1
|
Wei G, Zhang X, Liu S, Hou W, Dai Z. Comprehensive data mining reveals RTK/RAS signaling pathway as a promoter of prostate cancer lineage plasticity through transcription factors and CNV. Sci Rep 2024; 14:11688. [PMID: 38778150 PMCID: PMC11111877 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-62256-z] [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: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Prostate cancer lineage plasticity is a key driver in the transition to neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC), and the RTK/RAS signaling pathway is a well-established cancer pathway. Nevertheless, the comprehensive link between the RTK/RAS signaling pathway and lineage plasticity has received limited investigation. In particular, the intricate regulatory network governing the interplay between RTK/RAS and lineage plasticity remains largely unexplored. The multi-omics data were clustered with the coefficient of argument and neighbor joining algorithm. Subsequently, the clustered results were analyzed utilizing the GSEA, gene sets related to stemness, multi-lineage state datasets, and canonical cancer pathway gene sets. Finally, a comprehensive exploration of the data based on the ssGSEA, WGCNA, GSEA, VIPER, prostate cancer scRNA-seq data, and the GPSAdb database was conducted. Among the six modules in the clustering results, there are 300 overlapping genes, including 3 previously unreported prostate cancer genes that were validated to be upregulated in prostate cancer through RT-qPCR. Function Module 6 shows a positive correlation with prostate cancer cell stemness, multi-lineage states, and the RTK/RAS signaling pathway. Additionally, the 19 leading-edge genes of the RTK/RAS signaling pathway promote prostate cancer lineage plasticity through a complex network of transcriptional regulation and copy number variations. In the transcriptional regulation network, TP63 and FOXO1 act as suppressors of prostate cancer lineage plasticity, whereas RORC exerts a promoting effect. This study provides a comprehensive perspective on the role of the RTK/RAS pathway in prostate cancer lineage plasticity and offers new clues for the treatment of NEPC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Guanyun Wei
- Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, School of Life Sciences, Nantong Laboratory of Development and Diseases, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Xu Zhang
- Clinical Medical Research Center, Jiangnan University Medical Center, Wuxi No.2 People's Hospital, Affiliated Wuxi Clinical College of Nantong University, Wuxi, China
| | - Siyuan Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Wanxin Hou
- Research Center for Intelligent Information Technology, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Zao Dai
- Research Center for Intelligent Information Technology, Nantong University, Nantong, China.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Hutchings C, Nuriel Y, Lazar D, Kohl A, Muir E, Genin O, Cinnamon Y, Benyamini H, Nevo Y, Sela-Donenfeld D. Hindbrain boundaries as niches of neural progenitor and stem cells regulated by the extracellular matrix proteoglycan chondroitin sulphate. Development 2024; 151:dev201934. [PMID: 38251863 PMCID: PMC10911165 DOI: 10.1242/dev.201934] [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: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
The interplay between neural progenitors and stem cells (NPSCs), and their extracellular matrix (ECM) is a crucial regulatory mechanism that determines their behavior. Nonetheless, how the ECM dictates the state of NPSCs remains elusive. The hindbrain is valuable to examine this relationship, as cells in the ventricular surface of hindbrain boundaries (HBs), which arise between any two neighboring rhombomeres, express the NPSC marker Sox2, while being surrounded with the membrane-bound ECM molecule chondroitin sulphate proteoglycan (CSPG), in chick and mouse embryos. CSPG expression was used to isolate HB Sox2+ cells for RNA-sequencing, revealing their distinguished molecular properties as typical NPSCs, which express known and newly identified genes relating to stem cells, cancer, the matrisome and cell cycle. In contrast, the CSPG- non-HB cells, displayed clear neural-differentiation transcriptome. To address whether CSPG is significant for hindbrain development, its expression was manipulated in vivo and in vitro. CSPG manipulations shifted the stem versus differentiation state of HB cells, evident by their behavior and altered gene expression. These results provide further understanding of the uniqueness of hindbrain boundaries as repetitive pools of NPSCs in-between the rapidly growing rhombomeres, which rely on their microenvironment to maintain their undifferentiated state during development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carmel Hutchings
- Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agricultural, Food, and Environmental Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Yarden Nuriel
- Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agricultural, Food, and Environmental Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Daniel Lazar
- Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agricultural, Food, and Environmental Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Ayelet Kohl
- Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agricultural, Food, and Environmental Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Elizabeth Muir
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1TN, UK
| | - Olga Genin
- Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Center, Department of Poultry and Aquaculture Science, Rishon LeTsiyon 7505101, Israel
| | - Yuval Cinnamon
- Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Center, Department of Poultry and Aquaculture Science, Rishon LeTsiyon 7505101, Israel
| | - Hadar Benyamini
- Info-CORE, Bioinformatics Unit of the I-CORE at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9190401, Israel
| | - Yuval Nevo
- Info-CORE, Bioinformatics Unit of the I-CORE at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9190401, Israel
| | - Dalit Sela-Donenfeld
- Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agricultural, Food, and Environmental Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Jayathirtha M, Jayaweera T, Whitham D, Sullivan I, Petre BA, Darie CC, Neagu AN. Two-Dimensional-PAGE Coupled with nLC-MS/MS-Based Identification of Differentially Expressed Proteins and Tumorigenic Pathways in MCF7 Breast Cancer Cells Transfected for JTB Protein Silencing. Molecules 2023; 28:7501. [PMID: 38005222 PMCID: PMC10673289 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28227501] [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: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 10/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The identification of new cancer-associated genes/proteins, the characterization of their expression variation, the interactomics-based assessment of differentially expressed genes/proteins (DEGs/DEPs), and understanding the tumorigenic pathways and biological processes involved in BC genesis and progression are necessary and possible by the rapid and recent advances in bioinformatics and molecular profiling strategies. Taking into account the opinion of other authors, as well as based on our own team's in vitro studies, we suggest that the human jumping translocation breakpoint (hJTB) protein might be considered as a tumor biomarker for BC and should be studied as a target for BC therapy. In this study, we identify DEPs, carcinogenic pathways, and biological processes associated with JTB silencing, using 2D-PAGE coupled with nano-liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (nLC-MS/MS) proteomics applied to a MCF7 breast cancer cell line, for complementing and completing our previous results based on SDS-PAGE, as well as in-solution proteomics of MCF7 cells transfected for JTB downregulation. The functions of significant DEPs are analyzed using GSEA and KEGG analyses. Almost all DEPs exert pro-tumorigenic effects in the JTBlow condition, sustaining the tumor suppressive function of JTB. Thus, the identified DEPs are involved in several signaling and metabolic pathways that play pro-tumorigenic roles: EMT, ERK/MAPK, PI3K/AKT, Wnt/β-catenin, mTOR, C-MYC, NF-κB, IFN-γ and IFN-α responses, UPR, and glycolysis/gluconeogenesis. These pathways sustain cancer cell growth, adhesion, survival, proliferation, invasion, metastasis, resistance to apoptosis, tight junctions and cytoskeleton reorganization, the maintenance of stemness, metabolic reprogramming, survival in a hostile environment, and sustain a poor clinical outcome. In conclusion, JTB silencing might increase the neoplastic phenotype and behavior of the MCF7 BC cell line. The data is available via ProteomeXchange with the identifier PXD046265.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Madhuri Jayathirtha
- Biochemistry & Proteomics Laboratories, Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Science, Clarkson University, 8 Clarkson Avenue, Potsdam, NY 13699, USA; (M.J.); (T.J.); (D.W.); (I.S.); (C.C.D.)
| | - Taniya Jayaweera
- Biochemistry & Proteomics Laboratories, Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Science, Clarkson University, 8 Clarkson Avenue, Potsdam, NY 13699, USA; (M.J.); (T.J.); (D.W.); (I.S.); (C.C.D.)
| | - Danielle Whitham
- Biochemistry & Proteomics Laboratories, Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Science, Clarkson University, 8 Clarkson Avenue, Potsdam, NY 13699, USA; (M.J.); (T.J.); (D.W.); (I.S.); (C.C.D.)
| | - Isabelle Sullivan
- Biochemistry & Proteomics Laboratories, Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Science, Clarkson University, 8 Clarkson Avenue, Potsdam, NY 13699, USA; (M.J.); (T.J.); (D.W.); (I.S.); (C.C.D.)
| | - Brîndușa Alina Petre
- Biochemistry & Proteomics Laboratories, Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Science, Clarkson University, 8 Clarkson Avenue, Potsdam, NY 13699, USA; (M.J.); (T.J.); (D.W.); (I.S.); (C.C.D.)
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iasi, Carol I bvd, No. 11, 700506 Iasi, Romania
- Center for Fundamental Research and Experimental Development in Translation Medicine–TRANSCEND, Regional Institute of Oncology, 700483 Iasi, Romania
| | - Costel C. Darie
- Biochemistry & Proteomics Laboratories, Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Science, Clarkson University, 8 Clarkson Avenue, Potsdam, NY 13699, USA; (M.J.); (T.J.); (D.W.); (I.S.); (C.C.D.)
