KMT2A regulates cervical cancer cell growth through targeting VDAC1

KMT2A facilitates the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and the progression of ovarian cancer

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays critical roles in cancer progression and metastasis. Thus, the exploration of the molecular mechanism regulating EMT would provide potential opportunities for the therapy of metastatic ovarian cancer (OC). Herein, we investigated the putative role of KMT2A in modulating EMT and metastasis in OC. The expression of KMT2A in OC was detected by Western blot and immunohistochemistry and its relationship with clinicopathological factors was analyzed. The effect of KMT2A on the biological behavior of OC cells was examined. Moreover, the expressions of EMT-associated proteins were detected in vivo and vitro by Western blot, immunofluorescence, and immunohistochemistry. KMT2A was highly expressed in OC cell lines and tissues and was positively correlated with advanced International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage, pathological grade, and metastasis. KMT2A overexpression was correlated with poor prognosis. Suppression of KMT2A inhibited OC cells proliferation, migration, and invasion and induced their apoptosis in vitro and vivo. In contrast, the ectopic expression of KMT2A had the opposite effects. Furthermore, KMT2A knockdown inhibited TGF-β-induced EMT in OC and reduced the phosphorylation levels of Smad2. Taken together, these observations demonstrate that KMT2A could promote the malignant behavior of OC by activating TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway and may be a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for OC.

KMT2A degradation is observed in decitabine-responsive acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells

Hypermethylation of tumor suppressor genes is a hallmark of leukemia. The hypomethylating agent decitabine covalently binds, and degrades DNA (cytosine-5)-methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1). Structural similarities within DNA-binding domains of DNMT1, and the leukemic driver histone-lysine N-methyltransferase 2A (KMT2A) suggest that decitabine might also affect the latter. In acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cell lines, and xenograft models, we observed increased DNMT1, and KMT2A expression in response to decitabine-induced demethylation. Strikingly, KMT2A protein expression was diminished in all cell lines that experienced DNMT1 degradation. Moreover, only cells with reduced KMT2A protein levels showed biological effects following decitabine treatment. KMT2A wild-type, and rearranged cells were locked in G2 and G1 cell cycle phases, respectively, likely due to p27/p16 activation. Primary sample gene expression profiling confirmed different patterns between KMT2A wild-type, and translocated cells. This newly discovered decitabine mode of action via KMT2A degradation evokes anti-leukemic activity in adult ALL cells, and can act synergistically with menin inhibition. Following the successful clinical implementation of decitabine for acute myeloid leukemia, the drug should be considered a potential promising addition to the therapeutic portfolio for ALL as well.

RBPMS-AS1 sponges miR-19a-3p to restrain cervical cancer cells via enhancing PLCL1-mediated pyroptosis

Cervical cancer (CC) poses a threat to human health. Enhancing pyroptosis can prevent the proliferation and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of tumor cells. This study aims to reveal the candidates that modulate pyroptosis in CC. Accordingly, the common microRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) that were sponged by RBPMS antisense RNA 1 (RBPMS-AS1) and could target Phospholipase C-Like 1 (PLCL1) were intersected. The expression of PBPMS-AS1/miR-19a-3p (candidate miRNA)/PLCL1 was predicted in cervical squamous cell carcinoma (CESC), by which the expression location of RBPMS-AS1 and the binding between RBPMS-AS1/PLCL1 and miR-19a-3p were analyzed. The targeting relationship between RBPMS-AS1/PLCL1 and miR-19a-3p was confirmed by dual-luciferase reporter assay. After the transfection, cell counting kit-8 assay, colony formation assay, quantitative reverse transcription PCR, and Western blot were implemented for cell viability and proliferation analysis as well as gene and protein expression quantification analysis. Based on the results, RBPMS-AS1 and PLCL1 were lowly expressed, yet miR-19a-3p was highly expressed in CESC. RBPMS-AS1 overexpression diminished the proliferation and expressions of N-cadherin, vimentin, and miR-19a-3p, yet enhanced those of E-cadherin, PLCL1, and pyroptosis-relevant proteins (inteleukin-1β, caspase-1, and gasdermin D N-terminal). However, the above RBPMS-AS1 overexpression-induced effects were counteracted in the presence of miR-19a-3p. There also existed a targeting relationship and negative interplay between PLCL1 and miR-19a-3p. In short, RBPMS-AS1 sponges miR-19a-3p and represses the growth and EMT of CC cells via enhancing PLCL1-mediated pyroptosis.

