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Introduction: Tumor-associated macrophages, which are part of the tumor microenvironment, are a major factor in cancer progression. However, a complete understanding of the regulatory mechanism of M2 polarization of macrophages (Mø) in liver cancer is yet to be established. This study aimed to investigate the potential mechanism by which NEIL3 influenced M2 Mø polarization in liver cancer. Methods: Bioinformatics analysis analyzed NEIL3 expression and its enriched pathways in liver cancer tissue, as well as its correlation with pathway genes. The upstream transcription factor of NEIL3, TFAP2A, was predicted and its expression in liver cancer tissue was analyzed. The binding relationship between the two was analyzed by dual-luciferase reporter and chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments. qRT-PCR assessed NEIL3 and TFAP2A levels in liver cancer cells. Cell viability was detected by CCK-8, while CD206 and CD86 expression was detected by immunofluorescence. IL-10 and CCR2 expressions were assessed using qRT-PCR, and M2 Mø quantity was detected using flow cytometry. Reagent kits tested glutamine (Gln) consumption, α-ketoglutarate, and glutamate content, as well as NADPH/NADP+ and GSH/GSSG ratios. Expression of Gln transport proteins was detected using Western blot. An animal model was established to investigate the influence of NEIL3 expression on liver cancer growth. Results: NEIL3 was highly expressed in liver cancer and promoted Mø M2 polarization through Gln metabolism. TFAP2A was identified as the upstream transcription factor of NEIL3 and was highly expressed in liver cancer. Rescue experiments presented that overexpression of NEIL3 reversed the suppressive effect of TFAP2A knockdown on Mø M2 polarization in liver cancer. In vivo experiments demonstrated that the knockdown of NEIL3 could significantly repress the growth of xenograft tumors. Conclusion: This study suggested that the TFAP2A/NEIL3 axis promoted Mø M2 polarization through Gln metabolism, providing a theoretical basis for immune therapy targeting the liver cancer TME. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Renal cell carcinoma (RCC), one of the most fatal urologic tumors, accounts for approximately 3% of all adult cancers and exhibits a high metastatic index at diagnosis and a high rate of relapse. Radical or partial nephrectomy is a curative option for nonmetastatic RCCs. Targeted therapy has been shown to improve the survival of patients with metastatic RCCs. However, the underlying cellular and molecular events associated with RCC pathogenesis are not well known. Methods To investigate the clinical role of the transcription factor activator protein (AP)-2α in RCC, methylated CpG island recovery assays and microarray analysis were employed. COBRA and RT‒qPCR assays were performed to assess AP-2α expression in RCC. Results A negative correlation was noted between AP-2α mRNA expression levels and methylation status. Multivariate analyses showed that AP-2α mRNA was a major risk factor not only for overall and disease-free survival in RCC but also for disease-free survival in clear cell RCC. Conclusions Our results indicated that AP-2α expression was deregulated in RCC and associated with overall patient survival and disease-free survival. Such findings suggest that AP-2α might play an important role in the pathogenesis of RCC.

Abstract Background Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) represents a highly aggressive subset of breast malignancies characterized by its challenging clinical management and unfavorable prognosis. While TFAP2A, a member of the AP-2 transcription factor family, has been implicated in maintaining the basal phenotype of breast cancer, its precise regulatory role in TNBC remains undefined. Methods In vitro assessments of TNBC cell growth and migratory potential were conducted using MTS, colony formation, and EdU assays. Quantitative PCR was employed to analyze mRNA expression levels, while Western blot was utilized to evaluate protein expression and phosphorylation status of AKT and ERK. The post-transcriptional regulation of TFAP2A by miR-8072 and the transcriptional activation of SNAI1 by TFAP2A were investigated through luciferase reporter assays. A xenograft mouse model was employed to assess the in vivo growth capacity of TNBC cells. Results Selective silencing of TFAP2A significantly impeded the proliferation and migration of TNBC cells, with elevated TFAP2A expression observed in breast cancer tissues. Notably, TNBC patients exhibiting heightened TFAP2A levels experienced abbreviated overall survival. Mechanistically, TFAP2A was identified as a transcriptional activator of SNAI1, a crucial regulator of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cellular proliferation, thereby augmenting the oncogenic properties of TFAP2A in TNBC. Moreover, miR-8072 was unveiled as a negative regulator of TFAP2A, exerting potent inhibitory effects on TNBC cell growth and migration. Importantly, the tumor-suppressive actions mediated by the miR-8072/TFAP2A axis were intricately associated with the attenuation of AKT/ERK signaling cascades and the blockade of EMT processes. Conclusions Our findings unravel the role and underlying molecular mechanism of TFAP2A in driving tumorigenesis of TNBC. Targeting the TFAP2A/SNAI1 pathway and utilizing miR-8072 as a suppressor represent promising therapeutic strategies for treating TNBC.

