Tumor progression driven by pathways activating matrix metalloproteinases and their inhibitors

A cheminformatics-biophysics correlate to identify promising lead molecules against matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) enzyme: A promising anti-cancer target

Matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) is an endopeptidase enzyme that is devoted to extracellular matrix proteins degradation. The enzyme is warranted as promising drugs target for different light threating diseases such as arthritis, cancer and fibrosis. Herein, in this study, three drug molecules: CMNPD8322, CMNPD8320, and CMNPD8318 were filtered as high affinity binding compounds with binding energy score of -9.75 kcal/mol, -9.11 kcal/mol, -9.05 kcal/mol, respectively. The control binding energy score was -9.01 kcal/mol. The compounds docked deeply inside the pocket interacting with S1 pocket residues. The docked complexes dynamics in real time at cellular environment was then done to decipher the stable binding conformation and intermolecular interactions network. The compounds complexes achieved very stable dynamics with root mean square deviation (RMSD) with mean value of around 2-3 Å compared to control complex that showed higher fluctuations of 5 Å. The simulation trajectories frames based binding free energy demonstrated all the compounds-MMP-2 complexes reported highly stable energy, particularly the van der Waals energy dominate the overall net energy. Similarly, the complexes revalidation of WaterSwap based energies also disclosed the complexes highly stable in term docked conformation. Also, the compounds illustrated the compounds favorable pharmacokinetics and were non-toxic and non-mutagenic. Thus, the compounds might be used thorough experimental assays to confirm compounds selective biological potency against MMP-2 enzyme.

Proteomics analysis of serum from thymoma patients

Thymoma is the most common malignant tumor in thymic epithelial tumors (TETS). This study aimed to identify the changes in serum proteomics in patients with thymoma. Proteins were extracted from twenty patients with thymoma serum and nine healthy controls and prepared for mass spectrometry (MS) analysis. Data independent acquisition (DIA) quantitative proteomics technique was used to examine the serum proteome. Differential proteins of abundance changes in the serum were identified. Bioinformatics was used to examine the differential proteins. Functional tagging and enrichment analysis were conducted using the Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) databases. The string database was used to assess the interaction of different proteins. In all, 486 proteins were found in all samples. There were differences in 58 serum proteins between patients and healthy blood donors, 35 up-regulated and 23 down-regulated. These proteins are primarily exocrine and serum membrane proteins involved in controlling immunological responses and antigen binding, according to GO functional annotation. KEGG functional annotation showed that these proteins play a significant role in the complement and coagulation cascade and the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) signal pathway. Notably, the KEGG pathway (complement and coagulation cascade) is enriched, and three key activators were up-regulated: von willebrand factor (VWF), coagulation factor v (F5) and vitamin k-dependent protein c (PC). Protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis showed that six proteins ((VWF, F5, thrombin reactive protein 1 (THBS1), mannose-binding lectin-associated serine protease 2 (MASP2), apolipoprotein B (APOB), and apolipoprotein (a) (LPA)) were up-regulated and two proteins (Metalloproteinase inhibitor 1(TIMP1), ferritin light chain (FTL)) were down-regulated. The results of this study showed that several proteins involved in complement and coagulation cascades were up-regulated in the serum of patients.

The key role of microRNA-766 in the cancer development

Cancer is caused by defects in coding and non-coding RNAs. In addition, duplicated biological pathways diminish the efficacy of mono target cancer drugs. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short, endogenous, non-coding RNAs that regulate many target genes and play a crucial role in physiological processes such as cell division, differentiation, cell cycle, proliferation, and apoptosis, which are frequently disrupted in diseases such as cancer. MiR-766, one of the most adaptable and highly conserved microRNAs, is notably overexpressed in several diseases, including malignant tumors. Variations in miR-766 expression are linked to various pathological and physiological processes. Additionally, miR-766 promotes therapeutic resistance pathways in various types of tumors. Here, we present and discuss evidence implicating miR-766 in the development of cancer and treatment resistance. In addition, we discuss the potential applications of miR-766 as a therapeutic cancer target, diagnostic biomarker, and prognostic indicator. This may shed light on the development of novel therapeutic strategies for cancer therapy.

Comparing TIMP-1 and Hsp70 in Blood and Saliva as Potential Prognostic Markers in HNSCC

(1) Background: Currently, there is no clinically used liquid biomarker in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients. One reason could be the limited shedding of tumor material in early disease stages. Molecular diagnostics assessing both blood and especially saliva could potentially improve the accuracy of biomarkers. In this prospective study, two markers, tissue inhibitor of metalloprotease-1 (TIMP-1) and heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70), were analyzed in HNSCC patients. The purpose of the study was to evaluate differences between saliva and serum as sample material. Further, their prognostic and predictive value and usefulness for early detection was assessed. (2) Methods: A total of 73 HNSCC patients were prospectively monitored by collecting blood and saliva before, during, and after therapy, as well as in the follow-up period between 2018 and 2021. In total, 212 serum and 194 saliva samples were collected. A control group consisting of 40 subjects (15 patients with local infections in the head and neck area and 25 without infections) were examined as well. The collected samples were evaluated for the two proteins by using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). (3) RESULTS: The TIMP-1 concentration correlated significantly in blood and saliva, whereas the Hsp70 concentration did not. Saliva TIMP-1 was significantly higher in tumor patients compared to the control group (p = 0.013). High pretreatment TIMP-1 saliva levels were associated with significantly poorer disease-free survival (DFS) (p = 0.02). A high saliva TIMP-1/Hsp70 ratio was significantly associated with poorer DFS (HR: 1.4; 95% CI: 1.04-1.88; p = 0.026) and a high TIMP-1 serum concentration was significantly associated with poorer PFS (HR: 1.9; 95% CI: 1.2, 2.8; p = 0.003) and poorer overall survival (OS) (HR: 2.9; 95% CI: 1.4, 5.9; p = 0.003) in the Cox proportional hazards model. The saliva TIMP-1 to Hsp70 ratio was significantly higher at the time of recurrence (p = 0.015). Conclusion: TIMP-1 in serum is a promising prognostic marker for HNSCC. Saliva TIMP-1 and the saliva TIMP-1 to Hsp70 ratio provides additional information on the disease-free survival.

