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Al-Hawary SIS, Pallathadka H, Hjazi A, Zhumanov ZE, Alazbjee AAA, Imad S, Alsalamy A, Hussien BM, Jaafer NS, Mahmoudi R. ETS transcription factor ELK3 in human cancers: An emerging therapeutic target. Pathol Res Pract 2023; 248:154728. [PMID: 37542863 DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2023.154728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/29/2023] [Indexed: 08/07/2023]
Abstract
Cancer is a genetic and complex disorder, resulting from several events associated with onset, development, and metastasis. Tumor suppressors and oncogenes are among the main regulators of tumor progression, contributing to various cancer-related behaviors like cell proliferation, invasion, migration, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), cell cycle, and apoptosis. Transcription factors (TFs) could act as tumor suppressors or oncogenes in cancer progression. E-twenty-six/E26 (ETS) family of TFs have a winged helix-turn-helix (HLH) motif, which interacted with specific DNA regions with high levels of purines and GGA core. ETS proteins act as transcriptional repressors or activators to modulate the expression of target genes. ETS transcription factor ELK3 (ELK3), as a type of ETS protein, was shown to enhance in various cancers, suggesting that it may have an oncogenic role. These studies indicated that ELK3 promoted invasion, migration, cell cycle, proliferation, and EMT, and suppressed cell apoptosis. In addition, these studies demonstrated that ELK3 could be a promising diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in human cancer. Moreover, accumulating data proved that ELK3 could be a novel chemoresistance mediator in human cancer. Here, we aimed to explore the overall change of ELK3 and its underlying molecular mechanism in human cancers. Moreover, we aimed to investigate the potential role of ELK3 as a prognostic and diagnostic biomarker as well as its capability as a chemoresistance mediator in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ahmed Hjazi
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj 11942, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ziyadulla Eshmamatovich Zhumanov
- Department of Pathological Anatomy, With a Section-biopsy Course, Samarkand State Medical Institute, Amir Temur Street 18, Samarkand, Uzbekistan; Department of Scientific Affairs, Tashkent State Dental Institute, Makhtumkuli Street 103, Tashkent 100047, Uzbekistan
| | | | - Shad Imad
- Medical Technical College, Al-Farahidi University, Baghdad, Iraq
| | - Ali Alsalamy
- College of Technical Engineering, Imam Ja'afar Al-Sadiq University, Al-Muthanna 66002, Iraq
| | - Beneen M Hussien
- Medical Laboratory Technology Department, College of Medical Technology, The Islamic University, Najaf, Iraq
| | - Noor Sadiq Jaafer
- Department of Medical Laboratory Technologies, Al Rafidain University College, Bagdad, Iraq
| | - Reza Mahmoudi
- Department of Toxicology and Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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Jung HY, Lee DK, Lee M, Choi SH, Park JD, Ko ES, Lee J, Park KS, Jung HY. ELK3-CXCL16 axis determines natural killer cell cytotoxicity via the chemotactic activity of CXCL16 in triple negative breast cancer. Oncoimmunology 2023; 12:2190671. [PMID: 36950218 PMCID: PMC10026901 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2023.2190671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most challenging subtype of breast cancer because of its aggressive behavior and the limited therapeutic strategies available. In the last decade, immunotherapy has become a promising treatment to prolong survival in advanced solid cancers including TNBC. However, the efficacy of immunotherapy in solid cancers remains limited because solid tumors contain few tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes. Here, we show that targeting an ETS transcription factor ELK3 (ELK3) recruits immune cells including natural killer (NK) cells into tumors via the chemotactic activity of chemokine. ELK3 depletion increases CXCL16 expression level and promotes NK cell cytotoxicity through CXCL16-mediated NK cell recruitment in TNBC. In silico analysis showed that ELK3 is negatively correlated with CXCL16 expression in breast cancer patient samples. Low expression of ELK3 and high expression of CXCL16 were associated with a better prognosis. Low expression of ELK3 and high expression of CXCL16 were associated with increased expression of NK cell-related genes. Our findings demonstrate that the ELK3-CXCL16 axis modulates NK cell recruitment to increase NK cell cytotoxicity, suggesting that targeting the ELK3 gene could be an adjuvant strategy for increasing the efficacy of immunotherapy in TNBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hae-Yun Jung
- Department of Biomedical Science, College of Life Science, CHA University, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
- Hae-Yun Jung Division of Radiation Biomedical Research, Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Dae-Keum Lee
