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Rago V, Bossio S, Lofaro D, Perri A, Di Agostino S. New Insights into the Link between SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Renal Cancer. Life (Basel) 2023; 14:52. [PMID: 38255667 PMCID: PMC10817602 DOI: 10.3390/life14010052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Revised: 12/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer has been described as a risk factor for greater susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection and severe COVID-19, mainly for patients with metastatic disease. Conversely, to that reported for most solid and hematological malignancies, the few available clinical studies reported that the infection did not increase the risk of death in renal cancer patients. The expression on proximal tubular renal cells of the key players in cellular viral uptake, ACE2, TMPRSS2, and NRP1, seems to be the mechanism for the direct kidney injury seen in patients with COVID-19. Interestingly, data from The Cancer Genome Atlas and experimental analyses on various renal cancer cell lines demonstrated that the above-reported receptors/cofactors are maintained by renal cancer cells. However, whether SARS-CoV-2 infection directly kills renal cancer cells or generates enhanced immunogenicity is a question worth investigating. In addition, some researchers have further addressed the topic by studying the expression and prognostic significance of gene signatures related to SARS-CoV-2 infection in renal cancer patients. The emerging data highlights the importance of better understanding the existence of a link between renal cancer and COVID-19 since it could lead to the identification of new prognostic factors and the development of new therapeutic targets in the management of renal cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vittoria Rago
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy;
| | - Sabrina Bossio
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Magna Græcia University of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy;
| | - Danilo Lofaro
- de-Health Lab, Department of Mechanical, Energy, Management Engineering, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy;
| | - Anna Perri
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Magna Græcia University of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy;
| | - Silvia Di Agostino
- Department of Health Sciences, Magna Græcia University of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy;
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Khan NA, Elsori D, Rashid G, Tamanna S, Chakraborty A, Farooqi A, Kar A, Sambyal N, Kamal MA. Unraveling the relationship between the renin-angiotensin system and endometrial cancer: a comprehensive review. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1235418. [PMID: 37869088 PMCID: PMC10585148 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1235418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Endometrial cancer (EC), the most common adenocarcinoma, represents 90% of uterine cancer in women with an increased incidence of occurrence attributed to age, obesity, hypertension, and hypoestrogenism. Being the most common gynecological malignancy in women, it shows a relation with the activation of different components of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), which is predominantly involved in maintaining blood pressure, salt, water, and aldosterone secretion, thereby playing a significant role in the etiology of hypertension. The components of the RAS, i.e., ACE-I, ACE-II, AT1R, AT2R, and Pro(renin) receptor, are widely expressed in both glandular and stromal cells of the endometrium, with varying levels throughout the different phases of the menstrual cycle. This causes the endometrial RAS to implicate angiogenesis, neovascularization, and cell proliferation. Thus, dysfunctioning of the endometrial RAS could predispose the growth and spread of EC. Interestingly, the increased expression of AngII, AGTR1, and AGTR2 showed advancement in the stages and progression of EC via the prorenin/ATP6AP2 and AngII/AGTR1 pathway. Therefore, this review corresponds to unraveling the relationship between the progression and development of endometrial cancer with the dysfunction in the expression of various components associated with RAS in maintaining blood pressure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nihad Ashraf Khan
- Department of Biosciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi, India
| | - Deena Elsori
- Faculty of Resillience, Deans Office Rabdan Academy, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Gowhar Rashid
- Amity Medical School, Amity University, Gurgaon, Haryana, India
| | - Sonia Tamanna
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Ananya Chakraborty
- Department of Biotechnology, Adamas University, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
| | - Adeeba Farooqi
- Department of Biotechnology, Central University of Kashmir, Ganderbal, India
| | - Ayman Kar
- Department of Biotechnology, Central University of Kashmir, Ganderbal, India
| | - Niti Sambyal
