Proteomic Profiling of Unannotated Microproteins in Human Placenta Reveals XRCC6P1 as a Potential Negative Regulator of Translation.

Ribosome profiling and mass spectrometry have revealed thousands of previously unannotated small and alternative open reading frames (sm/alt-ORFs) that are translated into micro/alt-proteins in mammalian cells. However, their prevalence across human tissues and biological roles remains largely undefined. The placenta is an ideal model for identifying unannotated microproteins and alt-proteins due to its considerable protein diversity that is required to sustain fetal development during pregnancy. Here, we profiled unannotated microproteins and alt-proteins in human placental tissues from preeclampsia patients or healthy individuals by proteomics, identified 52 unannotated microproteins or alt-proteins, and demonstrated that five microproteins can be translated from overexpression constructs in a heterologous cell line, although several are unstable. We further demonstrated that one microprotein, XRCC6P1, associates with translation initiation factor eIF3 and negatively regulates translation when exogenously overexpressed. Thus, we revealed a hidden sm/alt-ORF-encoded proteome in the human placenta, which may advance the mechanism studies for placenta development as well as placental disorders such as preeclampsia.

PGR-KITLG signaling drives a tumor-mast cell regulatory feedback to modulate apoptosis of breast cancer cells.

The immune microenvironment constructed by tumor-infiltrating immune cells and the molecular phenotype defined by hormone receptors (HRs) have been implicated as decisive factors in the regulation of breast cancer (BC) progression. Here, we found that the infiltration of mast cells (MCs) informed impaired prognoses in HR(+) BC but predicted improved prognoses in HR(-) BC. However, molecular features of MCs in different BC remain unclear. We next discovered that HR(-) BC cells were prone to apoptosis under the stimulation of MCs, whereas HR(+) BC cells exerted anti-apoptotic effects. Mechanistically, in HR(+) BC, the KIT ligand (KITLG), a major mast cell growth factor in recruiting and activating MCs, could be transcriptionally upregulated by the progesterone receptor (PGR), and elevate the production of MC-derived granulin (GRN). GRN attenuates TNFα-induced apoptosis in BC cells by competitively binding to TNFR1. Furthermore, disruption of PGR-KITLG signaling by knocking down PGR or using the specific KITLG-cKIT inhibitor iSCK03 potently enhanced the sensitivity of HR(+) BC cells to MC-induced apoptosis and exerted anti-tumor activity. Collectively, these results demonstrate that PGR-KITLG signaling in BC cells preferentially induces GRN expression in MCs to exert anti-apoptotic effects, with potential value in developing precision medicine approaches for diagnosis and treatment.

Surgical methods of total thyroidectomy for differentiated thyroid cancer: a systematic review and Bayesian network meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Emerging remote-access surgical methods are utilized to treat differentiated thyroid cancer. The study aimed to compare the surgical integrity, safety, efficacy, and postoperative experience of patients among common surgical methods. METHODS: The PubMed, Medline, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and EMBASE databases were searched from their inception until March 2023. Pairwise meta-analysis and Bayesian network meta-analysis were performed. The surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) was used to illuminate the probability that each method would be the best for each outcome. RESULTS: Thirty-two studies comprising 7042 patients were included. Robotic bilateral axillo-breast approach (RBABA) and robotic gasless transaxillary approach (RGAA) retrieved fewer lymph nodes (LNs) than open thyroidectomy (OT). RBABA showed a significantly lower permanent recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) palsy rate than OT. According to SUCRA values, endoscopic transoral approach (EOA) ranked the highest in retrieved LNs (0.84), the proportion of stimulated serum thyroglobulin less than 1.0 ng/ml (0.77), and the pain score (0.77). Endoscopic bilateral areola approach (EBAA) ranked the highest in the transient RLN palsy rate (0.72). The endoscopic gasless transaxillary approach (EGAA) ranked the highest in the transient hypoparathyroidism rate (0.78). RBABA ranked the highest in the rate of permanent RLN palsy (0.94) and hypoparathyroidism (0.77). OT ranked the highest in operative time (0.92). CONCLUSIONS: Each surgical method of total thyroidectomy has benefits and limitations. EOA performed the best in maintaining surgical integrality and reducing the pain score, while taking a long operative time. Generally, RBABA showed the best advantage in protecting parathyroid glands and RLN but with the longest operative time. OT had the best advantage in operative time. Therefore, OT and EOA are ideal methods for patients with a higher risk of central LN metastasis. RBABA and EOA may not be suitable for elderly patients or those with high anesthesia risk.

Factors in the occurrence and restoration of hypoparathyroidism after total thyroidectomy for thyroid cancer patients with intraoperative parathyroid autotransplantation.

