1
|
Zhang J, Liu X, Zeng L, Hu Y. GABRP inhibits the progression of oesophageal cancer by regulating CFTR: Integrating bioinformatics analysis and experimental validation. Int J Exp Pathol 2024; 105:118-132. [PMID: 38989629 PMCID: PMC11263814 DOI: 10.1111/iep.12513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2024] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 06/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Oesophageal cancer (EC) is a malignancy which accounts for a substantial number of cancer-related deaths worldwide. The molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of EC have not been fully elucidated. GSE17351 and GSE20347 data sets from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database were employed to screen differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was used to examine hub gene expression. ECA-109 and TE-12 cells were transfected using the pcDNA3.1 expression vector encoding GABRP. The cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), cell scratch and Transwell assays were performed to assess the effect of GABRP on EC cell proliferation, migration and invasion. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-associated protein levels were measured by Western blotting. Subsequently, CFTR was knocked down to verify whether GABRP affected biological events in EC cells by targeting CFTR. Seven hub genes were identified, including GABRP, FLG, ENAH, KLF4, CD24, ABLIM3 and ABLIM1, which all could be used as diagnostic biomarkers for EC. The RT-qPCR results indicated that the expression levels of GABRP, FLG, KLF4, CD24, ABLIM3 and ABLIM1 were downregulated, whereas the expression level of ENAH was upregulated. In vitro functional assays demonstrated that GABRP overexpression suppressed the proliferation, migration, invasion and EMT of EC cells. Mechanistically, GABRP promoted the expression of CFTR, and CFTR knockdown significantly counteracted the influence of GABRP overexpression on biological events in EC cells. Overexpression of GABRP inhibited EC progression by increasing CFTR expression, which might be a new target for EC treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jingzhi Zhang
- Department of GastroenterologyThe Affiliated Ganzhou Hospital of Nanchang UniversityGanzhou CityChina
| | - Xue Liu
- Department of GastroenterologyThe Affiliated Ganzhou Hospital of Nanchang UniversityGanzhou CityChina
| | - Ling Zeng
- Department of GastroenterologyThe Affiliated Ganzhou Hospital of Nanchang UniversityGanzhou CityChina
| | - Ying Hu
- Department of GastroenterologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical UniversityGanzhou CityChina
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Martins-Neves SR, Sampaio-Ribeiro G, Gomes CMF. Self-Renewal and Pluripotency in Osteosarcoma Stem Cells' Chemoresistance: Notch, Hedgehog, and Wnt/β-Catenin Interplay with Embryonic Markers. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24098401. [PMID: 37176108 PMCID: PMC10179672 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24098401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Osteosarcoma is a highly malignant bone tumor derived from mesenchymal cells that contains self-renewing cancer stem cells (CSCs), which are responsible for tumor progression and chemotherapy resistance. Understanding the signaling pathways that regulate CSC self-renewal and survival is crucial for developing effective therapies. The Notch, Hedgehog, and Wnt/β-Catenin developmental pathways, which are essential for self-renewal and differentiation of normal stem cells, have been identified as important regulators of osteosarcoma CSCs and also in the resistance to anticancer therapies. Targeting these pathways and their interactions with embryonic markers and the tumor microenvironment may be a promising therapeutic strategy to overcome chemoresistance and improve the prognosis for osteosarcoma patients. This review focuses on the role of Notch, Hedgehog, and Wnt/β-Catenin signaling in regulating CSC self-renewal, pluripotency, and chemoresistance, and their potential as targets for anti-cancer therapies. We also discuss the relevance of embryonic markers, including SOX-2, Oct-4, NANOG, and KLF4, in osteosarcoma CSCs and their association with the aforementioned signaling pathways in overcoming drug resistance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sara R Martins-Neves
- iCBR-Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
- Institute of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Gabriela Sampaio-Ribeiro
- iCBR-Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
- Institute of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
- CIBB-Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
- CACC-Clinical Academic Center of Coimbra, 3000-075 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Célia M F Gomes
- iCBR-Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
- Institute of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
- CIBB-Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
- CACC-Clinical Academic Center of Coimbra, 3000-075 Coimbra, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Zeng L, Zhu Y, Moreno CS, Wan Y. New insights into KLFs and SOXs in cancer pathogenesis, stemness, and therapy. Semin Cancer Biol 2023; 90:29-44. [PMID: 36806560 PMCID: PMC10023514 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2023.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 09/04/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Abstract
Despite the development of cancer therapies, the success of most treatments has been impeded by drug resistance. The crucial role of tumor cell plasticity has emerged recently in cancer progression, cancer stemness and eventually drug resistance. Cell plasticity drives tumor cells to reversibly convert their cell identity, analogous to differentiation and dedifferentiation, to adapt to drug treatment. This phenotypical switch is driven by alteration of the transcriptome. Several pluripotent factors from the KLF and SOX families are closely associated with cancer pathogenesis and have been revealed to regulate tumor cell plasticity. In this review, we particularly summarize recent studies about KLF4, KLF5 and SOX factors in cancer development and evolution, focusing on their roles in cancer initiation, invasion, tumor hierarchy and heterogeneity, and lineage plasticity. In addition, we discuss the various regulation of these transcription factors and related cutting-edge drug development approaches that could be used to drug "undruggable" transcription factors, such as PROTAC and PPI targeting, for targeted cancer therapy. Advanced knowledge could pave the way for the development of novel drugs that target transcriptional regulation and could improve the outcome of cancer therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lidan Zeng
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Department of Hematology and oncology, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University School of Medicine, USA
| | - Yueming Zhu
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Department of Hematology and oncology, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University School of Medicine, USA
| | - Carlos S Moreno
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Department of Biomedical Informatics, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University School of Medicine, USA.
