High mobility group protein B1 controls liver cancer initiation through yes-associated protein -dependent aerobic glycolysis

Extracellular NCOA4 is a mediator of septic death by activating the AGER-NFKB pathway

Sepsis, a life-threatening condition resulting from a dysregulated response to pathogen infection, poses a significant challenge in clinical management. Here, we report a novel role for the autophagy receptor NCOA4 in the pathogenesis of sepsis. Activated macrophages and monocytes secrete NCOA4, which acts as a mediator of septic death in mice. Mechanistically, lipopolysaccharide, a major component of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, induces NCOA4 secretion through autophagy-dependent lysosomal exocytosis mediated by ATG5 and MCOLN1. Moreover, bacterial infection with E. coli or S. enterica leads to passive release of NCOA4 during GSDMD-mediated pyroptosis. Upon release, extracellular NCOA4 triggers the activation of the proinflammatory transcription factor NFKB/NF-κB by promoting the degradation of NFKBIA/IκB molecules. This process is dependent on the pattern recognition receptor AGER, rather than TLR4. In vivo studies employing endotoxemia and polymicrobial sepsis mouse models reveal that a monoclonal neutralizing antibody targeting NCOA4 or AGER delays animal death, protects against organ damage, and attenuates systemic inflammation. Furthermore, elevated plasma NCOA4 levels in septic patients, particularly in non-survivors, correlate positively with the sequential organ failure assessment score and concentrations of lactate and proinflammatory mediators, such as TNF, IL1B, IL6, and HMGB1. These findings demonstrate a previously unrecognized role of extracellular NCOA4 in inflammation, suggesting it as a potential therapeutic target for severe infectious diseases. Abbreviation: BMDMs: bone marrow-derived macrophages; BUN: blood urea nitrogen; CLP: cecal ligation and puncture; ELISA: enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; LPS: lipopolysaccharide; NO: nitric oxide; SOFA: sequential organ failure assessment.

Dihydroartemisinin breaks the positive feedback loop of YAP1 and GLUT1-mediated aerobic glycolysis to boost the CD8+ effector T cells in hepatocellular carcinoma

Aerobic glycolysis is a hallmark of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Dihydroartemisinin (DHA) exhibits antitumor activity towards liver cancer. Our previous studies have shown that DHA inhibits the Warburg effect in HCC cells. However, the mechanism still needs to be clarified. Our study aimed to elucidate the interaction between YAP1 and GLUT1-mediated aerobic glycolysis in HCC cells and focused on the underlying mechanisms of DHA inhibiting aerobic glycolysis in HCC cells. In this study, we confirmed that inhibition of YAP1 expression lowers GLUT1-mediated aerobic glycolysis in HCC cells and enhances the activity of CD8+T cells in the tumor niche. Then, we found that DHA was bound to cellular YAP1 in HCC cells. YAP1 knockdown inhibited GLUT1-mediated aerobic glycolysis, whereas YAP1 overexpression promoted GLUT1-mediated aerobic glycolysis in HCC cells. Notably, liver-specific Yap1 knockout by AAV8-TBG-Cre suppressed HIF-1α and GLUT1 expression in tumors but not para-tumors in DEN/TCPOBOP-induced HCC mice. Even more crucial is that YAP1 forms a positive feedback loop with GLUT1-mediated aerobic glycolysis, which is associated with HIF-1α in HCC cells. Finally, DHA reduced GLUT1-aerobic glycolysis in HCC cells through YAP1 and prevented the binding of YAP1 and HIF-1α. Collectively, our study revealed the mechanism of DHA inhibiting glycolysis in HCC cells from a perspective of a positive feedback loop involving YAP1 and GLUT1 mediated-aerobic glycolysis and provided a feasible therapeutic strategy for targeting enhanced aerobic glycolysis in HCC.

Exosomal circSIPA1L3-mediated intercellular communication contributes to glucose metabolic reprogramming and progression of triple negative breast cancer

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer is the most common malignant tumor, and metastasis remains the major cause of poor prognosis. Glucose metabolic reprogramming is one of the prominent hallmarks in cancer, providing nutrients and energy to support dramatically elevated tumor growth and metastasis. Nevertheless, the potential mechanistic links between glycolysis and breast cancer progression have not been thoroughly elucidated.

METHODS

RNA-seq analysis was used to identify glucose metabolism-related circRNAs. The expression of circSIPA1L3 in breast cancer tissues and serum was examined by qRT-PCR, and further assessed its diagnostic value. We also evaluated the prognostic potential of circSIPA1L3 by analyzing a cohort of 238 breast cancer patients. Gain- and loss-of-function experiments, transcriptomic analysis, and molecular biology experiments were conducted to explore the biological function and regulatory mechanism of circSIPA1L3.

RESULTS

Using RNA-seq analysis, circSIPA1L3 was identified as the critical mediator responsible for metabolic adaption upon energy stress. Gain- and loss-of-function experiments revealed that circSIPA1L3 exerted a stimulative effect on breast cancer progression and glycolysis, which could also be transported by exosomes and facilitated malignant behaviors among breast cancer cells. Significantly, the elevated lactate secretion caused by circSIPA1L3-mediated glycolysis enhancement promoted the recruitment of tumor associated macrophage and their tumor-promoting roles. Mechanistically, EIF4A3 induced the cyclization and cytoplasmic export of circSIPA1L3, which inhibited ubiquitin-mediated IGF2BP3 degradation through enhancing the UPS7-IGF2BP3 interaction. Furthermore, circSIPA1L3 increased mRNA stability of the lactate export carrier SLC16A1 and the glucose intake enhancer RAB11A through either strengthening their interaction with IGF2BP3 or sponging miR-665, leading to enhanced glycolytic metabolism. Clinically, elevated circSIPA1L3 expression indicated unfavorable prognosis base on the cohort of 238 breast cancer patients. Moreover, circSIPA1L3 was highly expressed in the serum of breast cancer patients and exhibited high diagnostic value for breast cancer patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study highlights the oncogenic role of circSIPA1L3 through mediating glucose metabolism, which might serve as a promising diagnostic and prognostic biomarker and potential therapeutic target for breast cancer.

Targeting YAP1 to improve the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors in liver cancer: mechanism and strategy

Liver cancer is the third leading of tumor death, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are yielding much for sufferers to hope for patients, but only some patients with advanced liver tumor respond. Recent research showed that tumor microenvironment (TME) is critical for the effectiveness of ICIs in advanced liver tumor. Meanwhile, metabolic reprogramming of liver tumor leads to immunosuppression in TME. These suggest that regulating the abnormal metabolism of liver tumor cells and firing up TME to turn "cold tumor" into "hot tumor" are potential strategies to improve the therapeutic effect of ICIs in liver tumor. Previous studies have found that YAP1 is a potential target to improve the efficacy of anti-PD-1 in HCC. Here, we review that YAP1 promotes immunosuppression of TME, mainly due to the overstimulation of cytokines in TME by YAP1. Subsequently, we studied the effects of YAP1 on metabolic reprogramming in liver tumor cells, including glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, lipid metabolism, arachidonic acid metabolism, and amino acid metabolism. Lastly, we summarized the existing drugs targeting YAP1 in the treatment of liver tumor, including some medicines from natural sources, which have the potential to improve the efficacy of ICIs in the treatment of liver tumor. This review contributed to the application of targeted YAP1 for combined therapy with ICIs in liver tumor patients.

Role of Hippo pathway dysregulation from gastrointestinal premalignant lesions to cancer

BACKGROUND

First identified in Drosophila melanogaster, the Hippo pathway is considered a major regulatory cascade controlling tissue homeostasis and organ development. Hippo signaling components include kinases whose activity regulates YAP and TAZ final effectors. In response to upstream stimuli, YAP and TAZ control transcriptional programs involved in cell proliferation, cytoskeletal reorganization and stemness.

