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Aquino-Acevedo AN, Orengo-Orengo JA, Cruz-Robles ME, Saavedra HI. Mitotic kinases are emerging therapeutic targets against metastatic breast cancer. Cell Div 2024; 19:21. [PMID: 38886738 DOI: 10.1186/s13008-024-00125-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
This review aims to outline mitotic kinase inhibitors' roles as potential therapeutic targets and assess their suitability as a stand-alone clinical therapy or in combination with standard treatments for advanced-stage solid tumors, including triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Breast cancer poses a significant global health risk, with TNBC standing out as the most aggressive subtype. Comprehending the role of mitosis is crucial for understanding how TNBC advances from a solid tumor to metastasis. Chemotherapy is the primary treatment used to treat TNBC. Some types of chemotherapeutic agents target cells in mitosis, thus highlighting the need to comprehend the molecular mechanisms governing mitosis in cancer. This understanding is essential for devising targeted therapies to disrupt these mitotic processes, prevent or treat metastasis, and improve patient outcomes. Mitotic kinases like Aurora kinase A, Aurora Kinase B, never in mitosis gene A-related kinase 2, Threonine-Tyrosine kinase, and Polo-kinase 1 significantly impact cell cycle progression by contributing to chromosome separation and centrosome homeostasis. When these kinases go awry, they can trigger chromosome instability, increase cell proliferation, and activate different molecular pathways that culminate in a transition from epithelial to mesenchymal cells. Ongoing clinical trials investigate various mitotic kinase inhibitors as potential biological treatments against advanced solid tumors. While clinical trials against mitotic kinases have shown some promise in the clinic, more investigation is necessary, since they induce severe adverse effects, particularly affecting the hematopoietic system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra N Aquino-Acevedo
- Department of Basic Sciences, Ponce Health Sciences University-Ponce Research Institute, 388 Luis Salas Zona Industrial Reparada 2, P.O. Box 7004, Ponce, Puerto Rico, 00716-2347, USA
| | - Joel A Orengo-Orengo
- Department of Basic Sciences, Ponce Health Sciences University-Ponce Research Institute, 388 Luis Salas Zona Industrial Reparada 2, P.O. Box 7004, Ponce, Puerto Rico, 00716-2347, USA
| | - Melanie E Cruz-Robles
- Department of Basic Sciences, Ponce Health Sciences University-Ponce Research Institute, 388 Luis Salas Zona Industrial Reparada 2, P.O. Box 7004, Ponce, Puerto Rico, 00716-2347, USA
| | - Harold I Saavedra
- Department of Basic Sciences, Ponce Health Sciences University-Ponce Research Institute, 388 Luis Salas Zona Industrial Reparada 2, P.O. Box 7004, Ponce, Puerto Rico, 00716-2347, USA.
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Zhu G, Luo L, He Y, Xiao Y, Cai Z, Tong W, Deng W, Xie J, Zhong Y, Hu Z, Shan R. AURKB targets DHX9 to promote hepatocellular carcinoma progression via PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. Mol Carcinog 2024. [PMID: 38874176 DOI: 10.1002/mc.23775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2023] [Revised: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
Aurora kinase B (AURKB) is known to play a carcinogenic role in a variety of cancers, but its underlying mechanism in liver cancer is unknown. This study aimed to investigate the role of AURKB in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and its underlying molecular mechanism. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that AURKB was significantly overexpressed in HCC tissues and cell lines, and its high expression was associated with a poorer prognosis in HCC patients. Furthermore, downregulation of AURKB inhibited HCC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, induced apoptosis, and caused cell cycle arrest. Moreover, AURKB downregulation also inhibited lung metastasis of HCC. AURKB interacted with DExH-Box helicase 9 (DHX9) and targeted its expression in HCC cells. Rescue experiments further demonstrated that AURKB targeting DHX9 promoted HCC progression through the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. Our results suggest that AURKB is significantly highly expressed in HCC and correlates with patient prognosis. Targeting DHX9 with AURKB promotes HCC progression via the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guoqing Zhu
- Department of General Surgery, The First Hospital of Nanchang, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Laihui Luo
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Yongzhu He
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China
- Department of General Surgery, Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreas Surgery, Shenzhen People's Hospital, The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Yongqiang Xiao
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Ziwei Cai
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Weilai Tong
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Wei Deng
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Jin Xie
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Yanxin Zhong
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Zhigao Hu
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Renfeng Shan
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China
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Yuan Y, Zhang S, Huang J. Study on the mechanism of heterogeneous tumor-associated macrophages in three subtypes of breast cancer through the integration of single-cell RNA sequencing and in vitro experiments. Mol Biol Rep 2024; 51:720. [PMID: 38824268 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-024-09665-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/03/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) exert a significant influence on the progression and heterogeneity of various subtypes of breast cancer (BRCA). However, the roles of heterogeneous TAM within BRCA subtypes remain unclear. Therefore, this study sought to elucidate the role of TAM across the following three BRCA subtypes: triple-negative breast cancer, luminal, and HER2. MATERIALS AND METHODS This investigation aimed to delineate the variations in marker genes, drug sensitivity, and cellular communication among TAM across the three BRCA subtypes. We identified specific ligand-receptor (L-R) pairs and downstream mechanisms regulated by VEGFA-VEGFR1, SPP1-CD44, and SPP1-ITGB1 L-R pairs. Experimental verification of these pairs was conducted by co-culturing macrophages with three subtypes of BRCA cells. RESULTS Our findings reveal the heterogeneity of macrophages within the three BRCA subtypes, evidenced by variations in marker gene expression, composition, and functional characteristics. Notably, heterogeneous TAM were found to promote invasive migration and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in MDA-MB-231, MCF-7, and SKBR3 cells, activating NF-κB pathway via P38 MAPK, TGF-β1, and AKT, respectively, through distinct VEGFA-VEGFR1, SPP1-CD44, and SPP1-ITGB1 L-R pairs. Inhibition of these specific L-R pairs effectively reversed EMT, migration, and invasion of each cancer cells. Furthermore, we observed a correlation between ligand gene expression and TAM sensitivity to anticancer drugs, suggesting a potential strategy for optimizing personalized treatment guidance. CONCLUSION Our study highlights the capacity of heterogeneous TAM to modulate biological functions via distinct pathways mediated by specific L-R pairs within diverse BRCA subtypes. This study might provide insights into precision immunotherapy of different subtypes of BRCA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Yuan
- Center for Clinical Laboratories, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550004, China
- Department of Basic Clinical Laboratory Medicine, School of Clinical Laboratory Science, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550004, China
| | - Shu Zhang
- Center for Clinical Laboratories, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550004, China.
- Department of Basic Clinical Laboratory Medicine, School of Clinical Laboratory Science, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550004, China.
| | - Jian Huang
- Center for Clinical Laboratories, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550004, China.
