Matrix metalloproteinases and cancer - roles in threat and therapy

Activity-based protein profiling and global proteome analysis reveal MASTL as a potential therapeutic target in gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

Gastric cancer (GC) is a prevalent malignancy with limited therapeutic options for advanced stages. This study aimed to identify novel therapeutic targets for GC by profiling HSP90 client kinases.

METHODS

We used mass spectrometry-based activity-based protein profiling (ABPP) with a desthiobiotin-ATP probe, combined with sensitivity analysis of HSP90 inhibitors, to profile kinases in a panel of GC cell lines. We identified kinases regulated by HSP90 in inhibitor-sensitive cells and investigated the impact of MASTL knockdown on GC cell behavior. Global proteomic analysis following MASTL knockdown was performed, and bioinformatics tools were used to analyze the resulting data.

RESULTS

Four kinases-MASTL, STK11, CHEK1, and MET-were identified as HSP90-regulated in HSP90 inhibitor-sensitive cells. Among these, microtubule-associated serine/threonine kinase-like (MASTL) was upregulated in GC and associated with poor prognosis. MASTL knockdown decreased migration, invasion, and proliferation of GC cells. Global proteomic profiling following MASTL knockdown revealed NEDD4-1 as a potential downstream mediator of MASTL in GC progression. NEDD4-1 was also upregulated in GC and associated with poor prognosis. Similar to MASTL inhibition, NEDD4-1 knockdown suppressed migration, invasion, and proliferation of GC cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Our multi-proteomic analyses suggest that targeting MASTL could be a promising therapy for advanced gastric cancer, potentially through the reduction of tumor-promoting proteins including NEDD4-1. This study enhances our understanding of kinase signaling pathways in GC and provides new insights for potential treatment strategies.

Breaking the Cycle: Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors as an Alternative Approach in Managing Tuberculosis Pathogenesis and Progression

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) has long posed a significant challenge to global public health, resulting in approximately 1.6 million deaths annually. Pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) instigated by Mtb is characterized by extensive lung tissue damage, leading to lesions and dissemination within the tissue matrix. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) exhibit endopeptidase activity, contributing to inflammatory tissue damage and, consequently, morbidity and mortality in TB patients. MMP activities in TB are intricately regulated by various components, including cytokines, chemokines, cell receptors, and growth factors, through intracellular signaling pathways. Primarily, Mtb-infected macrophages induce MMP expression, disrupting the balance between MMPs and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs), thereby impairing extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition in the lungs. Recent research underscores the significance of immunomodulatory factors in MMP secretion and granuloma formation during Mtb pathogenesis. Several studies have investigated both the activation and inhibition of MMPs using endogenous MMP inhibitors (i.e., TIMPs) and synthetic inhibitors. However, despite their promising pharmacological potential, few MMP inhibitors have been explored for TB treatment as host-directed therapy. Scientists are exploring novel strategies to enhance TB therapeutic regimens by suppressing MMP activity to mitigate Mtb-associated matrix destruction and reduce TB induced lung inflammation. These strategies include the use of MMP inhibitor molecules alone or in combination with anti-TB drugs. Additionally, there is growing interest in developing novel formulations containing MMP inhibitors or MMP-responsive drug delivery systems to suppress MMPs and release drugs at specific target sites. This review summarizes MMPs' expression and regulation in TB, their role in immune response, and the potential of MMP inhibitors as effective therapeutic targets to alleviate TB immunopathology.

Potential diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive biomarkers of gastric cancer

Background

Gastric cancer (GC), a malignant epithelial tumor, is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Therapeutic strategies for GC, despite the biggest challenges, can significantly improve survival rates through early detection and effective screening methods.

Aim

To provide brief information on the necessity of multiple specific diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive markers for GC.

Methods

This review was conducted using a variety of search engines, including PubMed Central, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and others.

Results

Some potential biomarkers that provide essential information include circulating tumor cells (CTCs), DNA methylation, claudin 18.2, fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2), long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), cell-free DNA (cfDNA), microRNAs, and serum pepsinogens.

Conclusion

Multiple tumor markers are essential for screening, tumor identification, staging, prognostic assessment, and monitoring recurrence after therapy due to the absence of a single tumor indicator for diagnosing, prognosticating, and predicting GC.

Investigation Cytotoxicity and Curcumin Release Behavior by Pyranopyrazole-TiO2@niosome Carrier for Breast Cancer Treatment

In the present study, we present a pyranopyrazole-TiO2 which is encapsulated with a niosome as nanocarrier for delivery of curcumin into breast cancer cells. Nanocarrier porous TiO2 is biocompatible and with a high specific surface area and a large pore volume and was used to carry pyranopyrazole, which has been reported as an anti-cancer. Niosome in the outer layer, helpful for loading curcumin into the niosomal layer, demonstrates a pH-dependent release and can be effective for cancer treatment. Entrapment efficiency of curcumin was found at 81.02% in carriers. The results of MTT and flow cytometry revealed that apoptosis is notably enhanced by loading curcumin on pyranopyrazole-TiO2@niosome. Also, there was high biocompatibility with MCF-10A, while exhibiting significant anti-cancer and anti-metastatic effects on MCF-7, whose cell viability was 38.79% in the loaded curcumin on carrier and was more than other samples even, than free curcumin (42.82%). Furthermore, the regulation of gene expression in cancer cells decreased the regulation of MMP-2 and MMP-9 genes and increased the expression of caspase-3 and caspase-9 genes. Finally, fluorescence activity in MCF-7 significantly increased after treatment with samples.

Determination of anti-cancer effects of Nigella sativa seed oil on MCF7 breast and AGS gastric cancer cells

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to investigate the cytotoxic, apoptotic, invasion, metastasis, and heat shock proteins (HSPs) effects of N. sativa oil on breast and gastric cancer cells.

METHODS

We assessed the cytotoxic and apoptotic effects of various concentrations of N. sativa oil (10-50-100-200 µg/mL) on MCF7 breast cancer and AGS, an adenocarcinoma of the gastric cell line, at 24, 48 and 72 h using the MTT test. Additionally, the expression of the Caspase-3, BCL2/Bax, MMP2-9 and HSP60-70 gene was examined using RT-PCR in cell lines treating with N. sativa.

RESULTS

The MTT experiments demonstrate that N. sativa has a time and dose-dependent inhibitory effect on the proliferation of MCF7 and AGS cancer cells. The vitality rates of MCF7 and AGS cells treated with N. sativa were 77.04-67.50% at 24 h, 65.28-39.14% at 48 h, and 48.95-32.31% at 72 h. The doses of 100 and 200 µg/mL were shown to be the most effective on both cancer cells. RT-PCR analysis revealed that N. sativa oil extract increased caspase-3 levels in both cell lines at higher concentrations and suppressed BCL2/Bax levels. Exposure of MCF7 and AGS cell lines to N. sativa caused a significant decrease in the expression of MMP2-9 and HSP60-70 genes over time, particularly at a dosage of 200 µg/mL compared to the control group (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings indicate that N. sativa oil has a dose-dependent effect on cytotoxicity and the expression of apoptotic, heat shock proteins, and matrix metalloproteinases genes in breast and gastric cancer.

Screening and verification of hub genes in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma by integrated analysis

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors. However, the mechanisms underlying ESCC tumorigenesis have not been fully elucidated. Thus, we aimed to determine the key genes involved in ESCC tumorigenesis. The following bioinformatics analyses were performed: identification of differentially expressed genes (DEGs); gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analysis; integrated analysis of the protein-protein interaction network and Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis database for validation of hub genes. Finally, western blotting and qPCR were used to explore the expression of cell division cycle 6 (CDC6) in ESCC cell lines. Immunohistochemistry analysis of ESCC samples from patients and matched clinical characteristics was used to determine the effects of CDC6. A total of 494 DEGs were identified, and functional enrichment was mainly focused on cell cycle and DNA replication. Biological pathway analysis of the hub genes was closely related to the cell cycle. We found that CDC6 was upregulated in ESCC cell lines and patient tissues and was related to the clinicopathological characteristics of ESCC. In conclusion, this study identified hub genes and crucial biological pathways related to ESCC tumorigenesis and integrated analyses indicated that CDC6 may be a novel diagnostic and therapeutic target for ESCC.

