Targeting the canonical Wnt/β-catenin pathway in hematological malignancies

Revealing the mechanism of Gualou-Xiebai against myocardial ischemia based on network pharmacology and energy metabolism strategies

Trichosanthes kirilowii-Allium macrostemon (Chinese name Gualou and Xiebai, GLXB), a classical herb pair, has significant clinical efficacy in the treatment of myocardial ischemia (MI). In this study, network pharmacology combined with RNA-seq strategy was employed to predict the targets and pathways of GLXB for MI. GLXB significantly modulated signaling pathways related to the pathology of MI, such as anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic signaling pathways such as WNT, PI3K/AKT, and AMPK. GSEA showed that GLXB administration downregulated these key pathways. In addition, Metabolomic analysis demonstrated that GLXB treatment reversed metabolic disorder. Integrative analysis demonstrated three key metabolites (pyruvate, lactate, and palmitate) and three differential genes (Pck1, Cdo1, and Cth) that affected glycolysis or gluconeogenesis and cysteine and methionine metabolism. The results of molecular docking showed that chrysin-7-O-glucuronide and diosmetin-7-O-rutinoside may be the crucial components that exert myocardial protective activity. Western blot showed that GLXB administration reversed the expression levels of Pck1, Cdo1, Cth, Alb, Bcl2, and Ccnd1. This study has elucidated that GLXB could alleviate MI in rats by modulating WNT and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways, thereby reducing inflammation and apoptosis as well as improving energy metabolism.

MicroRNA-155 and its exosomal form: Small pieces in the gastrointestinal cancers puzzle

Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers are common cancers that are responsible for a large portion of global cancer fatalities. Due to this, there is a pressing need for innovative strategies to identify and treat GI cancers. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short ncRNAs that can be considered either cancer-causing or tumor-inhibiting molecules. MicroRNA-155, also known as miR-155, is a vital regulator in various cancer types. This miRNA has a carcinogenic role in a variety of gastrointestinal cancers, including pancreatic, colon, and gastric cancers. Since the abnormal production of miR-155 has been detected in various malignancies and has a correlation with increased mortality, it is a promising target for future therapeutic approaches. Moreover, exosomal miR-155 associated with tumors have significant functions in communicating between cells and establishing the microenvironment for cancer in GI cancers. Various types of genetic material, such as specifically miR-155 as well as proteins found in cancer-related exosomes, have the ability to be transmitted to other cells and have a function in the advancement of tumor. Therefore, it is critical to conduct a review that outlines the diverse functions of miR-155 in gastrointestinal malignancies. As a result, we present a current overview of the role of miR-155 in gastrointestinal cancers. Our research highlighted the role of miR-155 in GI cancers and covered critical issues in GI cancer such as pharmacologic inhibitors of miRNA-155, miRNA-155-assosiated circular RNAs, immune-related cells contain miRNA-155. Importantly, we discussed miRNA-155 in GI cancer resistance to chemotherapy, diagnosis and clinical trials. Furthermore, the function of miR-155 enclosed in exosomes that are released by cancer cells or tumor-associated macrophages is also covered.

Deciphering cellular and molecular mechanism of MUC13 mucin involved in cancer cell plasticity and drug resistance

There has been a surge of interest in recent years in understanding the intricate mechanisms underlying cancer progression and treatment resistance. One molecule that has recently emerged in these mechanisms is MUC13 mucin, a transmembrane glycoprotein. Researchers have begun to unravel the molecular complexity of MUC13 and its impact on cancer biology. Studies have shown that MUC13 overexpression can disrupt normal cellular polarity, leading to the acquisition of malignant traits. Furthermore, MUC13 has been associated with increased cancer plasticity, allowing cells to undergo epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and metastasize. Notably, MUC13 has also been implicated in the development of chemoresistance, rendering cancer cells less responsive to traditional treatment options. Understanding the precise role of MUC13 in cellular plasticity, and chemoresistance could pave the way for the development of targeted therapies to combat cancer progression and enhance treatment efficacy.

Tensin 4 facilitates aerobic glycolysis, migration and invasion of colorectal cancer cells through the β‑catenin/c‑Myc signaling pathway

Tensin 4 (TNS4) is overexpressed in multiple cancers, including colorectal cancer (CRC), and is associated with a poor prognosis of patients with CRC. However, the role and underlying mechanisms of TNS4 in CRC have yet to be elucidated. The expression of TNS4 in CRC tissues were analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Cell migration and invasion were assessed in vitro using Transwell assay. Western blot and reverse transcription (RT)-quantitative (q)PCR were used to investigate the molecular mechanisms by which TNS4 regulates aerobic glycolysis, migration and invasion of CRC cells. The present study demonstrated that TNS4 was highly expressed in the cancer tissues of patients with CRC and significantly associated with the tumor-node-metastasis stages. TNS4 silencing led to a significant decrease in glucose consumption and lactate production in CRC cells, and knockdown of TNS4 suppressed the migration and invasion of CRC cells via aerobic glycolysis through the β-catenin/c-Myc pathway. Notably, treatment with DASA-58, an activator of glycolysis, or SKL2001, an activator of β-catenin/c-Myc signaling, significantly reversed the effect of TNS4 knockdown on aerobic glycolysis, migration and invasion of CRC cells. Collectively, these results suggest that TNS4 may act as a novel regulator of aerobic glycolysis, migration and invasion of CRC cells by modulating β-catenin/c-Myc signaling, providing a new potential biomarker and therapeutic target in CRC.

Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway in Pediatric Tumors: Implications for Diagnosis and Treatment

The evolutionarily conserved Wnt signaling has a significant and diverse role in maintaining cell homeostasis and tissue maintenance. It is necessary in the regulation of crucial biological functions such as embryonal development, proliferation, differentiation, cell fate, and stem cell pluripotency. The deregulation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling often leads to various diseases, including cancer and non-cancer diseases. The role of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in adult tumors has been extensively studied in literature. Although the Wnt signaling pathway has been well explored and recognized to play a role in the initiation and progression of cancer, there is still a lack of understanding on how it affects pediatric tumors. This review discusses the recent developments of this signaling pathway in pediatric tumors. We also focus on understanding how different types of variations in Wnt signaling pathway contribute to cancer development and provide an insight of tissue specific mutations that lead to clinical progression of these tumors.

Linderapyrone analogue LPD-01 as a cancer treatment agent by targeting importin7

The Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway plays important roles in several cancer cells, including cell proliferation and development. We previously succeeded in synthesizing a small molecule compound inhibiting the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, named LPD-01 (1), and 1 inhibited the growth of human colorectal cancer (HT-29) cells. In this study, we revealed that 1 inhibits the growth of HT-29 cells stronger than that of another human colorectal cancer (SW480) cells. Therefore, we have attempted to identify the target proteins of 1 in HT-29 cells. Firstly, we investigated the effect on the expression levels of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway-related proteins. As a result, 1 inhibited the expression of target proteins of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway (c-Myc and Survivin) and their genes, whereas the amount of transcriptional co-activator (β-catenin) was not decreased, suggesting that 1 inhibited the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway without affecting β-catenin. Next, we investigated the target proteins of 1 using magnetic FG beads. Chemical pull-down assay combined with mass spectrometry suggested that 1 directly binds to importin7. As expected, 1 inhibited the nuclear translocation of importin7 cargoes such as Smad2 and Smad3 in TGF-β-stimulated HT-29 cells. In addition, the knockdown of importin7 by siRNA reduced the expression of target genes of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. These results suggest that importin7 is one of the target proteins of 1 for inhibition of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

β-catenin/TCF4-induced SCUBE3 upregulation promotes ovarian cancer development via HIF-1 signaling pathway

