Overexpression of LRRC59 Is Associated with Poor Prognosis and Promotes Cell Proliferation and Invasion in Lung Adenocarcinoma

Pan-cancer analysis of LRRC59 with a focus on prognostic and immunological roles in hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND

LRRC59 is a leucine-rich repeats-containing protein located in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), it serves as a prognostic marker in several cancers. However, there has been no systematic analysis of its role in the tumor immune microenvironment, nor its predictive value of prognosis and immunotherapy response in different cancers.

METHODS

A comprehensive pan-cancer analysis of LRRC59 was conducted from various databases to elucidate the associations between its expression and the prognosis of cancer, genetic alterations, tumor metabolism, and tumor immunity. Additionally, further functional assays were performed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) to study its biological role in regulating cell proliferation, migration, apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, and sensitivity to immunotherapy.

RESULTS

The pan-cancer analysis reveals a significant upregulation of LRRC59 in pan-cancer, and its overexpression is correlated with unfavorable prognosis in cancer patients. LRRC59 is negatively correlated with immune cell infiltration, tumor purity estimation, and immune checkpoint genes. Finally, the validation in HCC demonstrates LRRC59 is significantly overexpressed in cancer tissue and cell lines, and its knockdown inhibits cell proliferation and migration, promotes cell apoptosis, induces cell cycle arrest, and enhances the sensitivity to immunotherapy in HCC cells.

CONCLUSIONS

LRRC59 emerges as a novel potential prognostic biomarker across malignancies, offering promise for anti-cancer drugs and immunotherapy.

LRRC59 promotes the progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma by interacting with SRP pathway components and enhancing the secretion of CKAP4-containing exosomes

Background

As a ribosome receptor, LRRC59 was thought to regulate mRNA translation on the ER membrane. Evidence suggests that LRRC59 is overexpressed in a number of human malignancies and is associated with poor prognoses, but its primary biological function in the development of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remains obscure.

Objective

The purpose of this study is to investigate at the expression changes and functional role of LRRC59 in OSCC.

Methods

LRRC59 gene expression and correlation with prognosis of OSCC patients were first examined using the data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) databases. Following that, a series of functional experiments, including cell counting kit-8, cell cycle analysis, wound healing assays, and transwell assays, were carried out to analyze the biological roles of LRRC59 in tumor cells. Mechanistically, we employed Tandem Affinity Purification-Mass Spectrometry (TAP-MS) approach to isolate and identify protein complexes of LRRC59. Downstream regulatory proteins of LRRC59 were verified through immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence experiments. Furthermore, we isolated exosomes from OSCC cell supernatant and conducted co-culture experiments to examine the effect of LRRC59 knockdown on OSCC cells.

Results

In samples from OSCC patients, LRRC59 was highly expressed and correlated with poor prognoses. Moreover, the gene sets analysis based on TCGA RNA-seq data indicated that LRRC59 seemed to be strongly related with protein secretory and OSCC migration. Upregulated levels of LRRC59 are more prone to lymph node metastasis in OSCC patients. LRRC59 knockdown impaired the ability of OSCC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion invitro. Mechanistically, our TAP-MS data situate LRRC59 in a functional nexus for mRNA translation regulation via interactions with SRP pathway components, translational initiation factors, CRD-mediated mRNA stabilization factors. More importantly, we found that LRRC59 interacted with cytoskeleton-associated protein 4 (CKAP4) and promoted the formation of CKAP4-containing exosomes. We also revealed that the LRRC59-CKAP4 axis was a crucial regulator of CKAP4-containing exosome secretion in OSCC cells for migration and invasion.

Conclusions

Therefore, based on our findings, LRRC59 may serve as a potential biomarker for OSCC patients, and LRRC59-induced exosome secretion via the CKAP4 axis may serve as a potential therapeutic target for OSCC.

Effect of PTFGRN Expression on the Proteomic Profile of A431 Cells and Determination of the PTGFRN Interactome

Prostaglandin F2 receptor negative regulator (PTGFRN) is a transmembrane protein whose expression has been previously implicated in cancer metastasis. However, the exact molecular mechanisms by which PTGFRN influences cancer progression are still unknown. As such, our laboratory set out to investigate how PTGFRN knockdown affected the expression of other proteins. We also carried out coimmunoprecipitation experiments using a monoclonal anti-PTGFRN antibody. We employed mass spectrometry-based proteomics for both experiments to identify proteins that were associated with PTGFRN. Our data show that PTGFRN knockdown increased pathways related to innate immune responses and decreased pathways associated with the synthesis of metabolic precursors and protein processing, among others. Additionally, the coimmunoprecipitation experiments indicated that PTGFRN is associated with proteins involved in processing and metabolism, as well as VEGF signaling molecules. These results highlight the role of PTGFRN as a protein processing regulator, which may be influencing cancer progression.

