KIF22 coordinates CAR and EGFR dynamics to promote cancer cell proliferation

Targeting Kinesins for Therapeutic Exploitation of Chromosomal Instability in Lung Cancer

New therapeutic approaches that antagonize tumour-promoting phenotypes in lung cancer are needed to improve patient outcomes. Chromosomal instability (CIN) is a hallmark of lung cancer characterized by the ongoing acquisition of genetic alterations that include the gain and loss of whole chromosomes or segments of chromosomes as well as chromosomal rearrangements during cell division. Although it provides genetic diversity that fuels tumour evolution and enables the acquisition of aggressive phenotypes like immune evasion, metastasis, and drug resistance, too much CIN can be lethal because it creates genetic imbalances that disrupt essential genes and induce severe proteotoxic and metabolic stress. As such, sustaining advantageous levels of CIN that are compatible with survival is a fine balance in cancer cells, and potentiating CIN to levels that exceed a tolerable threshold is a promising treatment strategy for inherently unstable tumours like lung cancer. Kinesins are a superfamily of motor proteins with many members having functions in mitosis that are critical for the correct segregation of chromosomes and, consequently, maintaining genomic integrity. Accordingly, inhibition of such kinesins has been shown to exacerbate CIN. Therefore, inhibiting mitotic kinesins represents a promising strategy for amplifying CIN to lethal levels in vulnerable cancer cells. In this review, we describe the concept of CIN as a therapeutic vulnerability and comprehensively summarize studies reporting the clinical and functional relevance of kinesins in lung cancer, with the goal of outlining how kinesin inhibition, or "targeting kinesins", holds great potential as an effective strategy for treating lung cancer.

TFDP1 transcriptionally activates KIF22 to enhance aggressiveness and stemness in endometrial cancer: implications for prognosis and targeted therapy

This study aims to elucidate the role of Kinesin Family Member 22 (KIF22) as a critical regulator of aggressive behavior in endometrial cancer (uterine corpus endometrial carcinoma, UCEC) and to uncover its underlying mechanisms, thereby providing a molecular rationale for future targeted treatment. Bioinformatics analyses were employed to assess KIF22 and TFDP1 expression in UCEC, examining their prognostic value and associations with disease progression. Expression levels were validated in UCEC tissues using qRT-PCR and western blotting. Potential TFDP1 binding sites on the KIF22 promoter were predicted using the JASPAR database and confirmed via dual-luciferase reporter assays. Functional assays, including CCK-8, transwell, and spheroid formation assays, were conducted to evaluate the effects of KIF22 knockdown on UCEC cell behavior. A mouse xenograft model was utilized to investigate the in vivo impact of KIF22 suppression on tumor growth and stemness. KIF22 expression was significantly elevated in UCEC tissues, correlating with reduced overall survival in patients with high KIF22 levels. Overexpression of KIF22 enhanced the proliferation, migration, and sphere formation of UCEC cells. Similarly, high TFDP1 expression was associated with poorer patient outcomes. KIF22 was found to be positively regulated by the TFDP1 transcription factor, which bound to the KIF22 promoter and activated its expression in UCEC cells. In vivo, KIF22 knockdown markedly impeded the tumor formation of cells and reduced stemness marker expression. KIF22, upregulated by TFDP1, enhances UCEC cell aggressiveness and is linked to poor prognosis, highlighting its potential as a target for therapeutic intervention in endometrial cancer.

Involvement of kinesins in skeletal dysplasia: a review

Skeletal dysplasias are group of rare genetic diseases resulting from mutations in genes encoding structural proteins of the cartilage extracellular matrix (ECM), signaling molecules, transcription factors, epigenetic modifiers, and several intracellular proteins. Cell division, organelle maintenance, and intracellular transport are all orchestrated by the cytoskeleton-associated proteins, and intracellular processes affected through microtubule-associated movement are important for the function of skeletal cells. Among microtubule-associated motor proteins, kinesins in particular have been shown to play a key role in cell cycle dynamics, including chromosome segregation, mitotic spindle formation, and ciliogenesis, in addition to cargo trafficking, receptor recycling, and endocytosis. Recent studies highlight the fundamental role of kinesins in embryonic development and morphogenesis and have shown that mutations in kinesin genes lead to several skeletal dysplasias. However, many questions concerning the specific functions of kinesins and their adaptor molecules as well as specific molecular mechanisms in which the kinesin proteins are involved during skeletal development remain unanswered. Here we present a review of the skeletal dysplasias resulting from defects in kinesins and discuss the involvement of kinesin proteins in the molecular mechanisms that are active during skeletal development.

