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Piccinno E, Scalavino V, Labarile N, Bianco G, Savino MT, Armentano R, Giannelli G, Serino G. Downregulation of γ-Catenin by miR-195-5p Inhibits Colon Cancer Progression, Regulating Desmosome Function. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 25:494. [PMID: 38203664 PMCID: PMC10779266 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25010494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Desmosomes are essential structures for ensuring tissue functions, and their deregulation is involved in the development of colorectal cancer (CRC). JUP (γ-catenin) is a desmosome adhesion component that also acts as a signaling hub, suggesting its potential involvement in CRC progression. In this context, we recently demonstrated that miR-195-5p regulated JUP and desmosome cadherins expression. In addition, miR-195-5p gain of function indirectly modulated the expression of key effectors of the Wnt pathway involved in JUP-dependent signaling. Here, our purpose was to demonstrate the aberrant expression of miR-195-5p and JUP in CRC patients and to functionally characterize the role of miR-195-5p in the regulation of desmosome function. First, we showed that miR-195-5p was downregulated in CRC tumors compared to adjacent normal tissue. Then, we demonstrated that JUP expression was significantly increased in CRC tissues compared to adjacent normal tissues. The effects of miR-195-5p on CRC progression were assessed using in vitro transient transfection experiments and in vivo miRNA administration. Increased miR-195-5p in colonic epithelial cells strongly inhibits cell proliferation, viability, and invasion via JUP. In vivo gain of function of miR-195-5p reduced the numbers and sizes of tumors and significantly ameliorated the histopathological changes typical of CRC. In conclusion, our findings indicate a potential pharmacological target based on miR-195-5p replacement as a new therapeutic approach in CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Grazia Serino
- National Institute of Gastroenterology S. De Bellis, IRCCS Research Hospital, Via Turi 27, 70013 Castellana Grotte, BA, Italy; (E.P.); (V.S.); (N.L.); (G.B.); (M.T.S.); (R.A.); (G.G.)
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2
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Yang L, Huang W, Bai X, Wang H, Wang X, Xiao H, Li Y. Androgen dihydrotestosterone promotes bladder cancer cell proliferation and invasion via EPPK1-mediated MAPK/JUP signalling. Cell Death Dis 2023; 14:363. [PMID: 37328487 PMCID: PMC10275919 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-023-05882-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2022] [Revised: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The incidence of bladder cancer (BLCA) in men is higher than that in women. Differences in androgen levels between men and women are considered the main causes of incidence rate differences. In this study, dihydrotestosterone (DHT) significantly increased the proliferation and invasion of BLCA cells. In addition, BLCA formation and metastatic rates were higher in N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl) nitrosamine (BBN)-treated male mice than in female and castrated male mice in vivo. However, immunohistochemistry showed that androgen receptor (AR) was expressed at low levels in normal and BLCA tissues of men and women. The classical AR pathway considers that DHT binds to AR and induces it to enter the nucleus, where it functions as a transcription factor. Here, a non-AR combination pathway of androgen that promoted BLCA development was investigated. The EPPK1 protein was bombarded with DHT, as determined by biotinylated DHT-binding pull-down experiments. EPPK1 was highly expressed in BLCA tissues, and EPPK1 knockdown significantly inhibited BLCA cell proliferation and invasion promoted by DHT. Moreover, JUP expression was elevated in DHT-treated high-EPPK1 expressing cells, and JUP knockdown inhibited cell proliferation and invasion. EPPK1 overexpression increased tumour growth and JUP expression in nude mice. Furthermore, DHT increased the expression of the MAPK signals p38, p-p38, and c-Jun, and c-Jun could bind to the JUP promoter. However, the promotion of p38, p-p38, and c-Jun expression by DHT was not observed in EPPK1 knockdown cells, and a p38 inhibitor suppressed the DHT-induced effects, indicating that p38 MAPK may be involved in the regulation of DHT-dependent EPPK1-JUP-promoted BLCA cell proliferation and invasion. The growth of bladder tumours in BBN-treated mice was inhibited by the addition of the hormone inhibitor goserelin. Our findings indicated the potential oncogenic role and mechanism of DHT in BLCA pathogenesis through a non-AR pathway, which may serve as a novel therapeutic target for BLCA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Long Yang
- Department of Urology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Wen Huang
- Department of Urology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Xiaoyu Bai
- Department of Pathology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Haoyu Wang
- Department of Urology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Xiaolei Wang
- Department of Urology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Huiyuan Xiao
- Department of Urology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Yanlei Li
- Department of Pathology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.
