Is the voltage-gated sodium channel β3 subunit (SCN3B) a biomarker for glioma?

Recent studies suggest a need for reliable biomarkers enhancing prognosis prediction and treatment strategies in cancer. Here, we performed a data analysis bearing on the expression of SCN3B, voltage-gated sodium channel (VGSC) β3 subunit, as a possible candidate for the development of a glioma biomarker for the first time. This extends our previous review article that mentioned the potential of SCN3B as a prognostic biomarker for glioma survival, further examining its association with existing indicators and immune responses. We utilized clinical and genomic data from multiple glioma cohorts. These include the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA). We employed analytical techniques including time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, decision curves analysis (DCA), and correlation studies with immune checkpoint markers. Our findings indicate a differential SCN3B expression between glioma grades, and that this significantly correlates with patient survival, particularly in oligodendroglioma subtypes. The DCA curves suggested that the inclusion of SCN3B in the prognostic model would improve decision-making in these subtypes. Moreover, SCN3B expression positively correlated with the presence of key immune cells and negatively correlated with several immune checkpoint inhibitors. This suggests potential roles in modulating immune responses in glioma. Thus, SCN3B emerges as a promising potential prognostic biomarker for glioma, especially for oligodendroglioma. Its dual correlations with prognosis and immune regulation present a compelling case for further experimental and clinical investigations to establish its utility in enhancing glioma management strategies. These findings underscore the importance of integrating novel biomarkers with traditional prognostic models to refine treatment paradigms and improve patient outcomes.

The p53-mediated cell cycle regulation is a potential mechanism for emodin-suppressing osteosarcoma cells

Background

As the most common primary bone cancer, the therapy of osteosarcoma requires further study. An anthraquinone derivative, emodin, has been found to have anticancer potential. We proposed that emodin suppresses osteosarcoma by cell cycle regulation mediated by p53.

Methods

This study determined the effect of emodin on viability and apoptosis of 6 osteosarcoma cell lines (p53 null cells MG63, G292, and A-673; p53 mutated cells HOS and SK-PN-DW; p53 expressing cells U2OS and 2 osteoblast cell lines), then knockdown p53 in U2OS, and observed the impacts of emodin on p53, p21, cyclin proteins, and cell cycle.

Results

High dose emodin (40-160 μM) induced cell death and apoptosis of all the cell lines; medium dose emodin (20 μM) preferentially inhibited osteosarcoma cells; low dose emodin (1-10 μM) preferentially inhibited p53 expressing osteosarcoma cells. Emodin dose-dependently inhibited p53 and p21 in U2OS. Emodin at 10 μM decreased the expression of Cdk2, E2F, and Cdk1; and increased RB but had no effects on cyclin E and cyclin B. The knockdown of p53 almost eliminated all the impacts of 10 μM emodin on cell cycle proteins.

Conclusions

Emodin suppresses U2OS by p53-mediated cell cycle regulation.

LncRNA STK4 antisense RNA 1 (STK4-AS1) promoted osteosarcoma by inhibiting p53 expression

BACKGROUND

LncRNA STK4 antisense RNA 1 (STK4-AS1) has been identified as a potential biomarker associated with multiple cancers. We proposed that STK4-AS1 plays a role in the proliferation of osteosarcoma by regulating the cell cycle.

METHODS

We compared the expression of STK4-AS1, p53, and p21 in osteosarcoma vs normal samples in clinical tissues and cell lines. We determined the effect of overexpression and knockdown of STK4-AS1 in p53 expressing osteosarcoma cells U2OS, p53 muted osteosarcoma cells MG63, and osteoblast cells hFOB on p53 and p21 expression and the cell viability. For U2OS and MG63, the cell cycle was analyzed and the expression of cyclin proteins was determined. We overexpressed p53 or p21 in STK4-AS1 overexpressed cells to explore the association of STK4-AS1 and p53 in U2OS.

