SOX9 modulates cancer biomarker and cilia genes in pancreatic cancer

EpCAM regulates hair cell development and regeneration in the zebrafish lateral line

The zebrafish lateral line mechanosensory system shares considerable morphological and molecular similarities with the inner ear. In particular, mechanosensory hair cells are responsible for transducing sensory stimuli in both structures. The epithelia cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) is expressed in the cells of the inner ear of mammals and in the lateral lines system of fish. EpCAM regulates the many cellular functions including adhesion, migration, proliferation, and differentiation. In this study, we use the epcam jh79 mutant zebrafish line to determine that EpCAM function is required for proper development and regeneration of posterior lateral line hair cells.

MicroRNA‑155‑5p inhibits trophoblast cell proliferation and invasion by disrupting centrosomal function

Recurrent miscarriage is used to refer to more than three pregnancy failures before 20 weeks of gestation. Defective trophoblast cell growth and invasion are frequently observed in recurrent miscarriage. Several microRNAs (miRs), including miR‑155‑5p, are aberrantly upregulated in recurrent miscarriage; however, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. The centrosome orchestrates microtubule networks and coordinates cell cycle progression. In addition, it is a base for primary cilia, which are antenna‑like organelles that coordinate signaling during development and growth. Thus, deficiencies in centrosomal functions can lead to several disease, such as breast cancer and microcephaly. In the present study, the signaling cascades were analyzed by western blotting, and the centrosome and primary cilia were observed and analyzed by immunofluorescence staining. The results showed that overexpression of miR‑155‑5p induced centrosome amplification and blocked primary cilia formation in trophoblast cells. Notably, centrosome amplification inhibited trophoblast cell growth by upregulating apoptotic cleaved‑caspase 3 and cleaved‑poly (ADP‑ribose) polymerase in miR‑155‑5p‑overexpressing trophoblast cells. In addition, overexpression of miR‑155‑5p inhibited primary cilia formation, thereby inhibiting epithelial‑mesenchymal transition and trophoblast cell invasion. All phenotypes could be rescued when cells were co‑transfected with the miR‑155‑5p inhibitor, thus supporting the role of miR‑155‑5p in centrosomal functions. It was also found that miR‑155‑5p activated autophagy, whereas disruption of autophagy via the depletion of autophagy‑related 16‑like 1 alleviated miR‑155‑5p‑induced apoptosis and restored trophoblast cell invasion. In conclusion, the present study indicated a novel role of miR‑55‑5p in mediating centrosomal function in recurrent miscarriage.

PTEN decreases NR2F1 expression to inhibit ciliogenesis during EGFRL858R-induced lung cancer progression

Lung cancer is the major cause of death worldwide. Activation of oncogenes or inhibition of tumor suppressors causes cancer formation. Previous studies have indicated that PTEN, as a tumor suppressor, inhibits cancer formation. In this study, we studied the role of PTEN in EGFRL858R-induced lung cancer in vivo. Interestingly, loss of PTEN increased bronchial cell hyperplasia but decreased alveolar cell hyperplasia in EGFRL858R*PTEN-/--induced lung cancer. Systematic analysis of gene expression by RNA-seq showed that several genes related to ciliogenesis were upregulated in EGFRL858R*PTEN-/--induced lung cancer and subsequently showed that bronchial ciliated cells were hyperplastic. Several critical ciliogenesis-related genes, such as Mucin5A, DNAI2, and DNAI3, were found to be regulated by NR2F1. Next, NR2F1 was found to be inhibited by overexpression of PTEN, indicating that PTEN negatively regulates NR2F1, thereby inhibiting the expression of ciliogenesis-related genes and leading to the inhibition of bronchial cell hyperplasia during EGFRL858R-induced lung cancer progression. In addition, we also found that PTEN decreased AKT phosphorylation in A549, KRAS mutant, and H1299 cells but increased AKT phosphorylation in PC9, EGFRL858R, and H1299L858R cells, suggesting that PTEN may function as a tumor suppressor and an oncogene in lung cancers with KRAS mutation and EGFR mutation, respectively. PTEN acts as a double-edged sword that differentially regulates EGFRL858R-induced lung cancer progression in different genomic backgrounds. Understanding the PTEN in lung cancer with different genetic backgrounds will be beneficial for therapy in the future.

