The YY1/miR-548t-5p/CXCL11 signaling axis regulates cell proliferation and metastasis in human pancreatic cancer

Exploring the impact of circRNAs on cancer glycolysis: Insights into tumor progression and therapeutic strategies

Cancer cells exhibit altered metabolic pathways, prominently featuring enhanced glycolytic activity to sustain their rapid growth and proliferation. Dysregulation of glycolysis is a well-established hallmark of cancer and contributes to tumor progression and resistance to therapy. Increased glycolysis supplies the energy necessary for increased proliferation and creates an acidic milieu, which in turn encourages tumor cells' infiltration, metastasis, and chemoresistance. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have emerged as pivotal players in diverse biological processes, including cancer development and metabolic reprogramming. The interplay between circRNAs and glycolysis is explored, illuminating how circRNAs regulate key glycolysis-associated genes and enzymes, thereby influencing tumor metabolic profiles. In this overview, we highlight the mechanisms by which circRNAs regulate glycolytic enzymes and modulate glycolysis. In addition, we discuss the clinical implications of dysregulated circRNAs in cancer glycolysis, including their potential use as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. All in all, in this overview, we provide the most recent findings on how circRNAs operate at the molecular level to control glycolysis in various types of cancer, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), prostate cancer (PCa), colorectal cancer (CRC), cervical cancer (CC), glioma, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), breast cancer, and gastric cancer (GC). In conclusion, this review provides a comprehensive overview of the significance of circRNAs in cancer glycolysis, shedding light on their intricate roles in tumor development and presenting innovative therapeutic avenues.

Advance in the role of chemokines/chemokine receptors in carcinogenesis: Focus on pancreatic cancer

The chemokines/chemokine receptors pathway significantly influences cell migration, particularly in recruiting immune cells to the tumor microenvironment (TME), impacting tumor progression and treatment outcomes. Emerging research emphasizes the involvement of chemokines in drug resistance across various tumor therapies, including immunotherapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy. This review focuses on the role of chemokines/chemokine receptors in pancreatic cancer (PC) development, highlighting their impact on TME remodeling, immunotherapy, and relevant signaling pathways. The unique immunosuppressive microenvironment formed by the interaction of tumor cells, stromal cells and immune cells plays an important role in the tumor proliferation, invasion, migration and therapeutic resistance. Chemokines/chemokine receptors, such as chemokine ligand (CCL) 2, CCL3, CCL5, CCL20, CCL21, C-X-C motif chemokine ligand (CXCL) 1, CXCL2, CXCL3, CXCL4, CXCL5, CXCL8, CXCL9, CXCL10, CXCL11, CXCL12, CXCL13, CXCL14, CXCL16, CXCL17, and C-X3-C motif chemokine ligand (CX3CL)1, derived mainly from leukocyte cells, cancer-related fibroblasts (CAFs), pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs), and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), contribute to PC progression and treatment resistance. Chemokines recruit myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC), regulatory T cells (Tregs), and M2 macrophages, inhibiting the anti-tumor activity of immune cells. Simultaneously, they enhance pathways like epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), Akt serine/threonine kinase (AKT), extracellular regulated protein kinases (ERK) 1/2, and nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB), etc., elevating the risk of PC metastasis and compromising the efficacy of radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and anti-PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy. Notably, the CCLx-CCR2 and CXCLx-CXCR2/4 axis emerge as potential therapeutic targets in PC. This review integrates recent findings on chemokines and receptors in PC treatment, offering valuable insights for innovative therapeutic approaches.

Simulating neuronal development: exploring potential mechanisms for central nervous system metastasis in acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Background

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is prone to metastasize to the central nervous system (CNS), which is an important cause of poor treatment outcomes and unfavorable prognosis. However, the pathogenesis of CNS metastasis of ALL cells has not been fully illuminated. Recent reports have shed some light on the correlation between neural mechanisms and ALL CNS metastasis. These progressions prompt us to study the relationship between ALL central nervous system metastasis and neuronal development, exploring potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets of CNS metastasis.

