TRIM44 promotes cell proliferation and migration by inhibiting FRK in renal cell carcinoma

Aberrant expression of TRIM44, transcriptionally regulated by KLF9, contributes to the process of diabetic retinopathy

BACKGROUND

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the common cause of diabetic vascular complications and it causes blindness. Until now, there are still some patients with DR who lack effective treatment. Tripartite motif containing 44 (TRIM44) has been shown to play a significant role in endothelial cells. However, the role of TRIM44 in DR remains unknown.

METHODS

Diabetes was induced in rats through the administration of an intraperitoneal injection of 65 mg/kg of streptozotocin (STZ). Rat retinal microvascular endothelial cells (RMECs) were subjected to stimulation under high glucose (HG) conditions. A thorough proteomic investigation and bioinformatic analysis were performed to identify the differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in rat RMECs after blocking TRIM44. A dual luciferase reporter assay was employed to assess the luciferase activity of TRIM44.

RESULTS

TRIM44 was highly expressed in the retinal tissues of rats with diabetes and HG-induced RMECs. In vivo assays suggested that TRIM44 silencing improved the pathological alterations of DR rats as demonstrated by the downregulated expression of isolectin-B4 and VEGFA, along with a decrease in acellular capillaries within the retinal tissues. Knockdown of TRIM44 markedly reduced cell viability, proliferation, migration, invasion, and angiogenesis in HG-evoked RMECs. Mechanistically, TRIM44 was demonstrated to be activated transcriptionally by KLF transcription factor 9 (KLF9), a known facilitator of angiogenesis in DR. In HG-induced cells, the loss of TRIM44 resulted in the reverse of the endothelial cell function caused by KLF9 overexpression. After the comprehensive analysis, 64 upregulated and 38 downregulated DEPs were screened out for a series of functional enrichment analyses.

CONCLUSIONS

Collectively, this study demonstrates that TRIM44 knockdown suppressed diabetes-induced retinal vascular dysfunction in DR.

TRIM25, TRIM28 and TRIM59 and Their Protein Partners in Cancer Signaling Crosstalk: Potential Novel Therapeutic Targets for Cancer

Aberrant expression of TRIM proteins has been correlated with poor prognosis and metastasis in many cancers, with many TRIM proteins acting as key oncogenic factors. TRIM proteins are actively involved in many cancer signaling pathways, such as p53, Akt, NF-κB, MAPK, TGFβ, JAK/STAT, AMPK and Wnt/β-catenin. Therefore, this review attempts to summarize how three of the most studied TRIMs in recent years (i.e., TRIM25, TRIM28 and TRIM59) are involved directly and indirectly in the crosstalk between the signaling pathways. A brief overview of the key signaling pathways involved and their general cross talking is discussed. In addition, the direct interacting protein partners of these TRIM proteins are also highlighted in this review to give a picture of the potential protein-protein interaction that can be targeted for future discovery and for the development of novel therapeutics against cancer. This includes some examples of protein partners which have been proposed to be master switches to various cancer signaling pathways.

TRIM65 promotes renal cell carcinoma through ubiquitination and degradation of BTG3

As a typical E3 ligase, TRIM65 (tripartite motif containing 65) is involved in the regulation of antiviral innate immunity and the pathogenesis of certain tumors. However, the role of TRIM65 in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and the underlying mechanism has not been determined yet. In this study, we identified TRIM65 as a novel oncogene in RCC, which enhanced the tumor cell proliferation and anchorage-independent growth abilities both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, we found that TRIM65-regulated RCC proliferation mainly via direct interaction with BTG3 (BTG anti-proliferation factor 3), which in turn induced the K48-linked ubiquitination and subsequent degradation through K41 amino acid. Furthermore, TRIM65 relieved G2/M phase cell cycle arrest via degradation of BTG3 and regulated downstream factors. Further studies revealed that TRIM65 acts through TRIM65-BTG3-CyclinD1 axis and clinical sample IHC chip data indicated a negative correction between TRIM65 and BTG3. Taken together, our findings demonstrated that TRIM65 promotes RCC cell proliferation via regulation of the cell cycle through degradation of BTG3, suggesting that TRIM65 may be a promising target for RCC therapy.

