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Vela-Alcántara AM, Santiago-García J, Barragán-Palacios M, León-Chacón A, Domínguez-Pantoja M, Barceinas-Dávila I, Juárez-Aguilar E, Tamariz E. Differential modulation of cell morphology, migration, and Neuropilin-1 expression in cancer and non-cancer cell lines by substrate stiffness. Front Cell Dev Biol 2024; 12:1352233. [PMID: 38903533 PMCID: PMC11188430 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1352233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Physical changes in the tumor microenvironment, such as increased stiffness, regulate cancer hallmarks and play an essential role in gene expression, cell morphology, migration, and malignancy. However, the response of cancer cells to stiffness is not homogeneous and varies depending on the cell type and its mechanosensitivity. In this study, we investigated the differential responses of cervical (HeLa) and prostate (PC-3) cancer cell lines, as well as non-tumoral cell lines (HEK293 and HPrEC), to stiffness using polyacrylamide hydrogels mimicking normal and tumoral tissues. We analyzed cell morphology, migration, and the expression of neuropilin 1 (NRP1), a receptor involved in angiogenesis, cell migration, and extracellular matrix remodeling, known to be associated with cancer progression and poor prognosis. Our findings reveal that NRP1 expression increases on substrates mimicking the high stiffness characteristic of tumoral tissue in the non-tumoral cell lines HPrEC and HEK293. Conversely, in tumoral PC-3 cells, stiffness resembling normal prostate tissue induces an earlier and more sustained expression of NRP1. Furthermore, we observed that stiffness influences cell spreading, pseudopodia formation, and the mode of cell protrusion during migration. Soft substrates predominantly trigger bleb cell protrusion, while pseudopodia protrusions increase on substrates mimicking normal and tumor-like stiffnesses in HPrEC cells compared to PC-3 cells. Stiffer substrates also enhance the percentage of migratory cells, as well as their velocity and total displacement, in both non-tumoral and tumoral prostate cells. However, they only improve the persistence of migration in tumoral PC-3 cells. Moreover, we found that NRP1 co-localizes with actin, and its suppression impairs tumoral PC-3 spreading while decreasing pseudopodia protrusion mode. Our results suggest that the modulation of NRP1 expression by the stiffness can be a feedback loop to promote malignancy in non-tumoral and cancer cells, contingent upon the mechanosensitivity of the cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Monserrat Vela-Alcántara
- Programa de Doctorado en Ciencias de la Salud, Instituto de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, Mexico
- Laboratorio de Cultivo Celular, Departamento de Biomedicina, Instituto de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, Mexico
| | - Juan Santiago-García
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, Mexico
| | - Madeleine Barragán-Palacios
- Laboratorio de Cultivo Celular, Departamento de Biomedicina, Instituto de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, Mexico
- Programa de Maestría en Ciencias de la Salud, Instituto de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, Mexico
| | - Aylin León-Chacón
- Laboratorio de Cultivo Celular, Departamento de Biomedicina, Instituto de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, Mexico
| | | | - Irene Barceinas-Dávila
- Laboratorio de Cultivo Celular, Departamento de Biomedicina, Instituto de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, Mexico
- Programa de Maestría en Ciencias de la Salud, Instituto de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, Mexico
| | - Enrique Juárez-Aguilar
- Laboratorio de Cultivo Celular, Departamento de Biomedicina, Instituto de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, Mexico
| | - Elisa Tamariz
- Laboratorio de Cultivo Celular, Departamento de Biomedicina, Instituto de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, Mexico
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Zhao W, Ma J, Zhang Q, Zhang H, Ma W, Li S, Piao Y, Zhao S, Dai S, Tang D. Ginsenoside Rg3 overcomes tamoxifen resistance through inhibiting glycolysis in breast cancer cells. Cell Biol Int 2024; 48:496-509. [PMID: 38225685 DOI: 10.1002/cbin.12123] [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: 10/11/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2024]
Abstract