RAB22A sorts epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR) from early endosomes to recycling endosomes for microvesicles release

Microvesicles (MVs) containing proteins, nucleic acid or organelles are shed from the plasma membrane. Although the mechanisms of MV budding are well elucidated, the connection between endosomal trafficking and MV formation remains poorly understood. In this report, RAB22A is revealed to be crucial for EGFR-containing MVs formation by the RAB GTPase family screening. RAB22A recruits TBC1D2B, a GTPase-activating protein (GAP) of RAB7A, to inactivate RAB7A, thus preventing EGFR from being transported to late endosomes and lysosomes. RAB22A also engages SH3BP5L, a guanine-nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) of RAB11A, to activate RAB11A on early endosomes. Consequently, EGFR is recycled to the cell surface and packaged into MVs. Furthermore, EGFR can phosphorylate RAB22A at Tyr136, which in turn promotes EGFR-containing MVs formation. Our findings illustrate that RAB22A acts as a sorter on early endosomes to sort EGFR to recycling endosomes for MV shedding by both activating RAB11A and inactivating RAB7A.

Role of microRNAs in tumor progression by regulation of kinesin motor proteins

Aberrant cell proliferation is one of the main characteristics of tumor cells that can be affected by many cellular processes and signaling pathways. Kinesin superfamily proteins (KIFs) are motor proteins that are involved in cytoplasmic transportations and chromosomal segregation during cell proliferation. Therefore, regulation of the KIF functions as vital factors in chromosomal stability is necessary to maintain normal cellular homeostasis and proliferation. KIF deregulations have been reported in various cancers. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) and signaling pathways are important regulators of KIF proteins. MiRNAs have key roles in regulation of the cell proliferation, migration, and apoptosis. In the present review, we discussed the role of miRNAs in tumor biology through the regulation of KIF proteins. It has been shown that miRNAs have mainly a tumor suppressor function via the KIF targeting. This review can be an effective step to introduce the miRNAs/KIFs axis as a probable therapeutic target in tumor cells.

KIF22 promotes multiple myeloma progression by regulating the CDC25C/CDK1/cyclinB1 pathway

PURPOSE

Multiple myeloma (MM) is an incurable hematological malignancy characterized by clonal proliferation of malignant plasma B cells in bone marrow, and its pathogenesis remains unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the role of kinesin family member 22 (KIF22) in MM and elucidate its molecular mechanism.

METHODS

The expression of KIF22 was detected in MM patients based upon the public datasets and clinical samples. Then, in vitro assays were performed to investigate the biological function of KIF22 in MM cell lines, and subcutaneous xenograft models in nude mice were conducted in vivo. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and luciferase reporter assay were used to determine the mechanism of KIF22-mediated regulation.

RESULTS

The results demonstrated that the expression of KIF22 in MM patients was associated with several clinical features, including gender (P = 0.016), LDH (P < 0.001), β2-MG (P = 0.003), percentage of tumor cells (BM) (P = 0.002) and poor prognosis (P < 0.0001). Furthermore, changing the expression of KIF22 mainly influenced the cell proliferation in vitro and tumor growth in vivo, and caused G2/M phase cell cycle dysfunction. Mechanically, KIF22 directly transcriptionally regulated cell division cycle 25C (CDC25C) by binding its promoter and indirectly influenced CDC25C expression by regulating the ERK pathway. KIF22 also regulated CDC25C/CDK1/cyclinB1 pathway.

CONCLUSION

KIF22 could promote cell proliferation and cell cycle progression by transcriptionally regulating CDC25C and its downstream CDC25C/CDK1/cyclinB1 pathway to facilitate MM progression, which might be a potential therapeutic target in MM.

Phosphoproteomics of patient-derived xenografts identifies targets and markers associated with sensitivity and resistance to EGFR blockade in colorectal cancer

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a well-exploited therapeutic target in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Unfortunately, not all patients benefit from current EGFR inhibitors. Mass spectrometry-based proteomics and phosphoproteomics were performed on 30 genomically and pharmacologically characterized mCRC patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) to investigate the molecular basis of response to EGFR blockade and identify alternative drug targets to overcome resistance. Both the tyrosine and global phosphoproteome as well as the proteome harbored distinctive response signatures. We found that increased pathway activity related to mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibition and abundant tyrosine phosphorylation of cell junction proteins, such as CXADR and CLDN1/3, in sensitive tumors, whereas epithelial-mesenchymal transition and increased MAPK and AKT signaling were more prevalent in resistant tumors. Furthermore, the ranking of kinase activities in single samples confirmed the driver activity of ERBB2, EGFR, and MET in cetuximab-resistant tumors. This analysis also revealed high kinase activity of several members of the Src and ephrin kinase family in 2 CRC PDX models with genomically unexplained resistance. Inhibition of these hyperactive kinases, alone or in combination with cetuximab, resulted in growth inhibition of ex vivo PDX-derived organoids and in vivo PDXs. Together, these findings highlight the potential value of phosphoproteomics to improve our understanding of anti-EGFR treatment and response prediction in mCRC and bring to the forefront alternative drug targets in cetuximab-resistant tumors.

