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Jiang J, Hu Y, Fang D, Luo J. Glutamine synthetase and hepatocellular carcinoma. Clin Res Hepatol Gastroenterol 2023; 47:102248. [PMID: 37979911 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinre.2023.102248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/20/2023]
Abstract
Glutamine synthetase (GS) is an enzyme that converts ammonia and glutamate to glutamine using adenosine triphosphate. GS is expressed in the brain, kidney, and liver tissues under normal physiological conditions. GS is involved in abnormal lipid metabolism of the liver by catalyzing de novo synthesis of glutamine, thereby inducing liver inflammation. Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver diseases (MASLD), such as Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease and Metabolic Associated Steato Hepatitis, are considered risk factors for HCC. GS may also be involved in the development and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) through other signaling pathways, including the rapamycin (mTOR) and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways. Furthermore, the correct combination of HSP70, GPC3, and GS can improve the accuracy and precision of HCC diagnosis. However, the prognostic value of GS in different HCC populations remains controversial. The expression of GS affects the sensitivity of HCC cells to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. In addition, immunotherapy has been approved for the treatment of advanced HCC. This article delves into the development and application of GS in HCC, laying a theoretical foundation for the subsequent exploration of GS as a potential target for treating HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinghua Jiang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Jinhua Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Jinhua, Zhejiang 321000, China
| | - Yiting Hu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Shulan (Hangzhou) Hospital, Zhejiang Shuren University, Shulan International Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Dazhang Fang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Jinhua Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Jinhua, Zhejiang 321000, China
| | - JianSheng Luo
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Jinhua Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Jinhua, Zhejiang 321000, China.
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2
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Li YJ, Zhang C, Martincuks A, Herrmann A, Yu H. STAT proteins in cancer: orchestration of metabolism. Nat Rev Cancer 2023; 23:115-134. [PMID: 36596870 DOI: 10.1038/s41568-022-00537-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 43.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Reprogrammed metabolism is a hallmark of cancer. However, the metabolic dependency of cancer, from tumour initiation through disease progression and therapy resistance, requires a spectrum of distinct reprogrammed cellular metabolic pathways. These pathways include aerobic glycolysis, oxidative phosphorylation, reactive oxygen species generation, de novo lipid synthesis, fatty acid β-oxidation, amino acid (notably glutamine) metabolism and mitochondrial metabolism. This Review highlights the central roles of signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) proteins, notably STAT3, STAT5, STAT6 and STAT1, in orchestrating the highly dynamic metabolism not only of cancer cells but also of immune cells and adipocytes in the tumour microenvironment. STAT proteins are able to shape distinct metabolic processes that regulate tumour progression and therapy resistance by transducing signals from metabolites, cytokines, growth factors and their receptors; defining genetic programmes that regulate a wide range of molecules involved in orchestration of metabolism in cancer and immune cells; and regulating mitochondrial activity at multiple levels, including energy metabolism and lipid-mediated mitochondrial integrity. Given the central role of STAT proteins in regulation of metabolic states, they are potential therapeutic targets for altering metabolic reprogramming in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Jia Li
- Department of Immuno-Oncology, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Chunyan Zhang
- Department of Immuno-Oncology, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Antons Martincuks
- Department of Immuno-Oncology, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Andreas Herrmann
- Department of Immuno-Oncology, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, USA
- Sorrento Therapeutics, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Hua Yu
- Department of Immuno-Oncology, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, USA.
