1
|
Travaglione S, Carlini F, Maroccia Z, Fabbri A. Special Issue "Bacterial Toxins and Cancer". Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2128. [PMID: 38396805 PMCID: PMC10889233 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25042128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Infection is a major contributor to the development of cancer, with more than 15% of new cancer diagnoses estimated to be caused by infection [...].
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Alessia Fabbri
- Department of Cardiovascular, Endocrine-Metabolic Diseases and Aging, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy; (S.T.); (F.C.); (Z.M.)
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Yan S, Zhao J, Gao P, Li Z, Li Z, Liu X, Wang P. Diagnostic potential of NRG1 in benign nerve sheath tumors and its influence on the PI3K-Akt signaling and tumor immunity. Diagn Pathol 2024; 19:28. [PMID: 38331905 PMCID: PMC10851500 DOI: 10.1186/s13000-024-01438-9] [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: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Benign nerve sheath tumors (BNSTs) present diagnostic challenges due to their heterogeneous nature. This study aimed to determine the significance of NRG1 as a novel diagnostic biomarker in BNST, emphasizing its involvement in the PI3K-Akt pathway and tumor immune regulation. METHODS Differential genes related to BNST were identified from the GEO database. Gene co-expression networks, protein-protein interaction networks, and LASSO regression were utilized to pinpoint key genes. The CIBERSORT algorithm assessed immune cell infiltration differences, and functional enrichment analyses explored BNST signaling pathways. Clinical samples helped establish PDX models, and in vitro cell lines to validate NRG1's role via the PI3K-Akt pathway. RESULTS Nine hundred eighty-two genes were upregulated, and 375 downregulated in BNST samples. WGCNA revealed the brown module with the most significant difference. Top hub genes included NRG1, which was also determined as a pivotal gene in disease characterization. Immune infiltration showed significant variances in neutrophils and M2 macrophages, with NRG1 playing a central role. Functional analyses confirmed NRG1's involvement in key pathways. Validation experiments using PDX models and cell lines further solidified NRG1's role in BNST. CONCLUSION NRG1 emerges as a potential diagnostic biomarker for BNST, influencing the PI3K-Akt pathway, and shaping the tumor immune microenvironment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Suwei Yan
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University, No. 139, Ziqiang Road, Qiaoxi District, Shijiazhuang, 050051, Hebei Province, P. R. China
| | - Jingnan Zhao
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University, No. 139, Ziqiang Road, Qiaoxi District, Shijiazhuang, 050051, Hebei Province, P. R. China
| | - Pengyang Gao
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University, No. 139, Ziqiang Road, Qiaoxi District, Shijiazhuang, 050051, Hebei Province, P. R. China
| | - Zhaoxu Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University, No. 139, Ziqiang Road, Qiaoxi District, Shijiazhuang, 050051, Hebei Province, P. R. China
| | - Zhao Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University, No. 139, Ziqiang Road, Qiaoxi District, Shijiazhuang, 050051, Hebei Province, P. R. China
| | - Xiaobing Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University, No. 139, Ziqiang Road, Qiaoxi District, Shijiazhuang, 050051, Hebei Province, P. R. China
| | - Pengfei Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University, No. 139, Ziqiang Road, Qiaoxi District, Shijiazhuang, 050051, Hebei Province, P. R. China.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Tao Z, Huang J, Li J. Comprehensive intratumoral heterogeneity landscaping of liver hepatocellular carcinoma and discerning of APLP2 in cancer progression. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY 2024; 39:612-625. [PMID: 37515494 DOI: 10.1002/tox.23904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2023] [Revised: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/31/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION As the sixth most common type of cancer worldwide, liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC) emerges as grave public health danger owing to its chemotherapy-resistant feature. Disulfidoptosis is a newly discovered programmed cell death process affecting the normal actin cytoskeleton structure. METHODS Single-cell RNA (scRNA)-seq data were procured from GSE149614 and GSE202642 datasets. We utilized uniform manifold approximation and projection and clustering algorithm Louvian for dimensionality reduction and FindAllMarkers function for determining the differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Monocle2 and SCENIC were utilized to perform pseudo-time series and transcription factor analysis for selected subgroups. A series of in vitro experiments, including colony formation assay (CFA), flow cytometry targeting apoptosis and cell cycle, was applied to investigate how APLP2 regulated the LIHC progression. Two cell lines of LIHC cells, HepG2, and Huh7, were used for si-APLP2 transfection. RESULTS