PHB2 promotes tumorigenesis via RACK1 in non-small cell lung cancer

Pan-cancer analysis and experimental validation reveal FAM72D as a potential novel biomarker and therapeutic target in lung adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

Cancers, particularly lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), represent a major global health concern. However, the role of FAM72D in various cancers, including LUAD, remains poorly understood.

METHODS

We utilized databases such as The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Genotype-Tissue Expression Project (GTEx) and online tools to investigate the correlation between FAM72D expression and its prognostic, diagnostic, and mutational significance, as well as its impact on immune cell infiltration across multiple cancers. Additionally, we developed LUAD cell lines overexpressing FAM72D to confirm its oncogenic role.

RESULTS

FAM72D expression was elevated in cancerous tissues compared to noncancerous tissues, with diagnostic and prognostic implications in many cancers, including LUAD. Moreover, associations were identified between FAM72D expression and diverse immune subtypes, alongside factors such as microsatellite instability, neoantigens, and tumour mutational burden across pan-cancers. Additionally, FAM72D was associated with immune infiltration and various immune checkpoint-related genes in LUAD. In vitro experiments demonstrated that FAM72D promoted cell proliferation, colony formation, and migration, while inhibiting apoptosis in LUAD cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study establishes associations between FAM72D expression and diagnosis, prognosis, and tumour immunity across multiple cancers, as well as its oncogenic effects in LUAD. FAM72D shows promise as a biomarker and therapeutic target in LUAD.

Prohibitin 2: A key regulator of cell function

The PHB2 gene is located on chromosome 12p13 and encodes prohibitin 2, a highly conserved protein of 37 kDa. PHB2 is a dimer with antiparallel coils, possessing a unique negatively charged region crucial for its mitochondrial molecular chaperone functions. Thus, PHB2 plays a significant role in cell life activities such as mitosis, mitochondrial autophagy, signal transduction, and cell death. This review discusses how PHB2 inhibits transcription factors or nuclear receptors to maintain normal cell functions; how PHB2 in the cytoplasm or membrane ensures normal cell mitosis and regulates cell differentiation; how PHB2 affects mitochondrial structure, function, and cell apoptosis through mitochondrial intimal integrity and mitochondrial autophagy; how PHB2 affects mitochondrial stress and inhibits cell apoptosis by regulating cytochrome c migration and other pathways; how PHB2 affects cell growth, proliferation, and metastasis through a mitochondrial independent mechanism; and how PHB2 could be applied in disease treatment. We provide a theoretical basis and an innovative perspective for a comprehensive understanding of the role and mechanism of PHB2 in cell function regulation.

PHB2 promotes SHIP2 ubiquitination via the E3 ligase NEDD4 to regulate AKT signaling in gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

Prohibitin 2 (PHB2) exhibits opposite functions of promoting or inhibiting tumour across various cancer types. In this study, we aim to investigate its functions and underlying mechanisms in the context of gastric cancer (GC).

METHODS

PHB2 protein expression levels in GC and normal tissues were examined using western blot and immunohistochemistry. PHB2 expression level associations with patient outcomes were examined through Kaplan-Meier plotter analysis utilizing GEO datasets (GSE14210 and GSE29272). The biological role of PHB2 and its subsequent regulatory mechanisms were elucidated in vitro and in vivo. GC cell viability and proliferation were assessed using MTT cell viability analysis, clonogenic assays, and BrdU incorporation assays, while the growth of GC xenografted tumours was measured via IHC staining of Ki67. The interaction among PHB2 and SHIP2, as well as between SHIP2 and NEDD4, was identified through co-immunoprecipitation, GST pull-down assays, and deletion-mapping experiments. SHIP2 ubiquitination and degradation were assessed using cycloheximide treatment, plasmid transfection and co-immunoprecipitation, followed by western blot analysis.

RESULTS

Our analysis revealed a substantial increase in PHB2 expression in GC tissues compared to adjacent normal tissues. Notably, higher PHB2 levels correlated with poorer patient outcomes, suggesting its clinical relevance. Functionally, silencing PHB2 in GC cells significantly reduced cell proliferation and retarded GC tumour growth, whereas overexpression of PHB2 further enhanced GC cell proliferation. Mechanistically, PHB2 physically interacted with Src homology 2-containing inositol 5-phosphatase 2 (SHIP2) in the cytoplasm of GC cells, thus leading to SHIP2 degradation via its novel E3 ligase NEDD4. It subsequently activated the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway and thus promoted GC cell proliferation.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings highlight the importance of PHB2 upregulation in driving GC progression and its association with adverse patient outcomes. Understanding the functional impact of PHB2 on GC growth contributes valuable insights into the molecular underpinnings of GC and may pave the way for the development of targeted therapies to improve patient outcomes.

