Myeloid ecotropic viral integration site 1 inhibits cell proliferation, invasion or migration in human gastric cancer

Novel milestones for early esophageal carcinoma: From bench to bed

Esophageal cancer (EC) is the seventh most common cancer worldwide, and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) accounts for the majority of cases of EC. To effectively diagnose and treat ESCC and improve patient prognosis, timely diagnosis in the initial phase of the illness is necessary. This article offers a detailed summary of the latest advancements and emerging technologies in the timely identification of ECs. Molecular biology and epigenetics approaches involve the use of molecular mechanisms combined with fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), high-throughput sequencing technology (next-generation sequencing), and digital PCR technology to study endogenous or exogenous biomolecular changes in the human body and provide a decision-making basis for the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of diseases. The investigation of the microbiome is a swiftly progressing area in human cancer research, and microorganisms with complex functions are potential components of the tumor microenvironment. The intratumoral microbiota was also found to be connected to tumor progression. The application of endoscopy as a crucial technique for the early identification of ESCC has been essential, and with ongoing advancements in technology, endoscopy has continuously improved. With the advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) technology, the utilization of AI in the detection of gastrointestinal tumors has become increasingly prevalent. The implementation of AI can effectively resolve the discrepancies among observers, improve the detection rate, assist in predicting the depth of invasion and differentiation status, guide the pericancerous margins, and aid in a more accurate diagnosis of ESCC.

Newly developed MEIS inhibitor selectively blocks MEIS High prostate cancer growth and induces apoptosis

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most diagnosed cancer in males. Understanding the molecular mechanism and investigation of novel ways to block PCa growth or metastasis are vital and a medical necessity. In this study, we examined differential expression of MEIS1/2/3 and its associated factors in PCa cell lines. MEIS1/2/3 content, reactive oxygen species, and cell cycle status were analyzed in PCa cells post MEIS inhibitor (MEISi) treatments, which is developed in our laboratory as a first-in-class small molecule inhibitor. A correlation was detected between MEIS content and MEISi IC50 values of PCa cells. MEISi decreased the viability of PC-3, DU145, 22Rv-1 and LNCaP cells, and significantly increased apoptosis in parallel with the increased cellular ROS content. The efficacy of MEISi was shown to positively correlate with the levels of MEIS1/2/3 proteins and the long term exposure to MEISi elevated MEIS1/2/3 protein content in PCa cells. Our findings suggest that MEISi could be used to target PCa with high MEIS expression in order to reduce PCa viability and growth; however, more research is needed before this can be translated into clinical settings.

A Systematic Pan-Cancer Analysis of MEIS1 in Human Tumors as Prognostic Biomarker and Immunotherapy Target

BACKGROUND

We intended to explore the potential immunological functions and prognostic value of Myeloid Ecotropic Viral Integration Site 1 (MEIS1) across 33 cancer types.

METHODS

The data were acquired from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) and Gene expression omnibus (GEO) datasets. Bioinformatics was used to excavate the potential mechanisms of MEIS1 across different cancers.

RESULTS

MEIS1 was downregulated in most tumors, and it was linked to the immune infiltration level of cancer patients. MEIS1 expression was different in various immune subtypes including C2 (IFN-gamma dominant), C5 (immunologically quiet), C3 (inflammatory), C4 (lymphocyte depleted), C6 (TGF-b dominant) and C1 (wound healing) in various cancers. MEIS1 expression was correlated with Macrophages_M2, CD8+T cells, Macrophages_M1, Macrophages_M0 and neutrophils in many cancers. MEIS1 expression was negatively related to tumor mutational burden (TMB), microsatellite instability (MSI) and neoantigen (NEO) in several cancers. Low MEIS1 expression predicts poor overall survival (OS) in adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC), head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSC), and kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC) patients, while high MEIS1 expression predicts poor OS in colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) and low grade glioma (LGG) patients.

CONCLUSION

Our findings revealed that MEIS1 is likely to be a potential new target for immuno-oncology.

