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Kopantzev E, Kondratyeva L, Kopantseva M, Kashkin K, Gnatenko D, Grigorieva E, Alekseenko I, Safina D, Chernov I. SOX9 Protein in Pancreatic Cancer Regulates Multiple Cellular Networks in a Cell-Specific Manner. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10071466. [PMID: 35884771 PMCID: PMC9312990 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10071466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Revised: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
SOX9 is upregulated in the majority of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cases. It is hypothesized that the increased expression of SOX9 is necessary for the formation and maintenance of tumor phenotypes in pancreatic cancer cells. In our research, we studied six pancreatic cancer cell lines, which displayed varying levels of differentiation and a range of oncogenic mutations. We chose the method of downregulation of SOX9 expression via siRNA transfection as the main method for investigating the functional role of the SOX9 factor in pancreatic cancer cells. We discovered that the downregulation of SOX9 expression in the cell lines leads to cell-line-specific changes in the expression levels of epithelial and mesenchymal protein markers. Additionally, the downregulation of SOX9 expression had a specific effect on the expression of pancreatic developmental master genes. SOX9 downregulation had the greatest effect on the expression levels of the protein regulators of cell proliferation. In three of the four cell lines studied, the transfection of siSOX9 led to a significant decrease in proliferative activity and to the activation of proapoptotic caspases in transfected cells. The acquired results demonstrate that the SOX9 protein exerts its multiple functions as a pleiotropic regulator of differentiation and a potential promoter of tumor growth in a cell-specific manner in pancreatic cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eugene Kopantzev
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Ulitsa Miklukho-Maklaya, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (M.K.); (K.K.); (D.G.); (E.G.); (I.A.); (I.C.)
- Correspondence: (E.K.); (L.K.); Tel.: +7-(916)-066-8752 (E.K.); +7-(965)-315-7274 (L.K.); Fax: +7-(495)-330-6538 (L.K.)
| | - Liya Kondratyeva
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Ulitsa Miklukho-Maklaya, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (M.K.); (K.K.); (D.G.); (E.G.); (I.A.); (I.C.)
- Correspondence: (E.K.); (L.K.); Tel.: +7-(916)-066-8752 (E.K.); +7-(965)-315-7274 (L.K.); Fax: +7-(495)-330-6538 (L.K.)
| | - Marina Kopantseva
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Ulitsa Miklukho-Maklaya, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (M.K.); (K.K.); (D.G.); (E.G.); (I.A.); (I.C.)
| | - Kirill Kashkin
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Ulitsa Miklukho-Maklaya, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (M.K.); (K.K.); (D.G.); (E.G.); (I.A.); (I.C.)
| | - Dmitry Gnatenko
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Ulitsa Miklukho-Maklaya, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (M.K.); (K.K.); (D.G.); (E.G.); (I.A.); (I.C.)
| | - Elizaveta Grigorieva
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Ulitsa Miklukho-Maklaya, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (M.K.); (K.K.); (D.G.); (E.G.); (I.A.); (I.C.)
| | - Irina Alekseenko
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Ulitsa Miklukho-Maklaya, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (M.K.); (K.K.); (D.G.); (E.G.); (I.A.); (I.C.)
- Institute of Molecular Genetics of National Research Centre “Kurchatov Institute”, Ploshchad’ Akademika Kurchatova, 123182 Moscow, Russia;
| | - Dina Safina
- Institute of Molecular Genetics of National Research Centre “Kurchatov Institute”, Ploshchad’ Akademika Kurchatova, 123182 Moscow, Russia;
| | - Igor Chernov
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Ulitsa Miklukho-Maklaya, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (M.K.); (K.K.); (D.G.); (E.G.); (I.A.); (I.C.)
