ANGPTL1 Interacts with Integrin α1β1 to Suppress HCC Angiogenesis and Metastasis by Inhibiting JAK2/STAT3 Signaling

Hepatokines: unveiling the molecular and cellular mechanisms connecting hepatic tissue to insulin resistance and inflammation

Insulin resistance arising from Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) stands as a prevalent global ailment, a manifestation within societies stemming from individuals' suboptimal dietary habits and lifestyles. This form of insulin resistance emerges as a pivotal factor in the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Emerging evidence underscores the significant role of hepatokines, as hepatic-secreted hormone-like entities, in the genesis of insulin resistance and eventual onset of type 2 diabetes. Hepatokines exert influence over extrahepatic metabolism regulation. Their principal functions encompass impacting adipocytes, pancreatic cells, muscles, and the brain, thereby playing a crucial role in shaping body metabolism through signaling to target tissues. This review explores the most important hepatokines, each with distinct influences. Our review shows that Fetuin-A promotes lipid-induced insulin resistance by acting as an endogenous ligand for Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4). FGF21 reduces inflammation in diabetes by blocking the nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) in adipocytes and adipose tissue, while also improving glucose metabolism. ANGPTL6 enhances AMPK and insulin signaling in muscle, and suppresses gluconeogenesis. Follistatin can influence insulin resistance and inflammation by interacting with members of the TGF-β family. Adropin show a positive correlation with phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase 1 (PCK1), a key regulator of gluconeogenesis. This article delves into hepatokines' impact on NAFLD, inflammation, and T2DM, with a specific focus on insulin resistance. The aim is to comprehend the influence of these recently identified hormones on disease development and their underlying physiological and pathological mechanisms.

An Integrated Computational Analysis of High-Risk SNPs in Angiopoietin-like Proteins (ANGPTL3 and ANGPTL8) Reveals Perturbed Protein Dynamics Associated with Cancer

Angiopoietin-like proteins (ANGPTL) constitute a family of eight proteins (1-8) which play a pivotal role in the regulation of various pathophysiological processes. The current study sought to identify high-risk, "non-synonymous, single-nucleotide polymorphisms" (nsSNPs) in both ANGPTL3 and ANGPTL8 to evaluate the role that these nsSNPs play in various types of cancer. We retrieved a total of 301 nsSNPs from various databases; 79 of these candidates constitute high-risk nsSNPs. Moreover, we identified eleven high-risk nsSNPs that cause various types of cancer: seven candidates for ANGPTL3 (L57H, F295L, L309F, K329M, R332L, S348C, and G409R) and four candidates for ANGPTL8 (P23L, R85W, R138S, and E148D). Protein-protein interaction analysis revealed a strong association of ANGPTL proteins with several tumor-suppressor proteins such as ITGB3, ITGAV, and RASSF5. 'Gene-expression profiling interactive analysis' (GEPIA) showed that expression of ANGPTL3 is significantly downregulated in five cancers: sarcoma (SARC); cholangio carcinoma (CHOL); kidney chromophobe carcinoma (KICH); kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC); and kidney renal papillary cell carcinoma (KIRP). GEPIA also showed that expression of ANGPTL8 remains downregulated in three cancers: CHOL; glioblastoma (GBM); and breast invasive carcinoma (BRCA). Survival rate analysis indicated that both upregulation and downregulation of ANGPTL3 and ANGPTL8 leads to low survival rates in various types of cancer. Overall, the current study revealed that both ANGPTL3 and ANGPTL8 constitute potential prognostic biomarkers for cancer; moreover, nsSNPs in these proteins might lead to the progression of cancer. However, further in vivo investigation will be helpful to validate the role of these proteins in the biology of cancer.

Integrins in cancer: Emerging mechanisms and therapeutic opportunities

Integrins are vital surface adhesion receptors that mediate the interactions between the extracellular matrix (ECM) and cells and are essential for cell migration and the maintenance of tissue homeostasis. Aberrant integrin activation promotes initial tumor formation, growth, and metastasis. Recently, many lines of evidence have indicated that integrins are highly expressed in numerous cancer types and have documented many functions of integrins in tumorigenesis. Thus, integrins have emerged as attractive targets for the development of cancer therapeutics. In this review, we discuss the underlying molecular mechanisms by which integrins contribute to most of the hallmarks of cancer. We focus on recent progress on integrin regulators, binding proteins, and downstream effectors. We highlight the role of integrins in the regulation of tumor metastasis, immune evasion, metabolic reprogramming, and other hallmarks of cancer. In addition, integrin-targeted immunotherapy and other integrin inhibitors that have been used in preclinical and clinical studies are summarized.

Integrins in human hepatocellular carcinoma tumorigenesis and therapy

ABSTRACT

Integrins are a family of transmembrane receptors that connect the extracellular matrix and actin skeleton, which mediate cell adhesion, migration, signal transduction, and gene transcription. As a bi-directional signaling molecule, integrins can modulate many aspects of tumorigenesis, including tumor growth, invasion, angiogenesis, metastasis, and therapeutic resistance. Therefore, integrins have a great potential as antitumor therapeutic targets. In this review, we summarize the recent reports of integrins in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), focusing on the abnormal expression, activation, and signaling of integrins in cancer cells as well as their roles in other cells in the tumor microenvironment. We also discuss the regulation and functions of integrins in hepatitis B virus-related HCC. Finally, we update the clinical and preclinical studies of integrin-related drugs in the treatment of HCC.

ANGPTL1, Foxo3a-Sox2, and colorectal cancer metastasis

In the present commentary, we discuss new observations stating that angiopoietin-like protein 1 (ANGPTL1) attenuates cancer metastasis and stemness through Forkhead box O-3a (Foxo3a)–SRY-related HMG-box-2 (Sox2) axis in colorectal cancer (Clin. Sci. (2022) 136, 657–673, https://doi.org/10.1042/CS20220043). ANGPTL1 has been reported to play a critical role in cancer progression and metastasis. However, the underlying mechanisms remain controversial. Here, we integrate the possible mechanisms for ANGPTL1 inhibiting colorectal cancer liver metastasis and discuss the regulation of ANGPTL1 on the Foxo3a–Sox2 pathway. Although ANGPTL1 showed multifunctional potential, there is still a long way to go for ANGPTL1 to be an effective treatment strategy in the clinic.

MiR-375 mitigates retinal angiogenesis by depressing the JAK2/STAT3 pathway

Aberrant neovascularization in the retina is an important threat to vision and closely related to several retinal diseases, such as wet form of age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and retinopathy of prematurity. However, the pathogenesis remains largely unknown. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been demonstrated to play critical regulatory roles in angiogenesis. Therefore, we aimed to identify the key miRNAs that regulate retinal neovascularization and elucidate the potential underlying mechanisms. In the present study, we performed RNA sequencing of microRNAs in the retina and found that miR-375 was significantly downregulated in the retina of oxygen-induced retinopathy mice. In retinal microvascular endothelial cells (RMECs), overexpression of miR-375 inhibited cell proliferation and angiogenesis. Conversely, inhibition of miR-375 had the opposite effects. Moreover, our results showed that miR-375 negatively regulated the protein expression of JAK2 by inhibiting its translation. The promoting effects of anti-miR-375 on cell proliferation and angiogenesis were attenuated by an inhibitor of STAT3. These results indicate that miR-375 mitigates cell proliferation and angiogenesis, at least in part, through the JAK2/STAT3 pathway in RMECs, which implies an important underlying mechanism of retinal angiogenesis and provides potential therapeutic targets for retinal microangiopathy.

The miR-590-3p/CFHR3/STAT3 signaling pathway promotes cell proliferation and metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma

Accumulating evidence has indicated that Complement factor H-related 3 (CFHR3) plays an essential role in various diseases. However, the biological functions of CFHR3 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain largely unclear. Therefore, we perform a further study on CFHR3 in HCC. In this article, we report the suppressive role of CFHR3 in the proliferation and metastasis of HCC cells. CFHR3 downregulation is closely associated with large (T3-T4) HCC, tumor recurrence, and advanced (stage III-IV) clinical stage, functioning as an independent factor for the prognoses of HCC patients. Knockdown of CFHR3 promotes proliferation, migration, and invasion of HCC cells. Mechanistically, downregulation of CFHR3 is induced by miR-590-3p binding to the 3’ untranslated region (UTR) of CFHR3. CFHR3 downregulation promotes the phosphorylation of STAT3 protein, thereby suppressing p53 expression. The promotional effect upon downregulation of CFHR3 induced by CFHR3 stable knockdown or miR-590-3p on HCC cell malignant phenotypes is attenuated by STAT3 inhibitor, S3I-201. In conclusion, our results reveal that CFHR3 is a protective biomarker for HCC patients, and targeting the miR-590-3p/CFHR3/p-STAT3/p53 signaling axis provides a promising strategy for HCC therapeutics.

Construction of Endometrial Carcinoma ceRNA Network and Screening of Key Genes Based on TCGA Database

Objective

Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) has received more and more attention in human tumor research. This study is aimed at clarifying the regulatory network of lncRNAs-microRNAs- (miRNAs-) mRNAs and at determining the relevant targets in the development of endometrial cancers.

