The role of the transcription factor Ets1 in carcinoma

Transcription factor ETS1‑mediated ECT2 expression promotes the malignant behavior of prostate cancer cells

Prostate cancer remains the most prevalent malignancy diagnosed in men worldwide. Epithelial cell transforming sequence 2 (ECT2) is an oncogene involved in the progression of human tumors. The present study aimed to explore the involvement of ECT2 in prostate cancer and its participation in the malignant progression of prostate cancer. ECT2 expression in prostate cancer cell lines was examined via reverse transcription-quantitative PCR and western blotting. The effects of knockdown of ECT2 expression in PC-3 cells on cellular biological behaviors, including proliferation, migration and invasion, were examined using Cell Counting Kit-8, colony formation, wound healing and Transwell assays. The glycolysis level was determined based on the lactate release, glucose uptake, oxygen consumption rate and extracellular acidification rate. The binding relationship between ECT2 and ETS1 was verified using luciferase reporter and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays. The results indicated that ECT2 was highly expressed in prostate cancer cell lines. Knockdown of ECT2 expression could inhibit cell proliferation, migration, invasion and glycolysis. In addition, the transcription factor ETS1 could directly bind to the ECT2 promoter and positively regulate ECT2 expression. These data were combined with the results of rescue experiments and demonstrated that the inhibitory effects of the knockdown of ECT2 expression on the malignant behavior and glycolysis of prostate cancer cells were partially reversed by ETS1 overexpression. In conclusion, ETS1 induced transcriptional upregulation of ECT2 and enhanced the malignant biological behaviors of prostate cancer cells, thereby promoting the progression of prostate cancer. This evidence provides a theoretical basis for the treatment of prostate cancer.

Illuminating the pathogenic role of SARS-CoV-2: Insights into competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) regulatory networks

The appearance of SARS-CoV-2 in 2019 triggered a significant economic and health crisis worldwide, with heterogeneous molecular mechanisms that contribute to its development are not yet fully understood. Although substantial progress has been made in elucidating the mechanisms behind SARS-CoV-2 infection and therapy, it continues to rank among the top three global causes of mortality due to infectious illnesses. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), being integral components across nearly all biological processes, demonstrate effective importance in viral pathogenesis. Regarding viral infections, ncRNAs have demonstrated their ability to modulate host reactions, viral replication, and host-pathogen interactions. However, the complex interactions of different types of ncRNAs in the progression of COVID-19 remains understudied. In recent years, a novel mechanism of post-transcriptional gene regulation known as "competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA)" has been proposed. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), circular RNAs (circRNAs), and viral ncRNAs function as ceRNAs, influencing the expression of associated genes by sequestering shared microRNAs. Recent research on SARS-CoV-2 has revealed that disruptions in specific ceRNA regulatory networks (ceRNETs) contribute to the abnormal expression of key infection-related genes and the establishment of distinctive infection characteristics. These findings present new opportunities to delve deeper into the underlying mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis, offering potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets. This progress paves the way for a more comprehensive understanding of ceRNETs, shedding light on the intricate mechanisms involved. Further exploration of these mechanisms holds promise for enhancing our ability to prevent viral infections and develop effective antiviral treatments.

HDAC8 Enhances the Function of HIF-2α by Deacetylating ETS1 to Decrease the Sensitivity of TKIs in ccRCC

Drug resistance after long-term use of Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) has become an obstacle for prolonging the survival time of patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). Here, genome-wide CRISPR-based screening to reveal that HDAC8 is involved in decreasing the sensitivity of ccRCC cells to sunitinib is applied. Mechanically, HDAC8 deacetylated ETS1 at the K245 site to promote the interaction between ETS1 and HIF-2α and enhance the transcriptional activity of the ETS1/HIF-2α complex. However, the antitumor effect of inhibiting HDAC8 on sensitized TKI is not very satisfactory. Subsequently, inhibition of HDAC8 increased the expression of NEK1, and up-regulated NEK1 phosphorylated ETS1 at the T241 site to promote the interaction between ETS1 and HIF-2α by impeded acetylation at ETS1-K245 site is showed. Moreover, TKI treatment increased the expression of HDAC8 by inhibiting STAT3 phosphorylation in ccRCC cells is also found. These 2 findings highlight a potential mechanism of acquired resistance to TKIs and HDAC8 inhibitors in ccRCC. Finally, HDAC8-in-PROTACs to optimize the effects of HDAC8 inhibitors through degrading HDAC8 and overcoming the resistance of ccRCC to TKIs are synthesized. Collectively, the results revealed HDAC8 as a potential therapeutic candidate for resistance to ccRCC-targeted therapies.

METTL3 promotes immature dental pulp stem cells-induced angiogenesis by regulating ETS1 mRNA stability in an m6A-HuR-dependent manner

Angiogenesis serves as the determinate element of pulp regeneration. Dental pulp stem cell (DPSC) implantation can promote the regeneration of dental pulp tissue. Herein, the role of m6A methyltransferase methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3) in regulating DPSCs-induced angiogenesis during pulp regeneration therapy was investigated. Cell DPSC viability, HUVEC migration, and angiogenesis ability were analyzed by CCK-8 assay, wound healing, Transwell assay, and tube formation assay. The global and EST1 mRNA m6A levels were detected by m6A dot blot and Me-RIP. The interactions between E26 transformation-specific proto-oncogene 1(ETS1), human antigen R(HuR), and METTL3 were analyzed by RIP assay. The relationship between METTL3 and the m6A site of ETS1 was performed by dual-luciferase reporter assay. ETS1 mRNA stability was examined with actinomycin D. Herein, our results revealed that human immature DPSCs (hIDPSCs) showed stronger ability to induce angiogenesis than human mature DPSCs (hMDPSCs), which might be related to ETS1 upregulation. ETS1 knockdown inhibited DPSCs-induced angiogenesis. Our mechanistic experiments demonstrated that METTL3 increased ETS1 mRNA stability and expression level on DPSCs in an m6A-HuR-dependent manner. ETS1 upregulation abolished sh-METTL3's inhibition on DPSCs-induced angiogenesis. METTL3 upregulation promoted DPSCs-induced angiogenesis by enhancing ETS1 mRNA stability in an m6A-HuR-dependent manner. This study reveals a new mechanism by which m6A methylation regulates angiogenesis in DPSCs, providing new insights for stem cell-based tissue engineering.

Association between PDCD6-VNTR polymorphism and urinary cancer susceptibility

BACKGROUND

Programmed cell death 6 (PDCD6) is known to be involved in apoptosis and tumorigenesis. Given the reported association with urinary cancer susceptibility through SNP analysis, we further analyzed the entire genomic structure of PDCD6.

METHODS

Three VNTR regions (MS1-MS3) were identified through the analysis of the genomic structure of PDCD6. To investigate the association between these VNTR regions and urinary cancer susceptibility, genomic DNA was extracted from 413 cancer-free male controls, 267 bladder cancer patients, and 331 prostate cancer patients. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed to analyze the PDCD6-MS regions. Statistical analysis was performed to determine the association between specific genotypes and cancer risk. In addition, the effect of specific VNTRs on PDCD6 expression was also confirmed using a reporter vector.

RESULTS

Among the three VNTR regions, MS1 and MS2 exhibited monomorphism, while the MS3 region represented polymorphism, with its transmission to subsequent generations through meiosis substantiating its utility as a DNA typing marker. In a case-control study, the presence of rare alleles within PDCD6-MS3 exhibited significant associations with both bladder cancer (OR = 2.37, 95% CI: 1.33-4.95, P = 0.019) and prostate cancer (OR = 2.11, 95% CI: 1.03-4.36, P = 0.038). Furthermore, through luciferase assays, we validated the impact of the MS3 region on modulating PDCD6 expression.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests that the PDCD6-MS3 region could serve as a prognostic marker for urinary cancers, specifically bladder cancer and prostate cancer. Moreover, the subdued influence exerted by PDCD6-MS3 on the expression of PDCD6 offers another insight concerning the progression of urinary cancer.

