O-GlcNAcylation homeostasis controlled by calcium influx channels regulates multiple myeloma dissemination

TRPM7 facilitates fibroblast-like synoviocyte proliferation, metastasis and inflammation through increasing IL-6 stability via the PKCα-HuR axis in rheumatoid arthritis

Transient receptor potential melastatin 7 (TRPM7) is a cation channel that plays a role in the progression of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), yet its involvement in synovial hyperplasia and inflammation has not been determined. We previously reported that TRPM7 affects the destruction of articular cartilage in RA. Herein, we further confirmed the involvement of TRPM7 in fibroblast-like synoviocyte (FLS) proliferation, metastasis and inflammation. We observed increased TRPM7 expression in FLSs derived from human RA patients. Pharmacological inhibition of TRPM7 protected primary RA-FLSs from proliferation, metastasis and inflammation. Furthermore, we found that TRPM7 contributes to RA-FLS proliferation, metastasis and inflammation by increasing the intracellular Ca2+ concentration. Mechanistically, the PKCα-HuR axis was demonstrated to respond to Ca2+ influx, leading to TRPM7-mediated RA-FLS proliferation, metastasis and inflammation. Moreover, HuR was shown to bind to IL-6 mRNA after nuclear translocation, which could be weakened by TRPM7 channel inhibition. Additionally, adeno-associated virus 9-mediated TRPM7 silencing is highly effective at alleviating synovial hyperplasia and inflammation in adjuvant-induced arthritis rats. In conclusion, our findings unveil a novel regulatory mechanism involved in the pathogenesis of RA and suggest that targeting TRPM7 might be a potential strategy for the prevention and treatment of RA.

The Role of TRPM7 in Oncogenesis

This review summarizes the current understanding of the role of transient receptor potential melastatin-subfamily member 7 (TRPM7) channels in the pathophysiology of neoplastic diseases. The TRPM family represents the largest and most diverse group in the TRP superfamily. Its subtypes are expressed in virtually all human organs playing a central role in (patho)physiological events. The TRPM7 protein (along with TRPM2 and TRPM6) is unique in that it has kinase activity in addition to the channel function. Numerous studies demonstrate the role of TRPM7 chanzyme in tumorigenesis and in other tumor hallmarks such as proliferation, migration, invasion and metastasis. Here we provide an up-to-date overview about the possible role of TRMP7 in a broad range of malignancies such as tumors of the nervous system, head and neck cancers, malignant neoplasms of the upper gastrointestinal tract, colorectal carcinoma, lung cancer, neoplasms of the urinary system, breast cancer, malignant tumors of the female reproductive organs, prostate cancer and other neoplastic pathologies. Experimental data show that the increased expression and/or function of TRPM7 are observed in most malignant tumor types. Thus, TRPM7 chanzyme may be a promising target in tumor therapy.

Novel cuproptosis-related lncRNAs can predict the prognosis of patients with multiple myeloma

Background

Cuproptosis-related long-stranded non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have several implications for the prognosis of multiple myeloma (MM). This research aimed to construct a prognostic risk model for MM patients and explore the potential signaling pathways in the risk group.

Methods

Cuproptosis-related lncRNAs were obtained from the co-expression analysis of cuproptosis-related genes and lncRNAs. Subsequently, twelve cuproptosis-related lncRNAs were selected to construct a prognostic risk model of MM patients by the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression. Then, the clinical data of these patients were randomly divided into the training group and the testing group. Next, patients were divided into the low- and high-risk groups according to the median risk score. The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was performed to clarify the prognostic differences between risk subtypes. Besides, the Cox analysis was conducted to identify whether the risk score can be used as an independent prognostic factor. In addition, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and the concordance index (C-index) curve analysis were performed to elucidate the value of risk score as a prognostic indicator. Finally, the differential risk analysis and functional enrichment analysis were carried out to identify the potential signaling pathways in the low- and high-risk groups.