| | - Yong Wan
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Department of Hematology and oncology, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University School of Medicine, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
He Z, He J, Xie K. KLF4 transcription factor in tumorigenesis. Cell Death Discov 2023; 9:118. [PMID: 37031197 PMCID: PMC10082813 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-023-01416-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2023] [Revised: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 04/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Krüppel-like transcriptional factor is important in maintaining cellular functions. Deletion of Krüppel-like transcriptional factor usually causes abnormal embryonic development and even embryonic death. KLF4 is a prominent member of this family, and embryonic deletion of KLF4 leads to alterations in skin permeability and postnatal death. In addition to its important role in embryo development, it also plays a critical role in inflammation and malignancy. It has been investigated that KLF4 has a regulatory role in a variety of cancers, including lung, breast, prostate, colorectal, pancreatic, hepatocellular, ovarian, esophageal, bladder and brain cancer. However, the role of KLF4 in tumorigenesis is complex, which may link to its unique structure with both transcriptional activation and transcriptional repression domains, and to the regulation of its upstream and downstream signaling molecules. In this review, we will summarize the structural and functional aspects of KLF4, with a focus on KLF4 as a clinical biomarker and therapeutic target in different types of tumors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhihong He
- Center for Pancreatic Cancer Research, The South China University of Technology School of Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- The South China University of Technology Comprehensive Cancer Center, Guangdong, China
| | - Jie He
- The Second Affiliated Hospital and Guangzhou First People's Hospital, South China University of Technology School of Medicine, Guangdong, China
| | - Keping Xie
- Center for Pancreatic Cancer Research, The South China University of Technology School of Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
- The South China University of Technology Comprehensive Cancer Center, Guangdong, China.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Alotaibi A, Gadekar VP, Gundla PS, Mandarthi S, Ravi S, Mallya D, Tungekar A, Lavanya BV, Bhagavath AK, Cordero MW, Pitkaniemi J, Seetharam RN, Bepari A, Hebbar P. A comprehensive analysis of mRNA expression profiles of Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma reveals downregulation of Desmoglein 1 and crucial genomic targets. Cancer Biomark 2023; 38:465-487. [PMID: 38073377 DOI: 10.3233/cbm-230145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2023]
Abstract
AIM Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma (ESCC) is a histological subtype of esophageal cancer that begins in the squamous cells in the esophagus. In only 19% of the ESCC-diagnosed patients, a five-year survival rate has been seen. This necessitates the identification of high-confidence biomarkers for early diagnosis, prognosis, and potential therapeutic targets for the mitigation of ESCC. METHOD We performed a meta-analysis of 10 mRNA datasets and identified consistently perturbed genes across the studies. Then, integrated with ESCC ATLAS to segregate 'core' genes to identify consequences of primary gene perturbation events leading to gene-gene interactions and dysregulated molecular signaling pathways. Further, by integrating with toxicogenomics data, inferences were drawn for gene interaction with environmental exposures, trace elements, chemical carcinogens, and drug chemicals. We also deduce the clinical outcomes of candidate genes based on survival analysis using the ESCC related dataset in The Cancer Genome Atlas. RESULT We identified 237 known and 18 novel perturbed candidate genes. Desmoglein 1 (DSG1) is one such gene that we found significantly downregulated (Fold Change =-1.89, p-value = 8.2e-06) in ESCC across six different datasets. Further, we identified 31 'core' genes (that either harbor genetic variants or are regulated by epigenetic modifications) and found regulating key biological pathways via adjoining genes in gene-gene interaction networks. Functional enrichment analysis showed dysregulated biological processes and pathways including "Extracellular matrix", "Collagen trimmer" and "HPV infection" are significantly overrepresented in our candidate genes. Based on the toxicogenomic inferences from Comparative Toxicogenomics Database we report the key genes that interacted with risk factors such as tobacco smoking, zinc, nitroso benzylmethylamine, and drug chemicals such as cisplatin, Fluorouracil, and Mitomycin in relation to ESCC. We also point to the STC2 gene that shows a high risk for mortality in ESCC patients. CONCLUSION We identified novel perturbed genes in relation to ESCC and explored their interaction network. DSG1 is one such gene, its association with microbiota and a clinical presentation seen commonly with ESCC hints that it is a good candidate for early diagnostic marker. Besides, in this study we highlight candidate genes and their molecular connections to risk factors, biological pathways, drug chemicals, and the survival probability of ESCC patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amal Alotaibi