Methods

Download the miRNA, mRNA, and lncRNA expression profile data of endometrial cancer patients from TCGA; use the "DESeq2" package of R software to identify the differential expression of miRNAs, mRNAs, and lncRNAs; construct a network of ceRNA; and perform gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Gene and Genome (KEGG) pathway enrichment assessment on mRNAs in the network of ceRNA; string and Cytoscape 3.7.2 perform PPI assessment on target genes and TOP 10 hub gene screening; Cytoscape 3.7.2 computer program was employed for constructing the lncRNA-miRNA-TOP10 hub mRNA network diagram to determine the signal axis; StarBase database to verify the Top10 hub mRNA expression; the "survival" package in R computer program was implemented to analyze the survival rate of all genes on the lncRNA-miRNA-Top10 hub mRNA network diagram; RT-qPCR to verify the expression level of genes on the signal axis.

Results

1119 differential mRNAs, 14 differential lncRNAs, and 65 differential miRNAs were screened in TCGA; we constructed a ceRNA regulatory network composed of 5 DELs, 7 DEMs, and 90 DEGs; String combined with Cytoscape to screen out Top10 hub genes, namely: LEFTY1, LIN28A, LHX3, ST8SIA3, CEP55, FBXO32, DCN, ANGPTL1, ADRA1A, and KCNMA1; the StarBase database verification results show that ADRA1A, ANGPTL1, FBXO32, KCNMA1, and DCN are downregulated in endometrial cancer tissues; LEFTY1, LIN28A, LHX3, ST8SIA3, and CEP55 are upregulated in endometrial cancer; the constructed lncRNA-miRNA-hub Top10 mRNA network map identified CTD-2314B22, RP11-89 K21/hsa-miR-143, hsa-miR-424/LEFTY1, LIN28A, LHX3, ST8SIA3, and CEP55 signal axis; survival analysis results show that CTD-2314B22, RP11-89 K21, hsa-miR-96, hsa-miR-211, LHX3, ST8SIA3, and DCN are all related to survival; RT-qPCR results indicate CTD-2314B22, RP11-89 K21, LEFTY1, LIN28A, LHX3, ST8SIA3, and CEP55 are upregulated in endometrial cancer cells, and hsa-miR-143 and hsa-miR-424 are downregulated in endometrial cancer cells.

Conclusion

From the perspective of the lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA network, our study identified CTD-2314B22, RP11-89 K21/hsa-miR-143, hsa-miR-424/LEFTY1, LIN28A, LHX3, ST8SIA3, and CEP55 signal axis, which can present considerably potent biomarkers and therapeutic targets for treating endometrial cancer.

Inhibitors Targeting Multiple Janus Kinases From Zanthoxylum simulans Mediate Inhibition and Apoptosis Against Gastric Cancer Cells via the Estrogen Pathway

Janus kinases (JAKs) play a key role in subtly regulating proliferation, apoptosis, and differentiation of cancer cells, and their inhibitors are actively sought as new drug leads. By developing JAKs based affinity ultrafiltration method coupled with LC/Q-TOF-MS in order to discover selective JAKs inhibitors from total quaternary alkaloids (QAs) from Zanthoxylum simulans, peak 19 (Berberine) and peak 21 (Chelerythrine) were revealed to exhibit notable selectivity on JAK1, JAK2, and JAK3 over Tyk2. In addition, Chelerythrine showed stronger inhibitory activity than the positive control (Cerdulatinib) on gastric cancer cells (AGS), while Berberine, with weaker inhibition. Chelerythrine and Berberine also showed obvious inhibition on human hepatocyte cells (LO2). Furthermore, molecular docking analysis revealed their discrepancies due to different interaction bonds and characteristic residues. Quaternary N was proposed as the functional group to enhance the selectivity of JAK1, and some specific moieties towards Asp1021, Leu855, and Leu828 were suggested to increase the selectivity for JAK1, JAK2, and JAK3, respectively. As the most potential inhibitor of JAKs from QAs, Chelerythrine exhibited distinct suppression of adhesion, migration, invasion, and stimulating apoptosis of AGS cells, which was consistent with the significant down-regulation of estrogen receptors (ER-α36, ER-α66, and ER-β1) and Src expression. In conclusion, an efficient screening approach was developed to identify Berberine and Chelerythrine as potential selective candidates from Zanthoxylum simulans with significant anti-proliferative activity against gastric carcinoma. As we know, it was the first report to propose an estrogen signal pathway for Chelerythrine in anti-gastric cancer cells (AGS) study. The results supported Chelerythrine inhibitory effects on AGS by not only direct inhibiting JAKs but also down-regulating the estrogen pathway.

The Role of ANGPTL Gene Family Members in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Background

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is highly aggressive with a poor prognosis and survival rate. Certain ANGPTL members have been implicated in tumor progression. However, the relevance of the ANGPTL gene family to HCC remains poorly understood. In this study, we explored the role of ANGPTLs in the prognosis of HCC.

Methods

From the CCLE database, we studied the expression of ANGPTLs in a range of cancer cell lines. The UCSC, HCCDB, and Human Protein Atlas databases were used to analyze the differences in mRNA and protein expression of ANGPTLs in HCC tissues. Additionally, the correlation between ANGPTL mRNA and methylation levels and clinicopathological features were assessed in the TCGA database. The correlation between ANGPTL mRNA and overall survival was determined by the Kaplan-Meier plotter. cBioPortal database was used to analyze ANGPTL genomic alterations. Genes associated with ANGPTLs were determined by enrichment with KEGG. Moreover, the differentially expressed genes of ANGPTLs were analyzed by the LinkedOmics database, and the KEGG pathway and miRNA targets of ANGPTLs were also enriched.

Results

There was a significant correlation between the ANGPTL members (excluding ANGPTL2) and the prognosis of HCC patients according to the Kaplan-Meier plotter analysis (p < 0.05). ANGPTL1 was the gene with the highest mutation frequency. ANGPTLs are involved in certain pathways that may influence the development of HCC.

Conclusion

In summary, the expression of some members of ANGPTLs was significantly correlated with HCC prognosis, suggesting that the ANGPTL gene family members may be promising molecular markers for HCC treatment and prognosis.

ANGPTL1 attenuates cancer migration, invasion, and stemness through regulating FOXO3a-mediated SOX2 expression in colorectal cancer

Angiopoietin-like protein 1 (ANGPTL1) is a member of the ANGPTL family that suppresses angiogenesis, cancer invasion, metastasis, and cancer progression. ANGPTL1 is down-regulated in various cancers including colorectal cancer (CRC); however, the effects and mechanisms of ANGPTL1 on liver metastasis and cancer stemness in CRC are poorly understood. In the present study, we identified that ANGPTL1 was down-regulated in CRC and inversely correlated with metastasis and poor clinical outcomes in CRC patients form the ONCOMINE database and Human Tissue Microarray staining. ANGPTL1 significantly suppressed the migration/invasion abilities, the expression of cancer stem cell (CSC) markers, and sphere formation by enhancing FOXO3a expression, which contributed to the reduction of stem cell transcription factor SOX2 expression in CRC cells. Consistently, overexpression of ANGPTL1 reduced liver metastasis, tumor growth, and tumorigenicity in tumor-bearing mice. ANGPTL1 expression was negatively correlated with CSC markers expression and poor clinical outcomes in CRC patients. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that the molecular mechanisms of ANGPTL1 in colorectal cancer stem cell progression may provide a novel therapeutic strategy for CRC.

Identification and Validation of a Novel Six-Gene Expression Signature for Predicting Hepatocellular Carcinoma Prognosis

Background

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly lethal disease. Effective prognostic tools to guide clinical decision-making for HCC patients are lacking.

Objective

We aimed to establish a robust prognostic model based on differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in HCC.

Methods

Using datasets from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), and the International Genome Consortium (ICGC), DEGs between HCC tissues and adjacent normal tissues were identified. Using TCGA dataset as the training cohort, we applied the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) algorithm and multivariate Cox regression analyses to identify a multi-gene expression signature. Proportional hazard assumptions and multicollinearity among covariates were evaluated while building the model. The ICGC cohort was used for validation. The Pearson test was used to evaluate the correlation between tumor mutational burden and risk score. Through single-sample gene set enrichment analysis, we investigated the role of signature genes in the HCC microenvironment.

Results

A total of 274 DEGs were identified, and a six-DEG prognostic model was developed. Patients were stratified into low- or high-risk groups based on risk scoring by the model. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed significant differences in overall survival and progression-free interval. Through univariate and multivariate Cox analyses, the model proved to be an independent prognostic factor compared to other clinic-pathological parameters. Time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed satisfactory prediction of overall survival, but not progression-free interval. Functional enrichment analysis showed that cancer-related pathways were enriched, while immune infiltration analyses differed between the two risk groups. The risk score did not correlate with levels of PD-1, PD-L1, CTLA4, or tumor mutational burden.

Conclusions

We propose a six-gene expression signature that could help to determine HCC patient prognosis. These genes may serve as biomarkers in HCC and support personalized disease management.

