TNFAIP8 Promotes Cisplatin Chemoresistance in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer by Repressing p53-Mediated miR-205-5p Expression

M6A RNA Methylation-Mediated Dysregulation of AGAP2-AS1 Promotes Trastuzumab Resistance of Breast Cancer

INTRODUCTION

Trastuzumab is commonly used to treat human epidermal growth factor receptor-2-positive (HER2+) breast cancer, but its efficacy is often limited by chemotherapy resistance. Recent studies have indicated that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play important roles in tumor progression and response to therapy. However, the regulatory mechanisms associating lncRNAs and trastuzumab resistance remain unknown.

METHODS

Quantitative polymerase chain reaction was performed to detect the expression of related genes. Western blot and immunofluorescence assays were used to evaluate protein expression levels. A series of gain- or loss-of-function assays confirmed the function of AGAP2-AS1 in trastuzumab resistance, both in vitro and in vivo. RNA immunoprecipitation and pull-down analyses were conducted to verify the interaction between METTL3/YTHDF2 and lncRNA AGAP2-AS1.

RESULTS

AGAP2-AS1 was upregulated in trastuzumab-resistant cells and SKBR-3R-generated xenografts in nude mice. Silencing AGAP2-AS1 significantly decreased trastuzumab-induced cytotoxicity both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, m6A methylation of AGAP2-AS1 was reduced in trastuzumab-resistant cells compared to that in parental cells. In addition, METTL3 increased m6A methylation of AGAP2-AS1, which finally induced the suppressed AGAP2-AS1 expression. Moreover, YTHDF2 was essential for METTL3-mediated m6A methylation of AGAP2-AS1. Functionally, AGAP2-AS1 regulated trastuzumab resistance by inducing autophagy and increasing ATG5 expression.

CONCLUSION

we demonstrated that METTL3/YTHDF2-mediated m6A methylation increased the expression of AGAP2-AS1, which could promote trastuzumab resistance in breast cancer. AGAP2-AS1 regulates trastuzumab resistance by inducing autophagy. Therefore, AGAP2-AS1 may be a promising predictive biomarker and therapeutic target in patients with breast cancer.

miRNAs in the prognosis of triple-negative breast cancer: A review

Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) is a highly aggressive and invasive type of breast cancer (BC) with high mortality rate wherein effective target medicaments are lacking. It is a very heterogeneous group with several subtypes that account for 10-20% of cancer among women globally, being negative for three most important receptors (estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)), with an early and high recurrence resulting in poor survival rate. Therefore, a more thorough knowledge on carcinogenesis of TNBC is required for the development of personalized treatment options. miRNAs can either promote or suppress tumorigenesis and have been linked to a number of features of cancer progression, including proliferation, metastasis, apoptosis, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Recent miRNA research shows that there is great potential for the development of novel biomarkers as they have emerged as drivers of tumorigenesis and provide opportunities to target various components involved in TNBC, thus helping to solve this difficult-to-treat disease. In this review, we summarize the most relevant miRNAs that play an essential role in TNBC biology. Their role with regard to molecular mechanisms underlying TNBC progression has been discussed, and their potential use as therapeutic or prognostic markers to unravel the intricacy of TNBC based on the pieces of evidence obtained from various works of literature has been briefly addressed.

TNF Receptor Associated Factor 2 (TRAF2) Signaling in Cancer

Simple Summary

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor associated factor-2 (TRAF2) is an intracellular adapter protein with E3 ligase activity, which interacts with a plethora of other signaling proteins, including plasma membrane receptors, kinases, phosphatases, other E3 ligases, and deubiquitinases. TRAF2 is involved in various cancer-relevant cellular processes, such as the activation of transcription factors of the NFκB family, stimulation of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase cascades, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress signaling, autophagy, and the control of cell death programs. In a context-dependent manner, TRAF2 promotes tumor development but it can also act as a tumor suppressor. Based on a general description, how TRAF2 in concert with TRAF2-interacting proteins and other TRAF proteins act at the molecular level is discussed for its importance for tumor development and its potential usefulness as a therapeutic target in cancer therapy.

