1
|
Lu Z, Yang D, Qin S, Mo C, Zhang L, Ou Y, Li S. Testis-specific protein Y-encoded 1 regulates androgen receptor expression through the MAPK/ERK pathway in male hepatocellular carcinoma. Saudi Med J 2022; 43:1087-1095. [PMID: 36261201 PMCID: PMC9994500 DOI: 10.15537/smj.2022.43.10.20220455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To analyze the mechanism of testis-specific protein Y-encoded 1 (TSPY1) in male hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS This experimental study was carried out at Guangxi Medical University's First Affiliated Hospital, Guangxi, China, between January 2016 and December 2019. The expression of TSPY1, androgen receptor (AR), messenger ribonucleic acids (mRNAs), and proteins were detected by qRT-PCR and Western blotting. The co-localization and interaction of TSPY1 and AR were observed by immunofluorescence assay and co-immunoprecipitation. Hepatocellular carcinoma cells overexpressing and silencing TSPY1 were constructed, and the expression and phosphorylation levels of TSPY1, AR, and mitogen-activated protein kinases/extracellular signal-regulated kinases (MAPK/ERK) signaling pathway-related key molecules ERK1/2, p38, and JNK were also detected. RESULTS The expression levels of TSPY1, AR mRNAs, and proteins were highly positively correlated in HCC cells in different metastatic potentials with a high correlation coefficient of R=0.929 and R=0.884. Testis-specific protein Y-encoded 1 and AR were then co-localized in the nucleus of HCC cells, and TSPY1 and AR can interact with each other. In addition, the expression of AR and phosphorylation of ERK1/2 were enhanced in TSPY1 overexpressed Huh7 cells. They were reduced in HCCLM3 cells with TSPY1 knockdown expression. In addition, in response to blocking MAPK/ERK signaling activity, AR was reduced in expression. CONCLUSION These findings suggested that there was a positive correlation between TSPY1 expression and AR in male HCC cells, and high TSPY1 expression stimulates AR expression, MAPK/ERK signaling pathway may be involved in its mechanism.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhaolu Lu
- From the Department of Clinical Laboratory, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Guangxi, China.
| | - Dongmei Yang
- From the Department of Clinical Laboratory, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Guangxi, China.
| | - Shanzi Qin
- From the Department of Clinical Laboratory, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Guangxi, China.
| | - Cuiju Mo
- From the Department of Clinical Laboratory, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Guangxi, China.
| | - Linyan Zhang
- From the Department of Clinical Laboratory, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Guangxi, China.
| | - Yingying Ou
- From the Department of Clinical Laboratory, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Guangxi, China.
| | - Shan Li
- From the Department of Clinical Laboratory, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Guangxi, China.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Heydari R, Jangravi Z, Maleknia S, Seresht-Ahmadi M, Bahari Z, Salekdeh GH, Meyfour A. Y chromosome is moving out of sex determination shadow. Cell Biosci 2022; 12:4. [PMID: 34983649 PMCID: PMC8724748 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-021-00741-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Although sex hormones play a key role in sex differences in susceptibility, severity, outcomes, and response to therapy of different diseases, sex chromosomes are also increasingly recognized as an important factor. Studies demonstrated that the Y chromosome is not a ‘genetic wasteland’ and can be a useful genetic marker for interpreting various male-specific physiological and pathophysiological characteristics. Y chromosome harbors male‑specific genes, which either solely or in cooperation with their X-counterpart, and independent or in conjunction with sex hormones have a considerable impact on basic physiology and disease mechanisms in most or all tissues development. Furthermore, loss of Y chromosome and/or aberrant expression of Y chromosome genes cause sex differences in disease mechanisms. With the launch of the human proteome project (HPP), the association of Y chromosome proteins with pathological conditions has been increasingly explored. In this review, the involvement of Y chromosome genes in male-specific diseases such as prostate cancer and the cases that are more prevalent in men, such as cardiovascular disease, neurological disease, and cancers, has been highlighted. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying Y chromosome-related diseases can have a significant impact on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Raheleh Heydari
- Basic and Molecular Epidemiology of Gastrointestinal Disorders Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zohreh Jangravi
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Samaneh Maleknia
- Basic and Molecular Epidemiology of Gastrointestinal Disorders Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mehrshad Seresht-Ahmadi
- Department of Basic Science and Advanced Technologies in Biology, University of Science and Culture, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zahra Bahari
