Claudin 6: Therapeutic prospects for tumours, and mechanisms of expression and regulation (Review)

Claudin 1, 4, 6 and 18 isoform 2 as targets for the treatment of cancer (Review)

The 24 claudin (CLDN) genes in the human genome encode 26 representative CLDN family proteins. CLDNs are tetraspan‑transmembrane proteins at tight junctions. Because several CLDN isoforms, such as CLDN6 and CLDN18.2, are specifically upregulated in human cancer, CLDN‑targeting monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), antibody‑drug conjugates (ADCs), bispecific antibodies (bsAbs) and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells have been developed. In the present review, CLDN1‑, 4‑, 6‑ and 18.2‑targeting investigational drugs in clinical trials are discussed. CLDN18.2‑directed therapy for patients with gastric and other types of cancer is the most advanced area in this field. The mouse/human chimeric anti‑CLDN18.2 mAb zolbetuximab has a single‑agent objective response rate (ORR) of 9%, and increases progression‑free and overall survival in combination with chemotherapy. The human/humanized anti‑CLDN18.2 mAb osemitamab, and ADCs AZD0901, IBI343 and LM‑302, with single‑agent ORRs of 28‑60%, have been tested in phase III clinical trials. In addition, bsAbs, CAR T cells and their derivatives targeting CLDN4, 6 or 18.2 are in phase I and/or II clinical trials. AZD0901, IBI343, zolbetuximab and the anti‑CLDN1 mAb ALE.C04 have been granted fast track designation or priority review designation by the US Food and Drug Administration.

SAIL66, a next generation CLDN6-targeting T-cell engager, demonstrates potent antitumor efficacy through dual binding to CD3/CD137

BACKGROUND

Ovarian cancer remains a formidable challenge in oncology, necessitating innovative therapeutic approaches. Claudin-6 (CLDN6), a member of the tight junction molecule CLDN family, exhibits negligible expression in healthy tissues but displays aberrant upregulation in various malignancies, including ovarian cancer. Although several therapeutic modalities targeting CLDN6 are currently under investigation, there is still a need for more potent therapeutic options. While T-cell engagers (TCEs) hold substantial promise as potent immunotherapeutic agents, their current efficacy and safety in terms of target antigen selection and T-cell exhaustion due to only CD3 stimulation without co-stimulation must be improved, particularly against solid tumors. To provide an efficacious treatment option for ovarian cancer, we generated SAIL66, a tri-specific antibody against CLDN6/CD3/CD137.

METHODS

Using our proprietary next-generation TCE technology (Dual-Ig), SAIL66 was designed to bind to CLDN6 with one Fab and CD3/CD137 with the other, thereby activating T cells through CD3 activation and CD137 co-stimulation. The preclinical characterization of SAIL66 was performed in a series of in vitro and in vivo studies which included comparisons to a conventional TCE targeting CLDN6 and CD3.

RESULTS

Despite the high similarity between CLDN6 and other CLDN family members, SAIL66 demonstrated high specificity for CLDN6, reducing the risk of off-target toxicity. In an in vitro co-culture assay with CLDN6-positive cancer cells, we confirmed that SAIL66 strongly activated the CD137 signal in the Jurkat reporter system, and preferentially induced activation of both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells isolated from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells compared to conventional TCEs. In vivo studies demonstrated that SAIL66 led to a more pronounced increase in intratumor T-cell infiltration and a decrease in exhausted T cells compared with conventional CLDN6 TCE by contribution of CD137 co-stimulation, resulting in better antitumor efficacy in tumor-bearing mouse models.

CONCLUSION

Our data demonstrate that SAIL66, designed to engage CLDN6, CD3, and CD137, has the potential to enhance antitumor activity and provide a potent therapeutic option for patients with ovarian and other solid tumors expressing CLDN6. Clinical trials are currently underway to evaluate the safety and efficacy of SAIL66.

