Cell Function Experiments Research Articles

The pivotal role of ZNF384: driving the malignant behavior of serous ovarian cancer cells via the LIN28B/UBD axis.

Zinc finger protein 384 (ZNF384) is a highly conserved transcribed gene associated with the development of multiple tumors, however, its role and mechanism in serous ovarian cancer (SOC) are unknown. We first confirmed that ZNF384 was abnormally highly expressed in SOC tissues by bioinformatics analysis and immunohistochemistry. We further used lentivirus packaging and transfection techniques to construct ZNF384 overexpression or knockdown cell lines, and through a series of cell function experiments, gradually verified that ZNF384 promoted a series of malignant behaviors of SOC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. By establishing a xenotransplantation model in nude mice, it was confirmed that ZNF384 promoted the progress of SOC in vivo. Mechanistically, Overexpression of ZNF384 enhanced the transcriptional activity of Lin-28 homolog B (LIN28B), which promoted the malignant behavior of SOC cells. In addition, LIN28B could regulate the expression of the downstream factor ubiquitin D (UBD) in SOC cells, further promoting the development of SOC. This study shows that ZNF384 aggravates the malignant behavior of SOC cells through the LIN28B/UBD axis, which may be used as a diagnostic biomarker for patients with SOC.

VCP enhances autophagy-related osteosarcoma progression by recruiting USP2 to inhibit ubiquitination and degradation of FASN

Osteosarcoma (OS) is a highly aggressive malignant tumor with a high rate of disability and mortality rates, and dysregulated autophagy is a crucial factor in cancer. However, the molecular mechanisms that regulate autophagy in OS remain unclear. This study aimed to explore key molecules that affect autophagy in OS and their regulatory mechanisms. We found that fatty acid synthase (FASN) was significantly increased in activated autophagy models of OS and promoted OS proliferation in an autophagy-dependent manner, as detected by LC3 double-labeled fluorescence confocal microscopy, western blotting, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and cell functional experiments. Furthermore, co-immunoprecipitation combined with mass spectrometry (Co-IP/MS), ubiquitination modification, molecular docking, and protein truncation methods were used to identify FASN-interacting proteins and analyze their effects on OS. Valosin-containing protein (VCP) enhanced the FASN stability by recruiting ubiquitin specific peptidase-2 (USP2) to remove the K48-linked ubiquitin chains from FASN; domain 2 of VCP and the amino acid sequence () of USP2 were critical for their interactions. Gain- and loss-of-function experiments showed that the inhibition of FASN or USP2 attenuated the stimulatory effect of VCP overexpression on autophagy and the malignant phenotypes of OS cells in vitro and in vivo. Notably, micro-CT indicated that VCP induced severe bone destruction in nude mice, which was abrogated by FASN or USP2 downregulation. In summary, VCP recruits USP2 to stabilize FASN by deubiquitylation, thereby activating autophagy and promoting OS progression. The identification of the VCP/USP2/FASN axis, which mediates autophagy regulation, provides important insights into the underlying mechanisms of OS and offers potential diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for patients with OS.

Machine learning models reveal ARHGAP11A's impact on lymph node metastasis and stemness in NSCLC.

