Expression of bone morphogenetic protein-2 and its receptors in epithelial ovarian cancer and their influence on the prognosis of ovarian cancer patients

The role of IL‑17, IFN‑γ, 4‑1BBL and tumour‑infiltrating lymphocytes in the occurrence, development and prognosis of pancreatic cancer

Immunotherapy has made progress in the treatment of tumours; however, in patients with pancreatic cancer, immunotherapy has not achieved effective results. The present study investigated changes in the immune microenvironment during tumour development and progression, and the relationship between the immune microenvironment and prognosis, to clarify the mechanism of immune escape in pancreatic cancer. A total of 40 patients with pancreatic cancer (including 22 with stage I-II disease and 18 with stage III-IV disease) and 20 patients with chronic pancreatitis were included in the present study. The expression of CD3, CD4, CD8, CD56, IFN-γ, IL-17 and 4-1BBL was assessed by immunohistochemistry, and the mRNA expression levels were detected by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). The clinicopathological characteristics and prognoses of patients with pancreatic cancer were analysed to further explore the role of IL-17, IFN-γ, 4-1BBL and tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes in pancreatic cancer. Notably, the expression levels of CD3, CD8, CD56, IFN-γ and 4-1BBL in patients with stages I-II and III-IV cancer were lower than those in patients with chronic pancreatitis (P<0.05), especially in patients with stage III-IV cancer (P<0.05). In addition, the expression of IL-17 in patients with stages I-II and III-IV cancer was greater than in patients with chronic pancreatitis (P<0.05), especially in patients with stage III-IV cancer (P<0.05). The RT-qPCR results regarding CD3, CD4, CD8, CD56, IFN-γ and IL-17 were almost the same as those obtained from immunohistochemical analysis; however, the mRNA expression levels of 4-1BBL were not significantly different between stages I-II and III-IV. Furthermore, patients with pancreatic cancer with higher expression levels of CD3, CD8, CD56, IFN-γ and 4-1BBL exhibited longer survival, whereas those with higher expression of IL-17 had a shorter survival time. The expression levels of CD3, CD8, CD56, cytokines IL-17 and IFN-γ, and costimulatory molecule 4-1BBL were revealed to be related to the degree of differentiation, Tumour-Node-Metastasis staging and the prognosis of pancreatic cancer, and may serve as novel immunological indicators for evaluating the condition and treatment effectiveness in patients with pancreatic cancer.

The effects of anti-lung cancer in nude mice by a fully human single-chain antibody against associated antigen Ts7TMR between A549 cells and Trichinella spiralis

Lung cancer is a dangerous disease that is lacking in an ideal therapy. Here, we evaluated the anti-lung cancer effect in nude mice of a fully human single-chain antibody (scFv) against the associated antigen 7 transmembrane receptor (Ts7TMR), which is also called G protein-coupled receptor, between A549 cells and Trichinella spiralis (T. spiralis). Our data showed that anti-Ts7TMR scFv could inhibit lung cancer growth in a dose-dependent manner, with a tumour inhibition rate of 59.1%. HE staining did not reveal any obvious tissue damage. Mechanistically, immunohistochemical staining revealed that the scFv down-regulated the expression of PCNA and VEGF in tumour tissues. Overall, this study found that anti-Ts7TMR scFv could inhibit A549 lung cancer growth by suppressing cell proliferation and angiogenesis, which may provide a new strategy for treating lung cancer.

Small Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein Polypeptides B and B1 Promote Osteosarcoma Progression via Activating the Ataxia-Telangiectasia Mutated Signaling Pathway through Ribonucleotide Reductase Subunit M2

Osteosarcoma is a malignant bone tumor characterized by high metastatic potential and recurrence rates after therapy. The small nuclear ribonucleoprotein polypeptides B and B1 (SNRPB), core components of a spliceosome, exhibit up-regulation across several cancer types. However, the precise role of SNRPB in osteosarcoma progression remains poorly elucidated. Herein, SNRPB expression was explored in human osteosarcoma tissues and normal bone tissues by immunohistochemical staining, revealing a notable up-regulation of SNRPB in osteosarcoma, correlating with diminished survival rates. The in vitro loss-of-function experiments showed that SNRPB knockdown significantly suppressed the osteosarcoma cell proliferation and migration, as well as tubule formation of human umbilical vascular endothelial cells, while enhancing osteosarcoma cell apoptosis. Mechanistically, SNRPB promoted the transcription of ribonucleotide reductase subunit M2 via E2F transcription factor 1. Further rescue experiments indicated that ribonucleotide reductase subunit M2 was required for SNRPB-induced malignant behaviors in osteosarcoma. Additionally, the function of SNRPB in osteosarcoma cell growth and apoptosis was confirmed to be associated with ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM) signaling pathway activation. In conclusion, these findings provide initial insights into the underlying mechanisms governing SNRPB-induced osteosarcoma progression, and we propose SNRPB as a novel therapeutic target in osteosarcoma management.

ADAMTS4 exacerbates lung cancer progression via regulating c-Myc protein stability and activating MAPK signaling pathway

BACKGROUND

Lung cancer is one of the most frequent cancers and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide with poor prognosis. A disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs 4 (ADAMTS4) is crucial in the regulation of the extracellular matrix (ECM), impacting its formation, homeostasis and remodeling, and has been linked to cancer progression. However, the specific involvement of ADAMTS4 in the development of lung cancer remains unclear.

METHODS

ADAMTS4 expression was identified in human lung cancer samples by immunohistochemical (IHC) staining and the correlation of ADAMTS4 with clinical outcome was determined. The functional impact of ADAMTS4 on malignant phenotypes of lung cancer cells was explored both in vitro and in vivo. The mechanisms underlying ADAMTS4-mediated lung cancer progression were explored by ubiquitination-related assays.

RESULTS

Our study revealed a significant upregulation of ADAMTS4 at the protein level in lung cancer tissues compared to para-carcinoma normal tissues. High ADAMTS4 expression inversely correlated with the prognosis of lung cancer patients. Knockdown of ADAMTS4 inhibited the proliferation and migration of lung cancer cells, as well as the tubule formation of HUVECs, while ADAMTS4 overexpression exerted opposite effects. Mechanistically, we found that ADAMTS4 stabilized c-Myc by inhibiting its ubiquitination, thereby promoting the in vitro and in vivo growth of lung cancer cells and inducing HUVECs tubule formation in lung cancer. In addition, our results suggested that ADAMTS4 overexpression activated MAPK signaling pathway.

CONCLUSIONS

We highlighted the promoting role of ADAMTS4 in lung cancer progression and proposed ADAMTS4 as a promising therapeutic target for lung cancer patients.

The Role of Bovine Amniotic Membrane and Hydroxyapatite for the Ridge Preservation

Ridge preservation is an important technique for maintaining the dimensions of the alveolar bone following tooth extraction, which is crucial for successful tooth rehabilitation. The combination of bovine amniotic membrane and hydroxyapatite has shown promise as a scaffold material containing growth factors that can stimulate osteogenic-related factors such as bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2), Runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2), and osteocalcin. This stimulation leads to collagen production and osteoblast proliferation, resulting in new bone formation. In this study, bovine amniotic membrane-hydroxyapatite (BAM-HA) composites were prepared using three different ratios of bovine amniotic membrane and hydroxyapatite (2 : 3, 3 : 7, 7 : 13). Thirty Sprague-Dawley rats had their first incisors extracted, and different types of BAM-HA were applied for ridge preservation. The control group received no treatment, while the positive control group was given xenograft. After 14 and 28 days, the animals were sacrificed, and immunohistochemical analysis was performed to evaluate the expression of BMP2, RUNX2, and osteocalcin. Additionally, a histological examination was conducted to analyse collagen thickness and osteoblast cell proliferation. The results demonstrated that the application of BAM-HA significantly increased collagen density, osteoblast cell proliferation, and the expression of BMP2, RUNX2, and osteoclacin compared to the control group (p < 0.05) on both days 14 and 28. Furthermore, increasing the hydroxyapatite content in the composite was found to enhance collagen thickness, osteoblast cell proliferation, and the expression of osteogenic-related factors. These preliminary findings suggest that the combination of BAM-HA can be used for ridge preservation to prevent further bone resorption following tooth extraction.