RESULTS

The STK4-AS1 expression was higher and p53 and p21 expression were lower in osteosarcoma tissue and cells than in their non-cancer counterparts. The expression of STK4-AS1 was negatively correlated with the expression of p53 or p21. Knockdown of STK4-AS1 in U2OS decreased the cell viability, increased cells in the G0/G1 phase, decreased cells in the S and G2/M phase, decreased expression of cyclin A and B, increased p53 and p21, and had no effect on cyclin D and cyclin E, while overexpression of STK4-AS1 did the opposes. Overexpression of p53 or p21 recovered some changes caused by STK4-AS1 overexpression in U2OS. MG63 expressed no p53 and the expression of p21, cyclin A, and cyclin B, cell viability, and cell cycle were not affected by altered STK4-AS1 levels. In hFOB cells, the expression of p53 and p21 was decreased and the cell viability was increased when STK4-AS1 was overexpressed, but they were not affected when STK4-AS1 was knocked down.

CONCLUSION

LncRNA STK4-AS1 promoted the cell cycle of osteosarcoma cells by inhibiting p53 expression.

FSCN1 has a potential indication for the prognosis and regulates the migration of HNSCC

BACKGROUND

The study of molecular markers for diagnosis and prognosis is of great clinical significance for HNSCC patients. In this study, we proposed that FSCN1 has a potential indication for prognosis and is essential for the migration of HNSCC.

METHODS

We analyzed the expression and survival association of FSCN1 in HNSCC using TCGA data. We compared the expression of FSCN1 in tumors from primary and metastasis HNSCC patients using QPCR, western blotting, and immunochemistry staining. We determined the migration velocity of multiple HNSCC cell lines using a chemotaxis migration assay. We analyzed the correlation between FSCN1 expression and HNSCC cell migration. We also test the effect of FSCN1 knockdown and overexpression on HNSCC cell migration.

RESULTS

FSCN1 was overexpressed in HNSCC than pair normal tissues and metastasis HNSCC than primary HNSCC. FSCN1 expression was associated with significantly poorer overall survival of HNSCC patients. FSCN1 was potentially associated with immune cell infiltration and migration-associated genes. FSCN1 level was correlated with the migration in HNSCC cell lines. Knockdown of FSCN1 reduced the migration and the overexpression of FSCN1 promoted the migration of HNSCC cell lines.

CONCLUSION

FSCN1 is a potential prognostic marker and a critical biomolecule for the migration of HNSCC.

Screening and Validation of a Carvacrol-Targeting Viability-Regulating Protein, SLC6A3, in Liver Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Background

Liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC) is the second leading cause of tumor-related death in the world. Carvacrol was also found to inhibit multiple cancer types. Here, we proposed that Carvacrol inhibited LIHC.

Methods

We used MTT assay to determine the inhibition of Carvacrol on LIHC cells. BATMAN-TCM was used to predict targets of Carvacrol. These targets were further screened by their survival association and expression in cancer using TCGA data. The bioinformatic screened candidates were further validated in in vitro experiments and clinical samples. Finally, docking models of the interaction of Carvacrol and target protein were conducted.

Results

Carvacrol inhibited the viability of LIHC cell lines. 40 target genes of Carvacrol were predicted, 8 of them associated with survival. 4 genes were found differentially expressed in LIHC vs. normal liver. Among these genes, the expression of SLC6A3 and SCN4A was found affected by Carvacrol in LIHC cells, but only SLC6A3 correlated with the viability inhibition of Carvacrol on LIHC cell lines. A docking model of the interaction of Carvacrol and SLC6A3 was established with a good binding affinity. SLC6A3 knockdown and expression revealed that SLC6A3 promoted the viability of LIHC cells.

Conclusion

Carvacrol inhibited the viability of LIHC cells by downregulating SLC6A3.

