FRMPD1 activates the Hippo pathway via interaction with WWC3 to suppress the proliferation and invasiveness of lung cancer cells

Transcriptome Analysis of Left Versus Right Intrinsic Laryngeal Muscles Associated with Innervation

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS

Recurrent laryngeal nerve injury diagnosed as idiopathic or due to short-term surgery-related intubation exhibits a higher incidence of left-sided paralysis. While this is often attributed to nerve length, it is hypothesized there are asymmetric differences in the expression of genes related to neuromuscular function that may impact reinnervation and contribute to this laterality phenomenon. To test this hypothesis, this study analyzes the transcriptome profiles of the intrinsic laryngeal muscles (ILMs), comparing gene expression in the left versus right, with particular attention to genetic pathways associated with neuromuscular function.

STUDY DESIGN

Laboratory experiment.

METHODS

RNA was extracted from the left and right sides of the rat posterior cricoarytenoid (PCA), lateral thyroarytenoid (LTA), and medial thyroarytenoid (MTA), respectively. After high-throughput RNA-Sequencing, 88 samples were organized into 12 datasets according to their age (P15/adult), sex (male/female), and muscle type (PCA/LTA/MTA). A comprehensive bioinformatics analysis was conducted to compare the left-right ILMs across different conditions.

RESULTS

A total of 774 differentially expressed genes were identified across the 12 experimental groups, revealing age, sex, and muscle-specific differences between the left versus right ILMs. Enrichment analysis of Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways implicated several genes with a left-right laryngeal muscle asymmetry. These genes are associated with neuronal and muscular physiology, immune/inflammatory response, and hormone control.

CONCLUSION

Bioinformatics analysis confirmed divergent transcriptome profiles between the left-right ILMs. This preliminary study identifies putative gene targets that will characterize ILM laterality.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

N/A Laryngoscope, 134:3741-3753, 2024.

Activation of Hypoxia Inducible Factor-1 Alpha-Mediated DNA Methylation Enzymes (DNMT3a and TET2) Under Hypoxic Conditions Regulates S100A6 Transcription to Promote Lung Cancer Cell Growth and Metastasis

Aims: This research was aimed at investigating the effects of hypoxia inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α)-mediated DNA methylation enzymes (ten-eleven translocase-2 [TET2] and DNA methyltransferase-3a [DNMT3a]) under hypoxic conditions on S100A6 transcription, thereby promoting the growth and metastasis of lung cancer cells. Methods: The expression of HIF-1α or S100A6 in lung cancer cells was interfered with under normoxic and hypoxic conditions, and the cell proliferative, migratory, and invasive properties were assessed. The mechanism of HIF-1α-regulated TET2 and DNMT3 effects on S100A6 transcription under hypoxic conditions was further investigated. Results: Functionally, S100A6 over-expression promoted lung cancer cell proliferation and metastasis. S100A6 over-expression reversed the inhibitory effects of HIF-1α interference on the proliferation and metastasis of lung cancer cells. S100A6 was induced to express in an HIF-1α-dependent manner under hypoxic conditions, and silencing S100A6 or HIF-1α suppressed lung cancer cell proliferation and metastasis under hypoxic conditions. Further, The Cancer Genome Atlas-lung adenocarcinoma database analysis revealed that S100A6 mRNA levels had a negative correlation with methylation levels. Mechanistically, CpG hypomethylation status in the S100A6 promoter hypoxia response element had an association with HIF-1α induction. TET2 was enriched in S100A6 promoter region of lung cancer cells under hypoxic conditions, whereas DNMT3a enrichment was reduced in S100A6 promoter region. HIF-1α-mediated S100A6 activation was linked to DNMT3a-associated epigenetic inactivation and TET2 activation. Innovation: The activation of HIF-1α-mediated DNA methylation enzymes under hypoxic conditions regulated S100A6 transcription, thereby promoting lung cancer cell growth and metastasis. Conclusion: In lung cancer progression, hypoxia-induced factor HIF-1α combined with DNA methylation modifications co-regulates S100A6 transcriptional activation and promotes lung cancer cell growth and metastasis.

Transcriptome analysis of left versus right intrinsic laryngeal muscles associated with innervation

Objectives/Hypothesis

Recurrent laryngeal nerve injury diagnosed as idiopathic or due to short-term surgery-related intubation exhibits a higher incidence of left-sided paralysis. While this is often attributed to nerve length, it is hypothesized there are asymmetric differences in the expression of genes related to neuromuscular function that may impact reinnervation and contribute to this laterality phenomenon. To test this hypothesis, this study analyzes the transcriptome profiles of the intrinsic laryngeal muscles (ILMs), comparing gene expression in the left versus right, with particular attention to genetic pathways associated with neuromuscular function.

Study Design

Laboratory experiment.

