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Wang C, He J, Chen C, Luo W, Dang X, Mao L. A potential role of human esophageal cancer-related gene-4 in cardiovascular homeostasis. Gene 2024; 894:147977. [PMID: 37956966 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2023.147977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Human esophageal cancer related gene-4 (ECRG-4) encodes a 148-aminoacid pre-pro-peptide that can be processed tissue-dependently into multiple small peptides possessing multiple functions distinct from, similar to, or opposite to the tumor suppressor function of the full-length Ecrg4. Ecrg-4 is covalently bound to the cell surface through its signal peptide, colocalized with the innate immunity complex (TLR4-CD14-MD2), and functions as a 'sentinel' molecule in the maintenance of epithelium and leukocyte homeostasis, meaning that the presence of Ecrg-4 on the cell surface signals the maintained homeostasis, whereas the loss of Ecrg-4 due to tissue injury activates pro-inflammatory and tissue proliferative responses, and the level of Ecrg-4 gradually returns to its pre-injury level upon wound healing. Interestingly, Ecrg-4 is also highly expressed in the heart and its conduction system, endothelial cells, and vascular smooth muscle cells. Accumulating evidence has shown that Ecrg-4 is involved in cardiac rate/rhythm control, the development of atrial fibrillation, doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity, the ischemic response of the heart and hypoxic response in the carotid body, the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, and likely the endemic incidence of idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. These preliminary discoveries suggest that Ecrg-4 may function as a 'sentinel' molecule in cardiovascular system as well. Here, we briefly review the basic characteristics of ECRG-4 as a tumor suppressor gene and its regulatory functions on inflammation and apoptosis; summarize the discoveries about its distribution in cardiovascular system and involvement in the development of CVDs, and discuss its potential as a novel therapeutic target for the maintenance of cardiovascular system homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaoying Wang
- The Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology of Ministry of Education, Medical Electrophysiological Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Collaborative Innovation Center for Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular Disease of Sichuan Province, Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Southwest Medical University, China
| | - Jianghui He
- The Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology of Ministry of Education, Medical Electrophysiological Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Collaborative Innovation Center for Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular Disease of Sichuan Province, Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Southwest Medical University, China
| | - Chunyue Chen
- The Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology of Ministry of Education, Medical Electrophysiological Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Collaborative Innovation Center for Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular Disease of Sichuan Province, Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Southwest Medical University, China
| | - Wenjun Luo
- The Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology of Ministry of Education, Medical Electrophysiological Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Collaborative Innovation Center for Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular Disease of Sichuan Province, Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Southwest Medical University, China
| | - Xitong Dang
- The Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology of Ministry of Education, Medical Electrophysiological Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Collaborative Innovation Center for Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular Disease of Sichuan Province, Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Southwest Medical University, China.
| | - Liang Mao
- The Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology of Ministry of Education, Medical Electrophysiological Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Collaborative Innovation Center for Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular Disease of Sichuan Province, Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Southwest Medical University, China; Department of Cardiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China.
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Li X, Hu S, Ma M, Wang P, Qi Y, Zhou Y, Zhong Z, Gao H, Bai F. Esophageal cancer-related gene 4 inhibits gastric cancer growth and metastasis by upregulating Krüppel-like factor 2 expression. ANNALS OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE 2023; 11:176. [PMID: 36923086 PMCID: PMC10009579 DOI: 10.21037/atm-23-139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
Abstract
Background There are a large number of people suffering from gastric cancer (GC) worldwide, so the study of biomarkers for GC is urgently needed. This study aimed to investigate the role of esophageal cancer-related gene 4 (ECRG4) in the growth, metastasis, and prognosis of GC and the possible underlying mechanism. Methods The expression of ECRG4 was detected in GC tissues by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR), Western blot, and immunohistochemistry. The relationships between ECRG4 expression and clinicopathological parameters of patients with GC were statistically analyzed, and Kaplan-Meier prognosis and survival curves of the patients were plotted. ECRG4 was overexpressed in the human gastric adenocarcinoma cell line (AGS) and human GC cell line 27 (HGC27), and the in vivo effects of ECRG4 overexpression on the growth, invasion, and metastasis of GC were analyzed and verified in nude mice. To identify the downstream transcription factors potentially regulated by ECRG4, ribonucleic acid (RNA) sequencing and differential gene expression analysis were performed on ECRG4-overexpressing cells. Quantitative PCR, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry were used to detect the expression of the downstream transcription factors targeted by ECRG4 in GC. Results The ECRG4 mRNA and protein expression levels were low in GC tissues and were associated with a poor prognosis. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier survival analyses showed that patients with low ECRG4 expression had worse prognosis and survival. Overexpression of ECRG4 inhibited the proliferation, metastasis, and invasion of GC cells. RNA sequencing analysis showed that overexpression of ECRG4 induced the upregulation of Krüppel-like factor 2. Conclusions Our findings show that ECRG4 promotes GC progression via Krüppel-like factor 2 signaling and highlight ECRG4 as a potential GC biomarker and therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ximei Li
- School of Clinical Medicine, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China.,Department of Gastroenterology, People's Hospital of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Yinchuan, China
| | - Shengjuan Hu
- Department of Gastroenterology, People's Hospital of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Yinchuan, China
| | - Meijuan Ma
- Department of Gastroenterology, People's Hospital of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Yinchuan, China
| | - Pengda Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, People's Hospital of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Yinchuan, China
| | - Yao Qi
- Department of Gastroenterology, Tongji Hospital, Institute of Digestive Disease, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.,National Engineering Center for Biochip at Shanghai, Shanghai, China
| | - Yan Zhou
- School of Clinical Medicine, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Zishao Zhong
- Department of Gastroenterology, Tongji Hospital, Institute of Digestive Disease, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hengjun Gao
- Department of Gastroenterology, Tongji Hospital, Institute of Digestive Disease, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.,National Engineering Center for Biochip at Shanghai, Shanghai, China
| | - Feihu Bai
- The Gastroenterology Clinical Medical Center of Hainan Province, Haikou, China.,Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China
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Zhang Z, Wang W, Zhang Y, You X, Wu J. A potential link between aberrant expression of ECRG4 and atrial fibrillation. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1031128. [PMID: 36910669 PMCID: PMC9992723 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1031128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Esophageal cancer-related gene-4 (ECRG4), a 148-amino acid propertied and new tumor suppressor, is initially cloned from the normal esophageal epithelium. ECRG4 was found to be expressed not only in esophageal tissues but also in cardiomyocytes. Previous studies demonstrated that ECRG4 is constitutively expressed in esophageal epithelial cells, and its degree of downregulation is directly proportional to prognosis in patients with esophageal cancer. In the heart, ECRG4 shows greater expression in the atria than in the ventricles, which accounts for its heterogeneity. Downregulation of ECRG4 expression level correlates with esophageal cancer, as well as myocardial injuries and arrhythmias. As a result, this review summarizes the possible susceptibility gene, ECRG4 and its associated molecular mechanisms in cancer patients with atrial fibrillation and myocardial injury. The review begins by describing ECRG4's biological background, discusses its expression in the cardiovascular system, lists the clinical and animal research related to the downregulation of ECRG4 in atrial fibrillation, and focuses on its potential role in atrial fibrillation. Downregulation of ECRG4 may increase the risk of atrial fibrillation by affecting ion channels, MMPs expression and inflammatory response. We will then discuss how ECRG4 can be used in the treatment of tumors and arrhythmias, and provide a novel possible strategy to reduce the occurrence of perioperative cardiovascular adverse events in patients with tumors such as esophageal cancer and gastric cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zuojing Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuxin Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xingji You
- School of Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jingxiang Wu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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You Y, Hu S. Aberrant expression of the esophageal carcinoma related gene 4 as a prognostic signature for hepatocellular carcinoma. Clin Res Hepatol Gastroenterol 2022; 46:101891. [PMID: 35189425 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinre.2022.101891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Revised: 02/06/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a lethal cancer with increasing incidence, yet the molecular biomarkers that have strong prognostic impact and also hold great therapeutic promise remain elusive. METHODS Data mining approaches with a set of publicly accessible databases and immunohistochemistry were used to provide a novel insight into the expression pattern and prognostic significance of the esophageal cancer-related gene (ECRG) family members in HCC. RESULTS We found that elevated mRNA expression levels of ECRG factors were correlated with better overall survival, relapse-free survival and progression-free survival rates in patients with HCC. Subgroup analyses showed significant associations between ECRG expression and survival outcome in select HCC patients. In addition, immunohistochemical and multivariate analysis confirmed increased ECRG4 expression as an independent prognostic indicator for survival. CONCLUSIONS Our data suggest that ECRG factors have significant impacts on the survival of HCC patients. The expression of ECRG factors may be involved in HCC progression and could serve as novel biomarkers for predicting more accurate prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanjie You
- Department of Gastroenterology, People's Hospital of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, 750002, PR China.
| | - Shengjuan Hu
- Department of Gastroenterology, People's Hospital of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, 750002, PR China.