Most patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are diagnosed at an advanced stage of the disease, which complicates treatment due to a heightened risk of metastasis. Consequently, the timely identification of biomarkers associated with lymph node metastasis is essential for improving the clinical management of NSCLC patients. In this research, the WGCNA algorithm was utilized to pinpoint genes linked to lymph node metastasis in NSCLC. A cluster analysis was carried out to investigate how these genes correlate with the prognosis and the outcomes of immunotherapy for NSCLC patients. Following this, diagnostic and prognostic models were created and validated through various machine learning methodologies. The random forest technique highlighted the importance of ARHGAP11A, leading to an in-depth examination of its role in NSCLC. By analyzing 78 tissue chip samples from NSCLC patients, the study confirmed the association between ARHGAP11A expression, patient prognosis, and lymph node metastasis. Finally, the influence of ARHGAP11A on NSCLC cells was assessed through cell function experiments. This research utilized the WGCNA technique to identify 25 genes that are related to lymph node metastasis, clarifying their connections with tumor invasion, growth, and the activation of stemness pathways. Cluster analysis revealed significant associations between these genes and lymph node metastasis in NSCLC, especially concerning immunotherapy and targeted treatments. A diagnostic system that combines various machine learning approaches demonstrated strong efficacy in forecasting both the diagnosis and prognosis of NSCLC. Importantly, ARHGAP11A was identified as a key prognostic gene associated with lymph node metastasis in NSCLC. Molecular docking analyses suggested that ARHGAP11A has a strong affinity for targeted therapies within NSCLC. Additionally, immunohistochemical assessments confirmed that higher levels of ARHGAP11A expression correlate with unfavorable outcomes for NSCLC patients. Experiments on cells showed that reducing ARHGAP11A expression can hinder the proliferation, metastasis, and stemness traits of NSCLC cells. This investigation reveals the novel insight that ARHGAP11A may function as a potential biomarker connected to lymph node metastasis in NSCLC. Moreover, reducing the expression of ARHGAP11A has demonstrated the ability to diminish tumor stemness characteristics, presenting a promising opportunity for improving treatment strategies for this condition.

Single-cell RNA sequencing analysis reveals the role of TXNDC5 in keloid formation.

Thioredoxin domain-containing protein 5 (TXNDC5) is associated with fibrosis in a variety of organs, but its mechanism of action in keloid is unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate the mechanism of TXNDC5 in keloid. Single-cell RNA sequencing data of keloid and normal scar samples obtained from public databases were normalized and clustered using the Seurat package. Pathway enrich analysis was conducted using biological process enrichment analysis and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA). In addition, TXNDC5 expression and its effects on migration and invasion of keloid fibroblasts (KFs) were validated based on cell function experiments. A total of five cell types were obtained. The KF clusters were further clustered into two fibroblast subtypes (Fibroblast cells 1 and Fibroblast cells 2). Biological process enrichment analysis showed that transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) signaling pathway was enriched in the two fibroblast subtypes. GSEA analysis demonstrated that genes in TGF-β signaling pathway were mainly enriched in Fibroblast cells 1, and that genes involved in cell proliferation, migration, and the TGF-β signaling pathway were all high-expressed in fibroblast cells 1. TXNDC5 was positively correlated with fibroblast proliferation, migration and TGF-β signaling pathway, and AUCell score. The cellular experiment confirmed that the messenger RNA and protein levels of TXNDC5 and TGF-β1 were high-expressed in KFs cells (P<0.001), and that knockdown of TXNDC5 downregulated TGF-β1 expression and inhibited migration and invasion of KFs (P<0.0001). Our study indicated that TGF-β signaling pathway was enriched in fibroblast cells, and TXNDC5 was positively correlated with proliferation, migration, and TGF-β signaling pathway. Cellular experiment demonstrated that knocking down TXNDC5 downregulated TGF-β1 expression, and suppressed migration and invasion of KFs. The current discoveries provided a new therapeutic strategy for the treatment of keloid.

MFGE8 promotes gastric cancer progression by activating the IL-6/JAK/STAT3 signaling

ObjectiveGastric cancer is malignant cancer with high morbidity and mortality worldwide. Milk fat globule EGF and factor V/VIII domain containing (MFGE8) was involved in many cancers. Nevertheless, the role of MFGE8 in gastric cancer remained indistinct. To probe the role of MFGE8 in gastric cancer and further explore the regulating mechanism. MethodsGEPIA was employed for analysis of MFGE8 expression and survival of gastric cancer patients. MFGE8 expression in gastric cancer was determined by immunohistochemistry, PCR, and western blot. The effect of MFGE8 on gastric cancer cells were evaluated by a series of cell function experiments. The mechanism of MFGE8 on gastric cancer was analyzed by GSEA and verified by in vitro and in vivo experiments. ResultsMFGE8 was over-expressed in gastric cancer. Silence of MFGE8 suppressed cell viability, proliferated ability, migrated and invasive ability, and EMT, but accelerated cell apoptosis. The opposite results were obtained in MFGE8-overexpressed gastric cancer cells. Zinc finger and BTB domain containing 7 A (ZBTB7A) was a transcription factor of MFGE8. ZBTB7A overexpression eliminated the effect of MFGE8 on gastric cancer cells. MFGE8 activated the IL-6/JAK/STAT3 signaling. Inhibition of IL-6/JAK/STAT3 signaling by Stattic (pathway inhibitor) could eliminate the promoting effect of MFGE8 on IL-6/JAK/STAT3 signaling. In addition, MFGE8 shRNA inhibited tumor growth. ConclusionMFGE8 promoted cell proliferation, EMT progress, and tumor growth of gastric cancer by activating the IL-6/JAK/STAT3 signaling.

