Non-tumor Tissues Research Articles

The spatial impact of a Western diet in enriching Galectin-1-regulated Rho, ECM, and SASP signaling in a novel MASH-HCC mouse model

BackgroundHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) arising from metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) presents a significant clinical challenge, particularly given the prevalence of the Western diet (WD). The influence of diet on the tumor microenvironment remains poorly understood. Galectin-1 (Gal-1) is a biomarker for HCC and has a crucial role in liver carcinogenesis. Our previous studies demonstrated that silencing Gal-1 effectively treats mouse HCC. However, the impacts of a WD on Gal-1 signaling on MASH to HCC progression are unknown, and this study addresses these knowledge gaps.MethodsWe developed a novel MASH-HCC mouse model. Using spatial transcriptomics and multiplex immunohistochemistry (IHC), we studied the effects of a WD on the liver and tumor microenvironment. By modulating Gal-1 expression through silencing and overexpression, we explored the location-specific impacts of WD on Gal-1 signaling.ResultsPathways such as Rho signaling, extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, and senescence-associated secretory phenotypes (SASP) were prominently activated in WD-induced metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) and MASH-HCC, compared to healthy livers controls. Furthermore, Rho GTPase effectors, ECM remodeling, neutrophil degranulation, cellular stress, and cell cycle pathways were consistently enriched in human and mouse MASH-HCC. Spatially, these pathways were enriched in the tumor and tumor margins of mouse MASH-HCC. Additionally, there was a notable increase in CD11c and PD-L1-positive cells from non-tumor tissues to the tumor margin and inside the tumor of MASH-HCC, suggesting compromised immune surveillance due to WD intake. Moreover, MASH-HCC exhibited significant Gal-1 induction in N-Cadherin-positive cells, indicating enhanced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Modulating Gal-1 expression in MASH-HCC further established its specific roles in regulating Rho signaling and SASP in the tumor margin and non-tumor tissues in MASH-HCC.ConclusionWD intake significantly influences vital cellular processes involved in Gal-1-mediated signaling, including Rho signaling and ECM remodeling, in the tumor microenvironment, thereby contributing to the development of MASH-HCC.

Integrated bioinformatics analysis and experimental validation on malignant progression and immune cell infiltration of LTBP2 in gliomas

BackgroundGliomas are the highly aggressive brain tumor and also the most devastating human tumors. The latent TGF binding proteins (LTBP) had been found to be involved in malignant biological process and could be used as potent biomarkers in several solid tumors. While the role of LTBP family in human glioma remain to be elucidated.MethodsNormalized gene expression and corresponding clinical data of 2407 gliomas samples in public datasets were downloaded from Gliovis. Kaplan–Meier methods and Cox regression analysis was used for survival analyses.Western blot (WB) and Immunohistochemical (IHC) testing were employed to test LTBPs protein level in 154 gliomas samples. Correlation between LTBP2 expression and immune infiltration was evaluated by immunofluorescence (IF) and IHC in glioma tissues. CCK8 and flow cytometric analysis were used to detect the effect of LTBP2 on glioma cells. Orthotopic glioma- mouse models were utilized to evaluate effects in vivo.ResultsLTBP2 mRNA level was dramatically higher in glioma samples compared with non-tumor brain tissues in XENA-TCGA_GTEx, Gill and Gravendeel datasets (all P < 0.01), and its expression positively correlated with glioma WHO grade, IDH1/2 wildtype and mesenchymal subtypes. These results were confirmed by In-house cohort which was detected by WB and IHC. We found that gliomas patients with high LTBP2 level had shorter OS than those with low LTBP2 level. LTBP2 expression significantly associated with glioma immune score (Spearman r = 0.68, P < 0.01)) and strongly correlated with infiltration degreee of macrophages both in lower grade gliomas (LGG) and GBM. Knocking down LTBP2 obviously reduced proliferation and enhanced sensitivity to temozolomide in U87 and U251 cells. Nude mice with lower expression of LTBP2 had slower tumor growth, and accompanied by less tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) infiltration detected by IHC staining in vivo. Finally, low LTBP2 expression glioma patients who received chemotherapy survived longer than patients with high LTBP2 expression.ConclusionLTBP2 could be used as a prognostic marker, and high LTBP2 expression related to abundant TAMs infiltration and with a worse response to chemotherapy.