Label-free Raman spectroscopy reveals tumor microenvironmental changes induced by intermittent fasting for the prevention of breast cancer in animal model

The development of tools that can provide a holistic picture of the evolution of the tumor microenvironment in response to intermittent fasting on the prevention of breast cancer is highly desirable. Here, we show, for the first time, the use of label-free Raman spectroscopy to reveal biomolecular alterations induced by intermittent fasting in the tumor microenvironment of breast cancer using a dimethyl-benzanthracene induced rat model. To quantify biomolecular alterations in the tumor microenvironment, chemometric analysis of Raman spectra obtained from untreated and treated tumors was performed using multivariate curve resolution-alternative least squares and support vector machines. Raman measurements revealed remarkable and robust differences in lipid, protein, and glycogen content prior to morphological manifestations in a dynamically changing tumor microenvironment, consistent with the proteomic changes observed by quantitative mass spectrometry. Taken together with its non-invasive nature, this research provides prospective evidence for the clinical translation of Raman spectroscopy to identify biomolecular variations in the microenvironment induced by intermittent fasting for the prevention of breast cancer, providing new perspectives on the specific molecular effects in the tumorigenesis of breast cancer.

PLEK2 activates the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway to drive lung adenocarcinoma progression by upregulating SPC25

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is the most common subtype of NSCLC, characterized by poor prognosis and frequently diagnosed at advanced. While previous studies have demonstrated pleckstrin-2 (PLEK2) as aberrantly expressed and implicated in tumorigenesis across various tumor types, including LUAD, the molecular mechanisms underlying PLEK2-mediated LUAD progression remain incompletely understood. In this study, we obtained data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database to assess PLEK2 expression in LUAD, a finding further confirmed through analysis of human tissue specimens. PLEK2-silenced LUAD cellular models were subsequently constructed to examine the functional role of PLEK2 both in vitro and in vivo. Our results showed elevated PLEK2 expression in LUAD, correlating with poor patients' prognosis. PLEK2 knockdown led to a significant suppression of LUAD cell proliferation and migration, accompanied by enhanced apoptosis. Moreover, tumor growth in mice injected with PLEK2-silencing LUAD cells was impaired. Gene expression profiling and Co-IP assays suggested direct interaction between PLEK2 and SPC25, with downregulation of SPC25 similarly impairing cell proliferation and migration. Additionally, we revealed phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT signaling activation as requisite for PLEK2-induced malignant phenotypes in LUAD. Collectively, our findings underscore PLEK2's oncogenic potential in LUAD, suggesting its utility as a prognostic indicator and therapeutic target for LUAD management.

CDCA5 accelerates progression of breast cancer by promoting the binding of E2F1 and FOXM1

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors in women. Cell division cycle associated 5 (CDCA5), a master regulator of sister chromatid cohesion, was reported to be upregulated in several types of cancer. Here, the function and regulation mechanism of CDCA5 in breast cancer were explored.

METHODS

CDCA5 expression was identified through immunohistochemistry staining in breast cancer specimens. The correlation between CDCA5 expression with clinicopathological features and prognosis of breast cancer patients was analyzed using a tissue microarray. CDCA5 function in breast cancer was explored in CDCA5-overexpressed/knockdown cells and mice models. Co-IP, ChIP and dual-luciferase reporter assay assays were performed to clarify underlying molecular mechanisms.

RESULTS

We found that CDCA5 was expressed at a higher level in breast cancer tissues and cell lines, and overexpression of CDCA5 was significantly associated with poor prognosis of patients with breast cancer. Moreover, CDCA5 knockdown significantly suppressed the proliferation and migration, while promoted apoptosis in vitro. Mechanistically, we revealed that CDCA5 played an important role in promoting the binding of E2F transcription factor 1 (E2F1) to the forkhead box M1 (FOXM1) promoter. Furthermore, the data of in vitro and in vivo revealed that depletion of FOXM1 alleviated the effect of CDCA5 overexpression on breast cancer. Additionally, we revealed that the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway was required for CDCA5 induced progression of breast cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

We suggested that CDCA5 promoted progression of breast cancer via CDCA5/FOXM1/Wnt axis, CDCA5 might serve as a novel therapeutic target for breast cancer treatment.

Comprehensive DNA methylation profiling by MeDIP-NGS identifies potential genes and pathways for epithelial ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer, among all gynecologic malignancies, exhibits the highest incidence and mortality rate, primarily because it is often presents with non-specific or no symptoms during its early stages. For the advancement of Ovarian Cancer Diagnosis, it is crucial to identify the potential molecular signatures that could significantly differentiate between healthy and ovarian cancerous tissues and can be used further as a diagnostic biomarker for detecting ovarian cancer. In this study, we investigated the genome-wide methylation patterns in ovarian cancer patients using Methylated DNA Immunoprecipitation (MeDIP-Seq) followed by NGS. Identified differentially methylated regions (DMRs) were further validated by targeted bisulfite sequencing for CpG site-specific methylation profiles. Furthermore, expression validation of six genes by Quantitative Reverse Transcriptase-PCR was also performed. Out of total 120 differentially methylated genes (DMGs), 68 genes were hypermethylated, and 52 were hypomethylated in their promoter region. After analysis, we identified the top 6 hub genes, namely POLR3B, PLXND1, GIGYF2, STK4, BMP2 and CRKL. Interestingly we observed Non-CpG site methylation in the case of POLR3B and CRKL which was statistically significant in discriminating ovarian cancer samples from normal controls. The most significant pathways identified were focal adhesion, the MAPK signaling pathway, and the Ras signaling pathway. Expression analysis of hypermethylated genes was correlated with the downregulation of the genes. POLR3B and GIGYF2 turned out to be the novel genes associated with the carcinogenesis of EOC. Our study demonstrated that methylation profiling through MeDIP-sequencing has effectively identified six potential hub genes and pathways that might exacerbate our understanding of underlying molecular mechanisms of ovarian carcinogenesis.

Modulation of gut microbiota by crude mulberry polysaccharide attenuates knee osteoarthritis progression in rats

Mulberry (Morus alba L.), a kind of common fruits widely cultivated worldwide, has been proven various biological activities. However, its potential role in the progression of knee osteoarthritis (KOA) remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the potential protective effects of crude polysaccharide extracted from mulberry fruit, referred to as a complex blend of polysaccharides and other unidentified extracted impurities, on KOA progression. The KOA rats were established by injection of 1 mg sodium monoiodoacetate into knee, and administrated with crude mulberry polysaccharide (Mup) by gastric gavage for 4 weeks. Furthermore, intestinal bacteria clearance assay (IBCA) and fecal microbiota transplantation were conducted for the evaluation of the effect of gut microbiota (GM) on KOA. Our findings demonstrated that Mup, particularly at a dosage of 200 mg/kg, effectively improved abnormal gait patterns, reduced the level of inflammation, mitigated subchondral bone loss, restored compromised joint surfaces, alleviated cartilage destruction, and positively modulated the dysregulated profile of GM in KOA rats. Moreover, IBCA compromised the protective effects of Mup, while transplantation of fecal bacteria from Mup-treated rats facilitated KOA recovery. Collectively, our study suggested that Mup had the potential to ameliorate the progression of KOA, potentially through its modulation of GM profile.

POLE2 knockdown suppresses lymphoma progression via downregulating Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway

Lymphoma is the most common malignant tumor arising from immune system. Recently, DNA polymerase epsilon subunit 2 (POLE2) was identified to be a tumor promotor in a variety of malignant tumors. However, the biological role of POLE2 in lymphoma is still largely unclear. In our present study, the expression patterns of POLE2 in lymphoma tissues were identified by immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining of human tissue microarray. Cell viability was determined by CCK-8 assay. Cell apoptosis and cycle distribution were evaluated by Annexin V and PI staining, respectively. Cell migration was analyzed by transwell assay. Tumor growth in vivo was observed by a xenograft model of mice. The potential signaling was explored by human phospho-kinase array and immunoblotting. POLE2 was significantly upregulated in human lymphoma tissues and cells. POLE2 knockdown attenuated the proliferation, migration capabilities of lymphoma cells, as well as induced cell apoptosis and cycle arrest. Moreover, POLE2 depletion impaired the tumor growth in mice. Furthermore, POLE2 knockdown apparently inhibited the activation of β-Catenin and downregulated the expression of Wnt/β-Catenin signaling-related proteins. POLE2 knockdown suppressed the proliferation and migration of lymphoma cells by inhibiting Wnt/β-Catenin signaling pathway. POLE2 may serve as a novel therapeutic target for lymphoma.

