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Jiang S, Zheng Z, Yuan B, Yan R, Yao Q, Chen H, Zhang Y, Lei Y, Liang H. MFAP2 induces epithelial-mesenchymal transformation of osteosarcoma cells by activating the Notch1 pathway. Transl Cancer Res 2024; 13:2847-2859. [PMID: 38988940 PMCID: PMC11231794 DOI: 10.21037/tcr-23-2035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024]
Abstract
Background Osteosarcoma (OS) is a malignancy originating from mesenchymal tissue. Microfibril-associated protein 2 (MFAP2) plays a crucial role in cancer, notably promoting epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). However, its involvement in OS remains unexplored. Methods MFAP2 was silenced in U2OS cells using shRNA targeting MFAP2 (sh-MFAP2) and validated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). We extracted gene chip data of MFAP2 from multiple databases (GSE28424, GSE42572, and GSE126209). Correlation analyses between MFAP2 and the Notch1 pathway identified through the gene set variation analysis (GSVA) enrichment analysis were conducted using the Pearson correlation method. Cellular behaviors (viability, migration, and invasion) were assessed via the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), wound healing, and Transwell assays. EMT markers (N-cadherin, vimentin, and β-catenin) and Notch1 levels were examined by western blotting and qRT-PCR. Cell morphology was observed microscopically to evaluate EMT. Finally, the role of MFAP2 in OS was validated through a xenograft tumor model. Results OS cell lines exhibited higher MFAP2 mRNA expression than normal osteoblasts. MFAP2 knockdown in U2OS cells significantly reduced viability, migration, and invasion, along with downregulation of N-cadherin and vimentin, as well as upregulation of β-catenin. MFAP2 significantly correlated with the Notch1 pathway in OS and its knockdown inhibited Notch1 protein expression. Furthermore, Notch1 activation reversed the inhibitory effects of MFAP2 knockdown on the malignant characteristic of U2OS cells. Additionally, MFAP2 knockdown inhibited tumor growth, expression levels of EMT markers, and Notch1 expression in OS tumor tissues. Conclusions Our study revealed that MFAP2 was an upstream regulator of the Notch1 signaling pathway to promote EMT in OS. These findings suggested MFAP2 as a potential OS therapy target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan Jiang
- Department of Bone and Soft Tissue Repair and Reconstructive Surgery, The Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Ziang Zheng
- Department of Bone and Soft Tissue Repair and Reconstructive Surgery, The Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Bo Yuan
- Department of Bone and Soft Tissue Repair and Reconstructive Surgery, The Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Rushan Yan
- Department of Bone and Soft Tissue Repair and Reconstructive Surgery, The Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Qijun Yao
- Department of Bone and Soft Tissue Repair and Reconstructive Surgery, The Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Haoran Chen
- Department of Bone and Soft Tissue Repair and Reconstructive Surgery, The Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Yongxun Zhang
- Department of Bone and Soft Tissue Repair and Reconstructive Surgery, The Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Yue Lei
- Department of Bone and Soft Tissue Repair and Reconstructive Surgery, The Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Haidong Liang
- Department of Bone and Soft Tissue Repair and Reconstructive Surgery, The Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
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Huang R, Liu H, Wang C. OIP5-AS1/miR-455-3p/microfibril-associated protein 2 axis exacerbates the progression of thyroid carcinoma. Transl Cancer Res 2024; 13:3046-3061. [PMID: 38988919 PMCID: PMC11231809 DOI: 10.21037/tcr-24-630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024]
Abstract
Background The long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) Opa interacting protein 5-antisense RNA 1 (OIP5-AS1) has been shown to participate in numerous biological and pathological processes, notably including oncogenesis. OIP5-AS1 modulates oncogenic or anti-tumor activities by controlling various microRNAs (miRs) in diverse cancer types. This study sought to examine the potential role of the lncRNA OIP5-AS1-mediated miR-455-3p/microfibril-associated protein 2 (MFAP2) axis and its influence on the progression of thyroid carcinoma. Methods Cell proliferation, migration, and apoptosis were assessed through in vitro experimental measurements, which involved the use of Cell Counting Kit 8 (CCK8), transwell, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) staining techniques. The estimate algorithm was employed to examine the relationship between MFAP2 and the Stromal score, Immune score, and ESTIMATE score. Results OIP5-AS1 expression was significantly more elevated in the thyroid carcinoma tissues and cell lines than the corresponding normal non-tumor tissues and