Downregulation of exosomal CLEC3B in hepatocellular carcinoma promotes metastasis and angiogenesis via AMPK and VEGF signals

Extracellular vesicles in the HCC microenvironment: Implications for therapy and biomarkers

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) stands as the sixth most prevalent cancer and the third leading cause of cancer mortality globally. Despite surgical resection being the preferred approach for early-stage HCC, most patients are diagnosed at intermediate to advanced stages, limiting treatment options to chemotherapy and immunotherapy, which often yield poor outcomes. Extracellular vesicles (EVs), minute lipid-bilayered particles released by diverse cells under various physiological and pathological conditions, are crucial for mediating communication between cells. Mounting evidence indicates that EVs sourced from different cells can profoundly influence the HCC tumor microenvironment (TME), thereby affecting the progression of HCC. Given their immunogenicity and liver-targeting properties, these EVs not only hold promise for HCC treatment but also provide avenues for advancing early diagnostic methods and assessing prognosis. This review not only describes the function of EVs within the HCC tumor microenvironment but also analyzes their therapeutic advantages and explores their significance in various therapeutic approaches for HCC, including chemotherapy, immunotherapy, combination therapy, and their role as innovative drug delivery carriers. Furthermore, it highlights the potential of EVs as biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of HCC.

Role of extracellular vesicle-associated proteins in the progression, diagnosis, and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of primary liver cancer, characterized by difficulties in early diagnosis, prone to distant metastasis, and high recurrence rates following surgery. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are a class of cell-derived particles, including exosomes, characterized by a phospholipid bilayer. They serve as effective carriers for intercellular communication cargo, including proteins and nucleic acids, and are widely involved in tumor progression. They are being explored as potential tumor biomarkers and novel therapeutic avenues. We provide a brief overview of the biogenesis and characteristics of EVs to better understand their classification standards. The focus of this review is on the research progress of EV-associated proteins in the field of HCC. EV-associated proteins are involved in tumor growth and regulation in HCC, participate in intercellular communication within the tumor microenvironment (TME), and are implicated in events including angiogenesis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) during tumor metastasis. In addition, EV-associated proteins show promising diagnostic efficacy for HCC. For the treatment of HCC, they also demonstrate significant potential including enhancing the efficacy of tumor vaccines, and as targeting cargo anchors. Facing current challenges, we propose the future directions of research in this field. Above all, research on EV-associated proteins offers the potential to enhance our comprehension of HCC and offer novel insights for developing new treatment strategies.

Identification of oxidative stress signatures of lung adenocarcinoma and prediction of patient prognosis or treatment response with single-cell RNA sequencing and bulk RNA sequencing data

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), the most common subtype of lung cancer globally, has seen improved prognosis with advancements in diagnostic, surgical, radiotherapy, and molecular therapy techniques, while its 5-year survival rate remains low. Molecular biomarkers provide prognostic value. Oxidative stress factors, such as reactive nitrogen species and ROS, are crucial in various stages of tumor progression, influencing cell transformation, proliferation, angiogenesis, and metastasis. ROS demonstrate dual roles, affecting tumor cells, hypoxia sensitivity, and the microenvironment. Comprehensive analysis of oxidative stress in LUAD has not been conducted to date. Therefore, we systematically investigated the regulatory patterns of oxidative stress in LUAD based on oxidative stress-related genes and correlated these patterns with cellular infiltration characteristics of the tumor immune microenvironment. The model utilizes single-factor Cox analysis to screen key differential genes with prognostic value and employs least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) penalized Cox regression analysis to construct a prognostic-related prediction model. Ten candidate genes were selected based on this model. The risk score was constructed using the coefficients and expression levels of these ten genes. Furthermore, the impact of this risk score on overall survival (OS) was determined. Two genes with the most significant differential expression, SFTPB and S100P, were selected through qRT-PCR. Cell experiments including CCK-8, Edu, transwell assays confirmed their effects on lung cancer cells growth, consistent with the results of bioinformatics analysis. These findings suggested that this model held potential clinical value for evaluating the prognosis of lung adenocarcinoma.

Extracellular Vesicles, Circadian Rhythms, and Cancer: A Comprehensive Review with Emphasis on Hepatocellular Carcinoma

This review comprehensively explores the complex interplay between extracellular vesicles (ECVs)/exosomes and circadian rhythms, with a focus on the role of this interaction in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Exosomes are nanovesicles derived from cells that facilitate intercellular communication by transporting bioactive molecules such as proteins, lipids, and RNA/DNA species. ECVs are implicated in a range of diseases, where they play crucial roles in signaling between cells and their surrounding environment. In the setting of cancer, ECVs are known to influence cancer initiation and progression. The scope of this review extends to all cancer types, synthesizing existing knowledge on the various roles of ECVs. A unique aspect of this review is the emphasis on the circadian-controlled release and composition of exosomes, highlighting their potential as biomarkers for early cancer detection and monitoring metastasis. We also discuss how circadian rhythms affect multiple cancer-related pathways, proposing that disruptions in the circadian clock can alter tumor development and treatment response. Additionally, this review delves into the influence of circadian clock components on ECV biogenesis and their impact on reshaping the tumor microenvironment, a key component driving HCC progression. Finally, we address the potential clinical applications of ECVs, particularly their use as diagnostic tools and drug delivery vehicles, while considering the challenges associated with clinical implementation.

Identification of biomarkers for abdominal aortic aneurysm in Behçet's disease via mendelian randomization and integrated bioinformatics analyses

Behçet's disease (BD) is a complex autoimmune disorder impacting several organ systems. Although the involvement of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) in BD is rare, it can be associated with severe consequences. In the present study, we identified diagnostic biomarkers in patients with BD having AAA. Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was initially used to explore the potential causal association between BD and AAA. The Limma package, WGCNA, PPI and machine learning algorithms were employed to identify potential diagnostic genes. A receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) for the nomogram was constructed to ascertain the diagnostic value of AAA in patients with BD. Finally, immune cell infiltration analyses and single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) were conducted. The MR analysis indicated a suggestive association between BD and the risk of AAA (odds ratio [OR]: 1.0384, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.0081-1.0696, p = 0.0126). Three hub genes (CD247, CD2 and CCR7) were identified using the integrated bioinformatics analyses, which were subsequently utilised to construct a nomogram (area under the curve [AUC]: 0.982, 95% CI: 0.944-1.000). Finally, the immune cell infiltration assay revealed that dysregulation immune cells were positively correlated with the three hub genes. Our MR analyses revealed a higher susceptibility of patients with BD to AAA. We used a systematic approach to identify three potential hub genes (CD247, CD2 and CCR7) and developed a nomogram to assist in the diagnosis of AAA among patients with BD. In addition, immune cell infiltration analysis indicated the dysregulation in immune cell proportions.

Establishment and Evaluation of Exosomes-Related Gene Risk Model in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a challenging disease to evaluate in terms of prognosis, requiring close attention to the prognosis of HCC patients. Exosomes have been shown to play an important role in HCC development and have significant potential in managing HCC patient prognosis, as they are detectable in patients' blood. By using small extracellular vesicular RNA, liquid biopsies can reflect the underlying physiological and pathological status of the originating cells, providing a valuable assessment of human health. No study has explored the diagnostic value of mRNA expression changes in exosomes for liver cancer. The present study investigated establishing a risk prognosis model based on mRNA expression levels in exosomes from blood samples of liver cancer patients and evaluated its diagnostic and prognostic value, providing new targets for liver cancer detection. We obtained mRNA data from HCC patients and normal controls from the TCGA and exoRBase 2.0 databases and established a risk prognostic assessment model using exosomes-related risk genes selected through prognostic analysis and Lasso Cox analysis. The patients were divided into high-risk and low-risk groups based on median risk score values to validate the independence and evaluability of the risk score. The clinical value of the model was further analyzed using a nomograph model, and the efficacy of immunotherapy and cell-origin types of prognostic risk genes were further assessed in the high- and low-risk groups by immune checkpoint and single-cell sequencing. A total of 44 genes were found to be significantly associated with the prognosis of HCC patients. From this group, we selected six genes (CLEC3B, CYP2C9, GNA14, NQO1, NT5DC2, and S100A9) as exosomal risk genes and used them as a basis for the risk prognosis model. The clinical information of HCC patients from the TCGA and ICGC databases demonstrated that the risk prognostic score of the model established in this study was an independent prognostic factor with good robustness. When pathological stage and risk prognostic score were incorporated into the model to predict clinical outcomes, the nomograph model had the best clinical benefit. Furthermore, immune checkpoint assays and single-cell sequencing analysis suggested that exosomal risk genes were derived from different cell types and that immunotherapy in the high-risk groups could be beneficial. Our study demonstrated that the prognostic scoring model based on exosomal mRNA was highly effective. The six genes selected using the scoring model have been previously reported to be associated with the occurrence and development of liver cancer. However, this study is the first to confirm that these related genes existed in the blood exosomes, which could be used for liquid biopsy of patients with liver cancer, thereby avoiding the need for puncture diagnosis. This approach has a high value in clinical application. Through single-cell sequencing, we found that the six genes in the risk model originate from multiple cell types. This finding suggests that the exosomal characteristic molecules secreted by different types of cells in the microenvironment of liver cancer may serve as diagnostic markers.