Human amniotic membrane inhibits migration and invasion of muscle-invasive bladder cancer urothelial cells by downregulating the FAK/PI3K/Akt/mTOR signalling pathway

Bladder cancer is the 10th most commonly diagnosed cancer with the highest lifetime treatment costs. The human amniotic membrane (hAM) is the innermost foetal membrane that possesses a wide range of biological properties, including anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and anticancer properties. Despite the growing number of studies, the mechanisms associated with the anticancer effects of human amniotic membrane (hAM) are poorly understood. Here, we reported that hAM preparations (homogenate and extract) inhibited the expression of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition markers N-cadherin and MMP-2 in bladder cancer urothelial cells in a dose-dependent manner, while increasing the secretion of TIMP-2. Moreover, hAM homogenate exerted its antimigratory effect by downregulating the expression of FAK and proteins involved in actin cytoskeleton reorganisation, such as cortactin and small RhoGTPases. In muscle-invasive cancer urothelial cells, hAM homogenate downregulated the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signalling pathway, the key cascade involved in promoting bladder cancer. By using normal, non-invasive papilloma and muscle-invasive cancer urothelial models, new perspectives on the anticancer effects of hAM have emerged. The results identify new sites for therapeutic intervention and are prompt encouragement for ongoing anticancer drug development studies.

Internal stimuli-responsive nanocarriers for controlled anti-cancer drug release: a review

Cancer disease is one of the most frequent life-threatening, with a high fatality rate worldwide. However, recent immunotherapy studies in various tumours have yielded unsatisfactory outcomes, with just a few individuals experiencing long-term responses. To overcome these issues, nowadays internal stimuli-responsive nanocarriers have been widely exploited to transport a wide range of active substances, including peptides, genes and medicines. These nanosystems could be chemically adjusted to produce target-based drug release at the target location, minimizing pathological and physiological difficulties while increasing therapeutic efficiency. This review highlights the various types of internal stimuli-responsive nanocarriers and applications in cancer diagnosis. This study can provide inspiration and impetus for exploiting more promising internal stimuli-responsive nanosystems for drug delivery.

Role of microRNAs in regulation of doxorubicin and paclitaxel responses in lung tumor cells

Lung cancer as the leading cause of cancer related mortality is always one of the main global health challenges. Despite the recent progresses in therapeutic methods, the mortality rate is still significantly high among lung cancer patients. A wide range of therapeutic methods including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery are used to treat lung cancer. Doxorubicin (DOX) and Paclitaxel (TXL) are widely used as the first-line chemotherapeutic drugs in lung cancer. However, there is a significant high percentage of DOX/TXL resistance in lung cancer patients, which leads to tumor recurrence and metastasis. Considering, the side effects of these drugs in normal tissues, it is required to clarify the molecular mechanisms of DOX/TXL resistance to introduce the efficient prognostic and therapeutic markers in lung cancer. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have key roles in regulation of different pathophysiological processes including cell division, apoptosis, migration, and drug resistance. MiRNA deregulations are widely associated with chemo resistance in various cancers. Therefore, considering the importance of miRNAs in chemotherapy response, in the present review, we discussed the role of miRNAs in regulation of DOX/TXL response in lung cancer patients. It has been reported that miRNAs mainly induced DOX/TXL sensitivity in lung tumor cells by the regulation of signaling pathways, autophagy, transcription factors, and apoptosis. This review can be an effective step in introducing miRNAs as the non-invasive prognostic markers to predict DOX/TXL response in lung cancer patients.

Quercetin modulates signal transductions and targets non-coding RNAs against cancer development

In recent decades, various investigations have indicated that natural compounds have great potential in the prevention and treatment of different chronic disorders including different types of cancer. As a bioactive flavonoid, Quercetin (Qu) is a dietary ingredient enjoying high pharmacological values and health-promoting effects due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory characterization. Conclusive in vitro and in vivo evidence has revealed that Qu has great potential in cancer prevention and development. Qu exerts its anticancer influences by altering various cellular processes such as apoptosis, autophagy, angiogenesis, metastasis, cell cycle, and proliferation. In this way, Qu by targeting numerous signaling pathways as well as non-coding RNAs regulates several cellular mechanisms to suppress cancer occurrence and promotion. This review aimed to summarize the impact of Qu on the molecular pathways and non-coding RNAs in modulating various cancer-associated cellular mechanisms.

Targeting bone cancer with 4-Allylbenzene-1,2-diol purified from Piper betle L.: an in silico and cytotoxicity scrutiny

Piper betle L., a well-known medicinal plant with rich source of bioactive compounds, is widely used in several therapeutics. The present study was performed to scrutinize the anti-cancer potential of compounds P. betle petiole by means of in silico studies, purification of 4-Allylbenzene-1,2-diol from petioles and assessing its cytotoxicity on bone cancer metastasis. Subsequent to SwissADME screening, 4-Allylbenzene-1,2-diol and Alpha terpineol were chosen for molecular docking together with eighteen approved drugs against fifteen important bone cancer targets accompanied with molecular dynamics simulation studies. 4-Allylbenzene-1,2-diol was found to be multi-targeting, interacted effectively with all targets, particularly exhibited good stability with MMP9 and MMP2 during molecular dynamics simulations and Molecular Mechanics- Generalized Born and Surface Area (MM-GBSA) analysis using Schrodinger. Later, the compound was isolated, purified and the cytotoxicity studies on MG63 bone cancer cell lines confirmed the cytotoxicity nature (75.98% at 100 µg/ml concentration). The results demonstrated the compound as a matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor, and therefore 4-Allylbenzene-1,2-diol may possibly be prescribed in targeted therapy for alleviating the bone cancer metastasis upon further wet lab experimental validations.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Upregulated SSB Is Involved in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Progression and Metastasis through the Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition, Antiapoptosis, and Altered ROS Level Pathway

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors with high morbidity and mortality. Therefore, finding new diagnostic and therapeutic targets is vital for HCC patients. Recent studies have shown that dysregulation of RNA-binding proteins is often associated with cancer progression. Several studies have reported that the RNA-binding protein SSB can promote cancer occurrence and progression and is linked to tumor epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), which could be a new diagnostic marker and therapeutic target. However, the expression and function of SSB in HCC remain to be elucidated. Therefore, this study is aimed at clarifying the expression and biological function of SSB in HCC through bioinformatics analysis combined with in vitro experiments. We found that SSB is highly expressed in HCC and is associated with the poor prognosis of HCC patients, and it can serve as an independent unfavorable prognostic factor. Knockdown of SSB can inhibit the growth of HCC cells in vitro, increase the level of apoptosis and the expression of pro-apoptosis-related proteins, and decrease the expression of antiapoptotic proteins. Meanwhile, SSB knockdown reduced HCC cell invasiveness, and the expression of EMT-related proteins changed significantly. We also found that the gene SSB was associated with the level of oxidative stress in liver cancer cells, and the level of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) increased after knockdown of SSB. The results of bioinformatics analysis also showed that high expression of SSB may affect the effect of checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy. In conclusion, we found that SSB is highly expressed in HCC and that upregulated SSB can promote the proliferation and metastasis of HCC through antiapoptotic, altered intracellular oxidative stress level, and EMT pathways, which can serve as a new diagnostic marker and therapeutic target, and patients with high SSB expression may not have obvious ICB therapy effect.

The potential anti-cancer effects of quercetin on blood, prostate and lung cancers: An update

Cancer is caused by abnormal proliferation of cells and aberrant recognition of the immune system. According to recent studies, natural products are most likely to be effective at preventing cancer without causing any noticeable complications. Among the bioactive flavonoids found in fruits and vegetables, quercetin is known for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer properties. This review aims to highlight the potential therapeutic effects of quercetin on some different types of cancers including blood, lung and prostate cancers.

MMP1 Overexpression Promotes Cancer Progression and Associates with Poor Outcome in Head and Neck Carcinoma

Matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP1) has been reported to play key roles in a variety of cancers by degrading the extracellular matrix. However, its carcinogenic roles have not been shown yet in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). This study aimed to elucidate its expression pattern and functional roles as well as clinical significance in HNSCC. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), and immunohistochemistry (IHC) were utilized to determine the MMP1 expression pattern and the associations between its expression and patients' outcome in HNSCC. Mice tongue squamous cell carcinoma model induced by 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide (4NQO) and siRNA-mediated cellular assay in vitro were utilized to evaluate the oncogenic role of MMP1. The biological functions and cancer-related pathways involved in MMP1-related genes were found through bioinformatics analysis. Both mRNA and protein abundance of MMP1 were highly increased in HNSCC as compared to its non-tumor counterparts. MMP1 overexpression positively correlated with advanced tumor size, cervical node metastasis, and advanced pathological grade and lower patients' survival. In the 4NQO-induced animal model, MMP1 expression increased along with the progression of the disease. In HNSCC cells, siRNA-mediated knockdown of MMP1 significantly inhibited cell proliferation, migration, and invasion and activated apoptosis and epithelia-mesenchymal transition (EMT). GSEA, GO, and KEGG analyses showed that MMP1 expression was significantly related to cancer-related pathways and cancer-related functions. Together, our results demonstrated MMP1 serves as a novel prognostic biomarker and putative oncogene in HNSCC.

