CCN4/WISP1 (WNT1 inducible signaling pathway protein 1): a focus on its role in cancer

WISP1 promotes the progression of rheumatoid arthritis through NLRP3 inflammasome activation

BACKGROUND

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease without effective treatments. This study explored WNT1 inducible signaling pathway protein 1 (WISP1) as a potential target to prevent RA.

METHODS

AAV-shRNA-WISP1 or AAV-NC was injected in each ankle of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) rats. Si-WISP1 or NC vector was transfected to TNF-α-induced fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs). The effects of WISP1 knockdown on levels of pro-inflammatory factors in rats or FLSs were examined by qRT-PCR, ELISA, and western blot. CCK-8, Wound-healing, and transwell assays were used to estimate the effects of WISP1 knockdown on TNF-α-induced cell vitality, migration, and invasion in FLSs. The NLRP3 inflammasome-related proteins were checked by immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence assay, and western blot in rats or FLSs.

FINDINGS

Administration of WISP1 knockdown improved joint damage and diminished synovial inflammation in CIA rats. WISP1 knockdown restrained TNF-α-induced cell vitality, migration, and invasion in FLSs. In CIA rats and TNFα-induced FLSs, WISP1 knockdown reduced the secretion of inflammatory factors and restrained NLRP3 inflammasome activation.

INTERPRETATION

WISP1 knockdown effectively inhibited NLRP3 inflammasome activation and inflammatory factors levels.

Knockdown of WISP1/DKK1 restrains phenotypic plasticity in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma by suppressing epithelial-mesenchymal transition and stemness

OBJECTIVE

Wnt-induced signaling protein 1 (WISP1) and Dickkopf-1 (DKK1) are highly expressed in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), but no direct connection was identified between them. Phenotypic plasticity is a hallmark of ESCC. This research intended to identify the association between WISP1 and DKK1 and their roles in the phenotypic plasticity of ESCC.

METHODS

Genes differentially expressed in esophageal carcinoma were analyzed in the GEO database, followed by analyses of GO and KEGG enrichment to screen the hub gene. WISP1 expression and DKK1 secretion was assessed in ESCC tissues and cells. The tumor xenograft and in vivo metastasis models were established by injecting ESCC cells into nude mice. Functional deficiency and rescue experiments were conducted, followed by assays for cell proliferation, migration/invasion, stemness, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and apoptosis, as well as tumor volume, weight, proliferation, stemness, and lung metastasis. The binding relationship and co-expression of WISP1 and DKK1 were determined.

RESULTS

WISP1 and DKK1 were upregulated in ESCC cells and tissues, and WISP1 was enriched in the cell stemness and Wnt pathways. WISP1 knockdown subdued proliferation, migration/invasion, EMT activity, and stemness but enhanced apoptosis in ESCC cells. WISP1 knockdown restrained ESCC growth, proliferation, stemness, and metastasis in vivo. WISP1 bound to DKK1 in ESCC. DKK1 overexpression abolished the repressive impacts of WISP1 knockdown on the malignant behaviors of ESCC cells in vitro and of ESCC tumor in vivo.

CONCLUSION

Knockdown of WISP1/DKK1 restrains the phenotypic plasticity in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma by suppressing epithelial-mesenchymal transition and stemness.

Glucose Upregulates ChREBP via Phosphorylation of AKT and AMPK to Modulate MALT1 and WISP1 Expression

Glucose can activate the carbohydrate response element binding protein (ChREBP) transcription factor to control gene expressions in the metabolic pathways. The way of ChREBP involvement in human prostate cancer development remains undetermined. This study examined the interactions between prostate fibroblasts and cancer cells under the influences of ChREBP. Results showed that high glucose (30 mM) increased the phosphorylation of AKT at S473 and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) at S485 in human prostate fibroblast (HPrF) cells and prostate cancer PC-3 cells. High glucose enhanced the expression of ChREBP, which increased the expressions of fibronectin, alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and WNT1 inducible signaling pathway protein 1 (WISP1), magnifying the cell growth and contraction in HPrF cells in vitro. The cell proliferation, invasion, and tumor growth in prostate cancer PC-3 cells were enhanced by inducing the expressions of ChREBP, mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue 1 (MALT1), and epithelial-mesenchymal transition markers with high glucose treatment. Moreover, ectopic ChREBP overexpression induced NF-κB signaling activities via upregulating MALT1 expression in PC-3 cells. Our findings illustrated that ChREBP is an oncogene in the human prostate. High glucose condition induces a glucose/ChREBP/MALT1/NF-κB axis which links the glucose metabolism to the NF-κB activation in prostate cancer cells, and a glucose/ChREBP/WISP1 axis mediating autocrine and paracrine signaling between fibroblasts and cancer cells to promote cell migration, contraction, growth, and invasion of the human prostate.

The TGF-β1 target WISP1 is highly expressed in liver cirrhosis and cirrhotic HCC microenvironment and involved in pro- and anti-tumorigenic effects

INTRODUCTION

WNT1-inducible signalling pathway protein 1 (WISP1) promotes progression of several tumor entities often correlating with worse prognosis. Here its expression regulation and role in the progression of chronic liver diseases (CLD) was investigated.

METHODS

WISP1 expression was analyzed in human HCC datasets, in biopsies and serum samples and an HCC patient tissue microarray (TMA) including correlation to clinicopathological parameters. Spatial distribution of WISP1 expression was determined using RNAscope analysis. Regulation of WISP1 expression was investigated in cytokine-stimulated primary mouse hepatocytes (PMH) by array analysis and qRT-PCR. Outcome of WISP1 stimulation was analyzed by IncuCyte S3-live cell imaging, qRT-PCR, and immunoblotting in murine AML12 cells.

RESULTS

In a TMA, high WISP1 expression was positively correlated with early HCC stages and male sex. Highest WISP1 expression levels were detected in patients with cirrhosis as compared to healthy individuals, patients with early fibrosis, and non-cirrhotic HCC in liver biopsies, expression datasets and serum samples. WISP1 transcripts were predominantly detected in hepatocytes of cirrhotic rather than tumorous liver tissue. High WISP1 expression was associated with better survival. In PMH, AML12 and HepaRG, WISP1 was identified as a specific TGF-β1 target gene. Accordingly, expression levels of both cytokines positively correlated in human HCC patient samples. WISP1-stimulation induced the expression of Bcl-xL, PCNA and p21 in AML12 cells.

CONCLUSIONS

WISP1 expression is induced by TGF-β1 in hepatocytes and is associated with cirrhotic liver disease. We propose a crucial role of WISP1 in balancing pro- and anti-tumorigenic effects during premalignant stages of CLD.

Androgens and androgen receptor directly induce the thickening, folding, and vascularization of the seahorse abdominal dermal layer into a placenta-like structure responsible for male pregnancy via multiple signaling pathways

Seahorses exhibit the unique characteristic of male pregnancy, which incubates numerous embryos in a brood pouch that plays an essential role in enhancing offspring survivability. The pot-belly seahorse (Hippocampus abdominalis) possesses the largest body size among seahorses and is a significant species in Chinese aquaculture. In this study, we revealed the cytological and morphological characteristics, as well as regulatory mechanisms, throughout the entire brood pouch development in H. abdominalis. The brood pouch originated from the abdominal dermis, extending towards the ventral midline. As the dermal layers thicken, the inner epithelium folds, the stroma loosens, and vascularization occurs, culminating in the formation of the brood pouch. Furthermore, through transcriptomic analysis of brood pouches at various developmental stages, 8 key genes (tgfb3, fgf2, wnt7a, pgf, mycn, tln2, jund, ccn4) closely related to the development of brood pouch were identified in the MAPK, Rap1, TGF-β, and Wnt signaling pathways. These genes were highly expressed in the pseudoplacenta and dermal layers at the newly formed stage as examined by in situ hybridization (ISH). The angiogenesis, densification of collagen fibers, and proliferation of fibroblasts and endothelial cells in seahorse brood pouch formation may be regulated by these genes and pathways. Additionally, the expression of the androgen receptor gene (ar) was significantly upregulated during the formation of the brood pouch, and ISH confirmed the expression of the ar gene in the dermis and pseudoplacenta of the brood pouch, highlighting its role in the developmental process. Androgen and flutamide (androgen receptor antagonist) treatments significantly accelerated the formation of the brood pouch and completely inhibited its occurrence respectively, concomitant to the upregulated expression of differentially expressed genes involved above signaling pathways. These findings demonstrated that formation of the brood pouch is determined by androgen and the androgen receptor activates the above signaling pathways in the brood pouch through the regulation of fgf2, tgfb3, pgf, and wnt7a. Interestingly, androgen even induced the formation of the brood pouch in females. We firstly elucidated the formation of the seahorse brood pouch, demonstrating that androgens and their receptors directly induce the thickening, folding, and vascularization of the abdominal dermal layer into a placenta-like structure through multiple signaling pathways. These findings provide foundational insights to further exploring the evolution of male pregnancy and adaptive convergence in viviparity across vertebrates.

CCN4 (WISP-1) reduces apoptosis and atherosclerotic plaque burden in an ApoE mouse model

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

CCN4/WISP-1 regulates various cell behaviours that contribute to atherosclerosis progression, including cell adhesion, migration, proliferation and survival. We therefore hypothesised that CCN4 regulates the development and progression of atherosclerotic plaques.

METHODS

We used a high fat fed ApoE-/- mouse model to study atherosclerotic plaque progression in the brachiocephalic artery and aortic root. In protocol 1, male ApoE-/- mice with established plaques were given a CCN4 helper-dependent adenovirus to see the effect of treatment with CCN4, while in protocol 2 male CCN4-/-ApoE-/- were compared to CCN4+/+ApoE-/- mice to assess the effect of CCN4 deletion on plaque progression.