| | - Anca-Narcisa Neagu
- Laboratory of Animal Histology, Faculty of Biology, “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iasi, Carol I Bvd. No. 22, 700505 Iasi, Romania
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Yang Z, Gao S, Wong CC, Liu W, Chen H, Shang H, Wu ZY, Xu L, Zhang X, Wong N, Kuang M, Yu J. TUBB4B is a novel therapeutic target in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease-associated hepatocellular carcinoma. J Pathol 2023; 260:71-83. [PMID: 36787097 DOI: 10.1002/path.6065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023]
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (NAFLD-HCC) is an emerging malignancy due to the rising prevalence of NAFLD. However, no drug is available to target NAFLD-HCC. In this study, we aim to unravel novel therapeutic targets of NAFLD-HCC utilizing a high-throughput CRISPR/Cas9 screening strategy. We utilized the Epi-drug CRISPR/Cas9 library consisting of single-guide RNAs (sgRNAs) targeting over 1,000 genes representing the FDA-approved drug targets and epigenetic regulators to perform loss-of-function screening in two NAFLD-HCC cell lines (HKCI2 and HKCI10). CRISPR/Cas9 library screening unraveled TUBB4B as an essential gene for NAFLD-HCC cell growth. TUBB4B was overexpressed in NAFLD-HCC tumors compared with adjacent normal tissues (N = 17) and was associated with poor survival (p < 0.01). RNA-sequencing and functional assays revealed that TUBB4B knockout in NAFLD-HCC promoted cell apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, and cellular senescence, leading to suppressed NAFLD-HCC growth in vitro and in vivo. We identified that TUBB4B inhibitor mebendazole (MBZ), an FDA-approved drug, inhibited NAFLD-HCC growth by inducing apoptosis and cellular senescence. Since protein expression of pro-survival Bcl-xL was induced in TUBB4B knockout NAFLD-HCC cells, we examined combination of TUBB4B inhibition with navitoclax, a Bcl-xL inhibitor that selectively targets senescent cells. Consistent with our hypothesis, either TUBB4B knockout or MBZ synergized with navitoclax to inhibit NAFLD-HCC cell growth via the induction of intrinsic and extrinsic apoptosis pathways. In summary, TUBB4B is a novel therapeutic target in NAFLD-HCC. Inhibition of TUBB4B with MBZ in combination with navitoclax synergistically inhibited NAFLD-HCC cell growth, representing a promising strategy for the treatment of NAFLD-HCC. © 2023 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhenjie Yang
- Institute of Digestive Disease and Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, CUHK-Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, PR China
| | - Shanshan Gao
- Institute of Digestive Disease and Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, CUHK-Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, PR China
| | - Chi Chun Wong
- Institute of Digestive Disease and Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, CUHK-Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, PR China
| | - Weixin Liu
- Institute of Digestive Disease and Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, CUHK-Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, PR China
| | - Huarong Chen
- Institute of Digestive Disease and Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, CUHK-Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, PR China
| | - Haiyun Shang
- Institute of Digestive Disease and Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, CUHK-Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, PR China
| | - Zoe Yuet Wu
- Institute of Digestive Disease and Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, CUHK-Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, PR China
| | - Lixia Xu
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Xiang Zhang
- Institute of Digestive Disease and Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, CUHK-Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, PR China
| | - Nathalie Wong
- Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, PR China
| | - Ming Kuang
- Department of Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, PR China
| | - Jun Yu
- Institute of Digestive Disease and Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, CUHK-Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, PR China
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Maliekal TT, Dharmapal D, Sengupta S. Tubulin Isotypes: Emerging Roles in Defining Cancer Stem Cell Niche. Front Immunol 2022; 13:876278. [PMID: 35693789 PMCID: PMC9179084 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.876278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Although the role of microtubule dynamics in cancer progression is well-established, the roles of tubulin isotypes, their cargos and their specific function in the induction and sustenance of cancer stem cells (CSCs) were poorly explored. But emerging reports urge to focus on the transport function of tubulin isotypes in defining orchestrated expression of functionally critical molecules in establishing a stem cell niche, which is the key for CSC regulation. In this review, we summarize the role of specific tubulin isotypes in the transport of functional molecules that regulate metabolic reprogramming, which leads to the induction of CSCs and immune evasion. Recently, the surface expression of GLUT1 and GRP78 as well as voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC) permeability, regulated by specific isotypes of β-tubulins have been shown to impart CSC properties to cancer cells, by implementing a metabolic reprogramming. Moreover, βIVb tubulin is shown to be critical in modulating EphrinB1signaling to sustain CSCs in oral carcinoma. These tubulin-interacting molecules, Ephrins, GLUT1 and GRP78, are also important regulators of immune evasion, by evoking PD-L1 mediated T-cell suppression. Thus, the recent advances in the field implicate that tubulins play a role in the controlled transport of molecules involved in CSC niche. The indication of tubulin isotypes in the regulation of CSCs offers a strategy to specifically target those tubulin isotypes to eliminate CSCs, rather than the general inhibition of microtubules, which usually leads to therapy resistance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tessy Thomas Maliekal
- Cancer Research, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thiruvananthapuram, India
- Regional Centre for Biotechnology, Faridabad, India
- *Correspondence: Tessy Thomas Maliekal, ; Suparna Sengupta,
| | - Dhrishya Dharmapal
- Cancer Research, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thiruvananthapuram, India
- University of Kerala, Department of Biotechnology, Thiruvananthapuram, India
| | - Suparna Sengupta
- Cancer Research, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thiruvananthapuram, India
- Regional Centre for Biotechnology, Faridabad, India
- University of Kerala, Department of Biotechnology, Thiruvananthapuram, India
- *Correspondence: Tessy Thomas Maliekal, ; Suparna Sengupta,
| |
Collapse
|