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Wang Z, Hu J, Chen J, Zhang J, Li W, Tian Y, Liu H, Yang X. ICAT promotes colorectal cancer metastasis via binding to JUP and activating the NF-κB signaling pathway. J Clin Lab Anal 2022; 36:e24678. [PMID: 36036768 PMCID: PMC9551128 DOI: 10.1002/jcla.24678] [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: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 08/02/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The inhibitor of β‐catenin and T‐cell factor (ICAT) is a direct negative regulator of the canonical Wnt signaling pathway, which is an attractive therapeutic target for colorectal cancer (CRC). Accumulating evidence suggests that ICAT interacts with other proteins to exert additional functions, which are not yet fully elucidated. Methods The overexpression of ICAT of CRC cells was conducted by lentivirus infection and plasmids transfection and verified by quantitative real‐time reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction (real‐time RT‐PCR) and Western blotting. The effect of ICAT on the mobility of CRC cells was assessed by wound healing assay and transwell assay in vitro and lung metastasis in vivo. New candidate ICAT‐interacting proteins were explored and verified using the STRING database, silver staining, co‐immunoprecipitation mass spectrometry analysis (Co‐IP/MS), and immunofluorescence (IF) staining analysis. Result Inhibitor of β‐catenin and T‐cell factor overexpression promoted in vitro cell migration and invasion and tumor metastasis in vivo. Co‐IP/MS analysis and STRING database analyses revealed that junction plakoglobin (JUP), a homolog of β‐catenin, was involved in a novel protein interaction with ICAT. Furthermore, JUP downregulation impaired ICAT‐induced migration and invasion of CRC cells. In addition, ICAT overexpression activated the NF‐κB signaling pathway, which led to enhanced CRC cell migration and invasion. Conclusion Inhibitor of β‐catenin and T‐cell factor promoted CRC cell migration and invasion by interacting with JUP and the NF‐κB signaling pathway. Thus, ICAT could be considered a protein diagnostic biomarker for predicting the metastatic ability of CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zihan Wang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Institute of Gastroenterology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jiancong Hu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Institute of Gastroenterology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.,Department of Colorectal Surgery, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Junxiong Chen
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Institute of Gastroenterology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jingdan Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Institute of Gastroenterology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Weiqian Li
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Institute of Gastroenterology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yu Tian
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Institute of Gastroenterology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Huanliang Liu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Institute of Gastroenterology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiangling Yang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Institute of Gastroenterology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
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Qian J, Huang X, Zhang Y, Ye X, Qian W. γ-Catenin Overexpression in AML Patients May Promote Tumor Cell Survival via Activation of the Wnt/β-Catenin Axis. Onco Targets Ther 2020; 13:1265-1276. [PMID: 32103994 PMCID: PMC7024797 DOI: 10.2147/ott.s230873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2019] [Accepted: 02/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling is frequently dysregulated in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and has been implicated in leukemogenesis. γ-catenin was previously demonstrated to be associated with the nuclear localization of β-catenin, the central mediator, and to exert oncogenic effects in AML; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Our study aimed to investigate the expression characteristics of γ-catenin in AML patients, explore the mechanisms by which γ-catenin regulates β-catenin, and discuss the feasibility of targeting γ-catenin for AML treatment. Methods The mRNA expression levels of γ-catenin in AML patients were measured by qRT-PCR. Cell proliferation was examined via Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assays. The expression levels of related proteins were measured via Western blotting. Specific siRNA was used to modulate the expression level of the γ-catenin gene. Apoptosis and cell cycle distribution were quantified by flow cytometry. The subcellular localization of γ-catenin and β-catenin was examined via immunofluorescence with a confocal laser scanning microscope. Results Overexpression of γ-catenin was frequently observed in AML and correlated with poor prognosis. Consistent with this finding, suppression of γ-catenin in the AML cell line THP-1 induced growth inhibition, promoted apoptosis and blocked β-catenin nuclear translocation. Interestingly, γ-catenin knockdown sensitized THP-1 cells to cytotoxic chemotherapeutic agents such as cytarabine and homoharringtonine and further inhibited β-catenin nuclear localization. Moreover, our data implied the relationship between γ-catenin and GSK3β (whose effect on β-catenin is mediated by its own phosphorylation), which may be the principal mechanism underlying the anti-AML effect of γ-catenin inhibition. Conclusion Taken together, our results revealed a potential role of γ-catenin in AML pathogenesis–mainly through the inhibition of GSK3β-mediated nuclear localization of β-catenin–and indicate that targeting γ-catenin might offer new AML treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiejin Qian
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, People's Republic of China
| | - Xianbo Huang
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, People's Republic of China
| | - Yinyin Zhang
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, People's Republic of China.,Malignant Lymphoma Diagnosis and Therapy Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiujin Ye
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenbin Qian
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, People's Republic of China.,Malignant Lymphoma Diagnosis and Therapy Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, People's Republic of China
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Wnt Signalling in Acute Myeloid Leukaemia. Cells 2019; 8:cells8111403. [PMID: 31703382 PMCID: PMC6912424 DOI: 10.3390/cells8111403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2019] [Revised: 10/31/2019] [Accepted: 11/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is a group of malignant diseases of the haematopoietic system. AML occurs as the result of mutations in haematopoietic stem/progenitor cells, which upregulate Wnt signalling through a variety of mechanisms. Other mechanisms of Wnt activation in AML have been described such as Wnt antagonist inactivation through promoter methylation. Wnt signalling is necessary for the maintenance of leukaemic stem cells. Several molecules involved in or modulating Wnt signalling have a prognostic value in AML. These include: β-catenin, LEF-1, phosphorylated-GSK3β, PSMD2, PPARD, XPNPEP, sFRP2, RUNX1, AXIN2, PCDH17, CXXC5, LLGL1 and PTK7. Targeting Wnt signalling for tumour eradication is an approach that is being explored in haematological and solid tumours. A number of preclinical studies confirms its feasibility, albeit, so far no reliable clinical trial data are available to prove its utility and efficacy.