RESULTS

CCN4 overexpression resulted in reduced occlusion of the brachiocephalic artery with less apoptosis, fewer macrophages, and attenuated lipid core size. The amount of plaque found on the aortic root was also reduced. CCN4 deficiency resulted in increased apoptosis and occlusion of the brachiocephalic artery as well as increased plaque in the aortic root. Additionally, in vitro cells from CCN4-/-ApoE-/- mice had higher apoptotic levels. CCN4 deficiency did not significantly affect blood cholesterol levels or circulating myeloid cell populations.

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that in an atherosclerosis model the most important action of CCN4 is the effect on cell apoptosis. CCN4 provides pro-survival signals and leads to reduced cell death, lower macrophage number, smaller lipid core size and reduced atherosclerotic plaque burden. As such, the pro-survival effect of CCN4 is worthy of further investigation, in a bid to find a therapeutic for atherosclerosis.

WISP1 and Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor in Respiratory Inflammation: Novel Insights and Therapeutic Potentials for Asthma and COPD

Recent advancements highlight the intricate interplay between the extracellular matrix (ECM) and immune responses, notably in respiratory diseases such as asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). The ECM, a dynamic structural framework within tissues, orches-trates a plethora of cellular processes, including immune cell behavior and tissue repair mecha-nisms. WNT1-inducible-signaling pathway protein 1 (WISP1), a key ECM regulator, controls immune cell behavior, cytokine production, and tissue repair by modulating integrins, PI3K, Akt, β-catenin, and mTOR signaling pathways. WISP1 also induces macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) expression via Src kinases and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) activation. MIF, through its wide range of activities, enhances inflammation and tissue restructuring. Rec-ognized for its versatile roles in regulating the immune system, MIF interacts with multiple immune components, such as the NLRP3 inflammasome, thereby sustaining inflammatory pro-cesses. The WISP1-MIF axis potentially unveils complex molecular mechanisms governing im-mune responses and inflammation. Understanding the intricate roles of WISP1 and MIF in the pathogenesis of chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma and COPD could lead to the identi-fication of novel targets for therapeutic intervention to alleviate disease severity and enhance patient outcomes.

Repurposing Niclosamide to Modulate Renal RNA-Binding Protein HuR for the Treatment of Diabetic Nephropathy in db/db Mice

Hu antigen R (HuR) plays a key role in regulating genes critical to the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy (DN). This study investigates the therapeutic potential of niclosamide (NCS) as an HuR inhibitor in DN. Uninephrectomized mice were assigned to four groups: normal control; untreated db/db mice terminated at 14 and 22 weeks, respectively; and db/db mice treated with NCS (20 mg/kg daily via i.p.) from weeks 18 to 22. Increased HuR expression was observed in diabetic kidneys from db/db mice, which was mitigated by NCS treatment. Untreated db/db mice exhibited obesity, progressive hyperglycemia, albuminuria, kidney hypertrophy and glomerular mesangial matrix expansion, increased renal production of fibronectin and a-smooth muscle actin, and decreased glomerular WT-1+-podocytes and nephrin expression. NCS treatment did not affect mouse body weight, but reduced blood glucose and HbA1c levels and halted the DN progression observed in untreated db/db mice. Renal production of inflammatory and oxidative stress markers (NF-κBp65, TNF-a, MCP-1) and urine MDA levels increased during disease progression in db/db mice but were halted by NCS treatment. Additionally, the Wnt1-signaling-pathway downstream factor, Wisp1, was identified as a key downstream mediator of HuR-dependent action and found to be markedly increased in db/db mouse kidneys, which was normalized by NCS treatment. These findings suggest that inhibition of HuR with NCS is therapeutic for DN by improving hyperglycemia, renal inflammation, and oxidative stress. The reduction in renal Wisp1 expression also contributes to its renoprotective effects. This study supports the potential of repurposing HuR inhibitors as a novel therapy for DN.

Xihuang pills targeting the Warburg effect through inhibition of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in prostate cancer

Objective

Prostate cancer, marked by a high incidence and mortality rate, presents a significant challenge, especially in the context of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) with limited treatment options due to drug resistance. This study aims to explore the anti-tumor effects of Xihuang Pills (XHP) on CRPC, focusing on metabolic reprogramming and the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.

Methods

In vitro and in vivo biofunctional assays were employed to assess the efficacy and mechanisms of XHP. Subcutaneous xenografts of PC3 in mice served as an in vivo model to evaluate XHP's anti-tumor activity. Tumor volume, weight, proliferation, and apoptosis were monitored. Various assays, including CCK8, TUNEL assay, QRT-PCR, and Western Blotting, were conducted to measure metabolic reprogramming, proliferation, apoptosis, and cell cycle in prostate cancer cells. RNA-seq analysis predicted XHP's impact on prostate cancer, validating the expression of Wnt/β-catenin-related proteins and mRNA. Additionally, 58 compounds in XHP were identified via LC-MS/MS, and molecular docking analysis connected these compounds to key genes.

Results

In vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that XHP significantly inhibited CRPC cell viability, induced apoptosis, and suppressed invasion and migration. mRNA sequencing revealed differentially expressed genes, with functional enrichment analysis indicating modulation of key biological processes. XHP treatment downregulated Wnt signaling pathway-related genes, including CCND2, PRKCG, and CCN4. Moreover, XHP effectively inhibited glucose uptake and lactate production, leading to reduced HIF-1α and glycolytic enzymes (GLUT1, HK2, PKM2), suggesting its potential in attenuating the Warburg effect. Molecular docking analysis suggested a plausible interaction between XHP's active compounds and Wnt1 protein, indicating a mechanism through which XHP modulates the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.

Conclusion

XHP demonstrated remarkable efficacy in suppressing the growth, proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasiveness of prostate tumors. The interaction between XHP's active constituents and Wnt1 was evident, leading to the inhibition of Wnt1 and downstream anti-carcinogenic factors, thereby influencing the β-catenin/HIF-1α-mediated glycolysis.

An overview of CCN4 (WISP1) role in human diseases

CCN4 (cellular communication network factor 4), a highly conserved, secreted cysteine-rich matricellular protein is emerging as a key player in the development and progression of numerous disease pathologies, including cancer, fibrosis, metabolic and inflammatory disorders. Over the past two decades, extensive research on CCN4 and its family members uncovered their diverse cellular mechanisms and biological functions, including but not limited to cell proliferation, migration, invasion, angiogenesis, wound healing, repair, and apoptosis. Recent studies have demonstrated that aberrant CCN4 expression and/or associated downstream signaling is key to a vast array of pathophysiological etiology, suggesting that CCN4 could be utilized not only as a non-invasive diagnostic or prognostic marker, but also as a promising therapeutic target. The cognate receptor of CCN4 remains elusive till date, which limits understanding of the mechanistic insights on CCN4 driven disease pathologies. However, as therapeutic agents directed against CCN4 begin to make their way into the clinic, that may start to change. Also, the pathophysiological significance of CCN4 remains underexplored, hence further research is needed to shed more light on its disease and/or tissue specific functions to better understand its clinical translational benefit. This review highlights the compelling evidence of overlapping and/or diverse functional and mechanisms regulated by CCN4, in addition to addressing the challenges, study limitations and knowledge gaps on CCN4 biology and its therapeutic potential.

Osteoarthritis versus psoriasis arthritis: Physiopathology, cellular signaling, and therapeutic strategies

Osteoarthritis and psoriasis arthritis are two degenerative forms of arthritis that share similar yet also different manifestations at the histological, cellular, and clinical levels. Rheumatologists have marked them as two entirely distinct arthropathies. Given recent discoveries in disease initiation and progression, potential mechanisms, cellular signaling pathways, and ongoing clinical therapeutics, there are now more opportunities for discovering osteoarthritis drugs. This review summarized the osteoarthritis and psoriasis arthritis signaling pathways, crosstalk between BMP, WNT, TGF-β, VEGF, TLR, and FGF signaling pathways, biomarkers, and anatomical pathologies. Through bench research, we demonstrated that regenerative medicine is a promising alternative for treating osteoarthritis by highlighting significant scientific discoveries on entheses, multiple signaling blockers, and novel molecules such as immunoglobulin new antigen receptors targeted for potential drug evaluation. Furthermore, we offered valuable therapeutic approaches with a multidisciplinary strategy to treat patients with osteoarthritis or psoriasis arthritis in the coming future in the clinic.

WISP1 induces the expression of macrophage migration inhibitory factor in human lung fibroblasts through Src kinases and EGFR-activated signaling pathways

Wnt1-inducible signaling protein 1 (WISP1/CCN4) is a secreted matricellular protein that is implicated in lung and airway remodeling. The macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a pleiotropic cytokine that has been associated with chronic lung diseases. In this study, we aimed to investigate the WISP1 signaling pathway and its ability to induce the expression of MIF in primary cultures of fibroblasts from normal human lungs (HLFs). Our results showed that WISP1 significantly stimulated the expression of MIF in a concentration- and time-dependent fashion. In WISP1-induced expression of MIF, αvβ5-integrin and chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans as well as Src tyrosine kinases, MAP kinases, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt, PKC, and NF-κB were involved. WISP1-induced expression of MIF was attenuated in the presence of the Src kinase inhibitor PP2 or the MIF tautomerase activity inhibitor ISO-1. Moreover, WISP1 significantly increased the phosphorylation and activation of EGF receptor (EGFR) through transactivation by Src kinases. WISP1 also induced the expression of MIF receptor CD74 and coreceptor CD44, through which MIF exerts its effects on HLFs. In addition, it was found that MIF induced its own expression, as well as its receptors CD74/CD44, acting in an autocrine manner. Finally, WISP1-induced MIF promoted the expression of cyclooxygenase 2, prostaglandin E2, IL-6, and matrix metalloproteinase-2 demonstrating the regulatory role of WISP1-MIF axis in lung inflammation and remodeling involving mainly integrin αvβ5, Src kinases, PKC, NF-κB, and EGFR. The specific signaling pathways involved in WISP1-induced expression of MIF may prove to be excellent candidates for novel targets to control inflammation in chronic lung diseases.NEW & NOTEWORTHY The present study demonstrates for the first time that Wnt1-inducible signaling protein 1 (WISP1) regulates migration inhibitory factor (MIF) expression and activity and identifies the main signaling pathways involved. The newly discovered WISP1-MIF axis may drive lung inflammation and could result in the design of novel targeted therapies in inflammatory lung diseases.

