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Yu YJ, Kołat D, Kałuzińska-Kołat Ż, Liang Z, Peng BQ, Zhu YF, Liu K, Mei JX, Yu G, Zhang WH, Chen XL, Yang K, Hu JK, Zhao LY. The AP-2 Family of Transcription Factors-Still Undervalued Regulators in Gastroenterological Disorders. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:9138. [PMID: 39273087 PMCID: PMC11394946 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25179138] [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: 06/23/2024] [Revised: 07/27/2024] [Accepted: 08/14/2024] [Indexed: 09/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Activating enhancer-binding protein 2 (AP-2) is a family of transcription factors (TFs) that play crucial roles in regulating embryonic and oncogenic development. In addition to splice isoforms, five major family members encoded by the TFAP2A/B/C/D/E genes have been identified in humans, i.e., AP-2α/β/γ/δ/ε. In general, the first three TFs have been studied more thoroughly than AP-2δ or AP-2ε. Currently, there is a relatively limited body of literature focusing on the AP-2 family in the context of gastroenterological research, and a comprehensive overview of the existing knowledge and recommendations for further research directions is lacking. Herein, we have collected available gastroenterological data on AP-2 TFs, discussed the latest medical applications of each family member, and proposed potential future directions. Research on AP-2 in gastrointestinal tumors has predominantly been focused on the two best-described family members, AP-2α and AP-2γ. Surprisingly, research in the past decade has highlighted the importance of AP-2ε in the drug resistance of gastric cancer (GC) and colorectal cancer (CRC). While numerous questions about gastroenterological disorders await elucidation, the available data undoubtedly open avenues for anti-cancer targeted therapy and overcoming chemotherapy resistance. In addition to gastrointestinal cancers, AP-2 family members (primarily AP-2β and marginally AP-2γ) have been associated with other health issues such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, liver dysfunction, and pseudo-obstruction. On the other hand, AP-2δ has been poorly investigated in gastroenterological disorders, necessitating further research to delineate its role. In conclusion, despite the limited attention given to AP-2 in gastroenterology research, pivotal functions of these transcription factors have started to emerge and warrant further exploration in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Jin Yu
- Department of General Surgery & Laboratory of Gastric Cancer, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy–Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China; (Y.-J.Y.)
- Gastric Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Damian Kołat
- Department of Functional Genomics, Medical University of Lodz, 90-752 Lodz, Lodzkie, Poland; (D.K.)
- Department of Biomedicine and Experimental Surgery, Medical University of Lodz, 90-136 Lodz, Lodzkie, Poland
| | - Żaneta Kałuzińska-Kołat
- Department of Functional Genomics, Medical University of Lodz, 90-752 Lodz, Lodzkie, Poland; (D.K.)
- Department of Biomedicine and Experimental Surgery, Medical University of Lodz, 90-136 Lodz, Lodzkie, Poland
| | - Zhu Liang
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, Target Discovery Institute, University of Oxford, Center for Medicines Discovery, Oxford OX1 2JD, UK
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS), CAMS Oxford Institute (COI), University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 2JD, UK
| | - Bo-Qiang Peng
- Department of General Surgery & Laboratory of Gastric Cancer, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy–Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China; (Y.-J.Y.)
- Gastric Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Yun-Feng Zhu
- Department of General Surgery & Laboratory of Gastric Cancer, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy–Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China; (Y.-J.Y.)
- Gastric Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Kai Liu
- Department of General Surgery & Laboratory of Gastric Cancer, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy–Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China; (Y.-J.Y.)
- Gastric Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Jia-Xin Mei
- Department of General Surgery & Laboratory of Gastric Cancer, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy–Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China; (Y.-J.Y.)
- Gastric Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Gang Yu
- Department of General Surgery & Laboratory of Gastric Cancer, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy–Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China; (Y.-J.Y.)
- Gastric Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Wei-Han Zhang
- Department of General Surgery & Laboratory of Gastric Cancer, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy–Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China; (Y.-J.Y.)
- Gastric Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Xiao-Long Chen
- Department of General Surgery & Laboratory of Gastric Cancer, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy–Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China; (Y.-J.Y.)
- Gastric Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Kun Yang
- Department of General Surgery & Laboratory of Gastric Cancer, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy–Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China; (Y.-J.Y.)
- Gastric Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Jian-Kun Hu
- Department of General Surgery & Laboratory of Gastric Cancer, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy–Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China; (Y.-J.Y.)
- Gastric Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Lin-Yong Zhao
- Department of General Surgery & Laboratory of Gastric Cancer, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy–Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China; (Y.-J.Y.)
