ESM-1: A Novel Tumor Biomaker and its Research Advances

Epithelial‑derived head and neck squamous tumourigenesis (Review)

Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs), a heterogeneous group of cancers that arise from the mucosal epithelia cells in the head and neck areas, present great challenges in diagnosis, treatment and prognosis due to their complex aetiology and various clinical manifestations. Several factors, including smoking, alcohol consumption, oncogenic genes, growth factors, Epstein‑Barr virus and human papillomavirus infections can contribute to HNSCC development. The unpredictable tumour microenvironment adds to the complexity of managing HNSCC. Despite significant advances in therapies, the prediction of outcome after treatment for patients with HNSCC remains poor, and the 5‑year overall survival rate is low due to late diagnosis. Early detection greatly increases the chances of successful treatment. The present review aimed to bring together the latest findings related to the molecular mechanisms of HNSCC carcinogenesis and progression. Comprehensive genomic, transcriptomic, metabolomic, microbiome and proteomic analyses allow researchers to identify important biological markers such as genetic alterations, gene expression signatures and protein markers that drive HNSCC tumours. These biomarkers associated with the stages of initiation, progression and metastasis of cancer are useful in the management of patients with cancer in order to improve their life expectancy and quality of life.

Functional analysis of ESM1 by shRNA-mediated knockdown of its expression in papillary thyroid cancer cells

OBJECTIVE

Endothelial specific molecule-1 (ESM1) is implicated as an oncogene in multiple human cancers. However, the function of ESM1 in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is not well understood. The current study aimed to investigate the effect of ESM1 on the growth, migration, and invasion of PTC to provide a novel perspective for PTC treatment.

METHODS

The expression levels of ESM1 in PTC tissues form 53 tumor tissue samples and 59 matching adjacent normal tissue samples were detected by immunohistochemical analysis. Knockdown of ESM1 expression in TPC-1 and SW579 cell lines was established to investigate its role in PTC. Moreover, cell proliferation, apoptosis, wound healing, and transwell assays were conducted in vitro to assess cell proliferation, migration and invasion.

RESULTS

The findings revealed that ESM1 expression was significantly higher in PTC tissues than that found in paraneoplastic tissues (P<0.0001). Knockdown of ESM1 expression inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of TPC-1 and SW579 cells in vitro. Compared with the control group, the mRNA and protein levels of ESM1 in PTC cells were significantly reduced following knockdown of its expression (P<0.01). In addition, ESM1-knockdown cells indicated decreased proliferation and decreased migratory and invasive activities (P<0.01, P<0.01, P<0.001, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

ESM1 was identified as a major gene in the occurrence and progression of PTC, which could increase the proliferation, migration, and invasion of PTC cells. It may be a promising diagnostic and therapeutic target gene.

Endocan in prediabetes, diabetes, and diabetes-related complications: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Diabetes is one of the chronic conditions with a high burden all around the world. Macrovascular and microvascular involvement are among the common mechanisms by which diabetes can impact patients' lives. Endocan as an inflammatory endothelial biomarker has been shown to increase in several communicable and non-communicable diseases. Herein, we aim to investigate the role of endocan as a biomarker in diabetes as a systematic review and meta-analysis.

METHODS

International databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Embase were searched for relevant studies assessing blood endocan in diabetic patients. Estimation of the standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for comparison of circulating endocan levels between diabetic patients and non-diabetic controls were conducted through random-effect meta-analysis.

RESULTS

Totally, 24 studies were included, assessing 3354 cases with a mean age of 57.4 ± 8.4 years. Meta-analysis indicated that serum endocan levels were significantly higher in diabetic patients in comparison with healthy controls (SMD 1.00, 95% CI 0.81 to 1.19, p-value < 0.01). Moreover, in the analysis of studies with only type-2 diabetes, the same result showing higher endocan was obtained (SMD 1.01, 95% CI 0.78 to 1.24, p-value < 0.01). Higher endocan levels were also reported in chronic diabetes complications such as diabetic retinopathy, diabetic kidney disease, and peripheral neuropathy.