Icaritin-Induced FAM99A Affects GLUT1-Mediated Glycolysis via Regulating the JAK2/STAT3 Pathway in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Icaritin is a potential treatment option for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) based on the results of its phase 2 stage trial. Glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1), a critical gene in regulating glycolysis, has been recognized as a promising target in HCC treatment. Previous studies have reported that FAM99A, a new long noncoding (lncRNA), is associated with HCC metastasis. It has also been demonstrated that the JAK2/STAT3 pathway is related to HCC and is the target of icaritin treatment. However, whether FAM99A participates in icaritin treatment and regulates GLUT1-mediated glycolysis via the JAK2/STAT3 pathway in HCC cells remains to be explored. Our study aimed to clarify the mechanisms underlying glycolysis and understand the regulating effects of the FAM99A and JAK2/STAT3 pathway in HCC cells in icaritin treatment. Molecular mechanism studies were conducted to verify whether FAM99A could bind to the JAK2/STAT3 pathway and to identify the regulatory mechanisms in the HCC cells. It was revealed that icaritin inhibited proliferation, GLUT1 level, and the glycolysis of the HCC cells. FAM99A in HCC cells was upregulated after a high concentration treatment of icaritin. FAM99A inhibited GLUT1 by blocking the JAK2/STAT3 pathway. Mechanically, FAM99A interacted with EIF4B to inhibit gp130 and gp80 translation, which then interacted with miR-299-5p to upregulate SOCS3, causing the JAK2 pathway to inhibit STAT3 phosphorylation, so that JAK2/STAT3 was blocked in HCC cells. Overall, our study proved that icaritin-induced FAM99A can inhibit HCC cell viability and GLUT1-mediated glycolysis via blocking the JAK2/STAT3 pathway.

Identification hub genes of consensus molecular subtype correlation with immune infiltration and predict prognosis in gastric cancer

Gastric cancer (GC) has a great fatality rate, meanwhile, there is still a lack of available biomarkers for prognosis. The goal of the research was to discover key and novel potential biomarkers for GC. We screened for the expression of significantly altered genes based on survival rates from two consensus molecular subtypes (CMS) of GC. Subsequently, functional enrichment analysis showed these genes involved in many cancers. And we picked 6 hub genes that could both secreted in the tumor microenvironment and expression enhanced in immune cells. Then, Kaplan Meier survival and expression detected in the tumor pathological stage were utilized to clarify the prognostic of these 6 hub genes. The results indicated that OGN, CHRDL2, C2orf40, THBS4, CHRDL1, and ANGPTL1, respectively, were significantly associated with poor OS in GC patients. And their expression increased with cancer advanced. Moreover, immune infiltration analysis displayed that those hub genes expression positively with M2 macrophage, CD8+ T Cell, most immune inhibitors, and majority immunostimulators. In summary, our results suggested that OGN, CHRDL2, C2orf40, THBS4, CHRDL1, and ANGPTL1 were all potential biomarkers for GC prognosis and might also be potential therapeutic targets for GC.

Distinct Clinical Impact and Biological Function of Angiopoietin and Angiopoietin-like Proteins in Human Breast Cancer

Secreted angiopoietin/angiopoietin-like (ANGPT/ANGPTL) proteins are involved in many biological processes. However, the role of these proteins in human breast cancers (BCs) remains largely unclear. Here, we conducted integrated omics analyses to evaluate the clinical impact of ANGPT/ANGPTL proteins and to elucidate their biological functions. In BCs, we identified rare mutations in ANGPT/ANGPTL genes, frequent gains of ANGPT1, ANGPT4, and ANGPTL1, and frequent losses of ANGPT2, ANGPTL5, and ANGPTL7, but observed that ANGPTL1, 2, and 4 were robustly downregulated in multiple datasets. The expression levels of ANGPTL1, 5, and 8 were positively correlated with overall survival (OS), while the expression levels of ANGPTL4 were negatively correlated with OS. Additionally, the expression levels of ANGPTL1 and 7 were positively correlated with distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), while the expression levels of ANGPT2 and ANGPTL4 were negatively correlated with DMFS. The prognostic impacts of ANGPT/ANGPTL genes depended on the molecular subtypes and on clinical factors. We discovered that various ANGPT/ANGPTL genes were co-expressed with various genes involved in different pathways. Finally, with the exception of ANGPTL3, the remaining genes showed significant correlations with cancer-associated fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and microenvironment score, whereas only ANGPTL6 was significantly correlated with immune score. Our findings provide strong evidence for the distinct clinical impact and biological function of ANGPT/ANGPTL proteins, but the question of whether some of them could be potential therapeutic targets still needs further investigation in BCs.

CKS1B promotes the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma by activating JAK/STAT3 signal pathway

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a malignancy of considerable concern due to its continuous increase in morbidity and mortality. This study attempts to identify the molecules that play a key role in the progression of HCC, explore its potential mechanism, and provide more target choices for targeted therapy. Using overexpression plasmid and shRNA, CKS1B was respectively overexpressed and knocked down to explore its biological function roles in HCC progression and development. MTT and colony formation assays showed that knockdown of CKS1B inhibited the survival and proliferation of HCC cell lines (Hep3B and Huh7). The flow cytometry and western blot analysis showed that knockdown of CKS1B significantly induced the apoptosis of Hep3B and Huh7 cells. The wound healing and transwell invasion assays showed that knockdown of CKS1B had a significant inhibitory effect on the migration and invasion of Hep3B and Huh7 cells. These functional tests confirmed that CKS1B acts as an oncogene that regulates the malignant progression of HCC. Moreover, this study also demonstrated that knockdown of CKS1B inhibited the activation of JAK/STAT3 pathway, evidenced by the significantly downregulated p-STAT3 protein expression. Furthermore, knockdown of CKS1B also downregulated STAT3 target genes TIMP-1, Bcl-2 and VEGF, which were involved in controlling cell apoptosis and migration. On the contrary, overexpression of CKS1B caused the completely opposite results. Taken together, CKS1B acts as an oncogene to promote the proliferation and metastasis of HCC cells by activating JAK/STAT3 signaling pathway.

Type I collagen promotes tumor progression of integrin β1 positive gastric cancer through a BCL9L/β-catenin signaling pathway

The mechanism of extracellular matrix induced tumor progression is poorly understood. Based on the TCGA database and clinical tumor tissues analysis, we observed abundant type I collagen expression in tumor tissues and poor overall survival in gastric patients with high integrin β1 (ITGB1) expression. In vitro, our study found that 3D collagen culture promoted the capability of colony formation and growth in ITGB1 positive gastric cancer, whereas limited colony growth was observed in ITGB1 negative gastric cancer, suggesting the role of ITGB1 in type I collagen associated tumor progression. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that type I collagen was capable of promoting the activation of BCL9L/β-catenin signaling pathway through ITGB1, thereby contributing to the gastric cancer development. Subsequently, β-catenin signals further up-regulated the expression anti-apoptosis protein BCL2, leading to the chemo-resistance in gastric cancer cells. Blockade of β-catenin signals efficiently improved the anticancer effects of chemotherapy, providing an innovative sight for clinical gastric cancer therapy.

Emerging roles of angiopoietin-like proteins in inflammation: Mechanisms and potential as pharmacological targets

Angiopoietin-like proteins (ANGPTLs), a family of eight secreted glycoproteins termed ANGTPL1-8, are involved in angiogenesis, lipid metabolism, cancer progression, and inflammation. Their roles in regulating lipid metabolism have been intensively studied, as some ANGPTLs are promising pharmacological targets for hypertriglyceridemia and associated cardiovascular disease. Recently, the emerging roles of ANGPTLs in inflammation have attracted great attention. First, elevated levels of multiple circulating ANGPTLs in inflammatory diseases make them potential disease biomarkers. Second, multiple ANGPTLs regulate acute or chronic inflammation via various mechanisms, including triggering inflammatory signaling through their action as ligands for integrin or forming homo- /hetero-oligomers to regulate signal transduction via extra- or intracellular mechanisms. As dysregulation of the inflammatory response is a critical trigger in many diseases, understanding the roles of ANGPTLs in inflammation will aid in drug/therapy development. Here, we summarize the roles, mechanisms, and potential therapeutic values for ANGPTLs in inflammation and inflammatory diseases.

Screening and identification of angiogenesis-related genes as potential novel prognostic biomarkers of hepatocellular carcinoma through bioinformatics analysis

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a malignant tumor with high morbidity and mortality, which makes the prognostic prediction challenging. Angiogenesis appears to be of critical importance in the progression and metastasis of HCC. Some of the angiogenesis-related genes promote this process, while other anti-angiogenesis genes suppress tumor growth and metastasis. Therefore, the comprehensive prognostic value of multiple angiogenesis-related genes in HCC needs to be further clarified. In this study, the mRNA expression profile of HCC patients and the corresponding clinical data were acquired from multiple public databases. Univariate Cox regression analysis was utilized to screen out differentially expressed angiogenesis-related genes with prognostic value. A multigene signature was established with the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator Cox regression in the Cancer Genome Atlas cohort, and validated through an independent cohort. The results suggested that a total of 16 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were associated with overall survival (OS) and a 7-gene signature was constructed. The risk score of each patient was calculated using this signature, the median value of which was used to divide these patients into a high-risk group and a low-risk group. Compared with the low-risk group, the patients in the high-risk group had a poor prognosis. The risk score was an independent predictor for OS through multivariate Cox regression analysis. Then, unsupervised learning was used to verify the validity of this 7-gene signature. A nomogram by further integrating clinical information and the prognostic signature was utilized to predict prognostic risk and individual OS. Functional enrichment analyses demonstrated that these DEGs were enriched in the pathways of cell proliferation and mitosis, and the immune cell infiltration was significantly different between the two risk groups. In summary, a novel angiogenesis-related genes signature could be used to predict the prognosis of HCC and for targeted therapy.

