1
|
Expression Profiles of HOXC6 Predict the Survival of Glioblastoma Patients and Correlate with Cell Cycle. JOURNAL OF ONCOLOGY 2022; 2022:8656865. [PMID: 35432534 PMCID: PMC9007636 DOI: 10.1155/2022/8656865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Revised: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 03/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
The goal of this study was to investigate the homeobox (HOX) gene expression status and its prognostic value in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) and to uncover the biological processes related to its expression. The prognostic value of HOX genes in GBM was systematically investigated by a genome-wide analysis of HOX gene expression profiles in GBM patient samples in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) project (microarray dataset) and validation datasets. Using the differentially expressed gene (DEG) analysis and a Cox regression model, we discovered that the HOXC6 could stratify patients into significantly different survival (p = 0.0012, log-rank test) groups in the training cohort. TCGA RNA-seq and GSE16011 datasets were used for validation. Multivariate Cox and stratification analysis indicated that HOXC6 was an independent prognostic factor after adjusting for other clinical covariates. Bioinformatic analysis suggested that the HOXC6 might be involved in the cell cycle-related biological processes and pathways that are well established in the context of glioblastoma tumorigenesis. We further explored the bioinformatic implications by gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). Tumor cell biology experiments verified the role of HOXC6 in proliferation and cell cycle progression. In conclusion, HOXC6 might be a candidate biomarker gene for individual treatment optimization of glioblastoma. HOXC6 expression has a significant prognostic value and is related to the cell cycle process in glioblastoma.
Collapse
|
2
|
Gİrgİn B, KaradaĞ-Alpaslan M, KocabaŞ F. Oncogenic and tumor suppressor function of MEIS and associated factors. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2021; 44:328-355. [PMID: 33402862 PMCID: PMC7759197 DOI: 10.3906/biy-2006-25] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2020] [Accepted: 08/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
MEIS proteins are historically associated with tumorigenesis, metastasis, and invasion in cancer. MEIS and associated PBX-HOX proteins may act as tumor suppressors or oncogenes in different cellular settings. Their expressions tend to be misregulated in various cancers. Bioinformatic analyses have suggested their upregulation in leukemia/lymphoma, thymoma, pancreas, glioma, and glioblastoma, and downregulation in cervical, uterine, rectum, and colon cancers. However, every cancer type includes, at least, a subtype with high MEIS expression. In addition, studies have highlighted that MEIS proteins and associated factors may function as diagnostic or therapeutic biomarkers for various diseases. Herein, MEIS proteins and associated factors in tumorigenesis are discussed with recent discoveries in addition to how they could be modulated by noncoding RNAs or newly developed small-molecule MEIS inhibitors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Birkan Gİrgİn
- Regenerative Biology Research Laboratory, Department of Genetics and Bioengineering, Faculty of Engineering, Yeditepe University, İstanbul Turkey.,Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences, Yeditepe University, İstanbul Turkey.,Meinox Pharma Technologies, İstanbul Turkey
| | - Medine KaradaĞ-Alpaslan
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Ondokuz Mayıs University, Samsun Turkey
| | - Fatih KocabaŞ
- Regenerative Biology Research Laboratory, Department of Genetics and Bioengineering, Faculty of Engineering, Yeditepe University, İstanbul Turkey.,Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences, Yeditepe University, İstanbul Turkey.,Meinox Pharma Technologies, İstanbul Turkey
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Liu C, Ge M, Ma J, Zhang Y, Zhao Y, Cui T. Homeobox A10 promotes the proliferation and invasion of bladder cancer cells via regulation of matrix metalloproteinase-3. Oncol Lett 2019; 18:49-56. [PMID: 31289471 PMCID: PMC6539663 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2019.10312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2018] [Accepted: 01/31/2019] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Homeobox A10 (HOXA10) belongs to the family of HOX genes, which are closely connected with embryonic development and serve important roles in various tumors. However, the role of HOXA10 in bladder cancer (BC) remains unclear. In the present study, the role of HOXA10 in BC and the underlying mechanisms by which it promotes the disease progression were investigated. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated that the expression of the HOXA10 protein was significantly higher in BC tissues as compared with that in adjacent normal tissues. Subsequent statistical analysis revealed that upregulation of HOXA10 was significantly associated with the pathological grade and clinical stage of BC patients. In the BC cell lines T24 and 5637, silencing of HOXA10 by small interfering RNA transfection suppressed the proliferation, migration and invasion of BC cells, and led to decreased matrix metalloproteinase-3 expression. Taken together, overexpression of HOXA10 may be associated with poor prognosis in BC, and may serve as a novel antitumor therapy target for the treatment of this disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chunlei Liu
