High SENP3 Expression Promotes Cell Migration, Invasion, and Proliferation by Modulating DNA Methylation of E-Cadherin in Osteosarcoma

The SUMOylation and ubiquitination crosstalk in cancer

BACKGROUND

The cancer occurrence and progression are largely affected by the post-translational modifications (PTMs) of proteins. Currently, it has been shown that the relationship between ubiquitination and SUMOylation is highly complex and interactive. SUMOylation affects the process of ubiquitination and degradation of substrates. Contrarily, SUMOylation-related proteins are also regulated by the ubiquitination process thus altering their protein levels or activity. Emerging evidence suggests that the abnormal regulation between this crosstalk may lead to tumorigenesis.

PURPOSE

In this review, we have discussed the study of the relationship between ubiquitination and SUMOylation, as well as the possibility of a corresponding application in tumor therapy.

METHODS

The relevant literatures from PubMed have been reviewed for this article.

CONCLUSION

The interaction between ubiquitination and SUMOylation is crucial for the occurrence and development of cancer. A greater understanding of the crosstalk of SUMOylation and ubiquitination may be more conducive to the development of more selective and effective SUMOylation inhibitors, as well as a promotion of synergy with other tumor treatment strategies.

Epigenetic Changes Associated with Osteosarcoma: A Comprehensive Review

Osteosarcoma is the most common malignant primary bone tumor in children and adolescents. While clinical outcomes have improved, the 5-year survival rate is only around 60% if discovered early and can require debilitating treatments, such as amputations. A better understanding of the disease could lead to better clinical outcomes for patients with osteosarcoma. One promising avenue of osteosarcoma research is in the field of epigenetics. This research investigates changes in genetic expression that occur above the genome rather than in the genetic code itself. The epigenetics of osteosarcoma is an active area of research that is still not fully understood. In a narrative review, we examine recent advances in the epigenetics of osteosarcoma by reporting biomarkers of DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNA associated with disease progression. We also show how cancer tumor epigenetic profiles are being used to predict and improve patient outcomes. The papers in this review cover a large range of epigenetic target genes and pathways that modulate many aspects of osteosarcoma, including but not limited to metastases and chemotherapy resistance. Ultimately, this review will shed light on the recent advances in the epigenetics of osteosarcoma and illustrate the clinical benefits of this field of research.

Regulation of the Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition in Osteosarcoma

The epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a cellular process that has been linked to the promotion of aggressive cellular features in many cancer types. It is characterized by the loss of the epithelial cell phenotype and a shift to a more mesenchymal phenotype and is accompanied by an associated change in cell markers. EMT is highly complex and regulated via multiple signaling pathways. While the importance of EMT is classically described for carcinomas-cancers of epithelial origin-it has also been clearly demonstrated in non-epithelial cancers, including osteosarcoma (OS), a primary bone cancer predominantly affecting children and young adults. Recent studies examining EMT in OS have highlighted regulatory roles for multiple proteins, non-coding nucleic acids, and components of the tumor micro-environment. This review serves to summarize these experimental findings, identify key families of regulatory molecules, and identify potential therapeutic targets specific to the EMT process in OS.

SENP3 promotes tumor progression and is a novel prognostic biomarker in triple-negative breast cancer

Background

The clinical outcome of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is poor. Finding more targets for the treatment of TNBC is an urgent need. SENPs are SUMO-specific proteins that play an important role in SUMO modification. Among several tumor types, SENPs have been identified as relevant biomarkers for progression and prognosis. The role of SENPs in TNBC is not yet clear.

Methods

The expression and prognosis of SENPs in TNBC were analyzed by TCGA and GEO data. SENP3 coexpression regulatory networks were determined by weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA). Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and Cox univariate analyses were used to develop a risk signature based on genes associated with SENP3. A time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was employed to evaluate a risk signature's predictive accuracy and sensitivity. Moreover, a nomogram was constructed to facilitate clinical application.

Results

The prognostic and expression effects of SENP family genes were validated using the TCGA and GEO databases. SENP3 was found to be the only gene in the SENP family that was highly expressed and associated with an unfavorable prognosis in TNBC patients. Cell functional experiments showed that knockdown of SENP3 leads to growth, invasion, and migration inhibition of TNBC cells in vitro. By using WGCNA, 273 SENP3-related genes were identified. Finally, 11 SENP3-related genes were obtained from Cox univariate analysis and LASSO regression. Based on this, a prognostic risk prediction model was established. The risk signature of SENP3-related genes was verified as an independent prognostic marker for TNBC patients.

Conclusion

Among SENP family genes, we found that SENP3 was overexpressed in TNBC and associated with a worse prognosis. SENP3 knockdown can inhibit tumor proliferation, invasion, and migration. In TNBC patients, a risk signature based on the expression of 11 SENP3-related genes may improve prognosis prediction. The established risk markers may be promising prognostic biomarkers that can guide the individualized treatment of TNBC patients.

Cancer-Associated Dysregulation of Sumo Regulators: Proteases and Ligases

SUMOylation is a post-translational modification that has emerged in recent decades as a mechanism involved in controlling diverse physiological processes and that is essential in vertebrates. The SUMO pathway is regulated by several enzymes, proteases and ligases being the main actors involved in the control of sumoylation of specific targets. Dysregulation of the expression, localization and function of these enzymes produces physiological changes that can lead to the appearance of different types of cancer, depending on the enzymes and target proteins involved. Among the most studied proteases and ligases, those of the SENP and PIAS families stand out, respectively. While the proteases involved in this pathway have specific SUMO activity, the ligases may have additional functions unrelated to sumoylation, which makes it more difficult to study their SUMO-associated role in cancer process. In this review we update the knowledge and advances in relation to the impact of dysregulation of SUMO proteases and ligases in cancer initiation and progression.

Integral Analyses of Competing Endogenous RNA Mechanisms and DNA Methylation Reveal Regulatory Mechanisms in Osteosarcoma

Background: Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common primary malignant bone tumour in children and adolescents, with rapid growth, frequent metastasis, and a poor prognosis, but its pathogenesis has not been fully elucidated. Exploring the pathogenesis of OS is of great significance for improving diagnoses and finding new therapeutic targets.

Methods: Differentially expressed circRNAs (DECs), miRNAs (DEMs), methylated DNA sites (DMSs), and mRNAs (DEGs) were identified between OS and control cell lines. GSEA of DEGs and functional enrichment analysis of methylated DEGs were carried out to further identify potential biological processes. Online tools were used to predict the miRNA binding sites of DECs and the mRNA binding sites of DEMs, and then construct a circRNA-miRNA-mRNA network. Next, an analysis of the interaction between methylated DEGs was performed with a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, and hub gene identification and survival analysis were carried out. The expression pattern of circRNA-miRNA-mRNA was validated by real-time PCR.

Results: GSEA and functional enrichment analysis indicated that DEGs and methylated DEGs are involved in important biological processes in cancer. Hsa_circ_0001753/has_miR_760/CD74 network was constructed and validated in cell lines. Low expression levels of CD74 are associated with poor overall survival times and show good diagnostic ability.

Conclusion: Methylated DEGs may be involved in the development of OS, and the hsa_circ_0001753/has_miR_760/CD74 network may serve as a target for the early diagnosis of and targeted therapy for OS.