1
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Aibinder P, Cohen-Erez I, Rapaport H. Rational Formulation of targeted ABT-737 nanoparticles by self-assembled polypeptides and designed peptides. Heliyon 2024; 10:e26095. [PMID: 38420433 PMCID: PMC10900936 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e26095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Here we present the development of nanoparticles (NPs) formulations specifically designed for targeting the antiapoptotic Bcl-2 proteins on the outer membrane of mitochondria with the drug agent ABT-737. The NPs which are self-assembled by the natural polypeptide poly gamma glutamic acid (ϒPGA) and a designed cationic and amphiphilic peptide (PFK) have been shown to target drugs toward mitochondria. In this study we systematically developed the formulation of such NPs loaded with the ABT-737 and demonstrated the cytotoxic effect of the best identified formulation on MDA-MB-231 cells. Our findings emphasize the critical role of solutions pH and the charged state of the components throughout the formulation process as well as the concentrations of the co-components and their mixing sequence, in achieving the most stable and effective cytotoxic formulation. Our study highlights the potential versatility of designed peptides in combination with biopolymers for improving drug delivery formulations and enhance their targeting abilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Polina Aibinder
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel
| | - Ifat Cohen-Erez
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel
| | - Hanna Rapaport
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel
- Ilse Katz Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology (IKI), Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel
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2
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Sivasudhan E, Blake N, Lu ZL, Meng J, Rong R. Dynamics of m6A RNA Methylome on the Hallmarks of Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:642443. [PMID: 33869193 PMCID: PMC8047153 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.642443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Epidemiological data consistently rank hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) as one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide, often posing severe economic burden on health care. While the molecular etiopathogenesis associated with genetic and epigenetic modifications has been extensively explored, the biological influence of the emerging field of epitranscriptomics and its associated aberrant RNA modifications on tumorigenesis is a largely unexplored territory with immense potential for discovering new therapeutic approaches. In particular, the underlying cellular mechanisms of different hallmarks of hepatocarcinogenesis that are governed by the complex dynamics of m6A RNA methylation demand further investigation. In this review, we reveal the up-to-date knowledge on the mechanistic and functional link between m6A RNA methylation and pathogenesis of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enakshi Sivasudhan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou, China.,Department of Clinical Infection, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Neil Blake
- Department of Clinical Infection, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Zhi-Liang Lu
- Department of Biological Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou, China.,Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Jia Meng
- Department of Biological Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou, China.,Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Rong Rong
- Department of Biological Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou, China.,Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
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3
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Kim SW, Kyung Lee Y, Yeon Lee J, Hee Hong J, Khang D. PEGylated anticancer-carbon nanotubes complex targeting mitochondria of lung cancer cells. NANOTECHNOLOGY 2017; 28:465102. [PMID: 29053471 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6528/aa8c31] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Although activating apoptosis in cancer cells by targeting the mitochondria is an effective strategy for cancer therapy, insufficient targeting of the mitochondria in cancer cells restricts the availability in clinical treatment. Here, we report on a polyethylene glycol-coated carbon nanotube (CNT)-ABT737 nanodrug that improves the mitochondrial targeting of lung cancer cells. The polyethylene glycol-coated CNT-ABT737 nanodrug internalized into the early endosomes via macropinocytosis and clathrin-mediated endocytosis in advance of early endosomal escape and delivered into the mitochondria. Cytosol release of the nanodrug led to apoptosis of lung cancer cells by abruption of the mitochondrial membrane potential, inducing Bcl-2-mediated apoptosis and generating intracellular reactive oxygen species. As such, this study provides an effective strategy for increasing the anti-lung cancer efficacy by increasing mitochondria accumulation rate of cytosol released anticancer nanodrugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sang-Woo Kim
- Lee Gil Ya Cancer and Diabetes Institute, Gachon University, Incheon 21999, Republic of Korea
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4
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Sklavos A, Poutahidis T, Giakoustidis A, Makedou K, Angelopoulou K, Hardas A, Andreani P, Zacharioudaki A, Saridis G, Goulopoulos T, Tsarea K, Karamperi M, Papadopoulos V, Papanikolaou V, Papalois A, Iliadis S, Mudan S, Azoulay D, Giakoustidis D. Effects of Wnt-1 blockade in DEN-induced hepatocellular adenomas of mice. Oncol Lett 2017; 15:1211-1219. [PMID: 29399175 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2017.7427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2017] [Accepted: 09/01/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent evidence has suggested that downregulation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway may contribute to the development and growth of HCC. Consequently, elements of this pathway have begun to emerge as potential targets for improving outcomes of anti-HCC. Thus, the present study sought to examine the effects of Wnt-1 blockade using the classical diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced chemical carcinogenesis mouse model of HCC. The depletion of Wnt-1 using neutralizing antisera was done for ten consecutive days at the age of 9 months and mice were examined for the following 20 days. At that time, DEN-treated mice had multiple variably-sized hepatic cell adenomas. Anti-Wnt-1 was particularly potent in suppressing the expression of critical elements of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, such as β-catenin and Frizzled-1 receptor, however, not Dickkopf-related protein 1. This effect co-existed with the suppression of Cyclin D1, FOXM1, NF-κΒ and c-Jun commensurate with proliferation and apoptosis blockade in hepatocellular adenomas, and reduced Bcl-2 and c-Met in the serum of mice. Nonetheless, tumor size and multiplicity were found to be unaffected, suggesting that apoptosis may be equally important to proliferation in the context of counteracting DEN induced hepatocellular adenomas of mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Argyrios Sklavos