- Department of Urology, Qingdao Central Hospital, Qingdao, Shandong 266042, P.R. China
| | - Mingzhu Ge
- Department of Ultrasound, Qingdao Central Hospital, Qingdao, Shandong 266042, P.R. China
| | - Jun Ma
- Department of Urology, Qingdao Central Hospital, Qingdao, Shandong 266042, P.R. China
| | - Yanhui Zhang
- Department of Urology, Qingdao Central Hospital, Qingdao, Shandong 266042, P.R. China
| | - Yanhui Zhao
- Department of Urology, Qingdao Central Hospital, Qingdao, Shandong 266042, P.R. China
| | - Tao Cui
- Department of Urology, Qingdao Central Hospital, Qingdao, Shandong 266042, P.R. China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Kuo TL, Cheng KH, Chen LT, Hung WC. Deciphering The Potential Role of Hox Genes in Pancreatic Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11050734. [PMID: 31137902 PMCID: PMC6562939 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11050734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2019] [Revised: 05/23/2019] [Accepted: 05/23/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The Hox gene family plays an important role in organogenesis and animal development. Currently, 39 Hox genes that are clustered in four chromosome regions have been identified in humans. Emerging evidence suggests that Hox genes are involved in the development of the pancreas. However, the expression of Hox genes in pancreatic tumor tissues has been investigated in only a few studies. In addition, whether specific Hox genes can promote or suppress cancer metastasis is not clear. In this article, we first review the recent progress in studies on the role of Hox genes in pancreatic cancer. By comparing the expression profiles of pancreatic cancer cells isolated from genetically engineered mice established in our laboratory with three different proliferative and metastatic abilities, we identified novel Hox genes that exhibited tumor-promoting activity in pancreatic cancer. Finally, a potential oncogenic mechanism of the Hox genes was hypothesized.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tzu-Lei Kuo
- National Institute of Cancer Research, National Health Research Institutes, Tainan 704, Taiwan.
| | - Kuang-Hung Cheng
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung 804, Taiwan.
| | - Li-Tzong Chen
- National Institute of Cancer Research, National Health Research Institutes, Tainan 704, Taiwan.
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Tainan 704, Taiwan.
- Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan.
| | - Wen-Chun Hung
- National Institute of Cancer Research, National Health Research Institutes, Tainan 704, Taiwan.
- Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Expression signatures of HOX cluster genes in cervical cancer pathogenesis: Impact of human papillomavirus type 16 oncoprotein E7. Oncotarget 2018; 8:36591-36602. [PMID: 28402266 PMCID: PMC5482679 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.16619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2017] [Accepted: 03/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The Homeobox (HOX) genes encode important transcription factors showing deregulated expression in several cancers. However, their role in cervical cancer pathogenesis, remains largely unexplored. Herein, we studied their association with Human Papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) mediated cervical cancers. Our previously published gene expression microarray data revealed a significant alteration of 12 out of 39 HOX cluster members among cervical cancer cases, in comparison to the histopathologically normal controls. Of these, we validated seven (HOXA10, HOXA13, HOXB13, HOXC8, HOXC9, HOXC11 and HOXD10) by quantitative real-time PCR. We identified decreased HOXA10 expression as opposed to the increased expression of the rest. Such decrease was independent of the integration status of HPV16 genome, but correlated negatively with E7 expression in clinical samples, that was confirmed in vitro. HOXA10 and HOXB13 revealed association with Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT). While HOXA10 expression correlated positively with E-Cadherin and negatively with Vimentin expression, HOXB13 showed the reverse trend. Chromatin immunoprecipitation study in vitro revealed the ability of E7 to increase HOX gene expression by epigenetic regulation, affecting the H3K4me3 and H3K27me3 status of their promoters, resulting from a loss of PRC2-LSD1 complex activity. Thus, besides identifying the deregulated expression of HOX cluster members in HPV16 positive cervical cancer and their association with EMT, our study highlighted the mechanism of HPV16 E7-mediated epigenetic regulation of HOX genes in such cancers, potentially serving as bedrock for functional studies in the future.
