Inhibited Gastric Cancer Cell Proliferation Research Articles

IGFBP7 regulates cell proliferation and migration through JAK/STAT pathway in gastric cancer and is regulated by DNA and RNA methylation.

New biomarkers for early diagnosis of gastric cancer (GC), the second leading cause of cancer-related death, are urgently needed. IGFBP7, known to play various roles in multiple tumours, is complexly regulated across diverse cancer types, as evidenced by our pancancer analysis. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that IGFBP7 expression was related to patient prognosis, tumour clinicopathological characteristics, tumour stemness, microsatellite instability and immune cell infiltration, as well as the expression of oncogenes and immune checkpoints. GSEA links IGFBP7 to several cancer-related pathways. IGFBP7 deficiency inhibited GC cell proliferation and migration invitro. Furthermore, an invivo nude mouse model revealed that IGFBP7 downregulation suppressed the tumorigenesis of GC cells. Western blotting analysis showed that the JAK1/2-specific inhibitor ruxolitinib could rescue alterations induced by IGFBP7 overexpression in GC cells. Additionally, our bioinformatics analysis and invitro assays suggested that IGFBP7 is regulated by DNA methylation at the genetic level and that the RNA m6A demethylase FTO modulates it at the posttranscriptional level. This study emphasizes the clinical relevance of IGFBP7 in GC and its influence on cell proliferation and migration via the JAK/STAT signalling pathway. This study also highlights the regulation of IGFBP7 in GC by DNA and m6A RNA methylation.

Mechanism of norcantharidin intervention in gastric cancer: analysis based on antitumor proprietary Chinese medicine database, network pharmacology, and transcriptomics

BackgroundCombining antitumor proprietary Chinese medicine (pCm) with radiotherapy and chemotherapy can effectively improve tumor cure rates and enhance patients’ quality of life. Gastric cancer (GC) severely endangers public health. Despite satisfactory therapeutic effects achieved by using antitumor pCm to treat GC, its underlying mechanism remains unclear.ObjectiveTo integrate existing research data, construct a database of antitumor pCm, and study the intervention mechanisms in GC by focusing on their monomer components.MethodsWe constructed an antitumor pCm database based on China’s medical insurance catalog, and employed network pharmacology, molecular docking methods, cell experiments, transcriptomics, and bioinformatics to investigate the intervention mechanisms of effective pCm components for GC.ResultsThe study built an antitumor pCm database including 55 pCms, 171 Chinese herbal medicines, 1955 chemical components, 2104 targets, and 32 disease information. Network pharmacology and molecular docking technology identified norcantharidin as an effective component of antitumor pCm. In vitro experiments showed that norcantharidin effectively inhibited GC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion; blocked the G2/M cell cycle phase; and induced GC cell apoptosis. Transcriptomic results revealed that norcantharidin affected biological processes, such as cell adhesion, migration, and inflammatory responses by influencing PI3K-AKT, NF-κB, JAK-STAT, TNF-α signaling pathways, and EMT-related pathways. Core molecules of norcantharidin involved in GC intervention include SERPINE1, SHOX2, SOX4, PRDM1, TGFR3, TOX, PAX9, IL2RB, LAG3, and IL15RA. Additionally, the key target SERPINE1 was identified using bioinformatics methods.ConclusionNorcantharidin, as an effective component of anti-tumor pCm, exerts its therapeutic effects on GC by influencing biological processes such as cell adhesion, migration, and inflammation. This study provides a foundation and research strategy for the post-marketing re-evaluation of antitumor pCms.