cell lines. Following transfection with short-hairpin (sh)-OIP5-AS1, the CAL62 and SW1736 cells upregulated miR-455-3p and downregulated the MFAP2 expression levels. The downregulation of OIP5-AS1 expedited cellular apoptosis and hindered cellular proliferation and migration in the CAL62 and SW1736 cells. The in vitro experiments showed that both the suppression of MFAP2 and the increased expression of miR-455-3p exerted significant anti-cancer effects. In addition, the overexpression of MFAP2 counteracted the in vitro antineoplastic effects of the sh-OIP5-AS1 and miR-455-3p mimics. Conclusions The results suggest that lncRNA OIP5-AS1 plays a crucial role in the advancement of thyroid carcinoma by inhibiting miR-455-3p to activate MFAP2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Huang
- Center of Clinical Laboratory, People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Urumgi, China
| | - Hongchun Liu
- Center of Clinical Laboratory, People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Urumgi, China
| | - Changmin Wang
- Center of Clinical Laboratory, People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Urumgi, China
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Huang J, Xu Y, Qi S, Zheng Q, Cui C, Liu L, Liu F. The potent potential of MFAP2 in prognosis and immunotherapy of triple-negative breast cancer. Discov Oncol 2024; 15:202. [PMID: 38822944 PMCID: PMC11144179 DOI: 10.1007/s12672-024-01044-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/03/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUNDS Microfibril-associated protein 2 (MFAP2) is a protein presenting in the extracellular matrix that governs the activity of microfibrils through its interaction with fibrillin. While the involvement of MFAP2 in metabolic disorders has been documented, its expression and prognostic significance in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) remain unexplored. METHODS We acquired datasets pertaining to breast cancer (BC) from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) databases. Next, a Venn diagram was used to identify the differentially expressed genes (DEGs). The DEGs were used to perform Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), protein-protein interaction (PPI), immune and survival analysis. The expressions of MFAP2, PD-1 and PD-L1 were examined by immunohistochemistry and western blot and their relationship with clinical pathological parameters were analyzed by clinical specimen samples from patients with TNBC. Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER, https://cistrome.shinyapps.io/timer/ ) was adopted to calculate the immune infiltration level of TNBC. The link between gene expression and tumor mutational burden (TMB) was described using Spearman's correlation analysis. RESULTS We identified 66 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) that were up-regulated. Among these DEGs, MFAP2 was found to be overexpressed in TNBC and was associated with a lower probability of survival. This finding was confirmed through the use of immunohistochemistry and western blot techniques. Additionally, MFAP2 was found to be related to various pathological parameters in TNBC patients. Mechanistically, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) revealed that MFAP2 primarily influenced cellular biological behavior in terms of epithelial mesenchymal transition, glycolysis, and apical junction. Notably, MFAP2 expression was positively correlated with the abundance of macrophages, while a negative correlation was observed with the abundance of B cells, CD4 + T cells, CD8 + T cells, neutrophils and dendritic cells through immune analysis. Furthermore, it was observed that MFAP2 displayed a negative correlation not only with tumor mutational burden (TMB), a recognized biomarker for PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy, but also with PD-L1 in samples of TNBC. CONCLUSION MFAP2 may be an important prognostic biomarker for TNBC, as well as a viable target for immunotherapy in this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Huang
- The First Clinical Medical College of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Yuting Xu
- Department of Pathology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, 20 Xisi Road, Chongchuan District, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Shengnan Qi
- Department of Pathology, Qingdao Eighth People's Hospital, Qingdao, 266121, China
| | - Qi Zheng
- Department of Pathology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, 20 Xisi Road, Chongchuan District, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Can Cui
- Department of Pathology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, 20 Xisi Road, Chongchuan District, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Lei Liu
- Department of Pathology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, 20 Xisi Road, Chongchuan District, Nantong, 226001, China.
| | - Fan Liu
- Department of Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, 20 Xisi Road, Chongchuan District, Nantong, 226001, China.
