Association between functional variants in BIRC5/survivin gene 3' untranslated region and mRNA expression in lymphoblastoid cell lines

Overview of role of survivin in cancer: expression, regulation, functions, and its potential as a therapeutic target

Survivin holds significant importance as a member of the inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP) family due to its predominant expression in tumours rather than normal terminally differentiated adult tissues. The high expression level of survivin in tumours is closely linked to chemotherapy resistance, heightened tumour recurrence, and increased tumour aggressiveness and serves as a negative prognostic factor for cancer patients. Consequently, survivin has emerged as a promising therapeutic target for cancer treatment. In this review, we delve into the various biological characteristics of survivin in cancers and its pivotal role in maintaining immune system homeostasis. Additionally, we explore different therapeutic strategies aimed at targeting survivin.

Survivin (BIRC5): Implications in cancer therapy

Inhibitors of Apoptosis proteins (IAPs) were discovered through experiments aimed at rescuing apoptosis in insects. Classically associated with the inhibition of apoptosis, the IAP member Survivin also regulates cell cycle progression and is an essential component of the Chromosomal Passenger Complex (CPC), responsible for chromosomal segregation. Although undetectable in most adult tissues, Survivin is expressed in Adult Stem Cells (ASCs) and plays a crucial role in their maintenance. Survivin is overexpressed in most cancers, contributing to their clonal expansion. As a result, it has been proposed as a possible anticancer target for nearly two decades. In this discussion, we will explore the rationale behind Survivin as a therapeutic target, focusing on common cancer types such as carcinomas, sarcomas, and leukemias. We will delve into the modulation of Survivin by cancer pro-survival cell signaling, the association between SNPs and tumorigenesis, and its regulation by miRNAs. Finally, we will compare cell growth, clonogenic capacity, and apoptosis, along with different strategies for Survivin inhibition, including gene expression and protein activity modulation.

BIRC5 Gene Polymorphisms Are Associated with a Higher Stage of Local and Regional Disease in Oral and Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinomas

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) are the most common types of cancers in the head and neck region (HNSCC). Despite very aggressive treatment modalities, the five-year survival rate has not changed for decades and is still around 60%. The search for potential specific biomarkers of aggressiveness or outcome indicators could be of great benefit in improving the treatment of these patients. One of the potential biomarkers is survivin, the protein product of the BIRC5 gene. In this study, we investigated the occurrence of BIRC5 gene polymorphisms in 48 patients with OSCC and OPSCC compared with healthy controls. A total of 18 polymorphisms were found, 11 of which occurred in HNSCC with a minor allele frequency (MAF) of more than 5%. Five polymorphisms (rs3764383, rs9904341, rs2071214, rs2239680, rs2661694) were significantly associated with tumor size, tumor stage, and advanced regional disease, but had no impact on survival.

Von Hippel-Lindau gene single nucleotide polymorphism (rs1642742) may be related to the occurrence and metastasis of HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma

It is well-known that microRNAs are able to regulate the expression of target mRNAs through complementary base-pairing to their 3'-untranslated regions (3'UTR) sequences. This study aimed to investigate whether single nucleotide polymorphisms resided in the 3'UTR sequences in patients with chronic hepatitis B viruses (HBV) infection are associated with the development and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Seventeen single nucleotide polymorphisms in the 3'UTR sequence of 10 genes regulated or affected by hepatitis B virus X protein were found by bioinformatics methods. Two hundred fifteen patients with HBV-related HCC and 216 patients with chronic HBV infection were recruited. Through case-control study, only found that the von Hippel-Lindau gene rs1642742 (G>A) may be associated with the occurrence and metastasis of HCC. The ORs of the frequencies of rs1642742 A allele versus G allele were 1.424 (P = .038, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.019-1.989) between HBV-related HCC and chronic HBV infection group and were 2.004 (P = .037, 95%CI = 1.031-3.895) between tumor metastasis and non-metastasis group, respectively. Through multivariate regression analysis, we also found that rs1642742 AA genotype was an independent risk factor for tumor metastasis (odds ratio = 2.227, 95% CI = 1.043-4.752, P = .038) in HBV-related HCC group. Our study suggested that Von Hippel-Lindau rs1642742 contributed to susceptibility to developing HCC and correlated with tumor metastasis.