Background: Renal cell carcinoma (RCC), one of the most fatal urologic tumors, accounts for approximately 3% of all adult cancers and exhibits a high metastatic index at diagnosis and a high rate of relapse. Radical or partial nephrectomy is a curative option for nonmetastatic RCCs. Targeted therapy has been shown to improve the survival of patients with metastatic RCCs. However, the underlying cellular and molecular events associated with RCC pathogenesis are not well known. Methods: To investigate the clinical role of the transcription factor activator protein (AP)-2α in RCC, methylated CpG island recovery assays and microarray analysis were employed. COBRA and RT‒qPCR assays were performed to assess AP-2α expression in RCC. Results: A negative correlation was noted between AP-2α mRNA expression levels and methylation status. Multivariate analyses showed that AP-2α mRNA was a major risk factor not only for overall and disease-free survival in RCC but also for disease-free survival in clear cell RCC. Conclusions: Our results indicated that AP-2α expression was deregulated in RCC and associated with overall patient survival and disease-free survival. Such findings suggest that AP-2α might play an important role in the pathogenesis of RCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is a fatal disease with metabolic abnormalities. The dysregulation of S100 calcium‐binding protein A2 (S100A2), a member of the S100 protein family, is connected to the development of various cancers. The impact of S100A2 on the LUAD occurrence and metastasis, however, has not yet been reported. The functional mechanism of S100A2 on LUAD cell metastasis was examined in this article. Methods: The expression of TFAP2A and S100A2 in LUAD tissues and cells was analyzed by bioinformatics and qRT‐PCR, respectively. The enrichment pathway analysis was performed on S100A2. Bioinformatics analysis determined the binding relationship between TFAP2A and S100A2, and their interaction was validated through dual‐luciferase and chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments. Cell viability was determined using cell counting kit‐8 (CCK‐8). A transwell assay was performed to analyze the invasion and migration of cells. Immunofluorescence was conducted to obtain vimentin and E‐cadherin expression, and a western blot was used to detect the expression of MMP‐2, MMP‐9, GLS, and GLUD1. The kits measured the NADPH/NADP ratio, glutathione (GSH)/glutathione disulfide (GSSG) levels, and the contents of glutamine, α‐KG, and glutamate. Results: S100A2 was upregulated in LUAD tissues and cells, and S100A2 mediated glutamine metabolism to induce LUAD metastasis. Additionally, the transcriptional regulator TFAP2A was discovered upstream of S100A2, and TFAP2A expression was upregulated in LUAD, which indicated that TFAP2A promoted the S100A2 expression. The rescue experiment found that upregulation of S100A2 could reverse the inhibitory effects of silencing TFAP2A on glutamine metabolism and cell metastasis. Conclusion: In conclusion, by regulating glutamine metabolism, the TFAP2A/S100A2 axis facilitated LUAD metastasis. This suggested that targeting S100A2 could be beneficial for LUAD treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potential role and associated mechanisms of Annexin A8 (ANXA8), a member of the Annexins family, in cervical squamous cell carcinoma (CESC) are still unclear, despite being upregulated in various malignant tumors. Here, we observed a notably elevated expression of ANXA8 in CESC cells. The inhibition of ANXA8 amplified the susceptibility of CESC cells to Erastin and sorafenib-induced ferroptosis, whereas it exerted minimal influence on DPI7 and DPI10-induced ferroptosis. The results from the Fe2+ concentration assay showed no significant correlation between ANXA8 gene knockdown and intracellular Fe2+ concentration induced by ferroptosis inducers. Western blot analysis demonstrated that the knockdown of ANXA8 did not alter ACSL4 and LPCAT levels under ferroptosis-inducing conditions, but it did result in a reduction in intracellular GSH levels induced by the ferroptosis inducer. Subsequently, we identified TFAP2A as an upstream transcription factor of ANXA8, which plays a role in regulating cell ferroptosis. The knockdown of TFAP2A significantly elevated MDA levels and depressed GSH levels in the presence of a ferroptosis inducer, thereby inhibiting cell ferroptosis. However, this inhibitory effect could be reversed by ANXA8 overexpression. Therefore, our research suggests that the TFAP2A/ANXA8 axis exerts regulatory control over ferroptosis in CESC cells by mediating GSH synthesis in System Xc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Studies have shown that glycolysis metabolism affects the resistance or sensitivity of tumors to chemotherapy drugs. Emerging from recent research, a paradigm-shifting revelation has unfolded, elucidating the oncogenic nature of SKA3 within the context of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). Consequently, this work was designed to delve into the effects of SKA3 on glycolysis and cisplatin (CDDP) resistance in LUAD cells and to find new possibilities for individualized treatment of LUAD. Methods: LUAD mRNA expression data from the TCGA database were procured to scrutinize the differential expression patterns of SKA3 in both tumor and normal tissues. GSEA and Pearson correlation analyses were employed to elucidate the impact of SKA3 on signaling pathways within the context of LUAD. In order to discern the upstream regulatory mechanisms, the ChEA and JASPAR databases were utilized to predict the transcription factors and binding sites associated with SKA3. qRT-PCR and Western blot were implemented to assay the mRNA and protein expression levels of SKA3 and TFAP2A. Chromatin immunoprecipitation and dual-luciferase assays were performed to solidify the binding relationship between the two. Extracellular acidification rate, glucose consumption, lactate production, and glycolysis-related proteins (HK2, GLUT1, and LDHA) were used to evaluate the level of glycolysis. Cell viability under CDDP treatment was determined utilizing the CCK-8, allowing for the calculation of IC50. The expression levels of SKA3 and TFAP2A proteins were detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Results: SKA3 exhibited upregulation in LUAD tissues and cell lines, establishing a direct linkage with glycolysis pathway. Overexpression of SKA3 fostered glycolysis in LUAD, resulting in reduced sensitivity toward CDDP treatment. The upstream transcription factor of SKA3, TFAP2A, was also upregulated in LUAD and could promote SKA3 transcription. Overexpression of TFAP2A also fostered the glycolysis of LUAD. Rescue assays showed that TFAP2A promoted glycolysis in LUAD cells by activating SKA3, reducing the sensitivity of LUAD cells to CDDP. The IHC analysis revealed a positive correlation between high expression of SKA3 and TFAP2A and CDDP resistance. Conclusion: In summary, TFAP2A can transcriptionally activate SKA3, promote glycolysis in LUAD, and protect LUAD cells from CDDP treatment, indicating that targeting the TFAP2A/SKA3 axis may become a plausible and pragmatic therapeutic strategy for the clinical governance of LUAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) represents a highly aggressive subset of breast malignancies characterized by its challenging clinical management and unfavorable prognosis. While TFAP2A, a member of the AP-2 transcription factor family, has been implicated in maintaining the basal phenotype of breast cancer, its precise regulatory role in TNBC remains undefined. Methods: In vitro assessments of TNBC cell growth and migratory potential were conducted using MTS, colony formation, and EdU assays. Quantitative PCR was employed to analyze mRNA expression levels, while Western blot was utilized to evaluate protein expression and phosphorylation status of AKT and ERK. The post-transcriptional regulation of TFAP2A by miR-8072 and the transcriptional activation of SNAI1 by TFAP2A were investigated through luciferase reporter assays. A xenograft mouse model was employed to assess the in vivo growth capacity of TNBC cells. Results: Selective silencing of TFAP2A significantly impeded the proliferation and migration of TNBC cells, with elevated TFAP2A expression observed in breast cancer tissues. Notably, TNBC patients exhibiting heightened TFAP2A levels experienced abbreviated overall survival. Mechanistically, TFAP2A was identified as a transcriptional activator of SNAI1, a crucial regulator of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cellular proliferation, thereby augmenting the oncogenic properties of TFAP2A in TNBC. Moreover, miR-8072 was unveiled as a negative regulator of TFAP2A, exerting potent inhibitory effects on TNBC cell growth and migration. Importantly, the tumor-suppressive actions mediated by the miR-8072/TFAP2A axis were intricately associated with the attenuation of AKT/ERK signaling cascades and the blockade of EMT processes. Conclusions: Our findings unravel the role and underlying molecular mechanism of TFAP2A in driving tumorigenesis of TNBC. Targeting the TFAP2A/SNAI1 pathway and utilizing miR-8072 as a suppressor represent promising therapeutic strategies for treating TNBC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The neural plate border (NPB) of vertebrate embryos is segregated from the neural plate (NP) and epidermal regions, and comprises an intermingled group of progenitors with multiple fate potential. Recent studies have shown that, during the gastrula stage, TFAP2A acts as a pioneer factor in remodeling the epigenetic landscape required to activate components of the NPB induction program. Here, we show that chick Tfap2a has two highly conserved binding sites for miR-137, and both display a reciprocal expression pattern at the NPB and NP, respectively. In addition, ectopic miR-137 expression reduced TFAP2A, whereas its functional inhibition expanded their territorial distribution overlapping with PAX7. Furthermore, we demonstrate that loss of the de novo DNA methyltransferase DNMT3A expanded miR-137 expression to the NPB. Bisulfite sequencing revealed a markedly elevated presence of non-canonical CpH methylation within the miR-137 promoter region when comparing NPB and NP samples. Our findings show that miR-137 contributes to the robustness of NPB territorial restriction in vertebrate development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neural tube closure in vertebrates is achieved through a highly dynamic and coordinated series of morphogenic events involving neuroepithelium, surface ectoderm, and neural plate border. Failure of this process in the caudal region causes spina bifida. Grainyhead-like 3 (GRHL3) is an indispensable transcription factor for neural tube closure as constitutive inactivation of the Grhl3 gene in mice leads to fully penetrant spina bifida. Here, through single-cell transcriptomics we show that at E8.5, the time-point preceding mouse neural tube closure, co-expression of Grhl3, Tfap2a, and Tfap2c defines a previously unrecognised progenitor population of surface ectoderm integral for neural tube closure. Deletion of Grhl3 expression in this cell population using a Tfap2a-Cre transgene recapitulates the spina bifida observed in Grhl3-null animals. Moreover, conditional inactivation of Tfap2c expression in Grhl3-expressing neural plate border cells also induces spina bifida. These findings indicate that a specific neural plate border cellular cohort is required for the early-stage neurulation.

ABSTRACT Background Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is a fatal disease with metabolic abnormalities. The dysregulation of S100 calcium‐binding protein A2 (S100A2), a member of the S100 protein family, is connected to the development of various cancers. The impact of S100A2 on the LUAD occurrence and metastasis, however, has not yet been reported. The functional mechanism of S100A2 on LUAD cell metastasis was examined in this article. Methods The expression of TFAP2A and S100A2 in LUAD tissues and cells was analyzed by bioinformatics and qRT‐PCR, respectively. The enrichment pathway analysis was performed on S100A2. Bioinformatics analysis determined the binding relationship between TFAP2A and S100A2, and their interaction was validated through dual‐luciferase and chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments. Cell viability was determined using cell counting kit‐8 (CCK‐8). A transwell assay was performed to analyze the invasion and migration of cells. Immunofluorescence was conducted to obtain vimentin and E‐cadherin expression, and a western blot was used to detect the expression of MMP‐2, MMP‐9, GLS, and GLUD1. The kits measured the NADPH/NADP ratio, glutathione (GSH)/glutathione disulfide (GSSG) levels, and the contents of glutamine, α‐KG, and glutamate. Results S100A2 was upregulated in LUAD tissues and cells, and S100A2 mediated glutamine metabolism to induce LUAD metastasis. Additionally, the transcriptional regulator TFAP2A was discovered upstream of S100A2, and TFAP2A expression was upregulated in LUAD, which indicated that TFAP2A promoted the S100A2 expression. The rescue experiment found that upregulation of S100A2 could reverse the inhibitory effects of silencing TFAP2A on glutamine metabolism and cell metastasis. Conclusion In conclusion, by regulating glutamine metabolism, the TFAP2A/S100A2 axis facilitated LUAD metastasis. This suggested that targeting S100A2 could be beneficial for LUAD treatment.

