Regulation of the expression of CLU isoforms in endometrial proliferative diseases

Impact of estradiol in inducing endometrial cancer using RL95-2

BACKGROUND

Endometrial cancer is the most common gynecological malignancy that originates from the inner lining of the uterus and predominantly affects postmenopausal women. Prolonged exposure to estrogen, family history of endometrial cancer, obesity, and hormonal imbalance are some of the risk factors associated with endometrial cancer. In our study, we investigated the effect of estradiol, a potent form of estrogen at various concentrations on endometrial cell line RL95-2.

METHODS

Endometrial cell RL95-2 were cultured in DMEM medium with optimal conditions required to maintain the cells. MTT assay and colony formation assay were further performed after treating the cells with different concentrations of estradiol (1, 10, and 100 nM) and TAM (100 nM). Moreover, the effect of genes regulated by estradiol was also examined using microarray and validated using real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR).

RESULTS

Time-dependent MTT assay shows a significant change in the ability of the cells to survive relative to concentrations. Colony formation was found to be directly proportional to the concentration of the estradiol (p < 0.05). Among genes, MMP14 (p = 0.03), SPARCL1 (p = 0.005), and CLU (p = 0.06) showed a significant up-regulation in their expression after estradiol treatment while NRN1 (p < 0.001) showed significant downregulation in expression pattern compared to control. However, the TAM treatment was found to be significantly effective after 72 h (p < 0.001) compared to control and 100 nM E2 (p = 0.0206).

CONCLUSION

Our study suggests that estradiol significantly contributes to regulating the viability, colony formation, and expression of genes associated with endometrial cancer.

Therapeutic Potential of Clusterin Inhibition in Human Cancer

Clusterin (CLU) protein is involved in various pathophysiological processes including carcinogenesis and tumor progression. In recent years, the role of the secretory isoform has been demonstrated in tumor cells, where it inhibits apoptosis and favors the acquisition of resistance to conventional treatments used to treat cancer. To determine the possible therapeutic potential of inhibiting this protein, numerous studies have been carried out in this field. In this article, we present the existing knowledge to date on the inhibition of this protein in different types of cancer and analyze the importance it could have in the development of new therapies targeted against this disease.

Potential shared pathogenic mechanisms between endometriosis and inflammatory bowel disease indicate a strong initial effect of immune factors

Introduction

Over the past decades, immune dysregulation has been consistently demonstrated being common charactoristics of endometriosis (EM) and Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) in numerous studies. However, the underlying pathological mechanisms remain unknown. In this study, bioinformatics techniques were used to screen large-scale gene expression data for plausible correlations at the molecular level in order to identify common pathogenic pathways between EM and IBD.

Methods

Based on the EM transcriptomic datasets GSE7305 and GSE23339, as well as the IBD transcriptomic datasets GSE87466 and GSE126124, differential gene analysis was performed using the limma package in the R environment. Co-expressed differentially expressed genes were identified, and a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network for the differentially expressed genes was constructed using the 11.5 version of the STRING database. The MCODE tool in Cytoscape facilitated filtering out protein interaction subnetworks. Key genes in the PPI network were identified through two topological analysis algorithms (MCC and Degree) from the CytoHubba plugin. Upset was used for visualization of these key genes. The diagnostic value of gene expression levels for these key genes was assessed using the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve and Area Under the Curve (AUC) The CIBERSORT algorithm determined the infiltration status of 22 immune cell subtypes, exploring differences between EM and IBD patients in both control and disease groups. Finally, different gene expression trends shared by EM and IBD were input into CMap to identify small molecule compounds with potential therapeutic effects.

Results

113 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) that were co-expressed in EM and IBD have been identified, comprising 28 down-regulated genes and 86 up-regulated genes. The co-expression differential gene of EM and IBD in the functional enrichment analyses focused on immune response activation, circulating immunoglobulin-mediated humoral immune response and humoral immune response. Five hub genes (SERPING1、VCAM1、CLU、C3、CD55) were identified through the Protein-protein Interaction network and MCODE.High Area Under the Curve (AUC) values of Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves for 5hub genes indicate the predictive ability for disease occurrence.These hub genes could be used as potential biomarkers for the development of EM and IBD. Furthermore, the CMap database identified a total of 9 small molecule compounds (TTNPB、CAY-10577、PD-0325901 etc.) targeting therapeutic genes for EM and IBD.

