1
|
Niebora J, Woźniak S, Domagała D, Data K, Farzaneh M, Zehtabi M, Dari MAG, Pour FK, Bryja A, Kulus M, Mozdziak P, Dzięgiel P, Kempisty B. The role of ncRNAs and exosomes in the development and progression of endometrial cancer. Front Oncol 2024; 14:1418005. [PMID: 39188680 PMCID: PMC11345653 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1418005] [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: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 08/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Endometrial cancer (EC) is one of the most common gynecologic cancers. In recent years, research has focused on the genetic characteristics of the tumors to detail their prognosis and tailor therapy. In the case of EC, genetic mutations have been shown to underlie their formation. It is very important to know the mechanisms of EC formation related to mutations induced by estrogen, among other things. Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), composed of nucleotide transcripts with very low protein-coding capacity, are proving to be important. Their expression patterns in many malignancies can inhibit tumor formation and progression. They also regulate protein coding at the epigenetic, transcriptional, and posttranscriptional levels. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), several varieties of which are associated with normal endometrium as well as its tumor, also play a particularly important role in gene expression. MiRNAs and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) affect many pathways in EC tissues and play important roles in cancer development, invasion, and metastasis, as well as resistance to anticancer drugs through mechanisms such as suppression of apoptosis and progression of cancer stem cells. It is also worth noting that miRNAs are highly precise, sensitive, and robust, making them potential markers for diagnosing gynecologic cancers and their progression. Unfortunately, as the incidence of EC increases, treatment becomes challenging and is limited to invasive tools. The prospect of using microRNAs as potential candidates for diagnostic and therapeutic use in EC seems promising. Exosomes are extracellular vesicles that are released from many types of cells, including cancer cells. They contain proteins, DNA, and various types of RNA, such as miRNAs. The noncoding RNA components of exosomes vary widely, depending on the physiology of the tumor tissue and the cells from which they originate. Exosomes contain both DNA and RNA and have communication functions between cells. Exosomal miRNAs mediate communication between EC cells, tumor-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and play a key role in tumor cell proliferation and tumor microenvironment formation. Oncogenes carried by tumor exosomes induce malignant transformation of target cells. During the synthesis of exosomes, various factors, such as genetic and proteomic data are upregulated. Thus, they are considered an interesting therapeutic target for the diagnosis and prognosis of endometrial cancer by analyzing biomarkers contained in exosomes. Expression of miRNAs, particularly miR-15a-5p, was elevated in exosomes derived from the plasma of EC patients. This may suggest the important utility of this biomarker in the diagnosis of EC. In recent years, researchers have become interested in the topic of prognostic markers for EC, as there are still too few identified markers to support the limited treatment of endometrial cancer. Further research into the effects of ncRNAs and exosomes on EC may allow for cancer treatment breakthroughs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Julia Niebora
- Division of Anatomy, Department of Human Morphology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Sławomir Woźniak
- Division of Anatomy, Department of Human Morphology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Dominika Domagała
- Division of Anatomy, Department of Human Morphology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Krzysztof Data
- Division of Anatomy, Department of Human Morphology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Maryam Farzaneh
- Fertility, Infertility and Perinatology Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
- Clinical Research Development Unit, Imam Khomeini Hospital, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Mojtaba Zehtabi
- Hematology and Oncology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Mahrokh Abouali Gale Dari
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Khojasteh Pour
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Artur Bryja
- Division of Anatomy, Department of Human Morphology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Magdalena Kulus
- Department of Veterinary Surgery, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Torun, Poland
| | - Paul Mozdziak
- Physiology Graduate Program, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
| | - Piotr Dzięgiel
- Division of Histology and Embryology, Department of Human Morphology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Bartosz Kempisty
- Division of Anatomy, Department of Human Morphology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
- Department of Veterinary Surgery, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Torun, Poland
- Physiology Graduate Program, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital and Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Gao H, Zhu J, Wu T, Long Q, Guan X, Chen Q, Yi W. Comprehensive pancancer analysis reveals that LPCAT1 is a novel predictive biomarker for prognosis and immunotherapy response. Apoptosis 2024:10.1007/s10495-024-02010-y. [PMID: 39097858 DOI: 10.1007/s10495-024-02010-y] [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] [Accepted: 07/23/2024] [Indexed: 08/05/2024]
