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Jin L, Zhang L, Yan C, Liu M, Dean DC, Liu Y. Corneal injury repair and the potential involvement of ZEB1. EYE AND VISION (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2024; 11:20. [PMID: 38822380 PMCID: PMC11143703 DOI: 10.1186/s40662-024-00387-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/03/2024]
Abstract
The cornea, consisting of three cellular and two non-cellular layers, is the outermost part of the eyeball and frequently injured by external physical, chemical, and microbial insults. The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays a crucial role in the repair of corneal injuries. Zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1), an important transcription factor involved in EMT, is expressed in the corneal tissues. It regulates cell activities like migration, transformation, and proliferation, and thereby affects tissue inflammation, fibrosis, tumor metastasis, and necrosis by mediating various major signaling pathways, including transforming growth factor (TGF)-β. Dysfunction of ZEB1 would impair corneal tissue repair leading to epithelial healing delay, interstitial fibrosis, neovascularization, and squamous cell metaplasia. Understanding the mechanism underlying ZEB1 regulation of corneal injury repair will help us to formulate a therapeutic approach to enhance corneal injury repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Jin
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Third People's Hospital of Dalian, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116033, China
| | - Lijun Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Third People's Hospital of Dalian, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116033, China
| | - Chunxiao Yan
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Third People's Hospital of Dalian, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116033, China
| | - Mengxin Liu
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Third People's Hospital of Dalian, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116033, China
| | - Douglas C Dean
- James Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA.
- Department of Medicine, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA.
| | - Yongqing Liu
- James Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA.
- Department of Medicine, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA.
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2
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Do KK, Wang F, Sun X, Zhang Y, Liang W, Liu JY, Jiang DY, Lu X, Wang W, Zhang L, Dean DC, Liu Y. Conditional deletion of Zeb1 in Csf1r + cells reduces inflammatory response of the cornea to alkali burn. iScience 2024; 27:109694. [PMID: 38660397 PMCID: PMC11039400 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109694] [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: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
ZEB1 is an essential factor in embryonic development. In adults, it is often highly expressed in malignant tumors with low expression in normal tissues. The major biological function of ZEB1 in developing embryos and progressing cancers is to transdifferentiate cells from an epithelial to mesenchymal phenotype; but what roles ZEB1 plays in normal adult tissues are largely unknown. We previously reported that the reduction of Zeb1 in monoallelic global knockout (Zeb1+/-) mice reduced corneal inflammation-associated neovascularization following alkali burn. To uncover the cellular mechanism underlying the Zeb1 regulation of corneal inflammation, we functionally deleted Zeb1 alleles in Csf1r+ myeloid cells using a conditional knockout (cKO) strategy and found that Zeb1 cKO reduced leukocytes in the cornea after alkali burn. The reduction of immune cells was due to their increased apoptotic rate and linked to a Zeb1-downregulated apoptotic pathway. We conclude that Zeb1 facilitates corneal inflammatory response by maintaining Csf1r+ cell viability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khoi K. Do
- Department of Medicine, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
| | - Fuhua Wang
- Department of Medicine, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
- Eye Institute and Eye Hospital of Shangdong First Medical University, Jinan 250021, China
| | - Xiaolei Sun
- Department of Medicine, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
- Eye Institute and Eye Hospital of Shangdong First Medical University, Jinan 250021, China
| | - Yingnan Zhang
- Department of Medicine, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
- The Rosenberg School of Optometry, University of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - Wei Liang
- Department of Medicine, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Third People’s Hospital of Dalian, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116033, China
| | - John Y. Liu
- Department of Medicine, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
| | - Daniel Y. Jiang
- Department of Medicine, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
| | - Xiaoqin Lu
- Department of Medicine, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
| | - Lijun Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Third People’s Hospital of Dalian, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116033, China
| | - Douglas C. Dean
- Department of Medicine, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
- James Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
| | - Yongqing Liu
- Department of Medicine, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
- James Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
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3
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Khine YY, Nguyen H, Afolabi F, Lin CC. Fast-relaxing hydrogels with reversibly tunable mechanics for dynamic cancer cell culture. BIOMATERIALS ADVANCES 2024; 159:213829. [PMID: 38531258 PMCID: PMC11075809 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioadv.2024.213829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/10/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
The mechanics of the tumor microenvironment (TME) significantly impact disease progression and the efficacy of anti-cancer therapeutics. While it is recognized that advanced in vitro cancer models will benefit cancer research, none of the current engineered extracellular matrices (ECM) adequately recapitulate the highly dynamic TME. Through integrating reversible boronate-ester bonding and dithiolane ring-opening polymerization, we fabricated synthetic polymer hydrogels with tumor-mimetic fast relaxation and reversibly tunable elastic moduli. Importantly, the crosslinking and dynamic stiffening of matrix mechanics were achieved in the absence of a photoinitiator, often the source of cytotoxicity. Central to this strategy was Poly(PEGA-co-LAA-co-AAPBA) (PELA), a highly defined polymer synthesized by reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. PELA contains dithiolane for initiator-free gel crosslinking, stiffening, and softening, as well as boronic acid for complexation with diol-containing polymers to give rise to tunable viscoelasticity. PELA hydrogels were highly cytocompatible for dynamic culture of patient-derived pancreatic cancer cells. It was found that the fast-relaxing matrix induced mesenchymal phenotype of cancer cells, and dynamic matrix stiffening restricted tumor spheroid growth. Moreover, this new dynamic viscoelastic hydrogel system permitted sequential stiffening and softening to mimic the physical changes of TME.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yee Yee Khine
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue School of Engineering & Technology, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Han Nguyen
- Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Favour Afolabi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue School of Engineering & Technology, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Chien-Chi Lin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue School of Engineering & Technology, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, USA; Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA; Indiana University Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
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4
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Rodrigues DB, Reis RL, Pirraco RP. Modelling the complex nature of the tumor microenvironment: 3D tumor spheroids as an evolving tool. J Biomed Sci 2024; 31:13. [PMID: 38254117 PMCID: PMC10804490 DOI: 10.1186/s12929-024-00997-9] [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: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer remains a serious burden in society and while the pace in the development of novel and more effective therapeutics is increasing, testing platforms that faithfully mimic the tumor microenvironment are lacking. With a clear shift from animal models to more complex in vitro 3D systems, spheroids emerge as strong options in this regard. Years of development have allowed spheroid-based models to better reproduce the biomechanical cues that are observed in the tumor-associated extracellular matrix (ECM) and cellular interactions that occur in both a cell-cell and cell-ECM manner. Here, we summarize some of the key cellular interactions that drive tumor development, progression and invasion, and how successfully are these interactions recapitulated in 3D spheroid models currently in use in the field. We finish by speculating on future advancements in the field and on how these can shape the relevance of spherical 3D models for tumor modelling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel B Rodrigues
- 3B's Research Group, I3Bs, Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence On Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra, Barco, 4805-017, Guimarães, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's, PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, 4805-017, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Rui L Reis
- 3B's Research Group, I3Bs, Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence On Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra, Barco, 4805-017, Guimarães, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's, PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, 4805-017, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Rogério P Pirraco
- 3B's Research Group, I3Bs, Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence On Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia, Zona Industrial da Gandra, Barco, 4805-017, Guimarães, Portugal.
- ICVS/3B's, PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, 4805-017, Guimarães, Portugal.
