Interferon regulatory factor 1 inactivation in human cancer

Interferon-regulatory factor-1 boosts bevacizumab cardiotoxicity by the vascular endothelial growth factor A/14-3-3γ axis

AIM

Myocardial injury is a significant cause of death. This study investigated the role and underlying mechanism of interferon-regulatory factor-1 (IRF1) in bevacizumab (BVZ)-induced cardiomyocyte injury.

METHODS AND RESULTS

HL-1 cells and C57BL/6 mice receiving BVZ treatment were used to establish in vitro and in vivo models of myocardial injury. The relationship between VEGFA and 14-3-3γ was verified through co-immunoprecipitation and Glutathione S Transferase (GST) pull-down assay. Cell viability and apoptosis were analysed by MTT, propidium iodide (PI) staining and flow cytometry. The release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), cardiac troponins T (cTnT), and creatine kinase MB (CK-MB) was measured using the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The effects of knocking down IRF1 on BVZ-induced mice were analysed in vivo. IRF1 levels were increased in BVZ-treated HL-1 cells. BVZ treatment induced apoptosis, inhibited cell viability, and promoted the release of LDH, cTnT, and CK-MB. IRF1 silencing suppressed BVZ-induced myocardial injury, whereas IRF1 overexpression had the opposite effect. IRF1 regulated VEGFA expression by binding to its promoter, with the depletion of VEGFA or 14-3-3γ reversing the effects of IRF1 knockdown on the cell viability and apoptosis of BVZ-treated HL-1 cells. 14-3-3γ overexpression promoted cell proliferation, inhibited apoptosis, and reduced the release of LDH, cTnT, and CK-MB, thereby alleviating BVZ-induced HL-1 cell damage. In vivo, IRF1 silencing alleviated BVZ-induced cardiomyocyte injury by regulating the VEGFA/14-3-3γ axis.

CONCLUSION

The IRF1-mediated VEGFA/14-3-3γ signalling pathway promotes BVZ-induced myocardial injury. Our study provides evidence for potentially new target genes for the treatment of myocardial injury.

Early host immune responses in a human organoid-derived gallbladder monolayer to Salmonella Typhi strains from patients with acute and chronic infections: a comparative analysis

Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi (S. Typhi), a human-restricted pathogen, invades the host through the gut to cause typhoid fever. Recent calculations of the typhoid fever burden estimated that more than 10 million new typhoid fever cases occur in low and middle-income countries, resulting in 65,400-187,700 deaths yearly. Interestingly, if not antibiotic-treated, upon the resolution of acute disease, 1%-5% of patients become asymptomatic chronic carriers. Chronically infected hosts are not only critical reservoirs of infection that transmit the disease to naive individuals but are also predisposed to developing gallbladder carcinoma. Nevertheless, the molecular mechanisms involved in the early interactions between gallbladder epithelial cells and S. Typhi remain largely unknown. Based on our previous studies showing that closely related S. Typhi strains elicit distinct innate immune responses, we hypothesized that host molecular pathways activated by S. Typhi strains derived from acutely and chronically infected patients would differ. To test this hypothesis, we used a novel human organoid-derived polarized gallbladder monolayer model, and S. Typhi strains derived from acutely and chronically infected patients. We found that S. Typhi strains derived from acutely and chronically infected patients differentially regulate host mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and S6 transcription factors. These variations might be attributed to differential cytokine signaling, predominantly via TNF-α and IL-6 production and appear to be influenced by the duration the isolate was subjected to selective pressures in the gallbladder. These findings represent a significant leap in understanding the complexities behind chronic S. Typhi infections in the gallbladder and may uncover potential intervention targets.

The RNA m6A reader IGF2BP3 regulates NFAT1/IRF1 axis-mediated anti-tumor activity in gastric cancer

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) and its associated reader protein insulin like growth factor 2 mRNA binding protein 3 (IGF2BP3) are involved in tumor initiation and progression via regulating RNA metabolism. This study aims to investigate the biological function and clinical significance of IGF2BP3 in gastric cancer (GC). The clinical significance of IGF2BP3 was evaluated using tumor related databases and clinical tissues. The biological role and molecular mechanism of IGF2BP3 in GC progression were investigated by multi-omics analysis including Ribosome sequence (Ribo-seq), RNA sequence (RNA-seq) and m6A sequence (m6A-seq) combined with gain- and loss- of function experiments. IGF2BP3 expression is significantly elevated in GC tissues and associated with poor prognosis of GC patients. Knockdown of IGF2BP3 significantly weakens the migration and clonogenic ability, promotes the apoptosis, inhibits translation, and suppresses in vitro growth and progression of GC cells. Mechanistically, IGF2BP3 regulates the mRNA stability and translation of the nuclear factor of activated T cells 1(NFAT1) in a m6A dependent manner. Then NFAT1 induced by IGF2BP3 acts as a transcription factor (TF) to negatively regulates the promoter activities of interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF1) to inhibit its expression. Inhibition of IGF2BP3-induced expression of IRF1 activates interferon (IFN) signaling pathway and then exerts its anti-tumor effect. Elevated IGF2BP3 promotes in vivo and in vitro GC progression via regulation of NFAT1/IRF1 pathways. Targeted inhibition of IGF2BP3 might be a potential therapeutic approach for GC treatment.

Molecular Atlas of HER2+ Breast Cancer Cells Treated with Endogenous Ligands: Temporal Insights into Mechanisms of Trastuzumab Resistance

Trastuzumab therapy in HER2+ breast cancer patients has mixed success owing to acquired resistance to therapy. A detailed understanding of downstream molecular cascades resulting from trastuzumab resistance is yet to emerge. In this study, we investigate the cellular mechanisms underlying acquired resistance using trastuzumab-sensitive and -resistant cancer cells (BT474 and BT474R) treated with endogenous ligands EGF and HRG across time. We probe early receptor organization through microscopy and signaling events through multiomics measurements and assess the bioenergetic state through mitochondrial measurements. Integrative analyses of our measurements reveal significant alterations in EGF-treated BT474 HER2 membrane dynamics and robust downstream activation of PI3K/AKT/mTORC1 signaling. EGF-treated BT474R shows a sustained interferon-independent activation of the IRF1/STAT1 cascade, potentially contributing to trastuzumab resistance. Both cell lines exhibit temporally divergent metabolic demands and HIF1A-mediated stress responses. BT474R demonstrates inherently increased mitochondrial activity. HRG treatment in BT474R leads to a pronounced reduction in AR expression, affecting downstream lipid metabolism with implications for treatment response. Our results provide novel insights into mechanistic changes underlying ligand treatment in BT474 and BT474R and emphasize the pivotal role of endogenous ligands. These results can serve as a framework for furthering the understanding of trastuzumab resistance, with therapeutic implications for women with acquired resistance.

Multiple Genomic Alterations, Including a Novel AFF4::IRF1 Fusion Gene, in a Treatment-Refractory Blastic Plasmacytoid Dendritic-Cell Neoplasm: A Case Report and Literature Review

Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN) is a rare hematologic malignancy with an aggressive clinical course and poor prognosis. The genetic abnormalities in BPDCN are heterogeneous; therefore, its molecular pathogenesis and the prognostic importance of genomic alterations associated with the disease are not well defined. Here we report a case of BPDCN with a novel AFF4::IRF1 fusion predicted to lead to a loss-of-function of the IRF1 tumor suppressor, somatic mutations of ASXL1, TET2, and MYD88, as well as multiple intrachromosomal deletions. The patient showed resistance to Tagraxofusp and Venetoclax, and he died about 16 months after diagnosis. Considering the predicted effect of the AFF4::IRF1 fusion on IRF1's antitumor effects and immune regulation, and the possibility of its relevance to the aggressive course observed in this case, we propose further evaluation of the clinical significance of this fusion in BPDCN in future cooperative group studies and the consideration of therapeutic strategies aimed at restoring IRF1-dependent antineoplastic effects in such cases.

Expression of interferon regulatory factor family and its prognostic value in acute myeloid leukemia

Aim: To elucidate the clinicopathological and prognostic values of interferon regulatory factor (IRF) family genes in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Patients & methods: Differential expression analysis and survival analysis from several reliable databases were conducted and further validated using patients with AML. Results: The expression level of IRF1/2/4/5/7/8/9 in patients with AML was upregulated, while IRF3/6 expression was downregulated. High IRF1/7/9 expression indicated a worse overall survival rate. Conclusion: Overexpression of IRF1/7/9 may be associated with poor survival in patients with AML, suggesting that the IRF family may be a promising therapeutic target.

