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Wang Z, Zhao P, Tian K, Qiao Z, Dong H, Li J, Guan Z, Su H, Song Y, Ma X. TMEM9 promotes lung adenocarcinoma progression via activating the MEK/ERK/STAT3 pathway to induce VEGF expression. Cell Death Dis 2024; 15:295. [PMID: 38664392 PMCID: PMC11045738 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-024-06669-8] [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: 08/06/2023] [Revised: 04/07/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Abnormal Transmembrane protein 9 (TMEM9) expression has been identified in various human tumors. However, the prognostic potential and mechanistic role of TMEM9 in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) remain unclear. Here, we first found a significant upregulation of TMEM9 in LUAD tissues, and TMEM9 expression was positively correlated with microvessel density (MVD), T stage, and clinical stage. Survival analysis demonstrated TMEM9 was an independent indicator of poor prognosis in LUAD patients. In addition, downregulation of TMEM9 suppressed tumor growth and metastasis in vitro and in vivo models, and reduced HUVEC proliferation, migration, and tube formation in a cancer cell/HUVEC coculture model. Furthermore, TMEM9 upregulated VEGF expression, and VEGF-neutralizing antibodies reversed HUVEC angiogenesis and cancer cell migration ability caused by overexpression of TMEM9. In contrast, recombinant VEGF (rVEGF) abolished the inhibitory effect of TMEM9-knockdown LUAD cells on HUVEC angiogenesis and tumor cell migration. Moreover, we showed that TMEM9 upregulated VEGF expression by activating the mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase/STAT3 (MEK/ERK/STAT3) pathway. Together, our study provides mechanistic insights into the role of TMEM9 in LUAD and highlights the potential of targeting the TMEM9/MEK/ERK/STAT3/VEGF pathway as a novel therapy for preventing LUAD progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiqian Wang
- Department of Oncology, Medical College of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
- Department of Oncology, Qingdao Central Hospital, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Affiliated Qingdao Central Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Peng Zhao
- Biotherapy Center, Qingdao Central Hospital, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Kaihua Tian
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Zhongshi Qiao
- Department of Oncology, Medical College of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
- Department of Oncology, Qingdao Central Hospital, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Affiliated Qingdao Central Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Hao Dong
- Department of Oncology, Medical College of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
- Department of Oncology, Qingdao Central Hospital, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Affiliated Qingdao Central Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Jie Li
- Department of Oncology, Medical College of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
- Department of Oncology, Qingdao Central Hospital, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Affiliated Qingdao Central Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Zitong Guan
- Department of Oncology, Medical College of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
- Department of Oncology, Qingdao Central Hospital, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Affiliated Qingdao Central Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Hui Su
- Department of Oncology, LiaochengPeople's Hospital, Liaocheng, Shandong, China
| | - Yang Song
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Medical College of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China.
| | - Xuezhen Ma
- Department of Oncology, Qingdao Central Hospital, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Affiliated Qingdao Central Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China.
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Lv J, Liu X, Sun Z, Gao J, Yu X, Zhang M, Zhang Z, Ren S, Zuo Y. STEAP3 promotes colon cancer cell proliferation and migration via regulating histone acetylation. Hum Genet 2024; 143:343-355. [PMID: 38480539 DOI: 10.1007/s00439-024-02646-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most prevalent diagnosed cancer in men and second most prevalent cancer in women. H3K27ac alterations are more commonly than gene mutations in colorectal cancer. Most colorectal cancer genes have significant H3K27ac changes, which leads to an over-expression disorder in gene transcription. Over-expression of STEAP3 is involved in a variety of tumors, participating in the regulation of cancer cell proliferation and migration. The purpose of this work is to investigate the role of STEAP3 in the regulation of histone modification (H3K27ac) expression in colon cancer. Bioinformatic ChIP-seq, ChIP-qPCR and ATAC-seq were used to analyze the histone modification properties and gene accessibility of STEAP3. Western blot and qRT-PCR were used to evaluate relative protein and gene expression, respectively. CRISPR/Cas9 technology was used to knockout STEAP3 on colon cancer cells to analyze the effect of ATF3 on STEAP3. STEAP3 was over-expressed in colon cancer and associated with higher metastases and more invasive and worse stage of colon cancer. ChIP-seq and ChIP-qPCR analyses revealed significant enrichment of H3K27ac in the STEAP3 gene. In addition, knocking down STEAP3 significantly inhibits colon cancer cell proliferation and migration and down-regulates H3K27ac expression. ChIP-seq found that ATF3 is enriched in the STEAP3 gene and CRISPR/Cas9 technology used for the deletion of the ATF3 binding site suppresses the expression of STEAP3. Over-expression of STEAP3 promotes colon cancer cell proliferation and migration. Mechanical studies have indicated that H3K27ac and ATF3 are significantly enriched in the STEAP3 gene and regulate the over-expression of STEAP3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinjuan Lv
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, College of Laboratory Diagnostic Medicine, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, China
| | - Xiaoqian Liu
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, College of Laboratory Diagnostic Medicine, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, China
| | - Zhiwei Sun
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116023, China
| | - Jianfeng Gao
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116023, China
| | - Xiaoqi Yu
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, College of Laboratory Diagnostic Medicine, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, China
| | - Mengyan Zhang
- Department of Medical Laboratory, Jining No. 1 People's Hospital, No. 6, Jiankang Road, Jining, 272011, China
| | - Zhenyu Zhang
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, College of Laboratory Diagnostic Medicine, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, China
| | - Shuangyi Ren
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116023, China.
| | - Yunfei Zuo
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, College of Laboratory Diagnostic Medicine, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, China.
