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Zhang W, Zhuang X, Wu C, Jin Y, Xing J, Hou M, Yang W, Feng Q, Wang H. Apigenin inhibits tumor angiogenesis by hindering microvesicle biogenesis via ARHGEF1. Cancer Lett 2024; 596:216961. [PMID: 38823764 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2024.216961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2024] [Revised: 05/11/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/03/2024]
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles are essential for intercellular communication and are involved in tumor progression. Inhibiting the direct release of extracellular vesicles seems to be an effective strategy in inhibiting tumor progression, but lacks of investigation. Here, we report a natural flavonoid compound, apigenin, could significantly inhibit the growth of hepatocellular carcinoma by preventing microvesicle secretion. Mechanistically, apigenin primarily targets the guanine nucleotide exchange factor ARHGEF1, inhibiting the activity of small G protein Cdc42, which is essential in regulating the release of microvesicles from tumor cells. In turn, this inhibits tumor angiogenesis related to VEGF90K transported on microvesicles, ultimately impeding tumor progression. Collectively, these findings highlight the therapeutic potential of apigenin and shed light on its anticancer mechanisms through inhibiting microvesicle biogenesis, providing a solid foundation for the refinement and practical application of apigenin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanying Zhang
- Cancer Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230036, China
| | - XiangJin Zhuang
- Cancer Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230036, China
| | - Chenlong Wu
- Cancer Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230036, China
| | - Yong Jin
- Cancer Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230036, China
| | - Jiayu Xing
- Cancer Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230036, China
| | - Mei Hou
- Cancer Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230036, China
| | - Wen Yang
- Cancer Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230036, China; International Co-operation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai, 200438, China; National Center for Liver Cancer, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai, 201805, China; Key Laboratory of Signaling Regulation and Targeting Therapy of Liver Cancer, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, 200438, China.
| | - Qiyu Feng
- Cancer Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230036, China; Key Laboratory of Signaling Regulation and Targeting Therapy of Liver Cancer, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, 200438, China.
| | - Hongyang Wang
- Cancer Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230036, China; International Co-operation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai, 200438, China; National Center for Liver Cancer, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai, 201805, China; Key Laboratory of Signaling Regulation and Targeting Therapy of Liver Cancer, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, 200438, China.
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Wang X, Zhi M, Zhao W, Deng J. HNRNPA2B1 promotes oral squamous cell carcinogenesis via m 6A-dependent stabilization of FOXQ1 mRNA stability. IUBMB Life 2024; 76:437-450. [PMID: 38265150 DOI: 10.1002/iub.2808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2024]
Abstract
Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), as a common type of oral malignancy, has an unclear pathogenesis. N6 methyladenosine (m6A) is a reversible and dynamic process that participates in the modulation of cancer pathogenesis and development. As an m6A recognition protein (reader), heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins A2/B1 (HNRNPA2B1) show abnormally high expression in cancers. Forkhead box Q1 (FOXQ1), an oncogenic transcription factor, controls multiple biological processes (e.g., embryonic development, cell differentiation, and apoptosis, impacting the initiation and progression of cancers by mediating signaling pathways together with epithelial-mesenchymal transition). Through the Cancer Genome Atlas database screening along with clinical and laboratory experiments, in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, we found a correlation between HNRNPA2B1 and FOXQ1 gene expression, with shared m6A motifs between HNRNPA2B1 and FOXQ1 mRNA sequences. Silencing or overexpression of HNRNPA2B1 in OSCC cells affected the malignant phenotypes of OSCC cells in vitro, and depletion of HNRNPA2B1 retarded tumor growth in vivo. HNRNPA2B1 could bind to m6A-modified FOXQ1 mRNA to enhance its mRNA stability, resulting in up-regulation of FOXQ1 protein expression. To conclude, HNRNPA2B1 was upregulated in OSCC and enhanced OSCC cell malignant phenotypes by stabilizing m6A-modified FOXQ1 mRNA, eventually aggravating the malignancy and tumorigenicity of OSCC. This study accelerates the recognition of the potency of m6A modification in OSCC and paves the path for OSCC's targeted diagnosis and therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Wang
