Tumor suppressor BLU promotes TRAIL-induced apoptosis by downregulating NF-κB signaling in nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Insights into membrane interactions and their therapeutic potential

Recent research into membrane interactions has uncovered a diverse range of therapeutic opportunities through the bioengineering of human and non-human macromolecules. Although the majority of this research is focussed on fundamental developments, emerging studies are showcasing promising new technologies to combat conditions such as cancer, Alzheimer's and inflammatory and immune-based disease, utilising the alteration of bacteriophage, adenovirus, bacterial toxins, type 6 secretion systems, annexins, mitochondrial antiviral signalling proteins and bacterial nano-syringes. To advance the field further, each of these opportunities need to be better understood, and the therapeutic models need to be further optimised. Here, we summarise the knowledge and insights into several membrane interactions and detail their current and potential uses therapeutically.

Zinc finger myeloid Nervy DEAF-1 type (ZMYND) domain containing proteins exert molecular interactions to implicate in carcinogenesis

Morphogenesis and organogenesis in the low organisms have been found to be modulated by a number of proteins, and one of such factor, deformed epidermal auto-regulatory factor-1 (DEAF-1) has been initially identified in Drosophila. The mammalian homologue of DEAF-1 and structurally related proteins have been identified, and they formed a family with over 20 members. The factors regulate gene expression through association with co-repressors, recognition of genomic marker, to exert histone modification by catalyze addition of some chemical groups to certain amino acid residues on histone and non-histone proteins, and degradation host proteins, so as to regulate cell cycle progression and execution of cell death. The formation of fused genes during chromosomal translocation, exemplified with myeloid transforming gene on chromosome 8 (MTG8)/eight-to-twenty one translocation (ETO) /ZMYND2, MTG receptor 1 (MTGR1)/ZMYND3, MTG on chromosome 16/MTGR2/ZMYND4 and BS69/ZMYND11 contributes to malignant transformation. Other anomaly like copy number variation (CNV) of BS69/ZMYND11 and promoter hyper methylation of BLU/ZMYND10 has been noted in malignancies. It has been reported that when fusing with Runt-related transcription factor 1 (RUNX1), the binding of MTG8/ZMYND2 with co-repressors is disturbed, and silencing of BLU/ZMYND10 abrogates its ability to inhibition of cell cycle and promotion of apoptotic death. Further characterization of the implication of ZMYND proteins in carcinogenesis would enhance understanding of the mechanisms of occurrence and early diagnosis of tumors, and effective antitumor efficacy.

Role of Adenoviruses in Cancer Therapy

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the world, which is the second after heart diseases. Adenoviruses (Ads) have become the promise of new therapeutic strategy for cancer treatment. The objective of this review is to discuss current advances in the applications of adenoviral vectors in cancer therapy. Adenoviral vectors can be engineered in different ways so as to change the tumor microenvironment from cold tumor to hot tumor, including; 1. by modifying Ads to deliver transgenes that codes for tumor suppressor gene (p53) and other proteins whose expression result in cell cycle arrest 2. Ads can also be modified to express tumor specific antigens, cytokines, and other immune-modulatory molecules. The other strategy to use Ads in cancer therapy is to use oncolytic adenoviruses, which directly kills tumor cells. Gendicine and Advexin are replication-defective recombinant human p53 adenoviral vectors that have been shown to be effective against several types of cancer. Gendicine was approved for treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck by the Chinese Food and Drug Administration (FDA) agency in 2003 as a first-ever gene therapy product. Oncorine and ONYX-015 are oncolytic adenoviral vectors that have been shown to be effective against some types of cancer. The Chiness FDA agency has also approved Oncorin for the treatment of head and neck cancer. Ads that were engineered to express immune-stimulatory cytokines and other immune-modulatory molecules such as TNF-α, IL-2, BiTE, CD40L, 4-1BBL, GM-CSF, and IFN have shown promising outcome in treatment of cancer. Ads can also improve therapeutic efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors and adoptive cell therapy (Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cells). In addition, different replication-deficient adenoviral vectors (Ad5-CEA, Ad5-PSA, Ad-E6E7, ChAdOx1-MVA and Ad-transduced Dendritic cells) that were tested as anticancer vaccines have been demonstrated to induce strong antitumor immune response. However, the use of adenoviral vectors in gene therapy is limited by several factors such as pre-existing immunity to adenoviral vectors and high immunogenicity of the viruses. Thus, innovative strategies must be continually developed so as to overcome the obstacles of using adenoviral vectors in gene therapy.

