BCA3 contributes to the malignant progression of hepatocellular carcinoma through AKT activation and NF-κB translocation

Multifaceted role of NF-κB in hepatocellular carcinoma therapy: Molecular landscape, therapeutic compounds and nanomaterial approaches

The predominant kind of liver cancer is hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) that its treatment have been troublesome difficulties for physicians due to aggressive behavior of tumor cells in proliferation and metastasis. Moreover, stemness of HCC cells can result in tumor recurrence and angiogenesis occurs. Another problem is development of resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy in HCC cells. Genomic mutations participate in malignant behavior of HCC and nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) has been one of the oncogenic factors in different human cancers that after nuclear translocation, it binds to promoter of genes in regulating their expression. Overexpression of NF-κB has been well-documented in increasing proliferation and invasion of tumor cells and notably, when its expression enhances, it induces chemoresistance and radio-resistance. Highlighting function of NF-κB in HCC can shed some light on the pathways regulating progression of tumor cells. The first aspect is proliferation acceleration and apoptosis inhibition in HCC cells mediated by enhancement in expression level of NF-κB. Moreover, NF-κB is able to enhance invasion of HCC cells via upregulation of MMPs and EMT, and it triggers angiogenesis as another step for increasing spread of tumor cells in tissues and organs. When NF-κB expression enhances, it stimulates chemoresistance and radio-resistance in HCC cells and by increasing stemness and population of cancer-stem cells, it can provide the way for recurrence of tumor. Overexpression of NF-κB mediates therapy resistance in HCC cells and it can be regulated by non-coding RNAs in HCC. Moreover, inhibition of NF-κB by anti-cancer and epigenetic drugs suppresses HCC tumorigenesis. More importantly, nanoparticles are considered for suppressing NF-κB axis in cancer and their prospectives and results can also be utilized for treatment of HCC. Nanomaterials are promising factors in treatment of HCC and by delivery of genes and drugs, they suppress HCC progression. Furthermore, nanomaterials provide phototherapy in HCC ablation.

The role of A-kinase interacting protein 1 in regulating progression and stemness as well as indicating the prognosis in glioblastoma

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AKIP1 was higher in GBM vs. LGG tissues, and in GBM cell lines vs. control cell line.

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AKIP1 promoted GBM cell invasion, CD133+ proportion, and sphere formation ability.

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PI3K/AKT, Notch, EGFR, Ras, ErbB, mTOR pathways linked with AKIP1’s function in GBM.

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AKIP1 correlated with poor prognosis in GBM patients.

Background

A-kinase interacting protein 1 (AKIP1) is recently implicated in the pathogenesis of several solid tumors, while its role in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is largely unknown. Therefore, the current study aimed to investigate the effect of AKIP1 on GBM cell malignant behaviors, stemness, and its underlying molecular mechanisms.

Methods

U-87 MG and A172 cells were transfected with control or AKIP1 overexpression plasmid; control or AKIP1 siRNA plasmid. Then cell proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, CD133⁺ cell proportion, and sphere formation assays were performed. Furthermore, RNA-Seq was performed in U-87 MG cells. Besides, AKIP1 expression was detected in 25 GBM and 25 low-grade glioma (LGG) tumor samples.

Results

AKIP1 was increased in several GBM cell lines compared to the control cell line. After transfections, it was found that AKIP1 overexpression increased cell invasion, CD133⁺ cell proportion, and sphere formation ability while less affecting cell proliferation or cell apoptosis in U-87 MG and A172 cells. Moreover, AKIP1 siRNA achieved the opposite effect in these cells, except that it inhibited cell proliferation but induced cell apoptosis to some extent. Subsequent RNA-Seq assay showed several critical carcinogenetic pathways, such as PI3K/AKT, Notch, EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor resistance, Ras, ErbB, mTOR pathways, etc. were potentially related to the function of AKIP1 in U-87 MG cells. Clinically, AKIP1 expression was higher in GBM tissues than in LGG tissues, which was also correlated with the poor prognosis of GBM to some degree.

Conclusions

AKIP1 regulates the malignant behaviors and stemness of GBM via regulating multiple carcinogenetic pathways.

