The interplay between DNA replication stress and immune microenvironment alterations is known to play a crucial role in colorectal tumorigenesis,but a comprehensive understanding of their association with and relevant...The interplay between DNA replication stress and immune microenvironment alterations is known to play a crucial role in colorectal tumorigenesis,but a comprehensive understanding of their association with and relevant biomarkers involved in colorectal tumorigenesis is lacking.To address this gap,we conducted a study aiming to investigate this association and identify relevant biomarkers.We analyzed transcriptomic and proteomic profiles of 904 colorectal tumor tissues and 342 normal tissues to examine pathway enrichment,biological activity,and the immune microenvironment.Additionally,we evaluated genetic effects of single variants and genes on colorectal cancer susceptibility using data from genome-wide association studies(GWASs)involving both East Asian(7062 cases and 195745 controls)and European(24476 cases and 23073 controls)populations.We employed mediation analysis to infer the causal pathway,and applied multiplex immunofluorescence to visualize colocalized biomarkers in colorectal tumors and immune cells.Our findings revealed that both DNA replication activity and the flap structure-specific endonuclease 1(FEN1)gene were significantly enriched in colorectal tumor tissues,compared with normal tissues.Moreover,a genetic variant rs4246215 G>T in FEN1 was associated with a decreased risk of colorectal cancer(odds ratio=0.94,95%confidence interval:0.90–0.97,P_(meta)=4.70×10^(-9)).Importantly,we identified basophils and eosinophils that both exhibited a significantly decreased infiltration in colorectal tumors,and were regulated by rs4246215 through causal pathways involving both FEN1 and DNA replication.In conclusion,this trans-omics incorporating GWAS data provides insights into a plausible pathway connecting DNA replication and immunity,expanding biological knowledge of colorectal tumorigenesis and therapeutic targets.展开更多
Wnt signaling are critical pathway involved in organ development, tumorigenesis, and cancer progression. WNT7A, a member of the Wnt family, remains poorly understood in terms of its role and the underlying molecular m...Wnt signaling are critical pathway involved in organ development, tumorigenesis, and cancer progression. WNT7A, a member of the Wnt family, remains poorly understood in terms of its role and the underlying molecular mechanisms it entails in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). According to the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), transcriptome sequencing data of HNSCC, the expression level of WNT7A in tumors was found to be higher than in adjacent normal tissues, which was validated using Real-time RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. Unexpectedly, overexpression of WNT7A did not activate the canonical Wnt-β-catenin pathway in HNSCC. Instead, our findings suggested that WNT7A potentially activated the FZD7/JAK1/STAT3 signaling pathway, leading to enhanced cell proliferation, self-renewal, and resistance to apoptosis. Furthermore, in a patient-derived xenograft (PDX) tumor model, high expression of WNT7A and phosphorylated STAT3 was observed, which positively correlated with tumor progression.These findings underscore the significance of WNT7A in HNSCC progression and propose the targeting of key molecules within the FZD7/JAK1/STAT3 pathway as a promising strategy for precise treatment of HNSCC.展开更多
BACKGROUND Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC)is one of the most common malignancies worldwide,and its development comprises a multistep process from intraepithelial neoplasia(IN)to carcinoma(CA).However,the crit...BACKGROUND Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC)is one of the most common malignancies worldwide,and its development comprises a multistep process from intraepithelial neoplasia(IN)to carcinoma(CA).However,the critical regulators and underlying molecular mechanisms remain largely unknown.AIM To explore the genes and infiltrating immune cells in the microenvironment that are associated with the multistage progression of ESCC to facilitate diagnosis and early intervention.METHODS A mouse model mimicking the multistage development of ESCC was established by providing warter containing 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide(4NQO)to C57BL/6 mice.Moreover,we established a control group without 4NQO treatment of mice.Then,transcriptome sequencing was performed for esophageal tissues from patients with different pathological statuses,including low-grade IN(LGIN),high-grade IN(HGIN),and CA,and controlled normal tissue(NOR)samples.Differentially expressed genes(DEGs)were identified in the LGIN,HGIN,and CA groups,and the biological functions of the DEGs were analyzed via Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analyses.The CIBERSORT algorithm was used to detect the pattern of immune cell infilt-ration.Immunohistochemistry(IHC)was also conducted to validate our results.Finally,the Luminex multiplex cytokine analysis was utilized to measure the serum cytokine levels in the mice.RESULTS Compared with those in the NOR group,a total of 681541,and 840 DEGs were obtained in the LGIN,HGIN,and CA groups,respectively.Using the intersection of the three sets of DEGs,we identified 86 genes as key genes involved in the development of ESCC.Enrichment analysis revealed that these genes were enriched mainly in the keratinization,epidermal cell differentiation,and interleukin(IL)-17 signaling pathways.CIBERSORT analysis revealed that,compared with those in the NOR group,M0 and M1 macrophages in the 4NQO group showed stronger infiltration,which was validated by IHC.Serum cytokine analysis revealed that,compared with those in the NOR group,IL-1βand IL-6 were upregulated,while IL-10 was downregulated in the LGIN,HGIN,and CA groups.Moreover,the expression of the representative key genes,such as S100a8 and Krt6b,was verified in external human samples,and the results of immunohistochemical staining were consistent with the findings in mice.CONCLUSION We identified a set of key genes represented by S100a8 and Krt6b and investigated their potential biological functions.In addition,we found that macrophage infiltration and abnormal alterations in the levels of inflam-mation-associated cytokines,such as IL-1β,IL-6,and IL-10,in the peripheral blood may be closely associated with the development of ESCC.展开更多