MAIN TEXT

While fine tuning of Hippo cascade components is essential for maintaining the balance between proliferative and non-proliferative signals, pathway signaling is frequently dysregulated in gastrointestinal cancers. Also, YAP/TAZ aberrant activation has been described in conditions characterized by chronic inflammation that precede cancer development, suggesting a role of Hippo effectors in triggering carcinogenesis. In this review, we summarize the architecture of the Hippo pathway and discuss the involvement of signaling cascade unbalances in premalignant lesions of the gastrointestinal tract, providing a focus on the underlying molecular mechanisms.

CONCLUSIONS

The biology of premalignant Hippo signaling dysregulation needs further investigation in order to elucidate the evolutionary trajectories triggering cancer inititation and develop effective early therapeutic strategies targeting the Hippo/YAP pathway.

HMGB1 in the interplay between autophagy and apoptosis in cancer

Lysosome-mediated autophagy and caspase-dependent apoptosis are dynamic processes that maintain cellular homeostasis, ensuring cell health and functionality. The intricate interplay and reciprocal regulation between autophagy and apoptosis are implicated in various human diseases, including cancer. High-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), a nonhistone chromosomal protein, plays a pivotal role in coordinating autophagy and apoptosis levels during tumor initiation, progression, and therapy. The regulation of autophagy machinery and the apoptosis pathway by HMGB1 is influenced by various factors, including the protein's subcellular localization, oxidative state, and interactions with binding partners. In this narrative review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the structure and function of HMGB1, with a specific focus on the interplay between autophagic degradation and apoptotic death in tumorigenesis and cancer therapy. Gaining a comprehensive understanding of the significance of HMGB1 as a biomarker and its potential as a therapeutic target in tumor diseases is crucial for advancing our knowledge of cell survival and cell death.

The multifunctional protein HMGB1: 50 years of discovery

Fifty years since the initial discovery of HMGB1 in 1973 as a structural protein of chromatin, HMGB1 is now known to regulate diverse biological processes depending on its subcellular or extracellular localization. These functions include promoting DNA damage repair in the nucleus, sensing nucleic acids and inducing innate immune responses and autophagy in the cytosol and binding protein partners in the extracellular environment and stimulating immunoreceptors. In addition, HMGB1 is a broad sensor of cellular stress that balances cell death and survival responses essential for cellular homeostasis and tissue maintenance. HMGB1 is also an important mediator secreted by immune cells that is involved in a range of pathological conditions, including infectious diseases, ischaemia-reperfusion injury, autoimmunity, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, metabolic disorders and cancer. In this Review, we discuss the signalling mechanisms, cellular functions and clinical relevance of HMGB1 and describe strategies to modify its release and biological activities in the setting of various diseases.

Interleukin-6 in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Dualistic Point of View

Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) is a pressing health concern, demanding a deep understanding of various mediators' roles in its development for therapeutic progress. Notably, interleukin-6 (IL-6) has taken center stage in investigations due to its intricate and context-dependent functions. This review delves into the dual nature of IL-6 in HCC, exploring its seemingly contradictory roles as both a promoter and an inhibitor of disease progression. We dissect the pro-tumorigenic effects of IL-6, including its impact on tumor growth, angiogenesis, and metastasis. Concurrently, we examine its anti-tumorigenic attributes, such as its role in immune response activation, cellular senescence induction, and tumor surveillance. Through a comprehensive exploration of the intricate interactions between IL-6 and the tumor microenvironment, this review highlights the need for a nuanced comprehension of IL-6 signaling in HCC. It underscores the importance of tailored therapeutic strategies that consider the dynamic stages and diverse surroundings within the tumor microenvironment. Future research directions aimed at unraveling the multifaceted mechanisms of IL-6 in HCC hold promise for developing more effective treatment strategies and improving patient outcomes.

The Redox Protein High-Mobility Group Box 1 in Cell Death and Cancer

Significance: As a redox-sensitive protein, high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is implicated in regulating stress responses to oxidative damage and cell death, which are closely related to the pathology of inflammatory diseases, including cancer. Recent Advances: HMGB1 is a nonhistone nuclear protein that acts as a deoxyribonucleic acid chaperone to control chromosomal structure and function. HMGB1 can also be released into the extracellular space and function as a damage-associated molecular pattern protein during cell death, including during apoptosis, necrosis, necroptosis, pyroptosis, ferroptosis, alkaliptosis, and cuproptosis. Once released, HMGB1 binds to membrane receptors to shape immune and metabolic responses. In addition to subcellular localization, the function and activity of HMGB1 also depend on its redox state and protein posttranslational modifications. Abnormal HMGB1 plays a dual role in tumorigenesis and anticancer therapy (e.g., chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and immunotherapy) depending on the tumor types and stages. Critical Issues: A comprehensive understanding of the role of HMGB1 in cellular redox homeostasis is important for deciphering normal cellular functions and pathological manifestations. In this review, we discuss compartmental-defined roles of HMGB1 in regulating cell death and cancer. Understanding these advances may help us develop potential HMGB1-targeting drugs or approaches to treat oxidative stress-related diseases or pathological conditions. Future Directions: Further studies are required to dissect the mechanism by which HMGB1 maintains redox homeostasis under different stress conditions. A multidisciplinary effort is also required to evaluate the potential applications of precisely targeting the HMGB1 pathway in human health and disease. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 39, 569-590.

Silencing of FGF6 hampers aerobic glycolysis and angiogenesis in bladder cancer by regulating PI3K/Akt and MAPK signaling pathways

Metabolic abnormalities and uncontrolled angiogenesis are two vital features of malignant tumors. Although fibroblast growth factor 6 (FGF6) is known to promote the proliferation and migration of bladder cancer (BC) cells, its influences on aerobic glycolysis and angiogenesis in BC remain unclear. Gene expression at messenger RNA and protein levels were examined by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analyses, respectively. Lactate production and glucose uptake in BC cells were evaluated by performing aerobic glycolysis assays. A vasculogenic mimicry assay was executed for assessing the angiogenesis of BC cells. The viability, migration, and angiogenesis of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) cocultured with supernatants of BC cells were detected using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, wound healing assay, and tube formation assay. It was found that FGF6 displayed a high level in BC cell lines. Silencing of FGF6 reduced the levels of lactate production, glucose uptake, and the expression of angiogenic factors and glycolytic enzymes in BC cells, which also inhibited the viability and migration of HUVECs. In addition, FGF6 depletion or aerobic glycolysis inhibitor 2-deoxy-d-glucose treatment decreased the total branching length and intersection number of both BC cells and HUVECs. Moreover, glucose or lactate treatment reversed FGF6-induced suppression of cell viability, migration, tube formation, and vasculogenic mimicry. The activation of the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways was blocked by silenced FGF6. Furthermore, PI3K/Akt inhibitor (LY2940002) and p38-MAPK inhibitor (SB203580) inhibited the levels of aerobic glycolysis-related proteins. In conclusion, FGF6 knockdown suppressed aerobic glycolysis, thereby inhibiting angiogenesis in BC via regulation of the PI3K/Akt and MAPK signaling pathways.

Has-miR-129-5p's Involvement in Different Disorders, from Digestive Cancer to Neurodegenerative Diseases

At present, it is necessary to identify specific biochemical, molecular, and genetic markers that can reliably aid in screening digestive cancer and correlate with the degree of disease development. Has-miR-129-5p is a small, non-coding molecule of RNA, circulating in plasma, gastric juice, and other biological fluids; it plays a protective role in tumoral growth, metastasis, etc. Furthermore, it is involved in various diseases, from the development of digestive cancer in cases of downregulation to neurodegenerative diseases and depression. Methods: We examined meta-analyses, research, and studies related to miR-129-5-p involved in digestive cancer and its implications in cancer processes, as well as metastasis, and described its implications in neurological diseases. Conclusions: Our review outlines that miR-129-5p is a significant controller of different pathways, genes, and proteins and influences different diseases. Some important pathways include the WNT and PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathways; their dysregulation results in digestive neoplasia and neurodegenerative diseases.

