TRIM37 promotes tumor cell proliferation and drug resistance in pediatric osteosarcoma

TRIM37 Promotes Pancreatic Cancer Progression through Modulation of Cell Growth, Migration, Invasion, and Tumor Immune Microenvironment

TRIM37 dysregulation has been observed in several cancer types, implicating its possible role in tumorigenesis. However, the role of TRIM37 in pancreatic cancer progression remains unclear. In the present study, we observed that TRIM37 knockdown resulted in reduced proliferation, clonogenicity, migration, and invasion ability of pancreatic cancer cells. Furthermore, an in vivo study using an orthotopic syngeneic animal model further confirmed that reduced expression of TRIM37 in cancer cells suppressed tumor growth in vivo. Moreover, in mice bearing TRIM37 knockdown pancreatic cancer cells, the proportion of CD11b+F4/80+MHCIIlow immunosuppressive macrophages was significantly reduced in tumor milieu, which might be due to the regulatory role of TRIM37 in cytokine production by pancreatic cancer cells. Collectively, these findings suggest a key role of TRIM37 in promoting pancreatic cancer progression.

CCR9 initiates epithelial-mesenchymal transition by activating Wnt/β-catenin pathways to promote osteosarcoma metastasis

Background

Osteosarcoma (OS) patients with lung metastasis have poor prognoses, and effective therapeutic strategies for delaying or inhibiting the spread of lung metastasis from the primary OS site are lacking. Hence, it is critical to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of OS metastasis and to identify additional new effective treatment strategies for patients.

Methods

Differential expression and functional analyses were performed to identify key genes and relevant signaling pathways associated with OS lung metastasis. The expression of CCR9 in OS cell lines and tissues was measured by RT-qPCR, western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Cell migration and invasion were assessed by wound healing and Transwell Matrigel invasion assays, respectively. The regulatory relationship between CCR9 and the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway was further evaluated by rescue experiments.

Results

The expression of CCR9 was elevated in OS cell lines and patients with lung metastasis. CCR9 promoted MG63 and HOS cell migration and invasion by activating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Furthermore, knockdown of CCR9 repressed epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) by downregulating mesenchymal markers (N-cadherin and Vimentin) and EMT-associated transcription factors (twist and snail) and upregulating an epithelial marker (E-cadherin).

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that CCR9 promotes EMT by activating Wnt/β-catenin pathways to promote OS metastasis. CCR9 may be a promising therapeutic target to inhibit lung metastasis and serve as a novel prognostic marker for OS.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12935-021-02320-0.

TRIM Proteins in Colorectal Cancer: TRIM8 as a Promising Therapeutic Target in Chemo Resistance

Colorectal cancer (CRC) represents one of the most widespread forms of cancer in the population and, as all malignant tumors, often develops resistance to chemotherapies with consequent tumor growth and spreading leading to the patient’s premature death. For this reason, a great challenge is to identify new therapeutic targets, able to restore the drugs sensitivity of cancer cells. In this review, we discuss the role of TRIpartite Motifs (TRIM) proteins in cancers and in CRC chemoresistance, focusing on the tumor-suppressor role of TRIM8 protein in the reactivation of the CRC cells sensitivity to drugs currently used in the clinical practice. Since the restoration of TRIM8 protein levels in CRC cells recovers chemotherapy response, it may represent a new promising therapeutic target in the treatment of CRC.

Mechanisms of Resistance to Conventional Therapies for Osteosarcoma

Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common primary bone tumor, mainly occurring in children and adolescents. Current standard therapy includes tumor resection associated with multidrug chemotherapy. However, patient survival has not evolved for the past decades. Since the 1970s, the 5-year survival rate is around 75% for patients with localized OS but dramatically drops to 20% for bad responders to chemotherapy or patients with metastases. Resistance is one of the biological processes at the origin of therapeutic failure. Therefore, it is necessary to better understand and decipher molecular mechanisms of resistance to conventional chemotherapy in order to develop new strategies and to adapt treatments for patients, thus improving the survival rate. This review will describe most of the molecular mechanisms involved in OS chemoresistance, such as a decrease in intracellular accumulation of drugs, inactivation of drugs, improved DNA repair, modulations of signaling pathways, resistance linked to autophagy, disruption in genes expression linked to the cell cycle, or even implication of the micro-environment. We will also give an overview of potential therapeutic strategies to circumvent resistance development.

