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Zhu W, Dong X, Tian N, Feng Z, Zhou W, Song W. CSTB accelerates the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma via the ERK/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. Heliyon 2024; 10:e23506. [PMID: 38187282 PMCID: PMC10770458 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e23506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a significant contributor to global cancer-related deaths, leading to high mortality rates. However, the pathogenesis of HCC remains unclear. In this research, by the bioinformatics data analysis, we found that elevated CSTB expression correlated with advanced disease and predicted diminished overall survival (OS) in HCC patients. We subsequently verified the oncogenic role of CSTB as well as the potential underlying mechanisms in HCC through a series of in vitro experiments, such as CCK-8 assays, cloning assays, flow cytometry, Transwell assays, and western blotting. Our findings illustrated that the silencing of CSTB effectively suppressed cellular proliferation by inducing cell cycle arrest in the G2 phase and impaired HCC cell invasion and migration by stimulating epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Additionally, we analyzed the pathways enriched in HCC using RNA sequencing and found that the ERK/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway was related to increased CSTB expression in HCC. Finally, we confirmed the tumorigenic role of CSTB via in vivo experiments. Thus, our findings revealed that silencing CSTB inhibited the HCC progression via the ERK/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway, highlighting new perspectives for investigating the mechanisms of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiyi Zhu
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Translational Medical Research in Cognitive Development and Learning and Memory Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xiangjun Dong
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Translational Medical Research in Cognitive Development and Learning and Memory Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Na Tian
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Translational Medical Research in Cognitive Development and Learning and Memory Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Zijuan Feng
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Translational Medical Research in Cognitive Development and Learning and Memory Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Weihui Zhou
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Translational Medical Research in Cognitive Development and Learning and Memory Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Weihong Song
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Translational Medical Research in Cognitive Development and Learning and Memory Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Institute of Aging, Key Laboratory of Alzheimer's Disease of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, School of Mental Health and Kangning Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, China
- Oujiang Laboratory (Zhejiang Lab for Regenerative Medicine, Vision and Brain Health), Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325001, China
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Wei S, Han H, Xu S, Huang Y, Wei J, Qin Q. Identification and functional characterization of Cystatin B in orange-spotted grouper, Epinephelus coioides. DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY 2022; 132:104383. [PMID: 35300987 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2022.104383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2021] [Revised: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Cystatin B is a cysteine protease inhibitor that plays a crucial role in immune response. Nevertheless, the molecular mechanism of fish Cystatin B in virus replication remains obscure. In this study, we identified and characterized Cystatin B (Ec-CysB) in the orange-spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides). The Ec-CysB encoded a 100-amino acid protein with the conserved QXVXG motif, PC motif and cysteine protease inhibitory motif, which shared high identities with reported Cystatin B. The abundant transcriptional level of Ec-CysB was found in gill, intestine and head kidney. And the Ec-CysB expression was significantly up-regulated in spleen after infection with Singapore grouper iridovirus (SGIV) in vitro. Subcellular localization analysis revealed that Ec-CysB was distributed mainly in the cytoplasm and nucleus. Further studies showed that overexpression of Ec-CysB in vitro significantly increased SGIV replication and virus-induced cell apoptosis, but replication of SGIV was inhibited by knockdown or mutant of Ec-CysB. Moreover, overexpression of Ec-CysB significantly inhibited the interferon (IFN), interferon-stimulated response element (ISRE) promoter activities, and enhanced apoptosis-related transcription factors p53 promoter activities. Collectively, our results suggest that Ec-CysB affect viral replication and virus-induced cell apoptosis, which will help us to explore its potential functions during SGIV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shina Wei
- College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Honglin Han
- College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Suifeng Xu
- College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Youhua Huang
- College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Jingguang Wei
- College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Qiwei Qin
- College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, 510642, China; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), 528478, China; Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266000, China.
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Kodagoda YK, Liyanage DS, Omeka WKM, Kwon H, Hwang SD, Lee J. Molecular characterization, expression, and functional analysis of cystatin B in the big-belly seahorse (Hippocampus abdominalis). FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY 2022; 124:442-453. [PMID: 35460877 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2022.04.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2022] [Revised: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 04/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Cystatins are a diverse group of cysteine protease inhibitors widely present among various organisms. Beyond their protease inhibitor function, cystatins play a crucial role in diverse pathophysiological conditions in animals, including neurodegenerative disorders, tumor progression, inflammatory diseases, and immune response. However, the role of cystatins in immunity against viral and bacterial infections in fish remains to be elucidated. In this study, the cystatin B from big-belly seahorse, Hippocampus abdominalis, designated as HaCSTB, was identified and characterized. HaCSTB shared the highest homology with type 1 cystatin family members of teleosts and had three cystatin catalytic domains with no signal peptides or disulfide bonds. HaCSTB transcripts were mainly expressed in peripheral blood cells (PBCs), followed by the testis and pouch of healthy big-belly seahorses. Immune challenge with lipopolysaccharides (LPS), polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (Poly I:C), and Streptococcus iniae induced upregulation of relative HaCSTB mRNA expression in PBCs. Subcellular localization analysis revealed the distribution of HaCSTB in the cytosol, mitochondria, and nuclei of fathead minnow cells (FHM). Recombinant HaCSTB (rHaCSTB) exhibited potent in vitro inhibitory activity against papain, a cysteine protease, in a concentration-, pH-, and temperature-dependent manner. Overexpression of HaCSTB in viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV)-susceptible FHM cells increased cell viability and reduced VHSV-induced apoptosis. Collectively, these results suggest that HaCSTB might engage in the teleostean immune protection against bacteria and viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasara Kavindi Kodagoda
- Department of Marine Life Sciences & Fish Vaccine Research Center, Jeju National University, Jeju, 63243, South Korea
| | - D S Liyanage
- Department of Marine Life Sciences & Fish Vaccine Research Center, Jeju National University, Jeju, 63243, South Korea
| | - W K M Omeka
- Department of Marine Life Sciences & Fish Vaccine Research Center, Jeju National University, Jeju, 63243, South Korea
| | - Hyukjae Kwon
- Department of Marine Life Sciences & Fish Vaccine Research Center, Jeju National University, Jeju, 63243, South Korea; Marine Science Institute, Jeju National University, Jeju, 63333, South Korea
| | - Seong Don Hwang
- East Sea Fisheries Research Institute, National Institute of Fisheries Science, 1194 Haean-ro, Yeongok-myeon, Gangneung-si, 25435, South Korea; Division of Convergence on Marine Science, Korea Maritime and Ocean University, Busan, 49112, South Korea
| | - Jehee Lee
- Department of Marine Life Sciences & Fish Vaccine Research Center, Jeju National University, Jeju, 63243, South Korea; Marine Science Institute, Jeju National University, Jeju, 63333, South Korea.
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