HMGA2 promotes the migration and invasion of gallbladder cancer cells and HMGA2 knockdown inhibits angiogenesis via targeting VEGFA

Investigating the role of HMGA2 plasma level as a diagnostic marker in bladder urothelial carcinoma patients

BACKGROUND

Bladder Cancer (BC) is an environmental cancer caused by exposure to a globally widespread carcinogen, which is smoking, and it is characterized by high rates of recurrence and mortality. High Mobility Group A2 (HMGA2) protein is an oncofetal protein that belongs to the HMG family proteins. It is involved in various stages of carcinogenesis and cancer progression. This study investigated the presence and levels of the HMGA2 protein in bladder urothelial carcinoma patients' plasma and in healthy individuals and their association with the clinicopathological features of bladder urothelial carcinoma.

METHODS

This case-control study included 80 individuals divided into two groups: a healthy group (n = 22) and a patient group with bladder urothelial carcinoma (n = 58). There were 16 patients with Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer (MIBC) and 42 patients with Non-Invasive Bladder Cancer (NMIBC) in the patients' cohort according to the European Association of Urology (EAU) classification. HMGA2 plasma levels were measured by Sandwich Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay (ELISA). The statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS statistics (version 25) software. The t-test and the Mann-Whitney test were used.

RESULTS

Plasma HMGA2 protein levels were higher in the BC group than in the healthy group (P < 0.001), they also were higher in MIBC (pT2-pT3) than in NMIBC (pTa-pT1) (P < 0.001). HMGA2 plasma levels were higher in high grade BC patients than in low grade BC patients (P = 0.049).

CONCLUSIONS

This study confirmed that the plasma HMGA2 protein level was higher in bladder cancer patients than in healthy individuals and that its elevated plasma levels were correlated with advanced stage and grade of BC; thus, the plasma HMGA2 protein level represents a potential non-invasive marker that could be included in bladder cancer diagnosis approach.

Wu-Mei-Wan promotes ferroptosis in gallbladder cancer through STAT3 negative regulation: An integrated HPLC, proteomics, network pharmacology, and experimental validation study

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

As a traditional Chinese medicine, Wu-Mei-Wan (WMW) has shown promise as a second-line treatment for gallbladder cancer, but its mechanism remains to be explored.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To determine the specific mechanism of WMW active ingredients (Palmatine et al.) inducing ferroptosis in gallbladder cancer (GBC) and its synergistic potential with gemcitabine.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Subcutaneous tumor in nude mice was used to analyze the combined effect of gemcitabine. The effective components into blood were identified by HPLC. Combined with proteomics, network pharmacology and bioinformatics analysis, the effective components and targets of WMW promoting ferroptosis in GBC were identified in vitro and in vivo. The anticancer effects of WMW on different GBC cell lines were evaluated by CCK-8 assay, colony formation and EdU staining. A variety of molecular biology experiments were used to explore the mechanism.

RESULTS

WMW treatment enhanced the sensitivity of GBC to gemcitabine, which induced ferroptosis and effectively inhibited the malignant phenotype of GBC. Network pharmacology and blood component identification identified the key components of WMW inhibiting GBC. Palmitine and other components were identified as active components into the blood. Proteomics and molecular docking validation further revealed the STAT3-centered regulatory network in GBC cells. Molecular experiments have shown that WMW induced ferroptosis by negatively regulating downstream molecules of p-STAT3 transcription of GPX4, ACSL4, HIF1α, and FTH1.

CONCLUSIONS

WMW induces ferroptosis in GBC through the p-STAT3 axis and enhances sensitivity to gemcitabine, suggesting the potential of WMW as a second-line therapeutic for GBC.

Let-7 reduces the proliferation and migration of oral cancer cells via PI3K/AKT signaling pathway

The involvement of let-7 in the occurrence and progression of various cancers has been well-documented. However, the precise molecular mechanisms underlying its impact on oral cancer development remain unclear. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the role of let-7 in oral cancer progression and investigate its underlying molecular mechanisms. The expression of let-7 and high mobility group A2 (HMGA2) mRNA was assessed using the quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Western blot analysis was employed to detect the expression of key proteins in the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway as well as HMGA2 protein levels. The targeting relationship between let-7 and HMGA2 was predicted through bioinformatics methods and confirmed via luciferase reporter gene assay. The effects of let-7 and HMGA2 on the functionality of oral cancer cells were evaluated using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide, colony formation assay, Transwell assay, wound healing assay, and Annexin V/PI apoptosis assay. Additionally, the impact of let-7 on the growth of oral cancer cells in vivo was investigated by inducing subcutaneous tumor formation in nude mice. Let-7 effectively suppresses the proliferation, migration, and invasion of oral cancer cells by inhibiting the activation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. HMGA2, a downstream target gene of let-7, exhibits high expression in oral cancer. However, overexpression of HMGA2 diminishes the inhibitory effects induced by let-7 overexpression on the proliferation, migration, and invasion of oral cancer cells. The occurrence and progression of oral cancer cells are inhibited by Let-7 through the downregulation of HMGA2, potentially mediated by the inhibition of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway activation.