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Li L, Xie K, Xie H, Wang L, Li Z, Lu Q, Feng J. AURKB promotes colorectal cancer progression by triggering the phosphorylation of histone H3 at serine 10 to activate CCNE1 expression. Aging (Albany NY) 2024; 16:8019-8030. [PMID: 38713155 PMCID: PMC11132018 DOI: 10.18632/aging.205801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
Aurora kinase B (AURKB) initiates the phosphorylation of serine 10 on histone H3 (pH3S10), a crucial process for chromosome condensation and cytokinesis in mammalian mitosis. Nonetheless, the precise mechanisms through which AURKB regulates the cell cycle and contributes to tumorigenesis as an oncogenic factor in colorectal cancer (CRC) remain unclear. Here, we report that AURKB was highly expressed and positively correlated with Ki-67 expression in CRC. The abundant expression of AURKB promotes the growth of CRC cells and xenograft tumors in animal model. AURKB knockdown substantially suppressed CRC proliferation and triggered cell cycle arrest in G2/M phase. Interestingly, cyclin E1 (CCNE1) was discovered as a direct downstream target of AURKB and functioned synergistically with AURKB to promote CRC cell proliferation. Mechanically, AURKB activated CCNE1 expression by triggering pH3S10 in the promoter region of CCNE1. Furthermore, it was showed that the inhibitor specific for AURKB (AZD1152) can suppress CCNE1 expression in CRC cells and inhibit tumor cell growth. To conclude, this research demonstrates that AURKB accelerated the tumorigenesis of CRC through its potential to epigenetically activate CCNE1 expression, suggesting AURKB as a promising therapeutic target in CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Li
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First People’s Hospital of Changzhou, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, China
| | - Ke Xie
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First People’s Hospital of Changzhou, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, China
| | - Honghu Xie
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First People’s Hospital of Changzhou, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, China
| | - Lei Wang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First People’s Hospital of Changzhou, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, China
| | - Zhong Li
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First People’s Hospital of Changzhou, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, China
| | - Qicheng Lu
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First People’s Hospital of Changzhou, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, China
| | - Jin Feng
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First People’s Hospital of Changzhou, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, China
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Lakkaniga NR, Wang Z, Xiao Y, Kharbanda A, Lan L, Li HY. Revisiting Aurora Kinase B: A promising therapeutic target for cancer therapy. Med Res Rev 2024; 44:686-706. [PMID: 37983866 DOI: 10.1002/med.21994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Revised: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
Cancer continues to be a major health concern globally, although the advent of targeted therapy has revolutionized treatment options. Aurora Kinase B is a serine-threonine kinase that has been explored as an oncology therapeutic target for more than two decades. Aurora Kinase B inhibitors show promising biological results in in-vitro and in-vivo experiments. However, there are no inhibitors approved yet for clinical use, primarily because of the side effects associated with Aurora B inhibitors. Several studies demonstrate that Aurora B inhibitors show excellent synergy with various chemotherapeutic agents, radiation therapy, and targeted therapies. This makes it an excellent choice as an adjuvant therapy to first-line therapies, which greatly improves the therapeutic window and side effect profile. Recent studies indicate the role of Aurora B in some deadly cancers with limited therapeutic options, like triple-negative breast cancer and glioblastoma. Herein, we review the latest developments in Aurora Kinase B targeted research, with emphasis on its potential as an adjuvant therapy and its role in some of the most difficult-to-treat cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naga Rajiv Lakkaniga
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad, India
| | - Zhengyu Wang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA
| | - Yao Xiao
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Anupreet Kharbanda
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA
| | - Li Lan
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Hong-Yu Li
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA
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Tu R, Kang Y, Pan Y, Da Y, Ren D, Zhang R, Cai Z, Liu Y, Xu J, Ma J, Zhou Z, Yin S, Li X, Zhang P, Zhang Q, Wang J, Lu X, Zhang C. USP29 activation mediated by FUBP1 promotes AURKB stability and oncogenic functions in gastric cancer. Cancer Cell Int 2024; 24:33. [PMID: 38233848 PMCID: PMC10792871 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-024-03224-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/19/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gastric cancer is a highly prevalent cancer type and the underlying molecular mechanisms are not fully understood. Ubiquitin-specific peptidase (USP) 29 has been suggested to regulate cell fate in several types of cancer, but its potential role in gastric carcinogenesis remains unclear. METHODS The expression of USP29 in normal and gastric cancer tissues was analyzed by bioinformatics analysis, immunohistochemistry and immunoblot. Gene overexpression, CRISPR-Cas9 technology, RNAi, and Usp29 knockout mice were used to investigate the roles of USP29 in cell culture, xenograft, and benzo[a]pyrene (BaP)-induced gastric carcinogenesis models. We then delineated the underlying mechanisms using mass spectrometry, co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP), immunoblot, ubiquitination assay, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP), quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), and luciferase assays. RESULTS In this study, we found that USP29 expression was significantly upregulated in gastric cancers and associated with poor patient survival. Ectopic expression of USP29 promoted, while depletion suppressed the tumor growth in vitro and in vivo mouse model. Mechanistically, transcription factor far upstream element binding protein 1 (FUBP1) directly activates USP29 gene transcription, which then interacts with and stabilizes aurora kinase B (AURKB) by suppressing K48-linked polyubiquitination, constituting a FUBP1-USP29-AURKB regulatory axis that medicates the oncogenic role of USP29. Importantly, systemic knockout of Usp29 in mice not only significantly decreased the BaP-induced carcinogenesis but also suppressed the Aurkb level in forestomach tissues. CONCLUSIONS These findings uncovered a novel FUBP1-USP29-AURKB regulatory axis that may play important roles in gastric carcinogenesis and tumor progression, and suggested that USP29 may become a promising drug target for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rongfu Tu
- Department of Cancer Precision Medicine, The MED-X Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Building 21, Xi'an, China.
| | - Ye Kang
- Department of Cancer Precision Medicine, The MED-X Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Building 21, Xi'an, China
| | - Yiwen Pan
- Precision Medicine Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, 277 Yanta West Road, Xi'an, 710061, China
| | - Yanyan Da
- Center for Molecular Diagnosis and Precision Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, 1519 Dongyue Dadao, Nanchang, 330209, China
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, 17 Yongwai Zhengjie, Nanchang, 330006, China
- Jiangxi Provincial Center for Advanced Diagnostic Technology and Precision Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, 1519 Dongyue Dadao, Nanchang, 330209, China
- Department of Medical Genetics, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, 1519 DongYue Dadao, Nanchang, 330209, China
| | - Doudou Ren
- Department of Cancer Precision Medicine, The MED-X Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Building 21, Xi'an, China
| | - Ru Zhang
- Department of Cancer Precision Medicine, The MED-X Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Building 21, Xi'an, China
| | - Zeqiong Cai
- Department of Cancer Precision Medicine, The MED-X Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Building 21, Xi'an, China
| | - Yijia Liu
- Precision Medicine Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, 277 Yanta West Road, Xi'an, 710061, China
| | - Jiao Xu
- Precision Medicine Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, 277 Yanta West Road, Xi'an, 710061, China
| | - Junpeng Ma
- Center for Molecular Diagnosis and Precision Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, 1519 Dongyue Dadao, Nanchang, 330209, China
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, 17 Yongwai Zhengjie, Nanchang, 330006, China
- Jiangxi Provincial Center for Advanced Diagnostic Technology and Precision Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, 1519 Dongyue Dadao, Nanchang, 330209, China
- Department of Medical Genetics, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, 1519 DongYue Dadao, Nanchang, 330209, China
| | - Zhiyong Zhou
- Center for Molecular Diagnosis and Precision Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, 1519 Dongyue Dadao, Nanchang, 330209, China
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, 17 Yongwai Zhengjie, Nanchang, 330006, China
- Jiangxi Provincial Center for Advanced Diagnostic Technology and Precision Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, 1519 Dongyue Dadao, Nanchang, 330209, China
- Department of Medical Genetics, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, 1519 DongYue Dadao, Nanchang, 330209, China
| | - Shupeng Yin
- Center for Molecular Diagnosis and Precision Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, 1519 Dongyue Dadao, Nanchang, 330209, China
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, 17 Yongwai Zhengjie, Nanchang, 330006, China
- Jiangxi Provincial Center for Advanced Diagnostic Technology and Precision Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, 1519 Dongyue Dadao, Nanchang, 330209, China
- Department of Medical Genetics, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, 1519 DongYue Dadao, Nanchang, 330209, China
| | - Xiaozhuang Li
- Center for Molecular Diagnosis and Precision Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, 1519 Dongyue Dadao, Nanchang, 330209, China
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, 17 Yongwai Zhengjie, Nanchang, 330006, China
- Jiangxi Provincial Center for Advanced Diagnostic Technology and Precision Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, 1519 Dongyue Dadao, Nanchang, 330209, China
- Department of Medical Genetics, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, 1519 DongYue Dadao, Nanchang, 330209, China
| | - Peng Zhang
- Center for Molecular Diagnosis and Precision Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, 1519 Dongyue Dadao, Nanchang, 330209, China
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, 17 Yongwai Zhengjie, Nanchang, 330006, China
- Jiangxi Provincial Center for Advanced Diagnostic Technology and Precision Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, 1519 Dongyue Dadao, Nanchang, 330209, China
- Department of Medical Genetics, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, 1519 DongYue Dadao, Nanchang, 330209, China
| | - Qi Zhang
- Department of Emergency Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jingchao Wang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Genome Instability and Human Disease Prevention, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shenzhen University School of Medicine, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Xinlan Lu
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710061, China
| | - Chengsheng Zhang
- Department of Cancer Precision Medicine, The MED-X Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Building 21, Xi'an, China.
- Precision Medicine Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, 277 Yanta West Road, Xi'an, 710061, China.
- Center for Molecular Diagnosis and Precision Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, 1519 Dongyue Dadao, Nanchang, 330209, China.
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, 17 Yongwai Zhengjie, Nanchang, 330006, China.
- Jiangxi Provincial Center for Advanced Diagnostic Technology and Precision Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, 1519 Dongyue Dadao, Nanchang, 330209, China.
- Department of Medical Genetics, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, 1519 DongYue Dadao, Nanchang, 330209, China.