Prohibitin2/PHB2, Transcriptionally Regulated by GABPA, Inhibits Cell Growth via PRKN/Parkin-dependent Mitophagy in Endometriosis

Endometriosis (EMS) is a common benign gynecological disease affecting women of reproductive age. It is characterized by abnormal growth of endometrial tissue outside the uterine cavity, resulting in chronic pelvic pain and infertility. Endometrial physiological and pathological processes are intimately connected to autophagy. Mitophagy is an essential selective mode that protects cells from metabolic stress and hypoxia. Mitochondrial autophagy mediated by prohibitin 2 (PHB2) is dependent on the PRKN/Parkin pathway and is involved in numerous human diseases. Uncertainty remains as to whether mitophagy regulation by PHB2 contributes to the occurrence and progression of EMS. This study aims to investigate the mechanism underlying the role of PHB2 in EMS. This study detected the protein and mRNA expression of PHB2 in ectopic and normal endometrial tissues of ovarian EMS, in addition to ectopic endometrial cell line 12Z and endometrial stromal cell line KC02-44D for gene overexpression or knockdown. Cell function experiments and mitochondrial function experiments were conducted to investigate the role of PHB2 in the endometrium. Bioinformatic analysis and experiments were also used to investigate the upstream transcription factors that influence PHB2 expression. PHB2 was downregulated in ectopic endometrium, and PHB2 overexpression inhibited cell proliferation, migration, and invasion and promoted apoptosis. The upregulation of mitophagy markers, including Parkin and LC3II/I, and the downregulation of autophagy degradation markers P62 and TOMM20 in EMS suggest that PHB2 may contribute to cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis via PRKN/Parkin-mediated mitophagy. Analysis and validation of bioinformatics data revealed that the transcription factor GABPA binds directly to the PHB2 promoter region and controls the transcriptional expression of PHB2. This study investigated the role of PHB2 in the onset of EMS. It inhibits EMS growth via PRKN/Parkin-mediated mitophagy, and GABPA controls the transcriptional disorder of PHB2. This study's findings suggest a novel method for investigating the clinical potential of PHB2 in EMS.

Oncogene SCARNA12 as a potential diagnostic biomarker for colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common malignant tumors of the digestive system, and represents a severe threat to the life and health of individuals. Increasing evidence supports the role of small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) as critical regulatory gene in cancer development. Small Cajal body-specific RNAs (scaRNAs), a subtype of snoRNAs, are named for their subcellular localization within Cajal bodies. SCARNA12, which located at the intronic region of PHB2 in chromosome 12p13.31 with 270 nucleotides (nt) in length. It has been reported function as a diagnostic marker for cervical cancer. However, its biological functions and molecular mechanisms in CRC have yet to be elucidated. In this study, bioinformatics analysis revealed that SCARNA12 was highly expressed in CRC and positively correlated with poor prognosis in CRC patients. Additionally, SCARNA12 showed upregulated expression in CRC cell lines and clinical CRC tissue samples. Moreover, SCARNA12 overexpression in SW620 cells accelerated cell proliferation, suppressed the apoptosis rate, and enhanced tumorigenesis in vivo. The knockdown of SCARNA12 expression in HCT116 and HT29 cells resulted in contrasting effects. The functioning of SCARNA12 is mechanically independent of its host gene PHB2. Notably, the overexpression of SCARNA12 activated PI3K/AKT pathway in SW620 cells, and the malignancy degree of CRC cells was attenuated after treatment with MK2206 (a specific AKT inhibitor). Our findings demonstrated that SCARNA12 plays an oncogenic role in CRC progression and can be used as a potential diagnostic biomarker for CRC.

Loss of SMURF2 expression enhances RACK1 stability and promotes ovarian cancer progression

Receptor for activated C kinase 1 (RACK1) has been confirmed to take part in multiple biological events and the mechanism supporting abnormal RACK1 expression in ovarian cancer (OC) remains to be characterized. Here, we identified Smad ubiquitin regulatory factor 2 (SMURF2) as a bona fide E3 ligase of RACK1 in OC. SMURF2 effectively added the K6, K33 and K48 ubiquitin chains to the RACK1, resulting in polyubiquitination and instability of RACK1. PCAF promoted acetylation of RACK1 at K130, leading to SMURF2-mediated RACK1 ubiquitination inhibited and promote OC progression. The expression levels of SMURF2 and RACK1 were negatively correlated. SMURF2 was abnormal low expression in human ovarian cancer, resulting in decreased ubiquitination of RACK1 and increased stability, which promoted OC progression, and strongly associated with poor patients' prognosis. In general, our results demonstrated that SMURF2 plays a pivotal role in stabilizing RACK1, which in turn facilitates tumorigenesis in OC, suggesting that SMURF2-RACK1 axis may prove to be potential targets for the treatment of OC.

