KNK437 restricts the growth and metastasis of colorectal cancer via targeting DNAJA1/CDC45 axis

Unwinding Helicase MCM Functionality for Diagnosis and Therapeutics of Replication Abnormalities Associated with Cancer: A Review

The minichromosome maintenance (MCM) protein is a component of an active helicase that is essential for the initiation of DNA replication. Dysregulation of MCM functions contribute to abnormal cell proliferation and genomic instability. The interactions of MCM with cellular factors, including Cdc45 and GINS, determine the formation of active helicase and functioning of helicase. The functioning of MCM determines the fate of DNA replication and, thus, genomic integrity. This complex is upregulated in precancerous cells and can act as an important tool for diagnostic applications. The MCM protein complex can be an important broad-spectrum therapeutic target in various cancers. Investigations have supported the potential and applications of MCM in cancer diagnosis and its therapeutics. In this article, we discuss the physiological roles of MCM and its associated factors in DNA replication and cancer pathogenesis.

Heat Shock Proteins, a Double-Edged Sword: Significance in Cancer Progression, Chemotherapy Resistance and Novel Therapeutic Perspectives

Heat shock proteins (Hsps) are involved in one of the adaptive mechanisms protecting cells against environmental and metabolic stress. Moreover, the large role of these proteins in the carcinogenesis process, as well as in chemoresistance, was noticed. This review aims to draw attention to the possibilities of using Hsps in developing new cancer therapy methods, as well as to indicate directions for future research on this topic. In order to discuss this matter, a thorough review of the latest scientific literature was carried out, taking into account the importance of selected proteins from the Hsp family, including Hsp27, Hsp40, Hsp60, Hsp70, Hsp90 and Hsp110. One of the more characteristic features of all Hsps is that they play a multifaceted role in cancer progression, which makes them an obvious target for modern anticancer therapy. Some researchers emphasize the importance of directly inhibiting the action of these proteins. In turn, others point to their possible use in the design of cancer vaccines, which would work by inducing an immune response in various types of cancer. Due to these possibilities, it is believed that the use of Hsps may contribute to the progress of oncoimmunology, and thus help in the development of modern anticancer therapies, which would be characterized by higher effectiveness and lower toxicity to the patients.

CDC45 promotes the stemness and metastasis in lung adenocarcinoma by affecting the cell cycle

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to assess the functions of cell division cycle protein 45 (CDC45) in Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cancer and its effects on stemness and metastasis.

METHODS

Firstly, differentially expressed genes related to lung cancer metastasis and stemness were screened by differential analysis and lasso regression. Then, in vitro, experiments such as colony formation assay, scratch assay, and transwell assay were conducted to evaluate the impact of CDC45 knockdown on the proliferation and migration abilities of lung cancer cells. Western blotting was used to measure the expression levels of related proteins and investigate the regulation of CDC45 on the cell cycle. Finally, in vivo model with subcutaneous injection of lung cancer cells was performed to verify the effect of CDC45 on tumor growth.

RESULTS

This study identified CDC45 as a key gene potentially influencing tumor stemness and lymph node metastasis. Knockdown of CDC45 not only suppressed the proliferation and migration abilities of lung cancer cells but also caused cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase. Further analysis revealed a negative correlation between CDC45 and cell cycle-related proteins, stemness-related markers, and tumor mutations. Mouse experiments confirmed that CDC45 knockdown inhibited tumor growth.

CONCLUSION

As a novel regulator of stemness, CDC45 plays a role in regulating lung cancer cell proliferation, migration, and cell cycle. Therefore, CDC45 may serve as a potential target for lung cancer treatment and provide a reference for further mechanistic research and therapeutic development.

Upregulation of lnc-FOXD2-AS1, CDC45, and CDK1 in patients with primary non-M3 AML is associated with a worse prognosis

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a heterogeneous hematologic malignancy with an unfavorable outcome. The present research aimed to identify novel biological targets for AML diagnosis and treatment. In this study, we performed an in-silico method to identify antisense RNAs (AS-RNAs) and their related co-expression genes. GSE68172 was selected from the AML database of the Gene Expression Omnibus and compared using the GEO2R tool to find DEGs. Antisense RNAs were selected from all the genes that had significant expression and a survival plot was drawn for them in the GEPIA database, FOXD2-AS1 was chosen for further investigation based on predetermined criteria (logFC ≥|1| and P < 0.05) and its noteworthy association between elevated expression level and a marked reduction in the overall survival (OS) in patients diagnosed with AML. The GEPIA database was utilized to investigate FOXD2-AS1-related co-expression and similar genes. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis and gene ontology (GO) function analysis of the mentioned gene lists were performed using the DAVID database. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was then constructed using the STRING database. Hub genes were screened using Cytoscape software. Pearson correlation analysis was conducted using the GEPIA database to explore the relationship between FOXD2-AS1 and the hub genes. The transcription of the selected coding and non-coding genes, including FOXD2-AS1, CDC45, CDC20, CDK1, and CCNB1, was validated in 150 samples, including 100 primary AML non-M3 blood samples and 50 granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF)-mobilized healthy donors, using quantitative Real-Time PCR (qRT-PCR). qRT-PCR results displayed significant upregulation of lnc-FOXD2-AS1, CDC45, and CDK1 in primary AML non-M3 blood samples compared to healthy blood samples (P = 0.0032, P = 0.0078, and P = 0.0117, respectively). The expression levels of CDC20 and CCNB1 were not statistically different between the two sets of samples (P = 0.8315 and P = 0.2788, respectively). We identified that AML patients with upregulation of FOXD2-AS1, CDK1, and CDC45 had shorter overall survival (OS) and Relapse-free survival (RFS) compared those with low expression of FOXD2-AS1, CDK1, and CDC45. Furthermore, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve showed the potential biomarkers of lnc -FOXD2-AS1, CDC45, and CDK1 in primary AML non-M3 blood samples. This research proposed that the dysregulation of lnc-FOXD2-AS1, CDC45, and CDK1 can contribute to both disease state and diagnosis as well as treatment. The present study proposes the future evolution of the functional role of lnc-FOXD2-AS1, CDC45, and CDK1 in AML development.

DNAJA1 promotes proliferation and metastasis of breast cancer by activating mutant P53/NF-κB pathway

PURPOSE

Breast cancer is one of the most common tumors with high malignancy and metastatic rate. DNAJA1 is closely related to tumor progress in several tumors. However, the role and mechanisms of DNAJA1 in the metastasis and proliferation of breast cancer are unknown.

