High expression of CPNE3 predicts adverse prognosis in acute myeloid leukemia

[High expression of CPNE3 correlates with poor long-term prognosis of gastric cancer by inhibiting cell apoptosis via activating PI3K/AKT signaling]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the correlation of CPNE3 expression with long-term prognosis of patients with gastric cancer (GC) and the possible mechanism.

METHODS

We retrospectively collected the data of 104 GC patients undergoing radical surgery in our hospital from February, 2013 to October, 2017. TCGA database and immunohistochemistry were used to analyze CPNE3 expression level in GC tissues and its effects on tumor progression and long-term prognosis of the patients. GO analysis was performed to predict the biological role of CPNE3 in GC. We also conducted cell experiments with MGC803 cells and observed the effects of CPNE3 knockdown, CPNE3 overexpression and LY294002 (a PI3K/AKT inhibitor) treatment on cell apoptosis and cellular expressions of apoptotic proteins using flow cytometry and Western blotting.

RESULTS

TCGA analysis and immunohistochemistry both showed high expressions of CPNE3 in GC (P < 0.05). The patients with high CPNE3 expressions had a reduced 5-year survival (P < 0.01), and a high CPNE3 expression, CEA level≥5 μg/L, CA19-9 level ≥37 kU/L, T3-T4 stage, and N2-N3 stage were all independent risk factors for a lowered 5-year survival rate after surgery. The sensitivity and specificity of CPNE3 for predicting 5-year mortality was 79.59% and 74.55%, respectively (P < 0.05). GO analysis predicted that CPNE3 negatively regulated GC cell apoptosis. In MGC803 cells, CPNE3 knockdown significantly increased cell apoptosis, enhanced Bax and Cleaved Caspase-3 expressions and decreased Bcl-2 expression, while CPNE3 overexpression produced the opposite results (P < 0.05). The cellular expressions of p-PI3K and p-AKT were significantly decreased following CPNE3 knockdown and increased following CPNE3 overexpression (P < 0.05). Treatment with LY294002 obviously attenuated the inhibitory effect of CPNE3 overexpression on apoptosis of MGC803 cells (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

CPNE3 is highly expressed in GC tissues and affects the long-term prognosis of the patients possibly by inhibiting GC cell apoptosis through activation of PI3K/AKT signaling.

High trophinin-associated protein expression predicts good survival in acute myeloid leukemia with normal cytogenetics

BACKGROUND

Nearly half of adult acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients were classified into cytogenetic normal acute myeloid leukemia (CN-AML). The expression level of Trophinin associated protein (TROAP) was proven to be associated with the prognosis of several cancers, but it is still unclear in the prognosis of patients with CN-AML.

METHODS

We integrated CN-AML patients samples from 4 datasets to analyze the relationship between TROAP expression and the survival of CN-AML. In addition, we investigated 92 AML patients of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database to analyze the relationship between TROAP expression and the survival of AML patients received chemotherapy. We investigated the relationship between the expression of TROAP and drug sensitivity in AML cell lines.

RESULTS

CN-AML patients with high TROAP expression were related to good event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS). In AML patients received chemotherapy, high TROAP expression was associated with good survival prognosis. Additionally, the expression of TROAP gene in leukemia stem cells (LSC) + group was lower. Among multiple drugs, the lower the expression of TROAP, the lower the IC50.

CONCLUSION

TROAP could serve as an independent predictor of CN-AML patients and could act as a potential biomarker for the prognosis of CN-AML. TROAP expression levels were closely correlated with the drug sensitivity of multiple drugs.

Investigation of distinct gene expression profile patterns that can improve the classification of intermediate-risk prognosis in AML patients

Background: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a heterogeneous type of blood cancer that generally affects the elderly. AML patients are categorized with favorable-, intermediate-, and adverse-risks based on an individual's genomic features and chromosomal abnormalities. Despite the risk stratification, the progression and outcome of the disease remain highly variable. To facilitate and improve the risk stratification of AML patients, the study focused on gene expression profiling of AML patients within various risk categories. Therefore, the study aims to establish gene signatures that can predict the prognosis of AML patients and find correlations in gene expression profile patterns that are associated with risk groups. Methods: Microarray data were obtained from Gene Expression Omnibus (GSE6891). The patients were stratified into four subgroups based on risk and overall survival. Limma was applied to screen for differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between short survival (SS) and long survival (LS). DEGs strongly related to general survival were discovered using Cox regression and LASSO analysis. To assess the model's accuracy, Kaplan-Meier (K-M) and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) were used. A one-way ANOVA was performed to assess for differences in the mean gene expression profiles of the identified prognostic genes between the risk subcategories and survival. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses were performed on DEGs. Results: A total of 87 DEGs were identified between SS and LS groups. The Cox regression model selected nine genes CD109, CPNE3, DDIT4, INPP4B, LSP1, CPNE8, PLXNC1, SLC40A1, and SPINK2 that are associated with AML survival. K-M illustrated that the high expression of the nine-prognostic genes is associated with poor prognosis in AML. ROC further provided high diagnostic efficacy of the prognostic genes. ANOVA also validated the difference in gene expression profiles of the nine genes between the survival groups, and highlighted four prognostic genes to provide novel insight into risk subcategories poor and intermediate-poor, as well as good and intermediate-good that displayed similar expression patterns. Conclusion: Prognostic genes can provide more accurate risk stratification in AML. CD109, CPNE3, DDIT4, and INPP4B provided novel targets for better intermediate-risk stratification. This could enhance treatment strategies for this group, which constitutes the majority of adult AML patients.