Identification of lncRNA, miRNA and mRNA expression profiles and ceRNA Networks in small cell lung cancer

BACKGROUND

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a highly lethal malignant tumor. It accounts for approximately 15% of newly diagnosed lung cancers. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) can regulate gene expression and contribute to tumorigenesis through interactions with microRNAs (miRNAs). However, there are only a few studies reporting the expression profiles of lncRNAs, miRNAs, and mRNAs in SCLC. Also, the role of differentially expressed lncRNAs, miRNAs, and mRNAs in relation to competitive endogenous RNAs (ceRNA) network in SCLC remain unclear.

RESULTS

In the present study, we first performed next generation sequencing (NGS) with six pairs of SCLC tumors and adjacent non-cancerous tissues obtained from SCLC patients. Overall, 29 lncRNAs, 48 miRNAs, and 510 mRNAs were found to be differentially expressed in SCLC samples (|log₂[fold change] |> 1; P < 0.05). Bioinformatics analysis was performed to predict and construct a lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA ceRNA network, which included 9 lncRNAs, 11 miRNAs, and 392 mRNAs. Four up-regulated lncRNAs and related mRNAs in the ceRNA regulatory pathways were selected and validated by quantitative PCR. In addition, we examined the role of the most upregulated lncRNA, TCONS_00020615, in SCLC cells. We found that TCONS_00020615 may regulate SCLC tumorigenesis through the TCONS_00020615-hsa-miR-26b-5p-TPD52 pathway.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study provided the comprehensive analysis of the expression profiles of lncRNAs, miRNAs, and mRNAs of SCLC tumors and adjacent non-cancerous tissues. We constructed the ceRNA networks which may provide new evidence for the underlying regulatory mechanism of SCLC. We also found that the lncRNA TCONS_00020615 may regulate the carcinogenesis of SCLC.

Epithelial coxsackievirus adenovirus receptor promotes house dust mite-induced lung inflammation

Airway inflammation and remodelling are important pathophysiologic features in asthma and other respiratory conditions. An intact epithelial cell layer is crucial to maintain lung homoeostasis, and this depends on intercellular adhesion, whilst damaged respiratory epithelium is the primary instigator of airway inflammation. The Coxsackievirus Adenovirus Receptor (CAR) is highly expressed in the epithelium where it modulates cell-cell adhesion stability and facilitates immune cell transepithelial migration. However, the contribution of CAR to lung inflammation remains unclear. Here we investigate the mechanistic contribution of CAR in mediating responses to the common aeroallergen, House Dust Mite (HDM). We demonstrate that administration of HDM in mice lacking CAR in the respiratory epithelium leads to loss of peri-bronchial inflammatory cell infiltration, fewer goblet-cells and decreased pro-inflammatory cytokine release. In vitro analysis in human lung epithelial cells confirms that loss of CAR leads to reduced HDM-dependent inflammatory cytokine release and neutrophil migration. Epithelial CAR depletion also promoted smooth muscle cell proliferation mediated by GSK3β and TGF-β, basal matrix production and airway hyperresponsiveness. Our data demonstrate that CAR coordinates lung inflammation through a dual function in leucocyte recruitment and tissue remodelling and may represent an important target for future therapeutic development in inflammatory lung diseases.

Dynamic in Situ Confinement Triggers Ligand-Free Neuropeptide Receptor Signaling

Membrane receptor clustering is fundamental to cell-cell communication; however, the physiological function of receptor clustering in cell signaling remains enigmatic. Here, we developed a dynamic platform to induce cluster formation of neuropeptide Y₂ hormone receptors (Y₂R) in situ by a chelator nanotool. The multivalent interaction enabled a dynamic exchange of histidine-tagged Y₂R within the clusters. Fast Y₂R enrichment in clustered areas triggered ligand-independent signaling as determined by an increase in cytosolic calcium and cell migration. Notably, the calcium and motility response to ligand-induced activation was amplified in preclustered cells, suggesting a key role of receptor clustering in sensitizing the dose response to lower ligand concentrations. Ligand-independent versus ligand-induced signaling differed in the binding of arrestin-3 as a downstream effector, which was recruited to the clusters only in the presence of the ligand. This approach allows in situ receptor clustering, raising the possibility to explore different receptor activation modalities.