- Department of Physiology and Medical Physics, Faculty of Medicine, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Anna Meyfour
- Basic and Molecular Epidemiology of Gastrointestinal Disorders Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. .,Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Leng X, Liu M, Tao D, Yang B, Zhang Y, He T, Xie S, Wang Z, Liu Y, Yang Y. Epigenetic modification-dependent androgen receptor occupancy facilitates the ectopic TSPY1 expression in prostate cancer cells. Cancer Sci 2020; 112:691-702. [PMID: 33185915 PMCID: PMC7894013 DOI: 10.1111/cas.14731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2020] [Revised: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 11/07/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Testis‐specific protein Y‐encoded 1 (TSPY1), a Y chromosome‐linked oncogene, is frequently activated in prostate cancers (PCa) and its expression is correlated with the poor prognosis of PCa. However, the cause of the ectopic transcription of TSPY1 in PCa remains unclear. Here, we observed that the methylation status in the CpG islands (CGI) of the TSPY1 promoter was negatively correlated with its expression level in different human samples. The acetyl‐histone H4 and trimethylated histone H3‐lysine 4, two post–translational modifications of histones occupying the TSPY1 promoter, facilitated the TSPY1 expression in PCa cells. In addition, we found that androgen accelerated the TSPY1 transcription on the condition of hypomethylated of TSPY1‐CGI and promoted PCa cell proliferation. Moreover, the binding of androgen receptor (AR) to the TSPY1 promoter, enhancing TSPY1 transcription, was detected in PCa cells. Taken together, our findings identified the regulation of DNA methylation, acting as a primary mechanism, on TSPY1 expression in PCa, and revealed that TSPY1 is an androgen‐AR axis‐regulated oncogene, suggesting a novel and potential target for PCa therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiangyou Leng
- Department of Medical Genetics, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Mohan Liu
- Department of Medical Genetics, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Dachang Tao
- Department of Medical Genetics, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Bo Yang
- Department of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yangwei Zhang
- Department of Medical Genetics, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Tianrong He
- Department of Medical Genetics, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Shengyu Xie
- Department of Medical Genetics, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Zhaokun Wang
- Department of Medical Genetics, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yunqiang Liu
- Department of Medical Genetics, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yuan Yang
- Department of Medical Genetics, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Kido T, Tabatabai ZL, Chen X, Lau YFC. Potential dual functional roles of the Y-linked RBMY in hepatocarcinogenesis. Cancer Sci 2020; 111:2987-2999. [PMID: 32473614 PMCID: PMC7419034 DOI: 10.1111/cas.14506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2020] [Revised: 05/20/2020] [Accepted: 05/22/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly heterogeneous liver cancer with significant male biases in incidence, disease progression, and outcomes. Previous studies have suggested that genes on the Y chromosome could be expressed and exert various male‐specific functions in the oncogenic processes. In particular, the RNA‐binding motif on the Y chromosome (RBMY) gene is frequently activated in HCC and postulated to promote hepatic oncogenesis in patients and animal models. In the present study, immunohistochemical analyses of HCC specimens and data mining of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database revealed that high‐level RBMY expression is associated with poor prognosis and survival of the patients, suggesting that RBMY could possess oncogenic properties in HCC. To examine the immediate effect(s) of the RBMY overexpression in liver cancer cells, cell proliferation was analyzed on HuH‐7 and HepG2 cells. The results unexpectedly showed that RBMY overexpression inhibited cell proliferation in both cell lines as its immediate effect, which led to vast cell death in HuH‐7 cells. Transcriptome analysis showed that genes involved in various cell proliferative pathways, such as the RAS/RAF/MAP and PIP3/AKT signaling pathways, were downregulated by RBMY overexpression in HuH‐7 cells. Furthermore, in vivo analyses in a mouse liver cancer model using hydrodynamic tail vein injection of constitutively active AKT and RAS oncogenes showed that RBMY abolished HCC development. These findings support the notion that Y‐linked RBMY could serve dual tumor‐suppressing and tumor‐promoting functions, depending on the spatiotemporal and magnitude of its expression during oncogenic processes, thereby contributing to sexual dimorphisms in liver cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tatsuo Kido
- Division of Cell and Developmental Genetics, Department of Medicine, San Francisco VA Health Care System, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Institute for Human Genetics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Z Laura Tabatabai