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Lei S, Zeng Z, He Z, Cao W. miRNA‑7515 suppresses pancreatic cancer cell proliferation, migration and invasion via downregulating IGF‑1 expression. Oncol Rep 2021; 46:200. [PMID: 34296285 PMCID: PMC8317166 DOI: 10.3892/or.2021.8151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer (PC) is a lethal malignancy of the gastrointestinal tract. Previous studies have reported that microRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) are involved in the tumorigenesis of PC. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the effects of miR‑7515 on PC cell proliferation, invasion and migration in vitro and in vivo, and investigate its underlying molecular mechanism using bioinformatics, double luciferase assay and western blotting. The results revealed that the expression levels of miR‑7515 were downregulated in PC, which predicted a poor clinical outcome. The overexpression of miR‑7515 significantly decreased the proliferation, invasive and migratory abilities of PC cells in vitro and in vivo, while the knockdown of miR‑7515 exerted the opposite effects. miR‑7515 was identified to directly bind to insulin‑like growth factor 1 (IGF‑1) and downregulate its expression, which subsequently downregulated the Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK signalling pathway. The overexpression of IGF‑1 reversed the inhibitory effects of miR‑7515 overexpression on PC cells. In conclusion, the findings of the present study indicated that miR‑7515 may act as a tumor suppressor in PC, as it repressed PC cell proliferation invasion and migration via downregulating the expression of IGF‑1 and the activity of the Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK signalling pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan Lei
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou 550009, P.R. China
| | - Zhirui Zeng
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou 550009, P.R. China
| | - Zhiwei He
- Department of Hepatic-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou 550009, P.R. China
| | - Wenpeng Cao
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou 550009, P.R. China
- Department of Anatomy, School of Basic Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou 550009, P.R. China
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Dysregulation of miRNAs Targeting the IGF-1R Pathway in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma. Cells 2021; 10:cells10081856. [PMID: 34440625 PMCID: PMC8391367 DOI: 10.3390/cells10081856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), the most prevalent neoplastic lethal pancreatic disease, has a poor prognosis and an increasing incidence. The insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) signaling pathway is considered to be a contributing factor to the progression, metastasis, and therapy resistance of PDAC. Currently available treatment options for PDAC are limited, but microRNAs (miRNAs) may represent a new therapeutic strategy for targeting genes involved in the IGF-1R signaling pathway. Method: We investigated the expression levels of 21 miRNAs involved in the IGF-1R signaling pathway in pancreatic tissue from 38 patients with PDAC and 11 controls (five patients with chronic pancreatitis and six patients with normal pancreatic tissue). Results: We found 19 differentially expressed miRNAs between the PDAC cases and the controls. In particular, miR-100-5p, miR-145-5p, miR-29c-3p, miR-9-5p, and miR-195-5p were exclusively downregulated in PDAC tissue but not in chronic pancreatitis or normal pancreatic tissues; both control types presented similar levels. We also identified miR-29a-3p, miR-29b-3p, and miR-7-5p as downregulated miRNAs in PDAC tissues as compared with normal tissues but not with pancreatitis tissues. Conclusions: We identified a panel of miRNAs that could represent putative therapeutic targets for the development of new miRNA-based therapies for PDAC.
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Parajuli G, Tekguc M, Wing JB, Hashimoto A, Okuzaki D, Hirata T, Sasaki A, Itokazu T, Handa H, Sugino H, Nishikawa Y, Metwally H, Kodama Y, Tanaka S, Sabe H, Yamashita T, Sakaguchi S, Kishimoto T, Hashimoto S. Arid5a Promotes Immune Evasion by Augmenting Tryptophan Metabolism and Chemokine Expression. Cancer Immunol Res 2021; 9:862-876. [PMID: 34006522 DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-21-0014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2021] [Revised: 03/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The acquisition of mesenchymal traits leads to immune evasion in various cancers, but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we found that the expression levels of AT-rich interaction domain-containing protein 5a (Arid5a), an RNA-binding protein, were substantially increased in mesenchymal tumor subtypes. The deletion of Arid5a in tumor cell lines enhanced antitumor immunity in immunocompetent mice, but not in immunodeficient mice, suggesting a role for Arid5a in immune evasion. Furthermore, an Arid5a-deficient tumor microenvironment was shown to have robust antitumor immunity, as manifested by suppressed infiltration of granulocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells and regulatory T cells. In addition, infiltrated T cells were more cytotoxic and less exhausted. Mechanistically, Arid5a stabilized Ido1 and Ccl2 mRNAs and augmented their expression, resulting in enhanced tryptophan catabolism and an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Thus, our findings demonstrate the role of Arid5a beyond inflammatory diseases and suggest Arid5a as a promising target for the treatment of immunotolerant malignant tumors.See related Spotlight by Van den Eynde, p. 854.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gyanu Parajuli
- Laboratory of Immune Regulation, World Premier International Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Murat Tekguc
- Experimental Immunology, World Premier International Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - James B Wing
- Experimental Immunology, World Premier International Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Ari Hashimoto
- Department of Molecular Biology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Daisuke Okuzaki
- Genome Information Research Center, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Takeshi Hirata
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medicine/Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan.,Department of Neuro-Medical Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan.,Sohyaku, Innovative Research Division, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Atsushi Sasaki
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medicine/Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan.,Department of Neuro-Medical Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan.,Sohyaku, Innovative Research Division, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Takahide Itokazu
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medicine/Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan.,Department of Neuro-Medical Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Haruka Handa
- Department of Molecular Biology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Hirokazu Sugino
- Department of Cancer Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Nishikawa
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Hozaifa Metwally
- Laboratory of Immune Regulation, World Premier International Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yuzo Kodama
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.,Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Shinya Tanaka
- Department of Cancer Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan.,Institute for Chemical Reaction Design and Discovery (WPI-ICReDD), Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Hisataka Sabe
- Department of Molecular Biology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Toshihide Yamashita
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medicine/Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan.,Department of Neuro-Medical Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Shimon Sakaguchi
- Experimental Immunology, World Premier International Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Tadamitsu Kishimoto
- Laboratory of Immune Regulation, World Premier International Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan.