Tumor heterogeneity landscape of LIHC was depicted by detailed subgroup analysis. We found T and B cells were enriched with POU2F1 and HES1 activity. Inflammatory cancer-associated fibroblasts interacted with the cancer cells, uniquely through COL1A1/SDC1, COL1A2/SDC1 and LUM/ITGB1 pathways. The transformation from normal hepatocytes to malignant cells was displayed by cell trajectory analysis. State4, which was determined as malignant cells, was enriched in PI3K, hypoxia, and Epidermal growth factor receptor pathway, and enriched with Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 2 Group F Member 1 transcription factor activity. We observed an intense communication from the cancer cells to endothelial cells, mainly through the Vitronectin (VTN) to Kinase Insert Domain Receptor (KDR) pathway. A prognostic model targeting LIHC was constructed based on the disulfidoptosis-based DEGs, namely APLP2, PDIA6, YBX1, SPP1, whose accuracy was validated in multiple cohorts. Knockdown of APLP2 significantly increased the apoptosis and delayed cell cycle progression of LIHC cell line. CONCLUSION A prognostic model targeting LIHC was constructed based on the disulfidoptosis-related DEGs, which displayed high stability and accuracy in multiple cohorts. APLP2 played an active role in the carcinogenesis of LIHC by regulating the apoptosis and cell cycle.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhigang Tao
- Department of Radiology, Hangzhou Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jing Huang
- Department of Integrated Oncology, Hangzhou Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jun Li
- Department of Integrated Oncology, Hangzhou Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Wei Y, Sandhu E, Yang X, Yang J, Ren Y, Gao X. Bidirectional Functional Effects of Staphylococcus on Carcinogenesis. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10122353. [PMID: 36557606 PMCID: PMC9783839 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10122353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2022] [Revised: 11/20/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
As a Gram-positive cocci existing in nature, Staphylococcus has a variety of species, such as Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis, etc. Growing evidence reveals that Staphylococcus is closely related to the occurrence and development of various cancers. On the one hand, cancer patients are more likely to suffer from bacterial infection and antibiotic-resistant strain infection compared to healthy controls. On the other hand, there exists an association between staphylococcal infection and carcinogenesis. Staphylococcus often plays a pathogenic role and evades the host immune system through surface adhesion molecules, α-hemolysin, PVL (Panton-Valentine leukocidin), SEs (staphylococcal enterotoxins), SpA (staphylococcal protein A), TSST-1 (Toxic shock syndrom toxin-1) and other factors. Staphylococcal nucleases (SNases) are extracellular nucleases that serve as genomic markers for Staphylococcus aureus. Interestingly, a human homologue of SNases, SND1 (staphylococcal nuclease and Tudor domain-containing 1), has been recognized as an oncoprotein. This review is the first to summarize the reported basic and clinical evidence on staphylococci and neoplasms. Investigations on the correlation between Staphylococcus and the occurrence, development, diagnosis and treatment of breast, skin, oral, colon and other cancers, are made from the perspectives of various virulence factors and SND1.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuannan Wei
- Faculty of Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - Esha Sandhu
- Faculty of Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - Xi Yang
- Department of Immunology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - Jie Yang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Science, Tianjin Medical University, Qixiangtai Road No. 22, Heping District, Tianjin 300070, China
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Science, Tianjin Medical University, Qixiangtai Road No. 22, Heping District, Tianjin 300070, China
- Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Disease (Ministry of Education), Key Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology in Tianjin, Excellent Talent Project, The Province and Ministry Co-sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics, Tianjin Medical University, Qixiangtai Road No. 22, Heping District, Tianjin 300070, China
| | - Yuanyuan Ren
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Science, Tianjin Medical University, Qixiangtai Road No. 22, Heping District, Tianjin 300070, China
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Science, Tianjin Medical University, Qixiangtai Road No. 22, Heping District, Tianjin 300070, China
- Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Disease (Ministry of Education), Key Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology in Tianjin, Excellent Talent Project, The Province and Ministry Co-sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics, Tianjin Medical University, Qixiangtai Road No. 22, Heping District, Tianjin 300070, China
- Correspondence: (Y.R.); (X.G.); Tel./Fax: +86-022-83336806 (X.G.)