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7
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Masci D, Naro C, Puxeddu M, Urbani A, Sette C, La Regina G, Silvestri R. Recent Advances in Drug Discovery for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Treatment. Molecules 2023; 28:7513. [PMID: 38005235 PMCID: PMC10672974 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28227513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Revised: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is one of the most heterogeneous and aggressive breast cancer subtypes with a high risk of death on recurrence. To date, TNBC is very difficult to treat due to the lack of an effective targeted therapy. However, recent advances in the molecular characterization of TNBC are encouraging the development of novel drugs and therapeutic combinations for its therapeutic management. In the present review, we will provide an overview of the currently available standard therapies and new emerging therapeutic strategies against TNBC, highlighting the promises that newly developed small molecules, repositioned drugs, and combination therapies have of improving treatment efficacy against these tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Domiziana Masci
- Department of Basic Biotechnological Sciences, Intensivological and Perioperative Clinics, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Largo Francesco Vito 1, 00168 Rome, Italy; (D.M.); (A.U.)
| | - Chiara Naro
- Department of Neurosciences, Section of Human Anatomy, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Largo Francesco Vito 1, 00168 Rome, Italy; (C.N.); (C.S.)
- GSTeP-Organoids Research Core Facility, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Michela Puxeddu
- Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia—Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Drug Chemistry and Technologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy; (M.P.); (G.L.R.)
| | - Andrea Urbani
- Department of Basic Biotechnological Sciences, Intensivological and Perioperative Clinics, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Largo Francesco Vito 1, 00168 Rome, Italy; (D.M.); (A.U.)
| | - Claudio Sette
- Department of Neurosciences, Section of Human Anatomy, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Largo Francesco Vito 1, 00168 Rome, Italy; (C.N.); (C.S.)
- GSTeP-Organoids Research Core Facility, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe La Regina
- Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia—Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Drug Chemistry and Technologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy; (M.P.); (G.L.R.)
| | - Romano Silvestri
- Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia—Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Drug Chemistry and Technologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy; (M.P.); (G.L.R.)
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8
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Li Q, Ma Y, Chang F, Xu Y, Deng J, Duan J, Jiang W, He Q, Xu L, Zhong L, Shao G, Li L. The deubiquitinating enzyme complex BRISC regulates Aurora B activation via lysine-63-linked ubiquitination in mitosis. Commun Biol 2022; 5:1335. [PMID: 36473924 PMCID: PMC9726926 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-04299-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Faithful chromosome segregation requires bi-oriented kinetochore-microtubule attachment on the metaphase spindle. Aurora B kinase, the catalytic core of the chromosome passage complex (CPC), plays a crucial role in this process. Aurora B activation has widely been investigated in the context of protein phosphorylation. Here, we report that Aurora B is ubiquitinated in mitosis through lysine-63 ubiquitin chains (K63-Ub), which is required for its activation. Mutation of Aurora B at its primary K63 ubiquitin site inhibits its activation, reduces its kinase activity, and disrupts the association of Aurora B with other components of CPC, leading to severe mitotic defects and cell apoptosis. Moreover, we identify that BRCC36 isopeptidase complex (BRISC) is the K63-specific deubiquitinating enzyme for Aurora B. BRISC deficiency augments the accumulation of Aurora B K63-Ubs, leading to Aurora B hyperactivation and erroneous chromosome-microtubule attachments. These findings define the role of K63-linked ubiquitination in regulating Aurora B activation and provide a potential site for Aurora B-targeting drug design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qin Li
- grid.11135.370000 0001 2256 9319Department of Cell Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, 100191 Beijing, China
| | - Yanfang Ma
- grid.11135.370000 0001 2256 9319Department of Cell Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, 100191 Beijing, China
| | - Fen Chang
- grid.11135.370000 0001 2256 9319Department of Cell Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, 100191 Beijing, China
| | - Yongjie Xu
- grid.11135.370000 0001 2256 9319Department of Cell Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, 100191 Beijing, China
| | - Jingcheng Deng
- grid.11135.370000 0001 2256 9319Department of Cell Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, 100191 Beijing, China
| | - Junyi Duan
- grid.11135.370000 0001 2256 9319Department of Cell Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, 100191 Beijing, China
| | - Wei Jiang
- grid.11135.370000 0001 2256 9319Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, 100191 Beijing, China
| | - Qihua He
- grid.11135.370000 0001 2256 9319Center of Medical and Health Analysis, Peking University Health Science Center, 100191 Beijing, China
| | - Luzheng Xu
- grid.11135.370000 0001 2256 9319Center of Medical and Health Analysis, Peking University Health Science Center, 100191 Beijing, China
| | - Lijun Zhong
- grid.11135.370000 0001 2256 9319Center of Medical and Health Analysis, Peking University Health Science Center, 100191 Beijing, China
| | - Genze Shao
- grid.11135.370000 0001 2256 9319Department of Cell Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, 100191 Beijing, China
| | - Li Li
- grid.11135.370000 0001 2256 9319Department of Cell Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, 100191 Beijing, China
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Singh M, Haque MA, Tikhomirov AS, Shchekotikhin AE, Das U, Kaur P. Computational and Biophysical Characterization of Heterocyclic Derivatives of Anthraquinone against Human Aurora Kinase A. ACS OMEGA 2022; 7:39603-39618. [PMID: 36385832 PMCID: PMC9647706 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.2c00740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Human Aurora kinase A (AurA) has recently garnered the attention of researchers worldwide as a promising effective mitotic drug target for its involvement in cancer and related inflammatory anomalies. This study has explored the binding affinity of newly identified heteroarene-fused anthraquinone derivatives against AurA. Molecular docking analyses showed that all the heteroanthraquinone compounds bind to AurA with different affinities. Molecular dynamics simulation studies revealed that the compounds maintained relatively stable binding modes in the active site pocket while inducing minimal conformational changes in the AurA structure, interacting with key residues through several noncovalent interactions, including hydrogen bonds. Fluorescence spectroscopy and biolayer interferometry binding assays with synthesized compounds against recombinantly expressed AurA further verified their binding efficacy. Naphthoisatine 3 proved to be the best binder, with compounds anthraimidazole 5 and anthrathiophene 2 showing comparable results. Overall, this study indicates decent binding of heterocyclic derivatives of anthraquinone with the target AurA, which can further be assessed by performing enzymatic assays and cellular studies. The studies also highlight the applicability of the heteroarene-fused anthraquinone scaffold to construct selective and potent inhibitors of Aurora kinases after necessary structural modifications for the development of new anticancer drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mandeep Singh
- Department
of Biophysics, All India Institute of Medical
Sciences, New Delhi, Delhi110029, India
| | - Md. Anzarul Haque
- Department
of Biophysics, All India Institute of Medical
Sciences, New Delhi, Delhi110029, India
| | | | | | - Uddipan Das
- Department
of Biophysics, All India Institute of Medical
Sciences, New Delhi, Delhi110029, India
| | - Punit Kaur
- Department
of Biophysics, All India Institute of Medical
Sciences, New Delhi, Delhi110029, India
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10
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Zhao H, Wang Y, Yang Z, Wei W, Cong Z, Xie Y. High expression of aurora kinase B predicts poor prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma after curative surgery and its effects on the tumor microenvironment. ANNALS OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE 2022; 10:1168. [PMID: 36467342 PMCID: PMC9708486 DOI: 10.21037/atm-22-4798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Currently, the only broadly used biomarker for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), alpha fetoprotein (AFP), has multiple limitations and the need for novel biomarkers is urgent. Aurora kinase B (AURKB) is a key mitotic protein kinase which performs a critical function in cell cycle progression. Nonetheless, neither the function nor the mechanism of AURKB in HCC following curative surgery is fully grasped at this time. This study sought to evaluate the impact of AURKB on prognosis and the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) in HCC. METHODS We evaluated both the expression profile of AURKB in HCC and its clinical value using online databases and clinical specimens. The prognostic value of AURKB was studied by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, and the link between AURKB and tumor-infiltrating immune cells (TIICs) were analyzed. RESULTS We found the mRNA expression patterns of AURKB were remarkably upregulated in HCC in contrast with adjoining normal tissues (P<0.001). Upregulation of the AURKB protein in HCC was additionally verified by clinical samples. The expression of AURKB was substantially associated with Child-Pugh, microvascular invasion (MVI), Edmondson-Steiner grade, and tumor recurrence. Furthermore, patients diagnosed with HCC who had a low AURKB expression had a better. Our data suggested age [hazard ratio (HR): 1.34], alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (HR: 1.65), tumor size (HR: 1.99), mor number (HR: 1.60), MVI (HR: 1.93), grade (HR: 5.58), and AURKB expression (HR: 3.63) independently functioned as prognostic risk indicators for HCC (P<0.05). Importantly, we also found AURKB expression was inversely linked to resting natural killer (NK) cells, M2 macrophages, activated mast cells, and naive B cells, and positively linked to M0 macrophages, T follicular helper cells (Tfh), regulatory T cells (Treg), and resting myeloid dendritic cells. In addition, AURKB expression was also positively linked to the immune checkpoints of PDCD1, CD274, CTLA4, and LAG3. Finally, 1,696 DEGs were discovered, and were predominantly implicated in chromosome segregation, cell cycle, xenobiotic metabolic process, calcium signaling pathway, bile secretion, tyrosine metabolism, and DNA replication. CONCLUSIONS AURKB may be a potential prognostic biomarker for HCC after curative surgery, which correlates with MVI and the TIME in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Zhao