- Gastric Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
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Li L, Wang L, Zhang L. Therapeutic Potential of Natural Compounds from Herbs and Nutraceuticals in Alleviating Neurological Disorders: Targeting the Wnt Signaling Pathway. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2024; 72:2411-2433. [PMID: 38284360 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.3c07536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
As an important signaling pathway in multicellular eukaryotes, the Wnt signaling pathway participates in a variety of physiological processes. Recent studies have confirmed that the Wnt signaling pathway plays an important role in neurological disorders such as stroke, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease. The regulation of Wnt signaling by natural compounds in herbal medicines and nutraceuticals has emerged as a potential strategy for the development of new drugs for neurological disorders. Purpose: The aim of this review is to evaluate the latest research results on the efficacy of natural compounds derived from herbs and nutraceuticals in the prevention and treatment of neurological disorders by regulating the Wnt pathway in vivo and in vitro. A manual and electronic search was performed for English articles available from PubMed, Web of Science, and ScienceDirect from the January 2010 to February 2023. Keywords used for the search engines were "natural products,″ "plant derived products,″ "Wnt+ clinical trials,″ and "Wnt+,″ and/or paired with "natural products″/″plant derived products", and "neurological disorders." A total of 22 articles were enrolled in this review, and a variety of natural compounds from herbal medicine and nutritional foods have been shown to exert therapeutic effects on neurological disorders through the Wnt pathway, including curcumin, resveratrol, and querctrin, etc. These natural products possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and angiogenic properties, confer neurovascular unit and blood-brain barrier integrity protection, and affect neural stem cell differentiation, synaptic formation, and neurogenesis, to play a therapeutic role in neurological disorders. In various in vivo and in vitro studies and clinical trials, these natural compounds have been shown to be safe and tolerable with few adverse effects. Natural compounds may serve a therapeutic role in neurological disorders by regulating the Wnt pathway. This summary of the research progress of natural compounds targeting the Wnt pathway may provide new insights for the treatment of neurological disorders and potential targets for the development of new drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Li
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110000, Liaoning PR China
| | - Lin Wang
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110000, Liaoning PR China
| | - Lijuan Zhang
- Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, No. 39 Huaxiang Road, Tiexi District, Shenyang 110000, Liaoning PR China
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Wang W, Ma L, Zhao Y, Liu M, Ye W, Li X. Research progress on the role of the Wnt signaling pathway in pituitary adenoma. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1216817. [PMID: 37780610 PMCID: PMC10538627 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1216817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Pituitary adenoma (PA) is the third most common central nervous system tumor originating from the anterior pituitary, but its pathogenesis remains unclear. The Wnt signaling pathway is a conserved pathway involved in cell proliferation, Self-renewal of stem cells, and cell differentiation. It is related to the occurrence of various tumors, including PA. This article reviews the latest developments in Wnt pathway inhibitors and pathway-targeted drugs. It discusses the possibility of combining Wnt pathway inhibitors with immunotherapy to provide a theoretical basis for the combined treatment of PA.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Xianfeng Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
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Zhang H, Shen S, Feng C, Chen G, Wang X. MFAP2 promotes the progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma by activating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway through autophagy. Acta Biochim Biophys Sin (Shanghai) 2023; 55:1445-1455. [PMID: 37592847 PMCID: PMC10520470 DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2023079] [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: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Microfibrillar-associated protein 2 (MFAP2) is a small glycoprotein that is involved in vascular development and metabolic disease. The present study aims to explore the regulatory role of MFAP2 in the development and progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), including the underlying mechanisms. MFAP2 expression and its association with the progression of OSCC are explored using bioinformatics. MFAP2 expression in OSCC tissues is detected by immunohistochemical staining. SCC15 cell migration, invasion, apoptosis, proliferation, and viability are detected by wound healing, Transwell, flow cytometry, colony formation, and cell counting kit-8 assays. An in vivo experiment is used to detect tumor formation. Western blot analysis is used to determine MFAP2's regulatory role in autophagy and the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. MFAP2 is highly expressed in SCC15 cells and OSCC tissues, which correlates positively with the poor prognosis of patients with OSCCs. Functionally, MFAP2 promotes oncogenic autophagy to increase cell invasion, migration, and proliferation but inhibits apoptosis in SCC15 cells and promotes tumor growth in vivo. Mechanistically, MFAP2 upregulates autophagy and Wnt/β-catenin signaling to stimulate OSCC development. Intriguingly, regulation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling dependent on autophagy contributes to the malignant behaviors of SCC15 cells. MFAP2 could serve as a novel biomarker for OSCC and could affect OSCC tumorigenesis and development via autophagic regulation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Zhang
- Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational MedicineTianjin300050China
- School and Hospital of StomatologyTianjin Medical UniversityTianjin300070China
| | - Si Shen
- Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational MedicineTianjin300050China
- School and Hospital of StomatologyTianjin Medical UniversityTianjin300070China
| | - Chong Feng
- Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational MedicineTianjin300050China
- School and Hospital of StomatologyTianjin Medical UniversityTianjin300070China
| | - Gang Chen
- School and Hospital of StomatologyTianjin Medical UniversityTianjin300070China
| | - Xinxing Wang
- Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational MedicineTianjin300050China
