Silence of fibronectin 1 increases cisplatin sensitivity of non-small cell lung cancer cell line

Cell-intrinsic platinum response and associated genetic and gene expression signatures in ovarian cancer cell lines and isogenic models

Ovarian cancers are still largely treated with platinum-based chemotherapy as the standard of care, yet few biomarkers of clinical response have had an impact on clinical decision making as of yet. Two particular challenges faced in mechanistically deciphering platinum responsiveness in ovarian cancer have been the suitability of cell line models for ovarian cancer subtypes and the availability of information on comparatively how sensitive ovarian cancer cell lines are to platinum. We performed one of the most comprehensive profiles to date on 36 ovarian cancer cell lines across over seven subtypes and integrated drug response and multiomic data to improve on our understanding of the best cell line models for platinum responsiveness in ovarian cancer. RNA-seq analysis of the 36 cell lines in a single batch experiment largely conforms with the currently accepted subtyping of ovarian cancers, further supporting other studies that have reclassified cell lines and demonstrate that commonly used cell lines are poor models of high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma. We performed drug dose response assays in the 32 of these cell lines for cisplatin and carboplatin, providing a quantitative database of IC50s for these drugs. Our results demonstrate that cell lines largely fall either well above or below the equivalent dose of the clinical maximally achievable dose (Cmax) of each compound, allowing designation of cell lines as sensitive or resistant. We performed differential expression analysis for high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma cell lines to identify gene expression correlating with platinum-response. Further, we generated two platinum-resistant derivatives each for OVCAR3 and OVCAR4, as well as leveraged clinically-resistant PEO1/PEO4/PEO6 and PEA1/PEA2 isogenic models to perform differential expression analysis for seven total isogenic pairs of platinum resistant cell lines. While gene expression changes overall were heterogeneous and vast, common themes were innate immunity/STAT activation, epithelial to mesenchymal transition and stemness, and platinum influx/efflux regulators. In addition to gene expression analyses, we performed copy number signature analysis and orthogonal measures of homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) scar scores and copy number burden, which is the first report to our knowledge applying field-standard copy number signatures to ovarian cancer cell lines. We also examined markers and functional readouts of stemness that revealed that cell lines are poor models for examination of stemness contributions to platinum resistance, likely pointing to the fact that this is a transient state. Overall this study serves as a resource to determine the best cell lines to utilize for ovarian cancer research on certain subtypes and platinum response studies, as well as sparks new hypotheses for future study in ovarian cancer.

Exosomal LRG1 promotes non-small cell lung cancer proliferation and metastasis by binding FN1 protein

Leucine-rich α2-glycoprotein-1 (LRG1) is overexpressed in various cancers, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but its role in NSCLC cell metastasis is not well understood. In this study, NSCLC cell exosomes were analyzed using different techniques, and the impact of exosomal LRG1 on NSCLC cell behavior was investigated through various assays both in vitro and in vivo. The study revealed that LRG1, found abundantly in NSCLC cells and exosomes, enhanced cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Exosomal LRG1 was shown to promote NSCLC cell metastasis in animal models. Additionally, the interaction between LRG1 and fibronectin 1 (FN1) in the cytoplasm was identified. It was observed that FN1 could counteract the effects of LRG1 knockdown on cell regulation induced by exosomes derived from NSCLC cells. Overall, the findings suggest that targeting exosomal LRG1 or FN1 may hold therapeutic potential for treating NSCLC.

miR-34b-3p-mediated regulation of STC2 and FN1 enhances chemosensitivity and inhibits proliferation in cervical cancer

Dysregulation of microRNA (miRNA) expression in cancer is a significant factor contributing to the progression of chemoresistance. The objective of this study is to explore the underlying mechanisms by which miR-34b-3p regulates chemoresistance in cervical cancer (CC). Previous findings have demonstrated low expression levels of miR-34b-3p in both CC chemoresistant cells and tissues. In this study, we initially characterize the behavior of SiHa/DDP cells which are CC cells resistant to the chemotherapeutic drug cisplatin (DDP). Subsequently, miR-34b-3p mimics are transfected into SiHa/DDP cells. It is observed that overexpression of miR-34b-3p substantially inhibits the proliferation, migration, and invasion abilities of SiHa/DDP cells and also enhances their sensitivity to DDP-induced cell death. Quantitative RT-PCR and western blot analysis further reveal elevated expression levels of STC2 and FN1 in SiHa/DDP cells, contrary to the expression pattern of miR-34b-3p. Moreover, STC2 and FN1 contribute to DDP resistance, proliferation, migration, invasion, and decreased apoptosis in CC cells. Through dual-luciferase assay analysis, we confirm that STC2 and FN1 are direct targets of miR-34b-3p in CC. Finally, rescue experiments demonstrate that overexpression of either STC2 or FN1 can partially reverse the inhibitory effects of miR-34b-3p overexpression on chemoresistance, proliferation, migration and invasion in CC cells. In conclusion, our findings support the role of miR-34b-3p as a tumor suppressor in CC. This study indicates that targeting the miR-34b-3p/STC2 or FN1 axis has potential therapeutic implications for overcoming chemoresistance in CC patients.

Exploring the diversity of cancer-associated fibroblasts: insights into mechanisms of drug resistance

Introduction: Among the various stromal cell types within the tumor microenvironment, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) emerge as the predominant constituent, exhibiting a diverse array of oncogenic functions not intrinsic to normal fibroblasts. Their involvement spans across all stages of tumorigenesis, encompassing initiation, progression, and metastasis. Current understanding posits the coexistence of distinct subpopulations of CAFs within the tumor microenvironment across a spectrum of solid tumors, showcasing both pro- and antitumor activities. Recent advancements in single-cell transcriptomics have revolutionized our ability to meticulously dissect the heterogeneity inherent to CAF populations. Furthermore, accumulating evidence underscores the pivotal role of CAFs in conferring therapeutic resistance to tumors against various drug modalities. Consequently, efforts are underway to develop pharmacological agents specifically targeting CAFs. Methods: This review embarks on a comprehensive analysis, consolidating data from 36 independent single-cell RNA sequencing investigations spanning 17 distinct human malignant tumor types. Results: Our exploration centers on elucidating CAF population markers, discerning their prognostic relevance, delineating their functional contributions, and elucidating the underlying mechanisms orchestrating chemoresistance. Discussion: Finally, we deliberate on the therapeutic potential of harnessing CAFs as promising targets for intervention strategies in clinical oncology.

The biomarkers associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition in human keloids

INTRODUCTION

A keloid is a type of benign fibrotic disease with similar features to malignancies, including anti-apoptosis, over-proliferation, and invasion. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a crucial mechanism that regulates the metastatic behavior of tumors. Thus, identifying EMT biomarkers is paramount in comprehensively understanding keloid pathogenesis.

METHODS

To identify the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) GSE92566 dataset, with 3 normal skin and 4 keloid tissues, was downloaded from GEO databases to identify the differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Further, EMT-related genes were downloaded from dbEMT 2.0 databases and intersected with GSE92566 DEGs to identify EMT-related-DEGs (ERDEGs). Subsequently, the ERDEGs were used for GO, KEGG, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), protein-protein interaction (PPI), and miRNAs-mRNAs network analysis. To predict small molecules for EMT inhibition, the ERDEGs were imported to cMAP databases, whereas hub genes were imported to DGidb databases. Finally, we carried out qRT-PCR and in vitro experiments to validate our findings.

RESULTS

A total of 122 ERDEGs were identified, including 59 upregulated and 63 down-regulated genes. Moreover, enrichment analysis revealed that focal adhesion, AMPK signal pathway, Wnt signal pathway, and EMT biological process were significantly enriched. STRING databases and Cytoscape software were used to construct the PPI network and EMT-related hub genes. Further, 3 modules were explored from the PPI network using the Molecular Complex Detection (MCODE) plugin. In the Cytohubba plugin, 10 hub genes were explored, including FN1, EGF, SOX9, CDH2, PROM1, EPCAM, KRT19, ITGB1, CD24, and KRT18. These genes were then enriched for the focal adhesion pathway. We constructed a microRNA (miRNA)-mRNA network, which predicted hsa-miR-155-5p (8 edges), hsa-miR-124-3p (7 edges), hsa-miR-145-5p (5 edges), hsa-miR-20a-5p (5 edges) and hsa-let-7b-5p (4 edges) as the most connected miRNAs regulating EMT. Based on the ERDEGs and 10 hub genes mentioned above, ribavirin demonstrated high drug-targeting relevance. Subsequently, qRT-PCR confirmed that the expression of FN1, ITGB1, CDH2, and EPCAM corroborated with previous findings. qRT-PCR also showed that the expression levels of hsa-miR-124-3p and hsa-miR-145-5p were significantly lower in keloids and hsa-miR-155-5p was upregulated in keloids. Finally, by treating human keloid fibroblasts (HKFs) with ribavirin in vitro, we confirmed that ribavirin could inhibit HKFs proliferation and EMT.

