ZIP4 promotes non-small cell lung cancer metastasis by activating snail-N-cadherin signaling axis

ZIP transporters-regulated Zn2+ homeostasis: A novel determinant of human diseases

As an essential trace element for organisms, zinc participates in various physiological processes, such as RNA transcription, DNA replication, cell proliferation, and cell differentiation. The destruction of zinc homeostasis is associated with various diseases. Zinc homeostasis is controlled by the cooperative action of zinc transporter proteins that are responsible for the influx and efflux of zinc. Zinc transporter proteins are mainly categorized into two families: Zrt/Irt-like protein (SLC39A/ZIP) family and zinc transporter (SLC30A/ZNT) family. ZIP transporters contain 14 members, namely ZIP1-14, which can be further divided into four subfamilies. Currently, ZIP transporters-regulated zinc homeostasis is one of the research hotspots. Cumulative evidence suggests that ZIP transporters-regulated zinc homeostasis may cause physiological dysfunction and contribute to the onset and progression of diverse diseases, such as cancers, neurological diseases, and cardiovascular diseases. In this review, we initially discuss the structure and distribution of ZIP transporters. Furthermore, we comprehensively review the latest research progress of ZIP transporters-regulated zinc homeostasis in diseases, providing a new perspective into new therapeutic targets for treating related diseases.

The p38 MAPK/snail signaling axis participates in cadmium-induced lung cancer cell migration and invasiveness

To determine that p38 MAPK activation contributes to the migration and invasion of lung cancer cells caused by cadmium (Cd). A549 lung cancer cell migration and invasion were assessed using a transwell plate system, and the role of p38 was determined by knocking down p38 activity with two different inhibitors of p38. The activity of p38 was measured by western blot analysis using phospho-specific p38 antibodies and normalized to blots using antibodies directed to total p38 proteins. Snail transcripts were measured using qRT-PCR. The inhibition of p38 blocked Cd-induced migration and invasion, which correlated with an increased activation of p38 as a function of dose and time. Furthermore, Cd-induced activation of p38 MAPK controlled the increase of snail mRNA expression. The p38 MAPK/snail signaling axis was involved in Cd-induced lung cancer cell migration and invasion.

Modulation of Metal Homeostasis for Cancer Therapy

Metal ions such as iron, zinc, copper, manganese, and calcium are essential for normal cellular processes, including DNA synthesis, enzyme activity, cellular signaling, and oxidative stress regulation. When the balance of metal homeostasis is disrupted, it can lead to various pathological conditions, including cancer. Thus, understanding the role of metal homeostasis in cancer has led to the development of anti-tumor strategies that specifically target the metal imbalance. Up to now, diverse small molecule-based chelators, ionophores, metal complexes, and metal-based nanomaterials have been developed to restore the normal balance of metals or exploit the dysregulation for therapeutic purposes. They hold great promise in inhibiting tumor growth, preventing metastasis, and enhancing the effectiveness of existing cancer therapies. In this review, we aim to provide a comprehensive summary of the strategies employed to modulate the homeostasis of iron, zinc, copper, manganese, and calcium for cancer therapy. Their modulation mechanisms for metal homeostasis are succinctly described, and their recent applications in the field of cancer therapy are discussed. At the end, the limitations of these approaches are addressed, and potential avenues for future developments are explored.

ZIP4 upregulation aggravates nucleus pulposus cell degradation by promoting inflammation and oxidative stress by mediating the HDAC4-FoxO3a axis

BACKGROUND

Extracellular matrix metabolism dysregulation in nucleus pulposus (NP) cells represents a crucial pathophysiological feature of intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). Our study elucidates the role and mechanism of Testis expressed 11 (TEX11, also called ZIP4) extracellular matrix degradation in the NP.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and H2O2 were used to treat NP cells to establish an IDD cell model. Normal NP tissues and NP tissues from IDD patients were harvested. ZIP4 mRNA and protein profiles in NP cells and tissues were examined. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) confirmed the profiles of TNF-α, IL-6, MDA, and SOD in NP cells. The alterations of reactive oxygen species (ROS), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), COX2, iNOS, MMP-3, MMP-13, collagen II, aggrecan, FoxO3a, histone deacetylase 4 (HDAC4), Sirt1 and NF-κB levels in NP cells were determined using different assays.

RESULTS

The ZIP4 profile increased in the NP tissues of IDD patients and IL-1β- or H2O2-treated NP cells. ZIP4 upregulation bolstered inflammation and oxidative stress in NP cells undergoing IL-1β treatment and exacerbated their extracellular matrix degradation, whereas ZIP4 knockdown produced the opposite outcome. Mechanistically, ZIP4 upregulated HDAC4 and enhanced NF-κB phosphorylation while repressing Sirt1 and FoxO3a phosphorylation levels. HDAC4 knockdown or Sirt1 promotion attenuated the effects mediated by ZIP4 overexpression in NP cells.

CONCLUSIONS

ZIP4 upregulation aggravates the extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation of NP cells by mediating inflammation and oxidative stress through the HDAC4-FoxO3a axis.