- Basic Science Department, College of Medicine, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Basic Science Department, College of Medicine, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Veerendra P Gadekar
- Mbiomics LLC, Lewes DE, USA
- Basic Science Department, College of Medicine, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Ashok Kumar Bhagavath
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Health Science Center, Tyler, Texas, TX, USA
| | - MaryAnne Wong Cordero
- Basic Science Department, College of Medicine, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Janne Pitkaniemi
- Finnish Cancer Registry, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Raviraja N Seetharam
- Manipal Center for Biotherapeutics Research, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India
| | - Asmatanzeem Bepari
- Basic Science Department, College of Medicine, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Prashantha Hebbar
- Mbiomics LLC, Lewes DE, USA
- Manipal Center for Biotherapeutics Research, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India
- Meta Biosciences Pvt Ltd., Manipal - GOK Bioincubator, Advanced Research Center, Manipal, India
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Izadpanah MH, Forghanifard MM. TWIST1 Plays Role in Expression of Stemness State Markers in ESCC. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13122369. [PMID: 36553636 PMCID: PMC9777594 DOI: 10.3390/genes13122369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Stemness markers play critical roles in the maintenance of key properties of embryonic stem cells (ESCs), including the pluripotency, stemness state, and self-renewal capacities, as well as cell fate decision. Some of these features are present in cancer stem cells (CSCs). TWIST1, as a bHLH transcription factor oncogene, is involved in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process in both embryonic and cancer development. Our aim in this study was to investigate the functional correlation between TWIST1 and the involved genes in the process of CSCs self-renewal in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) line KYSE-30. METHODS TWIST1 overexpression was enforced in the ESCC KYSE-30 cells using retroviral vector containing the specific pruf-IRES-GFP-hTWIST1 sequence. Following RNA extraction and cDNA synthesis, the mRNA expression profile of TWIST1 and the stem cell markers, including BMI1, CRIPTO1, DPPA2, KLF4, SOX2, NANOG, and MSI1, were assessed using relative comparative real-time PCR. RESULTS Ectopic expression of TWIST1 in KYSE-30 cells resulted in an increased expression of TWIST1 compared to control GFP cells by nearly 9-fold. Transduction of TWIST1-retroviral particles caused a significant enhancement in BMI1, CRIPTO1, DPPA2, KLF4, and SOX2 mRNA expression, approximately 4.5-, 3.2-, 5.5-, 3.5-, and 3.7-folds, respectively, whereas this increased TWIST1 expression caused no change in the mRNA expression of NANOG and MSI1 genes. CONCLUSIONS TWIST1 gene ectopic expression in KYSE-30 cells enhanced the level of cancer stem cell markers' mRNA expression. These results may emphasize the role of TWIST1 in the self-renewal process and may corroborate the involvement of TWIST1 in the stemness state capacity of ESCC cell line KYSE-30, as well as its potential as a therapeutic target.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Hossein Izadpanah
- Division of Human Genetics, Immunology Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad 9196773117, Iran
| | - Mohammad Mahdi Forghanifard
- Department of Biology, Damghan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Damghan 3671637849, Iran
- Correspondence: or ; Tel.: +98-912-711-6027
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Adimulam T, Arumugam T, Foolchand A, Ghazi T, Chuturgoon AA. The Effect of Organoselenium Compounds on Histone Deacetylase Inhibition and Their Potential for Cancer Therapy. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222312952. [PMID: 34884764 PMCID: PMC8657714 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222312952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Revised: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic and epigenetic changes alter gene expression, contributing to cancer. Epigenetic changes in cancer arise from alterations in DNA and histone modifications that lead to tumour suppressor gene silencing and the activation of oncogenes. The acetylation status of histones and non-histone proteins are determined by the histone deacetylases and histone acetyltransferases that control gene transcription. Organoselenium compounds have become promising contenders in cancer therapeutics. Apart from their anti-oxidative effects, several natural and synthetic organoselenium compounds and metabolites act as histone deacetylase inhibitors, which influence the acetylation status of histones and non-histone proteins, altering gene transcription. This review aims to summarise the effect of natural and synthetic organoselenium compounds on histone and non-histone protein acetylation/deacetylation in cancer therapy.