CONCLUSION

In summary, this work provides novel EMT biomarkers in keloids and predicts new small target molecules for keloid therapy. Our findings improve the understanding of keloid pathogenesis, providing new treatment options.

CTNNBIP1-CLSTN1 functions as a housekeeping chimeric RNA and regulates cell proliferation through SERPINE2

The conventional understanding that chimeric RNAs are unique to carcinoma and are the products of chromosomal rearrangement is being challenged. However, experimental evidence supporting the function of chimeric RNAs in normal physiology is scarce. We decided to focus on one particular chimeric RNA, CTNNBIP1-CLSTN1. We examined its expression in various tissues and cell types and compared it quantitatively among cancer and noncancer cells. We further investigated its role in a panel of noncancer cells and investigated the functional mechanism. We found that this fusion transcript is expressed in almost all tissues and a wide range of cell types, including fibroblasts, epithelial cells, stem cells, vascular endothelial cells, and hepatocytes. In addition, the CTNNBIP1-CLSTN1 expression level in noncancerous cell lines was not evidently different from that in cancer cell lines. Furthermore, in at least three cell types, silencing CTNNBIP1-CLSTN1 significantly reduced the cell proliferation rate by inducing G2/M arrest and apoptosis. Importantly, rescue experiments confirmed that cell cycle arrest was restored by exogenous expression of the chimera but not the wild-type parental gene. Further evidence is provided that CTNNBIP1-CLSTN1 regulates cell proliferation through SERPINE2. Thus, CTNNBIP1-CLSTN1 is an example of a new class of fusion RNAs, dubbed "housekeeping chimeric RNAs".

Cerebrospinal fluid exosomal protein alterations via proteomic analysis of NSCLC with leptomeningeal carcinomatosis

PURPOSE

Leptomeningeal carcinomatosis (LC) is a rare complication of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with highly mortality. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) as a special kind of tumor microenvironment (TME) better represents alterations than plasma. However, the clinical value of protein profiles of exosome in CSF as liquid biopsy remains unclear.

METHODS

In this study, CSF samples of NSCLC patients with (LC group) or without (NSCLC group) LC were collected and compared to patients without tumors (normal group). CSF exosomes were isolated by ultracentrifugation and protein profiles were performed by label-free proteomics. Differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were detected by bioinformatics tools and verified by parallel reaction monitoring (PRM).

RESULTS

A total of 814 proteins were detected. Bioinformatics analysis revealed their shared function in the complement activation, extracellular region, and complement and coagulation cascades. Between LC and NSCLC group, 72 DEPs were found among which FN1 demonstrated the highest betweenness centrality (BC) after protein-protein interaction network analysis.

CONCLUSION

We investigated the application of label free and PRM based proteomics to detect key proteins related to LC. FN1 may serve as potential indicator to classify LC and NSCLC. Extracellular matrix (ECM) and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) are important in the process of LC. These data is promising for early prediction and diagnosis of LC.

Dexpanthenol improved stem cells against cisplatin-induced kidney injury by inhibition of TNF-α, TGFβ-1, β-catenin, and fibronectin pathways

Introduction

Cisplatin interacts with DNA and induces an immunological response and reactive oxygen species, which are nephrotoxic mediators. Stem cells self-renew through symmetric divisions and can develop into other cell types due to their multipotency. Dexpanthenol has been proven to protect against renal injury.

Aim

This study aims to demonstrate that dexpanthenol could improve the effect of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSC) against cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury.

Methods

Sixty male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 5 groups (N = 12): control, cisplatin, cisplatin & dexpanthenol, cisplatin & ADMSC, and cisplatin & dexpanthenol & ADMSCs. On the 5th day following cisplatin injection, half the rats in each group were sacrificed, and the other half were sacrificed on the 12th day. Histopathological examination, molecular studies (IL-6, Bcl2, TGFβ-1, Caspase-3, Fibronectin, and β-catenin), antioxidants (superoxide dismutase and catalase), and renal function were all investigated.

Results

In contrast to cisplatin group, the dexpanthenol and ADMSCs treatments significantly decreased renal function and oxidative stress while significantly enhancing antioxidants. Dexpanthenol improved stem cells by significantly down-regulating caspase-3, IL-6, TGF-β1, Fibronectin, and β-catenin and significantly up-regulating Bcl2 and CD34, which reversed the cisplatin effect.

Conclusion

Dexpanthenol enhanced ADMSCs' ability to protect against cisplatin-induced AKI by decreasing inflammation, apoptosis, and fibrosis.

Shielding and nurturing: Fibronectin as a modulator of cancer drug resistance

Resistance to chemotherapy and targeted therapies constitute a common hallmark of most cancers and represent a dominant factor fostering tumor relapse and metastasis. Fibronectin, an abundant extracellular matrix glycoprotein, has long been proposed to play an important role in the pathobiology of cancer. Recent research has unraveled the role of Fibronectin in the onset of chemoresistance against a variety of antineoplastic drugs including DNA-damaging agents, hormone receptor antagonists, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, microtubule destabilizing agents, etc. The current review summarizes the role played by Fibronectin in mediating drug resistance against diverse anticancer drugs. We have also discussed how the aberrant expression of Fibronectin drives the oncogenic signaling pathways ultimately leading to drug resistance through the inhibition of apoptosis, promotion of cancer cell growth and proliferation.

CTNNBIP1-CLSTN1 Functions as a Housekeeping Chimeric RNA, and Regulates Cell Proliferation through SERPINE2

The conventional wisdom that chimeric RNAs being peculiarity of carcinoma, and the products of chromosomal rearrangement is being challenged, However, experimental evidence supporting chimeric RNAs in normal physiology being functional is scarce. We decided to focus on one particular chimeric RNA, CTNNBIP1-CLSTN1 . We examined its expression among various tissues and cell types, and compared quantitatively among cancer and non-cancer cells. We further investigated its role in a panel of non-cancer cells and probed the functional mechanism. We found that this fusion transcript is expressed in almost all tissues, and a wide range of cell types including fibroblasts, epithelial, stem, vascular endothelial cells, and hepatocytes. The expression level in non-cancerous cell lines is also not evidently different from that in the cancer cell lines. Furthermore, silencing CTNNBIP1-CLSTN1 significantly reduces cell proliferation rate, by inducing G2/M arrest in cell cycle progress and apoptosis in at least three cell types. Importantly, rescue experiments confirmed that the cell cycle arrest can be regained by exogenous expression of the chimera, but not the wild type parental gene. Further evidence is provided that CTNNBIP1-CLSTN1 regulates cell proliferation through SERPINE2 . Thus, CTNNBIP1-CLSTN1 represents an example of a new class of fusion RNA, dubbed "housekeeping chimeric RNAs".

Proteomic Alteration in the Progression of Multiple Myeloma: A Comprehensive Review

Multiple myeloma (MM) is an incurable hematologic malignancy. Most MM patients are diagnosed at a late stage because the early symptoms of the disease can be uncertain and nonspecific, often resembling other, more common conditions. Additionally, MM patients are commonly associated with rapid relapse and an inevitable refractory phase. MM is characterized by the abnormal proliferation of monoclonal plasma cells in the bone marrow. During the progression of MM, massive genomic alterations occur that target multiple signaling pathways and are accompanied by a multistep process involving differentiation, proliferation, and invasion. Moreover, the transformation of healthy plasma cell biology into genetically heterogeneous MM clones is driven by a variety of post-translational protein modifications (PTMs), which has complicated the discovery of effective treatments. PTMs have been identified as the most promising candidates for biomarker detection, and further research has been recommended to develop promising surrogate markers. Proteomics research has begun in MM, and a comprehensive literature review is available. However, proteomics applications in MM have yet to make significant progress. Exploration of proteomic alterations in MM is worthwhile to improve understanding of the pathophysiology of MM and to search for new treatment targets. Proteomics studies using mass spectrometry (MS) in conjunction with robust bioinformatics tools are an excellent way to learn more about protein changes and modifications during disease progression MM. This article addresses in depth the proteomic changes associated with MM disease transformation.

