Helena Caiado1, Natércia Conceição2, Daniel Tiago3, Ana Marreiros4, Susana Vicente5, Jose Luis Enriquez5, Ana Margarida Vaz6, Artur Antunes6, Horácio Guerreiro6, Paulo Caldeira7, M Leonor Cancela8. 1. ProRegeM PhD Programme in Mechanisms of Disease and Regenerative Medicine, University of Algarve, Faro 8005-139, Portugal; Centre of Marine Sciences (CCMAR), University of Algarve, Faro 8005-139, Portugal; Department of Biomedical Sciences and Medicine, University of Algarve, Faro 8005-139, Portugal. 2. Centre of Marine Sciences (CCMAR), University of Algarve, Faro 8005-139, Portugal; Department of Biomedical Sciences and Medicine, University of Algarve, Faro 8005-139, Portugal; Algarve Biomedical Center, University of Algarve, Faro 8005-139, Portugal. Electronic address: nconcei@ualg.pt. 3. Centre of Marine Sciences (CCMAR), University of Algarve, Faro 8005-139, Portugal. 4. Department of Biomedical Sciences and Medicine, University of Algarve, Faro 8005-139, Portugal; Algarve Biomedical Center, University of Algarve, Faro 8005-139, Portugal. 5. Pathology Department, University Hospital of Algarve, Faro 8000-386, Portugal. 6. Gastroenterology Department, University Hospital of Algarve, Faro 8000-386, Portugal. 7. Department of Biomedical Sciences and Medicine, University of Algarve, Faro 8005-139, Portugal; Gastroenterology Department, University Hospital of Algarve, Faro 8000-386, Portugal. 8. Centre of Marine Sciences (CCMAR), University of Algarve, Faro 8005-139, Portugal; Department of Biomedical Sciences and Medicine, University of Algarve, Faro 8005-139, Portugal; Algarve Biomedical Center, University of Algarve, Faro 8005-139, Portugal; Centre for Biomedical Research, University of Algarve, Faro 8005-139, Portugal. Electronic address: lcancela@ualg.pt.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Matrix Gla protein (MGP) is a vitamin K-dependent, γ-carboxylated protein that was initially found to be a physiological inhibitor of ectopic calcifications affecting mainly cartilage and the vascular system. Mutations in the MGP gene were found to be responsible for a human pathology, the Keutel syndrome, characterized by abnormal calcifications in cartilage, lungs, brain and vascular system. MGP was recently implicated in tumorigenic processes such as angiogenesis and shown to be abnormally regulated in several tumors, including cervical, ovarian, urogenital and breast. This fact has triggered our interest in analyzing the expression of MGP and of its regulator, the transcription factor runt related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2), in colorectal cancer (CRC). METHODS: MGP and RUNX2 expression were analyzed in cancer and non-tumor biopsies samples from 33 CRC patients and 9 healthy controls by RT-qPCR. Consequently, statistical analyses were performed to evaluate the clinical-pathological significance of MGP and RUNX2 in CRC. MGP protein was also detected by immunohistochemical analysis. RESULTS: Showed an overall overexpression of MGP in the tumor mucosa of patients at mRNA level when compared to adjacent normal mucosa and healthy control tissues. In addition, analysis of the expression of RUNX2 mRNA demonstrated an overexpression in CRC tissue samples and a positive correlation with MGP expression (Pearson correlation coefficient 0.636; p ≤ 0.01) in tumor mucosa. However correlations between MGP gene expression and clinical-pathological characteristics, such as gender, age and pathology classification did not provide relevant information that may shed light towards the differences of MGP expression observed between normal and malignant tissue. CONCLUSIONS: We were able to associate the high levels of MGP mRNA expression with a worse prognosis and survival rate lower than five years. These results contributed to improve our understanding of the molecular mechanism underlying MGP deregulation in cancer.
PURPOSE:Matrix Gla protein (MGP) is a vitamin K-dependent, γ-carboxylated protein that was initially found to be a physiological inhibitor of ectopic calcifications affecting mainly cartilage and the vascular system. Mutations in the MGP gene were found to be responsible for a human pathology, the Keutel syndrome, characterized by abnormal calcifications in cartilage, lungs, brain and vascular system. MGP was recently implicated in tumorigenic processes such as angiogenesis and shown to be abnormally regulated in several tumors, including cervical, ovarian, urogenital and breast. This fact has triggered our interest in analyzing the expression of MGP and of its regulator, the transcription factor runt related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2), in colorectal cancer (CRC). METHODS:MGP and RUNX2 expression were analyzed in cancer and non-tumor biopsies samples from 33 CRCpatients and 9 healthy controls by RT-qPCR. Consequently, statistical analyses were performed to evaluate the clinical-pathological significance of MGP and RUNX2 in CRC. MGP protein was also detected by immunohistochemical analysis. RESULTS: Showed an overall overexpression of MGP in the tumor mucosa of patients at mRNA level when compared to adjacent normal mucosa and healthy control tissues. In addition, analysis of the expression of RUNX2 mRNA demonstrated an overexpression in CRC tissue samples and a positive correlation with MGP expression (Pearson correlation coefficient 0.636; p ≤ 0.01) in tumor mucosa. However correlations between MGP gene expression and clinical-pathological characteristics, such as gender, age and pathology classification did not provide relevant information that may shed light towards the differences of MGP expression observed between normal and malignant tissue. CONCLUSIONS: We were able to associate the high levels of MGP mRNA expression with a worse prognosis and survival rate lower than five years. These results contributed to improve our understanding of the molecular mechanism underlying MGP deregulation in cancer.
Authors: Helena Caiado; Natércia Conceição; Daniel Tiago; Ana Marreiros; Susana Vicente; Jose Luis Enriquez; Ana Margarida Vaz; Artur Antunes; Horácio Guerreiro; Paulo Caldeira; M Leonor Cancela Journal: Data Brief Date: 2020-05-25