Capza1-KO Mouse

Capza1, also known as capping actin protein of muscle Z-line alpha subunit 1, is a subunit of the capping protein complex CapZ, an actin-binding complex that can regulate actin cytoskeleton remodelling [3,6]. Actin filament assembly, which Capza1 is involved in, plays a crucial role in maintaining tumour cell morphology and movement, and thus is important in biological processes like epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) [3].

In various cancers, Capza1 shows diverse functions. In lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), high Capza1 expression has an unfavourable prognostic value, and it is associated with immune infiltration cells, immune checkpoints etc., suggesting it as a potential immunological antitumor target [1]. In gastric cancer, overexpression of Capza1 is associated with well-differentiated histology, smaller tumour size etc., and in vitro, forced expression of Capza1 decreases gastric cancer cell migration and invasion [7]. In hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), Capza1 inhibits EMT by regulating actin cytoskeleton remodelling, reducing cell metastatic ability, and low expression of Capza1 promotes HCC cell invasion and migration both in vitro and in vivo [3,9]. Also, Helicobacter pylori-infected CAPZA1-overexpressing cells can give rise to cancer stem-cell marker CD44v9-positive cells, and CAPZA1 can inhibit autolysosome formation in H. pylori-infected gastric epithelial cells, increasing the risk of gastric carcinogenesis [2,4]. Moreover, polymorphisms in CAPZA1 may be associated with the development of gastric mucosal atrophy [5]. In addition, FAM21C can promote HCC invasion and metastasis by inhibiting the capping ability of CAPZA1 [6], and exosome-delivered circSTAU2 can inhibit gastric cancer progression by targeting the miR-589/CAPZA1 axis [8].

In conclusion, Capza1 plays a significant role in cancer-related biological processes, especially in tumour cell migration, invasion, and EMT, mainly through its function in regulating actin cytoskeleton remodelling. Studies on Capza1 in different cancer models help understand its role in cancer development, providing potential targets for cancer prognosis and treatment.