Application of galactosylated albumin for targeted delivery of triptolide to suppress hepatocellular carcinoma progression through inhibiting de novo lipogenesis

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains the fourth leading cause of cancer-associated death globally with a lack of efficient therapy. The pathogenesis of HCC is a complex and multistep process, highly reliant on de novo lipogenesis, from which tumor cells can incorporate fatty acids to satisfy the necessary energy demands of rapid proliferation and provide survival advantages. Triptolide (TP) is a bioactive ingredient exhibiting potent abilities of anti-proliferation and lipid metabolism regulation, but its clinical application is constrained because of its toxicity and non-specific distribution. The present study has developed galactosylated bovine serum albumin nanoparticles loaded with TP (Gal-BSA-TP NPs) to alleviate systemic toxicity and increase tumor-targeting and antitumor efficacy. Furthermore, Gal-BSA-TP NPs could inhibit de novo lipogenesis via the p53-SREBP1C-FASN pathway to deprive the fuel supply of HCC, offering a specific strategy for HCC treatment. In general, this study provided a biocompatible delivery platform for targeted therapy for HCC from the perspective of de novo lipogenesis.

State-of-the-art imaging of hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third most fatal and fifth most common cancer worldwide, with rising incidence due to obesity and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Imaging modalities, including ultrasound (US), multidetector computed tomography (MDCT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) play a vital role in detecting HCC characteristics, aiding in early detection, detailed visualization, and accurate differentiation of liver lesions. Liver-specific contrast agents, the Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System, and advanced techniques, including diffusion-weighted imaging and artificial intelligence, further enhance diagnostic accuracy. This review emphasizes the significant role of imaging in managing HCC, from diagnosis to treatment assessment, without the need for invasive biopsies.

Elevated choline drives KLF5-dominated transcriptional reprogramming to facilitate liver cancer progression

An increase in the total choline-containing compound content is a common characteristic of cancer cells, and aberrant choline metabolism in cancer is closely associated with malignant progression. However, the potential role of choline-induced global transcriptional changes in cancer cells remains unclear. In this study, we reveal that an elevated choline content facilitates hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell proliferation by reprogramming Krüppel-like factor 5 (KLF5)-dominated core transcriptional regulatory circuitry (CRC). Mechanistically, choline administration leads to elevated S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) levels, inducing the formation of H3K4me1 within the super-enhancer (SE) region of KLF5 and activating its transcription. KLF5, as a key transcription factor (TF) of CRC established by choline, further transactivates downstream genes to facilitate HCC cell cycle progression. Additionally, KLF5 can increase the expression of choline kinase-α (CHKA) and CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase (CCT) resulting in a positive feedback loop to promote HCC cell proliferation. Notably, the histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi) vorinostat (SAHA) significantly suppressed KLF5 expression and liver tumor growth in mice, leading to a prolonged lifespan. In conclusion, these findings highlight the epigenetic regulatory mechanism of the SE-driven key regulatory factor KLF5 conducted by choline metabolism in HCC and suggest a potential therapeutic strategy for HCC patients with high choline content.

Structural analysis of Salvia miltiorrhiza polysaccharide and its regulatory functions on T cells subsets in tumor-bearing mice combined with thymopentin

Salvia miltiorrhiza ethanol-extracted polysaccharide (SMEP) and thymopentin (TP5) have been proved with strong immunomodulatory activity, and T cells subsets play pivotal roles in the inhibition of solid tumors growth. In the present study, the structure of SMEP was further identified via methylation and nuclear magnetic resonance spectra, and the immunomodulatory activity in combination with TP5 was investigated via evaluating T cell subsets spatial distributions in tumor-bearing mice, finally the cellular status of solid tumor cells was analyzed. The results revealed that SMEP was a neutral heteropolysaccharide using (1 → 4)-α-D-Glcp and (2 → 1)-β-D-Fruf as the main chain, along with branched chains of (1 → 6)-α-D-Galp. The SMEP+TP5 treatments could effectively promote the differentiation and improve the specific recognition capacity of CD4+ T cells in tumor-bearing mice, thereby activate tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cells to exert cytotoxic effects, finally promoting the tumor cells apoptosis via blocking cell cycle at G0/G1 phase, which might be relevant with suppression of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. These findings highlighted the potential of SMEP as an immunoadjuvant for patients bearing immune-deficiency related diseases, and provided data support for the functional researches of T cell subsets in tumor immunity.

Identification of two heterogeneous subtypes of hepatocellular carcinoma with distinct pathway activities and clinical outcomes based on gene set variation analysis

Background

High heterogeneity is an essential feature of malignant tumors. This study aims to reveal the drivers of hepatocellular carcinoma heterogeneity for prognostic stratification and to guide individualized treatment.

Methods

Omics data and clinical data for two HCC cohorts were derived from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the International Cancer Genome Atlas (ICGC), respectively. CNV data and methylation data were downloaded from the GSCA database. GSVA was used to estimate the transcriptional activity of KEGG pathways, and consensus clustering was used to categorize the HCC samples. The pRRophetic package was used to predict the sensitivity of samples to anticancer drugs. TIMER, MCPcounter, quanTIseq, and TIDE algorithms were used to assess the components of TME. LASSO and COX analyses were used to establish a prognostic gene signature. The biological role played by genes in HCC cells was confirmed by in vitro experiments.

Results

We classified HCC tissues into two categories based on the activity of prognostic pathways. Among them, the transcriptional profile of cluster A HCC is similar to that of normal tissue, dominated by cancer-suppressive metabolic pathways, and has a better prognosis. In contrast, cluster B HCC is dominated by high proliferative activity and has significant genetic heterogeneity. Meanwhile, cluster B HCC is often poorly differentiated, has a high rate of serum AFP positivity, is prone to microvascular invasion, and has shorter overall survival. In addition, we found that mutations, copy number variations, and aberrant methylation were also crucial drivers of the differences in heterogeneity between the two HCC subtypes. Meanwhile, the TME of the two HCC subtypes is also significantly different, which offers the possibility of precision immunotherapy for HCC patients. Finally, based on the prognostic value of molecular subtypes, we developed a gene signature that could accurately predict patients' OS. The riskscore quantified by the signature could evaluate the heterogeneity of HCC and guide clinical treatment. Finally, we confirmed through in vitro experiments that RFPL4B could promote the progression of Huh7 cells.

Conclusion

The molecular subtypes we identified effectively exposed the heterogeneity of HCC, which is important for discovering new effective therapeutic targets.

Tethering of hexokinase 2 to mitochondria promotes resistance of liver cancer cells to natural killer cell cytotoxicity

Hexokinases (HKs) control the first step of glucose catabolism. A switch of expression from liver HK (glucokinase, GCK) to the tumor isoenzyme HK2 is observed in hepatocellular carcinoma progression. Our prior work revealed that HK isoenzyme switch in hepatocytes not only regulates hepatic metabolic functions but also modulates innate immunity and sensitivity to Natural Killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity. This study investigates the impact of HK2 expression and its mitochondrial binding on the resistance of human liver cancer cells to NK-cell-induced cytolysis. We have shown that HK2 expression induces resistance to NK cell cytotoxicity in a process requiring mitochondrial binding of HK2. Neither HK2 nor GCK expression affects target cells' ability to activate NK cells. In contrast, mitochondrial binding of HK2 reduces effector caspase 3/7 activity both at baseline and upon NK-cell activation. Furthermore, HK2 tethering to mitochondria enhances their resistance to cytochrome c release triggered by tBID. These findings indicate that HK2 mitochondrial binding in liver cancer cells is an intrinsic resistance factor to cytolysis and an escape mechanism from immune surveillance.

