1
|
Huang M, Guo T, Meng Y, Zhou R, Xiong M, Ding J, Zhang Y, Liu S, Zhuang K. Comprehensive analysis of the prognosis and immune effect of the oncogenic protein Four Jointed Box 1. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1170482. [PMID: 37324001 PMCID: PMC10266275 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1170482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The Four Jointed Box 1 (FJX1) gene has been implicated in the upregulation of various cancers, highlighting its crucial role in oncology and immunity. In order to better understand the biological function of FJX1 and identify new immunotherapy targets for cancer, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of this gene. Methods We analyzed the expression profiles and prognostic value of FJX1 using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx). Copy number alterations (CNAs), mutations, and DNA methylation were analyzed through cBioPortal. The Immune Cell Abundance Identifier (ImmuCellAI) was used to examine the correlation between FJX1 expression and immune cell infiltration. The relationship between FJX1 expression and immune-related genes and immunosuppressive pathway-related genes was analyzed using The Tumor Immune Estimation Resource version 2 (TIMER2). Tumor mutational burden (TMB) and microsatellite instability (MSI) were obtained from TCGA pan-cancer data. The effect of immunotherapy and the IC50 were assessed using IMvigor210CoreBiologies and Genomics For Drug Sensitivity in Cancer (GDSC). Finally, we evaluated the impact of FJX1 on colon cancer cell proliferation and migration through in vitro functional experiments. Results Our study indicated that FJX1 expression was high in most cancers and was significantly associated with poor prognosis. High FJX1 expression was also linked to significant alterations in CNA, DNA methylation, TMB, and MSI. Positive correlations were found between FJX1 expression and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and with immune-related genes such as TGFB1 and IL-10 and immunosuppressive pathway-related genes such as TGFB1 and WNT1. On the other hand, FJX1 expression showed a negative relationship with CD8+ T cells. Furthermore, high FJX1 expression led to reduced effectiveness of immunotherapy and drug resistance. In colon cancer cells, FJX1 knockdown was found to decrease cell proliferation and migration. Conclusion Our research findings demonstrate that FJX1 is a new prognostic factor with a significant role in tumor immunity. Our results highlight the importance of further exploring the potential of targeting FJX1 as a therapeutic strategy in cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mei Huang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology, Department of Gastroenterology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Tian Guo
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology, Department of Gastroenterology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yan Meng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology, Department of Gastroenterology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Ruling Zhou
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology, Department of Gastroenterology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Man Xiong
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology, Department of Gastroenterology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jian Ding
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology, Department of Gastroenterology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yali Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology, Department of Gastroenterology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Side Liu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology, Department of Gastroenterology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Pazhou Lab, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Department of Gastroenterology, Zhuhai People’s Hospital (Zhuhai Hospital Affiliated With Jinan University), Zhuhai, Guangdong, China
| | - Kangmin Zhuang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology, Department of Gastroenterology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Du S, Zhu C, Ren X, Chen X, Cui X, Guan S. Regulation of secretory pathway kinase or kinase-like proteins in human cancers. Front Immunol 2023; 14:942849. [PMID: 36825005 PMCID: PMC9941534 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.942849] [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: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Secretory pathway kinase or kinase-like proteins (SPKKPs) are effective in the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), Golgi apparatus (GA), and extracellular space. These proteins are involved in secretory signaling pathways and are distinctive from typical protein kinases. Various reports have shown that SPKKPs regulate the tumorigenesis and progression of human cancer via the phosphorylation of various substrates, which is essential in physiological and pathological processes. Emerging evidence has revealed that the expression of SPKKPs in human cancers is regulated by multiple factors. This review summarizes the current understanding of the contribution of SPKKPs in tumorigenesis and the progression of immunity. With the epidemic trend of immunotherapy, targeting SPKKPs may be a novel approach to anticancer therapy. This study briefly discusses the recent advances regarding SPKKPs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shaonan Du
