Knockdown of SPRY4 and SPRY4-IT1 inhibits cell growth and phosphorylation of Akt in human testicular germ cell tumours

Role of SPRY4 in health and disease

SPRY4 is a protein encoding gene that belongs to the Spry family. It inhibits the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway and plays a role in various biological functions under normal and pathological conditions. The SPRY4 protein has a specific structure and interacts with other molecules to regulate cellular behavior. It serves as a negative feedback inhibitor of the receptor protein tyrosine kinases (RTK) signaling pathway and interferes with cell proliferation and migration. SPRY4 also influences inflammation, oxidative stress, and cell apoptosis. In different types of tumors, SPRY4 can act as a tumor suppressor or an oncogene. Its dysregulation is associated with the development and progression of various cancers, including colorectal cancer, glioblastoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, perihilar cholangiocarcinoma, gastric cancer, breast cancer, and lung cancer. SPRY4 is also involved in organ development and is associated with ischemic diseases. Further research is ongoing to understand the expression and function of SPRY4 in specific tumor microenvironments and its potential as a therapeutic target.

LncRNA SPRY4-IT1 regulates 16HBE cell malignant transformation induced by particulate matter through DUSP6-ERK1/2-Chk1 signaling pathway

Particulate matter (PM), one of the most serious air contaminants, could easily pass through the airway and deposit at the deep alveoli. Thus, it might trigger respiratory diseases like inflammation, asthma and lung cancer on human. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are considered as important regulator in promotion and progression of diverse cancers. However, the molecular mechanism of lncRNAs mediating PM-induced lung carcinogenesis remains unclear. In this study, we established a 16HBE malignant transformed cell induced by PM (Cells were treated with 20 μg/ml PM, which named PM-T cells) and explored the roles and mechanisms of lncRNAs in the malignant transformation induced by PM. Compared with 16HBE cells, various biological functions were changed in PM-T cells, such as cell proliferation, migration, cell cycle and apoptosis. LncRNA SPRY4-IT1 was significant down-regulated expression and associated with these biological effects. Our results showed that lncRNA SPRY4-IT1 overexpression reversed these functional changes mentioned above. The further studies indicated that lncRNA SPRY4-IT1 involved in PM-induced cell transformation by modulating Chk1 expression via negative regulation of DUSP6-ERK1/2. In conclusion, our studies suggested that lncRNA SPRY4-IT1 played the role as a tumor suppressor gene and might mediate 16HBE cells malignant transformation induced by PM through regulating DUSP6-ERK1/2-Chk1 signaling pathway.

A novel immune-related risk-scoring system associated with the prognosis and response of cervical cancer patients treated with radiation therapy

Objective: The tumor microenvironment plays a critical role in the radiotherapy and immunotherapy response of cervical squamous cell carcinoma and endocervical adenocarcinoma (CESC). Radioresistance is a key factor in treatment failure among patients who receive radical radiotherapy. Thus, new immune-related biomarkers associated with radiotherapy response in CESC are needed. Methods: In this study, the CIBERSORT and ESTIMATE methods were applied to determine the percentage of tumor-infiltrating cells and the number of immune components in 103 CESCs treated with radiotherapy from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. The main dysregulated genes were subjected to multivariate and univariate analyses. The prognostic value of this system was studied via receiver operating characteristic curve and survival analysis. For further confirmation, the biomarkers' expression levels and predictive value were validated by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and qRT-PCR. The CIBERSORT algorithm was used to calculate the compositional patterns of 22 types of immune cells in cervical cancer patients treated with radiation therapy. Results: Data for 17 radioresistant and 86 radiosensitive tumors were obtained from the The Cancer Genome Atlas database. 53 immune-related DEGs were identified. GO and KEGG analyses revealed that the DEGs were enriched in protein kinase B signaling, growth factors in cytokines, the MAPK pathway and the PI3K-Akt pathway. Then, 14 key immune-related genes built a risk scoring model were deemed prognostic in CESC with radiotherapy. The area under the curve (AUC) of the model was 0.723, and the high-risk group presented worse outcomes than the low-risk group. In addition, the high-risk group tended to have persistent tumors (p = 0.001). The high expression of WT1 and SPOUYT4 were associated with relapse, the high expression of Angiotensinogen and MIEN1 were associated with nonrelapse. Analysis of the immune microenvironment indicated that M0 macrophages, M2 macrophages, activated mast cells and resting memory CD4+ T cells were positively correlated with the risk score (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The novel immune-related risk scoring system has some advantages in predicting the prognosis and treatment response of cervical cancer patients treated with radiotherapy. Moreover, it might provide novel clues for providing targeted immune therapy to these patients.

CSNK1G2-AS1 promotes metastasis, colony formation and serves as a biomarker in testicular germ cell tumor cells

Background/Aim: Some long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been found to significantly participate in the progression of TGCTs. In comparison to the normal testis, the TGCT tissues showed significantly decreased CSNK1G2-AS1 expression, however, its effect on TGCTs and its mechanism are still unclear. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of CSNK1G2-AS1 on TGCTs and explore the mechanism underlying its effect on TGCTs. Materials and Methods: In this study, to evaluate the expression of CSNK1G2-AS1 in tissue samples from TGCTs, the UCSC and GEPIA databases were applied and qRT-PCR was conducted. The Kaplan-Meier Plotter was applied to analyze the correlation between CSNK1G2-AS1 methylation levels and the prognosis of TGCTs patients. The assays of MTS, clone formation, transwell, and flow cytometry were performed to investigate the effect of CSNK1G2-AS1 overexpression on the proliferation, metastasis, and apoptosis of TGCT cells, respectively. Finally, western blotting was conducted to determine the expressions of the proteins associated with EMT and AKT. Results: Our study first found that, compared to the normal testis, TGCTs tissue showed significantly decreased CSNK1G2-AS1 expression, and hypomethylation of CSNK1G2-AS1 was significantly correlated with a better prognosis with TGCTs patients. In vitro, we found that overexpression of CSNK1G2-AS1 dramatically promoted the clone formation, invasion, and migration of TGCT cells, but inhibited apoptosis. And CSNK1G2-AS1 overexpression significantly decreased the expression of EMT-associated proteins ZO-1 but increased the expression and phosphorylation of AKT. Conclusions: CSNK1G2-AS1 may play an essential role in the pathogenesis and metastasis of TGCTs through the EMT- and AKT-mediated signal pathways.