SALL4 Oncogenic Function in Cancers: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Relevance

SALL4, a member of the SALL family, is an embryonic stem cell regulator involved in self-renewal and pluripotency. Recently, SALL4 overexpression was found in malignant cancers, including lung cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, breast cancer, gastric cancer, colorectal cancer, osteosarcoma, acute myeloid leukemia, ovarian cancer, and glioma. This review updates recent advances of our knowledge of the biology of SALL4 with a focus on its mechanisms and regulatory functions in tumors and human hematopoiesis. SALL4 overexpression promotes proliferation, development, invasion, and migration in cancers through activation of the Wnt/β-catenin, PI3K/AKT, and Notch signaling pathways; expression of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation genes; and inhibition of the expression of the Bcl-2 family, caspase-related proteins, and death receptors. Additionally, SALL4 regulates tumor progression correlated with the immune microenvironment involved in the TNF family and gene expression through epigenetic mechanisms, consequently affecting hematopoiesis. Therefore, SALL4 plays a critical oncogenic role in gene transcription and tumor growth. However, there are still some scientific hypotheses to be tested regarding whether SALL4 is a therapeutic target, such as different tumor microenvironments and drug resistance. Thus, an in-depth understanding and study of the functions and mechanisms of SALL4 in cancer may help develop novel strategies for cancer therapy.

MEIS1 and its potential as a cancer therapeutic target (Review)

Meis homeobox 1 (Meis1) was initially discovered in 1995 as a factor involved in leukemia in an animal model. Subsequently, 2 years later, MEIS1, the human homolog, was cloned in the liver and cerebellum, and was found to be highly expressed in myeloid leukemia cells. The MEIS1 gene, located on chromosome 2p14, encodes a 390-amino acid protein with six domains. The expression of homeobox protein MEIS1 is affected by cell type, age and environmental conditions, as well as the pathological state. Certain types of modifications of MEIS1 and its protein interaction with homeobox or pre-B-cell leukemia homeobox proteins have been described. As a transcription factor, MEIS1 protein is involved in cell proliferation in leukemia and some solid tumors. The present review article discusses the molecular biology, modifications, protein-protein interactions, as well as the role of MEIS1 in cell proliferation of cancer cells and MEIS1 inhibitors. It is suggested by the available literature MEIS1 has potential to become a cancer therapeutic target.

Oncogenic and tumor suppressor function of MEIS and associated factors

MEIS proteins are historically associated with tumorigenesis, metastasis, and invasion in cancer. MEIS and associated PBX-HOX proteins may act as tumor suppressors or oncogenes in different cellular settings. Their expressions tend to be misregulated in various cancers. Bioinformatic analyses have suggested their upregulation in leukemia/lymphoma, thymoma, pancreas, glioma, and glioblastoma, and downregulation in cervical, uterine, rectum, and colon cancers. However, every cancer type includes, at least, a subtype with high MEIS expression. In addition, studies have highlighted that MEIS proteins and associated factors may function as diagnostic or therapeutic biomarkers for various diseases. Herein, MEIS proteins and associated factors in tumorigenesis are discussed with recent discoveries in addition to how they could be modulated by noncoding RNAs or newly developed small-molecule MEIS inhibitors.

The emerging role of MEIS1 in cell proliferation and differentiation

Cell proliferation and differentiation are the foundation of reproduction and growth. Mistakes in these processes may affect cell survival, or cause cell cycle dysregulation, such as tumorigenesis, birth defects and degenerative diseases, or cell death. Myeloid ecotropic viral integration site 1 (MEIS1) was initially discovered in leukemic mice. Recent research identified MEIS1 as an important transcription factor that regulates cell proliferation and differentiation during cell fate commitment. MEIS1 has a pro-proliferative effect in leukemia cells; however, its overexpression in cardiomyocytes restrains neonatal and adult cardiomyocyte proliferation. In addition, MEIS1 has carcinogenic or tumor suppressive effects in different neoplasms. Thus, this uncertainty suggests that MEIS1 has a unique function in cell proliferation and differentiation. In this review, we summarize the primary findings of MEIS1 in regulating cell proliferation and differentiation. Correlations between MEIS1 and cell fate specification might suggest MEIS1 as a therapeutic target for diseases.

MEIS-mediated suppression of human prostate cancer growth and metastasis through HOXB13-dependent regulation of proteoglycans

The molecular roles of HOX transcriptional activity in human prostate epithelial cells remain unclear, impeding the implementation of new treatment strategies for cancer prevention and therapy. MEIS proteins are transcription factors that bind and direct HOX protein activity. MEIS proteins are putative tumor suppressors that are frequently silenced in aggressive forms of prostate cancer. Here we show that MEIS1 expression is sufficient to decrease proliferation and metastasis of prostate cancer cells in vitro and in vivo murine xenograft models. HOXB13 deletion demonstrates that the tumor-suppressive activity of MEIS1 is dependent on HOXB13. Integration of ChIP-seq and RNA-seq data revealed direct and HOXB13-dependent regulation of proteoglycans including decorin (DCN) as a mechanism of MEIS1-driven tumor suppression. These results define and underscore the importance of MEIS1-HOXB13 transcriptional regulation in suppressing prostate cancer progression and provide a mechanistic framework for the investigation of HOXB13 mutants and oncogenic cofactors when MEIS1/2 are silenced.