Claudins: from gatekeepers of epithelial integrity to potential targets in hepato-pancreato-biliary cancers

Claudins, a family of tetraspan transmembrane proteins, are critical to the integrity of tight junctions in epithelia and endothelia, influencing cellular processes such as development, differentiation, and apoptosis. Abnormal claudin expression is associated with various malignancies, particularly affecting tissue architecture and potentially facilitating tumor invasion and metastasis. In this comprehensive review, we explore the multifaceted functions of claudins: their expression, specific roles in cancer with a focus on hepato-pancreato-biliary malignancies and highlight their potential as therapeutic targets. We discuss current claudin-targeted therapies, including monoclonal antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates, bispecific T-cell engager and chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapies. These approaches show promise in pre-clinical and clinical studies, particularly in hepato-pancreato-biliary cancers with large unmet needs. Despite these early signs of efficacy, challenges remain in effectively targeting these proteins due to their structural resemblance and overlapping functions.

Targeting the Hippo/YAP1 signaling pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma: From mechanisms to therapeutic drugs (Review)

The Hippo signaling pathway plays a pivotal role in regulating cell growth and organ size. Its regulatory effects on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) encompass diverse aspects, including cell proliferation, invasion and metastasis, tumor drug resistance, metabolic reprogramming, immunomodulatory effects and autophagy. Yes‑associated protein 1 (YAP1), a potent transcriptional coactivator and a major downstream target tightly controlled by the Hippo pathway, is influenced by various molecules and pathways. The expression of YAP1 in different cell types within the liver tumor microenvironment exerts varying effects on tumor outcomes, warranting careful consideration. Therefore, research on YAP1‑targeted therapies merits attention. This review discusses the composition and regulation mechanism of the Hippo/YAP1 signaling pathway and its relationship with HCC, offering insights for future research and cancer prevention strategies.

Preclinical efficacy and pharmacokinetics of an RNA-encoded T cell-engaging bispecific antibody targeting human claudin 6

We present the preclinical pharmacology of BNT142, a lipid nanoparticle (LNP)-formulated RNA (RNA-LNP) encoding a T cell-engaging bispecific antibody that monovalently binds the T cell marker CD3 and bivalently binds claudin 6 (CLDN6), an oncofetal antigen that is absent from normal adult tissue but expressed on various solid tumors. Upon BNT142 RNA-LNP delivery in cell culture, mice, and cynomolgus monkeys, RNA is translated, followed by self-assembly into and secretion of the functional bispecific antibody RiboMab02.1. In vitro, RiboMab02.1 mediated CLDN6 target cell-specific activation and proliferation of T cells, and potent target cell killing. In mice and cynomolgus monkeys, intravenously administered BNT142 RNA-LNP maintained therapeutic serum concentrations of the encoded antibody. Concentrations of RNA-encoded RiboMab02.1 were maintained longer in circulation in mice than concentrations of directly injected, sequence-identical protein. Weekly injections of mice with BNT142 RNA-LNP in the 0.1- to 1-μg dose range were sufficient to eliminate CLDN6-positive subcutaneous human xenograft tumors and increase survival over controls. Tumor regression was associated with an influx of T cells and depletion of CLDN6-positive cells. BNT142 induced only transient and low cytokine production in CLDN6-positive tumor-bearing mice humanized with peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). No signs of adverse effects from BNT142 RNA-LNP administration were observed in mice or cynomolgus monkeys. On the basis of these and other findings, a phase 1/2 first-in-human clinical trial has been initiated to assess the safety and preliminary efficacy of BNT142 RNA-LNP in patients with CLDN6-positive advanced solid tumors (NCT05262530).

Claudins-Promising Biomarkers for Selected Gastrointestinal (GI) Malignancies?

