AnnexinA5 promote glioma cell invasion and migration via the PI3K/Akt/NF-κB signaling pathway

Identification of an extracellular matrix signature for predicting prognosis and sensitivity to therapy of patients with gastric cancer

Extracellular matrix (ECM) is a vital component of the tumor microenvironment and plays a crucial role in the development and progression of gastric cancer (GC). Co-expression networks were established by means of the "WGCNA" package, the optimal model for extracellular matrix scores (ECMs) was developed and validated, with its accuracy in predicting the prognosis and treatment sensitivity of GC patients assessed. We performed univariate cox regression analysis [HR = 6.8 ( 3.3-14 ), p < 0.001] which demonstrated that ECMs was an independent risk character and perceptibly superior to other factors with further analysis of multivariate Cox regression [HR = 8.68 ( 4.16-18.08 ), p < 0.001]. The nomogram, presenting the clinical prognosis model for GC patients, demonstrated accuracy through KM analysis [HR = 3.97 (2.56-6.16), p < 0.001] and ROC curves with AUC values of 0.70, 0.72, and 0.72 at 1, 3, and 5 years, respectively. Using the ECMs model, we stratified GC patients into high- and low-risk groups, enabling precise predictions of prognosis and drug sensitivity. This stratification provides a new strategic direction for the personalized treatment of GC.

The Comprehensive Analysis of m6A-Associated Anoikis Genes in Low-Grade Gliomas

The relationship between N6-methyladenosine (m6A) regulators and anoikis and their effects on low-grade glioma (LGG) is not clear yet. The TCGA-LGG cohort, mRNAseq 325 dataset, and GSE16011 validation set were separately obtained via the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Chinese Glioma Genome Altas (CGGA), and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases. In total, 27 m6A-related genes (m6A-RGs) and 508 anoikis-related genes (ANRGs) were extracted from published articles individually. First, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between LGG and normal samples were sifted out by differential expression analysis. DEGs were respectively intersected with m6A-RGs and ANRGs to acquire differentially expressed m6A-RGs (DE-m6A-RGs) and differentially expressed ANRGs (DE-ANRGs). A correlation analysis of DE-m6A-RGs and DE-ANRGs was performed to obtain DE-m6A-ANRGs. Next, univariate Cox and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) were performed on DE-m6A-ANRGs to sift out risk model genes, and a risk score was gained according to them. Then, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was implemented based on risk model genes. After that, we constructed an independent prognostic model and performed immune infiltration analysis and drug sensitivity analysis. Finally, an mRNA-miRNA-lncRNA regulatory network was constructed. There were 6901 DEGs between LGG and normal samples. Six DE-m6A-RGs and 214 DE-ANRGs were gained through intersecting DEGs with m6A-RGs and ANRGs, respectively. A total of 149 DE-m6A-ANRGs were derived after correlation analysis. Four genes, namely ANXA5, KIF18A, BRCA1, and HOXA10, composed the risk model, and they were involved in apoptosis, fatty acid metabolism, and glycolysis. The age and risk scores were finally sifted out to construct an independent prognostic model. Activated CD4 T cells, gamma delta T cells, and natural killer T cells had the largest positive correlations with risk model genes, while activated B cells were significantly negatively correlated with KIF18A and BRCA1. AT.9283, EXEL.2280, Gilteritinib, and Pracinostat had the largest correlation (absolute value) with a risk score. Four risk model genes (mRNAs), 12 miRNAs, and 21 lncRNAs formed an mRNA-miRNA-lncRNA network, containing HOXA10-hsa-miR-129-5p-LINC00689 and KIF18A-hsa-miR-221-3p-DANCR. Through bioinformatics, we constructed a prognostic model of m6A-associated anoikis genes in LGG, providing new ideas for research related to the prognosis and treatment of LGG.

Aprepitant inhibits the development and metastasis of gallbladder cancer via ROS and MAPK activation

BACKGROUND

Aprepitant, as a neurokinin-1 receptor (NK-1R) antagonist, originally applied for curing chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, has been reported to have significant antitumor effect on several malignant tumors. However, the effect of aprepitant on gallbladder cancer (GBC) is not clear yet. This study aimed to investigate the anti-tumor activity of aprepitant on GBC and the potential mechanisms.