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Han Y, Fu L, Kong Y, Jiang C, Huang L, Zhang H. STEAP3 Affects Ovarian Cancer Progression by Regulating Ferroptosis through the p53/SLC7A11 Pathway. Mediators Inflamm 2024; 2024:4048527. [PMID: 38440354 PMCID: PMC10911874 DOI: 10.1155/2024/4048527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 01/14/2024] [Accepted: 02/03/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Ovarian cancer (OC) is a common malignant cancer in women with a low overall survival rate, and ferroptosis may be a potential new strategy for treatment. Six-transmembrane epithelial antigen of prostate 3 (STEAP3) is a gene closely related to ferroptosis, yet the role of STEAP3 in OC has not yet been thoroughly investigated. Using biological information analysis, we first found that STEAP3 was highly expressed in OC, which was significantly associated with poor prognosis of patients and was an independent prognostic factor. Through cloning, scratch, and transwell experiments, we subsequently found that knockdown of STEAP3 significantly reduced the proliferation and migration ability of OC cells. Furthermore, we found that knockdown of STEAP3 induced ferroptosis in OC cells by detecting ferroptosis indicators. Mechanistically, we also found that knockdown of STEAP3 induced ferroptosis through the p53/SLC7A11 signaling pathway. Through tumorigenic experiments in nude mice, we finally verified that the knockdown of STEAP3 could inhibit tumor growth in vivo by promoting ferroptosis through the p53 pathway. Overall, our study identified a novel therapeutic target for ferroptosis in OC and explored its specific mechanism of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Han
- Department of Gynecology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266000, Shandong, China
| | - Lei Fu
- Department of Gynecology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266000, Shandong, China
| | - Yan Kong
- Department of Gynecology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266000, Shandong, China
| | - Changqing Jiang
- Department of Gynecology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266000, Shandong, China
| | - Liying Huang
- Department of Gynecology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266000, Shandong, China
| | - Hualing Zhang
- Department of Gynecology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266000, Shandong, China
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Zhang J, Zhao L, Xuan S, Liu Z, Weng Z, Wang Y, Dai K, Gu A, Zhao P. Global analysis of iron metabolism-related genes identifies potential mechanisms of gliomagenesis and reveals novel targets. CNS Neurosci Ther 2024; 30:e14386. [PMID: 37545464 PMCID: PMC10848104 DOI: 10.1111/cns.14386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023] Open
Abstract
AIMS This study aimed to investigate key regulators of aberrant iron metabolism in gliomas, and evaluate their effect on biological functions and clinical translational relevance. METHODS We used transcriptomic data from multiple cross-platform glioma cohorts to identify key iron metabolism-related genes (IMRGs) based on a series of bioinformatic and machine learning methods. The associations between IMRGs and prognosis, mesenchymal phenotype, and genomic alterations were analyzed in silico. The performance of the IMRGs-based signature in predicting temozolomide (TMZ) treatment sensitivity was evaluated. In vitro and in vivo experiments were used to explore the biological functions of these key IMRGs. RESULTS HMOX1, LTF, and STEAP3 were identified as the most essential IMRGs in gliomas. The expression levels of these genes were strongly related to clinicopathological and molecular features. The robust IMRG-based gene signature could be used for prognosis prediction. These genes facilitate mesenchymal transformation, driver gene mutations, and oncogenic alterations in gliomas. The gene signature was also associated with TMZ resistance. HMOX1, LTF, and STEAP3 knockdown in glioma cells significantly reduced cell proliferation, colony formation, migration, and malignant invasion. CONCLUSION The study presented a comprehensive view of key regulators underpinning iron metabolism in gliomas and provided new insights into novel therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiayue Zhang
- Department of NeurosurgeryThe First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Liang Zhao
- Department of NeurosurgeryThe Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Shurui Xuan
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care MedicineThe First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Zhiyuan Liu
- Department of NeurosurgeryThe First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Zhenkun Weng
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, School of Public HealthNanjing Medical UniversityNanjingChina
- Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of EducationCenter for Global Health, Nanjing Medical UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Yu Wang
- Department of NeurosurgeryThe First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Kexiang Dai
- Department of NeurosurgeryThe First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Aihua Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, School of Public HealthNanjing Medical UniversityNanjingChina
- Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of EducationCenter for Global Health, Nanjing Medical UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Peng Zhao
- Department of NeurosurgeryThe First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical UniversityNanjingChina
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Fang ZX, Chen WJ, Wu Z, Hou YY, Lan YZ, Wu HT, Liu J. Inflammatory response in gastrointestinal cancers: Overview of six transmembrane epithelial antigens of the prostate in pathophysiology and clinical implications. World J Clin Oncol 2024; 15:9-22. [PMID: 38292664 PMCID: PMC10823946 DOI: 10.5306/wjco.v15.i1.9] [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: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Chronic inflammation is known to increase the risk of gastrointestinal cancers (GICs), the common solid tumors worldwide. Precancerous lesions, such as chronic atrophic inflammation and ulcers, are related to inflammatory responses in vivo and likely to occur in hyperplasia and tumorigenesis. Unfortunately, due to the lack of effective therapeutic targets, the prognosis of patients with GICs is still unsatisfactory. Interestingly, it is found that six transmembrane epithelial antigens of the prostate (STEAPs), a group of metal reductases, are significantly associated with the progression of malignancies, playing a crucial role in systemic metabolic homeostasis and inflammatory responses. The structure and functions of STEAPs suggest that they are closely related to intracellular oxidative stress, responding to inflammatory reactions. Under the imbalance status of abnormal oxidative stress, STEAP members are involved in cell transformation and the development of GICs by inhibiting or activating inflammatory process. This review focuses on STEAPs in GICs along with exploring their potential molecular regulatory mechanisms, with an aim to provide a theoretical basis for diagnosis and treatment strategies for patients suffering from these types of cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ze-Xuan Fang
- The Breast Center, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Wen-Jia Chen
- The Breast Center, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Zheng Wu
- The Breast Center, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Yan-Yu Hou
- The Breast Center, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Yang-Zheng Lan
- The Breast Center, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Hua-Tao Wu
- Department of General Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Jing Liu
- The Breast Center, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, Guangdong Province, China
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Shi H, Lei S, Xiong L, Du S, Shi Y. Molecular characterization of STEAP3 in lung squamous cell carcinoma: Regulating EGFR to affect cell proliferation and ferroptosis. Arch Biochem Biophys 2024; 751:109842. [PMID: 38040224 DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2023.109842] [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: 07/20/2023] [Revised: 11/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023]
Abstract
Six-transmembrane epithelial antigen of the prostate 3 (STEAP3) has been reported to play a regulatory role in various types of cancers. However, its involvement in lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) remains understudied. Here, we aimed to explore the biological functions and underlying mechanisms of STEAP3 in LUSC. Intersection genes associated with LUSC and ferroptosis were analyzed using the Venn method, STRING, GEPIA and UALCAN databases. The expression of STEAP3 was detected by qPCR and western blotting assay. Cell proliferation and viability were determined using the cell counting kit-8 assay and EDU staining. Oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation were measured by corresponding kits and DCFH-DA staining. Ferroptosis was evaluated by Phen Green SK and Western blot assay. The correlation between STEAP3 and EGFR was predicted by the TIMER and starBase database. Co-immunoprecipitation was conducted to verify the binding of STEAP3 and EGFR. The data demonstrated a significant upregulation of STEAP3 expression in LUSC cell lines. Silencing of STEAP3 suppressed H2170 cell viability and proliferation while promoting oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation through increased levels of MDA and ROS, as well as inhibited SOD activity. In addition, knockdown of STEAP3 induced ferroptosis through the regulation of ferroptosis-related proteins. Moreover, the binding between STEAP3 and EGFR was predicted and confirmed in LUSC. EGFR overexpression reversed the effects of STEAP3 silencing on H2170 cell viability, proliferation, oxidative stress, and ferroptosis. To summarize, the inhibition of STEAP3/EGFR may serve as a promising therapeutic target for LUSC treatment, as it can suppress LUSC proliferation and promote lipid peroxidation and ferroptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanqiang Shi
- Central Laboratory of Molecular Medicine Research Center, Jiaxing Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital Affiliated to Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Jiaxing, 314000, China; Jiaxing Key Laboratory of Diabetic Angiopathy Research, Jiaxing, 314000, China
| | - Siyu Lei
- Department of Urology, The First Hospital of Jiaxing Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, 314000, China
| | - Lie Xiong
- Central Laboratory of Molecular Medicine Research Center, Jiaxing Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital Affiliated to Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Jiaxing, 314000, China; Jiaxing Key Laboratory of Diabetic Angiopathy Research, Jiaxing, 314000, China
| | - Shuqin Du
- Central Laboratory of Molecular Medicine Research Center, Jiaxing Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital Affiliated to Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Jiaxing, 314000, China; Jiaxing Key Laboratory of Diabetic Angiopathy Research, Jiaxing, 314000, China
| | - Yanbo Shi
- Central Laboratory of Molecular Medicine Research Center, Jiaxing Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital Affiliated to Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Jiaxing, 314000, China; Jiaxing Key Laboratory of Diabetic Angiopathy Research, Jiaxing, 314000, China.
