Importance of ets1 proto-oncogene for breast cancer progression

Transcription Factors Leading to High Expression of Neuropeptide L1CAM in Brain Metastases from Lung Adenocarcinoma and Clinical Prognostic Analysis

Background

There is a lack of understanding of the development of metastasis in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). This study is aimed at exploring the upstream regulatory transcription factors of L1 cell adhesion molecule (L1CAM) and to construct a prognostic model to predict the risk of brain metastasis in LUAD.

Methods

Differences in gene expression between LUAD and brain metastatic LUAD were analyzed using the Wilcoxon rank-sum test. The GRNdb (http://www.grndb.com) was used to reveal the upstream regulatory transcription factors of L1CAM in LUAD. Single-cell expression profile data (GSE131907) were obtained from the transcriptome data of 10 metastatic brain tissue samples. LUAD prognostic nomogram prediction models were constructed based on the identified significant transcription factors and L1CAM.

Results

Survival analysis suggested that high L1CAM expression was negatively significantly associated with overall survival, disease-specific survival, and prognosis in the progression-free interval (p < 0.05). The box plot indicates that high expression of L1CAM was associated with distant metastases in LUAD, while ROC curves suggested that high expression of L1CAM was associated with poor prognosis. FOSL2, HOXA9, IRF4, IKZF1, STAT1, FLI1, ETS1, E2F7, and ADARB1 are potential upstream transcriptional regulators of L1CAM. Single-cell data analysis revealed that the expression of L1CAM was found significantly and positively correlated with the expression of ETS1, FOSL2, and STAT1 in brain metastases. L1CAM, ETS1, FOSL2, and STAT1 were used to construct the LUAD prognostic nomogram prediction model, and the ROC curves suggest that the constructed nomogram possesses good predictive power.

Conclusion

By bioinformatics methods, ETS1, FOSL2, and STAT1 were identified as potential transcriptional regulators of L1CAM in this study. This will help to facilitate the early identification of patients at high risk of metastasis.

Identification of Estrogen Signaling in a Prioritization Study of Intraocular Pressure-Associated Genes

Elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) is the only modifiable risk factor for primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). Herein we sought to prioritize a set of previously identified IOP-associated genes using novel and previously published datasets. We identified several genes for future study, including several involved in cytoskeletal/extracellular matrix reorganization, cell adhesion, angiogenesis, and TGF-β signaling. Our differential correlation analysis of IOP-associated genes identified 295 pairs of 201 genes with differential correlation. Pathway analysis identified β-estradiol as the top upstream regulator of these genes with ESR1 mediating 25 interactions. Several genes (i.e., EFEMP1, FOXC1, and SPTBN1) regulated by β-estradiol/ESR1 were highly expressed in non-glaucomatous human trabecular meshwork (TM) or Schlemm’s canal (SC) cells and specifically expressed in TM/SC cell clusters defined by single-cell RNA-sequencing. We confirmed ESR1 gene and protein expression in human TM cells and TM/SC tissue with quantitative real-time PCR and immunofluorescence, respectively. 17β-estradiol was identified in bovine, porcine, and human aqueous humor (AH) using ELISA. In conclusion, we have identified estrogen receptor signaling as a key modulator of several IOP-associated genes. The expression of ESR1 and these IOP-associated genes in TM/SC tissue and the presence of 17β-estradiol in AH supports a role for estrogen signaling in IOP regulation.

ESE-1/ELF3 mRNA expression associates with poor survival outcomes in HER2+ breast cancer patients and is critical for tumorigenesis in HER2+ breast cancer cells

ESE-1/Elf3 and HER2 appear to establish a positive feedback regulatory loop, but the precise role of ESE-1 in HER2⁺ breast tumorigenesis remains unknown. Analyzing public repositories, we found that luminal B and HER2 subtype patients with high ESE-1 mRNA levels displayed worse relapse free survival. We stably knocked down ESE-1 in HER2⁺ luminal B BT474 cells and HER2 subtype SKBR3 cells, which resulted in decreased cell proliferation, colony formation, and anchorage-independent growth in vitro. Stable ESE-1 knockdown inhibited HER2-dependent signaling in BT474 cells and inhibited mTOR activation in SKBR3 cells, but reduced Akt signaling in both cell types. Expression of a constitutively-active Myr-Akt partially rescued the anti-proliferative effect of ESE-1 knockdown in both cell lines. Furthermore, ESE-1 knockdown inhibited cyclin D1, resulting in a G1 delay in both cell lines. Finally, ESE-1 knockdown completely inhibited BT474 cell xenograft tumors in NOD/SCID female mice, which correlated with reduced in vitro tumorsphere formation. Taken together, these results reveal the ESE-1 controls transformation via distinct upstream signaling mechanisms in SKBR3 and BT474 cells, which ultimately impinge on Akt and cyclin D1 in both cell types to regulate cell proliferation. Particularly significant is that ESE-1 controls tumorigenesis and is associated with worse clinical outcomes in HER2 breast cancer.

