Orphan nuclear receptor Nurr1 promotes Helicobacter pylori-associated gastric carcinogenesis by directly enhancing CDK4 expression
Wenjing Shang1, Xiuming Liang2, Shuyan Li3
1Department of Microbiology/Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of the Chinese Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Science, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, PR China; Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity of Shandong Province, School of Basic Medical Science, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, PR China.
Background:
Abnormal expression of the orphan nuclear receptor Nurr1 is a critical factor in the etiology of multiple cancers. However, its potential role in gastric cancer (GC) remains elusive. In this study, we have demonstrated that the expression of Nurr1 was elevated and had an oncogenic function in GC.
Methods:
Nurr1 expression was analyzed in clinical specimens and the GEO database. Functions of Nurr1 in GC cells were analyzed using Nurr1 knockdown and overexpression. Various cell and molecular biological methods were used to explore the potential mechanisms of Nurr1 upregulation and its role in promoting GC.
Findings:
Overexpression of Nurr1 was directly related to the poor prognosis of GC patients. What's more, Nurr1 was induced by Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) via the PI3K/AKT-Sp1 pathway. Sp1 enhanced Nurr1 expression by binding to its promoter to activate the transcription. Upregulated Nurr1 then directly targeted CDK4 by binding to its promoter region to increase its expression, thereby facilitated GC cells proliferation both in vitro and in vivo.
Interpretation:
We identified Nurr1 as a driving oncogenic factor in GC. In addition, Nurr1 could be used as a potential therapeutic target for the diagnosis and treatment of H. pylori-associated GC.
Funding:
This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos 81801983, 81871620, 81971901, 81772151 and 81571960), and the Department of Science and Technology of Shandong Province (2018CXGC1208).
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