The loss-of-function mutations and down-regulated expression of ASB3 gene promote the growth and metastasis of colorectal cancer cells

Background: Ankyrin repeat and SOCS box protein 3(ASB3) is a member of ASB family and contains ankyrin repeat sequence and SOCS box domain. Previous studies indicated that it mediates the ubiquitination and degradation of tumor necrosis factor receptor 2 and is likely involved in inflammatory responses. However, its effects on oncogenesis are unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effects of ASB3 on the growth and metastasis of colorectal cancer(CRC).Methods: We used next?generation sequencing or Sanger sequencing to detect ASB3 mutations in CRC specimens or cell lines, and used real?time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting, and immunohistochemical or immunofluorescence assay to determine gene expression. We evaluated cell proliferation by MTT and colony for?mation assays, tested cell cycle distribution by flow cytometry, and assessed cell migration and invasion by transwell and wound healing assays. We also performed nude mouse experiments to evaluate tumorigenicity and hepatic metastasis potential of tumor cells.Results: We found that ASB3 gene was frequently mutated(5.3%) and down?regulated(70.4%) in CRC cases. Knock?down of endogenous ASB3 expression promoted CRC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro and facilitated tumorigenicity and hepatic metastasis in vivo. Conversely, the ectopic overexpression of wild?type ASB3, but not that of ASB3 mutants that occurred in clinical CRC tissues, inhibited tumor growth and metastasis. Further analysis showed that ASB3 inhibited CRC metastasis likely by retarding epithelial?mesenchymal transition, which was characterized by the up?regulation of β?catenin and E?cadherin and the down?regulation of transcription factor 8, N?cadherin, and vimentin.Conclusion: ASB3 dysfunction resulted from gene mutations or down?regulated expression frequently exists in CRC and likely plays a key role in the pathogenesis and progression of CRC.

ASB3基因功能缺失突变和表达下调促进结直肠癌细胞的生长和转移

背景与目的锚蛋白重复序列和SOCS盒蛋白3(ankyrin repeat and SOCS box protein 3, ASB3)是ASB家族成员,包含锚蛋白重复序列和SOCS盒结构域。以往研究表明,它介导肿瘤坏死因子受体2的泛素化和降解,并可能参与炎症反应。然而它对肿瘤发生的作用尚不清楚。本研究旨在探讨ASB3对结直肠癌(colorectal cancer, CRC)的生长与转移的影响。方法使用新一代测序或Sanger测序法检测结直肠癌标本或细胞系中的ASB3突变,并用实时定量PCR、蛋白免疫印迹、免疫组化或免疫荧光法来测定基因的表达。通过MTT和集落形成实验检测细胞的增殖,用流式细胞仪检测细胞周期分布,并用Transwell和划痕实验检测细胞迁移和侵袭。应用裸鼠实验来检测肿瘤细胞的成瘤性和肝转移。结果在结直肠癌病例中ASB3基因经常发生突变(5.3%)和下调(70.4%)。沉默内源性ABS3的表达在体外可促进结直肠癌细胞的增殖、迁移和侵袭,在体内可促进成瘤和肝转移。相反,过表达野生型ASB3可抑制肿瘤的生长和转移,而过表达ASB3突变体不具有这种抑制效应。进一步分析表明,ASB3通过上调β?catenin、E?cadherin和下调转录因子8、N?cadherin和vimentin阻止上皮?间充质转换来抑制结直肠癌转移。结论在结直肠癌中常存在ASB3基因突变或表达下调,在结直肠癌的发生和进展中起到重要作用。

Pharmacological inhibition of BAP1 recruits HERC2 to competitively dissociate BRCA1-BARD1, suppresses DNA repair and sensitizes CRC to radiotherapy

Radiotherapy is widely used in the management of advanced colorectal cancer(CRC).However,the clinical efficacy is limited by the safe irradiated dose.Sensitizing tumor cells to radiotherapy via interrupting DNA repair is a promising approach to conquering the limitation.The BRCA1-BARD1 complex has been demonstrated to play a critical role in homologous recombination(HR)DSB repair,and its functions may be affected by HERC2 or BAP1.Accumulated evidence illustrates that the ubiquitination-deubiquitination balance is involved in these processes;however,the precise mechanism for the cross-talk among these proteins in HR repair following radiation hasn’t been defined.Through activity-based profiling,we identified PT33 as an active entity for HR repair suppression.Subsequently,we revealed that BAP1 serves as a novel molecular target of PT33 via a CRISPR-based deubiquitinase screen.Mechanistically,pharmacological covalent inhibition of BAP1 with PT33 recruits HERC2 to compete with BARD1 for BRCA1 interaction,interrupting HR repair.Consequently,PT33 treatment can substantially enhance the sensitivity of CRC cells to radiotherapy in vitro and in vivo.Overall,these findings provide a mechanistic basis for PT33-induced HR suppression and may guide an effective strategy to improve therapeutic gain.

Up-regulation of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1(IDO1)expression and catalytic activity is associated with immunosuppression and poor prognosis in penile squamous cell carcinoma patients

Background: Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) and tryptophan (Trp)catabolism have been demonstrated to play an important role in tumor immunosuppression. This study examined the expression and catalytic activity of IDO1 in penilesquamous cell carcinoma (PSCC) and explored their clinical significance.Methods: IDO1 expression level, serum concentrations of Trp and kynurenine (Kyn)were examined in 114 PSCC patients by immunohistonchemistry and solid-phaseextraction-liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The survival was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier method and the log-rank test. Hazard ratio of death was analyzed via univariate and multivariate Cox regression. Immune cell types were definedby principal component analysis. The correlativity was assessed by Pearson’s correlation analysis.Results: The expression level of IDO1 in PSCC cells was positively correlatedwith serum Kyn concentration and Kyn/Trp radio (KTR;both P < 0.001) but negatively correlated with serum Trp concentration (P = 0.001). Additionally, IDO1 upregulation in cancer cells and the increase of serum KTR were significantly associated with advanced N stage (both P < 0.001) and high pathologic grade (P = 0.008and 0.032, respectively). High expression level of IDO1 in cancer cells and serumKTR were associated with short disease-specific survival (both P < 0.001). However, besides N stage (hazard radio [HR], 6.926;95% confidence interval [CI],2.458-19.068;P < 0.001) and pathologic grade (HR, 2.194;95% CI, 1.021-4.529;P = 0.038), only serum KTR (HR, 2.780;95% CI, 1.066-7.215;P = 0.036) was anindependent predictor for PSCC prognosis. IDO1 expression was positively correlated with the expression of interferon-𝛾 (IFN𝛾, P < 0.001) and immunosuppressivemarkers (programmed cell death protein 1, cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 and programmed death-ligand 1 and 2;all P < 0.05), and the infiltration ofimmune cells (including cytotoxic T lymphocytes, regulatory T lymphocytes, tumorassociated macrophages, and myeloid-derived suppressor cells;all P < 0.001) inPSCC tissues. Furthermore, the expression of IDO1 was induced by IFN𝛾 in a dosedependent manner in PSCC cells.Conclusions: IFN𝛾-induced IDO1 plays a crucial role in immunoediting andimmunosuppression in PSCC. Additionally, serum KTR, an indicator of IDO1catabolic activity, can be utilized as an independent prognostic factor for PSCC.