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Jotanovic J, Tebani A, Hekmati N, Sivertsson Å, Lindskog C, Uhlèn M, Gudjonsson O, Tsatsaris E, Engström BE, Wikström J, Pontén F, Casar-Borota O. Transcriptome Analysis Reveals Distinct Patterns Between the Invasive and Noninvasive Pituitary Neuroendocrine Tumors. J Endocr Soc 2024; 8:bvae040. [PMID: 38505563 PMCID: PMC10949357 DOI: 10.1210/jendso/bvae040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2023] [Indexed: 03/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Although most pituitary neuroendocrine tumors (PitNETs)/pituitary adenomas remain intrasellar, a significant proportion of tumors show parasellar invasive growth and 6% to 8% infiltrate the bone structures, thus affecting the prognosis. There is an unmet need to identify novel markers that can predict the parasellar growth of PitNETs. Furthermore, mechanisms that regulate bone invasiveness of PitNETs and factors related to tumor vascularization are largely unknown. We used genome-wide mRNA analysis in a cohort of 77 patients with PitNETs of different types to explore the differences in gene expression patterns between invasive and noninvasive tumors with respect to the parasellar growth and regarding the rare phenomenon of bone invasiveness. Additionally, we studied the genes correlated to the contrast enhancement quotient, a novel radiological parameter of tumor vascularization. Most of the genes differentially expressed related to the parasellar growth were genes involved in tumor invasiveness. Differentially expressed genes associated with bone invasiveness are involved in NF-κB pathway and antitumoral immune response. Lack of clear clustering regarding the parasellar and bone invasiveness may be explained by the influence of the cell lineage-related genes in this heterogeneous cohort of PitNETs. Our transcriptomics analysis revealed differences in the molecular fingerprints between invasive, including bone invasive, and noninvasive PitNETs, although without clear clustering. The contrast enhancement quotient emerged as a radiological parameter of tumor vascularization, correlating with several angiogenesis-related genes. Several of the top genes related to the PitNET invasiveness and vascularization have potential prognostic and therapeutic application requiring further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jelena Jotanovic
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala University, 75185 Uppsala, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Pathology, Uppsala University Hospital, 75185 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Abdellah Tebani
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Protein Science, KTH-Royal Institute of Technology, 17121 Solna, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Metabolic Biochemistry, UNIROUEN, INSERM U1245, CHU Rouen, Normandie University, 76000 Rouen, France
| | - Neda Hekmati
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala University, 75185 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Åsa Sivertsson
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Protein Science, KTH-Royal Institute of Technology, 17121 Solna, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Cecilia Lindskog
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala University, 75185 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Mathias Uhlèn
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Protein Science, KTH-Royal Institute of Technology, 17121 Solna, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Olafur Gudjonsson
- Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University, 75185 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Erika Tsatsaris
- Endocrinology and Mineral Metabolism, Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, 75185 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Britt Edén Engström
- Endocrinology and Mineral Metabolism, Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, 75185 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Johan Wikström
- Neuroradiology, Department of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University, 75185 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Fredrik Pontén
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala University, 75185 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Olivera Casar-Borota
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala University, 75185 Uppsala, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Pathology, Uppsala University Hospital, 75185 Uppsala, Sweden
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2