CONCLUSION

Based on our study's findings, endocan levels are increased in diabetes, however, further studies are needed for assessing this association. In addition, higher endocan levels were detected in chronic complications of diabetes. This can help researchers and clinicians in recognizing disease endothelial dysfunction and potential complications.

Endocan Promotes Pro-Tumorigenic Signaling in Lung Cancer Cells: Modulation of Cell Proliferation, Migration and lncRNAs H19 and HULC Expression

Endocan is a circulating proteoglycan secreted by several cell lines and identified as a potential biomarker of inflammation and angiogenesis. Endocan-increased expression has been found in a broad spectrum of human tumors, including lung cancer, and is associated with a poor prognosis. To elucidate the possible mechanism, this study aimed to investigate the role of endocan in non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) using an in vitro model of cultured cells. Endocan expression was knocked down by using a specific small interfering RNA. The effects of endocan knockdown have been evaluated on VEGF-A, VEGFR-2, HIF-1α, the long non-coding RNAs H19 and HULC expression, and AKT and ERK 1/2 degree of activation. Cell migration and proliferation have been studied as well. VEGF-A, VEGFR-2, HIF-1α, and the long non-coding RNAs H19 and HULC expression were significantly affected by endocan knockdown. These effects correlated with a reduction of cell migration and proliferation and of AKT and ERK 1/2 activation. Our findings suggest that endocan promotes a more aggressive cancer cell phenotype in NSCLC.

Endothelial cell-specific molecule 1 (ESM1) promoted by transcription factor SPI1 acts as an oncogene to modulate the malignant phenotype of endometrial cancer

We aimed to study the function and mechanism of endothelial cell-specific molecule 1 (ESM1) in endometrial cancer (EC). The binding relationship between SPI1 and ESM1 was predicted by bioinformatics analysis and verified by the dual-luciferase reporter assay. The expressions and effects of SPI1 and ESM1 were determined using quantitative real-time PCR, immunohistochemistry, Western blot, and functional experiments. ESM1 was highly expressed in EC and was associated with the poor prognosis of patients. ESM1 silencing suppressed the viability, proliferation, invasion, and angiogenesis of EC cells, down-regulated expressions of PCNA, N-cadherin, Vimentin, VEGFR-1, VEGFR2, and EGFR, but upregulated E-cadherin level, while ESM1 overexpression did oppositely. Moreover, SPI1 bound to ESM1. Overexpressed SPI1 promoted the expression of ESM1 and induced malignant phenotype (viability, proliferation, and invasion), which were countervailed by ESM1 silencing. Collectively, ESM1 induced by SPI1 promotes the malignant phenotype of EC.

Endocan in Acute Leukemia: Current Knowledge and Future Perspectives

Endocan is a soluble dermatan sulfate proteoglycan expressed by endothelial cells and detected in serum/plasma. Its expression is increased in tumors/tumor vessels in several human malignancies, and high expression (high serum/plasma levels or tumor levels) has an adverse prognostic impact in several malignancies. The p14 endocan degradation product can also be detected in serum/plasma, but previous clinical studies as well as previously unpublished results presented in this review suggest that endocan and p14 endocan fragment levels reflect different biological characteristics, and the endocan levels seem to reflect the disease heterogeneity in acute leukemia better than the p14 fragment levels. Furthermore, decreased systemic endocan levels in previously immunocompetent sepsis patients are associated with later severe respiratory complications, but it is not known whether this is true also for immunocompromised acute leukemia patients. Finally, endocan is associated with increased early nonrelapse mortality in (acute leukemia) patients receiving allogeneic stem cell transplantation, and this adverse prognostic impact seems to be independent of the adverse impact of excessive fluid overload. Systemic endocan levels may also become important to predict cytokine release syndrome after immunotherapy/haploidentical transplantation, and in the long-term follow-up of acute leukemia survivors with regard to cardiovascular risk. Therapeutic targeting of endocan is now possible, and the possible role of endocan in acute leukemia should be further investigated to clarify whether the therapeutic strategy should also be considered.