Synergistic effect of toosendanin and regorafenib against cell proliferation and migration by regulating WWOX signaling pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma

Regorafenib (RGF), a second-line multi-kinase inhibitor in the treatment of HCC (hepatocellular carcinoma) after sorafenib failure, exposes to the risk of drug resistance and subsequent progression of HCC patients. Toosendanin (TSN), a triterpenoid has presented excellent inhibition on several tumors. The purpose of this study is to investigate the inhibitory effect of the combination of TSN and RGF on HCC cells. We identified that TSN and RGF combination (TRC) synergistically inhibited the proliferation and migration of MHCC-97L cells. The upregulation of WWOX (WW-domain containing oxidoreductase) played a vital role in the HCC cell growth treated with TRC. TRC suppressed the phosphorylation of Stat3 and expression of DVL2, negatively regulated the activity of β-catenin by promoting the phosphorylation of GSK3β. In addition, the intranuclear proteins, including MMP2, MMP9, and C-MYC were significantly inhibited by TRC. The in vivo xenograft models confirmed that TRC effectually prevented the tumor growth through upregulating WWOX. Therefore, the treatment of TRC may be a potential solution of RGF resistance and promising therapeutic method in malignant HCC.

IL-12p40/IL-23p40 Blockade With Ustekinumab Decreases the Synovial Inflammatory Infiltrate Through Modulation of Multiple Signaling Pathways Including MAPK-ERK and Wnt

Background: Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic inflammatory joint disease within the spondyloarthritis spectrum. IL-12p40/IL-23p40 blockade reduces PsA disease activity, but its impact on synovial inflammation remains unclear. Objectives: To investigate the cellular and molecular pathways affected by IL-12p40/IL-23p40 blockade with ustekinumab in the synovium of PsA patients. Methods: Eleven PsA patients with at least one inflamed knee or ankle joint were included in a 24-week single-center open-label study and received ustekinumab 45 mg/sc according to standard care at week 0, 4, and 16. Besides clinical outcomes, synovial tissue (ST) samples were obtained by needle arthroscopy from an inflamed knee or ankle joint at baseline, week 12 and 24 and analyzed by immunohistochemistry, RNA-sequencing and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Results: We obtained paired baseline and week 12, and paired baseline, week 12 and 24 ST samples from nine and six patients, respectively. Eight patients completed 24 weeks of clinical follow-up. At 12 weeks 6/11 patients met ACR20, 2/11 met ACR50 and 1/11 met ACR70 improvement criteria, at 24 weeks this was 3/8, 2/8 and 1/8 patients, respectively. Clinical and serological markers improved significantly. No serious adverse events occurred. We observed numerical decreases of all infiltrating cell subtypes at week 12, reaching statistical significance for CD68+ sublining macrophages. For some cell types this was even more pronounced at week 24, but clearly synovial inflammation was incompletely resolved. IL-17A and F, TNF, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-12p40 were not significantly downregulated in qPCR analysis of W12 total biopsies, only MMP3 and IL-23p19 were significantly decreased. RNA-seq analysis revealed 178 significantly differentially expressed genes between baseline and 12 weeks (FDR 0.1). Gene Ontology and KEGG terms enrichment analyses identified overrepresentation of biological processes as response to reactive oxygen species, chemotaxis, migration and angiogenesis as well as MAPK-ERK and PI3K-Akt signaling pathways among the downregulated genes and of Wnt signaling pathway among the upregulated genes. Furthermore, ACR20 responders and non-responders differed strikingly in gene expression profiles in a post-hoc exploratory analysis. Conclusions: Ustekinumab suppresses PsA synovial inflammation through modulation of multiple signal transduction pathways, including MAPK-ERK, Wnt and potentially PI3K-Akt signaling rather than by directly impacting the IL-17 pathway.

First trimester placental mesenchymal stem cells improve cardiac function of rat after myocardial infarction via enhanced neovascularization

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is the most critical heart disease. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been widely used as a therapy for AMI for several years. The human placenta has emerged as a valuable source of transplantable cells of mesenchymal origin that can be used for multiple cytotherapeutic purposes. However, the different abilities of first trimester placental chorion mesenchymal stem cells (FCMSCs) and third trimester placental chorion mesenchymal stem cells (TCMSCs) have not yet been explored. In this study, we aimed to compare the effectiveness of FCMSCs and TCMSCs on the treatment of AMI. FCMSCs and TCMSCs were isolated and characterized, and then they were subjected to in vitro endothelial cell (EC) differentiation induction and tube formation to evaluate angiogenic ability. Moreover, the in vivo effects of FCMSCs and TCMSCs on cardiac improvement were also evaluated in a rat MI model. Both FCSMCs and TCMSCs expressed a series of MSCs surface markers. After differentiation induction, FCMSCs-derived EC (FCMSCs-EC) exhibited morphology that was more similar to that of ECs and had higher CD31 and vWF levels than TCMSCs-EC. Furthermore, tube formation could be achieved by FCMSCs-EC that was significantly better than that of TCMSCs-EC. Especially, FCMSCs-EC expressed higher levels of pro-angiogenesis genes, PDGFD, VEGFA, and TNC, and lower levels of anti-angiogenesis genes, SPRY1 and ANGPTL1. In addition, cardiac improvement, indicated by left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDd), left ventricular end-systolic diameter (LVEDs), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and left ventricular shortening fraction (LVSF), could be observed following treatment with FCMSCs, and it was superior to that of TCMSCs and Bone marrow MSCs (BMSCs). FCMSCs exhibited a superior ability to generate EC differentiation, as evidenced by in vitro morphology, angiogenic potential and in vivo cardiac function improvement; further, increased levels of expression of pro-angiogenesis genes may be the mechanism by which this effect occurred.

Descriptive and functional characterization of epidermal growth factor‑like domain 8 in mouse cortical thymic epithelial cells by integrated analysis of gene expression signatures and networks

Epidermal growth factor-like domain 8 (EGFL8), a newly identified member of the EGFL family, and plays negative regulatory roles in mouse thymic epithelial cells (TECs) and thymocytes. However, the role of EGFL8 in these cells remains poorly understood. In the present study, in order to characterize the function of EGFL8, genome-wide expression profiles in EGFL8-overexpressing or -silenced mouse cortical TECs (cTECs) were analyzed. Microarray analysis revealed that 458 genes exhibited a >2-fold change in expression levels in the EGFL8-overexpressing vs. the EGFL8-silenced cTECs. Several genes involved in a number of cellular processes, such as the cell cycle, proliferation, growth, migration and differentiation, as well as in apoptosis, reactive oxygen species generation, chemotaxis and immune responses, were differentially expressed in the EGFL8-overexpressing or -silenced cTECs. WST-1 analysis revealed that that the overexpression of EGFL8 inhibited cTEC proliferation. To investigate the underlying mechanisms of EGFL8 in the regulation of cTEC function, genes related to essential cellular functions were selected. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed that EGFL8 knockdown upregulated the expression of cluster differentiation 74 (CD74), Fas ligand (FasL), C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 5 (CXCL5), CXCL10, CXCL16, C-C motif chemokine ligand 20 (CCL20), vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A), interferon regulatory factor 7 (Irf7), insulin-like growth factor binding protein-4 (IGFBP-4), thrombospondin 1 (Thbs1) and nuclear factor κB subunit 2 (NF-κB2) genes, and downregulated the expression of angiopoietin-like 1 (Angptl1), and neuropilin-1 (Nrp1) genes. Additionally, EGFL8 silencing enhanced the expression of anti-apoptotic molecules, such as B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) and Bcl-extra large (Bcl-xL), and that of cell cycle-regulating molecules, such as cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1), CDK4, CDK6 and cyclin D1. Moreover, gene network analysis revealed that EGFL8 exerted negative effects on VEGF-A gene expression. Hence, the altered expression of several genes associated with EGFL8 expression in cTECs highlights the important physiological processes in which EGFL8 is involved, and provides insight into its biological functions.

Exosomal ANGPTL1 attenuates colorectal cancer liver metastasis by regulating Kupffer cell secretion pattern and impeding MMP9 induced vascular leakiness

BACKGROUND

Angiopoietin-like protein 1 (ANGPTL1) has been proved to suppress tumor metastasis in several cancers. However, its extracellular effects on the pre-metastatic niches (PMNs) are still unclear. ANGPTL1 has been identified in exosomes, while its function remains unknown. This study was designed to explore the role of exosomal ANGPTL1 on liver metastasis in colorectal cancer (CRC).

METHODS

Exosomes were isolated by ultracentrifugation. The ANGPTL1 level was detected in exosomes derived from human CRC tissues. The effects of exosomal ANGPTL1 on CRC liver metastasis were explored by the intrasplenic injection mouse model. The liver PMN was examined by vascular permeability assays. Exosomal ANGPTL1 localization was validated by exosome labeling. The regulatory mechanisms of exosomal ANGPTL1 on Kupffer cells were determined by RNA sequencing. qRT-PCR, Western Blot, and ELISA analysis were conducted to examine gene expressions at mRNA and protein levels.

