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Wang C, Wang J, Xu R, Huang X, Li Q, Zhang C, Yuan B. PAK2 promotes proliferation, migration, and invasion of lung squamous cell carcinoma through LIMK1/cofilin signaling pathway. J Biomed Res 2024; 38:1-14. [PMID: 38828848 DOI: 10.7555/jbr.37.20230317] [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: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Although the p21-activated kinase 2 (PAK2) is an essential serine/threonine protein kinase, its role in lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) progression has yet to be fully understood. We analyzed PAK2 mRNA levels and DNA copy numbers as well as protein levels by quantitative real-time PCR and immunohistochemical staining, respectively, in human LUSC tissues and adjacent normal tissues. Then, we used colony formation assays, cell counting kit-8 assays, matrigel invasion assays, wound healing assays and xenograft models in nude mice to investigate the functions of PAK2 in LUSC progression. We demonstrated that the mRNA levels, DNA copy numbers, and protein levels of PAK2 were up-regulated in human LUSC tissues than in adjacent normal tissues. In addition, a higher PAK2 expression was correlated with a poorer prognosis in LUSC patients. In the in vitro study, we found that PAK2 promoted cell growth, migration, invasion, EMT process, and cell morphology regulation in LUSC cells. Furthermore, PAK2 enhanced tumor cell proliferation, migration, and invasion by regulating actin dynamics through the LIMK1/cofilin signaling. Our findings implicated that the PAK2/LIMK1/cofilin signaling pathway is likely a potential clinical marker and therapeutic target for LUSC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Congcong Wang
- College of Life and Health Sciences, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430081, China
| | - Junyan Wang
- College of Life and Health Sciences, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430081, China
| | - Ruifeng Xu
- College of Life and Health Sciences, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430081, China
| | - Xia Huang
- College of Life and Health Sciences, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430081, China
| | - Qiushuang Li
- College of Life and Health Sciences, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430081, China
| | - Chenxi Zhang
- Central Laboratory, Nanjing Chest Hospital, Affiliated Nanjing Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, China
| | - Baiyin Yuan
- College of Life and Health Sciences, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430081, China
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Zhang J, Chu G, Zheng L, Liu J, He J. Circular RNA circ_0000119 promotes cervical cancer cell growth and migration via miR-433-3p/PAK2 axis. J Appl Genet 2023; 64:531-543. [PMID: 37540462 DOI: 10.1007/s13353-023-00772-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023]
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of circ_0000119 on CC progression and its molecular mechanism. The expression levels of circ_0000119, miR-433-3p, and p21-activated kinase 2 (PAK2) in CC tissues and cell lines were measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Cell proliferation was assessed using 3-(4,5)-dimethylthiahiazo (-z-y1)-3,5-di-phenytetrazoliumromide (MTT) assay, 5-Ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) assay and colony formation assay. Cell cycle and apoptosis were assessed by flow cytometry. Cell migration and invasive ability were examined by Transwell assays. Downstream binding targets of circ_0000119 were predicted by online bioinformatics tools and confirmed by dual luciferase reporter gene assay, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay, and RNA pull-down assay. The role of circ_0000119/miR-433-3p/PAK2 axis in regulating the CC process was explored by rescue experiments. A xenograft model was constructed to further determine the effect of circ_0000119 on CC tumor growth in vivo. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) assay was conducted for Ki67 expression. Circ_0000119 was aberrantly upregulated in CC tissues and cell lines. Knockdown of circ_0000119 inhibited CC cell proliferation, cell cycle progress, migration, invasion, and promoted apoptosis of CC cells. MiR-433-3p was a binding target of circ_0000119, and PAK2 was a downstream gene of miR-433-3p. MiR-433-3p inhibition reversed the inhibitory effect of silencing circ_0000119 on CC progression. In addition, PAK2 overexpression reversed the effect of miR-433-3p on CC progression. PAK2 expression was regulated by circ_0000119 and miR-433-3p. Moreover, circ_0000119 knockdown reduced tumor growth of CC in vivo. Circ_0000119 was upregulated in CC, and circ_0000119 knockdown suppressed CC malignant development through the miR-433-3p/PAK2 axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junxiao Zhang
- Third Department of Gynecology, Northwest Women's and Children's Hospital, No. 1616, Yanxiang Road, Yanta District, Xi'an, 710061, People's Republic of China.
