The HBx-CTTN interaction promotes cell proliferation and migration of hepatocellular carcinoma via CREB1

SPG21, a potential oncogene targeted by miR-128-3p, amplifies HBx-induced carcinogenesis and chemoresistance via activation of TRPM7-mediated JNK pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma

PURPOSE

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is the primary risk factor for the malignant progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). It has been reported that HBV X protein (HBx) possesses oncogenic properties, promoting hepatocarcinogenesis and chemoresistance. However, the detailed molecular mechanisms are not fully understood. Here, we aim to investigate the effects of miR-128-3p/SPG21 axis on HBx-induced hepatocarcinogenesis and chemoresistance.

METHODS

The expression of SPG21 in HCC was determined using bioinformatics analysis, quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), western blotting, and immunohistochemistry (IHC). The roles of SPG21 in HCC were elucidated through a series of in vitro and in vivo experiments, including real-time cellular analysis (RTCA), matrigel invasion assay, and xenograft mouse model. Pharmacologic treatment and flow cytometry were performed to demonstrate the potential mechanism of SPG21 in HCC.

RESULTS

SPG21 expression was elevated in HCC tissues compared to adjacent non-tumor tissues (NTs). Moreover, higher SPG21 expression correlated with poor overall survival. Functional assays revealed that SPG21 fostered HCC tumorigenesis and invasion. MiR-128-3p, which targeted SPG21, was downregulated in HCC tissues. Subsequent analyses showed that HBx amplified TRPM7-mediated calcium influx via miR-128-3p/SPG21, thereby activating the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathway. Furthermore, HBx inhibited doxorubicin-induced apoptosis by engaging the JNK pathway through miR-128-3p/SPG21.

CONCLUSION

The study suggested that SPG21, targeted by miR-128-3p, might be involved in enhancing HBx-induced carcinogenesis and doxorubicin resistance in HCC via the TRPM7/Ca2+/JNK signaling pathway. This insight suggested that SPG21 could be recognized as a potential oncogene, offering a novel perspective on its role as a prognostic factor and a therapeutic target in the context of HCC.

Prognostic Hypoxia-Angiogenesis-Related Gene Signature in Hepatocellular Carcinoma, in Which HILPDA Contributes to Tumor Progression

Objective

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the predominant form of liver cancer. Hypoxia can be involved in HCC tumor growth, invasion and metastasis through inducing angiogenesis. Nevertheless, the assessment of the impact of hypoxia and angiogenesis on the prognosis of HCC remains inadequate.

Methods

According to hypoxia-angiogenesis-related genes (HARGs) expression information and clinical data from patients within the Cancer Genome Atlas-Liver Hepatocellular Carcinoma (TCGA-LIHC) cohort, we constructed a prognostic model (HARG-score) using bioinformatic tools. In addition to assessing the predictive ability of this prognostic model in both Liver Cancer-Riken-Japan (LIRI-JP) and GSE14520 cohorts, we analyzed the correlation between HARG-score and clinical characteristics, immune infiltration and immunotherapy efficacy. Moreover, we investigated the exact role and underlying mechanism of key HARGs through molecular experiments.

Results

We constructed a 5-gene prognostic model HARG-score consisting of hypoxia-inducible lipid droplet-associated (HILPDA), erythropoietin (EPO), solute carrier family 2 member 1 (SLC2A1), proteasome subunit alpha type 7 (PSMA7) and cAMP responsive element-binding protein 1 (CREB1) through differentially expressed HARGs. The findings demonstrated that HARG-score was a good predictor of the prognosis of HCC patients from distinct cohorts and was correlated with clinical characteristics and immune infiltration. Furthermore, the HARG-score was identified as an independent prognostic factor. Lower HARG-score implied greater immunotherapy efficacy and better response. The expression and prognostic significance of these 5 genes were additionally validated in clinical data. In addition, experimental data revealed that the key gene HILPDA contributes to the progression of HCC through facilitating angiogenesis and affecting the expression of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA4).

Conclusion

HARG-score has promising applications in prognosis prediction of HCC patients, in which HILPDA may be a latent prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target, providing a foundation for further research and treatment of HCC.

Cortactin controls bone homeostasis through regulating the differentiation of osteoblasts and osteoclasts

Cortactin (CTTN), a cytoskeletal protein and substrate of Src kinase, is implicated in tumor aggressiveness. However, its role in bone cell differentiation remains unknown. The current study revealed that CTTN was upregulated during osteoblast and adipocyte differentiation. Functional experiments demonstrated that CTTN promoted the in vitro differentiation of mesenchymal stem/progenitor cells into osteogenic and adipogenic lineages. Mechanistically, CTTN was able to stabilize the protein level of mechanistic target of rapamycin kinase (mTOR), leading to the activation of mTOR signaling. In-depth investigation revealed that CTTN could bind with casitas B lineage lymphoma-c (c-CBL) and counteract the function of c-CBL, a known E3 ubiquitin ligase responsible for the proteasomal degradation of mTOR. Silencing c-Cbl alleviated the impaired differentiation of osteoblasts and adipocytes caused by CTTN siRNA, while silencing mTOR mitigated the stimulation of osteoblast and adipocyte differentiation induced by CTTN overexpression. Notably, transplantation of CTTN-silenced bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) into the marrow of mice led to a reduction in trabecular bone mass, accompanied by a decrease in osteoblasts and an increase in osteoclasts. Furthermore, CTTN-silenced BMSCs expressed higher levels of receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand (RANKL) than control BMSCs did and promoted osteoclast differentiation when cocultured with bone marrow-derived osteoclast precursor cells. This study provides evidence that CTTN favors osteoblast differentiation by counteracting the c-CBL-induced degradation of mTOR and inhibits osteoclast differentiation by downregulating the expression of RANKL. It also suggests that maintaining an appropriate level of CTTN expression may be advantageous for maintaining bone homeostasis.

