Curcumol inhibits lung adenocarcinoma growth and metastasis via inactivation of PI3K/AKT and Wnt/ß-catenin pathway

Curcumol (Cur), isolated from the Traditional Chinese Medical plant Rhizoma Curcumae, is the bioactive component of sesquiterpene reported to possess anti-tumor activity. However, its bioactivity and mechanisms against lung adenocarcinoma are still unclear. We investigated its effect on lung adenocarcinoma and elucidated its underlying molecular mechanisms. <I>In vitro</I>, Cur effectively suppressed proliferation, migration and invasion of lung adenocarcinoma cells A549 and H460, which were associated with the altered expressions of signaling molecules, including p-AKT, p-PI3K, p-LRP5/6, AXIN, APC, GSK3 ß and p- ß-catenin, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9. Furthermore, Cur significantly induced cell apoptosis of A549 and H460 by promoting the expression of Bax, caspase-3 and caspase-9 and suppressing the expression of Bcl-2, and arrested the cell cycle at the G0/G1 phase by lowering the levels of cyclin D1, CDK1 and CDK4. In vivo experiment revealed that Cur could inhibit lung tumor growth and lung metastasis, which were consistent with these in vitro results. In xenograft model mice, Cur strongly decreased tumor weight and tumor volume, which may were related to the down-regulation of p-AKT and p-PI3K by immunofluorescence analysis. In addition, lung metastasis model experiment suggested that Cur dramatically decreased the ratio of lung/total weight, tumor metastatic nodules, and the expressions of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in lung tissues compared with the control. Overall, these data suggested that the inhibitory activity of Cur on lung adenocarcinoma via the inactivation of PI3K/Akt and Wnt/ ß-catenin pathways, at least in part, indicating that curcumol may be a potential anti-tumor agent for lung adenocarcinoma therapy.

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Calmodulin 2 Facilitates Angiogenesis and Metastasis of Gastric Cancer via STAT3/HIF-1A/VEGF-A Mediated Macrophage Polarization

Frontiers in Oncology ◽

10.3389/fonc.2021.727306 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 ◽

Author(s):

Ganggang Mu ◽

Yijie Zhu ◽

Zehua Dong ◽

Lang Shi ◽

Yunchao Deng ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gastric Cancer ◽

Tumor Growth ◽

Lung Metastasis ◽

Macrophage Polarization ◽

Xenograft Model ◽

Migration And Invasion ◽

Tubule Formation ◽

Set Up

BackgroundTumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are indispensable to mediating the connections between cells in the tumor microenvironment. In this study, we intended to research the function and mechanism of Calmodulin2 (CALM2) in gastric cancer (GC)-TAM microenvironment.Materials and methodsCALM2 expression in GC tissues and GC cells was determined through quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry (IHC). The correlation between CALM2 level and the survival rate of GC patients was assessed. The CALM2 overexpression or knockdown model was constructed to evaluate its role in GC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. THP1 cells or HUVECs were co-cultured with the conditioned medium of GC cells. Tubule formation experiment was done to examine the angiogenesis of endothelial cells. The proliferation, migration, and polarization of THP1 cells were measured. A xenograft model was set up in BALB/c male nude mice to study CALM2x’s effects on tumor growth and lung metastasis in vivo. Western Blot (WB) checked the profile of JAK2/STAT3/HIF-1/VEGFA in GC tissues and cells.ResultsIn GC tissues and cell lines, CALM2 expression was elevated and positively relevant to the poor prognosis of GC patients. In in-vitro experiments, CALM2 overexpression or knockdown could facilitate or curb the proliferation, migration, invasion, and angiogenesis of HUVECs and M2 polarization of THP1 cells. In in-vivo experiments, CALM2 boosted tumor growth and lung metastasis. Mechanically, CALM2 could arouse the JAK2/STAT3/HIF-1/VEGFA signaling. It was also discovered that JAK2 and HIF-1A inhibition could attenuate the promoting effects of CALM2 on GC, HUVECs cells, and macrophages.ConclusionCALM2 modulates the JAK2/STAT3/HIF-1/VEGFA axis and bolsters macrophage polarization, thus facilitating GC metastasis and angiogenesis.