8813 Nivolumab-Induced Diabetes: A Hidden Danger

Abstract Disclosure: J. Case: None. R.V. Chemitiganti: None. D. Suravajjala: None. Immunomodulating therapy as utilized in chemotherapy for malignancy may lead to potential adverse events including immune-related adverse events(IRAEs). One such pathway by which this may occur is through alteration of the programmed cell death as affected by drugs such as nivolumab which inhibits appropriate matching of PD-1 and PD-L1 and may lead to a robust immune response with collateral damage to nontumor tissue. Multiple downstream effects may be seen leading to other pathologies including development of autoimmune diabetes as noted in the patient described herein. A 61 year old female presented to establish care for suspected type one diabetes mellitus. She had a history of renal cell cancer diagnosed about one year prior for which she was treated with nivolumab. She was found to have hyperglycemia on routine labwork with further labwork revealing inappropriately low c-peptide as measured at less than 0.10 ng/mL (0.8-3.85ng/mL) with a coincident glucose of 566mg/dL (74-106mg/dL). Further workup revealed no measurable presence of GAD65, antipancreatic islet cell or ZNT8 antibodies. Diagnosis was made of insulinopenic diabetes or otherwise autoimmune diabetes induced as an IRAE subsequent nivolumab use. She was subsequently started on a basal bolus regimen with insulin achieving blood glucose control. IRAEs are an unfortunate, albeit rare consequence of immune checkpoint inhibitors including nivolumab. Depending on the toxicity grade and prognosis the offending agent may be discontinued and steroids initiated to mitigate adverse effects. However sometimes the occurrence of an IRAE may go undetected until too late as noted in the above patient. Her presentation was atypical considering many present with DKA and as well IRAEs are less likely in monotherapy. Education of IRAEs as well as appropriate screening would aid in recognition of potential IRAEs at which time appropriate measures may be taken to alleviate collateral damage. Further elucidation of the mechanism by which this autoimmune response is activated against nontumor tissue may also lead to better understanding of autoimmune diabetes caused by other etiologies. Presentation: 6/2/2024

CHAC1 blockade suppresses progression of lung adenocarcinoma by interfering with glucose metabolism via hijacking PKM2 nuclear translocation.

Patients with lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) generally have poor prognosis. Abnormal cellular energy metabolism is a hallmark of LUAD. Glutathione-specific gamma-glutamylcyclotransferase 1 (CHAC1) is a member of the γ-glutamylcyclotransferase family and an unfolded protein response pathway regulatory gene. Its biological function and molecular regulatory mechanism, especially regarding energy metabolism underlying LUAD, remain unclear. By utilizing tissue microarray and data from The Cancer Genome Atlas and Gene Expression Omnibus, we found that CHAC1 expression was markedly higher in LUAD tissues than in non-tumor tissues, and was positively correlated with poor prognosis. Phenotypically, CHAC1 overexpression enhanced the proliferation, migration, invasion, tumor sphere formation, and glycolysis ability of LUAD cells, resulting in tumor growth both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, through a shotgun mass spectrometry-based proteomic approach and high-throughput RNA sequencing, we found that CHAC1 acted as a bridge connecting UBA2 and PKM2, enhancing the SUMOylation of PKM2. The SUMOylated PKM2 then transferred from the cytoplasm to the nucleus, activating the expression of glycolysis-related genes and enhancing the Warburg effect. Lastly, E2F Transcription Factor 1 potently activated CHAC1 transcription by directly binding to the CHAC1 promoter in LUAD cells. The results of this study implied that CHAC1 regulates energy metabolism and promotes glycolysis in LUAD progression.

Developing a prognostic model for hepatocellular carcinoma based on MED19 and clinical stage and determining MED19 as a therapeutic target

BackgroudMediator complex subunit 19 (MED19), a member of the mediator complex, has been demonstrated to involve in tumorigenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the regulation mechanisms of MED19, the immune landscape linking MED19 to HCC and its predictive value of immunotherapy treatment in HCC are so far unknown.MethodsHere, we analyzed data from The Cancer Genome Atlas and other databases to assess the expression of MED19 and its prognosis and therapeutical-targets impact in HCC.ResultsMED19 expression was upregulated in HCC tissues compared to non-tumorous liver tissues and that its upregulation was positively associated with advanced clinicopathology features. The multivariate analysis showed that MED19 was an independent predictor of outcome in HCC. In vitro experiments revealed that MED19 knockdown suppressed hepG2 cells proliferation, colony forming and invasion and induced apoptosis. Furthermore, MED19 inhibition resulted in G0/G1 phase arrest in hepG2 cells. We screened differentially expressed genes between low and high MED19 expression groups. Enrichment analyses showed that these genes were mainly linked to nuclear division and cell cycle. The pattern of tumor-infiltrating immune was demonstrated to be related with MED19 expression in HCC. TIDE analyses showed that patients in the low-expression group presented significantly better immunotherapy. Moreover, we developed a predicted model for HCC patient’s prognosis. Receiver operating characteristic analyses revealed that this model processed a favorable performance in predicting the prognosis of HCC patients. Finally, a nomogram was built for predicting survival probability of individual HCC patient.ConclusionThese findings suggest that MED19 as a novel biomarker that has significant association with immune landscape and immunotherapy response in HCC. The proposed prediction model composed of MED19 and pathological stage has a better role in determining prognosis and stratifying of HCC.