Abstract Background Cancers aggressively reorganize collagen in their microenvironment, leading to the evasion of tumor cells from immune surveillance. However, the biological significance and molecular mechanism of collagen alignment in breast cancer (BC) have not been well established. Methods In this study, BC-related RNA-Seq data were obtained from the TCGA database to analyze the correlation between DDR1 and immune cells. Mouse BC cells EO771 were selected for in vitro validation, and dual-luciferase experiments were conducted to examine the effect of TFAP2A on DDR1 promoter transcription activity. ChIP experiments were performed to assess TFAP2A enrichment on the DDR1 promoter, while Me-RIP experiments were conducted to detect TFAP2A mRNA m6A modification levels, and PAR-CLIP experiments were conducted to determine VIRMA’s binding to TFAP2A mRNA and RIP experiments to investigate HNRNPC’s recognition of m6A modification on TFAP2A mRNA. Additionally, an in vivo mouse BC transplant model and the micro-physiological system was constructed for validation, and Masson staining was used to assess collagen fiber arrangement. Immunohistochemistry was conducted to identify the number of CD8-positive cells in mouse BC tumors and Collagen IV content in ECM, while CD8 + T cell migration experiments were performed to measure CD8 + T cell migration. Results Bioinformatics analysis showed that DDR1 was highly expressed in BC and negatively correlated with the proportion of anti-tumor immune cell infiltration. In vitro cell experiments indicated that VIRMA, HNRNPC, TFAP2A, and DDR1 were highly expressed in BC cells. In addition, HNRNPC promoted TFAP2A expression and, therefore, DDR1 transcription by recognizing the m6A modification of TFAP2A mRNA by VIRMA. In vivo animal experiments further confirmed that VIRMA and HNRNPC enhanced the TFAP2A/DDR1 axis, promoting collagen fiber alignment, reducing anti-tumor immune cell infiltration, and promoting immune escape in BC. Conclusion This study demonstrated that HNRNPC promoted DDR1 transcription by recognizing VIRMA-unveiled m6A modification of TFAP2A mRNA, which enhanced collagen fiber alignment and ultimately resulted in the reduction of anti-tumor immune cell infiltration and promotion of immune escape in BC.

Background: Cancers aggressively reorganize collagen in their microenvironment, leading to the evasion of tumor cells from immune surveillance. However, the biological significance and molecular mechanism of collagen alignment in breast cancer (BC) have not been well established. Methods: In this study, BC-related RNA-Seq data were obtained from the TCGA database to analyze the correlation between DDR1 and immune cells. Mouse BC cells EO771 were selected for in vitro validation, and dual-luciferase experiments were conducted to examine the effect of TFAP2A on DDR1 promoter transcription activity. ChIP experiments were performed to assess TFAP2A enrichment on the DDR1 promoter, while Me-RIP experiments were conducted to detect TFAP2A mRNA m6A modification levels, and PAR-CLIP experiments were conducted to determine VIRMA's binding to TFAP2A mRNA and RIP experiments to investigate HNRNPC's recognition of m6A modification on TFAP2A mRNA. Additionally, an in vivo mouse BC transplant model and the micro-physiological system was constructed for validation, and Masson staining was used to assess collagen fiber arrangement. Immunohistochemistry was conducted to identify the number of CD8-positive cells in mouse BC tumors and Collagen IV content in ECM, while CD8 + T cell migration experiments were performed to measure CD8 + T cell migration. Results: Bioinformatics analysis showed that DDR1 was highly expressed in BC and negatively correlated with the proportion of anti-tumor immune cell infiltration. In vitro cell experiments indicated that VIRMA, HNRNPC, TFAP2A, and DDR1 were highly expressed in BC cells. In addition, HNRNPC promoted TFAP2A expression and, therefore, DDR1 transcription by recognizing the m6A modification of TFAP2A mRNA by VIRMA. In vivo animal experiments further confirmed that VIRMA and HNRNPC enhanced the TFAP2A/DDR1 axis, promoting collagen fiber alignment, reducing anti-tumor immune cell infiltration, and promoting immune escape in BC. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that HNRNPC promoted DDR1 transcription by recognizing VIRMA-unveiled m6A modification of TFAP2A mRNA, which enhanced collagen fiber alignment and ultimately resulted in the reduction of anti-tumor immune cell infiltration and promotion of immune escape in BC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nephrons are the functional units which comprise the kidney. Each nephron contains a number of physiologically unique populations of specialized epithelial cells that are organized into discrete domains known as segments. The principles of nephron segment development have been the subject of many studies in recent years. Understanding the mechanisms of nephrogenesis has enormous potential to expand our knowledge about the basis of congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT), and to contribute to ongoing regenerative medicine efforts aimed at identifying renal repair mechanisms and generating replacement kidney tissue. The study of the zebrafish embryonic kidney, or pronephros, provides many opportunities to identify the genes and signaling pathways that control nephron segment development. Here, we describe recent advances of nephron segment patterning and differentiation in the zebrafish, with a focus on distal segment formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Neuropathic pain is a highly prevalent and refractory condition, yet its mechanism remains poorly understood. While NR1, the essential subunit of NMDA receptors, has long been recognized for its pivotal role in nociceptive transmission, its involvement in presynaptic stimulation is incompletely elucidated. Transcription factors can regulate the expression of both pro-nociceptive and analgesic factors. Our study shows that transcription factor TFAP2A was up-regulated in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons, satellite glial cells (SGCs), and Schwann cells following spinal nerve ligation (SNL). Intrathecal injection of siRNA targeting Tfap2a immediately or 7 days after SNL effectively alleviated SNL-induced pain hypersensitivity and reduced Tfap2a expression levels. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that TFAP2A may regulate the expression of the Grin1 gene, which encodes NR1. Dual-luciferase reporter assays confirmed TFAP2A's positive regulation of Grin1 expression. Notably, both Tfap2a and Grin1 were expressed in the primary SGCs and upregulated by lipopolysaccharides. The expression of Grin1 was also down-regulated in the DRG following Tfap2a knockdown. Furthermore, intrathecal injection of siRNA targeting Grin1 immediately or 7 days post-SNL effectively alleviated SNL-induced mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia. Finally, intrathecal Tfap2a siRNA alleviated SNL-induced neuronal hypersensitivity, and incubation of primary SGCs with Tfap2a siRNA decreased NMDA-induced upregulation of proinflammatory cytokines. Collectively, our study reveals the role of TFAP2A- Grin1 in regulating neuropathic pain in peripheral glia, offering a new strategy for the development of novel analgesics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transcription factor AP-2-alpha (Tfap2a) is an important sequence-specific DNA-binding protein that can regulate the transcription of multiple genes by collaborating with inducible viral and cellular enhancer elements. In this experiment, the expression, localization, and functions of Tfap2a were investigated in mouse oocytes during maturation. Overexpression via microinjection of Myc-Tfap2a mRNA into the ooplasm, immunofluorescence, and immunoblotting were used to study the role of Tfap2a in mouse oocyte meiosis. According to our results, Tfap2a plays a vital role in mouse oocyte maturation. Levels of Tfap2a in GV oocytes of mice suffering from type 2 diabetes increased considerably. Tfap2a was distributed in both the ooplasm and nucleoplasm, and its level gradually increased as meiosis resumption progressed. The overexpression of Tfap2a loosened the chromatin, accelerated germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD), and blocked the first polar body extrusion 14 h after maturation in vitro. The width of the metaphase plate at metaphase I stage increased, and the spindle and chromosome organization at metaphase II stage were disrupted in the oocytes by overexpressed Tfap2a. Furthermore, Tfap2a overexpression dramatically boosted the expression of p300 in mouse GV oocytes. Additionally, the levels of pan histone lysine acetylation (Pan Kac), histone H4 lysine 12 acetylation (H4K12ac), and H4 lysine 16 acetylation (H4K16ac), as well as pan histone lysine lactylation (Pan Kla), histone H3 lysine18 lactylation (H3K18la), and H4 lysine12 lactylation (H4K12la), were all increased in GV oocytes after Tfap2a overexpression. Collectively, Tfap2a overexpression upregulated p300, increased the levels of histone acetylation and lactylation, impeded spindle assembly and chromosome alignment, and ultimately hindered mouse oocyte meiosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is an evolutionary conserved environmental sensor identified as an indispensable regulator of epithelial homeostasis and barrier organ function. Molecular signaling cascade and target genes upon AHR activation and their contribution to cell and tissue function are however not fully understood. Multiomics analyses using human skin keratinocytes revealed that upon ligand activation, AHR binds open chromatin to induce expression of transcription factors, for example, TFAP2A, as a swift response to environmental stimuli. The terminal differentiation program, including upregulation of barrier genes, FLG and keratins, was mediated by TFAP2A as a secondary response to AHR activation. The role of AHR-TFAP2A axis in controlling keratinocyte terminal differentiation for proper barrier formation was further confirmed using CRISPR/Cas9 in human epidermal equivalents. Overall, the study provides additional insights into the molecular mechanism behind AHR-mediated barrier function and identifies potential targets for the treatment of skin barrier diseases., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Abstract Background WW Domain Containing Oxidoreductase (WWOX) belongs to the unusual tumor suppressors, whose molecular function is not fully understood in bladder cancer, especially regarding interaction with Activator Protein 2 (AP-2) α/γ transcription factors. Thus, using lentiviral systems we created an in vitro model overexpressing or downregulating WWOX in CAL-29 cell line to assess invasiveness pathways. Surprisingly, while WWOX overexpression was accompanied with increased expression of both AP-2 factors, its downregulation only affected AP-2α level but not AP-2γ which remained high. Methods Using cellular models and unpaired t-test or Wilcoxon test, we investigated significant changes in biological processes: clonogenicity, extracellular matrix adhesion, metalloproteinases activity, 3D culture growth, proliferation, mitochondrial redox potential and invasiveness. Relative gene expression acquired through Real-Time qPCR has been analyzed by Welch's t-test. Additionally, using oncoprint analysis we distinguished groups for bioinformatics analyzes in order to perform a follow-up of in vitro experiments. Results Downregulation of WWOX in bladder cancer cell line intensified ability of single cell to grow into colony, mitochondrial redox potential and proliferation rate. Moreover, these cells shown elevated pro-MMP-2/9 activity but reduced adhesion to collagen I or laminin I, as well as distinct 3D culture growth. Through global in silico profiling we determined that WWOX alters disease-free survival of bladder cancer patients and modulates vital processes through AP-2 downstream effectors. Conclusions Our research indicates that WWOX possesses tumor suppressor properties in bladder cancer but consecutive examination is required to entirely understand the contribution of AP-2γ or AP-2α.