- Department of Biomedical Science, College of Life Science, CHA University, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Minwook Lee
- Department of Biomedical Science, College of Life Science, CHA University, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung Hee Choi
- Department of Biomedical Science, College of Life Science, CHA University, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Joo Dong Park
- Department of Biomedical Science, College of Life Science, CHA University, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun-Su Ko
- Department of Biomedical Science, College of Life Science, CHA University, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Jongwon Lee
- Brain Korea 21 Plus Project for Biomedical Science, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung-Soon Park
- Department of Biomedical Science, College of Life Science, CHA University, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
- CONTACT Kyung-Soon Park
| | - Hae-Yun Jung
- Department of Biomedical Science, College of Life Science, CHA University, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
- Division of Radiation Biomedical Research, Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences, Seoul, Republic ok Korea
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Guan J, Guan B, Shang H, Peng J, Yang H, Lin J. Babao Dan inhibits lymphangiogenesis of gastric cancer in vitro and in vivo via lncRNA-ANRIL/VEGF-C/VEGFR-3 signaling axis. Biomed Pharmacother 2022; 154:113630. [PMID: 36058147 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.113630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2022] [Revised: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common gastrointestinal malignancies in the world. Growing evidence emphasizes the critical role of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) in GC tumorigenesis. The aim of the research was to elucidate the effect and mechanism of Babao Dan (BBD) on lymphangiogenesis of GC in vitro and in vivo via lncRNA-ANRIL/VEGF-C/VEGFR-3 signaling axis. The present study investigated BBD significantly decreased the expression of lncRNA-ANRIL and VEGF-C in GC cells (AGS, BGC823, and MGC80-3) by using real-time quantitative polymerasechain reaction (RT-qPCR) and the secretion and expression of VEGF-C by (enzyme linked immunosorbent assay) ELISA and western blot (WB). BBD significantly inhibited the tumor xenograft of GC growth and the expression of lncRNA-ANRIL, VEGF-C, VEGFR-3 and LYVE-1 in vivo. BBD reduced serum VEGF-C level. In vitro, BBD inhibited the tube formation and decreased the cell viability, proliferation and migration of HLECs by using tube formation, MTT, Hoechst and Transwell assays. In addition, WB assay found that BBD decreased the expression levels of VEGF-C, VEGFR-3, matrix metallopeptidase 2 (MMP-2) and matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP-9), and RT-qPCR assay found that the mRNA expression levels of lncRNA-ANRIL, VEGF-C, VEGFR-3, MMP-2, MMP-9, CDK4, Cyclin D1, and Bcl-2 were down-regulated, and the expression of p21 and Bax were increased. Taken together, these results demonstrated that BBD inhibited lymphangiogenesis of GC in vitro and in vivo via the lncRNA-ANRIL/VEGF-C/VEGFR-3 signaling axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianhua Guan
- Academy of Integrative Medicine of Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian 350122, PR China; Fujian Key Laboratory of Integrative Medicine on Geriatrics, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian 350122, PR China
| | - Bin Guan
- Xiamen Traditional Chinese Medicine Co., Ltd., Xiamen 361100, PR China
| | - Haixia Shang
- Academy of Integrative Medicine of Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian 350122, PR China; Fujian Key Laboratory of Integrative Medicine on Geriatrics, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian 350122, PR China
| | - Jun Peng
- Academy of Integrative Medicine of Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian 350122, PR China; Fujian Key Laboratory of Integrative Medicine on Geriatrics, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian 350122, PR China; Key Laboratory of Integrative Medicine (Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine), Fujian Province University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350122, PR China
| | - Hong Yang
- Academy of Integrative Medicine of Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian 350122, PR China; Fujian Key Laboratory of Integrative Medicine on Geriatrics, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian 350122, PR China
| | - Jiumao Lin
- Academy of Integrative Medicine of Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian 350122, PR China; Fujian Key Laboratory of Integrative Medicine on Geriatrics, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian 350122, PR China; Key Laboratory of Integrative Medicine (Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine), Fujian Province University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350122, PR China.