Collapse
|
8
|
Wu Y, Lin L, Wang X, Li Y, Liu Z, Ye W, Huang W, Lin G, Liu H, Zhang J, Li T, Zhao B, Lv L, Li J, Wang N, Liu X. Overexpression of Krüppel-Like Factor 4 Suppresses Migration and Invasion of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Through c-Jun-NH2-Terminal Kinase/Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Signaling Pathway. Front Pharmacol 2020; 10:1512. [PMID: 31969824 PMCID: PMC6960180 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2019.01512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2019] [Accepted: 11/21/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) is a transcription factor and plays a vital role in cancer initiation and development. However, the role of Krüppel-like factor 4 in the metastasis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is not clear. Here, we demonstrated that the expression of Krüppel-like factor 4 was significantly decreased in human non-small cell lung cancer tissues compared with that in normal tissues using Western blot. We performed immunohistochemical staining and observed the decreased expression of Krüppel-like factor 4 in human lung cancer tissues, and metastatic tumor tissues located in the trachea and main bronchus. We also found that the E-cadherin expression was decreased, while vimentin expression was increased in human NSCLC tissues and metastatic tumor tissues located in the trachea and main bronchus. Additionally, enforced expression of Krüppel-like factor 4 in mouse lungs significantly inhibited the metastasis of circulating Lewis lung carcinoma cells to the lungs by attenuating mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET). Furthermore, cell scratch assays and Matrigel invasion assays revealed that overexpression of Krüppel-like factor 4 inhibited the migration and invasion of non-small cell lung cancer cell lines A549, H1299, H226, and H1650 cells. Moreover, overexpression of Krüppel-like factor 4 attenuated TGF-β1-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in A549, and inhibited the phosphorylation of c-Jun-NH2-terminal kinase (JNK), an important pathway in metastasis in non-small cell lung cancer. Our in vivo and in vitro findings illustrate that Krüppel-like factor 4 inhibited metastasis and migration of non-small cell lung cancer, and indicate that Krüppel-like factor 4 could be a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yanping Wu
- Department of Geriatrics, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Lianjun Lin
- Department of Geriatrics, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Xiang Wang
- Department of Geriatrics, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yong Li
- Department of Geriatrics, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Zhonghui Liu
- Department of Geriatrics, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Ye
- Department of Interventional Pulmonary Disease, Anhui Chest Hospital, Hefei, China
| | - Weiming Huang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Gang Lin
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Haibo Liu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Jixin Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Ting Li
- Department of Pathology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Beilei Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Cardiovascular Science of Ministry of Education, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | - Liping Lv
- Department of Interventional Pulmonary Disease, Anhui Chest Hospital, Hefei, China
| | - Jian Li
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Nanping Wang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Cardiovascular Science of Ministry of Education, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | - Xinmin Liu
- Department of Geriatrics, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Ma B, Zhang L, Zou Y, He R, Wu Q, Han C, Zhang B. Reciprocal regulation of integrin β4 and KLF4 promotes gliomagenesis through maintaining cancer stem cell traits. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2019; 38:23. [PMID: 30658712 PMCID: PMC6339386 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-019-1034-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2018] [Accepted: 01/09/2019] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The dismal prognosis of patients with glioma is largely attributed to cancer stem cells that display pivotal roles in tumour initiation, progression, metastasis, resistance to therapy, and relapse. Therefore, understanding how these populations of cells maintain their stem-like properties is critical in developing effective glioma therapeutics. METHODS RNA sequencing analysis was used to identify genes potentially involved in regulating glioma stem cells (GSCs). Integrin β4 (ITGB4) expression was validated by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and immunohistochemical (IHC) staining. The role of ITGB4 was investigated by flow cytometry, mammosphere formation, transwell, colony formation, and in vivo tumorigenesis assays. The reciprocal regulation between Integrin β4 and KLF4 was investigated by chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP), dual-luciferase reporter assay, immunoprecipitation, and in vivo ubiquitylation assays. RESULTS In this study, we found that ITGB4 expression was increased in GSCs and human glioma tissues. Upregulation of ITGB4 was correlated with glioma grades. Inhibition of ITGB4 in glioma cells decreased the self-renewal abilities of GSCs and suppressed the malignant behaviours of glioma cells in vitro and in vivo. Further mechanistic studies revealed that KLF4, an important transcription factor, directly binds to the promoter of ITGB4, facilitating its transcription and contributing to increased ITGB4 expression in glioma. Interestingly, this increased expression enabled ITGB4 to bind KLF4, thus attenuating its interaction with its E3 ligase, the von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) protein, which subsequently decreases KLF4 ubiquitination and leads to its accumulation. CONCLUSIONS Collectively, our data indicate the existence of a positive feedback loop between KLF4 and ITGB4 that promotes GSC self-renewal and gliomagenesis, suggesting that ITGB4 may be a valuable therapeutic target for glioma.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Binbin Ma
- Department of Neurosurgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Cancer Stem Cell, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116027 China
| | - Li Zhang
- Laboratory of Pathogenic Biology, College of Basic Medical Science, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116027 China
| | - Yujie Zou
- Nursing Department, First Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116011 China
| | - Ruiping He
- Department of Neurosurgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Cancer Stem Cell, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116027 China
| | - Qiong Wu
- Department of Neurology of Dalian Municipal Central Hospital Affiliated, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116033 China
| | - Chuanchun Han
- Department of Neurosurgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Cancer Stem Cell, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116027 China
| | - Bo Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Cancer Stem Cell, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116027 China
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Reichenbach ZW, Murray MG, Saxena R, Farkas D, Karassik EG, Klochkova A, Patel K, Tice C, Hall TM, Gang J, Parkman HP, Ward SJ, Tétreault MP, Whelan KA. Clinical and translational advances in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Adv Cancer Res 2019; 144:95-135. [PMID: 31349905 DOI: 10.1016/bs.acr.2019.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 124] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is among the most deadly forms of human malignancy characterized by late stage diagnosis, metastasis, therapy resistance and frequent recurrence. Clinical management of ESCC remains challenging and the disease presently lacks approved targeted therapeutics. However, emerging data from recent clinical and translational investigations hold great promise for future progress toward improving patient outcomes in this deadly disease. Here, we review current clinical perspectives in ESCC epidemiology, pathophysiology, and clinical care, highlighting recent advances with potential to impact ESCC prevention, diagnosis and management. We further provide an overview of recent translational investigations contributing to our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying ESCC development, progression and therapy response, including insights gained from genetic studies and various murine model systems. Finally, we discuss future perspectives in the clinical and translational realms, along with remaining hurdles that must be overcome to eradicate ESCC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zachary Wilmer Reichenbach
- Department of Medicine, Gastroenterology Section, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States; Center for Substance Abuse Research, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Mary Grace Murray
- Fels Institute for Cancer Research & Molecular Biology, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Reshu Saxena
- Fels Institute for Cancer Research & Molecular Biology, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Daniel Farkas
- Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Erika G Karassik
- Fels Institute for Cancer Research & Molecular Biology, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Alena Klochkova
- Fels Institute for Cancer Research & Molecular Biology, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Kishan Patel
- Fels Institute for Cancer Research & Molecular Biology, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Caitlin Tice
- Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Timothy M Hall
- Fels Institute for Cancer Research & Molecular Biology, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Julie Gang
- Fels Institute for Cancer Research & Molecular Biology, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Henry P Parkman
- Department of Medicine, Gastroenterology Section, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Sarah J Ward
- Center for Substance Abuse Research, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States; Department of Pharmacology, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Marie-Pier Tétreault
- Department of Medicine, Gastroenterology and Hepatology Division, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, United States.