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Fu Y, Shen K, Wang H, Wang S, Wang X, Zhu L, Zheng Y, Zou T, Ci H, Dong Q, Qin LX. Alpha5 nicotine acetylcholine receptor subunit promotes intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma metastasis. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2024; 9:63. [PMID: 38453934 PMCID: PMC10920868 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-024-01761-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Neurotransmitter-initiated signaling pathway were reported to play an important role in regulating the malignant phenotype of tumor cells. Cancer cells could exhibit a "neural addiction" property and build up local nerve networks to achieve an enhanced neurotransmitter-initiated signaling through nerve growth factor-mediated axonogenesis. Targeting the dysregulated nervous systems might represent a novel strategy for cancer treatment. However, whether intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) could build its own nerve networks and the role of neurotransmitters in the progression ICC remains largely unknown. Immunofluorescence staining and Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay suggested that ICC cells and the infiltrated nerves could generate a tumor microenvironment rich in acetylcholine that promotes ICC metastasis by inducing epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Acetylcholine promoted ICC metastasis through interacting with its receptor, alpha 5 nicotine acetylcholine receptor subunits (CHRNA5). Furthermore, acetylcholine/CHRNA5 axis activated GSK3β/β-catenin signaling pathway partially through the influx of Ca2+-mediated activation of Ca/calmodulin-dependent protein kinases (CAMKII). In addition, acetylcholine signaling activation also expanded nerve infiltration through increasing the expression of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), which formed a feedforward acetylcholine-BDNF axis to promote ICC progression. KN93, a small-molecule inhibitor of CAMKII, significantly inhibited the migration and enhanced the sensitivity to gemcitabine of ICC cells. Above all, Acetylcholine/CHRNA5 axis increased the expression of β-catenin to promote the metastasis and resistance to gemcitabine of ICC via CAMKII/GSK3β signaling, and the CAMKII inhibitor KN93 may be an effective therapeutic strategy for combating ICC metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Fu
- Hepatobiliary Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital & Cancer Metastasis Institute, Fudan University, 200040, Shanghai, China
- Center of Interventional Radiology and Vascular Surgery, Department of Radiology, Zhongda Hospital, Medical School, Southeast University, 87 Dingjiaqiao Road, 210009, Nanjing, China
| | - Keyu Shen
- Hepatobiliary Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital & Cancer Metastasis Institute, Fudan University, 200040, Shanghai, China
- Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China
| | - Hao Wang
- Hepatobiliary Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital & Cancer Metastasis Institute, Fudan University, 200040, Shanghai, China
- Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China
| | - Shun Wang
- Hepatobiliary Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital & Cancer Metastasis Institute, Fudan University, 200040, Shanghai, China
- Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China
| | - Xufeng Wang
- Hepatobiliary Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital & Cancer Metastasis Institute, Fudan University, 200040, Shanghai, China
- Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China
| | - Le Zhu
- Hepatobiliary Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital & Cancer Metastasis Institute, Fudan University, 200040, Shanghai, China
- Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China
| | - Yan Zheng
- Hepatobiliary Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital & Cancer Metastasis Institute, Fudan University, 200040, Shanghai, China
- Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China
| | - Tiantian Zou
- Hepatobiliary Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital & Cancer Metastasis Institute, Fudan University, 200040, Shanghai, China
- Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China
| | - Hongfei Ci
- Hepatobiliary Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital & Cancer Metastasis Institute, Fudan University, 200040, Shanghai, China
- Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China
| | - Qiongzhu Dong
- Hepatobiliary Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital & Cancer Metastasis Institute, Fudan University, 200040, Shanghai, China.
- Key Laboratory of Whole-period Monitoring and Precise Intervention of Digestive Cancer, Shanghai Municipal Health Commission, Minhang Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Lun-Xiu Qin
- Hepatobiliary Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital & Cancer Metastasis Institute, Fudan University, 200040, Shanghai, China.
- Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China.
