INHBB is a novel prognostic biomarker and correlated with immune infiltrates in gastric cancer

Prognostic analysis of anoikis-related genes in bladder cancer: An observational study

Anoikis is proved to play a crucial role in the development of cancers. However, the impact of anoikis on the prognosis of bladder cancer (BLCA) is currently unknown. Thus, this study aimed to find potential effect of anoikis in BLCA. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA)-BLCA and GSE13507 cohorts were downloaded from TCGA and the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases, respectively. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened between BLCA and normal groups, which intersected with anoikis-related genes to yield anoikis-related DEGs (AR DEGs). Univariate COX, rbsurv, and multivariate COX analyses were adopted in order to build a prognostic risk model. The differences of risk score in the different clinical subgroups and the relevance between survival rate and clinical characteristics were explored as well. Finally, chemotherapy drug sensitivity in different risk groups was analyzed. In total, 78 AR DEGs were acquired and a prognostic signature was build based on the 6 characteristic genes (CALR, FASN, CSPG4, HGF, INHBB, SATB1), where the patients of low-risk group had longer survival time. The survival rate of BLCA patients was significantly differential in different groups of age, stage, smoking history, pathologic-T, and pathologic-N. The IC50 of 56 drugs showed significant differences between 2 risk groups, such as imatinib, docetaxel, and dasatinib. At last, the results of real time quantitative-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) demonstrated that the expression trend of CALR, HGF, and INHBB was consistent with the result obtained previously based on public databases. Taken together, this study identified 6 anoikis-related characteristic genes (CALR, FASN, CSPG4, HGF, INHBB, SATB1) for the prognosis of BLCA patients, providing a scientific reference for further research on BLCA.

FAM20A: a potential diagnostic biomarker for lung squamous cell carcinoma

Background

Lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) ranks among the carcinomas with the highest incidence and dismal survival rates, suffering from a lack of effective therapeutic strategies. Consequently, biomarkers facilitating early diagnosis of LUSC could significantly enhance patient survival. This study aims to identify novel biomarkers for LUSC.

Methods

Utilizing the TCGA, GTEx, and CGGA databases, we focused on the gene encoding Family with Sequence Similarity 20, Member A (FAM20A) across various cancers. We then corroborated these bioinformatic predictions with clinical samples. A range of analytical tools, including Kaplan-Meier, MethSurv database, Wilcoxon rank-sum, Kruskal-Wallis tests, Gene Set Enrichment Analysis, and TIMER database, were employed to assess the diagnostic and prognostic value of FAM20A in LUSC. These tools also helped evaluate immune cell infiltration, immune checkpoint genes, DNA repair-related genes, DNA methylation, and tumor-related pathways.

Results

FAM20A expression was found to be significantly reduced in LUSC, correlating with lower survival rates. It exhibited a negative correlation with key proteins in DNA repair signaling pathways, potentially contributing to LUSC's radiotherapy resistance. Additionally, FAM20A showed a positive correlation with immune checkpoints like CTLA-4, indicating potential heightened sensitivity to immunotherapies targeting these checkpoints.

Conclusion

FAM20A emerges as a promising diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for LUSC, offering potential clinical applications.

Study on the value of Inhibin B in the diagnosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma and its correlation with traditional Chinese medicine syndromes: An observational study

To investigate the expression of Inhibin B between various clinical stages, Chinese medicine dialectic typing, and in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) tissues and serum, and to evaluate the potential of Inhibin B as a new biomarker for NPC. Paraffin specimens of pathologically confirmed NPC tissues and paracancerous tissues were retrospectively collected, and the expression of Inhibin α (INHA) and Inhibin βB (INHBB) was detected by SP method, and their relationship with clinicopathological indexes was analyzed; in addition, patients with NPC who had received radiotherapy were included as the study subjects, and Epstein-Barr virus DNA (EBV-DNA), INHA, and INHBB in patients were detected by using the fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and chemiluminescent immuno-sandwiching method, respectively. EBV-DNA, EBV-viral capsid antigen-immunoglobulin A (VCA IgA), INHA, and INHBB were detected in the patients, respectively, and their relationships with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) patterns were also analyzed. The expression of INHA and INHBB in NPC tissues was lower than that in paracancerous tissues, and the expression of INHA in NPC patients was correlated with lymphatic metastasis, clinical staging, and TCM staging; the levels of EBV-DNA and VCA IgA were higher than that of healthy populations in NPC patients and were higher than that of patients with stage III + IV than that of patients with stage I + II, and the levels of INHA and INHBB were lower than those of healthy populations and were lower than those of patients with stage III + IV than that of patients with stage I + II. The levels of INHA and INHBB in nasopharyngeal cancer patients were lower than those in healthy people, and the levels in stage III + IV patients were lower than those in stage I + II patients. The levels of EBV-DNA and VCA IgA in nasopharyngeal cancer patients were correlated with the Chinese medicine patterns, and had different patterns. The expression of Inhibin B may be related to the progression of NPC, and it has certain typing significance for different TCM syndromes of NPC, which is helpful for TCM typing diagnosis.

