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Li X, Li F. p21-Activated Kinase: Role in Gastrointestinal Cancer and Beyond. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14194736. [PMID: 36230657 PMCID: PMC9563254 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14194736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Revised: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Gastrointestinal tumors are the most common tumors with a high mortality rate worldwide. Numerous protein kinases have been studied in anticipation of finding viable tumor therapeutic targets, including PAK. PAK is a serine/threonine kinase that plays an important role in the malignant phenotype of tumors. The function of PAK in tumors is highlighted in cell proliferation, survival, motility, tumor cell plasticity and the tumor microenvironment, therefore providing a new possible target for clinical tumor therapy. Based on the current research works of PAK, we summarize and analyze the PAK features and signaling pathways in cells, especially the role of PAK in gastrointestinal tumors, thereby hoping to provide a theoretical basis for both the future studies of PAK and potential tumor therapeutic targets. Abstract Gastrointestinal tumors are the most common tumors, and they are leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide, but their mechanisms are still unclear, which need to be clarified to discover therapeutic targets. p21-activating kinase (PAK), a serine/threonine kinase that is downstream of Rho GTPase, plays an important role in cellular signaling networks. According to the structural characteristics and activation mechanisms of them, PAKs are divided into two groups, both of which are involved in the biological processes that are critical to cells, including proliferation, migration, survival, transformation and metabolism. The biological functions of PAKs depend on a large number of interacting proteins and the signaling pathways they participate in. The role of PAKs in tumors is manifested in their abnormality and the consequential changes in the signaling pathways. Once they are overexpressed or overactivated, PAKs lead to tumorigenesis or a malignant phenotype, especially in tumor invasion and metastasis. Recently, the involvement of PAKs in cellular plasticity, stemness and the tumor microenvironment have attracted attention. Here, we summarize the biological characteristics and key signaling pathways of PAKs, and further analyze their mechanisms in gastrointestinal tumors and others, which will reveal new therapeutic targets and a theoretical basis for the clinical treatment of gastrointestinal cancer.
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Gu YF, Kong LT. Inhibiting p21-activated kinase (PAK7) enhances radiosensitivity in hepatocellular carcinoma. Hum Exp Toxicol 2021; 40:2202-2214. [PMID: 34165002 DOI: 10.1177/09603271211027948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE In light of the upregulation of p21-activated kinase (PAK7) in a variety of cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), we aimed to investigate the effect of PAK7 on the sensitivity of HCC cells to radiotherapy. METHODS PAK7 expression was determined in normal adult liver epithelial THLE-2 and human HCC cell lines. The effect of ionizing radiation (IR) on the HCC cell viability was evaluated by Sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay. HCC cell lines Mahlavu and Huh7 were chosen to assess the effect of PAK7 shRNAs on the viability, clone formation, apoptosis, cycle distribution and γ-H2AX expression after exposure to IR. RESULTS As compared to THLE-2 cells, PAK7 was upregulated in poorly differentiated Mahlavu and SK-Hep-1 cells, but moderately or lowly expressed in well-differentiated Huh7 and HepG2 cells. HCC cells with moderate or low expression of PAK7 presented a decreased viability at 2 Gy IR, which had no significant effect on PAK7high HCC cells. Mahlavu and Huh7 cells transfected with PAK7 shRNAs showed increased inhibitory effect of IR on viability. In addition, PAK7 shRNAs reduced clone formation, facilitated the cell apoptosis, arrested cells at G2/M phase, and increased γ-H2AX expression. Moreover, changes above were more evident in the HCC cells co-treated with IR and PAK7 shRNAs. CONCLUSION PAK7 downregulation could inhibit the viability, promote the apoptosis, arrest cells in G2/M phase, and induce the DNA damage in HCC cells, thereby enhancing the radiosensitivity in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y-F Gu
- Department of Radiotherapy Second Ward, YanTaiShan hospital, YanTai, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - L-T Kong
- Department of Emergency, YanTaiShan Hospital, YanTai, Shandong, People's Republic of China
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Xing Y, Li Y, Hu B, Han F, Zhao X, Zhang H, Li Y, Li D, Li J, Jin F, Li F. PAK5-mediated AIF phosphorylation inhibits its nuclear translocation and promotes breast cancer tumorigenesis. Int J Biol Sci 2021; 17:1315-1327. [PMID: 33867848 PMCID: PMC8040471 DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.58102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Although p21 activated kinase 5 (PAK5) is related to the progression of multiple cancers, its biological function in breast cancer remains unclear. Apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) is a vital apoptosis factor in mitochondria, which can be released from mitochondria and enter the nucleus, causing caspase-independent apoptosis. In this study, we reveal that PAK5 inhibits apoptosis by preventing the nuclear translocation of AIF. PAK5 inhibits the release of AIF from mitochondria in breast cancer cells by decreasing the mitochondria membrane permeability and increasing the membrane potential. Furthermore, PAK5 phosphorylates AIF at Thr281 site to inhibit the formation of AIF/importin α3 complex, leading to decrease AIF nuclear translocation. Functionally, we demonstrate that PAK5-mediated AIF phosphorylation promotes the proliferation of breast cancer cells and accelerates the growth of breast cancer in vivo. Significantly, PAK5 and AIF expression in breast cancer are positively correlated with poor patient prognosis. PAK5 expression is negatively correlated with AIF nuclear translocation. These results suggest that PAK5-AIF signaling pathway may play an essential role in mammary tumorigenesis, providing a new therapeutic target for the treatment of breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Xing
