去泛素化酶USP9X在结肠癌组织中的表达及意义

目的:探讨去泛素化酶USP9X在结肠癌组织中的表达特点及对结肠癌细胞增殖的影响。方法:收集解放军中部战区总医院病理科存档的结肠癌组织标本和癌旁正常结肠组织标本76例,免疫组化法检测USP9X在不同性别、年龄患者的结肠癌组织、癌旁正常结肠组织中的表达情况。siRNA抑制人结肠癌HCT116细胞株USP9X的表达,MTT法检测HCT116细胞增殖能力。结果:76例结肠癌患者中,USP9X阳性表达53例,占69.7%。癌旁正常大肠组织中,USP9X阳性表达率19.7%。USP9X的表达与结肠癌淋巴结转移和浸润深度相关。siRNA抑制结肠癌HCT116细胞USP9X表达后,与空白对照组和阴性对照组比较,干扰组细胞增殖能力显著下降。结论:去泛素化酶USP9X在结肠癌组织中的表达高于癌旁正常结肠组织,并与肿瘤侵袭转移相关。特异性抑制USP9X基因的表达可抑制结肠癌细胞的增殖能力。     

USP9X deubiquitinates and stabilizes CDC123 to promote breast carcinogenesis through regulating cell cycle

Cell division cycle 123 (CDC123) has been implicated in a variety of human diseases. However, it remains unclear whether CDC123 plays a role in tumorigenesis and how its abundance is regulated. In this study, we found that CDC123 was highly expressed in breast cancer cells, and its high expression was positively correlated with a poor prognosis. Knowndown of CDC123 impaired the proliferation of breast cancer cells. Mechanistically, we identified a deubiquitinase, ubiquitin-specific peptidase 9, X-linked (USP9X), that could physically interact with and deubiquitinate K48-linked ubiquitinated CDC123 at the K308 site. Therefore, the expression of CDC123 was positively correlated with USP9X in breast cancer cells. In addition, we found that deletion of either USP9X or CDC123 led to altered expression of cell cycle-related genes and resulted in the accumulation of cells population in the G0/G1 phase, thereby suppressing cell proliferation. Treatment with the deubiquitinase inhibitor of USP9X, WP1130 (Degrasyn, a small molecule compound that USP9X deubiquitinase inhibitor), also led to the accumulation of breast cancer cells in the G0/G1 phase, but this effect could be rescued by overexpression of CDC123. Furthermore, our study revealed that the USP9X/CDC123 axis promotes the occurrence and development of breast cancer through regulating the cell cycle, and suggests that it may be a potential target for breast cancer intervention. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that USP9X is a key regulator of CDC123, providing a novel pathway for the maintenance of CDC123 abundance in cells, and supports USP9X/CDC123 as a potential target for breast cancer intervention through regulating the cell cycle.     

Deubiquitinase ubiquitin‐specific protease 9X regulates the stability and function of E3 ubiquitin ligase ring finger protein 115 in breast cancer cells

The E3 ubiquitin ligase ring finger protein 115 (RNF115) is overexpressed in more than half of human breast tumors and is implicated in the pathogenesis and progression of breast cancer. However, the mechanism behind RNF115 overexpression in breast tumors remains largely unknown. Here we report that ubiquitin‐specific protease 9X (USP9X), a substrate‐specific deubiquitinating enzyme, stabilizes RNF115 and thereby regulates its biological functions in breast cancer cells. Immunoprecipitation and GST pull‐down assays showed that USP9X interacted with RNF115. Depletion of RNF115 by siRNAs or overexpression of RNF115 did not significantly affect USP9X expression. In contrast, knockdown of USP9X in breast cancer cells by siRNAs reduced RNF115 protein abundance, which was partially restored following treatment with proteasome inhibitor MG‐132. Moreover, depletion of USP9X reduced the half‐life of RNF115 and increased its ubiquitination. Conversely, overexpression of USP9X resulted in an accumulation of RNF115 protein, accompanied by a decrease in its ubiquitination. RNF115 mRNA levels were unaffected by overexpression or knockdown of USP9X. Furthermore, USP9X protein expression levels correlated positively with RNF115 in breast cancer cell lines and breast tumor samples. Importantly, reintroduction of RNF115 in USP9X‐depleted cells partially rescued the reduced proliferation, migration, and invasion of breast cancer cells by USP9X knockdown. Collectively, these findings indicate that USP9X is a stabilizer of RNF115 protein and that the USP9X‐RNF115 signaling axis is implicated in the breast cancer malignant phenotype.     

