BACKGROUND: Aurora kinases (AURKs) family plays a vital role not only in cell division but also in tumorigenesis. However, there are still rare systematic analyses of the diverse expression patterns and prognostic value of the AURKs family in breast cancer (BC). Systematic bioinformatics analysis was conducted to explore the biological role, prognostic value, and immunologic function of AURKs family in BC. METHODS: The expression, prognostic value, and clinical functions of AURKs family in BC were evaluated with several bioinformatics web portals: ONCOMINE Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis, Kaplan-Meier plotter, cBioPortal, Metascape, GeneMANIA, and LinkedOmics; and the result was verified using human tissues. RESULTS: The expression of AURKA and AURKB were upregulated in BC in subgroup analyses based on tumor stage (all P   <  0.05). BC patients with high AURKA and AURKB expression had a worse overall survival, relapse-free survival, and distant metastasis-free survival (all P   <  0.05). Verification experiment revealed that AURKA and AURKB were upregulated in BC ( P  < 0.05). AURKA and AURKB were specifically associated with several tumor-associated kinases (polo-like kinase 1 and cyclin-dependent kinase 1), miRNAs (miR-507 and miR-381), and E2F transcription factor 1. Moreover, AURKA and AURKB were correlated with immune cell infiltration. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that AURKA and AURKB were involved in the cell cycle signaling pathway, platinum drug resistance signaling pathway, ErbB signaling pathway, Hippo signaling pathway, and nucleotide-binding and oligomerization domain-like receptor signaling pathway. CONCLUSIONS Aurora kinases AURKA and AURKB could be employed as novel prognostic biomarkers or promising therapeutic targets for BC.
Humans ; Female ; Aurora Kinase A/metabolism* ; Aurora Kinase B/metabolism* ; Prognosis ; Breast Neoplasms/genetics* ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; MicroRNAs

Objective: To investigate the association of a very common mutation of c.144delC in the aurora kinase C (AURKC) gene with idiopathic teratozoospermia in Chinese infertile men in Sichuan. METHODS: Using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and next-generation sequencing, we analyzed the correlation between c.144delC polymorphism of the AURKC gene and male infertility in 98 idiopathic teratozoospermia patients in comparison with 162 normal fertile men. RESULTS: Neither c.144delC mutation nor other meaningful mutations were detected in the AURKC gene in the 98 idiopathic teratozoospermia patients or the 162 normal controls. CONCLUSIONS Teratozoospermia is not correlated with c.144delC mutation in the AURKC gene in the men of the Sichuan area. Therefore, large-scale genotyping of the AURKC gene may not be necessary clinically among Chinese patients with idiopathic teratozoospermia.
Aurora Kinase C ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Mutation ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Spermatozoa ; Teratozoospermia ; genetics

Aurora kinase A (AURKA),a family member of aurora kinases,is involved in mitotic entry,maturation and separation of centrosome,assembly and stabilization of bipolar spindle,and condensation and separation of chromosome.Studies have demonstrated that AURKA plays a similar role in meiosis,while the specific mechanism and the similarities and differences in its role between meiosis and mitosis remain unclear.Therefore,we reviewed the studies about the localization and activation of AURKA in oocyte meiosis,and compared the role of AURKA in regulating spindle formation,activating spindle assembly checkpoint,and correcting the kinetochore-microtubule attachment between the meiosis of oocytes and the mitosis of somatic cells.This review will lay a theoretical foundation for revealing the mechanism of AURKA in the regulation of cell division and for the clinical research related to cancer and reproduction.
Aurora Kinase A/genetics* ; Cell Cycle Proteins/genetics* ; Chromosome Segregation ; Humans ; Meiosis ; Oocytes

OBJECTIVETo study the relation between single nucleotide polymorphism(SNP) at the 91T-->A(Phe31Ile) position of the STK15 gene and the susceptibility of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) in She county--a ESCC high incidence region in North China.

METHODSPolymerase-chain reaction(PCR)-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis was used to detect the genotypes of STKl5 Phe31Ile(91T-->A) SNP, and the samples came from 296 ESCC patients and 302 healthy controls.

RESULTSThe risk of ESCC significantly increased in the group which had been smoking or having a family history of upper gastrointestinal cancer (UGIC) (the OR = 1.68 and 1.77, 95% CI: 1.34-2.10 and 1.44-2.19, respectively). Rates of the three genotypes (Phe/Phe, Phe/Ile, Ile/Ile) of the STK15 Phe31Ile (91T-->A) SNPs in ESCC patients were 11.5%, 34.8% and 53.7%, respectively, and were not significantly different from that in the healthy group (11.9%, 36.8% and 51.3%) (chi2 = 0.35, P = 0.84). When compared to Phe/Phe genotype, Phe/Ile and Ile/Ile of STK15 91T-->A(Phe31Ile)did not show effect on the risk of ESCC according to the odds ratio results which were 0.98 (95% CI: 0.57-1.69) and 1.09 (0.65-1.82) respectively. STK15 91T-->A (Phe31Ile) SNP also did not significantly influence on the development of ESCC even the samples were stratified by sex, smoking status and family history of upper gastrointestinal cancer.

