Proliferation Of Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells Research Articles

CH25H Promotes Autophagy and Regulates the Malignant Progression of Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Through the PI3K-AKT Pathway.

Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) is a type of cancer of the respiratory tract that often presents with subtle symptoms at the early stage and is susceptible to recurrence and metastasis. To find out key regulatory genes involved in LSCC development, we downloaded LSCC-related sequencing datasets for bioinformatics analysis. WGCNA was performed on GSE142083 and differential analysis was conducted on GSE51985 and TCGA-HNSC. Intersectiongenes were taken from the above three datasets. To confirm the function of genes, we overexpressed and knocked down genes in cells and treated them with autophagy agonist Rapamycin and PI3K-AKT pathway inhibitor. At the cellular level, the expression of CH25H, autophagy-related proteins (LC3 I, LC3 II, p62, and Beclin 1), and PI3K-AKT pathway-related proteins (PI3K, AKT, and p-AKT) were assessed via Western blot; the mRNA level of CH25H was evaluated through qRT-PCR; the cell activity was examined by CCK8; the apoptosis was assessed through flow cytometry; and the cell migration and invasion were assessed through wound healing and Transwell assays. Through bioinformatics analysis, we screened 7 genes (CH25H, NELL2, STC2, TMEM158, ZIC2, HOXD11, and HOXD10). Ultimately, CH25H was selected for follow-up experiments. By detecting CH25H expression in human immortalized keratinocytes (HaCaT) and LSCC cells (Tu-686, SNU899, and AMC-HN-8), it was found out that CH25H expression was higher in HaCaT cells than in LSCC cells. To elucidate the role of CH25H in LSCC development, we overexpressed CH25H in Tu-686 cells and downregulated its expression in AMC-HN-8 cells. CH25H was revealed to reduce the proliferation, activity, invasion, and migration of LSCC cells while increasing their apoptosis levels. Significant changes were also observed in the expressions of autophagy- and PI3K-AKT pathway-related proteins. To further investigate the roles of autophagy and the PI3K-AKT pathway in LSCC development, we respectively employed autophagy agonists and inhibitors targeting the PI3K-AKT pathway to intervene the cells, and found that CH25H regulated the PI3K-AKT pathway to promote autophagy, thus enhancing the apoptosis of LSCC cells. We further investigated CH25H's impact on tumor growth, autophagy, and the PI3K-AKT pathway at the animal level and found that CH25H promoted autophagy of LSCC cells and inhibited the PI3K-AKT pathway, and ultimately inhibiting the progression of LSCC. In summary, CH25H promotes autophagy and affects the malignant progression of LSCC through the PI3K-AKT pathway.

LncRNA NEAT1 promotes proliferation, migration, and invasion of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma cells through miR-411-3p/FZD3-mediated Wnt signaling pathway

The lncRNA NEAT1 has been shown to promote the progression of several cancers, containing laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC). However, the precise mechanism by which it promotes LSCC progression remains unclear. In this study, we verified the high expression of lncRNA NEAT1 in LSCC tissues and cells using RT-qPCR. Analysis of clinical data exhibited that high expression of lncRNA NEAT1 was associated with a history of smoking, worse T stage, lymph node metastasis, and later TNM stage in patients with LSCC. The promotion effect of lncRNA NEAT1 on LSCC cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and tumor growth in vivo was verified by CCK-8, plate clone formation, Transwell, and nude mouse tumorigenicity assays. Bioinformatics prediction and double luciferase reporter gene assay verified the binding of miR-411-3p to lncRNA NEAT1 and FZD3 mRNA, and inhibition of miR-411-3p reversed the inhibitory effect of lncRNA NEAT1 on FZD3 expression in LSCC cells. We also verified that lncRNA NEAT1-mediated FZD3 activation in the Wnt pathway affects LSCC development. In conclusion, we demonstrate that lncRNA NEAT1 promotes the progression of LSCC, and propose that the lncRNA NEAT1/miR-411-3p/FZD3 axis may be an effective target for LSCC therapy.

HOXB9 promotes laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma progression by upregulating MMP12.