Tamoxifen (TAM) resistance poses a significant clinical challenge in human breast cancer and exhibits high heterogeneity among different patients. Rg3, an original ginsenoside known to inhibit tumor growth, has shown potential for enhancing TAM sensitivity in breast cancer cells. However, the specific role and underlying mechanisms of Rg3 in this context remain unclear. Aerobic glycolysis, a metabolic process, has been implicated in chemotherapeutic resistance. In this study, we demonstrate that elevated glycolysis plays a central role in TAM resistance and can be effectively targeted and overcome by Rg3. Mechanistically, we observed upregulation of 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase 3 (PFKFB3), a key mediator of glycolysis, in TAM-resistant MCF-7/TamR and T-47D/TamR cells. Crucially, PFKFB3 is indispensable for the synergistic effect of TAM and Rg3 combination therapy, which suppresses cell proliferation and glycolysis in MCF-7/TamR and T-47D/TamR cells, both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, overexpression of PFKFB3 in MCF-7 cells mimicked the TAM resistance phenotype. Importantly, combination treatment significantly reduced TAM-resistant MCF-7 cell proliferation in an in vivo model. In conclusion, this study highlights the contribution of Rg3 in enhancing the therapeutic efficacy of TAM in breast cancer, and suggests that targeting TAM-resistant PFKFB3 overexpression may represent a promising strategy to improve the response to combination therapy in breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenhui Zhao
- Department of Medical Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China
| | - Jianli Ma
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China
| | - Qingyuan Zhang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China
| | - Han Zhang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China
| | - Wenjie Ma
- Department of Medical Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China
| | - Shuo Li
- Department of Medical Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China
| | - Ying Piao
- Department of Medical Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China
| | - Shu Zhao
- Department of Medical Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China
| | - Shaochun Dai
- Department of Ultrasound, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China
| | - Dabei Tang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China
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Bai Z, Yan C, Chang D. Prediction and therapeutic targeting of the tumor microenvironment-associated gene CTSK in gastric cancer. Discov Oncol 2023; 14:200. [PMID: 37930479 PMCID: PMC10628060 DOI: 10.1007/s12672-023-00821-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cathepsin-K (CTSK) is overexpressed in Gastric cancer (GC) and the mechanism of its overexpression in GC is still unclear. The present work found CTSK as a potential predictive biomarker and immunotherapeutic target for GC based on the tumor microenvironment (TME). METHODS From public databases, gene expression profiles and clinical data of GC were downloaded to analyze the distribution of stromal and immune cells and tumor abundance in TME. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated with TME were obtained by differential analysis, followed by cross-screening to obtain CTSK as a gene associated with TME. Next, a series of methods and tools were employed to explore the relationships between clinicopathological features of GC and CTSK expression as well as prognosis, tumor immune microenvironment, immune checkpoints and drug sensitivity. And GSEA was used to investigate the potential role of CTSK in the tumor microenvironment of GC. RESULTS From the dataset, we obtained a total of 656 DEGs associated with TME and the stromal component of TME was found to be closely involved in GC prognosis. CTSK was cross-screened as the key gene associated with TME by the PPI network and univariate Cox regression analysis. Pan-cancer analysis revealed significant high expression of CTSK in a variety of cancers. Subsequently, we hypothesized that high-expressed CTSK was closely correlated with poor prognosis and lymph node metastasis of tumors, and that CTSK, a GC TME-related gene, was largely involved in a range of biological behaviors of tumors, with a significant correlation between several immune cells. CONCLUSION CTSK was validated as a potential prognostic biomarker related to TME of GC and could be a promising next-generation immunotherapeutic target for GC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zilong Bai
- Department of Surgical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, Shanxi, China
| | - Chunyu Yan
- Department of Geriatric Endocrinology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, Shanxi, China
| | - Dongmin Chang
- Department of Surgical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, Shanxi, China.
