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Wang X, Xue X, Pang M, Yu L, Qian J, Li X, Tian M, Lyu A, Lu C, Liu Y. Epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity in cancer: signaling pathways and therapeutic targets. MedComm (Beijing) 2024; 5:e659. [PMID: 39092293 PMCID: PMC11292400 DOI: 10.1002/mco2.659] [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: 01/27/2024] [Revised: 06/24/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Currently, cancer is still a leading cause of human death globally. Tumor deterioration comprises multiple events including metastasis, therapeutic resistance and immune evasion, all of which are tightly related to the phenotypic plasticity especially epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity (EMP). Tumor cells with EMP are manifest in three states as epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), partial EMT, and mesenchymal-epithelial transition, which orchestrate the phenotypic switch and heterogeneity of tumor cells via transcriptional regulation and a series of signaling pathways, including transforming growth factor-β, Wnt/β-catenin, and Notch. However, due to the complicated nature of EMP, the diverse process of EMP is still not fully understood. In this review, we systematically conclude the biological background, regulating mechanisms of EMP as well as the role of EMP in therapy response. We also summarize a range of small molecule inhibitors, immune-related therapeutic approaches, and combination therapies that have been developed to target EMP for the outstanding role of EMP-driven tumor deterioration. Additionally, we explore the potential technique for EMP-based tumor mechanistic investigation and therapeutic research, which may burst vigorous prospects. Overall, we elucidate the multifaceted aspects of EMP in tumor progression and suggest a promising direction of cancer treatment based on targeting EMP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangpeng Wang
- School of Materia MedicaBeijing University of Chinese MedicineBeijingChina
| | - Xiaoxia Xue
- School of Materia MedicaBeijing University of Chinese MedicineBeijingChina
| | - Mingshi Pang
- School of Materia MedicaBeijing University of Chinese MedicineBeijingChina
| | - Liuchunyang Yu
- School of Materia MedicaBeijing University of Chinese MedicineBeijingChina
| | - Jinxiu Qian
- School of Materia MedicaBeijing University of Chinese MedicineBeijingChina
| | - Xiaoyu Li
- School of Materia MedicaBeijing University of Chinese MedicineBeijingChina
| | - Meng Tian
- School of Materia MedicaBeijing University of Chinese MedicineBeijingChina
| | - Aiping Lyu
- School of Chinese MedicineHong Kong Baptist UniversityKowloonHong KongChina
| | - Cheng Lu
- Institute of Basic Research in Clinical MedicineChina Academy of Chinese Medical SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Yuanyan Liu
- School of Materia MedicaBeijing University of Chinese MedicineBeijingChina
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Yang S, Zou R, Dai Y, Hu Y, Li F, Hu H. Tumor immune microenvironment and the current immunotherapy of cholangiocarcinoma (Review). Int J Oncol 2023; 63:137. [PMID: 37888583 PMCID: PMC10631767 DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2023.5585] [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: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a highly heterogeneous malignancy originating from the epithelial system of the bile ducts, and its incidence in recent years is steadily increasing. The immune microenvironment of CCA is characterized by diversity and complexity, with a substantial presence of cancer‑associated fibroblasts and immune cell infiltration, which plays a key role in regulating the distinctive biological behavior of cholangiocarcinoma, including tumor growth, angiogenesis, lymphangiogenesis, invasion and metastasis. Despite the notable success of immunotherapy in the treatment of solid tumors in recent years, patients with CCA have responded poorly to immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy. The interaction of tumor cells with cellular components of the immune microenvironment can regulate the activity and function of immune cells and form an immunosuppressive microenvironment, which may cause ineffective immunotherapy. Therefore, the components of the tumor immune microenvironment appear to be novel targets for immune therapies. Combination therapy focusing on immune checkpoint inhibitors is a promising and valuable first‑line or translational treatment approach for intractable biliary tract malignancies. The present review discusses the compositional characteristics and regulatory factors of the CCA immune microenvironment and the possible immune escape mechanisms. In addition, a summary of the advances in immunotherapy for CCA is also provided. It is hoped that the present review may function as a valuable reference for the development of novel immunotherapeutic strategies for CCA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siqi Yang
- Division of Biliary Tract Surgery, Department of General Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, P.R. China
| | - Ruiqi Zou
- Division of Biliary Tract Surgery, Department of General Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, P.R. China
| | - Yushi Dai
- Division of Biliary Tract Surgery, Department of General Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, P.R. China
| | - Yafei Hu
- Division of Biliary Tract Surgery, Department of General Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, P.R. China
| | - Fuyu Li
- Division of Biliary Tract Surgery, Department of General Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, P.R. China
| | - Haijie Hu
- Division of Biliary Tract Surgery, Department of General Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, P.R. China
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The Elevated Circ_0067835 Could Accelerate Cell Proliferation and Metastasis via miR-1236-3p/Twist2 Axis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 2022:2825172. [PMID: 36262967 PMCID: PMC9576392 DOI: 10.1155/2022/2825172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2022] [Revised: 04/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a malignant cancer with leading mortality worldwide. Circ_0067835 is a circRNA which plays an important role in various kinds of tumor, while the potential functions of circ_0067835 in HCC remains unclear. In this study, our results of microarray and real-time PCR (RT-PCR) showed that it was obviously elevated in human HCC tumor tissues and HCC cell lines. Inhibition of circ_0067835 restrained cell proliferation and migration in vitro. Furthermore, miR-1236-3p was decreased in tumor samples, and it was indicated to be a target of circ_0067835. Moreover, Twist2 was established to be elevated in HCC tissues, and we identified it as the direct target of miR-1236-3p. Finally, we found that knockdown of miR-1236-3p could reverse the circ_0067835 inhibition effects in HCC cells. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that circ_0067835 contributed to promoting hepatocellular carcinoma cell proliferation and metastasis through downregulating miR-1236-3p expression and then elevating Twist2 expression, which might provide a new vision for HCC patients.