Intricate confrontation: Research progress and application potential of TRIM family proteins in tumor immune escape

BACKGROUND

Tripartite motif (TRIM) family proteins have more than 80 members and are widely found in various eukaryotic cells. Most TRIM family proteins participate in the ubiquitin-proteasome degradation system as E3-ubiquitin ligases; therefore, they play pivotal regulatory roles in the occurrence and development of tumors, including tumor immune escape. Due to the diversity of functional domains of TRIM family proteins, they can extensively participate in multiple signaling pathways of tumor immune escape through different substrates. In current research and clinical contexts, immune escape has become an urgent problem. The extensive participation of TRIM family proteins in curing tumors or preventing postoperative recurrence and metastasis makes them promising targets.

AIM OF REVIEW

The aim of the review is to make up for the gap in the current research on TRIM family proteins and tumor immune escape and propose future development directions according to the current progress and problems.

KEY SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS OF REVIEW

This up-to-date review summarizes the characteristics and biological functions of TRIM family proteins, discusses the mechanisms of TRIM family proteins involved in tumor immune escape, and highlights the specific mechanism from the level of structure-function-molecule-pathway-phenotype, including mechanisms at the level of protein domains and functions, at the level of molecules and signaling pathways, and at the level of cells and microenvironments. We also discuss the application potential of TRIM family proteins in tumor immunotherapy, such as possible treatment strategies for combination targeting TRIM family protein drugs and checkpoint inhibitors for improving cancer treatment.

TRIM44 aggravates cardiac fibrosis after myocardial infarction via TAK1 stabilization

Myocardial infarction (MI) is one of the most dangerous cardiovascular events. Cardiac fibrosis is a common pathological feature of remodeling after injury that is related to adverse clinical results with no effective treatment. Previous studies have confirmed that TRIM44, an E3 ligase, can promote the proliferation and migration of various tumor cells. However, the role of TRIM44 in cardiac fibrosis remains unknown. Models of TGF-β1 stimulation and MI-induced fibrosis were established to investigate the role and potential underlying mechanism of TRIM44 in cardiac fibrosis. The results showed that cardiac fibrosis was significantly inhibited after TRIM44 knockdown in a mouse model of MI, while it was enhanced when TRIM44 was overexpressed. Furthermore, in vitro studies showed that fibrosis markers were significantly reduced in cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) with TRIM44 knockdown, whereas TRIM44 overexpression promoted the expression of fibrosis markers. Mechanistically, TRIM44 maintains TAK1 stability by inhibiting the degradation of k48-linked polyubiquitination-mediated ubiquitination, thereby increasing phosphorylated TAK1 expression in the fibrotic environment and activating MAPKs to promote fibrosis. Pharmacological inhibition of TAK1 phosphorylation reversed the fibrogenic effects of TRIM44 overexpression. Combined, these results suggest that TRIM44 is a potential therapeutic target for cardiac fibrosis.

Cardiac-specific Trim44 knockout in rat attenuates isoproterenol-induced cardiac remodeling via inhibition of AKT/mTOR pathway

When pathological hypertrophy progresses to heart failure (HF), the prognosis is often very poor. Therefore, it is crucial to find new and effective intervention targets. Here, myocardium-specific Trim44 knockout rats were generated using CRISPR-Cas9 technology. Cardiac phenotypic observations revealed that Trim44 knockout affected cardiac morphology at baseline. Rats with Trim44 deficiency exhibited resistance to cardiac pathological changes in response to stimulation via isoproterenol (ISO) treatment, including improvement of cardiac remodeling and dysfunction by morphological and functional observations, reduced myocardial fibrosis and reduced expression of molecular markers of cardiac stress. Furthermore, signal transduction validation associated with growth and hypertrophy development in vivo and in vitro demonstrated that Trim44 deficiency inhibited the activation of signaling pathways involved in myocardial hypertrophy, especially response to pathological stress. In conclusion, the present study indicates that Trim44 knockout attenuates ISO-induced pathological cardiac remodeling through blocking the AKT/mTOR/GSK3β/P70S6K signaling pathway. This is the first study to demonstrate the function and importance of Trim44 in the heart at baseline and under pathological stress. Trim44 could be a novel therapeutic target for prevention of cardiac hypertrophy and HF.

Summary: This is the first study to demonstrate the function of Trim44 in the heart at baseline and under pathological stress. Trim44 could be a novel therapeutic target for prevention of cardiac hypertrophy.