Cathepsin B: multiple roles in cancer

Proteases, including intracellular proteases, play roles at many different stages of malignant progression. Our focus here is cathepsin B, a lysosomal cysteine cathepsin. High levels of cathepsin B are found in a wide variety of human cancers, levels that often induce secretion and association of cathepsin B with the tumor cell membrane. In experimental models, such as transgenic models of murine pancreatic and mammary carcinomas, causal roles for cathepsin B have been demonstrated in initiation, growth/tumor cell proliferation, angiogenesis, invasion, and metastasis. Tumor growth in transgenic models is promoted by cathepsin B in tumor-associated cells, for example, tumor-associated macrophages, as well as in tumor cells. In transgenic models, the absence of cathepsin B has been associated with enhanced apoptosis, yet cathepsin B also has been shown to contribute to apoptosis. Cathepsin B is part of a proteolytic pathway identified in xenograft models of human glioma; targeting only cathepsin B in these tumors is less effective than targeting cathepsin B in combination with other proteases or protease receptors. Understanding the mechanisms responsible for increased expression of cathepsin B in tumors and association of cathepsin B with tumor cell membranes is needed to determine whether targeting cathepsin B could be of therapeutic benefit.

Molecular mechanisms of ETS transcription factor-mediated tumorigenesis

The E26 transformation-specific (ETS) family of transcription factors is critical for development, differentiation, proliferation and also has a role in apoptosis and tissue remodeling. Changes in expression of ETS proteins therefore have a significant impact on normal physiology of the cell. Transcriptional consequences of ETS protein deregulation by overexpression, gene fusion, and modulation by RAS/MAPK signaling are linked to alterations in normal cell functions, and lead to unlimited increased proliferation, sustained angiogenesis, invasion and metastasis. Existing data show that ETS proteins control pathways in epithelial cells as well as stromal compartments, and the crosstalk between the two is essential for normal development and cancer. In this review, we have focused on ETS factors with a known contribution in cancer development. Instead of focusing on a prototype, we address cancer associated ETS proteins and have highlighted the diverse mechanisms by which they affect carcinogenesis. Finally, we discuss strategies for ETS factor targeting as a potential means for cancer therapeutics.

ETS transcription factors and their emerging roles in human cancer

Cancer can be defined as a genetic disease, resulting as a consequence of multiple events associated with initiation, promotion and metastatic growth. Cancer results from the loss of control of cellular homeostasis. Cell homeostasis is the result of the balance between proliferation and cell death, while cellular transformation can be viewed as a loss of relationship between these events. Oncogenes and tumour suppressor genes act as modulators of cell proliferation, while the balance of apoptotic and anti-apoptotic genes controls cell death. All cancer cells acquire similar sets of functional capacities: (1) independence from mitogenic/growth signals; (2) loss of sensitivity to "anti-growth" signals; (3) evade apoptosis; (4) Neo-angiogenic conversion; (5) release from senescence; and (6) invasiveness and metastasis. One of the goals of molecular biology is to elucidate the mechanisms that contribute to the development and progression of cancer. Such understanding of the molecular basis of cancer will provide new possibilities for: (1) earlier detection as well as better diagnosis and staging of disease with detection of minimal residual disease recurrences and evaluation of response to therapy; (2) prevention; and (3) novel treatment strategies. We feel that increased understanding of ETS-regulated biological pathways will directly impact these areas. ETS proteins are transcription factors that activate or repress the expression of genes that are involved in various biological processes, including cellular proliferation, differentiation, development, transformation and apoptosis. Identification of target genes that are regulated by a specific transcription factor is one of the most critical areas in understanding the molecular mechanisms that control transcription. Furthermore, identification of target gene promoters for normal and oncogenic transcription factors provides insight into the regulation of genes that are involved in control of normal cell growth, and differentiation, as well as provide information critical to understanding cancer development. This review will highlight the current understanding of ETS genes and their role in cancer.