MEIS1 regulated proliferation and migration of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells in hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension

AIM

Proliferation and migration of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) are regarded as the primary factors resulting in pulmonary arterial remodeling in pulmonary hypertension (PH). Myeloid ecotropic viral integration site 1 (MEIS1) has been positioned as a negative cardiomyocyte cell cycle regulator and regulates proliferation of multiple kinds of cancer cells. Whether MESI1 is involved in the proliferation and migration of PASMCs deserves to be identified.

MAIN METHODS

Sprague Dawley rats were exposed to hypoxia condition (10% O₂) for 4 weeks to induce PH and primary rat PASMCs were cultured in hypoxia condition (3% O₂) for 48 h to induce proliferation and migration. Immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, reverse transcription PCR and Western blot analysis were performed to detect the expressions of target mRNAs and proteins. EDU, CCK8 and wound healing assays were conducted to measure the proliferation and migration of PASMCs.

KEY FINDINGS

Hypoxia down-regulated the expression of MEIS1 (both mRNA and protein) in pulmonary arteries and PASMCs. Over-expression of MEIS1 inhibited the proliferation and migration of PASMCs afforded by hypoxia. In contrast, knockdown of MEIS1 under normoxia condition like hypoxia induced the proliferation and migration of PASMCs. MEIS1 mediated hypoxia-induced the proliferation and migration of PASMCs via METTL14/MEIS1/p21 signaling.

SIGNIFICANCE

The present study revealed that MEIS1 regulated the proliferation and migration of PASMCs during hypoxia-induced PH. Thus, MEIS1 may be a potential target for PH therapy.

Crosstalk between MEIS1 and markers of different cell signaling pathways in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

The homeobox transcription factor MEIS1 is involved in cell fate decision, stem cells properties, gastrointestinal (GI) tract development, and progression of several malignancies such as esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Increasing evidences suggest the crosstalk between MEIS1 and cell signaling pathways. Therefore, our aim in present study was to investigate the probable linkage of MEIS1 expression with key genes of different cell signaling pathways in ESCC tumorigenesis, and their correlation with clinicopathological feature of the patients. The gene expression profiling of MEIS1 and different cell signaling genes including SALL4, SIZN1, and HEY1 (stemness state, BMP, and NOTCH signaling pathways, respectively) was performed using quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in fresh tumoral compared to margin normal tissues of 50 treatment-naive ESCC samples. The mRNA expression of MEIS1/SIZN1, SIZN1/HEY1, and SIZN1/SALL4 were significantly associated to each other (P < 0.05). There were remarkable correlations between concomitant mRNA expression of MEIS1 and SIZN1 in tumors with invasion to adventitia, early stages of tumor progression and poorly differentiated tumors. Moreover, expression of MEIS1 and HEY1 was correlated to each other in primary stages of tumor progression and non-invaded tumors. Expression of MEIS1 was significantly associated with SALL4 in poorly differentiated tumors. Our results indicated that correlation between different cell signaling pathway-related genes may lead to esophageal tumorigenesis. It is illustrated that MEIS1 as a HOX gene has a significant correlation with stemness state, BMP, and NOTCH signaling pathways via the SIZN1.

MEIS transcription factors in development and disease

MEIS transcription factors are key regulators of embryonic development and cancer. Research on MEIS genes in the embryo and in stem cell systems has revealed novel and surprising mechanisms by which these proteins control gene expression. This Primer summarizes recent findings about MEIS protein activity and regulation in development, and discusses new insights into the role of MEIS genes in disease, focusing on the pathogenesis of solid cancers.

MEIS1 knockdown may promote differentiation of esophageal squamous carcinoma cell line KYSE-30

Background

MEIS1 (Myeloid ecotropic viral integration site 1), as a homeobox (HOX) transcription factor, has a dual function in different types of cancer. Although numerous roles are proposed for MEIS1 in differentiation, stem cell function, gastrointestinal development and tumorigenesis, the involved molecular mechanisms are poor understood. Our aim in this study was to elucidate the functional correlation between MEIS1, as regulator of differentiation process, and the involved genes in cell differentiation in human esophageal squamous carcinoma (ESC) cell line KYSE‐30.