Identifying novel regulators of placental development using time-series transcriptome data

The placenta serves as a connection between the mother and the fetus during pregnancy, providing the fetus with oxygen, nutrients, and growth hormones. However, the regulatory mechanisms and dynamic gene interaction networks underlying early placental development are understudied. Here, we generated RNA-sequencing data from mouse fetal placenta at embryonic days 7.5, 8.5, and 9.5 to identify genes with timepoint-specific expression, then inferred gene interaction networks to analyze highly connected network modules. We determined that timepoint-specific gene network modules were associated with distinct developmental processes, and with similar expression profiles to specific human placental cell populations. From each module, we identified hub genes and their direct neighboring genes, which were predicted to govern placental functions. We confirmed that four novel candidate regulators identified through our analyses regulate cell migration in the HTR-8/SVneo cell line. Overall, we predicted several novel regulators of placental development expressed in specific placental cell types using network analysis of bulk RNA-sequencing data. Our findings and analysis approaches will be valuable for future studies investigating the transcriptional landscape of early development.

TRIM44 regulates tumor immunity in gastric cancer through LOXL2-dependent extracellular matrix remodeling

PURPOSE

Gastric cancer is a gastrointestinal malignancy with high mortality and poor prognosis, and the molecular mechanism of gastric tumorigenesis remains unclear. TRIM44 has been reported to be involved in tumor development. However, the role of TRIM44 in tumor immunity is largely unknown.

METHODS

We analyzed TRIM44 expression in clinical gastric cancer tissues and normal tissues by using western blot, quantitative real-time PCR and bioinformatics analyses. We further investigated the involvement of TRIM44 in tumor immunity in vivo and found that it was dependent on extracellular matrix remodeling. We detected the interaction between TRIM44 and LOXL2 by using immunofluorescence staining and coimmunoprecipitation assays. We observed that TRIM44 mediates the stability of LOXL2 by ubiquitination assays.

RESULTS

TRIM44 expression is high and is correlated with T-cell infiltration in gastric cancer. TRIM44 inhibits gastric tumorigenicity by regulating T-cell-mediated antitumor immunity and modulating the protein level of LOXL2. Mechanistically, TRIM44 directly binds to LOXL2 and affects the stability of LOXL2 to change extracellular matrix remodeling and influence tumor immunity.

CONCLUSION

These findings demonstrate that TRIM44 regulates the stability of LOXL2 to remodel the tumor extracellular matrix to modulate tumor immunity in gastric cancer and that the TRIM44/LOXL2 complex is a promising biomarker for gastric cancer prognosis and might be a novel immunotherapy target.

TRIM family contribute to tumorigenesis, cancer development, and drug resistance

The tripartite-motif (TRIM) family represents one of the largest classes of putative single protein RING-finger E3 ubiquitin ligases. TRIM family is involved in a variety of cellular signaling transductions and biological processes. TRIM family also contributes to cancer initiation, progress, and therapy resistance, exhibiting oncogenic and tumor-suppressive functions in different human cancer types. Moreover, TRIM family members have great potential to serve as biomarkers for cancer diagnosis and prognosis. In this review, we focus on the specific mechanisms of the participation of TRIM family members in tumorigenesis, and cancer development including interacting with dysregulated signaling pathways such as JAK/STAT, PI3K/AKT, TGF-β, NF-κB, Wnt/β-catenin, and p53 hub. In addition, many studies have demonstrated that the TRIM family are related to tumor resistance; modulate the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) process, and guarantee the acquisition of cancer stem cells (CSCs) phenotype. In the end, we havediscussed the potential of TRIM family members for cancer therapeutic targets.

The AKT/mTOR Signaling Pathway Was Mediated through the LINC00514/miR-28-5p/TRIM44 Axis

Objective. Increasing evidence has demonstrated the essential role of lncRNAs in tumorigenesis. LINC00514, a novel lncRNA, was reported to be a promoter of malignant behaviors in cancer, but in pituitary adenoma (PA), its biological functions remain unclear. Methods. Herein, we measured LINC00514 expression by RT-qPCR analysis which indicated a significant elevation of LINC00514 expression in human PA tissues. Moreover, the effect of LINC00514 silencing on PA cell proliferation and invasion was, respectively, examined by CCK-8 and transwell assays. Results. The results showed that LINC00514 deletion markedly inhibited PA cell proliferation and invasion. Besides, investigation on the molecular mechanisms showed that LINC00514 might function as an endogenous RNA (ceRNA) to sponge miR-28-5p and TRIM44 was mediated by LINC00514-derived miR-28-5p in PA cells. Furthermore, the AKT/mTOR signaling pathway was mediated through the LINC00514/miR-28-5p/TRIM44 axis. Conclusion. To sum up, we suggested LINC00514 as a novel therapeutic target for PA treatment.

