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Huang Y, Zeng J, Liu T, Xu Q, Song X, Zeng J. ARHGEF39 targeted by E2F1 fosters hepatocellular carcinoma metastasis by mediating fatty acid metabolism. Clin Res Hepatol Gastroenterol 2024; 48:102446. [PMID: 39128592 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinre.2024.102446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2024] [Revised: 07/11/2024] [Accepted: 08/08/2024] [Indexed: 08/13/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) stands as the prevailing manifestation of primary liver cancer. Previous studies have implicated ARHGEF39 in various cancer progression processes, but its impact on HCC metastasis remains unclear. METHODS Bioinformatics analysis and qRT-PCR were employed to test ARHGEF39 expression in HCC tissues and cells, identified enriched pathways associated with ARHGEF39, and investigated its regulatory relationship with E2F1. The impact of ARHGEF39 overexpression or knockdown on cellular phenotypes in HCC was assessed through the implementation of CCK-8 and Transwell assays. Accumulation of neutral lipids was determined by BODIPY 493/503 staining, while levels of triglycerides and phospholipids were measured using specific assay kits. Expression of E-cadherin, Vimentin, MMP-2, MMP-9, and FASN were analyzed by Western blot. The interaction between ARHGEF39 and E2F1 was validated through ChIP and dual-luciferase reporter assays. RESULTS Our study demonstrated upregulated expression of both ARHGEF39 and E2F1 in HCC, with ARHGEF39 being associated with fatty acid metabolism (FAM) pathways. Additionally, ARHGEF39 was identified as a downstream target gene of E2F1. Cell-based experiments unmasked that high expression of ARHGEF39 mediated the promotion of HCC cell viability, migration, and invasion via enhanced FAM. Moreover, rescue assays demonstrated that the promotion of HCC cell metastasis by high ARHGEF39 expression was attenuated upon treatment with Orlistat. Conversely, the knockdown of E2F1 suppressed HCC cell metastasis and FAM, while the upregulation of ARHGEF39 counteracted the repressive effects of E2F1 downregulation on the metastatic potential of HCC cells. CONCLUSION Our findings confirmed the critical role of ARHGEF39 in HCC metastasis and unmasked potential molecular mechanisms through which ARHGEF39 fostered HCC metastasis via FAM, providing a theoretical basis for exploring novel molecular markers and preventive strategies for HCC metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Huang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, 350005, China; Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, National Regional Medical Center, Binhai Campus of the First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, 350212, China; Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Mengchao Hepatobiliary Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, 350005, China
| | - Jianxing Zeng
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Mengchao Hepatobiliary Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, 350005, China
| | - Teng Liu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Mengchao Hepatobiliary Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, 350005, China
| | - Qingyi Xu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Mengchao Hepatobiliary Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, 350005, China
| | - Xianglin Song
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Mengchao Hepatobiliary Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, 350005, China
| | - Jinhua Zeng
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, 350005, China; Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, National Regional Medical Center, Binhai Campus of the First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, 350212, China; Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Mengchao Hepatobiliary Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, 350005, China.
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Cheng Y, Lu Y, Xue J, Wang X, Zhou L, Luo Y, Li Y. DDX19A promotes gastric cancer cell proliferation and migration by activating the PI3K/AKT pathway. Cancer Cell Int 2024; 24:272. [PMID: 39097730 PMCID: PMC11297674 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-024-03448-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2024] [Indexed: 08/05/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND DEAD-box RNA helicase 19 A (DDX19A) is overexpressed in cervical squamous cell carcinoma. However, its role in gastric cancer remains unclear. The present study aimed to explore the role and underlying mechanism of DDX19A in the development of gastric cancer. METHODS The expression of DDX19A in gastric cancer and paracancerous tissues was evaluated through quantitative polymerase chain reaction, western blotting, and immunohistochemical staining. The biological functions of DDX19A in gastric cancer were determined using CCK8, plate colony-forming, and Transwell migration assays. The specific mechanism of DDX19A in gastric cancer cells was studied using western blotting, RNA-binding protein immunoprecipitation, mRNA half-life detection, and nuclear and cytoplasmic RNA isolation. RESULTS DDX19A was highly expressed in gastric cancer and positively associated with malignant clinicopathological features and poor prognosis. Additionally, DDX19A promoted gastric cancer cell proliferation, migration, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition phenotypes. Mechanistically, DDX19A activated the PI3K/AKT pathway by upregulating phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PIK3CA) expression. Furthermore, DDX19A interacted with PIK3CA mRNA, stabilized it, and facilitated its export from the nucleus. CONCLUSIONS Our study reveals a novel mechanism whereby DDX19A promotes the proliferation and migration of gastric cancer cells by enhancing the stability and nuclear export of PIK3CA mRNA, thereby activating the PI3K/AKT pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Cheng
- Department of Pathology, Chengde Medical College, Chengde, Hebei Province, China
| | - Yanjie Lu
- Department of Pathology, Chengde Medical College, Chengde, Hebei Province, China
- Cancer Research Laboratory, Chengde Medical College, Chengde, Hebei Province, China
| | - Jing Xue
- Morphological Experimental Center, Chengde Medical College, Chengde, Hebei Province, China
| | - Xuemei Wang
- Department of Pathology, Chengde Medical College, Chengde, Hebei Province, China
| | - Lili Zhou
- Department of Pathology, Chengde Medical College, Chengde, Hebei Province, China
| | - Yu Luo
- Department of Pathology, Chengde Medical College, Chengde, Hebei Province, China
| | - Yuhong Li
- Department of Pathology, Chengde Medical College, Chengde, Hebei Province, China.
- Cancer Research Laboratory, Chengde Medical College, Chengde, Hebei Province, China.
- Department of Pathology, Cancer Research Laboratory, Chengde Medical College, Anyuan Road, Chengde, Hebei, 067000, China.
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Yang G, Shi X, Zhang M, Wang K, Tian X, Wang X. DEAD/H-box helicase 11 is transcriptionally activated by Yin Yang-1 and accelerates oral squamous cell carcinoma progression. Cell Biol Int 2024. [PMID: 39090819 DOI: 10.1002/cbin.12228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2024] [Revised: 05/28/2024] [Accepted: 07/12/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024]
Abstract
Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common oral malignancy. DEAD/H-box helicase 11 (DDX11), a DNA helicase, has been implicated in the progression of several cancers. Yet, the precise function of DDX11 in OSCC is poorly understood. The DDX11 expression in OSCC cells and normal oral keratinocytes was evaluated in the Gene Expression Omnibus database (GSE146483 and GSE31853). SCC-4 and CAL-27 cells expressing doxycycline-inducible DDX11 or DDX11 shRNA were generated by lentiviral infection. The role of DDX11 in OSCC cells was determined by 3-(4, 5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, colony formation assay, flow cytometry assay, TUNEL staining, and western blot. The effects of DDX11 on tumor growth were explored in a xenograft nude mouse model. The relationship between DDX11 and transcription factor Yin Yang-1 (YY1) was researched using the dual luciferase report assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation assay. DDX11 expression was significantly upregulated in OSCC cells. Knockdown of DDX11 inhibited cell proliferation, induced cell cycle arrest, and suppressed PI3K-AKT pathway, while DDX11 overexpression showed opposite effects. The number of apoptotic cells was increased in DDX11 silenced cells. DDX11 upregulation or knockdown accelerated or suppressed tumor growth in vivo, respectively. Moreover, the YY1 bound and activated the DDX11 promoter, resulting in increasing DDX11 expression. Forced expression DDX11 reversed the anticancer effects of YY1 silencing on OSCC cells. DDX11 has tumor-promoting function in OSCC and is transcriptionally regulated by YY1, indicating that DDX11 may serve as a potential target for the OSCC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guang Yang
- Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, The First Hospital of Qiqihar, Qiqihar, China
| | - Xin Shi
- Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Meixia Zhang
- Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Kaiwen Wang
- Department of Medical Affairs, The First Hospital of Qiqihar, Qiqihar, China
| | - Xin Tian
- Office of Academic Affairs, Qiqihar University, Qiqihar, China
| | - Xiaofeng Wang
- Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
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Wang J, Yang K, Yang X, Jin T, Tian Y, Dai C, Xu F. HHLA2 promotes hepatoma cell proliferation, migration, and invasion via SPP1/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Mol Carcinog 2024; 63:1275-1287. [PMID: 38578157 DOI: 10.1002/mc.23723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Revised: 03/02/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) stands as one of the most malignant tumors characterized by poor prognosis and high mortality rates. Emerging evidence underscores the crucial role of the B7 protein family in various cancers, including HCC. However, the involvement of the human endogenous retrovirus H long-terminal repeat-associated protein 2 (HHLA2, or B7-H5) in HCC remains unclear. Immunohistochemistry was employed to assess the differential expression of HHLA2 between HCC and normal liver tissues. A battery of assays, including CCK8, EdU, tablet clone-forming, Transwell, and wound healing assays, were conducted to elucidate the function and potential mechanisms of HHLA2 in the malignant biological behaviors of HCC. Additionally, a xenograft mouse model was established to evaluate the tumorigenicity of hepatoma cell lines exhibiting different HHLA2 expression levels in vivo. Western blot analysis was used to analyze HHLA2, secretory phosphoprotein 1 (SPP1), and PI3K/AKT/mTOR levels. HHLA2 exhibited elevated expression in HCC tissues, correlating with poor tumor differentiation and shortened overall survival in HCC patients. In vitro experiments demonstrated that HHLA2 overexpression (OE) promoted the proliferation, migration, and invasion of hepatoma cells, while in vivo experiments revealed that HHLA2 OE enhanced HCC tumor growth. Conversely, inhibition of HHLA2 expression yielded the opposite effect. Downregulation of SPP1 inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion induced by HHLA2 OE, and this effect was linked to the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. Our findings indicate that HHLA2 promotes the proliferation, migration, and invasion of hepatoma cells via the SPP1/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, establishing it as a potential therapeutic target for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junqi Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Ke Yang
- Department of Tradition Chinese Medicine, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Xin Yang
- Department of General Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Tianqiang Jin
- Department of General Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Yu Tian
- Department of General Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Chaoliu Dai
- Department of General Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Feng Xu
- Department of General Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
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Hua K, Wu C, Lin C, Chen C. E2F1 promotes cell migration in hepatocellular carcinoma via FNDC3B. FEBS Open Bio 2024; 14:687-694. [PMID: 38403291 PMCID: PMC10988749 DOI: 10.1002/2211-5463.13783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024] Open
Abstract
FNDC3B (fibronectin type III domain containing 3B) is highly expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and other cancer types, and fusion genes involving FNDC3B have been identified in HCC and leukemia. Growing evidence suggests the significance of FNDC3B in tumorigenesis, particularly in cell migration and tumor metastasis. However, its regulatory mechanisms remain elusive. In this study, we employed bioinformatic, gene regulation, and protein-DNA interaction screening to investigate the transcription factors (TFs) involved in regulating FNDC3B. Initially, 338 candidate TFs were selected based on previous chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP)-seq experiments available in public domain databases. Through TF knockdown screening and ChIP coupled with Droplet Digital PCR assays, we identified that E2F1 (E2F transcription factor 1) is crucial for the activation of FNDC3B. Overexpression or knockdown of E2F1 significantly impacts the expression of FNDC3B. In conclusion, our study elucidated the mechanistic link between FNDC3B and E2F1. These findings contribute to a better understanding of FNDC3B in tumorigenesis and provide insights into potential therapeutic targets for cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate Hua
- Cancer Progression Research CenterNational Yang Ming Chiao Tung UniversityTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Chen‐Tang Wu
- Cancer Progression Research CenterNational Yang Ming Chiao Tung UniversityTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Chin‐Hui Lin
- Cancer Progression Research CenterNational Yang Ming Chiao Tung UniversityTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Chian‐Feng Chen
- Cancer Progression Research CenterNational Yang Ming Chiao Tung UniversityTaipeiTaiwan
