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de Souza Gama FH, Dutra LA, Hawgood M, Dos Reis CV, Serafim RAM, Ferreira MA, Teodoro BVM, Takarada JE, Santiago AS, Balourdas DI, Nilsson AS, Urien B, Almeida VM, Gileadi C, Ramos PZ, Salmazo A, Vasconcelos SNS, Cunha MR, Mueller S, Knapp S, Massirer KB, Elkins JM, Gileadi O, Mascarello A, Lemmens BBLG, Guimarães CRW, Azevedo H, Couñago RM. Novel Dihydropteridinone Derivatives As Potent Inhibitors of the Understudied Human Kinases Vaccinia-Related Kinase 1 and Casein Kinase 1δ/ε. J Med Chem 2024; 67:8609-8629. [PMID: 38780468 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c02250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Vaccinia-related kinase 1 (VRK1) and the δ and ε isoforms of casein kinase 1 (CK1) are linked to various disease-relevant pathways. However, the lack of tool compounds for these kinases has significantly hampered our understanding of their cellular functions and therapeutic potential. Here, we describe the structure-based development of potent inhibitors of VRK1, a kinase highly expressed in various tumor types and crucial for cell proliferation and genome integrity. Kinome-wide profiling revealed that our compounds also inhibit CK1δ and CK1ε. We demonstrate that dihydropteridinones 35 and 36 mimic the cellular outcomes of VRK1 depletion. Complementary studies with existing CK1δ and CK1ε inhibitors suggest that these kinases may play overlapping roles in cell proliferation and genome instability. Together, our findings highlight the potential of VRK1 inhibition in treating p53-deficient tumors and possibly enhancing the efficacy of existing cancer therapies that target DNA stability or cell division.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Luiz A Dutra
- Centro de Química Medicinal, Centro de Biologia Molecular e Engenharia Genética, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Av. Dr. André Tosello 550, 13083-886 Campinas, São Paulo Brazil
| | - Michael Hawgood
- Science for Life Laboratory, Sweden, Tomtebodavägen 23A, 17165 Solna, Sweden
- Division of Genome Biology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, SE-17177 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Caio Vinícius Dos Reis
- Centro de Química Medicinal, Centro de Biologia Molecular e Engenharia Genética, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Av. Dr. André Tosello 550, 13083-886 Campinas, São Paulo Brazil
| | - Ricardo A M Serafim
- Centro de Química Medicinal, Centro de Biologia Molecular e Engenharia Genética, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Av. Dr. André Tosello 550, 13083-886 Campinas, São Paulo Brazil
| | - Marcos A Ferreira
- Aché Laboratórios Farmacêuticos S.A., Guarulhos, São Paulo 07034-904, Brazil
| | - Bruno V M Teodoro
- Aché Laboratórios Farmacêuticos S.A., Guarulhos, São Paulo 07034-904, Brazil
| | - Jéssica Emi Takarada
- Centro de Química Medicinal, Centro de Biologia Molecular e Engenharia Genética, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Av. Dr. André Tosello 550, 13083-886 Campinas, São Paulo Brazil
| | - André S Santiago
- Centro de Química Medicinal, Centro de Biologia Molecular e Engenharia Genética, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Av. Dr. André Tosello 550, 13083-886 Campinas, São Paulo Brazil
| | - Dimitrios-Ilias Balourdas
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Max-von-Laue-Str. 9, Frankfurt am Main 60438, Germany
- Structural Genomics Consortium (SGC), Buchmann Institute for Life Sciences, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Max-von-Laue-Str. 15, Frankfurt am Main 60438, Germany
| | - Ann-Sofie Nilsson
- Science for Life Laboratory, Sweden, Tomtebodavägen 23A, 17165 Solna, Sweden
- Division of Genome Biology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, SE-17177 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Bruno Urien
- Science for Life Laboratory, Sweden, Tomtebodavägen 23A, 17165 Solna, Sweden
- Division of Genome Biology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, SE-17177 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Vitor M Almeida
- Centro de Química Medicinal, Centro de Biologia Molecular e Engenharia Genética, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Av. Dr. André Tosello 550, 13083-886 Campinas, São Paulo Brazil
| | - Carina Gileadi
- Centro de Química Medicinal, Centro de Biologia Molecular e Engenharia Genética, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Av. Dr. André Tosello 550, 13083-886 Campinas, São Paulo Brazil
| | - Priscila Z Ramos
- Centro de Química Medicinal, Centro de Biologia Molecular e Engenharia Genética, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Av. Dr. André Tosello 550, 13083-886 Campinas, São Paulo Brazil
| | - Anita Salmazo
- Centro de Química Medicinal, Centro de Biologia Molecular e Engenharia Genética, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Av. Dr. André Tosello 550, 13083-886 Campinas, São Paulo Brazil
| | - Stanley N S Vasconcelos
- Centro de Química Medicinal, Centro de Biologia Molecular e Engenharia Genética, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Av. Dr. André Tosello 550, 13083-886 Campinas, São Paulo Brazil
| | - Micael R Cunha
- Centro de Química Medicinal, Centro de Biologia Molecular e Engenharia Genética, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Av. Dr. André Tosello 550, 13083-886 Campinas, São Paulo Brazil
| | - Susanne Mueller
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Max-von-Laue-Str. 9, Frankfurt am Main 60438, Germany
- Structural Genomics Consortium (SGC), Buchmann Institute for Life Sciences, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Max-von-Laue-Str. 15, Frankfurt am Main 60438, Germany
| | - Stefan Knapp
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Max-von-Laue-Str. 9, Frankfurt am Main 60438, Germany
- Structural Genomics Consortium (SGC), Buchmann Institute for Life Sciences, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Max-von-Laue-Str. 15, Frankfurt am Main 60438, Germany
| | - Katlin B Massirer
- Centro de Química Medicinal, Centro de Biologia Molecular e Engenharia Genética, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Av. Dr. André Tosello 550, 13083-886 Campinas, São Paulo Brazil
| | - Jonathan M Elkins
- Centro de Química Medicinal, Centro de Biologia Molecular e Engenharia Genética, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Av. Dr. André Tosello 550, 13083-886 Campinas, São Paulo Brazil
| | - Opher Gileadi
- Centro de Química Medicinal, Centro de Biologia Molecular e Engenharia Genética, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Av. Dr. André Tosello 550, 13083-886 Campinas, São Paulo Brazil
| | | | - Bennie B L G Lemmens
- Science for Life Laboratory, Sweden, Tomtebodavägen 23A, 17165 Solna, Sweden
- Division of Genome Biology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, SE-17177 Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Hatylas Azevedo
- Aché Laboratórios Farmacêuticos S.A., Guarulhos, São Paulo 07034-904, Brazil
| | - Rafael M Couñago
- Centro de Química Medicinal, Centro de Biologia Molecular e Engenharia Genética, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Av. Dr. André Tosello 550, 13083-886 Campinas, São Paulo Brazil
