Ribosomal protein S15a promotes tumor angiogenesis via enhancing Wnt/β-catenin-induced FGF18 expression in hepatocellular carcinoma

Oncogenic role of RNA-binding protein GNL2 in glioma: Promotion of tumor development through enhancing protein synthesis

RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) are aberrantly expressed in various diseases, including glioma. In the present study, the role and mechanism of RBPs in glioma were investigated. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in glioma were screened from public databases and overlapping genes between DEGs and RBPs were selected in a bioinformatics analysis to identify the hub gene. Next, evaluation of expression, survival analysis and cell experiments were performed to examine the impact of the hub gene on glioma. Through bioinformatics analysis, G protein nucleolar 2 (GNL2), programmed cell death 11 (PDCD11) and ribosomal protein S6 (RPS6) were identified as potential biomarkers in glioma prognosis and GNL2 was chosen as the hub gene for further investigation. GNL2 was increased in glioma tissues and related to poor survival outcomes. Cell experiments revealed that GNL2 knockdown inhibited glioma cell growth, migration and invasion. In addition, GNL2 was found to affect the overall protein synthesis of ribosomal protein L11 in glioma cells. In conclusion, GNL2, PDCD11 and RPS6 may serve as potential biomarkers in glioma prognosis. Importantly, GNL2 acts as an oncogene in glioma and it enhances protein synthesis to promote the development of brain glioma.

Endothelial β-catenin upregulation and Y142 phosphorylation drive diabetic angiogenesis via upregulating KDR/HDAC9

BACKGROUND

Diabetic angiogenesis is closely associated with disabilities and death caused by diabetic microvascular complications. Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are abnormally accumulated in diabetic patients and are a key pathogenic factor for diabetic angiogenesis. The present study focuses on understanding the mechanisms underlying diabetic angiogenesis and identifying therapeutic targets based on these mechanisms.

METHODS

In this study, AGE-induced angiogenesis serves as a model to investigate the mechanisms underlying diabetic angiogensis. Mouse aortic rings, matrigel plugs, and HUVECs or 293T cells were employed as research objects to explore this pathological process by using transcriptomics, gene promoter reporter assays, virtual screening and so on.

RESULTS

Here, we found that AGEs activated Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and enhanced the β-catenin protein level by affecting the expression of β-catenin degradation-related genes, such as FZDs (Frizzled receptors), LRPs (LDL Receptor Related Proteins), and AXIN1. AGEs could also mediate β-catenin Y142 phosphorylation through VEGFR1 isoform5. These dual effects of AGEs elevated the nuclear translocation of β-catenin and sequentially induced the expression of KDR (Kinase Insert Domain Receptor) and HDAC9 (Histone Deacetylase 9) by POU5F1 and NANOG, respectively, thus mediating angiogenesis. Finally, through virtual screening, Bioymifi, an inhibitor that blocks VEGFR1 isoform5-β-catenin complex interaction and alleviates AGE-induced angiogenesis, was identified.

CONCLUSION

Collectively, this study offers insight into the pathophysiological functions of β-catenin in diabetic angiogenesis.

Alternative Wnt-signaling axis leads to a break of oncogene-induced senescence

Oncogene-induced senescence (OIS) is an important process that suppresses tumor development, but the molecular mechanisms of OIS are still under investigation. It is known that BRAFV600E-mutated melanocytes can overcome OIS and develop melanoma, but the underlying mechanism is largely unknown. Using an established OIS model of primary melanocytes transduced with BRAFV600E, YAP activity was shown to be induced in OIS as well as in melanoma cells compared to that in normal epidermal melanocytes. This led to the assumption that YAP activation itself is not a factor involved in the disruption of OIS. However, its role and interaction partners potentially change. As Wnt molecules are known to be important in melanoma progression, these molecules were the focus of subsequent studies. Interestingly, activation of Wnt signaling using AMBMP resulted in a disruption of OIS in BRAFV600E-transduced melanocytes. Furthermore, depletion of Wnt6, Wnt10b or β-catenin expression in melanoma cells resulted in the induction of senescence. Given that melanoma cells do not exhibit canonical Wnt/β-catenin activity, alternative β-catenin signaling pathways may disrupt OIS. Here, we discovered that β-catenin is an interaction partner of YAP on DNA in melanoma cells. Furthermore, the β-catenin-YAP interaction changed the gene expression pattern from senescence-stabilizing genes to tumor-supportive genes. This switch is caused by transcriptional coactivation via the LEF1/TEAD interaction. The target genes with binding sites for LEF1 and TEAD are involved in rRNA processing and are associated with poor prognosis in melanoma patients. This study revealed that an alternative YAP-Wnt signaling axis is an essential molecular mechanism leading to OIS disruption in melanocytes.

Effects of dietary supplementation of different levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid on reproductive performance, glucose intolerance, and placental development of gilts

This study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) supplementation on reproductive performance, glucose intolerance, and placental development of gilts during mid-late gestation. Based on the principle of backfat thickness consistency, 124 gilts at 65 d of gestation were assigned to three dietary groups: CON (basic diet, n = 41), LGABA (basic diet supplemented with 0.03% GABA, n = 42), and HGABA (basic diet supplemented with 0.06% GABA, n = 41). The litter performance, glucose tolerance, placental angiogenesis, and nutrients transporters were assessed. The LGABA group improved piglet vitality and placental efficiency and decreased area under the curve of glucose tolerance test compared to the CON group (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, the LGABA group enhanced placental vessel density, platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 levels and gene expression of fibroblast growth factor 18 (P < 0.05). Furthermore, LGABA showed an uptrend in glucose transporter type 1 mRNA level (P = 0.09). Taken together, this study revealed that the dietary supplementation of 0.03% GABA can improve piglet vitality, glucose intolerance, and placental development of gilts.

ETV4 facilitates angiogenesis in hepatocellular carcinoma by upregulating MMP14 expression

Abnormal vascularization plays a crucial role in cell proliferation, tumor invasion and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). It has been reported that ETV4 functions as an oncogenic gene in driving the carcinogenesis and progression, and promoting invasion and metastasis of HCC. However, the function of ETV4 on angiogenesis in HCC remains unclear. In the current study, immunohistochemistry showed that knockdown of ETV4 reduced angiogenesis in HCC xenograft tumor tissues. In vitro, tube formation assay verified that ETV4 expression promoted angiogenesis through simulating the angiogenic environment in HCC cells. Transcriptome sequencing indicated that MMP14 was one of the differentially expressed genes enriched in angiogenesis process. Subsequently, it was confirmed that MMP14 was regulated by ETV4 at the transcription level in HCC cells, clinical tissue samples and online databases. Further, we demonstrated that MMP14 induced angiogenesis in ETV4-mediated HCC microenvironment. Collectively, this research further reveals the biological mechanism of ETV4 in promoting the migration and invasion of HCC, and provides novel mechanistic insights and strategic guidance for anti-angiogenic therapy in HCC.

Circulating FGF18 is decreased in pleural mesothelioma but not correlated with disease prognosis

BACKGROUND

Pleural mesothelioma (PM) is a relatively rare malignancy with limited treatment options and dismal prognosis. We have previously found elevated FGF18 expression in PM tissue specimens compared with normal mesothelium. The objective of the current study was to further explore the role of FGF18 in PM and evaluate its suitability as a circulating biomarker.

METHODS

FGF18 mRNA expression was analyzed by real-time PCR in cell lines and in silico in datasets from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Cell lines overexpressing FGF18 were generated by retroviral transduction and cell behavior was investigated by clonogenic growth and transwell assays. Plasma was collected from 40 PM patients, six patients with pleural fibrosis, and 40 healthy controls. Circulating FGF18 was measured by ELISA and correlated to clinicopathological parameters.