Silencing of LINC00467 inhibits cell proliferation in testicular germ cell tumors cells

A significant decrease in LINC00467 expression in testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs) was found in our previous study in comparison to adjacent tissue. Interestingly, the expression of LINC00467 correlated with the pathological grade of the tumor in TGCT patients. The higher the expression of LINC00467 was, the worse the prognosis of the patients with TGCT was. Despite these findings, the exact role of LINC00467 in the development of TGCTs requires further investigation. LINC00467 expression was downregulated in the NCCIT and TCam-2 cell lines via small interfering RNA (siRNA) silencing. The levels of gene expression were validated using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analyses. Cell proliferation was evaluated by the MTT and Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK8) assays, whereas flow cytometry was used to assess the effects on the cell cycle. Western blotting analysis was used to detect expression levels of protein. Additionally, RNA-sequencing and bioinformatics methods were used to investigate the mechanism of action of LINC00467 in TGCTs. The suppression of LINC00467 expression resulted in decreased cell proliferation and induced S-phase arrest. Furthermore, the suppression of LINC00467 downregulated proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), a protein related to cell cycle regulation, while it upregulated p21 expression. In other studies involving dihydrotestosterone (DHT) stimulation, it was observed that DHT could upregulate LINC00467 expression. In addition, silencing of the LINC00467 reversed the effect of testosterone on cell proliferation. The Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) revealed that LINC00467 regulated the p53 pathway by modulating the expression of CCNG1. Our study found that LINC00467 regulates cell proliferation by inducing S-phase arrest through the cell cycle-related proteins PCNA and p21. These findings contribute to our understanding of non-coding RNAs mechanisms involved in the development of TGCTs.

SPRY4 as a Potential Mediator of the Anti-Tumoral Role of Macrophages in Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer Cells

Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is the most lethal subtype of thyroid cancer, with high invasive and metastatic potential, not responding to conventional treatments. Its aggressiveness may be influenced by macrophages, which are abundant cells in the tumor microenvironment. To investigate the role of macrophages in ATC aggressiveness, indirect co-cultures were established between ATC cell lines and THP-1-derived macrophages. Macrophages significantly increased both the migration and invasion of T235 cells (p < 0.01; p < 0.01), contrasting with a decrease in C3948 (p < 0.001; p < 0.05), with mild effects in T238 migration (p < 0.01) and C643 invasion (p < 0.05). Flow cytometry showed upregulation of CD80 (pro-inflammatory, anti-tumoral) and downregulation of CD163 (anti-inflammatory, pro-tumoral) in macrophages from co-culture with T235 (p < 0.05) and C3948 (p < 0.05), respectively. Accordingly, we found an upregulation of secreted pro-inflammatory mediators (e.g., GM-CSF, IL-1α; p < 0.05) in C3948-macrophage co-cultures. Proteomic analysis showed the upregulation of SPRY4, an inhibitor of the MAPK pathway, in C3948 cells from co-culture. SPRY4 silencing promoted cancer cell invasion, reverting the reduced invasion of C3948 caused by macrophages. Our findings support that macrophages play a role in ATC cell aggressiveness. SPRY4 is a possible modulator of macrophage-ATC cell communication, with a tumor suppressor role relevant for therapeutic purposes.

Epigenetic Factors and ncRNAs in Testicular Cancer

Testicular cancer is the most prevalent tumor among males aged 15 to 35, resulting in a significant number of newly diagnosed cases and fatalities annually. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) have emerged as key regulators in various cellular processes and pathologies, including testicular cancer. Their involvement in gene regulation, coding, decoding, and overall gene expression control suggests their potential as targets for alternative treatment approaches for this type of cancer. Furthermore, epigenetic modifications, such as histone modifications, DNA methylation, and the regulation by microRNA (miRNA), have been implicated in testicular tumor progression and treatment response. Epigenetics may also offer critical insights for prognostic evaluation and targeted therapies in patients with testicular germ cell tumors (TGCT). This comprehensive review aims to present the latest discoveries regarding the involvement of some proteins and ncRNAs, mainly miRNAs and lncRNA, in the epigenetic aspect of testicular cancer, emphasizing their relevance in pathogenesis and their potential, given the fact that their specific expression holds promise for prognostic evaluation and targeted therapies.