| | - Kelly A Whelan
- Center for Substance Abuse Research, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States; Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Martins-Neves SR, Cleton-Jansen AM, Gomes CMF. Therapy-induced enrichment of cancer stem-like cells in solid human tumors: Where do we stand? Pharmacol Res 2018; 137:193-204. [PMID: 30316903 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2018.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2018] [Revised: 10/05/2018] [Accepted: 10/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The development of local recurrence and metastatic disease, most probably attributable to the intrinsic or acquired resistance of tumor cells to standard therapy, still constitute the major clinical problem preventing the cure of cancer patients. Despite progress in the research of new therapeutic targets and compounds, resistant cells displaying stem-like properties seem to play a leading role in therapeutic failures and to be the culprit cells responsible for associated tumor recurrence. A whole new plethora of research studies suggest that drug-tolerant cancer stem cells may be induced by conventional cancer chemotherapeutics such as doxorubicin, cisplatinum and ionizing radiation. This phenotypic plasticity and transition from a differentiated to stem-like cell state associates with the activation of diverse stem cell self-renewal (e.g. Notch, Hedgehog, Wnt), drug efflux (e.g. ABC transporters) and survival-related pathways (e.g. TGF-β, ERK, AKT), which may confer resistance and treatment failures in solid tumors. Therefore, combined therapeutic strategies aiming to simultaneously target drug-sensitive tumor cells and their capacity of phenotypic switching may lead to survival benefits and meaningful disease remissions. This knowledge can be applicable to the clinic and contribute to better therapeutic outcomes and prevent tumor recurrence.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sara R Martins-Neves
- Institute of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga de Sta. Comba, Celas, 3000-354 Coimbra, Portugal; CNC.IBILI, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; CIMAGO, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; Department of Pathology, Leiden University Medical Center, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands.
| | - Anne-Marie Cleton-Jansen
- Department of Pathology, Leiden University Medical Center, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands.
| | - Célia M F Gomes
- Institute of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga de Sta. Comba, Celas, 3000-354 Coimbra, Portugal; CNC.IBILI, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; CIMAGO, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Wang L, Shen F, Stroehlein JR, Wei D. Context-dependent functions of KLF4 in cancers: Could alternative splicing isoforms be the key? Cancer Lett 2018; 438:10-16. [PMID: 30217565 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2018.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2018] [Revised: 08/10/2018] [Accepted: 09/02/2018] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) is an important transcription factor that is expressed in a variety of tissues and regulates many critical physiologic and cellular processes, including cell proliferation, differentiation, stem cell reprogramming, maintenance of genomic stability, and normal tissue homeostasis. KLF4 has both tumor suppressive and oncogenic functions in gastrointestinal and other cancers. These functions are thought to be context dependent, but how KLF4 exerts these differential functions and the molecular mechanisms behind them remain poorly understood. Recent studies have shown that the KLF4 gene undergoes alternative splicing, and the protein products of certain transcripts antagonize wild-type KLF4 function, suggesting an additional layer of regulation of KLF4 function. Therefore, detailed study of KLF4 alternative splicing may not only provide new insights into the complexity of KLF4 functions but also lead to rational targeting of KLF4 for cancer prevention and therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Liang Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Feng Shen
- Department of Neurosurgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - John R Stroehlein
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Daoyan Wei
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Lin DC, Wang MR, Koeffler HP. Genomic and Epigenomic Aberrations in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Implications for Patients. Gastroenterology 2018; 154:374-389. [PMID: 28757263 PMCID: PMC5951382 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2017.06.066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 172] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2017] [Revised: 06/05/2017] [Accepted: 06/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a common malignancy without effective therapy. The exomes of more than 600 ESCCs have been sequenced in the past 4 years, and numerous key aberrations have been identified. Recently, researchers reported both inter- and intratumor heterogeneity. Although these are interesting observations, their clinical implications are unclear due to the limited number of samples profiled. Epigenomic alterations, such as changes in DNA methylation, histone acetylation, and RNA editing, also have been observed in ESCCs. However, it is not clear what proportion of ESCC cells carry these epigenomic aberrations or how they contribute to tumor development. We review the genomic and epigenomic characteristics of ESCCs, with a focus on emerging themes. We discuss their clinical implications and future research directions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- De-Chen Lin
- Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California.