Unveiling the Molecular Landscape of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: Insights into the Role of the COMPASS-like Complex

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is poised to become the second leading cause of cancer-related death by 2030, necessitating innovative therapeutic strategies. Genetic and epigenetic alterations, including those involving the COMPASS-like complex genes, have emerged as critical drivers of PDAC progression. This review explores the genetic and epigenetic landscape of PDAC, focusing on the role of the COMPASS-like complex in regulating chromatin accessibility and gene expression. Specifically, we delve into the functions of key components such as KDM6A, KMT2D, KMT2C, KMT2A, and KMT2B, highlighting their significance as potential therapeutic targets. Furthermore, we discuss the implications of these findings for developing novel treatment modalities for PDAC.

Mitochondrial Calcium Uniporter (MCU) that Modulates Mitochondrial Calcium Uptake and Facilitates Endometrial Cancer Progression through Interaction with VDAC1

BACKGROUND

Although endometrial cancer represents a frequently diagnosed malignancy of the female reproductive tract, we know very little about the factors that control endometrial cancer.

OBJECTIVE

Our study was presented to investigate the function of MCU in endometrial tumorigenesis and the molecular mechanisms involved.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 94 endometrial cancer patients were recruited into our cohort. MCU and VDAC1 expression was examined in tumor and normal tissues via immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence. Associations of MCU and VDAC1 expression with clinicopathological characteristics were evaluated. After transfection with shRNA targeting MCU or full-length MCU plasmids, clone formation, wound healing, transwell and MitoTracker Red staining were separately presented in Ishikawa and RL95-2 cells. Moreover, Western blotting or immunofluorescence was utilized to examine the expression of MCU, VDAC1, Na+/Ca2+/Li+ exchanger (NCLX), and β-catenin under VDAC1 knockdown and/or MCU overexpression or knockdown.

RESULTS

MCU and VDAC1 expression were prominently up-regulated in endometrial cancer tissues and were significantly associated with histological grade, depth of myometrial invasion and lymph node status. MCU up-regulation enhanced clone formation, migration, and mitochondrial activity of endometrial cancer cells. The opposite results were investigated when MCU was silenced. MCU or VDAC1 silencing reduced the expression of MCU, VDAC1, NCLX, and β-catenin. Moreover, VDAC1 knockdown alleviated the promoting effect of MCU overexpression on the above proteins.

CONCLUSION

This investigation demonstrated that MCU-induced mitochondrial calcium uptake plays a critical role in endometrial tumorigenesis through interaction with VDAC1.

Upregulation of CELSR1 expression promotes ovarian cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion

Cadherin epidermal growth factor and laminin-G seven-pass G-type receptor 1 (CELSR1) is a planar cell polarity protein involved in the transmission of directional cues to align either individual cells within an epithelial sheet or multicellular clusters. CELSR1 has been suggested to play a role in glioma, breast cancer, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia development; however, whether it has a role in the pathogenesis of ovarian cancer remains unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the role of CELSR1 in ovarian cancer and elucidate its underlying molecular mechanisms. By analyzing gene expression data downloaded from the Cancer Genome Atlas database, we found that CELSR1 expression was upregulated in ovarian cancer tissues compared to that in normal ovarian tissues. High CELSR1 expression levels were associated with poor prognosis in patients with ovarian cancer. Cell proliferation, scratch, and transwell assays revealed that CELSR1 promoted the proliferation, migration, and invasion of ovarian cancer cells in vitro. In addition, transcriptome sequencing analysis revealed that CELSR1 knockdown in T29H cells resulted in the dysregulation of the expression of 1320 genes. Further analysis revealed that genes involved in proliferation- and migration-associated signaling pathways were regulated by CELSR1. Our study demonstrates that CELSR1 is highly expressed in ovarian cancer cells and regulates their proliferation and migration, suggesting its potential as a diagnostic marker and therapeutic target.

