miR-362-3p suppresses ovarian cancer by inhibiting LRP8

LRP8 inhibits bladder cancer cell ferroptosis by activating the Wnt/β-catenin-SCD1 positive feedback loop

BACKGROUND

Advanced bladder cancer (bc) patients often have poor prognoses due to issues such as recurrence and drug resistance. The discovery of ferroptosis has opened new avenues for bc treatment; however, the specific regulatory mechanisms remain to be explored. This study aimed to investigate the mechanisms influencing ferroptosis in bc cells, with a particular focus on the role of low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 8 (LRP8).

METHODS

We utilized reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot to assess the expression of LRP8 in bc cells, activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, and the expression of genes related to fatty acid synthesis. We measured changes in ferroptosis levels by evaluating mitochondrial membrane potential, Fe2+, malondialdehyde, and reactive oxygen species levels. A xenograft mouse model was employed to validate the impact of LRP8 on bc progression.

RESULTS

Cell experiments demonstrated a significant upregulation of LRP8 expression in bc cells. Knockdown of LRP8 induced ferroptosis in bc cells, a process directly triggered by the inhibition of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway mediated by LRP8 upregulated the expression of stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1), subsequently leading to the suppression of ferroptosis. In vivo experiments indicated that LRP8 knockdown significantly impaired bc growth, accompanied by inhibition of the Wnt/β-catenin-SCD1 axis.

CONCLUSION

LRP8 mediates the synthesis of monounsaturated fatty acids through the Wnt/β-catenin-SCD1 positive feedback loop, thereby inhibiting ferroptosis in bc cells. These findings provide a promising target for the regulation of ferroptosis in bc cells.

CircCENPM serves as a CeRNA to aggravate nasopharyngeal carcinoma metastasis and stemness via enhancing BMI1

BACKGROUND

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a malignant head and neck cancer with high mortality and dismal prognosis. Emerging research have disclosed that circRNAs are crucial gene expression regulators engaged in tumor advancement. This work aspired to identify novel oncogenic circRNA driving NPC progression.

METHODS

Bioinformatics analysis was performed to explore and predict underlying circRNA and downstream targets. Luciferase reporter assay was executed to check the binding relationship between these genes. Cell function tests were conducted using CCK-8, would healing, and flow cytometry. The stemness markers CD133, Nanog and Oct4 was detected via western blot.

RESULTS

CircCENPM was notably enhanced in NPC. Silencing of circCENPM suppressed NPC cell growth, migration, and stemness in vitro, simultaneously impeded tumorigenesis of NPC in vivo. Moreover, circCENPM could interact with miR-362-3p, whereas miR-362-3p inhibitor apparently reversed the mitigated growth and stemness induced by circCENPM knockdown in NPC cells. Furthermore, BMI1 was identified to be the downstream target of miR-362-3p, and BMI1 introduction partially offset the anti-tumor function of miR-362-3p in NPC cells.

CONCLUSION

CircCENPM functioned as a carcinogenic driver and facilitated NPC growth and stemness via miR-362-3p/BMI1 regulatory network, which provided a potential biomarker and attractive target for NPC intervention and treatment.

Enhanced LRP8 expression induced by Helicobacter pylori drives gastric cancer progression by facilitating β-Catenin nuclear translocation

INTRODUCTION

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection has been associated with gastric carcinogenesis. However, the precise involvement of LRP8, the low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 8, in H. pylori pathogenesis and gastric cancer (GC) remains poorly understood.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the potential role of LRP8 in H. pylori infection and gastric carcinogenesis.

METHODS

Three-dimensional human-derived gastric organoids (hGO) and gastric cancer organoids (hGCO) were synthesized from the tissues obtained from human donors. In this work, multi-omics combined with in vivo and in vitro studies were conducted to investigate the potential involvement of LRP8 in H. pylori-induced GC.