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Chen YF, Pang YC, Wang HC, Wu PE, Chen ZJ, Huang D, Peng DL, Yan YM, Liu C, Wu LC, Fan XZ, Cheng YX, Liu YQ. Identification of arnicolide C as a novel chemosensitizer to suppress mTOR/E2F1/FANCD2 axis in non-small cell lung cancer. Br J Pharmacol 2024; 181:1221-1237. [PMID: 37926864 DOI: 10.1111/bph.16281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2023] [Revised: 10/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway plays critical roles in intrinsic chemoresistance by regulating Fanconi anaemia complementation group D2 (FANCD2) expression. However, the mechanisms by which mTOR regulates FANCD2 expression and related inhibitors are not clearly elucidated. Extracts of Centipeda minima (C. minima) showed promising chemosensitizing effects by inhibiting FANCD2 activity. Here, we have aimed to identify the bioactive chemosensitizer in C. minima extracts and elucidate its underlying mechanism. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH The chemosensitizing effects of arnicolide C (ArC), a bioactive compound in C. minima, on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were investigated using immunoblotting, immunofluorescence, flow cytometry, the comet assay, small interfering RNA (siRNA) transfection and animal models. The online SynergyFinder software was used to determine the synergistic effects of ArC and chemotherapeutic drugs on NSCLC cells. KEY RESULTS ArC had synergistic cytotoxic effects with DNA cross-linking drugs such as cisplatin and mitomycin C in NSCLC cells. ArC treatment markedly decreased FANCD2 expression in NSCLC cells, thus attenuating cisplatin-induced FANCD2 nuclear foci formation, leading to DNA damage and apoptosis. ArC inhibited the mTOR pathway and attenuated mTOR-mediated expression of E2F1, a critical transcription factor of FANCD2. Co-administration of ArC and cisplatin exerted synergistic anticancer effects in the A549 xenograft mouse model by suppressing mTOR/FANCD2 signalling in tumour tissues. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS ArC suppressed DNA cross-linking drug-induced DNA damage response by inhibiting the mTOR/E2F1/FANCD2 signalling axis, serving as a chemosensitizing agent. This provides insight into the anticancer mechanisms of ArC and offers a potential combinatorial anticancer therapeutic strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Fei Chen
- Research Center of Chinese Herbal Resource Science and Engineering, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicinal Resource from Lingnan (Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yan-Chun Pang
- Research Center of Chinese Herbal Resource Science and Engineering, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicinal Resource from Lingnan (Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, China
| | - Han-Chen Wang
- Research Center of Chinese Herbal Resource Science and Engineering, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicinal Resource from Lingnan (Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, China
| | - Pei-En Wu
- Research Center of Chinese Herbal Resource Science and Engineering, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicinal Resource from Lingnan (Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zi-Jie Chen
- Research Center of Chinese Herbal Resource Science and Engineering, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicinal Resource from Lingnan (Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, China
| | - Da Huang
- Research Center of Chinese Herbal Resource Science and Engineering, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicinal Resource from Lingnan (Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, China
| | - Dong-Ling Peng
- Research Center of Chinese Herbal Resource Science and Engineering, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicinal Resource from Lingnan (Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yong-Ming Yan
- Institute for Inheritance-Based Innovation of Chinese Medicine, Marshall Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering, School of Pharmacy, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Changhui Liu
- Research Center of Chinese Herbal Resource Science and Engineering, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicinal Resource from Lingnan (Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, China
| | - Li-Chuan Wu
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Special Biomedicine, School of Medicine, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Xiang-Zhen Fan
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Binzhou Medical University Hospital, Binzhou, China
| | - Yong-Xian Cheng
- Institute for Inheritance-Based Innovation of Chinese Medicine, Marshall Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering, School of Pharmacy, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yong-Qiang Liu
- Research Center of Chinese Herbal Resource Science and Engineering, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicinal Resource from Lingnan (Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, China
- Dongguan Institute of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Dongguan, China
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Tong M, Luo S, Gu L, Wang X, Zhang Z, Liang C, Huang H, Lin Y, Huang J. SIMarker: Cellular similarity detection and its application to diagnosis and prognosis of liver cancer. Comput Biol Med 2024; 171:108113. [PMID: 38368754 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2024.108113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The emergence of single-cell technology offers a unique opportunity to explore cellular similarity and heterogeneity between precancerous diseases and solid tumors. However, there is lacking a systematic study for identifying and characterizing similarities at single-cell resolution. METHODS We developed SIMarker, a computational framework to detect cellular similarities between precancerous diseases and solid tumors based on gene expression at single-cell resolution. Taking hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) as a case study, we quantified the cellular and molecular connections between HCC and cirrhosis. Core analysis modules of SIMarker is publicly available at https://github.com/xmuhuanglab/SIMarker ("SIM" means "similarity" and "Marker" means "biomarkers). RESULTS We found PGA5+ hepatocytes in HCC showed cirrhosis-like characteristics, including similar transcriptional programs and gene regulatory networks. Consequently, the genes constituting the gene expression program of these cirrhosis-like subpopulations were designated as cirrhosis-like signatures (CLS). Strikingly, our utilization of CLS enabled the development of diagnosis and prognosis biomarkers based on within-sample relative expression orderings of gene pairs. These biomarkers achieved high precision and concordance compared with previous studies. CONCLUSIONS Our work provides a systematic method to investigate the clinical translational significance of cellular similarities between HCC and cirrhosis, which opens avenues for identifying similar paradigms in other categories of cancers and diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengsha Tong
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China; National Institute for Data Science in Health and Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, 316005, China.
| | - Shijie Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China; National Institute for Data Science in Health and Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, 316005, China
| | - Lin Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China
| | - Xinkang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China; National Institute for Data Science in Health and Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, 316005, China
| | - Zheyang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China; National Institute for Data Science in Health and Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, 316005, China
| | - Chenyu Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China; National Institute for Data Science in Health and Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, 316005, China
| | - Huaqiang Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China
| | - Yuxiang Lin
- National Institute for Data Science in Health and Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, 316005, China
| | - Jialiang Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, China; National Institute for Data Science in Health and Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, 316005, China.
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Patel SA, Hassan MK, Naik M, Mohapatra N, Balan P, Korrapati PS, Dixit M. EEF1A2 promotes HIF1A mediated breast cancer angiogenesis in normoxia and participates in a positive feedback loop with HIF1A in hypoxia. Br J Cancer 2024; 130:184-200. [PMID: 38012382 PMCID: PMC10803557 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-023-02509-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The eukaryotic elongation factor, EEF1A2, has been identified as an oncogene in various solid tumors. Here, we have identified a novel function of EEF1A2 in angiogenesis. METHODS Chick chorioallantoic membrane, tubulogenesis, aortic ring, Matrigel plug, and skin wound healing assays established EEF1A2's role in angiogenesis. RESULT Higher EEF1A2 levels in breast cancer cells enhanced cell growth, movement, blood vessel function, and tubule formation in HUVECs, as confirmed by ex-ovo and in-vivo tests. The overexpression of EEF1A2 could be counteracted by Plitidepsin. Under normoxic conditions, EEF1A2 triggered HIF1A expression via ERK-Myc and mTOR signaling in TNBC and ER/PR positive cells. Hypoxia induced the expression of EEF1A2, leading to a positive feedback loop between EEF1A2 and HIF1A. Luciferase assay and EMSA confirmed HIF1A binding on the EEF1A2 promoter, which induced its transcription. RT-PCR and polysome profiling validated that EEF1A2 affected VEGF transcription and translation positively. This led to increased VEGF release from breast cancer cells, activating ERK and PI3K-AKT signaling in endothelial cells. Breast cancer tissues with elevated EEF1A2 showed higher microvessel density. CONCLUSION EEF1A2 exhibits angiogenic potential in both normoxic and hypoxic conditions, underscoring its dual role in promoting EMT and angiogenesis, rendering it a promising target for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saket Awadhesbhai Patel
- National Institute of Science Education and Research, School of Biological Sciences, Bhubaneswar, 752050, Odisha, India
- Homi Bhabha National Institute, Training School Complex, Anushaktinagar, Mumbai, 400094, India
| | - Md Khurshidul Hassan
- National Institute of Science Education and Research, School of Biological Sciences, Bhubaneswar, 752050, Odisha, India
- Homi Bhabha National Institute, Training School Complex, Anushaktinagar, Mumbai, 400094, India
| | - Monali Naik
- National Institute of Science Education and Research, School of Biological Sciences, Bhubaneswar, 752050, Odisha, India
- Homi Bhabha National Institute, Training School Complex, Anushaktinagar, Mumbai, 400094, India
| | - Nachiketa Mohapatra
- Apollo Hospitals, Plot No. 251,Old Sainik School Road, Bhubaneswar, 750015, Odisha, India
| | - Poornima Balan
- CSIR-Central Leather Research Institute, Sardar Patel Road, Adyar, Chennai, 600020, India
| | - Purna Sai Korrapati
- CSIR-Central Leather Research Institute, Sardar Patel Road, Adyar, Chennai, 600020, India
| | - Manjusha Dixit
- National Institute of Science Education and Research, School of Biological Sciences, Bhubaneswar, 752050, Odisha, India.
- Homi Bhabha National Institute, Training School Complex, Anushaktinagar, Mumbai, 400094, India.
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Yang L, Yuan S, Wang R, Guo X, Xie Y, Wei W, Tang L. Exploring the molecular mechanism of berberine for treating diabetic nephropathy based on network pharmacology. Int Immunopharmacol 2024; 126:111237. [PMID: 37977063 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2023.111237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a prevalent complication of diabetes mellitus characterized by hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, albuminuria and edema. Increasing evidence indicated that berberine (BBR) could alleviate the occurrence and development of DN. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the beneficial effects of BBR in the treatment of DN remains unclear. METHODS The online public databases were chosen to screen the relevant targets of BBR and DN and the screened overlapped targets were analyzed by GO enrichment analysis, KEGG enrichment analysis and protein-protein interaction network analysis. The interaction between BBR and the key proteinwas verified by molecular docking and cellularthermalshiftassay. Additionally, the expression of key proteins and related indicators of DN were verified by immunofluorescence and western blot in vitro and in vivo. RESULTS We successfully identified 92 overlapped targets of BBR and DN based on network pharmacology. Notably, VEGFR2 was identified to be the main target of BBR. Meanwhile, we found that BBR exhibited a high binding affinity to VEGFR2 protein, as confirmed by molecular docking and CETSA. This binding led to interfering with the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. In addition, we found that BBR could inhibit the abnormal proliferation of mesangial cells and reduce the expression of downstream pathway protein in vitro and in vivo. Finally, BBR was found to effectively lower the level of blood glucose and improve kidney function in mice, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of DN. CONCLUSION Berberine interfered the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway via targeting VEGFR2 protein, further led to the inhibition of abnormal proliferation of mesangial cells and ultimately resulted in improved renal function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Yang
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Key Laboratory of Anti-Infammatory and Immune Medicine, Ministry of Education, Anhui Collaborative Innovation Center of Anti-Infammatory and Immune Medicine, Shushan District, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China; Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230001, China
| | - Siming Yuan
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230001, China
| | - Rongrong Wang
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Key Laboratory of Anti-Infammatory and Immune Medicine, Ministry of Education, Anhui Collaborative Innovation Center of Anti-Infammatory and Immune Medicine, Shushan District, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China; Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230001, China
| | - Xiaoyu Guo
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Key Laboratory of Anti-Infammatory and Immune Medicine, Ministry of Education, Anhui Collaborative Innovation Center of Anti-Infammatory and Immune Medicine, Shushan District, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China; Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230001, China
| | - Yongsheng Xie
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230001, China
| | - Wei Wei
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Key Laboratory of Anti-Infammatory and Immune Medicine, Ministry of Education, Anhui Collaborative Innovation Center of Anti-Infammatory and Immune Medicine, Shushan District, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China.
| | - Liqin Tang
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230001, China.
