Ying Xuan Chen

LncRNA GClnc1 Promotes Gastric Carcinogenesis and May Act as a Modular Scaffold of WDR5 and KAT2A Complexes to Specify the Histone Modification Pattern

UNLABELLED Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNA) play a role in carcinogenesis. However, the function of lncRNAs in human gastric cancer remains largely unknown. In this study, we identified a novel lncRNA, GClnc1, which was upregulated and associated with tumorigenesis, tumor size, metastasis, and poor prognosis in gastric cancer. GClnc1 affected gastric cancer cell proliferation, invasiveness, and metastasis in multiple gastric cancer models. Mechanistically, GClnc1 bound WDR5 (a key component of histone methyltransferase complex) and KAT2A histone acetyltransferase, acted as a modular scaffold of WDR5 and KAT2A complexes, coordinated their localization, specified the histone modification pattern on the target genes, including SOD2, and consequently altered gastric cancer cell biology. Thus, GClnc1 is mechanistically, functionally, and clinically oncogenic in gastric cancer. Targeting GClnc1 and its pathway may be meaningful for treating patients with gastric cancer. SIGNIFICANCE This report documents a novel lncRNA, GClnc1, which may act as a scaffold to recruit the WDR5 and KAT2A complex and modify the transcription of target genes. This study reveals that GClnc1 is an oncogenic lncRNA in human gastric cancer. Cancer Discov; 6(7); 784-801. ©2016 AACR.This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 681.

Folic acid and sodium butyrate prevent tumorigenesis in a mouse model of colorectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and its incidence has been increasing in recent years. The role of epigenetic modifications, including DNA methylation and histone modifications, has only recently been investigated. In this study, the effects of epigenetic agents such as folic acid (FA) and sodium butyrate (NaBu) on the development of colorectal cancer induced by 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH) using ICR mice was examined. Of the mice treated in a chemopreventive manner with epigenetic agents, FA and NaBu, 15–50% developed colorectal cancer at 24 weeks compared with a 95% incidence of colorectal cancer in DMH-treated control mice. Folate deficiency can alter cytosine methylation in DNA leading to inappropriate activation of the proto-oncogene c-myc. We detected lower levels of p21WAF1 gene expression in colorectal cancer samples, as well as significantly lower levels of acetylated histone H3, compared with samples from corresponding normal colorectal mucosa. In contrast, administration of NaBu increased levels of p21WAF1 mRNA and p21WAF1 protein, and was associated with an accumulation of histone acetylation. In summary, our results show that FA and NaBu reduce the incidence of colorectal cancer induced by DMH-induced in ICR mice, and therefore we hypothesize that targeting epigenetic targets should be further investigated for the prevention of colorectal cancer in humans.

TRAPPC4-ERK2 Interaction Activates ERK1/2, Modulates Its Nuclear Localization and Regulates Proliferation and Apoptosis of Colorectal Cancer Cells

The trafficking protein particle complex 4 (TRAPPC4) is implicated in vesicle-mediated transport, but its association with disease has rarely been reported. We explored its potential interaction with ERK2, part of the ERK1/2 complex in the Extracellular Signal-regulated Kinase/ Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase (ERK-MAPK) pathway, by a yeast two-hybrid screen and confirmed by co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) pull-down. Further investigation found that when TRAPPC4 was depleted, activated ERK1/2 specifically decreased in the nucleus, which was accompanied with cell growth suppression and apoptosis in colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. Overexpression of TRAPPC4 promoted cell viability and caused activated ERK1/2 to increase overall, but especially in the nucleus. TRAPPC4 was expressed more highly in the nucleus of CRC cells than in normal colonic epithelium or adenoma which corresponded with nuclear staining of pERK1/2. We demonstrate here that TRAPPC4 may regulate cell proliferation and apoptosis in CRC by interaction with ERK2 and subsequently phosphorylating ERK1/2 as well as modulating the subcellular location of pERK1/2 to activate the relevant signaling pathway.

Synbindin in Extracellular Signal-Regulated Protein Kinase Spatial Regulation and Gastric Cancer Aggressiveness

BACKGROUND The molecular mechanisms that control the aggressiveness of gastric cancer (GC) remain poorly defined. Here we show that synbindin contributes to the aggressiveness of GC by activating extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) signaling on the Golgi apparatus. METHODS Expression of synbindin was examined in normal gastric mucosa (n = 44), intestinal metaplastic gastric mucosa (n = 66), and GC tissues (n=52), and the biological effects of synbindin on tumor growth and ERK signaling were detected in cultured cells, nude mice, and human tissue samples. The interaction between synbindin and mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK1)/ERK was determined by immunofluorescence and fluorescence resonance energy transfer assays. The transactivation of synbindin by nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) was detected using luciferase reporter assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation. RESULTS High expression of synbindin was associated with larger tumor size (120.8 vs 44.8 cm(3); P = .01), advanced tumor node metastasis (TNM) stage (P = .003), and shorter patient survival (hazard ratio = 1.51; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.01 to 2.27; P = .046). Synbindin promotes cell proliferation and invasion by activating ERK2 on the Golgi apparatus, and synbindin is directly transactivated by NF-κB. Synbindin expression level was statistically significantly higher in human GCs with activated ERK2 than those with low ERK2 activity (intensity score of 11.5, 95% CI = 10.4 to 12.4 vs intensity score of 4.6, 95% CI 3.9 to 5.3; P < .001). Targeting synbindin in xenograft tumors decreased ERK2 phosphorylation and statistically significantly reduced tumor volume (451.2mm(3), 95% CI = 328.3 to 574.1 vs 726.1mm(3), 95% CI = 544.2 to 908.2; P = .01). CONCLUSIONS Synbindin contributes to malignant phenotypes of GC by activating ERK on the Golgi, and synbindin is a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for GC.