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5
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Subhadarshini S, Sahoo S, Debnath S, Somarelli JA, Jolly MK. Dynamical modeling of proliferative-invasive plasticity and IFNγ signaling in melanoma reveals mechanisms of PD-L1 expression heterogeneity. J Immunother Cancer 2023; 11:e006766. [PMID: 37678920 PMCID: PMC10496669 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2023-006766] [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] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Phenotypic heterogeneity of melanoma cells contributes to drug tolerance, increased metastasis, and immune evasion in patients with progressive disease. Diverse mechanisms have been individually reported to shape extensive intra-tumor and inter-tumor phenotypic heterogeneity, such as IFNγ signaling and proliferative to invasive transition, but how their crosstalk impacts tumor progression remains largely elusive. METHODS Here, we integrate dynamical systems modeling with transcriptomic data analysis at bulk and single-cell levels to investigate underlying mechanisms behind phenotypic heterogeneity in melanoma and its impact on adaptation to targeted therapy and immune checkpoint inhibitors. We construct a minimal core regulatory network involving transcription factors implicated in this process and identify the multiple 'attractors' in the phenotypic landscape enabled by this network. Our model predictions about synergistic control of PD-L1 by IFNγ signaling and proliferative to invasive transition were validated experimentally in three melanoma cell lines-MALME3, SK-MEL-5 and A375. RESULTS We demonstrate that the emergent dynamics of our regulatory network comprising MITF, SOX10, SOX9, JUN and ZEB1 can recapitulate experimental observations about the co-existence of diverse phenotypes (proliferative, neural crest-like, invasive) and reversible cell-state transitions among them, including in response to targeted therapy and immune checkpoint inhibitors. These phenotypes have varied levels of PD-L1, driving heterogeneity in immunosuppression. This heterogeneity in PD-L1 can be aggravated by combinatorial dynamics of these regulators with IFNγ signaling. Our model predictions about changes in proliferative to invasive transition and PD-L1 levels as melanoma cells evade targeted therapy and immune checkpoint inhibitors were validated in multiple RNA-seq data sets from in vitro and in vivo experiments. CONCLUSION Our calibrated dynamical model offers a platform to test combinatorial therapies and provide rational avenues for the treatment of metastatic melanoma. This improved understanding of crosstalk among PD-L1 expression, proliferative to invasive transition and IFNγ signaling can be leveraged to improve the clinical management of therapy-resistant and metastatic melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sarthak Sahoo
- Centre for BioSystems Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India
| | - Shibjyoti Debnath
- Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jason A Somarelli
- Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Mohit Kumar Jolly
- Centre for BioSystems Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India
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6
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Haerinck J, Goossens S, Berx G. The epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity landscape: principles of design and mechanisms of regulation. Nat Rev Genet 2023; 24:590-609. [PMID: 37169858 DOI: 10.1038/s41576-023-00601-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity (EMP) enables cells to interconvert between several states across the epithelial-mesenchymal landscape, thereby acquiring hybrid epithelial/mesenchymal phenotypic features. This plasticity is crucial for embryonic development and wound healing, but also underlies the acquisition of several malignant traits during cancer progression. Recent research using systems biology and single-cell profiling methods has provided novel insights into the main forces that shape EMP, which include the microenvironment, lineage specification and cell identity, and the genome. Additionally, key roles have emerged for hysteresis (cell memory) and cellular noise, which can drive stochastic transitions between cell states. Here, we review these forces and the distinct but interwoven layers of regulatory control that stabilize EMP states or facilitate epithelial-mesenchymal transitions (EMTs) and discuss the therapeutic potential of manipulating the EMP landscape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jef Haerinck
- Molecular and Cellular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
| | - Steven Goossens
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
- Unit for Translational Research in Oncology, Department of Diagnostic Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Geert Berx
- Molecular and Cellular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium.
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7
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Subhadarshini S, Sahoo S, Debnath S, Somarelli JA, Jolly MK. Dynamical modelling of proliferative-invasive plasticity and IFNγ signaling in melanoma reveals mechanisms of PD-L1 expression heterogeneity. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.09.523355. [PMID: 37398358 PMCID: PMC10312429 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.09.523355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
Phenotypic heterogeneity of melanoma cells contributes to drug tolerance, increased metastasis, and immune evasion in patients with progressive disease. Diverse mechanisms have been individually reported to shape extensive intra- and inter-tumoral phenotypic heterogeneity, such as IFNγ signaling and proliferative to invasive transition, but how their crosstalk impacts tumor progression remains largely elusive. Here, we integrate dynamical systems modeling with transcriptomic data analysis at bulk and single-cell levels to investigate underlying mechanisms behind phenotypic heterogeneity in melanoma and its impact on adaptation to targeted therapy and immune checkpoint inhibitors. We construct a minimal core regulatory network involving transcription factors implicated in this process and identify the multiple "attractors" in the phenotypic landscape enabled by this network. Our model predictions about synergistic control of PD-L1 by IFNγ signaling and proliferative to invasive transition were validated experimentally in three melanoma cell lines - MALME3, SK-MEL-5 and A375. We demonstrate that the emergent dynamics of our regulatory network comprising MITF, SOX10, SOX9, JUN and ZEB1 can recapitulate experimental observations about the co-existence of diverse phenotypes (proliferative, neural crest-like, invasive) and reversible cell-state transitions among them, including in response to targeted therapy and immune checkpoint inhibitors. These phenotypes have varied levels of PD-L1, driving heterogeneity in immune-suppression. This heterogeneity in PD-L1 can be aggravated by combinatorial dynamics of these regulators with IFNγ signaling. Our model predictions about changes in proliferative to invasive transition and PD-L1 levels as melanoma cells evade targeted therapy and immune checkpoint inhibitors were validated in multiple data sets from in vitro and in vivo experiments. Our calibrated dynamical model offers a platform to test combinatorial therapies and provide rational avenues for the treatment of metastatic melanoma. This improved understanding of crosstalk among PD-L1 expression, proliferative to invasive transition and IFNγ signaling can be leveraged to improve the clinical management of therapy-resistant and metastatic melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sarthak Sahoo
- Centre for BioSystems Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, 560012, India
| | | | | | - Mohit Kumar Jolly
- Centre for BioSystems Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, 560012, India
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8
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Wei C, Zhao X, Zhang H, Wang L. USP2 promotes cell proliferation and metastasis in choroidal melanoma via stabilizing Snail. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2023:10.1007/s00432-023-04855-3. [PMID: 37199836 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-023-04855-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Choroidal melanoma (CM) is an intraocular tumor that arises from melanocytes. While ubiquitin-specific protease 2 (USP2) modulates the progression of numerous diseases, its role in CM is not known. This study aimed to determine the role of USP2 in CM and elucidate its molecular mechanisms. METHODS MTT, Transwell, and wound-scratch assays were used to investigate the function of USP2 in the proliferation and metastasis of CM. Western blotting and qRT-PCR were used to analyze the expression of USP2, Snail, and factors associated with the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). The relationship between USP2 and Snail was explored by co-immunoprecipitation and in vitro ubiquitination assays. A nude mouse model of CM was established for verifying the role of USP2 in vivo. RESULTS USP2 overexpression promoted proliferation and metastasis, and induced the EMT in CM cells in vitro, while specific inhibition of USP2 by ML364 produced the opposite effects. ML364 also suppressed CM tumor growth in vivo. Mechanistically, USP2 is known to deubiquitinate Snail, stabilizing the latter through the removal of its K48 poly-ubiquitin chains. However, a catalytically inactive form of USP2 (C276A) had no effect on Snail ubiquitination and failed to increase Snail protein expression. The C276A mutant was also unable to promote CM cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, as well as EMT progression. Furthermore, Snail overexpression partly counteracted the effects of ML364 on proliferation and migration, while rescuing the effects of the inhibitor on the EMT. CONCLUSIONS The findings demonstrated that USP2 modulated CM development through the stabilization of Snail and suggest that USP2 may be a useful target for the development of novel treatments for CM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Wei
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Xiaofei Zhao
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Han Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Lijuan Wang
- Pathology Tissue Bank, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China.
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Zhang Y, Do KK, Wang F, Lu X, Liu JY, Li C, Ceresa BP, Zhang L, Dean DC, Liu Y. Zeb1 facilitates corneal epithelial wound healing by maintaining corneal epithelial cell viability and mobility. Commun Biol 2023; 6:434. [PMID: 37081200 PMCID: PMC10119281 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-04831-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 04/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The cornea is the outmost ocular tissue and plays an important role in protecting the eye from environmental insults. Corneal epithelial wounding provokes pain and fear and contributes to the most ocular trauma emergency assessments worldwide. ZEB1 is an essential transcription factor in development; but its roles in adult tissues are not clear. We identify Zeb1 is an intrinsic factor that facilitates corneal epithelial wound healing. In this study, we demonstrate that monoallelic deletion of Zeb1 significantly expedites corneal cell death and inhibits corneal epithelial EMT-related cell migration upon an epithelial debridement. We provide evidence that Zeb1-regulation of corneal epithelial wound healing is through the repression of genes required for Tnfa-induced epithelial cell death and the induction of genes beneficial for epithelial cell migration. We suggest utilizing TNF-α antagonists would reduce TNF/TNFR1-induced cell death in the corneal epithelium and inflammation in the corneal stroma to help corneal wound healing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingnan Zhang
- Department of Medicine, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
- The Rosenberg School of Optometry, University of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
| | - Khoi K Do
- Department of Medicine, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
| | - Fuhua Wang
- Department of Medicine, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
- Eye Institute and Eye Hospital of Shangdong First Medical University, 250021, Jinan, China
| | - Xiaoqin Lu
- Department of Medicine, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
- James Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
| | - John Y Liu
- Department of Medicine, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
| | - Chi Li
- Department of Medicine, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
- James Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
| | - Brian P Ceresa
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
| | - Lijun Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Third People's Hospital of Dalian, Dalian Medical University, 116033, Dalian, China
| | - Douglas C Dean
- Department of Medicine, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA.
- James Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA.
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA.
| | - Yongqing Liu
- Department of Medicine, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA.
- James Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA.
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA.
