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Wang B, Hu H, Wang X, Shao Z, Shi D, Wu F, Liu J, Zhang Z, Li J, Xia Z, Liu W, Wu Q. POLE2 promotes osteosarcoma progression by enhancing the stability of CD44. Cell Death Discov 2024; 10:177. [PMID: 38627379 PMCID: PMC11021398 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-024-01875-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most prevalent primary malignancy of bone in children and adolescents. It is extremely urgent to develop a new therapy for OS. In this study, the GSE14359 chip from the GEO database was used to screen differentially expressed genes in OS. DNA polymerase epsilon 2 (POLE2) was confirmed to overexpress in OS tissues and cell lines by immunohistochemical staining, qPCR and Western blot. Knockdown of POLE2 inhibited the proliferation and migration of OS cells in vitro, as well as the growth of tumors in vivo, while the apoptosis rate was increased. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that CD44 and Rac signaling pathway were the downstream molecule and pathway of POLE2, which were inhibited by knockdown of POLE2. POLE2 reduced the ubiquitination degradation of CD44 by acting on MDM2. Moreover, knockdown of CD44 inhibited the tumor-promoting effects of POLE2 overexpression on OS cells. In conclusion, POLE2 augmented the expression of CD44 via inhibiting MDM2-mediated ubiquitination, and then activated Rac signaling pathway to influence the progression of OS, indicating that POLE2/CD44 might be potential targets for OS treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baichuan Wang
- Department of Orthopedics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1277 Jiefang Road, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Hongzhi Hu
- Department of Orthopedics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1277 Jiefang Road, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Xiaohui Wang
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Zengwu Shao
- Department of Orthopedics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1277 Jiefang Road, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Deyao Shi
- Department of Orthopedics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1277 Jiefang Road, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Fashuai Wu
- Department of Orthopedics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1277 Jiefang Road, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Jianxiang Liu
- Department of Orthopedics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1277 Jiefang Road, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Zhicai Zhang
- Department of Orthopedics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1277 Jiefang Road, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Juan Li
- Department of Orthopedics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1277 Jiefang Road, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Zhidao Xia
- Institute of Life Sciences 2, Swansea University Medical School, Singleton Park, Swansea, SA2 8PP, UK
| | - Weijian Liu
- Department of Orthopedics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1277 Jiefang Road, Wuhan, 430022, China.
| | - Qiang Wu
- Department of Orthopedics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1277 Jiefang Road, Wuhan, 430022, China.
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Lv Z, Wu X, Lu P, Xu X, Wang J, Zhang C, Liu W, Gao Y, Lu C, Zhang Y, Kou H. POLE2 knockdown suppresses lymphoma progression via downregulating Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Mol Cell Biochem 2024; 479:487-497. [PMID: 37097331 DOI: 10.1007/s11010-023-04738-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 04/09/2023] [Indexed: 04/26/2023]
Abstract
Lymphoma is the most common malignant tumor arising from immune system. Recently, DNA polymerase epsilon subunit 2 (POLE2) was identified to be a tumor promotor in a variety of malignant tumors. However, the biological role of POLE2 in lymphoma is still largely unclear. In our present study, the expression patterns of POLE2 in lymphoma tissues were identified by immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining of human tissue microarray. Cell viability was determined by CCK-8 assay. Cell apoptosis and cycle distribution were evaluated by Annexin V and PI staining, respectively. Cell migration was analyzed by transwell assay. Tumor growth in vivo was observed by a xenograft model of mice. The potential signaling was explored by human phospho-kinase array and immunoblotting. POLE2 was significantly upregulated in human lymphoma tissues and cells. POLE2 knockdown attenuated the proliferation, migration capabilities of lymphoma cells, as well as induced cell apoptosis and cycle arrest. Moreover, POLE2 depletion impaired the tumor growth in mice. Furthermore, POLE2 knockdown apparently inhibited the activation of β-Catenin and downregulated the expression of Wnt/β-Catenin signaling-related proteins. POLE2 knockdown suppressed the proliferation and migration of lymphoma cells by inhibiting Wnt/β-Catenin signaling pathway. POLE2 may serve as a novel therapeutic target for lymphoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenhui Lv
- Department of Hematology, Zibo Central Hospital, Zibo, 255000, Shandong, China
| | - Xueqiong Wu
- Department of Hematology, Zibo Central Hospital, Zibo, 255000, Shandong, China
| | - Ping Lu
- Department of Hematology, Zibo Central Hospital, Zibo, 255000, Shandong, China
| | - Xinxin Xu
- Department of Hematology, Zibo Central Hospital, Zibo, 255000, Shandong, China
| | - Jiaju Wang
- Department of Hematology, Zibo Central Hospital, Zibo, 255000, Shandong, China
| | - Cui Zhang
- Department of Hematology, Zibo Central Hospital, Zibo, 255000, Shandong, China
| | - Wenting Liu
- Department of Hematology, Zibo Central Hospital, Zibo, 255000, Shandong, China
| | - Yan Gao
- Department of Hematology, Zibo Central Hospital, Zibo, 255000, Shandong, China
| | - Cong Lu
- Department of Hematology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Yinqiang Zhang
- Department of Hematology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Haiming Kou
- Department of Hematology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
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Yu L, Lin N, Ye Y, Zhou S, Xu Y, Chen J, Zhuang W, Wang Q. Prognostic and chemotherapeutic response prediction by proliferation essential gene signature: Investigating POLE2 in bladder cancer progression and cisplatin resistance. J Cancer 2024; 15:1734-1749. [PMID: 38370377 PMCID: PMC10869977 DOI: 10.7150/jca.93023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: Bladder cancer (BLCA) is the most common genitourinary malignancy. Proliferation essential genes (PEGs) are crucial to the survival of cancer cells. This study aimed to build a PEG signature to predict BLCA prognosis and treatment efficacy. Methods: BLCA PEGs and differentially expressed PEGs were identified using DepMap and TCGA-BLCA datasets, respectively. Based on the prognostic analysis of the differentially expressed PEGs, a PEG model was constructed. Subsequently, we analyzed the relationship between the PEG signature and prognosis of BLCA patients as well as their response to chemotherapy. Finally, we performed random forest analysis to target and functional experiments to validate the most significant PEG which is associated with BLCA progression. CCK-8, invasion, migration, and chemosensitivity assays were performed to assess effects of gene knockdown on BLCA cell proliferation, invasion and migration abilities, and cisplatin chemosensitivity. Results: We screened 10 prognostic PEGs from 201 differentially expressed PEGs and used them to construct a PEG signature model. Patients with high PEG signature score (PEGs-high) exhibited worse OS and lower sensitivity to chemotherapy than those with PEGs-low. We also found significant correlations between the PEG score and previously defined BLCA molecular subtypes. This suggests that the PEG score may effectively predict the molecular subtypes which have distinct clinical outcomes. Random forest analysis revealed that POLE2 (DNA polymerase epsilon subunit 2) was the most significant PEG differentiating BLCA tissue and normal tissue. Bioinformatic analysis and an immunohistochemistry staining assay confirmed that POLE2 was significantly up-regulated in tumor tissues and was associated with poor survival in BLCA patients. Moreover, POLE2 knockdown inhibited the ability of cell clone formation, proliferation, invasion, immigration and IC50 of cisplatin. Conclusion: The PEG signature acts as a potential predictor for prognosis and chemotherapy response in BLCA patients. POLE2 is a key PEG and plays a remarkable role in promoting the malignant progression and cisplatin resistance of BLCA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liying Yu