RESULTS

ANGPTL1 protein level was significantly downregulated in the exosomes derived from CRC tumors compared with paired normal tissues. Besides, exosomal ANGPTL1 attenuated liver metastasis and impeded vascular leakiness in the liver PMN. Moreover, exosomal ANGPTL1 was mainly taken up by KCs and regulated the KCs secretion pattern, enormously decreasing the MMP9 expression, which finally prevented the liver vascular leakiness. In mechanism, exosomal ANGPTL1 downregulated MMP9 level in KCs by inhibiting the JAK2-STAT3 signaling pathway.

CONCLUSIONS

Taken together, exosomal ANGPTL1 attenuated CRC liver metastasis and impeded vascular leakiness in the liver PMN by reprogramming the Kupffer cell and decreasing the MMP9 expression. This study suggests a suppression role of exosomal ANGPTL1 on CRC liver metastasis and expands the approach of ANGPTL1 functioning.

DGT, a novel heterocyclic diterpenoid, effectively suppresses psoriasis via inhibition of STAT3 phosphorylation

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Psoriasis is a chronic immune-mediated inflammatory skin disease that easily recurs and is difficult to cure. DGT is a novel synthetic heterocyclic diterpenoid, whose structure has not been previously reported. We have investigated the action of DGT against psoriasis, specifically the hyperproliferation of epidermal keratinocytes, angiogenesis and pathogenic inflammatory responses.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

We investigated its pharmacokinetics in skin after topical administration. We characterized its pharmacological actions in vitro and in vivo using cell proliferation assay, cell apoptosis assay, diethylstilbestrol-induced mouse vaginal epithelial cell mitosis model, tube formation assay, cell migration assay, chick embryonic chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay, histological, flow cytometric analysis and imiquimod (IMQ)-induced psoriasis-like model.

KEY RESULTS

DGT was found to be mainly distributed in the epidermis and dermis, which indicated that DGT was suitable as a topical treatment. DGT inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptotic cell death of keratinocytes in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, DGT inhibited endothelial cell proliferation, tube formation and migration of in vitro angiogenesis, as well as in vivo CAM angiogenesis. In an IMQ-induced psoriasis-like skin inflammation murine model, topical application of DGT ameliorated keratinocyte proliferation and inflammatory response, especially in IL-17-related psoriasiform dermatitis. Furthermore, our results demonstrated that DGT prevented these pathological processes of psoriasis through suppression of STAT3 phosphorylation.

CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS

DGT has great potential as a novel therapeutic agent for the treatment of psoriatic skin disease.

Inhibition of MicroRNA 6937 Delays Photoreceptor and Vision Loss in a Mouse Model of Retinitis Pigmentosa

Inherited retinal dystrophies (IRDs) are a group of rare retinal conditions, including retinitis pigmentosa (RP), caused by monogenic mutations in 1 out of more than 250 genes. Despite recent advancements in gene therapy, there is still a lack of an effective treatment for this group of retinal conditions. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of highly conserved small non-coding RNAs that inhibit gene expression. Control of miRNAs-mediated protein expression has been described as a widely used mechanism for post-transcriptional regulation in many physiological and pathological processes in different organs, including the retina. Our main purpose was to test the hypothesis that modulation of a group of miRNAs can protect photoreceptor cells from death in the rd10 mouse model of retinitis pigmentosa. For this, we incorporated modulators of three miRNAs in adeno-associated viruses (AAVs), which were administered through sub-retinal injections. The results obtained indicate that inhibition of the miR-6937-5p slows down the visual deterioration of rd10 mice, reflected by an increased electroretinogram (ERG) wave response under scotopic conditions and significant preservation of the outer nuclear layer thickness. This work contributes to broadening our knowledge on the molecular mechanisms underlying retinitis pigmentosa and supports the development of novel therapeutic approaches for RP based on miRNA modulation.

ANGPTL1 is a potential biomarker for differentiated thyroid cancer diagnosis and recurrence

Differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) is a common type of cancer among women with an increasing worldwide incidence rate. However, there are no specific and sensitive molecular biomarkers for DTC diagnosis or prognosis. Angiopoietin-like protein 1 (ANGPTL1) may be a novel tumor suppressor in lung, breast, colorectal and hepatocellular carcinoma. However, little is known about the influence of ANGPTL1 on the malignant properties of thyroid cancer cells or DTC recurrence in patients. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate the effects of ANGPTL1 on thyroid cancer malignancy or recurrence. The present study examined the mRNA levels of ANGPTL1 in thyroid cancer and paracancerous tissues using RNA sequencing data from The Cancer Genome Atlas. The present study also determined the effects of ANGPTL1 on thyroid cancer cell proliferation using the Cell Counting Kit-8 assay. Associations were identified among ANGPTL1 expression levels and thyroid cancer proliferation, migration and metastasis using The Cancer Genome Atlas data set and by Gene Set Enrichment Analysis. The expression of ANGPTL1 in patients with DTC and without recurrence was compared in order to assess its potential as a prognostic biomarker for DTC. In addition, ANGPTL1 concentrations in the serum of patients with DTC and individuals with benign thyroid nodules were compared to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of ANGPTL1 as a predictive biomarker for DTC. The results of the present study demonstrated that ANGPTL1 expression levels were lower in thyroid cancer compared with those in adjacent normal thyroid tissues. ANGPTL1 expression was observed to decrease with thyroid cancer progression. In addition, ANGPTL1 was demonstrated to inhibit thyroid cancer cell proliferation, migration and invasion and ANGPTL1 expression levels were reduced in patients with DTC with recurrence compared with those in patients with non-recurrent DTC. Additionally, serum concentrations of ANGPTL1 in patients with DTC were decreased compared with those in individuals with benign thyroid nodules. In conclusion, ANGPTL1 may be a novel predictive biomarker for DTC diagnosis and recurrence in patients with DTC.

Inhibitory effects of Paris saponin I, II, Ⅵ and Ⅶ on HUVEC cells through regulation of VEGFR2, PI3K/AKT/mTOR, Src/eNOS, PLCγ/ERK/MERK, and JAK2-STAT3 pathways

Rhizoma Paris is a popular Chinese medicine in clinics. It contains four main saponins which are its major bioactive compounds. These saponins are Paris saponin I, II, VI and VII (PSI, PSII, PSVI and PSVII, respectively). Up to now, the research using HUVEC cells to evaluate the anti-angiogenic activity of four saponins is blank. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the anti-angiogenic properties (also known as angiotoxicity) of the four saponins in Rhizoma Paris on vascular endothelial cells-HUVEC cells, and to investigate the underlying mechanism, which has not been studied before. In this study, MTT assay, Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay, wound healing experiments, transwell cell invasion assay, tubule formation experiment, DAPI staining, AV-PI double staining, and cell cycle analysis were used to determine the effects of Paris saponins. The results showed that, with increases in concentrations of PSI, PSII, PSVI and PSVII, the viability of HUVEC cells decreased significantly. In addition, four saponins dose-dependent enhanced LDH release and inhibited HUVEC cell migration, invasion, and angiogenesis. In terms of mechanism, PSI significantly inhibited protein expression in multiple signaling pathways. In particular, with the VEGF2 as the target, it activate the downstream PI3K / AKT / mTOR, SRC / eNOS, P38, PLCγ / ERK / MERK and JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathways. In conclusion, PSI, PSII, PSVI and PSVII can inhibit endothelial cell proliferation, migration and invasion, block endothelial cell cycle, induce endothelial cell apoptosis, act on protein expression in several anti-angiogenic signaling pathways, and finally inhibit angiogenesis in vitro. This study provides further data support for the clinical application of Paris saponins as antiangiogenic drugs.

Long non-coding RNAs lnc-ANGPTL1-3:3 and lnc-GJA10-12:1 present as regulators of sentinel lymph node metastasis in breast cancer

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) participate in various biological processed involved in tumorigenesis, metastasis and proliferation. The aim of the present study was to identify candidate long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) involved in sentinel lymph node (SLN) metastasis in breast cancer. Specimens of SLNs were collected from patients with SLN metastasis via punch biopsy. Total RNA was extracted and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) was conducted. Differential expression profiles of mRNAs and lncRNAs were obtained via bioinformatics analysis, and Gene Oncology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses were performed on differentially expressed mRNAs. The expression levels of lncRNAs were analyzed via reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR), and the regulation network of the lncRNAs to downstream microRNAs (miRs) and mRNAs was predicted. Based on RNA-seq results, six differentially expressed candidate lncRNAs were identified in patients with and without SLN metastasis: lnc-ANGPTL1-3:3, lnc-GJA10-12:1, lnc-ACAN-2:1, lnc-ZPBP2-4:1, lnc-GATA3-16:1 and lnc-ACOX3-5:1. KEGG and GO analysis identified that the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways were the most enriched pathways. After RT-qPCR analysis, lnc-ANGPTL1-3:3 and lnc-GJA10-12:1 exhibited expression patterns that were consistent with those from RNA-seq. Moreover, receiver operating characteristic curve analysis demonstrated that lnc-ANGPTL1-3:3 and lnc-GJA10-12:1 expression levels had high sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of SLN metastasis, and that their expression levels were upregulated in patients with axillary lymph node metastasis. Further analysis revealed that lnc-GJA10-12:1 and lnc-ANGPTL1-3:3 were commonly involved in regulating the miR-302 family, including miR-302d-3p and miR-302c-3p, which together targeted AKT1. Additionally, lnc-ANGPTL1-3:3 was predicted to target miR-520b to regulate MAP3K2 expression. lnc-GJA10-12:1 was also predicted to target miR-34a-5p to regulate MAP2K1 and MAP3K9 expression levels, as well as miR-449a to regulate MAP2K1 expression. The results of the present study suggested that lnc-ANGPTL1-3:3 and lnc-GJA10-12:1 may potentially serve a role in SLN metastasis of breast cancer by regulating the PI3K/Akt and MAPK signaling pathways via targeting the miR-302 family, miR-520a-3p, miR-34a-5p and miR-449a. Thus, lnc-ANGPTL1-3:3 and lnc-GJA10-12:1 in SLN may serve as potential markers of breast cancer metastasis.