RESULTS

FGF18 showed high mRNA expression in PM and PM-derived cell lines. PM patients with high FGF18 mRNA expression showed a trend toward longer overall survival (OS) in the TCGA dataset. In PM cells with low endogenous FGF18 expression, forced overexpression of FGF18 resulted in reduced growth but increased migration. Surprisingly, despite the high FGF18 mRNA levels observed in PM, circulating FGF18 protein was significantly lower in PM patients and patients with pleural fibrosis than in healthy controls. No significant association of circulating FGF18 with OS or other disease parameters of PM patients was observed.

CONCLUSIONS

FGF18 is not a prognostic biomarker in PM. Its role in PM tumor biology and the clinical significance of decreased plasma FGF18 in PM patients warrant further investigation.

FGFR3 mutation characterization identifies prognostic and immune-related gene signatures in bladder cancer

BACKGROUND

Immunotherapy and FGFR3-targeted therapy play an important role in the management of locally advanced and metastatic bladder cancer (BLCA). Previous studies indicated that FGFR3 mutation (mFGFR3) may be involved in the alterations of immune infiltration, which may affect the priority or combination of these two treatment regimes. However, the specific impact of mFGFR3 on the immunity and how FGFR3 regulates the immune response in BLCA to affect prognosis remain unclear. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the immune landscape associated with mFGFR3 status in BLCA, screen immune-related gene signatures with prognostic value, and construct and validate a prognostic model.

METHODS

ESTIMATE and TIMER were used to assess the immune infiltration within tumors in the TCGA BLCA cohort based on transcriptome data. Further, the mFGFR3 status and mRNA expression profiles were analyzed to identify immune-related genes that were differentially expressed between patients with BLCA with wild-type FGFR3 or mFGFR3 in the TCGA training cohort. An FGFR3-related immune prognostic score (FIPS) model was established in the TCGA training cohort. Furthermore, we validated the prognostic value of FIPS with microarray data in the GEO database and tissue microarray from our center. Multiple fluorescence immunohistochemical analysis was performed to confirm the relationship between FIPS and immune infiltration.

RESULTS

mFGFR3 resulted in differential immunity in BLCA. In total, 359 immune-related biological processes were enriched in the wild-type FGFR3 group, whereas none were enriched in the mFGFR3 group. FIPS could effectively distinguish high-risk patients with poor prognosis from low-risk patients. The high-risk group was characterized by a higher abundance of neutrophils; macrophages; and follicular helper, CD4, and CD8 T-cells than the low-risk group. In addition, the high-risk group exhibited higher expression of PD-L1, PD-1, CTLA-4, LAG-3, and TIM-3 than the low-risk group, indicating an immune-infiltrated but functionally suppressed immune microenvironment. Furthermore, patients in the high-risk group exhibited a lower mutation rate of FGFR3 than those in the low-risk group.

CONCLUSIONS

FIPS effectively predicted survival in BLCA. Patients with different FIPS exhibited diverse immune infiltration and mFGFR3 status. FIPS might be a promising tool for selecting targeted therapy and immunotherapy for patients with BLCA.

Ribosome Heterogeneity in Development and Disease

The functional ribosome is composed of ∼80 ribosome proteins. With the intensity-based absolute quantification (iBAQ) value, we calculate the stoichiometry ratio of each ribosome protein. We analyze the ribosome ratio-omics (Ribosome R ), which reflects the holistic signature of ribosome composition, in various biological samples with distinct functions, developmental stages, and pathological outcomes. The Ribosome R reveals significant ribosome heterogeneity among different tissues of fat, spleen, liver, kidney, heart, and skeletal muscles. During tissue development, testes at various stages of spermatogenesis show distinct Ribosome R signatures. During in vitro neuronal maturation, the Ribosome R changes reveal functional association with certain molecular aspects of neurodevelopment. Regarding ribosome heterogeneity associated with pathological conditions, the Ribosome R signature of gastric tumors is functionally linked to pathways associated with tumorigenesis. Moreover, the Ribosome R undergoes dynamic changes in macrophages following immune challenges. Taken together, with the examination of a broad spectrum of biological samples, the Ribosome R barcode reveals ribosome heterogeneity and specialization in cell function, development, and disease.

One-Sentence Summary

Ratio-omics signature of ribosome deciphers functionally relevant heterogeneity in development and disease.

High expression of RPL27A predicts poor prognosis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common cancers in the digestive system with rapid progression and poor prognosis. Recent studies have shown that RPL27A could be used as a biomarker for a variety of cancers, but its role in HCC is not clear.

METHOD

We analyzed the expression of RPL27A in the pan-cancer analysis and analyzed the relationship between the expression of RPL27A and the clinical features and prognosis of patients with HCC. We evaluated the expression difference of RPL27A in HCC tissues and paired normal adjacent tissues using immunohistochemistry. Furthermore, we analyzed the co-expression genes of RPL27A and used them to explore the possible mechanism of RPL27A and screen hub genes effecting HCC. In addition, we studied the role of RPL27A in immune infiltration and mutation.

RESULTS

We found that the expression level of RPL27A increased in a variety of cancers, including HCC. In HCC patients, the high expression of RPL27A was related to progression and poor prognosis as an independent predictor. We also constructed a protein interaction network through co-expression gene analysis of RPL27A and screened 9 hub genes. Enrichment analysis showed that co-expression genes were associated with ribosome pathway, viral replication, nuclear-transcribed mRNA catabolic process, and nonsense-mediated decay. We found that the expression level of RPL27A was closely related to TP53 mutation and immune infiltration in HCC.

CONCLUSION

RPL27A might become a biomarker in the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of patients with HCC.

Elevated FBXL18 promotes RPS15A ubiquitination and SMAD3 activation to drive HCC

BACKGROUND

F-box and leucine-rich repeat protein 18 (FBXL18) is an E3 ubiquitin ligase that is reported to be involved in the tumorigenesis of various types of cancer. However, it remains unknown whether FBXL18 is correlated with hepatocarcinogenesis.

METHODS AND RESULTS

In the current study, we found that FBXL18 was highly expressed in HCC tissues and positively associated with poor overall survival of HCC patients. FBXL18 was an independent risk factor for HCC patients. We observed that FBXL18 drove HCC in FBXL18 transgenic mice. Mechanistically, FBXL18 promoted the K63-linked ubiquitination of small-subunit ribosomal protein S15A (RPS15A) and enhanced its stability, increasing SMAD family member 3 (SMAD3) levels and translocation to the nucleus and promoting HCC cell proliferation. Moreover, the knockdown of RPS15A or SMAD3 significantly suppressed FBXL18-mediated HCC proliferation. In clinical samples, elevated FBXL18 expression was positively associated with RPS15A expression.

CONCLUSION

FBXL18 promotes RPS15A ubiquitination and upregulates SMAD3 expression, leading to hepatocellular carcinogenesis, and this study provides a novel therapeutic strategy for HCC treatment by targeting the FBXL18/RPS15A/SMAD3 pathway.

