The effects of PTBP3 silencing on the proliferation and differentiation of MKN45 human gastric cancer cells

Aims

PTBP3 overexpression inhibits the differentiation of leukemia cells; however, its effects on the differentiation and proliferation of solid cancer cells remain unclear. Thus, the impact of PTBP3 on the differentiation and proliferation of gastric cancer cells was investigated.

Main methods

PTBP3 expression was analyzed in normal and tumor tissues using immunohistochemistry. A xenograft model was established in nude mice by subcutaneous injection of untransfected human gastric cancer MKN45 cells or those expressing a control vector or PTBP3 siRNA. We analyzed the tumor inhibition rate, the expression of PTBP3, the PCNA-positive rate and the serum levels of CEA, CA199, CA125, LDH, ALP and γ-GT in different groups.

Key findings

The tumor weights in the PTBP3 siRNA group were significantly lower than that of the MKN45 cell control group (P < 0.001). Immunohistochemistry analysis of PCNA expression revealed that it was markedly reduced after PTBP3 silencing. ELISAs showed that the serum levels of CEA and CA199 tumor markers as well as LDH and ALP were reduced after PTBP3 silencing. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that MKN45 cells expressing PTBP3 siRNA had reduced nuclear-to-cytoplasmic ratio and regular nuclei, suggesting differentiation.

Significance

PTBP3 may promote proliferation and inhibit the differentiation of human gastric cancer MKN45 cells.     

PTBP1 enhances exon11a skipping in Mena pre-mRNA to promote migration and invasion in lung carcinoma cells

Alternative splicing (AS) events occur in the majority of human genes. AS in a single gene can give rise to different functions among multiple isoforms. Human ortholog of mammalian enabled (Mena) is a conserved regulator of actin dynamics that plays an important role in metastasis. Mena has been shown to have multiple splice variants in human tumor cells due to AS. However, the mechanism mediated Mena AS has not been elucidated. Here we showed that polypyrimidine tract-binding protein 1 (PTBP1) could modulate Mena AS. First, PTBP1 levels were elevated in metastatic lung cancer cells as well as during epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process. Then, knockdown of PTBP1 using shRNA inhibited migration and invasion of lung carcinoma cells and decreased the Mena exon11a skipping, whereas overexpression of PTBP1 had the opposite effects. The results of RNA pull-down assays and mutation analyses demonstrated that PTBP1 functionally targeted and physically interacted with polypyrimidine sequences on both upstream intron11 (TTTTCCCCTT) and downstream intron11a (TTTTTTTTTCTTT). In addition, the results of migration and invasion assays as well as detection of filopodia revealed that the effect of PTBP1 was reversed by knockdown of Mena but not Mena11a+. Overexpressed MenaΔ11a also rescued the PTBP1-induced migration and invasion. Taken together, our study provides a novel mechanism that PTBP1 modulates Mena exon11a skipping, and indicates that PTBP1 depends on the level of Mena11a− to promote lung cancer cells migration and invasion. The regulation of Mena AS may be a potential prognostic marker and a promising target for treatment of lung carcinoma.     

Ginsenoside F2 induces cellular toxicity to glioblastoma through the impairment of mitochondrial function

BackgroundGlioblastoma (GBM) is the most aggressive tumor residing within the central nervous system, with extremely poor prognosis. Although the cytotoxic effects of ginsenoside F2 (GF2) on GBM were previously suggested, the precise anti-GBM mechanism of GF2 remains unclear. The aim of this study was to explore the anti-cancer molecular mechanism of GF2 toward human GBM.MethodsGF2-driven cellular toxicity was confirmed in two different GBM cells, U373 and Hs683. To test mitochondrial impairment driven by GF2, we examined the mitochondrial membrane potential, OCR, and ATP production. An intracellular redox imbalance was identified by measuring the relative ratio of reduced glutathione to oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSSG), glutaredoxin (GLRX) mRNA expression, intracellular NAD+ level, and AMPK phosphorylation status.ResultsGF2 increased the percentage of cleaved caspase 3-positive cells and γH2AX signal intensities, confirming that GF2 shows the cytotoxicity against GBM. GO enrichment analysis suggested that the mitochondrial function could be negatively influenced by GF2. GF2 reduced the mitochondrial membrane potential, basal mitochondrial respiratory rate, and ATP production capacity. Our results showed that GF2 downregulated the relative GSH/GSSG, intracellular NAD+ level, and GLRX expression, suggesting that GF2 may alter the intracellular redox balance that led to mitochondrial impairment.ConclusionGF2 reduces mitochondrial membrane potential, inhibits cellular oxygen consumption, activates AMPK signaling, and induces cell death. Our study examined the potential vulnerability of mitochondrial activity in GBM, and this may hold therapeutic promise.     