HMGB1-mediated elevation of KLF7 facilitates hepatocellular carcinoma progression and metastasis through upregulating TLR4 and PTK2

Background: Metastasis is a major cause of HCC-related deaths with no effective pharmacotherapies. Chronic inflammation promotes HCC dissemination, however, its underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Here, we investigated the role of Krüppel-like factor 7 (KLF7) in inflammation-provoked HCC metastasis and proposed therapeutic strategies for KLF7-positive patients. Methods: The expression of KLF7 in human HCC specimens were examined by immunohistochemistry and quantitative real-time PCR. The luciferase reporter assays and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays were conducted to explore the transcriptional regulation related to KLF7. Orthotopic xenograft models and DEN/CCl4-induced HCC models were established to evaluate HCC progression and metastasis. Results: KLF7 overexpression promotes HCC metastasis through transactivating toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and protein tyrosine kinase 2 (PTK2) expression. High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) upregulates KLF7 expression through the TLR4/advanced glycosylation end-product specific receptor (RAGE)-PI3K-AKT-NF-κB pathway, forming an HMGB1-KLF7-TLR4 positive feedback loop. The HMGB1-KLF7-TLR4/PTK2 axis is gradually activated during the progression of inflammation-HCC transition. Genetic depletion of KLF7 impedes HMGB1-mediated HCC progression and metastasis. The combined application of TLR4 inhibitor TAK-242 and PTK2 inhibitor defactinib alleviates HCC progression and metastasis induced by the HMGB1-KLF7 axis. In human HCCs, KLF7 expression is positively correlated with cytoplasmic HMGB1, p-p65, TLR4, and PTK2 levels, and patients positively co-expressing HMGB1/KLF7, p-p65/KLF7, KLF7/TLR4 or KLF7/PTK2 exhibit the worst prognosis. Conclusions: HMGB1-induced KLF7 overexpression facilitates HCC progression and metastasis by upregulating TLR4 and PTK2. Genetic ablation of KLF7 via AAV gene therapy and combined blockade of TLR4 and PTK2 represents promising therapy strategies for KLF7-positive HCC patients.

CSNK2A1-mediated MAX phosphorylation upregulates HMGB1 and IL-6 expression in cholangiocarcinoma progression

BACKGROUND

We established a novel diethylnitrosamine (DEN) -induced mouse model that reflected the progression of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) from atypical cystic hyperplasia.

METHODS

BALB/c mice were administered DEN by oral gavage. Cells isolated from livers were analyzed for expression of CSNK2A1, MAX and MAX-interacting proteins. Human CCA cell lines (MzChA-1, HuCCT1), normal human cholangiocyte (H69), human hepatic stellate cells (LX-2), macrophages (RAW 264.7), and primary hepatic cells were used for cellular and molecular biology assays.

RESULTS

Expression of MAX, CSNK2A1, C-MYC, β-catenin, HMGB1, and IL-6 was upregulated in hepatic cells from CCA liver tissue. The half-life of MAX is higher in CCA cells, and this favors their proliferation. Overexpression of MAX increased growth, migration, and invasion of MzChA-1, whereas silencing of MAX had the opposite effect. MAX positively regulated IL-6 and HMGB1 through paracrine signaling in HepG2, LX2, and RAW cells and autocrine signaling in MzChA-1 cells. CSNK2A1-mediated MAX phosphorylation shifts MAX-MAX homodimer to C-MYC-MAX and β-catenin-MAX heterodimers and increases the HMGB1 and IL-6 promoter activities. Increase of MAX phosphorylation promotes cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and cholangiocarcinogenesis. The casein kinase 2 inhibitor CX-4945 induces cell cycle arrest and inhibits cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and carcinogenesis in MzChA-1 cells through the downregulation of CSNK2A1, MAX, and MAX-interaction proteins.

CONCLUSION

C-MYC-MAX and β-catenin-MAX binding to E-box site or β-catenin-MAX bound to TCFs/LEF1 enhanced HMGB1 or IL-6 promoter activities, respectively. IL-6 and HMGB1 secreted by hepatocytes, HSCs, and KCs exert paracrine effects on cholangiocytes to promote cell growth, migration, and invasion and lead to the progression of cholangiocarcinogenesis. CX-4945 provides perspectives on therapeutic strategies to attenuate progression from atypical cystic hyperplasia to cholangiocarcinogenesis.

A novel cuproptosis-related prognostic gene signature and validation of differential expression in hepatocellular carcinoma

Background: Cuproptosis is a newly discovered form of programmed cell death, which is characterized by accumulation of intra-cellular copper ion leading to the aggregation of lipoproteins and destabilization of Fe-S cluster proteins in mitochondrial metabolism, thereby affecting the prognosis of patients with cancer. However, the role of cuproptosis-related genes (CRGs) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains elusive. Methods: Mutation signature, copy number variation and the expression of 10 CRGs were assessed in HCC from TCGA-LIHC dataset. ICGC-LIRI-JP dataset was used as further validation cohort. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) was used to construct the prognostic model. Kaplan Meier curves, time-ROC curves, nomogram, univariate and multivariate Cox regression were utilized to evaluate the predictive efficacy of CRGs-score. Immune infiltration was analyzed by CIBERSOFT, ssGSEA algorithm, and TIMER database. The expression of prognostic CRGs was validated by qPCR both in-vitro and in-vivo. Drug sensitivity analysis was performed by pRRophetic. Results: All of the CRGs were differentially expressed in HCC and 5 out of them (CDKN2A, DLAT, GLS, LIPT1, MTF1) correlated with patient survival. These signature genes were selected by LASSO analysis to establish a prognosis model to stratify HCC patients into high and low CRGs-score subgroups. High CRGs-score was associated with a worse prognosis. Subsequently, univariate and multivariate Cox regression verified that CRGs-score was an independent cancer risk factor that correlated with clinical factors including stage and grade. Nomogram integrating the CRGs-score and clinical risk factors performed well to predict patient survival. Immune infiltration analysis further revealed that the expression of immune checkpoint genes was significantly enhanced in high CRGs-score group, especially PD-1 and PD-L1. An independent validation cohort (ICGC) confirmed that CRGs-score as a stable and universally applicable indicator in predicting HCC patient survival. Concordantly, the expression of five confirmed signature genes were also differentially expressed in human HCC cell lines and mouse HCC model. In addition, we also analyzed the sensitivity of 10 clinical targeted therapies between high and low CRGs-score groups. Conclusion: This study elucidated the role of dysregulated CRGs in HCC cohort, with validation with in-vitro and in-vivo models. The CRGs-score might be applied as a novel prognostic factor in HCC.

