Upregulation of deubiquitinase USP7 by transcription factor FOXO6 promotes EC progression via targeting the JMJD3/CLU axis

The ATF4-regulated LncRNA MALAT1 promotes odontoblastic differentiation of human dental pulp stem cells via histone demethylase JMJD3: An in vitro study

AIM

This study aimed to investigate the upstream regulators and specific mechanisms of metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1) in the odontoblastic differentiation of human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs).

METHODOLOGY

Human dental pulp stem cells were isolated and cultured, followed by conducting loss- or gain-of-function experiments on ATF4 and loss experiments on MALAT1 to elucidate their respective biological functions in odontoblastic differentiation. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays and RNA immunoprecipitation were performed to uncover the interaction between ATF4-MALAT1 and MALAT1-JMJD3, respectively. The odontoblastic differentiation was estimated by the mRNA and protein of DSPP and DMP1, as well as alkaline phosphatase staining.

RESULTS

Expression of MALAT1 was upregulated in the hDPSCs cultured in an odontoblastic medium, and MALAT1 downregulation suppressed the odontoblastic differentiation of the hDPSCs. Subsequent experiments confirmed that ATF4 promoted odontoblastic differentiation and induced MALAT1 expression by binding to the MALAT1 promoter region. Further experiments revealed that nuclear MALAT1 interacted with JMJD3. MALAT1 knockdown decreased the JMJD3 protein level and demethylase activity, and it enhanced H3K27me3 occupancy of the promoter region of DSPP and DMP1, resulting in the inhibition of DSPP and DMP1 transcription. Importantly, JMJD3 overexpression significantly attenuated the inhibition of odontoblastic differentiation induced by MALAT1 knockdown.

CONCLUSIONS

ATF4-regulated MALAT1 plays a positive regulatory role in odontoblastic differentiation of hDPSCs through JMJD3-mediated H3K27me3 modifications of the DSPP and DMP1 promoters.

Current and future directions of USP7 interactome in cancer study

The ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) is an essential protein quality controller for regulating protein homeostasis and autophagy. Ubiquitination is a protein modification process that involves the binding of one or more ubiquitins to substrates through a series of enzymatic processes. These include ubiquitin-activating enzymes (E1), ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes (E2), and ubiquitin ligases (E3). Conversely, deubiquitination is a reverse process that removes ubiquitin from substrates via deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs). Dysregulation of ubiquitination-related enzymes can lead to various human diseases, including cancer, through the modulation of protein ubiquitination. The most structurally and functionally studied DUB is the ubiquitin-specific protease 7 (USP7). Both the TRAF and UBL domains of USP7 are known to bind to the [P/A/E]-X-X-S or K-X-X-X-K motif of substrates. USP7 has been shown to be involved in cancer pathogenesis by binding with numerous substrates. Recently, a novel substrate of USP7 was discovered through a systemic analysis of its binding motif. This review summarizes the currently discovered substrates and cellular functions of USP7 in cancer and suggests putative substrates of USP7 through a comprehensive systemic analysis.

Cuproptosis-related gene SLC31A1: prognosis values and potential biological functions in cancer

Cuproptosis is a unique type of cell death that may influence tumour formation by targeting lipoylated tricarboxylic acid cycle proteins. Solute carrier family 31 member 1 (SLC31A1), an important copper transporter, influences dietary copper absorption in the cell membrane. However, various SLC31A1 properties in pan-cancer profiles remain unknown. This study investigated the role of SLC31A1 in human malignancies and analysed its prognostic value. Raw data were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas database and processed using numerous internet databases, including UALCAN, GEPIA, cBioPortal, TIMER2.0, and Human Protein Atlas. SLC31A1 expression was found to be elevated in cervical, endometrial, and breast cancers compared to that in normal tissues, but reduced in clear cell renal cell carcinoma, liver hepatocellular carcinoma, and lung adenocarcinoma. Furthermore, SLC31A1 expression was strongly associated with overall survival and disease-free survival in several cancers. SLC31A1 gene mutations and methylations were identified in 33 cancers. SLC31A1 expression was positively correlated with immune cells in immune infiltration data. Single-cell sequencing revealed that SLC31A1 may play key roles in DNA repair, DNA damage, and proliferation. These findings may lead to better understanding of SLC31A1 in pan-cancer profiles and suggest that SLC31A1 could be a viable predictive biomarker, particularly in gynaecological cancers.