Cysteine protease I29 propeptide from Calotropis procera R. Br. As a potent cathepsin L inhibitor and its suppressive activity in breast cancer metastasis.

Breast cancer metastasis is associated with a poor prognosis and a high rate of mortality. Cathepsin L (CTSL) is a lysosomal cysteine protease that promotes tumor metastasis by degrading the extracellular matrix. Gene set enrichment analysis revealed that CTSL expression was higher in tumorous than in non-tumorous tissues of breast cancer patients and that high-level CTSL expression correlated positively with the epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Therefore, we hypothesized that inhibiting CTSL activity in tumor cells would prevent metastasis. In this study, we characterized the inhibitory activity of SnuCalCpI15, the I29 domain of a CTSL-like cysteine protease from Calotropis procera R. Br., and revealed that the propeptide stereoselectively inhibited CTSL in a reversible slow-binding manner, with an inhibitory constant (Ki) value of 1.38 ± 0.71 nM, indicating its potency as an exogenous inhibitor in anti-cancer therapy. SnuCalCpI15 was localized intracellularly in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells and suppressed tumor cell migration and invasion. These results demonstrate the potential of SnuCalCpI15 as a novel agent to prevent breast cancer metastasis.

Tumor-colonized Streptococcus mutans metabolically reprograms tumor microenvironment and promotes oral squamous cell carcinoma

BackgroundOral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remains a major death cause in head and neck cancers, but the exact pathogenesis mechanisms of OSCC are largely unclear.ResultsSaliva derived from OSCC patients but not healthy controls (HCs) significantly promotes OSCC development and progression in rat models, and metabolomic analyses reveal saliva of OSCC patients but not HCs and OSCC tissues but not adjacent non-tumor tissues contain higher levels of kynurenic acid (KYNA). Furthermore, large amounts of Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) colonize in OSCC tumor tissues, and such intratumoral S. mutans mediates KYNA overproductions via utilizing its protein antigen c (PAc). KYNA shifts the cellular types in the tumor microenvironment (TME) of OSCC and predominantly expedites the expansions of S100a8highS100a9high neutrophils to produce more interleukin 1β (IL-1β), which further expands neutrophils and induces CD8 + T cell exhaustion in TME and therefore promotes OSCC. Also, KYNA compromises the therapeutic effects of programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) and IL-1β blockades in oral carcinogenesis model. Moreover, KYNA-mediated immunosuppressive program and aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) expression correlate with impaired anti-tumor immunity and poorer survival of OSCC patients.ConclusionsThus, aberration of oral microbiota and intratumoral colonization of specific oral bacterium such as S. mutans may increase the production of onco-metabolites, exacerbate the oral mucosal carcinogenesis, reprogram a highly immunosuppressive TME, and promote OSCC, highlighting the potential of interfering with oral microbiota and microbial metabolism for OSCC preventions and therapeutics.5ViVJ5sCbraGF_6Zi1UXojVideo

