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Liu H, Wu X, Wang D, Li Q, Zhang X, Xu L. Unveiling the role of miR-137-3p/miR-296-5p/SERPINA3 signaling in colorectal cancer progression: integrative analysis of gene expression profiles and in vitro studies. BMC Med Genomics 2023; 16:327. [PMID: 38087342 PMCID: PMC10714458 DOI: 10.1186/s12920-023-01763-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a prevalent malignancy worldwide, with increasing incidence and mortality rates. Although treatment options have improved, CRC remains a leading cause of death due to metastasis. Early intervention can significantly improve patient outcomes, making it crucial to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying CRC metastasis. In this study, we performed bioinformatics analysis to identify potential genes associated with CRC metastasis. METHODS We downloaded and integrated gene expression datasets (GSE89393, GSE100243, and GSE144259) from GEO database. Differential expression analysis was conducted, followed by Gene Ontology (GO) functional enrichment analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis. The hub gene SERPINA3 was selected for further in vitro functional studies. Additionally, the role of miR-137-3p/miR-296-5p/ Serpin family A member 3 (SERPINA3) in CRC cell function was investigated using in vitro assays. RESULTS Analysis of the gene expression datasets revealed differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated with CRC metastasis. GO analysis showed enrichment in biological processes such as blood coagulation regulation and wound healing. Cellular component analysis highlighted extracellular matrix components and secretory granules. Molecular function analysis identified activities such as serine-type endopeptidase inhibition and lipoprotein receptor binding. KEGG analysis revealed involvement in pathways related to complement and coagulation cascades, cholesterol metabolism, and immune responses. The common DEGs among the datasets were further investigated. We identified SERPINA3 as a hub gene associated with CRC metastasis. SERPINA3 exerted enhanced effects on migration, proliferation and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and inhibitory effects on caspase-3/-9 activities in HT29 and SW620 cells. MiR-137-3p overexpression increased activities of caspase-3/-9, decreased migration and proliferation, and also repressed EMT in HT29 cells, which were obviously attenuated by SERPINA3 enforced overexpression. Consistently, SERPINA3 enforced overexpression also largely reversed miR-296-5p mimics-induced increased in activities of caspase-3/-9, decrease in migration, proliferation and EMT in HT29 cells. CONCLUSION Through bioinformatics analysis, we identified potential genes associated with CRC metastasis. The functional studies focusing on SERPINA3/miR-137-3p/miR-296-5p further consolidated its role in regulating CRC progression. Our findings provide insights into novel mechanisms underlying CRC metastasis and might contribute to the development of effective treatment strategies. However, the role of SERPINA3/miR-137-3p/miR-296-5p signaling in CRC still requires further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huimin Liu
- Department of General Surgery, The Second People's Hospital of Lianyungang, Lianyungang, China
| | - Xingxing Wu
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, The Second People's Hospital of Lianyungang, Lianyungang, China
| | - Dandan Wang
- Department of General Surgery, The Second People's Hospital of Lianyungang, Lianyungang, China
| | - Quanxi Li
- Department of General Surgery, The Second People's Hospital of Lianyungang, Lianyungang, China
| | - Xin Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, The Second People's Hospital of Lianyungang, Lianyungang, China
| | - Liang Xu
- Department of General Surgery, The Second People's Hospital of Lianyungang, Lianyungang, China.