- Division of Transplant Surgery, Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University and Hippokration General Hospital, Thessaloniki 54642, Greece
| | - Theofilos Poutahidis
- Laboratory of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki 54124, Greece
| | | | - Kali Makedou
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki 54124, Greece
| | - Katerina Angelopoulou
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Toxicology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki 54124, Greece
| | - Alexander Hardas
- Laboratory of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki 54124, Greece
| | - Paola Andreani
- Service de Chirurgie Digestive et Hépatobiliaire, Hôpital Henri Mondor, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris-Université Paris-Est, Créteil 94000, France
| | | | - George Saridis
- Laboratory of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki 54124, Greece
| | - Thomas Goulopoulos
- Division of Transplant Surgery, Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University and Hippokration General Hospital, Thessaloniki 54642, Greece
| | - Kalliopi Tsarea
- Experimental and Research Center ELPEN Pharmaceuticals, Athens 19009, Greece
| | - Maria Karamperi
- Experimental and Research Center ELPEN Pharmaceuticals, Athens 19009, Greece
| | - Vassilios Papadopoulos
- Propedeutic Division of Surgery, Department of Surgery School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University and AHEPA University Hospital, Thessaloniki 54124, Greece
| | - Vassilios Papanikolaou
- Division of Transplant Surgery, Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University and Hippokration General Hospital, Thessaloniki 54642, Greece
| | - Apostolos Papalois
- Experimental and Research Center ELPEN Pharmaceuticals, Athens 19009, Greece
| | - Stavros Iliadis
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki 54124, Greece
| | - Satvinder Mudan
- Academic Department of Surgery, The Royal Marsden Hospital, London SW3 6JJ, UK
| | - Daniel Azoulay
- Service de Chirurgie Digestive et Hépatobiliaire, Hôpital Henri Mondor, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris-Université Paris-Est, Créteil 94000, France
| | - Dimitrios Giakoustidis
- Division of Transplant Surgery, Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University and Hippokration General Hospital, Thessaloniki 54642, Greece
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5
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Yao X, Li X, Zhang D, Xie Y, Sun B, Li H, Sun L, Zhang X. B-cell lymphoma 2 inhibitor ABT-737 induces Beclin1- and reactive oxygen species-dependent autophagy in Adriamycin-resistant human hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Tumour Biol 2017; 39:1010428317695965. [PMID: 28351336 DOI: 10.1177/1010428317695965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
ABT-737, a B-cell lymphoma 2 homology 3 mimetic, not only induces cell apoptosis by inhibiting the interaction of B-cell lymphoma 2 and Bax but also induces cell autophagy by interrupting the interaction of B-cell lymphoma 2 and Beclin1. Several recent studies have reported that ABT-737 has antitumor efficacy in diverse cancers. However, another study showed that hepatocellular carcinoma cells with high B-cell lymphoma 2 expression were resistant to ABT-737 compared to hepatocellular carcinoma cells with low B-cell lymphoma 2 expression. It was also found that ABT-737-induced autophagy is crucial for drug resistance. Here, we observed that of B-cell lymphoma 2 expression in Adriamycin-resistant human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2/ADM cells is higher than that in human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells. Therefore, we further confirmed the mechanism and effect of autophagy induced by ABT-737 on apoptosis in HepG2/ADM cells with high B-cell lymphoma 2 expression. Our results showed that ABT-737 induced apoptosis and autophagy in time- and dose-dependent manner in HepG2/ADM cells, and this ABT-737-induced autophagy was Beclin1-dependent. In addition, we demonstrated that ABT-737 induced reactive oxygen species-mediated autophagy, and the reactive oxygen species-inhibitor N-acetyl-l-cysteine suppressed the reactive oxygen species-induced autophagy and ABT-737-induced increase in HepG2/ADM cell apoptosis. Furthermore, autophagy inhibitors increased HepG2/ADM cell apoptosis. In conclusion, our study further confirms that Beclin1- and reactive oxygen species-dependent autophagy induced by ABT-737 also plays a protective function in HepG2/ADM cells, which show B-cell lymphoma 2 expression higher than that in HepG2 cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxiao Yao
- Department of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Xiaoning Li
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Dan Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yingjun Xie
- Department of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Baozhen Sun
- Department of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Hang Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Liankun Sun
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Xuewen Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
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6
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Macrolide antibiotics differentially influence human HepG2 cytotoxicity and modulate intrinsic/extrinsic apoptotic pathways in rat hepatocellular carcinoma model. Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol 2017; 390:379-395. [DOI: 10.1007/s00210-016-1337-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2016] [Accepted: 12/29/2016] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
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7
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Bai Y, Wang J, Han J, Xie XL, Ji CG, Yin J, Chen L, Wang CK, Jiang XY, Qi W, Jiang HQ. BCL2L10 inhibits growth and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma both in vitro and in vivo. Mol Carcinog 2016; 56:1137-1149. [PMID: 27770580 DOI: 10.1002/mc.22580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2016] [Revised: 10/10/2016] [Accepted: 10/13/2016] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Yun Bai
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology; Department of Gastroenterology; Hebei Institute of Gastroenterology; The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University; Shijiazhuang Hebei China
- Department of Gastroenterology; Hebei General Hospital; Shijiazhuang Hebei China
| | - Jia Wang
