Human complement factor H is a novel diagnostic marker for lung adenocarcinoma

Micro-RNAs are approximately 21-25-nucleotide-long noncoding RNAs that regulate gene expression primarily at the post-transcriptional level in animals. Here, we report that micro-RNA-1 (miR-1), abundant in the cardiac and smooth muscles, is expressed in the lung and is down-regulated in human primary lung cancer tissues and cell lines. In situ hybridization demonstrated localization of miR-1 in bronchial epithelial cells. The tumor suppressor C/EBPalpha, frequently suppressed in lung cancer, reactivated miR-1 expression in the lung cancer cells. Repressed miR-1 was also activated in lung cancer cells upon treatment with a histone deacetylase inhibitor. These observations led us to examine the antitumorigenic potential of miR-1 in lung cancer cells. Expression of miR-1 in nonexpressing A549 and H1299 cells reversed their tumorigenic properties, such as growth, replication potential, motility/migration, clonogenic survival, and tumor formation in nude mice. Exogenous miR-1 significantly reduced expression of oncogenic targets, such as MET, a receptor tyrosine kinase, and Pim-1, a Ser/Thr kinase, frequently up-regulated in lung cancer. Similarly, the levels of two additional targets, FoxP1, a transcription factor with oncogeneic property, and HDAC4 that represses differentiation-promoting genes, were reduced in miR-1-expressing cells. Conversely, depletion of miR-1 facilitated N417 cell growth with concomitant elevation of these targets. Further, ectopic miR-1 induced apoptosis in A549 cells in response to the potent anticancer drug doxorubicin. Enhanced activation of caspases 3 and 7, cleavage of their substrate PARP-1, and depletion of anti-apoptotic Mcl-1 contributed to the sensitivity of miR-1-expressing cells to doxorubicin. Thus, miR-1 has potential therapeutic application against lung cancers.

The biochemical properties of lung cancer cell lines were investigated. Bombesin-like peptides were present in three small cell lung cancer (SCLC) cell lines examined and three of four lung carcinoids but not in five non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines. Therefore SCLC and some lung carcinoids, but not NSCLC, are enriched in neuroendocrine properties. In contrast, 125I-EGF bound with high affinity to all five NSCLC cell lines and three of four lung carcinoids but not to the three SCLC cell lines examined. For lung carcinoid cell line NCI-H727, 125I-EGF bound with high affinity (Kd = 6 nM) to a single class of sites (Bmax = 110,000/cell). The 125I-EGF bound was rapidly internalized at 37 degrees C but not 4 degrees C. Using Western blot techniques and antiphosphotyrosine antibodies, EGF induced phosphorylation of a major 170 Kd protein. Using immunoprecipitation techniques and anti-EGF receptor antibodies a major 170 Kd protein was labeled. These data indicate that biologically active EGF receptors are present on NSCLC and lung carcinoid cell lines.

ABSTRACTIncreasing evidence indicates that neuroinflammation plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). However, it is unclear how the perpetuate inflammation develops. Some recent studies have suggested the possible involvement of microRNA-146a (miR-146a) in the modulation of inflammatory signaling occurring in TLE. To understand how miR-146a modulates inflammatory signaling in TLE, we investigated the role of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), miR-146a and human complement factor H (CFH) in the perpetuate inflammation in rat models of chronic TLE and U251 cells. We found that enhancive miR-146a could upregulate the expression of IL-1β and downregulate the expression of CFH, whereas reductive miR-146a could downregulate the expression of IL-1β and upregulate the expression of CFH, in hippocampi of chronic TLE rat models. Meanwhile, enhancive miR-146a could increase the abnormal wave forms in the chronic TLE rat models. Additionally, enhancive IL-1β could feedback downregulate the expression of CFH, upregulate the expression of miR-146a and increase the abnormal wave forms in chronic TLE rat models. After CFH gene knockdown in U251 cells, enhancive miR-146a did not upregulate the expression of IL-1β. In summary, this study shows that enhancive miR-146a can upregulate the inflammatory factor IL-1β in chronic TLE by downregulating CFH, and that upregulation of IL-1β plays an important feedback-regulating role in the expression of miR-146a and CFH, forming a miR-146a–CFH–IL-1β loop circuit that initiates a cascade of inflammation and then leads to the perpetuate inflammation in TLE. Therefore, modulation of the miR-146a–CFH–IL-1β loop circuit could be a novel therapeutic target for TLE.