Methods

RNA was extracted from the left and right sides of the rat posterior cricoarytenoid (PCA), lateral thyroarytenoid (LTA), and medial thyroarytenoid (MTA), respectively. After high-throughput RNA-Sequencing (RNA-Seq), 88 samples were organized into 12 datasets according to their age (P15/adult), sex (male/female), and muscle type (PCA/LTA/MTA). A comprehensive bioinformatics analysis was conducted to compare the left-right ILMs across different conditions.

Results

774 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified across the 12 experimental groups, revealing age, sex, and muscle-specific differences between the left versus right ILMs. Enrichment analysis of Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways implicated several genes with a left-right laryngeal muscle asymmetry. These genes are associated with neuronal and muscular physiology, immune/inflammatory response, and hormone control.

Conclusion

Bioinformatics analysis confirmed divergent transcriptome profiles between the left-right ILMs. This preliminary study identifies putative gene targets that will characterize ILM laterality.

Level of Evidence

N/A.

LAY SUMMARY

Vocal fold paralysis is more common on the left. This study shows left versus right differences in gene expression related to innervation, suggesting the increased rate of left recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis may be associated with genetic differences, not just nerve length.

Deciphering the role of Hippo pathway in lung cancer

Hippo pathway has been initially recognized as a regulatory mechanism for modulation of organ size in fruitfly. Subsequently, its involvement in the regulation of homeostasis and tumorigenesis has been identified. This pathway contains some tumor suppressor genes such as hippo (hpo) and warts (wts), as well as a number of oncogenic ones such as yorkie (yki). Recent studies have shown participation of Hippo pathway in the lung carcinogenesis. This pathway can affect lung cancer via different mechanisms. The interaction between some miRNAs and Hippo pathway is a possible mechanism for carcinogenic processes. Moreover, some other types of non-coding RNAs including PVT1, SFTA1P, NSCLCAT1 and circ_0067741 are implicated in this process. Besides, anti-cancer effects of gallic acid, icotinib hydrochloride, curcumin, ginsenoside Rg3, cryptotanshinone, nitidine chloride, cucurbitacin E, erlotinib, verteporfin, sophoridine, cisplatin and verteporfin in lung cancer are mediated through modulation of Hippo pathway. Here, we summarize the results of recent studies that investigated the role of Hippo signaling in the progression of lung cancer, the impact of non-coding RNAs on this pathway and the effects of anti-cancer agents on Hippo signaling in the context of lung cancer.

Antitumor Activity of lncRNA NBAT-1 via Inhibition of miR-4504 to Target to WWC3 in Oxaliplatin-Resistant Colorectal Carcinoma

Background

Increasing evidence shows that dysfunction of noncoding RNAs is implicated in cancer. Neuroblastoma associated transcript 1 (NBAT-1) has been identified as a tumor suppressive lncRNA that is aberrantly expressed in cancers. However, the function and the underlying mechanisms of the NBAT-1 in colorectal carcinoma (CRC) remain unknown.

Methods

Gene expression was detected by RT-qPCR. The influence of NBAT-1 on CRC was evaluated by the cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and an in vivo xenograft mouse model. The possible binding of NBAT-1 to miRNAs was predicted via the miRDB online tool and confirmed by a dual-luciferase reporter assay. Protein expression was detected by western blot.

Results

NBAT-1 expression was significantly decreased in CRC tissues, especially in patients with oxaliplatin (OXA) resistance. NBAT-1 inhibited OXA-resistant CRC cell proliferation in vitro and tumor growth in vivo. The mechanism study revealed that NBAT-1 functioned as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) of miR-4504. NBAT-1 bound miR-4504 and decreased miR-4504 expression in CRC cells. Furthermore, WW-and-C2-domain-containing protein family member 3 (WWC3) was identified as a target of miR-4504. Downregulation of NBAT-1 promoted miR-4504 expression and reduced the level of WWC3. Inhibition of WWC3 by NBAT-1 depletion inactivated Hippo signalling by inhibiting the phosphorylation of large tumor suppressor kinase 1 (LATS1) and yes-associated protein (YAP). Consistently, knockdown of NBAT-1 suppressed the expression of YAP transcriptional targets.

Conclusions

These findings demonstrated that lncRNA NBAT-1 suppresses OXA-resistant CRC cell growth via inhibition of miR-4504 to regulate the WWC3/LATS1/YAP axis.

WWC Proteins: Important Regulators of Hippo Signaling in Cancer

Simple Summary

The conserved Hippo pathway regulates cell proliferation and apoptosis via a complex interplay of transcriptional activities, post-translational protein modifications, specific protein–protein interactions and cellular transport processes. Deregulating this highly balanced system can lead to hyperproliferation, organ overgrowth and cancer. Although WWC proteins are known as components of the Hippo signaling pathway, their association with tumorigenesis is often neglected. This review aims to summarize the current knowledge on WWC proteins and their contribution to Hippo signaling in the context of cancer.