The precise involvement and mechanistic role of the signal peptide-CUB-EGF-like domain-containing protein 3 (SCUBE3) in ovarian cancer (OV) remain poorly understood. Here, leveraging comprehensive data from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases, we unveil the selective overexpression of SCUBE3 in ovarian cancer tissues and cells. Intriguingly, elevated SCUBE3 expression levels correlate with an unfavorable prognosis in patients. Through meticulous manipulation of SCUBE3 expression, we elucidate its consequential impact on in vitro proliferation and invasion of ovarian cancer cells, as well as in vivo tumor growth in mice. Our multifaceted investigations, encompassing luciferase reporter assays, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) experiments, and mining of public databases, successfully identify SCUBE3 as a direct downstream target gene of TCF4-a pivotal positive regulator within the β-catenin/TCF4 complex. Furthermore, utilizing a recessive mutant mouse line (kta41) harboring a functionally impaired point mutation at position 882 in the SCUBE3 gene, we uncover SCUBE3's involvement in the intricate regulation of angiogenesis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Strikingly, Spearman correlation coefficient analysis unveils a close association between SCUBE3 and HIF1A in OV, with SCUBE3 exerting tight control over HIF1A mRNA expression. Moreover, functional inhibition of HIF1A significantly impedes the pro-proliferative and invasive capabilities of SCUBE3-overexpressing ovarian cancer cells. Collectively, our findings underscore the pivotal role of SCUBE3 in driving ovarian cancer progression, shedding light on its intricate molecular mechanisms and establishing it as a potential therapeutic target for this devastating disease.

LncRNA OIP5-AS1/miR-410-3p/Wnt7b axis promotes the proliferation of rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast-like synoviocytes via regulating the Wnt/β-catenin pathway

LncRNA OIP5-AS1 has a common gene imbalance in various cancers and tumours, which plays an important role in regulating its biological function. However, there are few studies on lncRNA OIP5-AS1 in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The purpose of the present study was to investigate the role of lncRNA OIP5-AS1 in the pathogenesis of RA. In the present study, we established an adjuvant arthritis (AA) rat model to obtain primary fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs);The subcellular localisation of lncRNA OIP5-AS1 was detected by fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) assay; Cell proliferation of FLSs was determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide(MTT) assay;IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α concentrations were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA);Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), Western blots(WB) and immunofluorescence were used to detect the expression of lncRNA OIP5-AS1/miR-410-3p/wnt7b signal axis and Wnt/β-catenin signal pathway related indicators in FLSs. FISH assay confirmed the presence of lncRNA OIP5-AS1 in the cytoplasm, suggesting that it acts as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA). qRT-PCR showed that the expression of lncRNA OIP5-AS1 was upregulated in FLSs, while the expression of miR-410-3p was downregulated in FLSs. We also found that lncRNA OIP5-AS1 knockdown inhibited the proliferation and inflammation of FLSs. Moreover, the expression of Wnt7b, the downstream target gene of miR-410-3p, and the activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway were also inhibited by lncRNA OIP5-AS1 knockdown. These results suggested that lncRNA OIP5-AS1 promotes the activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway by regulating the miR-410-3p/Wnt7b signalling axis, thereby participating in the occurrence and development of RA.

Repurposing synthetic and natural derivatives induces apoptosis in an orthotopic glioma-induced xenograft model by modulating WNT/β-catenin signaling

BACKGROUND

Glioblastomas arise from multistep tumorigenesis of the glial cells. Despite the current state-of-art treatment, tumor recurrence is inevitable. Among the innovations blooming up against glioblastoma, drug repurposing could provide profound premises for treatment enhancement. While considering this strategy, the efficacy of the repurposed drugs as monotherapies were not up to par; hence, the focus has now shifted to investigate the multidrug combinations.

AIM

To investigate the efficacy of a quadruple-combinatorial treatment comprising temozolomide along with chloroquine, naringenin, and phloroglucinol in an orthotopic glioma-induced xenograft model.

METHODS

Antiproliferative effect of the drugs was assessed by immunostaining. The expression profiles of WNT/β-catenin and apoptotic markers were evaluated by qRT-PCR, immunoblotting, and ELISA. Patterns of mitochondrial depolarization was determined by flow cytometry. TUNEL assay was performed to affirm apoptosis induction. In vivo drug detection study was carried out by ESI-Q-TOF MS analysis.

RESULTS

The quadruple-drug treatment had significantly hampered glioma proliferation and had induced apoptosis by modulating the WNT/β-catenin signaling. Interestingly, the induction of apoptosis was associated with mitochondrial depolarization. The quadruple-drug cocktail had breached the blood-brain barrier and was detected in the brain tissue and plasma samples.

CONCLUSION

The quadruple-drug combination served as a promising adjuvant therapy to combat glioblastoma lethality in vivo and can be probed for translation from bench to bedside.

Identification of Potential Therapeutic Targets for Plasmablastic Lymphoma Through Gene Expression Analysis: Insights into RAS and Wnt Signaling Pathways

Plasmablastic lymphoma (PBL) is a rare and aggressive B-cell lymphoma with overlapping characteristics with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and multiple myeloma. Hyperactive Wnt signaling derails homeostasis and promotes oncogenesis and chemoresistance in DLBCL and multiple myeloma. Evidence suggests active cross-talk between the Wnt and RAS pathways impacting metastasis in solid cancers in which combined targeted therapies show effective results. Recent genomic studies in PBL demonstrated a high frequency of mutations linked with the RAS signaling pathway. However, the role of RAS and Wnt signaling pathway molecule expression in PBL remained unknown. We examined the expression of Wnt and RAS pathway-related genes in a well-curated cohort of PBL. Because activated B cells are considered immediate precursors of plasmablasts in B cell development, we compared this data with activated B-cell type DLBCL (ABC-DLBCL) patients, employing NanoString transcriptome analysis (770 genes). Hierarchical clustering revealed distinctive differential gene expression between PBL and ABC-DLBCL. Gene set enrichment analysis labeled the RAS signaling pathway as the most enriched (37 genes) in PBL, including upregulating critical genes, such as NRAS, RAF1, SHC1, and SOS1. Wnt pathway genes were also enriched (n = 22) by gene set enrichment analysis. Molecules linked with Wnt signaling activation, such as ligands or targets (FZD3, FZD7, c-MYC, WNT5A, WNT5B, and WNT10B), were elevated in PBL. Our data also showed that, unlike ABC-DLBCL, the deranged Wnt signaling activity in PBL was not linked with hyperactive nuclear factor κB and B-cell receptor signaling. In divergence, Wnt signaling inhibitors (CXXC4, SFRP2, and DKK1) also showed overexpression in PBL. The high expression of RAS signaling molecules reported may indicate linkage with gain-in-function RAS mutations. In addition, high expression of Wnt and RAS signaling molecules may pave pathways to explore benefiting from combined targeted therapies, as reported in solid cancer, to improve prognosis in PBL patients.

Dvl proteins regulate SMAD1, AHR, mTOR, BRD7 protein expression while differentially regulating canonical and non-canonical Wnt signaling pathways in CML cell lines

Dishevelled (Dvl) is a scaffold protein that transmits Wnt signals to downstream effector molecules via both canonical and non-canonical Wnt signaling pathways. Deregulated activation of Dvl proteins has been reported in various solid tumors. However, it is not clear which pathway and proteins are responsible for observed aberrant activities and their relevance in disease prognosis. In addition, there is relatively limited knowledge on the role Dvl proteins may have in hematologic malignancy etiopathogenesis. In this study, we demonstrated that Dvl genes are not expressed in normal bone marrow but are expressed at different levels in the bone marrow of patients with chronic myeloid leukemia. We showed SMAD1, AHR, mTOR, BRD7 protein expressions are significantly affected by Dvl silencing and overexpression in CML cell lines. Wnt/β-catenin and Wnt/PCP signaling pathway components are effectively repressed after Dvl silencing in K562 cells, while regulator of Wnt/Ca²⁺ signaling showed increase in both CML cell lines. Targeting Dvl proteins increases imatinib susceptibility of the K562 and MEG-01 cell lines. In light of our data, Dvl could be a potential therapeutic target in the treatment of CML.