- Department of Neurosurgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Chen Zhu
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Xiaolin Ren
- Department of Neurosurgery, Shenyang Red Cross Hospital, Shenyang, China
| | - Xin Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Xiao Cui
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Shu Guan
- Department of Surgical Oncology and Breast Surgery, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
FJX1 as a candidate diagnostic and prognostic serum biomarker for colorectal cancer. Clin Transl Oncol 2022; 24:1964-1974. [PMID: 35650386 DOI: 10.1007/s12094-022-02852-5] [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: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancer worldwide. It is essential to identify non-invasive diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers of CRC. The aim of the present study was to screen candidate biomarkers in diagnosis and prognosis of CRC based on a novel strategy. MATERIALS AND METHODS The expression level of gene higher in cancer than in adjacent non-cancer tissue was defined as "positive", and the top 10% genes with "positive rate" were filtered out as candidate diagnostic biomarkers in four Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets. Then, the prognostic value of candidate biomarkers was estimated Cox regression analysis. Moreover, the concentration of biomarker in serum was detected in CRC patients. RESULTS Eighteen candidate biomarkers were identified with efficient diagnostic value in CRC. As a prognostic biomarker, FJX1 (four-jointed box kinase 1) showed a good performance in predicting overall survivals in CRC patients. In serum levels, FJX1 showed high sensitivity and specificity in distinguishing CRC patients from controls, and the concentration of serum FJX1 was associated with distant metastasis in CRC. In addition, serum FJX1 was significantly decreased after surgery in CRC patients. Compared with traditional CRC biomarkers CEA and CA 19-9, FJX1 still showed good efficiency in diagnosis and prognosis. Moreover, inhibition of FJX1 expression by siRNA or neutralization of secreted FJX1 by antibody could suppress cell proliferation and migration in vitro. CONCLUSION Our findings provided a novel strategy to identify diagnostic biomarkers based on public datasets, and suggested that FJX1 was a candidate diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in CRC patients.
Collapse
|
4
|
Su ZY, Siak PY, Leong CO, Cheah SC. Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma and Its Microenvironment: Past, Current, and Future Perspectives. Front Oncol 2022; 12:840467. [PMID: 35311066 PMCID: PMC8924466 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.840467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is an epithelial malignancy that raises public health concerns in endemic countries. Despite breakthroughs in therapeutic strategies, late diagnosis and drug resistance often lead to unsatisfactory clinical outcomes in NPC patients. The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a complex niche consisting of tumor-associated cells, such as fibroblasts, endothelial cells, leukocytes, that influences tumor initiation, progression, invasion, and metastasis. Cells in the TME communicate through various mechanisms, of note, exosomes, ligand-receptor interactions, cytokines and chemokines are active players in the construction of TME, characterized by an abundance of immune infiltrates with suppressed immune activities. The NPC microenvironment serves as a target-rich niche for the discovery of potential promising predictive or diagnostic biomarkers and the development of therapeutic strategies. Thus, huge efforts have been made to exploit the role of the NPC microenvironment. The whole picture of the NPC microenvironment remains to be portrayed to understand the mechanisms underlying tumor biology and implement research into clinical practice. The current review discusses the recent insights into the role of TME in the development and progression of NPC which results in different clinical outcomes of patients. Clinical interventions with the use of TME components as potential biomarkers or therapeutic targets, their challenges, and future perspectives will be introduced. This review anticipates to provide insights to the researchers for future preclinical, translational and clinical research on the NPC microenvironment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhi Yi Su
