The presence of Y674/Y675 phosphorylated NTRK1 via TP53 repression of PTPN6 expression as a potential prognostic marker in neuroblastoma

YTHDC1 inhibits osteoclast differentiation to alleviate osteoporosis by enhancing PTPN6 messenger RNA stability in an m6A-hUR-dependent manner

YTHDC1 has been confirmed to mediate osteoporosis (OP) progression by regulating osteogenic differentiation. However, whether YTHDC1 mediates osteoclast differentiation and its molecular mechanism remains unclear. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis were performed to detect the levels of YTHDC1, PTPN6, NFATc1, TRAP, RUNX2, alkaline phosphatase, and HUR. YTHDC1 knockout mice was constructed by CRISPR/Cas9 system, and the OP mice model was established by ovariectomy. Hematoxylin and eosin staining and micro-computed tomography were used to evaluate bone formation and bone mass. Mouse primary bone marrow macrophage cells were isolated and induced into osteoclasts. TRAP-positive cells were detected using TRAP staining. MeRIP-qPCR, RIP-qPCR assay, RNA affinity isolation assay, and co-immunoprecipitation assay were used to confirm the interactions among YTHDC1, PTPN6, and HUR. YTHDC1 expression was reduced and positively correlated with lumbar bone mineral density in OP patients. In the ovariectomy model of YTHDC1 knockout mice, bone formation was reduced, bone histomorphology was changed, and osteoclastic-related factor (NFATc1 and TRAP) levels were enhanced. Overexpression YTHDC1 inhibited osteoclast differentiation. YTHDC1 increased PTPN6 messenger RNA stability in an m6A-dependent manner. Moreover, YTHDC1 interacted with HUR to positively regulate PTPN6 expression. PTPN6 knockdown promoted osteoclast differentiation, and this effect was reversed by overexpressing HUR or YTHDC1. YTHDC1 was involved in regulating OP progression through inhibiting osteoclast differentiation by enhancing PTPN6 messenger RNA stability in an m6A-HUR-dependent manner.

A Potential Prognostic Gene Signature Associated with p53-Dependent NTRK1 Activation and Increased Survival of Neuroblastoma Patients

Neuroblastoma is the most common extracranial solid tumour in children, comprising close to 10% of childhood cancer-related deaths. We have demonstrated that activation of NTRK1 by TP53 repression of PTPN6 expression is significantly associated with favourable survival in neuroblastoma. The molecular mechanisms by which this activation elicits cell molecular changes need to be determined. This is critical to identify dependable biomarkers for the early detection and prognosis of tumours, and for the development of personalised treatment. In this investigation we have identified and validated a gene signature for the prognosis of neuroblastoma using genes differentially expressed upon activation of the NTRK1-PTPN6-TP53 module. A random survival forest model was used to construct a gene signature, which was then assessed across validation datasets using Kaplan-Meier analysis and ROC curves. The analysis demonstrated that high BASP1, CD9, DLG2, FNBP1, FRMD3, IL11RA, ISGF10, IQCE, KCNQ3, and TOX2, and low BSG/CD147, CCDC125, GABRB3, GNB2L1/RACK1 HAPLN4, HEBP2, and HSD17B12 expression was significantly associated with favourable patient event-free survival (EFS). The gene signature was associated with favourable tumour histology and NTRK1-PTPN6-TP53 module activation. Importantly, all genes were significantly associated with favourable EFS in an independent manner. Six of the signature genes, BSG/CD147, GNB2L1/RACK1, TXNDC5, FNPB1, B3GAT1, and IGSF10, play a role in cell differentiation. Our findings strongly suggest that the identified gene signature is a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for neuroblastoma patients and that it is associated with neuroblastoma cell differentiation through the activation of the NTRK1-PTPN6-TP53 module.

Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases in Neuroblastoma: Emerging Roles as Biomarkers and Therapeutic Targets

Neuroblastoma is a type of cancer intimately related with early development and differentiation of neuroendocrine cells, and constitutes one of the pediatric cancers with higher incidence and mortality. Protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) are key regulators of cell growth and differentiation by their direct effect on tyrosine dephosphorylation of specific protein substrates, exerting major functions in the modulation of intracellular signaling during neuron development in response to external cues driving cell proliferation, survival, and differentiation. We review here the current knowledge on the role of PTPs in neuroblastoma cell growth, survival, and differentiation. The potential of PTPs as biomarkers and molecular targets for inhibition in neuroblastoma therapies is discussed.

Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 infection associated cell entry proteins ACE2, CD147, PPIA, and PPIB in datasets from non SARS-CoV-2 infected neuroblastoma patients, as potential prognostic and infection biomarkers in neuroblastoma