Leptin signalling regulates transcriptional differences in granulosa cells from genetically obese mice but not the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome

Obesity is associated with increased ovarian inflammation and the establishment of leptin resistance. We presently investigated the role of impaired leptin signalling on transcriptional regulation in granulosa cells (GCs) collected from genetically obese mice. Furthermore, we characterised the association between ovarian leptin signalling, the activation of the NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome and macrophage infiltration in obese mice. After phenotype characterisation, ovaries were collected from distinct group of animals for protein and mRNA expression analysis: (i) mice subjected to a diet-induced obesity (DIO) protocol, where one group was fed a high-fat diet (HFD) and another a standard chow diet (CD) for durations of 4 or 16 weeks; (ii) mice genetically deficient in the long isoform of the leptin receptor (ObRb; db/db); (iii) mice genetically deficient in leptin (ob/ob); and (iv) mice rendered pharmacologically hyperleptinemic (LEPT). Next, GCs from antral follicles isolated from db/db and ob/ob mice were subjected to transcriptome analysis. Transcriptional analysis revealed opposing profiles in genes associated with steroidogenesis and prostaglandin action between the genetic models, despite the similarities in body weight. Furthermore, we observed no changes in the mRNA and protein levels of NLRP3 inflammasome components in the ovaries of db/db mice or in markers of M1 and M2 macrophage infiltration. This contrasted with the downregulation of NLRP3 inflammasome components and M1 markers in ob/ob and 16-wk HFD-fed mice. We concluded that leptin signalling regulates NLRP3 inflammasome activation and the expression of M1 markers in the ovaries of obese mice in an ObRb-dependent and ObRb-independent manner. Furthermore, we found no changes in the expression of leptin signalling and NLRP3 inflammasome genes in GCs from db/db and ob/ob mice, which was associated with no effects on macrophage infiltration genes, despite the dysregulation of genes associated with steroidogenesis in homozygous obese db/db. Our results suggest that: (i) the crosstalk between leptin signalling, NLRP3 inflammasome and macrophage infiltration takes place in ovarian components other than the GC compartment; and (ii) transcriptional changes in GCs from homozygous obese ob/ob mice suggest structural rearrangement and organisation, whereas in db/db mice the impairment in steroidogenesis and secretory activity.

Experimental prognostic model integrating N6-methyladenosine-related programmed cell death genes in colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) intricacies, involving dysregulated cellular processes and programmed cell death (PCD), are explored in the context of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA modification. Utilizing the TCGA-COADREAD/CRC cohort, 854 m6A-related PCD genes are identified, forming the basis for a robust 10-gene risk model (CDRS) established through LASSO Cox regression. qPCR experiments using CRC cell lines and fresh tissues was performed for validation. The CDRS served as an independent risk factor for CRC and showed significant associations with clinical features, molecular subtypes, and overall survival in multiple datasets. Moreover, CDRS surpasses other predictors, unveiling distinct genomic profiles, pathway activations, and associations with the tumor microenvironment. Notably, CDRS exhibits predictive potential for drug sensitivity, presenting a novel paradigm for CRC risk stratification and personalized treatment avenues.

Evaluation of the prognostic and therapeutic potential of inhibin beta B for oral squamous cell carcinoma

Background/purpose

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a common cancer worldwide, and its metastasis is difficult to predict and prevent. Inhibin beta B (INHBB) protein has been linked to cancer prognosis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). However, previous study about INHBB expression focused on patients in a single region while the risk factors vary among regions. This study aimed to provide a broader perspective on INHBB expression in OSCC.

Materials and methods

Tissue micro-arrays comprising 118 specimens were subjected to immunohistochemistry, and all slides were quantified using StrataQuest software.

Results

The ratio of INHBB-positive cells to total cells was significantly higher in OSCC samples than in normal samples, and the intensity of INHBB expression was significantly greater in the late-stage OSCC. After classifying specimens into high and low INHBB expression groups, a significant association with clinical staging was found. Though a previous study suggested that menin regulates INHBB, menin expression was not detected in specimens.

Conclusion

The ratio of INHBB-positive cells in OSCC may be druggable for targeting tumor cells or assisting in diagnosis, and the intensity of INHBB expression may provide prognostic information for predicting potential metastasis. Moreover, the regulatory mechanism of INHBB in OSCC remains unclear and requires further investigation.

Paracrine activin B-NF-κB signaling shapes an inflammatory tumor microenvironment in gastric cancer via fibroblast reprogramming

BACKGROUND

Important roles of INHBB in various malignancies are increasingly identified. The underlying mechanisms in gastric cancer (GC) microenvironment are still greatly unexplored.

METHODS

The clinical significance of INHBB and the correlation between INHBB and p-p65 in GC were assessed through analyzing publicly available databases and human paraffin embedded GC tissues. The biological crosstalk of INHBB between GC cells and fibroblasts was explored both in vitro and in vivo. RNA-seq analyses were performed to determine the mechanisms which regulating fibroblasts reprogramming. Luciferase reporter assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation (CHIP) assay were used to verify the binding relationship of p65 and INHBB in GC cells.

RESULTS

Our study showed that INHBB level was significantly higher in GC, and that increased INHBB was associated with poor survival. INHBB positively regulates the proliferation, migration, and invasion of GC cells in vitro. Also, activin B promotes the occurrence of GC by reprogramming fibroblasts into cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). The high expression of INHBB in GC cells activates the NF-κB pathway of normal gastric fibroblasts by secreting activin B, and promotes fibroblasts proliferation, migration, and invasion. In addition, activin B activates NF-κB pathway by controlling TRAF6 autoubiquitination to induce TAK1 phosphorylation in fibroblasts. Fibroblasts activated by activin B can induce the activation of p65 phosphorylation of GC cells by releasing pro-inflammatory factors IL-1β. p65 can directly bind to the INHBB promoter and increase the INHBB transcription of GC cells, thus establishing a positive regulatory feedback loop to promote the progression of GC.

CONCLUSIONS

GC cells p65/INHBB/activin B and fibroblasts p65/IL-1β signal loop led to the formation of a whole tumor-promoting inflammatory microenvironment, which might be a promising therapeutic target for GC.