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He X, Zai G, Zhou L, Chen S, Wang G. Identification of VRK1 as a Novel Potential Biomarker for Prognosis and Immunotherapy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. J Inflamm Res 2024; 17:1671-1683. [PMID: 38504696 PMCID: PMC10948335 DOI: 10.2147/jir.s452505] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Research has indicated that VRK1 is essential for the tumor cell cycle. However, its prognostic and immunotherapeutic predictive significance has not been documented in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods The TCGA, ICGC, and GSE14520 datasets were used to investigate VRK1 expression and its predictive significance of survival outcomes. The qRT-PCR and immunohistochemistry (IHC) were used to confirm the findings. The immunotherapeutic response of VRK1 was anticipated by the IMvigor210 cohort. Lastly, the association between immune infiltration, m6A modification, and functional enrichment of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) was investigated in connection to VRK1 expression. Results VRK1 expression was markedly elevated on both the mRNA and protein levels in HCC. In HCC patients, a high expression of VRK1 was linked to a poor prognosis. Furthermore, there was a substantial positive correlation seen between increased VRK1 expression and the response rate to anti-PD-L1 immunotherapy. Relationships between VRK1 and m6A-related genes as well as different immune cells were shown by correlation studies. Lastly, enrichment analysis revealed a tight relationship between VRK1 and important biological functions, including DNA replication, cell cycle control, and fatty acid metabolism. Conclusion Our research reveals the potential of VRK1 as a novel biomarker for prognosis and immunotherapy response in HCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyan He
- Department of Pathology, the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Guozhen Zai
- Department of Pathology, the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Lidan Zhou
- Department of Radiology, the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Shengyang Chen
- Department of Hepatobiliary Pancreatic Surgery, the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Guizhi Wang
- Department of Pathology, the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, People’s Republic of China
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Berzal-Herranz A, Romero-López C. Aptamers' Potential to Fill Therapeutic and Diagnostic Gaps. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2024; 17:105. [PMID: 38256938 PMCID: PMC10818422 DOI: 10.3390/ph17010105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
More than 30 years ago, in 1990, three independent research groups published several papers demonstrating that genetics could be performed in vitro in the absence of living organisms or cells [...].
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfredo Berzal-Herranz
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina López-Neyra, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas. PTS Granada, Av. del Conocimiento 17, 18016 Granada, Spain
| | - Cristina Romero-López
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina López-Neyra, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas. PTS Granada, Av. del Conocimiento 17, 18016 Granada, Spain
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Chen D, Zhou W, Chen J, Wang J. Comprehensively prognostic and immunological analysis of VRK Serine/Threonine Kinase 1 in pan-cancer and identification in hepatocellular carcinoma. Aging (Albany NY) 2023; 15:15504-15524. [PMID: 38157278 PMCID: PMC10781469 DOI: 10.18632/aging.205389] [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: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND VRK1 is a member of the vaccinia-related kinase (VRK) family of serine/threonine protein kinases, which is related to the occurrence and development of malignant tumors. The expression pattern, predictive value, and biological function of VRK1 in various cancers remain largely elusive and warrant further investigation. METHODS Public databases, such as TCGA, GTEx, and UCEC, were utilized to comprehensively analyze the expression of VRK1 across multiple cancer types. Prognostic significance was assessed through Univariate Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier analyses. Additionally, Spearman's correlation analysis was employed to explore the potential associations between VRK1 expression and various factors, including tumor microenvironment scores, immune cell infiltration, and immune-related genes. Moreover, to validate the findings, differential expression of VRK1 in HCC tissues and cell lines was further confirmed using qPCR, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry techniques. RESULTS The upregulation of VRK1 was observed in most cancer types, and was associated with worse prognosis in ACC, KICH, KIRP, LGG, LIHC, LUAD, MESO, and PCPG. In various cancers, VRK1 expression exhibited positive correlations with immune infiltrating cells, immune checkpoint-related genes, TMB, and MSI. Furthermore, the promoter methylation status of VRK1 varied across different tumor types, and this variation was associated with patient prognosis in certain cancers. In our experimental analyses, we observed significantly elevated expression of VRK1 in both HCC tissues and HCC cells. Functionally, we found that the downregulation of VRK1 had a profound impact on HCC cells, leading to a significant decrease in their proliferation, migration, and invasion capabilities. CONCLUSION The expression of VRK1 exerts a notable influence on the prognosis of several tumors and exhibits a strong correlation with tumor immune infiltration. Moreover, in the context of HCC, VRK1 may act as an oncogene, actively promoting tumor progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongxing Chen
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Hospital of Putian City, Putian, Fujian 351100, China
| | - Wuhan Zhou
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Hospital of Putian City, Putian, Fujian 351100, China
| | - Jiafei Chen
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Hospital of Putian City, Putian, Fujian 351100, China
| | - Jingui Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Hospital of Putian City, Putian, Fujian 351100, China
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, China
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A Review of the Regulatory Mechanisms of N-Myc on Cell Cycle. Molecules 2023; 28:molecules28031141. [PMID: 36770809 PMCID: PMC9920120 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28031141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Revised: 12/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuroblastoma has obvious heterogeneity. It is one of the few undifferentiated malignant tumors that can spontaneously degenerate into completely benign tumors. However, for its high-risk type, even with various intensive treatment options, the prognosis is still unsatisfactory. At the same time, a large number of research data show that the abnormal amplification and high-level expression of the MYCN gene are positively correlated with the malignant progression, poor prognosis, and mortality of neuroblastoma. In this context, this article explores the role of the N-Myc, MYCN gene expression product on its target genes related to the cell cycle and reveals its regulatory network in promoting tumor proliferation and malignant progression. We hope it can provide ideas and direction for the research and development of drugs targeting N-Myc and its downstream target genes.