Bioinformatic identification of prognostic indicators in bladder cancer

Aim: Bladder cancer (BC) is one of the most common malignancies with poor prognosis. We aimed to identify a genetic signature for predicting the prognosis of BC. Materials & methods: Kaplan-Meier survival and Cox regression analyses were used to construct a prognostic signature using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas. Results: Fifty four upregulated and 47 downregulated immune-related genes (IRGs) were identified in BC. A prognostic signature based on the expression of five IRGs was determined, which was moderately accurate in the prognosis of tumors. The prognostic signature was correlated with tumor stage, tumor burden and lymph node metastasis. The expression of IRGs were associated with immune infiltration. Conclusion: We determined a five gene signature, which correlates with the prognosis of BC patients, providing additional information for effective treatment.

Resveratrol Suppresses Tumor Progression via Inhibiting STAT3/HIF-1α/VEGF Pathway in an Orthotopic Rat Model of Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)

Background

The STAT3/HIF-1α/VEGF pathway is associated with the development and progress of various tumors including NSCLC. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether resveratrol (RES) could suppress NSCLC progression via inhibiting the expressions of STAT3, HIF-1α, and VEGF in a nude rat model.

Methods

Twenty-four nude rats were randomly divided into control, NSCLC, and NSCLC+RES groups. An orthotopic rat model of NSCLC was established. The animals in the NSCLC+RES group received the same operation as the NSCLC group and were intragastrically administered RES at 250 mg/kg/day for 12 weeks. Lung tissue samples were harvested for gross tumor burden measurement, histological examinations, RT-PCR, and Western blot assays.

Results

In the NSCLC+RES group, significant decreases in lung weight index, lung tumor burden, STAT3/HIF-1α/VEGF mRNA, and protein levels were observed when compared with the NSCLC group (all P<0.05). The structural integrity of the lung was less affected and the apoptotic index was significantly higher in the NSCLC+RES group, when compared to the NSCLC group (P<0.05).

Conclusion

RES suppresses NSCLC partly through inhibiting the expressions of STAT3, HIF-1α, and VEGF. The STAT3/HIF-1α/VEGF pathway might be a candidate drug target for developing new chemotherapy agents derived from RES for the treatment of NSCLC.

The long non-coding RNA HLNC1 potentiates hepatocellular carcinoma progression via interaction with USP49

Background

The hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents a serious malignancy worldwide especially in China. Our transcriptome analysis identifies a novel long non‐coding RNA (lncRNA) termed HLNC1. However, the function of HLNC1 in HCC remains to be determined.

Methods

Novel lncRNAs were screened using lncRNA profiling. Relative expression was quantified by qRT‐PCR. In vitro experiments such as migration and viability assays were performed. In vivo implantation experiments were conducted to investigate tumorigenic functions. RNA‐RNA interaction assay was performed to determine USP49 as HLNC1 binding partner.

Results

We found that HLNC1 was markedly upregulated in HCC samples and cell lines. HLNC1 could promote viability and migration of HCC cells. Meanwhile, we could also observe an oncogenic effect of HLNC1 in vivo. By RNA‐RNA interaction assay, we unraveled USP49 transcript as the HLNC1 binding partner. HLNC1‐USP49 interaction dramatically destabilized USP49. Heat‐shock factor 1 (HSF1) was shown to directly induce HLNC1 expression. The therapeutic potential of targeting HLNC1 was investigated using antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs). The ASO construct which significantly depleted HLNC1 expression could strongly attenuate xenograft tumor growth.

Conclusions

Our data suggested that HLNC1 may advance HCC progression and act as a potential target for intervention.

miR-210 transferred by lung cancer cell-derived exosomes may act as proangiogenic factor in cancer-associated fibroblasts by modulating JAK2/STAT3 pathway

It has been generally believed that cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) have the ability to increase the process of tumor angiogenesis. However, the potential mechanisms by which cancer-derived exosomes in lung cancer (LC) remains to be investigated. LC-derived exosomes were administrated to NIH/3T3 cells. A variety of experiments were conducted to investigate the proangiogenic factors of CAFs, including Western blot, RT-PCR, colony formation assay, tube formation assay, Matrigel plug assay et al. In addition, the impact of JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway were also explored. The role of hsa-miR-210 was identified with microarray profiling and validated in vitro and in vivo assays. The target of miR-210 was screened by RNA pull down, RNA-sequencing and then verified. It was shown that LC-derived exosomes could induce cell reprogramming, thus promoting the fibroblasts transferring into CAFs. In addition, the exosomes with overexpressed miR-210 could increase the level of angiogenesis and vice versa, which suggested the miR-210 secreted by the LC-derived exosomes may initiate the CAF proangiogenic switch. According to our analysis, the miR-210 had the ability of elevating the expression of some proangiogenic factors such as MMP9, FGF2 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) a (VEGFa) by activating the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway, ten-eleven translocation 2 (TET2) was identified as the target of miR-210 in CAFs which has been involved in proangiogenic switch. miR-210 was overexpressed in serum exosomes of untreated non-small cell LC (NSCLC) patients. We concluded that the promotion effect of exosomal miR-210 on proangiogenic switch of CAFs may be explained by the modulation of JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway and TET2 in recipient fibroblasts.

Mining the role of angiopoietin-like protein family in gastric cancer and seeking potential therapeutic targets by integrative bioinformatics analysis

Background

The indistinctive effects of antiangiogenesis agents in gastric cancer (GC) can be attributed to multifaceted gene dysregulation associated with angiogenesis. Angiopoietin‐like (ANGPTL) proteins are secreted proteins regulating angiogenesis. They are also involved in inflammation and metabolism. Emerging evidences have revealed their various roles in carcinogenesis and metastasis development. However, the mRNA expression profiles, prognostic values, and biological functions of ANGPTL proteins in GC are still elucidated.

Methods

We compared the transcriptional expression levels of ANGPTL proteins between GC and normal gastric tissues using ONCOMINE and TCGA‐STAD. The prognostic values were evaluated by LinkedOmics and Kaplan–Meier Plotter, while the association of expression levels with clinicopathological features was generated through cBioPortal. We conducted the functional enrichment analysis with Metascape.

Results

The expression of ANGPTL1/3/6 was lower in GC tissues than in normal gastric tissues. High expression of ANGPTL1/2/4 was correlated with short overall survival and post‐progression survival in GC patients. Upregulated ANGPTL1/2 was correlated with higher histological grade, non‐intestinal Lauren classification, and advanced T stage, while ANGPTL4 exhibited high expression in early T stage, M1 stage, and non‐intestinal Lauren classification.

Conclusions

Integrative bioinformatics analysis suggests that ANGPTL1/2/4 may be potential therapeutic targets in GC patients. Among them, ANGPTL2 acts as a GC promoter, while ANGPTL1/4’s role in GC is still uncertain.

The role of long noncoding RNAs in hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most frequent subtype of primary liver cancer and one of the leading causes of cancer-related death worldwide. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying HCC pathogenesis have not been fully understood. Emerging evidences have recently suggested the crucial role of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in the tumorigenesis and progression of HCC. Various HCC-related lncRNAs have been shown to possess aberrant expression and participate in cancerous phenotypes (e.g. persistent proliferation, evading apoptosis, accelerated vessel formation and gain of invasive capability) through their binding with DNA, RNA or proteins, or encoding small peptides. Thus, a deeper understanding of lncRNA dysregulation would provide new insights into HCC pathogenesis and novel tools for the early diagnosis and treatment of HCC. In this review, we summarize the dysregulation of lncRNAs expression in HCC and their tumor suppressive or oncogenic roles during HCC tumorigenesis. Moreover, we discuss the diagnostic and therapeutic potentials of lncRNAs in HCC.