METHODS

Immunohistochemistry and western blot were used to detect the protein expression genes. In vivo and vitro experiments were performed to evaluate the proliferation, invasive and metastatic abilities of breast cancer cells.

RESULTS

DNAJA1 was high expressed in 234 cases of breast cancer tissues and associated with metastasis, p53 expression and poor survival for patients. Knock down of DNAJA1 decreased the number of plate clone formation and the OD value of CCK8 assays in breast cancer cells. Depletion of DNAJA1 also in decreased the invasive abilities of breast cancer cells. In vivo, knock down DNAJA1 decreased the growth of subcutaneous tumor and lung metastatic nodes. Mechanically, DNAJA1 could bind with P53-R175H and reduced its degradation. Up regulation of DNAJA1 in mutant P53-R175H breast cancer cell promoted the nuclear translocation of p65, activated NF-κB pathway and enhanced the transcription of its downstream genes such as MMP9, CXCL10 et al. Blockade of NF-κB pathway effectively rescued the effects of DNAJA1 on proliferation and metastasis in breast cancer.

CONCLUSION

Our study reveals that DNAJA1 is up regulated in breast cancer and promotes breast cancer cells proliferation and metastasis via P53-R175H/NF-κB pathway. It might be a potential prognosis marker for the breast cancer patients.

Clinical Implication of E2F Transcription Factor 1 in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Tissues

Background: To date, the clinical management of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients remains challenging and the mechanisms of E2F transcription factor 1 (E2F1) underlying HCC are obscure. Materials and Methods: Our study integrated datasets mined from several public databases to comprehensively understand the deregulated expression status of E2F1. Tissue microarrays and immunohistochemistry staining was used to validate E2F1 expression level. The prognostic value of E2F1 was assessed. In-depth subgroup analyses were implemented to compare the differentially expressed levels of E2F1 in HCC patients with various tumor stages. Functional enrichments were used to address the predominant targets of E2F1 and shedding light on their potential roles in HCC. Results: We confirmed the elevated expression of E2F1 in HCC. Subgroup analyses indicated that elevated E2F1 level was independent of various stages in HCC. E2F1 possessed moderate discriminatory capability in differentiating HCC patients from non-HCC controls. Elevated E2F1 correlated with Asian race, tumor classification, neoplasm histologic grade, eastern cancer oncology group, and plasma AFP levels. Furthermore, high E2F1 correlated with poor survival condition and pooled HR signified E2F1 as a risk factor for HCC. Enrichment analysis of differentially expressed genes, coexpressed genes, and putative targets of E2F1 emphasized the importance of cell cycle pathway, where CCNE1 and CCNA2 served as hub genes. Conclusions: We confirmed the upregulation of E2F1 and explored the prognostic value of E2F1 in HCC patients. Two putative targeted genes (CCNE1 and CCNA2) of E2F1 were identified for their potential roles in regulating cell cycle and promote antiapoptotic activity in HCC patients.

Inhibition of Hsp110-STAT3 interaction in endothelial cells alleviates vascular remodeling in hypoxic pulmonary arterial Hypertension model

BACKGROUND

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a progressive and devastating disease characterized by pulmonary vascular remodeling which is associated with the malignant phenotypes of pulmonary vascular cells. Recently, the effects of heat shock protein 110 (Hsp110) in human arterial smooth muscle cells were reported. However, the underlying roles and mechanisms of Hsp110 in human pulmonary arterial endothelial cells (HPAECs) that was disordered firstly at the early stage of PAH remain unknown.

METHODS

In this research, the expression of Hsp110 in PAH human patients and rat models was investigated, and the Hsp110 localization was determined both in vivo and in vitro. The roles and mechanism of elevated Hsp110 in excessive cell proliferation and migration of HPAECs were assessed respectively exposed to hypoxia. Small molecule inhibitors targeting Hsp110-STAT3 interaction were screened via fluorescence polarization, anti-aggregation and western blot assays. Moreover, the effects of compound 6 on HPAECs abnormal phenotypes in vitro and pulmonary vascular remodeling of hypoxia-indued PAH rats in vivo by interrupting Hsp110-STAT3 interaction were evaluated.

RESULTS

Our studies demonstrated that Hsp110 expression was increased in the serum of patients with PAH, as well as in the lungs and pulmonary arteries of PAH rats, when compared to their respective healthy subjects. Moreover, Hsp110 levels were significantly elevated in HPAECs under hypoxia and mediated its aberrant phenotypes. Furthermore, boosted Hsp110-STAT3 interaction resulted in abnormal proliferation and migration via elevating p-STAT3 and c-Myc in HPAECs. Notably, we successfully identified compound 6 as potent Hsp110-STAT3 interaction inhibitor, which effectively inhibited HPAECs proliferation and migration, and significantly ameliorated right heart hypertrophy and vascular remodeling of rats with PAH.

CONCLUSIONS

Our studies suggest that elevated Hsp110 plays a vital role in HPAECs and inhibition of the Hsp110-STAT3 interaction is a novel strategy for improving vascular remodeling. In addition, compound 6 could serve as a promising lead compound for developing first-in-class drugs against PAH.

IGF2BP2 promotes glycolysis and hepatocellular carcinoma stemness by stabilizing CDC45 mRNA via m6A modification

A growing number of studies have shown the prognostic importance of Cell division cycle protein 45 (CDC45) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study aims to investigate the biological function and mechanism of CDC45 in HCC. The differential expression and prognostic significance of CDC45 in HCC and normal tissues were analyzed by bioinformatics. CDC45 was knocked down and the biological effects of CDC45 in HCC in vitro and in vivo were measured. Subsequently, using RNA m6A colorimetry and Methylated RNA Immunoprecipitation (MeRIP), the levels of m6A modification of total RNA and CDC45 were evaluated in cells. RIP was applied to establish that CDC45 and insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding protein 2 (IGF2BP2) interact. A test using actinomycin D was performed to gauge the stability of the CDC45 mRNA. Furthermore, the regulatory role of IGF2BP2 on CDC45 expression in HCC progression was explored by overexpressing IGF2BP2. High expression of CDC45 was correlated with poor prognosis in HCC patients. Knocking down CDC45 inhibited HCC cell proliferation, migration, invasion, EMT, stemness, and glycolysis, and promoted apoptosis, which was verified through in vitro experiments. Additionally, IGF2BP2 was highly expressed in HCC cells, and it was found to interact with CDC45. Knocking down IGF2BP2 resulted in reduced stability of CDC45 mRNA. Moreover, overexpression of IGF2BP2 promoted HCC cell proliferation, migration, invasion, EMT, stemness, and glycolysis, while inhibiting apoptosis, which was reversed by knocking down CDC45. In general, IGF2BP2 promoted HCC glycolysis and stemness by stabilizing CDC45 mRNA via m6A modification. [Figure: see text].

