High glucose may promote the proliferation and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma via E2F1/RRBP1 pathway

Genomic alterations in oral multiple primary cancers

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the predominant type of oral cancer, while some patients may develop oral multiple primary cancers (MPCs) with unclear etiology. This study aimed to investigate the clinicopathological characteristics and genomic alterations of oral MPCs. Clinicopathological data from patients with oral single primary carcinoma (SPC, n = 202) and oral MPCs (n = 34) were collected and compared. Copy number alteration (CNA) analysis was conducted to identify chromosomal-instability differences among oral MPCs, recurrent OSCC cases, and OSCC patients with lymph node metastasis. Whole-exome sequencing was employed to identify potential unique gene mutations in oral MPCs patients. Additionally, CNA and phylogenetic tree analyses were used to gain preliminary insights into the molecular characteristics of different primary tumors within individual patients. Our findings revealed that, in contrast to oral SPC, females predominated the oral MPCs (70.59%), while smoking and alcohol use were not frequent in MPCs. Moreover, long-term survival outcomes were poorer in oral MPCs. From a CNA perspective, no significant differences were observed between oral MPCs patients and those with recurrence and lymph node metastasis. In addition to commonly mutated genes such as CASP8, TP53 and MUC16, in oral MPCs we also detected relatively rare mutations, such as HS3ST6 and RFPL4A. Furthermore, this study also demonstrated that most MPCs patients exhibited similarities in certain genomic regions within individuals, and distinct differences of the similarity degree were observed between synchronous and metachronous oral MPCs.

p20BAP31 induces cell apoptosis via both AIF caspase-independent and the ROS/JNK mitochondrial pathway in colorectal cancer

Background

During cell apoptosis, the C-terminus of BAP31 is cleaved by caspase-8 and generates p20BAP31, which has been shown to induce an apoptotic pathway between the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondria. However, the underlying mechanisms of p20BAP31 in cell apoptosis remains unclear.

Methods

We compared the effects of p20BAP31 on cell apoptosis in six cell lines and selected the most sensitive cells. Functional experiments were conducted, including Cell Counting Kit 8 (CCK-8), reactive oxygen species (ROS), and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) assay. Then, cell cycle and apoptosis were investigated by flow cytometry and verified by immunoblotting. Next, NOX inhibitors (ML171 and apocynin), ROS scavenger (NAC), JNK inhibitor (SP600125), and caspase inhibitor (Z-VAD-FMK) were used to further investigate the underlying mechanisms of p20BAP31 on cell apoptosis. Finally, apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) translocation from the mitochondria to the nuclei was verified by immunoblotting and immunofluorescence assay.

Results

We found that overexpression of p20BAP31 indeed induced apoptosis and had a much greater sensitivity in HCT116 cells. Furthermore, the overexpression of p20BAP31 inhibited cell proliferation by causing S phase arrest. Further study revealed that p20BAP31 reduced MMP, with a significant increase in ROS levels, accompanied by the activation of the MAPK signaling pathway. Importantly, the mechanistic investigation indicated that p20BAP31 induces mitochondrial-dependent apoptosis by activating the ROS/JNK signaling pathway and induces caspase-independent apoptosis by promoting the nuclear translocation of AIF.

Conclusions

p20BAP31 induced cell apoptosis via both the ROS/JNK mitochondrial pathway and AIF caspase-independent pathway. Compared with antitumor drugs that are susceptible to drug resistance, p20BAP31 has unique advantages for tumor therapy.

E2F1-activated NRSN2 promotes esophageal squamous cell carcinoma progression through AKT/mTOR pathway

BACKGROUND

Neurensin‑2 (NRSN2) has been reported to act as an oncogene in several types of human cancer. However, the molecular mechanism of NRSN2 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remains to be elucidated.

METHODS

The mRNA expression levels of NRSN2 in ESCC tissues and cell lines were evaluated by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). The protein expression levels of NRSN2 in ESCC tissues were measured by Immunohistochemical (IHC) method. Luciferase reporter and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays were conducted to confirm the upstream transcription factor of NRSN2. Loss- and gain-function assays were conducted to evaluate the effects of NRSN2 on ESCC cells proliferation, migration, and invasion. The function of NRSN2 was validated in vivo using tumor xenografts. The relationship between NRSN2 and AKT/mTOR pathway were confirmed by western blot assay.