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Jin C, Luo Y, Liang Z, Li X, Kołat D, Zhao L, Xiong W. Crucial role of the transcription factors family activator protein 2 in cancer: current clue and views. J Transl Med 2023; 21:371. [PMID: 37291585 PMCID: PMC10249218 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-023-04189-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The transcription factor family activator protein 2 (TFAP2) is vital for regulating both embryonic and oncogenic development. The TFAP2 family consists of five DNA-binding proteins, including TFAP2A, TFAP2B, TFAP2C, TFAP2D and TFAP2E. The importance of TFAP2 in tumor biology is becoming more widely recognized. While TFAP2D is not well studied, here, we mainly focus on the other four TFAP2 members. As a transcription factor, TFAP2 regulates the downstream targets directly by binding to their regulatory region. In addition, the regulation of downstream targets by epigenetic modification, posttranslational regulation, and interaction with noncoding RNA have also been identified. According to the pathways in which the downstream targets are involved in, the regulatory effects of TFAP2 on tumorigenesis are generally summarized as follows: stemness and EMT, interaction between TFAP2 and tumor microenvironment, cell cycle and DNA damage repair, ER- and ERBB2-related signaling pathway, ferroptosis and therapeutic response. Moreover, the factors that affect TFAP2 expression in oncogenesis are also summarized. Here, we review and discuss the most recent studies on TFAP2 and its effects on carcinogenesis and regulatory mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Jin
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Department of Liver Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yuxiao Luo
- University Medical Center Göttingen, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Zhu Liang
- Target Discovery Institute, Centre for Medicines Discovery, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Chinese Academy for Medical Sciences Oxford Institute, Oxford, UK
| | - Xi Li
- Department of Urology, Churchill Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation, Oxford, UK
| | - Damian Kołat
- Department of Experimental Surgery, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
| | - Linyong Zhao
- Department of General Surgery & Laboratory of Gastric Cancer, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy/Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
- Gastric Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
| | - Weixi Xiong
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
- Institute of Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Technology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
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Ding Y, Bian TT, Li QY, He JR, Guo Q, Wu CY, Chen SS. A new risk model for CSTA, FAM83A, and MYCT1 predicts poor prognosis and is related to immune infiltration in lung squamous cell carcinoma. Am J Transl Res 2022; 14:7705-7725. [PMID: 36505278 PMCID: PMC9730102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To create a prognostic model based on differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in early lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) and characterize the relationship between risk scores and tumor immune infiltration. METHODS We identified DEGs in normal and tumor tissues that overlapped between LUSC-related data sets from the Gene Expression Omnibus and the Cancer Genome Atlas and evaluated their roles in the diagnosis and prognosis of LUSC by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, meta-analysis and nomogram analysis. We then constructed a risk model based on Cox regression analysis and the Akaike information criterion and identified the relationship between LUSC risk scores and immune infiltration. RESULTS Sixty-two overlapping DEGs were involved with keratinocyte differentiation, epidermal cell differentiation, neutrophil migration, granulocyte chemotaxis, granulocyte migration, leukocyte aggregation, and positive regulation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activity. Overexpression of family with sequence similarity 83 member A (FAM83A) and MYC target 1 (MYCT1), kallikrein related peptidase 8 (KLK8), and downregulation of ADP ribosylation factor like GTPase 14 (ARL14), caspase recruitment domain family member 14 (CARD14), cystatin A (CSTA), dickkopf WNT signaling pathway inhibitor 4 (DKK4), desmoglein 3 (DSG3), and keratin 6B (KRT6B) were associated with a poor prognosis in LUSC and had significant value for LUSC diagnosis. The expression of CSTA, FAM83A, and MYCT1 and high-risk scores were independent risk factors for a poor prognosis in LUSC. A risk nomogram revealed that risk scores could predict the prognosis of LUSC. The risk score was associated with neutrophils, naive B cells, helper follicular T cells, and activated dendritic cells. CONCLUSIONS The expression levels of CSTA, FAM83A, and MYCT1 are related to the diagnosis and prognosis of LUSC and may have potential as therapeutic targets in LUSC. A risk model and nomogram based on CSTA, FAM83A, and MYCT1 can predict the prognosis of LUSC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Ding
- Key Laboratory for Molecular Diagnosis of Hubei Province, The Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan 430014, Hubei, China
| | - Ting-Ting Bian
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan 430022, Hubei, China
| | - Qian-Yun Li
- The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of MedicineYiwu 310030, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jin-Rong He
- Key Laboratory for Molecular Diagnosis of Hubei Province, The Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan 430014, Hubei, China
| | - Qiang Guo
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan 430022, Hubei, China
| | - Chuang-Yan Wu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan 430022, Hubei, China
| | - Shan-Shan Chen
- Key Laboratory for Molecular Diagnosis of Hubei Province, The Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan 430014, Hubei, China
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Wu E, Fan X, Tang T, Li J, Wang J, Liu X, Zungar Z, Ren J, Wu C, Shen B. Biomarkers discovery for endometrial cancer: A graph convolutional sample network method. Comput Biol Med 2022; 150:106200. [PMID: 37859290 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2022.106200] [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: 06/04/2022] [Revised: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Endometrial carcinoma is the sixth most common cancer in women worldwide. Importantly, endometrial cancer is among the few types of cancers with patient mortality that is still increasing, which indicates that the improvement in its diagnosis and treatment is still urgent. Moreover, biomarker discovery is essential for precise classification and prognostic prediction of endometrial cancer. METHODS A novel graph convolutional sample network method was used to identify and validate biomarkers for the classification of endometrial cancer. The sample networks were first constructed for each sample, and the gene pairs with high frequencies were identified to construct a subtype-specific network. Putative biomarkers were then screened using the highest degrees in the subtype-specific network. Finally, simplified sample networks are constructed using the biomarkers for the graph convolutional network (GCN) training and prediction. RESULTS Putative biomarkers (23) were identified using the novel bioinformatics model. These biomarkers were then rationalised with functional analyses and were found to be correlated to disease survival with network entropy characterisation. These biomarkers will be helpful in future investigations of the molecular mechanisms and therapeutic targets of endometrial cancers. CONCLUSIONS A novel bioinformatics model combining sample network construction with GCN modelling is proposed and validated for biomarker discovery in endometrial cancer. The model can be generalized and applied to biomarker discovery in other complex diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erman Wu