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Liu T, Xiang W, Chen Z, Wang G, Cao R, Zhou F, Meng Z, Luo Y, Chen L. Hypoxia-induced PLOD2 promotes clear cell renal cell carcinoma progression via modulating EGFR-dependent AKT pathway activation. Cell Death Dis 2023; 14:774. [PMID: 38008826 PMCID: PMC10679098 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-023-06298-7] [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: 05/22/2023] [Revised: 11/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/28/2023]
Abstract
Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is a type of kidney cancer that is both common and aggressive, with a rising incidence in recent decades. Hypoxia is a key factor that plays a vital role in the tumorigenesis and metastasis of malignancy. However, the precise mechanisms of hypoxia driving ccRCC progression were not totally uncovered. Our study found that hypoxia level was elevated in ccRCC and might be an independent risk factor of prognosis in ccRCC patients. We identified a key protein PLOD2 was induced under hypoxic conditions and strongly associated with poor prognosis in ccRCC patients. When PLOD2 was depleted, the proliferation and migration of ccRCC cells were reduced in vitro and in vivo, while overexpression of PLOD2 had the opposite effect. Mechanically, the study further revealed that PLOD2 was transcriptionally activated by HIF1A, which binds to a specific promoter region of the PLOD2 gene. PLOD2 was also shown to interact with EGFR, leading to the phosphorylation of the receptor. Furthermore, PLOD2 was responsible for binding to the extracellular domain of EGFR, which ultimately activated the AKT signaling pathway, thus promoting the malignant progression of ccRCC. Treatment with the PLOD2 inhibitor Minoxidil significantly suppressed ccRCC progression by inactivating the EGFR/AKT signaling axis. In summary, the findings of this study shed light on the molecular mechanisms behind PLOD2 expression in ccRCC and suggest that it may serve as a potential predictor and therapeutic target for the clinical prognosis and treatment of ccRCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Liu
- Department of Urology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Wan Xiang
- Department of Biological Repositories, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Tumor Precision Diagnosis and Treatment Technology and Translational Medicine, Hubei Engineering Research Center, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhizhuang Chen
- Department of Urology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Gang Wang
- Department of Biological Repositories, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Rui Cao
- Department of Urology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Fenfang Zhou
- Department of Urology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Department of Biological Repositories, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhe Meng
- Department of Urology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
| | - Yongwen Luo
- Department of Urology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
- Department of Biological Repositories, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
- Human Genetics Resource Preservation Center of Hubei Province, Wuhan, China.
- Laboratory of Precision Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
| | - Liang Chen
- Department of Urology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
- Department of Biological Repositories, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
- Human Genetics Resource Preservation Center of Hubei Province, Wuhan, China.
- Laboratory of Precision Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
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Zhang Z, Xie W, Gong B, Liang X, Yu H, Yu Y, Dong Z, Shao F. ARAP1 negatively regulates stress fibers formation and metastasis in lung adenocarcinoma via controlling Rho signaling. Discov Oncol 2023; 14:214. [PMID: 38008882 PMCID: PMC10678915 DOI: 10.1007/s12672-023-00832-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Small GTPases regulate multiple important cellular behaviors and their activities are strictly controlled by a mass of regulators. The dysfunction or abnormal expression of small GTPases or their regulators was frequently observed in various cancers. Here, we analyzed the expression and prognostic correlation of several GTPases and related regulators based on the TCGA database and found that Ankyrin Repeat and PH Domain 1 (ARAP1), a GTPase activating protein (GAP), is reduced in lung adenocarcinoma tissues compared to normal tissues and displays a positive correlation with overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) of patients with lung adenocarcinoma. qPCR and western blot verified that ARAP1 is frequently downregulated in lung adenocarcinoma tumor tissues and cancer cells, and its downregulation might be mediated by epigenetic modification. Moreover, metastatic assays showed that overexpression of ARAP1 significantly inhibits metastasis of lung adenocarcinoma in vitro and in vivo. We further demonstrated that Rho signaling inhibition, mediated by RhoGAP activity of ARAP1, majorly contributes to suppressing migration and invasion of lung adenocarcinoma cancer cells via inhibiting stress fibers formation. In summary, this study indicates that ARAP1 may serve as a potential prognostic predictor and a metastatic suppressor in lung adenocarcinoma via its RhoGAP activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengzheng Zhang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
- Department of Intensive Care Unit, the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, 2 Fuxue Lane, Wenzhou, 325000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Wenran Xie
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Science, Wenzhou Medical University, University Town, Chashan, 325000, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Bojiang Gong
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Science, Wenzhou Medical University, University Town, Chashan, 325000, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Xue Liang
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Science, Wenzhou Medical University, University Town, Chashan, 325000, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Hongjia Yu
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Science, Wenzhou Medical University, University Town, Chashan, 325000, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Yanwen Yu
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Science, Wenzhou Medical University, University Town, Chashan, 325000, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhixiong Dong
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Science, Wenzhou Medical University, University Town, Chashan, 325000, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China.
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Key Laboratory of Clinical Laboratory Diagnosis and Translational Research of Zhejiang Province, the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China.
| | - Fanggui Shao
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China.
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Key Laboratory of Clinical Laboratory Diagnosis and Translational Research of Zhejiang Province, the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China.
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Chen X, Hu S, Han Y, Cai Y, Lu T, Hu X, Chu Y, Zhou X, Wang X. Ferroptosis-related STEAP3 acts as predictor and regulator in diffuse large B cell lymphoma through immune infiltration. Clin Exp Med 2023; 23:2601-2617. [PMID: 36682001 DOI: 10.1007/s10238-023-00996-4] [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: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is a usual-seen hematological malignant tumor possessing molecular and genetic heterogeneity. Ferroptosis induction has been increasingly acknowledged to be an advantageous therapeutic method in tumor treatment by triggering cell death of tumor cells. However, studies on the function of ferroptosis in DLBCL remain scarce, especially the interaction with the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME). The clinical and biological functions of ferroptosis-related genes in DLBCL were still warranted to be explored. A ferroptosis-related risk model was constructed, followed by functional enrichment analyses and evaluation of immune profile. Quantitative real-time PCR, western blotting, and immunohistochemistry were conducted to examine the RNA and protein levels. Dysregulated expression of the major ferroptosis-related genes was found in DLBCL. A prognostic risk model based on 10 ferroptosis-related genes was constructed. The risk score served as an independent prognostic indicator for DLBCL patients in univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis. Patients with low-risk scores presented a more favorable prognosis. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that immune-related pathways were significantly enriched, and the high-risk group exhibited less immunocyte infiltration, lower immunoscore, and downregulated PD-L1 expression relative to the low-risk group. Two molecular subtypes were determined through consensus clustering of the expression of ferroptosis-related genes. Cluster 1 was relevant to favorable prognosis, higher immunoscore, and elevated PD-L1 expression. More importantly, STEAP3 was screened as a reliable biomarker for DLBCL, and its enhanced expression levels of mRNA and protein were verified in public databases and clinical specimens. Our study demonstrated the crucial role of ferroptosis-related genes including STEAP3 in the TIME of DLBCL and identified promising novel molecular targets for DLBCL treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaomin Chen
- Department of Hematology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, China
| | - Shunfeng Hu
- Department of Hematology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, China
| | - Yang Han
- Department of Hematology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, China
| | - Yiqing Cai
- Department of Hematology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, China
| | - Tiange Lu
- Department of Hematology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, China
| | - Xinting Hu
- Department of Hematology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, China
| | - Yurou Chu
- Department of Hematology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, China
| | - Xiangxiang Zhou
- Department of Hematology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, No. 324, Jingwu Road, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, China.