USP39-mediated deubiquitination of Cyclin B1 promotes tumor cell proliferation and glioma progression

BackgroundThe elevated Cyclin B1 expression contributes to various tumorigenesis and poor prognosis. Cyclin B1 expression could be regulated by ubiquitination and deubiquitination. However, the mechanism of how Cyclin B1 is deubiquitinated and its roles in human glioma remain unclear.MethodsCo-immunoprecipitation and other assays were performed to detect the interacting of Cyclin B1 and USP39. A series of in vitro and in vivo experiments were performed to investigate the effect of USP39 on the tumorigenicity of tumor cells.ResultsUSP39 interacts with Cyclin B1 and stabilizes its expression by deubiquitinating Cyclin B1. Notably, USP39 cleaves the K29-linked polyubiquitin chain on Cyclin B1 at Lys242. Additionally, overexpression of Cyclin B1 rescues the arrested cell cycle at G2/M transition and the suppressed proliferation of glioma cells caused by USP39 knockdown in vitro. Furthermore, USP39 promotes the growth of glioma xenograft in subcutaneous and in situ of nude mice. Finally, in human tumor specimens, the expression levels of USP39 and Cyclin B1 are positively relevant.ConclusionOur data support the evidence that USP39 acts a novel deubiquitinating enzyme of Cyclin B1 and promoted tumor cell proliferation at least in part through Cyclin B1 stabilization, represents a promising therapeutic strategy for tumor patients.     

Targeting miR-9 in Glioma Stem Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicles: A Novel Diagnostic and Therapeutic Biomarker

BackgroundGlioblastoma (GBM) is a lethal brain tumor with no effective strategies in early diagnosis and treatment. This study was aimed to assess the miRNA expression profiles in EVs from CSF and tissue of glioblastoma patients to identify significantly upregulated miRNAs and investigate the underlying neoplastic mechanisms.MethodsEVs were measured by TEM and NTA assays. Differentially regulated miRNAs were measured using RNA sequencing in GBM CSF EVs and in GBM tissues compared with controls. RT-qPCR was employed to analyze miRNA and gene expression. Luciferase report assay was used to investigate gene target of miR-9. The proliferation ability was detected by EdU and CCK-8 experiment while cell migration was measured by transwell and wound healing assay.ResultsThe expression level of miR-9 was significantly higher in GBM CSF EVs and tissues than controls (p = 0.038). The area under curve for CSF EV miR-9 was 0.800 (95% CI: 0.583–1.000, p = 0.033). The expression of miR-9 was significantly higher in Glioma stem cells (GSCs) and GSC-derived EVs than in glioblastoma cells. GSC-derives EVs could promote GBM growth and migration Moreover, inhibition of miR-9 in GSCs showed the reverse anti-tumor effects through secreted EVs. MiR-9 could bind to the 3’UTR region of DACT3 and suppress its expression. The miR-9/DACT3 axis might attribute to GBM malignant phenotype.ConclusionMiR-9 in CSF EVs may act as a novel diagnostic biomarker for GBM and targeting miR-9 by GSC-derived EVs may be a specific and efficient strategy for GBM biotherapy.     

