PEG10 overexpression induced by E2F-1 promotes cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in pancreatic cancer

NAP1L5 promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition by regulating PEG10 expression in acute myeloid leukaemia

Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is a haematological malignancy that poses a serious threat to human health. Studies have shown that the expression of NAP1L5 is elevated in patients with AML; however, the specific molecular mechanism remains unknown. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to investigate the pathogenic mechanisms of NAP1L5 in AML. The expression level of NAP1L5 was increased in AML, and the upregulation of NAP1L5 was related to tumour growth and epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Furthermore, PEG10 is a downstream regulatory factor of NAP1L5, and its overexpression promotes tumour growth and epithelial-mesenchymal transition. More importantly, the loss of PEG10 inhibited the negative effects induced by NAP1L5 overexpression. Our results suggest that NAP1L5 is a novel therapeutic target for AML treatment.

Endogenous retrovirus-like proteins recruit UBQLN2 to stress granules and alter their functional properties

The human genome is replete with sequences derived from foreign elements including endogenous retrovirus-like proteins of unknown function. Here we show that UBQLN2, a ubiquitin-proteasome shuttle factor implicated in neurodegenerative diseases, is regulated by the linked actions of two retrovirus-like proteins, RTL8 and PEG10. RTL8 confers on UBQLN2 the ability to complex with and regulate PEG10. PEG10, a core component of stress granules, drives the recruitment of UBQLN2 to stress granules under various stress conditions, but can only do so when RTL8 is present. Changes in PEG10 levels further remodel the kinetics of stress granule disassembly and overall composition by incorporating select extracellular vesicle proteins. Within stress granules, PEG10 forms virus-like particles, underscoring the structural heterogeneity of this class of biomolecular condensates. Together, these results reveal an unexpected link between pathways of cellular proteostasis and endogenous retrovirus-like proteins.

Distinctive Phenotypic and Microenvironmental Characteristics of Neuroendocrine Carcinoma and Adenocarcinoma Components in Gastric Mixed Adenoneuroendocrine Carcinoma

This study aimed to conduct an in-depth examination of gene expression and microenvironmental profiles of gastric neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) and mixed adeno-NEC (MANEC). Tissue microarrays from 55 patients with gastric MANEC (N = 32) or NEC (N = 23) were analyzed using digital spatial profiling (GeoMx DSP, NanoString Technologies). Representative regions of interest were selected from the adenocarcinoma (ADC) portion (ADC-MANEC) and the NEC portion (NEC-MANEC) of the MANEC cores, and pure NEC (pNEC) cores. All regions of interest were separated into epithelial components and stromal components using the masking procedure in the GeoMx platform, followed by transcriptome analysis. Comparison of gene expression between ADC-MANEC and NEC-MANEC/pNEC identified several differentially expressed genes in the epithelial (including PEG10, MAP1B, STMN3, and AKT3) and stromal (FN1, COL1A1, SPARC, and BGN) components. Gene set enrichment analysis revealed that pathways related to the E2F target and G2M checkpoint were more enriched in NEC-MANEC and pNEC than in ADC-MANEC. Deconvolution analysis showed that the microenvironmental profile varied according to histologic differentiation. In ADC-MANEC, intraepithelial infiltrating immune cells were relatively more numerous, whereas fibroblasts in the stroma were more abundant in NEC-MANEC and pNEC. This study confirmed the distinct expression profile of each histologic component of MANEC according to its tumor vs stromal compartment using the DSP platform. Although each component of MANEC shares the same genetic origin, distinctive phenotypes should not be overlooked when managing patients with MANEC. This study provides a useful validation data set for future studies.

Histone demethylase PHF8 promotes prostate cancer metastasis via the E2F1-SNAI1 axis

Metastasis is the primary culprit behind cancer-related fatalities in multiple cancer types, including prostate cancer. Despite great advances, the precise mechanisms underlying prostate cancer metastasis are far from complete. By using a transgenic mouse prostate cancer model (TRAMP) with and without Phf8 knockout, we have identified a crucial role of PHF8 in prostate cancer metastasis. By complexing with E2F1, PHF8 transcriptionally upregulates SNAI1 in a demethylation-dependent manner. The upregulated SNAI1 subsequently enhances epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and metastasis. Given the role of the abnormally activated PHF8/E2F1-SNAI1 axis in prostate cancer metastasis and poor prognosis, the levels of PHF8 or the activity of this axis could serve as biomarkers for prostate cancer metastasis. Moreover, targeting this axis could become a potential therapeutic strategy for prostate cancer treatment. © 2024 The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.

Altered methylation of imprinted genes in neuroblastoma: implications for prognostic refinement

BACKGROUND

Neuroblastoma (NB) is a complex disease, and the current understanding of NB biology is limited. Deregulation in genomic imprinting is a common event in malignancy. Since imprinted genes play crucial roles in early fetal growth and development, their role in NB pathogenesis could be suggested.

METHODS

We examined alterations in DNA methylation patterns of 369 NB tumours at 49 imprinted differentially methylated regions (DMRs) and assessed its association with overall survival probabilities and selected clinical and genomic features of the tumours. In addition, an integrated analysis of DNA methylation and allele-specific copy number alterations (CNAs) was performed, to understand the correlation between the two molecular events.

RESULTS

Several imprinted regions with aberrant methylation patterns in NB were identified. Regions that underwent loss of methylation in > 30% of NB samples were DMRs annotated to the genes NDN, SNRPN, IGF2, MAGEL2 and HTR5A and regions with gain of methylation were NNAT, RB1 and GPR1. Methylation alterations at six of the 49 imprinted DMRs were statistically significantly associated with reduced overall survival: MIR886, RB1, NNAT/BLCAP, MAGEL2, MKRN3 and INPP5F. RB1, NNAT/BLCAP and MKRN3 were further able to stratify low-risk NB tumours i.e. tumours that lacked MYCN amplification and 11q deletion into risk groups. Methylation alterations at NNAT/BLCAP, MAGEL2 and MIR886 predicted risk independently of MYCN amplification or 11q deletion and age at diagnosis. Investigation of the allele-specific CNAs demonstrated that the imprinted regions that displayed most alterations in NB tumours harbor true epigenetic changes and are not result of the underlying CNAs.

CONCLUSIONS

Aberrant methylation in imprinted regions is frequently occurring in NB tumours and several of these regions have independent prognostic value. Thus, these could serve as potentially important clinical epigenetic markers to identify individuals with adverse prognosis. Incorporation of methylation status of these regions together with the established risk predictors may further refine the prognostication of NB patients.

Significance of signal recognition particle 9 nuclear translocation: Implications for pancreatic cancer prognosis and functionality

Signal recognition particles (SRPs) are essential for regulating intracellular protein transport and secretion. Patients with tumors with high SRP9 expression tend to have a poorer overall survival. However, to the best of our knowledge, no reports have described the relationship between SRP9 localization and prognosis in pancreatic cancer. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate this relationship. Immunohistochemical staining for SRP9 using excised specimens from pancreatic cancer surgery cases without preoperative chemotherapy or radiotherapy showed that SRP9 was preferentially expressed in the nucleus of the cancerous regions in some cases, which was hardly detected in other cases, indicating that SRP9 was transported to the nucleus in the former cases. To compare the prognosis of patients with SRP9 nuclear translocation, patients were divided into two groups: Those with a nuclear translocation rate of >50% and those with a nuclear translocation rate of ≤50%. The nuclear translocation rate of >50% group had a significantly better recurrence‑free survival than the nuclear translocation rate of ≤50% group (P=0.037). Subsequent in vitro experiments were conducted; notably, the nuclear translocation rate of SRP9 was reduced under amino acid‑deficient conditions, suggesting that multiple factors are involved in this phenomenon. To further study the function of SRP9 nuclear translocation, in vitro experiments were performed by introducing SRP9 splicing variants (v1 and v2) and their deletion mutants lacking C‑terminal regions into MiaPaCa pancreatic cancer cells. The results demonstrated that both splicing variants showed nuclear translocation regardless of the C‑terminal deletions, suggesting the role of the N‑terminal regions. Given that SRP9 is an RNA‑binding protein, the study of RNA immunoprecipitation revealed that signaling pathways involved in cancer progression and protein translation were downregulated in nuclear‑translocated v1 and v2. Undoubtedly, further studies of the nuclear translocation of SRP9 will open an avenue to optimize the precise evaluation and therapeutic control of pancreatic cancer.

