Anxa5 mediates the in vitro malignant behaviours of murine hepatocarcinoma Hca-F cells with high lymph node metastasis potential preferentially via ERK2/p-ERK2/c-Jun/p-c-Jun(Ser73) and E-cadherin

Combined Effects of Annexin A5 Overexpression, 5-Fluorouracil Treatment, and Irradiation on Cell Viability of Caski Cervical Cancer Cell Line

Cervical cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths in women globally. Combining gene therapy with chemo- and radiotherapy may improve cervical cancer treatment outcomes. This study evaluated the effects of Annexin A5(ANXA5) overexpression alongside 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and irradiation on the viability of CaSki cervical squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) cells. pAdenoVator-CMV-ANXA5-IRES-GFP-plasmid and mock plasmid were transfected into CaSki cells using calcium-phosphate. Seventy-two hours post-transfection, GFP expression was quantified by fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry to evaluate transfection efficiency. ANXA5 overexpression was confirmed via qPCR. Twenty-four hours post-transfection, cells received a single dose of 8 Gy and were treated with 1 and 2 µg/ml of 5-FU (IC50 = 2.783 µg/ml). Cell viability, apoptosis, cell cycle stage, and Bcl-2 and Bax gene expression were assessed via MTT, annexin V/7-AAD, PI staining, and qPCR assays, respectively. ANXA5 was overexpressed 31.5-fold compared to control (p < 0.0001). MTT assays showed ANXA5 overexpression dose-dependently reduced CaSki cell viability (p < 0.001). IC50 of 5-FU was reduced from 2.783 μg/mL to 1.794 μg/mL when combined with ANXA5 overexpression. Additive effects on cell death were observed for ANXA5 plus 5-FU or irradiation versus ANXA5 alone. Apoptosis assays indicated combinatorial treatment increased CaSki cell apoptosis over ANXA5 alone. Cell cycle analysis revealed ANXA5 arrested cell cycle at G1/S phases; the percentage of cells in the S phase further rose with combination treatment. Finally, combination therapy significantly decreased Bcl-2 expression and increased Bax versus control (p < 0.001). Altogether, ANXA5 overexpression alongside 5-FU and irradiation may improve cervical squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) treatment efficacy. Further, in vivo investigations are warranted to confirm these in vitro results.

Augmentation of hepatocellular carcinoma malignancy by annexin A5 through modulation of invasion and angiogenesis

BACKGROUND

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) continues to play a substantial role in cancer-related morbidity and mortality, largely owing to its pronounced tumor heterogeneity and propensity for recurrence. This underscores the pressing need for in-depth examination of its highly malignant mechanisms. Annexin A5 (ANXA5), recognized as a hallmark tumor protein, has emerged as a focal point of interest because of its ambiguous function and mechanism in HCC prognosis. This study aimed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the role of ANXA5 in the malignant progression of human HCC cells by employing an integrative approach that combines conventional experimental methods with RNA sequencing.

METHODS

Differences in ANXA5 expression between HCC tissues and corresponding nontumor tissues were evaluated using immunofluorescence (n = 25). Correlation analysis was subsequently performed to assess the association between ANXA5 expression and clinicopathological features (n = 65). The role of ANXA5 in human HCC cell lines with ANXA5 gene knockout and overexpression was explored in vitro using migration and invasion assays and Ki-67 indices and in vivo based on node mice xenograft model. A tube formation assay using human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) was conducted to demonstrate the angiogenic effects of ANXA5 in HCC. Single-cell and bulk RNA sequencing was used to further investigate the underlying mechanisms involved.

RESULTS

This study revealed that ANXA5 is highly expressed in patients with HCC and correlates with poor prognosis. Assays for migration, invasion, and proliferation based on ANXA5 gene knockout and overexpression systems in human HCC cell lines have demonstrated that ANXA5 enhances HCC malignancy in vitro and in vivo. Tube formation assays of HUVECs indicated that ANXA5 facilitates angiogenesis and recruits endothelial cells to HCC cells. Single-cell and bulk RNA sequencing data analysis further confirmed that ANXA5 expression in HCC is associated with hepatocyte metabolism, immune response activation, and various oncogenic signaling pathways.

CONCLUSIONS

This study revealed a meaningful association between elevated ANXA5 expression in tumor tissues and an unfavorable prognosis in patients with HCC. In addition, ANXA5 promotes HCC malignancy by promoting invasion and angiogenesis. Thus, ANXA5 has emerged as a promising therapeutic target for HCC and has the potential to improve patient outcomes.

