scholarly journals Deregulation of Hexokinase II Is Associated with Glycolysis, Autophagy, and the Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Tongue Squamous Cell Carcinoma under Hypoxia

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guanhui Chen ◽  
Yadong Zhang ◽  
Jianfeng Liang ◽  
Wenqing Li ◽  
Yue Zhu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Squamous Cell Carcinoma ◽  
Cell Carcinoma ◽  
Squamous Cell ◽  
Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Lactate Production ◽  
Glucose Consumption ◽  
Tongue Squamous Cell Carcinoma ◽  
Migration And Invasion ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition

The glycolytic enzyme Hexokinase (HKII) participates in tumor glycolysis and the progression of various cancers, but its clinicopathological effect on the progression of tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) and its role in glycolysis, autophagy, and the epithelial-mesenchymal transition of TSCC in a hypoxic microenvironment remain unknown. Our results showed that HKII expression was dramatically increased in TSCC tissues and that its upregulation was significantly associated with the presence of pathological differentiation, lymph node metastasis, and clinical stage. The level of autophagy-specific protein LC3, EMT-related proteins, and the migration and invasion capabilities of TSCC cells all increased under hypoxia. Moreover, hypoxia increased the glucose consumption and lactate production of TSCC cells, and we demonstrated that the expression of the glycolytic key gene HKII was significantly higher than in that of the control group. Notably, the downregulation of HKII resulted in a significant decrease of TSCC cell glucose consumption lactate production and autophagic activity during hypoxia. HKII knockdown blocked the migratory and invasive capacity of TSCC cells and we specifically determined that the EMT ability decreased. Therefore, our findings revealed that the upregulation of HKII enhanced glycolysis and increased autophagy and the epithelial-mesenchymal transition of tongue squamous cell carcinoma under hypoxia.

scholarly journals The Role of MicroRNAs in Recurrence and Metastasis of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Cancers ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 395 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris Yang ◽  
Wafik Sedhom ◽  
John Song ◽  
Shi-Long Lu
Keyword(s):  
Squamous Cell Carcinoma ◽  
Cell Carcinoma ◽  
Head And Neck ◽  
Squamous Cell ◽  
Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma ◽  
Migration And Invasion ◽  
Transcriptional Level ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) affects 650,000 people worldwide and has a dismal 50% 5-year survival rate. Recurrence and metastasis are believed the two most important factors causing this high mortality. Understanding the biological process and the underlying mechanisms of recurrence and metastasis is critical to develop novel and effective treatment, which is expected to improve patients’ survival of HNSCC. MicroRNAs are small, non-coding nucleotides that regulate gene expression at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional level. Oncogenic and tumor-suppressive microRNAs have shown to regulate nearly every step of recurrence and metastasis, ranging from migration and invasion, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), anoikis, to gain of cancer stem cell property. This review encompasses an overview of microRNAs involved in these processes. The recent advances of utilizing microRNA as biomarkers and targets for treatment, particularly on controlling recurrence and metastasis are also reviewed.

scholarly journals MicroRNA-138 suppresses epithelial–mesenchymal transition in squamous cell carcinoma cell lines

2011 ◽  
Vol 440 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiqiang Liu ◽  
Cheng Wang ◽  
Zujian Chen ◽  
Yi Jin ◽  
Yun Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Squamous Cell Carcinoma ◽  
Cell Migration ◽  
Cell Carcinoma ◽  
Squamous Cell ◽  
Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Migration And Invasion ◽  
Down Regulation ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Cell Migration And Invasion ◽  
Direct Targeting

