Epidermal growth factor-like domain multiple 7 (EGFL7): Expression and possible effect on biliary epithelium growth in cholangiocarcinoma

Relation among EGFL7, ITGB3, and KLF2 and their clinical implication in multiple myeloma patients: a prospective study

Objective

We aimed to investigate the relationship among epidermal growth factor–like protein-7 (EGFL7), integrin subunit beta 3 (ITGB3), and Kruppel-like factor 2 (KLF2) expressions and their clinical implication in multiple myeloma (MM).

Methods

This prospective study enrolled 72 de novo symptomatic MM patients and 30 controls, and then collected their bone marrow plasma cell samples. Subsequently, the EGFL7, ITGB3, and KLF2 expressions were carried out by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction.

Results

EGFL7, ITGB3, and KLF2 expressions were increased in MM patients compared to controls. Besides, EGFL7, ITGB3, and KLF2 inter-correlated with each other in MM patients but not in controls. In MM patients, EGFL7 and ITGB3 (but not KLF2) expressions were positively correlated with ISS stage, while ITGB3 and KLF2 (but not EGFL7) expressions were correlated with increased R-ISS stage. Interestingly, ITGB3 and KLF2 were decreased in induction-treatment complete remission (CR) MM patients compared to non-CR MM patients, while EGFL7 only showed a trend but without statistical significance. Furthermore, ITGB3 high expression was correlated with worse progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS), while EGFL7 and KLF2 high expressions only associated with pejorative PFS but not OS.

Conclusion

EGFL7, ITGB3, and KLF2 may serve as potential prognostic indicators in MM patients.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11845-021-02781-2.

SRY-Box Transcription Factor 9 (SOX9) Affects the Proliferation, Invasion and Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) of Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma by Regulating Transforming Growth Factor β (TGFβ)/Smad Signaling

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) develops rapidly with a high malignancy. SOX9 expression is increased in several tumors. However, its expression and role in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma have not yet been elucidated. Real time PCR and Western blot were done to assess SOX9 expression in tumor tissues and adjacent tissues of ICC. ICC cell line QBC939 cells were separated into control group, SOX9 overexpression group and SOX9 siRNA group followed by analysis of cell survival by MTT assay, cell migration by cell scratch assay, cell invasion by transwell chamber, E-cadherin and Vimentin level by western blot, TGFβ/Smad signaling protein level by real time PCR. SOX9 level in tumor tissues was significantly increased compared to adjacent tissues (P < 0.05) and it was associated with TNM stage, tissue type and metastasis, and survival time (P < 0.05). Transfection of pcDNA3.1-SOX9 upregulated SOX9, promoted cell proliferation, migration and invasion, downregulated E-cadherin, upregulated Vimentin, TGF-β1 and Smad4 (P < 0.05). SOX9 siRNA transfection into QBC939 cells could significantly reverse the above mentioned changes (P < 0.05). SOX9 level is increased in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and targeting SOX9 can inhibit cell migration and invasion, and EMT via regulating TGFβ/Smad signaling.

Twenty years of histochemistry in the third millennium, browsing the scientific literature

Over the last twenty years, about 240,000 articles where histochemical techniques were used have been published in indexed journals, and their yearly number has progressively increased. The histochemical approach was selected by researchers with very different scientific interests, as the journals in which these articles were published fall within 140 subject categories. The relative proportion of articles in some of these journal categories did change over the years, and browsing the table of contents of the European Journal of Histochemistry, as an example of a strictly histochemical journal, it appeared that in recent years histochemical techniques were preferentially used to mechanistically investigate natural or experimentally induced dynamic processes, with reduced attention to purely descriptive works. It may be foreseen that, in the future, histochemistry will be increasingly focused on studying the molecular pathways responsible for cell differentiation, the maintenance or loss of the differentiated state, and tissue regeneration.

