ITPR3 gene haplotype is associated with cervical squamous cell carcinoma risk in Taiwanese women

Exploration of Circadian Clock-Related Genes in the Pathogenesis of Psoriatic Arthritis to Identify Potential Therapeutic Targets From Multi-Omics Insight: A Mendelian Randomization Study

BACKGROUND

Circadian rhythms have been shown to play a significant role in the etiology and progression of immune-related morbidities, including cancer and autoimmune diseases. As an autoimmune disorder, psoriatic arthritis (PsA) has been underexplored in the context of circadian rhythms. This study aimed to explore the relationship between circadian rhythm and PsA.

METHODS

We conducted a Summary-data-based Mendelian randomization (SMR) analysis, obtaining summary data on gene methylation, expression, and protein abundance levels of circadian clock-related genes (CRGs) from European ancestry individuals, with a total of 1749 genes selected from the GeneCards database using "biological clock" as the search term. The discovery cohort was obtained from the GWAS catalog database, and the replication cohort was obtained from the FinnGen database. Candidate genes related to circadian rhythm and PsA were identified through research, and their pharmacological potential and molecular docking were further validated as drug targets.

RESULTS

After integrating multi-omics data, we identified 11 methylation sites in three genes (HLA-DQB1, ITPR3, and GABBR1) of CRGs that were causally related to PsA, and the effects produced were not consistent. The three gene expressions of CRGs (IL4, HLA-DQB1, and OPI-AIS5) were related to PsA. At the protein level, we identified three proteins (GCKR, STAT3, and CSNK2B) of CRGs related to PsA. The top 20 drug candidates underwent drug prediction screening, resulting in the identification of 12 compounds that demonstrated effective outcomes with three (HLA-DQB1, STAT3, and IL-4) specific therapeutic targets through molecular docking.

CONCLUSION

This study suggests altered expression of circadian clock genes and proteins, including HLA-DQB1, ITPR3, GABBR1, IL4, OIP5-AS1, GCKR, CSNK2B, and STAT3, as factors contributing to the increased risk of PsA.

Type 3 IP3 receptor: Its structure, functions, and related disease implications

Cell-fate decisions depend on the precise and strict regulation of multiple signaling molecules and transcription factors, especially intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis and dynamics. Type 3 inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate receptor (IP3R3) is an a tetrameric channel that can mediate the release of Ca2+ from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) in response to extracellular stimuli. The gating of IP3R3 is regulated not only by ligands but also by other interacting proteins. To date, extensive research conducted on the basic structure of IP3R3, as well as its regulation by ligands and interacting proteins, has provided novel perspectives on its biological functions and pathogenic mechanisms. This review aims to discuss recent advancements in the study of IP3R3 and provides a comprehensive overview of the relevant literature pertaining to its structure, biological functions, and pathogenic mechanisms.

Aberrations in ion channels interacting with lipid metabolism and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is the most prevalent malignant gastrointestinal tumor. Ion channels contribute to tumor growth and progression through interactions with their neighboring molecules including lipids. The dysregulation of membrane ion channels and lipid metabolism may contribute to the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), leading to metastatic progression. Herein, transcriptome profiles of patients with ESCC were analyzed by performing differential gene expression and weighted gene co-expression network analysis to identify the altered ion channels, lipid metabolism- and EMT-related genes in ESCC. A total of 1,081 differentially expressed genes, including 113 ion channels, 487 lipid metabolism-related, and 537 EMT-related genes, were identified in patients with ESCC. Thereafter, EMT scores were correlated with altered co-expressed genes. The altered co-expressed genes indicated a correlation with EMT signatures. Interactions among 22 ion channels with 3 hub lipid metabolism- and 13 hub EMT-related proteins were determined using protein-protein interaction networks. A pathway map was generated to depict deregulated signaling pathways including insulin resistance and the estrogen receptor-Ca²⁺ signaling pathway in ESCC. The relationship between potential ion channels and 5-year survival rates in ESCC was determined using Kaplan-Meier plots and Cox proportional hazard regression analysis. Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor type 3 (ITPR3) was found to be associated with poor prognosis of patients with ESCC. Additionally, drugs interacting with potential ion channels, including GJA1 and ITPR3, were identified. Understanding alterations in ion channels with lipid metabolism and EMT in ESCC pathophysiology would most likely provide potential targets for the better treatment of patients with ESCC.

Recent Developments on the Roles of Calcium Signals and Potential Therapy Targets in Cervical Cancer

Intracellular calcium (Ca²⁺) concentration ([Ca²⁺]i) is implicated in proliferation, invasion, and metastasis in cancerous tissues. A variety of oncologic therapies and some candidate drugs induce their antitumor effects (in part or in whole) through the modulation of [Ca²⁺]i. Cervical cancer is one of most common cancers among women worldwide. Recently, major research advances relating to the Ca²⁺ signals in cervical cancer are emerging. In this review, we comprehensively describe the current progress concerning the roles of Ca²⁺ signals in the occurrence, development, and prognosis of cervical cancer. It will enhance our understanding of the causative mechanism of Ca²⁺ signals in cervical cancer and thus provide new sights for identifying potential therapeutic targets for drug discovery.

