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Zhang Y, Tian X, Bai Y, Liu X, Zhu J, Zhang L, Wang J. WTAP mediates FOXP3 mRNA stability to promote SMARCE1 expression and augment glycolysis in colon adenocarcinoma. Mamm Genome 2022; 33:654-671. [PMID: 36173464 DOI: 10.1007/s00335-022-09962-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most abundant mRNA internal modification and has reportedly been linked to aerobic glycolysis, a hallmark event in tumor development. This work focuses on the role of the m6A methyltransferase WT1-associated protein (WTAP) in metabolic reprogramming and development of colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) and the molecules involved. The WTAP expression in COAD tissues and cells was detected. WTAP was knocked down in two COAD cell lines to figure out its role in the glycolytic activity and malignant phenotype of cancer cells. Cancer cells were further injected into nude mice subcutaneously or via tail vein to evaluate tumor growth and metastasis. The downstream molecules involved were explored using bioinformatics tools, and the molecular interactions were confirmed by immunoprecipitation, luciferase assays, and rescue experiments. WTAP was abundantly expressed in COAD samples. Knockdown of WTAP suppressed glucose consumption, lactate production, and glycolysis, which consequently suppressed cancer cell growth and dissemination in vitro and in vivo. WTAP promoted m6A methylation and stabilized forkhead box P3 (FOXP3) mRNA with the participation of the m6A "reader" YTHDF1. FOXP3 could further bind to SMARCE1 promoter for transcriptional activation. Rescue experiments showed that upregulation of FOXP3 or SMARCE1 restored the glycolytic activity in COAD cells and augmented the growth and mobility of cells both in vitro and in vivo. This study demonstrates that WTAP grants glycolytic activity to COAD and promotes tumor malignant development via the m6A modification of FOXP3 mRNA and the upregulation of SMARCE1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Science and Technology, No. 24, Jinghua Road Jianxi District, Luoyang, 471003, Henan, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoxiao Tian
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Science and Technology, No. 24, Jinghua Road Jianxi District, Luoyang, 471003, Henan, People's Republic of China
| | - Yanli Bai
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Science and Technology, No. 24, Jinghua Road Jianxi District, Luoyang, 471003, Henan, People's Republic of China
| | - Xianmin Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Science and Technology, No. 24, Jinghua Road Jianxi District, Luoyang, 471003, Henan, People's Republic of China
| | - Jingjing Zhu
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Science and Technology, No. 24, Jinghua Road Jianxi District, Luoyang, 471003, Henan, People's Republic of China
| | - Lamei Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Science and Technology, No. 24, Jinghua Road Jianxi District, Luoyang, 471003, Henan, People's Republic of China
| | - Jinliang Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Science and Technology, No. 24, Jinghua Road Jianxi District, Luoyang, 471003, Henan, People's Republic of China.
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Barik GK, Sahay O, Paul D, Santra MK. Ezrin gone rogue in cancer progression and metastasis: An enticing therapeutic target. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2022; 1877:188753. [PMID: 35752404 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2022.188753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Revised: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 06/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Cancer metastasis is the primary cause of morbidity and mortality in cancer as it remains the most complicated, devastating, and enigmatic aspect of cancer. Several decades of extensive research have identified several key players closely associated with metastasis. Among these players, cytoskeletal linker Ezrin (the founding member of the ERM (Ezrin-Radixin-Moesin) family) was identified as a critical promoter of metastasis in pediatric cancers in the early 21st century. Ezrin was discovered 40 years ago as a aminor component of intestinal epithelial microvillus core protein, which is enriched in actin-containing cell surface structures. It controls gastric acid secretion and plays diverse physiological roles including maintaining cell polarity, regulating cell adhesion, cell motility and morphogenesis. Extensive research for more than two decades evinces that Ezrin is frequently dysregulated in several human cancers. Overexpression, altered subcellular localization and/or aberrant activation of Ezrin are closely associated with higher metastatic incidence and patient mortality, thereby justifying Ezrin as a valuable prognostic biomarker in cancer. Ezrin plays multifaceted role in multiple aspects of cancer, with its significant contribution in the complex metastatic cascade, through reorganizing the cytoskeleton and deregulating various cellular signaling pathways. Current preclinical studies using genetic and/or pharmacological approaches reveal that inactivation of Ezrin results in significant inhibition of Ezrin-mediated tumor growth and metastasis as well as increase in the sensitivity of cancer cells to various chemotherapeutic drugs. In this review, we discuss the recent advances illuminating the molecular mechanisms responsible for Ezrin dysregulation in cancer and its pleiotropic role in cancer progression and metastasis. We also highlight its potential as a prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target in various cancers. More importantly, we put forward some potential questions, which we strongly believe, will stimulate both basic and translational research to better understand Ezrin-mediated malignancy, ultimately leading to the development of Ezrin-targeted cancer therapy for the betterment of human life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ganesh Kumar Barik
- Cancer Biology Division, National Centre for Cell Science, Ganeshkhind Road, Pune, Maharashtra 411007, India; Department of Biotechnology, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Ganeshkhind Road, Pune, Maharashtra 411007, India
| | - Osheen Sahay
- Cancer Biology Division, National Centre for Cell Science, Ganeshkhind Road, Pune, Maharashtra 411007, India; Department of Biotechnology, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Ganeshkhind Road, Pune, Maharashtra 411007, India
| | - Debasish Paul
- Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Centre for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Manas Kumar Santra
- Cancer Biology Division, National Centre for Cell Science, Ganeshkhind Road, Pune, Maharashtra 411007, India.