Abstract
Lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase 1 (LPCAT1) is a crucial enzyme involved in phospholipid metabolism and is essential for maintaining the structure and functionality of biofilms. However, a comprehensive examination of the role of LPCAT1 across various cancer types is lacking. Multiple public databases have been utilized to examine LPCAT1 expression, genetic alterations, methylation, prognosis, biological function, and its relationship with antitumor immunity in different cancer types. The function of LPCAT1 in glioma, breast cancer and liver cancer cells was further verified using in vitro experiments. Our research indicated that LPCAT1 is upregulated in various cancers and is accompanied by a wide range of amplification mutations. Higher LPCAT1 expression was associated with poorer prognosis across multiple cancers. Further in vitro experiments demonstrated that interfering with LPCAT1 expression increased apoptosis in glioma, breast cancer and liver cancer cells and concurrently suppressed their proliferation and migration. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that LPCAT1-associated genes were primarily enriched in immune and cancer progression pathways, such as the JAK/STAT, MYC, and EMT, etc. Moreover, LPCAT1 expression was closely associated with immune cell infiltration and immune checkpoint-related gene expression. Interestingly, LPCAT1 expression levels were generally higher in patients in the immunotherapy response group. The combination of LPCAT1 and PDL1 serves as an effective predictor of immunotherapy response. In conclusion, LPCAT1 is involved in immune regulation and tumor progression and holds promise as a biomarker for predicting patient outcomes and immunotherapy efficacy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hongyu Gao
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Clinical Research Center For Breast Disease In Hunan Province, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Jinfeng Zhu
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Clinical Research Center For Breast Disease In Hunan Province, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Tong Wu
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Clinical Research Center For Breast Disease In Hunan Province, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Qian Long
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Clinical Research Center For Breast Disease In Hunan Province, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Xinyu Guan
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Clinical Research Center For Breast Disease In Hunan Province, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Qitong Chen
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Clinical Research Center For Breast Disease In Hunan Province, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Wenjun Yi
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
- Clinical Research Center For Breast Disease In Hunan Province, Changsha, Hunan, China.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Lin Y, Zhang X, Wang Y, Yao W. LPCAT2-mediated lipid droplet production supports pancreatic cancer chemoresistance and cell motility. Int Immunopharmacol 2024; 139:112681. [PMID: 39068758 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.112681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2024] [Revised: 07/11/2024] [Accepted: 07/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
Lipid droplet (LD) accumulation is one of the features in various tumors, whereas the significance of LD accumulation in pancreatic cancer progression remains unclear under chemotherapeutic condition. Since chemoresistance towards gemcitabine (GEM) is an obstacle for clinical therapy of pancreatic cancer, we sought to investigate the contribution of LD accumulation to GEM resistance. Herein, triacsin C (an inhibitor of LD production) dampened the proliferation, migration, and invasion of pancreatic cancer cells. The inhibition of LD accumulation induced by triacsin C or silencing of perilipin 2 (a marker of LD) sensitized cells to GEM treatment. Next, 75 paraffin-embedded samples and 5 pairs of frozen samples from pancreatic cancer patients were obtained for the detection of lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase 2 (LPCAT2; a LD-located enzyme contributing phosphatidylcholine synthesis) expression. The results revealed that LPCAT2 was upregulated in pancreatic cancer tissues, and its expression was correlated with clinical parameters and the basal LD content of cancer cell lines. Loss of LPCAT2 repressed the LD accumulation, GEM resistance, and cell motility. The enhancement of chemotherapy sensitivity was further confirmed in a xenograft model of mice in vivo. The carcinogenesis role of LPCAT2 was at least partly mediated by the LD accumulation. Then, signal transducer and activator of transcription 5B (STAT5B) activated the transcription of LPCAT2. Both LPCAT2 downregulation and triacsin C reversed the STAT5B-induced potentiation of malignant phenotypes in pancreatic cancer cells. In conclusion, LPCAT2-mediated lipid droplet production supported pancreatic cancer chemoresistance and cell motility, which was triggered by STAT5B.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuhe Lin
- Department of Oncology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, PR China.