- Department of General Surgery, Third Affiliated Hospital of Naval Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yu Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Third Affiliated Hospital of Naval Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhishi Yang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Third Affiliated Hospital of Naval Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wenxin Wei
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Third Affiliated Hospital of Naval Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhuangzhi Cong
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Third Affiliated Hospital of Naval Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yanting Xie
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Third Affiliated Hospital of Naval Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
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11
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CASP9 As a Prognostic Biomarker and Promising Drug Target Plays a Pivotal Role in Inflammatory Breast Cancer. Int J Anal Chem 2022; 2022:1043445. [PMID: 36199443 PMCID: PMC9527435 DOI: 10.1155/2022/1043445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Revised: 06/02/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is one of the most rare and aggressive subtypes of primary breast cancer (BC). Our study aimed to explore hub genes related to the pathogenesis of IBC, which could be considered as novel molecular biomarkers for IBC diagnosis and prognosis. Material and Methods. Two datasets from gene expression omnibus database (GEO) were selected. Enrichment analysis and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network for the DEGs were performed. We analyzed the prognostic values of hub genes in the Kaplan-Meier Plotter. Connectivity Map (CMap) and Comparative Toxicogenomics Database (CTD) was used to find candidate small molecules capable to reverse the gene status of IBC. Results 157 DEGs were selected in total. We constructed the PPI network with 154 nodes interconnected by 128 interactions. The KEGG pathway analysis indicated that the DEGs were enriched in apoptosis, pathways in cancer and insulin signaling pathway. PTEN, PSMF1, PSMC6, AURKB, FZR1, CASP9, CASP6, CASP8, BAD, AKR7A2, ZNF24, SSX2IP, SIGLEC1, MS4A4A, and VSIG4 were selected as hub genes based on the high degree of connectivity. Six hub genes (PSMC6, AURKB, CASP9, BAD, ZNF24, and SSX2IP) that were significantly associated with the prognosis of breast cancer. The expression of CASP9 protein was associated with prognosis and immune cells infiltration of breast cancer. CASP9- naringenin (NGE) is expected to be the most promising candidate gene-compound interaction for the treatment of IBC. Conclusion Taken together, CASP9 can be used as a prognostic biomarker and a novel therapeutic target in IBC.
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12
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Qiu J, Zhang Z, Hu A, Zhao P, Wei X, Song H, Yang J, Li Y. Integrating UPLC-HR-MS/MS, Network Pharmacology, and Experimental Validation to Uncover the Mechanisms of Jin'gan Capsules against Breast Cancer. ACS OMEGA 2022; 7:28003-28015. [PMID: 35990498 PMCID: PMC9386888 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.2c01921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
In the theory of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), "liver-qi" stagnation and heat-induced toxicity represent the main etiologies of breast cancer. Recently, several TCMs with heat-clearing and detoxification efficacy have shown inhibitory effects on breast cancer. Jin'gan capsules (JGCs), initially approved to treat colds in China, are a heat-clearing and detoxification TCM formula. However, the anticancer activity of JGCs against breast cancer and its underlying mechanisms remain unclear. First, we assessed the antiproliferative activity of JGCs in breast cancer cell lines and evaluated their effects on cell apoptosis and the cell cycle by flow cytometry. Furthermore, we identified the potential bioactive components of JGCs and their corresponding target genes and constructed a bioactive compound-target interaction network by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-HR-MS/MS) and network pharmacology analysis. Finally, the underlying mechanism was investigated through gene function enrichment analysis and experimental validation. We found that JGCs significantly inhibited breast cancer cell growth with IC50 values of 0.56 ± 0.03, 0.16 ± 0.03, and 0.94 ± 0.09 mg/mL for MDA-MB-231, MDA-MB-468, and MCF-7, respectively. In addition, JGC treatment dramatically induced apoptosis and S phase cell cycle arrest in breast cancer cells. Western blot analysis confirmed that JGCs could regulate the protein levels of apoptosis- and cell cycle-related genes. Utilizing UPLC-HR-MS/MS analysis and network pharmacology, we identified 7 potential bioactive ingredients in JGCs and 116 antibreast cancer targets. Functional enrichment analysis indicated that the antitumor effects of JGCs were strongly associated with apoptosis and the Janus kinase (JAK)-signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) signaling pathway. Western blot analysis validated that JGC treatment markedly decreased the expression levels of p-JAK2, p-STAT3, and STAT3. Our findings suggest that JGCs suppress breast cancer cell proliferation and induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis partly by inhibiting the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway, highlighting JGCs as a potential therapeutic candidate against breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianfei Qiu
- State
Key Laboratory of Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550014, China
- State
Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
- The
Key Laboratory of Chemistry for Natural Products of Guizhou Province
and Chinese Academic of Sciences & Key Laboratory of Endemic and
Ethnic Diseases, Ministry of Education & Key Laboratory of Medical
Molecular Biology of Guizhou Province, Guizhou
Medical University, Guiyang 550004, China
| | - Zhiyin Zhang
- Guiyang
Hospital of Guizhou Aviation Industry Group, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Anling Hu
- State
Key Laboratory of Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550014, China
- State
Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
- The
Key Laboratory of Chemistry for Natural Products of Guizhou Province
and Chinese Academic of Sciences & Key Laboratory of Endemic and
Ethnic Diseases, Ministry of Education & Key Laboratory of Medical
Molecular Biology of Guizhou Province, Guizhou
Medical University, Guiyang 550004, China
| | - Peng Zhao
- State
Key Laboratory of Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550014, China
- State
Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
- The
Key Laboratory of Chemistry for Natural Products of Guizhou Province
and Chinese Academic of Sciences & Key Laboratory of Endemic and
Ethnic Diseases, Ministry of Education & Key Laboratory of Medical
Molecular Biology of Guizhou Province, Guizhou
Medical University, Guiyang 550004, China
| | - Xuenai Wei
- State
Key Laboratory of Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550014, China
- State
Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
- The
Key Laboratory of Chemistry for Natural Products of Guizhou Province
and Chinese Academic of Sciences & Key Laboratory of Endemic and
Ethnic Diseases, Ministry of Education & Key Laboratory of Medical
Molecular Biology of Guizhou Province, Guizhou
Medical University, Guiyang 550004, China
| | - Hui Song
- The
Key Laboratory of Chemistry for Natural Products of Guizhou Province
and Chinese Academic of Sciences & Key Laboratory of Endemic and
Ethnic Diseases, Ministry of Education & Key Laboratory of Medical
Molecular Biology of Guizhou Province, Guizhou
Medical University, Guiyang 550004, China
| | - Jue Yang
- State
Key Laboratory of Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550014, China
- State
Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
- The
Key Laboratory of Chemistry for Natural Products of Guizhou Province
and Chinese Academic of Sciences & Key Laboratory of Endemic and
Ethnic Diseases, Ministry of Education & Key Laboratory of Medical
Molecular Biology of Guizhou Province, Guizhou
Medical University, Guiyang 550004, China
| | - Yanmei Li
- State
Key Laboratory of Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550014, China
- State
Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
- The
Key Laboratory of Chemistry for Natural Products of Guizhou Province
and Chinese Academic of Sciences & Key Laboratory of Endemic and
Ethnic Diseases, Ministry of Education & Key Laboratory of Medical
Molecular Biology of Guizhou Province, Guizhou
Medical University, Guiyang 550004, China
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13
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Dai T, Liu Y, Cao R, Cao J. CBX7 regulates metastasis of basal-like breast cancer through Twist1/EphA2 pathway. Transl Oncol 2022; 24:101468. [PMID: 35843065 PMCID: PMC9294549 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2022.101468] [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: 02/15/2022] [Revised: 06/02/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/09/2022] Open
Abstract
CBX7 was down-regulated, while twist and EphA2 were up-regulated in BLBC. EphA2 or twist silencing inhibited BLBC cell proliferation and metastasis. Twist bond to EphA2 and increased the expression of EphA2. CBX7 blocked the binding of twist to EphA2 and inhibited EphA2 expression. CBX7 regulated BLBC growth and metastasis via Twist/EphA2 axis.
