AEBP1 is a Novel Oncogene: Mechanisms of Action and Signaling Pathways

Current knowledge of ferroptosis in the pathogenesis and prognosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma

Therapeutic strategies are the hot-spot issues in treating patients with advanced oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Mounting studies have proved that triggering ferroptosis is one of the promising targets for OSCC management. In this study, we performed a first attempt to collect the current evidence on the proposed roles of ferroptosis in OSCC through a comprehensive review. Based on clinical data from the relevant studies within this topic, we found that ferroptosis-associated tumor microenvironment, ferroptosis-related genes (FRGs), and ferroptosis-related lncRNAs exhibited a potent prognostic value for OSCC patients. Mechanistically, experimental data revealed that the proliferation and tumorigenesis of OSCC might be associated with the inhibition of cellular ferroptosis through the activation of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) and adipocyte enhancer-binding protein 1 (AEBP1), suppression of glutathione (GSH) and Period 1 (PER1) expression, and modulation of specific non-coding RNAs (i.e., miR-520d-5p, miR-34c-3p, and miR-125b-5p) and their targeted proteins. Several specific interventions (i.e., Quisinostat, Carnosic acid, hyperbaric oxygen, melatonin, aqueous-soluble sporoderm-removed G. lucidum spore powder, and disulfiram/copper complex) were found to dramatically induce ferroptosis cell death of OSCC via multiple mechanisms. This review highlighted the pivotal role of ferroptosis in the pathogenesis and prognosis of OSCC. Future anticancer therapeutic strategies targeting ferroptosis and its associated molecules might provide a new insight for OSCC treatment.

AEBP1 upregulation contributes to cervical cancer progression by facilitating cell proliferation, migration, and invasion

BACKGROUND

Aberrant expression of adipocyte enhancer-binding protein 1 (AEBP1) has been demonstrated to be involved in the tumorigenesis and progression of numerous cancers. This study was aimed to investigate the mechanism of AEBP1 in the development of cervical cancer.

METHODS

The expression of AEBP1 in cervical cancer was assessed by immunohistochemistry. The function of AEBP1 on cell proliferation, migration, and invasion was determined by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium assay, colony formation, and transwell assay. The activation of related signaling pathway was determined by western blot. The bioinformatics analysis was performed by Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis.

RESULTS

Higher protein expression of AEBP1 was observed in patients with cervical cancer. Overexpressed AEBP1 promoted cell proliferation, migration, and invasion abilities in cervical cancer cells. Moreover, the research manifested that AEBP1 activated the phosphorylation of STAT3. GO and KEGG analysis showed that genes positively related to AEBP1 were highly enriched in functions like epithelial cell proliferation, muscle cell migration, myoblast migration, smooth muscle tissue development, ECM-receptor interaction, transcriptional misregulation in cancer, and proteoglycans in cancer. While genes negatively related to AEBP1 were associated with immunity, including inflammatory response, external-stimulus response, neutrophil, granulocyte, and macrophage chemotaxis.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggested that AEBP1 acts as an oncogened and might be a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of cervical cancer.

Targeting ferroptosis as a potential strategy to overcome the resistance of cisplatin in oral squamous cell carcinoma

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a crucial public health problem, accounting for approximately 2% of all cancers globally and 90% of oral malignancies over the world. Unfortunately, despite the achievements in surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy techniques over the past decades, OSCC patients still low 5-year survival rate. Cisplatin, a platinum-containing drug, serves as one of the first-line chemotherapeutic agents of OSCC. However, the resistance to cisplatin significantly limits the clinical practice and is a crucial factor in tumor recurrence and metastasis after conventional treatments. Ferroptosis is an iron-based form of cell death, which is initiated by the intracellular accumulation of lipid peroxidation and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Interestingly, cisplatin-resistant OSCC cells exhibit lower level of ROS and lipid peroxidation compared to sensitive cells. The reduced ferroptosis in cisplatin resistance cells indicates the potential relationship between cisplatin resistance and ferroptosis, which is proved by recent studies showing that in colorectal cancer cells. However, the modulation pathway of ferroptosis reversing cisplatin resistance in OSCC cells still remains unclear. This article aims to concisely summarize the molecular mechanisms and evaluate the relationship between ferroptosis and cisplatin resistance OSCC cells, thereby providing novel strategies for overcoming cisplatin resistance and developing new therapeutic approaches.

Clinical and Molecular Characterization of a Novel Homozygous Frameshift Variant in AEBP1-Related Classical-like Ehlers Danlos Syndrome Type 2 with Comparison to Previously Reported Rare Cases

Recently, an autosomal recessive subtype of connective tissue disorder within the spectrum of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS), named classical-like EDS type 2 (clEDS2), was identified. clEDS2 is associated with biallelic variants in the adipocyte enhancer binding protein 1 (AEBP1) gene, specifically, affecting its aortic carboxypeptidase-like protein (ACLP) isoform. We described the 15th patient (13th family) diagnosed with clEDS2. This patient presented with notable similarities in phenotype to the documented cases, along with additional characteristics such as significant prematurity and short stature. An EDS sequencing panel-based analysis revealed homozygous AEBP1: NM_001129.5:c.2923del, p.Ala975Profs*22 likely pathogenic variants, and maternally inherited heterozygous COL11A1: NM_001854.4:c.1160A>G, p.Lys387Arg variant of uncertain significance in our patient. Upon comprehensive review of all previously reported clEDS2 patients, our patient exhibited the following overlapping phenotypes, including cutaneous features: hyperextensibility, atrophic scars/delayed wound healing (100%), easy bruising (100%), excessive skin (93%); skeletal features: generalized joint hypermobility (93%), pes planus (93%), dislocation/subluxation (93%); and cardiovascular features (86%). Our patient did not display symptoms of the critical complications reported in a few individuals, including superior mesenteric artery aneurysms and ruptures, aortic root aneurysm/dissection, spontaneous pneumothoraxes, and bowel ruptures. Together, this case expands the genetic and clinical phenotypic spectrum of AEBP1-related clEDS2.