MicroRNA-148a Inhibits Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cell Growth via Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition and PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathways by Targeting Death Receptor-5

The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of microRNA-148a (miR-148a) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) metastasis and explore its potential mechanism in HCC cells. Expression levels of miR-148a were measured using qRT-PCR in 120 HCC tissue samples and two HCC cell lines. Migration and invasion assays were used to determine the role of miR-148a in HCC cells. Flow cytometry was used to access the effect of miR-148a on cell cycle of HCC cells. Western blot was performed to analyze the effect of miR-148a on epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways in HCC cells. Luciferase reporter assay was conducted to explore the downstream targets and biological function of miR-148a in HCC cells. The results showed that level of miR-148a was significantly downregulated in both HCC tissue and plasma samples in HCC patients. A higher level of miR-148a was positively correlated with better survival time and prognosis of HCC patients. Transfection of miR-148a inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion of HCC cell lines. Transfection of miR-148a arrested HCC cells at S phase and promoted apoptosis of HCC cells. Death receptor-5 (DR-5) was identified as a direct target of miR-148a in HCC cell lines. Western blot and qRT-PCR analyses showed that miR-148a upregulated EMT and downregulated PI3K/AKT signaling pathways in HCC cell lines. In conclusion, data in the current study indicate that miR-148a inhibits HCC cells growth via downregulation of EMT and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways by targeting death receptor. These data suggest that miR-148a may serve as a therapeutic target for HCC cancer therapy in the future.

Tumorigenic effect mediated by ROS/eicosanoids and their regulation on TP53 expression in a murine mammary gland adenocarcinoma

The aim of this study was to investigate the in vivo and in vitro effects of dietary ω-6 and ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and their derivatives on the expression of TP53 and their relationship with cellular proliferation and death in a murine mammary adenocarcinoma model. BALB/c mice were divided in three diet groups: chia oil (ChO) rich in ω-3, corn oil (CO) rich in ω-6/ω-3 and safflower oil (SO) rich in ω-6 and subcutaneously inoculated with LMM3 mammary tumor cell line. Results demonstrated that diets with higher concentration of omega-6 PUFAs induced an increment of linoleic and arachidonic acid on tumor cell membranes increasing ROS liberation, 12(S)-HHT generation, TP53, Ki67 expression and cell proliferation. However, diets enriched with high content in omega-3 PUFAs induced higher tumor cell apoptosis and tumor infiltration of CD3+ lymphocytes, lowest cell viability and proliferation. Dietary omega-3 PUFAs nutritional intervention can be used as a potential preventative strategy to inhibit the molecular signaling pathways involved in the mammary tumor growth process as the TP53.

Primary ciliary dyskinesia relative protein ZMYND10 is involved in regulating ciliary function and intraflagellar transport in Paramecium tetraurelia

Cilia are highly conserved in most eukaryotes and are regarded as an important organelle for motility and sensation in various species. Cilia are microscopic, hair-like cytoskeletal structures that protrude from the cell surface. The major focus in studies of cilia has been concentrated on the ciliary dysfunction in vertebrates that causes multisymptomatic diseases, which together are referred to as ciliopathies. To date, the understanding of ciliopathies has largely depended on the study of ciliary structure and function in different animal models. Zinc finger MYND-type containing 10 (ZMYND10) is a ciliary protein that was recently found to be mutated in patients with primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD). In Paramecium tetraurelia, we identified two ZMYND10 genes, arising from a whole-genome duplication. Using RNAi, we found that the depletion of ZMYND10 in P. tetraurelia causes severe ciliary defects, thus provoking swimming dysfunction and lethality. Moreover, we found that the absence of ZMYND10 caused the abnormal localization of the intraflagellar transport (IFT) protein IFT43 along cilia. These results suggest that ZMYND10 is involved in the regulation of ciliary function and IFT, which may contribute to the study of PCD pathogenesis.

Tumor suppressor BLU exerts growth inhibition by blocking ERK signaling and disrupting cell cycle progression through RAS pathway interference

We have previously reported that the 3p21 tumor suppressor BLU regulates cell cycle by blocking JNK/MAPK signaling. Another member of the MAPK family, extracellular signal response kinase (ERK), is induced by the RAS-RAF-MEK-ERK pathway and is targeted in anticancer therapy. The effects of BLU on tumor growth were evaluated by measuring the size of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) xenografted tumors intra-tumorally injected with BLU adenovirus 5 (BLU Ad5) and the viability of NPC cells transferred with BLU. Tumor size was correlated with downregulation of the ERK pathway by BLU. Phosphorylation of ERK and Elk reporter activities were assayed. The regulated cyclins D1 and B1 were measured by CCND1 and CCNB1 gene promoter activity by co-transfection of BLU, RAS V12G, together with BLU+RAS V12G, pCD316+RAS V12G. The cell cycle phase distribution was determined by FACS-based DNA content assay. The data showed that growth of the xenografted tumor was inhibited and viability of HONE-1 cells was reduced by recombinant BLU. BLU down-regulated ERK signaling by reducing protein substrate phosphorylation, inhibiting Elk reporter activity, and blocking promoter activities of the CCND1 gene and reduced cyclins D1 expression to arrest the cell cycle at the G1 phase. The population of G2/M cells was also remarkably decreased. HRAS V12G activated ERK and cyclin D1 and B1 promoters, and the effects were antagonized by BLU. Taken together, our results suggested that BLU inhibited ERK signaling, downregulated cyclins D1 and B1, and prevented cell cycle progression through interfering with HRAS V12G signaling to exert tumor suppression.