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Fang Z, Wang F, Zhang M, Huang H, Lin Z. Identification of Co-Expression Modules and Genes Associated With Tumor Progression in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Pathol Oncol Res 2022; 28:1610481. [PMID: 36052378 PMCID: PMC9426548 DOI: 10.3389/pore.2022.1610481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a common head-and-neck cancer with a deficiency of early diagnosis and poor prognosis. To identify potential diagnostic and prognostic markers of OSCC, we firstly used weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) to build a co-expression module from GSE42743. Next, we performed Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses on specified units from selected modules utilizing Database for Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated Discovery (DAVID). Additionally, we identified and validate hub genes of these specified modules from multiple datasets like GEPIA and TCGA. In total 16 co-expression modules were built by 17,238 genes of 74 tumor samples utilizing WGCNA. Through pathway and functional enrichment analysis, the turquoise module was most firmly relevant to the cell cycle, oocyte meiosis, and p53 signaling pathway. Hub genes VRK1, NUP37, HMMR, SPC25, and RUVBL1 were identified to be related to oral cancer at both molecular level and clinical levels. The expressions of these genes differed in tumor tissues and normal tissues. Meanwhile, patients with high hub gene expression had a poor prognosis clinically. To conclude, five hub genes were identified to be relevant to oral cancer from the molecular level and the clinical level. Therefore, the detection of these genes was of great significance. They can be regarded as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for oral cancer. Also, they could shed light on the improvement of patients’ overall survival and prognosis, which needs further analysis in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhijie Fang
- Department of Otolaryngology, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, China
| | - Feifei Wang
- Department of Nursing, Suzhou BenQ Medical Center, The Affiliated BenQ Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, China
| | - Mengya Zhang
- Department of Otolaryngology, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, China
| | - Hua Huang
- Department of Otolaryngology, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, China
| | - Zhiqiang Lin
- Department of Otolaryngology, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Zhiqiang Lin,
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Dissecting the roles of Haspin and VRK1 in histone H3 phosphorylation during mitosis. Sci Rep 2022; 12:11210. [PMID: 35778595 PMCID: PMC9249732 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-15339-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein kinases that phosphorylate histones are ideally-placed to influence the behavior of chromosomes during cell division. Indeed, a number of conserved histone phosphorylation events occur prominently during mitosis and meiosis in most eukaryotes, including on histone H3 at threonine-3 (H3T3ph). At least two kinases, Haspin and VRK1 (NHK-1/ballchen in Drosophila), have been proposed to carry out this modification. Phosphorylation of H3 by Haspin has defined roles in mitosis, but the significance of VRK1 activity towards histones in dividing cells has been unclear. Here, using in vitro kinase assays, KiPIK screening, RNA interference, and CRISPR/Cas9 approaches, we were unable to substantiate a direct role for VRK1, or its paralogue VRK2, in the phosphorylation of threonine-3 or serine-10 of Histone H3 in mitosis, although loss of VRK1 did slow cell proliferation. We conclude that the role of VRKs, and their more recently identified association with neuromuscular disease and importance in cancers of the nervous system, are unlikely to involve mitotic histone kinase activity. In contrast, Haspin is required to generate H3T3ph during mitosis.
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Cheng M, Ge X, Zhong C, Fu R, Ning K, Xu S. Micro-coevolution of host genetics with gut microbiome in three Chinese ethnic groups. J Genet Genomics 2021; 48:972-983. [PMID: 34562635 DOI: 10.1016/j.jgg.2021.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2021] [Revised: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Understanding the micro-coevolution of the human gut microbiome with host genetics is challenging but essential in both evolutionary and medical studies. To gain insight into the interactions between host genetic variation and the gut microbiome, we analyzed both the human genome and gut microbiome collected from a cohort of 190 students in the same boarding college and representing 3 ethnic groups, Uyghur, Kazakh, and Han Chinese. We found that differences in gut microbiome were greater between genetically distinct ethnic groups than those genetically closely related ones in taxonomic composition, functional composition, enterotype stratification, and microbiome genetic differentiation. We also observed considerable correlations between host genetic variants and the abundance of a subset of gut microbial species. Notably, interactions between gut microbiome species and host genetic variants might have coordinated effects on specific human phenotypes. Bacteroides ovatus, previously reported to modulate intestinal immunity, is significantly correlated with the host genetic variant rs12899811 (meta-P = 5.55 × 10-5), which regulates the VPS33B expression in the colon, acting as a tumor suppressor of colorectal cancer. These results advance our understanding of the micro-coevolution of the human gut microbiome and their interactive effects with host genetic variation on phenotypic diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingyue Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Molecular-imaging, Center of AI Biology, Department of Bioinformatics and Systems Biology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Xueling Ge
- Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Chaofang Zhong
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Molecular-imaging, Center of AI Biology, Department of Bioinformatics and Systems Biology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Ruiqing Fu
- Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Kang Ning
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Molecular-imaging, Center of AI Biology, Department of Bioinformatics and Systems Biology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China.
| | - Shuhua Xu
- Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Center for Evolutionary Biology, Collaborative Innovation Center for Genetics and Development, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China; School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China; Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China; Henan Institute of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China; Human Phenome Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai 201203, China.