This study aims to investigate the impacts of SLC12A8 on the invasion, migration, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells. GEPIA database was employed to examine SLC12A8 expression pattern in lung cancer cells. Subsequently, qRT-PCR and Western blot analyses were conducted to assess SLC12A8 expression in NSCLC tissues and cell lines. The overall prognosis of NSCLC patients was evaluated using Kaplan-Meier plot and univariate and multivariate COX regression curves. The knockdown of SLC12A8 was established using lentivirus-mediated shRNA in A549 and H1299 cells. Cell proliferation, invasion, migration, and apoptosis were evaluated using CCK-8 assay, transwell, and flow cytometry techniques, respectively. Western blot analysis was performed to measure the expression levels of EMT-related proteins (E-cadherin and vimentin). The expression level of SLC12A8 was found to be significantly higher in both NSCLC cell lines and tissues. High SLC12A8 expression was correlated with a poor prognosis in NSCLC patients. Knocking down SLC12A8 led to a significant decrease in proliferation, migration, and invasion abilities, while promoting apoptosis in NSCLC cells. Additionally, SLC12A8 knockdown resulted in decreased levels of N-cadherin and vimentin, along with increased E-cadherin expression. The results indicate that reducing SLC12A8 expression may suppress the malignant phenotype of NSCLC cells, as well as the EMT. SLC12A8 may serve as a target for the clinical management of NSCLC progression.

Based on benchmarking various methods and analyzing multiple real scRNA-seq datasets, a computational platform/workflow and a set of tips for best practices are developed for analyzing causal interactions or relationships in single cells.

Effects of acute stress and placebo intervention on subjective and objective nausea measures

HSP90 inhibition induces cytotoxicity via down-regulation of Rad51 expression and DNA repair capacity in non-small cell lung cancer cells

RETRACTED: Kaiso is expressed in lung cancer: Its expression and localization is affected by p120ctn

We previously demonstrated that the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) up-regulated miR-7 to promote tumor growth during lung cancer oncogenesis. Several lines of evidence have suggested that alterations in chromatin remodeling components contribute to cancer initiation and progression. In this study, we identified SMARCD1 (SWI/SNF-related, matrix-associated, actin-dependent regulator of chromatin, subfamily d, member 1) as a novel target gene of miR-7. miR-7 expression reduced SMARCD1 protein expression in lung cancer cell lines. We used luciferase reporters carrying wild type or mutated 3'UTR of SMARCD1 and found that miR-7 blocked SMARCD1 expression by binding to two seed regions in the 3'UTR of SMARCD1 and down-regulated SMARCD1 mRNA expression. Additionally, upon chemotherapy drug treatment, miR-7 down-regulated p53-dependent apoptosis-related gene BAX (BCL2-associated X protein) and p21 expression by interfering with the interaction between SMARCD1 and p53, thereby reducing caspase3 cleavage and the downstream apoptosis cascades. We found that although SMARCD1 sensitized lung cancer cells to chemotherapy drug-induced apoptosis, miR-7 enhanced the drug resistance potential of lung cancer cells against chemotherapy drugs. SMARCD1 was down-regulated in patients with non-small cell lung cancer and lung adenocarcinoma cell lines, and SMARCD1 and miR-7 expression levels were negatively correlated in clinical samples. Our investigation into the involvement of the EGFR-regulated microRNA pathway in the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex suggests that EGFR-mediated miR-7 suppresses the coupling of the chromatin remodeling factor SMARCD1 with p53, resulting in increased chemo-resistance of lung cancer cells.

Objective: Proteasome inhibitors and histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors represent promising therapeutic agents in lung cancer, particularly by enhancing cancer cell sensitivity to treatment. Among these, the combination of ixazomib, a proteasome inhibitor, and givinostat, an HDAC inhibitor, has demonstrated synergistic cytotoxicity in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines. This strategy holds potential for overcoming therapeutic resistance. Furthermore, macrophage co-culture systems have been shown to modulate gene expression patterns in lung cancer cells. In this context, the present study aimed to investigate the effects of ixazomib and givinostat, individually and in combination, along with differentiated M1 macrophages, on the expression of apoptosis-related genes in NSCLC cells. Material and Method: The IC50 values of ixazomib and givinostat in A549 lung cancer cells were determined using the MTT assay after 24 hours of treatment with a range of concentrations (400, 100, 10, and 1 µM). Based on the determined IC50 values, A549 cells were treated with ixazomib alone or in combination with givinostat for 24 hours. In parallel, A549 cells treated with the ixazomib–givinostat combination were co-cultured with THP-1 monocyte–derived M1 macrophages. Total RNA was then isolated, and RT-PCR analysis was performed to evaluate alterations in apoptosis-related gene expression. Result and Discussion: Based on the results of the anti-proliferative effect analysis, the IC50 values for ixazomib and givinostat were determined to be 2.42 µM and 7.32 µM, respectively. According to the RT-PCR results, variations of up to 48.99-fold were observed in the NFKB2, NFKBIA, NFKBIB, RELB, IL-6, IL-8, TP53, PIK3CA, and BCR genes. Significant alterations were particularly observed in genes involved in apoptosis-related pathways, especially in the presence of M1 macrophages. Additional investigation is warranted to thoroughly explore the heightened inflammatory response observed in lung cancer cells in the presence of these drugs.