CAP2 promotes gastric cancer metastasis by mediating the interaction between tumor cells and tumor-associated macrophages

The metastasis of cancer cells is the main cause of death in patients with gastric cancer (GC). Mounting evidence has demonstrated the vital importance of tumor-associated macrophages in promoting tumor invasion and metastasis; however, the interaction between tumor cells and macrophages in GC is largely unknown. In this study, we demonstrated that cyclase-associated protein 2 (CAP2) was upregulated in GC, especially in cases with lymph node metastasis, and was correlated with a poorer prognosis. The transcription factor JUN directly bound to the promoter region of CAP2 and activated CAP2 transcription. The N-terminal domain of CAP2 bound to the WD5 to WD7 domains of receptor for activated C kinase 1 (RACK1) and induced M2 macrophage polarization by activating the SRC/focal adhesion kinase (FAK)/ERK signaling pathway, which resulted in IL-4 and IL-10 secretion. Polarized M2 macrophages induced premetastatic niche formation and promoted GC metastasis by secreting TGFB1, which created a TGFB1/JUN/CAP2 positive-feedback loop to activate CAP2 expression continuously. Furthermore, we identified salvianolic acid B as an inhibitor of CAP2, which effectively inhibited GC cell invasion capabilities by suppressing the SRC/FAK/ERK signaling pathway. Our data suggest that CAP2, a key molecule mediating the interaction between GC cells and tumor-associated macrophages, may be a promising therapeutic target for suppressing tumor metastasis in GC.

RACK1 facilitates breast cancer progression by competitively inhibiting the binding of β-catenin to PSMD2 and enhancing the stability of β-catenin

The receptor for activated C kinase 1 (RACK1) is a key scaffolding protein with multifunctional and multifaceted properties. By mediating protein-protein interactions, RACK1 integrates multiple intracellular signals involved in the regulation of various physiological and pathological processes. Dysregulation of RACK1 has been implicated in the initiation and progression of many tumors. However, the exact function of RACK1 in cancer cellular processes, especially in proliferation, remains controversial. Here, we show that RACK1 is required for breast cancer cell proliferation in vitro and tumor growth in vivo. This effect of RACK1 is associated with its ability to enhance β-catenin stability and activate the canonical WNT signaling pathway in breast cancer cells. We identified PSMD2, a key component of the proteasome, as a novel binding partner for RACK1 and β-catenin. Interestingly, although there is no interaction between RACK1 and β-catenin, RACK1 binds PSMD2 competitively with β-catenin. Moreover, RACK1 prevents ubiquitinated β-catenin from binding to PSMD2, thereby protecting β-catenin from proteasomal degradation. Collectively, our findings uncover a novel mechanism by which RACK1 increases β-catenin stability and promotes breast cancer proliferation.

OTUB1's role in promoting OSCC development by stabilizing RACK1 involves cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and tumor-associated macrophage M1 polarization

Ovarian tumor domain, ubiquitin aldehyde binding 1 (OTUB1), a deubiquitinating enzyme known to regulate the stability of downstream proteins, has been reported to regulate various cancers tumorigenesis, yet its direct effects on oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) progression are unclear. Bioinformatics analysis was performed to screen for genes of interest, and in vitro and in vivo studies were carried out to investigate the function and mechanism of OTUB1 in OSCC. We found that OTUB1 was abnormally elevated in OSCC tissues and positively associated with the pathological stage and tumor stage. Knockdown of OTUB1 impaired the malignance of OSCC cells - suppressed cell proliferation, invasion, migration, and xenografted tumor growth. OTUB1 silencing also drove tumor-associated macrophage M1 polarization but suppressed M2 polarization, and the induction of M1 polarization inhibited the survival of OSCC cells. However, OTUB1 overexpression exerted the opposite effects. Furthermore, the protein network that interacted with the OTUB1 protein was constructed based on the GeneMANIA website. Receptor for activated C kinase 1 (RACK1), a facilitator of OSCC progression, was identified as a potential target of the OTUB1 protein. We revealed that OTUB1 positively regulated RACK1 expression and inhibited RACK1 ubiquitination. Additionally, RACK1 upregulation reversed the effects of OTUB1 knockdown on OSCC progression. Overall, we demonstrated that OTUB1 might regulate OSCC progression by maintaining the stability of the RACK1 protein. These findings highlight the potential roles of the OTUB1/RACK1 axis as a potential therapeutic target in OSCC.