Dual roles of β-arrestin 1 in mediating cell metabolism and proliferation in gastric cancer

β-Arrestin 1 (ARRB1) has been recognized as a multifunctional adaptor protein in the last decade, beyond its original role in desensitizing G protein-coupled receptor signaling. Here, we identify that ARRB1 plays essential roles in mediating gastric cancer (GC) cell metabolism and proliferation, by combining cohort analysis and functional investigation using patient-derived preclinical models. Overexpression of ARRB1 was associated with poor outcome of GC patients and knockdown of ARRB1 impaired cell proliferation both ex vivo and in vivo. Intriguingly, ARRB1 depicted diverse subcellular localizations during a passage of organoid cultures (7 d) to exert dual functions. Further analysis revealed that nuclear ARRB1 binds with transcription factor E2F1 triggering up-regulation of proliferative genes, while cytoplasmic ARRB1 modulates metabolic flux by binding with the pyruvate kinase M2 isoform (PKM2) and hindering PKM2 tetramerization, which reduces pyruvate kinase activity and leads to cellular metabolism shifts from oxidative phosphorylation to aerobic glycolysis. As ARRB1 localization was shown mostly in the cytoplasm in human GC samples, therapeutic potential of the ARRB1-PKM2 axis was tested, and we found tumor proliferation could be attenuated by the PKM2 activator DASA-58, especially in ARRB1^high organoids. Together, the data in our study highlight a spatiotemporally dependent role of ARRB1 in mediating GC cell metabolism and proliferation and implies reactivating PKM2 may be a promising therapeutic strategy in a subset of GC patients.

Kinesins in Mammalian Spermatogenesis and Germ Cell Transport

In mammalian testes, the apical cytoplasm of each Sertoli cell holds up to several dozens of germ cells, especially spermatids that are transported up and down the seminiferous epithelium. The blood-testis barrier (BTB) established by neighboring Sertoli cells in the basal compartment restructures on a regular basis to allow preleptotene/leptotene spermatocytes to pass through. The timely transfer of germ cells and other cellular organelles such as residual bodies, phagosomes, and lysosomes across the epithelium to facilitate spermatogenesis is important and requires the microtubule-based cytoskeleton in Sertoli cells. Kinesins, a superfamily of the microtubule-dependent motor proteins, are abundantly and preferentially expressed in the testis, but their functions are poorly understood. This review summarizes recent findings on kinesins in mammalian spermatogenesis, highlighting their potential role in germ cell traversing through the BTB and the remodeling of Sertoli cell-spermatid junctions to advance spermatid transport. The possibility of kinesins acting as a mediator and/or synchronizer for cell cycle progression, germ cell transit, and junctional rearrangement and turnover is also discussed. We mostly cover findings in rodents, but we also make special remarks regarding humans. We anticipate that this information will provide a framework for future research in the field.

KIF22 Promotes Development of Pancreatic Cancer by Regulating the MEK/ERK/P21 Signaling Axis

The study is aimed at exploring the potential biological process and molecular mechanism of KIF22 involved in the development and progression of pancreatic cancer. First, we used the GEPIA database and tissue qRT-PCR to examine the expression of KIF22 mRNA in pancreatic cancer. Meanwhile, immunohistochemistry revealed the presence of KIF22 in 71 pancreatic cancer tissues versus 30 paracarcinoma tissues. Then, we also explored the relationship between KIF22 expression level and clinical prognosis. Furthermore, in pancreatic cancer cells, we silenced KIF22 by transfecting KIF22 SiRNA, and we investigated the effect of KIF22 on the proliferation of pancreatic cancer cells with MTT and colony formation assays. Finally, we used Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) to look at the effect of KIF22 on the cell cycle regulation of pancreatic cancer cells, and we used Western blot to look at the relationship between KIF22 and the phosphorylated MEK1/2, ERK1/2 (p-MEK1/2, p-ERK1/2), and the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor (P21). In this study, we found that KIF22 was highly expressed in pancreatic cancer tissues, and patients with high expression of KIF22 demonstrated significantly worse clinical prognosis outcomes (P < 0.05). When the KIF22 gene was silenced in pancreatic cancer cells (PANC-1 and MIA PaCa-2), the cells' ability to proliferate was significantly reduced. Furthermore, GSEA confirmed that KIF22 is involved in cell cycle regulation in pancreatic cancer patients (FDR = 0.00158, P < 0.0001). Besides, the level of KIF22 expression was positively correlated with Ki67 (r = 0.8043, P < 0.0001), and KIF22 can promote the transmutation of G1/S. The expression of p-MEK1/2 and p-ERK1/2 was significantly downregulated, while P21 expression was significantly upregulated (P < 0.05). According to our findings, KIF22 is highly expressed in pancreatic cancer and demonstrates a poor clinical prognosis. It regulates the cell cycle via the MEK/ERK/P21 signaling axis and promotes the development of pancreatic cancer.

GBP2 facilitates the progression of glioma via regulation of KIF22/EGFR signaling

Identifying the mechanism of glioma progression is critical for diagnosis and treatment. Although studies have shown that guanylate-binding protein 2(GBP2) has critical roles in various cancers, its function in glioma is unclear. In this work, we demonstrate that GBP2 has high expression levels in glioma tissues. In glioma cells, depletion of GBP2 impairs proliferation and migration, whereas overexpression of GBP2 enhances proliferation and migration. Regarding the mechanism, we clarify that epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling is regulated by GBP2, and also demonstrate that GBP2 interacts directly with kinesin family member 22(KIF22) and regulates glioma progression through KIF22/EGFR signaling in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, our study provides new insight into glioma progression and paves the way for advances in glioma treatment.

