HN1L promotes invasion and metastasis of the esophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma

[High LINC00626 expression promotes esophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma metastasis: the mediating role of the JAK1/STAT3/KHSRP axis]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the role of JAK1/STAT3/KHSRP axis in mediating the regulatory effect of LINC00626 on progression of esophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma.

METHODS

We collected surgical tumor and adjacent tissue specimens from 64 patients with esophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma and examined the expression levels of LINC00626 and KHSRP. qRT-PCR was used to detect the expressions of LINC00626 and KHSRP in 6 esophageal adenocarcinoma cell lines (OE-19, TE-7, Bic-1, Flo-1, SK-GT-4, and BE-3) and a normal esophageal epithelial cell line (HET-1A). OE-19 and TE-7 cell lines with stable LINC00626 knockdown and FLO-1 and SK-GT-4 cells stably overexpressing LINC00626 were constructed by lentiviral transfection, and the changes in proliferation, migration and invasion of the cells were evaluated using Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and Transwell migration/invasion assay. The expressions of KHSRP and JAK/STAT pathway proteins in the transfected cells were detected with Western blotting. The effects of LINC006266 knockdown and overexpression on subcutaneous tumor formation and lung metastasis of OE-19 and FLO-1 cell xenografts were tested in nude mice.

RESULTS

The expression levels of LINC00626 and KHSRP were significantly increased in esophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma tissues and in esophageal adenocarcinoma cells. LINC00626 knockdown obviously inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion of esophageal adenocarcinoma cells in vitro and decreased their tumor formation and lung metastasis abilities in nude mice, while overexpression of LINC00626 produced the opposite effects. In esophageal adenocarcinoma cells, LINC0626 knockdown significantly decreased and LINC00626 overexpression strongly enhanced the phosphorylation of JAK1 and STAT3.

CONCLUSION

High LINC00626 expression promotes esophageal-gastric junction adenocarcinoma metastasis by activating the JAK1/STAT3/KHSRP signal axis.

NAADP-binding proteins - Linking NAADP signaling to cancer and immunity

NAADP is one of the most potent calcium mobilizing second messengers. Only recently, two NAADP-binding proteins have been identified: HN1L/JPT2 and LSM12. Further, ASPDH was suggested as a less selective binding partner. Apart from this newly uncovered link, little is known about the shared mechanisms between these proteins. The aim of this review is to assess potential functional connections between NAADP and its binding proteins. We here give a description of two major links. For one, HN1L/JPT2 and LSM12 both have potent oncogenic functions in several cancer types. Second, they are involved in similar cellular pathways in both cancer and immunity.

METTL13 facilitates cell growth and metastasis in gastric cancer via an eEF1A/HN1L positive feedback circuit

Although improved treatment could inhibit progression of gastric cancer (GC), the recurrence and metastasis remain challenging issues. Methyltransferase like 13 (METTL13) has been implicated in most human cancers, but its function and mechanism in GC remain elusive. In the present study, we evaluated its expression in GC samples and found it was aberrantly overexpressed in cancer tissues than that in normal stomach tissues. High expression of METTL13 was closely associated with age, tumor size and T classification. Biological experiments showed that silencing METTL13 suppressed gastric cancer cell proliferation and metastasis in vivo and vitro, whereas opposite effects were observed upon METTL13 overexpression. Further mechanistic explorations revealed that METTL13 regulated the expression of HN1L (Hematological and neurological expressed 1-like), which is reported to be an oncogene in various cancers. Knockdown of HN1L dampened gastric cancer cell growth induced by METTL13. Eukaryotic translation elongation factor-1A (eEF1A), the present sole methylation substrate of METTL13, was involved in the regulation of HN1L by METTL13 in a K55 methylation independent manner. In addition, we also found HN1L could facilitate METTL13 expression in GC cells consistent with a previous report in hepatocellular carcinoma. Thus, these findings demonstrate a METTL13/eEF1A/HN1L positive feedback circuit promoting gastric cancer development and metastasis. It will help develop promising diagnostic and therapeutic targets for this disease.

Esophageal Adenocarcinoma: An Unusual Pericardial and Pulmonary Metastasis - A Case Report

Introduction

Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) manifests in the glandular cells present in the lining of the esophagus and usually forms in the distal portion of the esophagus. The metastasis of EAC has been reported to occur in surrounding lymphovascular structures, the liver, brain, and bones.

Case Presentation

We present the rare case of a 52-year-old Hispanic male with EAC metastasis to the pericardium and lungs. The patient presented with shortness of breath off and on for the last 6 weeks without any usually reported symptoms of EAC like chest pain, vomiting, or chronic cough. Respiratory examinations of this patient were significant for bilateral bronchial breathing and coarse crackles. The patient had been given numerous courses of oral antibiotics over the previous weeks with the provisional diagnosis of atypical pneumonia. Cardiac tamponade pathophysiology was also observed in this patient, for which a pericardial window was created to relieve the patient's symptoms. A final diagnosis of EAC with an unusual metastasis in the lungs and pericardium was made based on radiological and pathological findings. The patient chose palliative care instead of curative care because of the advanced stage of this cancer. The patient received cancer diagnosis counseling and was sent to hospice care for further management.

Conclusion

The metastasis of EAC to the pericardium and lungs instead of usual sites constitutes an important prognostic factor in the overall survival of patients.

