Positive feedback loop of FAM83A/PI3K/AKT/c-Jun induces migration, invasion and metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma

Promotion of stem cell-like phenotype of lung adenocarcinoma by FAM83A via stabilization of ErbB2

Lung cancer stands as the leading cause of mortality among all types of tumors, with over 40% of cases being lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). Family with sequence similarity 83 member A (FAM83A) emerges as a notable focus due to its frequent overexpression in LUAD. Despite this, the precise role of FAM83A remains elusive. This study addresses this gap by unveiling the crucial involvement of FAM83A in maintaining the cancer stem cell-like (CSC-like) phenotype of LUAD. Through a global proteomics analysis, the study identifies human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2 or ErbB2) as a crucial target of FAM83A. Mechanistically, FAM83A facilitated ErbB2 expression at the posttranslational modification level via the E3 ubiquitin ligase STUB1 (STIP1-homologous U-Box containing protein 1). More importantly, the interaction between FAM83A and ErbB2 at Arg241 promotes calcineurin (CALN)-mediated dephosphorylation of ErbB2, followed by inhibition of STUB1-mediated ubiquitin-proteasomal ErbB2 degradation. The maintenance of the CSC-like phenotype by FAM83A, achieved through the posttranslational regulation of ErbB2, offers valuable insights for identifying potential therapeutic targets for LUAD.

Diagnostic value of immune-related biomarker FAM83A in differentiating malignant from benign pleural effusion in lung adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

Malignant pleural effusion (MPE) is frequently observed in patients with advanced lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). Pleural fluid cytology is a less invasive procedure compared to pleural biopsy. Therefore, it is crucial to identify novel effective biomarkers for LUAD-associated pleural fluid cytology.

METHODS

The RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) and clinical data of LUAD cases were downloaded from TCGA and OncoSG databases. Differential gene expression analysis, survival analysis and immune cell infiltration analysis were performed on the LUAD datasets. The expression levels of FAM83A, TFF-1, and NapsinA in 94 paired LUAD and adjacent normal tissues, and in the pleural effusion specimens of 40 LUAD and 21 non-neoplastic patients were evaluated by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

FAM83A expression levels were significantly different between the LUAD and normal tissue datasets, and correlated with overall or disease-free survival, and histological grade of the tumors. Furthermore, the in-situ expression of FAM83A was higher in 89/94 LUAD tissues compared to the paired normal tissues. FAM83A expression was significantly correlated with immune cell infiltration, and showed a positive association with macrophage infiltration. In addition, FAM83A staining was positive in 37 LUAD pleural effusion samples, and negative in 20 non-neoplastic pleural effusion samples. The expression pattern of FAM83A in the pleural effusion of LUAD patients was relatively consistent with that of TFF-1 and NapsinA, and even stronger in some specimens that were weakly positive or negative for TTF1/NapsinA.

CONCLUSIONS

FAM83A is a promising immune-related biomarker in LUAD biopsy specimens and pleural fluid, and can distinguish between malignant and benign pleural effusion.

ASIC1 promotes migration and invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma via the PRKACA/AP-1 signaling pathway

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) exhibits a high mortality rate due to its high invasion and metastatic nature, and the acidic microenvironment plays a pivotal role. Acid-sensing ion channel 1 (ASIC1) is upregulated in HCC tissues and facilitates tumor progression in a pH-dependent manner, while the specific mechanisms therein remain currently unclear. Herein, we aimed to investigate the underlying mechanisms by which ASIC1 contributes to the development of HCC. Using bioinformatics analysis, we found a significant association between ASIC1 expression and malignant transformation of HCC, such as poor prognosis, metastasis and recurrence. Specifically, ASIC1 enhanced the migration and invasion capabilities of Li-7 cells in the in vivo experiment using an HCC lung metastasis mouse model, as well as in the in vitro experiments such as wound healing assay and Transwell assay. Furthermore, our comprehensive gene chip and molecular biology experiments revealed that ASIC1 promoted HCC migration and invasion by activating the PRKACA/AP-1 signaling pathway. Our findings indicate that targeting ASIC1 could have therapeutic potential for inhibiting HCC progression.

SIAH2 suppresses c-JUN pathway by promoting the polyubiquitination and degradation of HBx in hepatocellular carcinoma

As an important protein encoded by hepatitis B virus (HBV), HBV X protein (HBx) plays an important role in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). It has been shown that seven in absentia homologue 1 (SIAH1) could regulates the degradation of HBx through the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. However, as a member of SIAH family, the regulatory effects of SIAH2 on HBx remain unclear. In this study, we first confirmed that SIAH2 could reduce the protein levels of HBx depending on its E3 ligase activity. Moreover, SIAH2 interacted with HBx and induced its K48-linked polyubiquitination and proteasomal degradation. Furthermore, we provided evidence that SIAH2 inhibits HBx-associated HCC cells proliferation by regulating HBx. In conclusion, our study identified a novel role for SIAH2 in promoting HBx degradation and SIAH2 exerts an inhibitory effect in the proliferation of HBx-associated HCC through inducing the degradation of HBx. Our study provides a new idea for the targeted degradation of HBx and may have great huge significance into providing novel evidence for the targeted therapy of HBV-infected HCC.

Integrated single-cell and bulk RNA-Seq analysis enhances prognostic accuracy of PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy response in lung adenocarcinoma through necroptotic anoikis gene signatures

In addition to presenting significant diagnostic and treatment challenges, lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is the most common form of lung cancer. Using scRNA-Seq and bulk RNA-Seq data, we identify three genes referred to as HMR, FAM83A, and KRT6A these genes are related to necroptotic anoikis-related gene expression. Initial validation, conducted on the GSE50081 dataset, demonstrated the model's ability to categorize LUAD patients into high-risk and low-risk groups with significant survival differences. This model was further applied to predict responses to PD-1/PD-L1 blockade therapies, utilizing the IMvigor210 and GSE78220 cohorts, and showed strong correlation with patient outcomes, highlighting its potential in personalized immunotherapy. Further, LUAD cell lines were analyzed using quantitative PCR (qPCR) and Western blot analysis to confirm their expression levels, further corroborating the model's relevance in LUAD pathophysiology. The mutation landscape of these genes was also explored, revealing their broad implication in various cancer types through a pan-cancer analysis. The study also delved into molecular subclustering, revealing distinct expression profiles and associations with different survival outcomes, emphasizing the model's utility in precision oncology. Moreover, the diversity of immune cell infiltration, analyzed in relation to the necroptotic anoikis signature, suggested significant implications for immune evasion mechanisms in LUAD. While the findings present a promising stride towards personalized LUAD treatment, especially in immunotherapy, limitations such as the retrospective nature of the datasets and the need for larger sample sizes are acknowledged. Prospective clinical trials and further experimental research are essential to validate these findings and enhance the clinical applicability of our prognostic model.