Apple Polyphenol Extract Ameliorates Atherosclerosis and Associated Cognitive Impairment through Alleviating Neuroinflammation by Weakening TLR4 Signaling and NLRP3 Inflammasome in High-Fat/Cholesterol Diet-Fed LDLR-/- Male Mice

Although studies have supported the beneficial effects of the ingredients of apple polyphenol extract (APE), a polyphenol mixture being extracted from whole fresh apples, on neurodegenerative diseases, the role of APE in atherosclerosis-related cognitive impairment remains unclear. To clarify the role of APE in regulating cognitive dysfunction in mice with atherosclerosis and the underlying mechanisms, high-fat/cholesterol diet-fed male LDLR-/- mice were gavaged with 125 or 500 mg/(kg·bw·d) APE solution or sterile double-distilled water for consecutive 8 weeks, and age-matched C57BL/6 male mice were employed as normal control. APE intervention increased the serum concentration of high-density apolipoprotein cholesterol, improved atherosclerosis, and ameliorated cognitive function of mice by inhibiting the phosphorylation of tau protein, supporting with significantly reduced platform latency and obviously increased swimming distance in the target quadrant according to the Morris water maze test. APE intervention alleviated neuroinflammation by attenuating the activation of microglia and astrocytes and inhibiting TLR4 signaling with reduced protein expression of NF-κB, MyD88, TRIF, and IKKβ. Meanwhile, APE intervention inactivated NLRP3 inflammasome with downregulated protein expression of caspase-1, IL-18, and IL-1β. Additionally, APE intervention improved the damaged brain barrier structure by upregulating the protein expression of ZO-1 and occludin. Therefore, our research supplemented new data, supporting the potential of APE as an effective dietary bioactive ingredient to improve atherosclerosis and associated cognitive impairment.

CD58 acts as a tumor promotor in hepatocellular carcinoma via activating the AKT/GSK-3β/β-catenin pathway

BACKGROUND

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most prevalent malignancies worldwide because of rapid progression and high incidence of metastasis or recurrence. Accumulating evidence shows that CD58-expressing tumor cell is implicated in development of various cancers. The present study aimed to reveal the functional significance of CD58 in HCC progression and the underlying mechanisms.

METHODS

Immunohistochemical staining (IHC), and western blotting were used to detect the expression of CD58 in HCC tissues and cells. The levels of sCD58 (a soluble form of CD58) in the cell supernatants and serum were assessed by ELISA. CCK-8, colony formation, and xenograft assays were used to detect the function of CD58 on proliferation in vitro and in vivo. Transwell assay and sphere formation assay were performed to evaluate the effect of CD58 and sCD58 on metastasis and self-renewal ability of HCC cells. Western blotting, immunofluorescence (IF), TOP/FOP Flash reporter assay, and subcellular fractionation assay were conducted to investigate the molecular regulation between CD58/sCD58 and AKT/GSK-3β/β-catenin axis in HCC cells.

RESULTS

CD58 was significantly upregulated in HCC tissues. Elevation of CD58 expression correlated with more satellite foci and vascular invasion, and poorer tumor-free and overall survival in HCC patients. Higher sCD58 levels were in HCC patients' serum compared to healthy individuals. Functionally, CD58 promotes the proliferation of HCC cells in vitro and in vivo. Meanwhile, CD58 and sCD58 induce metastasis, self-renewal and pluripotency in HCC cells in vitro. Mechanistically, CD58 activates the AKT/GSK-3β/β-catenin signaling pathway by increasing phosphorylation of AKT or GSK3β signaling, promoting expression of Wnt/β-catenin target proteins and TCF/LEF-mediated transcriptional activity. Furthermore, AKT activator SC-79 or inhibitor LY294002 abolished the inhibitory effect of CD58 silencing on the proliferation, metastasis, and stemness of HCC cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Taken together, CD58 promotes HCC progression and metastasis via activating the AKT/GSK-3β/β-catenin pathway, suggesting that CD58 is a novel prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for HCC.

Circular RNA EPHA3 suppresses progression and metastasis in prostate cancer through the miR-513a-3p/BMP2 axis

BACKGROUND

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) may regulate the onset and progression of human malignancies by competitively binding to microRNA (miRNA) sponges, thus regulating the downstream genes. However, aberrant circRNA expression patterns and their biological functions in prostate cancer (PCa) warrant further studies. Our research sought to shed further light on the possible role and molecular mechanism of circEPHA3 action in controlling the growth and metastasis of PCa cells.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

circEPHA3 (has_circ_0066596) was initially screened from a previous circRNA microarray and identified following Actinomycin D and RNase R assays. Fluorescence in situ hybridization, biotin-coupled probe RNA pulldown, and dual-luciferase reporter gene assays were performed to examine the relationship between circEPHA3 and miR-513a-3p. The biological role of circEPHA3 in PCa was assessed by CCK8, wound healing, Transwell assays, and animal experiments.

RESULTS

We identified a novel circular RNA, circEPHA3 (has_circ_0066596), which was down-regulated in high-grade PCa tissues and cell lines. The outcomes of CCK8, wound healing, Transwell assays, and animal experiments revealed that circEPHA3 prohibited the progression and metastasis of PCa in vivo and in vitro. Mechanistically, circEPHA3 was directly bound to miR-513a-3p and regulated the downstream gene, BMP2, thereby serving as a tumor suppressor in PCa.

CONCLUSIONS

As a tumor suppressor, circEPHA3 inhibited the proliferation and metastasis of PCa cells through the miR-513a-3p/BMP2 axis, suggesting that circEPHA3 might be a potential therapeutic target for PCa.

Discovery of Some Heterocyclic Molecules as Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 (BMP-2)-Inducible Kinase Inhibitors: Virtual Screening, ADME Properties, and Molecular Docking Simulations

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are growth factors that have a vital role in the production of bone, cartilage, ligaments, and tendons. Tumors’ upregulation of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) and their receptors are key features of cancer progression. Regulation of the BMP kinase system is a new promising strategy for the development of anti-cancer drugs. In this work, based on a careful literature study, a library of benzothiophene and benzofuran derivatives was subjected to different computational techniques to study the effect of chemical structure changes on the ability of these two scaffolds to target BMP-2 inducible kinase, and to reach promising candidates with proposed activity against BMP-2 inducible kinase. The results of screening against Lipinski’s and Veber’s Rules produced twenty-one outside eighty-four compounds having drug-like molecular nature. Computational ADMET studies favored ten compounds (11, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 34, 35, 65, and 72) with good pharmacokinetic profile. Computational toxicity studies excluded compound 34 to elect nine compounds for molecular docking studies which displayed eight compounds (26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 35, 65, and 72) as promising BMP-2 inducible kinase inhibitors. The nine fascinating compounds will be subjected to extensive screening against serine/threonine kinases to explore their potential against these critical proteins. These promising candidates based on benzothiophene and benzofuran scaffolds deserve further clinical investigation as BMP-2 kinase inhibitors for the treatment of cancer.

The expression of BMP, integrin, ZEB2 in ovarian high-grade serous carcinoma in relation with lymph node metastasis

Ovarian cancer (OC) is clinically important because it is diagnosed late and has metastasis when it is diagnosed. Mortality risk increases 2.75 times in the presence of lymph node (LN) metastasis. During metastasis, many molecules including BMPs originated from stroma, and tumor cells participate through transcription factors and integrins for cytoskeleton regulation during cell migration. We hypothesized an inverse correlation between BMP2 and BMP7 along with changes in ZEB2, and integrin α5β1 in high-grade OCs in relation to LN metastasis. The BMP2 immunoreactivity was strong along with strong ZEB2 and weak integrins' immunoreactivity in samples with LN metastasis. Strong immunoreactivity of BMP7 was accompanied by strong immunoreactivity of integrins in the samples without LN metastasis. Study results showed BMP2's strong positive immunoreactivity and weak BMP7 immunoreactivity in tumor cells with a significantly weak inverse correlation. This inverse correlation should be considered as both BMPs have different effects in the window of cancer progression and invasion.

A RAS-Independent Biomarker Panel to Reliably Predict Response to MEK Inhibition in Colorectal Cancer

Simple Summary

Today, clinical management for the majority of cancer patients is still based on a “one-size-fits-all” approach. To improve the outcomes in the era of personalized medicine, it is essential to stratify patients based on established and novel biomarkers. In the present study, we investigated a SMAD4 loss-of-function mutation, which is associated with chemoresistance and decreased overall survival in colorectal cancer (CRC). To investigate the molecular mechanism behind the impact on drug response, we used CRISPR technology on patient-derived organoid models (PDOs) of CRC. We showed that PDOs with loss-of-function SMAD4 mutations are sensitive to MEK-inhibitors. Using a novel four-gene signature reliably predicts sensitivity towards MEK-inhibitors, regardless of the RAS and BRAF status. The present study is a significant step towards personalized cancer therapy by identifying a new biomarker.