Endo-Lysosomal Two-Pore Channels and Their Protein Partners

Two-pore channels are ion channels expressed on acidic organelles such as the various vesicles that constitute the endo-lysosomal system. They are permeable to Ca2+ and Na+ and activated by the second messenger NAADP as well as the phosphoinositide, PI(3,5)P2 and/or voltage. Here, we review the proteins that interact with these channels including recently identified NAADP receptors.

HN1L/AP-2γ/PLK1 signaling drives tumor progression and chemotherapy resistance in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Hematological and neurological expressed 1 like (HN1L) is a newly identified oncogene in lung cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma recently identified by our team, but its roles in the development and treatment of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remain incompletely cataloged. Here, using ESCC tissue array and public database analysis, we demonstrated that HN1L was highly expressed in ESCC tissues, which was associated with tumor tissue invasion, poor clinical stage and short survival for ESCC patients. Loss- and gain-of-function studies in ESCC cells revealed that HN1L enhances ESCC cell metastasis and proliferation in vitro and in mice models. Moreover, high level of HN1L reduces the sensibility of ESCC cells to chemotherapeutic drugs, such as Docetaxel. Mechanism studies revealed that HN1L activated the transcription of polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) by interacting with transcription factor AP-2γ, which increased the expression of malignancy related proteins Cyclin D1 and Slug in ESCC cells. Blocking PLK1 with inhibitor BI-2356 abrogated the oncogenic function of HN1L and significantly suppressed ESCC progression by combining with chemotherapy. Therefore, this study demonstrates the vital pro-tumor role of HN1L/AP-2γ/PLK1 signaling axis in ESCC, offering a potential therapeutic strategy for ESCC patients with high HN1L by blocking PLK1.

NAADP-binding proteins find their identity

Nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NAADP) is a second messenger that releases Ca²⁺ from endosomes and lysosomes by activating ion channels called two-pore channels (TPCs). However, no NAADP-binding site has been identified on TPCs. Rather, NAADP activates TPCs indirectly by engaging NAADP-binding proteins (NAADP-BPs) that form part of the TPC complex. After a decade of searching, two different NAADP-BPs were recently identified: Jupiter microtubule associated homolog 2 (JPT2) and like-Sm protein 12 (LSM12). These discoveries bridge the gap between NAADP generation and NAADP activation of TPCs, providing new opportunity to understand and manipulate the NAADP-signaling pathway. The unmasking of these NAADP-BPs will catalyze future studies to define the molecular choreography of NAADP action.

HN1L promotes stem cell-like properties by regulating TGF-β signaling pathway through targeting FOXP2 in prostate cancer

Dysregulated hematological and neurological expressed 1-like (HN1L) has been implicated in carcinogenesis of difference cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma and breast cancer. However, the role of HN1L in the progression of prostate cancer (PCA) remains unknown. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the role of HN1L in stemness and progression of PCA. The expression of HN1L in PCA tissues and cells was determined by quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), western blot analysis, and/or immunohistochemistry (IHC). CD133+ cells were sorted from PCA cells using magnetic fluorescence cell sorting technology and were considered as cancer stem cells (CSCs). Sphere formation assays, transwell assays, and animal experiments were conducted to assess cell stemness, migration, invasion, and in vivo tumorigenesis, respectively. The results showed that HN1L expression was higher in PCA tissues and cells as compared with normal tissues and cells, as well as in CD133+ cells as compared with CD133- cells. HN1L knockdown significantly decreased the expression levels of CSC markers including OCT4 (POU class 5 homeobox 1), CD44, and SRY-box transcription factor 2, inhibited cell migration, invasion, and tumorigenesis and decreased the number of tumor spheroids and CD133+ cell population. Furthermore, we found that HN1L could bind to forkhead box P2 (FOXP2) and positively regulated transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) expression via upregulation of FOXP2. In addition, the overexpression of TGF-β in HN1L-knockdown PCA cells increased the number of tumor spheroids and CD133+ cell population, as well as enhanced cell migration and invasion. Collectively, this study demonstrates that HN1L promotes stem cell-like properties and cancer progression by targeting FOXP2 through TGF-β signaling pathway in PCA.

HN1L promotes invasion and metastasis of the esophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma

Background

Adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction (AEG) refers to cancer that crosses the line of the gastroesophageal junction and includes distal esophageal cancer and proximal gastric cancer. It is characterized by early metastasis and a poor prognosis and has few treatment options. Here, we report a novel potential therapeutic target, hematological and neurological expressed 1‐like (HN1L), in AEG.

Methods

A total of 38 patients who underwent surgical resection of AEG at the Department of Thoracic Surgery of Shandong Provincial Hospital from September 2018 to June 2019 were enrolled into the study. We detected the expression of HN1L in AEG and adjacent nontumor tissues by IHC staining. The clinicopathological characteristics of HN1L were statistically analyzed. Then, the expression of HN1L in different cell lines was detected by RT‐q PCR. Finally, AGS and HGC‐27 cell lines were performed to inhibit HN1L by shRNA in order to explore its role in the development of AEG.

Results

Immunohistochemical staining showed that the expression of HN1L in cancer tissues was higher than that in nontumor tissue (p < 0.001). High expression of HN1L was significantly correlated with TNM stage (p = 0.013) and lymph node metastasis (p = 0.03). The expression of HN1L was upregulated in tumor cell lines compared with normal cell line. Additionally, Cell function studies demonstrated that lentivirus‐mediated shRNA silencing of HN1L expression could effectively reduce the proliferation, invasion, and metastasis of tumor cell lines and promote their apoptosis (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

HN1L expression might contribute to the invasion and metastasis of AEG and is a promising therapeutic target.