Epithelial-mesenchymal Transition Markers Research Articles

Abstract 2079: Tumor-derived fibrinogen promotes pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma progression

Abstract Background: Hypercoagulability is a common clinical manifestation in patients with cancers, especially in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Over 20% of PDAC patients with advanced-stage and worse prognosis undergo a venous thromboembolism (VTE) incidence. Fibrinogen (FG) may contribute to VTE due to its high expression in advanced PDAC tumors. Here, we set to determine the biological roles of tumor-derived FG in PDAC. In addition, our previous study showed that Von Willebrand Factor (VWF) A2 domain can effectively bind to FG and reduce platelet clot formation. Therefore, the functional roles of A2 on FG in PDAC were also studied. Methods: The correlation between survival rate and FG expression in PDAC was analyzed using RNAseq profiles of 149 PDAC patient samples from the TCGA database. PDAC subtyping of Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) PDAC patient-derived xenograft (PDX) cohort was performed using RNAseq data according to Moffitt’s criteria. The FG (three chains FGA, FGB, FGG) overexpression (OE) and knock-out (KO) PDAC cell lines were established. The gene expression and biological functions of FG were performed in PDX and cell lines using IHC and immunoblot assays. The FG effect on PDAC progression in vivo was studied in mouse models. Results: TCGA analysis showed that elevated tumor-derived FG gene expression is significantly correlated with worse overall survival and disease-free survival rates in PDAC patients. PDX lines RNAseq analysis clearly separated BCM PDAC PDXs into two subtypes: basal-like and classical PDACs. Basal-like PDXs showed significantly stronger FG staining than that in classical ones. Compared to the classical subtype, the basal-like subtype showed significantly upregulated genes that are associated with the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), IL6/JAK/STAT3, and TNFα signaling pathways. Accordingly, basal-like subtype PDAC exposed to IL6 or TNFα significantly increased FG and FG receptor expression with activated STAT3 and AKT pathways and elevated EMT markers, whereas classical subtype cells have minimal changes. In addition, we found that the FG-OE cells exhibit enhanced cell proliferation and migration properties whereas FG-KO cells reduced the effects. Consistent with in vitro data, FG-OE PDAC showed significantly higher tumor burdens than that of control PDAC in both orthotopic and subcutaneous PDAC mouse models. Furthermore, A2 protein treatment can effectively block the FG function and dramatically inactivate the FG-induced EMT process and AKT signaling pathway. Conclusions: Tumor-derived fibrinogen is upregulated in a basal-like subtype of PDAC cells and may contribute to tumor growth and metastasis by activating aberrant signaling pathways and promoting EMT. Our findings imply that elevated fibrinogen in PDAC could contribute to tumor progression and the A2 protein which target to fibrinogen may be a promising therapy for basal-like subtype PDAC. Citation Format: Dongliang Liu, Lisa Brubaker, Yichi Niu, Emily LaPlante, George Van Buren, Aleksandar Milosavljevic, Changyi Chen, Chenghang Zong, Miguel Cruz, Qizhi Yao. Tumor-derived fibrinogen promotes pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma progression [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 2079.

Abstract 5413: In vitro modeling of the migration ability of lung adenocarcinoma cell lines under hypoxic conditions