- Institutes for Systems Genetics, Frontiers Science Centre for Disease-related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xuemeng Fan
- Institutes for Systems Genetics, Frontiers Science Centre for Disease-related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Tong Tang
- Institutes for Systems Genetics, Frontiers Science Centre for Disease-related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Department of Computer Science and Information Technologies, Elviña Campus, University of A Coruña, A Coruña, Spain
| | - Jingjing Li
- Institutes for Systems Genetics, Frontiers Science Centre for Disease-related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jiao Wang
- Institutes for Systems Genetics, Frontiers Science Centre for Disease-related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xingyun Liu
- Institutes for Systems Genetics, Frontiers Science Centre for Disease-related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Zayatta Zungar
- School of Medicine, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, 2351, Australia
| | - Jiaojiao Ren
- School of Electronic Information and Electrical Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu, China
| | - Cong Wu
- Institutes for Systems Genetics, Frontiers Science Centre for Disease-related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
| | - Bairong Shen
- Institutes for Systems Genetics, Frontiers Science Centre for Disease-related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
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Wnt antagonist as therapeutic targets in ovarian cancer. Int J Biochem Cell Biol 2022; 145:106191. [PMID: 35272015 DOI: 10.1016/j.biocel.2022.106191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Revised: 02/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Ovarian cancer is a fatal malignancy in women with a low survival rate that demands new therapeutic paradigms. Cancer cells acquire various exclusive alterations to proliferate, invade, metastasize, and escape cell death, acting independently of growth-inducing or growth-inhibiting signals. The nature of cellular signaling in tumorigenesis is interwoven. Wnt signaling is an evolutionarily conserved signaling cascade that has been shown to regulate ovarian cancer pathogenesis. The molecular mechanism of Wnt signaling underlying the development of ovarian cancer, drug resistance, and relapse is not completely understood. Extracellularly secreted Wnt signaling inhibitors are crucial regulators of ovarian cancer tumorigenesis and malignant properties of cancer stem cells. Wnt inhibitors arbitrated modifications affecting Wnt pathway proteins on the cell membranes, in the cytoplasm, and in the nucleus have been shown to span essential contributions in the initiation, progression, and chemoresistance of ovarian cancer. Although many extrinsic inhibitors developed targeting the downstream components of the Wnt signaling pathway, investigating the molecular mechanisms of endogenous secreted inhibitors might substantiate prognostic or therapeutic biomarkers development. Given the importance of Wnt signaling in ovarian cancer, more systematic studies combined with clinical studies are requisite to probe the precise mechanistic interactions of Wnt antagonists in ovarian cancer. This review outlines the latest progress on the Wnt antagonists and ovarian cancer-specific regulators such as micro-RNAs, small molecules, and drugs regulating these Wnt antagonists in ovarian tumourigenesis.
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Sánchez-Botet A, Quandt E, Masip N, Escribá R, Novellasdemunt L, Gasa L, Li VSW, Raya Á, Clotet J, Ribeiro MPC. Atypical cyclin P regulates cancer cell stemness through activation of the WNT pathway. Cell Oncol (Dordr) 2021; 44:1273-1286. [PMID: 34604945 PMCID: PMC8648692 DOI: 10.1007/s13402-021-00636-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Cancer stem cells represent a cancer cell subpopulation that has been found to be associated with metastasis and chemoresistance. Therefore, it is vital to identify mechanisms regulating cancer stemness. Previously, we have shown that the atypical cyclin P (CCNP), also known as CNTD2, is upregulated in lung and colorectal cancers and is associated with a worse clinical prognosis. Given that other cyclins have been implicated in pluripotency regulation, we hypothesized that CCNP may also play a role in cancer stemness. METHODS Cell line-derived spheroids, ex vivo intestinal organoid cultures and induced-pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) were used to investigate the role of CCNP in stemness. The effects of CCNP on cancer cell stemness and the expression of pluripotency markers and ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters were evaluated using Western blotting and RT-qPCR assays. Cell viability was assessed using a MTT assay. The effects of CCNP on WNT targets were monitored by RNA-seq analysis. Data from publicly available web-based resources were also analyzed. RESULTS We found that CCNP increases spheroid formation in breast, lung and colorectal cancers, and upregulates the expression of stemness (CD44, CD133) and pluripotency (SOX2, OCT4, NANOG) markers. In addition, we found that CCNP promotes resistance to anticancer drugs and induces the expression of multidrug resistance ABC transporters. Our RNA-seq data indicate that CCNP activates the WNT pathway, and that inhibition of this pathway abrogates the increase in spheroid formation promoted by CCNP. Finally, we found that CCNP knockout decreases OCT4 expression in iPSCs, further supporting the notion that CCNP is involved in stemness regulation. CONCLUSION Our results reveal CCNP as a novel player in stemness and as a potential therapeutic target in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abril Sánchez-Botet
- Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, Josep Trueta, s/n, 08195, Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Eva Quandt
- Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, Josep Trueta, s/n, 08195, Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Núria Masip
- Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, Josep Trueta, s/n, 08195, Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rubén Escribá
- Regenerative Medicine Program, Bellvitge Institute for Biomedical Research (IDIBELL) and Program for Clinical Translation of Regenerative Medicine in Catalonia (P-CMRC), L'Hospitalet del Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
- Centre for Networked Biomedical Research on Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Madrid, Spain
| | - Laura Novellasdemunt
- Stem Cell and Cancer Biology Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Laura Gasa
- Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, Josep Trueta, s/n, 08195, Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Vivian S W Li
- Stem Cell and Cancer Biology Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Ángel Raya
- Regenerative Medicine Program, Bellvitge Institute for Biomedical Research (IDIBELL) and Program for Clinical Translation of Regenerative Medicine in Catalonia (P-CMRC), L'Hospitalet del Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
- Centre for Networked Biomedical Research on Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Madrid, Spain
- Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Josep Clotet
- Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, Josep Trueta, s/n, 08195, Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Mariana P C Ribeiro
- Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, Josep Trueta, s/n, 08195, Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain.