WISP1 Is Involved in the Pathogenesis of Kashin-Beck Disease via the Autophagy Pathway

OBJECTIVE

Kashin-Beck disease (KBD) is a kind of endemic and chronic osteochondropathy in China. This study aims to explore the functional relevance and potential mechanism of Wnt-inducible signaling pathway protein 1 (WISP1) in the pathogenesis of KBD.

DESIGN

KBD and control cartilage specimens were collected for tissue section observation and primary chondrocyte culture. Firstly, the morphological and histopathological observations were made under a light and electron microscope. Then, the expression levels of WISP1 as well as molecular markers related to the autophagy pathway and extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis were detected in KBD and control chondrocytes by qRT-PCR, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry. Furthermore, the lentiviral transfection technique was applied to make a WISP1 knockdown cell model based on KBD chondrocytes. In vitro intervention experiments were conducted on the C28/I2 human chondrocyte cell line using human recombinant WISP1 (rWISP1).

RESULTS

The results showed that the autolysosome appeared in the KBD chondrocytes. The expression of WISP1 was significantly higher in KBD chondrocytes. Additionally, T-2 toxin, a risk factor for KBD onset, could up-regulate the expression of WISP1 in C28/I2. The autophagy markers ATG4C and LC3II were upregulated after the low-concentration treatment of T-2 toxin and downregulated after the high-concentration treatment. After knocking down WISP1 expression in KBD chondrocytes, MAP1LC3B decreased while ATG4C and COL2A1 increased. Moreover, the rWISP1 protein treatment in C28/I2 chondrocytes could upregulate the expression of ATG4C and LC3II at the beginning and downregulate them then.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study suggested that WISP1 might play a role in the pathogenesis of KBD through autophagy.

Role of Circ-ITCH Gene Polymorphisms and Its Expression in Breast Cancer Susceptibility and Prognosis

INTRODUCTION/OBJECTIVE

Breast cancer (BC) is the first leading cause of cancer-related mortality in females worldwide. We have investigated the correlation between circ-ITCH gene polymorphisms, circ-ITCH expression, and their effect on β-catenin levels and BC development.

METHODS

Participants included 62 BC and 62 controls matched in terms of age. The circ-ITCH polymorphisms rs10485505 and rs4911154 were genotyped using whole blood samples. In addition, mRNA expression analysis of circ-ITCH was performed on BC tissues. The β-catenin levels in serum samples were measured using ELISA.

RESULTS

The qRT-PCR results demonstrated that circ-ITCH was significantly downregulated in BC compared to normal healthy tissues. The genotype distribution of rs10485505 and rs4911154 were significantly associated with BC risk. For rs10485505, genotype CT and TT were significantly associated with an increased BC risk. In contrast, there was a significant association between rs4911154, genotypes GA and AA, and an increased BC risk. Regarding the rs10485505 genotype, carriers of the T allele frequently have a poor prognosis compared to carriers of the CC genotype. Serum β-catenin in the BC patients' group was significantly higher than in the control group. The relative expression levels of circ-ITCH were remarkably decreased in the BC samples of patients carrying the A allele at rs4911154 compared to patients with a GG genotype. Conversely, β-catenin protein levels were increased in patients carrying the A allele, while rs10485505 genotype carriers of the CT and TT genotypes showed downregulation of circ-ITCH expression fold compared to the CC genotype. Contrarily, β-catenin levels markedly increased in TT and CT genotypes compared with the CC genotype.

CONCLUSIONS

Our research showed that the rs10485505 polymorphism (T allele) and the rs4911154 polymorphism (A allele) are associated with the risk and prognosis of BC. This finding may be due to the effect on the level of circ-ITCH mRNA expression in BC tissues as well as the level of β-catenin in BC patients.

The effect of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 on the Wnt signaling pathway in bovine intestinal epithelial cells is mediated by the DKK2 (dickkopf2) Wnt antagonist

The Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is aberrantly activated in most colorectal cancers. High-dose 1,25(OH)2D3 has anticancer effect by regulating Wnt signal pathway. However, it is not clear whether high-dose of 1,25(OH)2D3 have an effect on normal cells. The aim of the present study was to investigate the mechanism of high-dose 1,25(OH)2D3 on the Wnt signaling pathway in bovine intestinal epithelial cells. The potential mechanism of action was investigated after knockdown and overexpression of the Wnt pathway inhibitor, DKK2, in intestinal epithelial cells by observing the effects of 1,25(OH)2D3 on proliferation, apoptosis, pluripotency and the expression of genes related to the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. In the present study, we introduced the method of isolation and culture of primary bovine intestinal epithelial cells. After cells were treated with 50ng/mL 1,25(OH)2D3 or DMSO for 48h, total RNA was extracted, and six differentially expressed genes, including SERPINF1, SFRP2, SFRP4, FZD2, WISP1 and DKK2 were identified by transcriptome sequencing, which were related to Wnt signaling pathway. To further explore the mechanism of 1,25(OH)2D3 on the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, we constructed knockdown and overexpression plasmids of DKK2. After transfecting these plasmids into bovine intestinal epithelial cells, we measured the expression of DKK2 mRNA and protein through GFP expression, qRT-PCR and western blot analyses to verify the transfection efficiency. In addition, the CCK-8 assay was used to detect the cell proliferation rate after transfection. Subsequently, the transfected cells were treated with 1,25(OH)2D3 for 48h, and the proliferation- (Ki67 and PCNA), apoptosis- (Bcl-2, p53, casp3 and casp8), pluripotency- (Bmi-1, Lrig1, KRT19 and TUFT1) and Wnt/ β-catenin signaling pathway- related genes (LGR5, DKK2, VDR, β- Catenin, SFRP2, WISP1 and FZD2) were detected by qRT-PCR and western blot analyses. Our results showed that the expression trend of some genes in bovine intestinal epithelial cells under high-dose 1,25(OH)2D3 was consistent with the sequencing results, including SFRP2 (P<0.001), SFRP4 (P<0.05), FZD2 (P<0.01), WISP1 (P<0.001) and DKK2 (P<0.001). In addition, knockdown of DKK2 inhibited cell proliferation (P<0.01), but DKK2 overexpression promoted cell proliferation (P<0.01). Compared to the control group, 1,25(OH)2D3 promoted the expression of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway-related proteins in bovine intestinal epithelium, thus maintaining intestinal homeostasis in normal intestinal epithelium. In addition, knockdown and overexpression of DKK2 indicated that 1,25(OH)2D3 weakened the inhibitory effect of DKK2 on the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Together, these results suggest that high-dose 1,25(OH)2D3 has no killing effect on normal intestinal epithelial cells and regulates Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway through DKK2.

The role of CCNs in controlling cellular communication in the tumor microenvironment

The Cellular communication network (CCN) family of growth regulatory factors comprises six secreted matricellular proteins that promote signal transduction through cell-cell or cell-matrix interaction. The diversity of functionality between each protein is specific to the many aspects of healthy and cancer biology. For example, CCN family proteins modulate cell adhesion, proliferation, migration, invasiveness, apoptosis, and survival. In addition, the expression of each protein regulates many biological and pathobiological processes within its microenvironment to regulate angiogenesis, inflammatory response, chondrogenesis, fibrosis, and mitochondrial integrity. The collective range of CCN operation remains fully comprehended; however, understanding each protein's microenvironment may draw more conclusions about the abundance of interactions and signaling cascades occurring within such issues. This review observes and distinguishes the various roles a CCN protein may execute within distinct tumor microenvironments and the biological associations among them. Finally. We also review how CCN-family proteins can be used in nano-based therapeutic implications.

Role of Genetic and Epigenetic Modifications in the Progression of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Chronic HCV Patients

Globally, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a significant cause of mortality and morbidity among chronically infected HCV patients. It is established that HCV is a primary risk factor for HCC progression. The treatment of HCV infection has been transformed by the introduction of DAAs with high rates of virological clearance. The reduction in cirrhosis-related consequences, particularly HCC, is the long-term objective of DAAs therapy for HCV. Although the risk of developing HCC is decreased in HCV patients who achieve a disease-sustaining virological response, these patients are nevertheless at risk, especially those with severe fibrosis and cirrhosis. Previous studies have shown that HCV induce several mechanisms of hepatocarcinogenesis in the host’s hepatic micro- and macro-environment, which leads to HCC progression. In an HCV-altered environment, compensatory liver regeneration favors chromosomal instability and irreversible alterations, which encourage hepatocyte neoplastic transformation and the development of malignant clones. These mechanisms involve a series of genetic and epigenetic modifications including host genetic factors, dysregulation of several signaling pathways, histone, and DNA modifications including methylation and acetylation. This review highlights the genetic and epigenetic factors that lead to the development of HCC in chronic HCV-infected individuals and can be targeted for earlier HCC diagnosis and prevention.