LncRNA SPRY4‑IT1 is upregulated and promotes the proliferation of prostate cancer cells under hypoxia in vitro

The incidence and mortality rate of prostate cancer are among the highest for all cancers worldwide; this disease has a high cancer mortality rate in males, following lung cancer. Sprouty4-intron 1 (SPRY4-IT1) has been shown to play a variety of roles in tumors. Our previous study demonstrated that SPRY4-IT1 sponges microRNA-101-3p to promote the proliferation and metastasis of bladder cancer cells by upregulating enhancer of zeste homolog 2 expression; however, the role of SPRY4-IT1 in prostate cancer has not been fully established. In the present study, the expression levels, effects and mechanism of action of SPRY4-IT1 were investigated in prostate cancer tissues and cell lines using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR, western blotting, Cell Counting Kit-8 and flow cytometry assays. The results indicated that SPRY4-IT1 expression was upregulated in prostate cancer tissues and cell lines. Furthermore, hypoxia increased the expression levels of SPRY4-IT1 in prostate cancer cells. Knockdown of SPRY4-IT1 expression led to S-phase arrest, decreased expression levels of the cell cycle-associated proteins CDK2 and cyclin D1. AKT phosphorylation was also reduced by SPRY4-IT1 knockdown. In summary, the findings indicate the elevation of SPRY4-IT1 expression in prostate cancer. Under hypoxic conditions in vitro, SPRY4-IT1 overexpression promoted prostate cancer cell proliferation via a mechanism involving regulation of the cell cycle and the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Therefore, it may provide a basis for the development of targeted therapies.

Testicular germ cell tumors: Genomic alternations and RAS-dependent signaling

Testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs) are a common malignancy occurring in young adult men. The various genetic risk factors have been suggested to contribute to TGCT pathogenesis, however, they have a distinct mutational profile with a low rate of somatic point mutations, more frequent chromosomal gains, and aneuploidy. The most frequently mutated oncogenes in human cancers are RAS oncogenes, while their impact on testicular carcinogenesis and refractory disease is still poorly understood. In this mini-review, we summarize current knowledge on genetic alternations of RAS signaling-associated genes (the single nucleotide polymorphisms and point mutations) in this particular cancer type and highlight their link to chemotherapy resistance mechanisms. We also mention the impact of epigenetic changes on TGCT progression. Lastly, we propose a model for RAS-dependent signaling networks, regulation, cross-talks, and outcomes in TGCTs.

Long noncoding RNA SPRY4-IT1 acts as a miR-101-5p sponge to promote gastrointestinal stromal tumor progression by inhibiting ZEB1

OBJECTIVES

Research on long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) has been conducted in different areas of oncology. Currently, the biological significance of lncRNAs and their regulatory features in gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) remain largely unknown. We have previously identified SPRY4-IT1 overexpression in GIST through lncRNA sequencing of GIST tissues. Coincidentally, SPRY4-IT1 is an intron of the SPRY4 gene, and SPRY4 is specifically highly expressed in GIST. Thus the aim of the present study was to investigate the role of lncRNA SPRY4-IT1 in GIST pathogenesis.

METHODS

Herein, we screened for SPRY4-IT1 and analyzed its possible phenotypes using Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). The phenotypes of GIST were verified using CCK-8, colony formation, and wound-healing assays. The ceRNA mechanism was determined by the location of lncRNA SPRY4-IT1, and its relationship to the Ago2 protein. The SPRY4-IT1/miR-101-5p/ZEB1 axis was predicted using online software and sequencing. Luciferase and pull-down assays were performed for verification. Pathway-associated and phenotype-associated proteins were detected by western blotting.

RESULTS

Sequencing analysis revealed 117 differentially expressed lncRNAs in GIST and normal gastric tissue samples. Accordingly, SPRY4-IT1 was screened out and its phenotype was predicted by GSEA. Mechanistically, SPRY4-IT1 was identified as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) that downregulated miR-101-5p and upregulated ZEB1, which activated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling to stimulate GIST proliferation, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Although this effect was regulated by a negative feedback loop through SPRY4, it was still controlled by SPRY4-IT1.

CONCLUSIONS

In GIST, we revealed a ceRNA mechanism by which SPRY4-IT1 modulates ZEB1 by sponging miR-101-5p, eventually driving tumor cell proliferation, migration, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT).

LINC00313 regulates the metastasis of testicular germ cell tumors through epithelial-mesenchyme transition and immune pathways

Testicular germ cell tumor (TGCT) is a relatively rare entity tumor, accounting for only 1% of all male cancers. However, it is the most common solid tumor in young men between 15 and 34 years old. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in various physiological and pathological processes. However, the functions of lncRNAs in TGCT have only rarely been investigated. LncRNAs associated with TGCT were identified using Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and UCSC XENA database data mining. The effects of LINC00313 on NCCIT cell migration and invasion were evaluated in transwell assays. The expression levels of epithelial-mesenchyme transition (EMT)-related proteins in cells knockdown of LINC00313 were analyzed by Western blot. Correlation analyses between lncRNA LINC00313 expression and copy number variation (CNV) and immune cell infiltration were carried out using The Cancer Genome Atl as (TCGA) data. The effect of Panobinostatin targeting LINC00313 in TGCT cells was investigated. We observed higher LINC00313 expression in TGCT. The migratory and invasive properties of TGCT cells were augmented by LINC00313, likely via its effects on modulating the expression of epithelial-mesenchyme transition (EMT) related proteins: CTNNB1, ZEB1, CDH2, Snail and VIM. Moreover, LINC00313 expression and CNV correlated negatively with the infiltration of immune cells. In addition, Panobinostat might be a possible candidate drug to target LINC00313 in TGCT. LINC00313 performs important pro-migration and invasion functions in the pathogenesis of TGCT. LINC00313 could be used as diagnostic, prognostic, immune marker and therapeutic target to develop effective treatment of TGCT.