Nephrons are the functional units which comprise the kidney. Each nephron contains a number of physiologically unique populations of specialized epithelial cells that are organized into discrete domains known as segments. The principles of nephron segment development have been the subject of many studies in recent years. Understanding the mechanisms of nephrogenesis has enormous potential to expand our knowledge about the basis of congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT), and to contribute to ongoing regenerative medicine efforts aimed at identifying renal repair mechanisms and generating replacement kidney tissue. The study of the zebrafish embryonic kidney, or pronephros, provides many opportunities to identify the genes and signaling pathways that control nephron segment development. Here, we describe recent advances of nephron segment patterning and differentiation in the zebrafish, with a focus on distal segment formation.

Following the invention of high-throughput sequencing, cancer research focused on investigating disease-related alterations, often inadvertently omitting tumor heterogeneity. This research was intended to limit the impact of heterogeneity on conclusions related to WWOX/AP-2α/AP-2γ in bladder cancer which differently influenced carcinogenesis. The study examined the signaling pathways regulated by WWOX-dependent AP-2 targets in cell lines as biological replicates using high-throughput sequencing. RT-112, HT-1376 and CAL-29 cell lines were subjected to two stable lentiviral transductions. Following CAGE-seq and differential expression analysis, the most important genes were identified and functionally annotated. Western blot was performed to validate the selected observations. The role of genes in biological processes was assessed and networks were visualized. Ultimately, principal component analysis was performed. The studied genes were found to be implicated in MAPK, Wnt, Ras, PI3K-Akt or Rap1 signaling. Data from pathways were collected, explaining the differences/similarities between phenotypes. FGFR3, STAT6, EFNA1, GSK3B, PIK3CB and SOS1 were successfully validated at the protein level. Afterwards, a definitive network was built using 173 genes. Principal component analysis revealed that the various expression of these genes explains the phenotypes. In conclusion, the current study certified that the signaling pathways regulated by WWOX and AP-2α have more in common than that regulated by AP-2γ. This is because WWOX acts as an EMT inhibitor, AP-2γ as an EMT enhancer while AP-2α as a MET inducer. Therefore, the relevance of AP-2γ in targeted therapy is now more evident. Some of the differently regulated genes can find application in bladder cancer treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pancreatic cancer is a highly fatal malignant tumor of the digestive system. It is characterized by early metastasis and high mortality rates. Solasonine, a steroidal alkaloid, is derived from Solanum nigrum L. , a natural herb. Solasonine is associated with excellent anti-tumor effects, however, its effects on pancreatic cancer have not been fully established. Pancreatic cancer cells (PANC-1 and CFPAC-1) were used to verify the in vitro and in vivo effects of solasonine. Metabolomics were used to evaluate its underlying mechanisms. Solasonine promoted PANC-1 and CFPAC-1 cell apoptosis while inhibiting their proliferation, migration and invasion. Mouse xenograft models and metastasis models of ANC-1 and CFPAC-1 confirmed that solasonine blocked tumor formation and metastasis. Metabolomics confirmed the effects of solasonine on glutathione metabolism and SLC7A11-mediated ferroptosis. Furthermore, Co-Immunoprecipitation and Duolink® in situ PLA confirmed that OTUB1, a deubiquitylating enzyme, interacted with SLC7A11 and solasonine to enhance ubiquitinated degradation of SLC7A11 in PANC-1 and CFPAC-1 cells. Besides, molecular docking confirmed that solasonine directly bound TFAP2A and suppressed its protein levels. Bioinformatics and luciferase assays revealed that TFAP2A binds the OTUB1 promoter region, thereby promoting its transcription. In summary, solasonine inhibits the TFAP2A/OTUB1 SLC7A11 axis to activate ferroptosis and suppress pancreatic cancer cell progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pancreatic cancer is a highly fatal malignant tumor of the digestive system. It is characterized by early metastasis and high mortality rates. Solasonine, a steroidal alkaloid, is derived from Solanum nigrum L., a natural herb. Solasonine is associated with excellent anti-tumor effects, however, its effects on pancreatic cancer have not been fully established. Pancreatic cancer cells (PANC-1 and CFPAC-1) were used to verify the in vitro and in vivo effects of solasonine. Metabolomics were used to evaluate its underlying mechanisms. Solasonine promoted PANC-1 and CFPAC-1 cell apoptosis while inhibiting their proliferation, migration and invasion. Mouse xenograft models and metastasis models of ANC-1 and CFPAC-1 confirmed that solasonine blocked tumor formation and metastasis. Metabolomics confirmed the effects of solasonine on glutathione metabolism and SLC7A11-mediated ferroptosis. Furthermore, Co-Immunoprecipitation and Duolink®in situ PLA confirmed that OTUB1, a deubiquitylating enzyme, interacted with SLC7A11 and solasonine to enhance ubiquitinated degradation of SLC7A11 in PANC-1 and CFPAC-1 cells. Besides, molecular docking confirmed that solasonine directly bound TFAP2A and suppressed its protein levels. Bioinformatics and luciferase assays revealed that TFAP2A binds the OTUB1 promoter region, thereby promoting its transcription. In summary, solasonine inhibits the TFAP2A/OTUB1 SLC7A11 axis to activate ferroptosis and suppress pancreatic cancer cell progression.

Neural tube closure in vertebrates is achieved through a highly dynamic and coordinated series of morphogenic events involving neuroepithelium, surface ectoderm, and neural plate border. Failure of this process in the caudal region causes spina bifida. Grainyhead-like 3 (GRHL3) is an indispensable transcription factor for neural tube closure as constitutive inactivation of the Grhl3 gene in mice leads to fully penetrant spina bifida. Here, through single-cell transcriptomics we show that at E8.5, the time-point preceding mouse neural tube closure, co-expression of Grhl3 , Tfap2a , and Tfap2c defines a previously unrecognised progenitor population of surface ectoderm integral for neural tube closure. Deletion of Grhl3 expression in this cell population using a Tfap2a-Cre transgene recapitulates the spina bifida observed in Grhl3 -null animals. Moreover, conditional inactivation of Tfap2c expression in Grhl3 -expressing neural plate border cells also induces spina bifida. These findings indicate that a specific neural plate border cellular cohort is required for the early-stage neurulation., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Authors.)