Redox Dysregulation in the Tumor Microenvironment Contributes to Cancer Metastasis

Significance: Redox dysregulation under pathological conditions results in excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, leading to oxidative stress and cellular oxidative damage. ROS function as a double-edged sword to modulate various types of cancer development and survival. Recent Advances: Emerging evidence has underlined that ROS impact the behavior of both cancer cells and tumor-associated stromal cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME), and these cells have developed complex systems to adapt to high ROS environments during cancer progression. Critical Issues: In this review, we integrated current progress regarding the impact of ROS on cancer cells and tumor-associated stromal cells in the TME and summarized how ROS production influences cancer cell behaviors. Then, we summarized the distinct effects of ROS during different stages of tumor metastasis. Finally, we discussed potential therapeutic strategies for modulating ROS for the treatment of cancer metastasis. Future Directions: Targeting the ROS regulation during cancer metastasis will provide important insights into the design of effective single or combinatorial cancer therapeutic strategies. Well-designed preclinical studies and clinical trials are urgently needed to understand the complex regulatory systems of ROS in the TME. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 39, 472-490.

The role and function of CLU in cancer biology and therapy

Clusterin (CLU) is a highly evolutionary conserved glycoprotein with multiple isoform-specific functions and is widely distributed in different species. Accumulated evidence has shown the prominent role of CLU in regulating several essential physiological processes, including programmed cell death, metastasis, invasion, proliferation and cell growth via regulating diverse signaling pathways to mediate cancer progression in various cancers, such as prostate, breast, lung, liver, colon, bladder and pancreatic cancer. Several studies have revealed the potential benefit of inhibiting CLU in CLU inhibition-based targeted cancer therapies in vitro, in vivo or in human, suggesting CLU is a promising therapeutic target. This review discusses the multiple functions and mechanisms of CLU in regulating tumor progression of various cancers and summarizes the inhibitors of CLU used in CLU inhibition-based targeted cancer therapies.

USP7 - a crucial regulator of cancer hallmarks

Over the course of three decades of study, the deubiquitinase Herpesvirus associated Ubiquitin-Specific Protease/Ubiquitin-Specific Protease 7 (HAUSP/USP7) has gradually come to be recognized as a crucially important molecule in cellular physiology. The fact that USP7 is overexpressed in a number of cancers, including breast, prostate, colorectal, and lung cancers, supports the idea that USP7 is also an important regulator of tumorigenesis. In this review, we discuss USP7's function in relation to the cancer hallmarks described by Hanahan and Weinberg. This post-translational modifier can support increased proliferation, block unfavorable growth signals, stop cell death, and support an unstable cellular genome by manipulating key players in the pertinent signalling circuit. It is interesting to note that USP7 also aids in the stabilization of molecules that support angiogenesis and metastasis. Targeting USP7 has now emerged as a crucial component of USP7 research because pharmacological inhibition of USP7 supports p53-mediated cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Efficacious USP7 inhibition is currently being investigated in both synthetic and natural compounds, but issues with selectivity and a lack of co-crystal structure have hindered USP7 inhibition from being tested in clinical settings. Moreover, the development of new, more effective USP7 inhibitors and their encouraging implications by numerous groups give us a glimmer of hope for USP7-targeting medications as effective substitutes for hazardous cancer chemotherapeutics.