USP15 promotes the progression of papillary thyroid cancer by regulating HMGB1 stability through its deubiquitination

Purpose: Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) stands as one of the most prevalent types of thyroid cancers, characterized by a propensity for in-situ recurrence and distant metastasis. The high mobility group protein (HMGB1), a conserved nuclear protein, plays a pivotal role in carcinogenesis by stimulating tumor cell growth and migration. Nevertheless, the underlying mechanism driving aberrant HMGB1 expression in PTC necessitates further elucidation. Materials and methods: Our study unraveled the impact of low and overexpression of USP15 on the proliferation, invasion, and metastasis of PTC cells. Through a comprehensive array of molecular techniques, we uncovered the intricate relationship between HMGB1 and USP15 in the progression of PTC. Results: In this study, we identified USP15, a deubiquitinase in the ubiquitin-specific proteases family, as a true deubiquitylase of HMGB1 in PTC. USP15 was shown to interact with HMGB1 in a deubiquitination activity-dependent manner, deubiquitinating and stabilizing HMGB1. USP15 depletion significantly decreased PTC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. In addition, the effects induced by USP15 depletion could be rescued by further HMGB1 overexpression. But when HMGB1 is knocked down, even overexpression of USP15 could not promote the progression of PTC cells. Conclusion: In essence, our discoveries shed light on the previously uncharted catalytic role of USP15 as a deubiquitinating enzyme targeting HMGB1, offering a promising avenue for potential therapeutic interventions in the management of PTC.

cAMP-PKA/EPAC signaling and cancer: the interplay in tumor microenvironment

Cancer is a complex disease resulting from abnormal cell growth that is induced by a number of genetic and environmental factors. The tumor microenvironment (TME), which involves extracellular matrix, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF), tumor-infiltrating immune cells and angiogenesis, plays a critical role in tumor progression. Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) is a second messenger that has pleiotropic effects on the TME. The downstream effectors of cAMP include cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA), exchange protein activated by cAMP (EPAC) and ion channels. While cAMP can activate PKA or EPAC and promote cancer cell growth, it can also inhibit cell proliferation and survival in context- and cancer type-dependent manner. Tumor-associated stromal cells, such as CAF and immune cells, can release cytokines and growth factors that either stimulate or inhibit cAMP production within the TME. Recent studies have shown that targeting cAMP signaling in the TME has therapeutic benefits in cancer. Small-molecule agents that inhibit adenylate cyclase and PKA have been shown to inhibit tumor growth. In addition, cAMP-elevating agents, such as forskolin, can not only induce cancer cell death, but also directly inhibit cell proliferation in some cancer types. In this review, we summarize current understanding of cAMP signaling in cancer biology and immunology and discuss the basis for its context-dependent dual role in oncogenesis. Understanding the precise mechanisms by which cAMP and the TME interact in cancer will be critical for the development of effective therapies. Future studies aimed at investigating the cAMP-cancer axis and its regulation in the TME may provide new insights into the underlying mechanisms of tumorigenesis and lead to the development of novel therapeutic strategies.

Combined RNAi of CTTN and FGF2 Modulates Cell Migration, Invasion and G1/S Transition of Hepatocellular Carcinoma through Ras/ERK Signaling Pathway

BACKGROUND

Most patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) die of rapid progression and distant metastasis. Gene therapy represents a promising choice for HCC treatment, but the effective targeted methods are still limited.

OBJECTIVES

CTTN/cortactin plays a key role in actin polymerization and regulates cytoskeleton remodeling. However, the interaction network of CTTN in HCC is not well understood.

METHODS

siRNA was designed for CTTN silencing and Affymetrix GeneChip sequencing was used to obtain the gene profile after CTTN knockdown in the HCC cell line SMMC-7721. Potential interacting genes of CTTN were identified using qRT-PCR. The inhibition on HCC by combined RNA interference (RNAi) of CTTN and fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) was detected.

RESULTS

A total of 1,717 significantly altered genes were screened out and 12 potential interacting genes of CTTN were identified. The interaction of CTTN and FGF2 was validated and combined RNAi of CTTN and FGF2 achieved a synergistic effect, leading to better inhibition of HCC cell migration, invasion and G1/S transition than single knockdown of CTTN or FGF2. Mechanistically, combined RNAi of CTTN and FGF2 modulated the Ras/ERK signaling pathway. In addition, the EMT epithelial marker E-cadherin was upregulated while the mesenchymal marker Vimentin and cell cycle protein Cyclin D1 were downregulated after combined RNAi of CTTN and FGF2. Additionally, qRT-PCR and immunohistochemical staining showed that both CTTN and FGF2 were highly expressed in metastatic HCC tissues.

CONCLUSION

Combined RNAi of CTTN and FGF2 may be a novel and promising intervention strategy for HCC invasion and metastasis.

Pan-Cancer Profiling and Digital Pathology Analysis Reveal Negative Prognostic Biomarker ZPR1 Associated with Immune Infiltration and Treatment Response in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Purpose

ZPR1 is a zinc finger-containing protein that plays a crucial role in neurodegenerative diseases, lipid metabolism disorders, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. However, the expression pattern, prognostic value, and treatment response of ZPR1 in pan-cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain unclear.