- Shandong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Lymphoma, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, China.
- Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Diseases, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, China.
- National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 251006, China.
| | - Xin Wang
- Department of Hematology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, China.
- Department of Hematology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, No. 324, Jingwu Road, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, China.
- Shandong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Lymphoma, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, China.
- Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Diseases, Jinan, 250021, Shandong, China.
- National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 251006, China.
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Tan J, Feng R. A pan-cancer analysis of STAT3 expression and genetic alterations in human tumors. Open Med (Wars) 2023; 18:20230792. [PMID: 37724127 PMCID: PMC10505358 DOI: 10.1515/med-2023-0792] [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] [Received: 09/04/2022] [Revised: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Combined cancer immunotherapy and targeted therapy have proven to be effective against various cancers and therefore have recently become the focus of cancer research. Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is a member of the STAT protein family of transcription factors. Several studies have shown that STAT3 can affect the prognosis of cancer patients by regulating immune microenvironment (IME). Therefore, STAT3 may have high research value for the development of combined immunotherapy/targeted therapy approaches for the treatment of cancer patients. We found differences in STAT3 expression between tumor and normal tissues. Kaplan-Meier survival and Cox regression analyses showed that high expression of STAT3 is associated with poor prognosis in low-grade glioma (LGG) patients. The results of the analysis of the area under the curve of the receiver operating characteristic curve further suggested that the expression of STAT3 is an effective way to evaluate the prognosis of patients with glioma. The results of the IME analysis revealed that the immune and matrix scores of LGGs were positively correlated with the expression of STAT3 (P < 0.05). The results of immune cell infiltration analysis showed that STAT3 was positively correlated with resting dendritic cells, eosinophils, neutrophils, M0 macrophages, M1 macrophages, CD4 memory resting T cells, and CD8 T cells in LGG patients, but negatively correlated with activated mast cells and M2 macrophages (P < 0.05). Our gene set enrichment analysis identified 384 enriched pathways. According to the enrichment scores, the top ten most significantly upregulated pathways were related to immune response. The top ten most significantly downregulated pathways were related to cell signal transduction and the regulation of cell survival, proliferation, and metabolism. Genetic alteration analysis showed that missense mutations in STAT3 account for the majority of mutations, and STAT3 mutations mostly occur in the Src homology domain. In conclusion overexpression of STAT3 can promote the development and growth of tumors by regulating IME, which is significantly related to the poor prognosis of cancer patients. Therefore, targeted inhibition of STAT3 expression may have high research value for the development of combined immunotherapy/targeted therapy approaches for the treatment of cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junyin Tan
- Department of Oncology, Guigang People’s Hospital of Guangxi/The Eighth Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Guigang, Guangxi, China
| | - Ronghao Feng
- Department of Oncology, Guigang People’s Hospital of Guangxi/The Eighth Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Guigang, Guangxi, China
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Wei H, Li Z, Zhao Y, Zhu S, Wen S, Quan C. Six-transmembrane epithelial antigen of prostate 3 (STEAP3) is a potential prognostic biomarker in clear cell renal cell carcinoma that correlates with M2 macrophage infiltration and epithelial-mesenchymal. Cancer Rep (Hoboken) 2023; 6:e1824. [PMID: 37344930 PMCID: PMC10432435 DOI: 10.1002/cnr2.1824] [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: 01/10/2023] [Revised: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The six-transmembrane epithelial antigen of the prostate 3 (STEAP3) is a metalloreductase, which is essential for iron uptake. Existing literature has shown that STEAP3 may perform an important role in the onset and progression of tumors. Nonetheless, a complete pan-cancer investigation of the prognostic significance and immune properties of STEAP3 is currently unavailable. AIMS As part of our investigation into the possible functions of STEAP3 in malignancies, we conducted a comprehensive analysis to examine the prognostic value and immune features of STEAP3 in human pan-cancer. METHODS AND RESULTS R and Cytoscape programs were applied to analyze and visualize the data. The expression of STEAP3 in both cell lines and tissues was measured utilizing a variety of approaches. Using the shRNA knockdown technique, we tested the viability of the A498 and 786-O cell lines and validated their functions. Both CCK-8 and transwell assays were conducted to estimate cell proliferation and invasion. The expression of STEAP3 was substantially elevated and was shown to be linked to prognosis in the majority of malignancies, notably in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). In addition, the expression of STEAP3 was shown to have a strong correlation with immune infiltrates, which in turn triggered the recruitment and polarization of M2 macrophages in ccRCC. The protein STEAP3 shows promise as a predictor of responses to immune-checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy. Positive links between STEAP3 and the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), the p53 pathway, and the immune-associated pathways were also found in the enrichment analysis. Our results illustrated that the STEAP3 expression level was substantially elevated in ccRCC tissues and suggested that it could stimulate EMT in ccRCC by downregulating CDH1. CONCLUSION In a diverse range of cancers, STEAP3 might serve as a biomarker for determining the prognosis as well as a predictor of immunotherapy responsiveness. STEAP3 is a novel biological marker for determining prognosis, and it also performs a remarkable function in the promotion of tumor growth in ccRCC by enhancing invasion and EMT, as well as by triggering the recruitment and polarization of M2 macrophages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haotian Wei
- Department of UrologySecord Affiliated Hospital of Tianjin Medical UniversityTianjinChina
| | - Zhaochen Li
- Department of UrologySecord Affiliated Hospital of Tianjin Medical UniversityTianjinChina
| | - Yang Zhao
- Department of RadiologySecord Affiliated Hospital of Tianjin Medical UniversityTianjinChina
| | - Shimiao Zhu
- Department of UrologySecord Affiliated Hospital of Tianjin Medical UniversityTianjinChina
| | - Simeng Wen
- Department of UrologySecord Affiliated Hospital of Tianjin Medical UniversityTianjinChina
| | - Changyi Quan
- Department of UrologySecord Affiliated Hospital of Tianjin Medical UniversityTianjinChina
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12
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Zhao Z, Sun C, Hou J, Yu P, Wei Y, Bai R, Yang P. Identification of STEAP3-based molecular subtype and risk model in ovarian cancer. J Ovarian Res 2023; 16:126. [PMID: 37386521 DOI: 10.1186/s13048-023-01218-x] [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: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ovarian cancer (OC) is one of the most common malignancies in women. It has a poor prognosis owing to its recurrence and metastasis. Unfortunately, reliable markers for early diagnosis and prognosis of OC are lacking. Our research aimed to investigate the value of the six-transmembrane epithelial antigen of prostate family member 3 (STEAP3) as a prognostic predictor and therapeutic target in OC using bioinformatics analysis. METHODS STEAP3 expression and clinical data were acquired from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx), and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). Unsupervised clustering was used to identify molecular subtypes. Prognosis, tumor immune microenvironment (TIME), stemness indexes, and functional enrichment analysis were compared between two definite clusters. Through the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analysis, a STEAP3-based risk model was developed, and the predictive effectiveness of this signature was confirmed using GEO datasets. A nomogram was used to predict the survival possibility of patients. Additionally, TIME, tumor immune dysfunction and exclusion (TIDE), stemness indexes, somatic mutations, and drug sensitivity were evaluated in different risk groups with OC. STEAP3 protein expression was detected using immunohistochemistry (IHC). RESULTS STEAP3 displayed marked overexpression in OC. STEAP3 is an independent risk factor for OC. Based on the mRNA levels of STEAP3-related genes (SRGs), two distinct clusters were identified. Patients in the cluster 2 (C2) subgroup had a considerably worse prognosis, higher immune cell infiltration, and lower stemness scores. Pathways involved in tumorigenesis and immunity were highly enriched in the C2 subgroup. A prognostic model based on 13 SRGs was further developed. Kaplan-Meier analysis indicated that the overall survival (OS) of high-risk patients was poor. The risk score was significantly associated with TIME, TIDE, stemness indexes, tumor mutation burden (TMB), immunotherapy response, and drug sensitivity. Finally, IHC revealed that STEAP3 protein expression was noticeably elevated in OC, and overexpression of STEAP3 predicted poor OS and relapse-free survival (RFS) of patients. CONCLUSION In summary, this study revealed that STEAP3 reliably predicts patient prognosis and provides novel ideas for OC immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zouyu Zhao
- First Affiliated Hospital, Shihezi University, Shihezi, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Central Asia High Incidence Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi, China
| | - Chongfeng Sun
- First Affiliated Hospital, Shihezi University, Shihezi, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Central Asia High Incidence Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi, China
| | - Jishuai Hou
- First Affiliated Hospital, Shihezi University, Shihezi, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Central Asia High Incidence Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi, China
| | - Panpan Yu
- First Affiliated Hospital, Shihezi University, Shihezi, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Central Asia High Incidence Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi, China
| | - Yan Wei
- First Affiliated Hospital, Shihezi University, Shihezi, China
| | - Rui Bai
- First Affiliated Hospital, Shihezi University, Shihezi, China
| | - Ping Yang
- First Affiliated Hospital, Shihezi University, Shihezi, China.