PrPC controls epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in EGFR-mutated NSCLC: implications for TKI resistance and patient follow-up

Patients with EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) benefit from treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) targeting EGFR. Despite improvements in patient care, especially with the 3rd generation TKI osimertinib, disease relapse is observed in all patients. Among the various processes involved in TKI resistance, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is far from being fully characterized. We hypothesized that the cellular prion protein PrPC could be involved in EMT and EGFR-TKI resistance in NSCLC. Using 5 independent lung adenocarcinoma datasets, including our own cohort, we document that the expression of the PRNP gene encoding PrPC is associated with EMT. By manipulating the levels of PrPC in different EGFR-mutated NSCLC cell lines, we firmly establish that the expression of PrPC is mandatory for cells to maintain or acquire a mesenchymal phenotype. Mechanistically, we show that PrPC operates through an ILK-RBPJ cascade, which also controls the expression of EGFR. Our data further demonstrate that PrPC levels are elevated in EGFR-mutated versus wild-type tumours or upon EGFR activation in vitro. In addition, we provide evidence that PRNP levels increase with TKI resistance and that reducing PRNP expression sensitizes cells to osimertinib. Finally, we found that plasma PrPC levels are increased in EGFR-mutated NSCLC patients from 2 independent cohorts and that their longitudinal evolution mirrors that of disease. Altogether, these findings define PrPC as a candidate driver of EMT-dependent resistance to EGFR-TKI in NSCLC. They further suggest that monitoring plasma PrPC levels may represent a valuable non-invasive strategy for patient follow-up and warrant considering PrPC-targeted therapies for EGFR-mutated NSCLC patients with TKI failure.

SLC13A3 is a major effector downstream of activated β-catenin in liver cancer pathogenesis

Activated Wnt/β-catenin pathway is a key genetic event in liver cancer development. Solute carrier (SLC) transporters are promising drug targets. Here, we identify SLC13A3 as a drug-targetable effector downstream of β-catenin in liver cancer. SLC13A3 expression is elevated in human liver cancer samples with gain of function (GOF) mutant CTNNB1, the gene encoding β-catenin. Activation of β-catenin up-regulates SLC13A3, leading to intracellular accumulation of endogenous SLC13A3 substrates. SLC13A3 is identified as a low-affinity transporter for glutathione (GSH). Silencing of SLC13A3 downregulates the leucine transporter SLC7A5 via c-MYC signaling, leading to leucine depletion and mTOR inactivation. Furthermore, silencing of SLC13A3 depletes GSH and induces autophagic ferroptosis in β-catenin-activated liver cancer cells. Importantly, both genetic inhibition of SLC13A3 and a small molecule SLC13A3 inhibitor suppress β-catenin-driven hepatocarcinogenesis in mice. Altogether, our study suggests that SLC13A3 could be a promising therapeutic target for treating human liver cancers with GOF CTNNB1 mutations.

New perspectives on chemokines in hepatocellular carcinoma therapy: a critical pathway for natural products regulation of the tumor microenvironment

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common primary neoplasms of the liver and one of the most common solid tumors in the world. Its global incidence is increasing and it has become the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths. There is growing evidence that chemokines play an important role in the tumor microenvironment, regulating the migration and localization of immune cells in tissues and are critical for the function of the immune system. This review comprehensively analyses the expression and activity of chemokines in the TME of HCC and describes their interrelationship with hepatocarcinogenesis and progression. Special attention is given to the role of chemokine-chemokine receptors in the regulation of immune cell accumulation in the TME. Therapeutic strategies targeting tumor-promoting chemokines or the induction/release of beneficial chemokines are reviewed, highlighting the potential value of natural products in modulating chemokines and their receptors in the treatment of HCC. The in-depth discussion in this paper provides a theoretical basis for the treatment of HCC. It is an important reference for new drug development and clinical research.

Phospholipid isotope tracing suggests β-catenin-driven suppression of phosphatidylcholine metabolism in hepatocellular carcinoma

Activating mutations in the CTNNB1 gene encoding β-catenin are among the most frequently observed oncogenic alterations in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Profound alterations in lipid metabolism, including increases in fatty acid oxidation and transformation of the phospholipidome, occur in HCC with CTNNB1 mutations, but it is unclear what mechanisms give rise to these changes. We employed untargeted lipidomics and targeted isotope tracing to measure phospholipid synthesis activity in an inducible human liver cell line expressing mutant β-catenin, as well as in transgenic zebrafish with activated β-catenin-driven HCC. In both models, activated β-catenin expression was associated with large changes in the lipidome including conserved increases in acylcarnitines and ceramides and decreases in triglycerides. Lipid isotope tracing analysis in human cells revealed a reduction in phosphatidylcholine (PC) production rates as assayed by choline incorporation. We developed lipid isotope tracing analysis for zebrafish tumors and observed reductions in phosphatidylcholine synthesis by both the CDP-choline and PEMT pathways. The observed changes in the β-catenin-driven HCC phospholipidome suggest that zebrafish can recapitulate conserved features of HCC lipid metabolism and may serve as a model for identifying future HCC-specific lipid metabolic targets.

[Micro-RNAs as biomarkers of radiation-induced injuries]

In the event of a radiological or nuclear emergency following an accident or malicious act, potentially involving many victims, medical care requires the identification and diagnosis of individuals exposed to high doses of ionizing radiation as quickly as possible. While an initial screening can be carried out directly in the field, additional biological in-lab analyses are required to refine the diagnosis and optimize the therapeutic management of victims. The fast and simultaneous management of many patients is limited by currently established techniques. To overcome these constraints, the use of new biomarkers to predict the risk and severity of radiation-induced injuries is under investigation. This synthesis summarizes the latest scientific advances demonstrating the potential of microRNAs as biomarkers of radiationinduced injuries, highlighting their relevance for human health care and radioprotection.

Roles of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) in the pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) holds a prominent position among global cancer types. Classically, HCC manifests in individuals with a genetic predisposition when they encounter risk elements, particularly in the context of liver cirrhosis. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs), which are transcription factors activated by fatty acids, belong to the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily and play a pivotal role in the regulation of energy homeostasis. At present, three distinct subtypes of PPARs have been recognized: PPARα, PPARγ, and PPARβ/δ. They regulate the transcription of genes responsible for cellular development, energy metabolism, inflammation, and differentiation. In recent years, with the rising incidence of HCC, there has been an increasing focus on the mechanisms and roles of PPARs in HCC. PPARα primarily mediates the occurrence and development of HCC by regulating glucose and lipid metabolism, inflammatory responses, and oxidative stress. PPARβ/δ is closely related to the self-renewal ability of liver cancer stem cells (LCSCs) and the formation of the tumor microenvironment. PPARγ not only influences tumor growth by regulating the glucose and lipid metabolism of HCC, but its agonists also have significant clinical significance for the treatment of HCC. Therefore, this review offers an exhaustive examination of the role of the three PPAR subtypes in HCC progression, focusing on their mediation of critical cellular processes such as glucose and lipid metabolism, inflammation, oxidative stress, and other pivotal signaling pathways. At the end of the review, we discuss the merits and drawbacks of existing PPAR-targeted therapeutic strategies and suggest a few alternative combinatorial therapeutic approaches that diverge from conventional methods.

Developing targeted therapeutics for hepatocellular carcinoma: a critical assessment of promising phase II agents

INTRODUCTION

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the sixth most common cancer worldwide and the first for primary liver tumors. In recent years greater therapeutic advancement was represented by employment of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) either in monotherapy or in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs).

AREAS COVERED

Major attention was given to target therapies in the last couple of years, especially in those currently under phase II trials. Priority was given either to combinations of novel ICI and TKIs or those targeting alternative mutations of major carcinogenic pathways.

EXPERT OPINION

As TKIs are playing a more crucial role in HCC therapeutic strategies, it is fundamental to further expand molecular testing and monitoring of acquired resistances. Despite the recent advancement in both laboratory and clinical studies, further research is necessary to face the discrepancy in clinical practice.

T cell proliferation-related subtypes, prognosis model and characterization of tumor microenvironment in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Background

Thirty-three synthetic driver genes of T-cell proliferation have recently been identified through genome-scale screening. However, the tumor microenvironment (TME) cell infiltration, prognosis, and response to immunotherapy mediated by multiple T cell proliferation-related genes (TRGs) in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSC) remain unclear.

Methods

This study examined the genetic and transcriptional changes in 771 patients with HNSC by analyzing the TRGs from two independent datasets. Two different subtypes were analyzed to investigate their relationship with immune infiltrating cells in the TME and patient prognosis. The study also developed and validated a risk score to predict overall survival (OS). Furthermore, to enhance the clinical utility of the risk score, an accurate nomogram was constructed by combining the characteristics of this study.

Results

The low-risk score observed in this study was associated with high levels of immune checkpoint expression and TME immune activation, indicating a favorable OS outcome. Additionally, various factors related to risk scores were depicted.