In silico investigation of the role of miRNAs in a possible developmental origin of prostate cancer in F1 and F2 offspring of mothers exposed to a phthalate mixture

A previous study using miRNA sequencing revealed that exposure to a mixture of phthalates during pregnancy and lactation dysregulated rno-miR-184 and rno-miR-141-3p in the ventral prostate (VP) of offspring. Here, rno-miR-184 and rno-miR-141-3 expressions were obtained by RT-qPCR in the VP of F1 males as well as in F2 offspring, aiming to establish a relationship with possible oncogenic targets through in silico analyses with multigenerational approach. Additionally, some targets were measured by western blots to highlight a possible relationship between the deregulated miRNAs and some of their targets. VP samples from rats exposed to a mixture of phthalates maternally during pregnancy and lactation (GD10 to PND21-F1) and VP from offspring (F2) were examined. The phthalate mixture at both concentrations (20 μg and 200 mg/kg/day) increased the expression of both miRNAs in the F1 (PND22 and 120) and F2 (descendants of F1-treated males) prostate. Target prediction analysis revealed that both microRNAs are responsible for modulating the expression and synthesis of 40 common targets. A phthalate target association analysis and the HPA database showed an interesting relationship among these possible miRNAs modulated targets with prostate adenocarcinoma and other oncogenic processes. Western blots showed alteration in P63, P53, WNT5, and STAT3 expression, which are targeted by the miRNAs, in the VP of F1/F2 males. The data draw attention to the epigenetic modulation in the prostate of descendants exposed to phthalates and adds to one of the few currently found in the literature to point to microRNAs signature as biomarkers of exposure to plasticizers.

Regulation of the Function and Expression of EpCAM

The epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) is a single transmembrane protein on the cell surface. Given its strong expression on epithelial cells and epithelial cell-derived tumors, EpCAM has been identified as a biomarker for circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and exosomes and a target for cancer therapy. As a cell adhesion molecule, EpCAM has a crystal structure that indicates that it forms a cis-dimer first and then probably a trans-tetramer to mediate intercellular adhesion. Through regulated intramembrane proteolysis (RIP), EpCAM and its proteolytic fragments are also able to regulate multiple signaling pathways, Wnt signaling in particular. Although great progress has been made, increasingly more findings have revealed the context-specific expression and function patterns of EpCAM and their regulation processes, which necessitates further studies to determine the structure, function, and expression of EpCAM under both physiological and pathological conditions, broadening its application in basic and translational cancer research.

Proteomics Analysis of the Polyomavirus DNA Replication Initiation Complex Reveals Novel Functional Phosphorylated Residues and Associated Proteins

Polyomavirus (PyV) Large T-antigen (LT) is the major viral regulatory protein that targets numerous cellular pathways for cellular transformation and viral replication. LT directly recruits the cellular replication factors involved in initiation of viral DNA replication through mutual interactions between LT, DNA polymerase alpha-primase (Polprim), and single-stranded DNA binding complex, (RPA). Activities and interactions of these complexes are known to be modulated by post-translational modifications; however, high-sensitivity proteomic analyses of the PTMs and proteins associated have been lacking. High-resolution liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) of the immunoprecipitated factors (IPMS) identified 479 novel phosphorylated amino acid residues (PAARs) on the three factors; the function of one has been validated. IPMS revealed 374, 453, and 183 novel proteins associated with the three, respectively. A significant transcription-related process network identified by Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis was unique to LT. Although unidentified by IPMS, the ETS protooncogene 1, transcription factor (ETS1) was significantly overconnected to our dataset indicating its involvement in PyV processes. This result was validated by demonstrating that ETS1 coimmunoprecipitates with LT. Identification of a novel PAAR that regulates PyV replication and LT's association with the protooncogenic Ets1 transcription factor demonstrates the value of these results for studies in PyV biology.

Iron-triggered signaling via ETS1 and the p38/JNK MAPK pathway regulates Bmp6 expression

BMP6 is an iron-sensing cytokine whose transcription in liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) is enhanced by high iron levels, a step that precedes the induction of the iron-regulatory hormone hepcidin. While several reports suggested a cell-autonomous induction of Bmp6 by iron-triggered signals, likely via sensing of oxidative stress by the transcription factor NRF2, other studies proposed the dominant role of a paracrine yet unidentified signal released by iron-loaded hepatocytes. To further explore the mechanisms of Bmp6 transcriptional regulation, we used female mice aged 10-11 months, which are characterized by hepatocytic but not LSEC iron accumulation, and no evidence of systemic iron overload. We found that LSECs of aged mice exhibit increased Bmp6 mRNA levels as compared to young controls, but do not show a transcriptional signature characteristic of activated NFR2-mediated signaling in FACS-sorted LSECs. We further observed that primary murine LSECs derived from both wild-type and NRF2 knock-out mice induce Bmp6 expression in response to iron exposure. By analyzing transcriptomic data of FACS-sorted LSECs from aged versus young mice, as well as early after iron citrate injections, we identified ETS1 as a candidate transcription factor involved in Bmp6 transcriptional regulation. By performing siRNA-mediated knockdown, small-molecule treatments, and chromatin immunoprecipitation in primary LSECs, we show that Bmp6 transcription is regulated by iron via ETS1 and p38/JNK MAP kinase-mediated signaling, at least in part independently of NRF2. Thereby, these findings identify the new components of LSEC iron sensing machinery broadly associated with cellular stress responses.

M2 macrophages independently promote beige adipogenesis via blocking adipocyte Ets1

Adipose tissue macrophages can promote beige adipose thermogenesis by altering local sympathetic activity. Here, we perform sympathectomy in mice and further eradicate subcutaneous adipose macrophages and discover that these macrophages have a direct beige-promoting function that is independent of sympathetic system. We further identify adipocyte Ets1 as a vital mediator in this process. The anti-inflammatory M2 macrophages suppress Ets1 expression in adipocytes, transcriptionally activate mitochondrial biogenesis, as well as suppress mitochondrial clearance, thereby increasing the mitochondrial numbers and promoting the beiging process. Male adipocyte Ets1 knock-in mice are completely cold intolerant, whereas male mice lacking Ets1 in adipocytes show enhanced energy expenditure and are resistant to metabolic disorders caused by high-fat-diet. Our findings elucidate a direct communication between M2 macrophages and adipocytes, and uncover a function for Ets1 in responding to macrophages and negatively governing mitochondrial content and beige adipocyte formation.

IGF2BP2-m6A-circMMP9 axis recruits ETS1 to promote TRIM59 transcription in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma

Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) is a common malignancy of the head and neck. Recently, circular RNA (circRNA) has been studied extensively in multisystem diseases. However, there are few research on biological functions and molecular mechanisms of circRNAs in LSCC. CircRNA array was used to detect the differentially expressed circRNAs. Kaplan-Meier and cox regression analysis were used to identify survival based on circMMP9. The qRT-PCR, RNase R treatment, sanger sequencing and in situ hybridization were used to verify circMMP9 expression, characteristics and localization in LSCC tissues and cells. Functionally, colony formation, MTS, transwell and in vivo assays were proceeded to detect the biological function of circMMP9 in LSCC progression. The RNA-seq was conducted to identify the molecular targets of circMMP9. Mechanically, MeRIP, RNA Immunoprecipitation (RIP), RNA pulldown, Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and dual-luciferase reporter assays were carried on to verify the regulatory mechanism of circMMP9. CircMMP9 was discovered upregulated in LSCC tissues and cells, and high level of circMMP9 was associated with poor prognosis, low degree of pathological grading, high TNM stage and lymph node metastasis of LSCC. CircMMP9 knockdown prevented LSCC progression both in vitro and in vivo, whereas, circMMP9 overexpression had the opposite effect. CircMMP9 was stabilized by IGF2BP2 in m6A-dependent manner. TRIM59 was identified as downstream target of circMMP9. CircMMP9 recruited ETS1 to stimulate TRIM59 transcription. Moreover, TRIM59 accelerated LSCC progression via activating the PI3K/AKT signal pathway. Our findings offered a unique regulatory mechanism for circMMP9 in LSCC, as well as a novel proof that circMMP9 may be utilize as a diagnostic marker and therapeutic target for LSCC patients.