Epigenetics and Testicular Cancer: Bridging the Gap Between Fundamental Biology and Patient Care

Testicular cancer is the most common solid tumor affecting young males. Most testicular cancers are testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs), which are divided into seminomas (SGCTs) and non-seminomatous testicular germ cell tumors (NSGCTs). During their development, primordial germ cells (PGCs) undergo epigenetic modifications and any disturbances in their pattern might lead to cancer development. The present study provides a comprehensive review of the epigenetic mechanisms–DNA methylation, histone post-translational modifications, bivalent marks, non-coding RNA–associated with TGCT susceptibility, initiation, progression and response to chemotherapy. Another important purpose of this review is to highlight the recent investigations regarding the identification and development of epigenetic biomarkers as powerful tools for the diagnostic, prognostic and especially for epigenetic-based therapy.

Diverse Roles and Targets of miRNA in the Pathogenesis of Testicular Germ Cell Tumour

Testicular germ cell tumour (TGCT) is the most common cancer type among young adults in many parts of the world. Although the pathogenesis of TGCT is not well understood, the involvement of heritable components is evident, and the risk is polygenic. Genome-wide association studies have so far found 78 susceptibility loci for TGCT, and many of the loci are in non-coding regions indicating the involvement of non-coding RNAs in TGCT pathogenesis. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a class of non-coding RNAs, have emerged as important gene regulators at the post-transcriptional level. They are crucial in controlling many cellular processes, such as proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis, and an aberrant miRNA expression may contribute to the pathogenesis of several cancers, including TGCT. In support of this notion, several studies reported differential expression of miRNAs in TGCTs. We previously demonstrated that miRNAs were the most common group of small non-coding RNAs in TGCTs, and several functional studies of miRNAs in TGCTs suggest that they may act as either oncogene or tumour suppressors. Moreover, individual miRNA targets and downstream pathways in the context of TGCT development have been explored. In this review, we will focus on the diverse roles and targets of miRNAs in TGCT pathogenesis.

A Review on the Role of SPRY4-IT1 in the Carcinogenesis

Sprouty RTK signaling antagonist 4-intronic transcript 1 (SPRY4-IT1) is a long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) encoded by a gene located on 5q31.3. This lncRNA has a possible role in the regulation of cell growth, proliferation, and apoptosis. Moreover, since SPRY4-IT1 controls levels of lipin 2, it is also involved in the biosynthesis of lipids. During the process of biogenesis, SPRY4-IT1 is produced as a primary transcript which is then cleaved to generate a mature transcript which is localized in the cytoplasm. SPRY4-IT1 has oncogenic roles in diverse tissues. A possible route of participation of SPRY4-IT1 in the carcinogenesis is through sequestering miRNAs such as miR-101-3p, miR-6882-3p and miR-22-3p. The sponging effect of SPRY4-IT1 on miR-101 has been verified in colorectal cancer, osteosarcoma, cervical cancer, bladder cancer, gastric cancer and cholangiocarcinoma. SPRY4-IT1 has functional interactions with HIF-1α, NF-κB/p65, AMPK, ZEB1, MAPK and PI3K/Akt signaling. We explain the role of SPRY4-IT1 in the carcinogenesis according to evidence obtained from cell lines, xenograft models and clinical studies.

Identification of SPRY4 as a Novel Candidate Susceptibility Gene for Familial Nonmedullary Thyroid Cancer

Background: The molecular basis of familial nonmedullary thyroid cancer (FNMTC) is still poorly understood, representing a limitation for molecular diagnosis and clinical management. In this study, we aimed to identify new susceptibility genes for FNMTC through whole-exome sequencing (WES) analysis of leukocyte DNA of patients from a highly informative FNMTC family. Methods: We selected six affected family members to conduct WES analysis. Bioinformatic analyses were undertaken to filter and select the genetic variants shared by the affected members, which were subsequently validated by Sanger sequencing. To select the most likely pathogenic variants, several studies were performed, including family segregation analysis, in silico impact characterization, and gene expression (messenger RNA and protein) depiction in databases. For the most promising variant identified, we performed in vitro studies to validate its pathogenicity. Results: Several potentially pathogenic variants were identified in different candidate genes. After filtering with appropriate criteria, the variant c.701C>T, p.Thr234Met in the SPRY4 gene was prioritized for in vitro functional characterization. This SPRY4 variant led to an increase in cell viability and colony formation, indicating that it confers a proliferative advantage and potentiates clonogenic capacity. Phosphokinase array and Western blot analyses suggested that the effects of the SPRY4 variant were mediated through the mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase pathway, which was further supported by a higher responsiveness of thyroid cancer cells with the SPRY4 variant to a MEK inhibitor. Conclusions: WES analysis in one family identified SPRY4 as a likely novel candidate susceptibility gene for FNMTC, allowing a better understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying thyroid cancer development.

Integrated analysis of high-throughput sequencing data reveals the key role of LINC00467 in the invasion and metastasis of testicular germ cell tumors

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in various physiological and pathological processes. However, the role of lncRNAs in testicular germ cell tumor (TGCT) has been rarely reported. Our purpose is to comprehensively survey the expression and function of lncRNAs in TGCT. In this study, we used RNA sequencing to construct the lncRNA expression profiles of 13 TGCT tissues and 4 paraneoplastic tissues to explore the function of lncRNAs in TGCT. The bioinformatics analysis showed that many lncRNAs are differentially expressed in TGCT. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses revealed that the differentially expressed lncRNAs participated in various biological processes associated with tumorigenesis in cis and trans manners. Further, we found that the expression of LINC00467 was positively correlated with the poor prognosis and pathological grade of TGCT using WGCNA analysis and GEPIA database data mining. In vitro experiments revealed that LNC00467 could promote the migration and invasion of TGCT cells by regulating the expression of AKT3 and influencing total AKT phosphorylation. Further analysis of TCGA data revealed that the expression was negatively correlated with the infiltration of immune cells and the response to PD1 immunotherapy. In summary, this study is the first to construct the expression profile of lncRNAs in TGCT. It is also the first study to identify the metastasis-promoting role of LNC00467, which can be used as a potential predictor of TGCT prognosis and immunotherapeutic response to provide a clinical reference for the treatment and diagnosis of TGCT metastasis.