Materials and methods

ALL central nervous system metastasis- and neuronal development-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified by analyzing gene expression datasets GSE60926 and GSE13715. Target prediction and network analysis methods were applied to assess protein-protein interaction networks. Gene Ontology (GO) terms and pathway enrichment for DEGs were assessed. Co-expressed differentially expressed genes (co-DEGs) coupled with corresponding predicted microRNAs (miRNAs) were studied as well. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and flow cytometry were employed for the validation of key co-DEGs in primary ALL cells. Furthermore, ALL cells were treated with a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitor to block neuronal development and assess changes in the co-DEGs.

Results

We identified 216, 208, and 204 DEGs in ALL CNS metastasis specimens and neuronal development samples (GSE60926 and GSE13715). CD2, CD3G, CD3D, and LCK may be implicated in ALL CNS metastasis. LAMB1, MATN3, IGFBP3, LGALS1, and NEUROD1 may be associated with neuronal development. Specifically, four co-DEGs (LGALS1, TMEM71, SHISA2, and S100A11) may link ALL central nervous system metastasis and neuronal development process. The miRNAs for each co-DEG could be potential biomarkers or therapeutic targets for ALL central nervous system metastasis, especially hsa-miR-22-3p, hsa-miR-548t-5p, and hsa-miR-6134. Additionally, four co-DEGs (LGALS1, TMEM71, SHISA2, and S100A11) were validated in CNS-infiltrated ALL cells. The VEGF inhibitor demonstrated a suppressive effect on mRNA and protein expression of key co-DEGs.

Conclusion

The bioinformatic survey and key gene validation suggest a possible correlation between ALL CNS metastasis and the neuronal development process. Simulating the neuronal development process might be a possible strategy for CNS metastasis in ALL. LGALS1, TMEM71, SHISA2, and S100A11 genes are promising and novel biomarkers and targets in ALL CNS metastasis.

MiR-548t-5p regulates pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma metastasis through an IL-33-dependent crosstalk between cancer cells and M2 macrophages

IL-33 has been associated with pro- and anticancer functions in cancer. However, its role in pancreatic cancer metastasis remains unknown. This study aimed to explore the role of miR-548t-5p/IL-33 axis in the metastasis of pancreatic cancer. Luciferase activity assay, qRT-PCR, Western blot and ELISA were performed to prove whether IL-33 is the target of miR-548t-5p. In vivo metastasis assay and cellular transwell assay were performed to explore the role of miR-548t-5p/IL-33 axis in the invasion and metastasis of pancreatic cancer. Co-culture experiments and immunohistochemistry were performed to observe whether IL-33 affects cell invasion and metastasis dependent on the involvement of M2 macrophages. THP-1 cell induction experiment and flow cytometry were performed to explore the effect of IL-33 on macrophage polarization. CCK-8, colony formation, cell apoptosis, cell cycle, cell wound healing and transwell assay were performed to investigate the effect of IL-33 induced M2 macrophages on cell malignant biological behavior by coculturing pancreatic cancer cells with the conditioned medium (CM) from macrophages. We found that miR-548t-5p regulated the expression and secretion of IL-33 in pancreatic cancer cells by directly targeting IL-33 mRNA. IL-33 secreted by cancer cells promoted the recruitment and activation of macrophages to a M2-like phenotype. In turn, IL-33 induced M2 macrophages promoted the migration and invasion of cancer cells. Moreover, IL-33 affected pancreatic cancer cell invasion dependent on the involvement of M2 macrophages in the co-culture system. Thus, our study suggested that manipulation of this IL-33-dependent crosstalk has a therapeutic potential for the treatment of pancreatic cancer metastasis.