Copine 3 "CPNE3" is a novel regulator for insulin secretion and glucose uptake in pancreatic β-cells

Copine 3 (CPNE3) is a calcium-dependent phospholipid-binding protein that has been found to play an essential role in cancer progression and stages. However, its role in pancreatic β-cell function has not been investigated. Therefore, we performed a serial of bioinformatics and functional experiments to explore the potential role of Cpne3 on insulin secretion and β-cell function in human islets and INS-1 (832/13) cells. RNA sequencing and microarray data revealed that CPNE3 is highly expressed in human islets compared to other CPNE genes. In addition, expression of CPNE3 was inversely correlated with HbA1c and reduced in human islets from hyperglycemic donors. Silencing of Cpne3 in INS-1 cells impaired glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS), insulin content and glucose uptake efficiency without affecting cell viability or inducing apoptosis. Moreover, mRNA and protein expression of the key regulators in glucose sensing and insulin secretion (Insulin, GLUT2, NeuroD1, and INSR) were downregulated in Cpne3-silenced cells. Taken together, data from the present study provides a new understanding of the role of CPNE3 in maintaining normal β-cell function, which might contribute to developing a novel target for future management of type 2 diabetes therapy.

The CPNE Family and Their Role in Cancers

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Despite significant advances in cancer research and treatment, the overall prognosis of lung cancer patients remains poor. Therefore, the identification for novel therapeutic targets is critical for the diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer. CPNEs (copines) are a family of membrane-bound proteins that are highly conserved, soluble, ubiquitous, calcium dependent in a variety of eukaryotes. Emerging evidences have also indicated CPNE family members are involved in cancer development and progression as well. However, the expression patterns and clinical roles in cancer have not yet been well understood. In this review, we summarize recent advances concerning CPNE family members and provide insights into new potential mechanism involved in cancer development.

Upregulation of CPNE3 suppresses invasion, migration and proliferation of glioblastoma cells through FAK pathway inactivation

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a deadly brain tumor with a bleak prognosis. In recent years, the copine III (CPNE3) protein was discovered to be associated to metastasis across various types of malignancies. Nevertheless, its function has not been well documented in glioma. This study characterizes CPNE3 expression in GBM along with its impact and underlying molecular mechanism with regards to cellular migration, invasion and proliferation. Immunohistochemistry was used to characterizes CPNE3 expression in the glioma tissues. Then, knockdown of CPNE3 expression was used to analyze the role of CPNE3 in GBM cell viability, migration, invasion. Western blot analysis was performed to measure the protein levels of FAK signaling pathway. We found that GBM tissues had higher CPNE3 expressions as compared to those in normal brain tissues. CPNE3 silencing in GBM cells impaired the migratory, invasive and proliferative abilities of GBM cells that can be attributed to inactivation of the FAK signaling pathway. Collectively, these findings highlight the role of CPNE3 as a new biomarker, offering deeper insights into its carcinogenic role in GBM.

Proteomic Studies of Primary Acute Myeloid Leukemia Cells Derived from Patients Before and during Disease-Stabilizing Treatment Based on All-Trans Retinoic Acid and Valproic Acid

All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and valproic acid (VP) have been tried in the treatment of non-promyelocytic variants of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Non-randomized studies suggest that the two drugs can stabilize AML and improve normal peripheral blood cell counts. In this context, we used a proteomic/phosphoproteomic strategy to investigate the in vivo effects of ATRA/VP on human AML cells. Before starting the combined treatment, AML responders showed increased levels of several proteins, especially those involved in neutrophil degranulation/differentiation, M phase regulation and the interconversion of nucleotide di- and triphosphates (i.e., DNA synthesis and binding). Several among the differentially regulated phosphorylation sites reflected differences in the regulation of RNA metabolism and apoptotic events at the same time point. These effects were mainly caused by increased cyclin dependent kinase 1 and 2 (CDK1/2), LIM domain kinase 1 and 2 (LIMK1/2), mitogen-activated protein kinase 7 (MAPK7) and protein kinase C delta (PRKCD) activity in responder cells. An extensive effect of in vivo treatment with ATRA/VP was the altered level and phosphorylation of proteins involved in the regulation of transcription/translation/RNA metabolism, especially in non-responders, but the regulation of cell metabolism, immune system and cytoskeletal functions were also affected. Our analysis of serial samples during the first week of treatment suggest that proteomic and phosphoproteomic profiling can be used for the early identification of responders to ATRA/VP-based treatment.

