TGF β1 Mediates Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition via β6 Integrin Signaling Pathway in Breast Cancer

Exploring the role of ITGB6: fibrosis, cancer, and other diseases

Integrin β6 (ITGB6), a member of the integrin family of proteins, is only present in epithelial tissues and frequently associates with integrin subunit αv to form transmembrane heterodimers named integrin αvβ6. Importantly, ITGB6 determines αvβ6 expression and availability. In addition to being engaged in organ fibrosis, ITGB6 is also directly linked to the emergence of cancer, periodontitis, and several potential genetic diseases. Therefore, it is of great significance to study the molecular-biological mechanism of ITGB6, which could provide novel insights for future clinical diagnosis and therapy. This review introduces the structure, distribution, and biological function of ITGB6. This review also expounds on ITGB6-related diseases, detailing the known biological effects of ITGB6.

LncRNA-AC009948.5 promotes invasion and metastasis of lung adenocarcinoma by binding to miR-186-5p

Background

Long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs) has been confirmed to play a crucial role in the development and progression of various cancer types. Here we evaluated the expression profiles of LncRNAs in Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) tissues and identified a novel LncRNA, termed LncRNA-AC009948.5. However, the role and potential molecular mechanisms of this novel LncRNA in LUAD carcinogenesis is unknown.

Methods

Regarding the public databases and based on integrating bioinformatics analyses, we determined whether LncRNA-AC009948.5 exerts its oncogenic functions via sponging miR-186-5p in LUAD. Furthermore, we determined whether NCAPG2 was a downstream target of miR-186-5p. Moreover, the expression level and biological function of LncRNA-AC009948.5 in LUAD were determined by qRT-PCR, cell apoptosis, Edu, transwell, wound healing and western blot assays. Besides, xenograft mice were established for validation. We explored the expression of LncRNA-AC009948.5 and its roles in the prognosis of LUAD.

Results

LncRNA expression microarray data indicate that LncRNA-AC009948.5 is upregulated in LUAD samples. The present study confirmed the upregulation of LncRNA-AC009948.5 in LUAD tissues and cells. Encreased expression of LncRNA-AC009948.5 was correlated with tumor size, lymph nodes, distant metastasis and histological grade, and poor prognosis.LncRNA-AC009948.5 knockdown significantly inhibited cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro, as well as tumorigenesis and metastasis in vivo. Conversely, LncRNA-AC009948.5 upregulated had opposite effects. Mechanistically, we elucidated that LncRNA-AC009948.5 could directly bind to miR-186-5p and subsequently suppress expression of the target gene of NCAPG2.

Conclusions

LncRNA-AC009948.5 promotes lung adenocarcinoma cells metastasis via the miR-186-5p/NCAPG2 axis and activation of the EMT process. Which may serve as potential targets for the treatment of LUAD in the future.

The Inflammatory Profile of the Tumor Microenvironment, Orchestrated by Cyclooxygenase-2, Promotes Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition

The tumor microenvironment (TME) corresponds to a complex and dynamic interconnection between the extracellular matrix and malignant cells and their surrounding stroma composed of immune and mesenchymal cells. The TME has constant cellular communication through cytokines that sustain an inflammatory profile, which favors tumor progression, angiogenesis, cell invasion, and metastasis. Although the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) represents a relevant metastasis-initiating event that promotes an invasive phenotype in malignant epithelial cells, its relationship with the inflammatory profile of the TME is poorly understood. Previous evidence strongly suggests that cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) overexpression, a pro-inflammatory enzyme related to chronic unresolved inflammation, is associated with common EMT-signaling pathways. This review article summarizes how COX-2 overexpression, within the context of the TME, orchestrates the EMT process and promotes initial metastatic-related events.

The Roles of Tissue Rigidity and Its Underlying Mechanisms in Promoting Tumor Growth

Tissues become more rigid during tumorigenesis and have been identified as a driving factor for tumor growth. Here, we highlight the concept of tissue rigidity, contributing factors that increase tissue rigidity, and mechanisms that promote tumor growth initiated by increased tissue rigidity. Various factors lead to increased tissue rigidity, promoting tumor growth by activating focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and Rho-associated kinase (ROCK). Consequently, result in recruitment of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and tumor protection from immunosurveillance. We also discussed the rationale for targeting tumor tissue rigidity and its potential for cancer treatment.

CD31 regulates metastasis by inducing epithelial-mesenchymal transition in hepatocellular carcinoma via the ITGB1-FAK-Akt signaling pathway

Platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1 or CD31) is a well-known marker of endothelial cells and a key factor for adhesion and accumulation of platelets. CD31 plays roles in cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and cellular immunity. CD31 is also expressed on tumor cells, such as breast cancer cells and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, and contributes to tumor cell invasion. Here, our experiments show that CD31 promotes metastasis by inducing the epithelial-mesenchymal transition in hepatocellular carcinoma by up-regulating integrin β1 via the FAK/Akt signaling pathway.