Abstract Hypoxia is a common condition in the tumor microenvironment that contributes to tumor cell migration, invasion, and metastasis, partly through inducing epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). One of the key proteins in this process is hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1), which regulates the expression of various genes as transcription factor and is vital for the cellular response in tissue hypoxia. Several studies have investigated the causation between hypoxic conditions and increased in vitro tumor cell motility and the role of potential regulatory signaling pathways. Understanding the precise molecular mechanisms underlying hypoxia-induced responses is crucial for better targeting tumor progression. However, establishing sound and predictive models is urgently needed to achieve this.In this study, we investigated the migration ability of four non-small cell lung cancer cell lines carrying different mutations of the growth factor pathway (H1975: EGFR T790M, PF901: BRAF V600E, PF139: KRAS G12C mutant, and H838: triple WT) under normoxic, hypoxic, and hypoxia-mimicking CoCl2-treated conditions. The motility of the cells was investigated by 48 h video microscopy (single cell random migration) and 72 h scratch assay. We analyzed the expression of crucial genes and proteins, including HIF-1α, as well as molecules associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (vimentin, n-cadherin, and e-cadherin), proliferation (PCNA), and apoptosis (PARP), using Western blot and qPCR techniques. Our work showed no change in cellular motility between any of the cell lines following treatment with CoCl2 compared to normoxic conditions. However, PF139 and PF901 cell lines showed a significant decrease in single-cell motility upon hypoxia. Interestingly, immunoblot analysis revealed stabilization of HIF-1α in response to both CoCl2 and hypoxia in the meantime. Additionally, we observed cell line-dependent changes in EMT marker expression upon CoCl2 treatment and hypoxia. Our work complements previous results published by our group and others on the tumor-promoting role of hypoxia, demonstrating that short-term exposure to hypoxia may act as an acute stressor for tumor cell lines. Our work suggests that the tumor progression-promoting effects are tissue-specific and should be investigated using long-term hypoxia models. Acknowledgments: This work was supported by the Hungarian Thematic Excellence Program (TKP2021-EGA-44) and the National Laboratories Program - National Laboratory for Tumor Biology (NLP-17). Sára Eszter Surguta is a grantee of the ITM-NKFIA funded Cooperative Doctoral Program (1018567). Citation Format: Sára Eszter Surguta, Marcell Baranyi, Laura Svajda, Ivan Ranđelović, Mihály Cserepes, József Tóvári. In vitro modeling of the migration ability of lung adenocarcinoma cell lines under hypoxic conditions [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 5413.

Abstract 4219: Establishing CAF-like and TAM-like transformation induced by TNBC culture supernatant in 3D in-vitro culture as a model for targeted drug testing

Abstract Several previous studies have highlighted the significance of cell-to-cell communication, or crosstalk, between tumor cells and non-tumorigenic cells in the context of cancer progression and metastasis. Within the tumor microenvironment (TME), these interactions have the potential to alter the phenotypes and behaviors of normal cells. The use of 2D in-vitro cultures has been limited due to their inability to accurately replicate the intricate in-vivo TME. Conditioned medium (CM) derived from cultured cancer cells contains secreted factors that may influence the phenotype and functionality of normal cells. In our investigation, the exposure of normal murine fibroblast NIH3T3 and macrophage RAW 264.7 cells to conditioned medium (CM) obtained from malignant mammary epithelial 4T1 cells (4T1CM) resulted in a modified phenotype with enhanced cell viability. Treatment with 4T1CM led to the upregulation of genes, including α-smooth muscle actin (αSMA), IL-10, CD206, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), in NIH3T3 and RAW 264.7 cells compared to their respective control cells. Additionally, NIH3T3 cells treated with 4T1CM exhibited an epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) phenotype, as indicated by the regulation of EMT markers such as E-cadherin, β-catenin, N-cadherin, and Vimentin. Notably, RAW 264.7 cells treated with 4T1CM showed an upregulation of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and programmed death-ligand 1 (PDL-1), suggesting a propensity for an inhibitory immune response. Moreover, NIH3T3 cells conditioned with 4T1CM demonstrated an upregulation of stemness markers, including sex determining region Y-box 2 and Aldehyde dehydrogenase. In summary, our study highlights the potential role of 4T1CM in transforming normal NIH3T3 and RAW 264.7 cells into cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). Ongoing proteomics analysis aims to map differentially expressed proteins potentially regulating the 4T1CM-induced transformation. To further investigate, a series of experiments using mono- and co-cultures of these cells are underway, specifically targeting the transformed macrophages and fibroblasts with the aim of either re-educating or eliminating them. This treatment involves drug combinations that specifically target the identified signaling pathway intermediates, offering novel therapeutic intervention strategies. Citation Format: Biplov Sapkota, Naveen Chintalaramulu, Abhishek Pandit, Shilpa Thota, Rizwana Begum, Amirsalar Mansouri, Jiri Adamec, Joseph Francis. Establishing CAF-like and TAM-like transformation induced by TNBC culture supernatant in 3D in-vitro culture as a model for targeted drug testing [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 4219.

