STC1 competitively binding βPIX enhances melanoma progression via YAP nuclear translocation and M2 macrophage recruitment through the YAP/CCL2/VEGFA/AKT feedback loop

This study investigates the role of Stanniocalcin-1 (STC1) in melanoma progression, with a focus on its impact on metastasis, angiogenesis, and immune evasion. Systematic bioinformatics analysis revealed the potential influence of STC1 dysregulation on prognosis, immune cell infiltration, response to immune therapy, and cellular functions. In vitro assays were conducted to assess the proliferation, invasion, migration, and angiogenesis capabilities of A375 cells. In vivo experiments utilizing C57BL/6 J mice established a lung metastasis model using B16-F10 cells to evaluate macrophage infiltration and M2 polarization. A Transwell co-culture system was employed to explore the crosstalk between melanoma and macrophages. Molecular interactions among STC1, YAP, βPIX, and CCL2 are investigated using mass spectrometry, Co-Immunoprecipitation, Dual-Luciferase Reporter Assay, and Chromatin Immunoprecipitation experiments. STC1 was found to enhance lung metastasis by promoting the recruitment and polarization of M2 macrophages, thereby fostering an immunosuppressive microenvironment. Mechanistically, STC1 competes with YAP for binding to βPIX within the KER domain in melanoma cells, leading to YAP activation and subsequent CCL2 upregulation. CCL2-induced M2 macrophages secrete VEGFA, which enhances tumor vascularization and increases STC1 expression via the AKT signaling pathway in melanoma cells, establishing a pro-metastatic feedback loop. Notably, STC1-induced YAP activation increases PD-L1 expression, promoting immune evasion. Silencing STC1 enhances the efficacy of PD-1 immune checkpoint therapy in mice. This research elucidates STC1's role in melanoma metastasis and its complex interactions with tumor-associated macrophages, proposing STC1 as a potential therapeutic target for countering melanoma metastasis and augmenting the efficacy of PD-1 immunotherapy.

Cycloastragenol restrains keratinocyte hyperproliferation by promoting autophagy via the miR-145/STC1/Notch1 axis in psoriasis

BACKGROUND

Psoriasis is characterized by inflammation and hyperproliferation of epidermal keratinocytes. Cycloastragenol (CAG) is an active molecule of Astragalus membranaceus that potentially plays a repressive role in psoriasis. Activated cell autophagy is an effective pathway for alleviating psoriasis progression. Thus, we investigated the role of CAG in the proliferation and autophagy of interleukin (IL)-22-stimulated keratinocytes.

METHODS

A psoriasis model was established by stimulating HaCaT cells with IL-22. Gene or protein expression levels were measured by qRT-PCR or western blot. Autophagy flux was observed with mRFP-GFP-LC3 adenovirus transfection assay under confocal microscopy. Stanniocalcin-1 (STC1) secretion levels were determined using ELISA kits. The apoptosis rate was assessed using flow cytometry. Interactions between miR-145 and STC1 or STC1 and Notch1 were validated by luciferase reporter gene assays, RIP, and Co-IP assays.

RESULTS

CAG repressed cell proliferation and promoted apoptosis and autophagy in IL-22-stimulated HaCaT cells. Additionally, CAG promoted autophagy by enhancing miR-145. STC1 silencing ameliorated autophagy repression in IL-22-treated HaCaT cells. Moreover, miR-145 negatively regulated STC1, and STC1 was found to activate Notch1. Lastly, STC1 overexpression reversed CAG-promoted autophagy.

CONCLUSION

CAG alleviated keratinocyte hyperproliferation through autophagy enhancement via regulating the miR-145/STC1/Notch1 axis in psoriasis.

Sevoflurane Suppresses Glioma Cell Proliferation, Migration, and Invasion Both In Vitro and In Vivo Partially Via Regulating KCNQ1OT1/miR-146b-5p/STC1 Axis

Background: Sevoflurane (Sev), a volatile anesthetic agent, is widely used in neurosurgery for anesthesia maintenance, accompanied with antitumor activity postanesthesia in multiple human cancers, including glioma. However, the molecular mechanism of Sev in glioma is largely unclear, including associated informative noncoding RNAs, such as long noncoding RNAs (lncRNA) and microRNAs (miRNAs). Methods: Expression of lncRNA KCNQ1 opposite strand/antisense transcript 1 (KCNQ1OT1), miRNA (miR)-146b-5p, and stanniocalcin-1 (STC1) was measured by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting. Cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion in vitro were examined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium (MTS) assay, fluorescence-activated cell sorting method, and transwell assays, respectively. Tumor growth in vivo was determined by xenograft models. The direct interaction between genes was confirmed by dual-luciferase reporter assay. Results: Sev enhanced apoptotic rate, but inhibited cell viability, migration, and invasion abilities of human glioma A172 and U251 cells in vitro, as well as tumor growth inhibition in vivo. The tumor-suppressive role of Sev in glioma was accompanied with downregulated KCNQ1OT1 and STC1, and upregulated miR-146b-5p. Overexpression of KCNQ1OT1 through transfection reversed, while KCNQ1OT1 silencing aggravated the antitumor role of Sev in A172 and U251 cells. Moreover, KCNQ1OT1-mediated tumor-promoting activity in A172 and U251 cells under Sev treatment was abrogated by miR-146b-5p restoration or STC1 deletion. Essentially, KCNQ1OT1 could positively regulate STC1 by acting as miR-146b-5p decoy. Conclusion: KCNQ1OT1 knockdown mediated the role of Sev in glioma cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion both in vitro and in vivo through miR-146b-5p/STC1 pathway.