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Liang X, Gao J, Wang Q, Hou S, Wu C. ECRG4 Represses Cell Proliferation and Invasiveness via NFIC/OGN/NF-κB Signaling Pathway in Bladder Cancer. Front Genet 2020; 11:846. [PMID: 32922434 PMCID: PMC7456849 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2020.00846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Bladder cancer (BCa) is a malignant tumor in the urinary system with high cancer-related mortality worldwide. However, the molecular mechanisms of many genes dysregulated in BCa are still unclear. Herein, we showed that esophageal cancer-related gene-4 (ECRG4), which is downregulated in BCa tissues and cell lines, has a positive correlation with osteoglycin (OGN). Further functional experimental studies suggested that both ECRG4 and OGN inhibit cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in BCa cells. Moreover, ECRG4 acts as a tumor repressor and promotes the expression of OGN via the upregulation of nuclear factor 1 C-type (NFIC), which can bind to the promoter region of OGN and regulate its transcription. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that NFIC is downregulated in BCa tissues and has a positive correlation with ECRG4 or OGN. Esophageal cancer-related gene-4 could positively regulate the protein levels of NFIC in BCa cells. In addition, we demonstrated for the first time that ECRG4 inhibits the nuclear factor (NF)-κB signaling pathway via the upregulation of OGN in BCa cells. Overall, these findings provide evidence that both ECRG4 and OGN function as tumor repressors and that overexpression of ECRG4 inhibits the NF-κB signaling pathway by promoting NFIC/OGN signaling in BCa cells. Our results reveal the molecular regulatory mechanisms of the ECRG4-mediated repression of the NFIC/OGN/NF-κB signaling pathway in BCa and provide potential biomarkers or therapeutic targets for BCa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Liang
- Department of Urology, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.,Department of Urology, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, Qingdao, China
| | - Jiangang Gao
- Department of Urology, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, Qingdao, China
| | - Quan Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, Qingdao, China
| | - Sichuan Hou
- Department of Urology, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, Qingdao, China
| | - Changli Wu
- Department of Urology, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
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Sallee NA, Lee E, Leffert A, Ramirez S, Brace AD, Halenbeck R, Kavanaugh WM, Sullivan KMC. A Pilot Screen of a Novel Peptide Hormone Library Identified Candidate GPR83 Ligands. SLAS DISCOVERY 2020; 25:1047-1063. [PMID: 32713278 DOI: 10.1177/2472555220934807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
The identification of novel peptide hormones by functional screening is challenging because posttranslational processing is frequently required to generate biologically active hormones from inactive precursors. We developed an approach for functional screening of novel potential hormones by expressing them in endocrine host cells competent for posttranslational processing. Candidate preprohormones were selected by bioinformatics analysis, and stable endocrine host cell lines were engineered to express the preprohormones. The production of mature hormones was demonstrated by including the preprohormones insulin and glucagon, which require the regulated secretory pathway for production of the active forms. As proof of concept, we screened a set of G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and identified protein FAM237A as a specific activator of GPR83, a GPCR implicated in central nervous system and regulatory T-cell function. We identified the active form of FAM237A as a C-terminally cleaved, amidated 9 kDa secreted protein. The related protein FAM237B, which is 64% homologous to FAM237A, demonstrated similar posttranslational modification and activation of GPR83, albeit with reduced potency. These results demonstrate that our approach is capable of identifying and characterizing novel hormones that require processing for activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan A Sallee
- Five Prime Therapeutics Inc., South San Francisco, CA, USA.,Maze Therapeutics Inc., South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Ernestine Lee
- Five Prime Therapeutics Inc., South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Atossa Leffert
- Five Prime Therapeutics Inc., South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Silvia Ramirez
- Five Prime Therapeutics Inc., South San Francisco, CA, USA.,BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc., San Rafael, CA, USA
| | - Arthur D Brace
- Five Prime Therapeutics Inc., South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Robert Halenbeck
- Five Prime Therapeutics Inc., South San Francisco, CA, USA.,BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc., San Rafael, CA, USA
| | - W Michael Kavanaugh
- Five Prime Therapeutics Inc., South San Francisco, CA, USA.,CytomX Therapeutics Inc., South San Francisco, CA, USA
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Potential functions of esophageal cancer-related gene-4 in the cardiovascular system. Front Med 2019; 13:639-645. [PMID: 31468282 DOI: 10.1007/s11684-019-0701-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2018] [Accepted: 05/21/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Esophageal cancer-related gene-4 (Ecrg4) is cloned from the normal epithelium of the esophagus. It is constitutively expressed in quiescent epithelial cells and downregulated during tumorigenesis, and Ecrg4 expression levels are inversely correlated with the malignant phenotype of tumor cells, validating that Ecrg4 is a real tumor suppressor gene. Unlike other tumor suppressor genes that usually encode membrane or intracellular proteins, Ecrg4 encodes a 148-amino acid pre-pro-peptide that is tethered on the cell surface in epithelial cells, specialized epithelial cells, and human leukocytes, where it can be processed tissue dependently into several small peptides upon cell activation. Ecrg4 is expressed in a wide variety of other cells/tissues, including cardiomyocytes and conduction system of the heart, the glomus cells of the carotid body, adrenal glands, choroid plexus, and leukocytes among others, where it exerts distinct functions, such as promoting/suppressing inflammation, inducing neuron senescence, stimulating the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis, maintaining the stemness of stem cells, participating in the rhythm and rate control of the heart, and possibly gauging the responsiveness of the cardiovascular system (CVS) to hypoxia, in addition to tumor suppression. Here, we briefly review the latest discoveries on Ecrg4 and its underlying molecular mechanisms as a tumor suppressor and focus on the emerging roles of Ecrg4 in the CVS.
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Huang W, Zhou R, Mao L, Deng C, Dang X. Esophageal cancer related gene-4 inhibits the migration and proliferation of oral squamous cell carcinoma through BC200 lncRNA/MMP-9 and -13 signaling pathway. Cell Signal 2019; 62:109327. [PMID: 31152845 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2019.05.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2019] [Revised: 05/21/2019] [Accepted: 05/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Esophageal cancer related gene-4 (ECRG4) inhibits the malignant phenotype of oral squamous cell carcinoma. However, the molecular mechanisms remain to be explored. Using the tongue carcinoma cell line, TCA8113 as a cell model, we showed that forced expression of ECRG4 down-regulated the expression of the BC200 long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-9 and MMP-13). Restoration of BC200 lncRNA rescued ECRG4-mediated down-regulation of MMP-9 and -13. Furthermore, over-expression of Ecrg4 inhibited cell proliferation and migration, which was abolished by forced expression of BC200 lncRNA in TCA8113 cells. Our results indicate that ECRG4 inhibits the malignant phenotype of TCA8113 cells most likely through suppression of BC200 lncRNA/MMPs signaling pathway, rationalizing that BC200 lncRNA may be a potential target for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjun Huang
- The Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology, Ministry of Education & Medical Electrophysiological Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China
| | - Rui Zhou
- The Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology, Ministry of Education & Medical Electrophysiological Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China
| | - Liang Mao
- The Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology, Ministry of Education & Medical Electrophysiological Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China
| | - Chenliang Deng
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Shanghai 6th People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200237, China.
| | - Xitong Dang
- The Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology, Ministry of Education & Medical Electrophysiological Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China.
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ECRG4 acts as a tumor suppressor gene frequently hypermethylated in human breast cancer. Biosci Rep 2019; 39:BSR20190087. [PMID: 30918105 PMCID: PMC6509063 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20190087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2019] [Revised: 03/22/2019] [Accepted: 03/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Human breast cancer is a malignant form of tumor with a relatively high mortality rate. Although esophageal cancer-related gene 4 (ECRG4) is thought to be a possible potent tumor suppressor gene that acts to suppress breast cancer, its precise role in this disease is not understood. Herein, we assess the correlation between ECRG4 expression and DNA methylation, probing the potential epigenetic regulation of ECRG4 in breast cancer. We analyzed ECRG4 promoter methylation via methylation-specific PCR (MSPCR), bisulfite sequencing, and a promoter reporter assay in human breast cancer cell lines and samples. Gene expression was assessed by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR), while protein levels were assessed by Western blotting. CCK8 assays were used to quantify cell growth; Esophageal cancer-related gene 4 wound healing assays were used to assess cellular migration, while flow cytometry was used to assess apoptosis and cell cycle progression. Apoptosome formation was validated via CO-IP and Western blotting. We found that human breast cancer samples exhibited increased methylation of the ECRG4 promoter and decreased ECRG4 expression. Remarkably, the down-regulation of ECRG4 was highly associated with promoter methylation, and its expression could be re-activated via 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine treatment to induce demethylation. ECRG4 overexpression impaired breast cancer cell proliferation and migration, and led to G0/G1 cell cycle phase arrest. Moreover, ECRG4 induced the formation of the Cytc/Apaf-1/caspase-9 apoptosome and promoted breast cancer cell apoptosis. ECRG4 is silenced in human breast cancer cells and cell lines, likely owing to promoter hypermethylation. ECRG4 may act as a tumor suppressor, inhibiting proliferation and migration, inducing G0/G1 phase arrest and apoptosis via the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway.
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Deng P, Chang XJ, Gao ZM, Xu XY, Sun AQ, Li K, Dai DQ. Downregulation and DNA methylation of ECRG4 in gastric cancer. Onco Targets Ther 2018; 11:4019-4028. [PMID: 30034241 PMCID: PMC6049055 DOI: 10.2147/ott.s161200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Esophageal cancer-related gene 4 (ECRG4) is a novel candidate tumor suppressor gene. Our study investigated the expression and function of ECRG4 in gastric cancer and highlighted the role of DNA hypermethylation at the promoter in silencing the ECRG4 expression. Methods The GSE63089 data set was obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus and analyzed for differentially expressed genes. Carcinoma and para-carcinoma tissues of 102 patients with gastric cancer were collected from January 2010 to July 2011. Immunohistochemistry, real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and western blot analyses were performed to evaluate the expression of ECRG4. After measuring the change in the level of ECRG4 expression, CCK-8, Transwell, and flow cytometric cell cycle assays were performed. In addition, methylation-specific PCR was performed to detect the methylation state of ECRG4, and 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine was used for demethylation of ECRG4. All statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS 17.0 software. Results We found that ECRG4 expression was downregulated in gastric cancer, and this was closely related to lymph node metastasis. After ECRG4 was silenced using a specific small interfering RNA, the BGC-823 cell line became highly aggressive and proliferative. In addition, we verified whether downregulation of ECRG4 was highly correlated with DNA methylation of the ECRG4 promoter and found that the demethylating agent 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine could effectively enhance ECRG4 expression. Conclusion The aberrant expression of ECRG4 is associated with hypermethylation in the promoter region and plays an important role in the malignancy of gastric cancer. Therefore, ECRG4 may be a potential biomarker for molecular diagnosis of gastric cancer, and the use of 5-Aza-dC to reverse the hypermethylation of ECRG4 may be a new approach to the treatment of gastric cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Deng
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery and Cancer Center, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China,
| | - Xiao-Jing Chang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery and Cancer Center, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China,
| | - Zi-Ming Gao
- Department of Surgical Oncology and General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Xiao-Yang Xu
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery and Cancer Center, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China,
| | - An-Qi Sun
- Department of Surgical Oncology and General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Kai Li
- Department of Surgical Oncology and General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Dong-Qiu Dai
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery and Cancer Center, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China,
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Mao L, Li X, Gong S, Yuan H, Jiang Y, Huang W, Sun X, Dang X. Serum exosomes contain ECRG4 mRNA that suppresses tumor growth via inhibition of genes involved in inflammation, cell proliferation, and angiogenesis. Cancer Gene Ther 2018; 25:248-259. [PMID: 29983418 DOI: 10.1038/s41417-018-0032-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2017] [Revised: 05/14/2018] [Accepted: 05/17/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Esophageal cancer related gene-4 (Ecrg4) has been shown to be a tumor suppressor in many organs. Exosomes are naturally secreted nanosized particles that carry signal molecules including microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and messenger RNAs (mRNAs) among others. Upon internalization, exosomes unload their cargos that in turn modulate the biology of the recipient cells. Mounting evidence has shown that exosomal miRNAs are functional. However, reports that exosomes carry functional mRNAs remain scarce. We found that serum exosomes contain ECRG4 open reading frame. To simulate serum exosomal ECRG4, stable cell line expressing ECRG4 was created, from which exosomes were isolated and characterized, and the internalization and the resulting biological effects of exosomal ECRG4 were evaluated. Results showed that serum exosomes contain higher levels of ECRG4 mRNA in healthy individuals than their cancer counterparts. Exosomal ECRG4 can be internalized and unload the encapsulated ECRG4 into recipient cells, which subsequently suppressed cell proliferation in vitro, and inhibited tumor growth in a xenograft mouse model. Mechanistically, ECRG4-containing exosomes, when internalized, suppressed the expression of genes commonly implicated in inflammation, cell proliferation, and angiogenesis. Given that exosome is an ideal vehicle for therapeutics delivery and that ECRG4 is a tumor suppressor gene, the exosomal ECRG4 can be exploited as a formulation for cancer gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Mao
- Institute of Cardiovascular Research, The Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology, Ministry of Education, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, China
| | - Xue Li
- Institute of Cardiovascular Research, The Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology, Ministry of Education, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, China
| | - Shu Gong
- Department of Pathophysiology, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, China
| | - Haiyang Yuan
- Institute of Cardiovascular Research, The Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology, Ministry of Education, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, China
| | - Yu Jiang
- Institute of Cardiovascular Research, The Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology, Ministry of Education, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, China
| | - Wenjun Huang
- Institute of Cardiovascular Research, The Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology, Ministry of Education, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, China
| | - Xingwang Sun
- Department of Pathology, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, China
| | - Xitong Dang
- Institute of Cardiovascular Research, The Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology, Ministry of Education, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, China.