ZC3H13 knockdown enhances the inhibitory effect of sevoflurane on gastric cancer cell malignancy by regulating the N6-methyladenosine modification of the lncRNA DLX6-AS1

Sevoflurane, an inhalation anesthetic, has been shown to suppress cancer development. In this study, we investigated the specific mechanisms involving sevoflurane, zinc-finger CCCH-type containing 13 (ZC3H13), and lncRNA DLX6-AS1 in gastric cancer (GC) progression, focusing on the N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs). We used quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blot analyses to measure the levels of ZC3H13 and lncRNA DLX6-AS1 in GC tissues and cells. Furthermore, we conducted Cell Counting Kit-8, colony formation, Transwell, and tumor xenograft assays to evaluate changes in GC cell malignancy following cell transfection and sevoflurane treatment. Additionally, actinomycin D, methylated RNA immunoprecipitation, and qRT-PCR assays were performed to examine the regulatory effects of ZC3H13 on the DLX6-AS1 m6A modification. We detected elevated levels of ZC3H13 in GC samples, while ZC3H13 silencing inhibited GC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Silencing ZC3H13 also enhanced the inhibitory effects of sevoflurane on GC cell malignancy. Moreover, we found that the increased expression of DLX6-AS1 in GC cells could be suppressed by ZC3H13 through the mediation of the m6A modification of DLX6-AS1, thereby reducing DLX6-AS1 stability. In conclusion, ZC3H13 knockdown enhances the inhibitory effect of sevoflurane on GC cell malignancy by inducing DLX6-AS1 m6A modification. Our findings may help identify potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of GC.

KPNA2 promotes the progression of gastric cancer by regulating the alternative splicing of related genes

RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) play critical roles in genome regulation. In this study, we explored the latent function of KPNA2, which is an essential member of the RBP family, in the regulation of alternative splicing (AS) in gastric cancer (GC). We analyzed the role of KPNA2 in regulating differential expression and AS via RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and improved RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (iRIP-seq). Clinical specimens were used to analyze the associations between KPNA2 expression and clinicopathological characteristics. CCK8 assays, transwell assays and wound healing assays were performed to explore the effect of KPNA2/WDR62 on GC cell progression. KPNA2 was shown to be highly expressed in GC cells and tissues and associated with lymph node metastases. KPNA2 promoted the proliferation, migration and invasion of GC cells and primarily regulated exon skipping, alternative 3's splice sites (A3SSs), alternative 5' splice sites (A5SSs), and cassette exons. We further revealed that KPNA2 participated in biological processes related to cell proliferation, and the immune response in GC via the regulation of transcription. In addition, KPNA2 preferentially bound to intron regions. Notably, KPNA2 regulated the A3SS AS mode of WDR62, and upregulation of WDR62 reversed the KPNA2 downregulation-induced inhibition of GC cell proliferation, migration and invasion. Finally, we discovered that the AS of immune-related molecules could be regulated by KPNA2. Overall, our results demonstrated for the first time that KPNA2 functions as an oncogenic splicing factor in GC that regulated the AS and differential expression of GC-related genes, and KPNA2 may be a potential target for GC treatment.

A Bioinformatic Assay of Quercetin in Gastric Cancer.

Gastric cancer (GC) remains a significant global health challenge, with high mortality rates, especially in developing countries. Current treatments are invasive and have considerable risks, necessitating the exploration of safer alternatives. Quercetin (QRC), a flavonoid present in various plants and foods, has demonstrated multiple health benefits, including anticancer properties. This study investigated the therapeutic potential of QRC in the treatment of GC. We utilized advanced molecular techniques to assess the impact of QRC on GC cells, examining its effects on cellular pathways and gene expression. Our findings indicate that QRC significantly inhibits GC cell proliferation and induces apoptosis, suggesting its potential as a safer therapeutic option for GC treatment. Further research is required to validate these results and explore the clinical applications of QRC in cancer therapy.

LncRNA EGOT and tumorigenesis via Hedgehog pathway in gastric cancer.

e16130 Background: Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the mostly terminal malignancies with poor prognosis. Long noncoding RNA EGOT (EGOT) acts as a crucial regulator in the breast cancer. However, the function of EGOT in GC remains unknown. Methods: This work was to explore the clinical value and biological significance of EGOT in GC. EGOT levels in GC tissue and cell were analyzed by qRT–PCR. After knockdown of EGOT, GC cell growth and cycle progression were detected. Results: The expression of EGOTwas observably elevated in GC. Upregulation of EGOT was related with lymphatic metastasis and TNM stage. In addition, knockdown of EGOT by siRNA could significantly inhibit GC cell proliferation and arrest cycle progression in G1 phase. Moreover, EGOT mediated cyclin D1 expression in GC cells which was regulated by Hedgehog pathway. Further, loss of EGOT downregulated Hedgehog signaling pathway in GC cells. Conclusions: EGOT functions as an oncogene in GC, and may be useful as a conceivable diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for GC tumorigenesis.