A Novel Gene Signature of Tripartite Motif Family for Predicting the Prognosis in Kidney Renal Clear Cell Carcinoma and Its Association With Immune Cell Infiltration

Given the importance of tripartite motif (TRIM) proteins in diverse cellular biological processes and that their dysregulation contributes to cancer progression, we constructed a robust TRIM family signature to stratify patients with kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC). Transcriptomic profiles and corresponding clinical information of KIRC patients were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) databases. Prognosis-related TRIM family genes were screened and used to construct a novel TRIM family-based signature for the training cohort. The accuracy and generalizability of the prognostic signature were assessed in testing, entire, and external ICGC cohorts. We analyzed correlations among prognostic signatures, tumor immune microenvironment, and immune cell infiltration. The results of univariate Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier survival analyses revealed 27 TRIMs that were robustly associated with the prognosis of patients with KIRC. We applied Lasso regression and multivariate Cox regression analyses to develop a prognostic signature containing the TRIM1, 13, 35, 26, 55, 2, 47, and 27 genes to predict the survival of patients with KIRC. The accuracy and generalizability of this signature were confirmed in internal and external validation cohorts. We also constructed a predictive nomogram based on the signature and the clinicopathological characteristics of sex, age, and T and M status to aid clinical decision-making. We analyzed immune cell infiltration analysis and found that CD8 T cells, memory resting CD4 T cells, and M2 macrophages were the most enriched components in the KIRC tumor immune microenvironment. A higher level of immune infiltration by plasma cells, follicular helper T cells, and activated NK cells, and a lower level of immune infiltration by memory resting CD4 T cells, M1 and M2 macrophages, and resting dendritic cells were associated with higher risk scores. Overall, our eight-gene TRIM family signature has sufficient accuracy and generalizability for predicting the overall survival of patients with KIRC. Furthermore, this prognostic signature is associated with tumor immune status and distinct immune cell infiltrates in the tumor microenvironment.

Knockdown of circRAD23B Exerts Antitumor Response in Colorectal Cancer via the Regulation of miR-1205/TRIM44 axis

BACKGROUND

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common cancer with high metastatic property. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have important involvement in cancer processes. This study focused on the regulation of circRNA RAD23 homologue B (circRAD23B) in CRC.

METHODS

The levels of circRAD23B, microRNA-1205 (miR-1205), and tripartite motif-44 (TRIM44) were examined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Functional analyses were performed by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) for cell proliferation, flow cytometry for cell cycle or cell apoptosis, and transwell assay for cell migration and invasion. Western blot was administrated for protein detection. The interaction of targets was analyzed by dual-luciferase reporter and RNA pull-down assays. The in vivo experiment was conducted via xenograft tumor in mice.

RESULTS

We identified that circRAD23B was overexpressed in CRC tissues and cells. CRC cell proliferation, cell cycle progression, and cell metastasis were inhibited, while apoptosis was promoted by downregulating circRAD23B. Target analysis indicated that circRAD23B-targeted miR-1205 and TRIM44 were downstream genes of miR-1205. Moreover, the antitumor response of circRAD23B downregulation and miR-1205 overexpression was, respectively, achieved by increasing miR-1205 and decreasing TRIM44. CircRAD23B could regulate TRIM44 level by sponging miR-1205. In vivo, circRAD23B knockdown also reduced CRC tumorigenesis via the miR-1205/TRIM44 axis.

CONCLUSION

These results suggested that the inhibition of circRAD23B retarded the progression of CRC via acting on the miR-1205/TRIM44 axis. CircRAD23B might be a novel target in CRC treatment.

Silencing of TRIM44 Inhibits Inflammation and Alleviates Traumatic Brain Injury in Rats by Downregulating TLR4-NF-κB Signaling

BACKGROUND

Neuroinflammation subsequent to traumatic brain injury (TBI) is important for the recovery of patients and is associated with neurodegenerative changes post-TBI. The tripartite motif containing 44 (TRIM44) protein is an E3 ligase involved in the regulation of immune function with no previously known link to TBI. This study explores the connection between TRIM44 and TBI.