- Central Laboratory, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou 362000, China
| | - Na Lin
- Department of Pathology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou 362000, China
| | - Yan Ye
- Ganzhou Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, the Affiliated Ganzhou Hospital of Nanchang University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, 341000, China
| | - Shuang Zhou
- The Second Clinical Medical School of Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, Fujian Province, 362000, China
| | - Yanjuan Xu
- Department of Pathology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou 362000, China
| | - Jiabi Chen
- Department of Urology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, No. 34 Zhongshan North Road, Quanzhou 362000, Fujian
| | - Wei Zhuang
- Department of Urology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, No. 34 Zhongshan North Road, Quanzhou 362000, Fujian
| | - Qingshui Wang
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fujian-Macao Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Traditional Chinese Medicine-Oriented Chronic Disease Prevention and Treatment, Innovation and Transformation Center, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, 361000, China
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Jiang D, Zhang H, Yin B, He M, Lu X, He C. The Prognostic Hub Gene POLE2 Promotes BLCA Cell Growth via the PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathway. Comb Chem High Throughput Screen 2024; 27:1984-1998. [PMID: 38963027 DOI: 10.2174/0113862073273633231113060429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND BLCA is a common urothelial malignancy characterized by a high recurrence rate. Despite its prevalence, the molecular mechanisms underlying its development remain unclear. AIMS This study aimed to explore new prognostic biomarkers and investigate the underlying mechanism of bladder cancer (BLCA). OBJECTIVE The objective of this study is to identify key prognostic biomarkers for BLCA and to elucidate their roles in the disease. METHODS We first collected the overlapping DEGs from GSE42089 and TCGA-BLCA samples for the subsequent weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) to find a key module. Then, key module genes were analyzed by the MCODE algorithm, prognostic risk model, expression and immunohistochemical staining to identify the prognostic hub gene. Finally, the hub gene was subjected to clinical feature analysis, as well as cellular function assays. RESULTS In WGCNA on 1037 overlapping genes, the blue module was the key module. After a series of bioinformatics analyses, POLE2 was identified as a prognostic hub gene in BLCA from potential genes (TROAP, POLE2, ANLN, and E2F8). POLE2 level was increased in BLCA and related to different clinical features of BLCA patients. Cellular assays showed that si-POLE2 inhibited BLCA proliferation, and si-POLE2+ 740Y-P in BLCA cells up-regulated the PI3K and AKT protein levels. CONCLUSION In conclusion, POLE2 was identified to be a promising prognostic biomarker as an oncogene in BLCA. It was also found that POLE2 exerts a promoting function by the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in BLCA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongzhen Jiang
- Department of Urology, Minhang Hospital, Fudan University, 170 Xin-Song Road, Shanghai, 201199, China
| | - Huawei Zhang
- Department of Urology, Minhang Hospital, Fudan University, 170 Xin-Song Road, Shanghai, 201199, China
| | - Bingde Yin
- Department of Urology, Minhang Hospital, Fudan University, 170 Xin-Song Road, Shanghai, 201199, China
| | - Minke He
- Department of Urology, Minhang Hospital, Fudan University, 170 Xin-Song Road, Shanghai, 201199, China
| | - Xuwei Lu
- Department of Urology, Minhang Hospital, Fudan University, 170 Xin-Song Road, Shanghai, 201199, China
| | - Chang He
- Department of Urology, Minhang Hospital, Fudan University, 170 Xin-Song Road, Shanghai, 201199, China
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Jian H, Chen Z, Du H, Liao T, Sun Y, Ke D, Yu Y. Inhibition of ferroptosis by POLE2 in gastric cancer cells involves the activation of NRF2/GPX4 pathway. J Cell Mol Med 2024; 28:e17983. [PMID: 38070189 PMCID: PMC10805511 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.17983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2023] [Revised: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Gastric cancer results in great cancer mortality worldwide, and inducing ferroptosis dramatically improves the malignant phenotypes of gastric cancer. DNA polymerase epsilon subunit 2 (POLE2) plays indispensable roles in tumorigenesis; however, its involvement and molecular basis in ferroptosis and gastric cancer are not clear. Human gastric cancer cells were infected with lentiviral vectors to knock down or overexpress POLE2, and cell ferroptosis was detected. To further validate the involvement of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), lentiviral vectors were used. POLE2 expression was elevated in human gastric cancer cells and tissues and closely correlated with clinicopathological features in gastric cancer patients. POLE2 knockdown was induced, while POLE2 overexpression inhibited ferroptosis of human gastric cancer cells, thereby modulating the malignant phenotypes of gastric cancer. Mechanistic studies revealed that POLE2 overexpression elevated NRF2 expression and activity and subsequently activated GPX4, which then prevented lipid peroxidation and ferroptosis in human gastric cancer cells. In contrast, either NRF2 or GPX4 silence significantly prevented POLE2 overexpression-mediated inductions of cell proliferation, migration, invasion and inhibition of ferroptosis. POLE2 overexpression inhibits ferroptosis in human gastric cancer cells through activating NRF2/GPX4 pathway, and inhibiting POLE2 may be a crucial strategy to treat gastric cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Jian
- Department of Gastrointestinal SurgeryAffiliated Hospital of Jianghan UniversityWuhanHubeiChina
| | - Zhi‐Qiang Chen
- Department of Gastrointestinal SurgeryAffiliated Hospital of Jianghan UniversityWuhanHubeiChina
| | - Heng Du
- Department of Gastrointestinal SurgeryHuanggang Central Hospital Affiliated to Yangtze UniversityHuanggangHubeiChina
| | - Ting Liao
- Department of GastroenterologyAffiliated Hospital of Jianghan UniversityWuhanHubeiChina
| | - Yi‐Chen Sun
- Department of OncologyAffiliated Hospital of Jianghan UniversityWuhanHubeiChina
| | - Dong Ke
- Department of Gastrointestinal SurgeryRenmin Hospital of Wuhan UniversityWuhanHubeiChina
| | - Yang Yu
- Department of Gastrointestinal SurgeryAffiliated Hospital of Jianghan UniversityWuhanHubeiChina
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Yue SY, Niu D, Liu XH, Li WY, Ding K, Fang HY, Wu XD, Li C, Guan Y, Du HX. BLCA prognostic model creation and validation based on immune gene-metabolic gene combination. Discov Oncol 2023; 14:232. [PMID: 38103068 PMCID: PMC10725402 DOI: 10.1007/s12672-023-00853-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bladder cancer (BLCA) is a prevalent urinary system malignancy. Understanding the interplay of immunological and metabolic genes in BLCA is crucial for prognosis and treatment. METHODS Immune/metabolism genes were extracted, their expression profiles analyzed. NMF clustering found prognostic genes. Immunocyte infiltration and tumor microenvironment were examined. Risk prognostic signature using Cox/LASSO methods was developed. Immunological Microenvironment and functional enrichment analysis explored. Immunotherapy response and somatic mutations evaluated. RT-qPCR validated gene expression. RESULTS We investigated these genes in 614 BLCA samples, identifying relevant prognostic genes. We developed a predictive feature and signature comprising 7 genes (POLE2, AHNAK, SHMT2, NR2F1, TFRC, OAS1, CHKB). This immune and metabolism-related gene (IMRG) signature showed superior predictive performance across multiple datasets and was independent of clinical indicators. Immunotherapy response and immune cell infiltration correlated with the risk score. Functional enrichment analysis revealed distinct biological pathways between low- and high-risk groups. The signature demonstrated higher prediction accuracy than other signatures. qRT-PCR confirmed differential gene expression and immunotherapy response. CONCLUSIONS The model in our work is a novel assessment tool to measure immunotherapy's effectiveness and anticipate BLCA patients' prognosis, offering new avenues for immunological biomarkers and targeted treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shao-Yu Yue