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Lv F, Li X, Wang Y, Hao L. MAGP1 maintains tumorigenicity and angiogenesis of laryngeal cancer by activating Wnt/β-catenin/MMP7 pathway. Carcinogenesis 2024; 45:220-234. [PMID: 36645203 DOI: 10.1093/carcin/bgad003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Revised: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Microfibril-associated glycoprotein-1 (MAGP1), a crucial extracellular matrix protein, contributes to the initiation and progression of different cancers. However, the role of MAGP1 in laryngeal cancer is not clear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical significance and biological function of MAGP1 in laryngeal cancer. MAGP1 was upregulated in public databases and laryngeal cancer tissues, and high MAGP1 expression led to a poor prognosis and was identified as an independent prognostic marker. Knocking-down MAGP1 inhibited laryngeal cancer cell growth and metastasis. According to gene set enrichment analysis, high MAGP1 expression revealed enrichment in Wnt/β-catenin signaling and knocking-down MAGP1 in laryngeal cancer cells also caused degradation, de-activation, re-location and loss of stability of β-catenin. Additionally, we observed MAGP1 in laryngeal cancer cells inhibits angiogenesis in an MMP7-dependent way. In conclusion, our study suggests a clinical role of MAGP1 in laryngeal cancer, signifying its potential as a therapeutic target in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Lv
- Department of Oncology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Xiaoqi Li
- Oncology Department III, People's Hospital of Liaoning Province, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Ying Wang
- Department of Oncology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Liying Hao
- Department of Pharmaceutical Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
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Sun Y, Chen X, Chen L, Bao B, Li C, Zhou Y. MFAP2 promotes HSCs activation through FBN1/TGF-β/Smad3 pathway. J Cell Mol Med 2023; 27:3235-3246. [PMID: 37635348 PMCID: PMC10623529 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.17884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2023] [Revised: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver fibrosis is a chronic inflammatory process characterized by the accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM), which contributes to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Increasing evidence suggests that the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) under an inflammatory state leads to the secretion of collagens, which can cause cirrhosis. In this study, we analysed data from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between quiescent and fibrotic HSCs. We found that Microfibril Associated Protein 2 (MFAP2) was elevated in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver fibrosis and Transforming Growth Factor-Beta 1 (TGF-β1)-activated HSCs. Knockdown of MFAP2 inhibited HSC proliferation and partially attenuated TGF-β-stimulated fibrogenesis markers. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that Fibrillin-1 (FBN1) was correlated with MFAP2, and the expression of FBN1 was significantly upregulated after MFAP2 overexpression. Silencing MFAP2 partially attenuated the activation of HSCs by inhibiting HSC proliferation and decreasing collagen deposits. In vitro results showed that the inhibition of MFAP2 alleviated hepatic fibrosis by inhibiting the activation and inducing the apoptosis of active HSCs in a CCl4-induced mouse model. In conclusion, our results suggest that MFAP2 is a potential target for the clinical treatment of liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yonghong Sun
- Department of GastroenterologyThe First Hospital of Lanzhou UniversityLanzhouChina
- Department of PediatricsGansu Province People's HospitalLanzhouPeople's Republic of China
| | - Xingxing Chen
- Department of PediatricsGansu Province People's HospitalLanzhouPeople's Republic of China
| | - Lili Chen
- The First School of Clinical MedicineGansu University of Chinese MedicineLanzhouPeople's Republic of China
| | - Baixin Bao
- The First School of Clinical MedicineGansu University of Chinese MedicineLanzhouPeople's Republic of China
| | - Chunming Li
- Department of ObstetricsGansu Province People's HospitalLanzhouPeople's Republic of China
| | - Yongning Zhou
- Department of GastroenterologyThe First Hospital of Lanzhou UniversityLanzhouChina
