Semaphorin 3C and Its Receptors in Cancer and Cancer Stem-Like Cells

SEMA3C promotes thyroid cancer via the Wnt/β-catenin pathway

Semaphorin 3C (SEMA3C) regulates the progression of several tumors. However, the role of SEMA3C in thyroid cancer remains unknow. In the present study, SEMA3C was overexpressed or knocked down in thyroid cancer cell lines BCPAP and IHH-4. It was found that SEMA3C promoted the cell migration, invasion, and mesenchymal-epithelial transition (EMT) process. SEMA3C overexpression enhanced tumor cell stemness, while SEMA3C knockdown showed the opposite effects. In vivo experiments suggested that SEMA3C accelerated the tumor growth and metastasis. Moreover, SEMA3C enhanced β-catenin nuclear translocation. When cells were treated with Dickkopf-1 (DKK1), an inhibitor of Wnt/β-catenin pathway, the promoting effects of SEMA3C on cell migration and stemness were offset. Wnt/β-catenin pathway mediated the roles of SEMA3C in thyroid cancer. Additionally, an upstream regulator of SEMA3C was identified. E1A binding protein P300 (P300) was found to increase the histone three lysine 27 acetylation (H3K27ac) level of SEMA3C, promoting its transcriptional activation. Therefore, we clarify that SEMA3C exerts a tumor-promoting effect on thyroid cancer, and Wnt/β-catenin pathway is the critical downstream pathway.

Proteomic and N-glycosylation analysis of fertile egg white during storage and incubation in chickens

Proteins in egg whites play vital roles in embryonic development. Simultaneously, protein modification is affected by the surrounding environment, which ultimately affects the structure and function of proteins. Here, we measured the phenotypes of eggs at different time points during storage and incubation and used 4D label-free quantitative proteomics technology and liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)-technique to identify the differential proteins and N-glycosylation sites in egg whites during storage and incubation. We found that the differential N-glycoproteins in the early stage of storage were mainly related to protein structure changes, antibacterial activity, and cell proliferation, and that there were more protease inhibitors in egg whites, which decreased in the later stage of storage. Finally, eleven possible protein markers and N-glycosylation sites were identified to significantly change during storage and may exert an effect on hatchability, including the proteins involved in antibacterial activity (OVOA-N855, CLU-N154, ogchi-N82, PIGR-N290, WFDC2-N120), protein structure (LOC776816), and cell proliferation (ASAH1-N173). This study provides substantial insights into the physical and molecular compositional changes in egg whites under different storage times and revealed their potential effect on chick embryo development.

Multi-scale transcriptomics reveals that specific tumor cells promote lung adenocarcinoma metastasis through crosstalk with the microenvironment

Most advanced lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) patient deaths are attributed to metastasis. However, the complete understanding of the metastatic mechanism in LUAD remains elusive. Single-cell RNA-seq (scRNA-seq), spatial RNA-seq (stRNA-seq) and bulk RNA-seq of primary LUAD were integrated to investigate metastatic driver genes, cell-cell interactions, and spatial colocalization of cells and ligand-receptor pairs. A lung adenocarcinoma metastasis risk scoring model (LMRS) was established to estimate the risk of metastasis in LUAD. Forty-two metastasis driver genes were identified and tumor epithelial cells were classified into two subtypes. Epithelial cell subclass characterized by susceptibility to metastasis are referred to as Epithelial_LM, and the remaining as Epithelial_LL. Epithelial_LM subtype has intimate ligand-receptor interactions with inflammatory endothelial cells (iendo), inflammatory cancer-associated fibroblasts (iCAF), and NKT cells. Epithelial_LM cells have a spatial colocalization relationship with these three types of cells. The LMRS was established and its efficacy was verified in bulk RNA-seq. We identified a subclass of epithelial cells prone to metastasis and demonstrated the contribution of inflammatory stromal cells and NKT cells in facilitating tumor metastasis.

Semaphorin 3C (Sema3C) reshapes stromal microenvironment to promote hepatocellular carcinoma progression