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10
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Luo J, Li H, Xiu J, Zeng J, Feng Z, Zhao H, Li Y, Wei W. Elevated ZNF704 expression is associated with poor prognosis of uveal melanoma and promotes cancer cell growth by regulating AKT/mTOR signaling. Biomark Res 2023; 11:38. [PMID: 37038184 PMCID: PMC10084591 DOI: 10.1186/s40364-023-00471-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 04/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Uveal melanoma (UM) is the most common intraocular malignancy in adults, with a poor survival prognosis. To date, limited understanding of UM's molecular mechanisms constitutes an obstacle to developing effective therapy. In this study, we examined key regulators mediating UM progression and their clinical relevance. METHODS Transcriptomics of UM patients and cells were analyzed via RNA sequencing and bioinformatic analysis. Zinc finger protein 704 (ZNF704) was identified as prognosis-related biomarker for UM based on clinical characteristics and RNA-seq data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Gene expression was knocked down by specific shRNAs/siRNAs and overexpressed by transfection with plasmids inserted with investigated gene cDNA. Cell proliferation, viability and invasion abilities were determined by CCK8, colony formation and transwell assays, respectively. For cell cycle and apoptosis, cells were PI or PI/Annexin V-APC stained and analyzed by flow cytometry. Standard immunoblotting and quantitative RT-PCR were employed to assess the mRNA and protein abundance. To determine tumor growth in vivo, 4-week-old BALB/c-nu immune-deficient nude mice were inoculated with tumor cells. RESULTS Analysis of differential expressed genes (DEGs) and survival analysis identified ZNF704 as a novel biomarker of UM. Prognostic analysis indicated ZNF704 as an independent predictor of UM overall survival. Expression of ZNF704 is elevated in UM tissues relative to adjacent normal choroid tissues. Knockdown of ZNF704 suppressed the growth and migration of UM cells and vice versa. In addition, expression of ZNF704 arrest UM cells at G0/G1 phase and inhibit cell apoptosis. RNA sequencing analysis indicated that SORBS3 were dysregulated after ZNF704 downregulation. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) revealed that upon ZNF704 knowndown, genes related with PI3K/AKT/mTOR, EMT and metastasis are enriched. Mechanistically, ZNF704 activates AKT/mTOR/glycolysis signaling pathway in UM cells. Moreover, expression of SORBS3 is downregulated by ZNF704 and knockdown of SORBS3 restored tumor cell viability in ZNF704 silenced cells. CONCLUSIONS ZNF704 predicts poor prognosis of UM and exhibit pro-oncogenic effect in UM progression in vivo and in vitro, mediated through AKT/mTOR signaling pathway and suppression of SORBS3 expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingting Luo
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Intraocular Tumor Diagnosis and Treatment, Beijing Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences Key Lab, Medical Artificial Intelligence Research and Verification Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Haowen Li
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Intraocular Tumor Diagnosis and Treatment, Beijing Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences Key Lab, Medical Artificial Intelligence Research and Verification Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Jingying Xiu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Intraocular Tumor Diagnosis and Treatment, Beijing Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences Key Lab, Medical Artificial Intelligence Research and Verification Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Jingyao Zeng
- National Genomics Data Center, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Zhaoxun Feng
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Ottawa, 501 Smyth Rd, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8M2, Canada
| | - Hanqing Zhao
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Intraocular Tumor Diagnosis and Treatment, Beijing Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences Key Lab, Medical Artificial Intelligence Research and Verification Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Yang Li
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Intraocular Tumor Diagnosis and Treatment, Beijing Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences Key Lab, Medical Artificial Intelligence Research and Verification Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100730, China.
| | - Wenbin Wei
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Intraocular Tumor Diagnosis and Treatment, Beijing Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences Key Lab, Medical Artificial Intelligence Research and Verification Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100730, China.
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11
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Berns HM, Watkins-Chow DE, Lu S, Louphrasitthiphol P, Zhang T, Brown KM, Moura-Alves P, Goding CR, Pavan WJ. Loss of MC1R signaling implicates TBX3 in pheomelanogenesis and melanoma predisposition. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.03.10.532018. [PMID: 37090624 PMCID: PMC10120706 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.10.532018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
The human Red Hair Color (RHC) trait is caused by increased pheomelanin (red-yellow) and reduced eumelanin (black-brown) pigment in skin and hair due to diminished melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) function. In addition, individuals harboring the RHC trait are predisposed to melanoma development. While MC1R variants have been established as causative of RHC and are a well-defined risk factor for melanoma, it remains unclear mechanistically why decreased MC1R signaling alters pigmentation and increases melanoma susceptibility. Here, we use single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) of melanocytes isolated from RHC mouse models to reveal a Pheomelanin Gene Signature (PGS) comprising genes implicated in melanogenesis and oncogenic transformation. We show that TBX3, a well-known anti-senescence transcription factor implicated in melanoma progression, is part of the PGS and binds both E-box and T-box elements to regulate genes associated with melanogenesis and senescence bypass. Our results provide key insights into mechanisms by which MC1R signaling regulates pigmentation and how individuals with the RHC phenotype are predisposed to melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- H. Matthew Berns
- Genetic Disease Research Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Headington, Oxford, OX3 7DQ, UK
| | - Dawn E. Watkins-Chow
- Genetic Disease Research Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Sizhu Lu
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Headington, Oxford, OX3 7DQ, UK
| | - Pakavarin Louphrasitthiphol
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Headington, Oxford, OX3 7DQ, UK
- Department of Gastrointestinal and Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Tongwu Zhang
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892, 13 USA
| | - Kevin M. Brown
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892, 13 USA
| | - Pedro Moura-Alves
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Headington, Oxford, OX3 7DQ, UK
- i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, PT
- IBMC-Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, PT
| | - Colin R. Goding
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Headington, Oxford, OX3 7DQ, UK
| | - William J. Pavan
- Genetic Disease Research Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
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12
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Opposing roles of ZEB1 in the cytoplasm and nucleus control cytoskeletal assembly and YAP1 activity. Cell Rep 2022; 41:111452. [DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Revised: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
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13
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Phelps GB, Hagen HR, Amsterdam A, Lees JA. MITF deficiency accelerates GNAQ-driven uveal melanoma. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2107006119. [PMID: 35512098 PMCID: PMC9172632 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2107006119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Cutaneous melanoma (CM) and uveal melanoma (UM) both originate from the melanocytic lineage but are primarily driven by distinct oncogenic drivers, BRAF/NRAS or GNAQ/GNA11, respectively. The melanocytic master transcriptional regulator, MITF, is essential for both CM development and maintenance, but its role in UM is largely unexplored. Here, we use zebrafish models to dissect the key UM oncogenic signaling events and establish the role of MITF in UM tumors. Using a melanocytic lineage expression system, we showed that patient-derived mutations of GNAQ (GNAQQ209L) or its upstream CYSLTR2 receptor (CYSLTR2L129Q) both drive UM when combined with a cooperating mutation, tp53M214K/M214K. The tumor-initiating potential of the major GNAQ/11 effector pathways, YAP, and phospholipase C-β (PLCβ)–ERK was also investigated in this system and thus showed that while activated YAP (YAPAA) induced UM with high potency, the patient-derived PLCβ4 mutation (PLCB4D630Y) very rarely yielded UM tumors in the tp53M214K/M214K context. Remarkably, mitfa deficiency was profoundly UM promoting, dramatically accelerating the onset and progression of tumors induced by Tg(mitfa:GNAQQ209L);tp53M214K/M214K or Tg(mitfa:CYSLTR2L129Q);tp53M214K/M214K. Moreover, mitfa loss was sufficient to cooperate with GNAQQ209L to drive tp53–wild type UM development and allowed Tg(mitfa:PLCB4D630Y);tp53M214K/M214K melanocyte lineage cells to readily form tumors. Notably, all of the mitfa−/− UM tumors, including those arising in Tg(mitfa:PLCB4D630Y);tp53M214K/M214K;mitfa−/− zebrafish, displayed nuclear YAP while lacking hyperactive ERK indicative of PLCβ signaling. Collectively, these data show that YAP signaling is the major mediator of UM and that MITF acts as a bona fide tumor suppressor in UM in direct opposition to its essential role in CM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace B. Phelps
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139
| | - Hannah R. Hagen
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139
| | - Adam Amsterdam
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139
| | - Jacqueline A. Lees
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139
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14
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Chen Y, Lu X, Gao L, Dean DC, Liu Y. Spheroid-induced heterogeneity and plasticity of uveal melanoma cells. Cell Oncol (Dordr) 2022; 45:309-321. [PMID: 35404029 PMCID: PMC9050762 DOI: 10.1007/s13402-022-00671-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The mechanism underlying cancer heterogeneity and plasticity remains elusive, in spite of the fact that multiple hypotheses have been put forward. We intended to clarify this heterogeneity in uveal melanoma (UM) by looking for evidence of cancer stem cell involvement and a potential role of ZEB1 in cancer cell plasticity. METHODS Spheroids derived from human UM cells as well as xenograft tumors in nude mice were dissected for signs of heterogeneity and plasticity. Two human UM cell lines were studied: the epithelioid type C918 cell line and the spindle type OCM1 cell line. We knocked down ZEB1 in both cell lines to investigate its involvement in the regulation of stem-like cell formation and vascularization by qRT-PCR, immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry, electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays. RESULTS We found that a small side population (SP) in OCM1 showed stem cell-like properties such as heterogeneity, remote dissemination and nuclear dye exclusion after spheroid formation in vitro. ZEB1 regulated UM stem cell generation indirectly by promoting cell proliferation to form large size tumors in vivo and spheroid in vitro, and directly by binding to stemness genes such as TERT and ABCB1. In addition, we found that ZEB1 participates in vasculogenic mimicry system formation through the regulation of CD34 and VE-cadherin expression. CONCLUSIONS From our data we conclude that cancer stem cells may contribute to UM heterogeneity and plasticity and that ZEB1 may play a regulatory role in it.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Chen
