Progesterone/Org inhibits lung adenocarcinoma cell growth via membrane progesterone receptor alpha

PAQR5 drives the malignant progression and shapes the immunosuppressive microenvironment of hepatocellular carcinoma by activating the NF-κB signaling

BACKGROUND

Progesterone and adipose Q receptor 5 (PAQR5), a membrane receptor characterized by seven transmembrane domains, has been indirectly implicated in pro-carcinogenic activities, though its specific role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains to be defined.

METHODS

This study aimed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which PAQR5 facilitates HCC progression and contributes to the immunosuppressive microenvironment through an integrative approach combining multi-omics analysis and experimental validation. Utilizing data from bulk, single-cell, and spatial transcriptomics cohorts, this study systematically assessed the expression patterns, immune landscape, and functional characteristics of PAQR5 across different levels of resolution in HCC.

RESULTS

PAQR5 expression was significantly upregulated in tumor tissues and correlated with poor clinical outcomes. Enrichment analysis revealed that PAQR5 activated the NF-κB signaling pathway in HCC. Single-cell transcriptomics identified PAQR5 as predominantly localized within malignant cell clusters, with significant association with NF-κB pathway activation. Spatial transcriptomics further corroborated the alignment of PAQR5 expression with tumor cell distribution. In vitro assays showed elevated PAQR5 levels in HCC cell lines, and silencing PAQR5 significantly suppressed cell proliferation, invasion, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and prevented the formation of immunosuppressive microenvironment. In vivo studies demonstrated that targeting PAQR5 attenuated tumorigenic potential, disrupted the invasion-metastasis cascade and inhibited the tumor immune escape. Mechanistically, PAQR5 was found to activate NF-κB signaling by inducing ERK phosphorylation, thereby driving proliferation, invasion, EMT, and immune escape in HCC through the pathway.

Prognostic value of progesterone receptor expression in non-small cell lung cancer tissue

BACKGROUND

Progesterone receptors (PRs) play a role in the regulation of cell proliferation and are expressed in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tissue. Therefore, they represent a potential target for novel antitumor therapies. A survival analysis of NSCLC patients based on PR expression in tumor tissue may help assess the feasibility of using PR modulators in the treatment of this disease.

AIM

This study aims to evaluate the prognostic significance of PR expression in NSCLC to determine the potential utility of PR modulators as a therapeutic strategy.

METHODS

PR expression was assessed in 130 surgically resected NSCLC samples using immunofluorescence analysis combined with flow cytometry. Primary antibodies against PR (NBP2-4638, Novus Biologicals, USA) and secondary antibodies conjugated with DyLight650 (ab98729, Abcam, UK) were used. The percentage of PR-expressing cells was quantified using FlowJo software. Statistical analyses were conducted in GraphPad Prism and RStudio using the "survival" package. The prognostic impact of PR expression in NSCLC tissue was evaluated in the overall patient cohort and after excluding censored events (n = 56) to minimize the influence of confounding factors on survival analysis.

RESULTS

After excluding censored events and stratifying patients based on the median PR expression level (57%), survival analysis revealed that high PR expression in NSCLC tissue is associated with a poorer prognosis (p = 0.05). Patients with high PR expression (≥ 57%) had a median survival of 12.8 months, whereas those with low PR expression (< 57%) had a median survival of 25.8 months (HR = 1.7).

CONCLUSIONS

Elevated PR expression in NSCLC tumors is associated with reduced patient survival. These findings suggest that PR modulators may have potential therapeutic value for NSCLC patients with PR-positive tumors.

