Upregulation of BTF3 affects the proliferation, apoptosis, and cell cycle regulation in hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma

METTL3-driven m6A modification of lncRNA FAM230B suppresses ferroptosis by modulating miR-27a-5p/BTF3 axis in gastric cancer

Our previous research revealed the apoptosis-inhibiting effect of lncRNA FAM230B in gastric cancer (GC). While its role on ferroptosis of GC remain unexplored. In this study, the m6A level and RNA stability regulation of METTL3 on FAM230B was detected by m6A quantification, stability assays, MeRIP, and their interaction was confirmed by RIP, and RNA pull-down assays. The level of ferroptosis was detected by flow cytometry, MDA and GSH level assessments, and electron microscopy. Gene expression was detected by quantitative real-time PCR, western blot, and immunofluorescence. The miR-27a-5p and BTF3 interaction was predicted with TargetScan and confirmed by dual-luciferase assay. Here, elevated levels of METTL3 and FAM230B were observed in GC tissues and cell lines. METTL3 was confirmed to bind with FAM230B RNA. Furthermore, silencing METTL3 reduced FAM230B m6A levels and stability, leading to decreased FAM230B and increased miR-27a-5p expressions. FAM230B knockdown favored ferroptosis and increased BTF3 expression, while its overexpression mitigated erastin-induced ferroptosis in GC cells. Additionally, BTF3 overexpression was found to negate miR-27a-5p's ferroptosis-promoting effects in GC cells. Collectively, our study demonstrates that the m6A modification of FAM230B by METTL3 plays a crucial role in promoting GC progression by reducing ferroptosis, through the modulation of the miR-27a-5p/BTF3 axis.

BTF3 promotes proliferation and glycolysis in hepatocellular carcinoma by regulating GLUT1

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a grievous tumor with an increasing incidence worldwide. Basic transcription factor 3 (BTF3) is discovered to regulate the expression of glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1), which benefits glycolysis, a momentous signature of tumors, through transactivation of the forkhead box M1 (FOXM1) expression. BTF3 is highly expressed in HCC. However, whether BTF3 promotes GLUT1 expression through FOXM1 to modulate glycolysis in HCC remains unclear. The expression profile of BTF3 were determined by online database, reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and western blot. The role and mechanism of BTF3 in the proliferation and glycolysis of HCC cells were examined by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) incorporation, XF96 Extracellular Flux analyzer, spectrophotometry and western blot analysis. In addition, the direct interaction between BTF3 and FOXM1 was verified by dual-luciferase reporter and co-immunoprecipitation assays. Moreover, the role of BTF3 was also explored in a xenografted mice model. The expression of BTF3 was increased in HCC cells and tumor tissues. Knockdown of BTF3 reduced the cell viability, Edu positive cells, extracellular acidification rate (ECAR), glucose consumption and lactate production in both Huh7 and HCCLM3 cells. The expressions of FOXM1 and GLUT1 were increased in HCC tissues, which were positively correlated with the BTF3 expression. Moreover, a direct interaction existed between BTF3 and FOXM1 in HCC cells. Downregulation of BTF3 decreased the relative protein levels of FOXM1 and GLUT1, which were rescued with overexpression of FOXM1 in both cells. More importantly, overexpression of FOXM1 restored the cell viability, ECAR, glucose consumption and lactate production in both Huh7 and HCCLM3 cells transfected with siBTF3#1. Furthermore, inhibition of BTF3 decreased tumor weight and volume, and the relative level of BTF3, FOXM1, GLUT1 and Ki-67 in tumor tissues from mice xenografted with Huh7 cells. BTF3 enhanced the cell proliferation and glycolysis through FOXM1/GLUT1 axis in HCC.

LncRNA-ZNF252P-AS1/miR-15b-5p promotes the proliferation of keloid fibroblast by regulating the BTF3-STAT3 signaling pathway

BACKGROUND

JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway plays an important role in keloid formation, but the upstream mechanism of their activation remains unclear.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to investigate the possible mechanism of lncRNA-ZNF252P-AS1 in keloid.