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Ryu HG, Jung Y, Lee N, Seo JY, Kim SW, Lee KH, Kim DY, Kim KT. HNRNP A1 Promotes Lung Cancer Cell Proliferation by Modulating VRK1 Translation. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22115506. [PMID: 34071140 PMCID: PMC8197126 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22115506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2021] [Revised: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
THeterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein (HNRNP) A1 is the most abundant and ubiquitously expressed member of the HNRNP protein family. In recent years, it has become more evident that HNRNP A1 contributes to the development of neurodegenerative diseases. However, little is known about the underlying role of HNRNP A1 in cancer development. Here, we report that HNRNP A1 expression is significantly increased in lung cancer tissues and is negatively correlated with the overall survival of patients with lung cancer. Additionally, HNRNP A1 positively regulates vaccinia-related kinase 1 (VRK1) translation via binding directly to the 3′ untranslated region (UTR) of VRK1 mRNA, thus increasing cyclin D1 (CCND1) expression by VRK1-mediated phosphorylation of the cAMP response element–binding protein (CREB). Furthermore, HNRNP A1 binding to the cis-acting region of the 3′UTR of VRK1 mRNA contributes to increased lung cancer cell proliferation. Thus, our study unveils a novel role of HNRNP A1 in lung carcinogenesis via post-transcriptional regulation of VRK1 expression and suggests its potential as a therapeutic target for patients with lung cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hye Guk Ryu
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang 37673, Korea;
| | - Youngseob Jung
- Division of Integrative Biosciences and Biotechnology, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang 37673, Korea; (Y.J.); (J.-Y.S.); (S.W.K.)
| | - Namgyu Lee
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01065, USA;
| | - Ji-Young Seo
- Division of Integrative Biosciences and Biotechnology, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang 37673, Korea; (Y.J.); (J.-Y.S.); (S.W.K.)
| | - Sung Wook Kim
- Division of Integrative Biosciences and Biotechnology, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang 37673, Korea; (Y.J.); (J.-Y.S.); (S.W.K.)
| | - Kyung-Ha Lee
- Division of Cosmetic Science and Technology, Daegu Haany University, Gyeongsan 38610, Korea;
| | - Do-Yeon Kim
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Dentistry, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41940, Korea;
| | - Kyong-Tai Kim
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang 37673, Korea;
- Division of Integrative Biosciences and Biotechnology, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang 37673, Korea; (Y.J.); (J.-Y.S.); (S.W.K.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +82-54-279-2297
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Carrión-Marchante R, Frezza V, Salgado-Figueroa A, Pérez-Morgado MI, Martín ME, González VM. DNA Aptamers against Vaccinia-Related Kinase (VRK) 1 Block Proliferation in MCF7 Breast Cancer Cells. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:ph14050473. [PMID: 34067799 PMCID: PMC8156982 DOI: 10.3390/ph14050473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Revised: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Vaccinia-related kinase (VRK) 1 is a serin/threonine kinase that plays an important role in DNA damage response (DDR), phosphorylating some proteins involved in this process such as 53BP1, NBS1 or H2AX, and in the cell cycle progression. In addition, VRK1 is overexpressed in many cancer types and its correlation with poor prognosis has been determined, showing VRK1 as a new therapeutic target in oncology. Using in vitro selection, high-affinity DNA aptamers to VRK1 were selected from a library of ssDNA. Selection was monitored using the enzyme-linked oligonucleotide assay (ELONA), and the selected aptamer population was cloned and sequenced. Three aptamers were selected and characterized. These aptamers recognized the protein kinase VRK1 with an affinity in the nanomolar range and showed a high sensibility. Moreover, the treatment of the MCF7 breast cell line with these aptamers resulted in a decrease in cyclin D1 levels, and an inhibition of cell cycle progression by G1 phase arrest, which induced apoptosis in cells. These results suggest that these aptamers are specific inhibitors of VRK1 that might be developed as potential drugs for the treatment of cancer.
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Pawlonka J, Rak B, Ambroziak U. The regulation of cyclin D promoters - review. Cancer Treat Res Commun 2021; 27:100338. [PMID: 33618151 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctarc.2021.100338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Revised: 02/06/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Cyclins are key regulators of cell cycle progression and survival. Particularly cyclins D (cyclin D1, D2, and D3) act in response to the mitogenic stimulation and are pivotal mediators between proliferative pathways and the nuclear cell cycle machinery. Dysregulation of cyclins expression results in impaired development, abnormal cell growth or tumorigenesis. In this review we summarize current knowledge about regulatory role of the cyclin D promoters, transcriptional factors: regulators, co-activators and adaptor proteins necessary to their activation. We focused on the intracellular signaling pathways vital to cell growth, differentiation and apoptosis including transcription factor families: activator protein 1 (AP1), nuclear factor (NFκB), signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT), cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) and Sp/NF-Y, with a special insight into the tissue specific cyclin representation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Pawlonka
- Department of Internal Medicine and Endocrinology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw
| | - Beata Rak
- Department of Internal Medicine and Endocrinology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw; Department of Genomic Medicine, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw.
| | - Urszula Ambroziak
- Department of Internal Medicine and Endocrinology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw
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12
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Colmenero-Repiso A, Gómez-Muñoz MA, Rodríguez-Prieto I, Amador-Álvarez A, Henrich KO, Pascual-Vaca D, Okonechnikov K, Rivas E, Westermann F, Pardal R, Vega FM. Identification of VRK1 as a New Neuroblastoma Tumor Progression Marker Regulating Cell Proliferation. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12113465. [PMID: 33233777 PMCID: PMC7699843 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12113465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2020] [Revised: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuroblastoma (NB) is one of the most common pediatric cancers and presents a poor survival rate in affected children. Current pretreatment risk assessment relies on a few known molecular parameters, like the amplification of the oncogene MYCN. However, a better molecular knowledge about the aggressive progression of the disease is needed to provide new therapeutical targets and prognostic markers and to improve patients' outcomes. The human protein kinase VRK1 phosphorylates various signaling molecules and transcription factors to regulate cell cycle progression and other processes in physiological and pathological situations. Using neuroblastoma tumor expression data, tissue microarrays from fresh human samples and patient-derived xenografts (PDXs), we have determined that VRK1 kinase expression stratifies patients according to tumor aggressiveness and survival, allowing the identification of patients with worse outcome among intermediate risk. VRK1 associates with cell cycle signaling pathways in NB and its downregulation abrogates cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo. Through the analysis of ChIP-seq and methylation data from NB tumors, we show that VRK1 is a MYCN gene target, however VRK1 correlates with NB aggressiveness independently of MYCN gene amplification, synergizing with the oncogene to drive NB progression. Our study also suggests that VRK1 inhibition may constitute a novel cell-cycle-targeted strategy for anticancer therapy in neuroblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Colmenero-Repiso
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBiS), Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/Universidad de Sevilla, 41013 Seville, Spain; (A.C.-R.); (M.A.G.-M.); (I.R.-P.); (A.A.-Á.)