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3
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Rybnicek J, Chen Y, Milic M, Tio ES, McLaurin J, Hohman TJ, De Jager PL, Schneider JA, Wang Y, Bennett DA, Tripathy S, Felsky D, Lambe EK. CHRNA5 links chandelier cells to severity of amyloid pathology in aging and Alzheimer's disease. Transl Psychiatry 2024; 14:83. [PMID: 38331937 PMCID: PMC10853183 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-024-02785-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Changes in high-affinity nicotinic acetylcholine receptors are intricately connected to neuropathology in Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Protective and cognitive-enhancing roles for the nicotinic α5 subunit have been identified, but this gene has not been closely examined in the context of human aging and dementia. Therefore, we investigate the nicotinic α5 gene CHRNA5 and the impact of relevant single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in prefrontal cortex from 922 individuals with matched genotypic and post-mortem RNA sequencing in the Religious Orders Study and Memory and Aging Project (ROS/MAP). We find that a genotype robustly linked to increased expression of CHRNA5 (rs1979905A2) predicts significantly reduced cortical β-amyloid load. Intriguingly, co-expression analysis suggests CHRNA5 has a distinct cellular expression profile compared to other nicotinic receptor genes. Consistent with this prediction, single nucleus RNA sequencing from 22 individuals reveals CHRNA5 expression is disproportionately elevated in chandelier neurons, a distinct subtype of inhibitory neuron known for its role in excitatory/inhibitory (E/I) balance. We show that chandelier neurons are enriched in amyloid-binding proteins compared to basket cells, the other major subtype of PVALB-positive interneurons. Consistent with the hypothesis that nicotinic receptors in chandelier cells normally protect against β-amyloid, cell-type proportion analysis from 549 individuals reveals these neurons show amyloid-associated vulnerability only in individuals with impaired function/trafficking of nicotinic α5-containing receptors due to homozygosity of the missense CHRNA5 SNP (rs16969968A2). Taken together, these findings suggest that CHRNA5 and its nicotinic α5 subunit exert a neuroprotective role in aging and Alzheimer's disease centered on chandelier interneurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonas Rybnicek
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Yuxiao Chen
- Krembil Centre for Neuroinformatics, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Milos Milic
- Krembil Centre for Neuroinformatics, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Earvin S Tio
- Krembil Centre for Neuroinformatics, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - JoAnne McLaurin
- Biological Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Timothy J Hohman
- Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Philip L De Jager
- Center for Translational & Computational Neuroimmunology, Department of Neurology and the Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Julie A Schneider
- Department of Pathology, Rush University, Chicago, IL, USA
- Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Yanling Wang
- Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - David A Bennett
- Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Shreejoy Tripathy
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Krembil Centre for Neuroinformatics, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| | - Daniel Felsky
- Krembil Centre for Neuroinformatics, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| | - Evelyn K Lambe
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Department of OBGYN, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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4
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McGuinness CB, White SR, Gray EV, Leonard MV, Teng Y, Shull AY. Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor CHRNA5 is overexpressed in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients with a recent tobacco smoking history. MICROPUBLICATION BIOLOGY 2024; 2024:10.17912/micropub.biology.001098. [PMID: 38371320 PMCID: PMC10873754 DOI: 10.17912/micropub.biology.001098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
Tobacco smoking is a major driver of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) occurrence, and previous studies have shed light on the precise molecular alterations in tobacco-related HNSCCs when compared to HNSCCs associated with other risk factors (ex: human papillomavirus/HPV status). In this study, we analyzed the gene expression differences in HNSCC cases with a recent smoking history and revealed that the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor CHRNA5 is differentially overexpressed in smoking-related HNSCCs. CHRNA5 overexpression in these HNSCCs corresponds with a worse prognosis and is inversely correlated with an immune expression signature commonly associated with better prognosis. From these results, our study highlights the potential role of the nicotine-activated CHRNA5 receptor in HNSCC progression and corresponds with other recent reports highlighting the potential role of nicotine induction in promoting cancer progression.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sara R White
- Department of Biology, Presbyterian College, Clinton, South Carolina, United States
| | - Emma V Gray
- Department of Biology, Presbyterian College, Clinton, South Carolina, United States
| | - Margaret V Leonard
- Department of Biology, Presbyterian College, Clinton, South Carolina, United States
| | - Yong Teng
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
| | - Austin Y Shull
- Department of Biology, Presbyterian College, Clinton, South Carolina, United States
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5
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Nour MA, Kheradmand F, Rasmi Y, Baradaran B. Alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor expression in Sorafenib-resistant Hepatocellular carcinoma cells. MEDICAL ONCOLOGY (NORTHWOOD, LONDON, ENGLAND) 2022; 39:165. [PMID: 35972579 DOI: 10.1007/s12032-022-01745-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most prevalent kind of liver cancer, remains one of the world's main causes of death. The alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAchR) has been recognized to be overexpressed in malignancies and chemoresistance. Since little is known about the role of α7nAchR expression in drug-resistant cells, this study was designed to investigate the effect of α7nAchR suppression in combination with Sorafenib (SOR) on SOR-resistant HCC cells. First, SOR-resistant HCC cells were generated. To suppress the expression of α7nAchR, cells were treated with SOR following siRNA transfection. qRT-PCR was used to examine the expression of α7nAchR and apoptotic genes by evaluating the IC50 of SOR and the combination of α7nAchR siRNA and SOR on the survival of resistant cells. Moreover, apoptosis, autophagy, and cell cycle analysis for resistant HCC cells were performed using flow cytometry. Cell migration and colony formation assays were also used for further confirmation. Our results suggest that inhibiting α7nAchR can lead resistant HCC cells to become sensitive. Furthermore, when siRNA and SOR were treated together, HCC-resistant cells showed a considerable reduction in α7nAchR mRNA gene expression. In addition, when α7nAchR was downregulated in combination with SOR, migration and colony formation were inhibited. Apoptosis was triggered by modulating the expression of apoptotic target genes, and cell cycle arrest was observed in the G2-M and subG1 phases. Overexpression of α7nAchR in SOR-resistant HCC cells suggests that it might be a therapeutic target for HCC cell resistance therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mina Afrashteh Nour
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Kheradmand
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran.