Construction and analysis of a reliable five-gene prognostic signature for colon adenocarcinoma associated with the wild-type allelic state of the COL6A6 gene

Background

Tumors emerge by acquiring a number of mutations over time. The first mutation provides a selective growth advantage compared to adjacent epithelial cells, allowing the cell to create a clone that can outgrow the cells that surround it. Subsequent mutations determine the risk of the tumor progressing to metastatic cancer. Some secondary mutations may inhibit the aggressiveness of the tumor while still increasing the survival of the clone. Meaningful mutations in genes may provide a strong molecular foundation for developing novel therapeutic strategies for cancer.

Methods

The somatic mutation and prognosis in colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) were analyzed. The copy number variation (CNV) and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the collagen type VI alpha 6 chain (COL6A6) mutation (COL6A6-MUT) and the COL6A6 wild-type (COL6A6-WT) subgroups were evaluated. The independent prognostic signatures based on COL6A6-allelic state were determined to construct a Cox model. The biological characteristics and the immune microenvironment between the two risk groups were compared.

Results

COL6A6 was found to be highly mutated in COAD at a frequency of 9%. Patients with COL6A6-MUT had a good overall survival (OS) compared to those with COL6A6-WT, who had a different CNV pattern. Significant differences in gene expression were established for 593 genes between the COL6A6-MUT and COL6A6-WT samples. Among them, MUC16, ASNSP1, PRR18, PEG10, and RPL26P8 were determined to be independent prognostic factors. The internally validated prognostic risk model, constructed using these five genes, demonstrated its value by revealing a significant difference in patient prognosis between the high-risk and low-risk groups. Specifically, patients in the high-risk group exhibited a considerably worse prognosis than did those in the low-risk group. The high-risk group had a significantly higher proportion of patients over 60 years of age and patients in stage III. Moreover, the tumor immune dysfunction and exclusion (TIDE) score and the expression of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) family genes were all higher in the high-risk group than that in the low-risk group.

Conclusions

The allelic state of COL6A6 and the five associated DEGs were identified as novel biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of COAD and may be therapeutic targets in COAD.

Novel DNA methylation-based epigenetic signatures in colorectal cancer from peripheral blood leukocytes

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a multifactorial disease characterized by accumulation of multiple genetic and epigenetic alterations, transforming colonic epithelial cells into adenocarcinomas. Alteration of DNA methylation (DNAm) is a promising biomarker for predicting cancer risk and prognosis, but its role in CRC tumorigenesis is inconclusive. Notably, few DNAm studies have used pre-diagnostic peripheral blood (PB) DNA, causing difficulty in postulating the underlying biologic mechanism of CRC initiation. We conducted epigenome-wide association (EWA) scans in postmenopausal women from Women's Health Initiative (WHI) with their pre-diagnostic DNAm in PB leukocytes (PBLs) to prospectively evaluate CRC development. Our site-specific DNAm analyses across the genome adjusted for DNAm-age, leukocyte heterogeneities, as well as body mass index, diabetes, and insulin resistance. We validated 20 top EWA-CpGs in 2 independent CRC tissue datasets. Also, we detected differentially methylated regions (DMRs) associated with CRC, further mapped to transcriptomic profile, and finally conducted a Gene Set Enrichment Analysis. We detected multiple novel CpGs validated across WHI and tissue datasets. In particular, 2 CpGs (B4GALNT4cg10321339, SV2Bcg18144285) had the strongest effect on CRC risk. Results from our DMR scans contained MIR663cg06007966, which was also validated in EWA analyses. Also, we detected 1 methylome region in PEG10 of Chr7 shared across datasets. Our findings reflect both novel and well-established epigenomic and transcriptomic sites in CRC, warranting further functional validations. Our study contributes to better understanding of the complex interrelated mechanisms on the methylome underlying CRC tumorigenesis and suggests novel preventive DNAm-targets in PBLs for detecting at-risk individuals for CRC development.

Abrogation of USP9X Is a Potential Strategy to Decrease PEG10 Levels and Impede Tumor Progression in Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma

Advanced-stage cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCLs) are notorious for their highly aggressive behavior, resistance to conventional treatments, and poor prognosis, particularly when large-cell transformation occurs. PEG10 has been recently proposed as a potent driver for large-cell transformation in CTCL. However, the targeting of PEG10 continues to present a formidable clinical challenge that has yet to be addressed. In this study, we report an important post-translational regulatory mechanism of PEG10 in CTCL. USP9X, a deubiquitinase, interacted with and deubiquitinated PEG10, thereby stabilizing PEG10. Knockdown of USP9X or pharmacological targeting of USP9X resulted in a prominent downregulation of PEG10 and its downstream pathway in CTCL. Moreover, USP9X inhibition conferred tumor cell growth disadvantage and enhanced apoptosis in vitro, an effect that occurred in part through its regulation on PEG10. Furthermore, we demonstrated that inhibition of USP9X obviously restrained CTCL tumor growth in vivo and that high expression of USP9X is associated with poor survival in patients with CTCL. Collectively, our findings uncover USP9X as a key post-translational regulator in the stabilization of PEG10 and suggest that targeting PEG10 stabilization through USP9X inhibition may represent a promising therapeutic strategy for advanced-stage CTCL.

Phospholipase PLCE1 Promotes Transcription and Phosphorylation of MCM7 to Drive Tumor Progression in Esophageal Cancer

Phospholipase C epsilon 1 (PLCE1) is a well-established susceptibility gene for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Identification of the underlying mechanism(s) regulated by PLCE1 could lead to a better understanding of ESCC tumorigenesis. In this study, we found that PLCE1 enhances tumor progression by regulating the replicative helicase MCM7 via two pathways. PLCE1 activated PKCα-mediated phosphorylation of E2F1, which led to the transcriptional activation of MCM7 and miR-106b-5p. The increased expression of miR-106b-5p, located in intron 13 of MCM7, suppressed autophagy and apoptosis by targeting Beclin-1 and RBL2, respectively. Moreover, MCM7 cooperated with the miR-106b-25 cluster to promote PLCE1-dependent cell-cycle progression both in vivo and in vitro. In addition, PLCE1 potentiated the phosphorylation of MCM7 at six threonine residues by the atypical kinase RIOK2, which promoted MCM complex assembly, chromatin loading, and cell-cycle progression. Inhibition of PLCE1 or RIOK2 hampered MCM7-mediated DNA replication, resulting in G1-S arrest. Furthermore, MCM7 overexpression in ESCC correlated with poor patient survival. Overall, these findings provide insights into the role of PLCE1 as an oncogenic regulator, a promising prognostic biomarker, and a potential therapeutic target in ESCC.

SIGNIFICANCE

PLCE1 promotes tumor progression in ESCC by activating PKCα-mediated phosphorylation of E2F1 to upregulate MCM7 and miR-106b-5p expression and by potentiating MCM7 phosphorylation by RIOK2.

DLGAP5 triggers proliferation and metastasis of bladder cancer by stabilizing E2F1 via USP11

Bladder cancer (BLCA) is one of the most widespread malignancies worldwide, and displays significant tumor heterogeneity. Understanding the molecular mechanisms exploitable for treating aggressive BLCA represents a crucial objective. Despite the involvement of DLGAP5 in tumors, its precise molecular role in BLCA remains unclear. BLCA tissues exhibit a substantial increase in DLGAP5 expression compared with normal bladder tissues. This heightened DLGAP5 expression positively correlated with the tumor's clinical stage and significantly affected prognosis negatively. Additionally, experiments conducted in vitro and in vivo revealed that alterations in DLGAP5 expression notably influence cell proliferation and migration. Mechanistically, the findings demonstrated that DLGAP5 was a direct binding partner of E2F1 and that DLGAP5 stabilized E2F1 by preventing the ubiquitination of E2F1 through USP11. Furthermore, as a pivotal transcription factor, E2F1 fosters the transcription of DLGAP5, establishing a positive feedback loop between DLGAP5 and E2F1 that accelerates BLCA development. In summary, this study identified DLGAP5 as an oncogene in BLCA. Our research unveils a novel oncogenic mechanism in BLCA and offers a potential target for both diagnosing and treating BLCA.