- NHC Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Central Asia High Incidence Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi, China.
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Yuan L, Liu J, Bao L, Qu H, Xiang J, Sun P. Upregulation of the ferroptosis-related STEAP3 gene is a specific predictor of poor triple-negative breast cancer patient outcomes. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1032364. [PMID: 37064114 PMCID: PMC10102497 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1032364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
ObjectiveThis study was designed to assess ferroptosis regulator gene (FRG) expression patterns in patients with TNBC based on data derived from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Further, it was utilized to establish a TNBC FRG signature, after which the association between this signature and the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) composition was assessed, and relevant prognostic factors were explored.MethodsThe TCGA database was used to obtain RNA expression datasets and clinical information about 190 TNBC patients, after which a prognostic TNBC-related FRG signature was established using a least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) Cox regression approach. These results were validated with separate data from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). The TNBC-specific prognostic gene was identified via this method. The STEAP3 was then validated through Western immunoblotting, immunohistochemical staining, and quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) analyses of clinical tissue samples and TNBC cell lines. Chemotherapy interactions and predicted drug sensitivity studies were investigated to learn more about the potential clinical relevance of these observations.ResultsThese data revealed that 87 FRGs were differentially expressed when comparing TNBC tumors and healthy tissue samples (87/259, 33.59%). Seven of these genes (CA9, CISD1, STEAP3, HMOX1, DUSP1, TAZ, HBA1) are significantly related to the overall survival of TNBC patients. Kaplan-Meier analyses and established FRG signatures and nomograms identified CISD1 and STEAP3 genes of prognostic relevance. Prognostic Risk Score values were positively correlated with the infiltration of CD4+ T cells (p = 0.001) and myeloid dendritic cells (p =0.004). Further evidence showed that STEAP3 was strongly and specifically associated with TNBC patient OS (P<0.05). The results above were confirmed by additional examinations of STEAP3 expression changes in TNBC patient samples and cell lines. High STEAP3 levels were negatively correlated with half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values for GSK1904529A (IGF1R inhibitor), AS601245 (JNK inhibitor), XMD8−85 (Erk5 inhibitor), Gefitinib, Sorafenib, and 5-Fluorouracil (P < 0.05) in patients with TNBC based on information derived from the TCGA-TNBC dataset.ConclusionIn the present study, a novel FRG model was developed and used to forecast the prognosis of TNBC patients accurately. Furthermore, it was discovered that STEAP3 was highly overexpressed in people with TNBC and associated with overall survival rates, laying the groundwork for the eventually targeted therapy of individuals with this form of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lifang Yuan
- Department of Oncology, Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital, Shandong University, Yantai, China
- Department of Breast Oncology, Huanxing Cancer Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Jiannan Liu
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital of Qingdao University, Yantai, China
| | - Lei Bao
- Department of Pathology, The Affiliated Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital of Qingdao University, Yantai, China
| | - Huajun Qu
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital of Qingdao University, Yantai, China
| | - Jinyu Xiang
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital of Qingdao University, Yantai, China
| | - Ping Sun
- Department of Oncology, Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital, Shandong University, Yantai, China
- *Correspondence: Ping Sun,
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Integrated analysis of ferroptosis-related gene signature for overall survival prediction in Asian patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Clin Transl Oncol 2023; 25:721-730. [PMID: 36319928 DOI: 10.1007/s12094-022-02977-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most prevalent types of cancers in Asia. Accumulating evidence suggests that ferroptosis is a non-apoptotic form of cell death, and has played an important role in cancer biology. METHODS Based on the manually curated ferroptosis-related gene set and TCGA-LIHC dataset of Asian patients, we used DESeq2, Kaplan-Meier analysis, and univariate Cox regression to identify differentially expressed ferroptosis-related genes with significantly prognostic capacity. A risk signature was constructed based on the selected genes for predicting the survival of HCC patients in Asia. The survival prediction accuracy was confirmed by the time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Gene set variation analysis (GSVA) was used to explore the functional associations of the signature. Ferroptosis potential index (FPI) and xCell algorithm was applied to quantify ferroptosis and immune cell infiltration, respectively. Two independent datasets from the GEO and the ICGC database were used for external validation. RESULTS The ferroptosis-related signature could accurately predict the survival outcomes of HCC patients in Asian (p value < 0.0001). We showed that the signature was an independent factor and was beneficial in elevating risk stratification of current clinicopathologic features, such as the amount of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and residual tumor classification. Functional characterization showed that critical processes in tumorigenesis belonged to the high-risk groups, for example inflammatory response, which may be the main driver of HCC. The high-risk group had higher FPIs and infiltrations of macrophages and T-helper cells than the low-risk group. Furthermore, two independent cohorts confirmed the prognostic value of our signature. CONCLUSION Overall, our results demonstrated potential application of ferroptosis-related genes as independent biomarkers in Asian HCC patients. Targeting ferroptosis may be clinically useful beyond known clinicopathological factors and provide benefit in immunotherapy.
