The miR-19b-3p-MAP2K3-STAT3 feedback loop regulates cell proliferation and invasion in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

MicroRNAs: A novel signature in the metastasis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a malignant epithelial tumor, characterized by squamous cell differentiation, it is the sixth leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally. The increased mortality rate of ESCC patients is predominantly due to the advanced stage of the disease when discovered, coupled with higher risk of metastasis, which is an exceedingly malignant characteristic of cancer, frequently leading to a high mortality rate. Unfortunately, there is currently no specific and effective marker to predict and treat metastasis in ESCC. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small non-coding RNA molecules, approximately 22 nucleotides in length. miRNAs are vital in modulating gene expression and serve pivotal regulatory roles in the occurrence, progression, and prognosis of cancer. Here, we have examined the literature to highlight the intimate correlations between miRNAs and ESCC metastasis, and show that ESCC metastasis is predominantly regulated or regulated by genetic and epigenetic factors. This review proposes a potential role for miRNAs as diagnostic and therapeutic biomarkers for metastasis in ESCC metastasis, with the ultimate aim of reducing the mortality rate among patients with ESCC.

Liquid biopsy of oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma: implications in diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment monitoring

Oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a common malignant tumour of the gastrointestinal tract. Early detection and access to appropriate treatment are crucial for the long-term survival of patients. However, limited diagnostic and monitoring methods are available for identifying early stage ESCC. Endoscopic screening and surgical resection are commonly used to diagnose and treat early ESCC. However, these methods have disadvantages, such as high recurrence, lethality, and mortality rates. Therefore, methods to improve early diagnosis of ESCC and reduce its mortality rate are urgently required. In 1961, Gary et al. proposed a novel liquid biopsy approach for clinical diagnosis. This involved examining exosomes, circulating tumour cells, circulating free DNA, and circulating free RNA in body fluids. The ability of liquid biopsy to obtain samples repeatedly, wide detection range, and fast detection speed make it a feasible option for non-invasive tumour detection. In clinical practice, liquid biopsy technology has gained popularity for early screening, diagnosis, treatment efficacy monitoring, and prognosis assessment. Thus, this is a highly promising examination method. However, there have been no comprehensive reviews on the four factors of liquid biopsy in the context of ESCC. This review aimed to analyse the progress of liquid biopsy research for ESCC, including its classification, components, and potential future applications.

Synergistic Interaction between Metal Single-Atoms and Defective WO3- x Nanosheets for Enhanced Sonodynamic Cancer Therapy

Although metal single-atom (SA)-based nanomaterials are explored as sonosensitizers for sonodynamic therapy (SDT), they normally exhibit poor activities and need to combine with other therapeutic strategies. Herein, the deposition of metal SAs on oxygen vacancy (OV)-rich WO3- x nanosheets to generate a synergistic effect for efficient SDT is reported. Crystalline WO3 and OV-rich WO3- x nanosheets are first prepared by simple calcination of the WO3 ·H2 O nanosheets under an air and N2 atmosphere, respectively. Pt, Cu, Fe, Co, and Ni metal SAs are then deposited on WO3- x nanosheets to obtain metal SA-decorated WO3- x nanocomposites (M-WO3- x ). Importantly, the Cu-WO3- x sonosensitizer exhibits a much higher activity for ultrasound (US)-induced production of reactive oxygen species than that of the WO3- x and Cu SA-decorated WO3 , which is also higher than other M-WO3- x nanosheets. Both the experimental and theoretical results suggest that the excellent SDT performance of the Cu-WO3- x nanosheets should be attributed to the synergistic effect between Cu SAs and WO3- x OVs. Therefore, after polyethylene glycol modification, the Cu-WO3- x can quickly kill cancer cells in vitro and effectively eradicate tumors in vivo under US irradiation. Transcriptome sequencing analysis and further molecular validation suggest that the Cu-WO3- x -mediated SDT-activated apoptosis and TNF signaling pathways are potential drivers of tumor apoptosis induction.