Conclusion

Through comprehensive analysis of TRGs in HNSC, our study has revealed the characteristics of the TME and prognosis, providing a basis for further investigation into TRGs and the development of more effective immunotherapy and targeted therapy strategies.

Exosomal transfer of HCC-derived miR-17-5p downregulates NK cell function by targeting RUNX1-NKG2D axis

OBJECTIVE

Natural killer (NK) cells are an integral part of the staunch defense line against malignant tumors within the tumor microenvironment. Existing research indicates that miRNAs can influence the development of NK cells by negatively modulating gene expression. In this study, we aim to explore how the miR-17-5p in Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) exosomes regulates the killing function of NK cells towards HCC cells through the transcription factor RNX1.

METHODS

The exosomes were isolated from HCC tissues and cell lines, followed by a second generation sequencing to compare differential miRNAs. Verification was performed using qRT-PCR and Western blot methods. The mutual interactions between miR-17-5p and RUNX1, as well as between RUNX1 and NKG2D, were authenticated using techniques like luciferase reporter gene assays, Western blotting, and Chromatin Immunoprecipitation (ChIP). The cytotoxic activity of NK cells towards HCC cells in vitro was measured using methods such as RTCA and ELISPOT. The zebrafish xenotransplantation was utilized to assess the in vivo killing capacity of NK cells against HCC cells.

RESULTS

The level of miR-17-5p in exosomes from HCC tissue increased compared to adjacent tissues. We verified that RUNX1 was a target of miR-17-5p and that RUNX1 enhances the transcription of NKG2D. MiR-17-5p was found to downregulate the expression of RUNX1 and NKG2D, subsequently reducing the in vitro and in vivo cytotoxic capabilities of NK cells against HCC cells.

CONCLUSIONS

The miR-17-5p found within HCC exosomes can target RUNX1, subsequently attenuating the cytotoxic activity of NK cells.

Metabolic reprogramming in hepatocellular carcinoma: a bibliometric and visualized study from 2011 to 2023

Background and aims

Metabolic reprogramming has been found to be a typical feature of tumors. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a cancer with high morbidity and mortality, has been extensively studied for its metabolic reprogramming-related mechanisms. Our study aims to identify the hotspots and frontiers of metabolic reprogramming research in HCC and to provide guidance for future scientific research and decision-making in HCC metabolism.

Methods

Relevant studies on the metabolic reprogramming of HCC were derived from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) database up until November 2023. The bibliometrix tools in R were used for scientometric analysis and visualization.

Results

From 2011 to 2023, a total of 575 publications were obtained from WoSCC that met the established criteria. These publications involved 3,904 researchers and 948 organizations in 37 countries, with an average annual growth rate of 39.11% in research. These studies were published in 233 journals, with Cancers (n = 29) ranking first, followed by Frontiers in Oncology (n = 20) and International Journal of Molecular Sciences (n = 19). The top ten journals accounted for 26% of the 575 studies. The most prolific authors were Wang J (n = 14), Li Y (n = 12), and Liu J (n = 12). The country with the most publications is China, followed by the United States, Italy, and France. Fudan University had the largest percentage of research results with 15.48% (n = 89). Ally A's paper in Cell has the most citations. A total of 1,204 keywords were analyzed, with the trend themes such as "glycolysis," "tumor microenvironment," "Warburg effect," "mitochondria," "hypoxia ," etc. Co-occurrence network and cluster analysis revealed the relationships between keywords, authors, publications, and journals. Moreover, the close collaboration between countries in this field was elucidated.

Conclusion

This bibliometric and visual analysis delves into studies related to metabolic reprogramming in HCC between 2012 and 2023, elucidating the characteristics of research in this field, which has gradually moved away from single glycolipid metabolism studies to the integration of overall metabolism in the body, pointing out the trend of research topics, and the dynamics of the interaction between the tumor microenvironment and metabolic reprogramming will be the future direction of research, which provides blueprints and inspirations for HCC prevention and treatment programs to the researchers in this field.

Systematic Review Registration: [https://www.bibliometrix.org].

Emerging role of oncogenic ß-catenin in exosome biogenesis as a driver of immune escape in hepatocellular carcinoma

Immune checkpoint inhibitors have produced encouraging results in cancer patients. However, the majority of ß-catenin-mutated tumors have been described as lacking immune infiltrates and resistant to immunotherapy. The mechanisms by which oncogenic ß-catenin affects immune surveillance remain unclear. Herein, we highlighted the involvement of ß-catenin in the regulation of the exosomal pathway and, by extension, in immune/cancer cell communication in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We showed that mutated ß-catenin represses expression of SDC4 and RAB27A, two main actors in exosome biogenesis, in both liver cancer cell lines and HCC patient samples. Using nanoparticle tracking analysis and live-cell imaging, we further demonstrated that activated ß-catenin represses exosome release. Then, we demonstrated in 3D spheroid models that activation of β-catenin promotes a decrease in immune cell infiltration through a defect in exosome secretion. Taken together, our results provide the first evidence that oncogenic ß-catenin plays a key role in exosome biogenesis. Our study gives new insight into the impact of ß-catenin mutations on tumor microenvironment remodeling, which could lead to the development of new strategies to enhance immunotherapeutic response.

Constructing a prognostic model for hepatocellular carcinoma based on bioinformatics analysis of inflammation-related genes

Background

This study aims to screen inflammation-related genes closely associated with the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) to accurately forecast the prognosis of HCC patients.

Methods

Gene expression matrices and clinical information for liver cancer samples were obtained from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC). An intersection of differentially expressed genes of HCC and normal and GeneCards yielded inflammation-related genes associated with HCC. Cox regression and the minor absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analysis to filter genes associated with HCC prognosis. The prognostic value of the model was confirmed by drawing Kaplan-Meier and ROC curves. Select differentially expressed genes between the high-risk and low-risk groups and perform GO and KEGG pathways analyses. CIBERSORT analysis was conducted to assess associations of risk models with immune cells and verified using real-time qPCR.

Results

A total of six hub genes (C3, CTNNB1, CYBC1, DNASE1L3, IRAK1, and SERPINE1) were selected using multivariate Cox regression to construct a prognostic model. The validation evaluation of the prognostic model showed that it has an excellent ability to predict prognosis. A line plot was drawn to indicate the HCC patients' survival, and the calibration curve revealed satisfactory predictability. Among the six hub genes, C3 and DNASE1L3 are relatively low expressed in HCCLM3 and 97H liver cancer cell lines, while CTNNB1, CYBC1, IRAK1, and SERPINE1 are relatively overexpressed in liver cancer cell lines.

Conclusion

One new inflammatory factor-associated prognostic model was constructed in this study. The risk score can be an independent predictor for judging the prognosis of HCC patients' survival.

LncRNAs as potential prognosis/diagnosis markers and factors driving drug resistance of osteosarcoma, a review

Osteosarcoma is a common malignancy that often occurs in children, teenagers and young adults. Although the treatment strategy has improved, the results are still poor for most patients with metastatic or recurrent osteosarcomas. Therefore, it is necessary to identify new and effective prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for diseases. Human genomes contain lncRNAs, transcripts with limited or insufficient capacity to encode proteins. They have been implicated in tumorigenesis, particularly regarding the onset, advancement, resistance to treatment, recurrence and remote dissemination of malignancies. Aberrant lncRNA expression in osteosarcomas has been reported by numerous researchers; lncRNAs have the potential to exhibit either oncogenic or tumor-suppressing behaviors and thus, to govern the advancement of this skeletal cancer. They are suspected to influence osteosarcoma cell growth, replication, invasion, migration, remote dissemination and programmed cell death. Additionally, they have been recognized as clinical markers, and may participate in the development of multidrug resistance. Therefore, the study of lncRNAs in the growth, metastasis, treatment and prognosis of osteosarcoma is very important for the active prevention and treatment of osteosarcoma. Consequently, this work reviews the functions of lncRNAs.

