HOXB8 Counteracts MAPK/ERK Oncogenic Signaling in a Chicken Embryo Model of Neoplasia

Integrating genomics and transcriptomics to identify candidate genes for high-altitude adaptation and egg production in Nixi chicken

1. This study combined genome-wide selection signal analysis with RNA-sequencing to identify candidate genes associated with high altitude adaptation and egg production performance in Nixi chickens (NXC).2. Based on the whole-genome data from 20 NXC (♂:10; ♀:10), the population selection signal was analysed by sliding window analysis. The selected genes were screened by combination with the population differentiation statistic (FST). The sequence diversity statistic (θπ). RNA-seq was performed on the ovarian tissues of NXC (n = 6) and Lohmann laying hens (n = 6) to analyse the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the two groups. The functional enrichment analysis of the selected genes and differentially expressed genes was performed.3. There were 742 genes under strong positive selection and 509 differentially expressed genes screened in NXC. Integrated analysis of the genome and transcriptome revealing 26 overlapping genes. The candidate genes for adaptation to a high-altitude environment, as well as for egg production, disease resistance, vision and pigmentation in NXC were preliminarily screened.4. The results provided theoretical guidance for further research on the genetic resource protection and utilisation of NXC.

The expression characteristics and clinical significance of ACP6, a potential target of nitidine chloride, in hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Acid phosphatase type 6 (ACP6) is a mitochondrial lipid phosphate phosphatase that played a role in regulating lipid metabolism and there is still blank in the clinico-pathological significance and functional roles of ACP6 in human cancers. No investigations have been conducted on ACP6 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) up to date.

METHODS

Herein, we appraised the clinico-pathological significance of ACP6 in HCC via organizing expression profiles from globally multi-center microarrays and RNA-seq datasets. The molecular basis of ACP6 in HCC was explored through multidimensional analysis. We also carried out in vitro and in vivo experiment on nude mice to investigate the effect of knocking down ACP6 expression on biological functions of HCC cells, and to evaluate the expression variance of ACP6 in xenograft of HCC tissues before and after the treatment of NC.

RESULTS

ACP6 displayed significant overexpression in HCC samples (standard mean difference (SMD) = 0.69, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.56-0.83) and up-regulated ACP6 performed well in screening HCC samples from non-cancer liver samples. ACP6 expression was also remarkably correlated with clinical progression and worse overall survival of HCC patients. There were close links between ACP6 expression and immune cells including B cells, CD8 + T cells and naive CD4 + T cells. Co-expressed genes of ACP6 mainly participated in pathways including cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, glucocorticoid receptor pathway and NABA proteoglycans. The proliferation and migration rate of HCC cells transfected with ACP6 siRNA was significantly suppressed compared with those transfected with negative control siRNA. ACP6 expression was significantly inhibited by nitidine chloride (NC) in xenograft HCC tissues.

CONCLUSIONS

ACP6 expression may serve as novel clinical biomarker indicating the clinical development of HCC and ACP6 might be potential target of anti-cancer effect by NC in HCC.

Sustained experimental activation of FGF8/ERK in the developing chicken spinal cord models early events in ERK-mediated tumorigenesis

The MAPK/ERK pathway regulates a variety of physiological cellular functions, including cell proliferation and survival. It is abnormally activated in many types of human cancers in response to driver mutations in regulators of this pathway that trigger tumor initiation. The early steps of oncogenic progression downstream of ERK overactivation are poorly understood due to a lack of appropriate models. We show here that ERK1/2 overactivation in the trunk neural tube of the chicken embryo through expression of a constitutively active form of the upstream kinase MEK1 (MEK1ca), rapidly provokes a profound change in the transcriptional signature of developing spinal cord cells. These changes are concordant with a previously established role of the tyrosine kinase receptor ligand FGF8 acting via the ERK1/2 effectors to maintain an undifferentiated state. Furthermore, we show that MEK1ca-transfected spinal cord cells lose neuronal identity, retain caudal markers, and ectopically express potential effector oncogenes, such as AQP1. MEK1ca expression in the developing spinal cord from the chicken embryo is thus a tractable in vivo model to identify the mechanisms fostering neoplasia and malignancy in ERK-induced tumorigenesis of neural origins.