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Küffer S, Müller D, Marx A, Ströbel P. Non-Mutational Key Features in the Biology of Thymomas. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:942. [PMID: 38473304 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16050942] [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: 02/08/2024] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Thymomas (THs) are a unique group of heterogeneous tumors of the thymic epithelium. In particular, the subtypes B2 and B3 tend to be aggressive and metastatic. Radical tumor resection remains the only curative option for localized tumors, while more advanced THs require multimodal treatment. Deep sequencing analyses have failed to identify known oncogenic driver mutations in TH, with the notable exception of the GTF2I mutation, which occurs predominantly in type A and AB THs. However, there are multiple alternative non-mutational mechanisms (e.g., perturbed thymic developmental programs, metabolism, non-coding RNA networks) that control cellular behavior and tumorigenesis through the deregulation of critical molecular pathways. Here, we attempted to show how the results of studies investigating such alternative mechanisms could be integrated into a current model of TH biology. This model could be used to focus ongoing research and therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Küffer
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Göttingen, University of Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Denise Müller
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Göttingen, University of Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Alexander Marx
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Göttingen, University of Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Philipp Ströbel
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Göttingen, University of Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
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2
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Wang Y, Ren H. Multi-omics sequencing revealed endostar combined with cisplatin treated non small cell lung cancer via anti-angiogenesis. BMC Cancer 2024; 24:187. [PMID: 38331776 PMCID: PMC10854066 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-023-11665-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Endostar, an anti-angiogenic drug, has been approved for treating non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). At present, endostar combined with radiotherapy or chemotherapy has achieved ideal results in the treatment of some tumors, but there is a lack of application and study in NSCLC. This study investigated the therapeutic effect and potential mechanism of endostar combined with cisplatin (EC) in NSCLC. METHODS HE staining, TUNEL staining, immunofluorescence, colony formation ability, and cell migration ability were used to evaluate the anti-tumor activity of EC. The expressions of FMOD, VEGF, FGF-2, and PDGF-B were detected by western blotting and qPCR. The target of combination therapy was analyzed by m6A sequencing and RNA sequencing. METTL3 knockdown and overexpressed A549 cells were constructed and co-cultured with HUVECs to further evaluate the effect of METLL3 on combination therapy. RESULTS Combination therapy significantly reduced the colony formation and migration ability of NSCLC cells, induced cell apoptosis, and inhibited the tube formation ability of HUVECs. The results of m6A sequencing and RNA sequencing showed that the EC could down-regulate the expression level of FMOD in tumor tissues, which might be related to the reduction of its m6A methylation modification regulatory enzyme METTL3. Restricting FMOD expression could reduce the expression of FGF2, TGF-β1, VEGF and PDGF-B. Moreover, overexpression of METTLE almost abolished the anti-tumor effect of EC and promoted angiogenesis. CONCLUSIONS Endostar combined with cisplatin might exert anti-tumor effects by down-regulating the expression of METTL3 and FMOD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yufei Wang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, No. 277 West Yanta Road, 710061, Shanxi, Xi'an, Shanxi, P.R. China
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University, 010050, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, P.R. China
| | - Hong Ren
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, No. 277 West Yanta Road, 710061, Shanxi, Xi'an, Shanxi, P.R. China.