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Zhao J, Quan J, Chen W, Xie X. Grid2 interacting protein is a potential biomarker related to immune infiltration in colorectal cancer. Eur J Med Res 2023; 28:511. [PMID: 37964339 PMCID: PMC10644545 DOI: 10.1186/s40001-023-01468-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the three deadliest malignant tumors in the world, posing a severe hazard to human health. Nonetheless, the 5-year survival rate for advanced CRC remains unsatisfactory. Grid2 interacting protein (GRID2IP) is a Purkinje fiber postsynaptic scaffold protein implicated in a number of signal transduction pathways in the nervous system. Previous studies have shown that Grid2 is closely related to the occurrence and prognosis of gastric cancer and many other diseases. Therefore, we aim to identify the relationship between GRID2IP and the occurrence and prognosis of CRC. METHODS Transcriptome data were retrieved from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database to analyze the differential expression of GRID2IP in a variety of malignant tumors and then validate it by quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction(Q-PCR) and Western Blot in HT29 and SW480 cells. "DESeq2" package was used to analyze the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the high- and low-GRID2IP subgroups. In relation to DEGs, Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis were performed. In addition, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) and single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) were employed to examine DEGs-associated signaling pathways and GRID2IP-associated immune cell infiltration levels. Besides, overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS), and progression-free interval (PFI) were compared between the two subgroups using a Kaplan-Meier analysis. In addition, a prognostic model for GRID2IP and clinical characteristics was developed using the univariate Cox regression method. The "pRRophetic" package was applied to predict the drug sensitivity of different subgroups. Moreover, we also performed single-cell analysis of GRID2IP using the TISCH database. RESULTS GRID2IP is upregulated in CRC patients. The rise of GRID2IP inhibits the invasion of tumor-associated immune cells resulting in a lower immune score. In addition, high GRID2IP expression was associated with poor prognosis in different clinical subgroups. Analysis of single cells revealed that GRID2IP was predominantly expressed in immune cells, myofibroblasts, and cancerous cells. In terms of chemotherapy drug sensitivity, the subgroup with high GRID2IP expression was less sensitive to gemcitabine. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that rising GRID2IP promotes tumor-associated immune cell infiltration and suggests adverse outcomes in CRC patients, which may be a useful biomarker for determining the prognosis of CRC and a potential target molecule for CRC therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiajing Zhao
- Department of General Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515000, China
| | - Jiazheng Quan
- Marshall Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering, Institute of Biological Therapy, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Weilin Chen
- Marshall Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering, Institute of Biological Therapy, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
| | - Xiaojun Xie
- Department of General Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515000, China.
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Zhang Y, Wang Y, Zhang B, Li P, Zhao Y. Methods and biomarkers for early detection, prediction, and diagnosis of colorectal cancer. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 163:114786. [PMID: 37119736 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.114786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common digestive diseases worldwide. It has steadily ascended to the top three cancers in terms of incidence and mortality. The primary cause is the inability to diagnose it at an early stage. Therefore, early detection and diagnosis are essential for colorectal cancer prevention. Although there are now various methods for CRC early detection, in addition to recent developments in surgical and multimodal therapy, the poor prognosis and late detection of CRC still remain significant. Thus, it is important to investigate novel technologies and biomarkers to improve the sensitization and specification of CRC diagnosis. Here, we present some common methods and biomarkers for early detection and diagnosis of CRC, we hope this review will encourage the adoption of screening programs and the clinical use of these potential molecules as biomarkers for CRC early detection and prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Zhang
- Institute for Translational Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, College of Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266021, China
| | - Yin Wang
- Institute for Translational Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, College of Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266021, China; Key Laboratory of Birth Regulation and Control Technology of National Health Commission of China, Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital of Shandong Province affiliated to Qingdao University, Shandong Province, China
| | - Bingqiang Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Cancer and Immune Cells of Qingdao, Qingdao 266021, China
| | - Peifeng Li
- Institute for Translational Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, College of Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266021, China.
| | - Yi Zhao
- Institute for Translational Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, College of Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266021, China.
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Unraveling the function of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in colorectal cancer: Metastasis, therapy response, and revisiting molecular pathways. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 160:114395. [PMID: 36804124 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.114395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2023] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a dangerous form of cancer that affects the gastrointestinal tract. It is a major global health concern, and the aggressive behavior of tumor cells makes it difficult to treat, leading to poor survival rates for patients. One major challenge in treating CRC is the metastasis, or spread, of the cancer, which is a major cause of death. In order to improve the prognosis for patients with CRC, it is necessary to focus on ways to inhibit the cancer's ability to invade and spread. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a process that is linked to the spread of cancer cells, also known as metastasis. The process transforms epithelial cells into mesenchymal ones, increasing their mobility and ability to invade other tissues. This has been shown to be a key mechanism in the progression of colorectal cancer (CRC), a particularly aggressive form of gastrointestinal cancer. The activation of EMT leads to increases in the spread of CRC cells, and during this process, levels of the protein E-cadherin decrease while levels of N-cadherin and vimentin increase. EMT also contributes to the development of resistance to chemotherapy and radiation therapy in CRC. Non-coding RNAs, such as long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs), play a role in regulating EMT in CRC, often through their ability to "sponge" microRNAs. Anti-cancer agents have been shown to suppress EMT and reduce the progression and spread of CRC cells. These findings suggest that targeting EMT or related mechanisms may be a promising approach for treating CRC patients in the clinic.