Synthesis, biological evaluation, migratory inhibition and docking study of Indenopyrazolones as potential anticancer agents

Some bioactive derivatives of indeno[1,2- c ]pyrazolones were synthesized through the reaction of phenylhydrazine, different aldehydes and indan-1,2,3-trione at room temperature in acetonitrile. Analytical and spectroscopic studies have confirmed the structural characteristics of the synthesized compounds. In addition, the target compounds were screened for the in-vitro antiproliferative properties against the B16F10 melanoma cancer cell line by the standard MTT assay. The effect on inflammatory marker cyclooxygenase 2 and matrix metalloproteinase 2, 9 was also checked to determine the anti-inflammatory and anti-cell migratory properties of these compounds. The final compounds were also tested for their tyrosinase inhibitory activity. Among all compounds, screened for anticancer activity, three compounds 4e , 4f and 4h reduced the cell proliferation significantly comparable to that of the positive standard drug erlotinib (IC 50 = 418.9±1.54 µM) with IC 50 values ranging from 20.72-29.35 µM. The compounds 4c-4h decreased the COX-2 expression whereas the MMP 2, 9 expressions were significantly reduced by 4a , 4b and 4h . This was confirmed by molecular docking studies, as 4e , 4f and 4h displayed good interactions with the active site of BRAF protein. The compounds 4b , 4f and 4h exhibited moderate tyrosinase inhibition effect as compared to α-MSH. Collectively, compound 4h can be considered as a candidate for further optimization in the development of anticancer therapies based on the results of biological investigations in this study.

SEZ6L2, regulated by USF1, accelerates the growth and metastasis of breast cancer

Breast cancer (BC) is the second cause of cancer-related mortality in women. Seizure related 6 homolog like 2 (SEZ6L2), a protein presented on cell surface, is involved in tumor development. It was found to be highly expressed in BC, however, its role in BC remains unclear. Herein, we aimed to explore the role of SEZ6L2 in BC. Firstly, the correlationship between SEZ6L2 expression and the clinic pathological characteristics of patients diagnosed with BC was analyzed. Subsequently, the role of SEZ6L2 was further explored using MTT, transwell invasion, flow cytometry, colony formation and wound healing assays. The result showed that the level of SEZ6L2 was remarkably correlated with the TNM stage, HER-2 status and lymph node metastasis of BC. Knockdown of SEZ6L2 significantly suppressed the proliferation of BC cells and induced cell cycle arrest at G1 phase. In addition, SEZ6L2 knockdown repressed their migration and invasion. On the contrary, SEZ6L2 overexpression performed the opposite effects. Furthermore, SEZ6L2 also accelerated the in vivo tumorigenesis of BC cells. Additionally, according to bioinformatics resources, we identified upstream transcription factor 1 (USF1) as a transcriptional factor which bound to the promoter of SEZ6L2 and positively regulated its transcription. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that SEZ6L2 was transcriptionally regulated by USF1 and was involved in the growth and metastasis of BC cells. Revealing the role of SEZ6L2 in BC provides additional knowledge for the pathogenesis of BC, which may benefit to BC therapy.

HSP90 as a regulator of extracellular matrix dynamics

The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a dynamic and organised extracellular network assembled from proteins and carbohydrates exported from the cell. The ECM is critical for multicellular life, providing spatial and temporal cellular cues to maintain tissue homeostasis. Consequently, ECM production must be carefully balanced with turnover to ensure homeostasis; ECM dysfunction culminates in disease. Hsp90 is a molecular chaperone central to protein homeostasis, including in the ECM. Intracellular and extracellular Hsp90 isoforms collaborate to regulate the levels and status of proteins in the ECM via multiple mechanisms. In so doing, Hsp90 regulates ECM dynamics, and changes in Hsp90 levels or activity support the development of ECM-related diseases, like cancer and fibrosis. Consequently, Hsp90 levels may have prognostic value, while inhibition of Hsp90 may have therapeutic potential in conditions characterised by ECM dysfunction.

Insights into the Role of Matrix Metalloproteinases in Precancerous Conditions and in Colorectal Cancer

Simple Summary

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancer worldwide. CRC is derived from polyps and many factors, such as Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMPs) can gain the progression of colorectal carcinogenesis. Many investigations have indicated the role of MMPs in CRC development while there is not enough knowledge about the function of MMPs in precancerous conditions. This review summarizes the current information about the role of MMPs in polyps and CRC progression.

Abstract

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third and second cancer for incidence and mortality worldwide, respectively, and is becoming prevalent in developing countries. Most CRCs derive from polyps, especially adenomatous polyps, which can gradually transform into CRC. The family of Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMPs) plays a critical role in the initiation and progression of CRC. Prominent MMPs, including MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-7, MMP-8, MMP-9, MMP-12, MMP-13, MMP-14, and MMP-21, have been detected in CRC patients, and the expression of most of them correlates with a poor prognosis. Moreover, many studies have explored the inhibition of MMPs and targeted therapy for CRC, but there is not enough information about the role of MMPs in polyp malignancy. In this review, we discuss the role of MMPs in colorectal cancer and its pathogenesis

Melittin suppresses epithelial-mesenchymal transition and metastasis in human gastric cancer AGS cells via regulating Wnt/BMP associated pathway

Gastric cancer has a poor prognosis; once cancer has metastasized, it can easily lead to patient death. Melittin is one of the major components extracted from the bee venom. It has been shown that melittin emerges antitumor activities against many human cancer cell lines. Our results indicated that melittin at 0.2-0.5 µm significantly reduced total cell viability in human gastric cancer AGS cells. At low concentrations (0.05-0.15 µm), melittin displayed antimetastasis effects and inhibited cell adhesion and colony formation. Besides, it inhibited cell motility and suppressed cell migration and invasion. Melittin inhibited the activities of MMP-2 and MMP-9 and the integrity of cell membrane in AGS cells. Furthermore, Western blotting results showed that melittin decreased the protein expressions of Wnt/BMP and MMP-2 signaling pathways. Based on these observations, melittin inhibited cell migration and invasion of AGS cells through multiple signaling pathways. It may be used to treat metastasized gastric cancers in the future.

Immune Infiltration of MMP14 in Pan Cancer and Its Prognostic Effect on Tumors

Background

Matrix metalloproteinase 14 (MMP14) is a member of the MMP family, which interacts with tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase (TIMPs), and is involved in normal physiological functions such as cell migration, invasion, metastasis, angiogenesis, and proliferation, as well as tumor genesis and progression. However, there has been a lack of relevant reports on the effect of MMP14 across cancers. This study aims to explore the correlation between MMP14 and pan-cancer prognosis, immune infiltration, and the effects of pan-cancer gene mismatch repair (MMR), microsatellite instability (MSI), tumor mutational burden (TMB), DNA methylation, and immune checkpoint genes.

Methods

In this study, we used bioinformatics to analyze data from multiple databases, including The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), ONCOMINE, and Kaplan–Meier plotter. We investigated the relationship between the expression of MMP14 in tumors and tumor prognosis, the relationship between MMP14 expression and tumor cell immune infiltration, and the relationship between MMR gene MMR, MSI, TMB, DNA methylation, and immune checkpoint genes.

Results

MMP14 expression is highly associated with the prognosis of a variety of cancers and tumor immune invasion and has important effects on pan oncologic MMR, MSI, TMB, DNA methylation, and immune checkpoint genes.

Conclusion

MMP14 is highly correlated with tumor prognosis and immune invasion and affects the occurrence and progression of many tumors. All of these results fully indicate that MMP14 may be a biomarker for the prognosis, diagnosis, and treatment of many tumors and provide new ideas and direction for subsequent tumor immune research and treatment strategies.