CAR Co-Operates With Integrins to Promote Lung Cancer Cell Adhesion and Invasion

The coxsackie and adenovirus receptor (CAR) is a member of the junctional adhesion molecule (JAM) family of adhesion receptors and is localised to epithelial cell tight and adherens junctions. CAR has been shown to be highly expressed in lung cancer where it is proposed to promote tumor growth and regulate epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT), however the potential role of CAR in lung cancer metastasis remains poorly understood. To better understand the role of this receptor in tumor progression, we manipulated CAR expression in both epithelial-like and mesenchymal-like lung cancer cells. In both cases, CAR overexpression promoted tumor growth in vivo in immunocompetent mice and increased cell adhesion in the lung after intravenous injection without altering the EMT properties of each cell line. Overexpression of WTCAR resulted in increased invasion in 3D models and enhanced β1 integrin activity in both cell lines, and this was dependent on phosphorylation of the CAR cytoplasmic tail. Furthermore, phosphorylation of CAR was enhanced by substrate stiffness in vitro, and CAR expression increased at the boundary of solid tumors in vivo. Moreover, CAR formed a complex with the focal adhesion proteins Src, Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK) and paxillin and promoted activation of the Guanine Triphosphate (GTP)-ase Ras-related Protein 1 (Rap1), which in turn mediated enhanced integrin activation. Taken together, our data demonstrate that CAR contributes to lung cancer metastasis via promotion of cell-matrix adhesion, providing new insight into co-operation between cell-cell and cell-matrix proteins that regulate different steps of tumorigenesis.

KIF22 promotes bladder cancer progression by activating the expression of CDCA3

Bladder cancer is a common malignant tumor of the urinary system and is associated with a high morbidity and mortality, due to the difficulty in the accurate diagnosis of patients with early‑stage bladder cancer and the lack of effective treatments for patients with advanced bladder cancer. Thus, novel therapeutic targets are urgently required for this disease. Kinesin family member 22 (KIF22) is a kinesin‑like DNA binding protein belonging to kinesin family, and is involved in the regulation of mitosis. KIF22 has also been reported to promote the progression of several types of cancer, such as breast cancer and melanoma. The present study demonstrates the high expression of KIF22 in human bladder cancer tissues. KIF22 was found to be associated with clinical features, including clinical stage (P=0.003) and recurrence (P=0.016), and to be associated with the prognosis of patients with bladder cancer. Furthermore, it was found that KIF22 silencing inhibited the proliferation of bladder cancer cells in vitro and tumor progression in mice. Additionally, it was noted that KIF22 transcriptionally activated cell division cycle‑associated protein 3 expression, which was also confirmed in tumors in mice. Taken together, the present study investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying the promotion of bladder cancer by KIF22 and provide a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of bladder cancer. Introduction.

Identification of key genes involved in axon regeneration and Wallerian degeneration by weighted gene co-expression network analysis

Peripheral nerve injury repair requires a certain degree of cooperation between axon regeneration and Wallerian degeneration. Therefore, investigating how axon regeneration and degeneration work together to repair peripheral nerve injury may uncover the molecular mechanisms and signal cascades underlying peripheral nerve repair and provide potential strategies for improving the low axon regeneration capacity of the central nervous system. In this study, we applied weighted gene co-expression network analysis to identify differentially expressed genes in proximal and distal sciatic nerve segments from rats with sciatic nerve injury. We identified 31 and 15 co-expression modules from the proximal and distal sciatic nerve segments, respectively. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that the differentially expressed genes in proximal modules promoted regeneration, while the differentially expressed genes in distal modules promoted neurodegeneration. Next, we constructed hub gene networks for selected modules and identified a key hub gene, Kif22, which was up-regulated in both nerve segments. In vitro experiments confirmed that Kif22 knockdown inhibited proliferation and migration of Schwann cells by modulating the activity of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase signaling pathway. Collectively, our findings provide a comparative framework of gene modules that are co-expressed in injured proximal and distal sciatic nerve segments, and identify Kif22 as a potential therapeutic target for promoting peripheral nerve injury repair via Schwann cell proliferation and migration. All animal experiments were approved by the Institutional Animal Ethics Committee of Nantong University, China (approval No. S20210322-008) on March 22, 2021.

KIF18B as a regulator in tumor microenvironment accelerates tumor progression and triggers poor outcome in hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND

The tumor microenvironment plays an important role in the progression and recurrence of tumors and immunotherapy outcomes. The use of immune checkpoint blockers to improve the overall survival rate of patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma has yielded inconsistent outcomes. We examined the tumor microenvironment-related genes for their clinical significance and biological functions in hepatocellular carcinoma.