METHODS

The NK-1R expression of gallbladder cancer cells were examined by immunofluorescence. MTT assay, wound healing and transwell migration assay were applied to detect the effect of aprepitant on cell proliferation, migration and invasion. Flow cytometry was used to detect the apoptosis rate. The effects of aprepitant on the expressions of cytokine were examined by real-time quantitative PCR and MAPK activation were detected via immunofluorescence and western blotting. Besides, xenograft model was established to investigate the effect of aprepitant in vivo.

RESULTS

Our results indicated that NK-1R was markedly expressed in gallbladder cancer cells and aprepitant effectively inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion. Furthermore, the apoptosis, ROS and inflammation response were significantly boosted by aprepitant in GBC. Aprepitant induced NF-κB p65 nuclear translocationin and increased the expressions of p-P65, p-Akt, p-JNK, p-ERK and p-P38, as well as the mRNA levels of inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α. Consistently, aprepitant suppressed the growth of GBC in xenograft mice model.

CONCLUSION

Our study demonstrated that aprepitant could inhibit the development of gallbladder cancer via inducing ROS and MAPK activation, which suggested that aprepitant may become a promising therapeutic drug against GBC.

LncRNA MEG3 attenuates the malignancy of retinoblastoma cells through inactivating PI3K /Akt/mTOR signaling pathway

Retinoblastoma (RB) is the most common neoplasm found in the eye of children. There are increasing interests to develop targeted gene therapy for this disease. This study was performed to investigate the impact of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) MEG3 on the biological features of RB cells. Vector overexpressing MEG3 was constructed and introduced into two RB cell lines. Transfected RB cells were assessed for proliferation, apoptosis, migration ability, expression levels of important genes in the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway using qRT-PCR and Western blot analysis. Xenograft mouse models were constructed to determine the tumorigenicity of RB cells overexpressing MEG3. MEG3 mRNA level was significantly lower in RB cells than in non-cancer cells (p < 0.01). Overexpressing MEG3 resulted in significant reduction in cell proliferation (p < 0.05), migration (p < 0.01) and significant increase in apoptosis (p < 0.01). After overexpressing MEG3, p-PI3K, p-Akt and p-mTOR levels were significantly downregulated (p < 0.01). Furthermore, in the xenograft model, RB cells overexpressing MEG3 generated significantly smaller tumors as compared to RB cells that did not overexpress MEG3 (p < 0.05). Our data suggest that MEG3 increases apoptosis and reduces tumorigenicity of RB cells through inactivating the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway. Therefore, MEG3 could be further investigated as a potential new therapeutic agent and target for RB therapy.

lncRNA MEG3 Inhibits the Proliferation and Growth of Glioma Cells by Downregulating Bcl-xL in the PI3K/Akt/NF-κB Signal Pathway

This study was conducted to investigate the impact and mechanisms of lncRNA MEG3 on glioma cells. lncRNA MEG3 was lowly expressed in glioma cells as compared to noncancer cells. Overexpression of MEG3 significantly downregulated the expression of Bcl-xL, slightly upregulated the expression of NF-κB p65 and IκBα, and reduced the proliferation of glioma cells with increased apoptosis and the migration and invasion ability. Subsequently, glioma cells overexpressing MEG3 had less tumorgenicity in xenograft mouse models. It is likely that MEG3 induces apoptosis in glioma cells via downregulating the Bcl-xL gene in the PI3K/Akt/NF-κB signal pathway to reduce the development of glioma.