| | - Ming-Rong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
| | - H. Phillip Koeffler
- Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California,Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore,National University Cancer Institute, National University Hospital Singapore, Singapore
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Natsuizaka M, Whelan KA, Kagawa S, Tanaka K, Giroux V, Chandramouleeswaran PM, Long A, Sahu V, Darling DS, Que J, Yang Y, Katz JP, Wileyto EP, Basu D, Kita Y, Natsugoe S, Naganuma S, Klein-Szanto AJ, Diehl JA, Bass AJ, Wong KK, Rustgi AK, Nakagawa H. Interplay between Notch1 and Notch3 promotes EMT and tumor initiation in squamous cell carcinoma. Nat Commun 2017; 8:1758. [PMID: 29170450 PMCID: PMC5700926 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-01500-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 137] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2016] [Accepted: 09/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Notch1 transactivates Notch3 to drive terminal differentiation in stratified squamous epithelia. Notch1 and other Notch receptor paralogs cooperate to act as a tumor suppressor in squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs). However, Notch1 can be stochastically activated to promote carcinogenesis in murine models of SCC. Activated form of Notch1 promotes xenograft tumor growth when expressed ectopically. Here, we demonstrate that Notch1 activation and epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) are coupled to promote SCC tumor initiation in concert with transforming growth factor (TGF)-β present in the tumor microenvironment. We find that TGFβ activates the transcription factor ZEB1 to repress Notch3, thereby limiting terminal differentiation. Concurrently, TGFβ drives Notch1-mediated EMT to generate tumor initiating cells characterized by high CD44 expression. Moreover, Notch1 is activated in a small subset of SCC cells at the invasive tumor front and predicts for poor prognosis of esophageal SCC, shedding light upon the tumor promoting oncogenic aspect of Notch1 in SCC. Notch receptors can exert different roles in cancer. In this manuscript, the authors reveal that Notch1 activation and EMT promote tumor initiation and cancer cell heterogeneity in squamous cell carcinoma, while the repression of Notch3 by ZEB1 limits Notch1-induced differentiation, permitting Notch1-mediated EMT.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mitsuteru Natsuizaka
- Gastroenterology Division, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.,Abramson Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.,University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.,Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-8638, Japan
| | - Kelly A Whelan
- Gastroenterology Division, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.,Abramson Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.,University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Shingo Kagawa
- Gastroenterology Division, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.,Abramson Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.,University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.,Department of General Surgery, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Chiba, 260-0856, Japan
| | - Koji Tanaka
- Gastroenterology Division, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.,Abramson Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.,University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.,Department of Surgery, Gastroenterological Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Veronique Giroux
- Gastroenterology Division, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.,Abramson Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.,University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Prasanna M Chandramouleeswaran
- Gastroenterology Division, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.,Abramson Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.,University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Apple Long
- Gastroenterology Division, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.,Abramson Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.,University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Varun Sahu
- Abramson Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.,University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.,Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Douglas S Darling
- Department of Oral Immunology and Infectious Diseases, and Center for Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
| | - Jianwen Que
- Department of Medicine, Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Yizeng Yang
- Gastroenterology Division, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.,Abramson Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.,University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Jonathan P Katz
- Gastroenterology Division, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.,Abramson Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.,University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - E Paul Wileyto
- Abramson Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.,University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.,Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Devraj Basu
- Abramson Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.,University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.,Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Yoshiaki Kita
- Department of Digestive Surgery, Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima, 890-8520, Japan
| | - Shoji Natsugoe
- Department of Digestive Surgery, Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima, 890-8520, Japan
| | - Seiji Naganuma
- Department of Pathology, Kochi Medical School, Nankoku-shi, Kochi, 783-8505, Japan
| | - Andres J Klein-Szanto
- Histopathology Facility and Cancer Biology Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, 19111, USA
| | - J Alan Diehl
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA
| | - Adam J Bass
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Kwok-Kin Wong
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02215, USA. .,Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, New York University, New York, NY, 10016, USA.