| | - Guanghua Chu
- Second Department of Gynecology, Northwest Women's and Children's Hospital, Xi'an , 710061, China
| | - Lihua Zheng
- Third Department of Gynecology, Northwest Women's and Children's Hospital, No. 1616, Yanxiang Road, Yanta District, Xi'an, 710061, People's Republic of China
| | - Juandi Liu
- Third Department of Gynecology, Northwest Women's and Children's Hospital, No. 1616, Yanxiang Road, Yanta District, Xi'an, 710061, People's Republic of China
| | - Juxian He
- Third Department of Gynecology, Northwest Women's and Children's Hospital, No. 1616, Yanxiang Road, Yanta District, Xi'an, 710061, People's Republic of China
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Blankenstein LJ, Cordes N, Kunz-Schughart LA, Vehlow A. Targeting of p21-Activated Kinase 4 Radiosensitizes Glioblastoma Cells via Impaired DNA Repair. Cells 2022; 11:cells11142133. [PMID: 35883575 PMCID: PMC9316146 DOI: 10.3390/cells11142133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Revised: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma is a devastating malignant disease with poor patient overall survival. Strong invasiveness and resistance to radiochemotherapy have challenged the identification of molecular targets that can finally improve treatment outcomes. This study evaluates the influence of all six known p21-activated kinase (PAK) protein family members on the invasion capacity and radio-response of glioblastoma cells by employing a siRNA-based screen. In a panel of human glioblastoma cell models, we identified PAK4 as the main PAK isoform regulating invasion and clonogenic survival upon irradiation and demonstrated the radiosensitizing potential of PAK4 inhibition. Mechanistically, we show that PAK4 depletion and pharmacological inhibition enhanced the number of irradiation-induced DNA double-strand breaks and reduced the expression levels of various DNA repair proteins. In conclusion, our data suggest PAK4 as a putative target for radiosensitization and impairing DNA repair in glioblastoma, deserving further scrutiny in extended combinatorial treatment testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leon J. Blankenstein
- OncoRay—National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstr. 74, PF 41, 01307 Dresden, Germany; (L.J.B.); (N.C.); (L.A.K.-S.)
- National Center for Tumor Diseases, Partner Site Dresden: German Cancer Research Center, Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Nils Cordes
- OncoRay—National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstr. 74, PF 41, 01307 Dresden, Germany; (L.J.B.); (N.C.); (L.A.K.-S.)
- National Center for Tumor Diseases, Partner Site Dresden: German Cancer Research Center, Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Radiotherapy and Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstr. 74, PF 50, 01307 Dresden, Germany
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden—Rossendorf, Institute of Radiooncology—OncoRay, Bautzner Landstr. 400, 01328 Dresden, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Dresden, and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69192 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Leoni A. Kunz-Schughart
- OncoRay—National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstr. 74, PF 41, 01307 Dresden, Germany; (L.J.B.); (N.C.); (L.A.K.-S.)
- National Center for Tumor Diseases, Partner Site Dresden: German Cancer Research Center, Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Anne Vehlow
- OncoRay—National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstr. 74, PF 41, 01307 Dresden, Germany; (L.J.B.); (N.C.); (L.A.K.-S.)
- National Center for Tumor Diseases, Partner Site Dresden: German Cancer Research Center, Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Dresden, and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69192 Heidelberg, Germany
- Correspondence:
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hsa_circ_0013401 Accelerates the Growth and Metastasis and Prevents Apoptosis and Autophagy of Neuroblastoma Cells by Sponging miR-195 to Release PAK2. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2021; 2021:9936154. [PMID: 34853631 PMCID: PMC8629642 DOI: 10.1155/2021/9936154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2021] [Revised: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Background Increased levels of circRNAs have been identified in a variety of cancers. However, the specific functions and mechanisms of circRNAs in neuroblastoma (NB) have not been fully explored. Methods The levels of hsa_circ_0045997, hsa_circ_0080307, hsa_circ_0013401, hsa_circ_0077578, and microRNA-195 were confirmed by RT-qPCR in NB. Gain- and loss-of-function assays and rescue experiments were conducted to determine the influence of hsa_circ_0013401, miR-195, and P21-activated kinase 2 (PAK2) on the proliferation, apoptosis, autophagy, migration, and invasion of NB cells. Regulatory gene targets were validated by the luciferase assay. A xenograft mouse model was used to determine the in vivo effects of hsa_circ_0013401. Results hsa_circ_0013401 was highly expressed, miR-195 was lowly expressed, and there was a negative correlation between hsa_circ_0013401 and miR-195 in NB. The inhibitory effects of hsa_circ_0013401 knockdown suppressed the proliferation, migration, and invasion and induced the apoptosis and autophagy of NB cells by targeting miR-195 to downregulate PAK2 expression. Luciferase reporter assays showed that miR-195 was a direct target of hsa_circ_0013401, and PAK2 was the downstream target gene of miR-195. In vivo studies showed that hsa_circ_0013401 promotes tumor formation. Conclusions hsa_circ_0013401 induced NB progression through miR-195 to enhance PAK2. Therefore, we might highlight a novel regulatory axis (hsa_circ_0013401/miR-195/PAK2) in NB.