去泛素化酶USP9X在宫颈鳞癌中的表达及临床意义

目的:探讨X染色体连锁的泛素特定蛋白水解酶9（ubiquitin-specific peptidase 9 X-linked,USP9X）在宫颈鳞癌中的表达及临床意义。方法:应用EnVision法免疫组织化学技术对宫颈无上皮内瘤变或其他恶性病变组织（negative for intraepithelial lesion or malignancy,NILM）、低级别上皮内瘤变（lower grade squamous intraepithelial lesion,LSIL）、高级别上皮内瘤变（high grde squmous intrepithelil lesion,HSIL）各40例及宫颈鳞癌（cervical squamous-cell carcinoma,CSCC）标本85例中的USP9X蛋白水平进行检测;蛋白印迹法（Western-Blot）检测宫颈癌细胞SiHa中USP9X蛋白的水平。结果:USP9X从宫颈正常上皮到宫颈鳞癌的逐级病变中其表达水平逐步升高: NILM（5.0%）、LSIL（12.5%）、HSIL（40.0%）、CSCC（60.0%）;SiHa细胞培养中,顺铂(C-DDP)处理组USP9X蛋白表达水平较对照组明显降低。结论:USP9X表达的上调可能参与了宫颈癌的发生与发展,可作为宫颈癌治疗时重要参考及预后指标,有望成为宫颈癌的一个潜在治疗靶点。     

Context-dependent function of the deubiquitinating enzyme USP9X in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most aggressive and deadly malignancies. Recently, the deubiquitinating protease USP9X has been shown to behave as an oncogene in a number of neoplasms, including those of breast, brain, colon, esophagus and lung, as well as KRAS wild-type PDAC. However, other studies suggest that USP9X may function as a tumor-suppressor in a murine PDAC model when USP9X expression is depleted during early pancreatic development. To address the conflicting findings surrounding the role of USP9X in PDAC, we examined the effects of knocking down USP9X in five human PDAC cell lines (BxPC3, Capan1, CD18, Hs766T, and S2-013). We demonstrate that knocking down USP9X in each of the PDAC cell lines reduces their anchorage-dependent growth. Using an inducible shRNA system to knock down USP9X in both BxPC3 and Capan1 cells, we also determined that USP9X is necessary for the anchorage-independent growth. In addition, knockdown of USP9X alters the cell cycle profile of BxPC3 cells and increases their invasive capacity. Finally, we show that an inhibitor of deubiquitinating proteases, WP1130, induces significant cytotoxicity in each of the five PDAC cell lines tested. Overall, our work and the work of others indicate that the function and role of USP9X is highly context-dependent. Although USP9X may function as a tumor-suppressor during the establishment of PDAC, data presented here argue that USP9X promotes cell growth in advanced PDAC cells when PDAC is typically diagnosed. Hence, USP9X may be a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of advanced PDAC.     

Ubiquitin‐specific peptidase 39 promotes human glioma cells migration and invasion by facilitating ADAM9 mRNA maturation

Glioma cells are characterized by high migration and invasion ability; however, the molecular mechanism behind both processes still remains to be investigated. Several studies have demonstrated that ubiquitin‐specific protease 39 (USP39) plays an oncogenic role in various cancer types. Here, we investigated the expression and function of USP39 in patients with glioma. Oncomine database analysis revealed that high USP39 expression was significantly correlated with poor overall survival in patients with glioma. Knockdown of USP39 in U251 and U87 cell lines significantly inhibited their migration and invasion in vitro. Gene expression profiling of glioma cells transduced with short hairpin RNA (shRNA) against USP39 revealed that disintegrin and metalloproteinase domain‐containing protein 9 (ADAM9), a molecule previously related to tumor cell migration and invasion, was significantly downregulated. Furthermore, USP39 induced ADAM9 messenger RNA (mRNA) maturation and decreased the expression of integrin β1. Additionally, overexpression of ADAM9 inhibited the migration and invasion of glioma cells caused by USP39 depletion in vitro. USP39 promoted the invasion of glioma cells in vivo and reduced the overall survival of the mice. Altogether, our data show that USP39 induces mRNA maturation and elevates the expression of ADAM9 in glioma cells and may thus be considered potential target for treating patients with glioma.     