Acute exposure to ultraviolet radiation targets proteins involved in collagen fibrillogenesis

Introduction: Exposure to chronic, low-dose UV irradiation (UVR) can lead to premature ageing of the skin. Understanding which proteins are affected by acute UVR and photo-dynamically produced reactive oxygen species (ROS) could help to inform strategies to delay photoageing. Conventional biochemical analyses can be used to characterize UVR/ROS-induced damage on a protein-by-protein basis and we have previously shown using SDS-PAGE that collagen I and plasma fibronectin are respectively resistant and susceptible to physiological doses of UVR. The aim of this study was to screen a complex proteome for UVR-affected proteins. Methods: This study employed a sensitive mass spectrometry technique (peptide location fingerprinting: PLF) which can identify structure associated differences following trypsin digestion to characterize the impact of UVR exposure on purified collagen I and tissue fibronectin and to identify UVR-susceptible proteins in an ECM-enriched proteome. Results: Using LC/MS-MS and PLF we show that purified mature type-I collagen is resistant to UVR, whereas purified tissue fibronectin is susceptible. UV irradiation of a human dermal fibroblast-deposited ECM-enriched proteome in vitro, followed by LC/MS-MS and PLF analysis revealed two protein cluster groups of UV susceptible proteins involved in i) matrix collagen fibril assembly and ii) protein translation and motor activity. Furthermore, PLF highlighted UV susceptible domains within targeted matrix proteins, suggesting that UV damage of matrix proteins is localized. Discussion: Here we show that PLF can be used to identify protein targets of UVR and that collagen accessory proteins may be key targets in UVR exposed tissues.

Development of an optimized, non-stem cell line for intranasal delivery of therapeutic cargo to the central nervous system

Neural stem cells (NSCs) are considered to be valuable candidates for delivering a variety of anti-cancer agents, including oncolytic viruses, to brain tumors. However, owing to the previously reported tumorigenic potential of NSC cell lines after intranasal administration (INA), here we identified the human hepatic stellate cell line LX-2 as a cell type capable of longer resistance to replication of oncolytic adenoviruses (OAVs) as a therapeutic cargo, and that is non-tumorigenic after INA. Our data show that LX-2 cells can longer withstand the OAV XVir-N-31 replication and oncolysis than NSCs. By selecting the highly migratory cell population out of LX-2, an offspring cell line with a higher and more stable capability to migrate was generated. Additionally, as a safety backup, we applied genomic herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSV-TK) integration into LX-2, leading to high vulnerability to ganciclovir (GCV). Histopathological analyses confirmed the absence of neoplasia in the respiratory tracts and brains of immuno-compromised mice 3 months after INA of LX-2 cells. Our data suggest that LX-2 is a novel, robust, and safe cell line for delivering anti-cancer and other therapeutic agents to the brain.

AEBP1 promotes papillary thyroid cancer progression by activating BMP4 signaling

Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is the most prevalent endocrine cancer worldwide. Approximately 30 % of PTC patients will progress into the advanced or metastatic stage and have a relatively poor prognosis. It is well known that epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays a pivotal role in thyroid cancer metastasis, resistance to therapy, and recurrence. Clarifying the molecular mechanisms of EMT in PTC progression will help develop the targeted therapy of PTC. The aberrant expression of some transcription factors (TFs) participated in many pathological processes of cancers including EMT. In this study, by performing bioinformatics analysis, adipocyte enhancer-binding protein 1 (AEBP1) was screened as a pivotal TF that promoted EMT and tumor progression in PTC. In vitro experiments indicated that knockout of AEBP1 can inhibit the growth and invasion of PTC cells and reduce the expression of EMT markers including N-cadherin, TWIST1, and ZEB2. In the xenograft model, knockout of AEBP1 inhibited the growth and lung metastasis of PTC cells. By performing RNA-sequencing, dual-luciferase reporter assay, and chromatin immunoprecipitation assay, Bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) was identified as a downstream target of AEBP1. Over-expression of BMP4 can rescue the inhibitory effects of AEBP1 knockout on the growth, invasion, and EMT phenotype of PTC cells. In conclusion, these findings demonstrated that AEBP1 plays a critical role in PTC progression by regulating BMP4 expression and the AEBP1-BMP4 axis may present novel therapeutic targets for PTC treatment.

IgG Antibody Responses to Epstein-Barr Virus in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Their Effective Potential for Disease Diagnosis and Pathological Antigenic Mimicry

Background and Objectives: The diagnosis and pathology of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) remain under debate. However, there is a growing body of evidence for an autoimmune component in ME/CFS caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and other viral infections. Materials and Methods: In this work, we analyzed a large public dataset on the IgG antibodies to 3054 EBV peptides to understand whether these immune responses could help diagnose patients and trigger pathological autoimmunity; we used healthy controls (HCs) as a comparator cohort. Subsequently, we aimed at predicting the disease status of the study participants using a super learner algorithm targeting an accuracy of 85% when splitting data into train and test datasets. Results: When we compared the data of all ME/CFS patients or the data of a subgroup of those patients with non-infectious or unknown disease triggers to the data of the HC, we could not find an antibody-based classifier that would meet the desired accuracy in the test dataset. However, we could identify a 26-antibody classifier that could distinguish ME/CFS patients with an infectious disease trigger from the HCs with 100% and 90% accuracies in the train and test sets, respectively. We finally performed a bioinformatic analysis of the EBV peptides associated with these 26 antibodies. We found no correlation between the importance metric of the selected antibodies in the classifier and the maximal sequence homology between human proteins and each EBV peptide recognized by these antibodies. Conclusions: In conclusion, these 26 antibodies against EBV have an effective potential for disease diagnosis in a subset of patients. However, the peptides associated with these antibodies are less likely to induce autoimmune B-cell responses that could explain the pathogenesis of ME/CFS.