Despite recent() improvements in diagnostic ability() and treatment() strategies for patients() with neoplastic disease(), gastrointestinal (GI) cancers(), such() as colorectal, gastric, pancreatic, and oesophageal cancers(), are still common() malignancies and the leading() cause() of cancer() deaths worldwide(), with a high frequency of recurrence and metastasis as well as poor patient() prognosis. There is a link() between the secretion of proteolytic enzymes that degrade the extracellular matrix and the pathogenesis of GI tumours. Recent() findings have focused() on the potential() significance() of selected claudins (CLDNs) in the pathogenesis and prognosis of GI cancers(). Tight junctions (TJs) have been proven to play an important role() in maintaining cell() polarity and permeability. A number of authors have recently() revealed that TJ proteins, particularly() selected CLDNs, are related() to inflammation and the development() of various tumours, including GI malignancies. This review() presents general() characteristics and the involvement() of selected CLDNs in the progression() of GI malignancies, with a focus() on the potential() application() of these proteins in the diagnosis() and prognosis of colorectal cancer() (CRC), gastric cancer() (GC), pancreatic cancer() (PC), and oesophageal cancer() (EC). Our review() indicates that selected CLDNs, particularly() CLDN1, 2, 4, 7, and 18, play a significant() role() in the development() of GI tumours and in patient() prognosis. Furthermore, selected CLDNs may be of value() in the design() of therapeutic() strategies for the treatment() of recurrent tumours.

CLDN6-specific CAR-T cells plus amplifying RNA vaccine in relapsed or refractory solid tumors: the phase 1 BNT211-01 trial

The oncofetal antigen Claudin 6 (CLDN6) is highly and specifically expressed in many solid tumors, and could be a promising treatment target. We report dose escalation results from the ongoing phase 1/2 BNT211-01 trial evaluating the safety and feasibility of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells targeting the CLDN6 with or without a CAR-T cell-amplifying RNA vaccine (CARVac) at two dose levels (DLs) in relapsed/refractory CLDN6-positive solid tumors. The primary endpoints were safety and tolerability, maximum tolerated dose and recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D). Secondary endpoints included objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate. We observed manageable toxicity, with 10 out of 22 patients (46%) experiencing cytokine release syndrome including one grade 3 event and 1 out of 22 (5%) with grade 1 immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome. Dose-limiting toxicities occurred in two patients at the higher DL, resolving without sequelae. CAR-T cell engraftment was robust, and the addition of CARVac was well tolerated. The unconfirmed ORR in 21 evaluable patients was 33% (7 of 21), including one complete response. The disease control rate was 67% (14 of 21), with stable disease in seven patients. Patients with germ cell tumors treated at the higher DL exhibited the highest response rate (ORR 57% (4 of 7)). The maximum tolerated dose and RP2D were not established as the trial has been amended to utilize an automated manufacturing process. A repeat of the dose escalation is ongoing and will identify a RP2D for pivotal trials. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04503278 .

Binding of YY1/CREB to an Enhancer Region Triggers Claudin 6 Expression in H. pylori LPS-Stimulated AGS Cells

Aberrant expression of the tight junction protein claudin 6 (CLDN6) is a hallmark of gastric cancer progression. Its expression is regulated by the cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB). In gastric cancer induced by Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) there is no information regarding what transcription factors induce/upregulate the expression of CLDN6. We aimed to identify whether CREB and Yin Yang1 (YY1) regulate the expression of CLDN6 and the site where they bind to the promoter sequence. Bioinformatics analysis, H. pylori lipopolysaccharide (LPS), YY1 and CREB silencing, Western blot, luciferase assays, and chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments were performed using the stomach gastric adenocarcinoma cell line AGS. A gen reporter assay suggested that the initial 2000 bp contains the regulatory sequence associated with CLDN6 transcription; the luciferase assay demonstrated three different regions with transcriptional activity, but the -901 to -1421 bp region displayed the maximal transcriptional activity in response to LPS. Fragment 1279-1421 showed CREB and, surprisingly, YY1 occupancy. Sequential Chromatin Immunoprecipitation (ChIP) experiments confirmed that YY1 and CREB interact in the 1279-1421 region. Our results suggest that CLDN6 expression is regulated by the binding of YY1 and CREB in the 901-1421 enhancer, in which a non-described interaction of YY1 with CREB was established in the 1279-1421 region.