Autophagy is a "self-degradative" process and is involved in the maintenance of cellular homeostasis and the control of cellular components by facilitating the clearance or turnover of long-lived or misfolde...Autophagy is a "self-degradative" process and is involved in the maintenance of cellular homeostasis and the control of cellular components by facilitating the clearance or turnover of long-lived or misfolded proteins, protein aggregates, and damaged organelles. Autophagy plays a dual role in cancer, including in tumor progression and tumor promotion, suggesting that autophagy acts as a double-edged sword in cancer cells. Liver cancer is one of the greatest leading causes of cancer death worldwide due to its high recurrence rate and poor prognosis. Especially in China, liver cancer has become one of the most common cancers due to the high infection rate of hepatitis virus. In primary liver cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type. Considering the perniciousness and complexity of HCC, it is essential to elucidate the function of autophagy in HCC. In this review, we summarize the physiological function of autophagy in cancer, analyze the role of autophagy in tumorigenesis and metastasis, discuss the therapeutic strategies targeting autophagy and the mechanisms of drug-resistance in HCC, and provide potential methods to circumvent resistance and combined anticancer strategies for HCC patients.展开更多
BACKGROUND Primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a very malignant tumor in the world. CARMA3 plays an oncogenic role in the pathogenesis of various tumors. However, the function of CARMA3 in HCC has not been fully...BACKGROUND Primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a very malignant tumor in the world. CARMA3 plays an oncogenic role in the pathogenesis of various tumors. However, the function of CARMA3 in HCC has not been fully clarified. AIM To study the biological function of CAEMA3 in HCC. METHODS Tissue microarray slides including tissues form 100 HCC patients were applied to access the expression of CARMA3 in HCC and its clinical relevance. Knockdown and overexpression of CARMA3 were conducted with plasmid transfection. MTT, colony formation, and apoptosis assays were performed to check the biological activity of cells. RESULTS Higher expression of CARMA3 in HCC was relevant to poor prognostic survival (P < 0.05). Down-regulation of CARMA3 inhibited proliferation and colony formation and induced apoptosis in HCC cell lines, while increasing its expression promoted tumorigenesis. We also found that sodium aescinate (SA), a natural herb extract, exerted anti-proliferation effects in HCC cells by suppressing the CARMA3/nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) pathway. CONCLUSION Overexpression of CARMA3 in HCC tissues correlates with a poor prognosis in HCC patients. CARMA3 acts pro-tumorigenic effects partly through activation of CARMA3/NF-κB. SA inhibits HCC growth by targeting CARMA3/NF-κB.展开更多
The genome of cells is constantly challenged by DNA damages from endogenous metabolism and environmental agents.These damages could potentially lead to genomic instability and thus to tumorigenesis.To cope with the th...The genome of cells is constantly challenged by DNA damages from endogenous metabolism and environmental agents.These damages could potentially lead to genomic instability and thus to tumorigenesis.To cope with the threats, cells have evolved an intricate network, namely DNA damage response(DDR) system that senses and deals with the lesions of DNA.Although the DDR operates by relatively uniform principles, different tissues give rise to distinct types of DNA damages combined with high diversity of microenvironments across tissues.In this review, we discuss recent findings on specific DNA damage among different tissues as well as the main DNA repair way in corresponding microenvironments, highlighting tissue specificity of DDR and tumorigenesis.We hope the current review will provide further insights into molecular process of tumorigenesis and generate new strategies for cancer treatment.展开更多
BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is now the most common primary liver malignancy worldwide,and multiple risk factors attribute to the occurrence and development of HCC.Recently,increasing studies suggest that u...BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is now the most common primary liver malignancy worldwide,and multiple risk factors attribute to the occurrence and development of HCC.Recently,increasing studies suggest that ubiquitinconjugating enzyme E2T(UBE2T)serves as a promising prognostic factor in human cancers,although the molecular mechanism of UBE2T in HCC remains unclear.AIM To investigate the clinical relevance and role of UBE2T in HCC development.METHODS UBE2T expression in HCC tissues from the TCGA database and its association with patient survival were analyzed.A lentivirus-mediated strategy was used to knock down UBE2T in HCC cells.qRT-PCR and Western blot assays were performed to check the effect of UBE2T silencing in HCC cells.Cell growth in vitro and in vivo was analyzed by multiparametric high-content screening and the xenograft tumorigenicity assay,respectively.Cell cycle distribution and apoptosis were determined by flow cytometry.The genes regulated by UBE2T were profiled by microarray assay.RESULTS UBE2T was overexpressed in HCC tissues compared with paired and non-paired normal tissues.High expression of UBE2T predicted a poor overall survival in HCC patients.In vitro,lentivirus-mediated UBE2T knockdown significantly reduced the viability of both SMMC-7721 and BEL-7404 cells.In vivo,the xenograft tumorigenesis of SMMC-7721 cells was largely attenuated by UBE2T silencing.The cell cycle was arrested at G1/S phase in SMMC-7721 and BEL-7404 cells with UBE2T knockdown.Furthermore,apoptosis was increased by UBE2T knockdown.At the molecular level,numerous genes were dysregulated after UBE2T silencing,including IL-1B,FOSL1,PTGS2,and BMP6.CONCLUSION UBE2T plays an important role in cell cycle progression,apoptosis,and HCC development.展开更多
Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) is a bioactive sphingolipid with a variety of biological activities.It is generated from the conversion of ceramide to sphingosine by ceramidase and the subsequent conversion of sphingosi...Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) is a bioactive sphingolipid with a variety of biological activities.It is generated from the conversion of ceramide to sphingosine by ceramidase and the subsequent conversion of sphingosine to S1P,which is catalyzed by sphingosine kinases.Through increasing its intracellular levels by sphingolipid metabolism and binding to its cell surface receptors,S1P regulates several physiological and pathological processes,including cell proliferation,migration,angiogenesis and autophagy.These processes are responsible for tumor growth,metastasis and invasion and promote tumor survival.Since ceramide and S1P have distinct functions in regulating in cell fate decision,the balance between the ceramide/sphingosine/S1P rheostat becomes a potent therapeutic target for cancer cells.Herein,we summarize our current understanding of S1P signaling on tumorigenesis and its potential as a target for cancer therapy.展开更多