Abstract

Background: In colorectal cancer (CRC), mutations of genes associated with the TGF-β/BMP signaling pathway, particularly affecting SMAD4, are known to correlate with decreased overall survival and it is assumed that this signaling axis plays a key role in chemoresistance. Methods: Using CRISPR technology on syngeneic patient-derived organoids (PDOs), we investigated the role of a loss-of-function of SMAD4 in sensitivity to MEK-inhibitors. CRISPR-engineered SMAD4^R361H PDOs were subjected to drug screening, RNA-Sequencing, and multiplex protein profiling (DigiWest^®). Initial observations were validated on an additional set of 62 PDOs with known mutational status. Results: We show that loss-of-function of SMAD4 renders PDOs sensitive to MEK-inhibitors. Multiomics analyses indicate that disruption of the BMP branch within the TGF-β/BMP pathway is the pivotal mechanism of increased drug sensitivity. Further investigation led to the identification of the SFAB-signature (SMAD4, FBXW7, ARID1A, or BMPR2), coherently predicting sensitivity towards MEK-inhibitors, independent of both RAS and BRAF status. Conclusion: We identified a novel mutational signature that reliably predicts sensitivity towards MEK-inhibitors, regardless of the RAS and BRAF status. This finding poses a significant step towards better-tailored cancer therapies guided by the use of molecular biomarkers.

COX4I2 is a novel biomarker of blood supply in adrenal tumors

Background

Previous study has been reported that COX4I2 expression level demonstrated a positive correlation with microvessel density in pheochromocytomas (PCC) samples, suggesting that the expression of COX4I2 maybe related to blood supply level in other adrenal tumors as well. The aim of this study is to clarify the correlation of COX4I2 expression and blood supply in adrenal tumors.

Methods

A total of 84 patients were recruited, among which 46 was diagnosed as adrenocortical adenoma (ACA) and 38 was diagnosed as PCC. Contrast-enhanced CT values were used to evaluate the blood supply levels in those patients. The expression of mRNA was examined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and protein was detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC).

Results

The COX4I2 expression level in PCC group is significantly higher than that in ACA group (P<0.01). The expression of angiogenesis-related genes EPAS1, VEGFA and KDR mRNA in PCC group is higher than that of ACA group (P<0.05). Correlation analysis shows COX4I2 expression level is correlated with CT values (P<0.001), intraoperative blood loss (P<0.05) and operation time (P<0.05), and the expression of COX4I2 mRNA is correlated with EPAS1, VEGFA and KDR mRNA (P<0.01).

Conclusions

The results displayed a distinct expression level of COX4I2 between ACA and PCC, suggesting that COX4I2 is a novel biomarker of blood supply in adrenal tumors. This research also opens the possibility for further research on COX4I2 as a novel target for anti-tumor angiogenesis.

Apple Polyphenol Extract Improves High-Fat Diet-Induced Hepatic Steatosis by Regulating Bile Acid Synthesis and Gut Microbiota in C57BL/6 Male Mice

Our previous study showed that apple polyphenol extract (APE) ameliorated high-fat diet-induced hepatic steatosis in C57BL/6 mice by targeting the LKB1/AMPK pathway; to investigate whether other mechanisms are involved in APE induction of improved hepatic steatosis, especially the roles of bile acid (BA) metabolism and gut microbiota, we conducted this study. Thirty-three C57BL/6 male mice were fed with high-fat diet for 12 weeks and concomitantly treated with sterilized water (CON) or 125 or 500 mg/(kg·bw·day) APE (low-dose APE, LAP; high-dose APE, HAP) by intragastric administration. APE treatment decreased total fecal BA contents, especially fecal primary BA levels, mainly including cholic acid, chenodeoxycholic acid, and muricholic acid. An upregulated hepatic Farnesoid X receptor (FXR) protein level and downregulated protein levels of cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase (CYP7A1) and cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase (CYP27A1) were observed after APE treatment, which resulted in the suppressed BA synthesis. Meanwhile, APE had no significant effects on mucosal injury and FXR expression in the jejunum. APE regulated the diversity of gut microbiota and microbiota composition, characterized by significantly increased relative abundance of Akkermansia and decreased relative abundance of Lactobacillus. Furthermore, APE might affect the reverse cholesterol transport in the ileum, evidenced by the changed mRNA levels of NPC1-like intracellular cholesterol transporter 1 (Npc1l1), liver X receptor (Lxr), ATP binding cassette subfamily A member 1 (Abca1), and ATP binding cassette subfamily G member 1 (Abcg1). However, APE did not affect the dihydroxylation and taurine metabolism of BA. The correlation analysis deduced no obvious interactions between BA and gut microbiota. In summary, APE, especially a high dose of APE, could alleviate hepatic steatosis, and the mechanisms were associated with inhibiting BA synthesis and modulating gut microbiota.

miR‑135a‑5p inhibits tumor invasion by targeting ANGPT2 in gallbladder cancer

Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is the most aggressive cancer type in the biliary tract, and our previous studies observed that microRNA (miR)-135a-5p expression was downregulated in GBC tissues. However, few studies have focused on the mechanism of action of the miR-135a-5p target genes in GBC. The present study aimed to investigate the regulatory role of miR-135a-5p signaling in GBC. The present study found that miR-135a-5p expression was downregulated in GBC tissue, as detected by immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. In addition, overexpression of miR-135a-5p significantly inhibited the proliferation and migration of GBC-SD cells. Using a luciferase activity assay, it was identified that angiopoietin-2 (ANGPT2) was a potential target gene of miR-135a-5p in GBC. Knockdown of ANGPT2 expression significantly inhibited the proliferation and invasion of GBC-SD cells. In conclusion, the present results suggested that miR-135a-5p affected GBC cell proliferation and invasion by targeting ANGPT2. Moreover, miR-135a-5p may be a potential biomarker for GBC progression and a potential target for GBC therapeutic intervention.

Vps34 Inhibits Hepatocellular Carcinoma Invasion by Regulating Endosome-Lysosome Trafficking via Rab7-RILP and Rab11

Purpose

The role of vacuolar protein sorting 34 (Vps34), an indispensable protein required for cell vesicular trafficking, in the biological behavior of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has yet to be studied.

Materials and Methods

In the present study, the expression of Vps34 in HCC and the effect of Vps34 on HCC cell invasion was detected both in vivo and in vitro. Furthermore, by modulating the RILP and Rab11, which regulate juxtanuclear lysosome aggregation and recycling endosome respectively, the underlying mechanism was investigated.

Results

Vps34 was significantly decreased in HCC and negatively correlated with the HCC invasiveness both in vivo and in vitro. Moreover, Vps34 could promote lysosomal juxtanuclear accumulation, reduce the invasive ability of HCC cells via the Rab7-RILP pathway. In addition, the deficiency of Vps34 in HCC cells affected the endosome-lysosome system, resulting in enhanced Rab11 mediated endocytic recycling of cell surface receptor and increased invasion of HCC cells.

Conclusion

Our study reveals that Vps34 acts as an invasion suppressor in HCC cells, and more importantly, the endosome-lysosome trafficking regulated by Vps34 has the potential to become a target pathway in HCC treatment.

Dynamic changes of inflammation and apoptosis in cerebral ischemia‑reperfusion injury in mice investigated by ferumoxytol‑enhanced magnetic resonance imaging

The inflammatory response and apoptosis are key factors in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury. The severity of the inflammatory reaction and apoptosis has an important impact on the prognosis of stroke. The ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide particle has provided an effective magnetic resonance molecular imaging method for dynamic observation of the cell infiltration process in vivo. The aims of the present study were to investigate the inflammatory response of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in mice using ferumoxytol-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging, and to observe the dynamic changes of inflammatory response and apoptosis. In the present study a C57BL/6n mouse cerebral ischemia-reperfusion model was established by blocking the right middle cerebral artery with an occluding suture. Subsequently, the mice were injected with ferumoxytol via the tail vein, and magnetic resonance scanning was performed at corresponding time points to observe the signal changes. Furthermore, blood samples were used to measure the level of serum inflammatory factors, and histological staining was performed to assess the number of iron-swallowing microglial cells and apoptotic cells. The present results suggested that there was no significant difference in the serum inflammatory factors tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin 1β between the middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and MCAO + ferumoxytol groups injected with ferumoxytol and physiological saline. The lowest signal ratio in the negative enhancement region was decreased 24 h after reperfusion in mice injected with ferumoxytol. The proportion of iron-swallowing microglial cells and TUNEL-positive cells were the highest at 24 h after reperfusion, and decreased gradually at 48 and 72 h after reperfusion. Therefore, the present results indicated that ferumoxytol injection of 18 mg Fe/kg does not affect the inflammatory response in the acute phase of cerebral ischemia and reperfusion. Ferumoxytol-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging can be used as an effective means to monitor the inflammatory response in the acute phase of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury. Furthermore, it was found that activation of the inflammatory response and apoptosis in the acute stage of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury is consistent.