Isobutyric acid promotes colorectal cancer metastasis through activating RACK1

Colorectal cancer (CRC) metastasis plays a crucial role in disease progression, yet the regulatory mechanisms underlying metastasis remain incompletely understood. Isobutyric acid (IBA), a short-chain fatty acid found at high levels in serum of CRC patients, has been shown to be a critical metabolite influencing CRC proliferation. However, its role in tumor metastasis remains unknown. Here, utilizing liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis, we found that levels of IBA were significantly higher in patients with distant organ metastasis of CRC than in those without. Furthermore, IBA promoted CRC metastasis both in vitro and in vivo. Mass spectrometry, immunofluorescence, and cellular thermal shift assay revealed that IBA interacts with RACK1. Mechanistically, IBA binding to and activating RACK1 promotes regulation of downstream Akt and FAK signaling and CRC metastasis. Collectively, our study highlights the critical interplay between IBA and RACK1 and its impact on tumor metastasis. This study suggests that targeting the IBA-RACK1 signaling axis may be an effective therapeutic strategy for controlling CRC metastasis.

Multi-omics profiling of chemotactic characteristics of brain microglia and astrocytoma

Brain cancer is a deadly disease with low survival rates for over 70 % of patients. Therefore, there is a critical need to develop better treatment methods and strategies to improve patient outcomes. In this study, we explored the tumor microenvironment and discovered unique characteristics of microglia to interact with astrocytoma cells and promote proliferation and migration of collisions. The conditioned medium from the collisions expressed cell chemoattraction and anti-inflammatory responses. To further understand the interactions between microglia and astrocytoma cells, we used flow sorting and protein analysis found that the protein alterations were related to biogenesis in the astrocytoma cells and metabolic processes in the microglia. Both types of cells were involved in binding and activity in cell-cell interactions. Using STRING to demonstrate the protein cross-interaction between the cells. Furthermore, PHB and RDX interact with oncogenic proteins, which were significantly expressed in patients with Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) and low-grade glioma (LGG) according to GEPIA. To study the role of RDX in chemoattraction, the inhibitor-NSC668394 suppressed collision formation and migration in BV2 cells in vitro by down-regulating F-actin. Additionally, it suppressed macrophage infiltration in infiltrating islands in vivo of intracranial tumor-bearing mice. These findings provide evidence for the role of resident cells in mediating tumor development and invasiveness and suggest that potential interacting molecules may be a strategy for controlling tumor growth by regulating the infiltration of tumor-associated microglia in the brain tumor microenvironment.

Prognostic and clinicopathological role of RACK1 for cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

The receptor for activated C kinase 1 (RACK1) expression is associated with clinicopathological characteristics and the prognosis of various cancers; however, the conclusions are controversial. As a result, this study aimed to explore the clinicopathological and prognostic values of RACK1 expression in patients with cancer.

Methodology

PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Scopus were comprehensively explored from their inception to April 20, 2023, for selecting studies on the clinicopathological and prognostic role of RACK1 in patients with cancer that met the criteria for inclusion in this review. Pooled hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to assess the prognosis-predictive value of RACK1 expression, while pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs were used to evaluate the correlation between RACK1 expression and the clinicopathological characteristics of patients with cancer. The quality of the included studies was evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.

Results

Twenty-two studies (13 on prognosis and 20 on clinicopathological characteristics) were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. The findings indicated that high RACK1 expression was significantly associated with poor overall survival (HR = 1.62; 95% CI, 1.13-2.33; P = 0.009; I2 = 89%) and reversely correlated with disease-free survival/recurrence-free survival (HR = 1.87; 95% CI, 1.22-2.88; P = 0.004; I2 = 0%). Furthermore, increased RACK1 expression was significantly associated with lymphatic invasion/N+ stage (OR = 1.74; 95% CI, 1.04-2.90; P = 0.04; I2 = 79%) of tumors.

Conclusions

RACK1 may be a global predictive marker of poor prognosis in patients with cancer and unfavorable clinicopathological characteristics. However, further clinical studies are required to validate these findings.

Targeting Prohibitins to Inhibit Melanoma Growth and Overcome Resistance to Targeted Therapies