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Zhang P, Chen L, Zhou F, He Z, Wang G, Luo Y. NRP1 promotes prostate cancer progression via modulating EGFR-dependent AKT pathway activation. Cell Death Dis 2023; 14:159. [PMID: 36841806 PMCID: PMC9958327 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-023-05696-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2022] [Revised: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/27/2023]
Abstract
Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most common malignant tumor with a high global incidence in males. The mechanism underlying PCa progression is still not clear. This study observed that NRP1 was highly expressed in PCa and associated with poor prognosis in PCa patients. Functionally, NRP1 depletion attenuated the proliferation and migration ability of PCa cells in vitro and in vivo, while NRP1 overexpression promoted PCa cell proliferation and migration. Moreover, it was observed that NRP1 depletion induced G1 phase arrest in PCa cells. Mechanistically, HIF1α is bound to the specific promoter region of NRP1, thereby regulating its transcriptional activation. Subsequently, NRP1 interacted with EGFR, leading to EGFR phosphorylation. This study also provided evidence that the b1/b2 domain of NRP1 was responsible for the interaction with the extracellular domain of EGFR. Moreover, EGFR mediated NRP1-induced activation of the AKT signaling pathway, which promoted the malignant progression of PCa. In addition, the administration of NRP1 inhibitor EG01377 significantly inactivated the EGFR/AKT signaling axis, thereby suppressing PCa progression. In conclusion, the findings from this study highlighted the molecular mechanism underlying NRP1 expression in PCa and provide a potential predictor and therapeutic target for clinical prognosis and treatment of PCa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Zhang
- grid.413247.70000 0004 1808 0969Department of Urology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China ,grid.413247.70000 0004 1808 0969Department of Biological Repositories, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Liang Chen
- grid.413247.70000 0004 1808 0969Department of Urology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China ,grid.413247.70000 0004 1808 0969Department of Biological Repositories, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Fenfang Zhou
- grid.413247.70000 0004 1808 0969Department of Urology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China ,grid.413247.70000 0004 1808 0969Department of Biological Repositories, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhiwen He
- grid.413247.70000 0004 1808 0969Department of Urology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China ,grid.413247.70000 0004 1808 0969Department of Biological Repositories, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Gang Wang
- Department of Biological Repositories, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China. .,Human Genetics Resource Preservation Center of Hubei Province, Wuhan, China. .,Laboratory of Precision Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
| | - Yongwen Luo
- Department of Urology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China. .,Department of Biological Repositories, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China. .,Human Genetics Resource Preservation Center of Hubei Province, Wuhan, China. .,Laboratory of Precision Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China. .,Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
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Cheng Z, Chen Y, Huang H. Identification and Validation of a Novel Prognostic Signature Based on Ferroptosis-Related Genes in Ovarian Cancer. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:vaccines11020205. [PMID: 36851083 PMCID: PMC9962729 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11020205] [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] [Received: 12/24/2022] [Revised: 01/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynecological tumor, with a poor prognosis due to the lack of early symptoms, resistance to chemotherapy, and recurrence. Ferroptosis belongs to the regulated cell death family, and is characterized by iron-dependent processes. Here, comprehensive bioinformatics analysis was applied to explore a valuable prognostic model based on ferroptosis-related genes, which was further validated in clinical OC samples. METHODS mRNA data of normal and ovarian tumor samples were obtained separately from the GTEx and TCGA databases. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) cox regression was applied to construct the prognostic model based on ferroptosis-associated genes. Expression of ALOX12 in OC cell lines, as well as cell functions, including proliferation and migration, were examined. Finally, the prognostic efficiency of the model was assessed in the clinical tissues of OC patients. RESULTS A gene signature consisting of ALOX12, RB1, DNAJB6, STEAP3, and SELENOS was constructed. The signature divided TCGA, ICGC, and GEO cohorts into high-risk and low-risk groups separately. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and independent prognostic factor analysis were carried out, and the prognostic efficacy was validated. The expression levels of ALOX12 in cell lines were examined. Inhibition of ALOX12 attenuated cell proliferation and migration in HEY cells. Moreover, the prognostic value of ALOX12 expression was examined in clinical samples of OC patients. CONCLUSION This work constructed a novel ferroptosis-associated gene model. Furthermore, the clinical predictive role of ALOX12 was identified in OC patients, suggesting that ALOX12 might act as a potential prognostic tool and therapeutic target for OC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhe Cheng
- Department of Oncology, NHC Key Laboratory of Cancer Proteomics, Laboratory of Structural Biology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China
| | - Yongheng Chen
- Department of Oncology, NHC Key Laboratory of Cancer Proteomics, Laboratory of Structural Biology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China
| | - Huichao Huang
- Department of Infectious Disease, NHC Key Laboratory of Cancer Proteomics, Laboratory of Structural Biology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China
- Correspondence:
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Zhu M, Li S, Cao X, Rashid K, Liu T. The STAT family: Key transcription factors mediating crosstalk between cancer stem cells and tumor immune microenvironment. Semin Cancer Biol 2023; 88:18-31. [PMID: 36410636 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2022.11.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2022] [Revised: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) proteins compose a family of transcription factors critical for cancer stem cells (CSCs), and they are involved in maintaining stemness properties, enhancing cell proliferation, and promoting metastasis. Recent studies suggest that STAT proteins engage in reciprocal communication between CSCs and infiltrate immune cell populations in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Emerging evidence has substantiated the influence of immune cells, including macrophages, myeloid-derived suppressor cells, and T cells, on CSC survival through the regulation of STAT signaling. Conversely, dysregulation of STATs in CSCs or immune cells contributes to the establishment of an immunosuppressive TME. Thus, STAT proteins are promising therapeutic targets for cancer treatment, especially when used in combination with immunotherapy. From this perspective, we discuss the complex roles of STATs in CSCs and highlight their functions in the crosstalk between CSCs and the immune microenvironment. Finally, cutting-edge clinical trial progress with STAT signaling inhibitors is summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengxuan Zhu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Center of Evidence-based Medicine, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Suyao Li
- Department of Medical Oncology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Center of Evidence-based Medicine, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xin Cao
- Institute of Clinical Science, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Khalid Rashid
- Department of Cancer Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, OH, USA.
