PDGF-BB/PDGFRβ Promotes Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition by Affecting PI3K/AKT/mTOR-Driven Aerobic Glycolysis in Wilms' tumor G401 Cells

Platelet-derived growth factor subunit B overexpression promotes lung cancer tumor growth and metastasis: The role of glucose metabolism

Objective

Lung cancer represents a formidable global health challenge due to its substantial prevalence and mortality rates. Metabolic reprogramming, especially the transition to aerobic glycolysis, plays a pivotal role in the progression of lung cancer by sustaining the energy demands for rapid tumor proliferation. The prominent involvement of platelet-derived growth factor subunit B (PDGFB) in promoting the growth and metastasis of lung cancer through specific signaling cascades is well established in. Nonetheless, further research is imperative to elucidate the intricate regulatory mechanisms of PDGFB in glucose metabolism and its implications for the advancement of lung cancer. Our study is dedicated to exploring the effect of PDGFB on lung cancer by modulating glucose metabolism.

Material and Methods

First, we determined the expression patterns of PDGFB in various lung cancer cell lines (A549, H460, HCC827, and H1975) using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analyses. We measured the expression levels of PDGFB and Ki-67 in tumor tissues from lung cancer patients through immunohistochemistry. We then transfected lung cancer cells with a PDGFB overexpression (PDGFB OE) plasmid. The effects of PDGFB OE and galactose + PDGFB OE co-treatment on cell migration and invasion characteristics were assessed using wound healing and Transwell assays. The impact of PDGFB OE and galactose + PDGFB OE co-treatment on the proliferation capacity of lung cancer cells was evaluated through colony formation and 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine staining assays. We also measured the effects of PDGFB OE on mitochondrial function and glycolytic capacity in lung cancer cells using extracellular acidification rate assay (ECAR) measurement methods.

Results

Elevated levels of PDGFB expression were markedly detected in various lung cancer cell lines, notably A549 and H460 (P < 0.001). This observation was validated by the analysis of tumor samples from patients with lung cancer who exhibited heightened PDGFB expression in tumor tissues (P < 0.001). Moreover, an association was found between increased levels of Ki67 expression and elevated PDGFB expression (P < 0.001). The upregulation of PDGFB was linked to heightened migratory (P < 0.001), invasive (P < 0.001), and proliferative (P < 0.001) capacities of the cells. Furthermore, an elevation in lactate levels and ECAR (P < 0.001) was noted in the PDGFB OE group, along with increased levels of glycolysis-related regulatory proteins. The inhibition of aerobic glycolysis with galactose effectively mitigated the PDGFB-induced enhancement of lung cancer cell proliferation and migration.

Conclusion

By affecting glucose metabolism, PDGFB drives the growth and metastasis of lung cancer, underscoring its potential as a promising therapeutic target for the management of this complex disease.

Ankrd1 as a potential biomarker for the transition from acute kidney injury to chronic kidney disease

Ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) is one of the leading causes of acute kidney injury (AKI), predisposing patients to chronic kidney disease (CKD) due to maladaptive renal repair. Nevertheless, the molecular mechanisms and biomarkers that cause maladaptive repair remain unclear. In this study, we used single-nucleus RNA sequencing data from GEO database (GSE139107) to identify molecular markers during the transition from AKI to CKD caused by IRI. Analysis of intercellular crosstalk, trajectory and machine learning algorithms revealed hub cell clusters and genes. Proximal tubule (PT) cells, especially a new cluster (New PT2), significantly interacted with fibroblasts during the transition. The expression levels of hub genes were validated using the bulk RNA-seq data (GSE98622) and further confirmed through RT-qPCR and immunohistochemical analysis in ischemia-reperfusion injury (uIRI) mice. Ankrd1, a hub gene in New PT2, showed sustained upregulation in the proximal tubule in AKI. Compared to the sham-operated group, the expression of Ankrd1 in mice increased at 0.5 days post-reperfusion, peaked at day 1, and remained significantly elevated up to 60 days. This study indicated that the upregulation of Ankrd1 was positively associated with the progression from AKI to CKD and may potentially serve as a valuable biomarker for this transitional process.