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Barillari G, Bei R, Manzari V, Modesti A. Infection by High-Risk Human Papillomaviruses, Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition and Squamous Pre-Malignant or Malignant Lesions of the Uterine Cervix: A Series of Chained Events? Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:13543. [PMID: 34948338 PMCID: PMC8703928 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222413543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Revised: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Wound healing requires static epithelial cells to gradually assume a mobile phenotype through a multi-step process termed epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Although it is inherently transient and reversible, EMT perdures and is abnormally activated when the epithelium is chronically exposed to pathogens: this event deeply alters the tissue and eventually contributes to the development of diseases. Among the many of them is uterine cervical squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), the most frequent malignancy of the female genital system. SCC, whose onset is associated with the persistent infection of the uterine cervix by high-risk human papillomaviruses (HR-HPVs), often relapses and/or metastasizes, being resistant to conventional chemo- or radiotherapy. Given that these fearsome clinical features may stem, at least in part, from the exacerbated and long-lasting EMT occurring in the HPV-infected cervix; here we have reviewed published studies concerning the impact that HPV oncoproteins, cellular tumor suppressors, regulators of gene expression, inflammatory cytokines or growth factors, and the interactions among these effectors have on EMT induction and cervical carcinogenesis. It is predictable and desirable that a broader comprehension of the role that EMT inducers play in SCC pathogenesis will provide indications to flourish new strategies directed against this aggressive tumor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Barillari
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 1 via Montellier, 00133 Rome, Italy; (R.B.); (V.M.); (A.M.)
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Xiao Y, Peng C, Xiao Y, Liang D, Yuan Z, Li Z, Shi M, Wang Y, Zhang F, Guo B. Oxymatrine Inhibits Twist-Mediated Renal Tubulointerstitial Fibrosis by Upregulating Id2 Expression. Front Physiol 2020; 11:599. [PMID: 32636757 PMCID: PMC7317027 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2020.00599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2020] [Accepted: 05/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The final pathway for the development of diabetic nephropathy (DN) into chronic renal failure in DN is glomerulosclerosis and tubulointerstitial fibrosis. Renal tubular lesions can occur in the early stage of DN renal injury. Cumulative evidence shows that oxymatrine (OMT) has a variety of biological and pharmacological properties. In recent years, more attention has been paid on the preventive and therapeutic influence of OMT on organ fibrosis. In this experiment, db/db mice were intraperitoneally injected with OMT 120 mg/kg for 8 weeks, and NRK-52E cultured with 30 mmol/L glucose and 0.1 mg/mL OMT for 48-hour. We investigated the relationship between Id2 and Twist in NRK-52E cells and the effect of OMT on the expression of E-cadherin, α-SMA, Fibronectin, and Collagen-IV by Western blot, Real-time PCR, Immunofluorescence, cell transfection, Co-Immunoprecipitation, and Luciferase assays. OMT increased the expression of Id2 but decreased that of Twist under high glucose condition in vitro and in vivo. The promoted recovery of Id2 facilitated its binding to Twist and affected E-cadherin activity inhibiting EMT and the excessive proliferation and abnormal deposition of ECM. In brief, OMT promotes Id2 to reverse EMT and exert anti-fibrotic effect in diabetic renal tubular epithelial cells by binding Id2 to Twist and affecting its transcriptional activation of downstream target genes. Or findings provide a new experimental basis for delaying the progress and for treatment of diabetic renal fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Xiao
- Department of Pathophysiology, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China.,Guizhou Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis & Drug Research on Common Chronic Diseases, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Can Peng
- Department of Pathophysiology, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China.,Guizhou Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis & Drug Research on Common Chronic Diseases, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Yawen Xiao
- Department of Pathophysiology, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China.,Guizhou Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis & Drug Research on Common Chronic Diseases, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Dan Liang
- Department of Pathophysiology, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China.,Guizhou Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis & Drug Research on Common Chronic Diseases, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Zhiping Yuan
- School Hospital, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Zhiyang Li
- Department of Pathophysiology, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China.,Guizhou Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis & Drug Research on Common Chronic Diseases, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Mingjun Shi