| | - Anil K Rustgi
- University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Hiroshi Nakagawa
- University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Li S, Huang L, Gu J, Wu J, Ou W, Feng J, Liu B, Xu X, Zhou Y. Restoration of KLF4 Inhibits Invasion and Metastases of Lung Adenocarcinoma through Suppressing MMP2. J Cancer 2017; 8:3480-3489. [PMID: 29151932 PMCID: PMC5687162 DOI: 10.7150/jca.21241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2017] [Accepted: 08/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: KLF4 is a zin-finger transcription factor that plays roles in differentiation, development, and proliferation. Recent studies show that KLF4 is involved in tumorigenesis and somatic cells reprogramming. Metastasis is the primary cause of death in patients with lung cancer, and its biological mechanisms are poorly understood. Goals: In this study, we aim to explore the expression pattern and biological function of KLF4 in lung adenocarcinoma. Methods: We determined KLF4 in lung adenocarcinoma tissue and cell lines, using immunohistochemistry and western blotting. And we further analyzed the correlation between KLF4 expression and clinicopathologic parameters. We restored KLF4 expression and studied its effect on lung adenocarcinoma cells in vivo and in vitro. Luciferase assay was used to study impact of KLF4 on activity of MMP2 promoter. Results: KLF4 is dramatically down-regulated in lung adenocarcinoma tissue and cell lines. Promoter methylation contributes to the down-regulation of KLF4. Down-regulation of KLF4 in lung adenocarcinoma tissue is significantly associated with reduced survival time. Restoration of KLF4 inhibits migration and invasion of lung adenocarcinoma cells in vitro. Metastases to lungs significantly decrease in mice intravenously injected with tumor cells overexpressing KLF4. KLF4 inhibits invasion and metastasis via suppressing MMP2 promoter activity. Conclusion: The ability of KLF4 to inhibit migration, invasion, and metastasis of lung tumor cells indicates a potential role of KLF4 as therapeutic target in lung adenocarcinoma. KLF4 might be utilized as a favorable biomarker for prognosis of lung adenocarcinoma patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shaoli Li
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lixia Huang
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jincui Gu
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jian Wu
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Weijun Ou
- Center of Organ Transplantation, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jinglun Feng
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Baomo Liu
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoxian Xu
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yanbin Zhou
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Chen C, Ma Z, Zhang H, Liu X, Yu Z. Krüppel-Like Factor 4 Enhances Sensitivity of Cisplatin to Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma (ESCC) Cells. Med Sci Monit 2017; 23:3353-3359. [PMID: 28694421 PMCID: PMC5516682 DOI: 10.12659/msm.902583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The aim of this study was to elucidate the role of Krüppel-Like factor 4 (KLF4) in cisplatin resistance in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) cells, which may eventually help to improve the treatment efficacy. Material/Methods Human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) cell line CaEs-17, TE-1, EC109, KYSE510, KYSE140, KYSE70, and KYSE30 were selected to detect their sensitivity to cisplatin. 5-Azacytidine-2′-deoxycytidine (5′-Aza-CdR) treatment and methylation-specific PCR (MS-PCR) were used to detect the methylation status for KLF4. Cell viability, apoptosis, and cell cycle were measured using methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay, Annexin V affinity assay, and flow cytometry, respectively. Results The sensitivity to cisplatin was different in the seven ESCC cell lines, with TE-1 having the lowest sensitivity and KYSE140 having the highest sensitivity. Interestingly, the level of KLF4 was relatively low in TE-1 cells; while it was high in KYSE140 cells. These results suggested that KLF4 may be involved in cisplatin resistance. The promoter region was mostly unmethylated in KYSE140 cells; while it was hypermethylated in TE-1 cells. After treatment with demethylation reagent 5-Aza-CdR, cisplatin sensitivities were significantly increased after upregulation of KLF4, as the IC50 values were significantly decreased in the TE-1 cell treated with 5-Aza-CdR. Furthermore, upregulation of KLF4 induced cell apoptosis and cell cycle arrest at S phase. Conclusions KLF4 enhances the sensitivity of cisplatin to ESCC cells through apoptosis induction and cell cycle arrest. Our data provided a novel insight to the mechanism of cisplatin resistance; overexpression of KLF4 may be a potential therapeutic strategy for cisplatin resistance in human ESCC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chuangui Chen
- Department of Esophageal Cancer, Key Laboratory of Prevention and Therapy, National Clinical Research Center of Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, China (mainland)
| | - Zhao Ma
- Department of Esophageal Cancer, Key Laboratory of Prevention and Therapy, National Clinical Research Center of Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, China (mainland)
| | - Hongdian Zhang
- Department of Esophageal Cancer, Key Laboratory of Prevention and Therapy, National Clinical Research Center of Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, China (mainland)
| | - Xiaoqiong Liu
- Department of Esophageal Cancer, Key Laboratory of Prevention and Therapy, National Clinical Research Center of Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, China (mainland)
| | - Zhentao Yu
- Department of Esophageal Cancer, Key Laboratory of Prevention and Therapy, National Clinical Research Center of Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, China (mainland)
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Sundaram GM, Veera Bramhachari P. Molecular interplay of pro-inflammatory transcription factors and non-coding RNAs in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Tumour Biol 2017; 39:1010428317705760. [PMID: 28618941 DOI: 10.1177/1010428317705760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma is the sixth most common cancer in the developing world. The aggressive nature of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, its tendency for relapse, and the poor survival prospects of patients diagnosed at advanced stages, represent a pressing need for the development of new therapies for this disease. Chronic inflammation is known to have a causal link to cancer pre-disposition. Nuclear factor kappa B and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 are transcription factors which regulate immunity and inflammation and are emerging as key regulators of tumor initiation, progression, and metastasis. Although these pro-inflammatory factors in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma have been well-characterized with reference to protein-coding targets, their functional interactions with non-coding RNAs have only recently been gaining attention. Non-coding RNAs, especially microRNAs and long non-coding RNAs demonstrate potential as biomarkers and alternative therapeutic targets. In this review, we summarize the recent literature and concepts on non-coding RNAs that are regulated by/regulate nuclear factor kappa B and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 in esophageal cancer progression. We also discuss how these recent discoveries can pave way for future therapeutic options to treat esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gopinath M Sundaram
