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Zhai L, Yang X, Dong J, Qian L, Gao Y, Lv Y, Chen L, Chen B, Zhou F. O‑GlcNAcylation mediates endometrial cancer progression by regulating the Hippo‑YAP pathway. Int J Oncol 2023; 63:90. [PMID: 37350405 PMCID: PMC10552701 DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2023.5538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The incidence of endometrial cancer (EC) is rapidly increasing worldwide. The majority of endometrial cancers are diagnosed at an early stage and are associated with a good prognosis; however, patients with advanced‑stage EC have a poor prognosis and present with invasive metastasis. The mechanisms responsible for the invasion and metastasis of endometrial cancer remain unknown. Here, the present study aimed to examine the effects of O‑GlcNAcylation on the malignancy of EC and its association with Yes‑associated protein (YAP). It was found that the expression of O‑GlcNAc transferase (OGT) and O‑GlcNAcylation were increased in EC tissues; the decrease in O‑GlcNAcylation levels was found to lead to the decreased proliferation, migration and invasion of EC cells. Mass spectrometric analysis revealed that OGT knockdown reduced the O‑GlcNAcylation of YAP. Furthermore, it was found that the reduction in the O‑GlcNAcylation of YAP promoted its phosphorylation, which in turn inhibited the access of YAP to the nucleus and downstream target gene activation, demonstrating that the level of O‑GlcNAcylation affects the development of EC. On the whole, the findings of the present study indicate that YAP is a key molecule linking the O‑GlcNAcylation and Hippo pathways, which together regulate the progression of EC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lianghao Zhai
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Xijing Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032
| | - Xiaoshan Yang
- Stomatology Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510280
- State Key Laboratory of Military Stomatology and National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases and Shaanxi International Joint Research Center for Oral Diseases, Center for Tissue Engineering, School of Stomatology, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032
| | - Jian Dong
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Xijing Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032
| | - Luomeng Qian
- Department of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, P.R. China
| | - Yunge Gao
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Xijing Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032
| | - Yanhong Lv
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Xijing Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032
| | - Ligang Chen
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Xijing Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032
| | - Biliang Chen
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Xijing Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032
| | - Fuxing Zhou
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Xijing Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032
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Selina PI, Alekseenko IV, Kurtova AI, Pleshkan VV, Voronezhskaya EE, Demidyuk IV, Kostrov SV. Efficiency of Promoters of Human Genes FAP and CTGF at Organism Level in a Danio rerio Model. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24087192. [PMID: 37108352 PMCID: PMC10138699 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24087192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Revised: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The identification of tissue-specific promoters for gene therapeutic constructs is one of the aims of complex tumor therapy. The genes encoding the fibroblast activation protein (FAP) and the connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) can function in tumor-associated stromal cells but are practically inactive in normal adult cells. Accordingly, the promoters of these genes can be used to develop vectors targeted to the tumor microenvironment. However, the efficiency of these promoters within genetic constructs remains underexplored, particularly, at the organism level. Here, we used the model of Danio rerio embryos to study the efficiency of transient expression of marker genes under the control of promoters of the FAP, CTGF, and immediate early genes of Human cytomegalovirus (CMV). Within 96 h after the injection of vectors, the CTGF and CMV promoters provided similar equal efficiency of reporter protein accumulation. In the case of the FAP promoter, a high level of reporter protein accumulation was observed only in certain zebrafish individuals that were considered developmentally abnormal. Disturbed embryogenesis was the factor of changes in the exogenous FAP promoter function. The data obtained make a significant contribution to understanding the function of the human CTGF and FAP promoters within vectors to assess their potential in gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Polina I Selina
- National Research Center "Kurchatov Institute", 123182 Moscow, Russia
| | - Irina V Alekseenko
- National Research Center "Kurchatov Institute", 123182 Moscow, Russia
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry RAS, 117997 Moscow, Russia
| | | | - Victor V Pleshkan
- National Research Center "Kurchatov Institute", 123182 Moscow, Russia
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry RAS, 117997 Moscow, Russia
| | | | - Ilya V Demidyuk
- National Research Center "Kurchatov Institute", 123182 Moscow, Russia
| | - Sergey V Kostrov
- National Research Center "Kurchatov Institute", 123182 Moscow, Russia
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Endometriosis Stem Cells as a Possible Main Target for Carcinogenesis of Endometriosis-Associated Ovarian Cancer (EAOC). Cancers (Basel) 2022; 15:cancers15010111. [PMID: 36612107 PMCID: PMC9817684 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15010111] [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: 11/27/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Endometriosis is a serious recurrent disease impairing the quality of life and fertility, and being a risk for some histologic types of ovarian cancer defined as endometriosis-associated ovarian cancers (EAOC). The presence of stem cells in the endometriotic foci could account for the proliferative, migrative and angiogenic activity of the lesions. Their phenotype and sources have been described. The similarly disturbed expression of several genes, miRNAs, galectins and chaperones has been observed both in endometriotic lesions and in ovarian or endometrial cancer. The importance of stem cells for nascence and sustain of malignant tumors is commonly appreciated. Although the proposed mechanisms promoting carcinogenesis leading from endometriosis into the EAOC are not completely known, they have been discussed in several articles. However, the role of endometriosis stem cells (ESCs) has not been discussed in this context. Here, we postulate that ESCs may be a main target for the carcinogenesis of EAOC and present the possible sequence of events resulting finally in the development of EAOC.
