The expression changes of transcription factors including ANKZF1, LEF1, CASZ1, and ATOH1 as a predictor of survival rate in colorectal cancer: a large-scale analysis

Deciphering the divergent transcriptomic landscapes of cervical cancer cells grown in 3D and 2D cell culture systems

Cervical cancer remains a significant health challenge for women worldwide, with a disproportionate impact on developing regions like sub-Saharan Africa. Taking advantage of recent advancements in developing suitable preclinical models to study cell proliferation, differentiation, and gene expression, we used RNA sequencing to compare the transcriptomic profiles of SiHa cervical cancer cells grown in 3D versus 2D culture systems. Pathway analysis of 3D cultures revealed upregulation of immune activation, angiogenesis, and tissue remodeling pathways. The high expression of cytokines, chemokines, matrix metalloproteinases, and immediate early genes, suggests that 3D cultures replicate the tumor microenvironment better than 2D monolayer cultures. HPV gene expression analysis further demonstrated higher expression levels of HPV16 E1, E2, E6, and E7 genes in 3D versus 2D cultures. Further, by using a set of linear models, we identified 79 significantly differentially expressed genes in 3D culture compared to 2D culture conditions, independent of HPV16 viral gene effects. We subsequently validated five of these genes at the protein level in both the SiHa cell line and a newly developed, patient-derived cervical cancer cell line. In addition, correlation analysis identified 26 human genes positively correlated with viral genes across 2D and 3D culture conditions. The top five 3D versus 2D differentially expressed and HPV-correlated genes were validated via qRT-PCR in our patient derived cell line. Altogether, these findings suggest that 3D cultures provide superior model systems to explore mechanisms of immune evasion, cancer progression and antiviral therapeutics.

Dysregulated ribosome quality control in human diseases

Precise regulation of mRNA translation is of fundamental importance for maintaining homeostasis. Conversely, dysregulated general or transcript-specific translation, as well as abnormal translation events, have been linked to a multitude of diseases. However, driven by the misconception that the transient nature of mRNAs renders their abnormalities inconsequential, the importance of mechanisms that monitor the quality and fidelity of the translation process has been largely overlooked. In recent years, there has been a dramatic shift in this paradigm, evidenced by several seminal discoveries on the role of a key mechanism in monitoring the quality of mRNA translation - namely, Ribosome Quality Control (RQC) - in the maintenance of homeostasis and the prevention of diseases. Here, we will review recent advances in the field and emphasize the biological significance of the RQC mechanism, particularly its implications in human diseases.

ANKZF1 knockdown inhibits glioblastoma progression by promoting intramitochondrial protein aggregation through mitoRQC

Protein homeostasis is fundamental to the development of tumors. Ribosome-associated quality-control (RQC) is able to add alanine and threonine to the stagnant polypeptide chain C-terminal (CAT-tail) when protein translation is hindered, while Ankyrin repeat and zinc-finger domain-containing-protein 1 (ANKZF1) can counteract the formation of the CAT-tail, preventing the aggregation of polypeptide chains. In particular, ANKZF1 plays an important role in maintaining mitochondrial protein homeostasis by mitochondrial RQC (mitoRQC) after translation stagnation of precursor proteins targeting mitochondria. However, the role of ANKZF1 in glioblastoma is unclear. Therefore, the current study was aimed to investigate the effects of ANKZF1 in glioblastoma cells and a nude mouse glioblastoma xenograft model. Here, we reported that knockdown of ANKZF1 in glioblastoma cells resulted in the accumulation of CAT-tail in mitochondria, leading to the activated mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPRmt) and inhibits glioblastoma malignant progression. Excessive CAT-tail sequestered mitochondrial chaperones HSP60, mtHSP70 and proteases LONP1 as well as mitochondrial respiratory chain subunits ND1, Cytb, mtCO2 and ATP6, leading to mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation dysfunction, membrane potential impairment, and mitochondrial apoptotic pathway activation. Our study highlights ANKZF1 as a valuable target for glioblastoma intervention and provides an innovative insight for the treatment of glioblastoma through the regulating of mitochondrial protein homeostasis.