The SUMOylation and ubiquitination crosstalk in cancer

BACKGROUND

The cancer occurrence and progression are largely affected by the post-translational modifications (PTMs) of proteins. Currently, it has been shown that the relationship between ubiquitination and SUMOylation is highly complex and interactive. SUMOylation affects the process of ubiquitination and degradation of substrates. Contrarily, SUMOylation-related proteins are also regulated by the ubiquitination process thus altering their protein levels or activity. Emerging evidence suggests that the abnormal regulation between this crosstalk may lead to tumorigenesis.

PURPOSE

In this review, we have discussed the study of the relationship between ubiquitination and SUMOylation, as well as the possibility of a corresponding application in tumor therapy.

METHODS

The relevant literatures from PubMed have been reviewed for this article.

CONCLUSION

The interaction between ubiquitination and SUMOylation is crucial for the occurrence and development of cancer. A greater understanding of the crosstalk of SUMOylation and ubiquitination may be more conducive to the development of more selective and effective SUMOylation inhibitors, as well as a promotion of synergy with other tumor treatment strategies.

IRF1 regulates self-renewal and stress responsiveness to support hematopoietic stem cell maintenance

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are tightly controlled to maintain a balance between blood cell production and self-renewal. While inflammation-related signaling is a critical regulator of HSC activity, the underlying mechanisms and the precise functions of specific factors under steady-state and stress conditions remain incompletely understood. We investigated the role of interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF1), a transcription factor that is affected by multiple inflammatory stimuli, in HSC regulation. Our findings demonstrate that the loss of IRF1 from mouse HSCs significantly impairs self-renewal, increases stress-induced proliferation, and confers resistance to apoptosis. In addition, given the frequent abnormal expression of IRF1 in leukemia, we explored the potential of IRF1 expression level as a stratification marker for human acute myeloid leukemia. We show that IRF1-based stratification identifies distinct cancer-related signatures in patient subgroups. These findings establish IRF1 as a pivotal HSC controller and provide previously unknown insights into HSC regulation, with potential implications to IRF1 functions in the context of leukemia.

Single Cell Transcriptomics Identifies Distinct Choroid Cell Populations Involved in Visually Guided Eye Growth

Postnatal ocular growth is regulated by a vision-dependent mechanism, termed emmetropization, which acts to minimize refractive error through coordinated growth of the ocular tissues. Many studies suggest that the ocular choroid participates in the emmetropization process via the production of scleral growth regulators that control ocular elongation and refractive development. To elucidate the role of the choroid in emmetropization, we used single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to characterize the cell populations in the chick choroid and compare gene expression changes in these cell populations during conditions in which the eye is undergoing emmetropization. UMAP clustering analysis identified 24 distinct cell clusters in all chick choroids. 7 clusters were identified as fibroblast subpopulations; 5 clusters represented different populations of endothelial cells; 4 clusters were CD45+ macrophages, T cells and B cells; 3 clusters were Schwann cell subpopulations; and 2 clusters were identified as melanocytes. Additionally, single populations of RBCs, plasma cells and neuronal cells were identified. Significant changes in gene expression between control and treated choroids were identified in 17 cell clusters, representing 95% of total choroidal cells. The majority of significant gene expression changes were relatively small (< 2 fold). The highest changes in gene expression were identified in a rare cell population (0.11% - 0.49% of total choroidal cells). This cell population expressed high levels of neuron-specific genes as well as several opsin genes suggestive of a rare neuronal cell population that is potentially light sensitive. Our results, for the first time, provide a comprehensive profile of the major choroidal cell types and their gene expression changes during the process of emmetropization as well as insights into the canonical pathways and upstream regulators that coordinate postnatal ocular growth.

Bioinformatics, RNA sequencing, and targeted bisulfite sequencing analyses identify the role of PROM2 as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker

OBJECTIVES

Prominin 2 (PROM2) gene has been reported as a molecular biomarker of human cancers; however, its role is still controversial. This study was therefore arranged to seek the role of PROM2 in different cancers with Bioinformatics and in vitro analyses.

METHODS

A combination of bioinformatics and molecular experiments.

RESULTS

Through the utilization of Bioinformatics analysis, it was observed that in 19 out of the 24 human cancers studied, there was a significant increase in the expression of PROM2 compared to the respective control samples. Additionally, the overexpression of PROM2 was linked specifically to a decrease in overall survival (OS) among breast cancer (BRCA), lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), and uterine corpus endometrial carcinoma (UCEC) patients. Furthermore, advanced molecular investigations were conducted, encompassing RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) as well as targeted bisulfite sequencing (bisulfite-seq) assessments of PROM2. These analyses were performed across an array of lung cancer cell lines (A549, ABC-1, EBC-1, and LK-2) and a normal control lung cell line (MRC-9). Results of these analysis revealed overexpression and reduced methylation of PROM2 within lung cancer cell lines, relative to the corresponding control cell line. This suggests that PROM2 assumes a substantial function in the advancement and course of BRCA, LUAD, and UCEC cancers. Subsequent pathway analysis revealed that genes enriched by PROM2 are actively engaged in four pivotal pathways. Additionally, intriguing associations were observed between PROM2 expression, tumor purity, infiltration of CD8+ T immune cells, and genetic modifications. Moreover, we also predicted a few MicroRNAs (miRNAs), transcription factors (TFs), and potential drugs that could help to understand and better manage these cancers via designing appropriate therapies targeting PROM2.

CONCLUSION

Via this study, we effectively revealed PROM2 overexpression as a potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarker of survival in BRCA, LUAD, and UCEC.

The potential role of miRNAs in the pathogenesis of testicular germ cell tumors - A Focus on signaling pathways interplay

Testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs) are the most common testicular neoplasms in adolescents and young males. Understanding the genetic basis of TGCTs represents a growing need to cope with the increased incidence of these neoplasms. Although the cure rates have been comparatively increased, investigation of mechanisms underlying the incidence, progression, metastasis, recurrence, and therapy resistance is still necessary. Early diagnosis and non-compulsory clinical therapeutic agents without long-term side effects are now required to reduce the cancer burden, especially in the younger age groups. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) control an extensive range of cellular functions and exhibit a pivotal action in the development and spreading of TGCTs. Because of their dysregulation and disruption in function, miRNAs have been linked to the malignant pathophysiology of TGCTs by influencing many cellular functions involved in the disease. These biological processes include increased invasive and proliferative perspective, cell cycle dysregulation, apoptosis disruption, stimulation of angiogenesis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and metastasis, and resistance to certain treatments. Herein, we present an up-to-date review of the biogenesis of miRNAs, miRNA regulatory mechanisms, clinical challenges, and therapeutic interventions of TGCTs, and role of nanoparticles in the treatment of TGCTs.

Single Cell Transcriptomics Identifies Distinct Choroid Cell Populations Involved in Visually Guided Eye Growth

Postnatal ocular growth is regulated by a vision-dependent mechanism, termed emmetropization, which acts to minimize refractive error through coordinated growth of the ocular tissues. Many studies suggest that the ocular choroid participates in the emmetropization process via the production of scleral growth regulators that control ocular elongation and refractive development. To elucidate the role of the choroid in emmetropization, we used single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to characterize the cell populations in the chick choroid and compare gene expression changes in these cell populations during conditions in which the eye is undergoing emmetropization. UMAP clustering analysis identified 24 distinct cell clusters in all chick choroids. 7 clusters were identified as fibroblast subpopulations; 5 clusters represented different populations of endothelial cells; 4 clusters were CD45+ macrophages, T cells and B cells; 3 clusters were Schwann cell subpopulations; and 2 clusters were identified as melanocytes. Additionally, single populations of RBCs, plasma cells and neuronal cells were identified. Significant changes in gene expression between control and treated choroids were identified in 17 cell clusters, representing 95% of total choroidal cells. The majority of significant gene expression changes were relatively small (< 2 fold). The highest changes in gene expression were identified in a rare cell population (0.11% - 0.49% of total choroidal cells). This cell population expressed high levels of neuron-specific genes as well as several opsin genes suggestive of a rare neuronal cell population that is potentially light sensitive. Our results, for the first time, provide a comprehensive profile of the major choroidal cell types and their gene expression changes during the process of emmetropization as well as insights into the canonical pathways and upstream regulators that coordinate postnatal ocular growth.