| | - Xingjie Gao
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Science, Tianjin Medical University, Qixiangtai Road No. 22, Heping District, Tianjin 300070, China
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Science, Tianjin Medical University, Qixiangtai Road No. 22, Heping District, Tianjin 300070, China
- Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Disease (Ministry of Education), Key Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology in Tianjin, Excellent Talent Project, The Province and Ministry Co-sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics, Tianjin Medical University, Qixiangtai Road No. 22, Heping District, Tianjin 300070, China
- Correspondence: (Y.R.); (X.G.); Tel./Fax: +86-022-83336806 (X.G.)
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Yang Y, Zhang Q, Yang J, Wang Y, Zhuang K, Zhao C. Possible Association of Nucleobindin-1 Protein with Depressive Disorder in Patients with HIV Infection. Brain Sci 2022; 12:brainsci12091151. [PMID: 36138887 PMCID: PMC9496684 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci12091151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2022] [Revised: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Mental disorders linked with dysfunction in the temporal cortex, such as anxiety and depression, can increase the morbidity and mortality of people living with HIV (PLWHA). Expressions of both nucleobindin 1 (NUCB1) and cannabinoid receptor 1 (CNR1) in the neurons have been found to alter in patients with depressive disorder, but whether it is involved in the development of depression in the context of HIV infection is unknown. Objectives To investigate the effects of NUCB1 on depressive disorder among PLWHA and preliminarily explore the underlying molecular mechanisms. Methods: Individuals who were newly HIV diagnosed were assessed on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale (HADS). Then SHIV-infected rhesus monkeys were used to investigate the possible involvement of the NUCB1 and the CNR1 protein in depression-like behavior. Results: The prevalence rate of depression among PLWHA was 27.33% (41/150). The mechanism results showing elevated NUCB1 levels in cerebrospinal fluid from HIV-infected patients suffering from depression were confirmed compared to those of HIV-infected patients. Moreover, the immunohistochemical analysis indicated the expression of NUCB1 in the temporal cortex neurons of SHIV-infected monkeys was higher than that of the healthy control. Conversely, CNR1 expression was down-regulated at protein levels. Conclusions: Depression symptoms are common among PLWHA and associate with NUCB1 expression increases, and NUCB1 may be a potential target for depression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yun Yang
- The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230022, China
| | - Qian Zhang
- The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230022, China
| | - Jing Yang
- The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230022, China
| | - Yun Wang
- The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230022, China
| | - Ke Zhuang
- ABSL-III Laboratory at the Center for Animal Experiment, State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
- Correspondence: (K.Z.); (C.Z.)
| | - Changcheng Zhao
- The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230022, China
- Correspondence: (K.Z.); (C.Z.)