Despite important advances in the treatment of metastatic melanoma with the development of MAPK-targeted agents and immune checkpoint inhibitors, the majority of patients either do not respond to therapies or develop acquired resistance. Furthermore, there is no effective targeted therapy currently available for BRAF wild-type melanomas (approximately 50% of cutaneous melanoma). Thus, there is a compelling need for new efficient targeted therapies. Prohibitins (PHBs) are overexpressed in several types of cancers and implicated in the regulation of signaling networks that promote cell invasion and resistance to cell apoptosis. Herein, we show that PHBs are highly expressed in melanoma and are associated with not only poor survival but also with resistance to BRAFi/MEKi. We designed and identified novel specific PHB inhibitors that can inhibit melanoma cell growth in 3D spheroid models and a large panel of representative cell lines with different molecular subtypes, including those with intrinsic and acquired resistance to MAPKi, by significantly moderating both MAPK (CRAF-ERK axis) and PI3K/AKT pathways, and inducing apoptosis through the mitochondrial pathway and up-regulation of p53. In addition, autophagy inhibition enhances the antitumor efficacy of these PHB ligands. More important, these ligands can act in synergy with MAPKi to more efficiently inhibit cell growth and overcome drug resistance in both BRAF wild-type and mutant melanoma. In conclusion, targeting PHBs represents a very promising therapeutic strategy in melanoma, regardless of mutational status.

Essential Protein PHB2 and Its Regulatory Mechanisms in Cancer

Prohibitins (PHBs) are a highly conserved class of proteins and have an essential role in transcription, epigenetic regulation, nuclear signaling, mitochondrial structural integrity, cell division, and cellular membrane metabolism. Prohibitins form a heterodimeric complex, consisting of two proteins, prohibitin 1 (PHB1) and prohibitin 2 (PHB2). They have been discovered to have crucial roles in regulating cancer and other metabolic diseases, functioning both together and independently. As there have been many previously published reviews on PHB1, this review focuses on the lesser studied prohibitin, PHB2. The role of PHB2 in cancer is controversial. In most human cancers, overexpressed PHB2 enhances tumor progression, while in some cancers, it suppresses tumor progression. In this review, we focus on (1) the history, family, and structure of prohibitins, (2) the essential location-dependent functions of PHB2, (3) dysfunction in cancer, and (4) the promising modulators to target PHB2. At the end, we discuss future directions and the clinical significance of this common essential gene in cancer.

Decreasing expression of Prohibitin-2 lowers the oncogenicity of renal cell carcinoma cells by suppressing eIF4E-mediated oncogene translation via MNK inhibition

Prohibitin-2 (PHB2) serves as a key signalling protein that is connected with diverse cellular functions. PHB2 overexpression frequently occurs in cancers and is closely related to tumorigenesis. So far, the connection between PHB2 and renal cell carcinoma (RCC) has not been discussed yet. The purpose of this study was to explore the expression and biological function of PHB2 in RCC and to uncover the underlying mechanisms. High level of PHB2 was found in RCC tissues, and this overexpression was linked to a worse overall survival rate for RCC patients. In RCC cell, the lowering of PHB2 generated tumour-inhibiting effects in RCC cells such as proliferation retardation, cell cycle arrest, suppression of the capacity for metastasis, and chemosensitivity enhancement. Mechanistically, PHB2 mediated the activation of eukaryotic initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) and the translation of oncogenic proteins via the regulation of MNK. The inhibition of MNK diminished the effects of PHB2 on eIF4E-medited oncogene translation. The overexpression of eIF4E reversed PHB2-reduction-evoked tumour-inhibiting effects. Moreover, RCC cells with decreasing PHB2 exhibited a weakened ability to form xenografts in vivo. In conclusion, these findings show that PHB2 is pivotal for RCC progression and suggest that inhibiting MNK/eIF4E by decreasing PHB2 is a potential pathway for the treatment of RCC.

Dihydroartemisinin synergistically enhances the cytotoxic effects of oxaliplatin in colon cancer by targeting the PHB2-RCHY1 mediated signaling pathway

Dihydroartemisinin (DHA) has recently attracted increasing attention for its low toxicity and high antitumor activity. DHA has been reported to have synergistic anticancer effects with a variety of drugs in the clinic; however, the molecular mechanism by which DHA inhibits tumorigenesis and improves oxaliplatin cytotoxicity in colon cancer cells is still not well understood. In this study, we found that DHA can inhibit cell proliferation and colony formation in a dose-dependent manner. Prohibitin 2 (PHB2) is a potential target by which DHA exerts its antitumor and cytotoxic effects. The function and molecular mechanism of PHB2 in colon cancer tumorigenesis were fully studied to determine the regulatory mechanism between DHA and PHB2. We found that PHB2, a mitochondrial inner membrane scaffold protein, has a higher expression level in colon cancer tissues than in adjacent nontumor tissues and is mainly localized in mitochondria. Overexpression of PHB2 can promote cell proliferation and colony formation in vitro and accelerate tumor growth in vivo. We also found that the expression level of PHB2 was inversely related to the cytotoxicity of DHA and oxaliplatin in colon cancer cells. The molecular mechanism of PHB2 in tumorigenesis and cancer therapy was further studied. The results showed that 20 μM DHA can downregulate PHB2 expression in a ubiquitylation-dependent manner and subsequently block PHB2-induced RCHY1 upregulation and p53 and p21 downregulation. In this process, RCHY1 is necessary for PHB2 to play a tumor-promoting role. Thus, PHB2 and RCHY1 are effective targets for colon cancer therapy, and DHA has synergistic anticancer effects with oxaliplatin via promoting PHB2 degradation in colon cancer cells.