Targeting KPNB1 with genkwadaphnin suppresses gastric cancer progression through the Nur77-mediated signaling pathway

Gastric cancer (GC) remains a global challenge due to the lack of early detection and precision therapies. Genkwadaphnin (DD1), a natural diterpene isolated from the bud of Flos GenkWa (Thymelaeaceae), serves as a Karyopherin β1 (KPNB1) inhibitor. In this study, we investigated the anti-tumor effect of DD1 in both cell culture and animal models. Our findings reveal that KPNB1, a protein involved in nuclear import, was highly expressed in GC tissues and associated with a poor prognosis in patients. We demonstrated that DD1, alongside the established KPNB1 inhibitor importazole (IPZ), inhibited GC cell proliferation and tumor growth by enhancing both genomic and non-genomic activity of Nur77. DD1 and IPZ reduced the interaction between KPNB1 and Nur77, resulting in Nur77 cytoplasmic accumulation and triggering mitochondrial apoptosis. The inhibitors also increased the expression of the Nur77 target apoptotic genes ATF3, RB1CC1 and PMAIP1, inducing apoptosis in GC cell. More importantly, loss of Nur77 effectively rescued the inhibitory effect of DD1 and IPZ on GC cells in both in vitro and in vivo experiments. In this study, we for the first time explored the relationship between KPNB1 and Nur77, and found KPNB1 inhibition could significantly increase the expression of Nur77. Moreover, we investigated the function of KPNB1 in GC for the first time, and the results suggested that KPNB1 could be a potential target for cancer therapy, and DD1 might be a prospective therapeutic candidate.

Predictive model using four ferroptosis-related genes accurately predicts gastric cancer prognosis.

Gastric cancer (GC) is a common malignancy of the digestive system. According to global 2018 cancer data, GC has the fifth-highest incidence and the third-highest fatality rate among malignant tumors. More than 60% of GC are linked to infection with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), a gram-negative, active, microaerophilic, and helical bacterium. This parasite induces GC by producing toxic factors, such as cytotoxin-related gene A, vacuolar cytotoxin A, and outer membrane proteins. Ferroptosis, or iron-dependent programmed cell death, has been linked to GC, although there has been little research on the link between H. pylori infection-related GC and ferroptosis. To identify coregulated differentially expressed genes among ferroptosis-related genes (FRGs) in GC patients and develop a ferroptosis-related prognostic model with discrimination ability. Gene expression profiles of GC patients and those with H. pylori-associated GC were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases. The FRGs were acquired from the FerrDb database. A ferroptosis-related gene prognostic index (FRGPI) was created using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator-Cox regression. The predictive ability of the FRGPI was validated in the GEO cohort. Finally, we verified the expression of the hub genes and the activity of the ferroptosis inducer FIN56 in GC cell lines and tissues. Four hub genes were identified (NOX4, MTCH1, GABARAPL2, and SLC2A3) and shown to accurately predict GC and H. pylori-associated GC. The FRGPI based on the hub genes could independently predict GC patient survival; GC patients in the high-risk group had considerably worse overall survival than did those in the low-risk group. The FRGPI was a significant predictor of GC prognosis and was strongly correlated with disease progression. Moreover, the gene expression levels of common immune checkpoint proteins dramatically increased in the high-risk subgroup of the FRGPI cohort. The hub genes were also confirmed to be highly overexpressed in GC cell lines and tissues and were found to be primarily localized at the cell membrane. The ferroptosis inducer FIN56 inhibited GC cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. In this study, we developed a predictive model based on four FRGs that can accurately predict the prognosis of GC patients and the efficacy of immunotherapy in this population.

Biological functions of Circular RNA_LARP4/ Upstream frameshift 1 in development of gastric cancer.