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Zhou T, Chen H, Wang Y, Wen S, Dao P, Chen M. Key Molecules in Bladder Cancer Affect Patient Prognosis and Immunotherapy Efficacy: Further Exploration for CNTN1 and EMP1. JCO Precis Oncol 2023; 7:e2200630. [PMID: 37437228 DOI: 10.1200/po.22.00630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Revised: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Immunotherapy has been widely used in bladder cancer (BCa) in recent years and has significantly improved the prognosis of patients with BCa. However, further identification of immunotherapy-sensitive individuals to improve the efficacy of immunotherapy remains an important unmet need. MATERIALS AND METHODS The key genes were screened and identified from Gene Expression Omnibus database and The Cancer Genome Atlas database to construct the risk prediction function (risk scores). Real-time polymerase chain reaction, immunohistochemistry, and IMvigor210 data sets were used to verify the roles of key molecules and efficacy of risk scores. The biologic function of CNTN1 and EMP1 was further explored through cell proliferation experiments. RESULTS Five key genes, CNTN1, MAP1A, EMP1, MFAP5, and PTGIS, which were significantly related to the prognosis and immune checkpoint molecules of patients, were screened out. CNTN1 and EMP1 were further experimentally confirmed for their significant tumor-promoting effects. Besides, the constructed risk scores on the basis of these five key genes can accurately predict the prognosis and immunotherapy efficacy of patients with BCa. Interestingly, the high-risk patients identified by the risk scores have significantly worse prognosis and immunotherapy effects than low-risk patients. CONCLUSION The key genes we screened can affect the prognosis of BCa, tumor microenvironment immune infiltration, and the efficacy of immunotherapy. The risk scores tool we constructed will contribute to the development of individualized treatment for BCa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tailai Zhou
- Department of Urology, Xiangya Hospital Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Hengxin Chen
- Department of Urology, Xiangya Hospital Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Yinzhao Wang
- Department of Urology, Xiangya Hospital Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Sijie Wen
- Department of Urology, Xiangya Hospital Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Pinghong Dao
- Department of Urology, Xiangya Hospital Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Minfeng Chen
- Department of Urology, Xiangya Hospital Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
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Microfibril-associated protein 2 is activated by POU class 2 homeobox 1 and promotes tumor growth and metastasis in tongue squamous cell carcinoma. Hum Cell 2023; 36:822-834. [PMID: 36527580 DOI: 10.1007/s13577-022-00840-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) represents the most frequent malignancy of the oral cavity, characterized by a high metastasis rate and poor prognosis. Microfibril-associated protein 2 (MFAP2), as an extracellular matrix protein, has been found to drive tumor progression. The function and underlying mechanism of MFAP2 in TSCC remain unknown. The expression levels of MFAP2 were analyzed in tissue samples from 30 TSCC patients by real time-polymerase chain reaction and western blot assays. Our results revealed that the expression of MFAP2 mRNA and protein was upregulated in TSCC tissue samples compared with that in the matched para-carcinoma tissue samples. By performing in vitro gain-of-function or loss-of-function experiments and in vivo mouse xenograft experiments, we found that overexpression of MFAP2 induced proliferation and promoted transition from G1 to S phase of TSCC cells. Stronger invasive and migratory capabilities were observed in MFAP2-overexpressing TSCC cells. In contrast, knockdown of MFAP2 exhibited anti-proliferative, apoptosis-promoting and pro-migratory roles in TSCC cells. Knockdown of MFAP2 significantly inhibited xenograft tumor growth. Mechanistically, POU class 2 homeobox 1 (POU2F1) was recruited to the region of MFAP2 promoter and upregulates the expression of MFAP2. Silencing of MFAP2 effectively blocked the proliferation, migration, and invasion of TSCC cells caused by POU2F1 overexpression. Our results indicate that the role of MFAP2 in TSCC may attribute to transcriptional regulation of POU2F1.
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Xu W, Wang M, Bai Y, Chen Y, Ma X, Yang Z, Zhao L, Li Y. The role of microfibrillar‐associated protein 2 in cancer. Front Oncol 2022; 12:1002036. [DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.1002036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Microfibrillar-associated protein 2 (MFAP2), a component of the extracellular matrix, is important in controlling growth factor signal transduction. Recent studies have shown that MFAP2, an effective prognostic molecule for various tumors, is associated with tumor occurrence and development and may be involved in remodeling the extracellular matrix and regulating proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, tumor cell metastasis, and tumor angiogenesis. However, MFAP2’s specific mechanism in these tumor processes remains unclear. This article reviewed the possible mechanism of MFAP2 in tumorigenesis and progression and provided a reference for the clinical prognosis of patients with cancer and new therapeutic target discovery.