Collapse
|
6
|
Xie X, Xiao Y, Huang X. Homeobox C10 knockdown suppresses cell proliferation and promotes cell apoptosis in osteosarcoma cells through regulating caspase 3. Onco Targets Ther 2018; 11:473-482. [PMID: 29403292 PMCID: PMC5784584 DOI: 10.2147/ott.s143440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim Homeobox (HOX) genes and their protein products have been found to function as oncogenes in the progression of many cancers. But the role of Homeobox C10 (HOXC10) in osteosarcoma (OS) still remains less understood. In this study, we firstly determine the biologic functions of HOXC10 in OS. Materials and methods We examined the expression of HOXC10 in OS tissues by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot assays. We investigated the effects of HOXC10 on cell proliferation, apoptosis and caspase 3 activity in three OS cell lines by RNA interference, Cell Counting Kit-8, flow cytometry and colorimetric assays. Results We found that HOXC10 was elevated in OS tissues. Silencing HOXC10 significantly inhibited cell proliferation, induced cell apoptosis and increased the expression and activity of caspase 3. The resistance assay further suggested that HOXC10 affected cell growth and apoptosis through regulating the expression and activity of caspase 3. Conclusion HOXC10 might function as an oncogene in OS by regulating the expression and activity of caspase 3.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiankuan Xie
- Department of Orthopedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yuxiang Xiao
- Department of Orthopedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xin Huang
- Department of Orthopedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Tang XL, Ding BX, Hua Y, Chen H, Wu T, Chen ZQ, Yuan CH. HOXC10 Promotes the Metastasis of Human Lung Adenocarcinoma and Indicates Poor Survival Outcome. Front Physiol 2017; 8:557. [PMID: 28824453 PMCID: PMC5539290 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2017.00557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2017] [Accepted: 07/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: As master regulator of embryonic morphogenesis, homeodomain-containing gene 10 (HOXC10) has been found to promote progression of human cancers and indicates poor survival outcome. However, the role of HOXC10 in lung adenocarcinoma still unclear. Methods: HOXC10 expression was evaluated in 63 primary lung adenocarcinoma tissues from our local hospital, and further systematically confirmed in lung cancer tissues from six GEO datasets (GSE19188, GSE31210, GSE10072, GSE7670, GSE32863, GSE30219), and Kaplan-Meier plotter database. The role of HOXC10 in lung cancer metastasis was further validated by cellular and molecular studies. Results: The expression of HOXC10 was significantly increased in human lung adenocarcinoma samples from Wuhu No.2 People's Hospital, about 4.219 times compared with normal tissues, and significantly correlated with TNM stage, lymph node, and distal metastasis. Upregulation of HOXC10 indicated a poor overall/relapse free survival of lung cancer patients from Wuhu No.2 People's Hospital, GEO datasets, and Kaplan-Meier plotter database, especially in patients with lung adenocarcinoma. Knockdown or ectopic expression assays confirmed that HOXC10 enhanced the phosphorylation of PI3K, regulated the expression of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers: MMP2/9, VCAM-1, vimentin and E-cadherin. Cellular study further confirmed that HOXC10 was required for migration, invasion and adhesion of lung cancer cells. Conclusion: These findings suggest that HOXC10 plays a pivotal role in the metastasis of human lung cancer and highlight its usefulness as a potential prognostic marker or therapeutic target in human lung adenocarcinoma.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Lei Tang
- Department of Laboratory and Nuclear Medicine, People's HospitalAnhui, China
| | - Bang-Xian Ding
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Wuhan Children's Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan, China
| | - Ying Hua
- Chemical and Biological Engineer, Vocational and Technical College of FuyangAnhui, China
| | - Hao Chen
- Department of Pathology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan UniversityWuhan, China
| | - Tao Wu
- Department of Laboratory and Nuclear Medicine, People's HospitalAnhui, China
| | - Zhang-Quan Chen
- Key Laboratory for Medical Molecular Diagnostic of Guangdong Province, Guangdong Medical UniversityDongguan, China
| | - Chun-Hui Yuan
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Wuhan Children's Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan, China