Single-cell analysis reveals ADGRL4+ renal tubule cells as a highly aggressive cell type in clear cell renal cell carcinoma

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is a highly heterogeneous cancer that poses great challenge to clinical treatment and prognostic prediction. Characterizing the cellular landscape of ccRCC in a single-cell dimension can help better understand the tumor heterogeneity and molecular mechanisms of ccRCC. This study analyzed single-cell profiles in ccRCC samples and para-tumor samples from Gene Expression Omnibus and identified a highly heterogeneous subcluster of renal tubule cells. Single-cell regulatory network inference and clustering analyses and cell communication analysis were performed to develop transcription factor-target gene regulatory networks and cell-cell interactions. Additionally, the distribution and prognostic risk of renal tubule cells from spatial transcriptome data (GSM6415706) and The Cancer Genome Atlas-Kidney Clear Cell Carcinoma data were analyzed. A total of 10 cell types were identified in ccRCC and para-tumor samples. The ccRCC renal tubule cells showed a high expression of the oncogene nicotinamide N-methyltransferase and a significantly high degree of tumor heterogeneity. We further identified 6 cell subclusters with specific expression of BEX2, PTHLH, SFRP2, KLRB1, ADGRL4, and HGF from the ccRCC renal tubule cells. ADGRL4+ renal tubule cells had highly metastatic and angiogenesis-inducing characteristics, with more ADGRL4+ renal tubule cells indicating a worse survival. ADGRL4+ renal tubule cells regulated the metastasis of other renal tubule cells through metastasis-related receptor-ligand communication. We also found that ADGRL4+ renal tubule cells clustered around the glomeruli but the rest of the renal tubule cell subclusters rarely localized in ccRCC tissues. ETS1 and ELK3 -dominant GRNs were remarkably activated in ADGRL4+ renal tubule cells, functionally, knockdown of ELK3 in A498 significantly disturbedaffected the cell migration and invasion. ADGRL4+ renal tubule cells, which were highly metastatic and invasive, might be an essential cell subcluster for ccRCC, and ADGRL4 could be used a novel therapeutic target.

Allele-specific effect of various dietary fatty acids and ETS1 transcription factor on SCD1 expression

Overnutrition and genetic predisposition are major risk factors for various metabolic disorders. Stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD1) plays a key role in these conditions by synthesizing unsaturated fatty acids (FAs), thereby promoting fat storage and alleviating lipotoxicity. Expression of SCD1 is influenced by various saturated and cis-unsaturated FAs, but the possible role of dietary trans FAs (TFAs) and SCD1 promoter polymorphisms in its regulations has not been addressed. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the impact of the two main TFAs, vaccenate and elaidate, and four common promoter polymorphisms (rs1054411, rs670213, rs2275657, rs2275656) on SCD1 expression in HEK293T and HepG2 cell cultures using luciferase reporter assay, qPCR and immunoblotting. We found that SCD1 protein and mRNA levels as well as SCD1 promoter activity are markedly elevated by elaidate, but not altered by vaccenate. The promoter polymorphisms did not affect the basal transcriptional activity of SCD1. However, the minor allele of rs1054411 increased SCD1 expression in the presence of various FAs. Moreover, this variant was predicted in silico and verified in vitro to reduce the binding of ETS1 transcription factor to SCD1 promoter. Although we could not confirm an association with type 2 diabetes mellitus, the FA-dependent and ETS1-mediated effect of rs1054411 polymorphism deserves further investigation as it may modulate the development of lipid metabolism-related conditions.

Transcriptional regulation of EMT transcription factors in cancer

The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is one of the processes by which epithelial cells transdifferentiate into mesenchymal cells in the developmental stage, known as "complete EMT." In epithelial cancer, EMT, also termed "partial EMT," is associated with invasion, metastasis, and resistance to therapy, and is elicited by several transcription factors, frequently referred to as EMT transcription factors. Among these transcription factors that regulate EMT, ZEB1/2 (ZEB1 and ZEB2), SNAIL, and TWIST play a prominent role in driving the EMT process (hereafter referred to as "EMT-TFs"). Among these, ZEB1/2 show positive correlation with both expression of mesenchymal marker proteins and the aggressiveness of various carcinomas. On the other hand, TWIST and SNAIL are also correlated with the aggressiveness of carcinomas, but are not highly correlated with mesenchymal marker protein expression. Interestingly, these EMT-TFs are not detected simultaneously in any studied cases of aggressive cancers, except for sarcoma. Thus, only one or some of the EMT-TFs are expressed at high levels in cells of aggressive carcinomas. Expression of EMT-TFs is regulated by transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), a well-established inducer of EMT, in cooperation with other signaling molecules, such as active RAS signals. The focus of this review is the molecular mechanisms by which EMT-TFs are transcriptionally sustained at sufficiently high levels in cells of aggressive carcinomas and upregulated by TGF-β during cancer progression.

Mutation of the ETS1 3'UTR interacts with miR-216a-3p to regulate granulosa cell apoptosis in sheep

ETS1, an important member of the ETS transcription factor family, is involved in a variety of physiological processes in living organisms, such as cell development, differentiation, proliferation and apoptosis, and is thought to be associated with embryonic development and reproduction. However, the polymorphism of ETS1 has been rarely studied, and its potential impact on the formation of reproductive traits in sheep remains unclear. Here, we first analyzed polymorphisms of ETS1 in a population of 382 small-tailed Han sheep with a lambing number record using the Kompetitive Allele Specific PCR (KASP) technique. The results showed the presence of a SNP locus rs161611767 (T > C) in the 3'UTR of ETS1. The association analysis showed the lambing number of first, second and third parity in the individuals with the CC genotype (2.51 ± 0.108, 2.51 ± 0.179, 1.27 ± 0.196) was higher than that of individuals with the TT genotype (1.79 ± 0.086, 1.56 ± 0.102, 0.56 ± 0.100) (P < 0.05). Then, molecular biotechnologies were used to investigate the effects of the EST1 rs161611767 mutant locus on host gene expression in sheep and the underlying mechanism of its effect on sheep reproduction. The RT‒qPCR results showed that the expression of ETS1 was higher in individuals with the CC genotype than in those with the TT genotype (P < 0.05). The dual luciferase reporter assay showed that the luciferase activity of ETS1 in sheep with the TT genotype was decreased compared to CC genotype (P < 0.05), confirming the existence of EST1 rs161611767 in the 3'UTR as a functional SNP. Given that the 3'UTR is an important regulatory region of gene transcription and translation, we performed bioinformatics prediction and confirmed that the SNP rs161611767 of ETS1 was a direct functional target of miR-216a-3p using dual luciferase activity assay, and the binding capacity of allele T was stronger than that of allele C. Subsequently, the cell transfection results showed that miR-216a-3p suppressed the endogenous expression of ETS1 in sheep primary granulosa cells (GCs). Finally, CCK-8, EdU, WB detection of marker proteins and flow cytometry were used to detect the effects of miR-216a-3p on GCs viability and proliferation/apoptosis, respectively. The results showed that miR-216a-3p inhibited the proliferation of GCs while promoting apoptosis of GCs. In conclusion, these results demonstrate that the SNP rs161611767 of ETS1 is associated with lambing number in small-tailed Han sheep, and miR-216a-3p can act as a regulatory element binding to the T mutation in rs161611767 to regulate ETS1 expression and affect GCs development, which may indirectly affect the number of lambs in sheep. These studies provide evidence for the involvement of ETS1 polymorphisms in sheep reproduction and are expected to provide new insights to elucidate the molecular genetic mechanisms of lambing traits in sheep.

MicroRNA-125a-5p regulates the effect of Tregs on Th1 and Th17 through targeting ETS-1/STAT3 in psoriasis

BACKGROUND

Psoriasis is an inflammatory disease mediated by helper T (Th)17 and Th1 cells. MicroRNA-125a (miR-125a) is reduced in the lesional skin of psoriatic patients. However, the mechanism by which miR-125a participates in psoriasis remains unclear.

METHODS

The levels of miR-125a-5p and its downstream targets (ETS-1, IFN-γ, and STAT3) were detected in CD4+ T cells of healthy controls and psoriatic patients by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). In vitro, transfection of miR-125a-5p mimics was used to analyze the effect of miR-125a-5p on the differentiation of Th17 cells by flow cytometry. Imiquimod (IMQ)-induced mouse model was used to evaluate the role of upregulating miR-125a-5p by intradermal injection of agomir-125a-5p in vivo.

RESULTS

miR-125a-5p was downregulated in peripheral blood CD4+ T cells of psoriatic patients, which was positively associated with the proportion of regulatory T cells (Tregs) and negatively correlated with the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score. Moreover, the miR-125a-5p mimics promoted the differentiation of Tregs and downregulated the messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of ETS-1, IFN-γ, and STAT3 in murine CD4+ T cells. Furthermore, agomir-125a-5p alleviated psoriasis-like inflammation in an IMQ-induced mouse model by downregulating the proportion of Th17 cells.

CONCLUSIONS

miR-125a-5p may have therapeutic potential in psoriasis by restoring the suppressive function of Tregs on Th17 cells through targeting STAT3, and on Th1 cells indirectly through targeting ETS-1 and IFN-γ.