METHODS

The differentially expressed genes in keloid and their upstream regulatory miRNAs and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) were analyzed by bioinformatics database, and the targeting relationship was further verified by dual-luciferase reporter gene assay. LncRNA function as competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) in keloid was further verified by in keloid fibroblasts (KFs) and in nude mice with subcutaneous keloids.

RESULTS

BTF3 expression was up-regulated in keloid tissues. The targeting relationship between BTF3 and miR-15b-5p was confirmed by dual-luciferase reporter gene assay. miR-15b-5p overexpression inhibited BTF3, Bcl-2, Cyclin D1, C-myc, Collagen I, MMP2, MMP9, N-cadherin, and ZEB2 expressions in KFs, inhibited cell proliferation and migration, while promoted E-cadherin levels. BTF3 overexpression reversed miR-15b-5p effects on KFs. Bioinformatics analysis as well as clinical and cellular experiments confirmed that the lncRNA ZNF252P-AS1 was highly expressed in keloid/KFs. Dual-luciferase reporter gene assays confirmed the targeting relationship between lncRNA ZNF252P-AS1 and miR-15b-5p. LncRNA ZNF252P-AS1 overexpression inhibited miR-15b-5p and E-cadherin levels, upregulated BTF3, Bcl-2, Cyclin D1, C-myc, Collagen I, MMP2, MMP9, N-cadherin, and ZEB2 expressions, increased cell proliferation and migration, and activated JAK2/STAT3 pathway, while miR-15b-5p overexpression reversed this effect. The in vivo results were consistent with in vitro results. In vivo experiments further confirmed that lncRNA ZNF252P-AS1 reduced keloid volume and weight.

CONCLUSION

lncRNA ZNF252P-AS1 is a potential target for keloid treatment.

Ablation of KDM2A Inhibits Preadipocyte Proliferation and Promotes Adipogenic Differentiation

Epigenetic signals and chromatin-modifying proteins play critical roles in adipogenesis, which determines the risk of obesity and which has recently attracted increasing interest. Histone demethylase 2A (KDM2A) is an important component of histone demethylase; however, its direct effect on fat deposition remains unclear. Here, a KDM2A loss of function was performed using two unbiased methods, small interfering RNA (siRNA) and Cre-Loxp recombinase systems, to reveal its function in adipogenesis. The results show that the knockdown of KDM2A by siRNAs inhibited the proliferation capacity of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Furthermore, the promotion of preadipocyte differentiation was observed in siRNA-treated cells, manifested by the increasing content of lipid droplets and the expression level of adipogenic-related genes. Consistently, the genetic deletion of KDM2A by Adipoq-Cre in primary adipocytes exhibited similar phenotypes to those of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Interestingly, the knockdown of KDM2A upregulates the expression level of Transportin 1(TNPO1), which in turn may induce the nuclear translocation of PPARγ and the accumulation of lipid droplets. In conclusion, the ablation of KDM2A inhibits preadipocyte proliferation and promotes its adipogenic differentiation. This work provides direct evidence of the exact role of KDM2A in fat deposition and provides theoretical support for obesity therapy that targets KDM2A.

Characterization of the scavenger cell proteome in mouse and rat liver

The structural-functional organization of ammonia and glutamine metabolism in the liver acinus involves highly specialized hepatocyte subpopulations like glutamine synthetase (GS) expressing perivenous hepatocytes (scavenger cells). However, this cell population has not yet been characterized extensively regarding expression of other genes and potential subpopulations. This was investigated in the present study by proteome profiling of periportal GS-negative and perivenous GS-expressing hepatocytes from mouse and rat. Apart from established markers of GS+ hepatocytes such as glutamate/aspartate transporter II (GLT1) or ammonium transporter Rh type B (RhBG), we identified novel scavenger cell-specific proteins like basal transcription factor 3 (BTF3) and heat-shock protein 25 (HSP25). Interestingly, BTF3 and HSP25 were heterogeneously distributed among GS+ hepatocytes in mouse liver slices. Feeding experiments showed that RhBG expression was increased in livers from mice fed with high protein diet compared to standard chow. While spatial distributions of GS and carbamoylphosphate synthetase 1 (CPS1) were unaffected, periportal areas constituted by glutaminase 2 (GLS2)-positive hepatocytes were enlarged or reduced in response to high or low protein diet, respectively. The data suggest that the population of perivenous GS+ scavenger cells is heterogeneous and not uniform as previously suggested which may reflect a functional heterogeneity, possibly relevant for liver regeneration.

