An Essential NRP1-Mediated Role for Tagln2 in Gastric Cancer Angiogenesis

Novel CHI3L1-Associated Angiogenic Phenotypes Define Glioma Microenvironments: Insights From Multi-Omics Integration

The CHI3L1 signaling pathway significantly influences glioma angiogenesis, but its role in the tumor microenvironment (TME) remains elusive. We propose a novel CHI3L1-associated vascular phenotype classification for glioma through integrative analyses of multiple datasets with bulk and single-cell transcriptome, genomics, digital pathology, and clinical data. We investigated the biological characteristics, genomic alterations, therapeutic vulnerabilities, and immune profiles within these phenotypes through a comprehensive multi-omics approach. We constructed the vascular-related risk (VR) score based on CHI3L1-associated vascular signatures (CAVS) identified by machine learning algorithms. Utilizing unsupervised consensus clustering, gliomas were stratified into three distinct vascular phenotypes: Cluster A, marked by high vascularization and stromal activation with a relatively low levels of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs); Cluster B, characterized by moderate vascularization and stromal activity, coupled with a high density of TILs; and Cluster C, defined by low vascularization and sparse immune cell infiltration. We observed that the CAVS effectively indicated glioma-associated angiogenesis and immune suppression by single-cell RNA-seq analysis. Moreover, the high-VR-score group exhibited enhanced angiogenic activity, reduced immune response, resistance to immunotherapy, and poorer clinical outcomes. The VR score independently predicted glioma prognosis and, combined with a nomogram, provided a robust clinical decision-making tool. Potential drug prediction based on transcription factors for high-risk patients was also performed. Our study reveals that CHI3L1-associated vascular phenotypes shape distinct immune landscapes in gliomas, offering insights for optimizing therapeutic strategies to improve patient outcomes.

TAGLN2-mediated Actin Cytoskeleton Stabilization Promotes Proliferation and Metastasis of Ovarian Carcinoma

Transgelin-2 (TAGLN2) is an actin-binding protein associated with tumor progression, particularly in gastric and brain tumors. However, its role in ovarian cancer metastasis is still not fully understood. This study investigated the role of TAGLN2 and its potential mechanism in ovarian cancer metastasis. TAGLN2 expression in ovarian cancer and normal tissues was assessed using Oncomine, Human Protein Atlas (HPA), and immunocytochemistry (IHC). Skov3 cells with TAGLN2 knockdown (transient knockdown of TAGLN2 of homo TAGLN2 was performed using specific small interfering RNAs), and Skov3 cells transfected with scrambled siRNAs (negative control group) were subjected to colony formation and wound healing assays to assess cell proliferation and migration in vitro. RT-PCR and western blot were used to assess TAGLN2 mRNA and protein expression; immunofluorescence staining was used to investigate the TAGLN2 impact on the cytoskeletal organization. Elevated TAGLN2 levels were observed in ovarian cancer compared with normal tissues, which was confirmed by IHC of a tissue microarray containing 65 ovarian tumor samples. TAGLN2 knockdown reduced cell proliferation and migration in vitro. Also, TAGLN2 was found to co-localize with F-actin; the knockdown of TAGLN2 impaired cytoskeletal organization, emphasizing its influence on cellular structures. In summary, TAGLN2, highly expressed in ovarian cancer, promotes migration and proliferation through cytoskeletal reorganization; thus, it may be a new therapeutic target for ovarian cancer.

Multifaceted role of transgelin isoforms in cancer hallmarks

Transgelins (TAGLNs) are actin-binding proteins within the calponin family, playing a crucial role in modulating actin-myosin interactions and maintaining actin filament stability. These proteins are expressed in both smooth and non-smooth muscle cells, contributing to the regulation of muscle contractility and cell migration. TAGLNs family has three isoforms that differ in their isoelectric point, namely: TAGLN1, TAGLN2, and TAGLN3. TAGLNs regulation is involved in the development of many diseases, such as pulmonary arterial hypertension, asthma, atherosclerosis, obstructive nephropathy, diabetes, and cancer. Recent research indicates TAGLNs involvement in carcinogenesis and chemoresistance. This review investigates TAGLNs as potential cancer biomarkers, exploring their versatile tissue-specific impact on patient outcomes. We also highlight their roles as, tumor suppressor agents and tumor progression oncogenes depending on the tumor type, tumor genetic variations, and TAGLNs expression profiles. Furthermore, emerging evidence suggests that the interplay between TAGLN2 and chemoresistance to anticancer drugs is mediated by its interaction with the chemoresistance double agent MT-2, with possible bidirectional implications. TAGLNs present a promising avenue for novel therapeutic strategies against cancer, owing to their tissue-specific duality in promoting/suppressing tumor growth and cell migration in cancer cells. Thus, they can serve as a potential prognostic/diagnostic biomarker. The focus should be on leveraging, in future therapeutics, the interplay between TAGLNs and MTs to reverse tumor progression and chemoresistance, transforming them into tumor suppression.