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Xiong W, Zhou Q, Liu G, Liu XS, Li XY. Homeodomain-containing gene 10 inhibits cell apoptosis and promotes cell invasion and migration in osteosarcoma cell lines. Tumour Biol 2017; 39:1010428317697566. [PMID: 28474998 DOI: 10.1177/1010428317697566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Homeodomain-containing gene 10 (HOXC10) belongs to the homeobox family, which encodes a highly conserved family of transcription factors that plays an important role in morphogenesis in all multicellular organisms. Altered expressions of HOXC10 have been reported in several malignancies. This study was aimed to reveal the expression profile of HOXC10 in osteosarcoma and evaluated whether HOXC10 is a molecular target for cancer therapy. We found that HOXC10 was up-regulated in osteosarcoma tissues compared with bone cyst specimens from The Cancer Genome Atlas database. Osteosarcoma MG63 cells were infected with HOXC10 shRNA expressing vector, and 143B cells were infected with HOXC10 expressing vector. We found that reduced expression of HOXC10 markedly impaired the ability of proliferation, invasion, and migration, and promoted cell apoptosis in vitro and in vivo. Up-regulated expression of HOXC10 promoted the proliferation, invasion, and migration, and inhibited apoptosis of 143B cells. Additionally, HOXC10 regulated apoptosis and migration via modulating expression of Bax/Bcl-2, caspase-3, MMP-2/MMP-9, and E-cadherin in both MG63 and 143B cells and in vivo. These results indicated that HOXC10 might be a diagnostic marker for osteosarcoma and could be a potential molecular target for the therapy of osteosarcoma.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wen Xiong
- 1 Department of Orthopaedics, The First People's Hospital of Tianmen, Tianmen, Hubei, China
| | - Quan Zhou
- 2 Department of Orthopaedics, The Affiliated Huai'an Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University and The Second People's Hospital of Huai'an, Huai'an, China
| | - Gang Liu
- 3 Department of Orthopaedics, Huai'an First People's Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Huai'an, China
| | - Xiang-Sheng Liu
- 4 Department of Orthopaedics, The Fifth People's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xin-Yu Li
- 5 Department of Infectious Disease, The Fifth People's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Wang K, Jin J, Ma T, Zhai H. MiR-376c-3p regulates the proliferation, invasion, migration, cell cycle and apoptosis of human oral squamous cancer cells by suppressing HOXB7. Biomed Pharmacother 2017; 91:517-525. [PMID: 28482289 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2017.04.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2016] [Revised: 03/29/2017] [Accepted: 04/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To test the influence of miR-376c-3p on the proliferation, invasion, migration, cell cycle and apoptosis of human oral squamous cancer cells (OSCC) and the relevant mechanism. METHODS We applied qRT-PCR and Western blot to compare the expression level of miR-376c-3p and HOXB7 in SCC-4, SCC-9, SCC-15, SCC-25 OSCC cell lines and 49 paired OSCC and normal oral epithelial tissue specimens were included in our present study. Also we analyzed the relative relationship of expression level between miR-376c-3p and HOXB7 in cancer tissues. Luciferase assay was used to confirm the target relationship between miR-376c-3p and HOXB7. Besides, MTT, Transwell, wound healing, colony formation and flow cytometer experiments were applied to evaluate the proliferation, cell viability, apoptosis, invasion and migration of transfected OSCC. RESULTS MiR-376c-3p was down-regulated while HOXB7 was up-regulated in OSCC tissues and cells than the normal ones. MiR-376c-3p directly targeted HOXB7 and reduced the expression of HOXB7. Overexpression of miR-376c-3p attenuated proliferation of SCC-9, SCC-15, SCC-24 and SCC-25 cells. Moreover, miR-376c-3p suppressed proliferation, viability, migration and invasion and induced G1/G0 arrest and cell apoptosis of SCC-25 cells. Besides, overexpression of HOXB7 efficiently abrogates these influences caused by overexpression of miR-376c-3p. CONCLUSION MiR-376c-3p suppresses the fission, proliferation, migration and invasion and induces cell apoptosis of OSCC via targeting HOXB7.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kai Wang
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, 450003, Henan, China
| | - Jun Jin
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, 450003, Henan, China
| | - Tengxiao Ma
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, 450003, Henan, China
| | - Hongfeng Zhai
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, 450003, Henan, China.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Kelly Z, Moller-Levet C, McGrath S, Butler-Manuel S, Kavitha Madhuri T, Kierzek AM, Pandha H, Morgan R, Michael A. The prognostic significance of specificHOXgene expression patterns in ovarian cancer. Int J Cancer 2016; 139:1608-17. [DOI: 10.1002/ijc.30204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2016] [Accepted: 04/25/2016] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Zoe Kelly
- Oncology, School of Biosciences and Medicine; FHMS, Leggett Building, Daphne Jackson Road, University of Surrey; Guildford GU2 7WG
| | - Carla Moller-Levet
- Computational & Systems Biology, School of Biosciences and Medicine; FHMS, University of Surrey; Guildford GU2 7TE
| | - Sophie McGrath
- Oncology, School of Biosciences and Medicine; FHMS, Leggett Building, Daphne Jackson Road, University of Surrey; Guildford GU2 7WG
| | | | | | - Andrzej M. Kierzek
- Computational & Systems Biology, School of Biosciences and Medicine; FHMS, University of Surrey; Guildford GU2 7TE
| | - Hardev Pandha
- Oncology, School of Biosciences and Medicine; FHMS, Leggett Building, Daphne Jackson Road, University of Surrey; Guildford GU2 7WG
| | - Richard Morgan