More than 90% of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cases develop in the presence of fibrosis or cirrhosis, making the tumor microenvironment (TME) of HCC distinctive due to the intricate interplay between cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and cancer stem cells (CSCs), which collectively regulate HCC progression. However, the mechanisms through which CSCs orchestrate the dynamics of the tumor stroma during HCC development remain elusive. Our study unveils a significant upregulation of Sema3C in fibrotic liver, HCC tissues, peripheral blood of HCC patients, as well as sorafenib-resistant tissues and cells, with its overexpression correlating with the acquisition of stemness properties in HCC. We further identify NRP1 and ITGB1 as pivotal functional receptors of Sema3C, activating downstream AKT/Gli1/c-Myc signaling pathways to bolster HCC self-renewal and tumor initiation. Additionally, HCC cells-derived Sema3C facilitated extracellular matrix (ECM) contraction and collagen deposition in vivo, while also promoting the proliferation and activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Mechanistically, Sema3C interacted with NRP1 and ITGB1 in HSCs, activating downstream NF-kB signaling, thereby stimulating the release of IL-6 and upregulating HMGCR expression, consequently enhancing cholesterol synthesis in HSCs. Furthermore, CAF-secreted TGF-β1 activates AP1 signaling to augment Sema3C expression in HCC cells, establishing a positive feedback loop that accelerates HCC progression. Notably, blockade of Sema3C effectively inhibits tumor growth and sensitizes HCC cells to sorafenib in vivo. In sum, our findings spotlight Sema3C as a novel biomarker facilitating the crosstalk between CSCs and stroma during hepatocarcinogenesis, thereby offering a promising avenue for enhancing treatment efficacy and overcoming drug resistance in HCC.

A genome-wide association study on hematopoietic stem cell transplantation reveals novel genomic loci associated with transplant outcomes

Introduction

Data on genomic susceptibility for adverse outcomes after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) for recipients are scarce.

Methods

We performed a genome wide association study (GWAS) to identify genes associated with survival/mortality, relapse, and severe graft-versus-host disease (sGvHD), fitting proportional hazard and subdistributional models to data of n=1,392 recipients of European ancestry from three centres.

Results

The single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs17154454, intronic to the neuronal growth guidant semaphorin 3C gene (SEMA3C), was genome-wide significantly associated with event-free survival (p=7.0x10-8) and sGvHD (p=7.5x10-8). Further associations were detected for SNPs in the Paxillin gene (PXN) with death without prior relapse or sGvHD, as well as for SNPs of the Plasmacytoma Variant Translocation 1 gene (PVT1, a long non-coding RNA gene), the Melanocortin 5 Receptor (MC5R) gene and the WW Domain Containing Oxidoreductase gene (WWOX), all associated with the occurrence of sGvHD. Functional considerations support the observed associations.

Discussion

Thus, new genes were identified, potentially influencing the outcome of HSCT.

Perineural invasion in colorectal cancer: mechanisms of action and clinical relevance

BACKGROUND

In recent years, the significance of the nervous system in the tumor microenvironment has gained increasing attention. The bidirectional communication between nerves and cancer cells plays a critical role in tumor initiation and progression. Perineural invasion (PNI) occurs when tumor cells invade the nerve sheath and/or encircle more than 33% of the nerve circumference. PNI is a common feature in various malignancies and is associated with tumor invasion, metastasis, cancer-related pain, and unfavorable clinical outcomes. The colon and rectum are highly innervated organs, and accumulating studies support PNI as a histopathologic feature of colorectal cancer (CRC). Therefore, it is essential to investigate the role of nerves in CRC and comprehend the mechanisms of PNI to impede tumor progression and improve patient survival.

CONCLUSION

This review elucidates the clinical significance of PNI, summarizes the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms, introduces various experimental models suitable for studying PNI, and discusses the therapeutic potential of targeting this phenomenon. By delving into the intricate interactions between nerves and tumor cells, we hope this review can provide valuable insights for the future development of CRC treatments.

Association between circ_0004365 and cisplatin resistance in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Cisplatin is one of the most predominant drugs for the chemotherapy of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC); however, the underlying resistance mechanisms are still almost unknown. The present study performed RNA sequencing of human circular RNA (circRNA) in TE11 cells and cisplatin-resistant TE11 cells (TE11R). The expression profiles determined using CIRCexplorer2 revealed that the expression of circ_0004365, mapped on the Semaphorin 3C gene, was significantly greater in TE11R compared with in TE11. In reverse transcription-quantitative PCR, circ_0004365 expression was observed in human ESCC and non-tumor tissues and was significantly upregulated in ESCC tumor tissues after chemotherapy. Circ_0004365 expression was significantly upregulated in patients with poor pathological response (P=0.02). Furthermore, patients with advanced pT stage showed an upregulation in circ_0004365 expression after chemotherapy (P=0.02). The MTT assay revealed that knockdown of circ_0003465 in TE11 significantly decreased resistance to cisplatin. In conclusion, the present study suggested that circ_0004365 was associated with cisplatin resistance in ESCC and can be used as both a novel biomarker and a therapeutic target.

Semaphorins and Their Roles in Breast Cancer: Implications for Therapy Resistance

Breast cancer is the most common cancer worldwide and a leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women. The clinical management of breast cancer is further complicated by the heterogeneous nature of the disease, which results in varying prognoses and treatment responses in patients. The semaphorins are a family of proteins with varied roles in development and homoeostasis. They are also expressed in a wide range of human cancers and are implicated as regulators of tumour growth, angiogenesis, metastasis and immune evasion. More recently, semaphorins have been implicated in drug resistance across a range of malignancies. In breast cancer, semaphorins are associated with resistance to endocrine therapy as well as breast cancer chemotherapeutic agents such as taxanes and anthracyclines. This review will focus on the semaphorins involved in breast cancer progression and their association with drug resistance.