Strategies to enhance the response of liver cancer to pharmacological treatments

In contrast to other types of cancers, there is no available efficient pharmacological treatment to improve the outcomes of patients suffering from major primary liver cancers, i.e., hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma. This dismal situation is partly due to the existence in these tumors of many different and synergistic mechanisms of resistance, accounting for the lack of response of these patients, not only to classical chemotherapy but also to more modern pharmacological agents based on the inhibition of tyrosine kinase receptors (TKIs) and the stimulation of the immune response against the tumor using immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). This review summarizes the efforts to develop strategies to overcome this severe limitation, including searching for novel drugs derived from synthetic, semisynthetic, or natural products with vectorial properties against therapeutic targets to increase drug uptake or reduce drug export from cancer cells. Besides, immunotherapy is a promising line of research that is already starting to be implemented in clinical practice. Although less successful than in other cancers, the foreseen future for this strategy in treating liver cancers is considerable. Similarly, the pharmacological inhibition of epigenetic targets is highly promising. Many novel "epidrugs," able to act on "writer," "reader," and "eraser" epigenetic players, are currently being evaluated in preclinical and clinical studies. Finally, gene therapy is a broad field of research in the fight against liver cancer chemoresistance, based on the impressive advances recently achieved in gene manipulation. In sum, although the present is still dismal, there is reason for hope in the non-too-distant future.

Loss of β-catenin reveals a role for glutathione in regulating oxidative stress during cholestatic liver disease

BACKGROUND

Cholestasis is an intractable liver disorder that results from impaired bile flow. We have previously shown that the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway regulates the progression of cholestatic liver disease through multiple mechanisms, including bile acid metabolism and hepatocyte proliferation. To further explore the impact of these functions during intrahepatic cholestasis, we exposed mice to a xenobiotic that causes selective biliary injury.

METHODS

α-naphthylisothiocyanate (ANIT) was administered to liver-specific knockout (KO) of β-catenin and wild-type mice in the diet. Mice were killed at 6 or 14 days to assess the severity of cholestatic liver disease, measure the expression of target genes, and perform biochemical analyses.

RESULTS

We found that the presence of β-catenin was protective against ANIT, as KO mice had a significantly lower survival rate than wild-type mice. Although serum markers of liver damage and total bile acid levels were similar between KO and wild-type mice, the KO had minor histological abnormalities, such as sinusoidal dilatation, concentric fibrosis around ducts, and decreased inflammation. Notably, both total glutathione levels and expression of glutathione-S-transferases, which catalyze the conjugation of ANIT to glutathione, were significantly decreased in KO after ANIT. Nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2-like 2, a master regulator of the antioxidant response, was activated in KO after ANIT as well as in a subset of patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis lacking activated β-catenin. Despite the activation of nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2-like 2, KO livers had increased lipid peroxidation and cell death, which likely contributed to mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

Loss of β-catenin leads to increased cellular injury and cell death during cholestasis through failure to neutralize oxidative stress, which may contribute to the pathology of this disease.

Inflammatory Response in the Pathogenesis and Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Double-Edged Weapon

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most frequent among primary liver tumors (90%) and one of the main causes of cancer-related death. It develops usually in a chronically inflamed environment, ranging from compensatory parenchymal regeneration to fibrosis and cirrhosis: carcinogenesis can potentially happen in each of these stages. Inflammation determined by chronic viral infection (hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and hepatitis delta viruses) represents an important risk factor for HCC etiology through both viral direct damage and immune-related mechanisms. The deregulation of the physiological liver immunological network determined by viral infection can lead to carcinogenesis. The recent introduction of immunotherapy as the gold-standard first-line treatment for HCC highlights the role of the immune system and inflammation as a double-edged weapon in both HCC carcinogenesis and treatment. In this review we highlight how the inflammation is the key for the hepatocarcinogenesis in viral, alcohol and metabolic liver diseases.

Therapeutic insight into the role of nuclear protein HNF4α in liver carcinogenesis

Hepatocyte nuclear factor 4-alpha (HNF4α), a well-preserved member of the nuclear receptor superfamily of transcription factors, is found in the liver. It is recognized as a central controller of gene expression specific to the liver and plays a key role in preserving the liver's homeostasis. Irregular expression of HNF4α is increasingly recognized as a crucial factor in the proliferation, cell death, invasiveness, loss of specialized functions, and metastasis of cancer cells. An increasing number of studies are pointing to abnormal HNF4α expression as a key component of cancer cell invasion, apoptosis, proliferation, dedifferentiation, and metastasis. Understanding HNF4α's intricate involvement in liver carcinogenesis provides a promising avenue for therapeutic intervention. This chapter attempts to shed light on the diverse aspects of HNF4's role in liver carcinogenesis and demonstrate how this knowledge can be harnessed for approaches to prevent and treat liver cancer. This comprehensive chapter will offer an elaborate perspective on HNF4's function in liver cancer, delineating its molecular mechanisms that aid in the emergence of liver cancer. Furthermore, it will highlight the potential to help create more effective and precisely targeted therapeutic strategies, rekindling fresh optimism in the fight against this formidable condition.

Long Non-coding RNA PCED1B Antisense RNA 1 Promotes Cell Proliferation and Invasion in Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Regulating the MicroRNA-34a/CD44 Axis

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to examine the role of long non-coding RNA PCED1B antisense RNA 1 (PCED1B-AS1) in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODS

A total of 62 pairs of HCC tissues and adjacent non-tumor tissues were obtained from 62 HCC patients. The interactions of PCED1B-AS1 and microRNA-34a (miR-34a) were detected by dual luciferase activity assay and RNA pull-down assay. The RNA expression levels of PCED1B-AS1, miR-34a and CD44 were detected by RT-qPCR, and the protein expression level of CD44 was determined by Western blotting. The cell proliferation was detected by cell proliferation assay, and the cell invasion and migration by transwell invasion assay. The HCC tumor growth after PCED1B-AS1 was downregulated was determined by in vivo animal study.

RESULTS

PCED1B-AS1 was highly expressed in HCC tissues, which was associated with poor survival of HCC patients. Furthermore, PCED1B-AS1 interacted with miR-34a in HCC cells, but they did not regulate the expression of each other. Additionally, PCED1B-AS1 increased the expression level of CD44, which was targeted by miR-34a. The cell proliferation and invasion assay revealed that miR-34a inhibited the proliferation and invasion of HCC in vitro, while CD44 exhibited the opposite effects. Furthermore, PCED1B-AS1 suppressed the role of miR-34a. Moreover, the knockdown of PCED1B-AS1 repressed the HCC tumor growth in nude mice in vivo.

CONCLUSION

PCED1B-AS1 may play an oncogenic role by regulating the miR-34a/CD44 axis in HCC.

Modulating β-catenin homeostasis for cancer therapy

β-Catenin is a well-established driver of many cancers; however, there are challenges in developing agents targeting β-catenin for clinical use. Recent progress has indicated that most of the pathological changes in β-catenin may be commonly caused by loss of protein homeostasis. Modulation of β-catenin homeostasis, especially by hyperactivation of β-catenin, potentially leads to robust antitumor outcomes. Here, we comprehensively dissect the protein homeostasis of β-catenin in terms of time, compartmentalization, supramolecular assemblies, and dynamics, with emphasis on changes in β-catenin homeostasis upon oncogenic mutations. We propose that altered β-catenin homeostasis could be deleterious for β-catenin-dependent cancers and that modulation of β-catenin homeostasis offers a novel avenue for targeting β-catenin for cancer therapy.

Global research trends and hotspots for leukocyte cell-derived chemotaxin-2 from the past to 2023: a combined bibliometric review

Leukocyte cell-derived chemotaxin-2 (LECT2) is an important cytokine synthesized by liver. Significant research interest is stimulated by its crucial involvement in inflammatory response, immune regulation, disease occurrence and development. However, bibliometric study on LECT2 is lacking. In order to comprehend the function and operation of LECT2 in human illnesses, we examined pertinent studies on LECT2 investigation in the Web of Science database, followed by utilizing CiteSpace, VOSview, and Scimago Graphica for assessing the yearly quantity of papers, countries/regions involved, establishments, authors, publications, citations, and key terms. Then we summarized the current research hotspots in this field. Our study found that the literature related to LECT2 has a fluctuating upward trend. "Angiogenesis", "ALECT2", "diagnosis", and "biliary atresia" are the current investigative frontiers. Our findings indicated that liver diseases (e.g. liver fibrosis and hepatic cell carcinoma), systemic inflammatory disease, and amyloidosis are the current research focus of LECT2. The current LECT2 research outcomes are not exceptional. We hope to promote the scientific research of LECT2 and exploit its potential for clinical diagnosis and treatment of related diseases through a comprehensive bibliometric review.