Long noncoding RNA BMPR1B-AS1 facilitates endometrial cancer cell proliferation and metastasis by sponging miR-7-2-3p to modulate the DCLK1/Akt/NF-κB pathway

Endometrial carcinoma (EC) originates from the endometrium and is one of the most common tumors in female patients, and its incidence has continued to increase in recent decades. LncRNAs are involved in the pathogenesis and metastasis of a variety of malignant tumors, which indicates that lncRNAs can be used as tumor diagnostic markers and potential therapeutic targets. In this study, we analyzed the RNA transcripts of EC cells from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and first reported a novel lncRNA, BMPR1B-AS1, that was more highly expressed in endometrial cancer tissues than in adjacent tissues, and BMPR1B-AS1 could promote endometrial cancer cell proliferation and metastasis. Bioinformatics prediction and experimental results both suggested that BMPR1B-AS1 could modulate the malignant behaviors of endometrial cancer cell lines by sponging miR-7-2-3p to modulate DCLK1, and a DCLK1 inhibitor blocked the activation of the PI3K/Akt/NF-κB signaling pathway. Collectively, this study suggests that the BMPR1B-AS1/miR-7-2-3p/DCLK1 axis contributes to the proliferation and metastasis of endometrial cancer cells via the PI3K/Akt/NF-κB pathway.

Targeting miRNAs with anesthetics in cancer: Current understanding and future perspectives

Anesthetics are extensively used during cancer surgeries. The progression of cancer can be influenced by perioperative events such as exposure to general or local anesthesia. However, whether they inhibit cancer or act as a causative factor for metastasis and exert deleterious effects on cancer growth differs based on the type of cancer and the therapy administration. Recent experimental data suggested that many of the most commonly used anesthetics in surgical oncology, whether general or local agents, can alter gene expression and cause epigenetic changes via modulating miRNAs. miRNAs are single-stranded non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression at various levels, and their dysregulation contributes to the pathogenesis of cancers. However, anesthetics via regulating miRNAs can concurrently target several effectors of cellular signaling pathways involved in cell differentiation, proliferation, and viability. This review summarized the current research about the effects of different anesthetics in regulating cancer, with a particular emphasis on the role of miRNAs. A significant number of studies conducted in this area of research illuminate the effects of anesthetics on the regulation of miRNA expression; therefore, we hope that a thorough understanding of the underlying mechanisms involved in the regulation of miRNA in the context of anesthesia-induced cancer regulation could help to define optimal anesthetic regimens and provide better perspectives for further studies.

Annexin Animal Models-From Fundamental Principles to Translational Research

Routine manipulation of the mouse genome has become a landmark in biomedical research. Traits that are only associated with advanced developmental stages can now be investigated within a living organism, and the in vivo analysis of corresponding phenotypes and functions advances the translation into the clinical setting. The annexins, a family of closely related calcium (Ca²⁺)- and lipid-binding proteins, are found at various intra- and extracellular locations, and interact with a broad range of membrane lipids and proteins. Their impacts on cellular functions has been extensively assessed in vitro, yet annexin-deficient mouse models generally develop normally and do not display obvious phenotypes. Only in recent years, studies examining genetically modified annexin mouse models which were exposed to stress conditions mimicking human disease often revealed striking phenotypes. This review is the first comprehensive overview of annexin-related research using animal models and their exciting future use for relevant issues in biology and experimental medicine.

Calcium relieves fluoride-induced bone damage through the PI3K/AKT pathway

Bone is the main target of fluorosis, and it has been perfectly elaborated that a moderate dosage of calcium (Ca) can alleviate bone fluorosis. However, whether Ca can alleviate fluorosis through the phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) signaling pathway has not yet been reported. Hence, we evaluated the histopathological structure, the imbalance of the biochemical index of bone metabolism, and the expression levels of PI3K/AKT apoptosis signaling pathway-related genes in rats treated with sodium fluoride (NaF, F) and/or calcium carbonate (CaCO3) for 120 days. Our results suggest that 100 mg L-1 NaF induced histopathological injury as alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (StrACP) activity increased, with a decrease in the serum Ca levels (p < 0.05). Moreover, the results of qRT-PCR and western blotting showed that F increased the expression levels of transglutaminase 2 (TGM2), focal adhesion kinase (FAK), PI3K, AKT, forkhead box O1 (Foxo1), Bcl-2 interacting mediator of cell death (BIM), Bcl2-associated x protein (Bax) and Caspase 3 (p < 0.05, p < 0.01). It also decreased the expression of AnnexinA5 (Anxa5), 3'-phosphoinositide-dependent kinase 1 (PDK1) and B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) (p < 0.05, p < 0.01), which finally activated the PI3K/AKT pathway. On the other hand, CaCO3 supplementation reversed the histopathological injury along with the levels of ALP, StrACP and serum Ca, alleviating the gene expression levels of PI3K/AKT pathway-related markers. Altogether, we can conclude that CaCO3 supplementation mitigated F-induced bone damage via the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

