Project description:The goal of this study was to target tumor immune specific genes and allowed us to specifically immune profiling what genes are change in HUNK or HUNK knockdown groups. A main objective was to determine if genes related to the citokine signaling pathway were changed in HUNK control compared to HUNK knockdown groups.
Project description:The goal of this study was to determine the gene similarities and overlap between human HER2+ breast cancer cells treated with a HUNK inhibitor (HSL119) and samples engineered with HUNK shRNA (KD1 and KD2). A main objective was to determine if genes related to the AKT pathway were changed in HUNK treated or HUNK knockdown groups compared to control.
Project description:Heparanase (HPSE), the only known mammalian endoglycosidase responsible for heparan sulfate cleavage, is a multi-faceted protein affecting multiple malignant behaviors in cancer cells. The goals of this study are to compare the mRNA transcriptome differences between SW480 cells and HPSE-knockdown SW480 cells. Methods: mRNA profiles of SW480 cells and HPSE-knockdown SW480 cells were generated by deep sequencing, in triplicate, using Illumina.
Project description:We previously identified a novel SNF1/AMPK-related protein kinase, Hunk, from a mammary tumor arising in an MMTV-neu transgenic mouse. The function of this kinase is unknown. Using targeted deletion in mice, we now demonstrate that Hunk is required for the metastasis of c-myc-induced mammary tumors, but is dispensable for normal development. Reconstitution experiments revealed that Hunk is sufficient to restore the metastatic potential of Hunk-deficient tumor cells, as well as defects in migration and invasion, and does so in a manner that requires its kinase activity. Consistent with a role for Hunk in the progression of human cancers, the human homologue of Hunk is overexpressed in aggressive subsets of carcinomas of the ovary, colon, and breast. In addition, a murine gene expression signature that distinguishes Hunk-wild type from Hunk-deficient mammary tumors predicts clinical outcome in women with breast cancer. Together, these findings establish a role for Hunk in metastasis and an in vivo function for this kinase.
Project description:We previously identified a novel SNF1/AMPK-related protein kinase, Hunk, from a mammary tumor arising in an MMTV-neu transgenic mouse. The function of this kinase is unknown. Using targeted deletion in mice, we now demonstrate that Hunk is required for the metastasis of c-myc-induced mammary tumors, but is dispensable for normal development. Reconstitution experiments revealed that Hunk is sufficient to restore the metastatic potential of Hunk-deficient tumor cells, as well as defects in migration and invasion, and does so in a manner that requires its kinase activity. Consistent with a role for Hunk in the progression of human cancers, the human homologue of Hunk is overexpressed in aggressive subsets of carcinomas of the ovary, colon, and breast. In addition, a murine gene expression signature that distinguishes Hunk-wild type from Hunk-deficient mammary tumors predicts clinical outcome in women with breast cancer. Together, these findings establish a role for Hunk in metastasis and an in vivo function for this kinase. Hunk-deficient animals were crossed to mice harboring an MMTV-c-myc transgene (Leder et al., 1986). Hunk heterozygous, MMTV-c-myc mice were backcrossed to Hunk heterozygous animals. MMTV-c-myc female animals of each Hunk genotype were mated twice, then monitored twice weekly for mammary tumors. Mice possessing tumors with a maximum diameter of 20 mm were sacrificed and organs were examined at necropsy. Tumor nodules were identified by examination of organs through a Leica Wild MZ8 dissection microscope.
Project description:Analysis of SW480 cells following knockdown of Ezrin using RNAi. Ezrin is a protein that regulate the organization of cytoskeleton. Ezrin KD SW480 was used to study the role of ezrin in colon cancer. Experiment Overall Design: Knockdown ezrin in SW480 cells and investigate the affection on cell migration and the downstream genes.
Project description:Hypoxia regulates epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) of cancer cells. However, the mechanism underlying hypoxia-mediated EMT remains largely unknow. Here, utilizing colorectal cell carcinoma (CRC) as a model, we find that HUNK inhibits EMT and suppresses metastasis of CRC cells via its substrate GEF-H1 in a kinase-dependent manner. Mechanistically, HUNK directly phosphorylates GEF-H1 at ser645 site, which activates RhoA and consequently leads to a cascade of phosphorylation of LIMK1/CFL-1, thereby stabilizing F-actin and inhibiting EMT. Moreover, hypoxia suppresses HUNK activity and dephosphorylates GEF-H1 to promote EMT. Clinically, the expression levels of both HUNK and phosphorylation of GEH-H1 ser645 are not only downregulated in CRC tissues with metastasis compared to that without metastasis, but also positively correlated among these tissues. Our findings highlight the importance of hypoxia-regulated HUNK kinase activity and phosphorylation of GEF-H1 in regulation of EMT and metastasis of CRC.