- Department of Biotechnology, Shri Mata Vashino Devi University, Katra, Jammu, India
| | - Mohammad Azhar Kamal
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Alkharj, Saudi Arabia
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Azevedo MT, Macedo S, Canberk S, Cardoso L, Gaspar TB, Pestana A, Batista R, Sobrinho-Simões M, Soares P. Significance of Furin Expression in Thyroid Neoplastic Transformation. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:3909. [PMID: 37568724 PMCID: PMC10417020 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15153909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2), Transmembrane Serine Protease 2 (TMPRSS2), and Furin were known to be key players in the SARS-CoV-2 infection, and the thyroid gland was revealed to be one of the relevant targets of the virus. Regardless of the viral infection, the expression of these molecules in the thyroid gland and their putative role in the neoplastic transformation of the thyrocytes has not been thoroughly explored. In this work, we aimed to characterize the mRNA and protein expression pattern of ACE2, TMPRSS2, and Furin in a series of patients with thyroid lesions. Our main results revealed a significantly decreased expression of ACE2 mRNA in the thyroid neoplasms in comparison to normal adjacent tissue. Furin mRNA was significantly increased in thyroid neoplasms when compared to normal adjacent tissue. In addition, a higher Furin mRNA level in thyroid carcinomas was associated with the presence of lymph node metastasis. Furin mRNA expression revealed a high discriminatory power between adjacent tissue and neoplasms. Protein expression of these molecules did not correlate with mRNA expression. Our study shows the mRNA downregulation of ACE2 and overexpression of Furin in thyroid neoplasms. Further studies are required to clarify if Furin expression can be a potential diagnostic indicator in thyroid neoplasia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Teresa Azevedo
- i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (M.T.A.); (S.M.); (S.C.); (L.C.); (T.B.G.); (R.B.); (M.S.-S.)
- Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto (Ipatimup), 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Department of Pathology and Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto (FMUP), 4200-139 Porto, Portugal
| | - Sofia Macedo
- i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (M.T.A.); (S.M.); (S.C.); (L.C.); (T.B.G.); (R.B.); (M.S.-S.)
- Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto (Ipatimup), 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Department of Pathology and Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto (FMUP), 4200-139 Porto, Portugal
- Abel Salazar Biomedical Sciences Institute (ICBAS), University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Sule Canberk
- i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (M.T.A.); (S.M.); (S.C.); (L.C.); (T.B.G.); (R.B.); (M.S.-S.)
- Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto (Ipatimup), 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Department of Pathology and Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto (FMUP), 4200-139 Porto, Portugal
- Abel Salazar Biomedical Sciences Institute (ICBAS), University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Luís Cardoso
- i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (M.T.A.); (S.M.); (S.C.); (L.C.); (T.B.G.); (R.B.); (M.S.-S.)
- Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto (Ipatimup), 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-370 Coimbra, Portugal
- Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Coimbra Hospital and University Center, 3004-561 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Tiago Bordeira Gaspar
- i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (M.T.A.); (S.M.); (S.C.); (L.C.); (T.B.G.); (R.B.); (M.S.-S.)
- Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto (Ipatimup), 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Department of Pathology and Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto (FMUP), 4200-139 Porto, Portugal
- Abel Salazar Biomedical Sciences Institute (ICBAS), University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Ana Pestana
- Charité Comprehensive Cancer Center, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany;
| | - Rui Batista
- i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (M.T.A.); (S.M.); (S.C.); (L.C.); (T.B.G.); (R.B.); (M.S.-S.)
- Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto (Ipatimup), 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Manuel Sobrinho-Simões
- i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (M.T.A.); (S.M.); (S.C.); (L.C.); (T.B.G.); (R.B.); (M.S.-S.)
- Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto (Ipatimup), 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Department of Pathology and Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto (FMUP), 4200-139 Porto, Portugal
- Department of Pathology, Centro Hospitalar de São João, 4200-139 Porto, Portugal
| | - Paula Soares
- i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (M.T.A.); (S.M.); (S.C.); (L.C.); (T.B.G.); (R.B.); (M.S.-S.)
- Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto (Ipatimup), 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Department of Pathology and Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto (FMUP), 4200-139 Porto, Portugal
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Sanad AM, Qadri F, Popova E, Rodrigues AF, Heinbokel T, Quach S, Schulz A, Bachmann S, Kreutz R, Alenina N, Bader M. Transgenic angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 overexpression in the rat vasculature protects kidneys from ageing-induced injury. Kidney Int 2023:S0085-2538(23)00313-7. [PMID: 37105519 DOI: 10.1016/j.kint.2023.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Revised: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
Chronic kidney disease is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality especially among the aged population. A decline in kidney function with ageing comparable to ageing-related processes in human kidneys has also been described in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. The renin-angiotensin-system (RAS) plays a pivotal role in the pathophysiology of cardiovascular and kidney disease and is a successful therapeutic target. The discovery of angiotensin-(1-7) (Ang(1-7)), mainly produced by angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), and its receptor MAS offered a new view on the RAS. This ACE2/Ang(1-7)/MAS axis counteracts most deleterious actions of the RAS in the kidney. In order to evaluate if activation of this axis has a protective effect in ageing-induced kidney disease we generated a transgenic rat model (TGR(SM22hACE2)) overexpressing human ACE2 in vascular smooth muscle cells. These animals showed a specific transgene expression pattern and increased ACE2 activity in the kidney. Telemetric recording of the cardiovascular parameters and evaluation of kidney function by histology and urine analysis revealed no alterations in blood pressure regulation and basal kidney function in young transgenic rats when compared to young SD rats. However, with ageing, SD rats developed a decline in kidney function characterized by severe albuminuria which was significantly less pronounced in TGR(SM22hACE2) rats. Concomitantly, we detected lower mRNA expression levels of kidney damage markers in aged transgenic animals. Thus, our results indicate that vascular ACE2-overexpression protects the kidney against ageing-induced decline in kidney function supporting the kidney-protective role of the ACE2/Ang(1-7)/MAS axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonia Maria Sanad
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany; German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Berlin, Berlin, Germany; Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Fatimunnisa Qadri
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany
| | - Elena Popova
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany
| | - André Felipe Rodrigues
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany; German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Berlin, Berlin, Germany; Free University of Berlin, Department of Biology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, Berlin, Germany
| | - Timm Heinbokel
- Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Institute of Pathology, Berlin, Germany; Berlin Institute of Health at Charité Universitatsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Susanna Quach
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany; Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Gastroenterology, Nephrology and Metabolic Medicine, Berlin, Germany; Berlin-Brandenburg School for Regenerative Therapies (BSRT)
| | - Angela Schulz
- Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Institute of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sebastian Bachmann
- Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Institute of Functional Anatomy, Berlin, Germany
| | - Reinhold Kreutz
- Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Institute of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Berlin, Germany
| | - Natalia Alenina
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany; German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Michael Bader
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany; German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Berlin, Berlin, Germany; Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany; University of Lübeck, Institute for Biology, Lübeck, Germany.
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Zou X, Guo Y, Mo Z. TLR3 serves as a novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarker and is closely correlated with immune microenvironment in three types of cancer. Front Genet 2022; 13:905988. [PMID: 36419829 PMCID: PMC9676367 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.905988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) plays an important role in both innate and adaptive immunity, but the prognostic value of TLR3 in heterogeneous tumors and the correlations between TLR3 expression and immune infiltration of heterogeneous tumors remain unclear. Methods: We investigated the expression of TLR3 in a variety of tumors and focused on the diagnostic and prognostic values of TLR3 in kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC), pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD) and brain lower grade glioma (LGG) by GEPIA, DriverDBv3, UALCAN, TIMER, LinkedOmics, STRING, GeneMANIA and FunRich, as well as the possible mechanisms of TLR3 affecting tumor prognosis were