The synergistic effects of anoikis-related genes and EMT-related genes in the prognostic prediction of Wilms tumor

Wilms tumor (WT) is the most common type of malignant abdominal tumor in children; it exhibits a high degree of malignancy, grow rapidly, and is prone to metastasis. This study aimed to construct a prognosis model based on anoikis-related genes (ARGs) and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related genes (ERGs) for WT patients; we assessed the characteristics of the tumor microenvironment and treatment efficacy, as well as identifying potential therapeutic targets. To this end, we downloaded transcriptome sequencing data and clinical data for WT and normal renal cortices and used R to construct and validate the prognostic model based on ARGs and ERGs. Additionally, we performed clinical feature analysis, nomogram construction, mutation analysis, drug sensitivity analysis, Connectivity Map (cMAP) analysis, functional enrichment analysis, and immune infiltration analysis. Finally, we screened the hub gene using the STRING database and validated it via experiments. In this way, we constructed a model with good accuracy and robustness, which was composed of seven anoikis- and EMT-related genes. Paclitaxel and mesna were selected as potential chemotherapeutic drugs and adjuvant chemotherapeutic drugs for the WT high-risk group by using the Genomics of Drug Sensitivity in Cancer (GDSC) and cMAP compound libraries, respectively. We proved the existence of a strong correlation between invasive immune cells and prognostic genes and risk scores. Next, we selected NTRK2 as the hub gene, and in vitro experiments confirmed that its inhibition can significantly inhibit the proliferation and migration of tumor cells and promote late apoptosis. In summary, we screened out the potential biomarkers and chemotherapeutic drugs that can improve the prognosis of patients with WT.

Unraveling the Role of Bromodomain and Extra-Terminal Proteins in Human Uterine Leiomyosarcoma

Uterine leiomyosarcoma (uLMS) is the most common type of uterine sarcoma, associated with poor prognosis, high rates of recurrence, and metastasis. Currently, the molecular mechanism of the origin and development of uLMS is limited. Bromodomain and extra-terminal (BET) proteins are involved in both physiological and pathological events. However, the role of BET proteins in the pathogenesis of uLMS is unknown. Here, we show for the first time that BET protein family members, BRD2, BRD3, and BRD4, are aberrantly overexpressed in uLMS tissues compared to the myometrium, with a significant change by histochemical scoring assessment. Furthermore, inhibiting BET proteins with their small, potent inhibitors (JQ1 and I-BET 762) significantly inhibited the uLMS proliferation dose-dependently via cell cycle arrest. Notably, RNA-sequencing analysis revealed that the inhibition of BET proteins with JQ1 and I-BET 762 altered several critical pathways, including the hedgehog pathway, EMT, and transcription factor-driven pathways in uLMS. In addition, the targeted inhibition of BET proteins altered several other epigenetic regulators, including DNA methylases, histone modification, and m6A regulators. The connections between BET proteins and crucial biological pathways provide a fundamental structure to better understand uterine diseases, particularly uLMS pathogenesis. Accordingly, targeting the vulnerable epigenome may provide an additional regulatory mechanism for uterine cancer treatment.

Targeting UBR5 inhibits postsurgical breast cancer lung metastases by inducing CDC73 and p53 mediated apoptosis