Introduction: Postoperative hypoparathyroidism (POH) is the most common and important complication for thyroid cancer patients who undergo total thyroidectomy. Intraoperative parathyroid autotransplantation has been demonstrated to be essential in maintaining functional parathyroid tissue, and it has clinical significance in identifying essential factors of serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels for patients with parathyroid autotransplantation. This retrospective cohort study aimed to comprehensively investigate influential factors in the occurrence and restoration of POH for patients who underwent total thyroidectomy with intraoperative parathyroid autotransplantation (TTIPA). Method: This study was conducted in a tertiary referral hospital, with a total of 525 patients who underwent TTIPA. The postoperative serum PTH levels were collected after six months, and demographic characteristics, clinical features and associated operative information were analyzed. Results: A total of 66.48% (349/525) of patients who underwent TTIPA were diagnosed with POH. Multivariate logistic regression indicated that Hashimoto's thyroiditis (OR=1.93, 95% CI: 1.09-3.42), P=0.024), the number of transplanted parathyroid glands (OR=2.70, 95% CI: 1.91-3.83, P<0.001) and postoperative blood glucose levels (OR=1.36, 95% CI: 1.06-1.74, P=0.016) were risk factors for POH, and endoscopic surgery (OR=0.39, 95% CI: 0.22-0.68, P=0.001) was a protective factor for POH. Multivariate Cox regression indicated that PTG autotransplantation patients with same-side central lymph node dissection (CLND) (HR=0.50; 95% CI: 0.34-0.73, P<0.001) demonstrated a longer time for increases PTH, and female patients (HR=1.35, 95% CI: 1.00-1.81, P=0.047) were more prone to PTH increases. Additionally, PTG autotransplantation with same-side CLND (HR=0.56, 95% CI: 0.38-0.82, P=0.003) patients had a longer time to PTH restoration, and patients with endoscopic surgery (HR=1.54, 95% CI: 1.04-2.28, P=0.029) were more likely to recover within six months. Conclusion: High postoperative fasting blood glucose levels, a large number of transplanted PTGs, open surgery and Hashimoto's thyroiditis are risk factors for postoperative POH in TTIPA patients. Elevated PTH levels occur earlier in female patients and patients without CLND on the transplant side. PTH returns to normal earlier in patients without CLND and endoscopic surgery on the transplant side.

Combined Use of Autofluorescence and Indocyanine Green Fluorescence Imaging in the Identification and Evaluation of Parathyroid Glands During Total Thyroidectomy: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background and objectives: Accurate identification and evaluation of the parathyroid glands (PGs) intraoperatively is critical to reduce the incidence of postoperative hypoparathyroidism after total thyroidectomy. Near-infrared fluorescence imaging (NIFI), including the autofluorescence (AF) and indocyanine green fluorescence (ICGF) imaging, is a promising technique to protect PGs. This study aimed to assess whether the combined use of AF and ICGF could reduce the incidence of postoperative hypoparathyroidism and improve the identification and evaluation of PGs during total thyroidectomy. Methods: This randomized controlled trial enrolled 180 patients who were randomized into two groups and underwent total thyroidectomy with unilateral or bilateral central lymph node dissection. In the control group, the PGs were identified and evaluated by the naked eye. In the NIFI group, AF was used to identify the PGs and ICGF was applied to assess the blood perfusion of the PGs in situ. The primary outcome was the incidence of postoperative hypoparathyroidism. The secondary outcomes included the number of identified PGs, autotransplanted PGs, and known preserved PGs in situ. Results: The incidence of postoperative transient hypoparathyroidism was significantly lower in the NIFI group than in the control group (27.8% vs. 43.3%, P = 0.029). More PGs were identified in the NIFI group than in the control group (3.6 ± 0.5 vs. 3.2 ± 0.4, P < 0.001). No significant difference was observed in the number of autotransplanted PGs between the two groups (P = 0.134). Compared with the control group, a greater number of known PGs were preserved in situ in the NIFI group (1.3 ± 0.6 vs. 1.0 ± 0.5, P < 0.001). In the NIFI group, only 4.5% of the patients with at least one well-perfused PG (ICG score of 2) developed postoperative hypoparathyroidism, which was significantly lower than that of the control group (34.6%, P < 0.001). Conclusion: Combined use of AF and ICGF during total thyroidectomy reduces the risk of transient postoperative hypoparathyroidism, enhances the ability to identify and preserve PGs, and improves the accuracy of evaluating the perfusion of PGs during surgery. Clinical Trial Registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Register (www.chictr.org.cn), identifier ChiCTR2100045320. Registered on April 12, 2021.

FGFR blockade boosts T cell infiltration into triple-negative breast cancer by regulating cancer-associated fibroblasts.