The analysis of immunogenic cell death induced by ablation at different temperatures in hepatocellular carcinoma cells

Introduction: Ablation therapy is a commonly used tool in the management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). After ablation, dying cancer cells release a variety of substances that trigger subsequent immune responses. Immunogenic cell death (ICD) has been a trending topic in recent years and has been discussed many times along with oncologic chemotherapy. However, the subject of ablative therapy and ICDs has been little discussed. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether ablation treatment induces ICD in HCC cells and whether different types of ICDs arise because of different ablation temperatures. Methods: Four different HCC cell lines (H22, Hepa-16, HepG2 and SMMC7221) were cultured and treated under different temperatures (-80°C, -40°C, 0°C, 37°C, and 60°C). Cell Counting Kit-8 assay was performed to analyze the viability of different cell lines. Apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry assay, and a few ICD-related cytokines (calreticulin, ATP, high mobility group box 1, and CXCL10) were detected by immunofluorescence or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: The apoptosis rate of all kinds of cells increased significantly in -80°C group (p < 0.01) and 60°C group (p < 0.01). The expression levels of ICD-related cytokines were mostly significantly different between the different groups. For calreticulin, Hepa1-6 cells and SMMC7221 cells showed significantly higher protein expression levels in 60°C group (p < 0.01) and significantly lower protein expression levels -80°C group (p < 0.01). The ATP, high mobility group box 1 and CXCL10 expression levels were significantly higher in 60°C, -80°C and -40°C group of all four cell lines (p < 0.01). Conclusion: Different ablative treatments could induce different types of ICDs in HCC cells, providing a promising track for the development of individualized cancer therapies.

CHIP induces ubiquitination and degradation of HMGB1 to regulate glycolysis in ovarian endometriosis

Ovarian endometriosis is a common gynecological condition that can cause infertility in women of childbearing age. However, the pathogenesis is still unknown. We demonstrate that the carboxyl terminus of Hsc70-interacting protein (CHIP) is a negative regulator in the development of endometriosis and reduces HMGB1 expression in endometriotic cells. Meanwhile, CHIP interacts with HMGB1 and promotes its ubiquitinated degradation, thereby inhibiting aerobic glycolysis and the progression of endometriosis. Furthermore, the CHIP agonist YL-109 effectively suppresses the growth of ectopic endometrium in endometriosis mouse model, which could be a potential therapeutic approach for endometriosis. In conclusion, our data suggest that CHIP may inhibit the development of endometriosis by suppressing the HMGB1-related glycolysis.

PPARγ signaling in hepatocarcinogenesis: Mechanistic insights for cellular reprogramming and therapeutic implications

Liver cancer or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is leading cause of cancer-related mortalities globally. The therapeutic approaches for chronic liver diseases-associated liver cancers aimed at modulating immune check-points and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) signaling pathway during multistep process of hepatocarcinogenesis that played a dispensable role in immunopathogenesis and outcomes of disease. Herein, the review highlights PPARγ-induced effects in balancing inflammatory (tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1) and anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10, transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β), and interplay of PPARγ, hepatic stellate cells and fibrogenic niche in cell-intrinsic and -extrinsic crosstalk of hepatocarcinogenesis. PPARγ-mediated effects in pre-malignant microenvironment promote growth arrest, cell senescence and cell clearance in liver cancer pathophysiology. Furthermore, PPARγ-immune cell axis of liver microenvironment exhibits an immunomodulation strategy of resident immune cells of the liver (macrophages, natural killer cells, and dendritic cells) in concomitance with current clinical guidelines of the European Association for Study of Liver Diseases (EASL) for several liver diseases. Thus, mechanistic insights of PPARγ-associated high value targets and canonical signaling suggest PPARγ as a possible therapeutic target in reprogramming of hepatocarcinogenesis to decrease burden of liver cancers, worldwide.

The Hippo-YAP pathway in various cardiovascular diseases: Focusing on the inflammatory response

The Hippo pathway was initially discovered in Drosophila melanogaster and mammals as a key regulator of tissue growth both in physiological and pathological states. Numerous studies depict the vital role of the Hippo pathway in cardiovascular development, heart regeneration, organ size and vascular remodeling through the regulation of YAP (yes-associated protein) translocation. Recently, an increasing number of studies have focused on the Hippo-YAP pathway in inflammation and immunology. Although the Hippo-YAP pathway has been revealed to play controversial roles in different contexts and cell types in the cardiovascular system, the mechanisms regulating tissue inflammation and the immune response remain to be clarified. In this review, we summarize findings from the past decade on the function and mechanism of the Hippo-YAP pathway in CVDs (cardiovascular diseases) such as myocardial infarction, cardiomyopathy and atherosclerosis. In particular, we emphasize the role of the Hippo-YAP pathway in regulating inflammatory cell infiltration and inflammatory cytokine activation.

Advances in prognostic and therapeutic targets for hepatocellular carcinoma and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: The hippo signaling pathway

Primary liver cancer is the sixth most frequently diagnosed cancer worldwide and the third leading cause of cancer-related death. The majority of the primary liver cancer cases are hepatocellular carcinoma and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. Worldwide, there is an increasing incidence of primary liver cancer cases due to multiple risk factors ranging from parasites and viruses to metabolic diseases and lifestyles. Often, patients are diagnosed at advanced stages, depriving them of surgical curability benefits. Moreover, the efficacy of the available chemotherapeutics is limited in advanced stages. Furthermore, tumor metastases and recurrence make primary liver cancer management exceptionally challenging. Thus, exploring the molecular mechanisms for the development and progression of primary liver cancer is critical in improving diagnostic, treatment, prognostication, and surveillance modalities. These mechanisms facilitate the discovery of specific targets that are critical for novel and more efficient treatments. Consequently, the Hippo signaling pathway executing a pivotal role in organogenesis, hemostasis, and regeneration of tissues, regulates liver cells proliferation, and apoptosis. Cell polarity or adhesion molecules and cellular metabolic status are some of the biological activators of the pathway. Thus, understanding the mechanisms exhibited by the Hippo pathway is critical to the development of novel targeted therapies. This study reviews the advances in identifying therapeutic targets and prognostic markers of the Hippo pathway for primary liver cancer in the past six years.

Ablation of high-mobility group box-1 in the liver reduces hepatocellular carcinoma but causes hyperbilirubinemia in Hippo signaling-deficient mice

Silencing the Hippo kinases mammalian sterile 20-like 1 and 2 (MST1/2) activates the transcriptional coactivator yes-associated protein (YAP) in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Hepatocyte-derived high-mobility group box-1 (HMGB1) regulates YAP expression; however, its contribution to HCC in the context of deregulated Hippo signaling is unknown. Here, we hypothesized that HMGB1 is required for hepatocarcinogenesis by activating YAP in Hippo signaling-deficient (Mst1/2^ΔHep ) mice. Mst1/2^ΔHep mice developed HCC within 3.5 months of age and had increased hepatic expression of HMGB1 and elevated YAP activity compared to controls. To understand the contribution of HMGB1, we generated Mst1/2&Hmgb1^ΔHep mice. They exhibited decreased YAP activity, cell proliferation, inflammation, fibrosis, atypical ductal cell expansion, and HCC burden at 3.5 months compared to Mst1/2^∆Hep mice. However, Mst1/2&Hmgb1^ΔHep mice were smaller, developed hyperbilirubinemia, had more liver injury with intrahepatic biliary defects, and had reduced hemoglobin compared to Mst1/2^ΔHep mice. Conclusion: Hepatic HMGB1 promotes hepatocarcinogenesis by regulation of YAP activity; nevertheless, it maintains intrahepatic bile duct physiology under Hippo signaling deficiency.

Glucometabolic reprogramming: From trigger to therapeutic target in hepatocellular carcinoma

Glucose, the central macronutrient, releases energy as ATP through carbon bond oxidation and supports various physiological functions of living organisms. Hepatocarcinogenesis relies on the bioenergetic advantage conferred by glucometabolic reprogramming. The exploitation of reformed metabolism induces a uniquely inert environment conducive to survival and renders the hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells the extraordinary ability to thrive even in the nutrient-poor tumor microenvironment. The rewired metabolism also confers a defensive barrier which protects the HCC cells from environmental stress and immune surveillance. Additionally, targeted interventions against key players of HCC metabolic and signaling pathways provide promising prospects for tumor therapy. The active search for novel drugs based on innovative mutation targets is warranted in the future for effectively treating advanced HCC and the preoperative downstage. This article aims to review the regulatory mechanisms and therapeutic value of glucometabolic reprogramming on the disease progression of HCC, to gain insights into basic and clinical research.