Development of a TLR-Based Model That Can Predict Prognosis, Tumor Microenvironment, and Drug Response for Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

The toll-like receptor (TLR) family is an important class of proteins involved in the immune response. However, little is known about the association between TLRs and Esophageal squamous cell cancer (ESCC). We explored differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between ESCC and esophagus tissues in TCGA and GTEx database. By taking the intersection with TLR gene set and using univariate Cox analysis and multivariate Cox regression analysis to discriminate the hub genes, we created a TLR-prognostic model. Our model separated patients with ESCC into high- and low-risk score (RS) groups. Prognostic analysis was performed with Kaplan-Meier curves. The two groups were also compared regarding tumor immune microenvironment and drug sensitivity. Six hub genes (including CD36, LGR4, MAP2K3, NINJ1, PIK3R1, and TRAF3) were screened to construct a TLR-prognostic model. High-RS group had a worse survival (p < 0.01), lower immune checkpoint expression (p < 0.05), immune cell abundance (p < 0.05) and decreased sensitivity to Epirubicin (p < 0.001), 5-fluorouracil (p < 0.0001), Sorafenib (p < 0.01) and Oxaliplatin (p < 0.05). We constructed a TLR-based model, which could be used to assess the prognosis of patients with ESCC, provide new insights into drug treatment for ESCC patients and investigate the TME and drug response.

Exosome-mediated metabolic reprogramming: Implications in esophageal carcinoma progression and tumor microenvironment remodeling

Esophageal carcinoma is among the most fatal malignancies with increasing incidence globally. Tumor onset and progression can be driven by metabolic reprogramming, especially during esophageal carcinoma development. Exosomes, a subset of extracellular vesicles, display an average size of ∼100 nanometers, containing multifarious components (nucleic acids, proteins, lipids, etc.). An increasing number of studies have shown that exosomes are capable of transferring molecules with biological functions into recipient cells, which play crucial roles in esophageal carcinoma progression and tumor microenvironment that is a highly heterogeneous ecosystem through rewriting the metabolic processes in tumor cells and environmental stromal cells. The review introduces the reprogramming of glucose, lipid, amino acid, mitochondrial metabolism in esophageal carcinoma, and summarize current pharmaceutical agents targeting such aberrant metabolism rewiring. We also comprehensively overview the biogenesis and release of exosomes, and recent advances of exosomal cargoes and functions in esophageal carcinoma and their promising clinical application. Moreover, we discuss how exosomes trigger tumor growth, metastasis, drug resistance, and immunosuppression as well as tumor microenvironment remodeling through focusing on their capacity to transfer materials between cells or between cells and tissues and modulate metabolic reprogramming, thus providing a theoretical reference for the design potential pharmaceutical agents targeting these mechanisms. Altogether, our review attempts to fully understand the significance of exosome-based metabolic rewriting in esophageal carcinoma progression and remodeling of the tumor microenvironment, bringing novel insights into the prevention and treatment of esophageal carcinoma in the future.

Emerging role of exosome-shuttled noncoding RNAs in gastrointestinal cancers: From intercellular crosstalk to clinical utility

Gastrointestinal cancer remains a significant global health burden. The pursuit of advancing the comprehension of tumorigenesis, along with the identification of reliable biomarkers and the development of precise therapeutic strategies, represents imperative objectives in this field. Exosomes, small membranous vesicles released by most cells, commonly carry functional biomolecules, including noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), which are specifically sorted and encapsulated by exosomes. Exosome-mediated communication involves the release of exosomes from tumor or stromal cells and the uptake by nearby or remote recipient cells. The bioactive cargoes contained within these exosomes exert profound effects on the recipient cells, resulting in significant modifications in the tumor microenvironment (TME) and distinct alterations in gastrointestinal tumor behaviors. Due to the feasibility of isolating exosomes from various bodily fluids, exosomal ncRNAs have shown great potential as liquid biopsy-based indicators for different gastrointestinal cancers, using blood, ascites, saliva, or bile samples. Moreover, exosomes are increasingly recognized as natural delivery vehicles for ncRNA-based therapeutic interventions. In this review, we elucidate the processes of ncRNA-enriched exosome biogenesis and uptake, examine the regulatory and functional roles of exosomal ncRNA-mediated intercellular crosstalk in gastrointestinal TME and tumor behaviors, and explore their potential clinical utility in diagnostics, prognostics, and therapeutics.