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Xu Y, Jia K, Zhao X, Li Y, Zhang Z. LncRNA LINC01703 promotes the proliferation, migration, and invasion of colorectal cancer by activating PI3K/AKT pathway. J Biochem Mol Toxicol 2024; 38:e23594. [PMID: 38050438 DOI: 10.1002/jbt.23594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023]
Abstract
The role of LINC01703 in cancers, especially in colorectal cancer (CRC), is still largely unclear. Bioinformatics prediction, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), 3-(4,5)-dimethylthiahiazo (-z-y1)-3,5-di-phenytetrazoliumromide (MTT) assay, colony formation assay, Transwell assays, in vivo animal experiments, IF, luciferase reporter assay, and Western blot were carried out for the exploration of the potential involvement and underlying molecular mechanisms of LINC01703 in CRC cells. The results showed that LINC01703 appeared upregulated in CRC and was linked to poor prognosis. LINC01703 acted as an oncogene in both in vitro and in vivo CRC cell environments. LINC01703 activated the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway by mediating the miR-205-5p/E2F1 axis in CRC. In summary, LINC01703 possesses an oncogenic function and can be a possible biomarker or target to treat CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanhui Xu
- Department of Proctology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Keliang Jia
- Department of Proctology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Xianhai Zhao
- Department of Proctology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Yuantao Li
- Department of Proctology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Zhen Zhang
- Department of Proctology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, China
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11
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Xiong C, Pan G, Wang H, Meng G, Yan L, Li R, Yan Y, Yang Y, Zhang X, Yang C, Dong Z, Li T. Construction of an anoikis‒related prognostic signature to predict immunotherapeutic response and prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2023; 149:16869-16884. [PMID: 37736789 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-023-05428-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Anoikis resistance is an important inducer of tumor metastasis. The role of anoikis-related genes (ARGs) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unclear. METHODS A list of ARGs was obtained and regression analysis was employed to assemble an anoikis-related prognostic signature and risk score formula from mRNA data and clinical prognostic data downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas database. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was performed on clinical samples to validate the selected ARGs expressions. Kaplan‒Meier curves, ROC curves, and Cox regression analyses were used to demonstrated the prognostic value of this signature. Biological functional enrichment analysis and immune infiltration analysis were utilized to analyze the differences in potential biological functions, immune cell infiltration, immune functions, and immunotherapeutic responses. RESULTS A prognostic signature based on 6 ARGs and corresponding prognostic nomogram were established. Our qRT-PCR results showed a higher expression of 6 ARGs in HCC tissues (p value < 0.05). Kaplan‒Meier curves, ROC curves, and Cox regression analyses demonstrated good prognostic value of the signature in HCC (p value < 0.05). Significant differences between the enriched biological functions and immune landscapes of patients in different risk groups were discovered (p value < 0.05). In addition, patients with higher risk scores possibly had poor therapeutic response to transhepatic arterial chemotherapy and embolization or sorafenib, but their responses to immunotherapy might be more effective. CONCLUSION A successful anoikis-related prognostic signature and corresponding clinical nomogram were established, which might facilitate better predictions of prognosis and therapeutic responses for HCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Xiong
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, 250100, China
| | - Guoqiang Pan
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, 250100, China
| | - Hanchao Wang
- Institute for Financial Studies, Shandong University, Jinan, 250100, China
| | - Guangxiao Meng
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, 250100, China
| | - Lunjie Yan
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, 250100, China
| | - Ruizhe Li
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, 250100, China
| | - Yuchuan Yan
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, 250100, China
| | - Yafei Yang
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, 250100, China
| | - Xiao Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, 250100, China
| | - Chuncheng Yang
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, 250100, China
| | - Zhaoru Dong
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, 250100, China.
| | - Tao Li
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, 250100, China.
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Ye WY, Lu HP, Li JD, Chen G, He RQ, Wu HY, Zhou XG, Rong MH, Yang LH, He WY, Pang QY, Pan SL, Pang YY, Dang YW. Clinical Implication of E2F Transcription Factor 1 in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Tissues. Cancer Biother Radiopharm 2023; 38:684-707. [PMID: 34619053 DOI: 10.1089/cbr.2020.4342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: To date, the clinical management of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients remains challenging and the mechanisms of E2F transcription factor 1 (E2F1) underlying HCC are obscure. Materials and Methods: Our study integrated datasets mined from several public databases to comprehensively understand the deregulated expression status of E2F1. Tissue microarrays and immunohistochemistry staining was used to validate E2F1 expression level. The prognostic value of E2F1 was assessed. In-depth subgroup analyses were implemented to compare the differentially expressed levels of E2F1 in HCC patients with various tumor stages. Functional enrichments were used to address the predominant targets of E2F1 and shedding light on their potential roles in HCC. Results: We confirmed the elevated expression of E2F1 in HCC. Subgroup analyses indicated that elevated E2F1 level was independent of various stages in HCC. E2F1 possessed moderate discriminatory capability in differentiating HCC patients from non-HCC controls. Elevated E2F1 correlated with Asian race, tumor classification, neoplasm histologic grade, eastern cancer oncology group, and plasma AFP levels. Furthermore, high E2F1 correlated with poor survival condition and pooled HR signified E2F1 as a risk factor for HCC. Enrichment analysis of differentially expressed genes, coexpressed genes, and putative targets of E2F1 emphasized the importance of cell cycle pathway, where CCNE1 and CCNA2 served as hub genes. Conclusions: We confirmed the upregulation of E2F1 and explored the prognostic value of E2F1 in HCC patients. Two putative targeted genes (CCNE1 and CCNA2) of E2F1 were identified for their potential roles in regulating cell cycle and promote antiapoptotic activity in HCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wang-Yang Ye
- Department of Pathology and The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, People's Republic of China
| | - Hui-Ping Lu
- Department of Pathology and The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, People's Republic of China
| | - Jian-Di Li
- Department of Pathology and The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, People's Republic of China
| | - Gang Chen
- Department of Pathology and The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, People's Republic of China
| | - Rong-Quan He
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, People's Republic of China
| | - Hua-Yu Wu
- Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, School of Preclinical Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, People's Republic of China
| | - Xian-Guo Zhou
- Department of Research, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, People's Republic of China
| | - Min-Hua Rong
- Department of Research, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, People's Republic of China
| | - Li-Hua Yang
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei-Ying He
- Department of Pathology and The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, People's Republic of China
| | - Qiu-Yu Pang
- Department of Pathology and The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, People's Republic of China
| | - Shang-Ling Pan
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Pre-clinical Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, People's Republic of China
| | - Yu-Yan Pang
- Department of Pathology and The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, People's Republic of China
| | - Yi-Wu Dang
- Department of Pathology and The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, People's Republic of China
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Tao ZG, Yuan YX, Wang GW. Long non-coding RNA CDKN2B-AS1 promotes hepatocellular carcinoma progression via E2F transcription factor 1/G protein subunit alpha Z axis. World J Gastrointest Oncol 2023; 15:1974-1987. [DOI: 10.4251/wjgo.v15.i11.1974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A series of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been reported to play a crucial role in cancer biology. Some previous studies report that lncRNA CDKN2B-AS1 is involved in some human malignancies. However, its role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has not been fully deciphered.
AIM To decipher the role of CDKN2B-AS1 in the progression of HCC.
METHODS CDKN2B-AS1 expression in HCC was detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The malignant phenotypes of Li-7 and SNU-182 cells were detected by the CCK-8 method, EdU method, and flow cytometry, respectively. RNA immunoprecipitation was executed to confirm the interaction between CDKN2B-AS1 and E2F transcription factor 1 (E2F1). Luciferase reporter assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation were performed to verify the binding of E2F1 to the promoter of G protein subunit alpha Z (GNAZ). E2F1 and GNAZ were detected by western blot in HCC cells.
RESULTS In HCC tissues, CDKN2B-AS1 was upregulated. Depletion of CDKN2B-AS1 inhibited the proliferation of HCC cells, and the depletion of CDKN2B-AS1 also induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. CDKN2B-AS1 could interact with E2F1. Depletion of CDKN2B-AS1 inhibited the binding of E2F1 to the GNAZ promoter region. Overexpression of E2F1 reversed the biological effects of depletion of CDKN2B-AS1 on the malignant behaviors of HCC cells.
CONCLUSION CDKN2B-AS1 recruits E2F1 to facilitate GNAZ transcription to promote HCC progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi-Gang Tao
- Department of Radiology, Hangzhou Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou 310000, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Yu-Xiao Yuan
- Department of Radiology, Hangzhou Xixi Hospital, Hangzhou 310012, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Guo-Wei Wang
- Department of Radiology, Hangzhou Xixi Hospital, Hangzhou 310012, Zhejiang Province, China
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Bang J, Jun M, Lee S, Moon H, Ro SW. Targeting EGFR/PI3K/AKT/mTOR Signaling in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:2130. [PMID: 37631344 PMCID: PMC10458925 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15082130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) poses a significant global health concern, with its incidence steadily increasing. The development of HCC is a multifaceted, multi-step process involving alterations in various signaling cascades. In recent years, significant progress has been made in understanding the molecular signaling pathways that play central roles in hepatocarcinogenesis. In particular, the EGFR/PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway in HCC has garnered renewed attention from both basic and clinical researchers. Preclinical studies in vitro and in vivo have shown the effectiveness of targeting the key components of this signaling pathway in human HCC cells. Thus, targeting these signaling pathways with small molecule inhibitors holds promise as a potential therapeutic option for patients with HCC. In this review, we explore recent advancements in understanding the role of the EGFR/PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway in HCC and assess the effectiveness of targeting this signaling cascade as a potential strategy for HCC therapy based on preclinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Simon Weonsang Ro
- Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Kyung Hee University, Yongin-si 17104, Republic of Korea; (J.B.); (M.J.); (S.L.); (H.M.)
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Shen HM, Zhang D, Xiao P, Qu B, Sun YF. E2F1-mediated KDM4A-AS1 up-regulation promotes EMT of hepatocellular carcinoma cells by recruiting ILF3 to stabilize AURKA mRNA. Cancer Gene Ther 2023:10.1038/s41417-023-00607-0. [PMID: 36973424 DOI: 10.1038/s41417-023-00607-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a gastrointestinal tumor with high clinical incidence. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play vital roles in modulating the growth and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of HCC. However, the underlying mechanism of lncRNA KDM4A antisense RNA 1 (KDM4A-AS1) in HCC remains elusive. In our study, the role of KDM4A-AS1 in HCC was systematically investigated. The levels of KDM4A-AS1, interleukin enhancer-binding factor 3 (ILF3), Aurora kinase A (AURKA), and E2F transcription factor 1 (E2F1) were determined by RT-qPCR or western blot. ChIP and dual luciferase reporter experiments were performed to detect the binding relationship between E2F1 and KDM4A-AS1 promoter sequence. RIP and RNA-pull down confirmed the interaction of ILF3 with KDM4A-AS1/AURKA. Cellular functions were analyzed by MTT, flow cytometry, wound healing and transwell assays. IHC was performed to detect Ki67 in vivo. We found that KDM4A-AS1 was increased in HCC tissues and cells. Elevated KDM4A-AS1 level was correlated to poor prognosis of HCC. Knockdown of KDM4A-AS1 inhibited the proliferation, migration, invasion and EMT of HCC cells. ILF3 bound to KDM4A-AS1 and AURKA. KDM4A-AS1 maintained the stability of AURKA mRNA by recruiting ILF3. E2F1 transcriptionally activated KDM4A-AS1. Overexpressed KDM4A-AS1 reversed the contribution of E2F1 depletion to AURKA expression and EMT in HCC cells. KDM4A-AS1 promoted tumor formation in vivo through the PI3K/AKT pathway. These results revealed that E2F1 transcriptionally activated KDM4A-AS1 to regulate HCC progression via the PI3K/AKT pathway. E2F1 and KDM4A-AS1 may serve as good prognostic targets for HCC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao-Ming Shen
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Oncotarget Gene, Hunan Cancer Hospital, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, 410013, Hunan, China
| | - Di Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, 410013, Hunan, China
| | - Ping Xiao
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Oncotarget Gene, Hunan Cancer Hospital, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, 410013, Hunan, China
| | - Bin Qu
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Oncotarget Gene, Hunan Cancer Hospital, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, 410013, Hunan, China
| | - Yi-Fan Sun
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Guigang City People's Hospital, Guigang, 537100, Guangxi, China.