Fibroblast-specific adipocyte enhancer binding protein 1 is a potential pathological trigger and prognostic marker for liver fibrosis independent of etiology

OBJECTIVES

Aortic carboxypeptidase-like protein (ACLP) is an extracellular protein involved in adipogenesis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, epithelial cell hyperplasia, and collagen fibrogenesis. This study mainly aimed to analyze the potential role of adipocyte enhancer binding protein 1 (AEBP1), the ACLP-encoding gene, as a pathological target or prognostic marker for liver fibrosis regardless of etiology.

METHODS

Dysregulation pattern, clinical relevance, and biological significance of AEBP1 gene in liver fibrosis were analyzed using publicly available transcriptomic profiles, different liver fibrosis mouse models, biological databases, and AEBP1 gene silencing followed by RNA sequencing in human hepatic stellate cells (HSCs).

RESULTS

AEBP1 gene expression was upregulated and positively correlated with liver fibrogenesis independent of etiology, the protein of which was further verified in liver fibrosis mouse models induced by different pathogenic factors. A higher expression of liver AEBP1 gene had the potential to predict poor prognosis in liver fibrosis. Systematic bioinformatic analyses revealed that AEBP1 expression was HSCs-specific and associated with extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling and its downstream mechanical-chemical signaling transition. AEBP1 knockdown by specific small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) in HSCs inhibited ECM-receptor interaction and immune-related pathways as well as HSC proliferation or activation.

CONCLUSION

A high expression of AEBP1 was specifically associated with liver fibrosis and was related to a poor prognosis and predicted the role of AEBP1 in HSCs, providing a new insight for understanding AEBP1 in liver fibrosis.

Multi-omics approaches establishing histone modification based prognostic model in glioma patients and further verification of the carcinogenesis mechanism

Glioblastoma (GBM) emerges as the most common malignant brain tumor. Histone modifications, as an epigenetic regulatory mechanism of gene expression, are closely associated with malignant tumors. Gene set related to histone modification was extracted from the MSigDB database, and scored by the function of AddModuleScore. Pearson correlation analysis was utilized using the "rcorr" function of "Hmisc" R package. Genes were screened out using the LASSO Cox analysis. TCGA-GBM and CGGA_array_301 cohorts were employed for constructing model and validation. We calculated immune infiltration scores using microenvironment cell populations counter (MCPcounter), single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA), and xCell algorithms. U87-MG and CHG-5 cell lines were utilized to evaluate expression level of TMEM176A by western blot (WB). Transwell, EDU, colony formation analysis (CFA), and CKK-8 assays were conducted to investigate cell proliferation and migration rate. The malignant cells in GBM patients exhibited notable activation in the TGF-β and hypoxia pathway. Histone modifications were associated with adhesion and neuron development in GBM. We identified a model with five significant genes, namely NBEAL1, AEBP1, TMEM176A, FASTK, and CD81, with prognostic efficacy. Additionally, we observed increased infiltration of T cells and CD8+ T cells in the high-risk (HR) group. 5-Fluorouracil_1073 and Taselisib_1561 were predicted as potential treatment options for GBM patients, while ABT737_1910 and Wnt_C59-1622 exhibited superior response in GBM patients of the HR group. A spike in the TP53 mutation rate was observed in the HR group. TMEM176A played a role in regulating cell proliferation and migration in vitro. We presented a novel prognostic model for patients with GBM, based on histone modification-related genes. In addition, we identified the crucial role of the TMEM176A in the regulation of GBM carcinogenic phenotypes for the first time.

Single-cell and bulk RNA sequencing reveal cancer-associated fibroblast heterogeneity and a prognostic signature in prostate cancer

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), the central players in the tumor microenvironment (TME), can promote tumor progression and metastasis via various functions. However, the properties of CAFs in prostate cancer (PCa) have not been fully assessed. Therefore, we aimed to examine the CAF characteristics in PCa and construct a CAF-derived signature to predict PCa prognosis. CAFs were identified using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data from 3 studies. We performed the FindAllMarkers function to extract CAF marker genes and constructed a signature to predict the biochemical relapse-free survival (bRFS) of PCa in the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) cohort. Subsequently, different algorithms were applied to reveal the differences of the TME, immune infiltration, treatment responses in the high- and low-risk groups. Additionally, the CAF heterogeneity was assessed in PCa, which were confirmed by the functional enrichment analysis, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), and AUCell method. The scRNA-seq analysis identified a CAF cluster with 783 cells and determined 183 CAF marker genes. Cell-cell communication revealed extensive interactions between fibroblasts and immune cells. A CAF-related prognostic model, containing 7 genes (ASPN, AEBP1, ALDH1A1, BGN, COL1A1, PAGE4 and RASD1), was developed to predict bRFS and validated by 4 independent bulk RNA-seq cohorts. Moreover, the high-risk group of the signature score connected with an immunosuppressive TME, such as a higher level of M2 macrophages and lower levels of plasma cells and CD8+ T cells, and a reduced reaction rate for immunotherapy compared with low-risk group. After re-clustering CAFs via unsupervised clustering, we revealed 3 biologically distinct CAF subsets, namely myofibroblast-like CAFs (myCAFs), immune and inflammatory CAFs (iCAFs) and antigen-presenting CAFs (apCAFs). In conclusion, the CAF-derived signature, the first of its kind, can effectively predict PCa prognosis and serve as an indicator for immunotherapy. Furthermore, our study identified 3 CAF subpopulations with distinct functions in PCa.