METHODS

Bioinformatic analysis was performed to screen the differentially expressed genes and to identify the core gene of the tumor microenvironment in hepatocellular carcinoma. The expression of KIF18B in hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines and tumor samples was determined using western blotting, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, and immunohistochemistry. The malignancy-promoting ability of KIF18B was evaluated using Cell Counting Kit-8, colony formation, cell proliferation, migration and invasion, and xenograft tumor assays.

RESULTS

KIF18B was identified as one of the core genes in the hepatocellular carcinoma microenvironment and was significantly associated with infiltrating immune cell subtypes and tumor cell stemness. Upregulation of KIF18B was associated with poor clinicopathological characteristics and poor patient outcomes; its downregulation inhibited the proliferation ability of hepatocellular carcinoma cells, which was consistent with the findings of in vivo experiments. Knockdown of KIF18B inhibited epithelial-mesenchymal transition which reduced the migration and invasion abilities of tumor cells. A pulmonary metastasis model confirmed that the downregulation of KIF18B inhibited hepatocellular carcinoma cell metastasis in vivo.

CONCLUSION

KIF18B could be a useful marker for determining the treatment outcomes of immune checkpoint blockers in the context of hepatocellular carcinoma.

KIF22 promotes progress of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cells and is negatively regulated by miR-122

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) increases at fast rate of all cancer types in China, which urges the investigations of its potential mechanism. In this research, a highly expressed kinesin superfamily protein 22 (KIF22) was founded both in ESCC tissues and cancer cell lines. The following experiments pointed out that down-regulation of KIF22 remarkably restrained the malignant progression of ESCC cells. Besides, KIF22 knockdown promoted ESCC cells apoptosis and arrested cells in G0/G1 phase, while KIF22 also regulated the expression of cell cycle- and EMT-related proteins. Previous research revealed that the aberrant expressions of microRNAs (miRNAs) are related to tumors development. Based on the predict result, KIF22 was considered as the target of miR-122, which was demonstrated by luciferase reporter assay. miR-122 inhibitor could significantly reverse the function of KIF22 knockdown, including cell proliferation, migration and invasion. Furthermore, down-expressed miR-122 altered the function of KIF22 knockdown on cell cycle- and EMT-related proteins. In a word, this work illustrated the regulatory function of KIF22/miR-122 axis in ESSC and provided potential targets for potential targets for ESSC treatment.

Comparative genomics of the coconut crab and other decapod crustaceans: exploring the molecular basis of terrestrial adaptation

Background

The complex life cycle of the coconut crab, Birgus latro, begins when an obligate terrestrial adult female visits the intertidal to hatch zoea larvae into the surf. After drifting for several weeks in the ocean, the post-larval glaucothoes settle in the shallow subtidal zone, undergo metamorphosis, and the early juveniles then subsequently make their way to land where they undergo further physiological changes that prevent them from ever entering the sea again. Here, we sequenced, assembled and analyzed the coconut crab genome to shed light on its adaptation to terrestrial life. For comparison, we also assembled the genomes of the long-tailed marine-living ornate spiny lobster, Panulirus ornatus, and the short-tailed marine-living red king crab, Paralithodes camtschaticus. Our selection of the latter two organisms furthermore allowed us to explore parallel evolution of the crab-like form in anomurans.

Results

All three assembled genomes are large, repeat-rich and AT-rich. Functional analysis reveals that the coconut crab has undergone proliferation of genes involved in the visual, respiratory, olfactory and cytoskeletal systems. Given that the coconut crab has atypical mitochondrial DNA compared to other anomurans, we argue that an abundance of kif22 and other significantly proliferated genes annotated with mitochondrial and microtubule functions, point to unique mechanisms involved in providing cellular energy via nuclear protein-coding genes supplementing mitochondrial and microtubule function. We furthermore detected in the coconut crab a significantly proliferated HOX gene, caudal, that has been associated with posterior development in Drosophila, but we could not definitively associate this gene with carcinization in the Anomura since it is also significantly proliferated in the ornate spiny lobster. However, a cuticle-associated coatomer gene, gammacop, that is significantly proliferated in the coconut crab, may play a role in hardening of the adult coconut crab abdomen in order to mitigate desiccation in terrestrial environments.

Conclusion

The abundance of genomic features in the three assembled genomes serve as a source of hypotheses for future studies of anomuran environmental adaptations such as shell-utilization, perception of visual and olfactory cues in terrestrial environments, and cuticle sclerotization. We hypothesize that the coconut crab exhibits gene proliferation in lieu of alternative splicing as a terrestrial adaptation mechanism and propose life-stage transcriptomic assays to test this hypothesis.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12864-021-07636-9.

Anti-Metastasis Fascin Inhibitors Decrease the Growth of Specific Subtypes of Cancers

Fascin is an actin-bundling protein that is critical for filopodial formation and other cellular cytoskeletal structures. An elevated expression of fascin has been observed in tumor cells and is correlated with a shorter survival of cancer patients. Given its roles in tumor cell migration and invasion, we have developed small-molecule fascin inhibitors to prevent and delay tumor metastasis. Here we report the characterization of a new fascin inhibitor in mice. In addition to its inhibitory effects on tumor metastasis, we also report that fascin inhibitors can decrease the growth of specific subtypes of cancers, including epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-high triple-negative breast cancer, and activated B-cell subtypes of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Hence, fascin inhibitors can be used to not only inhibit tumor metastasis, but also decrease the tumor growth of specific cancer types.