- The School and Hospital of Stomatology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, PR China
| | - Min Zhi
- The School and Hospital of Stomatology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, PR China
| | - Wei Zhao
- The School and Hospital of Stomatology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, PR China
| | - Jiayin Deng
- The School and Hospital of Stomatology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, PR China
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Gao W, Liu S, Wu Y, Wei W, Yang Q, Li W, Chen H, Luo A, Wang Y, Liu Z. Enhancer demethylation-regulated gene score identified molecular subtypes, inspiring immunotherapy or CDK4/6 inhibitor therapy in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma. EBioMedicine 2024; 105:105177. [PMID: 38924839 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2024.105177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The 5-year survival rate of oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is approximately 20%. The prognosis and drug response exhibit substantial heterogeneity in ESCC, impeding progress in survival outcomes. Our goal is to identify a signature for tumour subtype classification, enabling precise clinical treatments. METHODS Utilising pre-treatment multi-omics data from an ESCC dataset (n = 310), an enhancer methylation-eRNA-target gene regulation network was constructed and validated by in vitro experiments. Four machine learning methods collectively identified core target genes, establishing an Enhancer Demethylation-Regulated Gene Score (EDRGS) model for classification. The molecular function of EDRGS subtyping was explored in scRNA-seq (n = 60) and bulk-seq (n = 310), and the EDRGS's potential to predict treatment response was assessed in datasets of various cancer types. FINDINGS EDRGS stratified ESCCs into EDRGS-high/low subtypes, with EDRGS-high signifying a less favourable prognosis in ESCC and nine additional cancer types. EDRGS-high exhibited an immune-hot but immune-suppressive phenotype with elevated immune checkpoint expression, increased T cell infiltration, and IFNγ signalling in ESCC, suggesting a better response to immunotherapy. Notably, EDRGS outperformed PD-L1 in predicting anti-PD-1/L1 therapy effectiveness in ESCC (n = 42), kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC, n = 181), and bladder urothelial carcinoma (BLCA, n = 348) cohorts. EDRGS-low showed a cell cycle-activated phenotype with higher CDK4 and/or CDK6 expression, demonstrating a superior response to the CDK4/6 inhibitor palbociclib, validated in ESCC (n = 26), melanoma (n = 18), prostate cancer (n = 15) cells, and PDX models derived from patients with pancreatic cancer (n = 30). INTERPRETATION Identification of EDRGS subtypes enlightens ESCC categorisation, offering clinical insights for patient management in immunotherapy (anti-PD-1/L1) and CDK4/6 inhibitor therapy across cancer types. FUNDING This study was supported by funding from the National Key R&D Program of China (2021YFC2501000, 2020YFA0803300), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (82030089, 82188102), the CAMS Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences (2021-I2M-1-018, 2022-I2M-2-001, 2021-I2M-1-067), the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (3332021091).
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenyan Gao
- State Key Lab of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Centre/National Clinical Research Centre for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Shi Liu
- State Key Lab of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Centre/National Clinical Research Centre for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Yenan Wu
- State Key Lab of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Centre/National Clinical Research Centre for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Wenqing Wei
- State Key Lab of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Centre/National Clinical Research Centre for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Qi Yang
- State Key Lab of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Centre/National Clinical Research Centre for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Wenxin Li
- State Key Lab of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Centre/National Clinical Research Centre for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Hongyan Chen
- State Key Lab of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Centre/National Clinical Research Centre for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Aiping Luo
- State Key Lab of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Centre/National Clinical Research Centre for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Yanfeng Wang
- Department of Comprehensive Oncology, National Cancer Centre/National Clinical Research Centre for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
| | - Zhihua Liu
- State Key Lab of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Centre/National Clinical Research Centre for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China.