Recently, the progression of gastric cancer (GC), as one of the most ordinary malignant tumors, has been reported to be associated with circular RNAs. This study aimed to identify the role of circular RNA_LARP4 in GC. We performed real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) in 46 paired GC patients and GC cell lines to detect the expression of circular RNA_LARP4. Moreover, the role of circular RNA_LARP4 in GC proliferation was identified through proliferation assay and colony formation assay, while the role of circular RNA_LARP4 in GC metastasis was measured through scratch wound assay and transwell assay. Furthermore, the potential targets of circular RNA_LARP4 were predicted through bioinformatics methods and further identified by western blot assay and RT-qPCR. Circular RNA_LARP4 expression was remarkably lower in GC tissues compared with that in adjacent samples. Besides, cell proliferation of GC was inhibited after overexpression of circular RNA_LARP4, while cell migration and invasion of GC was inhibited after overexpression of circular RNA_LARP4. Furthermore, Upstream frameshift 1 (UPF1) was predicted as the potential target of circular RNA_LARP4 and was upregulated via overexpression of circular RNA_LARP4 in GC. Circular RNA_LARP4 inhibits GC cell proliferation and metastasis via targeting UPF1 in vitro, which might provide a new tumor suppressor in GC development.

FPR3 reprograms glycolytic metabolism and stemness in gastric cancer via calcium-NFATc1 pathway

Aerobic glycolysis accelerates tumor proliferation and progression, and inhibitors or drugs targeting abnormal cancer metabolism have been developing. Cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) significantly contribute to tumor initiation, metastasis, therapy resistance, and recurrence. Formyl peptide receptor 3 (FPR3), a member of FPR family, involves in inflammation, tissue repair, and angiogenesis. However, studies in exploring the regulatory mechanisms of aerobic glycolysis and CSCs by FPR3 in gastric cancer (GC) remain unknown. Here, we demonstrated that overexpressed FPR3 suppressed glycolytic capacity and stemness of tumor cells, then inhibited GC cells proliferation. Mechanistically, FPR3 impeded cytoplasmic calcium ion flux and hindered nuclear factor of activated T cells 1 (NFATc1) nuclear translocation, leading to the transcriptional inactivation of NFATc1-binding neurogenic locus notch homolog protein 3 (NOTCH3) promoter, subsequently obstructing NOTCH3 expression and the AKT/mTORC1 signaling pathway, and ultimately downregulating glycolysis. Additionally, NFATc1 directly binds to the sex determining region Y-box 2 (SOX2) promoter and modifies stemness in GC. In conclusion, our work illustrated that FPR3 played a negative role in GC progression by modulating NFATc1-mediated glycolysis and stemness in a calcium-dependent manner, providing potential insights into cancer therapy.

Identification of ALYREF in pan cancer as a novel cancer prognostic biomarker and potential regulatory mechanism in gastric cancer

ALYREF is considered as a specific mRNA m5C-binding protein which recognizes m5C sites in RNA and facilitates the export of RNA from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. Expressed in various tissues and highly involved in the transcriptional regulation, ALYREF has the potential to become a novel diagnostic marker and therapeutic target for cancer patients. However, few studies focused on its function during carcinogenesis and progress. In order to explore the role of ALYREF on tumorigenesis, TCGA and GTEx databases were used to investigate the relationship of ALYREF to pan-cancer. We found that ALYREF was highly expressed in majority of cancer types and that elevated expression level was positively associated with poor prognosis in many cancers. GO and KEGG analysis showed that ALYREF to be essential in regulating the cell cycle and gene mismatch repair in tumor progression. The correlation analysis of tumor heterogeneity indicated that ALYREF could be specially correlated to the tumor stemness in stomach adenocarcinoma (STAD). Furthermore, we investigate the potential function of ALYREF on gastric carcinogenesis. Prognostic analysis of different molecular subtypes of gastric cancer (GC) unfolded that high ALYREF expression leads to poor prognosis in certain subtypes of GC. Finally, enrichment analysis revealed that ALYREF-related genes possess the function of regulating cell cycle and apoptosis that cause further influences in GC tumor progression. For further verification, we knocked down the expression of ALYREF by siRNA in GC cell line AGS. Knockdown of ALYREF distinctly contributed to inhibition of GC cell proliferation. Moreover, it is observed that knocked-down of ALYREF induced AGS cells arrested in G1 phase and increased cell apoptosis. Our findings highlighted the essential function of ALYREF in tumorigenesis and revealed the specific contribution of ALYREF to gastric carcinogenesis through pan-cancer analysis and biological experiments.

