performed in PC3 cells over-expressing ADAM19.

Results

Immunohistochemical studies highlighted that ADAM19 protein levels were elevated in normal prostate tissue compared to prostate cancer biopsies. Results from the clinical cohorts demonstrated that high levels of ADAM19 in microarrays are positively associated with lower stage (p = 0.02591) and reduced relapse (p = 0.00277) of human prostate cancer. In vitro, ADAM19 expression was higher in RWPE-1 cells compared to LNCaP cells. In addition, human ADAM19 over-expression reduced LNCaP cell proliferation and PC3 cell migration.

Conclusions

Taken together, our immunohistochemical and microarray results and cellular studies have shown for the first time that ADAM19 is a protective factor for human prostate cancer. Further, this study suggests that upregulation of ADAM19 expression could be of therapeutic potential in human prostate cancer.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12885-016-2178-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

High expression of the "A Disintegrin And Metalloprotease" 19 (ADAM19), a sheddase for TNF-α in the mucosa of patients with inflammatory bowel diseases

BACKGROUND

Tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) plays a major role in the tissue-damaging immune response in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs). The tissue concentration of TNF-α is related to the activity of "A Disintegrin And Metalloprotease" (ADAMs), enzymes that process membrane-bound TNF-α and liberate the TNF-α trimer into the extracellular environment. Although IBD-related inflammation is associated with high ADAM17 levels, the contribution of other members of the ADAMs family is not known. In this study, we characterized the expression of other TNF-α convertases (i.e., ADAM9, ADAM10, and ADAM19) in IBD.

METHODS

Normal and IBD biopsies were examined for the content of ADAMs by real-time polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. ADAM19 was also analyzed in intestinal epithelial cells and normal colonic explants stimulated with inflammatory cytokines and in ex vivo biopsies taken from IBD patients before and after a successful infliximab treatment.

RESULTS

ADAM19 RNA transcripts and protein were upregulated in patients with ulcerative colitis and, to a lesser extent, in patients with Crohn's disease compared with normal controls. In contrast, ADAM9 and ADAM10 expression did not differ between patients with IBD and controls. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that epithelial cells were the major source of ADAM19 in IBD. ADAM19 expression was increased in colonic epithelial cell lines and normal colonic explants by TNF-α, interleukin 21 and interleukin 6, and was downregulated in IBD tissue by infliximab.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest the existence of a positive feedback mechanism involving cytokines and ADAM19 that can amplify cytokine production in IBD.