Macrophage polarization-associated lnc-Ma301 interacts with caprin-1 to inhibit hepatocellular carcinoma metastasis through the Akt/Erk1 pathway

Background

Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) promotes migration, invasion, and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. The molecular mechanisms behind EMT and metastasis in HCC remain unclear.

Methods

Microarray analysis was used to identify lncRNAs expression during polarization of U937 macrophages from M2 to M1 phenotype. The expression of the identified lncRNA was compared between clinical samples of HCC tissues or adjacent normal tissues, as well as between HCC and normal liver cell lines. lnc-Ma301 was overexpressed or knocked-down in HCC cell lines, and the effects were assessed in vitro and in vivo. Interactions among lnc-Ma301 and its potential downstream targets caprin-1 were investigated in HCC cell lines. Effects of lnc-Ma301 over- and underexpression on the Akt/Erk1 signaling pathways were examined.

Results

Microarray analyses identified lnc-Ma301 as one of the most overexpressed long non-coding RNAs during polarization of U937 macrophages from M2 to M1 phenotype. Lnc-Ma301 showed lower expression in HCC tissues than in adjacent normal tissues, and lower expression was associated with worse prognosis. Activation of lnc-Ma301 inhibited cell proliferation, migration and EMT in HCC cell cultures, and it inhibited lung metastasis of HCC tumors in mice. Mechanistic studies suggested that lnc-Ma301 interacts with caprin-1 to inhibit HCC metastasis and EMT through Akt/Erk1 pathway.

Conclusions

Lnc-Ma301 may help regulate onset and metastasis of HCC.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12935-021-02133-1.

Piperlongumine inhibits migration and proliferation of castration-resistant prostate cancer cells via triggering persistent DNA damage

BACKGROUND

Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) is the leading cause of death among men diagnosed with prostate cancer. Piperlongumine (PL) is a novel potential anticancer agent that has been demonstrated to exhibit anticancer efficacy against prostate cancer cells. However, the effects of PL on DNA damage and repair against CRPC have remained unclear. The aim of this study was to further explore the anticancer activity and mechanisms of action of PL against CRPC in terms of DNA damage and repair processes.

METHODS

The effect of PL on CRPC was evaluated by MTT assay, long-term cell proliferation, reactive oxygen species assay, western blot assay, flow cytometry assay (annexin V/PI staining), β-gal staining assay and DAPI staining assay. The capacity of PL to inhibit the invasion and migration of CRPC cells was assessed by scratch-wound assay, cell adhesion assay, transwell assay and immunofluorescence (IF) assay. The effect of PL on DNA damage and repair was determined via IF assay and comet assay.

RESULTS

The results showed that PL exhibited stronger anticancer activity against CRPC compared to that of taxol, cisplatin (DDP), doxorubicin (Dox), or 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU), with fewer side effects in normal cells. Importantly, PL treatment significantly decreased cell adhesion to the extracellular matrix and inhibited the migration of CRPC cells through affecting the expression and distribution of focal adhesion kinase (FAK), leading to concentration-dependent inhibition of CRPC cell proliferation and concomitantly increased cell death. Moreover, PL treatment triggered persistent DNA damage and provoked strong DNA damage responses in CRPC cells.

CONCLUSION

Collectively, our findings demonstrate that PL potently inhibited proliferation, migration, and invasion of CRPC cells and that these potent anticancer effects were potentially achieved via triggering persistent DNA damage in CRPC cells.

Zinc oxide nanoparticles enhance expression of maspin in human breast cancer cells

Toxic and apoptotic impacts of zinc oxide nanoparticle (ZNP) on different cancer cells have been reported. Maspin (a mammary serine protease inhibitor) as a tumor suppressor gene can inhibit tumor growth and metastasis. The expression of maspin is modulated by p53, Bcl-2 family genes, and estrogen receptor α (ER-α). This study aimed to assess the ZNP effects on maspin expression in MCF-7 cells (a breast cancer cell). Experimental groups (ZNP5, ZNP10, and ZNP20) received 5, 10, and 20 μM/mL ZNP for 48 h, respectively. 17-β-estradiol (E2) was used to evaluate the role of ER-α in the anticancer impact of ZNP. Cell viability, Annexin V, migration assay, gene expression, and western blotting methods were applied to evaluate ZNP effects on the MCF-7 cells. ZNP at the concentrations of 10 and 20 μM/mL could significantly decrease the viability and migration rate, and significantly increase apoptosis percentage in the MCF-7 cells. ZNP significantly enhanced mRNA expression and protein level of maspin in MCF-7 cells in a concentration-dependent way. ZNP concentration-dependently elevated mRNA expression and protein level of p53 and Bax while reduced the expression of Bcl-2 and ER-α. E2 promoted cancer cell growth by enhancing survival and migration rates. E2 treatment reduced mRNA expression and protein level of maspin and p53, and elevated Bcl-2 expression. ZNP considerably changed these events induced by E2 in the MCF-7 cells. It is concluded that the maspin overexpression is one of the toxic mechanisms of the ZNP on the ER-α-positive breast cancer cells, and can suppress the migration of these cells.

