Over-expressed RHEB promotes the progression of pancreatic adenocarcinoma

Identification of autophagy-related immune targets for enhancing immunotherapy in pancreatic cancer aggressiveness

BACKGROUND

Pancreatic cancer (PC) presents significant challenges in oncology, with metastasis critically affecting patient outcomes. Autophagy-related genes (ARGs)'s involvement in influencing immune activity and metastasis in PC remains inadequately understood.

AIM

This study seeks to identify and validate five ARGs that could serve as immune targets, enhancing enhancing Pancreatic cancer metastasis (PCM)'s prognostic models and informing immunotherapy strategies.

METHODS

ARGs that were diffentially expressed were screened, followed by Cox regression and LASSO analyses to pinpoint five genes linked to overall survival (OS). A prognostic model was developed and validated using ROC curves. Functional analyses, including GO and KEGG, were performed to elucidate ARG mechanisms. Immune infiltration and TFs/microRNA/mRNA networks were assessed to understand ARG-immune cell interactions. Experimental validation employed real-time PCR, IHC, and Western blotting, supported by TCGA data. Functional assays explored RHEB's role in PC, particularly its interaction with LC3.

RESULTS

Five ARGs (CASP1, RHEB, CHMP2B, MYC, and HDAC6) were identified, contributing to a robust prognostic model where low-risk individuals showed significantly longer OS. The model demonstrated high AUC scores, indicating strong prognostic capability. CD8 T cells and Treg cells' elevated levels were observed in metastatic subjects. RHEB knockdown suppressed cancer cell proliferation and invasion, with a negative correlation between RHEB and LC3, suggesting a role in autophagy-mediated modulation of PC metastasis.

CONCLUSION

This study introduces a novel prognostic model incorporating five ARGs, highlighting their potential as immune targets for cancer immunotherapy. The negative correlation between RHEB and LC3 suggests a therapeutic pathway for PCM intervention, laying the groundwork for more effective anti-cancer strategies. These findings advance the identification of novel immune targets and signaling pathways, aligning with precision medicine goals in cancer treatment.

Single-cell transcriptome-wide Mendelian randomization and colocalization reveals immune-mediated regulatory mechanisms and drug targets for COVID-19

BACKGROUND

COVID-19 continues to show long-term impacts on our health. Limited effective immune-mediated antiviral drugs have been launched.

METHODS

We conducted a Mendelian randomization (MR) and colocalization analysis using 26,597 single-cell expression quantitative trait loci (sc-eQTL) to proxy effects of expressions of 16,597 genes in 14 peripheral blood immune cells and tested them against four COVID-19 outcomes from COVID-19 Genetic Housing Initiative GWAS meta-analysis Round 7. We also carried out additional validations including colocalization, linkage disequilibrium check and host-pathogen interactome predictions. We integrated MR findings with clinical trial evidence from several drug gene related databases to identify drugs with repurposing potential. Finally, we developed a tier system and identified immune-cell-based prioritized drug targets for COVID-19.

FINDINGS

We identified 132 putative causal genes in 14 immune cells (343 MR associations) for COVID-19, with 58 genes that were not reported previously. 145 (73%) gene-COVID-19 pairs showed effects on COVID-19 in only one immune cell type, which implied widespread immune-cell specific effects. For pathway analyses, we found the putative causal genes were enriched in natural killer (NK) recruiting cells but de-enriched in NK cells. Using a deep learning model, we found 107 (81%) of the putative causal genes (41 novel genes) were predicted to interact with SARS-COV-2 proteins. Integrating the above evidence with drug trial information, we developed a tier system and prioritized 37 drug targets for COVID-19.

INTERPRETATION

Our study showcased the central role of immune-mediated regulatory mechanisms for COVID-19 and prioritized drug targets that might inform interventions for viral infectious diseases.

FUNDING

This work was supported by grants from the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2022YFC2505203).

Transcriptomics analyses combined with intestinal microorganism survey suggest Resveratrol (RSV) anti-aging and anti-oxidant effects in silkworm (Bombyx mori)

The growing elderly population presents a significant concern, with the prolongation of life expectancy, aging diseases are becoming increasingly common. Resveratrol (RSV) has emerged as a promising compound for disease prevention. However, the effect of RSV on lifespan extension in different organisms, particularly the model organism silkworm, remains inconsistent. We conducted aging experiments using silkworm (B. mori) and employed transcriptomics to investigate the therapeutic effects of RSV on lifespan extension and healthy lifespan in silkworms. RSV increased the survival rate by 8.57 %-12.12 % and enhanced the antioxidant capacity of silkworms. Transcriptomic analysis demonstrated that genes in signaling pathways such as AMPK and FoxO were significantly upregulated. 16SrRNA sequencing of gut contents showed an increase in beneficial bacterial strains under the action of RSV. This study aims to enhance our understanding of lifespan regulation mechanisms using the silkworm model and provide new targets for anti-aging antioxidants research to delay the onset of age-related diseases.

