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Peled A, Sarig O, Mohamad J, Eskin-Schwartz M, Vodo D, Bochner R, Malchin N, Isakov O, Shomron N, Fainberg G, Bertolini M, Paus R, Sprecher E. Dominant frontonasal dysplasia with ectodermal defects results from increased activity of ALX4. Am J Med Genet A 2023; 191:2806-2812. [PMID: 37724761 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.a.63408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Revised: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023]
Abstract
Frontonasal dysplasia (FND) refers to a group of rare developmental disorders characterized by abnormal morphology of the craniofacial region. We studied a family manifesting with clinical features typical for FND2 including neurobehavioral abnormalities, hypotrichosis, hypodontia, and facial dysmorphism. Whole-exome sequencing analysis identified a novel heterozygous frameshift insertion in ALX4 (c.985_986insGTGC, p.Pro329Argfs*115), encoding aristaless homeobox 4. This and a previously reported dominant FND2-causing variant are predicted to result in the formation of a similar abnormally elongated protein tail domain. Using a reporter assay, we showed that the elongated ALX4 displays increased activity. ALX4 negatively regulates the Wnt/β-catenin pathway and accordingly, patient keratinocytes showed altered expression of genes associated with the WNT/β-catenin pathway, which in turn may underlie ectodermal manifestations in FND2. In conclusion, dominant FND2 with ectodermal dysplasia results from frameshift variants in ALX4 exerting a gain-of-function effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alon Peled
- Division of Dermatology, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Ofer Sarig
- Division of Dermatology, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Janan Mohamad
- Division of Dermatology, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Marina Eskin-Schwartz
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er Sheva, Israel
- Soroka University Medical Center, Genetic Institute, Be'er Sheva, Israel
| | - Dan Vodo
- Division of Dermatology, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Ron Bochner
- Division of Dermatology, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Natalya Malchin
- Division of Dermatology, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Ofer Isakov
- Rabin Medical Center, Raphael Recanati Genetic Institute, Petach Tikva, Israel
- Clalit Research Institute, Clalit Health Services, Ramat Gan, Israel
- The Ivan and Francesca Berkowitz Family Living Laboratory Collaboration at Harvard Medical School and Clalit Research Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Noam Shomron
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Gilad Fainberg
- Department of Ophthalmology, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Marta Bertolini
- Department of Dermatology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
- Monasterium Laboratory, Nano-Bioanalytik Zentrum, Münster, Germany
| | - Ralf Paus
- Monasterium Laboratory, Nano-Bioanalytik Zentrum, Münster, Germany
- Dr Phillip Frost Department of Dermatology & Cutaneous Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Florida, USA
- Centre for Dermatology Research, Institute of Inflammation and Repair, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Eli Sprecher
- Division of Dermatology, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
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Abstract
Background: Breast cancer is a major challenge affecting women's survival. Circular RNAs have been demonstrated to be vital regulators in the pathogenesis of human cancers. The authors' objective was to determine the functional role and mechanism of circKLHL24 in breast cancer development. Materials and Methods: The expression of circKLHL24, miR-1204, and aristaless-like 4 (ALX4) mRNA was measured using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The effects on cell viability, proliferation, migration/invasion, and glycolysis were identified using the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, colony formation assay, Transwell assay, and glycolysis stress test, respectively. For glycolysis progression analysis, glucose consumption and lactate production were assessed using corresponding kits, and the expression of glycolysis-related proteins was detected by Western blot. The putative interactions between miR-1204 and circKLHL24 or ALX4 were validated by dual-luciferase reporter assay or RNA pull-down assay. The expression of ALX4 at the protein level was detected by Western blot. Animal study was performed to clarify the role of circKLHL24 in vivo. Results: circKLHL24 and ALX4 were downregulated, while miR-1204 was upregulated in breast cancer tissues and cells. circKLHL24 overexpression blocked cell viability, colony formation, migration/invasion, and glycolysis progression. circKLHL24 competitively targeted miR-1204, and miR-1204 reintroduction reversed the effects of circKLHL24 restoration. miR-1204 bound to ALX4, and circKLHL24 sponged miR-1204 to upregulate ALX4. Cell viability, colony formation, migration/invasion, and glycolysis progression suppressed by miR-1204 deficiency were recovered by ALX4 knockdown. Besides, circKLHL24 blocked tumor growth in vivo by regulating miR-1204 and ALX4. Conclusions: circKLHL24 blocked the progression of breast cancer by activating ALX4 through targeting miR-1204, which might be a novel perspective to understand the pathogenesis of breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangming Yi
- Department of Oncology, The Third Hospital of Mianyang (Sichuan Mental Health Center), Mianyang City, China
| | - Dan Wang
- Department of Radiology, Mianyang Central Hospital, Mianyang City, China