Discussion

Our research revealed common pathogenic mechanisms between EM and IBD, particularly emphasizing immune regulation and cell signalling, indicating the significance of immune factors in the occurence and progression of both diseases. By elucidating shared mechanisms, our study provides novel avenues for the prevention and treatment of EM and IBD.

Potential biomarkers in endometrial cancer: a narrative review

CONTEXT

Every year, approximately 0.4 million women suffer from endometrial cancer (EC) worldwide and it has become the most common gynecological malignancy. Almost 66% of EC cases are diagnosed at an early stage and can be cured by performing surgery while those at an advanced stage turns out to be fatal. Biomarkers of endometrial cancer would be very valuable for screening of women who are at high risk and in detecting the chance of recurrence of disease.

OBJECTIVE

The current article has reviewed studies published on expression of biomarkers and susceptibility to EC.

METHODS

Google Scholar and PubMed were used as searching platforms and we have majorly considered the literature from last 10 years.

RESULTS

Potential biomarkers of EC identified from various studies were summarised.

Comprehensive Identification of Potential Crucial Genes and miRNA-mRNA Regulatory Networks in Papillary Thyroid Cancer

Background

Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine malignancy, with a recent global increase of 20% in age-related incidence. Ultrasonography and ultrasonography-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) are the most widely used diagnostic tests for thyroid nodules; however, it is estimated that up to 25% of thyroid biopsies are cytologically inconclusive. Molecular markers can help guide patient-oriented and targeted treatment of thyroid nodules and thyroid cancer.

Methods

Datasets related to papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) or thyroid carcinoma (GSE129562, GSE3678, GSE54958, GSE138042, and GSE124653) were downloaded from the GEO database and analysed using the Limma package of R software. For functional enrichment analysis, the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis and Gene Ontology were applied to differentially expressed genes (DEGs) using the Metascape website. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was built from the STRING database. Gene expression, protein expression, immunohistochemistry, and potential functional gene survival were analysed using the GEPIA website, the Human Protein Atlas website, and the UALCAN website. Potential target miRNAs were predicted using the miRDB and Starbase datasets.

Results

We found 219 upregulated and 310 downregulated DEGs, with a cut-off of p < 0.01 and ∣log FC | >1.5. The DEGs in papillary thyroid cancer were mainly enriched in extracellular structural organisation. At the intersection of the PPI network and Metascape MCODEs, the hub genes in common were identified as FN1, APOE, CLU, and SDC2. In the targeted regulation network of miRNA-mRNA, the hsa-miR-424-5p was found to synchronously modulate two hub genes. Survival analysis showed that patients with high expression of CLU and APOE had better prognosis.

Conclusions

CLU and APOE are involved in the molecular mechanism of papillary thyroid cancer. The hsa-miR-424-5p might have the potential to reverse the processes of papillary thyroid cancer by modulating the hub genes. These are potential targets for the treatment of patients with papillary thyroid cancer.

Analysis of the uterine flush fluid proteome of healthy mares and mares with endometritis or fibrotic endometrial degeneration

The objective of this study was to evaluate the differences in the uterine flush fluid proteome between healthy mares and mares with endometritis or fibrotic endometrial degeneration (FED). Uterine flush fluid samples were collected from healthy mares (n=8; oestrus n=5 and dioestrus n=3) and mares with endometritis (n=23; oestrus n=14 and dioestrus n=9) or FED (n=7; oestrus n=6 and dioestrus n=1). Proteomic analysis was performed using label-free liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Of 216 proteins identified during oestrus, 127 were common to all three groups, one protein was exclusively detected in healthy mares, 47 proteins were exclusively detected in mares with endometritis and four proteins were exclusively detected in mares with FED. Of 188 proteins identified during dioestrus, 113 proteins were common between healthy mares and mares with endometritis, eight proteins were exclusively detected in healthy mares and 67 proteins were exclusively detected in mares with endometritis. Quantitative analysis revealed a subset of proteins differing in abundance between the three groups during oestrus and between healthy mares and mares with endometritis during dioestrus. These results provide a springboard for evaluation of specific proteins as biomarkers of uterine health and disease and for investigation of their roles in the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy.