| | - Xin Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, PR China.
| | - Yihui Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, PR China.
| | - Wei Yao
- Department of General Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, PR China.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Korbecki J, Bosiacki M, Pilarczyk M, Gąssowska-Dobrowolska M, Jarmużek P, Szućko-Kociuba I, Kulik-Sajewicz J, Chlubek D, Baranowska-Bosiacka I. Phospholipid Acyltransferases: Characterization and Involvement of the Enzymes in Metabolic and Cancer Diseases. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:2115. [PMID: 38893234 PMCID: PMC11171337 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16112115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2024] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
This review delves into the enzymatic processes governing the initial stages of glycerophospholipid (phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, and phosphatidylserine) and triacylglycerol synthesis. The key enzymes under scrutiny include GPAT and AGPAT. Additionally, as most AGPATs exhibit LPLAT activity, enzymes participating in the Lands cycle with similar functions are also covered. The review begins by discussing the properties of these enzymes, emphasizing their specificity in enzymatic reactions, notably the incorporation of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) such as arachidonic acid and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) into phospholipids. The paper sheds light on the intricate involvement of these enzymes in various diseases, including obesity, insulin resistance, and cancer. To underscore the relevance of these enzymes in cancer processes, a bioinformatics analysis was conducted. The expression levels of the described enzymes were correlated with the overall survival of patients across 33 different types of cancer using the GEPIA portal. This review further explores the potential therapeutic implications of inhibiting these enzymes in the treatment of metabolic diseases and cancer. By elucidating the intricate enzymatic pathways involved in lipid synthesis and their impact on various pathological conditions, this paper contributes to a comprehensive understanding of these processes and their potential as therapeutic targets.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jan Korbecki
- Department of Anatomy and Histology, Collegium Medicum, University of Zielona Góra, Zyty 28, 65-046 Zielona Góra, Poland;
- Department of Biochemistry and Medical Chemistry, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Powstańców Wlkp. 72, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland; (M.B.); (D.C.)
| | - Mateusz Bosiacki
- Department of Biochemistry and Medical Chemistry, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Powstańców Wlkp. 72, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland; (M.B.); (D.C.)
| | - Maciej Pilarczyk
- Department of Nervous System Diseases, Neurosurgery Center University Hospital in Zielona Góra, Collegium Medicum, University of Zielona Gora, 65-417 Zielona Góra, Poland; (M.P.); (P.J.)
| | - Magdalena Gąssowska-Dobrowolska
- Department of Cellular Signalling, Mossakowski Medical Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Pawińskiego 5, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland;
| | - Paweł Jarmużek
- Department of Nervous System Diseases, Neurosurgery Center University Hospital in Zielona Góra, Collegium Medicum, University of Zielona Gora, 65-417 Zielona Góra, Poland; (M.P.); (P.J.)
| | | | - Justyna Kulik-Sajewicz
- Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Powstańców Wlkp. 72, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland;
| | - Dariusz Chlubek
- Department of Biochemistry and Medical Chemistry, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Powstańców Wlkp. 72, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland; (M.B.); (D.C.)
| | - Irena Baranowska-Bosiacka
- Department of Biochemistry and Medical Chemistry, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Powstańców Wlkp. 72, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland; (M.B.); (D.C.)