Stanniocalcin-1 Promotes PARP1-Dependent Cell Death via JNK Activation in Colitis

Stanniocalcin-1 (STC1) is upregulated by inflammation and modulates oxidative stress-induced cell death. Herein, the function of STC1 in colitis and stress-induced parthanatos, a newly identified type of programmed necrotic cell death dependent on the activation of poly-ADP ribose polymerase-1 (PARP1) is investigated. Results show that STC1 expression is markedly increased in the inflamed colonic mucosa of Crohn's disease (CD) patients and chemically-induced mice colitis models. Evaluation of parthanatos severity and pro-inflammatory cytokine expression shows that intestinal-specific Stc1 knockout (Stc1INT-KO ) mice are resistant to dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis and exhibit lower disease severity. STC1-overexpressing cells show an increased degree of parthanatos and proinflammatory cytokine expression, whereas STC1-knockout cells show a decreased degree of parthanatos. Co-immunoprecipitation, mass spectrometry, and proteomic analyses indicate that STC1 interacts with PARP1, which activates the JNK pathway via PARP1-JNK interactions. Moreover, inhibition of PARP1 and JNK alleviates parthanatos and inflammatory injuries triggered by STC1 overexpression. Finally, following restoration of Stc1 and Parp1 expression by adeno-associated viruses, and overexpression of Stc1 and Parp1 aggravated DSS-induced colitis in Stc1INT-KO mice. In conclusion, STC1 mediates oxidative stress-associated parthanatos and aggravates inflammation via the STC1-PARP1-JNK interactions and subsequent JNK pathway activation in CD pathogenesis.

Biosensors Based on Stanniocalcin-1 Protein Antibodies Thin Films for Prostate Cancer Diagnosis

Prostate cancer is one of the most prevalent tumors in men, accounting for about 7.3% of cancer deaths. Although there are several strategies for diagnosing prostate cancer, these are only accurate when the tumor is already at a very advanced stage, so early diagnosis is essential. Stanniocalcin 1 (STC1) is a secreted glycoprotein, which has been suggested as a tumor marker as its increased expression is associated with the development and/or progression of different types of malignant tumors. In this work, an electronic tongue (ET) prototype, based on a set of four sensors prepared from thin films that included STC1 antibodies for detecting prostate cancer, was developed. In the preparation of the thin films, polyelectrolytes of polyallylamine hydrochloride, polystyrene sulfonate of sodium and polyethyleneimine, and the biomolecules chitosan, protein A, and STC1 antibody were used. These films were deposited on quartz lamellae and on solid supports using layer-on-layer and self-assembly techniques. The deposition of the films was analyzed by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, and the detection of STC1 in aqueous solutions of PBS was analyzed by impedance spectroscopy. The impedance data were statistically analyzed using principal component analysis. The ETs formed by the four sensors and the three best sensors could detect the antigen at concentrations in the range from 5 × 10-11 to 5 × 10-4 M. They showed a linear dependence with the logarithm of the antigen concentration and a sensitivity of 5371 ± 820 and 4863 ± 634 per decade of concentration, respectively. Finally, the results allow us to conclude that this prototype can advance to the calibration phase with patient samples.

Identification of testicular cancer immune infiltrates and novel immune cell subtypes

Testicular germ cell tumors (TGCT) are the most common type of testicular cancer, comprising 90-95% of cases and representing the most prevalent solid malignancy in young adult men. Immune infiltrates play important regulatory roles in tumors, but their role in TGCT remains unclear. Molecular subtyping is a promising way to provide precisely personalized treatment and avoid unnecessary toxicities. This study investigated immune infiltrates, key biomarkers, and immune subtyping of TGCT. In GSE3218, 24 differentially expressed immune genes (immDEGs) were identified. A new risk signature consisting of six immDEGs was developed using these genes. Individuals in the high-risk group had poor overall survival (OS; hazard ratio of 4.61 and P-value < 0.001). We validated the six-immDEGs risk signature in pure seminoma and mixed TGCT types. Two distinct immune patterns (Cluster 1 and Cluster 2) were identified using the consensusclusterplus, and Cluster 1 possessed an unfavorable OS compared with Cluster 2 (hazard ratio, 2.56; P < 0.001). Cluster 1 patients had significantly lower naive B cells, memory B cells, plasma cells, naive CD4 T cells, gamma delta T cells, and activated dendritic cells than Cluster 2 patients. Genes relating to the WNT signaling pathway, TGF-β signaling pathway, antigen processing and presentation, and NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity were associated with TGCT. STC1 was elevated in TGCT tissues, and its high expression showed advanced clinicopathological characteristics and poor prognosis of TGCT. Our findings may contribute to an increased understanding of the onset and progression of TGCT.

Molecular cloning and characterization of STC1 gene and its functional analyses in yak (Bos grunniens) cumulus granulosa cells

Cumulus granulosa cells (CGCs), an important type of ovarian somatic cells, carries out various functions related to oogenesis, follicular development, and steroidogenesis. Studying the biological mechanisms involved in the development and function of CGCs makes a great contribution to understanding the reproductive regulation in female animals. Stanniocalcin-1 (STC1) is an important Ca2+-regulated glycoprotein hormone that exhibits high expression levels in ovaries. In this study, we cloned the coding sequence of the yak STC1, predicted the structure of STC1 protein, detected the expression and localization of STC1 in yak ovaries, and analyzed the functions of STC1 in yak CGCs. The CDS (coding sequence) region of yak STC1 gene was found to be 744 bp and encoded 247 amino acids. Homology comparison revealed that STC1 protein was highly conserved among mammals. The STC1 mRNA displayed dynamic expression profiles in different stages of yak ovaries, and the highest expression was found in the follicular phase. Regarding localization, STC1 protein was widely distributed in various kinds of yak ovarian cells, including oocytes, mural granulosa cells, CGCs, and thecal cells. Repressing the expression of STC1 resulted in defective proliferation and survival of yak CGCs. In addition, knockdown the expression of STC1 repressed the secretion of progesterone and promoted the secretion of estrogen. Overexpression of STC1 partially rescued the proliferation of CGCs and resulted in opposite effects on the secretion of progesterone and estrogen. Several apoptosis and steroidogenesis-related genes, including BAX, BCL2, HSD3B1, HSD17B1, CYP11A1 and CYP17A1 showed altered expressions after repressing or increasing the expression of STC1 in yak CGCs. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to focus on the role of STC1 in yak CGCs, and the outcomes offer fresh insights into the mechanism governing yak reproduction.