Overexpression of ZNF169 promotes the growth and proliferation of colorectal cancer cells via the upregulation of ANKZF1

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common malignancies worldwide. The 5‑year survival rate of patients diagnosed with the early stages of the disease is markedly higher than that of patients in the advanced stages. Therefore, identifying novel biomarkers and drug targets for CRC is critical for clinical practice. Zinc finger protein 169 (ZNF169) is a crucial transcription factor, and its role in CRC remains to be explored. The present study aimed to investigate the clinical relevance, function and underlying mechanisms of ZNF169 in CRC growth and proliferation. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database was utilized to analyze the clinical relevance of ZNF169 in patients with CRC. Immunohistochemical staining was performed on tissue samples from patients with CRC to detect the expression of ZNF169. The HCT‑116, HT‑29 and RKO cell lines were employed for in vitro experiments. The overexpression and knockdown of ZNF169 were achieved by transfecting the cells with lentivirus and small interfering RNAs, respectively. Cell Counting Kit‑8, colony formation and EdU staining assays were applied to investigate the function of ZNF169 in CRC cells. Dual luciferase activity and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP)‑quantitative PCR (qPCR) assays were performed to identify the regulatory effects of ZNF169 on the ankyrin repeat and zinc‑finger domain‑containing 1 (ANKZF1; also known as ZNF744) gene. Reverse transcription‑quantitative PCR and western blot analysis were performed to measure mRNA and protein expression, respectively. The analysis of TCGA data revealed a positive correlation between ZNF169 and ANKZF1, with the overexpression of ANKZF1 being associated with a poor prognosis of patients with CRC. The experimental results demonstrated that ZNF169 was expression upregulated in CRC tissue compared with that in normal colon tissue. Gain‑of‑function and loss‑of‑function experiments revealed that ZNF169 enhanced the intensity of EdU staining, promoting the growth and proliferation of CRC cells. Furthermore, the overexpression of ZNF169 potentiated the transcriptional activity of the ANKZF1 gene, while the knockdown of ZNF169 produced the opposite results. ChIP‑qPCR confirmed the interaction between ZNF169 and the promoter sequence of ANKZF1. Rescue experiments revealed that ZNF169 accelerated CRC cell growth and proliferation through the upregulation of ANKZF1. Furthermore, there was a positive correlation identified between ZNF169 and ANKZF1, and upregulation of ANKZF1 expression was associated with the poor prognosis of patients with CRC. On the whole, the present study demonstrates that ZNF169 contributes to CRC malignancy by potentiating the expression of ANKZF1. Thus, the regulation of ZNF169 and/or ANKZF1 expression may represent a viable strategy for the treatment patients with CRC with a high expression of ZNF169.

SALL4 in gastrointestinal tract cancers: upstream and downstream regulatory mechanisms

Effective therapeutic targets and early diagnosis are major challenges in the treatment of gastrointestinal tract (GIT) cancers. SALL4 is a well-known transcription factor that is involved in organogenesis during embryonic development. Previous studies have revealed that SALL4 regulates cell proliferation, survival, and migration and maintains stem cell function in mature cells. Additionally, SALL4 overexpression is associated with tumorigenesis. Despite its characterization as a biomarker in various cancers, the role of SALL4 in GIT cancers and the underlying mechanisms are unclear. We describe the functions of SALL4 in GIT cancers and discuss its upstream/downstream genes and pathways associated with each cancer. We also consider the possibility of targeting these genes or pathways as potential therapeutic options for GIT cancers.

Role of the CASZ1 transcription factor in tissue development and disease

The zinc finger transcription factor gene, CASZ1/Castor (Castor zinc finger 1), initially identified in Drosophila, plays a critical role in neural, cardiac, and cardiovascular development, exerting a complex, multifaceted influence on cell fate and tissue morphogenesis. During neurogenesis, CASZ1 exhibits dynamic expression from early embryonic development to the perinatal period, constituting a key regulator in this process. Additionally, CASZ1 controls the transition between neurogenesis and gliomagenesis. During human cardiovascular system development, CASZ1 is essential for cardiomyocyte differentiation, cardiac morphogenesis, and vascular morphology homeostasis and formation. The deletion or inactivation of CASZ1 mutations can lead to human developmental diseases or tumors, including congenital heart disease, cardiovascular disease, and neuroblastoma. CASZ1 can be used as a biomarker for disease prevention and diagnosis as well as a prognostic indicator for cancer. This review explores the unique functions of CASZ1 in tissue morphogenesis and associated diseases, offering new insights for elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying diseases and identifying potential therapeutic targets for disease prevention and treatment.

CASZ1: Current Implications in Cardiovascular Diseases and Cancers

Castor zinc finger 1 (CASZ1) is a C2H2 zinc finger family protein that has two splicing variants, CASZ1a and CASZ1b. It is involved in multiple physiological processes, such as tissue differentiation and aldosterone antagonism. Genetic and epigenetic alternations of CASZ1 have been characterized in multiple cardiovascular disorders, such as congenital heart diseases, chronic venous diseases, and hypertension. However, little is known about how CASZ1 mechanically participates in the pathogenesis of these diseases. Over the past decades, at first glance, paradoxical influences on cell behaviors and progressions of different cancer types have been discovered for CASZ1, which may be explained by a "double-agent" role for CASZ1. In this review, we discuss the physiological function of CASZ1, and focus on the association of CASZ1 aberrations with the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases and cancers.