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Hsa_circ_0026416 promotes proliferation and migration in colorectal cancer via miR-346/NFIB axis

Cancer Cell International ◽

10.1186/s12935-020-01593-1 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Yahang Liang ◽

Jingbo Shi ◽

Qingsi He ◽

Guorui Sun ◽

Lei Gao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Colorectal Cancer ◽

Cell Proliferation ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Xenograft Model ◽

Luciferase Reporter ◽

Migration And Invasion ◽

Potential Biomarker ◽

Mouse Xenograft Model

Abstract Background Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide. Circular RNAs (circRNAs), a novel class of non-coding RNAs, have been confirmed to be key regulators of many diseases. With many scholars devoted to studying the biological function and mechanism of circRNAs, their mysterious veil is gradually being revealed. In our research, we explored a new circRNA, hsa_circ_0026416, which was identified as upregulated in CRC with the largest fold change (logFC = 3.70) of the evaluated circRNAs via analysing expression profiling data by high throughput sequencing of members of the GEO dataset (GSE77661) to explore the molecular mechanisms of CRC. Methods qRT-PCR and western blot analysis were utilized to assess the expression of hsa_circ_0026416, miR-346 and Nuclear Factor I/B (NFIB). CCK-8 and transwell assays were utilized to examine cell proliferation, migration and invasion in vitro, respectively. A luciferase reporter assay was used to verify the combination of hsa_circ_0026416, miR-346 and NFIB. A nude mouse xenograft model was also utilized to determine the role of hsa_circ_0026416 in CRC cell growth in vivo. Results Hsa_circ_0026416 was markedly upregulated in CRC patient tissues and plasma and was a poor prognosis in CRC patients. In addition, the area under the curve (AUC) of hsa_circ_0026416 (0.767) was greater than the AUC of CEA (0.670), CA19-9 (0.592) and CA72-4 (0.575). Functionally, hsa_circ_0026416 promotes cell proliferation, migration and invasion both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, hsa_circ_0026416 may function as a ceRNA via competitively absorbing miR-346 to upregulate the expression of NFIB. Conclusions In summary, our findings demonstrate that hsa_circ_0026416 is an oncogene in CRC. Hsa_circ_0026416 promotes the progression of CRC via the miR-346/NFIB axis and may represent a potential biomarker for diagnosis and therapy in CRC.

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LncRNA ST7-AS1, by regulating miR-181b-5p/KPNA4 axis, promotes the malignancy of lung adenocarcinoma

Cancer Cell International ◽

10.1186/s12935-020-01652-7 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Rong-Hang Hu ◽

Zi-Teng Zhang ◽

Hai-Xiang Wei ◽

Lu Ning ◽

Jiang-Shan Ai ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lung Adenocarcinoma ◽

Noncoding Rna ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition ◽

Luciferase Assay ◽

Migration And Invasion ◽

Loss Of Function ◽

Mesenchymal Transition

Abstract Background Growing evidence suggests that suppressor of tumorigenicity 7 antisense RNA 1 (ST7-AS1) is an oncogenic long noncoding RNA (lncRNA). However, little is known on its clinical significance, biological functions, or molecular mechanisms in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). Methods The expression of ST7-AS1 and miR-181b-5p were examined by qRT-PCR. The correlations between ST7-AS1 level and different clinicopathological features were analysed. In vitro, LUAD cells were examined for cell viability, migration and invasion by MTT, wound healing and Transwell assay, respectively. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) biomarkers were detected by Western blot. The regulations between ST7-AS1, miR-181b-5p, and KPNA4 were examined by luciferase assay, RNA immunoprecipitation, RNA pulldown. Both gain- and loss-of-function strategies were used to assess the importance of different signalling molecules in malignant phenotypes of LUAD cells. The in vivo effect was analysed using the xenograft and the experimental metastasis mouse models. Results ST7-AS1 was upregulated in LUAD tissues or cell lines, correlated with tumours of positive lymph node metastasis or higher TNM stages, and associated with shorter overall survival of LUAD patients. ST7-AS1 essentially maintained the viability, migration, invasion, and EMT of LUAD cells. The oncogenic activities of ST7-AS1 were accomplished by sponging miR-181b-5p and releasing the suppression of the latter on KPNA4. In LUAD tissues, ST7-AS1 level positively correlated with that of KPNA4 and negatively with miR-181b-5p level. In vivo, targeting ST7-AS1 significantly inhibited xenograft growth and metastasis. Conclusions ST7-AS1, by regulating miR-181b-5p/KPNA4 axis, promotes the malignancy of LUAD cells. Targeting ST7-AS1 and KPNA4 or up-regulating miR-181b-5p, therefore, may benefit the treatment of LUAD.