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3
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Braeuning A, Pavek P. β-catenin signaling, the constitutive androstane receptor and their mutual interactions. Arch Toxicol 2020; 94:3983-3991. [PMID: 33097968 PMCID: PMC7655584 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-020-02935-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Accepted: 10/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Aberrant signaling through β-catenin is an important determinant of tumorigenesis in rodents as well as in humans. In mice, xenobiotic activators of the constitutive androstane receptor (CAR), a chemo-sensing nuclear receptor, promote liver tumor growth by means of a non-genotoxic mechanism and, under certain conditions, select for hepatocellular tumors which contain activated β-catenin. In normal hepatocytes, interactions of β-catenin and CAR have been demonstrated with respect to the induction of proliferation and drug metabolism-related gene expression. The molecular details of these interactions are still not well understood. Recently it has been hypothesized that CAR might activate β-catenin signaling, thus providing a possible explanation for some of the observed phenomena. Nonetheless, many aspects of the molecular interplay of the two regulators have still not been elucidated. This review briefly summarizes our current knowledge about the interplay of CAR and β-catenin. By taking into account data and observations obtained with different mouse models and employing different experimental approaches, it is shown that published data also contain substantial evidence that xenobiotic activators of CAR do not activate, or do even inhibit signaling through the β-catenin pathway. The review highlights new aspects of possible ways of interaction between the two signaling cascades and will help to stimulate scientific discussion about the crosstalk of β-catenin signaling and the nuclear receptor CAR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albert Braeuning
- Department Food Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Max-Dohrn-Str. 8-10, 10589, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Petr Pavek
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Charles University, Faculty of Pharmacy, Heyrovskeho 1203, Hradec Kralove, 500 05, Prague, Czech Republic
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4
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Kolbe E, Aleithe S, Rennert C, Spormann L, Ott F, Meierhofer D, Gajowski R, Stöpel C, Hoehme S, Kücken M, Brusch L, Seifert M, von Schoenfels W, Schafmayer C, Brosch M, Hofmann U, Damm G, Seehofer D, Hampe J, Gebhardt R, Matz-Soja M. Mutual Zonated Interactions of Wnt and Hh Signaling Are Orchestrating the Metabolism of the Adult Liver in Mice and Human. Cell Rep 2020; 29:4553-4567.e7. [PMID: 31875560 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2019.11.104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2019] [Revised: 10/14/2019] [Accepted: 11/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The Hedgehog (Hh) and Wnt/β-Catenin (Wnt) cascades are morphogen pathways whose pronounced influence on adult liver metabolism has been identified in recent years. How both pathways communicate and control liver metabolic functions are largely unknown. Detecting core components of Wnt and Hh signaling and mathematical modeling showed that both pathways in healthy liver act largely complementary to each other in the pericentral (Wnt) and the periportal zone (Hh) and communicate mainly by mutual repression. The Wnt/Hh module inversely controls the spatiotemporal operation of various liver metabolic pathways, as revealed by transcriptome, proteome, and metabolome analyses. Shifting the balance to Wnt (activation) or Hh (inhibition) causes pericentralization and periportalization of liver functions, respectively. Thus, homeostasis of the Wnt/Hh module is essential for maintaining proper liver metabolism and to avoid the development of certain metabolic diseases. With caution due to minor species-specific differences, these conclusions may hold for human liver as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik Kolbe
- Rudolf-Schönheimer-Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Leipzig University, Leipzig 04103, Germany
| | - Susanne Aleithe
- Department of Neurology, Leipzig University, Leipzig 04103, Germany
| | - Christiane Rennert
- Rudolf-Schönheimer-Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Leipzig University, Leipzig 04103, Germany; Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Visceral Transplantation, University Hospital, Leipzig University, Leipzig 04103, Germany
| | - Luise Spormann
- Rudolf-Schönheimer-Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Leipzig University, Leipzig 04103, Germany
| | - Fritzi Ott
- Rudolf-Schönheimer-Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Leipzig University, Leipzig 04103, Germany
| | - David Meierhofer
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Mass Spectrometry Faculty, Berlin 14195, Germany
| | - Robert Gajowski
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Mass Spectrometry Faculty, Berlin 14195, Germany
| | - Claus Stöpel
- Institute for Computer Science, Leipzig University, Leipzig 04103, Germany
| | - Stefan Hoehme
- Institute for Computer Science, Leipzig University, Leipzig 04103, Germany
| | - Michael Kücken
- Center for Information Services and High Performance Computing, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden 01069, Germany
| | - Lutz Brusch
- Center for Information Services and High Performance Computing, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden 01069, Germany
| | - Michael Seifert
- Institute for Medical Informatics and Biometry, Carl Gustav Carus Faculty of Medicine, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden 01307, Germany
| | - Witigo von Schoenfels
- Department of General Surgery and Thoracic Surgery, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel 24105, Germany
| | - Clemens Schafmayer
- Department of General Surgery and Thoracic Surgery, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel 24105, Germany
| | - Mario Brosch
- Medical Department 1, University Hospital Dresden, Technical University Dresden, Dresden 01069, Germany
| | - Ute Hofmann
- Dr. Margarete Fischer-Bosch Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Tübingen, Stuttgart 70376, Germany
| | - Georg Damm
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Visceral Transplantation, University Hospital, Leipzig University, Leipzig 04103, Germany
| | - Daniel Seehofer
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Visceral Transplantation, University Hospital, Leipzig University, Leipzig 04103, Germany
| | - Jochen Hampe
- Medical Department 1, University Hospital Dresden, Technical University Dresden, Dresden 01069, Germany
| | - Rolf Gebhardt
- Rudolf-Schönheimer-Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Leipzig University, Leipzig 04103, Germany
| | - Madlen Matz-Soja
- Rudolf-Schönheimer-Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Leipzig University, Leipzig 04103, Germany.