Transcriptional co-activators: emerging roles in signaling pathways and potential therapeutic targets for diseases

Specific cell states in metazoans are established by the symphony of gene expression programs that necessitate intricate synergic interactions between transcription factors and the co-activators. Deregulation of these regulatory molecules is associated with cell state transitions, which in turn is accountable for diverse maladies, including developmental disorders, metabolic disorders, and most significantly, cancer. A decade back most transcription factors, the key enablers of disease development, were historically viewed as 'undruggable'; however, in the intervening years, a wealth of literature validated that they can be targeted indirectly through transcriptional co-activators, their confederates in various physiological and molecular processes. These co-activators, along with transcription factors, have the ability to initiate and modulate transcription of diverse genes necessary for normal physiological functions, whereby, deregulation of such interactions may foster tissue-specific disease phenotype. Hence, it is essential to analyze how these co-activators modulate specific multilateral processes in coordination with other factors. The proposed review attempts to elaborate an in-depth account of the transcription co-activators, their involvement in transcription regulation, and context-specific contributions to pathophysiological conditions. This review also addresses an issue that has not been dealt with in a comprehensive manner and hopes to direct attention towards future research that will encompass patient-friendly therapeutic strategies, where drugs targeting co-activators will have enhanced benefits and reduced side effects. Additional insights into currently available therapeutic interventions and the associated constraints will eventually reveal multitudes of advanced therapeutic targets aiming for disease amelioration and good patient prognosis.

Voltage-Dependent Anion Channel 1 Expression in Oral Malignant and Premalignant Lesions

BACKGROUND

The voltage-dependent anion channel 1 protein (VDAC1) plays a role in cellular metabolism and survival. It was found to be down or upregulated (overexpressed) in different malignancies but it was never studied in application to oral lesions. The purpose of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the expression of VDAC1 in biopsies of oral premalignant, malignant, and malignancy-neutral lesions and to examine the possible correlations to their clinicopathological parameters.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

103 biopsies including 49 oral squamous cell carcinoma, 33 epithelial dysplasia, and 21 fibrous hyperplasia samples were immunohistochemically stained with anti-VDAC1 antibodies for semi-quantitative evaluation. The antibody detection was performed with 3,3'-diaminobenzidine (DAB). The clinicopathological information was examined for possible correlations with VDAC1.

RESULTS

VDAC1 expression was lower in oral squamous cell carcinoma 0.63 ± 0.40 and in oral epithelial dysplasia 0.61 ± 0.36 biopsies compared to fibrous hyperplasia biopsies 1.45 ± 0.28 (p < 0.01 for both; Kruskal-Wallis test).

CONCLUSION

Oral squamous cell carcinoma and epithelial dysplasia tissues demonstrated decreased VDAC1 protein expression if compared to fibrous hyperplasia samples, but were not different from each other, suggesting that the involvement of VDAC1 in oral carcinogenesis is an early stage event, regulating cells to live or die.

miRNA-874-3p inhibits the migration, invasion and proliferation of breast cancer cells by targeting VDAC1

Breast cancer is an important cause of crisis for women's life and health. Voltage-dependent anion channel 1 (VDAC1) is mainly localized in the outer mitochondrial membrane of all eukaryotes, and it plays a crucial role in the cell as the main interface between mitochondria and cellular metabolism. Through bioinformatics, we found that VDAC1 is abnormally highly expressed in breast cancer, and the prognosis of breast cancer patients with high VDAC1 expression is poor. Through in vivo and in vitro experiments, we found that VDAC1 can promote the proliferation, migration and invasion of breast cancer cells. Further research we found that VDAC1 can activate the wnt signaling pathway. Through analysis, we found that miR-874-3p can regulate the expression of VDAC1, and the expression of miR-874-3p is decreased in breast cancer, resulting in the increase of VDAC1 expression. Our findings will provide new targets and ideas for the prevention and treatment of breast cancer.