RESULTS

We found that H. pylori infection significantly upregulated the expression of LRP8 in human GC tissues, cells, organoids, and mouse gastric mucous. In particular, LRP8 exhibited a distinct enrichment in cancer stem cells (CSC). Functionally, silencing of LRP8 affected the formation and proliferation of tumor spheroids, while increased expression of LRP8 was associated with increased proliferation and stemness of GC cells and organoids. Mechanistically, LRP8 promotes the binding of E-cadherin to β-catenin, thereby promoting nuclear translocation and transcriptional activity of β-catenin. Furthermore, LRP8 interacts with the cytotoxin-associated gene A (CagA) to form the CagA/LRP8/β-catenin complex. This complex further amplifies H. pylori-induced β-catenin nuclear translocation, leading to increased transcription of inflammatory factors and CSC markers. Clinical analysis demonstrated that abnormal overexpression of LRP8 is correlated with a poor prognosis and resistance to 5-Fluorouracil in patients with GC.

CONCLUSION

Our findings provide valuable information on the molecular intricacies of H. pylori-induced gastric carcinogenesis, offering potential therapeutic targets and prognostic markers for GC.

Exploring miRNA therapies and gut microbiome-enhanced CAR-T cells: advancing frontiers in glioblastoma stem cell targeting

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) presents a formidable challenge in oncology due to its aggressive nature and resistance to conventional treatments. Recent advancements propose a novel therapeutic strategy combining microRNA-based therapies, chimeric antigen receptor-T (CAR-T) cells, and gut microbiome modulation to target GBM stem cells and transform cancer treatment. MicroRNA therapies show promise in regulating key signalling pathways implicated in GBM progression, offering the potential to disrupt GBM stem cell renewal. CAR-T cell therapy, initially successful in blood cancers, is being adapted to target GBM by genetically engineering T cells to recognise and eliminate GBM stem cell-specific antigens. Despite early successes, challenges like the immunosuppressive tumour microenvironment persist. Additionally, recent research has uncovered a link between the gut microbiome and GBM, suggesting that gut dysbiosis can influence systemic inflammation and immune responses. Novel strategies to modulate the gut microbiome are emerging, enhancing the efficacy of microRNA therapies and CAR-T cell treatments. This combined approach highlights the synergistic potential of these innovative therapies in GBM treatment, aiming to eradicate primary tumours and prevent recurrence, thereby improving patient prognosis and quality of life. Ongoing research and clinical trials are crucial to fully exploit this promising frontier in GBM therapy, offering hope to patients grappling with this devastating disease.

LRP8 promotes tumorigenesis in ovarian cancer through inhibiting p53 signaling

Ovarian cancer (OC) is the most lethal gynecological malignancy with a high mortality rate. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor-related protein 8 (LRP8) is a cell membrane receptor belonging LDL receptor family and is involved in several tumor progressions. However, there is limited understanding of how LRP8 mediates OC development. LRP8 expression level was identified in human OC tissues and cells using immunohistochemical staining and quantitative polymerase chain reaction assays, respectively. Functions of LRP8 in OC progression were evaluated by Celigo cell counting, wound healing, transwell and flow cytometry assays, and the xenograft models. The human phospho-kinase array analysis was used for screening potential signaling involved in OC development. We observed that LRP8 was overexpressed in OC tissues, and high expression of LRP8 was associated with poor prognosis of OC patients. Functionally, LRP8 knockdown remarkably reduced proliferation and migration of OC cells, and induced apoptosis and S phase cycle arrest. LRP8 deficiency attenuated in vivo tumor growth of OC cells. Moreover, the addition of p53 inhibitor partially reversed the effects of LRP8 knockdown on OC cell proliferation and apoptosis, indicating the involvement of p53 signaling in LRP8-mediated OC progression. This study confirmed that LRP8/p53 axis contributed to OC progression, which might serve as a novel potential therapeutic target for OC patients.

MiR362-3p Alleviates Osteosarcoma by Regulating the IL6ST/JAK2/STAT3 Pathway in Vivo and in Vitro

