Regulation of expression of the p21CIP1 gene by the transcription factor ZNF217 and MDM2

ZNF217: An Oncogenic Transcription Factor and Potential Therapeutic Target for Multiple Human Cancers

Zinc finger protein 217 (ZNF217) is one of the well-researched members of the Krüppel-like factor transcription factor family. ZNF217 possesses a characteristic structure of zinc finger motifs and plays a crucial role in regulating the biological activities of cells. Recent findings have revealed that ZNF217 is strongly associated with multiple aspects of cancer progression, impacting patient prognosis. Notably, ZNF217 is subject to regulation by non-coding RNAs, suggesting the potential for targeted manipulation of such RNAs as a robust therapeutic avenue for managing cancer in the future. The main purpose of this article is to provide a detailed examination of the role of ZNF217 in human malignant tumors and the regulation of its expression, and to offer new perspectives for cancer treatment.

The Dynamic and Crucial Role of the Arginine Methylproteome in Myoblast Cell Differentiation

Protein arginine methylation is an extensive and functionally significant post-translational modification. However, little is known about its role in differentiation at the systems level. Using stable isotope labeling by amino acids in cell culture (SILAC) proteomics of whole proteome analysis in proliferating or five-day differentiated mouse C2C12 myoblasts, followed by high-resolution mass spectrometry, biochemical assays, and specific immunoprecipitation of mono- or dimethylated arginine peptides, we identified several protein families that were differentially methylated on arginine. Our study is the first to reveal global changes in the arginine mono- or dimethylation of proteins in proliferating myoblasts and differentiated myocytes and to identify enriched protein domains and novel short linear motifs (SLiMs). Our data may be crucial for dissecting the links between differentiation and cancer growth.

Effect of a Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2-derived peptide on the expression of tumor marker ZNF217 in osteoblasts and MCF-7 cells

Zinc Finger Protein 217 (ZNF217), a transcription factor and oncogene product, has been found to dysregulate Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP) signaling and induce invasion in breast tumors. In this study, the effect of BMP-2 or an active BMP-2 peptide, AISMLYLDEN, on the expression of ZNF217, BMP4 and CDK-inhibitor p21 gene, CDKN1A, was investigated in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. In parallel, the entire protein (BMP-2) as well as the aforementioned peptide were investigated in hDPSCs during osteogenic differentiation. The treatment of MCF-7 cancer cells with different concentrations of peptide AISMLYLDEN showed that the addition of 22.6 ng/ml was more effective in comparison to the other used concentrations. In particular, 48 h after treatment, CDKN1A and BMP4 mRNA levels were substantially increased in contrast to ZNF217 mRNA levels which were decreased. These results are strongly supported by BrdU assay that clearly indicated inhibition of cancer cell proliferation. Taken together, these results open ways for a concurrent use, at appropriate concentrations, of the peptide AISMLYLDEN during conventional therapeutic treatment in breast tumors with a metastatic tendency to the bones. Regarding the effect of the entire protein as well as its peptide on hDPSCs differentiation into osteocytes, the mRNA levels of osteocalcin, an osteogenic marker, showed that the peptide enhanced osteogenesis at a higher degree in comparison to the entire BMP-2 without however altering ZNF217, CDKN1A and BMP4 expression levels, which remained as expected of non-cancer cells.

Implication of ZNF217 in Accelerating Tumor Development and Therapeutically Targeting ZNF217-Induced PI3K-AKT Signaling for the Treatment of Metastatic Osteosarcoma

We previously identified ZNF217 as an oncogenic driver of a subset of osteosarcomas using the Sleeping Beauty (SB) transposon system. Here, we followed up by investigating the genetic role of ZNF217 in osteosarcoma initiation and progression through the establishment of a novel genetically engineered mouse model, in vitro assays, orthotopic mouse studies, and paired these findings with preclinical studies using a small-molecule inhibitor. Throughout, we demonstrate that ZNF217 is coupled to numerous facets of osteosarcoma transformation, including proliferation, cell motility, and anchorage independent growth, and ultimately promoting osteosarcoma growth, progression, and metastasis in part through positive modulation of PI3K-AKT survival signaling. Pharmacologic blockade of AKT signaling with nucleoside analogue triciribine in ZNF217⁺ orthotopically injected osteosarcoma cell lines reduced tumor growth and metastasis. Our data demonstrate that triciribine treatment may be a relevant and efficacious therapeutic strategy for patients with osteosarcoma with ZNF217⁺ and p-AKT rich tumors. With the recent revitalization of triciribine for clinical studies in other solid cancers, our study provides a rationale for further evaluation preclinically with the purpose of clinical evaluation in patients with incurable, ZNF217⁺ osteosarcoma.