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Chen Q, Shen L, Li S. Emerging role of inositol monophosphatase in cancer. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 161:114442. [PMID: 36841024 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.114442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 02/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Inositol monophosphatase (IMPase) is an enzyme with two homologs-IMPA1 and IMPA2-that is responsible for dephosphorylating myo-inositol monophosphate to generate myo-inositol. IMPase has been extensively studied in neuropsychiatric diseases and is regarded as a susceptibility gene. Recently, emerging evidence has implied that IMPase is linked to cancer development and progression and correlates with patient survival outcomes. Interestingly, whether it acts as a tumor-promoter or tumor-suppressor is inconsistent among different research studies. In this review, we summarize the latest findings on IMPase in cancer, focusing on exploring the underlying mechanisms for its pro- and anticancer roles. In addition, we discuss the potential methods of IMPase regulation in cancer cells and the possible approaches for IMPase intervention in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Chen
- Department of Oncology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China; National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Department of Geriatrics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Liangfang Shen
- Department of Oncology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China; National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Department of Geriatrics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Shan Li
- Department of Oncology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China; National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Department of Geriatrics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
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Zhang Y, Li Y, Zuo Z, Li T, An Y, Zhang W. An epithelial-mesenchymal transition-related mRNA signature associated with the prognosis, immune infiltration and therapeutic response of colon adenocarcinoma. Pathol Oncol Res 2023; 29:1611016. [PMID: 36910014 PMCID: PMC9998511 DOI: 10.3389/pore.2023.1611016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023]
Abstract
Background: Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is closely associated with cancer cell metastasis. Colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) is one of the most common malignancies in the world, and its metastasis leading to poor prognosis remains a challenge for clinicians. The purpose of this study was to explore the prognostic value of EMT-related genes (EMTRGs) by bioinformatics analysis and to develop a new EMTRGs prognostic signature for COAD. Methods: The TCGA-COAD dataset was downloaded from the TCGA portal as the training cohort, and the GSE17538 and GSE29621 datasets were obtained from the GEO database as the validation cohort. The best EMTRGs prognostic signature was constructed by differential expression analysis, Cox, and LASSO regression analysis. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) is used to reveal pathways that are enriched in high-risk and low-risk groups. Differences in tumor immune cell levels were analyzed using microenvironmental cell population counter and single sample gene set enrichment analysis. Subclass mapping analysis and Genomics of Drug Sensitivity in Cancer were applied for prediction of immunotherapy response and chemotherapy response, respectively. Results: A total of 77 differentially expressed EMTRGs were identified in the TCGA-COAD cohort, and they were significantly associated with functions and pathways related to cancer cell metastasis, proliferation, and apoptosis. We constructed EMTRGs prognostic signature with COMP, MYL9, PCOLCE2, SCG2, and TIMP1 as new COAD prognostic biomarkers. The high-risk group had a poorer prognosis with enhanced immune cell infiltration. The GSEA demonstrated that the high-risk group was involved in "ECM Receptor Interaction," "WNT Signaling Pathway" and "Colorectal Cancer." Furthermore, patients with high risk scores may respond to anti-CTLA4 therapy and may be more resistant to targeted therapy agents BI 2536 and ABT-888. Conclusion: Together, we developed a new EMTRGs prognostic signature that can be an independent prognostic factor for COAD. This study has guiding implications for individualized counseling and treatment of COAD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Affiliated Hospital of Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China.,Yunnan Digestive Endoscopy Clinical Medical Center, Kunming, China
| | - Yan Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Affiliated Hospital of Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China.,Yunnan Digestive Endoscopy Clinical Medical Center, Kunming, China
| | - Zan Zuo
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Affiliated Hospital of Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China.,Yunnan Digestive Endoscopy Clinical Medical Center, Kunming, China
| | - Ting Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Affiliated Hospital of Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China.,Yunnan Digestive Endoscopy Clinical Medical Center, Kunming, China
| | - Ying An
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Affiliated Hospital of Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China.,Yunnan Digestive Endoscopy Clinical Medical Center, Kunming, China
| | - Wenjing Zhang
- Faculty of Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China.,Department of Medical Oncology, The First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Affiliated Hospital of Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
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