The tight junction protein claudin 6 is a potential target for patient-individualized treatment in esophageal and gastric adenocarcinoma and is associated with poor prognosis

BACKGROUND

The prognosis of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) and gastric adenocarcinoma (GAC) remains poor, and new therapeutic approaches are urgently needed. Claudin 6 (CLDN6) is an oncofetal antigen that is largely absent in healthy tissues and upregulated in several cancers, making it a promising therapeutical target. In this study, the expression of CLDN6 was assessed in an large Caucasian EAC and GAC cohort.

METHODS

RNA-Seq data from 89 EACs and 371 GACs were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas project and EAC/GAC cases were stratified by CLDN6 mRNA expression based on a survival-associated cutoff. For groups with CLDN6 expression above or below this cutoff, differential gene expression analyses were performed using DESeq, and dysregulated biological pathways were identified using the Enrichr tool. Additionally, CLDN6 protein expression was assessed in more than 800 EACs and almost 600 GACs using a CLDN6-specific immunohistochemical antibody (clone 58-4B-2) that is currently used in Phase I/II trials to identify patients with CLDN6-positive tumors (NCT05262530; NCT04503278). The expression of CLDN6 was also correlated with histopathological parameters and overall survival (OS).

RESULTS

EACs and GACs with high CLDN6 mRNA levels displayed an overexpression of pathways regulating the cell cycle, DNA replication, and receptor / extracellular matrix interactions. CLDN6 protein expression was associated with shorter OS in EAC and GAC, both in treatment-naïve subgroups and cohorts receiving neoadjuvant therapy. In multivariate analysis, CLDN6 protein expression was an independent adverse prognostic factor in EAC associated with a shorter OS (HR: 1.75; p = 0.01) and GAC (HR: 2.74; p = 0.028).

CONCLUSIONS

High expression of CLDN6 mRNA is associated with the dysregulation of distinct biological pathways regulating cell growth, proliferation, and cell-matrix interactions. Clinically, the expression of CLDN6 protein is a valuable adverse prognostic marker in EAC and GAC.

Genome instability-derived genes as a novel prognostic signature for lung adenocarcinoma

Background: An increasing number of patients are being diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma, but there remains limited progress in enhancing prognostic outcomes and improving survival rates for these patients. Genome instability is considered a contributing factor, as it enables other hallmarks of cancer to acquire functional capabilities, thus allowing cancer cells to survive, proliferate, and disseminate. Despite the importance of genome instability in cancer development, few studies have explored the prognostic signature associated with genome instability for lung adenocarcinoma. Methods: In the study, we randomly divided 397 lung adenocarcinoma patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas database into a training group (n = 199) and a testing group (n = 198). By calculating the cumulative counts of genomic alterations for each patient in the training group, we distinguished the top 25% and bottom 25% of patients. We then compared their gene expressions to identify genome instability-related genes. Next, we used univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses to identify the prognostic signature. We also performed the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and the log-rank test to evaluate the performance of the identified prognostic signature. The performance of the signature was further validated in the testing group, in The Cancer Genome Atlas dataset, and in external datasets. We also conducted a time-dependent receiver operating characteristic analysis to compare our signature with established prognostic signatures to demonstrate its potential clinical value. Results: We identified GULPsig, which includes IGF2BP1, IGF2BP3, SMC1B, CLDN6, and LY6K, as a prognostic signature for lung adenocarcinoma patients from 42 genome instability-related genes. Based on the risk score of the risk model with GULPsig, we successfully stratified the patients into high- and low-risk groups according to the results of the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and the log-rank test. We further validated the performance of GULPsig as an independent prognostic signature and observed that it outperformed established prognostic signatures. Conclusion: We provided new insights to explore the clinical application of genome instability and identified GULPsig as a potential prognostic signature for lung adenocarcinoma patients.