Research progress of tight junction protein claudin-3 in hepatobiliary systemic diseases

Claudin-3 is an important member of the claudin family of tight junction proteins and is the most abundant tight junction protein in the hepatobiliary system. It plays an important role in building tight junctions of hepatobiliary cells, and maintaining cellular barrier function and molecular delivery function. Dysregulation of hepatic claudin-3 expression leads to disruption of hepatobiliary system junctions, metabolic function, barrier function, proliferation capacity, and molecular delivery function, and is closely related to the development of various hepatobiliary diseases such as hepatic malignancies, cholesterol stones, and chronic liver diseases. In this paper, we review the progress in the research of claudin-3 in hepatobiliary diseases.

Circular RNA CircSHKBP1 accelerates the proliferation, invasion, angiogenesis, and stem cell-like properties via modulation of microR-766-5p/high mobility group AT-hook 2 axis in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma

Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) is a common malignancy in head and neck. Circular SHKBP1 (circSHKBP) exerts momentous functions in the occurrence of many cancers including LSCC. Thus, we investigated the oncogenic capacities of circSHKBP1 in LSCC, and revealed the underlying mechanism as a competing endogenous RNA. The expression levels of circSHKBP1, miR-766-5p, and high mobility group AT-hook 2 (HMGA2) were examined by quantitative real-time PCR and their influences on the overall survival were measured by Kaplan–Meier method. The correlations between circSHKBP1 and miR-766-5p or HMGA2 were detected by Spearman’s rank correlation analysis. In vitro, the influences of circSHKBP1/miR-766-5p/HMGA2 axis on the tumorigenesis of LSCC were examined by CCK-8, transwell, sphere formation, and angiogenesis assays, respectively. circSHKBP1 expression was up-regulated in the LSCC specimens and cell lines. And elevated circSHKBP1 expression was closely linked to poor prognosis. Silencing circSHKBP1 expression restrained cell proliferation, invasion, angiogenesis, stem cell-like properties and tumor growth. We observed that miR-766-5p was down-regulated and negatively correlated to circSHKBP1 in LSCC samples. However, HMGA2 was highly expressed and positively associated with circSHKBP1 in these specimens. Importantly, the levels of circSHKBP1, miR-766-5p, and HMGA2 were closely associated with patients’ clinical parameters including lymph nodes metastasis and TNM stages. Mechanistic analysis clarified that circSHKBP1 sponged miR-766-5p to regulate HMGA2, the target of miR-766-5p. Moreover, miR-766-5p inhibition and overexpression of HMGA2 rescued the tumor-suppressing roles of circSHKBP1 downregulation in LSCC. In conclusion, circSHKBP1 accelerated the tumorigenesis of LSCC via modulating HMGA2 by targeting miR-766-5p.

Exosome-mediated transfer of MIF confers temozolomide resistance by regulating TIMP3/PI3K/AKT axis in gliomas

Temozolomide (TMZ) resistance is an important cause of clinical treatment failure and poor prognosis in gliomas. Increasing evidence indicates that cancer-derived exosomes contribute to chemoresistance; however, the specific contribution of glioma-derived exosomes remains unclear. The aim of this study was to explore the role and underlying mechanisms of exosomal macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) on TMZ resistance in gliomas. We first demonstrated that MIF was upregulated in the exosomes of TMZ-resistant cells, engendering the transfer of TMZ resistance to sensitive cells. Our results indicated that exosomal MIF conferred TMZ resistance to sensitive cells through the enhancement of cell proliferation and the repression of cell apoptosis upon TMZ exposure. MIF knockdown enhanced TMZ sensitivity in resistant glioma cells by upregulating Metalloproteinase Inhibitor 3 (TIMP3) and subsequently suppressing the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Additionally, exosomal MIF promoted tumor growth and TMZ resistance of glioma cells in vivo, while IOS-1 (MIF inhibitor) promotes glioma TMZ sensitive in vivo. Taken together, our study demonstrated that exosome-mediated transfer of MIF enhanced TMZ resistance in glioma through downregulating TIMP3 and further activating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, highlighting a prognostic biomarker and promising therapeutic target for TMZ treatment in gliomas.

Loss of the MAF Transcription Factor in Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

MAF is a transcription factor that may act either as a tumor suppressor or as an oncogene, depending on cell type. We have shown previously that the overexpressed miR-1290 influences MAF protein levels in LSCC (laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma) cell lines. In this study, we shed further light on the interaction between miR-1290 and MAF, as well as on cellular MAF protein localization in LSCC. We confirmed the direct interaction between miR-1290 and MAF 3′UTR by a dual-luciferase reporter assay. In addition, we used immunohistochemistry staining to analyze MAF protein distribution and observed loss of MAF nuclear expression in 58% LSCC samples, of which 10% showed complete absence of MAF, compared to nuclear and cytoplasmatic expression in 100% normal mucosa. Using TCGA data, bisulfite pyrosequencing and CNV analysis, we excluded the possibility that loss-of-function mutations, promoter region DNA methylation or CNV are responsible for MAF loss in LSCC. Finally, we identified genes involved in the regulation of apoptosis harboring the MAF binding motif in their promoter region by applied FIMO and DAVID GO analysis. Our results highlight the role of miR-1290 in suppressing MAF expression in LSCC. Furthermore, MAF loss or mislocalization in FFPE LSCC tumor samples might suggest that MAF acts as a LSCC tumor suppressor by regulating apoptosis.