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Du X, Duan M, Kan S, Yang Y, Xu S, Wei J, Li J, Chen H, Zhou X, Xie J. TGF-β3 mediates mitochondrial dynamics through the p-Smad3/AMPK pathway. Cell Prolif 2024; 57:e13579. [PMID: 38012096 PMCID: PMC11056712 DOI: 10.1111/cpr.13579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023] Open
Abstract
It is well recognized that mitochondrial dynamics plays a vital role in cartilage physiology. Any perturbation in mitochondrial dynamics could cause disorders in cartilage metabolism and even lead to the occurrence of cartilage diseases such as osteoarthritis (OA). TGF-β3, as an important growth factor that appears in the joints of OA disease, shows its great potential in chondrocyte growth and metabolism. Nevertheless, the role of TGF-β3 on mitochondrial dynamics is still not well understood. Here we aimed to investigate the effect of TGF-β3 on mitochondrial dynamics of chondrocytes and reveal its underlying bio-mechanism. By using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) for the number and morphology of mitochondria, western blotting for the protein expressions, immunofluorescence for the cytoplasmic distributions of proteins, and RNA sequencing for the transcriptome changes related to mitochondrial dynamics. We found that TGF-β3 could increase the number of mitochondria in chondrocytes. TGF-β3-enhanced mitochondrial number was via promoting the mitochondrial fission. The mitochondrial fission induced by TGF-β3 was mediated by AMPK signaling. TGF-β3 activated canonical p-Smad3 signaling and resultantly mediated AMPK-induced mitochondrial fission. Taken together, these results elucidate an understanding of the role of TGF-β3 on mitochondrial dynamics in chondrocytes and provide potential cues for therapeutic strategies in cartilage injury and OA disease in terms of energy metabolism.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xinmei Du
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Center for Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of StomatologySichuan UniversityChengduSichuanChina
| | - Mengmeng Duan
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Center for Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of StomatologySichuan UniversityChengduSichuanChina
| | - Shiyi Kan
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Center for Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of StomatologySichuan UniversityChengduSichuanChina
| | - Yueyi Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Center for Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of StomatologySichuan UniversityChengduSichuanChina
| | - Siqun Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Center for Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of StomatologySichuan UniversityChengduSichuanChina
| | - Jieya Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Center for Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of StomatologySichuan UniversityChengduSichuanChina
| | - Jiazhou Li
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Center for Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of StomatologySichuan UniversityChengduSichuanChina
| | - Hao Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Center for Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of StomatologySichuan UniversityChengduSichuanChina
| | - Xuedong Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Center for Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of StomatologySichuan UniversityChengduSichuanChina
| | - Jing Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Center for Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of StomatologySichuan UniversityChengduSichuanChina
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Liu R, Yin C, Zhao P, Guo B, Ke W, Zheng X, Xie D, Wang Y, Wang G, Jia Y, Gao Y, Hu W, Liu GL, Song Z. Nuclear respiratory factor 1 drives hepatocellular carcinoma progression by activating LPCAT1-ERK1/2-CREB axis. Biol Direct 2023; 18:67. [PMID: 37875967 PMCID: PMC10594727 DOI: 10.1186/s13062-023-00428-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: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nuclear respiratory factor 1 (NRF1) is a transcription factor that participates in several kinds of tumor, but its role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains elusive. This study aims to explore the role of NRF1 in HCC progression and investigate the underlying mechanisms. RESULTS NRF1 was overexpressed and hyperactive in HCC tissue and cell lines and high expression of NRF1 indicated unfavorable prognosis of HCC patients. NRF1 promoted proliferation, migration and invasion of HCC cells both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, NRF1 activated ERK1/2-CREB signaling pathway by transactivating lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase 1 (LPCAT1), thus promoting cell cycle progression and epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) of HCC cells. Meanwhile, LPCAT1 upregulated the expression of NRF1 by activating ERK1/2-CREB signaling pathway, forming a positive feedback loop. CONCLUSIONS NRF1 is overexpressed in HCC and promotes HCC progression by activating LPCAT1-ERK1/2-CREB axis. NRF1 is a promising therapeutic target for HCC patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ran Liu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1277 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430022, Hubei, China