Identification of Comorbidities, Genomic Associations, and Molecular Mechanisms for COVID-19 Using Bioinformatics Approaches

Several studies have been done to identify comorbidities of COVID-19. In this work, we developed an analytical bioinformatics framework to reveal COVID-19 comorbidities, their genomic associations, and molecular mechanisms accomplishing transcriptomic analyses of the RNA-seq datasets provided by the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, where normal and infected tissues were evaluated. Using the framework, we identified 27 COVID-19 correlated diseases out of 7,092 collected diseases. Analyzing clinical and epidemiological research, we noticed that our identified 27 diseases are associated with COVID-19, where hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and lung cancer are observed several times in COVID-19 patients. Therefore, we selected the above four diseases and performed assorted analyses to demonstrate the association between COVID-19 and hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and lung cancer as comorbidities. We investigated genomic associations with the cross-comparative analysis and Jaccard's similarity index, identifying shared differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and linking DEGs of COVID-19 and the comorbidities, in which we identified hypertension as the most associated illness. We also revealed molecular mechanisms by identifying statistically significant ten pathways and ten ontologies. Moreover, to understand cellular physiology, we did protein-protein interaction (PPI) analyses among the comorbidities and COVID-19. We also used the degree centrality method and identified ten biomarker hub proteins (IL1B, CXCL8, FN1, MMP9, CXCL10, IL1A, IRF7, VWF, CXCL9, and ISG15) that associate COVID-19 with the comorbidities. Finally, we validated our findings by searching the published literature. Thus, our analytical approach elicited interconnections between COVID-19 and the aforementioned comorbidities in terms of remarkable DEGs, pathways, ontologies, PPI, and biomarker hub proteins.

Eight Aging-Related Genes Prognostic Signature for Cervical Cancer

This study searched for aging-related genes (ARGs) to predict the prognosis of patients with cervical cancer (CC). All data were obtained from Molecular Signatures Database, Cancer Genome Atlas, Gene Expression Integration, and Genotype Organization Expression. The R software was used to screen out the differentially expressed ARGs (DE-ARGs) between CC and normal tissues. A protein-protein interaction network was established by the DE-ARGs. The univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were conducted on the first extracted Molecular Complex Detection component, and a prognostic model was constructed. The prognostic model was further validated in the testing set and GSE44001 dataset. Prognosis was analyzed by Kaplan-Meier curves, and accuracy of the prognostic model was assessed by receiver operating characteristic area under the curve analysis. An independent prognostic analysis of risk score and some clinicopathological factors of CC was also performed. The copy-number variant (CNV) and single-nucleotide variant (SNV) of prognostic ARGs were analyzed by the BioPortal database. A clinical practical nomogram was established to predict individual survival probability. Finally, we carried out cell experiment to further verify the prognostic model. An eight-ARG prognostic signature for CC was constructed. High-risk CC patients had significantly shorter overall survival than low-risk patients. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve validated the good performance of the signature in survival prediction. The Figo_stage and risk score served as independent prognostic factors. The eight ARGs mainly enriched in growth factor regulation and cell cycle pathway, and the deep deletion of FN1 was the most common CNV. An eight-ARG prognostic signature for CC was successfully constructed.

Lnc-ABCA12-8 confers acquired resistance to gefitinib in non-small cell lung cancer by regulating the alternative splicing of fibronectin 1 in the IIICS region

Acquired resistance to epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs), such as gefitinib, has dramatically impaired the clinical outcomes in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, but the mechanisms are still unclear in substantial cases. In our previous study, we demonstrated that a novel long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), lnc-ABCA12-8, was overexpressed in gefitinib-resistant NSCLC cells, but the exact function is unknown. In this study, we confirmed that lnc-ABCA12-8 was significantly upregulated both in NSCLC cell lines and the plasma samples of NSCLC patients with acquired resistance to gefitinib. Downregulation of lnc-ABCA12-8 could reverse gefitinib resistance both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, lnc-ABCA12-8 interacted with alternative splicing factor/splicing factor 2 (ASF/SF2), promoted the binding of ASF/SF2 to the IIICS exon of fibronectin 1 (FN1) gene and enhanced the IIICS region inclusion during fibronectin 1 (FN1) alternative splicing, resulting in the upregulation of entire IIICS region, and enhanced cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and adhesion. Taken together, our study suggest that lnc-ABCA12-8 is involved in the acquired resistance to gefitinib, and may be a novel biomarker and therapeutic target for monitoring and overcoming gefitinib resistance in NSCLC.

Identification of Candidate Therapeutic Target Genes and Profiling of Tumor-Infiltrating Immune Cells in Pancreatic Cancer via Integrated Transcriptomic Analysis

Pancreatic cancer (PC) has a dismal prognosis despite advancing scientific and technological knowledge. The exploration of novel genes is critical to improving current therapeutic measures. This research is aimed at selecting hub genes that can act as candidate therapeutic target genes and as prognostic biomarkers in PC. Gene expression profiles of datasets GSE101448, GSE15471, and GSE62452 were extracted from the GEO database. The “limma” package was performed to select differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between PC and normal tissue samples in each dataset. Robust rank aggregation (RRA) algorithm was conducted to integrate multiple expression profiles and identify robust DEGs. GO analysis and KEGG analysis were conducted to identify the functional correlation of the DEGs. The CIBERSORT algorithm was conducted to estimate the immune cell composition of each tissue sample. STRING and Cytoscape were used to establish the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. The cytoHubba plugin in Cytoscape was performed to identify hub genes. Survival analysis based on hub gene expression was performed with clinical information from TCGA database. 566 robust DEGs (338 upregulated genes and 226 downregulated genes) were identified. Tumor tissue had a higher infiltration of resting dendritic cells and tumor-associated macrophages (TAM), including M0, M1, and M2 macrophages, while infiltration levels of B memory cells, plasma cells, T cells CD8, T follicular helper cells, and NK cells in normal tissue were relatively higher. GO terms and KEGG pathway analysis results revealed enrichment in tumor-associated pathways, including the extracellular matrix organization, cell−substrate adhesion cytokine−cytokine receptor interaction, calcium signaling pathway, and glycine, serine, and threonine metabolism, to name a few. Finally, FN1, MSLN, PLAU, and VCAN were selected as hub genes. High expression of FN1, MSLN, PLAU, and VCAN in PC significantly correlated with poor prognosis. Integrated transcriptomic analysis was used to provide new insights into PC pathogenesis. FN1, MSLN, PLAU, and VCAN may be considered as novel biomarkers of PC.

FN1 overexpression is correlated with unfavorable prognosis and immune infiltrates in breast cancer

Objective: To investigate the correlation of fibronectin 1 (FN1) expression with prognosis and tumor-infiltrating immune cells in breast cancer (BRCA).

Methods: FN1 mRNA and protein expressions were analyzed through Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER), Gene Set Cancer Analysis (GSCA), Human Protein Atlas (HPA) databases, and immunohistochemical analysis. The clinicopathological characteristics and genetic factors affecting the FN1 mRNA expression were assessed by various public databases. Then, we analyzed the prognostic value of FN1 in BRCA by Kaplan-Meier plotter, receiver operating characteristic, and Cox regression analyses. Further, the UCSC Xena database was used to retrieve TCGA-BRCA expression profiles for functional enrichment analysis and immune cell infiltration analysis. The potential drugs for the BRCA patients with high- FN1 expression were identified using the connectivity map analysis.

Results: FN1 was upregulated in BRCA tissues compared with normal tissues. High FN1 mRNA expression was correlated with poor clinical outcomes and had good performance in predicting the survival status of BRCA patients. Further, Cox regression analysis showed that FN1 was an independent prognostic factor for predicting the overall survival of patients with BRCA. Moreover, hypermethylation of FN1 contributed to a better prognosis for BRCA patients. Functional enrichment analyses revealed the ECM-receptor interaction pathway and focal adhesion as the common pathways. Moreover, FN1 showed a significant association with tumor-infiltrating immune cells and immune checkpoint inhibitors. Several drugs such as telmisartan, malotilate, and seocalcitol may have therapeutic effects in BRCA patients with high FN1 expression.

Conclusion: FN1 might serve as a novel prognostic biomarker and a novel therapeutic target for BRCA. Besides, the association of FN1 with immune cells and immune checkpoint inhibitors may provide assistance for BRCA treatment.

Kruppel like factor 16 promotes lung adenocarcinoma progression by upregulating lamin B2

Lung cancer is one of the most common causes of cancer-related death. In the past decade, the treatment and diagnosis of lung cancer have progressed significantly in early efforts to promote the survival of lung cancer patients. Kruppel like factor 16 (KLF16) is a zinc finger transcription factor that regulates a diverse array of developmental events and cellular processes. KLF16 is involved in the progression of various cancer types. However, the role of KLF16 in the development of lung cancer remains unknown. In this study, KLF16 was overexpressed in lung cancer samples. KLF16 downregulation inhibited lung cancer cell proliferation and migration. Conversely, KLF16 overexpression promoted lung cancer cell growth and invasion. Mechanistically, the expression level LMNB2 was suppressed by KLF16 knockdown and was promoted by KLF16 overexpression. The overall survival of patients with high LMNB2 levels was poor. Luciferase assays showed that KLF16 promoted the transcription activity of LMNB2 gene. Concomitantly, the expression level of LMNB2 was also higher in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) than in normal tissues, and its knockdown or overexpression can reverse the effect of KLF16 overexpression or knockdown on lung cancer cell proliferation, migration, and even tumorigenesis, indicating that LMNB2 also functions as an oncogene. In conclusion, KLF16 can be used as a potential therapeutic and preventive biomarker in lung cancer treatment and prognosis by actively regulating the expression of LMNB2.