Cardiometabolic risk factors in MASLD patients with HCC: the other side of the coin

Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) constitutes the commonest cause of chronic liver disorder worldwide, whereby affecting around one third of the global population. This clinical condition may evolve into Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis (MASH), fibrosis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), in a predisposed subgroup of patients. The complex pathogenesis of MASLD is severely entangled with obesity, dyslipidemia and type 2 diabetes (T2D), so far so nutritional and lifestyle recommendations may be crucial in influencing the risk of HCC and modifying its prognosis. However, the causative association between HCC onset and the presence of metabolic comorbidities is not completely clarified. Therefore, the present review aimed to summarize the main literature findings that correlate the presence of inherited or acquired hyperlipidemia and metabolic risk factors with the increased predisposition towards liver cancer in MASLD patients. Here, we gathered the evidence underlining the relationship between circulating/hepatic lipids, cardiovascular events, metabolic comorbidities and hepatocarcinogenesis. In addition, we reported previous studies supporting the impact of triglyceride and/or cholesterol accumulation in generating aberrancies in the intracellular membranes of organelles, oxidative stress, ATP depletion and hepatocyte degeneration, influencing the risk of HCC and its response to therapeutic approaches. Finally, our pursuit was to emphasize the link between HCC and the presence of cardiometabolic abnormalities in our large cohort of histologically-characterized patients affected by MASLD (n=1538), of whom 86 had MASLD-HCC by including unpublished data.

Deprivation of methionine inhibits osteosarcoma growth and metastasis via C1orf112-mediated regulation of mitochondrial functions

Osteosarcoma is a malignant bone tumor that primarily inflicts the youth. It often metastasizes to the lungs after chemotherapy failure, which eventually shortens patients' lives. Thus, there is a dire clinical need to develop a novel therapy to tackle osteosarcoma metastasis. Methionine dependence is a special metabolic characteristic of most malignant tumor cells that may offer a target pathway for such therapy. Herein, we demonstrated that methionine deficiency restricted the growth and metastasis of cultured human osteosarcoma cells. A genetically engineered Salmonella, SGN1, capable of overexpressing an L-methioninase and hydrolyzing methionine led to significant reduction of methionine and S-adenosyl-methionine (SAM) specifically in tumor tissues, drastically restricted the growth and metastasis in subcutaneous xenograft, orthotopic, and tail vein-injected metastatic models, and prolonged the survival of the model animals. SGN1 also sharply suppressed the growth of patient-derived organoid and xenograft. Methionine restriction in the osteosarcoma cells initiated severe mitochondrial dysfunction, as evident in the dysregulated gene expression of respiratory chains, increased mitochondrial ROS generation, reduced ATP production, decreased basal and maximum respiration, and damaged mitochondrial membrane potential. Transcriptomic and molecular analysis revealed the reduction of C1orf112 expression as a primary mechanism underlies methionine deprivation-initiated suppression on the growth and metastasis as well as mitochondrial functions. Collectively, our findings unraveled a molecular linkage between methionine restriction, mitochondrial function, and osteosarcoma growth and metastasis. A pharmacological agent, such as SGN1, that can achieve tumor specific deprivation of methionine may represent a promising modality against the metastasis of osteosarcoma and potentially other types of sarcomas as well.

Roles of estrogen receptors during sexual reversal in Pelodiscus sinensis

BACKGROUND

The Chinese soft-shelled turtle, Pelodiscus sinensis, exhibits distinct sexual dimorphism, with the males growing faster and larger than the females. During breeding, all-male offspring can be obtained using 17β-estradiol (E2). However, the molecular mechanisms underlying E2-induced sexual reversal have not yet been elucidated. Previous studies have investigated the molecular sequence and expression characteristics of estrogen receptors (ERs).

METHODS AND RESULTS

In this study, primary liver cells and embryos of P. sinensis were treated with ER agonists or inhibitors. Cell incubation experiments revealed that nuclear ERs (nERs) were the main pathway for the transmission of estrogen signals. Our results showed that ERα agonist (ERα-ag) upregulated the expression of Rspo1, whereas ERα inhibitor (ERα-Inh) downregulated its expression. The expression of Dmrt1 was enhanced after ERα-Inh + G-ag treatment, indicating that the regulation of male genes may not act through a single estrogen receptor, but a combination of ERs. In embryos, only the ERα-ag remarkably promoted the expression levels of Rspo1, Wnt4, and β-catenin, whereas the ERα-Inh had a suppressive effect. Additionally, Dmrt1, Amh, and Sox9 expression levels were downregulated after ERβ inhibitor (ERβ-Inh) treatment. GPER agonist (G-ag) has a significant promotion effect on Rspo1, Wnt4, and β-catenin, while the inhibitor G-Inh does not affect male-related genes.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, these results suggest that ERs play different roles during sexual reversal in P. sinensis and ERα may be the main carrier of estrogen-induced sexual reversal in P. sinensis. Further studies need to be performed to analyze the mechanism of ER action.

Perturbed liver gene zonation in a mouse model of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis

Liver zonation characterizes the separation of metabolic pathways along the lobules and is required for optimal hepatic function. Wnt signaling is a master regulator of spatial liver zonation. A perivenous-periportal Wnt activity gradient orchestrates metabolic zonation by activating gene expression in perivenous hepatocytes, while suppressing gene expression in their periportal counterparts. However, the understanding as to the liver gene zonation and zonation regulators in diseases is limited. Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a chronic liver disease characterized by fat accumulation, inflammation, and fibrosis. Here, we investigated the perturbation of liver gene zonation in a mouse NASH model by combining spatial transcriptomics, bulk RNAseq and in situ hybridization. Wnt-target genes represented a major subset of genes showing altered spatial expression in the NASH liver. The altered Wnt-target gene expression levels and zonation spatial patterns were in line with the up regulation of Wnt regulators and the augmentation of Wnt signaling. Particularly, we found that the Wnt activator Rspo3 expression was restricted to the perivenous zone in control liver but expanded to the periportal zone in NASH liver. AAV8-mediated RSPO3 overexpression in controls resulted in zonation changes, and further amplified the disturbed zonation of Wnt-target genes in NASH, similarly Rspo3 knockdown in Rspo3+/- mice resulted in zonation changes of Wnt-target genes in both chow and HFD mouse. Interestingly, there were no impacts on steatosis, inflammation, or fibrosis NASH pathology from RSPO3 overexpression nor Rspo3 knockdown. In summary, our study demonstrated the alteration of Wnt signaling in a mouse NASH model, leading to perturbed liver zonation.

A spatiotemporal atlas of mouse liver homeostasis and regeneration

The mechanism by which mammalian liver cell responses are coordinated during tissue homeostasis and perturbation is poorly understood, representing a major obstacle in our understanding of many diseases. This knowledge gap is caused by the difficulty involved with studying multiple cell types in different states and locations, particularly when these are transient. We have combined Stereo-seq (spatiotemporal enhanced resolution omics-sequencing) with single-cell transcriptomic profiling of 473,290 cells to generate a high-definition spatiotemporal atlas of mouse liver homeostasis and regeneration at the whole-lobe scale. Our integrative study dissects in detail the molecular gradients controlling liver cell function, systematically defining how gene networks are dynamically modulated through intercellular communication to promote regeneration. Among other important regulators, we identified the transcriptional cofactor TBL1XR1 as a rheostat linking inflammation to Wnt/β-catenin signaling for facilitating hepatocyte proliferation. Our data and analytical pipelines lay the foundation for future high-definition tissue-scale atlases of organ physiology and malfunction.

