Orthodenticle homeobox OTX1 is a potential prognostic biomarker for bladder cancer

Hypermethylation Loci of ZNF671, IRF8, and OTX1 as Potential Urine-Based Predictive Biomarkers for Bladder Cancer

Bladder cancer (BCa) is a significant health issue and poses a healthcare burden on patients, highlighting the importance of an effective detection method. Here, we developed a urine DNA methylation diagnostic panel for distinguishing between BCa and non-BCa. In the discovery stage, an analysis of the TCGA database was conducted to identify BCa-specific DNA hypermethylation markers. In the validation phase, DNA methylation levels of urine samples were measured with real-time quantitative methylation-specific PCR (qMSP). Comparative analysis of the methylation levels between BCa and non-BCa, along with the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses with machine learning algorithms (logistic regression and decision tree methods) were conducted to develop practical diagnostic panels. The performance evaluation of the panel shows that the individual biomarkers of ZNF671, OTX1, and IRF8 achieved AUCs of 0.86, 0.82, and 0.81, respectively, while the combined yielded an AUC of 0.91. The diagnostic panel using the decision tree algorithm attained an accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of 82.6%, 75.0%, and 90.9%, respectively. Our results show that the urine-based DNA methylation diagnostic panel provides a sensitive and specific method for detecting and stratifying BCa, showing promise as a standard test that could enhance the diagnosis and prognosis of BCa in clinical settings.

OTX1 regulates tumorigenesis and metastasis in glioma

The most prevalent kind of primary brain tumors, gliomas, have a dismal prognosis. Recent advances in the tumor-promoting ability of OTX1 have drawn increasing attention. The overexpression of OTX1 has been reported to be associated with tumor-promoting effects in several malignancies, but its expression in gliomas is unknown. The oncogene OTX1 is increased in gliomas and is linked to a poor prognosis, as we show here. The degree of OTX1 positive expression is doubtlessly concomitant with the grade of glioma. We observed that OTX1 was up-regulated in gliomas, influenced the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), encouraged glioma cell growth and proliferation, and was linked to a poor clinical outcome for patients. At present, the prognosis of glioma is still not optimistic, and further research is needed to find a new target for treatment. According to our research, OTX1 is anticipated to emerge as a novel biological target for determining glioma prognosis and treatment.

OTX Genes in Adult Tissues

OTX homeobox genes have been extensively studied for their role in development, especially in neuroectoderm formation. Recently, their expression has also been reported in adult physiological and pathological tissues, including retina, mammary and pituitary glands, sinonasal mucosa, in several types of cancer, and in response to inflammatory, ischemic, and hypoxic stimuli. Reactivation of OTX genes in adult tissues supports the notion of the evolutionary amplification of functions of genes by varying their temporal expression, with the selection of homeobox genes from the "toolbox" to drive or contribute to different processes at different stages of life. OTX involvement in pathologies points toward these genes as potential diagnostic and/or prognostic markers as well as possible therapeutic targets.

Orthodenticle Homeobox OTX1 Promotes Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma Progression and Is a Potential Prognostic Biomarker

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most common type of thyroid neoplasms, characterized by evidence of follicular cell differentiation. Orthodenticle homeobox 1 (OTX1) is a transcription factor which has been implicated in numerous diseases, including malignancies. The objective of this research was to explore the function of OTX1 in PTC. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was employed to determine the protein level of OTX1 in PTC specimens. Cell viability was assessed by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Furthermore, a xenograft model on nude mice was established to investigate in vivo effects of OTX1. Our results revealed that OTX1 was significantly upregulated within specific PTC tissues and was remarkably correlated with unfavorable clinical outcomes in PTC. Silencing OTX1 resulted in a significant inhibition in cell viability and suppressed cell proliferation. In addition, in vivo experiments demonstrated that OTX1 silencing resulted in a significant suppression of tumor growth in nude mice. Collectively, these results suggest that OTX1 may play crucial roles in promoting PTC progression.

Homeobox Gene Expression Dysregulation as Potential Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarkers in Bladder Cancer

Homeobox genes serve as master regulatory transcription factors that regulate gene expression during embryogenesis. A homeobox gene may have either tumor-promoting or tumor-suppressive properties depending on the specific organ or cell lineage where it is expressed. The dysregulation of homeobox genes has been reported in various human cancers, including bladder cancer. The dysregulated expression of homeobox genes has been associated with bladder cancer clinical outcomes. Although bladder cancer has high risk of tumor recurrence and progression, it is highly challenging for clinicians to accurately predict the risk of tumor recurrence and progression at the initial point of diagnosis. Cystoscopy is the routine surveillance method used to detect tumor recurrence. However, the procedure causes significant discomfort and pain that results in poor surveillance follow-up amongst patients. Therefore, the development of reliable non-invasive biomarkers for the early detection and monitoring of bladder cancer is crucial. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the diagnostic and prognostic potential of homeobox gene expression dysregulation in bladder cancer.