Elevated USP9X drives early-to-late-stage oral tumorigenesis via stabilisation of anti-apoptotic MCL-1 protein and impacts outcome in oral cancers

Background Overexpression of anti-apoptotic MCL-1 protein in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is linked to disease progression, therapy resistance and poor outcome. Despite its characteristic short half-life owing to ubiquitin–proteasome-dependent degradation, oral tumours frequently show elevated MCL-1 protein expression. Hence, we investigated the role of deubiquitinase USP9X in stabilising MCL-1 protein and its contribution to oral tumorigenesis.Methods Expression of MCL-1 and USP9X was assessed by immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry in oral cancer cell lines and tissues. The association between MCL-1 and USP9X was confirmed by coimmunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence. Cell death assessment was performed by MTT, flow cytometry and clonogenic assays.Results Both USP9X and MCL-1 are significantly elevated in oral premalignant lesions and oral tumours versus normal mucosa. USP9X interacts with and deubiquitinates MCL-1, thereby stabilising it. Pharmacological inhibition of USP9X potently induced cell death in OSCC cells in vitro and in vivo. The elevated expression of USP9X and MCL-1 correlated with poor prognosis in OSCC patients.Conclusion We demonstrate the oncogenic role of USP9X in driving early-to-late stages of oral tumorigenesis via stabilisation of MCL-1, suggesting its potential as a prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target in oral cancers.Subject terms: Oral cancer detection, Oral cancer detection     

USP9X inhibition promotes radiation-induced apoptosis in non-small cell lung cancer cells expressing mid-to-high MCL1

Background and Purpose: Radiotherapy (RT) is vital for the treatment of locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), yet its delivery is limited by tolerances of adjacent organs. We sought therefore to identify and characterize gene targets whose inhibition may improve RT. Materials and Methods: Whole genome pooled shRNA cytotoxicity screens were performed in A549 and NCI-H460 using a retroviral library of 74,705 sequences. Cells were propagated with or without daily radiation Monday–Friday. Radiosensitization by top differential dropout hits was assessed by clonogenic assays. Apoptosis was assessed using a caspase 3/7 cell-based activity assay and by annexin V-FITC and PI staining. MCL1 expression was assessed by qPCR and Western blotting. Results: USP9X, a deubiquitinase, was a top hit among druggable gene products. WP1130, a small molecule USP9X inhibitor, showed synergistic cytotoxicity with IR. MCL1, an anti-apoptotic protein deubiquitinated by USP9X, decreased with USP9X inhibition and IR. This was accompanied by increases in caspase 3/7 activity and apoptosis. In a panel of NSCLC lines, MCL1 and USP9X protein and gene expression levels were highly correlated. Lines showing high levels of MCL1 expression were the most sensitive to USP9X inhibition. Conclusions: These data support the use of MCL1 expression as a predictive biomarker for USP9X inhibitors in NSCLC therapy.     

抑制USP9x表达增强食管癌Ec9706-R细胞的放射敏感性

背景与目的：泛素特异性蛋白酶9x（ubiquitin-specific protease 9x,USP9x）与多种肿瘤的发生、发展以及肿瘤细胞的放射抗拒相关。研究发现,USP9x的表达与食管鳞状细胞癌的浸润深度和淋巴结转移相关,但其食管癌细胞放射抗拒作用尚未见报道。探究USP9x对放射抗拒食管癌Ec9706-R细胞放射敏感性的作用及其机制。方法：首先通过实时荧光定量聚合酶链反应（real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction,RTFQ-PCR）和蛋白质印迹法（Western blot）检测放射线照射后Ec9706-R细胞及其亲本细胞Ec-9706中USP9x和抗髓样细胞白血病-1（myeloid cell leukemia-1,Mcl-1）mRNA表达和蛋白水平。然后将Ec9706-R细胞随机分成3组：放射（irradiation,IR）组、IR+对照siRNA组（IR+si-NC组,转染Control siRNA）和IR+USP9x siRNA组（IR+si-USP9x组,转染USP9x siRNA）,各组细胞均使用一定量的6 MV-X射线照射。噻唑蓝（methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium,MTT）比色法检测不同剂量（0、2、4、6和8 Gy）6 MV-X射线照射下各组细胞的活力。Transwell、流式细胞术、RTFQ-PCR和Western blot分别检测3组细胞在6 Gy照射下的细胞迁移、凋亡、Mcl-1 mRNA表达和蛋白水平以及增殖细胞核抗原（proliferating cell nuclear antigen,PCNA）和DNA损伤修复相关基因核苷酸切除修复交叉互补基因1（excision repair cross-complementing gene 1,ERCC1）蛋白水平。结果：放射后Ec9706-R和Ec-9706细胞中USP9x和Mcl-1 mRNA表达和蛋白水平均增加,Ec9706-R细胞尤为显著（P<0.05）。与IR组相比,IR+si-USP9x组中细胞活力、迁移细胞数目、PCNA、ERCC1和Mcl-1的表达均降低,细胞凋亡增加（P<0.05）。但是与IR组相比,IR+si-NC组中上述指标均无显著变化（P>0.05）。结论：抑制USP9x表达能够增强放射抗拒食管癌Ec9706-R细胞的放射敏感性,这可能是通过下调Mcl-1的表达发挥作用的。     