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Chung J, Zhang X, Allen M, Wang X, Ma Y, Beecham G, Montine TJ, Younkin SG, Dickson DW, Golde TE, Price ND, Ertekin-Taner N, Lunetta KL, Mez J, Mayeux R, Haines JL, Pericak-Vance MA, Schellenberg G, Jun GR, Farrer LA. Genome-wide pleiotropy analysis of neuropathological traits related to Alzheimer's disease. ALZHEIMERS RESEARCH & THERAPY 2018; 10:22. [PMID: 29458411 PMCID: PMC5819208 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-018-0349-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2017] [Accepted: 01/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Simultaneous consideration of two neuropathological traits related to Alzheimer's disease (AD) has not been attempted in a genome-wide association study. METHODS We conducted genome-wide pleiotropy analyses using association summary statistics from the Beecham et al. study (PLoS Genet 10:e1004606, 2014) for AD-related neuropathological traits, including neuritic plaque (NP), neurofibrillary tangle (NFT), and cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA). Significant findings were further examined by expression quantitative trait locus and differentially expressed gene analyses in AD vs. control brains using gene expression data. RESULTS Genome-wide significant pleiotropic associations were observed for the joint model of NP and NFT (NP + NFT) with the single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs34487851 upstream of C2orf40 (alias ECRG4, P = 2.4 × 10-8) and for the joint model of NFT and CAA (NFT + CAA) with the HDAC9 SNP rs79524815 (P = 1.1 × 10-8). Gene-based testing revealed study-wide significant associations (P ≤ 2.0 × 10-6) for the NFT + CAA outcome with adjacent genes TRAPPC12, TRAPPC12-AS1, and ADI1. Risk alleles of proxy SNPs for rs79524815 were associated with significantly lower expression of HDAC9 in the brain (P = 3.0 × 10-3), and HDAC9 was significantly downregulated in subjects with AD compared with control subjects in the prefrontal (P = 7.9 × 10-3) and visual (P = 5.6 × 10-4) cortices. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that pleiotropy analysis is a useful approach to identifying novel genetic associations with complex diseases and their endophenotypes. Functional studies are needed to determine whether ECRG4 or HDAC9 is plausible as a therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaeyoon Chung
- Bioinformatics Graduate Program, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Medicine (Biomedical Genetics), Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Xiaoling Zhang
- Department of Medicine (Biomedical Genetics), Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Mariet Allen
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Xue Wang
- Department of Health Sciences Research, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Yiyi Ma
- Department of Medicine (Biomedical Genetics), Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Gary Beecham
- Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Thomas J Montine
- Department of Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | | | - Todd E Golde
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Nathan D Price
- Institute for Systems Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Nilüfer Ertekin-Taner
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA.,Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Kathryn L Lunetta
- Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jesse Mez
- Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Richard Mayeux
- Department of Neurology and Sergievsky Center, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jonathan L Haines
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Margaret A Pericak-Vance
- Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Gerard Schellenberg
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Gyungah R Jun
- Department of Medicine (Biomedical Genetics), Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.,Neurogenetics and Integrated Genomics, Andover Innovative Medicines Institute, Eisai Inc., Andover, MA, USA
| | - Lindsay A Farrer
- Bioinformatics Graduate Program, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA. .,Department of Medicine (Biomedical Genetics), Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA. .,Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA. .,Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA. .,Department of Ophthalmology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA. .,Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
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13
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Dang X, Zeng X, Coimbra R, Eliceiri BP, Baird A. Counter regulation of ECRG4 gene expression by hypermethylation-dependent inhibition and the Sp1 transcription factor-dependent stimulation of the c2orf40 promoter. Gene 2017; 636:103-111. [PMID: 28870864 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2017.08.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2017] [Accepted: 08/31/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The human cytokine precursor ECRG4 has been associated with multiple physiological, developmental and pathophysiological processes involving cell proliferation, cell migration, innate immunity, inflammation, cancer progression and metastases. Although down-regulation of ECRG4 gene expression has been largely attributed to hypermethylation of CpG islands in the 5'untranslated region of the ECRG4 promoter, the mechanisms that underlie the dynamics of its regulation have never been systematically described. Here we show that the ECRG4 gene is widely expressed in human tissues and report that its core promoter lies between the -780 to +420 base pairs relative to the ATG start codon of the ECRG4 open reading frame. This sequence, which contains several CpG islands, also includes multiple overlapping Sp1 consensus binding sequences and a putative binding site for NF-kB activation. 5'RACE of mRNA derived from human leukocytes shows that ECRG4 transcription initiates from the guanidine at -11 from the initiation ATG of the ECRG4 open reading frame. While there is no canonical TATA- or CAAT-boxes proximal to this translational initiation site, there is a distal TATA-sequence in the 5'UTR. This region was identified as the sequence targeted by hypermethylation because in vitro methylation of plasmids encoding the ECRG4 promoter abolish promoter activity and the treatment of Jurkat cells (which naturally express ECRG4) with the methylation inhibitor 5-AzaC, increases endogenous ECRG4 expression. Because ChIP assays show that Sp1 binds the ECRG4 promoter, that forced Sp1 expression trans-activates the ECRG4 promoter and Sp1 inhibition with mithramycin inhibits ECRG4 expression, we conclude that the dynamic positive and negative regulatory elements controlling ECRG4 expression include a counter regulation between promoter methylation and Sp1 activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xitong Dang
- Department of Surgery, UC San Diego School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, CA 92139, USA; Institute of Cardiovascular Research, The Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology, Ministry of Education of China, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China.
| | - Xiaorong Zeng
- Institute of Cardiovascular Research, The Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology, Ministry of Education of China, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China
| | - Raul Coimbra
- Department of Surgery, UC San Diego School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, CA 92139, USA
| | - Brian P Eliceiri
- Department of Surgery, UC San Diego School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, CA 92139, USA
| | - Andrew Baird
- Department of Surgery, UC San Diego School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, CA 92139, USA.
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14
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Feng N, Wang Y, Zheng M, Yu X, Lin H, Ma RN, Shi O, Zheng X, Gao M, Yu H, Garmire L, Qian B. Genome-wide analysis of DNA methylation and their associations with long noncoding RNA/mRNA expression in non-small-cell lung cancer. Epigenomics 2017; 9:137-153. [PMID: 28111977 DOI: 10.2217/epi-2016-0120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
AIM The goal of this study is to identify differentially methylated (DM) loci associated with long noncoding RNA (lncRNA)/mRNA expression in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). MATERIALS & METHODS Microarrays were used to interrogate genome-wide methylation and expression of lncRNA/mRNA in NSCLC. RESULTS We identified 113,644 DM loci between tumors and adjacent tissues. Among them, 26,310 DM loci were associated with 1685 differentially expressed genes, and 839 genes had significant correlations between methylation and expression, of which 26 hypermethylated loci in transcription start site 200 were correlated with low gene expression. We validated the correlations between methylation and expression in five genes (CDO1, C2orf40, SCARF1, ZFP106 and IFFO1) using pyrosequencing and quantitative polymerase chain reaction. We also found significant correlations between lncRNAs and mRNAs, and validated four of the correlations with quantitative polymerase chain reaction. CONCLUSION Integrated analysis of genome-wide DNA methylation and lncRNA/mRNA expression allows us to identify new DM loci-correlated with gene expression in NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nannan Feng
- Hongqiao International Institute of Medicine, Shanghai Tongren Hospital & Faculty of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Yu Wang
- Hongqiao International Institute of Medicine, Shanghai Tongren Hospital & Faculty of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention & Therapy, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital, Tianjin 300060, China
| | - Min Zheng
- Hongqiao International Institute of Medicine, Shanghai Tongren Hospital & Faculty of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Xiao Yu
- Hongqiao International Institute of Medicine, Shanghai Tongren Hospital & Faculty of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Hongyan Lin
- Hongqiao International Institute of Medicine, Shanghai Tongren Hospital & Faculty of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Rong-Na Ma
- Hongqiao International Institute of Medicine, Shanghai Tongren Hospital & Faculty of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Oumin Shi
- Hongqiao International Institute of Medicine, Shanghai Tongren Hospital & Faculty of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Xiangqian Zheng
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention & Therapy, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital, Tianjin 300060, China
| | - Ming Gao
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention & Therapy, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital, Tianjin 300060, China
| | - Herbert Yu
- Cancer Epidemiology Program, University of Hawaii Cancer Center, 701 Ilalo Street, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA
| | - Lana Garmire
- Cancer Epidemiology Program, University of Hawaii Cancer Center, 701 Ilalo Street, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA
| | - Biyun Qian
- Hongqiao International Institute of Medicine, Shanghai Tongren Hospital & Faculty of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
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15
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Chen JY, Wu X, Hong CQ, Chen J, Wei XL, Zhou L, Zhang HX, Huang YT, Peng L. Downregulated ECRG4 is correlated with lymph node metastasis and predicts poor outcome for nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients. Clin Transl Oncol 2017; 19:84-90. [PMID: 27119734 DOI: 10.1007/s12094-016-1507-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2015] [Accepted: 03/25/2016] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Esophageal cancer-related gene 4 (ECRG4) is a new candidate tumor suppressor gene. In this retrospective study, we evaluated ECRG4 protein expression in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) under curative treatment and examined its association with pathological features and clinical outcomes as a possible biomarker for diagnosis and prognosis of NPC. METHODS We enrolled 122 patients with a first diagnosis between January 2001 and December 2003. Tumor tissue and control tissue from biopsies underwent immunohistochemical staining for ECRG4. ECRG4 expression was analyzed by clinicopathological variables. After Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, we used Cox proportional hazards regression to estimate the predictive effect of ECRG4 expression on overall survival. RESULTS ECRG4 protein level was lower in NPC than control tissue (P < 0.01). It was inversely related to node status (P < 0.001) and clinical stage (P = 0.027). ECRG4 expression was associated with overall survival, and downregulated ECRG4 expression was an independent prognostic factor of poor survival (hazard ratio = 0.677, 95 % confidence interval 0.463-0.989, P = 0.044). CONCLUSIONS A significant NPC patients showed downregulated ECRG4 expression, which is correlated with lymph node metastasis. The marker could be an independent prognostic factor for NPC patients. The precise function of ECRG4 in the progression of NPC, especially for lymphatic metastasis, deserves further investigation, which would bring a new target for personalized therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- J-Y Chen
- Oncological Research Lab, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - X Wu
- Oncological Research Lab, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
- Department of Pathology, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - C-Q Hong
- Oncological Research Lab, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - J Chen
- Department of Radiotherapy, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - X-L Wei
- Department of Pathology, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - L Zhou
- Department of Gynecologic Surgery, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - H-X Zhang
- Health Care Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, 3/F, Science and Education Building, 52 Southern Dongxia Road, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Y-T Huang
- Health Care Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, 3/F, Science and Education Building, 52 Southern Dongxia Road, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China.