The role of miR-223 in breast cancer; an integrated analysis

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer (BRCA) is the most common and leading cause of cancer-related death in women. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short non-coding RNA fragments that play a role in regulating gene expression including the cancer-related pathways. Although dysregulation of miR-223 has been demonstrated in recent studies to have prognostic value in various cancers, its diagnostic and prognostic role in BRCA remains unknown.

METHODS

The expression and the prognostic value of miR-223 were evaluated using the TCGA data and verified by qRT-PCR. Subsequently, potential oncogenic targets of miR-223 were identified by using three different miRNA target prediction tools and the GEPIA database. In addition to these databases, protein-protein interaction network, molecular functions, prognostic value, and the expression level of miR-223 targets were included by using several other bioinformatics tools and databases; such as, UALCAN, GeneMANIA and Metascape.

RESULTS

The bioinformatic results demonstrated that miR-223 downregulated in BRCA and associated with poor prognosis of patients. In vitro experiments validated that miR-223 significantly downregulated in BRCA cells, MCF-7, SK-BR3, MDA-MB-231 and HCC1500, compared to normal breast cell line hTERT-HME1. Furthermore, ANLN, DYNLT1, LRRC59, SLC12A8 and TPM3 genes were identified as the potential oncogenic target genes of miR-223 based on their expression and prognosis in BRCA. Additionally, protein-protein interaction network of these target genes was mainly enriched in dynein intermediate chain binding, cell division, regulation of cell cycle process, and positive regulation of cellular component biogenesis.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggests that miR-223 and its targets, ANLN, DYNLT1, LRRC59, SLC12A8 and TPM3, might be reliable potential prognostic biomarkers in BRCA patients.

RNF152 Suppresses Fatty Acid Oxidation and Metastasis of Lung Adenocarcinoma by Inhibiting IRAK1-Mediated AKR1B10 Expression

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is a common subtype of primary lung cancer. Fatty acid oxidation plays a key role in LUAD development by providing energy for tumor cells. This study aimed to identify the role of ring finger protein 152 (RNF152) in LUAD. RNF152 was down-regulated in LUAD, and low RNF152 expression correlated with a poor prognosis in LUAD patients. RNF152 overexpression inhibited the proliferation and malignant phenotype of LUAD cells, whereas RNF152 knockdown exerted an opposite effect. Tumor cells overexpressing RNF152 showed less fatty acid oxidation compared with control cells, whereas RNF152 knockdown induced fatty acid uptake and oxidation. Further analysis revealed the binding reaction between RNF152 and interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase 1 (IRAK1). RNF152 reduced the stability of IRAK1 in LUAD cells by promoting its ubiquitination. RNF152-overexpressed tumor cells exhibited a significantly lower level of Aldo-Keto reductase family 1 member 10 (AKR1B10), whereas up-regulation of IRAK1 restored the expression of AKR1B10 in RNF152-overexpressed cells. Furthermore, up-regulation of IRAK1 eliminated the antitumor effect of RNF152 in LUAD cells. Mouse xenograft models confirmed the inhibitory effect of RNF152 on the tumorigenesis and metastasis of LUAD. Taken together, RNF152 played a tumor suppressive role in LUAD by promoting IRAK1 ubiquitination and IRAK1-mediated down-regulation of AKR1B10, thereby reversing the malignant phenotype of LUAD.

LRRC59 serves as a novel biomarker for predicting the progression and prognosis of bladder cancer

BACKGROUND

Leucine-rich repeat-containing protein 59 (LRRC59) is an endoplasmic reticulum membrane protein involved in various cancers, but its role in bladder cancer (BC) has not been reported. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of LRRC59 protein in BC progression and prognosis.

METHODS

The expression profile and clinical significance were retrieved from BC patients in the Cancer Genome Atlas database. The methylation status of LRRC59 was analyzed by UALCAN and MethSurv databases. Potential signaling pathways and biological functions were explored by functional enrichment analysis. Immunocyte infiltration was evaluated by CIBERSORT analysis. The prognostic value of LRRC59 was evaluated by Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses. Overall survival (OS) was predicted by the nomogram plot established in this study. LRRC59 expression in 10 pairs BC and adjacent noncancerous tissues were analyzed by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were detected by CCK8, colony formation assay, transwell assay, and cell scratch assay, respectively. Proteins related to epithelial-mesenchymal transition and apoptosis were detected by western blot.