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology; Department of Gastroenterology; Hebei Institute of Gastroenterology; The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University; Shijiazhuang Hebei China
- Ronghe Biotechnology Co., Ltd.; Shijiazhuang Hebei China
| | - Jing Han
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology; Department of Gastroenterology; Hebei Institute of Gastroenterology; The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University; Shijiazhuang Hebei China
| | - Xiao-Li Xie
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology; Department of Gastroenterology; Hebei Institute of Gastroenterology; The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University; Shijiazhuang Hebei China
| | - Cheng-Guang Ji
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology; Department of Gastroenterology; Hebei Institute of Gastroenterology; The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University; Shijiazhuang Hebei China
- Department of Gastroenterology; The Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University; Shijiazhuang Hebei China
| | - Jie Yin
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology; Department of Gastroenterology; Hebei Institute of Gastroenterology; The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University; Shijiazhuang Hebei China
| | - Lei Chen
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology; Department of Gastroenterology; Hebei Institute of Gastroenterology; The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University; Shijiazhuang Hebei China
| | - Cun-Kai Wang
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology; Department of Gastroenterology; Hebei Institute of Gastroenterology; The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University; Shijiazhuang Hebei China
| | - Xiao-Yu Jiang
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology; Department of Gastroenterology; Hebei Institute of Gastroenterology; The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University; Shijiazhuang Hebei China
| | - Wei Qi
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology; Department of Gastroenterology; Hebei Institute of Gastroenterology; The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University; Shijiazhuang Hebei China
| | - Hui-Qing Jiang
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology; Department of Gastroenterology; Hebei Institute of Gastroenterology; The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University; Shijiazhuang Hebei China
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8
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Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major health problem. In human hepatocarcinogenesis, the balance between cell death and proliferation is deregulated, tipping the scales for a situation where antiapoptotic signals are overpowering the death-triggering stimuli. HCC cells harbor a wide variety of mutations that alter the regulation of apoptosis and hence the response to chemotherapeutical drugs, making them resistant to the proapoptotic signals. Considering all these modifications found in HCC cells, therapeutic approaches need to be carefully studied in order to specifically target the antiapoptotic signals. This review deals with the recent relevant contributions reporting molecular alterations for HCC that lead to a deregulation of apoptosis, as well as the challenge of death-inducing chemotherapeutics in current HCC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joaquim Moreno-Càceres
- Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.,Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Isabel Fabregat
- Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Physiological Sciences II, University of Barcelona, Spain.,Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Physiological Sciences II, University of Barcelona, Spain
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9
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Curcumin: a unique antioxidant offers a multimechanistic approach for management of hepatocellular carcinoma in rat model. Tumour Biol 2014; 36:1667-78. [DOI: 10.1007/s13277-014-2767-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2014] [Accepted: 10/22/2014] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
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10
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Marcq I, Nyga R, Cartier F, Amrathlal RS, Ossart C, Ouled-Haddou H, Ghamlouch H, Galmiche A, Chatelain D, Lamotte L, Debuysscher V, Fuentes V, Nguyen-Khac E, Regimbeau JM, Marolleau JP, Latour S, Bouhlal H. Identification of SLAMF3 (CD229) as an inhibitor of hepatocellular carcinoma cell proliferation and tumour progression. PLoS One 2013; 8:e82918. [PMID: 24376606 PMCID: PMC3869749 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0082918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2013] [Accepted: 10/29/2013] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Although hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignancies and constitutes the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths, the underlying molecular mechanisms are not fully understood. In the present study, we demonstrate for the first time that hepatocytes express signalling lymphocytic activation molecule family member 3 (SLAMF3/CD229) but not other SLAMF members. We provide evidence to show that SLAMF3 is involved in the control of hepatocyte proliferation and in hepatocellular carcinogenesis. SLAMF3 expression is significantly lower in primary human HCC samples and HCC cell lines than in human healthy primary hepatocytes. In HCC cell lines, the restoration of high levels of SLAMF3 expression inhibited cell proliferation and migration and enhanced apoptosis. Furthermore, SLAMF3 expression was associated with inhibition of HCC xenograft progression in the nude mouse model. The restoration of SLAMF3 expression levels also decreased the phosphorylation of MAPK ERK1/2, JNK and mTOR. In samples from resected HCC patients, SLAMF3 expression levels were significantly lower in tumorous tissues than in peritumoral tissues. Our results identify SLAMF3 as a specific marker of normal hepatocytes and provide evidence for its potential role in the control of proliferation of HCC cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingrid Marcq
- INSERM UMR925 and EA 4666 UFR de Médecine, CAP-Santé (FED 4231), Université de Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens, France
| | - Rémy Nyga
- INSERM UMR925 and EA 4666 UFR de Médecine, CAP-Santé (FED 4231), Université de Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens, France
| | - Flora Cartier
- INSERM UMR925 and EA 4666 UFR de Médecine, CAP-Santé (FED 4231), Université de Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens, France
- INSERM U1053, Laboratoire de Physiologie du Cancer du Foie, Université Bordeaux Segalen, 146, rue Léo Saignat, Bordeaux, France
| | - Rabbind Singh Amrathlal
- INSERM UMR925 and EA 4666 UFR de Médecine, CAP-Santé (FED 4231), Université de Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens, France