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Xu H, Zhang L, Gao J, Wang J, Wang Y, Xiao D, Chai S. Molecular and clinical features of a potential immunotherapy target ELK3 in glioma. Medicine (Baltimore) 2022; 101:e29544. [PMID: 35905257 PMCID: PMC9333475 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000029544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Glioma represents the most prevalent malignant primary brain cancer, and its treatment remains a tremendous challenge. Novel and efficient molecular targets are therefore required for improving diagnosis, survival prediction, and treatment outcomes. Additionally, some studies have shown that immunity is highly associated with glioma progression. Our study aimed to investigate the clinicopathological features, prognostic significance, and immunotherapeutic targetability of ELK3, a member of the erythroblast transformation-specific transcription factor family, in glioma using bioinformatics analyses. ELK3 transcript levels in glioma tissues were evaluated using the Gene Expression Omnibus and The Cancer Genome Atlas databases. Clinical and transcriptomic data of The Cancer Genome Atlas glioma patients were analyzed to identify the molecular and clinical characterizations of ELK3. The prognostic significance of ELK3 was assessed using Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier analysis. The biological pathways related to ELK3 expression were identified by gene set enrichment analysis. The relationships between ELK3 and inflammatory responses, immune cell infiltration, and immune checkpoints were explored using canonical correlation analysis and gene set variation analysis. ELK3 was upregulated in gliomas, and its high expression was correlated with advanced clinicopathologic features and unfavorable prognosis. Gene set enrichment analysis revealed that several immune-related pathways were tightly linked to high ELK3 expression. gene set variation analysis and correlograms demonstrated that ELK3 was robustly associated with inflammatory and immune responses. Correlation analyses indicated that ELK3 was positively associated with infiltrating immune cells and synergistic with several immune checkpoints. ELK3 may serve as a novel marker of poor prognosis and a potential immunotherapeutic target in glioma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Xu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Wuhan Changjiang Shipping General Hospital, Wuhan, China
| | - Li Zhang
- School of Information Management, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jin Gao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jiajing Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yihao Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Dongdong Xiao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Songshan Chai
- Department of Neurosurgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- *Correspondence: Songshan Chai, Department of Neurosurgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, No. 169, Donghu Road, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, China (e-mail: )
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Park JD, Kim KS, Choi SH, Jo GH, Choi JH, Park SW, Ko ES, Lee M, Lee DK, Jang HJ, Hwang S, Jung HY, Park KS. ELK3 modulates the antitumor efficacy of natural killer cells against triple negative breast cancer by regulating mitochondrial dynamics. J Immunother Cancer 2022; 10:jitc-2022-004825. [PMID: 35858708 PMCID: PMC9305827 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2022-004825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most lethal subtype of breast cancer due to its aggressive behavior and frequent development of resistance to chemotherapy. Although natural killer (NK) cell-based immunotherapy is a promising strategy for overcoming barriers to cancer treatment, the therapeutic efficacy of NK cells against TNBC is below expectations. E26 transformation-specific transcription factor ELK3 (ELK3) is highly expressed in TNBCs and functions as a master regulator of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Methods Two representative human TNBC cell lines, MDA-MB231 and Hs578T, were exposed to ELK3-targeting shRNA or an ELK3-expressing plasmid to modulate ELK3 expression. The downstream target genes of ELK3 were identified using a combined approach comprising gene expression profiling and molecular analysis. The role of ELK3 in determining the immunosensitivity of TNBC to NK cells was investigated in terms of mitochondrial fission–fusion transition and reactive oxygen species concentration both in vitro and in vivo. Results ELK3-dependent mitochondrial fission–fusion status was linked to the mitochondrial superoxide concentration in TNBCs and was a main determinant of NK cell-mediated immune responses. We identified mitochondrial dynamics proteins of 51 (Mid51), a major mediator of mitochondrial fission, as a direct downstream target of ELK3 in TNBCs. Also, we demonstrated that expression of ELK3 correlated inversely with that of Mid51, and that the ELK3-Mid51 axis is associated directly with the status of mitochondrial dynamics. METABRIC analysis revealed that the ELK3-Mid51 axis has a direct effect on the immune score and survival of patients with TNBC. Conclusions Taken together, the data suggest that NK cell responses to TNBC are linked directly to ELK3 expression levels, shedding new light on strategies to improve the efficacy of NK cell-based immunotherapy of TNBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joo Dong Park