CircVPRBP inhibits nodal metastasis of cervical cancer by impeding RACK1 O-GlcNAcylation and stability

Lymph node (LN) metastasis is one of the most malignant clinical features in patients with cervical cancer (CCa). Understanding the mechanism of lymph node metastasis will provide treatment strategies for patients with CCa. Circular RNAs (circRNA) play a critical role in the development of human cancers. However, the role and mechanism of circRNAs in lymph node metastasis remain largely unknown. Here, it is reported that loss expression of circRNA circVPRBP was closely associated with LN metastasis and poor survival of CCa patients. In vitro and in vivo assays showed that circVPRBP overexpression notably inhibited lymphangiogenesis and LN metastasis, whereas RfxCas13d mediated silencing of circVPRBP promoted lymphangiogenesis and the ability of the cervical cancer cells to metastasize to the LNs. Mechanistically, circVPRBP could bind to RACK1 and shield the S122 O-GlcNAcylation site to promote RACK1 degradation, resulting in inhibition of Galectin-1 mediated lymphangiogenesis and LN metastasis in CCa. Taken together, the results demonstrate that circVPRBP is a potential prognostic biomarker and a novel therapeutic target for LN metastasis in CCa patients.

PHB2 promotes colorectal cancer cell proliferation and tumorigenesis through NDUFS1-mediated oxidative phosphorylation

The alteration of cellular energy metabolism is a hallmark of colorectal cancer (CRC). Accumulating evidence has suggested oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) is upregulated to meet the demand for energy in tumor initiation and development. However, the role of OXPHOS and its regulatory mechanism in CRC tumorigenesis and progression remain unclear. Here, we reveal that Prohibitin 2 (PHB2) expression is elevated in precancerous adenomas and CRC, which promotes cell proliferation and tumorigenesis of CRC. Additionally, knockdown of PHB2 significantly reduces mitochondrial OXPHOS levels in CRC cells. Meanwhile, NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase core subunit S1 (NDUFS1), as a PHB2 binding partner, is screened and identified by co-immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry. Furthermore, PHB2 directly interacts with NDUFS1 and they co-localize in mitochondria, which facilitates NDUFS1 binding to NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase core subunit V1 (NDUFV1), regulating the activity of complex I. Consistently, partial inhibition of complex I activity also abrogates the increased cell proliferation induced by overexpression of PHB2 in normal human intestinal epithelial cells and CRC cells. Collectively, these results indicate that increased PHB2 directly interacts with NDUFS1 to stabilize mitochondrial complex I and enhance its activity, leading to upregulated OXPHOS levels, thereby promoting cell proliferation and tumorigenesis of CRC. Our findings provide a new perspective for understanding CRC energy metabolism, as well as novel intervention strategies for CRC therapeutics.

Identification of PHB2 as a Potential Biomarker of Luminal A Breast Cancer Cells Using a Cell-Specific Aptamer

Precise diagnosis of breast cancer molecular subtypes remains a great challenge in clinics. The present molecular biomarkers are not specific enough to classify breast cancer subtypes precisely, which requests for more accurate and specific molecular biomarkers to be discovered. Aptamers evolved by the cell-systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) method show great potential in the discovery and identification of cell membrane targets via aptamer-based cell membrane protein pull-down, which has been regarded as a novel and powerful weapon for the discovery and identification of new molecular biomarkers. Herein, a cell membrane protein PHB2 was identified as a potential molecular biomarker specifically expressed in the cell membranes of MCF-7 breast cancer cells using a DNA aptamer MF3Ec. Further experiments demonstrated that the PHB2 protein is differentially expressed in the cell membranes of MCF-7, SK-BR-3, and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells and MCF-10A cells, and the binding molecular domains of aptamer MF3Ec and anti-PHB2 antibodies to the PHB2 protein are different due to there being no obvious competitions between aptamer MF3Ec and anti-PHB2 antibodies in the binding to the cell membranes of target MCF-7 cells. Due to those four cells belonging to luminal A, HER2-positive, and triple-negative breast cancer cell subtypes and human normal mammary epithelial cells, respectively, the PHB2 protein in the cell membrane may be a potential biomarker for precise diagnosis of the luminal A breast cancer cell subtype, which is endowed with the ability to differentiate the luminal A breast cancer cell subtype from HER2-positive and triple-negative breast cancer cell subtypes and human normal mammary epithelial cells, providing a new molecular biomarker and therapeutic target for the accurate and precise classification and diagnostics and personalized therapy of breast cancer.

