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Ferreres JR, Vinyals A, Campos-Martin R, Espín R, Podlipnik S, Ramos R, Bertran E, Carrera C, Marcoval J, Malvehy J, Fabregat I, Puig S, Fabra À. PRRX1 silencing is required for metastatic outgrowth in melanoma and is an independent prognostic of reduced survival in patients. Mol Oncol 2024. [PMID: 38978350 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.13688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 04/25/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Paired related homeobox 1 (PRRX1) is an inducer of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in different types of cancer cells. We detected low PRRX1 expression in nevus but increased levels in primary human melanoma and cell lines carrying the BRAFV600E mutation. High expression of PRRX1 correlates with invasiveness and enrichment of genes belonging to the EMT programme. Conversely, we found that loss of PRRX1 in metastatic samples is an independent prognostic predictor of poor survival for melanoma patients. Here, we show that stable depletion of PRRX1 improves the growth of melanoma xenografts and increases the number of distant spontaneous metastases, compared to controls. We provide evidence that loss of PRRX1 counteracts the EMT phenotype, impairing the expression of other EMT-related transcription factors, causing dysregulation of the ERK and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling pathways, and abrogating the invasive and migratory properties of melanoma cells while triggering the up-regulation of proliferative/melanocytic genes and the expression of the neural-crest-like markers nerve growth factor receptor (NGFR; also known as neurotrophin receptor p75NTR) and neural cell adhesion molecule L1 (L1CAM). Overall, our results indicate that loss of PRRX1 triggers a switch in the invasive programme, and cells de-differentiate towards a neural crest stem cell (NCSC)-like phenotype that accounts for the metastatic aggressiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josep R Ferreres
- TGF-β and Cancer Group, Oncobell Program, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Hospital Duran i Reynals, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBEREHD), ISCIII, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Dermatology Service, IDIBELL, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Antònia Vinyals
- TGF-β and Cancer Group, Oncobell Program, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Hospital Duran i Reynals, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBEREHD), ISCIII, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Rafael Campos-Martin
- Division of Neurogenetics and Molecular Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Cologne, Germany
| | - Roderic Espín
- Program Against Cancer Therapeutic Resistance (ProCURE), Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO), Oncobell Program (IDIBELL), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sebastian Podlipnik
- Dermatology Department, Melanoma Unit, Hospital Clínic, IDIBAPS & University of Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), ISCIII, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Raquel Ramos
- TGF-β and Cancer Group, Oncobell Program, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Hospital Duran i Reynals, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBEREHD), ISCIII, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Esther Bertran
- TGF-β and Cancer Group, Oncobell Program, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Hospital Duran i Reynals, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBEREHD), ISCIII, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Cristina Carrera
- Dermatology Department, Melanoma Unit, Hospital Clínic, IDIBAPS & University of Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), ISCIII, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Joaquim Marcoval
- Dermatology Service, IDIBELL, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Josep Malvehy
- Dermatology Department, Melanoma Unit, Hospital Clínic, IDIBAPS & University of Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), ISCIII, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Isabel Fabregat
- TGF-β and Cancer Group, Oncobell Program, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Hospital Duran i Reynals, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBEREHD), ISCIII, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Susana Puig
- Dermatology Department, Melanoma Unit, Hospital Clínic, IDIBAPS & University of Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), ISCIII, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Àngels Fabra
- TGF-β and Cancer Group, Oncobell Program, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Hospital Duran i Reynals, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBEREHD), ISCIII, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