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3
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Hu J, Chen K, Hong F, Gao G, Dai X, Yin H. METTL3 facilitates stemness properties and tumorigenicity of cancer stem cells in hepatocellular carcinoma through the SOCS3/JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway. Cancer Gene Ther 2024; 31:228-236. [PMID: 38030810 DOI: 10.1038/s41417-023-00697-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Revised: 10/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Liver cancer stem cells (LCSCs) contribute to tumor recurrence and cancer cell proliferation in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METTL3-catalyzed m6A modification is relevant to the cancer stem cell (CSC) phenotype, including LCSCs. LCSCs were isolated from MHCC-97H and HepG2 cells through flow cytometry. UALCAN data were used to analyze the expression of METTL3 in liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC) tissues. Loss- and gain-of-function experiments were utilized to assess the biological effects of METTL3 and SOCS3 on the proliferation and stemness phenotypes in vitro and in vivo. The mechanisms underlying the impact of METTL3 were explored using qPCR, MeRIP-qPCR, dual-luciferase reporter, and western blot assays. METTL3 was significantly upregulated in LIHC tissues according to the UALCAN database. METTL3 was highly expressed in LIHC and was significantly correlated with individual cancer stage, tumor grade and lymph node metastasis. Patients with low METTL3 expression had a longer overall survival time based on the data from UALCAN. In addition, the level of METTL3 was enhanced in LCSCs and decreased in non-LCSCs compared to HCC cells. Moreover, overexpression of METTL3 stimulated the proliferation and stemness of LCSCs in vitro and in vivo, while loss of METTL3 impeded it. Bioinformatics analysis combined with validation experiments determined that m6A was modified by METTL3-targeting SOCS3 mRNA. METTL3 had side effects regarding the stability of SOCS3 mRNA. SOCS3 overexpression impaired and SOCS3 depletion facilitated the development of LCSCs via the JAK2/STAT3 pathway. Furthermore, METTL3 depletion suppressed proliferation and stemness in LCSCs, which was restored by SOCS3 knockdown or colivelin treatment. We discovered that METTL3 facilitated the stemness and tumorigenicity of LCSCs by modifying SOCS3 mRNA with m6A.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingjing Hu
- Department of Ultrasonography, Ningbo No. 2 Hospital, 315010, Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, P. R. China
| | - Ke Chen
- Ningbo City College of Vocational Technology, 315100, Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, P. R. China
| | - Fangfang Hong
- Department of Ultrasonography, Ningbo No. 2 Hospital, 315010, Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, P. R. China
| | - Guosheng Gao
- Clinical Laboratory, Ningbo No. 2 Hospital, 315010, Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, P. R. China
| | - Xiaoyu Dai
- Department of Anorectal Surgery, Ningbo No. 2 Hospital, 315010, Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, P. R. China
| | - Hua Yin
- Department of Ultrasonography, Ningbo No. 2 Hospital, 315010, Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, P. R. China.
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4
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Zhang X, Zhang P, Cong A, Feng Y, Chi H, Xia Z, Tang H. Unraveling molecular networks in thymic epithelial tumors: deciphering the unique signatures. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1264325. [PMID: 37849766 PMCID: PMC10577431 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1264325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Thymic epithelial tumors (TETs) are a rare and diverse group of neoplasms characterized by distinct molecular signatures. This review delves into the complex molecular networks of TETs, highlighting key aspects such as chromosomal abnormalities, molecular subtypes, aberrant gene mutations and expressions, structural gene rearrangements, and epigenetic changes. Additionally, the influence of the dynamic tumor microenvironment on TET behavior and therapeutic responses is examined. A thorough understanding of these facets elucidates TET pathogenesis, offering avenues for enhancing diagnostic accuracy, refining prognostic assessments, and tailoring targeted therapeutic strategies. Our review underscores the importance of deciphering TETs' unique molecular signatures to advance personalized treatment paradigms and improve patient outcomes. We also discuss future research directions and anticipated challenges in this intriguing field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Pengpeng Zhang
- Department of Lung Cancer Surgery, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Ansheng Cong
- Division of Nephrology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Nephrology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yanlong Feng
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Hao Chi
- School of Clinical Medical Sciences, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Zhijia Xia
- Department of General, Visceral, and Transplant Surgery, Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Hailin Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
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5
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Qi YN, Liu Z, Hong LL, Li P, Ling ZQ. Methyltransferase-like proteins in cancer biology and potential therapeutic targeting. J Hematol Oncol 2023; 16:89. [PMID: 37533128 PMCID: PMC10394802 DOI: 10.1186/s13045-023-01477-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023] Open
Abstract
RNA modification has recently become a significant process of gene regulation, and the methyltransferase-like (METTL) family of proteins plays a critical role in RNA modification, methylating various types of RNAs, including mRNA, tRNA, microRNA, rRNA, and mitochondrial RNAs. METTL proteins consist of a unique seven-beta-strand domain, which binds to the methyl donor SAM to catalyze methyl transfer. The most typical family member METTL3/METTL14 forms a methyltransferase complex involved in N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification of RNA, regulating tumor proliferation, metastasis and invasion, immunotherapy resistance, and metabolic reprogramming of tumor cells. METTL1, METTL4, METTL5, and METTL16 have also been recently identified to have some regulatory ability in tumorigenesis, and the rest of the METTL family members rely on their methyltransferase activity for methylation of different nucleotides, proteins, and small molecules, which regulate translation and affect processes such as cell differentiation and development. Herein, we summarize the literature on METTLs in the last three years to elucidate their roles in human cancers and provide a theoretical basis for their future use as potential therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya-Nan Qi
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, P.R. China
| | - Zhu Liu
- Zhejiang Cancer Institute, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, No.1 Banshan East Rd., Gongshu District, Hangzhou, 310022, Zhejiang, P.R. China
- Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, 310018, Zhejiang, P.R. China
| | - Lian-Lian Hong
- Zhejiang Cancer Institute, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, No.1 Banshan East Rd., Gongshu District, Hangzhou, 310022, Zhejiang, P.R. China
- Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, 310018, Zhejiang, P.R. China
| | - Pei Li
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, P.R. China.
| | - Zhi-Qiang Ling
- Zhejiang Cancer Institute, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, No.1 Banshan East Rd., Gongshu District, Hangzhou, 310022, Zhejiang, P.R. China.
- Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, 310018, Zhejiang, P.R. China.
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6
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Zhang N, Sun Y, Mei Z, He Z, Gu S. Novel insights into mutual regulation between N 6-methyladenosine modification and LncRNAs in tumors. Cancer Cell Int 2023; 23:127. [PMID: 37365581 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-023-02955-1] [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: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
N6-methyladenosine (m6A), one of the most common RNA methylation modifications, has emerged in recent years as a new layer of the regulatory mechanism controlling gene expression in eukaryotes. As a reversible epigenetic modification, m6A not only occurs on mRNAs but also on Long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs). As we all known, despite LncRNAs cannot encode proteins, they affect the expression of proteins by interacting with mRNAs or miRNAs, thus playing important roles in the occurrence and development of a variety of tumors. Up to now, it has been widely accepted that m6A modification on LncRNAs affects the fate of the corresponding LncRNAs. Interestingly, levels and functions of m6A modifications are also mediated by LncRNAs through affecting the m6A methyltransferases (METTL3, METTL14, WTAP, METTL16, etc.), demethylases (FTO, ALKBH5) and methyl-binding proteins (YTHDFs, YTHDCs, IGF2BPs, HNRNPs, etc.), which are collectively referred to as "m6A regulators". In this review, we summarized the mutual regulation mechanisms between N6-methyladenosine modification and LncRNAs in cancer progression, metastasis, invasion and drug resistance. In detail, we focus on the specific mechanisms of m6A modification, which is mediated by methyltransferases and demethylases, involves in the regulation of LncRNA levels and functions in the first part. And section two intensively displays the mediation roles of LncRNAs in m6A modification via changing the regulatory proteins. At last part, we described the interaction effects between LncRNAs and methyl-binding proteins of m6A modification during various tumor occurrence and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Zhang
- School of Public Health, Institute of Preventive Medicine, Dali University, No. 22, Wanhua Road, Dali, 671000, Yunnan, People's Republic of China
| | - Yifei Sun
- School of Public Health, Institute of Preventive Medicine, Dali University, No. 22, Wanhua Road, Dali, 671000, Yunnan, People's Republic of China
| | - Zongqin Mei
- School of Public Health, Institute of Preventive Medicine, Dali University, No. 22, Wanhua Road, Dali, 671000, Yunnan, People's Republic of China
| | - Zuoshun He
- School of Public Health, Institute of Preventive Medicine, Dali University, No. 22, Wanhua Road, Dali, 671000, Yunnan, People's Republic of China.
| | - Shiyan Gu
- School of Public Health, Institute of Preventive Medicine, Dali University, No. 22, Wanhua Road, Dali, 671000, Yunnan, People's Republic of China.
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7
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Tang J, Zhang J, Lu Y, He J, Wang H, Liu B, Tu C, Li Z. Novel insights into the multifaceted roles of m 6A-modified LncRNAs in cancers: biological functions and therapeutic applications. Biomark Res 2023; 11:42. [PMID: 37069649 PMCID: PMC10111779 DOI: 10.1186/s40364-023-00484-7] [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: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 04/19/2023] Open
Abstract
N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is considered as the most common and important internal transcript modification in several diseases like type 2 diabetes, schizophrenia and especially cancer. As a main target of m6A methylation, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been proved to regulate cellular processes at various levels, including epigenetic modification, transcriptional, post-transcriptional, translational and post-translational regulation. Recently, accumulating evidence suggests that m6A-modified lncRNAs greatly participate in the tumorigenesis of cancers. In this review, we systematically summarized the biogenesis of m6A-modified lncRNAs and the identified m6A-lncRNAs in a variety of cancers, as well as their potential diagnostic and therapeutic applications as biomarkers and therapeutic targets, hoping to shed light on the novel strategies for cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinxin Tang
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Tumor Models and Individualized Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
- Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
| | - Jinhui Zhang
- Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
| | - Yu Lu
- Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
| | - Jieyu He
- Department of Geriatrics, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
| | - Hua Wang
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Tumor Models and Individualized Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
- Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
| | - Binfeng Liu
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Tumor Models and Individualized Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
| | - Chao Tu
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China.