Integrated single-cell and bulk RNA sequencing in pancreatic cancer identifies disulfidptosis-associated molecular subtypes and prognostic signature

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is known for its high degree of heterogeneity and exceptionally adverse outcome. While disulfidptosis is the most recently identified form of cell death, the predictive and therapeutic value of disulfidptosis-related genes (DRGs) for PC remains unknown. RNA sequencing data with the follow-up information, were retrieved from the TCGA and ICGC databases. Consensus clustering analysis was conducted on patient data using R software. Subsequently, the LASSO regression analysis was conducted to create a prognostic signature for foreseeing the outcome of PC. Differences in relevant pathways, mutational landscape, and tumor immune microenvironment were compared between PC samples with different risk levels. Finally, we experimentally confirmed the impact of DSG3 on the invasion and migration abilities of PC cells. All twenty DRGs were found to be hyperexpressed in PC tissues, and fourteen of them significantly associated with PC survival. Using consensus clustering analysis based on these DRGs, four DRclusters were identified. Additionally, altogether 223 differential genes were evaluated between clusters, indicating potential biological differences between them. Four gene clusters (geneClusters) were recognized according to these genes, and a 10-gene prognostic signature was created. High-risk patients were found to be primarily enriched in signaling pathways related to the cell cycle and p53. Furthermore, the rate of mutations was markedly higher in high-risk patients, besides important variations were present in terms of immune microenvironment and chemotherapy sensitivity among patients with different risk levels. DSG3 could appreciably enhance the invasion and migration of PC cells. This work, based on disulfidoptosis-related genes (DRGs), holds the promise of classifying PC patients and predicting their prognosis, mutational landscape, immune microenvironment, and drug therapy. These insights could boost an improvement in a better comprehension of the role of DRGs in PC as well as provide new opportunities for prognostic prediction and more effective treatment strategies.

Advanced network pharmacology study reveals multi-pathway and multi-gene regulatory molecular mechanism of Bacopa monnieri in liver cancer based on data mining, molecular modeling, and microarray data analysis

Liver cancer is a malignant tumor that grows on the surface or inside the liver. The leading cause is a viral infection with hepatitis B or C virus. Natural products and their structural analogues have historically made a major contribution to pharmacotherapy, especially for cancer. A list of studies evidences the therapeutic efficacy of Bacopa monnieri against liver cancer, but the precise molecular mechanism is yet to be discovered. This study combines data mining, network pharmacology, and molecular docking analysis to potentially revolutionize liver cancer treatment by identifying effective phytochemicals. Initially, the information on active constituents of B. monnieri and target genes of both liver cancer and B. monnieri were retrieved from literature as well as from publicly available databases. Based on the matching results between B. monnieri potential targets and liver cancer targets, the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed using the STRING database and imported into Cytoscape for screening of hub genes based on their degree of connectivity. Later, the interactions network between compounds and overlapping genes was constructed using Cytoscape software to analyze the network pharmacological prospective effects of B. monnieri on liver cancer. Gene Ontology (GO) and KEGG pathway analysis of hub genes revealed that these genes are involved in the cancer-related pathway. Lastly, the expression level of core targets was analyzed using microarray data (GSE39791, GSE76427, GSE22058, GSE87630, and GSE112790). Further, the GEPIA server and PyRx software were used for survival and molecular docking analysis, respectively. In summary, we proposed that quercetin, luteolin, apigenin, catechin, epicatechin, stigmasterol, beta-sitosterol, celastrol, and betulic acid inhibit tumor growth by affecting tumor protein 53 (TP53), interleukin 6 (IL6), RAC-alpha serine/threonine protein kinases 1 (AKT1), caspase-3 (CASP3), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), jun proto-oncogene (JUN), heat shot protein 90 AA1 (HSP90AA1), vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and SRC proto-oncogene (SRC). Through, microarray data analysis, the expression level of JUN and IL6 were found to be upregulated while the expression level of HSP90AA1 was found to be downregulated. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis indicated that HSP90AA1 and JUN are promising candidate genes that can serve as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for liver cancer. Moreover, the molecular docking and molecular dynamic simulation of 60ns well complemented the binding affinity of the compound and revealed strong stability of predicted compounds at the docked site. Calculation of binding free energies using MMPBSA and MMGBSA validated the strong binding affinity between the compound and binding pockets of HSP90AA1 and JUN. Despite that, in vivo and in vitro studies are mandatory to unveil pharmacokinetics and biosafety profiles to completely track the candidature status of B. monnieri in liver cancer.

MYH10 Combines with MYH9 to Recruit USP45 by Deubiquitinating Snail and Promotes Serous Ovarian Cancer Carcinogenesis, Progression, and Cisplatin Resistance

The poor prognosis of serous ovarian cancer (SOC) is due to its high invasive capacity and cisplatin resistance of SOC cells, whereas the molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. In the present study, the expression and function of non-muscle myosin heavy chain IIB (MYH10) in SOC are identified by immunohistochemistry, in vitro, and in vivo studies, respectively. The mechanism of MYH10 is demonstrated by co-immunoprecipitation, GST pull-down, confocal laser assays, and so on. The results show that the knockdown of MYH10 suppressed SOC cell proliferation, migration, invasion, metastasis, and cisplatin resistance both in vivo and in vitro. Further studies confirm that the MYH10 protein functional domain combines with non-muscle myosin heavy chain IIA (MYH9) to recruit the deubiquitinating enzyme Ubiquitin-specific proteases 45 and deubiquitinates snail to inhibit snail degradation, eventually promoting tumorigenesis, progression, and cisplatin resistance in SOC. In clinical samples, MYH10 expression is significantly elevated in SOC samples compared to the paratumor samples. And the expression of MYH10 is positively correlated with MYH9 expression. MYH10+/MYH9+ co-expression is an independent prognostic factor for predicting SOC patient survival. These findings uncover a key role of the MYH10-MYH9-snail axis in SOC carcinogenesis, progression, and cisplatin resistance, and provide potential novel therapeutic targets for SOC intervention.

B-lymphoid tyrosine kinase-mediated FAM83A phosphorylation elevates pancreatic tumorigenesis through interacting with β-catenin

Abnormal activation of Wnt/β-catenin-mediated transcription is closely associated with the malignancy of pancreatic cancer. Family with sequence similarity 83 member A (FAM83A) was shown recently to have oncogenic effects in a variety of cancer types, but the biological roles and molecular mechanisms of FAM83A in pancreatic cancer need further investigation. Here, we newly discovered that FAM83A binds directly to β-catenin and inhibits the assembly of the cytoplasmic destruction complex thus inhibiting the subsequent phosphorylation and degradation. FAM83A is mainly phosphorylated by the SRC non-receptor kinase family member BLK (B-lymphoid tyrosine kinase) at tyrosine 138 residue within the DUF1669 domain that mediates the FAM83A-β-catenin interaction. Moreover, FAM83A tyrosine 138 phosphorylation enhances oncogenic Wnt/β-catenin-mediated transcription through promoting β-catenin-TCF4 interaction and showed an elevated nucleus translocation, which inhibits the recruitment of histone deacetylases by TCF4. We also showed that FAM83A is a direct downstream target of Wnt/β-catenin signaling and correlates with the levels of Wnt target genes in human clinical pancreatic cancer tissues. Notably, the inhibitory peptides that target the FAM83A-β-catenin interaction significantly suppressed pancreatic cancer growth and metastasis in vitro and in vivo. Our results revealed that blocking the FAM83A cascade signaling defines a therapeutic target in human pancreatic cancer.

Downregulation of Linc00173 increases BCL2 mRNA stability via the miR-1275/PROCA1/ZFP36L2 axis and induces acquired cisplatin resistance of lung adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

LINC00173 had been reported as a cisplatin (cis-diamminedichloroplatinum, DDP) chemotherapy-resistant inducer in small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) and lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC). This study aimed to display reverse data for LINC00173 as a DDP chemosensitivity-inducing factor in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD).