LWJ-M30, a conjugate of DM1 and B6, for the targeted therapy of colorectal cancer with improved therapeutic effects†

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most prevalent cancers worldwide as well as a significant cause of mortality. The conventional treatment could cause serious side effects and induce drug resistance, recurrence and metastasis of cancers. Hence, specific targeting of cancer cells without affecting the normal tissues is currently an urgent necessity in cancer therapy. The emerging of peptide–drug conjugates (PDC) is regarded as a promising approach to address malignant tumors. LWJ-M30, a conjugate of DM1 and B6 peptide, targeted transferrin receptors (TfRs) on the surface of the CRC cells, showing a powerful anti-cancer effect. LWJ-M30 significantly inhibited the HCT116 cells proliferation and migration in vitro. LWJ-M30 also dramatically decreased the level of polymeric tubulin, while the disruption of microtubules caused the cell cycle to be arrested in the G2/M phase. LWJ-M30 induced the HCT116 cells apoptosis both in vivo and in vitro. The results in vivo demonstrated that LWJ-M30 could inhibit the HCT116 growth without affecting the mouse body weight. Taking these results together, our data indicated that LWJ-M30 could improve the therapeutic effects of DM1 while reducing the systemic toxicity in normal tissues.

LWJ-M30 targeted TfR, dramatically decreased the level of polymeric tubulin, while the disruption of microtubules meant the cell cycle was arrested in the G2/M phase and thus caused cells apoptosis.

Identification and Validation a Necroptosis-Related Prognostic Signature in Cervical Cancer

Necroptosis is a promising novel target for cervical cancer therapy. Nevertheless, differentially expressed necroptosis-related genes (NRGs) in cervical cancer and their associations with prognosis are far from fully clarified. In this study, differentially expressed NRGs (DE-NRGs) were screened out and their bio-function was elucidated. Subsequently, a prognostic scoring model based on the regression coefficients of the screened out NRGs and their corresponding mRNA expressions were constructed and validated. Finally, the survival probability of cervical cancer patients based on the constructed prognostic scoring model in 3 and 5 years was predicted and assessed. We found 17 DE-NRGs in cervical cancer tissues which were closely related to cancer progression, and most of them were significantly highly expressed. Furthermore, 3 NRG were confirmed as the prognostic signature genes from 17 DE-NRGs by regression analysis. Overall survival predicted through our prognostic scoring model was lower in the high-risk group than in the low-risk group (p < 0.05) in both the TCGA cohort and the external GEO44001 validation cohort. What's more, the prediction performance of our prognostic scoring models well verified by the ROC curve, and the risk score calculated could act as an independent prognostic factor for cervical cancer patients. The calibration curve and C-index (0.776) of the nomogram analysis suggested that the predictive performance of the nomogram was satisfactory. Our study identified and validated a necroptosis-related prognostic signature in cervical cancer, which could well predict the prognosis for cervical cancer patients.

The role of KMT2 gene in human tumors

Histone methylation plays a crucial role in the regulation of gene transcriptional expression, and aberration of methylation-modifying enzyme genes can lead to a variety of genetic diseases, including human cancers. The histone modified protein KMT2 (lysin methyltransferase) family are involved in cell proliferation, growth, development and differentiation through regulating gene expression, and are closely related with many blood cancers and solid tumors. In recent years, several studies have shown that mutations in the KMT2 gene occur frequently in a variety of human cancers and the mutation status of the KMT2 gene may be correlated with the occurrence, development and prognosis of some tumors. Research uncovering the clinical characteristics and molecular mechanisms of KMT2 mutation in human tumors will be helpful for early diagnosis and prognosis of tumors as well as drug development for targeted therapies.

The promotion of cervical cancer progression by signal transducer and activator of transcription 1-induced up-regulation of lncRNA MEOX2-AS1 as a competing endogenous RNA through miR-143-3p/VDAC1 pathway

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are the new regulators and biomarkers for various tumors. However, in cervical cancer (CC), the potential roles of lncRNAs are not well characterized. This research aimed at exploring the roles of MEOX2 antisense RNA 1(MEOX2-AS1) in CC progression and the underlying mechanisms. The examination of MEOX2-AS1 levels in CC specimens and cell lines was conducted by RT-PCR. Loss-of-function experiments were performed for the assays of proliferation, migration, and invasion of CC cells after various treatments. Animal experiments were applied for the determination of the effects of MEOX2-AS1 in vivo. Bioinformatics analysis, together with dual-luciferase reporter assays, was applied to demonstrate the possible relationships among MEOX2-AS1, miR-143-3p and VDAC1. In the paper, we reported that MEOX2-AS1 levels were distinctly upregulated in CC cells and tissues, and higher MEOX2-AS1 expressions indicated a poor clinical outcome. Besides, STAT1 could activate transcriptions of MEOX2-AS1 by binding directly to its promoter region. The silence of MEOX2-AS1 suppressed the metastatic and proliferative ability of CC cells, as revealed by functional assays. Mechanistically, MEOX2-AS1 sponged miR-143-3p to regulate VDAC1 expressions. Furthermore, miR-143-3p inhibitor reversed the anti-proliferation and anti-metastasis effect of MEOX2-AS1 knockdown. Overall, the data indicated that the MEOX2-AS1/miR-143-3p/VDAC1 pathway participated in CC progression, making it a novel therapeutic target for CC cures.