Transcriptional factor HOXB9, a part of the HOX gene family, plays a crucial role in the development of diverse cancer types. This study aimed to elucidate the regulatory mechanism of HOXB9 on the proliferation and invasion of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) cells to provide guidance for the development and prognosis of LSCC. The CRISPR/Cas9 method was employed in LSCC cell lines to knock out the HOXB9 gene and validate its effects on the proliferation, migration, invasion, and regulation of LSCC cells. CCK-8 and flow cytometry were used to detect cell viability and proliferation; Tunnel was used to detect cell apoptosis, and transwell was used to detect cell migration and invasion. The effect of HOXB9 on tumor growth was tested in nude mice. The downstream target genes regulated by HOXB9 were screened by microarray analysis and verified by Western blotting, immunohistochemistry, chromatin immunoprecipitation, and double-luciferase reporter assays. The current research investigated molecular pathways governed by HOXB9 in the development of LSCC. Additionally, both laboratory- and living-organism-based investigations revealed that disrupting the HOXB9 gene through the CRISPR/CAS9 mechanism restrained cellular growth, movement, and infiltration, while enhancing cellular apoptosis. Detailed analyses of LSCC cell strains and human LSCC samples revealed that HOXB9 promoted LSCC progression by directly elevating the transcriptional activity of MMP12. HOXB9 could influence changes in LSCC cell functions, and the mechanism of action might be exerted through its downstream target gene, MMP12.

Identification of novel molecules and pathways associated with fascin actin‑bundling protein 1 in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma through comprehensive transcriptome analysis.

Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) is a common malignant tumor with a poor prognosis. Fascin actin‑bundling protein 1 (FSCN1) has been reported to play a crucial role in the development and progression of LSCC; however, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unknown. Herein, a whole transcriptome microarray analysis was performed to screen for differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in cells in which FSCN1 was knocked down. Atotal of 462 up and 601 downregulated mRNA transcripts were identified. Functional annotation analysis revealed that these DEGs were involved in multiple biological functions, such as transcriptional regulation, response to radiation, focal adhesion, extracellular matrix‑receptor interaction, steroid biosynthesis and others. Through co‑expression and protein‑protein interaction analysis, FSCN1 was linked to novel functions, including defense response to virus and steroid biosynthesis. Furthermore, crosstalk analysis with FSCN1‑interacting proteins revealed seven DEGs, identified as FSCN1‑interacting partners, in LSCC cells, three of which were selected for further validation. Co‑immunoprecipitation validation confirmed that FSCN1 interacted with prostaglandin reductase 1 and 24‑dehydrocholesterol reductase (DHCR24). Of note, DHCR24 is a key enzyme involved in cholesterol biosynthesis, and its overexpression promotes the proliferation and migration of LSCC cells. These findings suggest that DHCR24 is a novel molecule associated with FSCN1 in LSCC, and that the FSCN1‑DHCR24 interaction may promote LSCC progression by regulating cholesterol metabolism‑related signaling pathways.

IncRNA AC004943.2 regulates miR-135a-5p and PTK2/P13K axis to promote laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma progression.

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in regulatory processes in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) at posttranscriptional epigenetic modification level. Yet, the function and underlying mechanism behind lncRNA AC004943.2 in LSCC is still obscure. Therefore, the potential role of AC004943.2 in LSCC progression was investigated. The expression of gene or protein was tested by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot. MTT, colony formation, wound healing, and transwell experiments were applied to detect LSCC cell viability, proliferation, migration and invasion, respectively. The interaction among AC004943.2, miR-135a-5p, and protein tyrosine kinase 2 (PTK2) were analyzed by bioinformatics prediction and luciferase assay. AC004943.2 was highly expressed in LSCC cells compared with normal human bronchial epithelial cells, while miR-135a-5p was lowly expressed. AC004943.2 knockdown or miR-135a-5p overexpression inhibited LSCC cell viability, proliferation, migration and invasion. Mechanistically, AC004943.2 increased PTK2 expression in LSCC cells by sponging miR-135a-5p. Furthermore, miR-135a-5p knockdown inverted the inhibitory effect of AC004943.2 silencing on LSCC cell malignant behaviors. MiR-135a-5p upregulation attenuated the PTK2/PI3K pathway to inhibit progression of LSCC. AC004943.2 facilitated the cancerous phenotypes of LSCC cells by activating the PTK2/PI3K pathway through targeting miR-135a-5p, which furnished a therapeutic candidate for LSCC treatment.