Research progress of exosomes in the angiogenesis of digestive system tumour

Malignant tumours of the digestive system cover a wide range of diseases that affect the health of people to a large extent. Angiogenesis is indispensable in the development, and metastasis of tumours, mainly in two ways: occupation or formation. Vessels can provide nutrients, oxygen, and growth factors for tumours to encourage growth and metastasis, so cancer progression depends on simultaneous angiogenesis. Recently, exosomes have been proven to participate in the angiogenesis of tumours. They influence angiogenesis by binding to tyrosine kinase receptors (VEGFR)-1, VEGFR-2, and VEGFR-3 with different affinities, regulating Yap-VEGF pathway, Akt pathway or other signaling pathway. Additionally, exosomes are potential therapeutic vectors that can deliver many types of cargoes to different cells. In this review, we summarize the roles of exosomes in the angiogenesis of digestive system tumours and highlight the clinical application prospects, directly used as targers or delivery vehicles, in antiangiogenic therapy.

Integration of scRNA-seq and bulk RNA-seq constructs a stemness-related signature for predicting prognosis and immunotherapy responses in hepatocellular carcinoma

PURPOSE

Cancer stem cells are associated with unfavorable prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, existing stemness-related biomarkers and prognostic models are limited.

METHODS

The stemness-related signatures were derived from taking the union of the results obtained by performing WGCNA and CytoTRACE analysis at the bulk RNA-seq and scRNA-seq levels, respectively. Univariate Cox regression and the LASSO were applied for filtering prognosis-related signatures and selecting variables. Finally, ten gene signatures were identified to construct the prognostic model. We evaluated the differences in survival, genomic alternation, biological processes, and degree of immune cell infiltration in the high- and low-risk groups. pRRophetic and Tumor Immune Dysfunction and Exclusion (TIDE) algorithms were utilized to predict chemosensitivity and immunotherapy response. Human Protein Atlas (HPA) database was used to evaluate the protein expressions.

RESULTS

A stemness-related prognostic model was constructed with ten genes including YBX1, CYB5R3, CDC20, RAMP3, LDHA, MTHFS, PTRH2, SRPRB, GNA14, and CLEC3B. Kaplan-Meier and ROC curve analyses showed that the high-risk group had a worse prognosis and the AUC of the model in four datasets was greater than 0.64. Multivariate Cox regression analyses verified that the model was an independent prognostic indicator in predicting overall survival, and a nomogram was then built for clinical utility in predicting the prognosis of HCC. Additionally, chemotherapy drug sensitivity and immunotherapy response analyses revealed that the high-risk group exhibited a higher likelihood of benefiting from these treatments.

CONCLUSION

The novel stemness-related prognostic model is a promising biomarker for estimating overall survival in HCC.

Tumor-associated endothelial cell prognostic risk model and tumor immune environment modulation in liver cancer based on single-cell and bulk RNA sequencing: Experimental verification

BACKGROUND

To build a prognostic and immunotherapeutic response prediction model for liver cancer based on marker genes of tumor-associated endothelial cell (TEC).

METHOD

Single cell sequencing data from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) liver cancer patients were utilized to identify TEC subpopulations. Models were built from transcriptomic and clinical data of TCGA liver cancer patients. The GSE76427 and ICGC databases were used as independent validation sets. Time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and Kaplan-Meier curves were used to verify the ability of the model to predict survival. XCELL, TIMER, QUANTISEQ, CIBERSORT, CIBERSORT-ABS, and ssGSEA were applied to evaluate tumor immune cell infiltration. The TIDE score was used to predict the effect of immunotherapy. Immune blockade checkpoint gene, tumor mutational load and GSVA enrichment analyses were further explored. The expression levels of candidate genes were measured and validated by real-time PCR between liver cancer tissues and adjacent nontumor liver tissues.

RESULTS

Eighty-seven genes were identified as marker genes for TECs. IGFBP3, RHOC, S100A16, FSCN1, and CLEC3B were included in the constructed prognostic model. Time-dependent ROC curve values were higher than 0.700 in both the model and validation groups. The low risk group exhibited high immune cell infiltration and function than the higher risk group. The TIDE score indicated that the low-risk group benefited more from immunotherapy than the high-risk group. The risk score and multiple immune blockade checkpoint genes and immune-related pathways were strongly correlated.

CONCLUSION

Novel signatures of TEC marker genes showed a powerful ability to predict prognosis and immunotherapy response in patients with liver cancer.

Intermittent Hypoxia Promotes TAM-Induced Glycolysis in Laryngeal Cancer Cells via Regulation of HK1 Expression through Activation of ZBTB10

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), characterized by intermittent hypoxia (IH), may increase the risk of cancer development and a poor cancer prognosis. TAMs of the M2 phenotype, together with the intermittent hypoxic environment within the tumor, drive tumor aggressiveness. However, the mechanism of TAMs in IH remains unclear. In our study, IH induced the recruitment of macrophages, and IH-induced M2-like TAMs promoted glycolysis in laryngeal cancer cells through hexokinase 1. The hexokinase inhibitor 2-deoxy-D-glucose and HK1 shRNA were applied to verify this finding, confirming that M2-like TAMs enhanced glycolysis in laryngeal cancer cells through HK1 under intermittent hypoxic conditions. Comprehensive RNA-seq analysis disclosed a marked elevation in the expression levels of the transcription factor ZBTB10, while evaluation of a laryngeal cancer patient tissue microarray demonstrated a positive correlation between ZBTB10 and HK1 expression in laryngeal carcinoma. Knockdown of ZBTB10 decreased HK1 expression, and overexpression of ZBTB10 increased HK1 expression in both laryngeal cancer cells and 293T cells. The luciferase reporter assay and Chromatin immunoprecipitation assay confirmed that ZBTB10 directly bound to the promoter region of HK1 and regulated the transcriptional activity of HK1. Finally, the CLEC3B level of the M2 supernatant is significantly higher in the IH group and showed a protumor effect on Hep2 cells. As ZBTB10-mediated regulation of HK1 affects glycolysis in laryngeal cancer, our findings may provide new potential therapeutic targets for laryngeal cancer.

Exosome Cargos as Biomarkers for Diagnosis and Prognosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide. Due to the insidiousness of HCC onset and the lack of specific early-stage markers, the early diagnosis and treatment of HCC are still unsatisfactory, leading to a poor prognosis. Exosomes are a type of extracellular vesicle containing various components, which play an essential part in the development, progression, and metastasis of HCC. A large number of studies have demonstrated that exosomes could serve as novel biomarkers for the diagnosis of HCC. These diagnostic components mainly include proteins, microRNAs, long noncoding RNAs, and circular RNAs. The exosome biomarkers showed high sensitivity and high specificity in distinguishing HCC from health controls and other liver diseases, such as chronic HBV and liver cirrhosis. The expression of these biomarkers also exhibits correlations with various clinical factors such as tumor size, TMN stage, overall survival, and recurrence rate. In this review, we summarize the function of exosomes in the development of HCC and highlight their application as HCC biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis prediction.

Identification, characterization, and agglutinating activity of a novel C-type lectin domain family 3 member B (CLEC3B) discovered in golden pompano, Trachinotus ovatus

The lectins are a large family of carbohydrate-binding proteins that play important roles in the innate immune response of various organisms. Although C-type lectin domain family 3 member B (CLEC3B), an important member of C-type lectin, has been well documented in humans and several other higher vertebrates, little is currently known about this molecule in economically important marine fish species. In this study, through transcriptomic and BLAST screening, a novel CLEC3B gene was identified in the golden pompano (Trachinotus ovatus). The T. ovatus CLEC3B (ToCLEC3B) was subsequently characterized by bioinformatic analysis and compared with those reported in other species. In addition, the expression patterns of ToCLEC3B in different tissues under normal condition and at different times post pathogen challenge were assessed. Furthermore, the agglutinating activity of ToCLEC3B with and without Ca2+ against different bacteria and blood cells of donor species were verified using the recombinant T. ovatus CLEC3B (rToCLEC3B). Our results demonstrated that ToCLEC3B is a Ca2+-dependent galactose-binding lectin with a single copy of carbohydrate recognition domain (CRD). Similar to CLEC3B reported in other species, the CRD domain of ToCLEC3B consists of two α-helices, six β-sheets, and four loops, forming two Ca2+- and a galactose-binding sites. According to the phylogenetic analysis, the ToCLEC3B was highly similar (similarity at 95.00%) to that of its relative, the greater amberjack (Seriola dumerili). The expression of ToCLEC3B was detected in all tissues examined under normal condition and was significantly up-regulated by injection of pathogenic microbes. In addition, the rToCLEC3B exhibited strong agglutinating activity against different bacteria and blood cells of donor species in the presence of Ca2+. Our results indicate that ToCLEC3B is a constitutive and inducible acute-phase immune factor in the host's innate immune response of T. ovatus.

Cancer-associated fibroblasts-derived exosome-mediated transfer of miR-345-5p promotes the progression of colorectal cancer by targeting CDKN1A

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer-induced death in the world. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) released exosomes that contributed to cancer progression. This research was carried out to study the influence of CRC-associated fibroblasts-derived exosomes on the phenotype of CRC cells and the underlying mechanism. CAFs-derived exosomes (CAFs-exo) and normal fibroblasts (NFs)-derived exosomes (NFs-exo) were recognized by transmission electronic microscopy, nanoparticle tracking analysis and western blot analysis. Cell counting kit-8, flow cytometry analysis, colony formation assay, Transwell, qRT-PCR, immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry staining and xenografts model were carried out to proceed with function studies in vitro and in vivo. The results showed that CAFs-exo induced cell proliferation, migration and invasion, while NFs-exo did not influence the tumor biological properties of CRC cells. Using qRT-PCR, miR-345-5p was observed to be a notably up-regulated miRNA in CAFs-exo compared to NFs-exo. CAFs-exo could mediate the transfer of miR-345-5p to CRC cells, and downregulation of miR-345-5p in CAFs notably reversed the pro-tumoral effect of CAFs-exo on CRC cells. Based on online prediction database, CDKN1A was proved as a direct downstream target of miR-345-5p in CRC cells, which was lowly expressed and negatively associated with miR-345-5p in CRC tumors. Furthermore, miR-345-5p upregulation-mediated tumor biological behaviors were abrogated by exogenous CDKN1A. In CRC cells-beared tumor xenograft, CAFs-exo administration promoted tumor growth and decreased CDKN1A expression, whereas miR-345-5p inhibition reversed these effects. The present study revealed that by interacting with CDKN1A, CAF-derived exosomal miR-345-5p promotes CRC progression and metastasis.

Autophagy modulators influence the content of important signalling molecules in PS-positive extracellular vesicles

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are important mediators of intercellular communication in the tumour microenvironment. Many studies suggest that cancer cells release higher amounts of EVs exposing phosphatidylserine (PS) at the surface. There are lots of interconnections between EVs biogenesis and autophagy machinery. Modulation of autophagy can probably affect not only the quantity of EVs but also their content, which can deeply influence the resulting pro-tumourigenic or anticancer effect of autophagy modulators. In this study, we found that autophagy modulators autophinib, CPD18, EACC, bafilomycin A1 (BAFA1), 3-hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), rapamycin, NVP-BEZ235, Torin1, and starvation significantly alter the composition of the protein content of phosphatidylserine-positive EVs (PS-EVs) produced by cancer cells. The greatest impact had HCQ, BAFA1, CPD18, and starvation. The most abundant proteins in PS-EVs were proteins typical for extracellular exosomes, cytosol, cytoplasm, and cell surface involved in cell adhesion and angiogenesis. PS-EVs protein content involved mitochondrial proteins and signalling molecules such as SQSTM1 and TGFβ1 pro-protein. Interestingly, PS-EVs contained no commonly determined cytokines, such as IL-6, IL-8, GRO-α, MCP-1, RANTES, and GM-CSF, which indicates that secretion of these cytokines is not predominantly mediated through PS-EVs. Nevertheless, the altered protein content of PS-EVs can still participate in the modulation of the fibroblast metabolism and phenotype as p21 was accumulated in fibroblasts influenced by EVs derived from CPD18-treated FaDu cells. The altered protein content of PS-EVs (data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD037164) also provides information about the cellular compartments and processes that are affected by the applied autophagy modulators. Video Abstract.

Quantitative proteomics analysis of COVID-19 patients: Fetuin-A and tetranectin as potential modulators of innate immune responses

Treatment of severe cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is extremely important to minimize death and end-organ damage. Here we performed a proteomic analysis of plasma samples from mild, moderate and severe COVID-19 patients. Analysis revealed differentially expressed proteins and different therapeutic potential targets related to innate immune responses such as fetuin-A, tetranectin (TN) and paraoxonase-1 (PON1). Furthermore, protein changes in plasma showed dysregulation of complement and coagulation cascades in COVID-19 patients compared to healthy controls. In conclusion, our proteomics data suggested fetuin-A and TN as potential targets that might be used for diagnosis as well as signatures for a better understanding of the pathogenesis of COVID-19 disease.

Identification of a prognostic cuproptosis-related signature in hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Cuproptosis is a new type of copper-induced cell death that is characterized by the aggregation of lipoylated tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle proteins. However, its role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unclear. The goal of this research is to develop a cuproptosis-related signature predicting the prognosis of HCC.

METHODS

The cuproptosis-related genes were defined using Pearson correlation coefficients. LASSO-Cox regression analysis was used to evaluate the prognostic values of cuproptosis-related genes to construct a cuproptosis-related prognostic model. The immune microenvironment analysis was performed by "ssGSEA" to reveal the associated immune cell infiltration patterns with the cuproptosis-related genes signature. The expression levels of one of the prognostic genes PDXK were then verified in HCC samples by Western Blot and immunohistochemistry. The potential roles of target genes in cuproptosis were further explored during in-vitro experiments.

RESULTS

A total of 136 cuproptosis-related genes were discovered using Pearson correlation analysis in HCC. A cuproptosis-related signature that included 5 cuproptosis-related genes (PDXK, HPN, SLC25A28, RNFT1, CLEC3B) was established in the TCGA-LIHC training cohort. TCGA validation cohort and another two external validation cohorts confirmed the robustness of the signature's predictive value. Moreover, a nomogram using the risk score was created to best predict the survival of HCC patients. The immune microenvironment analysis revealed distinct immune infiltrations patterns between different risk groups based on the signature model. Furthermore, the upregulation of PDXK was confirmed in HCC tumor tissues in 30 clinical HCC specimens. The knockdown of PDXK reduced the proliferation, migration and invasion of HCC cells. Besides, the expression of PDXK was upregulated after the induction of cuproptosis by elesclomol-CuCL₂, which could be suppressed when pretreated with a copper ion chelator. And PDXK deficiency increased the sensitivity of HCC cells to cuproptosis inducer.

CONCLUSION

Our study identified a new cuproptosis-related gene signature that could predict the prognosis of HCC patient. Besides, the upregulated PDXK could promote the proliferation and metastasis of HCC. And PDXK deficiency facilities cuproptosis in HCC. Therefore, these fundings highlighted that PDXK might serve as a potential diagnostic and therapeutic target for HCC.

Novel antigens for targeted radioimmunotherapy in hepatocellular carcinoma

Liver cancer is the sixth common cancer and forth cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Based on usually advanced stages of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) at the time of diagnosis, therapeutic options are limited and, in many cases, not effective, and typically result in the tumor recurrence with a poor prognosis. Radioimmunotherapy (RIT) offers a selective internal radiation therapy approach using beta or alpha emitting radionuclides conjugated with tumor-specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), or specific selective peptides. When compared to chemotherapy or radiotherapy, radiolabeled mAbs against cancer-associated antigens could provide a high therapeutic and exclusive radiation dose for cancerous cells while decreasing the exposure-induced side effects to healthy tissues. The recent advances in cancer immunotherapy, such as blockade of immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), has changed the landscape of cancer therapy, and the efficacy of different classes of immunotherapy has been tested in many clinical trials. Taking into account the use of ICIs in the liver tumor microenvironment, combined therapies with different approaches may enhance the outcome in the future clinical studies. With the development of novel immunotherapy treatment options in the recent years, there has been a great deal of information about combining the diverse treatment modalities to boost the effectiveness of immunomodulatory drugs. In this opinion review, we will discuss the recent advancements in RIT. The current status of immunotherapy and internal radiotherapy will be updated, and we will propose novel approaches for the combination of both techniques. Potential target antigens for radioimmunotherapy in Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). HCC radioimmunotherapy target antigens are the most specific and commonly accessible antigens on the surface of HCC cells. CTLA-4 ligand and receptor, TAMs, PD-1/PD-L, TIM-3, specific IEXs/TEXs, ROBO1, and cluster of differentiation antigens CD105, CD147 could all be used in HCC radioimmunotherapy. Abbreviations: TAMs, tumor-associated macrophages; CTLA-4, cytotoxic T-lymphocyte associated antigen-4; PD-1, Programmed cell death protein 1; PD-L, programmed death-ligand1; TIM-3, T-cell immunoglobulin (Ig) and mucin-domain containing protein-3; IEXs, immune cell-derived exosomes; TEXs, tumor-derived exosomes.

Significance of exosomes in hepatocellular carcinoma

Among the most prevalent cancers in the world, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has a high mortality rate. The diagnosis and management of HCC are presently hindered by difficulties in early detection and suboptimal treatment outcomes. Exosomes have been shown to play an important role in hepatocarcinogenesis and can also be used for diagnosis and treatment. In this review, we discussed the research progress on exosomes in hepatocarcinogenesis development, tumor microenvironment remodeling, treatment resistance, and immunosuppression. HCC can be diagnosed and treated by understanding the pathogenesis and identifying early diagnostic markers. This review will be a significant reference for scholars with an initial understanding of the field to fully understand the role of exosomes in the organism.

H-TEX-mediated signaling between hepatocellular carcinoma cells and macrophages and exosome-targeted therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma

There is increasing evidence for the key role of the immune microenvironment in the occurrence and development of hepatocellular carcinoma. As an important component of the immune microenvironment, the polarization state and function of macrophages determine the maintenance of the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Hepatocellular carcinoma tumor-derived exosomes, as information carriers, regulate the physiological state of cells in the microenvironment and control cancer progression. In this review, we focus on the role of the exosome content in disease outcomes at different stages in the progression of hepatitis B virus/hepatitis C virus-induced hepatocellular carcinoma. We also explore the mechanism by which macrophages contribute to the formation of hepatocellular carcinoma and summarize the regulation of macrophage functions by the heterogeneity of exosome loading in liver cancer. Finally, with the rise of exosome modification in immunotherapy research on hepatocellular carcinoma, we summarize the application prospects of exosome-based targeted drug delivery.

Human Papillary and Reticular Fibroblasts Show Distinct Functions on Tumor Behavior in 3D-Organotypic Cultures Mimicking Melanoma and HNSCC

Human dermis can be morphologically divided into the upper papillary and lower reticular dermis. Previously, we demonstrated that papillary (PFs) and reticular (RFs) fibroblasts show distinct morphology and gene expression profiles. Moreover, they differently affect tumor invasion and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in in vitro 3D-organotypic cultures of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC). In this study, we examined if these distinct effects of PFs and RFs can be extrapolated in other epithelial/non-epithelial tumors such as melanoma and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). To this end, 3D-Full-Thickness Models (FTMs) were established from melanoma (AN and M14) or HNSCC cell lines (UM-SCC19 and UM-SCC47) together with either PFs or RFs in the dermis. The interplay between tumor cells and different fibroblasts was investigated. We observed that all the tested tumor cell lines showed significantly stronger invasion in RF-FTMs compared to PF-FTMs. In addition, RF-FTMs demonstrated more tumor cell proliferation, EMT induction and basement membrane disruption. Interestingly, RFs started to express the cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF) biomarker α-SMA, indicating reciprocal interactions eventuating in the transition of RFs to CAFs. Collectively, in the melanoma and HNSCC FTMs, interaction of RFs with tumor cells promoted EMT and invasion, which was accompanied by differentiation of RFs to CAFs.

Identification of Downregulated Exosome-Associated Gene ENPP1 as a Novel Lipid Metabolism and Immune-Associated Biomarker for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Exosome plays an important role in the occurrence and development of tumors, such as hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC). However, the functions and mechanisms of exosome-associated molecules in LIHC are still underexplored. Here, we investigated the role of the exosome-related gene ENPP1 in LIHC. Comprehensive bioinformatics from multiple databases revealed that ENPP1 was significantly downregulated in LIHC tissues. The patients with downregulated ENPP1 displayed a poor prognosis. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used to further confirm the downregulated ENPP1 in LIHC tissues. In addition, the coexpression network of ENPP1 was also explored to understand its roles in the underlying signaling pathways, including fatty acid degradation and the PPAR signaling pathway. Simultaneously, GSEA analysis indicated the potential roles of ENPP1 in the lipid metabolism-associated signaling pathways in the pathogenesis of LIHC, including fatty acid metabolism, fatty acid synthesis, and so on. Finally, immunological analysis indicated that ENPP1 might also be involved in multiple immune-related features, including immunoinhibitors, immunostimulators, and chemokines. Taken together, these findings could enhance our understanding of ENPP1 in LIHC pathogenesis and immune response and provide a new target for ENPP1-related immunotherapy in clinical treatment.

Relationships of Cuproptosis-Related Genes With Clinical Outcomes and the Tumour Immune Microenvironment in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Background: Cuproptosis is a recently identified form of regulated cell death that plays a critical role in the onset and progression of various cancers. However, the effects of cuproptosis-related genes (CRGs) on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are poorly understood. This study aimed to identify the cuproptosis subtypes and established a novel prognostic signature of HCC. Methods: We collected gene expression data and clinical outcomes from the TCGA, ICGC, and GEO datasets, analysed and identified 16 CRGs and the different subtypes of cuproptosis related to overall survival (OS), and further examined the differences in prognosis and immune infiltration among the subtypes. Subtypes-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were employed to build a prognostic signature. The relationship of the signature with the immune landscape as well as the sensitivity to different therapies was explored. Moreover, a nomogram was constructed to predict the outcome based on different clinicopathological characteristics. Results: Three cuproptosis subtypes were identified on the basis of 16 CRGs, and subtype B had an advanced clinical stage and worse OS. The immune response and function in subtype B were significantly suppressed, which may be an important reason for its poor prognosis. Based on the DEGs among the three subtypes, a prognostic model of five CRGs was constructed in the training set, and its predictive ability was validated in two external validation sets. HCC patients were classified into high and low-risk subgroups according to the risk score, and found that patients in the low-risk group showed significantly higher survival possibilities than those in the high-risk group (p < 0.001). The independent predictive performance of the risk score was assessed and verified by multivariate Cox regression analysis (p < 0.001). We further created an accurate nomogram to improve the clinical applicability of the risk score, showing good predictive ability and calibration. Low- and high-risk patients exhibit distinct immune cell infiltration and immune checkpoint changes. By further analyzing the risk score, patients in the high-risk group were found to be resistant to immunotherapy and a variety of chemotherapy drugs. Conclusion: Our study identified three cuproptosis subtypes and established a novel prognostic model that provides new insights into HCC subtype prognostic assessment and guides more effective treatment regimens.

The tumor microenvironment of hepatocellular carcinoma and its targeting strategy by CAR-T cell immunotherapy

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the major subtype of liver cancer, which ranks sixth in cancer incidence and third in mortality. Although great strides have been made in novel therapy for HCC, such as immunotherapy, the prognosis remains less than satisfactory. Increasing evidence demonstrates that the tumor immune microenvironment (TME) exerts a significant role in the evolution of HCC and has a non-negligible impact on the efficacy of HCC treatment. In the past two decades, the success in hematological malignancies made by chimeric antigen receptor-modified T (CAR-T) cell therapy leveraging it holds great promise for cancer treatment. However, in the face of a hostile TME in solid tumors like HCC, the efficacy of CAR-T cells will be greatly compromised. Here, we provide an overview of TME features in HCC, discuss recent advances and challenges of CAR-T immunotherapy in HCC.