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Guo JB, Du M, Wang B, Zhong L, Fu ZX, Wei JL. Paired-related homeobox 1 induces epithelial-mesenchymal transition in oesophageal squamous cancer. World J Gastrointest Oncol 2023; 15:2185-2196. [PMID: 38173429 PMCID: PMC10758647 DOI: 10.4251/wjgo.v15.i12.2185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/14/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND It is unclear that paired-related homeobox 1 (PRRX1) induces epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in oesophageal cancer and the specific function of PRRX1 in oesophageal cancer metastasis. AIM To assess the significance of PRRX1 expression and investigate the mechanism of EMT in oesophageal cancer metastasis. METHODS Detect the expression of PRRX1 by immunohistochemistry in oesophageal tumour tissues and adjacent normal oesophageal tissues; the PRRX1 short hairpin RNA (shRNA) or blank vector lentiviral gene delivery system was transfected into cells; cell proliferation assay, soft agar colony formation assays, cell invasion and migration assays and animal studies were used to observe cells biological characteristics In vitro and in vivo; XAV939 and LiCl were used to alter the activity of Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Immunofluorescence staining and western blot analysis were used to detect protein expression of EMT markers and Wnt/β-catenin pathway. RESULTS PRRX1 is expressed at high levels in oesophageal cancer specimens and is closely related to tumour metastasis in patients with oesophageal cancer. Regulation of PRRX1 expression might exert obvious effects on cell proliferation, especially the migration and invasion of oesophageal cancer cells. Moreover, silencing PRRX1 expression using a shRNA produced the opposite effects. In addition, when PRRX1 was overexpressed, inhibition of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway with XAV939 negated the effect of PRRX1 on EMT, whereas when PRRX1 was downregulated, activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway with LiCl impaired the effect on EMT. CONCLUSION PRRX1 is upregulated in oesophageal cancer is closely correlated with cancer metastasis. Additionally, PRRX1 induces EMT in oesophageal cancer metastasis through activation of Wnt/β-catenin signalling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin-Bao Guo
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Ming Du
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Bin Wang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Li Zhong
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Zhong-Xue Fu
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Jin-Lai Wei
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
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Piorońska W, Nwosu ZC, Han M, Büttner M, Ebert MP, Dooley S, Meyer C. Dysregulated paired related homeobox 1 impacts on hepatocellular carcinoma phenotypes. BMC Cancer 2021; 21:1006. [PMID: 34496784 PMCID: PMC8424914 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-021-08637-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major cause of cancer-related death. Paired related homeobox 1 (PRRX1) is a transcription factor that regulates cell growth and differentiation, but its importance in HCC is unclear. METHODS We examined the expression pattern of PRRX1 in nine microarray datasets of human HCC tumour samples (n > 1100) and analyzed its function in HCC cell lines. In addition, we performed gene set enrichment, Kaplan-Meier overall survival analysis, metabolomics and functional assays. RESULTS PRRX1 is frequently upregulated in human HCC. Pathway enrichment analysis predicted a direct correlation between PRRX1 and focal adhesion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition. High expression of PRRX1 and low ZEB1 or high ZEB2 significantly predicted better overall survival in HCC patients. In contrast, metabolic processes correlated inversely and transcriptional analyses revealed that glycolysis, TCA cycle and amino acid metabolism were affected. These findings were confirmed by metabolomics analysis. At the phenotypic level, PRRX1 knockdown accelerated proliferation and clonogenicity in HCC cell lines. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that PRRX1 controls metabolism, has a tumour suppressive role, and may function in cooperation with ZEB1/2. These findings have functional relevance in HCC, including in understanding transcriptional control of distinct cancer hallmarks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weronika Piorońska
- Department of Medicine II, Section Molecular Hepatology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Zeribe Chike Nwosu
- Department of Medicine II, Section Molecular Hepatology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167, Mannheim, Germany.,Current address: Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, Rogel Cancer Centre, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Mei Han
- Department of Medicine II, Section Molecular Hepatology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167, Mannheim, Germany.,Current address: Department of Internal Medicine, the Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Shahekou District, Dalian City, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Michael Büttner
- The Metabolomics Core Technology Platform of the University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 360, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Matthias Philip Ebert
- Department of Medicine II, Section Molecular Hepatology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Steven Dooley
- Department of Medicine II, Section Molecular Hepatology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Christoph Meyer
- Department of Medicine II, Section Molecular Hepatology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167, Mannheim, Germany.