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4
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Zhao YX, Zhao HP, Zhao MY, Yu Y, Qi X, Wang JH, Lv J. Latest insights into the global epidemiological features, screening, early diagnosis and prognosis prediction of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. World J Gastroenterol 2024; 30:2638-2656. [PMID: 38855150 PMCID: PMC11154680 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v30.i20.2638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2024] [Revised: 04/26/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/27/2024] Open
Abstract
As a highly invasive carcinoma, esophageal cancer (EC) was the eighth most prevalent malignancy and the sixth leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide in 2020. Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is the major histological subtype of EC, and its incidence and mortality rates are decreasing globally. Due to the lack of specific early symptoms, ESCC patients are usually diagnosed with advanced-stage disease with a poor prognosis, and the incidence and mortality rates are still high in many countries, especially in China. Therefore, enormous challenges still exist in the management of ESCC, and novel strategies are urgently needed to further decrease the incidence and mortality rates of ESCC. Although the key molecular mechanisms underlying ESCC pathogenesis have not been fully elucidated, certain promising biomarkers are being investigated to facilitate clinical decision-making. With the advent and advancement of high-throughput technologies, such as genomics, proteomics and metabolomics, valuable biomarkers with high sensitivity, specificity and stability could be identified for ESCC. Herein, we aimed to determine the epidemiological features of ESCC in different regions of the world, especially in China, and focused on novel molecular biomarkers associated with ESCC screening, early diagnosis and prognosis prediction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Xin Zhao
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Honghui Hospital, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710054, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - He-Ping Zhao
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Honghui Hospital, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710054, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Meng-Yao Zhao
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Honghui Hospital, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710054, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Yan Yu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Honghui Hospital, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710054, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Xi Qi
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Honghui Hospital, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710054, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Ji-Han Wang
- Institute of Medical Research, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an 710072, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Jing Lv
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Honghui Hospital, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710054, Shaanxi Province, China
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Liu J, Dai L, Wang Q, Li C, Liu Z, Gong T, Xu H, Jia Z, Sun W, Wang X, Lu M, Shang T, Zhao N, Cai J, Li Z, Chen H, Su J, Liu Z. Multimodal analysis of cfDNA methylomes for early detecting esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and precancerous lesions. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3700. [PMID: 38697989 PMCID: PMC11065998 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47886-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Detecting early-stage esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and precancerous lesions is critical for improving survival. Here, we conduct whole-genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) on 460 cfDNA samples from patients with non-metastatic ESCC or precancerous lesions and matched healthy controls. We develop an expanded multimodal analysis (EMMA) framework to simultaneously identify cfDNA methylation, copy number variants (CNVs), and fragmentation markers in cfDNA WGBS data. cfDNA methylation markers are the earliest and most sensitive, detectable in 70% of ESCCs and 50% of precancerous lesions, and associated with molecular subtypes and tumor microenvironments. CNVs and fragmentation features show high specificity but are linked to late-stage disease. EMMA significantly improves detection rates, increasing AUCs from 0.90 to 0.99, and detects 87% of ESCCs and 62% of precancerous lesions with >95% specificity in validation cohorts. Our findings demonstrate the potential of multimodal analysis of cfDNA methylome for early detection and monitoring of molecular characteristics in ESCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaqi Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 100021, Beijing, China
- Department of Breast Surgical Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 100021, Beijing, China
| | - Lijun Dai
- Oujiang Laboratory (Zhejiang Lab for Regenerative Medicine, Vision and Brain Health), Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China
| | - Qiang Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 100021, Beijing, China
| | - Chenghao Li
- Oujiang Laboratory (Zhejiang Lab for Regenerative Medicine, Vision and Brain Health), Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China
| | - Zhichao Liu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200030, China
| | - Tongyang Gong
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 100021, Beijing, China
| | - Hengyi Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 100021, Beijing, China
| | - Ziqi Jia
- Department of Breast Surgical Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 100021, Beijing, China
| | - Wanyuan Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 100021, Beijing, China
| | - Xinyu Wang
- Oujiang Laboratory (Zhejiang Lab for Regenerative Medicine, Vision and Brain Health), Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China
| | - Minyi Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 100021, Beijing, China
| | - Tongxuan Shang
- Department of Breast Surgical Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 100021, Beijing, China
| | - Ning Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 100021, Beijing, China
| | - Jiahui Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 100021, Beijing, China
| | - Zhigang Li
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200030, China
| | - Hongyan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 100021, Beijing, China.
| | - Jianzhong Su
- Oujiang Laboratory (Zhejiang Lab for Regenerative Medicine, Vision and Brain Health), Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China.
| | - Zhihua Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 100021, Beijing, China.