Progesterone decreases viability and up regulates membrane progesterone receptors expression on the human Chronic Myeloid Leukemia cell line

Progesterone (P4) has an important effect (activatory or inhibitory) on cell proliferation. Although there is evidence of the impact of progesterone on sex-linked cancers, it can affect other cancer cells expressing P4 receptors (PRs). We evaluated the expression of membrane P4 receptors (mPRs) and the viability in progesterone-treated K562 cells to inspect the possible effects route of progesterone on this (CML) cancer cell line. K562 cells were exposed to various concentrations of progesterone or no exposure for 48 and 72 h. The percentage of viability and cells that expressed mPRα and mPRβ were evaluated by MTT test and flow cytometry respectively. Progesterone significantly increased the expression of mPRα and especially mPRβ on the surface of K562 cells and significantly decreased their viability (p ≤ 0.05). Progesterone can reduce viability in K562 cells. Our findings showed that progesterone affects its receptor expression on K562 cells. Thus it may influence the performance of K562 cells in addition to its direct effects on these cells (via binding to its receptors).

Regulation of overexpression lncRNA ATP2B1-AS1 on lung adenocarcinoma progression

BACKGROUND

LncRNA ATP2B1-AS1 (ATP2B1-AS1) is involved in the occurrence and development of various diseases, while the relationship between lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) and ATP2B1-AS1 is unclear. This study was to investigate the expression of ATP2B1-AS1 in LUAD and its influence on survival and prognosis of patients.

METHODS

LUAD tissue samples from patients participating in this study were collected, and the expression levels of ATP2B1-AS1 and miR-141-3p in LUAD sampleswere detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The effect of ATP2B1-AS1 on the growth of A549 cells was investigated through cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and transwell experiments. Besides, the prognostic value of ATP2B1-AS1 in LUAD was assessed via Kaplan-Meier curve and multivariate Cox regression.

RESULTS

ATP2B1-AS1 was downregulated in LUAD tissues and cells, whereas miR-141-3p was upregulated. After pcDNA3.1-ATP2B1-AS1 was transfected into A549 cells, the proliferation ability of A549 cells was decreased, and the migration level and invasion of A549 cells were also inhibited. High expression of ATP2B1-AS1 sponge miR-141-3p exerted prognostic value.

CONCLUSIONS

ATP2B1-AS1 sponge miR-141-3p alleviated the progression of LUAD, and ATP2B1-AS1 may be deemed as a prognostic marker for LUAD.

Impact of gender and mutational differences in hormone receptor expressing non-small cell lung cancer

Background

The incidence of lung cancer in the US has been decreasing but a bigger decline has been observed in men despite similar declines in tobacco use between men and women. Multiple theories have been proposed, including exposure to exogenous estrogens. Our study seeks to understand the relationship between hormone receptors (HR), gender, and the genomic landscape of non-small lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods

3,256 NSCLC tumor samples submitted for molecular profiling between 2013-2018 were retrospectively identified and assessed for HR expression. Hormone receptor (HR+) was defined as ≥ 1% nuclear staining of estrogen receptor-alpha (ER-a) or progesterone receptor (PR) by immunohistochemistry. DNA sequencing by NGS included cases sequenced by the Illumina MiSeq hot spot 47 gene panel (n=2753) and Illumina NextSeq 592 gene panel (n=503). An adjusted p-value (q-value) <0.05 was determined significant.

Results

HR+ was identified in 18.3% of NSCLC. HR+ occurred more commonly in women compared to men (19.6% vs 11.4%, p <0.0001, q <0.0001). EGFR mutations occurred more commonly in HR+ NSCLC than HR- NSCLC (20.2% vs. 14.6%, p = 0.002, q=0.007). Overall, men with EGFR mutations were affected by HR status with a higher prevalence in HR+ NSCLC while such differences were not seen in women. However, in women ages ≤45, there was a trend towards greater prevalence HR+ NSCLC (25.25% vs. 11.32%, q= 0.0942) and 10/25 (40.0%) of HR+ cases in young women were found to be EGFR mutated. KRAS mutations and ALK+ IHC expression occurred more in HR+ NSCLC whereas TP53 mutations occurred more in HR- NSCLC.

Conclusions

Women were more likely to have HR+ NSCLC than men and EGFR and KRAS mutations occurred more commonly in HR+ NSCLC. Additional studies with more strict inclusion criteria for HR+ are warranted to see if there is benefit to targeting HR in these subgroups.

