Mitochondrial E3 ubiquitin ligase 1 (MUL1) as a novel therapeutic target for diseases associated with mitochondrial dysfunction

Mitochondrial E3 ubiquitin ligase 1 (MUL1) is a mitochondrial outer membrane-anchored protein-containing transmembrane domain in its N- and C-terminal regions, where both are exposed to the cytosol. Interestingly the C-terminal region has a RING finger domain responsible for its E3 ligase activity, as ubiquitin or in SUMOylation, interacting with proteins related to mitochondrial fusion and fission, cell survival, and tumor suppressor process, such as Akt. Therefore, MUL1 is involved in various cellular processes, such as mitochondrial dynamics, inter-organelle communication, proliferation, mitophagy, immune response, inflammation and cell apoptosis. MUL1 is expressed at a higher basal level in the heart, immune system organs, and blood. Here, we discuss the role of MUL1 in mitochondrial dynamics and its function in various pathological models, both in vitro and in vivo. In this context, we describe the role of MUL1 in: (1) the inflammatory response, by regulating NF-κB activity; (2) cancer, by promoting cell death and regulating exonuclear function of proteins, such as p53; (3) neurological diseases, by maintaining communication with other organelles and interacting with proteins to eliminate damaged organelles and; (4) cardiovascular diseases, by maintaining mitochondrial fusion/fission homeostasis. In this review, we summarize the latest advances in the physiological and pathological functions of MUL1. We also describe the different substrates of MUL1, acting as a positive or negative regulator in various pathologies associated with mitochondrial dysfunction. In conclusion, MUL1 could be a potential key target for the development of therapies that focus on ensuring the functionality of the mitochondrial network and, furthermore, the quality control of intracellular components by synchronously modulating the activity of different cellular mechanisms involved in the aforementioned pathologies. This, in turn, will guide the development of targeted therapies.

Trends in Co-circulation of Oncogenic HPV Genotypes in Single and Multiple Infections among Unvaccinated Community

Cocirculation of multiple human papillomavirus (HPV) infections with low, probably high, and high‐risk genotypes are to be associated with various grades of infections and cancer progression. The oncogenic high‐risk HPVs are distributed and cocirculated throughout the world. This study was investigated to identify HPV genotypes related to genital disorders in unvaccinated women. The subjects were referred from clinics to a molecular lab for HPV testing in Iran as a low‐coverage vaccinated country. HPVs DNAs of cervical scrapping and genital tissue specimens of 1,133 un‐vaccinated women were genotyped using an in vitro diagnostic line probe (reverse hybridization) assay. In addition, phylogenetic trees were constructed on 100 MY09/MY11 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplicons of common genotypes of HPV L1 gene by Sanger sequencing. The mean age of the population study was 32.7 ± 8.0 and the mean age of HPV‐positive cases was 31.6 ± 7.8. HPV DNA was detected in 57.8% (655/1133) of women subjects and 42.2% (478/1133) of cases were undetected. Among 655 HPV‐positive cases, 639 subjects (56.4%) were related to defined genotypes and 16 subjects (1.4%) were untypeable. The highest prevalence rate of HPV genotypes was identified in the 25–34 years. The top 6 dominant HPVs in single and multiple genotypes were HPV6 (284/655 [43.4%]), HPV16 (111/655 [16.9%]), HPV31 (72/655 [11%]), HPV53 (67/655 [10.2%]), HPV11 (62/655 [9.5%]), and HPV52 (62/655 [9.5%]). Moreover, single, multiple and untypeable HPV genotypes were diagnosed as follows: 1 type (318/655 [48.5%]), 2 types (162/655 [24.8%]), 3 types (83/655 [12.7%]), 4 types (42/655 [6.5%]), more than 5 types (34/655 [5.3%]), and 1.4% un‐typeable subjects. The sequenced partial L1 gene of HPV genotypes (GenBank databases under the accession numbers: MH253467‐MH253566) confirmed and determined the cocirculated HPV genotypes' origins and addressed helpful insights into the future viral epidemiology investigations. Multiple HPV infections and cocirculation of various oncogenic HPV genotypes among the normal population (women and men) with asymptomatic forms are still challenging in unvaccinated communities. The preventive and organized surveillance programs for HPV screening are needed to be considered and compiled by health policy makers of low or unvaccinated countries.