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Fang J, Xiao L, Zhang Q, Peng Y, Wang Z, Liu Y. Junction plakoglobin, a potential prognostic marker of oral squamous cell carcinoma, promotes proliferation, migration and invasion. J Oral Pathol Med 2019; 49:30-38. [PMID: 31420988 DOI: 10.1111/jop.12952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2019] [Revised: 07/06/2019] [Accepted: 08/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Junction plakoglobin (JUP) is an important cell-cell junction protein. Recently, its deregulation has been correlated with the initiation and progression of various malignancies. Our aim was to investigate the expression of JUP in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and its correlation with prognosis and to further study the effects of JUP on the proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion of OSCC cells. METHODS We detected JUP expression in 273 OSCC specimens using immunohistochemistry. We assessed the correlation of JUP expression with clinicopathologic parameters and patient survival by Cox regression. Then, expression levels of JUP in normal oral keratinocytes (NOKs) and OSCC cell lines were detected by Western blotting and quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). Next, we used HSC3 cells to study the effect of JUP on tumor cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion by using cell counting kit-8, flow cytometry, and transwell assays, respectively. RESULTS Cox regression showed that high expression of JUP was related to the poor prognosis of OSCC patients. Western blotting and qPCR assays showed that the expression level of JUP in OSCC cell lines was higher than that in NOKs. Overexpression of JUP promoted the proliferation, metastasis, and invasion of HSC3 cells and inhibited apoptosis, while the opposite was observed after JUP knockdown. CONCLUSION This study initially revealed that JUP was overexpressed in OSCC, and that JUP promoted the proliferation, migration, and invasion of OSCC cells and inhibited apoptosis. Moreover, high expression of JUP could be used as a potential prognostic marker of OSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Fang
- Guanghua School of Stomatology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Stomatological Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Li Xiao
- Department of Stomatology, North Sichuan Medical College, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, China
| | - Qianyu Zhang
- Department of Stomatology, North Sichuan Medical College, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, China
| | - Yanshuang Peng
- Department of Stomatology, North Sichuan Medical College, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, China
| | - Zhi Wang
- Guanghua School of Stomatology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Stomatological Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ying Liu
- Department of Stomatology, North Sichuan Medical College, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, China
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Aktary Z, Alaee M, Pasdar M. Beyond cell-cell adhesion: Plakoglobin and the regulation of tumorigenesis and metastasis. Oncotarget 2018; 8:32270-32291. [PMID: 28416759 PMCID: PMC5458283 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.15650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2016] [Accepted: 12/16/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Plakoglobin (also known as? -catenin) is a member of the Armadillo family of proteins and a paralog of β -catenin. Plakoglobin is a component of both the adherens junctions and desmosomes, and therefore plays a vital role in the regulation of cell-cell adhesion. Similar to β -catenin, plakoglobin is capable of participating in cell signaling in addition to its role in cell-cell adhesion. In this context, β -catenin has a well-documented oncogenic potential as a component of the Wnt signaling pathway. In contrast, while some studies have suggested a tumor promoting activity of plakoglobin in a cell/malignancy specific context, it generally acts as a tumor/metastasis suppressor. How plakoglobin acts as a growth/metastasis inhibitory protein has remained, until recently, unclear. Recent evidence suggests that plakoglobin may suppress tumorigenesis and metastasis by multiple mechanisms, including the suppression of oncogenic signaling, interactions with various proteins involved in tumorigenesis and metastasis, and the regulation of the expression of genes involved in these processes. This review is primarily focused on various mechanisms by which plakoglobin may inhibit tumorigenesis and metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zackie Aktary
- Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.,Institut Curie, Orsay, France
| | - Mahsa Alaee
- Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Manijeh Pasdar
- Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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MicroRNA-939 governs vascular integrity and angiogenesis through targeting γ-catenin in endothelial cells. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2017; 484:27-33. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2017.01.085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2017] [Accepted: 01/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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