TRIM37 overexpression is associated with chemoresistance in hepatocellular carcinoma via activating the AKT signaling pathway

BACKGROUND

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver cancer in the worldwide. Sorafenib is approved for first-line therapy against advanced HCC, but chemo-resistance is still a leading cause of tumor relapse and treatment failure in HCC. Thus, there is a significant clinical need to identify effective strategies to overcome drug resistance on the disease.

METHODS

The protein and mRNA expression of TRIM37 in HCC cell lines and patient tissues were determined using Real-time PCR and Western blot, respectively. HCC tissue samples were analyzed by IHC to investigate the association between TRIM37expression and the clinicopathological characteristics of HCC patients. Functional assays, such as MTT, FACS, and Tunel assay, are used to determine the oncogenic role of TRIM37 in human HCC progression. Furthermore, western blotting and luciferase assay were used to determine the mechanism of TRIM37promotes chemoresistance in HCC.

RESULTS

We found that both the mRNA and protein expression of TRIM37 was markedly upregulated in HCC cell lines and tissues, especially in Sorafenib-resistance HCC tissues. Moreover, high TRIM37 expression was associated with poor prognosis with HCC patients. TRIM37 overexpression confers Sorafenib resistance on HCC cells; however, inhibition of TRIM37 sensitized HCC cell lines to Sorafenib cytotoxicity. Additionally, TRIM37 upregulated the levels of AKT activity and phosphorylated AKT, thereby activating canonical AKT signaling.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that targeting TRIM37 signaling may represent a promising strategy to enhance Sorafenib response in HCC patients with chemoresistant.

TRIM37 contributes to malignant outcomes and CDDP resistance in gastric cancer

Background: TRIM37 (Tripartite Motif Containing 37) is an E3 ubiquitin ligase for histone H2A and inhibits transcription in several genes. However, it is not known whether it plays a role in gastric cancer (GC). In this study, we tested whether TRIM37 acts as a cancer-promoting factor by being overexpressed in GC. Methods: We analyzed GC cell lines and 124 primary tumors, which were curatively resected in our hospital between 2001 and 2003. Results: Overexpression of the TRIM37 protein was detected in almost all GC cell lines and GC samples (76 out of 124 cases) and was significantly correlated with lymphatic and venous invasion, advanced T-Stage, N-Stage, histology and high recurrence rate. Patients with TRIM37 overexpressing tumors had a worse survival rate than those with non-expressing tumors (P=0.0057). Moreover, TRIM37 positivity was identified as an independent factor predicting worse outcomes (P=0.018, Hazard ratio 3.41). The apoptotic cell analysis showed that the knockdown of TRIM37 increased apoptosis in comparison with the control. In TRIM37 overexpressing GC cells, knockdown of TRIM37 suppressed the migration and invasion. Conclusions: TRIM37 plays a crucial role in tumor malignant potential through its overexpression and highlight its usefulness as a prognostic factor and potential therapeutic target in GC.

ASB16-AS1 up-regulated and phosphorylated TRIM37 to activate NF-κB pathway and promote proliferation, stemness, and cisplatin resistance of gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) ASB16 antisense RNA 1 (ASB16-AS1) is recognized as an oncogene in several cancer types, but its relation to GC is unknown. Tripartite motif containing 37 (TRIM37) has been proven to accelerate the development of gastric cancer (GC), whereas the molecular mechanism assisted ASB16-AS1 and TRIM37 in regulating GC progression remains unclear.