Partner of NOB1 homolog transcriptionally activated by E2F transcription factor 1 promotes the malignant progression and inhibits ferroptosis of pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is one of the deadliest malignancies. Partner of NOB1 homolog (PNO1) has been reported to be involved in tumorigenesis. However, the role of PNO1 in PC remains to be elucidated. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of PNO1 on the progression of PC and the possible mechanism related to E2F transcription factor 1 (E2F1), a transcription factor predicted by the JASPAR database to bind to the PNO1 promoter region and promoted the proliferation of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. First, PNO1 expression in PC tissues and its association with survival rate were analyzed by the Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis database. Western blot and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction were used to evaluate PNO1 expression in several PC cell lines. After PNO1 silencing, cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were measured by colony formation assay, 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine staining, wound healing, and transwell assays. Then, the lipid reactive oxygen species in PANC-1 cells was estimated by using C11-BODIPY581/591 probe. The levels of glutathione, malondialdehyde, and iron were measured. The binding between PNO1 and E2F1 was confirmed by luciferase and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays. Subsequently, E2F1 was overexpressed in PANC-1 cells with PNO1 knockdown to perform the rescue experiments. Results revealed that PNO1 was highly expressed in PC tissues and PNO1 expression was positively correlated with overall survival rate and disease-free survival rate. Significantly elevated PNO1 expression was also observed in PC cell lines. PNO1 knockdown inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of PANC-1 cells. Moreover, ferroptosis was promoted in PNO1-silenced PANC-1 cells. Results of luciferase and ChIP assays indicated that E2F1 could bind to PNO1 promoter region. Rescue experiments suggested that E2F1 overexpression reversed the impacts of PNO1 depletion on the malignant behaviors and ferroptosis in PANC-1 cells. Summing up, PNO1 transcriptionally activated by E2F1 promotes the malignant progression and inhibits the ferroptosis of PC.

Paternal Expressed Gene 10 (PEG10) is decreased in early-onset preeclampsia

BACKGROUND

Preeclampsia is a severe complication of pregnancy which is attributed to placental dysfunction. The retrotransposon, Paternal Expressed Gene 10 (PEG10) harbours critical placental functions pertaining to placental trophoblast cells. Limited evidence exists on whether PEG10 is involved in preeclampsia pathogenesis. This study characterised the expression and regulation of PEG10 in placentas from patients with early-onset preeclampsia compared to gestation-matched controls.

METHODS

PEG10 expression was measured in plasma and placentas collected from patients with early-onset preeclampsia (< 34 weeks') and gestation-matched controls using ELISA (protein) and RT-qPCR (mRNA). First-trimester human trophoblast stem cells (hTSCs) were used for in vitro studies. PEG10 expression was measured during hTSC differentiation and hTSC exposure to hypoxia (1% O₂) and inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and TNFα) using RT-qPCR. Functional studies used PEG10 siRNA to measure the effect of reduced PEG10 on canonical TGF-[Formula: see text] signalling and proliferation using luciferase and xCELLigence assays, respectively.

RESULTS

PEG10 mRNA expression was significantly reduced in placentas from patients with early-onset preeclampsia (< 34 weeks' gestation) relative to controls (p = 0.04, n = 78 vs n = 18 controls). PEG10 protein expression was also reduced in preeclamptic placentas (p = 0.03, n = 5 vs n = 5 controls, blinded assessment of immunohistochemical staining), but neither PEG10 mRNA nor protein could be detected in maternal circulation. PEG10 was most highly expressed in hTSCs, and its expression was reduced as hTSCs differentiated into syncytiotrophoblasts (p < 0.0001) and extravillous trophoblasts (p < 0.001). Trophoblast differentiation was not altered when hTSCs were treated with PEG10 siRNA (n = 5 vs n = 5 controls). PEG10 was significantly reduced in hTSCs exposed to hypoxia (p < 0.01). PEG10 was also reduced in hTSCs treated with the inflammatory cytokine TNF [Formula: see text] (p < 0.01), but not IL-6. PEG10 knocked down (siRNA) in hTSCs showed reduced activation of the canonical TGF-β signalling effector, the SMAD binding element (p < 0.05) relative to controls. PEG10 knockdown in hTSCs however was not associated with any significant alterations in proliferation.

CONCLUSIONS

Placental PEG10 is reduced in patients with early-onset preeclampsia. In vitro studies suggest that hypoxia and inflammation may contribute to PEG10 downregulation. Reduced PEG10 alters canonical TGF-[Formula: see text] signalling, and thus may be involved in trophoblast dysfunction associated with this pathway.

Metabolic reprogramming in cancer: Mechanisms and therapeutics

Cancer cells characterized by uncontrolled growth and proliferation require altered metabolic processes to maintain this characteristic. Metabolic reprogramming is a process mediated by various factors, including oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes, changes in growth factors, and tumor-host cell interactions, which help to meet the needs of cancer cell anabolism and promote tumor development. Metabolic reprogramming in tumor cells is dynamically variable, depending on the tumor type and microenvironment, and reprogramming involves multiple metabolic pathways. These metabolic pathways have complex mechanisms and involve the coordination of various signaling molecules, proteins, and enzymes, which increases the resistance of tumor cells to traditional antitumor therapies. With the development of cancer therapies, metabolic reprogramming has been recognized as a new therapeutic target for metabolic changes in tumor cells. Therefore, understanding how multiple metabolic pathways in cancer cells change can provide a reference for the development of new therapies for tumor treatment. Here, we systemically reviewed the metabolic changes and their alteration factors, together with the current tumor regulation treatments and other possible treatments that are still under investigation. Continuous efforts are needed to further explore the mechanism of cancer metabolism reprogramming and corresponding metabolic treatments.

Role of circular RNAs in retinoblastoma

Retinoblastoma (RB), the most common malignant retinal tumor among children under 3 years old, is lethal if left untreated. Early diagnosis, together with timely and effective treatment, is important to improve retinoblastoma-related outcomes. Circular RNAs (circRNAs), a new class of non-coding RNAs with the capacity to regulate cellular activities, have great potential in retinoblastoma diagnosis and treatment. Recent studies have identified circular RNAs that regulate multiple cellular processes involved in retinoblastoma, including cell viability, proliferation, apoptosis, autophagy, migration, and invasion. Six circular RNAs (circ-FAM158A, circ-DHDDS, circ-E2F3, circ-TRHDE, circ-E2F5, and circ-RNF20) promote disease progression and metastasis in retinoblastoma and function as oncogenic factors. Other circular RNAs, such as circ-TET1, circ-SHPRH, circ-MKLN1, and circ-CUL2, play tumor suppressive roles in retinoblastoma. At present, the studies on the regulatory mechanism of circular RNAs in retinoblastoma are not very clear. The purpose of this review is to summarize recent studies on the functional roles and molecular mechanisms of circular RNAs in retinoblastoma and highlight novel strategies for retinoblastoma diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment.

Folate deficiency disturbs PEG10 methylation modifications in human spina bifida

BACKGROUND

Paternally expressed gene 10 (PEG10) is believed to be a key imprinted gene involved in placenta formation. However, its role in human folate-related spina bifida (SB) remains unclear.

METHODS

The methylation status of the germline differentially methylated region (gDMR) in the PEG10/sarcoglycan epsilon (SGCE) imprinted cluster was compared between SB patients and control samples. Moreover, the influence of ectopic PEG10 expression on apoptosis was assessed to explore the underlying mechanisms related to folate deficiency-induced aberrant gDMR methylation in SB.

RESULTS

The case group exhibited a significant increase in the methylation level of the gDMR and a marked reduction in the mRNA and protein expression of PEG10 compared with the control group. A prominent negative correlation was found between the folate level in brain tissue and gDMR methylation status (r = -0.62, P = 0.001). A cell model treated with a demethylating agent showed a significant elevation of PEG10 transcription level, as well as other imprinted genes in this cluster. In addition, the inhibition of PEG10 was found to be accompanied by aberrant activation of apoptosis in SB.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that disturbed gDMR methylation of the PEG10/SGCE cluster due to folate deficiency is involved in SB through aberrant activation of apoptosis.

IMPACT

Disturbed genomic imprinting has been verified to be involved in neural tube defects (NTDs). However, little is known about the effect of ectopic expression of imprinted gene PEG10 on human NTDs. Aberrant methylation status of the germline differentially methylated region (gDMR) of PEG10/SGCE cluster due to folate deficiency has been found to result in the inhibition of PEG10 and has a marked association with an increased occurrence of spina bifida. Inhibited expression of PEG10 partly is found to be related to the abnormal activation of apoptosis in spina bifida.

Identification of a neural development gene expression signature in colon cancer stem cells reveals a role for EGR2 in tumorigenesis

Recent evidence demonstrates that colon cancer stem cells (CSCs) can generate neurons that synapse with tumor innervating fibers required for tumorigenesis and disease progression. Greater understanding of the mechanisms that regulate CSC driven tumor neurogenesis may therefore lead to more effective treatments. RNA-sequencing analyses of ALDHPositive CSCs from colon cancer patient-derived organoids (PDOs) and xenografts (PDXs) showed CSCs to be enriched for neural development genes. Functional analyses of genes differentially expressed in CSCs from PDO and PDX models demonstrated the neural crest stem cell (NCSC) regulator EGR2 to be required for tumor growth and to control expression of homebox superfamily embryonic master transcriptional regulator HOX genes and the neural stem cell and master cell fate regulator SOX2. These data support CSCs as the source of tumor neurogenesis and suggest that targeting EGR2 may provide a therapeutic differentiation strategy to eliminate CSCs and block nervous system driven disease progression.