| | - L Peng
- Clinical Laboratory, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, No. 7 Raoping Road, Shantou, Guangdong, 515041, People's Republic of China.
- Environmental Medicine and Developmental Toxicity, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
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16
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Li L, Li X, Wang W, Gao T, Zhou Y, Lu S. Soluble purified recombinant C2ORF40 protein inhibits tumor cell growth in vivo by decreasing telomerase activity in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Oncol Lett 2016; 12:2820-2824. [PMID: 27698864 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2016.4935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2015] [Accepted: 07/05/2016] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The chromosome 2 open reading frame 40 (C2ORF40) gene is a candidate tumor suppressor gene for a variety of tumors. Previous results by the present authors revealed that the C2ORF40 protein is a secreted protein. However, the exact biological function of secreted C2ORF40 protein in carcinogenesis has not been thoroughly investigated. In the present study, the signal peptide sequence of the C2ORF40 cDNA was initially removed to produce secreted recombinant human C2ORF40 protein (rhC2ORF40). Soluble rhC2ORF40 was successfully expressed and purified, which was evaluated for the first time, to the best of our knowledge, for tumor-suppressing function in vivo in esophageal cancer. The present results revealed that soluble purified rhC2ORF40 was concentrated with a purity of >95%. Furthermore, rhC2ORF40 inhibited esophageal cancer cell growth in vivo in a dose-dependent manner compared with a control group (P<0.05). In addition, the present study demonstrated for the first time that rhC2ORF40 decreased telomerase activity using telomeric repeat amplification protocol-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (P<0.05), without affecting the expression levels of telomerase-component RNA (P>0.05), as shown with polymerase chain reaction. Overall, the present results demonstrated that soluble rhC2ORF40 inhibited tumor cell growth in vivo by decreasing telomerase activity in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Therefore, soluble rhC2ORF40 with a high purity and biological activity may be a potential biological therapy drug for esophageal cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linwei Li
- Oncology Department, Zhengzhou University People's Hospital (Henan Provincial People's Hospital), Zhengzhou, Henan 450003, P.R. China
| | - Xiaoyan Li
- Oncology Department, Zhengzhou University People's Hospital (Henan Provincial People's Hospital), Zhengzhou, Henan 450003, P.R. China
| | - Wenyu Wang
- Oncology Department, Zhengzhou University People's Hospital (Henan Provincial People's Hospital), Zhengzhou, Henan 450003, P.R. China
| | - Tianhui Gao
- Oncology Department, Zhengzhou University People's Hospital (Henan Provincial People's Hospital), Zhengzhou, Henan 450003, P.R. China
| | - Yun Zhou
- Oncology Department, Zhengzhou University People's Hospital (Henan Provincial People's Hospital), Zhengzhou, Henan 450003, P.R. China
| | - Shixin Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Department of Etiology and Carcinogenesis, Cancer Institute & Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, P.R. China
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Downregulated ECRG4 is associated with poor prognosis in renal cell cancer and is regulated by promoter DNA methylation. Tumour Biol 2015; 37:1121-9. [PMID: 26276361 DOI: 10.1007/s13277-015-3913-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2015] [Accepted: 08/06/2015] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Esophageal cancer-related gene 4 (ECRG4) has been proposed as a putative tumor suppressor gene in several tumors. However, the role and regulation of ECRG4 in the pathogenesis of human renal cancer remain largely unknown. Our current study revealed that expression of ECRG4 is downregulated in renal cell lines and renal cancer tissues. ECRG4 expression was significantly associated with histological grade of tumors (p < 0.001), primary tumor stage (p = 0.017), and distant metastasis (p = 0.017). Low expression of ECRG4 was an independent prognostic indicator for survival of renal cancer patients. Silencing of ECRG4 expression in renal cell lines was associated with its promoter methylation. Moreover, ectopic expression of ECRG4 markedly inhibited cell proliferation and invasion in renal cancer cell lines. These results indicated that ECRG4 is frequently silenced by the methylation of promoter in renal cell cancers. ECRG4 may be a tumor suppressor in renal cancer and serve as a prognostic marker.
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18
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Li X, Li L, Wang W, Yang Y, Zhou Y, Lu S. Soluble purified recombinant C2ORF40 protein inhibits esophageal cancer cell proliferation by inducing cell cycle G 1 phase block. Oncol Lett 2015; 10:1593-1596. [PMID: 26622716 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2015.3429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2014] [Accepted: 06/11/2015] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Chromosome 2 open reading frame 40 (C2ORF40) plays a significant role in numerous processes, including cell differentiation, senescence, apoptosis, inflammation and neuroendocrine hormone regulation. Moreover, C2ORF40 is a candidate tumor suppressor gene in a variety of tumors, and is closely associated with prognosis. Bioinformatics analysis has indicated that pro-C2ORF40 is a secreted protein with a signal peptide. Secreted C2ORF40 protein (sC2ORF40) exists in cancer cell medium. However, thus far, the exact biological function of sC2ORF40 in carcinogenesis has not been thoroughly researched. In the present study, the signal peptide sequence of the C2ORF40 complementary DNA was initially cut off to produce secreted recombinant human C2ORF40 protein (rhC2ORF40). The soluble rhC2ORF40 was expressed, purified and examined for tumor-suppressing function for the first time. The results revealed that the soluble purified rhC2ORF40 protein was concentrated with a purity of >95%. Furthermore, the rhC2ORF40 inhibited esophageal cancer cell proliferation in vitro (P<0.05) and caused cell cycle G1 phase block, as determined by flow cytometric analysis (P<0.05). Overall, the soluble rhC2ORF40 protein with high purity and biological activity was obtained, which suppressed esophageal cancer cells proliferation by inducing cell cycle G1 phase block in vitro. Therefore, the soluble rhC2ORF40 protein could be potential biological therapy drug for esophageal carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyan Li
- Department of Oncology, Zhengzhou University People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan 450003, P.R. China
| | - Linwei Li
- Department of Oncology, Zhengzhou University People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan 450003, P.R. China
| | - Wenyu Wang
- Department of Oncology, Zhengzhou University People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan 450003, P.R. China
| | - Yang Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Department of Etiology and Carcinogenesis, Cancer Institute and Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, P.R. China
| | - Yun Zhou
- Department of Oncology, Zhengzhou University People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan 450003, P.R. China
| | - Shixin Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Department of Etiology and Carcinogenesis, Cancer Institute and Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, P.R. China
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Porzionato A, Rucinski M, Macchi V, Sarasin G, Malendowicz LK, De Caro R. ECRG4 expression in normal rat tissues: expression study and literature review. Eur J Histochem 2015; 59:2458. [PMID: 26150152 PMCID: PMC4503965 DOI: 10.4081/ejh.2015.2458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2014] [Revised: 03/14/2015] [Accepted: 03/18/2015] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The Esophageal Cancer Related Gene 4 (ECRG4) is a highly conserved tumour suppressor gene encoding various peptides (augurin, CΔ16 augurin, ecilin, argilin, CΔ16 argilin) which can be processed and secreted. In the present work, we examined ECRG4 expression and location in a wide range of rat organs and reviewed the available literature. ECRG4 mRNA was identified in all examined tissues by quantitative PCR (qPCR). ECRG4 immunoreaction was mainly cytoplasmic, and was detected in heart and skeletal muscles, smooth muscle cells showing only weak reactions. In the digestive system, ECRG4 immunostaining was stronger in the esophageal epithelium, bases of gastric glands, hepatocytes and pancreatic acinar epithelium. In the lymphatic system, immunoreactive cells were detectable in the thymus cortex, lymph node medulla and splenic red pulp. In the central and peripheral nervous systems, different neuronal groups showed different reaction intensities. In the endocrine system, ECRG4 immunoreaction was detected in the hypothalamic paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei, hypophysis, thyroid and parathyroid glands, adrenal zona glomerularis and medulla and Leydig cells, as well as in follicular and luteal cells of the ovary. In the literature, ECRG4 has been reported to inhibit cell proliferation and increase apoptosis in various cell types. It is down-regulated, frequently due to hypermethylation, in esophageal, prostate, breast and colon cancers, together with glioma (oncosuppressor function), although it is up-regulated in papillary thyroid cancer (oncogenic role). ECRG4 expression is also higher in non-proliferating cells of the lymphatic system. In conclusion, our identification of ECRG4 in many structures suggests the involvement of ECRG4 in the tumorigenesis of other organs and also the need for further research. In addition, on the basis of the location of ECRG4 in neurons and endocrine cells and the fact that it can be secreted, its role as a neurotransmitter/neuromodulator and endocrine factor must be examined in depth in the future.