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Wen H, Liu XB, Zhu ZD, Jin S, Gao YJ, Tong Q, Li SB. TET2 Is Downregulated in Early Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Promotes Esophageal Squamous Cell Malignant Behaviors. Dig Dis Sci 2024:10.1007/s10620-024-08311-1. [PMID: 38653944 DOI: 10.1007/s10620-024-08311-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To explore the expression of the ten eleven translocation (TET) 2 protein in early esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (EESCC), precancerous lesions, and cell lines and to evaluate the effect of TET2 on the functional behavior of EC109 esophageal cancer cells. METHODS Thirty-one samples of EESCC and precancerous lesions collected via endoscopic submucosal dissection at Taihe Hospital, Shiyan, from February 1, 2017, to February 1, 2019, were analyzed. The study involved evaluating TET2 expression levels in lesion tissue and adjacent normal epithelium, correlating these with clinical pathological features. Techniques including 3-(4,5-dimethythiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide, cell scratch assays, flow cytometry for propidium iodide (PI) staining, Hoechst 333258/PI double staining, and nude mouse tumorigenesis experiments were employed to assess the effect of TET2 on the proliferation, migration, cell cycle, apoptosis, and tumorigenic ability of esophageal cancer cells. RESULTS TET2 expression was notably reduced in early esophageal cancer tissue and correlated with tumor invasion depth (P < 0.05). Overexpression of TET2 enhanced the proliferation and migration of esophageal cancer cells, increased the cell population in the G0 phase, decreased it in the S phase, and intensified cell necrosis (P < 0.05). There was a partial increase in tumorigenic ability (P = 0.087). CONCLUSION TET2 downregulation in ESCC potentially influences the necrosis, cell cycle, and tumorigenic ability of esophageal cancer cells, suggesting a role in the onset and progression of esophageal cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Wen
- Department of Gastroenterology, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei, People's Republic of China
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hubei Provincial Clinical Research Center for Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Liver Cancer, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiao-Bo Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei, People's Republic of China
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hubei Provincial Clinical Research Center for Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Liver Cancer, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhao-di Zhu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei, People's Republic of China
| | - Shu Jin
- Department of Gastroenterology, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuan-Jun Gao
- Department of Gastroenterology, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei, People's Republic of China
| | - Qiang Tong
- Department of Gastroenterology, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei, People's Republic of China
| | - Sheng-Bao Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei, People's Republic of China.
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Ilhan M, Hastar N, Kampfrath B, Spierling DN, Jatzlau J, Knaus P. BMP Stimulation Differentially Affects Phosphorylation and Protein Stability of β-Catenin in Breast Cancer Cell Lines. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4593. [PMID: 38731813 PMCID: PMC11083028 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25094593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2024] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Increased expression and nuclear translocation of β-CATENIN is frequently observed in breast cancer, and it correlates with poor prognosis. Current treatment strategies targeting β-CATENIN are not as efficient as desired. Therefore, detailed understanding of β-CATENIN regulation is crucial. Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP) and Wingless/Integrated (WNT) pathway crosstalk is well-studied for many cancer types including colorectal cancer, whereas it is still poorly understood for breast cancer. Analysis of breast cancer patient data revealed that BMP2 and BMP6 were significantly downregulated in tumors. Since mutation frequency in genes enhancing β-CATENIN protein stability is relatively low in breast cancer, we aimed to investigate whether decreased BMP ligand expression could contribute to a high protein level of β-CATENIN in breast cancer cells. We demonstrated that downstream of BMP stimulation, SMAD4 is required to reduce β-CATENIN protein stability through the phosphorylation in MCF7 and T47D cells. Consequently, BMP stimulation reduces β-CATENIN levels and prevents its nuclear translocation and target gene expression in MCF7 cells. Conversely, BMP stimulation has no effect on β-CATENIN phosphorylation or stability in MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 cells. Likewise, SMAD4 modulation does not alter the response of those cells, indicating that SMAD4 alone is insufficient for BMP-induced β-CATENIN phosphorylation. While our data suggest that considering BMP activity may serve as a prognostic marker for understanding β-CATENIN accumulation risk, further investigation is needed to elucidate the differential responsiveness of breast cancer cell lines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mustafa Ilhan
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany; (M.I.); (N.H.); (B.K.); (D.N.S.)
- Berlin School of Integrative Oncology, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Nurcan Hastar
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany; (M.I.); (N.H.); (B.K.); (D.N.S.)
- Brandenburg School for Regenerative Therapies, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Branka Kampfrath
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany; (M.I.); (N.H.); (B.K.); (D.N.S.)
| | - Deniz Neslihan Spierling
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany; (M.I.); (N.H.); (B.K.); (D.N.S.)
| | - Jerome Jatzlau
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany; (M.I.); (N.H.); (B.K.); (D.N.S.)