Unraveling the Role of Ras Homolog Enriched in Brain (Rheb1 and Rheb2): Bridging Neuronal Dynamics and Cancer Pathogenesis through Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Signaling

Ras homolog enriched in brain (Rheb1 and Rheb2), small GTPases, play a crucial role in regulating neuronal activity and have gained attention for their implications in cancer development, particularly in breast cancer. This study delves into the intricate connection between the multifaceted functions of Rheb1 in neurons and cancer, with a specific focus on the mTOR pathway. It aims to elucidate Rheb1's involvement in pivotal cellular processes such as proliferation, apoptosis resistance, migration, invasion, metastasis, and inflammatory responses while acknowledging that Rheb2 has not been extensively studied. Despite the recognized associations, a comprehensive understanding of the intricate interplay between Rheb1 and Rheb2 and their roles in both nerve and cancer remains elusive. This review consolidates current knowledge regarding the impact of Rheb1 on cancer hallmarks and explores the potential of Rheb1 as a therapeutic target in cancer treatment. It emphasizes the necessity for a deeper comprehension of the molecular mechanisms underlying Rheb1-mediated oncogenic processes, underscoring the existing gaps in our understanding. Additionally, the review highlights the exploration of Rheb1 inhibitors as a promising avenue for cancer therapy. By shedding light on the complicated roles between Rheb1/Rheb2 and cancer, this study provides valuable insights to the scientific community. These insights are instrumental in guiding the identification of novel targets and advancing the development of effective therapeutic strategies for treating cancer.

Copper metabolism-related risk score identifies hepatocellular carcinoma subtypes and SLC27A5 as a potential regulator of cuproptosis

AIMS

Dysregulated copper metabolism has been noticed in many types of cancer including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); however, a comprehensive understanding about this dysregulation still remains unclear in HCC.

METHODS

A set of bioinformatic tools was integrated to analyze the expression and prognostic significance of copper metabolism-related genes. A related risk score, termed as CMscore, was developed via univariate Cox regression, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) Cox regression and multivariate Cox regression. Pathway enrichment analyses and tumor immune cell infiltration were further investigated in CMscore stratified HCC patients. Weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA) was used to identify potential regulator of cuproptosis.

RESULTS

Copper metabolism was dysregulated in HCC. HCC patients in the high-CMscore group showed a significantly lower overall survival (OS) and enriched in most cancer-related pathways. Besides, HCC patients with high CMscore had higher expression of pro-tumor immune infiltrates and immune checkpoints. Moreover, cancer patients with high CMscore from two large cohorts exhibited significantly prolonged survival time after immunotherapy. WGCNA and subsequently correlation analysis revealed that SLC27A5 might be a potential regulator of cuproptosis in HCC. In vitro experiments revealed that SLC27A5 inhibited cell proliferation and migration of HCC cells and could upregulate FDX1, the key regulator of cuproptosis.

SIGNIFICANCE

The CMscore is helpful in clustering HCC patients with distinct prognosis, gene mutation signatures, and sensitivity to immunotherapy. SLC27A5 might serve as a potential target in the induction of cuproptosis in HCC.

Suppression of rhomboid domain-containing 1 produces anticancer effects in pancreatic adenocarcinoma through affection of the AKT/GSK-3β/β-catenin pathway

The protumor role of rhomboid domain-containing 1 (RHBDD1) has been observed in multiple cancers. However, the relationship between RHBDD1 and pancreatic adenocarcinoma has not been addressed. This project focused on the potential relevance of RHBDD1 in pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Bioinformatic analysis by publicly available data revealed that RHBDD1 was abundantly expressed in pancreatic adenocarcinoma. We further verified that RHBDD1 was expressed highly in clinical specimens of pancreatic adenocarcinoma. The Kaplan-Meier curve demonstrated that high-RHBDD1 expression was associated with poor prognosis in pancreatic adenocarcinoma patients. The functional studies revealed that depletion of RHBDD1 produced in vitro anticancer effects in pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells, including retardation of proliferation, reduction of metastatic potential, and induction of cell-cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase and apoptosis. Mechanistic studies indicated that loss of RHBDD1 affected the activation of β-catenin via regulation of AKT. Forced expression of β-catenin reversed the RHBDD1-loss-induced anticancer effects in pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells. Crucially, depletion of RHBDD1 retarded the growth of pancreatic adenocarcinoma xenografts in vivo, a phenomenon associated with the AKT/β-catenin pathway. Collectively, these findings delineated that restraint of RHBDD1 displayed remarkable anticancer effects in pancreatic adenocarcinoma by affecting the AKT/β-catenin pathway. Our work unveils a pivotal role of RHBDD1 in pancreatic adenocarcinoma and proposes it as a novel candidate target for anticancer therapy of pancreatic adenocarcinoma.