Hypoxia-Associated GPNMB+ Macrophages Promote Malignant Progression of Colorectal Cancer and Its RelatedRisk Signature Are Powerful Predictive Tool for theTreatment of Colorectal Cancer Patients.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a highly malignant tumor with hypoxia being a crucial feature during its progression. This study utilized multiple independent CRC cohorts for bioinformatics analysis and in vitro experiments to investigate the role of hypoxia-related subgroups in CRC. Machine learning was employed to construct risk features associated with this subgroup and further explore its therapeutic value in CRC. The study identified the GPNMB+ Macrophage (GPNMB+ Macr) subgroup as most relevant to hypoxia. GPNMB+ Macr showed significantly higher infiltration in tumor tissues compared to non-tumor tissues, increasing with CRC stage. High infiltration of GPNMB+ Macr was associated with poor prognosis in terms of overall and recurrence-free survival in CRC patients. GPNMB+ Macrophages exhibit M2-like characteristics and have the ability to promote 5-FU resistance, proliferation, and metastasis of CRC cells. The study developed the Hypoxia-Related Macrophage Risk Score (HMRS), which not only served as an independent prognostic factor for CRC patients but also demonstrated robust prognostic performance compared to 84 previously published prognostic features. Patients with low HMRS were sensitive to fluorouracil, oxaliplatin (FOLFOX), and anti-PD-1 immunotherapy, while those with high HMRS showed resistance. Additionally, HMRS was identified as an independent prognostic factor in other digestive tract tumors (hepatocellular carcinoma, pancreatic cancer, esophageal cancer, and gastric cancer), indicating potential extrapolation to other tumor types. In conclusion, GPNMB+ Macr promotes the malignant progression of CRC, and HMRS serves as a powerful predictive tool for prognosis, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy in CRC patients, aiding in improving the quality of survival.

Mitotic spindle positioning protein serves as prognostic biomarker in patients with colorectal cancer

Background Colorectal cancer (CRC) ranks among the most aggressive types of cancer globally. Currently, clinical tumor prognostic biomarkers still lack accuracy. Mitotic spindle positioning (MISP) protein connects microtubules to the actin cytoskeleton and adhesive plaques, playing a critical role in spindle positioning, orientation, and the process of cell division. MISP can regulate the malignant biological functions of pancreatic cancer and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and it acts as biomarker for prognosis, but its role in CRC remains unclear. Methods This study has collected 37 CRC tissue samples and 37 corresponding adjacent nontumor tissue samples, and 57 additional CRC tissues samples. Clinical data were obtained from the patients with CRC. MISP mRNA and protein expression levels were analyzed in normal control and CRC tissues using the GEPIA and Human Protein Atlas website. MISP protein levels in the collected tissues were analyzed using immunohistochemistry. Results MISP mRNA and protein expression levels were significantly increased in CRC tissues compared to adjacent nontumor tissues. Higher MISP protein levels were associated with distant metastasis, recurrence, and lower survival rates. Kaplan–Meier analysis showed that high expression levels of MISP protein were associated with recurrence and death in CRC patients. In addition, a high expression level of MISP protein, lymph node metastasis, and distance metastasis were risk factors for recurrence and a poor prognosis in patients with CRC. Conclusion Elevated MISP protein correlated with tumor metastasis, recurrence, and lower survival rates in patients with CRC, and thus, MISP has the potential to become a prognostic marker for CRC.

The Immune Modulation HLA-G*01:01:01 Full Allele Is Associated with Gastric Adenocarcinoma Development.

The Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) system contains a set of genes involved at many levels in the innate and adaptive immune response. Among the non-classical HLA class I genes, HLA-G stands out for the numerous studies about its pivotal role in regulating/modulating immune responses. Also, its involvement in extravillous cytotrophoblast function, viral infections, autoimmunity, and cancer has been extensively documented. The present study explores for the first time the relationship between natural alleles of HLA-G, rather than STSs, SNPs, or partial gene polymorphisms, and the development of gastric adenocarcinoma, by analyzing the genetic profile of a cohort of 40 Spanish patients with this type of tumor using DNA extracted from paired biopsies of tumoral and adjacent non-tumoral gastric tissue. Our results reveal a significant statistical relationship between the presence of the HLA-G*01:01:01 allele and the development of gastric cancer, while other common alleles such as -G*01:04 or -G*01:05N did not demonstrate a significant correlation. Studying the involvement of HLA genes in the development of many diseases is relevant to understanding their pathophysiology. However, the absence of specific mechanisms underlying these associations suggests that investigating complete HLA natural alleles' extended haplotypes or complotypes may offer a more precise and valuable approach to elucidating the association of HLA with the pathogenesis of disease.