Risk SNP in a transcript of RP11-638I2.4 increases lncRNA-YY1 interaction and pancreatic cancer susceptibility

Tens of thousands of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been identified through RNA-seq analysis, but the biological and pathological significance remains unclear. By integrating the genome-wide lncRNA data with a cross-ancestry meta-analysis of PDAC GWASs, we depicted a comprehensive atlas of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC)-associated lncRNAs, containing 1,204 lncRNA (445 novel lncRNAs and 759 GENCODE annotated lncRNAs) and 4,368 variants. Furthermore, we found that PDAC-associated lncRNAs could function by altering chromatin activity, transcription factors, and RNA-binding proteins binding affinity. Importantly, genetic variants linked to PDAC are preferentially found at PDAC-associated lncRNA regions, supporting the biological and clinical relevance of PDAC-associated lncRNAs. Finally, we prioritized a novel transcript (MICT00000110172.1) of RP11-638I2.4 as a potential tumor promoter. MICT00000110172.1 is able to reinforce the interaction with YY1, which could reverse the effect of YY1 on pancreatic cancer cell cycle arrest to promote the pancreatic cancer growth. G > A change at rs2757535 in the second exon of MICT00000110172.1 induces a spatial structural change and creates a target region for YY1 binding, which enforces the effect of MICT00000110172.1 in an allele-specific manner, and thus confers susceptibility to tumorigenesis. In summary, our results extend the repertoire of PDAC-associated lncRNAs that could act as a starting point for future functional explorations, and the identification of lncRNA-based target therapy.

The Value of CXCL1, CXCL2, CXCL3, and CXCL8 as Potential Prognosis Markers in Cervical Cancer: Evidence of E6/E7 from HPV16 and 18 in Chemokines Regulation

Cervical cancer (CC) is a serious global health issue, and it is well-known that HPV infection is the main etiological factor that triggers carcinogenesis. In cancer, chemokine ligands and receptors are involved in tumor cell growth, metastasis, leukocyte infiltration, and angiogenesis; however, information on the role played by E6/E7 of HPV16/18 in the modulation of chemokines is very limited. Therefore, this study aimed to determine whether chemokines are differentially expressed in CC-derived cell lines; if E6/E7 oncoproteins from HPV16 and 18 are capable of mediating chemokine expression, what is the expression profile of chemokines in tissues derived from CC and what is their impact on the overall survival of patients with this pathology? For this purpose, RNA sequencing and real-time PCR were performed on SiHa, HeLa, and C33A tumorigenic cell lines, on the non-tumorigenic HaCaT cells, and the E6/E7 HPV-transduced HaCaT cell models. Furthermore, chemokine expression and survival analysis were executed on 304 CC and 22 normal tissue samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) repository. The results demonstrate that CXCL1, CXCL2, CXCL3, and CXCL8 are regulated by E6/E7 of HPV16 and 18, are overexpressed in CC biopsies, and that their higher expression is related to a worse prognostic survival.

Bradykinin B1 Receptor Affects Tumor-Associated Macrophage Activity and Glioblastoma Progression

Bradykinin is a small active peptide and is considered an inflammatory mediator in several pathological conditions. Bradykinin exerts its effects by coupling to its receptors, including bradykinin B1 (B1R) and bradykinin B2. B1R has been implicated in the development of various cancers. Our previous study reported that B1R promoted glioblastoma (GBM) development by supporting the migration and invasion of GBM cells. However, the mechanisms underlying the effects of B1R on tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and GBM progression remain unknown. Accordingly, to explore the regulatory effects of B1R overexpression (OE) in GBM on tumor-associated immune cells and tumor progression, we constructed a B1R wild-type plasmid and developed a B1R OE model. The results reveal that B1R OE in GBM promoted the expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1-cell adhesion molecules-in GBM. Moreover, B1R OE enhanced GBM cell migration ability and monocyte attachment. B1R also regulated the production of the protumorigenic cytokines and chemokines IL-6, IL-8, CXCL11, and CCL5 in GBM, which contributed to tumor progression. We additionally noted that B1R OE in GBM increased the expression of CD68 in TAMs. Furthermore, B1R OE reduced the level of reactive oxygen species in GBM cells by upregulating heme oxygenase-1, an endogenous antioxidant protein, thereby protecting GBM cells from oxidative stress. Notably, B1R OE upregulated the expression of programmed death-ligand 1 in both GBM cells and macrophages, thus providing resistance against T-cell response. B1R OE in GBM also promoted tumor growth and reduced survival rates in an intracranial xenograft mouse model. These results indicate that B1R expression in GBM promotes TAM activity and modulates GBM progression. Therefore, B1R could be an effective target for therapeutic methods in GBM.