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Eye Center of Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, National Clinical Medical Center for Geriatric Diseases of Xiangya Hospital, Changsha, China
| | - Xiaoqin Lu
- Department of Medicine, James Graham Brown Cancer Center, Birth Defects Center, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY USA
| | - Ling Gao
- Department of Ophthalmology, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Douglas C. Dean
- Department of Medicine, James Graham Brown Cancer Center, Birth Defects Center, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY USA
| | - Yongqing Liu
- Department of Medicine, James Graham Brown Cancer Center, Birth Defects Center, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY USA
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15
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Zeb1 Regulation of Wound Healing-Induced Inflammation in Alkali-Damaged Corneas. iScience 2022; 25:104038. [PMID: 35340433 PMCID: PMC8941209 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Revised: 12/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The cornea is an avascular tissue for vision clarity. Alkali burn could cause severe traumatic damage on the cornea with inflammation and neovascularization (NV), leading to vision reduction and blindness. Mechanisms underlying corneal inflammation and NV are not as clear. We previously reported that Zeb1 is an important factor in corneal NV, and we sought to clarify whether it is also involved in regulation of corneal inflammation. We analyzed the alkali burn-induced corneal inflammation and wound healing in both Zeb1+/+ and Zeb1−/+ littermates through a multidisciplinary approach. We provide evidence that Zeb1 forms a positive regulatory loop with Tgfb to regulate early corneal inflammation by maintenance of immune cell viability and mobility and later wound healing by activation of both Nf-κb and Tgfb-related Stat3 signaling pathways. We believe that ZEB1 is a potential therapeutic target, and inactivation of ZEB1 could be a strategy to treat severe corneal inflammation condition. Traumatic wound induces inflammation in the cornea, resulting in vision reduction Zeb1 is a key factor to retain immune cell viability, mobility, and cytokine expression Zeb1 regulates cytokine gene expression through both Nf-κb and Stat3 pathways Inactivation of ZEB1 could be a strategy to treat severe corneal inflammation condition
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16
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Feng S, Huang C, Guo L, Wang H, Liu H. A novel epithelial-mesenchymal transition-related gene signature for prognosis prediction in patients with lung adenocarcinoma. Heliyon 2022; 8:e08713. [PMID: 35036605 PMCID: PMC8753132 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e08713] [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: 07/09/2021] [Revised: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 12/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Traditional pathological diagnoses and clinical methods are insufficient to accurately predict the prognosis of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process is closely related to tumor cell migration. However, the prognostic value of EMT-related genes in LUAD is still unclear. In this study, we collected bulk RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) and microarray data of LUAD patients from public databases and identified different expressed EMT-related genes in tumor and normal tissues. Then, we used the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator Cox regression model to develop a multigene signature in the cancer genome atlas (TCGA) cohort and validated the model in the OncoSG (Singapore Oncology Data Portal) cohort as well as other datasets. Finally, we constructed a 12-gene signature to divide LUAD patients into high-risk and low-risk groups of overall survival (OS), which has a better stability and accuracy in predicating the OS of patients compared with some other published signatures of LUAD. In addition, evaluation of the risk model using the time-related receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve confirmed the predictive ability of the model. Functional analysis showed that these genes are related to immunity. CD8 T cell and CD4 T cell types were significantly negatively correlated with the risk score in the analysis of immune infiltration. In general, our model provides useful information that may help clinicians better predict the prognosis of LUAD patients and provides potential targets for immunotherapy of LUAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengyu Feng
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200123, China
| | - Ce Huang
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200123, China
| | - Liuling Guo
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200123, China
| | - Hao Wang
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200123, China
| | - Hailiang Liu
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200123, China.,Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Phytomedicine Resource and Utilization of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Shihezi University, Shihezi, 832003, China
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17
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Padhye A, Konen JM, Rodriguez BL, Fradette JJ, Ochieng JK, Diao L, Wang J, Lu W, Solis LS, Batra H, Raso MG, Peoples MD, Minelli R, Carugo A, Bristow CA, Gibbons DL. Targeting CDK4 overcomes EMT-mediated tumor heterogeneity and therapeutic resistance in KRAS mutant lung cancer. JCI Insight 2021; 6:e148392. [PMID: 34309585 PMCID: PMC8492319 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.148392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Lack of sustained response to therapeutic agents in patients with KRAS-mutant lung cancer poses a major challenge and arises partly due to intratumor heterogeneity that defines phenotypically distinct tumor subpopulations. To attain better therapeutic outcomes, it is important to understand the differential therapeutic sensitivities of tumor cell subsets. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition is a biological phenomenon that can alter the state of cells along a phenotypic spectrum and cause transcriptional rewiring to produce distinct tumor cell subpopulations. We utilized functional shRNA screens, in in vitro and in vivo models, to identify and validate an increased dependence of mesenchymal tumor cells on cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4) for survival, as well as a mechanism of resistance to MEK inhibitors. High zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1 levels in mesenchymal tumor cells repressed p21, leading to perturbed CDK4 pathway activity. Increased dependence on CDK4 rendered mesenchymal cancer cells particularly vulnerable to selective CDK4 inhibitors. Coadministration of CDK4 and MEK inhibitors in heterogeneous tumors effectively targeted different tumor subpopulations, subverting the resistance to either single-agent treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aparna Padhye
- Department of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, United States of America
| | - Jessica M Konen
- Department of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, United States of America
| | - B Leticia Rodriguez
- Department of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, United States of America
| | - Jared J Fradette
- Department of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, United States of America
| | - Joshua K Ochieng
- Department of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, United States of America
| | - Lixia Diao
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, United States of America
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, United States of America
| | - Wei Lu
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, United States of America
| | - Luisa S Solis
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, United States of America
| | - Harsh Batra
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, United States of America
| | - Maria G Raso
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, United States of America
| | - Michael D Peoples
- TRACTION Platform, Division of Therapeutics Development, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, United States of America
| | - Rosalba Minelli
- TRACTION Platform, Division of Therapeutics Development, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, United States of America
| | - Alessandro Carugo
- TRACTION Platform, Division of Therapeutics Development, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, United States of America
| | - Christopher A Bristow
- TRACTION Platform, Division of Therapeutics Development, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, United States of America
| | - Don L Gibbons
- Department of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, United States of America
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18
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Marhuenda E, Fabre C, Zhang C, Martin-Fernandez M, Iskratsch T, Saleh A, Bauchet L, Cambedouzou J, Hugnot JP, Duffau H, Dennis JW, Cornu D, Bakalara N. Glioma stem cells invasive phenotype at optimal stiffness is driven by MGAT5 dependent mechanosensing. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2021; 40:139. [PMID: 33894774 PMCID: PMC8067292 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-021-01925-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Glioblastomas stem-like cells (GSCs) by invading the brain parenchyma, remains after resection and radiotherapy and the tumoral microenvironment become stiffer. GSC invasion is reported as stiffness sensitive and associated with altered N-glycosylation pattern. Glycocalyx thickness modulates integrins mechanosensing, but details remain elusive and glycosylation enzymes involved are unknown. Here, we studied the association between matrix stiffness modulation, GSC migration and MGAT5 induced N-glycosylation in fibrillar 3D context. METHOD To mimic the extracellular matrix fibrillar microenvironments, we designed 3D-ex-polyacrylonitrile nanofibers scaffolds (NFS) with adjustable stiffnesses by loading multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT). GSCs neurosphere were plated on NFSs, allowing GSCs migration and MGAT5 was deleted using CRISPR-Cas9. RESULTS We found that migration of GSCs was maximum at 166 kPa. Migration rate was correlated with cell shape, expression and maturation of focal adhesion (FA), Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) proteins and (β1,6) branched N-glycan binding, galectin-3. Mutation of MGAT5 in GSC inhibited N-glycans (β1-6) branching, suppressed the stiffness dependence of migration on 166 kPa NFS as well as the associated FA and EMT protein expression. CONCLUSION MGAT5 catalysing multibranched N-glycans is a critical regulators of stiffness induced invasion and GSCs mechanotransduction, underpinning MGAT5 as a serious target to treat cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilie Marhuenda
- Institut des Neurosciences de Montpellier (INM) U-1051, University of Montpellier, 80 rue Augustin Fliche, Hôpital Saint-Eloi, 34091, Montpellier, Cedex 5, France.