Mitochondrial Dysfunctions in Type I Endometrial Carcinoma: Exploring Their Role in Oncogenesis and Tumor Progression

Type I endometrial cancer (EC) is the most common form of EC, displaying less aggressive behavior than type II. The development of type I endometrial cancer is considered a multistep process, with slow progression from normal endometrium to hyperplasia, the premalignant form, and endometrial cancer as a result of an unopposed estrogenic stimulation. The role of mitochondria in type I EC tumor progression and prognosis is currently emerging. This review aims to explore mitochondrial alterations in this cancer and in endometrial hyperplasia focusing on mitochondrial DNA mutations, respiratory complex I deficiency, and the activation of mitochondrial quality control systems. A deeper understanding of altered mitochondrial pathways in type I EC could provide novel opportunities to discover new diagnostic and prognostic markers as well as potential therapeutic targets.

Increase in proteins involved in mitochondrial fission, mitophagy, proteolysis and antioxidant response in type I endometrial cancer as an adaptive response to respiratory complex I deficiency

Pathogenic mtDNA mutations associated with alterations of respiratory complex I, mitochondrial proliferation (oncocytic-like phenotype) and increase in antioxidant response were previously reported in type I endometrial carcinoma (EC). To evaluate whether in the presence of pathogenic mtDNA mutations other mitochondrial adaptive processes are triggered by cancer cells, the expression level of proteins involved in mitochondrial dynamics, mitophagy, proteolysis and apoptosis were evaluated in type I ECs harboring pathogenic mtDNA mutations and complex I deficiency. An increase in the fission protein Drp1, in the mitophagy protein BNIP3, in the mitochondrial protease CLPP, in the antioxidant and anti-apoptotic protein ALR and in Bcl-2 as well as a decrease in the fusion protein Mfn2 were found in cancer compared to matched non malignant tissue. Moreover, the level of these proteins was measured in type I EC, in hyperplastic (the premalignant form) and in non malignant tissues to verify whether the altered expression of these proteins is a common feature of endometrial cancer and of hyperplastic tissue. This analysis confirmed in type I EC samples, but not in hyperplasia, an alteration of the expression level of these proteins. These results suggest that in this cancer mitochondrial fission, antioxidant and anti-apoptotic response may be activated, as well as the discharge of damaged mitochondrial proteins as adaptation processes to mitochondrial dysfunction.

Clusterin immunoexpression is associated with early stage endometrial carcinomas

Clusterin has anti-apoptotic, regeneration and migration stimulating effects on tumor cells. This study investigates the relation between clusterin expression and the clinicopathological parameters in endometrial carcinomas. Seventy one cases of previously diagnosed endometrial carcinoma (including 59 endometrioid adenocarcinoma, 9 serous adenocarcinoma, 1 clear cell adenocarcinoma, and 2 malignant mixed Mullerian tumor) and 30 tissue samples of non-cancerous endometrium (including 16 proliferative endometrium, 10 secretory endometrium and 4 endometrial polyps) were employed for clusterin detection using tissue microarrays and immunostaining. A total number of 23 (32.4%) cases were positive for clusterin immunostaining. Brown granular cytoplasmic expression of clusterin was detected in 33.9% of endometrioid adenocarcinomas, 22.2% papillary serous endometrial carcinomas. Three (10%) control cases showed granular cytoplasmic expression. Positive clusterin immunostaining was found more frequent in well differentiated and stage I endometrial carcinomas, showing significant statistical association (p-value=0.036 and p-value=0.002 respectively). Significant difference in clusterin expression was observed between tumor cases and control group (P-Value=0.019), i.e., endometrial carcinoma cases are more than four times likely to show positive clusterin immunostaining (odds ratio 4.313 with 95% confidence interval 1.184-15.701). This study did not find relation between clusterin expression and disease recurrence, survival or any of the other clinicopathological parameters in endometrial tumors. The results of our study confirms the diagnostic values of clusterin in supporting the diagnosis of endometrioid carcinoma. When clusterin is expressed in endometrial tumors, it is associated with lower stage. The correlation of clusterin with tumor stage suggests involvement of this molecule in endometrial tumor progression.