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Targeting CTGF in Cancer: An Emerging Therapeutic Opportunity. Trends Cancer 2020; 7:511-524. [PMID: 33358571 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2020.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Revised: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Despite the dramatic advances in cancer research over the decades, effective therapeutic strategies are still urgently needed. Increasing evidence indicates that connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), a multifunctional signaling modulator, promotes cancer initiation, progression, and metastasis by regulating cell proliferation, migration, invasion, drug resistance, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). CTGF is also involved in the tumor microenvironment in most of the nodes, including angiogenesis, inflammation, and cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF) activation. In this review, we comprehensively discuss the expression of CTGF and its regulation, oncogenic role, clinical relevance, targeting strategies, and therapeutic agents. Herein, we propose that CTGF is a promising cancer therapeutic target that could potentially improve the clinical outcomes of cancer patients.
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Chen Z, Zhang N, Chu HY, Yu Y, Zhang ZK, Zhang G, Zhang BT. Connective Tissue Growth Factor: From Molecular Understandings to Drug Discovery. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:593269. [PMID: 33195264 PMCID: PMC7658337 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.593269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2020] [Accepted: 10/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) is a key signaling and regulatory molecule involved in different biological processes, such as cell proliferation, angiogenesis, and wound healing, as well as multiple pathologies, such as tumor development and tissue fibrosis. Although the underlying mechanisms of CTGF remain incompletely understood, a commonly accepted theory is that the interactions between different protein domains in CTGF and other various regulatory proteins and ligands contribute to its variety of functions. Here, we highlight the structure of each domain of CTGF and its biology functions in physiological conditions. We further summarized main diseases that are deeply influenced by CTGF domains and the potential targets of these diseases. Finally, we address the advantages and disadvantages of current drugs targeting CTGF and provide the perspective for the drug discovery of the next generation of CTGF inhibitors based on aptamers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zihao Chen
- School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ning Zhang
- School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Hang Yin Chu
- Law Sau Fai Institute for Advancing Translational Medicine in Bone and Joint Diseases, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yuanyuan Yu
- Law Sau Fai Institute for Advancing Translational Medicine in Bone and Joint Diseases, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Zong-Kang Zhang
- School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ge Zhang
- Law Sau Fai Institute for Advancing Translational Medicine in Bone and Joint Diseases, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Bao-Ting Zhang
- School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
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Lv L, Liu FR, Na D, Xu HM, Wang ZN, Jiang CG. Transforming growth factor-β1 induces connective tissue growth factor expression and promotes peritoneal metastasis of gastric cancer. Biosci Rep 2020; 40:BSR20201501. [PMID: 32885819 PMCID: PMC7502695 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20201501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2020] [Revised: 08/26/2020] [Accepted: 09/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) is involved in human cancer development and progression. Nonetheless, the role of TGF-β1 as regards peritoneal metastasis of gastric cancer has not been completely characterized. In the present study, we investigated the exact role of TGF-β1 on peritoneal metastasis of gastric cancer. The results indicated that human peritoneal mesothelial cells (HPMCs) exposed to TGF-β1 or serum-free conditional medium (SF-CM) of SGC7901 that produced a large amount of TGF-β1 became exfoliated, apoptosis and exhibited signs of injury, and the tumor-mesothelial cell adhesion significantly increased. Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) expression was also increased when HPMCs were exposed to TGF-β1 or SF-CM of SGC7901. However, these effects were significantly decreased when HPMCs were exposed to SF-CM of SGC7901-TGFβS, a TGF-β1 knockdown stable cell line. Animal studies revealed that nude mice injected with SGC7901-TGFβS cells featured a smaller number of peritoneal seeding nodules and lower expression of CTGF in ascites than the control cell lines. These findings suggest that TGF-β1 promotes peritoneal metastasis of gastric cancer and induces CTGF expression. Therefore, blockage of TGF-β1 or TGF-β1 signaling pathway might prevent and treat peritoneal metastasis of gastric cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Lv
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Fu-Rong Liu
- Department of Cell Biology, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Di Na
- Department of Surgical Oncology and General Surgery, Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Gastrointestinal Tumors, Ministry of Education, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Hui-Mian Xu
- Department of Surgical Oncology and General Surgery, Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Gastrointestinal Tumors, Ministry of Education, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Zhen-Ning Wang
- Department of Surgical Oncology and General Surgery, Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Gastrointestinal Tumors, Ministry of Education, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Cheng-Gang Jiang
- Department of Surgical Oncology and General Surgery, Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Gastrointestinal Tumors, Ministry of Education, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China
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