Abstract 1568: Her2 promotes early dissemination of breast cancer by suppressing the p38 pathway through upregulation of Wip1

Abstract (a)Metastasis is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Increasing evidence shows that cancer cells can disseminate from early primary lesions that are impalpable, but the pathways are poorly understood. Her2 promotes breast cancer early dissemination by suppressing p38, but how Her2 downregulates p38 is unclear. In this study, we investigated the mechanism underlying suppression of p38 by Her2 in breast cancer early dissemination using cell models and xenograft models of early lesions of breast cancer. (b)We studied the role of Wip1, a p38 phosphatase, in disseminating phenotypes in cell line models of breast cancer early lesions, including cell motility measured in transwell assays, cell invasion measured by percentage of organoids with outward invading cells, and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) measured by levels of EMT markers in Western blotting analysis and immunofluorescence (IF) staining assays. (c)We demonstrate that high levels of Wip1 correlated with Her2+ status, and reduced phosphorylation of p38 and its downstream effectors MK2 and Hsp27 in tissue samples from early lesions of human breast cancer. In addition, ectopic expression of Wip1 reduced phosphorylation of p38, MK2 and Hsp27 in cell models of breast cancer early lesions.We found that Wip1 promoted migration, invasion and EMT, while Wip1 knockdown abrogated the ability of Her2 to induce these disseminating phenotypes, in cell line models of early lesion breast cancer. Thus, Wip1 induction is both sufficient, and necessary for Her2, to promote migration, invasion and EMT in early lesion breast cancer cells. In an attempt to identify the Wip1 downstream effectors involved in disseminating phenotypes, we found that ectopic expression of the constitutively active mutants of p38 reversed the ability of Wip1 to suppress MK2 and Hsp27 phosphorylation and to induce migration, invasion and EMT in early lesion breast cancer cells. These results suggest that Wip1 promotes breast cancer early dissemination by suppressing p38. We investigate the mechanism by which Her2 induces Wip1 expression. Ectopic expression of Her2 did not alter the level of Wip1 mRNA or the Wip1 protein stability, suggesting that Her2 promote Wip1 expression by regulating its translation. We are currently investigating the mechanism by which Her2 induces Wip1 translation.Moreover, inhibitors of Her2, Wip1 and Skp2 can each reduce the disseminating phenotypes in cells models of breast cancer early lesions ectopically expressing Her2, Wip1 or Skp2. (d)Our findings identify the Her2-Wip1-p38-Mk2-Hsp27 cascade as a novel mechanism mediating breast cancer early dissemination and provide a basis for new therapies targeting early metastatic dissemination in Her2+ breast cancer using inhibitors for Her2, Wip1 or Skp2. Citation Format: Nan Wang. Her2 promotes early dissemination of breast cancer by suppressing the p38 pathway through upregulation of Wip1 [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 1568.

Abstract 7281: Targeting the YAP/TAZ-TEAD pathway with TEAD inhibitors synergizes with chemotherapy and blocks diffuse gastric cancer progression

Abstract Introduction: Diffuse gastric cancer (DGC) accounts for one third of gastric cancers and is associated with poor differentiation, discohesive growth, chemoresistance, and worse survival compared to intestinal-type tumors. DGC is typically genomically stable, and there are no approved DGC-targeted therapies. Recent studies have identified a potential tumor-promoting role for Yes-associated protein 1 and transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (YAP/TAZ), which interact with TEAD transcription factors to regulate gene expression. Therefore, we evaluated the activity and mechanism of TEAD inhibitors in DGC preclinical models. Methods: Gastric cancer patient-derived organoids (PDOs) and cell lines were treated with TEAD inhibitors (K-975, VT103, VT104, VT107) and/or 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) for in vitro assays evaluating cell proliferation or invasion. Additional experiments were conducted to test the in vivo activity of TEAD inhibitors or shRNA-mediated knockdown of YAP in subcutaneous xenograft, orthotopic xenograft, and lung metastasis models using a genetically engineered mouse model of gastric cancer driven by oncogenic KrasG12D and loss of Trp53/Cdh1. Results: TEAD inhibitors K-975, VT103, VT104, and VT107 reduced proliferation, colony formation, and invasion in DGC cell lines and PDOs. We observed no effect of TEAD inhibitors on the viability of normal gastric organoids. Combining the TEAD1-selective inhibitor VT103 with 5-FU chemotherapy resulted in further reduction of DGC PDO viability relative to monotherapy, including in a PDO derived from a patient with locally advanced DGC that demonstrated intrinsic resistance to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. In flank tumors and orthotopic models, inhibition of the YAP/TAZ-TEAD pathway using YAP shRNA and VT103, either alone or in combination with 5-FU, abrogated primary tumor formation, with the strongest inhibition observed with combination treatment. Loss of YAP or VT103 treatment also significantly reduced lung metastasis after tail vein injection of mouse gastric cancer cells. We hypothesized that TEAD inhibition blocks an epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) program and generation of cancer stem-like cells (CSCs). Consistent with this hypothesis, TEAD1 inhibition with VT103 or YAP knockdown reduced expression of the CSC marker CD44 in vitro and decreased expression of CD44 and the EMT marker Slug in tumor xenografts. Conclusions: The YAP/TAZ-TEAD pathway is an important driver of gastric cancer growth and metastasis, particularly in DGC where it may promote EMT and cancer stemness. TEAD inhibition reduces gastric cancer growth and invasion in vitro and in vivo in preclinical models and demonstrates synergistic activity with 5-FU chemotherapy. These results suggest a potential role for evaluating the efficacy of TEAD inhibitors in patients with DGC. Citation Format: Anastasiia Bulakhova, Jin Sun Cho, Jack T. Rifkin, Jaewon Kim, Thomas J. Ryan, Tracy T. Tang, Ryan H. Moy. Targeting the YAP/TAZ-TEAD pathway with TEAD inhibitors synergizes with chemotherapy and blocks diffuse gastric cancer progression [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 7281.