HuR-dependent expression of Wisp1 is necessary for TGFβ-induced cardiac myofibroblast activity

Cardiac fibrosis is regulated by the activation and phenotypic switching of quiescent cardiac fibroblasts to active myofibroblasts, which have extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling and contractile functions which play a central role in cardiac remodeling in response to injury. Here, we show that expression and activity of the RNA binding protein HuR is increased in cardiac fibroblasts upon transformation to an active myofibroblast. Pharmacological inhibition of HuR significantly blunts the TGFβ-dependent increase in ECM remodeling genes, total collagen secretion, in vitro scratch closure, and collagen gel contraction in isolated primary cardiac fibroblasts, suggesting a suppression of TGFβ-induced myofibroblast activation upon HuR inhibition. We identified twenty-four mRNA transcripts that were enriched for HuR binding following TGFβ treatment via photoactivatable ribonucleoside-enhanced crosslinking and immunoprecipitation (PAR-CLIP). Eleven of these HuR-bound mRNAs also showed significant co-expression correlation with HuR, αSMA, and periostin in primary fibroblasts isolated from the ischemic-zone of infarcted mouse hearts. Of these, WNT1-inducible signaling pathway protein-1 (Wisp1; Ccn4), was the most significantly associated with HuR expression in fibroblasts. Accordingly, we found Wisp1 expression to be increased in cardiac fibroblasts isolated from the ischemic-zone of mouse hearts following ischemia/reperfusion, and confirmed Wisp1 expression to be HuR-dependent in isolated fibroblasts. Finally, addition of exogenous recombinant Wisp1 partially rescued myofibroblast-induced collagen gel contraction following HuR inhibition, demonstrating that HuR-dependent Wisp1 expression plays a functional role in HuR-dependent MF activity downstream of TGFβ. In conclusion, HuR activity is necessary for the functional activation of primary cardiac fibroblasts in response to TGFβ, in part through post-transcriptional regulation of Wisp1.

Repairing a critical cranial defect using WISP1-pretreated chondrocyte scaffolds

In cranial flat bone fractures, spontaneous bone repair will occur only when the fracture ends are in close contact. However, in cases wherein bone discontinuity is extensive, surgical interventions are often required. To this end, autologous bone is harvested and surgically integrated into the site of fracture. Here we propose to use cartilage, as an alternative autologous source, to promote cranial fracture repair. The advantage of this approach is the potential reduction in donor site morbidity, likely due to the avascular and aneural nature of cartilage. As a first step we attempted to induce cartilage mineralization in vitro, using micromass primary chondrocyte cultures, incubated with BMP2 and/or WISP1, which were examined histologically following a 3-week culture period. Next, chondrocyte seeded collagen scaffolds were evaluated in vitro for expression profiles and ALP activity. Finally, chondrocyte-seeded collagen scaffolds were implanted in a Lewis rats 8 mm critical calvaria defect model, which was imaged via live CT for 12 weeks until sacrifice. End points were analyzed for microCT, histology, and serum levels of bone related markers. Micromass cultures exhibited an osseous inducing trend following WISP1 administration, which was maintained in chondrocyte seeded scaffolds. Accordingly, in vivo analysis was carried out to assess the impact of WISP1-pretreated chondrocytes (WCS) versus untreated chondrocytes (UCS) in calvaria defect model and compared to untreated control comprised of a defect-associated blood clot (BC) or empty collagen scaffold (CS) implant. Live CT and microCT exhibited higher mineralization volumes in critical defect implanted with UCS, with some structural improvements in WCS. Histological analysis exhibited higher anabolic bone formation in WCS and trabecular bone was detected in WCS and UCS groups. Chondrocytes implanted into critical cranial defect expedite the formation of native-like osseous tissue, especially after WISP1 priming in culture. Ultimately, these data support the use of autologous chondrocytes to repair critical maxillofacial defects.

Optimal CCN4 Immunofluorescence for Tissue Microarray

CCN4 (also known as WNT1-Inducible Signaling Pathway Protein 1 or WISP1) is a 367 amino acid, 40 kDa protein located on chromosome 8q24.1-8q24.3. Prior studies have provided support for a pro-inflammatory role for CCN4. We have shown recently that CCN4 expression is associated with advanced disease, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and an inflamed tumor microenvironment in multiple solid tumors. We detail here the CCN4 tissue microarray immunofluorescence protocol related to these findings.

Reprogramming of cancer-associated fibroblasts by apoptotic cancer cells inhibits lung metastasis via Notch1-WISP-1 signaling

The interplay between apoptotic cancer cells and the tumor microenvironment modulates cancer progression and metastasis. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) play a crucial role in promoting these events through paracrine communication. Here, we demonstrate that conditioned medium (CM) from lung CAFs exposed to apoptotic cancer cells suppresses TGF-β1-induced migration and invasion of cancer cells and CAFs. Direct exposure of CAFs to apoptotic 344SQ cells (ApoSQ) inhibited CAF migration and invasion and the expression of CAF activation markers. Enhanced secretion of Wnt-induced signaling protein 1 (WISP-1) by CAFs exposed to ApoSQ was required for these antimigratory and anti-invasive effects. Pharmacological inhibition of Notch1 activation or siRNA-mediated Notch1 silencing prevented WISP-1 production by CAFs and reversed the antimigratory and anti-invasive effects. Enhanced expression of the Notch ligand delta-like protein 1 on the surface of ultraviolet-irradiated apoptotic lung cancer cells triggered Notch1-WISP-1 signaling. Phosphatidylserine receptor brain-specific angiogenesis inhibitor 1 (BAI1)-Rac1 signaling, which facilitated efferocytosis by CAFs, participated in crosstalk with Notch1 signaling for optimal production of WISP-1. In addition, a single injection of ApoSQ enhanced WISP-1 production, suppressed the expression of CAF activation markers in isolated Thy1⁺ CAFs, and inhibited lung metastasis in syngeneic immunocompetent mice via Notch1 signaling. Treatment with CM from CAFs exposed to ApoSQ suppressed tumor growth and lung metastasis, whereas treatment with WISP-1-immunodepleted CM from CAFs exposed to ApoSQ reversed the antitumorigenic and antimetastatic effects. Therefore, treatment with CM from CAFs exposed to apoptotic lung cancer cells could be therapeutically applied to suppress CAF activation, thereby preventing cancer progression and metastasis.

WNT1 Inducible Signaling Pathway Protein 1 Is a Stroma-Specific Secreting Protein Inducing a Fibroblast Contraction and Carcinoma Cell Growth in the Human Prostate

The WNT1 inducible signaling pathway protein 1 (WISP1), a member of the connective tissue growth factor family, plays a crucial role in several important cellular functions in a highly tissue-specific manner. Results of a RT-qPCR indicated that WISP1 expressed only in cells of the human prostate fibroblasts, HPrF and WPMY-1, but not the prostate carcinoma cells in vitro. Two major isoforms (WISP1v1 and WISP1v2) were identified in the HPrF cells determined by RT-PCR and immunoblot assays. The knock-down of a WISP1 blocked cell proliferation and contraction, while treating respectively with the conditioned medium from the ectopic WISP1v1- and WISPv2-overexpressed 293T cells enhanced the migration of HPrF cells. The TNFα induced WISP1 secretion and cell contraction while the knock-down of WISP1 attenuated these effects, although TNFα did not affect the proliferation of the HPrF cells. The ectopic overexpression of WISP1v1 but not WISP1v2 downregulated the N-myc downstream regulated 1 (NDRG1) while upregulating N-cadherin, slug, snail, and vimentin gene expressions which induced not only the cell proliferation and invasion in vitro but also tumor growth of prostate carcinoma cells in vivo. The results confirmed that WISP1 is a stroma-specific secreting protein, enhancing the cell migration and contraction of prostate fibroblasts, as well as the proliferation, invasion, and tumor growth of prostate carcinoma cells.

A WISP1 antibody inhibits MRTF signaling to prevent the progression of established liver fibrosis

Fibrosis is the major risk factor associated with morbidity and mortality in patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)-driven chronic liver disease. Although numerous efforts have been made to identify the mediators of the initiation of liver fibrosis, the molecular underpinnings of fibrosis progression remain poorly understood, and therapies to arrest liver fibrosis progression are elusive. Here, we identify a pathway involving WNT1-inducible signaling pathway protein 1 (WISP1) and myocardin-related transcription factor (MRTF) as a central mechanism driving liver fibrosis progression through the integrin-dependent transcriptional reprogramming of myofibroblast cytoskeleton and motility. In mice, WISP1 deficiency protects against fibrosis progression, but not fibrosis onset. Moreover, the therapeutic administration of a novel antibody blocking WISP1 halted the progression of existing liver fibrosis in NASH models. These findings implicate the WISP1-MRTF axis as a crucial determinant of liver fibrosis progression and support targeting this pathway by antibody-based therapy for the treatment of NASH fibrosis.

WISP1 induces ovarian cancer via the IGF1/αvβ3/Wnt axis

Background

This study intended to clarify the mechanisms by which WISP1-mediated IGF1/αvβ3/Wnt axis might affect the progression of ovarian cancer.

Methods

Bioinformatics analysis was implemented for pinpointing expression of IGF1 and WISP1 which was verified through expression determination in clinical tissue samples and cells. Next, gain- or loss-of-function experimentations were implemented for testing CAOV4 and SKOV3 cell biological processes. The interaction between WISP1 and IGF1 was verified by co-immunoprecipitation and the molecular mechanism was analyzed. Finally, ovarian cancer nude mouse models were prepared to unveil the in vivo effects of WISP1/IGF1.

Results

IGF1 and WISP1 expression was elevated in ovarian cancer tissues and cells, which shared correlation with poor prognosis of ovarian cancer sufferers. Elevated IGF1 induced malignant properties of ovarian cancer cells through activation of PI3K-Akt and Wnt signaling pathway. WISP1 was positively correlated with IGF1. WISP1 could enhance the interaction between IGF1 and αvβ3 to induce epithelial-mesenchymal transition. In vivo experiments also confirmed that upregulated WISP1/IGF1 induced tumorigenesis and metastasis of ovarian cancer cells.