- Departamento de Fisiología Médica y Biofísica, Universidad de Sevilla, 41013 Seville, Spain
| | - María A. Gómez-Muñoz
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBiS), Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/Universidad de Sevilla, 41013 Seville, Spain; (A.C.-R.); (M.A.G.-M.); (I.R.-P.); (A.A.-Á.)
- Departamento de Fisiología Médica y Biofísica, Universidad de Sevilla, 41013 Seville, Spain
| | - Ismael Rodríguez-Prieto
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBiS), Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/Universidad de Sevilla, 41013 Seville, Spain; (A.C.-R.); (M.A.G.-M.); (I.R.-P.); (A.A.-Á.)
- Departamento de Fisiología Médica y Biofísica, Universidad de Sevilla, 41013 Seville, Spain
| | - Aida Amador-Álvarez
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBiS), Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/Universidad de Sevilla, 41013 Seville, Spain; (A.C.-R.); (M.A.G.-M.); (I.R.-P.); (A.A.-Á.)
- Departamento de Biología Celular, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, 41012 Seville, Spain
| | - Kai-Oliver Henrich
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Division Neuroblastoma Genomics, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; (K.-O.H.); (F.W.)
| | - Diego Pascual-Vaca
- Departamento de Anatomía Patológica, Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío, 41013 Sevilla, Spain; (D.P.-V.); (E.R.)
| | | | - Eloy Rivas
- Departamento de Anatomía Patológica, Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío, 41013 Sevilla, Spain; (D.P.-V.); (E.R.)
| | - Frank Westermann
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Division Neuroblastoma Genomics, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; (K.-O.H.); (F.W.)
| | - Ricardo Pardal
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBiS), Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/Universidad de Sevilla, 41013 Seville, Spain; (A.C.-R.); (M.A.G.-M.); (I.R.-P.); (A.A.-Á.)
- Departamento de Fisiología Médica y Biofísica, Universidad de Sevilla, 41013 Seville, Spain
- Correspondence: (R.P.); (F.M.V.)
| | - Francisco M. Vega
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBiS), Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/Universidad de Sevilla, 41013 Seville, Spain; (A.C.-R.); (M.A.G.-M.); (I.R.-P.); (A.A.-Á.)
- Departamento de Biología Celular, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, 41012 Seville, Spain
- Correspondence: (R.P.); (F.M.V.)
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13
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Ren Z, Geng J, Xiong C, Li X, Li Y, Li J, Liu H. Downregulation of VRK1 reduces the expression of BANF1 and suppresses the proliferative and migratory activity of esophageal cancer cells. Oncol Lett 2020; 20:1163-1170. [PMID: 32724356 PMCID: PMC7377186 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2020.11654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2019] [Accepted: 04/15/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a common malignancy worldwide. The disease has a poor prognosis and a low 5-year survival rate. Therefore, it is necessary to identify new strategies to optimize the treatment of ESCC. Vaccinia-related kinase (VRK1) and barrier-to-autointegration factor 1 (BANF1) are overexpressed in ESCC. In the present study, the roles of VRK1 and BANF1 were explored in the development of ESCC. In the present study, the effects of small interfering (si)RNA-induced downregulation of VRK1 on BANF1 expression were investigated as well as the effects on proliferative and migratory activity of ESCC cells. Western blot analysis indicated that the protein expression levels of BANF1 were decreased following siRNA depletion of VRK1. Furthermore, the depletion of VRK1 expression inhibited the proliferation and migration of ESCC cell lines, and flow cytometry analysis indicated that the depletion of VRK1 triggered cell cycle arrest mainly in the S phase. These results suggested that VRK1 and BANF1 may have pivotal roles in the progression of ESCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenzhen Ren
- Department of Medical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, P.R. China
| | - Jie Geng
- Department of Medical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, P.R. China
| | - Chao Xiong
- Department of Medical Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, P.R. China
| | - Xuebing Li
- Department of Medical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, P.R. China
| | - Yuqing Li
- Department of Medical Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, P.R. China
| | - Jin Li
- Department of Medical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, P.R. China
| | - Hongchun Liu
- Department of Medical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, P.R. China
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14
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Kwan SY, Sheel A, Song CQ, Zhang XO, Jiang T, Dang H, Cao Y, Ozata DM, Mou H, Yin H, Weng Z, Wang XW, Xue W. Depletion of TRRAP Induces p53-Independent Senescence in Liver Cancer by Down-Regulating Mitotic Genes. Hepatology 2020; 71:275-290. [PMID: 31188495 PMCID: PMC6906267 DOI: 10.1002/hep.30807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2018] [Accepted: 05/27/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an aggressive subtype of liver cancer with few effective treatments, and the underlying mechanisms that drive HCC pathogenesis remain poorly characterized. Identifying genes and pathways essential for HCC cell growth will aid the development of new targeted therapies for HCC. Using a kinome CRISPR screen in three human HCC cell lines, we identified transformation/transcription domain-associated protein (TRRAP) as an essential gene for HCC cell proliferation. TRRAP has been implicated in oncogenic transformation, but how it functions in cancer cell proliferation is not established. Here, we show that depletion of TRRAP or its co-factor, histone acetyltransferase KAT5, inhibits HCC cell growth through induction of p53-independent and p21-independent senescence. Integrated cancer genomics analyses using patient data and RNA sequencing identified mitotic genes as key TRRAP/KAT5 targets in HCC, and subsequent cell cycle analyses revealed that TRRAP-depleted and KAT5-depleted cells are arrested at the G2/M phase. Depletion of topoisomerase II alpha (TOP2A), a mitotic gene and TRRAP/KAT5 target, was sufficient to recapitulate the senescent phenotype of TRRAP/KAT5 knockdown. Conclusion: Our results uncover a role for TRRAP/KAT5 in promoting HCC cell proliferation by activating mitotic genes. Targeting the TRRAP/KAT5 complex is a potential therapeutic strategy for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suet-Yan Kwan
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605
| | - Ankur Sheel
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605
| | - Chun-Qing Song
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605
| | - Xiao-Ou Zhang
- Program in Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605
| | - Tingting Jiang
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605
| | - Hien Dang
- Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Yueying Cao
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605
| | - Deniz M. Ozata
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605
| | - Haiwei Mou
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605
| | - Hao Yin
- Medical research institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, PR China
| | - Zhiping Weng
- Program in Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605
- Department of Bioinformatics, School of Life Science and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Xin Wei Wang
- Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Wen Xue
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605
- Program in Molecular Medicine, Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, and Li Weibo Institute for Rare Diseases Research, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 368 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA, 01605