PTBP3 modulates P53 expression and promotes colorectal cancer cell proliferation by maintaining UBE4A mRNA stability

The RNA binding protein PTBP3 was recently reported to play a critical role in multiple cancers, and the molecular mechanisms involved RNA splicing, 3′ end processing and translation. However, the role of PTBP3 in colorectal cancer (CRC) remains poorly explored. Herein, PTBP3 was upregulated in CRC and associated with a poor prognosis. PTBP3 knockdown in colorectal cancer cell lines restricted CRC proliferative capacities in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, PTBP3 regulated the expression of the E3 ubiquitin ligase UBE4A by binding the 3′ UTR of its mRNA, preventing its degradation. UBE4A participated in P53 degradation, and PTBP3 knockdown in colorectal cancer cell lines showed increased P53 expression. UBE4A overexpression rescued PTBP3 knockdown-induced inhibition of CRC cell proliferation and P53 expression. Our results demonstrated that PTBP3 plays an essential role in CRC cell proliferation by stabilizing UBE4A to regulate P53 expression and may serve as a new prognostic biomarker and effective therapeutic target for CRC.Subject terms: Cancer genomics, Oncogenes, Tumour biomarkers     

Identification of LOX as a candidate prognostic biomarker in Glioblastoma multiforme

BackgroundGlioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most malignant type of glioma. GBM tumors grow rapidly, have a high degree of malignancy, and are characterized by a fast disease progression. Unfortunately, there is a lack of effective treatments. An effective strategy for the treatment of GBM would be to identify key biomarkers correlating with the occurrence and progression of GBM and developing these biomarkers into therapeutic targets.Method and ResultsIn this study, using integrated bioinformatics analysis, we identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs), including 130 genes that were upregulated in GBM compared to normal brain tissue, and 128 genes that were downregulated in GBM. Based on Gene Ontology enrichment analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis, these genes were associated with regulation of tumor cell adhesion, differentiation, morphology in GBM and were mainly enriched in Complement and coagulation cascades pathway. The Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes (STRING) database was used to construct a Protein-Protein Interaction network. Ten hub genes were identified, including FN1, CD44, MYC, CDK1, SERPINE1, COL3A1, COL1A2, LOX, POSTN and EZH2, all of which were significantly upregulated in GBM, these results were confirmed by oncomine database exploration. Alteration analysis of hub genes found that patients with alteration in at least one of the hub genes showed shorter median survival times (p = 0.013) and shorter median disease-free survival times (p = 2.488E-3) than patients without alterations in any of the hub genes. Multiple tests for survival analysis showed that among individual hub genes only expression of LOX was correlated with patient survival (P < 0.05).GDS4467 data set was used to analyze the expression of LOX in gliomas with different degrees of malignancy, and it was found that the expression level of LOX was positively correlated with the malignant degree of gliomas.By analyzing GDS 4535 data set showed that the expression level of LOX was positively correlated with the differentiation degree of GBM cellsConclusionThis research suggests that FN1, CD44, MYC, CDK1, SERPINE1, COL3A1, COL1A2, LOX, POSTN and EZH2 are key genes in GBM. However, only LOX is correlated with patient survival and promotes glioblastoma cell differentiation and tumor recurrence. LOX may be a candidate prognostic biomarker and potential therapeutic target for GBM.     

LncRNA FIRRE functions as a tumor promoter by interaction with PTBP1 to stabilize BECN1 mRNA and facilitate autophagy

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play critical functions in various cancers. Firre intergenic repeating RNA element (FIRRE), a lncRNA located in the nucleus, was overexpressed in colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the detailed mechanism of FIRRE in CRC remains elusive. Results of RNA sequence and qPCR illustrated overexpression of FIRRE in CRC cell lines and tissues. The aberrant expression of FIRRE was correlated with the migration, invasion, and proliferation in cell lines. In accordance, it was also associated with lymphatic metastasis and distant metastasis in patients with CRC. FIRRE was identified to physically interact with Polypyrimidine tract-binding protein (PTBP1) by RNA pull-down and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP). Overexpression of FIRRE induced the translocation of PTBP1 from nucleus to cytoplasm, which was displayed by immunofluorescence and western blot. In turn, delocalization of FIRRE from nucleus to cytoplasm is observed after the loss of PTBP1. The RNA-protein complex in the cytoplasm directly bound to BECN1 mRNA, and the binding site was at the 3'' end of the mRNA. Cells with FIRRE and PTBP1 depletion alone or in combination were treated by Actinomycin D (ACD). Results of qPCR showed FIRRE stabilized BECN1 mRNA in a PTBP1-medieated manner. In addition, FIRRE contributed to autophagy activity. These findings indicate FIRRE acts as an oncogenic factor in CRC, which induces tumor development through stabilizing BECN1 mRNA and facilitating autophagy in a PTBP1-mediated manner.Subject terms: Cancer genomics, Oncogenes     