- Department of Biomedical Science, CHA University, Seongnam-si, Korea (the Republic of)
| | - Kwang-Soo Kim
- Department of Neurosurgery, Lou and Jean Malnati Brain Tumor Institute, Robert H Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Seung Hee Choi
- Department of Biomedical Science, CHA University, Seongnam-si, Korea (the Republic of)
| | - Gae Hoon Jo
- Department of Biomedical Science, CHA University, Seongnam-si, Korea (the Republic of)
| | - Jin-Ho Choi
- Department of Biomedical Science, CHA University, Seongnam-si, Korea (the Republic of)
| | - Si-Won Park
- Department of Biomedical Science, CHA University, Seongnam-si, Korea (the Republic of)
| | - Eun-Su Ko
- Department of Biomedical Science, CHA University, Seongnam-si, Korea (the Republic of)
| | - Minwook Lee
- Department of Biomedical Science, CHA University, Seongnam-si, Korea (the Republic of)
| | - Dae-Keum Lee
- Department of Biomedical Science, CHA University, Seongnam-si, Korea (the Republic of)
| | - Hye Jung Jang
- Department of Biomedical Science, CHA University, Seongnam-si, Korea (the Republic of)
| | - Sohyun Hwang
- Department of Biomedical Science, CHA University, Seongnam-si, Korea (the Republic of)
| | - Hae-Yun Jung
- Department of Biomedical Science, CHA University, Seongnam-si, Korea (the Republic of)
| | - Kyung-Soon Park
- Department of Biomedical Science, CHA University, Seongnam-si, Korea (the Republic of)
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Zhou L, Wu Y, Xin L. [Expression characteristics and functional analysis of ELK3 in gastric cancer]. NAN FANG YI KE DA XUE XUE BAO = JOURNAL OF SOUTHERN MEDICAL UNIVERSITY 2021; 41:1287-1295. [PMID: 34658341 DOI: 10.12122/j.issn.1673-4254.2021.09.01] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To explore the expression characteristics of ELK3 and its role in the occurrence, progression and prognosis of gastric cancer. METHODS We analyzed the expression characteristics of ELK3 in gastric cancer based on E-MTAB-6693 dataset and explored the prognostic value of ELK3 using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis. Chip-Atlas, ChipBase, Genes Transcription Regulation Database, and hTFtarget were used for predicting the target genes of ELK3 and constructing the transcription regulation network. Functional enrichment analysis of the target genes was performed using R software. The proportions of infiltrating immune cells in gastric cancer were analyzed using Cibersort tool, and the Pearson coefficients between ELK3 and these cells were calculated. The expression profile of ELK3 was verified based on Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis and Human Protein Atlas databases. We also collected 5 pairs of gastric cancer and adjacent tissue samples and detected the expression of ELK3 at both the mRNA and protein levels using RT-PCR and Western blotting. RESULTS In public datasets and clinical samples, ELK3 was highly expressed in gastric cancer (P < 0.05), and its expression increased with the progression of M stage, AJCC stage, and perineural invasion (P < 0.05). ELK3 expression was correlated with N stage, AJCC stage, Lauren classification, differentiation, pathological classification, and microsatellite status of gastric cancer (P < 0.05). A high expression of ELK3 was associated with significantly reduced overall survival and disease-free survival of the patients, and served as an independent prognostic factor of gastric cancer (P < 0.05). Comprehensive analysis identified 176 potential target genes of ELK3, and enrichment analysis showed that ELK3 may regulate Rap1, AMPK, chemokines, VEGF, TNF, and tumor PD-L1/PD-1 signaling (PP < 0.05). The expression of ELK3 was negatively correlated with regulatory T cells, follicular helper T cells, and CD8+T cells in gastric cancer (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION ELK3 acts as an oncogene in gastric cancer, and its high expression may promote the occurrence, progression and immune escape of gastric cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Zhou
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China
| | - Y Wu
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China
| | - L Xin
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China
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Zhou L, Chen Z, Wu Y, Lu H, Xin L. Prognostic signature composed of transcription factors accurately predicts the prognosis of gastric cancer patients. Cancer Cell Int 2021; 21:357. [PMID: 34233659 PMCID: PMC8261954 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-021-02008-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Transcription factors (TFs) are involved in important molecular biological processes of tumor cells and play an essential role in the occurrence and development of gastric cancer (GC). METHODS Combined The Cancer Genome Atlas Program and Genotype-Tissue Expression database to extract the expression of TFs in GC, analyzed the differences, and weighted gene co-expression network analysis to extract TFs related to GC. The cohort including the training and validation cohort. Univariate Cox, least absolute contraction and selection operator (LASSO) regression, and multivariate Cox analysis was used for screening hub TFs to construct the prognostic signature in the training cohort. The Kaplan-Meier (K-M) and the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was drawn to evaluate the predictive ability of the prognostic signature. A nomogram combining clinical information and prognostic signatures of TFs was constructed and its prediction accuracy was evaluated through various methods. The target genes of the hub TFs was predicted and enrichment analysis was performed to understand its molecular biological mechanism. Clinical samples and public data of GC was collected to verify its expression and prognosis. 