The Impact of MTHFR 1298 A > C and 677 C > T Gene Polymorphisms as Susceptibility Risk Factors in Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia Related to HPV and Sexually Transmitted Infections

BACKGROUND

HPV genotypes are the most common etiological factor for genital neoplasia. It would appear that sexually transmitted infections accompanied with HPV genotypes might have synergistic interactions in cancer progression. The genetic polymorphisms are involved in metabolizing carcinogens which may contribute to the susceptibility of developing genital cancers by less efficient or overly down metabolic pathways and cell signaling. MTHFR polymorphisms are related to several metabolic disorders and human cancers. We investigated the contribution of MTHFR 1298 and MTHFR 677 polymorphisms as potential risk factors for outcomes with HPV genotypes and STIs in Iranian population.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

As a case-control study, MTHFR A1298C and C677T were assessed for SNPs analysis using a PCR-RFLP assay in 50 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) cases, 98 HPV-positive subjects and 47 non-cancerous/non-HPV patients as healthy controls.

RESULTS

Finding suggested a significant association between the MTHFR 1298 CC polymorphisms (OR = 3.5, 95% CI = 1.13-10.82, P ≤ 0.05) in women with CIN as compared to non-cancerous/non-HPV subjects. There was not a significant difference of MTHFR 677 between outcomes.

DISCUSSION

It would seem MTHFR 1298 CC is more likely to be a potential risk factor for HPV-cervical cancer progression. Consequences support further attempts to understand the clinical manifestations of neoplasia related to genital infections and gene mutations.

The point mutation analysis of Cyp2C9*2 (Arg144Cys C>T), Cyp2C9*3 (Ile359Leu A>C) and VKORC1 (1639G>A) in women with cervical cancer related to HPV: A case-control study

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted viral infection worldwide. HPV tumorigenesis genotypes are the causative agents of cervical cancer and genital malignancies. The scientific literature has demonstrated that life style, environmental, epigenetic accompanied with HR-HPV genotypes are potential risk factors for cervical cancer progression. The frequencies of the Cyp2C9*² , Cyp2C9*³ , and vitamin K epoxide reductase complex subunit 1 (VKORC1) genotypes as potential molecular biomarkers have been investigated on Iranian women with cervical malignancy related to HPV genotypes. As a case-control study, the mutations were appraised using a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism procedure on women suffering from HPV infection (60 cases), CC (46 cases), and 40 subjects of as healthy control. The outcomes demonstrated that Cyp2C9*³  showed a meaningful relationship between women diagnosed with cervical cancer and the healthy population (AA vs. AC; OR, 7.15; 95% CI, 1.94-26.3; p = .003). It was also observed that the Cyp2C9*³ mutation in women with cervical cancer and VKORC1 in healthy population with HPV (+), did not follow the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Our findings aid understanding the genetic polymorphism distribution of Cyp2C9*² , Cyp2C9*³ , and VKORC1 in women with genital malignancies. This can also be useful in predicting the susceptibility risk factors for developing cervical cancer. However, allelic discrimination as a molecular biomarker requires further research.

Characteristics of HSV-2, M. genitalium and C. trachomatis in HPV Genotypes Associated with Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia and Genital Infections

BACKGROUND

Cervical cancer is the most common cancer in women. High-Risk HPV types are known as the main agents involved in genital and cervical malignancies. There may be co pathogens like STIs that are involved in enhancing the susceptibility and progression to cervical neoplasia. This study was conducted to detect C. trachomatis, HSV-2 and M. genitalium using qPCR in women suffering from cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, HPV infection and non cancerous- non HPV subjects for the association of burden of genital disorders.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This descriptive study was performed on 195 Liquid Based Cytology (LBCs) specimens collected from women referred to private laboratories. Fifty, 98 and 47 samples were from women with known CIN, HPV positive and non-cancerous/non-HPV, respectively. HSV-2, C. trachomatis, M. genitalium and HPV genotypes have been detected using multiplex TaqMan Real Time PCR and PCR hybridization.