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Xiao J, Lv C, Xiao C, Ma J, Liao J, Liu T, Du J, Zuo S, Li H, Gu H. Construction of a ceRNA Network and Analysis of Tumor Immune Infiltration in Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma. Front Mol Biosci 2021; 8:745409. [PMID: 34760926 PMCID: PMC8573228 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.745409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD) is characterized by high malignancy, frequent metastasis, and recurrence with an unfavorable prognosis. This study is aimed at constructing a prognostic model for tumor-infiltrating immune cells and a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network in PAAD and analyzing susceptibilities of chemotherapy and immunotherapy of PAAD. Gene expression profiles and clinical information of PAAD were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and divided into the tumor group and the normal group. A total of five PAAD survival-related key genes in the ceRNA network and three survival-related immune infiltrating cells were uncovered, and two survival risk models and nomograms were constructed. The efficiency and performance of the two models were verified using multi-index area under the curve analysis at different time points, decision curve analysis, and calibration curves. Co-expression analysis showed that LRRC1, MIR600HG, and RNF166 in the ceRNA network and tumor-infiltrating immune cells including CD8 T cells and M1 macrophages were likely related to the PAAD prognosis, and the expression of key ceRNA-related genes was experimently validated in tissues and cell lines by RT-qPCR. Patients with low risk scores for key genes in the ceRNA network displayed a positive response to anti-programmed death-1 (PD-1) treatment and greater sensitivity to chemotherapeutic drugs such as docetaxel, lapatinib, and paclitaxel. More importantly, our results suggested that the IC50 values of gemcitabine in PAAD were not significantly different between the high and low risk groups. The expression levels of immune checkpoints were significantly different in the high-risk and low-risk groups. The prognostic model, nomogram, and drug analysis may provide an essential reference for PAAD patient management in the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingjing Xiao
- School of Clinical Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China.,Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital, Guiyang, China.,Department of Pediatric Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Chao Lv
- School of Clinical Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China.,Department of Pediatric Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Chuan Xiao
- School of Clinical Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China.,Department of Pediatric Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Jinyu Ma
- School of Clinical Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Jun Liao
- School of Clinical Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China.,Department of Pediatric Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Tao Liu
- School of Clinical Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Jun Du
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Shi Zuo
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Haiyang Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Huajian Gu
- School of Clinical Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China.,Department of Pediatric Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
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Zhao J, Wu F, Yang J. A novel long non-coding RNA TTN-AS1/microRNA-589-5p/FOXP1 positive feedback loop increases the proliferation, migration and invasion of pancreatic cancer cell lines. Oncol Lett 2021; 22:794. [PMID: 34584569 PMCID: PMC8461757 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2021.13055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Numerous reports have found that long non-coding (lnc) RNAs were associated with pancreatic cancer (PC) initiation and development. The lncRNA titin antisense RNA 1 (TTN-AS1) was identified as a tumor promoter in certain types of cancer; however, its role and mechanism in PC remain unclear. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of TTN-AS1 in PC and elucidate the underlying mechanism. Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR analysis was performed to examine the mRNA expression level of TTN-AS1, microRNA(miR)-589-5p and forkhead box protein 1 (FOXP1). Knockdown experiments were performed to examine the effect of TTN-AS1 on PC cell proliferation, migration and invasion. Luciferase reporter assays validated the binding of miR-589-5p to TTN-AS1 and FOXP1. Chromatin immunoprecipitation and luciferase reporter assays confirmed the binding ability of FOXP1 to the TTN-AS1 promoter. As a result, TTN-AS1 and FOXP1 were found to be upregulated in PC cell lines and tissues, while miR-589-5p was expressed at low levels. Knockdown experiments indicated the suppressive effect of TTN-AS1 knockdown on cell proliferation, migration and invasion in PC cell lines. Further mechanistic research uncovered that TTN-AS1 functioned as a molecular sponge for miR-589-5p and its mRNA expression level in PC tissues was inversely associated with that of miR-589-5p. Furthermore, miR-589-5p was confirmed to target FOXP1. Of note, it was discovered that FOXP1 transcriptionally activated TTN-AS1 mRNA expression level. Taken together, the findings of the present study demonstrated that the new TTN-AS1/miR-589-5p/FOXP1 feedback loop may play an important role in PC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Zhao
- Department of Gastroenterology, Liyang People's Hospital, Liyang, Jiangsu 213300, P.R. China
| | - Fang Wu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Wuxi People's Hospital, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214023, P.R. China
| | - Jun Yang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Liyang People's Hospital, Liyang, Jiangsu 213300, P.R. China
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