Cancer Stem Cell Formation Induced and Regulated by Extracellular ATP and Stanniocalcin-1 in Human Lung Cancer Cells and Tumors

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are closely associated with metastasis and epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT). We previously reported that extracellular ATP (eATP) induces and regulates EMT in cancer cells. We recently found that the gene stanniocalcin 1 (STC1) is significantly upregulated by eATP in human non-small lung cancer (NSCLC) A549 cells; however, the relationships among eATP, CSCs, and STC1 were largely unknown. In this study, we performed gene knockdown and knockout, and a wide variety of functional assays to determine if and how eATP and STC1 induce CSCs in NSCLC A549 and H1299 cells. Our data show that, in both cultured cells and tumors, eATP increased the number of CSCs in the cancer cell population and upregulated CSC-related genes and protein markers. STC1 deletion led to drastically slower cell and tumor growth, reduced intracellular ATP levels and CSC markers, and metabolically shifted STC1-deficient cells from an energetic state to a quiescent state. These findings indicate that eATP induces and regulates CSCs at transcriptional, translational, and metabolic levels, and these activities are mediated through STC1 via mitochondria-associated ATP synthesis. These novel findings offer insights into eATP-induced CSCs and identify new targets for inhibiting CSCs.

Diagnostic and prognostic value of Stanniocalcin 1 expression in papillary thyroid cancer

PURPOSE

To evaluate the potential role of immunohistochemical changes in stanniocalcin 1 (STC1) and stanniocalcin 2 (STC2) expressions in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) tissues in the disease's diagnosis and to investigate their relationship with classical clinicopathological prognostic factors.

METHODS

The study included 100 patients with PTC. Normal thyroid tissue adjacent to the tumor was taken as the control group. Clinicopathological prognostic features at the time of diagnosis of patients were recorded. STC1 and STC2 expressions of tumor tissue and adjacent normal tissue were determined immunohistochemically.

RESULTS

The sensitivity of STC1 in the diagnosis of PTC was 93%, the specificity was 94%, positive predictive value (PPV) 93.9%, and negative predictive value (NPV) 93.1%. It was determined that the STC1 staining score in tumor tissue was positively correlated with the disease TNM stage score (r = 0.259, p = 0.009) and the increase in STC1 staining score were independent risk factors that increased the risk of lymph node metastasis (R² = 0.398, p < 0.001). While 21% of the tumor tissues were stained with STC2, none of the normal thyroid tissues adjacent to the tumor tissue showed any staining with STC2. No correlation was found between STC2 immunohistochemical staining of tumor tissue and clinicopathological risk factors for the disease.

CONCLUSION

Increased STC1 expression in thyroid lesions may be helpful in diagnosing PTC. In addition, since increased STC1 expression in PTC tissues is associated with the risk of lymph node metastasis, it may be an efficient marker for predicting the prognosis of the disease.

HIF-1α-regulated stanniocalcin-1 mediates gemcitabine resistance in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma via PI3K/AKT signaling pathway

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has a poor response to the first-line chemotherapy drug gemcitabine. We previously identified stanniocalcin-1 as a gemcitabine-resistant-related gene, but its specific role and function in pancreatic cancer remain unclear. RT-qPCR and Western blot were used to evaluate differential protein and mRNA expressions. The biological functions of genes were determined using proliferation and drug-resistance experiments. Subcutaneous tumorigenesis experiment was performed on nude mice. Prognostic analysis was performed using public databases and our clinical data. We found HIF-1α-regulated STC1 expression mediated chemoresistance in pancreatic cancer. Deeper, we explored the action mechanism of STC1 and identified PI3K/AKT as the downstream signaling pathway of STC1. Furthermore, we analyzed clinical data and found that STC1 expression was related to the prognosis of gemcitabine-treated patients after surgery. In general, we proved the HIF-1α/STC1/PI3K-AKT axis participated in PDAC progression and chemoresistance, and STC1 may serve as a potential prognostic factor and therapeutic target for PDAC treatment.

Stanniocalcin 1 promotes metastasis, lipid metabolism and cisplatin chemoresistance via the FOXC2/ITGB6 signaling axis in ovarian cancer

BACKGROUND

Stanniocalcin 1 (STC1) plays an integral role in ovarian cancer (OC). However, the functional role of STC1 in metastasis, lipid metabolism and cisplatin (DDP) chemoresistance in OC is not fully understood.

METHODS

Single-cell sequencing and IHC analysis were performed to reveal STC1 expression profiles in patient tissues. Metastasis, lipid metabolism and DDP chemoresistance were subsequently assessed. Cell-based in vitro and in vivo assays were subsequently conducted to gain insight into the underlying mechanism of STC1 in OC.

RESULTS

Single-cell sequencing assays and IHC analysis verified that STC1 expression was significantly enhanced in OC tissues compared with para-carcinoma tissues, and it was further up-regulated in peritoneal metastasis tissues compared with OC tissues. In vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that STC1 promoted metastasis, lipid metabolism and DDP chemoresistance in OC. Simultaneously, STC1 promoted lipid metabolism by up-regulating lipid-related genes such as UCP1, TOM20 and perilipin1. Mechanistically, STC1 directly bound to integrin β6 (ITGB6) to activate the PI3K signaling pathway. Moreover, STC1 was directly regulated by Forkhead box C2 (FOXC2) in OC. Notably, targeting STC1 and the FOXC2/ITGB6 signaling axis was related to DDP chemoresistance in vitro.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, these findings revealed that STC1 promoted metastasis, lipid metabolism and DDP chemoresistance via the FOXC2/ITGB6 signaling axis in OC. Thus, STC1 may be used as a prognostic indicator in patients with metastatic OC. Meanwhile, STC1 could be a therapeutic target in OC patients, especially those who have developed chemoresistance to DDP.