Differential Expression of E2F Transcription Factors and Their Functional and Prognostic Roles in Human Prostate Cancer

Given the tumor heterogeneity, most of the current prognostic indicators cannot accurately evaluate the prognosis of patients with prostate cancer, and thus, the best opportunity to intervene in the progression of this disease is missed. E2F transcription factors (E2Fs) have been reported to be involved in the growth of various cancers. Accumulating studies indicate that prostate cancer (PCa) carcinogenesis is attributed to aberrant E2F expression or E2F alteration. However, the expression patterns and prognostic value of the eight E2Fs in prostate cancer have yet to be explored. In this study, The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Kaplan–Meier Plotter, Metascape, the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), CIBERSORT, and cBioPortal and bioinformatic analysis were used to investigate E2Fs in patients with PCa. Our results showed that the expression of E2F1–3, E2F5, and E2F6 was higher in prostate cancer tissues than in benign tissues. Furthermore, elevated E2F1–3 and E2F5 expression levels were associated with a higher Gleason score (GS), advanced tumor stage, and metastasis. Survival analysis suggested that high transcription levels of E2F1–3, E2F5, E2F6, and E2F8 were associated with a higher risk of biochemical recurrence. In addition, we developed a prognostic model combining E2F1, E2F6, Gleason score, and the clinical stage that may accurately predict a biochemical recurrence-free survival. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that the E2F family members and their neighboring genes were mainly enriched in cell cycle-related pathways. Somatic mutations in different subgroups were also investigated, and immune components were predicted. Further experiments are warranted to clarify the biological associations between Pca-related E2F family genes, which may influence prognosis via the cell cycle pathway.

Gag-like proteins: Novel mediators of prenatal alcohol exposure in neural development

Background

We previously showed that ethanol did not kill fetal neural stem cells (NSCs), but that their numbers nevertheless are decreased due to aberrant maturation and loss of self‐renewal. To identify mechanisms that mediate this loss of NSCs, we focused on a family of Gag‐like proteins (GLPs), derived from retroviral gene remnants within mammalian genomes. GLPs are important for fetal development, though their role in brain development is virtually unexplored. Moreover, GLPs may be transferred between cells in extracellular vesicles (EVs) and thereby transfer environmental adaptations between cells. We hypothesized that GLPs may mediate some effects of ethanol in NSCs.

Methods

Sex‐segregated male and female fetal murine cortical NSCs, cultured ex vivo as nonadherent neurospheres, were exposed to a dose range of ethanol and to mitogen‐withdrawal‐induced differentiation. We used siRNAs to assess the effects of NSC‐expressed GLP knockdown on growth, survival, and maturation and in silico GLP knockout, in an in vivo single‐cell RNA‐sequencing dataset, to identify GLP‐mediated developmental pathways that were also ethanol‐sensitive.

Results

PEG10 isoform‐1, isoform‐2, and PNMA2 were identified as dominant GLP species in both NSCs and their EVs. Ethanol‐exposed NSCs exhibited significantly elevated PEG10 isoform‐2 and PNMA2 protein during differentiation. Both PEG10 and PNMA2 were mediated apoptosis resistance and additionally, PEG10 promoted neuronal and astrocyte lineage maturation. Neither GLP influenced metabolism nor cell cycle in NSCs. Virtual PEG10 and PNMA2 knockout identified gene transcription regulation and ubiquitin‐ligation processes as candidate mediators of GLP‐linked prenatal alcohol effects.

Conclusions

Collectively, GLPs present in NSCs and their EVs may confer apoptosis resistance within the NSC niche and contribute to the abnormal maturation induced by ethanol.

Early-Stage Lung Adenocarcinoma MDM2 Genomic Amplification Predicts Clinical Outcome and Response to Targeted Therapy

Simple Summary

Invasive subtypes of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) show MDM2 amplification that is associated with poor survival. Mouse double minute 2 (MDM2) is frequently amplified in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) and is a negative regulator of p53, which binds to p53 and regulates its activity and stability. Genomic amplification and overexpression of MDM2, together with genetic alterations in p53, leads to genomic and genetic heterogeneity in LUAD that represents a therapeutic target. In vitro assays in a panel of LUAD cell lines showed that tumor cell response to MDM2-targeted therapy is associated with MDM2 amplification.

Abstract

Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related deaths in both men and women, accounting for one-quarter of total cancer-related mortality globally. Lung adenocarcinoma is the major subtype of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and accounts for around 40% of lung cancer cases. Lung adenocarcinoma is a highly heterogeneous disease and patients often display variable histopathological morphology, genetic alterations, and genomic aberrations. Recent advances in transcriptomic and genetic profiling of lung adenocarcinoma by investigators, including our group, has provided better stratification of this heterogeneous disease, which can facilitate devising better treatment strategies suitable for targeted patient cohorts. In a recent study we have shown gene expression profiling identified novel clustering of early stage LUAD patients and correlated with tumor invasiveness and patient survival. In this study, we focused on copy number alterations in LUAD patients. SNP array data identified amplification at chromosome 12q15 on MDM2 locus and protein overexpression in a subclass of LUAD patients with an invasive subtype of the disease. High copy number amplification and protein expression in this subclass correlated with poor overall survival. We hypothesized that MDM2 copy number and overexpression predict response to MDM2-targeted therapy. In vitro functional data on a panel of LUAD cells showed that MDM2-targeted therapy effectively suppresses cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in cells with MDM2 amplification/overexpression but not in cells without MDM2 amplification, independent of p53 status. To determine the key signaling mechanisms, we used RNA sequencing (RNA seq) to examine the response to therapy in MDM2-amplified/overexpressing p53 mutant and wild-type LUAD cells. RNA seq data shows that in MDM2-amplified/overexpression with p53 wild-type condition, the E2F → PEG10 → MMPs pathway is operative, while in p53 mutant genetic background, MDM2-targeted therapy abrogates tumor progression in LUAD cells by suppressing epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) signaling. Our study provides a potentially clinically relevant strategy of selecting LUAD patients for MDM2-targeted therapy that may provide for increased response rates and, thus, better survival.

Transcriptional regulator CTR9 promotes hepatocellular carcinoma progression and metastasis via increasing PEG10 transcriptional activity

Cln Three Requiring 9 (CTR9), a scaffold protein of the polymerase-associated factor-1 (PAF1) complex (PAF1c), is primarily localized in the nucleus of cells. Recent studies show that CTR9 plays essential roles in the development of various human cancers and their occurrence; however, its regulatory roles and precise mechanisms in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the roles of CTR9 using in vitro assays and a xenograft mouse model. We found that CTR9 protein is upregulated in tumor tissues from HCC patients. Knockdown of CTR9 substantially reduced HCC cell proliferation, invasion, and migration, whereas its overexpression promoted these activities. In addition, in vitro results revealed that CTR9 silencing dramatically increased cell cycle regulators, p21 and p27, but markedly decreased matrix metalloproteinases, MMP2 and MMP9, with these outcomes reversed upon CTR9 overexpression. Furthermore, the underlying molecular mechanism suggests that CTR9 promoted the oncogene paternally expressed gene 10 (PEG10) transcription via its promoter region. Finally, the oncogenic roles of CTR9 were confirmed in a xenograft mouse model. This study confirms that CTR9, an oncoprotein that promotes HCC cell proliferation, invasion, and migration, increases tumor growth in a xenograft mouse model. CTR9 could be a novel therapeutic target. Further investigation is warranted to verify CTR9 potential in novel therapies for HCC.

Circ_0075804 promotes the malignant behaviors of retinoblastoma cells by binding to miR-138-5p to induce PEG10 expression

BACKGROUND

It has been gradually recognized that circular RNAs (circRNAs) are important modulators in multiple malignancies. Here, we analyzed the function of circ_0075804 and explored its associated mechanism in regulating retinoblastoma (RB) progression.

METHODS

Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and Western blot assay were utilized to measure RNA and protein expression, respectively. Cell proliferation was analyzed by Cell counting kit-8 (CCK8) assay and 5-Ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) assay. Cell apoptosis was assessed by flow cytometry. Cell migration and invasion abilities were analyzed by wound healing assay and transwell invasion assay. Dual-luciferase reporter assay and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay were applied to verify intermolecular target relations. Xenograft tumor model was used to analyze the role of circ_0075804 in tumor growth in vivo.