Functions of Membrane Progesterone Receptors (mPRs, PAQRs) in Nonreproductive Tissues

Gender differences in a wide variety of physiological parameters have implicated the ovarian hormones, estrogens and progesterone, in the regulation of numerous nonreproductive tissue functions. Rapid, nongenomic (nonclassical) progesterone actions mediated by membrane progesterone receptors (mPRs), which belong to the progestin and adipoQ receptor family, have been extensively investigated in reproductive and nonreproductive tissues since their discovery in fish ovaries 20 years ago. The 5 mPR subtypes (α, β, γ, δ, ε) are widely distributed in vertebrate tissues and are often expressed in the same cells as the nuclear progesterone receptor (PR) and progesterone receptor membrane component 1, thereby complicating investigations of mPR-specific functions. Nevertheless, mPR-mediated progesterone actions have been identified in a wide range of reproductive and nonreproductive tissues and distinguished from nuclear PR-mediated ones by knockdown of these receptors with siRNA in combination with a pharmacological approach using mPR- and PR-specific agonists. There are several recent reviews on the roles of the mPRs in vertebrate reproduction and cancer, but there have been no comprehensive assessments of mPR functions in nonreproductive tissues. Therefore, this article briefly reviews mPR functions in a broad range of nonreproductive tissues. The evidence that mPRs mediate progesterone and progestogen effects on neuroprotection, lordosis behavior, respiratory control of apnea, olfactory responses to pheromones, peripheral nerve regeneration, regulation of prolactin secretion in prolactinoma, immune functions, and protective functions in vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cells is critically reviewed. The ubiquitous expression of mPRs in vertebrate tissues suggests mPRs regulate many additional nonreproductive functions that remain to be identified.

Expression and prognosis analysis of PAQR5 in kidney cancer

Progestin and adipoQ receptor 5 (PAQR5) affects the development of various malignancies and is specifically expressed in kidney. However, the role of PAQR5 in renal carcinoma remains unclear. We assessed the state of PAQR5 expression in kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC) by The Cancer Genome Atlas and Gene Expression Omnibus datasets. Moreover, immunohistochemistry was performed to observe the expressions of PAQR5 protein in tumor tissues. The relationships between PAQR5 expression and clinical characteristics were investigated by UALCAN. Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) and Kaplan–Meier plotter were used to analyze the effect of PAQR5 expression levels on overall survival and relapse-free survival (RFS). The re lationships between clinical characteristics and survival were also evaluated by univariate and multifactorial Cox regression. Gene Ontology term analysis, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis, and gene set enrichment analysis were performed on PAQR5 to explain the enrichment pathways and functions. Protein and protein interactions were explained by GeneMANIA and STRING. We also explored the relevance of PAQR5 to tumor immune cell infiltration and immunomodulatory molecules by TIMER and GEPIA. Finally, we explored the correlation of PAQR5 with the pathway proteins STATs, HIF-1α, and mTOR using the GSE40435 dataset. PAQR5 expression was low in KIRC and correlated significantly with clinical characteristics including cancer stage, tumor grade, and nodal metastasis status. Low PAQR5 expression was significantly associated with poorer survival. Cox regression analysis indicated that upregulation of PAQR5 was an independent factor for a good prognosis of KIRC. PAQR5 downregulation was associated mainly with STAT3 target upregulation, tumorigenesis, and poor differentiation. PAQR5 expression also correlated positively with B cells, neutrophils, macrophages, and dendritic cells and negatively with the infiltration of FOXP3⁺ Treg cells and the immune checkpoint molecules PD-1, CTLA4, and LAG3. Moreover, PAQR5 expression in KIRC was negatively correlated with the pathway proteins STAT1/2/3/4/5A, HIF-1α, and mTOR. PAQR5 is an excellent predictor of KIRC prognosis and may be a potential molecular therapeutic target.