Matrix metalloproteinase contribution in management of cancer proliferation, metastasis and drug targeting

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) or matrixins, are members of a zinc-dependent endopeptidase family. They cause remodeling of the extracellular matrix (ECM) leading to numerous diseases. MMPs subfamilies possess: collagenases, gelatinases, stromelysins and membrane-type MMPs (MT-MMP). They consist of several domains; pro-peptide, catalytic, linker peptide and the hemopexin (Hpx) domains. MMPs are involved in initiation, proliferation and metastasis of cancer through the breakdown of ECM physical barriers. Overexpression of MMPs is associated with poor prognosis of cancer. This review will discuss both types of MMPs and current inhibitors, which target them in different aspects, including, biosynthesis, activation, secretion and catalytic activity. Several synthetic and natural inhibitors of MMPs (MMPIs) that can bind the catalytic domain of MMPs have been designed including; peptidomimetic, non-peptidomimetic, tetracycline derivatives, off-target MMPI, natural products, microRNAs and monoclonal antibodies.

MMP1 regulated by NEAT1/miR-361-5p axis facilitates the proliferation and migration of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma via the activation of Wnt pathway

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) is one of the most malignant tumors worldwide. It has been validated that matrix metallopeptidase 1 (MMP1) expression was obviously up-regulated in CSCC tissues. However, its specific role in CSCC is still unclear. RT-qPCR analysis and western blot assays were used to measure the mRNA and protein expressions, respectively. MTT and colony formation assays were conducted to assess proliferative ability. Transwell assays were adopted to evaluate migratory and invasive abilities. Flow cytometry and caspase-3/8/9 activity assays were carried out to evaluate cell apoptosis. Relevant mechanism experiments were finally performed to delineate molecular relationship among genes. We found that the expression of MMP1 was up-regulated in CSCC cells, and knockdown of MMP1 suppressed cell proliferation and invasion in CSCC. Subsequently, miR-361-5p was validated to target MMP1. Moreover, miR-361-5p was proved to be sponged by nuclear paraspeckle assembly transcript 1 (NEAT1) in CSCC. We further demonstrated that NEAT1 could activate Wnt pathway to affect cell proliferation and invasion. Finally, miR-361-5p inhibition rescued the suppressing effects of NEAT1 depletion on cell proliferation, invasion as well as Wnt pathway in CSCC. In summary, MMP1 regulated by NEAT1/miR-361-5p axis facilitated CSCC malignant behaviors via Wnt pathway activation.

A novel circular RNA, hsa_circ_0030998 suppresses lung cancer tumorigenesis and Taxol resistance by sponging miR-558

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are single-stranded RNAs which form a covalently closed continuous loop. Although originally shown to be non-protein-coding, some circRNAs can give rise to micropeptides. circRNAs have also been shown to play essential regulatory roles in a variety of developmental and disease processes. In a previous study, hsa_circ_0030998 was identified as a circRNA downregulated in lung cancer, but its potential implications and mechanisms in lung cancer were not addressed. Here, we showed that overexpressing circ_0030998 decreased proliferation, migration, and invasion of lung cancer cells, while also dampening resistance to Taxol, a classical antitumor drug. Depleting circ_0030998 reversed these phenotypic effects. A high circ_0030998 expression was correlated with a high survival rate in lung cancer patients. Additionally, we found circ_0030998 could downregulate miR-558 expression, serving as a microRNA sponge. In conclusion, our data support that hsa_circ_0030998 can slow down the progression of lung cancer by targeting miR-558 and suppress malignant phenotypes such as proliferation, migration, and invasion progression of lung cancer cells. Therefore, we highlight that circ_0030998 could be a novel tumor suppressor of lung cancer.

Inhibition of bacterial and human zinc-metalloproteases by bisphosphonate- and catechol-containing compounds

Compounds containg catechol or bisphosphonate were tested as inhibitors of the zinc metalloproteases, thermolysin (TLN), pseudolysin (PLN) and aureolysin (ALN) which are bacterial virulence factors, and the human matrix metalloproteases MMP-9 and -14. Inhibition of virulence is a putative strategy in the development of antibacterial drugs, but the inhibitors should not interfere with human enzymes. Docking indicated that the inhibitors bound MMP-9 and MMP-14 with the phenyl, biphenyl, chlorophenyl, nitrophenyl or methoxyphenyl ringsystem in the S₁'-subpocket, while these ringsystems entered the S₂'- or S₁ -subpockets or a region involving amino acids in the S₁'- and S₂'-subpockets of the bacterial enzymes. An arginine conserved among the bacterial enzymes seemed to hinder entrance deeply into the S₁'-subpocket. Only the bisphosphonate containing compound RC2 bound stronger to PLN and TLN than to MMP-9 and MMP-14. Docking indicated that the reason was that the conserved arginine (R203 in TLN and R198 in PLN) interacts with phosphate groups of RC2.

Matrix metalloproteinase-9 as a messenger in the cross talk between obstructive sleep apnea and comorbid systemic hypertension, cardiac remodeling, and ischemic stroke: a literature review

STUDY OBJECTIVES

OSA is a common sleep disorder. There is a strong link between sleep-related breathing disorders and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) is a biological marker for extracellular matrix degradation, which plays a significant role in systemic hypertension, myocardial infarction and postmyocardial infarction heart failure, and ischemic stroke. This article reviews MMP-9 as an inflammatory mediator and a potential messenger between OSA and OSA-induced comorbidities.

METHODS

We reviewed the MEDLINE database (PubMed) for publications on MMP-9, OSA, and cardiovascular disease, identifying 1,592 studies and including and reviewing 50 articles for this work.

RESULTS

There is strong evidence that MMP-9 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 levels are elevated in patients with OSA (mainly MMP-9), systemic hypertension, myocardial infarction, and postmyocardial infarction heart failure. Our study showed variable results that could be related to the sample size or to laboratory methodology.

CONCLUSIONS

MMP-9 and its endogenous inhibitor, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1, are a common denominator in OSA, systemic hypertension, myocardial infarction, and heart failure. This characterization makes MMP-9 a target for developing novel selective inhibitors that can serve as adjuvant therapy in patients with OSA, which may ameliorate the cardiovascular and cerebrovascular mortality associated with OSA.

A plant-based medicinal food inhibits the growth of human gastric carcinoma by reversing epithelial-mesenchymal transition via the canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway

Background

Natural products, especially those with high contents of phytochemicals, are promising alternative medicines owing to their antitumor properties and few side effects. In this study, the effects of a plant-based medicinal food (PBMF) composed of six medicinal and edible plants, namely, Coix seed, Lentinula edodes, Asparagus officinalis L., Houttuynia cordata, Dandelion, and Grifola frondosa, on gastric cancer and the underlying molecular mechanisms were investigated in vivo.

Methods

A subcutaneous xenograft model of gastric cancer was successfully established in nude mice inoculated with SGC-7901 cells. The tumor-bearing mice were separately underwent with particular diets supplemented with three doses of PBMF (43.22, 86.44, and 172.88 g/kg diet) for 30 days. Tumor volumes were recorded. Histopathological changes in and apoptosis of the xenografts were evaluated by hematoxylin and eosin staining and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling staining, respectively. Serum levels of TNF-α, MMP-2, and MMP-9 were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The mRNA expression levels of β-catenin, GSK-3β, E-cadherin, N-cadherin, MMP-2/9, Snail, Bax, Bcl-2, Caspase-3/9, and Cyclin D1 were evaluated via real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The protein expression levels of GSK-3β, E-cadherin, N-cadherin, and Ki-67 were determined by immunohistochemistry staining.

Results

PBMF treatment efficiently suppressed neoplastic growth, induced apoptosis, and aggravated necrosis in the xenografts of SGC-7901 cells. PBMF treatment significantly decreased the serum levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 and significantly increased that of TNF-α. Furthermore, PBMF treatment notably upregulated the mRNA expression levels of GSK-3β, E-cadherin, Bax, Caspase-3, and Caspase-9 but substantially downregulated those of β-catenin, N-cadherin, MMP-2, MMP-9, Snail, and Cyclin D1 in tumor tissues. The Bax/Bcl-2 ratio was upregulated at the mRNA level. Moreover, PBMF treatment remarkably increased the protein expression levels of GSK-3β and E-cadherin but notably reduced those of Ki-67 and N-cadherin in tumor tissues.

Conclusions

The PBMF concocted herein exerts anti-gastric cancer activities via epithelial–mesenchymal transition reversal, apoptosis induction, and proliferation inhibition. The underlying molecular mechanisms likely rely on suppressing the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12906-021-03301-6.