What is new in cancer-associated fibroblast biomarkers?

The tumor microenvironment is one of the important drivers of tumor development. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are a major component of the tumor stroma and actively participate in tumor development, invasion, metastasis, drug resistance, and other biological behaviors. CAFs are a highly heterogeneous group of cells, a reflection of the diversity of their origin, biomarkers, and functions. The diversity of CAF origin determines the complexity of CAF biomarkers, and CAF subpopulations expressing different biomarkers may play contrasting roles in tumor progression. In this review, we provide an overview of these emerging CAF biomarkers and the biological functions that they suggest, which may give a better understanding of the relationship between CAFs and tumor cells and be of great significance for breakthroughs in precision targeted therapy for tumors. Video Abstract.

Histaminergic System and Inflammation-Related Genes in Normal Large Intestine and Adenocarcinoma Tissues: Transcriptional Profiles and Relations

Transcriptional analyses such as microarray data have contributed to the progress in the diagnostics and therapy of colorectal cancer (CRC). The need for such research is still present because of the disease being common in both men and women with a high second position in cancer rankings. Little is known about the relations between the histaminergic system and inflammation in the large intestine and CRC. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of genes related to the histaminergic system and inflammation in the CRC tissues at three cancer development designs: all tested CRC samples, low (LCS) and high (HCS) clinical stage, and four clinical stages (CSI-CSIV), to the control. The research was carried out at the transcriptomic level, analysing hundreds of mRNAs from microarrays, as well as carrying out RT-PCR analysis of histaminergic receptors. The following histaminergic mRNAs: GNA15, MAOA, WASF2A, and inflammation-related: AEBP1, CXCL1, CXCL2, CXCL3, CXCL8, SPHK1, TNFAIP6, were distinguished. Among all analysed transcripts, AEBP1 can be considered the most promising diagnostic marker in the early stage of CRC. The results showed 59 correlations between differentiating genes of the histaminergic system and inflammation in the control, control and CRC, and CRC. The tests confirmed the presence of all histamine receptor transcripts in both the control and colorectal adenocarcinoma. Significant differences in expression were stated for HRH2 and HRH3 in the advanced stages of CRC adenocarcinoma. The relations between the histaminergic system and inflammation-linked genes in both the control and the CRC have been observed.

Silencing of adipocyte enhancer-binding protein 1 (AEBP1) alleviates renal fibrosis in vivo and in vitro via inhibition of the β-catenin signaling pathway

Renal fibrosis is the common final pathway in many renal diseases regardless of the underlying etiology. Adipocyte enhancer-binding protein 1 (AEBP1) was reported to play a vital role in the development of organ fibrosis, but its role in renal fibrosis has not been reported. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the possible function of AEBP1 in renal fibrosis and the mechanism associated with the β-catenin signaling pathway. A total of 83 genes upregulated after unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) were screened from two Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets and subjected to Gene Ontology (GO) function and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis. Among them, AEBP1 was enriched in collagen binding and the regulation of collagen fibril organization and was confirmed to be upregulated in UUO kidneys and TGF-β1-induced cells. Knockdown of AEBP1 ameliorated renal fibrosis via reducing collagen accumulation, inhibiting epithelial-mesenchymal transition and fibroblast transformation, as evidenced by decreases in the expression of collagen I and III, Col1a1, Col3a1, fibronectin, Snail, α-SMA, as well as collagen-specific staining of kidney tissues, whereas the E-cadherin was increased. Besides, AEBP1 silencing inhibited the expression of β-catenin in nucleus and β-catenin downstream proteins (Axin2, Myc, and Ccnd1). Continuously active β-catenin-S33Y further restored the inhibitory effect of AEBP1 silencing on renal fibrosis. These findings indicate that knockdown of AEBP1 could potentially slow down renal fibrosis by blocking the β-catenin signaling pathway, highlighting the potential of AEBP1 as a therapeutic target for renal fibrosis.

Case report: Two individuals with AEBP1-related classical-like EDS: Further clinical characterisation and description of novel AEBP1 variants