| | - Jianjun Han
- Department of Oncology, The Third Hospital of Mianyang (Sichuan Mental Health Center), Mianyang City, China
| | - Li Jia
- Department of Oncology, The Third Hospital of Mianyang (Sichuan Mental Health Center), Mianyang City, China
| | - Xiaojun Liu
- Department of Oncology, The Third Hospital of Mianyang (Sichuan Mental Health Center), Mianyang City, China
| | - Jun He
- Department of Oncology, The Third Hospital of Mianyang (Sichuan Mental Health Center), Mianyang City, China
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Li M, Yue W, Li Q, Yu W, Li Y, Cao X. Circular RNA Circ_0000098 Elevates ALX4 Expression via Adsorbing miR-1204 to Inhibit the Progression of Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Front Oncol 2021; 11:696078. [PMID: 34900665 PMCID: PMC8662564 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.696078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Circular RNAs (CircRNAs) feature prominently in the progression of various cancers. However, the biological functions of many circRNAs in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are far from fully clarified. This work is performed to decipher the function of circ_0000098 (circSLC30A7) in modulating the progression of HCC and its molecular mechanism. Methods Microarray data (GSE97332) were available from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, and circRNA differentially expressed in HCC tissues was screened out by GEO2R tool. Circ_0000098, microRNA-1204 (miR-1204), and aristaless-like homeobox-4 (ALX4) mRNA expressions were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), scratch wound healing, and Transwell assays were adopted to determine proliferation, migration, and invasion of HCC cells. ALX4 protein, E-cadherin, N-cadherin, and Vimentin expressions were evaluated by Western blot. In addition, the targeting relationship between miR-1204 and circ_0000098 or ALX4 was studied with dual-luciferase reporter assay and RIP assay. Results Circ_0000098 expression level was markedly declined in HCC tissues and cells, and its underexpression was associated with larger tumor size of HCC patients. Knocking down circ_0000098 observably promoted the multiplication, migration, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of Huh7 and SMMC-7721 cells. Additionally, circ_0000098 was mainly distributed in the cytoplasm of HCC cells, and up-regulated ALX4 expression through competitively decoying miR-1204. Conclusion Circ_0000098, as a competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) of miR-1204, upregulates ALX4 expression and suppresses the growth, migration, invasion, and EMT of HCC cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, Yantai Affiliated Hospital of Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, China
| | - Wenjing Yue
- Department of Gastroenterology, Yantai Affiliated Hospital of Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, China
| | - Qiankun Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, Yantai Affiliated Hospital of Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, China
| | - Wenyu Yu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Yantai Affiliated Hospital of Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, China
| | - Yao Li
- Medical Office, Yantai Affiliated Hospital of Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, China
| | - Xiaoling Cao
- Department of Gastroenterology, Yantai Affiliated Hospital of Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, China
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Walters ME, Lacassie Y, Azamian M, Franciskovich R, Zapata G, Hernandez PP, Liu P, Campbell IM, Bostwick BL, Lalani SR. Vertical transmission of a large calvarial ossification defect due to heterozygous variants of ALX4 and TWIST1. Am J Med Genet A 2020; 185:916-922. [PMID: 33369125 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.a.62036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2020] [Revised: 12/06/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
ALX4 is a homeobox gene expressed in the mesenchyme of developing bone and is known to play an important role in the regulation of osteogenesis. Enlarged parietal foramina (EPF) is a phenotype of delayed intramembranous ossification of calvarial bones due to variants of ALX4. The contrasting phenotype of premature ossification of sutures is observed with heterozygous loss-of-function variants of TWIST1, which is an important regulator of osteoblast differentiation. Here, we describe an individual with a large cranium defect, with dominant transmission from the mother, both carrying disease causing heterozygous variants in ALX4 and TWIST1. The distinct phenotype of absent superior and posterior calvarium in the child and his mother was in sharp contrast to the other affected maternal relatives with a recognizable ALX4-related EPF phenotype. This report demonstrates comorbid disorders of Saethre-Chotzen syndrome and EPF in a mother and her child, resulting in severe skull defects reminiscent of calvarial abnormalities observed with bilallelic ALX4 variants. To our knowledge this is the first instance of ALX4 and TWIST1 variants acting synergistically to cause a unique phenotype influencing skull ossification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle E Walters
- Division of Dermatology, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, California, USA
| | - Yves Lacassie
- Division of Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine, and Children's Hospital, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Mahshid Azamian
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Rachel Franciskovich
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Gladys Zapata
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Patricia P Hernandez