Integrated analysis of single-cell and bulk RNA-sequencing reveals tumor heterogeneity and a signature based on NK cell marker genes for predicting prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma

Background: Natural killer (NK) cells are a type of innate immune cell that recognize and eliminate tumor cells and infected cells, without prior sensitization or activation. Herein, we aimed to construct a predictive model based on NK cell-related genes for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients and assess the feasibility of utilizing this model for prognosis prediction. Methods: Single-cell RNA-seq data were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database to identify marker genes of NK cells. Univariate Cox and lasso regression were performed to further establish a signature in the TCGA dataset. Subsequently, qPCR and immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining were employed to validate the expression levels of prognosis signature genes in HCC. The effectiveness of the model was further validated using two external cohorts from the GEO and ICGC datasets. Clinical characteristics, prognosis, tumor mutation burden, immune microenvironments, and biological function were compared for different genetic subtypes and risk groups. Finally, molecular docking was performed to evaluate the binding affinity between the hub gene and chemotherapeutic drugs. Results: A total of 161 HCC-related NK cell marker genes (NKMGs) were identified, 28 of which were significantly associated with overall survival in HCC patients. Based on differences in gene expression characteristics, HCC patients were classified into three subtypes. Ten prognosis genes (KLRB1, CD7, LDB2, FCER1G, PFN1, FYN, ACTG1, PABPC1, CALM1, and RPS8) were screened to develop a prognosis model. The model not only demonstrated excellent predictive performance on the training dataset, but also were successfully validated on two independent external datasets. The risk scores derived from the model were shown to be an independent prognosis factor for HCC and were correlated with pathological severity. Moreover, qPCR and IHC staining confirmed that the expression of the prognosis genes was generally consistent with the results of the bioinformatic analysis. Finally, molecular docking revealed favorable binding energies between the hub gene ACTG1 and chemotherapeutic drugs. Conclusion: In this study, we developed a model for predicting the prognosis of HCC based on NK cells. The utilization of NKMGs as innovative biomarkers showed promise in the prognosis assessment of HCC.

The role of fibroblast growth factor 18 in cancers: functions and signaling pathways

Fibroblast growth factor 18(FGF18) is a member of the fibroblast growth factor family (FGFs). FGF18 is a class of bioactive substances that can conduct biological signals, regulate cell growth, participate in tissue repair and other functions, and can promote the occurrence and development of different types of malignant tumors through various mechanisms. In this review, we focus on recent studies of FGF18 in the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of tumors in digestive, reproductive, urinary, respiratory, motor, and pediatric systems. These findings suggest that FGF18 may play an increasingly important role in the clinical evaluation of these malignancies. Overall, FGF18 can function as an important oncogene at different gene and protein levels, and can be used as a potential new therapeutic target and prognostic biomarker for these tumors.

eIF3 mRNA selectivity profiling reveals eIF3k as a cancer-relevant regulator of ribosome content

eIF3, whose subunits are frequently overexpressed in cancer, regulates mRNA translation from initiation to termination, but mRNA-selective functions of individual subunits remain poorly defined. Using multiomic profiling upon acute depletion of eIF3 subunits, we observed that while eIF3a, b, e, and f markedly differed in their impact on eIF3 holo-complex formation and translation, they were each required for cancer cell proliferation and tumor growth. Remarkably, eIF3k showed the opposite pattern with depletion promoting global translation, cell proliferation, tumor growth, and stress resistance through repressing the synthesis of ribosomal proteins, especially RPS15A. Whereas ectopic expression of RPS15A mimicked the anabolic effects of eIF3k depletion, disruption of eIF3 binding to the 5'-UTR of RSP15A mRNA negated them. eIF3k and eIF3l are selectively downregulated in response to endoplasmic reticulum and oxidative stress. Supported by mathematical modeling, our data uncover eIF3k-l as a mRNA-specific module which, through controlling RPS15A translation, serves as a rheostat of ribosome content, possibly to secure spare translational capacity that can be mobilized during stress.

FOXN3 inhibits the progression of ovarian cancer through negatively regulating the expression of RPS15A

Ovarian cancer is the second most common cause of gynecological cancer death and has a high recurrence rate. FOXN3, a transcription inhibitor belonging to FOX family, has anti-tumor effects on several cancers. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that the expression of FOXN3 was downregulated in ovarian cancer specimens. However, the role of FOXN3 in ovarian cancer remains unclear. Herein, we investigated the role of FOXN3 in ovarian cancer using OVCAR3 and A2780 cells. Flow cytometry and CCK-8 analysis showed that overexpression of FOXN3 inhibited the proliferation and cell cycle progression of OVCAR3 cells. Cell invasion and migration abilities were decreased by FOXN3 according to transwell and wound healing assays. The suppression of FOXN3 on angiogenesis in OVCAR3 cells was evidenced by reduced vessel formation and VEGFA protein expression. Taken together, FOXN3 had an inhibitory effect on the proliferation, migration, invasion and angiogenesis of OVCAR3 cells, while its knockdown exhibited an opposite effect in A2780 cells. By inoculation of FOXN3-overexpressing cells into nude mice, tumorigenesis assay demonstrated that FOXN3 could delay the growth of ovarian cancer cells in vivo. The interaction between FOXN3 and RPS15A was preliminarily explored via dual-luciferases assay and ChIP. FOXN3 was confirmed to bind to the promoter (at - 1588/- 1581 and - 1476/- 1467) of gene RPS15A and inhibit its transcriptional expression. We further found that overexpression of RPS15A diminished the inhibition of FOXN3 on ovarian cancer cell malignant behaviors. These findings indicate that FOXN3 negatively regulates the expression of RPS15A and thus suppresses the progression of ovarian cancer.

RPS24 Is Associated with a Poor Prognosis and Immune Infiltration in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of primary liver malignancy, with increased mortality and morbidity. Accumulating evidence suggested that 40S ribosomal protein S24 (RPS24) is related to malignant outcomes and progression. However, the role of RPS24 remains unclear in HCC. The mRNA and protein expression pattern of RPS24 in HCC was explored and confirmed based on the bioinformatics analysis and histological examination. The correlation between RPS24 expression and clinicopathological features, diagnostic value, prognosis, methylation status, and survival were evaluated. Then, we divided the HCC cohort into two groups based on the expression of RPS24, and performed the functional enrichment and immune cells infiltration analysis of RPS24. Furthermore, in vivo and in vitro experiments were performed to investigate the effect of RPS24 on HCC cells. RPS24 was observed to be elevated in HCC samples. RPS24 overexpression or RPS24 promoter methylation contributed to an unfavorable prognosis for HCC patients. The genes in the high RPS24 expression group were mainly enriched in DNA replication, cell cycle E2F targets, and the G2M checkpoint pathway. Moreover, the expression level of RPS24 was significantly related to immune infiltration and immunotherapy response. Our experiments also demonstrated that RPS24 knockdown suppressed the growth of HCC cells and tumor proliferation of the xenograft model. Therefore, RPS24 can be a potential adverse biomarker of HCC prognosis acting through facilitating cell proliferation and the formation of an immunosuppressive microenvironment in HCC. Targeting RPS24 may offer a promising therapeutic option for HCC management.

Identification of an immune-related gene prognostic index for predicting survival and immunotherapy efficacy in papillary renal cell carcinoma

Despite considerable progress has been made in the understanding of the genetics and molecular biology of renal cell carcinoma (RCC), therapeutic options of patients with papillary renal cell carcinoma (PRCC) are limited. Immunotherapy based on immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has become a hot point in researching new drug for tumor and been tested in a number of human clinical trials. In this study, an immune-related gene prognostic index (IRGPI) was developed and provided a comprehensive and systematic analysis of distinct phenotypic and molecular portraits in the recognition, surveillance, and prognosis of PRCC. The reliability of the IRGPI was evaluated using independent datasets from GEO database and the expression levels of the genes in the IRGPI detected by real-time PCR. Collectively, the currently established IRGPI could be used as a potential biomarker to evaluate the response and efficacy of immunotherapy in PRCC.