Background Basal-like breast cancer (BLBC) is an important subtype of breast cancer. Twist1 is a key transcription factor in BLBC metastasis, which serves a key role in tumorigenesis. The potential mechanism of Twist1 in BLBC remains to be elucidated. Here, we explored the role and molecular mechanism of Twist1 in BLBC. Methods The levels of CBX7, Twist1 and EphA2 in BLBC tissues and cells were determined by Western blot. ChIP and dual-luciferase reporter assays confirmed the interaction between CBX7, Twist1 and EphA2 promoter. The cellular functions were analyzed by CCK-8, colony formation, wound healing and Transwell assays. Expression of EMT related proteins was analyzed by Western blot. IHC measured the expression of CBX7, Twist1 and EphA2 in tumor tissues. Results CBX7 was down-regulated in BLBC tissues and cells, whereas Twist1 and EphA2 were up-regulated. Twist1 silencing inhibited the cell migration, invasion and cancer metastasis of BLBC through targeting EphA2 and regulating EphA2 expression. Additionally, CBX7 blocked the binding of Twist1 to EphA2 promoter and inhibited EphA2 expression and suppressed BLBC growth and metastasis via Twist1/EphA2 axis. Conclusion CBX7 suppresses BLBC growth and metastasis through Twist1/EphA2 pathway. Our study may provide evidence and new therapeutic targets for the comprehensive treatment of BLBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Dai
- Department of Urology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Hunan Cancer Hospital, Changsha 410013 Hunan Province, PR China
| | - Yiqi Liu
- The Second Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, 421001, PR China
| | - Renxian Cao
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, PR China
| | - Jingying Cao
- Department of Medicine Clinical Laboratory, The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha 410013 Hunan Province, PR China.
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14
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Wen Y, Zhu M, Zhang X, Xiao H, Wei Y, Zhao P. Integrated analysis of multiple bioinformatics studies to identify microRNA-target gene-transcription factor regulatory networks in retinoblastoma. Transl Cancer Res 2022; 11:2225-2237. [PMID: 35966326 PMCID: PMC9372260 DOI: 10.21037/tcr-21-1748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Background In children, retinoblastoma (RB) is one of the most common primary malignant ocular tumors and has a poor prognosis and high mortality. To understand the molecular mechanisms of RB, we identified microRNAs (miRNAs), key genes and transcription factors (TFs) using bioinformatics analysis to build potential miRNA-gene-TF networks. Methods We collected three gene expression profiles and one miRNA expression profile from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. We used the limma R package to identify overlapping differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and differentially expressed miRNAs in RB tissues compared to noncancer tissues. The robust rank aggregation (RRA) method was implemented to identify key genes among the DEGs. Then, miRNA-key gene-TF networks were built using the online tools TransmiR and miRTarBase. Next, we used RT-qPCR to confirm the results. Results We identified 180 DEGs in RB tissues compared to nontumor tissues using integrative analysis, among which 109 genes were upregulated and 71 were downregulated. Gene ontology (GO) analysis revealed that these DEGs were primarily involved with chromosome segregation, condensed chromosome and DNA replication origin binding. The most highly enriched pathways obtained in Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis were cell cycle, DNA replication, homologous recombination, P53 signaling pathway and pyrimidine metabolism. Furthermore, two key differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) were also established: let-7a and let-7b. Finally, the potential regulatory networks of miRNA-target gene-TFs were examined. Conclusions This study identified key genes and built miRNA-target gene-TF regulatory networks in RB, which will deepen our understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in the development of RB. These key genes and miRNAs may be potential targets and biomarkers for RB diagnosis and therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanjun Wen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai Xinhua Hospital, Affiliated to Medicine School of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Maolin Zhu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai Xinhua Hospital, Affiliated to Medicine School of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xuerui Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai Xinhua Hospital, Affiliated to Medicine School of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Haodong Xiao
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai Xinhua Hospital, Affiliated to Medicine School of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yan Wei
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai Xinhua Hospital, Affiliated to Medicine School of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Peiquan Zhao
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai Xinhua Hospital, Affiliated to Medicine School of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
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15
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Wang Y, Jiang X, Jia L, Wu X, Wu H, Wang Y, Li Q, Yu R, Wang H, Xiao Z, Liang X. A Single-Cell Characterization of Human Post-implantation Embryos Cultured In Vitro Delineates Morphogenesis in Primary Syncytialization. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:835445. [PMID: 35784461 PMCID: PMC9240912 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.835445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Implantation of the human blastocyst is a milestone event in embryonic development. The trophoblast is the first cell lineage to differentiate during implantation. Failures in trophoblast differentiation during implantation are correlated to the defects of pregnancy and embryonic growth. However, many gaps remain in the knowledge of human embryonic development, especially regarding trophoblast morphogenesis and function. Herein, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis on human post-implantation embryos cultured in vitro. A hierarchical model was established, which was characterized by the sequential development of two primitive cytotrophoblast cell (pCTB) subtypes, two primitive syncytiotrophoblast subtypes, and migrative trophoblast cells (MTB) after the trophectoderm . Further analysis characterized cytoskeleton transition of trophoblast cells and morphogenesis, such as irregular nuclei, cell cycle arrest, and cellular aging during implantation. Moreover, we found syncytialization of hTSCs could mimic the morphogenesis, serving as a powerful tool for further understanding of the mechanism during the implantation stage of pregnancy. Our work allows for the reconstruction of trophoblast cell transcriptional transition and morphogenesis during implantation and provides a valuable resource to study pathologies in early pregnancy, such as recurrent implantation failure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiming Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Xiangxiang Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Lei Jia
- Reproductive Medical Center, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xulun Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Hao Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Yue Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Qian Li
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Ruoxuan Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Hongmei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Hongmei Wang, ; Xiaoyan Liang, ; Zhenyu Xiao,
| | - Zhenyu Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing, China
- School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Hongmei Wang, ; Xiaoyan Liang, ; Zhenyu Xiao,
| | - Xiaoyan Liang
- Reproductive Medical Center, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Hongmei Wang, ; Xiaoyan Liang, ; Zhenyu Xiao,
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16
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Gli1 promotes epithelial–mesenchymal transition and metastasis of non-small cell lung carcinoma by regulating Snail transcriptional activity and stability. Acta Pharm Sin B 2022; 12:3877-3890. [PMID: 36213531 PMCID: PMC9532560 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2022.05.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Revised: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Metastasis is crucial for the mortality of non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) patients. The epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays a critical role in regulating tumor metastasis. Glioma-associated oncogene 1 (Gli1) is aberrantly active in a series of tumor tissues. However, the molecular regulatory relationships between Gli1 and NSCLC metastasis have not yet been identified. Herein, we reported Gli1 promoted NSCLC metastasis. High Gli1 expression was associated with poor survival of NSCLC patients. Ectopic expression of Gli1 in low metastatic A549 and NCI-H460 cells enhanced their migration, invasion abilities and facilitated EMT process, whereas knock-down of Gli1 in high metastatic NCI-H1299 and NCI-H1703 cells showed an opposite effect. Notably, Gli1 overexpression accelerated the lung and liver metastasis of NSCLC in the intravenously injected metastasis model. Further research showed that Gli1 positively regulated Snail expression by binding to its promoter and enhancing its protein stability, thereby facilitating the migration, invasion and EMT of NSCLC. In addition, administration of GANT-61, a Gli1 inhibitor, obviously suppressed the metastasis of NSCLC. Collectively, our study reveals that Gli1 is a critical regulator for NSCLC metastasis and suggests that targeting Gli1 is a prospective therapy strategy for metastatic NSCLC.
