IGF2BP1在消化系统恶性肿瘤中的作用

胰岛素样生长因子-2 mRNA结合蛋白(IGF2BPs)是一类高度保守的RNA结合蛋白家族，能够调控RNA的加工和代谢，并参与各种细胞的病理和生理过程。作为IGF2BPs的一个亚型，IGF2BP1通过与癌症相关靶标mRNA结合并增强其稳定性，促进肿瘤细胞增殖、生长、侵袭和化疗耐药，并与较差的预后相关。该文就IGF2BP1的结构、功能以及在消化系统恶性肿瘤进展与肿瘤化疗耐药中的作用和相关分子机制进行综述，以期为IGF2BP1的临床分子靶向治疗提供理论依据。     

IGF2BP2在癌症中的研究进展

胰岛素样生长因子2 mRNA结合蛋白2(insulin growth factor 2 mRNA binding protein 2,IGF2BP2)是一种调节多种生物过程的RNA结合蛋白,最初作为2型糖尿病的相关基因被发现,随着深入的研究,人们发现它在多种肿瘤的发生发展中也起着重要的生物学作用。IGF2BP2可以作为一种m6A阅读器,通过与不同的非编码RNA(如miRNAs、lncRNAs和circRNAs)相互作用参与癌症的发生发展。本次综述总结了IGF2BP2在多种癌症中的生物学作用、机制以及预后潜力,以期为癌症的诊断及预后提供新的标志物,同时为IGF2BP2作为癌症精准化治疗靶点的相关研究提供新的思路。     

IGF2BP1对白血病干细胞特性维持的作用

[目的]探究胰岛素样生长因子2 mRNA结合蛋白1(IGF2BP1)调控HOXB4、MYB、ALDH1A1表达在白血病干细胞特性维持中的作用。[方法] K562细胞分为3组:对照组、IGF2BP1组、siIGF2BP1组。通过转染过表达或沉默IGF2BP1。分别对各组细胞的增殖、凋亡、体外干细胞成球能力进行检测。检测HOXB4、MYB、ALDH1A1 mRNA和蛋白水平。[结果]三组细胞的上述指标比较差异显著(P<0.05)。IGF2BP1组细胞的IGF2BP1增殖(0.75±0.07,1.34±0.12)、成球数量(98.23±4.16)个和大小(205.97±9.54)μm、HOXB4、MYB、ALDH1A1 mRNA和蛋白水平显著高于对照组,凋亡率(3.62%±0.35%)显著低于对照组(P<0.05)。siIGF2BP1组细胞的IGF2BP1、增殖(0.46±0.04,0.81±0.08)、成球数量(25.76±1.35)个和大小(85.44±2.37)μm、HOXB4、MYB、ALDH1A1 mRNA和蛋白水平显著低于对照组,凋亡率(18.34±0.27)%显著高于对照组(P<0.05)。[结论]过表达IGF2BP1上调了HOXB4、MYB、ALDH1A1 mRNA和蛋白表达,促进白血病干细胞特性的维持。     

MiRNA调控IGFBPs参与肿瘤发生的研究进展

作为一类广泛存在于真核细胞中的RNA分子，微小RNA(microRNA,miRNA)在生物体内的基因表达调控、生长发育等基本生命过程中发挥着不可替代的重要作用，与人类疾病密切相关。胰岛素样生长因子结合蛋白(insulin-like growth factor binding proteins,IGFBPs)是一类结合和调节胰岛素样生长因子(insulin-like growth factor,IGF)生物活性的蛋白质，在肿瘤中通过IGF依赖或非依赖的机制扮演着至关重要的角色。在肿瘤中，IGFBPs和mi RNA的异常表达与肿瘤细胞的增殖、侵袭和转移等生物学行为密切相关。IGFBPs能够作为mi RNA的直接靶因或者下游信号分子，参与多种疾病的发生与发展。该文总结了mi RNA在脑、胃肠道、肝胆、妇科等多种肿瘤性疾病中对IGFBPs的调控作用，以期为相关疾病的临床诊断、预后生物标志物或治疗靶点等的探索提供全面、专业的参考。     

siRNA与miRNA在生物基因调控中的沉默机制比较

siRNA和miRNA的沉默机制是生物基因调控的重要手段之一. 小干扰RNA（small interfering RNA,siRNA）是RNA干扰的引发物,激发与之互补的目标mRNA沉默. 非编码RNA中的微小RNA（microRNA,miRNA）,能够识别特定的目标mRNA,通过与mRNAs的3′ 非翻译区结合,影响该目标蛋白的翻译水平. siRNA和miRNA的基因调控机制对生物学研究及疾病的病因和治疗等有直接影响. 本文主要对siRNAs和miRNAs的生物起源及沉默机制进行比较性论述：提出Dicers酶蛋白、Ago蛋白以及20 nt~25 nt的双链RNAs的 3类大分子是RNA沉默的特征结构,并进行了说明性论述|总结性叙述了siRNA和miRNA的2类小分子经典沉默机制,并提出其异同点. 最后,本文根据近期研究进展,对siRNA和miRNA的生物起源及沉默机制提出了新的疑问.     