Prognostic value of STC1 in solid tumors: a meta-analysis

Aim: The prognostic value of STC1 has been evaluated in solid tumors. However, the results remain controversial. Materials & methods: Relevant studies published up to 27 February 2021 were identified by a comprehensive search of the PubMed, EMBASE and Web of Science databases. Hazard ratios (HRs) and odds ratios with 95% CIs were applied to explore the association between STC1 and survival outcome and clinical characteristics. Results: Sixteen articles involving 2942 participants were included in this meta-analysis. The pooled analysis showed that high STC1 expression was significantly associated with worse overall survival (HR: 1.91; 95% CI: 1.63-2.24) and disease-free survival/progression-free survival/relapse-free survival (HR: 2.01; 95% CI: 1.34-3.02). Conclusion: STC1 may be an effective prognostic marker in solid tumors.

Stanniocalcin 1 is a serum biomarker and potential therapeutic target for HBV-associated liver fibrosis

Stanniocalcin 1 (STC1), a secreted protein, is upregulated in human cancers including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). While most HCCs develop from chronic liver disease which involves progressive parenchymal injury and fibrosis, the role of STC1 in this pre-neoplastic stage remains poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the clinical relevance and functional significance of secreted STC1 in liver fibrosis. To this end, STC1 level was determined in the serum samples of chronic hepatitis B patients and correlated with the degree of liver fibrosis. Diagnostic performance of STC1 was analysed by area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC), sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value. The results were compared with other well-characterised serum biomarkers for liver fibrosis, aspartate transaminase to Platelet Ratio Index (APRI) and Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4). The functional role of STC1 was interrogated by in vitro experiments using cell line models. Expression of fibrogenic markers was quantified by RT-qPCR and western blotting. Our results showed that serum STC1 level in chronic hepatitis B patients was positively correlated with the degree of liver fibrosis and showed a stepwise increase in accordance with the severity of fibrosis. The AUROCs for detecting significant fibrosis (>9.0 kPa) and cirrhosis (>12.0 kPa) was 0.911 and 0.880, respectively. STC1 demonstrated a superior specificity and positive predictive value when compared to APRI and FIB-4. Consistent with this, STC1 was elevated in the liver tissues and sera of CCl₄ -treated mice showing marked liver fibrosis. In vitro, STC1 was secreted by the human hepatic stellate cell line LX2. Human recombinant STC1 (rhSTC1) induced expression of fibrogenic markers in LX2 cells. The pro-fibrogenic phenotype conferred by rhSTC1 or TGF-β1 in LX2 cells could be attenuated using anti-STC1 antibody. Taken together, STC1 is a specific serum biomarker for HBV-associated liver fibrosis. STC1 functionally promotes liver fibrogenesis and is a potential actionable target. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein (PAPP)-A2 in Physiology and Disease

The growth hormone (GH)/insulin-like growth factor (IGF) axis plays fundamental roles during development, maturation, and aging. Members of this axis, composed of various ligands, receptors, and binding proteins, are regulated in a tissue- and time-specific manner that requires precise control that is not completely understood. Some of the most recent advances in understanding the implications of this axis in human growth are derived from the identifications of new mutations in the gene encoding the pregnancy-associated plasma protein PAPP-A2 protease that liberates IGFs from their carrier proteins in a selective manner to allow binding to the IGF receptor 1. The identification of three nonrelated families with mutations in the PAPP-A2 gene has shed light on how this protease affects human physiology. This review summarizes our understanding of the implications of PAPP-A2 in growth physiology, obtained from studies in genetically modified animal models and the PAPP-A2 deficient patients known to date.

Knockdown of SENP1 inhibits HIF-1α SUMOylation and suppresses oncogenic CCNE1 in Wilms tumor

Based on our initial bioinformatics finding of the upregulated expression of sentrin-specific protease 1 (SENP1) and cyclin E1 (CCNE1) in Wilms tumor, this study aimed to illustrate the molecular mechanism of SENP1 in Wilms tumor, which involved the hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α)/stanniocalcin-1 (STC1)/CCNE1 axis. Wilms tumor and adjacent normal tissues were clinically collected. Gain- and loss-of-function assays were performed to evaluate the effects of the regulatory axis on malignant phenotypes of Wilms tumor cells. A mouse model of Wilms tumor xenografts was further established for in vivo substantiation. Overexpression of CCNE1 and SENP1 occurred in Wilms tumor tissues and cells. Silencing SENP1 inhibited viability and enhanced cell-cycle arrest of Wilms tumor cells. SENP1 promoted STC1 expression and upregulated CCNE1 by driving the small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO)ylation of HIF-1α, which ultimately promoted the malignant phenotypes of Wilms tumor cells. It was further confirmed that silencing SENP1 downregulated the expression of CCNE1 and restricted tumorigenicity of Wilms tumor cells in vivo. Taken together, SENP1 elevated STC1 expression by driving the SUMOylation of HIF-1α, thereby upregulating the expression of CCNE1 and ultimately promoting the development of Wilms tumor.