discussed. Additionally, real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to validate TLR3 expression in early KIRC. We also compared the expression of TLR3 in the plasma of early KIRC patients and normal controls by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: TLR3 expression was significantly different in multiple tumors compared with paracancerous nontumor tissues. Elevated expression of TLR3 contributed to the prolonged survival outcome in KIRC patients. Suppressed expression of TLR3 contributed to the prolonged survival outcome in LGG and PAAD patients. Moreover, TLR3 was significantly elevated in stage1, grade1 and N0 of KIRC. The expression and function of TLR3 in KIRC, LGG and PAAD were closely related to tumor immune microenvironment. TRAF6 was a key gene in the interactions between TLR3 and its interacting genes. Finally, the results of RT-qPCR and ELISA indicated that TLR3 expression levels were significantly raised in renal tissue and plasma of early KIRC patients. Conclusion: TLR3 has the potential to be a diagnostic biomarker of KIRC, LGG and PAAD as well as a biomarker for evaluating the prognosis of KIRC, LGG and PAAD, particularly for the early diagnosis of KIRC. TLR3 affects tumors mainly by acting on the immune microenvironment of KIRC, LGG and PAAD. These findings could lead to new insights into the immunotherapeutic targets for KIRC, LGG, and PAAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiong Zou
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
- Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
- Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Nanning, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Colleges and Universities, Nanning, China
| | - Yi Guo
- Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
- Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Nanning, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Colleges and Universities, Nanning, China
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Zengnan Mo
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
- Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
- Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Nanning, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Colleges and Universities, Nanning, China
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
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Kim YS, Kwon EB, Kim B, Chung HS, Choi G, Kim YH, Choi JG. Mulberry Component Kuwanon C Exerts Potent Therapeutic Efficacy In Vitro against COVID-19 by Blocking the SARS-CoV-2 Spike S1 RBD:ACE2 Receptor Interaction. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:12516. [PMID: 36293371 PMCID: PMC9604257 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232012516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Revised: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
There has been an immense effort by global pharmaceutical companies to develop anti-COVID-19 drugs, including small molecule-based RNA replication inhibitors via drug repositioning and antibody-based spike protein blockers related to cell entry by SARS-CoV-2. However, several limitations to their clinical use have emerged in addition to a lack of progress in the development of small molecule-based cell entry inhibitors from natural products. In this study, we tested the effectiveness of kuwanon C (KC), which has mainly been researched using in silico docking simulation and can serve as an effective building block for developing anti-COVID-19 drugs, in blocking the spike S1 RBD:ACE2 receptor interaction. KC is a natural product derived from Morus alba L., commonly known as mulberry, which has known antiviral efficacy. Molecular interaction studies using competitive ELISA and the BLItz system revealed that KC targets both the spike S1 RBD and the ACE2 receptor, successfully disrupting their interaction, as supported by the in silico docking simulation. Furthermore, we established a mechanism of action by observing how KC prevents the infection of SARS-CoV-2 spike pseudotyped virus in ACE2/TPRSS2-overexpressing HEK293T cells. Finally, we demonstrated that KC inhibits clinical isolates of SARS-CoV-2 in Vero cells. Future combinations of small molecule-based cell entry inhibitors, such as KC, with the currently prescribed RNA replication inhibitors are anticipated to significantly enhance the efficacy of COVID-19 therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Young Soo Kim
- Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Korean Medicine Application Center, 70 Cheomdan-ro, Dong-gu, Daegu 41062, Korea
| | - Eun-Bin Kwon
- Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Korean Medicine Application Center, 70 Cheomdan-ro, Dong-gu, Daegu 41062, Korea
| | - Buyun Kim
- Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Korean Medicine Application Center, 70 Cheomdan-ro, Dong-gu, Daegu 41062, Korea
| | - Hwan-Suck Chung
- Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Korean Medicine Application Center, 70 Cheomdan-ro, Dong-gu, Daegu 41062, Korea
| | - Garam Choi
- R&D Center, Etnova Therapeutics Corp., 198 Saneop-ro, Gwonseon-gu, Suwon 13207, Korea
| | - Yeoun-Hee Kim
- R&D Center, Etnova Therapeutics Corp., 198 Saneop-ro, Gwonseon-gu, Suwon 13207, Korea
| | - Jang-Gi Choi
- Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Korean Medicine Application Center, 70 Cheomdan-ro, Dong-gu, Daegu 41062, Korea