New Gene Markers for Metabolic Processes and Homeostasis in Porcine Buccal Pouch Mucosa during Cells Long Term-Cultivation-A Primary Culture Approach

The oral mucosal tissue is a compound structure composed of morphologically and physiologically different cell types. The morphological modification involves genetically determined lifespan, which may be recognized as the balance between cell survival and apoptosis. Although the biochemical processes and pathways in oral mucosa, with special regards to drug transport, delivery, and metabolism, are well known, the cellular physiological homeostasis in this tissue requires further investigation. The porcine buccal pouch mucosal cells (BPMCs) collected from 20 pubertal crossbred Landrace gilts, were used in this study. Immediately after recovery, the oral mucosa was separated micro-surgically, and treated enzymatically. The dispersed cells were transferred into primary in vitro culture systems for a long-term cultivation of 30 days. After each step of in vitro culture (IVC), the cells were collected for isolation of total RNA at 24 h, 7, 15, and 30 days of IVC. While the expression was analyzed for days 7, 15, and 30, the 24th hour was used as a reference for outcome calibration. The gene expression profile was determined using Affymetrix microarray assays and necessary procedures. In results, we observed significant up-regulation of SCARB1, PTGS2, DUSP5, ITGB3, PLK2, CCL2, TGFB1, CCL8, RFC4, LYN, ETS1, REL, LIF, SPP1, and FGER1G genes, belonging to two ontological groups, namely "positive regulation of metabolic process", and "regulation of homeostatic process" at 7 day of IVC as compared to down-regulation at days 15 and 30. These findings suggest that the metabolic processes and homeostatic regulations are much more intense in porcine mucosal cells at day 7 of IVC. Moreover, the increased expression of marker genes, for both of these ontological groups, may suggest the existence of not only "morphological lifespan" during tissue keratinization, but also "physiological checkpoint" dedicated to metabolic processes in oral mucosa. This knowledge may be useful for preclinical experiments with drugs delivery and metabolism in both animals and humans.

MicroRNA-181c inhibits glioblastoma cell invasion, migration and mesenchymal transition by targeting TGF-β pathway

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs frequently dysregulated in human malignancies. In this study, we found that miR-181c was down-regulated both in glioblastoma tissues and cell lines. We also annotated 566 TCGA miRNA expression profiles and found that patients with high microRNA-181c (miR-181c)-expressing tumors had significantly longer OS and PFS. Overexpression of miR-181c evidently inhibited glioblastoma cell line T98G migration and invasion. Further, the expression of E-cadherin was significantly upregulated and that of N-cadherin and vimentin was significantly down-regulated. We also found that miR-181c overexpression inhibited TGF-β signaling by down-regulating TGFBR1, TGFBR2 and TGFBRAP1 expression. Overall, our study found that miR-181c plays a key role in glioblastoma cell invasion, migration and mesenchymal transition suggesting potential therapeutic applications.

A multi-targeted approach to suppress tumor-promoting inflammation

Cancers harbor significant genetic heterogeneity and patterns of relapse following many therapies are due to evolved resistance to treatment. While efforts have been made to combine targeted therapies, significant levels of toxicity have stymied efforts to effectively treat cancer with multi-drug combinations using currently approved therapeutics. We discuss the relationship between tumor-promoting inflammation and cancer as part of a larger effort to develop a broad-spectrum therapeutic approach aimed at a wide range of targets to address this heterogeneity. Specifically, macrophage migration inhibitory factor, cyclooxygenase-2, transcription factor nuclear factor-κB, tumor necrosis factor alpha, inducible nitric oxide synthase, protein kinase B, and CXC chemokines are reviewed as important antiinflammatory targets while curcumin, resveratrol, epigallocatechin gallate, genistein, lycopene, and anthocyanins are reviewed as low-cost, low toxicity means by which these targets might all be reached simultaneously. Future translational work will need to assess the resulting synergies of rationally designed antiinflammatory mixtures (employing low-toxicity constituents), and then combine this with similar approaches targeting the most important pathways across the range of cancer hallmark phenotypes.

Pin1-based diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for breast cancer

Pin1 is the only known cis-to-trans isomerase that recognizes the phosphorylated pThr/pSer-Pro motifs in many signaling molecules, playing unique roles in the pathogenesis of breast cancer. First, Pin1 is prevalently over-expressed in kinds of breast cancer cell lines and tissues, such as MDA-MB-231 cell, MCF-7 cell, Her2+, ERα+, and basal-like breast cancer subtypes. Second, Pin1 amplifies many oncogenic signaling pathways, inhibits multiple tumor suppressors, promotes the angiogenesis and metastasis of breast cancer cells, and enhances the resistance of breast cancer cells to anti-tumor medicines. Third, inhibiting Pin1 blocks most of these detrimental effects in a great number of breast cancer cell lines. These findings suggest Pin1 as a promising diagnostic biomarker as well as an efficient therapeutic target for breast cancer. It is strongly expected that a Pin1-positive subtype of breast cancers should be extremely concerned and that the therapeutic efficacy of Pin1 inhibitors on breast cancer patients should be evaluated as soon as possible. Nonetheless, Pin1-based therapeutic strategies for breast cancer still deserve some debates. Hence, we give the predictions of several important issues, such as application precondition, side effects, and personalized medication, when Pin1 inhibitors are used in the breast cancer therapy. These proposals are meaningful for the further development of Pin1-based diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in order to conquer breast cancer.