Apolipoprotein C1 (APOC1): A Novel Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarker for Cervical Cancer

BACKGROUND

Previous reports showed that APOC1 was associated with several cancers but the function of APOC1 in cervical cancer was unknown. This study aimed to investigate the clinical effect and function of APOC1 in cervical cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this study, the relative expression of APOC1 in cervical cancer was detected by RT-qPCR. In order to determine the cell proliferation and migration and invading ability and apoptosis more accurately, we used CCK8 assay, Edu assay, wound healing assay, migration and invasion assay, flow cytometry assay, co-immunoprecipitation, proteomics and Western blot by silencing and overexpressing APOC1, respectively. The role of APOC1 on tumor progression was explored in vitro and vivo.

RESULTS

The relative expression of APOC1 in cervical cancer tissues was up-regulated (P<0.05). In cervical cancer cell lines, silencing of APOC1 restrained cell progression and EMT, while over-expression of APOC1 accelerated cell progression and EMT in vivo and vitro (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

APOC1 acts as an oncogene in cervical cancers and knockdown of APOC1 inhibited cervical cancer cells growth in vitro and in vivo. There is a close relationship between the relative expression of APOC1 and clinical outcome in cervical cancer patients.

CircAMOTL1 Promotes Tumorigenesis Through miR-526b/SIK2 Axis in Cervical Cancer

Background

Cervical cancer is one of the most common malignancies in women, leading to major health problems for its high morbidity and mortality. Numerous studies have demonstrated that circular RNAs (circRNAs) could be participated in the progression of multifarious diseases, especially plentiful carcinomas. CircAMOTL1 (angiomotin-like1, ID: hsa_circ_0004214), which is located on human chromosome 11:9 4532555-94533477, is involved in the occurrence of breast cancer, etc. However, the intrinsic and concrete molecular mechanism of circAMOTL1 in cervical carcinomas remained thoroughly unclear, which was also the bottleneck of circRNAs studies in cancer.

Methods

The relative expression levels of circAMOTL1 and miR-526b in cervical carcinoma patients’ specimens and cervical carcinoma cell lines were detected by RT-qPCR. Through experiments including loss-function and overexpression, the biological effects of circAMOTL1 and miR-526b on the proliferation, migration, apoptosis, and tumorigenicity were explored in cervical carcinomas. Dual luciferase reporter gene analysis, western blot, and other methods were adopted to explore the circAMOTL1 potential mechanism in cervical carcinomas.

Results

In our experiments, our researches displayed that circAMOTL1 was significantly higher expression in cervical carcinomas specimens and cell lines. Further experiments illustrated that the knockdown of circAMOTL1 could restrain the malignant phenotype, AKT signaling, and epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) of in cervical carcinomas cells. Meanwhile miR-526b was downregulated in cervical carcinomas and even miR-526b could partially reverse circAMOTL1 function in malignant cervical tumor cells. CircAMOTL1 acts as a microRNA (miRNA) sponge that actively regulates the expression of salt-inducible kinase 2 (SIK2) to sponge miR-526b and subsequently increases malignant phenotypes of cervical carcinomas cells. In a word, circAMOTL1 acts a carcinogenic role and miR-526b serves as the opposite function of antioncogene in the cervical carcinoma pathogenesis.

Conclusion

CircAMOTL1-miR-526b-SIK2 axis referred to the malignant progression and development of cervical carcinomas. CircAMOTL1 expression was inversely correlated with miR-526b and positively correlated with SIK2 mRNA in cervical cancer tissues. Thus, circAMOTL1 exerted an oncogenic role in cervical cancer progression through sponging miR-526b. Taken together, our study revealed that circAMOTL1 acted as an oncogene and probably was a potential therapeutic target for the cervical cancer.