M6A reader YTHDF1 promotes malignant progression of laryngeal squamous carcinoma through activating the EMT pathway by EIF4A3

Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) is one of the common malignant tumors in the head and neck region, and its high migration and invasion seriously threaten the survival and health of patients. In cancer development, m6A RNA modification plays a crucial role in regulating gene expression and signaling. This study delved into the function and mechanism of the m6A reading protein YTHDF1 in LSCC. It was found that YTHDF1 was highly expressed in the GEO database and LSCC tissues. Cell function experiments confirmed that the downregulation of YTHDF1 significantly inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion ability of LSCC cells. Further studies revealed that EIF4A3 was a downstream target gene of YTHDF1, and knockdown of EIF4A3 similarly significantly inhibited the malignant progression of LSCC in both in vivo and in vitro experiments. The molecular mechanism studies suggested that YTHDF1-EIF4A3 may promote the malignant development of LSCC by activating the EMT signaling pathway. This study provides important clues for an in-depth understanding of the pathogenesis of LSCC and is a solid foundation for the discovery of new therapeutic targets and approaches.

NAT10 promotes the tumorigenesis and progression of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma through ac4C modification of FOXM1 mRNA

ABSTRACT Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC), is a prevalent malignant tumor, belongs to the category of head and neck tumors. N-acetyltransferase 10 (NAT10) can alter mRNA stability through N4- acetylcytidine (ac4C) modification. This study aimed to make an investigation into the role of NAT10-mediated ac4C modification in the malignant processes of LSCC cells. The NAT10 expression in LSCC tissues and cells was detected RT-qPCR and western blot. The ac4C dot blot was performed to detect ac4C level. Besides, the cell viability, migration, and invasion abilities were detected by CCK-8 and transwell assays. AcRIP-qPCR was performed to measure the abundance of ac4C on FOXM1 mRNA. RIP and Luciferase reporter assays were performed to demonstrate the interaction between NAT10 and FOXM1. Finally, the xenograft model was established to explore the role of NAT10 in vivo. NAT1 levels were significantly increased in the LSCC tissues and cells. Knockdown of NAT10 could significantly suppress the proliferation, migration, and invasion of LSCC cells. Additionally, NAT10 recognized the ac4C-modified sites in the 3’-untranslated regions (3’ UTR) of forkhead box M1 (FOXM1) to enhance the ability of FOXM1 mRNA. Furthermore, FOXM1 overexpression reversed the suppressing effects of NAT10 knockdown on the proliferation, migration, and invasion of LSCC cells, according to the results of rescue assays. Finally, results of animal experiments showed that NAT10 promoted in vivo tumorigenesis of LSCC cells through upregulating FOXM1. Our current study demonstrated that NAT10-mediated ac4C modification of FOXM1 mRNA promoted the malignant processes of LSCC cells.

Exosomal lncRNA LINC02191 Promotes Laryngeal Squamous cell Carcinoma Progression by Targeting miR-204-5p/RAB22A Axis and Regulating PI3K/Akt/mTOR Pathway.

Recent research has explored the potential use of serum-derived biomarkers in cancer screening, and mounting evidence has illustrated the pivotal roles of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in regulating laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) progression. LINC02191 is a newly identified lncRNA and no studies have investigated its role in malignant tumors. This study aims to explore the functions and mechanisms of lncRNA LINC02191 in LSCC. LINC02191 was knocked down in LSCC cells using shRNAs for loss-of-function experiments. RT-qPCR revealed that LINC02191was upregulated in LSCC patients' serum exosomes, tissues and cells. Western blotting and RT-qPCR were implemented for detecting molecular protein and RNA levels. Colony formation, CCK-8, wound healing and Transwell assays were employed for examining LSCC cell malignant behaviors in vitro. A tumor-bearing mouse model (n = 4/group) was established for examining LINC02191 role in vivo.The results showed that LINC02191 silencing hindered LSCC cell proliferation, invasiveness, migration as well as EMT in vitro and impeded tumorigenesis in xenograft mouse model. Luciferase reporter assay was utilized for verifying the interaction between LINC02191, miR-204-5p and RAB22A. Pearson correlation analysis was employed to evaluate their expression correlation in LSCC tissue specimens (N = 30). Mechanistically, LINC02191 upregulated RAB22A by binding to miR-204-5p, and knocking down LINC02191 inhibited PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling transduction in LSCC cells and tumor-bearing mice. Moreover, RAB22A overexpression reversed LINC02191 depletion-triggered suppression of LSCC cell aggressiveness and inactivation of PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling. In conclusion,LINC02191 aggravates LSCC by targeting miR-204-5p/RAB22A/PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway, which indicates that LINC02191 may serve as a promising target for LSCC treatment.