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Integrative analysis of the roles of lncRNAs and mRNAs in ischaemic preconditioning to alleviate liver ischaemia-reperfusion injury in mice. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2022; 627:30-38. [PMID: 36007332 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2022.08.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The objective of our study was to elucidate the possible underlying mechanism for the protective effect of ischaemic preconditioning (IPC) against ischaemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury and to provide new research perspectives of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs). In this study, serum and liver tissue samples were collected to measure indexes of liver injury from a mouse liver model in sham, I/R injury and I/R + IPC groups. Furthermore, liver samples from 5 randomly selected mice per group were extracted and subjected to the microarray and subsequent bioinformatics analysis. IPC ameliorated liver damage by lowered liver transaminase levels and pro-inflammatory cytokines. A total of 167 lncRNAs and 108 messenger RNAs (mRNAs) were significantly differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the I/R + IPC and I/R groups. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis revealed that these genes were mainly related to unfolded proteins, responses to topologically incorrect proteins, responses to temperature stimuli, protein folding and protein refolding. Kyoto Encyclopaedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis indicated that the DEGs were enriched in the following pathways: protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum; antigen processing and presentation; and fructose and mannose metabolism. Additionally, the 7 selected DEGs (Hspa1ab, Chka, Clec2h, Mvd, Adra1a, AK085737 and AK088966) were validated in modules of the lncRNA-mRNA weighted coexpression network, which agreed with the qRT-PCR and chip data. And the identified differentially expressed lncRNAs and mRNAs may provide new clues to understand the pivotal pathophysiological mechanism by which IPC alleviates I/R-caused liver damage.
Collapse
|
7
|
Fighting Cancer with Bacteria and Their Toxins. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222312980. [PMID: 34884780 PMCID: PMC8657867 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222312980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Revised: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer is one of the most important global health problems that continues to demand new treatment strategies. Many bacteria that cause persistent infections play a role in carcinogenesis. However, since bacteria are well studied in terms of molecular mechanisms, they have been proposed as an interesting solution to treat cancer. In this review, we present the use of bacteria, and particularly bacterial toxins, in cancer therapy, highlighting the advantages and limitations of bacterial toxins. Proteomics, as one of the omics disciplines, is essential for the study of bacterial toxins. Advances in proteomics have contributed to better characterization of bacterial toxins, but also to the development of anticancer drugs based on bacterial toxins. In addition, we highlight the current state of knowledge in the rapidly developing field of bacterial extracellular vesicles, with a focus on their recent application as immunotherapeutic agents.
Collapse
|
8
|
Ma F, Wang Z, Qiang Y, Xu L, Ding P, Wang Y, Ma X. LukS-PV Inhibits Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells Migration via the TNNC1/PI3K/AKT Axis. Onco Targets Ther 2020; 13:10221-10230. [PMID: 33116603 PMCID: PMC7578518 DOI: 10.2147/ott.s278540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Accepted: 09/24/2020] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors worldwide. LukS-PV is the S component of Panton-Valentine leucocidin (PVL), a toxin secreted by Staphylococcus aureus. We aimed to investigate the role of LukS-PV in HCC cell migration and the specific molecular mechanism involved. Methods We used scratch assays to detect the mobility of liver cancer cells treated with LukS-PV. Quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot analysis were performed to detect the expression levels of related genes. RNA sequencing and quantitative proteomics sequencing were used to assess the transcriptional and proteomic alterations of target genes. RNA sequencing and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) pathway analyses revealed the downstream signaling pathway targets of LukS-PV. Results Our results demonstrated that LukS-PV could inhibit HCC cell migration in a concentration-dependent manner. LukS-PV could also downregulate the expression of TNNC1, which was highly expressed in HCC cells. Additionally, the study showed that LukS-PV inhibited HCC cell migration by downregulating TNNC1. Further studies showed that LukS-PV inhibited the phosphorylation of PI3K/AKT pathway by targeting TNNC1, thereby inhibiting HCC cell migration. Conclusion Our study demonstrated that LukS-PV has an inhibitory role in the migration of liver cancer cells through the TNNC1/PI3K/AKT axis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fan Ma
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Provincial Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, People's Republic of China
| | - Ziran Wang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Yawen Qiang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, People's Republic of China
| | - Liangfei Xu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Provincial Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, People's Republic of China
| | - Pengsheng Ding
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, People's Republic of China
| | - Yangyan Wang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Provincial Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoling Ma
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Provincial Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, People's Republic of China.,Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, People's Republic of China
| |
Collapse
|