Efficacy analysis of targeted nanodrug for non-small cell lung cancer therapy

Biological macromolecules have been widely used as biomedical carriers in treating non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) due to their biocompatibility, targeting, biodegradability, and antitumor efficacy. Nanotechnology has been used in clinics to treat many diseases, including cancer. Nanoparticles (NPs) can accumulate drugs into tumors because of their enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effects. However, the lack of active targeting ligands affects NPs drug delivery. Arginine-glycine-aspartic (RGD), as a targeting ligand, has distinct advantages in targeting and safety. In the present study, an RGD peptide-modified nanogel called RGD−polyethylene glycol−poly (L-phenylalanine-co-L-cystine) (RGD−PEG−P (LP-co-LC−P (LP-co-LC) was investigated to deliver vincristine (VCR) as NSCLC therapy. The VCR-loaded targeted nanoparticle (RGD-NP/VCR) demonstrated excellent antitumor efficacy compared to the free drug (VCR) and untargeted nanoparticle (NP/VCR) without any significant side effects. RGD-NP/VCR has better tumor inhibition and fewer side effects, indicating its potential benefit in NSCLC treatment.

Development of artesunate intelligent prodrug liposomes based on mitochondrial targeting strategy

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women and remains a formidable therapeutic challenge. Mitochondria participate in a myriad of essential cellular processes, such as metabolism, and are becoming an ideal target for cancer therapy. Artemisinin and its derivatives have demonstrated multiple activities in the context of various cancers. Mitochondrial autophagy(mitophagy) is one of the important anti-tumor mechanisms of artemisinin drugs. However, the lack of specific tumor targeting ability limits the anti-tumor efficacy of artemisinin drugs. In this study, a GSH-sensitive artesunate smart conjugate (TPP-SS-ATS) was synthesized and liposomes (TPP-SS-ATS-LS) that target tumor cells and mitochondria were further prepared. The advantages of TPP-SS-ATS-LS targeting to the breast tumor were verified by in vivo and in vitro evaluations. In our study, the cytotoxicity was obviously enhanced in vitro and tumor growth inhibition rate was increased from 37.7% to 56.4% at equivalent artesunate dosage in breast cancer orthotopic implanted mice. Meanwhile, mitochondrial dysfunction, suppression of ATP production and respiratory capacity were detected in breast cancer cells. We further discovered that TPP-SS-ATS-LS inhibited tumor cells proliferation through mitophagy by regulating PHB2 and PINK1 expression_. These results provide new research strategies for the development of new artemisinin-based anti-tumor drugs.

c-myc-mediated upregulation of NAT10 facilitates tumor development via cell cycle regulation in non-small cell lung cancer

N-acetyltransferase 10 (NAT10) is a nucleolar acetyltransferase and has been reported to facilitate tumorigenesis in various cancers, but its role in NSCLC and how it is regulated remain to be assessed. The expression of NAT10 was explored in online databases and our collected clinical specimens. The relationship of NAT10 and clinical characteristics was evaluated using the online databases. Functional analyses were utilized to determine the effect of NAT10 on the proliferation and migration abilities. KEGG pathway analyses were conducted to investigate NAT10-related pathways in NSCLC. The influence of NAT10 on cell cycle was assessed by flow cytometry and cell synchronization assay. The association between c-myc and NAT10 promoter was determined by ChIP. Compared with normal tissue, NAT10 was significantly overexpressed in NSCLC. Upregulated NAT10 was associated with more advanced stage for lung adenocarcinoma and shorter overall survival and first progression time for lung cancer. NAT10 could promote proliferation and migration of NSCLC cells in vitro. c-myc positively regulated the expression of NAT10 as a transcription factor. KEGG pathway analyses indicated that NAT10 was significantly involved in cell cycle regulation, cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction and other pathways. The knockdown of NAT10-induced G1 arrest, which was possibly mediated by the downregulation of cyclin D1.Our findings suggested that c-myc-mediated upregulation of NAT10 promoted the proliferation and migration of NSCLC cells and NAT10 might be a marker for prognosis and a promising target for treatment in NSCLC.

CPNE1 promotes non-small cell lung cancer progression by interacting with RACK1 via the MET signaling pathway

Background

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type of lung cancer and the most lethal tumour worldwide. Copine 1 (CPNE1) was identified as a novel oncogene in NSCLC in our previous study. However, its specific function and relative mechanisms remain poorly understood.