The branched N-glycan of PD-L1 predicts immunotherapy responses in patients with recurrent/metastatic HNSCC

Immunotherapy has revolutionized cancer treatment, but the lack of a reliable predictive biomarker for treatment response remains a challenge. Alpha-1,6-Mannosylglycoprotein 6-β-N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferase 5 (MGAT5) is a key regulator of complex N-glycan synthesis, and its dysregulation is associated with cancer progression. The lectin Phaseolus vulgaris leukoagglutinin (PHA-L) specifically binds to mature MGAT5 products. Previous studies have indicated elevated PHA-L staining in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), which implies increased activity of MGAT5. However, the specific role of MGAT5 in HNSCC remains unclear. In this study, we found significantly higher PHA-L staining and MGAT5 expression in HNSCC tumors compared to adjacent non-tumor tissues. Using a mass spectrometry (MS)-based glycoproteomic approach, we identified 163 potential protein substrates of MGAT5. Functional analysis revealed that protein substrates of MGAT5 regulated pathways related to T cell proliferation and activation. We further discovered that PD-L1 was among the protein substrates of MGAT5, and the expression of MGAT5 protected tumor cells from cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) killing. Treatment of nivolumab alleviated the protective effects of MGAT5 on CTL activity. Consistently, patients with MGAT5-positive tumors showed improved responses to immunotherapy compared to those with MGAT5-negative tumors. Using purified PD-L1 from HNSCC cells and a glycoproteomic approach, we further deciphered that the N35 and N200 sites carry the majority of complex N-glycans on PD-L1. Our findings highlight the critical role of MGAT5-mediated branched N-glycans on PD-L1 in modulating the interaction with the immune checkpoint receptor PD-1. Consequently, we propose that MGAT5 could serve as a biomarker to predict patients’ responses to anti-PD-1 therapy. Furthermore, targeting the branched N-glycans at N35 and N200 of PD-L1 may lead to the development of novel diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.

Value of miR-31 and miR-150-3p as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for breast cancer.

The most prevalent malignancy among women is breast cancer (BC). MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a role in the initiation and progression of BC by influencing breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) but the diagnostic and prognostic roles of those miRNAs on BC patients are still unknown. It was aimed to investigate expression profiles, diagnostic and prognostic potentials of BCSC-related miRNAs in different subtypes (Luminal A and B, HER2 + and TNBC) of BC patients. Expression analysis of 15 BCSC-related miRNAs was performed in 50 breast tumor tissues and 20 adjacent non-tumor tissues obtained from BC patients using the qRT-PCR method. The expression levels of miR-31 and miR-150-3p were significantly upregulated in the tumor tissues compared to the adjacent non-tumor tissues (p < 0.05). miR-31 expression upregulated in the Luminal A and Luminal B group compared to non-tumor tissue (p < 0.05). miR-31 expression was determined to be significantly higher in the Luminal group (Luminal A and B) compared to the aggressive group (HER2 + and TNBC) (p < 0.05). According to the ROC analysis, the area under the curve (AUC) of miR-31 and miR-150-3p were 0.66 with a sensitivity of 68% and a specificity of 70%. A significant inverse correlation was observed between miR-31 expression with metastatic carcinoma status, in situ component, and Ki67 value in tumors, and high miR-150-3p expression was correlated with p63 expression (p < 0.05). miR-31 and miR-150-3p have the potential to serve as biomarkers for guiding diagnosis, evaluating prognosis, and metastatic process in patients with BC.

Development and Verification of Diagnosis Model for Papillary Thyroid Cancer Based on Pyroptosis-Related Genes: A Bioinformatic and in vitro Investigation.

The incidence of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) has been increasing annually; however, early diagnosis can improve patient outcomes. Pyroptosis is a programmed cell death modality that has received considerable attention recently. However, no studies have reported using pyroptosis-related genes in PTC diagnosis. Analyzed 33 pyroptosis-related genes in PTC transcriptome data from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. Subsequently, used the Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) model to construct a PTC molecular diagnostic model. Furthermore, confirmed differences in the expression of five genes between PTC and non-tumor tissues using immunohistochemistry. Collected 338 PTC and control samples to construct a five-gene PTC diagnostic model, which was then validated using a training set and underwent correlation analysis with immune cell infiltration. Additionally, validated the biological functions of the core gene NOD1 in vitro. The five-gene PTC diagnostic model demonstrated good diagnostic value for PTC. Moreover, identified three reliable subtypes of pyroptosis and found that NOD1 is involved in tumor-suppressive microenvironment formation. Notably, patients with high NOD1 expression had lower Progression-Free Survival (PFS). Additionally, NOD1 expression was positively correlated with immune markers such as CD47, CD68, CD3, and CD8. Lastly, inhibiting NOD1 showed significant anti-PTC activity in vitro. Our results suggest that pyroptosis-related genes can be used for PTC diagnosis, and NOD1 could be a promising therapeutic target.