Potently inhibiting cancer cell migration with novel 3H-pyrazolo[4,3-f]quinoline boronic acid ROCK inhibitors

Rho-associated protein kinases (ROCKs) are ubiquitously expressed in most adult tissues, and are involved in modulating the cytoskeleton, protein synthesis and degradation pathways, synaptic function, and autophagy to list a few. A few ROCK inhibitors, such as fasudil and netarsudil, are approved for clinical use. Here we present a new ROCK inhibitor, boronic acid containing HSD1590, which is more potent than netarsudil at binding to or inhibiting ROCK enzymatic activities. This compound exhibits single digit nanomolar binding to ROCK (Kds < 2 nM) and subnanomolar enzymatic inhibition profile (ROCK2 IC50 is 0.5 nM for HSD1590. Netarsudil, an FDA-approved drug, inhibited ROCK2 with IC50 = 11 nM under similar conditions). Whereas netarsudil was cytotoxic to breast cancer cell line, MDA-MB-231 (greater than 80% growth inhibition at concentrations greater than 5 μM), HSD1590 displayed low cytotoxicity to MDA-MB-231. Interestingly, at 1 μM HSD1590 inhibited the migration of MDA-MB-231 whereas netarsudil did not.

Pore Shape Defines Paths of Metastatic Cell Migration

Invasion of dense tissues by cancer cells involves the interplay between the penetration resistance offered by interstitial pores and the deformability of cells. Metastatic cancer cells find optimal paths of minimal resistance through an adaptive path-finding process, which leads to successful dissemination. The physical limit of nuclear deformation is related to the minimal cross section of pores that can be successfully penetrated. However, this single biophysical parameter does not fully describe the architectural complexity of tissues featuring pores of variable area and shape. Here, employing laser nanolithography, we fabricate pore microenvironment models with well-controlled pore shapes, through which human breast cells (MCF10A) and their metastatic offspring (MCF10CA1a.cl1) could pervade. In these experimental settings, we demonstrate that the actual pore shape, and not only the cross section, is a major and independent determinant of cancer penetration efficiency. In complex architectures containing pores demanding large deformations from invading cells, tall and narrow rectangular openings facilitate cancer migration. In addition, we highlight the characteristic traits of the explorative behavior enabling metastatic cells to identify and select such pore shapes in a complex multishape pore environment, pinpointing paths of least resistance to invasion.

Erlotinib has tumor inhibitory effect in human retinoblastoma cells

AIM

In this study, we explored the effect of erlotinib on the development of retinoblastoma (RB) cells both in vitro and in vivo.

METHOD

RB cell lines, Y79 and WERI cells were treated with various concentrations of erlotinib in vitro to assess their cytotoxic profiles. In vitro proliferation, cell-cycle transition and migration were compared between RB cells treated with erlotinib and cells without erlotinib treatment. In in vivo tumorigenicity assay, mice were injected with Y79 cells and orally fed with erlotinib for 28days. The effect of erlotinib on in vivo tumor grafts was then assessed. Western blot analysis on EGFR, ERK, AKT proteins and their phosphorylated proteins was also performed to assess molecular signaling pathways of associated with erlotinib in RB cells.

RESULTS

In vitro erlotinib treatment induced cytotoxicity in Y79 and WERI cells in dose-dependent manner. While Y79 and WERI cells were treated with erlotinib close to EC₅₀ concentrations for 3days, RB proliferation, cell-cycle transition and migration were all significantly inhibited. In in vivo tumorigenicity assay, oral induction of erlotinib also dramatically reduced the growth of Y79 tumor grafts. Western blot demonstrated that, in in vitro RB cells, erlotinib did not alter the protein expression levels of EGFR, ERK or AKT, but significantly reduced the expressions of phosphorylated EGFR, ERK and AKT proteins.