RESULTS

The expression level of NRSN2 was increased in ESCC tissues and cell lines. High expression level of NRSN2 was correlated with depth of invasion, lymph node metastasis, TNM stage, and poor prognosis of ESCC patients. NRSN2 was transcribed by E2F1. Knockdown of NRSN2 significantly inhibited ESCC cells proliferation, migration, and invasion, whereas NRSN2 overexpression showed reverse phenotypes. Overexpression of NRSN2 also enhanced ESCC tumorigenicity in vivo. Furthermore, the E2F1/NRSN2 axis promoted proliferation, migration, and invasion of ESCC cells by activating the AKT/mTOR pathway.

CONCLUSION

NRSN2 is a direct transcriptional target of E2F1 to promote tumor progression in ESCC. NRSN2 may be a diagnostic biomarker or treatment target for ESCC.

USP35 mitigates endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced apoptosis by stabilizing RRBP1 in non-small cell lung cancer

Deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) serve to maintain cellular homeostasis via protein ubiquitination and exert diverse regulatory functions in cancers and other diseases. Much progress has been made in characterizing biological roles of DUBs over the decades, yet the specific functions of many subclass members remain largely unexplored. It was not until recent years that the role of ubiquitin‐specific‐processing protease 35 (USP35) in cancers began to be understood. Here, we focus on delineating the roles and underlying mechanisms of USP35 in non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) comparative proteomic approach were employed to identify differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in H1299 cells induced by USP35 overexpression or silencing. Among the potential interactome of USP35, ribosome‐binding protein 1 (RRBP1), a membrane‐bound protein in endoplasmic reticulum (ER), captured our attentions. RRBP1 expression was found to positively correlate with USP35 levels in both genetically modified cells and human NSCLC tissues. Concordantly, both RRBP1 expression and USP35 expression were found to positively correlate with poor prognoses in lung adenocarcinoma patients. At the molecular level, USP35 was verified to directly interact with RRBP1 to prevent it from proteasomal‐dependent degradation. Functionally, USP35 alleviated ER stress‐induced cell apoptosis by stabilizing RRBP1 in NSCLC cells. Collectively, these findings indicate that USP35 plays a critical role in resisting ER stress‐induced cell death through deubiquitinating RRBP1, hence providing a rationale to target the USP35‐RRBP1 axis as an alternative therapeutic option for NSCLC.

The E2F1/USP11 positive feedback loop promotes hepatocellular carcinoma metastasis and inhibits autophagy by activating ERK/mTOR pathway

Deubiquitinase ubiquitin-specific protease 11 (USP11), a member of the deubiquitinating family, plays an important but still controversial role in cancer development. Namely, USP11 has been shown to promote the proliferation and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but the underlying molecular basis is poorly understood. This study aimed to unravel novel functions of USP11 in HCC, especially those related to autophagy. Here, EdU, migration and colony formation assays, and mouse models showed that USP11 played a crucial role in HCC cell proliferation and metastasis in vitro and in vivo. Results from co-immunoprecipitation and ubiquitination assays demonstrated that USP11 interacted with E2F1 and maintained E2F1 protein stability by removing its ubiquitin. Notably, E2F1 regulated USP11 expression at the transcriptional level. Thus, the E2F1/USP11 formed a positive feedback loop to promote the proliferation and migration of HCC cells. Moreover, E2F1/USP11 inhibited autophagy by regulating ERK/mTOR pathway. In addition, the combination treatment inhibition of USP11 and autophagy enhanced the apoptosis of HCC cells and inhibited the tumor growth in mice more effective than either treatment alone. Taken together, these results indicate that the E2F1/USP11 signal axis promotes HCC proliferation and metastasis and inhibits autophagy, which provides an experimental basis for the treatment of HCC.

Hypomethylated RRBP1 Potentiates Tumor Malignancy and Chemoresistance in Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma

Ribosome-binding protein 1 (RRBP1) is a potential oncogene in several cancer types. However, the correlation between RRBP1 expression and the prognosis of patients with upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) remains unclear. In this study, we identified that RRBP1 is associated with carcinogenesis and metastasis in UTUC using a methylation profiling microarray. High correlations between RRBP1 and cancer stages, nodal metastasis status, molecular subtypes, and prognosis in bladder urothelial cancer (BLCA) were found. Aberrant DNA methylation in the gene body region of RRBP1 was determined in UTUC tissues by methylation-specific PCR. RRBP1 expression was significantly increased in UTUC tissues and cell lines, as determined by real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry. RRBP1 depletion significantly reduced BFTC909 cell growth induced by specific shRNA. On the other hand, molecular subtype analysis showed that the expression of RRBP1 was associated with genes related to cell proliferation, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and basal markers. A patient-derived organoid model was established to analyze patients' responses to different drugs. The expression of RRBP1 was related to chemoresistance. Taken together, these results provide the first evidence that RRBP1 gene body hypomethylation predicts RRBP1 high expression in UTUC. The data highlight the importance of RRBP1 in UTUC malignancy and chemotherapeutic tolerance.