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Wang S, Yang X, Liu C, Hu J, Yan M, Ding C, Fu Y. Identification of key genes associated with poor prognosis and neoplasm staging in gastric cancer. Medicine (Baltimore) 2023; 102:e35111. [PMID: 37800754 PMCID: PMC10553055 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000035111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gastric cancer (GC) is highly biologically and genetically heterogeneous disease with poor prognosis. Increasing evidence indicates that biomarkers can serve as prediction and clinical intervention. Therefore, it is vital to identify core molecules and pathways participating in the development of GC. METHODS In this study, GSE54129, GSE56807, GSE63089, and GSE118916 were used for identified overlapped 75 DEGs. GO and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis showed DEGs mainly enriched in biological process about collagen-containing extracellular matrix and collagen metabolic. Next, protein-protein interaction network was built and the hub gene was excavated. Clinicopathological features and prognostic value were also evaluated. RESULTS Hub genes were shown as below, FN1, COL1A2, COL1A1, COL3A1, COL4A1, COL6A3, COL5A2, SPARC, PDGFRB, COL12A1. Those genes were upregulation in GC and related to the poor prognosis (except COL5A2, P = .73). What is more, high expression indicated worse T stage and tumor, node, metastasis stage in GC patients. Later, the results of 25 GC tumor specimens and 34 normal tissues showed that FN1, COL3A1, COL4A1, SPARC, COL5A2, and COL12A1 were significantly upregulated in cancer samples. CONCLUSION Our study systematically explored the core genes and crucial pathways in GC, providing insights into clinical management and individual treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuoshan Wang
- Department of General Medicine, The First People’s Hospital of Foshan, The Affiliated Foshan Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiansheng Yang
- Second Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Affiliated Cancer Hospital & Institute of Guangzhou Medical University, GuangZhou, China
| | - Chang Liu
- Guangzhou KingMed Center for Clinical Laboratory Co., Ltd, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jinlun Hu
- Department of General Medicine, The First People’s Hospital of Foshan, The Affiliated Foshan Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangdong, China
| | - Mei Yan
- Department of General Medicine, The First People’s Hospital of Foshan, The Affiliated Foshan Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangdong, China
| | - Chan Ding
- Department of General Medicine, The First People’s Hospital of Foshan, The Affiliated Foshan Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangdong, China
| | - Yue Fu
- Department of General Medicine, The First People’s Hospital of Foshan, The Affiliated Foshan Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangdong, China
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Zhou F, Sun J, Ye L, Jiang T, Li W, Su C, Ren S, Wu F, Zhou C, Gao G. Fibronectin promotes tumor angiogenesis and progression of non-small-cell lung cancer by elevating WISP3 expression via FAK/MAPK/ HIF-1α axis and activating wnt signaling pathway. Exp Hematol Oncol 2023; 12:61. [PMID: 37468964 DOI: 10.1186/s40164-023-00419-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fibronectin, an extracellular matrix protein, has been reported to be associated with heterogeneous cancer stemness, angiogenesis and progression in multiple cancer types. However, the roles and the underlying mechanism of fibronectin on the progression NSCLC need to be further elucidated. METHODS Public dataset such as Kaplan-Meier Plotter was used to determine the prognostic significance of genes. The correlation of different protein expression in clinical and xenograft tissues was tested by immunohistochemistry experiment. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments were performed to determine the role of fibronectin on the tumor growth, metastasis, and angiogenesis in NSCLC. The activation of key signaling pathway under fibronectin was examined by WB assay. RNA-seq was applicated to screening the target gene of fibronectin. Rescue experiment was performed to confirm the role of target gene in fibronectin-mediated function in NSCLC. Finally, luciferase and CHIP assays were used to elucidate the mechanism by which fibronectin regulated the target gene. RESULTS Our results revealed that fibronectin was up-regulated in cancer tissues compared with the normal ones in NSCLC patients. Dish- coated fibronectin enhanced the tumor growth, metastasis, and angiogenesis of NSCLC in vitro and in vivo by promoting EMT and maintaining stemness of NSCLC cells. As expected, fibronectin activated FAK and its downstream MAPK/ERK signaling pathway. WISP3 was screened as a potential target gene of fibronectin. Interestingly, WISP3 effectively activated Wnt signaling pathway, and knockdown of WISP3 effectively blocked the influence of fibronectin on the migration, invasion and vascular structure formation potential of NSCLC cells. Our data also manifested that fibronectin elevated the transcription of WISP3 gene by promoting the binding of HIF-1α to the promoter region of WISP3 in NSCLC cells. CONCLUSIONS Our findings sketched the outline of the route for fibronectin exert its role in NSCLC, in which fibronectin activated downstream FAK and MAPK/ERK signaling pathways, and mediated the accumulation of HIF-1α. Then, HIF-1α enabled the transcription of WISP3, and subsequently promoted the activation of Wnt signaling pathway, and finally enhanced the tumor growth, metastasis, and angiogenesis in NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Zhou
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital & Thoracic Cancer Institute, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jianguo Sun
- Precision Medicine Center, Taizhou Central Hospital (Taizhou University Hospital), Taizhou, Zhejiang, P R China
| | - Lingyun Ye