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Du W, Liu X, Yang M, Wang W, Sun J. The Regulatory Role of PRRX1 in Cancer Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition. Onco Targets Ther 2021; 14:4223-4229. [PMID: 34295164 PMCID: PMC8291965 DOI: 10.2147/ott.s316102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
PRRX1 (paired related homeobox 1), a member of the paired homeobox family, exhibits an important role in tumor. It is closely correlated to the occurrence of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). PRRX1 is an important transcription factor regulating EMT and plays an important role in tumor progression. In the process of tumor metastasis, PRRX1 mainly regulates the occurrence of EMT in tumor cells through TGF-β signaling pathway, Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and Notch signaling pathway. PRRX1 is not only closely related to the tumor cell stemness but also involved in miRNA regulation of EMT. Therefore, PRRX1 may be a target for inhibiting the proliferation, metastasis and stemness of tumor cells. The current review provides a systemic profile of the regulatory role of PRRX1 in cancer epithelial-mesenchymal transition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjiao Du
- Institute of Medical Biotechnology, Suzhou Vocational Health College, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215009, People's Republic of China
| | - Xinchang Liu
- Center for Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, People's Republic of China
| | - Man Yang
- Center for Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, People's Republic of China
| | - Weipeng Wang
- Center for Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, People's Republic of China
| | - Jing Sun
- Institute of Medical Biotechnology, Suzhou Vocational Health College, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215009, People's Republic of China
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Prrx1 promotes stemness and angiogenesis via activating TGF-β/smad pathway and upregulating proangiogenic factors in glioma. Cell Death Dis 2021; 12:615. [PMID: 34131109 PMCID: PMC8206106 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-021-03882-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2020] [Revised: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Glioma is one of the most lethal cancers with highly vascularized networks and growing evidences have identified glioma stem cells (GSCs) to account for excessive angiogenesis in glioma. Aberrant expression of paired-related homeobox1 (Prrx1) has been functionally associated with cancer stem cells including GSCs. In this study, Prrx1 was found to be markedly upregulated in glioma specimens and elevated Prrx1 expression was inversely correlated with prognosis of glioma patients. Prrx1 potentiated stemness acquisition in non-stem tumor cells (NSTCs) and stemness maintenance in GSCs, accompanied with increased expression of stemness markers such as SOX2. Prrx1 also promoted glioma angiogenesis by upregulating proangiogenic factors such as VEGF. Consistently, silencing Prrx1 markedly inhibited glioma proliferation, stemness, and angiogenesis in vivo. Using a combination of subcellular proteomics and in vitro analyses, we revealed that Prrx1 directly bound to the promoter regions of TGF-β1 gene, upregulated TGF-β1 expression, and ultimately activated the TGF-β/smad pathway. Silencing TGF-β1 mitigated the malignant behaviors induced by Prrx1. Activation of this pathway cooperates with Prrx1 to upregulate the expression of stemness-related genes and proangiogenic factors. In summary, our findings revealed that Prrx1/TGF-β/smad signal axis exerted a critical role in glioma stemness and angiogeneis. Disrupting the function of this signal axis might represent a new therapeutic strategy in glioma patients.
