Genetic variation of YWHAE gene-"Switch" of disease control

YWHAE affects proliferation, migration and apoptosis of colorectal cancer by regulating extracellular vesicles secretion and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway

Background

Colorectal cancer (CRC) has higher rates of metastasis, recurrence, and poor clinical prognosis. The 14-3-3ε (YWHAE) protein is closely related to the occurrence and development of CRC. Here, we aimed to explore the effects of YWHAE on the proliferation, migration, and apoptosis of CRC cells, and elucidate its mechanism.

Methods

Western blot and reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) were used to detect YWHAE protein and messenger RNA (mRNA) expression levels in CRC cell lines. Cell viability was detected by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) method. The cell proliferation activity was detected by 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) assay. The effect of cell migration was detected by scratch healing test. The number of cell migration was detected by Transwell assay. The apoptosis of cells in each group was detected by flow cytometry. The effect of altered YWHAE expression on extracellular vesicles (EVs) secretion was detected by nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) and western blot.

Results

In this study, the results of reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and western blot showed that YWHAE was highly expressed in CRC cells and tissues. Moreover, we constructed expression silenced cells and overexpression cells. Consistently, CCK-8, EdU assay, scratch healing test and Transwell assay showed that the silenced expression of YWHAE inhibited migration, and proliferation, while flow cytometry analysis promoted the apoptosis in YWHAE silenced cells. Mechanically, the expression levels of Wingless-related integration site (Wnt)/β-catenin and related genes (E-cadherin, cyclin D, c-myc, vimentin, P-120 catenin) in the silenced group signaling pathway were partially decreased. The results of NTA and western blot suggested that the ability of expression silenced cells to secrete EVs was weakened. In addition, the expression level of β-catenin in EVs from silenced cells was significantly decreased, which inhibited the proliferation activity of tumor microenvironment (TME) cells. Nevertheless, the data of overexpression group showed the opposite trend.

Conclusions

Altogether, these results demonstrate that silencing YWHAE expression can inhibit the proliferation and migration of CRC cells and promote cell apoptosis, which may be related to the inhibition of Wnt/β-catenin signaling and EVs secretion.

Exosomes from Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy Induce Cell Apoptosis Through the miRNA-6891-5p/YWHAE Pathway

BACKGROUND

Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes; however, the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood.

AIMS

This study aimed to determine the role of exosomal miR-6891-5p in placental trophoblast dysfunction in ICP and identify new biomarkers for ICP diagnosis.

METHODS

Serum samples were collected from ICP patients and healthy pregnant women, and serum exosomes were extracted and identified. Fluorescent dye labeling of exosomes and cell-verified cell phagocytosis were performed. In vitro experiments were conducted by adding taurocholic acid to simulate the ICP environment. Cell proliferation and apoptosis levels were detected using flow cytometry and the cell counting kit-8 assay. Mimics were constructed to overexpress miR-6891-5p in cells, and the binding site between miR-6891-5p and YWHAE was verified using luciferase reporter genes.

RESULTS

miR-6891-5p expression was significantly decreased in serum exosomes of ICP patients. Co-culturing with exosomes derived from ICP patients' serum (ICP-Exos) decreased HTR-8/SVeno cell proliferation and increased apoptosis levels. miR-6891-5p upregulation in HTR-8/SVeno cells significantly increased cell viability and reduced cell apoptosis levels, as determined by the cell counting kit-8 assay and flow cytometry. A double luciferase assay confirmed that miR-6891-5p affected the expression of the downstream YWHAE protein.

CONCLUSIONS

This study indicates that serum exosomes from ICP patients can impact the apoptosis of placental trophoblast HTR-8/SVeno cells through the miR-6891-5P/YWHAE pathway and can serve as specific molecular markers for ICP diagnosis.