5-Ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine and Acridine Orange/Ethidium Bromide staining, flow cytometry and Western-Blot detection were used to analyze the effects of hub-TF ELK3 on the proliferation and apoptosis of gastric cancer in vitro. RESULTS A total of 511 misaligned TFs were obtained and 200 GC-related TFs were exposed from them. After systematic analysis, a prognostic signature composed of 4 TFs (ZNF300, ELK3, SP6, MEF2B) were constructed. The KM and ROC curves demonstrated the good predictive ability in training, verification, and complete cohort. The areas under the ROC curve are respectively 0.737, 0.705, 0.700. The calibration chart verified that the predictive ability of the nomogram constructed by combining the prognostic signature of TFs and clinical information was accurate, with a C-index of 0.714. Enriching the target genes of hub TFs showed that it plays an vital role in tumor progression, and its expression and prognostic verification were consistent with the previous analysis. Among them, ELK3 was proved in vitro, and downregulation of its expression inhibited the proliferation of gastric cancer cells, induced proliferation, and exerted anti-tumor effects. CONCLUSIONS The 4-TFs prognostic signature accurately predicted the overall survival of GC, and ELK3 may be potential therapeutic targets for GC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liqiang Zhou
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, 1 Minde Road, Donghu District, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi, China
| | - Zhiqing Chen
- Molecular Medicine Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi, China
| | - You Wu
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, 1 Minde Road, Donghu District, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi, China
| | - Hao Lu
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, 1 Minde Road, Donghu District, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi, China
| | - Lin Xin
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, 1 Minde Road, Donghu District, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi, China.
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Meng L, Xing Z, Guo Z, Liu Z. LINC01106 post-transcriptionally regulates ELK3 and HOXD8 to promote bladder cancer progression. Cell Death Dis 2020; 11:1063. [PMID: 33311496 PMCID: PMC7733594 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-020-03236-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Revised: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Bladder cancer (BCa) is a kind of common urogenital malignancy worldwide. Emerging evidence indicated that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play critical roles in the progression of BCa. In this study, we discovered a novel lncRNA LINC01116 whose expression increased with stages in BCa patients and closely related to the survival rate of BCa patients. However, the molecular mechanism dictating the role of LINC01116 in BCa has not been well elucidated so far. In our study, we detected that the expression of LINC01116 was boosted in BCa cells. Moreover, the results of a series of functional assays showed that LINC01116 knockdown suppressed the proliferation, migration, and invasion of BCa cells. Thereafter, GEPIA indicated the closest correlation of LINC01116 with two protein-coding genes, ELK3 and HOXD8. Interestingly, LINC01116 was mainly a cytoplasmic lncRNA in BCa cells, and it could modulate ELK3 and HOXD8 at post-transcriptional level. Mechanically, LINC01116 increased the expression of ELK3 by adsorbing miR-3612, and also stabilized HOXD8 mRNA by binding with DKC1. Rescue experiments further demonstrated that the restraining influence of LINC01116 knockdown on the progression of BCa, was partly rescued by ELK3 promotion, but absolutely reversed by the co-enhancement of ELK3 and HOXD8. More intriguingly, HOXD8 acted as a transcription factor to activate LINC01116 in BCa. In conclusion, HOXD8-enhanced LINC01116 contributes to the progression of BCa via targeting ELK3 and HOXD8, which might provide new targets for treating patients with BCa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liwei Meng
- Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250000, Shandong Province, China
| | - Zhaoquan Xing
- Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250000, Shandong Province, China
| | - Zhaoxin Guo
- Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250000, Shandong Province, China
| | - Zhaoxu Liu
- Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250000, Shandong Province, China.