RESULTS

Circ_0075804 expression was markedly up-regulated in RB tissues and cell lines. Circ_0075804 knockdown restrained the proliferation, migration and invasion whereas promoted the apoptosis of RB cells. Circ_0075804 acted as a molecular sponge for microRNA-138-5p (miR-138-5p), and circ_0075804 silencing-induced effects were partly reversed by miR-138-5p knockdown in RB cells. MiR-138-5p interacted with the 3' untranslated region (3'UTR) of paternally expressed 10 (PEG10). Circ_0075804 positively regulated PEG10 level by sponging miR-138-5p in RB cells. PEG10 overexpression largely overturned miR-138-5p overexpression-mediated effects in RB cells. Circ_0075804 knockdown blocked xenograft tumor growth in vivo.

CONCLUSION

Circ_0075804 promoted RB progression via miR-138-5p-dependent regulation of PEG10, which provided new insight in RB therapy.

Inhibition of Dishevelled-2 suppresses the biological behavior of pancreatic cancer by downregulating Wnt/β-catenin signaling

Dishevelled-2 (DVL2) has been proven to be involved in the tumorigenesis of several human cancers, such as colorectal cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer, etc. However, its role in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains unclear. The present study investigated the effects of aberrantly expressed DVL2 on PDAC. A total of 97 pancreatic cancer (PC) samples and 85 adjacent normal samples were obtained from patients who were histopathologically diagnosed with primary PDAC. The present study demonstrated that DVL2 expression was upregulated in PDAC tissues and was positively associated with advanced clinical stage and lymph node metastasis in patients with PDAC. In addition, patients with high expression of DVL2 had a shorter overall survival rate compared with those with low expression. To elucidate the role of DVL2 in PDAC, lentivirus-mediated short hairpin RNA was used to silence DVL2 and its physiological function was analyzed in CFPAC-1 and PANC-1 cells. The results indicated that DVL2 downregulation significantly impaired its oncogenic functions including cell proliferation, migration, invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Furthermore, DVL2 knockdown inhibits the proliferation and invasion of PC cells in vivo. In addition, co-immunoprecipitation assays revealed that DVL2 interacted with β-catenin; knockdown of DVL2 reduced the expression level of β-catenin and inhibited β-catenin translocation into the nucleus. In conclusion the findings of the present study suggested that DVL2 may be a potential therapeutic target in the treatment of PDAC.

Non-canonical proline-tyrosine interactions with multiple host proteins regulate Ebola virus infection

The Ebola virus VP30 protein interacts with the viral nucleoprotein and with host protein RBBP6 via PPxPxY motifs that adopt non-canonical orientations, as compared to other proline-rich motifs. An affinity tag-purification mass spectrometry approach identified additional PPxPxY-containing host proteins hnRNP L, hnRNPUL1, and PEG10, as VP30 interactors. hnRNP L and PEG10, like RBBP6, inhibit viral RNA synthesis and EBOV infection, whereas hnRNPUL1 enhances. RBBP6 and hnRNP L modulate VP30 phosphorylation, increase viral transcription, and exert additive effects on viral RNA synthesis. PEG10 has more modest inhibitory effects on EBOV replication. hnRNPUL1 positively affects viral RNA synthesis but in a VP30-independent manner. Binding studies demonstrate variable capacity of the PPxPxY motifs from these proteins to bind VP30, define PxPPPPxY as an optimal binding motif, and identify the fifth proline and the tyrosine as most critical for interaction. Competition binding and hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry studies demonstrate that each protein binds a similar interface on VP30. VP30 therefore presents a novel proline recognition domain that is targeted by multiple host proteins to modulate viral transcription.

SNHG10/DDX54/PBX3 Feedback Loop Contributes to Gastric Cancer Cell Growth

BACKGROUND

The importance of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) has been identified in human cancers, such as emerged as tumor facilitator or tumor suppressor. Small nucleolar RNA host gene 10 (SNHG10) has been reported as an oncogenic lncRNA in hepatocellular carcinoma. However, its functional role and underlying mechanism in gastric cancer (GC) need to be further explored.

AIMS

Our study was conducted to investigate the function and molecular mechanism of SNHG10 in GC.

METHODS

SNHG10 expression was detected by qRT-PCR. The effect of SNHG10 on GC cell growth was assessed by colony formation, EdU, JC-1, flow cytometry, and wound-healing assays. The interaction between SNHG10 and PBX3 was confirmed through ChIP and luciferase reporter assay. RIP and RNA pull down assays was used to define the binding of DEAD-box helicase 54 (DDX54) to SNHG10 or PBX homeobox 3 (PBX3).

RESULTS

SNHG10 was expressed at a high level in GC cells. SNHG10 knockdown resulted in the inhibition on GC cell proliferation, migration but induced cell apoptosis. PBX3 could interact with SNHG10 promoter and thereby activate the expression of SNHG10. Subsequently, it was confirmed that SNHG10 positively modulated the expression of PBX3. Based on this, we found that DDX54 could bind to SNHG10 and PBX3, suggesting that SNHG10 maintained PBX3 mRNA stability through recruiting DDX54. Restoration assays indicated that PBX3 overexpression recovered SNHG10 silencing-induced inhibition on GC cell growth.

CONCLUSIONS

SNHG10 facilitates cell growth by affecting DDX54-mediated PBX3 mRNA stability in GC.

IGF2BP1 overexpression stabilizes PEG10 mRNA in an m6A-dependent manner and promotes endometrial cancer progression

Rationale: N6-methyladenosine (m6A) mRNA methylation is the most abundant chemical posttranscriptional modification in mRNA and is involved in the regulation of a number of biological processes. Insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding protein 1 (IGF2BP1) has recently been reported as having the capacity to recognize m6A sites in mRNA and plays a role in regulating mRNA metabolization. However, it is unclear which genes IGF2BP1 targets to identify m6A sites and what are their respective functions in endometrial cancer (EC). Methods: Quantitative PCR, western blot and immunohistochemistry were used to measure IGF2BP1 expression in EC cell lines and tissues. Xenograft experiments were performed to examine the in vivo role of IGF2BP1 in EC cell growth. RNA-binding protein immunoprecipitation sequencing, methylated RNA-binding protein immunoprecipitation sequencing and RNA-sequencing were also conducted to identify potential IGF2BP1 targets involved in EC regulation. Co-immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry were used to identify IGF2BP1-interacting proteins. Results: IGF2BP1 expression increased in EC, and high expression of this protein correlated with poor prognosis. IGF2BP1 overexpression/knockdown can promote (and inhibit) cell proliferation and regulate the tumor cell cycle and cancer progression, both in vivo and in vitro. Mechanistically, IGF2BP1 can recognize m6A sites in the 3' untranslated region (3'UTR) of Paternally Expressed Gene 10 (PEG10) mRNA and recruits polyadenylate-binding protein 1 (PABPC1) to enhance PEG10 mRNA stability, which consequently promotes PEG10 protein expression. Additionally, it would appear that a large number of PEG10 proteins bind p16 and p18 gene promoter sequences, thereby repressing expression and accelerating the cell cycle. Conclusion: This investigation found that IGF2BP1 has a crucial role in the m6A-dependent regulatory mechanism for endometrial cancer. This study provides new insights into our understanding of disease progression and provides another potential route for understanding biological functions.

Differential Expression of PEG10 Contributes to Aggressive Disease in Early Versus Late-Onset Colorectal Cancer

BACKGROUND

Colorectal cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related death. Early onset colorectal cancer (age ≤45 y) is increasing and associated with advanced disease. Although distinct molecular subtypes of colorectal cancer have been characterized, it is unclear whether age-related molecular differences exist.

OBJECTIVE

We sought to identify differences in gene expression between early and late-onset (age ≥65 y) colorectal cancer.

DESIGN

We performed a review of our institution's colorectal cancer registry and identified patients with colorectal cancer with tissue specimens available for analysis. We used the Cancer Genome Atlas to initially identify differences in gene expression between early and late-onset colorectal cancer. In vitro experiments were performed on 2 colorectal cancer cell lines.

SETTINGS

The study was conducted at a tertiary medical center.

PATIENTS

Patients with early onset (n = 28) or late onset (age ≥65 y; n = 38) at time of diagnosis were included.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary outcome was differential gene expression in patients with early versus late-onset colorectal cancer. The secondary outcome was patient mortality.

RESULTS

Seven genes had increased expression in younger patients using The Cancer Genome Atlas. Only PEG10 was sufficiently expressed with quantitative polymerase chain reaction and had increased expression in our early onset group. Multivariable linear regression analysis identified age as a significant independent predictor of increased PEG10 expression. Outcomes data from The Cancer Genome Atlas suggests that PEG10 is associated with poor overall survival. In vitro studies in HCT-116 and HT-29 cell lines showed that PEG10 contributes to cellular proliferation and invasion in colorectal cancer.

LIMITATIONS

Tissue samples were from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections. Many patients did not have mutational status for review.