Single-Cell RNA-Sequencing Analysis of Colonic Lamina Propria Immune Cells Reveals the Key Immune Cell-Related Genes of Ulcerative Colitis

Background

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a severe threat to humans worldwide. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) can be used to screen gene expression patterns of each cell in the intestine, provide new insights into the potential mechanism of UC, and analyze the development of immune cell changes. These findings can provide new ideas for the diagnosis and treatment of intestinal diseases. In this study, bioinformatics analysis combined with experiments applied in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis mice was used to explore new diagnostic genes for UC and their potential relationship with immune cells.

Methods

We downloaded microarray datasets (GSE75214, GSE87473, GSE92415) from the Gene Expression Omnibus and used these datasets to screen differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and conduct Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) after quality control. The hub genes were screened, and ROC curves were drawn to verify the reliability of the results in both training set (GSE75214, GSE87473, GSE92415) and validation cohort (GSE87466). Also, we explored the relation of diagnostic genes and immune cells by CIBERSORT algorithm and single-cell analysis. Finally, the expression of hub genes and their relation with immune cells were verified in DSS-induced colitis mice.

Results

Diagnostic genes (ANXA5, MMP7, NR1H4, CYP3A4, ABCG2) were identified. In addition, we found these five genes firmly related to immune infiltration. The DSS-induced colitis mice confirm that the expression of ANXA5 mainly increased in the intestinal macrophages and had a strong negative correlation with M2 macrophages, which indicated its possible influence on the polarization of macrophages in UC patients.

Conclusion

We identified ANXA5, MMP7, NR1H4, CYP3A4, and ABCG2 as diagnostic genes of UC that are closely related to immune infiltration and ANXA5 maintains a negative correlation with M2 macrophages which indicated its possible influence on the polarization of macrophage in UC patients.

Identifying Oxidized Lipid Metabolism-Related LncRNAs as Prognostic Biomarkers of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

The relationship between oxidized lipid metabolism and the immunological function of cancer is well known. However, the functions and regulatory mechanisms of lncRNAs associated with oxidized lipid metabolism in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remain to be fully elucidated. In this study, we established an oxidized lipid metabolism-related lncRNA prognostic signature to assess the prognosis and immune infiltration of HNSCC patients. The HNSCC transcriptome was obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas. The choice of the target genes with a relevance score greater than 10 was performed via a correlation analysis by GeneCards. Patients were categorized by risk score and generated with multivariate Cox regression, which was then validated and evaluated using the Kaplan–Meier analysis and time-dependent receiver operating characteristics (ROC). A nomogram was constructed by combining the risk score with the clinical data. We constructed a risk score with 24 oxidized lipid metabolism-related lncRNAs. The areas’ 1-, 2-, and 3-year OS under the ROC curve (AUC) were 0.765, 0.724, and 0.724, respectively. Furthermore, the nomogram clearly distinguished the survival probabilities of patients in high- and low-risk groups, between which substantial variations were revealed by immune infiltration analysis. The results supported the fact that oxidized lipid metabolism-related lncRNAs might predict prognoses and assist with differentiating amid differences in immune infiltration in HNSCC.

Anoikis patterns exhibit distinct prognostic and immune landscapes in Osteosarcoma

OBJECTIVES

Osteosarcoma is highly aggressive and prone to metastasis, with a poor prognosis. Increasing evidence identified anoikis has a critical effect in tumor metastasis and invasion. However, the prognostic value of anoikis-related genes (ANRGs) in osteosarcoma and their role in the immune landscape of osteosarcoma remain unclear.

METHODS

The RNA sequencing and clinical data of patients with osteosarcoma were extracted from the TARGET and GEO databases, and ANRGs were identified from the GeneCards database. Unsupervised clustering analysis was employed to identify anoikis-related patterns. The ESTIMATE, TIMER and ssGSEA algorithms were used to assess the immune microenvironment of different subtypes. A prognostic signature based on the identified ANRGs was constructed via univariate, LASSO and multivariate Cox regression analyses. KEGG, GO and GSEA were used for functional enrichment of genes associated with different risk subtypes. qPCR, WB and IHC were used to validate the expression of candidate genes.

RESULTS

Two anoikis-related patterns with distinct clinical features and immune statuses were identified based on prognosis-related ANRGs. Cluster 2 had more active immunogenicity and a better prognosis than Cluster 1. Subsequently, we developed and validated an anoikis prognostic signature demonstrating excellent predictive ability for the prognosis of osteosarcoma. Anoikis risk score was positively associated with osteosarcoma metastasis and was identified as an independent prognostic marker. Additionally, a nomogram was established to predict the 3- and 5-year survival probability of patients with osteosarcoma. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that immune dysregulation was correlated with poor prognosis. Besides, patients in the low-risk group had higher infiltration levels of immune cells and more active immune function than patients in the high-risk group. Drug sensitivity analysis revealed several chemotherapeutic agents for the treatment of different subtypes of osteosarcoma.