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5
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Min Q, Molina L, Li J, Adebayo Michael AO, Russell JO, Preziosi ME, Singh S, Poddar M, Matz-Soja M, Ranganathan S, Bell AW, Gebhardt R, Gaunitz F, Yu J, Tao J, Monga SP. β-Catenin and Yes-Associated Protein 1 Cooperate in Hepatoblastoma Pathogenesis. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2019; 189:1091-1104. [PMID: 30794807 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2019.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2018] [Revised: 01/31/2019] [Accepted: 02/01/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Hepatoblastoma (HB), the most common pediatric primary liver neoplasm, shows nuclear localization of β-catenin and yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1) in almost 80% of the cases. Co-expression of constitutively active S127A-YAP1 and ΔN90 deletion-mutant β-catenin (YAP1-ΔN90-β-catenin) causes HB in mice. Because heterogeneity in downstream signaling is being identified owing to mutational differences even in the β-catenin gene alone, we investigated if co-expression of point mutants of β-catenin (S33Y or S45Y) with S127A-YAP1 led to similar tumors as YAP1-ΔN90-β-catenin. Co-expression of S33Y/S45Y-β-catenin and S127A-YAP1 led to activation of Yap and Wnt signaling and development of HB, with 100% mortality by 13 to 14 weeks. Co-expression with YAP1-S45Y/S33Y-β-catenin of the dominant-negative T-cell factor 4 or dominant-negative transcriptional enhanced associate domain 2, the respective surrogate transcription factors, prevented HB development. Although histologically similar, HB in YAP1-S45Y/S33Y-β-catenin, unlike YAP1-ΔN90-β-catenin HB, was glutamine synthetase (GS) positive. However, both ΔN90-β-catenin and point-mutant β-catenin comparably induced GS-luciferase reporter in vitro. Finally, using a previously reported 16-gene signature, it was shown that YAP1-ΔN90-β-catenin HB tumors exhibited genetic similarities with more proliferative, less differentiated, GS-negative HB patient tumors, whereas YAP1-S33Y/S45Y-β-catenin HB exhibited heterogeneity and clustered with both well-differentiated GS-positive and proliferative GS-negative patient tumors. Thus, we demonstrate that β-catenin point mutants can also collaborate with YAP1 in HB development, albeit with a distinct molecular profile from the deletion mutant, which may have implications in both biology and therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Min
- Department of Oncology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Laura Molina
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Jing Li
- Department of Gynecology, Shiyan Taihe Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, China
| | - Adeola O Adebayo Michael
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Jacquelyn O Russell
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Morgan E Preziosi
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Sucha Singh
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Minakshi Poddar
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Madlen Matz-Soja
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Sarangarajan Ranganathan
- Division of Pediatric Pathology, Department of Pathology, Children's Hospital, Pittburgh, Pennsylvania; Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Aaron W Bell
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Rolf Gebhardt
- Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Frank Gaunitz
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Jinming Yu
- Department of Oncology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China; Department of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Shandong Academy of Medical Science, Jinan, China.