| | - Yousef Rasmi
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran.,Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
| | - Behzad Baradaran
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. .,Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. .,Pharmaceutical Analysis Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, 516615731, Iran.
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6
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Hu K, Wang C, Luo C, Zheng H, Song H, Bergstedt J, Fall K, Luo T, Czene K, Valdimarsdóttir UA, Fang F, Lu D. Neuroendocrine pathways and breast cancer progression: a pooled analysis of somatic mutations and gene expression from two large breast cancer cohorts. BMC Cancer 2022; 22:680. [PMID: 35729536 PMCID: PMC9210628 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-022-09779-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Experimental studies indicate that neuroendocrine pathways might play a role in progression of breast cancer. We aim to test the hypothesis that somatic mutations in the genes of neuroendocrine pathways influence breast cancer prognosis, through dysregulated gene expression in tumor tissue. Methods We conducted an extreme case–control study including 208 breast cancer patients with poor invasive disease-free survival (iDFS) and 208 patients with favorable iDFS who were individually matched on molecular subtype from the Breast Cancer Cohort at West China Hospital (WCH; N = 192) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA; N = 224). Whole exome sequencing and RNA sequencing of tumor and paired normal breast tissues were performed. Adrenergic, glucocorticoid, dopaminergic, serotonergic, and cholinergic pathways were assessed for differences in mutation burden and gene expression in relation to breast cancer iDFS using the logistic regression and global test, respectively. Results In the pooled analysis, presence of any somatic mutation (odds ratio = 1.66, 95% CI: 1.07–2.58) of the glucocorticoid pathway was associated with poor iDFS and a two-fold increase of tumor mutation burden was associated with 17% elevated odds (95% CI: 2–35%), after adjustment for cohort membership, age, menopausal status, molecular subtype, and tumor stage. Differential expression of genes in the glucocorticoid pathway in tumor tissue (P = 0.028), but not normal tissue (P = 0.701), was associated with poor iDFS. Somatic mutation of the adrenergic and cholinergic pathways was significantly associated with iDFS in WCH, but not in TCGA. Conclusion Glucocorticoid pathway may play a role in breast cancer prognosis through differential mutations and expression. Further characterization of its functional role may open new avenues for the development of novel therapeutic targets for breast cancer. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12885-022-09779-8.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kejia Hu
- Laboratory of Molecular Diagnosis of Cancer, Clinical Research Center for Breast, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.,Unit of Integrative Epidemiology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Chengshi Wang
- Laboratory of Molecular Diagnosis of Cancer, Clinical Research Center for Breast, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.,Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Chuanxu Luo
- Laboratory of Molecular Diagnosis of Cancer, Clinical Research Center for Breast, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Hong Zheng
- Laboratory of Molecular Diagnosis of Cancer, Clinical Research Center for Breast, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Huan Song
- West China Biomedical Big Data Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.,Center of Public Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland
| | - Jacob Bergstedt
- Unit of Integrative Epidemiology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Katja Fall
- Unit of Integrative Epidemiology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Medical Sciences, Örebro Universitet, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Ting Luo
- Laboratory of Molecular Diagnosis of Cancer, Clinical Research Center for Breast, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Kamila Czene
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Unnur A Valdimarsdóttir
- Center of Public Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland.,Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Fang Fang
- Unit of Integrative Epidemiology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Donghao Lu
