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Rinella L, Fiorentino G, Compagno M, Grange C, Cedrino M, Marano F, Bosco O, Vissio E, Delsedime L, D'Amelio P, Bussolati B, Arvat E, Catalano MG. Dickkopf-1 (DKK1) drives growth and metastases in castration-resistant prostate cancer. Cancer Gene Ther 2024:10.1038/s41417-024-00783-7. [PMID: 38740881 DOI: 10.1038/s41417-024-00783-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Revised: 04/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) is associated with a poor prognosis and remains an incurable fatal disease. Therefore, the identification of molecular markers involved in cancer progression is urgently needed to develop more-effective therapies. The present study investigated the role of the Wnt signaling modulator Dickkopf-1 (DKK1) in the growth and metastatic progression of mCRPC. DKK1 silencing through siRNA and deletion via CRISPR/Cas9 editing were performed in two different metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer cell lines (PC3 and DU145). A xenograft tumor model was used to assess tumor growth and metastases. In in vitro experiments, both DKK1 silencing and deletion reduced cell growth and migration of both cell lines. DKK1 knockout clones (DKK1-KO) exhibited cell cycle arrest, tubulin reorganization, and modulation of tumor metastasis-associated genes. Furthermore, in DKK1-KO cells, E-cadherin re-expression and its membrane co-localization with β-catenin were observed, contributing to reduced migration; Cadherin-11, known to increase during epithelial-mesenchymal transition, was down-regulated in DKK1-KO cells. In the xenograft mouse model, DKK1 deletion not only reduced tumor growth but also inhibited the formation of lung metastases. In conclusion, our findings support the key role of DKK1 in the growth and metastatic dissemination of mCRPC, both in vitro and in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Letizia Rinella
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | | | - Mara Compagno
- Center for Experimental Research and Medical Studies (CeRMS), Molinette Hospital, Città della Salute e della Scienza, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Cristina Grange
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Massimo Cedrino
- Molecular Biotechnology Center, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Francesca Marano
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Ornella Bosco
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Elena Vissio
- Unit of Pathology, Molinette Hospital, Città della Salute e della Scienza, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Luisa Delsedime
- Unit of Pathology, Molinette Hospital, Città della Salute e della Scienza, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | | | - Benedetta Bussolati
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Emanuela Arvat
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
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Wei QY, Jin F, Wang ZY, Li BJ, Cao WB, Sun ZY, Mo SJ. MicroRNAs: A novel signature in the metastasis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. World J Gastroenterol 2024; 30:1497-1523. [PMID: 38617454 PMCID: PMC11008420 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v30.i11.1497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a malignant epithelial tumor, characterized by squamous cell differentiation, it is the sixth leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally. The increased mortality rate of ESCC patients is predominantly due to the advanced stage of the disease when discovered, coupled with higher risk of metastasis, which is an exceedingly malignant characteristic of cancer, frequently leading to a high mortality rate. Unfortunately, there is currently no specific and effective marker to predict and treat metastasis in ESCC. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small non-coding RNA molecules, approximately 22 nucleotides in length. miRNAs are vital in modulating gene expression and serve pivotal regulatory roles in the occurrence, progression, and prognosis of cancer. Here, we have examined the literature to highlight the intimate correlations between miRNAs and ESCC metastasis, and show that ESCC metastasis is predominantly regulated or regulated by genetic and epigenetic factors. This review proposes a potential role for miRNAs as diagnostic and therapeutic biomarkers for metastasis in ESCC metastasis, with the ultimate aim of reducing the mortality rate among patients with ESCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi-Ying Wei
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, Henan Province, China
| | - Feng Jin
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, Henan Province, China
| | - Zhong-Yu Wang
- Department of Perioperative Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, Henan Province, China
| | - Bing-Jie Li
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, Henan Province, China
| | - Wen-Bo Cao
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, Henan Province, China
| | - Zhi-Yan Sun
- Division of Special Service, Department of Basic Oncology, School of Basic Medicine, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, Henan Province, China
| | - Sai-Jun Mo
- Department of Basic Science of Oncology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, Henan Province, China
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Zhao C, Liu L, He Q, Li Y, Feng J, Chen Y, Li Y, Xu X, Zhu S, Ye Y, Wen Y, Zeng Z, Zhou D, Jin F. Dickkopf-1 is an immune infiltration-related prognostic biomarker of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Aging (Albany NY) 2024; 16:3837-3855. [PMID: 38376441 DOI: 10.18632/aging.205563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Abstract