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3
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Liu L, Liang L, Mai G, Chen Y. A Novel Fatty Acid
Metabolism‐Related
Gene Signature Predicts the Prognosis, Tumor Immune Properties, and Immunotherapy Response of Colon Adenocarcinoma Patients. FASEB Bioadv 2022; 4:585-601. [PMID: 36089979 PMCID: PMC9447420 DOI: 10.1096/fba.2022-00017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Revised: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) has a high incidence and death rate. Despite the fact that change in fatty acid metabolism promotes tumor growth and metastasis to the greatest degree among metabolite profiles, a thorough investigation on the involvement of fatty acid metabolism‐related genes (FAMRGs) in COAD has yet not been conducted. Here, the clinical data as well as the gene expression profiles were extracted from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Based on the FAMRG expression data and clinical information, a FAMRG risk signature was developed using LASSO as well as multivariate and univariate Cox regression analyses. Then, the nomogram was used to create a customized prognostic prediction model, and the calibration and receiver operating characteristic curves were used to evaluate the nomogram's prediction performance and discriminative capability. Lastly, a number of studies were conducted to assess the influence of independent FAMRGs on COAD, including unsupervised cluster analysis, functional analysis, and drug sensitivity analysis. Three hundred and sixty‐seven patients were included in this study, and a 12‐FAMRG risk signature was discovered in the training cohort based on a detailed examination of the FAMRGs expression data and clinical information. After that, risk scores were computed to classify patients into low or high‐risk groups, and the Kaplan–Meier curve analysis revealed that patients in the low‐risk group exhibited an elevated overall survival (OS) rate. The FAMRG was shown to be substantially correlated with prognosis in multivariate Cox regression analysis and was validated using the validation dataset. Then, using the clinical variables and risk signature, we developed and validated a prediction nomogram for OS. Functional characterization showed a strong correlation between this signature and immune cell infiltration and immune modulation. Additionally, by evaluating the GDSC database, it was determined that the high‐risk group exhibited medication resistance to many chemotherapeutic and targeted medicines, including VX.680, gemcitabine, doxorubicin, and paclitaxel. Overall, we have revealed the significance of a FAMRG risk signature for predicting the prognosis and response to immunotherapy in COAD, and our findings might contribute to an enhanced comprehension of metabolic pathways and the future development of innovative COAD therapeutic methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Le Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Integrated Clinical Microecology Center, Shenzhen Hospital Southern Medical University Shenzhen China
| | - Liping Liang
- Department of Gastroenterology, State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology, Nanfang Hospital Southern Medical University Guangzhou China
| | - Genghui Mai
- Department of Gastroenterology, State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology, Nanfang Hospital Southern Medical University Guangzhou China
| | - Ye Chen
- Department of Gastroenterology, Integrated Clinical Microecology Center, Shenzhen Hospital Southern Medical University Shenzhen China
- Department of Gastroenterology, State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology, Nanfang Hospital Southern Medical University Guangzhou China
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4
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Hwang BO, Park SY, Cho ES, Zhang X, Lee SK, Ahn HJ, Chun KS, Chung WY, Song NY. Platelet CLEC2-Podoplanin Axis as a Promising Target for Oral Cancer Treatment. Front Immunol 2022; 12:807600. [PMID: 34987523 PMCID: PMC8721674 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.807600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer tissues are not just simple masses of malignant cells, but rather complex and heterogeneous collections of cellular and even non-cellular components, such as endothelial cells, stromal cells, immune cells, and collagens, referred to as tumor microenvironment (TME). These multiple players in the TME develop dynamic interactions with each other, which determines the characteristics of the tumor. Platelets are the smallest cells in the bloodstream and primarily regulate blood coagulation and hemostasis. Notably, cancer patients often show thrombocytosis, a status of an increased platelet number in the bloodstream, as well as the platelet infiltration into the tumor stroma, which contributes to cancer promotion and progression. Thus, platelets function as one of the important stromal components in the TME, emerging as a promising chemotherapeutic target. However, the use of traditional antiplatelet agents, such as aspirin, has limitations mainly due to increased bleeding complications. This requires to implement new strategies to target platelets for anti-cancer effects. In oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients, both high platelet counts and low tumor-stromal ratio (high stroma) are strongly correlated with increased metastasis and poor prognosis. OSCC tends to invade adjacent tissues and bones and spread to the lymph nodes for distant metastasis, which is a huge hurdle for OSCC treatment in spite of relatively easy access for visual examination of precancerous lesions in the oral cavity. Therefore, locoregional control of the primary tumor is crucial for OSCC treatment. Similar to thrombocytosis, higher expression of podoplanin (PDPN) has been suggested as a predictive marker for higher frequency of lymph node metastasis of OSCC. Cumulative evidence supports that platelets can directly interact with PDPN-expressing cancer cells via C-type lectin-like receptor 2 (CLEC2), contributing to cancer cell invasion and metastasis. Thus, the platelet CLEC2-PDPN axis could be a pinpoint target to inhibit interaction between platelets and OSCC, avoiding undesirable side effects. Here, we will review the role of platelets in cancer, particularly focusing on CLEC2-PDPN interaction, and will assess their potentials as therapeutic targets for OSCC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Byeong-Oh Hwang
