RNA splicing is an essential step in regulating the gene posttranscriptional expression. Serine/arginine-rich splicing factors (SRSFs) are splicing regulators with vital roles in various tumors. Nevertheless, the expression patterns and functions of SRSFs in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are not fully understood.
Aims: Our previous work identified thioredoxin-like protein 2 (Txl-2) as the target of the monoclonal antibody MC3 associated with colon cancer, but its underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Txl-2, a novel thioredoxin (Trx) and nucleoside diphosphate kinase family member, is alternatively spliced and gives rise to three different Txl-2 isoforms. In this study, Txl-2 expression in colon cancer, differential functions for Txl-2 isoforms in cell invasion and metastasis, and the downstream signaling were investigated. Results: Txl-2 expression was elevated in colon cancer tissues compared to normal colonic tissues, with a high correlation between the histological grade and prognosis. Knockdown of Txl-2 expression significantly inhibited cancer cell motility, and the invasive and metastatic abilities of colon cancer cells. Interestingly, Txl-2 isoforms showed differential effects on cancer cell invasion and metastasis. Cell invasion and metastasis were significantly promoted by Txl-2b but inhibited by Txl-2c, while no obvious effect was observed for Txl-2a. Furthermore, a direct interaction was identified between Txl-2b and Ran, a Ras-related protein, by yeast two-hybrid assay and coimmunoprecipitation. PI3K pathway was found to be a major pathway mediating Txl-2b induced tumor invasion and metastasis. Innovation: The current study provides a novel biomarker and target molecule for the diagnosis and treatment of colon cancer and provides a novel paradigm to understand how alternative splicing functions in human cancer. Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate an elevated Txl-2 expression in colon cancer and that Txl-2b promotes cell invasion and metastasis through interaction with Ran and PI3K signaling pathway. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 19, 899–911.
Studies have been shown that miR-125a plays an important role in carcinogenesis, however, the role of miR-125a in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains elusive.Real time-PCR (qRT-PCR) was performed to test the significance of miR-125a in HCC. Ectopic expression of miR-125a was used to test the influences of miR-125a on proliferation and metastasis of HCC cells in vitro and in vivo. Predicted target genes of miR-125a were determined by dual-luciferase reporting, qRT-PCR, and western blot (WB) analyses. Then immunohistochemical staining (IHC) was used to detect the expression of target genes, and the correlations and prognostic values of miR-125a and its target genes were also investigated.Decreased miR-125a was observed in both HCC tissues and cell lines, and associated with patients' aggressive pathologic features. Up-regulating miR-125a significantly inhibited the malignant phenotypes by repressing the expression of matrix metalloproteinase 11 (MMP11) and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, miR-125a expression was inversely correlated with both MMP11 and VEGF-A expression in HCC tissues. Inhibiting miR-125a could increase both MMP11 and VEGF-A expression, and RNA interference targeting MMP11 or VEGF-A mRNA could rescue the loss of miR-125a functions. MiR-125a inhibits the proliferation and metastasis of HCC by targeting MMP11 and VEGF-A. Up-regulation of miR-125a might be a promising approach and a prognostic marker for HCC.
To generate phage-displayed anti-idiotypic antibody single chain variable fragments (anti-Id ScFv) MG7 to monoclonal antibody directed against gastric carcinoma so as to lay a foundation for developing anti-Id ScFv vaccine of the cancer.Balb/c mice were immunized i.p. with purified MG7 monoclonal antibody conjugated with keyhole limpet hemocyanin. mRNA was isolated from the spleens of immunized mice. Heavy and light chain genes (VH and VL) of antibody were amplified separately and assembled into ScFv genes with a specially constructed linker DNA by RT-PCR. The ScFv genes were ligated into the phagemid vector pCANTAB5E and the ligated sample was transformed into competent E. coli TG1. The transformed cells were infected with M13KO7 helper phage to yield recombinant phage, which displayed ScFv fragments as a fusion with gene 3 protein on the tips of M13 phage. After four rounds of panning with monoclonal antibody MG7, the MG7-positive clones were selected with the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) from the enriched phages. The types of the anti-Id ScFv displayed on the selected phage clones were primarily identified by competition ELISA.The VH, VL and ScFv DNAs were about 340, 320 and 750 bp respectively. Twenty-four MG7-positive clones were selected from 40 enriched phage clones. Five of the 24 clones displayed beta or gamma type anti-Id ScFv.The anti-Id ScFv frangments to MG7 monoclonal antibody can be successfully selected by recombinant phage antibody technique, which paves a way for the study of prevention and cure of gastric carcinoma using anti-Id ScFv.
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