Natural killer group 2D-major histocompatibility complex class I polypeptide-related sequence A activation enhances natural killer cell-mediated immunity against hepatocellular carcinoma: A review

The recent clinical introduction of immune checkpoint inhibitors has improved therapeutic outcomes in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. However, these therapies targeting CD8+ T lymphocytes have a response rate of approximately 30%. In addition to CD8+ T lymphocytes, natural killer (NK) cells represent promising therapeutic targets for hepatocellular carcinoma, because they comprise 30%-50% of all lymphocytes in the liver and contribute to antitumor immunity. A recent meta-analysis revealed that the percentage of infiltrating NK cells in hepatocellular carcinoma correlates with a better patient outcome. Similarly, our previous genome-wide association study on chronic viral hepatitis showed that a single-nucleotide polymorphism of major histocompatibility complex class I polypeptide-related sequence A (MICA), a ligand to the NK activating receptor, plays a critical role in hepatocarcinogenesis. In this review, we summarize the mechanisms underlying the regulation of MICA and NK group 2D expression in chronic hepatitis. Furthermore, we describe recent reports on MICA single-nucleotide polymorphism-driven hepatocarcinogenesis. The suppression of MICA shedding could represent a promising approach for immunosurveillance, as increased expression of membrane-bound MICA achieved through the use of a MICA shedding inhibitor also enhances NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity.

Glutamine metabolism, a double agent combating or fuelling hepatocellular carcinoma

The reprogramming of glutamine metabolism is a key event in cancer more generally and in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in particular. Glutamine consumption supplies tumours with ATP and metabolites through anaplerosis of the tricarboxylic acid cycle, while glutamine production can be enhanced by the overexpression of glutamine synthetase. In HCC, increased glutamine production is driven by activating mutations in the CTNNB1 gene encoding β-catenin. Increased glutamine synthesis or utilisation impacts tumour epigenetics, oxidative stress, autophagy, immunity and associated pathways, such as the mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) pathway. In this review, we will discuss studies which emphasise the pro-tumoral or tumour-suppressive effect of glutamine overproduction. It is clear that more comprehensive studies are needed as a foundation from which to develop suitable therapies targeting glutamine metabolic pathways, depending on the predicted pro- or anti-tumour role of dysregulated glutamine metabolism in distinct genetic contexts.

Spatial metabolomics and its application in the liver

Hepatocytes work in highly structured, repetitive hepatic lobules. Blood flow across the radial axis of the lobule generates oxygen, nutrient, and hormone gradients, which result in zoned spatial variability and functional diversity. This large heterogeneity suggests that hepatocytes in different lobule zones may have distinct gene expression profiles, metabolic features, regenerative capacity, and susceptibility to damage. Here, we describe the principles of liver zonation, introduce metabolomic approaches to study the spatial heterogeneity of the liver, and highlight the possibility of exploring the spatial metabolic profile, leading to a deeper understanding of the tissue metabolic organization. Spatial metabolomics can also reveal intercellular heterogeneity and its contribution to liver disease. These approaches facilitate the global characterization of liver metabolic function with high spatial resolution along physiological and pathological time scales. This review summarizes the state of the art for spatially resolved metabolomic analysis and the challenges that hinder the achievement of metabolome coverage at the single-cell level. We also discuss several major contributions to the understanding of liver spatial metabolism and conclude with our opinion on the future developments and applications of these exciting new technologies.

Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in liver biology and tumorigenesis

The Wnt/β-catenin pathway is an evolutionarily conserved signaling pathway that controls fundamental physiological and pathological processes by regulating cell proliferation and differentiation. The Wnt/β-catenin pathway enables liver homeostasis by inducing differentiation and contributes to liver-specific features such as metabolic zonation and regeneration. In contrast, abnormalities in the Wnt/β-catenin pathway promote the development and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Similarly, hepatoblastoma, the most common childhood liver cancer, is frequently associated with β-catenin mutations, which activate Wnt/β-catenin signaling. HCCs with activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway have unique gene expression patterns and pathological and clinical features. Accordingly, they are highly differentiated with retaining hepatocyte-like characteristics and tumorigenic. Activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in HCC also alters the state of immune cells, causing "immune evasion" with inducing resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitors, which have recently become widely used to treat HCC. Activated Wnt/β-catenin signaling exhibits these phenomena in liver tumorigenesis through the expression of downstream target genes, and the molecular basis is still poorly understood. In this review, we describe the physiological roles of Wnt/b-catenin signaling and then discuss their characteristic changes by the abnormal activation of Wnt/b-catenin signaling. Clarification of the mechanism would contribute to the development of therapeutic agents in the future.

Spatial hepatocyte plasticity of gluconeogenesis during the metabolic transitions between fed, fasted and starvation states

The liver acts as a master regulator of metabolic homeostasis in part by performing gluconeogenesis. This process is dysregulated in type 2 diabetes, leading to elevated hepatic glucose output. The parenchymal cells of the liver (hepatocytes) are heterogeneous, existing on an axis between the portal triad and the central vein, and perform distinct functions depending on location in the lobule. Here, using single cell analysis of hepatocytes across the liver lobule, we demonstrate that gluconeogenic gene expression ( Pck1 and G6pc ) is relatively low in the fed state and gradually increases first in the periportal hepatocytes during the initial fasting period. As the time of fasting progresses, pericentral hepatocyte gluconeogenic gene expression increases, and following entry into the starvation state, the pericentral hepatocytes show similar gluconeogenic gene expression to the periportal hepatocytes. Similarly, pyruvate-dependent gluconeogenic activity is approximately 10-fold higher in the periportal hepatocytes during the initial fasting state but only 1.5-fold higher in the starvation state. In parallel, starvation suppresses canonical beta-catenin signaling and modulates expression of pericentral and periportal glutamine synthetase and glutaminase, resulting in an enhanced pericentral glutamine-dependent gluconeogenesis. These findings demonstrate that hepatocyte gluconeogenic gene expression and gluconeogenic activity are highly spatially and temporally plastic across the liver lobule, underscoring the critical importance of using well-defined feeding and fasting conditions to define the basis of hepatic insulin resistance and glucose production.

Wnt/β-catenin signaling regulates amino acid metabolism through the suppression of CEBPA and FOXA1 in liver cancer cells

Deregulation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway is associated with the development of human cancer including colorectal and liver cancer. Although we previously showed that histidine ammonia lyase (HAL) was transcriptionally reduced by the β-catenin/TCF complex in liver cancer cells, the mechanism(s) of its down-regulation by the complex remain to be clarified. In this study, we search for the transcription factor(s) regulating HAL, and identify CEBPA and FOXA1, two factors whose expression is suppressed by the knockdown of β-catenin or TCF7L2. In addition, RNA-seq analysis coupled with genome-wide mapping of CEBPA- and FOXA1-binding regions reveals that these two factors also increase the expression of arginase 1 (ARG1) that catalyzes the hydrolysis of arginine. Metabolome analysis discloses that activated Wnt signaling augments intracellular concentrations of histidine and arginine, and that the signal also increases the level of lactic acid suggesting the induction of the Warburg effect in liver cancer cells. Further analysis reveals that the levels of metabolites of the urea cycle and genes coding its related enzymes are also modulated by the Wnt signaling. These findings shed light on the altered cellular metabolism in the liver by the Wnt/β-catenin pathway through the suppression of liver-enriched transcription factors including CEBPA and FOXA1.

Wnt, glucocorticoid and cellular prion protein cooperate to drive a mesenchymal phenotype with poor prognosis in colon cancer

BACKGROUND

The mesenchymal subtype of colorectal cancer (CRC), associated with poor prognosis, is characterized by abundant expression of the cellular prion protein PrPC, which represents a candidate therapeutic target. How PrPC is induced in CRC remains elusive. This study aims to elucidate the signaling pathways governing PrPC expression and to shed light on the gene regulatory networks linked to PrPC.

METHODS

We performed in silico analyses on diverse datasets of in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo models of mouse CRC and patient cohorts. We mined ChIPseq studies and performed promoter analysis. CRC cell lines were manipulated through genetic and pharmacological approaches. We created mice combining conditional inactivation of Apc in intestinal epithelial cells and overexpression of the human prion protein gene PRNP. Bio-informatic analyses were carried out in two randomized control trials totalizing over 3000 CRC patients.

RESULTS

In silico analyses combined with cell-based assays identified the Wnt-β-catenin and glucocorticoid pathways as upstream regulators of PRNP expression, with subtle differences between mouse and human. We uncover multiple feedback loops between PrPC and these two pathways, which translate into an aggravation of CRC pathogenesis in mouse. In stage III CRC patients, the signature defined by PRNP-CTNNB1-NR3C1, encoding PrPC, β-catenin and the glucocorticoid receptor respectively, is overrepresented in the poor-prognosis, mesenchymal subtype and associates with reduced time to recurrence.