Patients and Methods

Pan-cancer expression profiles and relevant clinical data were acquired from UCSC Xena platform. Pan-cancer expression, epigenetic profile, and clinical correlation analysis for ZPR1 were performed. We next explored the prognostic significance and potential biological functions of ZPR1 in HCC. Furthermore, the relationship between ZPR1 and immune infiltration and treatment response was investigated. Finally, quantitative immunohistochemistry (IHC) analysis was applied to assess the correlation of ZPR1 expression and immune microenvironment in HCC tissues using Qupath software.

Results

ZPR1 was differentially expressed in most tumor types and significantly up-regulated in HCC. ZPR1 showed hypo-methylated status in most tumors. Pan-cancer correlation analysis indicated that ZPR1 was closely associated with clinicopathological factors and TMB, MSI, and stemness index in HCC. High ZPR1 expression could be an independent risk factor for adverse prognosis in HCC. ZPR1 correlated with immune cell infiltration and therapeutic response. Finally, IHC results suggested that ZPR1 correlated with CD4, CD56, CD68, and PD-L1 expression and is a promising pathological diagnostic marker in HCC.

Conclusion

Immune infiltrate-associated ZPR1 could be considered a novel negative prognostic biomarker for therapeutic response in HCC.

The HBV web: An insight into molecular interactomes between the hepatitis B virus and its host en route to hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major aetiology associated with the development and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common primary liver malignancy. Over the past few decades, direct and indirect mechanisms have been identified in the pathogenesis of HBV-associated HCC which include altered signaling pathways, genome integration, mutation-induced genomic instability, chromosomal deletions and rearrangements. Intertwining of the HBV counterparts with the host cellular factors, though well established, needs to be systemized to understand the dynamics of host-HBV crosstalk and its consequences on HCC progression. Existence of a vast array of protein-protein and protein-nucleic acid interaction databases has led to the uncoiling of the compendia of genes/gene products associated with these interactions. This review covers the existing knowledge about the HBV-host interplay and brings it down under one canopy emphasizing on the HBV-host interactomics; and thereby highlights new strategies for therapeutic advancements against HBV-induced HCC.

Exploring Prognosis, Tumor Microenvironment and Tumor Immune Infiltration in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Based on ATF/CREB Transcription Factor Family Gene-Related Model

Introduction

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common form of primary liver cancer. It is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Deregulation of the ATF/CREB family is associated with the progression of metabolic homeostasis and cancer. Because the liver plays a central role in metabolic homeostasis, it is critical to assess the predictive value of the ATF/CREB family in the diagnosis and prognosis of HCC.

Methods

Using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), this research evaluated the expression, copy number variations, and frequency of somatic mutations of 21 genes in the ATF/CREB family in HCC. A prognostic model based on the ATF/CREB gene family was developed via Lasso and Cox regression analyses, with the TCGA cohort serving as the training dataset and the International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) cohort serving as the validation set. Kaplan-Meier and receiver operating characteristic analyses verified the accuracy of the prognostic model. Furthermore, the association among the prognostic model, immune checkpoints, and immune cells was examined.

Results

High-risk patients exhibited an unfavorable outcome as opposed to those in the low-risk category. Multivariate Cox analysis revealed that the risk score calculated based on the prognostic model was an independent prognostic factor for HCC. Analysis of immune mechanisms revealed that the risk score had a positive link to the expression of immune checkpoints, particularly CD274, PDCD1, LAG3, and CTLA4. Differences in immune cells and immune-associated roles were found between the high- and low-risk patients, as determined by single-sample gene set enrichment analysis. The core genes ATF1, CREB1, and CREB3 in the prognostic model were shown to be upregulated in HCC tissues as opposed to adjoining normal tissues, and the 10-year overall survival (OS) rate was worse among patients with elevated expression levels of ATF1, CREB1, and CREB3. Elevated expression levels of ATF1, CREB1, and CREB3 in HCC tissues were confirmed by qRT-PCR and immunohistochemistry studies.

Conclusion

According to the results of our training set and test set, the risk model based on the six ATF/CREB gene signatures predicting prognosis has certain predictive accuracy in predicting the survival of HCC patients. This study provides novel insights into the individualized treatment of patients with HCC.

The First Yarrowia lipolytica Yeast Models Expressing Hepatitis B Virus X Protein: Changes in Mitochondrial Morphology and Functions

Chronic hepatitis B virus infection is the dominant cause of hepatocellular carcinoma, the main cause of cancer death. HBx protein, a multifunctional protein, is essential for pathogenesis development; however, the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. The complexity of the system itself, and the intricate interplay of many factors make it difficult to advance in understanding the mechanisms underlying these processes. The most obvious solution is to use simpler systems by reducing the number of interacting factors. Yeast cells are particularly suitable for studying the relationships between oxidative stress, mitochondrial dynamics (mitochondrial fusion and fragmentation), and mitochondrial dysfunction involved in HBx-mediated pathogenesis. For the first time, genetically modified yeast, Y. lipolytica, was created, expressing the hepatitis B virus core protein HBx, as well as a variant fused with eGFP at the C-end. It was found that cells expressing HBx experienced stronger oxidative stress than the control cells. Oxidative stress was alleviated by preincubation with the mitochondria-targeted antioxidant SkQThy. Consistent with these data, in contrast to the control cells (pZ-0) containing numerous mitochondrial forming a mitochondrial reticulum, in cells expressing HBx protein, mitochondria were fragmented, and preincubation with SkQThy partially restored the mitochondrial reticulum. Expression of HBx had a significant influence on the bioenergetic function of mitochondria, making them loosely coupled with decreased respiratory rate and reduced ATP formation. In sum, the first highly promising yeast model for studying the impact of HBx on bioenergy, redox-state, and dynamics of mitochondria in the cell and cross-talk between these parameters was offered. This fairly simple model can be used as a platform for rapid screening of potential therapeutic agents, mitigating the harmful effects of HBx.