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Chen W, Wu J, Shi W, Zhang G, Chen X, Ji A, Wang Z, Wu J, Jiang C. PRRX1 deficiency induces mesenchymal-epithelial transition through PITX2/miR-200-dependent SLUG/CTNNB1 regulation in hepatocellular carcinoma. Cancer Sci 2021; 112:2158-2172. [PMID: 33587761 PMCID: PMC8177778 DOI: 10.1111/cas.14853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2020] [Revised: 02/06/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Metastasis is a major obstacle to better prognosis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET) is the driving force for metastatic colonization in which E-cadherin re-expression is a critical procedure. It has been reported that the loss of paired-related homeobox transcription factor 1 (PRRX1) is required for cancer cell metastasis. However, the role of PRRX1 in MET and how its downregulation triggers E-cadherin re-expression are unknown. In this study, we performed a systematic, mechanistic study regarding the role of PRRX1 in MET of HCC. We observed PRRX1 downregulation in HCC tissues, which correlated with early metastasis and short overall survival. Overexpression of PRRX1 induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), but did not promote metastasis formation, while knockdown of PRRX1 promoted metastasis and colonization of circulating HCC cells as shown in animal model. PRRX1 protein levels reversely correlated with E-cadherin levels in HCC cell lines. PRRX1 knockdown promoted E-cadherin re-expression and cell proliferation and inhibited cell invasion and migration. The microarray results showed that PRRX1 deficiency regulated extracellular matrix (ECM) interaction, focal adhesion, TGF-β signaling and cancer pathways. PRRX1 knockdown upregulated paired-like homeodomain 2 (PITX2) and inhibited catenin beta 1 (CTNNB1) and SNAIL family zinc finger 2 (SLUG). Silencing of PITX2 reversed CTNNB1 and SLUG inhibition and E-cadherin re-expression. PITX2 upregulation increased miR-200a and miR-200b/429, which further inhibited the transcription of CTNNB1 and SLUG, respectively, thus abrogating the inhibitory effect on E-cadherin. In conclusion, our data showed that the downregulation of PRRX1 induced E-cadherin re-expression through PITX2/miR-200a/CTNNB1 and PITX2/miR-200b/429/SLUG pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weibo Chen
- Department of Hepatobiliary SurgeryAffiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical SchoolNanjingChina
- Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgerythe Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversityChangzhouChina
| | - Junyi Wu
- Department of Hepatobiliary SurgeryAffiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical SchoolNanjingChina
| | - Weiwei Shi
- Department of Hepatobiliary SurgeryAffiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical SchoolNanjingChina
| | - Guang Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary SurgeryAffiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical SchoolNanjingChina
| | - Xuemin Chen
- Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgerythe Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversityChangzhouChina
| | - Anlai Ji
- Department of Hepatobiliary SurgeryAffiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical SchoolNanjingChina
| | - Zhongxia Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary SurgeryAffiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical SchoolNanjingChina
| | - Junhua Wu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular MedicineMedical SchoolNanjing UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Chunping Jiang
- Department of Hepatobiliary SurgeryAffiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical SchoolNanjingChina
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Expression and clinical significance of paired- related homeobox 1 and Smad2 in gastric cancer. Eur J Cancer Prev 2021; 30:154-160. [PMID: 32868636 DOI: 10.1097/cej.0000000000000619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND China has a high incidence rate and low survival rate of gastric cancer. Therefore, there is a great need to further identify novel oncogenes and clinically applicable molecular targets for the diagnosis and treatment of this disease. METHODS Expressions of PRRX1, Smad2, epithelial phenotype marker E-cadherin, and interstitial phenotype vimentin protein in a sample of 64 gastric carcinoma and adjacent nontumorous tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry. Their relationship and correlations with clinicopathological features were analyzed. RESULTS The positive rates of PRRX1, Smad2, E-cadherin, and vimentin protein in primary tumors were 60.94% (39/64), 59.38% (38/64), 34.38%(22/64), and 64.06% (41/64), respectively. A significant correlation was found among the expression of PRRX1, Smad2, E-cadherin, and vimentin (P < 0.05). Expression of the PRRX1, Smad2, and vimentin protein in gastric cancer tissue was correlated with Borrmann classification, lymph node-positive number, the degree of differentiation, depth of tumor invasion, and serum pepsinogen I (PGI) level (P < 0.05), but not with age, sex, serum carcinoembryonic antigen, serum CA199, or PGI/PGII (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION The positive rate of PRRX1 protein expression was positively correlated with the protein expression of Smad2 and vimentin, but negatively correlated with E-cadherin protein. PRRX1, Smad2, and vimentin proteins are associated with Borrmann type, lymph node positives, histologic grade, depth of tumor invasion, and serum PGI levels, all of which contribute to a poor prognosis for patients with gastric cancer.