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LncRNA LINC00337 sponges mir-1285-3p to promote proliferation and metastasis of lung adenocarcinoma cells by upregulating YTHDF1

Cancer Cell International ◽

10.1186/s12935-021-02253-8 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Ru-nan Zhang ◽

Dong-mei Wu ◽

Li-ping Wu ◽

Guo-wei Gao

Keyword(s):

Cell Cycle ◽

Cell Proliferation ◽

Lung Adenocarcinoma ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Luciferase Reporter ◽

Migration And Invasion ◽

Gear Up ◽

Underlying Mechanisms

Abstract Background Emerging studies have shown that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) predominantly function in the carcinogenesis of multiple developing human tumors. The current study aimed to investigate the underlying mechanisms of LINC00337 in lung adenocarcinoma. Methods We analyzed TCGA and GTEx datasets and chose LINC00337 as the research object. Cell proliferation, cell apoptosis, cell cycle, migration, and invasion were detected in the gain and loss experiments of LINC00337 both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, RNA pull-down, luciferase reporter assays, western blotting analysis, and rescue experiments were performed to investigate the underlying molecular mechanisms of LINC00337 function. Results LINC00337 expression was remarkably upregulated in lung adenocarcinoma. In addition, LINC00337 knockdown was shown to repress cell migration, invasion, and proliferation, as well as the cell cycle, and gear up apoptosis in lung adenocarcinoma in vitro and in vivo. With respect to the mechanism, LINC00337 knockdown boosted miR-1285-3p expression and then restrained YTHDF1 expression post-transcriptionally. Crucially, both miR-1285-3p decrement and YTHDF1 overexpression successfully reversed the influence on cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis caused by LINC00337 shRNA. Conclusions These results suggest that LINC00337 acts as an oncogenic lncRNA, targeting miR-1285-3p and regulating YTHDF1 expression, to promote the progression of lung adenocarcinoma.

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PRMT1 enhances oncogenic arginine methylation of NONO in colorectal cancer

Oncogene ◽

10.1038/s41388-020-01617-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Xin-Ke Yin ◽

Yun-Long Wang ◽

Fei Wang ◽

Wei-Xing Feng ◽

Shao-Mei Bai ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Colorectal Cancer ◽

Locally Advanced ◽

Xenograft Model ◽

Arginine Methylation ◽

Mass Spectrometry Analysis ◽

Migration And Invasion ◽

Poor Overall Survival ◽

Potential Marker

AbstractArginine methylation is an important posttranslational modification catalyzed by protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs). However, the role of PRMTs in colorectal cancer (CRC) progression is not well understood. Here we report that non-POU domain-containing octamer-binding protein (NONO) is overexpressed in CRC tissue and is a potential marker for poor prognosis in CRC patients. NONO silencing resulted in decreased proliferation, migration, and invasion of CRC cells, whereas overexpression had the opposite effect. In a xenograft model, tumors derived from NONO-deficient CRC cells were smaller than those derived from wild-type (WT) cells, and PRMT1 inhibition blocked CRC xenograft progression. A mass spectrometry analysis indicated that NONO is a substrate of PRMT1. R251 of NONO was asymmetrically dimethylated by PRMT1 in vitro and in vivo. Compared to NONO WT cells, NONO R251K mutant-expressing CRC cells showed reduced proliferation, migration, and invasion, and PRMT1 knockdown or pharmacological inhibition abrogated the malignant phenotype associated with NONO asymmetric dimethylation in both KRAS WT and mutant CRC cells. Compared to adjacent normal tissue, PRMT1 was highly expressed in the CRC zone in clinical specimens, which was correlated with poor overall survival in patients with locally advanced CRC. These results demonstrate that PRMT1-mediated methylation of NONO at R251 promotes CRC growth and metastasis, and suggest that PRMT1 inhibition may be an effective therapeutic strategy for CRC treatment regardless of KRAS mutation status.