Taurodeoxycholic acid-YAP1 upregulates OTX1 in promoting gallbladder cancer malignancy through IFITM3-dependent AKT activation

Orthodenticle homeobox (OTX1) is reported to be involved in numerous cancers, but the expression level and molecular function of OTX1 in gallbladder cancer (GBC) remain unknown. Here, we found the elevated level of OTX1 associated with poor prognosis in human gallbladder cancer. In vitro and in vivo studies of human gallbladder cancer cell lines demonstrated that overexpression of OTX1 promoted cell proliferation, whereas the downregulation inhibited it. Additionally, we found a tight correlation between the serum level of taurodeoxycholic acid (TDCA) and OTX1 expression. TDCA-induced activation of YAP1 by phosphorylation inhibition contributed to the transcriptional activation of OTX1. Mechanistically, we identified that OTX1 activated AKT signaling pathway by transactivating the expression of IFITM3 and thus promoted the proliferation of GBC cells. Taken together, our results showed that TDCA-YAP1-dependent expression of OTX1 regulated IFITM3 and affected GBC proliferation via the AKT signaling pathway. Our experiments also suggested that OTX1 is a novel therapeutic target for GBC.

Correlation between DNA Methylation and Cell Proliferation Identifies New Candidate Predictive Markers in Meningioma

Meningiomas are the most common primary tumors of the central nervous system. Based on the 2021 WHO classification, they are classified into three grades reflecting recurrence risk and aggressiveness. However, the WHO's histopathological criteria defining these grades are somewhat subjective. Together with reliable immunohistochemical proliferation indices, other molecular markers such as those studied with genome-wide epigenetics promise to revamp the current prognostic classification. In this study, 48 meningiomas of various grades were randomly included and explored for DNA methylation with the Infinium MethylationEPIC microarray over 850k CpG sites. We conducted differential and correlative analyses on grade and several proliferation indices and markers, such as mitotic index and Ki-67 or MCM6 immunohistochemistry. We also set up Cox proportional hazard models for extensive associations between CpG methylation and survival. We identified loci highly correlated with cell growth and a targeted methylation signature of regulatory regions persistently associated with proliferation, grade, and survival. Candidate genes under the control of these regions include SMC4, ESRRG, PAX6, DOK7, VAV2, OTX1, and PCDHA-PCDHB-PCDHG, i.e., the protocadherin gene clusters. This study highlights the crucial role played by epigenetic mechanisms in shaping dysregulated cellular proliferation and provides potential biomarkers bearing prognostic and therapeutic value for the clinical management of meningioma.

Biomarkers of Bladder Cancer: Cell-Free DNA, Epigenetic Modifications and Non-Coding RNAs

Bladder cancer (BC) is the 10th most frequent cancer in the world. The initial diagnosis and surveillance of BC require a combination of invasive and non-invasive methods, which are costly and suffer from several limitations. Cystoscopy with urine cytology and histological examination presents the standard diagnostic approach. Various biomarkers (e.g., proteins, genes, and RNAs) have been extensively studied in relation to BC. However, the new trend of liquid biopsy slowly proves to be almost equally effective. Cell-free DNA, non-coding RNA, and other subcellular structures are now being tested for the best predictive and diagnostic value. In this review, we focused on published gene mutations, especially in DNA fragments, but also epigenetic modifications, and non-coding RNA (ncRNA) molecules acquired by liquid biopsy. We performed an online search in PubMed/Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science databases using the terms "bladder cancer", in combination with "markers" or "biomarkers" published until August 2022. If applicable, we set the sensitivity and specificity threshold to 80%. In the era of precision medicine, the development of complex laboratory techniques fuels the search and development of more sensitive and specific biomarkers for diagnosis, follow-up, and screening of BC. Future efforts will be focused on the validation of their sensitivity, specificity, predictive value, and their utility in everyday clinical practice.