- School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 4NS, UK.
- Institut Européen des Membranes, IEM, UMR 5635, University of Montpellier, ENSCM, CNRS, Montpellier, France.
| | - Christine Fabre
- Institut des Neurosciences de Montpellier (INM) U-1051, University of Montpellier, 80 rue Augustin Fliche, Hôpital Saint-Eloi, 34091, Montpellier, Cedex 5, France
- École nationale supérieure de chimie de Montpellier, ENSCM, 240 Avenue du Professeur Emile Jeanbrau, 34090, Montpellier, France
| | - Cunjie Zhang
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, 600 University Ave., Toronto, ON, M5G 1X5, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, and Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Martà Martin-Fernandez
- Institut Charles Coulomb, UMR 5221, University of Montpellier, CNRS, Montpellier, France
| | - Thomas Iskratsch
- School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 4NS, UK
| | - Ali Saleh
- Institut des Neurosciences de Montpellier (INM) U-1051, University of Montpellier, 80 rue Augustin Fliche, Hôpital Saint-Eloi, 34091, Montpellier, Cedex 5, France
| | - Luc Bauchet
- Institut des Neurosciences de Montpellier (INM) U-1051, University of Montpellier, 80 rue Augustin Fliche, Hôpital Saint-Eloi, 34091, Montpellier, Cedex 5, France
| | - Julien Cambedouzou
- Institut Européen des Membranes, IEM, UMR 5635, University of Montpellier, ENSCM, CNRS, Montpellier, France
- École nationale supérieure de chimie de Montpellier, ENSCM, 240 Avenue du Professeur Emile Jeanbrau, 34090, Montpellier, France
| | - Jean-Philippe Hugnot
- Institut des Neurosciences de Montpellier (INM) U-1051, University of Montpellier, 80 rue Augustin Fliche, Hôpital Saint-Eloi, 34091, Montpellier, Cedex 5, France
| | - Hugues Duffau
- Institut des Neurosciences de Montpellier (INM) U-1051, University of Montpellier, 80 rue Augustin Fliche, Hôpital Saint-Eloi, 34091, Montpellier, Cedex 5, France
| | - James W Dennis
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, 600 University Ave., Toronto, ON, M5G 1X5, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, and Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - David Cornu
- Institut Européen des Membranes, IEM, UMR 5635, University of Montpellier, ENSCM, CNRS, Montpellier, France.
- École nationale supérieure de chimie de Montpellier, ENSCM, 240 Avenue du Professeur Emile Jeanbrau, 34090, Montpellier, France.
| | - Norbert Bakalara
- Institut des Neurosciences de Montpellier (INM) U-1051, University of Montpellier, 80 rue Augustin Fliche, Hôpital Saint-Eloi, 34091, Montpellier, Cedex 5, France.
- École nationale supérieure de chimie de Montpellier, ENSCM, 240 Avenue du Professeur Emile Jeanbrau, 34090, Montpellier, France.
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Yao Q, Zhang M, Zu S, Yang H, Xie W, Chen J, Chen Z, Ge Y, Zeng W, Zhao Z. Integrated mRNA and microRNA Transcriptome Sequencing Characterizes Sequence Variants and mRNA-microRNA Regulatory Networks in Grass Carp Fibroblasts Infected with Virulent and Attenuated GCRV. MARINE BIOTECHNOLOGY (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2021; 23:342-355. [PMID: 33748916 DOI: 10.1007/s10126-021-10029-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 03/04/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Grass carp hemorrhagic disease is a fatal disease caused by the grass carp reovirus (GCRV). The aberrant regulation of transcripts has been implicated in many types of diseases. In the present study, we characterized mRNA and miRNA transcriptomes of different virulent GCRVs using RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq). One hundred eighteen miRNAs were identified as being differentially expressed between different virulent viruses in grass carp fibroblasts. Eight miRNAs were selected to verify the RNA-Seq results using RT-PCR and mRNA methods. In total, 996 differentially expressed mRNA genes were identified in grass carp fibroblasts, while 901 miRNA-mRNA target pairs were observed to be inversely regulated in grass carp fibroblasts. Integrated mRNA/miRNA expression profiling analysis results showed that the most influenced processes were the immune response and cell death. Three miRNAs were shown to exhibit the same expression patterns when two different methods were used and had important functions during viral infection. These results provide insights into the miRNA-mediated regulation of mRNA and valuable resources on transcript variation and regulation during GCRV infection, which are potentially useful for mechanistic and drug studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiucheng Yao
- College of Coastal Agricultural Sciences, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Mengdi Zhang
- College of Coastal Agricultural Sciences, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Shaopo Zu
- Haikou Customs District P.R. China, Haikou, Hainan, China
| | - Hong Yang
- Nanchang Animal Disease Prevention and Control Center, Jiangxi, Nanchang, People's Republic of China
| | - Weitian Xie
- College of Coastal Agricultural Sciences, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Jinjun Chen
- College of Coastal Agricultural Sciences, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhibao Chen
- College of Coastal Agricultural Sciences, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Ye Ge
- College of Coastal Agricultural Sciences, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
| | - Weiwei Zeng
- School of Life Science and Engineering, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Molecular Design and Precise Breeding, Foshan University, Foshan, 528231, China.
- Key Laboratory of Fishery Drug Development, Ministry of Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Immune Technology, Guangdong Province, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou, 510380, People's Republic of China.
| | - Zhihui Zhao
- College of Coastal Agricultural Sciences, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
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20
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ZEB1: New advances in fibrosis and cancer. Mol Cell Biochem 2021; 476:1643-1650. [PMID: 33417164 DOI: 10.1007/s11010-020-04036-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1) is an important transcription factor in epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) which participates in the numerous life processes, such as embryonic development, fibrosis and tumor progression. ZEB1 has multiple functions in human body and plays a crucial part in some life processes. ZEB1 is vital for the formation and development of the organs in the embryonic period. The abnormal expression of ZEB1 is a predictor for the poor prognosis or the poor survival in several cancers. ZEB1 contributes to the occurrence of fibrosis, cancer and even chemoresistance. Some research is indicated that fibrosis is finally developed into the cancers. Therefore, ZEB1 is probably taken as a biomarker in fibrosis or cancer. In this review, it is predicted of the structure of ZEB1 and the protein binding sites of ZEB1 with some protein, and it is discussed about the roles of ZEB1 in fibrosis and cancer progression to elaborate the potential applications of ZEB1 in clinic.