- Department of Urology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui Medical University, No. 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, 230022, Anhui, People's Republic of China
- Institute of Urology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, People's Republic of China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Genitourinary Diseases, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, People's Republic of China
| | - Di Niu
- Department of Urology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui Medical University, No. 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, 230022, Anhui, People's Republic of China
- Institute of Urology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, People's Republic of China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Genitourinary Diseases, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, People's Republic of China
| | - Xian-Hong Liu
- Department of Urology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui Medical University, No. 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, 230022, Anhui, People's Republic of China
- Institute of Urology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, People's Republic of China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Genitourinary Diseases, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei-Yi Li
- Department of Urology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui Medical University, No. 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, 230022, Anhui, People's Republic of China
- Institute of Urology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, People's Republic of China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Genitourinary Diseases, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, People's Republic of China
| | - Ke Ding
- Department of Urology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui Medical University, No. 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, 230022, Anhui, People's Republic of China
- Institute of Urology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, People's Republic of China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Genitourinary Diseases, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, People's Republic of China
| | - Hong-Ye Fang
- Department of Urology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui Medical University, No. 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, 230022, Anhui, People's Republic of China
- Institute of Urology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, People's Republic of China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Genitourinary Diseases, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, People's Republic of China
| | - Xin-Dong Wu
- Department of Urology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui Medical University, No. 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, 230022, Anhui, People's Republic of China
- Institute of Urology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, People's Republic of China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Genitourinary Diseases, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, People's Republic of China
| | - Chun Li
- Department of Urology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui Medical University, No. 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, 230022, Anhui, People's Republic of China.
- Institute of Urology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, People's Republic of China.
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Genitourinary Diseases, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yu Guan
- Department of Urology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui Medical University, No. 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, 230022, Anhui, People's Republic of China.
- Institute of Urology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, People's Republic of China.
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Genitourinary Diseases, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, People's Republic of China.
| | - He-Xi Du
- Department of Urology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui Medical University, No. 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, 230022, Anhui, People's Republic of China.
- Institute of Urology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, People's Republic of China.
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Genitourinary Diseases, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, People's Republic of China.
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Sun MY, Wang L, Shen ZY. POLE2 Regulates Apoptosis of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells through the PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathway. Curr Med Sci 2023; 43:1162-1172. [PMID: 38079056 DOI: 10.1007/s11596-023-2813-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common malignant tumor of the head and neck, but its occurrence and progression mechanisms remain unclear. In addition-there is a lack of effective targeting drugs. The second major subunit of DNA polymerase (POLE2) catalyzes the prolongation of new strand replication and modifies exonuclease domain activity. Our previous study found that POLE2 was associated with OSCC progression, but the mechanism remains unclear. METHODS The expression of POLE2 in OSCC tissues was detected using immunological assays. Mann-Whitney U analysis was used to investigate the relationship between POLE2 gene expression and tumor classification and prognosis of OSCC. POLE2 expression was inhibited in OSCC cells, and the effects of gene and protein expression were detected using RT-PCR and Western blotting. The POLE2 knockout model was constructed by transfecting a lentiviral vector. Cell proliferation, apoptosis, and migration were detected using various assays including colony formation, MTT, flow cytometry, wound healing assay, Transwell assay, and the Human Apoptosis Antibody Array. The animal model of OSCC was established by subcutaneous injection of transfected HN6 into 4-week-old female nude mice. After 30 days, tumors were removed under anesthesia and tumor weight and dimension were recorded. Tumor cell proliferation was analyzed using Ki67 staining. RESULTS POLE2 gene levels were significantly higher in the OSCC tissues than in the normal tissues. In addition, POLE2 gene levels were statistically correlated with tumor classification and prognosis. Silencing POLE2 inhibited the proliferation of oral cancer cells and promoted apoptosis in vitro. Animal experiments also supported a positive correlation between POLE2 and OSCC tumor formation. We further demonstrated that POLE2 could upregulate the expression of apoptosis-related proteins such as caspase-3, CD40, CD40L, DR6, Fas, IGFBP-6, p21, and SMAC. In addition, POLE2 regulated OSCC development by inhibiting the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. CONCLUSION POLE2 is closely related to the progression of OSCC. Thus, POLE2 may be a potential target for OSCC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming-Yu Sun
- Department of Stomatology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
- School of Stomatology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Oral and Maxillofacial Development and Regeneration, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Lin Wang
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266000, China
- Key Laboratory of Oral Clinical Medicine, Qingdao, 266000, China
| | - Zheng-Yu Shen
- Department of Stomatology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China.