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Tumor Models and Individualized Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China.
| | - Zhihong Li
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China.
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Tumor Models and Individualized Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China.
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8
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Liu Z, Gao L, Cheng L, Lv G, Sun B, Wang G, Tang Q. The roles of N6-methyladenosine and its target regulatory noncoding RNAs in tumors: classification, mechanisms, and potential therapeutic implications. Exp Mol Med 2023; 55:487-501. [PMID: 36854773 PMCID: PMC10073155 DOI: 10.1038/s12276-023-00944-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2022] [Revised: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/04/2022] [Indexed: 03/02/2023] Open
Abstract
N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is one of the epigenetic modifications of RNA. The addition of this chemical mark to RNA molecules regulates gene expression by affecting the fate of the RNA molecules. This posttranscriptional RNA modification is reversible and regulated by methyltransferase "writers" and demethylase "erasers". The fate of m6A-modified RNAs depends on the function of different "readers" that recognize and bind to them. Research on m6A methylation modification has recently increased due to its important role in regulating cancer progression. Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) are a class of RNA molecules that are transcribed from the genome but whose roles have been overlooked due to their lack of well-defined potential for translation into proteins or peptides. However, this misconception has now been completely overturned. ncRNAs regulate various diseases, especially tumors, and it has been confirmed that they play either tumor-promoting or tumor-suppressing roles in almost all types of tumors. In this review, we discuss the m6A modification of different types of ncRNA and summarize the mechanisms involved. Finally, we discuss the progress of research on clinical treatment and discuss the important significance of the m6A modification of ncRNAs in the clinical treatment of tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziying Liu
- Department of Pancreatic and Biliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China.,Key Laboratory of Hepatosplenic Surgery, Ministry of Education, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Lei Gao
- Department of Pancreatic and Biliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China.,Key Laboratory of Hepatosplenic Surgery, Ministry of Education, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Long Cheng
- Department of Pancreatic and Biliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China.,Key Laboratory of Hepatosplenic Surgery, Ministry of Education, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Gaoyuan Lv
- Department of Pancreatic and Biliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China.,Key Laboratory of Hepatosplenic Surgery, Ministry of Education, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Bei Sun
- Department of Pancreatic and Biliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China.,Key Laboratory of Hepatosplenic Surgery, Ministry of Education, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Gang Wang
- Department of Pancreatic and Biliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China.
| | - Qiushi Tang
- Chinese Journal of Practical Surgery, Chinese Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.
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9
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Epigenetics of Thymic Epithelial Tumors. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15020360. [PMID: 36672310 PMCID: PMC9856807 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15020360] [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: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Thymic epithelial tumors (TETs) arise from the epithelial cells of the thymus and consist in the 1% of all adult malignancies, despite the fact that they are the most common lesions of the anterior mediastinum. TETs can be divided mainly into thymomas, thymic carcinomas, and the rarest ad aggressive neuroendocrine forms. Despite the surgical resection is quite resolving, the diagnosis of TETs is complicated by the absence of symptoms and the clinical presentation aggravated by several paraneoplastic disorders, including myasthenia gravis. Thus, the heterogeneity of TETs prompts the search for molecular biomarkers that could be helpful for tumor characterization and clinical outcomes prediction. With these aims, several researchers investigated the epigenetic profiles of TETs. In this manuscript, we narratively review the works investigating the deregulation of epigenetic mechanisms in TETs, highlighting the need for further studies combining genetic, epigenetic, and expression data to better characterize the different molecular subtypes and identify, for each of them, the most relevant epigenetic biomarkers of clinical utility.