Conclusion

In conclusion, WISP1 can facilitate ovarian cancer by activating Wnt via the interaction between IGF1 and αvβ3.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13048-022-01016-x.

Ultrasound microbubble-mediated RNA interference targeting WNT1 inducible signaling pathway protein 1(WISP1) suppresses the proliferation and metastasis of breast cancer cells

In the context of relatively sufficient research that annotated WNT1 inducible signaling pathway protein 1 (WISP1) as a promoting factor in tumor progression of breast cancer, and identified the effects of ultrasound microbubble technology on enhancing the transfection efficiency and achieving better gene interference, this study managed to investigate the effects of ultrasound microbubble-mediated siWISP1 transfection on proliferation and metastasis of breast cancer cells. To achieve our research objectives, the expression of WISP1 in breast cancer tissues was retrieved from GEPIA website, and the viability of breast cancer cells (SK-BR-3 and MCF7) was assessed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay for ultrasound intensity screening. After the transfection of siWISP1 by ultrasound microbubble or lipofectamine 6000, the content of WISP1 secreted by cells was detected through Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and WISP1 expression in cells was determined by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase-chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Besides, the cell invasion, migration, and proliferation were evaluated by wound healing, transwell, and EdU assays, respectively. In accordance with experimental results, WISP1 was highly expressed in breast cancer tissues, and the 1 W/cm² intensity was the onset of a notable decrease in cell viability. Compared with lipofectamine 6000 transfection, the transfection of siWISP1 mediated by ultrasound microbubble further reduced the expression of WISP1, and meanwhile suppressed cell invasion, migration, and proliferation. Collectively, ultrasound microbubble-mediated transfection of siWISP1 worked rather effectively in improving transfection efficiency and inhibiting the progression of breast cancer.

Tumor-Associated Macrophages in Gliomas—Basic Insights and Treatment Opportunities

Simple Summary

Macrophages are a specialized immune cell type found in both invertebrates and vertebrates. Versatile in functionality, macrophages carry out important tasks such as cleaning cellular debris in healthy tissues and mounting immune responses during infection. In many cancer types, macrophages make up a significant portion of tumor tissue, and these are aptly called tumor-associated macrophages. In gliomas, a group of primary brain tumors, these macrophages are found in very high frequency. Tumor-associated macrophages can promote glioma development and influence the outcome of various therapeutic regimens. At the same time, these cells provide various potential points of intervention for therapeutic approaches in glioma patients. The significance of tumor-associated macrophages in the glioma microenvironment and potential therapeutic targets are the focus of this review.

Abstract

Glioma refers to a group of primary brain tumors which includes glioblastoma (GBM), astrocytoma and oligodendroglioma as major entities. Among these, GBM is the most frequent and most malignant one. The highly infiltrative nature of gliomas, and their intrinsic intra- and intertumoral heterogeneity, pose challenges towards developing effective treatments. The glioma microenvironment, in addition, is also thought to play a critical role during tumor development and treatment course. Unlike most other solid tumors, the glioma microenvironment is dominated by macrophages and microglia—collectively known as tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). TAMs, like their homeostatic counterparts, are plastic in nature and can polarize to either pro-inflammatory or immunosuppressive states. Many lines of evidence suggest that immunosuppressive TAMs dominate the glioma microenvironment, which fosters tumor development, contributes to tumor aggressiveness and recurrence and, very importantly, impedes the therapeutic effect of various treatment regimens. However, through the development of new therapeutic strategies, TAMs can potentially be shifted towards a proinflammatory state which is of great therapeutic interest. In this review, we will discuss various aspects of TAMs in the context of glioma. The focus will be on the basic biology of TAMs in the central nervous system (CNS), potential biomarkers, critical evaluation of model systems for studying TAMs and finally, special attention will be given to the potential targeted therapeutic options that involve the TAM compartment in gliomas.

Ginsenoside Rb1 Lessens Gastric Precancerous Lesions by Interfering With β-Catenin/TCF4 Interaction

Background: Seeking novel and effective therapies for gastric precancerous lesions (GPL) is crucial to reducing the incidence of gastric cancer. Ginsenoside Rb1 (GRb1) is a major ginsenoside in ginseng and has been proved to possess multiple bioactivities. However, whether GRb1 could protect against GPL and the underlying mechanisms have not been explored. Methods: We evaluated the effects of GRb1 on gastric precancerous lesions in rats on macroscopic, microscopic and ultramicroscopic levels. Then, an antibody array was employed to screen differential expression proteins (DEPs). Validation for the targeting DEP and investigation for the possible mechanism was conducted using immunohistochemistry, qRT-PCR, TUNEL apoptosis assay, immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting. Results: GRb1 was found to reverse intestinal metaplasia and a portion of dysplasia in the MNNG-induced GPL rats. The antibody array assay revealed seven DEPs in GPL rats as compared to control rats (5 DEPs were up-regulated, while two DEPs were down-regulated). Among the DEPs, β-catenin, beta-NGF and FSTL1 were significantly down-regulated after GRb1 administration. Our validation results revealed that enhanced protein expression and nuclear translocation of β-catenin were present in animal GPL samples. In addition, analysis of human gastric specimens demonstrated that β-catenin up-regulation and nuclear translocation were significantly associated with advanced GPL pathology. GRb1 intervention not only decreased protein expression and nuclear translocation of β-catenin, but interfered with β-catenin/TCF4 interaction. Along with this, declined transcriptional and protein expression levels of downstream target genes including c-myc, cyclin D1 and Birc5 were observed in GRb1-treated GPL rats. Conclusion: GRb1 is capable of preventing the occurrence and progression of GPL, which might be contributed by diminishing protein expression and nuclear translocation of β-catenin and interfering with β-catenin/TCF4 interaction.

Matricellular protein WISP2 is an endogenous inhibitor of collagen linearization and cancer metastasis

Collagen remodeling contributes to many physiological and pathological processes. In primary tumors, the linearization of collagen fibers promotes cancer cell invasion and metastasis and is indicative of poor prognosis. However, it remains unknown whether there are endogenous inhibitors of collagen linearization that could be exploited therapeutically. Here, we show that collagen linearization is controlled by two secreted matricellular proteins with antagonistic functions. Specifically, WISP1 was secreted by cancer cells, bound to type I collagen (Col I), and linearized Col I via its cysteine-rich C-terminal (CT) domain. In contrast, WISP2, which lacks a CT domain, inhibited Col I linearization by preventing WISP1-Col I binding. Analysis of patient data revealed that WISP2 expression is lower in most solid tumors, in comparison to normal tissues. Consequently, genetic or pharmacological restoration of higher WISP2 levels impaired collagen linearization and prevented tumor cell invasion and metastasis in vivo in models of human and murine breast cancer. Thus, this study uncovers WISP2 as the first inhibitor of collagen linearization ever identified and reveals that collagen architecture can be normalized and metastasis inhibited by therapeutically restoring a high WISP2:WISP1 ratio.

Association between WNT-1-inducible signaling pathway protein-1 (WISP1) genetic polymorphisms and the risk of gastric cancer in Guangxi Chinese

Background

WNT1-inducible signaling pathway protein 1 (WISP1) is a member of the CCN protein family and a downstream target of β-catenin. Aberrant WISP1 expression may be involved in carcinogenesis. To date, no studies have investigated the association between single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of WISP1 and gastric cancer. Therefore, we conducted this study to explore their relationship.

Methods

Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism assay was used to analyze three SNPs of WISP1 in 204 gastric cancer patients and 227 controls.

Results

Overall, we could not identify a significant association between WISP1 SNPs and gastric cancer risk. However, the subgroup analysis demonstrated that the presence of the rs7843546 T allele was associated with a significantly decreased risk of gastric cancer in those of Han Chinese ethnicity (CT vs. CC: OR = 0.33, 95%CI 0.14–0.78; TT vs. CC: OR = 0.29, 95%CI 0.11–0.76; CT + TT vs. CC: OR = 0.32, 95%CI 0.14–0.74). In addition, patients with the rs7843546 TT genotype display a 0.34-fold lower risk of developing stage I/II gastric cancer than those with the CC genotype Furthermore, individuals ≥ 50 years old who carried the rs10956697 AC genotype had a significantly decreased risk of gastric cancer (OR = 0.58, 95%CI 0.35–0.98). Smokers with the rs10956697 AC and AC + AA genotypes exhibited a 0.28-fold lower and 0.32-fold lower risk of gastric cancer, respectively.

Conclusions

The WISP1 SNPs rs7843546 and rs10956697 were, for the first time, found to reduce susceptibility to gastric cancer in various subgroups of Guangxi Chinese.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12935-021-02116-2.

LncRNA AFAP1-AS1 Promotes the Progression of Colorectal Cancer through miR-195-5p and WISP1

Objective

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the most common cancer. But, the molecular mechanisms of CRC progression are not fully understood. This study was conducted to explore how the long noncoding RNA actin filament-associated protein 1-antisense RNA1 (lncRNA AFAP1-AS1) participates in CRC progression through the regulation of microRNA-195-5p (miR-195-5p) and wingless-type inducible signaling pathway protein-1 (WISP1).

Methods

The expressions of AFAP1-AS1, miR-195-5p, and WISP1 were detected by RT-qPCR or western blot. A dual-luciferase assay confirmed the target relationship of AFAP1-AS1, miR-195-5p, and WISP1. Colony formation, wound-healing, and Transwell assays were used to detect the growth, migration, and invasion abilities of cells, respectively.

Results

AFAP1-AS1 and WISP1 expressions were notably increased, and miR-195-5p expression was markedly reduced in CRC. The dual-luciferase assay verified that AFAP1-AS1 could bind to miR-195-5p. AFAP1-AS1 knockdown could inhibit the malignant behavior of CRC cells. miR-195-5p could target and regulate WISP1 expression. Overexpression of WISP1 or miR-195-5p inhibition reversed the inhibition effect of AFAP1-AS1 knockdown on the biological activity of CRC cells.