HCC1/CAPERα is considered to be a novel human tumor-associated antigen, and the tumor-specific immunity of HCC1/CAPERα has been reported in several types of cancer. However, there was very limited evidence indicating its function in tumorigenesis. In the present study, to elucidate the roles and underlying molecular mechanism of HCC1/CAPERα in lung cancer, we examined the expression of HCC1/CAPERα in human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell line and NSCLC tissue microarray (TMA). Immunohistochemistry with TMA was performed to detect HCC1/CAPERα expression in NSCLC and adjacent lung tissues. NSCLC cell line constitutively transfected by pcDNA3.1-HCC1/CAPERα, and empty pcDNA3.1 vector were used. These cells were analyzed by Western blot, MTT, immunofluorescence, wound healing assay, and transwell assays. It was found that HCC1/CAPERα was mainly localized in the nucleus of the lung cancer cells and overexpression of HCC1/CAPERα may promote lung cancer cells proliferation and increase cells migration. The frequency of HCC1/CAPERα expression in NSCLC tissues was significantly higher than that in adjacent and normal tissues (P < 0.01). Our data suggest that overexpression of HCC1/CAPERα may increase the proliferation and migration of NSCLC cells, and HCC1/CAPERα could be a promising biomarker for lung cancer.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of new 9-aminoacridine-4-carboxamide derivatives as anticancer agents: 1st Cancer Update

Derlin-1 Is Overexpressed in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer and Promotes Cancer Cell Invasion via EGFR-ERK–Mediated Up-Regulation of MMP-2 and MMP-9

BackgroundThoracic tumor, especially lung cancer, ranks as the top cancer mortality in most parts of the world. Lung adenocarcinoma is the predominant subtype and there is increasing knowledge on therapeutic molecular targets, namely EGFR, ALK, KRAS, and ROS1, among lung cancers. Lung cancer cell lines established with known clinical characteristics and molecular profiling of oncogenic targets like ALK or KRAS could be useful tools for understanding the biology of known molecular targets as well as for drug testing and screening.Materials and methodsFive new cancer cell lines were established from pleural fluid or biopsy tissues obtained from Chinese patients with primary lung adenocarcinomas or malignant pleural mesothelioma. They were characterized by immunohistochemistry, growth kinetics, tests for tumorigenicity, EGFR and KRAS gene mutations, ALK gene rearrangement and OncoSeq mutation profiling.ResultsThese newly established lung adenocarcinoma and mesothelioma cell lines were maintained for over 100 passages and demonstrated morphological and immunohistochemical features as well as growth kinetics of tumor cell lines. One of these new cell lines bears EML4-ALK rearrangement variant 2, two lung cancer cell lines bear different KRAS mutations at codon 12, and known single nucleotide polymorphism variants were identified in these cell lines.DiscussionFour new lung adenocarcinoma and one mesothelioma cell lines were established from patients with different clinical characteristics and oncogenic mutation profiles. These characterized cell lines and their mutation profiles will provide resources for exploration of lung cancer and mesothelioma biology with regard to the presence of known oncogenic mutations.

Background: Notch pathway regulates cell-fate determination in multi-cellular organisms and aberrant activation of Notch pathway has been reported in tumorigenesis of many cancers. We previously reported that Notch3 and its downstream effector, HEY1, were upregulated by radiation in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines. Furthermore, we demonstrated that g-secretase-inhibitor (GSI), when combined with radiation therapy significantly suppressed the growth of lung cancer cells compared to either GSI or radiation alone by a potential mechanism that GSI suppressed radiation-induced Notch activation and its resultant radio-resistance. Since the expression of Notch was reported to be activated via HIF under hypoxia, we, in this study, hypothesized that HIF would be involved in radiation-induced Notch activation in NSCLC and thus HIF inhibitor (YC-1) would have an anti-tumor effect when combined with radiation therapy as is the case with GSI. Materials and Methods: Two Notch-expressing lung cancer cell lines (H460 and H1793) were used. We first examined, by Western Blotting (WB) and real time RT-PCR, the changes in expressions of HIF-1 and Notch family after treatment by radiation under hypoxia. We then repeated the same experiment while using SiRNA targeting HIF-1, in an attempt to examine the role of HIF-1 on Notch pathway and its downstream proteins. Finally, we investigated an antitumor effect of YC-1, using a MTT proliferation assay and a clonogenic assay, when combined with radiation treatment. Results: Under hypoxia, treatment by radiation up-regulated protein expression of HIF-1 at 6 hours and that of Notch3 as well at 24 hours, but not of other Notch family. As expected, specific suppression of HIF-1 by siRNA down-regulated Notch3 activation associated with radiation; however, did not affect other Notch family and its downstream effectors, including HES1. An anti-tumor effect of YC-1 was evident only when radiation treatment was concurrently applied, but not when sequentially applied, in the growth of lung cancer cells and also colony formation. Conclusions: Radiation-induced up-regulations of HIF-1 and Notch pathway may be therapeutic targets for more effective radiation therapy in NSCLC. Citation Format: Yasuyuki Ikezawa, Jun Sakakibara-Konishi, Hidenori Mizugaki, Satoshi Ooizumi, Masaharu Nishimura. The role of HIF-1 and Notch pathway in radio-resistance of non small lung cancer cell lines. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 435. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-435