Ferroptosis is recently discovered as an important player in the initiation, proliferation, and progression of human tumors. Insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding protein 3 (IGF2BP3) has been reported as an oncogene in multiple types of cancers, including lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). However, little research has been designed to investigate the regulation of IGF2BP3 on ferroptosis in LUAD. qRT-PCR and western blot were used to measure the mRNA and protein expression of IGF2BP3 and transcription factor AP-2 alpha (TFAP2A). CCK-8 assay was performed to determine cell viability. DCFH-DA and C11-BODIPY staining were used to detect the levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid ROS. The corresponding assay kits were used to analyze the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH). SRAMP website and m6A RNA immunoprecipitation (Me-RIP) were used to predict and confirm the m6A modification of TFAP2A. RIP experiments were conducted to confirm the binding of IGF2BP3 and TFAP2A. RNA stability assay was performed using actinomycin D. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and dual-luciferase reporter experiments were performed to confirm the interaction between TFAP2A and cystine/glutamate antiporter solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11) or glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4). Mice xenotransplant model was also constructed to explore the effect of IGF2BP3 on LUAD tumor growth and ferroptosis. IGF2BP3 and TFAP2A were both highly expressed in LUAD. IGF2BP3 or TFAP2A knockdown induced ferroptosis by aggravating erastin-induced cell viability suppression, increasing the production of intracellular ROS, lipid ROS, and MDA, and decreasing GSH synthesis, GSH/GSSG ratio, and cystine uptake. Mechanistically, IGF2BP3 stabilized TFAP2A expression via m6A modification. Moreover, sh-IGF2BP3-mediated ferroptosis was significantly abated by TFAP2A overexpression. Furthermore, TFAP2A binds to the promoters of SLC7A11 and GPX4 to promote their transcription. Also, IGF2BP3 depletion suppressed LUAD tumor growth by inducing ferroptosis in mice. IGF2BP3 suppresses ferroptosis in LUAD by m6A-dependent regulation of TFAP2A to promote the transcription of SLC7A11 and GPX4. Our findings suggest that targeting IGF2BP3/TFAP2A/SLC7A11/GPX4 axis might be a potential therapeutic choice to increase ferroptosis sensitivity in LUAD., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Aims: Dozens of causative genes and their mechanisms of nonsyndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate (NSCL/P) were revealed through genome‐wide association and linkage studies. Results were, however, not always replicated in different populations or methodologies. This study used case–control and family based approaches to investigate the etiology of NSCL/P and its two subtypes: nonsyndromic cleft lip only (NSCLO) and nonsyndromic cleft lip and palate (NSCLP) among the Vietnamese population. Methods: Two hundred and seventeen NSCL/P case‐parent trios (one affected child and two parents), including 105 NSCLO and 112 NSCLP were involved for a family based design; and 273 ethnic and region‐matched healthy controls with no cleft history in their families were recruited for a case–control design. Three SNPs consisting of TFAP2A (rs1675414 and rs303048) and 8q24 (rs987525) were genotyped using the TaqMan SNP genotyping assay. Results: TFAP2A rs1675414 was associated with NSCLO, replicated by both case‐control and family based tests. Other SNPs yielded no evidence of susceptibility to NSCL/P or two subtypes. Conclusion: The current investigation suggests an intriguing role of TFAP2A in the etiology of NSCLO among the Vietnamese population. This study used case‐control and family‐based approaches to investigate the etiology of NSCL/P and its two subtypes: nonsyndromic cleft lip only (NSCLO), nonsyndromic cleft lip and palate (NSCLP) among Vietnamese population. TFAP2A rs1675414 was associated with NSCLO, replicated by both case‐control and family‐based tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Aims Dozens of causative genes and their mechanisms of nonsyndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate (NSCL/P) were revealed through genome‐wide association and linkage studies. Results were, however, not always replicated in different populations or methodologies. This study used case–control and family based approaches to investigate the etiology of NSCL/P and its two subtypes: nonsyndromic cleft lip only (NSCLO) and nonsyndromic cleft lip and palate (NSCLP) among the Vietnamese population. Methods Two hundred and seventeen NSCL/P case‐parent trios (one affected child and two parents), including 105 NSCLO and 112 NSCLP were involved for a family based design; and 273 ethnic and region‐matched healthy controls with no cleft history in their families were recruited for a case–control design. Three SNPs consisting of TFAP2A (rs1675414 and rs303048) and 8q24 (rs987525) were genotyped using the TaqMan SNP genotyping assay. Results TFAP2A rs1675414 was associated with NSCLO, replicated by both case‐control and family based tests. Other SNPs yielded no evidence of susceptibility to NSCL/P or two subtypes. Conclusion The current investigation suggests an intriguing role of TFAP2A in the etiology of NSCLO among the Vietnamese population.

Transcription factor AP-2-alpha (Tfap2a) is an important sequence-specific DNA-binding protein that can regulate the transcription of multiple genes by collaborating with inducible viral and cellular enhancer elements. In this experiment, the expression, localization, and functions of Tfap2a were investigated in mouse oocytes during maturation. Overexpression via microinjection of Myc-Tfap2a mRNA into the ooplasm, immunofluorescence, and immunoblotting were used to study the role of Tfap2a in mouse oocyte meiosis. According to our results, Tfap2a plays a vital role in mouse oocyte maturation. Levels of Tfap2a in GV oocytes of mice suffering from type 2 diabetes increased considerably. Tfap2a was distributed in both the ooplasm and nucleoplasm, and its level gradually increased as meiosis resumption progressed. The overexpression of Tfap2a loosened the chromatin, accelerated germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD), and blocked the first polar body extrusion 14 h after maturation in vitro. The width of the metaphase plate at metaphase I stage increased, and the spindle and chromosome organization at metaphase II stage were disrupted in the oocytes by overexpressed Tfap2a. Furthermore, Tfap2a overexpression dramatically boosted the expression of p300 in mouse GV oocytes. Additionally, the levels of pan histone lysine acetylation (Pan Kac), histone H4 lysine 12 acetylation (H4K12ac), and H4 lysine 16 acetylation (H4K16ac), as well as pan histone lysine lactylation (Pan Kla), histone H3 lysine18 lactylation (H3K18la), and H4 lysine12 lactylation (H4K12la), were all increased in GV oocytes after Tfap2a overexpression. Collectively, Tfap2a overexpression upregulated p300, increased the levels of histone acetylation and lactylation, impeded spindle assembly and chromosome alignment, and ultimately hindered mouse oocyte meiosis.