Conclusions

AFAP1-AS1 knockdown may inhibit the proliferation, migration, and invasion of CRC cells through the miR-195-5p/WISP1 axis.

MMP12 is a potential therapeutic target for Adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma: Conclusions from bioinformatics analysis and in vitro experiments

Adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma (ACP) is considered a benign intracranial tumor, but it can also exhibit aggressive characteristics. Due to its unique location in the suprasellar, which brings it close to important nerves and vascular structures, ACP can often lead to significant neuroendocrine diseases. The current treatments primarily include surgical intervention, radiation therapy or a combination of the two, but these can lead to serious complications and adversely affect the quality of life of patients. Thus, it is important to identify effective and safe alternatives. Recently, studies have focused on the tumor genome, transcriptome and proteome in an attempt to identify potential therapeutic targets for clinical use. However, studies on this region of the CP are limited; thus, the present study focused on this region. The GSE94349 and GSE68015 datasets were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database and analyzed. In the in vitro studies, the effect of the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)12 inhibitor, MMP408, on cell proliferation and protein expression was assessed. The results demonstrated that MMP408 effectively inhibited cell proliferation and migration of ACP cells, and decreased the expression levels of the related proteins. Thus, MMP12 may be used as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of ACP.

Hepatic Wnt1 Inducible Signaling Pathway Protein 1 (WISP-1/CCN4) Associates with Markers of Liver Fibrosis in Severe Obesity

Liver fibrosis is a critical complication of obesity-induced fatty liver disease. Wnt1 inducible signaling pathway protein 1 (WISP1/CCN4), a novel adipokine associated with visceral obesity and insulin resistance, also contributes to lung and kidney fibrosis. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of CCN4 in liver fibrosis in severe obesity. For this, human liver biopsies were collected from 35 severely obese humans (BMI 42.5 ± 0.7 kg/m², age 46.7 ± 1.8 y, 25.7% males) during bariatric surgery and examined for the expression of CCN4, fibrosis, and inflammation markers. Hepatic stellate LX-2 cells were treated with human recombinant CCN4 alone or in combination with LPS or transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) and examined for fibrosis and inflammation markers. CCN4 mRNA expression in the liver positively correlated with BMI and expression of fibrosis markers COL1A1, COL3A1, COL6A1, αSMA, TGFB1, extracellular matrix turnover enzymes TIMP1 and MMP9, and the inflammatory marker ITGAX/CD11c. In LX-2 cells, the exposure to recombinant CCN4 caused dose-dependent induction of MMP9 and MCP1. CCN4 potentiated the TGF-β-mediated induction of COL3A1, TIMP1, and MCP1 but showed no interaction with LPS treatment. Our results suggest a potential contribution of CCN4 to the early pathogenesis of obesity-associated liver fibrosis.

From Oncogenic Signaling Pathways to Single-Cell Sequencing of Immune Cells: Changing the Landscape of Cancer Immunotherapy

Over the past decade, there have been remarkable advances in understanding the signaling pathways involved in cancer development. It is well-established that cancer is caused by the dysregulation of cellular pathways involved in proliferation, cell cycle, apoptosis, cell metabolism, migration, cell polarity, and differentiation. Besides, growing evidence indicates that extracellular matrix signaling, cell surface proteoglycans, and angiogenesis can contribute to cancer development. Given the genetic instability and vast intra-tumoral heterogeneity revealed by the single-cell sequencing of tumoral cells, the current approaches cannot eliminate the mutating cancer cells. Besides, the polyclonal expansion of tumor-infiltrated lymphocytes in response to tumoral neoantigens cannot elicit anti-tumoral immune responses due to the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Nevertheless, the data from the single-cell sequencing of immune cells can provide valuable insights regarding the expression of inhibitory immune checkpoints/related signaling factors in immune cells, which can be used to select immune checkpoint inhibitors and adjust their dosage. Indeed, the integration of the data obtained from the single-cell sequencing of immune cells with immune checkpoint inhibitors can increase the response rate of immune checkpoint inhibitors, decrease the immune-related adverse events, and facilitate tumoral cell elimination. This study aims to review key pathways involved in tumor development and shed light on single-cell sequencing. It also intends to address the shortcomings of immune checkpoint inhibitors, i.e., their varied response rates among cancer patients and increased risk of autoimmunity development, via applying the data from the single-cell sequencing of immune cells.

Combined genomic and proteomic approaches reveal DNA binding sites and interaction partners of TBX2 in the developing lung

BACKGROUND

Tbx2 encodes a transcriptional repressor implicated in the development of numerous organs in mouse. During lung development TBX2 maintains the proliferation of mesenchymal progenitors, and hence, epithelial proliferation and branching morphogenesis. The pro-proliferative function was traced to direct repression of the cell-cycle inhibitor genes Cdkn1a and Cdkn1b, as well as of genes encoding WNT antagonists, Frzb and Shisa3, to increase pro-proliferative WNT signaling. Despite these important molecular insights, we still lack knowledge of the DNA occupancy of TBX2 in the genome, and of the protein interaction partners involved in transcriptional repression of target genes.

METHODS

We used chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP)-sequencing and expression analyses to identify genomic DNA-binding sites and transcription units directly regulated by TBX2 in the developing lung. Moreover, we purified TBX2 containing protein complexes from embryonic lung tissue and identified potential interaction partners by subsequent liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. The interaction with candidate proteins was validated by immunofluorescence, proximity ligation and individual co-immunoprecipitation analyses.

RESULTS

We identified Il33 and Ccn4 as additional direct target genes of TBX2 in the pulmonary mesenchyme. Analyzing TBX2 occupancy data unveiled the enrichment of five consensus sequences, three of which match T-box binding elements. The remaining two correspond to a high mobility group (HMG)-box and a homeobox consensus sequence motif. We found and validated binding of TBX2 to the HMG-box transcription factor HMGB2 and the homeobox transcription factor PBX1, to the heterochromatin protein CBX3, and to various members of the nucleosome remodeling and deacetylase (NuRD) chromatin remodeling complex including HDAC1, HDAC2 and CHD4.

CONCLUSION

Our data suggest that TBX2 interacts with homeobox and HMG-box transcription factors as well as with the NuRD chromatin remodeling complex to repress transcription of anti-proliferative genes in the pulmonary mesenchyme.

Mechanical Ventilation with Moderate Tidal Volume Exacerbates Extrapulmonary Sepsis-Induced Lung Injury via IL33-WISP1 Signaling Pathway

ABSTRACT

IL-33 and WNT1-inducible secreted protein (WISP1) play central roles in acute lung injury (ALI) induced by mechanical ventilation with moderate tidal volume (MTV) in the setting of sepsis. Here, we sought to determine the inter-relationship between IL-33 and WISP1 and the associated signaling pathways in this process.We used a two-hit model of cecal ligation puncture (CLP) followed by MTV ventilation (4 h 10 mL/kg) in wild-type, IL-33-/- or ST2-/- mice or wild-type mice treated with intratracheal antibodies to WISP1. Macrophages (Raw 264.7 and alveolar macrophages from wild-type or ST2-/- mice) were used to identify specific signaling components.CLP + MTV resulted in ALI that was partially sensitive to genetic ablation of IL-33 or ST2 or antibody neutralization of WISP1. Genetic ablation of IL-33 or ST2 significantly prevented ALI after CLP + MTV and reduced levels of WISP1 in the circulation and bronchoalveolar lung fluid. rIL-33 increased WISP1 in alveolar macrophages in an ST2, PI3K/AKT, and ERK dependent manner. This WISP1 upregulation and WNT β-catenin activation were sensitive to inhibition of the β-catenin/TCF/CBP/P300 nuclear pathway.We show that IL-33 drives WISP1 upregulation and ALI during MTV in CLP sepsis. The identification of this relationship and the associated signaling pathways reveals a number of possible therapeutic targets to prevent ALI in ventilated sepsis patients.

Integrin-Linked Kinase Is a Novel Therapeutic Target in Ovarian Cancer

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study is to identify and validate novel therapeutic target(s) in ovarian cancer.

BACKGROUND

Development of targeted therapeutics in ovarian cancer has been limited by molecular heterogeneity. Although gene expression datasets are available, most of them lack appropriate pair-matched controls to define the alterations that result in the transformation of normal ovarian cells to cancerous cells.

METHODS

We used microarray to compare the gene expression of treatment-naïve ovarian cancer tissue samples to pair-matched normal adjacent ovarian tissue from 24 patients. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) was used to identify target pathways for further analysis. Integrin-linked kinase (ILK) expression in SKOV3 and OV90 cells was determined using Western blot. ILK was knocked down using CRISPR/Cas9 constructs. Subcutaneous xenograft study to determine the effect of ILK knockdown on tumor growth was performed in NOD SCID gamma mice.

RESULTS

Significant upregulation of the ILK pathway was identified in 22 of the 24 cancer specimens, identifying it as a potential player that could contribute to the transformation of normal ovarian cells to cancerous cells. Knockdown of ILK in SKOV3 cells resulted in decreased cell proliferation and tumor growth, and inhibition of downstream kinase, AKT (protein kinase B). These results were further validated using an ILK-1 chemical inhibitor, compound 22.

CONCLUSION

Our initial findings validate ILK as a potential therapeutic target for molecular inhibition in ovarian cancer, which warrants further investigation.