Identification of potential crucial genes and molecular mechanisms in glioblastoma multiforme by bioinformatics analysis

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and malignant brain tumor of the adult central nervous system and is associated with poor prognosis. The present study aimed to identify the hub genes in GBM in order to improve the current understanding of the underlying mechanism of GBM. The RNA-seq data were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas database. The edgeR package in R software was used to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between two groups: Glioblastoma samples and normal brain samples. Gene Ontology (GO) functional enrichment analysis and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analysis were performed using Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery software. Additionally, Cytoscape and Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes/Proteins tools were used for the protein-protein interaction network, while the highly connected modules were extracted from this network using the Minimal Common Oncology Data Elements plugin. Next, the prognostic significance of the candidate hub genes was analyzed using UALCAN. In addition, the identified hub genes were verified by reverse transcription-quantitative (RT-q) PCR. In total, 1,483 DEGs were identified between GBM and control samples, including 954 upregulated genes and 529 downregulated genes (P<0.01; fold-change >16) and these genes were involved in different GO terms and signaling pathways. Furthermore, CDK1, BUB1, BUB1B, CENPA and GNG3 were identified as key genes in the GBM samples. The UALCAN tool verified that higher expression level of CENPA was relevant to poorer overall survival rates. In conclusion, CDK1, BUB1, BUB1B, CENPA and GNG3 were found to be potential biomarkers for GBM. Additionally, ‘cell cycle’ and ‘γ-aminobutyric acid signaling’ pathways may serve a significant role in the pathogenesis of GBM.

CDKL5 promotes proliferation, migration, and chemotherapeutic drug resistance of glioma cells via activation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway

Gliomas, the most prevalent cancer in the central nervous system, are characterized by high morbidity and mortality, emphasizing the need to understand their etiology. Here, we report that cyclin-dependent kinase-like 5 (CDKL5) is highly expressed in gliomas, and CDKL5 overexpression promotes invasion, proliferation, migration and drug (β-lapachone) resistance of glioma cells. In vitro, CDKL5 overexpression enhanced invasion, growth and migration of glioma cells, and stimulated the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT axis. Furthermore, CDKL5 overexpression in vivo promoted glioma proliferation, whereas CDKL5 knockdown had opposing effects. The effect of CDKL5 on drug resistance was eliminated if the PI3K/AKT axis was suppressed, and cisplatin combined with the PI3K/AKT suppressor XL147 remarkably prohibited proliferation in xenografts overexpressing CDKL5. Collectively, our findings suggest that CDKL5 acts through the PI3K/AKT axis in glioma cells, and indicate a possible role for CDKL5 in glioma therapy.

COX‑2 promotes epithelial‑mesenchymal transition and migration in osteosarcoma MG‑63 cells via PI3K/AKT/NF‑κB signaling