Non-Coding RNAs and Splicing Activity in Testicular Germ Cell Tumors

Testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs) are the most common tumors in adolescent and young men. Recently, genome-wide studies have made it possible to progress in understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the development of tumors. It is becoming increasingly clear that aberrant regulation of RNA metabolism can drive tumorigenesis and influence chemotherapeutic response. Notably, the expression of non-coding RNAs as well as specific splice variants is deeply deregulated in human cancers. Since these cancer-related RNA species are considered promising diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic targets, understanding their function in cancer development is becoming a major challenge. Here, we summarize how the different expression of RNA species repertoire, including non-coding RNAs and protein-coding splicing variants, impacts on TGCTs’ onset and progression and sustains therapeutic resistance. Finally, the role of transcription-associated R-loop misregulation in the maintenance of genomic stability in TGCTs is also discussed.

Long Non-Coding RNAs: Role in Testicular Cancers

In the last few years lncRNAs have gained increasing attention among the scientific community, thanks to the discovery of their implication in many physio-pathological processes. In particular, their contribution to tumor initiation, progression, and response to treatment has attracted the interest of experts in the oncologic field for their potential clinical application. Testicular cancer is one of the tumors in which lncRNAs role is emerging. Said malignancies already have very effective treatments, which although lead to the development of quite serious treatment-related conditions, such as secondary tumors, infertility, and cardiovascular diseases. It is therefore important to study the impact of lncRNAs in the tumorigenesis of testicular cancer in order to learn how to exploit them in a clinical setting and to substitute more toxic treatments. Eventually, the use of lncRNAs as biomarkers, drug targets, or therapeutics for testicular cancer may represent a valid alternative to that of conventional tools, leading to a better management of this malignancy and its related conditions, and possibly even to the treatment of poor prognosis cases.

Transcriptomics of Meiosis in the Male Mouse

Molecular studies of meiosis in mammals have been long relegated due to some intrinsic obstacles, namely the impossibility to reproduce the process in vitro, and the difficulty to obtain highly pure isolated cells of the different meiotic stages. In the recent years, some technical advances, from the improvement of flow cytometry sorting protocols to single-cell RNAseq, are enabling to profile the transcriptome and its fluctuations along the meiotic process. In this mini-review we will outline the diverse methodological approaches that have been employed, and some of the main findings that have started to arise from these studies. As for practical reasons most studies have been carried out in males, and mostly using mouse as a model, our focus will be on murine male meiosis, although also including specific comments about humans. Particularly, we will center on the controversy about gene expression during early meiotic prophase; the widespread existing gap between transcription and translation in meiotic cells; the expression patterns and potential roles of meiotic long non-coding RNAs; and the visualization of meiotic sex chromosome inactivation from the RNAseq perspective.

E2A-PBX1 functions as a coactivator for RUNX1 in acute lymphoblastic leukemia

E2A, a basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor, plays a crucial role in determining tissue-specific cell fate, including differentiation of B-cell lineages. In 5% of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), the t(1,19) chromosomal translocation specifically targets the E2A gene and produces an oncogenic E2A-PBX1 fusion protein. Although previous studies have shown the oncogenic functions of E2A-PBX1 in cell and animal models, the E2A-PBX1-enforced cistrome, the E2A-PBX1 interactome, and related mechanisms underlying leukemogenesis remain unclear. Here, by unbiased genomic profiling approaches, we identify the direct target sites of E2A-PBX1 in t(1,19)-positive pre-B ALL cells and show that, compared with normal E2A, E2A-PBX1 preferentially binds to a subset of gene loci cobound by RUNX1 and gene-activating machineries (p300, MED1, and H3K27 acetylation). Using biochemical analyses, we further document a direct interaction of E2A-PBX1, through a region spanning the PBX1 homeodomain, with RUNX1. Our results also show that E2A-PBX1 binding to gene enhancers is dependent on the RUNX1 interaction but not the DNA-binding activity harbored within the PBX1 homeodomain of E2A-PBX1. Transcriptome analyses and cell transformation assays further establish a significant RUNX1 requirement for E2A-PBX1-mediated target gene activation and leukemogenesis. Notably, the RUNX1 locus itself is also directly activated by E2A-PBX1, indicating a multilayered interplay between E2A-PBX1 and RUNX1. Collectively, our study provides the first unbiased profiling of the E2A-PBX1 cistrome in pre-B ALL cells and reveals a previously unappreciated pathway in which E2A-PBX1 acts in concert with RUNX1 to enforce transcriptome alterations for the development of pre-B ALL.

miRNAs and Biomarkers in Testicular Germ Cell Tumors: An Update

Testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs) are the leading form of solid cancer and death affecting males between the ages of 20 and 40. Today, their surgical resection and chemotherapy are the treatments of first choice, even if sometimes this is not enough to save the lives of patients with TGCT. As seen for several tumors, the deregulation of microRNAs (miRNAs) is also a key feature in TGCTs. miRNAs are small molecules of RNA with biological activity that are released into biological fluids by testicular cancer cells. Their presence, therefore, can be detected and monitored by considering miRNAs as diagnostic and prognostic markers for TGCTs. The purpose of this review is to collect all the studies executed on miRNAs that have a potential role as biomarkers for testicular tumors.