IGF2BP2 acts as a m6A modification regulator in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma through facilitating CDK6 mRNA stabilization

Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) is one of the most commonly seen cancers in the head and neck region with increasing morbidity and mortality globally. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification plays a critical role in the carcinogenesis of LSCC. In this study, two datasets from online database were analyzed for differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between LSCC and normal samples. Furthermore, we carried out a series of experiments, including hematoxylin & eosin staining, immunohistochemical (IHC) staining, CCK-8, colony formation, transwell, flow cytometry, xenograft tumor model assays, actinomycin D assay, cycloheximide (CHX) assay, methylated m6A RNA immunoprecipitation (Me-RIP), RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay, to verify the relevant findings in vivo and in vitro. Insulin like growth factor 2 mRNA binding protein 2 (IGF2BP2) was identified as an up-regulated m6A regulator in LSCC samples. Lower IGF2BP2 expression was linked to higher survival probability in LSCC and other head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients. In LSCC cells, IGF2BP2 knockdown attenuated cancer cell aggressiveness, possibly through modulating cell cycle arrest. In the xenograft tumor model derived from IGF2BP2 knocked-down LSCC cells, IGF2BP2 knockdown inhibited tumor growth. IGF2BP2 up-regulated CDK6 expression through facilitating the stability of CDK6 mRNA and protein. CDK6 knockdown caused no changes in IGF2BP2 expression, but partially eliminated the promotive effects of IGF2BP2 overexpression on LSCC cells’ aggressiveness. Overexpressed IGF2BP2 in LSCC serves as an oncogenic factor, promoting LSCC cell proliferation and invasion in vitro and tumor growth in a xenograft tumor model in vivo through facilitating CDK6 mRNA stabilization.

CircPRRC2C Promotes the Oncogenic Phenotypes of Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells via MiR-136-5p/HOXD11 Axis.

The involvement of circular RNAs (circRNAs) in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) carcinogenesis has gradually been proposed. Herein, we aimed to explore the function and mechanism of circPRRC2C in LSCC.Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting were used for detecting the content of genes and proteins. In vitro experiments were conducted using 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine, colony formation, flow cytometry, and transwell assays. The binding between miR-136-5p and circPRRC2C or Homeobox D11 (HOXD11) was confirmed by using the dual-luciferase reporter assay. The murine xenograft model was established for in vivo analysis. The commercial kit was used for exosome separation.CircPRRC2C is a stable circRNA, and was highly expressed in LSCC tissues and cell lines. Functionally, circPRRC2C deficiency impaired LSCC cell proliferation, migration and invasion but induced cell apoptosis in vitro and impeded tumor growth in vivo, however, circPRRC2C overexpression showed the exact opposite effects. Mechanistically, circPRRC2C directly targeted miR-136-5p, which showed inhibitory effects on the growth and mobility of LSCC cells. Meanwhile, miR-136-5p directly targeted HOXD11, and circPRRC2C/miR-136-5p/HOXD11 formed a feedback loop in LSCC cells. Further rescue assays exhibited that circPRRC2C exerted its effects by miR-136-5p/HOXD11 axis. In addition, circPRRC2C was stably packaged into exosomes and showed potential diagnostic value for LSCC.CircPRRC2C acted as an oncogene to promote LSCC cell oncogenic phenotypes via miR-136-5p/HOXD11 axis, besides, circPRRC2C was stably packaged into exosomes, indicating the potential application of circPRRC2C-targeting agents in the treatment in LSCC.

EIF4A3-regulated hsa_circ_0001445 can inhibit the progression of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma via hsa-miR-432-5p-dependent up-regulation of RGMA expression

