EIF3H stabilizes CCND1 to promotes intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma progression via Wnt/β-catenin signaling

N6-methyladenosine-mediated EIF3H promotes anaplastic thyroid cancer progression and ferroptosis resistance by stabilizing β-catenin

Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) patients suffer from a poor prognosis with very limited treatment options. The accumulation of β-catenin and the activation of downstream signaling is one of the main events in ATC, while the role of JAMM family in ATC remains unknown. In this study, we aimed to identify a new deubiquitinating enzyme regulating β-catenin in ATC. We found that EIF3H was positively correlated with β-catenin, and the knockdown of EIF3H deactivated the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in ATC. Further exploration revealed that EIF3H interacted with, deubiquitylated, and stabilized β-catenin by acting as a deubiquitinating enzyme. Mechanistically, EIF3H removed the K48-linked ubiquitin chain on β-catenin by binding the N tails of β-catenin. The knockdown of EIF3H could inhibit ATC cell proliferation, invasion, and ferroptosis resistance by regulating β-catenin. In addition, the dysregulation of EIF3H was associated with m6A modification in the 3'UTR and a m6A reader, IGF2BP2. In summary, the EIF3H/β-catenin axis promotes ATC progression and ferroptosis resistance by activating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. The EIF3H/β-catenin axis may serve as a potential diagnostic marker and a therapeutic target in ATC.

CGREF1 facilitates the cell proliferation, migration and invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma cells via regulation of EIF3H/ Wnt/β-Catenin signaling axis

BACKGROUND

Although Cell growth regulator with EF-hand domain 1 (CGREF1) has been predicted to be upregulated in multiple cancer types, its definitive function role in carcinogenesis, particularly in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), remains poorly characterized.

METHODS

Comprehensive bioinformatics analysis was initially conducted using the University of ALabama at Birmingham CANcer data analysis Portal (UALCAN) and Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) databases to investigate CGREF1 mRNA expression patterns in HCC tissues and their clinical correlation with patient survival outcomes. Experimental validation was subsequently performed through real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), immunohistochemistry (IHC), and Western blot techniques. Functional characterization studies employing genetic knockdown and overexpression models in HCC cell lines demonstrated CGREF1's regulatory effects on malignant phenotypes, as evidenced by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, colony formation assay and Transwell migration and invasion assays. were adopted to investigate the role of CGREF1 in the proliferation, invasion, and migration of HCC cells. Mechanistic investigations integrating bioinformatics predictions with Western blot analysis revealed CGREF1 mediated-modulation of the Wnt/β-Catenin signaling axis, elucidating its molecular underpinnings in HCC progression.

RESULTS

The results demonstrated that CGREF1 is highly expressed in HCC tissues, and HCC patients with elevated CGREF1 expression exhibited significantly shorter survival times. Upregulation of CGREF1 promoted the proliferation, migration, and invasion of HCC cells, whereas inhibition of CGREF1 expression suppressed these phenotypes. Mechanistically, CGREF1 activates the Wnt/β-Catenin signaling pathway through the upregulation of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 3 H subunit (EIF3H). Furthermore, partial inhibition of EIF3H attenuated the effects of CGREF1 overexpression on the proliferation, migration, and invasion of HCC cells.

CONCLUSION

CGREF1 is upregulated in HCC and acted as an oncogene through the CGREF1/EIF3H/Wnt/β-Catenin signaling axis. These findings suggest that CGREF1 may emerge as a potential therapeutic target for HCC.

Unveiling dysregulated lncRNAs and networks in non-syndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate pathogenesis

Non-syndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate (NSCL/P) is a common congenital facial malformation with a complex, incompletely understood origin. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as pivotal regulators of gene expression, potentially shedding light on NSCL/P's etiology. This study aimed to identify critical lncRNAs and construct regulatory networks to unveil NSCL/P's underlying molecular mechanisms. Integrating gene expression profiles from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, we pinpointed 30 dysregulated NSCL/P-associated lncRNAs. Subsequent analyses enabled the creation of competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks, lncRNA-RNA binding protein (RBP) interaction networks, and lncRNA cis and trans regulation networks. RT-qPCR was used to examine the regulatory networks of lncRNA in vivo and in vitro. Furthermore, protein levels of lncRNA target genes were validated in human NSCL/P tissue samples and murine palatal shelves. Consequently, two lncRNAs and three mRNAs: FENDRR (log2FC = - 0.671, P = 0.040), TPT1-AS1 (log2FC = 0.854, P = 0.003), EIF3H (log2FC = - 1.081, P = 0.041), RBBP6 (log2FC = 0.914, P = 0.037), and SRSF1 (log2FC = 0.763, P = 0.026) emerged as potential contributors to NSCL/P pathogenesis. Functional enrichment analyses illuminated the biological functions and pathways associated with these lncRNA-related networks in NSCL/P. In summary, this study comprehensively delineates the dysregulated transcriptional landscape, identifies associated lncRNAs, and reveals pivotal sub-networks relevant to NSCL/P development, aiding our understanding of its molecular progression and setting the stage for further exploration of lncRNA and mRNA regulation in NSCL/P.

Ubiquitin-proteasome system-based signature to predict the prognosis and drug sensitivity of hepatocellular carcinoma

Background: Ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) is implicated in cancer occurrence and progression. Targeting UPS is emerging as a promising therapeutic target for cancer treatment. Nevertheless, the clinical significance of UPS in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has not been entirely elucidated. Methods: Differentially expressed UPS genes (DEUPS) were screened from LIHC-TCGA datasets. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and stepwise multivariate regression analysis were conducted to establish a UPS-based prognostic risk model. The robustness of the risk model was further validated in HCCDB18, GSE14520, and GSE76427 cohorts. Subsequently, immune features, clinicopathologic characteristics, enrichment pathways, and anti-tumor drug sensitivity of the model were further evaluated. Moreover, a nomogram was established to improve the predictive ability of the risk model. Results: Seven UPS-based signatures (ATG10, FBXL7, IPP, MEX3A, SOCS2, TRIM54, and PSMD9) were developed for the prognostic risk model. Individuals with HCC with high-risk scores presented a more dismal prognosis than those with low-risk scores. Moreover, larger tumor size, advanced TNM stage, and tumor grade were observed in the high-risk group. Additionally, cell cycle, ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis, and DNA repair pathways were intimately linked to the risk score. In addition, obvious immune cell infiltration and sensitive drug response were identified in low-risk patients. Furthermore, both nomogram and risk score showed a significant prognosis-predictive ability. Conclusion: Overall, we established a novel UPS-based prognostic risk model in HCC. Our results will facilitate a deep understanding of the functional role of UPS-based signature in HCC and provide a reliable prediction of clinical outcomes and anti-tumor drug responses for patients with HCC.