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Malone MK, Smrekar K, Park S, Blakely B, Walter A, Nasta N, Park J, Considine M, Danilova LV, Pandey NB, Fertig EJ, Popel AS, Jin K. Cytokines secreted by stromal cells in TNBC microenvironment as potential targets for cancer therapy. Cancer Biol Ther 2020; 21:560-569. [PMID: 32213106 PMCID: PMC7515526 DOI: 10.1080/15384047.2020.1739484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2019] [Revised: 12/08/2019] [Accepted: 02/27/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
In triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), the lack of therapeutic markers and effective targeted therapies result in an incurable metastatic disease associated with a poor prognosis. Crosstalks within the tumor microenvironment (TME), including those between cancer and stromal cells, affect the tumor heterogeneity, growth, and metastasis. Previously, we have demonstrated that IL-6, IL-8, and CCL5 play a significant role in TNBC growth and metastasis. In this study, we performed a systematic analysis of cytokine factors secreted from four stromal components (fibroblasts, macrophages, lymphatic endothelial cells, and blood microvascular endothelial cells) induced by four TNBC cell types. Through bioinformatic analysis, we selected putative candidates of secreted factors from stromal cells, which are involved in EMT activity, cell proliferation, metabolism, and matrisome pathways. Among the candidates, LCN2, GM-CSF, CST3, IL-6, IL-8, and CHI3L1 are ranked highly. Significantly, Lipocalin-2 (LCN2) is upregulated in the crosstalk of stromal cells and four different TNBC cells. We validated the increase of LCN2 secreted from four stromal cells induced by TNBC cells. Using a specific LCN2 antibody, we observed the inhibition of TNBC cell growth and migration. Taken together, these results propose secreted factors as molecular targets to treat TNBC progression via crosstalk with stromal components.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie K. Malone
- Department of Pharmaceutical Science, Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Science, Albany, NY, USA
| | - Karly Smrekar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Science, Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Science, Albany, NY, USA
| | - Sunju Park
- Department of Pharmaceutical Science, Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Science, Albany, NY, USA
| | - Brianna Blakely
- Department of Pharmaceutical Science, Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Science, Albany, NY, USA
| | - Alec Walter
- Department of Pharmaceutical Science, Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Science, Albany, NY, USA
| | - Nicholas Nasta
- Department of Pharmaceutical Science, Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Science, Albany, NY, USA
| | - Jay Park
- Department of Pharmaceutical Science, Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Science, Albany, NY, USA
| | - Michael Considine
- Department of Oncology, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Ludmila V. Danilova
- Department of Oncology, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Niranjan B. Pandey
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Elana J. Fertig
- Department of Oncology, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Applied Mathematics and Statistics, Johns Hopkins University Whiting School of Engineering, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Aleksander S. Popel
- Department of Oncology, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Kideok Jin
- Department of Pharmaceutical Science, Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Science, Albany, NY, USA
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10
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Cho HJ, Oh N, Park JH, Kim KS, Kim HK, Lee E, Hwang S, Kim SJ, Park KS. ZEB1 Collaborates with ELK3 to Repress E-Cadherin Expression in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells. Mol Cancer Res 2019; 17:2257-2266. [PMID: 31511359 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-19-0380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2019] [Revised: 07/15/2019] [Accepted: 09/06/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
ZEB1 has intrinsic oncogenic functions that control the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of cancer cells, impacting tumorigenesis from its earliest stages. By integrating microenvironment signals and being implicated in feedback regulatory loops, ZEB1 appears to be a central switch that determines EMT and metastasis of cancer cells. Here, we found that ZEB1 collaborates with ELK3, a ternary complex factor belonging to the ETS family, to repress E-cadherin expression. ZEB1 functions as a transcriptional activator of ELK3. We first identified that ELK3 and ZEB1 have a positively correlated expression in breast cancer cells by using multiple databases for correlation analysis. Molecular analysis revealed that ZEB1 functions as a transcriptional activator of ELK3 expression. GST pull-down assay and coimmunoprecipitation analysis of wild-type or domain deletion mutants of ZEB1 and ELK3 showed that these 2 proteins directly bound each other. Furthermore, we demonstrated that ZEB1 and ELK3 collaborate to repress the expression of E-cadherin, a representative protein that initiates EMT. Our finding suggested that ELK3 is a novel factor of the ZEB1/E-cadherin axis in triple-negative breast cancer cells. IMPLICATIONS: ELK3 is a novel factor in the ZEB1/E-cadherin axis and ZEB1 has a dual role in ELK3 as a transcriptional activator and as a collaborator to repress E-cadherin expression in triple-negative breast cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyeon-Ju Cho
- Department of Biomedical Science, College of Life Science, CHA University, Bundang-gu, Republic of Korea
| | - Nuri Oh
- Department of Biomedical Science, College of Life Science, CHA University, Bundang-gu, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji-Hoon Park
- Department of Biomedical Science, College of Life Science, CHA University, Bundang-gu, Republic of Korea
| | - Kwang-Soo Kim
- Department of Biomedical Science, College of Life Science, CHA University, Bundang-gu, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyung-Keun Kim
- Department of Biomedical Science, College of Life Science, CHA University, Bundang-gu, Republic of Korea
| | - Eunbyeol Lee
- Department of Biomedical Science, College of Life Science, CHA University, Bundang-gu, Republic of Korea
| | - Sohyun Hwang
- Department of Biomedical Science, College of Life Science, CHA University, Bundang-gu, Republic of Korea
| | - Seong-Jin Kim
- Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology, Seoul National University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung-Soon Park
- Department of Biomedical Science, College of Life Science, CHA University, Bundang-gu, Republic of Korea.