HPV58 E7 Protein Expression Profile in Cervical Cancer and CIN with Immunohistochemistry

Background: The persistent infection of high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) is one of the most common causes of cervical cancer worldwide, and HPV type 58 (HPV58) is the third most common HPV type in eastern Asia. The E7 oncoprotein is constitutively expressed in HPV58-associated cervical cancer cells and plays a key role during tumorigenesis. This study aimed to assess the HPV58 E7 protein expression in the tissues of cervical cancer and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN).

Methods: A total of 67 HPV58-positive cervical samples were collected, including 25 cervical cancer samples and 42 CIN samples. All the tissues were examined by HPV58 E7, p16^INK4a and Ki67 immunohistochemistry (IHC). At last, we analyzed their association with clinical and pathological variables.

Results: HPV58 E7 expression was detected in 96% of the HPV58 DNA-positive cervical cancer tissues and 85.7% of HPV58-positive CIN tissues. 65 samples of cervical cancer and CIN tissues had p16-positive staining, while 59 samples were Ki-67 positive.

Conclusions: HPV58 E7 protein is highly expressed in both cervical cancer and CIN tissues. HPV58 E7 IHC could be sensitive and specific for evaluating HPV-driven cervical cancer and pre-cancerous lesions, in combination with p16 and Ki-67 IHC.

Overexpression of EIF5A2 is associated with poor survival and aggressive tumor biology in gallbladder cancer

Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is a malignant tumor of the biliary tract. The main problem affecting the treatment of gallbladder cancer is late diagnosis and poor prognosis. EIF5A2 is one of two isoforms of the EIF5A family and is reported to be a new oncogenic protein in many human cancers. In this study, our results showed for the first time that EIF5A2 was overexpressed in GBC samples compared with non-tumor tissue. Overexpression of EIF5A2 was associated with lymph node metastasis, tumor differentiation, UICC (Union for International Cancer Control) staging, histological type, metastasis, and tumor size. Overexpression of EIF5A2 in gallbladder carcinoma tissues is also associated with poor prognosis in patients. The interference of EIF5A2 significantly inhibited the proliferation, cell cycle, migration and colony formation of GBC-SD cells in vitro. Our results suggest that EIF5A2 is a target oncogene and may be an important prognostic biomarker in the pathogenesis of gallbladder cancer.

Proteoglycan 4 predicts tribological properties of repaired cartilage tissue

Purpose: One of the essential requirements in maintaining the normal joint motor function is the perfect tribological property of the articular cartilage. Many cartilage regeneration strategies have been developed for treatment in early stages of osteoarthritis, but there is little information on how repaired articular cartilage regains durability. The identification of biomarkers that can predict wear resistant property is critical to advancing the success of cartilage regeneration therapies. Proteoglycan 4 (PRG4) is a macromolecule distributing on the chondrocyte surface that contributes to lubrication. In this study, we investigate if PRG4 expression is associated with tribological properties of regenerated cartilage, and is able to predict its wear resistant status.

Methods: Two different strategies including bone marrow enrichment plus microfracture (B/BME-MFX) and microfracture alone (B-MFX) of cartilage repair in sheep were used. PRG4 expression and a series of tribological parameters on regenerated cartilage were rigorously examined and compared.

Results: Highly and continuously expression of PRG4 in regenerated cartilage surface was negatively correlated with each tribological parameter (P<0.0001, respectively). Multivariate analysis showed that PRG4 expression was the key predictor that contributed to the promotion of cartilage wear resistance.

Conclusion: Higher PRG4 expression in regenerated cartilage is significantly associated with wear resistance improvement. PRG4 may be useful for predicting the wear resistant status of regenerated cartilage and determining the optimal cartilage repair strategy.

Identification and validation of a 21-mRNA prognostic signature in diffuse lower-grade gliomas

PURPOSE

Diffuse low-grade and intermediate-grade gliomas, also known as lower-grade gliomas (LGGs), are a class of central nervous system tumors. Overall survival varies greatly between patients, highlighting the importance of evaluating exact outcomes to facilitate individualized clinical management. We aimed to identify an mRNA-based prognostic signature to predict the survival of patients with LGGs.

METHODS

A total of 874 LGGs from two public datasets were included. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) Cox regression was used to select the most prognostic mRNAs and build a risk score. A nomogram incorporating the risk score and clinical factors was established for individualized survival prediction. The performance of the nomogram was assessed in the training set (329 patients), internal validation set (140 patients), and external validation set (405 patients).

RESULTS

21 most prognostic mRNAs remained following the LASSO Cox regression. The 21-mRNA signature successfully stratified patients into high- and low-risk groups (P < 0.001 for all datasets in Kaplan-Meier analysis). Subsequent gene set enrichment analysis identified 19 essential biological processes in high-risk LGGs. Furthermore, a nomogram incorporating the risk score, age, grade, and 1p/19q status was developed with favorable calibration and high predictive accuracy in the training set and validation sets (C-index: 0.877, 0.878, and 0.812, respectively).

CONCLUSION

The 21-mRNA signature has reliable prognostic value for LGGs and might facilitate the effective stratification and individualized management of patients.

Eldecalcitol, an active vitamin D analog, effectively prevents cyclophosphamide-induced osteoporosis in rats

Cyclophosphamide (CTX) as an alkylating agent is used for treating a range of tumor types and allergic diseases. However, high-dose application may induce rapid bone loss and increase the risk of osteoporotic fractures. Eldecalcitol (ED-71), a clinically approved active vitamin D analog, has been approved for osteoporosis treatment. It potently inhibited bone resorption while maintaining osteoblastic function in estrogen-deficient and high-turnover osteoporosis in model rats. The aim of the present study was to clarify the treatment effect of ED-71 on bone loss in a well-established rat model of osteoporosis with CTX administration. After 15 days of CTX treatment, ED-71 was administered, while estradiol valerate (E2V) was used as a positive control. At 2 and 4 weeks after ED-71 or E2V administration, rats were sacrificed and fixed. The tibiae were extracted for histochemical analysis using hematoxylin and eosin staining and immunohistochemistry. When compared with the untreated control group, the CTX group displayed clear osteoporotic features, including a decreased number of bone trabeculae and increased trabecular separation. ED-71 and E2V successfully rescued CTX-induced bone loss. The ED-71 group displayed denser and increasingly mature trabecular bone than the E2V group. Furthermore, ED-71 administration led to significant suppression of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), cathepsin K (CK), matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and Osteopontin (OPN), which was less pronounced than in E2V administration but was similar to the values exhibited in the normal control group. These results indicated that ED-71 had a moderate and increased effect on bone turnover compared with E2V. Therefore, the present study suggests that ED-71 is a potential inhibitor of CTX-induced osteoporosis, successfully rescuing bone loss without excessively suppressing bone turnover, and may be a suitable treatment for preventing bone loss in patients receiving CTX.

Human amnion-derived mesenchymal stem cell (hAD-MSC) transplantation improves ovarian function in rats with premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) at least partly through a paracrine mechanism

Background

Chemotherapy can induce premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) and reduce fertility in young female patients. Currently, there is no effective therapy for POI. Human amnion-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hAD-MSCs) may be a promising seed cell for regenerative medicine. This study investigated the effects and mechanisms of hAD-MSC transplantation on chemotherapy-induced POI in rats.

Methods

Chemotherapy-induced POI rat models were established by intraperitoneal injection of cyclophosphamide. Seventy-two female SD rats were randomly divided into control, POI, and hAD-MSC-treated groups. hAD-MSCs were labeled with PKH26 and injected into the tail veins of POI rats. To examine the underlying mechanisms, the differentiation of transplanted hAD-MSCs in the POI ovaries was analyzed by immunofluorescent staining. The in vitro expression of growth factors secreted by hAD-MSCs in hAD-MSC-conditioned media (hAD-MSC-CM) was analyzed by ELISA. Sixty female SD rats were divided into control, POI, and hAD-MSC-CM-treated groups, and hAD-MSC-CM was injected into the bilateral ovaries of POI rats. After hAD-MSC transplantation or hAD-MSC-CM injection, serum sex hormone levels, estrous cycles, ovarian pathological changes, follicle counts, granulosa cell (GC) apoptosis, and Bcl-2, Bax, and VEGF expression in ovaries were examined.

Results

PKH26-labeled hAD-MSCs mainly homed to ovaries after transplantation.

hAD-MSC transplantation reduced ovarian injury and improved ovarian function in rats with POI. Transplanted hAD-MSCs were only located in the interstitium of ovaries, rather than in follicles, and did not express the typical markers of oocytes and GCs, which are ZP3 and FSHR, respectively. hAD-MSCs secreted FGF2, IGF-1, HGF, and VEGF, and those growth factors were detected in the hAD-MSC-CM. hAD-MSC-CM injection improved the local microenvironment of POI ovaries, leading to a decrease in Bax expression and an increase in Bcl-2 and endogenous VEGF expression in ovarian cells, which inhibited chemotherapy-induced GC apoptosis, promoted angiogenesis and regulated follicular development, thus partly reducing ovarian injury and improving ovarian function in rats with POI.

