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Shen L, Zhang C, Cui K, Liang X, Zhu G, Hong L. Fer-mediated activation of the Ras-MAPK signaling pathway drives the proliferation, migration, and invasion of endometrial carcinoma cells. Mol Cell Biochem 2024; 479:1787-1799. [PMID: 38017327 DOI: 10.1007/s11010-023-04890-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The role of Feline sarcoma-related protein (Fer) in various cancers has been extensively studied, but its specific involvement and underlying mechanisms in the progression of endometrial carcinoma (EC) are yet to be fully understood. METHODS The expression levels of Fer were assessed in EC tissues and cell lines using real-time quantitative PCR and western blot analysis. CCK-8 assay, Edu staining, transwell assays, and flow cytometry, were conducted to evaluate the impact of Fer on EC cells. Furthermore, a mice xenograft model and immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining were utilized for in vivo analysis. The levels of Ras, pMek1/2, and pErk1/2 were determined by western blot assay. Ras-MAPK signaling pathway inhibitor was utilized to study the regulatory role of Fer on EC cells. RESULTS Our findings revealed that Fer exhibited upregulation in both EC tissues and cell lines, concomitant with the activation of the Ras-MAPK signaling pathway. Silencing of Fer resulted in the suppression of cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and Ras-MAPK signaling pathway, while promoted hypoxia-induced apoptosis in RL95-2 and KLE cells. Fer overexpression stimulated cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and Ras-MAPK signaling pathway in Ishikawa and AN3-CA cells, which were reversed after treatment with either Ras or MAPK inhibitor. Moreover, silencing of Fer suppressed tumor growth and downregulated the expression of Ki-67, Ras, pMek1/2, and pErk1/2, but had no significant effect on Mek1/2 and Erk1/2, while upregulated caspase-3 expression in vivo. CONCLUSION In summary, the upregulation of Fer in EC cells resulted in the enhancement of cell proliferation, migration, and invasion through the activation of the Ras-MAPK signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lifan Shen
- Department of Gynecology, Surgery Building, Hainan General Hospital (Hainan Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University), 19Th Xiuhua Road, Xiuying District, Haikou, 570000, China
| | - Chen Zhang
- Department of Central Lab, Hainan General Hospital (Hainan Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University), Haikou, China
| | - Kaiying Cui
- Department of Gynecology, Surgery Building, Hainan General Hospital (Hainan Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University), 19Th Xiuhua Road, Xiuying District, Haikou, 570000, China
| | - Xin Liang
- Department of Gynecology, Surgery Building, Hainan General Hospital (Hainan Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University), 19Th Xiuhua Road, Xiuying District, Haikou, 570000, China
| | - Genhai Zhu
- Department of Gynecology, Surgery Building, Hainan General Hospital (Hainan Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University), 19Th Xiuhua Road, Xiuying District, Haikou, 570000, China
| | - Lan Hong
- Department of Gynecology, Surgery Building, Hainan General Hospital (Hainan Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University), 19Th Xiuhua Road, Xiuying District, Haikou, 570000, China.
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Ding W, Fan Y, Jia W, Pan X, Han G, Zhang Y, Chen Z, Lu Y, Wang J, Wu J, Wang X. FER Regulated by miR-206 Promotes Hepatocellular Carcinoma Progression via NF-κB Signaling. Front Oncol 2021; 11:683878. [PMID: 34295819 PMCID: PMC8289706 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.683878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives Feline sarcoma-related protein (FER) is known to play a critical regulatory role in several carcinomas. However, the exact biological function of FER in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) still needs to be investigated. The primary objective of this research was to investigate the unknown function and molecular mechanisms of FER in HCC. Materials and Methods The expression level of FER in HCC tissue samples and cells was examined by RT-qPCR, immunohistochemistry and western blot. Cellular and animal experiments were used to explore the effect of FER on the proliferative and metastatic capacities of HCC cells. The crosstalk between FER and NF-κB signaling was explored by western blot. The upstream factors that regulate FER were evaluated through dual-luciferase experiments and western blot assays. Results FER was overexpressed in HCC specimens and HCC cell lines. FER expression levels were positively associated with unfavorable clinicopathological characteristics. The higher the expression of FER was, the worse the overall survival of HCC patients was. The results of loss-of-function and gain-of-function experiments indicated that knockdown of FER decreased, while overexpression of FER increased, the proliferation, invasion and metastasis of HCC cells in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, we found that FER activated the NF-κB signaling pathway and stimulated epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). We also found that FER was directly regulated by miR-206, and the downregulation of miR-206 was associated with proliferation and metastatic progression in HCC. Conclusions The present research was the first to reveal that a decrease in miR-206 levels results in an increase in FER expression in HCC, leading to enhanced cell growth and metastatic abilities via activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenzhou Ding
- Hepatobiliary Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Key Laboratory of Liver Transplantation, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Living Donor Liver Transplantation (Nanjing Medical University), Nanjing, China
| | - Ye Fan
- Hepatobiliary Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Key Laboratory of Liver Transplantation, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Living Donor Liver Transplantation (Nanjing Medical University), Nanjing, China
| | - Wenbo Jia
- Hepatobiliary Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Key Laboratory of Liver Transplantation, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Living Donor Liver Transplantation (Nanjing Medical University), Nanjing, China
| | - Xiongxiong Pan
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Guoyong Han
- Hepatobiliary Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Key Laboratory of Liver Transplantation, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Living Donor Liver Transplantation (Nanjing Medical University), Nanjing, China
| | - Yao Zhang
- Hepatobiliary Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Key Laboratory of Liver Transplantation, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Living Donor Liver Transplantation (Nanjing Medical University), Nanjing, China
| | - Zhiqiang Chen
- Hepatobiliary Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Key Laboratory of Liver Transplantation, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Living Donor Liver Transplantation (Nanjing Medical University), Nanjing, China
| | - Yiwei Lu
- Hepatobiliary Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Key Laboratory of Liver Transplantation, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Living Donor Liver Transplantation (Nanjing Medical University), Nanjing, China
| | - Jinyi Wang
- Hepatobiliary Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Key Laboratory of Liver Transplantation, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Living Donor Liver Transplantation (Nanjing Medical University), Nanjing, China
| | - Jindao Wu
- Hepatobiliary Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Key Laboratory of Liver Transplantation, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Living Donor Liver Transplantation (Nanjing Medical University), Nanjing, China
| | - Xuehao Wang
- Hepatobiliary Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Key Laboratory of Liver Transplantation, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Living Donor Liver Transplantation (Nanjing Medical University), Nanjing, China
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