METHODS

LINC00173 was screened from the Gene Expression Omnibus database (GSE43493). The expression level of LINC00173 in LUAD tissues and cell lines was detected using in situ hybridization and quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Colony formation, cell viability, half-maximal inhibitory concentration, flow cytometry, and xenograft mouse model were used to evaluate the role of LINC00173 in the chemosensitivity of LUAD to DDP. The mechanism of LINC00173 in DDP resistance by mediating miR-1275/PROCA1/ZFP36L2 axis to impair BCL2 mRNA stability was applied, and co-immunoprecipitation, chromatin immunoprecipitation, RNA antisense purification, RNA immunoprecipitation, and luciferase reporter assays were performed.

RESULTS

LINC00173 downregulation in patients with DDP-resistant LUAD was correlated with poor prognosis. Further, LINC00173 expression was significantly reduced in DDP-resistant LUAD cells and DDP-treated human LUAD tissues. Suppressed LINC00173 expression in LUAD cells enhanced DDP chemoresistance in vivo and in vitro, while restored LINC00173 expression in DDP-resistant LUAD cells markedly regained chemosensitivity to DDP. Mechanistically, DDP-resistant LUAD cells activated PI3K/AKT signal and further elevated the c-Myc expression. The c-Myc, as an oncogenic transcriptional factor, bound to the promoter of LINC00173 and suppressed its expression. The reduced LINC00173 expression attenuated the adsorption of oncogenic miR-1275, downregulating the expression of miR-1275 target gene PROCA1. PROCA1 played a potential tumor-suppressive role inducing cell apoptosis and DDP chemosensitivity via recruiting ZFP36L2 to bind to the 3' untranslated region of BCL2, reducing the stability of BCL2 mRNA and thus activating the apoptotic signal.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrated a novel and critical role of LINC00173. It was transcriptionally repressed by DDP-activated PI3K/AKT/c-Myc signal in LUAD, promoting DDP-acquired chemotherapeutic resistance by regulating miR-1275 to suppress PROCA1/ZFP36L2-induced BCL2 degradation, which led to apoptotic signal reduction. These data were not consistent with the previously described role of LINC00173 in SCLC or LUSC, which suggested that LINC00173 could play fine-tuned DDP resistance roles in different pathological subtypes of lung cancer. This study demonstrated that the diminished expression of LINC00173 might serve as an indicator of DDP-acquired resistance in LUAD.

Biological impact and therapeutic perspective of targeting PI3K/Akt signaling in hepatocellular carcinoma: Promises and Challenges

Cancer progression results from activation of various signaling networks. Among these, PI3K/Akt signaling contributes to proliferation, invasion, and inhibition of apoptosis. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a primary liver cancer with high incidence rate, especially in regions with high prevalence of viral hepatitis infection. Autoimmune disorders, diabetes mellitus, obesity, alcohol consumption, and inflammation can also lead to initiation and development of HCC. The treatment of HCC depends on the identification of oncogenic factors that lead tumor cells to develop resistance to therapy. The present review article focuses on the role of PI3K/Akt signaling in HCC progression. Activation of PI3K/Akt signaling promotes glucose uptake, favors glycolysis and increases tumor cell proliferation. It inhibits both apoptosis and autophagy while promoting HCC cell survival. PI3K/Akt stimulates epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and increases matrix-metalloproteinase (MMP) expression during HCC metastasis. In addition to increasing colony formation capacity and facilitating the spread of tumor cells, PI3K/Akt signaling stimulates angiogenesis. Therefore, silencing PI3K/Akt signaling prevents aggressive HCC cell behavior. Activation of PI3K/Akt signaling can confer drug resistance, particularly to sorafenib, and decreases the radio-sensitivity of HCC cells. Anti-cancer agents, like phytochemicals and small molecules can suppress PI3K/Akt signaling by limiting HCC progression. Being upregulated in tumor tissues and clinical samples, PI3K/Akt can also be used as a biomarker to predict patients' response to therapy.

ncRNA-mediated upregulation of FAM83A is associated with poor prognosis and immune infiltration in pancreatic cancer

INTRODUCTION

Malignant pancreatic cancer has poor long-term survival. Increasing evidence shows that FAM83A (family with sequence similarity 83 member A) plays a vital role in tumorigenesis and malignant progression in some human cancer types. The present study explored the potential mechanism of FAM83A in improving the prognosis of pancreatic cancer patients.

METHODS

Transcriptomic and clinical data from patients were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas while FAM83A expression was measured in tumorous pancreatic tissue compared with normal controls by quantitative real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

FAM83A is a vital prognostic indicator and potential oncogene in pancreatic cancer via pan-cancer analysis. In silico analysis revealed that AL049555.1/hsa-miR-129-5p axis was the pivotal upstream ncRNA- mediated pathway of FAM83A in pancreatic cancer. Furthermore, FAM83A expression was related to immune cell infiltration through vital immune-related genes including programmed cell death 1 (PDCD1), and tumorigenesis through common mutation genes including KRAS protooncogene GTPase (KRAS), and SMAD family member 4 (SMAD4). In summary, ncRNA-mediated upregulation of FAM83A is associated with poor long-term survival and immune cell infiltration in pancreatic cancer.

DISCUSSION

FAM83A may be used as a novel survival-related and immune-related biomarker. This information suggests that FAM83A may be a novel therapeutic target for combined or individual treatment for patients with pancreatic cancer.

FAM83A promotes the progression and metastasis of human pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors by inducing the epithelial-mesenchymal transition via the PI3K/AKT and ERK pathways

PURPOSE

Family with sequence similarity 83, member A (FAM83A) has been reported to play an important role in cancer progression and metastasis. The purpose of this study was to clarify the role and mechanism of FAM83A in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PanNETs).

METHODS

PanNET specimens and adjacent nontumor pancreatic tissues obtained from 68 patients who underwent curative surgery for PanNETs were assessed for FAM83A expression using immunochemical staining. The relationships between FAM83A expression, clinicopathological parameters and prognosis were statistically analyzed. PanNET cell lines were used to study the role of FAM83A in the progression and metastasis of PanNETs in vitro and in vivo.

RESULTS

FAM83A was overexpressed in PanNET specimens compared with adjacent nontumor tissues. Furthermore, FAM83A expression was closely associated with lymph node metastasis (P = 0.02), perineural invasion (P = 0.001), WHO classification (P = 0.039), AJCC stage (P = 0.01) and shorter disease-free survival in patients with PanNETs (P < 0.001). FAM83A overexpression effectively promoted PanNET cell proliferation, migration, invasion and growth both in vitro and in vivo, whereas FAM83A inhibition exerted the opposite effects. Subsequent mechanistic investigations revealed that FAM83A promotes the progression and metastasis of PanNETs by inducing epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) via the PI3K/AKT and ERK pathways.

CONCLUSIONS

FAM83A plays an important role in the progression and metastasis of PanNET by inducing the EMT via the activation of the ERK and PI3K/AKT pathways and may serve as a valuable molecular target in PanNET treatment.

Investigation of Anti-Liver Cancer Activity of the Herbal Drug FDY003 Using Network Pharmacology

Globally, liver cancer (LC) is the sixth-most frequently occurring and the second-most fatal malignancy, responsible for 0.83 million deaths annually. Although the application of herbal drugs in cancer therapies has increased, their anti-LC activity and relevant mechanisms have not been fully studied from a systems perspective. To address these issues, we conducted a system-perspective network pharmacological investigation into the activity and mechanisms underlying the action of the herbal drug. FDY003 reduced the viability of human LC treatment. FDY003 reduced the viability of human LC cells and elevated their chemosensitivity. There were a total of 16 potential bioactive chemical components in FDY003 and they had 91 corresponding targets responsible for the pathological processes in LC. These FDY003 targets were functionally involved in regulating the survival, proliferation, apoptosis, and cell cycle of LC cells. Additionally, we found that FDY003 may target key signaling cascades connected to diverse LC pathological mechanisms, namely, PI3K-Akt, focal adhesion, IL-17, FoxO, MAPK, and TNF pathways. Overall, this study contributed to integrative mechanistic insights into the anti-LC potential of FDY003.