Therapeutic targeting and HSC proliferation by small molecules and biologicals

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) have considerably therapeutic value on autologous and allogeneic transplantation for many malignant/non-malignant hematological diseases, especially with improvement of gene therapy. However, acquirement of limited cell dose from HSC sources is the main handicap for successful transplantation. Therefore, many strategies based on the utilization of various cytokines, interaction of stromal cells, modulation of several extrinsic and intrinsic factors have been developed to promote ex vivo functional HSC expansion with high reconstitution ability until today. Besides all these strategies, small molecules become prominent with their ease of use and various advantages when they are translated to the clinic. In the last two decades, several small molecule compounds have been investigated in pre-clinical studies and, some of them were evaluated in different stages of clinical trials for their safety and efficiencies. In this chapter, we will present an overview of HSC biology, function, regulation and also, pharmacological HSC modulation with small molecules from pre-clinical and clinical perspectives.

Influence of Long Non-Coding RNA in the Regulation of Cancer Stem Cell Signaling Pathways

Over the past two decades, cancer stem cells (CSCs) have emerged as an immensely studied and experimental topic, however a wide range of questions concerning the topic still remain unanswered; in particular, the mechanisms underlying the regulation of tumor stem cells and their characteristics. Understanding the cancer stem-cell signaling pathways may pave the way towards a better comprehension of these mechanisms. Signaling pathways such as WNT, STAT, Hedgehog, NOTCH, PI3K/AKT/mTOR, TGF-β, and NF-κB are responsible not only for modulating various features of CSCs but also their microenvironments. Recently, the prominent roles of various non-coding RNAs such as small non-coding RNAs (sncRNAs) and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in developing and enhancing the tumor phenotypes have been unfolded. This review attempts to shed light on understanding the influence of long non- coding RNAs in the modulation of various CSC-signaling pathways and its impact on the CSCs and tumor properties; highlighting the protagonistic and antagonistic roles of lncRNAs.

Cannabidiol inhibits invasion and metastasis in colorectal cancer cells by reversing epithelial-mesenchymal transition through the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide, wherein distant metastasis is the main reason for death. The non-psychoactive phytocannabinoid cannabidiol (CBD) effectively induces the apoptosis of CRC cells. We investigated the role of CBD in the migration and metastasis of CRC cells. CBD significantly inhibited proliferation, migration, and invasion of colon cancer cells in a dose- or time-dependent manner. CBD could also inhibit epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) by upregulating epithelial markers such as E-cadherin and downregulating mesenchymal markers such as N-cadherin, Snail, Vimentin, and HIF-1α. CBD could suppress the activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, inhibit the expression of β-catenin target genes such as APC and CK1, and increase the expression of Axin1. Compared to the control group, the volume and weight of orthotopic xenograft tumors significantly decreased after the CBD treatment. The results demonstrated that CBD inhibits invasion and metastasis in CRC cells. This was the first study elucidating the underlying molecular mechanism of CBD in inhibiting EMT and metastasis via the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in CRC cells. The molecular mechanism by which CBD inhibits EMT and metastasis of CRC cells was shown to be through the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway for the first time.

FOXO3a‑modulated DEPDC1 promotes malignant progression of nephroblastoma via the Wnt/β‑catenin signaling pathway

DEP domain containing 1 (DEPDC1) and forkhead box transcription factor 3a (FOXO3a) serve a role in tumor cells. To the best of our knowledge, however, the expression of DEPDC1 and FOXO3a in nephroblastoma and their role and potential mechanisms in nephroblastoma cells have not been reported. The aim of the present study was to characterize the expression of DEPDC1 and FOXO3a in nephroblastoma, as well as the underlying mechanisms. The expression levels of DEPDC1 and FOXO3a were detected using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR and western blotting. Cell viability, proliferation, invasion and migration were detected using Cell Counting Kit-8, colony formation, Transwell and wound healing assays, respectively. The activity of DEPDC1 promoter was detected by dual-luciferase reporter assay and the association between FOXO3a and DEPDC1 was detected using immunoprecipitation. DEPDC1 expression was significantly increased in nephroblastoma cells, particularly WiT49 cells. Compared with the negative control, DEPDC1 knockdown significantly inhibited proliferation, invasion and migration of WiT49 cells, while DEPDC1 overexpression (Ov) reversed these effects. By contrast, expression of FOXO3a was decreased in WiT49 cells and immunoprecipitation showed that FOXO3a bound to the DEPDC1 promoter. Ov-FOXO3a inhibited WiT49 cell proliferation, invasion and migration, as well as protein expression levels of phosphorylated-glycogen synthase kinase-3β, Wnt3a and β-catenin, while DEPDC1 Ov reversed the inhibitory effects of FOXO3a Ov on WiT49 cells. In conclusion, DEPDC1 promoted malignant progression of nephroblastoma via the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway; this may be regulated by FOXO3a.

Pathobiology and Therapeutic Relevance of GSK-3 in Chronic Hematological Malignancies

Glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) is an evolutionarily conserved, ubiquitously expressed, multifunctional serine/threonine protein kinase involved in the regulation of a variety of physiological processes. GSK-3 comprises two isoforms (α and β) which were originally discovered in 1980 as enzymes involved in glucose metabolism via inhibitory phosphorylation of glycogen synthase. Differently from other proteins kinases, GSK-3 isoforms are constitutively active in resting cells, and their modulation mainly involves inhibition through upstream regulatory networks. In the early 1990s, GSK-3 isoforms were implicated as key players in cancer cell pathobiology. Active GSK-3 facilitates the destruction of multiple oncogenic proteins which include β-catenin and Master regulator of cell cycle entry and proliferative metabolism (c-Myc). Therefore, GSK-3 was initially considered to be a tumor suppressor. Consistently, GSK-3 is often inactivated in cancer cells through dysregulated upstream signaling pathways. However, over the past 10–15 years, a growing number of studies highlighted that in some cancer settings GSK-3 isoforms inhibit tumor suppressing pathways and therefore act as tumor promoters. In this article, we will discuss the multiple and often enigmatic roles played by GSK-3 isoforms in some chronic hematological malignancies (chronic myelogenous leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, multiple myeloma, and B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas) which are among the most common blood cancer cell types. We will also summarize possible novel strategies targeting GSK-3 for innovative therapies of these disorders.

ENO3 Inhibits Growth and Metastasis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma via Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway

β-enolase (ENO3) is a metalloenzyme that functions during glycolysis and has been revealed ectopic expression in different cancers. However, the function and underlying modulatory mechanisms of ENO3 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are still elusive. Here, we discovered that ENO3 was remarkably down-regulated in human HCC tissue in contrast to those in noncancerous tissue. Moreover, low expression of ENO3 was related to the poor prognosis of HCC patients. Overexpression of ENO3 suppressed proliferative, migratory, and invasive abilities of HCC cells both in vitro and in vivo, whereas knocking down ENO3 led to the opposite effect. In addition, we revealed that ENO3 repressed the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process with its biomarker variations. Mechanistic research unveiled that ENO3 suppressed the Wnt/β-catenin signal, which subsequently modulated the transcription of its target genes associated with the proliferation and metastasis capacity of HCC cells. Taken together, our study uncovered that ENO3 acted as a tumor inhibitor in HCC development and implied ENO3 as a promising candidate for HCC treatment.