RESULTS

LRRC59 overexpression significantly decreased OS, disease-specific survival, and progress-free interval of BC patients. LRRC59 was a prognostic marker for OS and its hypomethylation status signified a poor prognosis. LRRC59 overexpression was correlated with infiltration of resting memory CD4 T cells, memory activated CD4 T cells, resting NK cells, macrophages M0, M1, M2, and neutrophils. IHC showed that the LRRC59 expression in BC tissue was significantly higher than that in adjacent noncancerous tissue. Knockdown of LRRC59 expression inhibited the proliferation of BC cells and reduced their migratory ability. Western blot showed that Snail and vimentin protein expressions decreased, while E-cadherin expressions increased.

CONCLUSIONS

LRRC59 expression can predict the outcome of BC independently and serve as a new biomarker for diagnosis.

Construction of a prognostic model for colorectal adenocarcinoma based on Zn transport-related genes identified by single-cell sequencing and weighted co-expression network analysis

Background

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most prevalent malignancies and the third most lethal cancer globally. The most reported histological subtype of CRC is colon adenocarcinoma (COAD). The zinc transport pathway is critically involved in various tumors, and its anti-tumor effect may be through improving immune function. However, the Zn transport pathway in COAD has not been reported.

Methods

The determination of Zn transport-related genes in COAD was carried out through single-cell analysis of the GSE 161277 obtained from the GEO dataset. Subsequently, a weighted co-expression network analysis of the TCGA cohort was performed. Then, the prognostic model was conducted utilizing univariate Cox regression and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) Cox regression analysis. Functional enrichment, immune microenvironment, and survival analyses were also carried out. Consensus clustering analysis was utilized to verify the validity of the prognostic model and explore the immune microenvironment. Ultimately, cell experiments, including CCK-8,transwell and scratch assays, were performed to identify the function of LRRC59 in COAD.

Results

According to the Zn transport-related prognostic model, the individuals with COAD in TCGA and GEO databases were classified into high- and low-risk groups. The group with low risk had a comparatively more favorable prognosis. Two groups had significant variations in the immune infiltration, MHC, and the expression of genes related to the immune checkpoint. The cell experiments indicated that the proliferation, migration, and invasion of the HCT-116, DLD-1, and RKO cell lines were considerably increased after LRRC59 knockdown. It proved that LRRC59 was indeed a protective factor for COAD.

Conclusion

A prognostic model for COAD was developed using zinc transport-related genes. This model can efficiently assess the immune microenvironment and prognosis of individuals with COAD. Subsequently, the function of LRRC59 in COAD was validated via cell experiments, highlighting its potential as a biomarker.

Identification of leucine-rich repeat-containing protein 59 (LRRC59) located in the endoplasmic reticulum as a novel prognostic factor for urothelial carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Urothelial carcinoma (UC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide. The biological heterogeneity of UCs causes considerable difficulties in predicting treatment outcomes and usually leads to clinical mismanagement. The identification of more sensitive and efficient predictive biomarkers is important in the diagnosis and classification of UCs. Herein, we report leucine-rich repeat-containing protein 59 (LRRC59) located in the endoplasmic reticulum as a novel predictive factor and potential therapeutic target for UCs.

METHODS

Using whole-slide image analysis in our cohort of 107 UC samples, we performed immunohistochemistry to evaluate the prognostic value of LRRC59 expression in UCs. In vitro experiments using RNAi were conducted to explore the role of LRRC59 in promoting UC cell proliferation and migration.

RESULTS

A significant correlation between LRRC59 and unfavorable prognosis of UCs in our cohort was demonstrated. Subsequent clinical analysis also revealed that elevated expression levels of LRRC59 were significantly associated with higher pathological grades and advanced stages of UC. Subsequently, knockdown of LRRC59 in UM-UC-3 and T24 cells using small interfering RNA significantly inhibited cell proliferation and migration, resulting in cell cycle arrest at the G1 phase. Conversely, the overexpression of LRRC59 in UC cells enhanced cell proliferation and migration. An integrated bioinformatics analysis revealed a significant functional network of LRRC59 involving protein misfolding, ER stress, and ubiquitination. Finally, in vitro experiments demonstrated that LRRC59 modulates ER stress signaling.