Identification and Verification of Key Genes in Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastases Through Analysis of Single-Cell Sequencing Data and TCGA Data

BackgroundColorectal cancer (CRC) is highly prevalent worldwide, with more patients experiencing colorectal cancer liver metastases (CRLM). This study aimed to identify key genes in CRLM through single-cell sequencing data reanalysis and experimental validation.MethodsThe study analyzed single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) data from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Gene ontology (GO) and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) were used for gene functional enrichment analysis. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data enabled bulk-RNA expression and survival prognosis analysis. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) detected mRNA expression, whereas Western blot determined protein levels. Cell function experiments assessed SPARC’s impact on CRC cell behavior.ResultsCluster analysis showed 23 classes among 17 CRLM samples, representing six cell types. A GO and KEGG analysis identified interleukin-1 beta (IL1B), CD2 molecule (CD2), and C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 8 (CXCL8) as significant prognostic factors in CRC. Secreted protein acidic and cysteine rich (SPARC) was one of the top differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in tissue stem cells, confirmed in primary and metastatic lesions. Metastatic lesions showed higher expression of SPARC and CRC stem cell marker leucine-rich repeat containing G protein-coupled receptor 5 (LGR5), which was significantly correlated positively with LGR5 expression. Knockdown of SPARC reduced CRC cell sphere- and colony-formation, invasion, and migration abilities. Overexpression of SPARC significantly increased the malignancy of CRC cells.ConclusionsSeveral key genes were identified in the process of CRLM. In CRLM samples and those corresponding to CRC stem cells, SPARC was significantly upregulated. In the therapy of CRLM, SPARC might be a potential target.

CircTSN promotes the proliferation and metastasis of gastric cancer through the miR-1825/SLC38A2 signaling axis.

Comprehensive treatment of gastric cancer (GC) is progressing, but the rapid proliferation and metastasis of GC remains a cause of high recurrence and mortality rates. In this study we investigated GC-associated circRNA tending to yield more insight into the mechanisms of gastric cancer development. We detected the expression levels of circTSN in GC tissues and cell lines using qRT-PCR. The circular structure of circTSN was confirmed by Sanger sequencing, agarose gel electrophoresis and RNase R. A series of cell functional experiments were employed to investigate the implication of circTSN aberrant expression on the proliferation and metastasis of GC cells. The predicted binding domain between circTSN and miR-1825 was analyzed by luciferase reporter gene analysis. Meanwhile, subcutaneous tumor xenografts in nude mice were used to validate the role of circTSN in vivo. It was found that RNA levels of circTSN were significantly elevated in GC tissues and cell lines, which was also confirmed to contain a closed-loop structure. CCK8, clone formation, EdU, transwell and in vivo experiments indicated that the highly expressed circTSN was involved in the proliferation and metastasis process of GC. In addition, circTSN modulates the expression of SLC38A2 by sequence-specific binding to miR-1825. This study identified that circTSN, which is highly expressed in GC, was able to contribute to the proliferation and metastasis of GC cell through miR-1825/SLC38A2 axis and this might provide a new candidate target for the precision treatment of GC.