UBR5 is a HECT domain E3 ubiquitin ligase that is frequently amplified in breast, ovarian and prostate cancers. Heightened UBR5 expression plays a profound role in tumor growth through immune-dependent mechanisms; however, its mode of action in driving tumor metastasis has not been definitively delineated. Herein, we used a tetracycline (Tet)-inducible RNAi-mediated expression silencing cell system to investigate how UBR5 enables postsurgical mammary tumor metastatic growth in mouse lungs without the continuous influence of the primary lesion. In vitro, Ubr5 knockdown induces morphological and molecular changes characteristic of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). In vivo, UBR5 promotes lung metastasis in an E3 ubiquitin ligase-dependent manner. Moreover, doxycycline-induced UBR5 expression knockdown in metastatic cells in the lungs, following removing the primary tumors, resulted in increased apoptosis, decreased proliferation and prolonged survival, whereas silencing the expression of cell division cycle 73 (CDC73), a tumor suppressor and E3 ligase substrate of UBR5, reversed these effects. Transcriptome analyses revealed a prominent role of the p53 pathway in dovitinib-induced apoptosis of tumor cells differentially regulated by UBR5 and CDC73. In human triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) patient specimens, a strong inverse correlation was observed between UBR5 and CDC73 protein levels, with reduced CDC73 expression at metastatic sites compared to primary lesions. Furthermore, a xenograft model of human TNBC recapitulated the metastatic properties and characteristics of the unique UBR5-CDC73 functional antagonism. This study reveals the novel and critical roles and intricate relationships of UBR5, CDC73 and p53 in postsurgical breast cancer metastasis and indicates the potential of targeting this pathway in cancer therapy.

Targeting cellular metabolism in head and neck cancer precision medicine era: A promising strategy to overcome therapy resistance

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is among the most prevalent cancer worldwide, with the most severe impact on quality of life of patients. Despite the development of multimodal therapeutic approaches, the clinical outcomes of HNSCC are still unsatisfactory, mainly caused by relatively low responsiveness to treatment and severe drug resistance. Metabolic reprogramming is currently considered to play a pivotal role in anticancer therapeutic resistance. This review aimed to define the specific metabolic programs and adaptations in HNSCC therapy resistance. An extensive literature review of HNSCC was conducted via the PubMed including metabolic reprogramming, chemo- or immune-therapy resistance. Glucose metabolism, fatty acid metabolism, and amino acid metabolism are closely related to the malignant biological characteristics of cancer, anti-tumor drug resistance, and adverse clinical results. For HNSCC, pyruvate, lactate and almost all lipid categories are related to the occurrence and maintenance of drug resistance, and targeting amino acid metabolism can prevent tumor development and enhance the response of drug-resistant tumors to anticancer therapy. This review will provide a better understanding of the altered metabolism in therapy resistance of HNSCC and promote the development of new therapeutic strategies against HNSCC, thereby contribute to a more efficacious precision medicine.

New advances in the research of clinical treatment and novel anticancer agents in tumor angiogenesis

In 1971, Folkman proposed that tumors could be limited to very small sizes by blocking angiogenesis. Angiogenesis is the generation of new blood vessels from pre-existing vessels, considered to be one of the important processes in tumor growth and metastasis. Angiogenesis is a complex process regulated by various factors and involves many secreted factors and signaling pathways. Angiogenesis is important in the transport of oxygen and nutrients to the tumor during tumor development. Therefore, inhibition of angiogenesis has become an important strategy in the clinical management of many solid tumors. Combination therapies of angiogenesis inhibitors with radiotherapy and chemotherapy are often used in clinical practice. In this article, we will review common targets against angiogenesis, the most common and up-to-date anti-angiogenic drugs and clinical treatments in recent years, including active ingredients from chemical and herbal medicines.

Pericytes in the tumor microenvironment

Pericytes are a type of mural cell located between the endothelial cells of capillaries and the basement membrane, which function to regulate the capillary vasomotor and maintain normal microcirculation of local tissues and organs and have been identified as a significant component in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Pericytes have various interactions with different components of the TME, such as constituting the pre-metastatic niche, promoting the growth of cancer cells and drug resistance through paracrine activity, and inducing M2 macrophage polarization. While changes in the TME can affect the number, phenotype, and molecular markers of pericytes. For example, pericyte detachment from endothelial cells in the TME facilitates tumor cells in situ to invade the circulating blood and is beneficial to local capillary basement membrane enzymatic hydrolysis and endothelial cell proliferation and budding, which contribute to tumor angiogenesis and metastasis. In this review, we discuss the emerging role of pericytes in the TME, and tumor treatment related to pericytes. This review aimed to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the function of pericytes and the relationship between pericytes and tumors and to provide ideas for the treatment and prevention of malignant tumors.