Nuclear receptor NR5A2 negatively regulates cell proliferation and tumor growth in nervous system malignancies

NR5A2 gene affects the overall survival of LUAD patients by regulating the activity of CSCs through SNP pathway by OCLR algorithm and immune score

Objective

Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) tumor stem cells were screened, and the biological characteristics of NR5A2 gene were investigated.

Methods

The expression and prognosis of NR5A2 in human LUAD were predicted and analyzed through bioinformatics analysis from a human cancer database. Gene expression and clinical data of LUAD tumor and normal lung tissues were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, and DEGs associated with lung cancer tumor stem cells (CSCs) were screened. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression models were used to screen and establish prognostic risk prediction models. The immune function of the patients was scored according to the model, and the relative immune functions of the high- and low-risk groups were compared to determine the difference in survival prognosis between the two groups. In addition, we calculated the index of stemness based on the transcriptome of the samples using one-class linear regression (OCLR).

Results

Bioinformatics analysis of a clinical cancer database showed that NR5A2 was significantly decreased in human LUAD tissues than in normal lung tissues, and the decrease in NR5A2 gene expression shortened the overall survival and progression-free survival of patients with LUAD.

Conclusion

The NR5A2 gene may regulate LUAD tumor stem cells through selective splicing mutations, thereby affecting the survival and prognosis of patients with lung cancer, and the NR5A2 gene may regulate CSCs through single nucleotide polymorphism.

NR5A2 promotes malignancy progression and mediates the effect of cisplatin in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma

INTRODUCTION

Nuclear receptor subfamily five group A member two (NR5A2) plays a key role in the development of many tumor types, while it is uncertain in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC). The aim of this work was to determine the role of NR5A2 in cSCC proliferation, and to determine whether NR5A2 mediates the effect of cisplatin in cSCC.

METHODS

We performed a systematic study of existing data and conducted a preliminary bioinformatics analysis of NR5A2 expression in cSCC using bioinformatics databases. Immunohistochemical staining was performed on cSCC tissues of seven patients to study NR5A2 expression. NR5A2 expression was examined in human keratin-forming cells (HaCaT) and human cSCC cells (A431, Colo-16, SCL-1, SCL-2, and HSC-5). Stable A431 and SCL-2 cell lines consisting of sh-RNA-NR5A2 were constructed to detect changes in cell proliferation, cell cycle, apoptosis, and to determine the key proteins in the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. We also investigated changes in the effects of cisplatin on cSCC cells by CCK-8, clone formation assay, and Flow apoptosis assay after NR5A2 knockdown.

RESULTS

NR5A2 showed enhanced expression in cSCC tissues than in healthy tissues. Downregulation of NR5A2 in cSCC cells led to the formation of a less malignant phenotype. In contrast, the proliferative capacity of the cSCC cells was enhanced posttreatment with RJW100, an NR5A2 agonist. Additionally, NR5A2 knockdown led to a decrease in the expression level of the proteins in the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, and this inhibition was reversed by LiCl and recombinant antibody, Wnt3a. Moreover, NR5A2 knockdown resulted in diminished proliferative capacity and increased apoptotic cells after the addition of cisplatin.

CONCLUSION

NR5A2 plays a crucial role in the progression of cSCC, and the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway may be involved in the regulation of NR5A2-mediated cSCC. Knockdown of NR5A2 enhanced both the proliferation inhibiting and apoptosis promoting effects of cisplatin on cSCC.

Cyclohexene oxide CA, a derivative of zeylenone, exhibits anti-cancer activity in glioblastoma by inducing G0/G1 phase arrest through interference with EZH2

Introduction: Due to its highly aggressiveness and malignancy, glioblastoma (GBM) urgently requires a safe and effective treatment strategy. Zeylenone, a natural polyoxygenated cyclohexenes compound isolated from Uvaria grandiflora, has exhibited potential biological activities in various human diseases, including tumors. Methods: We designed and synthesized a series of (+)-Zeylenone analogues and evaluated their anti-GBM roles through structural-activity analysis. Cell Counting Kit-8, TUNEL, transwell and flow cytometry were employed for investigating the anticancer effects of CA on GBM cells. Western blotting, molecular docking, qRT-PCR and ChIP assays were performed to reveal the underlying mechanisms by which CA regulates the GBM cell cycle. The nude mouse xenograft model, HE staining, immunohistochemistry and was used to evaluate the anticancer effect of CA in vivo. Results: We identified CA ((1R, 2R, 3S)-3-p-fluorobenzoyl-zeylenone) as having the lowest IC50 value in GBM cells. CA treatment significantly inhibited the malignant behaviors of GBM cells and induced G0/G1 phase arrest in vitro. Furthermore, we validated the molecular mechanism by which CA interferes with EZH2, attenuating the down-regulation of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors p27 and p16 by the PRC2 complex. By establishing orthotopic nude mice models, we further validated the inhibitory role of CA on tumorigenesis of GBM cells in vivo and its potential values to synergistically potentiate the anti-tumor effects of EZH2 inhibitors. Conclusion: Overall, this paper elucidated the anti-GBM effects and potential mechanisms of CA, and may provide a therapeutic drug candidate for GBM treatment.