Advances in multi-omics research on viral hepatitis

Viral hepatitis is a major global public health problem that affects hundreds of millions of people and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Five biologically unrelated hepatotropic viruses account for the majority of the global burden of viral hepatitis, including hepatitis A virus (HAV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis D virus (HDV), and hepatitis E virus (HEV). Omics is defined as the comprehensive study of the functions, relationships and roles of various types of molecules in biological cells. The multi-omics analysis has been proposed and considered key to advancing clinical precision medicine, mainly including genomics, transcriptomics and proteomics, metabolomics. Overall, the applications of multi-omics can show the origin of hepatitis viruses, explore the diagnostic and prognostics biomarkers and screen out the therapeutic targets for viral hepatitis and related diseases. To better understand the pathogenesis of viral hepatitis and related diseases, comprehensive multi-omics analysis has been widely carried out. This review mainly summarizes the applications of multi-omics in different types of viral hepatitis and related diseases, aiming to provide new insight into these diseases.

VCP interaction with HMGB1 promotes hepatocellular carcinoma progression by activating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway

BACKGROUND

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common pathological type of liver cancer. Valosin-containing protein (VCP) is a member of the AAA-ATPase family associated with multiple molecular functions and involved in tumor metastasis and prognosis. However, the role of VCP in HCC progression is still unclear.

METHODS

We examined the expression of VCP in HCC using the RNA sequencing and microarray data from public databases and measured it in clinical samples and cell lines by western blot, and immunohistochemistry (IHC). We also evaluated the correlation between VCP and clinical features. The VCP-interacting proteins were identified by co-immunoprecipitation combined with mass spectrometry (CoIP/MS). The underlying molecular mechanisms were investigated using in vitro and in vivo models of HCC.

RESULTS

We found that VCP expression is significantly increased in tumor tissues and is associated with advanced TNM stages and poorer prognosis in HCC patients. In vitro analyses revealed that VCP overexpression promoted HCC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion via PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway activation. Conversely, VCP knockdown resulted in the reverse phenotypes. In vivo studies indicated that up-regulated VCP expression accelerated tumor growth in a subcutaneous HCC model. The D1 domain of VCP and A box of HMGB1 were identified as the critical regions for their interaction, and D1 area was required for the tumor-promoting effects induced by VCP expression. VCP enhanced the protein stability of HMGB1 by decreasing its degradation via ubiquitin-proteasome process. Inhibition of HMGB1 markedly attenuated VCP-mediated HCC progression and downstream activation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signals.

CONCLUSION

Collectively, these findings demonstrate that VCP is a potential prognostic biomarker in HCC and exhibits oncogenic roles via PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway activation. HMGB1 played an essential role in VCP-mediated HCC progression, indicating that VCP and HMGB1 are potential therapeutic targets in human HCC.

Nonsynonymous C1653T Mutation of Hepatitis B Virus X Gene Enhances Malignancy of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Transcriptional regulators of human oncoviruses: structural and functional implications for anticancer therapy

Transcription is often the first biosynthetic event of viral infection. Viruses produce preferentially viral transcriptional regulators (vTRs) essential for expressing viral genes and regulating essential host cell proteins to enable viral genome replication. As vTRs are unique viral proteins that promote the transcription of viral nucleic acid, vTRs interact with host proteins to suppress detection and immune reactions to viral infection. Thus, vTRs are promising therapeutic targets that are sequentially and structurally distinct from host cell proteins. Here, we review vTRs of three human oncoviruses: HBx of hepatitis B virus, HBZ of human T-lymphotropic virus type 1, and Rta of Epstein-Barr virus. We present three cunningly exciting and dangerous transcription strategies that make viral infections so efficient. We use available structural and functional knowledge to critically examine the potential of vTRs as new antiviral-anticancer therapy targets. For each oncovirus, we describe (i) the strategy of viral genome transcription; (ii) vTRs' structure and binding partners essential for transcription regulation; and (iii) advantages and challenges of vTR targeting in antiviral therapies. We discuss the implications of vTR regulation for oncogenesis and perspectives on developing novel antiviral and anticancer strategies.

ViMIC: a database of human disease-related virus mutations, integration sites and cis-effects

Molecular mechanisms of virus-related diseases involve multiple factors, including viral mutation accumulation and integration of a viral genome into the host DNA. With increasing attention being paid to virus-mediated pathogenesis and the development of many useful technologies to identify virus mutations (VMs) and viral integration sites (VISs), much research on these topics is available in PubMed. However, knowledge of VMs and VISs is widely scattered in numerous published papers which lack standardization, integration and curation. To address these challenges, we built a pilot database of human disease-related Virus Mutations, Integration sites and Cis-effects (ViMIC), which specializes in three features: virus mutation sites, viral integration sites and target genes. In total, the ViMIC provides information on 31 712 VMs entries, 105 624 VISs, 16 310 viral target genes and 1 110 015 virus sequences of eight viruses in 77 human diseases obtained from the public domain. Furthermore, in ViMIC users are allowed to explore the cis-effects of virus-host interactions by surveying 78 histone modifications, binding of 1358 transcription regulators and chromatin accessibility on these VISs. We believe ViMIC will become a valuable resource for the virus research community. The database is available at http://bmtongji.cn/ViMIC/index.php.

Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells (BMSCs)-Derived miR-200c Regulates Wingless-Related Integration Site (Wnt)/β-Catenin Signaling in Prostate Cancer by Targeting Cortactin (CTTN)

Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) are an integral part of cancer microenvironment. We intend to clarify BMSC-derived exosomes’ role in prostate cancer. The exosomes miR-200c secreted by BMSCs were identified by electron microscopy. The mice tumor model was used to explore the role of miR-200c’s in tumor mice. Cell invasion was assessed by transwell assay and Wnt/β-catenin expression was measured by western blot. Exosomes miR-200c derived from BMSCs promoted tumor cell invasion and activated Wnt/β-catenin signaling. miR-200c targets CTTN-mediated cell signal transduction, and blocking CTTN expression can suppression miR-200c-mediated Wnt/β-catenin signal transduction and inhibit cell invasion. In conclusion, miR-200c regulates CTTN, thereby inducing Wnt/β-catenin signaling to enhance tumor growth.

Etodolac improves collagen induced rheumatoid arthritis in rats by inhibiting synovial inflammation, fibrosis and hyperplasia

Synovial hyperplasia is the main cause of chronic rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but the mechanism of synovial hyperplasia is still unclear. Etodolac (ETD) is a selective COX-2 inhibitor for relieving pain and stiffness in RA, but the disease modifying effect is still lack of evidence. Proteomics method was used to study the differential proteome of synovial tissue in collagen induced arthritis (CIA) in rats. With the help of STRING analysis, the upregulated proteins enriched in the cluster of complement and coagulation cascades and platelet degranulation were highlighted, these proteins with fibrogenic factors Lum, CIV, CXI and Tgfbi participated in the synovial inflammation, fibrosis and hyperplasia in CIA. Based on KOG function class analysis, the proteins involved in the events of the central dogma was explored. They might be hyperplasia related proteins for most of them are related to the proliferation of cancer. ETD significantly attenuated synovial inflammation, fibrosis and hyperplasia in CIA rats by downregulating these proteins. Several proteins have not been observed in RA so far, such as Tmsb4x, Pura, Nfic, Ruvbl1, Snrpd3, U2af2, Srrm2, Srsf7, Elavl1, Hnrnph1, Wars, Yars, Bzw2, Mcts1, Eif4b, Ctsh, Lamp1, Dpp7, Ptges3, Cdc37 and Septin9, they might be potentials targets for RA. Blood biochemistry tests showed the safety of 7 months use of ETD on rats. In conclusion, present study displayed a comprehensive mechanism of synovial hyperplasia in CIA rats, on this basis, the clinical value of ETD in the treatment of RA was well confirmed.

Identification of Key Genes Associated With the Process of Hepatitis B Inflammation and Cancer Transformation by Integrated Bioinformatics Analysis

Background

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has become the main cause of cancer death worldwide. More than half of hepatocellular carcinoma developed from hepatitis B virus infection (HBV). The purpose of this study is to find the key genes in the transformation process of liver inflammation and cancer and to inhibit the development of chronic inflammation and the transformation from disease to cancer.

Methods

Two groups of GEO data (including normal/HBV and HBV/HBV-HCC) were selected for differential expression analysis. The differential expression genes of HBV-HCC in TCGA were verified to coincide with the above genes to obtain overlapping genes. Then, functional enrichment analysis, modular analysis, and survival analysis were carried out on the key genes.

Results

We identified nine central genes (CDK1, MAD2L1, CCNA2, PTTG1, NEK2) that may be closely related to the transformation of hepatitis B. The survival and prognosis gene markers composed of PTTG1, MAD2L1, RRM2, TPX2, CDK1, NEK2, DEPDC1, and ZWINT were constructed, which performed well in predicting the overall survival rate.

Conclusion

The findings of this study have certain guiding significance for further research on the transformation of hepatitis B inflammatory cancer, inhibition of chronic inflammation, and molecular targeted therapy of cancer.

The Functions of Hepatitis B Virus Encoding Proteins: Viral Persistence and Liver Pathogenesis

About 250 million people worldwide are chronically infected with Hepatitis B virus (HBV), contributing to a large burden on public health. Despite the existence of vaccines and antiviral drugs to prevent infection and suppress viral replication respectively, chronic hepatitis B (CHB) cure remains a remote treatment goal. The viral persistence caused by HBV is account for the chronic infection which increases the risk for developing liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). HBV virion utilizes various strategies to escape surveillance of host immune system therefore enhancing its replication, while the precise mechanisms involved remain elusive. Accumulating evidence suggests that the proteins encoded by HBV (hepatitis B surface antigen, hepatitis B core antigen, hepatitis B envelope antigen, HBx and polymerase) play an important role in viral persistence and liver pathogenesis. This review summarizes the major findings in functions of HBV encoding proteins, illustrating how these proteins affect hepatocytes and the immune system, which may open new venues for CHB therapies.

Identification of Prognostic Biomarkers and Correlation With Immune Infiltrates in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Based on a Competing Endogenous RNA Network

Background

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors worldwide. Recently, competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNA) have revealed a significant role in the progression of HCC. Herein, we aimed to construct a ceRNA network to identify potential biomarkers and illustrate its correlation with immune infiltration in HCC.

Methods

RNA sequencing data and clinical traits of HCC patients were downloaded from TCGA. The limma R package was used to identify differentially expressed (DE) RNAs. The predicted prognostic model was established using univariate and multivariate Cox regression. A K-M curve, TISIDB and GEPIA website were utilized for survival analysis. Functional annotation was determined using Enrichr and Reactome. Protein-to-protein network analysis was implemented using SRTNG and Cytoscape. Hub gene expression was validated by quantitative polymerase chain reaction, Oncomine and the Hunan Protein Atlas database. Immune infiltration was analyzed by TIMMER, and Drugbank was exploited to identify bioactive compounds.