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17
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Kim CH, Kim DE, Kim DH, Min GH, Park JW, Kim YB, Sung CK, Yim H. Mitotic protein kinase-driven crosstalk of machineries for mitosis and metastasis. Exp Mol Med 2022; 54:414-425. [PMID: 35379935 PMCID: PMC9076678 DOI: 10.1038/s12276-022-00750-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Accumulating evidence indicates that mitotic protein kinases are involved in metastatic migration as well as tumorigenesis. Protein kinases and cytoskeletal proteins play a role in the efficient release of metastatic cells from a tumor mass in the tumor microenvironment, in addition to playing roles in mitosis. Mitotic protein kinases, including Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) and Aurora kinases, have been shown to be involved in metastasis in addition to cell proliferation and tumorigenesis, depending on the phosphorylation status and cellular context. Although the genetic programs underlying mitosis and metastasis are different, the same protein kinases and cytoskeletal proteins can participate in both mitosis and cell migration/invasion, resulting in migratory tumors. Cytoskeletal remodeling supports several cellular events, including cell division, movement, and migration. Thus, understanding the contributions of cytoskeletal proteins to the processes of cell division and metastatic motility is crucial for developing efficient therapeutic tools to treat cancer metastases. Here, we identify mitotic kinases that function in cancer metastasis as well as tumorigenesis. Several mitotic kinases, namely, PLK1, Aurora kinases, Rho-associated protein kinase 1, and integrin-linked kinase, are considered in this review, as an understanding of the shared machineries between mitosis and metastasis could be helpful for developing new strategies to treat cancer. Improving understanding of the mechanisms linking cell division and cancer spread (metastasis) could provide novel strategies for treatment. A group of enzymes involved in cell division (mitosis) are also thought to play critical roles in the spread of cancers. Hyungshin Yim at Hanyang University in Ansan, South Korea, and co-workers in Korea and the USA reviewed the roles of several mitotic enzymes that are connected with metastasis as well as tumorigenesis. They discussed how these enzymes modify cytoskeletal proteins and other substrates during cancer progression. Some regulatory control of cell cytoskeletal structures is required for cancer cells to metastasize. Recent research has uncovered crosstalk between mitotic enzymes and metastatic cytoskeletal molecules in various cancers. Targeting mitotic enzymes and the ways they influence cytoskeletal mechanisms could provide valuable therapeutic strategies for suppressing metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang-Hyeon Kim
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Institute of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hanyang University, Ansan, Gyeonggi-do, 15588, Korea
| | - Da-Eun Kim
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Institute of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hanyang University, Ansan, Gyeonggi-do, 15588, Korea
| | - Dae-Hoon Kim
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Institute of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hanyang University, Ansan, Gyeonggi-do, 15588, Korea
| | - Ga-Hong Min
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Institute of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hanyang University, Ansan, Gyeonggi-do, 15588, Korea
| | - Jung-Won Park
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Institute of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hanyang University, Ansan, Gyeonggi-do, 15588, Korea
| | - Yeo-Bin Kim
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Institute of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hanyang University, Ansan, Gyeonggi-do, 15588, Korea
| | - Chang K Sung
- Department of Biological and Health Sciences, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Kingsville, TX, 78363, USA
| | - Hyungshin Yim
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Institute of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hanyang University, Ansan, Gyeonggi-do, 15588, Korea.
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Gupta D, Kumar M, Singh M, Salman M, Das U, Kaur P. Identification of polypharmacological anticancerous molecules against Aurora kinase family of proteins. J Cell Biochem 2022; 123:719-735. [PMID: 35040172 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.30214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Revised: 12/27/2021] [Accepted: 12/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
The Human Aurora Kinase (AURK) protein family is the key player of cell cycle events including spindle assembly, kinetochore formation, chromosomal segregation, centrosome separation, microtubule dynamics, and cytokinesis. Their aberrant expression has been extensively linked with chromosomal instability in addition to derangement of multiple tumor suppressors and oncoprotein regulated pathways. Therefore, the AURK family of kinases is a promising target for the treatment of various types of cancer. Over the past few decades, several potential inhibitors of AURK proteins have been identified and have reached various phases of clinical trials. But very few molecules have currently crossed the safety criteria due to their various toxic side effects. In the present study, we have adopted a computational polypharmacological strategy and identified four novel molecules that can target all three AURKs. These molecules were further investigated for their binding stabilities at the ATP binding pocket using molecular dynamics based simulation studies. The molecules selected adopting a multipronged computational approach can be considered as potential AURKs inhibitors for cancer therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deepali Gupta
- Department of Biophysics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Mukesh Kumar
- Department of Biophysics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Mandeep Singh
- Department of Biophysics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Mohd Salman
- Department of Biophysics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Uddipan Das
- Department of Biophysics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Punit Kaur
- Department of Biophysics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
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Zhang M, Meng M, Liu Y, Qi J, Zhao Z, Qiao Y, Hu Y, Lu W, Zhou Z, Xu P, Zhou Q. Triptonide effectively inhibits triple-negative breast cancer metastasis through concurrent degradation of Twist1 and Notch1 oncoproteins. Breast Cancer Res 2021; 23:116. [PMID: 34922602 PMCID: PMC8684143 DOI: 10.1186/s13058-021-01488-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 11/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is highly metastatic and lethal. Due to a lack of druggable targets for this disease, there are no effective therapies in the clinic. Methods We used TNBC cells and xenografted mice as models to explore triptonide-mediated inhibition of TNBC metastasis and tumor growth. Colony formation assay was used to quantify the tumorigenesis of TNBC cells. Wound-healing and cell trans-well assays were utilized to measure cell migration and invasion. Tube formation assay was applied to access tumor cell-mediated vasculogenic mimicry. Western blot, quantitative-PCR, immunofluorescence imaging, and immunohistochemical staining were used to measure the expression levels of various tumorigenic genes in TNBC cells. Results Here, we showed that triptonide, a small molecule from the traditional Chinese medicinal herb Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F, potently inhibited TNBC cell migration, invasion, and vasculogenic mimicry, and effectively suppressed TNBC tumor growth and lung metastasis in xenografted mice with no observable toxicity. Molecular mechanistic studies revealed that triptonide strongly triggered the degradation of master epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-inducing protein Twist1 through the lysosomal system and reduced Notch1 expression and NF-κB phosphorylation, which consequently diminished the expression of pro-metastatic and angiogenic genes N-cadherin, VE-cadherin, and vascular endothelial cell growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2). Conclusions Triptonide effectively suppressed TNBC cell tumorigenesis, vasculogenic mimicry, and strongly inhibited the metastasis of TNBC via degradation of Twist1 and Notch1 oncoproteins, downregulation of metastatic and angiogenic gene expression, and reduction of NF-κB signaling pathway. Our findings provide a new strategy for treating highly lethal TNBC and offer a potential new drug candidate for combatting this aggressive disease. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13058-021-01488-7.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengli Zhang
- Cyrus Tang Hematology Center, Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, Key Laboratory of Thrombosis and Hemostasis, Ministry of Health, 2011 Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, Soochow University, 199 Ren Ai Road, Suzhou Industrial Park, Suzhou, 215123, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Mei Meng
- Cyrus Tang Hematology Center, Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, Key Laboratory of Thrombosis and Hemostasis, Ministry of Health, 2011 Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, Soochow University, 199 Ren Ai Road, Suzhou Industrial Park, Suzhou, 215123, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuxi Liu
- Cyrus Tang Hematology Center, Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, Key Laboratory of Thrombosis and Hemostasis, Ministry of Health, 2011 Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, Soochow University, 199 Ren Ai Road, Suzhou Industrial Park, Suzhou, 215123, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Jindan Qi
- School of Nursing, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhe Zhao
- Cyrus Tang Hematology Center, Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, Key Laboratory of Thrombosis and Hemostasis, Ministry of Health, 2011 Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, Soochow University, 199 Ren Ai Road, Suzhou Industrial Park, Suzhou, 215123, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Yingnan Qiao
- Cyrus Tang Hematology Center, Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, Key Laboratory of Thrombosis and Hemostasis, Ministry of Health, 2011 Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, Soochow University, 199 Ren Ai Road, Suzhou Industrial Park, Suzhou, 215123, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Yanxing Hu
- Cyrus Tang Hematology Center, Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, Key Laboratory of Thrombosis and Hemostasis, Ministry of Health, 2011 Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, Soochow University, 199 Ren Ai Road, Suzhou Industrial Park, Suzhou, 215123, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Lu
- Cyrus Tang Hematology Center, Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, Key Laboratory of Thrombosis and Hemostasis, Ministry of Health, 2011 Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, Soochow University, 199 Ren Ai Road, Suzhou Industrial Park, Suzhou, 215123, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhou Zhou
- Cyrus Tang Hematology Center, Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, Key Laboratory of Thrombosis and Hemostasis, Ministry of Health, 2011 Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, Soochow University, 199 Ren Ai Road, Suzhou Industrial Park, Suzhou, 215123, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Peng Xu
- Cyrus Tang Hematology Center, Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, Key Laboratory of Thrombosis and Hemostasis, Ministry of Health, 2011 Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, Soochow University, 199 Ren Ai Road, Suzhou Industrial Park, Suzhou, 215123, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
| | - Quansheng Zhou
- Cyrus Tang Hematology Center, Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, Key Laboratory of Thrombosis and Hemostasis, Ministry of Health, 2011 Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, Soochow University, 199 Ren Ai Road, Suzhou Industrial Park, Suzhou, 215123, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China. .,State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, School of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China. .,National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
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20
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Jézéquel P, Gouraud W, Azzouz FB, Basseville A, Juin PP, Lasla H, Campone M. [Interest of the bc-GenExMiner web tool in oncology]. Bull Cancer 2021; 108:1057-1064. [PMID: 34561023 DOI: 10.1016/j.bulcan.2021.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Revised: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
We are taking advantage of the launch of the latest version (v4.6) of our web-based data mining tool "breast cancer gene-expression miner" (bc-GenExMiner) to take stock of its position within the oncology research landscape and to present an activity report ten years after its establishment (http://bcgenex.ico.unicancer.fr). bc-GenExMiner is an open-access, user-friendly tool for statistical mining on breast tumor transcriptomes, annotated with more than 20 clinicopathologic and molecular characteristics. The database comprises more than 16,000 patients from 64 cohorts - including TCGA, METABRIC and SCAN-B - for whom several thousands of genes have been quantified by microarrays or RNA-seq. Correlation, expression and prognostic analyses are available for targeted, exhaustive or customized explorations of queried genes. bc-GenExMiner facilitates the validation, investigation, and prioritization of discoveries and hypotheses on genes of interest. It allows users to analyse large databases, create data visualizations, and obtain robust statistical analysis, thereby accelerating biomarker discovery. Ten years after its launch, judging by the number of visits, analyses, and scientific citations of bc-GenExMiner, we conclude that this web resource serves its purpose in the international scientific community working in breast cancer research, with a never-ending rise in its use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pascal Jézéquel
- Institut de cancérologie de l'Ouest, unité de bioinfomique, boulevard Jacques-Monod, 44805 Saint-Herblain cedex, France; Université de Nantes, université d'Angers, institut de recherche en santé-Université de Nantes, CRCINA, UMR 1232 Inserm, 8, quai Moncousu - BP 70721, 44007 Nantes cedex 1, France; SIRIC ILIAD, Nantes, Angers, France.