Integrated bioinformatics analysis identifies PCSK9 as a prognosticator correlated with lipid metabolism in pancreatic adenocarcinoma

BackgroundPancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD) is the most frequent kind of pancreatic cancer (PC). Recent studies suggest that lipid metabolism facilitates tumorigenesis, disease progression, and resistance to therapy by promoting lipid synthesis, accumulation, and breakdown. Thus, exploring the lipid metabolism network could unveil novel therapeutic avenues for early detection, precision medicine, and prognostication in PAAD. This project intends to develop new lipid metabolism-related biomarkers for PAAD diagnosis and investigate the link between important genes and immune cell infiltration (ICI).MethodsTissue samples from 20 PAAD patients and 20 healthy controls were obtained. Analysis were focused on the datasets GSE71729 and GSE16515, which include samples of PAAD (n = 161) and those from healthy human tissue (n = 61), derived from the GEO database. Knockdown of PCSK9 on PC cells were conducted by si-RNA and sh-RNA. Migration and cell functional experiments were performed to assess the role of PCSK9 in cell multiplication. Furthermore, a xenograft mouse model was employed to confirm PCSK9's function in vivo.ResultsThe expression level of Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) is significantly elevated in tissues affected by PAAD when compared to normal tissues. Survival analyses indicated that increased PCSK9 levels are inversely related to overall and disease-free survival (DFS). PCSK9’s functional annotation associated it with the cell cycle and metabolism, especially energy metabolism. Examination of ICI data determined that PCSK9 expression demonstrated an unambiguous association with the M0 macrophages, T follicular helper cells (Tfh), gamma delta T cells and activated DC, and an inverse relationship with Monocytes, CD8+ T cells, memory B cells, resting CD4+ memory T cells, activated NK cells and resting DC abundance. PCSK9 expression knockdown has the ability to impede PC cells’ migration and proliferation.ConclusionOur study identified PCSK9 as a critical gene in PAAD. Expression levels of PCSK9 varied between PAAD and normal samples. ROC analysis verified PCSK9's strong capacity to differentiate PC from normal samples. Importantly, PCSK9 expression was considerably elevated in PC cell lines and tissues. Furthermore, PCSK9 stimulates the migration and proliferation of tumor cells in vivo and vitro.

Alpha-boswellic acid accelerates acute wound healing via NF-κB signaling pathway.

Boswellic acids (BAs) showed promising effects in cancer treatment, immune response regulation, and anti-inflammatory therapy. We aimed to assess the roles of alpha-BA (α-BA) in treating acute wound healing. In vivo wound-healing models were established to evaluate the therapeutic effects of α-BA. Cell assays were conducted to assess the impact of α-BA on cellular biological functions. Western blot analysis was employed to validate the potential mechanisms of action of α-BA. Animal models indicated that wound healing was notably accelerated in the α-BA group compared to the control group (P < 0.01). Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) assay preliminarily suggested that α-BA may accelerate wound healing by inhibiting excessive inflammatory reactions and increasing the protein levels of growth factors. Cell function experiments demonstrated that α-BA suppressed the proliferation and migration ability of human hypertrophic scar fibroblasts (HSFBs), thereby favoring wound healing. Additionally, α-BA exerted a significant impact on cell cycle progression. Mechanistically, the protein levels of key genes in nuclear factor kappa beta (NF-κB) signaling pathway, including cyclin D1, p65, IκBα, and p-IκBα, were downregulated by α-BA. α-BA demonstrated the ability to counteract the abnormal proliferation of skin scar tissues, consequently expediting wound healing. These findings suggest its potential for development as a new agent for treating acute wound healing.

Constructing a prognostic model for colon cancer patients on basis of coagulation genes enriched in cancer-associated fibroblasts to guide personalized immunotherapy

Abstract Objectives Colon cancer is a global health challenge. This research is designed to build a prognostic model that can personalize the guidance of immunotherapy among colon cancer patients. Methods Coagulation-associated prognostic genes which were subsequently integrated into a Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator algorithm for constructing a prognostic model were identified with the univariate Cox analyses. The potential of coagulation-related risk score (CRRS) in prognosis and immunotherapy outcomes was rigorously assessed. Finally, the cellular origin of genes in the CRRS model was explored with single-cell RNA-seq data, and the biological functions of core genes were further confirmed by cell function experiments. Results Our findings showed the CRRS model usefully classified patients into high-risk and low-risk groups. High-risk patients exhibited worse total survival. A nomogram was subsequently devised, enabling quantitative survival prediction by incorporating CRRS, age, sex, and TNM stage. Moreover, the CRRS model predicted the extent of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) infiltration. The analysis further indicated diminished immune responsiveness in high-risk patients, and single-cell data analysis pinpointed TIMP1+ CAF as a potential contributor to cancer progression. Conclusions The CRRS model can be adopted as a prognostic device for colon cancer patients and low-risk patients are more suitable for treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors. TIMP1 secreted by CAF can promote the malignant progression of colon cancer.