The Plasmodium falciparum exported J domain proteins fine-tune human and malarial Hsp70s: pathological exploitation of proteostasis machinery

Cellular proteostasis requires a network of molecular chaperones and co-chaperones, which facilitate the correct folding and assembly of other proteins, or the degradation of proteins misfolded beyond repair. The function of the major chaperones, heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) and heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90), is regulated by a cohort of co-chaperone proteins. The J domain protein (JDP) family is one of the most diverse co-chaperone families, playing an important role in functionalizing the Hsp70 chaperone system to form a powerful protein quality control network. The intracellular malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, has evolved the capacity to invade and reboot mature human erythrocytes, turning them into a vehicles of pathology. This process appears to involve the harnessing of both the human and parasite chaperone machineries. It is well known that malaria parasite-infected erythrocytes are highly enriched in functional human Hsp70 (HsHsp70) and Hsp90 (HsHsp90), while recent proteomics studies have provided evidence that human JDPs (HsJDPs) may also be enriched, but at lower levels. Interestingly, P. falciparum JDPs (PfJDPs) are the most prominent and diverse family of proteins exported into the infected erythrocyte cytosol. We hypothesize that the exported PfJPDs may be an evolutionary consequence of the need to boost chaperone power for specific protein folding pathways that enable both survival and pathogenesis of the malaria parasite. The evidence suggests that there is an intricate network of PfJDP interactions with the exported malarial Hsp70 (PfHsp70-x) and HsHsp70, which appear to be important for the trafficking of key malarial virulence factors, and the proteostasis of protein complexes of human and parasite proteins associated with pathology. This review will critically evaluate the current understanding of the role of exported PfJDPs in pathological exploitation of the proteostasis machinery by fine-tuning the chaperone properties of both human and malarial Hsp70s.

A novel mitochondria-related gene signature in esophageal carcinoma: prognostic, immune, and therapeutic features

Esophageal carcinoma (ESCA) is a common and lethal malignant tumor worldwide. The mitochondrial biomarkers were useful in finding significant prognostic gene modules associated with ESCA owing to the role of mitochondria in tumorigenesis and progression. In the present work, we obtained the transcriptome expression profiles and corresponding clinical information of ESCA from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Differential expressed genes (DEGs) were overlapped with 2030 mitochondria-related genes to get mitochondria-related DEGs. The univariate cox regression, Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) regression, and multivariate cox regression were sequentially used to define the risk scoring model for mitochondria-related DEGs, and its prognostic value was verified in the external datasets GSE53624. Based on the risk score, ESCA patients were divided into high- and low-risk groups. Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) were performed to further investigate the difference between low- and high-risk groups at the gene pathway level. CIBERSORT was used to evaluate immune cell infiltration. The mutation difference between high- and low-risk groups was compared by using the R package "Maftools". Cellminer was used to assess the association between the risk scoring model and drug sensitivity. As the most important outcome of the study, a 6-gene risk scoring model (APOOL, HIGD1A, MAOB, BCAP31, SLC44A2, and CHPT1) was constructed from 306 mitochondria-related DEGs. Pathways including the "hippo signaling pathway" and "cell-cell junction" were enriched in the DEGs between high and low groups. According to CIBERSORT, samples with high-risk scores demonstrated a higher abundance of CD4⁺ T cells, NK cells, M0 and M2 macrophages, and a lower abundance of M1 macrophages. The immune cell marker genes were correlated with the risk score. In mutation analysis, the mutation rate of TP53 was significantly different between the high- and low-risk groups. Drugs with a strong correlation with the risk model were selected. In conclusion, we focused on the role of mitochondria-related genes in cancer development and proposed a prognostic signature for individualized integrative assessment.

Autophagy, molecular chaperones, and unfolded protein response as promoters of tumor recurrence

Tumor recurrence is a paradoxical function of a machinery, whereby a small proportion of the cancer cell population enters a resistant, dormant state, persists long-term in this condition, and then transitions to proliferation. The dormant phenotype is typical of cancer stem cells, tumor-initiating cells, disseminated tumor cells, and drug-tolerant persisters, which all demonstrate similar or even equivalent properties. Cancer cell dormancy and its conversion to repopulation are regulated by several protein signaling systems that inhibit or induce cell proliferation and provide optimal interrelations between cancer cells and their special niche; these systems act in close connection with tumor microenvironment and immune response mechanisms. During dormancy and reawakening periods, cell proteostasis machineries, autophagy, molecular chaperones, and the unfolded protein response are recruited to protect refractory tumor cells from a wide variety of stressors and therapeutic insults. Proteostasis mechanisms functionally or even physically interfere with the main regulators of tumor relapse, and the significance of these interactions and implications in the tumor recurrence phases are discussed in this review.

Development and validation of a prognostic model based on a single-cell RNA-seq in Wilms tumor in children

To analyze the heterogeneity between different cell types in pediatric Wilms tumor (WT) tissue, and identify the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of malignant tumor cells, thereby establishing a prognostic model. The single-cell sequencing data of pediatric WT tissues were downloaded from the public database. Data filtration and normalization, principal component analysis, and T-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding cluster analysis were performed using the Seurat package of R language. Cells were divided into different clusters, malignant tumor cells were extracted, and DEGs were obtained. Then, the pseudo-time trajectory analysis was performed. Prognostic biomarkers were determined by univariate and multivariate COX regression analyses and LASSO regression analysis. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and receiver operator characteristic curve analysis were performed. Combined with the prognostic biomarkers and clinical characteristics, a nomogram was generated to predict WT prognosis. The prognostic power was validated in the external datasets. Cells in the WT tissue were divided into 10 clusters. Three prognostic biomarkers that affected the survival time of patients were screened from 215 DEGs in malignant tumor cells, and a nomogram was constructed using the three genes and clinical characteristics. The area under the curve (AUC) values of 3- and 5-year disease-free survival were 0.756 and 0.734, respectively. In the external validation dataset, the AUC value of this nomogram model was 0.826. Based on the single-cell RNA-seq, we recognized cell clusters in the WT tissue of children, identified prognostic biomarkers in malignant tumor cells, and established a comprehensive prognostic model. Our findings might provide new ideas and methods for the diagnosis and treatment of WT.