Proto-oncogene FAM83A contributes to casein kinase 1-mediated mitochondrial maintenance and white adipocyte differentiation

Family with sequence similarity 83 A (FAM83A) is a newly discovered proto-oncogene that has been shown to play key roles in various cancers. However, the function of FAM83A in other physiological processes is not well known. Here, we report a novel function of FAM83A in adipocyte differentiation. We used an adipocyte-targeting fusion oligopeptide (FITC-ATS-9R) to deliver a FAM83A-sgRNA/Cas9 plasmid to knockdown Fam83a (ATS/sg-FAM83A) in white adipose tissue in mice, which resulted in reduced white adipose tissue mass, smaller adipocytes, and mitochondrial damage that was aggravated by a high-fat diet. In cultured 3T3-L1 adipocytes, we found loss or knockdown of Fam83a significantly repressed lipid droplet formation and downregulated the expression of lipogenic genes and proteins. Furthermore, inhibition of Fam83a decreased mitochondrial ATP production through blockage of the electron transport chain, associated with enhanced apoptosis. Mechanistically, we demonstrate FAM83A interacts with casein kinase 1 (CK1) and promotes the permeability of the mitochondrial outer membrane. Furthermore, loss of Fam83a in adipocytes hampered the formation of the TOM40 complex and impeded CK1-driven lipogenesis. Taken together, these results establish FAM83A as a critical regulator of mitochondria maintenance during adipogenesis.

LncRNA RMRP Contributes to the Development and Progression of Spinal Cord Injury by Regulating miR-766-5p/FAM83A Axis

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is known as a central nervous system disorder. Previous studies suggested that long-non-coding RNA RMRP (LncRNA RMRP) was abnormally expressed in SCI, but the potential underlying mechanism remains to be further explored. To explore the regulatory roles of LncRNA RMRP/miR-766-5p/FAM83A axis in SCI. Spinal T9 hemisection was performed on healthy adult male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats to establish the SCI rat models. The expressions of LncRNA RMRP in spinal cord of rats in different groups were examined by RT-qPCR. Moreover, AGE1.HN and PC12 cells were treated with hypoxic condition, and expression of LncRNA RMRP was examined by RT-qPCR methods. Furthermore, hypoxic PC12 cells were transfected with LncRNA RMRP OE, and the cell viability, proliferation, and apoptosis were examined. Next, the direct targeting relationship between LncRNA RMRP and miR-766-5p, as well as miR-766-5p and FAM83A, was confirmed by dual-luciferase reporter and RNA pull-down assays. Finally, the effects of LncRNA RMRP/miR-766-5p/FAM83A axis on cell viability, proliferation, and apoptosis were examined. LncRNA RMRP was downregulated in SCI rats and over-expression of LncRNA RMRP alleviated the SCI condition. LncRNA RMRP over-expression increased the viability and proliferation, and inhibited the apoptosis of hypoxic PC12 cells in vitro. miR-766-5p was confirmed as a target of LncRNA RMRP, and FAM83A was confirmed as a target of miR-766-5p. LncRNA RMRP could regulate the proliferation and apoptosis of hypoxic PC12 cells via regulating miR-766-5p/FAM83A axis in vitro. LncRNA RMRP may contribute to the pathogenesis of SCI via regulating miR-766-5p/FAM83A axis.

Pan-cancer analysis of the FAM83 family and its association with prognosis and tumor microenvironment

Family with sequence similarity 83 (FAM83) is a newly identified family of oncogenes whose members play important roles in signaling and cancer progression. However, a thorough understanding of the FAM83 family in tumors is still lacking. Here, we performed a comprehensive analysis of the expression levels of the FAM83 family across cancers and patient prognoses using bioinformatics methods. We found that the expression levels of FAM83 family genes were upregulated in most tumors, and importantly, high expression levels of FAM83 family genes were related to poor prognosis in most tumors. In addition, we analyzed the relationship of FAM83 family genes with immune subtypes and the tumor microenvironment (TME). The results showed that FAM83 family genes were significantly associated with immune infiltrative subtypes and to varying degrees with the level of stromal cell infiltration and tumor stem cells. Finally, our study also showed the relationship between FAM83 family genes and drug sensitivity. Therefore, this pan-cancer analysis demonstrates the critical role of FAM83 family genes in tumor development and provides new clues for therapeutic strategies for cancer.

Comprehensive analysis of the expression, prognostic significance, and function of FAM83 family members in breast cancer

BACKGROUND

The FAM83 family plays a key role in tumorigenesis and cancer progression. However, the role of the FAM83 family in the development of breast tumors is unclear to date. This report explores the expression, prognostic significance, and function of the FAM83 family members in breast cancer using public databases.

METHODS

UALCAN database was used to explore the expression of FAM83 family members in breast cancer. Furthermore, we validated the expression of FAM83 family members in twenty pairs of breast cancer and normal tissues by RT-PCR. Kaplan-Meier plotter database was used to explore the prognostic significance of FAM83 family members in breast cancer. GeneMANIA and DAVID databases were used for functional and pathway enrichment analysis of genes co-expressed with FAM83A, FAM83D, FAM83F, and FAM83G. MEXPRESS and UALCAN databases were used to analyze the level of DNA promoter methylation of FAM83A, FAM83D, FAM83F, and FAM83G in breast cancer. TIMER database was utilized to explore the relationships between immune cell infiltration and FAM83A, FAM83D, FAM83F, and FAM83G expression.

RESULTS

Among FAM83 family members, FAM83A, FAM83D, FAM83F, and FAM83G were higher expressed in breast cancer than in normal tissues. We also validated the significant high expression of FAM83A, FAM83D, FAM83F, and FAM83G mRNA in breast cancer than in normal samples. Their increased expression has an adverse prognostic effect on breast cancer patients. These genes co-expressed with FAM83A, FAM83D, FAM83F, and FAM83G might take part in cell proliferation, G2/M transition of the mitotic cell cycle, regulation of apoptosis process and other cancer-related biological processes. In addition, they were mainly enriched in the Hippo signaling pathway, Hedgehog signaling pathway, PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, and other cancer-related pathways. We also found that promoter DNA methylation might regulate the expression of FAM83A, FAM83D, FAM83F, and FAM83G mRNA in most CpG islands. At last, we found the expression of FAM83A, FAM83D, FAM83F, and FAM83G mRNA was significantly related to immune cell infiltration.

CONCLUSIONS

FAM83A, FAM83D, FAM83F, and FAM83G were highly expressed in breast cancer tissues and had an adverse effect on the survival outcomes of breast cancer patients. Also, they were involved in breast cancer-related signal pathways. Therefore, they might serve as potential therapeutic targets for breast cancer clinical treatment.