ABSTRACT Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) is a common malignant tumor in the head and neck, the 5-year relative survival rate of patients diagnosed with laryngeal cancer was estimated to be 61% from 2012 to 2018. An increasing number of studies have shown that circular RNAs (circRNAs) play a key role in the occurrence and development of cancer and may function as cancer biomarkers and new therapeutic targets. At present, the research on the relationship between circRNAs and LSCC is still in its infancy and needs further exploration. In this study, we found a circRNA (hsa_circ_0001445) associated with LSCC based on bioinformatics analysis. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) assay indicated that the expression of hsa_circ_0001445 was down-regulated in LSCC tissues and cell lines. Notably, the expression of hsa_circ_0001445 was negatively correlated with aggressive clinicopathological features and poor prognosis. Then, functional experiments found that overexpression of hsa_circ_0001445 inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion of LSCC cells and tumor growth in vivo. Mechanistically, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP), biotin-labeled probe pull-down, luciferase reporter assay and western blot experiments were employed and found that EIF4A3 reduced the expression of hsa_circ_0001445, and the direct binding of hsa_circ_0001445 to hsa-miR-432-5p attenuated the inhibitory effect of hsa-miR-432-5p on RGMA. In summary, our research suggests that hsa_circ_0001445 may be used as a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for LSCC.

FOLR1-stabilized β-catenin promotes laryngeal carcinoma progression through EGFR/AKT/GSK-3β pathway.

Folate receptor 1 (FOLR1) is overexpressed in numerous epithelial malignancies; however, its role in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) remains unclear. In the present study, we demonstrated that FOLR1 messenger RNA and protein expression levels were higher in LSCC tissues than in the adjacent normal tissues. Additionally, FOLR1 promoted the proliferation and migration of LSCC cells, whereas small interfering RNA-mediated knockdown of β-catenin abolished these effects. Moreover, FOLR1 stabilizes β-catenin by inhibiting its ubiquitination and degradation. Furthermore, blocking the interaction between epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and the EGFR/AKT/glycogen synthase (GSK)3β signaling axis both abolished FOLR1's effects on the expression and nuclear aggregation of β-catenin. In summary, our work reveals a novel mode in which FOLR1 promotes the proliferation and migration of LSCC by enhancing the stability and nuclear translocation of β-catenin through the EGFR/AKT/GSK3β axis.

MCTS1 enhances the proliferation of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma via promoting OTUD6B-1 mediated LIN28B deubiquitination

The aberrant upregulation of MCTS1 Re-Initiation and Release Factor (also known as Malignant T-cell-amplified sequence 1, MCTS1) can promote laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC). It might act as a binding partner of multiple proteins. In this study, we further explored the expression of potential interaction between MCTS1 and OTU domain-containing protein 6B (OTUD6B) and its influence on the ubiquitination and degradation of OTUD6B's substrate in LSCC. LSCC cell lines AMC–HN–8 and TU177 were utilized for assessing protein-protein interaction, protein degradation and tumor growth in vitro and in vivo. The results showed that MCTS1 interacts with OUTD6B isoform 1 (OTUD6B-1) in the cell lines. Higher OTUD6B-1 expression is associated with significantly shorter progression-free interval in LSCC patients. OTUD6B positively modulated the expression of cyclin D1, cyclin E1 and c-Myc and LSCC cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo. MCTS1 negatively modulated the degradation of LIN28B in G1/S cells, via enhancing OTUD6B-mediated cleaving of K48-branched ubiquitin chains from LIN28B. OTUD6B or LIN28B shRNA weakened MCTS1 overexpression-induced cyclin D1 and c-Myc protein expression and LSCC cell proliferation. In summary, this study revealed that MCTS1 could enhance LSCC proliferation partially via the OTUD6B-LIN28B axis.

ZC3H13 reduced DUOX1-mediated ferroptosis in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma cells through m6A-dependent modification

Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) is the second most common head and neck cancer. To identify the link between ferroptosis and LSCC, we targeted the dual oxidase 1 (DUOX1) gene. This study aimed to reveal the intrinsic mechanism by which the DUOX1-zinc-finger CCCH domain-containing protein 13 (ZC3H13) ferroptosis axis affected the LSCC process. GEPIA was used to investigate the expression of DUOX1 in LSCC, and the expression levels of DUOX1 and ZC3H13 were manipulated by overexpression and RNA interference. MTT assay was used to detect cell proliferation. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (CHIP) detected the binding of DUOX1 and ZC3H13, and ROS assessment and intracellular Fe2+ content determination were performed to examine the ferroptosis. MeRIP was used to analyze the m6A methylation of DUOX1. Ferroptosis-related proteins were detected by qRT-PCR. DUOX1 was found to be poorly expressed in LSCC cells, low DUOX1 level promoted LSCC cell proliferation, and low ZC3H13 level decreased LSCC cell proliferation. Besides, there was an interaction between DUOX1 and ZC3H13. DUOX1 could inhibit the expression levels of ferroptosis-related genes GPX4 and F1H1 in LSCC cells DUOX1 inhibited the expression levels of ROS and ferroptosis-related genes GPX4 and F1H1 and increased intracellular iron content in LSCC cells, but ZC3H13 reversed this phenomenon by inhibiting DUOX1 gene through m6A methylation modification. ZC3H13 reduced DUOX1-mediated ferroptosis in LSCC cells through m6A-dependent modification. The regulatory pathway of DUOX1 and ferroptosis are potential targets for designing diagnostic and combination therapeutic strategies for LSCC patients.