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Huang B, Yan X, Li Y. Cancer Stem Cell for Tumor Therapy. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13194814. [PMID: 34638298 PMCID: PMC8508418 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13194814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Revised: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Although many methods have been applied in clinical treatment for tumors, they still always show a poor prognosis. Molecule targeted therapy has revolutionized tumor therapy, and a proper target must be found urgently. With a crucial role in tumor development, metastasis and recurrence, cancer stem cells have been found to be a feasible and potential target for tumor therapy. We list the unique biological characteristics of cancer stem cells and summarize the recent strategies to target cancer stem cells for tumor therapy, through which we hope to provide a comprehensive understanding of cancer stem cells and find a better combinational strategy to target cancer stem cells for tumor therapy. Abstract Tumors pose a significant threat to human health. Although many methods, such as operations, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, have been proposed to eliminate tumor cells, the results are unsatisfactory. Targeting therapy has shown potential due to its specificity and efficiency. Meanwhile, it has been revealed that cancer stem cells (CSCs) play a crucial role in the genesis, development, metastasis and recurrence of tumors. Thus, it is feasible to inhibit tumors and improve prognosis via targeting CSCs. In this review, we provide a comprehensive understanding of the biological characteristics of CSCs, including mitotic pattern, metabolic phenotype, therapeutic resistance and related mechanisms. Finally, we summarize CSCs targeted strategies, including targeting CSCs surface markers, targeting CSCs related signal pathways, targeting CSC niches, targeting CSC metabolic pathways, inducing differentiation therapy and immunotherapy (tumor vaccine, CAR-T, oncolytic virus, targeting CSCs–immune cell crosstalk and immunity checkpoint inhibitor). We highlight the potential of immunity therapy and its combinational anti-CSC therapies, which are composed of different drugs working in different mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Binjie Huang
- Department of General Surgery, Second Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730030, China; (B.H.); (X.Y.)
- Key Laboratory of the Digestive System Tumors of Gansu Province, Second Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730030, China
| | - Xin Yan
- Department of General Surgery, Second Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730030, China; (B.H.); (X.Y.)
- Key Laboratory of the Digestive System Tumors of Gansu Province, Second Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730030, China
| | - Yumin Li
- Department of General Surgery, Second Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730030, China; (B.H.); (X.Y.)
- Key Laboratory of the Digestive System Tumors of Gansu Province, Second Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730030, China
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-138-9361-5421
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Gargya P, Bálint BL. Histological Grade of Endometrioid Endometrial Cancer and Relapse Risk Can Be Predicted with Machine Learning from Gene Expression Data. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:4348. [PMID: 34503158 PMCID: PMC8430924 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13174348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Revised: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The tumor grade of endometrioid endometrial cancer is used as an independent marker of prognosis and a key component in clinical decision making. It is reported that between grades 1 and 3, however, the intermediate grade 2 carries limited information; thus, patients with grade 2 tumors are at risk of both under- and overtreatment. We used RNA-sequencing data from the TCGA project and machine learning to develop a model which can correctly classify grade 1 and grade 3 samples. We used the trained model on grade 2 patients to subdivide them into low-risk and high-risk groups. With iterative retraining, we selected the most relevant 12 transcripts to build a simplified model without losing accuracy. Both models had a high AUC of 0.93. In both cases, there was a significant difference in the relapse-free survivals of the newly identified grade 2 subgroups. Both models could identify grade 2 patients that have a higher risk of relapse. Our approach overcomes the subjective components of the histological evaluation. The developed method can be automated to perform a prescreening of the samples before a final decision is made by pathologists. Our translational approach based on machine learning methods could allow for better therapeutic planning for grade 2 endometrial cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Bálint László Bálint
- Genomic Medicine and Bioinformatics Core Facility, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Egyetem tér 1, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary;
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Dickkopf Proteins and Their Role in Cancer: A Family of Wnt Antagonists with a Dual Role. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:ph14080810. [PMID: 34451907 PMCID: PMC8400703 DOI: 10.3390/ph14080810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Revised: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The Wnt signaling pathway regulates crucial aspects such as cell fate determination, cell polarity and organogenesis during embryonic development. Wnt pathway deregulation is a hallmark of several cancers such as lung, gastric and liver cancer, and has been reported to be altered in others. Despite the general agreement reached by the scientific community on the oncogenic potential of the central components of the pathway, the role of the antagonist proteins remains less clear. Deregulation of the pathway may be caused by overexpression or downregulation of a wide range of antagonist proteins. Although there is growing information related to function and regulation of Dickkopf (DKK) proteins, their pharmacological potential as cancer therapeutics still has not been fully developed. This review provides an update on the role of DKK proteins in cancer and possible potential as therapeutic targets for the treatment of cancer; available compounds in pre-clinical or clinical trials are also reviewed.