| | - Christèle Ossart
- Service d’hématologie Clinique et de thérapie cellulaire Centre Hospitalier Universitaire sud, Amiens, France
| | - Hakim Ouled-Haddou
- INSERM UMR925 and EA 4666 UFR de Médecine, CAP-Santé (FED 4231), Université de Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens, France
| | - Hussein Ghamlouch
- INSERM UMR925 and EA 4666 UFR de Médecine, CAP-Santé (FED 4231), Université de Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens, France
| | - Antoine Galmiche
- Service de Biochimie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire sud, Amiens, France
| | - Denis Chatelain
- Service d’Anatomie Pathologique, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire sud, Amiens, France
| | - Luciane Lamotte
- INSERM UMR925 and EA 4666 UFR de Médecine, CAP-Santé (FED 4231), Université de Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens, France
| | - Véronique Debuysscher
- INSERM UMR925 and EA 4666 UFR de Médecine, CAP-Santé (FED 4231), Université de Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens, France
| | - Vincent Fuentes
- INSERM UMR925 and EA 4666 UFR de Médecine, CAP-Santé (FED 4231), Université de Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens, France
- Service d’Immunologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire sud, Amiens, France
| | - Eric Nguyen-Khac
- Service Hepato-Gastroenterologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire sud, Amiens, France
| | - Jean-Marc Regimbeau
- Service de chirurgie digestive Centre Hospitalier Universitaire sud, Amiens, France
| | - Jean-Pierre Marolleau
- INSERM UMR925 and EA 4666 UFR de Médecine, CAP-Santé (FED 4231), Université de Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens, France
- Service d’hématologie Clinique et de thérapie cellulaire Centre Hospitalier Universitaire sud, Amiens, France
| | - Sylvain Latour
- IRNEM U768, Hôpital Necker enfants maladies, Paris, France
| | - Hicham Bouhlal
- INSERM UMR925 and EA 4666 UFR de Médecine, CAP-Santé (FED 4231), Université de Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens, France
- Service d’hématologie Clinique et de thérapie cellulaire Centre Hospitalier Universitaire sud, Amiens, France
- * E-mail:
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11
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Xuejiao S, Yong X, Ningyu W, Lidan Z, Xuanhong S, Youzhi X, Tinghong Y, Yaojie S, Yongxia Z, Luoting Y. A novel benzothiazole derivative YLT322 induces apoptosis via the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway in vitro with anti-tumor activity in solid malignancies. PLoS One 2013; 8:e63900. [PMID: 23737957 PMCID: PMC3667852 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0063900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2012] [Accepted: 04/08/2013] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Benzothiazole derivatives are known for various biological activities, and their potency in cancer therapy has received considerable attention in recent years. YLT322, a novel synthesized benzothiazole derivative, exhibits potent anti-tumor activity via inducing apoptosis both in vitro and in vivo. In this study, we found that YLT322 showed growth inhibition against a broad spectrum of human cancer cells and induced apoptosis of HepG2 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The occurrence of its apoptosis was associated with activation of caspases-3 and -9, but not caspase-8. YLT322 increased the expression of Bax, decreased the expression of Bcl-2, and induced the release of cytochrome c which activates the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. The down-regulation of phosphorylated p42/44 MAPK and phosphorylated Akt was also observed. Moreover, YLT322 suppressed the growth of established tumors in xenograft models in mice without obvious side effects. Histological and immunohistochemical analyses revealed an increase in TUNEL and caspase-3-positive cells and a decrease in Ki67-positive cells upon YLT322. These results suggest that YLT322 may be a potential candidate for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Song Xuejiao
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xia Yong
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Wang Ningyu
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Zhang Lidan
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Bioengineering, School of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Shi Xuanhong
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xu Youzhi
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Ye Tinghong
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Shi Yaojie
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Zhu Yongxia
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yu Luoting
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- * E-mail:
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12
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Pomegranate Bioactive Constituents Suppress Cell Proliferation and Induce Apoptosis in an Experimental Model of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Role of Wnt/ β -Catenin Signaling Pathway. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2013; 2013:371813. [PMID: 23606879 PMCID: PMC3625556 DOI: 10.1155/2013/371813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2013] [Accepted: 02/12/2013] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, and chemoprevention represents a viable approach in lowering the mortality of this disease. Pomegranate fruit, an abundant source of anti-inflammatory phytochemicals, is gaining tremendous attention for its wide-spectrum health benefits. We previously reported that a characterized pomegranate emulsion (PE) prevents diethylnitrosamine (DENA)-induced rat hepatocarcinogenesis though inhibition of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF- κ B). Since NF- κ B concurrently induces Wnt/ β -catenin signaling implicated in cell proliferation, cell survival, and apoptosis evasion, we examined antiproliferative, apoptosis-inducing and Wnt/ β -catenin signaling-modulatory mechanisms of PE during DENA rat hepatocarcinogenesis. PE (1 or 10 g/kg) was administered 4 weeks before and 18 weeks following DENA exposure. There was a significant increase in hepatic proliferation (proliferating cell nuclear antigen) and alteration in cell cycle progression (cyclin D1) due to DENA treatment, and PE dose dependently reversed these effects. PE substantially induced apoptosis by upregulating proapoptotic protein Bax and downregulating antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2. PE dose dependently reduced hepatic β -catenin and augmented glycogen synthase kinase-3 β expression. Our study provides evidence that pomegranate phytochemicals exert chemoprevention of hepatic cancer through antiproliferative and proapoptotic mechanisms by modulating Wnt/ β -catenin signaling. PE, thus, targets two interconnected molecular circuits (canonical NF- κ B and Wnt/ β -catenin pathways) to exert chemoprevention of HCC.
