Short interfering RNA-mediated silencing of actin-related protein 2/3 complex subunit 4 inhibits the migration of SW620 human colorectal cancer cells

[Aurora-A overexpression promotes cervical cancer cell invasion and metastasis by activating the NF-κBp65/ARPC4 signaling axis]

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the regulatory effects of Aurora-A in regulating proliferation, migration, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of cervical cancer cells and the role of actin-related protein 2/3 complex subunit 4 (ARPC4) in mediating its effects.

METHODS

The plasmids pCDH-NC, pCDH-Aurora-A, and shRNA-ARPC4 were used for inducing Aurora-A overexpression or ARPC4 knockdown in HeLa cells. The cells were divided into vector group, Aurora-A overexpression group, Aurora-A overexpression+ARPC4 knockdown group, and Aurora-A overexpression+NF‑κBp65 inhibitor group and transfected with the corresponding plasmids. The proliferation, colony-forming ability, migration and invasion of the treated Hela cells was evaluated using EdU immunofluorescence assay, crystal violet staining, scratch assay, Transwell assay, and Matrigel assay. Western blotting was performed to detect the changes in cellular expressions of EMT-related proteins and expression levels of NF-κBp65 and ARPC4.

RESULTS

The expression of ARPC4 was significantly decreased in HeLa cells with Aurora-A knockdown and increased in Aurora-A-overexpressing cells. Aurora-A overexpression obviously promoted proliferation, migration, and invasion abilities of HeLa cells, and these effects was significantly antagonized by ARPC4 knockdown. In Aurora-A-overexpressing cells, the phosphorylation level of NF-κBp65 and the expression level of ARPC4 were increased significantly, and application of the NF‑κBp65 inhibitor obviously lowered the expression level of ARPC4.

CONCLUSIONS

Aurora-A overexpression upregulates the expression of ARPC4 by activating the NF-κBp65 signaling pathway, thereby promoting migration, invasion and EMT of HeLa cells.

A comprehensively prognostic and immunological analysis of actin-related protein 2/3 complex subunit 5 in pan-cancer and identification in hepatocellular carcinoma

Background

Actin-related protein 2/3 complex subunit 5 (ARPC5) is one of the members of actin-related protein 2/3 complex and plays an important role in cell migration and invasion. However, little is known about the expression pattern, prognosis value, and biological function of ARPC5 in pan-cancer. Thus, we focus on ARPC5 as cut point to explore a novel prognostic and immunological biomarker for cancers.

Methods

The public databases, including TCGA, GTEx, and UCEC, were used to analyze ARPC5 expression in pan-cancer. The Human Protein Atlas website was applied to obtain the expression of ARPC5 in different tissues, cell lines, and single-cell types. Univariate Cox regression analysis and Kaplan–Meier analysis were used to explore the prognosis value of ARPC5 in various cancers. Spearman’s correlation analysis was performed to investigate the association between ARPC5 expression and tumor microenvironment scores, immune cell infiltration, immune-related genes, TMB, MSI, RNA modification genes, DNA methyltransferases, and tumor stemness. Moreover, qPCR, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry were carried out to examine the differential expression of ARPC5 in HCC tissues and cell lines. CCK8, EdU, flow cytometry, wound-healing assays, and transwell assays were conducted to explore its role in tumor proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion among HCC cells.

Results

ARPC5 expression was upregulated in most cancer types and significantly associated with worse prognosis in KIRC, KIRP, LGG, and LIHC. mRNA expression of ARPC5 showed low tissue and cell specificity in normal tissues, cell lines, and single-cell types. ARPC5 expression was positively correlated with the tumor microenvironment scores, immune infiltrating cells, immune checkpoint–related genes in most cancers. ARPC5 in STAD and BRCA was positively associated with TMB, MSI, and neoantigens. We also discovered that ARPC5 was correlated with the expression of m1A-related genes, m5C-related genes, m6A-related genes, and DNA methyltransferases. In experiment analyses, we found that ARPC5 was significantly highly expressed in HCC tissues and HCC cells. Functionally, silencing ARPC5 dramatically decreased proliferation, migration, and invasion ability of HCC cells.

Conclusions

ARPC5 expression affects the prognosis of multiple tumors and is closely correlated to tumor immune infiltration and immunotherapy. Furthermore, ARPC5 may function as an oncogene and promote tumor progression in HCC.

ARPC1B Is Associated with Lethal Prostate Cancer and Its Inhibition Decreases Cell Invasion and Migration In Vitro

ARPC1B (Actin Related Protein 2/3 Complex Subunit 1B) has been found to be involved in platelet abnormalities of immune-mediated inflammatory disease and eosinophilia. However, its role in prostate cancer (PCa) has not been established. We characterized the role of ARPC1B in PCa invasion and metastasis and investigated its prognosis using in vitro cellular models and PCa clinical data. Higher immunohistochemistry (IHC) expressions of ARPC1B were observed in localized and castrate resistant PCa (CRPC) vs. benign prostate tissue (p < 0.01). Additionally, 47% of patients with grade group 5 (GG) showed high ARPC1B expression vs. other GG patients. Assessing ARPC1B expression in association with two of the common genetic aberrations in PCa (ERG and PTEN) showed significant association to overall and cause-specific survival for combined assessment of ARPC1B and PTEN, and ARPC1B and ERG. Knockdown of ARPC1B impaired the migration and invasion of PC3 and DU145 PCa cells via downregulation of Aurora A kinase (AURKA) and resulted in the arrest of the cells in the G2/M checkpoint of the cell cycle. Additionally, higher ARPC1B expression was observed in stable PC3-ERG cells compared to normal PC3, supporting the association between ERG and ARPC1B. Our findings implicate the role of ARPC1B in PCa invasion and metastasis in association with ERG and further support its prognostic value as a biomarker in association with ERG and PTEN in identifying aggressive phenotypes of PCa cancer.