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15
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Small Cell Carcinomas of the Uterine Cervix and Lung: Proteomics Reveals Similar Protein Expression Profiles. Int J Gynecol Cancer 2019; 28:1751-1757. [PMID: 30358701 PMCID: PMC6221385 DOI: 10.1097/igc.0000000000001354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective The phenotypic and pathological features of small cell cervical carcinoma (SMCC) and small small cell lung cancer (SCLC) are very similar; thus, the chemotherapy regimens used for the rare SMCC have been routinely based on regimens used for common SCLC. We set out to explore the protein expression profile similarities between these 2 cancers to prove that linking their therapeutic regimens is justified, with a secondary aim of finding tumor-specific proteins to use as additional biomarkers for more accurate diagnosis of SMCC, and potentially to use as therapeutic targets. Methods Protein expression analysis was performed for 3 cases of SMCC and 1 example each of SCLC, mucinous adenocarcinoma of the cervix (MACC), lung mucinous adenocarcinoma (MACL), and squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix (SCC). We used cancer tissue–originated spheroids (CTOS) and isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ)–based comprehensive and quantitative protein expression profile analysis. Expression in corresponding clinical samples was verified by immunohistochemistry. Results Rather than organ of origin–specific patterns, the SMCC and SCLC samples revealed remarkably similar protein expression profiles—in agreement with their matching tumor pathology phenotypes. Sixteen proteins were expressed at least 2-fold higher in both small cell carcinomas (SMCC and SCLC) than in MACC or SCC. Immunohistochemical analysis confirmed higher expression of creatine kinase B-type in SMCC, compared with MACC and SCC. Conclusions We demonstrate a significant overlapping similarity of protein expression profiles of lung and cervical small cell carcinomas despite the significant differences in their organs of origin.
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16
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4-Hydroxytamoxifen enhances sensitivity of estrogen receptor α-positive breast cancer to docetaxel in an estrogen and ZNF423 SNP-dependent fashion. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2019; 175:567-578. [DOI: 10.1007/s10549-019-05194-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2018] [Accepted: 03/05/2019] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
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17
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Li N, Wang L, Sun X, Lu Z, Suo X, Li J, Peng J, Peng R. A novel mutation in VRK1 associated with distal spinal muscular atrophy. J Hum Genet 2019; 64:215-219. [PMID: 30617279 DOI: 10.1038/s10038-018-0553-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2018] [Revised: 11/11/2018] [Accepted: 12/07/2018] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Distal spinal muscular atrophy (dSMA) is a rare clinically and genetically heterogeneous group of inherited disorders characterized by progressive distal muscle weakness and wasting. So far, more than 65% of patients with dSMA have undiscovered genetic mutations. Recently, compound heterozygous mutations in the vaccinia-related kinase 1 (VRK1) gene have been identified for the first time in two siblings with adult-onset dSMA from an Ashkenazi Jewish family. Here, we also report two affected siblings with adult-onset dSMA in a Chinese family. Whole exome sequencing and subsequent Sanger sequencing identified a novel nonsense mutation (c.1124G >A, p.W375*) in exon 12 of the VRK1 gene, co-segregating with the dSMA phenotype in an autosomal recessive pattern. In conclusion, our findings identify a novel nonsense mutation p.W375* in the VRK1 gene in a Chinese family with autosomal recessive dSMA and broaden the genetic spectrum of VRK1-associated dSMA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nannan Li
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Ling Wang
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Xiaoyi Sun
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Zhongjiao Lu
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Xueling Suo
- Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Department of Radiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Junying Li
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Jiaxin Peng
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Rong Peng
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
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18
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Mon AM, MacKinnon AC, Traktman P. Overexpression of the VRK1 kinase, which is associated with breast cancer, induces a mesenchymal to epithelial transition in mammary epithelial cells. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0203397. [PMID: 30180179 PMCID: PMC6122820 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0203397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2018] [Accepted: 08/20/2018] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Vaccinia-related kinase 1 (VRK1) is a pro-proliferative nuclear kinase. Mice engrafted with VRK1-depleted MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells have been shown to develop fewer distal metastases than controls, suggesting VRK1 might play a role in cell migration, invasion, and/or colonization. In work described herein, we investigated the impact of VRK1 overexpression on human mammary epithelial cells. In 2D culture, VRK1 overexpression diminishes cell migration and invasion and impairs the migration-associated processes of cell spreading and cytoskeletal rearrangement. VRK1-overexpressing cells show reduced accumulation of the mesenchymal marker vimentin and increased accumulation of the epithelial markers E-cadherin and claudin-1. VRK1 overexpression also leads to reduced levels of the transcriptional repressors snail, slug, and twist1. Cumulatively, these data indicate that VRK1 overexpression augments the epithelial properties of both MCF10a and MDA-MB-231 cells. We further studied the impact of VRK1 on the epithelial properties of MCF10a cells in 3D matrigel culture, in which cells proliferate and form epithelial sheets that mature into hollow spherical acini. VRK1 overexpression significantly accelerates the initial stages of cell proliferation, leading to larger acini that nevertheless differentiate and mature. Our analysis of human tumor tissue microarrays (TMAs) revealed that VRK1 protein levels are higher in lymph node metastases than in patient-matched mammary tumors. Using public databases, we determined that VRK1 is among the top 10% of overexpressed transcripts in multiple subtypes of invasive breast cancer, and that high levels of VRK1 expression are correlated with decreased relapse-free survival. In sum, overexpression of VRK1, by regulating the transcription repressors snail, slug, and twist1, can promote a mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition (MET) in cell culture. VRK1-mediated MET might facilitate the colonization of distal sites by metastatic breast cancer cells, providing some insight into the frequent association of VRK1 overexpression with breast malignancies and the correlation between VRK1 overexpression and poor clinical outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aye M. Mon
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States of America
| | - A. Craig MacKinnon
- Department of Pathology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States of America
| | - Paula Traktman
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States of America
- The Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States of America
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19