Endocan serum levels in patients with low- and high-grade meningiomas: does this biomarker have an indicative role?

Background

Meningiomas are one of the most common tumors of the brain and central nervous system. The key role of endocan in predicting tumor growth and prognosis has been shown for several types of cancers; however, this role in meningiomas has not been evaluated. In the current study, we investigated the relationship between endocan serum levels with low- and high-grade meningiomas.

Results

The serum level of endocan in the group with meningiomas was 283.34 (242.09-358.70) pg/ml and in the control group was 250.29 (207.56-329.71) pg/ml respectively (P = 0.172). Afterwards, patients were divided into three different groups (grades I, II, and III) and compared to the control. The level of endocan in the group with grade I of meningioma showed no significant difference compared to control individuals (P = 0.86). When patients with grade II and grade III compared with the control group, endocan serum levels were statistically significant (P = 0.002, P < 0.001 respectively). Moreover, our findings showed that the different grades of meningiomas were statistically significant compared to each other (P < 0.001) regarding endocan serum levels, meaning that the higher the grade, the higher the endocan serum levels.

Conclusion

Our findings revealed that higher grades of meningioma had higher endocan serum levels, however, the role of endocan in pathogenesis or progression of this type of tumor requiring further exclusively assessment.

Potential associations between immune signaling genes, deactivated microglia, and oligodendrocytes and cortical gray matter loss in patients with long-term remitted Cushing's disease

INTRODUCTION

Cushing's disease (CD) is a rare and severe endocrine disease characterized by hypercortisolemia. Previous studies have found structural brain alterations in remitted CD patients compared to healthy controls, specifically in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). However, potential mechanisms through which these persistent alterations may have occurred are currently unknown.

METHODS

Structural 3T MRI's from 25 remitted CD patients were linked with gene expression data from neurotypical donors, derived from the Allen Human Brain Atlas. Differences in gene expression between the ACC and an unaffected control cortical region were examined, followed by a Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis. A cell type enrichment analysis was conducted on the differentially expressed genes, and a disease association enrichment analysis was conducted to determine possible associations between differentially expressed genes and specific diseases. Subsequently, cortisol sensitivity of these genes in existing datasets was examined.

RESULTS

The gene expression analysis identified 300 differentially expressed genes in the ACC compared to the cortical control region. GO analyses found underexpressed genes to represent immune function. The cell type specificity analysis indicated that underexpressed genes were enriched for deactivated microglia and oligodendrocytes. Neither significant associations with diseases, nor evidence of cortisol sensitivity with the differentially expressed genes were found.

DISCUSSION

Underexpressed genes in the ACC, the area vulnerable to permanent changes in remitted CD patients, were often associated with immune functioning. The specific lack of deactivated microglia and oligodendrocytes implicates protective effects of these cell types against the long-term effects of cortisol overexposure.

A pair of long intergenic non-coding RNA LINC00887 variants act antagonistically to control Carbonic Anhydrase IX transcription upon hypoxia in tongue squamous carcinoma progression

Background

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are important regulators in tumor progression. However, their biological functions and underlying mechanisms in hypoxia adaptation remain largely unclear.

Results

Here, we established a correlation between a Chr3q29-derived lncRNA gene and tongue squamous carcinoma (TSCC) by genome-wide analyses. Using RACE, we determined that two novel variants of this lncRNA gene are generated in TSCC, namely LINC00887_TSCC_short (887S) and LINC00887_TSCC_long (887L). RNA-sequencing in 887S or 887L loss-of-function cells identified their common downstream target as Carbonic Anhydrase IX (CA9), a gene known to be upregulated by hypoxia during tumor progression. Mechanistically, our results showed that the hypoxia-augmented 887S and constitutively expressed 887L functioned in opposite directions on tumor progression through the common target CA9. Upon normoxia, 887S and 887L interacted. Upon hypoxia, the two variants were separated. Each RNA recognized and bound to their responsive DNA cis-acting elements on CA9 promoter: 887L activated CA9’s transcription through recruiting HIF1α, while 887S suppressed CA9 through DNMT1-mediated DNA methylation.