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital & Thoracic Cancer Institute, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Tao Jiang
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital & Thoracic Cancer Institute, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei Li
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital & Thoracic Cancer Institute, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Chunxia Su
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital & Thoracic Cancer Institute, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Shengxiang Ren
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital & Thoracic Cancer Institute, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Fengying Wu
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital & Thoracic Cancer Institute, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
| | - Caicun Zhou
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital & Thoracic Cancer Institute, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
| | - Guanghui Gao
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital & Thoracic Cancer Institute, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
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Li J, Yu T, Sun J, Zeng Z, Liu Z, Ma M, Zheng Z, He Y, Kang W. Comprehensive analysis of cuproptosis-related immune biomarker signature to enhance prognostic accuracy in gastric cancer. Aging (Albany NY) 2023; 15:2772-2796. [PMID: 37036489 PMCID: PMC10120894 DOI: 10.18632/aging.204646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gastric cancer (GC) is a malignant tumor with high prevalence and fatality. Cuproptosis is a recently identified copper-dependent programmed cell death mechanism. Multiple studies have demonstrated the profound impact of the immune microenvironment on tumor development. Hence, we decided to excavate the potential functional roles of cuproptosis-related immune genes (CRIGs) in GC and their values as biomarkers. METHODS Cuproptosis- and immune-related genes were curated from top published studies on cell cuproptosis and cellular immunity. Transcriptome data and clinical information were obtained from TCGA, GTEx, and GEO databases. Cox and LASSO analyses were used to establish a prognostic signature for GC. Long-term prognosis, immune infiltration, immune checkpoint, and drug response were compared between signature groups. CRIG expression in GC scRNA-seq was analyzed. Immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate CRIG and cuproptosis regulator FDX1 in GC tissues. RESULTS Seven CRIGs (ANOS1, CTLA4, ITGAV, CXCR4, NRP1, FABP3, and LGR6) were selected to establish a potent signature to forecast the long-term prognosis of patients. GC patients had worse prognosis and poor responses to chemotherapeutic drugs (5-Fluorouracil and paclitaxel) in the high-risk group. scRNA-seq revealed that CTLA4, ITGAV, CXCR4, and NRP1 enrichment in specific cell types regulated the progression of GC. Moreover, NRP1, CXCR4, LGR6, CTLA4, and FDX1 were elevated in GC tissues, with a positive correlation between their expression and FDX1. CONCLUSIONS To conclude, this study first provides insights into the functions of CRIGs in GC. Furthermore, a robust cuproptosis-related immune biomarker signature was established to forecast the long-term survival of GC patients accurately.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Li
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Dongcheng, Beijing 100730, People’s Republic of China
| | - Tian Yu
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Dongcheng, Beijing 100730, People’s Republic of China
| | - Juan Sun
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Dongcheng, Beijing 100730, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ziyang Zeng
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Dongcheng, Beijing 100730, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhen Liu
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Dongcheng, Beijing 100730, People’s Republic of China
| | - Mingwei Ma
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Dongcheng, Beijing 100730, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zicheng Zheng
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Dongcheng, Beijing 100730, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yixuan He
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Dongcheng, Beijing 100730, People’s Republic of China
| | - Weiming Kang
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Dongcheng, Beijing 100730, People’s Republic of China
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Lv Y, Xu L. Tamoxifen Regulates Epithelial–Mesenchymal Transition in Endometrial Cancer <i>via</i> the CANP10/NRP1 Signaling Pathway. Biol Pharm Bull 2022; 45:1818-1824. [DOI: 10.1248/bpb.b22-00530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Lei Xu
- Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital
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8
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Ni B, Song X, Shi B, Wang J, Sun Q, Wang X, Xu M, Cao L, Zhu G, Li J. Research progress of ginseng in the treatment of gastrointestinal cancers. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:1036498. [PMID: 36313365 PMCID: PMC9603756 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.1036498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer has become one of the major causes of human death. Several anticancer drugs are available; howeve their use and efficacy are limited by the toxic side effects and drug resistance caused by their continuous application. Many natural products have antitumor effects with low toxicity and fewer adverse effects. Moreover, they play an important role in enhancing the cytotoxicity of chemotherapeutic agents, reducing toxic side effects, and reversing chemoresistance. Consequently, natural drugs are being applied as potential therapeutic options in the field of antitumor treatment. As natural medicinal plants, some components of ginseng have been shown to have excellent efficacy and a good safety profile for cancer treatment. The pharmacological activities and possible mechanisms of action of ginseng have been identified. Its broad range of pharmacological activities includes antitumor, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-stress, anti-fibrotic, central nervous system modulating, cardioprotective, and immune-enhancing effects. Numerous studies have also shown that throuth multiple pathways, ginseng and its active ingredients exert antitumor effects on gastrointestinal (GI) tract tumors, such as esophageal, gastric, colorectal, liver, and pancreatic cancers. Herein, we introduced the main components of ginseng, including ginsenosides, polysaccharides, and sterols, etc., and reviewed the mechanism of action and research progress of ginseng in the treatment of various GI tumors. Futhermore, the pathways of action of the main components of ginseng are discussed in depth to promote the clinical development and application of ginseng in the field of anti-GI tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baoyi Ni
- Guang’anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaotong Song
- Guang’anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Bolun Shi
- Guang’anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jia Wang
- Hongqi Hospital of Mudanjiang Medical University, Mudanjiang, China
| | - Qianhui Sun
- Guang’anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xinmiao Wang
- Guang’anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Manman Xu
- Guang’anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Luchang Cao
- Guang’anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | | | - Jie Li
- Guang’anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Jie Li,
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Zhang XX, Luo JH, Wu LQ. FN1 overexpression is correlated with unfavorable prognosis and immune infiltrates in breast cancer. Front Genet 2022; 13:913659. [PMID: 36035176 PMCID: PMC9417469 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.913659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: To investigate the correlation of fibronectin 1 (FN1) expression with prognosis and tumor-infiltrating immune cells in breast cancer (BRCA). Methods: FN1 mRNA and protein expressions were analyzed through Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER), Gene Set Cancer Analysis (GSCA), Human Protein Atlas (HPA) databases, and immunohistochemical analysis. The clinicopathological characteristics and genetic factors affecting the FN1 mRNA expression were assessed by various public databases. Then, we analyzed the prognostic value of FN1 in BRCA by Kaplan-Meier plotter, receiver operating characteristic, and Cox regression analyses. Further, the UCSC Xena database was used to retrieve TCGA-BRCA expression profiles for functional enrichment analysis and immune cell infiltration analysis. The potential drugs for the BRCA patients with high- FN1 expression were identified using the connectivity map analysis. Results: FN1 was upregulated in BRCA tissues compared with normal tissues. High FN1 mRNA expression was correlated with poor clinical outcomes and had good performance in predicting the survival status of BRCA patients. Further, Cox regression analysis showed that FN1 was an independent prognostic factor for predicting the overall survival of patients with BRCA. Moreover, hypermethylation of FN1 contributed to a better prognosis for BRCA patients. Functional enrichment analyses revealed the ECM-receptor interaction pathway and focal adhesion as the common pathways. Moreover, FN1 showed a significant association with tumor-infiltrating immune cells and immune checkpoint inhibitors. Several drugs such as telmisartan, malotilate, and seocalcitol may have therapeutic effects in BRCA patients with high FN1 expression. Conclusion: FN1 might serve as a novel prognostic biomarker and a novel therapeutic target for BRCA. Besides, the association of FN1 with immune cells and immune checkpoint inhibitors may provide assistance for BRCA treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiu-Xia Zhang
- Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Linping Campus, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jun-Hua Luo
- Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Linping Campus, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Li-Qiang Wu
- Department of Hematology, Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- *Correspondence: Li-Qiang Wu,
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10
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Neuropilin (NRPs) Related Pathological Conditions and Their Modulators. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23158402. [PMID: 35955539 PMCID: PMC9368954 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23158402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Revised: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuropilin 1 (NRP1) represents one of the two homologous neuropilins (NRP, splice variants of neuropilin 2 are the other) found in all vertebrates. It forms a transmembrane glycoprotein distributed in many human body tissues as a (co)receptor for a variety of different ligands. In addition to its physiological role, it is also associated with various pathological conditions. Recently, NRP1 has been discovered as a coreceptor for the SARS-CoV-2 viral entry, along with ACE2, and has thus become one of the COVID-19 research foci. However, in addition to COVID-19, the current review also summarises its other pathological roles and its involvement in clinical diseases like cancer and neuropathic pain. We also discuss the diversity of native NRP ligands and perform a joint analysis. Last but not least, we review the therapeutic roles of NRP1 and introduce a series of NRP1 modulators, which are typical peptidomimetics or other small molecule antagonists, to provide the medicinal chemistry community with a state-of-the-art overview of neuropilin modulator design and NRP1 druggability assessment.