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Uncovering the Mechanism of the Effects of Pien-Tze-Huang on Liver Cancer Using Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2020; 2020:4863015. [PMID: 32963562 PMCID: PMC7492898 DOI: 10.1155/2020/4863015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Revised: 08/20/2020] [Accepted: 08/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Pien-Tze-Huang (PTH) has a long history in the treatment of liver cancer. However, its molecular mechanism of action remains unclear. TCMSP and TCM were used to collect the active ingredients. Bioactive compounds targets were predicted by reverse pharmacophore models. The antiliver cancer targets of PTH were selected by gene comparison of liver cancer in the GEO database. Molecular docking was used to verify the binding activity of the targets and the active ingredients. The DAVID was used to analyze the gene function and signal pathway. A model was built with Cytoscape. The core genes were obtained by PPI network. We screened the 4 main medicinal ingredients of PTH to obtain 16 active ingredient, 190 potential targets, and 6 core genes. We found that active small molecules exert anticancer effects by multiple pathways. The core genes were involved in multiple biological processes. We also found that eight chemical components play a greater role in inhibiting liver cancer. PTH achieves the effect of inhibiting liver cancer through the synergistic effect of multiple components, multiple targets, and multiple pathways. This study provides a potential scientific basis for further elucidating the molecular mechanism of action of PTH against liver cancer.
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Yang M, Liu X, Meng F, Zhang Y, Wang M, Chen Y, Guo X, Chen W, Wang W. The rs7911488-T allele promotes the growth and metastasis of colorectal cancer through modulating miR-1307/PRRX1. Cell Death Dis 2020; 11:651. [PMID: 32811812 PMCID: PMC7434880 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-020-02834-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2020] [Revised: 07/28/2020] [Accepted: 07/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
We previously discovered that rs7911488T>C in pre-miR-1307 was closely correlated to the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the roles of rs7911488 in CRC are still largely unknown. Here we explored the roles of rs7911488 in the growth and metastasis of CRC. We firstly generated cell lines SW480-T and SW480-C for stable expression of rs7911488 T-allelic and C-allelic pre-miR-1307, respectively. We subcutaneously grafted the cells into nude mice. We found that SW480-T tumors with high expression of miR-1307 obviously grew faster than the SW480-C tumors. Moreover, liver metastases (5/8) were observed in the mice bearing SW480-T tumors but not the SW480-C tumor-bearing mice. The results from colony formation assays, transwell assays, and wound healing assays demonstrated that the proliferative and metastatic abilities of SW480-T cells were evidently more potent than the SW480-C cells. Then we utilized gene array, real-time PCR, western blotting, and dual-luciferase reporter assays to figure out that miR-1307 directly inhibited PPRX1 expression by binding to its 3′-UTR. Thereafter, we confirmed that the proliferative and metastatic abilities of SW480 and HCT-116 cells were markedly enhanced by miR-1307, but were suppressed by PRRX1. Moreover, the regulatory roles of miR-1307 in the proliferation and metastasis of CRC cells were reversed by PRRX1. Notably, we also found that PRRX1 repressed CRC tumor growth in nude mice. In summary, our current study revealed that rs7911488-T allele led to over-expression of miR-1307, which inhibited PRRX1 and consequently promoted the proliferation and migration of CRC cells. This might offer a novel insight into the progression of CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Man Yang
- Center for Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Xinchang Liu
- Center for Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Fanyi Meng
- Center for Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Yawen Zhang
- Center for Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Mengmeng Wang
- Center for Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Yinshuang Chen
- Center for Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Xuqin Guo
- Center for Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Weichang Chen
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Clinical Immunology, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, China. .,Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Tumor Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, China.
| | - Weipeng Wang
- Center for Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China. .,Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Clinical Immunology, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, China. .,Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Tumor Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, China.