PANC-1 Cell Line as an Experimental Model for Characterizing PIVKA-II Production, Distribution, and Molecular Mechanisms Leading to Protein Release in PDAC.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) represents a highly aggressive malignancy with a lack of reliable diagnostic biomarkers. Protein induced by vitamin K absence (PIVKA-II) is a protein increased in various cancers (particularly in hepatocellular carcinoma), and it has recently exhibited superior diagnostic performance in PDAC detection compared to other biomarkers. The aim of our research was to identify an in vitro model to study PIVKA-II production, distribution, and release in PDAC. We examined the presence of PIVKA-II protein in a panel of stabilized pancreatic cancer cell lines by Western blot analysis and indirect immunofluorescence (IFA). After quantitative evaluation of PIVKA-II in PaCa 44, H-Paf II, Capan-1, and PANC-1, we adopted the latter as a reference model. Subsequently, we analyzed the effect of glucose addiction on PIVKA-II production in a PANC-1 cell line in vitro; PIVKA-II production seems to be directly related to an increase in glucose concentration in the culture medium. Finally, we evaluated if PIVKA-II released in the presence of increasing doses of glucose is concomitant with the expression of two well-acknowledged epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers (Vimentin and Snail). According to our experimental model, we can speculate that PIVKA-II release by PANC-1 cells is glucose-dependent and occurs jointly with EMT activation.

EMT Dynamics in Lymph Node Metastasis of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) enables tumor cell invasion and metastasis. Many studies have demonstrated the critical role of EMT in lymph node metastasis in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). During EMT, epithelial cancer cells lose intercellular adhesion and apical-basal polarity and acquire mesenchymal properties such as motility and invasiveness. A significant feature of EMT is cadherin switching, involving the downregulation of E-cadherin and upregulation of N-cadherin. The TGF-β/SMAD pathway can also induce EMT. We aimed to evaluate EMT markers as predictors of lymph node metastasis in OSCC. We performed genetic profiling of 159 primary OSCCs from TCGA and analyzed the expression of EMT markers, including cadherin switch genes (CDH1, CDH2), and TGF-β/SMAD pathway genes. Samples were divided into advanced (stage III-IV) and early (stage I-II) stage groups. Differential expression analysis was performed, as well as an independent validation study containing fresh OSCC samples. TGF-β/SMAD pathway genes such as SMAD6 were upregulated in advanced stage tumors. N-cadherin and SNAIL2 were overexpressed in node-positive tumors. Keratins were downregulated in these groups. Our findings demonstrate that EMT marker expression correlates with lymph node metastasis in OSCC. Developing therapies targeting regulators such as N-cadherin may prevent metastasis and improve outcomes.

PIEZO1 acts as a cancer suppressor by regulating the ROS/Wnt/β-catenin axis.