| | - Wilfried Gouraud
- Institut de cancérologie de l'Ouest, unité de bioinfomique, boulevard Jacques-Monod, 44805 Saint-Herblain cedex, France; SIRIC ILIAD, Nantes, Angers, France
| | - Fadoua Ben Azzouz
- Institut de cancérologie de l'Ouest, unité de bioinfomique, boulevard Jacques-Monod, 44805 Saint-Herblain cedex, France; SIRIC ILIAD, Nantes, Angers, France
| | - Agnès Basseville
- Institut de cancérologie de l'Ouest, unité de bioinfomique, boulevard Jacques-Monod, 44805 Saint-Herblain cedex, France
| | - Philippe P Juin
- Université de Nantes, université d'Angers, institut de recherche en santé-Université de Nantes, CRCINA, UMR 1232 Inserm, 8, quai Moncousu - BP 70721, 44007 Nantes cedex 1, France; SIRIC ILIAD, Nantes, Angers, France
| | - Hamza Lasla
- Institut de cancérologie de l'Ouest, unité de bioinfomique, boulevard Jacques-Monod, 44805 Saint-Herblain cedex, France; SIRIC ILIAD, Nantes, Angers, France
| | - Mario Campone
- Université de Nantes, université d'Angers, institut de recherche en santé-Université de Nantes, CRCINA, UMR 1232 Inserm, 8, quai Moncousu - BP 70721, 44007 Nantes cedex 1, France; SIRIC ILIAD, Nantes, Angers, France; Institut de cancérologie de l'Ouest - René-Gauducheau, oncologie médicale, boulevard Jacques-Monod, 44805 Saint-Herblain cedex, France
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21
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Jusino S, Rivera-Rivera Y, Chardón-Colón C, Ruiz-Justiz AJ, Vélez-Velázquez J, Isidro A, Cruz-Robles ME, Bonilla-Claudio M, Armaiz-Pena GN, Saavedra HI. E2F3 drives the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, cell invasion, and metastasis in breast cancer. Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2021; 246:2057-2071. [PMID: 34365840 DOI: 10.1177/15353702211035693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
E2F3 is a transcription factor that may initiate tumorigenesis if overexpressed. Previously, we demonstrated that E2F3 mRNA is overexpressed in breast cancer and that E2F3 overexpression results in centrosome amplification and unregulated mitosis, which can promote aneuploidy and chromosome instability to initiate and sustain tumors. Further, we demonstrated that E2F3 leads to overexpression of the mitotic regulator Shugoshin-1, which until recently had unknown roles in cancer. This study aims to evaluate the roles of E2F3 and Shugoshin-1 in breast cancer metastatic potential. Here we demonstrated that E2F3 and Shugoshin-1 silencing leads to reduced cell invasion and migration in two mesenchymal triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cell lines (MDA-MB-231 and Hs578t). Moreover, E2F3 and Shugoshin-1 modulate the expression of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition-associated genes such as Snail, E-Cadherin, and multiple matrix metalloproteinases. Furthermore, E2F3 depletion leads to reductions in tumor growth and metastasis in NOD-scid Gamma mice. Results from this study suggest a key role for E2F3 and a novel role for Shugoshin-1 in metastatic progression. These results can further help in the improvement of TNBC targeted therapies by interfering with pathways that intersect with the E2F3 and Shugoshin-1 signaling pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shirley Jusino
- Department of Basic Sciences, Division of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Ponce Health Sciences University-Ponce Research Institute, Ponce 00716-2348, Puerto Rico
| | - Yainyrette Rivera-Rivera
- Department of Basic Sciences, Division of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Ponce Health Sciences University-Ponce Research Institute, Ponce 00716-2348, Puerto Rico
| | - Camille Chardón-Colón
- Department of Basic Sciences, Division of Biochemistry, Ponce Health Sciences University-Ponce Research Institute, Ponce 00716-2348, Puerto Rico
| | | | | | - Angel Isidro
- Department of Basic Sciences, Division of Physiology, Ponce Health Sciences University-Ponce Research Institute, Ponce 00716-2348, Puerto Rico
| | - Melanie E Cruz-Robles
- Department of Basic Sciences, Division of Microbiology, Ponce Health Sciences University-Ponce Research Institute, Ponce 00716-2348, Puerto Rico
| | - Margarita Bonilla-Claudio
- Department of Basic Sciences, Division of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Ponce Health Sciences University-Ponce Research Institute, Ponce 00716-2348, Puerto Rico
| | - Guillermo N Armaiz-Pena
- Department of Basic Sciences, Division of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Ponce Health Sciences University-Ponce Research Institute, Ponce 00716-2348, Puerto Rico
| | - Harold I Saavedra
- Department of Basic Sciences, Division of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Ponce Health Sciences University-Ponce Research Institute, Ponce 00716-2348, Puerto Rico
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22
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Colón-Marrero S, Jusino S, Rivera-Rivera Y, Saavedra HI. Mitotic kinases as drivers of the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and as therapeutic targets against breast cancers. Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2021; 246:1036-1044. [PMID: 33601912 DOI: 10.1177/1535370221991094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Biological therapies against breast cancer patients with tumors positive for the estrogen and progesterone hormone receptors and Her2 amplification have greatly improved their survival. However, to date, there are no effective biological therapies against breast cancers that lack these three receptors or triple-negative breast cancers (TNBC). TNBC correlates with poor survival, in part because they relapse following chemo- and radio-therapies. TNBC is intrinsically aggressive since they have high mitotic indexes and tend to metastasize to the central nervous system. TNBCs are more likely to display centrosome amplification, an abnormal phenotype that results in defective mitotic spindles and abnormal cytokinesis, which culminate in aneuploidy and chromosome instability (known causes of tumor initiation and chemo-resistance). Besides their known role in cell cycle control, mitotic kinases have been also studied in different types of cancer including breast, especially in the context of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). EMT is a cellular process characterized by the loss of cell polarity, reorganization of the cytoskeleton, and signaling reprogramming (upregulation of mesenchymal genes and downregulation of epithelial genes). Previously, we and others have shown the effects of mitotic kinases like Nek2 and Mps1 (TTK) on EMT. In this review, we focus on Aurora A, Aurora B, Bub1, and highly expressed in cancer (Hec1) as novel targets for therapeutic interventions in breast cancer and their effects on EMT. We highlight the established relationships and interactions of these and other mitotic kinases, clinical trial studies involving mitotic kinases, and the importance that represents to develop drugs against these proteins as potential targets in the primary care therapy for TNBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Colón-Marrero
- Department of Basic Sciences, Division of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, 6650Ponce Health Sciences University/Ponce Research Institute, Ponce, PR 00732, USA
| | - Shirley Jusino
- Department of Basic Sciences, Division of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, 6650Ponce Health Sciences University/Ponce Research Institute, Ponce, PR 00732, USA
| | - Yainyrette Rivera-Rivera
- Department of Basic Sciences, Division of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, 6650Ponce Health Sciences University/Ponce Research Institute, Ponce, PR 00732, USA
| | - Harold I Saavedra
- Department of Basic Sciences, Division of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, 6650Ponce Health Sciences University/Ponce Research Institute, Ponce, PR 00732, USA
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Shah K, Ahmed M, Kazi JU. The Aurora kinase/β-catenin axis contributes to dexamethasone resistance in leukemia. NPJ Precis Oncol 2021; 5:13. [PMID: 33597638 PMCID: PMC7889633 DOI: 10.1038/s41698-021-00148-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Accepted: 01/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Glucocorticoids, such as dexamethasone and prednisolone, are widely used in cancer treatment. Different hematological malignancies respond differently to this treatment which, as could be expected, correlates with treatment outcome. In this study, we have used a glucocorticoid-induced gene signature to develop a deep learning model that can predict dexamethasone sensitivity. By combining gene expression data from cell lines and patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, we observed that the model is useful for the classification of patients. Predicted samples have been used to detect deregulated pathways that lead to dexamethasone resistance. Gene set enrichment analysis, peptide substrate-based kinase profiling assay, and western blot analysis identified Aurora kinase, S6K, p38, and β-catenin as key signaling proteins involved in dexamethasone resistance. Deep learning-enabled drug synergy prediction followed by in vitro drug synergy analysis identified kinase inhibitors against Aurora kinase, JAK, S6K, and mTOR that displayed synergy with dexamethasone. Combining pathway enrichment, kinase regulation, and kinase inhibition data, we propose that Aurora kinase or its several direct or indirect downstream kinase effectors such as mTOR, S6K, p38, and JAK may be involved in β-catenin stabilization through phosphorylation-dependent inactivation of GSK-3β. Collectively, our data suggest that activation of the Aurora kinase/β-catenin axis during dexamethasone treatment may contribute to cell survival signaling which is possibly maintained in patients who are resistant to dexamethasone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kinjal Shah