METHODS

After induction of TBI in rats by control cortex injury, TRIM44 expressions were determined with quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blot, and Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)-NF-κB signaling was examined by the expression of TLR4, p65 phosphorylation, and the specific NF-κB transcription activity. The effects of TRIM44 knockdown on inflammation, neurological function, and TLR4-NF-κB signaling in TBI rats were revealed by the detection of proinflammatory cytokines and TLR4-NF-κB signaling molecules, modified neurological severity score, brain water content, and Evans blue permeability.

RESULTS

We found that TRIM44 expression was significantly increased following TBI induction along with TLR4-NF-κB activation. Silencing of TRIM44 suppressed proinflammatory cytokine production, improved neurological outcomes, alleviated brain edema, and inhibited TLR4-NF-κB signaling in TBI rats.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that suppressing TRIM44 or modulation of relevant pathways may be a therapeutic strategy for TBI.

YTHDF1 promotes the proliferation, migration, and invasion of prostate cancer cells by regulating TRIM44

Background

Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most common malignancies in men. YTHDF1 may play an important role in promoting PCa progression, but there is no reports to date on YTHDF1 function in PCa.

Objective

This study explored whether YTHDF1 could regulate TRIM44 in PCa cells.

Methods

By querying the TCGA database, we evaluated YTHDF1 expression in PCa, the OS and DFS of YTHDF1, and the correlation between YTHDF1 and TRIM44 in PCa. We constructed vectors to interfere with YTHDF1 expression and overexpress TRIM44 to examine the role of YTHDF1 and TRIM44 in PCa cells. Differentially expressed mRNAs were identified by mRNA sequencing. The levels of YTHDF1, TRIM44, LGR4, SGTA, DDX20, and FZD8 were measured by qRT-PCR and WB was used to determine YTHDF1 and TRIM44 expression. A CCK-8 assay was used to assess cell proliferation. A Transwell chamber assay was used measure cell migration and invasion ability.

Results

YTHDF1 was highly expressed in both Pca tissues and cells. PCa patient prognosis with high YTHDF1 expression was relatively poor. Cell function experiments showed that inhibiting YTHDF1 expression decreased cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. RNA sequencing analysis revealed that YTHDF1 may promote PCa cell proliferation, migration, and invasion by modulating TRIM44 expression. Cell function experiments further verified that YTHDF1 promoted PCa cell proliferation, migration, and invasion by regulating TRIM44.

Conclusions

YTHDF1 enhances PCa cell proliferation, migration, and invasion by regulating TRIM44.

TRIM27 interacts with Iκbα to promote the growth of human renal cancer cells through regulating the NF-κB pathway

Background

The tripartite motif (TRIM) family proteins exhibit oncogenic roles in various cancers. The roles of TRIM27, a member of the TRIM super family, in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) remained unexplored. In the current study, we aimed to investigate the clinical impact and roles of TRIM27 in the development of RCC.

Methods

The mRNA levels of TRIM27 and Kaplan–Meier survival of RCC were analyzed from The Cancer Genome Atlas database. Real-time PCR and Western blotting were used to measure the mRNA and protein levels of TRIM27 both in vivo and in vitro. siRNA and TRIM27 were exogenously overexpressed in RCC cell lines to manipulate TRIM27 expression.

Results

We discovered that TRIM27 was elevated in RCC patients, and the expression of TRIM27 was closely correlated with poor prognosis. The loss of function and gain of function results illustrated that TRIM27 promotes cell proliferation and inhibits apoptosis in RCC cell lines. Furthermore, TRIM27 expression was positively associated with NF-κB expression in patients with RCC. Blocking the activity of NF-κB attenuated the TRIM27-mediated enhancement of proliferation and inhibition of apoptosis. TRIM27 directly interacted with Iκbα, an inhibitor of NF-κB, to promote its ubiquitination, and the inhibitory effects of TRIM27 on Iκbα led to NF-κB activation.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that TRIM27 exhibits an oncogenic role in RCC by regulating NF-κB signaling. TRIM27 serves as a specific prognostic indicator for RCC, and strategies targeting the suppression of TRIM27 function may shed light on future therapeutic approaches.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12885-021-08562-5.

circ_0030018 promotes glioma proliferation and metastasis

Background

Circular RNA (circRNA) plays an essential role in tumor progression, including glioma. circ_0030018 is a newly discovered circRNA that is highly expressed in glioma. However, its role and mechanism in glioma need to be further elucidated.