- Department of Pathology, San Francisco VA Health Care System, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Xin Chen
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Liver Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Yun-Fai Chris Lau
- Division of Cell and Developmental Genetics, Department of Medicine, San Francisco VA Health Care System, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Institute for Human Genetics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Liver Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Lau YFC, Li Y, Kido T. Battle of the sexes: contrasting roles of testis-specific protein Y-encoded (TSPY) and TSPX in human oncogenesis. Asian J Androl 2019; 21:260-269. [PMID: 29974883 PMCID: PMC6498724 DOI: 10.4103/aja.aja_43_18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2018] [Accepted: 04/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The Y-located testis-specific protein Y-encoded (TSPY) and its X-homologue TSPX originated from the same ancestral gene, but act as a proto-oncogene and a tumor suppressor gene, respectively. TSPY has specialized in male-specific functions, while TSPX has assumed the functions of the ancestral gene. Both TSPY and TSPX harbor a conserved SET/NAP domain, but are divergent at flanking structures. Specifically, TSPX contains a C-terminal acidic domain, absent in TSPY. They possess contrasting properties, in which TSPY and TSPX, respectively, accelerate and arrest cell proliferation, stimulate and inhibit cyclin B-CDK1 phosphorylation activities, have no effect and promote proteosomal degradation of the viral HBx oncoprotein, and exacerbate and repress androgen receptor (AR) and constitutively active AR variant, such as AR-V7, gene transactivation. The inhibitory domain has been mapped to the carboxyl acidic domain in TSPX, truncation of which results in an abbreviated TSPX exerting positive actions as TSPY. Transposition of the acidic domain to the C-terminus of TSPY results in an inhibitory protein as intact TSPX. Hence, genomic mutations/aberrant splicing events could generate TSPX proteins with truncated acidic domain and oncogenic properties as those for TSPY. Further, TSPY is upregulated by AR and AR-V7 in ligand-dependent and ligand-independent manners, respectively, suggesting the existence of a positive feedback loop between a Y-located proto-oncogene and male sex hormone/receptors, thereby amplifying the respective male oncogenic actions in human cancers and diseases. TSPX counteracts such positive feedback loop. Hence, TSPY and TSPX are homologues on the sex chromosomes that function at the two extremes of the human oncogenic spectrum.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yun-Fai Chris Lau
- Division of Cell and Developmental Genetics, Department of Medicine, VA Medical Center and Institute for Human Genetics, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94121, USA
| | - Yunmin Li
- Division of Cell and Developmental Genetics, Department of Medicine, VA Medical Center and Institute for Human Genetics, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94121, USA
| | - Tatsuo Kido
- Division of Cell and Developmental Genetics, Department of Medicine, VA Medical Center and Institute for Human Genetics, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94121, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Li Y, Xu A, Jia S, Huang J. Recent advances in the molecular mechanism of sex disparity in hepatocellular carcinoma. Oncol Lett 2019; 17:4222-4228. [PMID: 30988804 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2019.10127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2018] [Accepted: 01/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is more frequently observed and aggressive in men compared with women. Increasing evidence demonstrates that the sex disparity appears to be mediated by the stimulatory effects of androgens and the protective effects of estrogen in the development and progression of HCC. In the past few decades, studies on the sex difference of HCC mainly focused on the effect of sex hormones on the transactivation of hepatitis B virus X protein and the release of inflammatory cytokines, and these studies have further intensified in recent years. Sex hormones are also involved in genetic alterations and DNA damage repair in hepatocytes through binding to their specific cellular receptors and affecting the corresponding signaling pathways. Furthermore, the theory of sex chromosomes participating in HCC has been considered. The present review discussed the recent advances in the molecular mechanisms of sex disparity in HCC, with the aim of improving the understanding of the underlying critical factors and exploring more effective methods for the prevention and treatment of HCC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yanmeng Li
- Experimental Center, Liver Research Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, P.R. China.,National Clinical Research Center for Digestive Disease, Beijing 100050, P.R. China
| | - Anjian Xu
- Experimental Center, Liver Research Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, P.R. China.,National Clinical Research Center for Digestive Disease, Beijing 100050, P.R. China
| | - Siyu Jia