Conclusions

hAD-MSC transplantation can improve ovarian function in rats with chemotherapy-induced POI at least partly through a paracrine mechanism. The presence of a paracrine mechanism accounting for hAD-MSC-mediated recovery of ovarian function might be attributed to the growth factors secreted by hAD-MSCs.

Regulatory T Cells Promote Overexpression of Lgr5 on Gastric Cancer Cells via TGF-beta1 and Confer Poor Prognosis in Gastric Cancer

Background: The leucine-rich repeat containing G protein-coupled receptor 5 (Lgr5) is considered a cancer stem cell marker, and is often overexpressed in tumors. The interaction between Lgr5 and the immune-related tumor microenvironment is not completely understood. The aim of this study was to examine the role of Lgr5 in the microenvironment of gastric cancer (GC), and to explore possible immunological mechanisms influencing Lgr5 expression that are governed by regulatory T cells. Methods: Lgr5 expression was examined in 180 GC tumors by immunohistochemistry, and in 80 pairs of GC tumors for analysis of Th1/Th2 cytokines by ELISA. In addition, SGC7901 cells were co-cultured with patient-derived Tregs, varying concentrations of TGF-β1, TGF-β1 neutralizing antibody, or TGF-β receptor inhibitor SB431542, and Lgr5 and β-catenin expression were examined by qRT-PCR and western blot. Results: In this study, an immunosuppressive microenvironment was associated with high Lgr5 expression in GC. Furthermore, Lgr5 expression was up-regulated in GC cells co-cultured with Tregs or treated with exogenous TGF-β1. This up-regulation was partially inhibited by the TGF-β1 neutralizing antibody, or TGF-β1 receptor antagonist SB431542. β-catenin was up-regulated with high Lgr5 expression induced by exogenous TGF-β1, and this up-regulation was inhibited by SB431542. An increased number of Tregs and high Lgr5 expression in GC tissues were significantly associated with low overall survival. Conclusion: Tregs promoted increased Lgr5 expression in GC cells via TGF-β1 and TGF-β1 signaling pathway, which may involve activation of the Wnt signaling pathway. High Lgr5 expression via TGF-β confer poor prognosis in gastric cancer.

Role of the HIF-1 signaling pathway in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the most common cause of chronic morbidity and mortality. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying COPD remain largely unknown. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the expression patterns of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and VEGF receptor 2 (R2) in regard to the HIF-1 signaling pathway in COPD. The expressions of HIF-1α, VEGF and VEGFR2 were examined and quantified in the human lung tissues of 102 subjects with a defined smoking status, with or without COPD. The expressions of HIF-1α, VEGF and VEGFR2 were observed to be increased in the lung tissues collected from smoking COPD subjects when compared with those tissues from smoking subjects without COPD and non-smoking subjects without COPD. The expression of HIF-1α was shown to be positively associated with the expression of VEGF and VEGFR2. In addition, increased expression of HIF-1α, VEGF and VEGFR2 reflected the disease severity of COPD. The key findings obtained from the present study indicated that high expression of HIF-1α, VEGF and VEGFR2 may be associated with decreased lung function and reduced quality of life, contributing to disease progression in COPD.

PHF8 upregulation contributes to autophagic degradation of E-cadherin, epithelial-mesenchymal transition and metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma

Background

Plant homeodomain finger protein 8 (PHF8) serves an activator of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and is implicated in various tumors. However, little is known about PHF8 roles in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and regulating E-cadherin expression.

Methods

PHF8 expression pattern was investigated by informatic analysis and verified by RT-qPCR and immunochemistry in HCC tissues and cell lines. CCK8, xenograft tumor model, transwell assay, and tandem mCherry-GFP-LC3 fusion protein assay were utilized to assess the effects of PHF8 on proliferation, metastasis and autophagy of HCC cells in vitro and in vivo. ChIP, immunoblot analysis, rescue experiments and inhibitor treatment were used to clarify the mechanism by which PHF8 facilitated EMT, metastasis and autophagy.

Results

PHF8 upregulation was quite prevalent in HCC tissues and closely correlated with worse overall survival and disease-relapse free survival. Furthermore, PHF8-knockdown dramatically suppressed cell growth, migration, invasion and autophagy, and the expression of SNAI1, VIM, N-cadherin and FIP200, and increased E-cadherin level, while PHF8-overexpression led to the opposite results. Additionally, FIP200 augmentation reversed the inhibited effects of PHF8-siliencing on tumor migration, invasion and autophagy. Mechanistically, PHF8 was involved in transcriptionally regulating the expression of SNAI1, VIM and FIP200, rather than N-cadherin and E-cadherin. Noticeably, E-cadherin degradation could be accelerated by PHF8-mediated FIP200-dependent autophagy, a crucial pathway complementary to transcriptional repression of E-cadherin by SNAI1 activation.

Conclusion

These findings suggested that PHF8 played an oncogenic role in facilitating FIP200-dependent autophagic degradation of E-cadherin, EMT and metastasis in HCC. PHF8 might be a promising target for prevention, treatment and prognostic prediction of HCC.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s13046-018-0890-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Consequences of BMPR2 Deficiency in the Pulmonary Vasculature and Beyond: Contributions to Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Since its association with familial pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in 2000, Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptor II (BMPR2) and its related signaling pathway have become recognized as a key regulator of pulmonary vascular homeostasis. Herein, we define BMPR2 deficiency as either an inactivation of the receptor, decreased receptor expression, or an impairment of the receptor’s downstream signaling pathway. Although traditionally the phenotypic consequences of BMPR2 deficiency in PAH have been thought to be limited to the pulmonary vasculature, there is evidence that abnormalities in BMPR2 signaling may have consequences in many other organ systems and cellular compartments. Revisiting how BMPR2 functions throughout health and disease in cells and organs beyond the lung vasculature may provide insight into the contribution of these organ systems to PAH pathogenesis as well as the potential systemic manifestation of PAH. Here we review our knowledge of the consequences of BMPR2 deficiency across multiple organ systems.

NEDD9 promotes oncogenic signaling, a stem/mesenchymal gene signature, and aggressive ovarian cancer growth in mice

Neural precursor cell expressed, developmentally downregulated 9 (NEDD9) supports oncogenic signaling in a number of solid and hematologic tumors. Little is known about the role of NEDD9 in ovarian carcinoma (OC), but available data suggest elevated mRNA and protein expression in advanced stage high-grade cancers. We used a transgenic MISIIR-TAg mouse OC model combined with genetic ablation of Nedd9 to investigate its action in the development and progression of OC. A Nedd9-/- genotype delayed tumor growth rate, reduced incidence of ascites, and reduced expression and activation of signaling proteins including SRC, STAT3, E-cadherin, and AURKA. Cell lines established from MISIIR-TAg;Nedd9-/- and MISIIR-TAg;Nedd9+/+ mice exhibited altered migration and invasion. Growth of these cells in a syngeneic allograft model indicated that systemic Nedd9 loss in the microenvironment had little impact on tumor allograft growth, but in a Nedd9 wild-type background Nedd9-/- allografts exhibited significantly reduced growth, dissemination, and oncogenic signaling compared to Nedd9+/+ allografts. Gene expression analysis revealed that Nedd9+/+ tumors exhibited more mesenchymal "stem-like" transcriptional program, including increased expression of Aldh1a1 and Aldh1a2. Conversely, loss of Nedd9 resulted in increased expression of differentiation genes, including fallopian tube markers Foxj1, Ovgp1, and Pax8. Collectively, these data suggest that tumor cell-intrinsic Nedd9 expression promotes OC development and progression by broad induction of oncogenic protein signaling and stem/mesenchymal gene expression.

The Dual Role of Bone Morphogenetic Proteins in Cancer

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are a diverse class of molecules with over 20 growth factor proteins that belong to the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) family and are highly associated with bone formation and disease development. Aberrant expression of various BMPs has been reported in several cancer tissues. Biological function studies have elicited the dual role of BMPs in both cancer development and suppression. Furthermore, a variety of BMP antagonists, ligands, and receptors have been shown to reduce or enhance tumorigenesis and metastasis. Knockout mouse models of BMP signaling components have also revealed that the suppression of BMP signaling impairs cancer metastasis. Herein, we highlight the basic clinical background and involvement of BMPs in modulating cancer progression and their dynamic interactions (e.g., with microRNAs) in the tumor microenvironment in addition to their mutations and roles in chemoprevention. We also suggest that BMPs should be considered a powerful putative therapeutic target in tumorigenesis and bone metastasis.