The Role of the Key Differentially Mutated Gene FGFR3 in the Immune Microenvironment of Bladder Cancer

The tumor microenvironment (TME) has been a major focus of research in recent years as a crucial factor in the development and progression of bladder cancer. Unfortunately, the precise composition of TME, particularly the immunological and stromal components, remains unknown. In this work, we downloaded the RNA-seq expression profiles and somatic mutation data of 433 bladder cancer cases from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and then employed a comprehensive bioinformatics approach to evaluate them. Firstly, the expression profiles were used to predict the scores and then the content of immune and stromal cells via the estimate package in R software. We then identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and differentially mutated genes (DMGs) according to the high-stromal score cohort and low-stromal score cohort. Finally, fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) was the main differentially mutated gene in bladder carcinoma that we discovered after conducting a cross-study on DEGs and DMGs. Follow-up investigation revealed that FGFR3, whose expression correlated inversely with cancer progression stage, appeared to be a protective factor in bladder cancer. The method of Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) was employed to, respectively, interpret the expression data of FGFR3 in high and low expression lists. We observed that the genes in the low FGFR3 expression list were strongly enriched in the biological processes associated with transplantation and cell adhesion, suggesting the possible role of FGFR3 in predicting TME metastasis status in bladder cancer. Therefore, this study is aimed at investigating whether FGFR3 is promising as a biomarker of TME remodeling to explain underlying mechanisms involved in tumorigenesis and metastasis, which may help to make decisions on treatments for bladder cancer.

PSMC2 promotes the progression of gastric cancer via induction of RPS15A/mTOR pathway

As one of the most common malignant tumors, it is particularly important to further understand the development mechanism of gastric cancer and to find more effective therapeutic target genes. The results of immunohistochemical staining showed that PSMC2 was upregulated in gastric cancer. Cell function experiments indicated that PSMC2 knockdown inhibited the proliferation, clone formation and migration of gastric cancer cells, and induced apoptosis. In vivo experiments further showed that PSMC2 knockdown suppressed tumor growth. RPS15A and mTOR pathway were identified the downstream gene and pathway of PSMC2 by GeneChip and IPA. PSMC2 knockdown inhibited RPS15A expression and mTOR pathway, which was neutralized by RPS15A overexpression. Overexpression of RPS15A promoted the proliferation and migration of gastric cancer cells, which alleviated the inhibitory effect caused by PSMC2 knockdown to a certain extent. The mTOR pathway inhibitor Torin1 partially restored the promoting role of RPS15A overexpression on the gastric cancer cell proliferation. Furthermore, bioinformatics analysis and dual-luciferase reporter assays showed that PSMC2 and RPS15A competitively bound to hsa-let-7c-3p. Inhibition of hsa-let-7c-3p promoted the migration of MGC-803 cells and reduced the apoptosis level, while simultaneous inhibition PSMC2 and hsa-let-7c-3p restored the migration and apoptosis levels of gastric cancer cells. In conclusion, PSMC2 and RPS15A were highly expressed in gastric cancer. PSMC2 enhanced RPS15A levels by targeting hsa-let-7c-3p, and then activated mTOR pathway, thereby promoting the progression of gastric cancer.

Opportunities and Challenges of Nanoparticles in Digestive Tumours as Anti-Angiogenic Therapies

Digestive tumours, a common kind of malignancy worldwide, have recently led to the most tumour-related deaths. Angiogenesis, the process of forming novel blood vessels from pre-existing vessels, is involved in various physiological and pathological processes in the body. Many studies suggest that abnormal angiogenesis plays an important role in the growth, progression, and metastasis of digestive tumours. Therefore, anti-angiogenic therapy is considered a promising target for improving therapeutic efficacy. Traditional strategies such as bevacizumab and regorafenib can target and block the activity of proangiogenic factors to treat digestive tumours. However, due to resistance and some limitations, such as poor pharmacokinetics, their efficacy is not always satisfactory. In recent years, nanotechnology-based anti-angiogenic therapies have emerged as a new way to treat digestive tumours. Compared with commonly used drugs, nanoparticles show great potential in tumour targeted delivery, controlled drug release, prolonged cycle time, and increased drug bioavailability. Therefore, anti-angiogenic nanoparticles may be an effective complementary therapy to treat digestive tumours. In this review, we outline the different mechanisms of angiogenesis, the effects of nanoparticles on angiogenesis, and their biomedical applications in various kinds of digestive tumours. In addition, the opportunities and challenges are briefly discussed.

Deregulation of ribosomal proteins in human cancers

The ribosome, the site for protein synthesis, is composed of ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs) and ribosomal proteins (RPs). The latter have been shown to have many ribosomal and extraribosomal functions. RPs are implicated in a variety of pathological processes, especially tumorigenesis and cell transformation. In this review, we will focus on the recent advances that shed light on the effects of RPs deregulation in different types of cancer and their roles in regulating the tumor cell fate.

Expression and Clinical Significance of MPS-1 in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Purpose

Ribosomal protein metallopanstimulin-1 (MPS-1) is implicated in tumorigenesis. However, to date, the underlying role of MPS-1 in the generation, progression and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unknown. This study aims to investigate the expression of MPS-1 in HCC and its significance for the prognosis of HCC.

Methods

The Oncomine and GEPIA databases were used to analyze the expression pattern of MPS-1 in HCC. Immunohistochemical staining was performed on tissue microarrays containing 169 HCC tissue samples to examine the expression of MPS-1. In addition, univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses and Kaplan-Meier analysis were used to verify the correlation between clinicopathological factors in HCC patients and its clinical prognostic significance.

Results

MPS-1 was more highly expressed in HCC than in normal tissues, and MPS-1 expression was correlated with serum AFP levels (P = 0.003), liver cirrhosis (P = 0.024), tumor embolus (P = 0.009) and tumor recurrence (P < 0.003). MPS-1 was an independent prognostic factor for the overall survival of HCC (HR, 1.92; 95% CI, 1.01-3.68), and a higher expression of MPS-1 predicted poorer survival. Furthermore, high expression of MPS-1 indicated a poor prognosis in patients with AFP positivity, cirrhosis or HBsAg positivity.

Conclusion

These findings demonstrate that MPS-1 is highly expressed in HCC and serves as an independent prognostic marker, highlighting the potential role of MPS-1 as a novel biomarker and therapeutic target for HCC.

Repositioning of a novel GABA-B receptor agonist, AZD3355 (Lesogaberan), for the treatment of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a rising health challenge, with no approved drugs. We used a computational drug repositioning strategy to uncover a novel therapy for NASH, identifying a GABA-B receptor agonist, AZD3355 (Lesogaberan) previously evaluated as a therapy for esophageal reflux. AZD3355's potential efficacy in NASH was tested in human stellate cells, human precision cut liver slices (hPCLS), and in vivo in a well-validated murine model of NASH. In human stellate cells AZD3355 significantly downregulated profibrotic gene and protein expression. Transcriptomic analysis of these responses identified key regulatory nodes impacted by AZD3355, including Myc, as well as MAP and ERK kinases. In PCLS, AZD3355 down-regulated collagen1α1, αSMA and TNF-α mRNAs as well as secreted collagen1α1. In vivo, the drug significantly improved histology, profibrogenic gene expression, and tumor development, which was comparable to activity of obeticholic acid in a robust mouse model of NASH, but awaits further testing to determine its relative efficacy in patients. These data identify a well-tolerated clinical stage asset as a novel candidate therapy for human NASH through its hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic mechanisms of action. The approach validates computational methods to identify novel therapies in NASH in uncovering new pathways of disease development that can be rapidly translated into clinical trials.