MicroRNAs and JAK/STAT3 signaling: A new promising therapeutic axis in blood cancers

Blood disorders include a wide spectrum of blood-associated malignancies resulting from inherited or acquired defects. The ineffectiveness of existing therapies against blood disorders arises from different reasons, one of which is drug resistance, so different types of leukemia may show different responses to treatment. Leukemia occurs for a variety of genetic and acquired reasons, leading to uncontrolled proliferation in one or more cell lines. Regarding the genetic defects, oncogene signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) family transcription factor, especially STAT3, play an essential role in hematological disorders onset and progress upon mutations, dysfunction, or hyperactivity. Besides, microRNAs, as biological molecules, has been shown to play a dual role in either tumorigenesis and tumor suppression in various cancers. Besides, a strong association between STAT3 and miRNA has been reported. For example, miRNAs can regulate STAT3 via targeting its upstream mediators such as IL6, IL9, and JAKs or directly binding to the STAT3 gene. On the other hand, STAT3 can regulate miRNAs. In this review study, we aimed to determine the role of either microRNAs and STAT3 along with their effect on one another's activity and function in hematological malignancies.

A Role for the Bone Marrow Microenvironment in Drug Resistance of Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a heterogeneous disease with a poor prognosis and remarkable resistance to chemotherapeutic agents. Understanding resistance mechanisms against currently available drugs helps to recognize the therapeutic obstacles. Various mechanisms of resistance to chemotherapy or targeted inhibitors have been described for AML cells, including a role for the bone marrow niche in both the initiation and persistence of the disease, and in drug resistance of the leukemic stem cell (LSC) population. The BM niche supports LSC survival through direct and indirect interactions among the stromal cells, hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells, and leukemic cells. Additionally, the BM niche mediates changes in metabolic and signal pathway activation due to the acquisition of new mutations or selection and expansion of a minor clone. This review briefly discusses the role of the BM microenvironment and metabolic pathways in resistance to therapy, as discovered through AML clinical studies or cell line and animal models.

Targeting miRNAs with anesthetics in cancer: Current understanding and future perspectives

Anesthetics are extensively used during cancer surgeries. The progression of cancer can be influenced by perioperative events such as exposure to general or local anesthesia. However, whether they inhibit cancer or act as a causative factor for metastasis and exert deleterious effects on cancer growth differs based on the type of cancer and the therapy administration. Recent experimental data suggested that many of the most commonly used anesthetics in surgical oncology, whether general or local agents, can alter gene expression and cause epigenetic changes via modulating miRNAs. miRNAs are single-stranded non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression at various levels, and their dysregulation contributes to the pathogenesis of cancers. However, anesthetics via regulating miRNAs can concurrently target several effectors of cellular signaling pathways involved in cell differentiation, proliferation, and viability. This review summarized the current research about the effects of different anesthetics in regulating cancer, with a particular emphasis on the role of miRNAs. A significant number of studies conducted in this area of research illuminate the effects of anesthetics on the regulation of miRNA expression; therefore, we hope that a thorough understanding of the underlying mechanisms involved in the regulation of miRNA in the context of anesthesia-induced cancer regulation could help to define optimal anesthetic regimens and provide better perspectives for further studies.

The role of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in the pathogenesis and treatment of multiple myeloma (review)

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a refractory hematological malignancy characterized by aberrant accumulation of plasma cells. Patients with MM are susceptible to becoming resistant to chemotherapy, eventually leading to relapse. Progression of MM is largely dependent on the bone marrow microenvironment. Stromal cells in the bone marrow microenvironment secrete Wnt ligands to activate Wnt signaling in MM, which is mediated through the transcription regulator β-catenin. In addition, Wnt/β-catenin pathway encourages osteoblast differentiation and bone formation, dysregulation of which is responsible for proliferation and drug resistance of MM cells. As a result, direct inhibition or silencing of β-catenin or associated genes in the Wnt/β-catenin pathway has been proposed to be an effective therapeutic anti-MM strategy. However, the underlying regulatory mechanism of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in MM remains to be fully elucidated. Herein, we summarized research advances on the specific genes and molecular biology process of Wnt/β-catenin pathway involved in tumorigenesis of MM, as well as the interaction with bone marrow microenvironment. Additionally, comprehensive summaries of drugs or small molecule inhibitors acting on Wnt/β-catenin pathway and targeting MM were introduced. This review intends to provide an overview of theoretical supports for novel Wnt/β-catenin pathway based treatment strategies in MM.

Detection of CTNNB1 Hotspot Mutations in Cell-Free DNA from the Urine of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. The beta-catenin gene, CTNNB1, is among the most frequently mutated in HCC tissues. However, mutational analysis of HCC tumors is hampered by the difficulty of obtaining tissue samples using traditional biopsy. Here, we explored the feasibility of detecting tumor-derived CTNNB1 mutations in cell-free DNA (cfDNA) extracted from the urine of HCC patients. Using a short amplicon qPCR assay targeting HCC mutational hotspot CTNNB1 codons 32-37 (exon 3), we detected CTNNB1 mutations in 25% (18/73) of HCC tissues and 24% (15/62) of pre-operative HCC urine samples in two independent cohorts. Among the CTNNB1-mutation-positive patients with available matched pre- and post-operative urine (n = 13), nine showed apparent elimination (n = 7) or severalfold reduction (n = 2) of the mutation in urine following tumor resection. Four of the seven patients with no detectable mutations in postoperative urine remained recurrence-free within five years after surgery. In contrast, all six patients with mutation-positive in post-operative urine recurred, including the two with reduced mutation levels. This is the first report of association between the presence of CTNNB1 mutations in pre- and post-operative urine cfDNA and HCC recurrence with implications for minimum residual disease detection.

Linderapyrone: A Wnt signal inhibitor isolated from Lindera umbellata

Linderapyrone, a Wnt signal inhibitor was isolated from the methanolic extract of the stems and twigs of Lindera umbellata together with epi-(-)-linderol A. Linderapyrone inhibited TCF/β-catenin transcriptional activity that was evaluated using cell-based TOPFlash luciferase assay system. To evaluate the structure-activity relationship and mechanism, we synthesized linderapyrone and its derivatives from piperitone. As the results of further bioassay for synthesized compounds, we found both of pyrone and monoterpene moieties were necessary for inhibitory effect. cDNA microarray analysis in a linderapyrone derivative treated human colorectal cancer cells showed that this compound downregulates Wnt signaling pathway. Moreover, we successes to synthesize the derivative of linderapyrone that has stronger inhibitory effect than linderapyrone and ICG-001 (positive control).

PRMT6 activates cyclin D1 expression in conjunction with the transcription factor LEF1

The establishment of cell type specific gene expression by transcription factors and their epigenetic cofactors is central for cell fate decisions. Protein arginine methyltransferase 6 (PRMT6) is an epigenetic regulator of gene expression mainly through methylating arginines at histone H3. This way it influences cellular differentiation and proliferation. PRMT6 lacks DNA-binding capability but is recruited by transcription factors to regulate gene expression. However, currently only a limited number of transcription factors have been identified, which facilitate recruitment of PRMT6 to key cell cycle related target genes. Here, we show that LEF1 contributes to the recruitment of PRMT6 to the central cell cycle regulator CCND1 (Cyclin D1). We identified LEF1 as an interaction partner of PRMT6. Knockdown of LEF1 or PRMT6 reduces CCND1 expression. This is in line with our observation that knockdown of PRMT6 increases the number of cells in G1 phase of the cell cycle and decreases proliferation. These results improve the understanding of PRMT6 activity in cell cycle regulation. We expect that these insights will foster the rational development and usage of specific PRMT6 inhibitors for cancer therapy.

