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Oleksiewicz U, Machnik M, Sobocińska J, Molenda S, Olechnowicz A, Florczak A, Smolibowski M, Kaczmarek M. ZNF714 Supports Pro-Oncogenic Features in Lung Cancer Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:15530. [PMID: 37958512 PMCID: PMC10649060 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242115530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite the ongoing progress in diagnosis and treatments, cancer remains a threat to more than one-third of the human population. The emerging data indicate that many Krüppel-associated box zinc finger proteins (KRAB-ZNF) belonging to a large gene family may be involved in carcinogenesis. Our previous study identified Zinc Finger Protein 714 (ZNF714), a KRAB-ZNF gene of unknown function, as being commonly overexpressed in many tumors, pointing to its hypothetical oncogenic role. Here, we harnessed The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA)-centered databases and performed functional studies with transcriptomic and methylomic profiling to explore ZNF714 function in cancer. Our pan-cancer analyses confirmed frequent ZNF714 overexpression in multiple tumors, possibly due to regional amplification, promoter hypomethylation, and Nuclear Transcription Factor Y Subunit Beta (NFYB) signaling. We also showed that ZNF714 expression correlates with tumor immunosuppressive features. The in vitro studies indicated that ZNF714 expression positively associates with proliferation, migration, and invasion. The transcriptomic analysis of ZNF714 knocked-down cells demonstrated deregulation of cell adhesion, migration, proliferation, apoptosis, and differentiation. Importantly, we provided evidence that ZNF714 negatively regulates the expression of several known TSGs indirectly via promoter methylation. However, as ZNF714 did not show nuclear localization in our research model, the regulatory mechanisms exerted by ZNF714 require further investigation. In conclusion, our results reveal, for the first time, that ZNF714 may support pro-oncogenic features in lung cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Urszula Oleksiewicz
- Department of Cancer Immunology, Chair of Medical Biotechnology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 8 Rokietnicka Street, 60-806 Poznan, Poland
- Department of Diagnostics and Cancer Immunology, Greater Poland Cancer Center, Garbary 15, 61-866 Poznan, Poland
| | - Marta Machnik
- Department of Cancer Immunology, Chair of Medical Biotechnology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 8 Rokietnicka Street, 60-806 Poznan, Poland
- Department of Diagnostics and Cancer Immunology, Greater Poland Cancer Center, Garbary 15, 61-866 Poznan, Poland
| | - Joanna Sobocińska
- Department of Cancer Immunology, Chair of Medical Biotechnology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 8 Rokietnicka Street, 60-806 Poznan, Poland
- Department of Diagnostics and Cancer Immunology, Greater Poland Cancer Center, Garbary 15, 61-866 Poznan, Poland
| | - Sara Molenda
- Department of Cancer Immunology, Chair of Medical Biotechnology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 8 Rokietnicka Street, 60-806 Poznan, Poland
- Department of Diagnostics and Cancer Immunology, Greater Poland Cancer Center, Garbary 15, 61-866 Poznan, Poland
- Doctoral School, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-812 Poznan, Poland
| | - Anna Olechnowicz
- Department of Cancer Immunology, Chair of Medical Biotechnology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 8 Rokietnicka Street, 60-806 Poznan, Poland
- Doctoral School, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-812 Poznan, Poland
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Swiecickiego 6 Street, 60-781 Poznan, Poland
| | - Anna Florczak
- Department of Cancer Immunology, Chair of Medical Biotechnology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 8 Rokietnicka Street, 60-806 Poznan, Poland
- Department of Diagnostics and Cancer Immunology, Greater Poland Cancer Center, Garbary 15, 61-866 Poznan, Poland
| | - Mikołaj Smolibowski
- Department of Cancer Immunology, Chair of Medical Biotechnology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 8 Rokietnicka Street, 60-806 Poznan, Poland
| | - Mariusz Kaczmarek
- Department of Cancer Immunology, Chair of Medical Biotechnology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 8 Rokietnicka Street, 60-806 Poznan, Poland
- Department of Diagnostics and Cancer Immunology, Greater Poland Cancer Center, Garbary 15, 61-866 Poznan, Poland
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Liu S, Liu X, Lin X, Chen H. Zinc Finger Proteins in the War on Gastric Cancer: Molecular Mechanism and Clinical Potential. Cells 2023; 12:cells12091314. [PMID: 37174714 PMCID: PMC10177130 DOI: 10.3390/cells12091314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 04/30/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