Different iron-handling in inflamed small and large cholangiocytes and in small and large-duct type intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) represents the second most common primary hepatic malignancy and originates from the neoplastic transformation of the biliary cells. The intrahepatic subtype includes two morpho-molecular forms: large-duct type intrahepatic CCA (iCCA) and small-duct type iCCA. Iron is fundamental for the cellular processes, contributing in tumor development and progression. The aim of this study was to evaluate iron uptake, storage, and efflux proteins in both lipopolysaccharide-inflamed small and large cholangiocytes as well as in different iCCA subtypes. Our results show that, despite an increase in interleukin-6 production by both small and large cholangiocytes, ferroportin (Fpn) was decreased only in small cholangiocytes, whereas transferrin receptor-1 (TfR1) and ferritin (Ftn) did not show any change. Differently from in vitro models, Fpn expression was increased in malignant cholangiocytes of small-duct type iCCA in comparison to large-duct type iCCA and peritumoral tissues. TfR1, Ftn and hepcidin were enhanced, even if at different extent, in both malignant cholangiocytes in comparison to the surrounding samples. Lactoferrin was higher in large-duct type iCCA in respect to small-duct type iCCA and peritumoral tissues. These findings show a different iron handling by inflamed small and large cholangiocytes, and small and large-duct type iCCA. The difference in iron homeostasis by the iCCA subtypes may have implications for the tumor management.

Lnc-LFAR1 affects intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma proliferation, invasion, and EMT by regulating the TGFβ/Smad signaling pathway

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) has had an increasing incidence in recent years. It exhibits high recurrence and metastasis rates, so it is a global health problem. LncRNAs have long been thought to have a role in regulating tumorigenesis and tumor progression and in playing a carcinogenic or tumor suppressor role in malignant cells. Lnc-LFAR1 is enriched in liver tissue, but its role and mechanism in ICC have not been elucidated. ICC cell line QBC939 cells were randomly divided into 3 groups, including a control group, an lnc-LFAR1 overexpression group, and an lnc-LFAR1 siRNA group, the cells of which were transfected with pcDNA3.1-LFAR1 plasmid and lnc-LFAR1 siRNA, respectively. Real-time PCR was used to quantify lnc-LFAR1 expression. A tetrazolium salt (MTT) colorimetric assay was adopted to assess cell viability. A cell scratch assay was selected to assess cell migration. A transwell chamber assay was used to test cell invasion. E-cadherin and vimentin expressions were detected using Western blot. The TGFβ/Smad signaling pathway was measured using real-time PCR. The transfection of pcDNA3.1-LFAR1 significantly increased the expression of lnc-LFAR1, promoted cell proliferation, facilitated cell migration and invasion, reduced E-cadherin levels, enhanced vimentin expression, upregulated TGF-β1 and Smad2 and Smad4 expressions (P < 0.05). Lnc-LFAR1 siRNA transfection clearly downregulated lnc-LFAR1 expression, inhibited cell proliferation, suppressed cell migration and invasion, increased E-cadherin expression, and decreased vimentin, TGF-β1, Smad2, and Smad4 levels (P < 0.05). Targeting lnc-LFAR1 can inhibit cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and EMT by regulating the TGFβ/Smad pathway to affect the occurrence and development of cholangiocarcinoma.

Role of the Angiogenic Factors in Cholangiocarcinoma

Angiogenesis plays a fundamental role in tumor growth and progression. It is regulated by several growth factors, including vascular endothelial growth factor protein family (VEGF) and its receptors, which are probably the most important factors responsible for the development of new vessels. The VEGF family includes several members: VEGF-A, VEGF-B, VEGF-C, VEGF-D, VEGF-E, placental growth factor (PlGF), and their receptors VEGFR-1, VEGFR-2 and VEGFR-3. Other relevant factors are represented by angiopoietins, thrombospondin-1, and endothelins. However, since the therapeutic benefit associated with VEGF-targeted therapy is really complex, a better understanding of these pathways will lead to future advances in the use of these agents for clinic management of tumors. Here we present a review regarding the role of angiogenic factors in cholangiocarcinoma, which arise from cholangiocytes, the epithelial cells of bile ducts. They are rare and aggressive neoplasms with a poor prognosis and limited treatment options, classified as intrahepatic, perihilar, and distal cholangiocarcinoma based on their anatomical location. Therefore, the identification of specific signaling pathways or new tumor biomarkers is crucial in order to develop more effective anti-angiogenic therapies.