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21
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Yan L, Ku R, Zou J, Zhou L, Zhao J, Jiang X, Wang BT. Prediction of superconductivity in bilayer borophenes. RSC Adv 2021; 11:40220-40227. [PMID: 35494119 PMCID: PMC9044785 DOI: 10.1039/d1ra08014h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Borophenes and related two-dimensional materials have exhibited many exotic properties, especially for superconductivity, although the superconductivity of single-layer borophene is suppressed by the strains or doping from its substrates. Intriguingly, bilayer (BL) borophenes can be stabilized by appropriate pillar density and hexagonal holes density, rather than being supported by Ag(111) or Cu(111) substrates. Thus, we studied the two most stable structures, namely BL-B8 and BL-B30, stabilized by the above-mentioned two methods. Within density functional theory and Bardeen–Cooper–Schrieffer theory framework, their stability, electron structures, and phonon properties, as well as possible superconductivity are systematically scrutinized. The metallic BL-B8 and BL-B30 exhibit intrinsic superconducting features with superconductivity transition temperatures (Tc) of 11.9 and 4.9 K, respectively. The low frequency (below 400 cm−1) consisting of out-of-plane vibrations of boron atoms plays crucial rule in their superconductivity. In particular, a Kohn anomaly appears at the Γ point in BL-B8, leading to substantial electron–phonon coupling. Here, our findings will provide instructive clues for experimentally determining the superconductivity of borophene and will broaden the two-dimensional superconductor family. Bilayer borophene B8 and B30 are BCS-superconductors with Tc of 11.9 and 4.9 K, respectively.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Luo Yan
- Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Science (CAS), Beijing 10049, China
- Yangtze Delta Region Institute (Huzhou), University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Huzhou 313001, China
- Spallation Neutron Source Science Center, Dongguan 523803, China
| | - Ruiqi Ku
- School of Physics, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China
| | - Jing Zou
- Yangtze Delta Region Institute (Huzhou), University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Huzhou 313001, China
| | - Liujiang Zhou
- Yangtze Delta Region Institute (Huzhou), University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Huzhou 313001, China
| | - Jijun Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Material Modification by Laser, Ion and Electron Beams, Dalian University of Technology, Ministry of Education, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Xue Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Material Modification by Laser, Ion and Electron Beams, Dalian University of Technology, Ministry of Education, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Bao-Tian Wang
- Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Science (CAS), Beijing 10049, China
- Spallation Neutron Source Science Center, Dongguan 523803, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Extreme Optics, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030006, China
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Monosomy 3 Influences Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Gene Expression in Uveal Melanoma Patients; Consequences for Liquid Biopsy. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21249651. [PMID: 33348918 PMCID: PMC7767066 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21249651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2020] [Revised: 12/13/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite outstanding advances in diagnosis and the treatment of primary uveal melanoma (UM), nearly 50% of UM patients develop metastases via hematogenous dissemination, driven by the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Despite the failure in UM to date, a liquid biopsy may offer a feasible non-invasive approach for monitoring metastatic disease progression and addressing protracted dormancy. To detect circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in UM patients, we evaluated the mRNA expression of EMT-associated transcription factors in CD45-depleted blood fraction, using qRT-PCR. ddPCR was employed to assess UM-specific GNA11, GNAQ, PLCβ4, and CYSLTR2 mutations in plasma DNA. Moreover, microarray analysis was performed on total RNA isolated from tumor tissues to estimate the prognostic value of EMT-associated gene expression. In total, 42 primary UM and 11 metastatic patients were enrolled. All CD45-depleted samples were negative for CTC when compared to the peripheral blood fraction of 60 healthy controls. Tumor-specific mutations were detected in the plasma of 21.4% patients, merely, in 9.4% of primary UM, while 54.5% in metastatic patients. Unsupervised hierarchical clustering of differentially expressed EMT genes showed significant differences between monosomy 3 and disomy 3 tumors. Newly identified genes can serve as non-invasive prognostic biomarkers that can support therapeutic decisions.
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Growth Hormone Upregulates Mediators of Melanoma Drug Efflux and Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition In Vitro and In Vivo. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12123640. [PMID: 33291663 PMCID: PMC7761932 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12123640] [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: 10/15/2020] [Revised: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 12/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Growth hormone (GH) action is strongly implicated in the progression and therapy resistance in several types of solid tumors which overexpress the GH receptor (GHR). The aim of our study was to characterize the effects of GH and its downstream effector insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) on melanoma using in vitro and in vivo models. We confirmed an IGF-1-independent role of elevated circulating GH in upregulating key mechanisms of therapy resistance and malignancy with analyses conducted at the molecular and cellular level. We identified that GH upregulates key mechanisms of therapy resistance and metastases in melanoma tumors in an IGF-1 dependent and independent manner by upregulating multidrug efflux pumps and EMT transcription factors. Our study reveals that GH action renders an intrinsic drug resistance phenotype to the melanoma tumors—a clinically crucial property of GH verifiable in other human cancers with GHR expression. Abstract Growth hormone (GH) and the GH receptor (GHR) are expressed in a wide range of malignant tumors including melanoma. However, the effect of GH/insulin-like growth factor (IGF) on melanoma in vivo has not yet been elucidated. Here we assessed the physical and molecular effects of GH on mouse melanoma B16-F10 and human melanoma SK-MEL-30 cells in vitro. We then corroborated these observations with syngeneic B16-F10 tumors in two mouse lines with different levels of GH/IGF: bovine GH transgenic mice (bGH; high GH, high IGF-1) and GHR gene-disrupted or knockout mice (GHRKO; high GH, low IGF-1). In vitro, GH treatment enhanced mouse and human melanoma cell growth, drug retention and cell invasion. While the in vivo tumor size was unaffected in both bGH and GHRKO mouse lines, multiple drug-efflux pumps were up regulated. This intrinsic capacity of therapy resistance appears to be GH dependent. Additionally, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) gene transcription markers were significantly upregulated in vivo supporting our current and recent in vitro observations. These syngeneic mouse melanoma models of differential GH/IGF action can be valuable tools in screening for therapeutic options where lowering GH/IGF-1 action is important.
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Wei C, Zhao X, Wang L, Zhang H. TRIP suppresses cell proliferation and invasion in choroidal melanoma via promoting the proteasomal degradation of Twist1. FEBS Lett 2020; 594:3170-3181. [PMID: 32640040 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.13882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Revised: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 07/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Choroidal melanoma (CM) remains the most prevalent form of intraocular malignancy, and the prognosis of affected patients is poor. While the E3 ubiquitin ligase TRAF-interacting protein (TRIP) is known to play key regulatory roles in multiple diseases, its relevance in CM remains uncertain. In the present study, we found that TRIP overexpression is sufficient to inhibit the proliferation, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of CM cells in vitro, whereas the opposite phenotypes are observed following TRIP knockdown. We further determined that TRIP is able to promote the K48-polyubiquitination of EMT-associated transcription factor Twist-related protein 1, thereby suppressing EMT progression. Together, our results suggest that TRIP plays an important role in regulating the progression of CM and that it may therefore be an important therapeutic target for the treatment of this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Wei
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Xiaofei Zhao
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Lei Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Han Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
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Jin L, Zhang Y, Liang W, Lu X, Piri N, Wang W, Kaplan HJ, Dean DC, Zhang L, Liu Y. Zeb1 promotes corneal neovascularization by regulation of vascular endothelial cell proliferation. Commun Biol 2020; 3:349. [PMID: 32620870 PMCID: PMC7335040 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-020-1069-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2020] [Accepted: 06/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Angiogenesis is required for tissue repair; but abnormal angiogenesis or neovascularization (NV) causes diseases in the eye. The avascular status in the cornea is a prerequisite for corneal clarity and thought to be maintained by the equilibrium between proangiogenic and antiangiogenic factors that controls proliferation and migration of vascular endothelial cells (ECs) sprouting from the pericorneal plexus. VEGF is the most important intrinsic factor for angiogenesis; anti-VEGF therapies are available for treating ocular NV. However, the effectiveness of the therapies is limited because of VEGF-independent mechanism(s). We show that Zeb1 is an important factor promoting vascular EC proliferation and corneal NV; and a couple of small molecule inhibitors can evict Ctbp from the Zeb1-Ctbp complex, thereby reducing EC Zeb1 expression, proliferation, and corneal NV. We conclude that Zeb1-regulation of angiogenesis is independent of Vegf and that the ZEB1-CtBP inhibitors can be of potential therapeutic significance in treating corneal NV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Jin
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Third People's Hospital of Dalian, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116033, China
| | - Yingnan Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
- Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Ophthalmology & Visual Science Key Lab, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Wei Liang
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Third People's Hospital of Dalian, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116033, China
| | - Xiaoqin Lu
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
| | - Niloofar Piri
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
| | - Henry J Kaplan
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
| | - Douglas C Dean
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA.
- Birth Defects Center, University of Louisville School of Dentistry, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA.
- James Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA.
| | - Lijun Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Third People's Hospital of Dalian, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116033, China.
| | - Yongqing Liu
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA.
- Birth Defects Center, University of Louisville School of Dentistry, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA.
- James Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA.
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26
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Application of real-time simultaneous amplification and testing method to accurately and rapidly detect extra-pulmonary tuberculosis. BMC Infect Dis 2020; 20:303. [PMID: 32321447 PMCID: PMC7178934 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-020-05036-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2020] [Accepted: 04/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background This study aimed to establish and evaluate a simultaneous amplification and testing method for detection of extra-pulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB). Methods From January 2016 and December 2017 the pus or surgical excision from the lesions of inpatients admitted from Chongqing Public Health Treatment Center were collected. According to the clinical diagnosis, the samples were divided into two groups including EPTB (Group A) and other diseases excluded from tuberculosis diseases (Group B). Simultaneous detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) used Roche culture method, liquid culture method and simultaneous amplification and testing (SAT) method. The sensitivity and specificity of the SAT method were compared with culture methods and clinical diagnosis of EPTB. Results For 433 EPTB specimens and 49 non-TB specimens, the simultaneous amplification and testing tuberculosis (SAT-TB) results correlated with 80.5% (388/482 specimens) of the culture assay results. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of the SAT-TB test for the diagnosis of EPTB were 83.6, 79.4, 59.4, and 93.0%, respectively, compared to culture methods. Compared with the clinical diagnosis of patients, the sensitivity and specificity of the SAT-TB test were 41.6 and 100%, respectively, the cultures test were 29.3 and 98.0%. Conclusions SAT test is a simple and rapid test with high specificity which may enhance the detection of EPTB. SAT-TB is a higher clinical diagnosis value for EPTB in clinical microbiology laboratories.