Identification of mRNA Prognostic Markers for TGCT by Integration of Co-Expression and CeRNA Network

Testicular germ cell tumor (TGCT) is the most common malignant tumor in young men and is associated with poor prognosis. We assessed the RNA expression profiles of 13 TGCT tissues and 4 adjacent normal tissues by transcriptome sequencing to identify novel prognostic biomarkers. We detected several differentially expressed mRNAs in TGCT that were functionally annotated by GO and KEGG enrichment analyses to tumorigenesis-related processes such as immunity and chemotherapeutic resistance. An mRNA-lncRNA-miRNA regulatory network was constructed using RNA-Seq data and public databases, and integrated with TCGA database to develop a prediction model for metastasis and recurrence. Finally, GRK4, PCYT2 and RGSL1 were identified as predictive markers of survival and therapeutic response. In conclusion, we found several potential predictors for TGCT prognosis and immunotherapeutic response by ceRNA network analysis.

The PI3K/AKT Pathway Is Activated by HGF in NT2D1 Non-Seminoma Cells and Has a Role in the Modulation of Their Malignant Behavior

Overactivation of the c-MET/HGF system is a feature of many cancers. We previously reported that type II testicular germ cell tumor (TGCT) cells express the c-MET receptor, forming non-seminomatous lesions that are more positive compared with seminomatous ones. Notably, we also demonstrated that NT2D1 non-seminomatous cells (derived from an embryonal carcinoma lesion) increase their proliferation, migration, and invasion in response to HGF. Herein, we report that HGF immunoreactivity is more evident in the microenvironment of embryonal carcinoma biopsies with respect to seminomatous ones, indicating a tumor-dependent modulation of the testicular niche. PI3K/AKT is one of the signaling pathways triggered by HGF through the c-MET activation cascade. Herein, we demonstrated that phospho-AKT increases in NT2D1 cells after HGF stimulation. Moreover, we found that this pathway is involved in HGF-dependent NT2D1 cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, since the co-administration of the PI3K inhibitor LY294002 together with HGF abrogates these responses. Notably, the inhibition of endogenous PI3K affects collective cell migration but does not influence proliferation or chemotactic activity. Surprisingly, LY294002 administered without the co-administration of HGF increases cell invasion at levels comparable to the HGF-administered samples. This paradoxical result highlights the role of the testicular microenvironment in the modulation of cellular responses and stimulates the study of the testicular secretome in cancer lesions.

Prognostic Value of Long Noncoding RNA SPRY4-IT1 on Survival Outcomes in Human Carcinomas: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis with TCGA Database

Background

Emerging evidences have shown that long noncoding RNA SPRY4-IT1 can be aberrantly expressed in human cancers, and it could be an unfavorable prognostic factor in cancer patients. However, the prognostic mechanism of SPRY4-IT1 is still unclear. This study is aimed at evaluating its potential predictive value for cancer prognosis.

Methods

We thoroughly searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and MEDLINE databases so as to explore the relationship between SPRY4-IT1 expression and cancer prognosis value. Then, TCGA datasets were used to validate the results of our meta-analysis.

Results

In all, seventeen studies involving 1650 patients were included in this meta-analysis. Pooled results showed that high expression of SPRY4-IT1 was significantly correlated with poor OS (HR = 1.96, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.47‐2.62, P < 0.001) in cancer patients. Furthermore, exploration of TCGA dataset further validated that SPRY4-IT1 was aberrantly expressed in various cancers, which partially confirmed our results in this meta-analysis.

Conclusions

The present systematic review and meta-analysis implicated that the aberrant expressions of lncRNA SPRY4-IT1 were strongly associated with clinical survival outcomes in various cancers and therefore might serve as a promising biomarker for predicting prognosis of human cancers.

Long non-coding RNAs in ovarian cancer: expression profile and functional spectrum

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), initially recognized as byproducts of the transcription process, have been proven to play crucial modulatory roles in preserving overall homoeostasis of cells and tissues. Furthermore, aberrant levels of these transcripts have been shown to contribute many diseases, including cancer. Among these, many aspects of ovarian cancer biology have been found to be regulated by lncRNAs, including cancer initiation, progression and dissemination. In this review, we summarize recent studies to highlight the various roles of lncRNAs in ovary in normal and pathological conditions, immune system, diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy. We address lncRNAs that have been extensively studied in ovarian cancer and their contribution to cellular dynamics.

LINC00675 Suppresses Cell Proliferation and Migration via Downregulating the H3K4me2 Level at the SPRY4 Promoter in Gastric Cancer

Accumulating evidence indicates that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are dysregulated in diverse tumors and take a pivotal role in modulating biological processes. In our study, a decreased expression level of LINC00675 in gastric cancer (GC) was first determined by data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and was identified using specimens from GC patients. Then, in vitro and in vivo functional experiments elaborated that LINC00675 could suppress cell proliferation and migration in GC. Multiple differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in LINC00675-overexpressing cells were identified through RNA sequencing analysis. An RNA-binding protein immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay was conducted to reveal that LINC00675 competitively bound with lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1). A coimmunoprecipitation (coIP) assay indicated that LINC00675 overexpression may strengthen the binding of LSD1 and H3K4me2, whereas the chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay results verified lower expression of H3K4me2 at the sprouty homolog 4 (SPRY4) promoter region. Together, our research identified that LINC00675 was remarkably downregulated in GC tissues and cells relative to nontumor tissues and cells. LINC00675 could repress GC tumorigenesis and metastasis via competitively binding with LSD1 and intensifying the binding of LSD1 and its target H3K4me2. Importantly, this contributed to attenuated binding of H3K4me2 at the promoter region of oncogene SPRY4 and suppressed SPRY4 transcription, thus suppressing GC cell proliferation and migration.