- Department of Cell Biology, Key Laboratory of Cell Biology of National Health Commission of the PRC, Key Laboratory of Medical Cell Biology of Ministry of Education of the PRC, China Medical University, No.77, Puhe Road, Shenyang, 110122, Liaoning, China
| | - Yang Li
- Department of Cell Biology, Key Laboratory of Cell Biology of National Health Commission of the PRC, Key Laboratory of Medical Cell Biology of Ministry of Education of the PRC, China Medical University, No.77, Puhe Road, Shenyang, 110122, Liaoning, China
| | - Bingtao Hu
- Department of Cell Biology, Key Laboratory of Cell Biology of National Health Commission of the PRC, Key Laboratory of Medical Cell Biology of Ministry of Education of the PRC, China Medical University, No.77, Puhe Road, Shenyang, 110122, Liaoning, China
| | - Fuyi Han
- Department of Cell Biology, Key Laboratory of Cell Biology of National Health Commission of the PRC, Key Laboratory of Medical Cell Biology of Ministry of Education of the PRC, China Medical University, No.77, Puhe Road, Shenyang, 110122, Liaoning, China
| | - Xin Zhao
- Department of Cell Biology, Key Laboratory of Cell Biology of National Health Commission of the PRC, Key Laboratory of Medical Cell Biology of Ministry of Education of the PRC, China Medical University, No.77, Puhe Road, Shenyang, 110122, Liaoning, China
| | - Hongyan Zhang
- Department of Cell Biology, Key Laboratory of Cell Biology of National Health Commission of the PRC, Key Laboratory of Medical Cell Biology of Ministry of Education of the PRC, China Medical University, No.77, Puhe Road, Shenyang, 110122, Liaoning, China
| | - Yanshu Li
- Department of Cell Biology, Key Laboratory of Cell Biology of National Health Commission of the PRC, Key Laboratory of Medical Cell Biology of Ministry of Education of the PRC, China Medical University, No.77, Puhe Road, Shenyang, 110122, Liaoning, China
| | - Danni Li
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Jiabin Li
- Department of Cell Biology, Key Laboratory of Cell Biology of National Health Commission of the PRC, Key Laboratory of Medical Cell Biology of Ministry of Education of the PRC, China Medical University, No.77, Puhe Road, Shenyang, 110122, Liaoning, China
| | - Feng Jin
- Department of Breast Surgery, Department of Surgical Oncology, Research Unit of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, No. 155, North Nanjing Street, Heping District, 110001 Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Feng Li
- Department of Cell Biology, Key Laboratory of Cell Biology of National Health Commission of the PRC, Key Laboratory of Medical Cell Biology of Ministry of Education of the PRC, China Medical University, No.77, Puhe Road, Shenyang, 110122, Liaoning, China
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Kaukonen D, Kaukonen R, Polit L, Hennessy BT, Lund R, Madden SF. Analysis of H3K4me3 and H3K27me3 bivalent promotors in HER2+ breast cancer cell lines reveals variations depending on estrogen receptor status and significantly correlates with gene expression. BMC Med Genomics 2020; 13:92. [PMID: 32620123 PMCID: PMC7333309 DOI: 10.1186/s12920-020-00749-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2020] [Accepted: 06/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The role of histone modifications is poorly characterized in breast cancer, especially within the major subtypes. While epigenetic modifications may enhance the adaptability of a cell to both therapy and the surrounding environment, the mechanisms by which this is accomplished remains unclear. In this study we focus on the HER2 subtype and investigate two histone trimethylations that occur on the histone 3; the trimethylation located at lysine 4 (H3K4me3) found in active promoters and the trimethylation located at lysine 27 (H3K27me3) that correlates with gene repression. A bivalency state is the result of the co-presence of these two marks at the same promoter. METHODS In this study we investigated the relationship between these histone modifications in promoter regions and their proximal gene expression in HER2+ breast cancer cell lines. In addition, we assessed these patterns with respect to the presence or absence of the estrogen receptor (ER). To do this, we utilized ChIP-seq and matching RNA-seq from publicly available data for the AU565, SKBR3, MB361 and UACC812 cell lines. In order to visualize these relationships, we used KEGG pathway enrichment analysis, and Kaplan-Meyer plots. RESULTS We found that the correlation between the three types of promoter trimethylation statuses (H3K4me3, H3K27me3 or both) and the expression of the proximal genes was highly significant overall, while roughly a third of all genes are regulated by this phenomenon. We also show that there are several pathways related to cancer progression and invasion that are associated with the bivalent status of the gene promoters, and that there are specific differences between ER+ and ER- HER2+ breast cancer cell lines. These specific differences that are differentially trimethylated are also shown to be differentially expressed in patient samples. One of these genes, HIF1AN, significantly correlates with patient outcome. CONCLUSIONS This study highlights the importance of looking at epigenetic markings at a subtype specific level by characterizing the relationship between the bivalent promoters and gene expression. This provides a deeper insight into a mechanism that could lead to future targets for treatment and prognosis, along with oncogenesis and response to therapy of HER2+ breast cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Damien Kaukonen