Background: Since T cell exclusion contributes to tumor immune evasion and immunotherapy resistance, how to improve T cell infiltration into solid tumors becomes an urgent challenge. Methods: We employed deep learning to profile the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) samples from TCGA datasets and noticed that fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) signaling pathways were enriched in the immune-excluded phenotype of TNBC. Erdafitinib, a selective FGFR inhibitor, was then used to investigate the effect of FGFR blockade on TIME landscape of TNBC syngeneic mouse models by flow cytometry, mass cytometry (CyTOF) and RNA sequencing. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and transwell migration assay were carried out to detect the effect of FGFR blockade on cell proliferation and migration, respectively. Cytokine array, western blot, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunofluorescence (IF) were employed to investigate the potential mechanism by which FGFR inhibition enhanced T cell infiltration. Results: Blocking FGFR pathway by Erdafitinib markedly suppressed tumor growth with increased T cell infiltration in immunocompetent mouse models of TNBC. Mechanistically, FGFR blockade inhibited cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) proliferation, migration and secretion of vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) by down-regulating MAPK/ERK pathway in CAFs, thus promoting T cell infiltration by breaking physical and chemical barriers built by CAFs in TIME. Furthermore, we observed that FGFR inhibition combined with immune checkpoint blockade therapy (ICT) greatly improved the therapeutic response of TNBC tumor models. Conclusions: FGFR blockade enhanced ICT response by turning immune "cold" tumor into "hot" tumor, providing remarkable implications of FGFR inhibitors as adjuvant agents for combinatorial immunotherapy.

ZDHHC22-mediated mTOR palmitoylation restrains breast cancer growth and endocrine therapy resistance.

Palmitoylation is essential for the classic hallmarks of cancers through regulating protein stability and protein-protein interactions. ZDHHC22, as a well-known member of palmitoyltrans-ferase family, its role has not been revealed in cancer. We found ZDHHC22 expression was significantly lower in estrogen receptor (ER) negative breast cancer (BrCa) tissues and cell lines, and its expression was positively corelated with the clinical prognosis of BrCa patients. The lower expression of ZDHHC22 might be caused by its promoter methylation. ZDHHC22 inhibited the proliferation capability of BrCa cells both in vitro and in vivo, depending on its encoding palmitoyltransferase activity. In terms of the mechanisms, ZDHHC22 reduced mTOR stability via palmitoylation and decreased the activation of the AKT signaling pathway. Furthermore, ectopic expression of ZDHHC22 could restore the sensitivity to tamoxifen therapy in MCF-7R cells. Collectively, ZDHHC22 may serve as a prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target, providing the theoretical foundation for exploring specific palmitoylation drugs targeted, especially for endocrine therapy-resistant BrCa patients.

BAHD1 serves as a critical regulator of breast cancer cell proliferation and invasion.

Breast cancer patients with lymphatic metastasis suffer from poor prognoses. There is an urgent need for controlling lymph node metastasis, but it has proven challenging so far. Here, we implemented LASSO analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas database to identify genes related to lymph node metastasis and prognosis, and 15 genes were selected. We constructed a functional protein association network and univariate Cox regression to identify significant genes. The results showed that BAHD1 could be predictive of lymph node metastasis as well as prognosis. In vitro studies demonstrated that BAHD1 exerted appreciable effects on the proliferation, migration, and invasion capacity of breast cancer cells. Furthermore, downregulation of BAHD1 induced cell cycle arrest in G1 phase. Additionally, the mRNA levels of CCND1, CDK1 and YWHAZ were decreased upon BAHD1 silencing. These findings indicate that the expression of BAHD1 is essential in the progression of breast cancer, which may provide novel therapeutic and diagnostic clues and insights into the prevention of lymph node metastasis in breast cancer.

Immunoglobulin superfamily member 10 is a novel prognostic biomarker for breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Immunoglobulin superfamily member 10 (IGSF10) is a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily that is expressed at high levels in both the gallbladder and ovary. Currently, the role and possible mechanism of IGSF10 in breast cancer remain unclear. METHOD: By applying real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry (IHC), the expression of IGSF10 in breast cancer cells and tissues was detected. We collected the clinical information from 700 patients with breast cancer in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), and analyzed the relationship between IGSF10 expression and the clinicopathological features and survival outcomes of these patients. The potential mechanisms and pathways associated with IGSF10 in breast cancer were explored by performing a gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). RESULTS: According to TCGA data, qRT-PCR and IHC experiments, levels of the IGSF10 mRNA and protein were significantly decreased in breast cancer tissues. IGSF10 expression was significantly correlated with age, tumor size, and tumor stage. Moreover, shorter overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS) correlated with lower IGSF10 expression, according to the survival analysis. The multivariate analysis identified that IGSF10 as an independent prognostic factor for the OS (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.793, 95% confidence interval (CI) [1.141-2.815], P = 0.011) and RFS (HR = 2.298, 95% CI [1.317-4.010], P = 0.003) of patients with breast cancer. Based on the GSEA, IGSF10 was involved in DNA repair, cell cycle, and glycolysis. IGSF10 was also associated with the PI3K/Akt/mTOR and mTORC1 signaling pathways. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed a clear relationship between IGSF10 expression and the tumorigenesis of breast cancer for the first time. Therefore, further studies are needed to understand the mechanism of IGSF10 in breast cancer.