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You H, Liu S, Xie Y, Cong R, Sun Y, Ren J, Wei K, Jin X, Shi Y, Zhang H, Li J, Wei L, Zhuang H, Cheng M, Jia J. Novel host genetic variations associated with spontaneous clearance of a single-source outbreak of HCV1b infections. BMJ Open Gastroenterol 2015; 1:e000010. [PMID: 26462265 PMCID: PMC4533326 DOI: 10.1136/bmjgast-2014-000010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2014] [Revised: 08/24/2014] [Accepted: 08/29/2014] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and aims A total of 105 patients were identified as accidentally infected with hepatitis C virus genotype 1b (HCV1b) through blood transfusion from a single blood donor. This group provides a unique patient population to study host factors involved in the spontaneous clearance of HCV and disease progression. Methods Clinical markers, HCV RNA and eight single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of interleukin-28B (IL-28B) were detected. Exome capture and sequencing were analysed for association with HCV clearance. Results Among the 85 patients with the positive HCV antibody, 27 cases (31.8%) were HCV RNA negative over a period of 9–12 years. Of the 58 patients with positive HCV RNA, 22.4% developed chronic hepatitis, and 5.2% developed cirrhosis. Age was found to be associated with HCV1b clearance. IL-28 rs10853728 CC showed the trend. By exon sequencing, 39 SNPs were found to be significantly different in spontaneous clearance patients (p<0.001). Two SNPs in the tenascin receptor (TNR), five in the transmembrane protease serine 11A (TMPRSS11A), and one in the serine peptidase inhibitor kunitz type 2 (SPINT2) showed the closest associations (p<10−5). Conclusions Host genetic analyses on the unique, single source HCV1b-infected patient population has suggested that age and mutations in TNR, TMPRSS11A and SPINT2 genes may be factors associated with HCV clearance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong You
- Liver Research Center , Beijing Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine in Liver Cirrhosis, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University , Beijing , China
| | - Sandu Liu
- Department of Infectious Diseases , Qiannan People's Hospital , Guizhou , China
| | - Yong Xie
- Department of Infectious Diseases , Pingtang People's Hospital , Guizhou , China
| | - Rui Cong
- Liver Research Center , Beijing Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine in Liver Cirrhosis, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University , Beijing , China
| | - Yameng Sun
- Liver Research Center , Beijing Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine in Liver Cirrhosis, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University , Beijing , China
| | - Jingjing Ren
- Beijing Genomic Institute , Shenzhen, Guangdong , China
| | - Kangfei Wei
- Beijing Genomic Institute , Shenzhen, Guangdong , China
| | - Xin Jin
- Beijing Genomic Institute , Shenzhen, Guangdong , China
| | - Yujian Shi
- Beijing Genomic Institute , Shenzhen, Guangdong , China
| | - Haiying Zhang
- Hepatology Institute, Peking University People's Hospital , Beijing , China
| | - Jie Li
- Department of Microbiology , Peking University Health Science Center , Beijing , China
| | - Lai Wei
- Hepatology Institute, Peking University People's Hospital , Beijing , China
| | - Hui Zhuang
- Department of Microbiology , Peking University Health Science Center , Beijing , China
| | - Mingliang Cheng
- Department of Infectious Diseases , Guiyang Medical College , Guizhou , China
| | - Jidong Jia
- Liver Research Center , Beijing Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine in Liver Cirrhosis, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University , Beijing , China
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Kao S, Shaterian A, Cauvi DM, Dang X, Chun HB, De Maio A, Costantini TW, Coimbra R, Eliceiri BP, Baird A. Pulmonary preconditioning, injury, and inflammation modulate expression of the candidate tumor suppressor gene ECRG4 in lung. Exp Lung Res 2014; 41:162-72. [PMID: 25513848 DOI: 10.3109/01902148.2014.983282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE The human c2orf40 gene encodes a candidate tumor suppressor called Esophageal Cancer-Related Gene-4 (ECRG4) that is a cytokine-like epigenetically-regulated protein that is characteristically downregulated in cancer, injury, inflammation, and infection. Here, we asked whether ECRG4 gene expression is detectable in lung epithelial cells and if its expression changes with inflammation, infection, and/or protective preconditioning. MATERIALS AND METHODS We used immunoblotting, PCR, and quantitative PCR to measure ECRG4 and either inhalation anesthesia preconditioning, lipopolysaccharide injection, or laparotomy to modulate lung inflammation. RESULTS Immunoblotting establishes the presence of the full-length 14 kDa ECRG4 peptide in mouse lung. Immunohistochemistry localizes ECRG4 to type l alveolar epithelial cells. Basal ECRG4 mRNA is greater than TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 but following inflammatory lung injury, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-10 are upregulated while ECRG4 gene expression is decreased. Similar findings are observed after an intravenous administration of lipopolysaccharide. In contrast, lung preconditioning with isoflurane anesthesia increases lung ECRG4 gene expression. Over-expression of ECRG4 in human lung epithelial cells in vitro decreases cell proliferation implying that a loss of ECRG4 in vivo would be permissive to cell growth. CONCLUSIONS This study supports the hypothesis that ECRG4 acts as a sentinel growth inhibitor in lung alveolar epithelial cells. Its downregulation by injury, infection, and inflammation and upregulation by preconditioning supports a role for ECRG4 in regulating the alveolar epithelium response to injury and inflammation. By extension, the findings support a functional consequence to its inhibition by promoter hypermethylation (i.e. lung cancer) and suggest potential benefits to its upregulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven Kao
- Department of Surgery Division of Trauma, Surgical Critical Care, Burn and Acute Care Surgery, School of Medicine, University of California in San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
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22
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Chen J, Liu C, Yin L, Zhang W. The tumor-promoting function of ECRG4 in papillary thyroid carcinoma and its related mechanism. Tumour Biol 2014; 36:1081-9. [PMID: 25326809 DOI: 10.1007/s13277-014-2731-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2014] [Accepted: 10/09/2014] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to explore the tumor-promoting function of esophageal cancer-related gene 4 (ECRG4) in the papillary thyroid cancer and its related mechanism. ECRG4 Messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein expression analysis in papillary thyroid cancer tissues was performed by quantitative real-time PCR (Q-RT-PCR), Western blot, and immunohistochemistry methods. Ten pairs of fresh samples from the papillary thyroid carcinoma patients were analyzed for ECRG4 promoter CpG island methylation status by bisulfite sequencing analysis. We also transfected ECRG4 into papillary thyroid cancer cell lines W3 and K1 with lentivirus and analyzed ECRG4 functions through evaluating the changes of the proliferation activity, the cell cycle, and the cell apoptosis rate of these transformed cells. We found that ECRG4 expression was upregulated in most papillary thyroid cancer samples (70.0%, 28 out of 40 papillary thyroid cancer samples) on the protein level, and the ECRG4 mRNA level was also enhanced in tumor tissues compared to their matched nontumor tissues. CpG islands around the ECRG4 promoter region were demethylated in the papillary thyroid cancer samples. At the same time, the upregulated expression of ECRG4 in papillary thyroid cancer cell lines W3 and K1 could promote both the proliferation activity and the cell cycle transition from the G1 phase into the G2 but could not affect the cell apoptosis rate. The expression of ECRG4 is frequently upregulated in a papillary thyroid carcinoma through the demethylation mechanism of CpG islands in the gene promoter region, and the ECRG4 has a tumor-promoting function through inducing the cell cycle transition from the G1 phase to the G2 in papillary thyroid carcinoma cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiayu Chen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Taizhou University, Taizhou, Zhejiang, 318000, China
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23
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Baird A, Lee J, Podvin S, Kurabi A, Dang X, Coimbra R, Costantini T, Bansal V, Eliceiri BP. Esophageal cancer-related gene 4 at the interface of injury, inflammation, infection, and malignancy. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014; 2014:131-142. [PMID: 25580077 PMCID: PMC4287990 DOI: 10.2147/gictt.s49085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
In humans, esophageal cancer-related gene 4 (ECRG4) is encoded by four exons in the c2orf40 locus of chromosome 2. Translation of ECRG4 messenger ribonucleic acid produces a 148 amino acid-secreted 17 KDa protein that is then processed to 14, ten, eight, six, four, and two KDa peptides, depending on the cell in which the gene is expressed. As hypermethylation at the c2orf40 locus inhibits ECRG4 gene expression in many epithelial cancers, several investigators have speculated that ECRG4 is a candidate tumor suppressor. Indeed, overexpression of ECRG4 inhibits cell proliferation in vitro, but it also has a wide range of effects in vivo beyond its antitumor activity. ECRG4 overexpression affects apoptosis, senescence, cell migration, inflammation, injury, and infection responsiveness. ECRG4 activities also depend on its cellular localization, secretion, and post-translational processing. These cytokine/chemokine-like characteristics argue that ECRG4 is not a traditional candidate tumor suppressor gene, as originally predicted by its downregulation in cancer. We review how insights into the regulation of ECRG4 gene expression, knowledge of its primary structure, and the study of its emerging physiological functions come together to support a much more complex role for ECRG4 at the interface of inflammation, infection, and malignancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Baird
- Division of Trauma, Burn, and Acute Critical Care, Department of Surgery, University of California San Diego Health Sciences, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Jisook Lee
- Division of Trauma, Burn, and Acute Critical Care, Department of Surgery, University of California San Diego Health Sciences, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Sonia Podvin
- Division of Trauma, Burn, and Acute Critical Care, Department of Surgery, University of California San Diego Health Sciences, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Arwa Kurabi
- Division of Trauma, Burn, and Acute Critical Care, Department of Surgery, University of California San Diego Health Sciences, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Xitong Dang
- Division of Trauma, Burn, and Acute Critical Care, Department of Surgery, University of California San Diego Health Sciences, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Raul Coimbra
- Division of Trauma, Burn, and Acute Critical Care, Department of Surgery, University of California San Diego Health Sciences, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Todd Costantini
- Division of Trauma, Burn, and Acute Critical Care, Department of Surgery, University of California San Diego Health Sciences, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Vishal Bansal
- Division of Trauma, Burn, and Acute Critical Care, Department of Surgery, University of California San Diego Health Sciences, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Brian P Eliceiri
- Division of Trauma, Burn, and Acute Critical Care, Department of Surgery, University of California San Diego Health Sciences, San Diego, CA, USA
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24
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Cao HH, Zheng CP, Wang SH, Wu JY, Shen JH, Xu XE, Fu JH, Wu ZY, Li EM, Xu LY. A molecular prognostic model predicts esophageal squamous cell carcinoma prognosis. PLoS One 2014; 9:e106007. [PMID: 25153136 PMCID: PMC4143329 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0106007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2014] [Accepted: 07/10/2014] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) has the highest mortality rates in China. The 5-year survival rate of ESCC remains dismal despite improvements in treatments such as surgical resection and adjuvant chemoradiation, and current clinical staging approaches are limited in their ability to effectively stratify patients for treatment options. The aim of the present study, therefore, was to develop an immunohistochemistry-based prognostic model to improve clinical risk assessment for patients with ESCC. METHODS We developed a molecular prognostic model based on the combined expression of axis of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), phosphorylated Specificity protein 1 (p-Sp1), and Fascin proteins. The presence of this prognostic model and associated clinical outcomes were analyzed for 130 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded esophageal curative resection specimens (generation dataset) and validated using an independent cohort of 185 specimens (validation dataset). RESULTS The expression of these three genes at the protein level was used to build a molecular prognostic model that was highly predictive of ESCC survival in both generation and validation datasets (P = 0.001). Regression analysis showed that this molecular prognostic model was strongly and independently predictive of overall survival (hazard ratio = 2.358 [95% CI, 1.391-3.996], P = 0.001 in generation dataset; hazard ratio = 1.990 [95% CI, 1.256-3.154], P = 0.003 in validation dataset). Furthermore, the predictive ability of these 3 biomarkers in combination was more robust than that of each individual biomarker. CONCLUSIONS This technically simple immunohistochemistry-based molecular model accurately predicts ESCC patient survival and thus could serve as a complement to current clinical risk stratification approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui-Hui Cao
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for High Cancer Incidence Coastal Chaoshan Area, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China
- Institute of Oncologic Pathology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China
| | - Chun-Peng Zheng
- Departments of Oncology Surgery, Shantou Central Hospital, Affiliated Shantou Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shantou, Guangdong, China