Down-regulation of DNA key protein-FEN1 inhibits OSCC growth by affecting immunosuppressive phenotypes via IFN-γ/JAK/STAT-1

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) escape from the immune system is mediated through several immunosuppressive phenotypes that are critical to the initiation and progression of tumors. As a hallmark of cancer, DNA damage repair is closely related to changes in the immunophenotypes of tumor cells. Although flap endonuclease-1 (FEN1), a pivotal DNA-related enzyme is involved in DNA base excision repair to maintain the stability of the cell genome, the correlation between FEN1 and tumor immunity has been unexplored. In the current study, by analyzing the clinicopathological characteristics of FEN1, we demonstrated that FEN1 overexpressed and that an inhibitory immune microenvironment was established in OSCC. In addition, we found that downregulating FEN1 inhibited the growth of OSCC tumors. In vitro studies provided evidence that FEN1 knockdown inhibited the biological behaviors of OSCC and caused DNA damage. Performing multiplex immunohistochemistry (mIHC), we directly observed that the acquisition of critical immunosuppressive phenotypes was correlated with the expression of FEN1. More importantly, FEN1 directly or indirectly regulated two typical immunosuppressive phenotype-related proteins human leukocyte antigen (HLA-DR) and programmed death receptor ligand 1 (PD-L1), through the interferon-gamma (IFN-γ)/janus kinase (JAK)/signal transducer and activator transcription 1 (STAT1) pathway. Our study highlights a new perspective on FEN1 action for the first time, providing theoretical evidence that it may be a potential immunotherapy target for OSCC.

IRF1 regulates self-renewal and stress-responsiveness to support hematopoietic stem cell maintenance

Inflammatory mediators induce emergency myelopoiesis and cycling of adult hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) through incompletely understood mechanisms. To suppress the unwanted effects of inflammation and preserve its beneficial outcomes, the mechanisms by which inflammation affects hematopoiesis need to be fully elucidated. Rather than focusing on specific inflammatory stimuli, we here investigated the role of transcription factor Interferon (IFN) regulatory factor 1 (IRF1), which receives input from several inflammatory signaling pathways. We identify IRF1 as a master HSC regulator. IRF1 loss impairs HSC self-renewal, increases stress-induced cell cycle activation, and confers apoptosis resistance. Transcriptomic analysis revealed an aged, inflammatory signature devoid of IFN signaling with reduced megakaryocytic/erythroid priming and antigen presentation in IRF1-deficient HSCs. Finally, we conducted IRF1-based AML patient stratification to identify groups with distinct proliferative, survival and differentiation features, overlapping with our murine HSC results. Our findings position IRF1 as a pivotal regulator of HSC preservation and stress-induced responses.

Roles of Pyroptosis-Related Genes in the Diagnosis and Subtype Classification of Periodontitis

Pyroptosis is widely involved in many diseases, including periodontitis. Nonetheless, the functions of pyroptosis-related genes (PRGs) in periodontitis are still not fully elucidated. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the role of PRGs in periodontitis. Three datasets (GSE10334, GSE16134, and GSE173078) from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) were selected to analyze the differences in expression values of the PRGs between nonperiodontitis and periodontitis tissue samples using difference analysis. Following this, five hub PRGs (charged multivesicular body protein 2B, granzyme B, Z-DNA-binding protein 1, interleukin-1β, and interferon regulatory factor 1) predicting periodontitis susceptibility were screened by establishing a random forest model, and a predictive nomogram model was constructed on the basis of these genes. Decision curve analysis suggested that the PRG-based predictive nomogram model could provide clinical benefits to patients. Three distinct PRG patterns (cluster A, cluster B, and cluster C) in the periodontitis samples were revealed according to the 48 significant PRGs, and the difference in the immune cell infiltration among the three patterns was explored. We observed that all infiltrating immune cells, except type 2 T helper cells, differ significantly among the three patterns. To quantify the PRG patterns, the PRG score was calculated by principal component analysis. According to the results, cluster B had the highest PRG score, followed by cluster A and cluster C. In conclusion, PRGs significantly contribute to the development of periodontitis. Our study of PRG patterns might open up a new avenue to guide individualized treatment plans for patients with periodontitis.

RNA-seq analysis revealed genes associated with neuropathic pain induced by chronic compressive injury in interferon regulatory factors 4 knockout mice

OBJECTIVE

To explore the differential expression of genes between wild-type chronic compressive injury (CCI) mice (WT-CCI) and interferon regulatory factors 4 (IRF4) knockout CCI mice (KO-CCI) by RNA-seq analysis of the mouse spinal cord.

METHODS

RNA-seq analysis of the spinal cord tissue of the chronic sciatic nerve ligation mice and Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analyses were used.

RESULTS

A total of 104 genes were up-regulated and 116 genes were down-regulated in spinal cord of the mice in IRF4 knockout (KO-CCI) group compared with that in the wild-type CCI (WT-CCI) group. There were 1472 differentially expressed genes in the biological process group, 62 differentially expressed genes in the cellular component group, and 163 differentially expressed genes in the molecular function group in KO-CCI mice. A total of 14 genes related to inflammatory reactions were differentially expressed. Real-time PCR results confirmed that Pparg and Grpr mRNA expression was up-regulated and Arg 1 and Ccl11 mRNA expression was down-regulated in the KO-CCI group.

CONCLUSION

IRF4 is involved in neuropathic pain in CCI mice, IRF4 may participate in neuropathic pain by regulating Grpr, Mas1, Galr3, Nos2, Arg1, Ccl11, Ptgs2, S100a8, Pparg, Cd40, Has2, Gpr151, Il123a, Capns2, Ankrd1, Ccnb1, and Nppb genes.

Coevolution of HTLV-1-HBZ, Tax, and proviral load with host IRF-1 and CCNA-2 in HAM/TSP patients

Background HTLV-1-associated myelopathy (HAM/TSP) is a progressive neurodegenerative inflammatory condition of HTLV-1 infection. Viral-host interactions are a significant contributor to the symptoms of HTLV-1-associated diseases. Therefore, in this study, the expression of the main regulatory viral factors and proviral load (PVL) and two host transcription molecules were evaluated in HAM/TSP patients. Materials and methods The study population included 17 HAM/TSP patients, 20 asymptomatic carriers (ACs), and 19 healthy controls (HCs). RNA and DNA were extracted from PBMCs for assessment of the gene expressions and PVL assessment using RT-qPCR and TaqMan method. Results HTLV-1-PVL was higher in HAM/TSPs (395.80 ± 99.69) than ACs (92.92 ± 29.41) (P = 0.001). The Tax expression in HAM/TSPs (7.8 ± 5.7) was strongly higher than ACs (0.06 ± 0.04) (P = 0.02), while HTLV-1-HBZ was only increased around three times in HAM/TSPs (3.17), compared to ACs (1.20) and not significant. The host IRF1 expression in HAM/TSPs (0.4 ± 0.31) was higher than ACs (0.09 ± 0.05) (P = 0.02) and also HCs (0.16 ± 0.07) (P = 0.5), but lower in ACs than HCs (p = 0.01). Although, in HAM/TSPs (0.13 ± 0.09) and ACs (0.03 ± 0.02) CCNA-2 expression was statistically fewer than HCs (0.18 ± 0.06) (P = 0.03, P = 0.001, respectively), in HAM/TSP was higher than ACs (P = 0.1), but did not meet a 95% confidence interval. Conclusion The study showed that HTLV-1-PVL and Tax, along with host IRF-1, could be considered biomarkers in HAM/TSP development. Furthermore, IRF-1, as an essential transcription factor, can be considered a pivotal target in HAM/TSPs treatment.

A Comprehensive Analysis of Interferon Regulatory Factor Expression: Correlation with Immune Cell Infiltration and Patient Prognosis in Endometrial Carcinoma

As a family of transcription factors, the correlations between expression pattern of nine interferon regulatory factor (IRF) family members, the immune invasion pattern, and the associated patient survival rate in endometrial carcinoma (EC) remain to be elucidated. Based on The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), the expression profiles of the high and low IRF mRNA expression groups were analyzed using R (3.6.3) statistical software. Gene annotation and pathway analyses were performed using Metascape. GSEA was performed using the R package clusterProfiler (3.6.3). The single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) was used to quantify the relative tumor infiltration levels of immune cell types. Immunohistochemistry data provided by HPA database was used to study the expression of the IRF proteins. Using the GEPIA dataset, the correlation between the expression of IRFs and the tumor stage of EC was analyzed. The correlations between the different IRFs were analyzed using cBioPortal. The expression of IRF2, IRF3, IRF5, IRF6, IRF7, IRF8, and IRF9 was different when comparing EC and normal endometrial samples. IRF2, IRF6, IRF7, and IRF8 were indicated to be potential diagnostic markers for EC. In combination with receiver operating characteristic analysis results, IRF2, IRF6, IRF7, and IRF8 were indicated to be potential diagnostic markers for EC. Levels of individual IRFs were associated with alternate outcomes, with the expression of IRF3 being correlated with the stage of EC and high expression of IRF4 being positively correlated with overall survival (OS); conversely, high expression of IRF5 was negatively correlated with OS. Additionally, high expression levels of both IRF2 and IRF4 were positively correlated with the disease-specific survival rate, and high expression of IRF4 was positively correlated with the progression-free interval. These data suggest a role for IRF2, IRF4, and IRF5 in the prognosis of EC. The expression of IRFs is associated with immune infiltration.