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.,Baylor Genetics, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Pengfei Liu
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.,Baylor Genetics, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Ian M Campbell
- Division of Human Genetics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Bret L Bostwick
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Seema R Lalani
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.,Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
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Xu Q, Zhou L, Yang G, Meng F, Wan Y, Wang L, Zhang L. Overexpression of circ_0001445 decelerates hepatocellular carcinoma progression by regulating miR-942-5p/ ALX4 axis. Biotechnol Lett 2020; 42:2735-2747. [PMID: 32856218 DOI: 10.1007/s10529-020-02985-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2020] [Accepted: 08/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been verified to have essential regulatory roles in diverse human cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this study, we aimed to explore the roles of circ_0001445 in HCC. Herein, circ_0001445 was decreased and miR-942-5p was increased in HCC tissues and cells. Circ_0001445 overexpression or miR-942-5p inhibition repressed cell cycle process, migration, invasion, epithelial-mesenchymal transition and glycolysis in HCC cells. Mechanistically, circ_0001445 could promote ALX4 expression through targeting miR-942-5p. Moreover, miR-942-5p overexpression reversed the inhibitory effect of circ_0001445 on HCC cell progression. The effect of miR-942-5p on HCC cell development was rescued following the elevation of ALX4. In addition, circ_0001445 overexpression restrained tumorigenesis in vivo. In conclusion, circ_0001445 played a negative role in HCC progression by modulating miR-942-5p/ALX4 axis, which might provide a novel target for HCC therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qinhong Xu
- Department of Geriatric Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, No. 277, Yanta West Road, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi, China
| | - Lijing Zhou
- Department of Geriatric Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, No. 277, Yanta West Road, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi, China
| | - Ganghua Yang
- Department of Geriatric Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, No. 277, Yanta West Road, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi, China
| | - Fandi Meng
- Department of Geriatric Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, No. 277, Yanta West Road, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yong Wan
- Department of Geriatric Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, No. 277, Yanta West Road, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi, China
| | - Lin Wang
- Department of Geriatric Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, No. 277, Yanta West Road, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Department of Geriatric Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, No. 277, Yanta West Road, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi, China.
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Chen CH, Bournat JC, Wilken N, Rosenfeld JA, Zhang J, Seth A, Jorgez CJ. Variants in ALX4 and their association with genitourinary defects. Andrology 2020; 8:1243-1255. [PMID: 32385972 DOI: 10.1111/andr.12815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2019] [Revised: 04/28/2020] [Accepted: 05/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Genitourinary anomalies occur in approximately 1% of humans, but in most cases, the cause is unknown. Aristaless-like homeobox 4 (ALX4) is an important homeodomain transcription factor. ALX4 mutations in humans and mouse have been associated with craniofacial defects and genitourinary anomalies such as cryptorchidism and epispadias. OBJECTIVES To investigate the presence and the functional impact of ALX4 variants in patients with genitourinary defects. MATERIALS AND METHODS Two separate patient cohorts were analyzed. One includes clinical exome-sequencing (ES) data from 7500 individuals. The other includes 52 ALX4 Sanger-sequenced individuals with bladder exstrophy-epispadias complex (BEEC). Dual luciferase assays were conducted to investigate the functional transcriptional impact of ALX4 variants in HeLa cells and HEK293 cells. RESULTS A total of 41 distinct ALX4 heterozygous missense variants were identified in the ES cohort with 15 variants present as recurrent in multiple patients. p.G369E and p.L373F were the only two present in individuals with genitourinary defects. A p.L373F heterozygous variant was also identified in one of the 52 individuals in the BEEC cohort. p.L373F and p.G369E were tested in vitro as both are considered damaging by MutationTaster, although only p.G369E was considered damaging by PolyPhen-2. p.L373F did not alter transcriptional activity in HeLa and HEK293 cells. p.G369E caused a significant 3.4- and 1.8-fold decrease in transcriptional activities relative to wild-type ALX4 in HEK293 and HeLa cells, respectively. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS Our study supports the idea that transcription factors like ALX4 could influence the normal development of the GU tract in humans as demonstrated in mouse models as ALX4 variant p.G369E (predicted pathogenic by multiple databases) affects ALX4 function in vitro. Variant p.L373F (predicted pathogenic by only MutationTaster) did not affect ALX4 function in vitro. Exon-sequence information and mouse genetics provide important insights into the complex mechanisms driving genitourinary defects allowing the association of transcriptional defects with congenital disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ching H Chen