Translocator protein (18 kDa) regulates the microglial phenotype in Parkinson's disease through P47

Numerous studies have suggested that the phenotypic transformation of microglia plays a role in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). Translocator protein (TSPO) is an 18 kDa translocator membrane protein that acts as a marker of neuroinflammation and suppresses neuroinflammation; however, its underlying mechanism remains unclear. Although TSPO ligands were found to be protective in several neurodegenerative paradigms, few studies have evaluated their effects on microglial polarization, and underlying mechanisms need to be explored. In the present study, we examined the effects of TSPO and PK11195, a TSPO ligand, on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)+interferon (IFN)-γ-induced inflammatory factors and oxidative stress in microglia using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The effect of TSPO and PK11195 on LPS+IFN-γ-induced microglial cell apoptosis was examined using immunofluorescence (IF), flow cytometry, and western blotting. The interaction between TSPO and P47 was investigated using IF and co-immunoprecipitation analysis. In vivo experiments confirmed the influence of TSPO and its ligand on motility, a-Syn, and dopaminergic neuronal damage. Our findings indicate that TSPO may regulate the microglial phenotype in PD via P47, suggesting a potential role in anti-PD therapy.

Circular RNA LONP2 regulates proliferation, invasion, and apoptosis of bladder cancer cells by sponging microRNA-584-5p

Bladder cancer (BC) is the most frequent type of urinary tumor and a barely treatable disease. Although extensive efforts have been invested in the research of BC, the underlying etiology and pathophysiology remain unclear. CircLONP2 is a circular RNA implicated in the development of many cancers, and miR-584-5p and YAP1 have been reported to contribute to the progression of BC. In this research, we presented novel evidence supporting circLONP2/miR-584-5p/YAP1 axis as a novel regulatory module in the progression of BC. We analyzed the expression of circLONP2 between precancerous BC samples and normal tissues using a published RNA-seq dataset. The expression of circLONP2 was also validated in clinical samples and cell lines by quantitative RT-PCR. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) and miRNA inhibitor was utilized to modulate the expression of circLONP2 and miR-584-5p and investigate their functions on cell proliferation and invasion. Luciferase reporter assay and RNA pull-down were performed to confirm the functional interactions among circLONP2/miR-584-5p/YAP1. CircLONP2 was significantly upregulated in precancerous BC tissues and BC cells. CircLONP2 depletion inhibited cell viability, proliferation, and invasion of BC cell lines, which could be partially rescued by miR-584-5p inhibitor. Further experiments indicated that miR-584-5p regulates cell viability, proliferation, and invasion via directly targeting YAP1. In summary, our work indicates that circLONP2 plays an oncogenic function in BC by regulating miR-584-5p/YAP1 axis, and its interaction with miR-584-5p provides a potential strategy to target BC.

Luteolin activates M2 macrophages and suppresses M1 macrophages by upregulation of hsa_circ_0001326 in THP-1 derived macrophages

Asthma is accompanied by inflammatory progression. Macrophages are a major type of cells to response inflammation caused by different type of factors by polarized into specific phenotypes. Luteolin and glycyrrhizic acid exert protect role in asthma; however, their role in THP-1 derived macrophages polarization whether through regulating the expression of hsa_circ_0001326 is still unknown. The effect of luteolin and glycyrrhizic acid on THP-1 derived macrophages polarization were evaluated using qRT-PCR, Western blotting, and ELISA assay. The function of hsa_circ_0001326 on macrophages polarization in luteolin treated THP-1 derived macrophages were assessed after silence of hsa_circ_0001326. And the expression of its’ potential downstream gene, including hsa-miR-136-5p and ubiquitin-specific protease 4 (USP4), were detected using qRT-PCR and Western blot analysis. Furthermore, the potential mechanism of hsa_circ_0001326 were validated using rescue experiment. Results showed that luteolin promoted M2 polarization and inhibited M1 polarization in THP-1 induced macrophages, but glycyrrhizic acid had no these effects. Hsa_circ_0001326 expression was upregulated in luteolin treat THP-1 derived macrophages. Silence of hsa_circ_0001326 reversed the function of luteolin on macrophages polarization. In addition, hsa_circ_0001326 attenuated the inhibition effect of luteolin on hsa-miR-136-5p expression, and the promotion effect on USP4 expression. Furthermore, hsa-miR-136-5p inhibitor reversed the effect of hsa_circ_0001326 on macrophages polarization and the USP4 expression. Taken together, luteolin activates M2 macrophages and suppresses M1 macrophages by upregulation of hsa_circ_0001326. Further mechanism maybe by regulating hsa_circ_0001326 downstream gene expression, including hsa-miR-136-5p and USP4, in THP-1 derived macrophages. These findings provide a new insight for macrophage polarization under stimulation of luteolin.