Results

The results demonstrated that the overall survival (OS) of patients in the high-risk group was shorter than that in the low-risk group. There were significant differences in the expression of genes in MM patients between the high- and low-risk groups. The Gene Ontology (GO) analysis results showed that the differentially expressed risk-related genes (DERGs) were mainly concentrated on the collagen-containing extracellular matrix. According to the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis results, the DERGs may be related to the neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway, indicating that they may be involved in the progression of tumors.

Conclusions

The findings of this study suggest that cuproptosis-related lncRNAs may be effective biomarkers for predicting the prognosis of MM patients, which is anticipated to contribute to the improvement of clinical outcomes.

On the modulation of TRPM channels: Current perspectives and anticancer therapeutic implications

The transient melastatin receptor potential (TRPM) ion channel subfamily functions as cellular sensors and transducers of critical biological signal pathways by regulating ion homeostasis. Some members of TRPM have been cloned from cancerous tissues, and their abnormal expressions in various solid malignancies have been correlated with cancer cell growth, survival, or death. Recent evidence also highlights the mechanisms underlying the role of TRPMs in tumor epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), autophagy, and cancer metabolic reprogramming. These implications support TRPM channels as potential molecular targets and their modulation as an innovative therapeutic approach against cancer. Here, we discuss the general characteristics of the different TRPMs, focusing on current knowledge about the connection between TRPM channels and critical features of cancer. We also cover TRPM modulators used as pharmaceutical tools in biological trials and an indication of the only clinical trial with a TRPM modulator about cancer. To conclude, the authors describe the prospects for TRPM channels in oncology.

Inhibition of O-GlcNAcase Inhibits Hematopoietic and Leukemic Stem Cell Self-Renewal and Drives Dendritic Cell Differentiation via STAT3/5 Signaling

Myeloid differentiation blockage at immature and self-renewing stages is a common hallmark across all subtypes of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), despite their genetic heterogeneity. Metabolic state is an important regulator of hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) self-renewal and lineage-specific differentiation as well as several aggressive cancers. However, how O-GlcNAcylation, a nutrient-sensitive posttranslational modification of proteins, contributes to both normal myelopoiesis and AML pathogenesis remains largely unknown. Using small molecule inhibitors and the CRISPR/Cas9 system, we reveal for the first time that inhibition of either OGA or OGT, which subsequently caused an increase or decrease in cellular O-GlcNAcylation, inhibits the self-renewal and maintenance of CD34+ hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs) and leukemic stem/progenitor cells and drives normal and malignant myeloid differentiation. We further unveiled the distinct roles of OGA and OGT inhibition in lineage-specific differentiation. While OGT inhibition induces macrophage differentiation, OGA inhibition promotes the differentiation of both CD34+ HSPCs and AML cells into dendritic cells (DCs), in agreement with an upregulation of a multitude of genes involved in DC development and function and their ability to induce T-cell proliferation, via STAT3/5 signaling. Our novel findings provide significant basic knowledge that could be important in understanding AML pathogenesis and overcoming differentiation blockage-agnostic to the genetic background of AML. Additionally, the parallel findings in normal HSPCs may lay the groundwork for future cellular therapy as a means to improve the ex vivo differentiation of normal DCs and macrophages.

An evolutionary machine learning for multiple myeloma using Runge Kutta Optimizer from multi characteristic indexes