Identification of the whole genome of alternative splicing and RNA-binding proteins involved in nintedanib-induced apoptosis in gastric cancer cells

Background

It has been demonstrated that nintedanib can inhibit the proliferation of gastric cancer cells, but the specific mechanism of action is unclear.

Objective

Investigating the changes of key factors involved in gene transcription and post-transcriptional regulation during the process of treating gastric cancer with nintedanib.

Methods

In this study, we performed transcriptome sequencing on gastric cancer cell groups treated with nintedanib and control groups. The SUVA (Splice sites Usage Variation Analysis) software was used to identify differential alternative splicing (AS) events between the nintedanib-treated group and the control group. Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses were conducted to assess the functional differences and pathways associated with these events. Finally, a co-expression regulatory network of differentially expressed RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) and differentially spliced genes was established. Results: A total of 915 differential AS events were identified between the two groups, and these differential genes were closely related to the apoptosis pathway. Further analysis revealed that differential RBPs (TAGLN2, TAGLN, SRSF6, PKM, SRSF2, NOC2L, IPO4, C1QBP, DHX9) may affect the anti-proliferative effect of nintedanib on gastric cancer cells by regulating downstream genes involved in cell proliferation and angiogenesis (NR4A1, BBC3, IFI27) through alternative splicing.

Conclusion

This study systematically identified important changes in alternative splicing and RNA-binding proteins during the process of nintedanib-induced apoptosis in gastric cancer cells. It innovatively revealed the mechanisms of action of nintedanib in gastric cancer cells and expanded the selection of new targets for gastric cancer treatment.

Trajectory-centric framework TrajAtlas reveals multi-scale differentiation heterogeneity among cells, genes, and gene modules in osteogenesis

Osteoblasts, the key cells responsible for bone formation and the maintenance of skeletal integrity, originate from a diverse array of progenitor cells. However, the mechanisms underlying osteoblast differentiation from these multiple osteoprogenitors remain poorly understood. To address this knowledge gap, we developed a comprehensive framework to investigate osteoblast differentiation at multiple scales, encompassing cells, genes, and gene modules. We constructed a reference atlas focused on differentiation, which incorporates various osteoprogenitors and provides a seven-level cellular taxonomy. To reconstruct the differentiation process, we developed a model that identifies the transcription factors and pathways involved in differentiation from different osteoprogenitors. Acknowledging that covariates such as age and tissue type can influence differentiation, we created an algorithm to detect differentially expressed genes throughout the differentiation process. Additionally, we implemented methods to identify conserved pseudotemporal gene modules across multiple samples. Overall, our framework systematically addresses the heterogeneity observed during osteoblast differentiation from diverse sources, offering novel insights into the complexities of bone formation and serving as a valuable resource for understanding osteogenesis.

TAGLN2 induces resistance signature ISGs by activating AKT-YBX1 signal with dual pathways and mediates the IFN-related DNA damage resistance in gastric cancer

Recently, various cancer types have been identified to express a distinct subset of Interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) that mediate therapy resistance. The mechanism through which cancer cells maintain prolonged Interferon stimulation effects to coordinate resistance remains unclear. Our research demonstrated that aberrant upregulation of TAGLN2 is associated with gastric cancer progression, and inhibiting its expression renders gastric cancer cells more susceptible to chemotherapy and radiation. We uncovered a novel role for TAGLN2 in the upregulation of resistance signature ISGs by enhancing YBX1-associated ssDNA aggregation and cGAS-STING pathway activation. TAGLN2 modulates YBX1 by recruiting c-Myc and SOX9 to YBX1 promoter region and directly interacting with AKT-YBX1, thereby enhancing YBX1 phosphorylation and nuclear translocation. Significantly, targeted downregulation of key proteins, inhibition of the TAGLN2-YBX1-AKT interaction (using Fisetin or MK2206) or disruption of the cGAS-STING pathway substantially reduced ssDNA accumulation, subsequent ISGs upregulation, and therapy resistance. The combination of Cisplatin with MK2206 displayed a synergistic effect in the higher TAGLN2-expressing xenograft tumors. Clinical analysis indicated that a derived nine-gene set effectively predicts therapeutic sensitivity and long-term prognosis in gastric cancer patients. These findings suggest that TAGLN2, YBX1 and induced ISGs are novel predictive markers for clinical outcomes, and targeting this axis is an attractive therapeutic sensitization strategy.

