Fluvastatin-mediated down-regulation of SATB1 affects aggressive phenotypes of human non-small-cell lung cancer cell line H292

Long noncoding RNA LINC00921 serves as a predictive biomarker for lung adenocarcinoma: An observational study

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is usually diagnosed at advanced stages. Hence, there is an urgent need to seek an effective biomarker to predict LUAD status. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play key roles in the development of tumors. However, the relationship between LINC00921 and LUAD remains unclear. The gene expression data of LUAD were downloaded from the Cancer Genome Atlas database to investigate the expression level of LINC00921 in LUAD. Diagnostic ability analysis, survival analysis, tumor mutational burden analysis, and immune cell infiltration analysis of LINC00921 in LUAD patients were performed simultaneously. According to the median expression value of LINC00921, patients were divided into LINC00921 high- and low-expression groups. The function of LINC00921 in LUAD was identified through difference analysis and enrichment analysis. Moreover, drugs that may be relevant to LUAD treatment were screened. Finally, blood samples were collected for real-time polymerase chain reaction. LINC00921 was significantly lower in LUAD tumor tissues. Notably, patients with low expression of LINC00921 had a shorter median survival time. Decreased immune cell infiltration in the tumor microenvironment in the low LINC00921 expression group may contribute to poorer patient outcomes. Tumor mutational burden was significantly different in survival between the LINC00921 high- and low-expression groups. In addition, LINC00921 may exert an influence on cancer development through its regulation of target genes transcription. Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase-related drugs may be more likely to be therapeutically effective in LUAD. LINC00921 was able to be used as the potential diagnostic indicator for LUAD.

IGFL2-AS1 facilitates tongue squamous cell carcinoma progression via Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway

OBJECTIVES

Tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) is the most common malignancy in oral cancer. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are important regulators in cancer biology. In our present study, we investigated a novel lncRNA IGF-like family member 2 antisense RNA 1 (IGFL2-AS1) in TSCC.

METHODS

RT-qPCR analyzed IGFL2-AS1 expression in TSCC cells. Functional assays assessed the impact of IGFL2-AS1 on TSCC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Western blot analyzed the protein levels of EMT-related markers. Mechanism assays analyzed the regulatory mechanism of IGFL2-AS1 in TSCC cells. In-vivo experiments were conducted to prove the role of IGFL2-AS1 in TSCC progression.

RESULTS

IGFL2-AS1 was significantly up-regulated in TSCC cells and tissues, and IGFL2-AS1 knockdown inhibited cell proliferation, migration, invasion and EMT in TSCC. Moreover, IGFL2-AS1 functioned as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) to sponge miR-1224-5p and thereby modulated SATB homeobox 1 (SATB1) expression. Additionally, SATB1 activated the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in TSCC cells and IGFL2-AS1 regulated the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and TSCC progression via elevating SATB1 expression.

CONCLUSIONS

The data revealed that IGFL2-AS1 played a cancer promoting role in TSCC and may aid in exploring a brand new biomarker that might contribute to TSCC treatment.

Skeletal Muscle's Role in Prenatal Inter-organ Communication: A Phenogenomic Study with Qualitative Citation Analysis

Gene targeting in mice allows for a complete elimination of skeletal (striated or voluntary) musculature in the body, from the beginning of its development, resulting in our ability to study the consequences of this ablation on other organs. Here I focus on the relationship between the muscle and lung, motor neurons, skeleton, and special senses. Since the inception of my independent laboratory, in 2000, with my team, we published more than 30 papers (and a book chapter), nearly 400 pages of data, on these specific relationships. Here I trace, using Web of Science, nearly 600 citations of this work, to understand its impact. The current report contains a summary of our work and its impact, NCBI's Gene Expression Omnibus accession numbers of all our microarray data, and three clear future directions doable by anyone using our publicly available data. Together, this effort furthers our understanding of inter-organ communication during prenatal development.

Elevated Expression of SATB1 Predicts Unfavorable Clinical Outcomes in Colon Adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUNDS

Special AT-rich sequence-binding protein 1 (SATB1) belongs to the chromatin-remodeling protein which regulates different genes expression. High expression of SATB1 was found to be associated with the development of certain carcinomas. However, the functions of SATB1 in colon adenocarcinoma (CAC) remains unclear yet. Our study aims to investigate the potential role of SATB1 in CAC and whether it is associated with the unfavorable symptoms of CAC patients.

METHODS

The expression pattern of SATB1 was measured in CAC samples and adjacent noncancerous samples through quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry staining. We performed univariate and multivariate analyses to evaluate the clinical role of SATB1 in enrolled patients. The Kaplan-Meier analyses and log-rank tests were carried out to assess the clinicopathologic characteristics. The effect of SATB1 in human colon cancer cells was examined through cellular experiments.