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Gao J, Ye F, Han F, Wang X, Jiang H, Zhang J. A Novel Radiogenomics Biomarker Based on Hypoxic-Gene Subset: Accurate Survival and Prognostic Prediction of Renal Clear Cell Carcinoma. Front Oncol 2021; 11:739815. [PMID: 34692518 PMCID: PMC8529272 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.739815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose To construct a novel radiogenomics biomarker based on hypoxic-gene subset for the accurate prognostic prediction of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). Materials and Methods Initially, we screened for the desired hypoxic-gene subset by analysis using the GSEA database. Through univariate and multivariate cox regression hazard ratio analysis, survival-related hypoxia genes were identified, and a genomics signature was constructed in the TCGA database. Building on this, a hypoxia-gene related radiogenomics biomarker (prediction of hypoxia-genes signature by contrast-enhanced CT radiomics) was constructed in the TCIA-KIRC database by extracting features in the venous phase of contrast-enhanced CT images, selecting features using the mRMR and LASSO algorithms, and building logistic regression models. Finally, we validated the prognostic capability of the new biomarker for patients with ccRCC in an independent validation cohort at Huashan Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China. Results The hypoxia-related genomics signature consisting of five genes (IFT57, PABPN1, RNF10, RNF19B and UBE2T) was shown to be significantly associated with survival for patients with ccRCC in the TCGA database, delineated by grouping of the signature expression as either low- or high-risk. In the TCIA database, we constructed a radiogenomics biomarker consisting of 13 radiomics features that were optimal predictors of hypoxia-gene signature expression levels (low- or high-risk) in patients at each institution, that demonstrated AUC values of 0.91 and 0.91 in the training and validation groups, respectively. In the independent validation cohort at Huashan Hospital, our radiogenomics biomarker was significantly associated with prognosis in patients with ccRCC (p=0.0059). Conclusions The novel prognostic radiogenomics biomarker that was constructed achieved excellent correlation with prognosis in both the cohort of TCGA/TCIA-KIRC database and the independent validation cohort of Huashan hospital patients with ccRCC. It is anticipated that this work may assist in clinical preferential treatment decisions and promote the process of precision theranostics in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiahao Gao
- Department of Radiology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Fangdie Ye
- Department of Urology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Fudan Institute of Urology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Fang Han
- Department of Radiology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaoshuang Wang
- Department of Radiology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Haowen Jiang
- Department of Urology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Fudan Institute of Urology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Aging and Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiawen Zhang
- Department of Radiology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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8
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TLR3 Serves as a Prognostic Biomarker and Associates with Immune Infiltration in the Renal Clear Cell Carcinoma Microenvironment. JOURNAL OF ONCOLOGY 2021; 2021:3336770. [PMID: 34531911 PMCID: PMC8440088 DOI: 10.1155/2021/3336770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Revised: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 08/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Background Clear cell renal cancer (KIRC) is one of the most common cancers globally, with a poor prognosis. TLRs play a vital role in anticancer immunity and the regulation of the biological progress of tumour cells. However, the precise role of TLRs in KIRC is still ambiguous. Methods Various bioinformatics analysis and clinical validation of tissues were performed to evaluate the prognostic value of TLRs and their correlation with immune infiltration in KIRC. Results The expression of TLR2/3/7/8 was increased at both mRNA and protein levels in KIRC. TLRs in KIRC were involved in the activation of apoptosis, EMT, RAS/MAPK, and RTK pathways, as well as the inhibition of the cell cycle and the hormone AR pathway. Drug sensitivity analysis revealed that high expression of TLR3 and low expression of TLR7/9/10 were resistant to most of the small molecules or drugs from CTRP. Enrichment analyses showed that TLRs were mainly involved in innate immune response, toll-like receptor signalling pathway, NF-kappa B signalling pathway, and TNF signalling pathway. Furthermore, a high-level TLR3 expression was associated with a favourable prognosis in KIRC. Validation research further confirmed that TLR3 expression was increased in KIRC tissues, and high TLR3 levels were associated with poor overall survival. Moreover, TLR3 in KIRC showed a positive association with an abundance of immune cells, including B-cells, CD4+ T-cells, CD8+ T-cells, macrophage, neutrophils, and dendritic cells, and the expression of the immune biomarker sets. Several TLR3-associated kinase, miRNA, or transcription factor targets were also identified in KIRC. Conclusion Our results indicate that TLR3 serves as a prognostic biomarker and associated with immune infiltration in KIRC. This work lays a foundation for further studies on the role of TLR3 in the carcinogenesis and progression of KIRC.