Down-regulation of miR-138 (microRNA-138) has been frequently observed in various cancers, including HNSCC (head and neck squamous cell carcinoma). Our previous studies suggest that down-regulation of miR-138 is associated with mesenchymal-like cell morphology and enhanced cell migration and invasion. In the present study, we demonstrated that these miR-138-induced changes were accompanied by marked reduction in E-cad (E-cadherin) expression and enhanced Vim (vimentin) expression, characteristics of EMT (epithelial–mesenchymal transition). On the basis of a combined experimental and bioinformatics analysis, we identified a number of miR-138 target genes that are associated with EMT, including VIM, ZEB2 (zinc finger E-box-binding homeobox 2) and EZH2 (enhancer of zeste homologue 2). Direct targeting of miR-138 to specific sequences located in the mRNAs of the VIM, ZEB2 and EZH2 genes was confirmed using luciferase reporter gene assays. Our functional analyses (knock-in and knock-down) demonstrated that miR-138 regulates the EMT via three distinct pathways: (i) direct targeting of VIM mRNA and controlling the expression of VIM at a post-transcriptional level, (ii) targeting the transcriptional repressors (ZEB2) which in turn regulating the transcription activity of the E-cad gene, and (iii) targeting the epigenetic regulator EZH2 which in turn modulates its gene silencing effects on the downstream genes including E-cad. These results, together with our previously observed miR-138 effects on cell migration and invasion through targeting RhoC (Rho-related GTP-binding protein C) and ROCK2 (Rho-associated, coiled-coil-containing protein kinase 2) concurrently, suggest that miR-138 is a multi-functional molecular regulator and plays major roles in EMT and in HNSCC progression.

scholarly journals miR-373-3p Targets DKK1 to Promote EMT-Induced Metastasis via the Wnt/β-Catenin Pathway in Tongue Squamous Cell Carcinoma

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Junquan Weng ◽  
Hui Zhang ◽  
Cheng Wang ◽  
Jianfeng Liang ◽  
Guanhui Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Squamous Cell Carcinoma ◽  
Cell Carcinoma ◽  
Squamous Cell ◽  
Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Tongue Squamous Cell Carcinoma ◽  
Negative Regulator ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
Regulate Gene Expression ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Normal Tissues

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate gene expression and at the same time mediate tumorigenesis. miR-373-3p has diverse effects in tumors, but its role in tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) remains unknown. The purpose of this study is to determine the function of miR-373-3p in the progression of TSCC. Our results brought to light that miR-373-3p is markedly upregulated in clinical TSCC tissues compared with paired adjacent normal tissues and has significant correlation with a more aggressive TSCC phenotype in patients. Gain-of-function and loss-of-function studies revealed that ectopic miR-373-3p overexpression promoted the metastasis of TSCC cells. Notably, Wnt/β-catenin signaling was hyperactivated in TSCC cells overexpressing miR-373-3p, and this pathway was responsible for the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) induced by miR-373-3p. Furthermore, miR-373-3p directly targeted and suppressed Dickkopf-1 (DKK1), a negative regulator of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling cascade. These results demonstrate that, by directly targeting DKK1, miR-373-3p constitutively activated Wnt/β-catenin signaling, thus promoting the EMT-induced metastasis of TSCC. Taken together, our findings reveal a new regulatory mechanism for miR-373-3p and suggest that miR-373-3p might be a potential target in TSCC therapy.

Long non-coding RNA PHACTR2-AS1 promotes tongue squamous cell carcinoma metastasis by regulating Snail

2020 ◽  
Vol 168 (6) ◽  
pp. 651-657 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fenqian Yuan ◽  
Zhiguo Miao ◽  
Wen Chen ◽  
Fanggeng Wu ◽  
Chao Wei ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Squamous Cell Carcinoma ◽  
Cell Carcinoma ◽  
Squamous Cell ◽  
Cell Biology ◽  
Tongue Squamous Cell Carcinoma ◽  
Migration And Invasion ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Non Coding Rna ◽  
Long Non Coding Rna

Abstract Long non-coding RNA is an endogenous non-coding RNA that has currently been proved to be an important player in cancer cell biology. In the present study, we investigated the biological role of PHACTR2-AS1 in tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC). PHACTR2-AS1 was preferentially localized in the cytoplasm, and was notably upregulated in TSCC tissues. High PHACTR2-AS1 was correlated with tumour differentiation, metastatic clinical features, relapse and shortened survival time. Depletion of PHACTR2-AS1 did not affect TSCC cell viability and colony formation ability, whereas substantially inhibited cell migration and invasion in vitro and lung metastasis in vivo. Mechanistically, PHACTR2-AS1 could sponge miR-137 to increase Snail expression, resulting in triggering epithelial–mesenchymal transition process, thereby promoting TSCC cell metastasis. Taken together, our data for the first time elucidate the metastasis-promoting role of PHACTR2-AS1 in TSCC, hinting a new therapeutic target for metastatic TSCC patients.

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