| | - Junyan Tao
- Department of Gynecology, Shiyan Taihe Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, China; Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Satdarshan P Monga
- Department of Gynecology, Shiyan Taihe Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, China; Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
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6
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Cohen H, Barash H, Meivar-Levy I, Molakandov K, Ben-Shimon M, Gurevich M, Zoabi F, Har-Zahav A, Gebhardt R, Gaunitz F, Gurevich M, Mor E, Ravassard P, Greenberger S, Ferber S. The Wnt/β-catenin pathway determines the predisposition and efficiency of liver-to-pancreas reprogramming. Hepatology 2018; 68:1589-1603. [PMID: 29394503 DOI: 10.1002/hep.29827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2017] [Revised: 12/30/2017] [Accepted: 01/31/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Transdifferentiation (TD) is the direct reprogramming of adult cells into cells of alternate fate and function. We have previously shown that liver cells can be transdifferentiated into beta-like, insulin-producing cells through ectopic expression of pancreatic transcription factors (pTFs). However, the efficiency of the process was consistently limited to <15% of the human liver cells treated in culture. The data in the current study suggest that liver-to-pancreas TD is restricted to a specific population of liver cells that is predisposed to undergo reprogramming. We isolated TD-predisposed subpopulation of liver cells from >15 human donors using a lineage tracing system based on the Wnt response element, part of the pericentral-specific promoter of glutamine synthetase. The cells, that were propagated separately, consistently exhibited efficient fate switch and insulin production and secretion in >60% of the cells upon pTF expression. The rest of the cells, which originated from 85% of the culture, resisted TD. Both populations expressed the ectopic pTFs with similar efficiencies, followed by similar repression of hepatic genes. Our data suggest that the TD-predisposed cells originate from a distinct population of liver cells that are enriched for Wnt signaling, which is obligatory for efficient TD. In TD-resistant populations, Wnt induction is insufficient to induce TD. An additional step of chromatin opening enables TD of these cells. CONCLUSION Liver-to-pancreas TD occurs in defined predisposed cells. These cells' predisposition is maintained by Wnt signaling that endows the cells with the plasticity needed to alter their transcriptional program and developmental fate when triggered by ectopic pTFs. These results may have clinical implications by drastically increasing the efficacy of TD in future clinical uses. (Hepatology 2018).
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Affiliation(s)
- Helit Cohen
- The Sheba Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cell and Tissue Engineering Center, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel
| | - Hila Barash
- The Sheba Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cell and Tissue Engineering Center, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Irit Meivar-Levy
- The Sheba Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cell and Tissue Engineering Center, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel
| | - Kfir Molakandov
- The Sheba Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cell and Tissue Engineering Center, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Marina Ben-Shimon
- The Sheba Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cell and Tissue Engineering Center, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Michael Gurevich
- The Joseph Sagol Neuroscience Center, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel
| | - Fatima Zoabi
- The Sheba Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cell and Tissue Engineering Center, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Adi Har-Zahav
- The Sheba Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cell and Tissue Engineering Center, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Rolf Gebhardt
- Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Frank Gaunitz
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Michael Gurevich
- The Organ Transplantation Division, Schneider Children Medical Center, Petach Tikvah, Israel
| | - Eytan Mor
- The Organ Transplantation Division, Schneider Children Medical Center, Petach Tikvah, Israel
| | - Philippe Ravassard
- Biotechnology and Biotherapy Group, Centre de Recherche, Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle CNRS UMR7225, INSERM UMRS795, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France
| | - Shoshana Greenberger
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
- Department of Dermatology, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel
| | - Sarah Ferber
- The Sheba Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cell and Tissue Engineering Center, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