Immune prognostic risk score model in acute myeloid leukemia with normal karyotype

Acute myeloid leukemia with normal karyotype (NK-AML) is a group of diseases with high heterogeneity and immunological processes are significantly associated with its initiation and development. The implication of the immunogenomic landscape in the prognosis of patients with NK-AML has remained largely elusive. In the present study, the expression profiles of immune-related genes (IRGs) were examined and their association with overall survival (OS) was determined in 60 patients with NK-AML from The Cancer Genome Atlas dataset and 104 patients from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) dataset no. GSE71014. Univariate Cox regression analysis was used to identify 42 and 203 IRGs in the two respective cohorts, which were significantly associated with OS in NK-AML. A risk model was constructed based on the regression coefficient and expression values of nine survival-associated IRGs shared between the two datasets [zinc finger CCCH-type containing, antiviral 1 like; transferrin receptor; suppressor of cytokine signaling 1; ELAV like RNA binding protein 1; roundabout guidance receptor 3; unc-93 homolog B1, Toll-like receptor signaling regulator; protein tyrosine phosphatase non-receptor type 6; interleukin 2 receptor subunit alpha (IL2RA) and IL3RA]. Using this risk model, patients with NK-AML may be divided into high- and low-risk groups in prognostic predictions. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for predicting OS was 0.793. The prognostic role of this risk model was successfully verified in another independent cohort (GEO dataset no. GSE71014). The prognostic risk score was positively associated with age and fms related receptor tyrosine kinase 3 mutation and correlated with infiltration by T regulatory cells. In conclusion, the results of the present study provided an IRG score model for prognostic stratification of adult patients with NK-AML, as well as further insight into the implication of IRGs in NK-AML that may lead to the development of novel immunotherapy approaches for this disease.

High NCALD expression predicts poor prognosis of cytogenetic normal acute myeloid leukemia

Background

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a heterogeneous disease in terms of genetic basis, clinical, biological and prognostic, and is a malignant clonal disease of leukemia stem cells (LSCs). Nearly half of adult AML patients exhibit a cytogenetic normal acute myeloid leukemia (CN-AML). The expression level of NCALD gene was associated with the prognosis of ovarian cancer and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The expression level of NCALD gene is still unclear in the prognosis of patients with AML.

Method

We integrated 5 independent datasets totally 665 AML patients (497 CN-AML patients) to analyzed relation between NCALD gene expression and the clinical FAB classification, gene mutation, therapy, prognosis of CN-AML. We analyzed the NCALD gene expression with the prognosis and LSC of 165 AML patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset and 78 AML patients from GEO dataset.

Results

High NCALD-expressing CN-AML patients were associated with poor event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) compared to low NCALD expression (EFS, P < 0.0001, OS, P < 0.0001). In AML patients of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT), high NCALD expression was associated with poor survival prognosis in EFS and OS (EFS, P < 0.0051, OS, P = 0.028). Post-chemotherapy in AML patients, high NCALD expression led a worse prognosis in EFS and OS (EFS, P = 0.011; OS, P = 0.0056). In multivariate analysis, high NCALD expression was an independent prognostic factor that predicts shorter EFS and OS (EFS, P = 3.84E−05, OS, P = 8.53E−05) of CN-AML.

Conclusion

Our results indicate that high expression of NCALD gene is a poor prognostic factor for CN-AML. NCALD can be considered as independent predictors of CN-AML patients and can be used as a biomarker for the prognosis of CN-AML.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12967-019-1904-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Prognostic significance of PAK family kinases in acute myeloid leukemia

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a clonal and heterogeneous disease characterized by a myriad of genetic defects. Genetic abnormalities are powerful prognostic factors. P21-activated kinases (PAKs) are a kind of serine/threonine protein kinases, which is regulator of plenty of oncogenic signaling pathways. The clinical and prognostic value of PAKs in AML is unclear. A total of 155 AML patients with PAK expression data from The Cancer Genome Atlas database were enrolled in this study. Eighty-four patients underwent chemotherapy only, 71 also underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). In the chemotherapy-only group, high PAK3 and PAK7 expression were both bound up with poor EFS and OS (all P < 0.05). However, high PAK2 expressers had better EFS and OS (all P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that high PAK7 expression was an adverse independent prognostic factor in patients who received chemotherapy only. PAKs have no influence in EFS and OS in patients who underwent allo-HSCT. In conclusion, high PAK2 expression is a favorable prognostic factor, as to the high expression of PAK3 and PAK7, they are poor prognostic factors, and PAK7 has better prognostic value, but their prognostic effects can be offset by allo-HSCT.