METHODS

Differentially expressed lncRNAs in GC samples were analyzed based on Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) data. CCK-8 and colony formation assays were applied to determine the proliferative ability of GC cells. Stem cell-like phenotype of GC cells was assessed by sphere formation assay and flow cytometry analysis. Luciferase reporter assay, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP), pulldown, and co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) were performed to verify the interplay of RNA molecules.

RESULTS

ASB16-AS1 was upregulated in GC samples according to GEO data and qRT-PCR analysis. ASB16-AS1 strengthened the proliferative ability and stem cell-like characteristics in GC cells. More importantly, ASB16-AS1 encouraged GC cell growth in vivo. Mechanistically, ASB16-AS1 strengthened TRIM37 expression by sequestering miR-3918 and miR-4676-3p. ASB16-AS1 activated NF-kappa B (NF-κB) pathway by cooperating with ATM serine/threonine kinase (ATM) to induce TRIM37 phosphorylation.

CONCLUSION

In summary, ASB16-AS1 exerted oncogenic functions in GC through modulating TRIM37 expression at both mRNA and protein levels.

Recent Insights into Therapy Resistance in Osteosarcoma

Osteosarcoma, the most common bone malignancy of childhood, has been a challenge to treat and cure. Standard chemotherapy regimens work well for many patients, but there remain minimal options for patients with progressive or resistant disease, as clinical trials over recent decades have failed to significantly improve survival. A better understanding of therapy resistance is necessary to improve current treatments and design new strategies for future treatment options. In this review, we discuss known mechanisms and recent scientific advancements regarding osteosarcoma and its patterns of resistance against chemotherapy, radiation, and other newly-introduced therapeutics.

Targeting Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Treatment Efficacy and Resistance in Osteosarcoma: A Review of Current and Future Strategies

Osteosarcoma is the most common primary malignant bone tumour in children and adolescents. Due to micrometastatic spread, radical surgery alone rarely results in cure. Introduction of combination chemotherapy in the 1970s, however, dramatically increased overall survival rates from 20% to approximately 70%. Unfortunately, large clinical trials aiming to intensify treatment in the past decades have failed to achieve higher cure rates. In this review, we revisit how the heterogenous nature of osteosarcoma as well as acquired and intrinsic resistance to chemotherapy can account for stagnation in therapy improvement. We summarise current osteosarcoma treatment strategies focusing on molecular determinants of treatment susceptibility and resistance. Understanding therapy susceptibility and resistance provides a basis for rational therapy betterment for both identifying patients that might be cured with less toxic interventions and targeting resistance mechanisms to sensitise resistant osteosarcoma to conventional therapies.

N6-Methyladenosine modification of the TRIM7 positively regulates tumorigenesis and chemoresistance in osteosarcoma through ubiquitination of BRMS1

BACKGROUND

Metastasis is the leading cause of death in patients with osteosarcoma. Some of these patients fail to respond to chemotherapy and die of metastasis within a short period. Therefore, it is important to identify novel biomarkers to improve the diagnosis and treatment of osteosarcoma. TRIM7 is a member of the tripartite motif (TRIM) family protein that is involved in various pathological conditions including cancer; however, its role in osteosarcoma remains elusive.

METHODS

Cell proliferation, invasion and migration were measured by CCK-8 and Transwell. Immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry analysis were used to identify candidate proteins associated with TRIM7. Immunoprecipitation, immunofluorescence, pull down and ubiquitination assay were performed to examine the regulation between TRIM7 and its candidate protein. m6A modification of TRIM7 was measured by RNA immunoprecipitation.

FINDINGS

TRIM7 expression was upregulated in osteosarcoma tissues and was an independent risk factor in predicting poor prognosis. TRIM7 regulates osteosarcoma cell migration and invasion through ubiquitination of breast cancer metastasis suppressor 1 (BRMS1). Moreover, chemoresistance was readily observed in osteosarcoma cells and in patient-derived xenograft (PDX) mice with higher TRIM7 levels. Loss of TRIM7 m6A modification was observed in osteosarcoma tissues. METTL3 and YTHDF2 were the main factors involved in the aberrant m6A modification of TRIM7.