[Effects of Cullin1 on the Biological Characteristics of Lung Adenocarcinoma A549 and H1395 Cells]

BACKGROUND

Cullin1 is a representative member of the Cullin family, and it plays an important role in the ubiquitination of cell cycle, transcription and signal transduction related proteins. Cullin1 is closely related to the occurrence and development of a variety of malignant tumors. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of Cullin1 on biological function of lung adenocarcinoma A549 and H1395 Cells.

METHODS

The expression of Cullin1 mRNA was detected by quantitative Real-time polymerase chain reaction in lung adenocarcinoma cells (A549, H358, H1395, H1650) and human normal lung epithelial cells BEAS-2B, siRNA technology was used to interfere with lung adenocarcinoma cells with relatively high expression of Cullin1 mRNA; cell proliferation, cell cycle distribution, early cell apoptosis, invasion and migration ability were detected by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium assay (MTT), flow cytometry and Transwell experiment; Western blot was used to detect the expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1), Cyclin D1, Cyclin E2, p21 and p27.

RESULTS

Compared with the BEAS-2B cell, Cullin1 mRNA was highly expressed in lung adenocarcinoma cells, especially in lung adenocarcinoma A549 and H1395 cells (P<0.05). The proliferation ability of lung adenocarcinoma cells was inhibited after interference with Cullin1, and the number of cells in G1 phase increased, the number of cells in S phase decreased, and the early apoptosis rate of lung adenocarcinoma cells is significantly increased (P<0.05); The invasion and migration ability of lung adenocarcinoma cells decreased (P<0.05). After interference with Cullin1, the protein expression of MMP-9, MMP-2, CyclinD1 and CyclinE2 decreased (P<0.05), while the expression of TIMP-1, p21 and p27 protein increased (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Interference with Cullin1 inhibits the proliferation, invasion and migration of lung adenocarcinoma A549 and H1395 cells, Cullin1 plays a role in promoting cancer in lung adenocarcinoma.

The Roles of Matrix Metalloproteinases and Their Inhibitors in Human Diseases

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of zinc-dependent extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling endopeptidases that have the capacity to degrade almost every component of the ECM. The degradation of the ECM is of great importance, since it is related to embryonic development and angiogenesis. It is also involved in cell repair and the remodeling of tissues. When the expression of MMPs is altered, it can generate the abnormal degradation of the ECM. This is the initial cause of the development of chronic degenerative diseases and vascular complications generated by diabetes. In addition, this process has an association with neurodegeneration and cancer progression. Within the ECM, the tissue inhibitors of MMPs (TIMPs) inhibit the proteolytic activity of MMPs. TIMPs are important regulators of ECM turnover, tissue remodeling, and cellular behavior. Therefore, TIMPs (similar to MMPs) modulate angiogenesis, cell proliferation, and apoptosis. An interruption in the balance between MMPs and TIMPs has been implicated in the pathophysiology and progression of several diseases. This review focuses on the participation of both MMPs (e.g., MMP-2 and MMP-9) and TIMPs (e.g., TIMP-1 and TIMP-3) in physiological processes and on how their abnormal regulation is associated with human diseases. The inclusion of current strategies and mechanisms of MMP inhibition in the development of new therapies targeting MMPs was also considered.

Expressions of extracellular matrix-remodeling factors in lymph nodes from oral cancer patients

OBJECTIVE

Most malignant tumors require remodeling extracellular matrices (ECMs) for invasive growth and metastasis. Cancer cells and stromal cells remodel ECM. We investigated the relationship between regional lymph node (LN) metastasis and expression of ECM-remodeling factors in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

METHODS

Using primary OSCC and cervical LNs obtained surgically, we performed immunohistochemical evaluation of the ECM-remodeling factors, lysyl oxidase (LOX), MT1-MMP, S100A8, and TIMP-1 in primary tumor and marginal sinus histiocytosis (MSH) in LNs, and determined the statistical significance of the positive rates between metastatic and metastasis-free groups.

RESULTS

Marginal sinus histiocytosis was more frequently formed in the metastatic group compared to the metastasis-free group. Lymphatic metastasis correlated with the immunopositivity rates of tumor cells expressing LOX, MT1-MMP, and TIMP-1, and of stromal cells expressing TIMP-1. The case rates of MSH containing macrophages positive for LOX and MT1-MMP in the metastasis group were significantly higher than in the metastasis-free group. ECM-remodeling-associated macrophages accumulate in marginal sinus in conjunction with lymphatic metastasis.

CONCLUSION

Expression of LOX, MT1-MMP, and TIMP-1 in the parenchyma, and stromal expression of TIMP-1 in primary tumor may predict lymphatic metastasis. LOX and MT1-MMP have a possibility to participate in formation of pre-metastatic niche in LNs.

Tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-3 has both anti-metastatic and anti-tumourigenic properties

TIMP-3 is one of four tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases, the endogenous inhibitors of the matrix metalloproteinase enzymes. These enzymes have an important role in metastasis, in the invasion of cancer cells through the basement membrane and extracellular matrix. TIMP-1, -2 and -4 both promote and inhibit tumour development, in a context-dependent manner, however TIMP-3 is consistently anti-tumourigenic. TIMP-3 is also the only insoluble member of the family, being either bound to the extracellular matrix or the low density lipoprotein-related protein-1, through which it can be endocytosed. Levels of TIMP-3 have also been shown to be regulated by micro RNAs and promoter hypermethylation, resulting in frequent silencing in many tumour types, to the extent that its expression has been suggested as a prognostic marker in some tumours, being associated with lower levels of metastasis, or better response to treatment. TIMP-3 has been shown to have anti-metastatic effects, both through inhibition of matrix metalloproteinases and ADAM family members and downregulation of angiogenesis. This occurs via interactions with receptors including VEGF, via modulation of signaling pathways and due to protease inhibition. TIMP-3 has also been shown to reduce tumour growth rate, most often by inducing apoptosis by stabilisation of death receptors. A number of successful mechanisms of delivery of TIMP-3 to tumour or inflammatory sites have been investigated in vitro or in animal studies. It may therefore be worthwhile further exploring the use of TIMP-3 as a potential anti-metastatic or anti-tumorigenic therapy for many tumour types.

Relationship between Helicobacter pylori Infection and Plasmacytoid and Myeloid Dendritic Cells in Peripheral Blood and Gastric Mucosa of Children

PURPOSE

To investigate the frequency and activation status of peripheral plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs) and myeloid DCs (mDCs) as well as gastric mucosa DC subset distribution in Helicobacter pylori- (H. pylori-) infected and noninfected children.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thirty-six children were studied; twenty-one had H. pylori. The frequencies of circulating pDCs (lineage-HLA-DR+CD123+) and mDCs (lineage-HLA-DR+CD11c+) and their activation status (CD83, CD86, and HLA-DR expression) were assessed by flow cytometry. Additionally, the densities of CD11c+, CD123+, CD83+, CD86+, and LAMP3+ cells in the gastric mucosa were determined by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

The frequency of circulating CD83+ mDCs was higher in H. pylori-infected children than in the noninfected controls. The pDCs demonstrated upregulated HLA-DR surface expression, but no change in CD86 expression. Additionally, the densities of gastric lamina propria CD11c+ cells and epithelial pDCs were increased. There was a significant association between frequency of circulating CD83+ mDCs and gastric lamina propria mDC infiltration.

CONCLUSION

This study shows that although H. pylori-infected children had an increased population of mature mDCs bearing CD83 in the peripheral blood, they lack mature CD83+ mDCs in the gastric mucosa, which may promote tolerance to local antigens rather than immunity. In addition, this may reduce excessive inflammatory activity as reported for children compared to adults.

Expression and Concentration of Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 and Tissue Inhibitor of Matrix Metalloproteinases 1 in Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

The aim of this study was to assess the expression of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in cancerous tissue as well as in the serum and plasma concentrations of these proteins in patients with laryngeal cancer and compare the results to the inflammatory reaction in healthy subjects. Twenty-seven patients who were diagnosed with laryngeal carcinoma and selected for total laryngectomy were included in the study group. MMP-9 and TIMP-1 expression in tissues was assessed using immunohistochemical assays. Immunoenzymatic ELISA methods were used to measure MMP-9 and TIMP-1 concentrations in serum and plasma. MMP-9 and TIMP-1 were identified in tumor cells and in the tumor stroma compartment, as well as in macroscopically healthy mucous membrane. MMP-9 expression was more significant in tumor stroma than in the perimatrix of the mucous membrane (p = 0.047). TIMP-1 expression was significantly higher in the matrix and perimatrix of the mucous membrane than in cancer tissue (p = 0.0093) and the tumor stroma compartment (p < 0.0001). Expression of TIMP-1 was observed more frequently in tumors without infiltrated lymph nodes (p = 0.009). Serum concentrations of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 as well as plasma TIMP-1 concentration were significantly higher in the study group than in the control group (p = 0.0004, p = 0.002, and p = 0.0001, respectively). A significantly higher TIMP-1 level in plasma was found in patients with poorly differentiated tumors compared to G1 and G2 (p = 0.046). MMP-9/TIMP-1 rate in serum was significantly higher in the study group than in the control group. The balance between the level of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 is disrupted in laryngeal cancer. The significant correlation between TIMP-1 expression and the presence of lymph node metastases, as well as that between TIMP-1 plasma concentration and stage of cancer histological differentiation, might indicate the importance of this molecule as a prognostic factor during carcinogenesis.

Gliclazide Prevents 5-FU-Induced Oral Mucositis by Reducing Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and P-Selectin Adhesion Molecules

Oral mucositis (OM) is one of the main side effects of the head and neck cancer treatment, particularly radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy. OM is characterized by ulcers, erythema, dysphagia, xerostomia, and increased susceptibility to opportunistic infections. In the perspective of finding pharmacological therapies to prevent inflammation and ulceration of OM, the investigation of the pleiotropic effect of commercial drugs is needed, among them gliclazide, an antidiabetic drug. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of gliclazide in an experimental OM model induced by 5-fluorouracil. Male hamsters were pre-treated with oral gliclazide (1, 5, or 10 mg/kg) for 10 days. Cheek pouch samples were subjected to histopathological and immunohistochemical analysis (COX₂, iNOS, MMP-2, NFκB P65, GPx) and imunofluorescence (P-selectin). IL-1β and TNF-α levels, Myeloperoxidase activity (MPO) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were investigated by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy analysis. NFκB NLS P50 protein levels were analyzed by western blotting. The group treated with gliclazide at a dose of 10 mg/kg showed presence of erythema, no evidence of erosion, and absence of mucosal ulceration with a score of 1 (1–2) (p < 0.01). Histopathological data for the group treated with gliclazide 10 mg/kg showed re-epithelialization, discrete mononuclear inflammatory infiltrate and absence of hemorrhage, edema, ulcers and abscesses with a score of 1 (1–1) (p < 0.01). Treatment with gliclazide 10 mg/kg reduced MPO activity (p < 0.001), MDA levels (p < 0.001) and NFκB NLS P50 (p < 0.05) protein levels, resulting in low immunostaining to Cox-2, iNOS (p < 0.05), NFκB P65 (p < 0.05), and negative immunoreaction to MMP-2 (p < 0.001). However, it appeared that for Gpx1, the staining was restored in the GLI 10-FUT group compared with 5FUT/saline (p < 0.05). Immunofluorescence revealed decreased levels of P-selectin (p < 0.001) after treatment with gliclazide 10 mg/kg (p < 0.05). In summary, gliclazide accelerated mucosal recovery and reduced oxidative stress and inflammation in the 5-FU-induced OM in hamsters.