Deubiquitinase USP9X loss sensitizes renal cancer cells to mTOR inhibition

Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a central regulator of mammalian metabolism and physiology. Aberrant hyperactivation of the mTOR pathway promotes tumor growth and metastasis, and can also promote tumor resistance to chemotherapy and cancer drugs; this makes mTOR an attractive cancer therapeutic target. mTOR inhibitors have been approved to treat cancer; however, the mechanisms underlying drug sensitivity remain poorly understood. Here, whole exome sequencing of three chromophobe renal cell carcinoma (chRCC) patients with exceptional mTOR inhibitor sensitivity revealed that all three patients shared somatic mutations in the deubiquitinase gene USP9X. The clonal characteristics of the mutations, which were amassed by studying multiple patients' primary and metastatic samples from various years, together with the low USP9X mutation rate in unselected chRCC series, reinforced a causal link between USP9X and mTOR inhibitor sensitivity. Rapamycin treatment of USP9X-depleted HeLa and renal cancer 786-O cells, along with the pharmacological inhibition of USP9X, confirmed that this protein plays a role in patients' sensitivity to mTOR inhibitors. USP9X was not found to exert a direct effect on mTORC1, but subsequent ubiquitylome analyses identified p62 as a direct USP9X target. Increased p62 ubiquitination and the augmented rapamycin effect upon bortezomib treatment, together with the results of p62 and LC3 immunofluorescence assays, suggested that dysregulated autophagy in USP9X-depleted cells can have a synergistic effect with mTOR inhibitors. In summary, we show that USP9X constitutes a potential novel marker of sensitivity to mTOR inhibitors in chRCC patients, and represents a clinical strategy for increasing the sensitivity to these drugs.     

WP1130对宫颈鳞癌细胞顺铂化疗增敏性的分析

目的:探索X染色体连锁的泛素特异肽酶9（ubiquitin-specific peptidase 9 X-linked,USP9X）抑制剂WP1130在宫颈鳞癌细胞中对顺铂（diaminodichloroplatin,DDP）化疗敏感性的影响。方法:CCK8筛选DDP及WP1130作用于SiHa细胞的最佳浓度剂量,并研究DDP与WP1130联用对SiHa细胞抑制率的影响;免疫细胞化学（immunocytochemistry,ICC）方法检测WP1130对SiHa细胞USP9X表达的影响;Western blot方法检测药物作用前后USP9X蛋白的表达水平,并探讨WP1130对SiHa细胞顺铂化疗敏感性的影响。结果:CCK8筛选的3 μg/ml DDP及1.5 μmol/L WP1130作用于SiHa 细胞72 h为最佳剂量, WP1130联合DDP组SiHa细胞的存活率较单用DDP组显著降低（P＜0.05）;ICC显示WP1130可抑制USP9X蛋白的表达;Western blot发现SiHa细胞中USP9X蛋白的表达水平在DDP及WP1130作用后降低（P＜0.05）,且在DDP联用WP1130组中最低（P＜0.05）。结论:WP1130能增强宫颈鳞癌细胞对DDP的敏感性,可为宫颈鳞癌综合治疗提供有力依据。     

Ubiquitin-specific protease 14 expression in colorectal cancer is associated with liver and lymph node metastases