Study of the placentae of patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder

Previous studies have shown that circulating AQP4-IgG may lead to negative consequences during pregnancy in patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). The objective of this study was to explore whether AQP4-IgG influences pregnancy by affecting AQP4 expression and inducing placental inflammation in patients with NMOSD. We prospectively collected clinical data from six pregnant AQP4-IgG-seropositive NMOSD patients and their infants, and investigated AQP4 expression and placental inflammatory infiltration by comparing hematoxylin and eosin and immunohistochemical (AQP1, AQP4, C5b-9, IgG, CD3, CD8, CD20, and CD68) staining results with three normal controls. Four patients were term pregnant and their infants were normal for development, serum AQP4-IgG was positive at the time of birth, and three infants were negative for AQP4-IgG after 3 months. Two patients underwent induced abortion; one because of NMOSD relapse and another because of fetal malformation. Histological investigation showed normal structure of the chorionic villi, and no significant difference in the intensity of the immunohistochemical staining for AQP1, AQP4, and inflammatory markers in placentae of patients and the controls. Our results showed that there was no significant decrease in placental AQP4 expression, and no obvious placental inflammation or signs of damage in term placentae of NMOSD patients seropositive for AQP4-IgG.

Pregnancy-specific glycoprotein 9 (PSG9), a driver for colorectal cancer, enhances angiogenesis via activation of SMAD4

PSG9 is a member of the pregnancy-specific glycoprotein (PSG) family and has been shown to contribute to the progression of colorectal cancer (CRC) and cancer-related angiogenesis. Here, we aim to investigate abnormal PSG9 levels in patients with CRC and to emphasize the role of PSG9 in driving tumorigenesis. Serum from 140 patients with CRC and 125 healthy controls as well as 74 paired tumors and adjacent normal tissue were used to determine PSG9 levels. We discovered that PSG9 was significantly increased in serum (P<0.001) and in tumor tissues (P<0.001) from patients with CRC. Interestingly, the increased PSG9 levels correlated with poor survival (P=0.009) and microvessel density (MVD) (P=0.034). The overexpression of PSG9 strongly promoted the proliferation and migration of HCT-116 and HT-29 cells. However, PSG9 depletion inhibited the proliferation of SW-480 cells. Using a human umbilical vein endothelial cell tube-forming assay, we found that PSG9 promoted angiogenesis. The overexpression of PSG9 also increased the growth of tumor xenografts in nude mice. Co-immunoprecipitation experiments revealed that PSG9 was bound to SMAD4. The PSG9/SMAD4 complex recruited cytoplasmic SMAD2/3 to form a complex, which enhanced SMAD4 nuclear retention. The PSG9 and SMAD4 complex activated the expression of multiple angiogenesis-related genes (included IGFBP-3, PDGF-AA, GM-CSF, and VEGFA). Together, our findings illustrate the innovative mechanism by which PSG9 drives the progression of CRC and tumor angiogenesis. This occurs via nuclear translocation of PSG9/SMAD4, which activates angiogenic cytokines. Therefore, our study may provide evidence for novel treatment strategies by targeting PSG9 in antiangiogenic cancer therapy.

Cdc6 contributes to cisplatin-resistance by activation of ATR-Chk1 pathway in bladder cancer cells

High activation of DNA damage response is implicated in cisplatin (CDDP) resistance which presents as a serious obstacle for bladder cancer treatment. Cdc6 plays an important role in the malignant progression of tumor. Here, we reported that Cdc6 expression is up-regulated in bladder cancer tissues and is positively correlated to high tumor grade. Cdc6 depletion can attenuate the malignant properties of bladder cancer cells, including DNA replication, migration and invasion. Furthermore, higher levels of chromatin-binding Cdc6 and ATR were detected in CDDP-resistant bladder cancer cells than in the parent bladder cancer cells. Intriguingly, down-regulation of Cdc6 can enhance sensitivity to CDDP both in bladder cancer cells and CDDP-resistant bladder cancer cells. Cdc6 depletion abrogates S phase arrest caused by CDDP, leading to aberrant mitosis by inactivating ATR-Chk1-Cdc25C pathway. Our results indicate that Cdc6 may be a promising target for overcoming CDDP resistance in bladder cancer.

HINT2 triggers mitochondrial Ca2+ influx by regulating the mitochondrial Ca2+ uniporter (MCU) complex and enhances gemcitabine apoptotic effect in pancreatic cancer

In early studies, it was shown that HINT2, which sensitizes cells to mitochondrial apoptosis, is down-regulated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells (Martin et al., 2006). However, the molecular mechanism of this effect is unknown. Immunohistochemistry revealed that HINT2 expression is relatively low in pancreatic cancer tissues, compared to that in adjacent tissues (P < 0.05). Furthermore, its expression was related to pathological grade and lymph node metastasis (P = 0.0161 and 0.0108, respectively); in addition, down-regulation of HINT2 was found to be associated with relatively poor prognosis in pancreatic cancer patients. Up-regulation of HINT2 was shown to trigger pancreatic cancer cell apoptosis, decrease mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), promote intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and elevate mitochondrial Ca²⁺ levels. However, co-treatment of HINT2 overexpressing BxPC-3 cells with ruthenium red partially inhibited HINT2-induced apoptosis, which was associated with a reduction in ΔΨm and an increase in intracellular ROS and mitochondrial Ca²⁺. According to our results, mitochondrial calcium uptake1 and 2 (MICU1 and MICU2) were down-regulated and the essential MCU regulator (EMRE) was up-regulated in cells transduced with Adv-HINT2. Therefore, we deduced that HINT2 triggers apoptosis in pancreatic cancer cells by regulating mitochondrial Ca²⁺ influx through the mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU). In addition, we found that HINT2 can sensitize BxPC-3 and L3.6pl cells to gemcitabine-induced apoptosis and that gemcitabine up-regulates HINT2 expression. This indicates that gemcitabine-induced apoptosis is related to HINT2 levels.

Protease-Activated Receptor-2 Deficiency Attenuates Atherosclerotic Lesion Progression and Instability in Apolipoprotein E-Deficient Mice

Inflammatory mechanisms are involved in the process of atherosclerotic plaque formation and rupture. Accumulating evidence suggests that protease-activated receptor (PAR)-2 contributes to the pathophysiology of chronic inflammation on the vasculature. To directly examine the role of PAR-2 in atherosclerosis, we generated apolipoprotein E/PAR-2 double-deficient mice. Mice were fed with high-fat diet for 12 weeks starting at ages of 6 weeks. PAR-2 deficiency attenuated atherosclerotic lesion progression with reduced total lesion area, reduced percentage of stenosis and reduced total necrotic core area. PAR-2 deficiency increased fibrous cap thickness and collagen content of plaque. Moreover, PAR-2 deficiency decreased smooth muscle cell content, macrophage accumulation, matrix metallopeptidase-9 expression and neovascularization in plaque. Relative quantitative PCR assay using thoracic aorta revealed that PAR-2 deficiency reduced mRNA expression of inflammatory molecules, such as vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, intercellular adhesion molecule-1, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1. In vitro experiment, we found that PAR-2 deficiency reduced mRNA expression of interferon-γ, interleukin-6, TNF-α and MCP-1 in macrophage under unstimulated and lipopolysaccharide-stimulated conditions. These results suggest that PAR-2 deficiency attenuates the progression and instability of atherosclerotic plaque.

BMP-2 induces EMT and breast cancer stemness through Rb and CD44

Bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2) has been reported to facilitate epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and bone metastasis in breast cancer xenograft models. To investigate the role of BMP-2 in the development of breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs), and to further elucidate the mechanisms underlying its influence on breast cancer metastasis, we conducted a comprehensive molecular study using breast cancer cell lines and clinical samples. Our results showed that downregulation of Rb by BMP-2 was associated with ubiquitin-mediated degradation activated by phosphorylation of Rb via the PI3K/AKT signal pathway. In addition, the Smad signaling pathways are implicated in upregulation of CD44 protein expression by BMP-2. It was suggested that cross-talk exists between Rb and CD44 signaling pathways, as recombinant human BMP-2 (rhBMP-2) was found to regulate CD44 expression partly through Rb signals. In clinical tissues, BMP-2 was positively and negatively correlated with CD44 and Rb expression, respectively. Based on the in vitro and in vivo results, we have established an integrated mechanism by which rhBMP-2 induces EMT and stemness of breast cancer cells via the Rb and CD44 signaling pathways, which then contribute to breast cancer metastasis. These findings may be helpful for developing new strategies for the treatment and prognosis of advanced breast cancer.

Effect of Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin on gastric cancer cells SGC7901 which highly expressed claudin-4 protein

AIM

To investigate the effects of Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin (CPE) on gastric cancer cells which highly expressed claudin-4 (CL4) protein.

