Acylglycerol kinase promotes ovarian cancer progression and regulates mitochondria function by interacting with ribosomal protein L39

Ribosomal Proteins as Exosomal Cargo: Random Passengers or Crucial Players in Carcinogenesis?

Many ribosomal proteins (RPs) have functions beyond their canonical role as constituents of the ribosome. They often relate to human pathologies, primarily, to carcinogenesis, and the expression of specific RPs is considerably changed in malignant cells. On the other hand, extracellular vesicles (including exosomes), which provide intercellular communication by transporting specific molecular cargo from donor to recipient cells, often contain specific sets of RPs. Thus, one can assume that oncogenic properties of RPs can be transferred from one cell to another by exosomes. Such kind transfer has been already documented with RPS3 and gastric cancer cells. However, it remains largely unclear how widespread is the above effect and to which extent it contributes to the tumor progression and metastasis. To shed light on this issue, a comparative analysis of the sets of RPs found in exosomes and of the available data on oncogenic properties of these proteins is conducted.

Ribosomal rodeo: wrangling translational machinery in gynecologic tumors

Gynecologic cancers are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality among women worldwide. Despite advancements in diagnosis and treatment, the molecular mechanisms underlying the development and progression of these cancers remain poorly understood. Recent studies have implicated translational machinery (ribosomal proteins (RPs) and translation factors (TFs)) as potential drivers of oncogenic processes in various cancer types, including gynecologic cancers. RPs are essential components of the ribosome, which is responsible for protein synthesis. In this review paper, we aim to explore the role of translational machinery in gynecologic cancers. Specifically, we will investigate the potential mechanisms by which these components contribute to the oncogenic processes in these cancers and evaluate the feasibility of targeting RPs as a potential therapeutic strategy. By doing so, we hope to provide a broader view of the molecular pathogenesis of gynecologic cancers and highlight their potential as novel therapeutic targets for the management of these challenging diseases.

RPLP2 activates TLR4 in an autocrine manner and promotes HIF-1α-induced metabolic reprogramming in hepatocellular carcinoma

Metabolic reprogramming is a major feature of cancer, and aerobic glycolysis is one of the most widely studied metabolic reprogramming processes. Acidic ribosome protein P2 (RPLP2) is associated with both tumorigenesis and endoplasmic reticulum stress. However, limited knowledge exists regarding the role of RPLP2 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression. In the present study, we observed a significant upregulation of RPLP2 in HCC tissues. Moreover, RPLP2 expression is closely correlated with patient prognosis and survival. The subsequent experimental validation demonstrated that RPLP2 exerted a regulatory effect on the expression of glycolytic enzymes and lactate production, thereby facilitating HCC cell proliferation. Mechanistically, the PI3K/AKT signalling pathway was found to play an important role in the regulation of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α)-mediated aerobic glycolysis and cell growth. RPLP2 activates TLR4 on the surface of HCC cells and the downstream PI3K/AKT pathway through autocrine signalling. This activation then facilitates the entry of HIF-1α into the nucleus, enabling it to fulfil its transcriptional function. In conclusion, our findings suggested that RPLP2 induces a metabolic shift towards aerobic glycolysis and facilitates the progression of HCC through TLR4-dependent activation of the PI3K/AKT/HIF-1α pathway. Our study revealed the novel mechanism by which the ribosomal protein RPLP2 regulates glycolysis to promote HCC progression. These findings may offer a potential therapeutic target for HCC treatment.

Decreased expression of RPL15 and RPL18 exacerbated the calcification of valve interstitial cells during aortic valve calcification

Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) is the most common valvular heart disease, with an increasing prevalence due to an aging population. The pathobiology of CAVD is a multifaceted and actively regulated process, but the detailed mechanisms have not been elucidated. The present study aims to identify the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in calcified aortic valve tissues, and to analyze the correlation between DEGs and clinical features in CAVD patients. The DEGs were screened by microarray in normal and CAVD groups (n = 2 for each group), and confirmed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction in normal (n = 12) and calcified aortic valve tissues (n = 34). A total of 1048 DEGs were identified in calcified aortic valve tissues, including 227 upregulated mRNAs and 821 downregulated mRNAs. Based on multiple bioinformatic analyses, three 60S ribosomal subunit components (RPL15, RPL18, and RPL18A), and two 40S ribosomal subunit components (RPS15 and RPS21) were identified as the top 5 hub genes in the protein-protein interaction network of DEGs. The expression of RPL15 and RPL18 was also found significantly decreased in calcified aortic valve tissues (both p < .01), and negatively correlated with the osteogenic differentiation marker OPN in CAVD patients (both p < .01). Moreover, inhibition of RPL15 or RPL18 exacerbated the calcification of valve interstitial cells under osteogenic induction conditions. The present study proved that decreased expression of RPL15 and RPL18 was closely associated with aortic valve calcification, which provided valuable clues to find therapeutic targets for CAVD.