LncRNA LINC00969 modified by METTL3 attenuates papillary thyroid cancer progression in an m6A-dependent manner.

The long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) LINC00969 is involved in human disease progression, and n6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification of lncRNAs in cancer has been proven to be a key regulatory mechanism. However, our understanding of its effects and mechanisms of action in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) remains limited. This study aimed to elucidate the role of methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3)-induced m6A modification of LINC00969 in PTC tumorigenesis. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was performed to analyze LINC00969 and METTL3 mRNA levels in PTC. The regulation of LINC00969 by METTL3 was confirmed using cell function experiments, molecular biology assays and bioinformatics analysis. LINC00969 stabilization analysis was performed to verify the regulatory roles of METTL3 and LINC00969. LINC00969 expression was downregulated in PTC tissues. Increased LINC00969 expression inhibited the invasion, growth and migration of PTC cells. METTL3 downregulation in PTC mediated the m6A modification of LINC00969, increasing its stability. Furthermore, METTL3 levels were downregulated in PTC, and its silencing partially reversed the inhibitory effect of LINC00969 overexpression on PTC cell malignancy. LINC00969 overexpression inhibits PTC cell malignancy via METTL3-mediated m6A modification. These findings suggest that METTL3-m6A-LINC00969 is a promising therapeutic target for PTC.

EIF4A3-Induced Upregulation of hsa_circ_0049396 Attenuates the Tumorigenesis of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma by Regulating the Hippo-YAP Pathway.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) and eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4A3 (EIF4A3) have been reported to participate in the pathogenesis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), but their mechanism has not been fully understood. This research aimed to confirm the role and regulatory mechanism of hsa_circ_0049396 interacting with EIF4A3 in NPC tumorigenesis. Quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was executed to detect the levels of hsa_circ_0049396 and EIF4A3. Cell function experiments and nude mice xenograft assay were used to confirm the role of hsa_circ_0049396 in NPC. The regulatory effect of EIA4A3 on hsa_circ_0049396 was determined by circInteractome prediction, RNA binding protein immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay, and qRT-PCR. In addition, the Hippo-YAP pathway-related proteins and EIF4A3 protein were detected by western blotting. hsa_circ_0049396 was proved to be downregulated in NPC samples, and its low expression indicated the poor prognosis of NPC. After upregulating hsa_circ_0049396 in NPC cells, the proliferation, migration, invasion, and tumor growth invivo were suppressed by inhibiting the Hippo-YAP pathway. Moreover, EIF4A3 bound to the flanking regions of the hsa_circ_0049396 to enhance hsa_circ_0049396 expression in NPC cells. hsa_circ_0049396 mediated by EIF4A3 in NPC can attenuate NPC tumorigenesis by inhibiting the Hippo-YAP pathway. This finding may provide a potential early diagnostic biomarker or drug target to improve the precision medicine approaches of NPC.

Effect of ac4C acetyltransferase NAT10 on tumor progression via ATF4/ASNS mediated asparagine biosynthesis in osteosarcoma.