Hsa_circ_0004194 suppresses colorectal cancer progression via hsa-miR-27a-3p

AimsTo investigate the functional role and the underlying molecular mechanisms associated with hsa_circ_0004194 in the context of colorectal cancer (CRC) and to elucidate its impact on cancer progression. ResultsA notable and statistically significant decrease in the expression levels of hsa_circ_0004194 was observed specifically within CRC tissues when compared to non-tumor colorectal mucosa tissues. Functional evaluations, such as CCK8 assays, plate clone formation analysis, and transwell migration assays, our study revealed hsa_circ_0004194 significantly reduced the activity behavior of CRC cells. This overexpression of hsa_circ_0004194 effectively hindered these key cellular processes, demonstrating its role in suppressing the aggressive behaviors of CRC cells. Additionally, in vivo experiments utilizing mouse xenograft models exhibited that the upregulation of hsa_circ_0004194 significantly attenuated tumor growth, reduced tumor volume, and diminished liver metastasis. Further mechanistic investigation, through the utilization of RNA pull-down and luciferase reporter assays, uncovered that hsa_circ_0004194 sequestered hsa-miR-27a-3p, thereby enhancing retinoic acid X receptor α (RXRα)’ expression which is in CRC cells. Moreover, this circular RNA also impeded the signaling pathway of Wnt/β-catenin. ConclusionOur study is the first to demonstrate that hsa_circ_0004194 exhibits downregulated expression in CRC and functions as a ceRNA by binding to and sequestering hsa-miR-27a-3p, thereby modulating the RXRα/β-catenin signaling pathway to inhibit CRC progression. This discovery suggests that hsa_circ_0004194 holds significant potential as a therapeutic biomarker for patients with CRC.

Up-regulation of MSMO1 was associated with poor survival in cervical cancer.

Methylsterol monooxygenase 1 (MSMO1) catalyzes C4-methylsterols demethylation in cholesterol biosynthesis pathway. MSMO1 is increased and up-regulation of MSMO1 is correlated with progression of some tumor. But the correlation of MSMO1 to cervical cancer is unknown. The current study aimed to explore the expression pattern of MSMO1 in cervical cancer and its correlation to clinical characteristics. In this study, 306 cervical cancer cases and 13 non-tumor cases were included. We compared MSMO1 expression level in non-tumor cervical tissues and cervical cancer samples using the Wilcoxon rank sum test. Univariate regression was used to investigate the correlation between MSMO1 expression as well as other clinical characteristics and prognosis. Clinical characteristics associated with prognosis in univariate analysis were used as adjustments for multivariate analysis to further validate the relationship between MSMO1 expression and cervical cancer prognosis. Patients' survival in different subgroups was compared by Kaplan-Meier (KM) method. The potential protein interaction was analyzed. T cell infiltration level in MSMO1 high and low group patients was compared. MSMO1 expression level was up-regulated in cervical cancer (P<0.001). Patients who had stage III-IV diseases (P=0.04) and did not achieve complete response after primary treatment had higher MSMO1 expression (P<0.001). High MSMO1 expression patients showed a lower overall survival (OS) (P=0.004), disease-specific survival (DSS) (P=0.004) and progression-free survival (PFS) (P=0.002). High MSMO1 expression was a risk factor to OS (P=0.01), DSS (P=0.009) and PFS (P=0.009). Multiple variate analysis showed that high MSMO1 expression was an independent risk factor to OS [hazard ratio (HR) =1.902, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.156-3.129, P=0.01], DSS (HR =2.172, 95% CI: 1.210-3.897, P=0.009) and PFS (HR =1.975, 95% CI: 1.189-3.282, P=0.009) in cervical squamous cell carcinoma (CESC). The prognostic value of high MSMO1 expression was further examined in other databases, including KM-plotter, Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. The current research showed that MSMO1 was increased and was associated with poor prognosis in CESC.

The immunomodulatory role of the MAFB gene in hepatocellular carcinoma and its impact on biological activities

ObjectiveThe transcription factor MAFB is part of the MAF family and is known to promote hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by upregulating cyclin D1. However, its role in HCC immunity and prognosis remains unclear. This study explores the biological function, prognostic significance, and immune impact of MAFB in HCC. MethodsImmunohistochemistry was used to analyze MAFB expression in HCC and adjacent non-tumor tissues. RT-qPCR and Western blotting measured MAFB levels in HCC cell lines. Specific siRNA was used to knockdown MAFB in HCCLM3 and MHCC97H cells, followed by assays to evaluate cell proliferation, migration, and colony formation. Data from the TCGA database and online tools TIMER and TISDB were used to assess the relationship between MAFB and immune responses. A prognostic model based on MAFB-related immune genes was established, and drug sensitivity analysis was performed. ResultsMAFB was significantly overexpressed in HCC tissues. Knockdown of MAFB in HCC cell lines reduced their proliferation and migration abilities. The risk model based on MAFB-related immune genes effectively predicted patient prognosis, supported by ROC curves. Gene set enrichment analysis indicated that MAFB is involved in immune-related pathways. Several drugs were identified as potentially sensitive to MAFB expression levels. ConclusionMAFB plays a significant role in HCC development and immune regulation. The prognostic model combining MAFB-related immune genes provides valuable insights for predicting patient outcomes and identifying potential therapeutic targets.