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9
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Zhao LQ, Sun W, Zhang P, Gao W, Fang CY, Zheng AW. MFAP2 aggravates tumor progression through activating FOXM1/β-catenin-mediated glycolysis in ovarian cancer. Kaohsiung J Med Sci 2022; 38:772-780. [PMID: 35546486 DOI: 10.1002/kjm2.12546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2021] [Revised: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Ovarian cancer is one of the most common gynecological tumors that seriously endanger the health and quality of life of women. Microfibril-associated protein 2 (MFAP2) has been demonstrated to play crucial roles in the development of multiple tumors. However, the function of MFAP2 in ovarian cancer remains unclear. In this study, we found that MFAP2 was upregulated in ovarian cancer and cells and was positively correlated with FOXM1 and glycolysis-related genes. The results of Cell Count Kit-8, colony formation, and flow cytometry assays indicated that MFAP2 promoted cell proliferation. In addition, MFAP2 promotes cell proliferation, glucose uptake, lactate production; increases ATP levels, extracellular acidification ratio, and oxygen consumption ratio in ovarian cancer cells and increases the expression of glycolytic proteins. Further mechanistic analysis suggests that MFAP2 promotes FOXM1/β-catenin-mediated glycolysis signaling in ovarian cancer cells. Knockdown of MFAP2 inhibits ovarian cancer xenograft tumor growth and expression of Ki-67, MFAP2, FOXM1, GLUT1, HK2, and β-catenin in mice. In conclusion, MFAP2 promotes cell proliferation and glycolysis by modulating the FOXM1/β-catenin signaling pathway in ovarian cancer, which may offer a fresh insight into the treatment of ovarian cancer in the glycolysis pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling-Qin Zhao
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology, The Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Zhejiang Cancer Hospital), Hangzhou, China.,Institute of Basic Medicine and Cancer (IBMC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | - Wei Sun
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology, The Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Zhejiang Cancer Hospital), Hangzhou, China.,Institute of Basic Medicine and Cancer (IBMC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ping Zhang
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology, The Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Zhejiang Cancer Hospital), Hangzhou, China.,Institute of Basic Medicine and Cancer (IBMC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | - Wen Gao
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology, The Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Zhejiang Cancer Hospital), Hangzhou, China.,Institute of Basic Medicine and Cancer (IBMC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | - Chen-Yan Fang
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology, The Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Zhejiang Cancer Hospital), Hangzhou, China.,Institute of Basic Medicine and Cancer (IBMC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ai-Wen Zheng
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology, The Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Zhejiang Cancer Hospital), Hangzhou, China.,Institute of Basic Medicine and Cancer (IBMC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China
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Pan-Cancer Analysis of Microfibrillar-Associated Protein 2 (MFAP2) Based on Bioinformatics and qPCR Verification. JOURNAL OF ONCOLOGY 2022; 2022:8423173. [PMID: 35211173 PMCID: PMC8863482 DOI: 10.1155/2022/8423173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Revised: 12/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
MFAP2 has been reported to play an oncogenic role in several types of human cancers. However, the expression profile of MFAP2 in various cancers and its impact on prognosis and immune infiltration remain unclear. In this study, the mRNA expression and protein expression of MFAP2 in normal tissues, tumor cell lines, and 33 malignant tumor tissues were analyzed comprehensively using Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx), Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia (CCLE), and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Oncomine and UALCAN databases, and the expression of MFAP2 in different grades and stages of cancers was assessed using Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis 2 (GEPIA2) and Tumor and Immune System Interaction Database (TISIDB). In general, MFAP2 showed distinct expression in most tumor and normal tissues, closely associated with higher tumor grade, higher tumor stage, and poor survival in multiple cancers. A search of the UALCAN database and the cBioPortal database revealed that this difference in mRNA level expression could be partly attributed to abnormal DNA methylation and mutations at the genomic level. In addition, MFAP2 expression was also associated with tumor mutation burden, microsatellite instability, and neoantigens in different cancer types. More importantly, the TIMER and TISIDB databases also showed that MFAP2 levels were significantly correlated with immune infiltration abundance and immune-related gene markers, as well as ESTIMATE scores. By qPCR, MFAP2 expression was validated in four kinds of tumor tissue samples. The present study combined several databases and performed a pan-cancer analysis of the expression profile, methylation, and mutation for MFAP2 and its implications for prognosis and immune infiltration, suggesting that MFAP2 could contribute to malignant properties of many tumors. MFAP2 may be an important biomarker with prognostic value and has the potential to be a target for tumor immunotherapy.