Silencing of JMJD2B induces cell apoptosis via mitochondria-mediated and death receptor-mediated pathway activation in colorectal cancer.

To investigate the molecular mechanism of colorectal cancer (CRC) cell apoptosis induced by the Jumonji domain containing 2B (JMJD2B) silencing.

Mammalian target of rapamycin pathway inhibition enhances the effects of 5-aza-dC on suppressing cell proliferation in human gastric cancer cell lines

The present study aimed to evaluate the relationship between mTOR signaling pathway and DNA methylation in cell survival, cell cycle, gene expression and protein level on human gastric cancer cells. Human gastric cancer cell lines, MKN45 and SGC7901 were treated with 5-aza-dC, rapamycin and/or LY294002. Cell viability was analyzed by MTT. Cell cycle distribution was evaluated by flow cytometry (FCM). The transcription level of PTEN and p27Kip1 genes was detected by using real-time PCR. Protein expressions were detected by Western blotting. We found that cell viability was moderately reduced when treated with 5-aza-dC alone, but remarkably reduced when mTOR pathway was inhibited together (P<0.01). mTOR inhibition enhances the effects of 5-aza-dC on arresting cell cycle at G2 phase in human gastric cancer cell lines. The expression of PTEN and p27Kip1 mRNA was remarkably increased in the gastric cancer cells treated with combind drugs (P<0.01). Phosphorylation of Akt, p70S6K and 4E-BP1 were significantly reduced in the cells treated with LY294002 or RAPA (P<0.01), but we failed to find that 5-aza-dC enhance these effects. We suggested that mTOR inhibition could enhance the effects of 5-aza-dC on suppressing cell proliferation and arresting cell cycle in human gastric cancer cell lines, which might be a potential target for tumor therapy.

RAF may induce cell proliferation through hypermethylation of tumor suppressor gene promoter in gastric epithelial cells.

The extracellular signal‐regulated kinase/mitogen‐activated protein kinase (ERK‐MAPK) is critical in human malignancies. It remained to be established whether DNA methyltransferases (Dnmt) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) involved in DNA methylation during RAF‐transformed cell proliferation. The plasmid of constitutively active RAF was used to transfect gastric cell GES‐1 and cancer cell AGS. RAF promoted cell proliferation, growth in soft agar and induced cell cycle progress faster than empty plasmid by accelerating G1/S transition in both cell lines, a massive induction of cyclin D1 and PCNA expression was observed, along with reduced expression of p16INK4A, p21WAF1 and p27KIP1. Methylation‐specific polymerase chain reaction and bisulfite sequencing showed that the promoter of p16INK4A was methylated in RAF‐transformed cells, treatment with 5‐aza‐dC or PD98059 restored the expression of p16INK4A, increased p21WAF1 and p27KIP1 partially, associated with upregulation of the activity of Dnmt in RAF‐transformed cell GES‐1, and also decreased the hypermethylation status of p16INK4A, but not all CpG islands of p21WAF1 and p27KIP1. These data suggest that RAF may induce cell proliferation through hypermethylation of tumor suppressor gene p16INK4A, while the epigenetic inactivation of p21WAF1 and p27KIP1 may be not a key factor in RAF‐transformed cells. (Cancer Sci 2009; 100: 117–125)

Rise of PD-L1 expression during metastasis of colorectal cancer: implications for immunotherapy

Programmed death‐ligand 1 (PD‐L1) expression in colorectal cancer (CRC) was implicated in predicting anti‐PD‐1/PD‐L1 therapy efficacy. However, therapeutic response has also been found in patients without PD‐L1 expression in the primary tumor. In the present study, we aimed to clarify the prevalence of PD‐L1 in primary and metastatic CRC.

Tolvaptan in Chinese cirrhotic patients with ascites: A randomized, placebo-controlled phase 2 trial: Tolvaptan for ascites due to cirrhosis

To evaluate tolvaptan as a novel therapeutic option for Chinese patients with liver cirrhosis‐associated ascites in a phase 2 clinical trial.

Genetic variants in the histone methylation and acetylation pathway and their risks in eight types of cancers: SNP in histone modifiers and cancer

The histone methylation and acetylation pathway genes regulate cell growth and survival. Aberrations in this pathway are implicated in a variety of cancers. This study aimed to identify germline genetic variants in histone methylation and acetylation pathway genes that may contribute to risk in eight types of cancers and to explore the relation between the whole pathway and their risks in these types of cancers.