CPNE3 promotes migration and invasion in non-small cell lung cancer by interacting with RACK1 via FAK signaling activation

Approximately 90% of patients diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) die due to distant metastases. However, the complicated molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in lung cancer metastasis remain poorly understood. Copine III (CPNE3), a member of a Ca²⁺-dependent phospholipid-binding protein family, was identified as a novel metastasis-associated protein in NSCLC in our previous study, however, its function in metastasis remains unclear. Here, we found that CPNE3 was expressed at high levels in NSCLC tissues and advanced TNM stages and was significantly associated with poor prognosis. In addition, CPNE3 interacted with phosphorylated erb-b2 receptor tyrosine kinase 2 (pErbB2) and receptor of activated protein C kinase 1 (RACK1) and activated the focal adhesion (FA) signaling pathway in NSCLC cells. Moreover, knockdown of RACK1 inhibited cell motility in the CPNE3-overexpressed NSCLC cells. These findings offer mechanistic insights into the oncogenic roles of CPNE3 and the pivotal effects of CPNE3 as a biomarker and therapeutic target for NSCLC metastasis.

Silencing the expression of copine-III enhances the sensitivity of hepatocellular carcinoma cells to the molecular targeted agent sorafenib

Background

The application of the oral targeted therapeutic agent sorafenib provides new hope for patients suffering from advanced stages of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but the prognosis of such patients remains poor due to the rapid development of the multidrug resistance process in cancer pathogenesis. The present work evaluated whether copine-III, a novel cancer regulator encoded by the CPNE3 gene, would be a potential indicator of sorafenib resistance in HCC treatment.

Materials and methods

The endogenous expression of copine-III in clinical specimens was examined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Copine-III siRNA was transfected into HCC cells to downregulate copine-III expression. The effect of copine-III on sorafenib’s antitumor activation was identified by in vitro and in vivo experiments (MTT, Transwell, and flow cytometry as well as a nude mice model).

Results

High levels of copine-III in clinical specimens are related to poor prognosis of advanced HCC patients on sorafenib treatment. Infection of Ad-siCPNE3 significantly decreased the endogenous expression of copine-III and enhanced the susceptibility of MHCC97-H cells to sorafenib: the IC₅₀ value decreased from 1.15±0.11 to 0.25±0.05 μmol/L. Moreover, silencing copine-III enhanced the effect of sorafenib on apoptosis, in vitro invasion/migration, and subcutaneous or intrahepatic growth of MHCC97-H cells in nude mice.

Conclusion

Copine-III is a novel potential indicator of prognosis for patients who received sorafenib for advanced HCC treatment.

High expression of CPNE3 predicts adverse prognosis in acute myeloid leukemia

CPNE3, a member of a Ca²⁺‐dependent phospholipid‐binding protein family, was identified as a ligand of ERBB2 and has a more general role in carcinogenesis. Here, we identified the prognostic significance of CPNE3 expression in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients based on two datasets. In the first microarray dataset (n = 272), compared to low CPNE3 expression (CPNE3^low), high CPNE3 expression (CPNE3^high) was associated with adverse overall survival (OS, P < 0.001) and event‐free survival (EFS, P < 0.001). In the second independent group of AML patients (TCGA dataset, n = 179), CPNE3^high was also associated with adverse OS and EFS (OS, P = 0.01; EFS, P = 0.036). Notably, among CPNE3^high patients, those received allogenic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) had longer OS and EFS than those with chemotherapy alone (allogeneic HCT, n = 40 vs chemotherapy, n = 46), but treatment modules played an insignificant role in the survival of CPNE3^low patients (allogeneic HCT, n = 32 vs chemotherapy, n = 54). These results indicated that CPNE3^high is an independent, adverse prognostic factor in AML and might guide treatment decisions towards allogeneic HCT. To understand its inherent mechanisms, we investigated genome‐wide gene/microRNA expression signatures and cell signaling pathways associated with CPNE3 expression. In conclusion, CPNE3^high is an adverse prognostic biomarker for AML. Its effect may be attributed to the distinctive genome‐wide gene/microRNA expression and related cell signaling pathways.