Identification of DTL as Related Biomarker and Immune Infiltration Characteristics of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma via Comprehensive Strategies

Evaluation of Genes and Molecular Pathways Involved in Pathogenesis of Sickle Cell Anemia: A Bioinformatics Analysis and Future Perspective

Background

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is one of the hematological disorders characterized by a defect in the structure and function of globin chains. Hereditary factors play an important role in the pathogenesis of SCD. We aimed to investigate the genes and pathways related to the pathogenesis of SCD.

Methods

Microarray dataset was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. LIMMA package of R-software was used to detect UP and Down regulations between SCD and control subjects. Enrichment analysis and Protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks were performed using GeneCodis4 software and GeneMANIA database, respectively. PrognoScan database was used to evaluate the relationship between the hub genes and patients' survival.

Results

Overall, 447 DEGs were identified in SCD patients compared to control subjects. Out of 447 DEGs, 345 genes were up-regulated and 102 genes were down-regulated. Effective hub genes in SCD pathogenesis include SLC4A1, DTL, EPB42, SNCA, and TOP2A. In addition, hub genes had a high diagnostic value.

Conclusion

Evaluation of hub genes in SCD can be used as a diagnostic panel to detect high-risk patients. In addition, by identifying the UP and Down stream pathways, treatment strategies in the monitoring and treatment of patients can be designed.

TRIM13 reduces cholesterol efflux and increases oxidized LDL uptake leading to foam cell formation and atherosclerosis

Impaired cholesterol efflux and/or uptake can influence arterial lipid accumulation leading to atherosclerosis. Here, we report that tripartite motif-containing protein 13 (TRIM13), a RING-type E3 ubiquitin ligase, plays a role in arterial lipid accumulation leading to atherosclerosis. Using molecular approaches and KO mouse model, we found that TRIM13 expression was induced both in the aorta and peritoneal macrophages (pMφ) of ApoE-/- mice in response to Western diet (WD) in vivo. Furthermore, proatherogenic cytokine interleukin-1β also induced TRIM13 expression both in pMφ and vascular smooth muscle cells. Furthermore, we found that TRIM13 via ubiquitination and degradation of liver X receptor (LXR)α/β downregulates the expression of their target genes ABCA1/G1 and thereby inhibits cholesterol efflux. In addition, TRIM13 by ubiquitinating and degrading suppressor of cytokine signaling 1/3 (SOCS1/3) mediates signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) activation, CD36 expression, and foam cell formation. In line with these observations, genetic deletion of TRIM13 by rescuing cholesterol efflux and inhibiting foam cell formation protects against diet-induced atherosclerosis. We also found that while TRIM13 and CD36 levels were increased, LXRα/β, ABCA1/G1, and SOCS3 levels were decreased both in Mφ and smooth muscle cells of stenotic human coronary arteries as compared to nonstenotic arteries. More intriguingly, the expression levels of TRIM13 and its downstream signaling molecules were correlated with the severity of stenotic lesions. Together, these observations reveal for the first time that TRIM13 plays a crucial role in diet-induced atherosclerosis, and that it could be a potential drug target against this vascular lesion.

ADAM22 acts as a novel predictive biomarker for unfavorable prognosis and facilitates metastasis via PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in nasopharyngeal carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a type of epithelial malignancy known for its high likelihood of metastasizing to distant organs, which remains the primary obstacle in the treatment of NPC. The present study aimed to identify potential intervention target for NPC metastasis.

METHODS

The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were firstly analyzed and intersected across various NPC related datasets in the Gene Expression Omnibus database. Subsequently, various techniques including quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), western blotting, immunohistochemistry, migration and invasion assays, in conjunction with bioinformatics and prognostic modeling, were utilized to elucidate the role of candidate genes in NPC metastasis.

RESULTS

We discerned the gene a disintegrin and metalloprotease 22 (ADAM22) as a distinct and significant factor in the progression and metastasis of NPC through five datasets. The elevated expression of ADAM22 was observed in clinical tissue and plasma samples with advanced NPC, as well as in high metastatic cells. Furthermore, we highlighted its essential role in a prognostic model that demonstrated strong prediction performance for NPC. Notably, overexpression of ADAM22 was found to enhance the aggressiveness and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of low metastatic NPC cells, whereas the downregulation of ADAM22 resulted in suppressed effect in high metastatic cells. Delving into the mechanism, ADAM22 activated the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway through the mediation of Rac Family Small GTPase 2 (RAC2), thereby facilitating EMT and metastasis in NPC.

CONCLUSIONS

The study provided pioneering insights that ADAM22 had the potential to act as an oncogene by promoting EMT and metastasis of NPC through the RAC2-mediated PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Thus, ADAM22 could serve as a novel prognostic indicator in NPC.

DTL promotes head and neck squamous cell carcinoma progression by mediating the degradation of ARGLU1 to regulate the Notch signaling pathway

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth most common cancer worldwide, with a high incidence in squamous epithelium. The E3 ubiquitin ligase DTL is a component of the CRL4A complex and is widely involved in tumor progression. We aimed to analyze the role of DTL in HNSCC and to explore its mechanism of action. Through clinical analysis, we found that DTL is upregulated in HNSCC tissues and is associated with the tumor microenvironment and poor survival in patients. Through gain-of-function and loss-of-function assays, we showed that DTL promotes cell proliferation and migration in vitro and tumor growth in vivo. Mass spectrometry analysis and immunoprecipitation assays showed that DTL interacts with ARGLU1 to promote K11-linked ubiquitination-mediated degradation of ARGLU1, thereby promoting the activation of the CSL-dependent Notch signaling pathway. Furthermore, siARGLU1 blocks the inhibitory effects of DTL knockdown on HNSCC cells. In this study, we showed that DTL promotes HNSCC progression through K11-linked ubiquitination of ARGLU1 to activate the CSL-dependent Notch pathway. These findings identify a promising therapeutic target for HNSCC.