Conclusions

We provided hypoxia-permitted functions of two antagonistic lncRNA variants to fine control the hypoxia adaptation through CA9.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12915-021-01112-2.

Blood-based protein biomarkers in bladder urothelial tumors

Bladder cancer (BC) is the fifth most common cancer with a high prevalence rate. It is classically classified in two groups, namely non-muscle invasive (NMIBC) and muscle invasive (MIBC). NMIBC accounts for 75% of cases and has a better prognosis than MIBC. However, 30-50% of the NMIBC patients will show recurrences throughout their lives, and about 10-20% of them will progress to MIBC, with frequent metastasis and a reduced survival rate. The diagnosis of bladder cancer is confirmed by direct visualization of the tumour and other mucosal abnormalities with endoscopic excision using cystoscopy and transurethral resection of the bladder (TURBT). An adequate TURBT requires complete resection of all visible tumour with appropriate sampling of the bladder to assess the depth of invasion. However, for many years, researchers have attempted to identify and utilise urinary markers for bladder cancer detection. Voided urine cytology has been the mainstay of urine-based diagnosis of bladder cancer since originally described by Papanicolau and Marshall. Nonetheless, urine cytology has several drawbacks, including a poor sensitivity for low-grade/stage tumours, a lack of interobserver consistency and a variable range of readings (e.g., atypical, atypical-suspicious, non-diagnostic). These shortcomings have inspired the search for more sensitive bladder cancer biomarkers. To bring precision medicine to genitourinary oncology, the analysis of the plasma/serum wide genome and proteome offers promising possibilities.

Network-Based Analysis Reveals Gene Signature in Tip Cells and Stalk Cells

BACKGROUND

Angiogenesis occurs during various physiological or pathological processes such as wound healing and tumor growth. Differentiation of vascular endothelial cells into tip cells and stalk cells initiates formation of new blood vessels. Tip cells and stalk cells are endothelial cells with different biological characteristics and functions.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to determine the mechanisms of angiogenesis by exploring differences in gene expression of tip cells and stalk cells.

METHODS

Raw data were retrieved from NCBI Gene Expression Omnibus (GSE19284). Data were reanalyzed using bioinformatics methods that employ robust statistical methods, including identification of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between stalk and tip cells, weighted gene correlation network analysis (WGCNA), gene ontology and pathway enrichment analysis using DAVID tools, integration of protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks and screening of hub genes. DEGs of stalk and tip cells were grouped as dataset A. Gene modules associated with differentiation of stalk and tip cells screened by WGCNA were named dataset B. Further, we retrieved existing markers of angiogenesis from previous experimental studies on tip and stalk cells which we named dataset C. Intersection of datasets A, B and C was used as a candidate gene. Subsequently, we verified the results applying quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Q -PCR) to our clinical specimen. In general, the Q-PCR results coincide with the majority of the expression profile.

RESULTS

We identified five candidate genes, including ESM1，CXCR4，JAG1，FLT1 and PTK2 and two pathways, including Rap1 signaling pathway and PI3K-Akt signaling pathway in vascular endothelial cells that differentiate into tip cells and stalk cells using bioinformatic analysis.

CONCLUSION

Bioinformatics approaches provide new avenues for basic research in different fields such as angiogenesis. The findings of this study provide new perspectives and basis for the study of molecular mechanisms of vascular endothelial cell differentiation into stalk and tip cells. Genes and pathways identified in this study are potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for angiogenesis in tumor.

Endocan: a new marker of endothelial function

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To consider the role of endocan as an inflammatory marker in cardiovascular diseases.

RECENT FINDINGS

Endocan, an endothelial inflammatory marker, is associated with cardiovascular disease.

SUMMARY

Vascular endothelial inflammation plays a key role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory and cardiovascular diseases by influencing thrombogenesis, tumour invasion and secretion of bioactive mediators. We discuss the role of endocan mainly in the context of cardiology.