The present study aimed to investigate the mechanism by which cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) promotes the metastasis of MG-63 osteosarcoma cells through the PI3K/AKT/NF-κB pathway. To achieve this, a recombinant lentivirus containing the COX-2 gene was constructed in order to overexpress COX-2; a recombinant lentivirus containing a control sequence was also constructed. A Transwell chamber migration assay was performed to quantify the migration of the COX-2-transduced cells, and of cells treated with a COX-2 inhibitor (NS398) or a PI3K inhibitor (LY294002). Immunofluorescence assays were performed to determine changes in E-cadherin, vimentin and NF-κB expression levels. ELISAs were performed to quantify the levels of matrix metallopeptidase (MMP)-2, MMP-9 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the culture medium. Western blot analysis was conducted to measure the protein expression levels of MMP-2, MMP-9, PI3K, phosphorylated (p-) PI3K, AKT, p-AKT, inhibitor of NF-κΒ kinase (IKK) and p-IKK. The results demonstrated that the migration ability of the COX-2-overexpressing MG-63 cells was significantly increased compared with the control cells. The migration ability of cells treated with NS398 or LY294002 was significantly decreased. Compared with the control cells, E-cadherin expression was significantly decreased in COX-2-overexpressing cells, while the expression levels of vimentin, MMP-2, MMP-9, VEGF, p-PI3K, p-AKT and p-IKK were significantly increased. Compared with the control cells, E-cadherin expression was significantly increased in cells treated with NS398 or LY294002, while the expression levels of vimentin, MMP-2, MMP-9, VEGF, p-PI3K, p-AKT, and p-IKK were significantly decreased. The total protein levels of PI3K, AKT and IKK were not changed among the treatment groups. In summary, COX-2 overexpression decreased the expression levels of the epithelial protein E-cadherin and increased the expression levels of the mesenchymal proteins vimentin, MMP-2 and MMP-9, as well as promoted cell migration, by activating the PI3K/AKT/NF-κB signaling pathway.

Altered transcriptional regulatory proteins in glioblastoma and YBX1 as a potential regulator of tumor invasion

We have studied differentially regulated nuclear proteome of the clinical tissue specimens of glioblastoma (GBM, WHO Grade IV) and lower grades of gliomas (Grade II and III) using high resolution mass spectrometry- based quantitative proteomics approach. The results showed altered expression of many regulatory proteins from the nucleus such as DNA binding proteins, transcription and post transcriptional processing factors and also included enrichment of nuclear proteins that are targets of granzyme signaling – an immune surveillance pathway. Protein - protein interaction network analysis using integrated proteomics and transcriptomics data of transcription factors and proteins for cell invasion process (drawn from another GBM dataset) revealed YBX1, a ubiquitous RNA and DNA-binding protein and a transcription factor, as a key interactor of major cell invasion-associated proteins from GBM. To verify the regulatory link between them, the co-expression of YBX1 and six of the interacting proteins (EGFR, MAPK1, CD44, SOX2, TNC and MMP13) involved in cell invasion network was examined by immunohistochemistry on tissue micro arrays. Our analysis suggests YBX1 as a potential regulator of these key molecules involved in tumor invasion and thus as a promising target for development of new therapeutic strategies for GBM.

SP/NK-1R promotes gallbladder cancer cell proliferation and migration

Aberrant substance P/neurokinin‐1 receptor (SP/NK‐1R) system activation plays a critical role in various disorders, however, little is known about the expression and the detailed molecular mechanism of the SP and NK‐1R in gallbladder cancer (GBC). In this study, we firstly analyzed the expression and clinical significance of them in patients with GBC. Then, cellular assays were performed to clarify their biological role in GBC cells. Moreover, we investigated the molecular mechanisms regulated by SP/NK‐1R. Meanwhile, mice xenografted with human GBC cells were analyzed regarding the effects of SP/NK1R complex in vivo. Finally, patient samples were utilized to investigate the effect of SP/NK‐1R. The results showed that SP and NK‐1R were highly expressed in GBC. We found that SP strongly induced GBC cell proliferation, clone formation, migration and invasion, whereas antagonizing NK‐1R resulted in the opposite effects. Moreover, SP significantly enhanced the expression of NF‐κB p65 and the tumor‐associated cytokines, while, Akt inhibitor could reverse these effects. Further studies indicated that decreasing activation of NF‐κB or Akt diminished GBC cell proliferation and migration. In consistent with results, immunohistochemical staining showed high levels of Akt, NF‐κB and cytokines in tumor tissues. Most importantly, the similar conclusion was obtained in xenograft mouse model. Our findings demonstrate that NK‐1R, after binding with the endogenous agonist SP, could induce GBC cell migration and spreading via modulation of Akt/NF‐κB pathway.