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10
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Chai R, Fang S, Pang B, Liu Y, Wang Y, Zhang W, Jiang T. Molecular pathology and clinical implications of diffuse glioma. Chin Med J (Engl) 2022; 135:2914-2925. [PMID: 36728558 PMCID: PMC10106158 DOI: 10.1097/cm9.0000000000002446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT The prognosis for diffusely infiltrating gliomas at World Health Organization (WHO) grade 2-4 remains dismal due to their heterogeneity. The rapid development of genome-wide molecular-profiling-associated studies has greatly promoted the accuracy of glioma classification. Thus, the latest version of the WHO classification of the central nervous system tumors published in 2021 has incorporated more molecular biomarkers together with histological features for the diagnosis of gliomas. Advanced usage of molecular pathology in clinical diagnostic practice provides also new opportunities for the therapy of patients with glioma, including surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and more precision clinical trials. Herein, we highlight the updates in the classification of gliomas according to the latest WHO guidelines and summarize the clinically relevant molecular markers by focusing on their applications in clinical practice. We also review the advances in molecular features of gliomas, which can facilitate the development of glioma therapies, thereby discussing the challenges and future directions of molecular pathology toward precision medicine for patients with glioma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruichao Chai
- Department of Molecular Neuropathology, Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100070, China
| | - Shengyu Fang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100070, China
| | - Bo Pang
- Department of Molecular Neuropathology, Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100070, China
| | - Yuqing Liu
- Department of Molecular Neuropathology, Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100070, China
| | - Yongzhi Wang
- Department of Molecular Neuropathology, Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100070, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100070, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100070, China
| | - Tao Jiang
- Department of Molecular Neuropathology, Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100070, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100070, China
- Research Unit of Accurate Diagnosis, Treatment, and Translational Medicine of Brain Tumors, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100070, China
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11
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Gao M, Liu S, Qi Y, Guo X, Shang X. GAE-LGA: integration of multi-omics data with graph autoencoders to identify lncRNA-PCG associations. Brief Bioinform 2022; 23:6775590. [PMID: 36305456 DOI: 10.1093/bib/bbac452] [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: 07/14/2022] [Revised: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) can disrupt the biological functions of protein-coding genes (PCGs) to cause cancer. However, the relationship between lncRNAs and PCGs remains unclear and difficult to predict. Machine learning has achieved a satisfactory performance in association prediction, but to our knowledge, it is currently less used in lncRNA-PCG association prediction. Therefore, we introduce GAE-LGA, a powerful deep learning model with graph autoencoders as components, to recognize potential lncRNA-PCG associations. GAE-LGA jointly explored lncRNA-PCG learning and cross-omics correlation learning for effective lncRNA-PCG association identification. The functional similarity and multi-omics similarity of lncRNAs and PCGs were accumulated and encoded by graph autoencoders to extract feature representations of lncRNAs and PCGs, which were subsequently used for decoding to obtain candidate lncRNA-PCG pairs. Comprehensive evaluation demonstrated that GAE-LGA can successfully capture lncRNA-PCG associations with strong robustness and outperformed other machine learning-based identification methods. Furthermore, multi-omics features were shown to improve the performance of lncRNA-PCG association identification. In conclusion, GAE-LGA can act as an efficient application for lncRNA-PCG association prediction with the following advantages: It fuses multi-omics information into the similarity network, making the feature representation more accurate; it can predict lncRNA-PCG associations for new lncRNAs and identify potential lncRNA-PCG associations with high accuracy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meihong Gao
- School of Computer Science and Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China
| | - Shuhui Liu
- School of Computer Science and Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China
| | - Yang Qi
- School of Computer Science and Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China
| | - Xinpeng Guo
- School of Computer Science and Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China
| | - Xuequn Shang
- School of Computer Science and Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, China
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12
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Was N, Sauer M, Fischer U, Becker M. lncRNA Malat1 and miR-26 cooperate in the regulation of neuronal progenitor cell proliferation and differentiation. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2022; 29:rna.079436.122. [PMID: 36302652 PMCID: PMC9808573 DOI: 10.1261/rna.079436.122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Neurogenesis is a finely tuned process, which depends on the balanced execution of expression programs that regulate cellular differentiation and proliferation. Different molecular players ranging from transcription factors to chromatin modulators control these programs. Adding to the complexity, also non-coding (nc)RNAs take part in this process. Here we analyzed the function of the long non-coding (lnc)RNA Malat1 during neural embryonic stem cell (ESC) differentiation. We find that deletion of Malat1 leads to inhibition of proliferation of neural progenitor cells (NPCs). Interestingly, this co-insides with an increase in the expression of miR-26 family members miR-26a and miR-26b in differentiating ESCs. Inactivation of miR-26a/b rescues the proliferative phenotype of Malat1 knockout (KO) cells and leads to accelerated neuronal differentiation of compound Malat1KO/mir-26KO ESCs. Together our work identifies a so far unknown interaction between Malat1 and miR-26 in the regulation of NPC proliferation and neuronal differentiation.