Transcriptome Analysis and Expression Profiling of Molecular Responses to Cd Toxicity in Morchella spongiola

Morchella is a genus of fungi with the ability to concentrate Cd both in the fruit-body and mycelium. However, the molecular mechanisms conferring resistance to Cd stress in Morchella are unknown. Here, RNA-based transcriptomic sequencing was used to identify the genes and pathways involved in Cd tolerance in Morchella spongiola. 7444 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified by cultivating M. spongiola in media containing 0.15, 0.90, or 1.50 mg/L Cd²⁺. The DEGs were divided into six sub-clusters based on their global expression profiles. GO enrichment analysis indicated that numerous DEGs were associated with catalytic activity, cell cycle control, and the ribosome. KEGG enrichment analysis showed that the main pathways under Cd stress were MAPK signaling, oxidative phosphorylation, pyruvate metabolism, and propanoate metabolism. In addition, several DEGs encoding ion transporters, enzymatic/non-enzymatic antioxidants, and transcription factors were identified. Based on these results, a preliminary gene regulatory network was firstly proposed to illustrate the molecular mechanisms of Cd detoxification in M. spongiola. These results provide valuable insights into the Cd tolerance mechanism of M. spongiola and constitute a robust foundation for further studies on detoxification mechanisms in macrofungi that could potentially lead to the development of new and improved fungal bioremediation strategies.

Molecular Markers of MDR of Chemotherapy for HSCC: Proteomic Screening With High-Throughput Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Background

Hypopharyngeal squamous cell cancer (HSCC) is a head and neck tumor with a poor prognosis. Chemotherapy lacks effectiveness because of multidrug resistance (MDR), which has increased toxic side effects. Thus, there is an urgent need to identify the molecular markers of MDR of chemotherapy for HSCC.

Methods

Fifty clinical samples of HSCC were derived from patients including 12 sensitive or resistant to chemotherapy drugs. Proteomic screening was performed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS), which was based on data-independent acquisition. Molecular markers of MDR of chemotherapy in patients with HSCC were identified with clinical data and validated with ELISA.

Results

A total of 673 differentially expressed proteins were identified in HSCC samples, where 172 were upregulated and 501 were downregulated. A total of 183 differentially expressed proteins including 102 upregulated and 81 downregulated proteins, were identified by comparing cancer sensitive to chemotherapy with cancer resistant to chemotherapy. Clinical HSCC samples had significantly higher expression of FADD and significantly lower expression of RIPK1. Expressions of FADD and RIPK1 proteins were significantly lower in the chemotherapy-sensitive group. These expression differences were not correlated with clinical data. RIPK1 and FADD are involved in necroptosis and the signaling pathway of PRRs. Using ELISA, the low expression of RIPK1 and FADD was found in the patients sensitive to chemotherapy.

Conclusion

LC-MS proteomics is an effective method to identify the molecular markers of HSCC. FADD and RIPK1 can act as molecular markers of MDR of chemotherapy in patients with HSCC and may function through necroptosis and the PRR signaling pathway.

