Role of PA2G4P4 pseudogene in bladder cancer tumorigenesis

Abstract

Background: Many pseudogenes possess biological activities and play important roles in the pathogenesis of various types of cancer including bladder cancer (BlCa), which still lacks suitable molecular biomarkers. Recently, pseudogenes were found to be significantly enriched in a pan-cancer classification based on the Cancer Genome Atlas gene expression data. Among them, the top-ranking pseudogene was the proliferation-associated 2G4 pseudogene 4 (PA2G4P4). Methods: Genomic and transcript features of PA2G4P4 were determined by GeneBank database analysis followed by 5’ RACE experiments. Therefore, we conducted a retrospective molecular study on a cohort of 45 patients of BlCa. PA2G4P4 expression was measured by RT-qPCR, whereas PA2G4P4 transcript distribution was analyzed by in situ hybridization on both normal and cancerous histological sections and compared to the immunolocalization of its parental PA2G4/EBP1 protein. Finally, we tested the effects of PA2G4P4 depletion on proliferation, migration, and death of BlCa cells. Results: We showed for the first time PA2G4P4 overexpression in BlCa tissues and in cell lines. PA2G4P4 distribution strictly overlaps PA2G4/EBP1 protein localization. Moreover, we showed that PA2G4P4 knockdown affects both proliferation and migration of BlCa cells, highlighting its potential oncogenic role. Conclusions: PA2G4P4 may play a functional role as an oncogene in BlCa development, suggesting it as a good candidate for future investigation and new clinical applications.

The World of Pseudogenes: New Diagnostic and Therapeutic Targets in Cancers or Still Mystery Molecules?

“…In the tissues of acute myeloid leukemia patients, BMI1P1A, OCT4, and POU5F1B are three gene signatures that divide individuals into high-risk and low-risk groups [44]. PA2G4P4 is overexpressed in bladder cancer patient tissues and cell lines [45]. GBP1P1 and PTTG3P were observed in microarray analysis and validated by qRT-PCR in tissues of cervical carcinoma [46].…”

The Transcription Regulator Patz1 Is Essential for Neural Stem Cell Maintenance and Proliferation

“…Paraffin sections have been dewaxed in xylene (prewarmed at 55-65 • C) twice for 5 min and then rehydrated through sequential steps in gradually less concentrated ethanol solutions and rinsed in tap water, at the end. Slides have been heated in a 10 mM sodium citrate pH 6.0 in a microwave to expose the antigens (Pisapia et al, 2020). Tissue sections have been incubated 1 h at R.T. with a solution 1% milk, 10% FBS, 1% BSA, 1X Sodium Azide, 0,5% Tween in PBS 1X and then O.N.…”

Pseudogene MSTO2P Interacts with miR-128-3p to Regulate Coptisine Sensitivity of Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) through TGF-β Signaling and VEGFC

“…Hence, pseudogenes were initially believed to be nonfunctional RNAs [9]. Recently, increasing evidence has shown that pseudogenes could regulate the progression of various tumors [10][11][12]. e Misato family member 2 (MSTO2P) pseudogene was found to be implicated in gastric cancer [13], lung cancer [14] and HCC [15].…”