Importance of Altered Gene Expression of Metalloproteinases 2, 9, and 16 in Acute Myeloid Leukemia: Preliminary Study

Acute myeloid leukemia is a group of hematological neoplasms characterized by a heterogeneous course and high mortality. The important factor in the neoplastic process is metalloproteinases, proteolytic enzymes capable of degrading various components of the extracellular matrix, which take an active part in modifying the functioning of the cell, including transformation to cancer cell. They interact with numerous signaling pathways responsible for the process of cell growth, proliferation, or apoptosis. In the present study, changes in the expression of MMP2, MMP9, and MMP16 genes between patients with AML and people without cancer were examined. The impact of cytogenetic changes in neoplastic cells on the expression level of MMP2, MMP9, and MMP16 was also assessed, as well as the impact of the altered expression on the effectiveness of the first cycle of remission-inducing therapy. To evaluate the expression of all studied genes MMP2, MMP9, and MMP16, SYBR Green-based real-time PCR method was used; the reference gene was GAPDH. For two investigated genes MMP2 and MMP16, the lower expression level was observed in patients with AML when compared to healthy people. The MMP9 gene expression level did not differ between patients with AML and healthy individuals which may indicate a different regulation of gene expression in acute myeloid leukemia. However, no correlation was observed between the genes' expression of all tested metalloproteinases and the result of cytoreductive treatment or the presence of cytogenetic changes. The obtained results show that the expression of MMP2 and MMP16 genes is reduced while the expression of MMP9 is unchanged in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. This may indicate a different regulation of the expression of these genes, and possible disruptions in gene transcription or posttranscriptional mechanisms in the MMP2 and MMP16 genes, however, do not affect the level of MMP9 expression. Obtained results in AML patients are in contrary to various types of solid tumors where increased expression is usually observed.

Identification of crucial long non-coding RNAs and mRNAs along with related regulatory networks through microarray analysis in esophageal carcinoma

Esophageal carcinoma (EC) is a tremendous threat to human health and life worldwide. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been identified as crucial players in carcinomas including EC. An in-depth understanding on regulatory networks of lncRNAs contributes to the better management of EC. In this text, 2052 lncRNAs and 3240 mRNAs were found to be differentially expressed in 5 EC tumor tissues versus adjacent normal tissues by microarray analysis. Moreover, 297 carcinoma-related genes were screened out according to pathway and disease annotation analyses. In addition, 410 potential lncRNA-mRNA cis-regulation pairs and 395 lncRNA-mRNA trans-regulation pairs were screened out. Among these genes, 14 trans-regulated and 19 cis-regulated genes were found to be related with carcinomas. Additionally, 42 possible lncRNA-mRNA trans-regulation pairs and 26 cis-regulation pairs were found to be related with carcinomas. Also, 4 differentially expressed transcription factors in EC and lncRNAs possibly regulated by these transcription factors were screened out. Moreover, plenty of common upregulated or downregulated lncRNAs and mRNAs in EC were identified by comparative analysis for our microarray outcomes and previous high-throughput data. Furthermore, we demonstrated that ENST00000437781.1 knockdown inhibited cell proliferation and facilitated cell apoptosis by downregulating SIX homeobox 4 (SIX4) and ENST00000524987.1 knockdown had no influence on anoctamin 1 calcium activated chloride channel (ANO1) expression in EC cells. In conclusion, we identified some crucial lncRNAs and genes along with potential regulatory networks of lncRNAs/genes, deepening our understanding on pathogenesis of EC.

Deciphering the genetic alterations in matrix metallo-proteinase gene family and its putative association with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Matrix metallo-proteinases (MMPs) a group of zinc-dependent proteolytic enzymes which play a key role in tumorigenesis by degrading almost all extracellular matrix (ECM) components. MMPs are associated with tumour progression including invasion, angiogenesis, metastasis and poor prognosis. Genetic alterations such as single nucleotide variations and other gross chromosomal abnormalities have been found to drive the process of malignant transformation. In line with the above facts, the present study aims to analyse the genetic alterations, associated gene expression patterns and survival probability of HNSCC patients upon differential expression of the crucial members of the MMP family. The observational study utilised several computational tools. The cBioportal database was used as the primary source of identification of genetic alterations in the MMP family of genes. The Cancer Gene Atlas dataset (Firehose Legacy) was used for the investigations. The highest frequency of alteration was identified in the MMP20 gene (8%). The common gene alterations were amplifications, deep deletions, mis-sense and truncating mutations. Interestingly, amplification and deep deletion followed the same pattern in about 31 patients, in genes MMP1, 3, 7, 8, 10, 12, 20, and 27. The MMP20 gene expression analysis showed a significant difference between the normal subjects and the patients with primary tumors (6.95 x 10^-4). The Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis identified that female patients with high-level expression of the MMP20 gene had a low survival probability when compared to male HNSC patients. Taken together, the present study provides preliminary information about the involvement of the MMP20 gene of the MMP family with HNSCC. Further experimental analysis is required to derive a strong association between the gene alterations observed with HNSCC.

miRNAs: Critical mediators of breast cancer metastatic programming

MicroRNA mediated aberrant gene regulation has been implicated in several diseases including cancer. Recent research has highlighted the role of epigenetic modulation of the complex process of breast cancer metastasis by miRNAs. miRNAs play a crucial role in the process of metastatic evolution by facilitating alterations in the phenotype of tumor cells and the tumor microenvironment that promote this process. They act as critical determinants of the multi-step progression starting from carcinogenesis all the way to organotropism. In this review, we focus on the current understanding of the compelling role of miRNAs in breast cancer metastasis.

Multifaceted Role of Matrix Metalloproteinases in Neurodegenerative Diseases: Pathophysiological and Therapeutic Perspectives

Neurodegeneration is the pathological condition, in which the nervous system or neuron loses its structure, function, or both, leading to progressive degeneration or the death of neurons, and well-defined associations of tissue system, resulting in clinical manifestations. Neuroinflammation has been shown to precede neurodegeneration in several neurodegenerative diseases (NDs). No drug is yet known to delay or treat neurodegeneration. Although the etiology and potential causes of NDs remain widely indefinable, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) evidently have a crucial role in the progression of NDs. MMPs, a protein family of zinc (Zn²⁺)-containing endopeptidases, are pivotal agents that are involved in various biological and pathological processes in the central nervous system (CNS). The current review delineates the several emerging evidence demonstrating the effects of MMPs in the progression of NDs, wherein they regulate several processes, such as (neuro)inflammation, microglial activation, amyloid peptide degradation, blood brain barrier (BBB) disruption, dopaminergic apoptosis, and α-synuclein modulation, leading to neurotoxicity and neuron death. Published papers to date were searched via PubMed, MEDLINE, etc., while using selective keywords highlighted in our manuscript. We also aim to shed a light on pathophysiological effect of MMPs in the CNS and focus our attention on its detrimental and beneficial effects in NDs, with a special focus on Parkinson's disease (PD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Alzheimer's disease (AD), multiple sclerosis (MS), and Huntington's disease (HD), and discussed various therapeutic strategies targeting MMPs, which could serve as potential modulators in NDs. Over time, several agents have been developed in order to overcome challenges and open up the possibilities for making selective modulators of MMPs to decipher the multifaceted functions of MMPs in NDs. There is still a greater need to explore them in clinics.

SIRT3 deficiency increases mitochondrial oxidative stress and promotes migration of retinal pigment epithelial cells

Retinal pigment epithelial cells are closely associated with the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy. The mechanism by which diabetes impacts retinal pigment epithelial cell function is of significant interest. Sirtuins are an important class of proteins that primarily possess nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide-dependent deacetylases activity and involved in various cellular physiological and pathological processes. Here, we aimed to examine the role of sirtuins in the induction of diabetes-associated retinal pigment epithelial cell dysfunction. High glucose and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) treatment induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition and the migration of retinal pigment epithelial cells, and decreased sirtuin-3 expression. Sirtuin-3 knockdown using siRNA increased epithelial-mesenchymal transition and migration of retinal pigment epithelial cells. In contrast, sirtuin-3 overexpression attenuated the effects caused by high glucose and PDGF on epithelial-mesenchymal transition and migration of retinal pigment epithelial cells, suggesting that sirtuin-3 deficiency contributed to retinal pigment epithelial cell dysfunction induced by high glucose and PDGF. Mechanistically, sirtuin-3 deficiency induced retinal pigment epithelial cell dysfunction by the overproduction of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species. These results suggest that sirtuin-3 deficiency mediates the migration of retinal pigment epithelial cells, at least partially by increasing mitochondrial oxidative stress, and shed light on the importance of sirtuin-3 and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species as potential targets in diabetic retinopathy therapy.