234 Background: Osteosarcoma is the most common primary malignant bone tumor in children and adolescents, characterized by high malignancy, high mortality, and high disability rates. Investigating the mechanism of osteosarcoma progression, identifying new targets, and developing effective therapy are of great significance for improving patient clinical outcomes. NAT10-mediated ac4C modification is widely present in mRNA and plays important roles in multiple biological processes of mRNA. NAT10 and ac4C modification also play a crucial role in the occurrence and development of malignant tumors such as bladder cancer, esophageal cancer, and breast cancer. Methods: Through RNA-seq and functional screening, NAT10 was identified as the potential therapeutic target. The biological functions of NAT10 and ac4C modification in osteosarcoma were explored in vivo and in vitro. Downstream target of NAT10 was identified through acRIP-seq combined with RNA-seq. The ac4C modification of downstream target gene were detected using RIP-qPCR and its regulatory effect on mRNA stability was explored using RNA half-life analysis. Drug screening was performed using FDA-approved drugs and a small molecule compound library to identify NAT10 inhibitors. The efficacy of inhibitors in osteosarcoma treatment is validated through in vivo, in vitro experiments and patient-derived tumor xenograft (PDX) models. Results: Functional screening targeting RNA modification regulatory factors demonstrated that inhibiting NAT10 significantly reduced the proliferation, migration and invasion of osteosarcoma cells. NAT10 knockout significantly inhibited the proliferation and metastasis of osteosarcoma cells, as well as the malignant progression in vivo. The acRIP-seq and RNA-seq revealed that ATF4 is a downstream target gene regulated by NAT10 in osteosarcoma. NAT10 promoted ac4C modification of ATF4 mRNA, enhanced the stability of ATF4 mRNA, and ATF4 promoted the transcription and expression of ASNS. ASNS catalyzes the synthesis of asparagine (Asn), thereby promoting the malignant progression of osteosarcoma. Drug screening identified Paliperidone and AG-401 as potential inhibitors of NAT10. Through cell functional experiments, orthotopic osteosarcoma models, organoids model, and PDX models, it was demonstrated that Paliperidone and AG-401 can inhibit the malignant progression of osteosarcoma. Conclusions: NAT10 was highly expressed in osteosarcoma and associated with patient prognosis. Through ac4C modification, NAT10 regulated the synthesis of asparagine mediated by ATF4/ASNS, providing materials for protein and nucleotide synthesis in tumor cells, thus promoting the malignant progression of osteosarcoma. Paliperidone and AG-401 were identified as potential NAT10 inhibitors and targeting NAT10 could be a promosing strategy in osteosarcoma treatment.

Molecular and cellular role of variants of the promoter region of HAND1 gene in sporadic and isolated ventricular septal defect.

Ventricular septal defect (VSD) is the most common type of congenital heart disease. HAND1 gene plays a crucial role in the development of the heart, but the role of the variants in the HAND1 gene promoter region in patients with VSD has not been explored yet. From 588 participants (300 with isolated and sporadic VSD and 288 healthy controls), DNA was extracted from blood samples. Variants at the HAND1 gene promoter region were analyzed through Sanger sequencing. Subsequently, cell functional validation was conducted through cell experiments, including dual-luciferase reporter gene analysis, electrophoretic mobility shift analysis, and bioinformatics analysis was also conducted. The promoter region of HAND1 gene had a total of 9 identified variant sites. Among them, 4 variants were exclusively found in VSD patients, and 1 variant (g.3631A>C) was newly discovered. Cell functional experiments indicated that all four variants decreased the transcriptional activity of HAND1 gene promoter with three of them reached statistical significance (p < 0.05). Subsequent analysis using JASPAR (a transcription factor binding profile database) suggests that these variants may alter the binding sites of transcription factors, potentially contributing to the formation of VSD. Our study for the first time identified variants in the promoter region of HAND1 gene in Chinese patients with isolated and sporadic VSD. These variants significantly decreased the expression of HAND1 gene, impacting transcription factor binding sites, and thereby demonstrating pathogenicity. This study offers new insights into the role of HAND1 gene promoter region, contributing to a better understanding of the genetic basis of VSD formation.

CBX4/miR-190 regulatory loop inhibits lung cancer metastasis.