Overexpression of NELFE contributes to gastric cancer progression via Wnt/β-catenin signaling-mediated activation of CSNK2B expression

Background

Accumulating evidence has highlighted the importance of negative elongation factor complex member E (NELFE) in tumorigenesis. However, the relationship between NELFE and gastric cancer (GC) remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the expression pattern and specific function of NELFE in GC.

Methods

NELFE expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry and qRT-PCR in GC tissues, respectively. Cell proliferation, migration and invasion were measured by CCK-8, colony formation, transwell assays, and nude mice model. Bioinformatics analysis was performed to search potential target genes of NELFE, and a Cignal Finder 10-Pathway Reporter Array was used to explore potential signaling pathways regulated by NELFE. Dual-luciferase reporter assays, qRT-PCR and western blotting were conducted to verify their regulatory relationship. The expression correlations among NELFE, β-catenin and CSNK2B were further explored by immunohistochemistry on consecutive resections.

Results

NELFE was significantly overexpressed in GC tissues both in protein and mRNA level and negatively correlated with the prognosis of GC patients. Gain- and loss-of-function experiments showed that NELFE potentiated GC cell proliferation and metastasis in vitro and in vivo. CSNK2B was identified as a downstream effector of NELFE. Wnt/β-catenin signaling may mediate the regulation of CSNK2B by NELFE. In addition, NELFE, β-catenin and CSNK2B were all remarkably upregulated in tumor tissues compared with adjacent normal tissues, and their expression levels in GC were positively correlated with each other.

Conclusion

Our findings reveal a new NELFE-Wnt/β-catenin-CSNK2B axis to promote GC progression and provide new candidate targets against this disease.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13046-021-01848-3.

Growth inhibition and suppression of the mTOR and Wnt/β-catenin pathways in T-acute lymphoblastic leukemia by rapamycin and MYCN depletion

T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is an aggressive malignancy. Understanding of the molecular pathogenesis may lead to novel therapeutic targets. Rapamycin, the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor, showed inhibitory effects on T-ALL cells. In this study, we showed that rapamycin significantly reduced MYCN mRNA and protein in a concentration-dependent manner in T-ALL cells. Selective knockdown of MYCN by small interfering RNA had similar effects to rapamycin to inhibit T-ALL proliferation and colony formation and to induce G1-phase cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis. The inhibitory effects of rapamycin and MYCN depletion were also found in a Molt-4 xenograft model. Rapamycin and MYCN inhibition suppressed both Wnt/β-catenin and mTOR signaling pathways. The results suggest the effects of rapamycin on adult T-ALL is likely mediated by downregulation of MYCN. The findings suggest MYCN a potential target for the treatment of adult T-ALL. Additionally, dual targeting of mTOR and Wnt/β-catenin pathways may represent a novel strategy in the treatment of adult T-ALL.

A novel dipeptide type inhibitor of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway suppresses proliferation of acute myelogenous leukemia cells

The Wnt/β-catenin pathway is an attractive target for the treatment of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), since aberrant activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway contributes to carcinogenesis in various types of cancers including AML. Screening of an in-house compound library, constructed at Kyoto Pharmaceutical University, identified a novel compound designated "31" that was found to be an inhibitor of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. The compound inhibited T-cell factor (TCF) activity in a TCF firefly luciferase-reporter assay and suppressed the proliferation of several human AML cell lines in a dose-dependent manner. Compound 31 arrested the cell cycle of AML cells at the G1 stage and induced apoptosis. Decrease in protein and mRNA expression level of Wnt pathway-related molecules was confirmed by the analyses of western blotting and quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. In addition, compound 31 combined with idarubicin synergistically inhibited the proliferation of AML cells. In conclusion, these results strongly suggest that compound 31 has potential as a novel anti-AML agent targeting the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

Targeting of the Alox12-12-HETE in Blast Crisis Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Inhibits Leukemia Stem/Progenitor Cell Function

Introduction

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a myeloid malignancy characterized by the oncogene BCR-ABL. CML responds well to therapy targeting BCR-ABL in the chronic phase but is resistant to treatment when it progresses to the blast phase (BP). This study attempted to address whether arachidonate 12-lipoxygenase (Alox12) confers to CML drug resistance.

Materials and Methods

We analyzed the expression of Alox12 using Western blotting, ELISA, and RT-PCR methods. Loss of functional analysis was performed using cellular activity assays on CML and normal hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs).

Results

Alox12 and 12-Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (12-HETE) are overexpressed in BP-CML but not HSPCs, and that Alox12-12-HETE axis is regulated by BCR-ABL. The Alox12-12-HETE axis is required for CML. Specific Alox12 inhibitor inhibits colony formation, survival, and self-renewal capacity in BP-CML HSPCs, and to a significantly greater extent than in normal HSPCs. Of note, the Alox12 inhibitor significantly augments dasatinib’s efficacy in BP-CML HSPCs. Mechanism studies show that Alox12 inhibition does not affect activities of essential signaling pathways involved in maintaining stem cell function, such as Wnt, p53, and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP). In contrast, we show that Alox12 inhibition disrupts nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) homeostasis and induces oxidative stress and damage in CML HSPCs and committed cells.

Conclusion

Alox12-12-HETE axis is a specific and critical regulator of BP-CML HSPCs functions. Pharmacological inhibition of Alox12 may be useful in BP-CML.

Novel diphenyl urea derivative serves as an inhibitor on human lung cancer cell migration by disrupting EMT via Wnt/β-catenin and PI3K/Akt signaling

Targeted anti-tumor small molecules are considered to be promising candidates for cancer treatment. The novel diphenyl urea derivative (DUD) was synthesized by the molecular docking based on the structure optimization of Taspine (a natural product). In this study, we explored the anti-metastatic potential of DUD for NSCLC in vitro. DUD significantly suppressed A549 cell migration by reversing EMT. The inhibition was reflected on upregulation of E-cadherin and downregulation of N-cadherin, vimentin, Snail and HIF-1α. Meanwhile, DUD inhibited the β-catenin nuclear translocation by upregulating Axin and downregulating the expression of APC, CK1 and phosphorylation of GSK3β, and simultaneously decreasing MMP9 and MMP13 expression. Moreover, it was associated with the downregulation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling. Furthermore, we used XAV939, an β-catenin inhibitor, to verify the mechanism of DUD. These results suggested that DUD inhibited A549 cells migration by reversing EMT via Wnt/β-catenin and PI3K/Akt signaling. DUD might be a potential therapeutic drug candidate for NSCLC treatment.

Differences and similarities between cancer and somatic stem cells: therapeutic implications

Over the last decades, the cancer survival rate has increased due to personalized therapies, the discovery of targeted therapeutics and novel biological agents, and the application of palliative treatments. Despite these advances, tumor resistance to chemotherapy and radiation and rapid progression to metastatic disease are still seen in many patients. Evidence has shown that cancer stem cells (CSCs), a sub-population of cells that share many common characteristics with somatic stem cells (SSCs), contribute to this therapeutic failure. The most critical properties of CSCs are their self-renewal ability and their capacity for differentiation into heterogeneous populations of cancer cells. Although CSCs only constitute a low percentage of the total tumor mass, these cells can regrow the tumor mass on their own. Initially identified in leukemia, CSCs have subsequently been found in cancers of the breast, the colon, the pancreas, and the brain. Common genetic and phenotypic features found in both SSCs and CSCs, including upregulated signaling pathways such as Notch, Wnt, Hedgehog, and TGF-β. These pathways play fundamental roles in the development as well as in the control of cell survival and cell fate and are relevant to therapeutic targeting of CSCs. The differences in the expression of membrane proteins and exosome-delivered microRNAs between SSCs and CSCs are also important to specifically target the stem cells of the cancer. Further research efforts should be directed toward elucidation of the fundamental differences between SSCs and CSCs to improve existing therapies and generate new clinically relevant cancer treatments.