NR5A2 as a potential target for exercise to improve metabolic syndrome

BACKGROUND

Metabolic syndrome is a syndrome of a variety of metabolic disorders. Exercise is beneficial to the human body. However, the association of NR5A2 and exercise with metabolic syndrome remains unclear.

METHODS

Download the GSE10540 and GSE12385 from GEO database. Bioinformatics analysis was used to screen the hub molecular of the metabolic syndrome. Forty 3-week-old C57BL/6J male mice were used in this study. The mean body weight was (17.5 ± 2.1) g. After 10 days of adaptive feeding, they were randomly divided into 4 groups according to the random number table method: Model + Exercise (n = 10), Model (n = 10), Model/NR5A2-OE (n = 10), Model/NR5A2-KO (n = 10). Western Blotting was performed to detect the expression of hub genes and signaling pathway.

RESULTS

There were 349 DEGs in GSE10540 and 49 DEGs in GSE12385. 10 core genes were obtained. GO showed that differentially expressed genes were mainly enriched in vascular morphogenesis, contractile fiber fraction, chemotaxis, and MAPK cascade regulation. KEGG showed that MAPK signaling pathway was a significant section in the metabolic syndrome. PIK3R2, STRA8, FLT1, DMRT1, FGF22, NR5A2, and FLT were up-regulated and PRDM14, POU5F1, and KDR were down-regulated in metabolic syndrome after exercise.

CONCLUSION

The expression of NR5A2 is down-regulated in metabolic syndrome, and exercise can increase the expression level of NR5A2. NR5A2 might be used as a potential target for exercise to improve metabolic syndrome.

Calreticulin in renal fibrosis: A short review

Fibrosis is a common denominator of several pathological conditions. Over the last decade, Calreticulin has emerged as a critical player in the fibrotic processes in many tissues and organs. Here we review the recent advances in our understanding of the regulatory roles of Calreticulin in renal fibrosis. In particular, a proteomic screen that we performed more than 15 years ago, for the identification of novel components involved in the mechanisms of renal fibrosis, led to the observation that Calreticulin is associated with the initiation and progression of kidney fibrosis in a rodent model. We also showed that altered expression levels of Calreticulin in vitro and in vivo are significantly affecting the fibrotic phenotype in cellular systems and animal models, respectively. We also identified an upstream regulatory mechanism that mediates the transcriptional control of Calreticulin expression during the progression of renal fibrosis, by showing that the druggable orphan nuclear receptor NR5A2 and its SUMOylation is involved in this action. These data provide novel targets for future pharmacological interventions against fibrosis. In addition, further proteomic analysis uncovered a correlation between the up-regulation of Calreticulin and that of 14-3-3σ protein. Collectively, our previous observations suggest that Calreticulin is a central node in a regulatory axis that controls the initiation and progression of renal fibrosis.

Identification of prognostic stemness biomarkers in colon adenocarcinoma drug resistance

BACKGROUND

Colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are vital for COAD chemoresistance and recurrence, however little is known about stem cell-related biomarkers in drug resistance and COAD prognosis prediction.

METHODS

To uncover the roles of CSC in COAD tumorigenesis, chemoresistance, and prognosis, we retrieved COAD patients' RNAseq data from TCGA (The Cancer Genome Atlas). We further performed analysis of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and mRNA expression-based stemness index (mRNAsi) to identify stemness-related COAD biomarkers. We then evaluated the roles of mRNAsi in tumorigenesis, clinical-stage, overall survival (OS), and chemoresistance. Afterward, we used identified prognostic stemness-related genes (PSRGs) to construct a prediction model. After constructing the prediction model, we used elastic Net regression and area under the curve (AUC) to explore the prediction value of PSRGs based on risk scores and the receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve. To elucidate the underlying interconnected systems, we examined relationships between the levels of TFs, PSRGs, and 50 cancer hallmarks by a Pearson correlation analysis.

RESULTS

Twelve thousand one hundred eight DEGs were identified by comparing 456 primary COADs and 41 normal solid tissue samples. Furthermore, we identified 4351 clinical stage-related DEGs, 16,516 stemness-associated DEGs, and 54 chemoresistance-related DEGs from cancer stages: mRNAsi, and COAD chemoresistance. Compared to normal tissue samples, mRNAsi in COAD patients were marked on an elevation and involved in prognosis (p = 0.027), stemness-related DEGs based on chemoresistance (OR = 3.28, p ≤ 0.001) and AJCC clinical stage relating (OR = 4.02, p ≤ 0.001) to COAD patients. The prediction model of prognosis were constructed using the 6 PSRGs with high accuracy (AUC: 0.659). The model identified universal correlation between NRIP2 and FDFT1 (key PRSGs), and some cancer related transcription factors (TFs) and trademarks of cancer gene were in the regulatory network.

CONCLUSION

We found that mRNAsi is a reliable predictive biomarker of tumorigenesis and COAD prognosis. Our established prediction model of COAD chemoresistance, which includes the six PSRGs, is effective, as the model provides promising therapeutic targets in the COAD.