Synthetic Small Molecule Modulators of Hsp70 and Hsp40 Chaperones as Promising Anticancer Agents

A class of chaperones dubbed heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) possesses high relevance in cancer diseases due to its cooperative activity with the well-established anticancer target Hsp90. However, Hsp70 is closely connected with a smaller heat shock protein, Hsp40, forming a formidable Hsp70-Hsp40 axis in various cancers, which serves as a suitable target for anticancer drug design. This review summarizes the current state and the recent developments in the field of (semi-)synthetic small molecule inhibitors directed against Hsp70 and Hsp40. The medicinal chemistry and anticancer potential of pertinent inhibitors are discussed. Since Hsp90 inhibitors have entered clinical trials but have exhibited severe adverse effects and drug resistance formation, potent Hsp70 and Hsp40 inhibitors may play a significant role in overcoming the drawbacks of Hsp90 inhibitors and other approved anticancer drugs.

Multi-Faceted Roles of DNAJB Protein in Cancer Metastasis and Clinical Implications

Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are highly conserved molecular chaperones with diverse cellular activities, including protein folding, assembly or disassembly of protein complexes, and maturation process under diverse stress conditions. HSPs also play essential roles in tumorigenesis, metastasis, and therapeutic resistance across cancers. Among them, HSP40s are widely accepted as regulators of HSP70/HSP90 chaperones and an accumulating number of biological functions as molecular chaperones dependent or independent of either of these chaperones. Despite large numbers of HSP40s, little is known about their physiologic roles, specifically in cancer progression. This article summarizes the multi-faceted role of DNAJB proteins as one subclass of the HSP40 family in cancer development and metastasis. Regulation and deregulation of DNAJB proteins at transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and post-translational levels contribute to tumor progression, particularly cancer metastasis. Furthermore, understanding differences in function and regulating mechanism between DNAJB proteins offers a new perspective on tumorigenesis and metastasis to improve therapeutic opportunities for malignant diseases.

DNAJA1- and conformational mutant p53-dependent inhibition of cancer cell migration by a novel compound identified through a virtual screen

Cancers are frequently addicted to oncogenic missense mutant p53 (mutp53). DNAJA1, a member of heat shock protein 40 (HSP40), also known as J-domain proteins (JDPs), plays a crucial role in the stabilization and oncogenic activity of misfolded or conformational mutp53 by binding to and preventing mutp53 from proteasomal degradation. However, strategies to deplete mutp53 are not well-established, and no HSP40/JDPs inhibitors are clinically available. To identify compounds that bind to DNAJA1 and induce mutp53 degradation, we performed an in silico docking study of ~10 million of compounds from the ZINC database for the J-domain of DNAJA1. A compound 7-3 was identified, and its analogue A11 effectively reduced the levels of DNAJA1 and conformational mutp53 with minimal effects on the levels of wild-type p53 and DNA-contact mutp53. A11 suppressed migration and filopodia formation in a manner dependent on DNAJA1 and conformational mutp53. A mutant DNAJA1 with alanine mutations at predicted amino acids (tyrosine 7, lysine 44, and glutamine 47) failed to bind to A11. Cells expressing the mutant DNAJA1 became insensitive to A11-mediated depletion of DNAJA1 and mutp53 as well as A11-mediated inhibition of cell migration. Thus, A11 is the first HSP40/JDP inhibitor that has not been previously characterized for depleting DNAJA1 and subsequently conformational mutp53, leading to inhibition of cancer cell migration. A11 can be exploited for a novel treatment against cancers expressing conformational mutp53.

Alkaloid Derivative (Z)-3β-Ethylamino-Pregn-17(20)-en Inhibits Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Metastasis and Angiogenesis by Targeting HSP90α

Metastasis is an important cause of cancer-related death. Previous studies in our laboratory found that pregnane alkaloids from Pachysandra terminalis had antimetastatic activity against breast cancer cells. In the current study, we demonstrated that treatment with one of the alkaloid derivatives, (Z)-3β-ethylamino-pregn-17(20)-en (1), led to the downregulation of the HIF-1α/VEGF/VEGFR2 pathway, suppressed the phosphorylation of downstream molecules Akt, mTOR, FAK, and inhibited breast cancer metastasis and angiogenesis both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, the antimetastasis and antiangiogenesis effects of 1 treatment (40 mg/kg) were more effective than that of Sorafenib (50 mg/kg). Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) analysis was performed and the result suggested that HSP90α was a direct target of 1. Taken together, our results suggested that compound 1 might represent a candidate antitumor agent for metastatic breast cancer.

Leveraging the Structure of DNAJA1 to Discover Novel Potential Pancreatic Cancer Therapies

Pancreatic cancer remains one of the deadliest forms of cancer with a 5-year survival rate of only 11%. Difficult diagnosis and limited treatment options are the major causes of the poor outcome for pancreatic cancer. The human protein DNAJA1 has been proposed as a potential therapeutic target for pancreatic cancer, but its cellular and biological functions remain unclear. Previous studies have suggested that DNAJA1's cellular activity may be dependent upon its protein binding partners. To further investigate this assertion, the first 107 amino acid structures of DNAJA1 were solved by NMR, which includes the classical J-domain and its associated linker region that is proposed to be vital to DNAJA1 functionality. The DNAJA1 NMR structure was then used to identify both protein and ligand binding sites and potential binding partners that may suggest the intracellular roles of DNAJA1. Virtual drug screenings followed by NMR and isothermal titration calorimetry identified 5 drug-like compounds that bind to two different sites on DNAJA1. A pull-down assay identified 8 potentially novel protein binding partners of DNAJA1. These proteins in conjunction with our previously published metabolomics study support a vital role for DNAJA1 in cellular oncogenesis and pancreatic cancer.

The role of heat shock proteins in metastatic colorectal cancer: A review

Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are a large molecular chaperone family classified by their molecular weights, including HSP27, HSP40, HSP60, HSP70, HSP90, and HSP110. HSPs are likely to have antiapoptotic properties and participate actively in various processes such as tumor cell proliferation, invasion, metastases, and death. In this review, we discuss comprehensively the functions of HSPs associated with the progression of colorectal cancer (CRC) and metastasis and resistance to cancer therapy. Taken together, HSPs have numerous clinical applications as biomarkers for cancer diagnosis and prognosis and potential therapeutic targets for CRC and its related metastases.