Bioinformatics Analysis and Identification of Potential Genes Associated with Pathogenesis and Prognosis of Gastric Cancer

OBJECTIVE

Gastric cancer (GC) is a deadly cancer and a challenging public health problem globally. This study aimed to analyze potential genes associated with pathogenesis and prognosis of gastric cancer.

METHODS

This work selected the overlapping differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in GC from four datasets, the GSE29272, GSE29998, GSE54129 and GSE118916 Gene Expression Omnibus databases. These DEGs were used to carry out comprehensive bioinformatic analysis to analyze the related functions and pathways enriched, the relative expression levels and immune infiltrates, the prognostic characteristics and the interaction network.

RESULTS

In total, 55 DEGs increased while 98 decreased in their expression levels. For those DEGs with increased expression, they were mostly concentrated on "focal adhesion" and "ECM-receptor interaction", whereas DEGs with decreased expression were mostly associated with "gastric acid secretion" and "drug metabolism cytochrome P450". MCODE and ClueGO results were then integrated to screen 10 hub genes, which were FN1, COL1A1, COL3A1, BGN, TIMP1, COL1A2, LUM, VCAN, COL5A2 and SPP1. Survival analysis revealed that higher expression of the ten hub genes significantly predicted lower overall survival of GC patients. TIMP1 was most significantly related to neutrophils, CD8⁺ T cells, as well as dendritic cells, while LUM was most significantly related to macrophages.

CONCLUSION

Immunohistochemistry results and functional testing showed that the expression of COL5A2 was elevated in GC and that it might be a key gene in GC tumorigenesis.

Bioinformatics and Machine Learning Methods to Identify FN1 as a Novel Biomarker of Aortic Valve Calcification

Aim

The purpose of this study was to identify potential diagnostic markers for aortic valve calcification (AVC) and to investigate the function of immune cell infiltration in this disease.

Methods

The AVC data sets were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus. The identification of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and the performance of functional correlation analysis were carried out using the R software. To explore hub genes related to AVC, a protein–protein interaction network was created. Diagnostic markers for AVC were then screened and verified using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator, logistic regression, support vector machine-recursive feature elimination algorithms, and hub genes. The infiltration of immune cells into AVC tissues was evaluated using CIBERSORT, and the correlation between diagnostic markers and infiltrating immune cells was analyzed. Finally, the Connectivity Map database was used to forecast the candidate small molecule drugs that might be used as prospective medications to treat AVC.

Results

A total of 337 DEGs were screened. The DEGs that were discovered were mostly related with atherosclerosis and arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease, according to the analyses. Gene sets involved in the chemokine signaling pathway and cytokine–cytokine receptor interaction were differently active in AVC compared with control. As the diagnostic marker for AVC, fibronectin 1 (FN1) (area the curve = 0.958) was discovered. Immune cell infiltration analysis revealed that the AVC process may be mediated by naïve B cells, memory B cells, plasma cells, activated natural killer cells, monocytes, and macrophages M0. Additionally, FN1 expression was associated with memory B cells, M0 macrophages, activated mast cells, resting mast cells, monocytes, and activated natural killer cells. AVC may be reversed with the use of yohimbic acid, the most promising small molecule discovered so far.

Conclusion

FN1 can be used as a diagnostic marker for AVC. It has been shown that immune cell infiltration is important in the onset and progression of AVC, which may benefit in the improvement of AVC diagnosis and treatment.

GATA6‑induced FN1 activation promotes the proliferation, invasion and migration of oral squamous cell carcinoma cells

GATA binding protein 6 (GATA6) is a transcription factor involved in cell fate decision making and tissue morphogenesis and serves a significant role in the progression of a number of types of cancer. The present study aimed to investigate the role and mechanisms underlying the effects of GATA6 in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). The expression levels of GATA6 were determined in a number of OSCC cell lines and the expression of GATA6 was knocked down to evaluate its role in the proliferation, invasion and migration of OSCC cells. Subsequently, the association between GATA6 and fibronectin 1 (FN1) was investigated using bioinformatics and further verified using dual‑luciferase reporter and chromosomal immunoprecipitation assays. Following the overexpression of FN1 in OSCC cells with GATA6 silencing, functional assays were performed to assess the mechanisms underlying GATA6 in OSCC progression. The results of the present study indicated that OSCC cells exhibited markedly upregulated expression levels of GATA6, while knockdown of GATA6 inhibited the proliferation, colony formation, invasion and migration of OSCC cells. In addition, GATA6 regulated FN1 expression levels by binding to the FN1 promoter. The suppressive effects of GATA6 knockdown on the proliferation, colony formation, invasion and migration of OSCC cells were abolished following FN1 overexpression. In conclusion, the findings of the present study demonstrated that GATA6 promoted the malignant development of OSCC cells by binding to the FN1 promotor. These results may contribute to further understanding the pathogenesis of OSCC and provide potential therapeutic targets for the clinical treatment of OSCC.

Prognostic Gene Signature for Squamous Cell Carcinoma with a Higher Risk for Treatment Failure and Accelerated MEK-ERK Pathway Activity

Simple Summary

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the most prevalent type of human cancer worldwide and represents the majority of head and neck tumors. As SCC from aerodigestive or genitourinary tracts share not only common etiology and histological features but also molecular patterns, the major objectives of this study were the establishment of a pan-SCC-related prognostic gene signature by an integrative analysis of multi-omics data and the elucidation of underlying oncogenic pathway activities as potential vulnerabilities for a more efficient and less toxic therapy. Our approach delivers a reliable molecular classifier to identify HNSCC and other SCC patients at higher risk for treatment failure with tumors characterized by a more prominent MAPK activity, who might benefit from a targeted treatment with MEK inhibitors.

Abstract

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the most prevalent histological type of human cancer, including head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). However, reliable prognostic gene signatures for SCC and underlying genetic and/or epigenetic principles are still unclear. We identified 37 prognostic candidate genes by best cutoff computation based on survival in a pan-SCC cohort (n = 1334) of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), whose expression stratified not only the pan-SCC cohort but also independent HNSCC validation cohorts into three distinct prognostic subgroups. The most relevant prognostic genes were prioritized by a Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator Cox regression model and were used to identify subgroups with high or low risks for unfavorable survival. An integrative analysis of multi-omics data identified FN1, SEMA3A, CDH2, FBN1, COL5A1, and ADAM12 as key nodes in a regulatory network related to the prognostic phenotype. An in-silico drug screen predicted two MEK inhibitors (Trametinib and Selumetinib) as effective compounds for high-risk SCC based on the Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia, which is supported by a higher p-MEK1/2 immunohistochemical staining of high-risk HNSCC. In conclusion, our data identified a molecular classifier for high-risk HNSCC as well as other SCC patients, who might benefit from treatment with MEK inhibitors.

Long non-coding RNAs as the critical regulators of doxorubicin resistance in tumor cells

Resistance against conventional chemotherapeutic agents is one of the main reasons for tumor relapse and poor clinical outcomes in cancer patients. Various mechanisms are associated with drug resistance, including drug efflux, cell cycle, DNA repair and apoptosis. Doxorubicin (DOX) is a widely used first-line anti-cancer drug that functions as a DNA topoisomerase II inhibitor. However, DOX resistance has emerged as a large hurdle in efficient tumor therapy. Furthermore, despite its wide clinical application, DOX is a double-edged sword: it can damage normal tissues and affect the quality of patients’ lives during and after treatment. It is essential to clarify the molecular basis of DOX resistance to support the development of novel therapeutic modalities with fewer and/or lower-impact side effects in cancer patients. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have critical roles in the drug resistance of various tumors. In this review, we summarize the state of knowledge on all the lncRNAs associated with DOX resistance. The majority are involved in promoting DOX resistance. This review paves the way to introducing an lncRNA panel marker for the prediction of the DOX response and clinical outcomes for cancer patients.

Alectinib and lorlatinib function by modulating EMT-related proteins and MMPs in NSCLC metastasis

Most advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients are accompanied by brain metastasis which is the major cause of increased mortality. The fusion rearrangement of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene is an important feature of brain metastasis in lung cancer. The novel ALK inhibitors alectinib and lorlatinib are shown to be effective against NSCLC brain metastasis, while their underlying mechanism of action is unclear. Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) proteins and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play important roles in brain metastasis by regulating the blood-brain barrier (BBB). To reveal the molecular function of alectinib and lorlatinib, we explored their effects on the cellular levels of EMT markers: VIM and FN1 and the matrix metalloproteinases MMP-9 and MMP-7. The mRNA and protein levels of VIM, FN1, MMP-9, and MMP-7 were elevated in H3122 cells. However, upon alectinib and lorlatinib treatment, the levels were significantly reduced. Similar results were obtained when these experiments were performed either in a dose-dependent or time-dependent manner. Furthermore, alectinib and lorlatinib also inhibited the cell viability and migration of H3122 cells. Interestingly, in comparison to individual drugs, the combination of alectinib and lorlatinib was found to be substantially more effective. Overall, these results suggest that alectinib and lorlatinib possibly function through the downregulation of MMPs and EMT in NSCLC metastasis.