Expression of ELF1, a lymphoid ETS domain-containing transcription factor, is recurrently lost in classical Hodgkin lymphoma

Loss of B cell-specific transcription factors (TFs) and the resulting loss of B-cell phenotype of Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg (HRS) cells is a hallmark of classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL). Here we have analysed two members of ETS domain containing TFs, ELF1 and ELF2, regarding (epi)genomic changes as well as gene and protein expression. We observed absence or lower levels of ELF1 protein in HRS cells of 31/35 (89%) cases compared to the bystander cells and significant (P < 0·01) downregulation of the gene on mRNA as well as protein level in cHL compared to non-cHL cell lines. However, no recurrent loss of ELF2 protein was observed. Moreover, ELF1 was targeted by heterozygous deletions combined with hypermethylation of the remaining allele(s) in 4/7 (57%) cell lines. Indeed, DNA hypermethylation (range 95-99%, mean 98%) detected in the vicinity of the ELF1 transcription start site was found in all 7/7 (100%) cHL cell lines. Similarly, 5/18 (28%) analysed primary biopsies carried heterozygous deletions of the gene. We demonstrate that expression of ELF1 is impaired in cHL through genetic and epigenetic alterations, and thus, it may represent an additional member of a TF network whose downregulation contributes to the loss of B-cell phenotype of HRS cells.

Prognostic Impact of Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 in Non- Small Cell Lung Cancer: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) is a multifunctional natural matrixin inhibitor that is generally considered a negative regulator of cancer metastasis. Clinical studies reporting the prognostic value of TIMP-1 in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) are inconsistent. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the prognostic impact of TIMP-1 expression in NSCLC.

METHODS

Appropriate studies with full-text articles were identified in searches of the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Cochrane Library, PubMed, and Web of Science databases up to March 7, 2018. The pooled Hazard Ratio (HR) of overall survival with a 95% confidence interval (95% CI) was employed to assess the relationship between the expression of TIMP-1 and NSCLC patient survival.

RESULTS

The meta-analysis comprised 40 studies including 3,194 patients. Study outcomes indicated that high TIMP-1 expression is independently associated with poor overall survival (HR: 1.60; 95% CI: 1.50, 1.69; P < 0.00001) with 61% of heterogeneity. In addition, we analyzed subgroups, including ethnicities, histological types, percentage of TIMP-1 expression levels, specimens, and tumor stage. All results were statistically significant. The outcome of our meta-analysis indicates that high expression levels of TIMP-1 are correlated with poor prognosis in patients with NSCLC.

CONCLUSION

Expression levels of TIMP-1 represent a potential prognostic biomarker in NSCLC patients in addition to being a possible therapeutic target.

Caspase 3 as a Novel Marker to Distinguish Chromophobe Renal Cell Carcinoma from Oncocytoma

Despite advances in our understanding of the biology of chromophobe renal cell carcinoma (ChRCC) and renal oncocytoma (RO), the differential diagnosis among these tumors remains one of the most problematic in renal pathology. Today, CK7 is the most recommended marker to distinguish these entities, however it appears insufficiently accurate by itself. This study aimed to find an easily accessible IHC stain that might out-compete CK7 in this field. Expressions of CK7, cyclin D1, p16, survivin, CD138, Ki-67 and caspase 3 (CASP3) were analyzed in a total of 27 cases (20 ROs and 7 ChRCCs). Immunoreactivity was assessed based on a combined score of the extent and intensity of staining. Compared to RO, a higher percentage of the total ChRCCs stained positive for CK7 (67% vs. 22%, respectively) and CASP3 (86% vs. 25%) (P < 0.005). The differences in staining with cyclin D1, p16, survivin, CD138 and Ki-67 turned out to be statistically insignificant in differentiating ChRCC from RO. CASP3 is a promising marker in distinguishing ChRCC from RO and may represent an alternative for CK7. Cyclin D1, p16, survivin, CD138 and Ki-67 cannot be used to distinguish these neoplasms.

Characteristic profiles of DNA epigenetic modifications in colon cancer and its predisposing conditions-benign adenomas and inflammatory bowel disease

Background

Active demethylation of 5-methyl-2'-deoxycytidine (5-mdC) in DNA occurs by oxidation to 5-(hydroxymethyl)-2'-deoxycytidine (5-hmdC) and further oxidation to 5-formyl-2'-deoxycytidine (5-fdC) and 5-carboxy-2'-deoxycytidine (5-cadC), and is carried out by enzymes of the ten-eleven translocation family (TETs 1, 2, 3). Decreased level of epigenetic DNA modifications in cancer tissue may be a consequence of reduced activity/expression of TET proteins. To determine the role of epigenetic DNA modifications in colon cancer development, we analyzed their levels in normal colon and various colonic pathologies. Moreover, we determined the expressions of TETs at mRNA and protein level.The study included material from patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), benign polyps (AD), and colorectal cancer (CRC). The levels of epigenetic DNA modifications and 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodG) in examined tissues were determined by means of isotope-dilution automated online two-dimensional ultraperformance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (2D-UPLC-MS/MS). The expressions of TET mRNA were measured with RT-qPCR, and the expressions of TET proteins were determined immunohistochemically.

Results

IBD was characterized by the highest level of 8-oxodG among all analyzed tissues, as well as by a decrease in 5-hmdC and 5-mdC levels (at a midrange between normal colon and CRC). AD had the lowest levels of 5-hmdC and 5-mdC of all examined tissues and showed an increase in 8-oxodG and 5-(hydroxymethyl)-2'-deoxyuridine (5-hmdU) levels. CRC was characterized by lower levels of 5-hmdC and 5-mdC, the lowest level of 5-fdC among all analyzed tissues, and relatively high content of 5-cadC. The expression of TET1 mRNA in CRC and AD was significantly weaker than in IBD and normal colon. Furthermore, CRC and AD showed significantly lower levels of TET2 and AID mRNA than normal colonic tissue.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that a complex relationship between aberrant pattern of DNA epigenetic modification and cancer development does not depend solely on the transcriptional status of TET proteins, but also on the characteristics of premalignant/malignant cells. This study showed for the first time that the examined colonic pathologies had their unique epigenetic marks, distinguishing them from each other, as well as from normal colonic tissue. A decrease in 5-fdC level may be a characteristic feature of largely undifferentiated cancer cells.