- Data Science Centre, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland.
| | - Riina Kaukonen
- Turku Bioscience, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland
| | - Lélia Polit
- Institute Cochin, University Paris Descartes, Paris, France
| | - Bryan T Hennessy
- Medical Oncology Group, Department of Molecular Medicine, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Riikka Lund
- Turku Bioscience, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland
| | - Stephen F Madden
- Data Science Centre, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
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Yang Q, Zhao Y, Chen Y, Chang Y, Huang A, Xu T, Li G, Wu G. PAK6 promotes cervical cancer progression through activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Oncol Lett 2020; 20:2387-2395. [PMID: 32782556 PMCID: PMC7400107 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2020.11797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2020] [Accepted: 05/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
p21-activated kinase 6 (PAK6), a member of the serine/threonine kinase family, has been reported to be involved in numerous types of cancers. The present study aimed to investigate the role of PAK6 in cervical cancer. In the present study, PAK6 expression was evaluated in tissue microarrays and cell lines by using immunohistochemistry and western blotting. The mRNA level of PAK6 was evaluated by reverse transcription quantitative PCR. The Wnt/β-catenin signaling-related protein expression was detected by western blotting following short hairpin (sh)RNA-mediated PAK6 knockdown or PAK6 overexpression. Cell proliferation was determined using Cell Countink Kit-8. Migration, invasion and colony formation were further assessed following PAK6 knockdown or overexpression. Co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) and fluorescence colocalization microscopy were used to detect the interaction between PAK6 and GSK3β. The results from tissue microarray revealed that the expression levels of PAK6 in cervical cancer tissues were upregulated. The downregulation of PAK6 expression levels using shRNA not only decreased cell growth and proliferation, but it also inhibited the migration and invasion of HeLa cells. Conversely, the overexpression of PAK6 promoted the proliferation, migration and invasion of HeLa cells. In addition, the expression levels of proteins involved in the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway were modified in the PAK6 knockdown group, including downregulation of GSK3β phosphorylation and Cyclin D1 protein, and upregulation of β-catenin phosphorylation and E-cadherin. In contrast, following the overexpression of PAK6, the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway was activated. Further investigation using fluorescence microscopy and Co-IP assays indicated that PAK6 may interact with GSK3β. In conclusion, the findings of the present study suggested that PAK6 may serve a role in promoting cervical cancer through activating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qin Yang
- Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430022, P.R. China
| | - Yingchao Zhao
- Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430022, P.R. China
| | - Yeshan Chen
- Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430022, P.R. China
| | - Yu Chang
- Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430022, P.R. China
| | - Ai Huang
- Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430022, P.R. China
| | - Tie Xu
- Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430022, P.R. China
| | - Guiling Li
- Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430022, P.R. China
| | - Gang Wu
- Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430022, P.R. China
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Dang Y, Guo Y, Ma X, Chao X, Wang F, Cai L, Yan Z, Xie L, Guo X. Systemic analysis of the expression and prognostic significance of PAKs in breast cancer. Genomics 2020; 112:2433-2444. [PMID: 31987914 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2020.01.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2019] [Revised: 11/24/2019] [Accepted: 01/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
PAKs (p21-activated kinases) are reported to play crucial roles in a variety of cellular processes and participate in the progression of human cancers. However, the expression and prognostic values of PAKs remain poorly explored in breast cancers. In our study, we examined the mRNA and protein expression levels of PAKs and the prognostic value. We also analyzed the interaction network, genetic alteration, and functional enrichment of PAKs. The results showed that the mRNA levels of PAK1, PAK2, PAK4 and PAK6 were significantly up-regulated in breast cancer compared with normal tissues, while the reverse trend for PAK3 and PAK5 was found, furthermore, the proteins expression of PAK1, PAK2 and PAK4 in breast cancer tissues were higher than that in normal breast tissues. Survival analysis revealed breast cancer patients with low mRNA expression of PAK3 and PAK5 showed worse RFS, conversely, elevated PAK4 levels predicted worse RFS. In addition, the breast cancer patients with PAKs genetic alterations correlated with worse OS. These results indicated that PAKs might be promising potential biomarkers for breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifang Dang