Ribosomal proteins and human diseases: molecular mechanisms and targeted therapy

Ribosome biogenesis and protein synthesis are fundamental rate-limiting steps for cell growth and proliferation. The ribosomal proteins (RPs), comprising the structural parts of the ribosome, are essential for ribosome assembly and function. In addition to their canonical ribosomal functions, multiple RPs have extra-ribosomal functions including activation of p53-dependent or p53-independent pathways in response to stress, resulting in cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Defects in ribosome biogenesis, translation, and the functions of individual RPs, including mutations in RPs have been linked to a diverse range of human congenital disorders termed ribosomopathies. Ribosomopathies are characterized by tissue-specific phenotypic abnormalities and higher cancer risk later in life. Recent discoveries of somatic mutations in RPs in multiple tumor types reinforce the connections between ribosomal defects and cancer. In this article, we review the most recent advances in understanding the molecular consequences of RP mutations and ribosomal defects in ribosomopathies and cancer. We particularly discuss the molecular basis of the transition from hypo- to hyper-proliferation in ribosomopathies with elevated cancer risk, a paradox termed "Dameshek's riddle." Furthermore, we review the current treatments for ribosomopathies and prospective therapies targeting ribosomal defects. We also highlight recent advances in ribosome stress-based cancer therapeutics. Importantly, insights into the mechanisms of resistance to therapies targeting ribosome biogenesis bring new perspectives into the molecular basis of cancer susceptibility in ribosomopathies and new clinical implications for cancer therapy.

Inhibition of ribosomal RNA processing 15 Homolog (RRP15), which is overexpressed in hepatocellular carcinoma, suppresses tumour growth via induction of senescence and apoptosis

Recent studies suggest that RRP15 (Ribosomal RNA Processing 15 Homolog) might be a potential target for cancer therapy. However, the role of RRP15 in hepatocarcinogenesis remains poorly delineated. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the expression and biological function of RRP15 in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We show that RRP15 was up regulated in HCC cell lines and tumours. Up-regulation of RRP15 in HCC tumours was also correlated with unfavorable prognosis. We further show that the frequent up-regulation of RRP15 in HCCs is at least partly driven by recurrent gene copy gain at chromosome 1q41. Functional studies indicated that RRP15 knockdown suppresses HCC proliferation and growth both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, RRP15 depletion in p53-wild-type HepG2 cells induced senescence via activation of the p53-p21 signalling pathway through enhanced interaction of RPL11 with MDM2, as well as inhibition of SIRT1-mediated p53 deacetylation. Moreover, RRP15 depletion in p53-mutant PLC5 and p53-deleted Hep3B cells induced metabolic shift from the glycolytic pentose-phosphate to mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation via regulating a series of key genes such as HK2 and TIGAR, and thus, promoted the generation of ROS and apoptosis. Taken together, our findings provide evidence for an important role of the RRP15 gene in hepatocarcinogenesis through regulation of HCC proliferation and growth, raising the possibility that targeting RRP15 may represent a potential therapeutic strategy for HCC treatment.

RPL19 Is a Prognostic Biomarker and Promotes Tumor Progression in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Background

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignancies, and the therapeutic outcome remains undesirable due to its recurrence and metastasis. Gene dysregulation plays a pivotal role in the occurrence and progression of cancer, and the molecular mechanisms are largely unknown.

Methods

The differentially expressed genes of HCC screened from the GSE39791 dataset were used to conduct weighted gene co-expression network analysis. The selected hub genes were validated in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and 11 HCC datasets from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Then, a tissue microarray comprising 90 HCC specimens and 90 adjacent normal specimens was used to validate the hub genes. Moreover, the Hallmark, Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) databases were used to identify enriched pathways. Then, we conducted the immune infiltration analysis.

Results

A total of 17 co-expression modules were obtained by weighted gene co-expression network analysis. The green, blue, and purple modules were the most relevant to HCC samples. Four hub genes, RPL19, RPL35A, RPL27A, and RPS12, were identified. Interestingly, we found that all four genes were highly expressed in HCC and that their high expression was related to a poor prognosis by analyzing the TCGA and GEO databases. Furthermore, we investigated RPL19 in HCC tissue microarrays and demonstrated that RPL19 was overexpressed in tumor tissues compared with non-tumor tissues (p = 0.016). Moreover, overexpression of RPL19 predicted a poor prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma (p < 0.0007). Then, enrichment analysis revealed that cell cycle pathways were significantly enriched, and bile acid metabolism-related pathways were significantly down-regulated when RPL19 was highly expressed. Furthermore, immune infiltration analysis showed that immune response was suppressed.

Conclusion

Our study demonstrates that RPL19 may play an important role in promoting tumor progression and is correlated with a poor prognosis in HCC. RPL19 may serve as a promising biomarker and therapeutic target for the precise diagnosis and treatment of HCC in the future.

Insights of fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 aberrations in pan-cancer and their roles in potential clinical treatment

Fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) alters frequently across various cancer types and is a common therapeutic target in bladder urothelial carcinoma (BLCA) with FGFR3 variants. Although emerging evidence supports the role of FGFR3 in individual cancer types, no pan-cancer analysis is available. In this work, we used the open comprehensive datasets, covering a total of 10,953 patients with 10,967 samples across 32 TCGA cancer types, to identify the full alteration spectrum of FGFR3. FGFR3 abnormal expression, methylation patterns, alteration frequency, mutation location distribution, functional impact, and prognostic implications differed greatly from cancer to cancer. The overall alteration frequency of FGFR3 was relatively low in all cancers. Targetable mutations were mainly detected in BLCA, and S249C, Y373C, G370C, and R248C were hotspot mutations that could be targeted by an FDA approved erdafitinib. Genetic fusions were mainly observed in glioma, followed by BLCA. FGFR3-TACC3 was the most common fusion type which was proposed as novel therapeutic targets in glioma and was targetable with erdafitinib in BLCA. Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) and lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) were two lung cancer subtypes, FGFR3 fusion and hotspot mutation like S249C were observed more commonly in LUSC but not in LUAD. DNA methylation was correlated with the expression of FGFR3 and its downstream genes in some tumors. FGFG3 abnormal expression and alterations exhibited clinical correlations with patient prognosis in several tumors. This work exhibited the full alteration spectrum of FGFR3 and indicated several new clues for their application as potential therapeutic targets and prognostic indicators.

Advances of Fibroblast Growth Factor/Receptor Signaling Pathway in Hepatocellular Carcinoma and its Pharmacotherapeutic Targets

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a type of primary liver cancer with poor prognosis, and its incidence and mortality rate are increasing worldwide. It is refractory to conventional chemotherapy and radiotherapy owing to its high tumor heterogeneity. Accumulated genetic alterations and aberrant cell signaling pathway have been characterized in HCC. The fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family and their receptors (FGFRs) are involved in diverse biological activities, including embryonic development, proliferation, differentiation, survival, angiogenesis, and migration, etc. Data mining results of The Cancer Genome Atlas demonstrate high levels of FGF and/or FGFR expression in HCC tumors compared with normal tissues. Moreover, substantial evidence indicates that the FGF/FGFR signaling axis plays an important role in various mechanisms that contribute to HCC development. At present, several inhibitors targeting FGF/FGFR, such as multikinase inhibitors, specific FGFR4 inhibitors, and FGF ligand traps, exhibit antitumor activity in preclinical or early development phases in HCC. In this review, we summarize the research progress regarding the molecular implications of FGF/FGFR-mediated signaling and the development of FGFR-targeted therapeutics in hepatocarcinogenesis.