Circ1811 suppresses gastric cancer progression by regulating the miR-632/DAPK1 axis

Compelling evidence has identified circRNAs as crucial regulators in initiation and progression of various cancers, including gastric cancer (GC). However, the function and regulatory mechanisms of circRNAs in GC remain largely unknown. In this study, attention is paid to a novel circular RNA circ1811, which exerts significant downregulated expression in GC tissues compared with adjacent non-cancerous tissues. The expression of circ1811 in GC tumor tissues is negatively correlated with the extent of lymphatic metastasis in GC patients. Overexpression of circ1811 inhibited GC cell proliferation, migration and invasion while promoting apoptosis, whereas knockdown of circ1811 led to the opposite effects. AGO2 RIP and dual luciferase reporter assays indicated that circ1811 directly sponges miR-632 to upregulate the expression of DAPK1. Collectively, circ1811 acts as a tumor-suppressor for GC progression by regulating the miR-632/DAPK1 axis. Our findings suggest the potential of circ1811 as ideal biomarker and therapeutic target for GC.

Circular RNA CircSLC22A23 Promotes Gastric Cancer Progression by Activating HNRNPU Expression.

Circular RNAs (CircRNAs) play essential roles in cancer occurrence as regulatory RNAs. However, circRNA-mediated regulation of gastric cancer (GC) remains poorly understood. Thepurposeofthisstudywastoinvestigatethe molecular mechanism of circSLC22A23 (hsa_circ_0075504) underlying GC occurrence. CircSLC22A23 levels were first quantified by quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction in GC cell lines, 80 paired GC tissues and adjacent normal tissues, and 27 pairs of plasma samples from preoperative and postoperative patients with GC. Then circSLC22A23 was knocked-down with short hairpin RNA to analyze its oncogenic effects on the proliferation, migration, and invasion of GC cells. Finally, circRNA-binding proteins and their downstream target genes were identified by RNA pulldown, mass spectrometry, RNA immunoprecipitation, quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, and Western blot assays. CircSLC22A23 was found to be highly expressed in GC cells, GC tissues, and plasma from GC patients. Knockdown of circSLC22A23 inhibited GC cell proliferation, migration and invasion. RNA pulldown and RNA immunoprecipitation assays verified the interaction between circSLC22A23 and heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein U (HNRNPU). Knockdown of circSLC22A23 decreased HNRNPU protein levels. Moreover, rescue assays showed that the tumor suppressive effect of circSLC22A23 knockdown was reversed by HNRNPU overexpression. Finally, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) was found to be one of the downstream target genes of HNRNPU that was up regulated by circSLC22A23. CircSLC22A23 regulated the transcription of EGFR through activation of HNRNPU in GC cells, suggesting that circSLC22A23 may serve as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of GC.

CLEC4D as a Novel Prognostic Marker Boosts the Proliferation and Migration of Gastric Cancer via the NF-κB/AKT Signaling Pathway.

The functions of C-type lectin domain family 4 member D (CLEC4D), one member of the C-type lectin/C-type lectin-like domain superfamily, in immunity have been well described, but its roles in cancer biology remain largely unknown. This study aims to explore the role of CLEC4D in gastric cancer (GC). Bioinformatics preliminarily analyzed the expression of CLEC4D in gastric cancer. Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expression level and clinical pathological characteristics of CLEC4D in gastric cancer. The biological function of CLEC4D in gastric cancer cell lines was verified through in vitro and in vivo experiments. In this study, CLEC4D expression was found to be markedly increased in gastric cancer (GC) tissues compared with matched normal gastric tissues, and high CLEC4D expression independently predicted unfavorable overall survival in patients with GC. Knockdown of CLEC4D markedly inhibited GC cell proliferation and migration. Mechanistically, CLEC4D knockdown deactivated the Akt and NF-κB signaling pathways in GC cells. Together, these results demonstrate that aberrantly increased CLEC4D expression promotes cancer phenotypes via the Akt and NF-κB signaling pathways in GC cells.