Exosomes are nanovesicles secreted from various types of cells and can be isolated from various bodily fluids, such as blood and urine. The number and molecular contents, including proteins and RNA of exosomes, have b...Exosomes are nanovesicles secreted from various types of cells and can be isolated from various bodily fluids, such as blood and urine. The number and molecular contents, including proteins and RNA of exosomes, have been shown to reflect their parental cell origins, characteristics and biological behaviors. An increasing number of studies have demonstrated that exosomes play a role in the course of tumorigenesis, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis, although its precise functions in tumors are still unclear. Moreover, owing to a lack of a standard approach, exosomes and its contents have not yet been put into clinical practice successfully. This review aims to summarize the current knowledge on exosomes and its contents in esophageal cancer as well as the current limitations/challenges in its clinical application, which may provide a basis for an all-around understanding of the implementation of exosomes and exosomal contents in the surveillance and therapy of esophageal cancer.展开更多
Objective:Autophagy is a programmed cell death procedure,which has essential functions in tumorigenesis.However,its temporal expression and function under different status are yet to be determined.This study aims to i...Objective:Autophagy is a programmed cell death procedure,which has essential functions in tumorigenesis.However,its temporal expression and function under different status are yet to be determined.This study aims to investigate the temporal expression of autophagy and its possible function in 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene(DMBA)-induced hamster buccal-pouch cancer model(HBPCM).Methods:A total of 50 hamster buccal-pouch tumorigenesis models were established by painting DMBA for 4,8,10 and 13 weeks.The expression and subcellular localization of LC3,Beclin 1 and Bcl-2 in buccal lesions were evaluated by immunohistochemical staining and Western blotting.DNA damage was observed by immunohistochemical staining of 8-oHdG.The relationship between Beclin 1 and Bcl-2 was analyzed by immunofluorescence colocalization.Results:The expression levels of LC3 and Beclin 1 associated with autophagy in the experimental buccal pouch of HBPCM were significantly upregulated after 4 weeks(P<0.05),but gradually downregulated after 13 weeks of HBPCM induction.By contrast,the expression level of Bcl-2 was significantly upregulated after 13 weeks.The co-localized regions of Bcl-2 and Beclin 1 peaked after 4 weeks and then decreased gradually.The DNA damage in epithelial cells increased slightly after 4 weeks,and then rapidly decreased over the next 2 months.Conclusion:Autophagy is motivated by a tumor suppressor that diminishes carcinogen-induced DNA damage.However,autophagy is gradually suppressed,which may be attributed to the interaction between Bcl-2 and Beclin 1.This result indicates that the promotion of autophagy may suppress malignant transformation and provide new insights on future potential treatments of HBPCM.展开更多
Cancer research over the past decades has focused on neoplastic cells, or a fraction of them, i.e. tumor stem cells, as the ultimate causes of tumorigenesis. However, during recent years, scientists have come to reali...Cancer research over the past decades has focused on neoplastic cells, or a fraction of them, i.e. tumor stem cells, as the ultimate causes of tumorigenesis. However, during recent years, scientists have come to realize that tumorigenesis is not a solo act of neoplastic cells, but rather a cooperative process in which the roles of numerous types of non-neoplastic cells should be recognized. These tumor-residing non-neoplastic cells constitute the so-called tumor-associated stroma, which in certain cases even greatly surpasses the neoplastic cellular compartment that was previously thought of as a sole determiner leading to a seemingly autonomous growth pattern. In this review, we summarize several recent research highlights that have unveiled many previously unappreciated roles for microenvironmental factors, especially during the initiation stage of tumorigenesis. It is becoming increasingly clear that the stroma’s regulatory effects constitute not only an essential force for maintaining tumor growth, but also primary causes initiating tumorigenesis.展开更多
This study examined the role of EMP-1 in tumorigenesis of non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) and the possible mechanism. Specimens were collected from 28 patients with benign lung diseases and 28 with NSCLC, and im...This study examined the role of EMP-1 in tumorigenesis of non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) and the possible mechanism. Specimens were collected from 28 patients with benign lung diseases and 28 with NSCLC, and immunohis to chemically detected to evaluate the correlation of EMP-1 expression to the clinical features of NSCLC. Recombinant adenovirus was constructed to over-express EMP-1 and then infect PC9 cells. Cell proliferation was measured by Ki67 staining. Western blotting was performed to examine the effect of EMP-1 on the PI3K/AKT signaling. Moreover, tumor xeno-grafts were established by subcutaneous injection of PC9 cell suspension (about 5×107/mL in 100 μL of PBS) into the right hind limbs of athymic nude mice. The results showed EMP-1 was significantly up-regulated in NSCLC patients as compared with those with benign lung diseases. Over-expression of EMP-1 promoted proliferation of PC9 cells, which coincided with the activation of the PI3K/AKT pathway. EMP-1 promoted the growth of xenografts of PC9 cells in athymic nude mice. It was concluded that EMP-1 expression may contribute to the development and progress of NSCLC by activating PI3K/AKT pathway.展开更多
Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC)is the major subtype of esophageal cancer that is prevalent in Eastern Asia.Despite recent advances in therapy,the outcome of ESCC patients is still dismal.MicroRNAs(miRNAs)are ...Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC)is the major subtype of esophageal cancer that is prevalent in Eastern Asia.Despite recent advances in therapy,the outcome of ESCC patients is still dismal.MicroRNAs(miRNAs)are non-coding RNAs which can negatively modulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level.The involvement and roles of miRNAs have become one of the hot topics of cancer research in recent years.In ESCC,genetic variations within miRNA coding genes were found to have distinct epidemiological significance in different populations.Dysregulated expression of several miRNAs was reported to be associated with therapeutic response.Functionally,miRNAs can act either in an oncogenic or a tumor-suppressive manner during tumorigenesis of ESCC by interrupting signaling pathways associated with cell proliferation,metabolism,cancer stemness,and resistance to chemo-or radiotherapy.Moreover,miRNAs modulate metastasis of ESCC by targeting genes that regulate cytoskeleton dynamics,extracellular matrix remodeling,epithelial-mesenchymal transition,and tumor microenvironment.Most importantly,mounting evidence suggests that inhibiting oncogenic miRNAs or restoring the loss of tumor-suppressive miRNAs has therapeutic potential in the treatment of ESCC.Here,we review and discuss recent studies on the significance,biological functions,and therapeutic potential of miRNAs in tumorigenesis and metastasis of ESCC.展开更多