| | - Shao-Hong Wang
- Departments of Pathology, Shantou Central Hospital, Affiliated Shantou Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shantou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jian-Yi Wu
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for High Cancer Incidence Coastal Chaoshan Area, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jin-Hui Shen
- Departments of Oncology Surgery, Shantou Central Hospital, Affiliated Shantou Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shantou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiu-E Xu
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for High Cancer Incidence Coastal Chaoshan Area, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China
- Institute of Oncologic Pathology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jun-Hui Fu
- Departments of Oncology Surgery, Shantou Central Hospital, Affiliated Shantou Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shantou, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhi-Yong Wu
- Departments of Oncology Surgery, Shantou Central Hospital, Affiliated Shantou Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shantou, Guangdong, China
| | - En-Min Li
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for High Cancer Incidence Coastal Chaoshan Area, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China
| | - Li-Yan Xu
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for High Cancer Incidence Coastal Chaoshan Area, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China
- Institute of Oncologic Pathology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China
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Zhong B, Wang T, Lun X, Zhang J, Zheng S, Yang W, Li W, Xiang AP, Chen Z. Contribution of nestin positive esophageal squamous cancer cells on malignant proliferation, apoptosis, and poor prognosis. Cancer Cell Int 2014; 14:57. [PMID: 24966803 PMCID: PMC4071021 DOI: 10.1186/1475-2867-14-57] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2014] [Accepted: 06/16/2014] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The stem cell-associated intermediate filament nestin has recently been linked with neoplastic transformation, but the specific mechanism by which nestin positive tumor cells leads to malignant invasion and metastasis behaviors of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remains unclear. Methods To obtain insight into the biological role of nestin in ESCC, we explored the association of the nestin phenotype with malignant proliferation and apoptosis in esophageal squamous cancer cells. Nestin expression was determined in ESCC specimens and cell lines, and correlated with clinicopathological properties, including clinical prognosis and proliferative markers. The association of the nestin phenotype with apoptotic indicators was also analyzed. Results Nestin was expressed in ESCC specimens and cell lines. ESCC patients with nestin-positive tumors had significantly shorter median survival and progression-free survival times than those with nestin-negative tumors. Positive staining for the proliferation markers Ki67 and PCNA (proliferating cell nuclear antigen) was detected in 56.9% and 60.2% of ESCC specimens, respectively, and was strongly correlated with the nestin phenotype. Notably, expression of cyclin dependent kinase-5 (CDK5) and P35 was detected in 53.8% and 48.4% of ESCC specimens, respectively, and was strongly associated with the nestin phenotype. Conclusion Our data demonstrated nestin expression in ESCC specimens and cell lines, and revealed a strong association of the nestin phenotype with poor prognosis in ESCC patients. Furthermore, we showed that nestin positive ESCC cells played an important role in the malignant proliferation and apoptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beilong Zhong
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, Guangdong 519000, China
| | - Tao Wang
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Tissue Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.,Department of Biochemistry, Zhongshan Medical School, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xueping Lun
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China.,Lung Cancer Research Center of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China.,Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery of East Division, the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China
| | - Jinli Zhang
- Guangzhou Research Institute of Traumatic Surgery, the Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Ji'nan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510220, China
| | - Sannv Zheng
- Department of Anesthesiology and Operating Room of East Division, the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Weilin Yang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China.,Lung Cancer Research Center of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China.,Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery of East Division, the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China
| | - Weiqiang Li
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Tissue Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.,Department of Biochemistry, Zhongshan Medical School, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Andy Peng Xiang
- Center for Stem Cell Biology and Tissue Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.,Department of Biochemistry, Zhongshan Medical School, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhenguang Chen
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China.,Lung Cancer Research Center of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China.,Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery of East Division, the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China
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26
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Zhang J, Tian D, Lin R, zhou G, Peng G, Su M. Phase-contrast X-ray CT imaging of esophagus and esophageal carcinoma. Sci Rep 2014; 4:5332. [PMID: 24939041 PMCID: PMC4061548 DOI: 10.1038/srep05332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2013] [Accepted: 04/14/2014] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The electron density resolution is 1000 times higher for synchrotron-radiation phase-contrast CT imaging than conventional X-ray absorption imaging in light elements, with which high-resolution X-ray imaging of biological soft tissue can be achieved. In the present study, we used phase-contrast X-ray CT to investigate human resected esophagus and esophageal carcinoma specimens. This technology revealed the three-layer structure of the esophageal wall-- mucous, submucosa and muscular layers. The mucous and muscular layers were clearly separated by a loose submucosa layer with a honeycomb appearance. The surface of the mucous layer was smooth. In esophageal carcinoma, because of tumor tissue infiltration, the submucosa layer was absent, which indicated destruction of the submucosa. The boundary between normal tissue and tumor was comparatively fuzzy, the three-layer structure of the esophageal wall was indistinct. The surface of the mucous layer was rugose. The technology might be helpful in tumor staging of esophageal carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianfa Zhang
- First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Dongping Tian
- Institute of Clinical Pathology & Department of Pathology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
- The Judicial Critical Center, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Runhua Lin
- Institute of Clinical Pathology & Department of Pathology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Guangzhao zhou
- Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201204, China
| | - Guanyun Peng
- Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201204, China
| | - Min Su
- Institute of Clinical Pathology & Department of Pathology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
- The Judicial Critical Center, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
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27
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Tian X, Ma P, Sui CG, Meng FD, Li Y, Fu LY, Jiang T, Wang Y, Jiang YH. Suppression of tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated protein 1 expression induces inhibition of cell proliferation and tumor growth in human esophageal cancer cells. FEBS J 2014; 281:2805-19. [PMID: 24754231 DOI: 10.1111/febs.12822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2013] [Revised: 04/08/2014] [Accepted: 04/18/2014] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Xin Tian
- Molecular Oncology Department of Cancer Research Institute; the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University; Shenyang Liaoning Province China
| | - Ping Ma
- Molecular Oncology Department of Cancer Research Institute; the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University; Shenyang Liaoning Province China
| | - Cheng-Guang Sui
- Molecular Oncology Department of Cancer Research Institute; the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University; Shenyang Liaoning Province China
| | - Fan-Dong Meng
- Molecular Oncology Department of Cancer Research Institute; the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University; Shenyang Liaoning Province China
| | - Yan Li
- Molecular Oncology Department of Cancer Research Institute; the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University; Shenyang Liaoning Province China
| | - Li-Ye Fu
- Molecular Oncology Department of Cancer Research Institute; the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University; Shenyang Liaoning Province China
| | - Tao Jiang
- Molecular Oncology Department of Cancer Research Institute; the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University; Shenyang Liaoning Province China
| | - Yang Wang
- Molecular Oncology Department of Cancer Research Institute; the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University; Shenyang Liaoning Province China
| | - You-Hong Jiang
- Molecular Oncology Department of Cancer Research Institute; the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University; Shenyang Liaoning Province China
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28
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Qi YJ, Wang M, Liu RM, Wei H, Chao WX, Zhang T, Lou Q, Li XM, Ma J, Zhu H, Yang ZH, Liu HQ, Ma YF. Downregulation of 14-3-3σ correlates with multistage carcinogenesis and poor prognosis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. PLoS One 2014; 9:e95386. [PMID: 24743601 PMCID: PMC3990633 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0095386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2013] [Accepted: 03/25/2014] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Aims The asymptomatic nature of early-stage esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) results in late presentation and consequent dismal prognosis This study characterized 14-3-3σ protein expression in the multi-stage development of ESCC and determined its correlation with clinical features and prognosis. Materials and Methods Western blot was used to examine 14-3-3σ protein expression in normal esophageal epithelium (NEE), low grade intraepithelial neoplasia (LGIN), high grade intraepithelial neoplasia (HGIN), ESCC of TNM I to IV stage and various esophageal epithelial cell lines with different biological behavior. Immunohistochemistry was used to estimate 14-3-3σ protein in 110 biopsy samples of NEE, LGIN or HGIN and in 168 ESCC samples all of whom had follow-up data. Support vector machine (SVM) was used to develop a classifier for prognosis. Results 14-3-3σ decreased progressively from NEE to LGIN, to HGIN, and to ESCC. Chemoresistant sub-lines of EC9706/PTX and EC9706/CDDP showed high expression of 14-3-3σ protein compared with non-chemoresistant ESCC cell lines and immortalized NEC. Furthermore, the downregulation of 14-3-3σ correlated significantly with histological grade (P = 0.000) and worse prognosis (P = 0.004). Multivariate Cox regression analysis indicated that 14-3-3σ protein (P = 0.016) and T stage (P = 0.000) were independent prognostic factors for ESCC. The SVM ESCC classifier comprising sex, age, T stage, histological grade, lymph node metastasis, clinical stage and 14-3-3σ, distinguished significantly lower- and higher-risk ESCC patients (91.67% vs. 3.62%, P = 0.000). Conclusions Downregulation of 14-3-3σ arises early in the development of ESCC and predicts poor survival, suggesting that 14-3-3σ may be a biomarker for early detection of high-risk subjects and diagnosis of ESCC. Our seven-feature SVM classifier for ESCC prognosis may help to inform clinical decisions and tailor individual therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Jun Qi
- Key Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, College of Medicine, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, P. R. China
| | - Ming Wang
- Key Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, College of Medicine, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, P. R. China
| | - Rui-Min Liu
- Key Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, College of Medicine, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, P. R. China
| | - Hua Wei
- Huaihe Hospital, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, P. R. China
| | - Wei-Xia Chao
- Key Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, College of Medicine, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, P. R. China
| | - Tian Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, College of Medicine, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, P. R. China
| | - Qiang Lou
- Key Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, College of Medicine, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, P. R. China
| | - Xiu-Min Li
- Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan, China
| | - Jin Ma
- Key Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, College of Medicine, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, P. R. China
| | - Han Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, College of Medicine, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, P. R. China
| | - Zhen-Hua Yang
- Linzhou Cancer Hospital, Linzhou, Henan, P. R. China
| | - Hai-Qing Liu
- Linzhou Cancer Hospital, Linzhou, Henan, P. R. China
| | - Yuan-Fang Ma
- Key Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, College of Medicine, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, P. R. China