RESULTS

A total of 148 HPV positive samples were included. HPVs 6 (35.13%), 16 (32.43%), 18 (21.62%), 11 (9.46%), 31 (9.46%), and 51 (9.46%) were the most common genotypes. Single, 2, 3, and more than 4 multiple HPV genotypes were detected in 46%, 29.7%, 14.2%, 10.1% cases, respectively. The prevalence of M. genitalium, C. trachomatis and HSV2 was 3 (1.54%), 24 (12.3%) and 1(0.5%), respectively. There were no statistically significant differences between these pathogens and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (p≥ 0.05).

CONCLUSION

HR-HPV genotypes were more prevalent in genital infections and cervical cancer. It would seem early detection of dominant STI pathogens such as Chlamydia spp. gains due to effective prevention. Here, further research is needed to understand the co-infections burden of HPV genotypes with STIs in clinical manifestations.

Deregulation of miR-21 and miR-29a in Cervical Cancer Related to HPV Infection

BACKGROUND

Early diagnosis is an important factor to improve the survival of Invasive Cervical Cancer (ICC) patients. Molecular biomarkers such as micro RNA (miRNA) can be used in the early detection of ICC. The expression of miR-21 and miR-29a are deregulated in many types of human cancers.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to investigate the differences in miR-21 and miR-29a expression patterns in the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infection and various grades of cervical cancer among Iranian women.

METHODS

Small RNAs were extracted from positive for HPV, cervical cancer and healthy samples from 43, 50 and 46 individuals, respectively. Expression levels of miR-21 and miR-29a were analyzed by SYBR Green real-time RT-PCR using specific primers, and 5s rRNA as the internal reference gene.

RESULTS

Results have shown a significant increase in miR-21 and decrease in miR-29 in cancerous samples in comparison with the control groups (P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

This study illustrated that miR-21 and miR-29a could be operated as an oncogene and tumor-suppressor in cervical cancer progression. More studies are needed to demonstrate the role of miR-21 and miR-29a as potential biomarkers for the diagnosis of cervical cancer in future investigations.

Glutathione S-transferase omega gene polymorphism as a biomarker for human papilloma virus and cervical cancer in Iranian women

Objective

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is an important sexually-transmitted infection worldwide. Persistent infections with different high-risk HPV genotypes may cause cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and cervical cancer. Single nucleotide polymorphisms of glutathione S-transferase omega (GSTO) 1 and 2 play an important role in cancer progression. To evaluate GSTO gene polymorphism influence on women’s susceptibility to low-risk or high-risk HPV infections and also risk of cervical cancer development.

Material and Methods

We examined 50 patients with cervical cancer, 43 patients who were positive for HPV, and 43 healthy individuals as negative controls. We used polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism to determine GSTO1 A140D and GSTO2 N142D variants in study participants.

Results

We found a significant association between the GSTO1 A140D gene polymorphism and HPV 6, 16, 18, 16/18 infections and cervical cancer in Iranian women. We noted a significant difference for the 140AD/142NN combination genotype between patients in the cervical cancer group and healthy controls. There were no significant differences for the GSTO2 N142D genotype and allele frequencies between the patient (i.e., cervical cancer and HPV-positive) groups and controls.

Conclusion

The 140AD genotype, 140D allele, and 140AD/142NN combination genotype seem to confer a protective property in women’s susceptibility to HPV 6, 16, 18, 16/18 infections and cervical cancer. However, the GSTO2 N142D polymorphism is not associated with HPV infections and cervical cancer. It would appear that GSTO1 A140D SNPs likely play a role in the level of susceptibility to HPV-related cervical cancer.