Methods

The expression of circ_0030018, microRNA (miR)-194-5p, and tripartite motif containing 44 (TRIM44) was examined using quantitative real-time PCR. Cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis were determined using MTT assay, colony formation assay, transwell assay, and flow cytometry. Moreover, dual-luciferase reporter assay and RNA pull-down assay were used to verify the interactions among circ_0030018, miR-194-5p, and TRIM44. The protein expression of TRIM44 was assessed by western blot analysis. Animal experiments were conducted to explore the role of circ_0030018 in glioma tumor growth in vivo.

Results

circ_0030018 was overexpressed in glioma tissues and cells, and its silencing could inhibit glioma cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and accelerate apoptosis. miR-194-5p could be sponged by circ_0030018, and its overexpression could hinder the progression of glioma cells. Further experiments revealed that miR-194-5p inhibitor reversed the negative regulation of circ_0030018 knockdown on glioma cell progression. In addition, TRIM44 was a target of miR-194-5p, and its downregulation could repress glioma cell progression. Overexpressed TRIM44 reversed the inhibition effect of miR-194-5p on glioma cell progression. Animal experiments suggested that circ_0030018 knockdown could reduce glioma tumor growth through regulating miR-194-5p and TRIM44.

Conclusion

Our 8data showed that circ_0030018 enhanced glioma progression by sponging miR-194-5p to regulate TRIM44, indicating that circ_0030018 might be a potential treatment target for glioma.

The translational values of TRIM family in pan-cancers: From functions and mechanisms to clinics

Cancer is the second leading cause of human death across the world. Tripartite motif (TRIM) family, with E3 ubiquitin ligase activities in majority of its members, is reported to be involved in multiple cellular processes and signaling pathways. TRIM proteins have critical effects in the regulation of biological behaviors of cancer cells. Here, we discussed the current understanding of the molecular mechanism of TRIM proteins regulation of cancer cells. We also comprehensively reviewed published studies on TRIM family members as oncogenes or tumor suppressors in the oncogenesis, development, and progression of a variety of types of human cancers. Finally, we highlighted that certain TRIM family members are potential molecular biomarkers for cancer diagnosis and prognosis, and potential therapeutic targets.

TRIM10 binds to IFN-α/β receptor 1 to negatively regulate type I IFN signal transduction

The type I interferon (IFN-I) system is important for antiviral and anticancer immunity. Prolonged activation of IFN/JAK/STAT signaling is closely associated with autoimmune diseases. TRIM10 dysfunction may be associated closely with certain autoimmune disorders. Here, we observed that the serum TRIM10 protein level is lower in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus than in healthy control subjects. We speculated the possible involvement of TRIM10-induced modulation of the IFN/JAK/STAT signaling pathway in systemic lupus erythematosus. In line with our hypothesis, TRIM10 inhibited the activation of JAK/STAT signaling pathway triggered by various stimuli. TRIM10 restricted the IFN-I/JAK/STAT signaling pathway, which was independent of its E3 ligase activity. Mechanistically, TRIM10 interacted with the intracellular domain of IFNAR1 and blocked the association of IFNAR1 with TYK2. These data suggest the possible TRIM10 suppresses IFN/JAK/STAT signaling pathway through blocking the interaction between IFNAR1 and TYK2. Targeting TRIM10 is a potential strategy for treating autoimmune diseases.

TRIM Proteins in Colorectal Cancer: TRIM8 as a Promising Therapeutic Target in Chemo Resistance

Colorectal cancer (CRC) represents one of the most widespread forms of cancer in the population and, as all malignant tumors, often develops resistance to chemotherapies with consequent tumor growth and spreading leading to the patient’s premature death. For this reason, a great challenge is to identify new therapeutic targets, able to restore the drugs sensitivity of cancer cells. In this review, we discuss the role of TRIpartite Motifs (TRIM) proteins in cancers and in CRC chemoresistance, focusing on the tumor-suppressor role of TRIM8 protein in the reactivation of the CRC cells sensitivity to drugs currently used in the clinical practice. Since the restoration of TRIM8 protein levels in CRC cells recovers chemotherapy response, it may represent a new promising therapeutic target in the treatment of CRC.

Circ_0056285 Regulates Proliferation, Apoptosis and Glycolysis of Osteosarcoma Cells via miR-1244/TRIM44 Axis

Background

Osteosarcoma (OS) is a common malignant bone cancer that occurs in adolescents and children. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are important regulators of tumorigenesis and development. This study aimed to explore the role and molecular basis of circ_0056285 in OS.