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Zhang DY, Lei JS, Sun WL, Wang DD, Lu Z. Follistatin Like 5 (FSTL5) inhibits epithelial to mesenchymal transition in hepatocellular carcinoma. Chin Med J (Engl) 2020; 133:1798-1804. [PMID: 32740091 PMCID: PMC7469996 DOI: 10.1097/cm9.0000000000000847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a key process in determining distant metastasis and intra-hepatic dissemination of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Follistatin (FST) family members are considered to be an attractive therapeutic targets and prognostic indicators in cancers. As a derivative of FST, Follistatin Like 5 (FSTL5) may play a similar role in HCC cells. This study aimed to investigate the expression and function of FSTL5 in HCC and its role in EMT. Methods FSTL5, E-cadherin and vimentin in HCC, and paracancerous tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry. Correlation of FSTL5 expression with overall survival was assessed. The proliferation and invasion of HCC cell lines SK-Hep1 and MHCC-LM3 were analyzed by cell counting kit-8 and Transwell assays. The expression of FSTL5, E-cadherin, and vimentin in HCC cells was examined by polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis. T-test was used to analyze the difference in proliferation and invasion ability between groups. The Spearman rank correlation test was used to detect the correlation between the expression of FSTL5 and E-cadherin or vimentin. Results The expression of FSTL5 in HCC was lower than that in paracancerous tissues (9.97% vs. 82.55%, χ2 = 340.15, P < 0.001). Patients with high FSTL5 expression had a better prognosis (χ2 = 8.22, P = 0.004) and smaller tumor diameter (χ2 = 45.52, P < 0.001), less lymph node metastasis (χ2 = 5.58, P = 0.02), earlier tumor node metastasis stage (χ2 = 11.29, P = 0.001), a reduced number of tumors (χ2 = 5.05, P = 0.02), lower alpha-fetoprotein value (χ2 = 24.36, P < 0.001), more probability of hepatitis carrying (χ2 = 40.9, P < 0.001), and better liver function grade (χ2 = 5.21, P = 0.02). Immunohistochemistry showed that FSTL5 expression in HCC tissues was positively correlated with E-cadherin expression (r = 0.38, P < 0.001) and negatively correlated with vimentin expression (r = −0.385, P < 0.001). Furthermore, over-expression of FSTL5 up-regulated the expression of E-cadherin and down-regulated the expression of vimentin in SK-Hep1 (negative control [NC] vs. FSTL5-interfering group [Lv-FSTL5]: E-cadherin [t = 45.03, P < 0.001], vimentin [t = 67, P < 0.001]) and MHCC-LM3 (NC vs. Lv-FSTL5: E-cadherin [t = 50, P < 0.001], vimentin [t = 72.75, P < 0.001]) cells at mRNA level. The same as protein level. In addition, the over-expression of FSTL5 inhibited the proliferation (NC vs. Lv-FSTL5: SK-Hep1, 3 d [t = 7.324, P = 0.018], 4 d [t = 6.23, P = 0.021], 5 d [t = 10.21, P = 0.003]; MHCC-LM3, 3 d [t = 4.32, P = 0.037], 4 d [t = 7.49, P = 0.012], 5 d [t = 9.3661, P = 0.009]) and invasion (NC vs. Lv-FSTL5: SK-Hep1, t = 21.57, P < 0.001; MHCC-LM3, t = 18.04, P < 0.001) of HCC cells. Conclusions Down-regulation of FSTL5 may contribute to EMT of HCC, and FSTL5 is a potential target in the treatment of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deng-Yong Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, Anhui 233000, China
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Tang Y, Lu Y, Chen Y, Luo L, Cai L, Peng B, Huang W, Liao H, Zhao L, Pan M. Pre-metastatic niche triggers SDF-1/CXCR4 axis and promotes organ colonisation by hepatocellular circulating tumour cells via downregulation of Prrx1. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH : CR 2019; 38:473. [PMID: 31752959 PMCID: PMC6873584 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-019-1475-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2019] [Accepted: 11/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Background Circulating tumour cells (CTCs), especially mesenchymal CTCs, are important determinants of metastasis, which leads to most recurrence and mortality in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, little is known about the underlying mechanisms of CTC colonisation in pre-metastatic niches. Methods Detection and classification of CTCs in patients were performed using the CanPatrol™ system. A lentiviral vector expressing Prrx1-targeting shRNA was constructed to generate a stable HCC cell line with low expression of Prrx1. The effect of Prrx1 knockdown