Immunotherapy is currently one of the most viable therapies for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), characterized by high immune cell infiltration. The Wnt-signaling inhibitor and immune activation mediator, Dickkopf-1 (DKK1), has a strong correlation with tumor growth, tumor microenvironment, and, consequently, disease prognosis. Nevertheless, it is still unclear how DKK1 expression, HNSCC prognosis, and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes are related. To better understand these associations, we examined how DKK1 expression varies across different tumor and normal tissues. In our study, we investigated the association between DKK1 mRNA expression and clinical outcomes. Next, we assessed the link between DKK1 expression and tumor immune cell infiltration. Additionally, using immunohistochemistry, we evaluated the expression of DKK1 in 15 healthy head and neck tissue samples, and the expression of CD3, CD4, and DKK1 in 27 HNSCC samples. We also explored aberrant DKK1 expression during tumorigenesis. DKK1 expression was remarkably higher in HNSCC tissues than in healthy tissues, and was shown to be associated with tumor stage, grade, lymph node metastasis, histology, and a dismal clinical prognosis in HNSCC. DKK1 expression in HNSCC tissues was inversely correlated with CD3+ (P < 0.0001) and CD4+ (P < 0.0001) immune cell infiltration, while that in immune cells was inversely associated with HNSCC prognosis. These findings offer a bioinformatics perspective on the function of DKK1 in HNSCC immunotherapy and provide justification for clinical research on DKK1-targeted HNSCC treatments. DKK1 is a central target for improving the efficacy of HNSCC immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaofen Zhao
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, P.R. China
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, P.R. China
- Department of Oncology, The School of Clinical Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, P.R. China
| | - Lina Liu
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, P.R. China
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, P.R. China
- Department of Oncology, The School of Clinical Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, P.R. China
| | - Qianyong He
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, P.R. China
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, P.R. China
- Department of Oncology, The School of Clinical Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, P.R. China
| | - Yuanyuan Li
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, P.R. China
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, P.R. China
- Department of Oncology, The School of Clinical Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, P.R. China
| | - Jianglong Feng
- Department of Pathology, Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, P.R. China
| | - Yue Chen
- Department of Oncology, The School of Clinical Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, P.R. China
| | - Yuxin Li
- Department of Oncology, The School of Clinical Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, P.R. China
| | - Xinyu Xu
- Department of Oncology, The School of Clinical Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, P.R. China
| | - Shaoyuan Zhu
- Department of Oncology, The School of Clinical Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, P.R. China
| | - Yuanmei Ye
- Department of Oncology, The School of Clinical Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, P.R. China
| | - Yajing Wen
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Zhirui Zeng
- Department of Physiology, The School of Basic Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, P.R. China
| | - Ding'an Zhou
- Clinical Research Center, Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, P. R. China
| | - Feng Jin
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, P.R. China
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, P.R. China
- Department of Oncology, The School of Clinical Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, P.R. China
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Ou H, Qian Y, Ma L. MCF2L-AS1 promotes the biological behaviors of hepatocellular carcinoma cells by regulating the miR-33a-5p/FGF2 axis. Aging (Albany NY) 2023; 15:6100-6116. [PMID: 37432067 PMCID: PMC10373981 DOI: 10.18632/aging.204795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023]
Abstract
Long noncoding RNA MCF2L-AS1 functions in the development of cancers like lung cancer, ovarian cancer, and colorectal cancer. Notwithstanding, its function in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) stays obscure. Our research probes its role in MHCC97H and HCCLM3 cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. qRT-PCR gauged MCF2L-AS1 and miR-33a-5p expressions in HCC tissues. CCK8, colony formation, Transwell, and EdU assays detected HCC cell proliferation, invasion, and migration, respectively. The xenograft tumor model was built to confirm the MCF2L-AS1-mediated role in HCC cell growth. Western blot and immunohistochemistry detected FGF2 expression in HCC tissues. Bioinformatics analysis predicted the targeted relationships between MCF2L-AS1 or FGF2 and miR-33a-5p, which were further examined through dual-luciferase reporter gene and pull-down assays. MCF2L-AS1 was expressed highly in HCC tissues and cells. MCF2L-AS1 upregulation enhanced HCC cells' proliferation, growth, migration, and invasion and reduced apoptosis. miR-33a-5p was demonstrated as an underlying target of MCF2L-AS1. miR-33a-5p impeded HCC cells' malignant behaviors. MCF2L-AS1 overexpression reversed miR-33a-5p-mediated effects. MCF2L-AS1 knockdown enhanced miR-33a-5p and negatively regulated FGF2 protein. miR-33a-5p targeted and inhibited FGF2. miR-33a-5p overexpression or FGF2 knockdown inhibited MCF2L-AS1-mediated oncologic effects in MHCC97H. By modulating miR-33a-5p/FGF2, MCF2L-AS1 exerts a tumor-promotive function in HCC. The MCF2L-AS1-miR-33a-5p-FGF2 axis may provide new therapeutic targets for HCC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongliang Ou