- School of Stomatology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Oral and Maxillofacial Development and Regeneration, Wuhan, 430022, China.
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Jiang J, Wang Y, Liu D, Wang X, Zhu Y, Tong J, Chen E, Xue L, Zhao N, Liang T, Zheng C. Selinexor Synergistically Promotes the Antileukemia Activity of Venetoclax in Acute Myeloid Leukemia by Inhibiting Glycolytic Function and Downregulating the Expression of DNA Replication Genes. Immunotargets Ther 2023; 12:135-147. [PMID: 38026089 PMCID: PMC10680489 DOI: 10.2147/itt.s429402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The BCL-2 inhibitor venetoclax has been widely used in the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML); however, AML patients treated with venetoclax gradually develop resistance. The exportin-1 (XPO1) inhibitor selinexor can synergistically promote the antileukemia activity of venetoclax, but the mechanism remains unclear. Methods and Results Annexin V/7-aminoactinomycin D assays were used to examine the effects of a combination of venetoclax and selinexor (VEN+SEL) on AML cell lines and primary AML cells. RNA sequencing and oxygen consumption rate (OCR) and extracellular acidification rate (ECAR) determinations by a Seahorse XF analyzer were employed to investigate the molecular mechanism of the toxicity of the VEN+SEL combination to AML cells. The cytotoxicity of NK cell combined with VEN+SEL combination was assessed in vitro using flow cytometry. VEN+SEL enhanced the apoptosis of AML cells (KG-1A and THP-1) and primary AML samples in vitro. The ECAR and OCR results demonstrated that the VEN+SEL combination significantly inhibited glycolytic function. RNA sequencing of THP-1 cells demonstrated that DNA replication-related genes were downregulated after treatment with the VEN+SEL combination. Conclusion This study indicated that selinexor can synergistically enhance the antileukemia activity of venetoclax in AML cells in vitro by inhibiting glycolytic function and downregulating DNA replication-related genes. Based on our experimental data, combining selinexor with venetoclax is an appropriate advanced treatment option for AML patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiqian Jiang
- Department of Hematology, the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yan Wang
- Department of Hematology, the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, People’s Republic of China
| | - Dan Liu
- Department of Hematology, the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiaoyu Wang
- Department of Hematology, the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yingqiao Zhu
- Department of Hematology, the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, People’s Republic of China
| | - Juan Tong
- Department of Hematology, the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, People’s Republic of China
| | - Erling Chen
- Department of Hematology, the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, People’s Republic of China
| | - Lei Xue
- Department of Hematology, the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, People’s Republic of China
| | - Na Zhao
- Department of Hematology, the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, People’s Republic of China
| | - Tingting Liang
- The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, People’s Republic of China
| | - Changcheng Zheng
- Department of Hematology, the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, People’s Republic of China
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Ge S, Wang K, Meng Y, He Z, Yang X, Shang W, Wang L. Silencing POLE2 promotes apoptosis and inhibits proliferation of oral squamous cell carcinomas by inhibiting PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Med Oncol 2023; 40:304. [PMID: 37733085 DOI: 10.1007/s12032-023-02158-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
Oral squamous cell carcinoma is the most common malignant tumor in the head and neck at present, but the mechanism of its occurrence and development is still unclear, and there is still a lack of effective targeting drugs. The second major subunit of DNA polymerase (POLE2) has exonuclease activity and can catalyze the replication and modification of new chains. Our previous studies have found that it is associated with OSCC progression, but the mechanism is unclear.The expression of POLE2 in OSCC was detected by immunological method. The expression of POLE2 was inhibited in OSCC cells, and the biological function of the cells was detected by RT-PCR and Western Blot. Cell proliferation, apoptosis and migration were detected by colony formation, MTT, flow cytometry, wound healing and Transwell. The expression level of POLE2 gene in OSCC was significantly higher than that in normal tissues. In addition, the expression level of POLE2 gene was significantly different from the tumor type and prognosis. During the development of oral squamous cell carcinoma, silencing POLE2 inhibits the proliferation of oral cancer cells and promotes apoptosis. The results of animal experiments also support the positive correlation between POLE2 and OSCC progression. We further demonstrated that POLE2 can up-regulate the downregulation of apoptosis-related proteins such as Caspase3, CD40, CD40L, DR6, Fas, IGFBP-6, P21, and SMAC. In addition, POLE2 regulates OSCC progression by inhibiting the PI3K/AKT pathway. POLE2 is closely related to the progression of OSCC, and POLE2 may be a potential target for OSCC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengyou Ge
- Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, 16 Jiangsu Road, Qingdao, 266000, Shandong, China
- School of Stomatology, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266000, Shandong, China
| | - Kexin Wang
- Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, 16 Jiangsu Road, Qingdao, 266000, Shandong, China
- School of Stomatology, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266000, Shandong, China
| | - Yuxiang Meng
- Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, 16 Jiangsu Road, Qingdao, 266000, Shandong, China
- School of Stomatology, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266000, Shandong, China
| | - Zongxuan He
- Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, 16 Jiangsu Road, Qingdao, 266000, Shandong, China
- School of Stomatology, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266000, Shandong, China
| | - Xiaochen Yang
- Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, 16 Jiangsu Road, Qingdao, 266000, Shandong, China
- School of Stomatology, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266000, Shandong, China
| | - Wei Shang
- Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, 16 Jiangsu Road, Qingdao, 266000, Shandong, China.
- School of Stomatology, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266000, Shandong, China.
| | - Lin Wang
- Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, 16 Jiangsu Road, Qingdao, 266000, Shandong, China.
- School of Stomatology, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266000, Shandong, China.