- Department of Predictive Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Informatics, Cell Signal Transduction Laboratory, Bioinformatics Center, Henan Provincial Engineering Center for Tumor Molecular Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China.
| | - Ying Guo
- Department of Predictive Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Informatics, Cell Signal Transduction Laboratory, Bioinformatics Center, Henan Provincial Engineering Center for Tumor Molecular Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China.
| | - Xiaoyu Ma
- Department of Predictive Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Informatics, Cell Signal Transduction Laboratory, Bioinformatics Center, Henan Provincial Engineering Center for Tumor Molecular Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China.
| | - Xiaoyu Chao
- Department of Predictive Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Informatics, Cell Signal Transduction Laboratory, Bioinformatics Center, Henan Provincial Engineering Center for Tumor Molecular Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China.
| | - Fei Wang
- Department of Predictive Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Informatics, Cell Signal Transduction Laboratory, Bioinformatics Center, Henan Provincial Engineering Center for Tumor Molecular Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China.
| | - Linghao Cai
- Department of Predictive Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Informatics, Cell Signal Transduction Laboratory, Bioinformatics Center, Henan Provincial Engineering Center for Tumor Molecular Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China.
| | - Zhongyi Yan
- Department of Predictive Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Informatics, Cell Signal Transduction Laboratory, Bioinformatics Center, Henan Provincial Engineering Center for Tumor Molecular Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China.
| | - Longxiang Xie
- Department of Predictive Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Informatics, Cell Signal Transduction Laboratory, Bioinformatics Center, Henan Provincial Engineering Center for Tumor Molecular Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China.
| | - Xiangqian Guo
- Department of Predictive Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Informatics, Cell Signal Transduction Laboratory, Bioinformatics Center, Henan Provincial Engineering Center for Tumor Molecular Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China.
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Li YK, Zou J, Ye DM, Zeng Y, Chen CY, Luo GF, Zeng X. Human p21-activated kinase 5 (PAK5) expression and potential mechanisms in relevant cancers: Basic and clinical perspectives for molecular cancer therapeutics. Life Sci 2019; 241:117113. [PMID: 31805288 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2019.117113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2019] [Revised: 11/20/2019] [Accepted: 11/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
An oncogenic role, p21-activated kinase 5 (PAK5), has proven as a significant mediator for many cellular progression, which is expressed highly in human organs such as lung, liver, kidney, blood vessels endothelial cells and inflammatory cells. PAK5 was primitively detected in the cerebrum and accelerated the filopodia formation in neurocytes. It can reverse the effect of Rho and adjust its activity to mediate maintenance and development of nerve axon by binding with Cdc42-GTP. Moreover, PAK5 has been suggested to mediate protean, multitudinous and inscrutable functions in cancer. Currently, many researches indicated that PAK5 was dysregulated in ovarian cancer, cervical cancer, melanoma, osteosarcoma, renal carcinoma, breast cancer, gastric cancer and so on, which was involved in cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion. This review focuses the latest knowledge on the structure, expression, signalling pathway of PAK5, emphasizing its function in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Kun Li
- Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Tumor Cellular & Molecular Pathology, Cancer Research Institute, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, PR China
| | - Juan Zou
- Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Tumor Cellular & Molecular Pathology, Cancer Research Institute, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, PR China
| | - Dong-Mei Ye
- Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Tumor Cellular & Molecular Pathology, Cancer Research Institute, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, PR China
| | - Ying Zeng
- School of Nursing, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, PR China
| | - Chang-Ye Chen
- Department of Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 410011, PR China
| | - Gui-Fang Luo
- Department of Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 410011, PR China.
| | - Xi Zeng
- Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Tumor Cellular & Molecular Pathology, Cancer Research Institute, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, PR China; Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, PR China.