Roles of small extracellular vesicles in the development, diagnosis and possible treatment strategies for hepatocellular carcinoma (Review)

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common malignancy of hepatocytes accounting for 75-85% of primary hepatic carcinoma cases. Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs), previously known as exosomes with a diameter of 30-200 nm, can transport a variety of biological molecules between cells, and have been proposed to function in physiological and pathological processes. Recent studies have indicated that the cargos of sEVs are implicated in intercellular crosstalk among HCC cells, paratumor cells and the tumor microenvironment. sEV-encapsulated substances (including DNA, RNA, proteins and lipids) regulate signal transduction pathways in recipient cells and contribute to cancer initiation and progression in HCC. In addition, the differential expression of sEV cargos between patients facilitates the potential utility of sEVs in the diagnosis and prognosis of patients with HCC. Furthermore, the intrinsic properties of low immunogenicity and high stability render sEVs ideal vehicles for targeted drug delivery in the treatment of HCC. The present review article summarizes the carcinogenic and anti-neoplastic capacities of sEVs and discusses the potential and prospective diagnostic and therapeutic applications of sEVs in HCC.

Clinical M2 Macrophage-Related Genes Can Serve as a Reliable Predictor of Lung Adenocarcinoma

Background

Numerous studies have found that infiltrating M2 macrophages play an important role in the tumor progression of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). However, the roles of M2 macrophage infiltration and M2 macrophage-related genes in immunotherapy and clinical outcomes remain obscure.

Methods

Sample information was extracted from TCGA and GEO databases. The TIME landscape was revealed using the CIBERSORT algorithm. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was used to find M2 macrophage-related gene modules. Through univariate Cox regression, lasso regression analysis, and multivariate Cox regression, the genes strongly associated with the prognosis of LUAD were screened out. Risk score (RS) was calculated, and all samples were divided into high-risk group (HRG) and low-risk group (LRG) according to the median RS. External validation of RS was performed using GSE68571 data information. Prognostic nomogram based on risk signatures and other clinical information were constructed and validated with calibration curves. Potential associations of tumor mutational burden (TMB) and risk signatures were analyzed. Finally, the potential association of risk signatures with chemotherapy efficacy was investigated using the pRRophetic algorithm.

Results

Based on 504 samples extracted from TCGA database, 183 core genes were identified using WGCNA. Through a series of screening, two M2 macrophage-related genes (GRIA1 and CLEC3B) strongly correlated with LUAD prognosis were finally selected. RS was calculated, and prognostic risk nomogram including gender, age, T, N, M stage, clinical stage, and RS were constructed. The calibration curve shows that our constructed model has good performance. HRG patients were suitable for new ICI immunotherapy, while LRG was more suitable for CTLA4-immunosuppressive therapy alone. The half-maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC50) of the four chemotherapeutic drugs (metformin, cisplatin, paclitaxel, and gemcitabine) showed significant differences in HRG/LRG.

Conclusions

In conclusion, a comprehensive analysis of the role of M2 macrophages in tumor progression will help predict prognosis and facilitate the advancement of therapeutic techniques.

Tumor-associated Exosomes Are Involved in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Tumorigenesis, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has become a challenging disease worldwide. There are still limitations in the diagnosis and treatment of HCC, and its high metastatic capacity and high recurrence rate are the main reasons for its poor prognosis. The ability of extracellular vesicles (EVs) to transfer functionally-active substances and their widespread presence in almost all body fluids suggest their unprecedented potential in the study of various cancers. The unique physicochemical properties of EVs determine their potential as antitumor vaccines and drug carriers. In the last decade, the study of EVs in HCC has evolved from a single hot topic to a system with considerable scale. This paper summarizes the role of EVs, especially exosomes, in the occurrence, metastasis and tumor immunity of HCC, reviews their applications in tumor diagnosis, prognosis and treatment, describes the pros and cons of these studies, and looks forward towards the future research directions of EVs in HCC.

lncRNA MALAT1 promotes HCC metastasis through the peripheral vascular infiltration via miRNA-613: a primary study using contrast ultrasound

Background

This study aimed to explore the specific pathogenesis of lncRNA MALAT1 promoting the invasion and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) through peripheral blood vessels by regulating the expression of miRNA-613 molecule.

Methods

The data of 60 HCC metastatic patients and 60 HCC non-metastatic patients detected by the contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Qiqihar Medical College from January 2020 to June 2021 were collected, as well as postoperatively retained HCC tissues and paired paracancer tissues (5 cm laterally from the edge of the cancer area), to study the changes of microangiogenesis in HCC tissues with CEUS. The correlation between CEUS grading and lncRNA MALAT1 in patients with HCC was analyzed through Pearson correlation analysis, lncRNA MALAT1 and miRNA-613 in HCC tissues of patients with HCC were detected by qRT-PCR, followed by the bioinformatic analysis for the relationship between lncRNA MALAT1 and miRNA-613. The Log-growing human HCC cell strain, HepG2, was selected for experiments. Adenovirus transfection knocked down lncRNA MALAT1 in HCC cells, which was divided into two groups (inhibitor-NC group and lncR-inhibitor group), followed by knocking down miRNA-613 on the basis of knocking down lncRNA MALAT1, which was divided into three groups (inhibitor-NC group, lncR-inhibitor groups, and lncR/miR613-inhibitor group). The expression of miRNA-613 and lncRNA MALAT1 in each group was detected by qRT-PCR. The migration and invasiveness of cells in each group were detected by Transwell assay.

Results

CEUS of HCC and Pearson correlation analysis showed that CEUS grading and lncRNA MALAT1 were positively correlated in patients with HCC. In HCC tissues of patients with HCC, lncRNA MALAT1 expressed high and miRNA-613 expressed low. The results of bioinformatic analysis showed the targeting of lncRNA MALAT1 and miRNA-613. Knocking down lncRNA MALAT1 could increase miRNA-613 expression significantly, and reduce the migration of HCC cells. Inhibiting miRNA-613 based on knocking down lncRNA MALAT1 could increase the survival and migration of HCC cells.

Conclusions

lncRNA MALAT1 can promote HCC metastasis through the peripheral vascular infiltration by inhibiting the level of MiRNA-613, which can, therefore, be used as a potential target for the treatment of HCC.

1. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) grading was positively correlated with lncRNA MALAT1 in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

2. lncRNA MALAT1 expressed high and miRNA-613 expressed low in HCC tissues of patients with HCC.

3. lncRNA MALAT1 was targeted with miRNA-613.

4. Knocking down lncRNA MALAT1 could significantly increase miRNA-613 expression.

5. Knocking down lncRNA MALAT1 could reduce the migration of HCC cells.

6. Inhibiting miRNA-613 on the basis of knocking down lncRNA MALAT1 could increase the survival and migration of HCC cells.

Extracellular Vesicles and Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Opportunities and Challenges

The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is increasing worldwide. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) contain sufficient bioactive substances and are carriers of intercellular information exchange, as well as delivery vehicles for nucleic acids, proteins and drugs. Although EVs show great potential for the treatment of HCC and their role in HCC progression has been extensively studied, there are still many challenges such as time-consuming extraction, difficult storage, easy contamination, and low drug loading rate. We focus on the biogenesis, morphological characteristics, isolation and extraction of EVs and their significance in the progression of HCC, tumor invasion, immune escape and cancer therapy for a review. EVs may be effective biomarkers for molecular diagnosis of HCC and new targets for tumor-targeted therapy.

CLEC3B is a novel causative gene for macular-retinal dystrophy

PURPOSE

Macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness worldwide. In this study, we aimed to define a new subtype of macular-retinal dystrophy and its genetic predisposition in 5 families.

METHODS

Exome sequencing was performed to determine the putative disease-causing genes in patients with inherited macular disorders confirmed through comprehensive ophthalmic examinations. To validate its functional consequence, adeno-associated virus-mediated mutant gene was delivered into the murine retina, and both structural and functional tests were performed to investigate its pathological effects in vivo.

RESULTS

In total, 5 multigenerational families diagnosed with autosomal dominant maculoretinopathy were found to carry a pathogenic variant in a new gene, CLEC3B, which encodes tetranectin, a plasminogen kringle-4 binding protein. Consistent with the disease phenotypes of patients, mice that received subretinal injections with the CLEC3B variant displayed multiple subretinal hyperreflective deposits, reduced retinal thickness, and decreased electroretinographic responses. Moreover, the optokinetic tracking response indicated that spatial frequency was significantly lower (P < .05), implying impaired visual function in these mice.

CONCLUSION

We have presented a new subtype of macular-retinal dystrophy in 5 families as well as a new pathogenic gene, CLEC3B, providing new insights into maculoretinopathy etiology.