CONCLUSION

Our study demonstrated the role of ANRGs in osteosarcoma progression, providing insights into clinical decision making in osteosarcoma.

AnnexinA5 Might Suppress the Phenotype of Human Gastric Cancer Cells via ERK Pathway

Gastric cancer is one of the most fatal diseases around the world. However, the mechanism of the development of gastric cancer is still not clarified. In addition, the anticancer drugs have cytotoxicity with different degrees. AnnexinA5, a member of the annexin family, has a great binding ability with the membrane phospholipid in a calcium dependent manner and is involved in the development of various cancers. This study aims to explore the influence of annexinA5 on human gastric cancer cells and whether it has the potential to be an auxiliary treatment to gastric cancer. In this study, the role of annexinA5 was detected from both the endogenous and the exogenous aspects on the gastric cancer cell lines MGC-803 and MKN-45. The cells were divided into a knockdown group in which RNA interference technique was used to suppress annexinA5 expression and a protein-supplementing group in which annexinA5 protein was added in the culture supernatant. After the suppression ratio of RNA interference was determined and the IC50 of annexinA5 protein was decided respectively, the cells' proliferation was detected by MTT assay, colony formation assay, and the expression of PCNA. FCM assay and PI staining methods were applied to test cell apoptosis and necrosis. To investigate whether ANXA5 influence cell metastasis, wound healing assay and transwell assay were employed. To further detect the mechanism of annexinA5 action, the signal pathway was examined with Western Blot method. When ANXA5 gene was knocked down, cell proliferation and metastasis were promoted, while cell apoptosis was suppressed. On the other hand, after the annexinA5 protein was applied to the gastric cancer cells, cell proliferation and metastasis were inhibited, while cell apoptosis and necrosis were promoted. AnnexinA5 played its role via ERK signal pathway. ANXA5 acted as tumor suppressor gene in the gastric cancer by suppressing ERK signal pathway and has the potentiality to be an auxiliary anticancer agent.

Cross-Species Proteomics Identifies CAPG and SBP1 as Crucial Invasiveness Biomarkers in Rat and Human Malignant Mesothelioma

Malignant mesothelioma (MM) still represents a devastating disease that is often detected too late, while the current effect of therapies on patient outcomes remains unsatisfactory. Invasiveness biomarkers may contribute to improving early diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment for patients, a task that could benefit from the development of high-throughput proteomics. To limit potential sources of bias when identifying such biomarkers, we conducted cross-species proteomic analyzes on three different MM sources. Data were collected firstly from two human MM cell lines, secondly from rat MM tumors of increasing invasiveness grown in immunocompetent rats and human MM tumors grown in immunodeficient mice, and thirdly from paraffin-embedded sections of patient MM tumors of the epithelioid and sarcomatoid subtypes. Our investigations identified three major invasiveness biomarkers common to the three tumor sources, CAPG, FABP4, and LAMB2, and an additional set of 25 candidate biomarkers shared by rat and patient tumors. Comparing the data to proteomic analyzes of preneoplastic and neoplastic rat mesothelial cell lines revealed the additional role of SBP1 in the carcinogenic process. These observations could provide new opportunities to identify highly vulnerable MM patients with poor survival outcomes, thereby improving the success of current and future therapeutic strategies.

c-Jun, Foxo3a, and c-Myc Transcription Factors are Key Regulators of ATP-Mediated Angiogenic Responses in Pulmonary Artery Vasa Vasorum Endothelial Cells

Angiogenic vasa vasorum (VV) expansion plays an essential role in the pathogenesis of hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension (PH), a cardiovascular disease. We previously showed that extracellular ATP released under hypoxic conditions is an autocrine/paracrine, the angiogenic factor for pulmonary artery (PA) VV endothelial cells (VVECs), acting via P2Y purinergic receptors (P2YR) and the Phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)-Akt-Mammalian Target of Rapamycin (mTOR) signaling. To further elucidate the molecular mechanisms of ATP-mediated VV angiogenesis, we determined the profile of ATP-inducible transcription factors (TFs) in VVECs using a TranSignal protein/DNA array. C-Jun, c-Myc, and Foxo3 were found to be upregulated in most VVEC populations and formed nodes connecting several signaling networks. siRNA-mediated knockdown (KD) of these TFs revealed their critical role in ATP-induced VVEC angiogenic responses and the regulation of downstream targets involved in tissue remodeling, cell cycle control, expression of endothelial markers, cell adhesion, and junction proteins. Our results showed that c-Jun was required for the expression of ATP-stimulated angiogenic genes, c-Myc was repressive to anti-angiogenic genes, and Foxo3a predominantly controlled the expression of anti-apoptotic and junctional proteins. The findings from our study suggest that pharmacological targeting of the components of P2YR-PI3K-Akt-mTOR axis and specific TFs reduced ATP-mediated VVEC angiogenic response and may have a potential translational significance in attenuating pathological vascular remodeling.