MiR-144-3p targets STC1 to activate PI3K/AKT pathway to induce cell apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in selenium deficiency broilers

Selenium (Se) is an indispensable trace element in vertebrate. Se deficiency can damage the immune system. Studies have shown that Se deficiency can cause immune organ damage by regulating the expression of microRNA. Bursa of Fabricius is a special immune organ in poultry. In order to explore the mechanism of bursa of Fabricius injury caused by Se deficiency and the role of miRNA in this process. Firstly, we established the Se deficient model of broilers in vivo and found that Se deficiency could induce apoptosis and cell cycle arrest of bursa of Fabricius cells through Phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Protein Kinase B (AKT) pathway. Secondly, we inferred miRNA (miR-144-3p) and target gene Stanniocalcin 1 (STC1) that may regulate PI3K/AKT pathway through biological analysis system, and further predicted and determined the targeting relationship between them through dual luciferase, it was found that miR-144-3p was highly expressed in the process of cell apoptosis and cell cycle arrest induced by Se deficiency. Finally, in order to further understand whether miR-144-3p/STC1 axis is involved in the process, miR-144-3p knockdown and overexpression experiments were carried out, it was found that miR-144-3p inhibitor can reduce the occurrence of cell apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. In conclusion, Se deficiency can induce apoptosis and cell cycle arrest of bursa of Fabricius in Broilers by up regulating miR-144-3p targeting STC1 and activating PI3K/AKT pathway, leading to injury of bursa of Fabricius in broilers.

STC1 is a Novel Biomarker Associated with Immune Characteristics and Prognosis of Bladder Cancer

Background

Stanniocalcin-1 (STC1) is a well-studied oncogene that promotes different types of cancer progression. However, the expression status of STC1, the values of STC1 on prognosis, and its immune characteristic in bladder cancer (BLCA) have not been well examined.

Methods

The expression of STC1 and its clinicopathological as well as immune characteristics in BLCA samples were firstly identified in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) performed on the tissue microarray (TMA) slide was further used to validate the expression of STC1 and its relationship with immune features in 16 non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) samples and 42 muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) samples.

Results

The expression of STC1 was upregulated in higher stage BLCA. High STC1 expression also predicted poor prognosis in BLCA. Subsequently, the TMA validated the expression and prognostic value of STC1 in BLCA. Bioinformatics analysis demonstrated that STC1 and common immune checkpoints as well as immune markers of various immune cells were positively correlated in TCGA. In addition, IHC data from the TMA further validated that tumor cells with higher STC1 level tended to express higher PDL1 as well as increased infiltration of CD3+ T cells.

Conclusion

To our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive study that investigates the clinical and immune characteristics of STC1 in BLCA. It may provide new insight into the function of STC1 in regulating tumor immune microenvironment. Further studies are warranted to uncover the potential mechanisms that mediate STC1 expression and tumor immunity in BLCA.

GNEN-1: a spontaneously immortalized cell line from gastric neuroendocrine neoplasia

Mixed neuroendocrine-non-neuroendocrine neoplasms (MINEN) are rare tumors that consist of at least 30% of both neuroendocrine and non-neuroendocrine components. The data concerning the pathogenesis of MINEN suggest a monoclonal origin. We describe a spontaneously immortalized cell line derived from gastric MINEN called GNEN-1. Primary tumor consisted of components of high-grade neuroendocrine carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. The GNEN-1 cell line was initiated from metastatic tumor cells of peritoneal fluid and expresses a purely neuroendocrine phenotype. The GNEN-1 cell line grows as monolayers and has retained the neuroendocrine phenotype with positivity for chromogranin A in immunohistochemistry. Electron microscopy showed cytoplasmic dense core granules and axon hillocks. The karyotype revealed alterations typical of both adenocarcinoma and neuroendocrine carcinoma such as trisomy 7 and 8. GNEN-1 cells were also positive for stanniocalcin-1, a marker of poor prognosis in gastric carcinomas. Expression of several markers related to neuroendocrine tumors was found. There have been only a few studies on the pathogenesis of MINEN and management of the disease due to the rarity of this tumor type. Here we describe for the first time an immortalized cell line derived from mixed gastric NEN. The GNEN-1 line offers a tool for future research on gastric NEN.

Stanniocalcin-1 Protected Astrocytes from Hypoxic Damage Through the AMPK Pathway

Our previous studies revealed that the expression of stanniocalcin-1 (STC1) in astrocytes increased under hypoxic conditions. However, the role of STC1 in hypoxic astrocytes is not well understood. In this work, we first showed the increased expression of STC1 in astrocyte cell line and astrocytes in the brain tissues of mice after exposure to hypoxia. Then, we found that knockdown of STC1 inhibited cell viability and increased apoptosis. These effects were mediated by decreasing the levels of SIRT3, UCP2, and glycolytic genes and increasing the levels of ROS. Further studies suggested that STC1 silencing promoted oxidative stress and suppressed glycolysis by downregulating AMPKα1. Moreover, HIF-1α knockdown in hypoxic astrocytes led to decreased expression of STC1 and AMPKα1, indicating that the expression of STC1 was regulated by HIF-1α. In conclusion, our study showed that HIF-1α-induced STC1 could protect astrocytes from hypoxic damage by regulating glycolysis and redox homeostasis in an AMPKα1-dependent manner.

Modulation of miR-382-5p reduces apoptosis of myocardial cells after acute myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a severe cardiovascular condition. Blocking the apoptosis of myocardial cells may mitigate AMI. Excessive expression of Stanniocalcin-1 (STC1) plays a protective role in the heart by inhibiting myocardial cell apoptosis. Here, we looked at the mechanism by which miR-382-5p regulates STC1 and affects myocardial cell apoptosis after AMI.

METHODS

An AMI mouse model with a descending anterior ligament coronary artery and an HL-1 cell model with reproducible hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) were established. For pathological changes in myocardial tissues, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labelling staining and haematoxylin and eosin staining were performed. STC1 mRNA and miR-382-5p levels were measured using quantitative real-time PCR. Protein levels of STC1 and apoptosis-related proteins were measured by western blotting. The 3-(4,5)-dimethylthiahiazo (-z-y1)-3,5-di- phenytetrazoliumromide assay was used to detect cell viability, and a dual-luciferase reporter assay was carried out to verify potential targets of miR-382-5p.