Elucidating tumour-associated microglia/macrophage diversity along glioblastoma progression and under ACOD1 deficiency

In glioblastoma (GBM), tumour‐associated microglia/macrophages (TAMs) represent the major cell type of the stromal compartment and contribute to tumour immune escape mechanisms. Thus, targeting TAMs is emerging as a promising strategy for immunotherapy. However, TAM heterogeneity and metabolic adaptation along GBM progression represent critical features for the design of effective TAM‐targeted therapies. Here, we comprehensively study the cellular and molecular changes of TAMs in the GL261 GBM mouse model, combining single‐cell RNA‐sequencing with flow cytometry and immunohistological analyses along GBM progression and in the absence of Acod1 (also known as Irg1), a key gene involved in the metabolic reprogramming of macrophages towards an anti‐inflammatory phenotype. Similarly to patients, we identify distinct TAM profiles, mainly based on their ontogeny, that reiterate the idea that microglia‐ and macrophage‐like cells show key transcriptional differences and dynamically adapt along GBM stages. Notably, we uncover decreased antigen‐presenting cell features and immune reactivity in TAMs along tumour progression that are instead enhanced in Acod1‐deficient mice. Overall, our results provide insight into TAM heterogeneity and highlight a novel role for Acod1 in TAM adaptation during GBM progression.

Innate immune suppression by SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccinations: The role of G-quadruplexes, exosomes, and MicroRNAs

The mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccines were brought to market in response to the public health crises of Covid-19. The utilization of mRNA vaccines in the context of infectious disease has no precedent. The many alterations in the vaccine mRNA hide the mRNA from cellular defenses and promote a longer biological half-life and high production of spike protein. However, the immune response to the vaccine is very different from that to a SARS-CoV-2 infection. In this paper, we present evidence that vaccination induces a profound impairment in type I interferon signaling, which has diverse adverse consequences to human health. Immune cells that have taken up the vaccine nanoparticles release into circulation large numbers of exosomes containing spike protein along with critical microRNAs that induce a signaling response in recipient cells at distant sites. We also identify potential profound disturbances in regulatory control of protein synthesis and cancer surveillance. These disturbances potentially have a causal link to neurodegenerative disease, myocarditis, immune thrombocytopenia, Bell's palsy, liver disease, impaired adaptive immunity, impaired DNA damage response and tumorigenesis. We show evidence from the VAERS database supporting our hypothesis. We believe a comprehensive risk/benefit assessment of the mRNA vaccines questions them as positive contributors to public health.

Development of a Prognostic Model Based on Pyroptosis-Related Genes in Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma

Background

The importance of pyroptosis in tumorigenesis and cancer progression is becoming increasingly apparent. However, the efficacy of using pyroptosis-related genes (PRGs) in predicting the prognosis of pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD) patients is unknown.

Methods

This investigation used two databases to obtain expression data for PAAD patients. Differentially expressed PRGs (DEPRGs) were identified between PAAD and control samples. Several bioinformatic approaches were used to analyze the biological functions of DEPRGs and to identify prognostic DERPGs. A miRNA-prognostic DEPRG-transcription factor (TF) regulatory network was created via the miRNet online tool. A risk score model was created after each patient's risk score was calculated. The microenvironments of the low- and high-risk groups were assessed using xCell, the expression of immune checkpoints was determined, and gene set variation analysis (GSVA) was performed. Finally, the efficacy of certain potential drugs was predicted using the pRRophetic algorithm, and the results in the high- and low-risk groups were compared.

Results

A total of 13 DEPRGs were identified between PAAD and control samples. Functional enrichment analysis showed that the DEPRGs had a close relationship with inflammation. In univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses, GSDMC, IRF1, and PLCG1 were identified as prognostic biomarkers in PAAD. The results of the miRNA-prognostic DEPRG-TF regulatory network showed that GSDMC, IRF1, and PLCG1 were regulated by both specific and common miRNAs and TFs. Based on the risk score and other independent prognostic indicators, a nomogram with a good ability to predict the survival of PAAD patients was developed. By evaluating the tumor microenvironment, we observed that the immune and metabolic microenvironments of the two groups were substantially different. In addition, individuals in the low-risk group were more susceptible to axitinib and camptothecin, whereas lapatinib might be preferred for patients in the high-risk group.

Conclusion

Our study revealed the prognostic value of PRGs in PAAD and created a reliable model for predicting the prognosis of PAAD patients. Our findings will benefit the prognostication and treatment of PAAD patients.

Effect of morroniside on the transcriptome profiles of rat in injured spinal cords

We have previously reported that morroniside promoted motor activity after spinal cord injury (SCI) in rats. However, the mechanism by which morroniside induces recovery of injured spinal cord (SC) remains unknown. In the current study, RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) was employed to evaluate changes of gene expressions at the transcriptional level of the injured spinal cords in morroniside-administrated rats. Principal component analysis, analysis of enriched Gene Ontology (GO), enrichment analyses Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway, and other bioinformatics analyses were executed to distinguish differentially expressed genes (DEGs). The results of RNA-seq confirmed the anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects of morroniside on injured SC tissues, and provided the basis for additional research of the mechanisms involving the protective effects of morroniside on SCI.

MicroRNA-383: A tumor suppressor miRNA in human cancer

Downregulated expression of anti-tumor miR-383 has been found in many kinds of cancer. MiR-383 family members can directly target the 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) of the mRNA of some pro-tumor genes to attenuate several cancer-related processes, including cell proliferation, invasion, migration, angiogenesis, immunosuppression, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, glycolysis, chemoresistance, and the development of cancer stem cells, whilst promoting apoptosis. Functionally, miR-383 operates as a tumor inhibitor miRNA in many types of cancer, including breast cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, gastric cancer, pancreatic cancer, colorectal cancer, esophageal cancer, lung cancer, head and neck cancer, glioma, medulloblastoma, melanoma, prostate cancer, cervical cancer, oral squamous cell carcinoma, thyroid cancer, and B-cell lymphoma. Both pro-tumor and anti-tumor effects have been attributed to miR-383 in ovarian cancer. However, only the pro-tumor effects of miR-383 were reported in cholangiocarcinoma. The restoration of miR-383 expression could be considered a possible treatment for cancer. This review discusses the anti-tumor effects of miR-383 in human cancers, emphasizing their downstream target genes and potential treatment approaches.

IRF7 is a Prognostic Biomarker and Associated with Immune Infiltration in Stomach Adenocarcinoma

Background

Stomach adenocarcinoma (STAD) is one of the most prevalent malignances, ranking fifth in incidence and third in mortality among all malignances. Interferon regulatory factors (IRFs) play a vital role in immune response and tumor cellular biological process. The roles of IRFs in STAD are far from being systematically clarified.

Methods

A series of bioinformatics tools, including GEPIA, UALCAN, TIMER, Kaplan–Meier plotter and LinkedOmics, were applied to explore the expression and clinical significance of IRFs in STAD.

Results

IRF3/7 expression were upregulated in STAD in sub-group analyses based on race, gender, age, H. Pylori infection status, histological subtypes, tumor grade, individual cancer stages, and nodal metastasis status. High IRF3/7 expression were associated with poor overall survival (OS), post-progression survival (PFPS) and first progression (FP) in STAD. IRF3 and IRF7 were altered in 5% and 6% of all TCGA STAD patients. Further analysis revealed that IRF7 was significantly associated with the abundance of immune cells (B cells, Neutrophils and Dendritic cells) and the expression of most immune biomarkers. Enrichment analysis indicated that IRF7 was mainly involved in adaptive immune response, NOD-like receptor signaling pathway, Necroptosis, and Toll-like receptor signaling pathway. We also identified several IRF7-associated kinase and miRNA targets in STAD. The result of verified experiment revealed that ITF7 expression was increased in STAD tissues compared with normal tissues and prognosis analysis revealed that STAD patients with high IRF7 expression had a poor overall survival.

Conclusion

IRF7 is upregulated in STAD and associated with poor OS, PPS and FP. Moreover, IRF7 is significantly associated with the abundance of immune cells and the expression of most immune biomarkers, suggesting that IRF7 is as a prognostic biomarker and associated with immune infiltration in STAD.