Results

The predicted model that was established revealed significant efficacy with 3- and 5-years of the area under ROC at 0.804 and 0.744, respectively. Eleven DEmiRNAs were screened out by a K-M survival analysis. Then, we constructed a ceRNA network, including 56 DElncRNAs, 6 DEmiRNAs, and 28 DEmRNAs. The 28 DEmRNAs were enriched in cancer-related pathways, for example, the TNF signaling pathway. Moreover, six hub genes, CEP55, DEPDC1, KIF23, CLSPN, MYBL2, and RACGAP1, were all overexpressed in HCC tissues and independently correlated with survival rate. Furthermore, expression of hub genes was related to immune cell infiltration in HCC, including B cells, CD8⁺ T cells, CD4⁺ T cells, monocytes, macrophages, neutrophils, and dendritic cells.

Conclusion

The findings from this study demonstrate that CEP55, DEPDC1, KIF23, CLSPN, MYBL2, and RACGAP1 are closely associated with prognosis and immune infiltration, representing potential therapeutic targets or prognostic biomarkers in HCC.

CREB1 acts via the miR‑922/ARID2 axis to enhance malignant behavior of liver cancer cells

There is little information on the role of microRNA (miR)‑922 in the malignant behavior of liver cancer. The present study investigated the regulation of miR‑922 expression levels by cAMP response element binding protein 1 (CREB1) in liver cancer tissue, its role in regulating malignant behavior and its potential targets in liver cancer. miR‑922 expression in liver cancer cells and tissue was determined by reverse transcription‑quantitative PCR. The binding of CREB1 to the promoter region of mir‑922 was tested by chromatin immunoprecipitation‑PCR. The predicted AT‑rich interactive domain 2 (ARID2) and fidgetin, microtubule severing factor targets of miR‑922 were characterized by dual luciferase reporter assay. The effects of altered ARID2 expression levels on miR‑922‑enhanced malignant behavior of liver cancer cells were tested. CREB1 bound to the promoter region of miR‑922. Elevated miR‑922 transcripts were inversely associated with ARID2 expression in liver cancer tissue and cells. miR‑922 inhibited ARID2‑regulated luciferase expression and was present in the miR/argonaute RISC catalytic component 2 complex. ARID2 significantly decreased malignant behavior of liver cancer MHCC97L cells. Similarly, ARID2 over‑expression inhibited growth of xenograft liver cancer tumors and decreased miR‑922, Bcl‑2, proliferating cell nuclear antigen, cyclin D1, MMP3 and MMP9 expression and serum VEGF and TNF‑α levels, but enhanced Bax expression levels in tumors. ARID2 over‑expression abrogated malignant behavior promoted by miR‑922 over‑expression and enhanced miR‑922‑decreased malignant behavior of liver cancer cells. CREB induced miR‑922 transcription, which targeted ARID2 to enhance malignant behavior of liver cancer cells, indicating that the CREB1/miR‑922/ARID2 axis may be a potential target for liver cancer treatment.

Abiraterone Acetate Induces CREB1 Phosphorylation and Enhances the Function of the CBP-p300 Complex, Leading to Resistance in Prostate Cancer Cells

PURPOSE

Abiraterone acetate (AA), an inhibitor of cytochrome P450 17alpha-hydroxylase/17, 20 lyase, is an FDA-approved drug for advanced prostate cancer. However, not all patients respond to AA, and AA resistance ultimately develops in patients who initially respond. We aimed to identify AA resistance mechanisms in prostate cancer cells.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

We established several AA-resistant cell lines and performed a comprehensive study on mechanisms involved in AA resistance development. RNA sequencing and phospho-kinase array screenings were performed to discover that the cAMP-response element CRE binding protein 1 (CREB1) was a critical molecule in AA resistance development.

RESULTS

The drug-resistant cell lines are phenotypically stable without drug selection, and exhibit permanent global gene expression changes. The phosphorylated CREB1 (pCREB1) is increased in AA-resistant cell lines and is critical in controlling global gene expression. Upregulation of pCREB1 desensitized prostate cancer cells to AA, while blocking CREB1 phosphorylation resensitized AA-resistant cells to AA. AA treatment increases intracellular cyclic AMP (cAMP) levels, induces kinases activity, and leads to the phosphorylation of CREB1, which may subsequently augment the essential role of the CBP/p300 complex in AA-resistant cells because AA-resistant cells exhibit a relatively higher sensitivity to CBP/p300 inhibitors. Further pharmacokinetics studies demonstrated that AA significantly synergizes with CBP/p300 inhibitors in limiting the growth of prostate cancer cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Our studies suggest that AA treatment upregulates pCREB1, which enhances CBP/p300 activity, leading to global gene expression alterations, subsequently resulting in drug resistance development. Combining AA with therapies targeting resistance mechanisms may provide a more effective treatment strategy.

Identification of potential biomarkers of peripheral blood mononuclear cell in hepatocellular carcinoma using bioinformatic analysis: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the cause of an overwhelming number of cancer-related deaths across the world. Developing precise and noninvasive biomarkers is critical for diagnosing HCC. Our research was designed to explore potentially useful biomarkers of host peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) in HCC by integrating comprehensive bioinformatic analysis.

METHODS

Gene expression data of PBMC in both healthy individuals and patients with HCC were extracted from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs). The gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis were applied to annotate the function of DEGs. Protein-protein interaction analysis was performed to screen the hub genes from DEGs. cBioportal database analysis was performed to assess the prognostic significance of hub genes. The Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia (CCLE) and The Human Protein Atlas (HPA) database analyses were performed to confirm the expression levels of the hub genes in HCC cells and tissue.