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Juan C Bournat
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Nathan Wilken
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Urology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jill A Rosenfeld
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Baylor Genetics Laboratories, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jason Zhang
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Abhishek Seth
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Urology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Carolina J Jorgez
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Urology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
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Gu X, Wang B, Zhu H, Zhou Y, Horning AM, Huang TH, Chen Y, Houghton P, Lai Z, Michalek JE, Sun LZ. Age-associated genes in human mammary gland drive human breast cancer progression. Breast Cancer Res. 2020;22:64. [PMID: 32539762 PMCID: PMC7294649 DOI: 10.1186/s13058-020-01299-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2020] [Accepted: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Aging is a comorbidity of breast cancer suggesting that aging-associated transcriptome changes may promote breast cancer progression. However, the mechanism underlying the age effect on breast cancer remains poorly understood. Method We analyzed transcriptomics of the matched normal breast tissues from the 82 breast cancer patients in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset with linear regression for genes with age-associated expression that are not associated with menopause. We also analyzed differentially expressed genes between the paired tumor and non-tumor breast tissues in TCGA for the identification of age and breast cancer (ABC)-associated genes. A few of these genes were selected for further investigation of their malignancy-regulating activities with in vitro and in vivo assays. Results We identified 148 upregulated and 189 downregulated genes during aging. Overlapping of tumor-associated genes between normal and tumor tissues with age-dependent genes resulted in 14 upregulated and 24 downregulated genes that were both age and breast cancer associated. These genes are predictive in relapse-free survival, indicative of their potential tumor promoting or suppressive functions, respectively. Knockdown of two upregulated genes (DYNLT3 and P4HA3) or overexpression of the downregulated ALX4 significantly reduced breast cancer cell proliferation, migration, and clonogenicity. Moreover, knockdown of P4HA3 reduced growth and metastasis whereas overexpression of ALX4 inhibited the growth of xenografted breast cancer cells in mice. Conclusion Our study suggests that transcriptome alterations during aging may contribute to breast tumorigenesis. DYNLT3, P4HA3, and ALX4 play significant roles in breast cancer progression.
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Lu Y, Yang L, Qin A, Qiao Z, Huang B, Jiang X, Wu J. miR-1470 regulates cell proliferation and apoptosis by targeting ALX4 in hepatocellular carcinoma. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2019; 522:716-723. [PMID: 31791584 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2019.10.139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2019] [Accepted: 10/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors worldwide. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been proven to play essential roles in different cancers, including HCC. The current study was mainly focused on the role of miR-1470 in HCC progression. METHODS Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was performed to detect the expression levels of miR-1470 and Aristaless-like homeobox-4 (ALX4). The CCK-8 and EdU assays were used to examine cell proliferation. Flow cytometric analysis was used to elucidate the cell cycle and cell apoptosis. A xenograft tumor assay was carried out to verify the effect of miR-1470 on tumor formation in vivo. RESULTS According to the qRT-PCR assay, miR-1470 was proven to be overexpressed in HCC. As shown by the CCK-8 assay, EdU assay and flow cytometric analysis, miR-1470 overexpression promoted cell proliferation and inhibited cell apoptosis. ALX4 was proven via a dual luciferase reporter assay to be a downstream target gene of miR-1470. ALX4 was downregulated in HCC. The results of a rescue assay revealed that miR-1470 had an oncogenic role in HCC by regulating ALX4. CONCLUSION miR-1470 exhibits an oncogenic role in HCC by targeting ALX4. The data from our study may provide novel insight for the identification of new biomarkers and treatment strategies for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yijie Lu
- Department of general surgery, Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, 26 Daoqian Street, Gusu District, Suzhou, 215002, China
| | - Liu Yang
- Department of gastroenterology, Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, 26 Daoqian Street, Gusu District, Suzhou, 215002, China
| | - Ancheng Qin
- Department of general surgery, Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, 26 Daoqian Street, Gusu District, Suzhou, 215002, China
| | - Zhiming Qiao
- Department of general surgery, Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, 26 Daoqian Street, Gusu District, Suzhou, 215002, China
| | - Bo Huang
- Department of general surgery, Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, 26 Daoqian Street, Gusu District, Suzhou, 215002, China
| | - Xinwei Jiang
- Department of general surgery, Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, 26 Daoqian Street, Gusu District, Suzhou, 215002, China.