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Shafiee S, Cegolon L, Khafaei M, Gholami N, Zhao S, Khalesi N, Moosavian H, Fathi S, Izadi M, Ghadian A, Javanbakht M, Javanbakht A, Akhavan-Sigari R. Gastrointestinal cancers, ACE-2/TMPRSS2 expression and susceptibility to COVID-19. Cancer Cell Int 2021; 21:431. [PMID: 34399734 PMCID: PMC8365127 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-021-02129-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent studies on the pathophysiology of COVID-19 are indicating that the Angiotensin convertase enzyme 2 (ACE-2) and transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2) can act as a major component in the fusion of SARS-Cov-2 with target cells. It has also been observed that the expression of ACE-2 and TMPRSS2 can be altered in malignancies. Shedding light on this matter could be crucial since the COVID-19 pandemic interfered with many gastrointestinal cancer screening programs. Herein we discuss the possibility of severe forms of COVID-19 in patients with gastrointestinal cancers due to the gastrointestinal entry route of SARS-CoV-2 into the human body. The disruption of cancer screening programs caused by the current COVID-19 pandemic could therefore have massive negative health impact on patients affected by gastrointestinal malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sepehr Shafiee
- Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Luca Cegolon
- Public Health Department, Local Health Unit N.2 "Marca Trevigiana", 31100, Treviso, Italy
| | - Mostafa Khafaei
- Human Genetics Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Nasrin Gholami
- Hematology and Oncology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Shi Zhao
- JC School of Public Health and Primary Care, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Nasrin Khalesi
- Department of Pediatrics, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamidreza Moosavian
- Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Saeid Fathi
- Department of Parasite Vaccine Research and Production, Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Agriculture Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Iran
| | - Morteza Izadi
- Health Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Alireza Ghadian
- Nephrology and Urology Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Javanbakht
- Nephrology and Urology Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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10
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CYP2J2 Is a Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarker Associated with Immune Infiltration in Kidney Renal Clear Cell Carcinoma. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 2021:3771866. [PMID: 34258261 PMCID: PMC8249128 DOI: 10.1155/2021/3771866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2021] [Revised: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Cytochrome P450 family 2 subfamily J member 2 (CYP2J2), a member of the monooxygenase cytochrome P450 (CYP) family and the only member of the human CYP2J subfamily, has many functions, including regulation of oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, and immune responses. However, its role in cancer development has not been clearly elucidated. In this study, expression levels of CYP2J2 in various cancer types were determined using the Oncomine, the Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEIPA), DriverDBv3, UALCAN, and Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER) databases. The prognostic value of CYP2J2 for KIRC was analyzed using GEPIA, UALCAN, OSkirc, and DriverDBv3 databases. We evaluated the expression levels of CYP2J2 transcript, protein, and promoter methylation at different clinical characteristics in KIRC through the UALCAN database. Simultaneously, CYP2J2 network-related functions were evaluated using the GeneMANIA interactive tool while the biological processes involved in CYP2J2 and its interactive genes were investigated through Metascape and FunRich. Then, we used TIMER to determine the correlation between CYP2J2 expression levels and immune infiltration levels in KIRC. In KIRC, the CYP2J2 gene, RNA, and protein were found to be overexpressed. However, the methylation level of CYP2J2 promoter in KIRC was lower than in normal tissues. Surprisingly, elevated expression levels of CYP2J2 exhibited better prognostic outcomes in KIRC. Evaluation of protein-protein interaction networks and biological processes revealed that CYP2J2 was principally involved in immune responses, apoptosis, and other metabolic processes. Moreover, we found that the expression levels of CYP2J2 were positively correlated with infiltration levels of B cells, CD8 + T cells, neutrophils, and dendritic cells in KIRC. Therefore, we speculated that the overexpression of CYP2J2 prolonged the survival outcome of KIRC patients, which may be related to the change of tumor immune microenvironment. Moreover, all these new understandings of CYP2J2 may provide important value for the early diagnosis and new targeted drug therapy of KIRC.
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