Introduction: AEBP1-related classical-like EDS (clEDS type 2) is a rare type of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) that was first reported in 2016. There are overlapping clinical features with TNXB-related classical-like EDS (or clEDS type 1), including skin hyperextensibility, joint hypermobility, and easy bruising. There are currently nine reported individuals with AEBP1-related clEDS type 2. This report confirms previous findings and provides additional clinical and molecular data on this group of individuals. Materials and methods: Two individuals (P1 and P2), with features of a rare type of EDS, were clinically assessed in the London national EDS service and underwent genetic testing. Results: Genetic testing in P1 revealed likely pathogenic AEBP1 variants: c.821del:p. (Pro274Leufs*18) and c.2248T>C:p. (Trp750Arg). In P2 pathogenic AEBP1 variants, c.1012G>T:p. (Glu338*) and c.1930C>T:p. (Arg644*) were identified. Discussion: These two individuals increased the reported number of individuals with AEBP1-related clEDS to 11 (six females and five males). There are shared features with previously reported individuals, including hypermobility (11/11), skin hyperextensibility (11/11), presence of atrophic scarring (9/11), and easy bruising (10/11). In P1, a chronic right vertebral artery dissection, mild dilatation of the splenic artery, aberrant subclavian artery, and tortuous iliac arteries were observed at the age of 63 years. Cardiovascular disease has been reported, including mitral valve prolapse (4/11), peripheral arterial disease (1/11), and aortic root aneurysm requiring surgical intervention (1/11). Hair loss has been reported in 6/11 individuals (five females and one male), only one of which was documented to have a formal diagnosis of androgenetic alopecia, while other individuals were described as having thinning of hair, male pattern hair loss, or unspecified alopecia. Conclusion: The clinical features of individuals with AEBP1-related EDS have not been fully elucidated yet. Hair loss is present in 6/11 individuals with AEBP1-related clEDS and appears to be a feature of this condition. This is the first time hair loss has been formally reported as a characteristic feature in a rare type of EDS. Cardiovascular surveillance seems warranted in this condition because 2/11 individuals have evidence of arterial aneurysm and/or dissection. Further descriptions of affected individuals are necessary to update diagnostic criteria and management guidelines.

Congenital Defects in a Patient Carrying a Novel Homozygous AEBP1 Variant: Further Expansion of the Phenotypic Spectrum of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Classical-like Type 2?

In 2018, a new clinical subtype, caused by biallelic variants in the AEBP1 gene, encoding the ACLP protein, was added to the current nosological classification of the Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes (EDS). This new phenotype, provisionally termed EDS classical-like type 2 (clEDS2), has not yet been fully characterized, as only nine cases have been reported to date. Here we describe a patient, homozygous for a novel AEBP1 pathogenic variant (NM_001129.5 c.2123_2124delTG (p.Val708AlafsTer5)), whose phenotype is reminiscent of classical EDS but also includes previously unreported multiple congenital malformations. Furthermore, we briefly summarize the current principal clinical manifestations of clEDS2 and the molecular evidence surrounding the role of AEBP1 in the context of extracellular matrix homeostasis and connective tissue development. Although a different coexisting etiology for the multiple congenital malformations of our patient cannot be formally excluded, the emerging role of ACLP in TGF-β and WNT pathways may explain their occurrence and the phenotypical variability of clEDS2.

Screening prognostic genes related to leucovorin, fluorouracil, and irinotecan treatment sensitivity by performing co-expression network analysis for colon cancer

Background: Colon cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors in the world. FOLFIRI (leucovorin, fluorouracil, and irinotecan) is a common combination in chemotherapy regimens. However, insensitivity to FOLFIRI is an important factor in the effectiveness of the treatment for advanced colon cancer. Our study aimed to explore precise molecular targets associated with chemotherapy responses in colon cancer.

Methods: Gene expression profiles of 21 patients with advanced colorectal cancer who received chemotherapy based on FOLFIRI were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. The gene co-expression network was constructed by the weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and functional gene modules were screened out. Clinical phenotypic correlation analysis was used to identify key gene modules. Gene Ontology and pathway enrichment analysis were used to screen enriched genes in key modules. Protein–protein interaction (PPI) analysis was used to screen out key node genes. Based on the Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) database, the correlation between the expression levels of these genes and the overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) of colon cancer patients was investigated, and the hub genes were screened out. Immunohistochemistry of candidate hub genes was identified using the Human Protein Atlas database. Finally, clinical information and RNA sequencing data of colon cancer were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas project database (TCGA), the GEPIA, and the Human Atlas databases for validation.

Results: The WGCNA revealed that three hub genes were closely related to chemotherapy insensitivity of colon cancer: AEBP1, BGN, and TAGLN. The protein expression levels of AEBP1, BGN, and TAGLN in tumor tissues were higher than those in normal tissues. In addition, the gene expression levels of AEBP1, BGN, and TAGLN were negatively correlated with OS and DFS in colon cancer patients. Therefore, AEBP1, BGN, and TAGLN have been identified as potential biomarkers related to the response to FOLFIRI treatment of colon cancer.

Conclusion: We found that AEBP1, BGN, and TAGLN, as potential predictive biomarkers, may play an important role in the response to FOLFIRI treatment of colon cancer and as a precise molecular target associated with chemotherapy response in colon cancer.

Inhibition of AEBP1 predisposes cisplatin-resistant oral cancer cells to ferroptosis

Background

Studies have shown that excessive iron can lead to an increased incidence of cancer. The role of adipocyte enhancer-binding protein 1 (AEBP1) on ferroptosis is unknown. Thus, we explored the effect of AEBP1 silencing in regulation of ferroptosis in cisplatin-resistant oral cancer cells.

Methods

The functions of AEBP1 silencing and sulfasalazine (SSZ) treatment were determined on oral cancer cell lines and tumor xenograft mouse models. Then we evaluated the functions of AEBP1 on cell proliferation, migration, invasion, lipid reactive oxygen species (ROS), labile iron pool (LIP) and free iron, lipid peroxidation, and expression levels of ferroptosis-related genes.

Results

AEBP1 was highly expressed in oral cancer cells and tissues. AEBP1 silencing inhibited oral cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion after SSZ treatment. SSZ-induced ferroptosis is due to enhanced ROS level, free iron, and lipid peroxidation, which were distinctly increased by AEBP1 silencing. Meanwhile, AEBP1 silencing enhanced the effects of SSZ on levels of LIP and Fe2+, lipid peroxidation, as well as the expression levels of ferroptosis-related genes in the tumor xenograft mouse models. Importantly, AEBP1 silencing suppressed tumor growth in vivo. Furthermore, silencing of AEBP1 might activate the JNK/ P38 /ERK pathway.