Suppression of KIF22 Inhibits Cell Proliferation and Xenograft Tumor Growth in Tongue Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Background

Oral carcinoma is the sixth most common cancer and is a serious public health problem, and tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) is the most common type of oral carcinoma. Kinesin family member 22 (KIF22), also called as kinesin-like DNA binding protein (KID), is a microtubule-based motor protein and binds to both microtubules and chromosomes, transporting organelles, protein, and mRNA. This research aimed at investigating the prognostic significance of KIF22 in TSCC. Patients and Methods. This retrospective research collected 82 paired tissues with TSCC. KIF22 protein expression level was detected by immunohistochemical staining. Suppression of KIF22 with shRNA in CAL-27 and SCC-15 cells was to observe cell proliferation in vitro and xenograft tumor growth in vivo.

Results

In TSCC tissues, the protein expression level of KIF22 was increased and correlated with tumor stage, clinical stage, and lymphatic metastasis (P=0.013, P=0.013, P=0.013,

Conclusion

KIF22 might play an important role in the progression of TSCC and could serve as a therapeutic target for TSCC.

Spatial and temporal alterations in protein structure by EGF regulate cryptic cysteine oxidation

Stimulation of plasma membrane receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs), such as the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), locally increases the abundance of reactive oxygen species (ROS). These ROS then oxidize cysteine residues in proteins to potentiate downstream signaling. Spatial confinement of ROS is an important regulatory mechanism of redox signaling that enables the stimulation of different RTKs to oxidize distinct sets of downstream proteins. To uncover additional mechanisms that specify cysteines that are redox regulated by EGF stimulation, we performed time-resolved quantification of the EGF-dependent oxidation of 4200 cysteine sites in A431 cells. Fifty-one percent of cysteines were statistically significantly oxidized by EGF stimulation. Furthermore, EGF induced three distinct spatiotemporal patterns of cysteine oxidation in functionally organized protein networks, consistent with the spatial confinement model. Unexpectedly, protein crystal structure analysis and molecular dynamics simulations indicated widespread redox regulation of cryptic cysteine residues that are solvent exposed only upon changes in protein conformation. Phosphorylation and increased flux of nucleotide substrates served as two distinct modes by which EGF specified the cryptic cysteine residues that became solvent exposed and redox regulated. Because proteins that are structurally regulated by different RTKs or cellular perturbations are largely unique, these findings suggest that solvent exposure and redox regulation of cryptic cysteine residues contextually delineate redox signaling networks.

Suppression of KIF22 Inhibits Cell Proliferation and Xenograft Tumor Growth in Colon Cancer

Background: Kinesin family member 22 (KIF22) is known as a regulator of cell mitosis and cellular vesicle transport. The alterations of KIF22 are associated with a series of tumors; however, its possible role in the progression of colon cancer is still unclear. Materials and Methods: This retrospective research collected 82 paired tissues with colon cancer. KIF22 protein and mRNA expression levels were detected by immunohistochemistry assays and Immunoblot assays, respectively. Short hairpin RNA (shRNA) plasmids were used to suppress the expression of KIF22 in HCT116 and HT29 cells, and the silencing efficiencies of shRNA plasmids targeted KIF22 were detected by quantitative PCR assays and immunoblot assays. In addition, 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays and xenograft tumor growth assays were performed to observe cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo. Results: In human colon cancer tissues, the expression level of KIF22 was increased and correlated with clinical pathological features, including tumor stage and clinical stage (p = 0.034, and p = 0.015, respectively). Suppression of KIF22 inhibited cell proliferation and xenograft tumor growth. Conclusion: KIF22 might play an important role in the regulation of cell proliferation in colon cancer and might therefore serve as a promising therapeutic target.

Expression and clinicopathologic significance of coxsackie-adenovirus receptor in oral squamous cell carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to explore the relationship between the expression of the coxsackie-adenovirus receptor (CAR) in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and the clinicopathologic parameters associated with the disease. The diagnostic and prognostic potential of CAR in OSCC was also investigated.

STUDY DESIGN

Immunohistochemistry was performed on human tissue microarrays, containing 42 oral mucosa, 69 dysplasia, and 176 OSCC tissue sections, to reveal the expression pattern of CAR. Statistical analysis was used to determine the correlation between CAR expression and the patient survival rate as a measure of the prognostic value of CAR.

RESULTS

CAR was overexpressed in human OSCC tissues (P = .002), and higher expression of CAR was associated with a lower survival rate, which was not statistically significant (P = .123). In addition, patients with OSCC in the human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive group showed significantly higher CAR expression compared with the HPV- negative group (P = .0491).