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Clinkenbeard EL, Butler JE, Spear BT. Pericentral activity of alpha-fetoprotein enhancer 3 and glutamine synthetase upstream enhancer in the adult liver are regulated by β-catenin in mice. Hepatology 2012; 56:1892-901. [PMID: 22544812 PMCID: PMC4339872 DOI: 10.1002/hep.25819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED We previously showed that mouse alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) enhancer 3 activity is highly restricted to pericentral hepatocytes in the adult liver. Here, using transgenic mice, we show that the upstream enhancer of the rat glutamine synthetase gene is also active, specifically in pericentral regions. Activity of both enhancers is lost in the absence of β-catenin, a key regulator of zonal gene expression in the adult liver. Both enhancers contain a single, highly conserved T-cell factor/lymphoid enhancer factor binding site that is required for responsiveness to β-catenin. We also show that endogenous AFP messenger RNA levels in the perinatal liver are lower when β-catenin is reduced. CONCLUSION These data identify the first distinct zonally active regulatory regions required for β-catenin responsiveness in the adult liver, and suggest that postnatal AFP repression and the establishment of zonal regulation are controlled, at least in part, by the same factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erica L. Clinkenbeard
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, & Molecular Genetics, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536
| | - James E. Butler
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, & Molecular Genetics, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536
| | - Brett T. Spear
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, & Molecular Genetics, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536,Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536
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Gebhardt R, Hovhannisyan A. Organ patterning in the adult stage: the role of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling in liver zonation and beyond. Dev Dyn 2010; 239:45-55. [PMID: 19705440 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.22041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Wnt/beta-catenin signaling has been found to play key roles in metabolic zonation of adult liver, regeneration, and hepatocellular carcinogenesis. In this review, recent progress in this field is summarized, in particular the rapidly growing knowledge about the various interactions of beta-catenin with many transcription factors involved in controlling metabolism. These interactions may provide the basis for understanding how the wide range of activities of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling is differentially interpreted. Based on these results, a three-level mode for the molecular interpretation of beta-catenin activity gradients in liver is proposed favoring cell differentiation, metabolic zonation, and proliferation. While derangement of the combinatorial interplay of the various transcription factors with beta-catenin at the intermediary activity level may contribute to the development of metabolic diseases, extremely high activation of beta-catenin may eventually lead to initiation and progression of hepatocellular tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rolf Gebhardt
- Institute of Biochemistry, Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
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9
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Garten A, Petzold S, Barnikol-Oettler A, Körner A, Thasler W, Kratzsch J, Kiess W, Gebhardt R. Nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT/PBEF/visfatin) is constitutively released from human hepatocytes. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2010; 391:376-81. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2009.11.066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2009] [Accepted: 11/09/2009] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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10
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Zellmer S, Sickinger S, Schmidt-Heck W, Guthke R, Gebhardt R. Heterogeneous expression of suppressor of cytokine signalling 2 (SOCS-2) in liver tissue. J Anat 2009; 215:176-83. [PMID: 19470084 PMCID: PMC2740965 DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-7580.2009.01085.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/20/2009] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Suppressor of cytokine signalling 2 (SOCS-2), a dual effector of growth hormone signalling, was found to be heterogeneously expressed in murine liver parenchyma. Data from Affymetrix gene arrays, confirmed by quantitative RT-PCR using preparations of periportal and pericentral hepatocyte subpopulations as well as immunohistochemical detection, showed a preferential expression of SOCS-2 in pericentral hepatocytes. Stimulation of cultured periportal and pericentral hepatocyte subpopulations by different concentrations of growth hormone for 1 h resulted at 100 ng mL(-1) in a 1.6-fold and 4.3-fold increase of SOCS-2 mRNA, respectively. Likewise, insulin-like growth factor-1, another physiological target of growth hormone, was stimulated preferentially in pericentral hepatocytes. As growth hormone receptor was found to be homogeneously expressed in mouse liver parenchyma, our data indicate that growth hormone signalling downstream of growth hormone receptor is more sensitive and/or effective in pericentral than in periportal hepatocytes. Presumably, the heterogeneous distribution of SOCS-2 may contribute to the pericentral preference of growth hormone action via differential feedback.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Zellmer