Integrative multiomics analysis highlights immune-cell regulatory mechanisms and shared genetic architecture for 14 immune-associated diseases and cancer outcomes

Developing functional insight into the causal molecular drivers of immunological disease is a critical challenge in genomic medicine. Here, we systematically apply Mendelian randomization (MR), genetic colocalization, immune-cell-type enrichment, and phenome-wide association methods to investigate the effects of genetically predicted gene expression on ten immune-associated diseases and four cancer outcomes. Using whole blood-derived estimates for regulatory variants from the eQTLGen consortium (n = 31,684), we constructed genetic risk scores for 10,104 genes. Applying the inverse-variance-weighted MR method transcriptome wide while accounting for linkage disequilibrium structure identified 664 unique genes with evidence of a genetically predicted effect on at least one disease outcome (p < 4.81 × 10-5). We next undertook genetic colocalization to investigate cell-type-specific effects at these loci by using gene expression data derived from 18 types of immune cells. This highlighted many cell-type-dependent effects, such as PRKCQ expression and asthma risk (posterior probability = 0.998), which was T cell specific. Phenome-wide analyses on 311 complex traits and endpoints allowed us to explore shared genetic architecture and prioritize key drivers of disease risk, such as CASP10, which provided evidence of an effect on seven cancer-related outcomes. Our atlas of results can be used to characterize known and novel loci in immune-associated disease and cancer susceptibility, both in terms of elucidating cell-type-dependent effects as well as dissecting shared disease pathways and pervasive pleiotropy. As an exemplar, we have highlighted several key findings in this study, although similar evaluations can be conducted via our interactive web platform.

Toll-like receptor 3 is a potential prognosis marker and associated with immune infiltration in stomach adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

Toll-like receptors participate in various biological mechanisms, mainly including the immune response and inflammatory response. Nevertheless, the role of TLRs in STAD remains unclear.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to explore the expression, prognosis performance of TLRs in STAD and their relationship with immune infiltration.

METHODS

Student's t-test was used to evaluate the expression of TLRs between STAD tissues and normal tissues. Kaplan-Meier method was applied to explored the prognosis value of TLRs in STAD. And qRT-PCR validated their expression and prognosis value. Spearman's correlation analysis and Wilcoxon rank-sum test were used to assess the association between TLRs and immune infiltration in STAD.

RESULTS

The mRNA level of TLR3 was downregulated in STAD. We summarized genetic mutations and CNV alteration of TLRs in STAD cohort. Prognosis analysis revealed that STAD patients with high TLR3 expression showed better prognosis in OS, FP and PPS. The result of qRT-PCR suggested that TLR3 expression was decreased in STAD tissues and STAD patients with high TLR3 mRNA level had a better OS. Univariate and multivariate cox regression analysis suggested TLR3 expression and clinical stage as independent factors affecting STAD patients' prognosis. A positive association existed between TLR3 expression and the abundance of immune cells and the expression of various immune biomarkers. Furthermore, key targets related to TLR3 were identified in STAD, mainly including MIR-129 (GCAAAAA), PLK1, and V$IRF1_01.

CONCLUSIONS

Our result demonstrated TLR3 as a prognosis marker and associated with immune infiltration in STAD.

The type-1 ribosome-inactivating protein OsRIP1 triggers caspase-independent apoptotic-like death in HeLa cells

Ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs) are capable of removing a specific adenine from 28S ribosomal RNA, thus inhibiting protein biosynthesis in an irreversible manner. In this study, recombinant OsRIP1, a type 1 RIP from rice (Oryza sativa L.), was investigated for its anti-proliferative properties. Human cervical cancer HeLa cells were incubated in the presence of OsRIP1 for 24-72 h. OsRIP1 treatment yielded an anti-proliferation response of the HeLa cells and resulted in apoptotic-like blebbing of the plasma membrane without causing DNA fragmentation. OsRIP1 labeled with FITC accumulated at the cell surface. Pull-down assays identified ASPP1 (Apoptosis-Stimulating Protein of p53 1) and IFITM3 (interferon-induced transmembrane protein 3) as potential interaction partners for OsRIP1. Transcript levels for several critical genes related to different signaling pathways were quantified by RT-qPCR. OsRIP1 provoked HeLa cells to undergo caspase-independent cell death, associated with a significant transcriptional upregulation of the apoptotic gene PUMA, interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF1) and the autophagy-related marker LC3. No changes in caspase activities were observed. Together, these data suggest that apoptotic-like events were involved in OsRIP1-driven caspase-independent cell death that might trigger the IRF1 signaling pathway and LC3-mediated autophagy.

IRF2 enhances RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation via regulating NF-κB/NFATc1 signaling

Interferon regulatory factors (IRFs) play roles in various biological processes including cytokine signaling, cell growth regulation and hematopoietic development. Although it has been reported that several IRFs are involved in bone metabolism, the role of IRF2 in bone cells has not been elucidated. Here, we investigated the involvement of IRF2 in RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation. IRF2 overexpression in osteoclast pre-cursor cells enhanced osteoclast differentiation by regulating the expression of NFATc1, a master regulator of osteoclasto-genesis. Conversely, IRF2 knockdown inhibited osteoclast differentiation and decreased the NFATc1 expression. Moreover, IRF2 increased the translocation of NF-κB subunit p65 to the nucleus in response to RANKL and subsequently induced the expression of NFATc1. IRF2 plays an important role in RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation by regulating NF-κB/NFATc1 signaling pathway. Taken together, we demonstrated the molecular mechanism of IRF2 in osteoclast differentiation, and provide a molecular basis for potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of bone diseases characterized by excessive bone resorption.

The Smac mimetic BV6 cooperates with STING to induce necroptosis in apoptosis-resistant pancreatic carcinoma cells

Pancreatic cancer (PC) still remains a major cause of cancer-related death worldwide and alternative treatments are urgently required. A common problem of PC is the development of resistance against apoptosis that limits therapeutic success. Here we demonstrate that the prototypical Smac mimetic BV6 cooperates with the stimulator of interferon (IFN) genes (STING) ligand 2',3'-cyclic guanosine monophosphate-adenosine monophosphate (2'3'-cGAMP) to trigger necroptosis in apoptosis-deficient PC cells. Pharmacological inhibition of key components of necroptosis signaling, such as receptor-interacting protein 1 (RIPK1), RIPK3, and mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein (MLKL), significantly rescues PC cells from 2'3'-cGAMP/BV6/zVAD.fmk-mediated cell death, suggesting the induction of necroptosis. Consistently, 2'3'-cGAMP/BV6 co-treatment promotes phosphorylation of MLKL. Furthermore, we show that 2'3'-cGAMP stimulates the production of type I IFNs, which cooperate with BV6 to trigger necroptosis in apoptosis-deficient settings. STING silencing via siRNA or CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene knockout protects PC cells from 2'3'-cGAMP/BV6/zVAD.fmk-mediated cell death. Interestingly, we demonstrate that nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα), and IFN-regulatory factor 1 (IRF1) signaling are involved in triggering 2'3'-cGAMP/BV6/zVAD.fmk-induced necroptosis. In conclusion, we show that activated STING and BV6 act together to exert antitumor effects on PC cells with important implications for the design of new PC treatment concepts.

Improving outcomes in germ cell cancers using miRNA

Owing to advances in treatment paradigms across the last five decades, testicular cancer is now eminently curable. However, current serum tumour and imaging biomarkers lack adequate sensitivity, specificity, and predictive value. Subsequently, their utility in detecting active malignancy and informing treatment decisions is minimal in a large proportion of men with testicular cancer. Micro-ribonucleic acids (miRNA), pertinently miR-371a-3p, offer a new tool, which based on early data, appears to fill many of the gaps that existing biomarkers leave. This paper reviews the evolution of the technology, potential limitations, and discusses the clinical relevance of miRNA as it moves towards the clinic.

New Insights into Molecular Mechanism behind Anti-Cancer Activities of Lycopene

Lycopene is a well-known compound found commonly in tomatoes which brings wide range of health benefits against cardiovascular diseases and cancers. From an anti-cancer perspective, lycopene is often associated with reduced risk of prostate cancer and people often look for it as a dietary supplement which may help to prevent cancer. Previous scientific evidence exhibited that the anti-cancer activity of lycopene relies on its ability to suppress oncogene expressions and induce proapoptotic pathways. To further explore the real potential of lycopene in cancer prevention, this review discusses the new insights and perspectives on the anti-cancer activities of lycopene which could help to drive new direction for research. The relationship between inflammation and cancer is being highlighted, whereby lycopene suppresses cancer via resolution of inflammation are also discussed herein. The immune system was found to be a part of the anti-cancer system of lycopene as it modulates immune cells to suppress tumor growth and progression. Lycopene, which is under the family of carotenoids, was found to play special role in suppressing lung cancer.