Semaphorin 3 C enhances putative cancer stemness and accelerates peritoneal dissemination in pancreatic cancer

PURPOSE

Semaphorins, axon guidance cues in neuronal network formation, have been implicated in cancer progression. We previously identified semaphorin 3 C (SEMA3C) as a secreted protein overexpressed in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). We, therefore, hypothesized that SEMA3C supports PDAC progression. In this study, we aimed to investigate the clinical features of SEMA3C, especially its association with chemo-resistance and peritoneal dissemination.

METHODS

In resected PDAC tissues, we assessed the relationship between SEMA3C expression and clinicopathological features by immunohistochemistry. In vitro studies, we have shown invasion assay, pancreatosphere formation assay, colony formation assay, cytotoxicity assay, and activation of SEMA3C downstream targets (c-Met, Akt, mTOR). In vivo, we performed a preclinical trial to confirm the efficacy of SEMA3C shRNA knockdown and Gemcitabine and nab-Paclitaxel (GnP) in an orthotopic transplantation mouse model and in peritoneal dissemination mouse model.

RESULTS

In resected PDAC tissues, SEMA3C expression correlated with invasion and peritoneal dissemination after surgery. SEMA3C promoted cell invasion, self-renewal, and colony formation in vitro. We further demonstrated that SEMA3C knockdown increased Gem-induced cytotoxicity by suppressing the activation of the Akt/mTOR pathway via the c-Met receptor. Combination therapy with SEMA3C knockdown and GnP reduced tumor growth and peritoneal dissemination.

CONCLUSIONS

SEMA3C enhances peritoneal dissemination by regulating putative cancer stemness and Gem resistance and activates phosphorylation of the Akt/mTOR pathway via c-Met. Our findings provide a new avenue for therapeutic strategies in regulating peritoneal dissemination during PDAC progression.

Sema3C signaling is an alternative activator of the canonical WNT pathway in glioblastoma

The Wnt pathway is frequently dysregulated in many cancers, underscoring it as a therapeutic target. Wnt inhibitors have uniformly failed in clinical trials. Here, we report a mechanism of WNT pathway activation through the Semaphorin 3 C neurodevelopmental program in glioma stem-like cells. Sema3C directs β-catenin nuclear accumulation in a Rac1-dependent process, leading to transactivation of Wnt target genes. Sema3C-driven Wnt signaling occurred despite suppression of Wnt ligand secretion, suggesting that Sema3C drives canonical Wnt signaling independent of Wnt ligand binding. In a mouse model of glioblastoma, combined depletion of Sema3C and β-catenin partner TCF1 extended animal survival more than single target inhibition alone. In human glioblastoma, Sema3C expression and Wnt pathway activation were highly concordant. Since Sema3C is frequently overexpressed in glioblastoma, Sema3C signaling may be a significant mechanism of resistance to upstream Wnt pathway inhibitors. Dual targeting of Sema3C and Wnt pathways may achieve clinically significant Wnt pathway inhibition.

Plexin-B3 expression stimulates MET signaling, breast cancer stem cell specification, and lung metastasis

Intratumoral hypoxia is a microenvironmental feature that promotes breast cancer progression and is associated with cancer mortality. Plexin B3 (PLXNB3) is highly expressed in estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer, but the underlying mechanisms and consequences have not been thoroughly investigated. Here, we report that PLXNB3 expression is increased in response to hypoxia and that PLXNB3 is a direct target gene of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) in human breast cancer cells. PLXNB3 expression is correlated with HIF-1α immunohistochemistry, breast cancer grade and stage, and patient mortality. Mechanistically, PLXNB3 is required for hypoxia-induced MET/SRC/focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and MET/SRC/STAT3/NANOG signaling as well as hypoxia-induced breast cancer cell migration, invasion, and cancer stem cell specification. PLXNB3 knockdown impairs tumor formation and lung metastasis in orthotopic breast cancer mouse models.