Objective: Smad7 was identified as a TGF-b-inducible antagonist of TGF-b signaling and might participate in a negative feedback loop to control TGF-b signaling. In this study, the responsiveness of Smad7 to TGF-b1 was...Objective: Smad7 was identified as a TGF-b-inducible antagonist of TGF-b signaling and might participate in a negative feedback loop to control TGF-b signaling. In this study, the responsiveness of Smad7 to TGF-b1 wasexamined in the BEP2D and BERP35T-2 cells to investigate the possible mechanism of Smad7 in the tumorigenesis.Methods: Northern and western blot were performed toexam the Smad7 and TGF-b1 expression abundance inBEP2D and BERP35T-2 at both transcription andtranslation level. Results: The expression level of Smad7 mRNA in BERP35T-2 cells was higher than that in BEP2D cells. When stimulated with TGF-b1, Smad7 expression was up-regulated evidently in BEP2D cells, but not significantly in BERP35T-2 cells. The abundance of TGF-b1 in thecytoplasm of BERP35T-2 was not significantly higher than in BEP2D (P>0.05); whereas the abundance of TGF-b1 in BERP35T-2 cell culture medium was significantly higherthan in BEP2D cell culture medium (P<0.05). Conclusion: Over expression of Smad7 mRNA and down-regulation of the cells’ responsiveness to TGF-b1 in human lung cancer cell line might be involved in lung carcinogenisis.展开更多
Objective: Polycystic kidney disease(PKD) is the major cause of kidney failure and mortality in humans. It has always been suspected that the development of cystic kidney disease shares features with tumorigenesis, al...Objective: Polycystic kidney disease(PKD) is the major cause of kidney failure and mortality in humans. It has always been suspected that the development of cystic kidney disease shares features with tumorigenesis, although the evidence is unclear.Methods: We crossed p53 mutant mice(p53N236S, p53S) with Werner syndrome mice and analyzed the pathological phenotypes.The RNA-seq, ss GSEA analysis, and real-time PCR were performed to dissect the gene signatures involved in the development of disease phenotypes.Results: We found enlarged kidneys with fluid-filled cysts in offspring mice with a genotype of G3mTerc^(-/-)WRN^(-/-)p53^(S/S)(G3TM).Pathology analysis confirmed the occurrence of PKD, and it was highly correlated with the incidence of tumorigenesis. RNA-seq data revealed the gene signatures involved in PKD development, and demonstrated that PKD and tumorigenesis shared common pathways, including complement pathways, lipid metabolism, mitochondria energy homeostasis and others. Interestingly, this G3TM PKD and the classical PKD1/2 deficient PKD shared common pathways, possibly because the mutant p53S could regulate the expression levels of PKD1/2, Pkhd1, and Hnf1b.Conclusions: We established a dual mouse model for PKD and tumorigenesis derived from abnormal cellular proliferation and telomere dysfunction. The innovative point of our study is to report PKD occurring in conjunction with tumorigenesis. The gene signatures revealed might shed new light on the pathogenesis of PKD, and provide new molecular biomarkers for clinical diagnosis and prognosis.展开更多
Mitochondria are evolutionary bacteria that are dynamic intracellular organelles involved in many vital cellular functions. However, modern medicine has fallen prey to misuse and over-usage of antibiotics. This misuse...Mitochondria are evolutionary bacteria that are dynamic intracellular organelles involved in many vital cellular functions. However, modern medicine has fallen prey to misuse and over-usage of antibiotics. This misuse can damage the mitochondrion, alter host antibiotic interactions, and cause serious pathophysiologic conditions. We believe this leads to mitochondrial dysfunction, which may promote tumorigenesis and neurodegeneration. This opinion commentary’s goal is to bring awareness of this important hot topic to the medical community before induced modern plagues are irreversible.展开更多
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma(HNSCC)still lacks effective targeted treatment.Therefore,exploring novel and robust molecular targets is critical for improving the clinical outcome of HNSCC.Here,we reported that...Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma(HNSCC)still lacks effective targeted treatment.Therefore,exploring novel and robust molecular targets is critical for improving the clinical outcome of HNSCC.Here,we reported that the expression levels of family with sequence similarity 64,member A(FAM64A)were significantly higher in HNSCC tissues and cell lines.In addition,FAM64A overexpression was found to be strongly associated with an unfavorable prognosis of HNSCC.Both in vitro and in vivo evidence showed that FAM64A depletion suppressed the malignant activities of HNSCC cells,and vice versa.Moreover,we found that the FAM64A level was progressively increased from normal to dysplastic to cancerous tissues in a carcinogenic 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide mouse model.Mechanistically,a physical interaction was found between FAM64A and forkhead box protein M1(FOXM1)in HNSCC cells.FAM64A promoted HNSCC tumorigenesis not only by enhancing the transcriptional activity of FOXM1,but also,more importantly,by modulating FOXM1 expression via the autoregulation loop.Furthermore,a positive correlation between FAM64A and FOXM1 was found in multiple independent cohorts.Taken together,our findings reveal a previously unknown mechanism behind the activation of FOXM1 in HNSCC,and FAM64A might be a promising molecular therapeutic target for treating HNSCC.展开更多
To study the effects of human interleukin-2 genetransfer on the morphology, proliferation, tumori-genesis, immunity, and oncogenes expression of tumorcells, the gene encoding human interleukin-2 (IL-2) wasintroduced v...To study the effects of human interleukin-2 genetransfer on the morphology, proliferation, tumori-genesis, immunity, and oncogenes expression of tumorcells, the gene encoding human interleukin-2 (IL-2) wasintroduced via retroviral vectors pLXSN into ovariancancer cell lines SKOV3. A resistant clone with high IL-2activity (318 U/10~6cell/24 hours) in the culturesupernatants was cloned. The hIL-2 mRNA was detectedwith RT-PCR in SKOV3/IL2 cells. The IL2 secretinghas persisted for 23 weeks with 38 passanges. The展开更多
Under physiological conditions,decisions about cell fate and behavior are not made by the individual cell itself,but instead strictly depend on the collective interactions of the whole cell population in the microenvi...Under physiological conditions,decisions about cell fate and behavior are not made by the individual cell itself,but instead strictly depend on the collective interactions of the whole cell population in the microenvironment.Thus,continuous intercellular communication influences almost all biological processes ranging from tissue/organ development,and homeostasis maintenance,to disease progression.Regarding tumorigenesis,intercellular communications between cancer cells and other cells coexist within microenvironments involving stromal cells,immune cells,and even neural cells,playing crucial roles in tumor initiation,progression,and distal metastasis.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.82173601)Yili&Jiangsu Joint Institute of Health(Grant No.yl2021ms02).