Fibronectin 1: A Potential Biomarker for Ovarian Cancer

Methods

OVCAR3 and A2780 are the two common cell lines that are used for ovarian cancer studies. The different invasion and migration abilities were observed by scratch tests and transwell experiments in our preliminary study. Gene chip was used to screen the expression gene in these two different cell lines, and then, the differentially expressed genes (at least 2-fold difference, P value < 0.05) were analyzed using KEGG.

Result

Fibronectin 1 (FN1) was found to be the most strongly correlated with the invasion and migration abilities of the OVCAR3 cells. Real-time PCR and FN1 knockout cell line was conducted and confirmed this finding. Based on the Oncomine database analysis, comparing with normal people, ovarian cancer patients exhibited high levels of FN1 expression. Additionally, higher FN1 expression was found in patients with higher FIGO stages of cancer.

Conclusion

FN1 could be a new biomarker for ovarian cancer detection and progress indicator.

DNA methylation association with stage progression of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth most common cancer worldwide, which accounts for approximately 6% of all cases and is responsible for an estimated 2% of all cancer deaths. Despite progress in the treatment of squamous cell carcinomas, survival rates remain low. It is a fact that epigenetic modifications have numerous associations with biological processes and complex diseases such as cancer. Hence, a more systematic approach is needed to provide potential screening targets and have an effective therapy method. This study developed a workflow to analyze HM450 methylation arrays with mRNA expression profiles that identified novel signatures of epigenetic regulators for tumor progression. We identified differentially expressed genes and differentially methylated regions and the correlation between associated genes to identify epigenetic modifications underlying regulation roles. We have taken the differentiation direction of expressions into account during the integration of gene expression and DNA methylation modification to detect epigenetic regulators of core genes of tumor-stage progression. Enrichment analysis of selected key genes provides better insight into their functionality. Thus, we have investigated gene copy number alteration and mutations to filter differentially expressed genes, including some members of the fibroblast growth factor family and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor family with other potential known regulators. Our analysis has revealed the list of 61 commercial methylation probes positively correlated with 31 differentially expressed genes, which can be associated with HNSC metastasis stages. Most of these genes have already reported potential epigenetic regulators, and their role in cancer progression was studied. We suggest these selected probes of DNA methylation as potential targets of the epigenetic regulators in revealed genes that have displayed significant genetic and epigenetic modification behavior during cancer stage progression and tumor metastasis.

Ionizing radiation induces epithelial-mesenchymal transition in human bronchial epithelial cells

Objective: The present study aimed to analyze the mechanism by which long-term occupational exposure of workers to low-dose ionizing irradiation induces epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) of the human bronchial epithelial cells using transcriptome profiling.

Methods: RNA-seq transcriptomics was used to determine gene expression in blood samples from radiation-exposed workers followed by bioinformatics analysis. Normal bronchial epithelial cells (16HBE) were irradiated for different durations and subjected to immunofluorescence, Western blotting, scratch healing, and adhesion assays to detect the progression of EMT and its underlying molecular mechanisms.

Results: Transcriptomics revealed that exposure to ionizing radiation led to changes in the expression of genes related to EMT, immune response, and migration. At increased cumulative doses, ionizing radiation-induced significant EMT, as evidenced by a gradual decrease in the expression of E-cadherin, increased vimentin, elevated migration ability, and decreased adhesion capability of 16HBE cells. The expression of fibronectin 1 (FN1) showed a gradual increase with the progression of EMT, and may be involved in EMT.

Conclusion: Ionizing radiation induces EMT. FN1 may be involved in the progression of EMT and could serve as a potential biomarker for this process.

Fibronectin as a multiregulatory molecule crucial in tumor matrisome: from structural and functional features to clinical practice in oncology

Deciphering extracellular matrix (ECM) composition and architecture may represent a novel approach to identify diagnostic and therapeutic targets in cancer. Among the ECM components, fibronectin and its fibrillary assembly represent the scaffold to build up the entire ECM structure, deeply affecting its features. Herein we focus on this extraordinary protein starting from its complex structure and defining its role in cancer as prognostic and theranostic marker.

Mitochondria-related core genes and TF-miRNA-hub mrDEGs network in breast cancer

Background: Mitochondria-nuclear cross-talk and mitochondrial retrograde regulation are involved in the genesis and development of breast cancer (BC). Therefore, mitochondria can be regarded as a promising target for BC therapeutic strategies. The present study aimed to construct regulatory network and seek the potential biomarkers of BC diagnosis and prognosis as well as the molecular therapeutic targets from the perspective of mitochondrial dysfunction. Methods: The microarray data of mitochondria-related encoding genes in BC cell lines were downloaded from GEO including GSE128610 and GSE72319. GSE128610 was treated as test set and validation sets consisted of GSE72319 and TCGA tissue samples, intending to identify mitochondria-related differentially expressed genes (mrDEGs). We performed enrichment analysis, PPI network, hub mrDEGs and overall survival analysis and constructed transcription factor (TF)-miRNA-hub mrDEGs network. Results: A total of 23 up-regulated and 71 down-regulated mrDEGs were identified and validated in BC cell lines and tissues. Enrichment analyses indicated that mrDEGs were associated with several cancer-related biological processes. Moreover, 9 hub mrDEGs were identified and validated in BC cell lines and tissues. Finally, 5 hub coregulated mrDEGs, 21 miRNAs and 117 TFs were used to construct TF-miRNA-hub mrDEGs network. MYC associated zinc finger protein (MAZ), heparin binding growth factor (HDGF) and Sp2 transcription factor (SP2) regulated 3 hub mrDEGs. Hsa-mir-21-5p, hsa-mir-1-3p, hsa-mir-218-5p, hsa-mir-26a-5p and hsa-mir-335-5p regulated 2 hub mrDEGs. Overall survival analysis suggested that the up-regulation of fibronectin 1 (FN1), as well as the down-regulation of discoidin domain receptor tyrosine kinase 2 (DDR2) correlated with unfavorable prognosis in BC. Conclusion: TF-miRNA-hub mrDEGs had instruction significance for the exploration of BC etiology. The hub mrDEGs such as FN1 and DDR2 were likely to regulate mitochondrial function and be novel biomarkers for BC diagnosis and prognosis as well as the therapeutic targets.

Catalpol-Induced AMPK Activation Alleviates Cisplatin-Induced Nephrotoxicity through the Mitochondrial-Dependent Pathway without Compromising Its Anticancer Properties

Nephrotoxicity is a common complication of cisplatin chemotherapy and, thus, limits the clinical application of cisplatin. In this work, the effects of catalpol (CAT), a bioactive ingredient extracted from Rehmannia glutinosa, on cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity and antitumor efficacy were comprehensively investigated. Specifically, the protective effect of CAT on cisplatin-induced injury was explored in mice and HK-2 cells. In vivo, CAT administration strikingly suppressed cisplatin-induced renal dysfunction, morphology damage, apoptosis, and inflammation. In vitro, CAT induced activation of adenosine 5′-monophosphate- (AMP-) activated protein kinase (AMPK), improved mitochondrial function, and decreased generation of cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), leading to a reduction in inflammation and apoptosis, which ultimately protected from cisplatin-induced injury. However, the beneficial effects of CAT were mostly blocked by coincubation with compound C. Furthermore, molecular docking results indicated that CAT had a higher affinity for AMPK than other AMPK activators such as danthron, phenformin, and metformin. Importantly, CAT possessed the ability to reverse drug resistance without compromising the antitumor properties of cisplatin. These findings suggest that CAT exerts positive effects against cisplatin-induced renal injury through reversing drug resistance via the mitochondrial-dependent pathway without affecting the anticancer activity of cisplatin.

Fibronectin 1 activates WNT/β-catenin signaling to induce osteogenic differentiation via integrin β1 interaction

Osteoporosis (OP) is a systemic skeletal disease leading to fragility fractures and is a major health issue globally. WNT/β-catenin signaling regulates bone-remodeling processes and plays vital roles in OP development. However, the underlying regulatory mechanisms behind WNT/β-catenin signaling in OP requires clarification, as further studies are required to identify novel alternate therapeutic agents to improve OP. Here we report that fibronectin 1 (FN-1) promoted differentiation and mineralization of osteoblasts by activating WNT/β-catenin pathway, in cultured pre-osteoblasts. With isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation labeling proteomics analysis, we investigated protein changes in bone samples from OP patients and normal controls. FN-1 accumulated in osteoblasts in bone samples from OP patients and age-related OP mice compared to control group. In addition, we observed that integrin β1 (ITGB1) acts as an indispensable signaling molecule for the interplay between FN-1 and β-catenin, and that FN-1 expression increased, but ITGB1 expression decreased in osteoblasts during OP progression. Therefore, our study reveals a novel explanation for WNT/β-catenin pathway inactivation in OP pathology. Supplying of FN-1 and ITGB1 may provide a potential therapeutic strategy in improving bone formation during OP.