A Novel PHD2/VHL-mediated Regulation of YAP1 Contributes to VEGF Expression and Angiogenesis

The transcriptional co-activator YAP1 is the major oncogenic component of the Hippo signaling pathway and contributes to the genesis and progression of various tumors, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). YAP1 levels are regulated by the canonical Hippo kinases, MST1/2 and LATS1/2, which modulate its cytoplasmic retention and proteasomal degradation. While non-canonical regulation of YAP1 has been reported, its role in hypoxic response is not fully elucidated. The studies presented here show that YAP1 levels and function are modulated by VHL and PHD2. YAP1 could regulate multiple genes involved in angiogenesis through E2F1; it also associates with HIF1α in cancer cells under hypoxic conditions, inducing the VEGF-A promoter. Under normoxic conditions, PHD2 associates with and hydroxylates specific proline residues on YAP1, facilitating its interaction with VHL and promoting ubiquitination and subsequent proteasomal degradation. Exposure to hypoxia dissociates YAP1 from PHD2 and VHL, elevating YAP1 levels and enhancing its association with HIF1α. YAP1-HIF1α interaction was higher in NSCLC and RCC samples, indicating a role for this interaction in the genesis of these cancers. Our results thus reveal a novel mode of regulation of YAP1 by PHD2 and VHL in normoxic cells, suggesting that YAP1-mediated induction of VEGF and other genes contributes to hypoxic response in tumors.

Molecular insights into the multifaceted functions and therapeutic targeting of high mobility group box 1 in metabolic diseases

HMGB1 is a ubiquitously expressed protein localized in nucleus, cytoplasm, as well as secreted into extracellular space. Nuclear HMGB1 binds to DNAs and RNAs, regulating genomic stability and transcription. Cytoplasmic HMGB1 regulates autophagy through binding to core autophagy regulators. Secreted extracellular HMGB1 functions as a ligand to various receptors (RAGE and TLRs, etc.), regulating multiple signalling pathways, such as MAPK, PI3K and NF-κB signallings. Trafficking and localization of HMGB1 across cellular compartments could be regulated by its posttranslational modifications, which fine-tune its functions in metabolic diseases, inflammation and cancers. The current review examines the up-to-date findings pertaining to the biological functions of HMGB1, with focus on its posttranslational modifications and roles in downstream signalling pathways involved in metabolic diseases. This review also discusses the feasibility of targeting HMGB1 as a potential pharmacological intervention for metabolic diseases.

The HN1/HMGB1 axis promotes the proliferation and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma and attenuates the chemosensitivity to oxaliplatin

Hematological and neurological expressed 1 (HN1) is closely associated with the proliferation and metastasis of various tumors. However, the physiological functions and clinical significance of HN1 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain indistinct. In this study, we investigated the role of HN1 in the pathogenesis of HCC and the underlying mechanism using clinical data from HCC patients, in vitro experiments utilizing HCC cell lines and in vivo animal models. We demonstrated that the overexpressed HN1 in HCC was correlated with patients' adverse outcomes. The gain and loss of function experiments indicated that HN1 could promote the proliferation, migration, and invasion of HCC cells in vitro. Furthermore, we found that HN1 knockdown sensitized HCC cells to oxaliplatin. Mechanically, HN1 prevented HMGB1 protein from ubiquitination and degradation via the autophagy-lysosome pathway, which was related to the interaction between HN1 protein and TRIM28 protein. In the nucleus, the downregulation of HMGB1 followed by HN1 knockdown resulted in increased DNA damage and cell death in the oxaliplatin-treated HCC cells. In the cytoplasm, HN1 regulated autophagy via HMGB1. Furthermore, HN1 knockdown in combination with HMGB1 overexpression restored the aggressive phenotypes of HCC cells and the sensitivity of these cells to oxaliplatin. HN1 knockdown inhibited the tumor growth and metastasis, and promoted the anticancer efficiency of oxaliplatin in vivo. In conclusion, our data suggest that the HN1/HMGB1 axis plays an important role in the development/progression and chemotherapy of HCC. Our findings indicate that the HN1/HMGB1 axis may be a promising therapeutic target for HCC treatment.

A Glycolysis-Related Gene Signature Correlates With the Characteristics of the Tumor Immune Microenvironment and Predicts Prognosis in Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Aim: To develop a glycolysis-related gene signature that correlated with the characteristics of the tumor immune microenvironment and had good predictive power for overall survival (OS) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: Gene expression profiles, RNA sequencing data, clinical characteristics and survival information for 407 patients with HCC and 58 healthy controls were downloaded from the TCGA database. GSEA 4.1.0 software was used to evaluate the glycolysis-related pathways enriched in HCC compared to normal liver tissue. Univariate Cox, Least Absolute Shrinkage, Selection Operator, and two-step multivariate Cox analyses were used to construct a glycolysis-related gene signature for prognostic prediction. The glycolysis-related gene signature was combined with clinical characteristics to generate a nomogram. Tumor-infiltrating immune cell profiles and PD-L1 protein expression in HCC tissues were investigated.

Results: The gene expression profiles of HCC tissues were enriched in glycolysis-related pathways. A glycolysis-related gene signature was used to categorize patients as high-risk or low-risk, where high-risk patients had significantly worse OS. Receiver operating characteristic curves confirmed the predictive capability of the glycolysis-related gene signature for OS (AUC >0.80). There was a significant difference in M0 macrophage (p = 0.017), dendritic cell (p = 0.043), B cell (p = 0.0018), CD4 T cell (p = 0.003), Treg (p = 0.01) and mast cell (p = 0.02) content and PD-L1 protein expression (p = 0.019) between HCC tissues in patients in the high-risk and low-risk groups.

Conclusion: We established a glycolysis-related gene signature for OS in HCC that was predictive in training and test TCGA cohorts and correlated with the characteristics of the HCC tumor immune microenvironment. The glycolysis-related gene signature may guide clinical decision-making concerning patient selection for immunotherapy in HCC.

Regulation of Hippo signaling by metabolic pathways in cancer

Hippo signaling is known to maintain balance between cell proliferation and apoptosis via tight regulation of factors, such as metabolic cues, cell-cell contact, and mechanical cues. Cells directly recognize glucose, lipids, and other metabolic cues and integrate multiple signaling pathways, including Hippo signaling, to adjust their proliferation and apoptosis depending on nutrient conditions. Therefore, the dysregulation of the Hippo signaling pathway can promote tumor initiation and progression. Alteration in metabolic cues is considered a major factor affecting the risk of cancer formation and progression. It has recently been shown that the dysregulation of the Hippo signaling pathway, through diverse routes activated by metabolic cues, can lead to cancer with a poor prognosis. In addition, unique crosstalk between metabolic pathways and Hippo signaling pathways can inhibit the effect of anticancer drugs and promote drug resistance. In this review, we describe an integrated perspective of the relationship between the Hippo signaling pathway and metabolic signals in the context of cancer. We also characterize the mechanisms involved in changes in metabolism that are linked to the Hippo signaling pathway in the cancer microenvironment and propose several novel targets for anticancer drug treatment.

Dihydroartemisinin reduced lipid droplet deposition by YAP1 to promote the anti-PD-1 effect in hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Anti-PD-1 was used to treat for many cancers, but the overall response rate of monoclonal antibodies blocking the inhibitory PD-1/PD-L1 was less than 20%. Lipid droplet (LD) deposition reduced chemotherapy efficacy, but whether LD deposition affects anti-PD-1 treatment and its mechanism remains unclear. Dihydroartemisinin (DHA) was FDA proved antimalarial medicine, but its working mechanism on LD deposition has not been clarified.