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Potential Role of microRNA-183 as a Tumor Suppressor in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Cellular Physiology and Biochemistry ◽

10.1159/000495825 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 51 (5) ◽

pp. 2065-2072 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Wei Bian ◽

Hongfei Zhang ◽

Miao Tang ◽

Shaojun Zhang ◽

Lichao Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽

Hepg2 Cells ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

The Cancer Genome Atlas ◽

Migration And Invasion ◽

Metastatic Progression ◽

Mesenchymal Transition ◽

Reporter Assays

Background/Aims: Disseminated tumors, known as metastases, are responsible for ninety-percent of mortality due to cancer. Epithelial to mesenchymal transition, a phenomenon required for morphological conversion of non-motile discoid shaped epithelial cells to highly motile spindle-shaped mesenchymal cells, is thought to be a pre-requisite for metastatic progression. Metastasis-associated 1 (MTA1) protein is a prime inducer of EMT and metastatic progression in all solid tumors including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the molecular mechanisms that regulate the expression and function of MTA1 in HCC have not been elucidated. Methods: In silico prediction algorithms were used to find microRNAs (miRNAs) that may target MTA1. We examined the relationship between the expression of MTA1 and miR-183 using quantitative real time PCR. We also determined the levels of the MTA1 protein using immunohistochemistry. Reporter assays, in the presence and absence of the miR-183 mimic, were used to confirm MTA1 as a bona fide target of miR183. The effect of miR-183 on HCC pathogenesis was determined using a combination of in vitro migration and invasion assay, together with in vivo xenograft experiments. The correlation between miR-183 and MTA1 expression was also studied in samples from HCC patients, and in The Cancer Genome Atlas dataset. Results: Analysis of the sequence database revealed that MTA1 is a putative target of miR-183. MTA1 protein and RNA expression showed opposite trends to miR-183 expression in breast, renal, prostate, and testicular tissue samples from cancer patients, and in the metastatic HCC cell line HepG2. An inverse correlation was also observed between MTA1 (high) and miR-183 (low) expression within samples from HHC patients and in the TCGA dataset. Reporter assays in HepG2 cells showed that miR-183 could inhibit translation of a reporter harboring the wild-type, but not the mutant miR-183 3’-untranslated region (UTR). In addition, miR-183 significantly inhibited in vitro migration and invasion in HepG2 cells, and in vivo hepatic metastasis. Conclusion: Our results reveal a novel post-transcriptional regulatory mechanism for MTA1 expression via miR-183, which is suppressed during HCC pathogenesis.

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PLAU1 Facilitated Proliferation, Invasion, and Metastasis via Interaction With MMP1 in Head and Neck Squamous Carcinoma

Frontiers in Oncology ◽

10.3389/fonc.2021.574260 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 ◽

Author(s):

Kun Wu ◽

Yuan-Yuan Mao ◽

Nan-Nan Han ◽

Hanjiang Wu ◽

Sheng Zhang

Keyword(s):

Head And Neck ◽

Colony Formation ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Malignant Neoplasm ◽

Migration And Invasion ◽

High Morbidity ◽

Invasion And Metastasis ◽

Matrix Metalloproteinase 1

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth most common malignant neoplasm; it is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Thus, understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying its initiation and progression is critical for establishing the most appropriate treatment strategies. We found that urokinase-type plasminogen activator (PLAU1) was upregulated and associated with poor prognosis in HNSCC. Silencing of PLAU1 inhibited the proliferation, colony-formation, migration, and invasion abilities of HNSCC cells in vitro and reduced the expression of matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP1), whereas PLAU1 overexpression significantly enhanced the growth, the colony-formation, migration, and invasion abilities, and the xenograft tumor growth of HNSCC cells in vivo and increased the expression of MMP1. The Co-IP assay verified that PLAU1 interacted with MMP1. A positive correlation between PLAU1 and MMP1 expression was observed in HNSCC samples. si-RNAs against MMP1 reversed the aggressive effects of PLAU1 overexpression in HNSCC. Taken together, our data revealed that PLAU1 facilitated HNSCC cell proliferation, invasion, and metastasis via interaction with MMP1.

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NUSAP1 Promotes Gastric Cancer Progression Through Regulation of Yap Stability

10.21203/rs.3.rs-33883/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Hui Guo ◽