Ubiquitin-specific protease 14, also known as the 60 kDa subunit of tRNA-guanine transglycosylase (USP14/TGT60 kD), belongs to the ubiquitin-specific processing protease (UBP) family. USP14/TGT60 kD expression in leukemic and colorectal cancer cell lines, and the suppression of such an expression after the induction of cell differentiation have been reported. In the present study, we attempted to clarify whether USP14/TGT60 kD overexpression affects the clinicopathological features of colorectal cancer. Immunohistochemically, USP14/TGT60 kD was absent or weakly localized in the cytoplasm of normal colorectal epithelial cells. In 18 of 99 (18.2%) colorectal cancer patients, USP14/TGT60 kD was strongly detected in the cytoplasm of cancer cells. USP14/TGT60 kD expression correlated with pathological stage (P=0.03), and lymph node (P=0.03) and liver (P=0.03) metastases. Furthermore, the percentage of patients strongly positive for USP14/TGT60 kD expression increased with pathological stage. The overall survival rate was worse in patients with a high USP14/TGT60 kD expression level than in those with a low USP14/TGT60 kD expression level. Our results suggest that USP14/TGT60 kD also controls the fate of proteins that regulate tumor invasion and metastasis.     

USP7在结直肠癌组织中的表达及其通过调控Wnt/PCP通路对细胞增殖、凋亡的影响

目的:探讨泛素特异性蛋白酶7（ubiquitin specific protease 7,USP7）在结直肠癌组织中的表达及其通过调控Wnt/PCP通路对结直肠癌细胞SW480增殖、凋亡的影响和机制研究。方法:免疫组织化学法检测USP7在结直肠癌组织中的表达;qRT-PCR和Western blotting检测USP7在结直肠癌组织和结直肠癌细胞系中的表达;qRT-PCR和Western blotting检测沉默USP7在SW480细胞中的表达;细胞克隆形成实验检测SW480细胞增殖能力;Transwell迁移实验检测SW480细胞迁移能力;流式细胞术检测SW480细胞的凋亡情况;Western blotting检测Wnt/PCP通路相关蛋白的表达。结果:USP7在结直肠癌组织和结直肠癌细胞系中高表达（P＜0.05）;沉默USP7使SW480细胞中USP7的表达降低（P＜0.001）,细胞的增殖和迁移能力下降（P＜0.001）,细胞凋亡率增加（P＜0.001）;与shNC组相比,沉默USP7使Wnt7a蛋白和RhoA蛋白的表达水平显著下调（P＜0.001,P＜0.001）,JNK蛋白磷酸化程度显著降低（P＜0.01）。结论:USP7在结直肠癌组织和结直肠癌细胞系中高表达。沉默USP7抑制SW480细胞增殖、迁移并诱导细胞凋亡,可能与Wnt/PCP通路有关。     

USP35 activated by miR let-7a inhibits cell proliferation and NF-κB activation through stabilization of ABIN-2

Ubiquitin specific protease 35 (USP35) is a member of deubiquitylases (DUBs). It remains largely unknown about the biological role and the regulation mechanism of USP35. Here, we first identified miR let-7a as a positive regulator of USP35 expression and showed that USP35 expression positively correlates with miR let-7a expression in different cancer cell lines and tissues. Then, we showed that USP35 expression was decreased dramatically in the tumor tissues compared with the adjacent non-cancerous tissues. USP35 overexpression inhibited cell proliferation in vitro and inhibited xenograft tumor growth in vivo. Furthermore, we revealed that USP35 acts as a functional DUB and stabilizes TNFAIP3 interacting protein 2 (ABIN-2) by promoting its deubiquitination. Functionally, both ABIN-2 and USP35 could inhibit TNFα-induced NF-κB activation and overexpression of ABIN-2 alleviated USP35-loss induced activation of NF-κB. Collectively, our data indicated that miR let-7a-regulated USP35 can inhibit NF-κB activation by deubiquitination and stabilization of ABIN-2 protein and eventually inhibit cell proliferation. Overall, our study provides a novel rationale of targeting miR let-7a-USP35-ABIN-2 pathway for the therapy of cancer patients.     

Genistein downregulates onco-miR-1260b and inhibits Wnt-signalling in renal cancer cells

Background:

Wnt-signalling has an important role in renal cancer and it is modulated by genistein in other cancers. Recently, microRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as new regulators of gene expression. Thus, we focused on miRNAs to examine the regulatory mechanism of genistein on the Wnt-signalling pathway in renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

Methods:

Initially, we investigated the effect of genistein on Wnt-signalling (TOPflash reporter assay (TCF reporter assays)) in renal cancer cells, and using microarray identified candidate miRNAs whose expression was decreased by genistein. We performed functional analyses and investigated the relationship between miRNA expression and renal cancer patient outcomes. We also did 3′UTR luciferase assays to look at direct miRNA regulation of Wnt-signalling-related genes.