Conclusion

This research suggested that silencing of AEBP1 predisposes cisplatin-resistant oral cancer cells to ferroptosis via the JNK/p38 /ERK pathway.

Obesity: a perfect storm for carcinogenesis

Obesity-related cancers account for 40% of the cancer cases observed in the USA and obesity is overtaking smoking as the most widespread modifiable risk factor for carcinogenesis. Here, we use the hallmarks of cancer framework to delineate how obesity might influence the carcinogenic hallmarks in somatic cells. We discuss the effects of obesity on (a) sustaining proliferative signaling; (b) evading growth suppressors; (c) resisting cell death; (d) enabling replicative immortality; (e) inducing angiogenesis; (f) activating invasion and metastasis; (g) reprogramming energy metabolism; and (h) avoiding immune destruction, together with its effects on genome instability and tumour-promoting inflammation. We present the current understanding and controversies in this evolving field, and highlight some areas in need of further cross-disciplinary focus. For instance, the relative importance of the many potentially causative obesity-related factors is unclear for each type of malignancy. Even within a single tumour type, it is currently unknown whether one obesity-related factor consistently plays a predominant role, or if this varies between patients or, even in a single patient with time. Clarifying how the hallmarks are affected by obesity may lead to novel prevention and treatment strategies for the increasingly obese population.

Identification of Candidate Genes Associated With Prognosis in Glioblastoma

Background

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common malignant primary brain tumor, which associated with extremely poor prognosis.

Methods

Data from datasets GSE16011, GSE7696, GSE50161, GSE90598 and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) were analyzed to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between patients and controls. DEGs common to all five datasets were analyzed for functional enrichment and for association with overall survival using Cox regression. Candidate genes were further screened using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and random forest algorithms, and the effects of candidate genes on prognosis were explored using a Gaussian mixed model, a risk model, and concordance cluster analysis. We also characterized the GBM landscape of immune cell infiltration, methylation, and somatic mutations.

Results

We identified 3,139 common DEGs, which were associated mainly with PI3K-Akt signaling, focal adhesion, and Hippo signaling. Cox regression identified 106 common DEGs that were significantly associated with overall survival. LASSO and random forest algorithms identified six candidate genes (AEBP1, ANXA2R, MAP1LC3A, TMEM60, PRRG3 and RPS4X) that predicted overall survival and GBM recurrence. AEBP1 showed the best prognostic performance. We found that GBM tissues were heavily infiltrated by T helper cells and macrophages, which correlated with higher AEBP1 expression. Stratifying patients based on the six candidate genes led to two groups with significantly different overall survival. Somatic mutations in AEBP1 and modified methylation of MAP1LC3A were associated with GBM.

Conclusion

We have identified candidate genes, particularly AEBP1, strongly associated with GBM prognosis, which may help in efforts to understand and treat the disease.

Identification of Cancer-Associated Fibroblast Subtype of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Background

There is limited knowledge about the role of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF) in the tumor microenvironment of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).

Methods

Three hundred and thirty-five TNBC samples from four datasets were retrieved and analyzed. In order to determine the CAF subtype by combining gene expression profiles, an unsupervised clustering analysis was adopted. The prognosis, enriched pathways, immune cells, immune scores, and tumor purity were compared between CAF subtypes. The genes with the highest importance were selected by bioinformatics analysis. The machine learning model was built to predict the TNBC CAF subtype by these selected genes.

Results

TNBC samples were classified into two CAF subtypes (CAF+ and CAF-). The CAF- subtype of TNBC was linked to the longer overall survival and more immune cells than the CAF+ subtype. CAF- and CAF+ were enriched in immune-related pathways and extracellular matrix pathways, respectively. Bioinformatics analysis identified 9 CAF subtype-related markers (ADAMTS12, AEBP1, COL10A1, COL11A1, CXCL11, CXCR6, EDNRA, EPPK1, and WNT7B). We constructed a robust random forest model using these 9 genes, and the area under the curve (AUC) value of the model was 0.921.

Conclusion

The current study identified CAF subtypes based on gene expression profiles and found that CAF subtypes have significantly different overall survival, immune cells, and immunotherapy response rates.

AEBP1 Is One of the Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Regulatory Genes in Colon Adenocarcinoma

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is involved in various tumor processes, including tumorigenesis, tumor cell migration and metastasis, tumor stemness, and therapeutic resistance. Therefore, it is important to identify the genes most associated with EMT and develop them as therapeutic targets. In this work, we first analyzed EMT hallmark gene expression profiles among 10,535 pan-cancer samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and divided them into EMT high and EMT low groups according to the metagene scores. Then, we identified 12 genes that were most associated with high EMT metagene score (R > 0.9) in 329 colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) patients. Among them, only 4 genes (AEBP1, KCNE4, GFPT2, and FAM26E) had statistically significant differences in prognosis (P < 0.05). Next, we selected AEBP1 as a candidate and showed that AEBP1 mRNA levels and EMT biomarkers strongly coexpressed in 329 COAD samples. In addition, AEBP1 was highly expressed and associated with poor clinical outcomes and prognosis in COAD patients. Finally, to explore whether AEBP1-mediated EMT was related to the tumor microenvironment (TME), we examined AEBP1 expression levels at the single-cell levels. Our results showed that AEBP1 levels were extremely high in tumor-associated fibroblasts, which may induce EMT. AEBP1 expression was also positively correlated with the expression of fibroblast biomarkers and also with EMT metascores, suggesting that AEBP1-mediated EMT may be associated with the stimulation of fibroblast activation. Therefore, AEBP1 may be a promising target for EMT inhibition, which reduces cancer metastasis and drug resistance in COAD patients.