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Wang W, Zhang L, Gao W, Zhang D, Zhao Z, Bao Y. miR‑489 promotes apoptosis and inhibits invasiveness of glioma cells by targeting PAK5/RAF1 signaling pathways. Oncol Rep 2019; 42:2390-2401. [PMID: 31638257 PMCID: PMC6859450 DOI: 10.3892/or.2019.7381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2018] [Accepted: 09/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioma patients receiving therapy are at a high risk of relapse and rapid progression and, thus, more effective treatments are required. The aim of the present study was to determine the suppressive role of miR-489 as an alternative therapeutic target for preventing glioma progression. The results of the present study demonstrated that patients with relatively lower levels of expression of miR-489 had more favorable clinical outcomes. Furthermore, miR-489 expression was inversely correlated with p21-activated kinase 5 (PAK5) mRNA expression levels in glioma specimens. A dual luciferase reporter assay revealed that miR-489 suppressed PAK5 expression by directly targeting the PAK5 3′-untranslated region. The effects of miR-489 on cell viability were measured using MTT and Cell Counting Kit-8 assays. The results demonstrated that ectopic expression of miR-489 mimic decreased cell viability by interfering with cyclin D1 and c-Myc signaling. Additionally, the effect of miR-489 on apoptosis was determined using Hoechst 33258 staining and flow cytometry. The results demonstrated that miR-489 decreased the activity of RAF1, reduced Bcl-2 and promoted Bax expression, resulting in increased cell apoptosis. Furthermore, the effect of miR-489 mimic on cellular motility was assessed using migration and invasion assays. miR-489 was shown to abolish the PAK5/RAF1/MMP2 pathway, resulting in decreased cell invasion ability. These results indicated that miR-489 may be involved in PAK5-mediated regulation of glioma progression, demonstrating the potential therapeutic benefits of targeting miR-489 in glioma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110001, P.R. China
| | - Luyang Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110001, P.R. China
| | - Wei Gao
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110001, P.R. China
| | - Dongyong Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110001, P.R. China
| | - Zilong Zhao
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110001, P.R. China
| | - Yijun Bao
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110001, P.R. China
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Geng N, Li Y, Zhang W, Wang F, Wang X, Jin Z, Xing Y, Li D, Zhang H, Li Y, Li X, Cheng M, Jin F, Li F. A PAK5-DNPEP-USP4 axis dictates breast cancer growth and metastasis. Int J Cancer 2019; 146:1139-1151. [PMID: 31219614 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.32523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2019] [Revised: 05/20/2019] [Accepted: 06/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Although clinically associated with the progression of multiple cancers, the biological function of p21-activated kinase 5 (PAK5) in breast cancer remains largely unknown. Here, we reveal that the PAK5-aspartyl aminopeptidase (DNPEP)-ubiquitin-specific protease 4 (USP4) axis is involved in breast cancer progression. We show that PAK5 interacts with and phosphorylates DNPEP at serine 119. Functionally, we demonstrate that DNPEP overexpression suppresses breast cancer cell proliferation and invasion and restricts breast cancer growth and metastasis in mice. Furthermore, we identify USP4 as a downstream target of the PAK5-DNPEP pathway; DNPEP mediates USP4 downregulation. Importantly, we verify that DNPEP expression is frequently downregulated in breast cancer tissues and is negatively correlated with PAK5 and USP4 expression. PAK5 decreases DNPEP abundance via the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. Consistently, analyses of clinical breast cancer specimens revealed significantly increased PAK5 and USP4 levels and an association between higher PAK5 and USP4 expression and worse breast cancer patient survival. These findings suggest a pivotal role for PAK5-elicited signaling in breast cancer progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nanxi Geng
- Department of Cell Biology, Key Laboratory of Cell Biology of Ministry of Public Health, and Key Laboratory of Medical Cell Biology of Ministry of Education, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Yang Li
- Department of Cell Biology, Key Laboratory of Cell Biology of Ministry of Public Health, and Key Laboratory of Medical Cell Biology of Ministry of Education, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Wenyu Zhang
- Department of Cell Biology, Key Laboratory of Cell Biology of Ministry of Public Health, and Key Laboratory of Medical Cell Biology of Ministry of Education, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Fei Wang
- Department of Cell Biology, Key Laboratory of Cell Biology of Ministry of Public Health, and Key Laboratory of Medical Cell Biology of Ministry of Education, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Xu Wang
- Department of Breast Surgery, Department of Surgical Oncology, Research Unit of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Zining Jin
- Department of Breast Surgery, Department of Surgical Oncology, Research Unit of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Yao Xing