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Lee N, Kim DK, Han SH, Ryu HG, Park SJ, Kim KT, Choi KY. Comparative Interactomes of VRK1 and VRK3 with Their Distinct Roles in the Cell Cycle of Liver Cancer. Mol Cells 2017; 40:621-631. [PMID: 28927264 PMCID: PMC5638770 DOI: 10.14348/molcells.2017.0108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2017] [Accepted: 07/10/2017] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Vaccinia-related kinase 1 (VRK1) and VRK3 are members of the VRK family of serine/threonine kinases and are principally localized in the nucleus. Despite the crucial roles of VRK1/VRK3 in physiology and disease, the molecular and functional interactions of VRK1/VRK3 are poorly understood. Here, we identified over 200 unreported VRK1/VRK3-interacting candidate proteins by affinity purification and LC-MS/MS. The networks of VRK1 and VRK3 interactomes were found to be associated with important biological processes such as the cell cycle, DNA repair, chromatin assembly, and RNA processing. Interactions of interacting proteins with VRK1/VRK3 were confirmed by biochemical assays. We also found that phosphorylations of XRCC5 were regulated by both VRK1/VRK3, and that of CCNB1 was regulated by VRK3. In liver cancer cells and tissues, VRK1/VRK3 were highly upregulated and its depletion affected cell cycle progression in the different phases. VRK3 seemed to affect S phase progression and G2 or M phase entry and exit, whereas VRK1 affects G1/S transition in the liver cancer, which could be explained by different interacting candidate proteins. Thus, this study not only provides a resource for investigating the unidentified functions of VRK1/VRK3, but also an insight into the regulatory roles of VRK1/VRK3 in biological processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Namgyu Lee
- Department of Life Science, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang 37673,
Korea
| | - Dae-Kyum Kim
- Donnelly Centre, Departments of Molecular Genetics and Computer Science, University of Toronto, Toronto,
Canada
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto,
Canada
| | - Seung Hyun Han
- Department of Life Science, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang 37673,
Korea
| | - Hye Guk Ryu
- Department of Life Science, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang 37673,
Korea
| | - Sung Jin Park
- Department of Life Science, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang 37673,
Korea
| | - Kyong-Tai Kim
- Department of Life Science, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang 37673,
Korea
- Department of Integrative Biosciences and Biotechnology, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang 37673,
Korea
| | - Kwan Yong Choi
- Department of Life Science, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang 37673,
Korea
- Department of Integrative Biosciences and Biotechnology, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang 37673,
Korea
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20
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Wang Y, Pan T, Wang H, Li L, Li J, Zhang D, Yang H. Overexpression of SIRT6 attenuates the tumorigenicity of hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Oncotarget 2017; 8:76223-76230. [PMID: 29100306 PMCID: PMC5652700 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.19297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2017] [Accepted: 06/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective This study aimed to explore the effects of overexpression of sirtuin 6 (SIRT6) on the tumorigenicity of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells Methods Stable SIRT6-overexpressed HCC cell lines were established by transfecting SIRT6 plasmid. Soft agar assay and tumor xenograft assay in nude mice were applied. Flow cytometry was employed to detect cell cycle distribution. Western blotting analysis was used to detect the expression of proteins. Results Overexpression of SIRT6 attenuated HepG2 and HCCLM3 cells proliferation, colony formation in vitro and tumor formation in nude mice, and resulted in the G1 phase cell cycle arrest. Overexpression of SIRT6 reduced the expression of cyclin D1 and p-ERK proteins in both HepG2 and HCCLM3 cells. Conclusion Overexpression of SIRT6 attenuates the tumorigenicity of HCC cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yadong Wang
- Department of Toxicology, Henan Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Zhengzhou 450016, China.,Henan Collaborative Innovation Center of Molecular Diagnosis and Laboratory Medicine, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang 453003, China
| | - Teng Pan
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Haiyu Wang
- Department of Toxicology, Henan Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Zhengzhou 450016, China
| | - Li Li
- Department of Toxicology, Henan Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Zhengzhou 450016, China
| | - Jiangmin Li
- Department of Toxicology, Henan Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Zhengzhou 450016, China
| | - Ding Zhang
- Department of Toxicology, Henan Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Zhengzhou 450016, China
| | - Haiyan Yang
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
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Characterization of a new murine cell line of sarcomatoid hepatocellular carcinoma and its application for biomarker/therapy development. Sci Rep 2017; 7:3052. [PMID: 28596515 PMCID: PMC5465177 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-03164-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2016] [Accepted: 04/21/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Sarcomatoid hepatocellular carcinoma (SHC) is a rare type of HCC with significantly poorer survival than ordinary HCC. Little is known about the mechanism associated with SHC and its biomarkers and therapy. Here, we established a mouse liver cancer cell line and designated as Ymac-1. A sarcomatous appearance was observed in the allograft tumor arose from Ymac-1. Liver-secreted plasma proteins were found in Ymac-1 cultured supernatant by proteomics analysis. The positive staining of CK7, CK8, Vimentin and the suppressed expression of AFP indicated that Ymac-1 is a SHC cell line. Compared to its original tumor, an elevated level of EMT markers, N-cadherin and Vimentin, was found in Ymac-1. Ymac-1 displayed a higher migration rate and side population percentage than a mouse ordinary HCC cell line-Hepa1-6. Microarray analysis was performed to identify potential biomarkers/therapeutic targets for SHC. G6pd, a vital enzyme in pentose phosphate pathway, is highly expressed in Ymac-1. Depletion of G6pd in Ymac-1 reduced CD133 expression and sphere formation. Positive correlations between G6PD and CD133 were observed in human specimen. Higher expression of both G6PD and CD133 in tumor were associated with poor survival. In summary Ymac-1 can be a useful SHC cell model for novel biomarker and therapy development.
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22
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Expression of VRK1 and the downstream gene BANF1 in esophageal cancer. Biomed Pharmacother 2017; 89:1086-1091. [PMID: 28298069 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2017.02.095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2016] [Revised: 02/20/2017] [Accepted: 02/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Esophageal cancer is considered one of the most malignant tumors, being characterized by rapid progression and poor outcomes. China has the highest incidence of esophageal cancer in the world. Hence, it is necessary to clarify the mechanisms underlying esophageal cancer progression. In this study, we examined the expression of vaccinia-related kinase 1 (VRK1) and barrier to autointegration factor 1 (BANF1) in tumor tissues at the mRNA and protein levels via real-time PCR and immunohistochemical analyses. The mRNA and protein expression levels of VRK1 and BANF1 were higher in tumor tissues than in adjacent normal tissues. ROC curve analysis showed that VRK1 and BANF1 yielded AUCs of 0.790 and 0.735, respectively, for the detection of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC) patients. In conclusion, our study indicates that VRK1 and BANF are promising novel therapeutic targets for esophageal cancer.