PIEZO1 works differently in different cancers and at different stages of development. The objective of the current study was to explore the function and underlying mechanism of PIEZO1 in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) cells. Different LUAD cell lines were treated with PIEZO1 inhibitor (GsMTx4) and agonist (Yoda1), and the expression of PIEZO1 in LUAD cells was detected using real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and western blotting. The effects of PIEZO1 on invasion, migration and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers protein expression of LUAD cells were detected using the MTT assay, flow cytometry, transwell assay, wound-healing assay, and western blotting. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) agonists (BAY 87-2243) and inhibitors (NAC) and Wnt/β-catenin pathway inhibitors (iCRT3) were selected to treat A549 cells to investigate the mechanism of PIEZO1 on ROS production and Wnt/β-catenin expression in A549 cells. In A549, NCI-H1395, and NCI-H1975 cells, GsMTx4 promoted cell proliferation, invasion, migration, upregulated EMT-related marker protein expression, and inhibited cell apoptosis, while Yoda1 exerted effects opposite to those of GsMTx4. In A549 cells, GsMTx4 can reduce ROS production, it also inhibited ROS production, apoptosis, and downregulated proapoptotic markers induced by BAY 87-2243. Importantly, BAY 87-2243 blocked the effect of GSMTX4-induced Wnt/β-catenin overexpression. Similarly, Yoda1 can reduce the effect of NAC. In addition, iCRT3 can block the upregulation of EMT-related marker proteins by GsMTx4, and increase apoptosis and decrease cell invasion and migration. In summary, PIEZO1 acts as a cancer suppressor by regulating the ROS/Wnt/β-catenin axis, providing a new perspective on the role of mechanosensitive channel proteins in cancer.

Metabolic alterations and mitochondrial dysfunction in human airway BEAS-2B cells exposed to vanadium pentoxide

Vanadium pentoxide (V+5) is a hazardous material that has drawn considerable attention due to its wide use in industrial sectors and increased release into environment from human activities. It poses potential adverse effects on animals and human health, with pronounced impact on lung physiology and functions. In this study, we investigated the metabolic response of human bronchial epithelial BEAS-2B cells to low-level V+5 exposure (0.01, 0.1, and 1 ppm) using liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS). Exposure to V+5 caused extensive changes to cellular metabolism in BEAS-2B cells, including TCA cycle, glycolysis, fatty acids, amino acids, amino sugars, nucleotide sugar, sialic acid, vitamin D3, and drug metabolism, without causing cell death. Altered mitochondrial structure and function were observed with as low as 0.01 ppm (0.2 μM) V+5 exposure. In addition, decreased level of E-cadherin, the prototypical epithelial marker of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), was observed following V+5 treatment, supporting potential toxicity of V+5 at low levels. Taken together, the present study shows that V+5 has adverse effects on mitochondria and the metabolome which may result in EMT activation in the absence of cell death. Furthermore, results suggest that high-resolution metabolomics could serve as a powerful tool to investigate metal toxicity at levels which do not cause cell death.

SLC26A9 promotes colorectal tumorigenesis by modulating Wnt/β-catenin signaling

Solute carrier family 26 member 9 (SLC26A9) is a member of the Slc26a family of multifunctional anion transporters that functions as a Cl- channel in parietal cells during acid secretion. We explored the role of SLC26A9 in colorectal cancer (CRC) and its related mechanisms through clinical samples from CRC patients, CRC cell lines and mouse models. We observed that SLC26A9 was expressed at low levels in the cytoplasm of adjacent tissues, polyps and adenomas but was significantly increased in colorectal adenocarcinoma. Moreover, increased levels of SLC26A9 were associated with a high risk of disease and poor prognosis. In addition, downregulation of SLC26A9 in CRC cells induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis but inhibited cell proliferation and xenograft tumor growth both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistic analysis revealed that SLC26A9 was colocalized with β-catenin in the nucleus of CRC cells. The translocation of these two proteins from the cytoplasm to the nucleus reflected the activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling, and promoted the transcription of downstream target proteins, including CyclinD1, c-Myc and Snail, but inhibited the expression of cytochrome C (Cyt-c), cleaved Caspase9, cleaved Caspase3 and apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF). CRC is accompanied by alteration of epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers. Meanwhile, further studies showed that in SW48 cells, overexpressing SLC26A9 was cocultured with the β-catenin inhibitor XAV-939, β-catenin was downregulated, and EMT was reversed. Our study demonstrated SLC26A9 may be responsible for alterations in the proliferative ability and aggressive potential of CRC by regulating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

Early Pulmonary Fibrosis-like Changes in the Setting of Heat Exposure: DNA Damage and Cell Senescence.