Sculponeatin A promotes the ETS1-SYVN1 interaction to induce SLC7A11/xCT-dependent ferroptosis in breast cancer

BACKGROUND

E26 transformation specificity-1 (ETS1) is a transcription factor that is overexpressed in breast cancer (BC) and promotes tumor progression. Sculponeatin A (stA), a new diterpenoid extracted from Isodon sculponeatus, has no reported antitumor mechanism.

PURPOSE

Here, we explored the antitumor activity of stA in BC and further clarified its mechanism.

METHODS

Ferroptosis was detected by flow cytometric, glutathione, malondialdehyde, and iron determination assays. The effect of stA on the upstream signaling pathway of ferroptosis was detected by Western blot, gene expression, gene alterations and other approaches. The binding of stA and ETS1 was examined through a microscale thermophoresis assay and a drug affinity responsive target stability assay. An in vivo mouse model experiment was performed to evaluate the therapeutic and potential mechanism of stA.

RESULTS

stA exhibits therapeutic potential in BC by inducing SLC7A11/xCT-dependent ferroptosis. stA decreases the expression of ETS1, which is responsible for xCT-dependent ferroptosis in BC. stA inhibits the transcriptional expression of xCT by directly binding to the ETS domain of the ETS1 protein. In addition, stA promotes proteasomal degradation of ETS1 by triggering ubiquitin ligase synoviolin 1 (SYVN1)-mediated ubiquitination. The K318 site of ETS1 mediates ubiquitination of ETS1 by SYVN1. In a mouse model, stA inhibits tumor growth without causing obvious toxicity.

CONCLUSION

Taken together, the results confirm that stA promotes the ETS1-SYVN1 interaction to induce ferroptosis in BC mediated by ETS1 degradation. stA is expected to be used in research of candidate drugs for BC and drug design based on ETS1 degradation.

LncRNA HOTAIRM1 promotes osteogenic differentiation of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells by targeting miR-152-3p/ETS1 axis

BACKGROUND

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) can differentiate into osteoblasts and thus present a tremendous therapeutic potential in osteoporosis. Here, we elucidated the involvement of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) HOXA transcript antisense RNA, myeloid-specific 1 (HOTAIRM1) in the osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The expression levels of HOTAIRM1, miR-152-3p, ETS proto-oncogene 1 (ETS1), runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2), Osterix, and osteocalcin (OCN) were determined by a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) or western blot method. Targeted relationship between miR-152-3p and HOTAIRM1 or ETS1 was confirmed by dual-luciferase reporter and RNA pull-down assays. The activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was measured by the ALP Activity Assay Kit. The extent of the calcium deposition was assessed by Alizarin Red Staining. Our data showed that HOTAIRM1 and ETS1 levels were up-regulated and miR-152-3p expression was down-regulated during osteogenic differentiation of human BMSCs (HBMSCs). HOTAIRM1 overexpression enhanced osteogenic differentiation of HBMSCs, and decreased level of HOTAIRM1 suppressed osteogenic differentiation of HBMSCs. HOTAIRM1 directly targeted miR-152-3p. ETS1 was identified as a direct and functional target of miR-152-3p. Furthermore, HOTAIRM1 functioned as a post-transcriptional regulator of ETS1 expression by miR-152-3p.

CONCLUSION

The findings in this paper identify HOTAIRM1 as a novel regulator of osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs by the regulation of miR-152-3p/ETS1 axis, uncovering HOTAIRM1 as a promising therapeutic strategy for osteoporosis.

CircRNA RNA hsa_circ_0008234 Promotes Colon Cancer Progression by Regulating the miR-338-3p/ETS1 Axis and PI3K/AKT/mTOR Signaling

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been shown to play a crucial role in cancer occurrence and progression. This present work investigated the link between hsa_circ_0008234 and colon cancer. Data retrieved from GSE172229 was used to compare the circRNA profiles of colon cancer and surrounding non-tumorous tissues. The amount of RNA and protein in the molecules was determined using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western blot analysis, respectively. The cell proliferation ability was assessed using CCK8, EdU, colon formation, and nude mice tumorigenesis tests. Cell invasion and migration abilities were evaluated using transwell wound healing and mice lung metastasis model. Hsa_circ_0008234 piqued our interest because bioinformatics and qRT-PCR analyses revealed that it is upregulated in colon cancer tissue. Cell phenotypic studies suggest that hsa_circ_0008234 may significantly increase colon cancer cell aggressiveness. Mice experiments revealed that inhibiting hsa_circ_0008234 significantly reduced tumor growth and metastasis. Moreover, the fluorescence in situ hybridization experiment demonstrated that hsa_circ_0008234 is primarily found in the cytoplasm, implying that it potentially functions via a competitive endogenous RNA pathway. These findings indicated that hsa_circ_0008234 may act as a “molecular sponge” for miR-338-3p, increasing the expression of miR-338-target 3p’s ETS1. In addition, the traditional oncogenic pathway PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling was found to be the potential downstream pathway of the hsa_circ_0008234/miR-338-3p/ETS1 axis. In conclusion, hsa_circ_0008234 increases colon cancer proliferation, infiltration, and migration via the miR-338-3p/ETS1/PI3K/AKT axis; therefore, it could serve as a target and a focus for colon cancer therapy.

The roles of ETS transcription factors in liver fibrosis

E26 transformation specific or E twenty-six (ETS) protein family consists of 28 transcription factors, five of which, named ETS1/2, PU.1, ERG and EHF, are known to involve in the development of liver fibrosis, and are expected to become diagnostic markers or therapeutic targets of liver fibrosis. In recent years, some small molecule inhibitors of ETS protein family have been discovered, which might open up a new path for the liver fibrosis therapy targeting ETS. This article reviews the research progress of ETS family members in the development liver fibrosis as well as their prospect of clinical application.

A FACT-ETS-1 Antiviral Response Pathway Restricts Viral Replication and is Countered by Poxvirus A51R Proteins

The FACT complex is an ancient chromatin remodeling factor comprised of Spt16 and SSRP1 subunits that regulates specific eukaryotic gene expression programs. However, whether FACT regulates host immune responses to infection was unclear. Here, we identify an antiviral pathway mediated by FACT, distinct from the interferon response, that restricts poxvirus replication. We show that early viral gene expression triggers nuclear accumulation of specialized, SUMOylated Spt16 subunits of FACT required for expression of ETS-1, a downstream transcription factor that activates a virus restriction program. However, poxvirus-encoded A51R proteins block ETS-1 expression by outcompeting SSRP1 for binding to SUMOylated Spt16 in the cytosol and by tethering SUMOylated Spt16 to microtubules. Moreover, we show that A51R antagonism of FACT enhances both poxvirus replication in human cells and viral virulence in mice. Finally, we demonstrate that FACT also restricts unrelated RNA viruses, suggesting a broad role for FACT in antiviral immunity. Our study reveals the F ACT- E TS-1 A ntiviral R esponse (FEAR) pathway to be critical for eukaryotic antiviral immunity and describes a unique mechanism of viral immune evasion.

Transcriptional Regulation of Siglec-15 by ETS-1 and ETS-2 in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells

Sialic acid-binding immunoglobulin-like lectin 15 (Siglec-15) has been identified as a crucial immune suppressor in human cancers, comparable to programmed cell death 1 ligand (PD-L1). However, the regulatory mechanisms underlying its transcriptional upregulation in human cancers remain largely unknown. Here, we show that the transcription factors ETS-1 and ETS-2 bound to the Siglec-15 promoter to enhance transcription and expression of Siglec-15 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells and that transforming growth factor β-1 (TGF-β1) upregulated the expression of ETS-1 and ETS-2 and facilitated the binding of ETS-1 and ETS-2 to the Siglec-15 promoter. We further demonstrate that TGF-β1 activated the Ras/C-Raf/MEK/ERK1/2 signaling pathway, leading to phosphorylation of ETS-1 and ETS-2, which consequently upregulates the transcription and expression of Siglec-15. Our study defines a detailed molecular profile of how Siglec-15 is transcriptionally regulated which may offer significant opportunity for therapeutic intervention on HCC immunotherapy.