FAM83A has a pro-tumor function in ovarian cancer by affecting the Akt/Wnt/β-catenin pathway

Family with sequence similarity 83, member A (FAM83A) is a tumor-exclusive gene that has a vital role in numerous tumors. However, its role in tumorigenesis remains controversial. This work is dedicated to the study of the role of FAM83A in ovarian cancer. We observed elevated levels of FAM83A in ovarian cancer specimens and cells. Kaplan-Meier survival curves revealed that elevated FAM83A levels predicted a worse overall survival in ovarian cancer patients. The inhibition of FAM83A caused remarkable suppressive effects on the proliferation and invasion of ovarian cancer cells, and enhanced their chemosensitivity. On the contrary, the upregulation of FAM83A had opposite effects. Mechanistically, FAM83A had an effect on the Akt and Wnt/β-catenin pathways in ovarian cancer cells. The repression of Akt could cancel the regulatory effect of FAM83A overexpression on the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Moreover, reactivation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway abolished FAM83A-inhibition-evoked antitumor effects. Additionally, FAM83A inhibition weakened the tumorigenic potential of ovarian cancer in vivo. Taken together, this work shows that FAM83A exerts a pro-tumor function in ovarian cancer by affecting the Akt/Wnt/β-catenin pathway and proposes FAM83A as an effective and possible treatment target for ovarian cancer.

Chemically synthesized cinobufagin suppresses nasopharyngeal carcinoma metastasis by inducing ENKUR to stabilize p53 expression

Clinically, the metastasis of tumor cells is the key factor of death in patients with cancer. In this study, we used a model of metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) to explore the effects of a new chemical, cinobufagin (CB), combined with cisplatin (DDP). We observed that chemically synthesized CB strongly decreased the metastasis of NPC. Furthermore, a better therapeutic effect was shown when CB was combined with DDP. Molecular analysis revealed that CB induced ENKUR expression by deregulating the PI3K/AKT pathway and suppressing c-Jun, an oncogenic transcriptional factor that binds to the ENKUR promoter and negatively modulated its expression in NPC. ENKUR as a tumor suppressor binds to MYH9 and decreases its expression by recruiting β-catenin via its enkurin domain to prevent its nuclear accumulation, which therefore suppresses c-Jun-induced MYH9 expression. Subsequently, downregulated MYH9 reduces the enlistment of E3 ligase UBE3A and thus decreases the UBE3A-mediated ubiquitination degradation of p53, a key tumor suppressor that decreases epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Clinical sample analysis demonstrated that the ENKUR expression level was significantly reduced in NPC tissues. Its decreased expression substantially promoted clinical progression and reflected poor prognosis for patients with NPC. This study demonstrated that CB induced ENKUR to repress the β-catenin/c-Jun/MYH9 signal and thus decreased UBE3A-mediated p53 ubiquitination degradation. As a result, the EMT signal was inactivated to suppress NPC metastasis.

Exosomal circ_0007385 enhances non-small cell lung cancer cell proliferation and stemness via regulating miR-1253/FAM83A axis

Exosomes are critical mediators of intercellular communication in the tumor microenvironment. Exosomal circular RNAs (circRNAs) can act as biomarkers and play crucial roles in many cancers, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The aim of this study was to explore the functions and regulatory mechanism of exosomal circ_0007385 in NSCLC. The expression levels of circ_0007385, microRNA-1253 (miR-1253), family with sequence similarity 83, member A (FAM83A) mRNA were determined by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), 5-Ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (Edu), and colony formation assays were utilized to determine cell proliferation ability. Sphere formation efficiency was determined by sphere formation assay. All protein levels were detected by western blot assay. Exosomes were detected using transmission electron microscopy analysis. Size distribution of exosomes was analyzed by nanoparticle tracking analysis. The interaction between miR-1253 and circ_0007385 or FAM83A was confirmed by dual-luciferase reporter, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) and RNA pull-down assays. Mice xenograft model was established to verify the function of circ_0007385 in vivo. Circ_0007385 was upregulated in NSCLC tissues and cells. Knockdown of circ_0007385 inhibited NSCLC cell proliferation and stemness, while exosomal circ_0007385 facilitated NSCLC cell proliferation and stemness. In addition, miR-1253 was a direct target of circ_0007385, and miR-1253 reversed the inhibitory effects of circ_0007385 on cell proliferation and stemness in NSCLC cells. Moreover, FAM83A was a direct target of miR-1253, and miR-1253 suppressed NSCLC cell proliferation and stemness by targeting FAM83A. Furthermore, circ_0007385 knockdown inhibited tumor growth in vivo. Exosomal circ_0007385 promoted NSCLC cell proliferation and stemness by regulating miR-1253/FAM83A axis.

Reprogramming Carbohydrate Metabolism in Cancer and Its Role in Regulating the Tumor Microenvironment

Altered metabolism has become an emerging feature of cancer cells impacting their proliferation and metastatic potential in myriad ways. Proliferating heterogeneous tumor cells are surrounded by other resident or infiltrating cells, along with extracellular matrix proteins, and other secretory factors constituting the tumor microenvironment. The diverse cell types of the tumor microenvironment exhibit different molecular signatures that are regulated at their genetic and epigenetic levels. The cancer cells elicit intricate crosstalks with these supporting cells, exchanging essential metabolites which support their anabolic processes and can promote their survival, proliferation, EMT, angiogenesis, metastasis and even therapeutic resistance. In this context, carbohydrate metabolism ensures constant energy supply being a central axis from which other metabolic and biosynthetic pathways including amino acid and lipid metabolism and pentose phosphate pathway are diverged. In contrast to normal cells, increased glycolytic flux is a distinguishing feature of the highly proliferative cancer cells, which supports them to adapt to a hypoxic environment and also protects them from oxidative stress. Such rewired metabolic properties are often a result of epigenetic alterations in the cancer cells, which are mediated by several factors including, DNA, histone and non-histone protein modifications and non-coding RNAs. Conversely, epigenetic landscapes of the cancer cells are also dictated by their diverse metabolomes. Altogether, this metabolic and epigenetic interplay has immense potential for the development of efficient anti-cancer therapeutic strategies. In this book chapter we emphasize upon the significance of reprogrammed carbohydrate metabolism in regulating the tumor microenvironment and cancer progression, with an aim to explore the different metabolic and epigenetic targets for better cancer treatment.

NAP1L1 interacts with hepatoma-derived growth factor to recruit c-Jun inducing breast cancer growth

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer is a common cancer among women in the world. However, its pathogenesis is still to be determined. The role and molecular mechanism of Nucleosome Assembly Protein 1 Like 1 (NAP1L1) in breast cancer have not been reported. Elucidation of molecular mechanism might provide a novel therapeutic target for breast cancer treatment.

METHODS

A bioinformatics analysis was conducted to determine the differential expression of NAP1L1 in breast cancer and find the potential biomarker that interacts with NAP1L1 and hepatoma-derived growth factor (HDGF). The expression of NAP1L1 in tissues was detected by using immunohistochemistry. Breast cancer cells were transfected with the corresponding lentiviral particles and siRNA. The efficiency of transfection was measured by RT-qPCR and western blotting. Then, MTT, Edu, plate clone formation, and subcutaneous tumorigenesis in nude mice were used to detect the cell proliferation in breast cancer. Furthermore, coimmunoprecipitation (Co-IP) assay and confocal microscopy were performed to explore the detailed molecular mechanism of NAP1L1 in breast cancer.

RESULTS

In this study, NAP1L1 protein was upregulated based on the Clinical Proteomic Tumor Analysis Consortium (CPTAC) database. Consistent with the prediction, immunohistochemistry staining showed that NAP1L1 protein expression was significantly increased in breast cancer tissues. Its elevated expression was an unfavorable factor for breast cancer clinical progression and poor prognosis. Stably or transiently knocking down NAP1L1 reduced the cell growth in vivo and in vitro via repressing the cell cycle signal in breast cancer. Furthermore, the molecular basis of NAP1L1-induced cell cycle signal was further studied. NAP1L1 interacted with the HDGF, an oncogenic factor for tumors, and the latter subsequently recruited the key oncogenic transcription factor c-Jun, which finally induced the expression of cell cycle promoter Cyclin D1(CCND1) and thus the cell growth of breast cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data demonstrated that NAP1L1 functions as a potential oncogene via interacting with HDGF to recruit c-Jun in breast cancer.