Extracellular Vesicle Molecular Signatures Characterize Metastatic Dynamicity in Ovarian Cancer

BACKGROUND

Late-stage diagnosis of ovarian cancer, a disease that originates in the ovaries and spreads to the peritoneal cavity, lowers 5-year survival rate from 90% to 30%. Early screening tools that can: i) detect with high specificity and sensitivity before conventional tools such as transvaginal ultrasound and CA-125, ii) use non-invasive sampling methods and iii) longitudinally significantly increase survival rates in ovarian cancer are needed. Studies that employ blood-based screening tools using circulating tumor-cells, -DNA, and most recently tumor-derived small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) have shown promise in non-invasive detection of cancer before standard of care. Our findings in this study show the promise of a sEV-derived signature as a non-invasive longitudinal screening tool in ovarian cancer.

METHODS

Human serum samples as well as plasma and ascites from a mouse model of ovarian cancer were collected at various disease stages. Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) were extracted using a commercially available kit. RNA was isolated from lysed sEVs, and quantitative RT-PCR was performed to identify specific metastatic gene expression.

CONCLUSION

This paper highlights the potential of sEVs in monitoring ovarian cancer progression and metastatic development. We identified a 7-gene panel in sEVs derived from plasma, serum, and ascites that overlapped with an established metastatic ovarian carcinoma signature. We found the 7-gene panel to be differentially expressed with tumor development and metastatic spread in a mouse model of ovarian cancer. The most notable finding was a significant change in the ascites-derived sEV gene signature that overlapped with that of the plasma-derived sEV signature at varying stages of disease progression. While there were quantifiable changes in genes from the 7-gene panel in serum-derived sEVs from ovarian cancer patients, we were unable to establish a definitive signature due to low sample number. Taken together our findings show that differential expression of metastatic genes derived from circulating sEVs present a minimally invasive screening tool for ovarian cancer detection and longitudinal monitoring of molecular changes associated with progression and metastatic spread.

Transcriptomic and Network Meta-Analysis of Frontotemporal Dementias

Frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD), also known as frontotemporal dementia (FTD), results in a progressive decline in executive function, leading to behavioral changes, speech problems, and movement disorders. FTD is the second most common cause of young-onset dementia affecting approximately 50–60,000 Americans. FTD exists in familial and sporadic forms, with GRN progranulin and C9orf72 mutations being the most common causes. In this study, we compared the sporadic and familial transcriptome within the cerebellum, frontal cortex, hippocampus, and Brodmann’s area 8 of patients with FTD to determine genes and pathways involved in the disease process. Most dysregulated genes expression occurred in the frontal cortex and Brodmann’s area 8 for genetic and sporadic forms of FTD, respectively. A meta-analysis revealed 50 genes and 95 genes are dysregulated in at least three brain regions in patients with familial mutations and sporadic FTD patients, respectively. Familial FTD genes centered on the Wnt signaling pathway, whereas genes associated with the sporadic form of FTD centered on MAPK signaling. The results reveal the similarities and differences between sporadic and familial FTD. In addition, valproic acid and additional therapeutic agents may be beneficial in treating patients with FTD.

Transcriptome Analysis Identifies Doublesex and Mab-3 Related Transcription Factor (DMRT3) in Nasal Polyp Epithelial Cells of Patients Suffering from Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug-Exacerbated Respiratory Disease (AERD)

Background: Aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD) is a syndrome characterised by chronic rhinosinusitis, nasal polyps, asthma and aspirin intolerance. An imbalance of eicosanoid metabolism with anover-production of cysteinyl leukotrienes (CysLTs) has been associated with AERD. However, the precise mechanisms underlying AERD are unknown. Objective: To establish the transcriptome of the nasal polyp airway epithelial cells derived from AERD patients to discover gene expression patterns in this disease. Methods: Nasal airway epithelial cells were isolated from 12 AERD polyps and 8 AERD non-polyp nasal mucosa samples as controls from the same subjects. Utilising the Illumina HiSeq 2500 platform, RNA samples were sequenced. Potential gene candidate DMRT3 was selected from the differentially-expressed genes for validation. Results: Comparative transcriptome profiling of nasal epithelial cells was accomplished in AERD. A total of 20 genes had twofold mean regulation expression differences or greater. In addition, 8 genes were upregulated, including doublesex and mab-3 related transcription factor 3 (DMRT3), and 12 genes were downregulated. Differentially regulated genes comprised roles in inflammation, defence and immunity. Metabolic process and embryonic development pathways were significantly enriched. Enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay (ELISA) results of DMRT3 in AERD patients were significantly upregulated compared to controls (p = 0.03). Immunohistochemistry (IHC) of AERD nasal polyps localised DMRT3 and was predominantly released in the airway epithelia. Conclusion: Findings suggest that DMRT3 could be potentially involved in nasal polyp development in AERD patients. Furthermore, several genes are downregulated, hinting at the dedifferentiation phenomenon in AERD polyps. However, further studies are imperative to confirm the exact mechanism of polyp formation in AERD patients.