- Department of Liver Diseases, Ningbo No.2 Hospital, University of Chinse Academy of Sciences, Ningbo 315000, Zhejiang, P.R. China
| | - Yunsong Qian
- Department of Liver Diseases, Ningbo No.2 Hospital, University of Chinse Academy of Sciences, Ningbo 315000, Zhejiang, P.R. China
| | - Li Ma
- Department of Liver Diseases, Ningbo No.2 Hospital, University of Chinse Academy of Sciences, Ningbo 315000, Zhejiang, P.R. China
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Li M, Liu T, Cheng W, Jin H, Wang X. A test of miR-128-3p and miR-33a-5p in serum exosome as biomarkers for auxiliary diagnosis of non-small cell lung cancer. J Thorac Dis 2023; 15:2616-2626. [PMID: 37324093 PMCID: PMC10267929 DOI: 10.21037/jtd-23-398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Background Lung cancer is the malignant tumor with the highest incidence and mortality rate in the world today, and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is its most common type. However, there is still a paucity of specific tumor markers for lung cancer screening. Herein, we detected and compared the levels of miR-128-3p and miR-33a-5p in serum exosomes of NSCLC patients and healthy volunteers, with the aim of identifying suitable exosomal microRNAs (miRNAs) as tumor biomarkers, and explored their value in the auxiliary diagnosis of NSCLC. Methods All participants were recruited from September 1, 2022 to December 30, 2022, and met the inclusion criteria. The case group included 20 patients with lung nodules who were highly suspected of having lung cancer (two cases were excluded). A total of 18 healthy volunteers (control group) were also enrolled. Blood samples were collected in both the case group before surgery and in the control group. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction method was used to detect the expression of miR-128-3p and miR-33a-5p in serum exosomes. The main indicators of statistical analysis included the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), sensitivity, and specificity. Results Compared with the healthy control group, the NSCLC case group had significantly lower expression levels of serum exosome miR-128-3p and miR-33a-5p (P<0.01, P<0.001), and there was a significant positive correlation between the two exosome miRNAs (r=0.848, P<0.01). The AUC values of miR-128-3p alone and miR-33a-5p alone in distinguishing case group and control group were 0.789 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.637-0.940; sensitivity: 61.1%; specificity: 94.4%; P=0.003] and 0.821 (95% CI: 0.668-0.974; sensitivity: 77.8%; specificity: 83.3%; and P=0.001), respectively. The combination of miR-128-3p and miR-33a-5p had an AUC of 0.855 (95% CI: 0.719-0.991; P<0.001) for distinguishing case group and control group, which was greater than the AUC values of miR-128-3p alone and miR-33a-5p alone (cut-off value: 0.034; sensitivity: 83.3%; and specificity: 88.9%). However, there was no significant difference in the AUC among these three groups (P>0.05). Conclusions Serum exosome miR-128-3p and miR-33a-5p showed good performance in NSCLC screening and may be used as new biomarkers for large-scale NSCLC screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengxing Li
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Tao Liu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wen Cheng
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hai Jin
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaowei Wang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
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Taheriazam A, Bayanzadeh SD, Heydari Farahani M, Mojtabavi S, Zandieh MA, Gholami S, Heydargoy MH, Jamali Hondori M, Kangarloo Z, Behroozaghdam M, Khorrami R, Sheikh Beig Goharrizi MA, Salimimoghadam S, Rashidi M, Hushmandi K, Entezari M, Hashemi M. Non-coding RNA-based therapeutics in cancer therapy: An emphasis on Wnt/β-catenin control. Eur J Pharmacol 2023; 951:175781. [PMID: 37179043 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2023.175781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Revised: 04/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Non-coding RNA transcripts are RNA molecules that have mainly regulatory functions and they do not encode proteins. microRNAs (miRNAs), lncRNAs and circRNAs are major types of this family and these epigenetic factors participate in disease pathogenesis, especially cancer that their abnormal expression may lead to cancer progression. miRNAs and lncRNAs possess a linear structure, whereas circRNAs possess ring structures and high stability. Wnt/β-catenin is an important factor in cancer with oncogenic function and it can increase growth, invasion and therapy resistance in tumors. Wnt upregulation occurs upon transfer of β-catenin to nucleus. Interaction of ncRNAs with Wnt/β-catenin signaling can determine tumorigenesis. Wnt upregulation is observed in cancers and miRNAs are able to bind to 3'-UTR of Wnt to reduce its level. LncRNAs can directly/indirectly regulate Wnt and in indirect manner, lncRNAs sponge miRNAs. CircRNAs are new emerging regulators of Wnt and by its stimulation, they increase tumor progression. CircRNA/miRNA axis can affect Wnt and carcinogenesis. Overall, interaction of ncRNAs with Wnt can determine proliferation rate, migration ability and therapy response of cancers. Furthermore, ncRNA/Wnt/β-catenin axis can be utilized as biomarker in cancer and for prognostic applications in patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Afshin Taheriazam