Chimeric antigen receptor engineered natural killer cells for cancer therapy

Natural killer (NK) cells, a unique component of the innate immune system, are inherent killers of stressed and transformed cells. Based on their potent capacity to kill cancer cells and good tolerance of healthy cells, NK cells have been successfully employed in adoptive cell therapy to treat cancer patients. In recent years, the clinical success of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells has proven the vast potential of gene-manipulated immune cells as the main force to fight cancer. Following the lessons learned from mature gene-transfer technologies and advanced strategies in CAR-T therapy, NK cells have been rapidly explored as a promising candidate for CAR-based therapy. An exponentially growing number of studies have employed multiple sources of CAR-NK cells to target a wide range of cancer-related antigens, showing remarkable outcomes and encouraging safety profiles. Clinical trials of CAR-NK cells have also shown their impressive therapeutic efficacy in the treatment of hematological tumors, but CAR-NK cell therapy for solid tumors is still in the initial stages. In this review, we present the favorable profile of NK cells as a potential platform for CAR-based engineering and then summarize the outcomes and strategies of CAR-NK therapies in up-to-date preclinical and clinical investigations. Finally, we evaluate the challenges remaining in CAR-NK therapy and describe existing strategies that can assist us in devising future prospective solutions.

Downregulation of CLDN6 inhibits cell migration and invasion and promotes apoptosis by regulation of the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma

Background

High expression of CLDN6 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been widely reported. During this research, CLDN6's effect on the infiltration, migration, and apoptosis of HCC cells was investigated.

Methods

Initially, the knockdown and overexpression of CLDN6 in HCC cells were carried out by short interfering RNA (siRNA) and plasmid transfection. The transfection efficiency was detected by means of a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) assay, immunofluorescence staining, and Western blot analysis. Transwell and wound-healing assays were employed for the detection of invasion and migration ability. CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry were utilized for the detection of apoptosis. Finally, analysis of the expression of pathway-related proteins (JAK2, STAT3, p-JAK2, and p-STAT3) and the regulation of apoptotic responses (by measurement of cleaved caspase-3, Bax, and Bcl-2 levels) was carried out.

Results

When CLDN6 was knocked down, the cellular invasion and migration ability decreased, and apoptosis increased, which decreased p-JAK2, p-STAT3, and anti-apoptotic protein bcl-2 expression. Furthermore, an elevation was observed in cleaved caspase-3 and Bax expression levels. Contrarily, upon overexpression of CDLN6, the aforementioned experimental results were reversed.

Conclusions

CLDN6 knockdown results in the inhibition of HCC cells' infiltration and migration and promotes apoptosis via downregulation of the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway.

CLDN4 as a Novel Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarker and Its Association with Immune Infiltrates in Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer (OC) is the seventh most prevalent type of cancer in women and the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths in women worldwide. Because of the high rates of relapse, there is an immediate and pressing need for the discovery of innovative sensitive biomarkers for OC patients. Using TCGA and GSE26712 datasets, we were able to identify 17 survival-related DEGs in OC that had differential expression. CLDN4 was the gene that caught our attention the most out of the 17 important genes since its expression was much higher in OC samples than in nontumor samples. The findings of the ROC assays then confirmed the diagnostic utility of the test in screening OC specimens to differentiate them from nontumor specimens. Patients with high CLDN4 expression predicted a shorter overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) than those with low CLDN4 expression, according to clinical research. Patients with low CLDN4 expression predicted longer OS and DSS. Analysis using both univariate and multivariate techniques revealed that CLDN4 expression was an independent factor associated with a poor prognosis for OS and DSS. Based on multivariate analysis, the $C$ -indexes and calibration plots of the nomogram suggested an effective predictive performance for OC patients. After that, we investigated whether or not there was a link between the infiltration of immune cells and the expression of the CLDN4 gene. We found that the expression of CLDN4 was positively associated with Th17 cells, NK CD56bright cells, while negatively associated with Th2 cells, pDC, and T helper cells. In the end, we carried out RT-PCR on our cohort and confirmed that the level of CLDN4 expression was noticeably elevated in OC specimens in comparison to nontumor tissues. The diagnostic usefulness of CLDN4 expression for OC was also validated by the findings of ROC tests. Thus, our findings revealed that CLDN4 may serve as a predictive biomarker in OC to assess both the clinical outcome of OC patients and the level of immune infiltration.