Circulating Tumor Cells and Fibronectin 1 in the Prognosis of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

Objective:

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is highly endemic in Southeast China. Circulating tumor cell is an important biomarker in the prognosis of variety kinds of cancers. Overexpression of fibronectin 1 was observed in variety kinds of malignancies and may contribute to progress and metastasis of the cancers. The current study was aimed to investigate phenotypes of circulating tumor cell in nasopharyngeal carcinoma blood and fibronectin 1 expression in the circulating tumor cell, and their clinical application in predicting nasopharyngeal carcinoma prognosis.

Methods:

Blood samples were obtained from nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients before and after treatment. CanPatrol circulating tumor cell enrichment and RNA in situ hybridization were applied to identify circulating tumor cell and its phenotypes. Fibronectin 1 messenger RNA expression in the cells of circulating tumors was examined by messenger RNA-in situ hybridization.

Results:

Circulating tumor cell was not associated with tumor characteristics or lymph node metastasis. Patients with >9 circulating tumor cells or >5 mesenchymal phenotype circulating tumor cell per 5-mL blood had poorer progression-free survival (P < .05). Multivariable analysis demonstrated that 2 or more mesenchymal phenotype circulating tumor cells with high fibronectin 1 messenger RNA expression predicted shorter progression-free survival (P < .05).

Conclusions:

Circulating tumor cells with high-level fibronectin 1 expression was associated with poor survival in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma and could be an independent prognostic factor for nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Predicting Deep Learning Based Multi-Omics Parallel Integration Survival Subtypes in Lung Cancer Using Reverse Phase Protein Array Data

Mortality attributed to lung cancer accounts for a large fraction of cancer deaths worldwide. With increasing mortality figures, the accurate prediction of prognosis has become essential. In recent years, multi-omics analysis has emerged as a useful survival prediction tool. However, the methodology relevant to multi-omics analysis has not yet been fully established and further improvements are required for clinical applications. In this study, we developed a novel method to accurately predict the survival of patients with lung cancer using multi-omics data. With unsupervised learning techniques, survival-associated subtypes in non-small cell lung cancer were first detected using the multi-omics datasets from six categories in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). The new subtypes, referred to as integration survival subtypes, clearly divided patients into longer and shorter-surviving groups (log-rank test: p = 0.003) and we confirmed that this is independent of histopathological classification (Chi-square test of independence: p = 0.94). Next, an attempt was made to detect the integration survival subtypes using only one categorical dataset. Our machine learning model that was only trained on the reverse phase protein array (RPPA) could accurately predict the integration survival subtypes (AUC = 0.99). The predicted subtypes could also distinguish between high and low risk patients (log-rank test: p = 0.012). Overall, this study explores novel potentials of multi-omics analysis to accurately predict the prognosis of patients with lung cancer.

Repeated radon exposure induced lung injury and epithelial-mesenchymal transition through the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway in human bronchial epithelial cells and mice

Radon exposure is the most frequent cause of lung cancer in non-smokers. The high linear energy transfer alpha-particles from radon decay cause the accumulation of multiple genetic changes and lead to cancer development. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays an important role in oncogenesis. However, the mechanisms underlying chronic radon exposure-induced EMT attributed to carcinogenesis are not understood. This study aimed to explore the EMT and potential molecular mechanisms induced by repeated radon exposure. The EMT model of 16HBE and BEAS-2B cells was established with radon exposure (20000 Bq/m³, 20 min each time every 3 days). We found repeated radon exposure facilitated epithelial cell migration, proliferation, reduced cell adhesion and ability to undergo EMT through a decrease in epithelial markers and an increase in mesenchymal markers. Radon regulated the expression of matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase 2 (TIMP2) to disrupt the balance of MMP2/TIMP2. In vivo, BALB/c mice were exposed to 10⁵ Bq/m³ radon gas for cumulative doses of 60 and 120 Working Level Months (WLM). Radon inhalation caused lung damage and fibrosis in mice, which was aggravated with the increase of exposure dose. EMT-like transformation also occurred in lung tissues of radon-exposure mice. Moreover, radon radiation increased p-PI3K, p-AKT and p-mTOR in cells and mice. Radon reduced the GSK-3β level and elevated the active β-catenin in 16HBE cells. The m-TOR and AKT inhibitors attenuated radon exposure-induced EMT by regulation related biomarkers. These data demonstrated that radon exposure induced EMT through the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway in epithelial cells and lung tissue.

Fibronectin and colorectal cancer: signaling pathways and clinical implications

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide, with poor prognosis mainly related to metastasis. Fibronectin (FN), a vital component of the extracellular matrix (ECM), has been found involved in tumorigenesis and malignant progression in different types of malignancy. Numerous studies have indicated the distinct expression of FN in various cancers and demonstrated the different functions of FN in the proliferation, migration, and invasion of cancers. Meanwhile, FN isoforms have been extensively used for targeted drug delivery and imaging for tumors. Although a growing number of studies on FN in CRC have been reported, integrated reviews on the relationship between FN and CRC are rare. In this review, we will summarize the association between FN and CRC, including the signaling pathways and molecules involved in, as well as potential diagnostic and therapeutic values of FN for patients with CRC.

Combined treatment with acetazolamide and cisplatin enhances the chemosensitivity of human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma TU868 cells

AIMS

To investigate whether combination of acetazolamide and cisplatin can enhance the chemosensitivity of human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cell line TU868.

METHODS

MTT assay was performed to determine the effect of acetazolamide, cisplatin and their combination on the proliferation of TU868 cells. Then the effect of these 2 drugs on the expression of proliferation-related and apoptosis-related proteins was detected by Western blot. Moreover, the effect of acetazolamide and cisplatin on the expression of aquaporin-1 was detected by RT-qPCR. Loss-of-function assays was performed to assess whether the effect of acetazolamide and cisplatin on TU868 cells was mediated by aquaporin-1. The effect of acetazolamide and cisplatin on tumor cell growth was confirmed in mice by testing the tumor growth size.

RESULTS

Acetazolamide and cisplatin treatment displayed synergistic effects on the inhibition of TU868 cell growth compared with the drugs used alone. Moreover, the acetazolamide/cisplatin combination could decrease the level of PCNA but increase the level of p53; decrease the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax and increase the expression of caspase-3 compared with the single drug treated group. Moreover, we found that the combination also significantly inhibits aquaporin-1 expression. Loss-of-function assays suggested that the anti-tumor effect of these 2 drugs was achieved via affecting aquaporin-1. Consistent with the in vitro assays, combined treatment with acetazolamide and cisplatin significantly inhibits the tumor growth in mice compared with the single drug treated group.

CONCLUSION

These results demonstrated that combined treatment with acetazolamide and cisplatin could synergistically inhibit the malignant development of HNSCC cells.

Identification of glutathione S-transferase π 1 as a prognostic proteomic biomarker for multiple myeloma using proteomic profiling

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a B-cell hematological malignancy with monoclonal plasma cell proliferation in the bone marrow. Early diagnosis of MM remains difficult due to the lack of specific symptoms and biomarkers. In the present study, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry and the ClinProt system was used to detect potential biomarkers for MM from the bone marrow samples of 30 patients and 30 healthy controls. A total of 10 of the most significantly differentiated peaks between the patients and controls were identified. When patients with MM were compared with controls, 6 peaks with m/z values of 1,779.24, 1,866.32, 2,022.36, 2,878.9, 4,417.76 and 7,155.38 were upregulated, and 4 peaks with m/z values of 1,466.54, 1,520.02, 1,546.53 and 2,991.05 were downregulated. Of these 10 peaks, 4 peaks (pk 8, 1,866.32 Da; pk 15, 2,878.90 Da; pk 17, 2,991.05 Da; and pk 3, 1,520.02 Da) were further sequenced and identified using liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS). Furthermore, the expression of fibronectin 1 and glutathione S-transferase π 1 (GSTP1) were validated in patients with MM via ELISAs. Clinical data and statistical analysis indicated that GSTP1 expression was closely associated with the clinical stage of patients with MM. High GSTP1 levels were an independent risk factor for worse prognosis in patients with MM. These results demonstrate that GSTP1 may be a novel biomarker for early diagnosis, prognosis and monitoring of minimal residual disease in MM.