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11
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Huang S, Huang P, Wu H, Wang S, Liu G. LINC02381 aggravates breast cancer through the miR-1271-5p/FN1 axis to activate PI3K/AKT pathway. Mol Carcinog 2021; 61:346-358. [PMID: 34882856 DOI: 10.1002/mc.23375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Revised: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Emerging investigations have demonstrated that lncRNAs are key crucial modulators in cancer. In this study, we investigated the role of LINC02381 in breast cancer (BC). Reverse transcriptase quantitative polymerase chain reaction measured the LINC02381 level in BC tissues and cells. Colony formation, EdU staining, wound healing and Transwell experiments examined the impact of LINC02381 depletion on BC cell phenotypes. Relationship among miR-1271-5p, LINC02381, and FN1 was tested through applying RIP, luciferase reporter, and RNA pull-down assays. We found that LINC02381 expression was elevated in BC. Functionally, LINC02381 knockdown hampered BC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. LINC02381 overexpression accelerated tumor formation in vivo. Mechanistically, LINC02381 acted as a ceRNA to increase FN1 via decoying miR-1271-5p. Additionally, LINC02381 activated PI3K/AKT pathway by upregulating FN1. Rescue assays indicated that FN1 upregulation or PI3K/AKT activation rescued the LINC02381 knockdown-mediated inhibition on malignant phenotypes of BC cells. Overall, LINC02381 exerts carcinogenic effects in BC by the miR-1271-5p/FN1 axis to activate PI3K/AKT pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shoucheng Huang
- College of Life and Health Science, Anhui Science and Technology University, Fengyang, Anhui, China
| | - Ping Huang
- College of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Anhui Science and Technology University, Fengyang, Anhui, China
| | - Huazhang Wu
- School of Life Science, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Translational Cancer Research, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, Anhui, China
| | - Song Wang
- College of Life and Health Science, Anhui Science and Technology University, Fengyang, Anhui, China
| | - Guodong Liu
- College of Life and Health Science, Anhui Science and Technology University, Fengyang, Anhui, China
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12
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Shi J, Wang Z, Guo J, Chen Y, Tong C, Tong J, Hu W, Li C, Li X. Identification of a Three-Gene Signature Based on Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition of Lung Adenocarcinoma Through Construction and Validation of a Risk-Prediction Model. Front Oncol 2021; 11:726834. [PMID: 34745947 PMCID: PMC8567015 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.726834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process, which is regulated by genes of inducible factors and transcription factor family of signaling pathways, transforms epithelial cells into mesenchymal cells and is involved in tumor invasion and progression and increases tumor tolerance to clinical interventions. This study constructed a multigene marker for lung predicting the prognosis of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) patients by bioinformatic analysis based on EMT-related genes. Gene sets associated with EMT were downloaded from the EMT-gene database, and RNA-seq of LUAD and clinical information of patients were downloaded from the TCGA database. Differentially expressed genes were screened by difference analysis. Survival analysis was performed to identify genes associated with LUAD prognosis, and overlapping genes were taken