on stemness, migration, and drug resistance of the cell line was assessed, including involvement of SDF-1/CXCR4 signalling. Promising clinical applications of an inhibitor of STAT3 tyrosine phosphorylation, C188–9, and specific blockade with CXCR4 antibody were explored. Results The number of mesenchymal CTCs in blood was closely associated with tumour recurrence or metastasis. Pre-metastatic niche-derived SDF-1 could downregulate Prrx1, which induced the stemness, drug resistance, and increased expression of CXCR4 in HCC cells through the STAT3 pathway in vitro. In vivo, mice bearing tumours of Prrx1 low-expressing cells had significantly shorter survival. In xenograft tumours and clinical samples, loss of Prrx1 was negatively correlated with increased expression of CXCR4 in lung metastatic sites compared with that in the primary foci. Conclusions These findings demonstrate that decreased expression of Prrx1 stimulates SDF-1/CXCR4 signalling and contributes to organ colonisation with blood CTCs in HCC. STAT3 inhibition and specific blockade of CXCR4 have clinical potential as therapeutics for eliminating organ metastasis in advanced HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujun Tang
- Second Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yishi Lu
- Department of Pathology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.,Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuan Chen
- Second Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lei Luo
- Second Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lei Cai
- Second Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Bangjian Peng
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wenbin Huang
- Second Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hangyu Liao
- Second Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Liang Zhao
- Department of Pathology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China. .,Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China. .,Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Mingxin Pan
- Second Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
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Wu HY, Wei Y, Pan SL. Down-regulation and clinical significance of miR-7-2-3p in papillary thyroid carcinoma with multiple detecting methods. IET Syst Biol 2019; 13:225-233. [PMID: 31538956 PMCID: PMC8687168 DOI: 10.1049/iet-syb.2019.0025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2019] [Revised: 05/30/2019] [Accepted: 06/10/2019] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Altered miRNA expression participates in the biological progress of thyroid carcinoma and functions as a diagnostic marker or therapeutic agent. However, the role of miR-7-2-3p is currently unclear. The authors' study was the first investigation of miR-7-2-3p expression level and diagnostic ability in several public databases. Potential target genes were obtained from DIANA Tools, and function enrichment analysis was then performed. Furthermore, the authors examined expression levels of potential targets in the Human Protein Atlas (HPA) and the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Finally, the potential transcription factors (TFs) were predicted by JASPAR. TCGA, GSE62054, GSE73182, GSE40807, and GSE55780 revealed that miR-7-2-3p expression in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) tissues was notably lower compared with non-tumour tissues, while its expression in E-MATB-736 showed no remarkable difference. Function enrichment analysis showed that 698 genes were enriched in pathways, including pathways in cancer, and glioma. CCND1, GSK3B, and ITGAV of pathways in cancer were inverse correlations with miR-7-2-3p in both post-transcription and protein levels. According to the TF prediction, the prospective upstream TFs of miR-7-2-3p were ISX, SPI1, PRRX1, and BARX1. MiR-7-2-3p was significantly down-regulated and may act on PTC progression by crucial pathways. However, the mechanisms of miR-7-2-3p need further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hua-Yu Wu
- Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, School of Pre-clinical Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Yi Wei
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Pre-clinical Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Shang-Ling Pan
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Pre-clinical Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China.