PTPN12 down-regulated by miR-146b-3p gene affects the malignant progression of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) is a common malignancy among men in the anatomical position of head and neck. Hoarseness, pharyngalgia, and dyspnea are common symptoms. LSCC is a complex polygenic carcinoma that is caused by many factors involving polygenic alteration, environmental pollution, tobacco, and human papillomavirus. Classical protein tyrosine phosphatase nonreceptor type 12 (PTPN12) has been extensively studied to decipher its mechanism as a tumor suppressor gene in various human carcinomas; however, there is no comprehensive elucidation of the PTPN12 expression and its regulatory mechanisms in LSCC. As such, we expect to provide new insights for finding new biomarkers and effective therapeutic targets in LSCC. Immunohistochemical staining, western blot (WB), and quantitative real-time RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) were used for the messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein expression analyses of PTPN12, respectively. 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium, clone formation, transwell migration, and transwell invasion assays were used to assess the proliferation, migration, and invasion ability of LSCC cells. Online prediction and design software tools (http://www.targetscan.org/ and http://www.microRNA.org) were used to predict associated miRNA. Studying the targeted regulatory relationship between miR-146b-3p and PTPN12 was based on dual luciferase reporter gene analysis. qRT-PCR was used to assess miR-146b-3p expression in LSCC. miR-146b-3p inhibitor and mimic were transfected, followed by qRT-PCR and WB assays to detect the expression of PTPN12. The gain and loss functional experiments were used to investigate the effects of miR-146b-3p transfection on the proliferation, migration, and invasion of tumor cells. Online bioinformatics prediction software (https://cn.string-db.org/ and https://www.genecards.org/) was used to determine potential downstream target genes of PTPN12. qRT-PCR and WB analyses were used to assess the mRNA and protein expression levels of target genes. Our study showed significantly decreased mRNA and protein expression levels of PTPN12 in LSCC compared with the adjacent normal tissues. The lower PTPN12 mRNA expression was correlated with pathological differentiation, and lower PTPN12 protein expression was correlated with the TNM stage in LSCC tissues. The subsequent in vitro functional analyses showed the inhibitory effect of PTPN12 over-expression on the proliferation, migration, and invasiveness abilities of LSCC cell line. Using online prediction and design software, miR-146b-3p was searched to target PTPN12. The miR-146b-3p was expressed at a high level in LSCC tissues and cell lines. Luciferase reporter assay exhibited that miR-146b-3p inhibited the luciferase activity of PTPN12 markedly. The functional analyses showed the tumor-promoting role of miR-146b-3p on the proliferation, migration, and invasiveness abilities of LSCC cell. Furthermore, co-transfection of cells with miR-146b-3p and PTPN12 significantly restored the inhibitory effect of PTPN12 on LSCC cell growth, migration, and invasiveness. This phenomenon unveiled that miR-146b-3p regulated the proliferation, migration, and invasion of LSCC cells by targeting PTPN12. EGFR and ERBB2 were selected as the downstream-regulation target genes. Up-regulation of PTPN12 significantly suppressed EGFR expression. Accordingly, the miR-146b-3p mimic significantly up-regulated the EGFR expression. However, up-regulation of PTPN12 and miR-146b-3p mimic suppressed ERBB2 protein expression but induced its gene expression. Down-regulation of PTPN12 is associated with up-regulation of miR-146b-3p in LSCC. Moreover, PTPN12 serves as a tumor suppressor gene through regulating the proliferation, migration, and invasion of LSCC cells. miR-146b-3p/PTPN12 axis is expected to be a novel therapeutic target in LSCC.