Characterization of JAK2 V617F (1849 G > T) Mutation in Cervical Cancer Related to Human Papillomavirus and Sexually Transmitted Infections

Background

Human papillomavirus (HPV) genotypes that infect the genital tract play a main etiologic role in cervical cancer progression. Other environmental factors, such as sexually transmitted diseases and the host genetic pattern, contribute to infection persistence of the uterus and cervical epithelium in sustaining their malignancy. The Janus kinase 2 is a non-receptor tyrosine kinase in cell signaling process of tumor genesis. In the present study, JAK2 V167F mutation was distinguished in women with sexually transmitted infections, such as Herpes simplex virus 2, Chlamydia trachomatis and Mycoplasma genitalium and cervical cancer.

Methods

This case-control survey was performed on 195 liquid based cytology of women specimens. Fifty, 98, and 47 samples were from women with known cervical cancer, HPV positive and HPV negative, respectively. Single nucleotide polymorphism analysis, sexually transmitted infections detection and HPV genotyping were carried out using approved PCR- RFLP, in-house multiplex TaqMan Real Time PCR and the reverse dot blot hybridization assay.

Results

HPVs 6, 16, 18, 11, 31, and 51 were the most common genotypes. The prevalence rate of multiple HPV genotypes was 46.0% to 10.1%. Analysis of JAK2 V617F (1849 G > T) showed that prevalence of mutation was GG (65.1%), GA (34.9%), and TT (0%), respectively. There were no statistically significant differences between this mutation and variables of population survey (P ≥ 0.05).

Conclusions

The molecular epidemiology study on the genetic polymorphisms, i.e., JAK2 V617F and other single nucleotide polymorphisms as a diagnostic tool is necessary for cancer screening and prophylactic programs.

Possible Synergistic Interactions Among Multiple HPV Genotypes in Women Suffering from Genital Neoplasia

Objective:

Persistence of HPV infection is the true cause of cervical disorders. It is reported that competition may exist among HPV genotypes for colonization. This survey was designed to establish the multiple HPV genotype status in our community and the probability of multiple HPV infections involvement.

Methods:

All multiple HPV infections were selected for investigation in women suffering from genital infections referred to private laboratories in Tehran, Iran. A total of 160 multi HPV positive specimens from cervical scraping were identified by the HPV genotyping methods, “INNO-LiPA and Geno Array”.

Result:

In present study, HPV 6 (LR), 16 (HR), 53 (pHR), 31 (HR) and 11 (LR) were included in 48.8% of detected infections as the most five dominant genotypes. HPV 16 was detected at the highest rate with genotypes 53, 31 and 52, while HPV 53 appeared linked with HPV 16, 51 and 56 in concurrent infections. It appears that HPV 16 and 53 may have significant tendencies to associate with each other rather than with other genotypes. Analysis of the data revealed there may be some synergistic interactions with a few particular genotypes such as “HPV 53”.

Conclusion:

Multiple HPV genotypes appear more likely to be linked with development of cervical abnormalities especially in patients with genital infections. Since, there are various patterns of dominant HPV genotypes in different regions of world, more investigations of this type should be performed for careHPV programs in individual countries.

Non-thermal plasma induces AKT degradation through turn-on the MUL1 E3 ligase in head and neck cancer

Recent research on non-thermal plasma (NTP, an ionized gas) has identified it as a novel cancer therapeutic tool. However, the molecular mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we demonstrated NTP induced cell death of head and neck cancer (HNC) through the AKT ubiquitin–proteasome system. NTP increased the gene expression of mitochondrial E3 ubiquitin protein ligase 1 (MUL1), an E3 ligase for AKT, and NTP-induced HNC cell death was prevented by MUL1 siRNA. We also showed that MUL1 inhibited the level of AKT and p-AKT and MUL1 expression was increased by NTP-induced ROS. Furthermore, we optimized and manufactured a new type of NTP, a liquid type of NTP (LTP). In syngeneic and xenograft in vivo tumor models, LTP inhibited tumor progression by increasing the MUL1 level and reducing p-AKT levels, indicating that LTP also has an anti-cancer effect through the same mechanism as that of NTP. Taken together, our results suggest that NTP and LTP have great potential for HNC therapy.