Tumor microenvironment in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: Functions and regulatory mechanisms

The tumor microenvironment has been recently reported to play a pivotal role in sustaining tumor cells survival and protecting them from immunotherapy and chemotherapy-induced death. It remains largely unknown how the specific signaling pathway exerts the tumor microenvironment in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma though previous studies have elucidated the regulatory mechanisms involve in tumor immune microenvironment, stromal cells, tumor angiogenesis and cancer stem cell. These components are responsible for tumor progression as well as anti-cancer therapy resistance, leading to rapid tumor growth and treatment failure. In this review, we focus on discussing the interaction between tumor cells and the surrounding components for better understanding of anti-cancer treatment ineffectiveness and its underlying molecular mechanisms.

FGF/FGFR Signaling in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: From Carcinogenesis to Recent Therapeutic Intervention

Simple Summary

As the most common primary liver cancer, HCC is a tricky cancer resistant to systemic therapies. The fibroblast growth factor family and its receptors are gaining more and more attention in various cancers. Noticing an explosion in the number of studies about aberrant FGF/FGFR signaling in HCC being studied, we were encouraged to summarize them. This review discusses how FGF/FGFR signaling influences HCC development and its implications in HCC prediction and target treatment, and combination treatment.

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of primary liver cancer, ranking third in cancer deaths worldwide. Over the last decade, several studies have emphasized the development of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) to target the aberrant pathways in HCC. However, the outcomes are far from satisfactory due to the increasing resistance and adverse effects. The family of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) and its receptors (FGFR) are involved in various biological processes, including embryogenesis, morphogenesis, wound repair, and cell growth. The aberrant FGF/FGFR signaling is also observed in multiple cancers, including HCC. Anti-FGF/FGFR provides delightful benefits for cancer patients, especially those with FGF signaling alteration. More and more multi-kinase inhibitors targeting FGF signaling, pan-FGFR inhibitors, and selective FGFR inhibitors are now under preclinical and clinical investigation. This review summarizes the aberrant FGF/FGFR signaling in HCC initiating, development and treatment status, and provide new insights into the treatment of HCC.

Wnt Signaling in the Tumor Microenvironment

Dysregulated Wnt signaling plays a central role in initiation, progression, and metastasis in many types of human cancers. Cancer development and resistance to conventional cancer therapies are highly associated with the tumor microenvironment (TME), which is composed of numerous stable non-cancer cells, including immune cells, extracellular matrix (ECM), fibroblasts, endothelial cells (ECs), and stromal cells. Recently, increasing evidence suggests that the relationship between Wnt signaling and the TME promotes the proliferation and maintenance of tumor cells, including leukemia. Here, we review the Wnt pathway, the role of Wnt signaling in different components of the TME, and therapeutic strategies for targeting Wnt signaling.

FGFR3 Alterations in the Era of Immunotherapy for Urothelial Bladder Cancer

FGFR3 is a prognostic and predictive marker and is a validated therapeutic target in urothelial bladder cancer. Its utility as a marker and target in the context of immunotherapy is incompletely understood. We review the role of FGFR3 in bladder cancer and discuss preclinical and clinical clues of its effectiveness as a patient selection factor and therapeutic target in the era of immunotherapy.

FGF18 Inhibits Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma Proliferation and Invasion via Regulating Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition

Fibroblast growth factor 18 (FGF18) is a member of the FGF family and contributes to a broad range of biological events. The important role of the overexpression of FGF18 has been identified in the progression of several types of cancers. However, there is still little information on the biological role of FGF18 on clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), which is of interest in investigating the biological functions of FGF18 in ccRCC. Our results showed that FGF18 was lowly expressed in ccRCC tissues compared to paired normal renal tissue from the TCGA database and clinical cohort of Huashan Hospital and that high expression of FGF18 correlated with a good prognosis in ccRCC patients. In addition, overexpression of FGF18 significantly inhibited the proliferation ability of ccRCC cell lines in vitro and in vivo. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) identified epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) involved in a high FGF18 expression group of ccRCC patients in the TCGA cohort, which was further validated with EMT related markers in FGF18 overexpressed ccRCC cell lines. Furthermore, FGF18 overexpression significantly inhibited the PI3K/Akt pathway in ccRCC cells. Taken together, this study concludes that FGF18 is of potential value as a target for ccRCC.

Estrogen-Induced Stromal FGF18 Promotes Proliferation and Invasion of Endometrial Carcinoma Cells Through ERK and Akt Signaling

Objective

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether estrogen promoted the proliferation and invasion of endometrial carcinoma (EC) cells through paracrine FGFs in endometrial stromal cells (ESCs).

Patients and Methods

We screened gene alterations in a primary ESC culture after 10 nM estrogen treatment using an Agilent mRNA microarray. We knocked down stromal FGF18 expression in a co-culture system and aimed to explore the contribution of E2-induced stromal FGF18 to the proliferation and invasion of EC cells. To determine the effective receptors and detailed downstream signaling of FGF18, we co-cultured estrogen-treated hESCs with FGFR1-, FGFR2-, FGFR3- or FGFR4-knockdown Ishikawa cells. Finally, we detected FGF18 expression in clinical samples, including several primary cultures of different ESCs and a series of tissue microarrays (TMAs) of 90 patients with EC.

Results

A few genes altered significantly in estrogen-treated primary ESCs, but only FGF18 was noticeably enhanced among the FGF family genes. Knockdown of FGF18 expression in hESCs inhibited the promoting effect of FGF18 on the proliferation and invasion of EC cells. FGF18 bound FGFR2 and FGFR3 in Ishikawa cells to activate downstream ERK and Akt pathways and to promote the viability of EC cells. The FGF18-FGFR2 and FGF18-FGFR3 pathways had close correlations with Survivin and CD44V6 expression but not with P53. Primary ESCs of endometrioid EC (EEC, type I EC) had higher FGF18 expression than ESCs of normal endometrium (NE), endometrial atypical hyperplasia (EAH) and type II EC.

Conclusion

Estrogen induced FGF18 in ESCs to promote the proliferation and invasion of EC cells, and FGFR inhibitors should be considered as promising candidate targets for EC treatment.

Down-regulation of lncRNA BLACAT1 inhibits ovarian cancer progression by suppressing the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway via regulating miR-519d-3p

Ovarian cancer has the highest mortality in gynecologic malignancies. LncRNA BLACAT1 serves crucial functions in various cancers, but its role in ovarian cancer has not been investigated. In this article, our team explored the role and the potential regulatory mechanism of BLACAT1 in ovarian cancer. Quantitative RT-PCR showed that BLACAT1 was aberrantly up-regulated in ovarian cancer tissues compared with normal tissues. In vitro, BLACAT1 knockdown induced cell cycle arrest and inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion of ovarian cancer cells using flow cytometry, MTT and EdU assays, wound healing assay and transwell assay, respectively. Luciferase assay verified the binding relationship between microRNA-519d-3p and lncRNA BLACAT1, and BLACAT1 negatively regulated the expression of miR-519d-3p. We also found that miR-519d-3p overexpression could inhibit ovarian cancer cells proliferation, migration and invasion. Further, Western blot demonstrated that the expression of RPS15A and nuclear β-catenin expression was markedly reduced by BLACAT1 knockdown, and cytoplasmic β-catenin level was not obviously affected. In vivo, BLACAT1 knockdown inhibited the tumor growth, and immunohistochemistry showed that ki67 expression was decreased by BLACAT1 suppression. Inhibition of BLACAT1 was sufficient to down-regulate the expression of RPS15A and nuclear β-catenin but did not cause an obvious change in cytoplasmic β-catenin expression. Taken together, BLACAT1 knockdown inhibited the progression of ovarian cancer by suppressing the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway via regulating miR-519d-3p. Our work provided a proper understanding of the critical roles of BLACAT1 in ovarian cancer.