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10
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Ma X, Dong L, Liu X, Ou K, Yang L. POLE/POLD1 mutation and tumor immunotherapy. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH : CR 2022; 41:216. [PMID: 35780178 PMCID: PMC9250176 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-022-02422-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
POLE and POLD1 encode the catalytic and proofreading subunits of DNA polymerase ε and polymerase δ, and play important roles in DNA replication and proofreading. POLE/POLD1 exonuclease domain mutations lead to loss of proofreading function, which causes the accumulation of mutant genes in cells. POLE/POLD1 mutations are not only closely related to tumor formation, but are also a potential molecular marker for predicting the efficacy of immunotherapy in pan-carcinomatous species. The association of POLE/POLD1 mutation, ultra-high mutation load, and good prognosis have recently become the focus of clinical research. This article reviews the function of POLE/POLD1, its relationship with deficient mismatch repair/high microsatellite instability, and the role of POLE/POLD1 mutation in the occurrence and development of various tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoting Ma
- Department of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Lin Dong
- Department of Pathology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Xiu Liu
- Department of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Kai Ou
- Department of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Lin Yang
- Department of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China.
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11
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Zhang P, Chen X, Zhang L, Cao D, Chen Y, Guo Z, Chen J. POLE2 facilitates the malignant phenotypes of glioblastoma through promoting AURKA-mediated stabilization of FOXM1. Cell Death Dis 2022; 13:61. [PMID: 35039475 PMCID: PMC8763902 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-021-04498-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Revised: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is a type of brain cancer with high morbidity and mortality worldwide. The clinical significance, biological roles, and underlying molecular mechanisms of DNA poly ε-B subunit (POLE2) in GBM were investigated in the study. Firstly, the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database found that POLE2 was highly expressed in GBM. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) results further confirmed that POLE2 was abnormally elevated in GBM. In addition, loss-of-function assays revealed that POLE2 knockdown could inhibit the malignant behaviors of GBM, especially reduce cell viability, weaken cell clone formation, enhance the sensitivity of apoptosis, restrain migration and inhibit epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in vitro. In vivo experiments further clarified the suppressive effects of reduced POLE2 expression on tumors. Mechanically, POLE2 knockdown promoted the ubiquitination as well as reduced the stability of Forkhead transcription factor (FOXM1), which is a known tumor promotor in GBM, through Aurora kinase A (AURKA). Moreover, the knockdown of FOXM1 could weaken the promoting effects of POLE2 on malignant behaviors of GBM. In conclusion, our study revealed crucial roles and a novel mechanism of POLE2 involved in GBM through AURKA-mediated stability of FOXM1 and may provide the theoretical basis of molecular therapy for GBM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, No.1 Jianshe East Road, Zhengzhou City, Henan Province, China
| | - Xu Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No. 1095 Jiefang Ave, Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China.
| | - LingYun Zhang
- Department of Thyroid and Parathyroid Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37 Guoxue Alley, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Dan Cao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No. 1095 Jiefang Ave, Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China
| | - Yong Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No. 1095 Jiefang Ave, Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China
| | - ZhengQian Guo
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No. 1095 Jiefang Ave, Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China
| | - Jian Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No. 1095 Jiefang Ave, Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China
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12
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Bermúdez-Guzmán L. Pan-cancer analysis of non-oncogene addiction to DNA repair. Sci Rep 2021; 11:23264. [PMID: 34853396 PMCID: PMC8636604 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-02773-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer cells usually depend on the aberrant function of one or few driver genes to initiate and promote their malignancy, an attribute known as oncogene addiction. However, cancer cells might become dependent on the normal cellular functions of certain genes that are not oncogenes but ensure cell survival (non-oncogene addiction). The downregulation or silencing of DNA repair genes and the consequent genetic and epigenetic instability is key to promote malignancy, but the activation of the DNA-damage response (DDR) has been shown to become a type of non-oncogene addiction that critically supports tumour survival. In the present study, a systematic evaluation of DNA repair addiction at the pan-cancer level was performed using data derived from The Cancer Dependency Map and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). From 241 DDR genes, 59 were identified as commonly essential in cancer cell lines. However, large differences were observed in terms of dependency scores in 423 cell lines and transcriptomic alterations across 18 cancer types. Among these 59 commonly essential genes, 14 genes were exclusively associated with better overall patient survival and 19 with worse overall survival. Notably, a specific molecular signature among the latter, characterized by DDR genes like UBE2T, RFC4, POLQ, BRIP1, and H2AFX showing the weakest dependency scores, but significant upregulation was strongly associated with worse survival. The present study supports the existence and importance of non-oncogenic addiction to DNA repair in cancer and may facilitate the identification of prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic opportunities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Bermúdez-Guzmán
- Robotic Radiosurgery Center, International Cancer Center, San José, Costa Rica. .,Section of Genetics and Biotechnology, School of Biology, University of Costa Rica, San Pedro, San José, Costa Rica.