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a malignant plasma cell disease that is the second most prevalent hematological malignancy in high-income nations and accounts for around 1.8% of all cancers and 18% of hematologic malignancies in the United States. In this research, we try to design a machine learning framework for MM diagnosis from multi characteristic indexes using slime mould Runge Kutta Optimizer (MSRUN) and kernel extreme learning machine, which is called as MSRUN-KELM. An efficient slime mould learning operator is introduced to the initial Runge Kutta Optimizer in MSRUN, ensuring that the trade-off between intensity and diversity is satisfied. The MSRUN was evaluated using IEEE CEC2014 benchmark functions, and the statistical results indicate a significant increase in the search performance of MSRUN. In MSRUN-KELM, kernel extreme machine learning is constructed on MM from multi-characteristic indexes with MSRUN, parameter optimization, and feature selection synchronized by MSRUN. The results of MSRUN-KELM on MM are accuracy of 93.88%, a Matthews correlation coefficient of 0.922677, and sensitivities of 93.41% and 93.19%. The suggested MSRUN-KELM may be utilized to analyze MM from multi-characteristic indexes well, and it can be treated as a potential tool for MM diagnosis.

Looking into Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress: The Key to Drug-Resistance of Multiple Myeloma?

Multiple myeloma (MM) is the second most common hematologic malignancy, resulting from the clonal proliferation of malignant plasma cells within the bone marrow. Despite significant advances that have been made with novel drugs over the past two decades, MM patients often develop therapy resistance, especially to bortezomib, the first-in-class proteasome inhibitor that was approved for treatment of MM. As highly secretory monoclonal protein-producing cells, MM cells are characterized by uploaded endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS), and rely heavily on the ERS response for survival. Great efforts have been made to illustrate how MM cells adapt to therapeutic stresses through modulating the ERS response. In this review, we summarize current knowledge on the mechanisms by which ERS response pathways influence MM cell fate and response to treatment. Moreover, based on promising results obtained in preclinical studies, we discuss the prospect of applying ERS modulators to overcome drug resistance in MM.

A novel E-cadherin/SOX9 axis regulates cancer stem cells in multiple myeloma by activating Akt and MAPK pathways

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) have been identified in multiple myeloma (MM) and are widely regarded as a key driver of MM initiation and progression. E-cadherin, in addition to its established role as a marker for epithelial-mesenchymal transition, also plays critical roles in controlling the aggressive behaviors of various tumor cells. Here, we show that depletion of E-cadherin in MM cells remarkably inhibited cell proliferation and cell cycle progression, in part through the decreased prosurvival CD138 and Bcl-2 and the inactivated Akt and MAPK pathways. CSC features, including the ability of the cells to form clonogenic colonies indicative of self-renewal and side population, were greatly suppressed upon the depletion of E-cadherin and subsequent loss of SOX9 stem-cell factor. We further provide evidence that SOX9 is a downstream target of E-cadherin-mediated CSC growth and self-renewal—ectopic re-expression of SOX9 in E-cadherin-depleted cells rescued its inhibitory effects on CSC-like properties and survival signaling. Collectively, our findings unveil a novel regulatory mechanism of MM CSCs via the E-cadherin/SOX9 axis, which could be important in understanding the long-term cell survival and outgrowth that leads to relapsed/refractory MM.

Deregulated calcium signaling in blood cancer: Underlying mechanisms and therapeutic potential

Intracellular calcium signaling regulates diverse physiological and pathological processes. In solid tumors, changes to calcium channels and effectors via mutations or changes in expression affect all cancer hallmarks. Such changes often disrupt transport of calcium ions (Ca²⁺) in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) or mitochondria, impacting apoptosis. Evidence rapidly accumulates that this is similar in blood cancer. Principles of intracellular Ca²⁺ signaling are outlined in the introduction. We describe different Ca²⁺-toolkit components and summarize the unique relationship between extracellular Ca²⁺ in the endosteal niche and hematopoietic stem cells. The foundational data on Ca²⁺ homeostasis in red blood cells is discussed, with the demonstration of changes in red blood cell disorders. This leads to the role of Ca²⁺ in neoplastic erythropoiesis. Then we expand onto the neoplastic impact of deregulated plasma membrane Ca²⁺ channels, ER Ca²⁺ channels, Ca²⁺ pumps and exchangers, as well as Ca²⁺ sensor and effector proteins across all types of hematologic neoplasms. This includes an overview of genetic variants in the Ca²⁺-toolkit encoding genes in lymphoid and myeloid cancers as recorded in publically available cancer databases. The data we compiled demonstrate that multiple Ca²⁺ homeostatic mechanisms and Ca²⁺ responsive pathways are altered in hematologic cancers. Some of these alterations may have genetic basis but this requires further investigation. Most changes in the Ca²⁺-toolkit do not appear to define/associate with specific disease entities but may influence disease grade, prognosis, treatment response, and certain complications. Further elucidation of the underlying mechanisms may lead to novel treatments, with the aim to tailor drugs to different patterns of deregulation. To our knowledge this is the first review of its type in the published literature. We hope that the evidence we compiled increases awareness of the calcium signaling deregulation in hematologic neoplasms and triggers more clinical studies to help advance this field.