- ICT Building, Institute of Cancer Therapeutics, University of Bradford; West Yorkshire BD7 1DP
| | - Agnieszka Michael
- Oncology, School of Biosciences and Medicine; FHMS, Leggett Building, Daphne Jackson Road, University of Surrey; Guildford GU2 7WG
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Alvarado-Ruiz L, Martinez-Silva MG, Torres-Reyes LA, Pina-Sanchez P, Ortiz-Lazareno P, Bravo-Cuellar A, Aguilar-Lemarroy A, Jave-Suarez LF. HOXA9 is Underexpressed in Cervical Cancer Cells and its Restoration Decreases Proliferation, Migration and Expression of Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition Genes. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev 2016; 17:1037-47. [DOI: 10.7314/apjcp.2016.17.3.1037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
|
12
|
Yuan H, Kajiyama H, Ito S, Chen D, Shibata K, Hamaguchi M, Kikkawa F, Senga T. HOXB13 and ALX4 induce SLUG expression for the promotion of EMT and cell invasion in ovarian cancer cells. Oncotarget 2016; 6:13359-70. [PMID: 25944620 PMCID: PMC4537020 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.3673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2015] [Accepted: 03/25/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Homeoproteins, a family of transcription factors that have conserved homeobox domains, play critical roles in embryonic development in a wide range of species. Accumulating studies have revealed that homeoproteins are aberrantly expressed in multiple tumors and function as either tumor promoters or suppressors. In this study, we show that two homeoproteins, HOXB13 and ALX4, are associated with epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) and invasion of ovarian cancer cells. HOXB13 and ALX4 formed a complex in cells, and exogenous expression of either protein promoted EMT and invasion. Conversely, depletion of either protein suppressed invasion and induced reversion of EMT. SLUG is a C2H2-type zinc-finger transcription factor that promotes EMT in various cell lines. Knockdown of HOXB13 or ALX4 suppressed SLUG expression, and exogenous expression of either protein promoted SLUG expression. Finally, we showed that SLUG expression was essential for the HOXB13- or ALX4-mediated EMT and invasion. Our results show that HOXB13/SLUG and ALX4/SLUG axes are novel pathways that promote EMT and invasion of ovarian cancer cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hong Yuan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, 466-8550, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Kajiyama
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, 466-8550, Japan
| | - Satoko Ito
- Division of Cancer Biology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, 466-8550, Japan
| | - Dan Chen
- Division of Cancer Biology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, 466-8550, Japan
| | - Kiyosumi Shibata
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, 466-8550, Japan
| | - Michinari Hamaguchi
- Division of Cancer Biology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, 466-8550, Japan
| | - Fumitaka Kikkawa
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, 466-8550, Japan
| | - Takeshi Senga
- Division of Cancer Biology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, 466-8550, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Han J, Rong LF, Shi CB, Dong XG, Wang J, Wang BL, Wen H, He ZY. Screening of lymph nodes metastasis associated lncRNAs in colorectal cancer patients. World J Gastroenterol 2014; 20:8139-8150. [PMID: 25009386 PMCID: PMC4081685 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i25.8139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2013] [Revised: 02/15/2014] [Accepted: 05/14/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM: To screen lymph nodes metastasis associated long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in colorectal cancer through microarray analysis.
METHODS: Metastatic lymph node (MLN), normal lymph node (NLN) and tumor tissues of 3 colorectal cancer (CRC) patients were collected during the operation and validated by pathological examinations. RNAs were extracted from MLN, NLN, and cancer tissues separately. RNA quantity and quality were measured with a NanoDrop ND-1000 spectrophotometer and RNA integrity was assessed by standard denaturing agarose electrophoresis. Agilent Feature Extraction Software (Version 11.0.1.1) was used to analyze acquired array images. Four differently expressed lncRNAs were confirmed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) in 26 subsets of MLN, NLN, and tumor tissues.
RESULTS: Of 33045 lncRNAs, 1133 were differentially expressed in MLN compared with NLN, of which 260 were up-regulated and 873 down-regulated (≥ 2 fold-change). Five hundred and forty-five lncRNAs were differentially expressed in MLN compared with tumor tissues, of which 460 were up-regulated and 85 down-regulated (≥ 2 fold-change). Compared with NLN and cancer tissues, 14 lncRNAs were specifically up-regulated and 5 specifically down-regulated in MLN. AK307796, ENST00000425785, and AK021444 were confirmed to be specifically up-regulated in MLN and ENST00000465846 specifically down-regulated in MLN by qRT-PCR in 26 CRC patients.
CONCLUSION: The specifically expressed lncRNAs in MLN may exert a partial or key role in the progress of lymph nodes metastasis of CRC.