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Wang T, Wen W, Liu H, Zhang J, Zhang X, Wang Y. Development and Validation of a Novel Prognosis Prediction Model for Patients With Stomach Adenocarcinoma. Front Med (Lausanne) 2021; 8:793401. [PMID: 35004767 PMCID: PMC8727349 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2021.793401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Stomach adenocarcinoma (STAD) is a significant global health problem. It is urgent to identify reliable predictors and establish a potential prognostic model. Methods: RNA-sequencing expression data of patients with STAD were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Gene expression profiling and survival analysis were performed to investigate differentially expressed genes (DEGs) with significant clinical prognosis value. Overall survival (OS) analysis and univariable and multivariable Cox regression analyses were performed to establish the prognostic model. Protein–protein interaction (PPI) network, functional enrichment analysis, and differential expression investigation were also performed to further explore the potential mechanism of the prognostic genes in STAD. Finally, nomogram establishment was undertaken by performing multivariate Cox regression analysis, and calibration plots were generated to validate the nomogram. Results: A total of 229 overlapping DEGs were identified. Following Kaplan–Meier survival analysis and univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis, 11 genes significantly associated with prognosis were screened and five of these genes, including COL10A1, MFAP2, CTHRC1, P4HA3, and FAP, were used to establish the risk model. The results showed that patients with high-risk scores have a poor prognosis, compared with those with low-risk scores (p = 0.0025 for the training dataset and p = 0.045 for the validation dataset). Subsequently, a nomogram (including TNM stage, age, gender, histologic grade, and risk score) was created. In addition, differential expression and immunohistochemistry stain of the five core genes in STAD and normal tissues were verified. Conclusion: We develop a prognostic-related model based on five core genes, which may serve as an independent risk factor for survival prediction in patients with STAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tong Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Weiwei Wen
- Department of Dermatology, Third People's Hospital of Hangzhou, Hangzhou, China
| | - Hongfei Liu
- Department of Zhiweibing, Ningbo Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ningbo, China
| | - Jun Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiaofeng Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Hangzhou Institute of Digestive Diseases, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine for Biliary and Pancreatic Diseases of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China
- Xiaofeng Zhang
| | - Yu Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Hangzhou Institute of Digestive Diseases, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine for Biliary and Pancreatic Diseases of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Yu Wang
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Zhang N, Shao F, Jia W. Upregulation of microfibrillar-associated protein 2 is closely associated with tumor angiogenesis and poor prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma. Oncol Lett 2021; 22:739. [PMID: 34466151 PMCID: PMC8387853 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2021.13000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Abnormal expression of microfibrillar-associated protein 2 (MFAP2), a key regulator of cellular differentiation, affects the occurrence and progression of tumors. However, the underlying role of MAFP2 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unclear. In the present study, patterns of MFAP2 expression in HCC were analyzed using sequencing data from The Cancer Genome Atlas database. Expression profiles of MFAP2, as well as those of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related proteins, were compared between HCC pathological sections and fresh tissues. Thereafter, associations between patterns of MFAP2 expression and the clinicopathological characteristics of patients, and identified risk factors associated with disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS), were determined. The functions of MFAP2 in the EMT-induced proliferation and migration of MHCC97H cells were investigated using in vitro experiments, and the effects of MFAP2 on vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA)-induced tumor angiogenesis were also investigated. Upregulation of MFAP2 expression was observed in HCC, and was often accompanied by the abnormal expression of EMT-related marker proteins. In addition, analysis of clinical data from 94 patients with tumor tissues revealed a significant positive correlation between MFAP2 expression and low DFS and low OS following surgery. Through in vitro experimentation, silencing MFAP2 expression was shown inhibit EMT, which thereby inhibited cellular proliferation and migration. Moreover, downregulation of MFAP2 inhibited tumor angiogenesis via the inhibition of VEGFA. Taken together, these findings indicate that MFAP2 has the potential to predict the prognosis of patients with HCC. MFAP2 also induces tumor cell proliferation and migration through EMT, and promotes tumor blood vessel formation through VEGFA, suggesting that MFAP2 may be a potential therapeutic target for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nu Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, Anhui Provincial Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250021, P.R. China