Genome analysis reveals hepatic transcriptional reprogramming changes mediated by enhancers during chick embryonic development

The liver undergoes a slow process for lipid deposition during chick embryonic period. However, the underlying physiological and molecular mechanisms are still unclear. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to reveal the epigenetic mechanism of hepatic transcriptional reprogramming changes based on the integration analysis of RNA-seq and H3K27ac labeled CUT&Tag. Results showed that lipid contents increased gradually with the embryonic age (E) 11, E15, and E19 based on morphological analysis of Hematoxylin-eosin and Oil Red O staining as well as total triglyceride and cholesterol detection. The hepatic protein level of SREBP-1c was higher in E19 when compared with that in E11 and E15, while H3K27ac and H3K4me2 levels declined from E11 to E19. Differential expression genes (DEGs) among these 3 embryonic ages were determined by transcriptome analysis. A total of 107 and 46 genes were gradually upregulated and downregulated respectively with the embryonic age. Meanwhile, differential H3K27ac occupancy in chromatin was investigated. But the integration analysis of RNA-seq and CUT&Tag data showed that the overlap genes were less between DEGs and target genes of differential peaks in the promoter regions. Further, some KEGG pathways enriched from target genes of typical enhancer were overlapped with those from DEGs in transcriptome analysis such as insulin, FoxO, MAPK signaling pathways which were related to lipid metabolism. DNA motif analysis identify 8 and 10 transcription factors (TFs) based on up and down differential peaks individually among E11, E15, and E19 stages where 7 TFs were overlapped including COUP-TFII, FOXM1, FOXA1, HNF4A, RXR, ERRA, FOXA2. These results indicated that H3K27ac histone modification is involved in the transcriptional reprogramming regulation during embryonic development, which could recruit TFs binding to mediate differential enhancer activation. Differential activated enhancer impels dynamic transcriptional reprogramming towards lipid metabolism to promote the occurrence of special phenotype of hepatic lipid deposition.

Claudin and pancreatic cancer

Due to the lack of timely and accurate screening modalities and treatments, most pancreatic cancer (PCa) patients undergo fatal PCa progression within a short period since diagnosis. The claudin(CLDN) family is expressed specifically as tight junction structure in a variety of tumors, including PCa, and affects tumor progression by changing the cell junctions. Thus far, many of the 27 members of the claudin family, including claudin-18.2 and claudin-4, have significantly aberrantly expression in pancreatic tumors. In addition, some studies have confirmed the role of some claudin proteins in the diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic tumors. By targeting different targets of claudin protein and combining chemotherapy, further enhance tumor cell necrosis and inhibit tumor invasion and metastasis. Claudins can either promote or inhibit the development of pancreatic cancer, which indicates that the diagnosis and treatment of different kinds of claudins require to consider different biological characteristics. This literature summarizes the functional characteristics and clinical applications of various claudin proteins in Pca cells, with a focus on claudin-18.2 and claudin-4.

Efficacy, Safety, and Challenges of CAR T-Cells in the Treatment of Solid Tumors

Immunotherapy has been the fifth pillar of cancer treatment in the past decade. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy is a newly designed adoptive immunotherapy that is able to target and further eliminate cancer cells by engaging with MHC-independent tumor-antigens. CAR T-cell therapy has exhibited conspicuous clinical efficacy in hematological malignancies, but more than half of patients will relapse. Of note, the efficacy of CAR T-cell therapy has been even more disappointing in solid tumors. These challenges mainly include (1) the failures of CAR T-cells to treat highly heterogeneous solid tumors due to the difficulty in identifying unique tumor antigen targets, (2) the expression of target antigens in non-cancer cells, (3) the inability of CAR T-cells to effectively infiltrate solid tumors, (4) the short lifespan and lack of persistence of CAR T-cells, and (5) cytokine release syndrome and neurotoxicity. In combination with these characteristics, the ideal CAR T-cell therapy for solid tumors should maintain adequate T-cell response over a long term while sparing healthy tissues. This article reviewed the status, clinical application, efficacy, safety, and challenges of CAR T-cell therapies, as well as the latest progress of CAR T-cell therapies for solid tumors. In addition, the potential strategies to improve the efficacy of CAR T-cells and prevent side effects in solid tumors were also explored.