IRF1 regulates the progression of colorectal cancer via interferon‑induced proteins

Radiation is one of the main methods for the treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC) before or after surgery. However, radiotherapy tolerance of patients with CRC is often a major concern. Interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF1) is a member of the IRF family and is involved in the development of multiple diseases, including tumors. The present study investigated the role of IRF1 in the development and radiation sensitivity of CRC. Immunohistochemistry was performed to examine the expression levels of IRF1 in tissue samples from patients with CRC, as well as in nude mice. MTT, 5‑ethynyl‑20‑deoxyuridine, colony formation, cell cycle alteration and apoptosis assays were performed in CRC cell lines. Western blotting and immunofluorescence were used to detect the expression levels of a series of proteins. RNA sequencing was applied to identify genes whose expression was upregulated by IRF1 overexpression. Xenograft nude mouse models and hematoxylin and eosin staining were used to validate the present findings in vivo. It was revealed that the expression levels of IRF1 were significantly lower in CRC tissues than in adjacent tissues. IRF1 upregulation inhibited cell proliferation and colony formation, caused G1 cell arrest, promoted cell apoptosis, and enhanced the sensitivity of CRC cells to X‑ray irradiation. The role of IRF1 in promoting the radiosensitivity of CRC was further demonstrated in nude mice with CRC xenografts. In addition, RNA sequencing revealed that overexpression of IRF1 in CRC cells significantly increased the expression levels of interferon‑induced protein family members interferon α inducible protein 6, interferon induced transmembrane protein 1 and interferon induced protein 35 (fold change >2.0). In summary, the present study demonstrated that the upregulation of IRF1 inhibited the progression and promoted the radiosensitivity of CRC, likely by regulating interferon‑induced proteins.

Negative Regulation of SIRT1 by IRF9 Involved in Hyperlipidemia Acute Pancreatitis Associated with Kidney Injury

BACKGROUND

Interferon regulatory factor 9 (IRF9) acts as a negative regulator of sirtuin-1 (SIRT1) to participate in many diseases. However, the role of SIRT1 and IRF9 in hyperlipidemia acute pancreatitis associated with kidney injury is unclear.

AIMS

To explore the function of SIRT1 and IRF9 in hyperlipidemia acute pancreatitis associated with kidney injury and provide theoretical guidance for disease diagnosis and treatment.

METHODS

Model rats were established by intraperitoneal injection of 20% L-arginine. Apoptosis of kidney tissue was determined by TUNEL staining. Expressions of IRF9, SIRT1, p53, and acetylated p53 were detected by qRT-PCR and Western blot. Dual-Luciferase Reporter Assay was carried out to validate the regulation of IRF9 on SIRT1.

RESULTS

Pancreatic and renal injury was more serious, and apoptosis of kidney epithelial cells increased in acute pancreatitis (AP) and hyperlipidemia acute pancreatitis (HLAP) group. IRF9, p53, and acetylated p53 were up-regulated, and SIRT1 was down-regulated in AP and HLAP group (p < 0.05). Down-regulation of SIRT1 was negatively correlated with up-regulation of IRF9 in AP and HLAP group (p < 0.05). Pancreatic and renal injury and kidney epithelial cells apoptosis in HLAP group were more obvious than AP group (p < 0.05). The up-regulation of IRF9 and down-regulation of SIRT1 in HLAP group were more than AP group (p < 0.05). The promoter activity of SIRT1 was repressed by IRF9.

CONCLUSION

In pancreatitis associated with kidney injury, IRF9 was a negative regulator of SIRT1, down-regulated the expression of SIRT1, increased acetylated p53, and promoted renal cell apoptosis. Hyperlipidemia further aggravated pancreatic and renal injury and renal cell apoptosis.

Inhibition of interferon-signalling halts cancer-associated fibroblast-dependent protection of breast cancer cells from chemotherapy

BACKGROUND

Triple negative breast cancers (TNBC) have poor prognoses despite aggressive treatment with cytotoxic chemotherapy. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are prominent in tumour stroma. Our hypothesis was that CAFs modulate chemotherapy sensitivity.

METHODS

TNBC cells and breast fibroblasts were cultured; survival after chemotherapeutics was assessed using luciferase or clonogenic assays. Signalling was investigated using transcriptomics, reporters, recombinant proteins and blocking antibodies. Clinical relevance was investigated using immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

Breast CAFs dose-dependently protected TNBC cell lines MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-157, but not MDA-MB-468s, from chemotherapy. CAF-induced protection was associated with interferon (IFN) activation. CAFs were induced to express IFNβ1 by chemotherapy and TNBC co-culture, leading to paracrine activation in cancer cells. Recombinant IFNs were sufficient to protect MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-157 but not MDA-MB-468 cells. In TNBC patients, IFNβ1 expression in CAFs correlated with cancer cell expression of MX1, a marker of activated IFN signalling. High expression of IFNβ1 (CAFs) or MX1 (tumour cells) correlated with reduced survival after chemotherapy, especially in claudin-low tumours (which MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-157 cells represent). Antibodies that block IFN receptors reduced CAF-dependent chemoprotection.

CONCLUSIONS

CAF-induced activation of IFN signalling in claudin-low TNBCs results in chemoresistance. Inhibition of this pathway represents a novel method to improve breast cancer outcomes.

A rapid method for solubilization of chimeric human interferon regulatory factor-1 (IRF-1) protein in Escherichia coli

Interferon regulatory factor-1 (IRF-1) is a vertebrate transcription factor that plays significant roles in cell cycle regulation, anti-viral response, tumor suppression and immune response. High-level expression of recombinant IRF-1 at 37 °C leads to the formation of insoluble aggregates (insoluble fraction) in Escherichia coli (E. coli), which usually devoid of biological activity. In this study, we use chemical additives such as mannitol, proline, L-arginine and CTAB (cetyl trimethly ammonium bromide) at the recommended concentration during cell lysis to aid in solubility at 37 °C. The use of additives resulted in the increased solubility of the recombinant glutathione S-transferase-linked human IRF-1, with L-arginine being most effective. Here, we developed an efficient process for the manufacturing of soluble IRF-1 with the aid of minimizing the formation of degradation products and optimizing protein purification conditions. This result was further confirmed by western blot with anti-GST and anti-IRF-1 polyclonal antibodies. The functionality of GST-huIRF-1 was attained by elerophoretic mobility shift assay study as a clear band shifting showed with virus response element-Interferon beta (VRE-IFN_β) promoter region. Taken together, the biological activity of purified GST-huIRF-1 was also optimized and confirmed by supershift assay concluded that GST-huIRF-1 interacts with the VRE motif of IFN_β promoter that reflected to require for IFN_β gene regulation. We describe a straightforward approach for the production of absolutely soluble and biologically active IRF-1 in E. coli. This method can be further used for the study of other recombinant proteins and this study will pave way for the analysis of IRF-1 function in vitro.

Comprehensive characterisation of intronic mis-splicing mutations in human cancers

Previous studies studying mis-splicing mutations were based on exome data and thus our current knowledge is largely limited to exons and the canonical splice sites. To comprehensively characterise intronic mis-splicing mutations, we analysed 1134 pan-cancer whole genomes and transcriptomes together with 3022 normal control samples. The ratio-based splicing analysis resulted in 678 somatic intronic mutations, with 46% residing in deep introns. Among the 309 deep intronic single nucleotide variants, 245 altered core splicing codes, with 38% activating cryptic splice sites, 12% activating cryptic polypyrimidine tracts, and 36% and 12% disrupting authentic polypyrimidine tracts and branchpoints, respectively. All the intronic cryptic splice sites were created at pre-existing GT/AG dinucleotides or by GC-to-GT conversion. Notably, 85 deep intronic mutations indicated gain of splicing enhancers or loss of splicing silencers. We found that 64 tumour suppressors were affected by intronic mutations and blood cancers showed higher proportion of deep intronic mutations. In particular, a telomere maintenance gene, POT1, was recurrently mis-spliced by deep intronic mutations in blood cancers. We validated a pseudoexon activation involving a splicing silencer in POT1 by CRISPR/Cas9. Our results shed light on previously unappreciated mechanisms by which noncoding mutations acting on splicing codes in deep introns contribute to tumourigenesis.

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.