CONCLUSIONS

This study indicated that CAR expression was upregulated in human OSCC and that patients with OSCC with higher expression of CAR had a lower survival rate. Moreover, CAR expression may be associated with HPV infection.

Chromokinesins NOD and KID Use Distinct ATPase Mechanisms and Microtubule Interactions To Perform a Similar Function

Chromokinesins NOD and KID have similar DNA binding domains and functions during cell division, while their motor domain sequences show significant variations. It has been unclear whether these motors have the similar structure, chemistry, and microtubule interactions necessary to follow a similar mechanism of force generation. We used biochemical rate measurements, cosedimentation, and structural analysis to investigate the ATPase mechanisms of the NOD and KID core domains. These studies revealed that NOD and KID have different ATPase mechanisms, microtubule interactions, and catalytic domain structures. The ATPase cycles of NOD and KID have different rate-limiting steps. The ATPase rate of NOD was robustly stimulated by microtubules, and its microtubule affinity was weakened in all nucleotide-bound states. KID bound microtubules tightly in all nucleotide states and remained associated with the microtubule for more than 100 cycles of ATP hydrolysis before dissociating. The structure of KID was most like that of conventional kinesin (KIF5). Key differences in the microtubule binding region and allosteric communication pathway between KID and NOD are consistent with our biochemical data. Our results support the model in which NOD and KID utilize distinct mechanistic pathways to achieve the same function during cell division.

High kinesin family member 18A expression correlates with poor prognosis in primary lung adenocarcinoma

Background

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is the most prevalent pathological subtype of lung cancer. Kinesin family member 18A (KIF18A) plays an important role in tumorigenesis. Its roles in breast cancer, colorectal cancer, and other tumors have been demonstrated; however, studies of KIF18A in LUAD are limited. This study aimed to determine the role of KIF18A in LUAD progression and prognostic prediction.

Methods

KIF18A expression was examined in LUAD cells and tissues by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. Cell proliferation assay was performed to study the role of KIF18A in LUAD cells. Correlations between KIF18A expression and clinicopathological features were analyzed. The role of KIF18A in LUAD prognosis was evaluated using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA).

Results

KIF18A expression was increased in tumor cells and tissues. Downregulation of KIF18A expression resulted in the suppression of cancer cell proliferation in in vitro assays, and was particularly related to poor tumor differentiation, big tumor size, lymph node metastasis, and more advanced tumor stage. In the TCGA dataset, high KIF18A messenger RNA expression was associated with poor disease‐free and overall survival in patients with LUAD. In addition, multivariate analysis indicated that KIF18A is an independent prognostic factor of disease‐free and overall survival in LUAD.

Conclusions

Collectively, our results demonstrate that KIFl8A is highly expressed in LUAD. KIFl8A plays an important role in LUAD cell proliferation, but is a poor prognostic factor.

High Expression of KIF22/Kinesin-Like DNA Binding Protein (Kid) as a Poor Prognostic Factor in Prostate Cancer Patients

Background

Kid (kinesin-like DNA binding protein), a member of microtubule-dependent molecular motor proteins, also known as KIF22, is reported to be associated with carcinogenesis and cancer progression in different types of malignant tumor, but the biologic behavior and clinical outcome of KIF22 in prostate cancer (PCa) has not been well studied. This study aimed to analyze the association between KIF22 and clinical outcome in PCa patients.

Material/Methods

The expression of KIF22 in tumor specimens compared with paired paracancerous tissue from 114 patients undergoing radical prostatectomy was detected by immunohistochemistry; results were verified using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Subsequently, the relationship between KIF22 expression and clinical prognosis of PCa patients was then statistically analyzed.

Results

Both immunohistochemistry and database analysis showed that KIF22 was obviously overexpressed in PCa tissues compared with paracancerous tissue. The overexpression of KIF22 at the protein level was significantly related to higher clinical stage (P=0.025), Gleason score (P=0.002), seminal vesicle invasion (P=0.007), and lymph node metastasis (P=0.009). Furthermore, with the overexpression of KIF22 mRNA level in PCa patients, the oncological prognosis of PCa patients was much poorer.

Conclusions

High-level expression of KIF22 was related to both tumor progression and adverse clinical outcome. For this reason, KIF22 may become a potential prognostic factor for PCa.

EGFR-induced cytoskeletal changes drive complex cell behaviors: The tip of the iceberg

Cytoskeletal networks are dramatically reorganized upon EGF stimulation to enable complex cell behaviors such as cell-cell communication, migration and invasion, and cell division. In this issue of Science Signaling, Roth et al. and Pike et al. use proteomic methods to identify several effectors of EGF responses. The findings show the interdependent nature of growth factor signaling and the cytoskeleton and identify potential new therapeutic targets for treating cancer and other growth factor-driven diseases.