SPRY4 regulates trophoblast proliferation and apoptosis via regulating IFN-γ-induced STAT1 expression and activation in recurrent miscarriage

PROBLEM

The dysregulation of trophoblast functions is one of the leading causes of recurrent miscarriage (RM), which frustrates 1%-5% of couples of childbearing ages. Sprouty 4 (SPRY4) is considered as a tumour suppressor and exerts a negative role in cell viability. However, its role in regulating trophoblast behaviors at the maternal-fetal interface remains largely unknown.

METHOD OF STUDY

First-trimester villous samples were collected from RM patients and healthy controls (HCs) to determine the SPRY4 expression in human placenta during early pregnancy. The HTR8/SVneo cell line was introduced to clarify trophoblast cell functions via transfecting with specific short interfering RNA against SPRY4 or SPRY4-overexpressing lentivirus in vitro. In addition, gene expression microarray analysis was performed to explore the downstream molecules and pathways.

RESULTS

Our results revealed that SPRY4 expression was significantly increased in the first-trimester cytotrophoblasts of RM patients compared with HCs. Furthermore, SPRY4 overexpression inhibited trophoblast proliferation and accelerated apoptosis in vitro, while SPRY4 knockdown reversed these effects. Mechanistically, IFN-γ -induced STAT1 expression and activation were involved in the regulation of trophoblast proliferation and apoptosis by SPRY4, and IFN-γ promoted SPRY4 expression and STAT1 phosphorylation through PI3K/AKT pathway. Additionally, both STAT1 and phosphorylated STAT (p-STAT) levels were also upregulated in trophoblasts from RM patients and positively correlated with SPRY4 expression.

CONCLUSION

Our findings indicate that SPRY4 may act as a negative regulator of trophoblast functions through upregulating IFN-γ/PI3K/AKT-induced STAT1 activation. High levels of SPRY4 and STAT1 may contribute to RM development and progression, and blocking of either target could be a novel therapeutic strategy for RM patients.

Non-Coding microRNAs as Novel Potential Tumor Markers in Testicular Cancer

Testicular cancer is an important disease with increasing incidence and a high burden of morbidity and mortality in young men worldwide. Histological examination of the testicular tissue after orchiectomy plays an important role alongside patient history, imaging, clinical presentation and laboratory parameters. Surgical procedures and chemotherapeutic treatment provide a high chance of cure in early stages, though some patients in advanced stages belonging to a poor risk group experience cancer-related death. Though conventional serum-based tumor markers, including α-fetoprotein (AFP), the β-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), are useful as prognostic and diagnostic biomarkers, unfortunately, these tumor markers only have a sensitivity of about 60%, and in pure seminoma even lower with about 20%. Therefore, the development of new tumor markers is an important and intensively ongoing issue. The analysis of epigenetic modification and non-coding RNA microRNAs (miRNAs) are carrying most promising potential as tumor markers in future. miRNAs are small RNAs secreted by testicular tumor cells and circulate and be measurable in body fluids. In recent years, miRNAs of the miR-371-373 cluster in particular have been identified as potentially superior tumor markers in testicular cancer patients. Studies showed that miR-371a-3p and miR-302/367 expression significantly differ between testicular tumors and healthy testicular tissue. Several studies including high prospective multi-center trials clearly demonstrated that these miRNAs significantly exceed the sensitivity and specificity of conventional tumor markers and may help to facilitate the diagnosis, follow-up, and early detection of recurrences in testicular cancer patients. In addition, other miRNAs such as miR-223-3p, miR-449, miR-383, miR-514a-3p, miR-199a-3p, and miR-214 will be discussed in this review. However, further studies are needed to identify the value of these novel markers in additional clinical scenarios, including the monitoring in active surveillance or after adjuvant chemotherapy, but also to show the limitations of these tumor markers. The aim of this review is to give an overview on the current knowledge regarding the relevance of non-coding miRNAs as biomarkers in testicular cancer.

miRNA-302s may act as oncogenes in human testicular germ cell tumours

Testicular germ cell tumour (TGCT) represents the most common malignancy in young men in large parts of the world, but the aetiology is yet unclear. Multiple TGCT susceptibility loci have been identified, and we have shown that one of these, SPRY4, may act as a TGCT oncogene. Furthermore, many of the loci are in non-coding regions of the genome. miRNAs, a class of non-coding RNAs may play a crucial role in cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis, and alteration in their expression may lead to oncogenesis. Differential expression of miRNAs in TGCT and normal testis has been reported in previous studies. In this study, we used qPCR to analyse, in normal and malignant testis tissue, the expression of the ten miRNAs that we had previously identified by sequencing to be the most upregulated in TGCT. We found high expression of these miRNAs also by qPCR analysis. The levels of miR-302a-3p, miR-302b-3p, and miR-302c-3p were downregulated after treatment of the TGCT cell lines NT2-D1 and 833 K with the chemotherapy drug cisplatin. By using miRNA inhibitor-mediated transient transfection, we inhibited the expression of the three members of miR-302 family (miR-302s). Inhibition of miR-302s resulted in a decreased cell proliferation in NT2-D1 cells, but not in 833 K cells. In both cell lines, inhibition of miR-302s resulted in decreased expression of SPRY4, which we have previously shown to regulate MAPK/ERK and PI3K/Akt signalling pathways in these cells. Inhibition of miR-302b-3p and miR-302c-3p decreased phosphorylation of ERK1/2, whereas inhibition of miR-302a-3p and miR-302b-3p led to decreased expression of the apoptosis inhibitor, survivin. Our findings suggest that miR-302s act as TGCT oncogenes by inducing the expression of SPRY4 and activating MAPK/ERK pathway while inhibiting apoptosis via increased survivin expression.