The Emerging Factors and Treatment Options for NAFLD-Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Simple Summary

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease, and it is an increasing factor in the cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The incidence of NAFLD has increased in recent decades, accompanied by an increase in the prevalence of other metabolic diseases, such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. However, current treatment options are limited. Both genetic factors and non-genetic factors impact the initiation and progression of NAFLD-related HCC. The early diagnosis of liver cancer predicts curative treatment and longer survival. Some key molecules play pivotal roles in the initiation and progression of NAFLD-related HCC, which can be targeted to impede HCC development. In this review, we summarize some key factors and important molecules in NAFLD-related HCC development, the latest progress in HCC diagnosis and treatment options, and some current clinical trials for NAFLD treatment.

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of primary liver cancer, followed by cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). HCC is the third most common cause of cancer death worldwide, and its incidence is rising, associated with an increased prevalence of obesity and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, current treatment options are limited. Genetic factors and epigenetic factors, influenced by age and environment, significantly impact the initiation and progression of NAFLD-related HCC. In addition, both transcriptional factors and post-transcriptional modification are critically important for the development of HCC in the fatty liver under inflammatory and fibrotic conditions. The early diagnosis of liver cancer predicts curative treatment and longer survival. However, clinical HCC cases are commonly found in a very late stage due to the asymptomatic nature of the early stage of NAFLD-related HCC. The development of diagnostic methods and novel biomarkers, as well as the combined evaluation algorithm and artificial intelligence, support the early and precise diagnosis of NAFLD-related HCC, and timely monitoring during its progression. Treatment options for HCC and NAFLD-related HCC include immunotherapy, CAR T cell therapy, peptide treatment, bariatric surgery, anti-fibrotic treatment, and so on. Overall, the incidence of NAFLD-related HCC is increasing, and a better understanding of the underlying mechanism implicated in the progression of NAFLD-related HCC is essential for improving treatment and prognosis.

LncRNA SNHG6 promotes G1/S-phase transition in hepatocellular carcinoma by impairing miR-204-5p-mediated inhibition of E2F1

Emerging evidence suggests that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) function as competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) targeting proteins and genes; however, the role of lncRNAs in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is not well understood. We investigated the mechanism by which lncRNA SNHG6 promotes the development of HCC. RT-qPCR revealed upregulated lncRNA SNHG6 in the HCC setting. Elevated SNHG6 expression was indicative of poor prognosis in patients with HCC. SNHG6 overexpression resulted in increased cyclin D1, cyclin E1, and E2F1 expression both in vitro and in vivo. SNHG6 also promoted HCC cell proliferation by enhancing G1-S phase transition in vitro. Dual luciferase reporter assays, RIP, and RNA pull-down assays demonstrated SNHG6 competitively bound to miR-204-5p and inhibited its expression preventing miR-204-5p from targeting E2F1. Overexpression of miR-204-5p abolished the effect of SNHG6. Our data suggest that SNHG6 functions as a ceRNA that targets miR-204-5p resulting in an increased E2F1 expression and enhanced G1-S phase transition, thereby promoting the tumorigenesis of HCC.

Exploring the wound healing, anti-inflammatory, anti-pathogenic and proteomic effects of lactic acid bacteria on keratinocytes

The topical application of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) is recognized as a useful approach to improve skin health. This work aims to characterize by a multidisciplinary approach, the wound healing, anti-inflammatory, anti-pathogens and proteomic effects of six LAB lysates, belonging to the genus Lactobacillus. Our results demonstrated that the lysates of tested LAB stimulated the proliferation of keratinocytes, and that L. plantarum SGL 07 and L. salivarius SGL 19 accelerated the re-epithelization by inducing keratinocyte migration. The bacterial lysates also reduced the secretion of specific pro-inflammatory mediators from keratinocytes. Furthermore, viable L. salivarius SGL 19 and L. fermentum SGL 10 had anti-pathogenic effects against S. aureus and S. pyogenes, while L. brevis SGL 12 and L. paracasei SGL 04 inhibited S. aureus and S. pyogenes, respectively. The tested lactobacilli lysates also induced specific proteome modulation of the exposed keratinocytes, involving dysregulation of proteins (such as interleukin enhancer-binding factor 2 and ATP-dependent RNA helicase) and pathways (such as cytokine, NF-kB, Hedgehog, and RUNX signaling) associated with their specific wound healing and anti-inflammatory effects. This study indicates the different potential of selected lactobacilli, suggesting that they may be successfully used in the future together with conventional therapies to bring relief from skin disorders.