Methods

The KYSE‐30 cells were transduced using recombinant retroviral particles containing specific shRNA sequence against MEIS1 to knockdown MEIS1 gene expression. Following RNA extraction and cDNA synthesis, mRNA expression of MEIS1 and the selected genes including TWIST1, EGF, CDX2, and KRT4 was examined using relative comparative real‐time PCR.

Results

Retroviral transduction caused a significant underexpression of MEIS1 in GFP‐hMEIS1 compared to control GFP cells approximately 5.5‐fold. While knockdown of MEIS1 expression caused a significant decrease in EGF and TWIST1 mRNA expression, nearly ‐8‐ and ‐12‐fold respectively, it caused a significant increase in mRNA expression of differentiation markers including KRT4 and CDX2, approximately 34‐ and 1.14‐fold, correspondingly.

Conclusion

MEIS1 gene silencing in KYSE‐30 cells increased expression of epithelial markers and decreased expression of epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) marker TWIST1. It may highlight the role of MEIS1 in differentiation process of KYSE‐30 cells. These results may confirm that MEIS1 silencing promotes differentiation and decreases EMT capability of ESC cell line KYSE‐30.

Baicalin, a Chinese Herbal Medicine, Inhibits the Proliferation and Migration of Human Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinoma (NSCLC) Cells, A549 and H1299, by Activating the SIRT1/AMPK Signaling Pathway

Background

Baicalin is a flavonoid derived from Scutellaria baicalensis, used in Chinese herbal medicine. Activation of the sirtuin 1 gene (SIRT1) and adenosine monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase gene (AMPK), the SIRT1/AMPK signaling pathway, is associated with human malignant tumors. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of baicalin on the cell viability, apoptosis, proliferation, and migration of human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells, A549 and H1299, in vitro.

Material/Methods

Human NSCLC cells, A549 and H1299, were treated with serial doses of baicalin. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) silencing of the SIRT1 and AMPK genes was performed using cell transfection. The MTT assay was used to determine cell viability, flow cytometry was used to measure cell apoptosis, wound healing and transwell assays were used to assess cell migration of A549 and H1299 cells. Western blotting was used to measure protein expression and phosphorylation levels in untreated A549 and H1299 cells, and cells treated with increasing doses of baicalin.

Results

Baicalin inhibited the viability, migration, and invasion of A549 and H1299 cells, and increased cell apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. Baicalin activated the SIRT1/AMPK and mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), and SIRT1/AMPK and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) signaling in A549 and H1299 cells in a dose-dependent manner. siRNA silencing of SIRT1 and AMPK reduced the effects of baicalin on cell proliferation and migration.

Conclusions

Baicalin, a flavonoid used in Chinese herbal medicine, inhibited the proliferation and migration of human NSCLC cells, A549 and H1299, by activating the SIRT1/AMPK signaling pathway.

Combined application of Embelin and tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand inhibits proliferation and invasion in osteosarcoma cells via caspase-induced apoptosis

Embelin, as an inhibitor of the X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP), may induce apoptosis in various types of cancer cells. The present study aimed to determine the effect of Embelin on the tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL)-induced apoptosis of osteosarcoma cells. Embelin and TRAIL were applied to U2OS and MG63 cells, respectively or in combination. MTT was initially used to detect the difference in survival rates between the group receiving combined application of 100 ng/ml TRAIL and 20 µmol/l Embelin and the individual application groups. Light microscopic quantification was used to detect the morphology of the osteosarcoma cells in each group. Determination of cell apoptosis was subsequently performed using flow cytometry. The invasive ability of the cells was detected by a Transwell assay, prior to relative protein expression being determined by western blot analysis. Based on all the test data, it was revealed that the survival rates and the invasive ability were significantly lower following the combined application of 100 ng/ml TRAIL and 20 µmol/l Embelin than following the individual application of either (P<0.01). Additionally, upregulating expression of caspases, as well as death receptor 5, and downregulating expression of XIAP and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9), had more significant effects in the combined group compared with the individual group and the control group. All these results suggested that Embelin may enhance TRAIL-induced apoptosis and inhibit the invasion of human osteosarcoma cells.