SARS-CoV-2 viral contagion has given rise to a worldwide pandemic. Although most children experience minor symptoms from SARS-CoV-2 infection, some have severe complications including Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children. Neuroblastoma patients may be at higher risk of severe infection as treatment requires immunocompromising chemotherapy and SARS-CoV-2 has demonstrated tropism for nervous cells. To date, there is no sufficient epidemiological data on neuroblastoma patients with SARS-CoV-2. Therefore, we evaluated datasets of non-SARS-CoV-2 infected neuroblastoma patients to assess for key genes involved with SARS-CoV-2 infection as possible neuroblastoma prognostic and infection biomarkers. We hypothesized that ACE2, CD147, PPIA and PPIB, which are associated with viral-cell entry, are potential biomarkers for poor prognosis neuroblastoma and SARS-CoV-2 infection. We have analysed three publicly available neuroblastoma gene expression datasets to understand the specific molecular susceptibilities that high-risk neuroblastoma patients have to the virus. Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) GSE49711 and GEO GSE62564 are the microarray and RNA-Seq data, respectively, from 498 neuroblastoma samples published as part of the Sequencing Quality Control initiative. TARGET, contains microarray data from 249 samples and is part of the Therapeutically Applicable Research to Generate Effective Treatments (TARGET) initiative. ACE2, CD147, PPIA and PPIB were identified through their involvement in both SARS-CoV-2 infection and cancer pathogenesis. In-depth statistical analysis using Kaplan-Meier, differential gene expression, and Cox multivariate regression analysis, demonstrated that overexpression of ACE2, CD147, PPIA and PPIB is significantly associated with poor-prognosis neuroblastoma samples. These results were seen in the presence of amplified MYCN, unfavourable tumour histology and in patients older than 18 months of age. Previously, we have shown that high levels of the nerve growth factor receptor NTRK1 together with low levels of the phosphatase PTPN6 and TP53 are associated with increased relapse-free survival of neuroblastoma patients. Interestingly, low levels of expression of ACE2, CD147, PPIA and PPIB are associated with this NTRK1-PTPN6-TP53 module, suggesting that low expression levels of these genes are associated with good prognosis. These findings have implications for clinical care and therapeutic treatment. The upregulation of ACE2, CD147, PPIA and PPIB in poor-prognosis neuroblastoma samples suggests that these patients may be at higher risk of severe SARS-CoV-2 infection. Importantly, our findings reveal ACE2, CD147, PPIA and PPIB as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for neuroblastoma.

Genome-wide analysis identifies critical DNA methylations within NTRKs genes in colorectal cancer

Background

Neurotrophic tropomyosin receptor kinases (NTRKs) are a gene family function as oncogene or tumor suppressor gene in distinct cancers. We aimed to investigate the methylation and expression profiles and prognostic value of NTRKs gene in colorectal cancer (CRC).

Methods

An analysis of DNA methylation and expression profiles in CRC patients was performed to explore the critical methylations within NTRKs genes. The methylation marker was validated in a retrospectively collected cohort of 229 CRC patients and tested in other tumor types from TCGA. DNA methylation status was determined by quantitative methylation-specific PCR (QMSP).

Results

The profiles in six CRC cohorts showed that NTRKs gene promoter was more frequently methylated in CRC compared to normal mucosa, which was associated with suppressed gene expression. We identified a specific methylated region within NTRK3 promoter targeted by cg27034819 and cg11525479 that best predicted survival outcome in CRC. NTRK3 promoter methylation showed independently predictive value for survival outcome in the validation cohort (P = 0.004, HR 2.688, 95% CI [1.355, 5.333]). Based on this, a nomogram predicting survival outcome was developed with a C-index of 0.705. Furthermore, the addition of NTRK3 promoter methylation improved the performance of currently-used prognostic model (AIC: 516.49 vs 513.91; LR: 39.06 vs 43.64, P = 0.032). Finally, NTRK3 promoter methylation also predicted survival in other tumors, including pancreatic cancer, glioblastoma and stomach adenocarcinoma.

Conclusions

This study highlights the essential value of NTRK3 methylation in prognostic evaluation and the potential to improve current prognostic models in CRC and other tumors.

Tumour targetable and microenvironment-responsive nanoparticles simultaneously disrupt the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway and MAPK/ERK/JNK pathway for efficient treatment of colorectal cancer

The present study was aimed to develop a novel combination therapeutic strategy of gene therapy and immunotherapy for efficiently treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC). To achieve that goal, the polyethylene glycol-modified poly (2-(N,N-dimethylamino) ethyl methacrylate) (PEG-PDMAEMA)-based nanoparticles loaded with protein tyrosine phosphatase non-receptor type 6 (PTPN6) (NP-PTPN6) was developed first followed by conjugation with anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibodies (aPD-L1) atezolizumab (aPD-L1NP-PTPN6). Importantly, the aPD-L1 was conjugated on the surface of NP-PTPN6 by the matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs)-cleavable linkage PLGLAG. Therefore, the aPD-L1 would be completely released once the aPD-L1NP-PTPN6 was entrapped into tumour tissues as demonstrated by the release assay. Tumour targeting assay demonstrated the aPD-L1NP-PTPN6 have high affinity to CRC cells and resulted in excellent tumour targeting drug delivery efficacy. Additionally, anti-tumour effect evaluation revealed that the aPD-L1NP-PTPN6 has greater ability to inhibit the growth, invasion and migration of CRC cells and finally led to longer survival time of tumour-bearing mice than other treatments. Further mechanisms studies demonstrated that treatment of CRC cells with aPD-L1NP-PTPN6 contributed to significant suppression of the MAPK/ERK signalling pathway. Besides, it was further demonstrated that treating CRC with aPD-L1NP-PTPN6 resulted in up-regulation of NK cells and T cells percentage within the tumour tissues.