Transcriptional ITPR3 as potential targets and biomarkers for human pancreatic cancer

Inositol 1,4,5-Triphosphate Receptor Family (ITPRs) are necessary intracellular Ca2+-release channel encoders and participate in mammalian cell physiological and pathological processes. Previous studies have suggested that ITPRs participate in tumorigenesis of multiple cancers. Nevertheless, the diverse expression profiles and prognostic significance of three ITPRs in pancreatic cancer have yet to be uncovered. In this work, we examined the expression levels and survival dates of ITPRs in patients with pancreatic cancer. As a result, we identified that ITPR1 and ITPR3 expression levels are significantly elevated in cancerous specimens. Survival data revealed that over-expression of ITPR2 and ITPR3 resulted in unfavourable overall survival and pathological stage. The multivariate Cox logistic regression analysis showed that ITPR3 could be an independent risk factor for PAAD patient survival. Moreover, to investigate how ITPRs work, co-expressed genes, alterations, protein-protein interaction, immune infiltration, methylation, and functional enrichment of ITPRs were also analyzed. Then, we evaluated these findings in clinical samples. Moreover, the gain and loss of function of ITPR3 were also conducted. The electron microscope assay was employed to explore the role of ITPR3 in pancreatic cancer cell lines' endoplasmic reticulum stress. In summary, our findings demonstrated that ITPR3 has the potential to be drug targets and biomarkers for human pancreatic cancer.

Potentially functional variants of HBEGF and ITPR3 in GnRH signaling pathway genes predict survival of non-small cell lung cancer patients

The gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) signaling pathway controls reproductive functions and cancer growth and progression. However, few studies investigated roles of genetic variants of GnRH pathway genes in survival of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Therefore, we first evaluated associations between 22,528 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 101 GnRH pathway genes and survival of 1185 NSCLC patients using a dataset from Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial. We found 572 SNPs to be significantly associated with overall survival (OS) of NSCLC (P ≤ 0.05, Bayesian false discovery probability ≤0.80). We then validated these SNPs in another dataset with 984 NSCLC patients from the Harvard Lung Cancer Susceptibility Study. Finally, two independent SNPs (HBEGF rs4150236G>A and ITPR3 rs116454384C>T) remained significantly associated with NSCLC OS in the combined analysis with hazards ratios of 0.84 (95% confidence interval = 0.76-0.92, P = 0.0003) and 0.85 (0.78-0.94, 0.0012), respectively; their genetic score (the number of protective genotypes) was associated with a better OS and disease-specific survival (P_trend = 0.0002 and 0.0001, respectively). Further expression quantitative trail loci analysis showed a significant correlation between ITPR3 rs116454384 T allele and an increased mRNA expression level in both whole blood and normal lung tissue, and high ITPR3 mRNA expression levels in tumors were associated with a better survival of NSCLC patients. Because ITPR3 mutations were rare in tumors, ITPR3 rs116454384C>T likely had an effect on cancer progression by regulating the gene expression. Therefore, genetic variants of HBEGF rs4150236G>A and ITPR3 rs116454384C>T may be predictors for NSCLC survival, but HBEGF rs4150236G>A functional relevance remains to be determined.

Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate Receptors in Human Disease: A Comprehensive Update

Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors (ITPRs) are intracellular calcium release channels located on the endoplasmic reticulum of virtually every cell. Herein, we are reporting an updated systematic summary of the current knowledge on the functional role of ITPRs in human disorders. Specifically, we are describing the involvement of its loss-of-function and gain-of-function mutations in the pathogenesis of neurological, immunological, cardiovascular, and neoplastic human disease. Recent results from genome-wide association studies are also discussed.

Type 3 IP3 receptors: The chameleon in cancer

Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP₃) receptors (IP₃Rs), intracellular calcium (Ca²⁺) release channels, fulfill key functions in cell death and survival processes, whose dysregulation contributes to oncogenesis. This is essentially due to the presence of IP₃Rs in microdomains of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) in close proximity to the mitochondria. As such, IP₃Rs enable efficient Ca²⁺ transfers from the ER to the mitochondria, thus regulating metabolism and cell fate. This review focuses on one of the three IP₃R isoforms, the type 3 IP₃R (IP₃R3), which is linked to proapoptotic ER-mitochondrial Ca²⁺ transfers. Alterations in IP₃R3 expression have been highlighted in numerous cancer types, leading to dysregulations of Ca²⁺ signaling and cellular functions. However, the outcome of IP₃R3-mediated Ca²⁺ transfers for mitochondrial function is complex with opposing effects on oncogenesis. IP₃R3 can either suppress cancer by promoting cell death and cellular senescence or support cancer by driving metabolism, anabolic processes, cell cycle progression, proliferation and invasion. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of IP₃R3 dysregulations in cancer and describe how such dysregulations alter critical cellular processes such as proliferation or cell death and survival. Here, we pose that the IP₃R3 isoform is not only linked to proapoptotic ER-mitochondrial Ca²⁺ transfers but might also be involved in prosurvival signaling.