A‑kinase interacting protein 1 regulates the cell proliferation, invasion, migration and angiogenesis of clear cell renal cell carcinoma cells and affects the ERK/c‑Myc signaling pathway by binding to Rac1

A-kinase interacting protein 1 (AKIP1) has previously been demonstrated to be overexpressed in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) tissues and is associated with patient prognosis. The aim of the present study was to explore whether AKIP1 can affect the proliferation, invasion, migration and angiogenesis of ccRCC cells via its interaction with Rac1. Furthermore, the influence of AKIP1 and therefore Rac1 on the expression of the downstream ERK/cellular (c)-Myc signaling pathway was explored. The interaction between AKIP1 and Rac1 was determined using co-immunoprecipitation. The mRNA and protein expression levels of AKIP1 and Rac1 in normal renal epithelial cell lines and ccRCC cell lines were detected using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and western blotting, respectively. The transfection efficiency of small interfering RNA-AKIP1 and the Rac1 overexpression vector were also confirmed using RT-qPCR and western blotting. The viability, proliferation, invasion and migration of ccRCC cells following transfection were analyzed using the Cell Counting Kit-8, 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine staining, Transwell and wound healing assays, respectively. The tube formation ability of HUVECs was assessed using the tube formation assay. The protein expression levels of proliferation, invasion, migration and tube-formation-associated proteins as well as proteins associated with the ERK/c-Myc signaling pathway, were detected via western blotting. The results demonstrated that AKIP1 expression levels were increased in ccRCC cell lines. AKIP1 knockdown inhibited the proliferation, invasion and migration of ccRCC cells and HUVEC tube-formation. In addition, AKIP1 was demonstrated to bind to Rac1 in ccRCC cells and AKIP1 downregulation inhibited Rac1 expression. Furthermore, Rac1 overexpression reversed the effects of AKIP1 knockdown on ccRCC cells. AKIP1 knockdown also suppressed the ERK/c-Myc signaling pathway, which was reversed by Rac1 overexpression. In conclusion, AKIP1 knockdown potentially suppressed the proliferation, invasion, migration and angiogenesis of ccRCC cells and inhibited the ERK/c-Myc signaling pathway by binding to Rac1.

Prognostic significance of A-kinase interacting protein 1 expression in various cancers: A meta-analysis based on the Chinese population

BACKGROUND

Cumulative evidence suggests that A-kinase interacting protein 1 (AKIP1) plays an important role in tumor progression. However, the prognostic value of AKIP1 expression in various cancers remains unclear. Here, we conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate the prognostic value of AKIP1 expression in patients with cancer.

METHODS

The PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, CNKI, and Wanfang databases were systematically searched to identify studies in which the effect of AKIP1 expression on prognosis (overall survival or disease-free survival) was investigated. Hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were combined to assess the effect of AKIP1 expression on patient survival. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% CIs were pooled to estimate the association between AKIP1 expression and clinicopathological characteristics of patients with cancer.

RESULTS

Nineteen eligible studies, encompassing 3979 patients, were included in the meta-analysis. AKIP1 expression was negatively associated with overall survival (HR = 1.86, 95% CI: 1.58-2.18, P < .001) and disease-free survival (HR = 1.69, 95% CI: 1.53-1.87, P < .001) in patients with cancer. Moreover, AKIP1 overexpression was positively correlated with adverse clinicopathological features, such as tumor size (OR = 2.22, 95% CI: 1.67-2.94, P < .001), clinical stage (OR = 2.05, 95% CI: 1.45-2.90, P < .001), depth of tumor invasion (OR = 2.98, 95% CI: 2.21-4.02, P < .001), and degree of lymph node metastasis (OR = 2.12, 95% CI: 1.75-2.57, P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

High AKIP1 expression is an unfavorable prognostic biomarker and may serve as a potential therapeutic target in patients with cancer.

A-Kinase Interacting Protein 1 Promotes Cell Invasion and Stemness via Activating HIF-1α and β-Catenin Signaling Pathways in Gastric Cancer Under Hypoxia Condition

Background

A-Kinase interacting protein 1 (AKIP1) relates to gastric cancer growth, metastasis, and prognosis, while its regulation on gastric cancer invasion and stemness under hypoxia microenvironment is not reported. Therefore, this study aimed to explore this topic to uncover AKIP1’s role in gastric cancer under hypoxia.

Methods

Gastric cancer cell lines AGS and MKN45 were cultured under hypoxia condition, then transfected with AKIP1 or negative control (NC) overexpression plasmid or AKIP1 or NC knockdown plasmid. Furthermore, rescue experiments were conducted by transfecting HIF-1α or β-catenin overexpression plasmid, combined with AKIP1 or NC knockdown plasmid. Afterward, cell invasion, CD133⁺ cell proportion, sphere number/1,000 cells, and HIF-1α and β-catenin pathways were measured.