文摘The interplay between DNA replication stress and immune microenvironment alterations is known to play a crucial role in colorectal tumorigenesis,but a comprehensive understanding of their association with and relevant biomarkers involved in colorectal tumorigenesis is lacking.To address this gap,we conducted a study aiming to investigate this association and identify relevant biomarkers.We analyzed transcriptomic and proteomic profiles of 904 colorectal tumor tissues and 342 normal tissues to examine pathway enrichment,biological activity,and the immune microenvironment.Additionally,we evaluated genetic effects of single variants and genes on colorectal cancer susceptibility using data from genome-wide association studies(GWASs)involving both East Asian(7062 cases and 195745 controls)and European(24476 cases and 23073 controls)populations.We employed mediation analysis to infer the causal pathway,and applied multiplex immunofluorescence to visualize colocalized biomarkers in colorectal tumors and immune cells.Our findings revealed that both DNA replication activity and the flap structure-specific endonuclease 1(FEN1)gene were significantly enriched in colorectal tumor tissues,compared with normal tissues.Moreover,a genetic variant rs4246215 G>T in FEN1 was associated with a decreased risk of colorectal cancer(odds ratio=0.94,95%confidence interval:0.90–0.97,P_(meta)=4.70×10^(-9)).Importantly,we identified basophils and eosinophils that both exhibited a significantly decreased infiltration in colorectal tumors,and were regulated by rs4246215 through causal pathways involving both FEN1 and DNA replication.In conclusion,this trans-omics incorporating GWAS data provides insights into a plausible pathway connecting DNA replication and immunity,expanding biological knowledge of colorectal tumorigenesis and therapeutic targets.
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China [Grant numbers: 82272868 and 82173180]the Foundation of Joint Funds for the Innovation of Science and Technology, Fujian Province (No. 2020Y9126)Fujian Provincial Health Technology Project [Grant number: 2020CXA049]。
文摘Wnt signaling are critical pathway involved in organ development, tumorigenesis, and cancer progression. WNT7A, a member of the Wnt family, remains poorly understood in terms of its role and the underlying molecular mechanisms it entails in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). According to the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), transcriptome sequencing data of HNSCC, the expression level of WNT7A in tumors was found to be higher than in adjacent normal tissues, which was validated using Real-time RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. Unexpectedly, overexpression of WNT7A did not activate the canonical Wnt-β-catenin pathway in HNSCC. Instead, our findings suggested that WNT7A potentially activated the FZD7/JAK1/STAT3 signaling pathway, leading to enhanced cell proliferation, self-renewal, and resistance to apoptosis. Furthermore, in a patient-derived xenograft (PDX) tumor model, high expression of WNT7A and phosphorylated STAT3 was observed, which positively correlated with tumor progression.These findings underscore the significance of WNT7A in HNSCC progression and propose the targeting of key molecules within the FZD7/JAK1/STAT3 pathway as a promising strategy for precise treatment of HNSCC.
基金Supported by National Natural Foundation of China,No.821742232019 Chinese and Western Medicine Clinical Collaborative Capacity Building Project for Major Difficult Diseases,No.2019-ZX-005。
文摘BACKGROUND Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC)is one of the most common malignancies worldwide,and its development comprises a multistep process from intraepithelial neoplasia(IN)to carcinoma(CA).However,the critical regulators and underlying molecular mechanisms remain largely unknown.AIM To explore the genes and infiltrating immune cells in the microenvironment that are associated with the multistage progression of ESCC to facilitate diagnosis and early intervention.METHODS A mouse model mimicking the multistage development of ESCC was established by providing warter containing 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide(4NQO)to C57BL/6 mice.Moreover,we established a control group without 4NQO treatment of mice.Then,transcriptome sequencing was performed for esophageal tissues from patients with different pathological statuses,including low-grade IN(LGIN),high-grade IN(HGIN),and CA,and controlled normal tissue(NOR)samples.Differentially expressed genes(DEGs)were identified in the LGIN,HGIN,and CA groups,and the biological functions of the DEGs were analyzed via Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analyses.The CIBERSORT algorithm was used to detect the pattern of immune cell infilt-ration.Immunohistochemistry(IHC)was also conducted to validate our results.Finally,the Luminex multiplex cytokine analysis was utilized to measure the serum cytokine levels in the mice.RESULTS Compared with those in the NOR group,a total of 681541,and 840 DEGs were obtained in the LGIN,HGIN,and CA groups,respectively.Using the intersection of the three sets of DEGs,we identified 86 genes as key genes involved in the development of ESCC.Enrichment analysis revealed that these genes were enriched mainly in the keratinization,epidermal cell differentiation,and interleukin(IL)-17 signaling pathways.CIBERSORT analysis revealed that,compared with those in the NOR group,M0 and M1 macrophages in the 4NQO group showed stronger infiltration,which was validated by IHC.Serum cytokine analysis revealed that,compared with those in the NOR group,IL-1βand IL-6 were upregulated,while IL-10 was downregulated in the LGIN,HGIN,and CA groups.Moreover,the expression of the representative key genes,such as S100a8 and Krt6b,was verified in external human samples,and the results of immunohistochemical staining were consistent with the findings in mice.CONCLUSION We identified a set of key genes represented by S100a8 and Krt6b and investigated their potential biological functions.In addition,we found that macrophage infiltration and abnormal alterations in the levels of inflam-mation-associated cytokines,such as IL-1β,IL-6,and IL-10,in the peripheral blood may be closely associated with the development of ESCC.