Collapse
|
14
|
Schiavo G, D'Antò V, Cantile M, Procino A, Di Giovanni S, Valletta R, Terracciano L, Baumhoer D, Jundt G, Cillo C. Deregulated HOX genes in ameloblastomas are located in physical contiguity to keratin genes. J Cell Biochem 2012; 112:3206-15. [PMID: 21732412 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.23248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
The expression of the HOX gene network in mid-stage human tooth development mostly concerns the epithelial tooth germ compartment and involves the C and D HOX loci. To further dissect the HOX gene implication with tooth epithelium differentiation we compared the expression of the whole HOX network in human ameloblastomas, as paradigm of epithelial odontogenic tumors, with tooth germs. We identified two ameloblastoma molecular types with respectively low and high number of active HOX C genes. The highly expressing HOX C gene ameloblastomas were characterized by a strong keratinized phenotype. Locus C HOX genes are located on chromosome 12q13-15 in physical contiguity with one of the two keratin gene clusters included in the human genome. The most posterior HOX C gene, HOX C13, is capable to interact with hair keratin genes located on the other keratin gene cluster in physical contiguity with the HOX B locus on chromosome 17q21-22. Inside the HOX C locus, a 2.2 kb ncRNA (HOTAIR) able to repress transcription, in cis, along the entire HOX C locus and, in trans, at the posterior region of the HOX D locus has recently been identified. Interestingly both loci are deregulated in ameloblastomas. Our finding support an important role of the HOX network in characterizing the epithelial tooth compartment. Furthermore, the physical contiguity between locus C HOX and keratin genes in normal tooth epithelium and their deregulation in the neoplastic counterparts suggest they may act on the same mechanism potentially involved with epithelial tumorigenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Schiavo
- Institute of Pathology-Molecular Pathology Division, University of Basel, Schonbeinstrasse 40, 4031 Basel, Switzerland
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
15
|
Ansari KI, Hussain I, Kasiri S, Mandal SS. HOXC10 is overexpressed in breast cancer and transcriptionally regulated by estrogen via involvement of histone methylases MLL3 and MLL4. J Mol Endocrinol 2012; 48:61-75. [PMID: 22143955 DOI: 10.1530/jme-11-0078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
HOXC10 is a critical player in the development of spinal cord, formation of neurons, and associated with human leukemia. We found that HOXC10 is overexpressed in breast cancer and transcriptionally regulated by estrogen (17β-estradiol, E(2)). The HOXC10 promoter contains several estrogen response elements (ERE1-7, half-sites). A luciferase-based reporter assay showed that ERE1 and ERE6 of HOXC10 promoter are E(2) responsive. ERα and ERβ play critical roles in E(2)-mediated activation of HOXC10. Knockdown of ERα and ERβ downregulated E(2)-induced HOXC10 expression. ERα and ERβ bind to ERE1 and ERE6 regions in an E(2)-dependent manner. Additionally, knockdown of histone methylases MLL3 and MLL4 (but not MLL1 and MLL2) diminished E(2)-induced expression of HOXC10. MLL3 and MLL4 were bound to the ERE1 and ERE6 regions of HOXC10 promoter in an E(2)-dependent manner. Overall, we demonstrated that HOXC10 is overexpressed in breast cancer, and it is an E(2)-responsive gene. Histone methylases MLL3 and MLL4, along with ERs, regulate HOXC10 gene expression in the presence of E(2).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Khairul I Ansari
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, USA
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
16
|
Hox B4 as potential marker of non-differentiated cells in human cervical cancer cells. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2011; 138:293-300. [PMID: 22120585 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-011-1081-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2011] [Accepted: 11/01/2011] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cervical cancer (CC) is a common malignancy in women worldwide. Cervical tumorigenesis involves a multistep process in which accumulations of genetic alterations are present. Homeotic genes, such as HOX gene re-expression, have been reported in a wide variety of tumors. METHODS In order to know the role of HOX B4 gene expression in CC, in the present study, two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization, and time-of-flight mass spectrometry were used for differential screening of protein expression in CC. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed on the cervical tissue microarray (TMA) to detect the Hox B4 protein. RESULTS Hox B4 peptide was detected among 15 increased spots differentially observed in CC. Using TMA, Hox B4 protein was also immunodetected in the nuclei of cervical epithelial tumor cells, while in normal cervical epithelium, it was absent. Interestingly, it was possible to detect the Hox B4 protein in the precursor lesions. CONCLUSIONS Hox B4 protein is present in the precursor lesions as CC cells, suggesting that Hox B4 could be a protein related to the neoplastic state (non-differentiated cells) of human cervical epithelium.