CONCLUSIONS

An unleashed PrPC-dependent vicious circle is pathognomonic of poor prognosis, mesenchymal CRC. Patients from this aggressive subtype of CRC may benefit from therapies targeting the PRNP-CTNNB1-NR3C1 axis.

Loss of lncRNA LINC01056 leads to sorafenib resistance in HCC

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Sorafenib is a major nonsurgical option for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); however, its clinical efficacy is largely undermined by the acquisition of resistance. The aim of this study was to identify the key lncRNA involved in the regulation of the sorafenib response in HCC.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) single-guide RNA (sgRNA) synergistic activation mediator (SAM)-pooled lncRNA library was applied to screen for the key lncRNA regulated by sorafenib treatment. The role of the identified lncRNA in mediating the sorafenib response in HCC was examined in vitro and in vivo. The underlying mechanism was delineated by proteomic analysis. The clinical significance of the expression of the identified lncRNA was evaluated by multiplex immunostaining on a human HCC microtissue array.

RESULTS

CRISPR/Cas9 lncRNA library screening revealed that Linc01056 was among the most downregulated lncRNAs in sorafenib-resistant HCC cells. Knockdown of Linc01056 reduced the sensitivity of HCC cells to sorafenib, suppressing apoptosis in vitro and promoting tumour growth in mice in vivo. Proteomic analysis revealed that Linc01056 knockdown in sorafenib-treated HCC cells induced genes related to fatty acid oxidation (FAO) while repressing glycolysis-associated genes, leading to a metabolic switch favouring higher intracellular energy production. FAO inhibition in HCC cells with Linc01056 knockdown significantly restored sensitivity to sorafenib. Mechanistically, we determined that PPARα is the critical molecule governing the metabolic switch upon Linc01056 knockdown in HCC cells and indeed, PPARα inhibition restored the sorafenib response in HCC cells in vitro and HCC tumours in vivo. Clinically, Linc01056 expression predicted optimal overall and progression-free survival outcomes in HCC patients and predicted a better sorafenib response. Linc01056 expression indicated a low FAO level in HCC.

CONCLUSION

Our study identified Linc01056 as a critical epigenetic regulator and potential therapeutic target in the regulation of the sorafenib response in HCC.

DLK1/DIO3 locus upregulation by a β-catenin-dependent enhancer drives cell proliferation and liver tumorigenesis

The CTNNB1 gene, encoding β-catenin, is frequently mutated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC, ∼30%) and in hepatoblastoma (HB, >80%), in which DLK1/DIO3 locus induction is correlated with CTNNB1 mutations. Here, we aim to decipher how sustained β-catenin activation regulates DLK1/DIO3 locus expression and the role this locus plays in HB and HCC development in mouse models deleted for Apc (ApcΔhep) or Ctnnb1-exon 3 (β-cateninΔExon3) and in human CTNNB1-mutated hepatic cancer cells. We identified an enhancer site bound by TCF-4/β-catenin complexes in an open conformation upon sustained β-catenin activation (DLK1-Wnt responsive element [WRE]) and increasing DLK1/DIO3 locus transcription in β-catenin-mutated human HB and mouse models. DLK1-WRE editing by CRISPR-Cas9 approach impaired DLK1/DIO3 locus expression and slowed tumor growth in subcutaneous CTNNB1-mutated tumor cell grafts, ApcΔhep HB and β-cateninΔExon3 HCC. Tumor growth inhibition resulted either from increased FADD expression and subsequent caspase-3 cleavage in the first case or from decreased expression of cell cycle actors regulated by FoxM1 in the others. Therefore, the DLK1/DIO3 locus is an essential determinant of FoxM1-dependent cell proliferation during β-catenin-driven liver tumorigenesis. Targeting the DLK1-WRE enhancer to silence the DLK1/DIO3 locus might thus represent an interesting therapeutic strategy to restrict tumor growth in primary liver cancers with CTNNB1 mutations.

Immune Regulatory Networks and Therapy of γδ T Cells in Liver Cancer: Recent Trends and Advancements

The roles of γδ T cells in liver cancer, especially in the potential function of immunotherapy due to their direct cytotoxic effects on tumor cells and secretion of important cytokines and chemokines, have aroused research interest. This review briefly describes the basic characteristics of γδ T cells, focusing on their diverse effects on liver cancer. In particular, different subtypes of γδ T cells have diverse or even opposite effects on liver cancer. We provide a detailed description of the immune regulatory network of γδ T cells in liver cancer from two aspects: immune components and nonimmune components. The interactions between various components in this immune regulatory network are dynamic and pluralistic, ultimately determining the biological effects of γδ T cells in liver cancer. We also integrate the current knowledge of γδ T-cell immunotherapy for liver cancer treatment, emphasizing the potential of these cells in liver cancer immunotherapy.

WNT/β-catenin signaling in hepatocellular carcinoma: The aberrant activation, pathogenic roles, and therapeutic opportunities

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a liver cancer, highly heterogeneous both at the histopathological and molecular levels. It arises from hepatocytes as the result of the accumulation of numerous genomic alterations in various signaling pathways, including canonical WNT/β-catenin, AKT/mTOR, MAPK pathways as well as signaling associated with telomere maintenance, p53/cell cycle regulation, epigenetic modifiers, and oxidative stress. The role of WNT/β-catenin signaling in liver homeostasis and regeneration is well established, whereas in development and progression of HCC is extensively studied. Herein, we review recent advances in our understanding of how WNT/β-catenin signaling facilitates the HCC development, acquisition of stemness features, metastasis, and resistance to treatment. We outline genetic and epigenetic alterations that lead to activated WNT/β-catenin signaling in HCC. We discuss the pivotal roles of CTNNB1 mutations, aberrantly expressed non-coding RNAs and complexity of crosstalk between WNT/β-catenin signaling and other signaling pathways as challenging or advantageous aspects of therapy development and molecular stratification of HCC patients for treatment.

A spatial map of hepatic mitochondria uncovers functional heterogeneity shaped by nutrient-sensing signaling

In the liver, mitochondria are exposed to different concentrations of nutrients due to their spatial positioning across the periportal and pericentral axis. How the mitochondria sense and integrate these signals to respond and maintain homeostasis is not known. Here, we combine intravital microscopy, spatial proteomics, and functional assessment to investigate mitochondrial heterogeneity in the context of liver zonation. We find that periportal and pericentral mitochondria are morphologically and functionally distinct; beta-oxidation is elevated in periportal regions, while lipid synthesis is predominant in the pericentral mitochondria. In addition, comparative phosphoproteomics reveals spatially distinct patterns of mitochondrial composition and potential regulation via phosphorylation. Acute pharmacological modulation of nutrient sensing through AMPK and mTOR shifts mitochondrial phenotypes in the periportal and pericentral regions, linking nutrient gradients across the lobule and mitochondrial heterogeneity. This study highlights the role of protein phosphorylation in mitochondrial structure, function, and overall homeostasis in hepatic metabolic zonation. These findings have important implications for liver physiology and disease.

Lipid Metabolism as a Potential Target of Liver Cancer

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) stands as a severe malignant tumor with a profound impact on overall health, often accompanied by an unfavorable prognosis. Despite some advancements in the diagnosis and treatment of this disease, improving the prognosis of HCC remains a formidable challenge. It is noteworthy that lipid metabolism plays a pivotal role in the onset, development, and progression of tumor cells. Existing research indicates the potential application of targeting lipid metabolism in the treatment of HCC. This review aims to thoroughly explore the alterations in lipid metabolism in HCC, offering a detailed account of the potential advantages associated with innovative therapeutic strategies targeting lipid metabolism. Targeting lipid metabolism holds promise for potentially enhancing the prognosis of HCC.

Multiomics identifies metabolic subtypes based on fatty acid degradation allocating personalized treatment in hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Molecular classification is a promising tool for prognosis prediction and optimizing precision therapy for HCC. Here, we aimed to develop a molecular classification of HCC based on the fatty acid degradation (FAD) pathway, fully characterize it, and evaluate its ability in guiding personalized therapy.