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A New Player in the Development of TRAIL Based Therapies for Hepatocarcinoma Treatment: ATM Kinase. Cancers (Basel) 2012; 4:354-78. [PMID: 24213315 PMCID: PMC3712690 DOI: 10.3390/cancers4020354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2012] [Revised: 03/15/2012] [Accepted: 03/26/2012] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide. HCCs are genetically and phenotypically heterogeneous tumors characterized by very poor prognosis, mainly due to the lack, at present, of effective therapeutic options, as these tumors are rarely suitable for radiotherapy and often resistant to chemotherapy protocols. In the last years, agonists targeting the Tumor Necrosis Factor Related Apoptosis Inducing Ligand (TRAIL) death receptor, has been investigated as a valuable promise for cancer therapy, based on their selectivity for malignant cells and low toxicity for healthy cells. However, many cancer models display resistance to death receptor induced apoptosis, pointing to the requirement for the development of combined therapeutic approaches aimed to selectively sensitize cancer cells to TRAIL. Recently, we identified ATM kinase as a novel modulator of the ability of chemotherapeutic agents to enhance TRAIL sensitivity. Here, we review the biological determinants of HCC responsiveness to TRAIL and provide an exhaustive and updated analysis of the molecular mechanisms exploited for combined therapy in this context. The role of ATM kinase as potential novel predictive biomarker for combined therapeutic approaches based on TRAIL and chemotherapeutic drugs will be closely discussed.
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Chen KF, Su JC, Liu CY, Huang JW, Chen KC, Chen WL, Tai WT, Shiau CW. A novel obatoclax derivative, SC-2001, induces apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma cells through SHP-1-dependent STAT3 inactivation. Cancer Lett 2012; 321:27-35. [PMID: 22465052 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2012.03.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2012] [Revised: 03/18/2012] [Accepted: 03/20/2012] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
We investigated the effects of a novel compound, SC-2001, on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). SC-2001, which is structurally related to the Mcl-1 inhibitor obatoclax, showed better antitumor effects than obatoclax in HCC cell lines, including HepG2, PLC5 and Huh-7. Like obatoclax, SC-2001 inhibited the protein-protein interactions between Mcl-1 and Bak. However, SC-2001 downregulated the protein levels of Mcl-1 by reducing its transcription whereas obatoclax had no significant effect on Mcl-1 expression. As Mcl-1 is regulated by signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 (STAT3), we found that SC-2001 downregulated the phosphorylation of STAT3 (Tyr 705) and subsequently inhibited transcriptional activities of STAT3 in a dose-dependent manner. In addition to Mcl-1, STAT3-regulated proteins, including survivin and cyclin D1, were also repressed by SC-2001. Notably, SC-2001 reduced IL-6-induced STAT3 activation in HepG2 and PLC5 cells. Ectopic expression of STAT3 abolished the prominent apoptotic death in SC-2001-treated PLC5 cells, indicating that STAT3 is indispensable in mediating the effects of SC-2001. Importantly, SC-2001 enhanced the expression of SHP1, a negative regulator of STAT3. Inhibition of SHP-1 by either specific inhibitor or small interference RNA reduced the apoptotic effects of SC-2001, indicating that SHP-1 plays a key role in mediating SC2001-induced cell death. SC-2001 enhanced the activity of SHP-1 in all tested HCC cells including HepG2, PLC5 and Huh-7. Finally, SC-2001 reduced PLC5 tumor growth, downregulated p-STAT3 and upregulated SHP-1 expression and activity in vivo. In conclusion, our results suggest that SC-2001 induces apoptosis in HCC, and that this effect is mediated through SHP-1-dependent STAT3 inactivation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuen-Feng Chen
- Department of Medical Research, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
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Caja L, Sancho P, Bertran E, Ortiz C, Campbell JS, Fausto N, Fabregat I. The tyrphostin AG1478 inhibits proliferation and induces death of liver tumor cells through EGF receptor-dependent and independent mechanisms. Biochem Pharmacol 2011; 82:1583-92. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2011.08.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2011] [Revised: 08/04/2011] [Accepted: 08/05/2011] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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Dissecting the effect of targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor on TGF-β-induced-apoptosis in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells. J Hepatol 2011; 55:351-8. [PMID: 21147185 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2010.10.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2010] [Revised: 10/06/2010] [Accepted: 10/25/2010] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) induces apoptosis in hepatocytes, a process that is inhibited by the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) pathway. The aim of this work was to ablate EGFR in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells to understand its role in impairing TGF-β-induced cell death. METHODS Response to TGF-β in terms of apoptosis was analyzed in different HCC cell lines and the effect of canceling EGFR expression was evaluated. RESULTS TGF-β induces apoptosis in some HCC cells (such as Hep3B, PLC/PRF/5, Huh7, or SNU449), but it also mediates survival signals, coincident with the up-regulation of EGFR ligands. Inhibition of the EGFR, either by targeted knock-down with specific siRNA or by pharmacological inhibition, significantly enhances apoptotic response. TGF-β treatment in EGFR targeted knock-down cells correlates with higher levels of the NADPH oxidase NOX4 and changes in the expression profile of BCL-2 and IAP families. However, other HCC cells, such as HepG2, which show over activation of the Ras/ERKs pathway, SK-Hep1, with an endothelial phenotype, or SNU398, where the TGF-β-Smad signaling is altered, show apoptosis resistance that is not restored through EGFR blockade. CONCLUSIONS The inhibition of EGFR in HCC may enhance TGF-β-induced pro-apoptotic signaling. However, this effect may only concern those tumors with an epithelial phenotype which do not bear alterations in TGF-β signaling nor exhibit an over-activation of the survival pathways downstream of the EGFR.