EZH2 enhances proliferation and migration of trophoblast cell lines by blocking GADD45A-mediated p38/MAPK signaling pathway

Impaired activity of the trophoblasts is a major contributor to the progression of pregnancy pathologies including preeclampsia (PE). This research probed the function of enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) in activity of trophoblast cells and its correlation with growth arrest and DNA damage inducible alpha (GADD45A). EZH2 was predicted to be downregulated in placental tissues in PE according to a gene chip analysis, and reduced expression of EZH2 was detected in the placental tissues of patients with PE. Overexpression of EZH2 augmented proliferation and invasiveness of two trophoblast cell lines HTR-8/SVneo and JEG3 cells. EZH2 catalyzed trimethylation of lysine 27 on histone 3 (H3K27me3) in GADD45A promoter to suppress its transcription. GADD45A silencing increased the activity of the trophoblast cell lines and inactivated the p38/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway. Rescue experiments confirmed that either inhibition of GADD45A or p38 restored the proliferation, migration, and invasiveness of the trophoblast cell lines suppressed by EZH2 silencing. In conclusion, this work suggests that EZH2 enhances activity of trophoblast cell lines by suppressing GADD45A-mediated p38/MAPK signaling pathway.

Ginsenoside compound K inhibits the proliferation, migration and invasion of Eca109 cell via VEGF-A/Pi3k/Akt pathway

OBJECTIVE

Esophageal cancer, one of the most common cancers in the upper digestive tract and is one of the leading cancer-related mortality worldwide. Accumulating studies found that Ginsenoside compound K (CK) has significantly anti-tumor effects, especially in the suppression of proliferation, migration, as well as invasion in various human cancers. While the effects of Ginsenoside CK in esophageal cancer have not been well studied. In our present study, we aim to explore the functions and mechanisms of Ginsenoside CK in the progression of esophageal cancer cells (Eca109).

METHODS

Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), wound healing, transwell and flow cytometry assays were applied to analyze the effects of Ginsenoside CK in the progression of Eca109 cell, western blot assay was used to investigate the potential downstream signaling pathway after Ginsenoside CK treatment.

RESULTS

Our study found that Ginsenoside CK can suppress cell proliferation, migration and invasion of Eca109 cell. Furthermore, the flow cytometry showed that Ginsenoside CK increased of apoptosis rates in Eca109 cell. The western blot results indicated that Ginsenoside CK decreased the expression of VEGF-A, P-Pi3k and P-Akt proteins. Moreover, the knockdown of VEGF-A gene could suppress cell proliferation, migration, invasion and induce apoptosis in Eca109 cell, and the expression of P-Pi3k and P-Akt proteins were significantly downregulated.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study suggests that Ginsenoside CK inhibits the proliferation, migration, invasion, and induced apoptosis of Eca109 cell by blocking VEGF-A/Pi3k/Akt signaling pathway.

METTL3 facilitates the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma by modulating the m6A level of USP7

OBJECTIVE

To explore whether METTL3 was involved in the pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by modulating the m6A level of USP7.

METHODS

We performed qRT-PCR and western blot assays to detect the expression level of METTL3 in HCC tissues and paired adjacent normal tissues, as well as HCC cell lines. The level of m6A in HCC tissues and cells was quantitatively analyzed by m6A RNA Methylation Quantitative Kit. We examined the effect of METTL3 on cell proliferation ability by CCK-8 and EdU assays, and examined cell migration and cell invasion ability by Transwell assay. It was predicted via bioinformatics tool that USP7 may undergo methylation in HCC. Subsequently, we performed qRT-PCR assay to detect the expression level of USP7 in HCC tissues and analyzed its correlation with the expression level of METTL3. We verified the regulatory relationship between METTL3/USP7 and transfected USP7 siRNA in cells to detect its effects on cell invasion, migration and proliferation. The regulatory effect of METTL3 on USP7 in HCC was analyzed by corresponding experiments.