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Zhu S, Wen H, Wang W, Chen Y, Han F, Cai W. Anti-hepatitis B virus activity of lithospermic acid, a polyphenol from Salvia miltiorrhiza, in vitro and in vivo by autophagy regulation. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2023; 302:115896. [PMID: 36334815 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2022.115896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 10/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Salvia miltiorrhiza (the roots of S. miltiorrhiza Bunge, Danshen in Chinese), a traditional Chinese medicine, has been clinically used to prevent and treat various diseases, such as cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, diabetes, and hepatitis B, in China and some other Asian countries. Lithospermic acid (LA), a polyphenol derived from S. miltiorrhiza, has been reported to exhibit multiple pharmacological properties, such as anti-inflammatory, anti-HIV, and anti-carbon tetrachloride-induced liver injury activities. However, little is known about the anti-hepatitis B virus (HBV) activity of LA. AIM OF THE STUDY The study was projected to investigate the anti-HBV activity of LA in vitro (HepG2.2.15 and pHBV1.3-transfected HepG2 cells) and in vivo (pAAV-HBV1.2 hydrodynamic injection [HBV-HDI] mice) and explore the potential mechanism as well. MATERIALS AND METHODS Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) contents were detected by ELISA kits. HBV DNA and hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) levels were evaluated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry assay, respectively. The proteins in autophagy process, lysosomal acidic function, and autophagy-related signaling pathways were examined by Western blot. Transmission electron microscopy was used to observe the number of autophagosomes and autolysosomes. Confocal microscopy was applied to analyze the autophagic flux and lysosomal acidification, using mCherry-enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP)-microtubule-associated protein light chain (LC)3 and lysosomal probes, respectively. RESULTS LA exhibited anti-HBV activity by inhibiting HBV DNA replication in HepG2.2.15 and pHBV-transfected HepG2 cells in dose- and time-dependent manners and hampering HBsAg and HBeAg levels in HepG2.2.15 cells to a certain extent. LA reduced HBV DNA, HBsAg/HBeAg, and HBcAg levels in the serum/liver tissues of HBV-HDI C57BL/6 mice during the 3-week treatment and suppressed the withdrawal rebound of HBV DNA and HBsAg in the mice serum. LA increased LC3-II protein expression and the number of autolysosomes/autophagosomes and promoted the degradation of sequestosome 1(p62) protein in vitro and in vivo. LA enhanced the co-localization of LC3 protein with autolysosomes, further confirming the ability of LA to induce a complete autophagy. Knockdown of autophagy-related gene (Atg) 7 or 5 in vitro and administration of 3-methyladenine (an autophagic inhibitor) in vivo disabled the inhibitory efficacy of LA on HBV DNA replication, suggesting that the anti-HBV efficacy of LA depended on its ability of inducing autophagy. LA could enhance lysosomal acidification and improve the function of lysosomes by promoting the protein expression of lysosomal-associated membrane protein (LAMP)-1, LAMP-2, and mature cathepsin D, which may contribute to the autophagic induction of LA. LA inhibited the activation of AKT and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) induced by HBV, which was reversed by IGF-1 (an agonist of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway), indicating that LA elicited autophagy through hampering the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. CONCLUSION We revealed the anti-HBV activity and mechanism of LA in vitro and in vivo. This study facilitates a new understanding of the anti-HBV potent components of S. miltiorrhiza and sheds light on LA for further development as an active constituent or candidate used in the therapy against HBV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiqi Zhu
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Biotechnology of Chinese Traditional Medicine, National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of High-throughput Drug Screening Technology, State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, 430062, China
| | - Haimei Wen
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Biotechnology of Chinese Traditional Medicine, National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of High-throughput Drug Screening Technology, State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, 430062, China
| | - Wenling Wang
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Biotechnology of Chinese Traditional Medicine, National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of High-throughput Drug Screening Technology, State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, 430062, China
| | - Yong Chen
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Biotechnology of Chinese Traditional Medicine, National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of High-throughput Drug Screening Technology, State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, 430062, China
| | - Fengmei Han
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Biotechnology of Chinese Traditional Medicine, National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of High-throughput Drug Screening Technology, State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, 430062, China.
| | - Wentao Cai
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Biotechnology of Chinese Traditional Medicine, National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of High-throughput Drug Screening Technology, State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, 430062, China.
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Dehydrovomifoliol Alleviates Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease via the E2F1/AKT/mTOR Axis: Pharmacophore Modeling and Molecular Docking Study. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2023; 2023:9107598. [PMID: 36777627 PMCID: PMC9908351 DOI: 10.1155/2023/9107598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Revised: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Objective Herbal medicine discovery is a complex and time-consuming process, while pharmacophore modeling and molecular docking methods enable simple and economic studies. The pharmacophore model provides an abstract description of essential intermolecular interactions between chemical structures, and the molecular docking technology can identify novel compounds of therapeutic interests and predict the ligand-target interaction at the molecular level. This study was based on the two methods to elucidate the mechanism of dehydrovomifoliol, an active ingredient extracted from Artemisia frigida willd, in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Methods Bioinformatics analysis was performed to screen target genes of dehydrovomifoliol in NAFLD treatment, which were thus intersected with NAFLD-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and NAFLD-related genes. Venn diagram was used to identify candidate DEGs. A pharmacophore model was then generated, and molecular docking was performed. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed to identify core genes, which were evaluated using GO and the KEGG enrichment analyses. Results Seven target genes of dehydrovomifoliol in NAFLD treatment were screened out, namely E2F1, MERTK, SOX17, MMP9, SULT2A1, VEGFA, and BLVRA. The pharmacophore model and molecular docking of candidate DEGs and dehydrovomifoliol were successfully constructed. E2F1 was identified as a core gene of dehydrovomifoliol in NAFLD treatment. Further enrichment analysis indicated the regulatory role of E2F1 in fat metabolism was associated with the regulation of the AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. Conclusion Overall, this study illustrates the anti-NAFLD mechanism of dehydrovomifoliol, which could be a useful compound for developing novel drugs in the treatment of NAFLD.
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Li J, Wang J, Wang Y, Zhao X, Su T. E2F1 combined with LINC01004 super-enhancer to promote hepatocellular carcinoma cell proliferation and metastasis. Clin Epigenetics 2023; 15:17. [PMID: 36721155 PMCID: PMC9887888 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-023-01428-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Super-enhancer-associated lncRNAs play important roles in the occurrence and development of malignant tumors, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). OBJECTIVES The current work aimed to identify and characterize super-enhancer-associated lncRNAs in the pathogenesis of HCC. METHODS H3K27ac ChIP-seq data from HepG2 cell line and two HCC tissues were used to identify super-enhancer-associated lncRNAs in HCC. JQ-1 treatment and CRISPR-dCas9 system were performed to confirm super-enhancer activity. Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR), ChIP-qPCR, and dual-luciferase reporter system assay demonstrated the regulation of E2F1 on super-enhancer. Functional loss experiment was used to identify the function of LINC01004. RESULTS In this study, we identified and characterized LINC01004, a novel super-enhancer-associated lncRNA, as a crucial oncogene in HCC. LINC01004 was upregulated in liver cancer tissues and was associated with poor patient prognosis. Moreover, LINC01004 promoted cell proliferation and metastasis of HCC. The binding of E2F1 to the super-enhancer could promote the transcription of LINC01004, while the inhibition of super-enhancer activity decreased LINC01004 expression. CONCLUSION This finding might provide mechanistic insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying hepatocarcinogenesis and the biological function of super-enhancer. LINC01004 can serve as a potential therapeutic target for HCC patient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingxuan Li
- grid.452757.60000 0004 0644 6150Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Breeding, Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan, China
| | - Jiying Wang
- grid.452757.60000 0004 0644 6150Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Breeding, Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan, China
| | - Yanping Wang
- grid.452757.60000 0004 0644 6150Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Breeding, Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan, China
| | - Xueyan Zhao
- grid.452757.60000 0004 0644 6150Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Breeding, Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan, China
| | - Tao Su
- Medical Integration and Practice Center, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China.
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19
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Gan H, Li L, Hu X, Cai J, Hu X, Zhang H, Zhao N, Xu X, Guo H, Pang P. DDX24 regulates the chemosensitivity of hepatocellular carcinoma to sorafenib via mediating the expression of SNORA18. Cancer Biol Ther 2022; 23:1-14. [PMID: 36310384 PMCID: PMC9629112 DOI: 10.1080/15384047.2022.2135960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Sorafenib (SFN) is a multi-kinase inhibitor drug for the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but its limited efficacy is a major obstacle to the clinical outcomes of patients with HCC. We aimed to explore a novel molecular mechanism underlying the chemosensitivity of HCC to SFN, and to identify a promising therapeutic target for HCC treatment. In this study, bioinformatic analysis revealed that DDX24 was associated with poor survival in HCC cases, and significantly related to the pathways modulating tumor development. DDX24 regulated HCC cell proliferation and migration potentials. Moreover, reduction of DDX24 promoted the sorafenib-mediated inhibition of HCC cell growth and migration, the elevation of sorafenib-induced HCC cell apoptosis. DDX24 overexpression suppressed the inhibitory effect of SFN on cell proliferation and migration and reduced the apoptosis induced by SFN. Further, DDX24, combined with SFN treatment, presented a synergistic enhancement of the sensitivity of SFN to the growth and migration of HCC cells via AKT/ERK and the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) pathways, and that it modulated apoptosis via the caspase/PARP pathway. Mechanistically, SNORA18 served as a target gene for DDX24, regulating the chemosensitivity of sorafenib-treated HCC cells. Furthermore, SNORA18 knockdown or overexpression could partially reverse the inhibition or elevation of cell viability, colony formation and migration induced by DDX24 in sorafenib-treated HCC cells, respectively. Collectively, our results suggest that DDX24 regulates the chemosensitivity of HCC to SFN by mediating the expression of SNORA18, which may act as an effective therapeutic target for improving SFN efficiency in HCC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hairun Gan
- Center for Interventional Medicine, the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, China,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomedical Imaging, the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, China,Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Molecular Imaging, the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, China,CONTACT Hairun Gan Center for Interventional Medicine, the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, 519000, China
| | - Luting Li
- Center for Interventional Medicine, the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, China,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomedical Imaging, the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, China,Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Molecular Imaging, the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Xinyan Hu
- Center for Interventional Medicine, the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, China,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomedical Imaging, the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, China,Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Molecular Imaging, the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Jianxun Cai
- Center for Interventional Medicine, the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, China,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomedical Imaging, the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, China,Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Molecular Imaging, the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Xiaojun Hu
- Center for Interventional Medicine, the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Haopei Zhang
- Center for Interventional Medicine, the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, China,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomedical Imaging, the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, China,Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Molecular Imaging, the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Ni Zhao
- Center for Interventional Medicine, the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Xiwei Xu
- The Cancer Center of the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Hui Guo
- Center for Interventional Medicine, the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Pengfei Pang
- Center for Interventional Medicine, the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, China,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomedical Imaging, the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, China,Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Molecular Imaging, the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, China
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20
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Chen Y, Yu Y, Lv M, Shi Q, Li X. E2F1-mediated up-regulation of TOP2A promotes viability, migration, and invasion, and inhibits apoptosis of gastric cancer cells. J Biosci 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s12038-022-00322-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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21
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Ma C, Li C, Ma H, Yu D, Zhang Y, Zhang D, Su T, Wu J, Wang X, Zhang L, Chen CL, Zhang YE. Pan-cancer surveys indicate cell cycle-related roles of primate-specific genes in tumors and embryonic cerebrum. Genome Biol 2022; 23:251. [PMID: 36474250 PMCID: PMC9724437 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-022-02821-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite having been extensively studied, it remains largely unclear why humans bear a particularly high risk of cancer. The antagonistic pleiotropy hypothesis predicts that primate-specific genes (PSGs) tend to promote tumorigenesis, while the molecular atavism hypothesis predicts that PSGs involved in tumors may represent recently derived duplicates of unicellular genes. However, these predictions have not been tested. RESULTS By taking advantage of pan-cancer genomic data, we find the upregulation of PSGs across 13 cancer types, which is facilitated by copy-number gain and promoter hypomethylation. Meta-analyses indicate that upregulated PSGs (uPSGs) tend to promote tumorigenesis and to play cell cycle-related roles. The cell cycle-related uPSGs predominantly represent derived duplicates of unicellular genes. We prioritize 15 uPSGs and perform an in-depth analysis of one unicellular gene-derived duplicate involved in the cell cycle, DDX11. Genome-wide screening data and knockdown experiments demonstrate that DDX11 is broadly essential across cancer cell lines. Importantly, non-neutral amino acid substitution patterns and increased expression indicate that DDX11 has been under positive selection. Finally, we find that cell cycle-related uPSGs are also preferentially upregulated in the highly proliferative embryonic cerebrum. CONCLUSIONS Consistent with the predictions of the atavism and antagonistic pleiotropy hypotheses, primate-specific genes, especially those PSGs derived from cell cycle-related genes that emerged in unicellular ancestors, contribute to the early proliferation of the human cerebrum at the cost of hitchhiking by similarly highly proliferative cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenyu Ma
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution & State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Chunyan Li
- School of Engineering Medicine, Key Laboratory of Big Data-Based Precision Medicine (Ministry of Industry and Information Technology), and Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Big Data-Based Precision Medicine, Beihang University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Huijing Ma
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution & State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Daqi Yu
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution & State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yufei Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution & State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
- School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, China
| | - Dan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution & State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Tianhan Su
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution & State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Jianmin Wu
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Center for Cancer Bioinformatics, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, 100142, China
| | - Xiaoyue Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Li Zhang
- Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Chun-Long Chen
- Institut Curie, Université PSL, Sorbonne Université, CNRS UMR3244, Dynamics of Genetic Information, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Yong E Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution & State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
- Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, 102206, China.