Cellular zinc metabolism and zinc signaling: from biological functions to diseases and therapeutic targets

Zinc metabolism at the cellular level is critical for many biological processes in the body. A key observation is the disruption of cellular homeostasis, often coinciding with disease progression. As an essential factor in maintaining cellular equilibrium, cellular zinc has been increasingly spotlighted in the context of disease development. Extensive research suggests zinc's involvement in promoting malignancy and invasion in cancer cells, despite its low tissue concentration. This has led to a growing body of literature investigating zinc's cellular metabolism, particularly the functions of zinc transporters and storage mechanisms during cancer progression. Zinc transportation is under the control of two major transporter families: SLC30 (ZnT) for the excretion of zinc and SLC39 (ZIP) for the zinc intake. Additionally, the storage of this essential element is predominantly mediated by metallothioneins (MTs). This review consolidates knowledge on the critical functions of cellular zinc signaling and underscores potential molecular pathways linking zinc metabolism to disease progression, with a special focus on cancer. We also compile a summary of clinical trials involving zinc ions. Given the main localization of zinc transporters at the cell membrane, the potential for targeted therapies, including small molecules and monoclonal antibodies, offers promising avenues for future exploration.

Roles of zinc in cancers: From altered metabolism to therapeutic applications

Zinc (Zn) is a crucial trace element involved in various cellular processes, including oxidative stress, apoptosis and immune response, contributing to cellular homeostasis. Dysregulation of Zn homeostasis occurs in certain cancers. This review discusses the role of Zn in cancer and its associated components, such as Zn-related proteins, their potential as biomarkers and the use of Zn-based strategies for tumor treatment. ZIP and ZnT proteins regulate Zn metabolism under normal conditions, but their expression is aberrant in cancer. These Zn proteins can serve as prognostic or diagnostic biomarkers, aiding in early cancer detection and disease monitoring. Moreover, targeting Zn and its pathways offers potential therapeutic approaches for cancer treatment. Modulating Zn biodistribution within cells using metal-binding agents allows for the control of downstream signaling pathways. Direct utilization of zinc as a therapeutic agent, including Zn supplementation or Zn oxide nanoparticle administration, holds promise for improving the prognosis of cancer patients.

Targeting Pokemon is a novel strategy to suppress cancer aggressiveness of non-small cell lung cancer: Identification of Pokemon as ideal target for developing anti-NSCLC drugs

Although it is widely reported that Pokemon acts as an oncogene in the pathogenesis of multiple cancers, but its role and detailed molecular mechanisms in regulating non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) progression have not been fully delineated. Here, by performing Real-Time qPCR analysis, we verified that Pokemon was high-expressed in NSCLC tissues and cells, compared to the corresponding normal lung tissues and epithelial cells. Then, the small interfering RNA (siRNA) for Pokemon was transfected into the NSCLC cells to verify its biological functions, and our results suggested that silencing of Pokemon suppressed the malignant phenotypes, including cell viability, mitosis, colony formation, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), mobility and cancer stem cell (CSC) properties in NSCLC cells. Mechanistically, we confirmed that knockdown of Pokemon decreased the expression levels of phosphorylated Akt (p-Akt), phosphorylated GSK-3β (p-GSK-3β) and Snail to inactivate the oncogenic Akt/GSK-3β/Snail signal pathway, and deletion of Snail also had similar effects to hamper the development of NSCLC. Next, our rescuing experiments validated that Pokemon ablation-induced suppressing effects on NSCLC cell malignancy were all abrogated by overexpressing Snail. Finally, the in vivo experiments confirmed that silencing of Pokemon downregulated Snail to hamper tumorigenesis of NSCLC cells in xenograft tumor-bearing mice models. Taken together, we firstly uncovered the underlying mechanisms by which the Pokemon/Akt/GSK-3β/Snail signal pathway contributed to the development of NSCLC, and this signal pathway could be potentially used as therapeutic targets for the development of personalized anti-NSCLC drugs.

MYH10 Combines with MYH9 to Recruit USP45 by Deubiquitinating Snail and Promotes Serous Ovarian Cancer Carcinogenesis, Progression, and Cisplatin Resistance

The poor prognosis of serous ovarian cancer (SOC) is due to its high invasive capacity and cisplatin resistance of SOC cells, whereas the molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. In the present study, the expression and function of non-muscle myosin heavy chain IIB (MYH10) in SOC are identified by immunohistochemistry, in vitro, and in vivo studies, respectively. The mechanism of MYH10 is demonstrated by co-immunoprecipitation, GST pull-down, confocal laser assays, and so on. The results show that the knockdown of MYH10 suppressed SOC cell proliferation, migration, invasion, metastasis, and cisplatin resistance both in vivo and in vitro. Further studies confirm that the MYH10 protein functional domain combines with non-muscle myosin heavy chain IIA (MYH9) to recruit the deubiquitinating enzyme Ubiquitin-specific proteases 45 and deubiquitinates snail to inhibit snail degradation, eventually promoting tumorigenesis, progression, and cisplatin resistance in SOC. In clinical samples, MYH10 expression is significantly elevated in SOC samples compared to the paratumor samples. And the expression of MYH10 is positively correlated with MYH9 expression. MYH10+/MYH9+ co-expression is an independent prognostic factor for predicting SOC patient survival. These findings uncover a key role of the MYH10-MYH9-snail axis in SOC carcinogenesis, progression, and cisplatin resistance, and provide potential novel therapeutic targets for SOC intervention.

