ETV7 reduces inflammatory responses in breast cancer cells by repressing the TNFR1/NF-κB axis

Transcription factor ELF4 in physiology and diseases: Molecular roles and clinical implications

Transcription factor E74 like ETS transcription factor 4 (ELF4), a member of the ETS family, is highly expressed in normal human hematopoietic tissue, ovary, placenta, colon, and certain pathological cell lines. During normal physiological processes, ELF4 regulates differentiation in osteogenic, adipocyte, and neuronal types. It also exerts a critical impact on the development of the immune system. However, its function is dysregulated through posttranslational modifications, gene fusions, and complex signaling crosstalk under pathological conditions. Furthermore, serving as a double-edged sword in cancer, ELF4 exhibits both tumor-suppressing and tumor-promoting effects. Specifically, ELF4 plays a critical role in cancer metastasis, proliferation, and modulation of the tumor microenvironment. This review provides an in-depth overview of the molecular structure and post-translational modifications of ELF4. It also summarizes the hallmarks of ELF4 in physiology and diseases, with a particular focus on its significance in oncology. Notably, this review underscores the potential of ELF4 as a prognostic biomarker, highlighting its clinical relevance. Finally, it discusses unresolved questions and future research directions of ELF4. An in-depth understanding of ELF4 biology could facilitate its clinical translation and offer promising targeted therapeutic strategies.

ETS-1 in tumor immunology: implications for novel anti-cancer strategies

ETS-1, a key member of the Erythroblast Transformation-Specific (ETS) transcription factor family, plays an important role in cell biology and medical research due to its wide expression profile and strong transcriptional regulation ability. It regulates fundamental biological processes, including cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis, and is involved in tumorigenesis and metastasis, promoting malignant behaviors such as angiogenesis, matrix degradation, and cell migration. Given the association between ETS-1 overexpression and the aggressive characteristics of multiple malignancies, it represents a promising therapeutic target in cancer treatment. This study aims to systematically analyze the role of ETS-1 within the tumor immune microenvironment, elucidating its mechanisms in cancer initiation, progression, and metastasis. It also investigates the differential expression of ETS-1 across tumor tissues and adjacent normal tissues, exploring its potential as a molecular marker for tumor diagnosis and prognosis.

LMAN2 interacts with HEATR3 to expedite HER2-positive breast cancer advancement and inflammation and Akt/ERK/NF-κB signaling

The paper aimed to reveal the impacts and the possible mechanism of action of lectin mannose-binding 2 protein (LMAN2) in HER2-positive breast cancer (BC). The expression, prognostic potential of LMAN2, and the correlation between LMAN2 and HEAT repeat containing 3 (HEATR3) in BC were analyzed in TCGA database. Intact, Mentha, and BioGrid databases predicted LMAN2-HEATR3 interactions. Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR and Western blot examined LMAN2 expression. Cell Counting Kit-8, 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine staining, wound healing, and transwell assays, respectively, detected the aggressive cellular biological behaviors including proliferation, migration, and invasion. Western blot analyzed the expression of matrix metalloproteinases, HEATR3, and protein kinase B (Akt)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)/nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) signaling-related proteins. Co-immunoprecipitation assay was used to prove the relationship of LMAN2 with HEATR3. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay detected inflammatory cytokine levels. LMAN2 was overexpressed in HER2-positive BC tissues and cells and indicated unfavorable prognosis of BC patients. LMAN2 knockdown suppressed HER2-positive BC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. LMAN2 interacted with and had a positive correlation with HEATR3. HEATR3 up-regulation reversed the repressive role of LMAN2 interference in the progression of HER2-positive BC, Akt/ERK/NF-κB signaling, and inflammatory response. Altogether, LMAN2 silencing might exert anti-tumor and anti-inflammatory properties and inactivate Akt/ERK/NF-κB signaling in HER2-positive BC via binding to HEATR3.

HPV-Associated Gene Signatures in Bladder Cancer: A Comprehensive Prognostic Model and its Implications in Immunotherapy

Background: Evidence increasingly indicates that HPV infection plays a pivotal role in the initiation and progression of bladder cancer (BC). Yet, determining the predictive value of HPV-associated genes in BC remains challenging. Methods: We identified differentially expressed HPV-associated genes of BC patients from the TCGA and GEO databases. We screened prognostic genes using COX and LASSO regression, subsequently establishing a risk prediction model. The model's precision and clinical relevance were gauged using Kaplan-Meier survival analyses and ROC curves. Functional enrichment, immune cell infiltration, and drug sensitivity analyses were performed across both high-risk and low-risk sets. PCR assays were utilized to measure the expression levels of genes. Results: We identified 13 HPV-associated genes for our risk model. Among these, FLRT2, HOXC5, LDLR, SCD, GRM7, DSC1, EMP1, and HMGA1 were identified as risk contributors, while LPA, SERPINA6, ZNF124, ETV7, and SCO2 were deemed protective. Cox regression analysis verified that our model provides an independent prediction of overall survival (OS) in bladder cancer (BC) patients. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis revealed predominant gene enrichment in wound healing, extracellular matrix composition, and collagen-rich extracellular matrices. KEGG pathway analysis highlighted primary enrichment areas, including focal adhesion, the PI3K-Akt signalling pathway, and ECM-receptor interaction. Risk scores were correlated with tumor microenvironment (TME) scores, immune cell infiltration, and sensitivities to both chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Conclusion: We have formulated a risk-assessment model pinpointing 13 central HPV-associated genes in BC. These genes present potential as prognostic indicators and therapeutic targets, emphasizing the intertwined relationship between HPV-induced BC progression and the immune landscape.