Association of Serum Dystroglycan, MMP-2/9 and AQP-4 with Haematoma Expansion in Patients with Intracerebral Haemorrhage

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to explore association of serum dystroglycan (DG), matrix metalloproteinase-2/matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-2/9), and aquaporin-4 (AQP-4) expression and haematoma expansion in patients with intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH), which are proteins involved in maintaining the integrity of the blood-brain barrier.

METHODS

We included patients older than 18 years old with ICH who had undergone baseline CT within 6 hours after intracerebral haemorrhage symptom onset in our hospital between April 2018 and December 2018. Two readers independently assessed haematoma volume and other imaging information upon admission and again within 24 hours. All patients underwent 5 mL of venous blood collection 6 and 24 hours after admission. Serum expression levels of dystroglycan, matrix metalloproteinase-2/matrix metalloproteinase-9 and aquaporin-4 were determined by quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Repeated analysis of variance was used to determine whether expression of the four proteins in patients with cerebral haemorrhage changed within 24 hours and whether there were differences between the haematoma enlargement and non-haematoma enlargement groups over time. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to compare the correlation among expression of the four proteins, clinical characteristics of patients and haematoma enlargement.

RESULTS

Expression levels of serum matrix metalloproteinase-2/matrix metalloproteinases-9 and aquaporin-4 gradually increased within 24 hours in patients with cerebral haemorrhage (P<0.001), while expression levels of dystroglycan gradually decreased (P<0.01). Expression of serum matrix metalloproteinases-9 6 hours after onset was independently correlated with the expansion of cerebral haemorrhage. The ROC curve (AUC=0.778, 95% Cl: 0.661-0.894, P<0.001) exhibited high sensitivity (0.900) and low specificity (0.642).

CONCLUSION

These data support that expression of MMP-9 in peripheral blood is independently correlated with the enlargement of haematoma in patients with intracerebral haemorrhage 6 hours after onset and can be used as an independent predictor of haematoma enlargement in patients with intracerebral haemorrhage. However, although the expression of MMP-2, AQP-4 and DG exhibited some changes within 6 and 24 hours after onset, they were not independently correlated with early haematoma enlargement in patients with intracerebral haemorrhage. Further multi-time point exploration and expansion of the sample size is necessary in future studies.

MicroRNA‑34a‑5p serves as a tumor suppressor by regulating the cell motility of bladder cancer cells through matrix metalloproteinase‑2 silencing

Bladder cancer (BC), a common urologic cancer, is the fifth most frequently diagnosed tumor worldwide. hsa-miR-34a displays antitumor activity in several types of cancer. However, the functional mechanisms underlying hsa-miR-34a in BC remains largely unknown. We observed that hsa-mir-34a levels were significantly and negatively associated with clinical disease stage as well as regional lymph node metastasis in human BC. In a series of in vitro investigations, overexpression of hsa-miR-34a inhibited cell migration and invasion in BC cell lines 5637 and UMUC3 as detected by Transwell assays. We further found that hsa-miR-34a inhibited cell migration and invasion by silencing matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) expression and thus interrupting MMP-2-mediated cell motility. Our analysis of BC datasets from The Cancer Genome Atlas database revealed a negative correlation between hsa-miR-34a and MMP-2. Moreover, higher MMP-2 protein expression was observed in the BC tissues when compared with that noted in the normal tissue. MMP-2 levels were also significantly associated with clinical disease stage and poor survival rate in human BC. These findings indicate that MMP-2 plays a critical role in regulating BC progression. Therefore, hsa-miR-34a is a promising treatment to target MMP-2 for the prevention and inhibition of cell migration and invasion in BC.

Activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3) regulates cell growth, apoptosis, invasion and collagen synthesis in keloid fibroblast through transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta)/SMAD signaling pathway

The successful treatment of keloids is a great challenge in the plastic surgery field. Activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3) is discovered as an adaptive responsive gene, which plays a critical role in fibroblast activation. This study aimed to investigate the expression and biological role of ATF3 in the pathogenesis of keloids. ATF3 expression in normal skins and keloids was evaluated by real-time PCR, western blot and immunohistochemistry. Effects of ATF3 on cell growth, apoptosis, invasion and collagen production were evaluated in keloid fibroblast cells overexpressing or downregulating ATF3. ATF3 expression was significantly elevated in keloid tissues when compared with that of normal skins and parakeloidal skin tissues. Moreover, ATF3 promoted cell proliferation and collagen production in keloid fibroblast cells. Conversely, transfection with siRNA targeting ATF3 led to decreased cell viability and collagen synthesis via inhibiting transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and fibroblast growth factor 2/8 (FGF2/8) production in keloid fibroblasts. ATF3 could reduce the apoptosis rate of keloid fibroblast cells. Molecularly, we found that ATF3 promoted BCL2 level and inhibit the expression of BCL2 associated agonist of cell death (Bad), Caspase3 and Caspase9 in keloid fibroblast cells. ATF3 also enhanced the invasive potential via upregulating the expression of Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMP) family members (MMP1, MMP2, MMP9 and MMP13). ATF3 could induce activation of TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway in fibroblasts. Collectively, ATF3 could promote growth and invasion, and inhibit apoptosis via TGF-β/Smad pathway in keloid fibroblast cells, suggesting that ATF3 might be considered as a novel therapeutic target for the management of keloid.

Examination of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Precancerous Lesions Using Proximity Extension Assay and Salivary RNA Quantification

Saliva is an easy-to access body fluid with high diagnostic potential. The utilization of saliva for oral cancer diagnosis can be an attractive possibility. Besides the oral cancer, it is important to better understand the precancerous lesions such as oral lichen planus (OLP) and leukoplakia (OLK). In order to examine the changes of salivary proteins in controls, patients with oral cancer, and patients with precancerous conditions, proximity extension assay was utilized. Some proteins and functions were characteristic to the examined groups and can serve as a starting point for further biomarker studies. The different nature of OLK and OLP was demonstrated, showing the malignant transformation and the inflammation as the prominent biological processes in the OLK and OLP, respectively. The salivary level of IL6 was verified using quantitative ELISA and the mRNA level was also studied. Elevated IL6 levels could be detected in precancerous groups compared to controls.

Silencing LINC00482 inhibits tumor-associated inflammation and angiogenesis through down-regulation of MMP-15 via FOXA1 in bladder cancer

Multiple studies have previously demonstrated that long intergenic non-coding RNAs (lincRNAs) play an important role in the development of bladder cancer. However, little is known regarding the underlying molecular mechanisms of LINC00482 functions in bladder cancer. The current study aimed to elucidate the role of LINC00482 in the progression of bladder cancer. The initial step was to detect the expressions of LINC00482 and MMP15 in bladder cancer cells and tissue. According to the results from the RT-qPCR, LINC00482 and MMP15 were both highly expressed in bladder cancer cells and tissue. The relationship among LINC00482, FOXA1 and MMP15 was studied via dual-luciferase reporter assay. LINC00482 was positively correlated with MMP15. LINC00482 promoted MMP15 expression by recruiting FOXA1. Using the gain- and loss-of-function approaches, silencing of LINC00482 resulted in the downregulation of VEGF and NF-κB protein levels, decreased expression of inflammatory factors, and inhibited angiogenesis. Silencing of LINC00482 also suppressed tumor-associated inflammation and angiogenesis in vivo, which was found to be reversed by the overexpression of MMP15. The present study demonstrated that LINC00482 induced the expression of MMP15 by interacting with FOXA1, thereby contributing to the inflammation and angiogenesis in bladder cancer.

The gut microbiome as a target for adjuvant therapy in obstructive sleep apnea

Introduction: Gut dysbiosis is assumed to play a role in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)-associated morbidities. Pre- and probiotics, short chain fatty acids (SCFA) and fecal matter transplantation (FMT) may offer potential as novel therapeutic strategies that target this gut dysbiosis. As more mechanisms of OSA-induced dysbiosis are being elucidated, these novel approaches are being tested in preclinical and clinical development. Areas covered: We examined the evidence linking OSA to gut dysbiosis and discuss the effects of pre- and probiotics on associated cardiometabolic, neurobehavioral and gastrointestinal disorders. The therapeutic potential of SCFA and FMT are also discussed. We reviewed the National Center for Biotechnology Information database, including PubMed and PubMed Central between 2000 - 2020. Expert opinion: To date, there are no clinical trials and only limited evidence from animal studies describing the beneficial effects of pre- and probiotic supplementation on OSA-mediated dysbiosis. Thus, more work is necessary to assess whether prebiotics, probiotics and SCFA are promising future novel strategies for targeting OSA-mediated dysbiosis.