SEMA3C Supports Pancreatic Cancer Progression by Regulating the Autophagy Process and Tumor Immune Microenvironment

To date, driver genes for pancreatic cancer treatment are difficult to pursue therapeutically. Targeting mutated KRAS, the most renowned driver gene in pancreatic cancer, is an active area of study. We discovered a gene named SEMA3C was highly expressed in pancreatic cancer cell lines and patients with a G12D mutation in KRAS. High expression of SEMA3C in patients was significantly associated with the decreased survival of pancreatic cancer patients based on the TCGA database. In pancreatic cancer cells, SEMA3C knockdown or inhibition exhibited growth/colony inhibition and cell cycle arrest. In addition, SEMA3C inhibition sensitized KRAS or MEK1/2 inhibition in pancreatic cancer cells. Overexpression of SEMA3C resulted in the induction of autophagy, whereas depletion of SEMA3C compromised induction of autophagy. SEMA3C modified the PD-L1 expression in tumor and immune cells and is correlated with the M2-like macrophage marker ARG1/CD163 expression, which could reshape the tumor microenvironment. Inhibition of SEMA3C decreased tumor formation in the xenograft model in vivo. Taken together, our data suggest that SEMA3C plays a substantial role in promoting cancer cell survival by regulating the autophagy process and impacting the tumor environment immune response. SEMA3C can be used as a novel target or marker with therapeutic or diagnostic potential in pancreatic cancer especially in tumors harboring the specific KRAS G12D mutation.

Analysis of immune related gene expression profiles and immune cell components in patients with Barrett esophagus

Barrett's esophagus (BE) is a well-known precancerous condition of esophageal adenocarcinoma. However, the immune cells and immune related genes involved in BE development and progression are not fully understood. Therefore, our study attempted to investigate the roles of immune cells and immune related genes in BE patients. The raw gene expression data were downloaded from the GEO database. The limma package in R was used to screen differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Then we performed the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and random forest (RF) analyses to screen key genes. The proportion of infiltrated immune cells was evaluated using the CIBERSORT algorithm between BE and normal esophagus (NE) samples. The spearman index was used to show the correlations of immune genes and immune cells. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to assess the diagnostic value of key genes in BE. A total of 103 differentially expressed immune-related genes were identified between BE samples and normal samples. Then, 7 genes (CD1A, LTF, FABP4, PGC, TCF7L2, INSR,SEMA3C) were obtained after Lasso analysis and RF modeling. CIBERSORT analysis revealed that resting CD4 T memory cells and gamma delta T cells were present at significantly lower levels in BE samples. Moreover, plasma cell and regulatory T cells were present at significantly higher levels in BE samples than in NE samples. INSR had the highest AUC values in ROC analysis. We identified 7 immune related genes and 4 different immune cells in our study, that may play vital roles in the occurrence and development of BE. Our findings improve the understanding of the molecular mechanisms of BE.

Differential Effects of Neurectomy and Botox-induced Muscle Paralysis on Bone Phenotype and Titanium Implant Osseointegration

Metabolic bone is highly innervated by both sensory and sympathetic nerves. In addition to skeletal development, neural regulation participates in local bone remodeling, which is important for successful osseointegration of titanium implants. Neurectomy is a model used to investigate the lack of neural function on bone homeostasis, but the relative impacts of direct denervation to bone or denervation-induced muscle paralysis are less well defined. To investigate this difference, we used two nerve intervention models, sciatic and femoral neurectomy (SFN) v. botox-induced muscle paralysis (BTX) and assessed the resulting femoral bone phenotype and Ti implant osseointegration. Male Sprague Dawley rats (19) were randomly divided into three groups: implant control (n = 5), SFN (n = 7), and BTX (n = 7). Ti implants (microrough/hydrophilic [modSLA], Institut Straumann AG) were placed in the distal metaphysis of each femur on day 24 post-SFN or BTX. Bone and muscle were examined on day 28 after implant insertion. Both nerve intervention models impaired osseointegration. MicroCT and histology indicated that both models had reduced trabecular bone formation. Only BTX reduced cortical bone formation and increased cortical bone porosity. BTX resulted in more bone loss characterized by the least trabecular and cortical bone, as well as osseointegration. Osteoblasts isolated from the tibia exhibited a model-specific phenotype when they were grown on Ti substrates in vitro. Neurectomy caused more severe muscle atrophy than botox injection. These results indicate that neural regulation directly modulates bone formation and osseointegration. Muscle paralysis modulated the effects of loss of neural inputs into bone, supporting the hypothesis that mechanical loading of bone is a factor in achieving successful osseointegration. The different effects of botox and neurectomy on bone phenotype indicated that the sensory and sympathetic nerves had a role in the osseointegration process.