for all the three. Prognosis-related genes were further determined by combining LASSO regression analysis for establishing a prediction signature, and the risk score equation for the prognostic model was established using multifactorial COX regression analysis to construct a survival prognostic model. The model accuracy was evaluated using subject working characteristic curves. According to the median value of risk score, samples were divided into a high-risk group and low-risk group to observe the correlation with the clinicopathological characteristics of patients. Combined with the results of one-way COX regression analysis, HGF, PTX3, and S100P were considered as independent predictors of LUAD prognosis. In lung cancer tissues, HGF and PTX3 expression was downregulated and S100P expression was upregulated. Kaplan-Meier, COX regression analysis showed that HGF, PTX3, and S100P were prognostic independent predictors of LUAD, and high expressions of all the three were all significantly associated with immune cell infiltration. The present study provided potential prognostic predictive biological markers for LUAD patients, and confirmed EMT as a key mechanism in LUAD progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianguang Shi
- Thoracic Surgery Department, Ningbo First Hospital, Ningbo, China
| | - Zishan Wang
- Thoracic Surgery Department, Ningbo First Hospital, Ningbo, China
| | - Jing Guo
- Thoracic Surgery Department, Ningbo First Hospital, Ningbo, China
| | - Yingqi Chen
- Thoracic Surgery Department, Ningbo First Hospital, Ningbo, China
| | - Changyong Tong
- Thoracic Surgery Department, Ningbo First Hospital, Ningbo, China
| | - Jingjie Tong
- Thoracic Surgery Department, Ningbo First Hospital, Ningbo, China
| | - Wentao Hu
- Thoracic Surgery Department, Ningbo First Hospital, Ningbo, China
| | - Chenwei Li
- Thoracic Surgery Department, Ningbo First Hospital, Ningbo, China
| | - Xinjian Li
- Thoracic Surgery Department, Ningbo First Hospital, Ningbo, China
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13
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Zhang SX, Liu W, Ai B, Sun LL, Chen ZS, Lin LZ. Current Advances and Outlook in Gastric Cancer Chemoresistance: A Review. Recent Pat Anticancer Drug Discov 2021; 17:26-41. [PMID: 34587888 DOI: 10.2174/1574892816666210929165729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2021] [Revised: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Surgical resection of the lesion is the standard primary treatment of gastric cancer. Unfortunately, most patients are already in the advanced stage of the disease when they are diagnosed with gastric cancer. Alternative therapies, such as radiation therapy and chemotherapy, can achieve only very limited benefits. The emergence of cancer drug resistance has always been the major obstacle to the cure of tumors. The main goal of modern cancer pharmacology is to determine the underlying mechanism of anticancer drugs. OBJECTIVE Here, we mainly review the latest research results related to the mechanism of chemotherapy resistance in gastric cancer, the application of natural products in overcoming the chemotherapy resistance of gastric cancer, and the new strategies currently being developed to treat tumors based on immunotherapy and gene therapy. CONCLUSION The emergence of cancer drug resistance is the main obstacle in achieving alleviation and final cure for gastric cancer. Mixed therapies are considered to be a possible way to overcome chemoresistance. Natural products are the main resource for discovering new drugs specific for treating chemoresistance, and further research is needed to clarify the mechanism of natural product activity in patients. .