- CAS Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, China.
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22
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Liu Y, Yao Y, Liao B, Zhang H, Yang Z, Xia P, Jiang X, Ma W, Wu X, Mei C, Wang G, Gao M, Xu K, GongYe X, Cheng Z, Jiang P, Chen X, Yuan Y. A positive feedback loop of CENPU/E2F6/E2F1 facilitates proliferation and metastasis via ubiquitination of E2F6 in hepatocellular carcinoma. Int J Biol Sci 2022; 18:4071-4087. [PMID: 35844791 PMCID: PMC9274498 DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.69495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Centromere protein U (CENPU), a centromere-binding protein required for cellular mitosis, has been reported to be closely associated with carcinogenesis in multiple malignancies; however, the role of CENPU in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is still unclear. Herein, we investigated its biological role and molecular mechanism in the development of HCC. High CENPU expression in HCC tissue was observed and correlated positively with a poor prognosis in HCC patients. CENPU knockdown inhibited the proliferation, metastasis, and G1/S transition of HCC cells in vivo and in vitro, while ectopic expression of CENPU exerted the opposite effects. Mechanistically, CENPU physically interacted with E2F6 and promoted its ubiquitin-mediated degradation, thus affecting the transcription level of E2F1 and further accelerating the G1/S transition to promote HCC cell proliferation. E2F1 directly binds to the CENPU promoter and increases the transcription of CENPU, thereby forming a positive regulatory loop. Collectively, our findings indicate a crucial role for CENPU in E2F1-mediated signalling for cell cycle progression and reveal a role for CENPU as a predictive biomarker and therapeutic target for HCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingyi Liu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, PR China.,Clinical Medicine Research Center for Minimally Invasive Procedure of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Diseases of Hubei Province, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, PR China
| | - Ye Yao
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, PR China.,Clinical Medicine Research Center for Minimally Invasive Procedure of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Diseases of Hubei Province, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, PR China
| | - Bo Liao
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, PR China.,Clinical Medicine Research Center for Minimally Invasive Procedure of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Diseases of Hubei Province, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, PR China
| | - Hao Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, PR China.,Clinical Medicine Research Center for Minimally Invasive Procedure of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Diseases of Hubei Province, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, PR China
| | - Zhangshuo Yang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, PR China.,Clinical Medicine Research Center for Minimally Invasive Procedure of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Diseases of Hubei Province, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, PR China
| | - Peng Xia
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, PR China.,Clinical Medicine Research Center for Minimally Invasive Procedure of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Diseases of Hubei Province, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, PR China
| | - Xiang Jiang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, PR China.,Clinical Medicine Research Center for Minimally Invasive Procedure of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Diseases of Hubei Province, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, PR China
| | - Weijie Ma
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, PR China.,Clinical Medicine Research Center for Minimally Invasive Procedure of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Diseases of Hubei Province, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, PR China
| | - Xiaoling Wu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, PR China.,Clinical Medicine Research Center for Minimally Invasive Procedure of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Diseases of Hubei Province, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, PR China
| | - Chengjie Mei
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, PR China.,Clinical Medicine Research Center for Minimally Invasive Procedure of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Diseases of Hubei Province, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, PR China
| | - Ganggang Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, PR China.,Clinical Medicine Research Center for Minimally Invasive Procedure of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Diseases of Hubei Province, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, PR China
| | - Meng Gao
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, PR China.,Clinical Medicine Research Center for Minimally Invasive Procedure of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Diseases of Hubei Province, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, PR China
| | - Kequan Xu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, PR China.,Clinical Medicine Research Center for Minimally Invasive Procedure of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Diseases of Hubei Province, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, PR China
| | - Xiangdong GongYe
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, PR China.,Clinical Medicine Research Center for Minimally Invasive Procedure of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Diseases of Hubei Province, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, PR China
| | - Zhixiang Cheng
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, PR China.,Clinical Medicine Research Center for Minimally Invasive Procedure of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Diseases of Hubei Province, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, PR China
| | - Ping Jiang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, PR China.,Clinical Medicine Research Center for Minimally Invasive Procedure of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Diseases of Hubei Province, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, PR China
| | - Xi Chen
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, PR China.,Clinical Medicine Research Center for Minimally Invasive Procedure of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Diseases of Hubei Province, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, PR China
| | - Yufeng Yuan
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, PR China.,Clinical Medicine Research Center for Minimally Invasive Procedure of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Diseases of Hubei Province, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, PR China
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23
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Transcription factor p53-mediated activation of miR-519d-3p and downregulation of E2F1 attenuates prostate cancer growth and metastasis. Cancer Gene Ther 2022; 29:1001-1011. [PMID: 34799723 DOI: 10.1038/s41417-021-00405-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2020] [Revised: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Prostate cancer (PCa) is a commonly diagnosed malignancy in men. The transcription factor p53, a well-known cancer suppressor, has been extensively analyzed in the progression of many tumor types, but its involvement in PCa remains not fully understood. Hence, this study aims to explore the possible molecular mechanism underlying p53 in the growth and metastasis of PCa. Based on bioinformatics analysis findings of GEPIA and starBase databases, p53 was demonstrated to be involved in the development of PCa by transcriptionally activating microRNA-519d-3p (miR-519d-3p) expression to suppress the expression of E2F transcription factor 1 (E2F1) and CD147. In order to verify this finding, clinically-obtained PCa tumor tissues were enrolled and commercially-purchased PCa cell lines were used to detect the cell viability, cycle, and apoptosis, as well as invasion and migration by CCK-8, flow cytometry, and Transwell assays respectively. The results of clinical tissue experiments and in vitro cell experiments showed that miR-519d-3p and p53 were poorly-expressed in PCa tissues and cell lines, while E2F1 was highly-expressed. Overexpression of miR-519d-3p led to inhibited PCa cell proliferation, invasion and migration, and p53 overexpression was found to promote miR-519d-3p expression to suppress the malignant characteristics of PCa cells, while the additional E2F1 overexpression restored the malignant traits. Moreover, ChIP analysis and dual-luciferase reporter assay confirmed the interactions among p53, miR-519d-3p, and E2F1. Mechanistically, it was found that p53 transcriptionally activated miR-519d-3p to suppress E2F1 expression. Finally, the in vitro results were further validated by in vivo experiments, which showed that miR-519d-3p prevents tumorigenesis and lymph node metastasis of PCa in nude mice via negatively regulation of E2F1 and CD147. Taken together, the findings uncover that the transcription factor p53 could upregulate miR-519d-3p expression to directly suppress the expression of E2F1, thus inhibiting PCa growth and metastasis. It highlights a novel therapeutic strategy against PCa based on the p53/miR-519d-3p/E2F1 regulatory pathway.