- Institute of Biochemistry, Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
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11
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Liu X, Wang L, Zhang S, Lin J, Zhang S, Feitelson MA, Gao H, Zhu M. Mutations in the C-terminus of the X protein of hepatitis B virus regulate Wnt-5a expression in hepatoma Huh7 cells: cDNA microarray and proteomic analyses. Carcinogenesis 2008; 29:1207-14. [PMID: 18477650 PMCID: PMC2443277 DOI: 10.1093/carcin/bgn111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The hepatitis B virus x gene (HBx) is a promiscuous transactivator implicated in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The present study was designed to investigate the molecular events regulated by HBx. Methods: Genomic and proteomic expression profiling was performed in Huh7 HCC cells transfected with HBx mutants with a C-terminal deletion. The gene and protein expression of wingless-type murine-mammary-tumour virus (MMTV) integration site family, member 5A (Wnt-5a) was validated by analyses of reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT–PCR), real-time RT–PCR, western blot and immunohistochemistry. Results: Differentially expressed genes and proteins were found in the transfected Huh7 HCC cells; most of them were involved in transcriptional regulation, although others including oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes, and molecules involved in cell junctions, signal transduction pathways, metabolism or the immune response were also observed. The expression of the Wnt-5a gene was elevated >10-fold in Huh7 cells transfected with the HBx3′-30 amino acid deletion mutant. However, the expression was downregulated by the transfection with the HBx3′-40 amino acid deletion mutant. The changes in Wnt-5a expression were also observed in human HCC tissues, compared with corresponding non-cancerous liver tissues. A negative correlation was found between the expression of Wnt-5a and HBx COOH mutations in HCC tissues. Conclusions: HBx mutants may participate in the development and progression of HCC, at least in part through the Wnt-5a pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohong Liu
- Department of Pathology, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, 174 Changhai Road, Shanghai 200433, People's Republic of China
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12
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Austinat M, Dunsch R, Wittekind C, Tannapfel A, Gebhardt R, Gaunitz F. Correlation between beta-catenin mutations and expression of Wnt-signaling target genes in hepatocellular carcinoma. Mol Cancer 2008; 7:21. [PMID: 18282277 PMCID: PMC2287186 DOI: 10.1186/1476-4598-7-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2007] [Accepted: 02/18/2008] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Aberrant Wnt-signaling caused by mutants of β-catenin, a key regulator of the canonical Wnt-signaling pathway, is frequently detected in cancer. Only recently, it was suggested that in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) the expression of the target gene glutamine synthetase (GS) is a highly reliable marker for the identification of β-catenin mutations. In order to prove this hypothesis, 52 samples from human hepatocellular carcinomas were analysed for the activation of β-catenin and the expression of GS. In total, 45 samples stained positive for cytoplasmic/nuclear β-catenin. A strong correlation between expression of GS and activated β-catenin (100% of nuclear and 84% of cytosolic) was found. However, among 35 GS positive tumors that were analysed for β-catenin mutations no mutations were detected in 25 GS-positive carcinomas although 24 out of the 25 carcinomas exhibited at least abnormal expression of β-catenin. Since the mutational analysis identified 9 different point mutations of the β-catenin gene including the rare mutation H36P and the yet unknown mutation P44A it was asked whether these mutations may differently effect β-catenin target genes. Therefore, expression plasmids for different mutations were constructed and cotransfected with the TOP-flash luciferase reporter and a reporter carrying the GS-5'-enhancer. The experiments confirmed that there are differences between different β-catenin target sequences and different β-catenin mutations. In addition, the failure that the endogenous expression of GS in GS-negative cells was not induced by the transient transfection experiment indicated that the effect of β-catenin on the GS-5'-enhancer is only one aspect of gene activation induced by β-catenin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madeleine Austinat
- Institute for Biochemistry, Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, Johannisallee 30, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