APPROACH AND RESULTS

We performed RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), PCR-array, lipidomics, metabolomics, and proteomics analysis of 41 patients with HCC, in which 17 patients received anti-programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) therapy. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) was performed to explore the tumor microenvironment. Nearly, 60 publicly available multiomics data sets were analyzed. The associations between FAD subtypes and response to sorafenib, transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) were assessed in patient cohorts, patient-derived xenograft (PDX), and spontaneous mouse model ls. A novel molecular classification named F subtype (F1, F2, and F3) was identified based on the FAD pathway, distinguished by clinical, mutational, epigenetic, metabolic, and immunological characteristics. F1 subtypes exhibited high infiltration with immunosuppressive microenvironment. Subtype-specific therapeutic strategies were identified, in which F1 subtypes with the lowest FAD activities represent responders to compounds YM-155 and Alisertib, sorafenib, anti-PD1, anti-PD-L1, and atezolizumab plus bevacizumab (T + A) treatment, while F3 subtypes with the highest FAD activities are responders to TACE. F2 subtypes, the intermediate status between F1 and F3, are potential responders to T + A combinations. We provide preliminary evidence that the FAD subtypes can be diagnosed based on liquid biopsies.

CONCLUSIONS

We identified 3 FAD subtypes with unique clinical and biological characteristics, which could optimize individual cancer patient therapy and help clinical decision-making.

Balance of Gata3 and Ramp2 in hepatocytes regulates hepatic vascular reconstitution in postoperative liver regeneration

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Post-hepatectomy liver failure (PHLF) leads to poor prognosis in patients undergoing hepatectomy, with hepatic vascular reconstitution playing a critical role. However, the regulators of hepatic vascular reconstitution remain unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate the regulatory mechanisms of hepatic vascular reconstitution and identify biomarkers predicting PHLF in patients undergoing hepatectomy.

METHODS

Candidate genes that were associated with hepatic vascular reconstitution were screened using adeno-associated virus vectors in Alb-Cre-CRISPR/Cas9 mice subjected to partial hepatectomy. The biological activities of candidate genes were estimated using endothelial precursor transfusion and associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy (ALPPS) models. The level of candidates was detected in biopsies from patients undergoing ALPPS. Risk factors for PHLF were also screened using retrospective data.

RESULTS

Downregulation of Gata3 and upregulation of Ramp2 in hepatocytes promoted the proliferation of liver sinusoidal endothelial cells and hepatic revascularization. Pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) played opposite roles in regulating the migration of endothelial precursors from bone marrow and the formation of new sinusoids after hepatectomy. Gata3 restricted endothelial cell function in patient-derived hepatic organoids, which was abrogated by a Gata3 inhibitor. Moreover, overexpression of Gata3 led to higher mortality in ALPPS mice, which was improved by a PEDF-neutralizing antibody. The expression of Gata3/RAMP and PEDF/VEGFA tended to have a negative correlation in patients undergoing ALPPS. A nomogram incorporating multiple factors, such as serum PEDF/VEGF index, was constructed and could efficiently predict the risk of PHLF.

CONCLUSIONS

The balance of Gata3 and Ramp2 in hepatocytes regulates the proliferation of liver sinusoidal endothelial cells and hepatic revascularization via changes in the expression of PEDF and VEGFA, revealing potential targets for the prevention and treatment of PHLF.

IMPACT AND IMPLICATIONS

In this study, we show that the balance of Gata3 and Ramp2 in hepatocytes regulates hepatic vascular reconstitution by promoting a shift from pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) to vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) expression during hepatectomy- or ALLPS (associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy)-induced liver regeneration. We also identified serum PEDF/VEGFA index as a potential predictor of post-hepatectomy liver failure in patients who underwent hepatectomy. This study improves our understanding of how hepatocytes contribute to liver regeneration and provides new targets for the prevention and treatment of post-hepatectomy liver failure.

CDC123 promotes Hepatocellular Carcinoma malignant progression by regulating CDKAL1

The cell proliferation protein 123 (CDC123) is involved in the synthesis of the eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF2), which regulates eukaryotic translation. Although CDC123 is considered a candidate oncogene in breast cancer, its expression and role in Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) remain unknown. Herein, we obtained the CDC123 RNA-seq and clinical prognostic data from the TCGA database. The mRNA level revealed that CDC123 was highly expressed in HCC patients, and Kaplan-Meier analysis implied better prognoses in HCC patients with low CDC123 expression (P < 0.001). The multivariate Cox analysis revealed that the CDC123 level was an independent prognostic factor (P < 0.001). We further confirmed a high CDC123 expression in HCC cell lines. Additionally, we found that CDC123 knockdown in HCC cell lines significantly inhibited cellular proliferation, invasion, and migration. Moreover, CDC123 was co-expressed with the CDK5 Regulatory Subunit-Associated Protein 1 Like 1 (CDKAL1), whose mRNA level was decreased after silencing CDC123. Therefore, we hypothesized that CDC123 promotes HCC progression by regulating CDKAL1.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors: A key link between lipid metabolism and cancer progression

Lipids represent the essential components of membranes, serve as fuels for high-energy processes, and play crucial roles in signaling and cellular function. One of the key hallmarks of cancer is the reprogramming of metabolic pathways, especially abnormal lipid metabolism. Alterations in lipid uptake, lipid desaturation, de novo lipogenesis, lipid droplets, and fatty acid oxidation in cancer cells all contribute to cell survival in a changing microenvironment by regulating feedforward oncogenic signals, key oncogenic functions, oxidative and other stresses, immune responses, or intercellular communication. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are transcription factors activated by fatty acids and act as core lipid sensors involved in the regulation of lipid homeostasis and cell fate. In addition to regulating whole-body energy homeostasis in physiological states, PPARs play a key role in lipid metabolism in cancer, which is receiving increasing research attention, especially the fundamental molecular mechanisms and cancer therapies targeting PPARs. In this review, we discuss how cancer cells alter metabolic patterns and regulate lipid metabolism to promote their own survival and progression through PPARs. Finally, we discuss potential therapeutic strategies for targeting PPARs in cancer based on recent studies from the last five years.

BAP18 acting as a novel peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α co-regulator contributes to hepatocellular carcinoma progression

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common malignancy worldwide with a poor prognosis. The therapeutic outcomes of HCC patients are urgently needed to be improved, and predictive biomarkers for the optimal treatment selection remains to be further defined. In the present study, our results showed that BPTF-associated protein of 18 KDa (BAP18) was highly expressed in HCC tissues. In cultured HCC cells, BAP18 regulated a subset of down-stream genes involved in different functions, particularly including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) pathway and lipid metabolism. Furthermore, BAP18 co-activated PPARα-mediated transactivation and facilitated the recruitment of nucleosome acetyltransferase of H4 (NuA4)/tat interacting protein 60 (TIP60) complex, thereby increasing histone H4 acetylation on stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1) loci. In addition, BAP18 promoted HCC cell proliferation, increased intracellular lipid levels and enhanced cell survival under the metabolic stress conditions, such as glucose limitation or tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) treatment. Importantly, higher BAP18 expression was positively correlated with the postoperative recurrence and the poor disease-free survival in clinical patients receiving sorafenib treatment. Altogether, we discovered that BAP18 plays an oncogenic role in the survival and proliferation of HCC cells, and BAP18 may serve as a predictive biomarker for adjunct TKIs treatment in patients with HCC, and further facilitate the precise treatment.

Hepatocellular carcinoma: signaling pathways, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver cancer with a high mortality rate. It is regarded as a significant public health issue because of its complicated pathophysiology, high metastasis, and recurrence rates. There are no obvious symptoms in the early stage of HCC, which often leads to delays in diagnosis. Traditional treatment methods such as surgical resection, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and interventional therapies have limited therapeutic effects for HCC patients with recurrence or metastasis. With the development of molecular biology and immunology, molecular signaling pathways and immune checkpoint were identified as the main mechanism of HCC progression. Targeting these molecules has become a new direction for the treatment of HCC. At present, the combination of targeted drugs and immune checkpoint inhibitors is the first choice for advanced HCC patients. In this review, we mainly focus on the cutting-edge research of signaling pathways and corresponding targeted therapy and immunotherapy in HCC. It is of great significance to comprehensively understand the pathogenesis of HCC, search for potential therapeutic targets, and optimize the treatment strategies of HCC.