An emerging role of radiation‑induced exosomes in hepatocellular carcinoma progression and radioresistance (Review)

The incidence rates of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) worldwide are increasing, and the role of radiotherapy is currently under discussion. Radioresistance is one of the most important challenges in the therapy of HCC compared with other local advanced, recurrent and metastatic cancers. The mechanisms of radioresistance are complex and remain to be fully understood; however, extracellular vesicles have been investigated in recent studies. Exosomes, which are 40- to 150-nm extracellular vesicles released by cancer cells, contain multiple pathogenic components, including proteins, nucleic acids and lipids, and play critical functions in cancer progression. Emerging data indicate a diagnosis potential for exosomes in HCC, since radiation-derived exosomes promote radioresistance. Radiation-based therapy alters the contents and components of exosomes, suggesting that exosomes and their components may serve as prognostic and predictive biomarkers to monitor radiation response. Therefore, understanding the roles and mechanisms of exosomes in HCC progression and radiation response during HCC therapy may increase our knowledge concerning the roles of exosomes in radioresistance, and may lead to novel approaches for HCC prognosis and treatment. The current review summarizes recent studies on exosome involvement in HCC and the molecular changes in exosome components during HCC progression. It also discusses the functions of exosomes in HCC therapy, and highlights the importance of exosomes in HCC progression and resistance for the development of novel therapies.

Exosomes in Pathogenesis, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Exosomes are extracellular vesicles with a diameter of 30-150 nm that are released by most types of cells and have been confirmed to be involved in many physical and pathological processes, especially in cell to cell communication. Compared with other vesicles, exosomes have a unique double-layer saclike structure that allows them to be present stably in various body fluids, including blood, cerebrospinal fluid, urine, saliva, and serous cavity effusion. The cargoes of exosomes reflect the characteristics of host cells. Due to the nature of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells, heterogeneity in the bioactive substances usually exist in exosomes. In addition, exosomes can efficiently deliver cargoes to the target cells to exert pathological functions, playing important role in tumor occurrence, development, metastasis, immune regulation, and drug resistance. Previous studies have been shown that exosomes have wide applications in diagnosis and treatment of HCC. In this review, we discuss these recent findings and highlight the significant roles of exosomes in HCC, focusing on the effect and underlying mechanisms of exosomes to regulate HCC progression and the potential clinical value of exosomes as biomarkers and therapeutic targets.

Performance of a validated spontaneous preterm delivery predictor in South Asian and Sub-Saharan African women: a nested case control study

OBJECTIVES

To address the disproportionate burden of preterm birth (PTB) in low- and middle-income countries, this study aimed to (1) verify the performance of the United States-validated spontaneous PTB (sPTB) predictor, comprised of the IBP4/SHBG protein ratio, in subjects from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Tanzania enrolled in the Alliance for Maternal and Newborn Health Improvement (AMANHI) biorepository study, and (2) discover biomarkers that improve performance of IBP4/SHBG in the AMANHI cohort.

STUDY DESIGN

The performance of the IBP4/SHBG biomarker was first evaluated in a nested case control validation study, then utilized in a follow-on discovery study performed on the same samples. Levels of serum proteins were measured by targeted mass spectrometry. Differences between the AMANHI and U.S. cohorts were adjusted using body mass index (BMI) and gestational age (GA) at blood draw as covariates. Prediction of sPTB < 37 weeks and < 34 weeks was assessed by area under the receiver operator curve (AUC). In the discovery phase, an artificial intelligence method selected additional protein biomarkers complementary to IBP4/SHBG in the AMANHI cohort.

RESULTS

The IBP4/SHBG biomarker significantly predicted sPTB < 37 weeks (n = 88 vs. 171 terms ≥ 37 weeks) after adjusting for BMI and GA at blood draw (AUC= 0.64, 95% CI: 0.57-0.71, p < .001). Performance was similar for sPTB < 34 weeks (n = 17 vs. 184 ≥ 34 weeks): AUC = 0.66, 95% CI: 0.51-0.82, p = .012. The discovery phase of the study showed that the addition of endoglin, prolactin, and tetranectin to the above model resulted in the prediction of sPTB < 37 with an AUC= 0.72 (95% CI: 0.66-0.79, p-value < .001) and prediction of sPTB < 34 with an AUC of 0.78 (95% CI: 0.67-0.90, p < .001).

CONCLUSION

A protein biomarker pair developed in the U.S. may have broader application in diverse non-U.S. populations.

Construction of a single nucleotide variant score-related gene-based prognostic model in hepatocellular carcinoma: analysis of multi-independent databases and validation in vitro

BACKGROUND

The accumulation of single nucleotide variants (SNVs) and the emergence of neoantigens can affect tumour proliferation and the immune microenvironment. However, the SNV-related immune microenvironment characteristics and key genes involved in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are still unclear. We aimed to evaluate differences in the SNV-related immune microenvironment, construct a prognostic model and validate the key genes in vitro.

METHODS

The categories of samples were defined by the expression of SNV score-related genes to evaluate the differences in mutational features, immune environment and prognosis. The survival model was constructed with survival-associated genes and verified in two independent test datasets. RCAN2, the key gene screened out for biofunction, was validated in vitro.

RESULTS

IC2, among the three integrated clusters (IC1, IC2, IC3) classified by the 82 SNV score-related genes, was distinct from the rest in SNV score and immune cell infiltration, showing a better prognosis. Seven prognostic markers, HTRA3, GGT5, RCAN2, LGALS3, CXCL1, CLEC3B, and CTHRC1, were screened to construct a prognostic model. The survival model distinguished high-risk patients with poor prognoses in three independent datasets (log-rank P < 0.0001, 0.011, and 0.0068, respectively) with acceptable sensitivity and specificity. RCAN2 was inversely correlated with NK cell infiltration, and knockdown of RCAN2 promoted proliferation in HCC.

CONCLUSIONS

This study revealed the characteristics of the HCC SNV-associated subgroup and screened seven latent markers for their accuracy of prognosis. Additionally, RCAN2 was preliminarily proven to influence proliferation in HCC and it had a close relationship with NK cell infiltration in vitro. With the capability to predict HCC outcomes, the model constructed with seven key differentially expressed genes offers new insights into individual therapy.

Not All Lectins Are Equally Suitable for Labeling Rodent Vasculature

The vascular system is vital for all tissues and the interest in its visualization spans many fields. A number of different plant-derived lectins are used for detection of vasculature; however, studies performing direct comparison of the labeling efficacy of different lectins and techniques are lacking. In this study, we compared the labeling efficacy of three lectins: Griffonia simplicifolia isolectin B4 (IB4); wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), and Lycopersicon esculentum agglutinin (LEA). The LEA lectin was identified as being far superior to the IB4 and WGA lectins in histological labeling of blood vessels in brain sections. A similar signal-to-noise ratio was achieved with high concentrations of the WGA lectin injected during intracardial perfusion. Lectins were also suitable for labeling vasculature in other tissues, including spinal cord, dura mater, heart, skeletal muscle, kidney, and liver tissues. In uninjured tissues, the LEA lectin was as accurate as the Tie2–eGFP reporter mice and GLUT-1 immunohistochemistry for labeling the cerebral vasculature, validating its specificity and sensitivity. However, in pathological situations, e.g., in stroke, the sensitivity of the LEA lectin decreases dramatically, limiting its applicability in such studies. This work can be used for selecting the type of lectin and labeling method for various tissues.

Enhancer RNA SLIT2 Inhibits Bone Metastasis of Breast Cancer Through Regulating P38 MAPK/c-Fos Signaling Pathway

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer (BRCA) is the most common cancer in women, while the bones are one of the most common sites of metastasis. Although new diagnostic methods or radiation or chemotherapies and targeted therapies have made huge advances, the occurrence of bone metastasis is also linked with poorer survival. Enhancer RNAs (eRNAs) have been demonstrated to participate in the progression of tumorigenesis and metastasis. However, the role of eRNAs in BRCA bone metastasis remains largely unclear.

METHOD

Gene expression profiling of 1,211 primary BRCA and 17 bone metastases samples were retrieved from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, and the significant prognostic eRNAs were identified by Cox regression and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression. The acceptable accuracy and discrimination of the nomogram were indicated by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) and the calibration curves. Then target genes of eRNA, immune cell percentage by CIBERSORT analysis, immune genes by single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA), hallmark of cancer signaling pathway by gene set variation analysis (GSVA), and reverse phase protein array (RPPA) protein chip were used to build a co-expression regulation network and identified the key eRNAs in bone metastasis of BRCA. Finally, Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK8) assay, cell cycle assay, and transwell assay were used to study changes in cell proliferation, migration, and invasiveness. Immunoprecipitation assay and Western blotting were used to test the interaction and the regulation signaling pathways.