MicroRNA-183 regulates lipopolysaccharide-induced oxidative stress of hippocampal neurons by targeting the fibronectin 1 gene

Oxidative stress is implicated in the initiation and progression of human and animal diseases. MicroRNA (MiR) has been reported to be involved in the body's regulation to oxidative stress. We investigated if miR-183 regulates lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced oxidative stress in the hippocampus of weaned piglets. LPS-treated piglets had lower expression of miR-183 and higher expression of the fibronectin(FN)1 gene in their hippocampus than control piglets. The expression profiles of miR-183 and the FN1 gene in primary cultured rat hippocampal neurons exposed to LPS were consistent with those in the hippocampus of LPS-treated piglets. The LPS-induced expression of FN1 was reversed in hippocampal neurons by transfection with an miR-183 mimic. A luciferase reporter assay further demonstrated that the FN1 gene is a direct target of miR-183. Taken together, our results demonstrated that miR-183 regulates LPS-induced oxidative stress at least in part by targeting FN1.

Proteogenomic landscape of squamous cell lung cancer

How genomic and transcriptomic alterations affect the functional proteome in lung cancer is not fully understood. Here, we integrate DNA copy number, somatic mutations, RNA-sequencing, and expression proteomics in a cohort of 108 squamous cell lung cancer (SCC) patients. We identify three proteomic subtypes, two of which (Inflamed, Redox) comprise 87% of tumors. The Inflamed subtype is enriched with neutrophils, B-cells, and monocytes and expresses more PD-1. Redox tumours are enriched for oxidation-reduction and glutathione pathways and harbor more NFE2L2/KEAP1 alterations and copy gain in the 3q2 locus. Proteomic subtypes are not associated with patient survival. However, B-cell-rich tertiary lymph node structures, more common in Inflamed, are associated with better survival. We identify metabolic vulnerabilities (TP63, PSAT1, and TFRC) in Redox. Our work provides a powerful resource for lung SCC biology and suggests therapeutic opportunities based on redox metabolism and immune cell infiltrates.

Squamous cell lung cancer has dismal prognosis due to the dearth of effective treatments. Here, the authors perform an integrated proteogenomic analysis of the disease, revealing three proteomics-based subtypes and suggesting potential therapeutic opportunities.

Silencing of LINC01116 suppresses the development of oral squamous cell carcinoma by up-regulating microRNA-136 to inhibit FN1

Background

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), one of the most common cancers worldwide with a high mortality rate, is accompanied by poor prognosis, highlighting the significance of early diagnosis and effective treatment. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been linked with the development and progression of various cancers. In this study, aberrantly expressed lncRNA LINC01116, microRNA-136 (miR-136), and fibronectin1 (FN1) were identified in OSCC using a microarray analysis. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the role of LINC01116/miR-136/FN1 regulatory axis in OSCC.

Methods

The gain-of-function and loss-of-function experiments in vitro were performed to alter the expression of LINC01116 and miR-136 in OSCC cells to elucidate their effects on cellular processes, including epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), viability, invasion, and migration. In addition, the interaction among LINC01116, miR-136, and FN1 was identified. Additionally, the tumorigenicity and lymph node metastasis (LNM) affected by LINC01116 were observed through xenograft tumor in nude mice.

Results

LINC01116 and FN1 were abundant in both OSCC tissues and cells, while miR-136 was poorly expressed. LINC01116 could competitively bind to miR-136, which targets and negatively regulates FN1. Moreover, in response to LINC01116 silencing or miR-136 over-expression, OSCC cells exhibited diminished EMT process and inhibited cell viability, invasion, and migration in vitro, coupling with impaired tumorigenicity and LNM in vivo.

Conclusion

The fundamental findings in this study collectively demonstrate that LINC01116 silencing may inhibit the progression of OSCC via the miR-136-mediated FN1 inhibition, highlighting a promising therapeutic strategy for OSCC treatment.

Fibronectin 1 promotes melanoma proliferation and metastasis by inhibiting apoptosis and regulating EMT

Background and aims: The complex process of cancer metastasis remains the least understood. Tumor cells alter their protein expression profile to survive from the tumor metastasis. Fibronectin 1 (FN1 gene coding protein) is a member of the glycoprotein family that has been shown to play an important role in cancer metastasis. However, its effects on melanoma metastasis are still unclear. Methods: We detected the FN1 expression between metastatic cells and primary cells by using Western blot and RT-qPCR assays. And, we analyzed the expressed feature of FN1 in different tissues and examined the clinical relevance of upregulated FN1 in melanoma progression by bioinformatic analysis. Furthermore, we downregulated the expression of FN1 by small interfering RNA technique to reveal the effect of FN1 on melanoma phenotype and expression of related genes. Finally, we used bioinformatics to reveal the possible mechanism of FN1 regulating melanoma progression. Results: We reported that the expression of FN1 was changed during melanoma metastasis. In this study, we established two metastatic cell lines of melanoma through mouse model, and found that metastatic cells exhibited stronger mesenchyme phenotype and possessed higher FN1 expression level compared to primary cells. Besides, we examined the clinical relevance of upregulated FN1 in tumor progression. Small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated downregulation of FN1 suppressed the migration, invasion, adhesion, proliferation capabilities and induced apoptosis of melanoma cells. We detected a diminished EMT-related gene signature including increased expression of E-cadherin and decreased expression of N-cadherin and Vimentin. Downregulation of FN1 also increased Bax/Bcl-2 ratio which might result in apoptosis of melanoma cells. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that FN1 most likely involved in focal adhesion and PI3K-Akt signaling pathway to regulate EMT process and apoptosis. Conclusions: Taken together, these findings demonstrated a role of FN1 in promoting melanoma metastasis by inhibiting apoptosis and regulating EMT.

Fibronectin-1 modulated by the long noncoding RNA OIP5-AS1/miR-200b-3p axis contributes to doxorubicin resistance of osteosarcoma cells

Chemoresistance has been an obstacle in the further improvement of 5-year survival rates of osteosarcoma (OS) patients, but the underlying mechanism of chemo-resistance remains unclear. A comprehensive analysis of mRNAs and noncoding RNAs related to OS chemo-resistance could help solve this problem. In the current study, we first identified that fibronectin-1 (FN1), screened by microarray analysis in three paired chemo-resistant and chemo-sensitive OS cell lines, was significantly upregulated in the chemo-resistant OS cell lines and tissues and was related to unfavourable prognosis. Further functional assays revealed that FN1 inhibition greatly increased the sensitivity of OS cells to doxorubicin in vitro and in vivo, whereas FN1 overexpression had the opposite effect. Moreover, mechanistic investigation demonstrated, by a series of assays that included luciferase reporter gene, RNA immunoprecipitation, RNA pull-down and rescue assays, that FN1 expression was regulated by the oncogenic long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) OIP5-AS1 through sponging miR-200b-3p. Thus, these results indicated the role and potential application of the lncRNA OIP5-AS1/miR-200b-3p/FN1 regulatory pathway as a promising target in treatment of OS chemo-resistance.

Combined treatment with acetazolamide and cisplatin enhances chemosensitivity in laryngeal carcinoma Hep-2 cells

The aim of the present study was to determine whether acetazolamide (Ace) treatment enhances the chemosensitivity of Hep-2 laryngeal cells to cisplatin (Cis). At the logarithmic growth phase, Hep-2 cells were treated with Ace, Cis or both, and cell viability was detected using an MTT assay. The degree of apoptosis was detected using flow cytometry. Expression levels of apoptosis-related proteins, including BCL2 apoptosis regulator (bcl-2), BCL2 associated X (bax) and caspase-3, and of proliferation-related proteins, including proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and tumor protein p53 (P53), were detected using western blotting. mRNA expression levels of aquaporin-1 (AQP1) in each group were detected using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Compared with the drugs used alone, treatment with both Ace and Cis displayed synergistic effects on the growth inhibition and apoptosis induction in Hep-2 cells. The Ace/Cis combination decreased the expression of PCNA but increased the expression of p53. In addition, the combination treatment decreased the ratio of bcl-2/bax and increased the expression of caspase-3, as well as decreased the expression of AQP1. These results demonstrated that the combined use of Ace and Cis enhanced the chemosensitivity of laryngeal carcinoma cells.