Identification of m7G-Related miRNA Signatures Associated with Prognosis, Oxidative Stress, and Immune Landscape in Lung Adenocarcinoma

The role of N7-methylguanosine(m7G)-related miRNAs in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) remains unclear. We used LUAD data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) to establish a risk model based on the m7G-related miRNAs, and divided patients into high-risk or low-risk subgroups. A nomogram for predicting overall survival (OS) was then constructed based on the independent risk factors. In addition, we performed a functional enrichment analysis and defined the oxidative stress-related genes, immune landscape as well as a drug response profile in the high-risk and low-risk subgroups. This study incorporated 28 m7G-related miRNAs into the risk model. The data showed a significant difference in the OS between the high-risk and low-risk subgroups. The receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) predicted that the area under the curve (AUC) of one-year, three-year and five-year OS was 0.781, 0.804 and 0.853, respectively. The C-index of the prognostic nomogram for predicting OS was 0.739. We then analyzed the oxidative stress-related genes and immune landscape in the high-risk and low-risk subgroups. The data demonstrated significant differences in the expression of albumin (ALB), estimated score, immune score, stromal score, immune cell infiltration and functions between the high-risk and low-risk subgroups. In addition, the drug response analysis showed that low-risk subgroups may be more sensitive to tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) and histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors. We successfully developed a novel risk model based on m7G-related miRNAs in this study. The model can predict clinical prognosis and guide therapeutic regimens in patients with LUAD. Our data also provided new insights into the molecular mechanisms of m7G in LUAD.

Analysis of cuproptosis-related lncRNA signature for predicting prognosis and tumor immune microenvironment in pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is a highly malignant digestive tract tumor, with a dismal 5-year survival rate. Recently, cuproptosis was found to be copper-dependent cell death. This work aims to establish a cuproptosis-related lncRNA signature which could predict the prognosis of PC patients and help clinical decision-making. Firstly, cuproptosis-related lncRNAs were identified in the TCGA-PAAD database. Next, a cuproptosis-related lncRNA signature based on five lncRNAs was established. Besides, the ICGC cohort and our samples from 30 PC patients served as external validation groups to verify the predictive power of the risk signature. Then, the expression of CASC8 was verified in PC samples, scRNA-seq dataset CRA001160, and PC cell lines. The correlation between CASC8 and cuproptosis-related genes was validated by Real-Time PCR. Additionally, the roles of CASC8 in PC progression and immune microenvironment characterization were explored by loss-of-function assay. As showed in the results, the prognosis of patients with higher risk scores was prominently worse than that with lower risk scores. Real-Time PCR and single cell analysis suggested that CASC8 was highly expressed in pancreatic cancer and related to cuproptosis. Additionally, gene inhibition of CASC8 impacted the proliferation, apoptosis and migration of PC cells. Furthermore, CASC8 was demonstrated to impact the expression of CD274 and several chemokines, and serve as a key indicator in tumor immune microenvironment characterization. In conclusion, the cuproptosis-related lncRNA signature could provide valuable indications for the prognosis of PC patients, and CASC8 was a candidate biomarker for not only predicting the progression of PC patients but also their antitumor immune responses.

The SIX1/LDHA Axis Promotes Lactate Accumulation and Leads to NK Cell Dysfunction in Pancreatic Cancer

Background

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is a malignant cancer with poor prognosis and high mortality rate. Sine oculis homeobox homolog 1 (SIX1) participates in the development of many cancers. However, the function of SIX1 in PC is not fully understood.

Methods

SIX1 expression was determined using immunohistochemistry in PC tissues and cell lines. Glucose consumption, lactate production, and ATP assays were used to detect the function of SIX1. PC cells and NK cells were cocultured to study the effect of SIX1 overexpression in PC cells on NK cell function. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays were used to study the relationship between SIX1 and lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA). A series of in vitro and in vivo assays were further applied to elucidate the important role of the SIX1/LDHA axis in metabolism and NK cell dysfunction in PC.