Gene Expression Aberrations in Alcohol-Associated Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most prevalent primary liver cancer, ranking as the sixth most common cancer worldwide and the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Most HCC cases originate from cirrhotic livers, typically due to chronic liver diseases, such as hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C (HCV) infections, and alcoholism. HCC cells often harbor numerous somatic mutations that are implicated in HCC development, but epigenetic factors, such as miRNA interference, can also affect HCC initiation and progress. miRNA-221 has been explored as a factor affecting HCC development in HCC of viral etiology, but little is known about its effects on gene expression in alcohol-associated HCC. This study aimed to explore potentially similar gene expression aberrations underlying viral and alcohol-induced HCC. We analyzed available transcriptome data from non-tumor hepatocytes and viral-induced HCC tissues. The most notable differences in gene expression associated with miRNA-221 between non-tumor hepatocytes and viral-induced HCC involved NTF-3 and MYBL1 genes. To assess these data in alcohol-induced HCC, we examined 111 tissue samples: tumor tissue and cirrhotic tissue samples from 37 HCC patients and 37 samples from non-tumor liver tissue using RT-Q PCR. We found no significant difference in NTF-3 expression, but MYBL1 expression was significantly lower in HCC tissue compared to non-tumor hepatocytes and cirrhotic tissue. Our findings highlight the importance of the MYBL1 gene in HCC development and emphasize the need for diverse approaches in evaluating tumor mechanisms.

Ficolin-3 induces apoptosis and suppresses malignant property of hepatocellular carcinoma cells via the complement pathway

AimsFicolin 3 (FCN3) has the highest complement-activating capacity through the lectin pathway and is synthesized mainly in the liver and lung. Yet, its potential molecular mechanism in hepatocarcinogenesis is not fully understood. Materials and methodsThe expression of FCN3 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tumor and non-tumor tissues was analyzed by RT-qPCR, Western blotting and immunofluorescence staining assays. Lentivector-mediated ectopic overexpression was performed to explore the role of FCN3 in vitro and in vivo. Whether FCN3 inhibited HCC cell growth and survival via complement pathway was determined with immunocytochemical staining for C3b, membrane attack complex (MAC) formation and complement killing assay using recombinant FCN3 (rFCN3) in combination with human serum with or without heat inactivation, and with C6 blocking antibody. Key findingsThe transcript and protein of FCN3 were found to be remarkably down-regulated in HCC tumor tissues. FCN3 expression was found to be associated with better survival of HCC patients. Restoration of FCN3 expression significantly inhibited proliferation, migration and anchorage independent growth of HCC cell lines, and xenograft tumor growth. FCN3 expression induced apoptosis of HCC cells. C3 and MAC formation was stimulated by FCN3 overexpression or rFCN3 treatment. rFCN3 enhanced human serum-induced complement activation and cell death. C6 blocking antibody significantly attenuated complement-mediated cell death and restored the growth of FCN3-overexpressing HCC cells. SignificanceFCN3 has a malignant suppressor role in HCC cells. Our study provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms that drive HCC progression and potential therapeutic targets for treating HCC.

