Mya Saree Walker

Dr. Mya Saree Walker

orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

3Years (2024-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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2 February 2024 in Nature Reviews Urology
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
PDF file
JJJabril Rahim Johnson
Jabril Rahim Johnson
Nicole Ursula R. MavingireNicole Ursula R. Mavingire
Nicole Ursula R. Mavingire
LWLeanne Woods-Burnham
Leanne Woods-Burnham
MWMya Saree Walker
Mya Saree Walker
DLDeyana Lewis
Deyana Lewis
RKRick A. Kittles
Rick A. Kittles

15 May 2024 in Biology
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
JJJabril Rahim Johnson
Jabril Rahim Johnson
RMRachel N. Martini
Rachel N. Martini
YYYate-Ching Yuan
Yate-Ching Yuan
LWLeanne Woods-Burnham
Leanne Woods-Burnham
MWMya Saree Walker
Mya Saree Walker
RKRick Kittles
Rick Kittles
Vitamin D3 is a steroid hormone that confers anti-tumorigenic properties in prostate cells. Serum vitamin D3 deficiency has been associated with advanced prostate cancer (PCa), particularly affecting African American (AA) men. Therefore, elucidating the pleiotropic effects of vitamin D on signaling pathways, essential to maintaining non-malignancy, may provide additional drug targets to mitigate disparate outcomes for men with PCa, especially AA men. We conducted RNA sequencing on an AA non-malignant prostate cell line, RC-77N/E, comparing untreated cells to those treated with 10 nM of vitamin D3 metabolite, 1α,25(OH)2D3, at 24 h. Differential gene expression analysis revealed 1601 significant genes affected by 1α,25(OH)2D3 treatment. Pathway enrichment analysis predicted 1α,25(OH)2D3- mediated repression of prostate cancer, cell proliferation, actin cytoskeletal, and actin-related signaling pathways (p < 0.05). Prioritizing genes with vitamin D response elements and associating expression levels with overall survival (OS) in The Cancer Genome Atlas Prostate Adenocarcinoma (TCGA PRAD) cohort, we identified ANLN (Anillin) and ECT2 (Epithelial Cell Transforming 2) as potential prognostic PCa biomarkers. Both genes were strongly correlated and significantly downregulated by 1α,25(OH)2D3 treatment, where low expression was statistically associated with better overall survival outcomes in the TCGA PRAD public cohort. Increased ANLN and ECT2 mRNA gene expression was significantly associated with PCa, and Gleason scores using both the TCGA cohort (p < 0.05) and an AA non-malignant/tumor-matched cohort. Our findings suggest 1α,25(OH)2D3 regulation of these biomarkers may be significant for PCa prevention. In addition, 1α,25(OH)2D3 could be used as an adjuvant treatment targeting actin cytoskeleton signaling and actin cytoskeleton-related signaling pathways, particularly among AA men.