Knockdown of CENPM activates cGAS-STING pathway to inhibit ovarian cancer by promoting pyroptosis

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to screen novel gene signatures for ovarian cancer (OC) and explore the role of biomarkers in OC via regulating pyroptosis using bioinformatics analysis.

METHODS

Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of OC were screened from GSE12470 and GSE16709 datasets. Hub genes were determined from protein-protein interaction networks after bioinformatics analysis. The role of Centromeric protein M (CENPM) in OC was assessed by subcutaneous tumor experiment using hematoxylin-eosin and immunohistochemical staining. Tumor metastasis was evaluated by detecting epithelial-mesenchymal transition-related proteins. The proliferation, migration, and invasion were determined using cell counting kit and transwell assay. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was applied to measure inflammatory factors. The mRNA and protein expression were detected using real-time quantitative PCR and western blot.

RESULTS

We determined 9 hub genes (KIFC1, PCLAF, CDCA5, KNTC1, MCM3, OIP5, CENPM, KIF15, and ASF1B) with high prediction value for OC. In SKOV3 and A2780 cells, the expression levels of hub genes were significantly up-regulated, compared with normal ovarian cells. CENPM was selected as a key gene. Knockdown of CENPM suppressed proliferation, migration, and invasion of OC cells. Subcutaneous tumor experiment revealed that CENPM knockdown significantly suppressed tumor growth and metastasis. Additionally, pyroptosis was promoted in OC cells and xenograft tumors after CENPM knockdown. Furthermore, CENPM knockdown activated cGAS-STING pathway and the pathway inhibitor reversed the inhibitory effect of CENPM knockdown on viability, migration, and invasion of OC cells.

CONCLUSION

CENPM was a novel biomarker of OC, and knockdown of CENPM inhibited OC progression by promoting pyroptosis and activating cGAS-STING pathway.

Upregulation of CENPM promotes breast carcinogenesis by altering immune infiltration

BACKGROUND

The involvement of centromere protein M (CENPM) in various types of cancer has been established, however, its impact on breast cancer and immune infiltration remains unknown.

METHODS

We examined the expression of CENPM in different cancer types by utilizing the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Genotype Tissue Expression Pan-Cancer (GEO) databases. Using data from the TCGA, we examined the correlation between the expression of CENPM, the prognosis, and the clinicopathological features of individuals diagnosed with breast cancer. We conducted an enrichment analysis of CENPM using the clusterProfiler R software tool, utilizing data obtained from breast cancer patients and specimens at our institution. In addition to examining the correlation between CENPM expression and genes associated with immune checkpoints, the TIDE algorithm was employed to explore the potential of CENPM as a biomarker for immunotherapy in breast cancer. The impact of CENPM on the growth of breast cancer cells was evaluated through the utilization of the CCK8 test and the colony formation assay. The effect of CENPM on the migration of breast cancer cells was assessed using scratch and transwell assays.

RESULTS

Research findings indicate that elevated levels of CENPM are linked to patient outcomes in breast cancer and various clinicopathological features. Furthermore, elevated levels of CENPM expression correlated with decreased levels of CD8 + T cells and mast cells, increased levels of Tregs and Th2, and reduced levels of CD8 + T cells. Additionally, the coexpression of CENPM with the majority of genes related to immune checkpoints indicates its potential to forecast the effectiveness of treatment in breast cancer. Suppression of CENPM hampers the growth and movement of breast tumor cells.

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, our study findings indicate that CENPM may serve as a cancer-causing gene in breast cancer and also as a biomarker for predicting the efficacy of immunotherapy. The oncogene CENPM is associated with breast cancer and is involved in cell proliferation and immune infiltration.

Upregulation of CENPM facilitates lung adenocarcinoma progression via PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway

Centromere protein M (CENPM) is essential for chromosome separation during mitosis. However, its roles in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) progression and metastasis remain unknown. In this study, we aimed to explore the effects of CENPM on LUAD progression as well as the underlying mechanisms. We analyzed the expression of CENPM and its correlation with clinicopathological characteristics using GEO LUAD chip datasets and TCGA dataset. We further investigated the impact of CENPM on LUAD and . In silico analysis and qRT-PCR revealed that CENPM is upregulated in LUAD compared with that in normal lung tissues. Via gain/loss-of-function assays, we further found that CENPM promotes the LUAD cell cycle, cell proliferation, migration and invasion, and inhibits cell apoptosis. The study showed that loss of CENPM inhibits the growth of A549 xenografts. Furthermore, we found that CENPM can promote the phosphorylation of mTOR rather than directly affect the mTOR content. Inhibition of mTOR activity abrogates the promoting effects of CENPM on cell cycle progression, cell proliferation, migration and invasion. Taken together, these results show that CENPM plays an important role in the growth and metastasis of LUAD and may be a promising therapeutic target in LUAD.

ATF2-Induced Overexpression of lncRNA LINC00882, as a Novel Therapeutic Target, Accelerates Hepatocellular Carcinoma Progression via Sponging miR-214-3p to Upregulate CENPM

Background

Long intergenic non-protein coding RNA 882 (LINC00882) are abnormally expressed in several tumors. Our research aimed to uncover the functions and the potential mechanisms of LINC00882 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression.

Methods

RT-qPCR was applied to identify LINC00882 and miR-214-3p levels in HCC specimens and cells. Luciferase reporter was applied for the exploration of whether activating transcription factor 2 (ATF2) could bind to the promoter region of LINC00882. Cell proliferation, invasion, and migration were evaluated. In vivo tumor xenograft models were constructed to assess tumorigenicity. RT-PCR, Western blot and Luciferase reporter assays were conducted to examine the regulatory relationships among LINC00882, miR-214-3p and ATF2.

Results

LINC00882 was markedly upregulated in HCC cells and clinical specimens. Additionally, ATF2 could bind directly to the LINC00882 promoter region and activate its transcription. Loss-of-function studies further demonstrated that LINC00882 knockdown inhibited proliferation, invasion, and migration of HCC cells. Mechanistically, LINC00882 adsorbed miR-214-3p, thus promoting the expressions of CENPM. Rescue assays demonstrated that functions of LINC00882 deficiency in HCC cells were reversed through suppressing miR-214-3p.

Conclusion

Our group identified a novel regulatory axis of ATF2/LINC00882/miR-214-3p/CENPM, which may provide potential therapeutic targets for HCC.

LncRNA HCG18 contributes to the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma via miR-214-3p/CENPM axis

Long non-coding RNA (lnc) HCG18 has been reported to contribute progression of a variety of tumours. However, its roles in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unknown. In the current study, we intended to uncover the biological functions of HCG18 in HCC. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was conducted to detect the expression of HCG18, microRNA-214-3p (miR-214-3p) and centromere protein M (CENPM) messenger RNA (mRNA). The role of HCG18 in the growth and migration were assessed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, colony formation assay, wound healing assay and flow cytometry in vitro and animal experiments in vivo. The results showed that HCG18 was highly expressed in HCC tissues. HCG18 silencing inhibited the proliferation and migration while induced the apoptosis of HCC cells. Besides, miR-214-3p was down-regulated in HCC cells. Further experiments revealed that miR-214-3p could directly bind to HCG18 and exerted an anti-tumour role to counteracted siHCG18-1-mediated influence in HCC cells. Moreover, miR-214-3p could directly interact with CENPM mRNA and down-regulating the expression of CENPM. While HCG18 could up-regulate the expression of CENPM through acting as a sponge of miR-214-3p. Therefore, those results suggested HCG18 functioned as an oncogene to promote the proliferation and migration of HCC cells via miR-214-3p/CENPM axis.