Results

The invasive cell count, CD133⁺ cell proportion, and sphere number/1,000 cells were enhanced in both AGS cells and MKN45 cells under hypoxia, and AKIP1 expression was also elevated. AKIP1 knockdown inhibited cell invasion, CD133⁺ cell proportion, sphere number/1,000 cells, HIF-1α, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), β-catenin, and calcium-binding protein (CBP) expressions in AGS cells and MKN45 cells under hypoxia, while AKIP1 overexpression presented with the opposite effect. Then, in rescue experiments, HIF-1α overexpression and β-catenin overexpression both promoted cell invasion, CD133⁺ cell proportion, and sphere number/1,000 cells, which also attenuated the effect of AKIP1 knockdown on these functions in AGS cells and MKN45 cells.

Conclusion

AKIP1 promotes cell invasion and stemness via activating HIF-1α and β-catenin signaling pathways in gastric cancer under hypoxia condition.

MicroRNA-146a suppresses tumor malignancy via targeting vimentin in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cells with lower fibronectin membrane assembly

Background

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is widely prevalent in Taiwan, and high metastatic spread of ESCC leads to poor survival rate. Fibronectin (FN) assembly on the cell membrane may induce ESCC mobility. MicroRNAs (MiRNAs) are abundant in and participate in tumorigenesis in many cancers. However, the role of MiRNA in FN assembly-related ESCC mobility remains unexplored.

Methods

We divided ESCC CE81T cells into high-FN assembly (CE81^FN+) and low-FN assembly (CE81^FN−) groups by flow cytometry. MiRNA microarray analysis identified miR-146a expression as the most down-regulated miRNA in comparison of CE81^FN+ and CE81^FN− cells.

Results

Cell proliferation and migration were decreased when CE81^FN+ cells overexpressed transgenic miR-146a compared to the parental cells, indicating an inverse correlation between low miR-146a expression and high proliferation as well as motility of FN assembly ESCC cells. Furthermore, vimentin is the target gene of miR-146a involved in ESCC tumorigenesis. MiR-146a suppressed cell proliferation, migration and invasion of CE81^FN+ cells through the inhibition of vimentin expression, as confirmed by real-time PCR, Western blotting and Transwell™ assay. Analysis of one hundred and thirty-six paired ESCC patient specimens revealed that low miR-146a and high vimentin levels were frequently detected in tumor, and that the former was associated with late tumor stages (III and IV). Notably, either low miR-146a expression or high vimentin level was significantly associated with poor overall survival rate among ESCC patients.

Conclusions

This is the first report to link FN assembly in the cell membrane with miR-146a, vimentin and ESCC tumorigenesis both in vitro and in ESCC patients.

Correlation of A-Kinase Interacting Protein 1 With Clinical Features, Treatment Response, and Survival Profiles in Patients With Multiple Myeloma

Objective:

The present study aimed to detect A-kinase interacting protein 1 expression and further explore the association of A-kinase interacting protein 1 with clinical features and prognosis in patients with multiple myeloma.

Methods:

Totally, 152 de novo symptomatic patients with multiple myeloma and 30 healthy donors were enrolled. Bone marrow mononuclear cells derived plasma cells were collected from patients with multiple myeloma before initial treatment and from healthy donors on the enrollment, respectively, and then A-kinase interacting protein 1 protein/messenger RNA expressions were detected by Western blot and reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Treatment response (complete response and overall response rate) was assessed, and survival profiles (progression-free survival and overall survival) were calculated in patients with multiple myeloma.

Results:

A-kinase interacting protein 1 protein/messenger RNA expressions were elevated in patients with multiple myeloma compared to healthy donors, and A-kinase interacting protein 1 (area under the curve: 0.809, 95% confidence interval: 0.726-0.891)/messenger RNA (area under the curve: 0.839, 95% confidence interval: 0.764-0.914) presented good value in differentiating patients with multiple myeloma from healthy donors. In patients with multiple myeloma, A-kinase interacting protein 1 /messenger RNA expressions negatively correlated with albumin while positively correlated with Beta-2-microglobulin, lactate dehydrogenase, International Staging System stage, and t (4;14). Meanwhile, there were 39 (25.7%) complete response patients, 113 (74.3%) noncomplete response patients, 112 (73.7%) overall response rate patients, and 40 (26.3%) nonoverall response rate patients. Complete response and overall response rates were decreased in patients with high A-kinase interacting protein 1 compared to patients with low A-kinase interacting protein 1. Additionally, progression-free survival and overall survival were reduced in patients with high A-kinase interacting protein 1 compared to patients with low A-kinase interacting protein 1.