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Lee N, Ryu HG, Kwon JH, Kim DK, Kim SR, Wang HJ, Kim KT, Choi KY. SIRT6 Depletion Suppresses Tumor Growth by Promoting Cellular Senescence Induced by DNA Damage in HCC. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0165835. [PMID: 27824900 PMCID: PMC5100879 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0165835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2016] [Accepted: 10/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The role of Sirtuin 6 (SIRT6) as a tumor suppressor or oncogene in liver cancer remains controversial. Thus, we identified the specific role of SIRT6 in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). SIRT6 expression was significantly higher in HCC cell lines and HCC tissues from 138 patients than in an immortalized hepatocyte cell line, THLE-2 and non-tumor tissues, respectively. SIRT6 knockdown by shRNA suppressed the growth of HCC cells and inhibited HCC tumor growth in vivo. In addition, SIRT6 silencing significantly prevented the growth of HCC cell lines by inducing cellular senescence in the p16/Rb- and p53/p21-pathway independent manners. Microarray analysis revealed that the expression of genes involved in nucleosome assembly was apparently altered in SIRT6-depleted Hep3B cells. SIRT6 knockdown promoted G2/M phase arrest and downregulation of genes encoding histone variants associated with nucleosome assembly, which could be attributed to DNA damage. Taken together, our findings suggest that SIRT6 acts as a tumor promoter by preventing DNA damage and cellular senescence, indicating that SIRT6 represents a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Namgyu Lee
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, Gyeongbuk, Korea
| | - Hye Guk Ryu
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, Gyeongbuk, Korea
| | | | - Dae-Kyum Kim
- Donnelly Centre, Departments of Molecular Genetics and Computer Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sae Rom Kim
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, Gyeongbuk, Korea
| | - Hee Jung Wang
- Department of Surgery, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea
| | - Kyong-Tai Kim
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, Gyeongbuk, Korea
- Division of Integrative Biosciences & Biotechnology, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, Gyeongbuk, Republic of Korea
| | - Kwan Yong Choi
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, Gyeongbuk, Korea
- Division of Integrative Biosciences & Biotechnology, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, Gyeongbuk, Republic of Korea
- * E-mail:
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Zou L, Chai J, Gao Y, Guan J, Liu Q, Du JJ. Down-regulated PLAC8 promotes hepatocellular carcinoma cell proliferation by enhancing PI3K/Akt/GSK3β/Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Biomed Pharmacother 2016; 84:139-146. [PMID: 27643556 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2016.09.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2016] [Revised: 09/06/2016] [Accepted: 09/06/2016] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common, prevalent malignancy. Its poor prognosis is mainly related to high rate of diagnosis in non-curable stages, in which patients are suitable for palliative treatment. Placenta-specific 8 (PLAC8), also known as Onzin, is a small, highly conserved, cysteine-rich protein. In current study, we found that PLAC8 is prominently decreased in HCC tissues compared with adjacent tissues and patients with low level of PLAC8 suffered a poor prognosis. In addition, cellular function assays demonstrate that down-regulated PLAC8 promotes cell viability, proliferation and tumor formation both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, we validate that down-regulated PLAC8 enhances the activity of PI3K/Akt/GSK3β and Wnt/β-catenin signaling to promote cell proliferation. Moreover, we proved that highly expressed miR-185-5p targets PLAC8 in HCC tissues. In conclusion, our findings enlarged our knowledge about the roles of PLAC8 in HCC progression and miR-185-5p/PLAC8/β-catenin axis might be a novel pathway for HCC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Zou
- Institute of Oncology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Shandong University, Jinan, 250021, China; Department of General Surgery, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Jinan, 250117, China
| | - Jie Chai
- Department of General Surgery, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Jinan, 250117, China
| | - Yang Gao
- Department of General Surgery, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Jinan, 250117, China
| | - Jie Guan
- Department of General Surgery, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Jinan, 250117, China
| | - Qi Liu
- Institute of Oncology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Shandong University, Jinan, 250021, China.
| | - Jia-Jun Du
- Institute of Oncology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Shandong University, Jinan, 250021, China.
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Microarray-based identification of genes associated with cancer progression and prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH : CR 2016; 35:127. [PMID: 27567667 PMCID: PMC5002170 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-016-0403-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2016] [Accepted: 08/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths. The average survival and 5-year survival rates of HCC patients still remains poor. Thus, there is an urgent need to better understand the mechanisms of cancer progression in HCC and to identify useful biomarkers to predict prognosis. METHODS Public data portals including Oncomine, The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) profiles were used to retrieve the HCC-related microarrays and to identify potential genes contributed to cancer progression. Bioinformatics analyses including pathway enrichment, protein/gene interaction and text mining were used to explain the potential roles of the identified genes in HCC. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis and Western blotting were used to measure the expression of the targets. The data were analysed by SPSS 20.0 software. RESULTS We identified 80 genes that were significantly dysregulated in HCC according to four independent microarrays covering 386 cases of HCC and 327 normal liver tissues. Twenty genes were consistently and stably dysregulated in the four microarrays by at least 2-fold and detection of gene expression by RT-qPCR and western blotting showed consistent expression profiles in 11 HCC tissues compared with corresponding paracancerous tissues. Eleven of these 20 genes were associated with disease-free survival (DFS) or overall survival (OS) in a cohort of 157 HCC patients, and eight genes were associated with tumour pathologic PT, tumour stage or vital status. Potential roles of those 20 genes in regulation of HCC progression were predicted, primarily in association with metastasis. INTS8 was specifically correlated with most clinical characteristics including DFS, OS, stage, metastasis, invasiveness, diagnosis, and age. CONCLUSION The significantly dysregulated genes identified in this study were associated with cancer progression and prognosis in HCC, and might be potential therapeutic targets for HCC treatment or potential biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis.
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