Chromosomally Unstable Gastric Cancers Overexpressing Claudin-6 Disclose Cross-Talk between HNF1A and HNF4A, and Upregulated Cholesterol Metabolism

(1) Abnormally increased expression of claudin-6 in gastric cancer is considered a prognostic marker of the chromosomal unstable molecular subtype. However, a detailed molecular profile analysis of differentially expressed genes and affected pathways associated with claudin-6 increased (Cldn6^high) expression has not been assessed. (2) The TCGA Stomach Adenocarcinoma Pan-Cancer Atlas Data was evaluated using Cytoscape's Gene Mania, MCODE, and Cytohubba bioinformatic software. (3) 96.88% of Cldn6^high gastric cancer tumors belonging to the chromosomal unstable molecular subtype are associated with a worse prognosis. Cldn6expression coincided with higher mutations in TP53, MIEN1, STARD3, PGAP3, and CCNE1 genes compared to Cldn6^low expression. In Cldn6^high cancers, 1316 genes were highly expressed. Cholesterol metabolism was the most affected pathway as APOA1, APOA2, APOH, APOC2, APOC3, APOB-100, LDL receptor-related protein 1/2, Sterol O-acyltransferase, STARD3, MAGEA-2, -3, -4, -6, -9B, and -12 genes were overexpressed in Cldn6^high gastric cancers; interestingly, APOA2 and MAGEA9b were identified as top hub genes. Functional enrichment of DEGs linked HNF-4α and HNF-1α genes as highly expressed in Cldn6^high gastric cancer. (4) Our results suggest that APOA2 and MAGEA9b could be considered as prognostic markers for Cldn6^high gastric cancers.

Knockdown of CLAUDIN-6 Inhibited Apoptosis and Induced Proliferation of Bovine Cumulus Cells

This study aims to investigate the effects of CLAUDIN-6 (CLDN6) on cell apoptosis and proliferation of bovine cumulus cells (CCs). Immunofluorescence staining was used to localize CLDN6 protein in CCs. Three pairs of siRNA targeting CLDN6 and one pair of siRNA universal negative sequence as control were transfected into bovine CCs. Then, the effective siRNA was screened by real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and Western blotting. The mRNA expression levels of apoptosis related genes (CASPASE-3, BAX and BCL-2) and proliferation related genes (PCNA, CDC42 and CCND2) were evaluated by RT-qPCR in CCs with CLDN6 knockdown. Cell proliferation, apoptosis and cell cycle were detected by flow cytometry with CCK-8 staining, Annexin V-FITC staining and propidium iodide staining, respectively. Results showed that the CLDN6 gene was expressed in bovine CCs and the protein was localized in cell membranes and cytoplasms. After CLDN6 was knocked down in CCs, the cell apoptosis rate significantly decreased and the pro-apoptotic genes BAX and CASPASE-3 were down-regulated significantly, whereas the anti-apoptotic gene BCL-2 was markedly up-regulated (p < 0.05). Additionally, CLDN6 knockdown significantly enhanced cell proliferation of CCs at 72 h after siRNA transfection. The mRNA levels of proliferation-related genes PCNA, CCND2 and CDC42 increased obviously in CCs with CLDN6 knockdown (p < 0.05). After CLDN6 was down-regulated, the percentage of CCs at S phase was significantly increased (p < 0.05). However, there was no remarkable difference in the percentages of cells at the G0/G1 phase and G2/M phase between CCs with or without CLDN6 knockdown (p > 0.05). Therefore, the expression of CLDN6 and its effects on cell proliferation, apoptosis and cell cycle of bovine CCs were first studied. CLDN6 low expression inhibited cell apoptosis, induced cell proliferation and cell cycle arrest of bovine CCs.