Transcription factor ETS proto-oncogene 1 contributes to neuropathic pain by regulating histone deacetylase 1 in primary afferent neurons

Nerve injury can induce aberrant changes in ion channels, enzymes, and cytokines/chemokines in the dorsal root ganglia (DRGs); these changes are due to or at least partly governed by transcription factors that contribute to the genesis of neuropathic pain. However, the involvement of transcription factors in neuropathic pain is poorly understood. In this study, we report that transcription factor (TF) ETS proto-oncogene 1 (ETS1) is required for the initiation and development of neuropathic pain. Sciatic nerve chronic constrictive injury (CCI, a clinical neuropathic pain model) increases ETS1 expression in the injured male mouse DRG. Blocking this upregulation alleviated CCI-induced mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia, with no apparent effect on locomotor function. Mimicking this upregulation results in the genesis of nociception hypersensitivity; mechanistically, nerve injury-induced ETS1 upregulation promotes the expression of histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1, a key initiator of pain) via enhancing its binding activity to the HDAC1 promotor, leading to the elevation of spinal central sensitization, as evidenced by increased expression of p-ERK1/2 and GFAP in the dorsal spinal horn. It appears that the ETS1/HDAC1 axis in DRG may have a critical role in the development and maintenance of neuropathic pain, and ETS1 is a potential therapeutic target in neuropathic pain.

An Overview of Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition and Mesenchymal-to-Epithelial Transition in Canine Tumors: How Far Have We Come?

Historically, pre-clinical and clinical studies in human medicine have provided new insights, pushing forward the contemporary knowledge. The new results represented a motivation for investigators in specific fields of veterinary medicine, who addressed the same research topics from different perspectives in studies based on experimental and spontaneous animal disease models. The study of different pheno-genotypic contexts contributes to the confirmation of translational models of pathologic mechanisms. This review provides an overview of EMT and MET processes in both human and canine species. While human medicine rapidly advances, having a large amount of information available, veterinary medicine is not at the same level. This situation should provide motivation for the veterinary medicine research field, to apply the knowledge on humans to research in pets. By merging the knowledge of these two disciplines, better and faster results can be achieved, thus improving human and canine health.

Laminins in tumor-derived exosomes upregulated by ETS1 reprogram omental macrophages to promote omental metastasis of ovarian cancer

Tumor-derived exosomes participate in omental metastatic colonization of ovarian cancer by inducing an adaptive response in the tumor microenvironment. However, cell-cell communication via exosomes between primary tumor cells and the microenvironment of distant omentum and the mechanism of pre-metastatic niche formation are poorly understood. Here, we demonstrated that ETS1-overexpressing ovarian cancer cells secreted larger exosomes with higher laminin levels. In addition, ovarian cancer exosomes could be taken up by omental macrophages through integrin and laminin interaction. Compared with control exosomes, exosomes derived from ETS1-overexpressing ovarian cancer cells (LV-ETS1 Exos) stimulated the polarization of more macrophages toward the M2 phenotype (CD163 marker), as well as the production of more CXCL5 and CCL2 in macrophages, via integrin αvβ5/AKT/Sp1 signaling. In vivo experiments showed that LV-ETS1 Exos promoted omental metastasis of ovarian cancer by mediating the tumor-promoting effect of macrophages, which could be neutralized by integrin ανβ5 inhibitor cilengitide. These results indicated that ETS1 could drive ovarian cancer cells to release exosomes with higher laminin levels, thereby accelerating the exosome-mediated pro-metastatic effects of omental macrophages via the integrin αvβ5/AKT/Sp1 signaling pathway, and the integrin ανβ5 inhibitor cilengitide could inhibit omental metastasis of ovarian cancer driven by tumor-derived exosomes.

Comprehensive Pan-Cancer Analyses of Immunogenic Cell Death as a Biomarker in Predicting Prognosis and Therapeutic Response

Immunogenic cell death (ICD), a form of regulated cell death, is related to anticancer therapy. Due to the absence of widely accepted markers, characterizing ICD-related phenotypes across cancer types remained unexplored. Here, we defined the ICD score to delineate the ICD landscape across 33 cancerous types and 31 normal tissue types based on transcriptomic, proteomic and epigenetics data from multiple databases. We found that ICD score showed cancer type-specific association with genomic and immune features. Importantly, the ICD score had the potential to predict therapy response and patient prognosis in multiple cancer types. We also developed an ICD-related prognostic model by machine learning and cox regression analysis. Single-cell level analysis revealed intra-tumor ICD state heterogeneity and communication between ICD-based clusters of T cells and other immune cells in the tumor microenvironment in colon cancer. For the first time, we identified IGF2BP3 as a potential ICD regulator in colon cancer. In conclusion, our study provides a comprehensive framework for evaluating the relation between ICD and clinical relevance, gaining insights into identification of ICD as a potential cancer-related biomarker and therapeutic target.

Lysine demethylase 5A promotes prostate adenocarcinoma progression by suppressing microRNA-330-3p expression and activating the COPB2/PI3K/AKT axis in an ETS1-dependent manner

Lysine demethylase 5A (KDM5A) is a histone demethylase frequently involved in cancer progression. This research aimed to explore the function of KDM5A in prostate adenocarcinoma (PRAD) and the molecular mechanism. KDM5A was highly expressed in collected PRAD tissues and acquired PRAD cells. High KDM5A expression was correlated with reduced survival and poor prognosis of patients with PRAD. Knockdown of KDM5A suppressed the proliferation, colony formation, migration, and invasiveness of PRAD cells and reduced angiogenesis ability of endothelial cells. Downstream molecules implicated in KDM5A mediation were predicted using integrated bioinformatic analyses. KDM5A enhanced ETS proto-oncogene 1 (ETS1) expression through demethylation of H3K4me2 at its promoter. ETS1 suppressed the transcription activity of miR-330-3p, and either further ETS1 overexpression or miR-330-3p inhibition blocked the functions of KDM5A knockdown in PRAD. miR-330-3p targeted coatomer protein complex subunit β2 (COPB2) mRNA. Downregulation of miR-330-3p restored the expression of COPB2 and activated the PI3K/AKT pathway in PRAD. The results in vitro were reproduced in vivo where KDM5A downregulation suppressed the growth and metastasis of xenograft tumors in nude mice. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that KDM5A promoted PRAD by suppressing miR-330-3p and activating the COPB2/PI3K/AKT axis in an ETS1-dependent manner.

Phosphorylation-mediated interaction between human E26 transcription factor 1 and specific protein 1 is required for tumor cell migration

Transcription factors, human E26 transcription factor 1 (Ets1) and specific protein 1 (Sp1), are known to induce gene expression in tumorigenicity. High Ets1 expression is often associated with colorectal tumorigenesis. In this study, we discover that metastasis and clone formation in SW480 cells mainly depend on the direct interaction between Ets1 and Sp1 instead of high Ets1 expression. The interaction domains are further addressed to be the segment at Sp1(626-708) and the segment at Ets1(244-331). In addition, the phosphorylation inhibition of Ets1 at Tyr283 by either downregulation of Src kinase or Src family inhibitor treatment decreases the interaction between Sp1 and Ets1 and suppresses SW480 migration. Either administration or overexpression of the peptides harboring the interaction segment strongly inhibits the colony formation and migration of SW480 cells. Our findings suggest that the interaction between Ets1 and Sp1 rather than Ets1 alone promotes transformation in SW480 cells and provide new insight into the Ets1 and Sp1 interaction as an antitumour target in SW480 cells.

Targeting Extracellular Signal-Regulated Protein Kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) in Cancer: An Update on Pharmacological Small-Molecule Inhibitors

Extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), the only known substrate of MEK1/2, is located downstream of the RAS-RAF-MEK-ERK (MAPK) pathway and is associated with the abnormal activation and poor prognosis of cancer. To date, several small-molecule inhibitors of RAS, RAF, and MEK have been reported to make rapid advances in cancer therapy; however, acquired resistance still occurs, thereby weakening the therapeutic efficacy of these inhibitors. Recently, selective inhibition of ERK1/2 has been regarded as a potential cancer therapeutic strategy that can not only effectively block the MAPK pathway but also overcome drug resistance caused by upstream mutations in RAS, RAF, and MEK. Herein, we summarize the oncogenic roles, key signaling network, and the single- and dual-target inhibitors of ERK1/2 in preclinical and clinical trials. Together, these inspiring findings shed new light on the discovery of more small-molecule inhibitors of ERK1/2 as candidate drugs to improve cancer therapeutics.

Comprehensive analysis of cellular senescence-related genes in the prognosis, tumor microenvironment, and immunotherapy/chemotherapy of clear cell renal cell carcinoma

Background

The transcriptome public database and advances in biological discoveries contributed to significant progresses in identifying the drivers of cancer progression. Cellular senescence (CS) is considered as a leading factor resulting in cancer development. The purpose of this study was to explore the significance of CS-related genes in the molecular classification and survival outcome of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC).