Immunotherapeutic Approaches in Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer (OC) is gynecological cancer, and diagnosis and treatment are continuously advancing. Next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based diagnoses have emerged as novel methods for identifying molecules and pathways in cancer research. The NGS-based applications have expanded in OC research for early detection and identification of aberrant genes and dysregulation pathways, demonstrating comprehensive views of the entire transcriptome, such as fusion genes, genetic mutations, and gene expression profiling. Coinciding with advances in NGS-based diagnosis, treatment strategies for OC, such as molecular targeted therapy and immunotherapy, have also advanced. Immunotherapy is effective against many other cancers, and its efficacy against OC has also been demonstrated at the clinical phase. In this review, we describe several NGS-based applications for therapeutic targets of OC, and introduce current immunotherapeutic strategies, including vaccines, checkpoint inhibitors, and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell transplantation, for effective diagnosis and treatment of OC.

ZIP1+ fibroblasts protect lung cancer against chemotherapy via connexin-43 mediated intercellular Zn2+ transfer

Tumour-stroma cell interactions impact cancer progression and therapy responses. Intercellular communication between fibroblasts and cancer cells using various soluble mediators has often been reported. In this study, we find that a zinc-transporter (ZIP1) positive tumour-associated fibroblast subset is enriched after chemotherapy and directly interconnects lung cancer cells with gap junctions. Using single-cell RNA sequencing, we identify several fibroblast subpopulations, among which Zip1⁺ fibroblasts are highly enriched in mouse lung tumours after doxorubicin treatment. ZIP1 expression on fibroblasts enhances gap junction formation in cancer cells by upregulating connexin-43. Acting as a Zn²⁺ reservoir, ZIP1⁺ fibroblasts absorb and transfer Zn²⁺ to cancer cells, leading to ABCB1-mediated chemoresistance. Clinically, ZIP1^high stromal fibroblasts are also associated with chemoresistance in human lung cancers. Taken together, our results reveal a mechanism by which fibroblasts interact directly with tumour cells via gap junctions and contribute to chemoresistance in lung cancer.

RP11-79H23.3 Inhibits the Proliferation and Metastasis of Non-small-cell Lung Cancer Through Promoting miR-29c

Evidences indicate that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are closely involved and contributed to tumorigenesis and cancer progression. As a novel lncRNA, RP11-79H23.3 was found to be an anti-oncogene in bladder cancer. However, the essential roles and functions of RP11-79H23.3 in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains to be elucidated. Here, loss of functional assay was applied to gain insights into the functions of RP11-79H23.3 on the proliferation and metastasis capabilities of A549 and H1299 cells. Meantime, Real-time PCR was utilized to measure RP11-79H23.3 and miR-29c expression in NSCLC tissues. Dual-luciferase reporter assay, CCK8, colony formation assay, transwell and Western blot were performed to illustrate the potential molecular basis of RP11-79H23.3 in NSCLC. RP11-79H23.3 downregulation facilitated cell proliferation, migration, and invasion of NSCLC. The result of dual-luciferase reporter assay represented a direct interaction of RP11-79H23.3 with miR-29c, which suppressed miR-29c expression that showed inversely correlation in NSCLC. Moreover, RP11-79H23.3 siRNA facilitated the progression of NSCLC partially via regulating the expression of miR-29c and the activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Our findings highlighted that RP11-79H23.3, served as an anti-oncogene, accelerated NSCLC progression through sequestering miR-29c, providing a promising therapeutic target for NSCLC.

Tumor Immune Microenvironment and Immunotherapy in Brain Metastasis From Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Brain metastasis (BM), a devastating complication of advanced malignancy, has a high incidence in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). As novel systemic treatment drugs and improved, more sensitive imaging investigations are performed, more patients will be diagnosed with BM. However, the main treatment methods face a high risk of complications at present. Therefore, based on immunotherapy of tumor immune microenvironment has been proposed. The development of NSCLC and its BM is closely related to the tumor microenvironment, the surrounding microenvironment where tumor cells live. In the event of BM, the metastatic tumor microenvironment in BM is composed of extracellular matrix, tissue-resident cells that change with tumor colonization and blood-derived immune cells. Immune-related cells and chemicals in the NSCLC brain metastasis microenvironment are targeted by BM immunotherapy, with immune checkpoint inhibition therapy being the most important. Blocking cancer immunosuppression by targeting immune checkpoints provides a suitable strategy for immunotherapy in patients with advanced cancers. In the past few years, several therapeutic advances in immunotherapy have changed the outlook for the treatment of BM from NSCLC. According to emerging evidence, immunotherapy plays an essential role in treating BM, with a more significant safety profile than others. This article discusses recent advances in the biology of BM from NSCLC, reviews novel mechanisms in diverse tumor metastatic stages, and emphasizes the role of the tumor immune microenvironment in metastasis. In addition, clinical advances in immunotherapy for this disease are mentioned.