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, UCSI University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Pui Yan Siak
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, UCSI University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Chee-Onn Leong
- Centre of Cancer and Stem Cells Research, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.,Institute for Research, Development and Innovation, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Shiau-Chuen Cheah
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, UCSI University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Cheng T, Zhu X, Lu J, Teng X. MiR-532-3p suppresses cell proliferation, migration and invasion of colon adenocarcinoma via targeting FJX1. Pathol Res Pract 2022; 232:153835. [DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2022.153835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2021] [Revised: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
|
6
|
Wang C, Zainal NS, Chai SJ, Dickie J, Gan CP, Zulaziz N, Lye BKW, Sutavani RV, Ottensmeier CH, King EV, Abraham MT, Ismail SMB, Lau SH, Kallarakkal TG, Mun KS, Zain RB, Abdul Rahman ZA, Thomas GJ, Cheong SC, Savelyeva N, Lim KP. DNA Vaccines Targeting Novel Cancer-Associated Antigens Frequently Expressed in Head and Neck Cancer Enhance the Efficacy of Checkpoint Inhibitor. Front Immunol 2021; 12:763086. [PMID: 34733290 PMCID: PMC8559892 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.763086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
HPV-independent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a common cancer globally. The overall response rate to anti-PD1 checkpoint inhibitors (CPIs) in HNSCC is ~16%. One major factor influencing the effectiveness of CPI is the level of tumor infiltrating T cells (TILs). Converting TILlow tumors to TILhigh tumors is thus critical to improve clinical outcome. Here we describe a novel DNA vaccines to facilitate the T-cell infiltration and control tumor growth. We evaluated the expression of target antigens and their respective immunogenicity in HNSCC patients. The efficacy of DNA vaccines targeting two novel antigens were evaluated with or without CPI using a syngeneic model. Most HNSCC patients (43/44) co-expressed MAGED4B and FJX1 and their respective tetramer-specific T cells were in the range of 0.06-0.12%. In a preclinical model, antigen-specific T cells were induced by DNA vaccines and increased T cell infiltration into the tumor, but not MDSC or regulatory T cells. The vaccines inhibited tumor growth and improved the outcome alone and upon combination with anti-PD1 and resulted in tumor clearance in approximately 75% of mice. Pre-existence of MAGED4B and FJX1-reactive T cells in HNSCC patients suggests that these widely expressed antigens are highly immunogenic and could be further expanded by vaccination. The DNA vaccines targeting these antigens induced robust T cell responses and with the anti-PD1 antibody conferring excellent tumor control. This opens up an opportunity for combination immunotherapy that might benefit a wider population of HNSCC patients in an antigen-specific manner.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chuan Wang
- Head and Neck Cancer Center, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Nur Syafinaz Zainal
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, Cancer Research Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - San Jiun Chai
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, Cancer Research Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - James Dickie
- Cancer Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Chai Phei Gan
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, Cancer Research Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Natasha Zulaziz
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, Cancer Research Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Bryan Kit Weng Lye
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, Cancer Research Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Ruhcha V Sutavani
- Cancer Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Christian H Ottensmeier
- Head and Neck Cancer Center, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Emma V King
- Cancer Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Mannil Thomas Abraham
- Ministry of Health Malaysia, Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital, Klang, Malaysia
| | - Siti Mazlipah Binti Ismail
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Shin Hin Lau
- Stomatology Unit, Cancer Research Centre, Institute for Medical Research, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Thomas George Kallarakkal
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.,Oral Cancer Research and Coordinating Centre, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Kein Seong Mun
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Rosnah Binti Zain