Conclusion:

A-kinase interacting protein 1 exhibits the potency as a biomarker for multiple myeloma progression and prognosis, which implies the clinical application of A-kinase interacting protein 1 in multiple myeloma management.

A-kinase interacting protein 1 high expression correlates with advanced tumor stage and poor overall survival in surgical patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma

The present study aimed to detect the A-kinase interacting protein 1 (AKIP1) expression in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) tumor tissues and adjacent tissues, and further investigate the correlation of tumor AKIP1 expression with clinicopathological features and survival profile in ccRCC patients.Totally 210 ccRCC patients who underwent resection were retrospectively reviewed, and their tumor and adjacent tissue specimens were acquired for immunohistochemical detection of AKIP1 expression. The survival data of patients were collected for overall survival (OS) assessment.AKIP1 was upregulated in ccRCC tumor tissues compared with adjacent tissues (P < .001). Tumor AKIP1 expression was positively associated with T stage (P = .019), N stage (P = .032), and TNM stage (P = .005) in ccRCC patients. According to AKIP1 expression in tumor tissues, all patients were grouped as AKIP1 low and high expression (AKIP1 high expression were further divided into AKIP1 high+, high++, and high+++ expression). OS was the lowest in the patients with AKIP1 high+++ expression, followed by those with AKIP1 high++ expression and AKIP1 high+ expression, and then patients with AKIP1 low expression (P < .001). Furthermore, multivariate Cox regression exhibited tumor AKIP1 high expression (P = .017), age (>60 years) (P = .030), pathological grade (G2/G3 vs G1) (P = .037), and TNM stage (II/III vs I) (P < .001) were independent predictive factors for decreased OS in ccRCC patients.AKIP1 presents potency to be a novel biomarker for tumor progression and prognosis surveillance in ccRCC.

A-kinase interacting protein 1 (AKIP1) associates with advanced overall disease condition, tumor properties, and unfavorable prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma patients

OBJECTIVE

The presented study aimed to investigate the association of A-kinase interacting protein 1 (AKIP1) expression with tumor properties, liver functions, cancer markers, and overall survival (OS) of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients.

METHODS

A total of 432 HCC patients receiving surgery were retrospectively reviewed in our study. Clinical characteristics of patients were obtained. Tumor tissue specimens of all patients were collected, and AKIP1 expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry (IHC) assay. OS was assessed, and the median follow-up duration was 35.0 months. AKIP1 high expression was defined as total IHC score more than 3 and was further graded as AKIP1 high+ (IHC 4-6), AKIP1 high++ (IHC 7-9), and AKIP1 high+++ (IHC 10-12).

RESULTS

About 265 (61.3%) patients presented with AKIP1 low expression and 167 (38.7%) patients had AKIP1 high expression. AKIP1 high expression correlated with higher performance status score (P = .006), largest tumor size ≥5.0 cm (P < .001), Barcelona clinic liver cancer (BCLC) stage B (vs stage A; P = .024), increased alpha-fetoprotein level (P = .036), and higher carbohydrate antigen 199 level (P < .001). AKIP1 high expression (P < .001) and increased AKIP1 expression grade (P < .001) both correlated with worse OS, and Cox's regression analyses revealed that AKIP1 high expression (P < .001) was an independent predictive factor for shorter OS. In subgroup analysis, AKIP1 high expression and more advanced AKIP1 expression grade associated with worse OS in both BCLC stage A subgroup patients (both P < .001) and BCLC stage B subgroup patients (both P < .001), respectively.

CONCLUSION

AKIP1 is a novel and promising biomarker for disease monitoring and prognosis in HCC patients.

A-kinase interacting protein 1, a potential biomarker associated with advanced tumor features and CXCL1/2 in prostate cancer

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to investigate the correlation of A-kinase interacting protein 1 (AKIP1) with chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 1 (CXCL1) and CXCL2, as well as their associations with clinical characteristics and prognosis in prostate cancer patients.

METHODS

A total of 248 eligible prostate cancer patients who underwent surgery were consecutively recruited, and tumor tissues were collected during the surgery. AKIP1, CXCL1, and CXCL2 expression in tumor tissues were assessed by immunohistochemistry. Disease-free survival and overall survival were recorded, and the median follow-up time was 27 months.