Prognostic role of matrix metalloproteinase 9 in early breast cancer

MMP9 is involved in extracellular matrix degradation during various physiological and pathological conditions, including tumorigenesis. The present study aimed to assess the prognostic role of intratumoral MMP9 and to determine its association with circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in patients with early breast cancer. A total of 318 patients with primary breast cancer (PBC) were enrolled into the present study. Specimens were subjected to immunohistochemistry analysis, using the MMP9 monoclonal antibody. MMP9 expression was scored using a weighted histoscore (WH). The results demonstrated that the mean WH ± SEM for MMP9 expression was significantly higher in breast tumor cells compared with tumor associated stromas (132.0±5.2 vs. 50.8±3.7; P<0.00001). Furthermore, a positive association was observed between MMP9 expression, the hormone positive status and proliferation index of analysed breast cancer tumour cells. Notably, the prognostic role of MMP9 was not observed in tumor cells [hazard ratio (HR) =0.96; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.58-1.59; P=0.864] or tumor associated stroma (HR=1.29; 95% CI, 0.60-2.78; P=0.547). Subgroup analysis demonstrated that patients that were HR negative or triple negative, with low MMP9 expression in tumor cells and stroma had a significantly improved disease-free survival than patients with high MMP9 expression. Taken together, the results of the present study demonstrated that high MMP9 expression in PBC was associated with favorable tumor characteristics. However, the prognostic value of MMP9 was limited to only the HR negative and CTC epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition positive subgroups. Thus, analyzing MMP9 tumor expression may help identify patients with increased risk of disease recurrence in these subgroups.

Specific Inhibitor of Matrix Metalloproteinase Decreases Tumor Invasiveness After Radiofrequency Ablation in Liver Tumor Animal Model

Objective

To determine whether the specific inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-batimastat (BB-94)-could decrease the progression of liver tumor after radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and achieve better therapeutic efficacy in an animal model.

Methods

In vitro experiments, the proliferation of H22 liver tumor cells was detected by CCK 8 assay and cell migration was detected by Transwell method. In vivo experiments, H22 murine liver tumors were used. First, 32 mice with one tumor were randomized into four groups (n = 8 each group): control (PBS only), RFA alone (65°C, 5 min), BB-94 (30 mg/kg), RFA+BB-94. The growth rate of the residual tumor and the end point survival were calculated and the pathologic changes were evaluated. Secondly, a total of 48 tumors in 24 animals (paired tumors) were randomized into three groups (n = 8 each group): control, RFA alone, RFA+BB-94. Each mouse was implanted with two tumors subcutaneously, one tumor was treated by RFA and the other was evaluated for distant metastasis after applying BB-94.

Results

In vitro, the proliferation assay demonstrated higher proliferation ability after heat treatment (0.82 ± 0.07 vs 1.27 ± 0.08, P = 0.008), and it could be inhibited by BB-94 (1.27 ± 0.08 vs 0.67 ± 0.06, P = 0.001). In the cell migration assay, the H22 cells demonstrated enhanced tumor invasiveness in the heat group than the control group (33.7 ± 2.1 vs 19.7 ± 4.9, P = 0.011). And it could be significantly suppressed after BB-94 incubation (33.7 ± 2.1 vs 23.0 ± 4.6, P = 0.009). With one tumor animal, the growth rate of the residual tumor in the BB-94+RFA group was slower than that in the RFA alone group (P = 0.003). And combination of BB-94 could significantly prolong the survival of the mice (40.3 ± 1.4d vs 47.1 ± 1.3d, P = 0.002). The expression of CD31 and VEGF at the coagulation margin were decreased after combined with BB-94. With two tumors animal, the growth of metastasis tumor in the BB-94+RFA group was slower than that in the RFA group (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

BB-94 combined with RFA reduced the invasiveness of the liver tumor and improved the end-point survival. Our data suggested that targeting the MMP process with the specific inhibition could help to increase overall ablation efficacy.

Correlation between MMP2 expression in lung cancer tissues and clinical parameters: a retrospective clinical analysis

Background

Matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2) has been found to be related to malignant tumors; the aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between MMP2 expression in lung cancer tissues and clinical parameters of lung cancer.

Methods

The expression of MMP2 in lung cancer tissues and in adjacent non-malignant tissues was tested by immunohistochemistry. The correlation between the expression of MMP2 and clinical parameters of lung cancer was analyzed by Kaplan-Meier curve and multiple regression analysis.

Results

The expression of MMP2 was higher in lung cancer tissues than that in adjacent non-malignant tissues (p = 0.002). Increased MMP2 was associated with low differentiation (p = 0.022), tumor size (p = 0.032), lymph node metastasis (p < 0.001), advanced stage (p = 0.002). The post-surgical survival time in patients with high MMP2 expression was shorter than that in patients with low MMP2 expression (p = 0.001). High expression of MMP2 (p = 0.006) and advanced stage (p = 0.003) were independent prognostic indicators for survival of lung cancer patients.

Conclusions

Increased MMP2 correlates with malignant biological behavior of lung cancer and it could be a potential biomarker for diagnosis and prognosis of the disease.

Anti-cancer activity of benzoxazinone derivatives via targeting c-Myc G-quadruplex structure

AIMS

This study aimed to analyze the impact of four synthesized benzoxazinone derivatives as screening drugs on c-Myc-overexpressed cancer cells (H7402, HeLa, SK-RC-42, SGC7901, and A549) and to explore their interaction mechanisms in detail.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Using morphological analysis, real-time cytotoxicity analysis, wound healing assay, reverse transcription PCR, electrophoretic mobility shift assay, and circular dichroism spectroscopy techniques.

KEY FINDINGS

Results revealed that these four compounds could inhibit proliferation of SK-RC-42, SGC7901, and A549 cells in five cancer cell lines to varying degrees and significantly hinder migration. More importantly, the RT-PCR assay showed that the compounds could surprisingly downregulate the expression of c-Myc mRNA in a dose-dependent manner in the five cancer cells, which may be one of the causes of cancer cell proliferation in vitro inhibition. Further EMSA assays demonstrated that at the molecular level of DNA, four compounds can induce the formation of G-quadruplexes (G4-DNAs) in the c-Myc gene promoter. In addition, the CD result of compound 1 clearly indicates that it specifically induces a c-Myc GC-rich 36mer double-stranded DNA in the c-Myc promoter to form a G-quadruplex hybrid configuration. In conclusion, the compounds studied could dose-dependently inhibit the growth and migration of the cancer cells being investigated. This is positively associated with the reduction of overexpression of the c-Myc gene, which may be significantly regulated by the association of compounds with the G-quadruplexes produced in the c-Myc gene promoter region.

SIGNIFICANCE

We conclude that three compounds merit further study, particularly against non-small-cell lung cancer, as leading compounds of anticancer drugs.

Liver X receptor agonist T0901317 inhibits the migration and invasion of non-small-cell lung cancer cells in vivo and in vitro

Liver X receptors are recognized as important regulators of cholesterol, fatty acid metabolism, inflammatory responses, and glucose homeostasis. The antineoplastic properties of synthetic liver X receptor (LXR) agonists (T0901317 and GW3965) have been reported in human carcinomas. Epidermal growth factor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) is a first-line treatment for non-small-cell lung cancer patients with EGFR mutations. We used scratch and transwell assays to analyze cell migration and invasion. We evaluated tumor migration and invasion in vitro using a fluorescent orthotopic lung cancer model. An MMP9 (mouse) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit was used to measure serum MMP9 concentrations. Protein expression was identified by western blot assays. In this study, we determined the effects of T0901317 and/or an EGFR-TKI on the lung cancer cell lines A549 and HCC827-8-1 in vitro and in vivo. We confirmed that the combination of the LXR agonist T0901317 and gefitinib can inhibit the migration and invasion of lung cancer both in vivo and in vitro, and this effect was possibly achieved by the inhibition of the ERK/MAPK signaling pathway. Our study showed that the combination of the LXR agonist T0901317 and gefitinib can inhibit the migration and invasion of lung cancer both in vivo and in vitro.