Coexisting EGFR and TP53 Mutations in Lung Adenocarcinoma Patients Are Associated With COMP and ITGB8 Upregulation and Poor Prognosis

The heterogeneity of lung adenocarcinoma is driven by key mutations in oncogenes. To determine the gene expression, single nucleotide polymorphisms, and co-mutations participating in the initiation and progression of lung adenocarcinoma, we comprehensively analyzed the data of 491 patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas. Using log-rank and Kruskal-Wallis analysis, Oncoprint, Kaplan-Meier survival plots, and a nomogram, we found that EGFR^L858R with co-mutation TP53 was significant prognostic determinant versus that with co-wild TP53 (hazard ratio, 2.77, P = 0.012). Further gene co-expression network and functional enrichment analysis indicated that co-mutation of EGFR^L858R/TP53 increases the expression of COMP and ITGB8, which are involved in extracellular matrix organization and cell surface receptor signaling pathways, thus contributing to poor prognosis in lung adenocarcinoma. Validation was performed using three GEO profiles along with colony formation and CCK-8 assays for proliferation, transwell and wound-healing for migration in transfected H1299 and A549 cell lines. To the best of our knowledge, these results are the first to indicate that patients harboring the co-mutation of EGFR^L858R/TP53 show increased expression of COMP and ITGB8, which participate in extracellular matrix dysfunction and can be used as prognostic biomarkers in patients with lung adenocarcinoma.

BICD1 functions as a prognostic biomarker and promotes hepatocellular carcinoma progression

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most predominant type of primary liver cancer and has a high degree of malignancy as well as mortality rate. Many drivers are involved in the development and progression of HCC. A recent study has reported that high BICD cargo adaptor 1 (BICD1) expression indicates poor prognosis of glioblastoma. But, the expression and biological function of BICD1 in HCC remain unclear. In current study, we found that the expression of BICD1 was markedly up-regulated in HCC tissues compared to adjacent nontumor tissues. GEPIA dataset and GSE datasets were consistently indicated the elevated expression of BICD1 in HCC. Furthermore, BICD1 was highly expressed in HCC cell lines including Hep3B, Huh7, MHCC97H and HCCLM3 as compared with that in LO2 cells. High BICD1 expression was positively correlated with malignant clinical features, such as tumor size ≥ 5 cm, venous infiltration and advanced tumor stages. HCC patients highly expressing BICD1 showed a significant shorter overall survival compared to BICD1 low-expression cases. Moreover, TCGA-LIHC data further demonstrated that the up-regulated BICD1 expression predicted poor prognosis of HCC patients. Next, we revealed that BICD1 knockdown prominently suppressed the proliferation, migration and invasion of HCCLM3 cells. Conversely, ectopic expression of BICD1 remarkably facilitated these malignant behaviors of Hep3B cells. Interestingly, BICD1 knockdown abolished hypoxia-induced HCC cell proliferation, migration and invasion. In conclusion, we provide the first evidence to support that BICD1 functions as a predictor for the prognosis of HCC and may serve as a promising therapeutic target for further HCC treatment.

Integrin α1 promotes tumorigenicity and progressive capacity of colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of death globally. Integrin α1 (ITGA1) belongs to integrin family and involves in regulating cell adhesion, invasion, proliferation and tumorigenicity, its expression is up-regulated in various cancers, including CRC. However, the molecular understanding and clinical relevance of ITGA1 in the development and progression of CRC remain unclear. In the present study, we detected ITGA1 in 50 CRC tissues and adjacent non-cancerous tissues, sera from 100 CRC patients and 50 healthy subjects, and four CRC cell lines using immunohistochemistry staining, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blotting. We found that the ITGA1 protein was significantly higher in human CRC tissues and cell lines than both paired non-tumor tissues and normal cells, respectively. In addition, the serum concentration of ITGA1 was also higher in CRC patients compared to the healthy subjects (p<0.01) and was significantly associated with metastatic TNM stages (p<0.0001) and circulating carbohydrate antigen 199 (CA199) (p<0.022). Furthermore, down-regulation of ITGA1 with transfecting LV-shITGA1 inhibited the progressive capacity of cell migration and invasion in CRC SW480 cell line and the tumorgenicity in nude mice. In functional studies, ITGA1 knockdown also inhibited Ras/ERK signaling pathway by decreasing the expression of Ras, p-Erk1/2 and c-Myc in SW480. Contrastly, when evelated expression of ITGA1 in NCM460 coincided with the increased expression of Ras, p-Erk1/2 and c-Myc. Taken together, our findings suggest that ITGA1 is an oncogene with a capability to promote CRC cell migration, invasion and tumorigenicity by activating the Ras/Erk signaling, implying that it may be a novel target for the diagnosis and treatment of CRC, and warrants further investigation.

Downregulation of Rab17 promotes cell proliferation and invasion in non-small cell lung cancer through STAT3/HIF-1α/VEGF signaling

BACKGROUND

Rab GTPases play a key role in regulating intercellular vesicle trafficking in both exo- and endocytic pathways. Recent studies have reported that Rab small GTPases and the associated regulatory proteins and effectors are involved in many cancers. The purpose of this study was to investigate the biological role of Rab17 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and the relative mechanism.

METHODS

Rab17 expression in human NSCLC cell lines and tissues was evaluated using real-time PCR (RT-PCR), western blot and immunohistochemical (IHC) staining. NSCLC cell lines with RAB17 stable knockdown were generated to explore its function in vitro and in vivo. Additionally, we investigated the potential mechanism of Rab17 by identifying the expression levels of STAT3/HIF-1α/VEGF pathway using western blot analysis.

RESULTS

Decreased Rab17 expression was correlated with poor overall survival in NSCLC patients. The functional assays showed that knockdown of Rab17 could promote tumorigenic properties of NSCLC cells in vitro and in vivo, including enhanced cell proliferation, colony formation, invasion and migration, angiogenesis and tumor xenograft growth, and suppressed apoptosis. Moreover, Rab17 downregulation decreased epithelial marker E-cadherin and increased mesenchymal markers Vimentin and β-catenin, suggesting knockdown of Rab17 induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT).

CONCLUSION

Downregulation of Rab17 promotes cell invasion and enhances tumorigenicity in part through the STAT3/HIF-1α/VEGF pathway, which may represent a novel potential therapeutic target.

Development of an oncogenic dedifferentiation SOX signature with prognostic significance in hepatocellular carcinoma

Background

Gradual loss of terminal differentiation markers and gain of stem cell-like properties is a major hall mark of cancer malignant progression. The stem cell pluripotent transcriptional factor SOX family play critical roles in governing tumor plasticity and lineage specification. This study aims to establish a novel SOX signature to monitor the extent of tumor dedifferentiation and predict prognostic significance in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods

The RNA-seq data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) LIHC project were chronologically divided into the training (n = 188) and testing cohort (n = 189). LIRI-JP project from International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) data portal was used as an independent validation cohort (n = 232). Kaplan-Meier and multivariable Cox analyses were used to examine the clinical significance and prognostic value of the signature genes.

Results

The SOX gene family members were found to be aberrantly expressed in clinical HCC patients. A five-gene SOX signature with prognostic value was established in the training cohort. The SOX signature genes were found to be closely associated with tumor grade and tumor stage. Liver cancer dedifferentiation markers (AFP, CD133, EPCAM, and KRT19) were found to be progressively increased while hepatocyte terminal differentiation markers (ALB, G6PC, CYP3A4, and HNF4A) were progressively decreased from HCC patients with low SOX signature scores to patients with high SOX signature scores. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis further indicated that the newly established SOX signature could robustly predict patient overall survival in both training, testing, and independent validation cohort.

Conclusions

An oncogenic dedifferentiation SOX signature presents a great potential in predicting prognostic significance in HCC, and might provide novel biomarkers for precision oncology further in the clinic.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12885-019-6041-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

NCAPG2 overexpression promotes hepatocellular carcinoma proliferation and metastasis through activating the STAT3 and NF-κB/miR-188-3p pathways

Background

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly fatal malignant cancer worldwide. Elucidating the underlying molecular mechanism of HCC progression is critical for the identification of new therapeutic targets for HCC. This study aimed to determine the role of Non-SMC condensin II complex subunit G2 (NCAPG2) in HCC proliferation and metastasis.

Methods

We detected NCAPG2 expression in tissues using immunohistochemistry, western blotting and real-time PCR. The effects of NCAPG2 on cell proliferation and metastasis were evaluated both in vitro and in vivo. Immunocytochemistry, enzyme linked immunosorbent assay, co-immunoprecipitation and luciferase reporter assay were performed to uncover the underlying mechanisms.

Findings

We found that NCAPG2 is frequently upregulated in HCC tumour tissues and predicts a poor prognosis. NCAPG2 overexpression promotes HCC proliferation, migration, and invasion through activating STAT3 and NF-κB signalling pathways. Moreover, NCAPG2 is a direct target of miR-188-3p. We demonstrated the existence of a positive feedback loop between NCAPG2 and p-STAT3 and a negative feedback loop between NCAPG2 and miR-188-3p.

Interpretation

Our study indicates that NCAPG2 overexpression could drive HCC proliferation and metastasis through activation of the STAT3 and NF-κB/miR-188-3p pathways. These findings may contribute to the identification of novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets for HCC.

Fund

National Key Program for Science and Technology Research and Development (Grant No. 2016YFC0905902); the National Natural Scientific Foundation of China (Nos. 81772588, 81602058, 81773194); University Nursing Program for Young Scholars with Creative Talents in Heilongjiang Province (Grant No. UNPYSCT-2016200); the Innovative Research Program for Graduate of Harbin Medical University (Grant Nos. YJSCX2017-38HYD, YJSCX2016-18HYD).