RESULTS

The 27 hub eRNAs were selected, and a survival-related linear risk assessment model with a relatively high accuracy (area under curve (AUC): 0.726) was constructed. In addition, seven immune-related eRNAs (SLIT2, CLEC3B, LBPL1, FRY, RASGEF1B, DST, and ITIH5) as prognostic signatures for bone metastasis of BRCA were further confirmed by LASSO and multivariate Cox regression and CIBERSORT analysis. Finally, in vitro assay demonstrated that overexpression of SLIT2 reduced proliferation and metastasis in BRCA cells. Using high-throughput co-expression regulation network, we identified that SLIT2 may regulating P38 MAPK/c-Fos signaling pathway to promote the effects of metastasis.

CONCLUSION

Based on the co-expression network for bone metastasis of BRCA, we screened key eRNAs to explore a prognostic model in predicting the bone metastasis by bioinformatics analysis. Besides, we identified the potential regulatory signaling pathway of SLIT2 in BRCA bone metastasis, which provides a promising therapeutic strategy for metastasis of BRCA.

Gallic acid for cancer therapy: Molecular mechanisms and boosting efficacy by nanoscopical delivery

Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide. Majority of recent research efforts in the field aim to address why cancer resistance to therapy develops and how to overcome or prevent it. In line with this, novel anti-cancer compounds are desperately needed for chemoresistant cancer cells. Phytochemicals, in view of their pharmacological activities and capacity to target various molecular pathways, are of great interest in the development of therapeutics against cancer. Plant-derived-natural products have poor bioavailability which restricts their anti-tumor activity. Gallic acid (GA) is a phenolic acid exclusively found in natural sources such as gallnut, sumac, tea leaves, and oak bark. In this review, we report on the most recent research related to anti-tumor activities of GA in various cancers with a focus on its underlying molecular mechanisms and cellular pathwaysthat that lead to apoptosis and migration of cancer cells. GA down-regulates the expression of molecular pathways involved in cancer progression such as PI3K/Akt. The co-administration of GA with chemotherapeutic agents shows improvements in suppressing cancer malignancy. Various nano-vehicles such as organic- and inorganic nano-materials have been developed for targeted delivery of GA at the tumor site. Here, we suggest that nano-vehicles improve GA bioavailability and its ability for tumor suppression.

Transcriptional and epigenetic landscape of Ca2+-signaling genes in hepatocellular carcinoma

Calcium (Ca2+) signaling has a major role in regulating a wide range of cellular mechanisms, including gene expression, proliferation, metabolism, cell death, muscle contraction, among others. Recent evidence suggests that ~ 1600 genes are related to the Ca2+ signaling. Some of these genes' expression is altered in several pathological conditions, including different cancer types, and epigenetic mechanisms are involved. However, their expression and regulation in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the liver are barely known. Here, we aimed to explore the expression of genes involved in the Ca2+-signaling in HCC, liver regeneration, and hepatocyte differentiation, and whether their expression is regulated by epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation and histone posttranslational modifications (HPM). Results show that several Ca2+-signaling genes' expression is altered in HCC samples; among these, a subset of twenty-two correlate with patients' survival. DNA methylation correlates with eight of these genes' expression, and Guadecitabine, a hypomethylating agent, regulates the expression of seven down-regulated and three up-regulated genes in HepG2 cells. The down-regulated genes displayed a marked decrease of euchromatin histone marks, whereas up-regulated genes displayed gain in these marks. Additionally, the expression of these genes is modulated during liver regeneration and showed similar profiles between in vitro differentiated hepatocytes and liver-derived hepatocytes. In conclusion, some components of the Ca2+-signaling are altered in HCC and displayed a correlation with patients' survival. DNA methylation and HMP are an attractive target for future investigations to regulate their expression. Ca2+-signaling could be an important regulator of cell proliferation and differentiation in the liver.

Characteristic of molecular subtypes in lung adenocarcinoma based on m6A RNA methylation modification and immune microenvironment

BACKGROUND

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is a major subtype of lung cancer and closely associated with poor prognosis. N6-methyladenosine (m6A), one of the most predominant modifications in mRNAs, is found to participate in tumorigenesis. However, the potential function of m6A RNA methylation in the tumor immune microenvironment is still murky.

METHODS

The gene expression profile cohort and its corresponding clinical data of LUAD patients were downloaded from TCGA database and GEO database. Based on the expression of 21 m6A regulators, we identified two distinct subgroups by consensus clustering. The single-sample gene-set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) algorithm was conducted to quantify the relative abundance of the fraction of 28 immune cell types. The prognostic model was constructed by Lasso Cox regression. Survival analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to evaluate the prognostic model.

RESULT

Consensus classification separated the patients into two clusters (clusters 1 and 2). Those patients in cluster 1 showed a better prognosis and were related to higher immune scores and more immune cell infiltration. Subsequently, 457 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the two clusters were identified, and then a seven-gene prognostic model was constricted. The survival analysis showed poor prognosis in patients with high-risk score. The ROC curve confirmed the predictive accuracy of this prognostic risk signature. Besides, further analysis indicated that there were significant differences between the high-risk and low-risk groups in stages, status, clustering subtypes, and immunoscore. Low-risk group was related to higher immune score, more immune cell infiltration, and lower clinical stages. Moreover, multivariate analysis revealed that this prognostic model might be a powerful prognostic predictor for LUAD. Ultimately, the efficacy of this prognostic model was successfully validated in several external cohorts (GSE30219, GSE50081 and GSE72094).

CONCLUSION

Our study provides a robust signature for predicting patients' prognosis, which might be helpful for therapeutic strategies discovery of LUAD.

Mechanisms and Clinical Trials of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Immunotherapy

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), one of the most common and lethal tumors worldwide, is usually not diagnosed until the disease is advanced, which results in ineffective intervention and unfavorable prognosis. Small molecule targeted drugs of HCC, such as sorafenib, provided only about 2.8 months of survival benefit, partially due to cancer stem cell resistance. There is an urgent need for the development of new treatment strategies for HCC. Tumor immunotherapies, including immune check point inhibitors, chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CAR-T) and bispecific antibodies (BsAb), have shown significant potential. It is known that the expression level of glypican-3 (GPC3) was significantly increased in HCC compared with normal liver tissues. A bispecific antibody (GPC3-S-Fabs) was reported to recruit NK cells to target GPC3 positive cancer cells. Besides, bispecific T-cell Engagers (BiTE), including GPC3/CD3, an aptamer TLS11a/CD3 and EpCAM/CD3, were recently reported to efficiently eliminate HCC cells. It is known that immune checkpoint proteins programmed death-1 (PD-1) binding by programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) activates immune checkpoints of T cells. Anti-PD-1 antibody was reported to suppress HCC progression. Furthermore, GPC3-based HCC immunotherapy has been shown to be a curative approach to prolong the survival time of patients with HCC in clinically trials. Besides, the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitor may inhibit the migration, invasion and angiogenesis of HCC. Here we review the cutting-edge progresses on mechanisms and clinical trials of HCC immunotherapy, which may have significant implication in our understanding of HCC and its immunotherapy.

LINC00511 drives invasive behavior in hepatocellular carcinoma by regulating exosome secretion and invadopodia formation

Background

Tumor cells are known to release large numbers of exosomes containing active substances that participate in cancer progression. Abnormally expressed long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been confirmed to regulate multiple processes associated with tumor progression. However, the mechanism by which lncRNAs affect exosome secretion remains unclear.

Methods

The underlying mechanisms of long noncoding RNA LINC00511 (LINC00511) regulation of multivesicular body (MVB) trafficking, exosome secretion, invadopodia formation, and tumor invasion were determined through gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), immunoblotting, nanoparticle tracking analysis, confocal colocalization analysis, electron microscopy, and invasion experiments.

Results

We revealed that the tumorigenesis process is associated with a significant increase in vesicle secretion in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Additionally, LINC00511 was significantly more highly expressed in HCC tissues and is related to vesicle trafficking and MVB distribution. We also found that in addition to the formation of invadopodia in HCC progression, abnormal LINC00511 induces invadopodia formation in HCC cells by regulating the colocalization of vesicle associated membrane protein 7 (VAMP7) and synaptosome associated protein 23 (SNAP23) to induce the invadopodia formation, which are key secretion sites for MVBs and control exosome secretion. Finally, we revealed that LINC0051-induced invadopodia and exosome secretion were involved in tumor progression.