Colorectal cancer stem cells (CSCs) have the potential for self-renewal, proliferation, and differentiation. And LGR5 is a stem cell marker gene of colorectal cancer. Curcumin can suppress oncogenicity of many cancer cells, yet the effect and mechanism of curcumin in LGR5(+) colorectal cancer stem cells (CSCs) have not been studied. In this study, we studied the effect of curcumin on LGR5(+) colorectal CSCs using the experiments of tumorsphere formation, cell viability and cell apoptosis. Then autophagy analysis, RNA-Seq, and real-time PCR were used to identify the mechanism responsible for the inhibition of LGR5(+) colorectal CSCs. Our results showed that curcumin inhibited tumorsphere formation, decreased cell viability in a dose-dependent manner, and also promoted apoptosis of LGR5(+) colorectal CSCs. Next, we found curcumin induced autophagy of LGR5(+) colorectal CSCs. When LGR5(+) colorectal CSCs were co-treated with curcumin and the autophagy inhibitor (hydroxychloroquine), curcumin-induced cell proliferation inhibition decreased. In addition, we also found that curcumin inhibited the extracellular matrix (ECM)-receptor interaction pathway via the downregulation of the following genes: GP1BB, COL9A3, COMP, AGRN, ITGB4, LAMA5, COL2A1, ITGB6, ITGA1, and TNC. Further, these genes were transcriptionally regulated by TFAP2A, and the high expression of TFAP2A was associated with poor prognosis in colorectal cancer. In conclusion, curcumin suppressed LGR5(+) colorectal CSCs, potentially by inducing autophagy and repressing the oncogenic TFAP2A-mediated ECM pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • MiR-1293 increases cisplatin-sensitivity in osteosarcoma. • MiR-1293 suppresses metastasis of osteosarcoma. • Higher levels of miR-1293 in prechemotherapy patients have better prognosis. • MiR-1293 targets TIMP1 to inactivate the Notch1/Hes1 and TGFBR1/Smad2/3 pathways. • Cisplatin elevated miR-1293 by hypomethylating its promoter and blocking TFAP2A. Chemotherapy is considered the primary treatment for osteosarcoma. however, its effectiveness is limited due to drug resistance and toxicity. Thus, identifying novel therapeutic targets to enhance the efficacy of chemotherapy is urgently needed. Here, we identified a novel cisplatin-sensitivity enhancing mechanism via up-regulation of the tumour suppressor gene, miR-1293. Meanwhile, higher levels of miR-1293 observed in prechemotherapy patients were associated with a more favorable prognosis. The mechanism underlying cisplatin upregulated miR-1293 expression involves hypomethylation of the miR-1293 promoter, which blocks the binding of the transcription repressor TFAP2A to the promoter. Furthermore, miR-1293 inhibits osteosarcoma progression by targeting TIMP1 to inactivate the Notch1/Hes1 and TGFBR1/Smad2/3 pathways, thereby promoting tumour cell death. The findings presented herein unveil a novel mechanism for enhancing cisplatin sensitivity and proposed a potential therapeutic strategy for osteosarcoma through pre-chemotherapy supplementation of miR-1293. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in the occurrence and development of human cancers including lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). SLC2A1-AS1 is a novel lncRNA that has been reported to be exceptionally expressed in several cancer types. However, the expression and role of SLC2A1-AS1 in cancer remains largely unclear. In this study, it was revealed that lncRNA SLC2A1-AS1 was notably over-expressed in LUAD and was closely correlated with patients' overall survival (OS). Knockdown of SLC2A1-AS1 could significantly restrain cell proliferation of LUAD in vitro, while over-expression of SLC2A1-AS1 had the accelerative effect. SLC2A1-AS1 enriched in the cytoplasm of LUAD cells could directly bind to miR-508-5p and negatively regulate its level. The inhibitory effect of miR-508-5p on LUAD cell proliferation was in part abrogated by SLC2A1-AS1 manipulation. Moreover, the transcription factor activating enhancer binding protein 2 α (TFAP2A) was highly expressed in LUAD and predicted worse patients' OS. TFAP2A could directly bind to the promoter region of SLC2A1-AS1 encoding gene and positively regulate the transcription of SLC2A1-AS1 in LUAD cells. Furthermore, TFAP2A-induced SLC2A1-AS1 promoted cell proliferation of lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) and pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD). Collectively, these findings suggest that TFAP2A-mediated lncRNA SLC2A1-AS1 works as an oncogene to drive cancer cell proliferation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: WW Domain Containing Oxidoreductase (WWOX) belongs to the unusual tumor suppressors, whose molecular function is not fully understood in bladder cancer, especially regarding interaction with Activator Protein 2 (AP-2) α/γ transcription factors. Thus, using lentiviral systems we created an in vitro model overexpressing or downregulating WWOX in CAL-29 cell line to assess invasiveness pathways. Surprisingly, while WWOX overexpression was accompanied with increased expression of both AP-2 factors, its downregulation only affected AP-2α level but not AP-2γ which remained high.Methods: Using cellular models and unpaired t-test or Wilcoxon test, we investigated significant changes in biological processes: clonogenicity, extracellular matrix adhesion, metalloproteinases activity, 3D culture growth, proliferation, mitochondrial redox potential and invasiveness. Relative gene expression acquired through Real-Time qPCR has been analyzed by Welch's t-test. Additionally, using oncoprint analysis we distinguished groups for bioinformatics analyzes in order to perform a follow-up of in vitro experiments.Results: Downregulation of WWOX in bladder cancer cell line intensified ability of single cell to grow into colony, mitochondrial redox potential and proliferation rate. Moreover, these cells shown elevated pro-MMP-2/9 activity but reduced adhesion to collagen I or laminin I, as well as distinct 3D culture growth. Through global in silico profiling we determined that WWOX alters disease-free survival of bladder cancer patients and modulates vital processes through AP-2 downstream effectors.Conclusions: Our research indicates that WWOX possesses tumor suppressor properties in bladder cancer but consecutive examination is required to entirely understand the contribution of AP-2γ or AP-2α. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IntroductionThe presence of common fragile sites is associated with no-accidental chromosomal instability which occurs prior to carcinogenesis. The WWOX gene spans the second most active fragile site: FRA16D. Chromosomal breakage at this site is more common in bladder cancer patients who are tobacco smokers which suggests the importance of WWOX gene loss regarding bladder carcinogenesis. Tryptophan domains of WWOX are known to recognize motifs of other proteins such as AP-2α and AP-2γ allowing protein-protein interactions. While the roles of both AP-2 transcription factors are important for bladder carcinogenesis, their nature is different. Based on the literature, AP-2γ appears to be oncogenic, whereas AP-2α mainly exhibits tumor suppressor character. Presumably, the interaction between WWOX and both transcription factors regulates thousands of genes, hence the aim of the present study was to determine WWOX, AP-2α, and AP-2γ function in modulating biological processes of bladder cancer.MethodsRT-112 cell line (grade II bladder cancer) was subjected to two stable lentiviral transductions. Overall, this resulted in six variants to investigate distinct WWOX, AP-2α, or AP-2γ function as well as WWOX in collaboration with a particular transcription factor. Cellular models were examined with immunocytochemical staining and in terms of differences in biological processes using assays investigating cell viability, proliferation, apoptosis, adhesion, clonogenicity, migration, activity of metalloproteinases and 3D culture growth.ResultsWWOX overexpression increased apoptosis but decreased cell viability, migration and large spatial colonies. AP-2α overexpression decreased tumor cell viability, migratory potential, matrix metalloproteinase-2 activity and clonogenicity. AP-2γ overexpression decreased matrix metalloproteinase-2 activity but increased wound healing, adhesion, clonogenicity and spatial colony formation. WWOX and AP-2α overexpression induced apoptosis but decreased cell viability, adhesion, matrix metalloproteinase-2 activity, overall number of cultured colonies and migration rate. WWOX and AP-2γ overexpression decreased tumor cell viability, proliferation potential, adhesion, clonogenicity and the ability to create spatial structures, but also increased apoptosis or migration rate.ConclusionCo-overexpression of WWOX with AP-2α or WWOX with AP-2γ resulted in a net anti-tumor effect. However, considering this research findings and the difference between AP-2α and AP-2γ, we suggest that this similarity is due to a divergent behavior of WWOX.

Following the invention of high-throughput sequencing, cancer research focused on investigating disease-related alterations, often inadvertently omitting tumor heterogeneity. This research was intended to limit the impact of heterogeneity on conclusions related to WWOX/AP-2α/AP-2γ in bladder cancer which differently influenced carcinogenesis. The study examined the signaling pathways regulated by WWOX-dependent AP-2 targets in cell lines as biological replicates using high-throughput sequencing. RT-112, HT-1376 and CAL-29 cell lines were subjected to two stable lentiviral transductions. Following CAGE-seq and differential expression analysis, the most important genes were identified and functionally annotated. Western blot was performed to validate the selected observations. The role of genes in biological processes was assessed and networks were visualized. Ultimately, principal component analysis was performed. The studied genes were found to be implicated in MAPK, Wnt, Ras, PI3K-Akt or Rap1 signaling. Data from pathways were collected, explaining the differences/similarities between phenotypes. FGFR3, STAT6, EFNA1, GSK3B, PIK3CB and SOS1 were successfully validated at the protein level. Afterwards, a definitive network was built using 173 genes. Principal component analysis revealed that the various expression of these genes explains the phenotypes. In conclusion, the current study certified that the signaling pathways regulated by WWOX and AP-2α have more in common than that regulated by AP-2γ. This is because WWOX acts as an EMT inhibitor, AP-2γ as an EMT enhancer while AP-2α as a MET inducer. Therefore, the relevance of AP-2γ in targeted therapy is now more evident. Some of the differently regulated genes can find application in bladder cancer treatment.

Introduction: The presence of common fragile sites is associated with no-accidental chromosomal instability which occurs prior to carcinogenesis. The WWOX gene spans the second most active fragile site: FRA16D. Chromosomal breakage at this site is more common in bladder cancer patients who are tobacco smokers which suggests the importance of WWOX gene loss regarding bladder carcinogenesis. Tryptophan domains of WWOX are known to recognize motifs of other proteins such as AP-2α and AP-2γ allowing protein-protein interactions. While the roles of both AP-2 transcription factors are important for bladder carcinogenesis, their nature is different. Based on the literature, AP-2γ appears to be oncogenic, whereas AP-2α mainly exhibits tumor suppressor character. Presumably, the interaction between WWOX and both transcription factors regulates thousands of genes, hence the aim of the present study was to determine WWOX, AP-2α, and AP-2γ function in modulating biological processes of bladder cancer. Methods: RT-112 cell line (grade II bladder cancer) was subjected to two stable lentiviral transductions. Overall, this resulted in six variants to investigate distinct WWOX, AP-2α, or AP-2γ function as well as WWOX in collaboration with a particular transcription factor. Cellular models were examined with immunocytochemical staining and in terms of differences in biological processes using assays investigating cell viability, proliferation, apoptosis, adhesion, clonogenicity, migration, activity of metalloproteinases and 3D culture growth. Results: WWOX overexpression increased apoptosis but decreased cell viability, migration and large spatial colonies. AP-2α overexpression decreased tumor cell viability, migratory potential, matrix metalloproteinase-2 activity and clonogenicity. AP-2γ overexpression decreased matrix metalloproteinase-2 activity but increased wound healing, adhesion, clonogenicity and spatial colony formation. WWOX and AP-2α overexpression induced apoptosis but decreased cell viability, adhesion, matrix metalloproteinase-2 activity, overall number of cultured colonies and migration rate. WWOX and AP-2γ overexpression decreased tumor cell viability, proliferation potential, adhesion, clonogenicity and the ability to create spatial structures, but also increased apoptosis or migration rate. Conclusion: Co-overexpression of WWOX with AP-2α or WWOX with AP-2γ resulted in a net anti-tumor effect. However, considering this research findings and the difference between AP-2α and AP-2γ, we suggest that this similarity is due to a divergent behavior of WWOX. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Preeclampsia (PE) is a common pregnancy‐related syndrome characterized by hypertension and proteinuria, and a major cause of maternal mortality. Therefore, there is an urgent need to identify early biomarkers of PE. The aim of the present study was to identify the functions of miR‐576‐5p in PE. Methods Effects of miR‐576‐5p and transcription factor AP‐2α (TFAP2A) on invasion of human trophoblast HTR8/SVneo cells were investigated. Real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT‐qPCR) and western blotting were used to assess the expression of miR‐576‐5p, TFAP2A, E‐cad, and Vimentin in PE tissues and cells. Additionally, immunofluorescence was used to detect the expression of TFAP2A in PE trophoblastic tissue. Subsequently, constructed miR‐576‐5p mimics, miR‐576‐5p inhibitor, and siRNA‐TFAP2A plasmids were transfected into HTR8/SVneo cells for further experiments, including a CCK‐8 assay for cell proliferation, Transwell assay for cell invasion and the luciferase reporter gene system was employed for target verification. Results A lower expression of miR‐576‐5p and a higher expression of TFAP2A were identified in PE rats. E‐cadherin was highly expressed while Vimentin was downregulated. Further statistical analysis indicated that cell proliferation of HTR8/SVneo cells decreased in the miR‐576‐5p inhibitor group and increased in the miR‐576‐5p mimics and siRNA‐TFAP2A groups. miR‐576‐5p inhibitor suppressed cell invasion, and miR‐576‐5p mimics and siRNA‐TFAP2A improved cell invasion. The analysis of luciferase reporter demonstrated a decreased luciferase activity in miR‐576‐5p mimics group compared with control group, which indicates that TFAP2A may be a target of miR‐576‐5p. Interference of TFAP2A could downregulate E‐cadherin and upregulate Vimentin expression. Conclusion Overexpression of miR‐576‐5p and knockdown of TFAP2A may elevate cell proliferation and invasion of human trophoblast cells in vitro. Therefore, miR‐576‐5p may be used as a notable biomarker for the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of PE. miR‐576‐5p targeting TFAP2A deserve further investigation in order to explore their potential role in PE.