A Novel Prognostic Model of Hepatocellular Carcinoma per Two NAD+ Metabolic Synthesis-Associated Genes.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a formidable challenge to global human health, while recent years have witnessed the important role of NAD+ in tumorigenesis and progression. However, the expression pattern and prognostic value of NAD+ in HCC still remain elusive. Gene expression files and corresponding clinical pathological files associated with HCC were obtained from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, and genes associated with NAD+ were retrieved from the GSEA and differentially analyzed in tumor and normal tissues. A consensus clustering analysis was conducted by breaking down TCGA patients into four distinct groups, while Kaplan-Meier curves were generated to investigate the disparity in clinical pathology and endurance between clusters. A prognostic model based on NAD+-associated genes was established and assessed by combining LASSO-Cox regression, uni- and multi-variate Cox regression, and ROC curve analyses. Investigations were conducted to determine the expression of distinct mRNAs and proteins in both HCC and non-tumor tissues. A novel two-gene signature including poly (ADP-Ribose) polymerase 2 (PARP2) and sirtuin 6 (SIRT6) was obtained through LASSO-Cox regression and was identified to have favorable prognostic performance in HCC patients from TCGA. Analyses of both single and multiple variables showed that the prognostic model was a distinct prognostic factor in the endurance of liver cancer patients in both the training and trial groups. The nomogram also exhibited clinical significance in the prognosis of HCC patients. Immunohistochemistry, qRT-PCR, and Western blotting revealed that HCC samples exhibited higher PARP2 and SIRT6 expression levels than those of normal controls. This study identified a robust prognostic model comprising two NAD+-associated genes using bioinformatic methods, which is accurate in predicting the survival outcome of HCC patients. This model might benefit the early diagnosis of HCC and further facilitate the management of individualized medical service and clinical decision-making.

Mucosal microbiota characterization in gastric cancer identifies immune-activated-related transcripts relevant gastric microbiome signatures.

Tumor microenvironment (TME) immune cells and gastric mucosal microbiome constitute two vital elements of tumor tissue. Increasing evidence has elucidated their clinicopathological significance in predicting outcomes and therapeutic efficacy. However, comprehensive characterization of immune cell-associated microbiome signatures in the TME is still in the early stages of development. Here, we characterized the gastric mucosa microbiome and its associations with immune-activated related transcripts (IATs) in 170 GC tumor tissues and matched non-tumor tissues using 16s rRNA gene sequencing and quantitative reverse transcription-PCR. Microbial diversity and richness were significantly higher in GC tumor tissues than in non-tumor tissues. Differences in microbial composition between the groups were evident, with Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Bacteroidota, Campilobacterota, Actinobacteria, Fusobacteriota, Verrucomicrobiota, Acidobacteriota, and Cyanobacteria being the dominant phyla in the gastric mucosal microbiota. Microbial interaction network analysis revealed distinctive centralities of oral bacteria (such as Fusobacterium, Porphyromonas, Prevotella, etc.) in both tumor and normal mucosae networks, suggesting their significant influence on GC microbial ecology. Furthermore, we analyzed the expression of IATs (CXCL9, CXCL10, GZMA, GZMB, PRF1, CD8A, IFNG, TBX2, and TNF) and characterized IAT-relevant gastric microbiome signatures in GC patients. Our results showed that the expression of CXCL9, CXCL10, GZMA, GZMB, PRF1 and IFNG was significantly higher in tumor tissues than in adjacent normal tissues in GC patients. Notably, high expression of IATs in tumor tissues was associated with improved survival in GC patients and could serve as a powerful predictor for disease-free survival. Additionally, analysis of IAT levels and mucosal microbiota diversity revealed a correlation between higher IAT expression and increased microbiota richness and evenness in the IATs high group, suggesting potential interactions between mucosal microbiota and tumor immunopathology. Spearman correlation analysis showed positive associations between IAT expression and specific mucosal bacterial species. Notably, Akkermansia muciniphila demonstrated potential involvement in modulating GZMB expression in the GC mucosal microenvironment. These findings underscore the importance of mucosal microbiota alterations in GC and suggest potential therapeutic targets focusing on modulating the tumor microbiota for improved clinical outcomes. The detailed characterization of these elements has profound implications for both treatment and survival prediction in GC. We observed that microbial diversity and richness were significantly higher in GC tumor tissues compared to non-tumor tissues. These differences highlight the unique microbial landscape of GC tumors and suggest that the microbiome could influence tumor development and progression. Importantly, our study demonstrated that high expression levels of IATs in GC tumor tissues were associated with improved patient survival. This suggests that IATs not only reflect immune activation but also serve as valuable biomarkers for predicting disease-free survival. The potential of IATs as predictive markers underscores their utility in guiding therapeutic strategies and personalizing treatment approaches. Moreover, the correlation between higher IAT expression and increased microbiota richness and evenness suggests that a diverse and balanced microbiome may enhance immune responses and contribute to better clinical outcomes. These findings highlight the critical need to consider mucosal microbiota alterations in GC management. Targeting the tumor microbiota could emerge as a promising therapeutic strategy, potentially leading to more effective treatments and improved patient outcomes. Understanding and modulating the microbiome's role in GC opens new avenues for innovative therapeutic interventions and personalized medicine.