NAP1L1 targeting suppresses the proliferation of nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Nucleosome assembly protein 1-like 1 (NAP1L1) is significantly involved in the development of various cancers. However, its role in the molecular mechanism of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) remains undetermined. In this study, we detected the upregulated expression of NAP1L1 mRNA and protein levels by quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis in NPC cell lines. Results of the immunohistochemistry analysis of NPC tissue biopsies showed that upregulated NAP1L1 protein expression promoted NPC progression and negatively correlated with poor prognosis in NPC patients. Suppression of NAP1L1 expression by small interfering RNA (siRNA) or small hairpin RNA (shRNA) methods significantly decreased cell proliferation in vivo and in vitro. Mechanism analysis revealed that the regulation of cell growth was enriched by Gene Set Enrichment Analysis based on RNA sequencing data. Cell cycle-induced genes CCND1 and E2F1 were downregulated in NAP1L1 knockdown NPC cells. Reduced NAP1L1 suppressed the recruitment of hepatoma-derived growth factor (HDGF) and decreased its expression. Knockdown of HDGF reduced the expression of c-JUN, a key oncogenic transcription factor that can induce the expression of cyclin D1 (CCND1), reducing cell cycle progression and suppressing cell growth in NPC. Transfecting HDGF or c-JUN could reverse the growth-suppressive effects in NAP1L1-downregulated NPC cells. The data obtained in this study suggest that NAP1L1 acts as a potential oncogene by activating HDGF/c-JUN/CCND1 signaling in NPC.

FAM83A Promotes the Proliferative and Invasive Abilities of Cervical Cancer Cells via Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition and the Wnt Signaling Pathway

The family with sequence similarity 83, member A (FAM83A) gene is associated with the occurrence and development of many malignant tumors. Our aim was to explore the role of FAM83A in cervical cancer. FAM83A was overexpressed or knocked down in cervical cancer cells, and the expressions of FAM83A, key proteins involved in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and Wnt signaling pathway-related proteins were detected by western blot analysis. Cell proliferative and invasive abilities were also examined using cell proliferation, colony formation, and Matrigel invasion assays. Cells were treated with the Wnt pathway inhibitor XAV-939 to determine whether Wnt signaling was necessary for the effect of FAM83A on cervical cancer cells. FAM83A was highly expressed in cervical cancer tissues and was associated with differentiation, TNM stage, lymph node metastasis, and poor prognosis in patients with cervical cancer. Knockdown of FAM83A inhibited the proliferation, colony formation, and invasion of cervical cancer cells. The opposite results were observed in FAM83A-overexpressing cells, and FAM83A overexpression also promoted EMT and Wnt signaling. XAV-939 reversed the activation of Wnt signaling and EMT induced by FAM83A. In conclusion, FAM83A expression was increased in cervical cancers and correlated with poor prognosis of patients. FAM83A overexpression can activate the Wnt signaling pathway, facilitate EMT, and promote the proliferative and invasive abilities of cervical cancer cells.

NAP1L1 Functions as a Tumor Promoter via Recruiting Hepatoma-Derived Growth Factor/c-Jun Signal in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

NAP1L1 has been reported to be significantly involved in the carcinogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Yet, its detailed molecular basis is still to be determined. Based on the analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, NAP1L1 mRNA was found to be upregulated and predicted the poor prognosis initially. Subsequently, consistent with the prediction, the upregulated expression of NAP1L1 mRNA and protein levels was confirmed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), Western blot, and immunohistochemistry assays. Upregulated NAP1L1 protein positively promoted the disease progression and poor prognosis of HCC. In addition, NAP1L1 protein expression was considered as an independent prognostic factor in HCC. Inhibition of NAP1L1 expression by siRNA or shRNA pathway significantly reduced the cell proliferation and cell cycle transformation in vitro and in vivo. Mechanism analysis first showed that the function of NAP1L1 was to recruit hepatoma-derived growth factor (HDGF), an oncogene candidate widely documented in tumors. Furthermore, the latter interacted with c-Jun, a key oncogenic transcription factor that can induce the expression of cell cycle factors and thus stimulate the cell growth in HCC. Finally, transfecting HDGF or c-Jun could reverse the suppressive effects on HCC growth in NAP1L1-suppressed HCC cells. Our data indicate that NAP1L1 is a potential oncogene and acts via recruiting HDGF/c-Jun in HCC.

High expression of LAMA3/AC245041.2 gene pair associated with KRAS mutation and poor survival in pancreatic adenocarcinoma: a comprehensive TCGA analysis

Background

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD) is one of the most challenging cancers with high morbidity and mortality. KRAS mutations could occur as an early event in PAAD. The present study aimed to identify the differentially expressed lncRNAs (DE-lncRNAs) and differentially expressed mRNAs (DE-mRNAs) in KRAS-mutant PAAD to explore the pathogenesis and the underlying molecular mechanism of PAAD development.

Methods

Clinical data of TCGA–PAAD patients were downloaded from the TCGA database and subjected to survival analysis along with the KRAS mutation information data. Weighted gene correlation network analysis (WGCNA) and univariate Cox regression analysis were conducted to construct prognostic risk models to identify the hub DE-mRNAs and DE-lncRNAs associated with PAAD prognosis. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses of the identified hub DE-mRNAs were performed. Multivariate cox regression analysis was performed to analyze the overall prognosis of age, gender, pathologic_T, and KRAS mutations, following which the differences in the clinical characteristics of risk score1 and risk score2 were analyzed. Finally, the mRNAs–lncRNA–TFs regulatory network was constructed.

Results

Functional enrichment analysis was performed after screening 1671 DE-mRNAs and 324 DE-lncRNAs. It was observed that the associated pathways were enriched mainly in the modulation of chemical synaptic transmission, synaptic membrane, ion-gated channel activity, ligand−receptor interactions that stimulate neural tissue, among others. The univariate Cox regression analysis screened 117 mRNAs and 36 lncRNAs, and the risk ratio models of the mRNAs and lncRNAs were constructed. LAMA3 (mRNA) and AC245041.2 (lncRNA) exhibited a strong expression correlation in the respective two risk models. The genes in the samples with a high expression of these two genes were enriched in several pathways associated with transcription factors (TFs), among which the TFs ATF5, CSHL1, NR1I2, SIPA1, HOXC13, HSF2, and HOXA10 were shared by the two groups. The core enrichment genes in the common TF pathways were collated, and the mRNAs–lncRNAs–TFs regulatory network was constructed.

Conclusion

In the present study, novel prognostic mRNAs and lncRNAs were identified, and their respective prognostic models and nomograms were constructed to guide clinical practice. An mRNAs–lncRNAs–TFs regulatory network was also constructed, which could assist further research in the future.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s10020-021-00322-2.

Programmed death ligand-1 regulates angiogenesis and metastasis by participating in the c-JUN/VEGFR2 signaling axis in ovarian cancer

Background

Although programmed cell death‐ligand 1 (PD‐L1) plays a well‐known function in immune checkpoint response by interacting with programmed cell death‐1 (PD‐1), the cell‐intrinsic role of PD‐L1 in tumors is still unclear. Here, we explored the molecular regulatory mechanism of PD‐L1 in the progression and metastasis of ovarian cancer.