Transgelin-2, a novel cancer stem cell-related biomarker, is a diagnostic and therapeutic target for biliary tract cancer

BACKGROUND

Biliary tract cancer (BTC) is a relatively rare but aggressive gastrointestinal cancer with a high mortality rate. Cancer stem cell (CSC) populations play crucial roles in tumor biology and are responsible for the low response to anti-cancer treatment and the high recurrence rate. This study investigated the role of Transgelin-2 (TAGLN2), overexpressed in CSC in BTC cells, and analyzed its expression in patient tissues and serum to identify potential new targets for BTC.

METHODS

TAGLN2 expression was suppressed by small-interfering or short hairpin RNAs, and its effects on tumor biology were assessed in several BTC cell lines. Furthermore, the effects of TAGLN2 silencing on gemcitabine-resistant BTC cells, differentially expressed genes, proteins, and sensitivity to therapeutics or radiation were assessed. TAGLN2 expression was also assessed using western blotting and immunohistochemistry in samples obtained from patients with BTC to validate its clinical application.

RESULTS

Suppression of TAGLN2 in BTC cell lines decreased cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and tumor size, in addition to a reduction in CSC features, including clonogenicity, radioresistance, and chemoresistance. TAGLN2 was highly expressed in BTC tissues, especially in cancer-associated fibroblasts in the stroma. Patients with a low stromal immunohistochemical index had prolonged disease-free survival compared to those with a high stromal immunohistochemical index (11.5 vs. 7.4 months, P = 0.013). TAGLN2 expression was higher in the plasma of patients with BTC than that in those with benign diseases. TAGLN2 had a higher area under the curve (0.901) than CA19-9, a validated tumor biomarker (0.799; P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

TAGLN2 plays a critical role in promoting BTC cell growth and motility and is involved in regulating BTC stemness. Silencing TAGLN2 expression enhanced cell sensitivity to radiation and chemotherapeutic drugs. The expression of TAGLN2 in patient tissue and plasma suggests its potential to serve as a secretory biomarker for BTC. Overall, targeting TAGLN2 could be an appropriate therapeutic strategy against advanced cancer following chemotherapy failure.

Systematic pan-cancer analysis identified neuropilin 1 as an immunological and prognostic biomarker

Neuropilin 1 (NRP1) is a transmembrane glycoprotein, nontyrosine kinase receptor that plays an important role in axonal growth and angiogenesis in the nervous system. Although currently more and more studies have shown that NRP1 plays an important role in some cancers, no systematic pan-cancer analysis of NRP-1 has been performed to date. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the associated immune function and prognostic value of NRP1 in 33 tumors of various cancer types. In this study, based on The Cancer Genome Atlas, Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia, Genotype Tissue Expression, cBioportal for cancer genomics, and Human Protein Atlas (HPA databases), various bioinformatics analysis methods were used to investigate the potential carcinogenic effects of NRP1 activation, pan-cancer analysis of NRP1 expression, and the relationship between NRP1 expression and prognosis indicators including overall survival, disease-specific survival, disease-free interval, and progression-free interval, tumor mutational burden (TMB), and microsatellite instability (MSI). The results showed that NRP1 was highly expressed in most tumors. In addition, NRP1 was found to be positively or negatively correlated with the prognosis of different tumors. Also, the expression of NRP1 was associated with TMB and MSI in in 27 and 21 different types of tumors, respectively, and with DNA methylation in almost all the various types of tumors. The expression of the NRP1 gene was negatively correlated with the infiltration levels of most immune cells. In addition, the correlation between the level of immune cell infiltration and NRP1 expression varied according to immune cell subtype. Our study suggests that NRP1 plays an important role in tumor development and tumor immunity and could potentially be used as a prognostic indicator in a variety of malignancies.