Conclusions

Our experiments revealed novel findings on the relationship between LINC00511 dysregulation in HCC and invadopodia production and exosome secretion. This is a novel mechanism by which LINC00511 regulates invadopodia biogenesis and exosome secretion to further promote cancer progression.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13046-021-01990-y.

RETRACTED: Hepatocellular carcinoma cells-derived exosomal microRNA-378b enhances hepatocellular carcinoma angiogenesis

This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (http://www.elsevier.com/locate/withdrawalpolicy). This article has been retracted at the request of the Editor-in-Chief. Concern was raised about the reliability of the Western blot results in Figs. 2D/G/H, 4C, 5F and 6D, which appear to have the same eyebrow shaped phenotype as many other publications tabulated here (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/149EjFXVxpwkBXYJOnOHb6RhAqT4a2llhj9LM60MBffM/edit#gid=0). The journal requested the corresponding author comment on these concerns and provide the raw data. However the authors were not able to satisfactorily fulfil this request and therefore the Editor-in-Chief decided to retract the article.

The role of different PI3K protein subtypes in the metastasis, angiogenesis and clinical prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Abnormal activation of the PI3K/AKT pathway is closely related to tumor occurrence, development and angiogenesis. PI3K, as a key protein in the PI3K/Akt pathway, has different subtypes that play diverse roles in various tumors. The aim of this study was to examine the roles of different PI3K protein subtypes (PI3Kp110α, PI3Kp110β, and PI3Kp110δ) in the metastasis, angiogenesis and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODS

The roles of different PI3K protein subtypes in the metastasis, angiogenesis and prognosis of HCC were assessed by immunohistochemical staining of 97 HCC tissues and the STRING database.

RESULTS

Our results showed that PI3Kp110α and PI3Kp110δ were associated with HCC metastasis and angiogenesis. Patients with high expression of PI3Kp110α and PI3Kp110δ had a worse prognosis and shorter survival time, respectively, than those with low expression, whereas these effects were not observed for PI3Kp110β. Cox regression analysis showed that PI3Kp110α and clinical stage were independent risk factors for the overall survival of HCC patients.

CONCLUSIONS

PI3Kp110α and PI3Kp110δ promoted HCC metastasis and angiogenesis via the PI3K/AKT pathway, and PI3Kp110α was an independent risk factor for HCC patients. These findings provide valuable insights for the prognosis evaluation and the selection of subtype inhibitors of HCC patients.

The screening of immune-related biomarkers for prognosis of lung adenocarcinoma

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) accounts for a frequently seen non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) histological subtype, and it is associated with dismal prognostic outcome. However, the benefits of traditional treatment are still limited, and the efficacies of immunotherapy are quite different. Therefore, it is of great significance to identify novel immune-related therapeutic targets in lung adenocarcinoma. In this study, we identified a set of immune-related biomarkers for prognosis of lung adenocarcinoma, which could provide new ideas for immunotherapy of lung adenocarcinoma. Datasets related to LUAD were filtered from the GEO database. The appropriate packages were used to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and to carry out enrichment analysis, followed by the construction of prognostic biomarkers. The Kaplan-Meier (K-M) curves were plotted to analyze patient survival based on hub genes. Associations between the expression of selected biomarkers and six types of tumor-infiltrating immune cells were evaluated based on the online tool TIMER. After analyzing five GEO datasets(GSE32867, GSE46539, GSE63459, GSE75037 and GSE116959), we discovered altogether 67 DEGs, among which, 15 showed up-regulation while 52 showed down-regulation. Enrichments of integrated DEGs were identified in the ontology categories. CAV1, CFD, FMO2 and CLEC3B were eventually selected as independent prognostic biomarkers, they were correlated with clinical outcomes of LUAD patients. Moreover, a positive correlation was observed between biomarker expression and all different types of immune infiltration, and the expression level of the four biomarkers was all positively related to macrophage.

Exosomes in hepatocellular carcinoma microenvironment and their potential clinical application value

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has become a challenging disease in the world today. Due to the limitations on the current diagnosis and treatment as well as its high metastatic ability and high recurrence rate, HCC gradually becomes the second deadliest tumor. Exosomes are one of the types of cell-derived vesicles and can carry intracellular materials such as genetic materials, lipids, and proteins. In recent years, it has been verified that exosomes are linked to numerous physiological and pathological processes, including HCC. However, how exosomes affect HCC progression remains largely unknown. In this review, the exosome-mediated cellular material transfer between cells of different types in the HCC microenvironment and their effects on the behaviors and functions of recipient cells are studied. Furthermore, we also addressed the underlying molecular mechanisms. We believe that new light on the diagnosis of this cancer as well as its treatment strategies will be shed after a collation of literature in this area.

Exosomes and Their Role in Cancer Progression

Exosomes from extracellular vesicles can activate or inhibit various signaling pathways by transporting proteins, lipids, nucleic acids and other substances to recipient cells. In addition, exosomes are considered to be involved in the development and progression of tumors from different tissue sources in numerous ways, including remodeling of the tumor microenvironment, promoting angiogenesis, metastasis, and invasion, and regulating the immune escape of tumor cells. However, the precise molecular mechanisms by which exosomes participate in these different processes remains unclear. In this review, we describe the research progress of tumor cell-derived exosomes in cancer progression. We also discuss the prospects of the application of exosomes combined with nanoengineered chemotherapeutic drugs in the treatment of cancer.

Exosome in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: an update

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common malignant tumor in the digestive tract with limited therapeutic choices. Intercellular communication among cancer cells and their microenvironment is crucial to disease progression. Exosomes are extracellular vesicles secreted by multiple types of cells into the extracellular space, which contain a variety of active components of secretory cells, including lipids, proteins, RNA and DNA. This vesicle structure involves in the exchange of materials and information between cells and plays an important role in the development of many diseases. Studies have shown that exosomes participate in the communication between HCC cells and non-HCC cells and regulate the occurrence and development of hepatocellular carcinoma. Therefore, exosomes may be specific biomarkers for early diagnosis and metastasis of HCC, which are also potential targets for the treatment of HCC. This review summarizes the characteristic, types and biological functions of exosomes and discusses their research progress and application prospects in the diagnosis and treatment of HCC.

Exosomal proteins: Key players mediating pre‑metastatic niche formation and clinical implications (Review)

Tumor metastasis is a destructive characteristic of malignant tumors and the fundamental reason why malignant tumors are difficult to cure. The concept of a pre‑metastatic niche (PMN) provides a novel way to elucidate the molecular mechanism of tumor metastasis. At present, the PMN has been considered as a critical determinant priming distal sites for metastasis. Accumulating evidence has suggested that exosomes are cellular communicators serving a pivotal role in mediating tumor cell metastasis by establishing the PMN. Among exosomal cargos, non‑coding RNAs and proteins are two commonly studied components; however, the latter has received less attention. The present review aimed to summarize the findings regarding cargo proteins selectively loaded in malignant tumor‑derived exosomes. Metastasis‑associated proteins have been demonstrated to be selectively enriched in malignant tumor‑derived exosomes. Exosomal proteins promote PMN formation to mediate the site‑specific metastasis of tumor cells by inducing lymphangiogenesis, angiogenesis and permeability, educating stromal cells, remodeling the extracellular matrix, and suppressing the antitumor immune response. These exosomal proteins have great potential in predicting organ‑directed metastasis and prognosis, as well as in cancer therapy.

Re-Clustering and Profiling of Digestive System Tumors According to Microenvironment Components

Background

Immunotherapy has become the most promising therapy in digestive system tumors besides conventional chemotherapy and radiotherapy. But only a few patients can benefit from different types of immunotherapies, such as immune checkpoint blockade (ICB). To identify these ICB-susceptible patients, methods are urgently needed to screen and profile subgroups of patients with different responsiveness to ICB.

Methods

This study carried out analysis on patients with digestive system tumors that were obtained from Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) cohorts. The analyses were mainly performed using GraphPad Prism 7 and R language.

Results

We have quantified the microenvironmental components of eight digestive system tumor patients in TCGA cohorts and evaluated their clinical value. We re-clustered patients based on their microenvironment composition and divided these patients into six clusters. The differences between these six clusters were profiled, including survival conditions, enriched biological processes, genomic mutations, and microenvironment traits. Cluster 3 was the most immune-related cluster, exhibiting a high infiltration of non-tumor components and poor survival status, along with an inhibitory immune status, and we found that patients with high stromal score indicated a poor response in ICB cohort.

Conclusions

Our research provides a new strategy based on the microenvironment components for the reclassification of digestive system tumors, which could provide guidance for prognosis judgment and treatment response prediction like ICB.