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13
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Lyons LA, Buckley RM, Harvey RJ. Mining the 99 Lives Cat Genome Sequencing Consortium database implicates genes and variants for the Ticked locus in domestic cats (Felis catus). Anim Genet 2021; 52:321-332. [PMID: 33780570 PMCID: PMC8252059 DOI: 10.1111/age.13059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Tabby patterns of fur coats are defining characteristics in wild and domestic felids. Historically, three autosomal alleles at one locus (Tabby): Abyssinian (Ta ; a.k.a. ticked), mackerel (Tm ; a.k.a. striped) and blotched (tb ; a.k.a. classic, blotched) were thought to control these patterns in domestic cats and their breeds. Currently, at least three loci influence cat tabby markings, two of which are designated Tabby and Ticked. The Tabby locus is laeverin (LVRN) and affects the mackerel and blotched patterns. The unidentified gene for the Ticked locus on cat chromosome B1 was suggested to control the presence or absence of the ticked pattern (Tabby - Abyssinian (Ta ; a.k.a. ticked). The cat reference genome (Cinnamon, the Abyssinian) has the ticked phenotype and the variant dataset and coat phenotypes from the 99 Lives Cat Genome Consortium (195 cats) were used to identify candidate genes and variants associated with the Ticked locus. Two strategies were used to find the Ticked allele(s), one considered Cinnamon with the reference allele or heterozygous (Strategy A) and the other considered Cinnamon as having the variant allele or heterozygous (Strategy B). For Strategy A, two variants in Dickkopf Wnt Signaling Pathway Inhibitor 4 (DKK4), a p.Cys63Tyr (B1:41621481, c.188G>A) and a less common p.Ala18Val (B1:42620835, c.53C>T) variant are suggested as two alleles influencing the Ticked phenotype. Bioinformatic and molecular modeling analysis suggests that these changes disrupt a key disulfide bond in the Dkk4 cysteine-rich domain 1 or Dkk4 signal peptide cleavage respectively. All coding variants were excluded as Ticked alleles using Strategy B.
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Affiliation(s)
- L. A. Lyons
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and SurgeryCollege of Veterinary MedicineUniversity of Missouri – ColumbiaColumbiaMO65211USA
| | - R. M. Buckley
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and SurgeryCollege of Veterinary MedicineUniversity of Missouri – ColumbiaColumbiaMO65211USA
| | - R. J. Harvey
- School of Health and Behavioural SciencesUniversity of the Sunshine CoastSippy DownsQld4558Australia
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Mazzio E, Badisa R, Mack N, Cassim S, Zdralevic M, Pouyssegur J, Soliman KFA. Whole-transcriptome Analysis of Fully Viable Energy Efficient Glycolytic-null Cancer Cells Established by Double Genetic Knockout of Lactate Dehydrogenase A/B or Glucose-6-Phosphate Isomerase. Cancer Genomics Proteomics 2021; 17:469-497. [PMID: 32859627 DOI: 10.21873/cgp.20205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2020] [Revised: 06/14/2020] [Accepted: 06/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM Nearly all mammalian tumors of diverse tissues are believed to be dependent on fermentative glycolysis, marked by elevated production of lactic acid and expression of glycolytic enzymes, most notably lactic acid dehydrogenase (LDH). Therefore, there has been significant interest in developing chemotherapy drugs that selectively target various isoforms of the LDH enzyme. However, considerable questions remain as to the consequences of biological ablation of LDH or upstream targeting of the glycolytic pathway. MATERIALS AND METHODS In this study, we explore the biochemical and whole transcriptomic effects of CRISPR-Cas9 gene knockout (KO) of lactate dehydrogenases A and B [LDHA/B double KO (DKO)] and glucose-6-phosphate isomerase (GPI KO) in the human colon cancer cell line LS174T, using Affymetrix 2.1 ST arrays. RESULTS The metabolic biochemical profiles corroborate that relative to wild type (WT), LDHA/B DKO produced no lactic acid, (GPI KO) produced minimal lactic acid and both KOs displayed higher mitochondrial respiration, and minimal use of glucose with no loss of cell viability. These findings show a high biochemical energy efficiency as measured by ATP in glycolysis-null cells. Next, transcriptomic analysis conducted on 48,226 mRNA transcripts reflect 273 differentially expressed genes (DEGS) in the GPI KO clone set, 193 DEGS in the LDHA/B DKO clone set with 47 DEGs common to both KO clones. Glycolytic-null cells reflect up-regulation in gene transcripts typically associated with nutrient deprivation / fasting and possible use of fats for energy: thioredoxin interacting protein (TXNIP), mitochondrial 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA synthase 2 (HMGCS2), PPARγ coactivator 1α (PGC-1α), and acetyl-CoA acyltransferase 2 (ACAA2). Other changes in non-ergometric transcripts in both KOs show losses in "stemness", WNT signaling pathway, chemo/radiation resistance, retinoic acid synthesis, drug detoxification, androgen/estrogen activation, and extracellular matrix reprogramming genes. CONCLUSION These findings demonstrate that: 1) The "Warburg effect" is dispensable, 2) loss of the LDHAB gene is not only inconsequential to viability but fosters greater mitochondrial energy, and 3) drugs that target LDHA/B are likely to be ineffective without a plausible combination second drug target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Mazzio
- College of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL, U.S.A
| | - Ramesh Badisa
- College of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL, U.S.A
| | - Nzinga Mack
- College of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL, U.S.A
| | - Shamir Cassim
- Department of Medical Biology, Centre Scientifique de Monaco, Monaco, Monaco
| | - Masa Zdralevic
- University Côte d'Azur, IRCAN, CNRS, Centre A. Lacassagne, Nice, France
| | - Jacques Pouyssegur
- Department of Medical Biology, Centre Scientifique de Monaco, Monaco, Monaco .,University Côte d'Azur, IRCAN, CNRS, Centre A. Lacassagne, Nice, France
| | - Karam F A Soliman
- College of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL, U.S.A.