Noncoding RNAs as regulators of STAT3 pathway in gastrointestinal cancers: Roles in cancer progression and therapeutic response

Gastrointestinal (GI) tumors (cancers of the esophagus, gastric, liver, pancreas, colon, and rectum) contribute to a large number of deaths worldwide. STAT3 is an oncogenic transcription factor that promotes the transcription of genes associated with proliferation, antiapoptosis, survival, and metastasis. STAT3 is overactivated in many human malignancies including GI tumors which accelerates tumor progression, metastasis, and drug resistance. Research in recent years demonstrated that noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) play a major role in the regulation of many signaling pathways including the STAT3 pathway. The major types of endogenous ncRNAs that are being extensively studied in oncology are microRNAs, long noncoding RNAs, and circular RNAs. These ncRNAs can either be tumor-promoters or tumor-suppressors and each one of them imparts their activity via different mechanisms. The STAT3 pathway is also tightly modulated by ncRNAs. In this article, we have elaborated on the tumor-promoting role of STAT3 signaling in GI tumors. Subsequently, we have comprehensively discussed the oncogenic as well as tumor suppressor functions and mechanism of action of ncRNAs that are known to modulate STAT3 signaling in GI cancers.

PITX1 suppresses osteosarcoma metastasis through exosomal LINC00662-mediated M2 macrophage polarization

Paired-like homeodomain transcription factor 1 (PITX1) is frequently downregulated in cancers, including osteosarcoma (OS). However, its role in OS remains unknown. Therefore, we aimed to explore the functions and potential mechanisms of PITX1 in OS malignant progression. Elevated PITX1 suppressed OS cell proliferation and migration, based on transwell, proliferation, and colony formation assays. Pathway enrichment analysis of differentially-expressed genes between PITX1-overexpressing and control OS cells indicated that PITX1 expression was associated with the FAK/Src and PI3k/Akt signaling pathways. Mechanistically, ubiquitination assays and rescue experiments showed that PITX1 interacted with transcription factor STAT3, leading to decreased STAT3 transcriptional activity, which repressed the expression of LINC00662. Specific knockdown of LINC00662 reduced the tumor growth and invasion of OS cells induced by downregulated PITX1. Moreover, exosomal LINC00662, derived from PITX1 knockdown OS cell lines activated M2 macrophages in cell co-culture assays. M2 macrophage secreted several cytokines, among which CCL22 was found to cause OS cell EMT. Collectively, our data indicate that PITX1 suppresses OS cell proliferation and metastasis by downregulating LINC00662. Moreover, LINC00662 can be packaged into OS cell-derived exosomes to mediate M2 macrophage polarization to promote OS metastasis via CCL22.

Mechanisms of function and clinical potential of exosomes in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remains one of the most lethal and widespread malignancies in China. Exosomes, a subset of tiny extracellular vesicles manufactured by all cells and present in all body fluids, contribute to intercellular communication and have become a focus of the search for new therapeutic strategies for cancer. A number of global analyses of exosome-mediated functions and regulatory mechanism in malignant diseases have recently been reported. There is extensive evidence that exosomes can be used as diagnostic and prognostic markers for cancer. However, our understanding of their clinical value and mechanisms of action in ESCC is still limited and has not been systematically reviewed. Here, we review current research specifically focused on the functions and mechanisms of action of ESCC tumor-derived exosomes and non-ESCC-derived exosomes in ESCC progression and describe opportunities and challenges in the clinical translation of exosomes.