Polarization of rheumatoid macrophages is regulated by the CDKN2B-AS1/ MIR497/TXNIP axis

The polarization of macrophages plays a critical role in the pathophysiology of rheumatoid arthritis. The macrophages can have pro-inflammatory M1 polarization and various types of alternative anti-inflammatory M2 polarization. Our preliminary results showed that the CDKN2B-AS1/MIR497/TXNIP axis might regulate macrophages of rheumatoid arthritis patients. Therefore, we hypothesized that this axis regulated the polarization of rheumatoid macrophages. Flow cytometry was used to determine the surface polarization markers in M1 or M2 macrophages from healthy donors and rheumatoid arthritis patients. The QPCR and Western Blotting were used to compare the expression of the CDKN2B-AS1/MIR497/TXNIP axis in these macrophages. We Knocked down and overexpressed the axis in the macrophage cell line MD to test its roles in macrophage polarization. Compared to cells from healthy donors, cells from rheumatoid arthritis patients expressed higher levels of CD40 and CD80 and lower levels of CD16, CD163, CD206, and CD200R after polarization, they also expressed higher CDKN2B-AS1, lower MIR497, and higher TXNIP. In macrophages from healthy donors, there was no correlation among CDKN2B-AS1, MIR497, and TXNIP. But in macrophages from patients, there were significant correlations. The CDKN2B-AS1 knockdown, MIR497 mimics suppressed the M1 polarization but promoted the M2 polarization in MD cells, while the MIR497 knockdown and the TXNIP overexpression did the opposite. This study demonstrated that elevated CDKN2B-AS1 in macrophages promotes the M1 polarization and inhibited the M2 polarization of macrophages by the CDKN2B-AS1/ MIR497/TXNIP axis.

Lidocaine inhibited migration of NSCLCA549 cells via the CXCR4 regulation

BACKGROUND:

Lidocaine is a local anesthetic that wildly used in surgical treatment and postoperative medical care for lung cancers. We hypothesized that lidocaine at clinical plasma concentration can inhibit CXCL12/CXCR4 axis-regulated cytoskeletal remodeling thereby reduce the migration of Non-small-cell lung cancers (NSCLC) cells.

METHODS:

We determined the effect of lidocaine at clinical plasma concentration on CXCL12-induced cell viability, apoptosis, cell death, monolayer cell wound healing rate, individual cell migration indicators, expression of CXCR4, CD44, and ICAM-1, intracellular Ca2+ level, and filamentous actin level alteration of NSCLC cells A549 and CXCR4-knocked down A549 cells using CCK-8, Bcl-2 ELISA, Cell death ELISA, wound healing assay, chemotaxis assay, western blotting, QPCR, Fura-2-based intracellular Ca2+ assay, and Fluorescein Phalloidin staining respectively.

RESULTS:

Lidocaine did not affect cell viability, apoptosis, and cell death but inhibited CXCL12-induced migration, intracellular Ca2+ releasing, and filamentous actin increase. Lidocaine decreased expression of CXCR4, increased CD44, but had no effect on ICAM-1. CXCL12 induced the increase of CD44 and ICAM-1 but did not affect CD44 in the presence of lidocaine. The knockdown of CXCR4 eliminated all the effects of lidocaine. The overexpression of CXCR4 promoted migration but the migration was inhibited by lidocaine.

CONCLUSION:

Lidocaine at clinical plasma concentrations inhibited CXCL12-induced CXCR4 activation, thereby reduced the intracellular Ca2+-dependent cytoskeleton remodeling, resulting in slower migration of A549 cells.

Lidocaine Suppresses Viability and Migration of Human Breast Cancer Cells: TRPM7 as a Target for Some Breast Cancer Cell Lines

Simple Summary

The local anesthetic lidocaine suppresses some cancer cell lines but the mechanism is unclear. Melastatin-like transient receptor potential 7 (TRPM7) ion channels play a role in cancer and may be a target for lidocaine. The aim of our study is to test the hypothesis that lidocaine affects the viability and migration of breast cancer cells by regulating TRPM7. We conducted several assays to measure viability, migration, and TRPM7 function in the presence of lidocaine. Our results showed that (a) lidocaine suppresses viability and migration of six types of breast cancer cells, but with different potency; (b) TRPM7 plays a role in mediating the effects of lidocaine on viability and migration of at least four of these breast cancer cell types. Our work contributes to the understanding of the effect of lidocaine on breast cancer cells and helps guide its potential clinical application in the surgical treatment of breast tumors.