MicroRNA-21在卵巢癌病灶转移过程中的作用及机制研究

目的:探讨micro RNA-21在卵巢癌病灶转移过程中的作用及其机制。方法:选取本院2016年6月-2018年5月收治的138例卵巢癌患者,其中63例出现结直肠转移,75例未发现有转移。q RT-PCR分别检测两组患者肿瘤组织、癌旁组织和正常组织中micro RNA-21的表达;Western blot检测两组患者肿瘤组织中PGDH、PGE2、Twist表达。通过转染过表达载has-micro RNA-21上调A2780细胞中micro RNA-21的表达,采用平板克隆实验检测细胞克隆形成能力,Trans-well细胞迁移实验和侵袭实验分别检测细胞迁移和侵袭能力。Western blot检测PGDH、PGE2、Twist蛋白表达。结果:卵巢癌转移组肿瘤组织中micro RNA-21表达高于未转移组、癌旁组织和正常卵巢组织(P0.05),卵巢癌转移组肿瘤组织中PGDH表达低于未转移组,而PGE2、Twist表达高于未转移组(P0.05)。micro RNA-21过表达的A2780细胞平板克隆形成能力、迁移和侵袭能力及上皮间质转化相关蛋白PGE2和Twist表达均明显高于阴性对照组(P0.05),而PGDH表达的表达明显降低(P0.05)。结论:micro RNA-21可能通过抑制PGDH的表达增加PGE2的表达,进而激活上皮间质转化,促进卵巢癌转移。     

The role of A-kinase interacting protein 1 in regulating progression and stemness as well as indicating the prognosis in glioblastoma

BackgroundA-kinase interacting protein 1 (AKIP1) is recently implicated in the pathogenesis of several solid tumors, while its role in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is largely unknown. Therefore, the current study aimed to investigate the effect of AKIP1 on GBM cell malignant behaviors, stemness, and its underlying molecular mechanisms.MethodsU-87 MG and A172 cells were transfected with control or AKIP1 overexpression plasmid; control or AKIP1 siRNA plasmid. Then cell proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, CD133⁺ cell proportion, and sphere formation assays were performed. Furthermore, RNA-Seq was performed in U-87 MG cells. Besides, AKIP1 expression was detected in 25 GBM and 25 low-grade glioma (LGG) tumor samples.ResultsAKIP1 was increased in several GBM cell lines compared to the control cell line. After transfections, it was found that AKIP1 overexpression increased cell invasion, CD133⁺ cell proportion, and sphere formation ability while less affecting cell proliferation or cell apoptosis in U-87 MG and A172 cells. Moreover, AKIP1 siRNA achieved the opposite effect in these cells, except that it inhibited cell proliferation but induced cell apoptosis to some extent. Subsequent RNA-Seq assay showed several critical carcinogenetic pathways, such as PI3K/AKT, Notch, EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor resistance, Ras, ErbB, mTOR pathways, etc. were potentially related to the function of AKIP1 in U-87 MG cells. Clinically, AKIP1 expression was higher in GBM tissues than in LGG tissues, which was also correlated with the poor prognosis of GBM to some degree.ConclusionsAKIP1 regulates the malignant behaviors and stemness of GBM via regulating multiple carcinogenetic pathways.     