The role of ANXA5 in DBP-induced oxidative stress through ERK/Nrf2 pathway

Di-N-butylphthalate (DBP) have given rise to more and more attention due to its unique endocrine toxicity to male reproductive system. Our previous studies have demonstrated antioxidative Nrf2 (nuclear factor erythroid related factor 2) pathway play a vital role in DBP induced oxidative stress injury. ANXA5 (annexin A5), which is highly expressed in testicular Leydig and Sertoli cells, was found upregulated after DBP stimulation. Mouse Leydig and Sertoli cells were exposed to different concentration of DBP for 24 h to examine the ROS (Reactive oxygen species), MDA (Malondialdehyde), SOD (superoxide dismutase) level and ANXA5, Nrf2, NQO1 (NAD(P)H-quinone oxidoreductase 1), HO-1 (heme oxygenase 1) and ERK/P-ERK protein expression by DHE (Dihydroethidium) staining, ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) and Western blot respectively. Firstly, the oxidative stress injury induced by DBP was re-validated. Then, we confirmed the change of Nrf2 pathway and ANXA5 level after DBP exposure to testicular cells. Additionally, overexpressed ANXA5 could activate Nrf2/HO-1/NQO1 antioxidant pathway and significantly attenuate DBP-induced oxidative stress. Ultimately, we demonstrated ANXA5 could increase ERK phosphorylated level and the activated role of ANXA5 on ERK/Nrf2 pathway could be reversed by ERK inhibitor. Overall, this study illuminated that ANXA5 could defend testicle Leydig and Sertoli cells against DBP-induced oxidative stress injury through ERK/Nrf2 pathway.

miR-4521-FAM129A axial regulation on ccRCC progression through TIMP-1/MMP2/MMP9 and MDM2/p53/Bcl2/Bax pathways

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is the most aggressive RCC subtype with high metastasis, chemotherapy and radiotherapy resistance, and poor prognosis. This study attempted to establish the deregulations of miR-4521 and FAM129A together with their correlation to and mechanism of regulation of ccRCC development and progression. FAM129A acted as tumor promotor and miR-4521 acted as a suppressor in ccRCC. As measured in surgical tumorous tissues from ccRCC patients, FAM129A overexpression and miR-4521 deficiency together contributed to ccRCC progression by promoting advances in patients' TNM stage and Fuhrman grade. Both the FAM129A knockdown and miR-4521 overexpression could reduce the in vitro migration and invasion abilities of renal cancer cells 786-O and ACHN, through the TIMP-1/MMP2/MMP9 pathway and could decrease their proliferation by promoting their apoptosis through the MDM2/p53/Bcl2/Bax pathway. By directly targeting the 3'-UTR domain of FAM129A, miR-4521 was negatively correlated with FAM129A/FAM129A levels in ccRCC progression and renal cancer cell malignancies. This work establishes the miR-4521-FAM129A axial regulation mechanism in ccRCC. Micro-4521 deficiency leads to FAM129A/FAM129A upregulation, which synergistically enhances the migration and invasion of renal cancer cells due to the induced decrease of TIMP-1 and increases of MMP2 and MMP9, and increases their growth through escaping apoptosis by suppressing p53 by way of upregulation of induced MDM2. The current work provides new clues to assist fundamental research into the diagnosis and treatment of ccRCC.

Annexin A5 regulates hepatocarcinoma malignancy via CRKI/II-DOCK180-RAC1 integrin and MEK-ERK pathways