The role of heat shock protein 40 in carcinogenesis and biology of colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer worldwide. Despite the enormous amount of effort in the diagnosis and treatment of CRC, the overall survival rate of patients remains low. The precise molecular and cellular basis underlying CRC has not been completely understood yet. Over time, new genes and molecular pathways involved in the pathogenesis of the disease are being identified. Accurate discovery of these genes and signaling pathways are important and urgent missions for the next generation of anticancer therapy research. Chaperone DnaJ, also known as Hsp40 (heat shock protein 40), has been of particular interest in CRC pathogenesis, as it is involved in the fundamental cell activities for maintaining cellular homeostasis. Evidence show that protein family members of DnaJ/Hsp40 play both roles; enhancing and reducing the growth of CRC cells. In the present review, we focus on the current knowledge on the molecular mechanisms responsible for the role of DnaJ/Hsp40 in CRC carcinogenesis and biology.

DNAJA1 Stabilizes EF1A1 to Promote Cell Proliferation and Metastasis of Liver Cancer Mediated by miR-205-5p

Liver cancer is one of the most common and aggressive malignancies worldwide with poor prognosis. Studies on pathogenesis of liver cancer are urgently demanded to develop better treatment strategy. Here, we found that overexpression of DnaJ heat shock protein family (Hsp40) member A1 (DNAJA1) increased cell proliferation, invasion, and angiogenesis in Huh 7 and HepG2 cells, while depletion of DNAJA1 in MHCC-97H and HCC-M3 showed opposite effects. In vivo functional assays indicated that DNAJA1 promoted tumor growth and pulmonary metastasis in mice. Mechanistically, as a direct target of miR-205-5p, DNAJA1 promoted proliferation and metastasis of liver cancer cells by stabilizing eukaryotic elongation factor 1A1 (EF1A1). Moreover, DNAJA was markedly upregulated in liver cancer tissues (P < 0.05) and was significantly associated with poor prognosis. And its expression was correlated with differentiation (P < 0.001), dissemination (P < 0.001), and serum AFP (P = 0.029). The mRNA levels of miR-205-5p and DNAJA1 were negatively correlated in liver cancer. In conclusion, our study reveals that DNAJA1 acts as an oncogene in liver cancer via miR-205-5p/EF1A1 axis and might be a potential biomarker to predict the prognosis for liver cancer patients.

Transcriptomic and Metabolomic Analyses Provide Insights into the Growth and Development Advantages of Triploid Apostichopus japonicus

Polyploid breeding is widely used in aquaculture as an important area of new research. We have previously grown Apostichopus japonicus triploids with a growth advantage. The body length, body weight, and aestivation time of triploid and diploid A. japonicus were measured in this study, and the transcriptome and metabolome were used to examine the growth advantage of triploids A. japonicus. The results showed that the proportion of triploid A. japonicus with a body length of 6-12 cm and 12-18 cm was significantly higher than that of diploid A. japonicus, and triploid A. japonicus had a shorter aestivation time (39 days) than diploid (63 days). We discovered 3296 differentially expressed genes (DEGs); 13 DEGs (for example, cyclin-dependent kinase 2) related to growth advantage, immune regulation, and energy storage were screened as potential candidates. According to Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis, DEGs were significantly enriched in the cytoplasm (cellular component), ATP binding process (molecular function), oxidation-reduction process (biological process), and other pathways. According to the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment data, DEGs were significantly enriched in ribosome production and other areas. We discovered 414 significant differential metabolites (SDMs), with 11 important SDMs (for example, nocodazole) linked to a growth advantage. SDMs are significantly enriched in metabolic pathways, as well as other pathways, according to the KEGG enrichment results. According to a combined transcriptome and metabolome analysis, 6 DEGs have regulatory relationships with 11 SDMs, which act on 11 metabolic pathways together. Our results further enrich the biological data of triploid A. japonicus and provide useful resources for genetic improvement of this species.

Regulation of p53 and Cancer Signaling by Heat Shock Protein 40/J-Domain Protein Family Members

Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are molecular chaperones that assist diverse cellular activities including protein folding, intracellular transportation, assembly or disassembly of protein complexes, and stabilization or degradation of misfolded or aggregated proteins. HSP40, also known as J-domain proteins (JDPs), is the largest family with over fifty members and contains highly conserved J domains responsible for binding to HSP70 and stimulation of the ATPase activity as a co-chaperone. Tumor suppressor p53 (p53), the most frequently mutated gene in human cancers, is one of the proteins that functionally interact with HSP40/JDPs. The majority of p53 mutations are missense mutations, resulting in acquirement of unexpected oncogenic activities, referred to as gain of function (GOF), in addition to loss of the tumor suppressive function. Moreover, stability and levels of wild-type p53 (wtp53) and mutant p53 (mutp53) are crucial for their tumor suppressive and oncogenic activities, respectively. However, the regulatory mechanisms of wtp53 and mutp53 are not fully understood. Accumulating reports demonstrate regulation of wtp53 and mutp53 levels and/or activities by HSP40/JDPs. Here, we summarize updated knowledge related to the link of HSP40/JDPs with p53 and cancer signaling to improve our understanding of the regulation of tumor suppressive wtp53 and oncogenic mutp53 GOF activities.

Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Clinical Significance and Potential Mechanism of Cell Division Cycle 45

Background: Cell division cycle 45 (CDC45) plays an important role in the occurrence and development of numerous carcinomas, but its effect in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) remains unclear. Materials and Methods: The messenger RNA and protein expression levels of CDC45 in LSCC were evaluated with a t test and the standard mean difference (SMD). The ability of CDC45 expression to distinguish the LSCC was assessed through receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), protein-protein interaction, public databases, and online tools were used to explore the potential molecular mechanism of CDC45 in LSCC. Results: A high expression of CDC45 was identified in LSCC (SMD = 2.61, 95% confidence interval [1.62-3.61]). Through ROC curves, the expression of CDC45 makes it feasible to distinguish the LSCC group from the non-LSCC counterpart. CDC45 was relevant to the progression-free interval of LSCC patients (log-rank p = 0.03). GSEAs show that CDC45 is related to the cell cycle. CDC45, CDC6, KIF2C, and AURKB were identified as hub genes of LSCC. E2F1 may be the regulatory transcription factor of CDC45. Conclusions: High expression of CDC45 likely demonstrates carcinogenic effects in LSCC, and CDC45 is a potential target in screening and treatment of LSCC.

DNAJA1 Dysregulates Metabolism Promoting an Antiapoptotic Phenotype in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

The cochaperone protein DNAJA1 (HSP40) is downregulated four-fold in pancreatic cancer cells. The impact of DNAJA1 expression on pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) progression remains unclear. The metabolic impacts of increased DNAJA1 expression were evaluated using a combination of untargeted metabolomics, stable isotope-resolved metabolomics (SIRM), confocal microscopy, flow cytometry, and cell-based assays. Differential Warburg glycolysis, an increase in redox currency, and alterations in amino acid levels were observed in both overexpression cell lines. DNAJA1 overexpression also led to mitochondrial fusion, an increase in the expression of Bcl-2, a modest protection from redox-induced cell death, a loss of structural integrity due to the loss of actin fibers, and an increase in cell invasiveness in BxPC-3. These differences were more pronounced in BxPC-3, which contains a loss-of-function mutation in the tumor-suppressing gene SMAD4. These findings suggest a proto-oncogenic role of DNAJA1 in PDAC progression and suggest DNAJA1 may function synergistically with other proteins with altered activities in pancreatic cancer cell lines.