Results

SIX1 was significantly upregulated in PC tissue; SIX1 overexpression promoted the glycolysis capacity of PANC-1 and CFPAC-1 cells and resulted in NK cell dysfunction after the NK cells had been cultured with PC cells. LDHA inhibitor partially restored the promotion of PC caused by SIX1 overexpression. According to ChIP assays, SIX1 directly binds to the LDHA promoter region. Moreover, LDHA inhibitor and lactate transporter blocker treatment promoted the function of NK cells cocultured with PC cells. In vivo experiments yielded the same results.

Conclusion

The SIX1/LDHA axis promotes lactate accumulation and leads to NK cell dysfunction in PC.

miR-140-5p protects cartilage progenitor/stem cells from fate changes in knee osteoarthritis

Cartilage progenitor/stem cells (CPCs) are promising seed cells for cartilage regeneration, but their fate changes and regulatory mechanisms in osteoarthritis (OA) pathogenesis remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the role and potential mechanism of the microRNA-140-5p (miR-140-5p), whose protective role in knee OA has been confirmed by our previous studies, in OA CPCs fate reprogramming. Firstly, the normal and OA CPCs were isolated, and the fate indicators, miR-140-5p, Jagged1, and Notch signals were detected and analyzed. Then, the effect of miR-140-5p and the Notch pathway on CPCs fate reprogramming and miR-140-5p on Jagged1/Notch signaling was investigated in IL-1β-induced chondrocytes in vitro. Finally, the effect of miR-140-5p on OA CPCs fate reprogramming and the potential mechanisms were validated in OA rats. As a result, CPCs percentage was increased in the mild OA cartilage-derived total chondrocytes while decreased in the advanced OA group. Significant fate changes (including reduced cell viability, migration, chondrogenesis, and increased apoptosis), increased Jagged1 and Notch signals, and reduced miR-140-5p were observed in OA CPCs and associated with OA progression. IL-1β induced OA-like changes in CPCs fate, which could be exacerbated by miR-140-5p inhibitor while alleviated by DAPT (a specific Notch inhibitor) and miR-140-5p mimic. Finally, the in vitro phenomenal and mechanistic findings were validated in OA rats. Overall, miR-140-5p protects CPCs from fate changes via inhibiting Jagged1/Notch signaling in knee OA, providing attractive targets for OA therapeutics.

EphA2 Promotes the Development of Cervical Cancer through the CXCL11/PD-L1 Pathway

Erythropoietin-producing hepatoma receptor A2 (EphA2), receptor tyrosine kinase, the most widespread member of the largest receptor tyrosine kinase family, plays a critical role in physiological and pathological conditions. In recent years, the role of EphA2 in the occurrence and development of cancer has become a research hotspot and is considered a promising potential target. Our previous studies have shown that EphA2 has an indisputable cancer-promoting role in cervical cancer, but its related mechanism requires further research. In this study, high-throughput sequencing was performed on EphA2 knockdown cervical cancer cells and the control group. An analysis of differentially expressed genes revealed that EphA2 may exert its cancer-promoting effect through C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 11 (CXCL11). In addition, we found that EphA2 could further regulate programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) through CXCL11. This has also been further demonstrated in in vivo experiments. Our study demonstrated that EphA2 plays a tumor-promoting role in cervical carcinoma through the CXCL11/PD-L1 pathway, providing new guidance for the targeted therapy and combination therapy of cervical carcinoma.

Expression of chemokine CXCL8/9/10/11/13 and its prognostic significance in head and neck cancer

BACKGROUND

Head and neck cancer (HNC) is a very popular cancer, with many primary sites and pathological types, at the top of the list of tumors. Chemokines are a class of small molecular basic proteins, whose N-terminal cysteine residues can be divided into four subunits by location and number, which significantly enhances the expression level in all kinds of cancers. However, in HNC, especially in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, the chemokine CXCL8/9/10/11/13 has not been clearly explored for its diagnosis and prognosis.