PHF20 Promotes Glioblastoma Cell Malignancies Through a WISP1/BGN-Dependent Pathway

Glioblastoma (GBM) stem cells are resistant to cancer therapy, and therefore responsible for tumor progression and recurrence after conventional therapy. However, the molecular mechanisms driving the maintenance of stemness and dedifferentiation are poorly understood. In this study, we identified plant homeodomain finger-containing protein 20 (PHF20) as a crucial epigenetic regulator for sustaining the stem cell-like phenotype of GBM. It is highly expressed in GBM and tightly associated with high levels of aggressiveness of tumors and potential poor prognosis in GBM patients. Knockout of PHF20 inhibits GBM cell proliferation, as well as its invasiveness and stem cell-like traits. Mechanistically, PHF20 interacts with WDR5 and binds to the promoter regions of WISP1 for its expression. Subsequently, WISP1 and BGN act in concert to regulate the degradation of β-Catenin. Our findings have identified PHF20 as a key driver of GBM malignant behaviors, and provided a potential target for developing prognosis and therapy.

Polymorphisms of CSF1R and WISP1 genes are associated with severity of familial adenomatous polyposis in APC1311 pigs

Hereditary familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) in humans significantly increases the risk of development of colorectal cancer (CRC). Germline mutations in the APC (adenomatous polyposis coli) gene are responsible for FAP. Despite having the same causative mutation, the severity of the disease differs from patient to patient. The porcine FAP model carrying a truncating APC¹³¹¹ mutation, orthologous to the dominant human mutation that leads to severe form of the disease (APC¹³⁰⁹), mirrors the severity of polyposis. Earlier RNAseq studies have revealed the differential expression of WISP1 and CSF1R in samples derived from low-grade (LG-IEN) and more advanced high-grade (HG-IEN) colon polyps of APC^1311/+ pigs. The grade of dysplasia was correlated with the severity of polyposis in APC^1311/+ pigs characterized by a low (LP) and high (HP) numbers of polyps. The goal of this work was to find DNA variants that regulate the expression of CSF1R and WISP1 in LP and HP pigs. In total, 32 and 36 polymorphisms in CSF1R and WISP1 were found, respectively. Of these, the genotype frequency of four silent SNPs in the coding region of WISP1 differed significantly between LP and HP lines. In silico analysis revealed an elevated minimum free energy (MFE) for three of these SNPs, suggesting their role in mRNA structure stability. Furthermore, four polymorphisms in the promoter region of CSF1R, cosegregating as a common haplotype, were associated with polyp number in APC^1311/+ pigs. A secreted alkaline phosphatase (SEAP) assay showed, however, that these variants have no direct effect on the activity of the CSF1R promoter. Concluding, our study identified polymorphisms in CSF1R and WISP1 that are potentially associated with the severity of polyposis in APC^1311/+ pigs.

Exercise intervention lowers aberrant serum WISP-1 levels with insulin resistance in breast cancer survivors: a randomized controlled trial

Insulin resistance is associated with increased risk for and recurrence of breast cancer. Recently, Wnt1-inducible signaling pathway protein-1 (WISP-1) was reported to impair glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity. In various cancer tissues, Wnt signaling is upregulated and induces further oncogenic and metastatic activity. However, the effects of exercise on serum levels of WISP-1 and its upstream β-catenin have not been studied in cancer patients. We investigated the effects of exercise training on Wnt signaling and insulin sensitivity in breast cancer survivors (BCS). This single-center trial randomized 46 BCS into either 12-week exercise or control groups (1:1), and included an additional 12 age-matched healthy women. Kinanthropometric parameters, serum Wnt signaling markers, and gluco-lipid profiles were evaluated before and after the intervention. Serum β-catenin and WISP-1 concentrations were significantly higher in BCS than in healthy subjects. There was a positive correlation between β-catenin and WISP-1 levels. Exercise training in BCS significantly reduced body fat and waist circumference and enhanced aerobic and muscular fitness. Exercise decreased β-catenin and WISP-1 levels and improved gluco-lipid profiles. There was a notable correlation between changes in HOMA-IR indexes and serum WISP-1, but not with β-catenin during the exercise intervention. In conclusion, a 12-week community-based exercise intervention resulted in significant reductions in serum β-catenin and WISP-1 levels, accompanied by favorable improvements in body composition, physical fitness, and biochemical parameters in BCS. We also highlight that this is the first report concerning effects of exercise on circulating β-catenin and WISP-1 levels and correlations between WISP-1 and insulin sensitivity, which could be important for determining prognoses for BCS.

Dual Role of WISP1 in maintaining glioma stem cells and tumor-supportive macrophages in glioblastoma

The interplay between glioma stem cells (GSCs) and the tumor microenvironment plays crucial roles in promoting malignant growth of glioblastoma (GBM), the most lethal brain tumor. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this crosstalk are incompletely understood. Here, we show that GSCs secrete the Wnt‐induced signaling protein 1 (WISP1) to facilitate a pro-tumor microenvironment by promoting the survival of both GSCs and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). WISP1 is preferentially expressed and secreted by GSCs. Silencing WISP1 markedly disrupts GSC maintenance, reduces tumor-supportive TAMs (M2), and potently inhibits GBM growth. WISP1 signals through Integrin α6β1-Akt to maintain GSCs by an autocrine mechanism and M2 TAMs through a paracrine manner. Importantly, inhibition of Wnt/β-catenin-WISP1 signaling by carnosic acid (CA) suppresses GBM tumor growth. Collectively, these data demonstrate that WISP1 plays critical roles in maintaining GSCs and tumor-supportive TAMs in GBM, indicating that targeting Wnt/β-catenin-WISP1 signaling may effectively improve GBM treatment and the patient survival.

The tumour microenvironment plays an important role in promoting glioblastoma. Here, the authors show that glioma stem cells secrete WISP1, which promotes both the survival of the stem cells and tumour-associated macrophages.

WISP1 Predicts Clinical Prognosis and Is Associated With Tumor Purity, Immunocyte Infiltration, and Macrophage M2 Polarization in Pan-Cancer

Cancer is becoming the leading cause of death and a major public health problem. Although many advanced treatment strategies are currently in use, the general prognosis of cancer patients remains dismal due to the high frequency of recurrence, metastasis. The identification of effective biomarkers is important for predicting survival of cancer patients and improving treatment efficacy. In this study, we comprehensively analyzed WNT1-inducible-signaling pathway protein 1 (WISP1) expression and explored its correlation with prognosis in pan-cancer using tumor IMmune Estimation Resource (TIMER) and Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis 2 (GEPIA2). We also examined correlations between WISP1 and immunocyte infiltration using TIMER. We identified genes co-expressed with WISP1 using the LinkedOmics database and analyzed associated gene ontology using Metascape. Finally, we constructed protein-protein interaction networks and examined correlations between genes co-expressed with WISP1 and immunocyte infiltration in pan-cancer. WISP1 level differed between human pan-cancer tissues and normal tissues, indicating its potential as a prognostic biomarker. WISP1 expression was correlated with tumor purity and immunocyte infiltration, especially monocyte-macrophage trafficking and M2 polarization. Genes co-expressed with WISP1 were mainly associated with extracellular matrix organization, with collagen members COL6A3, COL5A1, and COL8A1 being key genes correlated with macrophage infiltration and M2 polarization in pan-cancer. Conversely, in certain types of cancer with better prognoses, WISP1 was associated with low M2 macrophage infiltration. These results suggest that WISP1 affect clinical prognosis through associations with tumor purity, immune cell infiltration, and macrophage M2 polarization in pan-cancer, with collagen member proteins may serving as effector molecules of WISP1.

Cytotoxic Effect of Trabectedin In Human Adrenocortical Carcinoma Cell Lines and Primary Cells

Mitotane is the only drug approved for the treatment of adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC). The regimen to be added to mitotane is a chemotherapy including etoposide, doxorubicin, and cisplatin. This pharmacological approach, however, has a limited efficacy and significant toxicity. Evidence indicates that ACC seems to be sensitive to alkylating agents. Trabectedin is an anti-tumor drug that acts as an alkylating agent with a complex mechanism of action. Here, we investigated whether trabectedin could exert a cytotoxic activity in in vitro cell models of ACC. Cell viability was evaluated by MTT assay on ACC cell lines and primary cell cultures. The gene expression was evaluated by q-RT-PCR, while protein expression and localization were studied by Western blot and immunocytochemistry. Combination experiments were performed to evaluate their interaction on ACC cell line viability. Trabectedin demonstrated high cytotoxicity at sub-nanomolar concentrations in ACC cell lines and patient-derived primary cell cultures. The drug was able to reduce /β catenin nuclear localization, although it is unclear whether this effect is involved in the observed cytotoxicity. Trabectedin/mitotane combination exerted a synergic cytotoxic effect in NCI-H295R cells. Trabectedin has antineoplastic activity in ACC cells. The synergistic cytotoxic activity of trabectedin with mitotane provides the rationale for testing this combination in a clinical study.

Relationship between apical junction proteins, gene expression and cancer

The apical junctional complex (AJC) is a cell-cell adhesion system present at the upper portion of the lateral membrane of epithelial cells integrated by the tight junction (TJ) and the adherens junction (AJ). This complex is crucial to initiate and stabilize cell-cell adhesion, to regulate the paracellular transit of ions and molecules and to maintain cell polarity. Moreover, we now consider the AJC as a hub of signal transduction that regulates cell-cell adhesion, gene transcription and cell proliferation and differentiation. The molecular components of the AJC are multiple and diverse and depending on the cellular context some of the proteins in this complex act as tumor suppressors or as promoters of cell transformation, migration and metastasis outgrowth. Here, we describe these new roles played by TJ and AJ proteins and their potential use in cancer diagnostics and as targets for therapeutic intervention.