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13
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Zhang C, Shen Y, Gao L, Wang X, Huang D, Xie X, Xu D, He H. Targeting POLE2 Creates a Novel Vulnerability in Renal Cell Carcinoma via Modulating Stanniocalcin 1. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:622344. [PMID: 33644060 PMCID: PMC7905105 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.622344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective The aim of this study is to investigate the biological functions and the underlying mechanisms of DNA polymerase epsilon subunit 2 (POLE2) in renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Methods The datasets of POLE2 expression in The Cancer Genome Atlas Kidney Clear Cell Carcinoma (TCGA-KIRC) and International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) databases was selected and the correlation between POLE2 and various clinicopathological parameters was analyzed. The POLE2 expression in RCC tissues was examined by immunohistochemistry. The POLE2 knockdown cell lines were constructed. In vitro and in vivo experiments were carried out to investigate the function of POLE2 on cellular biology of RCC, including cell viability assay, clone formation assay, flow cytometry, wound-healing assay, Transwell assay, qRT-PCR, Western blot, etc. Besides, microarray, co-immunoprecipitation, rescue experiment, and Western blot were used to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the functions of POLE2. Results POLE2 was overexpressed in RCC tissues, and high expression of POLE2 was correlated with poor prognosis of RCC. Furthermore, knockdown of POLE2 significantly inhibited cell proliferation, migration, and facilitated apoptosis in vitro. In vivo experiments revealed that POLE2 attenuated RCC tumorigenesis and tumor growth. we also illuminated that stanniocalcin 1 (STC1) was a downstream gene of POLE2, which promoted the occurrence and development of RCC. Besides, knockdown of POLE2 significantly upregulated the expression levels of Bad and p21 while the expression levels of HSP70, IGF-I, IGF-II, survivin, and sTNF-R1 were significantly downregulated. Western blot analysis also showed that knockdown of POLE2 inhibited the expression levels of Cancer-related pathway proteins including p-Akt, CCND1, MAPK9, and PIK3CA. Conclusion Knockdown of POLE2 attenuates RCC cells proliferation and migration by regulating STC1, suggesting that POLE2-STC1 may become a potential target for RCC therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuanjie Zhang
- Department of Urology, Shanghai Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yan Shen
- Research Center for Experimental Medicine, Shanghai Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Lili Gao
- Department of Pathology, Shanghai Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaojing Wang
- Department of Urology, Shanghai Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Da Huang
- Department of Urology, Shanghai Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xin Xie
- Department of Urology, Shanghai Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Danfeng Xu
- Department of Urology, Shanghai Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Hongchao He
- Department of Urology, Shanghai Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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14
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Chen F, Zhang Y, Creighton CJ. Systematic identification of non-coding somatic single nucleotide variants associated with altered transcription and DNA methylation in adult and pediatric cancers. NAR Cancer 2021; 3:zcab001. [PMID: 33554123 PMCID: PMC7849833 DOI: 10.1093/narcan/zcab001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2020] [Revised: 12/09/2020] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Whole-genome sequencing combined with transcriptomics can reveal impactful non-coding single nucleotide variants (SNVs) in cancer. Here, we developed an integrative analytical approach that, as a first step, identifies genes altered in expression or DNA methylation in association with nearby somatic SNVs, in contrast to alternative approaches that first identify mutational hotspots. Using genomic datasets from the Pan-Cancer Analysis of Whole Genomes (PCAWG) consortium and the Children's Brain Tumor Tissue Consortium (CBTTC), we identified hundreds of genes and associated CpG islands for which the nearby presence of a non-coding somatic SNV recurrently associated with altered expression or DNA methylation, respectively. Genomic regions upstream or downstream of genes, gene introns and gene untranslated regions were all involved. The PCAWG adult cancer cohort yielded different significant SNV-expression associations from the CBTTC pediatric brain tumor cohort. The SNV-expression associations involved a wide range of cancer types and histologies, as well as potential gain or loss of transcription factor binding sites. Notable genes with SNV-associated increased expression include TERT, COPS3, POLE2 and HDAC2—involving multiple cancer types—MYC, BCL2, PIM1 and IGLL5—involving lymphomas—and CYHR1—involving pediatric low-grade gliomas. Non-coding somatic SNVs show a major role in shaping the cancer transcriptome, not limited to mutational hotspots.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengju Chen
- Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Yiqun Zhang
- Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Chad J Creighton
- Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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15
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Zhu Y, Chen G, Song Y, Chen Z, Chen X. POLE2 knockdown reduce tumorigenesis in esophageal squamous cells. Cancer Cell Int 2020; 20:388. [PMID: 32831648 PMCID: PMC7422519 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-020-01477-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Accepted: 08/01/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the most frequent malignant tumors originated from digestive system around the world and the treatment was limited by the unclear mechanism. DNA polymerase epsilon 2, accessory subunit (POLE2) is involved in DNA replication, repair, and cell cycle control, whose association with ESCC is still not clear. Methods In this study, the expression level of POLE2 in ESCC tissues was detected by IHC. The POLE2 knockdown cell line was constructed, identified by qPCR and western blot and used for detecting cellular functions and constructing xenotransplantation mice model. MTT Assay, colony formation assay, flow cytometry, wound-healing assay and Transwell assay were used to detected cell proliferation, apoptosis and migration. Results We firstly identified that the expression of POLE2 was overexpressed in ESCC. Moreover, the high expression of POLE2 can predict the tumor deterioration and poor prognosis of ESCC patients. Additionally, downregulation of POLE2 was involved in ESCC progression by promoting proliferation, migration, and inhibiting apoptosis in vitro. In vivo studies proved that POLE2 was positively correlated with ESCC tumor formation, which was consistent with the results in vitro. We also illuminated that POLE2 knockdown upregulated pro-apoptotic proteins (Bax, Caspase3, CD40L, FasL, IGFBP-5 and P21) and downregulated anti-apoptotic proteins (CLAP-2, IGF-I and sTNF-R2). In addition, POLE2 was involved in ESCC via targeting PI3K/Akt, Cyclin D1 signaling pathway. Conclusions Therefore, POLE2 was proved to be involved in the development of ESCC, which may be a potential therapeutic target and bring new breakthroughs in the treatment of ESCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongjun Zhu
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, No. 12, Mid, Wulumuqi Rd, Shanghai, China
| | - Gang Chen
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, No. 12, Mid, Wulumuqi Rd, Shanghai, China
| | - Yang Song
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, No. 12, Mid, Wulumuqi Rd, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhiming Chen
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, No. 12, Mid, Wulumuqi Rd, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaofeng Chen
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, No. 12, Mid, Wulumuqi Rd, Shanghai, China
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16
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Wu Z, Wang YM, Dai Y, Chen LA. POLE2 Serves as a Prognostic Biomarker and Is Associated with Immune Infiltration in Squamous Cell Lung Cancer. Med Sci Monit 2020; 26:e921430. [PMID: 32304567 PMCID: PMC7191965 DOI: 10.12659/msm.921430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Squamous cell lung cancer is the main cause of cancer-associated mortality. The discovery of promising prognostic biomarkers for predicting the survival of patients with squamous cell lung cancer remains a challenge. Material/Methods Gene expression profiles of GSE33479 and GSE51855, including 42 squamous cell lung cancer tissues and 17 normal tissues, from the GEO database were assessed to find common differentially expressed genes (DEGs) via the GEO2R online tool and Venn diagram software. Then, gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Gene and Genome (KEGG) pathway analyses were conducted. The key protein-protein interaction (PPI) network within those common DEGs was subsequently illustrated through a combination of Search Tool for Retrieval of Interacting Genes (STRING) and Cytoscape software. Finally, core genes associated with survival and levels of immune infiltration were demonstrated by the Kaplan-Meier plotter and Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER) online database, respectively. Results In total, 483 DEGs were involved, including 216 upregulated genes enriched in “cell division”, “DNA replication”, and “DNA repair pathway” and 267 downregulated genes enriched in “cell adhesion”, “oxidation-reduction process”, and “cell-cell signaling”. The 75 core genes were selected by Molecular Complex Detection applied in Cytoscape. Four genes – MND1, FOXM1, CDC6, and POLE2 – were found to be significantly associated with survival. Further analysis of the KEEG pathway and TIMER database revealed that only POLE2 was enriched in “DNA replication” and its higher expression was negatively associated with survival and immune infiltration. Conclusions Higher expression of POLE2 is a prognosis-related biomarker for worse survival and is negatively associated with immune infiltration in squamous cell lung cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Wu