O-GlcNAcylation in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia and Other Blood Cancers

In the past decade, aberrant O-GlcNAcylation has emerged as a new hallmark of cancer. O-GlcNAcylation is a post-translational modification that results when the amino-sugar β-D-N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) is made in the hexosamine biosynthesis pathway (HBP) and covalently attached to serine and threonine residues in intracellular proteins by the glycosyltransferase O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT). O-GlcNAc moieties reflect the metabolic state of a cell and are removed by O-GlcNAcase (OGA). O-GlcNAcylation affects signaling pathways and protein expression by cross-talk with kinases and proteasomes and changes gene expression by altering protein interactions, localization, and complex formation. The HBP and O-GlcNAcylation are also recognized to mediate survival of cells in harsh conditions. Consequently, O-GlcNAcylation can affect many of the cellular processes that are relevant for cancer and is generally thought to promote tumor growth, disease progression, and immune escape. However, recent studies suggest a more nuanced view with O-GlcNAcylation acting as a tumor promoter or suppressor depending on the stage of disease or the genetic abnormalities, proliferative status, and state of the p53 axis in the cancer cell. Clinically relevant HBP and OGA inhibitors are already available and OGT inhibitors are in development to modulate O-GlcNAcylation as a potentially novel cancer treatment. Here recent studies that implicate O-GlcNAcylation in oncogenic properties of blood cancers are reviewed, focusing on chronic lymphocytic leukemia and effects on signal transduction and stress resistance in the cancer microenvironment. Therapeutic strategies for targeting the HBP and O-GlcNAcylation are also discussed.

Pathophysiological role of calcium channels and transporters in the multiple myeloma

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a common malignant tumor of plasma cells. Despite several treatment approaches in the past two decades, MM remains an aggressive and incurable disease in dire need of new treatment strategies. Approximately 70–80% of patients with MM have myeloma bone disease (MBD), often accompanied by pathological fractures and hypercalcemia, which seriously affect the prognosis of the patients. Calcium channels and transporters can mediate Ca²⁺ balance inside and outside of the membrane, indicating that they may be closely related to the prognosis of MM. Therefore, this review focuses on the roles of some critical calcium channels and transporters in MM prognosis, which located in the plasma membrane, endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria. The goal of this review is to facilitate the identification of new targets for the treatment and prognosis of MM.

Calcification-Based Cancer Diagnosis and Therapy

In nature, calcium deposition is a common biological process in mammals that shapes mechanical structures and creates the functions of bones and teeth, and causes calculi formation. Spontaneous tumor calcification and regional lymph node calcification in colorectal cancer, lung cancer, and glioblastoma have been proven to be benign prognostic factors in the clinic. In line with this concept, we introduce the idea and lead the compound development of artificially inducing bionic calcification around the surface of cancer cells. This process is shown to have excellent effects in the inhibition of growth and metastases of cervical, breast, and lung tumors, as well as superb performance in early-stage diagnosis. Therefore, we predict that this concept may open the door for cancer targeting calcification therapy and diagnosis and provide an outlook for a new avenue in anticancer drug development.