A Pan-Cancer Landscape of HOX-Related lncRNAs and Their Association With Prognosis and Tumor Microenvironment

The highly conserved homology cassette family (HOX) as well as 18 referenced long non-coding antisense transcripts (HOXATs) play vital roles in the development of some cancers. Nevertheless, their expression patterns as well as their association with cancer prognosis and the tumor microenvironment (TME) in pan-cancers are still unclear. Here, based on public databases, the expression levels of HOXATs, their prognostic potentials, and correlation with tumor mutation burden (TMB), immune cell infiltration, immune subtype, immune response-related genes, and stemness scores corresponding to 33 tumor types were analyzed systematically using R language. The results of the analysis indicated that different cancer tissues show different HOXAT expression profiles. Further, HOXAT expression showed association with cancer prognosis and immune and stemness regulation. Gene set enrichment analysis also demonstrated that HOXATs participate in cancer- and immune-related pathways, and based on their expression levels, HOTAIRM1 and HOXB-AS1 showed potential involvement in oncogenesis as well as possible involvement in immune regulation across a variety of cancer types. Further investigation also confirmed a significantly higher expression of HOXB-AS1 in GBM than in lower grade glioma tissues. Importantly, in vitro cell function experiments indicated that HOXB-AS1 supports cancer stem cell and plays a fundamental role in glioma metastasis. In conclusion, our results provide valuable resources that can guide the investigation of the mechanisms related to the role of HOXATs in cancers as well as therapeutic analysis in this regard.

Plexin-B3 Regulates Cellular Motility, Invasiveness, and Metastasis in Pancreatic Cancer

The Plexins family of proteins are well-characterized transmembrane receptors of semaphorins, axon guidance cue molecules, that mediate the cell attraction or repelling effects for such cues. Plexins and their ligands are involved in numerous cellular activities, such as motility, invasion, and adhesion to the basement membrane. The detachment of cells and the gain in motility and invasion are hallmarks of the cancer metastasis cascade, thus generating interest in exploring the role of plexins in cancer metastasis. Semaphorin-plexin complexes can act as tumor promoters or suppressors, depending upon the cancer type, and are under investigation for therapeutic purposes. Our group has identified Semaphorin-5A (SEMA5A)/Plexin-B3 as an attractive targetable complex for pancreatic cancer (PC) metastasis. However, our understanding of the Plexin-B3 function and pathological expression in PC is limited, and our present study delineates the role of Plexin-B3 in PC malignancy. We examined the pathological expression of Plexin-B3 in PC tumors and metastasis using a human tissue microarray, disease progression model of PDX-Cre-Kras^(G12D) (KC) mice, and different metastatic sites obtained from the Kras^G12D; Trp53^R172H; Pdx1-Cre (KPC) mice model. We observed a higher Plexin-B3 expression in PC tumor cores than the normal pancreas, and different metastatic sites were positive for Plexin-B3 expression. However, in the KC mice model, the Plexin-B3 expression increased initially and then decreased with the disease progression. Next, to evaluate the functional role of Plexin-B3, we utilized T3M-4- and CD18/HPAF-Control and -Plexin B3 knockdown cells for different in vivo and in vitro studies. The knockdown of Plexin-B3 enhanced the in vitro cellular migration, invasiveness, and impaired colony formation in three-dimensional culture, along with an increase in cellular spread and remodeling of the actin filaments. We also observed a higher metastasis in nude mice injected with T3M-4- and CD18/HPAF-shPlexin-B3 cells compared to their respective control cells. Furthermore, we observed a lower number of proliferating Ki-67-positive cells and higher ALDH1-A1-positive cells in the tumors formed by Plexin-B3 knockdown cells compared to tumors formed by the control cells. Together, our data suggest that the loss of Plexin-B3 is associated with the interference of cell division machinery and the induction of stem cell-like characteristics in PC cells.

A comprehensive review of tumor proliferative and suppressive role of semaphorins and therapeutic approaches

Semaphorins have been traditionally known as axon guidance proteins that negatively regulate axonal growth. However, in the past couple of decades, their versatile role in so many other biological processes has come to prominence as well. One such example is their role in cancer. In this review article, the focus was on the tumor proliferative and tumor suppressive role of all 20 semaphorin family members under the 7 semaphorin classes found in vertebrates and invertebrates as well as the ongoing and emerging therapeutic approaches to combat semaphorin-mediated cancers. Except sema6C, 19 of the 20 non-viral semaphorin family members have been discovered to be associated with cancer in one way or another. Eleven semaphorin family members have been discovered to be tumor proliferative and 8 to be tumor suppressive. Six therapeutic avenues and their safety profiles have been discussed which are currently at use or at the various stages of development. Finally, perspectives on which approach is the best for treating cancers associated with semaphorins have been given.

BMP4-Induced Differentiation of Human Hair Follicle Neural Crest Stem Cells into Precursor Melanocytes from Hair Follicle Bulge

Background

Vitiligo is a skin depigmentation disorder, for which, repigmentation treatment with combined follicular unit extraction (FUE) graft and narrowband ultraviolet B (NBUVB) is considered superior to micro-punch graft therapy. BMP4 can induce MITF expression in Neural crest stem cells (NCSCs), and α-MSH subsequently promotes the differentiation of MITF-expressing cells along the melanocyte lineage.