CONCLUSIONS

PEG10 is differentially expressed in early onset colorectal cancer and may functionally contribute to tumor cell proliferation and invasion. An increase in PEG10 expression correlates with decreased overall survival. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/B343. LA EXPRESIÓN DIFERENCIAL DE PEG10 CONTRIBUYE A LA ENFERMEDAD AGRESIVA EN EL CÁNCER COLORRECTAL DE INICIO TEMPRANO VERSUS INICIO TARDÍO: El cáncer colorrectal es una de las principales causas de muerte relacionada con el cáncer. El cáncer colorrectal de inicio temprano (edad ≤45 años) está en aumento y asociado con enfermedad avanzada. Aunque se han caracterizado distintos subtipos moleculares del cáncer colorrectal, no está claro si existen diferencias moleculares relacionadas con la edad.Se buscó identificar diferencias en la expresión génica entre el cáncer colorrectal de inicio temprano y tardío (edad ≥ 65 años).Realizamos una revisión del registro de cáncer colorrectal de nuestra institución e identificamos pacientes con cáncer colorrectal con muestras de tejido disponibles para su análisis. Utilizamos el Atlas del Genoma del Cáncer para identificar inicialmente las diferencias en la expresión génica entre el cáncer colorrectal de inicio temprano y de inicio tardío. Se realizaron experimentos in vitro en dos líneas celulares de cáncer colorrectal.El estudio se realizó en un centro médico de tercer nivel.Se incluyeron pacientes con inicio temprano (n = 28) e inicio tardío (edad ≥65 años, n = 38) al momento del diagnóstico.El resultado primario fue la expresión diferencial de genes en pacientes con cáncer colorrectal de inicio temprano versus tardío. El resultado secundario fue la mortalidad de los pacientes.Siete genes aumentaron su expresión en pacientes más jóvenes usando el Atlas del Genoma del Cáncer. Solo PEG10 se expresó suficientemente con la reacción en cadena de la polimerasa cuantitativa y tuvo una mayor expresión en nuestro grupo de inicio temprano. El análisis de regresión lineal multivariable identificó la edad como un predictor independiente significativo del aumento de la expresión de PEG10. Los datos de resultados de el Atlas del Genoma del Cáncer sugieren que PEG10 está asociado con una pobre supervivencia general. Los estudios in vitro en líneas celulares HCT-116 y HT-29 mostraron que PEG10 contribuye a la proliferación e invasión celular en el cáncer colorrectal.Las muestras de tejido fueron de portaobjetos embebidos en parafina fijados con formalina. Muchos pacientes no tenían el estado de mutación para su revisión.El PEG10 se expresa diferencialmente en el cáncer colorrectal de inicio temprano y puede contribuir funcionalmente a la proliferación e invasión de células tumorales. El aumento en la expresión de PEG10 se correlaciona con la disminución de la supervivencia general. Consulte Video Resumen en http://links.lww.com/DCR/B343.

Long Non-Coding RNA Paternally Expressed Imprinted Gene 10 (PEG10) Elevates Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma Progression by Regulating Kinesin Family Member 2A (KIF2A) via Targeting MiR-101-3p

Background

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is a common malignant tumor in the immune system with high mortality. We investigated the functional effects of long non-coding RNA paternally expressed imprinted gene 10 (PEG10) on DLBCL progression.

Material/Methods

Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to measure the level of PEG10, kinesin family member 2A (KIF2A) and microRNA-101-3p (miR-101-3p) in DLBCL tissues and cell lines. The relative protein level was detected by western blot analysis. The biological behaviors including cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion were determined by MTT assay, flow cytometry analysis, and Transwell assays, respectively. Bioinformatics analysis and dual-luciferase reporter assay were performed to evaluate the interaction among PEG10, miR-101-3p, and KIF2A.

Results

PEG10 and KIF2A level were significantly upregulated, while miR-101-3p was downregulated in DLBCL tissues and cells. PEG10 positively regulated KIF2A level in DLBCL. PEG10, or KIF2A deletion significantly inhibited the proliferative, migratory, and invasive abilities of DLBCL cells and elevated cell apoptosis in DLBCL cells. KIF2A upregulation partially reversed the effects of PEG10 downregulation on cell growth, metastasis, and apoptosis in DLBCL. Moreover, PEG10 negatively regulated miR-101-3p level and miR-101-3p upregulation exerted inhibition effects on the progression of DLBCL. Besides, miR-101-3p was a target of PEG10 and miR-101-3p could directly target KIF2A. PEG10 promoted KIF2A level by sponging miR-101-3p.

Conclusions

Our findings revealed that PEG10 played an oncogenic role in DLBCL progression, which might be a potential target for the treatment of DLBCL.

Autophagy suppression of trophoblast cells induces pregnancy loss by activating decidual NK cytotoxicity and inhibiting trophoblast invasion

BACKGROUND

The crosstalk between trophoblast cells and decidual NK cells plays an important role in the establishment and maintenance of normal pregnancy. Recent studies reported that autophagy can induce immune tolerance at the maternal fetal interface, while the mechanism remains unclear.

METHODS

Autophagy levels in the villi of normal and recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) patients were detected by transmission electron microscopy. After co-cultured with trophoblast cells pretreated with 3-MA or rapamycin, NK cells were collected and the expression of killer receptors was detected by flow cytometry (FCM). The invasiveness of trophoblasts was tested by Cell invasion assay.

RESULTS

Compared with elective pregnancy termination patients, the level of autophagy in the villi of RSA patients was significantly decreased. Inducing the autophagy level in trophoblast cells with rapamycin could significantly inhibit the cytotoxicity of NK cells in the co-culture system, and supplement of IGF-2 could rectify this effect. Meanwhile, autophagy suppression of trophoblasts reduced the level of Paternally Expressed Gene 10 (PEG10), leading to the impairment of trophoblast cell invasion. In addition, NK cells educated by autophagy-inhibited trophoblasts further decreased the proliferation and invasiveness of trophoblasts. In pregnant mice model, injection with 3-MA promoted the cytotoxicity of uterine NK cells, and increased the embryo absorption rate.

CONCLUSION

Autophagy suppression of trophoblasts increase the cytotoxicity of NK cells and damage the trophoblasts invasion possibly by targeting IGF-2 and PEG10, respectively, which ultimately leads to miscarriage. Video Abstarct.

DNA methylation and copy number variation profiling of T-cell lymphoblastic leukemia and lymphoma

Despite having common overlapping immunophenotypic and morphological features, T-cell lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) and lymphoma (T-LBL) have distinct clinical manifestations, which may represent separate diseases. We investigated and compared the epigenetic and genetic landscape of adult and pediatric T-ALL (n = 77) and T-LBL (n = 15) patient samples by high-resolution genome-wide DNA methylation and Copy Number Variation (CNV) BeadChip arrays. DNA methylation profiling identified the presence of CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP) subgroups within both pediatric and adult T-LBL and T-ALL. An epigenetic signature of 128 differentially methylated CpG sites was identified, that clustered T-LBL and T-ALL separately. The most significant differentially methylated gene loci included the SGCE/PEG10 shared promoter region, previously implicated in lymphoid malignancies. CNV analysis confirmed overlapping recurrent aberrations between T-ALL and T-LBL, including 9p21.3 (CDKN2A/CDKN2B) deletions. A significantly higher frequency of chromosome 13q14.2 deletions was identified in T-LBL samples (36% in T-LBL vs. 0% in T-ALL). This deletion, encompassing the RB1, MIR15A and MIR16-1 gene loci, has been reported as a recurrent deletion in B-cell malignancies. Our study reveals epigenetic and genetic markers that can distinguish between T-LBL and T-ALL, and deepen the understanding of the biology underlying the diverse disease localization.

Functional Study of the Retrotransposon-Derived Human PEG10 Protease

Paternally expressed gene 10 (PEG10) is a human retrotransposon-derived imprinted gene. The mRNA of PEG10 encodes two protein isoforms: the Gag-like protein (RF1_PEG10) is coded by reading frame 1, while the Gag-Pol-like polyprotein (RF1/RF2_PEG10) is coded by reading frames 1 and 2. The proteins are translated by a typical retroviral frameshift mechanism. The protease (PR) domain of RF2_PEG10 contains an -Asp-Ser-Gly- sequence, which corresponds to the consensus -Asp-Ser/Thr-Gly- active-site motif of retroviral aspartic proteases. The function of the aspartic protease domain of RF2_PEG10 remains unclear. To elucidate the function of PEG10 protease (PR_PEG10), we designed a frameshift mutant (_fsRF1/RF2_PEG10) for comparison with the RF1/RF2_PEG10 form. To study the effects of PR_PEG10 on cellular proliferation and viability, mammalian HEK293T and HaCaT cells were transfected with plasmids coding for either RF1/RF2_PEG10, the frameshift mutant (_fsRF1/RF2_PEG10), or a PR active-site (D370A) mutant _fsRF1/RF2_PEG10. Our results indicate that _fsRF1/RF2_PEG10 overexpression results in increased cellular proliferation. Remarkably, transfection with _fsRF1/RF2_PEG10 had a detrimental effect on cell viability. We hypothesize that PR_PEG10 plays an important role in the function of this retroviral remnant, mediating the proliferation of cells and possibly implicating it in the inhibition of apoptosis.