Identification of the Prognostic Signatures of Glioma With Different PTEN Status

The high-grade glioma is characterized by cell heterogeneity, gene mutations, and poor prognosis. The deletions and mutations of the tumor suppressor gene PTEN (5%-40%) in glioma patients are associated with worse survival and therapeutic resistance. Characterization of unique prognosis molecular signatures by PTEN status in glioma is still unclear. This study established a novel risk model, screened optimal prognostic signatures, and calculated the risk score for the individual glioma patients with different PTEN status. Screening results revealed fourteen independent prognostic gene signatures in PTEN-wt and three in the -50PTEN-mut subgroup. Moreover, we verified risk score as an independent prognostic factor significantly correlated with tumor malignancy. Due to the higher malignancy of the PTEN-mut gliomas, we explored the independent prognostic signatures (CLCF1, AEBP1, and OS9) for a potential therapeutic target in PTEN-mut glioma. We further separated IDH wild-type glioma patients into GBM and LGG to verify the therapeutic target along with PTEN status, notably, the above screened therapeutic targets are also significant prognostic genes in both IDH-wt/PTEN-mut GBM and LGG patients. We further identified the small molecule compound (+)-JQ1 binds to all three targets, indicating a potential therapy for PTEN-mut glioma. In sum, gene signatures and risk scores in the novel risk model facilitate glioma diagnosis, prognosis prediction, and treatment.

IGFBP2 Is a Potential Master Regulator Driving the Dysregulated Gene Network Responsible for Short Survival in Glioblastoma Multiforme

Only 2% of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) patients respond to standard therapy and survive beyond 36 months (long-term survivors, LTS), while the majority survive less than 12 months (short-term survivors, STS). To understand the mechanism leading to poor survival, we analyzed publicly available datasets of 113 STS and 58 LTS. This analysis revealed 198 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) that characterize aggressive tumor growth and may be responsible for the poor prognosis. These genes belong largely to the Gene Ontology (GO) categories “epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition” and “response to hypoxia.” In this article, we applied an upstream analysis approach that involves state-of-the-art promoter analysis and network analysis of the dysregulated genes potentially responsible for short survival in GBM. Binding sites for transcription factors (TFs) associated with GBM pathology like NANOG, NF-κB, REST, FRA-1, PPARG, and seven others were found enriched in the promoters of the dysregulated genes. We reconstructed the gene regulatory network with several positive feedback loops controlled by five master regulators [insulin-like growth factor binding protein 2 (IGFBP2), vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA), VEGF165, platelet-derived growth factor A (PDGFA), adipocyte enhancer-binding protein (AEBP1), and oncostatin M (OSMR)], which can be proposed as biomarkers and as therapeutic targets for enhancing GBM prognosis. A critical analysis of this gene regulatory network gives insights into the mechanism of gene regulation by IGFBP2 via several TFs including the key molecule of GBM tumor invasiveness and progression, FRA-1. All the observations were validated in independent cohorts, and their impact on overall survival has been investigated.

Application of phototherapeutic-based nanoparticles in colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most commonly diagnosed malignancy and the second leading cause of cancer death, which accounts for approximately 10% of all new cancer cases worldwide. Surgery is the main method for treatment of early-stage CRC. However, it is not effective for most metastatic tumors, and new treatment and diagnosis strategies need to be developed. Photosensitizers (PSs) play an important role in the treatment of CRC. Phototherapy also has a broad prospect in the treatment of CRC because of its low invasiveness and low toxicity. However, most PSs are associated with limitations including poor solubility, poor selectivity and high toxicity. The application of nanomaterials in PSs has added many advantages, including increased solubility, bioavailability, targeting, stability and low toxicity. In this review, based on phototherapy, we discuss the characteristics and development progress of PSs, the targeting of PSs at organ, cell and molecular levels, and the current methods of optimizing PSs, especially the application of nanoparticles as carriers in CRC. We introduce the photosensitizer (PS) targeting process in photodynamic therapy (PDT), the damage mechanism of PDT, and the application of classic PS in CRC. The action process and damage mechanism of photothermal therapy (PTT) and the types of ablation agents. In addition, we present the imaging examination and the application of PDT / PTT in tumor, including (fluorescence imaging, photoacoustic imaging, nuclear magnetic resonance imaging, nuclear imaging) to provide the basis for the early diagnosis of CRC. Notably, single phototherapy has several limitations in vivo, especially for deep tumors. Here, we discuss the advantages of the combination therapy of PDT and PTT compared with the single therapy. At the same time, this review summarizes the clinical application of PS in CRC. Although a variety of nanomaterials are in the research and development stage, few of them are actually on the market, they will show great advantages in the treatment of CRC in the near future.

AEBP1 Promotes Glioblastoma Progression and Activates the Classical NF-κB Pathway

Objective

Our study was aimed at investigating the mechanistic consequences of the upregulation of adipocyte enhancer-binding protein 1 (AEBP1) in glioblastoma (GBM).

Methods

The expression of AEBP1 in GBM was assessed by bioinformatics analysis and qRT-PCR; the effects of AEBP1 on GBM cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and tumor growth in vitro and in vivo were detected by a CCK-8 assay, colony formation assay, scratch assay, Transwell assay, and subcutaneous tumor formation, respectively. The activation of related signaling pathways was monitored using western blot.

Results

Tumor-related databases and bioinformatics analysis revealed that AEBP1 was highly expressed in GBM and indicated poor outcome of patients; its high expression that was also confirmed in GBM tissues and cell lines was closely related to the tumor size. The results of in vitro experiments showed that AEBP1 could significantly promote GBM cell proliferation, migration, and invasion; in vivo experiments suggested that AEBP1 could contribute to the growth of GBM tumors. AEBP1 could upregulate the level of IκBα phosphorylation, decrease IκBα expression, activate the NF-κB signaling pathway, and promote the expression of downstream oncogenes.

Conclusion

Upregulated AEBP1 in GBM promotes GBM cell proliferation, migration, and invasion and facilitates tumor growth in vivo by activating the classical NF-κB pathway.