MR1 overexpression correlates with poor clinical prognosis in glioma patients

BACKGROUND

Glioblastoma is the most common adult primary brain tumor with near-universal fatality. Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules are important mediators of CD8 activation and can be downregulated by cancer cells to escape immune surveillance. MR1 is a nonclassical MHC-I-like molecule responsible for the activation of a subset of T cells. Although high levels of MR1 expression should enhance cancer cell recognition, various tumors demonstrate MR1 overexpression with unknown implications. Here, we study the role of MR1 in glioma.

METHODS

Using multi-omics data from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), we studied MR1 expression patterns and its impact on survival for various solid tumors. In glioma specifically, we validated MR1 expression by histology, elucidate transcriptomic profiles of MR1 high versus low gliomas. To understand MR1 expression, we analyzed the methylation status of the MR1 gene and MR1 gene-related transcription factor (TF) expression.

RESULTS

MR1 is overexpressed in all grades of glioma and many other solid cancers. However, only in glioma, MR1 overexpression correlated with poor overall survival and demonstrated global dysregulation of many immune-related genes in an MR1-dependent manner. MR1 overexpression correlated with decreased MR1 gene methylation and upregulation of predicted MR1 promoter binding TFs, implying MR1 gene methylation might regulate MR1 expression in glioma.

CONCLUSIONS

Our in silico analysis shows that MR1 expression is a predictor of clinical outcome in glioma patients and is potentially regulated at the epigenetic level, resulting in immune-related genes dysregulation. These findings need to be validated using independent in vitro and in vivo functional studies.

The multifaceted roles of sulfane sulfur species in cancer-associated processes

Sulfane sulfur species comprise a variety of biologically relevant hydrogen sulfide (H₂S)-derived species, including per- and poly-sulfidated low molecular weight compounds and proteins. A growing body of evidence suggests that H₂S, currently recognized as a key signaling molecule in human physiology and pathophysiology, plays an important role in cancer biology by modulating cell bioenergetics and contributing to metabolic reprogramming. This is accomplished through functional modulation of target proteins via H₂S binding to heme iron centers or H₂S-mediated reversible per- or poly-sulfidation of specific cysteine residues. Since sulfane sulfur species are increasingly viewed not only as a major source of H₂S but also as key mediators of some of the biological effects commonly attributed to H₂S, the multifaceted role of these species in cancer biology is reviewed here with reference to H₂S, focusing on their metabolism, signaling function, impact on cell bioenergetics and anti-tumoral properties.

Identifying the Transcriptional Response of Cancer and Inflammation-Related Genes in Lung Cells in Relation to Ambient Air Chemical Mixtures in Houston, Texas

Atmospheric pollution represents a complex mixture of air chemicals that continually interact and transform, making it difficult to accurately evaluate associated toxicity responses representative of real-world exposure. This study leveraged data from a previously published article and reevaluated lung cell transcriptional response induced by outdoor atmospheric pollution mixtures using field-based exposure conditions in the industrialized Houston Ship Channel. The tested hypothesis was that individual and co-occurring chemicals in the atmosphere relate to altered expression of critical genes involved in inflammation and cancer-related processes in lung cells. Human lung cells were exposed at an air-liquid interface to ambient air mixtures for 4 h, with experiments replicated across 5 days. Real-time monitoring of primary and secondary gas-phase pollutants, as well as other atmospheric conditions, was simultaneously conducted. Transcriptional analysis of exposed cells identified critical genes showing differential expression associated with both individual and chemical mixtures. The individual pollutant identified with the largest amount of associated transcriptional response was benzene. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRFN1) were identified as key upstream transcription factor regulators of the cellular response to benzene. This study is among the first to measure lung cell transcriptional responses in relation to real-world, gas-phase air mixtures.

IκB kinase-ε-mediated phosphorylation triggers IRF-1 degradation in breast cancer cells

Interferon Regulatory Factors (IRFs) are key regulators of immunity, cell survival and apoptosis. IRF transcriptional activity and subcellular localization are tightly regulated by posttranscriptional modifications including phosphorylation. The IκB kinase family member IKK-ε is essential in regulating antiviral innate immunity mediated by IRFs but is now also recognized as an oncoprotein amplified and overexpressed in breast cancer cell lines and patient-derived tumors. In the present study, we report that the tumor suppressor IRF-1 is a specific target of IKK-ε in breast cancer cells. IKK-ε-mediated phosphorylation of IRF-1 dramatically decreases IRF-1 protein stability, accelerating IRF-1 degradation and quenching IRF-1 transcriptional activity. Chemical inhibition of IKK-ε activity, fully restores IRF-1 levels and function and positively correlates with inhibition of cell growth and proliferation of breast cancer cells. By using a breast cancer cell line stably expressing a dominant negative version of IRF-1 we were able to demonstrate that IKK-ε preferentially exerts its oncogenic potential in breast cancer through the regulation of IRF-1 and point to the IKK-ε-mediated phosphorylation of IRF-1 as a therapeutic target to overcome IKK-ε-mediated tumorigenesis.

Long non-coding RNA expression profiles and related regulatory networks in areca nut chewing-induced tongue squamous cell carcinoma

Areca nut chewing is an important risk factor for developing tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC), although the underlying molecular mechanism is unknown. To determine the potential molecular mechanisms of areca nut chewing-induced TSCC, the present study performed whole-genome detection with five pairs of TSCC and adjacent normal tissues, via mRNA- and long non-coding (lnc)RNA-gene chip analysis. A total of 3,860 differentially expressed genes were identified, including 2,193 lncRNAs and 1,667 mRNAs. Gene set-enrichment analysis revealed that the differentially expressed mRNAs were enriched in chromosome 22q13, 8p21 and 3p21 regions, and were regulated by nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and interferon regulatory factors (IRFs). The results of ingenuity pathway analysis revealed that these mRNAs were significantly enriched for inflammatory immune-related signaling pathways. A co-expression network of mRNAs and lncRNAs was constructed by performing weighted gene co-expression network analysis. The present study focused on NF-κB-, IRF- and Th cell-signaling pathway-related lncRNAs and the corresponding mRNA-lncRNA regulatory networks. To the best of our knowledge, the present study was the first to investigate differential mRNA- and lncRNA-expression profiles in TSCCs induced by areca nut chewing. Inflammation-related mRNA-lncRNA regulatory networks driven by IRFs and NF-κB were identified, as well as the Th cell-related signaling pathways that play important carcinogenic roles in areca nut chewing-induced TSCC. These differentially expressed mRNAs and lncRNAs, and their regulatory networks provide insight for further analysis on the molecular mechanism of areca nut chewing-induced TSCC, candidate molecular markers and targets for further clinical intervention.

A novel function of IRF9 in acute pancreatitis by modulating cell apoptosis, proliferation, migration, and suppressing SIRT1-p53

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is an inflammatory disease caused by the abnormal activation of pancreatic enzymes in the pancreas, with a considerably high morbidity and mortality. However, the etiological factor and pathogenesis of AP are still unclear. This study was aimed to explore the role and mechanism of interferon regulatory factor 9 (IRF9) in the occurrence of AP and to provide experimental and theoretical foundation for AP diagnosis and treatment. AP model in vitro was established by caerulein-induced group. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) was designed and constructed to silence IRF9 gene. After siRNA transfected and caerulein treated successfully, the expression levels of IRF9, SIRT1, and acetylated p53 (Ac-p53) were determined by qRT-PCR and Western blot. The apoptosis, proliferation, and migration of AR42J cells were checked by flow cytometry, MTT, and transwell assay. Dual-luciferase reporter assay was implemented to validate the regulatory effect of IRF9 on SIRT1. Here, our study showed that the expression of IRF9 and Ac-p53 was increased, SIRT1 was decreased, and cell apoptosis, proliferation, and migration of AR42J cells were increased after caerulein induced. IRF9 gene silencing upregulated SIRT1, downregulated Ac-p53, and inhibited cell apoptosis, proliferation, and migration. Dual-Luciferase reporter assay showed that IRF9 could negatively regulate SIRT1. The potential mechanism was that IRF9 could modulate cell apoptosis, proliferation, migration, and bind the promoter of SIRT1 to repress SIRT1-p53. It hinted that IRF9 showed a novel function in AP by modulating cell apoptosis, proliferation, migration, and suppressing SIRT1-p53. IRF9 might be a good potential treatment target for AP.