MicroRNAs (MiRNAs) have been clarified as crucial regulators of the pathological processes in various carcinomas in the past years. Interestingly, existing evidence has manifested that microRNA-204-5p (miR-204-5p) is engaged in the initiation and progression of multiple carcinomas. However, the potential of miR-204-5p in cervical cancer remains to be disentombed. This study focused on unraveling the detailed role of miR-204-5p in cervical cancer. MiR-204-5p exhibited a low level in cervical cancer cells. The functional assays demonstrated that miR-204-5p upregulation exerted suppressive impact on the functions of cervical cancer cells, including proliferation, invasion, migration and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process. Moreover, transcription factor AP-2 alpha (TFAP2A) was screened to be the most affected target gene by miR-204-5p, and TFAP2A was discovered to transcriptionally repress miR-204-5p in cervical cancer. The mutual regulation between TFAP2A and miR-204-5p was testified through molecular mechanism assays. Final rescued-function assays demonstrated that overexpression of TFAP2A could recover the suppressed cellular process caused by miR-204-5p upregulation. In conclusion, miR-204-5p/TFAP2A feedback loop promoted the proliferative and motorial capacities of cervical cancer cells. This finding suggested a novel modulatory loop of miR-204-5p/TFAP2A in cervical cancer, offering promising biomarkers for cervical cancer therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preeclampsia (PE) yields a spectrum of phenotypic expression, leading to varying degrees of hypertension, maternal renal dysfunction and placental insufficiency with resultant maternal and neonatal morbidity. Increased sFLT1 expression contributing to angiogenic factor imbalance, placental hypoxia, failed immune adaptation to the fetus and defective decidualization are among the commonly proposed theories of PE pathogenesis. Recently researchers have focused their attention on the events that occur at the maternal fetal interface as potential contributors to PE pathogenesis. Decidual stromal cells (DSC) isolated from preeclamptic women show diminished ability to decidualize upon stimulation and reduced capacity to downregulate sFlt-1 levels. In this study, we sought to gain insight into the molecular mechanism(s) involved in the aberrant decidualization capacity of PE DSC. Our findings using qRT-PCR show that PE DSCs have 6-fold higher basal levels of transcription factor AP2A (TFAP2A) RNA compared to women without PE and that expression of TFAP2A increases during decidualization but only in DSCs of normotensive (NT) women. Silencing of TFAP2A using Trilencer siRNA upregulated sFLT1 expression only in NT-DSCs but suppressed the expression of decidualization markers PRL, IGFBP1 and their regulator FOXO1 in cells from both groups. Collectively, our observations suggest that TFAP2A acts as a repressor of sFLT1 and plays a necessary role in decidualization possibly through interacting with another factor that is aberrantly expressed in PE DSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• 1.miR-205−5p is highly expressed in mouse thymic epithelial cells. • 2.miR-205−5p is steeply up-regulated from 1 to 9 months old TECs. • 3.miR-205−5p represses TECs proliferation via targeting Fa2h. • 4.Tfap2a can interact with miR-205−5p and be promoted by Fa2h. • 5.miR-205−5p regulates the age-associated thymus involution by mediating Fa2h-miR-205−5p-Tfap2a feedback regulatory circuit. Thymic epithelial cells (TECs) are essential regulators of T cell development and selection. microRNAs (miRNAs) play critical roles in regulating TECs proliferation during thymus involution. miR-205−5p is highly expressed in TECs and increases with age. However, the function and potential mechanism of miR-205−5p in TECs are not clear. miRNA expression was profiled using TECs from male and female mice at 1 and 3 months old. A total of 325 differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) were detected at different ages in two sexes. 24 of the DEMs had the same trend between males and females. Among them, miR-205−5p had the highest fold change. Our results showed that the expression of miR-205−5p was dramatically increased in TECs from 1 to 9 months old mice. miR-205−5p mimic inhibited TECs proliferation. Moreover, we confirmed that Fa2h was the direct target gene of miR-205−5p and FA2H was significantly decreased in TECs with increased expression of miR-205−5p. Silencing of Fa2h inhibited TECs proliferation. Furthermore, we found that the expression of Tfap2a could be promoted by FA2H and that TFAP2A could interact with miR-205−5p in TECs. Overall, miR-205−5p is an important regulator of TECs proliferation and regulates age-associated thymus involution via the miR-205−5p-FA2H-TFAP2A feedback regulatory circuit. miR-205−5p might act as a potential biomarker in TECs for age-related thymus involution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: Ferroptosis is a recently identified form of controlled cell death generally associated with the accumulation of lipid-associated reactive oxygen species (ROS). However, the molecular mechanisms underlying ferroptosis have not been established. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Microarray expression data for three human gallbladder carcinoma (GBC) and matched non-tumour specimens were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) repository. Candidate genes were filtered using bioinformatic analysis. After cell transfection, candidate gene impacts on cell proliferation, migration, invasion and ferroptosis (ferrous iron (Fe2+) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels) were assessed. RESULTS: We screened 626 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) including 465 that were downregulated and 161 that were upregulated in the three tissue pairs. These DEGs were used to construct a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. Functional enrichment analysis revealed the top three modules in the network and four hub genes. Transcription factor AP- 2 alpha (TFAP2A) was screened and showed overexpression in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) digestive system tumour data and a relationship with clinical survival. In vitro, GBC exhibited upregulated expression of TFAP2A, whose inhibition reduced GBC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Fe2+ and MDA levels were elevated. Moreover, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis revealed TFAP2A enrichment in oxidative stress. Subsequent experiments demonstrated that TFAP2A silencing attenuated the expression of key genes associated with oxidative stress such as heme oxygenase 1 (HO- 1), nuclear factor erythroid 2 like 2 (Nrf2), ferritin heavy chain 1 (FTH1) and NAD(P)H quinone dehydrogenase 1 (NQO1). CONCLUSIONS: Bioinformatic and experimental analyses reveal that TFAP2A plays a vital role in ferroptosis and hence is a potential therapeutic target for GBC treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transcription factors regulate the transcriptions and expressions of numerous target genes and direct a variety of physiological and pathological activities. To obtain a better understanding of the involvement of transcription factors during peripheral nerve repair and regeneration, significantly differentially expressed genes coding for transcription factors in rat sciatic nerves after sciatic nerve crush injury were identified. A total of 9 transcription factor genes, including GBX2, HIF3A, IRF8, LRRC63, SNAI3, SPIB, TBX21, TFAP2A, and ZBTB16 were identified to be commonly differentially expressed at 1, 4, 7, and 14 days after nerve injury. TFAP2A, a gene encoding transcription factor activating enhancer binding protein 2 alpha, was found to be critical in the regulatory network. PCR validation and immunohistochemistry staining of injured rat sciatic nerves showed that TFAP2A expression was significantly up-regulated in the Schwann cells after nerve injury for at least 2 weeks. Schwann cells transfected with TFAP2A-siRNA exhibited elevated proliferation rate and migration ability, suggesting that TFAP2A suppressed Schwann cell proliferation and migration. Collectively, our study provided a global overview of the dynamic changes of transcription factors after sciatic nerve injury, discovered key transcription factors for the regeneration process, and deepened the understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying peripheral nerve repair and regeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have identified dozens of loci associated with gout, but for most cases, the risk genes and the underlying molecular mechanisms contributing to these associations are unknown. This study sought to understand the molecular mechanism of a common genetic variant, rs780093, in the development of gout, both in vitro and in vivo. Results Nuclear receptor binding protein 1 (NRBP1), as a gout risk gene, and its regulatory region, 72 bp upstream of the transcription start site, designated as B1, were identified through integrative analyses of genome-wide genotype and DNA methylation data. We observed elevated NRBP1 expression in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from gout patients. In vitro luciferase reporter and protein pulldown assay results showed that DNA methylation could increase the binding of the transcription factor TFAP2A to B1, leading to suppressed gene expression. There results were further confirmed by in vivo bisulfite pyrosequencing showing that hypomethylation on B1 is associated with increased NRBP1 expression in gout patients. Conclusions Hypomethylation at the promoter region of NRBP1 reduces the binding of TFAP2A and thus leads to elevated NRBP1 expression, which might contribute to the development of gout.