According to the 2020 global cancer data released by the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) International, gastric cancer (GC) is the fifth most common cancer worldwide, with yearly increasing incidence and the second-highest fatality rate in malignancies. Despite the contemporary ambiguous molecular mechanisms in GC pathogenesis, numerous in-depth studies have demonstrated that zinc finger proteins (ZFPs) are essential for the development and progression of GC. ZFPs are a class of transcription factors with finger-like domains that bind to Zn2+ extensively and participate in gene replication, cell differentiation and tumor development. In this review, we briefly outline the roles, molecular mechanisms and the latest advances in ZFPs in GC, including eight principal aspects, such as cell proliferation, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), invasion and metastasis, inflammation and immune infiltration, apoptosis, cell cycle, DNA methylation, cancer stem cells (CSCs) and drug resistance. Intriguingly, the myeloid zinc finger 1 (MZF1) possesses reversely dual roles in GC by promoting tumor proliferation or impeding cancer progression via apoptosis. Therefore, a thorough understanding of the molecular mechanism of ZFPs on GC progression will pave the solid way for screening the potentially effective diagnostic indicators, prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets of GC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shujie Liu
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China
- Medical Department, Queen Mary School, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China
| | - Xingzhu Liu
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China
- Medical Department, Queen Mary School, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China
| | - Xin Lin
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China
- Medical Department, Queen Mary School, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China
| | - Hongping Chen
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China
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Catapano R, Sepe L, Toscano E, Paolella G, Chiurazzi F, Barbato SP, Bruzzese D, Arianna R, Grosso M, Romano S, Romano MF, Costanzo P, Cesaro E. Biological relevance of ZNF224 expression in chronic lymphocytic leukemia and its implication IN NF-kB pathway regulation. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 9:1010984. [PMID: 36425656 PMCID: PMC9681601 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.1010984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a heterogeneous disease, whose presentation and clinical course are highly variable. Identification of novel prognostic factors may contribute to improving the CLL classification and providing indications for treatment options. The zinc finger protein ZNF224 plays a key role in cell transformation, through the control of apoptotic and survival pathways. In this study, we evaluated the potential application of ZNF224 as a novel marker of CLL progression and therapy responsiveness. To this aim, we analyzed ZNF224 expression levels in B lymphocytes from CLL patients at different stages of the disease and in patients showing different treatment outcomes. The expression of ZNF224 was significantly increased in disease progression and dramatically decreased in patients in complete remission after chemotherapy. Gene expression correlation analysis performed on datasets of CLL patients revealed that ZNF224 expression was well correlated with that of some prognostic and predictive markers. Moreover, bioinformatic analysis coupled ZNF224 to NF-κB pathway, and experimental data demonstrated that RNA interference of ZNF224 reduced the activity of the NF-κB survival pathway in CLL cells. Consistently with a pro-survival role, ZNF224 knockdown raised spontaneous and drug-induced apoptosis and inhibited the proliferation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from CLL patients. Our findings provide evidence for the involvement of ZNF224 in the survival of CLL cells via NF-κB pathway modulation, and also suggest ZNF224 as a prognostic and predictive molecular marker of CLL disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa Catapano
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Leandra Sepe
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
- Ceinge Advanced Technologies, Naples, Italy
| | - Elvira Toscano
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
- Ceinge Advanced Technologies, Naples, Italy
| | - Giovanni Paolella
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
- Ceinge Advanced Technologies, Naples, Italy
| | - Federico Chiurazzi
- Division of Hematology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Serafina Patrizia Barbato
- Division of Hematology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Dario Bruzzese
- Department of Public Health, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Rosa Arianna
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Michela Grosso
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
- Ceinge Advanced Technologies, Naples, Italy
| | - Simona Romano
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Maria Fiammetta Romano
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Paola Costanzo
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Elena Cesaro
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