基金Supported by Natural Science Foundation of China,No.81803069Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province of China,No.LY18C070002 and No.LY16H160056521 Talent Project of Zhejiang Sci-Tech University
文摘Autophagy is a "self-degradative" process and is involved in the maintenance of cellular homeostasis and the control of cellular components by facilitating the clearance or turnover of long-lived or misfolded proteins, protein aggregates, and damaged organelles. Autophagy plays a dual role in cancer, including in tumor progression and tumor promotion, suggesting that autophagy acts as a double-edged sword in cancer cells. Liver cancer is one of the greatest leading causes of cancer death worldwide due to its high recurrence rate and poor prognosis. Especially in China, liver cancer has become one of the most common cancers due to the high infection rate of hepatitis virus. In primary liver cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type. Considering the perniciousness and complexity of HCC, it is essential to elucidate the function of autophagy in HCC. In this review, we summarize the physiological function of autophagy in cancer, analyze the role of autophagy in tumorigenesis and metastasis, discuss the therapeutic strategies targeting autophagy and the mechanisms of drug-resistance in HCC, and provide potential methods to circumvent resistance and combined anticancer strategies for HCC patients.
基金Supported by the Nature Science Foundation of High Education Institution of Anhui Province,No.KJ2017A825Anhui Provincial Natural Science Foundation,No.1808085MH270+2 种基金Foundation of the Higher Education Institution of Henan Province,No.16A320007“Huohua Jihua” Foundation of the Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University Science,No.2015hhjh05Anhui Medical University Science Foundation,No.2017xkj033
文摘BACKGROUND Primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a very malignant tumor in the world. CARMA3 plays an oncogenic role in the pathogenesis of various tumors. However, the function of CARMA3 in HCC has not been fully clarified. AIM To study the biological function of CAEMA3 in HCC. METHODS Tissue microarray slides including tissues form 100 HCC patients were applied to access the expression of CARMA3 in HCC and its clinical relevance. Knockdown and overexpression of CARMA3 were conducted with plasmid transfection. MTT, colony formation, and apoptosis assays were performed to check the biological activity of cells. RESULTS Higher expression of CARMA3 in HCC was relevant to poor prognostic survival (P < 0.05). Down-regulation of CARMA3 inhibited proliferation and colony formation and induced apoptosis in HCC cell lines, while increasing its expression promoted tumorigenesis. We also found that sodium aescinate (SA), a natural herb extract, exerted anti-proliferation effects in HCC cells by suppressing the CARMA3/nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) pathway. CONCLUSION Overexpression of CARMA3 in HCC tissues correlates with a poor prognosis in HCC patients. CARMA3 acts pro-tumorigenic effects partly through activation of CARMA3/NF-κB. SA inhibits HCC growth by targeting CARMA3/NF-κB.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No.81622035, 81672610, and 81521002)
文摘The genome of cells is constantly challenged by DNA damages from endogenous metabolism and environmental agents.These damages could potentially lead to genomic instability and thus to tumorigenesis.To cope with the threats, cells have evolved an intricate network, namely DNA damage response(DDR) system that senses and deals with the lesions of DNA.Although the DDR operates by relatively uniform principles, different tissues give rise to distinct types of DNA damages combined with high diversity of microenvironments across tissues.In this review, we discuss recent findings on specific DNA damage among different tissues as well as the main DNA repair way in corresponding microenvironments, highlighting tissue specificity of DDR and tumorigenesis.We hope the current review will provide further insights into molecular process of tumorigenesis and generate new strategies for cancer treatment.
文摘BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is now the most common primary liver malignancy worldwide,and multiple risk factors attribute to the occurrence and development of HCC.Recently,increasing studies suggest that ubiquitinconjugating enzyme E2T(UBE2T)serves as a promising prognostic factor in human cancers,although the molecular mechanism of UBE2T in HCC remains unclear.AIM To investigate the clinical relevance and role of UBE2T in HCC development.METHODS UBE2T expression in HCC tissues from the TCGA database and its association with patient survival were analyzed.A lentivirus-mediated strategy was used to knock down UBE2T in HCC cells.qRT-PCR and Western blot assays were performed to check the effect of UBE2T silencing in HCC cells.Cell growth in vitro and in vivo was analyzed by multiparametric high-content screening and the xenograft tumorigenicity assay,respectively.Cell cycle distribution and apoptosis were determined by flow cytometry.The genes regulated by UBE2T were profiled by microarray assay.RESULTS UBE2T was overexpressed in HCC tissues compared with paired and non-paired normal tissues.High expression of UBE2T predicted a poor overall survival in HCC patients.In vitro,lentivirus-mediated UBE2T knockdown significantly reduced the viability of both SMMC-7721 and BEL-7404 cells.In vivo,the xenograft tumorigenesis of SMMC-7721 cells was largely attenuated by UBE2T silencing.The cell cycle was arrested at G1/S phase in SMMC-7721 and BEL-7404 cells with UBE2T knockdown.Furthermore,apoptosis was increased by UBE2T knockdown.At the molecular level,numerous genes were dysregulated after UBE2T silencing,including IL-1B,FOSL1,PTGS2,and BMP6.CONCLUSION UBE2T plays an important role in cell cycle progression,apoptosis,and HCC development.
文摘Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) is a bioactive sphingolipid with a variety of biological activities.It is generated from the conversion of ceramide to sphingosine by ceramidase and the subsequent conversion of sphingosine to S1P,which is catalyzed by sphingosine kinases.Through increasing its intracellular levels by sphingolipid metabolism and binding to its cell surface receptors,S1P regulates several physiological and pathological processes,including cell proliferation,migration,angiogenesis and autophagy.These processes are responsible for tumor growth,metastasis and invasion and promote tumor survival.Since ceramide and S1P have distinct functions in regulating in cell fate decision,the balance between the ceramide/sphingosine/S1P rheostat becomes a potent therapeutic target for cancer cells.Herein,we summarize our current understanding of S1P signaling on tumorigenesis and its potential as a target for cancer therapy.