Anoikis-related genes linked with patient outcome in pancreatic cancer

Anoikis is programmed cell death occurring upon cell detachment from the extracellular matrix. Cancer cells need to evade anoikis to be able to metastasize to distant sites. However, the molecular features and prognostic value of anoikis-related genes (ARGs) in pancreatic cancer remain unclear. In this study, we utilized transcriptome data from the TCGA and GSE102238 databases to identify 64 ARGs significantly associated with prognosis. We used the "ConsensusClusterPlus" R package to stratify patients into high and low-risk prognostic subgroups. The KEGG and GSEA analyses revealed that the clusters with poor prognosis were enriched for the ECM receptor interaction pathway, the TP53 signaling pathway, and the galactose metabolism pathway, and that the cell cycle pathway was upregulated. A prognostic model consisting of seven ARGs (SERPINE1, EGF, E2F1, MSLN, RAB27B, ETV7, MST1) was constructed using LASSO regression and when combined with clinicopathological parameters using Cox regression, a prognostic Nomogram was created, which demonstrated high prognostic utility. Among the biomarker candidates, we report ETV7 as a novel, independent prognostic marker in pancreatic cancer. ETV7 was highly expressed in KRAS and TP53 co-occurrent mutant TCGA patients, indicating that it may be regulated by the two major driver genes of pancreatic cancer. Therefore, targeting ETV7 could be a potential focus for future therapeutic studies.

Tetramethylpyrazine inhibits the inflammatory response by downregulating the TNFR1/IκB-α/NF-κB p65 pathway after spinal cord injury

Previous studies have demonstrated that tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) can enhance the recovery of motor function in spinal cord injury (SCI) rats. However, the underlying mechanism involved in this therapeutic effect remains to be elucidated. We conducted RNA sequencing with a network pharmacology strategy to predict the targets and mechanism of TMP for SCI. The modified Allen's weight-drop method was used to construct an SCI rat model. The results indicated that the nuclear transfer factor-κB (NF-κB) pathway was identified through the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis, and an inflammatory response was identified through the Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) was identified as a crucial target. Western blotting revealed that TMP decreased the protein expression of TNF superfamily receptor 1 (TNFR1), inhibitor κB-α (IκB-α), and NF-κB p65 in spinal cord tissues. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) demonstrated that TMP inhibited TNF-α, interleukin-1β (IL-1β), reactive oxygen species (ROS), and malondialdehyde (MDA) expression and enhanced superoxide dismutase (SOD) expression. Histopathological observation and behavior assessments showed that TMP improved morphology and motor function. In conclusion, TMP inhibits inflammatory response and oxidative stress, thereby exerting a neuroprotective effect that may be related to the regulation of the TNFR1/IκB-α/NF-κB p65 signaling pathway.

Identification of TNFRSF1A as a potential biomarker for osteosarcoma

BACKGROUND

Osteosarcoma (OS) is a relatively rare malignant bone tumor in teenagers; however, its molecular mechanisms are not yet understood comprehensively.

OBJECTIVE

The study aimed to use necroptosis-related genes (NRGs) and their relationships with immune-related genes to construct a prognostic signature for OS.

METHODS

TARGET-OS was used as the training dataset, and GSE 16091 and GSE 21257 were used as the validation datasets. Univariate regression, survival analysis, and Kaplan-Meier curves were used to screen for hub genes. The immune-related targets were screened using immune infiltration assays and immune checkpoints. The results were validated using nomogram and decision curve analyses (DCA).

RESULTS

Using univariate Cox regression analysis, TNFRSF1A was screened from 14 NRGs as an OS prognostic signature. Functional enrichment was analyzed based on the median expression of TNFRSF1A. The prognosis of the TNFRSF1A low-expression group in the Kaplan-Meier curve was notably worse. Immunohistochemistry analysis showed that the number of activated T cells and tumor purity increased considerably. Furthermore, the immune checkpoint lymphocyte activation gene 3 (LAG-3) is a possible target for intervention. The nomogram accurately predicted 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates. DCA validated the model (C = 0.669).

Conclusion

TNFRSF1A can be used to elucidate the potential relationship between the immune microenvironment and NRGs in OS pathogenesis.