Genetic variant in miR-17-92 cluster binding sites is associated with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma risk in Chinese population

BACKGROUND

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located in microRNA (miRNA) binding sites can affect the interactions between miRNAs and target genes, which is related to cancer susceptibility and tumorigenesis. However, the association between SNPs located in miR-17-92 cluster binding sites and ESCC risk remains unclear. Therefore, we aimed to explore the relationship between polymorphisms in miR-17-92 cluster binding sites and ESCC susceptibility.

METHODS

Six SNPs in the binding sites of miR-17-92 cluster were selected using bioinformatics databases, and their association with ESCC risk was investigated in a case-control study (including 488 cases and 512 controls) based on the population from high incidence areas of ESCC in China. We evaluated the SNP-SNP and SNP-smoking interactions using generalized multifactor dimensionality reduction (GMDR). Moreover, the expression of the miR-17-92 cluster and its target genes was determined in ESCC and adjacent normal tissues by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The dual-luciferase reporter assay was conducted to verify the effect of SNPs on the binding affinity between miRNAs and target genes.

RESULTS

We found that the SNP rs1804506 C > T had a significant association with the decreased ESCC risk. The SNP rs1804506 T allele was associated with a significantly decreased risk of ESCC in the additive model (OR = 0.817, 95% CI = 0.681-0.981, P = 0.030). The rs1804506 T allele had more striking effects on reducing ESCC risk in older individuals, female or non-smoker subgroups. We also found a significant interaction effect between rs1366600 and smoking by GMDR methods (P = 0.011). Additionally, the expression levels of miR-19a-3p and TGFBR3 were significantly downregulated in ESCC tissues compared with normal tissues, and the carriers of rs1804506 TT genotype had lower expression level of TGFBR3 than those of rs1804506 CC/CT genotype. Following dual-luciferase reporter assay showed that the rs1804506 T allele reduced the binding of miR-19a-3p and TGFBR3 3'-UTR.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that the rs1804506 polymorphism in miR-17-92 cluster binding sites contributes to the susceptibility of ESCC, which might provide new clues and scientific evidence for the etiology and biomarkers for the prevention and treatment of ESCC.

Promising Biomarkers in Head and Neck Cancer: The Most Clinically Important miRNAs

Head and neck cancers (HNCs) comprise a heterogeneous group of tumors that extend from the oral cavity to the upper gastrointestinal tract. The principal etiologic factors for oral tumors include tobacco smoking and alcohol consumption, while human papillomavirus (HPV) infections have been accused of a high incidence of pharyngeal tumors. Accordingly, HPV detection has been extensively used to categorize carcinomas of the head and neck. The diverse nature of HNC highlights the necessity for novel, sensitive, and precise biomarkers for the prompt diagnosis of the disease, its successful monitoring, and the timely prognosis of patient clinical outcomes. In this context, the identification of certain microRNAs (miRNAs) and/or the detection of alterations in their expression patterns, in a variety of somatic fluids and tissues, could serve as valuable biomarkers for precision oncology. In the present review, we summarize some of the most frequently studied miRNAs (including miR-21, -375, -99, -34a, -200, -31, -125a/b, -196a/b, -9, -181a, -155, -146a, -23a, -16, -29, and let-7), their role as biomarkers, and their implication in HNC pathogenesis. Moreover, we designate the potential of given miRNAs and miRNA signatures as novel diagnostic and prognostic tools for successful patient stratification. Finally, we discuss the currently ongoing clinical trials that aim to identify the diagnostic, prognostic, or therapeutic utility of miRNAs in HNC.

Dissection of the MKK3 Functions in Human Cancer: A Double-Edged Sword?