CONCLUSIONS

LRRC59 expression was significantly correlated with UC prognosis. LRRC59 might not only serve as a novel prognostic biomarker for risk stratification of patients with UC but also exhibit as a potential therapeutic target in UC that warrants further investigation.

Intracoronary Delivery of Porcine Cardiac Progenitor Cells Overexpressing IGF-1 and HGF in a Pig Model of Sub-Acute Myocardial Infarction

Human cardiac progenitor cells (hCPC) are considered a good candidate in cell therapy for ischemic heart disease, demonstrating capacity to improve functional recovery after myocardial infarction (MI), both in small and large preclinical animal models. However, improvements are required in terms of cell engraftment and efficacy. Based on previously published reports, insulin-growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) have demonstrated substantial cardioprotective, repair and regeneration activities, so they are good candidates to be evaluated in large animal model of MI. We have validated porcine cardiac progenitor cells (pCPC) and lentiviral vectors to overexpress IGF-1 (co-expressing eGFP) and HGF (co-expressing mCherry). pCPC were transduced and IGF1-eGFP^pos and HGF-mCherry^pos populations were purified by cell sorting and further expanded. Overexpression of IGF-1 has a limited impact on pCPC expression profile, whereas results indicated that pCPC-HGF-mCherry cultures could be counter selecting high expresser cells. In addition, pCPC-IGF1-eGFP showed a higher cardiogenic response, evaluated in co-cultures with decellularized extracellular matrix, compared with native pCPC or pCPC-HGF-mCherry. In vivo intracoronary co-administration of pCPC-IGF1-eGFP and pCPC-HFG-mCherry (1:1; 40 × 10⁶/animal), one week after the induction of an MI model in swine, revealed no significant improvement in cardiac function.

Molecular Characteristics, Prognostic Value, and Immune Characteristics of m6A Regulators Identified in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

N6-methyladenosine (m⁶A) plays crucial roles in a diverse range of physiological and pathological processes, and it is believed that it tremendously promotes neoplasia and progression. However, knowledge of the molecular characteristics of m⁶A modification, its prognostic value, and the infiltration of immune cell populations in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is still insufficient. Therefore, a pan-cancer genomic analysis was systematically performed here by examining m⁶A regulators at the molecular level within 33 multiple cancer types, and the correlations between the expression of m⁶A molecules were researched using datasets from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Based on the above analysis, insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding protein 2 (IGF2BP2) is upregulated in HNSCC and may serve as an independent prognostic factor of overall survival, thus showing potential as a prognostic biomarker in HNSCC. Genetic alteration analyses elucidated the reasons for the abnormal upregulation of IGF2BP2 in HNSCC. As a result, IGF2BP2 was selected for further univariate and multivariate analyses. The functions of the related genes were annotated through gene set enrichment analysis, and the activation states of multiple biological pathways were shown by gene set variation analysis. We found that LRRC59 and STIP1 may act as IGF2BP2-associated genes to have a regulatory function in the m⁶A modification. In addition, we found that the status of immune cell infiltration was correlated with the level of IGF2BP2 gene expression. Our results provide supplementation at the molecular level for epigenetic regulation in HNSCC and insight into effective immunotherapy targets and strategies.

Aquaporin-5 regulation of cell-cell adhesion proteins: an elusive "tail" story

Aquaporins (AQPs) are water channels that facilitate transport of water across cellular membranes. AQPs are overexpressed in several cancers. Especially in breast cancer, AQP5 overexpression correlates with spread to lymph nodes and poor prognosis. Previously, we showed that AQP5 expression reduced cell-cell adhesion by reducing levels of adherens and tight-junction proteins (e.g., ZO-1, plakoglobin, and β-catenin) at the actual junctions. Here, we show that, when targeted to the plasma membrane, the AQP5 COOH-terminal tail domain regulated junctional proteins and, moreover, that AQP5 interacted with ZO-1, plakoglobin, β-catenin, and desmoglein-2, which were all reduced at junctions upon AQP5 overexpression. Thus, our data suggest that AQP5 mediates the effect on cell-cell adhesion via interactions with junctional proteins independently of AQP5-mediated water transport. AQP5 overexpression in cancers may thus contribute to carcinogenesis and cancer spread by two independent mechanisms: reduced cell-cell adhesion, a characteristic of epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and increased cell migration capacity via water transport.