- Farhikhtegan Medical Convergence Sciences Research Center, Farhikhtegan Hospital Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran; Department of Orthopedics, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Melika Heydari Farahani
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Islamic Azad University, Shahr-e Kord Branch, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, Iran
| | - Sarah Mojtabavi
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Arad Zandieh
- Department of Food Hygiene and Quality Control, Division of Epidemiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sadaf Gholami
- Farhikhtegan Medical Convergence Sciences Research Center, Farhikhtegan Hospital Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Hossein Heydargoy
- Farhikhtegan Medical Convergence Sciences Research Center, Farhikhtegan Hospital Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran; Department of Microbiology, Shahr-e Ghods Branch, Azad Islamic University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Maryam Jamali Hondori
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Zahra Kangarloo
- Farhikhtegan Medical Convergence Sciences Research Center, Farhikhtegan Hospital Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mitra Behroozaghdam
- Farhikhtegan Medical Convergence Sciences Research Center, Farhikhtegan Hospital Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ramin Khorrami
- Department of Food Hygiene and Quality Control, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Shokooh Salimimoghadam
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Mohsen Rashidi
- Department Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, 4815733971, Iran; The Health of Plant and Livestock Products Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, 4815733971, Iran.
| | - Kiavash Hushmandi
- Department of Food Hygiene and Quality Control, Division of Epidemiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Maliheh Entezari
- Farhikhtegan Medical Convergence Sciences Research Center, Farhikhtegan Hospital Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran; Department of Genetics, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Mehrdad Hashemi
- Farhikhtegan Medical Convergence Sciences Research Center, Farhikhtegan Hospital Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran; Department of Genetics, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
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Huang G, Wu Y, Du Y, Gan H, Hao S. Methyl-CpG Binding Protein 2 as a Potential Diagnostic and Prognostic Marker Facilitates Glioma Progression Through Activation of Wnt/β-Catenin Pathway. World Neurosurg 2023; 171:e560-e571. [PMID: 36529430 DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2022.12.063] [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: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Glioma is the primary malignant tumor in the central nervous system and has high malignancy, mortality, and recurrence rates. Because of its heterogeneity and drug resistance, the blood-brain barrier, and other factors, the treatment of glioma has mainly been surgical resection combined with traditional radiotherapy and chemotherapy. However, the therapeutic effect has not been satisfactory. Methyl-CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2) is an epigenetic regulator that has been reported to regulate the initiation and progression of glioma. However, the underlying mechanism in glioma has remained unclear. METHODS The gene expression of MeCp2, miR-138-5p, the epithelial-mesenchymal transition, the apoptosis-related gene, and the Wnt/β-Catenin pathway-related gene and proliferation were detected by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction or Western blot. The cell proliferation and apoptosis of the glioma cell was assessed using the CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry assay. The relationship between miR-138-5p and MeCp2 was measured using the dual luciferase reporter assay. The effect of MeCp2 in U87 cells was examined in a xenograft tumorigenesis model in vivo. RESULTS In our study, we found that MeCP2 was upregulated in glioma tissues and cell lines and that MeCP2 knockdown repressed cell proliferation and epithelial-mesenchymal transition but boosted cell apoptosis in glioma. Furthermore, MeCP2 knockdown attenuated in vivo glioma growth in a mice model. Mechanistically, miR-138-5p hindered the expression of MeCP2 by target MeCP2 and then inactivated the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. In addition, subsequent rescue assays disclosed that miR-138-5p repressed the glioma malignant phenotype and MeCP2 overexpression reversed the inhibitory effect of miR-138-5p upregulation. Consistently, overexpression of MeCP2 elevated glioma development. However, inhibition of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway with XAV-939 rescued the facilitation effect by overexpressing miR-138-5p. CONCLUSIONS Our results have revealed that miR-138-5p/MeCP2/Wnt/β-catenin signaling might be a new target axis for glioma treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guanyou Huang
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second People's Hospital of Guiyang (Jingyang Hospital), Guiyang, China.