- Oral Cancer Research and Coordinating Centre, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.,Faculty of Dentistry, Malaysian Allied Health Sciences Academy (MAHSA) University, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Zainal Ariff Abdul Rahman
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, University Teknologi Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA), Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Gareth J Thomas
- Cancer Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Sok Ching Cheong
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, Cancer Research Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Natalia Savelyeva
- Head and Neck Cancer Center, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Kue Peng Lim
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, Cancer Research Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
The ABCs of the atypical Fam20 secretory pathway kinases. J Biol Chem 2021; 296:100267. [PMID: 33759783 PMCID: PMC7948968 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.100267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2020] [Revised: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The study of extracellular phosphorylation was initiated in late 19th century when the secreted milk protein, casein, and egg-yolk protein, phosvitin, were shown to be phosphorylated. However, it took more than a century to identify Fam20C, which phosphorylates both casein and phosvitin under physiological conditions. This kinase, along with its family members Fam20A and Fam20B, defined a new family with altered amino acid sequences highly atypical from the canonical 540 kinases comprising the kinome. Fam20B is a glycan kinase that phosphorylates xylose residues and triggers peptidoglycan biosynthesis, a role conserved from sponges to human. The protein kinase, Fam20C, conserved from nematodes to humans, phosphorylates well over 100 substrates in the secretory pathway with overall functions postulated to encompass endoplasmic reticulum homeostasis, nutrition, cardiac function, coagulation, and biomineralization. The preferred phosphorylation motif of Fam20C is SxE/pS, and structural studies revealed that related member Fam20A allosterically activates Fam20C by forming a heterodimeric/tetrameric complex. Fam20A, a pseudokinase, is observed only in vertebrates. Loss-of-function genetic alterations in the Fam20 family lead to human diseases such as amelogenesis imperfecta, nephrocalcinosis, lethal and nonlethal forms of Raine syndrome with major skeletal defects, and altered phosphate homeostasis. Together, these three members of the Fam20 family modulate a diverse network of secretory pathway components playing crucial roles in health and disease. The overarching theme of this review is to highlight the progress that has been made in the emerging field of extracellular phosphorylation and the key roles secretory pathway kinases play in an ever-expanding number of cellular processes.
Collapse
|
8
|
Wan N, Yang W, Cheng H, Wang J. FOXD3-AS1 Contributes to the Progression of Melanoma Via miR-127-3p/FJX1 Axis. Cancer Biother Radiopharm 2020; 35:596-604. [PMID: 32354225 DOI: 10.1089/cbr.2019.3093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Melanoma, belonging to a kind of skin cancer, takes a big part in cancer-associated deaths globally. Abundant documents have recorded the crucial roles of long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) in the initiation and development of tumors. lncRNA forkhead box D3 antisense RNA 1 (FOXD3-AS1) has been commonly identified as a key regulator in the progression of multiple cancers; however, the way it exerts function remains obscure in melanoma. Materials and Methods: FOXD3-AS1 expression was examined by RT-qPCR. The role of FOXD3-AS1 in melanoma was determined by 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU), transwell, and Western blot assays. The combination between microRNA-127-3p and FOXD3-AS1 (or four jointed box 1 [FJX1]) was confirmed by luciferase reporter and RNA immunoprecipitation assays. Results: FOXD3-AS1 was markedly upregulated in melanoma cells. It was validated by loss-of-function assays that cell proliferation and migration were inhibited by FOXD3-AS1 deficiency, while cell apoptosis was facilitated by FOXD3-AS1 knockdown in melanoma. Mechanistic exploration testified that miR-127-3p could bind to FOXD3-AS1 and its expression was negatively modulated by FOXD3-AS1 in melanoma. Besides, overexpression of miR-127-3p repressed melanoma progression. Moreover, miR-127-3p was certified to negatively regulate the expression of the FJX1, and miR-127-3p could combine with FJX1 in melanoma cells. Rescue assays depicted that FJX1 overexpression countervailed FOXD3-AS1 silencing-mediated inhibition on melanoma progression. Conclusions: Overall, FOXD3-AS1 contributes to the progression of melanoma via miR-127-3p/FJX1 axis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Neng Wan
- Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery, the Affiliated Huaian No.1 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Huaian, Jiangsu, China
| | - Weixi Yang
- Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery, the Affiliated Huaian No.1 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Huaian, Jiangsu, China
| | - Hongyu Cheng
- Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery, the Affiliated Huaian No.1 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Huaian, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery, the Affiliated Huaian No.1 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Huaian, Jiangsu, China
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Identification of important invasion and proliferation related genes in adrenocortical carcinoma. Med Oncol 2019; 36:73. [DOI: 10.1007/s12032-019-1296-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2019] [Accepted: 07/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
|
10
|
An Oncogenic Role for Four-Jointed Box 1 (FJX1) in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma. DISEASE MARKERS 2019; 2019:3857853. [PMID: 31236144 PMCID: PMC6545767 DOI: 10.1155/2019/3857853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2018] [Accepted: 02/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a highly metastatic cancer prevalent in Southern China and Southeast Asia. The current knowledge on the molecular pathogenesis of NPC is still inadequate to improve disease management. Using gene expression microarrays, we have identified the four-jointed box 1 (FJX1) gene to be upregulated in primary NPC tissues relative to nonmalignant tissues. An orthologue of human FJX1, the four-jointed (fj) gene in Drosophila and Fjx1 in mouse, has reported to be associated with cancer progression pathways. However, the exact function of FJX1 in human is not well characterized. The overexpression of FJX1 mRNA was validated in primary NPC tissue samples, and the level of FJX1 protein was significantly higher in a subset of NPC tissues (42%) compared to the normal epithelium, where no expression of FJX1 was observed (p = 0.01). FJX1 is also found to be overexpressed in microarray datasets and TCGA datasets of other cancers including head and neck cancer, colorectal, and ovarian cancer. Both siRNA knockdown and overexpression experiments in NPC cell lines showed that FJX1 promotes cell proliferation, anchorage-dependent growth, and cellular invasion. Cyclin D1 and E1 mRNA levels were increased following FJX1 expression indicating that FJX1 enhances proliferation by regulating key proteins governing the cell cycle. Our data suggest that the overexpression of FJX1 contributes to a more aggressive phenotype of NPC cells and further investigations into FJX1 as a potential therapeutic target for NPC are warranted. The evaluation of FJX1 as an immunotherapy target for NPC and other cancers is currently ongoing.
Collapse
|
11
|
Chai SJ, Fong SCY, Gan CP, Pua KC, Lim PVH, Lau SH, Zain RB, Abraham T, Ismail SM, Abdul Rahman ZA, Ponniah S, Patel V, Cheong SC, Lim KP. In vitro evaluation of dual-antigenic PV1 peptide vaccine in head and neck cancer patients. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2018; 15:167-178. [PMID: 30193086 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2018.1520584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Peptide vaccines derived from tumour-associated antigens have been used as an immunotherapeutic approach to induce specific cytotoxic immune response against tumour. We previously identified that MAGED4B and FJX1 proteins are overexpressed in HNSCC patients; and further demonstrated that two HLA-A2-restricted 9-11 amino acid peptides derived from these proteins were able to induce anti-tumour immune responses in vitro independently using PBMCs isolated from these patients. In this study, we evaluated the immunogenicity and efficacy of a dual-antigenic peptide vaccine (PV1), comprised of MAGED4B and FJX1 peptides in HNSCC patients. We first demonstrated that 94.8% of HNSCC patients expressed MAGED4B and/or FJX1 by immunohistochemistry, suggesting that PV1 could benefit the majority of HNSCC patients. The presence of pre-existing MAGED4B and FJX1-specific T-cells was detected using a HLA-A2 dimer assay and efficacy of PV1 to induce T-cell to secrete cytotoxic cytokine was evaluated using ELISPOT assay. Pre-existing PV1-specific T-cells were detected in all patients. Notably, we demonstrated that patients' T-cells were able to secrete cytotoxic cytokines upon exposure to target cells expressing the respective antigen post PV1 stimulation. Furthermore, patients with high expression of MAGED4B and FJX1 in their tumours were more responsive to PV1 stimulation, demonstrating the specificity of the PV1 peptide vaccine. Additionally, we also demonstrated the expression of MAGED4B and FJX1 in breast, lung, colon, prostate and rectal cancer suggesting the potential use of PV1 in these cancers. In summary, PV1 could be a good vaccine candidate for the treatment of HNSCC patients and other cancers expressing these antigens.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- San Jiun Chai