It is well known that extreme heat events happen frequently due to climate change. However, studies examining the direct health impacts of increased temperature and heat waves are lacking. Previous reports revealed that heatstroke induced acute lung injury and pulmonary dysfunction. This study aimed to investigate whether heat exposure induced lung fibrosis and to explore the underlying mechanisms. Male C57BL/6 mice were exposed to an ambient temperature of 39.5 ± 0.5 °C until their core temperature reached the maximum or heat exhaustion state. Lung fibrosis was observed in the lungs of heat-exposed mice, with extensive collagen deposition and the elevated expression of fibrosis molecules, including transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and Fibronectin (Fn1) (p < 0.05). Moreover, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) occurred in response to heat exposure, evidenced by E-cadherin, an epithelial marker, which was downregulated, whereas markers of EMT, such as connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) and the zinc finger transcriptional repressor protein Slug, were upregulated in the heat-exposed lung tissues of mice (p < 0.05). Subsequently, cell senescence examination revealed that the levels of both senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal) staining and the cell cycle protein kinase inhibitor p21 were significantly elevated (p < 0.05). Mechanistically, the cGAS-STING signaling pathway evoked by DNA damage was activated in response to heat exposure (p < 0.05). In summary, we reported a new finding that heat exposure contributed to the development of early pulmonary fibrosis-like changes through the DNA damage-activated cGAS-STING pathway followed by cellular senescence.

Abstract B008: Alternative PER2 (Period2) enhancer usage drives epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in epithelial ovarian cancer (OC)

Abstract B008: Alternative <i>PER2</i> (Period2) enhancer usage drives epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in epithelial ovarian cancer (OC)

Progerin Inhibits the Proliferation and Migration of Melanoma Cells by Regulating the Expression of Paxillin.

Progerin, the underlying cause of Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome (HGPS), has been extensively studied for its impact on normal cells and premature aging patients. However, there is a lack of research on its specific effects on tumor cells. Melanoma is one of the most common malignant tumors with high morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to elucidate the potential therapeutic role of progerin in melanoma. We constructed the melanoma A375 cell line and M14 cell line with stable expression of progerin. The expression of progerin, paxillin, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) marker proteins in each cell group was measured using Western blot. The migration, proliferation, and cell cycle of cancer cells were assessed using the transwell assay, wound healing assay, colony formation assay, CCK 8 assay, and flow cytometry. RT-qPCR technology was used to examine the impact of progerin overexpression on microRNA expression. Finally, we transfected paxillin into the progerin overexpression cell group to verify whether progerin regulates the phenotype of tumor cells through paxillin. Our study demonstrated that overexpression of progerin leads to decreased expression of paxillin and inhibits cancer cell migration, proliferation, EMT process and cell cycle progression. Additionally, rescue experiments revealed that the migration, proliferation ability, and EMT marker protein expression in progerin overexpressing cancer cells could be partially restored by transfecting a plasmid containing the paxillin gene. Mechanistic investigations further revealed that progerin achieves this inhibition of paxillin expression by upregulating miR-212. This study reveals that progerin may inhibit the migration and proliferation of melanoma cells through the miR-212/paxillin axis, which provides a new approach for the future treatment of this disease.

Long non-coding RNA TINCR suppresses growth and epithelial-mesenchymal transition by inhibiting Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in human pancreatic cancer PANC-1 cells: Insights from in vitro and in vivo studies.

There is increasing evidence that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play a crucial role in the development and progression of malignant tumors, particularly pancreatic cancer. In this study, the influence of the lncRNA TINCR on the behavior of human pancreatic cancer cells was investigated with the aim of deciphering its role in growth, migration, and invasion. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to investigate TINCR expression in pancreatic cancer cells. Ectopic expression of TINCR in PANC-1 cells was induced to evaluate the effects on cell viability and apoptosis, examining the apoptotic genes Bax and Bcl-2. Migration and invasion assays were used to measure the impact of TINCR on these cellular processes. In vivo studies using a xenograft mouse model examined the effects of TINCR on tumor growth, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers, and the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. PANC-1 cells showed strikingly low TINCR expression compared to other pancreatic cancer cell lines. Ectopic TINCR expression reduced the viability of PANC-1 cells primarily by inducing apoptosis, as evidenced by increased Bax and decreased Bcl-2 expression. Overexpression of TINCR significantly increased the percentage of apoptotic cells. It also decreased the migration and invasion ability of PANC-1 cells, as demonstrated in wound healing and transwell assays. In addition, overexpression of TINCR-suppressed proteins is associated with the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in PANC-1 cells. In the xenograft mouse model, overexpression of TINCR inhibited tumor growth, EMT markers, and proteins associated with the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. This study sheds light on the tumour-suppressive role of TINCR in PANC-1 cells and suggests its potential as a therapeutic target. These results shed light on the molecular mechanisms underlying the impact of TINCR on pancreatic cancer and offer promising opportunities for innovative therapeutic strategies to improve outcomes in this serious malignancy.