CONCLUSION

Erlotinib was shown to have tumor suppressive effect on RB growth in vitro and in vivo, possibly through the inhibition on EGFR, ERG/AKT signaling pathways.

MicroRNA-127 is aberrantly downregulated and acted as a functional tumor suppressor in human pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic carcinoma is one of the most malignant human cancers. In this study, we intended to explore the molecular functional of microRNA-127 (miR-127) in regulating pancreatic cancer development both in vitro and in vivo. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was performed to evaluate endogenous miR-127 expression in in vitro pancreatic cancer cell lines and in vivo clinical samples of pancreatic carcinoma. Lentiviral technology was applied to overexpress miR-127 in capan-1 and PANC-1 cells. Pancreatic cancer proliferation, cell-cycle progression, and invasion were assessed in vitro, and capan-1-derived tumorigenicity was evaluated in vivo. Dual-luciferase reporter assay and qRT-PCR were performed to assess the downstream target gene of miR-127 in pancreatic cancer, human Bcl-2-associated athanogene 5 (BAG5). BAG5 was subsequently upregulated in miR-127-overexpressed capan-1 and PANC-1 cells to evaluate its effect on pancreatic cancer progression. MiR-127 was preferentially downregulated in both pancreatic carcinoma cell lines and human pancreatic tumors. In lentivirus-infected capan-1 and PANC-1 cells, miR-127 overexpression significantly inhibited cancer progression, cell-cycle transition and invasion in vitro, as well as tumorigenicity in vivo. Human BAG5 was confirmed to be the downstream target of miR-127 in pancreatic cancer. Forced overexpression of BAG5 in capan-1 and PANC-1 cells reversed the tumor-suppressing effect of miR-127 on cancer development. MiR-127 is downregulated and acting as a tumor suppressor in pancreatic carcinoma. The functional regulation of miR-127 in pancreatic carcinoma is very likely through the inverse correlation of its downstream target gene of BAG5.

Genistein suppressed epithelial-mesenchymal transition and migration efficacies of BG-1 ovarian cancer cells activated by estrogenic chemicals via estrogen receptor pathway and downregulation of TGF-β signaling pathway

BACKGROUND

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), which is activated by 17β-estradiol (E2) in estrogen-responsive cancers, is an important process in tumor migration or progression. As typical endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), bisphenol A (BPA) and nonylphenol (NP) have a potential to promote EMT and migration of estrogen-responsive cancers. On the contrary, genistein (GEN) as a phytoestrogen is known to have chemopreventive effects in diverse cancers.

METHODS

In the present study, the effects of BPA and GEN on EMT and the migration of BG-1 ovarian cancer cells and the underlying mechanism were investigated. ICI 182,780, an estrogen receptor (ER) antagonist, was co-treated with E2 or BPA or NP to BG-1 cells to identify the relevance of ER signaling in EMT and migration.

RESULTS

As results, E2 and BPA upregulated the protein expression of vimentin, cathepsin D, and MMP-2, but downregulated the protein expression of E-cadherin via ER signaling pathway, suggesting that E2 and BPA promote EMT and cell migration related gene expressions. However, the increased protein expressions of vimentin, cathepsin D, and MMP-2 by E2, BPA, or NP were reduced by the co-treatment of GEN. In a scratch assay, the migration capability of BG-1 cells was enhanced by E2, BPA, and NP via ER signaling but reversed by the co-treatment of GEN. In the protein expression of SnoN and Smad3, E2, BPA, and NP upregulated SnoN, a negative regulator of TGF-β signaling, and downregulated pSmad3, a transcription factor in the downstream pathway of TGF-β signaling pathway, suggesting that E2, BPA, and NP simultaneously lead to the downregualtion of TGF-β signaling in the process of induction of EMT and migration of BG-1 cells via ER signaling. On the other hand, the co-treatment of GEN reversed the downregulation of TGF-β signaling by estrogenic chemicals.

CONCLUSION

Taken together, GEN suppressed EMT and migration capacities of BG-1 ovarian cancer cells enhanced by E2, BPA, and NP via ER signaling and the downregulation of TGF-β signal.

