C1q and TNF related protein 1 regulates expression of inflammatory genes in vascular smooth muscle cells
GENES & GENOMICS
Authors: Kim, Dough; Park, Seung-Yoon
Abstract
BackgroundC1q and TNF related protein 1 (C1QTNF1) is known to be associated with coronary artery diseases. However, the molecular function of C1QTNF1 on the vascular smooth muscles remains to be investigated.ObjectiveThis study was therefore undertaken to investigate the effect of C1QTNF1 on gene expression of human smooth muscle cells and to reveal potential molecular mechanisms mediated by C1QTNF1.MethodsVascular smooth muscle cells were incubated with recombinant C1QTNF1 for 16h, followed by determining any change in mRNA expressions by Affymetrix genechip. Gene ontology (GO), KEGG pathway, and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network were analyzed in differentially expressed genes. In addition, validation of microarray data was performed using quantitative real-time PCR.ResultsThe mRNA expressions of annotated 74 genes were significantly altered after incubation with recombinant C1QTNF1; 41 genes were up-regulated and 33 down-regulated. The differentially expressed genes were enriched in biological processes and KEGG pathways associated with inflammatory responses. In the PPI network analysis, IL-6, CCL2, and ICAM1 were identified as potential key genes with relatively high degree. The cluster analysis in the PPI network identified a significant module composed of upregulated genes, such as IL-6, CCL2, NFKBIA, SOD2, and ICAM1. The quantitative real-time PCR results of potential key genes were consistent with microarray data.ConclusionThe results in the present study provide insights on the effects of C1QTNF1 on gene expression of smooth muscle cells. We believe our findings will help to elucidate the molecular mechanisms regarding the functions of C1QTNF1 on smooth muscle cells in inflammatory diseases.
Expression of Genes Involved in Cellular Adhesion and Extracellular Matrix Remodeling Correlates with Poor Survival of Patients with Renal Cancer
JOURNAL OF UROLOGY
Authors: Boguslawska, Joanna; Kedzierska, Hanna; Poplawski, Piotr; Rybicka, Beata; Tanski, Zbigniew; Piekielko-Witkowska, Agnieszka
Abstract
Purpose: Renal cell carcinoma is the most common highly metastatic kidney malignancy. Adhesion has a crucial role in the metastatic process. TGF (transforming growth factor)-beta 1 is a pleiotropic cytokine that influences cancerous transformation. We hypothesized that 1) changes in the expression of adhesion related genes may influence survival rate of patients with renal cell carcinoma and 2) TGF-beta 1 may contribute to changed expression of adhesion related genes. Materials and Methods: Two-step quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction arrays were used to analyze the expression of adhesion related genes in 77 tumors and matched pair controls. The prognostic significance of genes was evaluated in TCGA (The Cancer Genome Atlas) data on 468 patients with renal cell carcinoma. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot were applied for TGF-beta 1 analysis. TGF-beta 1 mediated regulation of gene expression was analyzed by TGF-beta 1 supplementation of Caki-2 cells and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results: The expression of 19 genes related to adhesion and extracellular matrix remodeling was statistically significantly disturbed in renal cell carcinoma compared with controls. The 10-gene expression signature (COL1A1, COL5A1, COL11A1, FN1, ICAM1, ITGAL, ITGAM, ITGB2, THBS2 and TIMP1) correlated with poor survival (HR 2.85, p = 5.7e-10). TGF-beta 1 expression was 22 times higher in renal cell carcinoma than in controls (p < 0.0001). TGF-beta 1 induced expression of TGFBI, COL1A1, COL5A1, COL8A1, FN1, ITGA5, ITGAM and TIMP1 in a renal cell carcinoma derived cell line. Conclusions: Disturbed expression of genes involved in adhesion and extracellular matrix remodeling develops early during renal cell carcinoma carcinogenesis and correlates with poor survival. TGF-beta 1 contributes to changed expression of extracellular matrix and adhesion related genes. Bioinformatic analysis performed on a broad panel of cancers of nonkidney origin suggests that disturbed expression of genes related to extracellular matrix and adhesion may be a universal feature of cancerous progression.