YJ5 as an immunohistochemical marker of osteogenic lineage

Overexpression of WLS, an upstream protein in the Wnt pathway, has been implicated in several non-osteogenic tumours. This study represents the first attempt at evaluating WLS expression in various bone and soft tissue tumours using YJ5, a monoclonal antibody specific to WLS, with the aim of elucidating its utility in discerning tumours with aberrant Wnt signalling and as a marker of osteogenic lineage in challenging cases. Tumour tissue sections of 144 bone mass lesions and 63 soft tissue mass lesions were immunostained with the YJ5 antibody following standardised protocols. Subsequent assessment of immunoreactivity segregated cases into one of three groups: absent/weak, moderate, or strong YJ5 immunoreactivity. For the bone tumours, strong YJ5 immunoreactivity was seen in almost all osteosarcomas and chondroblastomas, all osteoblastomas and osteoid osteomas. In contrast, all other cartilaginous tumours, chordomas, aneurysmal bone cysts, chondromyxoid fibromas, most fibrous dysplasias and most giant cell tumours exhibited absent/weak YJ5 immunostaining. For the soft tissue tumours, a more heterogeneous pattern of YJ5 immunoreactivity was observed. Because diffuse and strong YJ5 expression is identified in almost all benign and malignant bone tumours with osteoblastic activity, it can be potentially utilised as an immunohistochemical marker to support osteogenic lineage. If interpreted in the appropriate context, this marker is useful in determining whether a malignant bone tumour is an osteosarcoma, particularly in those subtypes with no or minimal osteoid or unusual morphological features. This marker can also complement SATB2 to denote osteogenic lineage.

Molecular docking analysis of aspirin analogues with β-catenin

Canonical Wnt signaling pathway plays a crucial role in cancer cell proliferation, which links by the growth of β-catenin in cell due to inactivation of glycogen synthetase kinase-3. Therefore, it is of interest to design novel candidates to bind with β-catenin. Hence, we document the molecular docking analysis data of aspirin analogues with β-catenin for further consideration.

Deciphering the role of Wnt signaling in acute myeloid leukemia prognosis: how alterations in DNA methylation come into play in patients' prognosis

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a malignant clonal disorder affecting myeloid differentiation through mechanisms that include epigenetic dysregulation. Abnormal changes in DNA methylation and gene expression profiles of pathways involved in hematopoietic development, such as Wnt/β-catenin, contribute to the transformation, development, and maintenance of leukemic cells. This review summarizes the alterations of Wnt signaling-related genes at the epigenetic and transcriptional level and their implications for AML prognosis. Among the implications of epigenetic alterations in AML, methylation of Wnt antagonists is related to poor prognosis, whereas their upregulation has been associated with a better clinical outcome. Furthermore, Wnt target genes c-Myc and LEF-1 present distinct implications. LEF-1 expression positively influences the patient overall survival. c-Myc upregulation has been associated with treatment resistance in AML, although c-Myc expression is not exclusively dependent of Wnt signaling. Understanding the signaling abnormalities could help us to further understand leukemogenesis, improve the current risk stratification for AML patients, and even serve to propose novel therapeutic targets.

TMEM48 promotes cell proliferation and invasion in cervical cancer via activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway

Transmembrane proteins (TMEMs), spanning the entire width of lipid bilayers and anchored to them permanently, exist in diverse cell types to implement a series of essential physiological functions. Recently, TMEM48, a member of the TMEM family, has been demonstrated to be closely associated with tumorigenesis. However, little is known about the specific role of TMEM48 in cervical cancer (CC). This study aimed to investigate the biological functions of TMEM48 in CC. The CCK-8 assay was performed to detect CC cell proliferation. The wound healing and transwell assays were conducted to measure cell migration and invasion, respectively. The levels of TMEM48, β-catenin, T cell factor 1(TCF1) and axis formation inhibitor 2 (AXIN2) were examined by the western blot analysis. Xenograft models were established for the tumorigenesis assay in vivo. The results showed that TMEM48 was overexpressed in CC tissues and cell lines. Knockdown of TMEM48 significantly inhibited CC cell proliferation, migration and invasion in vitro and suppressed CC cell growth in vivo. In addition, the investigation on the molecular mechanisms indicated that TMEM48 down-regulation remarkably decreased the protein levels of β-catenin, TCF1 and AXIN2 in CC cells and TMEM48 exerted its promoting effect on CC progression via activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Taken together, our study suggested TMEM48 as a promising therapeutic target for CC treatment.

The Canonical Wnt Signaling (Wnt/β-Catenin Pathway): A Potential Target for Cancer Prevention and Therapy

Precise regulation of signal transduction pathways is crucial for normal animal development and for maintaining cellular and tissue homeostasis in adults. The Wnt/Frizzled-mediated signaling includes canonical and non-canonical signal transduction pathways. Upregulation or downregulation of the canonical Wnt signaling (or the Wnt/β-Catenin signal transduction) leads to a variety of human diseases, including cancers, neurodegenerative disorders, skin and bone diseases, and heart deficiencies. Therefore, Wnt/β-Catenin signal transduction is a potential clinical target for the treatment of not only human cancers but also some other human chronic diseases. Here, some recent results including those from my laboratory highlighting the role of Wnt/β-Catenin signal transduction in human cancers will be reviewed. After a brief overview on canonical Wnt signaling and introducing some critical β-Catenin/T-cell factor-target genes, the interaction of canonical Wnt signaling with some common human cancers will be discussed. In the end, the different segments of the aforesaid signaling pathway, which have been considered as targets for clinical purposes, will be scrutinized.

Effect of bortezomib on proliferation and apoptosis of myeloma cells by activating Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway

Effect of bortezomib on proliferation and apoptosis of myeloma cells by activating Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway was investigated. Myeloma cells RPMI-8226 treated with different concentrations of bortezomib were used as experimental groups, and the untreated cells were used as the control group. The proliferation and apoptosis in all groups of cells were detected, as well as the expression levels of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway-related proteins, β-catenin and c-Myc. The results revealed that bortezomib could inhibit the proliferation of myeloma cells. The apoptotic rates of RPMI-8226 cells in the groups treated with 20, 50 and 80 nmol/l of bortezomib were 12.08±0.61, 35.97±3.11 and 57.22±5.47%, respectively, which were significantly higher than that in the control group (8.28±0.39%) (P<0.05). The expression levels of β-catenin and c-Myc in the experimental groups were significantly lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). Bortezomib can reduce the expression level of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway-related proteins, β-catenin and c-Myc, and may inhibit cell proliferation and accelerate apoptosis by activating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

Wnt-5A/B Signaling in Hematopoiesis throughout Life

Wnt signaling is well-known to play major roles in the hematopoietic system, from embryogenesis to aging and disease. In addition to the main β-catenin-dependent pathway, it is now clear that Wnt5a and the structurally related Wnt5b are essential for hematopoiesis, bone marrow colonization and the final steps of hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) maturation via β-catenin-independent signaling. Wnt5a and Wnt5b ligands prevent hematopoietic exhaustion (by maintaining quiescent, long-term HSCs), induce the proliferation of progenitors, and guide myeloid development, in addition to being involved in the development of aging-related alterations. The aim of this review is to summarize the current knowledge on these roles of Wnt5a and Wn5b signaling in the hematopoietic field.