siRNA与miRNA在生物体基因调控中沉默机制的比较

siRNA和miRNA的沉默机制是生物基因调控的重要手段之一.小干扰RNA(small interfering RNA,siRNA)是RNA干扰的引发物,激发与之互补的目标mRNA沉默.非编码RNA中的微小RNA(microRNA,miRNA),能够识别特定的目标mRNA,通过与mRNAs的3'非翻译区结合,影响该目标蛋白的翻译水平.siRNA和miRNA的基因调控机制对生物学研究及疾病的病因和治疗等有直接影响.本文主要对siRNAs和miRNAs的生物起源及沉默机制进行比较性论述:提出Dicers酶蛋白、Ago蛋白以及20 nt～25 nt的双链RNAs的3类大分子是RNA沉默的特征结构,并进行了说明性论述;总结性叙述了siRNA和miRNA的2类小分子经典沉默机制,并提出其异同点.最后,本文根据近期研究进展,对siRNA和miRNA的生物起源及沉默机制提出了新的疑问.     

MicroRNA研究进展

近年来,在许多真核生物中发现了一类能时序调控发育的、长度约为22个核苷酸（nt）的非编码小分子RNA,称为microRNA(miRNA)。它由RNaseⅢ蛋白Drosha和Dicer共同酶解作用产生,由Exportin-5转运出核,通过与small interfering RNA(siRNA)相似的机制,导致mRNA降解,或者与mRNA的3’端非翻译区结合,阻遏转录后翻译。miRNA在发育和某些人类疾病发生中有着重要作用。     

RNA结合蛋白调节mRNA稳定性的作用机制

免疫稳态的维持涉及多种细胞因子的基因表达调控,其中在转录后水平对mRNA稳定性的调控起重要作用。ARE(AU-rich element)位于mRNA 3'UTR(非编码区),富含AU碱基,某些RNA结合蛋白通过识别结合ARE影响mRNA的稳定性。本文综合最新研究,概述了TTP、HUR等RNA结合蛋白对mRNA稳定性的调节机制及其在信号通路中的作用。     

合浦珠母贝IGF2BP1基因的克隆与表达分析

胰岛素样生长因子2信使核糖核酸结合蛋白(insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA binding protein,IGF2BP)在脊椎动物体内功能很多,但在贝类中研究很少。为研究IGF2BP1是否参与了贝类的生物矿化过程,本研究通过RACE技术克隆获得合浦珠母贝(Pinctada fucata)IGF2BP1基因cDNA序列,命名为PfIGF2BP1。该基因全长2 980 bp,其中开放阅读框长1 737 bp,预测编码579个氨基酸,有4个KH结构域和2个RRM结构域。多重序列分析发现各物种的IGF2BP1氨基酸序列非常保守。实时定量PCR结果显示PfIGF2BP1在肠等8个组织和壳顶期等5个胚胎发育时期中均有表达,表达量最高的组织为珍珠囊(p0.05),说明Pf IGF2BP1可能参与了珍珠形成过程。Pf IGF2BP1在眼点期表达量最高,其次为壳顶期,说明PfIGF2BP1可能参与次生壳的形成过程。原位杂交表明PfIGF2BP1在外套膜边缘的外褶中表达,推测其可能参与棱柱层的形成。本研究为以后探讨IGF2BP1在贝类生物矿化过程中的作用奠定了基础。     

依赖细胞骨架的 mRNA 定位

mRNA定位是产生细胞极性的一种重要机制,在卵母细胞发生、早期胚胎发育及某些细胞特定功能的建立和维持中起重要作用。沿细胞骨架进行mRNA的主动转运是mRNA定位的主要机制之一,在mRNA的运输和锚定过程中,定位元件、特异的RNA结合蛋白、发动蛋白和细胞骨架分别起着重要的作用。     

IGF2BP3-EGFR-AKT axis promotes breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cell growth

Insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA binding protein 3 (IGF2BP3) is an emerging prognostic indicator, and its elevated expression correlates with malignancy in a broad spectrum of cancers. However, its regulatory networks have not yet been reported. In this study, we identified the regulatory targets of IGF2BP3 in breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells using RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (RIP-seq) and high-throughput RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq). We discovered that these targets were enriched in the inflammatory response, endoplasmic reticulum stress, cell cycle, and cancer-related pathways, providing a new perspective for better understanding the functional mechanisms of IGF2BP3. Moreover, we identified that the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), a downstream target, is regulated by IGF2BP3. IGF2BP3 binds to and protects EGFR mRNA from degradation and facilitates cell proliferation via the EGFR/AKT pathway in MDA-MB-231 cells. In addition, IGF2BP3 expression was robust and could not be altered by stimulation with EGF and anti-EGFR siRNA or EGFR signaling pathway inhibitors (gefitinib, LY294002 and SL-327). These results demonstrate that IGF2BP3, as a stubborn oncogene, promotes triple-negative breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cell proliferation by strengthening the role of the EGFR-AKT axis.     

IGF2BP3 promotes cell metastasis and is associated with poor patient survival in nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Metastasis contributes to treatment failure in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients. Our study aimed at elucidating the role of insulin‐like growth factor 2 mRNA binding protein 3 (IGF2BP3) in NPC metastasis and the underlying mechanism involved. IGF2BP3 expression in NPC was determined by bioinformatics, quantitative polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry analyses. The biological function of IGF2BP3 was investigated by using in vitro and in vivo studies. In this study, IGF2BP3 mRNA and protein levels were elevated in NPC tissues. In addition, IGF2BP3 exerted an oncogenic role by promoting epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT), thereby inducing NPC cell migration and invasion. Further studies revealed that IGF2BP3 regulated the expression of key regulators of EMT by activating AKT/mTOR signalling, thus stimulating NPC cell migration and invasion. Remarkably, targeting IGF2BP3 delayed NPC metastasis through attenuating p‐AKT and vimentin expression and inducing E‐cadherin expression in vivo. Moreover, IGF2BP3 protein levels positively correlated with distant metastasis after initial treatment. Importantly, IGF2BP3 expression served as an independent prognostic factor in predicting the overall survival and distant metastasis‐free survival of NPC patients. This work identifies IGF2BP3 as a novel prognostic marker and a new target for NPC treatment.     

IGF2BP2, an RNA-binding protein regulates cell proliferation and osteogenic differentiation by stabilizing SRF mRNA

Osteoblast proliferation and osteogenic differentiation (OGD) are regulated by complex mechanisms. The roles in cell proliferation and OGD of RNA-binding proteins in the insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding protein (IGF2BP) family remain unclear. To elucidate this, we examined the differential expression of IGF2BP2 in OGD and osteoporosis, and the expression profile of IGF2BP2-binding RNA in vitro. We screened the GEO database for differential expression of IGF2BP in OGD and osteoporosis, and verified the RNAs interacting with IGF2BP2 via RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing assays. The proliferation and OGD of IGF2BP2- and serum response factor (SRF)-treated cells, and their regulatory mechanisms, were examined. IGF2BP2 was differentially expressed in OGD and osteoporosis. The RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing assay identified all of the RNAs that bind with IGF2BP2, and revealed SRF as a target of IGF2BP2. IGF2BP2 and SRF inhibition impaired MC3T3-E1 cell growth but promoted OGD. The mRNA stability analysis revealed that IGF2BP2 enhanced SRF mRNA stability against degradation. In summary, IGF2BP2 is a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for osteoporosis and OGD.     

Control of c-myc mRNA stability by IGF2BP1-associated cytoplasmic RNPs

The RNA-binding protein IGF2BP1 (IGF-II mRNA binding protein 1) stabilizes the c-myc RNA by associating with the Coding Region instability Determinant (CRD). If and how other proteins cooperate with IGF2BP1 in promoting stabilization of the c-myc mRNA via the CRD remained elusive. Here, we identify various RNA-binding proteins that associate with IGF2BP1 in an RNA-dependent fashion. Four of these proteins (HNRNPU, SYNCRIP, YBX1, and DHX9) were essential to ensure stabilization of the c-myc mRNA via the CRD. These factors associate with IGF2BP1 in a CRD-dependent manner, co-distribute with IGF2BP1 in non-polysomal fractions comprising c-myc mRNA, and colocalize with IGF2BP1 in the cytoplasm. A selective shift of relative c-myc mRNA levels to the polysomal fraction is observed upon IGF2BP1 knockdown. These findings suggest that IGF2BP1 in complex with at least four proteins promotes CRD-mediated mRNA stabilization. Complex formation at the CRD presumably limits the transfer of c-myc mRNA to the polysomal fraction and subsequent translation-coupled decay.     