Recurrent transcriptional loss of the PCDH17 tumor suppressor in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma is partially mediated by aberrant promoter DNA methylation

Protocadherins are cell-cell adhesion molecules encoded by a large family of genes. Recent reports demonstrate recurrent silencing of protocadherin genes in tumors and provide strong arguments for their tumor supresor functionality. Loss of protocadherins may contribute to cancer development not only by altering cell-cell adhesion, that is a hallmark of cancer, but also by enhancing proliferation and epithelial mesenchymal transition of cells via deregulation of the WNT signaling pathway. In this study we have further corroborated our previous findings on the involvement of PCDH17 in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC). We used bisulfite pyrosequencing to analyze a cohort of primary LSCC tumors for alterations in PCDH17 promoter DNA methylation as an alternative gene inactivation mechanism to the homozygous deletions reported earlier. Moreover, we analyzed primary LSCC samples by immunohistochemistry for PCDH17 protein loss. We identified recurrent elevation of PCDH17 promoter DNA methylation in 32/81 (40%) primary tumors (P < 0.001) and therein hypermethylation of 12 (15%) cases in contrast to no tumor controls (n = 24) that were all unmethylated. Importantly, DNA demethylation by decitabine has restored low level PCDH17 expression in LSCC cell lines. In conclusion, we provide a mechanistic explanation of recurrently observed PCDH17 silencing in LSCC by demonstrating the role of promoter methylation in this process. In light of these findings and recent reports showing that PCDH17 methylation is detectable in serum of cancer patients we suggest that testing PCDH17 DNA methylation might serve as a potential biomarker in LSCC.

The Association of BRAF V600E Mutation With Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-3 Expression and Clinicopathological Features in Papillary Thyroid Cancer

BACKGROUND

Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is the most common endocrine malignancy. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of tissue inhibitor metalloproteinase-3 (TIMP3) mRNA and protein levels in thyroid tissues, based on BRAF V600E status with the clinicopathologic characteristics of PTC.

METHODS

A total of 60 fresh frozen tissue samples of PTC patients (15 male and 45 female) were collected during thyroidectomy. All clinicopathological information was obtained and samples were reviewed as well as confirmed by a pathologist; exon 15 of the BRAF gene was genotyped by sequencing, TIMP3 mRNA level was assessed using SYBR-Green Real-Time PCR, and TIMP3 protein level was measured using ELISA.

RESULTS

Of 60 cases, BRAF mutation was found in 24 (40%). Larger tumor size and higher lymph node metastasis frequency were observed, significant in BRAF (+), compared to the BRAF (-) PTC group (P = 0.039 and P = 0.03, respectively). No significant difference was seen in the tumoral tissues of the TIMP3 mRNA level in BRAF (+), compared to BRAF (-) PTC samples. However, the mean TIMP3 protein level was significantly lower in tumoral tissues, compared to matched non-tumoral tissues in BRAF (+) PTC (P=0.003); TIMP3 protein level was significantly lower in tumoral tissues compared to matched non-tumoral tissues in BRAF (+), in subjects who had no lymph node metastasis and also in subjects with lymph node metastasis in both BRAF positive and negative PTC cases.

CONCLUSION

Our results showed that BRAF mutation was associated with a larger tumor size, higher frequency of lymph node metastasis, and lower TIMP3 protein levels. Lower TIMP3 protein level was associated with the lymph node metastasis in PTC patients.

TIMP-3 Increases the Chemosensitivity of Laryngeal Carcinoma to Cisplatin via Facilitating Mitochondria-Dependent Apoptosis

Laryngeal carcinoma is a type of head and neck carcinoma with a high incidence and mortality. Chemotherapy treatments of human laryngeal carcinoma may fail due to the development of chemoresistance. Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 3 (TIMP-3) has been shown to be implicated in a number of pathological processes typical for cancer. The present study aims to investigate the involvement of TIMP-3 in the chemoresistance of laryngeal carcinoma. We showed that TIMP-3 expression was significantly decreased in chemoresistant laryngeal carcinoma tissues compared with chemosensitivity tissues. Patients with low TIMP-3 expression exhibited poorer overall survival than those with high TIMP-3 expression. Moreover, cisplatin-resistant Hep-2 cells (Hep-2/R) were associated with the inhibition of mitochondrial membrane potential (MtMP) depolarization after cisplatin challenge. In addition, cisplatin resulted in a more pronounced mitochondrial cytochrome c release into the cytoplasm in Hep-2 cells than in their resistant variants. Overexpression of TIMP-3 by an adenovirus encoding TIMP-3 cDNA remarkably enhanced cisplatin-induced apoptosis, cytochrome c release, and caspase activation in Hep-2/R cells, thereby sensitizing cancer cells to cisplatin. On the other hand, downregulation of TIMP-3 markedly inhibited cisplatin-induced apoptosis in Hep-2 cells through attenuating mitochondria-dependent pathway activation. Taken together, these results demonstrate that decreased TIMP-3 expression may contribute to cisplatin resistance via inhibition of mitochondria-dependent apoptosis, indicating that forced TIMP-3 expression may be a useful strategy to improve the efficacy of cisplatin to treat laryngeal carcinoma.