Methods

The levels of circ_0056285, miR-1244 and tripartite motif containing 44 (TRIM44) were determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction or Western blot assay. Cell proliferation was evaluated by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and colony formation assay. Cell apoptosis was assessed by flow cytometry and caspase 3and caspase 9 activity assay kits. Glucose uptake, lactate product and ATP level were examined using commercial kits. Hexokinase II (HK2) and lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA) levels were measured by Western blot assay. The interaction among circ_0056285, miR-1244 and TRIM44 was confirmed by dual-luciferase reporter assay, RNA immunoprecipitation assay or RNA pull-down assay. Xenograft experiment was conducted to explore tumor growth in vivo. Exosomes were identified by transmission electron microscope (TEM), nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) and Western blot. The diagnostic value of exosomal circ_0056285 was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.

Results

Circ_0056285 and TRIM44 were up-regulated, and miR-1244 was down-regulated in OS tissues and cells. Circ_0056285 silencing inhibited proliferation and glycolysis and promoted apoptosis in OS cells. Also, circ_0056285 knockdown hindered proliferation and accelerated apoptosis in OS cells by regulating miR-1244/TRIM44 axis. Circ_0056285 depletion impeded tumor growth in vivo. Furthermore, ROC curve showed that circ_0056285 might be a diagnostic biomarker in OS.

Conclusion

Circ_0056285 facilitated OS progression by sponging miR-1244 and increasing TRIM44 expression, providing a promising therapeutic target for OS.

Tripartite Motif-Containing 44 is Involved in the Tumorigenesis of Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma, and its Expression is Downregulated by Nuciferine

Tripartite motif-containing 44 (TRIM44) was reported to be involved in the tumorigenesis of several tumors, but its function in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma has not been investigated yet. In the present study, we aimed to elucidate the function of TRIM44 in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma, and identify the compounds which could inhibit TRIM44 expression. Our results showed that TRIM44 was upregulated in tumor tissues and cell lines of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Knockdown of TRIM44 significantly inhibited cell growth of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma by suppressing TLR4, phosphorylated AKT and phosphorylated NF-κB p65 expression in vitro. Moreover, TRIM44 knockdown inhibited tumor growth in nude mice, which further suggested that TRIM44 exerted oncogenic activity in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Interestingly, it was found that nuciferine significantly inhibited the mRNA levels of TRIM44 after screening a small natural compound library. Our further studies showed nuciferine markedly downregulated the protein levels of TRIM44 and its substrate TLR4 in a concentration-dependent manner in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma cells. Moreover, the activation of downstream kinases of TLR4 such as AKT signaling pathway was also inhibited by nuciferine. Additionally, nuciferine markedly inhibited cell survival of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma in a concentration-dependent manner. In contrast, TRIM44 overexpression significantly reduced the cytotoxicity of nuciferine in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma cells. In conclusion, this study indicated that inhibiting TRIM44 would be a useful strategy for the treatment of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma, and nuciferine could be a potential chemical applicated in the therapy of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Combined A20 and tripartite motif-containing 44 as poor prognostic factors for breast cancer patients of the Japanese population

We previously reported that a strong immunoreactivity of tripartite motif-containing 44 (TRIM44) predicts the poor prognosis of patients with invasive breast cancer, and proposed that TRIM44 activates nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling as a causative mechanism. In the present study, we examined the clinicopathological roles of A20, which is known to be an NF-κB responsive gene, with TRIM44, in an updated cohort. Tissue samples of invasive breast cancer were obtained from 140 Japanese female breast cancer patients who underwent surgical treatment. Immunoreactivities of A20 and TRIM44 were analyzed using specific antibodies for each protein. A positive A20 immunoreactivity was significantly associated with a shorter disease-free survival (P = 0.043) and was positively correlated with TRIM44 immunoreactivity (P = 0.039). Combined use of the immunoreactivities for two proteins revealed that double-positive status for both A20 and TRIM44 immunoreactivities was associated with a shorter disease-free survival (P = 0.012) and was an independent factor for poor prognosis. These results indicate that a combined A20 and TRIM44 immunoreactivity predicted the prognosis of patients with invasive breast cancer. Moreover, the positive correlation between A20 and TRIM44 immunoreactivities suggested that the activation of NF-κB signaling by TRIM44 could occur in clinical breast cancer tissues.