The role played by MKK3 in human cancer is controversial. MKK3 is an evolutionarily conserved protein kinase that activates in response to a variety of stimuli. Phosphorylates, specifically the p38MAPK family proteins, contribute to the regulation of a plethora of cellular processes such as proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, invasion, and cell migration. Genes in carcinogenesis are classified as oncogenes and tumor suppressors; however, a clear distinction is not always easily made as it depends on the cell context and tissue specificity. The aim of this study is the examination of the potential contribution of MKK3 in cancer through a systematic analysis of the recent literature. The overall results reveal a complex scenario of MKK3’s involvement in cancer. The oncogenic functions of MKK3 were univocally documented in several solid tumors, such as colorectal, prostate cancer, and melanoma, while its tumor-suppressing functions were described in glioblastoma and gastric cancer. Furthermore, a dual role of MKK3 as an oncogene as well as tumor a suppressor has been described in breast, cervical, ovarian, liver, esophageal, and lung cancer. However, overall, more evidence points to its role as an oncogene in these diseases. This review indicates that the oncogenic and tumor-suppressing roles of MKK3 are strictly dependent on the tumor type and further suggests that MKK3 could represent an efficient putative molecular target that requires contextualization within a specific tumor type in order to adequately evaluate its potential effectiveness in designing novel anticancer therapies. 

Deciphering Risperidone-Induced Lipogenesis by Network Pharmacology and Molecular Validation

BACKGROUND

Risperidone is an atypical antipsychotic that can cause substantial weight gain. The pharmacological targets and molecular mechanisms related to risperidone-induced lipogenesis (RIL) remain to be elucidated. Therefore, network pharmacology and further experimental validation were undertaken to explore the action mechanisms of RIL.

METHODS

RILs were systematically analyzed by integrating multiple databases through integrated network pharmacology, transcriptomics, molecular docking, and molecular experiment analysis. The potential signaling pathways for RIL were identified and experimentally validated using gene ontology (GO) enrichment and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) analysis.

RESULTS

Risperidone promotes adipocyte differentiation and lipid accumulation through Oil Red O staining and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). After network pharmacology and GO analysis, risperidone was found to influence cellular metabolism. In addition, risperidone influences adipocyte metabolism, differentiation, and lipid accumulation-related functions through transcriptome analysis. Intersecting analysis, molecular docking, and pathway validation analysis showed that risperidone influences the adipocytokine signaling pathway by targeting MAPK14 (mitogen-activated protein kinase 14), MAPK8 (mitogen-activated protein kinase 8), and RXRA (retinoic acid receptor RXR-alpha), thereby inhibiting long-chain fatty acid β-oxidation by decreasing STAT3 (signal transducer and activator of transcription 3) expression and phosphorylation.

CONCLUSION

Risperidone increases adipocyte lipid accumulation by plausibly inhibiting long-chain fatty acid β-oxidation through targeting MAPK14 and MAPK8.

Identification of serum exosomal miR-98-5p, miR-183-5p, miR-323-3p and miR-19b-3p as potential biomarkers for glioblastoma patients and investigation of their mechanisms

BACKGROUND

Exosomal miRNAs have attracted increasing interest as potential biomarkers and treatment targets for cancers, however, glioblastoma (GBM)-related exosomal miRNAs remain rarely reported. The study aimed to screen crucial serum exosomal miRNAs in GBM patients and explored their possible mechanisms.

METHODS

Serum exosomal miRNA profile datasets of GBM patients and normal controls were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database (GSE112462 and GSE122488). The differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) were identified using the limma method. Their diagnostic values were assessed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. The target genes of DEMs were predicted by the miRwalk 2.0 database. Function enrichment analysis was performed using the DAVID database. The expression and prognosis of target genes were validated using TCGA sequencing data and immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

Seven DEMs were shared in two datasets, among which hsa-miR-183-5p and hsa-miR-98-5p as well as has-miR-323-3p or has-miR-19b-3p constituted a diagnostic signature to distinguish GBM from controls, with the area under the ROC curve nearly approximate to 1. MAPK8IP1/FAM175B, OSMR/CASP3, PTPN2 and FBXO32 may be underlying targets for hsa-miR-183-5p, hsa-miR-98-5p, has-miR-323-3p and has-miR-19b-3p, respectively. Function analysis showed all of these target genes were involved in cell proliferation and related signaling pathways [positive regulation of cell proliferation (OSMR), negative regulation of transcription from RNA polymerase II promoter (PTPN2), cell division (FAM175B), regulation of transcription, DNA-templated (MAPK8IP1), hsa05200:Pathways in cancer (CASP3) and hsa04068:FoxO signaling pathway (FBXO32)]. The protein and (or mRNA) expression levels of OSMR, CASP3, PTPN2 and FBXO32 were validated to be upregulated, while MAPK8IP1 and FAM175B were downregulated in GBM tissues. Also, OSMR, CASP3, PTPN2 and FBXO32 were associated with patients' prognosis.