Improving Cancer Drug Discovery by Studying Cancer across the Tree of Life

Despite a considerable expenditure of time and resources and significant advances in experimental models of disease, cancer research continues to suffer from extremely low success rates in translating preclinical discoveries into clinical practice. The continued failure of cancer drug development, particularly late in the course of human testing, not only impacts patient outcomes, but also drives up the cost for those therapies that do succeed. It is clear that a paradigm shift is necessary if improvements in this process are to occur. One promising direction for increasing translational success is comparative oncology-the study of cancer across species, often involving veterinary patients that develop naturally-occurring cancers. Comparative oncology leverages the power of cross-species analyses to understand the fundamental drivers of cancer protective mechanisms, as well as factors contributing to cancer initiation and progression. Clinical trials in veterinary patients with cancer provide an opportunity to evaluate novel therapeutics in a setting that recapitulates many of the key features of human cancers, including genomic aberrations that underly tumor development, response and resistance to treatment, and the presence of comorbidities that can affect outcomes. With a concerted effort from basic scientists, human physicians and veterinarians, comparative oncology has the potential to enhance the cost-effectiveness and efficiency of pipelines for cancer drug discovery and other cancer treatments.

Prediction of relapse and prognosis by expression levels of long noncoding RNA PEG10 in glioma patients

BACKGROUND

Long noncoding RNA paternally expressed 10 (lncRNA PEG10) is highly expressed in a variety of human cancers and related to the clinical prognosis of patients. However, to date there has been no previous study evaluating the prognostic significance of lncRNA PEG10 in gliomas. In the present study, we investigated the expression levels of lncRNA PEG10 to determine the prognostic value of this oncogene in human gliomas.

METHODS

Expression levels of lncRNA PEG10 were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction in a hospital-based study cohort of 147 glioma patients and 23 cases of patients with craniocerebral trauma tissues. Associations of lncRNA PEG10 expression with clinicopathological variables and clinical outcome of glioma patients were investigated.

RESULTS

The results indicated that expression levels of lncRNA PEG10 were significantly increased in human gliomas compared to normal control brain tissues. In addition, lncRNA PEG10 expression was progressively increased from pathologic grade I to IV (P = .009) and correlated with the Karnofsky performance status (P = .018) in glioma patients. Furthermore, we also found that glioma patients with increased expression of lncRNA PEG10 had a higher risk to relapse and a statistically significant shorter overall survival (OS) than patients with reduced expression of lncRNA PEG10. In multivariate analysis, expression level of lncRNA PEG10 was found to be an independent prognostic factor for both progression-free survival and OS in glioma patients.

CONCLUSIONS

LncRNA PEG10 served as an oncogene and played crucial roles in the progression of glioma. Molecular therapy targeted on lncRNA PEG10 might bring significant benefits to the clinical outcome of malignant glioma.

Phosphorylated E2F1 is stabilized by nuclear USP11 to drive Peg10 gene expression and activate lung epithelial cells

Phosphorylation affects ubiquitination, stability, and activity of transcriptional factors, thus regulating various cellular functions. E2F transcriptional factor 1 (E2F1) regulates paternally expressed imprinted gene 10 (Peg10) expression, thereby promoting cell proliferation. However, the effect of E2F1 stability on Peg10 expression and the molecular regulation of E2F1 stability by its phosphorylation have not been well demonstrated. Here, we describe a new pathway in which phosphorylation of E2F1 by GSK3β increases E2F1 association with the deubiquitinating enzyme, ubiquitin-specific protease 11 (USP11), which removes K63-linked ubiquitin chains thereby preventing E2F1 degradation in the nuclei. Downregulation of USP11 increases E2F1 ubiquitination and reduces E2F1 stability and protein levels, thereby decreasing Peg10 mRNA levels. Physiologically, USP11 depletion suppresses cell proliferation and wound healing in lung epithelial cells, and these effects are reversed by E2F1 and PEG10 overexpression. Thus, our study reveals a new molecular model that phosphorylation promotes substrate stability through increasing its association with a deubiquitinating enzyme. The data suggest that GSK3β and USP11 act in concert to modulate E2F1 abundance and PEG10 expression in lung epithelial cells to affect cell wound healing. This study provides new therapeutic targets to lessen lung injury by improving lung epithelial cell repair and remodeling after injury.

PEG10 is associated with treatment-induced neuroendocrine prostate cancer

Neuroendocrine (NE) differentiation of advanced prostate adenocarcinoma following androgen receptor (AR) axis-directed therapy is becoming increasingly recognized. Several models of this transdifferentiation provide insight into its molecular pathogenesis and have highlighted the placental gene PEG10 for further study. Using our unique model of enzalutamide resistance (ENZR) and NE differentiation, we studied PEG10/AR interplay in enzalutamide treatment-resistant cell lines 42DENZR and 42FENZR compared to LNCaP and castration-resistant 16DCRPC cells. ENZR cell lines with positive terminal NE marker status also displayed higher baseline expression of PEG10 compared to LNCaP and 16DCRPC. Antagonism of AR activity increased PEG10 expression followed by an increase in terminal NE markers. Conversely, stimulating AR activity via androgen supplementation reversed PEG10 and NE marker expression in a time and dose-dependent manner. These results were supported by human data showing that PEG10 expression is highest in NEPC and that AR-dependent gene, PSA, is negatively correlated with PEG10 in adenocarcinoma. Further, ChIP assay confirmed binding of activated AR to the PEG10 enhancer, decreasing PEG10 expression. While PEG10 did not drive NEPC, its knockdown reduced NE markers in our cell lines. Moreover, PEG10 knockdown in vitro- and in vivo-attenuated tumor growth. Overall, these observations indicate that PEG10 is an AR-repressed gene which modulates NE markers in ENZR cells and targeting PEG10 in advanced prostate cancer with NE features is a rational and viable option.

TSG101 promotes the proliferation, migration and invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma cells by regulating the PEG10

The tumour susceptibility gene 101 (TSG101) is reported to play important roles in the development and progression of several human cancers. However, its potential roles and underlined mechanisms in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are still needed to be further clarified. In the present study, we reported that knock down of TSG101 suppressed the proliferation, migration and invasion of HCC cells, while overexpression of TSG101 facilitated them. Molecularly, the results revealed that knock down of TSG101 significantly decreased the cell cycle related regulatory factor p53 and p21. In another point, knock down of TSG101 also obviously decreased the level of metallopeptidase inhibitor TIMP1 (Tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases 1), which results in inhibition of MMP2, MMP7 and MMP9. In contrast, overexpression of TSG101 had opposite effects. The iTRAQ proteomics analysis identified that oncogenic protein PEG10 (Paternally expressed gene 10) might be a potential downstream target of TSG101. Further investigation showed that TSG101 interacted with PEG10 and protected it from proteasomal degradation thereby regulating the expression of p53, p21 and MMPs. Finally, we found that both TSG101 and PEG10 proteins are up-regulated and presented a direct correlation in HCC patients. In conclusion, these results suggest that TSG101 is up-regulated in human HCC patients, which may accelerate the proliferation, migration and invasion of HCC cells through regulating PEG10.

Genome-wide analysis of long non-coding RNAs in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma reveals their potential role in invasion and metastasis

Background

A high lymphatic metastasis rate and strong local invasive ability are the key characteristics of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) that affect patient survival, and long non‐coding RNAs (lncRNAs) may play a crucial role. We performed genome‐wide analysis of lncRNAs to identify novel biomarkers associated with local invasion and lymphatic metastasis in ESCC.

Methods

Six pairs of ESCC tumor and para‐tumor tissues were subjected to microarray analysis to identify differentially expressed lncRNAs, and 25 pairs of tissues samples were used to verify the effectiveness of screened lncRNAs using quantitative reverse transcription PCR. The correlations between verified lncRNAs and clinicopathological characteristics were analyzed to confirm specific lncRNAs associated with the local invasion and lymphatic metastasis of ESCC, and gene co‐expression analysis was used to predict potential mechanisms.