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Metalloporphyrin Pd(T4) Exhibits Oncolytic Activity and Cumulative Effects with 5-ALA Photodynamic Treatment against C918 Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21020669. [PMID: 31968535 PMCID: PMC7013453 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21020669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2019] [Revised: 01/10/2020] [Accepted: 01/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Photodynamic therapy is a non-invasive method where light activates a photosensitizer bound to cancer cells, generating reactive oxygen species and resulting in cell death. This study assessed the oncolytic potential of photodynamic therapy, comparing European Medicines Agency and United States Food and Drug Administration-approved 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) to a metalloporphyrin, Pd(T4), against a highly invasive uveal melanoma cell line (C918) in two- and three-dimensional models in vitro. Epithelial monolayer studies displayed strong oncolytic effects (>70%) when utilizing Pd(T4) at a fraction of the concentration, and reduced pre-illumination time compared to 5-ALA post-405 nm irradiance. When analyzed at sub-optimal concentrations, application of Pd(T4) and 5-ALA with 405 nm displayed cumulative effects. Lethality from Pd(T4)-photodynamic therapy was maintained within a three-dimensional model, including the more resilient vasculogenic mimicry-forming cells, though at lower rates. At high concentrations, modality of cell death exhibited necrosis partially dependent on reactive oxygen species. However, sub-optimal concentrations of photosensitizer exhibited an apoptotic protein expression profile characterized by increased Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and endoplasmic stress-related proteins, along with downregulation of apoptotic inhibitors CIAP-1 and -2. Together, our results indicate Pd(T4) as a strong photosensitizer alone and in combination with 5-ALA against C918 cells.
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Field MG, Kuznetsov JN, Bussies PL, Cai LZ, Alawa KA, Decatur CL, Kurtenbach S, Harbour JW. BAP1 Loss Is Associated with DNA Methylomic Repatterning in Highly Aggressive Class 2 Uveal Melanomas. Clin Cancer Res 2019; 25:5663-5673. [PMID: 31285370 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-19-0366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2019] [Revised: 04/23/2019] [Accepted: 06/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The strong association between BAP1 mutations and metastasizing Class 2 uveal melanoma (UM) suggests that epigenetic alterations may play a significant role in tumor progression. Thus, we characterized the impact of BAP1 loss on the DNA methylome in UM.Experimental Design: Global DNA methylation was analyzed in 47 Class 1 and 45 Class 2 primary UMs and in UM cells engineered to inducibly deplete BAP1. RNA-Seq was analyzed in 80 UM samples and engineered UM cells. RESULTS Hypermethylation on chromosome 3 correlated with downregulated gene expression at several loci, including 3p21, where BAP1 is located. Gene set analysis of hypermethylated and downregulated genes identified axon guidance and melanogenesis as deregulated pathways, with several of these genes located on chromosome 3. A novel hypermethylated site within the BAP1 locus was found in all Class 2 tumors, suggesting that BAP1 itself is epigenetically regulated. Highly differentially methylated probes were orthogonally validated using bisulfite sequencing, and they successfully distinguished Class 1 and Class 2 tumors in 100% of cases. In functional validation experiments, BAP1 knockdown in UM cells induced methylomic repatterning similar to UM tumors, enriched for genes involved in axon guidance, melanogenesis, and development. CONCLUSIONS This study, coupled with previous work, suggests that the initial event in the divergence of Class 2 UM from Class 1 UM is loss of one copy of chromosome 3, followed by mutation of BAP1 on the remaining copy of chromosome 3, leading to the methylomic repatterning profile characteristic of Class 2 UMs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew G Field
- Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center and Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
| | - Jeffim N Kuznetsov
- Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center and Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
| | - Parker L Bussies
- Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center and Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
| | - Louie Z Cai
- Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center and Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
| | - Karam A Alawa
- Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center and Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
| | - Christina L Decatur
- Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center and Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
| | - Stefan Kurtenbach
- Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center and Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
| | - J William Harbour
- Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center and Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida.
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Zhu L, Liu Z, Dong R, Wang X, Zhang M, Guo X, Yu N, Zeng A. MicroRNA-3662 targets ZEB1 and attenuates the invasion of the highly aggressive melanoma cell line A375. Cancer Manag Res 2019; 11:5845-5856. [PMID: 31388313 PMCID: PMC6607987 DOI: 10.2147/cmar.s200540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2019] [Accepted: 05/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Cutaneous melanoma is the most aggressive form of skin cancer. It accounts for approximately 5% of all cutaneous malignancies and is currently responsible for the majority of skin cancer-related deaths. However, the exact mechanisms responsible for the occurrence of melanoma, in particular the invasive growth in normal skin or muscle tissue, remain unknown. Materials and methods miR-3662, a microRNA is a potential tumor suppressor targeting zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1), which functions as a key regulator of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process. This microRNA was identified using an online database (miRDB) and expression was confirmed by Western blot analysis. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was used to examine whether miR-3662 inhibits the EMT process in the aggressive melanoma cell line, A375, through the modification of the expression of invasion-related genes in A375 cells. The effects of miR-3662 on the in vivo growth of A375 cells were examined in a nude mouse model. Results Using virtual screening of the miRDB database, miR-3662 was shown to target the 3ʹ untranslated region (UTR) of the ZEB1 gene. Expression of miR-3662 via a lentivirus vector significantly decreased protein levels of ZEB1 and inhibited the growth of A375 cells in vitro and in vivo. The reduction in ZEB1 expression induced by miR-3662 resulted in EMT inhibition in A375 cells and decreased the relative expression of metastasis genes. Conclusion Down-regulation of ZEB1’s expression via miR-3662 lentivirus vectors significantly decreased the in vitro and in vivo growth of the highly aggressive melanoma cell line A375.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Zhu
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhifei Liu
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, People's Republic of China
| | - Ruijia Dong
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaojun Wang
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, People's Republic of China
| | - Mingzi Zhang
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiao Guo
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, People's Republic of China
| | - Nanze Yu
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, People's Republic of China
| | - Ang Zeng
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, People's Republic of China
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Zhang Y, Xu L, Li A, Han X. The roles of ZEB1 in tumorigenic progression and epigenetic modifications. Biomed Pharmacother 2018; 110:400-408. [PMID: 30530042 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2018.11.112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2018] [Revised: 11/19/2018] [Accepted: 11/25/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Highly expressed Zinc-finger E-box binding protein 1 (ZEB1) is significantly associated with the malignancy of various cancers. Signal transduction and activation of ZEB1 play important roles in cancer transformation and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Emerging evidence suggests that ZEB1 drives the induction of EMT with activation of stem cell traits, immune evasion and epigenetic reprogramming. As an ideal target for EMT research, ZEB1 has been extensively studied for decades. However, the link between ZEB1 and epigenetic regulation of EMT has only recently been discovered. ZEB1 facilitates the epigenetic silencing of E-cadherin by recruiting multiple chromatin enzymes of E-cadherin promoter, such as histone deacetylases (HDACs), DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) and ubiquitin ligase. Destruction of the connection between ZEB1 and these chromatin-modifying enzymes may represent an efficient for treating cancer. In this review, we outlined the biological function of ZEB1 in tumorigenic progression and epigenetic modifications and elucidate its transcriptional network, which is a suitable potential target for the design of novel anticancer drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, 44 West Wenhua Road, Jinan 250012, Shandong Province, China
| | - Lei Xu
- Pharmaceutical Preparation Section, Hospital of Laiwu Steel Group, 68 Xinxing Road, Laigang 271126, Shandong Province, China
| | - Anqi Li
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, 44 West Wenhua Road, Jinan 250012, Shandong Province, China
| | - Xiuzhen Han
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, 44 West Wenhua Road, Jinan 250012, Shandong Province, China.