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Jiang H, Wang Y, Wu M, Gu Z, Frank SJ, Torres-Diaz R. Growth hormone stimulates hepatic expression of bovine growth hormone receptor messenger ribonucleic acid through signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 activation of a major growth hormone receptor gene promoter. Endocrinology 2007; 148:3307-15. [PMID: 17412814 DOI: 10.1210/en.2006-1738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The objective of this study was to determine whether and how GH regulates hepatic expression of GH receptor (GHR) mRNA in cattle. Ribonuclease protection assays revealed that injection of GH in a slow-release formula increased both hepatic GHR and IGF-I mRNAs 1 wk after the injection. The increases in GHR and IGF-I mRNAs were highly correlated. Western blot analysis showed that the injection also increased liver GHR protein level. In cattle and other mammals, hepatic GHR mRNA is expressed as variants that differ in the 5'-untranslated region due to the use of different promoters in transcription and/or alternative splicing. We found that GH increased the expression of the liver-specific GHR mRNA variant GHR1A without affecting the other two major GHR mRNA variants in the bovine liver, GHR1B and GHR1C. In transient transfection analyses, GH could robustly activate reporter gene expression from a 2.7-kb GHR1A promoter, suggesting that GH augmentation of GHR1A mRNA expression in the liver is at least partially mediated at the transcriptional level. Additional transfection analyses of serially 5'-truncated fragments of this promoter narrowed the GH-responsive sequence element down to a 210-bp region that contained a putative signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 (STAT5) binding site. EMSAs demonstrated that this putative STAT5 binding site was able to bind to STAT5b protein. In cotransfection assays, deletion of this putative STAT5 binding site abolished most of the GH response of the GHR1A promoter. Like 1-wk GH action, 6-h (i.e. short-term) GH action also increased liver expression of GHR1A and total GHR mRNAs in cattle. These observations together suggest that GH directly stimulates the expression of one GHR mRNA variant, GHR1A, through binding STAT5 to its promoter, thereby increasing GHR mRNA and protein expression in the bovine liver.
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Affiliation(s)
- Honglin Jiang
- Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, Large Animal Clinical Sciences, 3130 Litton Reaves Hall, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061-0306, USA.
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Hakvoort TBM, Vermeulen JLM, Lamers WH. STAT5 deficiency does not affect the expression of glutamine synthetase in mouse liver. Hepatology 2007; 45:1082; author reply 1083. [PMID: 17393503 DOI: 10.1002/hep.21548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/07/2022]
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Gebhardt R, Baldysiak-Figiel A, Krügel V, Ueberham E, Gaunitz F. Hepatocellular expression of glutamine synthetase: an indicator of morphogen actions as master regulators of zonation in adult liver. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2007; 41:201-66. [PMID: 17368308 DOI: 10.1016/j.proghi.2006.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Glutamine synthetase (GS) has long been known to be expressed exclusively in pericentral hepatocytes most proximal to the central veins of liver lobuli. This enzyme as well as its peculiar distribution complementary to the periportal compartment for ureogenesis plays an important role in nitrogen metabolism, particularly in homeostasis of blood levels of ammonium ions and glutamine. Despite this fact and intensive studies in vivo and in vitro, many aspects of the regulation of its activity on the protein and on the genetic level remained enigmatic. Recent experimental advances using transgenic mice and new analytic tools have revealed the fundamental role of morphogens such as wingless-type MMTV integration site family member signals (Wnt), beta-catenin, and adenomatous polyposis coli in the regulation of this particular enzyme. In addition, novel information concerning the structure of transcription factor binding sites within regulatory regions of the GS gene and their interactions with signalling pathways could be collected. In this review we focus on all aspects of the regulation of GS in the liver and demonstrate how the new findings have changed our view of the determinants of liver zonation. What appeared as a simple response of hepatocytes to blood-derived factors and local cellular interactions must now be perceived as a fundamental mechanism of adult tissue patterning by morphogens that were considered mainly as regulators of developmental processes. Though GS may be the most obvious indicator of morphogen action among many other targets, elucidation of the complex regulation of the expression of the GS gene could pave the road for a better understanding of the mechanisms involved in patterning of liver parenchyma. Based on current knowledge we propose a new concept of how morphogens, hormones and other factors may act in concert, in order to restrict gene expression to small subpopulations of one differentiated cell type, the hepatocyte, in different anatomical locations. Although many details of this regulatory network are still missing, and an era of exciting new discoveries is still about to come, it can already be envisioned that similar mechanisms may well be active in other organs contributing to the fine-tuning of organ-specific functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rolf Gebhardt
- Institut für Biochemie, Medizinische Fakultät, Universität Leipzig, Johannisallee 30, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
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