Tegavivint and the β-Catenin/ALDH Axis in Chemotherapy-Resistant and Metastatic Osteosarcoma

BACKGROUND

The Wnt/β-catenin pathway is closely associated with osteosarcoma (OS) development and metastatic progression. We investigated the antitumor activity of Tegavivint, a novel β-catenin/transducin β-like protein 1 (TBL1) inhibitor, against OS employing in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo cell line and patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models that recapitulate high risk disease.

METHODS

The antitumor efficacy of Tegavivint was evaluated in vitro using established OS and PDX-derived cell lines. Use of an ex vivo three-dimensional pulmonary metastasis assay assessed targeting of β-catenin activity during micro- and macrometastatic development. The in vivo activity of Tegavivint was evaluated using chemoresistant and metastatic OS PDX models. Gene and protein expression were quantified by quantitative Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction or immunoblot analysis. Bone integrity was determined via microCT. All statistical tests were two-sided.

RESULTS

Tegavivint exhibited antiproliferative activity against OS cells in vitro and actively reduced micro- and macrometastatic development ex vivo. Multiple OS PDX tumors (n = 3), including paired patient primary and lung metastatic tumors with inherent chemoresistance, were suppressed by Tegavivint in vivo. We identified that metastatic lung OS cell lines (n = 2) exhibited increased stem cell signatures, including enhanced concomitant aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH1) and β-catenin expression and downstream activity, which were suppressed by Tegavivint (ALDH1: control group, mean relative mRNA expression = 1.00, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.68 to 1.22 vs Tegavivint group, mean = 0.011, 95% CI = 0.0012 to 0.056, P < .001; β-catenin: control group, mean relative mRNA expression = 1.00, 95% CI = 0.71 to 1.36 vs Tegavivint group, mean = 0.45, 95% CI = 0.36 to 0.52, P < .001). ALDH1high PDX-derived lung OS cells, which demonstrated enhanced metastatic potential compared with ALDHlow cells in vivo, were sensitive to Tegavivint. Toxicity studies revealed decreased bone density in male Tegavivint-treated mice (n = 4 mice per group).

CONCLUSIONS

Tegavivint is a promising therapeutic agent for advanced stages of OS via its targeting of the β-catenin/ALDH1 axis.

Prevention of tumor risk associated with the reprogramming of human pluripotent stem cells

Human pluripotent embryonic stem cells have two special features: self-renewal and pluripotency. It is important to understand the properties of pluripotent stem cells and reprogrammed stem cells. One of the major problems is the risk of reprogrammed stem cells developing into tumors. To understand the process of differentiation through which stem cells develop into cancer cells, investigators have attempted to identify the key factors that generate tumors in humans. The most effective method for the prevention of tumorigenesis is the exclusion of cancer cells during cell reprogramming. The risk of cancer formation is dependent on mutations of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes during the conversion of stem cells to cancer cells and on the environmental effects of pluripotent stem cells. Dissecting the processes of epigenetic regulation and chromatin regulation may be helpful for achieving correct cell reprogramming without inducing tumor formation and for developing new drugs for cancer treatment. This review focuses on the risk of tumor formation by human pluripotent stem cells, and on the possible treatment options if it occurs. Potential new techniques that target epigenetic processes and chromatin regulation provide opportunities for human cancer modeling and clinical applications of regenerative medicine.

An Auristatin nanoconjugate targeting CXCR4+ leukemic cells blocks acute myeloid leukemia dissemination

Background

Current acute myeloid leukemia (AML) therapy fails to eliminate quiescent leukemic blasts in the bone marrow, leading to about 50% of patient relapse by increasing AML burden in the bone marrow, blood, and extramedullar sites. We developed a protein-based nanoparticle conjugated to the potent antimitotic agent Auristatin E that selectively targets AML blasts because of their CXCR4 receptor overexpression (CXCR4+) as compared to normal cells. The therapeutic rationale is based on the involvement of CXCR4 overexpression in leukemic blast homing and quiescence in the bone marrow, and the association of these leukemic stem cells with minimal residual disease, dissemination, chemotherapy resistance, and lower patient survival.

Methods

Monomethyl Auristatin E (MMAE) was conjugated with the CXCR4 targeted protein nanoparticle T22-GFP-H6 produced in E. coli. Nanoconjugate internalization and in vitro cell viability assays were performed in CXCR4+ AML cell lines to analyze the specific antineoplastic activity through the CXCR4 receptor. In addition, a disseminated AML animal model was used to evaluate the anticancer effect of T22-GFP-H6-Auristatin in immunosuppressed NSG mice (n = 10/group). U of Mann-Whitney test was used to consider if differences were significant between groups.

Results

T22-GFP-H6-Auristatin was capable to internalize and exert antineoplastic effects through the CXCR4 receptor in THP-1 and SKM-1 CXCR4+ AML cell lines. In addition, repeated administration of the T22-GFP-H6-Auristatin nanoconjugate (9 doses daily) achieves a potent antineoplastic activity by internalizing specifically in the leukemic cells (luminescent THP-1) to selectively eliminate them. This leads to reduced involvement of leukemic cells in the bone marrow, peripheral blood, liver, and spleen, while avoiding toxicity in normal tissues in a luminescent disseminated AML mouse model.

Conclusions

A novel nanoconjugate for targeted drug delivery of Auristatin reduces significantly the acute myeloid leukemic cell burden in the bone marrow and blood and blocks its dissemination to extramedullar organs in a CXCR4+ AML model. This selective drug delivery approach validates CXCR4+ AML cells as a target for clinical therapy, not only promising to improve the control of leukemic dissemination but also dramatically reducing the severe toxicity of classical AML therapy.

Regulative Loop between β-catenin and Protein Tyrosine Receptor Type γ in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia

Protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor type γ (PTPRG) is a tumor suppressor gene, down-regulated in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) cells by the hypermethylation of its promoter region. β-catenin (CTNNB1) is a critical regulator of Leukemic Stem Cells (LSC) maintenance and CML proliferation. This study aims to demonstrate the antagonistic regulation between β-catenin and PTPRG in CML cells. The specific inhibition of PTPRG increases the activation state of BCR-ABL1 and modulates the expression of the BCR-ABL1- downstream gene β-Catenin. PTPRG was found to be capable of dephosphorylating β-catenin, eventually causing its cytosolic destabilization and degradation in cells expressing PTPRG. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the increased expression of β-catenin in PTPRG-negative CML cell lines correlates with DNA (cytosine-5)-methyl transferase 1 (DNMT1) over-expression, which is responsible for PTPRG promoter hypermethylation, while its inhibition or down-regulation correlates with PTPRG re-expression. We finally confirmed the role of PTPRG in regulating BCR-ABL1 and β-catenin phosphorylation in primary human CML samples. We describe here, for the first time, the existence of a regulative loop occurring between PTPRG and β-catenin, whose reciprocal imbalance affects the proliferation kinetics of CML cells.