Decoding high mobility group A2 protein expression regulation and implications in human cancers

High Mobility Group A2 (HMGA2) oncofetal proteins are a distinct category of Transcription Factors (TFs) known as "architectural factors" due to their lack of direct transcriptional activity. Instead, they modulate the three-dimensional structure of chromatin by binding to AT-rich regions in the minor grooves of DNA through their AT-hooks. This binding allows HMGA2 to interact with other proteins and different regions of DNA, thereby regulating the expression of numerous genes involved in carcinogenesis. Consequently, multiple mechanisms exist to finely control HMGA2 protein expression at various transcriptional levels, ensuring precise concentration adjustments to maintain cellular homeostasis. During embryonic development, HMGA2 protein is highly expressed but becomes absent in adult tissues. However, recent studies have revealed its re-elevation in various cancer types. Extensive research has demonstrated the involvement of HMGA2 protein in carcinogenesis at multiple levels. It intervenes in crucial processes such as cell cycle regulation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, cancer cell stemness, and DNA damage repair mechanisms, ultimately promoting cancer cell survival. This comprehensive review provides insights into the HMGA2 protein, spanning from the genetic regulation to functional protein behavior. It highlights the significant mechanisms governing HMGA2 gene expression and elucidates the molecular roles of HMGA2 in the carcinogenesis process.

HMGA2 promotes cancer metastasis by regulating epithelial-mesenchymal transition

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a complex physiological process that transforms polarized epithelial cells into moving mesenchymal cells. Dysfunction of EMT promotes the invasion and metastasis of cancer. The architectural transcription factor high mobility group AT-hook 2 (HMGA2) is highly overexpressed in various types of cancer (e.g., colorectal cancer, liver cancer, breast cancer, uterine leiomyomas) and significantly correlated with poor survival rates. Evidence indicated that HMGA2 overexpression markedly decreased the expression of epithelial marker E-cadherin (CDH1) and increased that of vimentin (VIM), Snail, N-cadherin (CDH2), and zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1) by targeting the transforming growth factor beta/SMAD (TGFβ/SMAD), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and WNT/beta-catenin (WNT/β-catenin) signaling pathways. Furthermore, a new class of non-coding RNAs (miRNAs, circular RNAs, and long non-coding RNAs) plays an essential role in the process of HMGA2-induced metastasis and invasion of cancer by accelerating the EMT process. In this review, we discuss alterations in the expression of HMGA2 in various types of cancer. Furthermore, we highlight the role of HMGA2-induced EMT in promoting tumor growth, migration, and invasion. More importantly, we discuss extensively the mechanism through which HMGA2 regulates the EMT process and invasion in most cancers, including signaling pathways and the interacting RNA signaling axis. Thus, the elucidation of molecular mechanisms that underlie the effects of HMGA2 on cancer invasion and patient survival by mediating EMT may offer new therapeutic methods for preventing cancer progression.

Significance of High-Mobility Group A Protein 2 Expression in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma and Ampullary Adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Pancreatic and ampullary adenocarcinoma (AAC) are quite resistant to chemotherapy with high metastasis potential. Our study aimed to interpret high-mobility group A protein 2 (HMGA2) expression in benign and precursor pancreatic lesions and pancreatic and ampullary carcinoma and to evaluate its relationship with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and clinicopathological parameters.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this study, normal-appearing pancreas, chronic pancreatitis (CP), low- (L) and high (H)-grade pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN), pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), and AAC were evaluated with the immunohistochemical marker of HMGA2. Vimentin and E-cadherin immunohistochemical stains were applied in PDAC and AAC.

RESULTS

The HMGA2 expression was not detected in normal-appearing pancreas, CP, and L-PanIN. A statistically significant expression was observed in PDAC and H-PanIN (P < .001). A statistically significant correlation was found between loss of membranous E-cadherin expression and vimentin positivity and HMGA2 expression (P > .05). The HMGA2 expression was observed to increase the risk of diseaserelated death and decrease overall survival (OS) in AAC and the neoplasia group (P = .002 and P = .016, respectively). There was no significant difference in OS and risk of death in PDAC (P > .05) with respect to HMGA2 positivity.

CONCLUSION

High-mobility group A protein 2 is a helpful immunohistochemical marker in differentiating CP from PDAC. It also plays a role in EMT and may serve as a potential new prognostic agent and therapeutic target in tumors of the periampullary region, especially AAC.

Endothelial miR-196b-5p regulates angiogenesis via the hypoxia/miR-196b-5p/HMGA2/HIF1α loop

Angiogenesis is involved in development, reproduction, wound healing, homeostasis, and other pathophysiological events. Imbalanced angiogenesis predisposes patients to various pathological processes, such as angiocardiopathy, inflammation, and tumorigenesis. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been found to be important in regulating cellular processing and physiological events including angiogenesis. However, the role of miRNAs that regulate angiogenesis (angiomiRs) is not fully understood. Here, we observed a downregulation of the miR-196 family in endothelial cells upon hypoxia. Functionally, miR-196b-5p inhibited the angiogenic functions of endothelial cells in vitro and suppressed angiogenesis in Matrigel plugs and skin wound healing in vivo. Mechanistically, miR-196b-5p bound onto the 3' untranslated region (UTR) of high-mobility group AT-hook 2 (HMGA2) mRNA and repressed the translation of HMGA2, which in turn represses HIF1α accumulation in endothelial cells upon hypoxia. Together, our results establish the role of endothelial miR-196b-5p as an angiomiR that negatively regulates endothelial growth in angiogenesis via the hypoxia/miR-196b-5p/HMGA2/HIF1α loop. miR-196b-5p and its regulatory loop could be an important addition to the molecular mechanisms underlying angiogenesis and may serve as potential targets for antiangiogenic therapy.