Depleting interferon regulatory factor-1(IRF-1) with CRISPR/Cas9 attenuates inducible oxidative metabolism without affecting RA-induced differentiation in HL-60 human AML cells

The known collaboration between all‐transretinoic acid and interferon motivates this study of the dependence of RA‐induced leukemic cell differentiation on interferon regulatory factor‐1 (IRF‐1), a transcription factor that is the main mediator of interferon effects. In the HL‐60 acute myeloid leukemia (AML) model that represents a rare RA‐responsive subtype of AML, IRF‐1 is not expressed until RA induces its prominent expression, and ectopic IRF‐1 expression enhances RA‐induced differentiation, motivating interest in how IRF‐1 is putatively needed for RA response. Accordingly, we created CRISPR/Cas9‐mediated IRF‐1 knockout HL‐60 cells. Contrary to expectation, loss of IRF‐1 did not diminish RA‐induced cellular signaling that propels differentiation, and RA‐induced cell differentiation markers, including CD38 and CD11b expression and G1/G0cell cycle arrest, were unaffected. However, elimination of IRF‐1 inhibited RA‐induced p47phox expression and inducible oxidative metabolism detected by reactive oxygen species (ROS), suggesting IRF‐1 is essential for mature granulocytic inducible oxidative metabolism. In the case of 1,25‐Dihydroxyvitamin D3‐induced differentiation to monocytes, IRF‐1 loss did not affect D3‐induced expression of CD38, CD11b, and CD14, and G1/0 arrest; but inhibited ROS production. Our data suggest that IRF‐1 is inessential for differentiation but upregulates p47phox expression for mature‐cell ROS production.

A dual role of Irf1 in maintaining epithelial identity but also enabling EMT and metastasis formation of breast cancer cells

An epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is an embryonic dedifferentiation program which is aberrantly activated in cancer cells to acquire cellular plasticity. This plasticity increases the ability of breast cancer cells to invade into surrounding tissue, to seed metastasis at distant sites and to resist to chemotherapy. In this study, we have observed a higher expression of interferon-related factors in basal-like and claudin-low subtypes of breast cancer in patients, known to be associated with EMT. Notably, Irf1 exerts essential functions during the EMT process, yet it is also required for the maintenance of an epithelial differentiation status of mammary gland epithelial cells: RNAi-mediated ablation of Irf1 in mammary epithelial cells results in the expression of mesenchymal factors and Smad transcriptional activity. Conversely, ablation of Irf1 during TGFβ-induced EMT prevents a mesenchymal transition and stabilizes the expression of E-cadherin. In the basal-like murine breast cancer cell line 4T1, RNAi-mediated ablation of Irf1 reduces colony formation and cell migration in vitro and shedding of circulating tumor cells and metastasis formation in vivo. This context-dependent dual role of Irf1 in the regulation of epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity provides important new insights into the functional contribution and therapeutic potential of interferon-regulated factors in breast cancer.

ZBED2 is an antagonist of interferon regulatory factor 1 and modifies cell identity in pancreatic cancer

Lineage plasticity is a prominent feature of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) cells, which can occur via deregulation of lineage-specifying transcription factors. Here, we show that the zinc finger protein ZBED2 is aberrantly expressed in PDA and alters tumor cell identity in this disease. Unexpectedly, our epigenomic experiments reveal that ZBED2 is a sequence-specific transcriptional repressor of IFN-stimulated genes, which occurs through antagonism of IFN regulatory factor 1 (IRF1)-mediated transcriptional activation at cooccupied promoter elements. Consequently, ZBED2 attenuates the transcriptional output and growth arrest phenotypes downstream of IFN signaling in multiple PDA cell line models. We also found that ZBED2 is preferentially expressed in the squamous molecular subtype of human PDA, in association with inferior patient survival outcomes. Consistent with this observation, we show that ZBED2 can repress the pancreatic progenitor transcriptional program, enhance motility, and promote invasion in PDA cells. Collectively, our findings suggest that high ZBED2 expression is acquired during PDA progression to suppress the IFN response pathway and to promote lineage plasticity in this disease.

Understanding the Action of RARγ Agonists on Human Osteochondroma Explants

Osteochondromas are cartilage-capped growths located proximate to the physis that can cause skeletal deformities, pain, limited motion, and neurovascular impingement. Previous studies have demonstrated retinoic acid receptor gamma (RARγ) agonists to inhibit ectopic endochondral ossification, therefore we hypothesize that RARγ agonists can target on established osteochondromas. The purpose of this study was to examine the action of RARγ agonist in human osteochondromas. Osteochondroma specimens were obtained during surgery, subjected to explant culture and were treated with RARγ agonists or vehicles. Gene expression analysis confirmed the up-regulation of RARγ target genes in the explants treated with NRX 204647 and Palovarotene and revealed strong inhibition of cartilage matrix and increased extracellular matrix proteases gene expression. In addition, immunohistochemical staining for the neoepitope of protease-cleaved aggrecan indicated that RARγ agonist treatment stimulated cartilage matrix degradation. Interestingly, cell survival studies demonstrated that RARγ agonist treatment stimulated cell death. Moreover, RNA sequencing analysis indicates changes in multiple molecular pathways due to RARγ agonists treatment, showing similarly to human growth plate chondrocytes. Together, these findings suggest that RARγ agonist may exert anti-tumor function on osteochondromas by inhibiting matrix synthesis, promoting cartilage matrix degradation and stimulating cell death.

IRF1 Negatively Regulates Oncogenic KPNA2 Expression Under Growth Stimulation and Hypoxia in Lung Cancer Cells

Purpose

Karyopherin alpha 2 (KPNA2) has been reported as an oncogenic protein in numerous human cancers and is currently considered a potential therapeutic target. However, the transcriptional regulation and physiological conditions underlying KPNA2 expression remain unclear. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role and regulation of interferon regulatory factor-1 (IRF1) in modulating KPNA2 expression in lung adenocarcinoma (ADC).

Materials and methods

Bioinformatics tools and chromatin immunoprecipitation were used to analyze the transcription factor (TF) binding sites in the KPNA2 promoter region. We searched for a potential role of IRF1 in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) using Oncomine and Kaplan-Meier Plotter datasets. qRT-PCR was applied to examine the role of IRF1 and signaling involved in regulating KPNA2 transcription. Western blotting was used to determine the effects of extracellular stimulation and intracellular signaling on the modulation of KPNA2-related TF expression.

Results

IRF1 was identified as a novel TF that suppresses KPNA2 gene expression. We observed that IRF1 expression was lower in cancerous tissues than in normal lung tissues and that its low expression was correlated with poor prognosis in NSCLC. Notably, both ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) and mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors reduced KPNA2 expression, which was accompanied by increased expression of IRF1 but decreased expression of E2F1, a TF that promotes KPNA2 expression in lung ADC cells. IRF1 knockdown restored the reduced levels of KPNA2 in ATM inhibitor-treated cells. We further demonstrated that epidermal growth factor (EGF)-activated mTOR and hypoxia-induced ATM suppressed IRF1 expression but promoted E2F1 expression, which in turn upregulated KPNA2 expression in lung ADC cells.

Conclusion

IRF1 acts as a potential tumor suppressor in NSCLC. EGF and hypoxia promote KPNA2 expression by simultaneously suppressing IRF1 expression and enhancing E2F1 expression in lung ADC cells. Our study provides new insights into targeted therapy for lung cancer.

IRF1 association with tumor immune microenvironment and use as a diagnostic biomarker for colorectal cancer recurrence

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is considered to be one of the most lethal cancer types globally, and its recurrence is a major treatment challenge. Identifying the factors involved when determining the risk of CRC recurrence is required to improve personalized therapy for patients with CRC. Based on the GSE39582 dataset, the present study demonstrated that a higher ratio of M1 macrophages and activated memory CD4⁺ T cells indicated a better recurrence-free survival (RFS) time for CRC, using CIBERSORT and Pearson's correlation analysis. Through weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA), an immune-associated module was identified that was significantly positively correlated with the ratio of M1 macrophages and activated memory CD4⁺ T cells. In this module, using WGCNA and a protein-protein interaction network, interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF1), chemokine ligand 5, ubiquitin/ISG15-conjugating enzyme E2 L6, guanylate binding protein 1 and interleukin 2 receptor subunit beta were identified as hub genes. Among these genes, univariate Cox and multivariate Cox analysis revealed that IRF1 may be a potential diagnostic biomarker for RFS in patients with CRC. This was further validated using The Cancer Genome Atlas data. Gene set enrichment analysis demonstrated that IRF1 influenced the genes and pathways that are associated with immune cell recruitment and activation. Additionally, the DNA methylation of cg27587780 and cg15375424 CpG sites in the IRF1 gene region was indicated to be negatively correlated with IRF1 mRNA expression and positively correlated with the recurrence of CRC. Collectively, the results of the present study demonstrated that IRF1 may be a potential diagnostic biomarker for RFS in patients with CRC.