RESULTS

The level of miR-382-5p was raised in myocardial tissues of AMI mice and H/R-induced HL-1 cells. Compared with the control group, the myocardial tissue cells in the AMI group were disordered, with evident necrosis of myocardial cells, apoptosis and inflammatory infiltration. Interference with miR-382-5p inhibited myocardial cell apoptosis after H/R, as well as inferior lactate dehydrogenase. Also, miR-382-5p adversely regulated STC1 and the expression of STC1 was increased after transfection with miR-382-5p antagomir. Furthermore, interference with miR-382-5p reduced myocardial cell apoptosis after H/R by increasing the expression level of STC1.

CONCLUSION

To summarise, our study showed an increase in miR-382-5p in myocardial tissues in the AMI mouse model. Interference with miR-382-5p reduced apoptosis of myocardial cells after AMI and the effect was achieved by increasing STC1 expression.

STC1 ameliorates cognitive impairment and neuroinflammation of Alzheimer's disease mice via inhibition of ERK1/2 pathway

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the regulatory role of STC1 (Stanniocalcin-1) mediated ERK1/2 pathway in cognitive impairment and neuroinflammation of Alzheimer's disease (AD).

METHODS

WT mice and STC1 Tg mice (transgenic overexpression of STC1) were used to establish AD models to perform behavioral test by Morris water maze. Hippocampal cell apoptosis was quantified by TUNEL staining, the levels of inflammatory cytokines in serum and hippocampal tissues determined by ELISA, as well as oxidative stress-related factors detected by corresponding testing kits, and protein expression of STC1 and ERK1/2 pathway measured by Western blotting.

RESULTS

Compared with WT Sham group, WT AD mice had prolonged escape latency, decreased crossing platform times, increased hippocampal cell apoptosis with up-regulated inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress-related factors, as well as increased STC1 and ERK1/2 pathway-related molecules. By contrast, STC1 Tg AD mice showed shortened escape latency, increased crossing platform times than WT AD mice, and they also exhibited the decreased apoptosis index and inflammatory cytokines, alleviated oxidative stress-injury, down-regulated protein expression of ERK1/2 pathway, and up-regulated the protein expression of STC1 and UCP2.

CONCLUSION

STC1 overexpression could alleviate oxidative stress-induced injury, reduce neuroinflammation, improve cognitive function to play a neuro-protective role by inhibiting ERK1/2 signaling pathway.

Circ-140/chi-miR-8516/STC1-MMP1 Regulates αs1-/β-Casein Secretion and Lipid Formation in Goat Mammary Epithelial Cells

MicroRNAs play an essential role in mammary gland development, and involution is a factor that limits lactation. Chi-miR-8516 is one of the validated microRNAs that regulates the expression of STC1 and MMP1, which surge during the involution of the mammary gland. This study aims to explore the direct or indirect regulation of STC1 and MMP1 by chi-miR-8516 and the regulation of chi-miR-8516 by circ-140. In goat mammary epithelial cells, we found that chi-miR-8516 takes circ-140 as a sponge and regulates MMP1 expression by targeting STC1 and promoting the phosphorylation of MAPK. The examination of αs1-/β-casein and lipid showed the modulation of the circ-140/chi-miR-8516/STC1-MMP1 axis in casein secretion and lipid formation, which was regulated by the phosphorylation of mTOR and STAT5. This study illustrates an axis that regulates the synthesis of milk components, and explores the pathways in which the axis participates.

Knockdown of lncRNA HOTTIP Inhibits Retinoblastoma Progression by Modulating the miR-101-3p/STC1 Axis

Objective:

Retinoblastoma (RB) is a frequent eye cancer in children. Long non-coding RNA (LncRNA) HOXA transcript at the distal tip (HOTTIP) is aberrantly expressed in cancer tissues. This study explores the underlying mechanism of lncRNA HOTTIP in RB.

Methods:

HOTTIP expression in normal retinal cells and RB cell lines was detected using qRT-PCR. The proliferation of RB cells was measured using CCK-8 and EdU assays, and apoptosis was detected using flow cytometry and Western blotting after the transfection of si-HOTTIP into Y79 cells and pc-HOTTIP into HXO-RB-44 cells. The target relationships between HOTTIP and miR-101-3p, and miR-101-3p and STC1 were predicted by bioinformatics website and verified using dual-luciferase reporter gene assay. The binding of HOTTIP and miR-101-3p was verified using RNA pull-down assay. STC1 mRNA and protein in RB cells were measured using qRT-PCR and Western blotting. Moreover, si-HOTTIP and in-miR-101-3p/in-NC, and si-HOTTIP and pc-STC1/pcDNA were co-transfected into Y79 cells respectively to evaluate cell proliferation and apoptosis. Xenograft study was conducted, and Ki67-positive expression was detected using immunohistochemical staining.

Results:

HOTTIP expression was promoted in RB tissues and cells. Downregulation of HOTTIP inhibited proliferation and promoted apoptosis of Y79 cells, while upregulation of HOTTIP promoted proliferation and inhibited apoptosis of HXO-RB-44 cells. There were target relationships between HOTTIP and miR-101-3p, and miR-101-3p and STC1. Inhibition of miR-101-3p or overexpression of STC1 reversed the effect of si-HOTTIP on the proliferation and apoptosis of RB cells. Xenograft study showed that knockdown of HOTTIP suppressed the growth of RB in vitro.

Conclusion:

It could be concluded that HOTTIP sponged miR-101-3p to upregulate STC1 expression, thereby promoting RB cell proliferation and inhibiting apoptosis.