- Experimental Center, Liver Research Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, P.R. China.,National Clinical Research Center for Digestive Disease, Beijing 100050, P.R. China
| | - Jian Huang
- Experimental Center, Liver Research Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, P.R. China.,National Clinical Research Center for Digestive Disease, Beijing 100050, P.R. China
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Sexual dimorphism in hepatitis B and C and hepatocellular carcinoma. Semin Immunopathol 2018; 41:203-211. [PMID: 30498927 DOI: 10.1007/s00281-018-0727-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2018] [Accepted: 11/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The incidence of viral hepatitis B or C (HBV/HCV) infection and hepatocellular carcinoma is higher in male compared to female populations, showing a faster disease progression and results in a worse overall survival. Indeed, women are in general better protected from viral infections and show a lower risk of death from malignant cancer in comparison to men. Females mount stronger innate and adaptive immune responses than males, and therefore, most of the autoimmune diseases occur predominantly in females. Next to occupational and/or behavioral factors, cellular and molecular differences between the two sexes contribute to this observation. In this review, we will discuss underlying mechanisms that are important for the observed sex-related differences in liver diseases. A better appreciation of these differences between the two sexes might be of value for better and gender-specific treatment options.
Collapse
|
8
|
Abstract
The incidence of many types of cancer arising in organs with non-reproductive functions is significantly higher in male populations than in female populations, with associated differences in survival. Occupational and/or behavioural factors are well-known underlying determinants. However, cellular and molecular differences between the two sexes are also likely to be important. In this Opinion article, we focus on the complex interplay that sex hormones and sex chromosomes can have in intrinsic control of cancer-initiating cell populations, the tumour microenvironment and systemic determinants of cancer development, such as the immune system and metabolism. A better appreciation of these differences between the two sexes could be of substantial value for cancer prevention as well as treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Clocchiatti
- Cutaneous Biology Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts 02129, USA
| | - Elisa Cora
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Lausanne, Epalinges, CH-1066, Switzerland
| | - Yosra Zhang
- Cutaneous Biology Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts 02129, USA; and the Department of Biochemistry, University of Lausanne, Epalinges, CH-1066, Switzerland
| | - G Paolo Dotto
- Cutaneous Biology Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts 02129, USA; and the Department of Biochemistry, University of Lausanne, Epalinges, CH-1066, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Robert C, Watson M. Errors in RNA-Seq quantification affect genes of relevance to human disease. Genome Biol 2015; 16:177. [PMID: 26335491 PMCID: PMC4558956 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-015-0734-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 114] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2015] [Accepted: 07/30/2015] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background RNA-Seq has emerged as the standard for measuring gene expression and is an important technique often used in studies of human disease. Gene expression quantification involves comparison of the sequenced reads to a known genomic or transcriptomic reference. The accuracy of that quantification relies on there being enough unique information in the reads to enable bioinformatics tools to accurately assign the reads to the correct gene. Results We apply 12 common methods to estimate gene expression from RNA-Seq data and show that there are hundreds of genes whose expression is underestimated by one or more of those methods. Many of these genes have been implicated in human disease, and we describe their roles. We go on to propose a two-stage analysis of RNA-Seq data in which multi-mapped or ambiguous reads can instead be uniquely assigned to groups of genes. We apply this method to a recently published mouse cancer study, and demonstrate that we can extract relevant biological signal from data that would otherwise have been discarded. Conclusions For hundreds of genes in the human genome, RNA-Seq is unable to measure expression accurately. These genes are enriched for gene families, and many of them have been implicated in human disease. We show that it is possible to use data that may otherwise have been discarded to measure group-level expression, and that such data contains biologically relevant information. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13059-015-0734-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christelle Robert
- The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary studies, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, EH25 9RG, UK.
| | - Mick Watson
- Edinburgh Genomics, The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, EH25 9RG, UK.
| |
Collapse
|