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Hu Y, Liu M, Xu S, Li S, Yang M, Su T, Yuan Z, Peng H. The Clinical Significance of Dickkopf Wnt Signaling Pathway Inhibitor Gene Family in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Med Sci Monit 2020; 26:e927368. [PMID: 33281184 PMCID: PMC7706141 DOI: 10.12659/msm.927368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2020] [Accepted: 09/15/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Dickkopf Wnt signaling pathway inhibitor (DKK) gene family, which is known to inhibit the Wnt regulation process, is widely found in cancers. However, the roles and functions of specific family members in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) are still unclear. MATERIAL AND METHODS Online bioinformatics tools (Oncomine, UALCAN, Kaplan-Meier plotter, GEPIA, Metascape, and STRING) were used to analyze the relationships between distinct DKKs and HNSCC. The transcriptome expression, clinical association, functions, pathways, and protein-protein interaction networks of DKKs in HNSCC were explored. RESULTS The mRNA expression of DKK1, DKK3, and Dickkopf-like acrosomal protein 1 (DKKL1) in HNSCC was significantly higher than in normal tissues, while that of DKK4 was lower. The mRNA expression of DKK1, DKK3, and DKKL1 was elevated in higher-grade HNSCC. The mRNA expression of DKK1 and DKK3 was elevated in human papillomavirus (HPV)-negative HNSCC, while DKKL1 had a higher mRNA expression in HPV-positive HNSCC. In addition, DKK1 was significantly associated with unfavorable overall survival in HNSCC patients. DKK3 was more likely to be a negative factor for the 5-year survival rate, while DKK4 was the opposite. DKK1 function was mainly enriched in GTPase-mediated signal transduction. Porcupine O-acyltransferase, a key regulator of the Wnt signaling pathway, was also associated with DKK1 in the protein-protein interaction network. CONCLUSIONS With regard to improving the therapeutic strategies of HNSCC in the future, DKK1 could be an unfavorable prognostic biomarker. DKK3, DKK4, and DKKL1 might be potential biomarkers for HNSCC.
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Huang L, Luo EL, Xie J, Gan RH, Ding LC, Su BH, Zhao Y, Lin LS, Zheng DL, Lu YG. FZD2 regulates cell proliferation and invasion in tongue squamous cell carcinoma. Int J Biol Sci 2019; 15:2330-2339. [PMID: 31595151 PMCID: PMC6775310 DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.33881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2019] [Accepted: 07/29/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Many studies have shown that FZD2 is significantly associated with tumor development and tumor metastasis. The purpose of the present study was to gain insight into the role of FZD2 in the cell proliferation and invasion of tongue squamous cell carcinoma. According to TCGA-HNSC dataset, among the 10 Frizzled receptors, FZD2 exhibited the highest degree of differential expression between cancer tissues and normal tissues, and the overall survival of patients with higher FZD2 levels was shown to be significantly shorter compared with those with lower FZD2 levels. The upregulation of FZD2 in clinical tongue cancer tissues was validated by real-time PCR. Knockdown of FZD2 inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion of CAL-27 and TCA-8113 cells, whereas overexpression of FZD2 led to the opposite results. Further analysis revealed that FZD2 is positively correlated with WNT3A, WNT5B, WNT7A and WNT2 and is negatively correlated with WNT4. These results indicated that FZD2 may act as an oncogene in tongue squamous cell carcinoma. Therefore, FZD2 may be a target for the diagnosis, prognosis and gene therapy of tongue cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Huang
- Department of Dentistry, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, 20 Chazhong Road, Fuzhou, 350005, China
| | - Er-Ling Luo
- Department of Preventive Dentistry, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Fujian Medical University, 246 Yangqiao Middle Road, Fuzhou 350000, China
| | - Jing Xie
- Department of Preventive Dentistry, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Fujian Medical University, 246 Yangqiao Middle Road, Fuzhou 350000, China.,Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Gastrointestinal Cancer, Fujian Medical University, 1 Xue Yuan Road, University Town, Fuzhou 350122, China
| | - Rui-Huan Gan
- Department of Preventive Dentistry, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Fujian Medical University, 246 Yangqiao Middle Road, Fuzhou 350000, China.,Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Gastrointestinal Cancer, Fujian Medical University, 1 Xue Yuan Road, University Town, Fuzhou 350122, China
| | - Lin-Can Ding
- Department of Preventive Dentistry, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Fujian Medical University, 246 Yangqiao Middle Road, Fuzhou 350000, China
| | - Bo-Hua Su
- Department of Preventive Dentistry, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Fujian Medical University, 246 Yangqiao Middle Road, Fuzhou 350000, China
| | - Yong Zhao
- Department of Pathology, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Fujian Medical University, 246 Yang Qiao Middle Road, Fuzhou 350000, China
| | - Li-Song Lin
- Department of Dentistry, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, 20 Chazhong Road, Fuzhou, 350005, China
| | - Da-Li Zheng
- Key laboratory of Stomatology of Fujian Province, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Fujian Medical University, 88 Jiao Tong Road, Fuzhou 350004, China
| | - You-Guang Lu
- Department of Preventive Dentistry, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Fujian Medical University, 246 Yangqiao Middle Road, Fuzhou 350000, China.,Key laboratory of Stomatology of Fujian Province, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Fujian Medical University, 88 Jiao Tong Road, Fuzhou 350004, China