As a calcium-dependent phospholipid binding annexin protein, annexin A5 (Anxa5) links to the progression, metastasis, survival, and prognosis of a variety of cancers. Current work showed ANXA5 overexpression was positively correlated with the upregulations of CRKI/II and RAC1 in hepatocarcinoma (HCC) patients’ tissues, which potentially enhanced the clinical progression and lymphatic metastasis of HCC. The role and action mechanism of ANXA5 in hepatocarcinoma was then investigated using a hepatocarcinoma Hca-P cell line, an ideal and well-established murine cell model with 100% inducible tumorigenicity of implanted mice with low (~25%) lymph node metastatic (LNM) rate. In vitro evidences indicated ANXA5 stable knockdown resulted in decreased proliferation, migration, invasion and adhesion to lymph node (LN), and increased intercellular cohesion behaviors of hepatocarcinoma Hca-P cells. Consistently, stable ANXA5 knockdown led to reduced in vivo tumorigenicity and malignancy, LNM rate and level potentials of Hca-P- transplanted mice via inhibiting CD34 and VEGF3. The levels of CRKI/II and RAC1 were reduced in tumor tissues from mice transplanted with Hca-P cells with stable ANXA5 knockdown. Molecular action investigation further showed ANXA5 downregulation apparently suppressed the expressions of molecules CRKI/II, DOCK180, RAC1 in integrin pathway, p-MEK, p-ERK, c-Myc, and MMP-9 in MEK- ERK pathway together with VIMINTIN in Hca-P cells in appropriate to knockdown extent. Collectively, Anxa5 was able to mediate HCC carcinogenesis via integrin and MEK-ERK pathways. It is of potential use in the research and treatment of HCC.

Knockdown of annexin A5 restores gefitinib sensitivity by promoting G2/M cell cycle arrest

Background

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors, including gefitinib, are first-line drugs against advanced non-small cell lung cancer with activating EGFR mutations. However, the development of resistance to such drugs is a major clinical challenge.

Methods

The role of annexin A5 in resistance to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors was investigated by qPCR and western blot of relevant molecules, by CCK8 and EdU assay of cell proliferation and viability, by annexin V/propidium iodide assay of apoptosis and cell cycle distribution, by JC-1 assay of mitochondrial integrity, and by xenograft assay of tumorigenicity.

Results

We found that annexin A5 is upregulated in gefitinib-resistant cell lines, as well as in clinical specimens resistant to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Accordingly, knockdown of the gene from gefitinib-resistant cells restores gefitinib sensitivity in vitro and in vivo by downregulating polo-like kinase 1 signal pathway, thereby inducing mitochondrial damage, caspase activation, cell cycle arrest at G2/M, and, finally, apoptosis.

Conclusions

The data indicate that annexin A5 confers gefitinib resistance in lung cancer by inhibiting apoptosis and G2/M cell cycle arrest, and is thus a potential therapeutic target in non-small cell lung cancers resistant to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors.

Annexin A5 overexpression might suppress proliferation and metastasis of human uterine cervical carcinoma cells

BACKGROUND

Annexin A5 (ANXA5) is a kind of Ca2+-dependent phospholipid binding protein which is involved in cell membrane dynamics and organization. Recent data showed that ANXA5 might involve in tumorigenesis.

OBJECTIVE

To explore what role ANXA5 play in human uterine cervical carcinoma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this study, a recombined ANXA5 plasmid was constructed and uterine cervical carcinoma cell lines HeLa and SiHa were transfected with it. After ANXA5 overexpression was determined by Western Blot, cell proliferation test was detected by MTT assay and colony formation assay respectively. FACS assay and Hochest33258 staining methods were employed to detect cell apoptosis. To further investigate whether ANXA5 influence cell migration and invasion, wound healing assay and transwell assay were applied. At the same time, the relative mechanism was investigated.

RESULTS

When ANXA5 expression increased, cell proliferation was inhibited by regulating the expression of bcl-2 and bax while cell metastasis was suppressed by regulating E-cadherin and MMP-9 expression.

CONCLUSION

ANXA5 overexpression in the uterine cervical carcinoma might play important roles in cell proliferation and metastasis of uterine cervical cancer cells and act as an anti-cancer gene in uterine cervical cancer.

Different Cellular Response of Human Mesothelial Cell MeT-5A to Short-Term and Long-Term Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes Exposure

Despite being a commercially important product, multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) continue to raise concerns over human health due to their structural similarity to asbestos. Indeed, exposure to MWCNT has been shown to induce lung cancer and even mesothelioma, but contradictory results also exist. To clarify the potentially carcinogenic effects of rigid and rod-like MWCNT and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms, the effects of MWCNT on human mesothelial cell MeT-5A were examined throughout 3 months of continuous exposure, including cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, and cell motility. It was found that MWCNT did not affect MeT-5A cell proliferation at 10 μg/cm² within 72 h treatment, but under the same condition, MWCNT induced genotoxicity and perturbed cell motility. In addition, MeT-5A cells demonstrated different cellular responses to MWCNT after short-term and long-term exposure. Taken together, our results indicated a possible carcinogenic potential for MWCNT after long-term treatment, in which Annexin family proteins might be involved.