Runt related transcription factor-1 plays a central role in vessel co-option of colorectal cancer liver metastases

Colorectal cancer liver metastasis (CRCLM) has two major histopathological growth patterns: angiogenic desmoplastic and non-angiogenic replacement. The replacement lesions obtain their blood supply through vessel co-option, wherein the cancer cells hijack pre-existing blood vessels of the surrounding liver tissue. Consequentially, anti-angiogenic therapies are less efficacious in CRCLM patients with replacement lesions. However, the mechanisms which drive vessel co-option in the replacement lesions are unknown. Here, we show that Runt Related Transcription Factor-1 (RUNX1) overexpression in the cancer cells of the replacement lesions drives cancer cell motility via ARP2/3 to achieve vessel co-option. Furthermore, overexpression of RUNX1 in the cancer cells is mediated by Transforming Growth Factor Beta-1 (TGFβ1) and thrombospondin 1 (TSP1). Importantly, RUNX1 knockdown impaired the metastatic capability of colorectal cancer cells in vivo and induced the development of angiogenic lesions in liver. Our results confirm that RUNX1 may be a potential target to overcome vessel co-option in CRCLM.

Identification of Arp2/3 Complex Subunits as Prognostic Biomarkers for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

The actin-related protein 2/3 complex (Arp2/3) is a major actin nucleator that has been widely reported and plays an important role in promoting the migration and invasion of various cancers. However, the expression patterns and prognostic values of Arp2/3 subunits in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain unclear. In this study, The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and UCSC Xena databases were used to obtain mRNA expression and the corresponding clinical information, respectively. The differential expression and Arp2/3 subunits in HCC were analyzed using the “limma” package of R 4.0.4 software. The prognostic value of each subunit was evaluated using Kaplan–Meier survival analysis and Cox proportional hazards regression analyses. The results revealed that mRNA expression of Arp2/3 members (ACTR2, ACTR3, ARPC1A, APRC1B, ARPC2, ARPC3, ARPC4, ARPC5, and ARPC5L) was upregulated in HCC. Higher expression of Arp2/3 members was significantly correlated with worse overall survival (OS) and shorter progression-free survival (PFS) in HCC patients. Cox proportional hazards regression analyses demonstrated that ACTR3, ARPC2, and ARPC5 were independent prognostic biomarkers of survival in patients with HCC. The relation between tumor immunocyte infiltration and the prognostic subunits was determined using the TIMER 2.0 platform and the GEPIA database. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was performed to explore the potential mechanisms of prognostic subunits in the carcinogenesis of HCC. The results revealed that ACTR3, ARPC2, and ARPC5 were significantly positively correlated with the infiltration of immune cells in HCC. The GSEA results indicated that ACTR3, ARPC2, and ARPC5 are involved in multiple cancer-related pathways that promote the development of HCC. In brief, various analyses indicated that Arp2/3 complex subunits were significantly upregulated and predicted worse survival in HCC, and they found that ACTR3, ARPC2, and ARPC5 could be used as independent predictors of survival and might be applied as promising molecular targets for diagnosis and therapy of HCC in the future.

Serum Proteomic Signatures of Male Breast Cancer

BACKGROUND

To date, the elucidation of serum protein alterations in male breast cancer (MBC) has not been extensively studied, due to the rarity of the disease.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In the present work, two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) were employed to detect differences in serum protein expression between patients with MBC and healthy controls.

RESULTS

A panel of differentially expressed serum proteins was identified, including proteins involved in the regulation of the cell cycle [e.g. cell division cycle 7-related protein kinase (CDC7)], in mitochondrial function [e.g. mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH2) and dimethyladenosine transferase 1 (TFB1M)], in lipid metabolism and transport [e.g. apolipoprotein A-I (APOA1) and E (APOE)], in apoptosis and immune response [e.g. CD5 antigen-like (CD5L), clusterin (CLUS) and C-C motif chemokine 14 (CCL14)], in transcription (e.g. protein SSX3 and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3)], in invasion and metastasis (e.g. alpha-2-HS-glycoprotein (FETUA)], in estrogen synthesis [aromatase (CYP19A1)] and other diverse biological roles [e.g. actin-related protein 2/3 complex subunit 4 (ARPC4), dual specificity mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 4 (MP2K4), ectoderm-neural cortex protein 1 (ENC1), and matrix metalloproteinase-27 (MMP27)].

CONCLUSION

These findings provide valuable insight into the distinct clinicopathological features of MBC and indicate that select serum proteomic markers may help improve MBC management.