Molecular Characterization of the Oncogene BTF3 and Its Targets in Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most commonly diagnosed and leading causes of cancer mortality worldwide, and the prognosis of patients with CRC remains unsatisfactory. Basic transcription factor 3 (BTF3) is an oncogene and hazardous prognosticator in CRC. Although two distinct functional mechanisms of BTF3 in different cancer types have been reported, its role in CRC is still unclear. In this study, we aimed to molecularly characterize the oncogene BTF3 and its targets in CRC. Here, we first identified the transcriptional targets of BTF3 by applying combined RNA-Seq and ChIP-Seq analysis, identifying CHD1L as a transcriptional target of BTF3. Thereafter, we conducted immunoprecipitation (IP)-MS and E3 ubiquitin ligase analysis to identify potential interacting targets of BTF3 as a subunit of the nascent-polypeptide-associated complex (NAC). The analysis revealed that BTF3 might also inhibit E3 ubiquitin ligase HERC2-mediated p53 degradation. Finally, miRNAs targeting BTF3 were predicted and validated. Decreased miR-497-5p expression is responsible for higher levels of BTF3 post-transcriptionally. Collectively, we concluded that BTF3 is an oncogene, and there may exist a transcription factor and NAC-related proteolysis mechanism in CRC. This study provides a comprehensive basis for understanding the oncogenic mechanisms of BTF3 in CRC.

Transcriptomic and proteomic analyses reveal new insights into the regulation of immune pathways during cyprinid herpesvirus 2 infection in vitro

Carassius auratus gibelio is susceptible to the herpesviral hematopoietic necrosis (HVHN) disease caused by cyprinid herpesvirus 2 (CyHV-2) infection during the breeding process. Nevertheless, the report on biological response of CyHV-2 with C. auratus gibelio was limited, especially in vitro. In this study, host gene expression profiling was mostly analyzed in caudal fin cells of Carassius auratus gibelio (GiCF) underlying CyHV-2 infection. Transcriptomics and proteomics were employed to study the differential expression gene and revealed the host genes involved in pathway during the CyHV-2 infection. Transcriptome analysis revealed that compared with the control group, there were 11 335 and 19 421 differentially expressed unigenes at 48 h and at 96 h, respectively. Furthermore, proteome analysis showed that there were a total of 9008 proteins, among which 169 proteins were differential expression in the 48 h group and 502 proteins in the 96 h group. Notably, 10 and 158 differentially co-expressed genes at mRNA and protein levels (cDEGs) were reliably quantified at 48 h and 96 h, respectively. Interestingly, significantly different expressed genes both in the transcriptome and the proteome were identified, including GNG7, Hsp90a, THBS1 and RRM2. The result suggested that PI3k-AKT pathway was activated, but the p53 signaling pathway was suppressed. The above result will lay the foundation for understanding the mechanisms of host defense virus invasion during CyHV-2 infection.

miR‑802 inhibits the epithelial‑mesenchymal transition, migration and invasion of cervical cancer by regulating BTF3

MicroRNA (miR)-802 has been discovered to be involved in the occurrence and development of numerous types of tumor; however, studies into the role of miR‑802 in cervical cancer are limited. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the regulatory effects of miR‑802 in cervical cancer cells. miR‑802 expression levels in cervical cancer tissue and cells were analyzed using reverse transcription‑quantitative (RT‑q)PCR, a dual‑reporter luciferase activity assay was used to identify the direct target gene of miR‑802, and RT‑qPCR and western blotting were performed to determine the relationship between miR‑802 and basic transcription factor 3 (BTF3). Cell viability, and migration and invasion were analyzed using Cell Counting Kit‑8 and Transwell assays, respectively. Finally, the expression levels of metastasis‑associated proteins, N‑cadherin and E‑cadherin, were determined using RT‑qPCR and western blotting. Decreased expression levels of miR‑802 were found in cervical cancer tissues and cells, and the overexpression of miR‑802 inhibited cell viability, migration and invasion. Moreover, miR‑802 was discovered to directly target BTF3 to inhibit its expression. Notably, the overexpression miR‑802 markedly reversed the promotive effect of BTF3 on cell viability, in addition to the migratory and invasive abilities of the cells. Simultaneously, the overexpression of miR‑802 significantly suppressed epithelial‑mesenchymal transition, and the expression levels of matrix metallopeptidase (MMP)2 and MMP9 in cells through regulating BTF3. In conclusion, the present study revealed that miR‑802 may suppress cervical cancer progression by decreasing BTF3 expression levels, indicating that it may represent a potential therapeutic target for the treatment and prognosis of patients with cervical cancer.