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24
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Ge B, Zhang X, Zhou W, Mo Y, Su Z, Xu G, Chen Q. LINC00265 Promotes Metastasis and Progression of Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Interacting with E2F1 at The Promoter of CDK2. CELL JOURNAL 2022; 24:294-301. [PMID: 35892231 PMCID: PMC9315211 DOI: 10.22074/cellj.2022.8035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Objective This study aimed to explore biological function of long intergenic non-protein coding RNA 265 (LINC00265) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells, and evaluate its potential function as a biomarker. Materials and Methods In this experimental study, GEPIA database and Kaplan-Meier Plotter database were employed to analyze LINC00265 expression in HCC tissue samples and its predicting value for prognosis. LINC00265 expression in HCC tissues and cells was detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). After overexpressing and knocking-down of LINC00265 in HCC cells, cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and 5-Ethynyl-2'- deoxyuridine (EdU) assays were adopted to detect proliferation of HCC cells. Transwell assay was used to detect migration and invasion of HCC cells. Interaction of LINC00265 with E2F transcription factor 1 (E2F1) was verified by the catRAPID online analysis tool, RNA pull-down experiment and RNA binding protein immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay. Binding of E2F1 to the promoter region of cyclin-dependent kinases 2 (CDK2) was detected by dual-luciferase reporter assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation. Regulatory effects of LINC00265 and E2F1 on CDK2 expression were probed by Western blot. Results LINC00265 expression was increased in HCC tissues and cells. LINC00265 overexpression promoted proliferation, migration and invasion of HCC cells, and knocking-down LINC00265 worked oppositely. LINC00265 could bind to E2F1 and it could enhance combination of E2F1 and CDK2 promoter regions, thus promoting CDK2 transcription. LINC00265 overexpression promoted expression of CDK2 in HCC cells. Conclusion Our data suggested that LINC00265 can promote malignant behaviors of HCC cells by recruiting E2F1 to the promoter region of CDK2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beihai Ge
- Department of Neurology, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Brain Hospital, Liuzhou, Guangxi, China
| | - Xian Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Brain Hospital, Liuzhou, Guangxi, China
| | - Wei Zhou
- Department of Neurosurgery, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Brain Hospital, Liuzhou, Guangxi, China
| | - Yun Mo
- Department of Neurology, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Brain Hospital, Liuzhou, Guangxi, China
| | - Zhou Su
- Department of Neurology, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Brain Hospital, Liuzhou, Guangxi, China
| | - Guolong Xu
- Department of Neurology, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Brain Hospital, Liuzhou, Guangxi, China
| | - Qiang Chen
- Department of Psychiatry, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Brain Hospital, Liuzhou, Guangxi, China ,Department of PsychiatryGuangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Brain HospitalLiuzhouGuangxiChina
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25
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Yu B, Zhou S, Long D, Ning Y, Yao H, Zhou E, Wang Y. DDX55 promotes HCC progression via interacting with BRD4 and participating in exosome-mediated cell-cell communication. Cancer Sci 2022; 113:3002-3017. [PMID: 35514200 PMCID: PMC9459289 DOI: 10.1111/cas.15393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Revised: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 04/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The involvement of DEAD‐box helicase 55 (DDX55) in oncogenesis has been suggested, but its biological role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unknown. The present study verified the upregulation of DDX55 in HCC tissues compared with non‐tumor controls. DDX55 displayed the highest prognostic values among the DEAD‐box protein family for recurrence‐free survival and overall survival of HCC patients. In addition, the effects of DDX55 in the promotion of HCC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were determined ex vivo and in vivo. Mechanistically, we revealed that DDX55 could interact with BRD4 to form a transcriptional regulatory complex that positively regulated PIK3CA transcription. Following that, β‐catenin signaling was activated in a PI3K/Akt/GSK‐3β dependent manner, thus inducing cell cycle progression and epithelial–mesenchymal transition. Intriguingly, both DDX55 mRNA and protein were identified in the exosomes derived from HCC cells. Exosomal DDX55 was implicated in intercellular communication between HCC cells with high or low DDX55 levels and between HCC cells and endothelial cells, thereby promoting the malignant phenotype of HCC cells and angiogenesis. In conclusion, DDX55 may be a valuable prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Yu
- Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Institute of Hepatobiliary Diseases of Wuhan University, Transplant Center of Wuhan University, National Quality Control Center for Donated Organ Procurement, Hubei Key Laboratory of Medical Technology on Transplantation, Hubei Clinical Research Center for Natural Polymer Biological Liver, Engineering Center of Natural Polymer-based Medical Materials, Hubei, Wuhan, China
| | - Shujun Zhou
- Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Institute of Hepatobiliary Diseases of Wuhan University, Transplant Center of Wuhan University, National Quality Control Center for Donated Organ Procurement, Hubei Key Laboratory of Medical Technology on Transplantation, Hubei Clinical Research Center for Natural Polymer Biological Liver, Engineering Center of Natural Polymer-based Medical Materials, Hubei, Wuhan, China
| | - Dakun Long
- Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Institute of Hepatobiliary Diseases of Wuhan University, Transplant Center of Wuhan University, National Quality Control Center for Donated Organ Procurement, Hubei Key Laboratory of Medical Technology on Transplantation, Hubei Clinical Research Center for Natural Polymer Biological Liver, Engineering Center of Natural Polymer-based Medical Materials, Hubei, Wuhan, China
| | - Yuxiang Ning
- Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Institute of Hepatobiliary Diseases of Wuhan University, Transplant Center of Wuhan University, National Quality Control Center for Donated Organ Procurement, Hubei Key Laboratory of Medical Technology on Transplantation, Hubei Clinical Research Center for Natural Polymer Biological Liver, Engineering Center of Natural Polymer-based Medical Materials, Hubei, Wuhan, China
| | - Hanlin Yao
- Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Institute of Hepatobiliary Diseases of Wuhan University, Transplant Center of Wuhan University, National Quality Control Center for Donated Organ Procurement, Hubei Key Laboratory of Medical Technology on Transplantation, Hubei Clinical Research Center for Natural Polymer Biological Liver, Engineering Center of Natural Polymer-based Medical Materials, Hubei, Wuhan, China
| | - Encheng Zhou
- Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Institute of Hepatobiliary Diseases of Wuhan University, Transplant Center of Wuhan University, National Quality Control Center for Donated Organ Procurement, Hubei Key Laboratory of Medical Technology on Transplantation, Hubei Clinical Research Center for Natural Polymer Biological Liver, Engineering Center of Natural Polymer-based Medical Materials, Hubei, Wuhan, China
| | - Yanfeng Wang
- Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Institute of Hepatobiliary Diseases of Wuhan University, Transplant Center of Wuhan University, National Quality Control Center for Donated Organ Procurement, Hubei Key Laboratory of Medical Technology on Transplantation, Hubei Clinical Research Center for Natural Polymer Biological Liver, Engineering Center of Natural Polymer-based Medical Materials, Hubei, Wuhan, China
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Zhang MH, Liu J. Cleavage stimulation factor 2 promotes malignant progression of liver hepatocellular carcinoma by activating phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin pathway. Bioengineered 2022; 13:10047-10060. [PMID: 35412944 PMCID: PMC9161829 DOI: 10.1080/21655979.2022.2063100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC) is the most common type, comprising 75-85% of all liver malignancies. We investigated the roles of cleavage stimulation factor 2 (CSTF2) in LIHC and explored the underlying mechanisms. CSTF2 expression and its association with LIHC patient survival probability were analyzed with The Cancer Genome Atlas. CSTF2 expression in LIHC cells was assessed using western blot and quantitative real-time PCR. Alterations in CSTF2 expression were induced by cell transfection. Cell colony formation, apoptosis, proliferation, invasion, and migration were assessed using colony formation, flow cytometry, 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine, and transwell assays. Pathway enrichment analysis was performed using gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). The expression of apoptosis-, metastasis-, and pathway-associated factors was determined via western blot. The pathway rescue assay was further performed using 740Y-P or Wortmannin. CSTF2 upregulation was observed in LIHC tissues and cells. Patients with high CSTF2 expression had a lower probability of overall survival. CSTF2 overexpression enhanced colony formation, proliferation, invasion and migration, while repressing apoptosis in LIHC cells. GSEA revealed that CSTF2 was mainly enriched in the phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin (PI3K/AKT/mTOR) pathway. Western blot analysis proved that CSTF2 overexpression activated this pathway. CSTF2 knockdown yielded the opposite effects. 740Y-P, a PI3K activator, reversed the CSTF2 knockdown-triggered effects on cell proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, and migration. Moreover, Wortmannin, a PI3K inhibitor, also reversed the CSTF2 overexpression-induced effects on cell proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, and migration. These results indicated that CSTF2 overexpression might exacerbate the malignant phenotypes of LIHC cells via activation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng-Hui Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Center of Organ Transplantation, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, People's Republic of China.,Department of General Surgery, The Fourth People's Hospital of Jinan, Jinan, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Jun Liu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Center of Organ Transplantation, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, People's Republic of China
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A Novel Gene Signature Based on CDC20 and FCN3 for Prediction of Prognosis and Immune Features in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma. J Immunol Res 2022; 2022:9117205. [PMID: 35402624 PMCID: PMC8986430 DOI: 10.1155/2022/9117205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2022] [Revised: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Long-term survivals of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain unfavorable, which is largely attributed to active carcinogenesis. Growing studies have suggested that the reliable gene signature could act as an independent prognosis factor for HCC patients. We tried to screen the survival-related genes and develop a prognostic prediction model for HCC patients based on the expression profiles of the critical survival-related genes. In this study, we analyzed TCGA datasets and identified 280 genes with differential expressions (125 increased genes and 155 reduced genes). We analyzed the prognosis value of the top 10 dysregulated genes in HCC patients and identified three critical genes, including FCN3, CDC20, and E2F1, which were confirmed to be associated with long-term survival in both TCGA and ICGC datasets. The results of the LASSO model screened CDC20 and FCN3 for the development of the prognostic model. The CDC20 expression was distinctly increased in HCC specimens, while the FCN3 expression was distinctly decreased in HCC. At a suitable cutoff, patients were divided into low-risk and high-risk groups. Survival assays revealed that patients in high-risk groups exhibited a shorter overall survival than those in low-risk groups. Finally, we examine the relationships between risk score and immune infiltration abundance in HCC and observed that risk score was positively correlated with infiltration degree of B cells, T cell CD4+ cells, neutrophil, macrophage, and myeloid dendritic cells. Overall, we identified three critical survival-related genes and used CDC20 and FCN3 to develop a novel model for predicting outcomes and immune landscapes for patients with HCC. The above three genes also have a high potential for targeted cancer therapy of patients with HCC.
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Liang S, Zhang X, Li J. Zinc finger Asp-His-His-Cys palmitoyl -acyltransferase 19 accelerates tumor progression through wnt/β-catenin pathway and is upregulated by miR-940 in osteosarcoma. Bioengineered 2022; 13:7367-7379. [PMID: 35297315 PMCID: PMC9278973 DOI: 10.1080/21655979.2022.2040827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most frequent malignant primary bone tumor in children and young adults. Zinc finger Asp-His-His-Cys palmitoyl-acyltransferase 19 (ZDHHC19) is a key enzyme in protein palmitoylation and plays crucial roles in tumor progression. However, its expression profile and biological function in OS have been unclear. In the present study, the expression level of ZDHHC19 in OS cell lines was determined by qRT-PCR and Western blot. The effect of ZDHHC19 in cell growth, invasion and migration was analyzed by CCK8, EDU, transwell, wound healing assay in vitro, and xenograft tumor model in vivo. In addition, bioinformatics analysis was used to explore the potential mechanism of ZDHHC19 in OS. Furthermore, the luciferase reporter assay was conducted to determine the direct binding between miR-940 and ZDHHC19. We discovered that ZDHHC19 was overexpressed in OS cells compared with the normal cells. The functional investigation demonstrated that ZDHHC19 silencing could inhibit proliferation, invasion and migration of OS in vitro and suppress tumorigenicity and lung metastasis in a xenograft model in vivo. Mechanistically, we identified that ZDHHC19 was a direct target of miR-940 and forced ZDHHC19 expressions partially rescue the suppression of proliferation, migration and invasion induced by miR-940. Moreover, bioinformatics analysis combined with validation experiments revealed that activating wnt/β-catenin pathway contributed to the pro-oncogenic effect induced by ZDHHC19. Furthermore, rescue experiments further verified that miR-940/ZDHHC19 axis regulated wnt/β-catenin pathway. Overall, these findings indicated that miR-940/ZDHHC19 axis played a significant role in OS progression and might be considered as a novel target for OS treatment.Abbreviations: OS, osteosarcoma; miRNAs, microRNAs; 3'-UTR, 3'- untranslated region; TARGET, Therapeutically Applicable Research To Generate Effective Treatments; qRT-PCR, quantitative real-time PCR; IHC, Immunohistochemistry; GSVA, Gene Set Variation Analysis; GSEA, Gene Set Enrichment Analysis; KEGG, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuhong Liang
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, P.R. China
| | - Xiaojian Zhang
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, P.R. China
| | - Jun Li
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, P.R. China