| | - Yujuan Wu
- Department of Neurology, The Second People's Hospital of Guiyang (Jingyang Hospital), Guiyang, China
| | - Yonggui Du
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second People's Hospital of Guiyang (Jingyang Hospital), Guiyang, China
| | - Hongchuan Gan
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second People's Hospital of Guiyang (Jingyang Hospital), Guiyang, China
| | - Shuyu Hao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
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Shahverdi M, Darvish M. Exosomal microRNAs: A Diagnostic and Therapeutic Small Bio-molecule in Esophageal Cancer. Curr Mol Med 2023; 23:312-323. [PMID: 35319366 DOI: 10.2174/1566524022666220321125134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Revised: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Esophageal cancer (EC) is one of the major causes of cancer-related death worldwide. EC is usually diagnosed at a late stage, and despite aggressive therapy, the five-year survival rate of patients remains poor. Exosomes play important roles in cancer biology. Indeed, exosomes are implicated in tumor proliferation, angiogenesis, and invasion. They contain bioactive molecules such as lipids, proteins, and non-coding RNAs. Exosome research has recently concentrated on microRNAs, which are tiny noncoding endogenous RNAs that can alter gene expression and are linked to nearly all physiological and pathological processes, including cancer. It is suggested that deregulation of miRNAs results in cancer progression and directly induces tumor initiation. In esophageal cancer, miRNA dysregulation plays an important role in cancer prognosis and patients' responsiveness to therapy, indicating that miRNAs are important in tumorigenesis. In this review, we summarize the impact of exosomal miRNAs on esophageal cancer pathogenesis and their potential applications for EC diagnosis and therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahshid Shahverdi
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Medicine, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran
| | - Maryam Darvish
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Medicine, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran
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miR-33a-5p Targets RAP2A to Mediate the Sensitivity of Gastric Cancer Cells to 5-FU. DISEASE MARKERS 2022; 2022:9701047. [PMID: 36046374 PMCID: PMC9424005 DOI: 10.1155/2022/9701047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Objective. The objective of this study is to explore the effects of microRNA-33a-5p (miR-33a-5p)-ras-related protein Rap-2a (RAP2A) on biological functions of gastric cancer (GC) and to find the potential functional mechanism. Methods. We measured the miR-33a-5p expression in 30 GC tissues and cellular level and 30 adjacent normal tissues as control. Besides, the expression of miR-33a-5p was checked at cell level as well. To screen the possible targets of miR-33a-5p, prediction software was used and gene RAP2A attracted our attention. Through a series of experiments including real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), luciferase assay, and western blotting (WB), we verified RAP2A as a potential target of miR-33a-5p. The impacts of miR-33a-5p and RAP2A on biological functions of GC cell lines (BGC-823 and MGC-803) were analyzed by subsequent experiments. Cell invasion was tested by invasion assays. Cell proliferation was measured by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. Cell clone was measured by clone formation assays. Finally, the expression of RAP2A protein was analyzed by WB assay. Results. We found miR-33a-5p was expressed lowly in GC tissues and cells. Overexpression of miR-33a-5p in BGC-823 and MGC-803 cells greatly inhibited the cell invasion and colony number. Furthermore, compared to sh-control (shControl), RAP2A knockdown (sh-RAP2A/shRAP2A) raised the sensitivity of GC cells to 5-FU significantly, characterized as reducing cell apoptosis. Conclusions. The expression of miR-33a-5p was lower in GC cell lines and tissues obviously, indicating that miR-33a-5p served as the antitumor gene in GC. The expression of RAP2A regulated negatively the sensitivity of GC cells to 5-FU. According to our in vitro experiments, miR-33a-5p/RAP2A was likely to become a new therapeutic target for GC.