- Brandenburg School for Regenerative Therapies, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Petra Knaus
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany; (M.I.); (N.H.); (B.K.); (D.N.S.)
- Berlin School of Integrative Oncology, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany
- Brandenburg School for Regenerative Therapies, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany
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8
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George SA, Kotapalli V, Ramaswamy P, Kumar R, Gowrishankar S, Uppin SG, Bashyam MD. Novel oncogenic transcriptional targets of mutant p53 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. J Cell Biochem 2024; 125:e30534. [PMID: 38358025 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.30534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2023] [Revised: 01/01/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Missense mutations in the DNA binding domain of p53 are observed frequently in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Recent studies have revealed the potentially oncogenic transcriptional networks regulated by mutant p53 proteins. However, majority of these studies have focused on common "hotspot" p53 mutations while rarer mutations are poorly characterized. In this study, we report the characterization of rare, "non-hotspot" p53 mutations from ESCC. In vitro tumorigenic assays performed following ectopic-expression of certain "non-hotspot" mutant p53 proteins caused enhancement of oncogenic properties in squamous carcinoma cell lines. Genome-wide transcript profiling of ESCC tumor samples stratified for p53 status, revealed several genes exhibiting elevated transcript levels in tumors harboring mutant p53. Of these, ARF6, C1QBP, and TRIM23 were studied further. Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) performed on RNA isolated from ESCC tumors revealed significant correlation of TP53 transcript levels with those of the three target genes. Ectopic expression of wild-type and several mutant p53 forms followed by RT-qPCR, chromatin affinity-purification (ChAP), and promoter-luciferase assays indicated the exclusive recruitment of p53 mutants-P190T and P278L, to the target genes leading to the activation of expression. Several functional assays following knockdown of the target genes revealed a significant suppression of tumorigenicity in squamous carcinoma cell lines. Rescue experiments confirmed the specificity of the knockdown. The tumorigenic effects of the genes were confirmed in nude mice xenograft assays. This study has therefore identified novel oncogenic targets of "non-hotspot" mutant p53 proteins relevant for ESCC besides validating the functional heterogeneity of the spectrum of tumor-specific p53 mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara A George
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
- Graduate Studies, Regional Centre for Biotechnology, Faridabad, Haryana, India
| | - Viswakalyan Kotapalli
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
| | - Pandilla Ramaswamy
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
| | - Raju Kumar
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
- Graduate Studies, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India
| | | | | | - Murali D Bashyam
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
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Bian Y, Bi G, Shan G, Liang J, Yao G, Sui Q, Hu Z, Zhan C, Chen Z, Wang Q. Identification of the relationship between single-cell N6-methyladenosine regulators and the infiltrating immune cells in esophageal carcinoma. Heliyon 2023; 9:e18132. [PMID: 37529341 PMCID: PMC10388170 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e18132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2023] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Background N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA methylation plays a crucial role in important genomic processes in a variety of malignancies. However, the characterization of m6A with infiltrating immune cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME) in esophageal squamous carcinoma (ESCC) remains unknown. Methods The single-cell transcriptome data from five ESCC patients in our hospital were analyzed, and TME clusters associated with prognosis and immune checkpoint genes were investigated. Cell isolation and qPCR were conducted to validate the gene characterization in different cells. Results According to distinct biological processes and marker genes, macrophages, T cells, and B cells clustered into three to four different subgroups. In addition, we demonstrated that m6A RNA methylation regulators were strongly related to the clinical and biological features of ESCC. Analysis of transcriptome data revealed that m6A-mediated TME cell subsets had high predictive value and showed a close relationship with immune checkpoint genes. The validation results from qPCR demonstrated the characteristics of essential genes. CellChat analysis revealed that RNA from TME cells m6A methylation-associated cell subtypes had substantial and diversified interactions with cancer cells. Further investigation revealed that MIF- (CD74+CXCR4) and MIF- (CD74+CD44) ligand-receptor pairings facilitated communication between m6A-associated subtypes of TME cells and cancer cells. Conclusion Overall, our study demonstrated for the first time the function of m6A methylation-mediated intercellular communication in the microenvironment of tumors in controlling tumor development and anti-tumor immune regulation in ESCC.
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