METHODS

The ONCOMINE database was used to analyze the expression of chemokine family in various cancers. After CXCL8/9/10/11/13 was screened out, the expression of CXCL 8/9/11/13 in patients with HNC/normal people were analyzed by UALCAN database. The expression and pathological stages of CXCL 8/9/10/13 in HNC tissues were analyzed by the GEPIA database, and the relationship between its mRNA expression and the overall survival (OS) time of patients with HNC was analyzed by Kaplan-Meier plotter database. In addition, 171 co-expressed genes significantly related to CXCL8/9/10/11/13 mutation were screened by online tool cBioPortal, and the protein interaction network of these genes was constructed by STRING database. Finally, the potential functions of CXCL8/9/10/11/13 and its 171 co-expressed genes were explored by the enrichment and analysis function of David database.

RESULTS

Transcriptional expression of chemokine 8/9/10/11/13 was significantly increased in patients with HNC. Clinical stage of patients with HNC was significantly correlated with overexpression of CXCL9/10/11. In addition, the chemokine CXCL8/9/10/13 was significantly correlated with over-survival of patients with HNC, so it could be distinguished between short-term and long-term survival of patients with HNC. In conclusion, CXCL8/9/10/11/13 closely connected with the expression and prognosis of HNC.

CONCLUSION

In this study, our results suggest that chemokine CXCL8/9/10/11/13 may play a critical role in the development of HNC, and, according to relevant data, it may affect the survival and prognosis of patients with HNC.

N6-methyladenosine RNA methylation regulator-related alternative splicing gene signature as prognostic predictor and in immune microenvironment characterization of patients with low-grade glioma

Background: N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA methylation is an important epigenetic modification affecting alternative splicing (AS) patterns of genes to regulate gene expression. AS drives protein diversity and its imbalance may be an important factor in tumorigenesis. However, the clinical significance of m6A RNA methylation regulator-related AS in the tumor microenvironment has not been investigated in low-grade glioma (LGG).

Methods: We used 12 m6A methylation modulatory genes (WTAP, FTO, HNRNPC, YTHDF2, YTHDF1, YTHDC2, ALKBH5, YTHDC1, ZC3H13, RBM15, METTL14, and METTL3) from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database as well as the TCGA-LGG (n = 502) dataset of AS events and transcriptome data. These data were downloaded and subjected to machine learning, bioinformatics, and statistical analyses, including gene ontology (GO) and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis. Univariate Cox, the Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO), and multivariable Cox regression were used to develop prognostic characteristics. Prognostic values were validated using Kaplan-Maier survival analysis, proportional risk models, ROC curves, and nomograms. The ESTIMATE package, TIMER database, CIBERSORT method, and ssGSEA algorithm in the R package were utilized to explore the role of the immune microenvironment in LGG. Lastly, an AS-splicing factor (SF) regulatory network was examined in the case of considering the role of SFs in regulating AS events.

Results: An aggregate of 3,272 m6A regulator-related AS events in patients with LGG were screened using six machine learning algorithms. We developed eight AS prognostic characteristics based on splice subtypes, which showed an excellent prognostic prediction performance. Furthermore, quantitative prognostic nomograms were developed and showed strong validity in prognostic prediction. In addition, prognostic signatures were substantially associated with tumor immune microenvironment diversity, ICB-related genes, and infiltration status of immune cell subtypes. Specifically, UGP2 has better promise as a prognostic factor for LGG. Finally, splicing regulatory networks revealed the potential functions of SFs.

Conclusion: The present research offers a novel perspective on the role of AS in m6A methylation. We reveal that m6A methylation regulator-related AS events can mediate tumor progression through the immune-microenvironment, which could serve as a viable biological marker for clinical stratification of patients with LGG so as to optimize treatment regimens.

RAMP2-AS1 inhibits CXCL11 expression to suppress malignant phenotype of breast cancer by recruiting DNMT1 and DNMT3B

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women populations.

METHODS

RAMP2-AS1 and CXCL11 expression in breast cancer tissues and cells were determined using RT-qPCR or Western blot. RIP analysis confirmed the interaction between DNMT1, DNMT3B and RAMP2-AS1. ChIP assay verified that RAMP2-AS1 recruited DNMT1 and DNMT3B to the promoter region of CXCL11. FISH detected the sub-localization of RAMP2-AS1 in breast cancer cells. Bisulfite sequencing PCR (BSP) tested the methylation level of CXCL11. The cell viability, proliferation, migration and apoptosis were assessed by CCK-8, colony formation, transwell and flow cytometry assays, respectively. IHC was performed to evaluate the expression of Ki67, CXCL11, MMP2 in tumor tissues.