- Department of Applied Life Science, The Graduate School, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea.,BK21 Four Project, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Seoul, South Korea.,Department of Oral Biology, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Se-Young Park
- Department of Applied Life Science, The Graduate School, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea.,BK21 Four Project, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Seoul, South Korea.,Department of Oral Biology, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Eunae Sandra Cho
- BK21 Four Project, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Seoul, South Korea.,Department of Oral Pathology, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Seoul, South Korea.,Oral Cancer Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Xianglan Zhang
- Oral Cancer Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Seoul, South Korea.,Department of Pathology, Yanbian University Hospital, Yanji City, China
| | - Sun Kyoung Lee
- Department of Oral Biology, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Hyung-Joon Ahn
- Department of Orofacial Pain and Oral Medicine, Dental Hospital, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Kyung-Soo Chun
- College of Pharmacy, Keimyung University, Daegu, South Korea
| | - Won-Yoon Chung
- Department of Applied Life Science, The Graduate School, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea.,BK21 Four Project, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Seoul, South Korea.,Department of Oral Biology, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Seoul, South Korea.,Oral Cancer Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Na-Young Song
- Department of Applied Life Science, The Graduate School, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea.,BK21 Four Project, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Seoul, South Korea.,Department of Oral Biology, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Seoul, South Korea
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5
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Welf ES, Miles CE, Huh J, Sapoznik E, Chi J, Driscoll MK, Isogai T, Noh J, Weems AD, Pohlkamp T, Dean K, Fiolka R, Mogilner A, Danuser G. Actin-Membrane Release Initiates Cell Protrusions. Dev Cell 2020; 55:723-736.e8. [PMID: 33308479 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2020.11.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Revised: 09/08/2020] [Accepted: 11/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Despite the well-established role of actin polymerization as a driving mechanism for cell protrusion, upregulated actin polymerization alone does not initiate protrusions. Using a combination of theoretical modeling and quantitative live-cell imaging experiments, we show that local depletion of actin-membrane links is needed for protrusion initiation. Specifically, we show that the actin-membrane linker ezrin is depleted prior to protrusion onset and that perturbation of ezrin's affinity for actin modulates protrusion frequency and efficiency. We also show how actin-membrane release works in concert with actin polymerization, leading to a comprehensive model for actin-driven shape changes. Actin-membrane release plays a similar role in protrusions driven by intracellular pressure. Thus, our findings suggest that protrusion initiation might be governed by a universal regulatory mechanism, whereas the mechanism of force generation determines the shape and expansion properties of the protrusion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik S Welf
- Lyda Hill Department of Bioinformatics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Department of Cell Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA.
| | - Christopher E Miles
- Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, New York University, New York, NY 10012, USA; Department of Biology, New York University, New York, NY 10012, USA
| | - Jaewon Huh
- Lyda Hill Department of Bioinformatics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Department of Cell Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Etai Sapoznik
- Lyda Hill Department of Bioinformatics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Department of Cell Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Joseph Chi
- Lyda Hill Department of Bioinformatics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Department of Cell Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Meghan K Driscoll
- Lyda Hill Department of Bioinformatics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Department of Cell Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Tadamoto Isogai
- Lyda Hill Department of Bioinformatics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Department of Cell Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Jungsik Noh
- Lyda Hill Department of Bioinformatics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Department of Cell Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Andrew D Weems
- Lyda Hill Department of Bioinformatics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Department of Cell Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Theresa Pohlkamp
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Kevin Dean
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Reto Fiolka
- Lyda Hill Department of Bioinformatics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Department of Cell Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Alex Mogilner
- Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, New York University, New York, NY 10012, USA; Department of Biology, New York University, New York, NY 10012, USA.
| | - Gaudenz Danuser
- Lyda Hill Department of Bioinformatics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Department of Cell Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA.
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