- Department of Cell Biology, Key Laboratory of Cell Biology of Ministry of Public Health, and Key Laboratory of Medical Cell Biology of Ministry of Education, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Danni Li
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Hongyan Zhang
- Department of Cell Biology, Key Laboratory of Cell Biology of Ministry of Public Health, and Key Laboratory of Medical Cell Biology of Ministry of Education, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Yanshu Li
- Department of Cell Biology, Key Laboratory of Cell Biology of Ministry of Public Health, and Key Laboratory of Medical Cell Biology of Ministry of Education, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Xiaodong Li
- Department of Cell Biology, Key Laboratory of Cell Biology of Ministry of Public Health, and Key Laboratory of Medical Cell Biology of Ministry of Education, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Maosheng Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design and Discovery, Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Feng Jin
- Department of Breast Surgery, Department of Surgical Oncology, Research Unit of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Feng Li
- Department of Cell Biology, Key Laboratory of Cell Biology of Ministry of Public Health, and Key Laboratory of Medical Cell Biology of Ministry of Education, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
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Li K, Xu X, He Y, Tian Y, Pan W, Xu L, Ma Y, Gao Y, Gao J, Qi Y, Wei L, Zhang J. P21-activated kinase 7 (PAK7) interacts with and activates Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in breast cancer. J Cancer 2018; 9:1821-1835. [PMID: 29805709 PMCID: PMC5968771 DOI: 10.7150/jca.24934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2018] [Accepted: 02/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Breast cancer is the highest incidence of tumor in women, which seriously threaten women's health. The occurrence and progression of breast cancer is linked to inactivation or downregulation of tumor suppressors, and activation or upregulation of oncogenes. However, the mechanism of PAK7 involving in the occurrence and progression of breast cancer is not yet fully understood. Methods: PAK7 expression was analyzed by RT-qPCR and immunohistochemistry and correlated with clinicopatholgical parameters in breast cancer tissue microarray. The effects of PAK7 on breast cancer cells were detected by CCK-8 assay, colon formation assay, wound healing and transwell assays, and flow cytometry. The relationship between PAK7 and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway was determined by western blotting, TOP/FOP flash, co-Immunoprecipitation and co-localization assays. Results: PAK7 expression was significantly increased in breast cancer tissues and positively correlated with pathological differentiation and TNM stage of breast cancer. Overexpression of PAK7 could significantly promote proliferation and migration of breast cancer cells, and inhibit apoptosis. In contrast, PAK7 knockdown significantly inhibited the proliferation and migration of breast cancer cells and promoted apoptosis. In addition, PAK7 could activate Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in breast cancer cells. Further study found that PAK7 could directly bind to GSK3β and β-catenin, and regulate β-catenin degradation by phosphorylating GSK3β. Conclusions: Our study demonstrated that PAK7, as an oncogene, involved in breast cancer progression by activating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, suggesting that the potential applicability of PAK7 as a target for breast cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Li
- Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, China
| | - Xiaolong Xu
- Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, China
| | - Yanqi He
- Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, China
| | - Yihao Tian
- Department of Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, China
| | - Wenting Pan
- Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, China
| | - Liu Xu
- Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, China
| | - Yanbin Ma
- Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, China
| | - Yang Gao
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital, Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Biological Behaviors, Hubei Cancer Clinical Study Center, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, China
| | - Jingbo Gao
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital, Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Biological Behaviors, Hubei Cancer Clinical Study Center, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, China
| | - Yuwen Qi
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital, Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Biological Behaviors, Hubei Cancer Clinical Study Center, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, China
| | - Lei Wei
- Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, China
| | - Jingwei Zhang
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital, Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Biological Behaviors, Hubei Cancer Clinical Study Center, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, China
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