RESULTS

The expression level of SATB1 in CAC tissues was significantly elevated compared with adjacent control tissues. High expression of SATB1 in tumor tissue was found to be associated with lymph node metastasis and advanced TNM stage. Higher SATB1 level in CAC patients indicated a worse 5-year survival time. Moreover, high SATB1 was defined as an independent poor prognostic factor. Cellular experiments showed that inhibition of the SATB1 protein level in human colon cells could suppress the migration and invasion capabilities.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings revealed that high expression of SATB1 was significantly correlated with the poor clinical features and prognosis of CAC patients. It indicated that SATB1 might serve as a potential prognostic predictor and novel drug target for CAC treatment.

The role of statins in lung cancer

Lung cancer is one of the most common causes of cancer-related mortality in the 21st century. Statins as inhibitors of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase not only reduce the cholesterol levels in the blood and decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease but may also play an important role in the prevention and treatment of lung cancer. Statins have several antitumor properties including the ability to reduce cell proliferation and angiogenesis, decrease invasion and synergistic suppression of lung cancer progression. Statins induce tumor cell apoptosis by inhibition of downstream products such as small GTP-binding proteins, Rho, Ras and Rac, which are dependent on isoprenylation. Statins reduce angiogenesis in tumors by down-regulation of pro-angiogenic factors, such as vascular endothelial growth factor. In this review, the feasibility and efficacy of statins in the prevention and treatment of lung cancer are discussed.

MicroRNA-448 targets SATB1 to reverse the cisplatin resistance in lung cancer via mediating Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway

This study aims to examine whether miR-448 reverses the cisplatin (DDP) resistance in lung cancer by modulating SATB1. QRT-PCR and immunohistochemistry were used to examine the miR-448 and SATB1 expressions in DDP-sensitive and -resistant lung cancer patients. A microarray was used to investigate the cytoplasmic/nucleic ratio (C/N ratios) of genes in A549 cells targeted by miR-448, followed by Dual-luciferase reporter gene assay. A549/DDP cells were transfected with miR-448 mimics/inhibitors with or without SATB1 siRNA followed by MTT assay, Edu staining, flow cytometry, qRT-PCR and western blotting. MiR-448 was lower but SATB1 was increased in DDP-resistant patients and A549/DDP cells. And the patients showed low miR-448 expression or SATB1 positive expression had poor prognosis. SATB1, as a target gene with higher C/N ratios (>1), was found negatively regulated by miR-448. Besides, miR-448 inhibitors increased resistance index of A549/DDP cells, promoted cell proliferation, increased cell distribution in S phrase, declined cell apoptosis and activated Wnt/β-catenin pathway. However, SATB1 siRNA could reverse the above effect caused by miR-448 inhibitors. MiR-448 targeting SATB1 to counteract the DDP resistance of lung cancer cells via Wnt/β-catenin pathway.

FOXA1 Suppresses SATB1 Transcription and Inactivates the Wnt/β-Catenin Pathway to Alleviate Diabetic Nephropathy in a Mouse Model

OBJECTIVE

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) represents the most common diabetic complication that may lead to end-stage renal disease. This work focused on the effect of FOXA1 on the DN development and the molecular mechanism.

METHODS

A mouse model of DN was induced by high-fat diets and streptozotocin. The concentrations of blood glucose and urinary protein in mice, and the pathological changes in mouse kidney tissues were determined. A podocyte cell line MPC-5 was treated with high glucose (HG) to mimic a DN-like condition in vitro. FOXA1 and SATB1 were overexpressed in HG-treated MPC-5 cells and in DN mice to explore their effects on cell proliferation and apoptosis, and on pathological changes in mouse kidney tissues. The binding relationship between FOXA1 and STAB1 was predicted and validated. Activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway was detected.

RESULTS

FOXA1 was poorly expressed in the kidney tissues of DN mice. Overexpression of FOXA1 reduced the concentrations of fasting blood glucose and 24-h urinary protein in mice. It also suppressed the accumulation of glomerular mesangial matrix and hyperplasia of glomerular basement membrane, and reduced collagen deposition and interstitial fibrosis in mouse kidney. Also, FOXA1 reduced HG-induced apoptosis of MPC-5 cells. FOXA1 bound to the promoter region of SATB1 for transcription suppression. Overexpression of SATB1 activated the Wnt/β-catenin pathway and blocked the protective roles of FOXA1 in DN mice and in HG-treated MPC-5 cells.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrated that FOXA1 transcriptionally suppresses SATB1 expression and inactivates the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, thereby inhibiting podocyte apoptosis and DN progression.