Results:

Genistein promoted apoptosis while inhibiting RCC cell proliferation and invasion. Genistein also decreased TCF reporter activity in RCC cells. We found that miR-1260b was highly expressed and significantly downregulated by genistein in RCC cells. The expression of miR-1260b was significantly higher in renal cancer tissues compared with normal, and significantly related to overall shorter survival. In addition, miR-1260b promoted renal cancer cell proliferation and invasion in RCC cells. The 3′UTR luciferase activity of target genes (sFRP1, Dkk2, Smad4) was significantly decreased and their protein expression significantly upregulated in miR-1260b inhibitor-transfected renal cancer cells.

Conclusion:

Our data suggest that genistein inhibited Wnt-signalling by regulating miR-1260b expression in renal cancer cells.     

Glycogen synthase kinase-3: a new therapeutic target in renal cell carcinoma

Background:

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is highly resistant to chemotherapy because of a high apoptotic threshold. Recent evidences suggest that GSK-3β positively regulates human pancreatic cancer and leukaemia cell survival in part through regulation of nuclear factor (NF-κB)-mediated expression of anti-apoptotic molecules. Our objectives were to determine the expression pattern of GSK-3β and to assess the anti-cancer effect of GSK-3β inhibition in RCC.

Methods:

Immunohistochemistry and nuclear/cytosolic fractionation were performed to determine the expression pattern of GSK-3β in human RCCs. We used small molecule inhibitor, RNA interference, western blotting, quantitative RT–PCR, BrDU incorporation and MTS assays to study the effect of GSK-3β inactivation on renal cancer cell proliferation and survival.

Results:

We detected aberrant nuclear accumulation of GSK-3β in RCC cell lines and in 68 out of 74 (91.89%) human RCCs. We found that pharmacological inhibition of GSK-3 led to a decrease in proliferation and survival of renal cancer cells. We observed that inhibition of GSK-3 results in decreased expression of NF-κB target genes Bcl-2 and XIAP and a subsequent increase in renal cancer cell apoptosis. Moreover, we show that GSK-3 inhibitor and Docetaxel synergistically suppress proliferation and survival of renal cancer cells.

Conclusions:

Our results show nuclear accumulation of GSK-3β as a new marker of human RCC, identify that GSK-3 positively regulates RCC cell survival and proliferation and suggest inhibition of GSK-3 as a new promising approach in the treatment of human renal cancer.     

泛素特异性蛋白酶53在结直肠癌中的表达及其对HCT116细胞的抑制作用

目的:探讨泛素特异性蛋白酶53(ubiquitin specific peptidase 53,USP53)在结直肠癌组织中的表达水平及其过表达对人结直肠癌HCT116细胞功能的影响.方法:运用Real-time PCR及IHC方法检测结直肠癌及癌旁组织中USP53的表达情况;利用UCSC CANCER BROWSER提供的TCGA数据库,检测USP53 mRNA表达水平与临床特征及预后的关系;HCT116细胞中瞬时过表达USP53,利用CCK-8及克隆形成实验检测HCT116细胞增殖变化.结果:免疫组化结果显示,USP53在癌旁组织中的表达显著高于肿瘤组织[91.67％(44/48) vs 18.75％ (9/48),P＜0.01].癌旁组织中USP53 mRNA水平也高于癌组织[(0.85±0.32) vs (0.46 ±0.27),P＜0.05].组织中USP53 mRNA表达水平与预后有关,表达越低预后越差(P＜0.05).过表达USP53后,细胞克隆形成数目显著下降[(123 ±27.22) vs (338±55.24)个,P＜0.01];CCK-8实验结果显示,肿瘤细胞增殖受到显著抑制[(0.14±0.01) vs (0.18±0.04),P＜0.05;(0.23±0.01)vs(0.32±0.01),P＜0.01;(0.45±0.03) vs (0.80±0.05),P＜0.01;(0.83 ±0.03)vs (1.18±0.10),P＜0.01].结论:USP53在结直肠癌中表达下调与不良预后相关,USP53可抑制肿瘤细胞增殖,提示USP53可作为诊断及治疗结直肠癌的新靶标.     