Circ_KATNAL1 regulates prostate cancer cell growth and invasiveness through the miR-145-3p/WISP1 pathway

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second leading cause of death in men, and current studies have shown that circular RNAs (circRNAs) play important roles in its occurrence and development. Detection of circRNAs in PCa cells showed that circ_KATNAL1 is down-regulated, mainly located in the cytoplasm, and contains multiple binding sites of miR-145-3p, which is an anticancer miRNA. RNA immunoprecipitation with anti-AGO2 antibody, RNA pull-down assays with biotin-labeled circ_KATNAL1 probe or an miR-145-3p mimic, and dual luciferase reporter gene assays confirmed that circ_KATNAL1 binds directly to miR-145-3p in cells, and that WISP1, which is highly expressed in many types of tumors, is an important target gene of miR-145-3p. Circ_KATNAL1 and miR-145-3p promote each other's expression, and down-regulate the expression of the target gene WISP1. Both circ_KATNAL1 and miR-145-3p inhibit cell proliferation, invasiveness, and migration, down-regulate the expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9, promote cell apoptosis and the activation of caspase-3, caspase-8, caspase-9, and PARP, whereas WISP1 has the opposite effect, and the above-mentioned functions of circ_KATNAL1 were achieved through the miR-145-3p/WISP1 pathway. Therefore, circ_KATNAL1 plays an anticancer role in PCa cells through the miR-145-3p/WISP1 pathway, which could be an important target for the diagnosis and treatment of PCa.

Circulating Wnt1-inducible signaling pathway protein-1 (WISP-1/CCN4) is a novel biomarker of adiposity in subjects with type 2 diabetes

BACKGROUND

Wnt1-inducible signaling pathway protein 1, or cellular communication network factor 4 (CCN4), a member of CCN family of secreted, extracellular matrix associated signaling proteins, recently was validated as a novel adipose tissue derived cytokine.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the relationships between circulating CCN4, adipose tissue distribution and function, and chronic low-grade inflammation in subjects with type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

We observed 156 patients with type 2 diabetes and 24 healthy controls. Serum levels of CCN4, hsCRP and alpha1-acid glycoprotein (alpha1-AGP) were measured by ELISA. Serum concentrations of leptin, resistin, visfatin, adipsin, adiponectin, IL-6, IL-8, IL-18 and TNF-alpha were determined by multiplex analysis. Fat mass and distribution was assessed by DEXA. Mean diameter of adipocytes was estimated in samples of subcutaneous adipose tissue.

RESULTS

Patients with diabetes had higher levels of circulating CCN4, leptin, resistin, adipsin, visfatin, hsCRP, alpha1-AGP, and IL-6 (all p < 0.02). The CCN4 concentration correlated positively with percentage of fat mass in central abdominal area, as well as with leptin, resistin and visfatin levels; negative correlation was found between CCN4 and mean adipocyte diameter. In multiple regression analysis fat mass in central abdominal area was independent predictor for CCN4 concentration.

CONCLUSION

In subjects with type 2 diabetes serum levels of CCN4 are associated with central abdominal fat mass and adipose tissue dysfunction.

Impact of WNT1-inducible signaling pathway protein-1 (WISP-1) genetic polymorphisms and clinical aspects of breast cancer

Breast cancer is the most common diagnosed malignancy in women. This study genotyped blood samples from 236 Han Chinese women with breast cancer and 128 healthy controls for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) rs2977537, rs2929970, rs2929973, rs2977530, and rs62514004, to determine whether these WNT1-inducible signaling pathway protein 1 (WISP-1) genetic polymorphisms increase the risk of developing breast cancer. Compared with wild-type (AA) carriers, those carrying the WISP1 rs62514004 AG or AG + GG genetic variants had a greater risk of developing breast cancer. In an evaluation of the association between clinicopathological aspects and the WISP1 SNP rs62514004 in the breast cancer cohort, patients with the GG genotype were less likely than those with the AA genotype to develop stage III/IV disease. Patients carrying the WISP1 rs2929973 GG + TT variant were almost twice as likely as those carrying the GT genotype to have estrogen receptor (ER)- and progesterone receptor (PR)-positive tumors, while those with the WISP1 rs62514004 AG + GG genetic variants were around twice as likely as those with the AA genotype to have HER2-positive tumors. This study details risk associations between WISP1 SNPs and breast cancer susceptibility in women of Han Chinese ethnicity.

Associations between WNT1-inducible signaling pathway protein-1 (WISP-1) genetic polymorphisms and clinical aspects of rheumatoid arthritis among Chinese Han subjects

This study genotyped blood samples from 214 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 293 healthy controls for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) rs2977537, rs2929970, rs2929973, rs2977530, rs1689334 and rs62514004. We want to investigate whether the SNPs in the WNT1-inducible signaling pathway protein 1 (WISP-1) gene may increase the risk of developing RA. We showed that RA disease was more likely with the AA genotype compared with the AG genotype of SNP rs2977537 (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 0.54; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.34-0.84), and with the TT genotype (AOR: 0.24; 95% CI: 0.13-0.39) or the GG genotype (AOR: 0.05; 95% CI: 0.03-0.10) compared with the GT genotype of rs2929973, and with the AA genotype (AOR: 0.34; 95% CI: 0.22-0.54) or GG genotype (AOR: 0.52; 95% CI: 0.31 to 0.87) vs the AG genotype of rs2977530. Rheumatoid factor positivity was more likely with the AA genotype than with the AG genotype of the rs2977537 polymorphism (AOR: 0.16; 95% CI: 0.16-0.94). High CRP (>8 mg/L) was more likely with the non-AG genotype (AA + GG) than the AG genotype of rs2977537 (AOR: 1.84; 95% CI: 1.05-3.21) and with the AA genotype vs the AG genotype of rs2977530 (AOR: 2.62; 95% CI: 1.35-5.09). Compared with the AG genotype, the AA genotype of rs2929970 was more likely to require prednisolone (AOR: 0.49; 95% CI: 0.27-0.88), while the AG genotype was more likely than the AA genotype of SNP rs2977530 to require TNF-α inhibitors (AOR: 2.07; 95% CI: 1.08 to 3.98). WISP-1 may be a diagnostic marker and therapeutic target for RA therapy.

Cell Communication Network Factor 4 (CCN4/WISP1) Shifts Melanoma Cells from a Fragile Proliferative State to a Resilient Metastatic State

Introduction

Cellular communication network factor 4 (CCN4/WISP1) is a secreted matricellular protein that stimulates metastasis in multiple malignancies but has an unclear impact on phenotypic changes in melanoma. Recent data using cells edited via a double-nickase CRISPR/Cas9 approach suggest that CCN4/WISP1 stimulates invasion and metastasis of melanoma cells. While these data also suggest that loss of CCN4/WISP1 increases cell proliferative, the CRISPR approach used may be an alternative explanation rather than the loss of gene function.

Methods

To test whether CCN4/WISP1 also influences the proliferative phenotype of melanoma cells, we used mouse melanoma models and knocked out Ccn4 using a homology-directed repair CRISPR/Cas9 system to generate pools of Ccn4-knockout cells. The resulting edited cell pools were compared to parental cell lines using an ensemble of in vitro and in vivo assays.

Results

In vitro assays using knockout pools supported previous findings that CCN4/WISP1 promoted an epithelial-mesenchymal-like transition in melanoma cells and stimulated invasion and metastasis. While Ccn4 knockout also enhanced cell growth in optimal 2D culture conditions, the knockout suppressed certain cell survival signaling pathways and rendered cells less resistant to stress conditions. Tumor cell growth assays at sub-optimal conditions in vitro, quantitative analysis of tumor growth assays in vivo, and transcriptomics analysis of human melanoma cell lines were also used to quantify changes in phenotype and generalize the findings.

Conclusions

In addition to stimulating invasion and metastasis of melanoma cells, the results suggested that CCN4/WISP1 repressed cell growth and simultaneously enhanced cell survival.

Up-regulated Wnt1-inducible signaling pathway protein 1 correlates with poor prognosis and drug resistance by reducing DNA repair in gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

Wnt1-inducible signaling pathway protein 1 (WISP1) is upregulated in several types of human cancer, and has been implicated in cancer progression. However, its clinical implications in gastric cancer (GC) remain unclear.

AIM

To explore the expression pattern and clinical significance of WISP1 in GC.

METHODS

Public data portals, including Oncomine, The Cancer Genome Atlas database, Coexpedia, and Kaplan-Meier plotter, were analyzed for the expression and clinical significance of WISP1 mRNA levels in GC. One hundred and fifty patients who underwent surgery for GC between February 2010 and October 2012 at the Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University were selected for validation study. WISP1 levels were measured at both the mRNA and protein levels by RT-qPCR, Western blot analysis, and immunohistochemistry (IHC). In addition, the in situ expression of WISP1 in the GC tissues was determined by IHC, and the patients were accordingly classified into high- and low-expression groups. The correlation of WISP1 expression status with patient prognosis was then determined by univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses. WISP1 was knocked down by RNA interference. The 50% inhibitory concentration of oxaliplatin was detected by CellTiter-Blue assay.

RESULTS

WISP1 levels at both the mRNA and protein levels were remarkably upregulated in GC tissues compared to normal tissues. Moreover, IHC revealed that WISP1 expression was associated with T stage and chemotherapy outcome, but not with lymph node metastasis, age, gender, histological grade, or histological type. GC patients with high WISP1 expression showed a poor overall survival. Multivariate survival analysis indicated that WISP1 was an important prognostic factor for GC patients. Mechanistically, knock-down of WISP1 expression enhanced sensitivity to oxaliplatin by reducing DNA repair and enhancing DNA damage.

CONCLUSION

Significantly upregulated WISP1 expression is associated with cancer progression, chemotherapy outcome, and prognosis in GC. Mechanistically, knock-down of WISP1 expression enhances oxaliplatin sensitivity by reducing DNA repair and enhancing DNA damage. WISP1 may be a potential therapeutic target for GC treatment or a potential biomarker for diagnosis and prognosis.