PURPOSE

This study aimed to elucidate the mechanism of DHA reducing LDs deposition and improving the efficacy of anti-PD-1.

METHODS

LD numbers and area were separately detected by electron microscopy and oil Red O staining. The expression of YAP1 and PLIN2 was detected by immunohistochemical staining in liver cancer tissues. Transcription and protein expression levels of YAP1 and PLIN2 in cells were detected by qRT-PCR and Western blot after DHA treated HepG2215 cells and Yap1^LKO mice.

RESULTS

LD accumulation was found in the liver tumor cells of DEN/TOPBCOP-induced liver tumor mice with anti-PD-1 treatment. But DHA treatment or YAP1 knockdown reduced LD deposition and PLIN2 expression in HepG2215 cells. Furthermore, DHA reduced the LD deposition, PLIN2 expression and triglycerides (TG) content in the liver tumor cells of Yap1^LKO mice with liver tumor.

CONCLUSION

Anti-PD-1 promoted LD deposition, while YAP1 knockdown/out reduced LD deposition in HCC. DHA reduced LD deposition by inhibiting YAP1, enhancing the effect of anti-PD-1 therapy.

The cancer-testis lncRNA lnc-CTHCC promotes hepatocellular carcinogenesis by binding hnRNP K and activating YAP1 transcription

Cancer-testis (CT) genes participate in the initiation and progression of cancer, but the role of CT-associated long non-coding RNAs (CT-lncRNAs) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is still elusive. Here, we discovered a conserved CT-lncRNA, named lnc-CTHCC, which was highly expressed in the testes and HCC. A lnc-CTHCC-knockout (KO) mouse model further confirmed that the global loss of lnc-CTHCC inhibited the occurrence and development of HCC. In vitro and in vivo assays also showed that lnc-CTHCC promoted HCC growth and metastasis. Mechanistically, lnc-CTHCC bound to heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein K (hnRNP K), which was recruited to the YAP1 promoter for its activation. Additionally, the N⁶-methyladenosine (m⁶A) modification was mediated by N⁶-adenosine-methyltransferase 70-kDa subunit (METTL3) and recognized by insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding protein 1 (IGF2BP1)/IGF2BP3, which maintained lnc-CTHCC stability and increased its expression in HCC. Together, our results show that lnc-CTHCC directly binds to hnRNP K and promotes hepatocellular carcinogenesis and progression by activating YAP1 transcription, suggesting that lnc-CTHCC is a potential biomarker and therapeutic target of HCC.

8DEstablishment and validation of a hypoxia-related signature predicting prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma

Background

Hypoxia plays a crucial role in immunotherapy of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by changing the tumor microenvironment. Until now the association between hypoxia genes and prognosis of HCC remains obscure. We attempt to construct a hypoxia model to predict the prognosis in HCC.

Results

We screened out 3 hypoxia genes (ENO1, UGP2, TPI1) to make the model, which can predict prognosis in HCC. And this model emerges as an independent prognostic factor for HCC. A Nomogram was drawn to evaluate the overall survival in a more accurate way. Furthermore, immune infiltration state and immunosuppressive microenvironment of the tumor were detected in high-risk patients.

Conclusion

We establish and validate a risk prognostic model developed by 3 hypoxia genes, which could effectively evaluate the prognosis of HCC patients. This prognostic model can be used as a guidance for hypoxia modification in HCC patients undergoing immunotherapy.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12876-021-02057-0.

Canagliflozin Modulates Hypoxia-Induced Metastasis, Angiogenesis and Glycolysis by Decreasing HIF-1α Protein Synthesis via AKT/mTOR Pathway

The microenvironment plays a vital role in tumor progression, and hypoxia is a typical microenvironment feature in nearly all solid tumors. In this study, we focused on elucidating the effect of canagliflozin (CANA), a new class of antidiabetic agents, on hepatocarcinoma (HCC) tumorigenesis under hypoxia, and demonstrated that CANA could significantly inhibit hypoxia-induced metastasis, angiogenesis, and metabolic reprogramming in HCC. At the molecular level, this was accompanied by a reduction in VEGF expression level, as well as a reduction in the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related proteins and glycolysis-related proteins. Next, we focused our study particularly on the modulation of HIF-1α by CANA, which revealed that CANA decreased HIF-1α protein level by inhibiting its synthesis without affecting its proteasomal degradation. Furthermore, the AKT/mTOR pathway, which plays an important role in HIF-1α transcription and translation, was also inhibited by CANA. Thus, it can be concluded that CANA decreased metastasis, angiogenesis, and metabolic reprogramming in HCC by inhibiting HIF-1α protein accumulation, probably by targeting the AKT/mTOR pathway. Based on our results, we propose that CANA should be evaluated as a new treatment modality for liver cancer.

YAP/TAZ Suppress Drug Penetration Into Hepatocellular Carcinoma Through Stromal Activation

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

HCC is the most predominant type of liver cancer affecting 800,000 people globally each year. Various small-molecule compounds targeting diverse oncogenic signaling pathways have been tested for patients with HCC, and clinical outcomes were not satisfactory. In this study, we investigated molecular signaling that determines the efficiency of drug delivery into HCC.

APPROACH AND RESULTS

Hydrodynamics-based transfection (HT) was performed to develop mouse models for HCC induced by various oncogenes. Mice bearing liver cancer were treated with verteporfin at 5 weeks after HT. Multicellular HCC organoid (MCHO) models were established that contained various types of stromal cells, such as hepatic stellate cells, fibroblasts, and endothelial cells together with HCC cells. Tumor organoids were treated with verteporfin, and distributions of the drug in the organoids were assessed using fluorescence microscopy. Murine HCC models developed by HT methods showed that a high Yes-associated protein/Transcriptional co-activator with PDZ-binding motif (YAP/TAZ) activity in HCC cells impaired verteporfin penetration into the cancer. Activation of tumor stroma was observed in HCC with a high YAP/TAZ activity. Consistent with the findings in the in vivo models of HCC, MCHOs with activated YAP/TAZ signaling showed stromal activation and impaired penetration of verteporfin into the tumor organoids. Inhibition of YAP/TAZ transcriptional activity in HCC cells significantly increased drug penetration into the MCHO.

CONCLUSIONS

Drug delivery into liver cancer is impaired by YAP/TAZ signaling in tumor cells and subsequent activation of stroma by the signaling. Disrupting or targeting activated tumor stroma might improve drug delivery into HCC with an elevated YAP/TAZ activity.

Pharmacological inhibition of HDAC1/3-interacting proteins induced morphological changes, and hindered the cell proliferation and migration of hepatocellular carcinoma cells

Liver diseases are particularly severe health problems, but the options available for preventing and treating them remain limited. Accumulating evidence has shown that there is altered expression of individual histone deacetylase (HDAC) family members in hepatocellular carcinoma cells. In a previous study, we have identified a set of proteins which interact with histone deacetylase 1 and 3 (HDAC1/3) in hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines HepG2 by proteomic approach. This study was designed to investigate the therapeutic potential and expression of HDAC1/3-interacting genes in a human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (HepG2). Pharmacological and transcriptional inhibition of HDAC1/3 resulted in the suppression of cancer cell proliferation, change of cell morphology, and downregulation of HDAC1/3 genes in HepG2 cells. The pharmacological inhibition also resulted in inhibition of liver cancer cell migration by wound scratch assay. Taken together, the results from this study show that the upregulation of HDAC1/3 in hepatocellular carcinoma resulted in the overexpression of CNOT1, PFDN2/6, and HMG20B, and that these genes could serve as novel molecular targets in liver cancer.