Methods

Immunohistochemistry of benign tissues and ovarian cancer samples was performed, followed by migration, invasion, and angiogenesis assays in PD‐L1‐knockdown ovarian cancer cells. Immunoprecipitation, mass spectrometry, and chromatin immunoprecipitation were conducted along with zebrafish and mouse experiments to explore the specific functions and mechanisms of PD‐L1 in ovarian cancer.

Results

Our results showed that PD‐L1 induced angiogenesis, which further promoted cell migration and invasion in vitro and in vivo of ovarian cancer. Mechanistically, PD‐L1 was identified to directly interact with vascular endothelial growth factor receptor‐2 (VEGFR2) and then activated the FAK/AKT pathway, which further induced angiogenesis and tumor progression, leading to poor prognosis of ovarian cancer patients. Meanwhile, PD‐L1 was found to be regulated by the oncogenic transcription factor c‐JUN at the transcriptional level, which enhanced the expression of PD‐L1 in ovarian cancer. Furthermore, we demonstrated that PD‐L1 inhibitor durvalumab, combined with the antiangiogenic drug, apatinib, could enhance the effect of anti‐angiogenesis and the inhibition of cell migration and invasion.

Conclusion

Our results demonstrated that PD‐L1 promoted the angiogenesis and metastasis of ovarian cancer by participating in the c‐JUN/VEGFR2 signaling axis, suggesting that the combination of PD‐L1 inhibitor and antiangiogenic drugs may be considered as a potential therapeutic approach for ovarian cancer patients.

VPS33B interacts with NESG1 to suppress cell growth and cisplatin chemoresistance in ovarian cancer

The pathogenesis and cisplatin chemoresistance of ovarian cancer (OC) are still unclear. Vacuolar protein sorting‐associated 33B (VPS33B) has not been reported in OC to date. In this study, immunohistochemistry was used to detect VPS33B protein expression between OC and ovarian tissues. MTT, EdU, colony formation, cell cycle, in vivo tumorigenesis, western blot, ChIP, EMSA, co‐immunoprecipitation (CoIP), qRT‐PCR, and microconfocal microscopy were used to explore the function and molecular mechanisms of VPS33B in OC cells. The results of the present study demonstrated that VPS33B protein expression was obviously reduced in OC compared with that in ovarian tissues. Overexpressed VPS33B suppressed cell cycle transition, cell growth, and chemoresistance to cisplatin in vitro and in vivo. Analysis of the mechanism indicated that overexpressed VPS33B regulated the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)/PI3K/AKT/c‐Myc/p53/miR‐133a‐3p feedback loop and reduced the expression of the cell cycle factor CDK4. Nasopharyngeal epithelium‐specific protein 1 (NESG1) as a tumor suppressor not only interacted with VPS33B, but was also induced by VPS33B by the attenuation of PI3K/AKT/c‐Jun‐mediated transcription inhibition. Overexpressed NESG1 further suppressed cell growth by mediating VPS33B‐modulated signals in VPS33B‐overexpressing OC cells. Finally, NESG1 induced VPS33B expression by reducing the inhibition of PI3K/AKT/c‐Jun‐mediated transcription. Our study is the first to demonstrate that VPS33B serves as a tumor suppressor, and VPS33B can interact with NESG1 to suppress cell growth and promote cisplatin sensitivity by regulating the EGFR/PI3K/AKT/c‐Myc/p53/miR‐133a‐3p feedback loop in OC cells.

From Liver Cirrhosis to Cancer: The Role of Micro-RNAs in Hepatocarcinogenesis

In almost all cases, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) develops as the endpoint of a sequence that starts with chronic liver injury, progresses to liver cirrhosis, and finally, over years and decades, results in liver cancer. Recently, the role of non-coding RNA such as microRNA (miRNA) has been demonstrated in the context of chronic liver diseases and HCC. Moreover, data from a phase II trial suggested a potential role of microRNAs as therapeutics in hepatitis-C-virus infection, representing a significant risk factor for development of liver cirrhosis and HCC. Despite progress in the clinical management of chronic liver diseases, pharmacological treatment options for patients with liver cirrhosis and/or advanced HCC are still limited. With their potential to regulate whole networks of genes, miRNA might be used as novel therapeutics in these patients but could also serve as biomarkers for improved patient stratification. In this review, we discuss available data on the role of miRNA in the transition from liver cirrhosis to HCC. We highlight opportunities for clinical translation and discuss open issues applicable to future developments.

AURKA and FAM83A are prognostic biomarkers and correlated with Tumor-infiltrating Lymphocytes in smoking related Lung Adenocarcinoma

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) has become the main histologic type, which account for nearly 40% of lung cancer. The present study aimed to investigate the gene expression signature in smoking related LUAD. A total of 45 smoking related DEGs in LUAD were identified and functional enrichment analysis was also performed. Then Cox's regression model and Kaplan-Meier analysis were used to screen potential prognostic genes. Finally, AURKA and FAM83A were left for further immune-related mechanism exploration. Kaplan-Meier analysis indicated survival rates are related to different immune cell (B cell and Dendritic cell) infiltration levels. Mechanistically, we further explore the correlation between AURKA and FAM83A gene expression levels and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) level as well as their response to immunomodulators. The results suggested that AURKA and FAM83A are highly expressed in smoking related LUAD, and negatively correlated to B cell and Dendritic cell infiltration levels. At the same time, B cell and Dendritic cell infiltration levels also related to the prognosis of LUAD. We further revealed AURKA and FAM83A could be novel targets to improve the prognosis of LUAD through regulated the response to immunomodulators.

Systematic Analysis of Expression Profiles and Prognostic Significance for FAM83 Family in Non-small-Cell Lung Cancer

Background

Lung cancer remains a common malignancy and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the world. Although dramatic progress made in multimodal therapies, it still has a poor prognosis. The Family with sequence similarity 83 (FAM83) of poorly characterized proteins are defined by the presence of the conserved DUF1669 domain of unknown function at their N-termini, most of which significantly elevated levels of expression in multiple cancers. However, the expression and prognostic values of different FAM83 family in lung cancer, especially in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), have not been clarified.

Methods

ONCOMINE, UALCAN, GEPIA, Kaplan–Meier Plotter, cBioPortal, and STRING databases were utilized in this study.

Results

The transcriptional levels of FAM83A/B/C/D/F/G/H were up-regulated in patients with NSCLC. A noticeable correlation was found between the over-expressions of FAM83A/B/D/F/H and clinical cancer stages in NSCLC patients. Besides, higher mRNA expressions of FAM83A/B/C/D/F/H were discovered to be expressively associated with overall survival (OS) in lung cancer patients, furthermore, FAM83A, FAM83C, and FAM83H in OS group achieved 0.9475/1, 0.971897/1, and 0.9454545/0.8974359 specificity/sensitivity in distinguishing short survivors from long survivors, respectively. Moreover, a high mutation rate of FAM83 family (51%) was also observed in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) patients, and genetic alteration in the FAM83 family was associated with shorter OS and disease-free survival (DFS) in LUAD patients.

Conclusion

Our results indicated that FAM83A/H might play important roles in NSCLC tumorigenesis and might be risk factor for the survival of NSCLC patients.

FAM83A as a Potential Biological Marker Is Regulated by miR-206 to Promote Cervical Cancer Progression Through PI3K/AKT/mTOR Pathway

Background and Objective: Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are effective treatment options for cervical cancer (CC), but their efficacy is limited by short survival rate of about 5 years particularly for advance stage CC. Bioinformatics analysis combined with experimental in vivo and in vitro data can identify potential markers of tumorigenesis and cancer progression to improve CC prognosis and survival rate of the patients. This study aims to investigate the prognostic value of family with sequence similarity 83, member A (FAM83A) gene and miR-206 in promoting CC progression and the involved genetic signaling pathways.