- Laboratory of Molecular Diagnosis of Cancer, Clinical Research Center for Breast, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China. .,Unit of Integrative Epidemiology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. .,Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
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7
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Nicotine treatment regulates PD-L1 and PD-L2 expression via inhibition of Akt pathway in HER2-type breast cancer cells. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0260838. [PMID: 35085258 PMCID: PMC8794171 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0260838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The immune checkpoint molecules such as PD-L1 and PD-L2 have a substantial contribution to cancer immunotherapy including breast cancer. Microarray expression profiling identified several molecular subtypes, namely luminal-type (with a good-prognosis), HER2-type (with an intermediate-prognosis), and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC)-type (with a poor-prognosis). We found that PD-L1 and PD-L2 mRNA expressions were highly expressed in TNBC-type cell lines (HCC1937, MDA-MB-231), moderately expressed in HER2-type cell line (SK-BR-3), and poorly expressed in luminal-type cell lines (MDA-MB-361, MCF7). The PD-L1 and PD-L2 expression in SK-BR-3 cells, but not those in HCC1937 and MDA-MB-231 cells, decreased by nicotine stimulation in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, nicotine treatment decreased the phosphorylation of Akt in SK-BR-3 cells, but not in other cell lines. These results show that nicotine regulates the expression of immune checkpoint molecules, PD-L1 and PD-L2, via inhibition of Akt phosphorylation. This findings may provide the new therapeutic strategies for the treatment of breast cancer.
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8
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Fu Y, Ci H, Du W, Dong Q, Jia H. CHRNA5 Contributes to Hepatocellular Carcinoma Progression by Regulating YAP Activity. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14020275. [PMID: 35214008 PMCID: PMC8877699 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14020275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Revised: 01/15/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major health concern worldwide. A better understanding of the mechanisms underlying the malignant phenotype is necessary for developing novel therapeutic strategies for HCC. Signaling pathways initiated by neurotransmitter receptors, such as α5-nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (CHRNA5), have been reported to be implicated in tumor progression. However, the functional mechanism of CHRNA5 in HCC remains unclear. In this study, we explored the role of CHRNA5 in HCC and found that CHRNA5 expression was increased in human HCC tissues and positively correlated with the T stage (p < 0.05) and AJCC phase (p < 0.05). The KM plotter database showed that the high expression level of CHRNA5 was strongly associated with worse survival in HCC patients. Both in vitro and in vivo assays showed that CHRNA5 regulates the proliferation ability of HCC by regulating YAP activity. In addition, CHRNA5 promotes the stemness of HCC by regulating stemness-associated genes, such as Nanog, Sox2 and OCT4. Cell migration and invasion assays demonstrated that CHRNA5 significantly enhanced the metastasis of HCC by regulating epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT)-associated genes. Furthermore, we found that CHRNA5 regulates the sensitivity of sorafenib in HCC. Our findings suggest that CHRNA5 plays a key role in the progression and drug resistance of HCC, and targeting CHRNA5 may be a strategy for the treatment of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Fu
- Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China; (Y.F.); (H.C.); (W.D.)
| | - Hongfei Ci
- Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China; (Y.F.); (H.C.); (W.D.)
| | - Wei Du
- Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China; (Y.F.); (H.C.); (W.D.)
| | - Qiongzhu Dong
- Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China; (Y.F.); (H.C.); (W.D.)
- Key Laboratory of Whole-Period Monitoring and Precise Intervention of Digestive Cancer, Shanghai Municipal Health Commission (SMHC), Institute of Fudan-Minhang Academic Health System, Minhang Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200437, China
- Correspondence: (Q.D.); (H.J.); Tel./Fax: +86-21-5423-7960 (Q.D.); +86-21-5288-7175 (H.J.)
| | - Huliang Jia
- Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China; (Y.F.); (H.C.); (W.D.)
- Correspondence: (Q.D.); (H.J.); Tel./Fax: +86-21-5423-7960 (Q.D.); +86-21-5288-7175 (H.J.)