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Jiang H, Zhang Z, Yu Y, Chu HY, Yu S, Yao S, Zhang G, Zhang BT. Drug Discovery of DKK1 Inhibitors. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:847387. [PMID: 35355709 PMCID: PMC8959454 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.847387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Dickkopf-1 (DKK1) is a well-characterized Wnt inhibitor and component of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, whose dysregulation is associated with multiple abnormal pathologies including osteoporosis, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, and various cancers. The Wnt signaling pathway has fundamental roles in cell fate determination, cell proliferation, and survival; thus, its mis-regulation can lead to disease. Although DKK1 is involved in other signaling pathways, including the β-catenin-independent Wnt pathway and the DKK1/CKAP4 pathway, the inhibition of DKK1 to propagate Wnt/β-catenin signals has been validated as an effective way to treat related diseases. In fact, strategies for developing DKK1 inhibitors have produced encouraging clinical results in different pathological models, and many publications provide detailed information about these inhibitors, which include small molecules, antibodies, and nucleic acids, and may function at the protein or mRNA level. However, no systematic review has yet provided an overview of the various aspects of their development and prospects. Therefore, we review the DKK1 inhibitors currently available or under study and provide an outlook on future studies involving DKK1 and drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hewen Jiang
- School of Chinese Medicine, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Guangdong-Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area International Research Platform for Aptamer-Based Translational Medicine and Drug Discovery, Hong Kong, China
| | - Zongkang Zhang
- School of Chinese Medicine, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Guangdong-Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area International Research Platform for Aptamer-Based Translational Medicine and Drug Discovery, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yuanyuan Yu
- Guangdong-Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area International Research Platform for Aptamer-Based Translational Medicine and Drug Discovery, Hong Kong, China.,Law Sau Fai Institute for Advancing Translational Medicine in Bone and Joint Diseases, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China.,Institute of Integrated Bioinformedicine and Translational Science, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Hang Yin Chu
- School of Chinese Medicine, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Guangdong-Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area International Research Platform for Aptamer-Based Translational Medicine and Drug Discovery, Hong Kong, China
| | - Sifan Yu
- Guangdong-Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area International Research Platform for Aptamer-Based Translational Medicine and Drug Discovery, Hong Kong, China.,Law Sau Fai Institute for Advancing Translational Medicine in Bone and Joint Diseases, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China.,Institute of Integrated Bioinformedicine and Translational Science, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Shanshan Yao
- School of Chinese Medicine, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Guangdong-Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area International Research Platform for Aptamer-Based Translational Medicine and Drug Discovery, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ge Zhang
- Guangdong-Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area International Research Platform for Aptamer-Based Translational Medicine and Drug Discovery, Hong Kong, China.,Law Sau Fai Institute for Advancing Translational Medicine in Bone and Joint Diseases, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China.,Institute of Integrated Bioinformedicine and Translational Science, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Bao-Ting Zhang
- School of Chinese Medicine, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Guangdong-Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area International Research Platform for Aptamer-Based Translational Medicine and Drug Discovery, Hong Kong, China
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Papukashvili D, Rcheulishvili N, Liu C, Xie F, Tyagi D, He Y, Wang PG. Perspectives on miRNAs Targeting DKK1 for Developing Hair Regeneration Therapy. Cells 2021; 10:2957. [PMID: 34831180 PMCID: PMC8616136 DOI: 10.3390/cells10112957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2021] [Revised: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) remains an unsolved problem for the well-being of humankind, although multiple important involvements in hair growth have been discovered. Up until now, there is no ideal therapy in clinical practice in terms of efficacy and safety. Ultimately, there is a strong need for developing a feasible remedy for preventing and treating AGA. The Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is critical in hair restoration. Thus, AGA treatment via modulating this pathway is rational, although challenging. Dickkopf-related protein 1 (DKK1) is distinctly identified as an inhibitor of canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Thus, in order to stimulate the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, inhibition of DKK1 is greatly demanding. Studying DKK1-targeting microRNAs (miRNAs) involved in the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway may lay the groundwork for the promotion of hair growth. Bearing in mind that DKK1 inhibition in the balding scalp of AGA certainly makes sense, this review sheds light on the perspectives of miRNA-mediated hair growth for treating AGA via regulating DKK1 and, eventually, modulating Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Consequently, certain miRNAs regulating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway via DKK1 inhibition might represent attractive candidates for further studies focusing on promoting hair growth and AGA therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Yunjiao He
- School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518000, China; (D.P.); (N.R.); (C.L.); (F.X.); (D.T.)
| | - Peng George Wang
- School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518000, China; (D.P.); (N.R.); (C.L.); (F.X.); (D.T.)
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