The Novel Circular RNA circTRIO Silence Inhibits the Progression of Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) is the most common and prevalent malignant tumor in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Recent studies have shown that circular RNAs (circRNAs) play a vital role in cancer development, but their specific role in the tumorigenesis and development of LSCC remains unclear. We selected five pairs of LSCC tumor tissues and paracancerous tissues for RNA sequencing. Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR), Sanger sequencing, and fluorescence in situ hybridization were utilized to study the expression, localization, and clinical significance of circTRIO in LSCC tissues, and TU212 and TU686 cell lines. Furthermore, cell counting Kit-8, colony-forming assay, Transwell, and flow cytometry assays were assessed to illustrate the crucial role played by the circTRIO in proliferation, colony-forming ability, migration, and apoptosis in LSCC cells. Finally, the molecule's role as a microRNA (miRNA) sponge was analyzed. In the results, we screened out a promising upregulated novel circRNA-circTRIO in LSCC tumor tissues compared with paracancerous tissues using RNA sequencing. Then, we used qPCR to evaluate the expression of circTRIO in 20 additional paired LSCC tissues and two cells, and the results showed that circTRIO was highly expressed in LSCC and that this high expression was closely related to the malignant progression of LSCC. Furthermore, we examined circTRIO expression in the Gene Expression Omnibus data sets GSE142083 and GSE27020, and circTRIO expression was considerably higher in tumor tissues compared with the adjacent tissues. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that the expression of circTRIO was associated with worse disease-free survival. The Gene Set Enrichment Analysis biological pathway evaluation results demonstrated that circTRIO was mainly enriched in cancer pathways. Moreover, we confirmed that silencing circTRIOs can help to significantly inhibit LSCC cell proliferation and migration while triggering apoptosis. Upregulated circTRIO expression levels may play an important role in the tumorigenesis and development of LSCC.

Investigating miR-9 as a mediator in laryngeal cancer health disparities.

For several decades, Black patients have carried a higher burden of laryngeal cancer among all races. Even when accounting for sociodemographics, a disparity remains. Differentially expressed microRNAs have been linked to racially disparate clinical outcomes in breast and prostate cancers, yet an association in laryngeal cancer has not been addressed. In this study, we present our computational analysis of differentially expressed miRNAs in Black compared with White laryngeal cancer and further validate microRNA-9-5p (miR-9-5p) as a potential mediator of cancer phenotype and chemoresistance. Bioinformatic analysis of 111 (92 Whites, 19 Black) laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) specimens from the TCGA revealed miRNAs were significantly differentially expressed in Black compared with White LSCC. We focused on miR-9-5 p which had a significant 4-fold lower expression in Black compared with White LSCC (p<0.05). After transient transfection with either miR-9 mimic or inhibitor in cell lines derived from Black (UM-SCC-12) or White LSCC patients (UM-SCC-10A), cellular migration and cell proliferation was assessed. Alterations in cisplatin sensitivity was evaluated in transient transfected cells via IC50 analysis. qPCR was performed on transfected cells to evaluate miR-9 targets and chemoresistance predictors, ABCC1 and MAP1B. Northern blot analysis revealed mature miR-9-5p was inherently lower in cell line UM-SCC-12 compared with UM-SCC-10A. UM -SCC-12 had baseline increase in cellular migration (p < 0.01), proliferation (p < 0.0001) and chemosensitivity (p < 0.01) compared to UM-SCC-10A. Increasing miR-9 in UM-SCC-12 cells resulted in decreased cellular migration (p < 0.05), decreased proliferation (p < 0.0001) and increased sensitivity to cisplatin (p < 0.001). Reducing miR-9 in UM-SCC-10A cells resulted in increased cellular migration (p < 0.05), increased proliferation (p < 0.05) and decreased sensitivity to cisplatin (p < 0.01). A significant inverse relationship in ABCC1 and MAP1B gene expression was observed when miR-9 levels were transiently elevated or reduced in either UM-SCC-12 or UM-SCC-10A cell lines, respectively, suggesting modulation by miR-9. Collectively, these studies introduce differential miRNA expression in LSCC cancer health disparities and propose a role for low miR-9-5p as a mediator in LSCC tumorigenesis and chemoresistance.

Long non-coding RNA LINC00958 and microRNA miR-627-5p provide candidate diagnostic biomarker and participate tumor progression in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma: a retrospective study.

Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) is known for its high morbidity and mortality. Long non-coding RNAs and miRNA have been found to play important roles in cancer progression. However, the roles of LINC00958 and miR-627-5p in LSCC and their mechanisms remain unclear. Therefore, it is important to explore its role in LSCC. The results of this study show that the expression of LINC00958 was significantly increased (p<0.001), but the expression of miR-627-5p was significantly decreased in LSCC serum specimens and cell lines (p<0.001). Silencing LINC00958 or overexpression of miR-627-5p could inhibit the proliferation (p<0.05) and migration (p<0.01) of LSCC cells. According to the results of dual luciferase reporter assay, it was known that LINC00958 could target miR-627-5p (p<0.01). ROC experiment results showed that LINC00958 was used to distinguish LSCC patients from healthy controls, OSCC patients from healthy controls and LSCC patients from OSCC patients, and the areas under the curve (AUC) were 0.970, 0.809 and 0.811, respectively. Meanwhile, we found that serum miR-627-5p could also be used to distinguish LSCC patients from healthy controls, oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients from healthy controls, and LSCC patients from OSCC patients, with the AUC of 0.975, 0.870, and 0.800, respectively. Pearson analysis showed that the expression level of LNIC00958 was negatively correlated with the expression level of miR-627-5p (r= -0.725, p<0.001). Overall, The results of this study show that LINC00958 and miR-627-5p may be used as new diagnostic markers for LSCC. In addition, LINC00958/miR-627-5p axis opens a new way for the diagnosis and treatment of LSCC.

ERCC6L facilitates the progression of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma by the binding of FOXM1 and KIF4A

The role of excision repair cross-complementation group 6-like (ERCC6L) has been reported in several cancers, but little is known about its expression and function in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC). In this study, the expression of ERCC6L in LSCC was determined by immunohistochemistry and its correlation with prognostic factors was analyzed. Furthermore, cytological functional validation elucidated the role and underlying mechanisms of ERCC6L dysregulation in LSCC. Our data revealed that ERCC6L expression was elevated in LSCC and it’s correlated with TNM stage. In addition, ERCC6L knockdown LSCC cells showed decreased proliferation and migration, increased apoptosis, and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Mechanically, overexpression of ERCC6L promoted nuclear translocation of FOXM1 to facilitate direct binding to the KIF4A promoter and upregulated KIF4A expression. Furthermore, KIF4A knockdown attenuated the role of ERCC6L overexpression in promoting proliferation, migration, and tumorigenesis of LSCC cells. In summary, ERCC6L promoted the binding of FOXM1 and KIF4A in LSCC cells to drive their progression, which may be a promising target for precision therapy in this disease.

Increased methylation of ZNF671 suppresses tumor progression by promoting MAPK6 transcription in laryngeal carcinoma.

Background: Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) is a malignant tumor of the head and neck, the exact mechanism of which has not been explored. Methods: By analyzing the GEO data, we found the highly methylated and low expression gene ZNF671. The expression level of ZNF671 in clinical samples was verified by RT-PCR, western blotting and methylation-specific PCR. The function of ZNF671 in LSCC was detected by cell culture and transfection, MTT, Edu, TUNEL assays and flow cytometry analysis. The binding sites of ZNF671 to MAPK6 promoter region were detected and verified by luciferase reporter gene and chromatin immunoprecipitation. Finally, the effect of ZNF671 on LSCC tumors was tested in vivo. Results: In this study, by analyzing GEO data GSE178218 and GSE59102, we found that zinc finger protein (ZNF671) expression was decreased, and DNA methylation level was increased in laryngeal cancer. Moreover, the abnormal expression of ZNF671 was associated with poor survival prognosis of patients. In addition, we found that overexpression of ZNF671 could inhibit the viability, proliferation, migration and invasion of LSCC cells, while promoting cell apoptosis. In contrast, the opposite effects were observed after knockdown of ZNF671. Through the prediction website and chromatin immunoprecipitation and luciferase reporter experiments, it was found that ZNF671 could bind to the promoter region of MAPK6, thereby inhibiting the expression of MPAK6. In vivo experiments confirmed that overexpression of ZNF671 could inhibit tumor growth. Conclusion: Our study found that ZNF671 expression was down-regulated in LSCC. ZNF671 up-regulates the expression of MAPK6 by binding to its promoter region, thus participating in cell proliferation, migration and invasion in LSCC. Our study may provide new ideas for early prediction and treatment of LSCC.