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Li Y, Liu L. UKLF/PCBP2 axis governs the colorectal cancer development by transcriptionally activating SLC39A4. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH 2024; 1871:119755. [PMID: 38768927 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2024.119755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 04/27/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most prevalent malignant tumors with limited treatment options. Therefore, there is an urgent need to investigate new therapeutic targets against CRC. Ubiquitous Kruppel-like factor (UKLF) is involved in various cancer processes, but its effect and detailed molecular mechanism in CRC are not yet fully understood. Here, this study aimed to investigate the function and mechanism of UKLF in the development of CRC. The results showed that UKLF was highly expressed in CRC tissues from clinical patients and its high expression was related to poor prognosis. UKLF promoted cell proliferation, migration and invasion, and inhibited cell apoptosis. The promotion effect of UKLF on tumor growth was further confirmed in vivo. As far as the mechanism was concerned, poly (C) binding protein 2 (PCBP2) was verified to bind to the 3'-UTR of UKLF mRNA and enhance its mRNA stability. Moreover, UKLF modulated the expression of solute carrier family 39 member 4 (SLC39A4) at the transcriptional level. Taken together, these findings elucidated the regulatory mechanism of UKLF and uncovered the importance of the PCBP2/UKLF/SLC39A4 pathway. The targeting of UKLF may be a novel direction for molecular-targeted CRC therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunze Li
- Department of General Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, 36 Sanhao Street, Shenyang 110004, China
| | - Lina Liu
- Department of General Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, 36 Sanhao Street, Shenyang 110004, China.
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Acevedo S, Segovia MF, de la Fuente-Ortega E. Emerging Perspectives in Zinc Transporter Research in Prostate Cancer: An Updated Review. Nutrients 2024; 16:2026. [PMID: 38999774 PMCID: PMC11243615 DOI: 10.3390/nu16132026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2024] [Revised: 06/18/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Dysregulation of zinc and zinc transporters families has been associated with the genesis and progression of prostate cancer. The prostate epithelium utilizes two types of zinc transporters, the ZIP (Zrt-, Irt-related Protein) and the ZnTs (Zinc Transporter), to transport zinc from the blood plasma to the gland lumen. ZIP transporters uptake zinc from extracellular space and organelle lumen, while ZnT transporters release zinc outside the cells or to organelle lumen. In prostate cancer, a commonly observed low zinc concentration in prostate tissue has been correlated with downregulations of certain ZIPs (e.g., ZIP1, ZIP2, ZIP3, ZIP14) and upregulations of specific ZnTs (e.g., ZnT1, ZnT9, ZnT10). These alterations may enable cancer cells to adapt to toxic high zinc levels. While zinc supplementation has been suggested as a potential therapy for this type of cancer, studies have yielded inconsistent results because some trials have indicated that zinc supplementation could exacerbate cancer risk. The reason for this discrepancy remains unclear, but given the high molecular and genetic variability present in prostate tumors, it is plausible that some zinc transporters-comprising 14 ZIP and 10 ZnT members-could be dysregulated in others patterns that promote cancer. From this perspective, this review highlights novel dysregulation, such as ZIP-Up/ZnT-Down, observed in prostate cancer cell lines for ZIP4, ZIP8, ZnT2, ZnT4, ZnT5, etc. Additionally, an in silico analysis of an available microarray from mouse models of prostate cancer (Nkx3.1;Pten) predicts similar dysregulation pattern for ZIP4, ZIP8, and ZnT2, which appear in early stages of prostate cancer progression. Furthermore, similar dysregulation patterns are supported by an in silico analysis of RNA-seq data from human cancer tumors available in cBioPortal. We discuss how these dysregulations of zinc transporters could impact zinc supplementation trials, particularly focusing on how the ZIP-Up/ZnT-Down dysregulation through various mechanisms might promote prostate cancer progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Acevedo
- Laboratorio Estrés Celular y Enfermedades Crónicas No Transmisibles, Departamento de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Católica del Norte, Larrondo 1281, Coquimbo 1781421, Chile
| | - María Fernanda Segovia
- Laboratorio Estrés Celular y Enfermedades Crónicas No Transmisibles, Departamento de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Católica del Norte, Larrondo 1281, Coquimbo 1781421, Chile
| | - Erwin de la Fuente-Ortega
- Laboratorio Estrés Celular y Enfermedades Crónicas No Transmisibles, Departamento de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Católica del Norte, Larrondo 1281, Coquimbo 1781421, Chile
- Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo Tecnológico en Algas y Otros Recursos Biológicos (CIDTA), Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Católica del Norte, Coquimbo 1781421, Chile
- Núcleo de Investigación en Prevención y Tratamiento de Enfermedades Crónicas no Transmisibles (NiPTEC), Universidad Católica del Norte, Coquimbo 1781421, Chile
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Ren H, Liu C, Zhang C, Wu H, Zhang J, Wang Z, Chen L, Wang H, Shao C, Zhou L. A cuproptosis-related gene expression signature predicting clinical prognosis and immune responses in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma detected by single-cell RNA sequence analysis. Cancer Cell Int 2024; 24:92. [PMID: 38431620 PMCID: PMC10908169 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-024-03251-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cholangiocarcinoma represents a malignant neoplasm originating from the hepatobiliary tree, with a subset of tumors developing inside the liver. Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas (ICC) commonly exhibit an asymptomatic presentation, rendering both diagnosis and treatment challenging. Cuproptosis, an emerging regulated cell death pathway induced by copper ions, has garnered attention recently. As cancer cells show altered copper metabolism and comparatively higher copper needs, cuproptosis may play a role in the development of ICC. However, studies investigating this possibility are currently lacking. METHODS Single-cell and bulk RNA sequence data were analyzed, and correlations were established between the expression of cuproptosis-related molecules and ICC patient survival. Genes with predicting survival were used to create a CUPT score using Cox and LASSO regression and tumor mutation burden (TMB) analysis. The CIBERSORT software was employed to characterize immune cell infiltration within the tumors. Furthermore, immune infiltration prediction, biological function enrichment, and drug sensitivity analyses were conducted to explore the potential implications of the cuproptosis-related signature. The effects of silencing solute carrier family 39 member 4 gene (SLC39A4) expression using siRNA were investigated using assays measuring cell proliferation, colony formation, and cell migration. Key genes of cuproptosis were detected by western blotting. RESULTS The developed CUPT score divided patients into high and low CUPT score groups. Those with a low score had significantly better prognosis and longer survival. In contrast, high CUPT scores were associated with worse clinical outcomes and significantly higher TMB. Comparisons of the two groups also indicated differences in the immune infiltrate present in the tumors. Finally, we were able to identify 95 drugs potentially affecting the cuproptosis pathway. Some of these might be effective in the treatment of ICC. The in vitro experiments revealed that suppressing the expression of SLC39A4 in ICC cell lines resulted in reduced cell proliferation, colony formation, and cell migration. It also led to an increase in cell death and the upregulation of key genes associated with cuproptosis, namely ferredoxin 1 (FDX1) and dihydrolipoyl transacetylase (DLAT). These findings strongly suggest that this cuproptosis-associated molecule may play a pivotal role in the development and metastasis of ICC. CONCLUSIONS Changes in the expression of a cuproptosis-related gene signature can predict the clinical prognosis of ICC with considerable accuracy. This supports the notion that cuproptosis influences the diversity and complexity of the immune microenvironment, mutational landscape, and biological behavior of ICC. Understanding this pathway better may hold promise for the development of innovative strategies in the management of this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hefei Ren
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200003, China
| | - Chang Liu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200003, China
| | - Cheng Zhang
- Institute of Aging & Tissue Regeneration, State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer and Stress and Cancer Research Unit of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (No. 2019RU043), Ren-Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine (SJTU-SM), Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Hongkun Wu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200003, China
| | - Jiafeng Zhang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200003, China
| | - Zhenhua Wang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200003, China
| | - Lei Chen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200003, China
| | - Huiquan Wang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200003, China
| | - Chenghao Shao
- Department of Pancreatic-Biliary Surgery, Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200003, China.
| | - Lin Zhou
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200003, China.