BIRC5 Gene Disruption via CRISPR/Cas9n Platform Suppress Acute Myelocytic Leukemia Progression

Background

Acute myelocytic leukemia (AML) is a clonal malignancy resulting from the accumulation of genetic abnormalities in the cells. Human baculoviral inhibitor of apoptosis repeat-containing 5 (BIRC5), encodes survivin, is one of only a handful of genes that is differentially over-expressed in numerous malignant diseases including AML.

Methods

The BIRC5 was silenced permanently in two AML cell lines, HL‑60 and KG-1, via the CRISPR/Cas9n system. After transfection of CRISPR constructs, genomic DNA was extracted and amplified to assess mutation detection. To evaluate BIRC5 gene expression, quantitative real-time PCR was performed. Also, MTT cell viability and Annexin‑V/propidium iodide flowcytometric staining were performed, and the data were analyzed using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov, Levene's, and ANOVA tests.

Results

The results indicated that Cas9n and its sgRNAs successfully triggered site-specific cleavage and mutation in the BIRC5 gene locus. Moreover, suppression of BIRC5 resulted in the reduction of cell viability, and induction of apoptosis and necrosis in HL60 and KG1 suggested that the permanent suppression of BIRC5 remarkably dropped the gene expression and cells viability.

Conclusion

This study reinforces the idea that BIRC5 disruption via Cas9n:sgRNAs has favorable effects on the AML clinical outcome. It thereby can be a promising candidate in a variety of leukemia treatments.

Regulation of Survivin Isoform Expression by GLI Proteins in Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer (OC) is the most lethal female gynecological malignancy, mostly due to diagnosis in late stages when treatment options are limited. Hedgehog-GLI (HH-GLI) signaling is a major developmental pathway involved in organogenesis and stem cell maintenance, and is activated in OC. One of its targets is survivin (BIRC5), an inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP) that plays a role in multiple processes, including proliferation and cell survival. We wanted to investigate the role of different GLI proteins in the regulation of survivin isoform expression (WT, 2α, 2B, 3B, and Δex3) in the SKOV-3 OC cell line. We demonstrated that survivin isoforms are downregulated in GLI1 and GLI2 knock-out cell lines, but not in the GLI3 knock-out. Treatment of GLI1 knock-out cells with GANT-61 shows an additional inhibitory effect on several isoforms. Additionally, we examined the expression of survivin isoforms in OC samples and the potential role of BIRC5 polymorphisms in isoform expression. Clinical samples showed the same pattern of survivin isoform expression as in the cell line, and several BIRC5 polymorphisms showed the correlation with isoform expression. Our results showed that survivin isoforms are regulated both by different GLI proteins and BIRC5 polymorphisms in OC.

Significance of Serum Survivin and -31G/C Gene Polymorphism in the Early Diagnosis of Breast Cancer in Egypt

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer is one of the most relevant malignancies among women. Molecular abnormalities in promotor region of survivin gene may account for overexpression of survivin and increased breast cancer risk. This study aimed to explore the potential association between survivin promotor gene -31G/C single nucleotide polymorphism (rs9904341) and its serum level alteration on one hand, and the risk of breast cancer in Egyptian patients on the other hand. It also aimed to assess the usefulness of survivin as an early noninvasive diagnostic biomarker and in breast cancer staging.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 135 patients with physically and pathologically confirmed breast cancer and 40 unrelated control subjects as well as 40 patients with benign breast mass were recruited from the early detection unit at National Cancer Institute, Cairo University. Genotyping was performed using allelic discrimination probes by real-time quantitative PCR and serum survivin by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTS

The minor allele C of -31G/C survivin single nucleotide polymorphism was more frequent in breast cancer patients (19.3%) compared to the control group (7.5%). Furthermore, subjects with the GC + CC genotype were at increased risk of breast cancer compared to the GG genotype of the control group and also the benign group. Moreover, those patients exhibited higher serum levels of survivin compared to GG genotype. There was also significant elevation of serum survivin in different breast cancer stages.

CONCLUSION

Genetic variation in -31G/C of the survivin gene may contribute to the disposition of breast cancer in the Egyptian population. Serum survivin alteration played a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of breast cancer.