| | - Jianwu Wu
- Department of general surgery, Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, 26 Daoqian Street, Gusu District, Suzhou, 215002, China.
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Zhao J, Chen HQ, Yang HF, Li Y, Chen DJ, Huang YJ, He LX, Zheng CF, Wang LQ, Wang J, Zhang N, Cao J, Liu JY, Shu WQ, Liu WB. Epigenetic silencing of ALX4 regulates microcystin-LR induced hepatocellular carcinoma through the P53 pathway. Sci Total Environ 2019; 683:317-330. [PMID: 31132711 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.05.144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2019] [Revised: 05/10/2019] [Accepted: 05/11/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Recent studies have shown that microcystin-LR (MC-LR) is one of the principal factors that cause liver cancer. Previously we have found that Aristaless-like Homeobox 4 (ALX4) was differentially expressed in MC-LR-induced malignant transformed L02 cells. However, the expression regulation, role and molecular mechanism of ALX4 during the process of liver cancer induced by MC-LR are still unclear. The expression of ALX4 was detected by quantitative reverse-transcription PCR and Western blot in MC-LR induced malignantly transformed cell and rat models. Methylation status of ALX4 promoter region was evaluated by methylation-specific PCR and bisulfite genomic sequencing. The anti-tumor effects of ALX4 on MC-LR induced liver cancer were identified in vitro and in vivo. ALX4 expression was progressively down-regulated in MC-LR-induced malignantly transformed L02 cells and the MC-LR exposed rat models. ALX4 promoter regions were highly methylated in malignantly transformed cells, while treatment with demethylation agent 5-aza-dC significantly increased ALX4 expression. Functional studies showed that overexpression of ALX4 inhibits cell proliferation, migration, invasion and metastasis in vitro and in vivo, blocks the G1/S phase and promotes the apoptosis. Conversely, knockdown of ALX4 promotes cell proliferation, migration and invasion. Mechanism study found that ALX4 exerts its antitumor function through the P53 pathway, C-MYC and MMP9. More importantly, ALX4 expression level showed a negative relation with serum MC-LR levels in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Our results suggested that ALX4 was inactivated by DNA methylation and played a tumor suppressor function through the P53 pathway in MC-LR induced liver cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji Zhao
- Institute of Toxicology, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing 400038, PR China; College of Public Health and Management, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, PR China
| | - Hong-Qiang Chen
- Institute of Toxicology, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing 400038, PR China
| | - Hui-Fang Yang
- College of Public Health and Management, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, PR China
| | - Yan Li
- Institute of Toxicology, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing 400038, PR China; The Calmette International Hospital, Kunming 650224, PR China
| | - Dong-Jiao Chen
- Institute of Toxicology, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing 400038, PR China; College of Public Health and Management, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, PR China
| | - Yu-Jing Huang
- Department of Environmental Hygiene, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing 400038, PR China
| | - Li-Xiong He
- Department of Environmental Hygiene, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing 400038, PR China
| | - Chuan-Fen Zheng
- Department of Environmental Hygiene, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing 400038, PR China
| | - Ling-Qiao Wang
- Department of Environmental Hygiene, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing 400038, PR China
| | - Jia Wang
- Department of Environmental Hygiene, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing 400038, PR China
| | - Na Zhang
- College of Public Health and Management, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, PR China
| | - Jia Cao
- Institute of Toxicology, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing 400038, PR China
| | - Jin-Yi Liu
- Institute of Toxicology, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing 400038, PR China
| | - Wei-Qun Shu
- Department of Environmental Hygiene, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing 400038, PR China.
| | - Wen-Bin Liu
- Institute of Toxicology, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing 400038, PR China.