Results

Microarray analysis identified 1850 lncRNAs with significant differential expression in ESCC. Of 22 lncRNAs selected for quantitative reverse transcription PCR verification, four were significantly upregulated and one was significantly downregulated in ESCC cancer compared to para‐cancer tissues. ENST00000508406.1 was significantly associated with T, N, and tumor node metastasis stages, and NR_037652.1 was significantly associated with N stage. Moreover, 49 lncRNA‐messenger RNA pairs were significantly associated with the two dysregulated lncRNAs and possibly involved in the regulation of local invasion and lymphatic metastasis of ESCC.

Conclusion

The present genome‐wide analysis identified two novel and tumor‐specific lncRNAs for predicting ESCC local invasion and lymphatic metastasis, providing insight into the potential underlying mechanism, which warrants further investigation.

CDCA3 mediates p21-dependent proliferation by regulating E2F1 expression in colorectal cancer

Dysregulated cell cycle progression serves a crucial role in tumor development. Cell division cycle-associated 3 (CDCA3) is considered a trigger of mitotic entry; it is an important part of the S phase kinase-associated protein 1/Cullin/F-box ubiquitin ligase complex and mediates the destruction of mitosis-inhibitory kinase wee1. However, little is known about the role of CDCA3 in cancer, particularly colorectal cancer (CRC). The present study aimed to explore the biological and clinical significance of CDCA3 in CRC growth and progression. CDCA3 expression was significantly associated with tumor progression and poor survival. Overexpression of CDCA3 increased proliferation in LoVo CRC cells, whereas CDCA3 knockdown in SW480 CRC cells led to decreased proliferation, in vitro and in vivo. Further mechanistic investigations demonstrated that reduced CDCA3 expression resulted in G1/S phase transition arrest, which was attributed to a significant accumulation of p21 in SW480 cells; conversely, increased CDCA3 expression promoted G1/S phase transition through decreased p21 accumulation in LoVo cells. It was also demonstrated that CDCA3 was able to regulate the expression of transcription factor E2F1, thereby repressing p21 expression. Taken together, these results suggested that overexpression of CDCA3 may serve a crucial role in tumor malignant potential and that CDCA3 may be used as a prognostic factor and a potential therapeutic target in CRC.

PEG10 as an oncogene: expression regulatory mechanisms and role in tumor progression

Cancer is a major public health problem as one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Deciphering the molecular regulation mechanisms of tumor progression can make way for tumor diagnosis and therapy. Paternally expressed gene 10 (PEG10), located on human chromosome 7q21.3, has turned out to be an oncogene implicated in the proliferation, apoptosis and metastasis of tumors. PEG10 has been found to be positively expressed in a variety of cancers with seemingly complex expression regulation mechanisms. In this review, we focus on the most vital factors influencing PEG10 expression and recapitulate some of the currently known and potential mechanisms of PEG10 affecting tumor progression, as understanding the molecular regulatory mechanisms of tumor progression can provide potential PEG10 related diagnosis and biomarker specific targeted therapies.

Thymidine kinase 1 silencing retards proliferative activity of pancreatic cancer cell via E2F1-TK1-P21 axis

OBJECTIVES

Thymidine kinase 1 (TK1) is one of the salvage enzymes engaged in the synthesis of DNA. Although a pro-carcinogenetic role of TK1 has been reported in various types of cancers, its role in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is still unknown. The study is aimed to elaborate the function of TK1 in PDAC and the potential mechanisms in the following study.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

TK1 expression was analysed by immunohistochemistry, real-time PCR and Western blot, and its relationship with clinicopathological characteristics of PDAC patients was further investigated. To verify the function of TK1 and potential mechanism, TK1 siRNA was used to transfect PDAC cells and performed a series of assays in cell and animal models.

RESULTS

The level of TK1 expression was higher in cancerous tissues compared with matched adjacent tissues. TK1 overexpression was associated with progression of PDAC and poor prognosis. Knockdown of TK1 could suppress cell proliferation via inducing S phase arrest mediated by upregulation of P21. Further mechanism investigation suggested that transcription factor E2F-1 could directly regulate the TK1 and promote tumour proliferation.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggested that TK1 might be involved in the development and progression of PDAC by regulating cell proliferation and show that TK1 may work as a promising therapeutic target in patients with PDAC.

Prognostic value of PEG10 in Asian solid tumors: A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The involvement of paternally expressed gene 10 (PEG10) in the development of solid tumors has been demonstrated. However, the available data have not yet been fully analyzed. We conducted this meta-analysis to evaluate the correlations between PEG10 and the clinicopathological characteristics in patients with solid tumors.

METHODS

An electronic search for relevant articles was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Chinese CNKI, and Wan Fang. The relationships between PEG10 and the clinicopathological features and prognosis of patients with cancer were determined using pooled odds ratios and hazard ratios with 95% confidence interval (CI).

RESULTS

Ten studies comprising 1014 patients were included. The pooled analyses indicated the significant association of PEG10 overexpression with the risk of cancer, differentiation, lymph node metastasis and advanced TNM stage, but not with gender in cancer patients. Moreover, a high level of PEG10 expression correlated with poor prognosis and could be used as an independent prognostic biomarker for patients with solid tumors.

CONCLUSIONS

PEG10 expression is associated with advanced clinicopathological characteristics and can be used as a prognostic biomarker in patients with solid tumors.

The muscle development transcriptome landscape of ovariectomized goat

In practical production, almost all rams and about 50% of ewes are used to fatten. Researchers have proved that ewe ovariectomy could improve the productivity significantly, but the specific molecular mechanism is still unknown. In this study, five independent cDNA libraries (three and two from ovariectomized and normal ewe longissimus dorsi samples, respectively) were constructed to thoroughly explore the global transcriptome, further to reveal how the ovariectomized ewes influence muscle development by Illumina2000 sequencing technology. As a result, 205 358 transcripts and 118 264 unigenes were generated. 15 490 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) were revealed and divided into six types, and the short repeat sequence SSR (monomers, dimers, trimers) was the domain type. Single nucleotide polymorphism analysis found that the number of transition was greater than the number of transversion among the five libraries. Furthermore, 1612 differently expressed genes (DEGs) (Log2fold_change > 1 and p < 0.05) were revealed between ovariectomized and normal ewe groups, in which 903 genes were expressed commonly in the two groups, and 288 and 421 genes were uniquely expressed in normal and ovariectomized ewe groups, respectively. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis categorized all unigenes into 555 GO terms and 56 DEGs were significantly categorized into 43 GO terms (p < 0.05). KEGG enrichment analysis annotated 12 976 genes (containing 137 DEGs) to 86 pathways, among them 24 and 11 DEGs involved in development and reproduction associated pathways, respectively. To validate the reliability of the RNA-seq analysis, 22 candidate DEGs were randomly selected to perform quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The result showed that 9 and 1 genes were significantly and approximately significantly expressed in control and treatment group, respectively, and the results of RNA-seq are believable in this study. Overall, these results were helpful for elucidating the molecular mechanism of muscle development of ovariectomized animals and the application of female ovariectomy in fattening.

Profiling, clinicopathological correlation and functional validation of specific long non-coding RNAs for hepatocellular carcinoma

Background

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most prevalent and aggressive malignancies worldwide. Studies seeking to advance the overall understanding of lncRNA profiling in HCC remain rare.

Methods

The transcriptomic profiling of 12 HCC tissues and paired adjacent normal tissues was determined using high-throughput RNA sequencing. Fifty differentially expressed mRNAs (DEGs) and lncRNAs (DELs) were validated in 21 paired HCC tissues via quantitative real-time PCR. The correlation between the expression of DELs and various clinicopathological characteristics was analyzed using Student’s t-test or linear regression. Co-expression networks between DEGs and DELs were constructed through Pearson correlation co-efficient and enrichment analysis. Validation of DELs’ functions including proliferation and migration was performed via loss-of-function RNAi assays.

Results

In this study, we identified 439 DEGs and 214 DELs, respectively, in HCC. Furthermore, we revealed that multiple DELs, including NONHSAT003823, NONHSAT056213, NONHSAT015386 and especially NONHSAT122051, were remarkably correlated with tumor cell differentiation, portal vein tumor thrombosis, and serum or tissue alpha fetoprotein levels. In addition, the co-expression network analysis between DEGs and DELs showed that DELs were involved with metabolic, cell cycle, chemical carcinogenesis, and complement and coagulation cascade-related pathways. The silencing of the endogenous level of NONHSAT122051 or NONHSAT003826 could significantly attenuate the mobility of both SK-HEP-1 and SMMC-7721 HCC cells.

Conclusion

These findings not only add knowledge to the understanding of genome-wide transcriptional evaluation of HCC but also provide promising targets for the future diagnosis and treatment of HCC.