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13
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Cheng W, Li M, Zhang L, Zhou C, Yu S, Peng X, Zhang W, Zhang W. New roles of N6-methyladenosine methylation system regulating the occurrence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease with N6-methyladenosine-modified MYC. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:973116. [PMID: 36120320 PMCID: PMC9471244 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.973116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become a major chronic disease in contemporary society, affected by N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA methylation, one of the most common RNA modifications. Compared with healthy control, m6A RNA methyltransferase 3 (METTL3) and METTL14 increased, while Wilms tumor 1-associated protein (WTAP) and RNA-binding motif protein 15 (RBM15) decreased significantly in NAFLD, and the m6A demethylases fat mass and obesity-associated protein (FTO) elevated. Meanwhile, the m6A binding proteins, YT521-B homology (YTH) domain-containing 1 (YTHDC1), YTHDC2, insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA binding protein 1 (IGF2BP1), heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein C (HNRNPC), and HNRNPA2B1 were decreased, while eukaryotic translation initiation factor 3 subunit H (EIF3H) was increased significantly. All these changes of m6A regulators had significant differences between healthy control and NAFLD, but no differences between the NAFL and NASH group. The expression level of RBM15, HNRNPC, and HNRNPA2B1 were related to body fat index. RBM15, YTHDC2, HNRNPC, HNRNPA2B1, and EIF3H were related to steatosis. Also, KIAA1429 and YTH domain family 1 (YTHDF1) were related to lobular inflammation. Taken together, m6A regulators were involved in the occurrence of NAFLD. More importantly, abnormal MYC was determined as a key link to m6A regulation of NAFLD. The higher MYC mRNA level was accompanied by higher HDL cholesterol and unsaturated fatty acid proportions, as well as lower fat mass, glucose, and transaminase. Taken together, dysregulation of m6A methylation caused steatosis and fibrosis, affecting the occurrence of NAFLD, and MYC might be its potential target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenli Cheng
- Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Min Li
- Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Luyun Zhang
- Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Cheng Zhou
- Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Susu Yu
- Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xinyue Peng
- Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wenji Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering and Technology Research Center for Tobacco Breeding and Comprehensive Utilization, Crops Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Science, Guangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Wenji Zhang, ; Wenjuan Zhang,
| | - Wenjuan Zhang
- Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Wenji Zhang, ; Wenjuan Zhang,
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14
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Niu X, Yang Y, Ren Y, Zhou S, Mao Q, Wang Y. Crosstalk between m 6A regulators and mRNA during cancer progression. Oncogene 2022; 41:4407-4419. [PMID: 36008465 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-022-02441-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Revised: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
m6A modification, the most abundant and widespread RNA modification, is present and involved in the occurrence and development of various cancers. To date, most studies have mainly focused on the roles of a single m6A regulator (writer/eraser/reader) in various cancers, but cumulative evidence shows that aberrant m6A regulators and m6A levels exert dual effects (promoting and/or inhibiting roles) in cancer progression. Recently, studies have investigated the direct interactions between different m6A regulators (writer/eraser and reader) and mRNAs in a variety of cancers. In this review, we summarize the functions of m6A regulators and their roles in various types of cancers. We further propose the possible crosstalk mechanisms (Writer-m6A-Reader-mRNA axis and Eraser-m6A-Reader-mRNA axis) between different m6A regulators and mRNAs during cancer progression. We also discuss the clinical potential of m6A regulator‑targeting strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaodong Niu
- Department of Neurosurgery and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yuan Yang
- Department of Neurosurgery and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yanming Ren
- Department of Neurosurgery and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Shengtao Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children of MOE, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Second Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Qing Mao
- Department of Neurosurgery and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
| | - Yuan Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
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15
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Fang Z, Mei W, Qu C, Lu J, Shang L, Cao F, Li F. Role of m6A writers, erasers and readers in cancer. Exp Hematol Oncol 2022; 11:45. [PMID: 35945641 PMCID: PMC9361621 DOI: 10.1186/s40164-022-00298-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/04/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The N(6)-methyladenosine (m6A) modification is the most pervasive modification of human RNAs. In recent years, an increasing number of studies have suggested that m6A likely plays important roles in cancers. Many studies have demonstrated that m6A is involved in the biological functions of cancer cells, such as proliferation, invasion, metastasis, and drug resistance. In addition, m6A is closely related to the prognosis of cancer patients. In this review, we highlight recent advances in understanding the function of m6A in various cancers. We emphasize the importance of m6A to cancer progression and look forward to describe future research directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Fang
- Department of General Surgery, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Wentong Mei
- Department of General Surgery, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Chang Qu
- Department of General Surgery, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Jiongdi Lu
- Department of General Surgery, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Liang Shang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, China.