Replication of results from a cervical cancer genome-wide association study in Taiwanese women

Genetic epidemiological studies show that genetic factors contribute significantly to cervical cancer carcinogenesis. Several genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have revealed novel genetic variants associated with cervical cancer susceptibility. We aim to replicate 4 GWAS-identified single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), which were associated with invasive cervical cancer in Chinese women, in a Taiwanese population. The rs13117307 C/T, rs8067378 A/G, rs4282438 G/T, and rs9277952 A/G SNPs were genotyped in 507 women with cervical squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) and 432 age/sex matched healthy controls by using TaqMan PCR Assay. Human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA test and typing were performed in CSCC patients. Only the rs4282438 SNP was found to be significantly associated (G allele, odds ratio [OR] = 0.67, P = 1.5 × 10⁻⁵). This protective association remained in HPV-16 positive CSCC subgroup (G allele, OR = 0.60, P = 1.2 × 10⁻⁵). In conclusion, our study confirms the association of rs4282438 SNP with CSCC in a Taiwanese population. However, larger sample sets of other ethnic groups are required to confirm these findings.

Pathophysiological consequences of isoform-specific IP3 receptor mutations

Ca²⁺ signaling governs a diverse range of cellular processes and, as such, is subject to tight regulation. A main component of the complex intracellular Ca²⁺-signaling network is the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP₃) receptor (IP₃R), a tetrameric channel that mediates Ca²⁺ release from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) in response to IP₃. IP₃R function is controlled by a myriad of factors, such as Ca²⁺, ATP, kinases and phosphatases and a plethora of accessory and regulatory proteins. Further complexity in IP₃R-mediated Ca²⁺ signaling is the result of the existence of three main isoforms (IP₃R1, IP₃R2 and IP₃R3) that display distinct functional characteristics and properties. Despite their abundant and overlapping expression profiles, IP₃R1 is highly expressed in neurons, IP₃R2 in cardiomyocytes and hepatocytes and IP₃R3 in rapidly proliferating cells as e.g. epithelial cells. As a consequence, dysfunction and/or dysregulation of IP₃R isoforms will have distinct pathophysiological outcomes, ranging from neurological disorders for IP₃R1 to dysfunctional exocrine tissues and autoimmune diseases for IP₃R2 and -3. Over the past years, several IP₃R mutations have surfaced in the sequence analysis of patient-derived samples. Here, we aimed to provide an integrative overview of the clinically most relevant mutations for each IP₃R isoform and the subsequent molecular mechanisms underlying the etiology of the disease.

E2F1 genetic variants and risk of cervical cancer in Indian women

Introduction:

Altered expression of many E2F family members have been reported in various human cancers. In this study, we investigated the role of non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms (rs3213172 C/T, rs3213173 C/T, and rs3213176 G/A) of the gene E2F1 with cervical cancer.

Methods:

A total of 181 samples including 90 cervical cancer patients and 91 healthy controls were genotyped. The genotype frequencies of these polymorphisms in collected samples were determined by either PCR-RFLP or PCR-ARFLP methods. SHEsis software was used to analyze the haplotypes.

Results:

Statistically significant differences in the alleles and the genotypes frequencies were observed in rs3213172 (C/T) and rs3213173 (C/T) polymorphisms. The rs3213172 (C/T) polymorphism was a risk factor for cervical cancer in dominant model (odds ratio (OR) 1.96; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.07, 3.60; P = 0.02) and heterozygous model (OR 1.90; 95% CI 1.01, 3.57; P = 0.04). The rs3213173 (C/T) polymorphism increased the risk of cervical cancer in the homozygous model (OR 2.71; 95% CI 1.11, 6.58; P = 0.02). The rs3213176 (G/A) polymorphism was not associated with cervical cancer risk in any of the genotypic models. In the haplotypes analysis, three haplotypes (CTG, TCG, and TTA) were associated with the cervical cancer risk.

Conclusions:

These findings revealed that rs3213172 (C/T) and rs3213173 (C/T) polymorphisms and haplotypes (CTG, TCG, and TTA) of the E2F1 gene might play role in the susceptibility of cervical cancer. This is the first report showing an association of these polymorphisms with the cervical cancer risk.