Identification of key genes and long non‑coding RNAs in celecoxib‑treated lung squamous cell carcinoma cell line by RNA‑sequencing

Celecoxib is an inhibitor of cyclooxygenase-2, a gene that is often aberrantly expressed in the lung squamous cell carcinoma (LSQCC). The present study aims to provide novel insight into chemoprevention by celecoxib treatment. The human LSQCC cell line SK‑MES‑1 was treated with or without celecoxib and RNA‑sequencing (RNA‑seq) was performed on the Illumina HiSeq 2000 platform. Expression levels of genes or long non‑coding RNAs (lncRNAs) were calculated by Cufflinks software. Subsequently, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and differentially expressed lncRNAs (DE‑LNRs) between the two groups were selected using the limma package and LNCipedia 3.0, respectively; followed by co‑expression analysis based on their expression correlation coefficient (CC). Enrichment analysis for the DEGs and co‑expressed DE‑LNRs were performed. Protein‑protein interaction (PPI) network analysis for DEGs was performed using STRING database. A set of 317 DEGs and 25 DE‑LNRs were identified between celecoxib‑treated and non‑treated cell lines. A total of 12 pathways were enriched by the DEGs, including 'protein processing in endoplasmic reticulum' for activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4), 'mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway' for vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) and 'ECM‑receptor interaction' for fibronectin 1 (FN1). Genes such as VEGFA, ATF4 and FN1 were highlighted in the PPI network. VEGFA was linked with lnc‑AP000769.1‑2:10 (CC= ‑0.99227), whereas ATF4 and FN1 were closely correlated with lnc‑HFE2‑2:1 (CC=0.996159 and ‑0.98714, respectively). lncRNAs were also enriched in pathways such as 'mTOR signaling pathway' for lnc‑HFE2‑2:1. Several important molecules were identified in celecoxib‑treated LSQCC cell lines, such as VEGFA, ATF4, FN1, lnc‑AP000769.1‑2:10 and lnc‑HFE2‑2:1, which may enhance the anti‑cancer effects of celecoxib on LSQCC.

Down-regulation of FN1 inhibits colorectal carcinogenesis by suppressing proliferation, migration, and invasion

Fibronectin 1 (FN1) is involved in cell adhesion and migration processes including embryogenesis, wound healing, blood coagulation, host defense, metastasis, and implicated in various biochemical processes. However, its effects on the development and progression of human cancer, especially colorectal cancer (CRC), are unclear. To evaluate the relationship between the expression of FN1 and the histopathologic parameters of patients with CRC or the proliferation, migration, and invasion of colorectal cancer cell lines, we screened FN1 as a new candidate gene which promotes development of CRC, in an independent dataset (The Human Protein Atlas website). Here, we reported that FN1 was elevated in CRC tissues compared with normal colon tissues. Further, FN1 expression level was correlated with age, lymph vascular invasion, and survival rate. Knockdown of FN1 in two CRC cell lines, LOVO, and SW1116, significantly inhibited cell proliferation, migration and invasion, and induced cell apoptosis. Western blot analysis showed that down-regulation of FN1 significantly decreased the expression of Bcl-2, MMP-9, Twist, and increased the expression of Bax, Caspase-3, and E-cadherin in LOVO and SW1116 cells. Then, we found that the protein ITGA5 was identified as a binding partner of FN1 and ITGA5 overexpression reversed FN1-induced tumorigenesis of CRC in vitro. Taken together, FN1 suppressed apoptosis and promoted viability, invasion, and migration in CRC through interacting with ITGA5. FN1 may be a prognostic factor and potential target for CRC treatment.

Knockdown of aquaporin-5 sensitizes colorectal cancer cells to 5-fluorouracil via inhibition of the Wnt-β-catenin signaling pathway

Aquaporin-5 (AQP5), a water channel protein, has been reported to possess oncogenic potential in multiple types of malignancies, including colorectal cancer (CRC). However, its effect on the chemosensitivity of CRC cells remains elusive. Hence, this study investigated the effect of AQP5 silencing in CRC cells on 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) sensitivity and attempted to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. A short hairpin RNA construct targeting AQP5 was transfected into HCT116 or HT29 cells to generate stable AQP5-silenced cell lines. The effects of AQP5 knockdown on cell viability, apoptosis, tumor growth, and 5-FU chemoresistance were evaluated. Relative protein levels of Wnt-β-catenin pathway effectors were also measured. The results showed that silencing of AQP5 increased the chemosensitivity of CRC cells to 5-FU, facilitated 5-FU-mediated apoptosis, suppressed tumor growth, and reduced 5-FU chemoresistance in vivo. Furthermore, the effect of AQP5 on 5-FU chemosensitivity was mediated by the Wnt-β-catenin pathway. Silencing of AQP5 inhibited Wnt-β-catenin signaling, whereas overexpression of the degradation-resistant mutant of β-catenin (S33Y) reversed apoptosis induced by AQP5 silencing. Taken together, these results suggest that AQP5 silencing enhances the sensitivity of CRC cells to 5-FU, and the underlying mechanism is related to inhibition of the Wnt-β-catenin pathway. AQP5 could be a useful therapeutic target for CRC treatment.

Potential signaling pathways as therapeutic targets for overcoming chemoresistance in mucinous ovarian cancer

Cases of mucinous ovarian cancer are predominantly resistant to chemotherapies. The present review summarizes current knowledge of the therapeutic potential of targeting the Wingless (WNT) pathway, with particular emphasis on preclinical and clinical studies, for improving the chemoresistance and treatment of mucinous ovarian cancer. A review was conducted of English language literature published between January 2000 and October 2017 that concerned potential signaling pathways associated with the chemoresistance of mucinous ovarian cancer. The literature indicated that aberrant activation of growth factor and WNT signaling pathways is specifically observed in mucinous ovarian cancer. An evolutionarily conserved signaling cascade system including epidermal growth factor/RAS/RAF/mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase/extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase, phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt and WNT signaling regulates a variety of cellular functions; their crosstalk mutually enhances signaling activity and induces chemoresistance. Novel antagonists, modulators and inhibitors have been developed for targeting the components of the WNT signaling pathway, namely Frizzled, low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 5/6, Dishevelled, casein kinase 1, AXIN, glycogen synthase kinase 3β and β-catenin. Targeted inhibition of WNT signaling represents a rational and promising novel approach to overcome chemoresistance, and several WNT inhibitors are being evaluated in preclinical studies. In conclusion, the WNT receptors and their downstream components may serve as novel therapeutic targets for overcoming chemoresistance in mucinous ovarian cancer.

MicroRNA-139 targets fibronectin 1 to inhibit papillary thyroid carcinoma progression

Thyroid cancer is the most common tumour of the endocrine system, and its incidence rate has markedly increased over the past several decades. Aberrantly expressed microRNAs (miRNAs) are reportedly involved in the formation and progression of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) by regulating their target genes. Thus, miRNAs may be potential molecular biomarkers for the prediction and prognosis of PTC, and also as novel therapeutic targets for patients with PTC. miR-139 has recently been reported to be aberrantly expressed in several types of cancer. However, the expression levels, biological functions and the associated molecular mechanism of miR-139 in PTC have not been clearly elucidated. The results of the present study revealed that miR-139 expression was downregulated in PTC tissues and cell lines when compared with adjacent normal tissues and normal human thyroid cells, respectively. The restoration of miR-139 expression suppressed cellular proliferation and invasion in PTC in vitro. In addition, fibronectin 1 (FN1) was identified as a direct target of miR-139 in PTC. Furthermore, FN1 was highly expressed in PTC tissues and negatively associated with miR-139 expression. Moreover, the tumour-suppressive effects of miR-139 overexpression on PTC cells were ameliorated by ectopic FN1 expression. To the best of our knowledge, the present study is the first to demonstrate that miR-139 may serve as a tumour suppressor and serve important roles in inhibiting tumourigenesis by targeting FN1 in PTC cells.

miR-181c contributes to cisplatin resistance in non-small cell lung cancer cells by targeting Wnt inhibition factor 1

PURPOSE

miRNAs are implicated in drug resistance of multiple cancers including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), highlighting the potential of miRNAs as chemoresistance regulators in cancer treatment. This study aims to explore the relationship between miR-181c and chemoresistance of NSCLC cells.

METHODS

qRT-PCR was conducted to examine the expression of miR-181c in NSCLC tissues, and parental and cisplatin (DDP)-resistant NSCLC cells. MTT assay and flow cytometry were performed to detect the survival rate and apoptosis in NSCLC cells. Luciferase reporter assay was performed to confirm the potential target of miR-181c. Xenograft tumor experiment was applied to confirm the effect of miR-181c on DDP sensitivity of DDP-resistant NSCLC cells in vivo.

RESULTS

miR-181c was upregulated in NSCLC tissues, and parental and DDP-resistant NSCLC cells. miR-181c downregulation or WIF1 overexpression increased DDP sensitivity of DDP-resistant NSCLC cells by decreasing survival rate and promoting DDP-induced apoptosis. miR-181c was demonstrated to be able to bind to WIF1 and negatively regulate the expression of WIF1. WIF1 knockdown abolished anti-miR-181c-induced DDP sensitivity. Moreover, anti-miR-181c suppressed the Wnt/β-catenin pathway by regulating WIF1. XAV939 treatment reversed miR-181c-induced increase in IC50 value and miR-181c-triggered decrease in apoptosis. Finally, anti-miR-181c improved DDP sensitivity of DDP-resistant NSCLC cells in vivo.

CONCLUSION

miR-181c contributed to DDP resistance in NSCLC cells through activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway by targeting WIF1, providing a potential therapeutic application for the treatment of patients with DDP-resistant NSCLC in the future.