Clusterin transcript variants expression in thyroid tumor: a potential marker of malignancy?

BACKGROUND

Clusterin (CLU) is a ubiquitous multifunctional factor involved in neoplastic transformation. The CLU transcript variants and protein forms play a crucial role in balancing cells proliferation and death.

METHODS

We investigated the regulation of CLU transcript variants expression in an in vivo model system consisting of both neoplastic tissues and fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) samples isolated from patients undergoing thyroidectomy.

RESULTS

The immunohistochemical analyses showed an overall CLU up-regulation in papillary carcinoma. A specific CLU2 transcript variant increase was registered using qPCR in papillary carcinomas while CLU1 decreased. In addition, the analysis of CLU transcripts expression level showed an increase of the CLU2 transcript in the TIR 3 patients with histologically confirmed thyroid cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest the existence of a specific alteration of CLU2:CLU1 ratio towards CLU2, thus providing the first circumstantial evidence for the potential use of CLU transcript variants as effective biomarkers for a more accurate assessment of the so called "indeterminate" thyroid nodules.

The cellular and molecular biology of the iris, an overlooked tissue: the iris and pseudoexfoliation glaucoma

Located between the cornea and the lens, the Iris is fully immersed in aqueous humor. During exfoliation syndrome, a disorder of the elastic fibers, an abnormal fibrillar material (XFM) is deposited on the anterior lens capsule underneath the pigment epithelium of the Iris. Release of this material to the aqueous humor reaches the trabecular meshwork where its presence is associated with elevated intraocular pressure. Ultrastructural studies suggest that the XFM material is produced by the lens capsule, lens epithelial and iris pigment epithelial cells (IPE). The involvement of the IPE in pseudoexfoliation glaucoma has not been extensively addressed. Immunohistochemistry studies have shown higher levels of LOXL1 and clusterin in the IPE extracellular space of specimens from exfoliation patients. But studies using IPE cells to understand the formation of the XFM in vitro and/or in vivo are scarce. A focus on the Iris and its IPE cells would be key for the elucidation of XFM and the understanding of the development of pseudoexfoliation glaucoma.

A proteomic approach to monitor the dynamic response of the female oviductal epithelial cell surface to male gametes

Sophisticated strategies to analyze cell surface proteins are indispensable to study fundamental biological processes, such as the response of cells to environmental changes or cell-cell communication. Herein, we describe a refined mass spectrometry-based approach for the specific characterization and quantitation of cell surface proteins expressed in the female reproductive tract. The strategy is based on in situ biotinylation of rabbit oviducts, affinity enrichment of surface exposed biotin tagged proteins and dimethyl labeling of the obtained tryptic peptides followed by LC-MS/MS analysis. This approach proved to be sensitive enough to analyze small sample amounts (<1μg) and allowed further to trace the dynamic composition of the surface proteome of the oviductal epithelium in response to male gametes. The relative protein expression ratios of 175 proteins were quantified. Thirty-one of them were found to be altered over time, namely immediately, 1h and 2h after insemination compared to the time-matched control groups. Functional analysis demonstrated that structural reorganization of the oviductal epithelial cell surface was involved in the early response of the female organ to semen. In summary, this study outlines a workflow that is capable to monitor alterations in the female oviduct that are related to key reproductive processes in vivo.

BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE

The proper interaction between the female reproductive tract, in particular, the oviduct and the male gametes, is fundamental to fertilization and embryonic development under physiological conditions. Thereby the oviductal epithelial cell surface proteins play an important role. Besides their direct interaction with male gametes, these molecules participate in signal transduction and, thus, are involved in the mandatory cellular response of the oviductal epithelium. In this study we present a refined LC-MS/MS based workflow that is capable to quantitatively analyze the expression of oviductal epithelial cell surface proteins in response to insemination in vivo. A special focus was on the very early interaction between the female organ and the male gametes. At first, this study clearly revealed an immediate response of the surface proteome to semen, which was modulated over time. The described methodology can be applied for studies of further distinct biological events in the oviduct and therefore contribute to a deeper insight into the formation of new life.