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Umeda S, Kanda M, Kodera Y. Recent advances in molecular biomarkers for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Expert Rev Mol Diagn 2019; 19:725-738. [PMID: 31248309 DOI: 10.1080/14737159.2019.1638254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Introduction: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer death worldwide and recurrence rate after curative resection remains high. To improve HCC prognosis, novel sensitive biomarkers and targeted molecular therapies are needed. Accumulation of multiple genetic aberrations caused by pathologically derived liver damage results in HCC carcinogenesis. Elucidating the genes associated with tumorigenesis and progression of HCC may lead to the development of early detection and prognosis markers and to the identification of therapeutic targets. Areas covered: We review recently reported (January 2017-March 2019) HCC-associated molecules, including protein-coding genes, microRNAs, long non-coding RNAs, and methylated gene promoters. Expert opinion: The molecules reviewed have the potential to be clinical biomarkers and therapeutic targets for HCC. The accumulation and understanding of genetic and epigenetic data are essential to improve the management of HCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shinichi Umeda
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery (Surgery II), Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine , Nagoya , Japan
| | - Mitsuro Kanda
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery (Surgery II), Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine , Nagoya , Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Kodera
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery (Surgery II), Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine , Nagoya , Japan
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Homeobox Genes and Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11050621. [PMID: 31058850 PMCID: PMC6562709 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11050621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2019] [Revised: 04/27/2019] [Accepted: 04/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the sixth most common type of cancer, and is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths each year. It involves a multi-step progression and is strongly associated with chronic inflammation induced by the intake of environmental toxins and/or viral infections (i.e., hepatitis B and C viruses). Although several genetic dysregulations are considered to be involved in disease progression, the detailed regulatory mechanisms are not well defined. Homeobox genes that encode transcription factors with homeodomains control cell growth, differentiation, and morphogenesis in embryonic development. Recently, more aberrant expressions of Homeobox genes were found in a wide variety of human cancer, including HCC. In this review, we summarize the currently available evidence related to the role of Homeobox genes in the development of HCC. The objective is to determine the roles of this conserved transcription factor family and its potential use as a therapeutic target in future investigations.
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Zhang Y, Li XJ, He RQ, Wang X, Zhang TT, Qin Y, Zhang R, Deng Y, Wang HL, Luo DZ, Chen G. Upregulation of HOXA1 promotes tumorigenesis and development of non‑small cell lung cancer: A comprehensive investigation based on reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and bioinformatics analysis. Int J Oncol 2018; 53:73-86. [PMID: 29658571 PMCID: PMC5958640 DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2018.4372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2017] [Accepted: 03/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Homeobox A1 (HOXA1) serves an oncogenic role in multiple cancer types. However, the role of HOXA1 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains unclear. In the present study, use of reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and the databases of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Oncomine, Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis and the Multi Experiment Matrix were combined to assess the expression of HOXA1 and its co-expressed genes in NSCLC. Bioinformatic analyses, such as Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), and network and protein-protein interaction analyses, were used to investigate the underlying molecular mechanism effected by the co-expressed genes. Additionally, the potential miRNAs targeting HOXA1 were investigated. The results showed that HOXA1 was upregulated in NSCLC. The area under the curve of HOXA1 indicated a moderate diagnostic value of the HOXA1 level in NSCLC. According to GO and KEGG analyses, the co-expressed genes may be involved in 'dGTP metabolic processes', 'network-forming collagen trimers', 'centromeric DNA binding' and 'the p53 signaling pathway'. Three miRNAs (miR-181b-5p, miR-28-5p and miR-181d-5p) targeting HOXA1 were each predicted by 10 algorithms; miR-181b and miR-181d levels were downregulated in LUSC tissues compared with those in normal lung tissues based on data from the TCGA database, and inverse correlations were found between HOXA1 and miR-181b (r=−0.205, P<0.001) and miR-181d (r=−0.106, P=0.020). We speculate that HOXA1 may be the direct target of miR-181b-5p or miR-181d-5p in LUSC, and HOXA1 may serve a significant role in NSCLC by regulating various pathways, particularly the p53 signaling pathway. However, the detailed mechanism should be verified by functional experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Zhang
- Department of Pathology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, P.R. China
| | - Xiao-Jiao Li
- Department of Positron Emission Tomography-Computed Tomography, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, P.R. China
| | - Rong-Quan He
- Department of Medical Oncology,, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, P.R. China
| | - Xiao Wang
- Department of Orthopedics, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, P.R. China
| | - Tong-Tong Zhang
- Department of Pathology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, P.R. China
| | - Yuan Qin
- Department of Pathology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, P.R. China
| | - Rui Zhang
- Department of Pathology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, P.R. China
| | - Yun Deng
- Department of Pathology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, P.R. China
| | - Han-Lin Wang
- Department of Pathology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, P.R. China
| | - Dian-Zhong Luo
- Department of Pathology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, P.R. China
| | - Gang Chen
- Department of Pathology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, P.R. China
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