Method: This was a bioinformatic analysis study based on RNA sequencing data of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases and verification by in vivo and in vitro experimental data. It was designed to evaluate whether the aberrantly expressed gene signatures could serve as new potential biomarker to improve prognosis prediction in CC. The TCGA RNA sequencing data [306 cervical squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and endocervical adenocarcinoma samples and 13 adjacent samples] and GEO data (GSE9750 and GSE52903 datasets) were integrated and performed a bioinformatics analysis.

Results: The results showed that CC-associated FAM83A gene serves as a key regulator of CC development and progression. Functionally, we observed that FAM83A is significantly overexpressed in CC, which is linked to poor overall survival as well as disease-free survival in CC patients. The in-vitro and in-vivo assessments performed after silencing FAM83A revealed that cell proliferation was significantly inhibited and the S-phase cell cycle arrest was induced. Mechanistically, FAM83A plays a role in PI3K/AKT signaling, and its downstream molecules could promote CC cell proliferation. Furthermore, functionality assessments by in-vitro luciferase reporter system and immunoblot analysis showed that miR-206 was the upstream of FAM83A and negatively correlated with FAM83A.

Conclusion: The miR-206/FAM83A/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway possibly serves as a critical effector in CC progression indicating the potential prognostic value of FAM83A gene as a novel biomarker for CC progression.

miR-613 Suppresses Chemoresistance and Stemness in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer by Targeting FAM83A

Introduction

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive malignancy of breast cancer, which represents about 20% of all cases. The prognosis of TNBC remains unfavorable due to the lack of targeted therapy and chemoresistance. The aim of this study is to investigate the role of miR-613 in TNBC.

Material and Methods

Quantitative RT-PCT was used to explore the expression of miR-613 in breast cancer clinical samples and cell lines. MTT, colony formation assay, spheroid formation assay and xenograft tumor growth assay were used to investigate the role of miR-613 in vitro and in vivo. Cell apoptosis and surface marker expression were measured by flow cytometry. Dual-luciferase reporter assay was used to explore the function of miR-613 in regulating FAM83A 3ʹUTR. Immunohistochemical staining was used to investigate the expression of FAM83A in TNBC tissues.

Results

We found that miR-613 expression was significantly downregulated in breast cancer tissues and was even lower in TNBC compared with that in other types of breast cancer. A similar result was found in breast cancer cell lines. Further analysis indicated that miR-613 could suppress TNBC cell growth, chemoresistance and stem-cell-like phenotype. Moreover, we also demonstrated that miR-613 suppressed tumorigenesis in vivo. Mechanically, we explored the downstream target of miR-613 and identified that miR-613 could directly bind to the 3ʹUTR of FAM83A, which contributed to the miR-613 mediated tumor suppression. The expression of miR-613 and FAM83A was negatively correlated. Restoring the expression of FAM83A attributed to the chemoresistance and stemness of TNBC cells.

Conclusion

We demonstrated that loss of miR-613 was critical for TNBC malignancy and restoring its expression could be served as a potential approach for TNBC treatment.

Involvement of MicroRNA-1-FAM83A Axis Dysfunction in the Growth and Motility of Lung Cancer Cells

Lung cancer is the most prevalent types of cancer and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Among all cancers, lung cancer has the highest incidence, accompanied by a high mortality rate at the advanced stage. Favorable prognostic biomarkers can effectively increase the survival rate in lung cancer. Our results revealed FAM83A (Family with sequence similarity 83, member A) overexpression in lung cancer tissues compared with adjacent normal tissues. Furthermore, high FAM83A expression was closely associated with poor lung cancer survival. Here, through siRNA transfection, we effectively inhibited FAM83A expression in the lung cancer cell lines H1355 and A549. FAM83A knockdown significantly suppressed the proliferation, migration, and invasion ability of these cells. Furthermore, FAM83A knockdown could suppress Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)/Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/Choline kinase alpha (CHKA) signaling activation in A549 and H1355. By using a bioinformatics approach, we found that FAM83A overexpression in lung cancer may result from miR-1-3p downregulation. In summary, we identified a novel miR-1-FAM83A axis could partially modulate the EGFR/choline phospholipid metabolism signaling pathway, which suppressed lung cancer growth and motility. Our findings provide new insights for the development of lung cancer therapeutics.

Circular RNA circ_0000517 regulates hepatocellular carcinoma development via miR-326/IGF1R axis

BACKGROUND

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) play vital roles in hepatocellular carcinoma development. However, the role and mechanism of circRNA hsa_circ_0000517 (circ_0000517) in hepatocellular carcinoma development were largely unknown.

METHODS

45 paired tumor and adjacent nontumor samples were collected from hepatocellular carcinoma patients. The levels of circ_0000517, miR-326 and insulin-like growth factor type 1 receptor (IGF1R) were detected via quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction or western blot. Cell viability, colony ability, migration, invasion and glycolysis were assessed via 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT), colony formation, western blot, transwell assay, glucose consumption, lactate production or adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production. The target correlation between miR-326 and circ_0000517 or IGF1R was analyzed via dual-luciferase reporter analysis. The function of circ_0000517 in vivo was assessed via xenograft model.

RESULTS

circ_0000517 expression was elevated in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues and cell lines. circ_0000517 knockdown suppressed cell viability, colony formation, migration, invasion and glycolysis. miR-326 was sponged via circ_0000517 and miR-326 knockdown reversed the effect of circ_0000517 silence on hepatocellular carcinoma development. miR-326 overexpression inhibited hepatocellular carcinoma development through targeting IGF1R. circ_0000517 knockdown decreased IGF1R expression by modulating miR-326. circ_0000517 downregulation reduced xenograft tumor growth.

CONCLUSION

circ_0000517 knockdown repressed hepatocellular carcinoma development in vitro and in vivo by modulating miR-326 and IGF1R.

Homoharringtonine suppresses tumor proliferation and migration by regulating EphB4-mediated β-catenin loss in hepatocellular carcinoma

Overexpressed EphB4 conduce to tumor development and is regarded as a potential anticancer target. Homoharringtonine (HHT) has been approved for hematologic malignancies treatment, but its effect on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has not been studied. This study elucidated HHT could restrain the proliferation and migration of HCC via an EphB4/β-catenin-dependent manner. We found that the antiproliferative activity of HHT in HCC cells and tumor xenograft was closely related to EphB4 expression. In HepG2, Hep3B and SMMC-7721 cells, EphB4 overexpression or EphrinB2 Fc stimulation augmented HHT-induced inhibitory effect on cell growth and migration ability, and such effect was abrogated when EphB4 was knocked down. The similar growth inhibitory effect of HHT was observed in SMMC-7721 and EphB4+/SMMC-7721 cells xenograft in vivo. Preliminary mechanistic investigation indicated that HHT directly bound to EphB4 and suppressed its expression. Data obtained from HCC patients revealed increased β-catenin expression and a positive correlation between EphB4 expression and β-catenin levels. HHT-induced EphB4 suppression promoted the phosphorylation and loss of β-catenin, which triggered regulation of β-catenin downstream signaling related to migration, resulting in the reversion of EMT in TGF-β-induced HepG2 cells. Collectively, this study provided a groundwork for HHT as an effective antitumor agent for HCC in an EphB4/β-catenin-dependent manner.