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9
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Li L, Cao Y, Fan Y, Li R. Gene signature to predict prognostic survival of hepatocellular carcinoma. Open Med (Wars) 2022; 17:135-150. [PMID: 35071775 PMCID: PMC8742913 DOI: 10.1515/med-2021-0405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Revised: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has a high incidence and poor prognosis and is the second most fatal cancer, and certain HCC patients also show high heterogeneity. This study developed a prognostic model for predicting clinical outcomes of HCC. RNA and microRNA (miRNA) sequencing data of HCC were obtained from the cancer genome atlas. RNA dysregulation between HCC tumors and adjacent normal liver tissues was examined by DESeq algorithms. Survival analysis was conducted to determine the basic prognostic indicators. We identified competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) containing 15,364 pairs of mRNA–long noncoding RNA (lncRNA). An imbalanced ceRNA network comprising 8 miRNAs, 434 mRNAs, and 81 lncRNAs was developed using hypergeometric test. Functional analysis showed that these RNAs were closely associated with biosynthesis. Notably, 53 mRNAs showed a significant prognostic correlation. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator’s feature selection detected four characteristic genes (SAPCD2, DKC1, CHRNA5, and UROD), based on which a four-gene independent prognostic signature for HCC was constructed using Cox regression analysis. The four-gene signature could stratify samples in the training, test, and external validation sets (p <0.01). Five-year survival area under ROC curve (AUC) in the training and validation sets was greater than 0.74. The current prognostic gene model exhibited a high stability and accuracy in predicting the overall survival (OS) of HCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Li
- Department of Oncology, The Comprehensive Cancer Centre of Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing Medical University , Nanjing , Jiangsu, 210000 , China
| | - Yundi Cao
- Department of Medical Oncology, Affiliated Taikang Xianlin Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University , Nanjing , Jiangsu , China
| | - YingRui Fan
- Department of Medical Oncology, Affiliated Taikang Xianlin Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University , Nanjing , Jiangsu , China
| | - Rong Li
- Department of Medical Oncology, Affiliated Taikang Xianlin Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University , Nanjing , Jiangsu , China
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Afrashteh Nour M, Hajiasgharzadeh K, Kheradmand F, Asadzadeh Z, Bolandi N, Baradaran B. Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in chemotherapeutic drugs resistance: An emerging targeting candidate. Life Sci 2021; 278:119557. [PMID: 33930371 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2021.119557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Revised: 04/11/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
There is no definitive cure for cancer, and most of the current chemotherapy drugs have limited effects due to the development of drug resistance and toxicity at high doses. Therefore, there is an ongoing need for identifying the causes of chemotherapeutic resistance, and it will be possible to develop innovative treatment approaches based on these novel targeting candidates. Cigarette smoking is known to be one of the main causes of resistance to chemotherapeutic agents. Nicotine as a component of cigarette smoke is an exogenous activator of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). It can inhibit apoptosis, increase cell proliferation and cell survival, reducing the cytotoxic effects of chemotherapy drugs and cause a reduced therapeutic response. Recent studies have demonstrated that nAChRs and their downstream signaling pathways have considerable implications in different cancer's initiation, progression, and chemoresistance. In some previous studies, nAChRs have been targeted to obtain better efficacies for chemotherapeutics. Besides, nAChRs-based therapies have been used in combination with chemotherapy drugs to reduce the side effects. This strategy requires lower doses of chemotherapy drugs compared to the conditions that must be used alone. Here, we discussed the experimental and clinical studies that show the nAChRs involvement in response to chemotherapy agents. Also, controversies relating to the effects of nAChR on chemotherapy-induced apoptosis are in our focus in this review article. Delineating the complex influences of nAChRs would be of great interest in establishing new effective chemotherapy regimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mina Afrashteh Nour
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran; Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
| | - Khalil Hajiasgharzadeh
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran; Connective Tissue Diseases Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Kheradmand
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
| | - Zahra Asadzadeh
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Nadia Bolandi
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran; Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
| | - Behzad Baradaran
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran; Pharmaceutical Analysis Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran; Neurosciences Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