Abstract

The Hippo signaling pathway is known to regulate cell differentiation, proliferation and apoptosis. Whereas activation of the Hippo signaling pathway leads to phosphorylation and cytoplasmic retention of the transcriptional coactivator YAP, decreased Hippo signaling results in nuclear import of YAP and subsequent transcription of pro-proliferative genes. Hence, a dynamic and precise regulation of the Hippo signaling pathway is crucial for organ size control and the prevention of tumor formation. The transcriptional activity of YAP is controlled by a growing number of upstream regulators including the family of WWC proteins. WWC1, WWC2 and WWC3 represent cytosolic scaffolding proteins involved in intracellular transport processes and different signal transduction pathways. Earlier in vitro experiments demonstrated that WWC proteins positively regulate the Hippo pathway via the activation of large tumor suppressor kinases 1/2 (LATS1/2) kinases and the subsequent cytoplasmic accumulation of phosphorylated YAP. Later, reduced WWC expression and subsequent high YAP activity were shown to correlate with the progression of human cancer in different organs. Although the function of WWC proteins as upstream regulators of Hippo signaling was confirmed in various studies, their important role as tumor modulators is often overlooked. This review has been designed to provide an update on the published data linking WWC1, WWC2 and WWC3 to cancer, with a focus on Hippo pathway-dependent mechanisms.

Hypoxic bone marrow mesenchymal cell-extracellular vesicles containing miR-328-3p promote lung cancer progression via the NF2-mediated Hippo axis

Lung cancer is the most aggressive tumour afflicting patients on a global scale. Extracellular vesicle (EV)-delivered microRNAs (miRs) have been reported to play critical roles in cancer development. The current study aimed to investigate the role of hypoxic bone marrow mesenchymal cell (BMSC)-derived EVs containing miR-328-3p in lung cancer. miR-328-3p expression was determined in a set of lung cancer tissues by RT-qPCR. BMSCs were infected with lentivirus-mediated miR-328-3p knock-down and then cultured in normoxic or hypoxic conditions, followed by isolation of EVs. Following ectopic expression and depletion experiments in lung cancer cells, the biological functions of miR-328-3p were analysed using CCK-8 assay, flow cytometry and Transwell assay. Xenograft in nude mice was performed to test the in vivo effects of miR-328-3p delivered by hypoxic BMSC-derived EVs on tumour growth of lung cancer. Finally, the expression of circulating miR-328-3p was detected in the serum of lung cancer patients. miR-328-3p was highly expressed in EVs derived from hypoxic BMSCs. miR-328-3p was delivered to lung cancer cells by hypoxic BMSC-derived EVs, thereby promoting lung cancer cell proliferation, invasion, migration and epithelial-mesenchymal transition. miR-328-3p targeted NF2 to inactivate the Hippo pathway. Moreover, EV-delivered miR-328-3p increased tumour growth in vivo. Additionally, circulating miR-328-3p was bioactive in the serum of lung cancer patients. Taken together, our results demonstrated that hypoxic BMSC-derived EVs could deliver miR-328-3p to lung cancer cells and that miR-328-3p targets the NF2 gene, thereby inhibiting the Hippo pathway to ultimately promote the occurrence and progression of lung cancer.

PWP1 Promotes the Malignant Phenotypes of Lung Cancer Cells by Interacting with DVL2 and Merlin

Purpose

The significance of periodic tryptophan protein 1 (PWP1) expression in human cancer and its molecular mechanism of action have not been reported so far.

Materials and Methods

Immunohistochemistry was performed to analyze the expression of PWP1 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tissues and statistical analysis was applied to analyze the relationship between PWP1 expression and the clinicopathological factors. The effects of PWP1 on NSCLC proliferation and invasion were determined by colony formation, transwell and MTT assays. Western blot analysis (WB), dual-luciferase reporter gene assays and immunofluorescence staining were performed to demonstrate whether PWP1 stimulates Wnt pathway and inhibits Hippo pathway. Co-immunoprecipitation (Co-ip) assays were used to confirm the potential role of PWP1 in Wnt and Hippo signaling pathways.

Results

PWP1 expression in NSCLC was higher than that in normal bronchial epithelium and normal submucosal glands. In addition, PWP1 expression had a positive correlation with poor differentiation, high pathological tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage, and lymph node metastasis. Kaplan–Meier database demonstrated that the overall survival time of patients with high PWP1 expression was significantly shorter than that of patients with low PWP1 expression. Mechanistically, we found that PWP1 could interact with DVL2 to upregulate β-catenin (thereby activating the Wnt pathway), whereas PWP1 could interact with Merlin (NF2) to downregulate p-MST1 (thereby inhibiting the Hippo signaling pathway). The effects of PWP1 on promoting the Wnt pathway or inhibiting the Hippo pathway were offset in DVL2- or Merlin-knockdown cells transiently overexpressing PWP1.

Conclusion

PWP1 expression in NSCLC was correlated with poor prognosis. PWP1 enhanced the activity of the Wnt pathway by interacting with DVL2, whereas PWP1 inhibited the activity of the Hippo pathway by interacting with Merlin. Together, these two effects promoted the detrimental biological behaviors of NSCLC cells.