Objective

To investigate why FUE grafting is superior to epidermal mini grafting in promoting hair follicles (HF) melanocyte cell survival and longevity, we planned the in vitro experiments HF bulge NCSCs differentiate into melanocyte precursors under the co-treatment of BMP4 and α-MSH.

Methods

Cells that migrated from the HF bulge of scalp were cultured and assessed using immunofluorescence. Transcriptome analysis was performed on RNA sequencing results.

Results

Basic fibroblast growth factor promotes the proliferation and survival of NCSCs, with spontaneous differentiation into SOX10+/SOX2+ glial progenitors, but not into SOX10+/MITF+ precursor melanocytes. Both BMP4 and α-MSH promoted the differentiation into MITF-expressing cells. RNA sequencing revealed a downregulation in neuregulin-1 (NRG1) and sermaphorin 3C (SEMA3C), and upregulation in WNT10A. Furthermore, FUE grafting had a source of reservoir melanocytes superior to mini- grafting in treatment for vitiligo.

Conclusion

We obtained SOX10+/MITF+ precursor melanocytes through an induction of differentiation along the melanocyte lineage by BMP4 and α-MSH. According to the RNA sequencing results that NRG1 and SEMA3C were downregulated and WNT10A was upregulated, we postulated that HF NCSCs differentiated into melanocyte by co-treatment of BMP4 and α-MSH. Overall, FUE grafting is a more robust and substitutive treatment option for vitiligo.

Characterization of Class-3 Semaphorin Receptors, Neuropilins and Plexins, as Therapeutic Targets in a Pan-Cancer Study

Class-3 semaphorins (SEMA3s), initially characterized as axon guidance cues, have been recognized as key regulators for immune responses, angiogenesis, tumorigenesis and drug responses. The functions of SEMA3s are attributed to the activation of downstream signaling cascades mainly mediated by cell surface receptors neuropilins (NRPs) and plexins (PLXNs), yet their roles in human cancers are not completely understood. Here, we provided a detailed pan-cancer analysis of NRPs and PLXNs in their expression, and association with key signal transducers, patient survival, tumor microenvironment (TME), and drug responses. The expression of NRPs and PLXNs were dysregulated in many cancer types, and the majority of them were further dysregulated in metastatic tumors, indicating a role in metastatic progression. Importantly, the expression of these genes was frequently associated with key transducers, patient survival, TME, and drug responses; however, the direction of the association varied for the particular gene queried and the specific cancer type/subtype tested. Specifically, NRP1, NRP2, PLXNA1, PLXNA3, PLXNB3, PLXNC1, and PLXND1 were primarily associated with aggressive phenotypes, whereas the rest were more associated with favorable prognosis. These data highlighted the need to study each as a separate entity in a cancer type- and subtype-dependent manner.

Semaphorin 3 C is a Novel Adipokine Representing Exercise-Induced Improvements of Metabolism in Metabolically Healthy Obese Young Males

This study investigated the endurance exercise-induced changes in lesser known adipokines (visfatin, chemerin, apelin, semaphorin 3 C) related to obesity and metabolism, and their correlations with the changes in the parameters of obesity and glucose homeostasis. Forty metabolically healthy obese young males were randomly assigned to control group (C, n = 12) or exercise group (Ex, n = 28). The subjects in Ex participated in a 8-week supervised endurance exercise training program, comprised of four sessions of treadmill running at 65–70% of VO_2max per week. Serum levels of visfatin, chemerin, apelin, and semaphorin 3 C were significantly decreased in Ex. At baseline, apelin and semaphorin 3 C appeared to be correlated with obesity measures, including body mass index, % total fat and trunk fat, and waist circumference. Exercise-induced changes in these obesity measures significantly correlated with the changes in chemerin and semaphorin 3 C. Basal chemerin, apelin and semaphorin 3 C correlated with glucose homeostasis parameters, including fasting plasma glucose, fasting plasma insulin, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance and β-cell function, and quantitative insulin-sensitivity check index to different extents. Furthermore, the changes in apelin and semaphorin 3 C well predicted the improvements in glycemic parameters. We suggest that semaphorin 3 C is a novel adipokine involved in pathophysiology of obesity and metabolism, and that it is a biomarker representing an exercise-induced improvement in metabolically healthy obese young males.

Whole-genome sequencing of glioblastoma reveals enrichment of non-coding constraint mutations in known and novel genes

BACKGROUND

Glioblastoma (GBM) has one of the worst 5-year survival rates of all cancers. While genomic studies of the disease have been performed, alterations in the non-coding regulatory regions of GBM have largely remained unexplored. We apply whole-genome sequencing (WGS) to identify non-coding mutations, with regulatory potential in GBM, under the hypothesis that regions of evolutionary constraint are likely to be functional, and somatic mutations are likely more damaging than in unconstrained regions.