Abstract

Background: The local anesthetic lidocaine suppresses some cancer cell lines but the mechanism is unclear. The melastatin-like transient receptor potential 7 (TRPM7) ion channel is aberrantly expressed in some cancers and may play a role in the disease. Hence, we suggested that lidocaine affects the viability and migration of breast cancer cells by regulating TRPM7. Methods: We measured the effects of lidocaine on TRPM7 function in HEK293 with exogenous TRPM7 expression (HEK-M7) using whole-cell patch-clamp and fura-2AM-based quench assay. We measured the effect of lidocaine on TRPM7 function, cell viability, and migration in TRPM7 expressing human breast cancer cell lines using fura-2AM-based quench, MTT, and wound-healing assays respectively. We compared cell viability and migration of wild type HEK293 cells (WT-HEK) with HEK-M7 and wild type MDA-MB-231 (WT-231) with TRPM7 knockout MDA-MB-231 (KO-231). Results: Lidocaine (1–3 mM) inhibited the viability and migration of all of these breast cancer cell lines. Functional evidence for TRPM7 was confirmed in the MDA-MB-231, AU565, T47D, and MDA-MB-468 cell lines where lidocaine at 0.3–3 mM suppressed the TRPM7 function. Lidocaine preferentially suppressed viability and migration of HEK-M7 over WT-HEK and WT-231 over KO-231. Conclusions: Lidocaine differentially reduced the viability and migration of human breast cancer cell lines tested. TRPM7 is one of the potential targets for the effects of lidocaine on viability and migration in MDA-MB-231, AU565, T47D, and MDA-MB-468.

Carvacrol affects breast cancer cells through TRPM7 mediated cell cycle regulation

As the most prevalent cancer for females, breast cancer is also the second most popular cancer type overall. More efforts are needed to research new drugs and combination therapies for this disease. A naturally derived transient receptor potential melastatin-like 7 channel (TRPM7) inhibitor, carvacrol, was found to have anti-cancer potentials. We hypothesized that carvacrol affects breast cancer cells through TRPM7 mediated cell cycle regulation. Cell viability and apoptosis of breast cancer cell lines BT-483, BT-474, MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, and MDA-MB-453 were determined using the CCK-8 assay and ELISA respectively. TRPM7 in MDA-MB-231, MCF-7 was knocked down. Functional TRPM7 in MDA-MB-231, MCF-7, and HEK293 cells were tested with western blotting, patch-clamp, and fura-2 quench assay. The cell cycle and the regulatory proteins were determined by flow cytometry and western blotting. Results showed that carvacrol inhibited the viability of breast cancer cells with different potency. At 200 μM, MDA-MB-231 was the most sensitive, and MCF-7 was the least sensitive. At >200 μM, the apoptosis was dramatically induced. Carvacrol inhibited TRPM7 functions in MDA-MB-231, MCF-7, and HEK293. Carvacrol at 200 μM increased cells in the G1/G0 phase and decreased cells in the S and G2/M phase by regulating some cyclin proteins in MDA-MB-231. These effects were blocked by the knockdown of TRPM7. This study demonstrated that carvacrol suppresses breast cancer cells by cell cycle regulation and the TRPM7 pathway is one of the pharmacological mechanisms.

Effects of local anesthetics on cancer cells

Local anesthetics are widely used during clinical cancer surgeries. Studies have suggested that the use and the type of anesthesia affect cancer outcomes. In vivo studies and clinical data show that the use of local anesthetics is potentially beneficial for cancer treatment. However, the effect of the use of local anesthetics on the survival rate of cancer patients following surgery is controversial and, so far, little is known about the direct effects of local anesthetics on cancer cells. This work reviews and summarizes the published literature regarding the preclinical research methods and findings on the influence of local anesthetics on cancer cells. We hope that a thorough understanding of this subject will help to define optimal anesthetic regimens that lead to better outcomes for clinical cancer patients.