RESULTS

A total of 95 DEGs were screened. Results of the GO analysis revealed that DEGs were primarily involved in platelet degranulation, cytoplasm, and protein binding. Results of the KEGG analysis indicated that DEGs were primarily enriched in focal adhesion. Five genes, namely, myosin light chain kinase (MYLK), interleukin 1 beta (IL1B), phospholipase D1 (PLD1), cortactin (CTTN), and moesin (MSN), were identified as hub genes. A search in the CCLE and HPA database showed that the expression levels of these hub genes were remarkably increased in the HCC samples. Survival analysis revealed that the overexpression of MYLK, IL1B, and PLD1 may have a significant effect on HCC survival. The aberrant high expression levels of MYLK, IL1B, and PLD1 strongly indicated worse prognosis in patients with HCC.

CONCLUSIONS

The identified hub genes may be closely linked with HCC tumorigenicity and may act as potentially useful biomarkers for the prognostic prediction of HCC in PBMC samples.

Transcriptomic identification of HBx-associated hub genes in hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignancies around the world. Among the risk factors involved in liver carcinogenesis, hepatitis B virus (HBV) X protein (HBx) is considered to be a key regulator in hepatocarcinogenesis. Whether HBx promotes or protects against HCC remains controversial, therefore exploring new HBx-associated genes is still important.

METHODS

HBx was overexpressed in HepG2, HepG2.2.15 and SMMC-7721 cell lines, primary mouse hepatocytes and livers of C57BL/6N mice. High-throughput RNA sequencing profiling of HepG2 cells with HBx overexpression and related differentially-expressed genes (DEGs), pathway enrichment analysis, protein-protein interaction networks (PPIs), overlapping analysis were conducted. In addition, Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and proteomic datasets of HBV-positive HCC datasets were used to verify the expression and prognosis of selected DEGs. Finally, we also evaluated the known oncogenic role of HBx by oncogenic array analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 523 DEGs were obtained from HBx-overexpressing HepG2 cells. Twelve DEGs were identified and validated in cells transiently transfected with HBx and three datasets of HBV-positive HCC transcription profiles. In addition, using the Kaplan-Meier plotter database, the expression levels of the twelve different genes were further analyzed to predict patient outcomes.

CONCLUSION

Among the 12 identified HBx-associated hub genes, HBV-positive HCC patients expressing ARG1 and TAT showed a good overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS). Thus, ARG1 and TAT expression could be potential prognostic markers.

Exploring DNA Methylation Profiles Altered in Cryptogenic Hepatocellular Carcinomas by High-Throughput Targeted DNA Methylation Sequencing: A Preliminary Study for Cryptogenic Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Background

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) includes cryptogenic hepatocellular carcinomas (CR-HCC) that lack a defined cause. Specific DNA methylation patterns and comparisons of the aberrant alterations in DNA methylation between CR-HCC and adjacent peritumor tissues (APTs) have not yet been reported.

Methods

The SureSelectXT Methyl-Seq Target Enrichment System was used to sequence targeted DNA methylation in three paired CR-HCC tissues and APTs. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment and KEGG pathway analysis were performed to investigate the DNA methylation mechanism of CR-HCC. The mRNA expression levels of HOXB-AS3, HOXB6, HOXB3, USP18, MAP3K6, TIRAP, TNNI2, SHC3, CTTN, and TFAP2A, selected from the identified signaling pathways, were evaluated by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR).

Results

A total of 1728 differentially methylated regions (DMRs) were identified in tumor tissues compared with non-tumor tissues, of which 868 DMRs were hypermethylated and 860 were hypomethylated. The DMRs were mapped within 2091 DMR-associated genes (DMGs). The mRNA expression of HOXB-AS3, HOXB3, and MAP3K6 was downregulated in CR-HCC tissues compared to the APTs. However, the mRNA expression of TIRAP, SHC3, and CTTN was upregulated in the CR-HCC tissues. Differences between the mRNA expression of HOXB6, USP18, TNNI2, and TFAP2A in the CR-HCC and APTS tissues were not statistically significant. GO analysis showed that the molecular functions of “binding”, “protein binding”, and “cytoskeletal protein binding” were the main categories for the hypermethylated DMGs. The hypomethylated DMGs were mostly enriched in the molecular functions “binding”, “protein binding”, “calcium ion binding”, among others. KEGG pathway analysis showed that the hypermethylated DMGs were enriched in several pathways such as “estrogen signaling pathway”, while hypomethylated DMGs were enriched in several pathways such as “proteoglycans in cancer”, suggesting that epigenetic modifications play important roles in the cryptogenic hepatocarcinogenesis.

Conclusion

These results provide useful information for future work to characterize the functions of epigenetic mechanisms on CR-HCC.

Cortactin Interacts with Hepatitis C Virus Core and NS5A Proteins: Implications for Virion Assembly