| | - Feng Shao
- Department of General Surgery, Anhui Provincial Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250021, P.R. China
| | - Weidong Jia
- Department of General Surgery, Anhui Provincial Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250021, P.R. China
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Gómez de Segura I, Ahechu P, Gómez-Ambrosi J, Rodríguez A, Ramírez B, Becerril S, Unamuno X, Mentxaka A, Baixauli J, Valentí V, Moncada R, Silva C, Frühbeck G, Catalán V. Decreased Levels of Microfibril-Associated Glycoprotein (MAGP)-1 in Patients with Colon Cancer and Obesity Are Associated with Changes in Extracellular Matrix Remodelling. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22168485. [PMID: 34445187 PMCID: PMC8395192 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22168485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Revised: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The protein microfibril-associated glycoprotein (MAGP)-1 constitutes a crucial extracellular matrix protein. We aimed to determine its impact on visceral adipose tissue (VAT) remodelling during obesity-associated colon cancer (CC). METHODS Samples obtained from 79 subjects (29 normoponderal (NP) (17 with CC) and 50 patients with obesity (OB) (19 with CC)) were used in the study. Circulating concentrations of MAGP-1 and its gene expression levels (MFAP2) in VAT were analysed. The impact of inflammation-related factors and adipocyte-conditioned media (ACM) on MFAP2 mRNA levels in colon adenocarcinoma HT-29 cells were further analysed. The effects of MAGP-1 in the expression of genes involved in the extracellular matrix (ECM) remodelling and tumorigenesis in HT-29 cells was also explored. RESULTS Obesity (p < 0.01) and CC (p < 0.001) significantly decreased MFAP2 gene expression levels in VAT whereas an opposite trend in TGFB1 mRNA levels was observed. Increased mRNA levels of MFAP2 after the stimulation of HT-29 cells with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (p < 0.01) and interleukin (IL)-4 (p < 0.01) together with a downregulation (p < 0.05) after hypoxia mimicked by CoCl2 treatment was observed. MAGP-1 treatment significantly enhanced the mRNA levels of the ECM-remodelling genes collagen type 6 α3 chain (COL6A3) (p < 0.05), decorin (DCN) (p < 0.01), osteopontin (SPP1) (p < 0.05) and TGFB1 (p < 0.05). Furthermore, MAGP-1 significantly reduced (p < 0.05) the gene expression levels of prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (COX2/PTGS2), a key gene controlling cell proliferation, growth and adhesion in CC. Interestingly, a significant decrease (p < 0.01) in the mRNA levels of MFAP2 in HT-29 cells preincubated with ACM from volunteers with obesity compared with control media was observed. Conclusion: The decreased levels of MAGP-1 in patients with obesity and CC together with its capacity to modulate key genes involved in ECM remodelling and tumorigenesis suggest MAGP-1 as a link between AT excess and obesity-associated CC development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iranzu Gómez de Segura
- Metabolic Research Laboratory, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; (I.G.d.S.); (J.G.-A.); (A.R.); (B.R.); (S.B.); (X.U.); (A.M.)
| | - Patricia Ahechu
- Department of Surgery, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; (P.A.); (J.B.); (V.V.)
| | - Javier Gómez-Ambrosi
- Metabolic Research Laboratory, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; (I.G.d.S.); (J.G.-A.); (A.R.); (B.R.); (S.B.); (X.U.); (A.M.)
- CIBEROBN, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; (R.M.); (C.S.)
- Obesity and Adipobiology Group, IdiSNA, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Amaia Rodríguez
- Metabolic Research Laboratory, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; (I.G.d.S.); (J.G.-A.); (A.R.); (B.R.); (S.B.); (X.U.); (A.M.)
- CIBEROBN, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; (R.M.); (C.S.)
- Obesity and Adipobiology Group, IdiSNA, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Beatriz Ramírez
- Metabolic Research Laboratory, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; (I.G.d.S.); (J.G.-A.); (A.R.); (B.R.); (S.B.); (X.U.); (A.M.)
- CIBEROBN, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; (R.M.); (C.S.)
- Obesity and Adipobiology Group, IdiSNA, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Sara Becerril
- Metabolic Research Laboratory, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; (I.G.d.S.); (J.G.-A.); (A.R.); (B.R.); (S.B.); (X.U.); (A.M.)
- CIBEROBN, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; (R.M.); (C.S.)
- Obesity and Adipobiology Group, IdiSNA, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Xabier Unamuno
- Metabolic Research Laboratory, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; (I.G.d.S.); (J.G.-A.); (A.R.); (B.R.); (S.B.); (X.U.); (A.M.)
- CIBEROBN, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; (R.M.); (C.S.)
| | - Amaia Mentxaka
- Metabolic Research Laboratory, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; (I.G.d.S.); (J.G.-A.); (A.R.); (B.R.); (S.B.); (X.U.); (A.M.)