RESULTS

We validate our GBM cohort, finding similar copy number aberrations and mutated genes based on coding mutations as previous studies. Performing analysis on non-coding constraint mutations and their position relative to nearby genes, we find a significant enrichment of non-coding constraint mutations in the neighborhood of 78 genes that have previously been implicated in GBM. Among them, SEMA3C and DYNC1I1 show the highest frequencies of alterations, with multiple mutations overlapping transcription factor binding sites. We find that a non-coding constraint mutation in the SEMA3C promoter reduces the DNA binding capacity of the region. We also identify 1776 other genes enriched for non-coding constraint mutations with likely regulatory potential, providing additional candidate GBM genes. The mutations in the top four genes, DLX5, DLX6, FOXA1, and ISL1, are distributed over promoters, UTRs, and multiple transcription factor binding sites.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that non-coding constraint mutations could play an essential role in GBM, underscoring the need to connect non-coding genomic variation to biological function and disease pathology.

A pan-cancer study of class-3 semaphorins as therapeutic targets in cancer

BACKGROUND

Initially characterized as axon guidance factors, semaphorins also have been implicated to have critical roles in multiple physiological and developmental functions, including the regulation of immune responses, angiogenesis, organ formation, and the etiology of multiple forms of cancer. Moreover, their contribution in immunity and the regulation of tumour microenvironment is becoming increasingly recognized. Here, we provide a comprehensive analysis of class-3 semaphorins, the only secreted family of genes among veterbrate semaphorins, in terms of their expression profiles and their association with patient survival. We also relate their role with immune subtypes, tumour microenvironment, and drug sensitivity using a pan-cancer study.

RESULTS

Expression profiles of class-3 semaphorins (SEMA3s) and their association with patient survival and tumour microenvironment were studied in 31 cancer types using the TCGA pan-cancer data. The expression of SEMA3 family varies in different cancer types with striking inter- and intra- cancer heterogeneity. In general, our results show that SEMA3A, SEMA3C, and SEMA3F are primarily upregulated in cancer cells, while the rest of SEMA3s are mainly down-regulated in the tested tumours. The expression of SEMA3 family members was frequently associated with patient overall survival. However, the direction of the association varied with regards to the particular SEMA3 isoform queried and the specific cancer type tested. More specifically, SEMA3A and SEMA3E primarily associate with a poor prognosis of survival, while SEMA3G typically associates with survival advantage. The rest of SEMA3s show either survival advantage or disadvantage dependent on cancer type. In addition, all SEMA3 genes show significant association with immune infiltrate subtypes, and they also correlate with level of stromal cell infiltration and tumour cell stemness with various degrees. Finally, our study revealed that SEMA3 genes, especially SEMA3C and SEMA3F may contribute to drug induced cancer cell resistance.

CONCLUSIONS

Our systematic analysis of class-3 semaphorin gene expression and their association with immune infiltrates, tumour microenvironment and cancer patient outcomes highlights the need to study each SEMA3 member as a separate entity within each specific cancer type. Also our study validated the identification of class-3 semaphorin signals as promising therapeutic targets in cancer although further laboratory validation still needed.

Neuropilin: Handyman and Power Broker in the Tumor Microenvironment

Neuropilin-1 and neuropilin-2 form a small family of transmembrane receptors, which, due to the lack of a cytosolic protein kinase domain, act primarily as co-receptors for various ligands. Performing at the molecular level both the executive and organizing functions of a handyman as well as of a power broker, they are instrumental in controlling the signaling of various receptor tyrosine kinases, integrins, and other molecules involved in the regulation of physiological and pathological angiogenic processes. In this setting, the various neuropilin ligands and interaction partners on various cells of the tumor microenvironment, such as cancer cells, endothelial cells, cancer-associated fibroblasts, and immune cells, are surveyed. The suitability of various neuropilin-targeting substances and the intervention in neuropilin-mediated interactions is considered as a possible building block of tumor therapy.

The Anti-Tumorigenic Activity of Sema3C in the Chick Embryo Chorioallantoic Membrane Model

Sema3C protein, a member of the class 3 family of secreted semaphorins, play an important role in tumor development by regulating cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and angiogenesis processes. Depending on the type and malignancy grade of the tumor, Sema3C function remains controversial. In this study, we constructed a stably overexpressing Sema3C glioblastoma cell line U87 MG and tested it on the chicken embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) model with the aim to reveal Sema3C protein function on angiogenesis process in ovo. Our experiments showed that Sema3C not only affects angiogenesis of CAM by inhibiting neovascularization but also acts as an anti-tumorigenic molecule by hampering U87 MG cell invasion into mesenchyme. The effects of Sema3C on CAM were similar to the effects of anti-epileptic drug sodium valproate (NaVP). Both, anti-angiogenic and anti-tumorigenic activities of Sema3C were enhanced by the treatment of NaVP and, importantly, were not attributed to the cytotoxic effects. Our studies suggest that Sema3C could be a promising target for glioblastoma treatment.