基金Supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Hebei Province,NO.H2018206307
文摘Exosomes are nanovesicles secreted from various types of cells and can be isolated from various bodily fluids, such as blood and urine. The number and molecular contents, including proteins and RNA of exosomes, have been shown to reflect their parental cell origins, characteristics and biological behaviors. An increasing number of studies have demonstrated that exosomes play a role in the course of tumorigenesis, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis, although its precise functions in tumors are still unclear. Moreover, owing to a lack of a standard approach, exosomes and its contents have not yet been put into clinical practice successfully. This review aims to summarize the current knowledge on exosomes and its contents in esophageal cancer as well as the current limitations/challenges in its clinical application, which may provide a basis for an all-around understanding of the implementation of exosomes and exosomal contents in the surveillance and therapy of esophageal cancer.
文摘Objective:Autophagy is a programmed cell death procedure,which has essential functions in tumorigenesis.However,its temporal expression and function under different status are yet to be determined.This study aims to investigate the temporal expression of autophagy and its possible function in 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene(DMBA)-induced hamster buccal-pouch cancer model(HBPCM).Methods:A total of 50 hamster buccal-pouch tumorigenesis models were established by painting DMBA for 4,8,10 and 13 weeks.The expression and subcellular localization of LC3,Beclin 1 and Bcl-2 in buccal lesions were evaluated by immunohistochemical staining and Western blotting.DNA damage was observed by immunohistochemical staining of 8-oHdG.The relationship between Beclin 1 and Bcl-2 was analyzed by immunofluorescence colocalization.Results:The expression levels of LC3 and Beclin 1 associated with autophagy in the experimental buccal pouch of HBPCM were significantly upregulated after 4 weeks(P<0.05),but gradually downregulated after 13 weeks of HBPCM induction.By contrast,the expression level of Bcl-2 was significantly upregulated after 13 weeks.The co-localized regions of Bcl-2 and Beclin 1 peaked after 4 weeks and then decreased gradually.The DNA damage in epithelial cells increased slightly after 4 weeks,and then rapidly decreased over the next 2 months.Conclusion:Autophagy is motivated by a tumor suppressor that diminishes carcinogen-induced DNA damage.However,autophagy is gradually suppressed,which may be attributed to the interaction between Bcl-2 and Beclin 1.This result indicates that the promotion of autophagy may suppress malignant transformation and provide new insights on future potential treatments of HBPCM.
文摘Cancer research over the past decades has focused on neoplastic cells, or a fraction of them, i.e. tumor stem cells, as the ultimate causes of tumorigenesis. However, during recent years, scientists have come to realize that tumorigenesis is not a solo act of neoplastic cells, but rather a cooperative process in which the roles of numerous types of non-neoplastic cells should be recognized. These tumor-residing non-neoplastic cells constitute the so-called tumor-associated stroma, which in certain cases even greatly surpasses the neoplastic cellular compartment that was previously thought of as a sole determiner leading to a seemingly autonomous growth pattern. In this review, we summarize several recent research highlights that have unveiled many previously unappreciated roles for microenvironmental factors, especially during the initiation stage of tumorigenesis. It is becoming increasingly clear that the stroma’s regulatory effects constitute not only an essential force for maintaining tumor growth, but also primary causes initiating tumorigenesis.
基金supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos.81072431,30872472,30973496 and 30800569)the Innovative Foundation of Huazhong University of Science and Technology (No.2010MS027)+1 种基金the Foundation of "973" Program (No.2009CB521802)by Special Fund for Central University Basic Scientific Research (Nos.2011JC062,2011JC063)
文摘This study examined the role of EMP-1 in tumorigenesis of non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) and the possible mechanism. Specimens were collected from 28 patients with benign lung diseases and 28 with NSCLC, and immunohis to chemically detected to evaluate the correlation of EMP-1 expression to the clinical features of NSCLC. Recombinant adenovirus was constructed to over-express EMP-1 and then infect PC9 cells. Cell proliferation was measured by Ki67 staining. Western blotting was performed to examine the effect of EMP-1 on the PI3K/AKT signaling. Moreover, tumor xeno-grafts were established by subcutaneous injection of PC9 cell suspension (about 5×107/mL in 100 μL of PBS) into the right hind limbs of athymic nude mice. The results showed EMP-1 was significantly up-regulated in NSCLC patients as compared with those with benign lung diseases. Over-expression of EMP-1 promoted proliferation of PC9 cells, which coincided with the activation of the PI3K/AKT pathway. EMP-1 promoted the growth of xenografts of PC9 cells in athymic nude mice. It was concluded that EMP-1 expression may contribute to the development and progress of NSCLC by activating PI3K/AKT pathway.
基金Supported by Research Grants Council of the Hong Kong SAR,China,General Research Fund,No.17111917.
文摘Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC)is the major subtype of esophageal cancer that is prevalent in Eastern Asia.Despite recent advances in therapy,the outcome of ESCC patients is still dismal.MicroRNAs(miRNAs)are non-coding RNAs which can negatively modulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level.The involvement and roles of miRNAs have become one of the hot topics of cancer research in recent years.In ESCC,genetic variations within miRNA coding genes were found to have distinct epidemiological significance in different populations.Dysregulated expression of several miRNAs was reported to be associated with therapeutic response.Functionally,miRNAs can act either in an oncogenic or a tumor-suppressive manner during tumorigenesis of ESCC by interrupting signaling pathways associated with cell proliferation,metabolism,cancer stemness,and resistance to chemo-or radiotherapy.Moreover,miRNAs modulate metastasis of ESCC by targeting genes that regulate cytoskeleton dynamics,extracellular matrix remodeling,epithelial-mesenchymal transition,and tumor microenvironment.Most importantly,mounting evidence suggests that inhibiting oncogenic miRNAs or restoring the loss of tumor-suppressive miRNAs has therapeutic potential in the treatment of ESCC.Here,we review and discuss recent studies on the significance,biological functions,and therapeutic potential of miRNAs in tumorigenesis and metastasis of ESCC.