| | - Tianshu Liu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Center of Evidence-based Medicine, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
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Song Z, Zhao Z, Zhu S, Jin Q, Shi Y, Zhang S, Wang Z, Wang Y, Zhao Z. STEAP3 is a prognostic biomarker that promotes glioma progression by regulating immune microenvironment and PI3K-AKT pathway. Cancer Biomark 2023; 38:505-522. [PMID: 37980651 DOI: 10.3233/cbm-230217] [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] [Indexed: 11/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND STEAP3 is a metal reductase located on the plasma membrane close to the nucleus and vesicles. Despite numerous studies indicating the involvement of STEAP3 in tumor advancement, the prognostic value of STEAP3 in glioma and the related mechanisms have not been fully investigated. METHODS Initially, we examined the correlation between STEAP3 expression and the survival rate in various glioma datasets. To assess the prognostic capability of STEAP3 for one-year, three-year, and five-year survival, we created receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and nomograms. Additionally, an investigation was carried out to examine the mechanisms that contribute to the involvement of STEAP3 in gliomas, including immune and enrichment analysis. To confirm the expression of STEAP3 in LGG and GBM, tumor tissue samples were gathered, and cell experiments were conducted to explore the impacts of STEAP3. The function of STEAP3 in the tumor immune microenvironment was assessed using the M2 macrophage infiltration assay. RESULTS We found that STEAP3 expressed differently in group with different age, tumor grade IDH and 1p19q status. The analysis of survival illustrated that glioma patients with high level of STEAP3 experienced shorter survival durations, especially for IDH-mutant astrocytoma. Cox analysis demonstrated that STEAP3 had potential to act as an independent prognostic factor for glioma. The predictive value of STEAP3 for glioma prognosis was demonstrated by ROC curves and nomogram. Immune analysis showed that STEAP3 may lead to a suppressive immune microenvironment through the control of immunosuppressive cell infiltration and Cancer-Immunity Cycle. Combining enrichment analysis and cell experiments, we discovered that STEAP3 can promote glioma progression through regulation of PI3K-AKT pathway and M2 macrophage infiltration. CONCLUSION STEAP3 plays significant roles in the advancement of glioma by regulating immune microenvironment and PI3K-AKT pathway. It has the potential to serve as a therapy target for glioma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zihan Song
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Zijun Zhao
- Spine Center, Sanbo Brain Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Siyu Zhu
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Qianxu Jin
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Yunpeng Shi
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Shiyang Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Zairan Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Yizheng Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Zongmao Zhao
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
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Zhang D, Liu H, Wang W, Xu G, Yin C, Wang S. STEAP2 promotes osteosarcoma progression by inducing epithelial-mesenchymal transition via the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway and is regulated by EFEMP2. Cancer Biol Ther 2022; 23:1-16. [PMID: 36316642 PMCID: PMC9629848 DOI: 10.1080/15384047.2022.2136465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
This study was designed to explore the prognostic significance and functionality of STEAP2 (six-transmembrane epithelial antigen of prostate 2) in osteosarcomas and determine whether EFEMP2 (Epidermal growth factor-containing fibulin-like extracellular matrix protein 2) targets STEAP2 to facilitate osteosarcoma cell infiltration and migration. STEAP2 expression in peritumoral tissues, osteosarcoma, benign fibrous dysplasia, osteosarcoma cells, normal osteoblastic hFOB cells, and various invasive subclones was evaluated using IHC, ICC, and qRT-PCR. We also evaluated the association between STEAP2 expression and disease outcome using Kaplan-Meier analyses and then investigated STEAP2 regulation and its functional effects using both in vitro and in vivo assays. The results revealed that the upregulation of STEAP2 in osteosarcoma tissues positively correlated with both the malignant osteosarcoma phenotype and poor patient outcomes. In addition, STEAP2 expression induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) via the PI3K/AKT/mTOR axis and facilitated osteosarcoma cell infiltration and migration. Changes in EFEMP2 expression resulted in correlating changes in STEAP2 expression, with EFEMP2-overexpressing osteosarcoma cells exhibiting a less invasive phenotype and reduced EMT following STEAP2 inhibition. It is also worth noting that although EFEMP2 overexpression activated the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway promoting EMT, it did not affect osteosarcoma cells in which STEAP2 or Akt was knocked down. Thus, we can conclude that STEAP2 acts as an oncogene in osteosarcoma progression, while EFEMP2 enables PI3K/AKT/mTOR axis initiation and EMT by partly targeting STEAP2, thereby facilitating osteosarcoma cell infiltration and migration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong Zhang
- Department of Orthopedics, Suzhou Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Suzhou, P.R. China
| | - Haitao Liu
- Department of Orthopedics, Xiangcheng No. 2 People’s Hospital, Suzhou, P.R. China
| | - Weihua Wang
- Department of Orthopedics, Xiangcheng No. 2 People’s Hospital, Suzhou, P.R. China
| | - Gang Xu
- Department of Orthopedics, Xiangcheng No. 2 People’s Hospital, Suzhou, P.R. China
| | - Chenxiao Yin
- Department of Orthopedics, Xiangcheng No. 2 People’s Hospital, Suzhou, P.R. China
| | - Songgang Wang
- Department of Orthopedics, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China,CONTACT Songgang Wang Department of Orthopedics, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 44 Wenhua Xilu, Jinan, Shandong250012, China
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STEAP3 can predict the prognosis and shape the tumor microenvironment of clear cell renal cell carcinoma. BMC Cancer 2022; 22:1204. [PMID: 36424540 PMCID: PMC9686107 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-022-10313-z] [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] [Received: 09/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is a common malignant tumor of the urinary system characterized by poor prognosis and difficult treatment. It has been reported that iron metabolism dysregulation is a common phenomenon in ccRCC and is closely related to the process of ccRCC. But still now, the exact function and underlying mechanisms of iron metabolism dysregulation in ccRCC have not been fully elucidated. In this study, we comprehensively investigated the prognostic value and potential role of STEAP3 (an iron metabolism-related gene) in ccRCC. STEAP3 is significantly up-regulated in ccRCC. High STEAP3 expression is associated with gender, hemoglobin level, pathological grade, tumor stage and significantly predicts an unfavorable prognosis of ccRCC patients. Functional enrichment analysis and evaluation of the tumor microenvironment indicated that STEAP3 was involved in the remodeling of tumor extracellular matrix and the shaping of an immune-suppressive tumor microenvironment to promote tumor metastasis and evade immune killing. Besides, the expression of STEAP3 is also associated with the expression of various immune checkpoint molecules and the IC50 of targeted drugs. Finally, we verified STEAP3 by RT-qPCR and IHC staining. In conclusion, we found that STEAP3 can serve as a candidate prognostic biomarker for ccRCC, and targeting STEAP3 and its biological processes may provide new references for the individualized treatment of ccRCC.
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Zhou L, Jiang J, Huang Z, Jin P, Peng L, Luo M, Zhang Z, Chen Y, Xie N, Gao W, Nice EC, Li JQ, Chen HN, Huang C. Hypoxia-induced lncRNA STEAP3-AS1 activates Wnt/β-catenin signaling to promote colorectal cancer progression by preventing m6A-mediated degradation of STEAP3 mRNA. Mol Cancer 2022; 21:168. [PMID: 35986274 PMCID: PMC9392287 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-022-01638-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Hypoxia, a typical hallmark of solid tumors, exhibits an essential role in the progression of colorectal cancer (CRC), in which the dysregulation of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) is frequently observed. However, the underlying mechanisms are not clearly defined. Methods The TCGA database was analyzed to identify differential lncRNA expression involved in hypoxia-induced CRC progression. qRT-PCR was conducted to validate the upregulation of lncRNA STEAP3-AS1 in CRC cell lines and tumor-bearing mouse and zebrafish models under hypoxia. ChIP-qRT-PCR was used to detect the transcriptional activation of STEAP3-AS1 mediated by HIF-1α. RNA-seq, fluorescent in situ hybridization, RNA pulldown, RNA immunoprecipitation, co-immunoprecipitation, immunofluorescence and immunoblot experiments were used to ascertain the involved mechanisms. Functional assays were performed in both in vitro and in vivo models to investigate the regulatory role of STEAP3-AS1/STEAP3/Wnt/β-catenin axis in CRC proliferation and metastasis. Results Here, we identified a hypoxia-induced antisense lncRNA STEAP3-AS1 that was highly expressed in clinical CRC tissues and positively correlated with poor prognosis of CRC patients. Upregulation of lncRNA STEAP3-AS1, which was induced by HIF-1α-mediated transcriptional activation, facilitated the proliferation and metastasis of CRC cells both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, STEAP3-AS1 interacted competitively with the YTH domain-containing family protein 2 (YTHDF2), a N6-methyladenosine (m6A) reader, leading to the disassociation of YTHDF2 with STEAP3 mRNA. This effect protected STEAP3 mRNA from m6A-mediated degradation, enabling the high expression of STEAP3 protein and subsequent production of cellular ferrous iron (Fe2+). Increased Fe2+ levels elevated Ser 9 phosphorylation of glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK3β) and inhibited its kinase activity, thus releasing β-catenin for nuclear translocation and subsequent activation of Wnt signaling to support CRC progression. Conclusions Taken together, our study highlights the mechanisms of lncRNA STEAP3-AS1 in facilitating CRC progression involving the STEAP3-AS1/STEAP3/Wnt/β-catenin axis, which may provide novel diagnostic biomarkers or therapeutic targets to benefit CRC treatment. Graphical abstract Hypoxia-induced HIF-1α transcriptionally upregulates the expression of lncRNA STEAP3-AS1, which interacts competitively with YTHDF2, thus upregulating mRNA stability of STEAP3 and consequent STEAP3 protein expression. The enhanced STEAP3 expression results in production of cellular ferrous iron (Fe2+), which induces the Ser 9 phosphorylation and inactivation of GSK3β, releasing β-catenin for nuclear translocation and contributing to subsequent activation of Wnt signaling to promote CRC progression.![]() Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12943-022-01638-1.