Polymorphisms in Survivin (BIRC5 Gene) Are Associated with Age of Onset in Breast Cancer Patients

Survivin, encoded by BIRC5 gene (baculoviral IAP repeat containing 5), belongs to the family of inhibitors of apoptosis proteins (IAPs). In mammalian cells it participates in the control of mitosis, apoptosis regulation, and cellular stress response. Its expression is increased in almost all types of cancers. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of BIRC5 polymorphisms in breast cancer (BC) and to connect survivin expression with various clinicopathological characteristics of BC patients. Blood and archival tumour tissue samples were collected from 26 BC patients from Croatia. Survivin expression was determined immunohistochemically. BIRC5 promoter, coding region, and 3'UTR were genotyped. DNA from 74 healthy women was used as control. BIRC5 polymorphisms and survivin expression were tested against age of onset, histological grade, tumour type and size, lymph node status, oestrogen, progesterone, Her2, and Ki67 status. Numbers of samples with weak, moderate, and strong survivin expression were 9 (33.3%), 11 (40.7%), and 7 (25.9%), respectively. Most patients had nuclear survivin staining (92.6%). High survivin expression was significantly associated with negative oestrogen receptor status (p=0.007) and positive Ki67 expression (p=0.032). Ki67 expression was also positively correlated with histological grade (p=0.0009). Fourteen polymorphisms were found in BC samples, located mostly in promoter and 3'UTR of BIRC5. There was no significant difference in the distribution of polymorphisms between BC and control samples. Among clinicopathological characteristics of BC patients, alleles of five BIRC5 polymorphisms were associated with younger age of onset: c.-644T>C (55.8 years [y] vs. 48.1 y; p=0.006), c.-241C>T (54.2 y vs. 45.0; p=0.029), c.9809T>C (55.8 y vs. 48.1 y; p=0.006), c.-1547C>T (58.3 y vs. 50.9 y; p=0.011), and c.9386T>C (50.8 y vs. 59.5 y; p=0.004). To assess the significance of BIRC5 polymorphisms and survivin expression as predictive and prognostic biomarkers for BC further research with a larger sample size is needed.

Enhanced Vector Design for Cancer Gene Therapy with Hierarchical Enhancement of Therapeutic Transgene Expression

A set of vectors for Cre recombinase-dependent expression of the hybrid suicidal FCU1 transgene was constructed, including a two-plasmid system wherein the FCU1 and Cre transgenes reside in separate vectors, and single-plasmid variants in which a single plasmid bears both transgenes. To improve the safety profile and specificity in cancer gene therapy applications, as well as to ensure stable propagation of plasmids in bacterial cells, the Cre/LoxP system components were optimized. A bicistronic vector with the Cre expression cassette placed between the LoxP sites unidirectionally with FCU1 cDNA resulted in higher therapeutic efficiency compared with the double-plasmid system in an enzyme-prodrug suicide cancer gene therapy scheme. Therefore, the feasibility of a single-plasmid approach in the development of cancer gene therapy with hierarchical enhancement of therapeutic transgene expression has been demonstrated.

The Effect of Botulinum Toxin Type A on Expression Profiling of Long Noncoding RNAs in Human Dermal Fibroblasts

Objective. This study was aimed at analyzing the expressions of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in Botulinum Toxin Type A (BoNTA) treated human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) in vitro. Methods. We used RNA sequencing to characterize the lncRNAs and mRNAs transcriptome in the control and BoNTA treated group, in conjunction with application of GO (gene ontology) analysis and KEGG (kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes) analysis to delineate the alterations in gene expression. We also obtained quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) to confirm some differentially expressed genes. Results. Numerous differentially expressed genes were observed by microarrays between the two groups. qRT-PCR confirmed the changes of six lncRNAs (RP11-517C16.2-001, FR271872, LOC283352, RP11-401E9.3, FGFR3P, and XXbac-BPG16N22.5) and nine mRNAs (NOS2, C13orf15, FOS, FCN2, SPINT1, PLAC8, BIRC5, NOS2, and COL19A1). Farther studies indicated that the downregulating effect of BoNTA on the expression of FGFR3P was time-related and the dosage of BoNTA at a range from 2.5 U/10⁶ cells to 7.5 U/10⁶ cells increased the expression of FGFR3P and COL19A1 in HDFs as well. Conclusion. The expression profiling of lncRNAs was visibly changed in BoNTA treated HDFs. Further studies should focus on several lncRNAs to investigate their functions in BoNTA treated HDFs and the underlying mechanisms.