Collapse
|
17
|
Persistent inflammation and angiogenesis during wound healing in K14-directed Hoxb13 transgenic mice. J Invest Dermatol 2009; 130:856-65. [PMID: 19759546 DOI: 10.1038/jid.2009.305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Chronic, nonhealing wounds and inadequate tissue repair characterized by excessive fibrosis continue to have a considerable negative effect on health and quality of life. Understanding the molecular events required for adequate healing, including the transcriptional control of wound repair, will be important for the development of future therapies. We previously showed that loss of Hoxb13 from murine skin results in enhanced cutaneous wound healing, suggesting that Hoxb13 has a negative effect on wound repair. To test this, we generated skin-specific Hoxb13 transgenic (TG) mice that overexpress Hoxb13 in the basal layer of the epidermis by the human keratin 14 promoter. Using these mice, we evaluated the effects of Hoxb13 overexpression on cutaneous wound healing. Transgenic wounds were characterized by persistence of the fibrin clot and prolonged inflammation. Notably, neutrophils, which had cleared from wild-type wounds, were still pronounced in TG wounds. Marked epidermal hyperplasia was observed at TG wound edges, and dermal vessels were grossly abnormal compared with wild-type mice. Both vascular endothelial growth factor and tumor necrosis factor-alpha were upregulated in Hoxb13 TG skin. Together, our results identify Hoxb13 as a potential important clinical target in wound healing and other pathologies characterized by abnormal or excessive inflammation, angiogenesis, or epidermal proliferation.
Collapse
|
18
|
Cantile M, Franco R, Tschan A, Baumhoer D, Zlobec I, Schiavo G, Forte I, Bihl M, Liguori G, Botti G, Tornillo L, Karamitopoulou-Diamantis E, Terracciano L, Cillo C. HOX D13 expression across 79 tumor tissue types. Int J Cancer 2009; 125:1532-41. [PMID: 19488988 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.24438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
HOX genes control normal development, primary cellular processes and are characterized by a unique genomic network organization. Locus D HOX genes play an important role in limb generation and mesenchymal condensation. Dysregulated HOXD13 expression has been detected in breast cancer, melanoma, cervical cancer and astrocytomas. We have investigated the epidemiology of HOXD13 expression in human tissues and its potential deregulation in the carcinogenesis of specific tumors. HOXD13 homeoprotein expression has been detected using microarray technology comprising more than 4,000 normal and neoplastic tissue samples including 79 different tumor categories. Validation of HOXD13 expression has been performed, at mRNA level, for selected tumor types. Significant differences are detectable between specific normal tissues and corresponding tumor types with the majority of cancers showing an increase in HOXD13 expression (16.1% normal vs. 57.7% cancers). In contrast, pancreas and stomach tumor subtypes display the opposite trend. Interestingly, detection of the HOXD13 homeoprotein in pancreas-tissue microarrays shows that its negative expression has a significant and adverse effect on the prognosis of patients with pancreatic cancer independent of the T or N stage at the time of diagnosis. Our study provides, for the first time, an overview of a HOX protein expression in a large series of normal and neoplastic tissue types, identifies pancreatic cancer as one of the most affected by the HOXD13 hoemoprotein and underlines the way homeoproteins can be associated to human cancerogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Monica Cantile
- Department of Clinical & Experimental Medicine, Federico II University Medical School, Naples, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
19
|
Rodriguez BAT, Cheng ASL, Yan PS, Potter D, Agosto-Perez FJ, Shapiro CL, Huang THM. Epigenetic repression of the estrogen-regulated Homeobox B13 gene in breast cancer. Carcinogenesis 2008; 29:1459-65. [PMID: 18499701 DOI: 10.1093/carcin/bgn115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Several studies have reported that a high expression ratio of HOXB13 to IL17BR predicts tumor recurrence in node-negative, estrogen receptor (ER) alpha-positive breast cancer patients treated with tamoxifen. The molecular mechanisms underlying this dysregulation of gene expression remain to be explored. Our epigenetic analysis has found that increased promoter methylation of one of these genes, HOXB13, correlate with the decreased expression of its transcript in breast cancer cell lines (P < 0.005). Transcriptional silencing of this gene can be reversed by a demethylation treatment. HOXB13 is suppressed by the activation of estrogen signaling in ERalpha-positive breast cancer cells. However, treatment with 4-hydroxytamoxifen (4-OHT), an antiestrogen, abrogates the ERalpha-mediated suppression in cancer cells. The notion that this transcriptional induction of HOXB13 occurs in vitro with simultaneous exposure to both estrogen and 4-OHT may provide a biological explanation for its aberrant expression in many node-negative patients undergoing tamoxifen therapy. Interestingly, promoter hypermethylation of HOXB13 is more frequently observed in ERalpha-positive patients with increased lymph node metastasis (P = 0.031) and large tumor sizes (>5 cm) (P = 0.008). In addition, this aberrant epigenetic event is associated with shorter disease-free survival (P = 0.029) in cancer patients. These results suggest that hypermethylation of HOXB13 is a late event of breast tumorigenesis and a poor prognostic indicator of node-positive cancer patients.