Lung cancer is one of the major threats to human life worldwide. MiR-190 has been found to perform essential roles in multiple cancer progression; however, there have been no studies focused on its function and underlying regulatory mechanism in lung cancer. The miR-190 expression was detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The cell functional experiments, including cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), colony formation and transwell assay were conducted in vitro, as well as animal experiments performed in vivo. The regulation and potential binding sites of CBX4 on miR-190 were predicted by TCGA data set and JASPAR website and verified by ChIP assay and dual-luciferase reporter assay. The prospects binding site of miR-190-3p on CBX4 3'UTR region was predicted by StarBase and verified by dual-luciferase reporter assay. MiR-190 was decreased in lung cancer cells. The overexpression of miR-190 had no effects on cell proliferation, but significantly inhibited cancer metastasis both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, miR-190 expression could be transcriptionally inhibited by CBX4, and CBX4 was the direct target of miR-190-3p. MiR-190 served as a cancer metastasis inhibitor in lung cancer and formed a regulatory loop with CBX4. These findings provided emerging insights into therapeutic targets and strategies for metastatic lung cancer.

SMEK1 promotes clear cell renal cell carcinoma progression via EGFR tyrosine-kinase dependent pathway

Studying the mechanisms underlying clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), the most common subtype of kidney cancer, may address an unmet need in ccRCC-targeted drug research. Growing evidences indicate that protein phosphatase 4 (PP4) plays an important role in cancer biology. Here, we characterized the upregulation of PP4 core component SMEK1 in ccRCC using tissue microarrays and revealed that its high expression is closely associated with reduced patient survival. We then conducted cell function experiments and animal experiments to prove the tumor-promoting effect of SMEK1. Next, RNA-seq was performed to explore its underlying mechanism, and the results revealed that SMEK1-regulated genes were extensively involved in cell motility, and the canonical tyrosine kinase receptor EGFR was one of its targets. Moreover, we verified the regulatory effect of SMEK1 on EGFR and its downstream MAPK and AKT pathway through molecular experiments, in which erlotinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, can partially block this regulation, demonstrating that SMEK1 mediates its effects dependent on the tyrosine kinase activity of EGFR. Mechanistically, SMEK1 bond to PRMT5 and facilitated PRMT5-mediated histone methylation to promote the transcription of EGFR. Furthermore, we studied the upstream regulators of SMEK1 and demonstrated that the transcription factor E2F1 could directly bind to the SMEK1 promoter by chromatin immunoprecipitation. Functionally, E2F1 could also induce ccRCC progression by manipulating the expression of SMEK1. Collectively, our findings demonstrate the overexpression of SMEK1 in ccRCC, and reveal a novel E2F1/SMEK1/PRMT5/EGFR-tyrosine-kinase-dependent pathway for ccRCC progression.

FAM65A promotes the progression and growth of lung squamous cell carcinoma in vivo and vitro

BackgroundsCurrently, family with sequence similarity 65 member A (FAM65A) is reported as a pivotal regulator in various cancers. However, the effect of FAM65A in lung squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) is still unclear, the prime objective of this research is to explore the role of FAM65A in LSCC.MethodsGene expression data and correlated clinical information were downloaded from the public database and the expression of FAM65A was detected. The expression of FAM65A was also detected in our collected clinical samples and LSCC cell lines. Survival package of R language was used to determine the survival significance of FAM65A. Proteins expression level was determined via western blot assay. Cell function experiments and in vivo experiments were performed to explore the effect of FAM65A on LSCC cell biological behaviors.ResultsFAM65A expression was significantly increased in LSCC clinical samples and cell lines. High FAM65A expression predicted poor prognosis in LSCC patients. After silencing FAM65A, the ability of LSCC cell proliferation, invasion and migration was decreased, and LSCC cell cycle was blocked. Moreover, in vivo experiments revealed that silencing FAM65A could inhibit LSCC cell proliferation.ConclusionsHigh FAM65A expression could enhance proliferative, invasive and migratory abilities of LSCC. FAM65A might be a novel biomarker of LSCC.