- a Cancer Research Malaysia , Subang Jaya , Selangor , Malaysia
| | | | - Chai Phei Gan
- a Cancer Research Malaysia , Subang Jaya , Selangor , Malaysia
| | - Kin Choo Pua
- b Department of Otorhinolaryngology , Hospital Pulau Pinang , Penang , Malaysia
| | - Paul Vey Hong Lim
- c Ear, Nose and Throat Department , Tung Shin Hospital , Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia
| | - Shin Hin Lau
- d Stomatology Unit , Cancer Research Centre, Institute for Medical Research , Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia
| | - Rosnah Binti Zain
- e Faculty of Dentistry , MAHSA University , Selangor , Malaysia.,f Oral Cancer Research and Coordinating Centre, Faculty of Dentistry , University of Malaya , Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia
| | - Thomas Abraham
- g Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery , Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital , Klang , Malaysia
| | - Siti Mazlipah Ismail
- h Department of Oro-Maxillofacial Surgery and Medical Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry , University of Malaya , Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia
| | - Zainal Ariff Abdul Rahman
- h Department of Oro-Maxillofacial Surgery and Medical Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry , University of Malaya , Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia
| | - Sathibalan Ponniah
- i Cancer Vaccine Development Program, Department of Surgery , Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences , Bethesda , MD , USA
| | - Vyomesh Patel
- a Cancer Research Malaysia , Subang Jaya , Selangor , Malaysia
| | - Sok Ching Cheong
- a Cancer Research Malaysia , Subang Jaya , Selangor , Malaysia.,h Department of Oro-Maxillofacial Surgery and Medical Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry , University of Malaya , Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia
| | - Kue Peng Lim
- a Cancer Research Malaysia , Subang Jaya , Selangor , Malaysia
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Chang HJ, Yoo JY, Kim TH, Fazleabas AT, Young SL, Lessey BA, Jeong JW. Overexpression of Four Joint Box-1 Protein (FJX1) in Eutopic Endometrium From Women With Endometriosis. Reprod Sci 2017; 25:207-213. [PMID: 28673206 DOI: 10.1177/1933719117716780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The four jointed box 1 (FJX1) is a regulator of angiogenesis, and the levels of FJX1 are increased in several types of cancer. Angiogenesis plays a critical role in endometrial growth as well as in several gynecologic disorders including endometriosis. However, the function of FJX1 has not been studied in endometriosis. Therefore, we examined the levels of FJX1 in eutopic endometrium from women with or without endometriosis. The levels of FJX1 protein did not change in endometrial cells during the menstrual cycle in endometrium from women without endometriosis. However, its levels were significantly higher in the secretory phase of the eutopic endometrium from women with endometriosis when compared to women without endometriosis. Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF1α) is known as a key mediator of endometriosis by regulating genes essential to estrogen production, angiogenesis, proliferation, inflammation, and extracellular invasion. It has been reported that FJX1 induces an increase in HIF1α through posttranslational stabilization. The results of our Western blot analysis reveal a significant positive correlation between FJX1 and HIF1α proteins in endometrium of women with and without endometriosis. This overexpression of FJX1 was confirmed by sequential analysis of the eutopic endometrium during endometriosis progression, using an induced model of endometriosis in the baboon. Therefore, our results suggest that high levels of FJX1 proteins may play an important role in the pathogenesis of endometriosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hye Jin Chang
- 1 Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, USA.,2 Health Promotion Center, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, South Korea
| | - Jung-Yoon Yoo
- 1 Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - Tae Hoon Kim
- 1 Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - Asgerally T Fazleabas
- 1 Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - Steven L Young
- 3 Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Bruce A Lessey
- 4 Obstetrics and Gynecology, Greenville Health System, Greenville, SC, USA
| | - Jae-Wook Jeong
- 1 Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Keira Y, Wada M, Ishikawa HO. Regulation of Drosophila Development by the Golgi Kinase Four-Jointed. Curr Top Dev Biol 2017; 123:143-179. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2016.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
|