Loss of keratin 23 enhances growth inhibitory effect of melatonin in gastric cancer

Loss of keratin 23 enhances growth inhibitory effect of melatonin in gastric cancer

Dioscin Impedes Proliferation, Metastasis and Enhances Autophagy of Gastric Cancer Cells via Regulating the USP8/TGM2 Pathway.

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide. Dioscin has been shown to have anti-cancer effects in GC. The aim of this study is to explore a novel mechanism of dioscin in repressing GC progression. Cell viability, proliferation, apoptosis and invasion were measured by 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT), 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU), flow cytometry and transwell assays, respectively. Monodansylcadaverine (MDC) staining was used to assess cell autophagy. The expression of transglutaminase-2 (TGM2), ubiquitin-specific peptidase 8 (USP8) and autophagy-related proteins was detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blot. A xenograft tumor model was established to investigate the function of dioscin in vivo. Dioscin inhibited GC cell proliferation and invasion, but induced apoptosis and autophagy. TGM2 was highly expressed in GC, and dioscin suppressed GC progression by decreasing the protein level of TGM2. Furthermore, USP8 positively regulated TGM2 expression, and TGM2 overexpression reversed the inhibitory effect of USP8 knockdown on GC cell progression. USP8 abated the effect of dioscin in GC cells. Dioscin decreased the protein level of TGM2 via regulating USP8. In addition, dioscin restrained GC tumor growth in vivo. Dioscin played an anti-cancer effect in GC by enhancing cancer cell autophagy via regulating the USP8/TGM2 pathway.

DHRS4-AS1 regulate gastric cancer apoptosis and cell proliferation by destabilizing DHX9 and inhibited the association between DHX9 and ILF3

Gastric cancer (GC) causes millions of cancer-related deaths due to anti-apoptosis and rapid proliferation. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying GC cell proliferation and anti-apoptosis remain unclear. The expression levels of DHRS4-AS1 in GC were analyzed based on GEO database and recruited GC patients in our institution. We found that DHRS4-AS1 was significantly downregulated in GC. The expression of DHRS4-AS1 in GC tissues showed a significant correlation with tumor size, advanced pathological stage, and vascular invasion. Moreover, DHRS4-AS1 levels in GC tissues were significantly associated with prognosis. DHRS4-AS1 markedly inhibited GC cell proliferation and promotes apoptosis in vitro and in vivo assays. Mechanically, We found that DHRS4-AS1 bound to pro-oncogenic DHX9 (DExH-box helicase 9) and recruit the E3 ligase MDM2 that contributed to DHX9 degradation. We also confirmed that DHRS4-AS1 inhibited DHX9-mediated cell proliferation and promotes apoptosis. Furthermore, we found DHX9 interact with ILF3 (Interleukin enhancer Binding Factor 3) and activate NF-kB Signaling in a ILF3-dependent Manner. Moreover, DHRS4-AS1 can also inhibit the association between DHX9 and ILF3 thereby interfered the activation of the signaling pathway. Our results reveal new insights into mechanisms underlying GC progression and indicate that LncRNA DHRS4-AS1 could be a future therapeutic target and a biomarker for GC diagnosis.

KYNU as a Biomarker of Tumor-Associated Macrophages and Correlates with Immunosuppressive Microenvironment and Poor Prognosis in Gastric Cancer