Collapse
|
20
|
Nakagawa K, Lee MJ, Sasaki N, Hayashi C, Nishio H. Cadmium exposure induces expression of the HOXB8 gene in COS-7 cells. Toxicol In Vitro 2008; 22:1447-51. [PMID: 18534812 DOI: 10.1016/j.tiv.2008.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2008] [Revised: 04/03/2008] [Accepted: 04/15/2008] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Cadmium (Cd) is a serious toxic metal, which is classified as a possible human carcinogen. We assessed the effects of Cd on the expression levels of homeobox genes, which are associated with carcinogenesis. Among 6 homeobox genes examined in this study, only HOXB8 exhibited increased mRNA expression in COS-7 cells treated with 10 microM CdCl(2). Semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed that the HOXB8 mRNA level was increased by a maximum of 5.4-fold after 6h of Cd exposure. The levels of HOXA7, A9, C4, C9 and C10 mRNAs decreased from 0.1 to 0.3-fold. Silencing of HOXB8 mRNA expression using a siRNA increased HOXC9 and C10 mRNA expression levels by 6.6- and 1.9-fold, respectively. These results suggest that HOXB8 upregulation is associated with suppression of HOXC9 and C10, and that decreased expression of HOXC9 and C10 after Cd exposure is partly due to HOXB8 induction. In conclusion, Cd disrupts the HOX network. Comprehensive analyses of all the HOX gene expression levels in the presence of Cd may afford clues toward understanding Cd-induced carcinogenesis and teratogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kanako Nakagawa
- Department of Public Health and Genetic Epidemiology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, 7-5-1 Kusunoki-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Japan
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
21
|
Search for cellular partners of human papillomavirus type 16 E2 protein. Arch Virol 2008; 153:983-90. [PMID: 18305892 DOI: 10.1007/s00705-008-0061-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2007] [Accepted: 01/25/2008] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are small, double-stranded DNA viruses that infect cutaneous and mucosal epithelia. Type 16 (HPV16) displays tropism to genital epithelia, giving rise to genital warts and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), which is a precursor lesion to invasive carcinoma of the cervix. The great majority of human cervical cancers contain integrated HPV DNA where the E2 gene is usually disrupted, suggesting that the loss of the E2 protein is an important step in HPV-induced carcinogenesis. The HPV16 E2 protein is a regulatory protein that seems to be essential for creating favourable conditions for establishment of infection and proper completion of the viral life cycle. Recently, diverse activities of the E2 proteins have been described, but the molecular basis of these processes has not beenfully elucidated. Using a yeast two-hybrid system, we have identified epithelial cellular proteins that bind to the E2 protein of HPV16.
Collapse
|
22
|
Cross DS, Burmester JK. Functional characterization of the HOXB13 promoter region. Med Oncol 2007; 25:287-93. [PMID: 18163187 DOI: 10.1007/s12032-007-9033-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2007] [Accepted: 11/26/2007] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Homeobox (HOX) genes are crucial regulators of cell growth and differentiation. These genes initiate and control gene expression cascades that drive development. More recently, the absent or aberrant expression of HOX genes has been implicated in cancer development. Despite the observance of these expression changes, the regulation of the HOX genes in adult tissues and how these genes become deregulated in cancerous tissues still needs much investigation. We characterized the promoter region of the HOXB13 gene. A 3 kb region upstream of the HOXB13 gene, which included the 5'UTR, increased reporter gene expression in LNCaP cells by approximately 99 fold over the promoterless control construct. A highly conserved 179 base pair fragment containing only the 5'UTR of the HOXB13 gene constituted a minimal promoter in the LNCaP cell line. Strong promoter activity was seen in the presence or absence of testosterone, although testosterone exposure did decrease expression in LNCaP cells by 50%. In an androgen insensitive cell line Du145, no sensitivity to testosterone was detected and a consistent low basal level of expression was observed. Since HOXB13 expression is highly tissue specific, we investigated the ability of the promoter to drive expression in tissues other than prostate. We observed highest expression in LNCaP cells with low levels of expression in lung, retinoblastoma, and colon cancer cells and higher expression in MCF7 breast cancer cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Deanna S Cross
- Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation, 1000 N. Oak Ave, Marshfield, WI 54449-5790, USA.
| | | |
Collapse
|