基金supported by the National“973”Key Basic Research Program of China(No.G1998051207)
文摘Objective: Smad7 was identified as a TGF-b-inducible antagonist of TGF-b signaling and might participate in a negative feedback loop to control TGF-b signaling. In this study, the responsiveness of Smad7 to TGF-b1 wasexamined in the BEP2D and BERP35T-2 cells to investigate the possible mechanism of Smad7 in the tumorigenesis.Methods: Northern and western blot were performed toexam the Smad7 and TGF-b1 expression abundance inBEP2D and BERP35T-2 at both transcription andtranslation level. Results: The expression level of Smad7 mRNA in BERP35T-2 cells was higher than that in BEP2D cells. When stimulated with TGF-b1, Smad7 expression was up-regulated evidently in BEP2D cells, but not significantly in BERP35T-2 cells. The abundance of TGF-b1 in thecytoplasm of BERP35T-2 was not significantly higher than in BEP2D (P>0.05); whereas the abundance of TGF-b1 in BERP35T-2 cell culture medium was significantly higherthan in BEP2D cell culture medium (P<0.05). Conclusion: Over expression of Smad7 mRNA and down-regulation of the cells’ responsiveness to TGF-b1 in human lung cancer cell line might be involved in lung carcinogenisis.
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) (Grant No. 30771194 and 31170735)
文摘Objective: Polycystic kidney disease(PKD) is the major cause of kidney failure and mortality in humans. It has always been suspected that the development of cystic kidney disease shares features with tumorigenesis, although the evidence is unclear.Methods: We crossed p53 mutant mice(p53N236S, p53S) with Werner syndrome mice and analyzed the pathological phenotypes.The RNA-seq, ss GSEA analysis, and real-time PCR were performed to dissect the gene signatures involved in the development of disease phenotypes.Results: We found enlarged kidneys with fluid-filled cysts in offspring mice with a genotype of G3mTerc^(-/-)WRN^(-/-)p53^(S/S)(G3TM).Pathology analysis confirmed the occurrence of PKD, and it was highly correlated with the incidence of tumorigenesis. RNA-seq data revealed the gene signatures involved in PKD development, and demonstrated that PKD and tumorigenesis shared common pathways, including complement pathways, lipid metabolism, mitochondria energy homeostasis and others. Interestingly, this G3TM PKD and the classical PKD1/2 deficient PKD shared common pathways, possibly because the mutant p53S could regulate the expression levels of PKD1/2, Pkhd1, and Hnf1b.Conclusions: We established a dual mouse model for PKD and tumorigenesis derived from abnormal cellular proliferation and telomere dysfunction. The innovative point of our study is to report PKD occurring in conjunction with tumorigenesis. The gene signatures revealed might shed new light on the pathogenesis of PKD, and provide new molecular biomarkers for clinical diagnosis and prognosis.
文摘Mitochondria are evolutionary bacteria that are dynamic intracellular organelles involved in many vital cellular functions. However, modern medicine has fallen prey to misuse and over-usage of antibiotics. This misuse can damage the mitochondrion, alter host antibiotic interactions, and cause serious pathophysiologic conditions. We believe this leads to mitochondrial dysfunction, which may promote tumorigenesis and neurodegeneration. This opinion commentary’s goal is to bring awareness of this important hot topic to the medical community before induced modern plagues are irreversible.
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(81901006)Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation(2020A1515110051)+1 种基金Scientific Research Talent Cultivation Project of Stomatological Hospital,Southern Medical University(RC202005)Science Research Cultivation Program of Stomatological Hospital,Southern Medical University(PY2020002)。
文摘Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma(HNSCC)still lacks effective targeted treatment.Therefore,exploring novel and robust molecular targets is critical for improving the clinical outcome of HNSCC.Here,we reported that the expression levels of family with sequence similarity 64,member A(FAM64A)were significantly higher in HNSCC tissues and cell lines.In addition,FAM64A overexpression was found to be strongly associated with an unfavorable prognosis of HNSCC.Both in vitro and in vivo evidence showed that FAM64A depletion suppressed the malignant activities of HNSCC cells,and vice versa.Moreover,we found that the FAM64A level was progressively increased from normal to dysplastic to cancerous tissues in a carcinogenic 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide mouse model.Mechanistically,a physical interaction was found between FAM64A and forkhead box protein M1(FOXM1)in HNSCC cells.FAM64A promoted HNSCC tumorigenesis not only by enhancing the transcriptional activity of FOXM1,but also,more importantly,by modulating FOXM1 expression via the autoregulation loop.Furthermore,a positive correlation between FAM64A and FOXM1 was found in multiple independent cohorts.Taken together,our findings reveal a previously unknown mechanism behind the activation of FOXM1 in HNSCC,and FAM64A might be a promising molecular therapeutic target for treating HNSCC.
文摘To study the effects of human interleukin-2 genetransfer on the morphology, proliferation, tumori-genesis, immunity, and oncogenes expression of tumorcells, the gene encoding human interleukin-2 (IL-2) wasintroduced via retroviral vectors pLXSN into ovariancancer cell lines SKOV3. A resistant clone with high IL-2activity (318 U/10~6cell/24 hours) in the culturesupernatants was cloned. The hIL-2 mRNA was detectedwith RT-PCR in SKOV3/IL2 cells. The IL2 secretinghas persisted for 23 weeks with 38 passanges. The
基金supported by the National Key R&D Program of China(Grant Nos.2020YFA0803200 and 2017YFA0504504)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.32070710 and 81902806)+2 种基金the Shanghai Pujiang Program(Grant No.19PJ1408300)the Open Research Fund of State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering,Fudan University(Grant No.SKLGE-2103)the Talent Climbing Project from Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital(Grant No.2021SYPDRC003).
文摘Under physiological conditions,decisions about cell fate and behavior are not made by the individual cell itself,but instead strictly depend on the collective interactions of the whole cell population in the microenvironment.Thus,continuous intercellular communication influences almost all biological processes ranging from tissue/organ development,and homeostasis maintenance,to disease progression.Regarding tumorigenesis,intercellular communications between cancer cells and other cells coexist within microenvironments involving stromal cells,immune cells,and even neural cells,playing crucial roles in tumor initiation,progression,and distal metastasis.