| | - Chuanzheng Yin
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1277 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430022, Hubei, China
| | - Peng Zhao
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1277 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430022, Hubei, China
| | - Bing Guo
- Insitute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medical, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Wenbo Ke
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1277 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430022, Hubei, China
| | - Xichuan Zheng
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1277 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430022, Hubei, China
| | - Dawei Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Yaofeng Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1277 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430022, Hubei, China
| | - Gengqiao Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1277 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430022, Hubei, China
| | - Yinzhao Jia
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1277 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430022, Hubei, China
| | - Yang Gao
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1277 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430022, Hubei, China
| | - Wenjun Hu
- School of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, Hubei, China
| | - Gang Logan Liu
- School of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, Hubei, China
| | - Zifang Song
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1277 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430022, Hubei, China.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Liang R, Hong W, Zhang Y, Ma D, Li J, Shi Y, Luo Q, Du S, Song G. Deep dissection of stemness-related hierarchies in hepatocellular carcinoma. J Transl Med 2023; 21:631. [PMID: 37717019 PMCID: PMC10505333 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-023-04425-8] [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: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Increasing evidence suggests that hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) stem cells (LCSCs) play an essential part in HCC recurrence, metastasis, and chemotherapy and radiotherapy resistance. Multiple studies have demonstrated that stemness-related genes facilitate the progression of tumors. However, the mechanism by which stemness-related genes contribute to HCC is not well understood. Here, we aim to construct a stemness-related score (SRscores) model for deeper analysis of stemness-related genes, assisting with the prognosis and individualized treatment of HCC patients.Further, we found that the gene LPCAT1 was highly expressed in tumor tissues by immunohistochemistry, and sphere-forming assay revealed that knockdown of LPCAT1 inhibited the sphere-forming ability of hepatocellular carcinoma cells. METHODS We used the TCGA-LIHC dataset to screen stemness-related genes of HCC from the MSigDB database. Prognosis, tumor microenvironment, immunological checkpoints, tumor immune dysfunction, rejection, treatment sensitivity, and putative biological pathways were examined. Random forest created the SRscores model. The anti-PD-1/anti-CTLA4 immunotherapy, tumor mutational burden, medication sensitivity, and cancer stem cell index were compared between the high- and low-risk score groups. We also examined risk scores for different cell types using single-cell RNA sequencing data and correlated transcription factor activity in cancer stem cells with SRscores genes. Finally, we tested core marker expression and biological functions. RESULTS Patients can be divided into two subtypes (Cluster1 and Cluster2) based on the TCGA-LIHC dataset's identification of 11 stemness-related genes. Additionally, a SRscores was developed based on subtypes. Cluster2 and the group with the lowest SRscores had superior survival and immunotherapy response than Cluster1 and the group with the highest SRscores. The group with a high SRscores was significantly more enriched in classical tumor pathways than the group with a low SRscores. Multiple transcription factors and SRscores genes are correlated. The core gene LPCAT1 is highly expressed in rat liver cancer tissues and promotes tumor cell sphere formation. CONCLUSION A SRscores model can be utilized to predict the prognosis of HCC patients as well as their response to immunotherapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rui Liang
- College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, Chongqing, 400030, China
| | - Weifeng Hong
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Xuhui District, No. 180, Fenglin Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, China
| | - Yang Zhang
- General Surgery 1, the First Affiliated Hospital of Dali University, Dali, 671000, China
| | - Di Ma
- College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, Chongqing, 400030, China
| | - Jinwei Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Liuzhou, 545000, Guangxi, China
| | - Yisong Shi
- College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, Chongqing, 400030, China
| | - Qing Luo
- College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, Chongqing, 400030, China
| | - Shisuo Du
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Xuhui District, No. 180, Fenglin Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, China.