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheng-Xiong Zhang
- Guangdong Province Work Injury Rehabilitation Hospital, Guangzhou, 510440. China
| | - Wei Liu
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006. China
| | - Bo Ai
- Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030. China
| | - Ling-Ling Sun
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510405. China
| | - Zhe-Sheng Chen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, St. John's University, Queens, NY 11439, New York. United States
| | - Li-Zhu Lin
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510405. China
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14
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Xu J, Pan Y, Liu Y, Na S, Zhou H, Li L, Chen F, Song H. A review of anti-tumour effects of ginsenoside in gastrointestinal cancer. J Pharm Pharmacol 2021; 73:1292-1301. [PMID: 33836068 DOI: 10.1093/jpp/rgab048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Gastrointestinal cancer, one of the major causes of cancer-related deaths in the world, refers to malignant conditions of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and other organs. Although conventional therapy has been successful to some extent in cancer treatment, drug resistance and cancer recurrence still limit the therapeutic efficacy. There is increasing evidence indicating that ginsenoside, as a kind of high nutritional value and widely used traditional Chinese medicine, could contribute to the promotion of treatment in GI cancer, which deserves further investigation. KEY FINDINGS Based on previous studies, the possible mechanisms mainly include regulation of autophagy, apoptosis, proliferation, migration and angiogenesis. However, no studies recently have conducted a more in-depth review of the anti-cancer effects of ginsenoside in GI cancer. SUMMARY Therefore, this review will summarise and analyse the latest developments in the anti-tumour effects of ginsenosides in GI cancer, thus may promote further research of the anti-tumour efficacy of ginsenoside.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Xu
- School of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China
| | - Yunxia Pan
- School of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China
| | - Yanyan Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China.,Institute of Integrative Medicine, Anhui Academy of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China.,Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicinal Formula of Anhui Province, Hefei, China
| | - Sha Na
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China.,Institute of Integrative Medicine, Anhui Academy of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China.,Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicinal Formula of Anhui Province, Hefei, China
| | - Hui Zhou
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China.,Institute of Integrative Medicine, Anhui Academy of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China.,Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicinal Formula of Anhui Province, Hefei, China
| | - Lu Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China.,Institute of Integrative Medicine, Anhui Academy of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China.,Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicinal Formula of Anhui Province, Hefei, China
| | - Fengyuan Chen
- School of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China.,Institute of Integrative Medicine, Anhui Academy of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China.,Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicinal Formula of Anhui Province, Hefei, China
| | - Hang Song
- School of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China.,Institute of Integrative Medicine, Anhui Academy of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China.,Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicinal Formula of Anhui Province, Hefei, China
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15
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Overexpressed versican promoted cell multiplication, migration and invasion in gastric cancer. Tissue Cell 2021; 73:101611. [PMID: 34358918 DOI: 10.1016/j.tice.2021.101611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Revised: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 07/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Versican (VCAN) is verified to promote development among many cancers, whose function on gastric cancer (GC) is less studied. This work explored the effect of VCNA on GC. The differentially expressed VCAN between tumor and normal samples, among different cancer stages and the overall survival of GC patients with high and low VCAN levels were predicted through Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis 2 (GEPIA2). The association between VCAN and clinicopathological parameters was analyzed by clinical investigation. AGS and NCI-N87 cells were transfected with VCAN short hairpin RNA (shVCAN) and VCAN overexpression plasmid. The VCNA, Cyclin D1, Cyclin E, E-Cadherin, N-Cadherin and Vimentin expression was detected through quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blot. Cell viability was assessed through MTT assay. Cell migration was measured by wound healing assay and cell invasion was evaluated through Transwell assay. Cell cycle was determined by flow cytometry assay. VCAN was upregulated in GC and its high expression related to advanced TNM stage, Lymph node metastasis, Depth of invasion and Grade. VCAN knockdown inhibited multiplication, migration, invasion, Cyclin D1, Cyclin E, N-Cadherin and Vimentin expression while induced cycle arrest and E-Cadherin level of GC cells, whereas overexpressed VCAN showed opposite results. VCAN had a potential to be a biomarker for GC and overexpressed VCAN promoted GC cell multiplication, migration and invasion.
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16
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The role of FOSL1 in stem-like cell reprogramming processes. Sci Rep 2021; 11:14677. [PMID: 34282187 PMCID: PMC8290037 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-94072-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) have self-renewal abilities responsible for cancer progression, therapy resistance, and metastatic growth. The glioblastoma stem-like cells are the most studied among CSC populations. A recent study identified four transcription factors (SOX2, SALL2, OLIG2, and POU3F2) as the minimal core sufficient to reprogram differentiated glioblastoma (GBM) cells into stem-like cells. Transcriptomic data of GBM tissues and cell lines from two different datasets were then analyzed by the SWItch Miner (SWIM), a network-based software, and FOSL1 was identified as a putative regulator of the previously identified minimal core. Herein, we selected NTERA-2 and HEK293T cells to perform an in vitro study to investigate the role of FOSL1 in the reprogramming mechanisms. We transfected the two cell lines with a constitutive FOSL1 cDNA plasmid. We demonstrated that FOSL1 directly regulates the four transcription factors binding their promoter regions, is involved in the deregulation of several stemness markers, and reduces the cells' ability to generate aggregates increasing the extracellular matrix component FN1. Although further experiments are necessary, our data suggest that FOSL1 reprograms the stemness by regulating the core of the four transcription factors.
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