MicroRNA-147b suppresses the proliferation and invasion of non-small-cell lung cancer cells through downregulation of Wnt/β-catenin signalling via targeting of RPS15A

Deregulation of microRNAs (miRNAs) leads to malignant growth and aggressive invasion during cancer occurrence and progression. miR-147b has emerged as one of the cancer-related miRNAs that are dysregulated in multiple cancers. Yet, the relevance of miR-147b in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains unclear. In the present study, we aimed to report the biological function and signalling pathways mediated by miR-147b in NSCLC. Our results demonstrate that miR-147b expression is significantly downregulated in NSCLC tissues and cell lines. Overexpression of miR-147b decreased the proliferative ability, colony-forming capability, and invasive potential of NSCLC cells. Notably, our study identified ribosomal protein S15A (RPS15A), an oncogene in NSCLC, as a target gene of miR-147b. Our results showed that miR-147b negatively modulates RPS15A expression in NSCLC cells. An inverse correlation between miR-147b and RPS15A was evidenced in NSCLC specimens. Moreover, miR-147b overexpression downregulated the activation of Wnt/β-catenin signalling via targeting of RPS15A. Overexpression of RPS15A partially reversed the miR-147b-mediated antitumour effect in NSCLC cells. Collectively, these findings reveal that miR-147b restricts the proliferation and invasion of NSCLC cells by inhibiting RPS15A-induced Wnt/β-catenin signalling and suggest that the miR-147b/RPS15A/Wnt/β-catenin axis is an important regulatory mechanism for malignant progression of NSCLC.

MicroRNA-3064-5p sponged by MALAT1 suppresses angiogenesis in human hepatocellular carcinoma by targeting the FOXA1/CD24/Src pathway

Angiogenesis is critical for the development, progression, and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but the roles of miR-3064-5p in HCC angiogenesis are still unknown. In this study, the roles of miR-3064-5p in HCC angiogenesis were studied in 192 HCC patients, xenograft mouse models, and HCC cell lines. The results showed that miR-3064-5p expression was significantly decreased in HCC tissues and cells, and downregulated miR-3064-5p was associated with upregulated angiogenic potential of HCC. MiR-3064-5p inhibited proangiogenic VEGFA and angiogenin expressions but induced antiangiogenic endostatin and MMP12 expressions, finally leading to suppression of HCC angiogenesis, as shown by the decline in intratumoral microvessel density (MVD). Moreover, miR-3064-5p was inversely correlated with lncRNA MALAT1 and FOXA1. FOXA1 bound to and interacted with CD24 and then regulated Src phosphorylation. MiR-3064-5p played an antiangiogenic role by inhibiting the FOXA1/CD24/Src pathway, whereas oncogenic MALAT1 functioned as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) by sponging miR-3064-5p to alleviate the suppressive effect on the FOXA1 pathway. HCC patients with high miR-3064-5p, low MALAT1, or low FOXA1 expression had a better prognosis with longer overall survival and recurrence-free survival. In univariate and multivariate analyses, miR-3064-5p was identified as the independent prognostic predicator for HCC progression and patient survival. Taken together, miR-3064-5p exerts an antiangiogenic role by targeting the FOXA1/CD24/Src pathway but oncogenic lncRNA MALAT1 acts as a ceRNA to sponge miR-3064-5p. MiR-3064-5p is of great clinical significance and is a novel prognostic indicator and an attractive therapeutic target for HCC.

HNF4α-Deficient Fatty Liver Provides a Permissive Environment for Sex-Independent Hepatocellular Carcinoma

The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is on the rise worldwide. Although the incidence of HCC in males is considerably higher than in females, the projected rates of HCC incidence are increasing for both sexes. A recently appreciated risk factor for HCC is the growing problem of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, which is usually associated with obesity and the metabolic syndrome. In this study, we showed that under conditions of fatty liver, female mice were more likely to develop HCC than expected from previous models. Using an inducible knockout model of the tumor-suppressive isoform of hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 alpha ("P1-HNF4α") in the liver in combination with prolonged high fat (HF) diet, we found that HCC developed equally in male and female mice as early as 38 weeks of age. Similar sex-independent HCC occurred in the "STAM" model of mice, in which severe hyperglycemia and HF feeding results in rapid hepatic lipid deposition, fibrosis, and ultimately HCC. In both sexes, reduced P1-HNF4α activity, which also occurs under chronic HF diet feeding, increased hepatic lipid deposition and produced a greatly augmented circadian rhythm in IL6, a factor previously linked with higher HCC incidence in males. Loss of HNF4α combined with HF feeding induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition in an IL6-dependent manner. Collectively, these data provide a mechanism-based working hypothesis that could explain the rising incidence of aggressive HCC. SIGNIFICANCE: This study provides a mechanism for the growing incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma in both men and women, which is linked to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Ribosomal protein small subunit 15A (RPS15A) inhibits the apoptosis of breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells via upregulating phosphorylated ERK1/2, Bad, and Chk1

AIM

To detect the expression and identify the role of Ribosomal protein S15A (RPS15A) in human breast cancer (BC).

METHODS

Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was carried out for detecting the levels of RPS15A protein. Quantitative PCR was used to evaluate the mRNA level of RPS15A in one normal breast and three BC cell lines. Lentivirus-mediated shRNA targeting RPS15A was designed to investigate the impact of silencing RPS15A in MDA-MB-231 cell.

RESULTS

Higher RPS15A expression was detected in tumor tissues than in para-cancer tissues, and higher RPS15A expression was related to larger tumor size and higher TNM stage. Also, RPS15A mRNA expression in all three BC cell lines was higher than that in normal breast cell (all P < .005). Further, RPS15A knockdown significantly suppressed MDA-MB-231 cell proliferation and induced apoptosis. Moreover, RPS15A knockdown increased the caspase-3/-7 activity, and suppressed the phosphorylated levels of ERK1/2, Bad, and Chk1 (all P < .01).

CONCLUSION

RPS15A inhibits apoptosis via upregulating phosphorylated ERK1/2, Bad, and Chk1 in MDA-MB-231 cell line.

Overexpression of microRNA-519d-3p suppressed the growth of pancreatic cancer cells by inhibiting ribosomal protein S15A-mediated Wnt/β-catenin signaling

Ribosomal protein S15A (RPS15A) has emerged as a novel oncogene of various human cancers. However, whether RPS15A is involved in pancreatic cancer remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate the potential relevance of RPS15A in pancreatic cancer and elucidate the underlying regulatory mechanism. We found that RPS15A expression was significantly up-regulated in pancreatic cancer cell lines. RPS15A knockdown resulted in a decrease of cell proliferation and colony formation, and induced cell cycle arrest in G0/G1 phases of pancreatic cancer cells in vitro. In addition, RPS15A knockdown down-regulated β-catenin expression and blocked the activation of Wnt signaling. Notably, RPS15A was identified as a target gene of microRNA-519d-3p (miR-519d-3p), a tumor suppressive miRNA. Further data showed that miR-519d-3p negatively regulated RPS15A expression in pancreatic cancer cells. Moreover, miR-591d-3p expression was significantly decreased in pancreatic cancer cell lines and tissues and was inversely correlated with RPS15A expression. The overexpression of miR-519d-3p significantly inhibited the proliferation and Wnt/β-catenin signaling in pancreatic cancer cells, mimicking the similar effect of RPS15A knockdown. However, restoration of RPS15A expression partially reversed the antitumor effect of miR-519d-3p. Taken together, our results demonstrate that RPS15A knockdown or RPS15A inhibition by miR-519d-3p suppresses the growth of pancreatic cancer cells associated with the inhibition of Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Our study suggests that the miR-519d-3p/RPS15A/Wnt/β-catenin regulation axis plays an important role in the progression of pancreatic cancer and may serve as potential targets for treatment of pancreatic cancer.