| | - Guanbin Song
- College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, Chongqing, 400030, China.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Zhao Y, Liu Y, Shi X. LncRNA AC012360.1 facilitates growth and metastasis by regulating the miR-139-5p/LPCAT1 axis in hepatocellular carcinoma. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY 2023; 38:2192-2203. [PMID: 37300846 DOI: 10.1002/tox.23856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2022] [Revised: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) participate in tumorigenesis and tumor progression. However, whether lncRNA AC012360.1 contributes to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is unknown. In HCC tissues, differentially expressed lncRNAs were identified by bioinformatics. AC012360.1 level was validated and its role in HCC progression was investigated. Among the top 10 upregulated lncRNAs, AC012360.1 exhibited the greatest increase in HCC tissues. Additionally, AC012360.1 was upregulated in HCC tissues/cells. Moreover, AC012360.1 knockdown refrained cell proliferation/metastasis and tumor growth. Conversely, AC012360.1 overexpression showed an oncogenic role. AC012360.1 and lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase 1 (LPCAT1) contained miR-139-5p binding sites. Furthermore, miR-139-5p silencing partially mitigated the role of AC012360.1 knockdown, while LPCAT1 knockdown partially abolished the tumor-promoting effect of AC012360.1 overexpression. In conclusion, AC012360.1 exhibited its oncogenic function in HCC through sponging miR-139-5p and upregulating LPCAT1 expression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yun Zhao
- Department of Radiology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Ying Liu
- Department of Radiology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Xue Shi
- Department of Hematology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Ma L, Huang W, Liang X, Bai G, Wang X, Jiang H, Xin Y, Hu L, Chen X, Liu C. Inhibition of squalene epoxidase linking with PI3K/AKT signaling pathway suppresses endometrial cancer. Cancer Sci 2023; 114:3595-3607. [PMID: 37438885 PMCID: PMC10475781 DOI: 10.1111/cas.15900] [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: 01/12/2023] [Revised: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Endometrial cancer (EC) is a common malignant tumor that lacks any therapeutic target and, in many cases, recurrence is the leading ca use of morbidity and mortality in women. Widely known EC has a strongly positive correlation with abnormal lipid metabolism. Squalene epoxidase (SQLE), a crucial enzyme in the cholesterol synthesis pathway regulating lipid metabolic processes has been found to be associated with various cancers in recent years. Here, we focused on studying the role of SQLE in EC. Our study revealed that SQLE expression level was upregulated significantly in EC tissues. In vitro experiments showed that SQLE overexpression significantly promoted the proliferation, and inhibited cell apoptosis of EC cells, whereas SQLE knockdown or use of terbinafine showed the opposite results. Furthermore, we found out that the promotional effect of SQLE on the proliferation of EC cells might be achieved by activating the PI3K/AKT pathway. In vivo, studies confirmed that the knockdown of SQLE or terbinafine can observably inhibit tumor growth in nude mice. These results indicate that SQLE may promote the progression of EC by activating the PI3K/AKT pathway. Moreover, SQLE is a potential target for EC treatment and its inhibitor, terbinafine, has the potential to become a targeted drug for EC treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Liangjian Ma
- Key Laboratory of Gynecologic Oncology Gansu ProvinceThe First Hospital of Lanzhou UniversityLanzhouChina
| | - Wunan Huang
- Key Laboratory of Gynecologic Oncology Gansu ProvinceThe First Hospital of Lanzhou UniversityLanzhouChina
| | - Xiaolei Liang
- Key Laboratory of Gynecologic Oncology Gansu ProvinceThe First Hospital of Lanzhou UniversityLanzhouChina
| | - Guannan Bai
- The Children's HospitalZhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child HealthHangzhouChina
| | - Xiaochen Wang
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, Department of Breast Surgery and Oncology, Ministry of Education, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of MedicineZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Hua Jiang
- Department of Otolaryngology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of MedicineZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Yang Xin
- Department of Genetics and Metabolism, Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child HealthNational Children's Regional Medical CenterHangzhouChina
| | - Lidan Hu
- The Children's HospitalZhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child HealthHangzhouChina
| | - Xiangjun Chen
- Eye Center of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Translational Medicine, School of MedicineZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Chang Liu
- Key Laboratory of Gynecologic Oncology Gansu ProvinceThe First Hospital of Lanzhou UniversityLanzhouChina
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Zhu J, Huang Q, Peng X, Luo C, Liu Z, Liu D, Yuan H, Yuan R, Cheng X. Identification of molecular subtypes based on PANoptosis-related genes and construction of a signature for predicting the prognosis and response to immunotherapy response in hepatocellular carcinoma. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1218661. [PMID: 37662906 PMCID: PMC10471990 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1218661] [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: 05/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Previous studies have demonstrated that PANoptosis is strongly correlated with cancer immunity and progression. This study aimed to develop a PANoptosis-related signature (PANRS) to explore its potential value in predicting the prognosis and immunotherapy response of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods Based on the expression of PANoptosis-related genes, three molecular subtypes were identified. To construct a signature, the differentially expressed genes between different molecular subtypes were subjected to multivariate least absolute shrinkage and selection operator Cox regression analyses. The risk scores of patients in the training set were calculated using the signature. The patients were classified into high-risk and low-risk groups based on the median risk scores. The predictive performance of the signature was evaluated using Kaplan-Meier plotter, receiving operating characteristic curves, nomogram, and calibration curve. The results were validated using external datasets. Additionally, the correlation of the signature with the immune landscape and drug sensitivity was examined. Furthermore, the effect of LPCAT1 knockdown on HCC cell behavior was verified using in vitro experiments. Results This study developed a PANRS. The risk score obtained by using the PANRS was an independent risk factor for the prognosis of patients with HCC and exhibited good prognostic predictive performance. The nomogram constructed based on the risk score and clinical information can accurately predicted the survival probability of patients with HCC. Patients with HCC in the high-risk groups have high immune scores and tend to generate an immunosuppressive microenvironment. They also exhibited a favorable response to immunotherapy, as evidenced by high tumor mutational burden, high immune checkpoint gene expression, high human leukocyte antigen gene expression, low tumor immune dysfunction and low exclusion scores. Additionally, the PANRS enabled the identification of 15 chemotherapeutic agents, including sorafenib, for patients with HCC with different risk levels, guiding clinical treatment. The signature gene LPCAT1 was upregulated in HCC cell lines. LPCAT1 knockdown markedly decreased HCC cell proliferation and migration. Conclusion PANRS can accurately predict the prognosis and immunotherapy response of patients with HCC and consequently guide individualized treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jinfeng Zhu
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Qian Huang
- Department of General Practice, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xingyu Peng
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Chen Luo
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Zitao Liu
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Dongdong Liu
- Department of General Surgery, Hukou County People’s Hospital, Jiujiang, China
| | - Huazhao Yuan
- Department of General Surgery, Jiujiang Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Jiujiang, China
| | - Rongfa Yuan
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Xuexin Cheng
- Biological Resource Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
- School of Public Health, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
- Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Sun R, Zhou X, Wang T, Liu Y, Wei L, Qiu Z, Qiu C, Jiang J. Novel insights into tumorigenesis and prognosis of endometrial cancer through systematic investigation and validation on mitophagy-related signature. Hum Cell 2023:10.1007/s13577-023-00920-8. [PMID: 37266867 DOI: 10.1007/s13577-023-00920-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
In-depth studies on the pathogenesis of endometrial cancer (EC) are critical because of the increasing global incidence of EC. Mitophagy, a mitochondrial quality control process, plays an important role in carcinogenesis and tumor progression. This study aimed to develop a novel mitophagy-based signature to predict the tumorigenesis and prognosis of EC. Data was downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas and Gene Expression Omnibus databases, and 29 mitophagy-related genes were downloaded from the Pathway Unification Database. EC patients were classified into two risk groups based on the two-key- gene signature, TOMM40 and MFN1, which were constructed using Cox regression analysis. A better prognosis was noted in the low-risk group. The model was validated for four aspects: clinical features, mutation status, clinical therapeutic response, and immune cell infiltration status. Moreover, according to the contribution to the risk model, TOMM40 was selected for further in vitro experiments. The silencing of TOMM40 inhibited mitochondrial degradation; suppressed cell proliferation; induced cell apoptosis and G1 phase cell cycle arrest; inhibited migration, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition; and suppressed cell stemness. In conclusion, the mitophagy-related risk score provides a novel perspective for survival and drug selection during the individual treatment of EC patients. TOMM40 serves as an oncogene in EC and promotes tumor progression via a mitophagy-related pathway. Thus, TOMM40 is a potential therapeutic target in EC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rui Sun
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Gynecologic Oncology Key Laboratory of Shandong Province, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Xiaoyu Zhou
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Gynecologic Oncology Key Laboratory of Shandong Province, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Tong Wang
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Gynecologic Oncology Key Laboratory of Shandong Province, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Yao Liu
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Gynecologic Oncology Key Laboratory of Shandong Province, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Lina Wei
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Gynecologic Oncology Key Laboratory of Shandong Province, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Ziyi Qiu
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Gynecologic Oncology Key Laboratory of Shandong Province, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Chunping Qiu
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China.
- Gynecologic Oncology Key Laboratory of Shandong Province, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China.
| | - Jie Jiang
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China.
- Gynecologic Oncology Key Laboratory of Shandong Province, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China.
| |
Collapse
|