RESULTS

The qRT-PCR results indicated that METTL3 was highly expressed in HCC tissues and cell lines. The level of m6A was remarkably increased in HCC tissues and cell lines. Besides, the elevated METTL3 expression was related to worse overall survival. The abilities of cell invasion, migration and proliferation were remarkably attenuated by down-regulation of METTL3 expression. Through bioinformatics analysis, it was found that USP7 might be regulated by METTL3 to undergo methylation modification. The qRT-PCR results showed that the USP7 was highly expressed in HCC tissues, and was positively correlated with the level of METTL3. Further experiments showed that down-regulation of USP7 could reduce cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. METTL3 could positively regulate the malignant phenotype of USP7 in HCC.

CONCLUSION

METTL3 might regulate the expression of USP7 through m6A methylation and facilitate the invasion, migration and proliferation of HCC cells.

ZNF711 down-regulation promotes CISPLATIN resistance in epithelial ovarian cancer via interacting with JHDM2A and suppressing SLC31A1 expression

Background

Resistance to platinum-based chemotherapy is a major cause of therapeutic failure during the treatment of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) patients. Our study aims to elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which ZNF711 down regulation promotes CISPLATIN resistance in EOC.

Methods

ZNF711 expression in 150 EOC specimens was examined using immunohistochemistry. ZNF711 expression and the survival of EOC patients were assessed with a Kaplan-Meier analysis. The effects of ZNF711 expression on CDDP resistance were studied by IC50, Annexin V, and colony formation in vitro, and in an in vivo intra-peritoneal tumor model. The molecular mechanism was determined using a luciferase reporter assay, ChIP assay, CAPTURE approach, and co-IP assay.

Findings

ZNF711 down-regulation exerts a great impact on CDDP resistance for EOC patients by suppressing SLC31A1 and inhibiting CDDP influx. ZNF711 down-regulation promoted, while ZNF711 overexpression drastically inhibited CDDP resistance, both in vivo and in vitro. Mechanistically, the histone demethylase JHDM2A was recruited to the SLC31A1 promoter by ZNF711 and decreased the H3K9me2 level, resulting in the activation of SLC31A1 transcription and enhancement of CDDP uptake. Importantly, co-treatment with the histone methylation inhibitor, BIX-01294, increased the therapeutic efficacy of CDDP treatment in ZNF711-suppressed EOC cells.

Interpretation

These findings both verified the clinical importance of ZNF711 in CDDP resistance and provide novel therapeutic regimens for EOC treatment.

Funding

This work was supported by the Natural Science Foundation of China; Guangzhou Science and Technology Plan Projects; Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province; The Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities; and China Postdoctoral Science Foundation.

USP5 Promotes Uterine Corpus Endometrial Carcinoma Cell Growth and Migration via mTOR/4EBP1 Activation

Background

Uterine corpus endometrial carcinoma (UCEC) is a common malignancy worldwide developed in the female reproductive system, which can be life-threatening due to metastasis and poor prognosis. Deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) play key roles in ubiquitin–proteasome system. As a member of DUBs, the ubiquitin-specific protease 5 (USP5) has been found to be an oncogene in several cancers. This study aims to explore the function of USP5 in UCEC.

Materials and Methods

Clinical significance of USP5 was assessed from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) UCEC dataset. Knockdown and overexpression were performed by transfecting the cells with siRNAs and pCDNA3.1 vectors, respectively. CCK8, colony formation, wound healing, transwell, PI, and PI/annexin V staining were conducted to check the effect of USP5 on cellular biology function. Western blot assay was used to detect protein expression.

Results

USP5 was upregulated in UCEC patients. Its downregulation led to decreased migration and proliferation of UCEC cells, and meanwhile, cell cycle arrest and apoptosis were induced. By contrast, USP5 overexpression significantly promoted cell migration and cell mitosis. Further study revealed that USP5 could cause hyperactivation of mTOR/4EBP1 pathway and rapamycin treatment could totally reverse the effects of UPS5 overexpression.

Conclusion

Our data demonstrated that USP5 functioned as an oncogene in UCEC, which provided new insights into the pathogenesis of UCEC and a promising molecular target for UCEC diagnosis and therapy.