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Zhao YC, Wang TJ, Cui J, She LZ, Zhang RF, Zhang CH. The role of SLC39A4 in the prognosis, immune microenvironment, and contribution to malignant behavior in vivo and in vitro of cervical cancer. Transl Oncol 2024; 40:101839. [PMID: 38029507 PMCID: PMC10698533 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2023.101839] [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: 09/11/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cervical squamous cell carcinoma and endocervical adenocarcinoma (CESC) are becoming more common in younger women. Solute carrier family 39 member 4 (SLC39A4) produces a zinc ion transporter involved in metastasis and invasion of tumors. METHODS The Cancer Genome Atlas RNA-seq data was used to investigate the expression of SLC39A4 and its prognostic potential. The assessment of the effect of SLC39A4 on cell growth and migration in CESC was conducted using MTT, colony formation, and Transwell assays. SLC39A4 was studied in vivo using a xenograft mouse model, and its functional involvement in oncogenesis was investigated by identifying the associated differentially expressed genes (DEGs). We evaluated the relationships among SLC39A4 levels, chemosensitivity, radiosensitivity and immune infiltration. RESULTS SLC39A4 was upregulated in CESC samples, and individuals with greater SLC39A4 mRNA expression had shorter overall survival. SLC39A4 has been identified to be a regulator of tumor cell metastasis and proliferation in vivo and in vitro, with an area under the curve of 0.874 for diagnosing CESC. In total, 948 DEGs were discovered to be enriched in key CESC progression-related signaling pathways. Additionally, intratumoral immune checkpoint and infiltration activity were associated with SLC39A4 expression. High SLC39A4 expression exhibited poor chemosensitivity and radiosensitivity profiles. CONCLUSION In conclusion, SLC39A4 is a key regulator of CESC development, prognosis, and the composition of the tumor immune microenvironment. SLC39A4 could be used as a prognostic or diagnostic screening tool and as a potential target for CESC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue-Chen Zhao
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130041, PR China
| | - Tie-Jun Wang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130041, PR China
| | - Jie Cui
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130041, PR China
| | - Li-Zhen She
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130041, PR China
| | - Rui-Feng Zhang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130041, PR China; Department of Internal Medicin-1, Jilin Cancer Hospital, Changchun, Jilin 130103, PR China
| | - Chao-He Zhang
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130041, PR China.
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Meng X, Yuan H, Li W, Xiong Z, Dong W, Xiao W, Zhang X. Solute carrier family 16 member 5 downregulation and its methylation might serve as a prognostic indicator of prostate cancer. IUBMB Life 2021; 73:1363-1377. [PMID: 34549875 DOI: 10.1002/iub.2560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2021] [Revised: 09/04/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Prostate cancer (PCa), characterized by high invasion, metastasis, and recurrence, is the most prevalent malignant tumor in men worldwide. A clear understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms and their role during PCa tumorigenesis can help develop prognostic and targeted therapies. We analyzed datasets from public databases, including the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Oncomine and Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis for differential expression of solute carrier family 16 member 5 (SLC16A5). We further investigated its relationship with clinical stage, pathological grade, and prognosis of PCa. The promoter methylation level of SLC16A5 in PCa was also investigated by UALCAN. We also utilized datasets from UCSC Xena to explore the prognostic role of SLC16A5 methylation levels and CpG site. Correlations between SLC16A5 and immune infiltration were discovered through TIMER. We observed significantly lower levels of SLC16A5 mRNA in PCa relative to normal tissues across six datasets from Oncomine database (p < .001) and 498 cases from TCGA database (p < .0001). SLC16A5 is strongly negatively regulated by its DNA methylation, with a Spearman of -0.81 and Pearson of -0.80 (p < .001). The aberrant SLC16A5 expression resulted in a significant relationship with clinical stage, pathological grade, and lower SLC16A5 mRNA expression, and its hypermethylation was related to a poorer PCa prognosis. SLC16A5 acted as an important factor for PCa diagnosis, with an AUC of 0.9038 (95% CI: 0.8597-0.9479; p < .0001). Besides, the aberrant SLC16A5 expression revealed close correlations with multiple immune cells. Overall, these results indicate that decreased SLC16A5 expression might be a potential biomarker for determining prognosis and immune infiltration in PCa. The positive SLC16A5 modulation might be a promising therapeutic target for PCa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangui Meng
- Department of Urology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.,Shenzhen Huazhong University of Science and Technology Research Institute, Shenzhen, China.,Institute of Urology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Hongwei Yuan
- Department of Urology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.,Shenzhen Huazhong University of Science and Technology Research Institute, Shenzhen, China.,Institute of Urology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Weiquan Li
- Department of Urology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.,Shenzhen Huazhong University of Science and Technology Research Institute, Shenzhen, China.,Institute of Urology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhiyong Xiong
- Department of Urology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.,Shenzhen Huazhong University of Science and Technology Research Institute, Shenzhen, China.,Institute of Urology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Wei Dong
- Department of Urology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.,Shenzhen Huazhong University of Science and Technology Research Institute, Shenzhen, China.,Institute of Urology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Wen Xiao
- Department of Urology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.,Shenzhen Huazhong University of Science and Technology Research Institute, Shenzhen, China.,Institute of Urology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaoping Zhang
- Department of Urology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.,Shenzhen Huazhong University of Science and Technology Research Institute, Shenzhen, China.,Institute of Urology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
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