PROM2 overexpression induces metastatic potential through epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and ferroptosis resistance in human cancers.

Despite considerable therapeutic advances in the last 20 years, metastatic cancers remain a major cause of death. We previously identified prominin-2 (PROM2) as a biomarker predictive of distant metastases and decreased survival, thus providing a promising bio-target. In this translational study, we set out to decipher the biological roles of PROM2 during the metastatic process and resistance to cell death, in particular for metastatic melanoma. Methods and results: We demonstrated that PROM2 overexpression was closely linked to an increased metastatic potential through the increase of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) marker expression and ferroptosis resistance. This was also found in renal cell carcinoma and triple negative breast cancer patient-derived xenograft models. Using an oligonucleotide anti-sense anti-PROM2, we efficaciously decreased PROM2 expression and prevented metastases in melanoma xenografts. We also demonstrated that PROM2 was implicated in an aggravation loop, contributing to increase the metastatic burden both in murine metastatic models and in patients with metastatic melanoma. The metastatic burden is closely linked to PROM2 expression through the expression of EMT markers and ferroptosis cell death resistance in a deterioration loop. Our results open the way for further studies using PROM2 as a bio-target in resort situations in human metastatic melanoma and also in other cancer types.

Multifaceted impact of adipose conditioned media: Obesity-driven promotion of prostate cancer and cancer stem cell dynamics.

Obesity is an established risk factor for the development and progression of prostate cancer (PC). This study used adipose conditioned media (ACM) from differentiated adipocytes to assess its effect on PC development and aggressiveness. Due to limited research on ACM's impact on isolated PC stem cells (PCSCs), we also examined CD44+ PCSCs. ACM notably boosted interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, and IL-8 production in normal prostate epithelial cells and LNCaP cells. It also increased IL-6 and IL-8 production in PC3 and CD44+ LNCaP cells, and IL-1β and IL-6 production in CD44+ PC3 cells. This indicates that ACM induces the production of inflammatory cytokines in both cancer and prostate epithelial cells. Furthermore, ACM promoted proliferation in androgen receptor (AR)-negative PC3 cells, CD44+ PC3 PCSCs, and nonmalignant RWPE cells, without affecting AR-positive LNCaP cells. In addition, ACM-enhanced invasion and migration potential in both PC3 and CD44+ PC3 cells. Western blot analysis indicated the involvement of NF-κB and AKT pathways in ACM-induced proliferation in PC3 cells and NF-κB in PCSCs. In ACM-treated PC3 cells, E-cadherin was downregulated, while N-cadherin, Snail, vimentin, fibronectin, and Twist were upregulated, suggesting ACM-induced invasion via classical epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) pathways. In response to ACM, PCSCs exhibited increased expression of E-cadherin, Snail, and vimentin, which are partial EMT markers promoting stemness and resistance to apoptosis. In addition, increased expressions of Nanog, Oct3/4, survivin, and Bcl-2 were observed. Although the molecules we studied have diverse effects on cellular regulation, our data emphasize obesity's multifaceted role in promoting and aggressing PC, notably affecting PCSC populations.

Crocin inhibit the metastasis of MDA-MB-231 cell line by suppressing epithelial to mesenchymal transition through WNT/β-catenin signalling pathway.

Triple-negative breast cancer has the poorest prognosis and survival rates compared to other breast cancer subtypes due to its invasive behaviours. This type of cancer does not respond to biological therapies and exhibits resistance to available treatment options. Therefore, it is imperative to discover new therapeutics to address this challenge. In this study, a TNBC cell line was utilized to investigate the anti-metastatic effect of crocin on the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Cell proliferation was assessed using the MTT assay, and the effects of crocin on migration were monitored through transwell and wound healing experiments. The expression of specific epithelial-mesenchymal transition marker genes was evaluated using real-time polymerase chain reaction, and β-catenin expression was also examined through real-time polymerase chain reaction. The findings revealed that crocin significantly inhibits cell proliferation and migration of tumour cells in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, crocin decreased the expression of Vimentin, Snail, Zeb-1, and β-catenin. Additionally, crocin increased the expression of E-cadherin in the MDA-MB-231 cell line. The results demonstrated an association between crocin and the Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway. In conclusion, this study establishes that crocin holds promise as a potential therapeutic option for triple-negative breast cancer.

Cytolethal distending toxin modulates cell differentiation and elicits epithelial to mesenchymal transition.