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Zhang X, Sun D, Zheng H, Rao Y, Deng Y, Liang X, chen J, Yang J. Comprehensive analysis of transcriptome characteristics and identification of TLK2 as a potential biomarker in dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans. Front Genet 2022; 13:926282. [PMID: 36134026 PMCID: PMC9483842 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.926282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is a rare cutaneous sarcoma characterized by local invasion and recurrence. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) allows the qualification of cellular RNA populations and provides information on the transcriptional state. However, few studies have comprehensively analyzed DFSP transcriptional data. Methods: Fourteen DFSP samples with paired non-neoplastic soft tissue from Chinese patients undergoing Mohs micrographic surgery were used for RNA-seq analysis. Differential expression analysis and enrichment analysis for RNA-seq data were performed to identify fusion genes, biomarkers, and microenvironment characteristics of DFSP. Results: This study systemically describes the transcriptomic characteristics of DFSP. First, we performed gene fusion analysis and identified a novel FBN1-CSAD fusion event in a DFSP patient with fibrosarcomatous transformation. Then, we identified TLK2 as a biomarker for DFSP based on functional enrichment analysis, and validated its accuracy for diagnosing DFSP by immunohistochemical staining and joint analysis with public data. Finally, microenvironment analysis described the infiltration characteristics of immune and stromal cells in DFSP. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that RNA-seq can serve as a promising strategy for exploring molecular mechanisms in DFSP. Our results provide new insights into accurate diagnosis and therapeutic targets of DFSP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Zhang
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Di Sun
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Haiyan Zheng
- Department of Pathology, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yamin Rao
- Department of Pathology, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuqi Deng
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiao Liang
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jun chen
- Department of Dermatology, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Jun Chen, ; Jun yang,
| | - Jun Yang
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Jun Chen, ; Jun yang,
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Lorenz P, Steinbeck F, Krause L, Thiesen HJ. The KRAB Domain of ZNF10 Guides the Identification of Specific Amino Acids That Transform the Ancestral KRAB-A-Related Domain Present in Human PRDM9 into a Canonical Modern KRAB-A Domain. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23031072. [PMID: 35162997 PMCID: PMC8835667 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23031072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Revised: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Krüppel-associated box (KRAB) zinc finger proteins are a large class of tetrapod transcription factors that usually exert transcriptional repression through recruitment of TRIM28/KAP1. The evolutionary root of modern KRAB domains (mKRAB) can be traced back to an ancestral motif (aKRAB) that occurs even in invertebrates. Here, we first stratified three subgroups of aKRAB sequences from the animal kingdom (PRDM9, SSX and coelacanth KZNF families) and defined ancestral subdomains for KRAB-A and KRAB-B. Using human ZNF10 mKRAB-AB as blueprints for function, we then identified the necessary amino acid changes that transform the inactive aKRAB-A of human PRDM9 into an mKRAB domain capable of mediating silencing and complexing TRIM28/KAP1 in human cells when employed as a hybrid with ZNF10-B. Full gain of function required replacement of residues KR by the conserved motif MLE (positionsA32-A34), which inserted an additional residue, and exchange of A9/S for F, A20/M for L, and A27/R for V. AlphaFold2 modelling documented an evolutionary conserved L-shaped body of two α-helices in all KRAB domains. It is transformed into a characteristic spatial arrangement typical for mKRAB-AB upon the amino acid replacements and in conjunction with a third helix supplied by mKRAB-B. Side-chains pointing outward from the core KRAB 3D structure may reveal a protein-protein interaction code enabling graded binding of TRIM28 to different KRAB domains. Our data provide basic insights into structure-function relationships and emulate transitions of KRAB during evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Lorenz
- Rostock University Medical Center, Institute of Immunology, Schillingallee 70, 18057 Rostock, Germany; (F.S.); (L.K.); (H.-J.T.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-(0)381-494-5879; Fax: +49-(0)381-494-5882
| | - Felix Steinbeck
- Rostock University Medical Center, Institute of Immunology, Schillingallee 70, 18057 Rostock, Germany; (F.S.); (L.K.); (H.-J.T.)
| | - Ludwig Krause
- Rostock University Medical Center, Institute of Immunology, Schillingallee 70, 18057 Rostock, Germany; (F.S.); (L.K.); (H.-J.T.)
| | - Hans-Jürgen Thiesen
- Rostock University Medical Center, Institute of Immunology, Schillingallee 70, 18057 Rostock, Germany; (F.S.); (L.K.); (H.-J.T.)
- Gesellschaft für Individualisierte Medizin (IndyMed) mbH, 17, 18055 Rostock, Germany
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