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Liang L, Huan L, Wang J, Wu Y, Huang S, He X. LncRNA RP11-295G20.2 regulates hepatocellular carcinoma cell growth and autophagy by targeting PTEN to lysosomal degradation. Cell Discov 2021; 7:118. [PMID: 34903728 PMCID: PMC8668967 DOI: 10.1038/s41421-021-00339-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
PTEN is a crucial tumor suppressor and loss of PTEN protein is involved in various cancers. However, the detailed molecular mechanisms of PTEN loss in cancers remain elusive, especially the involvement of lncRNAs. Here, lncRNA RP11-295G20.2 is found to be significantly upregulated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and promotes the growth of liver cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, RP11-295G20.2 inhibits autophagy in liver cancer cells. Interestingly, RP11-295G20.2 directly binds to the PTEN protein and leads to its degradation. RP11-295G20.2 expression is inversely correlated with PTEN protein expression in 82 TCGA/TCPA-LIHC samples. Surprisingly, RP11-295G20.2-induced PTEN degradation occurs through the lysosomal pathway instead of the proteasome pathway. RP11-295G20.2 binds to the N terminus of PTEN and facilitates the interaction of p62 with PTEN. Thus, PTEN is translocated into lysosomes and degraded. RP11-295G20.2 also influences AKT phosphorylation and forkhead box O 3a (FOXO3a) translocation into the nucleus, in turn regulating the transcription of autophagy-related genes. Collectively, RP11-295G20.2 directly binds to PTEN and enables its lysosomal degradation. This newly identified RP11-295G20.2/PTEN axis reveals an unexplored molecular mechanism regarding PTEN loss in liver cancer and might provide new therapeutic benefits for liver cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linhui Liang
- Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lin Huan
- Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiajia Wang
- Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yangjun Wu
- Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shenglin Huang
- Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xianghuo He
- Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
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Li S, Yang X, Li W, Chen Z. Comprehensive Analysis of E2F Family Members in Human Gastric Cancer. Front Oncol 2021; 11:625257. [PMID: 34532281 PMCID: PMC8438234 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.625257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Gastric cancer (GC) is the second most common cancer and the third most frequent cause of cancer-related deaths in China. E2Fs are a family of transcription factors reported to be involved in the tumor progression of various cancer types; however, the roles of individual E2Fs are still not known exactly in tumor progression of GC. In this study, we examined the expression of E2Fs to investigate their roles in tumor progression in GC patients using multiple databases, including ONCOMINE, GEPIA2, Kaplan-Meier plotter, cBioPortal, Metascape, LinkedOmics, GeneMANIA, STRING and UCSC Xena. We also performed real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to validate the expression levels of individual E2Fs in several GC cell lines. Our results demonstrated that the mRNA levels of E2F1/2/3/5/8 were significantly higher both in GC tissues and cell lines. The expression levels of E2F1 and E2F4 were correlated with poor overall survival (OS), decreased post-progression survival (PPS), and decreased progression-free survival (FP) in patients with GC. However, overexpression of E2F2, E2F5, E2F7 and E2F8 is significantly associated with disease-free survival and overall survival in patients with GC. In addition, higher E2F3 and E2F6 mRNA expression was found to increase GC patients' OS and PPS. 224 of 415 patients with STAD (54%) had gene mutations that were associated with longer disease-free survival (DFS) but not OS. Cell cycle pathway was closely associated with mRNA level of more than half of E2Fs (E2F1/2/3/7/8). There were close and complicated interactions among E2F family members. Finally, our results indicated the gene expressions of E2Fs had a positive relationship with its copy numbers. Taken together, E2F1/2/3/5/8 can serve as biomarkers for GC patients with high prognostic value for OS of GC patients or therapeutic targets for GC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengbo Li
- Department of Hand Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaofan Yang
- Department of Hand Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Wenqing Li
- Department of Hand and Foot Surgery, Huazhong University of Science and Technology Union Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Zhenbing Chen
- Department of Hand Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
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31
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Qiao L, Zhang Q, Sun Z, Liu Q, Wu Z, Hu W, Bao S, Yang Q, Liu L. The E2F1/USP11 positive feedback loop promotes hepatocellular carcinoma metastasis and inhibits autophagy by activating ERK/mTOR pathway. Cancer Lett 2021; 514:63-78. [PMID: 34044068 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2021.05.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Revised: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Deubiquitinase ubiquitin-specific protease 11 (USP11), a member of the deubiquitinating family, plays an important but still controversial role in cancer development. Namely, USP11 has been shown to promote the proliferation and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but the underlying molecular basis is poorly understood. This study aimed to unravel novel functions of USP11 in HCC, especially those related to autophagy. Here, EdU, migration and colony formation assays, and mouse models showed that USP11 played a crucial role in HCC cell proliferation and metastasis in vitro and in vivo. Results from co-immunoprecipitation and ubiquitination assays demonstrated that USP11 interacted with E2F1 and maintained E2F1 protein stability by removing its ubiquitin. Notably, E2F1 regulated USP11 expression at the transcriptional level. Thus, the E2F1/USP11 formed a positive feedback loop to promote the proliferation and migration of HCC cells. Moreover, E2F1/USP11 inhibited autophagy by regulating ERK/mTOR pathway. In addition, the combination treatment inhibition of USP11 and autophagy enhanced the apoptosis of HCC cells and inhibited the tumor growth in mice more effective than either treatment alone. Taken together, these results indicate that the E2F1/USP11 signal axis promotes HCC proliferation and metastasis and inhibits autophagy, which provides an experimental basis for the treatment of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lijun Qiao
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreas Surgery, The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University (Shenzhen People's Hospital), Shenzhen, 518020, Guangdong, China; Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine Postdoctoral Research Station, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, Guangdong, China
| | - Qiangnu Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreas Surgery, The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University (Shenzhen People's Hospital), Shenzhen, 518020, Guangdong, China; Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine Postdoctoral Research Station, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhe Sun
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreas Surgery, The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University (Shenzhen People's Hospital), Shenzhen, 518020, Guangdong, China; Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine Postdoctoral Research Station, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, Guangdong, China
| | - Quan Liu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreas Surgery, The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University (Shenzhen People's Hospital), Shenzhen, 518020, Guangdong, China; Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreas Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518020, Guangdong, China
| | - Zongze Wu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreas Surgery, The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University (Shenzhen People's Hospital), Shenzhen, 518020, Guangdong, China; Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreas Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518020, Guangdong, China
| | - Weibin Hu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreas Surgery, The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University (Shenzhen People's Hospital), Shenzhen, 518020, Guangdong, China; Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreas Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518020, Guangdong, China
| | - Shiyun Bao
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreas Surgery, The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University (Shenzhen People's Hospital), Shenzhen, 518020, Guangdong, China; Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreas Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518020, Guangdong, China
| | - Qinhe Yang
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, Guangdong, China.
| | - Liping Liu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreas Surgery, The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University (Shenzhen People's Hospital), Shenzhen, 518020, Guangdong, China; Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreas Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518020, Guangdong, China.
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32
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Cheng B, Tian J, Chen Y. Identification of RNA binding protein interacting with circular RNA and hub candidate network for hepatocellular carcinoma. Aging (Albany NY) 2021; 13:16124-16143. [PMID: 34133325 PMCID: PMC8266373 DOI: 10.18632/aging.203139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The interaction between RNA binding protein (RBP) and circular RNA (circRNA) is important for the regulation of tumor progression. This study aimed to identify the RBP-circRNA network in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). 22 differentially expressed (DE) circRNAs in HCC were screened out from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and their binding RBPs were predicted by Circular RNA Interactome. Among them, 17 DERBPs, which were commonly dysregulated in HCC from The Clinical Proteomic Tumor Analysis Consortium (CPTAC), The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) projects, were utilized to construct the RBP-circRNA network. Through survival analysis, we found TARDBP was the only prognostic RBP for HCC in CPTAC, TCGA and ICGC projects. High expression of TARDBP was correlated with high grade, advanced stage and low macrophage infiltration of HCC. Additionally, gene set enrichment analysis showed that dysregulated TARDBP might be involved in some pathways related to the HCC pathogenesis. Therefore, a hub RBP-circRNA network was generated based on TARDBP. RNA immunoprecipitation and RNA pull-down confirmed that hsa_circ_0004913 binds to TARDBP. These findings indicated certain RBP-circRNA regulatory network potentially involved in the pathogenesis of HCC, which provides novel insights into the mechanism study and biomarker identification for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Binglin Cheng
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510515, China
| | - Jingdong Tian
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Xinhua College of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510520, China
| | - Yuhan Chen
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510515, China
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Park JS, Lee ME, Jang WS, Rha KH, Lee SH, Lee J, Ham WS. The DEAD/DEAH Box Helicase, DDX11, Is Essential for the Survival of Advanced Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma and Is a Determinant of PARP Inhibitor Sensitivity. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13112574. [PMID: 34073906 PMCID: PMC8197413 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13112574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Revised: 05/13/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary DDX11, a helicase involved in sister chromatid cohesion, was identified as a significant biomarker of aggressive renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in our previous studies. In this study, we evaluated the molecular pathways through which DDX11 is involved in RCC cell survival. Furthermore, we assessed the sensitivity of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors, which have not been used in RCC treatment, in association with DDX11 expression. DDX11-deficient RCC inhibited RCC proliferation, caused defects in segregation, and increased apoptosis. DDX11-deficient RCC was associated with increased sensitivity to PARP inhibition. DDX11 could be a novel therapeutic and prognostic biomarker for RCC patients, and this study is the first to suggest the use of PARP inhibitors in DDX11-deficient RCC patients. Abstract Genes associated with the DEAD-box helicase DDX11 are significant biomarkers of aggressive renal cell carcinoma (RCC), but their molecular function is poorly understood. We analyzed the molecular pathways through which DDX11 is involved in RCC cell survival and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor sensitivity. Immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting determined DDX11 expression in normal kidney tissues, benign renal tumors, and RCC tissues and cell lines. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction validated the downregulation of DDX11 in response to transfection with DDX11-specific small interfering RNA. Proliferation analysis and apoptosis assays were performed to determine the impact of DDX11 knockdown on RCC cells, and the relevant effects of sunitinib, olaparib, and sunitinib plus olaparib were evaluated. DDX11 was upregulated in high-grade, advanced RCC compared to low-grade, localized RCC, and DDX11 was not expressed in normal kidney tissues or benign renal tumors. DDX11 knockdown resulted in the inhibition of RCC cell proliferation, segregation defects, and rapid apoptosis. DDX11-deficient RCC cells exhibited significantly increased sensitivity to olaparib compared to sunitinib alone or sunitinib plus olaparib combination treatments. Moreover, DDX11 could determine PARP inhibitor sensitivity in RCC. DDX11 could serve as a novel therapeutic biomarker for RCC patients who are refractory to conventional targeted therapies and immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jee Soo Park
- Department of Urology and Urological Science Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Korea; (J.S.P.); (M.E.L.); (W.S.J.); (K.H.R.); (S.H.L.); (J.L.)
- Department of Urology, Sorokdo National Hospital, Goheung 59562, Korea
| | - Myung Eun Lee
- Department of Urology and Urological Science Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Korea; (J.S.P.); (M.E.L.); (W.S.J.); (K.H.R.); (S.H.L.); (J.L.)
| | - Won Sik Jang
- Department of Urology and Urological Science Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Korea; (J.S.P.); (M.E.L.); (W.S.J.); (K.H.R.); (S.H.L.); (J.L.)
| | - Koon Ho Rha
- Department of Urology and Urological Science Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Korea; (J.S.P.); (M.E.L.); (W.S.J.); (K.H.R.); (S.H.L.); (J.L.)
| | - Seung Hwan Lee
- Department of Urology and Urological Science Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Korea; (J.S.P.); (M.E.L.); (W.S.J.); (K.H.R.); (S.H.L.); (J.L.)
| | - Jongsoo Lee
- Department of Urology and Urological Science Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Korea; (J.S.P.); (M.E.L.); (W.S.J.); (K.H.R.); (S.H.L.); (J.L.)