Discovery of Novel Host Molecular Factors Underlying HBV/HCV Infection

Hepatitis is an inflammatory condition of the liver, which is frequently caused by the infection of hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV). Hepatitis can lead to the development of chronic complications including cancer, making it a major public health burden. Co-infection of HBV and HCV can result in faster disease progression. Therefore, it is important to identify shared genetic susceptibility loci for HBV and HCV infection to further understand the underlying mechanism. Through a meta-analysis based on genome-wide association summary statistics of HBV and HCV infection, we found one novel locus in the Asian population and two novel loci in the European population. By functional annotation based on multi-omics data, we identified the likely target genes at each novel locus, such as HMGB1 and ATF3, which play a critical role in autophagy and immune response to virus. By re-analyzing a microarray dataset from Hmgb1^–/– mice and RNA-seq data from mouse liver tissue overexpressing ATF3, we found that differential expression of autophagy and immune and metabolic gene pathways underlie these conditions. Our study reveals novel common susceptibility loci to HBV and HCV infection, supporting their role in linking autophagy signaling and immune response.

Metabolic landscapes in sarcomas

Metabolic rewiring offers novel therapeutic opportunities in cancer. Until recently, there was scant information regarding soft tissue sarcomas, due to their heterogeneous tissue origin, histological definition and underlying genetic history. Novel large-scale genomic and metabolomics approaches are now helping stratify their physiopathology. In this review, we show how various genetic alterations skew activation pathways and orient metabolic rewiring in sarcomas. We provide an update on the contribution of newly described mechanisms of metabolic regulation. We underscore mechanisms that are relevant to sarcomagenesis or shared with other cancers. We then discuss how diverse metabolic landscapes condition the tumor microenvironment, anti-sarcoma immune responses and prognosis. Finally, we review current attempts to control sarcoma growth using metabolite-targeting drugs.

Yes-associated protein regulates the hepatoprotective effect of vitamin D receptor activation through promoting adaptive bile duct remodeling in cholestatic mice

Mounting clinical evidence has revealed that the vitamin D receptor (VDR) is associated with cholestatic liver injury, although the functions of VDR in this condition remain largely unexplored. Here, we investigated the effects of VDR activation on bile duct ligation (BDL) mice, and the underlying mechanisms were further investigated. A low-calcemic VDR agonist, paricalcitol (PAL, 200 ng/kg), was intraperitoneally injected into BDL mice every other day for 5 days or 28 days. Liver histology, liver function indicators, cholangiocyte proliferation, fibrosis scores, and inflammation were evaluated. Mice treated with PAL were rescued from the decreased survival rate induced by BDL and liver damage was reduced. Mechanistically, PAL promoted cholangiocyte proliferation, which was likely conducive to proliferating bile duct maturation and increased branching of bile ducts. PAL treatment also increased the expression of Yes-associated protein (YAP) and its target protein epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCam) and decreased the level of inactive cytoplasmic phosphorylated YAP. YAP knockdown abrogated PAL-induced primary bile duct epithelial cell proliferation, confirmed with YAP inhibitor administration. In addition, BDL-induced liver fibrosis and inflammatory cell infiltration were reduced by PAL treatment at both day 5 and day 28 post-BDL. In conclusion, VDR activation mitigates cholestatic liver injury by promoting adaptive bile duct remodeling through cholangiocytic YAP upregulation. Because PAL is an approved clinical drug, it may be useful for treatment of cholestatic liver disease. © 2021 The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

HBXIP accelerates glycolysis and promotes cancer angiogenesis via AKT/mTOR pathway in bladder cancer

Abnormal metabolism and uncontrolled angiogenesis are two important characteristics of malignant tumors. Although HBXIP is known to be associated with a poor prognosis for bladder cancer (BC), its effects on glycolysis and angiogenesis in BC have not been investigated. BC prognosis and relative gene expression of HBXIP were analyzed using the GEPIA, UALCAN, and STRING databases. BC cell angiogenesis and glycolysis were assessed by vasculogenic mimicry and glycolysis assay. Human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) viability, migration, and angiogenesis were assessed by CCK8, transwell, wound healing, and tube formation assays. The results showed that HBXIP was highly expressed in BC tissues and cells. Knockdown of HBXIP expression decreased the levels of glucose uptake, lactate production, and glycolytic enzyme expression in BC cells, and decreased cell viability and migration of HUVECs. Additionally, silencing HBXIP reduced the total length of tubes and number of intersections, and EPO and VEGF protein expression in BC cells and HUVECs. Furthermore, knockdown of HBXIP expression reversed cell viability, migration, tube formation, and vasculogenic mimicry under high glucose and lactate conditions. Mechanistically, silencing of HBXIP reduced the protein expression levels of pAKT-ser473 and pmTOR, and inhibition of HBXIP, AKT, and mTOR expression decreased glycolytic enzyme protein expression. Our findings suggest that HBXIP reduces glycolysis in BC cells via regulation of AKT/mTOR signaling, thereby blocking BC angiogenesis. Collectively, this study provides a potential strategy to target HBXIP and AKT/mTOR for regulating glycolysis progression concurrently with anti-angiogenesis effects, and thereby develop novel therapeutics for the treatment of BC.

Research progress in role of Hippo signaling pathway in diagnosis and treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumor worldwide, with high incidence and mortality. However, the exact mechanisms leading to HCC development remain unclear. The cores of the Hippo signaling pathway consist of a kinase cascade to transmit signals, which inhibits the transcriptional coactivator translocate into the nucleus and reduces the transcription of downstream proliferation-related genes. Hippo signaling pathway regulates liver development and regeneration after liver resection, and it is also related to the occurrence of HCC. The Hippo pathway regulates proliferation, apoptosis, metastasis, autophagy, metabolic reprogramming of HCC cells, affects the tumor immune microenvironment, and participates multiple-drug resistance. Further study on the role of Hippo signaling pathway in HCC is important to develop new therapeutic targets.

The Hippo Pathway: A Master Regulatory Network Important in Cancer

The Hippo pathway is pervasively activated and has been well recognized to play critical roles in human cancer. The deregulation of Hippo signaling involved in cancer development, progression, and resistance to cancer treatment have been confirmed in several human cancers. Its biological significance and deregulation in cancer have drawn increasing interest in the past few years. A fundamental understanding of the complexity of the Hippo pathway in cancer is crucial for improving future clinical interventions and therapy for cancers. In this review, we try to clarify the complex regulation and function of the Hippo signaling network in cancer development, including its role in signal transduction, metabolic regulation, and tumor development, as well as tumor therapies targeting the Hippo pathway.

In Situ Vaccination as a Strategy to Modulate the Immune Microenvironment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) is a highly prevalent malignancy that develops in patients with chronic liver diseases and dysregulated systemic and hepatic immunity. The tumor microenvironment (TME) contains tumor-associated macrophages (TAM), cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF), regulatory T cells (Treg) and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) and is central to mediating immune evasion and resistance to therapy. The interplay between these cells types often leads to insufficient antigen presentation, preventing effective anti-tumor immune responses. In situ vaccines harness the tumor as the source of antigens and implement sequential immunomodulation to generate systemic and lasting antitumor immunity. Thus, in situ vaccines hold the promise to induce a switch from an immunosuppressive environment where HCC cells evade antigen presentation and suppress T cell responses towards an immunostimulatory environment enriched for activated cytotoxic cells. Pivotal steps of in situ vaccination include the induction of immunogenic cell death of tumor cells, a recruitment of antigen-presenting cells with a focus on dendritic cells, their loading and maturation and a subsequent cross-priming of CD8+ T cells to ensure cytotoxic activity against tumor cells. Several in situ vaccine approaches have been suggested, with vaccine regimens including oncolytic viruses, Flt3L, GM-CSF and TLR agonists. Moreover, combinations with checkpoint inhibitors have been suggested in HCC and other tumor entities. This review will give an overview of various in situ vaccine strategies for HCC, highlighting the potentials and pitfalls of in situ vaccines to treat liver cancer.