| | - Shigeru Hashimoto
- Laboratory of Immune Regulation, World Premier International Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan.
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Nwabo Kamdje AH, Seke Etet PF, Simo Tagne R, Vecchio L, Lukong KE, Krampera M. Tumor Microenvironment Uses a Reversible Reprogramming of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells to Mediate Pro-tumorigenic Effects. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:545126. [PMID: 33330442 PMCID: PMC7710932 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.545126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2020] [Accepted: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The role of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) in the tumor microenvironment is well described. Available data support that MSCs display anticancer activities, and that their reprogramming by cancer cells in the tumor microenvironment induces their switch toward pro-tumorigenic activities. Here we discuss the recent evidence of pro-tumorigenic effects of stromal cells, in particular (i) MSC support to cancer cells through the metabolic reprogramming necessary to maintain their malignant behavior and stemness, and (ii) MSC role in cancer cell immunosenescence and in the establishment and maintenance of immunosuppression in the tumor microenvironment. We also discuss the mechanisms of tumor microenvironment mediated reprogramming of MSCs, including the effects of hypoxia, tumor stiffness, cancer-promoting cells, and tumor extracellular matrix. Finally, we summarize the emerging strategies for reprogramming tumor MSCs to reactivate anticancer functions of these stromal cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Armel H. Nwabo Kamdje
- Department of Physiological Sciences and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (FMBS), University of Ngaoundéré, Ngaoundéré, Cameroon
| | - Paul F. Seke Etet
- Department of Physiological Sciences and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (FMBS), University of Ngaoundéré, Ngaoundéré, Cameroon
- Center for Sustainable Health and Development, Garoua, Cameroon
| | - Richard Simo Tagne
- Department of Physiological Sciences and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (FMBS), University of Ngaoundéré, Ngaoundéré, Cameroon
| | - Lorella Vecchio
- Center for Sustainable Health and Development, Garoua, Cameroon
| | - Kiven Erique Lukong
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Mauro Krampera
- Section of Hematology, Stem Cell Research Laboratory, Department of Medicine, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
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Nwabo Kamdje AH, Seke Etet PF, Simo RT, Vecchio L, Lukong KE, Krampera M. Emerging data supporting stromal cell therapeutic potential in cancer: reprogramming stromal cells of the tumor microenvironment for anti-cancer effects. Cancer Biol Med 2020; 17:828-841. [PMID: 33299638 PMCID: PMC7721102 DOI: 10.20892/j.issn.2095-3941.2020.0133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2020] [Accepted: 08/20/2020] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
After more than a decade of controversy on the role of stromal cells in the tumor microenvironment, the emerging data shed light on pro-tumorigenic and potential anti-cancer factors, as well as on the roots of the discrepancies. We discuss the pro-tumorigenic effects of stromal cells, considering the effects of tumor drivers like hypoxia and tumor stiffness on these cells, as well as stromal cell-mediated adiposity and immunosuppression in the tumor microenvironment, and cancer initiating cells' cellular senescence and adaptive metabolism. We summarize the emerging data supporting stromal cell therapeutic potential in cancer, discuss the possibility to reprogram stromal cells of the tumor microenvironment for anti-cancer effects, and explore some causes of discrepancies on the roles of stromal cells in cancer in the available literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Armel Hervé Nwabo Kamdje
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ngaoundere, Faculty of Science, Ngaoundere 454, Cameroon,Correspondence to: Armel Hervé Nwabo Kamdje, E-mail:
| | - Paul Faustin Seke Etet
- Department of Physiological Sciences and Biochemistry, University of Ngaoundéré, Garoua 454, Cameroon,Center for Sustainable Health and Development, Garoua 454, Cameroon
| | - Richard Tagne Simo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ngaoundere, Faculty of Science, Ngaoundere 454, Cameroon
| | - Lorella Vecchio
- Center for Sustainable Health and Development, Garoua 454, Cameroon
| | - Kiven Erique Lukong
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology & Immunology, University of Saskatchewan, College of Medicine, Saskatoon SK S7N 5E5, Canada
| | - Mauro Krampera
- Department of Medicine, University of Verona, Section of Hematology, Stem Cell Research Laboratory, Verona 37134, Italy