- Respiratory Department, Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) General Hospital, Beijing, China (mainland)
| | - Yue-Ming Wang
- School of Medicine, Nankai University, Beijing, China (mainland)
| | - Yu Dai
- Respiratory Department, Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) General Hospital, Beijing, China (mainland)
| | - Liang-An Chen
- Respiratory Department, Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) General Hospital, Beijing, China (mainland).,School of Medicine, Nankai University, Beijing, China (mainland)
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17
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Liu E, Zhang ZZ, Cheng X, Liu X, Cheng L. SCNrank: spectral clustering for network-based ranking to reveal potential drug targets and its application in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. BMC Med Genomics 2020; 13:50. [PMID: 32241274 PMCID: PMC7119297 DOI: 10.1186/s12920-020-0681-6] [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] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the most common pancreatic malignancy. Due to its wide heterogeneity, PDAC acts aggressively and responds poorly to most chemotherapies, causing an urgent need for the development of new therapeutic strategies. Cell lines have been used as the foundation for drug development and disease modeling. CRISPR-Cas9 plays a key role in every step-in drug discovery: from target identification and validation to preclinical cancer cell testing. Using cell-line models and CRISPR-Cas9 technology together make drug target prediction feasible. However, there is still a large gap between predicted results and actionable targets in real tumors. Biological network models provide great modus to mimic genetic interactions in real biological systems, which can benefit gene perturbation studies and potential target identification for treating PDAC. Nevertheless, building a network model that takes cell-line data and CRISPR-Cas9 data as input to accurately predict potential targets that will respond well on real tissue remains unsolved. Methods We developed a novel algorithm ‘Spectral Clustering for Network-based target Ranking’ (SCNrank) that systematically integrates three types of data: expression profiles from tumor tissue, normal tissue and cell-line PDAC; protein-protein interaction network (PPI); and CRISPR-Cas9 data to prioritize potential drug targets for PDAC. The whole algorithm can be classified into three steps: 1. using STRING PPI network skeleton, SCNrank constructs tissue-specific networks with PDAC tumor and normal pancreas tissues from expression profiles; 2. With the same network skeleton, SCNrank constructs cell-line-specific networks using the cell-line PDAC expression profiles and CRISPR-Cas 9 data from pancreatic cancer cell-lines; 3. SCNrank applies a novel spectral clustering approach to reduce data dimension and generate gene clusters that carry common features from both networks. Finally, SCNrank applies a scoring scheme called ‘Target Influence score’ (TI), which estimates a given target’s influence towards the cluster it belongs to, for scoring and ranking each drug target. Results We applied SCNrank to analyze 263 expression profiles, CRPSPR-Cas9 data from 22 different pancreatic cancer cell-lines and the STRING protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. With SCNrank, we successfully constructed an integrated tissue PDAC network and an integrated cell-line PDAC network, both of which contain 4414 selected genes that are overexpressed in tumor tissue samples. After clustering, 4414 genes are distributed into 198 clusters, which include 367 targets of FDA approved drugs. These drug targets are all scored and ranked by their TI scores, which we defined to measure their influence towards the network. We validated top-ranked targets in three aspects: Firstly, mapping them onto the existing clinical drug targets of PDAC to measure the concordance. Secondly, we performed enrichment analysis to these drug targets and the clusters there are within, to reveal functional associations between clusters and PDAC; Thirdly, we performed survival analysis for the top-ranked targets to connect targets with clinical outcomes. Survival analysis reveals that overexpression of three top-ranked genes, PGK1, HMMR and POLE2, significantly increases the risk of death in PDAC patients. Conclusion SCNrank is an unbiased algorithm that systematically integrates multiple types of omics data to do potential drug target selection and ranking. SCNrank shows great capability in predicting drug targets for PDAC. Pancreatic cancer-associated gene candidates predicted by our SCNrank approach have the potential to guide genetics-based anti-pancreatic drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enze Liu
- Department of BioHealth Informatics, School of Informatics and Computing, Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Zhuang Zhuang Zhang
- Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA
| | - Xiaolin Cheng
- College of Pharmacy, Division of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, the Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Xiaoqi Liu
- Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA.
| | - Lijun Cheng
- Department of Biomedical informatics, College of medicine, the Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA.
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Hanlon K, Thompson A, Pantano L, Hutchinson JN, Al-Obeidi A, Wang S, Bliss-Moreau M, Helble J, Alexe G, Stegmaier K, Bauer DE, Croker BA. Single-cell cloning of human T-cell lines reveals clonal variation in cell death responses to chemotherapeutics. Cancer Genet 2019; 237:69-77. [PMID: 31447068 DOI: 10.1016/j.cancergen.2019.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2019] [Revised: 04/18/2019] [Accepted: 06/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Genetic modification of human leukemic cell lines using CRISPR-Cas9 has become a staple of gene-function studies. Single-cell cloning of modified cells is frequently used to facilitate studies of gene function. Inherent in this approach is an assumption that the genetic drift, amplified in some cell lines by mutations in DNA replication and repair machinery, as well as non-genetic factors will not introduce significant levels of experimental cellular heterogeneity in clones derived from parental populations. In this study, we characterize the variation in cell death of fifty clonal cell lines generated from human Jurkat and MOLT-4 T-cells edited by CRISPR-Cas9. We demonstrate a wide distribution of sensitivity to chemotherapeutics between non-edited clonal human leukemia T-cell lines, and also following CRISPR-Cas9 editing at the NLRP1 locus, or following transfection with non-targeting sgRNA controls. The cell death sensitivity profile of clonal cell lines was consistent across experiments and failed to revert to the non-clonal parental phenotype. Whole genome sequencing of two clonal cell lines edited by CRISPR-Cas9 revealed unique and shared genetic variants, which had minimal read support in the non-clonal parental population and were not suspected CRISPR-Cas9 off-target effects. These variants included genes related to cell death and drug metabolism. The variation in cell death phenotype of clonal populations of human T-cell lines may be a consequence of T-cell line genetic instability, and to a lesser extent clonal heterogeneity in the parental population or CRISPR-Cas9 off-target effects not predicted by current models. This work highlights the importance of genetic variation between clonal T-cell lines in the design, conduct, and analysis of experiments to investigate gene function after single-cell cloning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen Hanlon
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, United States
| | - Alex Thompson
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, United States
| | - Lorena Pantano
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States
| | - John N Hutchinson
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Arshed Al-Obeidi
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, United States
| | - Shu Wang
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, United States
| | - Meghan Bliss-Moreau
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, United States
| | - Jennifer Helble
- Department of Microbiology and Immunobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Gabriela Alexe
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Kimberly Stegmaier
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Daniel E Bauer
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, United States; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Ben A Croker
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, United States; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States.