An Update on the Potential Roles of E2F Family Members in Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major health burden worldwide, and thus, optimised diagnosis and treatments are imperative. E2F transcription factors (E2Fs) are a family of transcription factors consisting of eight genes, contributing to the oncogenesis and development of CRC. Importantly, E2Fs control not only the cell cycle but also apoptosis, senescence, DNA damage response, and drug resistance by interacting with multiple signaling pathways. However, the specific functions and intricate machinery of these eight E2Fs in human CRC remain unclear in many respects. Evidence on E2Fs and CRC has been scattered on the related regulatory genes, microRNAs (miRNAs), and competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs). Accordingly, some drugs targeting E2Fs have been transferred from preclinical to clinical application. Herein, we have systemically reviewed the current literature on the roles of various E2Fs in CRC with the purpose of providing possible clinical implications for patient diagnosis and prognosis and future treatment strategy design, thereby furthering the understanding of the E2Fs.

High expression of DNAJA1 (HDJ2) predicts unfavorable survival outcomes in breast cancer

Aim: DNAJA1 is associated with several cancers, but its biomarker potential in breast cancer is not adequately known. Materials & methods: Q-RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry, COBRA methods and in silico tools (KM-Plotter, UALCAN) were used to analyze the expression level, methylation status and prognostic value of DNAJA1 in breast cancer. Results: DNAJA1 expression was significantly higher in clinical tumor samples compared with normal samples. High DNAJA1 mRNA expression is associated with poor survival values in breast cancer. DNAJA1 promoter region is hypomethylated in cell lines and clinical samples. Conclusion: High DNAJA1 expression predicts poor clinical survival outcomes for breast cancer. Other than promoter methylation, epigenetic factors also warrant investigation in future studies as a regulatory mechanism of DNAJA1 expression in breast cancer.

Phosphorylation of Ser1452 on BRG1 inhibits the function of the SWI/SNF complex in chromatin activation

BRG1, one of core subunits of the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex, is frequently mutated in cancers. Previously, we reported significant downregulation of the phosphorylation level of BRG1 on Ser¹⁴⁵² (<10%) in cell lines derived from ovarian clear cell carcinoma with frequent recurrence and acquired drug resistance. In this study, we tried to elucidate the roles of BRG1 phosphorylation, using cell lines expressing wild-type, phosphorylation-mimic (brg1-S¹⁴⁵²D), or non-phosphorylatable (brg1-S¹⁴⁵²A) BRG1. Quantitative proteomic analyses revealed upregulation of proteins and phosphoproteins related to linker histone H1s, histone methylation, and protein ubiquitylation in brg1-S¹⁴⁵²D cells, which may coordinately promote the chromatin inactivation and ubiquitin-dependent degradation of target proteins. Consistent with these results, brg1-S¹⁴⁵²D cells exhibited an increase in condensed chromatin and polyubiquitylated proteins. In brg1-S¹⁴⁵²D cells, we also detected downregulation of various cancer-related proteins (e.g., EGFR and MET) as well as decreased migration, proliferation, and sensitivity to taxanes and oxaliplatin. Together, our results reveal that BRG1 phosphorylation drives tumor malignancy by inhibiting the functions of SWI/SNF complex in chromatin activation, thereby promoting expression of various cancer-related proteins. SIGNIFICANCE: For the first time we demonstrated that the mutation on Ser¹⁴⁵² phosphorylation site of BRG1, a component of SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex, changed protein and phosphoprotein levels of linker histone H1s, binding competitor of histone H1s, and histone methylase/demethylase involved in the heterochromatic histone modifications to promote the chromatin inactivation. In phosphorylation-mimic mutant, significant decrease of various cancer-related proteins as well as migration, proliferation, and sensitivity to specific antitumor agents were detected. Our results reveal that BRG1 phosphorylation drives tumor malignancy by inhibiting the functions of SWI/SNF complex in chromatin activation, thereby promoting expression of various cancer-related proteins.

Cell death-inducing activities via Hsp inhibition of the sesquiterpenes isolated from Valeriana fauriei

Three new sesquiterpenes, valerianaterpenes I-III, and eight known compounds have been isolated from the methanol extract of the rhizomes and roots of Valeriana fauriei. The chemical structures of the three new sesquiterpenes were elucidated based on chemical and spectroscopic evidence. The absolute stereochemistry of valerianaterpene I was determined using X-ray crystallography. The cell death-inducing activity of isolated compounds alone or combination with Adriamycin (ADR) was observed by time-lapse cell imaging. Although the isolated compounds did not affect the number of mitotic entry cells and dead cells alone, kessyl glycol, kessyl glycol diacetate, and iso-teucladiol significantly increased the number of dead cells on ADR treated human cervical cancer cells. One of the mechanisms of cell death-inducing activity for the kessyl glycol acetate was suggested to be the inhibition of heat-shock protein 105 (Hsp105) expression level. This paper first deals with the naturally occurring compounds as Hsp105 inhibitor.

DNAJA1 promotes cancer metastasis through interaction with mutant p53

Accumulation of mutant p53 (mutp53) is crucial for its oncogenic gain of function activity. DNAJA1, a member of J-domain containing proteins or heat shock protein 40, is shown to prevent unfolded mutp53 from proteasomal degradation. However, the biological function of DNAJA1 remains largely unknown. Here we show that DNAJA1 promotes tumor metastasis by accumulating unfolded mutp53. Levels of DNAJA1 in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) tissues were higher than those in normal tissues. Knockdown of DNAJA1 in HNSCC cell lines carrying unfolded mutp53 significantly decreased the levels of mutp53, filopodia/lamellipodia formation, migratory potential, and active forms of CDC42/RAC1, which were not observed in HNSCC cells with DNA contact mutp53, wild-type p53, or p53 null. Such mutp53-dependent functions of DNAJA1 were supported by the observation that DNAJA1 selectively bound to unfolded mutp53. Moreover, DNAJA1 knockdown in HNSCC cells carrying unfolded mutp53 inhibited primary tumor growth and metastases to the lymph nodes and lungs. Our study suggests that DNAJA1 promotes HNSCC metastasis mainly in a manner dependent on mutp53 status, suggesting DNAJA1 as a potential therapeutic target for HNSCC harboring unfolded mutp53.