- 1 Institute of Medical Biology, Agency for Science Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore
| | | |
Collapse
|
18
|
Kim CK, He P, Bialkowska AB, Yang VW. SP and KLF Transcription Factors in Digestive Physiology and Diseases. Gastroenterology 2017; 152:1845-1875. [PMID: 28366734 PMCID: PMC5815166 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2017.03.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2016] [Revised: 03/21/2017] [Accepted: 03/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Specificity proteins (SPs) and Krüppel-like factors (KLFs) belong to the family of transcription factors that contain conserved zinc finger domains involved in binding to target DNA sequences. Many of these proteins are expressed in different tissues and have distinct tissue-specific activities and functions. Studies have shown that SPs and KLFs regulate not only physiological processes such as growth, development, differentiation, proliferation, and embryogenesis, but pathogenesis of many diseases, including cancer and inflammatory disorders. Consistently, these proteins have been shown to regulate normal functions and pathobiology in the digestive system. We review recent findings on the tissue- and organ-specific functions of SPs and KLFs in the digestive system including the oral cavity, esophagus, stomach, small and large intestines, pancreas, and liver. We provide a list of agents under development to target these proteins.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chang-Kyung Kim
- Department of Medicine, Stony Brook University School of Medicine, Stony Brook, NY
| | - Ping He
- Department of Medicine, Stony Brook University School of Medicine, Stony Brook, NY
| | - Agnieszka B. Bialkowska
- Department of Medicine, Stony Brook University School of Medicine, Stony Brook, NY,Corresponding Authors: Vincent W. Yang & Agnieszka B. Bialkowska, Department of Medicine, Stony Brook University School of Medicine, HSC T-16, Rm. 020; Stony Brook, NY, USA. Tel: (631) 444-2066; Fax: (631) 444-3144; ;
| | - Vincent W. Yang
- Department of Medicine, Stony Brook University School of Medicine, Stony Brook, NY,Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Stony Brook University School of Medicine, Stony Brook, NY,Corresponding Authors: Vincent W. Yang & Agnieszka B. Bialkowska, Department of Medicine, Stony Brook University School of Medicine, HSC T-16, Rm. 020; Stony Brook, NY, USA. Tel: (631) 444-2066; Fax: (631) 444-3144; ;
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Novel tumor-suppressor function of KLF4 in pediatric T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Exp Hematol 2017; 53:16-25. [PMID: 28479419 DOI: 10.1016/j.exphem.2017.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2017] [Revised: 04/21/2017] [Accepted: 04/22/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common hematological malignancy in pediatric patients. Despite advances in the treatment of this disease, many children with T-cell ALL (T-ALL) die from disease relapse due to low responses to standard chemotherapy and the lack of a targeted therapy that selectively eradicates the chemoresistant leukemia-initiating cells (LICs) responsible for disease recurrence. We reported recently that the reprogramming factor Krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) has a tumor-suppressive function in children with T-ALL. KLF4 silencing by promoter deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) methylation in patients with T-ALL leads to aberrant activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase MAP2K7 and the downstream c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) pathway that controls the expansion of leukemia cells via c-Jun and activating transcription factor 2. This pathway can be inhibited with small molecules and therefore has the potential to eliminate LICs and eradicate disease in combination with standard therapy for patients with refractory and relapsed disease. The present review summarizes the role of the KLF4-MAP2K7 pathway in T-ALL pathogenesis and the function of JNK and MAP2K7 in carcinogenesis and therapy.
Collapse
|
20
|
KLF4 is regulated by RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK signaling through E2F1 and promotes melanoma cell growth. Oncogene 2017; 36:3322-3333. [PMID: 28068326 PMCID: PMC5474568 DOI: 10.1038/onc.2016.481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2016] [Revised: 10/14/2016] [Accepted: 11/17/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Melanoma is the most lethal form of skin cancer and treatment of metastatic melanoma remains challenging. BRAF/MEK inhibitors show only temporary benefit due the occurrence of resistance and immunotherapy is effective only in a subset of patients. To improve patient survival, there is a need to better understand molecular mechanisms that drive melanoma growth and operate downstream of the mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling. The Krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) is a zinc-finger transcription factor that plays a critical role in embryonic development, stemness and cancer, where it can act either as oncogene or tumor suppressor. KLF4 is highly expressed in post-mitotic epidermal cells, but its role in melanoma remains unknown. Here, we address the function of KLF4 in melanoma and its interaction with the MAPK signaling pathway. We find that KLF4 is highly expressed in a subset of human melanomas. Ectopic expression of KLF4 enhances melanoma cell growth by decreasing apoptosis. Conversely, knock-down of KLF4 reduces melanoma cell proliferation and induces cell death. In addition, depletion of KLF4 reduces melanoma xenograft growth in vivo. We find that the RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK signaling positively modulates KLF4 expression through the transcription factor E2F1, which directly binds to KLF4 promoter. Overall, our data demonstrate the pro-tumorigenic role of KLF4 in melanoma and uncover a novel ERK1/2-E2F1-KLF4 axis. These findings identify KLF4 as a possible new molecular target for designing novel therapeutic treatments to control melanoma growth.
Collapse
|