- Department of Pathophysiology, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China.,Guizhou Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis & Drug Research on Common Chronic Diseases, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Yuanyuan Wang
- Department of Pathophysiology, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China.,Guizhou Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis & Drug Research on Common Chronic Diseases, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Fan Zhang
- Department of Pathophysiology, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China.,Guizhou Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis & Drug Research on Common Chronic Diseases, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Bing Guo
- Department of Pathophysiology, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China.,Guizhou Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis & Drug Research on Common Chronic Diseases, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China.,State Key Laboratory of Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
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García P, Bizama C, Rosa L, Espinoza JA, Weber H, Cerda-Infante J, Sánchez M, Montecinos VP, Lorenzo-Bermejo J, Boekstegers F, Dávila-López M, Alfaro F, Leiva-Acevedo C, Parra Z, Romero D, Kato S, Leal P, Lagos M, Roa JC. Functional and genomic characterization of three novel cell lines derived from a metastatic gallbladder cancer tumor. Biol Res 2020; 53:13. [PMID: 32293552 PMCID: PMC7158131 DOI: 10.1186/s40659-020-00282-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2019] [Accepted: 04/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is the most common tumor of the biliary tract. The incidence of GBC shows a large geographic variability, being particularly frequent in Native American populations. In Chile, GBC represents the second cause of cancer-related death among women. We describe here the establishment of three novel cell lines derived from the ascitic fluid of a Chilean GBC patient, who presented 46% European, 36% Mapuche, 12% Aymara and 6% African ancestry. Results After immunocytochemical staining of the primary cell culture, we isolated and comprehensively characterized three independent clones (PUC-GBC1, PUC-GBC2 and PUC-GBC3) by short tandem repeat DNA profiling and RNA sequencing as well as karyotype, doubling time, chemosensitivity, in vitro migration capability and in vivo tumorigenicity assay. Primary culture cells showed high expression of CK7, CK19, CA 19-9, MUC1 and MUC16, and negative expression of mesothelial markers. The three isolated clones displayed an epithelial phenotype and an abnormal structure and number of chromosomes. RNA sequencing confirmed the increased expression of cytokeratin and mucin genes, and also of TP53 and ERBB2 with some differences among the three cells lines, and revealed a novel exonic mutation in NF1. The PUC-GBC3 clone was the most aggressive according to histopathological features and the tumorigenic capacity in NSG mice. Conclusions The first cell lines established from a Chilean GBC patient represent a new model for studying GBC in patients of Native American descent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia García
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Carolina Bizama
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Lorena Rosa
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.,Applied Molecular and Cellular Biology PhD Program, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile
| | - Jaime A Espinoza
- Science for Life Laboratory, Division of Genome Biology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Helga Weber
- Center of Excellence in Translational Medicine (CEMT) and Scientific and Technological Bioresource Nucleus (BIOREN), Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile
| | - Javier Cerda-Infante
- Department of Hematology Oncology; Cellular and Molecular Biology, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Marianela Sánchez
- Department of Hematology Oncology, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Viviana P Montecinos
- Department of Hematology Oncology, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Justo Lorenzo-Bermejo
- Statistical Genetics Research Group, Institute of Medical Biometry and Informatics, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Felix Boekstegers
- Statistical Genetics Research Group, Institute of Medical Biometry and Informatics, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Marcela Dávila-López
- Bioinformatics Core Facility, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Francisca Alfaro
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Claudia Leiva-Acevedo
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Zasha Parra
- Cytogenetics Laboratory, Complejo Asistencial Dr. Sótero del Río, Santiago, Chile
| | - Diego Romero
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Sumie Kato
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Pamela Leal
- Center of Excellence in Translational Medicine (CEMT) and Scientific and Technological Bioresource Nucleus (BIOREN), Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile
| | - Marcela Lagos
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Juan Carlos Roa
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Millennium Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
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