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) exploits cellular proteins to facilitate viral propagation. To identify the cellular factors involved in the HCV life cycle, we previously performed protein microarray assays using either HCV nonstructural 5A (NS5A) protein or core protein as a probe. Interestingly, cellular cortactin strongly interacted with both NS5A and core. Cortactin is an actin-binding protein critically involved in tumor progression by regulating the migration and invasion of cancerous cells. Protein interaction between cortactin and NS5A or core was confirmed by coimmunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence assays. We showed that cortactin interacted with NS5A and core via the N-terminal acidic domain of cortactin. Cortactin expression levels were not altered by HCV infection. Small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated knockdown of cortactin dramatically decreased HCV protein expression and infectivity levels, whereas overexpression of cortactin increased viral propagation. Ectopic expression of the siRNA-resistant cortactin recovered the viral infectivity, suggesting that cortactin was specifically required for HCV propagation. We further showed that cortactin was involved in the assembly step without affecting viral entry, HCV internal ribosome entry site (IRES)-mediated translation, and the replication steps of the HCV life cycle. Of note, silencing of cortactin markedly reduced both NS5A and core protein levels on the lipid droplets (LDs), and this effect was reversed by the overexpression of cortactin. Importantly, NS5A and core promoted cell migration by activating the phosphorylation of cortactin at tyrosine residues 421 and 466. Taken together, these data suggest that cortactin is not only involved in HCV assembly but also plays an important role in the cell migration.IMPORTANCE Cortactin is a cytoskeletal protein that regulates cell migration in response to a number of extracellular stimuli. The functional involvement of cortactin in the virus life cycle is not yet fully understood. The most significant finding is that cortactin strongly interacted with both hepatitis C virus (HCV) core and NS5A. Cortactin is involved in HCV assembly by tethering core and NS5A on the lipid droplets (LDs) with no effect on LD biogenesis. It was noteworthy that HCV NS5A and core activated cortactin by phosphorylation at tyrosines 421 and 466 to regulate cell migration. Collectively, our study shows that cortactin is a novel host factor involved in viral production and HCV-associated pathogenesis.

piR-19166 inhibits migration and metastasis through CTTN/MMPs pathway in prostate carcinoma

Tumor metastasis is one of death causes for patients of prostate carcinoma. PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) are a subtype of noncoding protein RNAs that are involved in tumorigenesis, but the effect of piRNAs in prostate carcinoma (PCa) remains unclear. This article showed the identification of piRNAs was performed using a piRNA microarray screen in PCa tissues and several piRNAs were identified as dysregulated. The two up-regulated piRNAs (piR-19004 and piR-2878) and one down-regulated piR-19166 have been validated in the tissues and cell lines of PCa using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Further studies showed that piR-19166 is transfected into PCa cells to suppress its migration and metastasis. Mechanistically, cortactin (CTTN) 3' untranslated region (UTR) was complementary combined with piR-19166 by bioinformatic prediction and identified as a direct target of piR-19166 through dual-luciferase reporter assay. Over-expression and knockdown of CTTN could respectively rescue and simulate the effects induced by piR-19166. Finally, piR-19166 suppresses migration and metastasis by the CTTN/matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) pathway in PCa cells. Thus, these findings suggested that piR-19166 targets the CTTN of prostate cancer cells to inhibit migration and distant metastasis, and may represent a new marker of diagnosis and treatment for PCa patients in early stages.

Actin regulators in cancer progression and metastases: From structure and function to cytoskeletal dynamics

The cytoskeleton is a central factor contributing to various hallmarks of cancer. In recent years, there has been increasing evidence demonstrating the involvement of actin regulatory proteins in malignancy, and their dysregulation was shown to predict poor clinical prognosis. Although enhanced cytoskeletal activity is often associated with cancer progression, the expression of several inducers of actin polymerization is remarkably reduced in certain malignancies, and it is not completely clear how these changes promote tumorigenesis and metastases. The complexities involved in cytoskeletal induction of cancer progression therefore pose considerable difficulties for therapeutic intervention; it is not always clear which cytoskeletal regulator should be targeted in order to impede cancer progression, and whether this targeting may inadvertently enhance alternative invasive pathways which can aggravate tumor growth. The entire constellation of cytoskeletal machineries in eukaryotic cells are numerous and complex; the system is comprised of and regulated by hundreds of proteins, which could not be covered in a single review. Therefore, we will focus here on the actin cytoskeleton, which encompasses the biological machinery behind most of the key cellular functions altered in cancer, with specific emphasis on actin nucleating factors and nucleation-promoting factors. Finally, we discuss current therapeutic strategies for cancer which aim to target the cytoskeleton.

Identifying TF-miRNA-mRNA regulatory modules in nitidine chloride treated HCC xenograft of nude mice

Nitidine chloride (NC) has reported tumor suppressive activities for various human cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Nevertheless, the pharmacological mechanism of NC on HCC has not previously been elucidated. SMMC7721 HCC cell lines, before and after the treatment of NC, were injected into nude mice for a subcutaneous tumor xenograft model. MiRNA and mRNA sequencing were performed for both control and treated xenograft tissues to further analyze differential expressed miRNAs (DEmiRNAs) and mRNAs (DEmRNAs). The ten most significant DEmiRNAs were selected for prediction of transcription factors (TFs) and target genes. We constructed an interconnected network composed of TFs the ten most significant DEmiRNAs, the 100 most significant DEmRNAs, and selected target genes from online programs. Hub genes chosen from a protein-to-protein interaction network of hub genes were validated by correlation analysis, expression analysis, and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. The five most up-regulated miRNAs (hsa-miR-628-5p, hsa-miR-767-5p, hsa-miR-767-3p, hsa-miR-1257, and hsa-miR-33b-3p) and the five most down-regulated miRNAs (hsa-miR-378d, hsa-miR-136-5p, hsa-miR-451a, hsa-miR-144-5p, and hsa-miR-378b) were singled out from the DEmiRNAs. Functional annotations indicated that potential target genes of the top five up-regulated miRNAs were mainly clustered in molecular processes concerning epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. Hub genes, such as ITGA6 and ITGB4, were validated as up-regulated in HCC; both IFIT2 and IFIT3 were revealed by Kaplan-Meier survival curves as good prognostic factors for HCC. In summary, the regulating axes of NC-DEmiRNAs-DEmRNAs and TFs-DEmiRNAs-DEmRNAs in HCC that were discovered in this study may shed light on the possible molecular mechanism of NC in HCC.