Research progress on the mechanism of radiation enteritis

Radiation enteritis (Re) is one of the most common complications of radiation therapy for abdominal tumors. The efficacy of cancer treatment by radiation is often limited by the side effects of Re. Re can be acute or chronic. Treatment of acute Re is essentially symptomatic. However, chronic Re usually requires surgical procedures. The underlying mechanisms of Re are complex and have not yet been elucidated. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the pathogenesis of Re. We reviewed the role of intestinal epithelial cells, intestinal stem cells (ISCs), vascular endothelial cells (ECs), intestinal microflora, and other mediators of Re, noting that a better understanding of the pathogenesis of Re may lead to better treatment modalities.

CLDN6 Suppresses c-MYC-Mediated Aerobic Glycolysis to Inhibit Proliferation by TAZ in Breast Cancer

Claudin 6 (CLDN6) was found to be a breast cancer suppressor gene, which is lowly expressed in breast cancer and inhibits breast cancer cell proliferation upon overexpression. However, the mechanism by which CLDN6 inhibits breast cancer proliferation is unclear. Here, we investigated this issue and elucidated the molecular mechanisms by which CLDN6 inhibits breast cancer proliferation. First, we verified that CLDN6 was lowly expressed in breast cancer tissues and that patients with lower CLDN6 expression had a worse prognosis. Next, we confirmed that CLDN6 inhibited breast cancer proliferation through in vitro and in vivo experiments. As for the mechanism, we found that CLDN6 inhibited c-MYC-mediated aerobic glycolysis based on a metabolomic analysis of CLDN6 affecting cellular lactate levels. CLDN6 interacted with a transcriptional co-activator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ) and reduced the level of TAZ, thereby suppressing c-MYC transcription, which led to a reduction in glucose uptake and lactate production. Considered together, our results suggested that CLDN6 suppressed c-MYC-mediated aerobic glycolysis to inhibit the proliferation of breast cancer by TAZ, which indicated that CLDN6 acted as a novel regulator of aerobic glycolysis and provided a theoretical basis for CLDN6 as a biomarker of progression in breast cancer.

The Roles of Tricellular Tight Junction Protein Angulin-1/Lipolysis-Stimulated Lipoprotein Receptor (LSR) in Endometriosis and Endometrioid-Endometrial Carcinoma

Tight junction proteins play roles beyond permeability barriers functions and control cell proliferation and differentiation. The relation between tight junctions and the signal transduction pathways affects cell growth, invasion and migration. Abnormality of tight junction proteins closely contributes to epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) and malignancy of various cancers. Angulin-1/lipolysis-stimulated lipoprotein receptor (LSR) forms tricellular contacts that has a barrier function. Downregulation of angulin-1/LSR correlates with the malignancy in various cancers, including endometrioid-endometrial carcinoma (EEC). These alterations have been shown to link to not only multiple signaling pathways such as Hippo/YAP, HDAC, AMPK, but also cell metabolism in ECC cell line Sawano. Moreover, loss of angulin-1/LSR upregulates claudin-1, and loss of apoptosis stimulating p53 protein 2 (ASPP2) downregulates angulin-1/LSR. Angulin-1/LSR and ASPP2 concentrate at both midbody and centrosome in cytokinesis. In EEC tissues, angulin-1/LSR and ASPP2 are reduced and claudin-2 is overexpressed during malignancy, while in the tissues of endometriosis changes in localization of angulin-1/LSR and claudin-2 are seen. This review highlights how downregulation of angulin-1/LSR promotes development of endometriosis and EEC and discusses about the roles of angulin-1/LSR and its related proteins, including claudins and ASPP2.