Membrane Progesterone Receptors (mPRs, PAQRs): Review of Structural and Signaling Characteristics

The role of membrane progesterone receptors (mPRs), which belong to the progestin and adipoQ receptor (PAQR) family, in mediating rapid, nongenomic (non-classical) progestogen actions has been extensively studied since their identification 20 years ago. Although the mPRs have been implicated in progestogen regulation of numerous reproductive and non-reproductive functions in vertebrates, several critical aspects of their structure and signaling functions have been unresolved until recently and remain the subject of considerable debate. This paper briefly reviews recent developments in our understanding of the structure and functional characteristics of mPRs. The proposed membrane topology of mPRα, the structure of its ligand-binding site, and the binding affinities of steroids were predicted from homology modeling based on the structures of other PAQRs, adiponectin receptors, and confirmed by mutational analysis and ligand-binding assays. Extensive data demonstrating that mPR-dependent progestogen regulation of intracellular signaling through mPRs is mediated by activation of G proteins are reviewed. Close association of mPRα with progesterone membrane receptor component 1 (PGRMC1), its role as an adaptor protein to mediate cell-surface expression of mPRα and mPRα-dependent progestogen signaling has been demonstrated in several vertebrate models. In addition, evidence is presented that mPRs can regulate the activity of other hormone receptors.

Solving the Puzzle: What Is the Role of Progestogens in Neovascularization?

Ovarian sex steroids can modulate new vessel formation and development, and the clarification of the underlying mechanism will provide insight into neovascularization-related physiological changes and pathological conditions. Unlike estrogen, which mainly promotes neovascularization through activating classic post-receptor signaling pathways, progesterone (P4) regulates a variety of downstream factors with angiogenic or antiangiogenic effects, exerting various influences on neovascularization. Furthermore, diverse progestins, the synthetic progesterone receptor (PR) agonists structurally related to P4, have been used in numerous studies, which could contribute to unequal actions. As a result, there have been many conflicting observations in the past, making it difficult for researchers to define the exact role of progestogens (PR agonists including naturally occurring P4 and synthetic progestins). This review summarizes available evidence for progestogen-mediated neovascularization under physiological and pathological circumstances, and attempts to elaborate their functional characteristics and regulatory patterns from a comprehensive perspective.

Molecular Characterization of Membrane Steroid Receptors in Hormone-Sensitive Cancers

Cancer is one of the most common causes of death worldwide, and its development is a result of the complex interaction of genetic factors, environmental cues, and aging. Hormone-sensitive cancers depend on the action of one or more hormones for their development and progression. Sex steroids and corticosteroids can regulate different physiological functions, including metabolism, growth, and proliferation, through their interaction with specific nuclear receptors, that can transcriptionally regulate target genes via their genomic actions. Therefore, interference with hormones’ activities, e.g., deregulation of their production and downstream pathways or the exposition to exogenous hormone-active substances such as endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), can affect the regulation of their correlated pathways and trigger the neoplastic transformation. Although nuclear receptors account for most hormone-related biologic effects and their slow genomic responses are well-studied, less-known membrane receptors are emerging for their ability to mediate steroid hormones effects through the activation of rapid non-genomic responses also involved in the development of hormone-sensitive cancers. This review aims to collect pre-clinical and clinical data on these extranuclear receptors not only to draw attention to their emerging role in cancer development and progression but also to highlight their dual role as tumor microenvironment players and potential candidate drug targets.

Cytotoxic Effects of the Selective Ligands of Membrane Progesterone Receptors in Human Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma Cells BxPC3