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Potential targets for molecular imaging of apoptosis resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma. Biomed Imaging Interv J 2011; 7:e5. [PMID: 21655114 PMCID: PMC3107687 DOI: 10.2349/biij.7.1.e5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2010] [Revised: 08/25/2010] [Accepted: 09/22/2010] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common cancers, which is mainly a concern in Southeast Asia. Apoptosis resistance in HCC is one of the significant factors for hepatocarcinogenesis and tumour progression. Recent advances of apoptosis resistance mechanisms in HCC could serve as potential targets for molecular imaging, which would be of considerable value to explore the molecular processes involved in HCC progression and to evaluate responses of certain anti-HCC therapies. Disruptions in the balance of anti-apoptotic and pro-apoptotic processes have been found to be involved in apoptosis resistance in HCC. Loss of response to death receptors, transformation of growth factor-β induced apoptosis, upregulation of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 subgroup, as well as downregulation of pro-apoptotic Bax subgroup and BH3-only subgroup, are associated with apoptosis resistance in HCC. Mutation of p53 gene, dysregulation of NF-κB and survivin are also of interest because of their contribution to HCC development. In this review, the aim is to identify potential targets for molecular imaging of apoptosis resistance in HCC.
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Hikita H, Takehara T, Shimizu S, Kodama T, Shigekawa M, Iwase K, Hosui A, Miyagi T, Tatsumi T, Ishida H, Li W, Kanto T, Hiramatsu N, Hayashi N. The Bcl-xL inhibitor, ABT-737, efficiently induces apoptosis and suppresses growth of hepatoma cells in combination with sorafenib. Hepatology 2010; 52:1310-21. [PMID: 20799354 DOI: 10.1002/hep.23836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 123] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Tumor cells are characterized by uncontrolled proliferation, often driven by activation of oncogenes, and apoptosis resistance. The oncogenic kinase inhibitor sorafenib can significantly prolong median survival of patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), although the response is disease-stabilizing and cytostatic rather than one of tumor regression. Bcl-xL (B cell lymphoma extra large), an antiapoptotic member of the B cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) family, is frequently overexpressed in HCC. Here, we present in vivo evidence that Bcl-xL overexpression is directly linked to the rapid growth of solid tumors. We also examined whether ABT-737, a small molecule that specifically inhibits Bcl-xL but not myeloid cell leukemia-1 (Mcl-1), could control HCC progression, especially when used with sorafenib. Administration of ABT-737, even at an in vivo effective dose, failed to suppress Huh7 xenograft tumors in mice. ABT-737 caused the levels of Mcl-1 expression to rapidly increase by protein stabilization. This appeared to be related to resistance to ABT-737, because decreasing Mcl-1 expression levels to the baseline by a small interfering RNA-mediated strategy made hepatoma cells sensitive to this agent. Importantly, administration of ABT-737 to Mcl-1 knockout mice induced severe liver apoptosis, suggesting that tumor-specific inhibition of Mcl-1 is required for therapeutic purposes. Sorafenib transcriptionally down-regulated Mcl-1 expression specifically in tumor cells and abolished Mcl-1 up-regulation induced by ABT-737. Sorafenib, not alone but in combination with ABT-737, efficiently induced apoptosis in hepatoma cells. This combination also led to stronger suppression of xenograft tumors than sorafenib alone. CONCLUSION Bcl-xL inactivation by ABT-737 in combination with sorafenib was found to be safe and effective for anti-HCC therapy in preclinical models. Direct activation of the apoptosis machinery seems to unlock the antitumor potential of oncogenic kinase inhibitors and may produce durable clinical responses against HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hayato Hikita
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Osaka, Japan
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Charette N, De Saeger C, Lannoy V, Horsmans Y, Leclercq I, Stärkel P. Salirasib inhibits the growth of hepatocarcinoma cell lines in vitro and tumor growth in vivo through ras and mTOR inhibition. Mol Cancer 2010; 9:256. [PMID: 20860815 PMCID: PMC2955616 DOI: 10.1186/1476-4598-9-256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2010] [Accepted: 09/22/2010] [Indexed: 03/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Dysregulation of epidermal growth factor and insulin-like growth factor signaling play important roles in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), leading to frequent activation of their downstream targets, the ras/raf/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt/mammalian Target of Rapamycin (mTOR) pathways. Salirasib is an S-prenyl-cysteine analog that has been shown to block ras and/or mTOR activation in several non hepatic tumor cell lines. We investigated in vitro the effect of salirasib on cell growth as well as its mechanism of action in human hepatoma cell lines (HepG2, Huh7, and Hep3B) and its in vivo effect in a subcutaneous xenograft model with HepG2 cells. Results Salirasib induced a time and dose dependent growth inhibition in hepatocarcinoma cells through inhibition of proliferation and partially through induction of apoptosis. A 50 percent reduction in cell growth was obtained in all three cell lines at a dose of 150 μM when they were cultured with serum. By contrast, salirasib was more potent at reducing cell growth after stimulation with EGF or IGF2 under serum-free conditions, with an IC50 ranging from 60 μM to 85 μM. The drug-induced anti-proliferative effect was associated with downregulation of cyclin A and to a lesser extent of cyclin D1, and upregulation of p21 and p27. Apoptosis induction was related to a global pro-apoptotic balance with caspase 3 activation, cytochrome c release, death receptor upregulation, and a reduced mRNA expression of the apoptosis inhibitors cFLIP and survivin. These effects were associated with ras downregulation and mTOR inhibition, without reduction of ERK and Akt activation. In vivo, salirasib reduced tumour growth from day 5 onwards. After 12 days of treatment, mean tumor weight was diminished by 56 percent in the treated animals. Conclusions Our results show for the first time that salirasib inhibits the growth of human hepatoma cell lines through inhibition of proliferation and induction of apoptosis, which is associated with ras and mTOR inhibition. The therapeutic potential of salirasib in human HCC was further confirmed in a subcutaneous xenograft model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Charette