Methods

CS-related genes were obtained from the CellAge database, and patients from TCGA-KIRC dataset and ICGC dataset were clustered by ConsesusClusterPlus. The characteristics of overall survival (OS), genomic variation, and tumor microenvironment (TME) of each cluster were analyzed. Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) Cox regression analysis was conducted to develop a CS-related risk model to score ccRCC patients and assess the risk scores in predicting patients’ response to immunotherapy and chemotherapy. A nomogram based on the risk model was established to improve the risk stratification of patients.

Results

CcRCC was divided into three molecular subtypes based on CS-related genes. The three molecular phenotypes showed different OS and clinical manifestations, mutation patterns, and TME states. Five genes were obtained from nine differentially expressed CS-related genes in the three molecular subtypes to develop a risk model. Patients with ccRCC were divided into high- and low-risk subgroups. The former showed an unfavorable OS, with a significantly higher genomic variation rate, TME score, and numerous immune checkpoint expressions when compared to the low-risk subgroup. Risk score reflected the response of patients to axitinib, bortezomib, sorafenib, sunitinib, and temsirolimus.

Conclusions

In general, CS-related genes divided ccRCC into three molecular subtypes with distinct OS, mutation patterns, and TME states. The risk model based on the five CS-related genes can predict the prognosis and therapeutic outcome of ccRCC patients, providing a theoretical basis for further study on the molecular mechanism of CS-related ccRCC.

Loss of ATRX promotes aggressive features of osteosarcoma with increased NF-κB signaling and integrin binding

Osteosarcoma (OS) is a lethal disease with few known targeted therapies. Here, we show that decreased ATRX expression is associated with more aggressive tumor cell phenotypes, including increased growth, migration, invasion, and metastasis. These phenotypic changes correspond with activation of NF-κB signaling, extracellular matrix remodeling, increased integrin αvβ3 expression, and ETS family transcription factor binding. Here, we characterize these changes in vitro, in vivo, and in a data set of human OS patients. This increased aggression substantially sensitizes ATRX-deficient OS cells to integrin signaling inhibition. Thus, ATRX plays an important tumor-suppression role in OS, and loss of function of this gene may underlie new therapeutic vulnerabilities. The relationship between ATRX expression and integrin binding, NF-κB activation, and ETS family transcription factor binding has not been described in previous studies and may impact the pathophysiology of other diseases with ATRX loss, including other cancers and the ATR-X α thalassemia intellectual disability syndrome.

CPEB2 m6A methylation regulates blood-tumor barrier permeability by regulating splicing factor SRSF5 stability

The blood–tumor barrier (BTB) contributes to poor therapeutic efficacy by limiting drug uptake; therefore, elevating BTB permeability is essential for glioma treatment. Here, we prepared astrocyte microvascular endothelial cells (ECs) and glioma microvascular ECs (GECs) as in vitro blood–brain barrier (BBB) and BTB models. Upregulation of METTL3 and IGF2BP3 in GECs increased the stability of CPEB2 mRNA through its m6A methylation. CPEB2 bound to and increased SRSF5 mRNA stability, which promoted the ETS1 exon inclusion. P51-ETS1 promoted the expression of ZO-1, occludin, and claudin-5 transcriptionally, thus regulating BTB permeability. Subsequent in vivo knockdown of these molecules in glioblastoma xenograft mice elevated BTB permeability, promoted doxorubicin penetration, and improved glioma-specific chemotherapeutic effects. These results provide a theoretical and experimental basis for epigenetic regulation of the BTB, as well as insight into comprehensive glioma treatment.

The methyl transferase METTL3 is up-regulated in brain tumors leading to the methylation of CPEB2 mRNA, which in turn stabilizes the splicing factor SRSF5 mRNA, leading to the incorporation of exon 7 in ETS-1 in models of the Blood–Tumor Barrier.

Epithelial–Mesenchymal Transition by Synergy between Transforming Growth Factor-β and Growth Factors in Cancer Progression

Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays a crucial role in appropriate embryonic development, as well as wound healing, organ fibrosis, and cancer progression. During cancer progression, EMT is associated with the invasion, metastasis, and generation of circulating tumor cells and cancer stem cells, as well as resistance to chemo- and radiation therapy. EMT is induced by several transcription factors, known as EMT transcription factors (EMT-TFs). In nearly all cases, EMT-TFs appear to be regulated by growth factors or cytokines and extracellular matrix components. Among these factors, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β acts as the key mediator for EMT during physiological and pathological processes. TGF-β can initiate and maintain EMT by activating intracellular/intercellular signaling pathways and transcriptional factors. Recent studies have provided new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying sustained EMT in aggressive cancer cells, EMT induced by TGF-β, and crosstalk between TGF-β and growth factors.

Nuclear import of PTPN18 inhibits breast cancer metastasis mediated by MVP and importin β2

Distant metastasis is the primary cause of breast cancer-associated death. The existing information, such as the precise molecular mechanisms and effective therapeutic strategies targeting metastasis, is insufficient to combat breast cancer. This study demonstrates that the protein tyrosine phosphatase PTPN18 is downregulated in metastatic breast cancer tissues and is associated with better metastasis-free survival. Ectopic expression of PTPN18 inhibits breast cancer cell metastasis. PTPN18 is translocated from the cytoplasm to the nucleus by MVP and importin β2 in breast cancer. Then, nuclear PTPN18 dephosphorylates ETS1 and promotes its degradation. Moreover, nuclear PTPN18 but not cytoplasmic PTPN18 suppresses transforming growth factor-β signaling and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition by targeting ETS1. Our data highlight PTPN18 as a suppressor of breast cancer metastasis and provide an effective antimetastatic therapeutic strategy.

By characterizing metabolic and immune microenvironment reveal potential prognostic markers in the development of colorectal cancer

Colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) is one of the deadliest cancers in the world and survival rates vary significantly between early and advanced stage patients. Therefore, the identification of the pathogenesis in the development of COAD and prognostic markers is urgently demanded. Herein, we collected RNA-seq and somatic mutation data of COAD for statistical analysis. Clinical stage-specific differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and tumor development-dependent DEGs were identified. By characterizing the metabolic and immune features of COAD between stages, we found that the energy supply and inflammatory response of advanced tumors were suppressed. Next, the ETS1, AR, GATA1, GATA2, SREBF1, FOXP3, STAT4, and NFKB1 were identified to drive the metabolic and immune-related pathways in the development of COAD. The three potential prognostic markers (HOXC8, IRF7, and CXCL13) were identified based on Cox regression analysis. Additionally, immune infiltration analysis revealed that the resting CD4⁺ T cell was significantly related to the overall survival (OS) of COAD patients. Collectively, the specific metabolic and immune characteristics of advanced patients and the identified prognostic biomarkers will contribute to the development of precision medicine.

Inhibition of Cancer Cell Migration and Glycolysis by Terahertz Wave Modulation via Altered Chromatin Accessibility

Metastasis and metabolic disorders contribute to most cancer deaths and are potential drug targets in cancer treatment. However, corresponding drugs inevitably induce myeloid suppression and gastrointestinal toxicity. Here, we report a nonpharmaceutical and noninvasive electromagnetic intervention technique that exhibited long-term inhibition of cancer cells. Firstly, we revealed that optical radiation at the specific wavelength of 3.6 μm (i.e., 83 THz) significantly increased binding affinity between DNA and histone via molecular dynamics simulations, providing a theoretical possibility for THz modulation- (THM-) based cancer cell intervention. Subsequent cell functional assays demonstrated that low-power 3.6 μm THz wave could successfully inhibit cancer cell migration by 50% and reduce glycolysis by 60%. Then, mRNA sequencing and assays for transposase-accessible chromatin using sequencing (ATAC-seq) indicated that low-power THM at 3.6 μm suppressed the genes associated with glycolysis and migration by reducing the chromatin accessibility of certain gene loci. Furthermore, THM at 3.6 μm on HCT-116 cancer cells reduced the liver metastasis by 60% in a metastatic xenograft mouse model by splenic injection, successfully validated the inhibition of cancer cell migration by THM in vivo. Together, this work provides a new paradigm for electromagnetic irradiation-induced epigenetic changes and represents a theoretical basis for possible innovative therapeutic applications of THM as the future of cancer treatments.