METHODS

In this study, we detected expression of CL4 protein in different gastric cancer cell lines. Then, we investigated the effects of CPE on SGC7901 cells which highly expressed CL4 protein and the effects of CPE on subcutaneous tumor in nude mice models.

RESULTS

CL4 are highly expressed in SGC7901 cells. CPE expressed significant cytotoxicity in SGC7901 cells. Suppression of CL4 expression significantly decreased CPE-mediated cytotoxicity. CPE also inhibited tumor growth in subcutaneous tumor xenograft models.

CONCLUSION

CPE showed CL4 mediated cytotoxicity on gastric cancer cells SGC7901 and inhibited tumor growth in nude mice models.

Downregulation of bone morphogenetic protein receptor 2 promotes the development of neuroblastoma

Neuroblastoma (NB) is the most common extracranial solid tumor of childhood. In this study, we examined the expression of bone morphogenetic protein receptor 2 (BMPR2) in primary NB and adjacent non-tumor samples (adrenal gland). BMPR2 expression was significantly downregulated in NB tissues, particularly in high-grade NB, and was inversely related to the expression of the NB differentiation markers ferritin and enolase. The significance of the downregulation was further explored in cultured NB cells. While enforced expression of BMPR2 decreased cell proliferation and colony-forming activity, shRNA-mediated knockdown of BMPR2 led to increased cell growth and clonogenicity. In mice, NB cells harboring BMPR2 shRNA showed significantly increased tumorigenicity compared with control cells. We also performed a retrospective analysis of NB patients and identified a significant positive correlation between tumor BMPR2 expression and overall survival. These findings suggest that BMPR2 may play an important role in the development of NB.

Bone morphogenetic protein-2 and tumor growth: Diverse effects and possibilities for therapy

Concern regarding safety with respect to the clinical use of human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) has become an increasingly controversial topic. The role of BMP-2 in carcinogenesis is of particular concern. Although there have been many studies of this topic, the results have been contradictory and confusing. We conducted a systematic review of articles that are relevant to the relationship or effect of BMP-2 on all types of tumors and a total of 97 articles were included. Studies reported in these articles were classified into three major types: "expression studies", "in vitro studies", and "in vivo studies". An obvious pattern was that those works that hypothesize an inhibitory effect for BMP-2 most often examined only the proliferative properties of the tumor cells. This subset of studies also contained an extraordinary number of contradictory findings which made drawing a reliable general conclusion impossible. In general, we support a pro-tumorigenesis role for BMP-2 based on the data from these in vitro cell studies and in vivo animal studies, however, more clinical studies should be carried out to help make a firm conclusion.

Low expression of BMPRIB indicates poor prognosis of breast cancer and is insensitive to taxane-anthracycline chemotherapy

Bone morphogenetic protein receptor type IB (BMPRIB) is one osteogenesis factor, which function in breast cancer has been rarely explored until recently. In the clinical study presented here, involving a cohort of 368 invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) patients, we identified that patients with low expression of BMPRIB exhibited poor prognosis, especially in the luminal B subtype. We also provided the first piece of evidence that low level of BMPRIB was a promoting factor for breast cancer patients to develop bone metastasis, but not lung, liver or brain. The first of its kind, we reported that patients with high expression of BMPRIB exhibited favorable prognosis by a retrospective analysis consisting of 168 patients treated with TE (taxane and anthracycline) regimens. And the patients with high expression of BMPRIB were more sensitive to TE regimens in the detection of 32 paired pre-neoadjuvant and post-neoadjuvant specimens. Overall, our study concluded that low expression of BMPRIB indicated poor prognosis of breast cancer and was insensitive to taxane-anthracycline chemotherapy. Our findings also lay a foundation to help clinicians improve identification of patients for TE regimens by BMPRIB in the era of precision medicine.

Interleukin-37 expression and its potential role in oral leukoplakia and oral squamous cell carcinoma

Interleukin 37 (IL-37) has been reported to play a significant role in innate immune response and to be involved in several kinds of cancers. However, the investigation of association between IL-37 and oral mucosa carcinogenesis hasn't been clearly established. The aim of the study was to assess IL-37 expression and explore its role in oral mucosa carcinogenesis. The expression of IL-37 increased from normal control (NC) to Oral leukoplakia (OLK) and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Moreover, statistically highly significant difference was present between scores of OLK with and without mild/moderate dysplasia (P < 0.001). In addition, IL-37 expression was lower in OSCC with lymph node metastasis than those without metastasis (P < 0.01). What's more, overexpression of IL-37 in RAW264.7 cells remarkably reduced the pseudopodia, vacuolization and the expression of IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β. Finally, we found IL-37 and its receptor IL-18Rα but not its binding partner IL-18BP have similar tissue location and expression trend in different stages of oral mucosa carcinogenesis. Overall, IL-37 can be used as a biomarker for early oral tumorigenesis and for malignant transformation risk assessment of premalignant lesions.

FOXP3 and CEACAM6 expression and T cell infiltration in the occurrence and development of colon cancer

The transcription factor forkhead box P3 (FOXP3) is involved in immune cell regulation, and carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 6 (CEACAM6) is an adhesion molecule of the immunoglobulin superfamily. These two genes are associated with cancer progression. In the current study, colon tissue specimens from 78 cases of colon cancer (including 40 of stage I-II and 38 of stage III-IV), 30 cases of colonic adenoma and 12 healthy controls were collected from the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University between January 2010 and December 2011. The expression of cluster of differentiation (CD) 3, CD4, CD8, CD45RO, CEACAM6 and FOXP3 in colon tissues was examined by immunohistochemical analysis. In addition, a reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) assay, based on SYBR Green I, was used to detect CD3, CD4, CD8, CD45RO, CEACAM6 and FOXP3 mRNA levels in the paraffin block specimens. CD3⁺, CD8⁺ and CD45RO⁺ T cell infiltrations in colonic adenoma were significantly higher than in normal colonic mucosa (P<0.001, P=0.001 and P<0.001, respectively). However, CD3⁺, CD8⁺ and CD45RO⁺ lymphocytes in stage III-IV colon cancer tissues were lower than in normal control tissues (P=0.015, P=0.002 and P=0.041, respectively); consistently, CD3⁺, CD4⁺, CD8⁺ and CD45RO⁺ lymphocytes in stage III-IV tissues were even more markedly lower compared with adenoma (P=0.001, P<0.001, P<0.001 and P<0.001, respectively). Similarly, CD3⁺, CD8⁺ and CD45RO⁺ T cell infiltration was lower in stage I-II cancer tissues compared with adenoma (P=0.001, P<0.001 and P<0.001). CD3⁺, CD4⁺, CD8⁺ and CD45RO⁺ T cell infiltrations were also significantly higher in stage I-II compared with stage III-IV cancer tissues (P<0.001, P=0.045, P<0.001 and P<0.001, respectively). CEACAM6 was found to gradually increase from normal colon tissue to adenoma and cancer tissue. FOXP3 was expressed more highly in stage I-II compared with normal tissues (P=0.014), and was even higher in stage III-IV (P<0.001). These results were verified using RT-qPCR, which yielded almost identical results. In summary, the current study demonstrates that FOXP3, CEACAM6 and T cell infiltration are significantly associated with the occurrence and progression of colon cancer, and that immune reactions vary between different stages of colon cancer development.

Study of Arsenic Sulfide in Solid Tumor Cells Reveals Regulation of Nuclear Factors of Activated T-cells by PML and p53

Arsenic sulfide (AS) has excellent cytotoxic activity in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) but its activity in solid tumors remains to be explored. Here we show that AS and cyclosporine A (CsA) exerted synergistic inhibitory effect on cell growth and c-Myc expression in HCT116 cells. AS inhibited the expression of PML, c-Myc, NFATc1, NFATc3, and NFATc4, while stimulating the expression of p53 and NFATc2. Knockdown of PML reduced NFATc1, NFATc2, NFATc3 and NFATc4 expression while overexpression of p53 stimulated NFATc2-luciferase activity that was further augmented by AS by binding to a set of p53 responsive elements (PREs) on the NFATc2 promoter. Additionally, overexpression of p53 suppressed NFATc3 and NFATc4. Reciprocally, NFATc3 knockdown enhanced p53 while reducing MDM2 expression indicating that NFATc3 is a negative regulator of p53 while a positive regulator of MDM2, consistent with its tumor-promoting property as knockdown of NFATc3 retarded cell growth in vitro and tumor growth in xenograft. In patients with colon cancer, tumor expression of NFATc2 correlated with superior survival, while nuclear NFATc1 with inferior survival. These results indicate that AS differentially regulates NFAT pathway through PML and p53 and reveal an intricate reciprocal regulatory relationship between NFAT proteins and p53 pathway.