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Lu P, Qiao J, He W, Wang J, Jia Y, Sun Y, Tang S, Fu L, Qin Y. Genome-wide gene expression profile analyses identify CTTN as a potential prognostic marker in esophageal cancer. PLoS One 2014; 9:e88918. [PMID: 24551190 PMCID: PMC3925182 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0088918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2013] [Accepted: 01/16/2014] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the most common fatal malignances of the digestive tract. Its prognosis is poor mainly due to the lack of reliable markers for early detection and prognostic prediction. Here we aim to identify the molecules involved in ESCC carcinogenesis and those as potential markers for prognosis and as new molecular therapeutic targets. Methods We performed genome-wide gene expression profile analyses of 10 primary ESCCs and their adjacent normal tissues by cDNA microarrays representing 47,000 transcripts and variants. Candidate genes were then validated by semi quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR), tissue microarrays (TMAs) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining. Results Using an arbitrary cutoff line of signal log ratio of ≥1.5 or ≤−1.5, we observed 549 up-regulated genes and 766 down-regulated genes in ESCCs compared with normal esophageal tissues. The functions of 302 differentially expressed genes were associated with cell metabolism, cell adhesion and immune response. Several candidate deregulated genes including four overexpressed (CTTN, DMRT2, MCM10 and SCYA26) and two underexpressed (HMGCS2 and SORBS2) were subsequently verified, which can be served as biomarkers for ESCC. Moreover, overexpression of cortactin (CTTN) was observed in 126/198 (63.6%) of ESCC cases and was significantly associated with lymph node metastasis (P = 0.000), pathologic stage (P = 0.000) and poor survival (P<0.001) of ESCC patients. Furthermore, a significant correlation between CTTN overexpression and shorter disease-specific survival rate was found in different subgroups of ESCC patient stratified by the pathologic stage (P<0.05). Conclusion Our data provide valuable information for establishing molecules as candidates for prognostic and/or as therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei Lu
- Department of Clinical Oncology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Junjing Qiao
- Department of Clinical Oncology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Wei He
- Department of Clinical Oncology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Jin Wang
- Department of Clinical Oncology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yongxu Jia
- Department of Clinical Oncology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yan Sun
- Department of Clinical Oncology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Senwei Tang
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Li Fu
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yanru Qin
- Department of Clinical Oncology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- * E-mail:
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30
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DNA polymerase β mutations and survival of patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in Linzhou City, China. Tumour Biol 2013; 35:553-9. [DOI: 10.1007/s13277-013-1077-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2013] [Accepted: 08/05/2013] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
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31
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Lu J, Wen M, Huang Y, He X, Wang Y, Wu Q, Li Z, Castellanos-Martin A, Abad M, Cruz-Hernandez JJ, Rodriguez CA, Pérez-Losada J, Mao JH, Wei G. C2ORF40 suppresses breast cancer cell proliferation and invasion through modulating expression of M phase cell cycle genes. Epigenetics 2013; 8:571-83. [PMID: 23770814 DOI: 10.4161/epi.24626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Recently, it has been suggested that C2ORF40 is a candidate tumor suppressor gene in breast cancer. However, the mechanism for reduced expression of C2ORF40 and its functional role in breast cancers remain unclear. Here we show that C2ORF40 is frequently silenced in human primary breast cancers and cell lines through promoter hypermethylation. C2ORF40 mRNA level is significantly associated with patient disease-free survival and distant cancer metastasis. Overexpression of C2ORF4 0 inhibits breast cancer cell proliferation, migration and invasion. By contrast, silencing C2ORF40 expression promotes these biological phenotypes. Bioinformatics and FACS analysis reveal C2ORF40 functions at G2/M phase by downregulation of mitotic genes expression, including UBE2C. Our results suggest that C2ORF40 acts as a tumor suppressor gene in breast cancer pathogenesis and progression and is a candidate prognostic marker for this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Lu
- Department of Anatomy and Key Laboratory of Experimental Teratology; Ministry of Education; Shandong University School of Medicine; Jinan, Shandong, P.R. China
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Kurabi A, Pak K, Dang X, Coimbra R, Eliceiri BP, Ryan AF, Baird A. Ecrg4 attenuates the inflammatory proliferative response of mucosal epithelial cells to infection. PLoS One 2013; 8:e61394. [PMID: 23626679 PMCID: PMC3634077 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0061394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2012] [Accepted: 03/08/2013] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
We report an inverse relationship between expression of the orphan candidate tumor suppressor gene esophageal cancer related gene 4 (Ecrg4), and the mucosal epithelial cell response to infection in the middle ear (ME). First, we found constitutive Ecrg4 mRNA expression in normal, quiescent ME mucosa that was confirmed by immunostainning of mucosal epithelial cells and immunoblotting of tissue lysates for the 14 kDa Ecrg4 protein. Upon experimental ME infection, Ecrg4 gene expression rapidly decreased by over 80%, between 3 to 48 hrs, post infection. When explants of this infected mucosa were placed in culture and transduced with an adenovirus (AD) encoding Ecrg4 gene (ADEcrg4), the proliferative and migratory responses of mucosal cells were significantly inhibited. ADEcrg4 transduction of control explants from uninfected MEs had no effect on basal growth and migration. Over-expression of Ecrg4 in vivo, by pre-injecting MEs with ADEcrg4 48 hrs prior to infection, prevented the natural down-regulation of Ecrg4, reduced mucosal proliferation and prevented inflammatory cell infiltration normally observed after infection. Taken together, these data support a hypothesis that Ecrg4 plays a role in coordinating the inflammatory and proliferative response to infection of mucosal epithelium suggesting a possible mechanism for its putative anti-tumor activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arwa Kurabi
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, California, United States of America
- Veterans Administration Medical Center, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Kwang Pak
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, California, United States of America
- Veterans Administration Medical Center, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Xitong Dang
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Raul Coimbra
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Brian P. Eliceiri
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Allen F. Ryan
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, California, United States of America
- Veterans Administration Medical Center, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Andrew Baird
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, California, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Xu T, Xiao D, Zhang X. ECRG4 inhibits growth and invasiveness of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck in vitro and in vivo.. Oncol Lett 2013; 5:1921-1926. [PMID: 23833667 PMCID: PMC3700983 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2013.1298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2012] [Accepted: 03/11/2013] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
ECRG4 has been shown to be a candidate tumor suppressor in several tumors, but its role in head and neck cancer remains poorly understood. In the present study, the effect of ECRG4 on head and neck cancer was investigated in vitro and in vivo. pFLAG-CMV-2-ECRG4 was stably transfected into squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) M2 cell lines to overexpress the ECRG4 gene. Real-time PCR and western blot analysis were performed to detect gene and protein expression, respectively. An MTT assay and flow cytometric analysis were used to detect the growth of M2 cells. Matrigel™ invasion and scratch assays were applied to observe the invasion and migration of the cells. A tumorigenicity assay was applied to test the tumor growth and cervical lymph node metastasis in vivo. Based on the data, pFLAG-CMV-2-ECRG4 significantly increased the expression of ECRG4 in the M2 cells. The constructed plasmid inhibited cell proliferation and promoted cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in the M2 cells. The growth rate and metastasis of the tumor cells in xenografts were suppressed following the overexpression of ECRG4 in nude mice. These data suggest that ECRG4 plays a significant role in the regulation of growth and metastasis in SCCHN, providing new clues for the diagnosis and therapy of SCCHN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Xu
- Department of Otolaryngology, The Second People's Hospital of Wuxi, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214002
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Jiang CP, Wu BH, Wang BQ, Fu MY, Yang M, Zhou Y, Liu F. Overexpression of ECRG4 enhances chemosensitivity to 5-fluorouracil in the human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cell line. Tumour Biol 2013; 34:2269-73. [PMID: 23553029 DOI: 10.1007/s13277-013-0768-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2013] [Accepted: 03/22/2013] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to examine the effects of esophageal cancer-related gene 4 (ECRG4) expression levels on chemotherapeutic sensitivity of gastric cancer cells. A SGC-7901 cell system with tetracycline-inducible ECRG4 expression (SGC-7901/ECRG4) was successfully established. ECRG4 mRNA and protein expression levels were detected using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting, respectively. Chemosensitivity to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) was examined by cell proliferation assay and cell apoptosis assay. ECRG4 mRNA and protein expression levels were significantly upregulated in SGC-7901/ECRG4 cells induced with tetracycline. Compared with control cells, the growth inhibition rate of cells with ECRG4 overexpression was significantly increased when treated with 5-FU. Treatment with 5 μmol/l 5-FU resulted in 15.2 % apoptotic cells, whereas such treatment after overexpression of ECRG4 resulted in 44.5 % apoptotic cells. In conclusion, overexpression of ECRG4 enhanced the chemosensitivity of gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells to 5-FU through induction of apoptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng-Ping Jiang
- Department of Pharmacy, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, No. 63, Wenhua Rd., Nanchong, 637000, China
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Antalis TM. DESC1 and HAT Peptidases. HANDBOOK OF PROTEOLYTIC ENZYMES 2013. [PMCID: PMC7150303 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-382219-2.00654-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Qi YJ, Chao WX, Chiu JF. An overview of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma proteomics. J Proteomics 2012; 75:3129-37. [PMID: 22564818 DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2012.04.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2012] [Revised: 03/30/2012] [Accepted: 04/18/2012] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) still remains the leading cancer-caused mortality in northern China, in particular in areas nearby Taihang Mountain. Late-stage diagnosis of ESCC increases the mortality and morbidity of ESCC. Therefore, it is imperative to identify biomarkers for early diagnosis, monitoring of tumor progression and identifying potential therapeutic targets of ESCC. Proteomics provides a functional translation of the genome and represents a richer source for the functional description of diseases and biomarkers implicated in cancer. In this review, we discuss the dysregulated proteins associated with ESCC identified by proteomic approaches and aim to enhance our understanding of molecular mechanisms implicated in ESCC development and progression from a proteomics perspective and discuss the potential biomarkers of ESCC as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Jun Qi
- Key Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Institute of Immunology, Medical School of Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, P. R. China
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Cell-specific processing and release of the hormone-like precursor and candidate tumor suppressor gene product, Ecrg4. Cell Tissue Res 2012; 348:505-14. [PMID: 22526622 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-012-1396-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2012] [Accepted: 03/05/2012] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
The human open reading frame C2orf40 encodes esophageal cancer-related gene-4 (Ecrg4), a newly recognized neuropeptide-like precursor protein whose gene expression by cells in vitro, over-expression in mice in vivo, and knock-down in zebrafish affects cell proliferation, migration and senescence, progenitor cell survival and differentiation, and inflammatory function. Unlike traditionally secreted neuropeptide precursors, however, we find that Ecrg4 localizes to the epithelial cell surface and remains tethered after secretion. Here, we used cell surface biotinylation to establish that 14-kDa Ecrg4 localizes to the cell surface of prostate (PC3) or kidney (HEK) epithelial cells after transfection. Accordingly, this Ecrg4 is resistant to washing cells with neutral, high salt (2 M NaCl), acidic (50 mM glycine, pH 2.8), or basic (100 mM Na(2)CO(3), pH 11) buffers. Mutagenesis of Ecrg4 established that cell tethering was mediated by an NH(2)-terminus hydrophobic leader sequence that enabled both trafficking to the surface and tethering. Immunoblotting analyses, however, showed that different cells process Ecrg4 differently. Whereas PC3 cells release cell surface Ecrg4 to generate soluble Ecrg4 peptides of 6-14 kDa, HEK cells do neither, and the 14-kDa precursor resembles a sentinel attached to the cell surface. Because a phorbol ester treatment of PC3 cells stimulated Ecrg4 release from, and processing at, the cell surface, these data are consistent with a multifunctional role for Ecrg4 that is dependent on its cell of origin and the molecular form produced.