Abstract

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor associated factor-2 (TRAF2) has been originally identified as a protein interacting with TNF receptor 2 (TNFR2) but also binds to several other receptors of the TNF receptor superfamily (TNFRSF). TRAF2, often in concert with other members of the TRAF protein family, is involved in the activation of the classical NFκB pathway and the stimulation of various mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase cascades by TNFRSF receptors (TNFRs), but is also required to inhibit the alternative NFκB pathway. TRAF2 has also been implicated in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress signaling, the regulation of autophagy, and the control of cell death programs. TRAF2 fulfills its functions by acting as a scaffold, bringing together the E3 ligase cellular inhibitor of apoptosis-1 (cIAP1) and cIAP2 with their substrates and various regulatory proteins, e.g., deubiquitinases. Furthermore, TRAF2 can act as an E3 ligase by help of its N-terminal really interesting new gene (RING) domain. The finding that TRAF2 (but also several other members of the TRAF family) interacts with the latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) oncogene of the Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) indicated early on that TRAF2 could play a role in the oncogenesis of B-cell malignancies and EBV-associated non-keratinizing nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). TRAF2 can also act as an oncogene in solid tumors, e.g., in colon cancer by promoting Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Moreover, tumor cell-expressed TRAF2 has been identified as a major factor-limiting cancer cell killing by cytotoxic T-cells after immune checkpoint blockade. However, TRAF2 can also be context-dependent as a tumor suppressor, presumably by virtue of its inhibitory effect on the alternative NFκB pathway. For example, inactivating mutations of TRAF2 have been associated with tumor development, e.g., in multiple myeloma and mantle cell lymphoma. In this review, we summarize the various TRAF2-related signaling pathways and their relevance for the oncogenic and tumor suppressive activities of TRAF2. Particularly, we discuss currently emerging concepts to target TRAF2 for therapeutic purposes.

CircUBR5 acts as a ceRNA for miR-1179 to up-regulate UBR5 and to promote malignancy of triple-negative breast cancer

UBR5 is an E3 ubiquitin ligase and an oncogene in a panel of human cancers. However, little is known on its impacts in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and even less on its relationship to circUBR5 (hsa_circ_0001819), a circular RNA derived from exons 2, 3, 4, and 5 of UBR5 gene. In this study, we detected higher expressions of both circUBR5 and UBR5 in TNBC tissues, which were associated with worse prognosis, and also in a panel of breast cancer cells, particularly in TNBC cells. Functionally, circUBR5 was crucial for sustaining the malignant growth and metastasis of TNBC cells both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, the oncogenic phenotypes of circUBC5 were mediated through sponging miR-1179 and up-regulating UBR5. Concomitant silencing circUBR5 and miR-1179 abolished the anti-tumor effects of targeting circUBR5 alone. Therefore, targeting circUBR5/miR-1179/UBR5 axis may benefit the treatment of TNBCs.

SENP1 promotes MCL pathogenesis through regulating JAK-STAT5 pathway and SOCS2 expression

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is highly aggressive and its treatment remains challenging, understanding its pathogenesis is critical for future targeted therapy. SUMO specific proteases 1 (SENP1) is an important protein that regulates the balance between SUMOylation and deSUMOylation. We found that SENP1 was upregulated in MCL patient samples and cell lines. Knockdown of SENP1 could inhibit the proliferation and promote the apoptosis of MCL cells. We also found that SENP1 knockdown caused inhibition of the JAK-STAT5 pathway and upregulation of tumor suppressor cytokine signaling 2 (SOCS2). Moreover, MCL tumor growth in vivo was significantly suppressed after SENP1 knockdown in a xenograft nude mouse model. In summary, our results showed that SENP1 is involved in the pathogenesis of MCL and may be a potential therapeutic target.

Quantitative proteomics characterization of cancer biomarkers and treatment

Cancer accounted for 16% of all death worldwide in 2018. Significant progress has been made in understanding tumor occurrence, progression, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis at the molecular level. However, genomics changes cannot truly reflect the state of protein activity in the body due to the poor correlation between genes and proteins. Quantitative proteomics, capable of quantifying the relatively different protein abundance in cancer patients, has been increasingly adopted in cancer research. Quantitative proteomics has great application potentials, including cancer diagnosis, personalized therapeutic drug selection, real-time therapeutic effects and toxicity evaluation, prognosis and drug resistance evaluation, and new therapeutic target discovery. In this review, the development, testing samples, and detection methods of quantitative proteomics are introduced. The biomarkers identified by quantitative proteomics for clinical diagnosis, prognosis, and drug resistance are reviewed. The challenges and prospects of quantitative proteomics for personalized medicine are also discussed.