RPS15A promotes gastric cancer progression via activation of the Akt/IKK-β/NF-κB signalling pathway

This study aimed to investigate the clinical significance, potential biological function and underlying mechanism of RPS15A in gastric cancer (GC) progression. RPS15A expression was detected in 40 pairs of GC tissues and matched normal gastric mucosae (MNGM) using qRT‐PCR analysis. Immunohistochemistry assay was conducted using a tissue microarray including 186 primary GC samples to characterize the clinical significance of RPS15A. A series of in vitro and in vivo assays were performed to elucidate the biological function of RPS15A in GC development and underlying molecular mechanisms. The expression of RPS15A was significantly up‐regulated in GC samples compared to MNGM, and its expression was closely related to TNM stage, tumour size, differentiation, lymph node metastasis and poor patient survival. Ectopic expression of RPS15A markedly enhanced the proliferation and metastasis of GC cells both in vitro and in vivo. RPS15A overexpression also promoted the epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) phenotype formation of GC cells. Investigations of underlying mechanisms found that RPS15A activated the NF‐κB signalling pathway by inducing the nuclear translocation and phosphorylation of the p65 NF‐κB subunit, transactivation of NF‐κB reporter and up‐regulating target genes of this pathway. In addition, RPS15A overexpression activated, while RPS15A knockdown inhibited the Akt/IKK‐β signalling axis in GC cells. And both Akt inhibitor LY294002 and IKK inhibitor Bay117082 neutralized the p65 and p‐p65 nuclear translocation induced by RPS15A overexpression. Collectively, our findings suggest that RPS15A activates the NF‐κB pathway through Akt/IKK‐β signalling axis, and consequently promotes EMT and GC metastasis. This newly identified RPS15A/Akt/IKK‐β/NF‐κB signalling pathway may be a potential therapeutic target to prevent GC progression.

The roles of moonlight ribosomal proteins in the development of human cancers

"Moonlighting protein" is a term used to define a single protein with multiple functions and different activities that are not derived from gene fusions, multiple RNA splicing, or the proteolytic activity of promiscuous enzymes. Different proteinous constituents of ribosomes have been shown to have important moonlighting extra-ribosomal functions. In this review, we introduce the impact of key moonlight ribosomal proteins and dependent signal transduction in the initiation and progression of various cancers. As a future perspective, the potential role of these moonlight ribosomal proteins in the diagnosis, prognosis, and development of novel strategies to improve the efficacy of therapies for human cancers has been suggested.

Interferon-α Combined With Herbal Compound "Songyou Yin" Effectively Inhibits the Increased Invasiveness and Metastasis by Insufficient Radiofrequency Ablation of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in an Animal Model

Objective: We had previously proved that insufficient radiofrequency ablation (RFA) could enhance invasiveness and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) through epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), which is mediated by activating β-catenin signaling. Thus, the aim of the present study was to demonstrate whether the combined treatment of interferon-α (IFN-α) and “Songyou Yin” (SYY) minimizes the pro-metastatic effects of insufficient RFA, as well as to explore its underlying mechanism. Methods: Insufficient RFA was performed in an orthotopic nude mice model of HCCLM3 with high metastatic potential. The effects of IFN-α, SYY, and combined IFN-α and SYY were observed in the animal model. Tumor sizes, lung metastasis, and survival time were assessed. Immunochemistry staining, real-time polymerase chain reaction, and Western blot were used to examine gene expression related to metastasis and angiogenesis in residual cancer after insufficient RFA. Results: For up to 8 weeks of treatment, the combined therapy significantly decreased the residual cancer sizes, minimized the lung metastasis rate, and prolonged the survival time of nude mice, which might be due to suppression of the EMT via β-catenin signal blockade, in addition to attenuating angiogenesis in residual cancer after insufficient RFA. Conclusion: IFN-α combined with SYY significantly weakened the enhanced metastatic potential of residual cancer after insufficient RFA by attenuating EMT, which is mediated through inhibiting activation of β-catenin. In addition, decreasing angiogenesis of residual cancer might also play a certain role.

The nucleolus, an ally, and an enemy of cancer cells

The rates of ribosome production by a nucleolus and of protein biosynthesis by ribosomes are tightly correlated with the rate of cell growth and proliferation. All these processes must be matched and appropriately regulated to provide optimal cell functioning. Deregulation of certain factors, including oncogenes, controlling these processes, especially ribosome biosynthesis, can lead to cell transformation. Cancer cells are characterized by intense ribosome biosynthesis which is advantageous for their growth and proliferation. On the other hand, this feature can be engaged as an anticancer strategy. Numerous nucleolar factors such as nucleolar and ribosomal proteins as well as different RNAs, in addition to their role in ribosome biosynthesis, have other functions, including those associated with cancer biology. Some of them can contribute to cell transformation and cancer development. Others, under stress evoked by different factors which often hamper function of nucleoli and thus induce nucleolar/ribosomal stress, can participate in combating cancer cells. In this sense, intentional application of therapeutic agents affecting ribosome biosynthesis can cause either release of these molecules from nucleoli or their de novo biosynthesis to mediate the activation of pathways leading to elimination of harmful cells. This review underlines the role of a nucleolus not only as a ribosome constituting apparatus but also as a hub of both positive and negative control of cancer development. The article is mainly based on original papers concerning mechanisms in which the nucleolus is implicated directly or indirectly in processes associated with neoplasia.

Histone demethylase KDM4D promotes gastrointestinal stromal tumor progression through HIF1β/VEGFA signalling

BACKGROUND

Gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST) is the most common soft tissue sarcoma. The identification of the molecular mechanisms regulating GIST progression is vital for its treatment and prevention. Increasing reports have demonstrated that epigenetic alterations play critical roles in GIST development. However, the role of the histone demethylase KDM4D in GIST progression is poorly understood.

METHODS

In clinically matched GIST tissues, KDM4D protein levels were measured by Western blot and immunohistochemical (IHC) staining. KDM4D mRNA levels were examined by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Bioinformatics analysis was used to examine KDM4D expression. The biological effects of KDM4D were investigated in vitro using CCK-8, BrdU/PI, wound healing, colony formation, tube formation and Transwell assays and in vivo using a xenograft mice model. Luciferase assays were used to assess regulation of HIF1β gene promoter activity by KDM4D. ChIP assays were performed to assess KDM4D, H3K36me3 and H3K9me3 occupancy on the HIF1β gene promoter.

RESULTS

We observed a significant upregulation of KDM4D in GIST tissue compared with matched normal tissue and further explored the oncogenic function of KDM4D both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, we demonstrated that KDM4D directly interacted with the HIF1β gene promoter and regulated its activity, promoting tumour angiogenesis and GIST progression both in vitro and in vivo. Finally, we demonstrated that KDM4D transcriptionally activates HIF1β expression via H3K9me3 and H3K36me3 demethylation at the promoter region.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings reveal the important roles of the KDM4D/HIF1β/VEGFA signalling pathway in GIST progression, and this pathway may act as a potential therapeutic target for GIST patients.