Knockdown of USP39 induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in melanoma

The spliceosome machinery composed of multimeric protein complexes guides precursor messenger RNAs (mRNAs) (pre-mRNAs) splicing in eukaryotic cells. Spliceosome components have been shown to be downregulated in cancer and could be a promising molecular target for anticancer therapy. The ubiquitin-specific protease 39 (USP39) is essential for pre-mRNA splicing, and upregulated USP39 expression is noted in a variety of cancers. However, the role of USP39 in the development and progression of melanoma remains unclear. In the present study, USP39 expression was found to be increased in melanoma tissues compared with that in nevus tissues. USP39 silencing via lentivirus-mediated short hairpin RNA (shRNA) significantly suppressed melanoma cell proliferation, induced G0/G1 cell cycle phase arrest, and increased apoptosis in vitro. Moreover, USP39 knockdown suppressed melanoma tumor growth in a xenograft model. In addition, USP39 silencing was associated with the increased expressions of p21, p27, and Bax. Furthermore, the inhibition of USP39 expression decreased the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2, indicating that ERK signaling pathways might be involved in the regulation of melanoma cell proliferation by USP39. Our findings suggest that USP39 may play crucial roles in the development and pathogenesis of melanoma, and it may serve as a potential therapeutic target for melanoma.

     

PSMB7 is associated with anthracycline resistance and is a prognostic biomarker in breast cancer

Background:

To date individual markers have failed to correctly predict resistance against anticancer agents in breast cancer. We used gene expression patterns attributable to chemotherapy-resistant cells to detect potential new biomarkers related to anthracycline resistance. One of the genes, PSMB7, was selected for further functional studies and clinical validation.

Methods:

We contrasted the expression profiles of four pairs of different human tumour cell lines and of their counterparts resistant to doxorubicin. Observed overexpression of PSMB7 in resistant cell lines was validated by immunohistochemistry. To examine its function in chemoresistance, we silenced the gene by RNA interference (RNAi) in doxorubicin-resistant MCF-7 breast cancer cells, then cell vitality was measured after doxorubicin treatment. Microarray gene expression from GEO raw microarray samples with available progression-free survival data was downloaded, and expression of PSMB7 was used for grouping samples.

Results:

After doxorubicin treatment, 79.8±13.3% of resistant cells survived. Silencing of PSMB7 in resistant cells decreased survival to 31.8±6.4% (P>0.001). A similar effect was observed after paclitaxel treatment. In 1592 microarray samples, the patients with high PSMB7 expression had a significantly shorter survival than the patients with low expression (P<0.001).

Conclusion:

Our findings suggest that high PSMB7 expression is an unfavourable prognostic marker in breast cancer.     

Poorer outcome in stromal HIF-2 alpha- and CA9-positive colorectal adenocarcinomas is associated with wild-type TP53 but not with BNIP3 promoter hypermethylation or apoptosis

Stromal expression of hypoxia inducible factor 2 alpha (HIF-2 alpha) and carbonic anhydrase 9 (CA9) are associated with a poorer prognosis in colorectal cancer (CRC). Tumour cell death, regulated by a hypoxic stromal microenvironment, could be of importance in this respect. Therefore, we correlated apoptosis, TP53 mutational status and BNIP3 promoter hypermethylation of CRC cells with HIF-2 alpha- and CA9-related poor outcome. In a series of 195 CRCs, TP53 mutations in exons 5-8 were analysed by direct sequencing, and promoter hypermethylation of BNIP3 was determined by methylation-specific PCR. Expressions of HIF-2 alpha, CA9, p53, BNIP3 and M30 were analysed immunohistochemically. Poorer survival of HIF-2 alpha and CA9 stromal-positive CRCs was associated with wild-type TP53 (P=0.001 and P=0.0391), but not with BNIP3 methylation. Furthermore, apoptotic levels were independent of the TP53 status, but lower in unmethylated BNIP3 CRCs (P=0.004). It appears that wild-type TP53 in CRC cells favours the progression of tumours expressing markers for hypoxia in their stroma, rather than in the epithelial compartment. Preserved BNIP3 function in CRC cells lowers apoptosis, and may thus be involved in alternative cell death pathways, such as autophagic cell death. However, BNIP3 silencing in tumour cells does not impact on hypoxia-driven poorer prognosis. These results suggest that the biology of CRC cells can be modified by alterations in the tumour microenvironment under conditions of tumour hypoxia.