| | - Feng Cao
- Department of General Surgery, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
| | - Fei Li
- Department of General Surgery, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
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16
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Choi HI, An GY, Yoo E, Baek M, Binas B, Chai JC, Lee YS, Jung KH, Chai YG. The bromodomain inhibitor JQ1 up-regulates the long non-coding RNA MALAT1 in cultured human hepatic carcinoma cells. Sci Rep 2022; 12:7779. [PMID: 35546353 PMCID: PMC9095596 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-11868-4] [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: 02/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The epigenetic reader, bromodomain-containing 4 (BRD4), is overexpressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and BRD4 inhibition is considered as a new therapeutic approach. The BRD inhibitor JQ1 is known to inhibit the enrichment of BRD4 at enhancer sites. Gene network analyses have implicated long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in the effects of JQ1, but the precise molecular events remain unexplored. Here, we report that in HepG2 cells, JQ1 significantly reduced various proliferation-related lncRNAs, but up-regulated the known liver tumor marker, MALAT1. Using ChIP-sequencing data, ChIP-qPCR, luciferase reporter assays, and chromatin conformation capture (3C), we characterized the MALAT1 gene locus. We found that JQ1 elicited a rearrangement of its chromatin looping conformation, which involved the putative enhancers E1, E2, E3, the gene body, and the promoter. We further found that the forkhead box protein A2 (FOXA2) binds to E2 and the promoter; suppression of FOXA2 expression resulted in MALAT1 up-regulation and increased cell proliferation. These results suggest that the inhibition of MALAT1 may improve the effect of BET inhibitors as an anti-cancer therapy and that FOXA2 would be a suitable target for that approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hae In Choi
- Department of Bionanotechnology, Hanyang University, Seoul, 04673, Republic of Korea
| | - Ga Yeong An
- Department of Bionanotechnology, Hanyang University, Seoul, 04673, Republic of Korea
| | - Eunyoung Yoo
- Department of Bionanotechnology, Hanyang University, Seoul, 04673, Republic of Korea
| | - Mina Baek
- Department of Molecular and Life Science, Hanyang University, Ansan, Gyeonggi-do, 15588, Republic of Korea
- Institute of Natural Science and Technology, Hanyang University, Ansan, 15588, Republic of Korea
| | - Bert Binas
- Department of Molecular and Life Science, Hanyang University, Ansan, Gyeonggi-do, 15588, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin Choul Chai
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Young Seek Lee
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyoung Hwa Jung
- Convergence Technology Campus of Korea Polytechnic II, Incheon, 21417, Republic of Korea.
| | - Young Gyu Chai
- Department of Bionanotechnology, Hanyang University, Seoul, 04673, Republic of Korea.
- Department of Molecular and Life Science, Hanyang University, Ansan, Gyeonggi-do, 15588, Republic of Korea.
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17
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Iaiza A, Tito C, Ganci F, Sacconi A, Gallo E, Masciarelli S, Fontemaggi G, Fatica A, Melis E, Petrozza V, Venuta F, Marino M, Blandino G, Fazi F. Long Non-Coding RNAs in the Cell Fate Determination of Neoplastic Thymic Epithelial Cells. Front Immunol 2022; 13:867181. [PMID: 35529877 PMCID: PMC9073009 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.867181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Thymic Epithelial Tumors (TETs) arise from epithelial cells of the thymus and are very rare neoplasms comprising Thymoma, Thymic carcinoma, and Thymic Neuroendocrine tumors that still require in-depth molecular characterization. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are emerging as relevant gene expression modulators involved in the deregulation of several networks in almost all types of human cancer, including TETs. LncRNAs act at different control levels in the regulation of gene expression, from transcription to translation, and modulate several pathways relevant to cell fate determination under normal and pathological conditions. The activity of lncRNAs is strongly dependent on their expression, localization, and post-transcriptional modifications. Starting from our recently published studies, this review focuses on the involvement of lncRNAs in the acquisition of malignant traits by neoplastic thymic epithelial cells, and describes the possible use of these molecules as targets for the design of novel therapeutic approaches specific for TET. Furthermore, the involvement of lncRNAs in myasthenia gravis (MG)-related thymoma, which is still under investigation, is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessia Iaiza
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic and Orthopedic Sciences, Section of Histology and Medical Embryology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Claudia Tito
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic and Orthopedic Sciences, Section of Histology and Medical Embryology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Federica Ganci
- Oncogenomic and Epigenetic Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Sacconi
- Oncogenomic and Epigenetic Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Enzo Gallo
- Department of Pathology, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Masciarelli
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic and Orthopedic Sciences, Section of Histology and Medical Embryology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- Department of Life Science and Public Health, Histology and Embryology Unit, Catholic University of the Sacred Hearth, Rome, Italy
| | - Giulia Fontemaggi
- Oncogenomic and Epigenetic Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandro Fatica
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology ‘Charles Darwin’, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Enrico Melis