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Zhang Y, Zhang H, Han Z, Wang X, Li X, Yuan P, Ji S, Liu Q. A‑kinase interacting protein 1 regulates the cell proliferation, invasion, migration and angiogenesis of clear cell renal cell carcinoma cells and affects the ERK/c‑Myc signaling pathway by binding to Rac1. Exp Ther Med 2022; 24:558. [PMID: 35978938 PMCID: PMC9366277 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2022.11489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
A-kinase interacting protein 1 (AKIP1) has previously been demonstrated to be overexpressed in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) tissues and is associated with patient prognosis. The aim of the present study was to explore whether AKIP1 can affect the proliferation, invasion, migration and angiogenesis of ccRCC cells via its interaction with Rac1. Furthermore, the influence of AKIP1 and therefore Rac1 on the expression of the downstream ERK/cellular (c)-Myc signaling pathway was explored. The interaction between AKIP1 and Rac1 was determined using co-immunoprecipitation. The mRNA and protein expression levels of AKIP1 and Rac1 in normal renal epithelial cell lines and ccRCC cell lines were detected using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and western blotting, respectively. The transfection efficiency of small interfering RNA-AKIP1 and the Rac1 overexpression vector were also confirmed using RT-qPCR and western blotting. The viability, proliferation, invasion and migration of ccRCC cells following transfection were analyzed using the Cell Counting Kit-8, 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine staining, Transwell and wound healing assays, respectively. The tube formation ability of HUVECs was assessed using the tube formation assay. The protein expression levels of proliferation, invasion, migration and tube-formation-associated proteins as well as proteins associated with the ERK/c-Myc signaling pathway, were detected via western blotting. The results demonstrated that AKIP1 expression levels were increased in ccRCC cell lines. AKIP1 knockdown inhibited the proliferation, invasion and migration of ccRCC cells and HUVEC tube-formation. In addition, AKIP1 was demonstrated to bind to Rac1 in ccRCC cells and AKIP1 downregulation inhibited Rac1 expression. Furthermore, Rac1 overexpression reversed the effects of AKIP1 knockdown on ccRCC cells. AKIP1 knockdown also suppressed the ERK/c-Myc signaling pathway, which was reversed by Rac1 overexpression. In conclusion, AKIP1 knockdown potentially suppressed the proliferation, invasion, migration and angiogenesis of ccRCC cells and inhibited the ERK/c-Myc signaling pathway by binding to Rac1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Zhang
- Department of Urology, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100015, P.R. China
| | - Haijian Zhang
- Department of Urology, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100015, P.R. China
| | - Zhixing Han
- Department of Urology, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100015, P.R. China
| | - Xudong Wang
- Department of Urology, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100015, P.R. China
| | - Xuyu Li
- Department of Urology, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100015, P.R. China
| | - Pengfei Yuan
- Department of Urology, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100015, P.R. China
| | - Shiqi Ji
- Department of Urology, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100015, P.R. China
| | - Qingjun Liu
- Department of Urology, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100015, P.R. China
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Comprehensive Landscape of STEAP Family Members Expression in Human Cancers: Unraveling the Potential Usefulness in Clinical Practice Using Integrated Bioinformatics Analysis. DATA 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/data7050064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The human Six-Transmembrane Epithelial Antigen of the Prostate (STEAP) family comprises STEAP1-4. Several studies have pointed out STEAP proteins as putative biomarkers, as well as therapeutic targets in several types of human cancers, particularly in prostate cancer. However, the relationships and significance of the expression pattern of STEAP1-4 in cancer cases are barely known. Herein, the Oncomine database and cBioPortal platform were selected to predict the differential expression levels of STEAP members and clinical prognosis. The most common expression pattern observed was the combination of the over- and underexpression of distinct STEAP genes, but cervical and gastric cancer and lymphoma showed overexpression of all STEAP genes. It was also found that STEAP genes’ expression levels were already deregulated in benign lesions. Regarding the prognostic value, it was found that STEAP1 (prostate), STEAP2 (brain and central nervous system), STEAP3 (kidney, leukemia and testicular) and STEAP4 (bladder, cervical, gastric) overexpression correlate with lower patient survival rate. However, in prostate cancer, overexpression of the STEAP4 gene was correlated with a higher survival rate. Overall, this study first showed that the expression levels of STEAP genes are highly variable in human cancers, which may be related to different patients’ outcomes.
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Sauzeau V, Beignet J, Vergoten G, Bailly C. Overexpressed or hyperactivated Rac1 as a target to treat hepatocellular carcinoma. Pharmacol Res 2022; 179:106220. [PMID: 35405309 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2022.106220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Revised: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Despite novel targeted and immunotherapies, the prognosis remains bleak for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), especially for advanced and/or metastatic forms. The rapid emergence of drug resistance is a major obstacle in the success of chemo-, targeted-, immuno-therapies of HCC. Novel targets are needed. The prominent roles of the small GTPase Rac1 in the development and progression of HCC are discussed here, together with its multiple protein partners, and the targeting of Rac1 with RNA-based regulators and small molecules. We discuss the oncogenic functions of Rac1 in HCC, including the contribution of Rac1 mutants and isoform Rac1b. Rac1 is a ubiquitous target, but the protein is frequently overexpressed and hyperactivated in HCC. It contributes to the aggressivity of the disease, with key roles in cancer cell proliferation, tumor metastasis and resistance to treatment. Small molecule targeting Rac1, indirectly or directly, have shown anticancer effects in HCC experimental models. Rac1-binding agents such as EHT 1864 and analogues offer novel opportunities to combat HCC. We discuss the different modalities to repress Rac1 overactivation in HCC with small molecules and the combination with reference drugs to promote cancer cell death and to repress cell invasion. We highlight the necessity to combine Rac1-targeted approach with appropriate biomarkers to select Rac1 activated tumors. Our analysis underlines the prominent oncogenic functions of Rac1 in HCC and discuss the modalities to target this small GTPase. Rac1 shall be considered as a valid target to limit the acquired and intrinsic resistance of HCC tumors and their metastatic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Sauzeau
- Université de Nantes, CHU Nantes, CNRS, INSERM, Institut du Thorax, Nantes, France.
| | - Julien Beignet
- SATT Ouest Valorisation, 30 boulevard Vincent Gâche, CS 70211, 44202 Nantes Cedex, France
| | - Gérard Vergoten
- University of Lille, Inserm, INFINITE - U1286, Institut de Chimie Pharmaceutique Albert Lespagnol (ICPAL), Faculté de Pharmacie, 3 rue du Professeur Laguesse, BP-83, 59006, Lille, France
| | - Christian Bailly
- OncoWitan, Scientific Consulting Office, Lille, Wasquehal 59290, France.
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