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Wang M, Ni B, Zhuang C, Zhao WY, Tu L, Ma XL, Yang LX, Zhang ZG, Cao H. Aberrant accumulation of Dickkopf 4 promotes tumor progression via forming the immune suppressive microenvironment in gastrointestinal stromal tumor. Cancer Med 2019; 8:5352-5366. [PMID: 31353847 PMCID: PMC6718536 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.2437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2019] [Revised: 06/19/2019] [Accepted: 07/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Drug resistance and tumor recurrence are the major concerns in clinical practices of gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST), with the urgent requirement for exploring undiscovered pathways driving malignancy. To deal with these, recent studies have made many efforts to explore prognosis indicators and establish potential therapeutic targets. Methods Expression profiles of different risks of GISTs were described and abundant clinical evidences supported our findings in this study. Following exploration in vitro by cell experiments and verification in vivo using tumor microarray were taken to elucidate the underlying mechanism, which drove the malignancy in GIST. Results Dickkopf 4 (DKK4), as the canonical Wnt pathway antagonist, was unexpectedly and universally upregulated in high‐risk GISTs, and aberrant accumulation of DKK4 was closely correlated with poor prognosis. In addition, tumor‐derived DKK4 could decrease immune cells infiltration and activation in the tumor microenvironment, which decreased the antitumor effects in return. And this phenomenon was recurrent in human tumor specimens. Conclusions Our findings identified DKK4 as a proper tumor biomarker for prognosis predicting and recurrence monitoring, and suggested a novel immune‐escape mechanism driving malignancy in GIST, which might be a potential therapeutic target to improve the effects of canonical RTK therapy and combined immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Wang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Bo Ni
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Chun Zhuang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Wen-Yi Zhao
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Lin Tu
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xin-Li Ma
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Lin-Xi Yang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhi-Gang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Hui Cao
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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DLX3 regulates osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells via Wnt/β-catenin pathway mediated histone methylation of DKK4. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2019; 516:171-176. [PMID: 31202458 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2019.06.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2019] [Accepted: 06/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Distal-less homeobox 3 (DLX3) is an important transcription factor involved in the osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). However, the underlying mechanism is not clear. This study investigated the underlying mechanism of DLX3 in osteogenic differentiation. METHODS DLX3 overexpression and knockdown in cells were achieved using lentiviruses. The osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs was detected using alkaline phosphatase expression, alizarin red staining, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), Western blotting, and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays. RESULTS DLX3 overexpression promoted the osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs, whereas DLX3 knockdown reduced the osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs. RT-qPCR and Western blotting assays showed that DLX3 modulated osteogenic differentiation via the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. ChIP-qPCR showed that DLX3 knockdown promoted DKK4 expression by decreasing the enrichment of histone H3 lysine 27 trimethylation (H3K27me3) in the promotor region of DKK4. CONCLUSION Our data implied that DLX3 regulated Wnt/β-catenin pathway through histone modification of DKK4 during the osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs.
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Wang Y, Yang X, Yuan M, Xian S, Zhang L, Yang D, Cheng Y. Promotion of ovarian cancer cell invasion, migration and colony formation by the miR‑21/Wnt/CD44v6 pathway. Oncol Rep 2019; 42:91-102. [PMID: 31115569 PMCID: PMC6549100 DOI: 10.3892/or.2019.7153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2018] [Accepted: 04/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Ovarian cancer (OC) has the highest mortality rate among female malignant tumors, and OC commonly relapses and metastasizes. The mechanisms underlying the occurrence and development of ovarian cancer are numerous and complicated. The aim of the present study was to explore an important molecular mechanism that may provide a theoretical basis for the clinical treatment of ovarian cancer. In the present study, the expression level of miR‑21 was analyzed in clinical specimens, normal ovarian epithelial cells and three different ovarian cancer epithelial cell lines. Then, in vitro experiments were performed following the transient transfection of miR‑21 mimics and inhibitors into SKOV3 cells. RT‑PCR, western blot analysis, colony formation assay, and Transwell migration and invasion assays were used to explore the role of miR‑21 in ovarian cancer. In addition, Wnt signaling pathway inhibitors and activators were used to validate the hypothesis that the miR‑21/Wnt/CD44v6 pathway plays an important role in OC. In ovarian cancer tissues and cells, miR‑21 was highly expressed, and the high expression of miR‑21 could activate the Wnt signaling pathway to regulate the expression of CD44v6 and affect the proliferation, invasion and migration of OC cells. miR‑21 regulated the expression of CD44v6 by activating the Wnt signaling pathway, which plays an important role in the development of ovarian cancer. These findings provide a potential new therapeutic target for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of ovarian cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanqing Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430060, P.R. China
| | - Xiao Yang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430060, P.R. China
| | - Mengqin Yuan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430060, P.R. China
| | - Shu Xian
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430060, P.R. China
| | - Li Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430060, P.R. China
| | - Dongyong Yang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430060, P.R. China
| | - Yanxiang Cheng
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430060, P.R. China
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