RESULTS

The proportion of patients with AKIP1, CXCL1, and CXCL2 high expression was 56.5%, 63.7%, and 56.9%, respectively. Additionally, AKIP1 expression positively correlated with CXCL1 expression (P<0.001) and CXCL2 expression (P<0.001), and CXCL1 expression was positively associated with CXCL2 expression (P<0.001). Furthermore, AKIP1 expression positively correlated with pathological T stage (P<0.001) and pathological N stage (P=0.003). CXCL1 expression was positively associated with pathological T stage (P<0.001) and pathological N stage (P<0.001) as well. However, the CXCL2 expression only positively correlated with pathological T stage (P=0.002). Also, AKIP1 high expression correlated with worse disease-free survival (P=0.049) and OS (P=0.013), and CXCL1 high expression was associated with unfavorable disease-free survival (P=0.023) but not overall survival (P=0.052). CXCL2 expression was not correlated with disease-free survival (P=0.083) or overall survival (P=0.065). Multivariate Cox's regression disclosed that AKIP1 high expression independently predicted worse overall survival (P=0.009).

CONCLUSION

AKIP1 positively associates with CXCL1/2 and is a potential biomarker for disease monitoring as well as prognosis in prostate cancer.

AKIP1 expression in tumor tissue as a new biomarker for disease monitoring and prognosis in non-small cell lung cancer: Results of a retrospective study

Background

A‐kinase–interacting protein 1 (AKIP1) has been reported as an oncogenetic factor in multiple cancers; however, no study has reported its role in non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) yet. This study aimed to evaluate the expression of AKIP1, and its correlation with tumor characteristics as well as prognosis in patients with NSCLC.

Methods

Four hundred and ninety patients with NSCLC who underwent resection were reviewed, and baseline clinical data were collected. AKIP1 expression in tumor tissue/paired adjacent tissue was detected by immunohistochemistry. Disease‐free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were calculated.

Results

A‐kinase–interacting protein 1 expression was elevated in tumor tissue compared with paired adjacent tissue (P < .001), and high AKIP1 tumor tissue expression was correlated with poor pathological differentiation (P < .001), tumor size >5 cm (P = .001), lymph node metastasis (P = .016), higher TNM stages (P < .001), and abnormal CEA level (>5 ng/mL) (P = .035). DFS was worse in patients with tumor tissue AKIP1 high expression compared with patients who had AKIP1 low expression in total patients (P < .001), TNM stage I (P < .001) and TNM stage III (P < .001) patients. And the OS was also decreased in patients with AKIP1 high expression in total patients (P < .001), TNM stage I patients (P = .001) and TNM stage III patients (P = .004). Moreover, multivariate Cox's proportional hazards regression model analysis revealed that AKIP1 high expression was an independent predictive factor for worse DFS (P < .001) and OS (P < .001).

Conclusion

Tumor tissue AKIP1 expression may have the potential to be a biomarker assisting in disease monitoring and prognosis in NSCLC.

AKIP1 promotes early recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma through activating the Wnt/β-catenin/CBP signaling pathway

The early recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the main obstacle for long-term survival of patients. Wnt/β-catenin signaling has been involved in the development and progression of HCC. However, the molecular changes that link Wnt/β-catenin activation and HCC early recurrence remain poorly understood. Here we identified AKIP1 as a binding partner of β-catenin. AKIP1 interacted with and sustained β-catenin in the nuclear by blocking its interaction with adenomatous polyposis coli protein (APC). Moreover, AKIP1 enhanced the protein kinase A catalytic subunit (PKAc)-mediated phosphorylation of β-catenin, leading to recruitment of cyclic AMP response element-binding protein (CBP) and activation of β-catenin downstream transcription. Increased AKIP1 expression was observed in HCC clinical samples and correlated with early recurrence and poor prognosis of HCC. AKIP1 promoted invasion and colony outgrowth in vitro and increased intrahepatic and lung metastasis in vivo. Treatment with a CBP inhibitor ICG-001 effectively inhibited the metastatic progression of HCC tumors that had elevated AKIP1 in both cell line and patient-derived xenograft mouse models. Our findings not only establish AKIP1 as a novel regulator of Wnt/β-catenin signaling as well as HCC early recurrence but also highlight targeting the AKIP1/β-catenin/CBP axis as attractive therapies for combating HCC metastatic relapse.