ANGPTL6-mediated angiogenesis promotes alpha fetoprotein-producing gastric cancer progression

Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP)-producing gastric cancer (AFPGC) is regarded as a rare but highly malignant gastric adenocarcinoma subtype and its clinic pathological presentation mimics hepatocellular carcinoma. However, the underlying mechanism of this disease remains elusive. The level of ANGPTL6 in AFPGC cell lines is much higher than that of common types of gastric cancer cells. A high level of ANGPTL6 confers a poor prognosis and is correlated with the expression of CD34 (an endothelial cell marker). ANGPTL6 promotes endothelial cell migration and tube formation, Moreover, ANGPTL6 knockdown inhibits cancer cell apoptosis and invasiveness. Mechanistically, ANGPTL6 activates the ERK1/2 and AKT pathways. Treatment of ERK1/2 or AKT inhibitor can attenuated cell migration and tube formation. ANGPTL6 loss results in tumor growth in vivo. Our study revealed that ANGPTL6 is an important driver gene of angiogenesis in AFPGC development. These findings provide not only an effective biomarker for diagnosis but also an attractive therapeutic target for use in AFPGC patients.

BMX-ARHGAP fusion protein maintains the tumorigenicity of gastric cancer stem cells by activating the JAK/STAT3 signaling pathway

Background

Cancer stem cells (CSCs), drug-resistant cancer cell subsets, are known to be responsible for tumor metastasis and relapse. The JAK/STAT pathway, activated by SH2 domain, is known to regulate the tumor growth in gastric cancer (GC). Now, this study was designed to examine whether BMX-ARHGAP affects the GC stem cell properties and the underlying regulatory network via JAK/STAT axis.

Methods

BMX-ARHGAP expression was characterized in GC tissues and cells by RT-qPCR and western blot assay. When BMX-ARHGAP was overexpressed or silenced via plasmids or siRNA transfection, the stem cell properties were assessed by determining stem cell markers CD133, CD44, SOX2 and Nanog, followed by cell sphere and colony formation assays. Subsequently, cell proliferation and invasion were examined by conducting EdU and Transwell assays. The JAK/STAT3 signaling pathway activation was inhibited using AG490. ARHGAP12, BMX exon 10-11, BXM-SH2, JAK2 and STAT3 expression patterns were all determined to examine the regulatory network. The stem cell property in nude mice was also tested.

Results

BMX-ARHGAP was determined to be enriched in the GC. Overexpression of BMX-ARHGAP resulted in increased expression of CD133, CD44, SOX2 and Nanog protein, and accelerated proliferation and invasion of CD133⁺CD44⁺ cells as well as facilitated self-renewal potential of GC cells. However, the inhibition of the JAK/STAT3 signaling pathway reversed the stimulating effect of BMX-ARHGAP on proliferative and invasion abilities of CD133⁺CD44⁺ cells. The overexpression of BMX-ARHGAP was suggested to increase the BMX-SH2 protein expression via ARHGAP 5'UTR, and activate the JAK/STAT3 signaling pathway. Also, BMX-ARHGAP promoted tumor growth in nude mice.

Conclusions

The aforementioned results demonstrated that the BMX-ARHGAP-dependent SH2 domain-JAK/STAT3 axis mediates the maintenance of GC stem cells, benefiting the development of new potential therapeutic targets for GC.

A Systematic Investigation of the Malignant Functions and Diagnostic Potential of the Cancer Secretome

The collection of proteins secreted from a cell-the secretome-is of particular interest in cancer pathophysiology due to its diagnostic potential and role in tumorigenesis. However, cancer secretome studies are often limited to one tissue or cancer type or focus on biomarker prediction without exploring the associated functions. We therefore conducted a pan-cancer analysis of secretome gene expression changes to identify candidate diagnostic biomarkers and to investigate the underlying biological function of these changes. Using transcriptomic data spanning 32 cancer types and 30 healthy tissues, we quantified the relative diagnostic potential of secretome proteins for each cancer. Furthermore, we offer a potential mechanism by which cancer cells relieve secretory pathway stress by decreasing the expression of tissue-specific genes, thereby facilitating the secretion of proteins promoting invasion and proliferation. These results provide a more systematic understanding of the cancer secretome, facilitating its use in diagnostics and its targeting for therapeutic development.

Therapeutically exploiting STAT3 activity in cancer - using tissue repair as a road map

The tightly orchestrated temporal and spatial control of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) activity in epithelial, immune and stromal cells is critical for wound healing and tissue repair. Excessive STAT3 activation within cancer cells and cells of the tumour microenvironment can be viewed as a neoplastic mimic of an inflammation-driven repair response that collectively promotes tumour progression. In addition to the canonical transcriptional pathways by which STAT3 promotes stem cell-like characteristics, survival, proliferation, metastatic potential and immune evasion, cytoplasmic STAT3 activity fuels tumour growth by metabolic and other non-transcriptional mechanisms. Here, we review the tumour-modulating activities of STAT3 in light of its role as a signalling node integrating inflammatory responses during wound healing. Accordingly, many of the cytokines that contribute to the para-inflammatory state of most solid malignancies converge on and underpin dysregulated STAT3 activity. Targeting of these cytokines, their cognate receptors and associated signalling cascades in clinical trials is beginning to demonstrate therapeutic efficacy, given that interference with STAT3 activity is likely to simultaneously curb the growth of cancer cells and augment antitumour immunity.

Angiopoietin-like protein 1 inhibits epithelial to mesenchymal transition in colorectal cancer cells via suppress Slug expression

The role of ANGPTL1 in cancer development is still little known, especially in colorectal cancer (CRC). We investigated the clinical significance of ANGPTL1 expression in CRC tissues and its potential role in the progression of epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) in CRC cells, which has not been reported to our knowledge. ANGPTL1 expression in CRC tissues was much lower that than in paired adjacent normal tissues by IHC, WB and qRT-PCR assays. ANGPTL1 positive expression was negatively associated with tumor size (P = 0.034), T stage (P = 0.015), lymph nodes metastasis (P = 0.045) and TNM stage (P = 0.009) and poor prognosis of CRC patients (P = 0.003). In vitro, ANGPTL1 showed decreasing expression in CRC cell lines from primary tumor to ascites metastasis. Meanwhile, ANGPTL1 silencing enhanced EMT in HCT116 cells followed with the increase of Slug, Fibronectin and Vimentin, the decrease of E-cad, and the enhancement of EMT-like cell morphology and cell invasion and migration. Low ANGPTL1 expression is closely associated with multiple clinical significance and prognosis of CRC patients. ANGPTL1 inhibits EMT of CRC cells via inhibiting E-cad suppressor Slug expression.

The Roles of ANGPTL Families in Cancer Progression

Angiopoietins play important roles in angiogenesis and the maintenance of hematopoietic stem cells. Angiopoietin-like proteins (ANGPTLs) are identified as proteins structurally similar to angiopoietins, and the ANGPTL family now consists of eight members. ANGPTLs are secretary proteins, and some ANGPTLs are not only angiogenic factors but also proteins with multiple functions such as glucose metabolism, lipid metabolism, redox regulation and chronic inflammation. Chronic inflammation is one of the key factors in carcinogenesis and cancer growth, proliferation, invasion and metastasis. ANGPTL 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7 are pro-inflammatory factors and regulate cancer progression, while ANGPTL1 inhibits tumor angiogenesis and metastasis. In this review, we describe the roles of ANGPTLs in cancer progression and discuss the possibility of disturbing the progression of cancer by regulating ANGPTLs expression.

FOXM1c promotes oesophageal cancer metastasis by transcriptionally regulating IRF1 expression

Objectives

We aimed to elucidate the role and molecular mechanisms of FOXM1 in regulating metastasis in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) as well as its clinical implications.

Materials and methods

The expression levels of four isoforms of FOXM1 were analysed by real‐time PCR. Next, genetically modification using overexpression and RNAi systems and transwell were employed to examine FOXM1c function in invasion and migration. Dual luciferase and ChIP assays were performed to decipher the underlying mechanism for transcriptional regulation. The expression levels of FOXM1 and IRF1 were determined by immunohistochemistry staining in ESCC specimens.

Results

The FOXM1c was predominantly overexpressed in ESCC cell lines compared to the other FOXM1 isoforms. Ectopic expression of FOXM1c promoted invasion and migration of ESCC cells lines, whereas downregulation of FOXM1c inhibited these processes. Moreover, FOXM1c expression was positively correlated with IRF1 expression in ESCC cell lines and tumour specimens. IRF1 is, at least in part, responsible for FOXM1c‐mediated invasion and migration. Mechanistically, we identified IRF1 as a transcriptional target of FOXM1c and found a FOXM1c‐binding site in the IRF1 promoter region. Furthermore, high expression levels of both FOXM1c and IRF1 were positively associated with low survival rate and predicted a poor prognosis of oesophageal cancer patients.

Conclusion

FOXM1c promotes the metastasis by transcriptionally targeting IRF1 and may serve as a potential prognostic predictor for oesophageal cancer.