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Krishnan N, R L N, Warrier AV, Yadev I, Anandan J, Sundaram S, Rajan A, Kumari P, Ittycheria SS, V G M, Mohammed S, S P, Nair RS, Srinivas P. Direct DNA binding by BRCA1 on β-hCG promoter and its clinical implications. Heliyon 2024; 10:e37064. [PMID: 39286065 PMCID: PMC11403530 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e37064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 08/22/2024] [Accepted: 08/27/2024] [Indexed: 09/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective The role of β-hCG in breast cancer is largely unknown, this study aims to analyse the gene expression and clinical implications of β-hCG and its isoforms in various cancers focussing particularly in Breast Invasive Carcinoma (BRCA). A mechanistic approach deciphering the transcriptional regulation of β-hCG by BRCA1 was also explored. Methods Data from various comprehensive gene expression platforms like UALCAN, GEPIA2, GENT2, TIMER2, LinkedOmics, and STRING were used to analyse the expression of β-hCG and its clinical implications; Immunohistochemistry and ELISA for β-hCG expression analysis from human breast cancer patients; Electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) to analyse the direct binding of BRCA1 on β-hCG; Immunoblotting and Luciferase assay to understand the regulation of β-hCG by p53 were performed. Results Results from UALCAN and GENT2 gene expression cancer database revealed that TNBC subtypes and high-grade metaplastic carcinoma shows elevated expression of β-hCG and infiltration of various immune cells were also identified in BRCA by TIMER2. It was observed that most of the isoforms of β-hCG (CGB) are upregulated in breast cancers irrespective of hormonal status when BRCA1 gene is mutated according to TIMER2. Similar results were observed with Lymphoid neoplasm diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (LGG) and DLBC (Brain lower grade glioma) when BRCA1 is mutated. These results correlate with our earlier reports indicating expression of β-hCG in BRCA1 defective condition. We have also identified direct binding of BRCA1 on β-hCG promoter. Conclusion All these findings demonstrate the importance of β-hCG as a potential target in BRCA1-deficient carcinomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neethu Krishnan
- Cancer Research Program, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
- Research Centre, University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
| | - Neetha R L
- Cancer Research Program, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
| | - Arathy V Warrier
- Cancer Research Program, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
- Research Centre, University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
| | - Induprabha Yadev
- Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
- Government Medical College, Kollam, Kerala, India
| | - Jaimie Anandan
- Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
| | | | - Arathi Rajan
- Institute of Advanced Virology, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
| | - Prianka Kumari
- Cancer Research Program, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
- DBT-Regional Centre for Biotechnology (RCB), Faridabad, 121001, Haryana, India
| | - Shreya Sara Ittycheria
- Cancer Research Program, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
- Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal, Karnataka, India
| | - Manasa V G
- Cancer Research Program, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
| | - Serbin Mohammed
- Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
- Government Medical College, Kollam, Kerala, India
| | - Preethamol S
- Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
| | - Rakesh Sathish Nair
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, The University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA
| | - Priya Srinivas
- Cancer Research Program, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
- DBT-Regional Centre for Biotechnology (RCB), Faridabad, 121001, Haryana, India
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Su M, Fan C, Gao S, Shen A, Wang X, Zhang Y. An HCG-rich microenvironment contributes to ovarian cancer cell differentiation into endothelioid cells in a three-dimensional culture system. Oncol Rep 2015; 34:2395-402. [PMID: 26479853 DOI: 10.3892/or.2015.4215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2015] [Accepted: 07/02/2015] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
We investigated the expression of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) and its effects on vasculogenic mimicry (VM) formation in ovarian cancer cells under normoxic and hypoxic conditions in three-dimensional matrices preconditioned by an endothelial-trophoblast cell co-culture system. The co-culture model was established using human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and HTR-8 trophoblast cells in a three-dimensional culture system. The co-cultured cells were removed with NH4OH, and ovarian cancer cells were implanted into the preconditioned matrix. VM was identified morphologically and by detecting vascular markers expressed by cancer cells. The specificity of the effects of exogenous HCG in the microenvironment was assessed by inhibition with a neutralizing anti-HCG antibody. HCG siRNA was used to knock down endogenous HCG expression in OVCAR-3 ovarian cancer cells. HTR-8 cells 'fingerprinted' HUVECs to form capillary-like tube structures in co-cultures. In the preconditioned HCG-rich microenvironment, the number of vessel-like network structures formed by HCG receptor-positive OVCAR-3 cells and the expression levels of CD31, VEGF and factor VIII were significantly increased. The preconditioned HCG-rich microenvironment significantly increased the expression of hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF‑1α) and VM formation in OVCAR-3 cells under hypoxic conditions. Treatment with a neutralizing anti-HCG antibody but not HCG siRNA significantly inhibited the formation of vessel-like network structures. HCG in the microenvironment contributes to OVCAR-3 differentiation into endothelioid cells in three-dimensional matrices preconditioned with an endothelial-trophoblast cell co-culture system. HCG may synergistically enhance hypoxia-induced vascular markers and HIF-1α expression. These findings would provide perspectives on new therapeutic targets for ovarian cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Su
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, P.R. China
| | - Chao Fan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, P.R. China
| | - Sainan Gao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, P.R. China
| | - Aiguo Shen
- The Immunology Laboratory of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, P.R. China
| | - Xiaoying Wang
- The Immunology Laboratory of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, P.R. China
| | - Yuquan Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, P.R. China
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Yang J, Zhang Q, Li K, Yin H, Zheng JN. Composite peptide-based vaccines for cancer immunotherapy (Review). Int J Mol Med 2014; 35:17-23. [PMID: 25395173 DOI: 10.3892/ijmm.2014.2000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2014] [Accepted: 11/03/2014] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The use of peptide-based vaccines as therapeutics aims to elicit immune responses through antigenic epitopes derived from tumor antigens. Peptide-based vaccines are easily synthesized and chemically stable entities, and of note, they are absent of oncogenic potential. However, their application is more complicated as the success of an effective peptide-based vaccine is determined by numerous parameters. The success thus far has been limited by the choice of tumor antigenic peptides, poor immunogenicity and incorporation of strategies to reverse cancer-mediated immune suppression. In the present review, an overview of the mechanisms of peptide-based vaccines is provided and antigenic peptides are categorized with respect to their tissue distribution in order to determine their usefulness as targets. Furthermore, certain approaches are proposed that induce and maintain T cells for immunotherapy. The recent progress indicates that peptide-based vaccines are preferential for targeted therapy in cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Yang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Biological Cancer Therapy, Xuzhou Medical College, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221000, P.R. China
| | - Qing Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Biological Cancer Therapy, Xuzhou Medical College, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221000, P.R. China
| | - Ke Li
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Biological Cancer Therapy, Xuzhou Medical College, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221000, P.R. China
| | - Hong Yin
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Biological Cancer Therapy, Xuzhou Medical College, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221000, P.R. China
| | - Jun-Nian Zheng
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Biological Cancer Therapy, Xuzhou Medical College, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221000, P.R. China
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