FOXP4 modulates tumor growth and independently associates with miR-138 in non-small cell lung cancer cells

Family of forkhead box transcription factors, including forkhead box P4 (FOXP4), plays an important role in oncogenesis. The current study is to evaluate the role of FOXP4 in regulating human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Quantitative RT-PCR and Western blot were performed to evaluate the gene and protein expressions of FOXP4 in six NSCLC cell lines and 55 NSCLC patients. Lentivirus of small hairpin RNA (FOXP4-shRNA) was used to downregulate FOXP4 in NSCLC cell lines A549 and H1703 cells. Its effect on NSCLC growth, invasion, and cell cycle were evaluated by cell proliferation assay, migration assay, and cell cycle assay, respectively. Dual luciferase assay and Western blot were used to examine whether microRNA-138 (miR-138) was an upstream regulator of FOXP4. The dependence of FOXP4 on miR-138 associated signaling pathway was evaluated by ectopically overexpressing enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2), a known miR-138 target in NSCLC. FOXP4 was highly expressed in both NSCLC cell lines and NSCLC patients. FOXP4 downregulation by FOXP4-shRNA markedly reduced cancer cell growth and invasion, as well as induced cell cycle arrest in A549 and H1703 cells. MiR-138 was confirmed to be an upstream regulator of FOXP4 and directly regulated FOXP4 expression in A549 and H1703 cells. FOXP4 downregulation-mediated inhibition on cancer cell growth and invasion was independent on overexpressing EZH2, another direct target of miR-138 in NSCLC. Our data demonstrated that FOXP4 was a critical regulator in NSCLC and independently associated with miR-138 regulation.

MicroRNA-33b, upregulated by EF24, a curcumin analog, suppresses the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and migratory potential of melanoma cells by targeting HMGA2

Diphenyl difluoroketone (EF24), a curcumin analog, exhibits potent anti-tumor activities by arresting cell cycle and inducing apoptosis. However, the efficacy and modes of action of EF24 on melanoma metastasis remain elusive. In this study, we found that at non-cytotoxic concentrations, EF24 suppressed cell motility and epithelial-to-mesenchymal Transition (EMT) of melanoma cell lines, Lu1205 and A375. EF24 also suppressed HMGA2 expression at mRNA and protein levels. miR-33b directly bound to HMGA2 3' untranslated region (3'-UTR) to suppress its expression as measured by dual-luciferase assay. EF24 increased expression of E-cadherin and decreased STAT3 phosphorylation and expression of the mesenchymal markers, vimentin and N-cadherin. miR-33b inhibition or HMGA2 overexpression reverted EF24-mediated suppression of EMT phenotypes. In addition, EF24 modulated the HMGA2-dependent actin stress fiber formation, focal adhesion assembly and FAK, Src and RhoA activation by targeting miR-33b. Thus, the results suggest that EF24 suppresses melanoma metastasis via upregulating miR-33b and concomitantly reducing HMGA2 expression. The observed activities of EF24 support its further evaluation as an anti-metastatic agent in melanoma therapy.

Caveolin-1 induces lamellipodia formation via an Akt-dependent pathway

BACKGROUND

The enhancement of migration is critical for facilitating cancer cell metastasis.

METHOD

Lung cancer H23 cells were transfected with either a caveolin-1 (Cav-1) overexpression or shCav-1 plasmid and further subjected to cell migration assays and lamellipodia characterization. The regulation of Cav-1 via an ATP-dependent tyrosine kinase (Akt) pathway was further examined by Akt knockdown in Cav-1 overexpressing cells and migratory behavior investigations.

RESULTS

Here, we demonstrate for the first time that overexpression of Cav-1 in human lung cancer H23 cells significantly increased the formation of lamellipodia, whereas the suppression of Cav-1 using shRNA transfection had the opposite effect. Consistent with an increase in lamellipodia, Cav-1 overexpressing cells exhibited increased migratory activity in comparison to their parental, control-transfected, H23 cells. The induction of lamellipodia was demonstrated to occur via the Akt pathway because the addition of the Akt inhibitor LY294002 inhibited lamellipodia in both Cav-1-overexpressing and H23 cells. Additionally, transient transfection with Akt-siRNA significantly inhibited the formation of lamellipodia and the migration of Cav-1-overexpressing H23 cells. In addition, Cav-1 levels and the migratory action of other lung cancer cells, namely, H460 and A549, were assessed, and the migration of these cells was found to be correlated with the basal Cav-1 level.

CONCLUSION

These data showed that Cav-1 enhances cancer cell migration through Akt-mediated lamellipodia formation. Our results provide novel insights regarding the molecular mechanism controlling cancer cell migration, leading to a better understanding of cancer cell biology.