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11
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Kim KS, Park JI, Oh N, Cho HJ, Park JH, Park KS. ELK3 expressed in lymphatic endothelial cells promotes breast cancer progression and metastasis through exosomal miRNAs. Sci Rep 2019; 9:8418. [PMID: 31182803 PMCID: PMC6557839 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-44828-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2019] [Accepted: 05/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumor-associated lymphatic vessels (LV) serve as a route of cancer dissemination through the prometastatic crosstalk between lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs) lining the LVs and cancer cells. Compared to blood endothelial cell-derived angiocrine factors, however, LEC-secreted factors in the tumor microenvironment and their roles in tumor metastasis are poorly understood. Here, we report that ELK3 expressed in LECs contributes to the dissemination of cancer cells during tumor growth by providing oncogenic miRNAs to tumor cells through exosomes. We found that conditioned medium from ELK3-suppressed LECs (LCM) lost its ability to promote the migration and invasion of breast cancer cells such as MDA-MB-231, Hs578T and BT20 in vitro. Suppression of ELK3 in LECs diminished the ability of LECs to promote tumor growth and metastasis of MDA-MB-231 in vivo. Exosomes derived from LECs significantly increased the migration and invasion of MDA-MB-231 in vitro, but ELK3 suppression significantly diminished the pro-oncogenic activity of exosomes from LECs. Based on the miRNA expression profiles of LECs and functional analysis, we identified miR-503-3p, miR-4269 and miR-30e-3p as downstream targets of ELK3 in LECs, which cause the above phenotype of cancer cells. These findings strongly suggest that ELK3 expressed in LECs is a major regulator that controls the communication between the tumor microenvironment and tumors to support cancer metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kwang-Soo Kim
- Department of Biomedical Science, College of Life Science, CHA University, Seongnam-si, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji-In Park
- Department of Biomedical Science, College of Life Science, CHA University, Seongnam-si, Republic of Korea
| | - Nuri Oh
- Department of Biomedical Science, College of Life Science, CHA University, Seongnam-si, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyeon-Ju Cho
- Department of Biomedical Science, College of Life Science, CHA University, Seongnam-si, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji-Hoon Park
- Department of Biomedical Science, College of Life Science, CHA University, Seongnam-si, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung-Soon Park
- Department of Biomedical Science, College of Life Science, CHA University, Seongnam-si, Republic of Korea.
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12
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Cote B, Rao D, Alany RG, Kwon GS, Alani AW. Lymphatic changes in cancer and drug delivery to the lymphatics in solid tumors. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2019; 144:16-34. [PMID: 31461662 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2019.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2019] [Revised: 08/05/2019] [Accepted: 08/23/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Although many solid tumors use the lymphatic system to metastasize, there are few treatment options that directly target cancer present in the lymphatic system, and those that do are highly invasive, uncomfortable, and/or have limitations. In this review we provide a brief overview of lymphatic function and anatomy, discusses changes that befall the lymphatics in cancer and the mechanisms by which these changes occur, and highlight limitations of lymphatic drug delivery. We then go on to summarize relevant techniques and new research for targeting cancer populations in the lymphatics and enhancing drug delivery intralymphatically, including intralymphatic injections, isolated limb perfusion, passive nano drug delivery systems, and actively targeted nanomedicine.