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Abnormally expressed JunB transactivated by IL-6/STAT3 signaling promotes uveal melanoma aggressiveness via epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Biosci Rep 2018; 38:BSR20180532. [PMID: 29899166 PMCID: PMC6028753 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20180532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2018] [Revised: 06/06/2018] [Accepted: 06/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Uveal melanoma (UM) is the most common primary intraocular tumor in adults, and it carries a high risk of metastasis and mortality. Various proinflammatory cytokines have been found to be significantly increased in the aqueous humor or vitreous fluid of UM patients; however, the role of these cytokines in UM metastasis remains elusive. In the present study, we found that long-term interleukin (IL)-6 exposure promoted the migration and invasion of UM cells, diminished cell–cell adhesion, and enhanced focal adhesion. Moreover, IL-6 treatment decreased the membranous epithelial marker TJP1 and increased the cytoplasmic mesenchymal marker Vimentin. Further investigation demonstrated that JunB played a critical role in IL-6-induced UM epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT). In UM cells, the expression of JunB was significantly up-regulated during the IL-6-driven EMT process. Additionally, JunB induction occurred at the transcriptional level in a manner dependent on phosphorylated STAT3, during which activated STAT3 directly bound to the JunB promoter. Importantly, the knockdown of STAT3 prevented the IL-6-induced EMT phenotype as well as cell migration and invasion, whereas JunB overexpression recovered the attenuated aggressiveness of UM cells. Similarly, with IL-6 stimulation, the stable overexpression of JunB strengthened the migratory and invasive capabilities of UM cells and induced the EMT-promoting factors (Snail, Twist1, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, MMP-14, and MMP-19). Analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database indicated that JunB was positively correlated with IL-6 and STAT3 in UM tissues. The present study proposes an IL-6/STAT3/JunB axis leading to UM aggressiveness by EMT, which illustrates the negative side of inflammatory response in UM metastasis.
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Shang XF, Liu YQ, Guo X, Miao XL, Chen C, Zhang JX, Xu XS, Yang GZ, Yang CJ, Li JC, Zhang XS. Application of Sustainable Natural Resources in Agriculture: Acaricidal and Enzyme Inhibitory Activities of Naphthoquinones and Their Analogs against Psoroptes cuniculi. Sci Rep 2018; 8:1609. [PMID: 29371639 PMCID: PMC5785474 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-19964-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2017] [Accepted: 01/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
As important secondary plant metabolites, naphthoquinones exhibit a wide range of biological activities. However, their potential as sustainable alternatives to synthetic acaricides has not been studied. This study for the first time investigates the acaricidal activity of naphthoquinones against Psoroptes cuniculi in vitro. Furthermore, the in vivo activity, the skin irritation effects, the cytotoxicity and the inhibitory activities against mite acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) of the two compounds that displayed the best insecticidal activity in vitro were evaluated. Among fourteen naphthoquinones and their analogs, juglone and plumbagin were observed to possess the strongest acaricidal activities against P. cuniculi with LC50 values of 20.53 ppm and 17.96 ppm, respectively, at 24 h. After three treatments, these two chemicals completely cured naturally infested rabbits in vivo within 15 days, and no skin irritation was found in any of the treated rabbits. Compared to plumbagin, juglone presented no or weak cytotoxicity against HL-7702 cells. Moreover, these two chemicals significantly inhibited AChE and GST activity. These results indicate that juglone has promising toxicity against P. cuniculi, is safe for both humans and animals at certain doses, and could be used as a potential alternative bio-acaricide for controlling the development of psoroptic mange in agricultural applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Fei Shang
- School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, 222 South Tianshui Road, Lanzhou, 730000, P. R. China
- Key Laboratory of New Animal Drug Project, Gansu Province, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmaceutical Development of Ministry of Agriculture, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 335 Jiangouyan, Lanzhou, 730050, P. R. China
| | - Ying-Qian Liu
- School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, 222 South Tianshui Road, Lanzhou, 730000, P. R. China.
| | - Xiao Guo
- Tibetan Medicine Research Center of Qinghai University, Qinghai University Tibetan Medical College, Qinghai University, 251 Ningda Road, Xining, 810016, P. R. China
| | - Xiao-Lou Miao
- Key Laboratory of New Animal Drug Project, Gansu Province, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmaceutical Development of Ministry of Agriculture, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 335 Jiangouyan, Lanzhou, 730050, P. R. China
| | - Cheng Chen
- School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, 222 South Tianshui Road, Lanzhou, 730000, P. R. China
| | - Jun-Xiang Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, 222 South Tianshui Road, Lanzhou, 730000, P. R. China
| | - Xiao-Shan Xu
- School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, 222 South Tianshui Road, Lanzhou, 730000, P. R. China
| | - Guan-Zhou Yang
- School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, 222 South Tianshui Road, Lanzhou, 730000, P. R. China
| | - Cheng-Jie Yang
- School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, 222 South Tianshui Road, Lanzhou, 730000, P. R. China
| | - Jun-Cai Li
- School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, 222 South Tianshui Road, Lanzhou, 730000, P. R. China
| | - Xiao-Shuai Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, 222 South Tianshui Road, Lanzhou, 730000, P. R. China
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Zhang MG, Lee JY, Gallo RA, Tao W, Tse D, Doddapaneni R, Pelaez D. Therapeutic targeting of oncogenic transcription factors by natural products in eye cancer. Pharmacol Res 2017; 129:365-374. [PMID: 29203441 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2017.11.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2017] [Revised: 11/15/2017] [Accepted: 11/30/2017] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Carcinogenesis has a multifactorial etiology, and the underlying molecular pathogenesis is still not entirely understood, especially for eye cancers. Primary malignant intraocular neoplasms are relatively rare, but delayed detection and inappropriate management contribute to poor outcomes. Conventional treatment, such as orbital exenteration, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy, alone results in high mortality for many of these malignancies. Recent sequential multimodal therapy with a combination of high-dose chemotherapy, followed by appropriate surgery, radiotherapy, and additional adjuvant chemotherapy has helped dramatically improve management. Transcription factors are proteins that regulate gene expression by modulating the synthesis of mRNA. Since transcription is a dominant control point in the production of many proteins, transcription factors represent key regulators for numerous cellular functions, including proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis, making them compelling targets for drug development. Natural compounds have been studied for their potential to be potent yet safe chemotherapeutic drugs. Since the ancient times, plant-derived bioactive molecules have been used to treat dreadful diseases like cancer, and several refined pharmaceutics have been developed from these compounds. Understanding targeting mechanisms of oncogenic transcription factors by natural products can add to our oncologic management toolbox. This review summarizes the current findings of natural products in targeting specific oncogenic transcription factors in various types of eye cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle G Zhang
- Dr Nasser Al-Rashid Orbital Vision Research Center, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - John Y Lee
- Dr Nasser Al-Rashid Orbital Vision Research Center, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Ryan A Gallo
- Dr Nasser Al-Rashid Orbital Vision Research Center, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Wensi Tao
- Dr Nasser Al-Rashid Orbital Vision Research Center, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - David Tse
- Dr Nasser Al-Rashid Orbital Vision Research Center, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Ravi Doddapaneni
- Dr Nasser Al-Rashid Orbital Vision Research Center, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136, USA.
| | - Daniel Pelaez
- Dr Nasser Al-Rashid Orbital Vision Research Center, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Miami College of Engineering, Coral Gables, FL, 33146, USA.
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Chen Y, Liu X, Gao L, Liu Y. Xenograft Mouse Model of Human Uveal Melanoma. Bio Protoc 2017; 7:e2594. [PMID: 34595272 DOI: 10.21769/bioprotoc.2594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2017] [Revised: 10/01/2017] [Accepted: 10/10/2017] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Uveal melanoma (UM) is a malignant intraocular tumor in adults. Metastasis develops in almost half of the patients and over 90% of the metastases are in the liver. With the advances in molecular targeting therapy for melanoma, a proper metastasis animal model is of increasing importance for testing the accuracy and effectiveness of systemic therapies. Here, we describe a xenograft model for mimicking human UM liver metastasis by injecting human UM cells into the vitreous cavity in nude mice. The athymic nude mice are immunocompromised and suitable for xenograft tumor growth and metastasis, and intravitreal injection of cells is a quicker and easier operation under a binocular scope, thereby it is simple and effective to test human UM growth and metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Chen
- Department of Ophthalmology, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Department of Ophthalmology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xiao Liu
- Department of Ophthalmology, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Ling Gao
- Department of Ophthalmology, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yongqing Liu
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, USA
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MSX1-Induced Neural Crest-Like Reprogramming Promotes Melanoma Progression. J Invest Dermatol 2017; 138:141-149. [PMID: 28927893 DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2017.05.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2017] [Revised: 04/30/2017] [Accepted: 05/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Melanoma cells share many biological properties with neural crest stem cells. Here we show that the homeodomain transcription factor MSX1, which is significantly correlated with melanoma disease progression, reprograms melanocytes and melanoma cells toward a neural crest precursor-like state. MSX1-reprogrammed normal human melanocytes express the neural crest marker p75 and become multipotent. MSX1 induces a phenotypic switch in melanoma, which is characterized by an oncogenic transition from an E-cadherin-high nonmigratory state toward a ZEB1-high invasive state. ZEB1 up-regulation is responsible for the MSX1-induced migratory phenotype in melanoma cells. Depletion of MSX1 significantly inhibits melanoma metastasis in vivo. These results show that neural crest-like reprogramming achieved by a single factor is a critical process for melanoma progression.
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