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Baird A, Coimbra R, Dang X, Lopez N, Lee J, Krzyzaniak M, Winfield R, Potenza B, Eliceiri BP. Cell surface localization and release of the candidate tumor suppressor Ecrg4 from polymorphonuclear cells and monocytes activate macrophages. J Leukoc Biol 2012; 91:773-81. [PMID: 22396620 DOI: 10.1189/jlb.1011503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
We identified fresh human leukocytes as an abundant source of the candidate epithelial tumor suppressor gene, Ecrg4, an epigenetically regulated gene, which unlike other tumor suppressor genes, encodes an orphan-secreted, ligand-like protein. In human cell lines, Ecrg4 gene expression was low, Ecrg4 protein undetectable, and Ecrg4 promoter hypermethylation high (45-90%) and reversible by the methylation inhibitor 5-AzaC. In contrast, Ecrg4 gene expression in fresh, normal human PBMCs and PMNs was 600-800 times higher than in cultured cell lines, methylation of the Ecrg4 promoter was low (<3%), and protein levels were readily detectable in lysates and on the cell surface. Flow cytometry, immunofluorescent staining, and cell surface biotinylation established that full-length, 14-kDa Ecrg4 was localized on PMN and monocyte cell surfaces, establishing that Ecrg4 is a membrane-anchored protein. LPS treatment induced processing and release of Ecrg4, as detected by flow and immunoblotting, whereas an effect of fMLF treatment on Ecrg4 on the PMN cell surface was detected on the polarized R2 subpopulation of cells. This loss of cell surface Ecrg4 was associated with the detection of intact and processed Ecrg4 in the conditioned media of fresh leukocytes and was shown to be associated with the inflammatory response that follows severe, cutaneous burn injury. Furthermore, incubation of macrophages with a soluble Ecrg4-derived peptide increased the P-p65, suggesting that processing of an intact sentinel Ecrg4 on quiescent circulating leukocytes leads to processing from the cell surface following injury and macrophage activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Baird
- University of California San Diego School of Medicine, 212 Dickinson St., MC 8236, San Diego, CA 92103, USA.
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Medeiros M, Zheng X, Novak P, Wnek SM, Chyan V, Escudero-Lourdes C, Gandolfi AJ. Global gene expression changes in human urothelial cells exposed to low-level monomethylarsonous acid. Toxicology 2011; 291:102-12. [PMID: 22108045 DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2011.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2011] [Revised: 10/13/2011] [Accepted: 11/08/2011] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Bladder cancer has been associated with chronic arsenic exposure. Monomethylarsonous acid [MMA(III)] is a metabolite of inorganic arsenic and has been shown to transform an immortalized urothelial cell line (UROtsa) at concentrations 20-fold less than arsenite. MMA(III) was used as a model arsenical to examine the mechanisms of arsenical-induced transformation of urothelium. A microarray analysis was performed to assess the transcriptional changes in UROtsa during the critical window of chronic 50nM MMA(III) exposure that leads to transformation at 3 months of exposure. The analysis revealed only minor changes in gene expression at 1 and 2 months of exposure, contrasting with substantial changes observed at 3 months of exposure. The gene expression changes at 3 months were analyzed showing distinct alterations in biological processes and pathways such as a response to oxidative stress, enhanced cell proliferation, anti-apoptosis, MAPK signaling, as well as inflammation. Twelve genes selected as markers of these particular biological processes were used to validate the microarray and these genes showed a time-dependent changes at 1 and 2 months of exposure, with the most substantial changes occurring at 3 months of exposure. These results indicate that there is a strong association between the acquired phenotypic changes that occur with chronic MMA(III) exposure and the observed gene expression patterns that are indicative of a malignant transformation. Although the substantial changes that occur at 3 months of exposure may be a consequence of transformation, there are common occurrences of altered biological processes between the first 2 months of exposure and the third, which may be pivotal in driving transformation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Medeiros
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, United States.
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Sabatier R, Finetti P, Adelaide J, Guille A, Borg JP, Chaffanet M, Lane L, Birnbaum D, Bertucci F. Down-regulation of ECRG4, a candidate tumor suppressor gene, in human breast cancer. PLoS One 2011; 6:e27656. [PMID: 22110708 PMCID: PMC3218004 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0027656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 120] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2011] [Accepted: 10/21/2011] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION ECRG4/C2ORF40 is a potential tumor suppressor gene (TSG) recently identified in esophageal carcinoma. Its expression, gene copy number and prognostic value have never been explored in breast cancer. METHODS Using DNA microarray and array-based comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH), we examined ECRG4 mRNA expression and copy number alterations in 353 invasive breast cancer samples and normal breast (NB) samples. A meta-analysis was done on a large public retrospective gene expression dataset (n = 1,387) in search of correlations between ECRG4 expression and histo-clinical features including survival. RESULTS ECRG4 was underexpressed in 94.3% of cancers when compared to NB. aCGH data revealed ECRG4 loss in 18% of tumors, suggesting that DNA loss is not the main mechanism of underexpression. Meta-analysis showed that ECRG4 expression was significantly higher in tumors displaying earlier stage, smaller size, negative axillary lymph node status, lower grade, and normal-like subtype. Higher expression was also associated with disease-free survival (DFS; HR = 0.84 [0.76-0.92], p = 0.0002) and overall survival (OS; HR = 0.72 [0.63-0.83], p = 5.0E-06). In multivariate analysis including the other histo-clinical prognostic features, ECRG4 expression remained the only prognostic factor for DFS and OS. CONCLUSIONS Our data suggest that ECRG4 is a candidate TSG in breast cancer, the expression of which may help improve the prognostication. If functional analyses confirm this TSG role, restoring ECRG4 expression in the tumor may represent a promising therapeutic approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renaud Sabatier
- Département d'Oncologie Moléculaire, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille, UMR891 INSERM and Institut Paoli-Calmettes Marseille, Marseille, France
- Département d'Oncologie Médicale, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille, Institut Paoli-Calmettes Marseille, Marseille, France
| | - Pascal Finetti
- Département d'Oncologie Moléculaire, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille, UMR891 INSERM and Institut Paoli-Calmettes Marseille, Marseille, France
| | - José Adelaide
- Département d'Oncologie Moléculaire, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille, UMR891 INSERM and Institut Paoli-Calmettes Marseille, Marseille, France
| | - Arnaud Guille
- Département d'Oncologie Moléculaire, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille, UMR891 INSERM and Institut Paoli-Calmettes Marseille, Marseille, France
| | - Jean-Paul Borg
- Université de la Méditerranée, Marseille, France
- Département de Polarité cellulaire, signalisation et cancer, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille, U891 INSERM and Institut Paoli-Calmettes Marseille, Marseille, France
| | - Max Chaffanet
- Département d'Oncologie Moléculaire, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille, UMR891 INSERM and Institut Paoli-Calmettes Marseille, Marseille, France
| | - Lydie Lane
- SIB-Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Geneva, Switzerland
- Department of Human Protein Science, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Daniel Birnbaum
- Département d'Oncologie Moléculaire, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille, UMR891 INSERM and Institut Paoli-Calmettes Marseille, Marseille, France
| | - François Bertucci
- Département d'Oncologie Moléculaire, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille, UMR891 INSERM and Institut Paoli-Calmettes Marseille, Marseille, France
- Département d'Oncologie Médicale, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille, Institut Paoli-Calmettes Marseille, Marseille, France
- Université de la Méditerranée, Marseille, France
- * E-mail:
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