DNAJB9 suppresses the metastasis of triple-negative breast cancer by promoting FBXO45-mediated degradation of ZEB1

DNAJB9, a member of the heat shock protein 40 family, acts as a multifunctional player involved in the maintenance of their client proteins and cellular homeostasis. However, the mechanistic action of DNAJB9 in human malignancies is yet to be fully understood. In this study, we found that ectopic restoration of DNAJB9 inhibits the migration, invasion, in vivo metastasis, and lung colonization of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells. Mechanistically, DNAJB9 stabilizes FBXO45 protein by suppressing self-ubiquitination and reduces the abundance of ZEB1 by Lys48-linked polyubiquitination to inhibit the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and metastasis. Clinically, the reduction of DNAJB9 expression, concomitant with decreased FBXO45 abundance in breast cancer tissues, correlates with poorer clinical outcomes of patients with breast cancer. Taken together, our results provide a novel insight into the metastasis of TNBC and define a promising therapeutic strategy for cancers with overactive ZEB1 by regulating the DNAJB9-FBXO45 signaling axis.

Transcriptional Enhancer Factor Domain Family member 4 Exerts an Oncogenic Role in Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Hippo-Independent Regulation of Heat Shock Protein 70 Family Members

Transcriptional enhancer factor domain family member 4 (TEAD4) is a downstream effector of the conserved Hippo signaling pathway, regulating the expression of genes involved in cell proliferation and differentiation. It is up-regulated in several cancer types and is associated with metastasis and poor prognosis. However, its role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains largely unexplored. Using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas, we found that TEAD4 was overexpressed in HCC and was associated with aggressive HCC features and worse outcome. Overexpression of TEAD4 significantly increased proliferation and migration rates in HCC cells in vitro as well as tumor growth in vivo. Additionally, RNA sequencing analysis of TEAD4-overexpressing HCC cells demonstrated that TEAD4 overexpression was associated with the up-regulation of genes involved in epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, proliferation, and protein-folding pathways. Among the most up-regulated genes following TEAD4 overexpression were the 70-kDa heat shock protein (HSP70) family members HSPA6 and HSPA1A. Chromatin immunoprecipitation-quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction experiments demonstrated that TEAD4 regulates HSPA6 and HSPA1A expression by directly binding to their promoter and enhancer regions. The pharmacologic inhibition of HSP70 expression in TEAD4-overexpressing cells reduced the effect of TEAD4 on cell proliferation. Finally, by overexpressing TEAD4 in yes-associated protein (YAP)/transcriptional coactivator with PDZ binding motif (TAZ)-knockdown HCC cells, we showed that the effect of TEAD4 on cell proliferation and its regulation of HSP70 expression does not require YAP and TAZ, the main effectors of the Hippo signaling pathway. Conclusion: A novel Hippo-independent mechanism for TEAD4 promotes cell proliferation and tumor growth in HCC by directly regulating HSP70 family members.

Gene Co-Expression Analysis of Human RNASEH2A Reveals Functional Networks Associated with DNA Replication, DNA Damage Response, and Cell Cycle Regulation

Simple Summary

RNASEH2A is the catalytic subunit of the ribonuclease (RNase) H2 ternary complex that plays an important role in maintaining DNA stability in cells. Recent studies have shown that the RNASEH2A subunit alone is highly expressed in certain cancer cell types. Via a series of bioinformatics approaches, we found that RNASEH2A is highly expressed in human proliferative tissues and many cancers. Our analyses reveal a possible involvement of RNASEH2A in cell cycle regulation in addition to its well established role in DNA replication and DNA repair. Our findings underscore that RNASEH2A could serve as a biomarker for cancer diagnosis and a therapeutic target.

Abstract

Ribonuclease (RNase) H2 is a key enzyme for the removal of RNA found in DNA-RNA hybrids, playing a fundamental role in biological processes such as DNA replication, telomere maintenance, and DNA damage repair. RNase H2 is a trimer composed of three subunits, RNASEH2A being the catalytic subunit. RNASEH2A expression levels have been shown to be upregulated in transformed and cancer cells. In this study, we used a bioinformatics approach to identify RNASEH2A co-expressed genes in different human tissues to underscore biological processes associated with RNASEH2A expression. Our analysis shows functional networks for RNASEH2A involvement such as DNA replication and DNA damage response and a novel putative functional network of cell cycle regulation. Further bioinformatics investigation showed increased gene expression in different types of actively cycling cells and tissues, particularly in several cancers, supporting a biological role for RNASEH2A but not for the other two subunits of RNase H2 in cell proliferation. Mass spectrometry analysis of RNASEH2A-bound proteins identified players functioning in cell cycle regulation. Additional bioinformatic analysis showed that RNASEH2A correlates with cancer progression and cell cycle related genes in Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia (CCLE) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) Pan Cancer datasets and supported our mass spectrometry findings.

Expression of Cell Division Cycle Protein 45 in Tissue Microarrays and the CDC45 Gene by Bioinformatics Analysis in Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Patient Outcomes

Background

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) causes a heavy disease burden worldwide. Cell division cycle 45 (Cdc45) and its encoding gene (CDC45) have been studied for a long time, but their expression patterns and roles in liver carcinogenesis and advanced HCC deterioration are still incompletely understood. This study integrated tissue microarray and bioinformatics analyses to explore the expression and clinical value of CDC45 and Cdc45 in HCC.

Material/Methods

In HCC, the expression and relationships with clinic-pathological parameters of CDC45 and Cdc45 were investigated by integrating the RNA-sequencing data, downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas and Oncomine databases, and tissue microarray with immunohistochemistry staining. Co-expressed genes and genetic alterations of CDC45 separately obtained from Oncomine and cBioPortal databases were identified to shed light on the potential mechanisms of CDC45 in HCC.

Results

CDC45 and Cdc45 were both overexpressed in HCC tissues, and the CDC45 level progressively increased from stage I to III. The survival outcomes of the group with high CDC45 expression were significantly worse compared with the group with low expression. Amplification and deep deletion were 2 major significant alteration types in HCC patients, and the outcomes were worse in patients with altered versus unaltered CDC45. NUDT1, E2F1, CCNE2, MCM5, and CENPM were identified as the most significantly co-expressed genes.