- Division of Translational Cancer Research, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Lund Stem Cell Center, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Mehreen Ahmed
- Division of Translational Cancer Research, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Lund Stem Cell Center, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Julhash U Kazi
- Division of Translational Cancer Research, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
- Lund Stem Cell Center, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
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The SNAIL1 promoter contains G-quadruplex structures regulating its gene expression and DNA replication. Exp Cell Res 2020; 394:112158. [PMID: 32610184 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2020.112158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2020] [Revised: 06/23/2020] [Accepted: 06/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
SNAIL1 is a key regulator of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and its expression is associated with tumor progression and poor clinical prognosis of cancer patients. Compared to the studies of SNAIL1 stability and its transcriptional regulation, very limited knowledge is available regarding effective approaches to directly target SNAIL1. In this study, we revealed the potential regulation of SNAIL1 gene expression by G-quadruplex structures in its promoter. We first revealed that the negative strand of the SNAIL1 promoter contained a multi-G-tract region with high potential of forming G-quadruplex structures. In circular dichroism studies, the oligonucleotide based on this region showed characteristic molar ellipticity at specific wavelengths of G-quadruplex structures. We also utilized native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, gel-shift assays, immunofluorescent staining, dimethyl sulfate footprinting and chromatin immunoprecipitation studies to verify the G-quadruplex structures formed by the oligonucleotide. In reporter assays, disruption of G-quadruplex potential increased SNAIL1 promoter-mediated transcription, suggesting that G-quadruplexes played a negative role in SNAIL1 expression. In a DNA synthesis study, we detected G-quadruplex-mediated retardation in the SNAIL1 promoter replication. Consistently, we discovered that the G-quadruplex region of the SNAIL1 promoter is highly enriched for mutations, implicating the clinical relevance of G-quadruplexes to the altered SNAIL1 expression in cancer cells.
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Wang Z, Yu Z, Wang GH, Zhou YM, Deng JP, Feng Y, Chen JQ, Tian L. AURKB Promotes the Metastasis of Gastric Cancer, Possibly by Inducing EMT. Cancer Manag Res 2020; 12:6947-6958. [PMID: 32801915 PMCID: PMC7415439 DOI: 10.2147/cmar.s254250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2020] [Accepted: 07/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
AIM To investigate the function of Aurora kinase B (AURKB) in gastric cancer (GC). METHODS Immunohistochemistry was used to assay the expression of AURKB in 50 pairs of GC and adjacent tissues, and qRT-PCR was conducted to test AURKB expression in normal gastric epithelial and GC cell lines. Two segments of small interference RNAs (siRNAs) targeting AURKB were synthesized and inserted into GV248 lentivirus vector. After transfected with LV-AURKB-RNAis, CCK8, wound healing, transwell and flow cytometric assays were performed to determine the influence of silencing AURKB on cell proliferation, invasion, migration, cell cycles and apoptosis of GC cells, and the expression of EMT (epithelial-mesenchymal transition)-related markers was demonstrated by Western blots (WB). RESULTS AURKB was highly expressed in GC and closely associated with lymph node metastasis and advanced stages of GC. Down-regulating AURKB suppressed the proliferation and promoted the apoptosis of GC cells, arrested the cell cycle in G2/M phase, and inhibited the invasion and migration of GC cells. The expression levels of AKT1, mTOR, Myc, MMP2, and VEGFA were decreased, while the expression levels of OCLN and JUP were increased after knocking down of AURKB in both AGC and MKN45 cells. CONCLUSION AURKB is overexpressed in GC and closely associated with clinicopathologic characteristics of GC. It is likely that by inhibiting VEGFA/Akt/mTOR and Wnt/β-catenin/Myc pathways, silenced AURKB could inhibit the invasive and migratory abilities of GC cells. However, because of the small sample size and the absence of in-vivo experiments, these results should be verified by further studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Wang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhu Yu
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People’s Republic of China
| | - Gong-he Wang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yi-ming Zhou
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jian-ping Deng
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yue Feng
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jun-qiang Chen
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People’s Republic of China
| | - Lei Tian
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People’s Republic of China
- Correspondence: Lei Tian; Jun-qiang Chen Email ;
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Lin E, Li Z, Huang Y, Ru G, He P. High Dosages of Equine Chorionic Gonadotropin Exert Adverse Effects on the Developmental Competence of IVF-Derived Mouse Embryos and Cause Oxidative Stress-Induced Aneuploidy. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:609290. [PMID: 33634101 PMCID: PMC7900142 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.609290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Gonadotropins play vital roles in the regulation of female reproductive ability and fertility. Our study aimed to determine the effects of superovulation induced by increasing doses of equine chorionic gonadotropin [eCG; also referred to as pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG)] on the developmental competence of mouse embryos and on aneuploidy formation during in vitro fertilization (IVF). eCG dose-dependently enhanced the oocyte yield from each mouse. Administration of 15 IU eCG significantly reduced the fertilization rate and the formation of four-cell embryos and blastocysts and increased the risk of chromosome aneuploidy. The IVF-derived blastocysts in the 15 IU eCG treatment group had the fewest total cells, inner cell mass (ICM) cells and trophectoderm (TE) cells. Moreover, more blastocysts and fewer apoptotic cells were observed in the 0, 5, and 10 IU eCG treatment groups than in the 15 IU eCG treatment group. We also investigated reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and variations in several variables: mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP); active mitochondria; mitochondrial superoxide production; adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content; spindle structures; chromosome karyotypes; microfilament distribution; and the expression of Aurora B [an important component of the chromosomal passenger complex (CPC)], the spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) protein mitotic arrest deficient 2 like 1 (MAD2L1), and the DNA damage response (DDR) protein γH2AX. Injection of 15 IU eCG increased ROS levels, rapidly reduced MMP, increased active mitochondria numbers and mitochondrial superoxide production, reduced ATP content, increased abnormal spindle formation rates, and induced abnormalities in chromosome number and microfilament distribution, suggesting that a high dose of eCG might alter developmental competence and exert negative effects on IVF-obtained mouse embryos. Additionally, the appearance of γH2AX and the significantly increased expression of Aurora B and MAD2L1 suggested that administration of relatively high doses of eCG caused Aurora B-mediated SAC activation triggered by ROS-induced DNA damage in early mouse IVF-derived embryos for self-correction of aneuploidy formation. These findings improve our understanding of the application of gonadotropins and provide a theoretical basis for gonadotropin treatment.
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