Methods

The biological role of CPNE1 and RACK1 in NSCLC was investigated using gene expression knockdown and overexpression, cell proliferation assays, clonogenic assays, and Transwell assays. The expression levels of CPNE1, RACK1 and other proteins were determined by western blot analysis. The relationship between CPNE1 and RACK1 was predicted and investigated by mass spectrometry analysis, immunofluorescence staining, and coimmunoprecipitation. NSCLC cells were treated with a combination of a MET inhibitor and gefitinib in vitro and in vivo.

Results

We found that CPNE1 facilitates tumorigenesis in NSCLC by interacting with RACK1, which further induces activation of MET signaling. CPNE1 overexpression promoted cell proliferation, migration, invasion and MET signaling in NSCLC cells, whereas CPNE1 knockdown produced the opposite effects. In addition, the suppression of the enhancing effect of CPNE1 overexpression on tumorigenesis and MET signaling by knockdown of RACK1 was verified. Moreover, compared to single-agent treatment, dual blockade of MET and EGFR resulted in enhanced reductions in the tumour volume and downstream signaling in vivo.

Conclusions

Our findings show that CPNE1 promotes tumorigenesis by interacting with RACK1 and activating MET signaling. The combination of a MET inhibitor with an EGFR-TKI attenuated tumour growth more significantly than either single-drug treatment. These findings may provide new insights into the biological function of CPNE1 and the development of novel therapeutic strategies for NSCLC.

Scutellarin-induced A549 cell apoptosis depends on activation of the transforming growth factor-β1/smad2/ROS/caspase-3 pathway

Scutellarin plays an anti-tumor role in A549 lung cancer cells, but the underlying mechanism is unclear. In this study, scutellarin was used to treat A549 cells for 12, 24, and 48 h, followed by the addition of Tempo, a selective scavenger of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) and SB431542, a transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 receptor inhibitor. A dihydroethidium fluorescence probe was used to measure the intracellular ROS level, Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) was used to detect cell viability, and flow cytometry was performed to examine apoptosis. Western blots were used to detect the total protein level of TGF-β1, p-smad2, and cleaved caspase-3 in A549 cells. The results showed that scutellarin significantly inhibited cell viability and increased apoptosis. Scutellarin also promoted intracellular ROS production, TGF-β1/smad2 signaling pathway activation, and cleaved caspase-3 expression, which was partly reversed by Tempo. Moreover, scutellarin-induced intracellular ROS production and cleaved caspase-3 expression were inhibited by blocking the TGF-β1/smad2 pathway with SB431542. In conclusion, scutellarin promoted apoptosis and intracellular ROS accumulation, which could be abrogated by Tempo and SB431542 treatment in A549 cells. Our study indicated that scutellarin induced A549 cell apoptosis via the TGF-β1/smad2/ROS/caspase-3 pathway.

NPM1 Is a Prognostic Biomarker Involved in Immune Infiltration of Lung Adenocarcinoma and Associated With m6A Modification and Glycolysis

Background

Overexpression of NPM1 can promote the growth and proliferation of various tumor cells. However, there are few studies on the comprehensive analysis of NPM1 in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD).

Methods

TCGA and GEO data sets were used to analyze the expression of NPM1 in LUAD and clinicopathological analysis. The GO/KEGG enrichment analysis of NPM1 co-expression and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) were performed using R software package. The relationship between NPM1 expression and LUAD immune infiltration was analyzed using TIMER, GEPIA database and TCGA data sets, and the relationship between NPM1 expression level and LUAD m6A modification and glycolysis was analyzed using TCGA and GEO data sets.

Results

NPM1 was overexpressed in a variety of tumors including LUAD, and the ROC curve showed that NPM1 had a certain accuracy in predicting the outcome of tumors and normal samples. The expression level of NPM1 in LUAD is significantly related to tumor stage and prognosis. The GO/KEGG enrichment analysis indicated that NPM1 was closely related to translational initiation, ribosome, structural constituent of ribosome, ribosome, Parkinson disease, and RNA transport. GSEA showed that the main enrichment pathway of NPM1-related differential genes was mainly related to mTORC1 mediated signaling, p53 hypoxia pathway, signaling by EGFR in cancer, antigen activates B cell receptor BCR leading to generation of second messengers, aerobic glycolysis and methylation pathways. The analysis of TIMER, GEPIA database and TCGA data sets showed that the expression level of NPM1 was negatively correlated with B cells and NK cells. The TCGA and GEO data sets analysis indicated that the NPM1 expression was significantly correlated with one m6A modifier related gene (HNRNPC) and five glycolysis related genes (ENO1, HK2, LDHA, LDHB and SLC2A1).

Conclusion

NPM1 is a prognostic biomarker involved in immune infiltration of LUAD and associated with m6A modification and glycolysis. NPM1 can be used as an effective target for diagnosis and treatment of LUAD.