Comprehensive analysis of endoplasmic reticulum stress related signature in head and neck squamous carcinoma

Head and neck squamous carcinoma (HNSC) is a prevalent malignant disease, with the majority of patients being diagnosed at an advanced stage. Endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) is considered to be a process that promotes tumorigenesis and impacts the tumor microenvironment (TME) in various cancers. The study aims to investigate the predictive value of ERS in HNSC and explore the correlation between ERS-related genes and TME. A series of bioinformatics analyses were carried out based on mRNA and scRNA-seq data from the TCGA and GEO databases. We conducted RT-qPCR and western blot to validate the signature, and performed cell functional experiments to investigate the in vitro biological functions of the gene. We identified 63 ERS-related genes that were associated with outcome and stage in HNSC. A three-gene signature (ATF6, TRIB3, and UBXN6) was developed, which presents predictive value in the prognosis and immunotherapy response of HNSC patients. The high-risk group exhibited a worse prognosis but may benefit from immunotherapy. Furthermore, there was a significant correlation between the signature and immune infiltration. In the high-risk group, fibroblasts were more active in intercellular communication, and more T cells were observed at the end of the sequential phase. The genes in the ERS-related signature were overexpressed in HNSC cells, and the knockdown of TRIB3 significantly inhibited cell proliferation and migration. This study established a novel ERS-related signature that has potential implications for HNSC therapy and the understanding of TME.

Integrated analysis of methylation and transcriptome identifies a novel risk model for diagnosis, prognosis, and immune characteristics in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

DNA methylation is an important epigenetic modification that plays a crucial role in the development and progression of various tumors. However, the association between methylation‑driven genes and diagnosis, prognosis, and immune characteristics of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remains unclear. We obtained transcriptome, methylation, and clinical data from HNSCC patients in TCGA database, and used MethylMix algorithm to identify methylation-driven genes. A methylation driven gene-related risk model was constructed using Lasso regression analysis, and validated using data from GEO database. Immune infiltration and immune function analysis of the expression profiles were conducted using ssGSEA. Differences in immune checkpoint-related genes were analyzed, and the efficacy of immunotherapy was evaluated using TCIA database. Finally, a series of cell functional experiments were conducted to validate the results. Five methylation-driven genes were identified and utilized to construct a prognostic risk model. Based on the median risk score, all patients were categorized into high-risk and low-risk groups. The K-M analysis revealed that patients in the high-risk group have a worse prognosis. Additionally, the risk model demonstrated better prognostic predictive value as indicated by ROC analysis. GSEA enrichment analysis indicated that gene sets in the high and low-risk groups were primarily enriched in pathways associated with tumor immunity and metabolism. Our subsequent investigations showed that high-risk patients exhibited more immunosuppressive phenotypes, while low-risk patients were more likely to respond positively to immunotherapy. These findings of our research have the potential to improve patient stratification, guide treatment decisions, and advance the development of personalized therapies for HNSCC.

Intervention of epithelial mesenchymal transition against colon cancer cell growth and metastasis based on SOX21/POU4F2/Hedgehog signaling axis

AimsColon cancer poses a major threat to human health and a heavy burden on the national economy. As a member of the SOX transcription factor family, SRY-box transcription factor 21 (SOX21) is associated with various cancers, but its mechanism of action in colon cancer remains unclear. This study focused on the molecular mechanisms of transcription factor SOX21 in proliferation and metastasis of colon cancer cells. Main methodsWe analyzed SOX21 expression level and its impact on survival in colon cancer patients by bioinformatics analysis. We used public databases for gene correlation, GSEA enrichment analysis. Cell function experiments (colony formation assay, wound healing assay, Transwell migration and invasion assay) were utilized to determine the impact of SOX21 silencing and over-expression on cell proliferation and metastasis. The luciferase reporter assay, CUT&RUN-qPCR assay and Methylation Specific PCR were used to explore SOX21-POU class 4 homeobox 2 (POU4F2) molecular interactions. The molecular mechanisms were verified by Quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot analysis. Key findingsSOX21 is highly expressed and affects the overall survival of colon cancer patients. SOX21 can attenuates POU4F2 methylation state by binding with it. In addition, this interaction facilitate its transcriptional activation of Hedgehog pathway, mediates epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), consequently promoting the proliferation and metastasis of colon cancer cells. SignificanceOur study reveals that SOX21 is an oncogenic molecule and suggests its regulatory role in colon carcinogenesis and progression, providing new insights into the treatment of this disease.