- Laboratory of Gastroenterology, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique, Université Catholique de Louvain, 1200 Brussels, Belgium
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is being diagnosed with increasing frequency. The most feared complication is the presence or development of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). The present review summarizes recent data with regards to diagnosis, pathobiology and treatment. RECENT FINDINGS Several investigations have focused on aspects of the molecular biology of CCA in general; such data should be explored now in the context of PSC-related CCA to yield new diagnostic markers and approaches for therapy. SUMMARY CCA has to be suspected in any new PSC patient presenting with jaundice. Exploration should include carbohydrate antigen19-9 and two imaging techniques. Endoscopic cholangioscopy might become very rewarding. Important progress has been achieved in liver transplantation by the use of preoperative radio-chemotherapy. Molecular biology points to inflammation-induced cytokines with mutagenic action and to the relevance of extracellular matrix proteins for invasion but also for proliferation. Micro-RNAs prove to be very important in the control of cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. Mutated p53, cyclins, wnt/beta-catenin signaling, proliferation indices, mucins, carbohydrate antigen19-9, CRP and aneuploidy appear to hold significant potential as predictors of outcome in CCA. It is expected that the further unraveling of these molecular processes will ultimately lead to development of tests allowing early diagnosis and to development of medical approaches to retard tumor formation or recurrence following surgical interventions.
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Ma SH, Chen GG, Yip J, Lai PBS. Therapeutic effect of alpha-fetoprotein promoter-mediated tBid and chemotherapeutic agents on orthotopic liver tumor in mice. Gene Ther 2010; 17:905-12. [PMID: 20336154 DOI: 10.1038/gt.2010.34] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Previous studies have shown that the application of Ad/AFPtBid significantly and specifically killed hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells in culture and subcutaneously implanted in mice. This study was to test the therapeutic efficacy of Ad/AFPtBid in an orthotopic hepatic tumor model. Four weeks after implantation of tumor cells into the liver, nude mice were treated with Ad/AFPtBid alone or in combination with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). Serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) was measured as a marker for tumor progression. The results showed that Ad/AFPtBid significantly inhibited Hep3B tumor growth. Ad/AFPtBid and 5-FU in combination was more effective than either agent alone. Tumor tissues of Ad/AFPtBid alone or combination treatment groups showed a decrease in cells positive for proliferation cell nuclear antigen, but an increase in apoptosis. Ad/AFPtBid did not suppress the hepatic tumor formed by non-AFP-producing hepatoma SK-HEP-1 cells or colorectal adenocarcinoma DLD-1 cells. The survival rate was higher in mice treated with Ad/AFPtBid plus 5-FU than those treated with either agent alone. No acute toxic effect was observed in mice receiving Ad/AFPtBid. Collectively, Ad/AFPtBid can specifically target and effectively suppress the AFP-producing orthotopic liver tumor in mice without obvious toxicity, indicating that it is a promising tool in combination with chemotherapeutic agents for treatment of AFP-producing HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- S-H Ma
- Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong
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Hikita H, Takehara T, Kodama T, Shimizu S, Hosui A, Miyagi T, Tatsumi T, Ishida H, Ohkawa K, Li W, Kanto T, Hiramatsu N, Hennighausen L, Yin XM, Hayashi N. BH3-only protein bid participates in the Bcl-2 network in healthy liver cells. Hepatology 2009; 50:1972-80. [PMID: 19839062 PMCID: PMC3560855 DOI: 10.1002/hep.23207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Bcl-2 homology domain 3 (BH3)-only protein Bid is posttranslationally cleaved by caspase-8 into its truncated form (tBid) and couples with stress signals to the mitochondrial cell death pathway. However, the physiological relevance of Bid is not clearly understood. Hepatocyte-specific knockout (KO) of Bcl-xL leads to naturally-occurring apoptosis despite co-expression of Mcl-1, which shares a similar anti-apoptotic function. We generated Bcl-xL KO, Bcl-xL/Bid double KO, Bcl-xL/Bak double KO, Bcl-xL/Bax double KO, and Bcl-xL/Bak/Bax triple KO mice and found that hepatocyte apoptosis caused by Bcl-xL deficiency was completely dependent on Bak and Bax, and surprisingly on Bid. This indicated that, in the absence of Bid, Bcl-xL is not required for the integrity of differentiated hepatocytes, suggesting a complicated interaction between core Bcl-2 family proteins and BH3-only proteins even in a physiological setting. Indeed, a small but significant level of tBid was present in wild-type liver under physiological conditions. tBid was capable of binding to Bcl-xL and displacing Bak and Bax from Bcl-xL, leading to release of cytochrome c from wild-type mitochondria. Bcl-xL-deficient mitochondria were more susceptible to tBid-induced cytochrome c release. Finally, administration of ABT-737, a pharmacological inhibitor of Bcl-2/Bcl-xL, caused Bak/Bax-dependent liver injury, but this was clearly ameliorated with a Bid KO background. CONCLUSION Bid, originally considered to be a sensor for apoptotic stimuli, is constitutively active in healthy liver cells and is involved in the Bak/Bax-dependent mitochondrial cell death pathway. Healthy liver cells are addicted to a single Bcl-2-like molecule because of BH3 stresses, and therefore special caution may be required for the use of the Bcl-2 inhibitor for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hayato Hikita