Glypican-1 Level Is Elevated in Extracellular Vesicles Released from MC38 Colon Adenocarcinoma Cells Overexpressing Snail

The transcription factor Snail triggers epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), endowing cancer cells with invasive properties during tumor progression. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) released from cancer cells at various stages of cancer progression are known to influence the tumor pre-metastatic niche and metastatic potential. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of Snail on murine colon adenocarcinoma cells (MC38 line) and on the characteristics of their EVs. Stable clones of Snail-overexpressing MC38 cells were investigated in vitro versus Mock cells. Increased expression of matrix metalloproteinase MMP-14 and augmented activity of MMP-9 and -14 were observed in Snail-MC38 cells. There was no change in the transcriptomic profile of proteoglycans in Snail-MC38 cells; however, the protein level of Glypican-1 (GPC1) was enhanced in EVs released from those cells. Our finding that GPC1 protein level was enhanced in EVs released from MC38 cells that overexpressed Snail and were in an early EMT stage might explain the specificity of the GPC1 biomarker in colon cancer diagnosis. Further, our data suggest that Snail, by changing the level of GPC1 on EVs released by colon cancer cells, may affect the generation of a distant premetastatic niche and metastatic organotropism in colon adenocarcinoma.

Apatinib Inhibits the Invasion and Metastasis of Liver Cancer Cells by Downregulating MMP-Related Proteins via Regulation of the NF-κB Signaling Pathway

Objective

We aimed to investigate whether apatinib has an inhibitory effect on the invasion and metastasis of liver cancer in vitro.

Methods

The anti-invasion and antimetastasis effects of apatinib in HepG2, Hep3B,Huh7 and SMMC-7721 liver cancer cell lines were tested by the wound-healing and transwell invasion assays. Real-time PCR and Western blot were used to detect the influence of apatinib on the gene expression of MMPs, TIMPs, and constituents of the NF-κB signaling pathway in Hep3B and HepG2 liver cell lines.

Results

Apatinib has a significant inhibitory effect on the metastasis and invasion of liver cancer cells. The expression levels of MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-3, MMP-7, MMP-9, MMP-10, MMP-11, and MMP-16 were downregulated, while the expression levels of TIMP-3 and TIMP-4 were upregulated by apatinib treatment at both the mRNA and protein levels. The phosphorylation of IκBα and NF-κB p65 was significantly reduced compared with that in the control group.

Conclusions

Apatinib inhibits the invasion and metastasis of human liver cancer cells by downregulating the expression of MMP-related genes. This may be achieved by inhibiting the activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway.

Metalloproteinases and Their Inhibitors: Potential for the Development of New Therapeutics

The metalloproteinase (MP) family of zinc-dependent proteases, including matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), a disintegrin and metalloproteases (ADAMs), and a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs (ADAMTSs) plays a crucial role in the extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling and degradation activities. A wide range of substrates of the MP family includes ECM components, chemokines, cell receptors, and growth factors. Metalloproteinases activities are tightly regulated by proteolytic activation and inhibition via their natural inhibitors, tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs), and the imbalance of the activation and inhibition is responsible in progression or inhibition of several diseases, e.g., cancer, neurological disorders, and cardiovascular diseases. We provide an overview of the structure, function, and the multifaceted role of MMPs, ADAMs, and TIMPs in several diseases via their cellular functions such as proteolysis of other cell signaling factors, degradation and remodeling of the ECM, and other essential protease-independent interactions in the ECM. The significance of MP inhibitors targeting specific MMP or ADAMs with high selectivity is also discussed. Recent advances and techniques used in developing novel MP inhibitors and MP responsive drug delivery tools are also reviewed.

Zinc-Containing Metalloenzymes: Inhibition by Metal-Based Anticancer Agents

DNA is considered to be the primary target of platinum-based anticancer drugs which have gained great success in clinics, but DNA-targeted anticancer drugs cause serious side-effects and easily acquired drug resistance. This has stimulated the search for novel therapeutic targets. In the past few years, substantial research has demonstrated that zinc-containing metalloenzymes play a vital role in the occurrence and development of cancer, and they have been identified as alternative targets for metal-based anticancer agents. Metal complexes themselves have also exhibited a lot of appealing features for enzyme inhibition, such as: (i) the facile construction of 3D structures that can increase the enzyme-binding selectivity and affinity; (ii) the intriguing photophysical and photochemical properties, and redox activities of metal complexes can offer possibilities to design enzyme inhibitors with multiple modes of action. In this review, we discuss recent examples of zinc-containing metalloenzyme inhibition of metal-based anticancer agents, especially three zinc-containing metalloenzymes overexpressed in tumors, including histone deacetylases (HDACs), carbonic anhydrases (CAs), and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs).

Identification of MMP1 and MMP2 by RNA-seq analysis in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) is the most common histologic subtype of laryngeal cancer characterized by a poor prognosis. Determining gene expression changes in LSCC should improve our understanding of putative risk factors and provide potential targets for therapy.

OBJECTIVES

To assess differential gene expression between LSCC tissue and paired normal laryngeal tissue, and to provide gene targets for future studies of this type of laryngeal cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Three paired-sample groups (tumor and normal tissue) from patients with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma were analyzed by RNA sequencing (RNA-seq).

RESULTS

The six cDNA libraries generated raw reads ranging from 15,195,586 to 21,443,488 counts. Changes in gene expression levels were determined in 40,205 of these counts, with 18,466 deferentially expressed genes in all three groups. Compared to normal tissue, the expression levels of MMP1 and MMP2 increased significantly in tumor tissue of patients with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

CONCLUSIONS

Whole transcriptome sequencing revealed that MMP1 and MMP2 are highly expressed in LSCC. These genes may be useful both as biomarkers for LSCC diagnosis and as targets for therapy, as well as for increasing our understanding of LSCC tumorigenesis.

A protective polymorphism in MMP16, improved blood gas levels, and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases: Family and two population-based studies

The aberrant expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) is known to contribute to the pathogenesis of airway remodeling and alveolar disruption in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In the discovery stage, 11 COPD from five families were subjected to whole-genome sequencing, and 21 common polymorphisms in MMPs and TIMPs were identified. These polymorphisms were genotyped in two subsequent verification studies. Of these polymorphisms, c.2392G>A (rs2664370T>C) and c.4158C>A (rs2664369T>G) in MMP16 remained significantly different. Functionally, we found that MMP16 expression was significantly increased in peripheral blood monocytes (PBMCs) from COPD and in cigarette smoke extract-treated 16HBE cells compared with controls. This was also shown by bioinformatics analysis. COPD carrying rs2664370CC showed decreased levels of MMP16 in the plasma and in PBMCs compared with those carrying CT and TT. Treatment with hsa-miR-576-5p mimics led to a greater reduction in luciferase reporter activity in cells transfected with rs2664370CC. Moreover, blood levels of base excess, PCO₂ , and PO₂ in COPD with rs2664370CC were significantly lower than those with rs2664370CT+TT. Taken together, these results demonstrate that the rs2664370T>C polymorphism in MMP16 protects against the risk of COPD, likely by favoring interaction with hsa-miR-576-5p, leading to reduced MMP16 expression and improved blood gas levels.

Ubiquitin-specific protease-44 inhibits the proliferation and migration of cells via inhibition of JNK pathway in clear cell renal cell carcinoma

Background

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is the most common form of adult kidney cancer. Ubiquitin-specific protease (USP)44 has been reported to be involved in various cancers. We investigated the function, role and molecular mechanism of USP44 in ccRCC.

Methods

Data obtained from the Cancer Genome Atlas Data Portal and Gene Expression Omnibus database were analyzed to uncover the clinical relevance of USP44 expression and tumor development. USP44 function in the proliferation and migration of tumor cells was assessed by cellular and molecular analyses using ccRCC lines (786-O cells and Caki-1 cells).

Results

USP44 showed low expression in ccRCC cancer tissues compared with that in normal tissue. USP44 expression was negatively correlated with tumor stage, tumor grade, and patient survival. USP44 overexpression inhibited the proliferation and migration of 786-O cells and Caki-1 cells significantly. USP44 overexpression also prohibited cell proliferation by upregulating expression of P21, downregulating cyclin-D1 expression, and inhibiting cell migration by downregulating expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)2 and MMP9. USP44 knockdown enhanced the proliferation and migration of 786-O cells and Caki-1 cells. USP44 function in inhibiting the proliferation and migration of 786-O cells and Caki-1 cells was associated with phosphorylation of Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK).

Conclusion

USP44 may be a marker in predicting ccRCC progression. Inhibition by USP44 of the proliferation and migration of 786-O cells and Caki-1 cells is dependent upon the JNK pathway.