- CIBEROBN, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; (R.M.); (C.S.)
| | - Jorge Baixauli
- Department of Surgery, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; (P.A.); (J.B.); (V.V.)
| | - Víctor Valentí
- Department of Surgery, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; (P.A.); (J.B.); (V.V.)
- CIBEROBN, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; (R.M.); (C.S.)
- Obesity and Adipobiology Group, IdiSNA, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Rafael Moncada
- CIBEROBN, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; (R.M.); (C.S.)
- Department of Anesthesia, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Camilo Silva
- CIBEROBN, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; (R.M.); (C.S.)
- Obesity and Adipobiology Group, IdiSNA, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Department of Endocrinology & Nutrition, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Gema Frühbeck
- Metabolic Research Laboratory, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; (I.G.d.S.); (J.G.-A.); (A.R.); (B.R.); (S.B.); (X.U.); (A.M.)
- CIBEROBN, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; (R.M.); (C.S.)
- Obesity and Adipobiology Group, IdiSNA, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Department of Endocrinology & Nutrition, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Correspondence: (G.F.); (V.C.); Tel.: +34-9-4825-5400 (ext. 4484) (G.F.); +34-9-4825-5400 (ext. 5133) (V.C.)
| | - Victoria Catalán
- Metabolic Research Laboratory, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; (I.G.d.S.); (J.G.-A.); (A.R.); (B.R.); (S.B.); (X.U.); (A.M.)
- CIBEROBN, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; (R.M.); (C.S.)
- Obesity and Adipobiology Group, IdiSNA, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Correspondence: (G.F.); (V.C.); Tel.: +34-9-4825-5400 (ext. 4484) (G.F.); +34-9-4825-5400 (ext. 5133) (V.C.)
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Li Q, Jiang S, Feng T, Zhu T, Qian B. Identification of the EMT-Related Genes Signature for Predicting Occurrence and Progression in Thyroid Cancer. Onco Targets Ther 2021; 14:3119-3131. [PMID: 34012269 PMCID: PMC8127002 DOI: 10.2147/ott.s301127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The detection rate of thyroid cancer (TC) has been continuously improved due to the development of detection technology. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is thought to be closely related to the malignant progression of tumors. However, the relationship between EMT-related genes (ERGs) characteristics and the diagnosis and prognosis of TC patients has not been studied. METHODS Four datasets from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) were used to perform transcriptomic profile analysis. The overlapping differentially expressed ERGs (DEERGs) were analyzed using the R package "limma". Then, the hub genes, which had a higher degree, were identified by the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. Gene expression analysis between the TC and normal data, the disease-free survival (DFS) analysis of TC patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas Thyroid Cancer (TCGA-THCA) cohort, function analysis, and immunohistochemistry (IHC) were performed to verify the importance of the hub genes. Finally, a prognostic risk scoring was constructed to predict DFS in patients with the selected genes. RESULTS A total of 43 DEERGs were identified and 10 DEERGs were considered hub ERGs, which had a high degree of connectivity in the PPI network. Then, the differential expressions of FN1, ITGA2, and KIT between TC and normal tissues were verified in the TCGA-THCA cohort and their protein expressions were also verified by IHC. DFS analysis indicated upregulations of FN1 expression (P<0.01) and ITGA2 expression (P<0.01) and downregulation of KIT expression (P=0.01) increased risks of decreased DFS for TCGA-THCA patients. Besides, by building a prognostic risk scoring model, we found that the DFS of TCGA-THCA patients was significantly worse in high-risk groups. CONCLUSION In summary, these hub ERGs were potential biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis of TC, which can provide a basis for further exploring the efficacy of EMT in patients with TC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Li
- Public Health College, Shanghai Jiao Tong University of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, People’s Republic of China
- Hongqiao International Institute of Medicine, Shanghai Tongren Hospital/Clinical Research Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, People’s Republic of China
| | - Sheng Jiang
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, China National Nuclear Corporation 416 Hospital, Chengdu, 610051, People’s Republic of China
| | - Tienan Feng
- Hongqiao International Institute of Medicine, Shanghai Tongren Hospital/Clinical Research Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, People’s Republic of China
| | - Tengteng Zhu
- Hongqiao International Institute of Medicine, Shanghai Tongren Hospital/Clinical Research Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, People’s Republic of China
| | - Biyun Qian
- Hongqiao International Institute of Medicine, Shanghai Tongren Hospital/Clinical Research Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, People’s Republic of China
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