Benzene and its effects on cell signaling pathways related to hematopoiesis and leukemia

Benzene is an environmental toxicant found in many consumer products. It is an established human carcinogen and is known to cause acute myeloid leukemia in adults. Epidemiological evidence has since shown that benzene can cross the placenta and affect the fetal liver. Animal studies have shown that in utero exposure to benzene can increase tumor incidence in offspring. Although there have been risk factors established for acute myeloid leukemia, they still do not account for many of the cases. Clearly then, current efforts to elucidate the mechanism by which benzene exerts its carcinogenic properties have been superficial. Owing to the critical role of cell signaling pathways in the development of an organism and its various organ systems, it seems plausible to suspect that these pathways may have a role in leukemogenesis. This review article assesses current evidence of the effects of benzene on critical hematopoietic signaling pathways. Pathways discussed included Hedgehog, Notch/Delta, Wingless/Integrated, nuclear factor-kappaB and others. Following a review of the literature, it seems that current evidence about the effects of benzene on these critical signaling pathways remains limited. Given the important role of these pathways in hematopoiesis, more attention should be given to them.

Interleukin-6, -8, and TGF-β Secreted from Mesenchymal Stem Cells Show Functional Role in Reduction of Telomerase Activity of Leukemia Cell Via Wnt5a/β-Catenin and P53 Pathways

Purpose: The effect of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) on the immortality features of malignant cells, such as hematologic cancerous cells, are controversial, and the associated mechanisms are yet to be well understood. The aim of the present study was to investigate the in vitro effect of bone marrow-derived MSCs (BMSCs) on the chronic myeloid leukemia cell line K562 through telomere length measurements, telomerase activity assessments, and hTERT gene expression. The possible signaling pathways involved in this process, including Wnt-5a/β-catenin and P53, were also evaluated.

Methods: Two cell populations (BMSCs and K562 cell line) were co-cultured on transwell plates for 7 days. Next, K562 cells were collected and subjected to quantitative real-time PCR, PCR-ELISA TRAP assay, and the ELISA sandwich technique for telomere length, hTERT gene expression, telomerase activity assay, and cytokine measurement, respectively. Also, the involvement of the mentioned signaling pathways in this process was reported by real-time PCR and Western blotting through gene and protein expression, respectively.

Results: The results showed that BMSCs caused significant decreases in telomere length, telomerase activity, and the mRNA level of hTERT as a regulator of telomerase activity. The significant presence of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) was obvious in the co-cultured media. Also, BMSCs significantly decreased and increased the gene and protein expression of β-catenin and P53, respectively.

Conclusion: It was concluded that the mentioned effects of IL-6, IL-8, and TGF-β cytokines secreted from MSCs on K562 cells as therapeutic agents were applied by Wnt-5a/β-catenin and P53 pathways

GAS2 Promotes Cell Proliferation and Invasion and Suppresses Apoptosis in Pediatric T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and Activates Wnt/β-Catenin Pathway

Purpose

This study aimed to investigate the effect of growth arrest specific 2 (GAS2) on T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) and its potential molecular mechanism.

Methods

The GAS2 expression level was detected by qRT-RCR and Western blot in normal T lymphocytes and T-ALL cells Jurkat and CCRF-CEM. The proliferation and invasion of Jurkat and CCRF-CEM cells were detected by MTT and Transwell assay, respectively. Apoptosis and cell cycle were measured by flow cytometry. In addition, the chemotherapeutic sensitivity of Jurkat and CCRF-CEM cells was measured MTT assay and flow cytometry.

Results

GAS2 was highly expressed in Jurkat and CCRF-CEM cells. GAS2 could promote cell proliferation and invasion, and inhibit apoptosis of Jurkat and CCRF-CEM cells. GAS2 also promoted cell cycle changes from G0/G1 phase to S phase in Jurkat and CCRF-CEM cells. In addition, GAS2 could reduce the chemotherapeutic sensitivity of Jurkat and CCRF-CEM cells. GAS2 overexpression could promote the expression levels of ki67, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), Bcl-2, c-myc, cyclin D1 and β-catenin, while GAS2 knockdown could inhibit their expression levels. Meanwhile, GAS2 overexpression could inhibit Bax expression. Moreover, Wnt/β-catenin pathway inhibitor XAV939 could inhibit the expressions of c-myc, cyclin D1 and β-catenin, but activator LiCl could promote their expression.

Conclusion

Our study demonstrated that GAS2 could promote cell proliferation and invasion, and induce cell cycle, as well as inhibit apoptosis and could activate the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in T-ALL cells.

m6A mRNA methylation regulates CTNNB1 to promote the proliferation of hepatoblastoma

Background

N⁶-Methyladenosine (m⁶A) modification has been implicated in many biological processes. It is important for the regulation of messenger RNA (mRNA) stability, splicing, and translation. However, its role in cancer has not been studied in detail. Here we investigated the biological role and underlying mechanism of m⁶A modification in hepatoblastoma (HB).

Methods

We used Reverse transcription quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) and Western blotting to determine the expression of m⁶A related factors. And we clarified the effects of these factors on HB cells using cell proliferation assay, colony formation, apoptotic assay. Then we investigated of methyltransferase-like 13 (METTL3) and its correlation with clinicopathological features and used xenograft experiment to check METTL3 effect in vivo. m⁶A-Seq was used to profiled m⁶A transcriptome-wide in hepatoblastoma tumor tissue and normal tissue. Finally, methylated RNA immunoprecipitation (MeRIP) assay, RNA remaining assay to perform the regulator mechanism of MEETL3 on the target CTNNB1 in HB.

Results

In this research, we discovered that m⁶A modifications are increased in hepatoblastoma, and METTL3 is the main factor involved with aberrant m⁶A modification. We also profiled m⁶A across the whole transcriptome in hepatoblastoma tumor tissues and normal tissues. Our findings suggest that m⁶A is highly expressed in hepatoblastoma tumors. Also, m⁶A is enriched not only around the stop codon, but also around the coding sequence (CDS) region. Gene ontology analysis indicates that m⁶A mRNA methylation contributes significantly to regulate the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Reduced m⁶A methylation can lead to a decrease in expression and stability of the CTNNB1.

Conclusion

Overall our findings suggest enhanced m⁶A mRNA methylation as an oncogenic mechanism in hepatoblastoma, METTL3 is significantly up-regulated in HB and promotes HB development. And identify CTNNB1 as a regulator of METTL3 guided m⁶A modification in HB.

WNT Signaling in Tumors: The Way to Evade Drugs and Immunity

WNT/β-catenin signaling is involved in many physiological processes. Its implication in embryonic development, cell migration, and polarization has been shown. Nevertheless, alterations in this signaling have also been related with pathological events such as sustaining and proliferating the cancer stem cell (CSC) subset present in the tumor bulk. Related with this, WNT signaling has been associated with the maintenance, expansion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition of stem cells, and furthermore with two distinctive features of this tumor population: therapeutic resistance (MDR, multidrug resistance) and immune escape. These mechanisms are developed and maintained by WNT activation through the transcriptional control of the genes involved in such processes. This review focuses on the description of the best known WNT pathways and the molecules involved in them. Special attention is given to the WNT cascade proteins deregulated in tumors, which have a decisive role in tumor survival. Some of these proteins function as extrusion pumps that, in the course of chemotherapy, expel the drugs from the cells; others help the tumoral cells hide from the immune effector mechanisms. Among the WNT targets involved in drug resistance, the drug extrusion pump MDR-1 (P-GP, ABCB1) and the cell adhesion molecules from the CD44 family are highlighted. The chemokine CCL4 and the immune checkpoint proteins CD47 and PD-L1 are included in the list of WNT target molecules with a role in immunity escape. This pathway should be a main target in cancer therapy as WNT signaling activation is essential for tumor progression and survival, even in the presence of the anti-tumoral immune response and/or antineoplastic drugs. The appropriate design and combination of anti-tumoral strategies, based on the modulation of WNT mediators and/or protein targets, could negatively affect the growth of tumoral cells, improving the efficacy of these types of therapies.