INTERPRETATION

Overall, our findings show that TRIM7 plays a key role in regulating metastasis and chemoresistance in osteosarcoma through ubiquitination of BRMS1.

FUNDING

This work was financially supported by grants of NSFC (81001192, 81672658 and 81972521) and National Key Research Project of Science and Technology Ministry (2016YFC0106204).

The Tripartite Nexus: Autophagy, Cancer, and Tripartite Motif-Containing Protein Family Members

Autophagy is a cellular degradative process that has multiple important actions in cancer. Autophagy modulation is under consideration as a promising new approach to cancer therapy. However, complete autophagy dysregulation is likely to have substantial undesirable side effects. Thus, more targeted approaches to autophagy modulation may prove clinically beneficial. One potential avenue to achieving this goal is to focus on the actions of tripartite motif-containing protein family members (TRIMs). TRIMs have key roles in an array of cellular processes, and their dysregulation has been extensively linked to cancer risk and prognosis. As detailed here, emerging data shows that TRIMs can play important yet context-dependent roles in controlling autophagy and in the selective targeting of autophagic substrates. This review covers how the autophagy-related actions of TRIM proteins contribute to cancer and the possibility of targeting TRIM-directed autophagy in cancer therapy.

TRIMming down to TRIM37: Relevance to Inflammation, Cardiovascular Disorders, and Cancer in MULIBREY Nanism

TRIpartite motif (TRIM) proteins are part of the largest subfamilies of E3 ligases that mediate the transfer of ubiquitin to substrate target proteins. In this review, we focus on TRIM37 in the normal cell and in pathological conditions, with an emphasis on the MULIBREY (MUscle-LIver-BRain-EYe) genetic disorder caused by TRIM37 mutations. TRIM37 is characterized by the presence of a RING domain, B-box motifs, and a coiled-coil region, and its C-terminal part includes the MATH domain specific to TRIM37. MULIBREY nanism is a rare autosomal recessive caused by TRIM37 mutations and characterized by severe pre- and postnatal growth failure. Constrictive pericarditis is the most serious anomaly of the disease and is present in about 20% of patients. The patients have a deregulation of glucose and lipid metabolism, including type 2 diabetes, fatty liver, and hypertension. Puzzlingly, MULIBREY patients, deficient for TRIM37, are plagued with numerous tumors. Among non-MULIBREY patients affected by cancer, a wide variety of cancers are associated with an overexpression of TRIM37. This suggests that normal cells need an optimal equilibrium in TRIM37 expression. Finding a way to keep that balance could lead to potential innovative drugs for MULIBREY nanism, including heart condition and carcinogenesis treatment.

TRIM37 targets AKT in the growth of lung cancer cells

Background

TRIM37 is an ubiquitin E3 ligase. Growing evidence has demonstrated the high value of TRIM37 as a potential biomarker for diagnosis of certain cancers. However, the biological function of TRIM37 in lung cancer is still unknown.

Materials and methods

In order to gain a deep insight into the function of TRIM37 in lung cancer cells, in the present study lentiviral vector was used to mediate RNA interference and overexpression of TRIM37 in lung cancer cells (H292, H358, and H1299). In addition, a specific AKT inhibitor LY294002 was utilized to examine the correlation between the expression of TRIM37 and AKT.

Results

TRIM37 acts as a positive regulator of cell proliferation in lung cancer cells. Moreover, cell apoptosis analyses showed the antiapoptosis function of TRIM37, which was mainly dependent on the regulation of BCL2 and BAX. Our results also indicated that AKT might be a target of TRIM37 in lung cancer cells.

Conclusion

This research not only helps in understanding the molecular mechanisms of TRIM37 in detail but also provides evidence to develop novel biomarkers for lung cancer diagnosis.