RESULTS

The level of RAMP2-AS1 was decreased in breast cancer tissues and cells, whereas CXCL11 was highly expressed. Patients with decreased RAMP2-AS1 had a poor prognosis. RAMP2-AS1 inhibited breast cancer cell malignant phenotype. Besides, RAMP2-AS1 regulated the methylation of CXCL11 by recruiting DNMT1 and DNMT3B to the promoter region of CXCL11. RAMP2-AS1 overexpression suppressed the malignant phenotype through CXCL11 and inhibited tumor growth in vivo.

CONCLUSION

RAMP2-AS1 suppresses breast cancer malignant phenotype via DNMT1 and DNMT3B mediated inhibition of CXCL11.

Epigenetic activation of RBM15 promotes clear cell renal cell carcinoma growth, metastasis and macrophage infiltration by regulating the m6A modification of CXCL11

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is a common kidney malignancy that is characterized by poor prognosis. RNA-binding motif protein 15 (RBM15) has been identified as an oncogene in multiple tumors. Nevertheless, the function and mechanism of RBM15 in ccRCC are not clear. In this study, RBM15 was found to be upregulated in ccRCC cells and tissues. RBM15 enhanced the proliferation, clone formation, migration, invasion and epithelial-interstitial transition of ccRCC cells. Enhanced RBM15 was caused by the abundant histone 3 acetylation modification of the RBM15 promoter induced by EP300/CBP. RBM15 enhanced the stability of CXCL11 mRNA in an m6A-dependent manner. Moreover, RBM15 was found to promote macrophage infiltration and M2 polarization by promoting the secretion of CXCL11 in ccRCC cells in vitro and in vivo. Our findings highlight the function of RBM15 in ccRCC and reveal a novel identified EP300/CBP-RBM15-CXCL11 signaling axis, which promotes ccRCC progression and provides new insight into ccRCC therapy.

Exosomal circSHKBP1 participates in non-small cell lung cancer progression through PKM2-mediated glycolysis

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has a high morbidity and mortality, and it is imperative to explore the latent pathogenesis mechanism of NSCLC progression to find potential prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets. The present study aimed to explore the biological function of circSHKBP1 in NSCLC. circSHKBP1 was found to be upregulated in NSCLC tissues and cell lines and was enriched in exosomes derived from NSCLC cells. Exosomal circSHKBP1 enhanced the proliferation, migration, invasion, and stemness of NSCLC cells. miRNA-1294 was identified as a target for circSHKBP1, and circSHKBP1 upregulated PKM2 expression by sponging miR-1294. Exosomal circSHKBP1 regulated glycolysis through PKM2 in a HIF-1α-dependent manner in NSCLC cells and promoted M2 polarization and macrophage recruitment. Moreover, exosomal circSHKBP1 promoted NSCLC cell growth, metastasis, and M2 infiltration in vivo. Thus, exosomal circSHKBP1 participated in the progression of NSCLC via the miR-1294/PKM2 axis. circSHKBP1 may be potential biomarker for the diagnosis and treatment of NSCLC.

Effect of the transcription factor YY1 on the development of pancreatic endocrine and exocrine tumors: a narrative review

Pancreatic tumors are classified into endocrine and exocrine types, and the clinical manifestations in patients are nonspecific. Most patients, especially those with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), have lost the opportunity to receive for the best treatment at the time of diagnosis. Although chemotherapy and radiotherapy have shown good therapeutic results in other tumors, their therapeutic effects on pancreatic tumors are minimal. A multifunctional transcription factor, Yin-Yang 1 (YY1) regulates the transcription of a variety of important genes and plays a significant role in diverse tumors. Studies have shown that targeting YY1 can improve the survival time of patients with tumors. In this review, we focused on the mechanism by which YY1 affects the occurrence and development of pancreatic tumors. We found that a YY1 mutation is specific for insulinomas and has a role in driving the degree of malignancy. In addition, changes in the circadian network are a key causative factor of PDAC. YY1 promotes pancreatic clock progression and induces malignant changes, but YY1 seems to act as a tumor suppressor in PDAC and affects many biological behaviors, such as proliferation, migration, apoptosis and metastasis. Our review summarizes the progress in understanding the role of YY1 in pancreatic endocrine and exocrine tumors and provides a reasonable assessment of the potential for therapeutic targeting of YY1 in pancreatic tumors.

Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition and Its Regulation Mechanisms in Pancreatic Cancer

As one of the malignancies with high mortality and high insensitivity to existing therapies, pancreatic cancer and mechanisms underlying its progression have received growing scholarly attention. The role of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in pancreatic cancer genesis and metastasis has been reported albeit controversy has remained. Recent insights into further EMT-regulating mechanisms underlying pancreatic cancer contribute to the nexus between EMT and this cancer type. This review will elucidate the role of EMT as a hallmark for pancreatic cancer as well as summarize EMT-regulating factors recently detected as a key advance in the research stream on EMT in pancreatic cancer.

CXCL11 Correlates With Antitumor Immunity and an Improved Prognosis in Colon Cancer

The chemokine ligand C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 11 (CXCL11) is involved in the progression of various cancers, but its biological roles in colorectal cancer (CRC) remain confused. Therefore, the prognostic value and underlying mechanism of CXCL11 in CRC were preliminarily evaluated. Three independent datasets were used for mRNA-related analysis: one dataset from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA, n = 451) and two single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) datasets from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO): GSE146771 and GSE132465. In addition, a colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) patient cohort (the Yijishan Hospital cohort, YJSHC, n = 108) was utilized for analysis of cell infiltration by immunohistochemistry. We determined the distribution of CXCL11 in tumor tissue across all TCGA cancers and found that CXCL11 expression was significantly upregulated in both COAD and rectal adenocarcinoma (READ). However, the upregulation of CXCL11 mRNA was associated with a better prognosis in COAD, but not in READ. Within the YJSHC, the patients with a high abundance of intratumoral CXCL11⁺ cells had prolonged survival (p = 0.001). Furthermore, we found that the high CXCL11 expression group had a higher proportion of antitumor immune cells, and a lower proportion of protumor immune cells. Additionally, we discovered the changes of gene expression and enriched immune pathway network mediated by CXCL11. Interestingly, both cytotoxic genes (IFNG, GZMA, GZMB, GZMK, GZMM, and PRF1) and immunosuppressive molecules, including PD-L1, were positively correlated with CXCL11 expression. CXCL11, which promoted antitumor immunity to benefit survival, was identified as an independent prognostic biomarker in patients with COAD.

A signature of 18 immune-related gene pairs to predict the prognosis of pancreatic cancer patients

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most lethal malignancies. With the promising prospects conveyed by immunotherapy in cancers, we aimed to construct an immune‐related gene pairs (IRGPs) signature to predict the prognosis of pancreatic cancer patients. We downloaded clinical and transcriptional data of pancreatic cancer patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas data set as the training group and GSE57495 data set as the verification group. We filtered immune‐related transcriptional data by IMMPORT. With the assistance of lasso penalized Cox regression, we constructed our prognostic IRGPs signature and divided all samples into high‐/low‐risk groups by receiver operating characteristic curve for further comparisons. The comparisons between high‐ and low‐risk groups including survival rate, multivariate, and univariate Cox proportional‐hazards analysis, infiltration of immune cells, and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA). Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) are facilitated to analyze the proceedings in which our IRGPs signature may involve in. The results revealed that 18 IRGPs were defined as our prognostic signature. The prognostic value of this IRGPs signature was verified from the GSE57495 data set. We further demonstrated the independent prognostic value of this IRGPs signature. The contents of six immune cells between high‐/low‐risk groups were different, which was associated with the progression of diverse cancers. Results from GO, KEGG, and GSEA revealed that this IRGPs signature was involved in extracellular space, immune response, cancer pathways, cation channel, and gated channel activities. Evidently, this IRGPs signature will provide remarkable value for the therapy of pancreatic cancer patients.