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Yang J, Han F, Liu W, Chen H, Hao X, Jiang X, Yin L, Huang Y, Cao J, Zhang H, Liu J. ALX4, an epigenetically down regulated tumor suppressor, inhibits breast cancer progression by interfering Wnt/β-catenin pathway. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2017; 36:170. [PMID: 29183346 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-017-0643-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2017] [Accepted: 11/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Background ALX4 is a paired-like homedomain transcription factor mainly expressed in the mesenchymal compartment of variety of developing tissues, but its functions, regulation mechanisms and clinical values in breast cancer remains unclear. Methods The expression of ALX4 in breast cancer cell lines and patients’ tissues were detected by RT-PCR, qPCR and western blot. Furthermore TCGA database was applied to confirm these results. MSP and BSP methods were used to assess the methylation of ALX4 promoter region. In vitro proliferation, metastasis and in vivo nude mice model were used to evaluate the anti-tumor effect of ALX4 on breast cancer cell lines. Luciferase reporter assay, western blot and TCGA database were used to investigate the tumor suppression mechanisms of ALX4. TMA of 142 breast patients was generated to evaluate the clinical significance of ALX4. Results Expression analysis revealed that ALX4 expression is down regulated in breast cancer cell lines and tissues. MSP study showed that the promoter region of ALX4 was hyper-methylated 100% (3/3) in breast cancer cell lines and 69.44% (75/108) in primary breast tumors tissues while 0% (0/8) in normal breast tissues. 5-aza-dc de-methylation treatment restored ALX4 expression in breast cancer cell lines. Functional studies showed that ectopic expression of ALX4 in breast cancer cells inhibited cell proliferation, metastasis in vitro and in vivo. Mechanism study found that ALX4 exerted its anti-tumor function by suppressing the Wnt/β-catenin pathway through promoting the phosphorylation degradation of β-catenin in a GSK3β dependent manner. Clinically multivariate analysis showed that ALX4 expression was an independent favorable prognostic factor in breast cancer patients. Conclusions We reveal for the first time that ALX4 acts as a novel functional tumor suppressor inactivated by DNA methylation and is an independent prognostic factor in breast cancer. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13046-017-0643-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Yuan H, Kajiyama H, Ito S, Chen D, Shibata K, Hamaguchi M, Kikkawa F, Senga T. HOXB13 and ALX4 induce SLUG expression for the promotion of EMT and cell invasion in ovarian cancer cells. Oncotarget 2016; 6:13359-70. [PMID: 25944620 PMCID: PMC4537020 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.3673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2015] [Accepted: 03/25/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Homeoproteins, a family of transcription factors that have conserved homeobox domains, play critical roles in embryonic development in a wide range of species. Accumulating studies have revealed that homeoproteins are aberrantly expressed in multiple tumors and function as either tumor promoters or suppressors. In this study, we show that two homeoproteins, HOXB13 and ALX4, are associated with epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) and invasion of ovarian cancer cells. HOXB13 and ALX4 formed a complex in cells, and exogenous expression of either protein promoted EMT and invasion. Conversely, depletion of either protein suppressed invasion and induced reversion of EMT. SLUG is a C2H2-type zinc-finger transcription factor that promotes EMT in various cell lines. Knockdown of HOXB13 or ALX4 suppressed SLUG expression, and exogenous expression of either protein promoted SLUG expression. Finally, we showed that SLUG expression was essential for the HOXB13- or ALX4-mediated EMT and invasion. Our results show that HOXB13/SLUG and ALX4/SLUG axes are novel pathways that promote EMT and invasion of ovarian cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Yuan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, 466-8550, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Kajiyama
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, 466-8550, Japan
| | - Satoko Ito
- Division of Cancer Biology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, 466-8550, Japan
| | - Dan Chen
- Division of Cancer Biology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, 466-8550, Japan
| | - Kiyosumi Shibata
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, 466-8550, Japan
| | - Michinari Hamaguchi
- Division of Cancer Biology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, 466-8550, Japan
| | - Fumitaka Kikkawa
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, 466-8550, Japan