BRD4在喉鳞状细胞癌病灶转移过程中的作用及机制研究

目的:探讨溴样结构域蛋白4 (Bromoid Domain Protein 4,BRD4)在喉鳞状细胞癌病灶转移过程中的作用及其机制。方法:收集本院2016年4月-2018年4月收治的87例喉鳞状细胞癌患者手术标本。qRT-PCR、Western blot和免疫组化染色检测患者肿瘤组织(Tumor Tissue)、癌旁组织(Adjacent Tissue)和正常组织(Normal Tissue)中BRD4表达;BRD4拮抗剂GSK525762A(500nmo L/L)处理喉鳞状细胞癌Hep2细胞,24、48和72 h后CCK-8检测细胞增殖;Trans-well细胞迁移实验和侵袭实验分别检测GSK525762A给药前后Hep2细胞迁移和侵袭能力;qRT-PCR和Western blot检测GSK525762A给药前后Hep2细胞BRD4、E-Cadherin、N-Cadherin和Twist蛋白表达。结果:喉鳞状细胞癌肿瘤组织中BRD4表达高于癌旁组织和正常卵巢组织(P0.05);GSK525762A给药处理后Hep2细胞增殖能力、迁移和侵袭能力及BRD4和上皮间质转化相关蛋白N-Cadherin和Twist表达均明显低于阴性对照组(P0.05),而E-Cadherin表达的表达明显升高(P0.05)。结论:BRD4可能通过抑制E-Cadherin的表达,增加N-Cadherin和Twist的表达,进而激活上皮间质转化,促进喉鳞状细胞癌转移。     

BET bromodomain proteins are required for glioblastoma cell proliferation

Epigenetic proteins have recently emerged as novel anticancer targets. Among these, bromodomain and extra terminal domain (BET) proteins recognize lysine-acetylated histones, thereby regulating gene expression. Newly described small molecules that inhibit BET proteins BRD2, BRD3, and BRD4 reduce proliferation of NUT (nuclear protein in testis)-midline carcinoma, multiple myeloma, and leukemia cells in vitro and in vivo. These findings prompted us to determine whether BET proteins may be therapeutic targets in the most common primary adult brain tumor, glioblastoma (GBM). We performed NanoString analysis of GBM tumor samples and controls to identify novel therapeutic targets. Several cell proliferation assays of GBM cell lines and stem cells were used to analyze the efficacy of the drug I-BET151 relative to temozolomide (TMZ) or cell cycle inhibitors. Lastly, we performed xenograft experiments to determine the efficacy of I-BET151 in vivo. We demonstrate that BRD2 and BRD4 RNA are significantly overexpressed in GBM, suggesting that BET protein inhibition may be an effective means of reducing GBM cell proliferation. Disruption of BRD4 expression in glioblastoma cells reduced cell cycle progression. Similarly, treatment with the BET protein inhibitor I-BET151 reduced GBM cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo. I-BET151 treatment enriched cells at the G1/S cell cycle transition. Importantly, I-BET151 is as potent at inhibiting GBM cell proliferation as TMZ, the current chemotherapy treatment administered to GBM patients. Since I-BET151 inhibits GBM cell proliferation by arresting cell cycle progression, we propose that BET protein inhibition may be a viable therapeutic option for GBM patients suffering from TMZ resistant tumors.     

Promotion of hepatocellular carcinoma metastasis through matrix metalloproteinase activation by epithelial‐mesenchymal transition regulator Twist1

E‐cadherin loss is a key biological mechanism in tumour invasion. As a main regulator of epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) mechanism‐mediated invasion and metastasis, Twist1 plays an important role through its regulation of E‐cadherin expression. However, whether or not Twist2 has the same function in tumour metastasis remains unclear. The purpose of this study is to investigate the expressions and different roles of Twist1 and Twist2 in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The expressions of Twist1 and Twist2 in HCC tissue were evaluated by immunohistochemical staining. The role of Twist1 and Twist2 in invasiveness was also evaluated in vitro by using HCC cell lines. Twist1 nuclear overexpression is found to be correlated with HCC metastasis, and its expression is negatively correlated with E‐cadherin expression in human tissue. Twist2, a Twist1 homology protein, only expresses in the cytoplasm and shows no significant correlation with HCC metastasis. By ectopic transfection of Twist1 and Twist2 into the HCC cells, HepG2 and PLC, Twist1 is able to down‐regulate E‐cadherin expression and promote matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activation, specifically in MMP2 and MMP9. In functional assays, Twist1 is found to promote invasion in HepG2 and PLC cells, but the invasion ability of the groups is not affected Twist2. Our findings indicate that Twist1 induces HCC invasion via increased activity in MMPs, leading to poor clinical prognoses. The results of this study also demonstrate a novel cogitation in Twist2, which has no effect on HCC invasion and metastasis. Twist1 may contribute to HCC invasion and metastasis and may be used as a novel therapeutic target for the inhibition of HCC metastasis.