Background. Kynureninase (KYNU) is a potential prognostic marker for various tumor types. However, no reports on the biological effects and prognostic value of KYNU in gastric cancer (GC) exist. Methods. GC-associated single-cell RNA sequencing and bulk RNA sequencing (bulk-seq) data were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus and The Cancer Genome Atlas databases, respectively. The differential expression of KYNU between GC and normal gastric tissues was first analyzed based on the bulk-seq data, followed by an exploration of the relationship between KYNU and various clinicopathological features. The Kaplan–Meier survival and Cox regression analyses were performed to determine the prognostic value of KYNU. The relationship between KYNU expression and immune cell infiltration and immune checkpoints was also explored. The biological function of KYNU was further examined at the single-cell level, and in vitro experiments were performed to examine the effect of KYNU on GC cell proliferation and invasion. Results. KYNU expression was significantly elevated in GC samples. Clinical features and survival analysis indicated that high KYNU expression was associated with poor clinical phenotypes and prognosis, whereas Cox analysis showed that KYNU was an independent risk factor for patients with GC. Notably, high expression of KYNU induced a poor immune microenvironment and contributed to the upregulation of immune checkpoints. KYNU-overexpressing macrophages drove GC progression through unique ligand-receptor pairs and transcription factors and were associated with adverse clinical phenotypes in GC. KYNU was overexpressed in GC cells in vitro, and KYNU knockout significantly inhibited GC cell proliferation and invasion. Conclusion. High KYNU expression promotes an adverse immune microenvironment and low survival rates in GC. KYNU and KYNU-related macrophages may serve as novel molecular targets in the treatment of GC.

Alternative Splicing Factor Heterogeneous Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein U as a Promising Biomarker for Gastric Cancer Risk and Prognosis with Tumor-Promoting Properties

Gastric cancer (GC) is a major global health concern with poor outcomes. Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein U (HNRNPU) is a multifunctional protein that participates in pre-mRNA packaging, alternative splicing regulation, and chromatin remodeling. Its potential role in GC remains unclear. In this study, the expression characteristics of HNRNPU were analyzed by The Cancer Genome Atlas data, Gene Expression Omnibus data, and then further identified by real-time quantitative PCR and immunohistochemistry using tissue specimens. From superficial gastritis, atrophic gastritis, and hyperplasia to GC, the in situ expression of HNRNPU protein gradually increased, and the areas under the curve for diagnosis of GC and its precancerous lesions were 0.911 and 0.847, respectively. A nomogram integrating HNRNPU expression, lymph node metastasis, and other prognostic indicators exhibited an area under the curve of 0.785 for predicting survival risk. Knockdown of HNRNPU significantly inhibited GC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion and promoted apoptosis invitro. In addition, RNA-sequencing analysis showed that HNRNPU could affect alternative splicing events in GC cells, with functional enrichment analysis revealing that HNRNPU may exert malignant biological function in GC progression through alternative splicing regulation. In summary, the increased expression of HNRNPU was significantly associated with the development of GC, with a good performance in diagnosing and predicting the prognostic risk of GC. Functionally, HNRNPU may play an oncogenic role in GC by regulating alternative splicing.

Hsa_circ_0026344 suppresses gastric cancer progression via modulating the miR-1290/FBP2 axis.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a novel type of noncoding RNAs and play important roles in tumorigenesis, including gastric cancer (GC). However, the functions of most circRNAs remain poorly understood. In our study, we mainly learn the influence of hsa_circ_0026344 (circ_0026344) in GC progression. Circ_0026344, miR-1290 and Fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase 2 (FBP2) expression was determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). GC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were detected by colony formation, 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU), and transwell assays, respectively. The interaction between circ_0026344 and miR-1290 complex was evaluated by RNA pull-down assay. The interaction of miR-1290 with circ_0026344 or FBP2 was detected using dual-luciferase reporter assay. A xenograft model was established to determine the effect of circ_0026344 on GC tumor growth in vivo. Circ_0026344 expression was dramatically decreased in GC cells and tissues. Circ_0026344 overexpression inhibited GC cell proliferation, migration and invasion. MiR-1290 was predicted as a target of circ_0026344 and miR-1290 overexpression attenuated the anti-tumor effect of circ_0026344 on GC cells. Furthermore, we predicted FBP2 as the target of miR-1290. FBP2 knockdown reversed the effects of circ_0026344 knockdown on GC cell malignant behaviors. Functional analysis showed that circ_0026344 upregulated FBP2 expression via miR-1290. Additionally, in vivo studies demonstrated that circ_0026344 suppressed GC tumor progression. In conclusion, circ_0026344 inhibited GC cell proliferation via the miR-1290/FBP2 axis, which might provide a new therapeutic target for GC patients.