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Canonical BMP Signaling Executes Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Downstream of SNAIL1. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12041019. [PMID: 32326239 PMCID: PMC7226241 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12041019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2020] [Revised: 04/16/2020] [Accepted: 04/17/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a pivotal process in development and disease. In carcinogenesis, various signaling pathways are known to trigger EMT by inducing the expression of EMT transcription factors (EMT-TFs) like SNAIL1, ultimately promoting invasion, metastasis and chemoresistance. However, how EMT is executed downstream of EMT-TFs is incompletely understood. Here, using human colorectal cancer (CRC) and mammary cell line models of EMT, we demonstrate that SNAIL1 critically relies on bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling for EMT execution. This activity requires the transcription factor SMAD4 common to BMP/TGFβ pathways, but is TGFβ signaling-independent. Further, we define a signature of BMP-dependent genes in the EMT-transcriptome, which orchestrate EMT-induced invasiveness, and are found to be regulated in human CRC transcriptomes and in developmental EMT processes. Collectively, our findings substantially augment the knowledge of mechanistic routes whereby EMT can be effectuated, which is relevant for the conceptual understanding and therapeutic targeting of EMT processes.
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Ros G, Pegoraro S, De Angelis P, Sgarra R, Zucchelli S, Gustincich S, Manfioletti G. HMGA2 Antisense Long Non-coding RNAs as New Players in the Regulation of HMGA2 Expression and Pancreatic Cancer Promotion. Front Oncol 2020; 9:1526. [PMID: 32010621 PMCID: PMC6978849 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2019.01526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2019] [Accepted: 12/18/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Natural antisense long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are regulatory RNAs transcribed from the opposite strand of either protein coding or non-coding genes, able to modulate their own sense gene expression. Hence, their dysregulation can lead to pathologic processes. Cancer is a complex class of diseases determined by the aberrant expression of a variety of factors, among them, the oncofetal chromatin architectural proteins High Mobility Group A (HMGA) modulate several cancer hallmarks. Thus, we decided to investigate the presence of natural antisense lncRNAs in HMGA1 and HMGA2 loci, and their possible involvement in gene expression regulation. Methods: We used FANTOM5 data resources, FANTOM-CAT genome browser and Zenbu visualization tool, which employ 1,829 human CAGE and RNA-sequencing libraries, to determine expression, ontology enrichment, and dynamic regulation of natural antisense lncRNAs in HMGA1 and HMGA2 loci. We then performed qRT-PCR in different cancer cell lines to validate the existence of HMGA2-AS1 transcripts. We depleted HMGA2-AS1 transcripts with siRNAs and investigated HMGA2 expression by qRT-PCR and western blot analyses. Moreover, we evaluated cell viability and migration by MTS and transwell assays, and EMT markers by qRT-PCR and immunofluorescence. Furthermore, we used bioinformatics approaches to evaluate HMGA2 and HMGA2-AS1 correlation and overall survival in tumor patients. Results: We found the presence of a promoter-associated lncRNA (CATG00000088127.1) in the HMGA1 gene and three antisense genes (RPSAP52, HMGA2-AS1, and RP11-366L20.3) in the HMGA2 gene. We studied the uncharacterized HMGA2-AS1 transcripts, validating their existence in cancer cell lines and observing a positive correlation between HMGA2 and HMGA2-AS1 expression in a cancer-derived patient dataset. We showed that HMGA2-AS1 transcripts positively modulate HMGA2 expression and migration properties of PANC1 cells through HMGA2. In addition, Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that high level of HMGA2-AS1 is a negative prognostic factor in pancreatic cancer patients. Conclusions: Our results describe novel antisense lncRNAs associated with HMGA1 and HMGA2 genes. In particular, we demonstrate that HMGA2-AS1 is involved in the regulation of its own sense gene expression, mediating tumorigenesis. Thus, we highlight a new layer of complexity in the regulation of HMGA2 expression, providing new potential targets for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gloria Ros
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Silvia Pegoraro
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Paolo De Angelis
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Riccardo Sgarra
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Silvia Zucchelli
- Department of Health Sciences, Center for Autoimmune and Allergic Diseases, Interdisciplinary Research Center of Autoimmune Diseases, University of Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
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