Ets1 mediates sorafenib resistance by regulating mitochondrial ROS pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma

The incidence and mortality of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are on a rise in the Western countries including US, attributed mostly to late detection. Sorafenib has been the first-line FDA-approved drug for advanced unresectable HCC for almost a decade, but with limited efficacy due to the development of resistance. More recently, several other multi-kinase inhibitors (lenvatinib, cabozantinib, regorafenib), human monoclonal antibody (ramucirumab), and immune checkpoint inhibitors (nivolumab, pembrolizumab) have been approved as systemic therapies. Despite this, the median survival of patients is not significantly increased. Understanding of the molecular mechanism(s) that govern HCC resistance is critically needed to increase efficacy of current drugs and to develop more efficacious ones in the future. Our studies with sorafenib-resistant (soraR) HCC cells using transcription factor RT² Profiler PCR Arrays revealed an increase in E26 transformation-specific-1 (Ets-1) transcription factor in all soraR cells. HCC TMA studies showed an increase in Ets-1 expression in advanced HCC compared to the normal livers. Overexpression or knocking down Ets-1 modulated sorafenib resistance-related epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), migration, and cell survival. In addition, the soraR cells showed a significant reduction of mitochondrial damage and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mROS) generation, which were antagonized by knocking down Ets-1 expression. More in-depth analysis identified GPX-2 as a downstream mediator of Ets-1-induced sorafenib resistance, which was down-regulated by Ets-1 knockdown while other antioxidant pathway genes were not affected. Interestingly, knocking down GPX2 expression significantly increased sorafenib sensitivity in the soraR cells. Our studies indicate the activation of a novel Ets-1-GPX2 signaling axis in soraR cells, targeting which might successfully antagonize resistance and increase efficacy.

Single-cell RNA-seq dissecting heterogeneity of tumor cells and comprehensive dynamics in tumor microenvironment during lymph nodes metastasis in gastric cancer

Lymph node metastasis is the common metastasis route of gastric cancer. However, until now, heterogeneities of tumor cells and tumor microenvironment in primary tumors (PT) and metastatic lymph nodes (MLN) of gastric cancer (GC) remains uncharacterized. In this study, scRNA-seq was performed on tissues from PT and MLN of gastric cancer. Trajectory analysis and function enrichment analyses were conducted to decode the underlying mechanisms contributing to LN metastasis of gastric cancer. Heterogeneous composition of immune cells and distant intercellular interactions in PT and MLN were analyzed. Based on the generated single cell transcriptome profiles, dynamics of gene expressions in cancer cells between PT and MLN were characterized. Moreover, we reconstructed the developmental trajectory of GC cells' metastasis to LN and identified two sub-types of GC cells with distinct potentials of having malignant biological behaviors. We characterized the repression of neutrophil polarization associated genes, like LCN2, which would contribute to LN metastasis, and histochemistry experiments validated our findings. Additionally, heterogeneity in neutrophils, rather than macrophages, was characterized. Immune checkpoint associated interaction of SPP1 was found active in MLN. In conclusion, we decode the dynamics of tumor cells during LN metastasis in GC and to identify a sub-type of GC cells with potentials of LN metastasis. Our data indicated that the disordering the neutrophils polarization and maturation and the activation of immune checkpoint SPP1 might contribute to LN metastasis in GC, providing a novel insight on the mechanism and potential therapeutic targets of LN metastasis in GC. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

ETS1 acts as a regulator of human healthy aging via decreasing ribosomal activity

Adaptation to reduced energy production during aging is a fundamental issue for maintaining healthspan or prolonging life span. Currently, however, the underlying mechanism in long-lived people remains poorly understood. Here, we analyzed transcriptomes of 185 long-lived individuals (LLIs) and 86 spouses of their children from two independent Chinese longevity cohorts and found that the ribosome pathway was significantly down-regulated in LLIs. We found that the down-regulation is likely controlled by ETS1 (ETS proto-oncogene 1), a transcription factor down-regulated in LLIs and positively coexpressed with most ribosomal protein genes (RPGs). Functional assays showed that ETS1 can bind to RPG promoters, while ETS1 knockdown reduces RPG expression and alleviates cellular senescence in human dermal fibroblast (HDF) and embryonic lung fibroblast (IMR-90) cells. As protein synthesis/turnover in ribosomes is an energy-intensive cellular process, the decline in ribosomal biogenesis governed by ETS1 in certain female LLIs may serve as an alternative mechanism to achieve energy-saving and healthy aging.

Ets family proteins regulate the EMT transcription factors Snail and ZEB in cancer cells

The epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a crucial morphological event that occurs during epithelial tumor progression. Snail and ZEB1/2 (ZEB1 and ZEB2), known as EMT transcription factors, are key regulators of this transition. ZEB1/2 are positively correlated with EMT phenotypes and the aggressiveness of cancers. On the contrary, Snail is also correlated with the aggressiveness of cancers, but is not correlated with the expression of EMT marker proteins. Snail is induced by transforming growth factor‐β (TGF‐β), a well‐known inducer of EMT, in various cancer cells. Interestingly, Snail induction by TGF‐β is markedly enhanced by active Ras signals. Thus, cancer cells harboring an active Ras mutation exhibit a drastic induction of Snail by TGF‐β alone. Here, we found that members of the E26 transformation‐specific (Ets) transcription factor family, Ets1 and Ets2, contribute to the upregulation of both Snail and ZEB1/2. Snail induction by TGF‐β and active Ras is dramatically inhibited using siRNAs against both Ets1 and Ets2 together, but not on their own; in addition, siRNAs against both Ets1 and Ets2 also downregulate the constitutive expression of Snail and ZEB1/2 in cancer cells. Examination of several alternatively spliced variants of Ets1 revealed that p54‐Ets1, which includes exon VII, but not p42‐Ets1, which excludes exon VII, regulates the expression of the EMT transcription factors, suggesting that Ets1 is a crucial molecule for regulating Snail and ZEB1/2, and thus cancer progression is mediated through post‐translational modification of the exon VII domain.

In the Tumor Microenvironment, ETS1 Is an Oncogenic Immune Protein: An Integrative Pancancer Analysis

Background

Previous research suggested that ETS1 (ETS proto-oncogene 1, transcription factor) could be useful for cancer immunotherapy. The processes underlying its therapeutic potential, on the other hand, have yet to be thoroughly investigated. The purpose of this study was to look into the relationship between ETS1 expression and immunity.

Methods

TCGA and GEO provide raw data on 33 different cancers as well as GSE67501, GSE78220, and IMvigor210. In addition, we looked at ETS1's genetic changes, expression patterns, and survival studies. The linkages between ETS1 and TME, as well as its association with immunological processes/elements and the major histocompatibility complex, were explored to effectively understand the role of ETS1 in cancer immunotherapy. Three distinct immunotherapeutic cohorts were employed to examine the relationship between ETS1 and immunotherapeutic response.

Results

ETS1 expression was shown to be high in tumor tissue. ETS1 overexpression is linked to a worse clinical outcome in individuals with overall survival. Immune cell infiltration, immunological modulators, and immunotherapeutic signs are all linked to ETS1. Overexpression of ETS1 is linked to immune-related pathways. However, no statistically significant link was found between ETS1 and immunotherapeutic response.

Conclusions

ETS1 may be a reliable biomarker for tumor prognosis and a viable prospective therapeutic target for human cancer immunotherapy (e.g., KIRP, MESO, BLCA, KIRC, and THYM).

Role of NRF2 in Ovarian Cancer

Among gynaecologic malignancies, ovarian cancer is one of the most dangerous, with a high fatality rate and relapse due to the occurrence of chemoresistance. Many researchers demonstrated that oxidative stress is involved in tumour occurrence, growth and development. Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) is an important transcription factor, playing an important role in protecting against oxidative damage. Increased levels of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) activate NRF2 signalling, inducing the expression of antioxidant enzymes, such as haem oxygenase (HO-1), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), that protect cells against oxidative stress. However, NRF2 activation in cancer cells is responsible for the development of chemoresistance, inactivating drug-mediated oxidative stress that normally leads to cancer cells’ death. In this review, we report evidence from the literature describing the effect of NRF2 on ovarian cancer, with a focus on its function in drug resistance, NRF2 natural and synthetic modulators and its protective function in normal ovarian preservation.

Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E binding protein 1 (EIF4EBP1) expression in glioblastoma is driven by ETS1- and MYBL2-dependent transcriptional activation

Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E binding protein 1 (EIF4EBP1) encodes the 4EBP1 protein, a negative regulator of mRNA translation and a substrate of the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), whose function and relevance in cancer is still under debate. Here, we analyzed EIF4EBP1 expression in different glioma patient cohorts and investigated its mode of transcriptional regulation in glioblastoma cells. We verified that EIF4EBP1 mRNA is overexpressed in malignant gliomas, including isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH)-wildtype glioblastomas, relative to non-neoplastic brain tissue in multiple publically available datasets. Our analyses revealed that EIF4EBP1 overexpression in malignant gliomas is neither due to gene amplification nor to altered DNA methylation, but rather results from aberrant transcriptional activation by distinct transcription factors. We found seven transcription factor candidates co-expressed with EIF4EBP1 in gliomas and bound to the EIF4EBP1 promoter, as revealed by chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP)-sequencing data. We investigated the ability of these candidates to activate the EIF4EBP1 promoter using luciferase reporter assays, which supported four transcription factors as candidate EIF4EBP1 regulators, namely MYBL2, ETS1, HIF-1A, and E2F6. Finally, by employing transient knock-down experiments to repress either of these transcription factors, we identified MYBL2 and ETS1 as the relevant transcriptional drivers of enhanced EIF4EBP1 expression in malignant glioma cells. Taken together, our findings confirm enhanced expression of EIF4EBP1 in malignant gliomas relative to non-neoplastic brain tissue and characterize the underlying molecular pathomechanisms.

Circular RNA-microRNA-mRNA network identified circ_0007618 and circ_0029426 as new valuable biomarkers for lung adenocarcinoma

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are involved in multiple physiological processes. However, whether circRNAs function as the indicators of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) remains unclear. Three LUAD-related microarray datasets were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database, and overlapping differentially expressed circRNAs (DECs) in LUAD were identified. circ_0007618 and circ_0029426 were revealed to be significantly dysregulated in LUAD and verified in LUAD tissues and serum obtained in this study. Subsequently, the overall survival curve and receiver operating characteristics curve analyses were performed to evaluate the prognosis, sensitivity, and specificity of circ_0007618 and circ_0029426 for LUAD diagnosis. The results indicate that the combination of circ_0007618 and circ_0029426 is a potential biomarker for LUAD diagnosis and prognosis. TargetScan and miRDB were used to predict interactions between microRNAs (miRNAs) and circRNAs/mRNAs. A circRNA–miRNA–mRNA network was established for LUAD diagnosis. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes and protein–protein interaction network identified four hub genes. In conclusion, circ_0007618 and circ_0029426 may be novel biomarkers for LUAD diagnosis and prognosis. For LUAD diagnosis, PIK3CA and NRAS, and KRAS and ETS1, were targeted by circ_0007618 and circ_0029426, respectively.

PBLD inhibits angiogenesis via impeding VEGF/VEGFR2-mediated microenvironmental cross-talk between HCC cells and endothelial cells

Sustained anti-angiogenesis therapy increases the level of tumor hypoxia, leading to increased expression of HIF-1a, thereby contributing to the resistance to anti-angiogenesis therapy in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Here, we report that phenazine biosynthesis-like domain-containing protein (PBLD) inhibits hypoxia-induced angiogenesis via ERK/HIF-1a/VEGF axis in HCC cells. Bioinformatic analysis of the TCGA database and clinical samples validation also identify a negative correlation between PBLD and angiogenesis-related genes expression including HIF-1a. Apart from the downregulation of HIF-1a/VEGF expression in HCC cells, PBLD also blocks VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2) on endothelial cells via HCC-derived exosomal miR-940. PBLD also activates TCF4 transcriptional promotion effects on miR-940 by directly interacting with it. Together, PBLD exerts an inhibitory effect on angiogenesis not only via blocking the VEGFR2 expression in endothelial cells, but also through downregulating HIF-1a-induced VEGF expression and secretion in HCC cells. These explorations may provide a theoretical basis for exploring new targets and strategies to overcome resistance to anti-angiogenesis therapy.

Identification of a Hypoxia-Related Gene Model for Predicting the Prognosis and Formulating the Treatment Strategies in Kidney Renal Clear Cell Carcinoma

Purpose

The present study aimed to establish a hypoxia related genes model to predict the prognosis of kidney clear cell carcinoma (KIRC) patients using data accessed from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) database.

Methods

Patients’ data were downloaded from the TCGA and ICGC databases, and hypoxia related genes were accessed from the Molecular Signatures Database. The differentially expressed genes were evaluated and then the differential expressions hypoxia genes were screened. The TCGA cohort was randomly divided into a discovery TCGA cohort and a validation TCGA cohort. The discovery TCGA cohort was used for constructing the hypoxia genes risk model through Lasso regression, univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to assess the reliability and sensitivity of our model. Then, we established a nomogram to predict the probable one-, three-, and five-year overall survival rates. Lastly, the Tumor Immune Dysfunction and Exclusion (TIDE) score of patients was calculated.

Results

We established a six hypoxia-related gene prognostic model of KIRC patients in the TCGA database and validated in the ICGC database. The patients with high riskscore present poorer prognosis than those with low riskscore in the three TCGA cohorts and ICGC cohort. ROC curves show our six-gene model with a robust predictive capability in these four cohorts. In addition, we constructed a nomogram for KIRC patients in the TCGA database. Finally, the high risk-group had a high TIDE score than the patients with low riskscore.

Conclusions

We established a six hypoxia-related gene risk model for independent prediction of the prognosis of KIRC patients was established and constructed a robust nomogram. The different riskscores might be a biomarker for immunotherapy strategy.

Genetic variations in the long control region of human papillomavirus type 16 isolates from India: implications for cervical carcinogenesis

Introduction. Infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) types, specifically HPV type 16 (HPV16), is considered to be the most important risk factor in the development of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and cancer. The long control region (LCR) is a noncoding region that comprises approximately 10 % of the HPV genome and contains regulatory elements for viral transcription and replication. Sequence variations in LCR may impact on the replication efficiency and oncogenic potential of the virus.Gap statement. Studies documenting variations in LCR of HPV16 isolates pertaining to cervical neoplastic status in India are limited.Aim. The present study was designed to characterize variations in the LCR of Indian isolates of HPV16 and study their association with cervical disease grades.Methodology. The LCR was amplified and sequenced from HPV16 positive cervical samples belonging to different cervical disease grades. Sequences were aligned to identify variations and potential transcription factor binding sites (TFbs) were predicted using the JASPAR database in addition to phylogenetic studies.Results. Among the 163 HPV16 isolates analysed, 47 different nucleotide variations were detected in the LCR, of which 25 are reported for first time in Indian isolates. Point mutations were detected in 35/54 (64.8 %) samples with normal cervical status, 44/50 (88 %) samples with low-grade cervical disease and 53/59 (89.8 %) samples with high-grade cervical disease. Variations T6586C, G6657A and T6850G were significantly associated with high-grade cervical status. Thirteen LCR variations were detected in the binding sites for CEBPB, ETS1, JUN, MYB, NFIL3, PHOX2A and SOX9 transcription factors.Conclusion. The present study helped to identify unique variations in the LCRs of HPV16 Indian isolates. The variations in the A4 sub-lineage were significantly associated with high-grade disease status. The isolates belonging to the A4 and D3 sub-lineages harboured mutations in putative TFbs, implying a potential impact on viral replication and progression to cervical cancer.

LINC00704 contributes to the proliferation and accelerates the cell cycle of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells via regulating ETS1/CDK6 axis

This study is aimed at exploring the biological functions and related mechanism of long noncoding RNA 704 (LINC00704) in the proliferation and cell cycle progression of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cells. The expression of LINC00704 in NPC tissues and cells was quantified by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). After LINC00704 was overexpressed or knocked down in NPC cell lines, cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine assay, flow cytometry assay, and Transwell assay were adopted to detect the proliferation, cell cycle progression, migration, and invasion of NPC cells. The interaction between LINC00704 and ETS proto-oncogene 1 (ETS1) was verified by bioinformatics analysis, RNA pull-down assay, and RNA immunoprecipitation assay. Dual-luciferase reporter gene assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by qPCR analysis were used to verify the binding status between ETS1 and the promoter region of cyclin-dependent kinase 6 (CDK6). The regulatory effects of LINC00704 and ETS1 on CDK6 expression were detected by Western blot. LINC00704 expression was elevated in NPC tissues and cells, which was significantly correlated with the advanced TNM stage and poor differentiation. LINC00704 overexpression promoted the multiplication, migration, and invasion of NPC cells and blocked the cell cycle progression while knocking down LINC00704 worked oppositely. LINC00704 could bind to ETS1, thus promoting CDK6 transcription. Knocking down LINC00704 inhibited the CDK6 expression in NPC cells. LINC00704 promotes CDK6 transcription by recruiting ETS1 to the promoter region of CDK6, thus promoting the malignant progression of NPC.