Progesterone and its synthetic analogues act on cells through different types of receptors, affecting proliferation and apoptosis. These compounds exert their effect through the nuclear receptors and the insufficiently studied membrane progesterone receptors (mPRs) belonging to the progestin and adiponectin Q receptor (PAQR) family. We have identified two selective ligands of mPRs that activate only this type of progesterone receptors - 19-hydroxypregn-4-en-20-one (LS-01) and 19-hydroxy-5β-pregn-3-en-20-one (LS-02). The goal of this work is to study the effect of these compounds on proliferation and death of human pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells BxPC3 and involvement of the two kinases (p38 MAPK and JNK) in signaling pathways activated by progestins through mPRs. It was shown that progesterone and the compound LS-01 significantly (p < 0.05) inhibited the BxPC3 cell viability, with JNK serving as a mediator. The identified targets of these two steroids are the genes of the proteins Ki67, cyclin D1, PCNA, and p21. Progesterone and the compound LS-01 significantly (p < 0.05) stimulate DNA fragmentation, enhancing the cell death. The p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) is a key mediator of this process. The BCL2A1 protein gene was identified as a target of both steroids. The compound LS-02 significantly (p < 0.05) alters membrane permeability and changes the exposure of phosphatidylserine on the outer membrane leaflet, also enhancing the cell death. This compound acts on these processes by activating both kinases, JNK and p38 MAPK. The compound LS-02 targets the genes encoding the proteins HRK, caspase 9, and DAPK.

The Interface of Nuclear and Membrane Steroid Signaling

Steroid hormones bind receptors in the cell nucleus and in the cell membrane. The most widely studied class of steroid hormone receptors are the nuclear receptors, named for their function as ligand-dependent transcription factors in the cell nucleus. Nuclear receptors, such as estrogen receptor alpha, can also be anchored to the plasma membrane, where they respond to steroids by activating signaling pathways independent of their function as transcription factors. Steroids can also bind integral membrane proteins, such as the G protein-coupled estrogen receptor. Membrane estrogen and progestin receptors have been cloned and characterized in vitro and influence the development and function of many organ systems. Membrane androgen receptors were cloned and characterized in vitro, but their function as androgen receptors in vivo is unresolved. We review the identity and function of membrane proteins that bind estrogens, progestins, and androgens. We discuss evidence that membrane glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid receptors exist, and whether glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid nuclear receptors act at the cell membrane. In many cases, integral membrane steroid receptors act independently of nuclear steroid receptors, even though they may share a ligand.

Oestrogen actions contribute to female gender-specific risks in the development of lung carcinoma

Lung cancer is increasing in incidence particularly among women, associated with a global change in smoking habits. Steroid hormones, particularly oestrogen exert an influence on tumour progression in tissues where their target receptor is expressed. Oestrogen receptor, particularly ERβ is highly expressed in the lung and becomes more highly expressed in lung carcinogenesis. Genes involved in the process of lung carcinoma progression and signalling cascades linked to invasion and angiogenesis are modulated by oestrogen receptors. This review intends to collate recently published evidence identifying a role for oestrogen in the initiation and progression of lung carcinoma and how these two processes are differentially affected by circulating oestrogens both in women and in men. Circulating oestrogens may be a significant risk factor in women's susceptibility to lung carcinoma and also provide an additional approach for more targeted therapy.

Selective ligands of membrane progesterone receptors as a key to studying their biological functions in vitro and in vivo

Progesterone modulates many processes in the body, acting through nuclear receptors (nPR) in various organs and tissues. However, a number of effects are mediated by membrane progesterone receptors (mPRs), which are members of the progestin and adipoQ (PAQR) receptor family. These receptors are found in most tissues and immune cells. They are expressed in various cancer cells and appear to play an important role in the development of tumors. The role of mPRs in the development of insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome has also attracted attention. Since progesterone efficiently binds to both nPRs and mPRs, investigation of the functions of the mPRs both at the level of the whole body and at the cell level requires ligands that selectively interact with mPRs, but not with nPRs, with an affinity comparable with that of the natural hormone. The development of such ligands faces difficulties primarily due to the lack of data on the three-dimensional structure of the ligand-binding site of mPR. This review is the first attempt to summarize available data on the structures of compounds interacting with mPRs and analyze them in terms of the differences in binding to membrane and nuclear receptors. Based on the identified main structural fragments of molecules, which affect the efficiency of binding to mPRs and are responsible for the selectivity of interactions, we propose directions of modification of the steroid scaffold to create new selective mPRs ligands.