| | - Takeshi Senga
- Division of Cancer Biology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, 466-8550, Japan
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Labonne JDJ, Vogt J, Reali L, Kong IK, Layman LC, Kim HG. A microdeletion encompassing PHF21A in an individual with global developmental delay and craniofacial anomalies. Am J Med Genet A 2015; 167A:3011-8. [PMID: 26333423 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.a.37344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2014] [Accepted: 08/12/2015] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
In Potocki-Shaffer syndrome (PSS), the full phenotypic spectrum is manifested when deletions are at least 2.1 Mb in size at 11p11.2. The PSS-associated genes EXT2 and ALX4, together with PHF21A, all map to this region flanked by markers D11S1393 and D11S1319. Being proximal to EXT2 and ALX4, a 1.1 Mb region containing 12 annotated genes had been identified by deletion mapping to explain PSS phenotypes except multiple exostoses and parietal foramina. Here, we report a male patient with partial PSS phenotypes including global developmental delay, craniofacial anomalies, minor limb anomalies, and micropenis. Using microarray, qPCR, RT-qPCR, and Western blot analyses, we refined the candidate gene region, which harbors five genes, by excluding two genes, SLC35C1 and CRY2, which resulted in a corroborating role of PHF21A in developmental delay and craniofacial anomalies. This microdeletion contains the least number of genes at 11p11.2 reported to date. Additionally, we also discuss the phenotypes observed in our patient with respect to those of published cases of microdeletions across the Potocki-Shaffer interval.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan D J Labonne
- Section of Reproductive Endocrinology, Infertility and Genetics, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, Georgia.,Department of Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, Georgia
| | - Julie Vogt
- West Midlands Regional Genetics Service, Birmingham Women's Hospital, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Lisa Reali
- West Midlands Regional Genetics Service, Birmingham Women's Hospital, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Il-Keun Kong
- Department of Animal Science, Division of Applied Life Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Gyeongsangnam-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Lawrence C Layman
- Section of Reproductive Endocrinology, Infertility and Genetics, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, Georgia.,Department of Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, Georgia.,Department of Physiology, Medical College of Georgia, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, Georgia
| | - Hyung-Goo Kim
- Section of Reproductive Endocrinology, Infertility and Genetics, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, Georgia.,Department of Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, Georgia
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Ferrarini A, Gaillard M, Guerry F, Ramelli G, Heidi F, Keddache CV, Wieland I, Beckmann JS, Jaquemont S, Martinet D. Potocki-Shaffer deletion encompassing ALX4 in a patient with frontonasal dysplasia phenotype. Am J Med Genet A 2013; 164A:346-52. [PMID: 24376213 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.a.36140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2013] [Accepted: 06/21/2013] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Frontonasal dysplasia (FND) is a genetically heterogeneous malformation spectrum with marked hypertelorism, broad nasal tip and bifid nose. Only a small number of genes have been associated with FND phenotypes until now, the first gene being EFNB1, related to craniofrontonasal syndrome (CFNS) with craniosynostosis in addition, and more recently the aristaless-like homeobox genes ALX3, ALX4, and ALX1, which have been related with distinct phenotypes named FND1, FND2, and FND3 respectively. We here report on a female patient presenting with severe FND features along with partial alopecia, hypogonadism and intellectual disability. While molecular investigations did not reveal mutations in any of the known genes, ALX4, ALX3, ALX1 and EFNB1, comparative genomic hybridization (array CGH) techniques showed a large heterozygous de novo deletion at 11p11.12p12, encompassing the ALX4 gene. Deletions in this region have been described in patients with Potocki-Shaffer syndrome (PSS), characterized by biparietal foramina, multiple exostoses, and intellectual disability. Although the patient reported herein manifests some overlapping features of FND and PPS, it is likely that the observed phenotype maybe due to a second unidentified mutation in the ALX4 gene. The phenotype will be discussed in view of the deleted region encompassing the ALX4 gene.
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