The Novel Target of Colorectal Carcinoma: TRIM44 Regulates Cell Migration and Invasion via Activation of CXCR4/NF-κB Signaling

Tripartite motif containing 44 (TRIM44) has been reported to regulate various biological effects in malignant cancers and matrix Metalloproteinases has been demonstrated to be associated with cancer cell migration and invasion. Nonetheless, the expression and molecular mechanism of TRIM44 in colorectal cancer (CRC) remain rarely known. TRIM44 was overexpressed or knocked down in CRC cells. Subsequently, the effects of TRIM44 on cell migration and invasion as well as underlying molecular mechanisms were detected. Data showed that TRIM44 was highly expressed in CRC cell lines. Downregulation of TRIM44 inhibited the cell viability, migration, and invasion in SW-480 cells. In addition, overexpression of TRIM44 enhanced the expression of NF-κB and CXCR4, and enhanced the binding between NF-κB and CXCR4 promoter region. In summarize, TRIM44 may serve as a potential target for CRC diagnosis and progression.

MicroRNA-623 Inhibits Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition to Attenuate Glioma Proliferation by Targeting TRIM44

Objective

Glioma has the highest incidence among the different tumor types within the nervous system, accounting for about 40% of them. Malignant glioma has a high invasion and metastasis rate, which leads to the poor prognosis of patients. By targeting specific genes, microRNAs serve as key regulators in the epithelial–mesenchymal transformation (EMT) process, which could provide new insights into the treatment of glioblastomas (GBM). The detailed molecular role that miR-623 plays in GBM still remains unclear.

Materials and Methods

The level of miR-623 in GBM cells was evaluated by RT-PCR. The function of miR-623 overexpression on GBM cell proliferation, migration, and invasion was assessed by MTS, Transwell analysis, and colony formation assay. In addition, a mouse subcutaneous xenograft model was used to study in vivo effects. The binding between miR-623 and TRIM44 was verified by a dual-luciferase reporter assay and the regulatory function of miR-623 on EMT markers was evaluated using Western blot.

Results

The expression of miR-623 was repressed in the GBM cancer cell lines. MiR-623 overexpression or TRIM44 knockdown attenuated the proliferation, migration, and invasion of GBM cell lines. TRIM44 could facilitate the reverse suppression of EMT and miR-623 in GBM progression. MiR-623 was found to inhibit TRIM44 expression by directly binding to its 3ʹUTR. In addition, systemic delivery of miR-623 mimic reduced tumor growth and inhibited TRIM44 protein expression in tumor-bearing nude mice. Furthermore, our findings indicated that miR-623 overexpression or TRIM44 down-regulation impeded the proliferation and migratory ability of LN229 and U251MG glioma cells, and miR-623 attenuates TRIM44-induced EMT by directly targeting the 3ʹUTR of TRIM44, which could serve as preliminary research to identify potential therapeutic targets for future treatment of GBM.

Conclusion

Overall, microRNA-623 inhibits epithelial–mesenchymal transition to attenuate glioma proliferation by targeting TRIM44.

TRIM44 promotes cell proliferation and migration by inhibiting FRK in renal cell carcinoma

TRIM44 has oncogenic roles in various cancers. However, TRIM44 expression and its function in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) are still unknown. Here in this study, we investigated the clinical significance of TRIM44 and its biological function in RCC. TRIM44 overexpression was significantly associated with clinical M stage, histologic type (clear cell) and presence of lymphatic invasion (P = .047, P = .005, and P = .028, respectively). Moreover, TRIM44 overexpression was significantly associated with poor prognosis in terms of cancer‐specific survival (P = .019). Gain‐of‐function and loss‐of‐function studies using TRIM44 and siTRIM44 transfection showed that TRIM44 promotes cell proliferation and cell migration in two RCC cell lines, Caki1 and 769P. To further investigate the role of TRIM44 in RCC, we performed integrated microarray analysis in Caki1 and 769P cells and explored the data in the Oncomine database. Interestingly, FRK was identified as a promising candidate target gene of TRIM44, which was downregulated in RCC compared with normal renal tissues. We found that cell proliferation was inhibited by TRIM44 knockdown and then recovered by siFRK treatment. Taken together, the present study revealed the association between high expression of TRIM44 and poor prognosis in RCC patients and that TRIM44 promotes cell proliferation by regulating FRK.