Quercetin prevents bone loss in hindlimb suspension mice via stanniocalcin 1-mediated inhibition of osteoclastogenesis

Recent studies demonstrate that diet quercetin (Quer) has obvious bone protective effects on ovariectomized rodents but thus far there is no direct evidence to support the inhibitory effect of Quer on bone loss caused by long-term unloading. In the present study, we investigated whether Quer could prevent bone loss induced by unloading in mice. Mice were subjected to hindlimb suspension (HLS) and received Quer (25, 50, 100 mg· kg^-1 ·day^-1, ig) for 4 weeks. Before euthanasia blood sample was collected; the femurs were harvested and subjected to MicroCT analysis. We showed that Quer administration markedly improved bone microstructure evidenced by dose-dependently reversing the reduction in bone volume per tissue volume, trabecular number, and bone mineral density, and the increase of trabecular spacing in mice with HLS. Analysis of serum markers and bone histometric parameters confirmed that Quer at both middle and high doses significantly decreased bone resorption-related markers collagen type I and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b, and increased bone formation-related marker procollagen 1 N-terminal propeptide as compared with HLS group. Treatment with Quer (1, 2, 5 μM) dose-dependently inhibited RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis through promoting the expression of antioxidant hormone stanniocalcin 1 (STC1) and decreasing ROS generation; knockdown of STC1 blocked the inhibitory effect of Quer on ROS generation. Knockdown of STC1 also significantly promoted osteoclastogenesis in primary osteoclasts. In conclusion, Quer protects bones and prevents unloading-caused bone loss in mice through STC1-mediated inhibition of osteoclastogenesis. The findings suggest that Quer has the potential to prevent and treat off-load bone loss as an alternative supplement.

Effects of miR-101-3p on goat granulosa cells in vitro and ovarian development in vivo via STC1

Background

MiRNAs act as pivotal post-transcriptional gene mediators in the regulation of diverse biological processes, including proliferation, development and apoptosis. Our previous study has showed that miR-101-3p is differentially expressed in dairy goat ovaries compared single with multiple litters. The objective of this research was to explore the potential function and molecular mechanism of miR-101-3p via its target STC1 in goat ovarian growth and development.

Results

cDNA libraries were constructed using goat granulosa cells transfected with miR-101-3p mimics and negative control by RNA-sequencing. In total, 142 differentially expressed unigenes (DEGs) were detected between two libraries, including 78 down-regulated and 64 up-regulated genes. GO and KEGG enrichment analysis showed the potential impacts of DEGs on ovarian development. STC1 was singled out from DEGs for further research owing to it regulates reproductive-related processes. In vitro, bioinformatics analysis and 3′-UTR assays confirmed that STC1 was a target of miR-101-3p. ELISA was performed to detect the estrogen (E2) and progesterone (P4) levels. CCK8, EdU and flow cytometry assays were performed to detect the proliferation and apoptosis of granulosa cells. Results showed that miR-101-3p regulated STAR, CYP19A1, CYP11A1 and 3β-HSD steroid hormone synthesis-associated genes by STC1 depletion, thus promoted E2 and P4 secretions. MiR-101-3p also affected the key protein PI3K, PTEN, AKT and mTOR in PI3K-AKT pathway by STC1, thereby suppressing proliferation and promoting apoptosis of granulosa cells. In vivo, the distribution and expression levels of miR-101-3p in mouse ovaries were determined through fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH). Immunohistochemistry results showed that STC1 expression was suppressed in mouse ovaries in miR-101-3p-agonist and siRNA-STC1 groups. Small and stunted ovarian fragments, decreased numbers of follicles at diverse stages were observed using Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, thereby showing unusual ovarian development after miR-101-3p overexpression or STC1 depletion. Inhibition of miR-101-3p manifested opposite results.

Conclusions

Taken together, our results demonstrated a regulatory mechanism of miR-101-3p via STC1 in goat granulosa cells, and offered the first in vivo example of miR-101-3p and STC1 functions required for ovarian development.

MEG3 Induces Cervical Carcinoma Cells' Apoptosis Through Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress by miR-7-5p/STC1 Axis

Background: Many patients with advanced cervical cancer (CC) have a poor prognosis and their mortality rank the first among women with malignant tumors. It's essential to explore the molecular mechanism of CC in clinical practice. Long noncoding RNA maternally expressed gene 3 (MEG3) has been reported to downregulate in CC tissues. However, the underlying mechanism of MEG3 in CC remains poorly elaborated. The current study aimed to explore the potential mechanism of MEG3 inducing endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERs)-mediated apoptosis of CC cells. Methods: The expression of MEG3 and miR-7-5p in CC tissues and cell lines was verified by quantitative reverse transcription/polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The vector of MEG3, miR-7-5p inhibitor, and sh-SCT1 were transfected into CC cell lines, and their expression was tested by qRT-PCR. Flow cytometry was used to detect apoptosis, and ERs-related protein expression was performed by Western blot. The regulatory relationship between MEG3/SCT1 and miR-7-5p was validated by Dual luciferase reporter assay. Results: CC tissues and cell lines showed downregulated MEG3 and STC1, and upregulated miR-7-5p. Overexpression of MEG3 or miR-7-5p inhibition induced ERs-triggered apoptosis of CC cells. In addition, sh-STC1 can reverse the effects of overexpressing MEG3 on CC cell apoptosis. In addition, dual luciferase reporter assay revealed that miR-7-5p can directly target to MEG3 and STC1. Conclusion: MEG3, act as a competing endogenous RNA of miR-7-5p, accelerates ERs-mediated apoptosis of CC cells through regulating SCT1 expression.

Stanniocalcin 1 in tumor microenvironment promotes metastasis of ovarian cancer

Background: Tumor metastasis is the major challenge for ovarian cancer treatment. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), a major component existing in tumor microenvironment, can secrete several cytokines to interact with cancer epithelial cells, and promote cancer metastasis. Stanniocalcin 1 (STC1), a secretory glycoprotein hormone, has been proven to be an important factor in ovarian tumorigenesis. Methods: In this study, we focused on the functional role of STC1 in ovarian cancer microenvironment, investigated STC1's effects on the proliferation and metastasis of ovarian cancer cells, and explored the molecular mechanism underlying STC1-mediated cancer metastasis. Results: By analyzing the GEO dataset and examined STC1 expression in CAFs isolated from ovarian cancer patients, we found that expression of STC1 was higher in ovarian cancer stroma and CAFs than in the normal ovarian stroma and normal fibroblasts (NFs). Addition of recombinant human STC1 (rhSTC1) promoted cell proliferation and metastasis in ovarian cancer, while adoption of STC1 neutralizing antibody (STC1 Ab) abolished the effects. Furthermore, our results revealed that STC1 promoted the phosphorylation of Akt (Ser473), and upregulated several epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers including fibronectin，vimentin and slug. In addition, we demonstrated that STC1 in tumor microenvironment could mediate the conversion of NFs to CAFs. Conclusion: Taken together, the study results suggested the crucial role of STC1 in tumor environment on the metastasis of ovarian cancer.