SEMA3C Promotes Cervical Cancer Growth and Is Associated With Poor Prognosis

Introduction: Aberrant activation of Semaphorin3C(SEMA3C) is widespread in human cancers. We aimed to analyze SEMA3C expression in cervical cancer and investigate the role of SEMA3C in cervical cancer and its underlying mechanism, which is important for exploring new therapeutic targets and prognostic factors.

Materials and Methods: The expression of SEMA3C was examined in paraffin-embedded cervical cancer specimens. In vivo and in vitro assays were performed to validate the effect of SEMA3C on cervical cancer cell proliferation and p-ERK pathway activation. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) was performed using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data set.

Results: SEMA3C expression was associated with poor survival in both the TCGA cohort and our cohort. Silencing of SEMA3C suppressed cervical cancer cell proliferation, colony formation ability, and the activation of the p-ERK signaling pathway in vitro. SEMA3C depletion inhibited tumor growth in vitro. GSEA also showed that the epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT), TGFβ signaling pathway, angiogenesis, and extracellular matrix (ECM) receptor interactions are associated with a high SEMA3C expression phenotype.

Conclusion: SEMA3C is correlated with poor prognosis of cervical cancer patients and promotes tumor growth via the activation of the p-ERK pathway.

Semaphorin 3C as a Therapeutic Target in Prostate and Other Cancers

The semaphorins represent a large family of signaling molecules with crucial roles in neuronal and cardiac development. While normal semaphorin function pertains largely to development, their involvement in malignancy is becoming increasingly evident. One member, Semaphorin 3C (SEMA3C), has been shown to drive a number of oncogenic programs, correlate inversely with cancer prognosis, and promote the progression of multiple different cancer types. This report surveys the body of knowledge surrounding SEMA3C as a therapeutic target in cancer. In particular, we summarize SEMA3C's role as an autocrine andromedin in prostate cancer growth and survival and provide an overview of other cancer types that SEMA3C has been implicated in including pancreas, brain, breast, and stomach. We also propose molecular strategies that could potentially be deployed against SEMA3C as anticancer agents such as biologics, small molecules, monoclonal antibodies and antisense oligonucleotides. Finally, we discuss important considerations for the inhibition of SEMA3C as a cancer therapeutic agent.

Neuropilins in the Context of Tumor Vasculature

Neuropilin-1 and Neuropilin-2 form a small family of plasma membrane spanning receptors originally identified by the binding of semaphorin and vascular endothelial growth factor. Having no cytosolic protein kinase domain, they function predominantly as co-receptors of other receptors for various ligands. As such, they critically modulate the signaling of various receptor tyrosine kinases, integrins, and other molecules involved in the regulation of physiological and pathological angiogenic processes. This review highlights the diverse neuropilin ligands and interacting partners on endothelial cells, which are relevant in the context of the tumor vasculature and the tumor microenvironment. In addition to tumor cells, the latter contains cancer-associated fibroblasts, immune cells, and endothelial cells. Based on the prevalent neuropilin-mediated interactions, the suitability of various neuropilin-targeted substances for influencing tumor angiogenesis as a possible building block of a tumor therapy is discussed.

Class-3 Semaphorins and Their Receptors: Potent Multifunctional Modulators of Tumor Progression

Semaphorins are the products of a large gene family containing 28 genes of which 21 are found in vertebrates. Class-3 semaphorins constitute a subfamily of seven vertebrate semaphorins which differ from the other vertebrate semaphorins in that they are the only secreted semaphorins and are distinguished from other semaphorins by the presence of a basic domain at their C termini. Class-3 semaphorins were initially characterized as axon guidance factors, but have subsequently been found to regulate immune responses, angiogenesis, lymphangiogenesis, and a variety of additional physiological and developmental functions. Most class-3 semaphorins transduce their signals by binding to receptors belonging to the neuropilin family which subsequently associate with receptors of the plexin family to form functional class-3 semaphorin receptors. Recent evidence suggests that class-3 semaphorins also fulfill important regulatory roles in multiple forms of cancer. Several class-3 semaphorins function as endogenous inhibitors of tumor angiogenesis. Others were found to inhibit tumor metastasis by inhibition of tumor lymphangiogenesis, by direct effects on the behavior of tumor cells, or by modulation of immune responses. Notably, some semaphorins such as sema3C and sema3E have also been found to potentiate tumor progression using various mechanisms. This review focuses on the roles of the different class-3 semaphorins in tumor progression.