Abstract Background The transition between epithelial and mesenchymal phenotypes (EMT) occurs in a variety of contexts. It is critical for mammalian development and it is also involved in tumor initiation and progression. Master transcription factor (TF) regulators of this process are conserved between mouse and human. Methods From a computational analysis of a variety of high-throughput sequencing data sets we initially inferred that TFAP2A is connected to the core EMT network in both species. We then analysed publicly available human breast cancer data for TFAP2A expression and also studied the expression (by mRNA sequencing), activity (by monitoring the expression of its predicted targets), and binding (by electrophoretic mobility shift assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation) of this factor in a mouse mammary gland EMT model system (NMuMG) cell line. Results We found that upon induction of EMT, the activity of TFAP2A, reflected in the expression level of its predicted targets, is up-regulated in a variety of systems, both murine and human, while TFAP2A’s expression is increased in more “stem-like” cancers. We provide strong evidence for the direct interaction between the TFAP2A TF and the ZEB2 promoter and we demonstrate that this interaction affects ZEB2 expression. Overexpression of TFAP2A from an exogenous construct perturbs EMT, however, in a manner similar to the downregulation of endogenous TFAP2A that takes place during EMT. Conclusions Our study reveals that TFAP2A is a conserved component of the core network that regulates EMT, acting as a repressor of many genes, including ZEB2. Reviewers This article has been reviewed by Dr. Martijn Huynen and Dr. Nicola Aceto.

Background: TFAP2A is critical in regulating the expression of various genes, affecting various biological processes and driving tumorigenesis and tumor development. However, the significance of TFAP2A in carcinogenesis processes remains obscure., Methods: In our study, we explored multiple databases including TCGA, GTEx, HPA, cBioPortal, TCIA, and other well-established databases for further analysis to expound TFAP2A expression, genetic alternations, and their relationship with the prognosis and cellular signaling network alternations. GO term and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis as well as GSEA were conducted to examine the common functions of TFAP2A. RT-qPCR, Western Blot and Dual Luciferase Reporter assay were employed to perform experimental validation., Results: TFAP2A mRNA expression level was upregulated and its genetic alternations were frequently present in most cancer types. The enrichment analysis results prompted us to investigate the changes in the tumor immune microenvironment further. We discovered that the expression of TFAP2A was significantly associated with the expression of immune checkpoint genes, immune subtypes, ESTIMATE scores, tumor-infiltrating immune cells, and the possible role of TFAP2A in predicting immunotherapy efficacy. In addition, high TFAP2A expression significantly correlated with several ICP genes, and promoted the expression of PD-L1 on mRNA and protein levels through regulating its expression at the transcriptional level. TFAP2A protein level was upregulated in fresh colon tumor tissue samples compared to that in the adjacent normal tissues, which essentially positively correlated with the expression of PD-L1., Conclusions: Our study suggests that targeting TFAP2A may provide a novel and effective strategy for cancer treatment.

• For the first time, NR4A1 transcript variants were identified in human granulosa cells (KGN cell line). • Two promoter regions at downstream of NR4A1 TSS were identified which is a vary rare phenomenon in gene transcription regulation. • For the first time, the view of ETS family involving in the pathological changes of PCOS characterized with hyperandrogen was proposed. Hyperandrogenism is one of the clinical and biochemical characteristics of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Our previous studies confirmed that nuclear receptor subfamily 4 group A member 1 (NR4A1), as a differentially expressed gene in the ovaries of PCOS patients, was upregulated by increased androgen. However, the potential mechanism of NR4A1 upregulation remains unknown. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms involved in NR4A1 regulation, we cloned and characterized the promoter regions of the NR4A1 gene using a series of truncated promoter plasmids in luciferase reporter assays. We identified two unique core promoters of NR4A1 located within the +1055/+1251 and +3183/+3233 regions relative to the transcription start site. TFAP2A downregulated NR4A1 expression, while five ETS transcription factors, ETS1, ELK1, ERG, FLI1 and SPI1, could upregulate NR4A1 promoter activity in HeLa cells. Of these transcription factors, ETS1 and ELK1 were the most effective ones. Moreover, all six transcription factors were confirmed to interact directly with the NR4A1 promoter. In conclusion, this study presents the first description that TFAP2A and ETS family signaling networks are involved in the androgen-mediated transcriptional regulation of NR4A1, which contributes to the understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in the TFAP2A-NR4A1 and ETS-NR4A1 signaling networks in PCOS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Transcription factor AP-2 alpha (TFAP2A) is an important transcriptional factor involved in various aspects of embryo development including neural tube closure. Tfap2a deficiency led to the failure of cranial neural-tube closure in mice and other model organisms. However, it remains largely unknown about the relationship between TFAP2A variants and human cranial neural tube defects (NTDs). The aim of this study was to find the association between TFAP2A intronic SNP rs3439413 and NTDs and to explore its function. Methods: We found an indel polymorphism rs3439413 in TFAP2A intron-5 from our previous target sequencing project. In this study, we validate its association with human NTDs in Shanxi group containing 266 NTD cases and 295 matched controls. Then, we investigated its function on transcriptional activity by dual-luciferase assays and EMSA. Results: The minor allele of rs34396413 significantly increased the risk of NTD in a Han Chinese population of Shanxi Province (P = 0.0082, OR = 1.45, 95%CI = 1.10–1.90), especially the risk of encephalocele for female (P = 0.0064, OR = 2.46, 95%CI = 1.22–4.94). Functional analysis revealed the minor allele of rs34396413 decreases transcriptional activity and attenuates transcription factor binding affinity. Conclusion: We have demonstrated that the minor allele of rs34396413 was a risk factor of NTD in the Shanxi group, providing new insight into the study of NTD etiology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The neural crest is induced at the edge between the neural plate and the nonneural ectoderm, in an area called the neural (plate) border, during gastrulation and neurulation. In recent years, many studies have explored how this domain is patterned, and how the neural crest is induced within this territory, that also participates to the prospective dorsal neural tube, the dorsalmost nonneural ectoderm, as well as placode derivatives in the anterior area. This review highlights the tissue interactions, the cell-cell signaling and the molecular mechanisms involved in this dynamic spatiotemporal patterning, resulting in the induction of the premigratory neural crest. Collectively, these studies allow building a complex neural border and early neural crest gene regulatory network, mostly composed by transcriptional regulations but also, more recently, including novel signaling interactions. Highlights • Tissue interactions and signaling involved in neural (plate) border (NB) formation in vertebrate embryos. • Key NB transcription factors and their roles in neural crest induction. • NB-GRN and the Hourglass Model of NC induction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lung cancer is the most common cancer in the world. High Mobility Group AT-Hook 1 (HMGA1) is found to be associated with the glycolytic pathway in a variety of cancers, and abnormal glycolysis function is one of the important characteristics of cancer cells. Therefore, this paper discusses the effect of HMGA1 on glycolysis of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) cells The mRNA expression data were downloaded from TCGA-LUAD database. Groups were set according to the median expression of HMGA1, followed by GSEA enrichment analysis. The upstream transcriptional regulators of HMGA1 were predicted by bioinformatics. The correlation between HMGA1 and Transcription Factor AP-2 Alpha (TFAP2A) and their expression in LUAD tissues were analyzed as well. mRNA expression levels of HMGA1 and TFAP2A were detected by qRT-PCR. The binding of HMGA1 and TFAP2A was demonstrated by ChIP and dual luciferase reporter assays. Cell function experiments were utilized to assay proliferation, apoptosis, glycolysis ability of LUAD cells, and glycolysis-related protein expression in each treatment group. HMGA1 was highly expressed in LUAD patients' tissues and enriched in the glycolytic pathway. Additionally, silencing HMGA1 markedly hampered cell proliferation and glycolysis, and promoted cell apoptosis. The upstream transcriptional regulator TFAP2A was predicted to be highly expressed in LUAD. ChIP and dual luciferase reporter assays confirmed the targeted relationship between HMGA1 and TFAP2A. Cell rescue assay confirmed that TFAP2A promoted glycolysis and LUAD progression by activating HMGA1. TFAP2A promotes glycolysis, proliferation and hampers apoptosis of LUAD cells by stimulating HMGA1. Hence, TFAP2A/HMGA1 may be a feasible therapeutic target for LUAD. All the data within this manuscript could be gotten from corresponding author at reasonable request. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]