MicroRNA regulating stanniocalcin-1 is a metastasis and dissemination promoting factor in glioblastoma

BACKGROUND

MicroRNAs (miRs) regulate many biological processes, such as invasion, angiogenesis, and metastasis. Glioblastoma (GBM) patients with metastasis/metastatic dissemination have a very poor prognosis; therefore, inhibiting metastasis/metastatic dissemination has become an important therapeutic strategy for GBM treatment.

METHODS

Using 76 GBM tissues, we examined the expression levels of 23 GBM-related miRs and compared the miRs' expression levels between GBMs with metastasis/metastatic dissemination and GBMs without metastasis/metastatic dissemination. Using the bioinformatics web site, we searched the target genes of miRs. To analyze the function of target gene, several biological assays and survival analysis by the Kaplan-Meier method were performed.

RESULTS

We found that eight miRs were significantly decreased in GBM with metastasis/metastatic dissemination. By the bioinformatics analysis, we identified stanniocalcin-1 (STC1) as the most probable target gene against the combination of these miRs. Four miRs (miR-29B, miR-34a, miR-101, and miR-137) have predictive binding sites in STC1 mRNA, and mRNA expression of STC1 was downregulated by mimics of these miRs. Also, mimics of these miRs and knockdown of STC1 by siRNA suppressed invasion in GBM cells. GBM with metastasis/metastatic dissemination had significantly higher levels of STC1 than GBM without metastasis/metastatic dissemination. Finally, Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated that GBMs with high STC1 level had significantly shorter survival than GBMs with low STC1 level.

CONCLUSIONS

STC1 may be a novel metastasis/metastatic dissemination promoting factor regulated by several miRs in GBM. Because STC1 is a secreted glycoprotein and functions via the autocrine/paracrine signals, inhibiting STC1 signal may become a novel therapeutic strategy for GBM.

Secretory Stanniocalcin 1 promotes metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma through activation of JNK signaling pathway

The hypoxic microenvironment is well-characterized in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Delineation of hypoxia-responsive events is an integral part to understand the pathogenesis of HCC. We studied the functional role and clinical relevance of Stanniocalcin 1 (STC1), a hypoxia-induced molecular target, in HCC. In our clinical cohort, STC1 transcript was up-regulated in HCC tumor tissues. Moreover, STC1 protein was detected in the sera of HCC patients. A higher serum STC1 level was correlated with larger tumor size and poorer 5-year disease-free survival. Functionally, recombinant STC1 protein (rhSTC1) promoted cell migration and cell invasion in vitro; and the effect was abolished by co-treatment of anti-STC1 neutralizing antibody. By in vivo mouse model, silencing of STC1 in HCC cells downregulated secretory STC1 level and suppressed lung metastasis. Furthermore, we found that rhSTC1 activated the JNK pathway, as evidenced by altered expression of the key molecular targets pJNK and p-c-Jun. The functional effects conferred by rhSTC1 were abrogated by co-treatment of JNK inhibitor. In summary, secretory STC1 enhances metastatic potential of HCC via JNK signaling. It potentially serves as a prognostic serum biomarker and a therapeutic target for HCC.

Stanniocalcin-1 is induced by hypoxia inducible factor in rat alveolar epithelial cells

Alveolar type II (ATII) cells remain differentiated and express surfactant proteins when cultured at an air-liquid (A/L) interface. When cultured under submerged conditions, ATII cells dedifferentiate and change their gene expression profile. We have previously shown that gene expression under submerged conditions is regulated by hypoxia inducible factor (HIF) signaling due to focal hypoxia resulting from ATII cell metabolism. Herein, we sought to further define gene expression changes in ATII cells cultured under submerged conditions. We performed a genome wide microarray on RNA extracted from rat ATII cells cultured under submerged conditions for 24-48h after switching from an A/L interface. We found significant alterations in gene expression, including upregulation of the HIF target genes stanniocalcin-1 (STC1), tyrosine hydroxylase (Th), enolase (Eno) 2, and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 13, and we verified upregulation of these genes by RT-PCR. Because STC1, a highly evolutionarily conserved glycoprotein with anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, anti-oxidant, and wound healing properties, is widely expressed in the lung, we further explored the potential functions of STC1 in the alveolar epithelium. We found that STC1 was induced by hypoxia and HIF in rat ATII cells, and this induction occurred rapidly and reversibly. We also showed that recombinant human STC1 (rhSTC1) enhanced cell motility with extended lamellipodia formation in alveolar epithelial cell (AEC) monolayers but did not inhibit the oxidative damage induced by LPS. We also confirmed that STC1 was upregulated by hypoxia and HIF in human lung epithelial cells. In this study, we have found that several HIF target genes including STC1 are upregulated in AECs by a submerged condition, that STC1 is regulated by hypoxia and HIF, that this regulation is rapidly and reversibly, and that STC1 enhances wound healing moderately in AEC monolayers. However, STC1 did not inhibit oxidative damage in rat AECs stimulated by LPS in vitro. Therefore, alterations in gene expression by ATII cells under submerged conditions including STC1 were largely induced by hypoxia and HIF, which may be relevant to our understanding of the pathogenesis of various lung diseases in which the alveolar epithelium is exposed to relative hypoxia.