Increased IGF2BP3 expression promotes the aggressive phenotypes of colorectal cancer cells in vitro and vivo

Previous literatures reported insulin-like growth factor-2 messenger RNA-binding protein 3 (IGF2BP3) is a poor prognostic marker for colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. However, basic research on the effect and biological role of IGF2BP3 in CRC was still scare. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis were used to examine IGF2BP3 expression level in tumors and paired normal tissues from CRC patients. Tissue microarrays with 192 CRC patients were subjected to immunohistochemical staining to analyze the prognostic value of IGF2BP3. Proliferation assays, migration assays, and xenograft tumor formation in nude mice were performed to assess the biological role of IGF2BP3 in CRC cells. IGF2BP3 expression was significantly upregulated in tumor tissues compared with the matched normal tissues both in messenger RNA and protein level and was associated with worse prognosis. IGF2BP3 knockdown made cell cycle arrest to impair the proliferation ability of CRC cells and further inhibited the xenograft tumor growth in nude mice, also inhibited the migration ability of CRC cells via inducing epithelial–mesenchymal transition. Therefore, the research demonstrated that increased IGF2BP3 expression promoted the aggressive phenotypes of CRC cells. Targeted IGF2BP3 could be a novel and effective gene therapy for CRC patients to make a better prognosis.     

IGF2BP1 enhances HCV IRES-mediated translation initiation via the 3′UTR

The positive-strand RNA genome of the Hepatitis C virus (HCV) contains an internal ribosome entry site (IRES) in the 5′untranslated region (5′UTR) and structured sequence elements within the 3′UTR, but no poly(A) tail. Employing a limited set of initiation factors, the HCV IRES coordinates the 5′cap-independent assembly of the 43S pre-initiation complex at an internal initiation codon located in the IRES sequence. We have established a Huh7 cell-derived in vitro translation system that shows a 3′UTR-dependent enhancement of 43S pre-initiation complex formation at the HCV IRES. Through the use of tobramycin (Tob)-aptamer affinity chromatography, we identified the Insulin-like growth factor-II mRNA-binding protein 1 (IGF2BP1) as a factor that interacts with both, the HCV 5′UTR and 3′UTR. We report that IGF2BP1 specifically enhances translation at the HCV IRES, but it does not affect 5′cap-dependent translation. RNA interference against IGF2BP1 in HCV replicon RNA-containing Huh7 cells reduces HCV IRES-mediated translation, whereas replication remains unaffected. Interestingly, we found that endogenous IGF2BP1 specifically co-immunoprecipitates with HCV replicon RNA, the ribosomal 40S subunit, and eIF3. Furthermore eIF3 comigrates with IGF2BP1 in 80S ribosomal complexes when a reporter mRNA bearing both the HCV 5′UTR and HCV 3′UTR is translated. Our data suggest that IGF2BP1, by binding to the HCV 5′UTR and/or HCV 3′UTR, recruits eIF3 and enhances HCV IRES-mediated translation.     

Role of IGF2BP3 in trophoblast cell invasion and migration

The insulin-like growth factor-2 mRNA-binding protein 3 (IGF2BP3) is a member of a highly conserved protein family that is expressed specifically in placenta, testis and various cancers, but is hardly detectable in normal adult tissues. IGF2BP3 has important roles in RNA stabilization and translation, especially during early stages of both human and mouse embryogenesis. Placenta is an indispensable organ in mammalian reproduction that connects developing fetus to the uterine wall, and is responsible for nutrient uptake, waste elimination and gas exchange. Fetus development in the maternal uterine cavity depends on the specialized functional trophoblast. Whether IGF2BP3 plays a role in trophoblast differentiation during placental development has never been examined. The data obtained in this study revealed that IGF2BP3 was highly expressed in human placental villi during early pregnancy, especially in cytotrophoblast cells (CTBs) and trophoblast column, but a much lower level of IGF2BP3 was detected in the third trimester placental villi. Furthermore, the expression level of IGF2BP3 in pre-eclamptic (PE) placentas was significantly lower than the gestational age-matched normal placentas. The role of IGF2BP3 in human trophoblast differentiation was shown by in vitro cell invasion and migration assays and an ex vivo explant culture model. Our data support a role of IGF2BP3 in promoting trophoblast invasion and suggest that abnormal expression of IGF2BP3 might be associated with the etiology of PE.