| | - Won Sik Ham
- Department of Urology and Urological Science Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Korea; (J.S.P.); (M.E.L.); (W.S.J.); (K.H.R.); (S.H.L.); (J.L.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +82-10-6242-7938; Fax: +82-2-312-2538
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Liu P, Wei J, Mao F, Xin Z, Duan H, Du Y, Wang X, Li Z, Qian J, Yao J. Establishment of a Prognostic Model for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Based on Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress-Related Gene Analysis. Front Oncol 2021; 11:641487. [PMID: 34094926 PMCID: PMC8175984 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.641487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2020] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common types of cancer worldwide and its incidence continues to increase year by year. Endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) caused by protein misfolding within the secretory pathway in cells and has an extensive and deep impact on cancer cell progression and survival. Growing evidence suggests that the genes related to ERS are closely associated with the occurrence and progression of HCC. This study aimed to identify an ERS-related signature for the prospective evaluation of prognosis in HCC patients. RNA sequencing data and clinical data of patients from HCC patients were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and The International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC). Using data from TCGA as a training cohort (n=424) and data from ICGC as an independent external testing cohort (n=243), ERS-related genes were extracted to identify three common pathways IRE1, PEKR, and ATF6 using the GSEA database. Through univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis, 5 gene signals in the training cohort were found to be related to ERS and closely correlated with the prognosis in patients of HCC. A novel 5-gene signature (including HDGF, EIF2S1, SRPRB, PPP2R5B and DDX11) was created and had power as a prognostic biomarker. The prognosis of patients with high-risk HCC was worse than that of patients with low-risk HCC. Multivariate Cox regression analysis confirmed that the signature was an independent prognostic biomarker for HCC. The results were further validated in an independent external testing cohort (ICGC). Also, GSEA indicated a series of significantly enriched oncological signatures and different metabolic processes that may enable a better understanding of the potential molecular mechanism mediating the progression of HCC. The 5-gene biomarker has a high potential for clinical applications in the risk stratification and overall survival prediction of HCC patients. In addition, the abnormal expression of these genes may be affected by copy number variation, methylation variation, and post-transcriptional regulation. Together, this study indicated that the genes may have potential as prognostic biomarkers in HCC and may provide new evidence supporting targeted therapies in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Liu
- Medical College of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Jinhong Wei
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Feiyu Mao
- Medical College of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Zechang Xin
- Department of General Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Heng Duan
- Department of General Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Yan Du
- Department of General Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Xiaodong Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital, Yangzhou, China
| | - Zhennan Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital, Yangzhou, China
| | - Jianjun Qian
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital, Yangzhou, China
| | - Jie Yao
- Medical College of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China.,Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital, Yangzhou, China
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Zhao Z, He K, Zhang Y, Hua X, Feng M, Zhao Z, Sun Y, Jiang Y, Xia Q. XRCC2 repairs mitochondrial DNA damage and fuels malignant behavior in hepatocellular carcinoma. Cancer Lett 2021; 512:1-14. [PMID: 33964350 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2021.04.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2021] [Revised: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
The effects of DNA damage repair (DDR) and mitochondrial dysfunction associated with HCC have been investigated, but the functional role of mitochondrial DDR in HCC remains elusive. We studied the DDR genes and identified XRCC2 as a potential prognostic marker for HCC. XRCC2 overexpression was detected in HCC cells and shown to promote the malignant behavior of cancer cells. XRCC2 depletion in HCC cells led to DNA damage accumulation at the replication site in the nucleus. Additionally, XRCC2-depleted HCC cells exhibited impaired mitochondrial respiration and reduced complex I (CI) activity as XRCC2 was responsible for elimination of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) damage and maintenance of mtDNA-encoded CI-related genes' transcription in a RAD51-dependent manner. We showed that tunicamycin (Tm)-activated sXBP1 bound to the TGTCAT domain and suppressed XRCC2 expression. In HCC patients, we observed a negative correlation between XBP1 and XRCC2 expression. Moreover, XRCC2 inhibition by Tm led to genomic and mtDNA damage, which impaired the transcription of mtDNA-encoded CI-related genes and prevented tumor proliferation in vivo. We described the role of XRCC2 in mtDNA damage repair and HCC progression while unveiling the potential anti-tumor effect of Tm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenjun Zhao
- Department of Liver Surgery, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Kang He
- Department of Liver Surgery, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Department of Liver Surgery, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiangwei Hua
- Center of Organ Transplantation, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Mingxuan Feng
- Department of Liver Surgery, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhichong Zhao
- Department of Liver Surgery, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuan Sun
- SJTU-Yale Joint Centre for Biostatistics, School of Mathematical Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuhui Jiang
- Department of Liver Surgery, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Qiang Xia
- Department of Liver Surgery, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
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DDX11 loss causes replication stress and pharmacologically exploitable DNA repair defects. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2024258118. [PMID: 33879618 PMCID: PMC8092582 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2024258118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Replication stress can affect development and is a hallmark of cancers. Warsaw breakage syndrome is a developmental disorder caused by mutations in the conserved DDX11 DNA helicase. Here, using human cellular models of DDX11 deficiency, we report that DDX11 helicase prevents replication stress and mediates homology-directed repair via homologous recombination. Mechanistically, DDX11 promotes resection, enabling RPA and RAD51 focus formation, and acts nonredundantly with the RAD51 mediators BRCA1 and BRCA2. As a result, targeting DDX11 confers improved chemotherapy responsiveness in both chemotherapy-sensitive and drug-resistant BRCA1/2-mutated cancers that regained homologous recombination proficiency by suppressor mutation or somatic reversion. The results pinpoint DDX11 as a critical replication stress mitigating factor whose targeting can improve chemotherapeutic response in a range of cancers. DDX11 encodes an iron–sulfur cluster DNA helicase required for development, mutated, and overexpressed in cancers. Here, we show that loss of DDX11 causes replication stress and sensitizes cancer cells to DNA damaging agents, including poly ADP ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitors and platinum drugs. We find that DDX11 helicase activity prevents chemotherapy drug hypersensitivity and accumulation of DNA damage. Mechanistically, DDX11 acts downstream of 53BP1 to mediate homology-directed repair and RAD51 focus formation in manners nonredundant with BRCA1 and BRCA2. As a result, DDX11 down-regulation aggravates the chemotherapeutic sensitivity of BRCA1/2-mutated cancers and resensitizes chemotherapy drug–resistant BRCA1/2-mutated cancer cells that regained homologous recombination proficiency. The results further indicate that DDX11 facilitates recombination repair by assisting double strand break resection and the loading of both RPA and RAD51 on single-stranded DNA substrates. We propose DDX11 as a potential target in cancers by creating pharmacologically exploitable DNA repair vulnerabilities.
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The Genome Stability Maintenance DNA Helicase DDX11 and Its Role in Cancer. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12030395. [PMID: 33802088 PMCID: PMC8000936 DOI: 10.3390/genes12030395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Revised: 03/06/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
DDX11/ChlR1 is a super-family two iron–sulfur cluster containing DNA helicase with roles in DNA replication and sister chromatid cohesion establishment, and general chromosome architecture. Bi-allelic mutations of the DDX11 gene cause a rare hereditary disease, named Warsaw breakage syndrome, characterized by a complex spectrum of clinical manifestations (pre- and post-natal growth defects, microcephaly, intellectual disability, heart anomalies and sister chromatid cohesion loss at cellular level) in accordance with the multifaceted, not yet fully understood, physiological functions of this DNA helicase. In the last few years, a possible role of DDX11 in the onset and progression of many cancers is emerging. Herein we summarize the results of recent studies, carried out either in tumoral cell lines or in xenograft cancer mouse models, suggesting that DDX11 may have an oncogenic role. The potential of DDX11 DNA helicase as a pharmacological target for novel anti-cancer therapeutic interventions, as inferred from these latest developments, is also discussed.
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Su SG, Li QL, Zhang MF, Zhang PW, Shen H, Zhang CZ. An E2F1/DDX11/EZH2 Positive Feedback Loop Promotes Cell Proliferation in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Front Oncol 2021; 10:593293. [PMID: 33614480 PMCID: PMC7892623 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.593293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accounts for one of the leading causes of cancer-related death, and is attributed to the dysregulation of genes involved in genome stability. DDX11, a DNA helicase, has been implicated in rare genetic disease and human cancers. Yet, its clinical value, biological function, and the underlying mechanism in HCC progression are not fully understood. Here, we show that DDX11 is upregulated in HCC and exhibits oncogenic activity via EZH2/p21 signaling. High expression of DDX11 is significantly correlated with poor outcomes of HCC patients in two independent cohorts. DDX11 overexpression increases HCC cell viabilities and colony formation, whereas DDX11 knockdown arrests cells at G1 phase without alteration of p53 expression. Ectopic expression of DDX11 reduces, while depletion of DDX11 induces the expression of p21. Treatment of p21 siRNA markedly attenuates the cell growth suppression caused by DDX11 silence. Further studies reveal that DDX11 interacts with EZH2 in HCC cells to protect it from ubiquitination-mediated protein degradation, consequently resulting in the downregulation of p21. In addition, E2F1 is identified as one of the upstream regulators of DDX11, and forms a positive feedback loop with EZH2 to upregulate DDX11 and facilitate cell proliferation. Collectively, our data suggest DDX11 as a promising prognostic factor and an oncogene in HCC via a E2F1/DDX11/EZH2 positive feedback loop.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu-Guang Su
- Department of Pathology, The Affiliated Hexian Memorial Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qiu-Li Li
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Mei-Fang Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Peng-Wei Zhang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Biology and Key Laboratory of Functional Protein Research of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Institute of Life and Health Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Huimin Shen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chris Zhiyi Zhang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Biology and Key Laboratory of Functional Protein Research of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Institute of Life and Health Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
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Zheng Q, Fu Q, Xu J, Gu X, Zhou H, Zhi C. Transcription factor E2F4 is an indicator of poor prognosis and is related to immune infiltration in hepatocellular carcinoma. J Cancer 2021; 12:1792-1803. [PMID: 33613768 PMCID: PMC7890309 DOI: 10.7150/jca.51616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2020] [Accepted: 12/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Recent studies have shown that the transcription factor E2F4 is involved in the progression of various tumors, but its expression and influence on immune cell infiltration and biological functions are largely unknown in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, the Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER) and related online tools as well as a tissue microarray (TMA) were used for analyses in our study. Results: E2F4 expression was elevated in HCC tumor tissue compared with adjacent normal tissue at both the mRNA and protein levels. Overexpression of E2F4 was markedly related to a poor prognosis in HCC patients. In addition, positively and negatively correlated significant genes of E2F4 were identified in HCC. Pathway enrichment analyses revealed that the top 100 positively correlated significant genes of E2F4 were closely related to nuclear splicing and degradation-related pathways. Furthermore, nine hub genes correlated with E2F4 expression were validated based on a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. It was also demonstrated that E2F4 expression was negatively correlated to immune purity and positively correlated to immune cell infiltration. Conclusion: E2F4 could serve as a novel biomarker for HCC diagnosis and prognosis prediction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiuxian Zheng
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Qiang Fu
- School of Continuing Education, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Jia Xu
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Xinyu Gu
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Haibo Zhou
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Chen Zhi
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China
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Feng Y, Dramani Maman ST, Zhu X, Liu X, Bongolo CC, Liang C, Tu J. Clinical value and potential mechanisms of LINC00221 in hepatocellular carcinoma based on integrated analysis. Epigenomics 2021; 13:299-317. [PMID: 33406920 DOI: 10.2217/epi-2020-0363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Aims:This study aimed to unveil the functional roles of LINC00221 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Materials and methods:A discovery cohort and a validation cohort were respectively used to identify and verify the clinical value of LINC00221 in HCC. Bioinformatics analysis was performed to explore its potential mechanisms. Results:LINC00221 was upregulated in HCC tissues and serum samples. Survival analysis and receiver operating characteristic curve further revealed its prognostic and diagnostic roles. Exploration of the mechanism showed that LINC00221 might exert a pro-cancer role via the lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA network.Conclusions: Our study reveals that upregulated LINC00221 can serve as a potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarker and provides novel clues as to the role of LINC00221 in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanlin Feng
- Program & Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Center for Gene Diagnosis, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Souraka Tapara Dramani Maman
- Program & Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Center for Gene Diagnosis, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Xinyu Zhu
- Program & Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Center for Gene Diagnosis, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Xuefang Liu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Christian Cedric Bongolo
- Program & Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Center for Gene Diagnosis, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Chunzi Liang
- Program & Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Center for Gene Diagnosis, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Jiancheng Tu
- Program & Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Center for Gene Diagnosis, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
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Han C, Zhong J, Hu J, Liu H, Liu R, Ling F. Single-Sample Node Entropy for Molecular Transition in Pre-deterioration Stage of Cancer. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2020; 8:809. [PMID: 32766227 PMCID: PMC7381145 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.00809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2020] [Accepted: 06/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
A complex disease, especially cancer, always has pre-deterioration stage during its progression, which is difficult to identify but crucial to drug research and clinical intervention. However, using a few samples to find mechanisms that propel cancer crossing the pre-deterioration stage is still a complex problem. In this study, we successfully developed a novel single-sample model based on node entropy with a priori established protein interaction network. Using this model, critical stages were successfully detected in simulation data and four TCGA datasets, indicating its sensitivity and robustness. Besides, compared with the results of the differential analysis, our results showed that most of dynamic network biomarkers identified by node entropy, such as NKD2 or DAAM1, located in upstream in many important cancer-related signaling pathways regulated intergenic signaling within pathways. We also identified some novel prognostic biomarkers such as PER2, TNFSF4, MMP13 and ENO4 using node entropy rather than expression level. More importantly, we found the switch of non-specific pathways related to DNA damage repairing was the main driven force for cancer progression. In conclusion, we have successfully developed a dynamic node entropy model based on single case data to find out tipping point and possible mechanism for cancer progression. These findings may provide new target genes in therapeutic intervention tactics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chongyin Han
- School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiayuan Zhong
- School of Mathematics, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiaqi Hu
- School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Huisheng Liu
- School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Rui Liu
- School of Mathematics, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Fei Ling
- School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
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