An Integrated Analysis Identified TAGLN2 As an Oncogene Indicator Related to Prognosis and Immunity in Pan-Cancer

Background: Transgelin-2 (TAGLN2) has long been regarded as an actin-binding protein that modulates actin gelation and controls actin cytoskeleton dynamics. However, recent studies have reported that TAGLN2 can directly or indirectly participate in multiple cancer-related processes, including cell migration, proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. To further investigate the role of TAGLN2 in carcinogenesis, a comprehensive analysis was launched to evaluate the expression status and prognostic value of TAGLN2 in pan-cancer. Methods: Herein, data was retrieved from publicly online websites and databases, including The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx), Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia (CCLE), UCSC Xena, cBioPortal, Human Protein Atlas (HPA), TIMER2.0, CancerSEA, GDSC, and ImmuCellAI. Gene expression pattern and its correlation with prognosis were assessed across cancer types. Moreover, an analysis was conducted to explore the relationships between TAGLN2 and methylation, copy number values (CNVs), tumor microenvironment (TME), immune cell infiltration, immune-relevance genes, tumor mutation burden (TMB), microsatellite instability (MSI), and IC50. Additionally, R package "clusterProfiler" was utilized to perform enrichment analysis on TAGLN2. Finally, the ability of TAGLN2 as an oncogene was preliminarily verified in vitro in UCEC. Results: Our findings revealed that TAGLN2 was specifically overexpressed and related to an unfavorable prognosis in most cancers. There was a significant connection between TAGLN2 expression and methylation and CNVs. Besides, we identified TAGLN2 correlated to TME, immune cell infiltration, immune-relevant genes, TMB, and MSI, suggesting an immunoregulatory role in cancers. Notably, TAGLN2 expression showed a positive correlation with macrophages, and cancer-associated fibroblasts, whereas a negative correlation with the infiltration degree of B cells. Mechanically, the results obtained from Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) and Gene Set Variation Analysis (GSVA) provided theory-supportive evidence that TAGLN2 interlinkages with immunity and programmed cell death. Overall, anti-tumor drugs were overtly associated with TAGLN2 dysregulation among diverse cancers. At last, UCEC cell lines with TAGLN2-depleting had an inhibition of the migration and invasion ability. Conclusions: These findings enriched the knowledge about the role of TAGLN2 in tumorigenesis and progression, revealing TAGLN2 may serve as a potential therapeutic strategy for various malignancies.

TAGLN2 Promotes the Proliferation, Migration, Invasion, and EMT of Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma Through the PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathway

The effect of Transgelin 2 (TAGLN2) on clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is unknown. This study explored the potential role and mechanism of ccRCC. The expression of TAGLN2 in Pan-cancers was analyzed using the Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) databases. TCGA-KIRC database was used to analyze subsequent prognostic survival, pathway enrichment, and immune infiltration. Relevant experimental methods could explain the effect of TAGLN2 expression on tumor cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis. Apoptosis, proliferation, Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT), and PI3K/AKT signaling pathway-related protein expression were determined through western blotting. In the TCGA + GTEx database, mRNA-TAGLN2 expression was clearly increased in pan-cancer tissues, and the same result was found in ccRCC patients based on KIRC analysis results. In addition, TAGLN2 was associated with poor clinical stage, pathological grade, and survival prognosis. TAGLN2 is highly expressed in ccRCC tissues and in vitro TAGLN2 silencing of cells inhibits the proliferation, migration, invasion, and EMT of ccRCC cancer cells. Furthermore, TAGLN2-related differential genes enriched in the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway were negatively regulated after TAGLN2 silencing. Moreover, TAGLN2 may promote tumor immune escape and increase the risk of distant metastasis in immune infiltration-related analyses. TAGLN2 can be used as a single indicator to explain the survival probability of patients with ccRCC. In vitro TAGLN2 silencing inhibited the malignant properties of ccRCC by blocking the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. In addition, TAGLN2 contributes to tumor immune escape and may be a potential therapeutic target for ccRCC.

Histone Deacetylase Inhibitor Trichostatin A Reduces Endothelial Cell Proliferation by Suppressing STAT5A-Related Gene Transcription

Inhibitors of histone deacetylases (HDACi) have shown promising effects in preclinical applications for the treatment of many diseases. Confusedly though, the effects of the HDACi trichostatin A (TSA) on angiogenesis are variable among different diseases. This study investigated the direct effects of TSA on endothelial cells, which plays essential roles in angiogenesis and the underlying molecular events. TSA reduced the viability of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), in which proliferation-related genes including BIRC5, CKS1B, and NDC80 were found to be involved. Furthermore, signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 A (STAT5A) was demonstrated to be reduced by TSA and to mediate TSA-induced downregulation of BIRC5, CKS1B, and NDC80 and HUVEC proliferation. Mechanistically, data showed that STAT5A directly bound to the promoters of BIRC5, CKS1B, and NDC80 and activated their transcription through special DNA sequence sites. Finally, the TSA–STAT5A–BIRC5, CKS1B, and NDC80 axis also worked in a cancerous endothelial cell angiogenesis model. The results of this study revealed novel mechanisms underlying the effects of TSA on endothelial cells and provided insights for angiogenesis-associated diseases.