Jianping Zou ◽

Ling Zhou ◽

Yan He ◽

Miao Feng ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gastric Cancer ◽

Cancer Progression ◽

Target Genes ◽

Hippo Pathway ◽

Critical Role ◽

Xenograft Model ◽

Migration And Invasion

Abstract Background:Nucleolar and spindle associated protein (NUSAP1) is involved in tumor initiation, progression and metastasis. However, there are limited studies regarding the role of NUSAP1 in gastric cancer (GC). Methods: The expression profile and clinical significance of NUSAP1 in GC were analysed in online database using GEPIA, Oncomine and KM plotter, which was further confirmed in clinical specimens.The functional role of NUSAP1 were detected utilizing in vitro and in vivo assays. Western blotting, qRT-PCR, the cycloheximide-chase, immunofluorescence staining and Co-immunoprecipitaion (Co-IP) assays were performed to explore the possible molecular mechanism by which NUSAP1 stabilizes YAP protein. Results:In this study, we found that the expression of NUSAP1 was upregulated in GC tissues and correlates closely with progression and prognosis. Additionally, abnormal NUSAP1 expression promoted malignant behaviors of GC cells in vitro and in a xenograft model. Mechanistically, we discovered that NUSAP1 physically interacts with YAP and furthermore stabilizes YAP protein expression, which induces the transcription of Hippo pathway downstream target genes. Furthermore, the effects of NUSAP1 on GC cell growth, migration and invasion were mainly mediated by YAP. Conclusions:Our data demonstrates that the novel NUSAP1-YAP axis exerts an critical role in GC tumorigenesis and progression, and therefore could provide a novel therapeutic target for GC treatment.

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Linc00426 accelerates lung adenocarcinoma progression by regulating miR-455-5p as a molecular sponge

Cell Death and Disease ◽

10.1038/s41419-020-03259-2 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (12) ◽

Author(s):

Hongli Li ◽

Qingjie Mu ◽

Guoxin Zhang ◽

Zhixin Shen ◽

Yuanyuan Zhang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lung Adenocarcinoma ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition ◽

Ectopic Expression ◽

Tumor Development ◽

Biological Significance ◽

Mesenchymal Transition

AbstractIncreasing lines of evidence indicate the role of long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs) in gene regulation and tumor development. Hence, it is important to elucidate the mechanisms of LncRNAs underlying the proliferation, metastasis, and invasion of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). We employed microarrays to screen LncRNAs in LUAD tissues with and without lymph node metastasis and revealed their effects on LUAD. Among them, Linc00426 was selected for further exploration in its expression, the biological significance, and the underlying molecular mechanisms. Linc00426 exhibits ectopic expression in LUAD tissues and cells. The ectopic expression has been clinically linked to tumor size, lymphatic metastasis, and tumor differentiation of patients with LUAD. The deregulation of Linc00426 contributes to a notable impairment in proliferation, invasion, metastasis, and epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, the deregulation of Linc00426 could reduce cytoskeleton rearrangement and matrix metalloproteinase expression. Meanwhile, decreasing the level of Linc00426 or increasing miR-455-5p could down-regulate the level of UBE2V1. Thus, Linc00426 may act as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) to abate miR-455-5p-dependent UBE2V1 reduction. We conclude that Linc00426 accelerates LUAD progression by acting as a molecular sponge to regulate miR-455-5p, and may be a potential novel tumor marker for LUAD.

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The polypeptide GALNT6 Displays Redundant Functions upon Suppression of its Closest Homolog GALNT3 in Mediating Aberrant O-Glycosylation, Associated with Ovarian Cancer Progression

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms20092264 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 20 (9) ◽

pp. 2264 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Razan Sheta ◽

Magdalena Bachvarova ◽

Elizabeth Macdonald ◽

Stephane Gobeil ◽

Barbara Vanderhyden ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ovarian Cancer ◽

Cancer Progression ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Survival Rates ◽

Functional Redundancy ◽

Tumor Formation ◽

Migration And Invasion ◽

Gene Ablation

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) represents the most lethal gynecologic malignancy; a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms associated with EOC etiology could substantially improve EOC management. Aberrant O-glycosylation in cancer is attributed to alteration of N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferases (GalNAc-Ts). Reports suggest a genetic and functional redundancy between GalNAc-Ts, and our previous data are indicative of an induction of GALNT6 expression upon GALNT3 suppression in EOC cells. We performed single GALNT3 and double GALNT3/T6 suppression in EOC cells, using a combination of the CRISPR-Cas9 system and shRNA-mediated gene silencing. The effect of single GALNT3 and double GALNT3/T6 inhibition was monitored both in vitro (on EOC cells roliferation, migration, and invasion) and in vivo (on tumor formation and survival of experimental animals). We confirmed that GALNT3 gene ablation leads to strong and rather compensatory GALNT6 upregulation in EOC cells. Moreover, double GALNT3/T6 suppression was significantly associated with stronger inhibitory effects on EOC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, and accordingly displayed a significant increase in animal survival rates compared with GALNT3-ablated and control (Ctrl) EOC cells. Our data suggest a possible functional redundancy of GalNAc-Ts (GALNT3 and T6) in EOC, with the perspective of using both these enzymes as novel EOC biomarkers and/or therapeutic targets.

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