- Thoracic Surgery, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Petrozza
- Pathology Unit, ICOT, Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Latina, Italy
| | - Federico Venuta
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Mirella Marino
- Department of Pathology, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
- *Correspondence: Francesco Fazi, ; Giovanni Blandino, ; Mirella Marino,
| | - Giovanni Blandino
- Oncogenomic and Epigenetic Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
- *Correspondence: Francesco Fazi, ; Giovanni Blandino, ; Mirella Marino,
| | - Francesco Fazi
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic and Orthopedic Sciences, Section of Histology and Medical Embryology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- *Correspondence: Francesco Fazi, ; Giovanni Blandino, ; Mirella Marino,
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18
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Thymic Epithelial Neoplasms: Focusing on the Epigenetic Alterations. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23074045. [PMID: 35409405 PMCID: PMC8999627 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23074045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Revised: 04/02/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Thymic Epithelial Neoplasms (TENs) represent the most common tumors of the thymus gland. Epigenetic alterations are generally involved in initiation and progression of various cancer entities. However, little is known about the role of epigenetic modifications in TENs. In order to identify relevant studies, a literature review was conducted using the MEDLINE and LIVIVO databases. The search terms thymoma, thymic carcinoma, thymic epithelial neoplasm, epigenetics, DNA methylation, HDAC and miRNA were employed and we were able to identify forty studies focused on TENs and published between 1997 and 2021. Aberrant epigenetic alterations seem to be involved in the tumorigenesis of thymomas and thymic carcinomas, with numerous studies reporting on non-coding RNA clusters and altered gene methylation as possible biomarkers in different types of TENs. Interestingly, Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors have shown potent antitumor effects in clinical trials, thus possibly representing effective epigenetic therapeutic agents in TENs. Additional studies in larger patient cohorts are, nevertheless, needed to verify the clinical utility and safety of novel epigenetic agents in the treatment of patients with TENs.
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19
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Non-Coding RNAs in the Crosstalk between Breast Cancer Cells and Tumor-Associated Macrophages. Noncoding RNA 2022; 8:ncrna8010016. [PMID: 35202089 PMCID: PMC8874851 DOI: 10.3390/ncrna8010016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Revised: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) play a pivotal role in regulating the tumor microenvironment (TME) by controlling gene expression at multiple levels. In tumors, ncRNAs can mediate the crosstalk between cancer cells and other cells in the TME, such as immune cells, stromal cells, and endothelial cells, influencing tumor development and progression. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are among the most abundant inflammatory cells infiltrating solid cancers that promote tumorigenesis, and their infiltration correlates with a poor prognosis in many tumors. Cancer cells produce different ncRNAs that orchestrate TAM recruitment and polarization toward a tumor-promoting phenotype. Tumor-reprogrammed macrophages shape the TME by promoting angiogenesis and tissue remodeling, and suppressing the anti-tumor activity of adaptive immune cells. TAMs can also produce ncRNA molecules that boost cancer cell proliferation and direct their phenotype and metabolic changes facilitating cancer progression and metastasis. This review will focus on the crosstalk between cancer cells and TAMs mediated by microRNAs and long non-coding RNAs during breast cancer (BC) initiation and progression.
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20
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Liu Q. Current Advances in N6-Methyladenosine Methylation Modification During Bladder Cancer. Front Genet 2022; 12:825109. [PMID: 35087575 PMCID: PMC8787278 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.825109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is a dynamic, reversible post-transcriptional modification, and the most common internal modification of eukaryotic messenger RNA (mRNA). Considerable evidence now shows that m6A alters gene expression, thereby regulating cell self-renewal, differentiation, invasion, and apoptotic processes. M6A methylation disorders are directly related to abnormal RNA metabolism, which may lead to tumor formation. M6A methyltransferase is the dominant catalyst during m6A modification; it removes m6A demethylase, promotes recognition by m6A binding proteins, and regulates mRNA metabolic processes. Bladder cancer (BC) is a urinary system malignant tumor, with complex etiology and high incidence rates. A well-differentiated or moderately differentiated pathological type at initial diagnosis accounts for most patients with BC. For differentiated superficial bladder urothelial carcinoma, the prognosis is normally good after surgery. However, due to poor epithelial cell differentiation, BC urothelial cell proliferation and infiltration may lead to invasive or metastatic BC, which lowers the 5-years survival rate and significantly affects clinical treatments in elderly patients. Here, we review the latest progress in m6A RNA methylation research and investigate its regulation on BC occurrence and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Liu
- Department of Urology, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University, Liaoning Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shenyang, China
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