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Tetsuo Takehara
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Takahiro Kodama
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Satoshi Shimizu
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Atsushi Hosui
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Takuya Miyagi
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Tomohide Tatsumi
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Hisashi Ishida
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Kazuyoshi Ohkawa
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Wei Li
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Tatsuya Kanto
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Naoki Hiramatsu
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Lothar Hennighausen
- Laboratory of Genetics and Physiology, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Xiao-Ming Yin
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Norio Hayashi
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
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Caja L, Sancho P, Bertran E, Iglesias-Serret D, Gil J, Fabregat I. Overactivation of the MEK/ERK pathway in liver tumor cells confers resistance to TGF-{beta}-induced cell death through impairing up-regulation of the NADPH oxidase NOX4. Cancer Res 2009; 69:7595-602. [PMID: 19773433 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-09-1482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) induces apoptosis in hepatocytes, being considered a liver tumor suppressor. However, many human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells escape from its proapoptotic effects, gaining response to this cytokine in terms of malignancy. We have recently reported that the apoptosis induced by TGF-beta in hepatocytes requires up-regulation of the NADPH oxidase NOX4, which mediates reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. TGF-beta-induced NOX4 expression is inhibited by antiapoptotic signals, such as the phosphatydilinositol-3-phosphate kinase or the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathways. The aim of the present work was to analyze whether resistance to TGF-beta-induced apoptosis in HCC cells is related to the impairment of NOX4 up-regulation due to overactivation of survival signals. Results indicate that inhibition of the MAPK/ERK kinase (MEK)/ERK pathway in HepG2 cells, which are refractory to the proapoptotic effects of TGF-beta, sensitizes them to cell death through a mitochondrial-dependent mechanism, coincident with increased levels of BIM and BMF, decreased levels of BCL-XL and MCL1, and BAX/BAK activation. Regulation of BMF, BCL-XL, and MCL1 occurs at the mRNA level, whereas BIM regulation occurs post-transcriptionally. ROS production and glutathione depletion are only observed in cells treated with TGF-beta and PD98059, which correlates with NOX4 up-regulation. Targeting knockdown of NOX4 impairs ROS increase and all the mitochondrial-dependent apoptotic features by a mechanism that is upstream from the regulation of BIM, BMF, BCL-XL, and MCL1 levels. In conclusion, overactivation of the MEK/ERK pathway in liver tumor cells confers resistance to TGF-beta-induced cell death through impairing NOX4 up-regulation, which is required for an efficient mitochondrial-dependent apoptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laia Caja
- Laboratori de Oncologia Molecular and Departament de Ciències Fisiològiques II, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge (IDIBELL), Universitat de Barcelona, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
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Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major health problem, being the sixth most common cancer world-wide. Dysregulation of the balance between proliferation and cell death represents a pro-tumorigenic principle in human hepatocarcinogenesis. This review updates the recent relevant contributions reporting molecular alterations for HCC that induce an imbalance in the regulation of apoptosis. Alterations in the expression and/or activation of p53 are frequent in HCC cells, which confer on them resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs. Many HCCs are also insensitive to apoptosis induced either by death receptor ligands, such as FasL or TRAIL, or by transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β). Although the expression of some pro-apoptotic genes is decreased, the balance between death and survival is dysregulated in HCC mainly due to overactivation of anti-apoptotic pathways. Indeed, some molecules involved in counteracting apoptosis, such as Bcl-XL, Mcl-1, c-IAP1, XIAP or survivin are over-expressed in HCC cells. Furthermore, some growth factors that mediate cell survival are up-regulated in HCC, as well as the molecules involved in the machinery responsible for cleavage of their pro-forms to an active peptide. The expression and/or activation of the JAK/STAT, PI3K/AKT and RAS/ERKs pathways are enhanced in many HCC cells, conferring on them resistance to apoptotic stimuli. Finally, recent evidence indicates that inflammatory processes, as well as the epithelial-mesenchymal transitions that occur in HCC cells to facilitate their dissemination, are related to cell survival. Therefore, therapeutic strategies to selectively inhibit anti-apoptotic signals in liver tumor cells have the potential to provide powerful tools to treat HCC.
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