Objectives: To investigate the effects and the related signaling pathway of miR-362-3p on OS. Methods: The bioinformatics analysis approaches were employed to investigate the target pathway of miR-362-3p. After the 143B and U2OS cells and nu/nu male mice were randomly divided into blank control (BC) group, normal control (NC) group, and overexpression group (OG), the CCK-8, EdU staining, wound healing assay, Transwell assay, and TUNEL staining were adopted to respectively determine the effects of overexpressed miR-362-3p on the cell viability, proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis of 143B and U2OS cells in vitro, tumor area assay and hematoxylin and eosin staining were employed to respectively determine the effects of overexpressed miR-362-3p on the growth and pathological injury of OS tissue in vivo. The qRT-PCR, Western blot, and immunohistochemical staining were applied to respectively investigate the effects of overexpressed miR-362-3p on the IL6ST/JAK2/STAT3 pathway in OS in vivo and in vitro. Results: The bioinformatics analysis approaches combined qRT-PCR indicated that the IL6ST/JAK2/STAT3 is one of the target pathways of miR-362-3p. Compared with NC, the cell viability, proliferation, migration, and invasion of 143B and U2OS cells were dramatically (P < 0.01) inhibited but the apoptosis was prominently (P <0 .0001) promoted in OG. Compared with NC, the growth of OS tissue was significantly (P < 0.05) suppressed and the pathological injury of OS tissue was substantially aggravated in OG. The gene expression levels of IL6ST, JAK2, and STAT3 and the protein expression levels of IL6ST, JAK2, p-JAK2, STAT3, and p-STAT3 in 143B and U2OS cells were memorably (P < 0.0001) lower in OG than those in NC. In addition, the positively stained areas of proteins of IL6ST, JAK2, p-JAK2, STAT3, and p-STAT3 of OS tissue in OG were markedly (P < 0.01) reduced compared with those in NC. Conclusion: The overexpression of miR362-3p alleviates OS by inhibiting the IL6ST/JAK2/STAT3 pathway in vivo and in vitro.

Shikonin induces apoptosis and autophagy via downregulation of pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase1 in hepatocellular carcinoma cells

Shikonin(SK) is a natural small molecule naphthoquinone compound, which has anti-cancer activity in various human malignant tumors. Pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase 1(PYCR1) is involved in tumorigenesis and regulates various cellular processes, including growth, invasion, migration, and apoptosis. However, the effect of SK and PYCR1 on apoptosis and autophagy in hepatocellular carcinoma are unclear. Our goal is to determine the internal molecular mechanism of the interaction between SK and PYCR1 and its role in the occurrence and development of liver cancer. The CCK8 assay, wound healing assay, and transwell assays show that SK and siPYCR1(gene silence PYCR1) inhibited the malignant phenotype of HCC cells, including cell viability, colony formation, migration, and invasion, respectively. The flow cytometry assays and immunofluorescence show that SK and siPYCR1 activated apoptosis and autophagy, respectively. SK induces apoptosis and autophagy in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, HCC cells were transfected with small interference fragment PYCR1 siRNA to construct siPYCR1 and SK single treatment group and co-treatment group to verify the interaction between SK and PYCR1. The Western blot identified that PI3K/Akt/mTOR signal pathway protein expression was significantly downregulated in HCC cells treated with SK and siPYCR1 together. Collectively, SK may induce apoptosis and autophagy by reducing the expression of PYCR1 and suppressing PI3K/Akt/mTOR. Thus, SK may be a promising antineoplastic drug in Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). SK downregulating PYCR1 might supply a theoretical foundation for the potential therapeutic application in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Exosomal-long non-coding RNAs journey in colorectal cancer: Evil and goodness faces of key players

Exosomes are nano-vesicles (NVs) secreted by cells and take part in cell-cell communications. Lately, these exosomes were proved to have dual faces in cancer. Actually, they can contribute to carcinogenesis through epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), angiogenesis, metastasis and tumor microenvironment (TME) of various cancers, including colorectal cancer (CRC). On the other hand, they can be potential targets for cancer treatment. CRC is one of the most frequent tumors worldwide, with incidence rates rising in the recent decades. In its early stage, CRC is asymptomatic with poor treatment outcomes. Therefore, finding a non-invasive, early diagnostic biomarker tool and/or suitable defender to combat CRC is mandatory. Exosomes provide enrichment and safe setting for their cargos non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) and proteins, whose expression levels can be upregulated ordown-regulated in cancer. Hence, exosomes can be used as diagnostic and/or prognostic tools for cancer. Moreover, exosomes can provide a novel potential therapeutic modality for tumors via loading with specific chemotherapeutic agents, with the advantage of possible tumor targeting. In this review, we will try to collect and address recent studies concerned with exosomes and their cargos' implications for CRC diagnosis and/or hopefully, treatment.