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Alshabi AM, Shaikh IA, Vastrad C. Exploring the Molecular Mechanism of the Drug-Treated Breast Cancer Based on Gene Expression Microarray. Biomolecules 2019; 9:biom9070282. [PMID: 31311202 PMCID: PMC6681318 DOI: 10.3390/biom9070282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2019] [Revised: 06/24/2019] [Accepted: 07/09/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
: Breast cancer (BRCA) remains the leading cause of cancer morbidity and mortality worldwide. In the present study, we identified novel biomarkers expressed during estradiol and tamoxifen treatment of BRCA. The microarray dataset of E-MTAB-4975 from Array Express database was downloaded, and the differential expressed genes (DEGs) between estradiol-treated BRCA sample and tamoxifen-treated BRCA sample were identified by limma package. The pathway and gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis, construction of protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, module analysis, construction of target genes-miRNA interaction network and target genes-transcription factor (TF) interaction network were performed using bioinformatics tools. The expression, prognostic values, and mutation of hub genes were validated by SurvExpress database, cBioPortal, and human protein atlas (HPA) database. A total of 856 genes (421 up-regulated genes and 435 down-regulated genes) were identified in T47D (overexpressing Split Ends (SPEN) + estradiol) samples compared to T47D (overexpressing Split Ends (SPEN) + tamoxifen) samples. Pathway and GO enrichment analysis revealed that the DEGs were mainly enriched in response to lysine degradation II (pipecolate pathway), cholesterol biosynthesis pathway, cell cycle pathway, and response to cytokine pathway. DEGs (MCM2, TCF4, OLR1, HSPA5, MAP1LC3B, SQSTM1, NEU1, HIST1H1B, RAD51, RFC3, MCM10, ISG15, TNFRSF10B, GBP2, IGFBP5, SOD2, DHF and MT1H) , which were significantly up- and down-regulated in estradiol and tamoxifen-treated BRCA samples, were selected as hub genes according to the results of protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, module analysis, target genes-miRNA interaction network and target genes-TF interaction network analysis. The SurvExpress database, cBioPortal, and Human Protein Atlas (HPA) database further confirmed that patients with higher expression levels of these hub genes experienced a shorter overall survival. A comprehensive bioinformatics analysis was performed, and potential therapeutic applications of estradiol and tamoxifen were predicted in BRCA samples. The data may unravel the future molecular mechanisms of BRCA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Mohamed Alshabi
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Najran University, Najran, 66237, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ibrahim Ahmed Shaikh
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Najran University, Najran, 66237, Saudi Arabia
| | - Chanabasayya Vastrad
- Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, ChanabasavaNilaya, Bharthinagar, Dharwad 580001, Karnataka, India.
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Li J, Feng D, Gao C, Zhang Y, Xu J, Wu M, Zhan X. Isoforms S and L of MRPL33 from alternative splicing have isoform‑specific roles in the chemoresponse to epirubicin in gastric cancer cells via the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Int J Oncol 2019; 54:1591-1600. [PMID: 30816492 PMCID: PMC6438423 DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2019.4728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2018] [Accepted: 02/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Drug resistance is a major cause of cancer-associated mortality. Epirubicin-based chemotherapy initially benefits patients with metastatic or advanced gastric cancer; however, tumor recurrence can occur following several courses of treatment. Mitochondrial ribosomal protein L33 (MRPL33)-long (L) and MRPL33-short (S), isoforms of MRPL33 that arise from AS, have been reported to regulate cell growth and apoptosis in cancer; however, few studies have evaluated the roles of MRPL33-L and MRPL33-S in gastric cancer. In the present study, MRPL33-L was demonstrated to be significantly more abundant in gastric tumor tissues than the MRPL33-S isoform. MRPL33-S promoted chemosensitivity to epirubicin in gastric cancer as demonstrated by a chemoresponse assay; chemosensitivity was suppressed in response to MRPL33-L. Gene microarray analysis was performed to investigate the underlying mechanisms. Bioinformatic analysis revealed that overexpression of MRPL33-L and MRPL33-S served critical roles in transcription, signal transduction and apoptosis. In particular, the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT serine/threonine kinase (AKT) signaling pathway was markedly regulated. A total of 36 target genes, including PIK3 regulatory subunit α, AKT2, cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) 1, forkhead box 3, glycogen synthase kinase 3β and mammalian target of rapamycin, which are involved in the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, were selected for further investigation via protein-protein interaction network and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analyses. Furthermore, western blot analysis indicated that MRPL33-S promoted the chemoresponse to epirubicin by deactivating PI3K/AKT/CREB signaling and inducing apoptosis, while MRPL33-L had the opposite effects. In conclusion, the results of the present study revealed that isoforms S and L of MRPL33, which arise from alternative splicing, exhibited opposing roles in the chemoresponse to epirubicin in gastric cancer via the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. These findings may contribute to the development of potential therapeutic strategies for the resensitization of patients with gastric cancer to epirubicin treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Li
- Department of Oncology, The Changhai Hospital, Shanghai 200433, P.R. China
| | - Dan Feng
- Department of Oncology, The Changhai Hospital, Shanghai 200433, P.R. China
| | - Cuixia Gao
- Department of Research and Development, The Shanghai Polaris Biology Technology, Shanghai 201203, P.R. China
| | - Yingyi Zhang
- Department of Oncology, The Changhai Hospital, Shanghai 200433, P.R. China
| | - Jing Xu
- Department of Oncology, The Changhai Hospital, Shanghai 200433, P.R. China
| | - Meihong Wu
- Department of Oncology, The Changhai Hospital, Shanghai 200433, P.R. China
| | - Xianbao Zhan
- Department of Oncology, The Changhai Hospital, Shanghai 200433, P.R. China
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