Conclusions

CDC45 and Cdc45 were both upregulated in HCC, and increased expression levels and genetic alternations of CDC45 were correlated with worse prognosis in HCC patients. CDC45 may promote HCC by co-expressing with NUDT1, E2F1, CCNE2, MCM5, and CENPM.

Identification of Hub Genes as Potential Prognostic Biomarkers in Cervical Cancer Using Comprehensive Bioinformatics Analysis and Validation Studies

Background

Cervical cancer belongs to one of the most common female cancers; yet, the exact underlying mechanisms are still elusive. Recently, microarray and sequencing technologies have been widely used for screening biomarkers and molecular mechanism discovery in cancer studies. In this study, we aimed to analyse the microarray datasets using comprehensive bioinformatics tools and identified novel biomarkers associated with the prognosis of patients with cervical cancer.

Methods

The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets including GSE138080, GSE113942 and GSE63514 were analysed using GEO2R tool. The functional enrichment analysis was performed using g:Profiler tool. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network construction and hub genes identification were performed using the STRING database and Cytoscape software, respectively. The hub genes were subjected to expression and survival analysis in the cervical cancer. The EdU incorporation and Cell Counting Kit-8 assays were performed to evaluate the effects of hub gene knockdown on the proliferation of cervical cancer cells.

Results

A total of 89 overlapping DEGs (63 up-regulated and 26 down-regulated genes) were identified in the microarray datasets. The functional enrichment analysis indicated that the overlapping DEGs were mainly associated with "DNA replication" and "cell cycle". Furthermore, the PPI network analysis revealed that the network contains 87 nodes and 309 edges. Sub-module analysis using the Molecular Complex Detection tool identified 21 hub genes from the PPI network. The expression levels of the 21 hub genes were all up-regulated in the cervical cancer tissues when compared to normal cervical tissues as analysed by GEPIA tool. The survival analysis showed that the low expression of cell division cycle 45 (CDC45), GINS complex subunit 2 (GINS2), minichromosome maintenance complex component 2 (MCM2) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) was significantly correlated with the shorter overall survival of patients with cervical cancer. Moreover, the protein expression levels of GINS2, MCM2 and PCNA, but not CDC45, were significantly up-regulated in the cervical cancer tissues when compared to normal cervical tissues. Finally, knockdown of MCM2 significantly suppressed the proliferation of HeLa and SiHa cells.

Conclusion

In conclusion, we screened a total of 89 overlapping DEGs from the GEO datasets, and further analysis identified four hub genes (CDC45, GINS2, MCM2 and PCNA) that were likely associated with the prognosis of patients with cervical cancer. MCM2 knockdown repressed the cervical cancer cell proliferation. The current findings may provide novel insights into understanding the pathophysiology of cervical cancer and develop therapeutic targets for patients with cervical cancer.

Knowledge-based analyses reveal new candidate genes associated with risk of hepatitis B virus related hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Recent genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have suggested several susceptibility loci of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by statistical analysis at individual single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). However, these loci only explain a small fraction of HBV-related HCC heritability. In the present study, we aimed to identify additional susceptibility loci of HBV-related HCC using advanced knowledge-based analysis.

METHODS

We performed knowledge-based analysis (including gene- and gene-set-based association tests) on variant-level association p-values from two existing GWASs of HBV-related HCC. Five different types of gene-sets were collected for the association analysis. A number of SNPs within the gene prioritized by the knowledge-based association tests were selected to replicate genetic associations in an independent sample of 965 cases and 923 controls.

RESULTS

The gene-based association analysis detected four genes significantly or suggestively associated with HBV-related HCC risk: SLC39A8, GOLGA8M, SMIM31, and WHAMMP2. The gene-set-based association analysis prioritized two promising gene sets for HCC, cell cycle G1/S transition and NOTCH1 intracellular domain regulates transcription. Within the gene sets, three promising candidate genes (CDC45, NCOR1 and KAT2A) were further prioritized for HCC. Among genes of liver-specific expression, multiple genes previously implicated in HCC were also highlighted. However, probably due to small sample size, none of the genes prioritized by the knowledge-based association analyses were successfully replicated by variant-level association test in the independent sample.

CONCLUSIONS

This comprehensive knowledge-based association mining study suggested several promising genes and gene-sets associated with HBV-related HCC risks, which would facilitate follow-up functional studies on the pathogenic mechanism of HCC.

Molecular Chaperones in Cancer Stem Cells: Determinants of Stemness and Potential Targets for Antitumor Therapy

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a great challenge in the fight against cancer because these self-renewing tumorigenic cell fractions are thought to be responsible for metastasis dissemination and cases of tumor recurrence. In comparison with non-stem cancer cells, CSCs are known to be more resistant to chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy. Elucidation of mechanisms and factors that promote the emergence and existence of CSCs and their high resistance to cytotoxic treatments would help to develop effective CSC-targeting therapeutics. The present review is dedicated to the implication of molecular chaperones (protein regulators of polypeptide chain folding) in both the formation/maintenance of the CSC phenotype and cytoprotective machinery allowing CSCs to survive after drug or radiation exposure and evade immune attack. The major cellular chaperones, namely heat shock proteins (HSP90, HSP70, HSP40, HSP27), glucose-regulated proteins (GRP94, GRP78, GRP75), tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated protein 1 (TRAP1), peptidyl-prolyl isomerases, protein disulfide isomerases, calreticulin, and also a transcription heat shock factor 1 (HSF1) initiating HSP gene expression are here considered as determinants of the cancer cell stemness and potential targets for a therapeutic attack on CSCs. Various approaches and agents are discussed that may be used for inhibiting the chaperone-dependent development/manifestations of cancer cell stemness.

Heat Shock Proteins: Agents of Cancer Development and Therapeutic Targets in Anti-Cancer Therapy

Heat shock proteins (HSPs) constitute a large family of molecular chaperones classified by their molecular weights, and they include HSP27, HSP40, HSP60, HSP70, and HSP90. HSPs function in diverse physiological and protective processes to assist in maintaining cellular homeostasis. In particular, HSPs participate in protein folding and maturation processes under diverse stressors such as heat shock, hypoxia, and degradation. Notably, HSPs also play essential roles across cancers as they are implicated in a variety of cancer-related activities such as cell proliferation, metastasis, and anti-cancer drug resistance. In this review, we comprehensively discuss the functions of HSPs in association with cancer initiation, progression, and metastasis and anti-cancer therapy resistance. Moreover, the potential utilization of HSPs to enhance the effects of chemo-, radio-, and immunotherapy is explored. Taken together, HSPs have multiple clinical usages as biomarkers for cancer diagnosis and prognosis as well as the potential therapeutic targets for anti-cancer treatment.