Recruitment of transcription factor ETS1 to activated accessible regions promotes the transcriptional program of cilia genes

Defects in cilia genes, which are critical for cilia formation and function, can cause complicated ciliopathy syndromes involving multiple organs and tissues; however, the underlying regulatory mechanisms of the networks of cilia genes in ciliopathies remain enigmatic. Herein, we have uncovered the genome-wide redistribution of accessible chromatin regions and extensive alterations of expression of cilia genes during Ellis-van Creveld syndrome (EVC) ciliopathy pathogenesis. Mechanistically, the distinct EVC ciliopathy-activated accessible regions (CAAs) are shown to positively regulate robust changes in flanking cilia genes, which are a key requirement for cilia transcription in response to developmental signals. Moreover, a single transcription factor, ETS1, can be recruited to CAAs, leading to prominent chromatin accessibility reconstruction in EVC ciliopathy patients. In zebrafish, the collapse of CAAs driven by ets1 suppression subsequently causes defective cilia proteins, resulting in body curvature and pericardial oedema. Our results depict a dynamic landscape of chromatin accessibility in EVC ciliopathy patients, and uncover an insightful role for ETS1 in controlling the global transcriptional program of cilia genes by reprogramming the widespread chromatin state.

Coumarin-Palladium(II) Complex Acts as a Potent and Non-Toxic Anticancer Agent against Pancreatic Carcinoma Cells

Pancreatic carcinoma still represents one of the most lethal malignant diseases in the world although some progress has been made in treating the disease in the past decades. Current multi-agent treatment options have improved the overall survival of patients, however, more effective treatment strategies are still needed. In this paper we have characterized the anticancer potential of coumarin-palladium(II) complex against pancreatic carcinoma cells. Cells viability, colony formation and migratory potential of pancreatic carcinoma cells were assessed in vitro, followed by evaluation of apoptosis induction and in vivo testing on zebrafish. Presented results showed remarkable reduction in pancreatic carcinoma cells growth both in vitro and in vivo, being effective at micromolar concentrations (0.5 μM). Treatments induced apoptosis, increased BAX/BCL-2 ratio and suppressed the expression of SOX9 and SOX18, genes shown to be significantly up-regulated in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Importantly, treatments of the zebrafish-pancreatic adenocarcinoma xenografts resulted in significant reduction in tumor mass, without provoking any adverse toxic effects including hepatotoxicity. Presented results indicate the great potential of the tested compound and the perspective of its further development towards pancreatic cancer therapy.

Non-Coding Genome, Transcription Factors, and Sex Determination

In vertebrates, gonadal sex determination is the process by which transcription factors drive the choice between the testicular and ovarian identity of undifferentiated somatic progenitors through activation of 2 different transcriptional programs. Studies in animal models suggest that sex determination always involves sex-specific transcription factors that activate or repress sex-specific genes. These transcription factors control their target genes by recognizing their regulatory elements in the non-coding genome and their binding motifs within their DNA sequence. In the last 20 years, the development of genomic approaches that allow identifying all the genomic targets of a transcription factor in eukaryotic cells gave the opportunity to globally understand the function of the nuclear proteins that control complex genetic programs. Here, the major transcription factors involved in male and female vertebrate sex determination and the genomic profiling data of mouse gonads that contributed to deciphering their transcriptional regulation role will be reviewed.

Centrosomal-associated Proteins: Potential therapeutic targets for solid tumors?

The centrosome is a special organelle in human cells and an organizing unit for microtubules and signaling molecules. In addition, the centrosome is tightly restricted during the cell cycle and forms the basal body of the cilia in ciliated cells. Centrosome abnormality is frequently observed in malignant tumors. The dysregulation of centrosome-associated proteins leads to multipolar mitosis, aneuploidy, and nondirected cell migration, and therefore promotes cancer progression. The overduplication of primary centrosome and the accumulation of chromosome, comprise the majority cause of chromosomal mis-segregation in cancer cells. This review discusses the structure and function of the centrosome and the role of its associated proteins in the progression of solid tumors. We summarized the effects of centrosome amplification abnormalities and other centrosome-related phenotypes on tumors. The mechanism of the delineation of centrosome amplification with tumor malignancy remains to be decided. A better understanding of centrosome abnormality in tumorigenesis may be useful to screen novel therapeutic strategies for the treatment of solid tumors.