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13
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Qin T, Huang D, Liu Z, Zhang X, Jia Y, Xian CJ, Li K. Tumor necrosis factor superfamily 15 promotes lymphatic metastasis via upregulation of vascular endothelial growth factor-C in a mouse model of lung cancer. Cancer Sci 2018; 109:2469-2478. [PMID: 29890027 PMCID: PMC6113425 DOI: 10.1111/cas.13665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2018] [Revised: 05/29/2018] [Accepted: 06/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Lymphatic metastasis is facilitated by lymphangiogenic growth factor vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGFC) that is secreted by some primary tumors. We previously identified tumor necrosis factor superfamily 15 (TNFSF15), a blood vascular endothelium-derived cytokine, in lymphatic endothelial cells, as a key molecular modulator during lymphangiogenesis. However, the effect of TNFSF15 on tumor lymphatic metastasis and the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. We report here that TNFSF15, which is known to inhibit primary tumor growth by suppressing angiogenesis, can promote lymphatic metastasis through facilitating lymphangiogenesis in tumors. Mice bearing tumors induced by A549 cells stably overexpressing TNFSF15 exhibited a significant increase in densities of lymphatic vessels and a marked enhancement of A549 tumor cells in newly formed lymphatic vessels in the primary tumors as well as in lymph nodes. Treatment of A549 cells with TNFSF15 results in upregulation of VEGFC expression, which can be inhibited by siRNA gene silencing of death domain-containing receptor-3 (DR3), a cell surface receptor for TNFSF15. In addition, TNFSF15/DR3 signaling pathways in A549 cells include activation of NF-κB during tumor lymphangiogenesis. Our data indicate that TNFSF15, a cytokine mainly produced by blood endothelial cells, facilitates tumor lymphangiogenesis by upregulating VEGFC expression in A549 cells, contributing to lymphatic metastasis in tumor-bearing mice. This finding also suggests that TNFSF15 may have potential as an indicator for prognosis evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingting Qin
- National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, China.,Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, China.,Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China.,Department of Thoracic Oncology, Tianjin Lung Cancer Center, Tianjin Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Dingzhi Huang
- National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, China.,Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, China.,Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China.,Department of Thoracic Oncology, Tianjin Lung Cancer Center, Tianjin Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Zhujun Liu
- National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, China.,Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, China.,Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China.,Department of Thoracic Oncology, Tianjin Lung Cancer Center, Tianjin Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Xiaoling Zhang
- National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, China.,Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, China.,Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China.,Department of Thoracic Oncology, Tianjin Lung Cancer Center, Tianjin Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Yanan Jia
- National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, China.,Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, China.,Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China.,Department of Thoracic Oncology, Tianjin Lung Cancer Center, Tianjin Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Cory J Xian
- Sansom Institute for Health Research, School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Kai Li
- National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, China.,Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, China.,Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China.,Department of Thoracic Oncology, Tianjin Lung Cancer Center, Tianjin Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
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14
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Xiong Y, Liu Z, Zhao X, Ruan S, Zhang X, Wang S, Huang T. CPT1A regulates breast cancer-associated lymphangiogenesis via VEGF signaling. Biomed Pharmacother 2018; 106:1-7. [PMID: 29940537 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2018.05.112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2018] [Revised: 05/22/2018] [Accepted: 05/23/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lymphangiogenesis is critical for metastasis of a variety of cancers, including breast cancer. CPT1A (carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1a) has been reported to play a critical role in breast cancer progress. However, the molecular mechanism remains elusive. METHODS In order to investigate the role of CPT1A in HDLEC cells, short hairpin RNA approach was utilized to knock down the CPT1A gene expression. We employed transwell and lymphatic vessel formation assay to examine invasion and lymphangiogenesis of HDLEC (Human dermal lymphatic endothelial cells). RT-qPCR and westernblot analyses were used to determine genes expression in HDLEC and breast cancer cells. Finally, we determined the relative rate of acetyl-CoA/CoA in shNC and shCPT1A HDLEC cells by LC-MS approach. RESULTS Knockdown of CPT1A in breast cancer cells (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231) abolished invasion and lymphangiogenesis of HDLEC cells. Mechanistically, CPT1A depletion suppressed the expression of VEGF-C and VEGF-D in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells. Interestingly, CPT1A knockdown in HDLEC cells exhibited attenuated expression of lymphangiogenic markers (podoplanin, VEGFR-3, VEGF-C, VEGF-D and PROX-1). Consistently, CPT1A -null HDLEC cells displayed compromised invasion and lymphangiogenesis compared with negative control. Further investigation revealed that CPT1A regulated VEGFR3 via acetyl-CoA mediated H3K9ac, which could be abrogated by supplement of acetate. CONCLUSIONS In present study, we revealed the mechanism by which CPT1A regulates breast cancer-associated invasion and lymphangiogenesis. Our findings provide insights into CPT1A -promoted breast tumor metastasis and provide rationale for understanding breast cancer metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiquan Xiong
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, PR China
| | - Zeming Liu
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, PR China
| | - Xiangwang Zhao
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, PR China
| | - Shengnan Ruan
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, PR China
| | - Ximeng Zhang
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, PR China
| | - Shi Wang
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, PR China
| | - Tao Huang
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, PR China.
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