The bacterial genotoxin, cytolethal distending toxin (CDT), causes DNA damage in host cells, a risk factor for carcinogenesis. Previous studies have shown that CDT induces phenotypes reminiscent of epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), a process involved in cancer initiation and progression. We investigated different steps of EMT in response to Helicobacter hepaticus CDT and its active CdtB subunit using in vivo and in vitro models. Most of the steps of the EMT process were induced by CDT/CdtB and observed throughout the study in murine and epithelial cell culture models. CdtB induced cell-cell junctions' disassembly, causing individualization of cells and acquisition of a spindle-like morphology. The key transcriptional regulators of EMT (SNAIL1 and ZEB1) and some EMT markers were upregulated at both RNA and protein levels in response to CDT/CdtB. CdtB increased the expression and proteolytic activity of matrix metalloproteinases, as well as cell migration. A range of these results were confirmed in Helicobacter hepaticus infected and xenograft murine models. In addition, colibactin, a genotoxic metabolite produced by Escherichia coli, induced EMT-like effects in cell culture. Overall, these data show that infection with genotoxin-producing bacteria elicits EMT process activation, supporting their role in tumorigenesis.

HIF-1 inhibition reverses opacity in a rat model of galactose-induced cataract.

Cataract is an eye disease, in which the lens becomes opaque, causing vision loss and blindness. The detailed mechanism of cataract development has not been characterized, and effective drug therapies remain unavailable. Here, we investigated the effects of Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) inhibitors using an ex vivo model, in which rat lenses were cultured in galactose-containing medium to induce opacity formation. We found that treatment with the HIF-1 inhibitors 2-Methoxyestradiol (2ME2), YC-1, and Bavachinin decreased lens opacity. Microarray analysis on 2ME2-treated samples, in which opacity was decreased, identified genes upregulated by galactose and downregulated by inhibitor treatment. Subsequent STRING analysis on genes that showed expression change by RT-qPCR identified two clusters. First cluster related to the cytoskeleton and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Second cluster related to the oxidative stress, and apoptosis. ACTA2, a known marker for EMT, and TXNIP, a suppressor of cell proliferation and activator of apoptosis, were present in each cluster. Thus, suppression of EMT and apoptosis, as well as activation of cell proliferation, appear to underlie the decrease in lens opacity.

A FACS-based novel isolation technique identifies heterogeneous CTCs in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Isolating circulating tumour cells (CTCs) from the blood is challenging due to their low abundance and heterogeneity. Limitations of conventional CTC detection methods highlight the need for improved strategies to detect and isolate CTCs. Currently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved CellSearch™ and other RUO techniques are not available in India. Therefore, we wanted to develop a flexible CTC detection/isolation technique that addresses the limitation(s) of currently available techniques and is suitable for various downstream applications. We developed a novel, efficient, user-friendly CTC isolation strategy combining density gradient centrifugation and immuno-magnetic hematogenous cell depletion with fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS)-based positive selection using multiple CTC-specific cell-surface markers. For FACS, a stringent gating strategy was optimised to exclude debris and doublets by side scatter/forward scatter (SSC/FSC) discriminator, remove dead cells by 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining, and eliminate non-specific fluorescence using a "dump" channel. APC-labelled anti-CD45mAB was used to gate remaining hematogenous cells, while multiple epithelial markers (EpCAM, EGFR, and Pan-Cytokeratin) and an epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) marker (Vimentin) labelled with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) were used to sort cancer cells. The technique was initially developed by spiking Cal 27 cancer cells into the blood of healthy donors and then validated in 95 biopsy-proven oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients. CTCs isolated from patients were reconfirmed by Giemsa staining, immuno-staining, and whole transcriptome amplification (WTA), followed by qRT-PCR. In vitro culture and RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) were also performed to confirm their suitability for various downstream applications. The mean detection efficiency for the Cal 27 tongue cancer cells spiked in the whole blood of healthy donors was 32.82% ± 12.71%. While ~75% of our patients (71/95) had detectable CTCs, the CTC positivity was independent of the TNM staging. The isolated potential cancer cells from OSCC patients were heterogeneous in size. They expressed different CTC-specific markers in various combinations as identified by qRT-PCR after WTA in different patients. Isolated CTCs were also found to be suitable for downstream applications like short-term CTC culture and RNA-Seq. We developed a sensitive, specific, flexible, and affordable CTC detection/isolation technique, which is scalable to larger patient cohorts, provides a snapshot of CTC heterogeneity, isolates live CTCs ready for downstream molecular analysis, and, most importantly, is suitable for developing countries.