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Olson A, Zhang F, Cao H, Baranova A, Slavin M. In silico Gene Set and Pathway Enrichment Analyses Highlight Involvement of Ion Transport in Cholinergic Pathways in Autism: Rationale for Nutritional Intervention. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:648410. [PMID: 33958984 PMCID: PMC8093449 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.648410] [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: 12/31/2020] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Food is the primary human source of choline, an essential precursor to the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, which has a central role in signaling pathways that govern sensorimotor functions. Most Americans do not consume their recommended amount of dietary choline, and populations with neurodevelopmental conditions like autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may be particularly vulnerable to consequences of choline deficiency. This study aimed to identify a relationship between ASD and cholinergic signaling through gene set enrichment analysis and interrogation of existing database evidence to produce a systems biology model. In gene set enrichment analysis, two gene ontologies were identified as overlapping for autism-related and for cholinergic pathways-related functions, both involving ion transport regulation. Subsequent modeling of ion transport intensive cholinergic signaling pathways highlighted the importance of two genes with autism-associated variants: GABBR1, which codes for the gamma aminobutyric acid receptor (GABAB 1), and KCNN2, which codes for calcium-activated, potassium ion transporting SK2 channels responsible for membrane repolarization after cholinergic binding/signal transmission events. Cholinergic signal transmission pathways related to these proteins were examined in the Pathway Studio environment. The ion transport ontological associations indicated feasibility of a dietary choline support as a low-risk therapeutic intervention capable of modulating cholinergic sensory signaling in autism. Further research at the intersection of dietary status and sensory function in autism is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Audrey Olson
- Department of Nutrition and Food Studies, College of Health and Human Services, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, United States
- School of Systems Biology, College of Science, George Mason University, Manassas, VA, United States
| | - Fuquan Zhang
- Department of Psychiatry, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Hongbao Cao
- School of Systems Biology, College of Science, George Mason University, Manassas, VA, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Ancha Baranova
- School of Systems Biology, College of Science, George Mason University, Manassas, VA, United States
- Research Centre for Medical Genetics, Moscow, Russia
| | - Margaret Slavin
- Department of Nutrition and Food Studies, College of Health and Human Services, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, United States
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CHRNA5 belongs to the secondary estrogen signaling network exhibiting prognostic significance in breast cancer. Cell Oncol (Dordr) 2021; 44:453-472. [PMID: 33469842 DOI: 10.1007/s13402-020-00581-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Cholinergic signals can be important modulators of cellular signaling in cancer. We recently have shown that knockdown of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunit alpha 5, CHRNA5, diminishes the proliferative potential of breast cancer cells. However, modulation of CHRNA5 expression in the context of estrogen signaling and its prognostic implications in breast cancer remained unexplored. METHODS Meta-analyses of large breast cancer microarray cohorts were used to evaluate the association of CHRNA5 expression with estrogen (E2) treatment, estrogen receptor (ER) status and patient prognosis. The results were validated through RT-qPCR analyses of multiple E2 treated cell lines, CHRNA5 depleted MCF7 cells and across a breast cancer patient cDNA panel. We also calculated a predicted secondary (PS) score representing direct/indirect induction of gene expression by E2 based on a public dataset (GSE8597). Co-expression analysis was performed using a weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) pipeline. Multiple other publicly available datasets such as CCLE, COSMIC and TCGA were also analyzed. RESULTS Herein we found that CHRNA5 expression was induced by E2 in a dose- and time-dependent manner in breast cancer cell lines. ER- breast tumors exhibited higher CHRNA5 expression levels than ER+ tumors. Independent meta-analysis for survival outcome revealed that higher CHRNA5 expression was associated with a worse prognosis in untreated breast cancer patients. Furthermore, CHRNA5 and its co-expressed gene network emerged as secondarily induced targets of E2 stimulation. These targets were largely downregulated by exposure to CHRNA5 siRNA in MCF7 cells while the response of primary ESR1 targets was dependent on the direction of the PS-score. Moreover, primary and secondary target genes were uncoupled and clustered distinctly based on multiple public datasets. CONCLUSION Our findings strongly associate increased expression of CHRNA5 and its co-expression network with secondary E2 signaling and a worse prognosis in breast cancer.
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