Antcin-H Isolated from Antrodia cinnamomea Inhibits Renal Cancer Cell Invasion Partly through Inactivation of FAK-ERK-C/EBP-β/c-Fos-MMP-7 Pathways

Antcin-H, a natural triterpene, is purified from a famous anticancer medicinal mushroom, Antrodia cinnamomea, in Taiwan. This study showed that antcin-H inhibited the growth of human renal carcinoma 786-0 cells; the IC₅₀ value (for 48 h) was 170 μM. Besides, the migration and invasion of 786-0 cells were suppressed by antcin-H under noncytotoxic concentrations (<100 μM); these events were accompanied by inhibition of FAK and Src kinase activities, decrease of paxillin phosphorylation, impairment of lamellipodium formation, and upregulation of TIMPs and downregulation of MMPs, especially MMP-7 expression. Luciferase reporter assay showed that antcin-H repressed the MMP-7 promoter activity, in parallel to inhibiting c-Fos/AP-1 and C/EBP-β transactivation abilities. Moreover, antcin-H suppressed the activity of ERK1/2 and decreased the binding ability of C/EBP-β and c-Fos on the upstream/enhancer region of MMP-7 promoter. Overall, this study demonstrated that the anti-invasive effect of antcin-H in human renal carcinoma 786-0 cells might be at least in part by abrogating focal adhesion complex and lamellipodium formation through inhibiting the Src/FAK-paxillin signaling pathways and decreasing MMP-7 expression through suppressing the ERK1/2-AP-1/c-Fos and C/EBP-β signaling axis. Our findings provide the evidence that antcin-H may be an active component existing in A. cinnamomea with anticancer effect.

Combined deletion and DNA methylation result in silencing of FAM107A gene in laryngeal tumors

Larynx squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) is characterized by complex genotypes, with numerous abnormalities in various genes. Despite the progress in diagnosis and treatment of this disease, 5-year survival rates remain unsatisfactory. Therefore, the extended studies are conducted, with the aim to find genes, potentially implicated in this cancer. In this study, we focus on the FAM107A (3p14.3) gene, since we found its significantly reduced expression in LSCC by microarray profiling (Affymetrix U133 Plus 2.0 array). By RT-PCR we have confirmed complete FAM107A downregulation in laryngeal cancer cell lines (15/15) and primary tumors (21/21) and this finding was further supported by FAM107A protein immunohistochemistry (15/15). We further demonstrate that a combined two hit mechanism including loss of 3p and hypermethylation of FAM107A promoter region (in 9/15 cell lines (p < 0.0001) and in 15/21 primary tumors (p < 0.0001)) prevails in the gene transcriptional loss. As a proof of principle, we show that Decitabine - a hypomethylating agent – restores FAM107A expression (5 to 6 fold increase) in the UT-SCC-29 cell line, characterized by high DNA methylation. Therefore, we report the recurrent inactivation of FAM107A in LSCC, what may suggest that the gene is a promising tumor suppressor candidate involved in LSCC development.

Vascularization Potential of Electrospun Poly(L-Lactide-co-Caprolactone) Scaffold: The Impact for Tissue Engineering

BACKGROUND Electrospun nanofibers have widespread putative applications in the field of regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. When compared to naturally occurring collagen matrices, electrospun nanofiber scaffolds have two distinct advantages: they do not induce a foreign body reaction and they are not at risk for biological contamination. However, the exact substrate, structure, and production methods have yet to be defined. MATERIAL AND METHODS In the current study, tubular-shaped poly(L-lactide-co-caprolactone) (PLCL) constructs produced using electrospinning technology were evaluated for their potential application in the field of tissue regeneration in two separate anatomic locations: the skin and the abdomen. The constructs were designed to have an internal diameter of 3 mm and thickness of 200 μm. Using a rodent model, 20 PLCL tubular constructs were surgically implanted in the abdominal cavity and subcutaneously. The constructs were then evaluated histologically using electron microscopy at 6 weeks post-implantation. RESULTS Histological evaluation and analysis using scanning electron microscopy showed that pure scaffolds by themselves were able to induce angiogenesis after implantation in the rat model. Vascularization was observed in both tested groups; however, better results were obtained after intraperitoneal implantation. Formation of more and larger vessels that migrated inside the scaffold was observed after implantation into the peritoneum. In this group no evidence of inflammation and better integration of scaffold with host tissue were noticed. Subcutaneous implantation resulted in more fibrotic reaction, and differences in cell morphology were also observed between the two tested groups. CONCLUSIONS This study provides a standardized evaluation of a PLCL conduit structure in two different anatomic locations, demonstrating the excellent ability of the structure to achieve vascularization. Functional, histological, and mechanical data clearly indicate prospective clinical utilization of PLCL in critical size defect regeneration.

Plasma levels of the tissue inhibitor matrix metalloproteinase-3 as a potential biomarker in oral cancer progression

Oral cancer is the most common malignancy with poor prognosis and is the fourth most common cancer in men in Taiwan. The tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-3 (TIMP3) acts as a tumor suppressor gene by inhibiting the growth, angiogenesis, migration, and invasion of cancer cells. However, few studies have examined the association of plasma TIMP3 levels with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), and the role of plasma TIMP3 levels in OSCC progression is still unclear. We measured the plasma TIMP3 levels of 450 OSCC patients and 64 healthy controls by using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. We also analyzed TIMP3 mRNA levels of 328 OSCC patients and 32 normal tissues from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset. Our results revealed that plasma TIMP3 levels were significantly lower in patients with OSCC than in healthy controls (p < 0.001). Moreover, plasma TIMP3 levels in patients with OSCC were significantly associated with the tumor stage and tumor status but not with the lymph node status, metastasis, and cell differentiation. To verify our findings, we also examined TCGA bioinformatics database and discovered similar results for the association with the pathological stage of OSCC. In conclusion, our results suggest that plasma TIMP3 is a potential biomarker for predicting the tumor stage and T status in patients with OSCC.