The Sprouty/Spred family as tumor suppressors: Coming of age

The Ras/Raf/ERK pathway is one of the most frequently dysregulated signaling pathways in various cancers. In some such cancers, Ras and Raf are hotspots for mutations, which cause continuous activation of this pathway. However, in some other cancers, it is known that negative regulators of the Ras/Raf/ERK pathway are responsible for uncontrolled activation. The Sprouty/Spred family is broadly recognized as important negative regulators of the Ras/Raf/ERK pathway, and its expression is downregulated in many malignancies, leading to hyperactivation of the Ras/Raf/ERK pathway. After the discovery of this family, intensive research investigated the mechanism by which it suppresses the Ras/Raf/ERK pathway and its roles in developmental and pathophysiological processes. In this review, we discuss the complicated roles of the Sprouty/Spred family in tumor initiation, promotion, and progression and its future therapeutic potential.

Ubiquitous and cell type-specific transcriptomic changes triggered by dissipation of monovalent cation gradients in rodent cells: Physiological and pathophysiological implications

Elevation of [Na⁺]_i/[K⁺]_i-ratio is considered as one of the major signals triggering transcriptomic changes in various cells types. In this study, we identified ubiquitous and cell type-specific [Formula: see text] -sensitive genes by comparative analysis of transcriptomic changes in ouabain-treated rat aorta smooth muscle cells and rat aorta endothelial cells (RASMC and RAEC, respectively), rat cerebellar granule cells (RCGC), and mouse C2C12 myoblasts. Exposure of the cells to ouabain increased intracellular Na⁺ content by ~14, 8, 7, and 6-fold and resulted in appearance of 7577, 2698, 2120, and 1146 differentially expressed transcripts in RAEC, RASMC, C2C12, and RCGC, respectively. Eighty-three genes were found as the intersection of the four sets of identified transcripts corresponding to each cell type and are classified as ubiquitous. Among the 10 top upregulated ubiquitous transcripts are the following: Dusp6, Plk3, Trib1, Ccl7, Mafk, Atf3, Ptgs2, Cxcl1, Spry4, and Coq10b. Unique transcripts whose expression is cell-specific include 4897, 1523, 789, and 494 transcripts for RAEC, RASMC, C2C12, and RCGC, respectively. The role of gene expression and signal pathways induced by dissipation of transmembrane gradient of monovalent cations in the development of various diseases is discussed with special attention to cardiovascular and pulmonary illnesses.

Interference from LncRNA SPRY4-IT1 restrains the proliferation, migration, and invasion of melanoma cells through inactivating MAPK pathway by up-regulating miR-22-3p

Melanoma is a common malignancy with a low survival rate worldwide. Long non-coding RNA Sprouty4-Intron 1 (SPRY4-IT1) is correlated with various cancers, including melanoma. Herein, the underlying molecular mechanisms of SPRY4-IT1 in melanoma were characterized. We found that SPRY4-IT1 level was upregulated in melanoma cells lines compared to the normal skin cells, while miR-22-3p was downregulated. According to of bioinformatics analysis, SPRY4-IT1 was a hypothetic target of miR-22-3p, and knockdown SPRY4-IT1 by sh-RNA (sh-SPRY4-IT1) markedly elevated the miR-22-3p level. Also, the target relationship was further confirmed by dual luciferase reporter assay. In addition, low-expression of SPRY4-IT1 impeded cell proliferation, invasion, migration, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Furthermore, western blot assay indicated that the enhanced miR-22-3p further decelerated the phosphorylation of p38MAPK, MAPKAPK and Hsp27, which indicates that miR-22-3p could inactivate the p38MAPK/MAPKAPK/Hsp27 signaling pathway. Overall, our results show that sh-SPRY4-IT1 inhibits cell proliferation and motility through inactivating MAPK signaling by up-regulating miR-22-3p. Therefore, designing targeted drugs against SPRY4-IT1 provides a new direction for the treatment of melanoma.

A network-based approach to identify DNA methylation and its involved molecular pathways in testicular germ cell tumors

Background: Testicular germ cell tumors (TGCT) is the most common testicular malignancy threaten young male reproductive health. This study aimed to identify aberrantly methylated-differentially expressed genes and pathways in TGCT by comprehensive bioinformatics analysis.

Methods: Data of gene expression microarrays (GSE3218, GSE18155) and gene methylation microarrays (GSE72444) were collected from GEO database. Integrated analysis acquired aberrantly methylated-genes. Functional and pathway enrichment analysis were performed using DAVID database. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed by STRING and App Mcode was used for module analysis. GEPIA platform and DiseaseMeth database were used for confirming the expression and methylation levels of hub genes. Finally, Human Protein Atlas database was performed to evaluate the prognostic significance.

Results: Totally 604 hypomethylation-high expression and 147 hypermethylation-low genes were identified. The high expressed genes were enriched in biological processes of cell proliferation and migration. The top 8 hub genes of PPI network were GAPDH, VEGFA, PTPRC, RIPK4, MMP9, CSF1R, KRAS and FN1. After validation in GEPIA platform, all hub genes were elevated in TGCT tissues. Only MMP9, CSF1R and PTPRC showed hypomethylation-high expression status, which predicted the poor outcome of TGCT patients.

Conclusion: Our study indicated possible aberrantly methylated-differentially expressed genes and pathways in TGCT by bioinformatics analysis, which may provide novel insights for unraveling pathogenesis of TGCT.