CONCLUSIONThe STK15 Phe31Ile(91T-->A) polymorphisms seemed irrelevant with the risk of ESCC in She county.

Aurora Kinase A ; Aurora Kinases ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; genetics ; Case-Control Studies ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; genetics ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Humans ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate STK15 gene abnormality and centrosomal amplification in laryngeal carcinoma.

METHODSSTK15 gene mRNA expressional level was tested in 62 cases of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma and laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma cell line Hep-2 by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR); the mutation of STK15 gene exon 6 and exon 7 in the same tissues and cells was detected by PCR-single strand conformation polymorphism. Immunofluorescent antibodies were used to test centrosomal amplification in Hep-2 cell line as an example.

RESULTSSTK15 gene overexpressed in 39 cases of laryngeal carcinoma (63%) and Hep-2 cell line. No mutation was found in exon 6 and exon 7 of STK15 gene in the above tissues and cells. Centrosomal amplification was apparent in Hep-2 cell line. The number of centrosome in a single cell changed from 1 to 7, and Hep-2 cells with amplified centrosomes (more than 2 in one cell) were 11%-23%.

CONCLUSIONSTK15 gene overexpression and centrosomal amplification were first found in human laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma, which indicated that STK15 gene overexpression leading to centrosomal amplification might occur in the early stage of human laryngeal carcinogenesis and be one of the key mechanisms for the occurrence of laryngeal carcinoma.

Aurora Kinase A ; Aurora Kinases ; Centrosome ; pathology ; Exons ; Humans ; Laryngeal Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Mutation ; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association of p15 and pl6 genes deletion and STKI5 gene overexpression in primary hepatocellular carcinoma (PHC).

METHODSThe carcinoma tissue and the adjacent normal tissue were taken from 30 PHC patients during operations who had had neither chemotherapy nor radiotherapy preoperatively. DNA was extracted from the tissues and PCR was used to determine the homozygous deletion of p15 exon2 (pl5E2) and pl6 exon 2 (pl6E2). RNA was extracted, cDNA was synthesized by RT-PCR, and the expression of STKI5 gene was tested by PCR. Beta-actin was used as an internal control. Average density value (ADV) of STK15 gene and that of beta-actin gene were determined in both carcinoma tissue and the adjacent normal tissue.

RESULTSThe rate of p15E2 deletion was 13.3% (4/30) and the rate of p16E2 deletion was 16.7% (5/30) in the carcinoma tissue. The p15E2 and pl6E2 co-deletion rate was 6.7% (2/30). In 19 of the 30 cases (63.3%) the expression of STK15 gene in carcinoma tissue was higher than that in the adjacent normal tissue. The ratio of ADV of STK15 gene to ADV of beta-actin gene (1.53+/-0.31) in the carcinoma tissue was significantly higher than that (0.91+/-0.25) in the paired adjacent normal tissue (t = 2.86).

CONCLUSIONThe homozygous deletion of p15E2 and p16E2 and overexpression of STKI5 gene may play a role in the oncogenesis and malignant progression of PHC.

Aurora Kinase A ; Aurora Kinases ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; genetics ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p15 ; genetics ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16 ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Deletion ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; genetics ; Male ; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases ; biosynthesis ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of inhibition of serine/threonine kinase15 (STK15) gene expression on apoptosis induction in gastric cancer cell line-MKN45 and discuss the role of STK15 in viability of gastric cancer cells.

METHODSThe STK15 expression was inhibited by chemically synthesized siRNA. The STK15 mRNA and protein level were respectively measured by real-time quantitative PCR and western blotting,the change of cell cycle distribution and apoptosis rate were detected by flow-cytometry, cell morphological change was observed by Hoechst staining,and pro-caspase 3 level was also detected by western blot.

RESULTSAfter treatment by siRNA targeting STK15 after 48 h, STK15 mRNA and protein level decreased obviously. More MKN45 cells accumulated at G(2)/M phase (P< 0.05). The apoptosis rate of STK15 siRNA treated MKN45 cells was higher than that of control cells(P< 0.05) with the pro-caspase 3 level decreased.

CONCLUSIONSInhibition of STK15 gene expression may induce apoptosis in MKN45 cells through the pathway of caspase3. STK15 gene play a key role in proliferation and viability of MKN45 cells.

Apoptosis ; Aurora Kinase A ; Aurora Kinases ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Gene Silencing ; Humans ; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases ; genetics ; RNA, Small Interfering ; Stomach Neoplasms

OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between p53 gene mutations and STK15 abnormal expression in the development of human laryngeal squamous-cell carcinoma (LSCC).