TIMP-1 activated carcinoma-associated fibroblasts inhibit tumor apoptosis by activating SDF1/CXCR4 signaling in hepatocellular carcinoma

Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP-1) is an endogenous inhibitor for MMPs that regulates the remodeling and turnover of the ECM during normal development and pathological conditions. Intriguingly, recent studies have shown that TIMP-1 plays a dual role in cancer progression. In this study, we found that TIMP-1 expression in HCC tissues is associated with advanced TNM stage, intrahepatic metastasis, portal vein invasion, and vasculature invasion. Notably, TIMP-1 expression in HCC tissue is significantly related to worse overall survival for patients with HCC after liver resection. Ectopic TIMP1 expression promoted the growth of HCC xenografts in nude mice. Both co-culture with Huh7 cells with a high level of TIMP-1 and TIMP1 treatment resulted in up-regulation of hallmarks of carcinoma-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and accelerated cell proliferation, migration and invasion in immortalized liver fibroblasts (LFs) isolated from human normal liver tissue. By co-culture with CAFs, SDF-1/CXCR4/PI3K/AKT signaling was activated and apoptosis was markedly repressed with an increased Bcl-2/BAX ratio in Huh7 cells. Taken together, our observations suggest that TIMP-1 induces the trans-differentiation of LFs into CAFs, suppresses apoptosis via SDF-1/CXCR4/PI3K/AKT signaling and then promotes HCC progression. This protein may be a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for HCC.

Proteomic profiling identifies the inorganic pyrophosphatase (PPA1) protein as a potential biomarker of metastasis in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma

Relapse and metastasis are the main causes of unfavorable outcome in head and neck cancers. Whereas, understanding of the molecular background of these processes is far from being complete. Therefore, in this study we aimed to identify potential biomarker candidates of relapse and metastasis in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) by combining the 2D electrophoresis based protein screen and immunohistochemical analysis of candidate proteins. We screened three groups of LSCC cell lines derived from primary tumors, recurrent tumors and metastases and identified seven proteins that differed significantly in relative abundance between the analyzed groups. Among the identified proteins were the heat shock proteins HSP60 and HSP70 that were significantly downregulated both in recurrences- and metastases-derived cell lines but not in primary tumor-derived cell lines. Moreover, we identified significant upregulation of the annexin V, calreticulin and the inorganic pyrophosphatase (PPA1) exclusively in the metastases-derived cell lines. As these upregulated proteins could potentially become novel biomarkers of metastasis, we have compared their abundance in primary tumor LSCC N(0) cases, primary tumor LSCC N(+) cases as well as in LSCC metastases N(+). Our results show an intense increase of cytoplasmic PPA1 abundance in the N(+) (p = 0.000042) compared to the N(0) group. In summary, we show a group of proteins deregulated in recurrences and metastases of LSCC. Moreover, we suggest the PPA1 protein as a potential new biomarker for metastasis in this cancer.

Recurrent CDK1 overexpression in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma

In this study, we analyzed the expression profile of four genes (CCNA2, CCNB1, CCNB2, and CDK1) in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) cell lines and tumor samples. With the application of microarray platform, we have shown the overexpression of these genes in all analyzed LSCC samples in comparison to non-cancer controls from head and neck region. We have selected CDK1 for further analysis, due to its leading role in cell cycle regulation. It is a member of the Ser/Thr protein kinase family of proven oncogenic properties. The results obtained for CDK1 were further confirmed with the application of reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) technique, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry (IHC). The observed upregulation of CDK1 in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma has encouraged us to analyze for genetic mechanisms that can be responsible this phenomenon. Therefore, with the application of array-CGH, sequencing analysis and two methods for epigenetic regulation analysis (DNA methylation and miRNA expression), we tried to identify such potential mechanisms. Our attempts to identify the molecular mechanisms responsible for observed changes failed as we did not observe significant alterations neither in the DNA sequence nor in the gene copy number that could underline CDK1 upregulation. Similarly, the pyrosequencing and miRNA expression analyses did not reveal any differences in methylation level and miRNA expression, respectively; thus, these mechanisms probably do not contribute to elevation of CDK1 expression in LSCC. However, our results suggest that alteration of CDK1 expression on both mRNA and protein level probably appears on the very early step of carcinogenesis.

Interpretation of immunohistochemistry data of tumor should consider microenvironmental factors

The influence of tumor surrounding microenvironment is often neglected when immunohistochemistry is performed to investigate tumor properties and search biomarkers of cancer. This study was designed to evaluate whether the influence of tumor microenvironment on biological features of tumor cells should be taken into account for interpretation of the immunohistochemistry data of tumor specimens. In this study, we showed an example by using three tumor cell lines (HeLa, WSU-HN6, and Tca83) to establish tumor-caused bone destruction models in nude mice and then to investigate the influence of bone marrow microenvironment (BMM) on biological features of tumor cells. Immunohistochemistry results showed that, compared with tumor cells located outside of BMM, tumor cells located inside of BMM presented huge differences in the expression of inflammation-related proteins including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), TNF receptor-associated factor protein-6 (TRAF-6), phosphorylated-NF-κB p65 (p-p65), interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-11, matrix metalloproteinases including MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-9, and MMP-13; and osteogenesis-related proteins including runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2), bone sialoprotein (BSP), and osteocalcin (OCN) in all the models. However, when we compared the cell line pair derived from different sites (outside and inside of BMM, respectively) of the same HeLa tumor sample by real-time PCR, Western blot, and immunocytochemistry, the differences aforementioned in tumor tissues were not found. In addition, we verified that normal human bone marrow could not cause the above changes detected in vivo. Our results suggested that tumor-modified microenvironment could give the new biological features of the invaded tumor cells. Therefore, we should consider the influence of the surrounding microenvironment on tumor cells when we analyze tumor properties using immunohistochemistry.