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest these four exosomal miRNAs may represent potential diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for GBM.

Quadruple and Truncated MEK3 Mutants Identified from Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Promote Degradation and Enhance Proliferation

Compared to other ethnicities, Hispanic children incur the highest rates of leukemia, and most cases are diagnosed as Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). Despite improved treatment and survival for ALL, disproportionate health outcomes in Hispanics persist. Thus, it is essential to identify oncogenic mutations within this demographic to aid in the development of new strategies to diagnose and treat ALL. Using whole-exome sequencing, five single nucleotide polymorphisms within mitogen-activated protein kinase 3 (MAP2K3) were identified in an ALL cancer patient library from the U.S./Mexico border. MAP2K3 R26T and P11T are located near the substrate-binding site, while R65L and R67W localized to the kinase domain. Truncated-MAP2K3 mutant Q73* was also identified. Transfection in HEK293 cells showed that the quadruple-MEK3 mutant (4M-MEK3) impacted protein stability, inducing degradation and reducing expression. The expression of 4M-MEK3 could be rescued by cysteine/serine protease inhibition, and proteasomal degradation of truncated-MEK3 occurred in a ubiquitin-independent manner. MEK3 mutants displayed reduced auto-phosphorylation and enzymatic activity, as seen by decreases in p38 phosphorylation. Furthermore, uncoupling of the MEK3/p38 signaling pathway resulted in less suppressive activity on HEK293 cell viability. Thus, disruption of MEK3 activation may promote proliferative signals in ALL. These findings suggest that MEK3 represents a potential therapeutic target for treating ALL.

Expression, regulation, and function of exosome-derived miRNAs in cancer progression and therapy

Exosomes are a novel class of intercellular signal modulators that contain a wide range of molecules and deliver information between cells and tissues. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a type of regulatory non-coding RNA, are often incorporated into exosomes as signaling molecules. In this review, we discuss the expression of exosomal miRNAs from diverse origins such as tumor cells, solid tumor tissue, and biological fluids in various cancers (lung, breast, colorectal, liver, stomach, and pancreatic). We address the biological functions of exosome-derived miRNAs in processes such as tumor-cell proliferation, angiogenesis, metastasis, and chemoresistance in the tumor microenvironment. In particular, we discuss three oncogenic miRNAs, miR-21, miR-141, and miR-451, which occur within exosomes, in terms of gene regulation and intercellular communication. We consider therapeutic miRNA-based nanoparticles, which are widely expressed in tumors and show promise in drug therapy. The review assesses the wide-ranging evidence for using exosomal miRNAs as tumor markers in molecular diagnosis. Further, we consider the use of nanoparticle platforms to transport miRNAs, in the targeted treatment of disease and tumors.

Knockdown of Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinase 3 Negatively Regulates Hepatitis A Virus Replication

Zinc chloride is known to be effective in combatting hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection, and zinc ions seem to be especially involved in Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling pathways. In the present study, we examined this involvement in human hepatoma cell lines using a human TLR signaling target RT-PCR array. We also observed that zinc chloride inhibited mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 3 (MAP2K3) expression, which could downregulate HAV replication in human hepatocytes. It is possible that zinc chloride may inhibit HAV replication in association with its inhibition of MAP2K3. In that regard, this study set out to determine whether MAP2K3 could be considered a modulating factor in the development of the HAV pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP) and its triggering of interferon-β production. Because MAP2K3 seems to play a role in antiviral immunity against HAV infection, it is a promising target for drug development. The inhibition of MAP2K3 may also prevent HAV patients from developing a severe hepatitis A infection.