METHODSLSCC tissues and matched normal tissues were taken during operation from 55 patients without previous chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Following polymerase chain reaction amplification direct sequencing single strand conformational polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) combined with silver staining were used to detect mutations of p53 gene in exons 7 and 8 (p53E7 and p53E8) using genomic DNA from 110 specimens including 55 LSCC tissues and 55 matched normal tissues. STK15 expression were evaluated by RT-PCR with beta-actin as internal control.

RESULTSThe mutation rate of p53E7 was 30.9% (compared to normal tissues, chi(2) = 8.66, P < 0.01). There was no mutation in p53E8. In 38 of the 55 cases (69.1%), the STK15 mRNA expression level was higher than that of the paired normal tissue. The STK15 to beta-actin ratio of average density value was 1.22 +/- 0.49 in the cancer tissue, and 0.99 +/- 0.54 in the normal tissues (t = 4.539, P < 0.01). In 14 of the 17 cases (82.4%) with p53E7 mutations, the STK15 expression was higher than that of normal tissue. In the 38 cases with STK15 over-expression, p53E7 mutation was found in 14 cases (36.8%). The rate of concurrence of p53E gene mutations and STK15 over-expression (25.5%) was higher than that of only p53E gene mutations (chi(2) = 26.025, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThere is significant association between p53 gene mutation and STK15 over-expression in laryngeal squamous-cell carcinoma.

Actins ; metabolism ; Aurora Kinase A ; Aurora Kinases ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; genetics ; metabolism ; Exons ; Frameshift Mutation ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Genes, p53 ; genetics ; Humans ; Laryngeal Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; Mutation, Missense ; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the frequencies of alleles and the association with risk of esophageal cancer in a Mongolian population, and to compare the allele frequencies of these polymorphisms between the two populations and the susceptibility to esophageal cancer.

METHODSA case-control study was conducted, and 8 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP), including FAS - 670G/A, FAS - 1377G/A, FASL -844T/C, COX-2 - 1290A/G, COX-2 - 1195G/A, STK15 Phe31Ile, MMP-2 - 1306C/T and MMP -2 -735C/T, were detected by polymerase chain reaction-based restriction fragment length polymorphism assay (PCR-RFLP) in 188 esophageal cancer cases and 324 normal controls of Mongolian. The odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated by unconditional logistic regression. The results were then compared with the reported data of the Han ethnic Chinese population.

RESULTSIn Mongolian, as compared with the STK15 31Ile/Ile genotype, the STK15 31Phe/Phe genotype carriers had an increased risk of esophageal cancer (adjusted OR = 2.20, 95% CI: 1.12-4.31), and the subjects with MMP-2 - 735TT genotype had an increased risk of esophageal cancer as compared with those with the MMP-2 - 735CC genotype (adjusted OR =4.82, 95% CI: 1.59 - 14.60). However, the rest of SNPs were not associated with the susceptibility to esophageal cancer. The allele frequencies of FASL - 844 T/C [0.264(171/648)/0.736 (477/648), 0.323(418/1296)/0.677(878/1296)], COX-2 - 1195G/A [0.431(279/648)/0.569(369/ 648), 0.492(1250/2540)/0.508(1290/2540)], MMP-2 - 1306C/T [0.869(563/648)/0.131(85/ 648), 0.835(1298/1554)/0.165(256/1554)] and MMP-2 - 735C/T [0.789(511/648)/0.211(137/ 648), 0.748(1163/1554)/0.252(391/1554)] were significantly different between the ethnic populations (chi2 = 7.03, 7.84, 3.94, 4.05, respectively, P <0.05).

CONCLUSIONThese findings suggested that STK15 Phe31Ile and MMP-2 -735C/T polymorphisms might be the genetic susceptibility factors for esophageal cancer in Mongolian and there should be some differences of genetic susceptibility to esophageal cancer in between Han ethnic Chinese and Mongolian population.

Adult ; Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Aurora Kinase A ; Aurora Kinases ; Case-Control Studies ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; genetics ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of STK15 gene amplification and overexpression to genesis and development of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC).

METHODSSTK15 gene amplification in 40 cases carcinoma tissues and normal tissues as control was detected by differential PCR approach. STK15 mRNA and protein levels were evaluated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry method.

RESULTSIn 40 LSCC cases, STK15 gene amplification was found in 14 tumor tissues(35%), mRNA overexpression in 27 tumor tissues(67.5%), and protein upregulated in 29 tumor tissues(72.5%). Statistics analysis showed that STK15 gene amplification and mRNA overexpression were obviously associated to differentiation degree of LSCC, and protein overexpression was closely associated with both differentiation degree and pathological grades of LSCC.

CONCLUSIONThis research results suggest that STK15 gene amplification contributes to its mRNA and protein overexpression through affecting the exact replication of centrosome and separation of chromosomes. STK15 gene thus plays a role in LSCC oncogenesis and malignant progression.

Aurora Kinase A ; Aurora Kinases ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Laryngeal Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction