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Cancer stem cells (CSCs), a rare subset of tumor cells, have been recognized as promotive role on tumor initiation and propagation. Among, aerobic glycolysis, widely clarified in multiple tumor cells, is the key for maintaining cancer stemness. Regrettably, it is largely unknown about the connection of cellular metabolic reprogramming and stemness in gastric carcinoma (GC). Two GC parental cells lines PAMC-82 and SNU-16 and their spheroids were obtained to determine the expression status of POU1F1 using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and western blotting analysis, respectively. Gain or loss-of-function assay was employed to assess its biological effects. Sphere formation and transwell assays were performed to evaluate the stem cell-like traits, including self-renewal capacity, migration and invasion. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and luciferase reporter assays were conducted for determining the binding relationship of POU1F1 on ENO1 promoter region. Herein, aberrantly upregulated POU1F1 was observed in spheroids, compared with the parental PAMC-82 and SNU-16 cells, which promoted stem cell-like traits, as representing increasing sphere formation, enhanced cell migration and invasion. Additionally, POU1F1 expression was positively with glycolytic signaling, as displaying increasing glucose consumption, lactic acid production, and extracellular acid ratio (ECAR). Furthermore, POU1F1 was identified to be a transcriptional activator of ENO1, of which overexpression remarkably abolished POU1F1 knockdown-mediated blocking effects. Taken together, we draw a conclusion that POU1F1 facilitated the stem cell-like properties of GC cells through transcriptionally augmenting ENO1 to enhance glycolysis., (© 2023 The Authors. The Kaohsiung Journal of Medical Sciences published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Kaohsiung Medical University.)

This study explores the role of the long noncoding RNA (LncRNA) CRNDE in cisplatin (CDDP) resistance of gastric cancer (GC) cells. Here, we show that LncRNA CRNDE is upregulated in carcinoma tissues and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) of GC patients. In vitro experiments show that CRNDE is enriched in M2-polarized macrophage-derived exosomes (M2-exo) and is transferred from M2 macrophages to GC cells via exosomes. Silencing CRNDE in M2-exo reverses the promotional effect of M2-exo on cell proliferation in CDDP-treated GC cells and homograft tumor growth in CDDP-treated nude mice. Mechanistically, CRNDE facilitates neural precursor cell expressed developmentally downregulated protein 4-1 (NEDD4-1)-mediated phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) ubiquitination. Silencing CRNDE in M2-exo enhances the CDDP sensitivity of GC cells treated with M2-exo, which is reduced by PTEN knockdown. Collectively, these data reveal a vital role for CRNDE in CDDP resistance of GC cells and suggest that the upregulation of CRNDE in GC cells may be attributed to the transfer of TAM-derived exosomes., (© 2021 The Authors.)

Background: The occurrence of recurrence and metastasis after treatment is a major challenge in the treatment of gastric cancer. This study was based on the methionine (Met)-dependent characteristics of gastric cancer cells to explore the effect of Met deficiency on the occurrence and development of gastric cancer., Methods: Human gastric cancer cell lines MKN45 and AGS and nude mice model were used to explore how Met affects gastric cancer by regulating lncRNA PVT1., Results: The levels of lncRNA PVT1 in gastric cancer cells and human gastric cancer xenografts of nude mice were down-regulated under the condition of Met deficiency. The cell viability and cell proliferation were declined after MKN45 and SGC-790 cells were cultured in Met-deficient medium. LncRNA PVT1 could affect BNIP3 promoter DNA methylation level through its interaction with DNMT1. Moreover, the silence of lncRNA PVT1 and the up-regulation of BNIP3 level inhibited the gastric cancer cell proliferation. Met deficiency could up-regulate BNIP3 expression by inhibiting the binding of lncRNA PVT1 to DNMT1, and activate mitophagy, thus inhibiting gastric cancer cell proliferation., Conclusion: Our study suggested that Met deficiency could down-regulate the expression of lncRNA PVT1, further demethylated the promoter of BNIP3, thus inhibiting the proliferation of gastric cancer cells by activating mitophagy., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Gastric cancer (GC) derived exosomes (Exos) aggravate GC development by facilitating M2 macrophage polarization and long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) HCG18 was highly expressed in GC. This study aimed to investigate whether the exosomal lncRNA HCG18 regulated the M2 macrophage polarization in GC and the possible mechanism., Methods: The isolated GC cells (GCCs)-Exos were identified using transmission electron microscopy, Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis and Western blot. The GCCs-Exos function was verified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and flow cytometry. Meanwhile, the exosomal lncRNA HCG18 function was determined using thein vitro assays. Furthermore, the underlying mechanism of the exosomal lncRNA HCG18 that regulated M2 macrophage polarization in GC was investigated using dual-luciferase reporter gene assay and RNA pull-down., Results: After the validation of GCCs-Exos, the GCCs-Exos facilitated the M2 macrophage polarization. The in vitro assays confirmed that the exosomal lncRNA HCG18 positively regulated the M2 macrophage polarization. Mechanistically, lncRNA HCG18 bound to miR-875-3p, miR-875-3p bound to KLF4. Furthermore, GCCs-exosomal lncRNA HCG18 elevated the KLF4 expression by decreasing miR-875-3p in macrophages to facilitate M2 macrophage polarization, thus alleviating GC. The in vivo assays clarified that the GCCs-exosomal lncRNA HCG18 restrained the tumor growth of GC induced by M2 macrophages., Conclusion: GCCs-exosomal lncRNA HCG18 elevated KLF4 expression by decreasing miR-875-3p in macrophages to facilitate the M2 macrophage polarization., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Transcription factors (TFs) play an important role in tumors. We integrated and analyzed 13 GPL570 platform gastric cancer (GC) microarrays, identified 10 independent prognostic TFs, and constructed a GC prognostic model. Using GSE26942 as the verification set, the Kaplan-Meier curve showed that the signature distinguish the survival rate of GC patients (P < 0.01), and the AUC values are 0.746 and 0.630, respectively. Compared with the clinicopathological characteristics, the signature is an independent prognostic factor (P < 0.05). A nomogram was established based on the model, and the five-year calibration curve verified that the prediction of the nomogram was almost consistent with the actual survival rate, C-index of 0.747 indicated a moderate prognostic ability. The analysis of target genes of 10 TFs showed that they are closely related to the progression of GC. External database and rt-PCR showed that the RNA and protein expression of TFs are consistent with our analysis., (Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

This study focused on the role of methionine (MET) in the autophagy of gastric cancer stem cells (GCSCs) and aims to elaborate its regulatory mechanism. In the present study, the GCSCs were isolated from human gastric cancer cell lines using an anti-CD44 antibody, and then cultured in MET + homocysteine (HCY) - or MET - HCY + medium. In MET + HCY - treated GCSCs, autophagy was suppressed, the methylation and phosphorylation of RAB37 were elevated, and miR-200b expression was down-regulated. Lentiviral vector (LV-) carrying methionine-γ lyase (an enzyme that could specifically lyse MET; Metase) promoted autophagy, reduced the methylation and phosphorylation of RAB37, and up-regulated miR-200b expression in MET + HCY - -treated GCSCs. Then, we found that miR-200b suppressed the expression of protein kinase C α (PKCα), a protein that could inactivate RAB37 through promoting its phosphorylation. LV-Metase down-regulated RAB37 phosphorylation via miR-200b/PKCα, thus promoting the RAB37-mediated autophagy and suppressing cell viability in MET + HCY - treated GCSCs. Finally, the in vivo study proved that LV-Metase treatment inhibited tumor growth through up-regulating RAB37 expression. In conclusion, MET suppressed RAB37 expression via enhancing its methylation and suppressed RAB37 activity via miR-200b/PKCα axis, thus repressing RAB37-mediated autophagy in GCSCs. The supplementation of Metase lysed MET, thus inducing the autophagy of GCSCs and inhibiting tumor growth.

Cancer stem cells are undifferentiated cancer cells that have self-renewal ability, a high tumorigenic activity, and a multilineage differentiation potential. MicroRNAs play a critical role in regulating gene expression during carcinogenesis. Here, we investigated the role of miR-7 and the mechanism by which it is dysregulated in gastric cancer stem cells (GCSCs). The stem cell marker, CD44, was used to sort GCSCs by fluorescence-activated cell sorting. We found that CD44 (+) cells have higher invasiveness and form more number of sphere colonies than CD44 (-) cells. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) revealed that the miR-7-5p expression was remarkably downregulated in GCSCs but was significantly increased in the methionine-deprived medium. The downregulation of miR-7-5p results from the increased DNA methylation in the promoter region using the methylation-specific PCR. Overexpression of miR-7-5p reduced the formation of colony and decreased the invasion of GCSCs through targeting Smo and Hes1 and subsequent repressing Notch and Hedgehog signaling pathways in vitro. Notably, upregulating miR-7-5p inhibited the growth of tumor in the xenograft model. Hence, these data demonstrated that miR-7-5p represses GCSC invasion through inhibition of Smo and Hes1, which provides a potential therapeutic target of gastric cancer treatment., (© 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Background: Autophagy plays an important role in regulating cisplatin (CDDP) resistance in gastric cancer cells. However, the underlying mechanism of methioninase (METase) in the regulation of autophagy and CDDP resistance of gastric cancer cells is still not clear., Materials and Methods: Western blot was used to detect the levels of autophagy-related proteins, multidrug-resistant 1 (MDR-1), and FoxM1 protein. LncRNA HULC was detected by qRT-PCR. Cell viability was detected using CCK-8 assay. The interaction between lncRNA HULC and FoxM1 was confirmed by RNA pull-down and RIP assay., Results: Lentiviral vector carrying METase (LV-METase) suppressed autophagy and CDDP resistance of drug-resistant gastric cancer cells. LncRNA HULC was significantly downregulated in drug-resistant gastric cancer cells transfected with LV-METase. Besides, we found that lncRNA HULC interacted with FoxM1. In addition, METase suppressed autophagy to reduce CDDP resistance of drug-resistant gastric cancer cells through regulating HULC/FoxM1, and interfering HULC suppressed autophagy to reduce CDDP resistance of drug-resistant gastric cancer cells through regulating FoxM1. Finally, interfering HULC inhibited tumor growth in vivo., Conclusion: METase suppressed autophagy to reduce CDDP resistance of drug-resistant gastric cancer cells through regulating HULC/FoxM1 pathway.

Background: Gastric cancer (GC) severely threatens human life, and METase seemed to inhibit tumor growth. However, the potential mechanism underlying it is still unclear., Methods: Both clinical tissues and cell lines were used in the present study. SNHG5 and miR-20a expressions were determined using real-time PCR. Western blot was performed to determine the expression of autophagy-related proteins. The interaction between miR-20a and SNHG5 was determined using luciferase reporter assay and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP)., Results: The expression of SNHG5 was decreased in GC tissues and cell lines. Overexpressed METase significantly promoted cell apoptosis and autophagy, as well as the expression of SNHG5. SNHG5 directly regulated the expression of miR-20a. GC cells transfected with pcDNA-SNHG5 significantly promoted cell apoptosis and autophagy, while the co-transfected with miR-20a mimic dramatically reversed the effects of pcDNA-SNHG5. Overexpressed METase significantly promoted cell autophagy, which was abolished by down-regulated SNHG5., Conclusion: Overexpressed METase promoted cell apoptosis and autophagy via up-regulating the expression of SNHG5 and down-regulating miR-20a in GC., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)