Downregulation of high mobility group box 1 enhances the radiosensitivity of non-small cell lung cancer by acting as a crucial target of microRNA-107

High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) has been reported to regulate the sensitivity of several types of cancer cell to chemoradiotherapy. The present study aimed to investigate the changes in HMGB1 expression after radiotherapy, as well as its regulatory role in the radiosensitivity of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells. The expression levels of HMGB1 in the serum of 73 patients with NSCLC were analyzed by ELISA. HMGB1 mRNA and microRNA (miR)-107 expression in NSCLC cells were assessed using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was used to evaluate the diagnostic value of HMGB1. Cell counting kit-8, Transwell invasion and clonogenic assays were used to determine cellular viability, invasiveness and colony formation ability, respectively. Following radiotherapy, the levels of HMGB1 were significantly decreased in the serum of patients with NSCLC, and lower serum levels had relatively high diagnostic accuracy in radiosensitive patients. Furthermore, HMGB1-knockdown retarded cellular proliferation and invasion with or without irradiation, and enhanced NSCLC cell radiosensitivity. Furthermore, knocking down miR-107 reversed the decreases in cellular proliferation and invasiveness both with and without irradiation, and reduced the survival fractions induced by sh-HMGB1. HMGB1-knockdown leads to radiosensitivity that may result from suppression of the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/NF-κB signaling pathway. Collectively, decreased expression of HMGB1 was found to be a putative diagnostic predictor of radiosensitivity in patients with NSCLC. HMGB1-knockdown inhibited the proliferation and enhanced the radiosensitivity of NSCLC cells, which may be regulated via miR-107 by mediating the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway. Thus, HMGB1 may be a potential regulator of radioresistance in NSCLC, and the HMGB1/miR-107 axis may represent a promising therapeutic target.

Identification of Prognostic Glycolysis-Related lncRNA Signature in Tumor Immune Microenvironment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to construct a novel risk scoring model with prognostic value that could elucidate tumor immune microenvironment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Samples and methods: Data were obtained through The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Univariate Cox analysis, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) analysis, and multivariate Cox analysis were carried out to screen for glycolysis-related long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) that could provide prognostic value. Finally, we established a risk score model to describe the characteristics of the model and verify its prediction accuracy. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves of 1, 3, and 5 years of overall survival (OS) were depicted with risk score and some clinical features. ESTIMATE algorithm, single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA), and CIBERSORT analysis were employed to reveal the characteristics of tumor immune microenvironment in HCC. The nomogram was drawn by screening indicators with high prognostic accuracy. The correlation of risk signature with immune infiltration and immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy was analyzed. After enrichment of related genes, active behaviors and pathways in high-risk groups were identified and lncRNAs related to poor prognosis were validated in vitro. Finally, the impact of MIR4435-2HG upon ICB treatment was uncovered.

Results: After screening through multiple steps, four glycolysis-related lncRNAs were obtained. The risk score constructed with the four lncRNAs was found to significantly correlate with prognosis of samples. From the ROC curve of samples with 1, 3, and 5 years of OS, two indicators were identified with high prognostic accuracy and were used to draw a nomogram. Besides, the risk score significantly correlated with immune score, immune-related signature, infiltrating immune cells (i.e. B cells, etc.), and ICB key molecules (i.e. CTLA4,etc.). Gene enrichment analysis indicated that multiple biological behaviors and pathways were active in the high-risk group. In vitro validation results showed that MIR4435-2HG was highly expressed in the two cell lines, which had a significant impact on the OS of samples. Finally, we corroborated that MIR4435-2HG had intimate relationship with ICB therapy in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Conclusion: We elucidated the crucial role of risk signature in immune cell infiltration and immunotherapy, which might contribute to clinical strategies and clinical outcome prediction of HCC.

YAP promotes autophagy and progression of gliomas via upregulating HMGB1

BACKGROUND

Due to the hypoxia and nutrient deficiency microenvironment, glioblastoma (GBM) exhibits high autophagy activity and autophagy plays an important role in the progression of GBM. However, the molecular mechanism of autophagy in GBM progression remains unclear. The aim of this study is to delve out the role and mechanism of yes-associated protein (YAP) in GBM autophagy and progression.

METHODS

The level of autophagy or autophagy flux were assessed by using western blotting, GFP-LC3 puncta (Live) imaging, transmission electron microscopy and GFP-RFP-LC3 assay. The GBM progression was detected by using CCK8, EdU, nude mouse xenograft and Ki67 staining. Isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification (iTraq) quantitative proteomics was used to find out the mediator of YAP in autophagy. Expression levels of YAP and HMGB1 in tissue samples from GBM patients were examined by Western blotting, tissue microarray and immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

YAP over-expression enhanced glioma cell autophagy under basal and induced conditions. In addition, blocking autophagy by chloroquine abolished the promoting effect of YAP on glioma growth. Mechanistically, YAP over-expression promoted the transcription and translocation of high mobility group box 1(HMGB1), a well-known regulator of autophagy, from nucleus to cytoplasm. Down-regulation of HMGB1 abolished the promoting effect of YAP on autophagy and glioma growth. Furthermore, the expression of YAP and HMGB1 were positively associated with each other and suggested poor prognosis for clinical GBM.

CONCLUSION

YAP promoted glioma progression by enhancing HMGB1-mediated autophagy, indicating that YAP-HMGB1 axis was a feasible therapeutic target for GBM. Our study revealed a clinical opportunity involving the combination of chemo-radiotherapy with pharmacological autophagy inhibition for treating GBM patients with YAP high expression.

Peripheral Blood Genetic Biomarkers for the Early Diagnosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide and has high mortality. Biomarkers related to HCC, such as alpha-fetoprotein, and imaging technology, such as ultrasound and computed tomography, have been used to screen and monitor HCC, but HCC is still difficult to diagnose effectively in the early stage due to the low sensitivity of the above mentioned traditional methods. There is an urgent need for noninvasive biomarkers to facilitate the screening and early diagnosis of HCC. With the advancement of next-generation sequencing, genetic biomarkers are becoming the core of cancer diagnosis. Genetic biomarkers such as peripheral blood circulating tumor DNA, microRNAs, long noncoding RNAs, circular RNAs, and exosomes have become the focus of early HCC diagnostics. HCC genetic biomarkers have been implemented in clinical practice. In this review, we describe the available literature on peripheral blood genetic biomarkers in the diagnosis of early HCC.

YAP and TAZ Mediators at the Crossroad between Metabolic and Cellular Reprogramming

Cell reprogramming can either refer to a direct conversion of a specialized cell into another or to a reversal of a somatic cell into an induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC). It implies a peculiar modification of the epigenetic asset and gene regulatory networks needed for a new cell, to better fit the new phenotype of the incoming cell type. Cellular reprogramming also implies a metabolic rearrangement, similar to that observed upon tumorigenesis, with a transition from oxidative phosphorylation to aerobic glycolysis. The induction of a reprogramming process requires a nexus of signaling pathways, mixing a range of local and systemic information, and accumulating evidence points to the crucial role exerted by the Hippo pathway components Yes-Associated Protein (YAP) and Transcriptional Co-activator with PDZ-binding Motif (TAZ). In this review, we will first provide a synopsis of the Hippo pathway and its function during reprogramming and tissue regeneration, then we introduce the latest knowledge on the interplay between YAP/TAZ and metabolism and, finally, we discuss the possible role of YAP/TAZ in the orchestration of the metabolic switch upon cellular reprogramming.

Inhibition of HMGB1 Suppresses Hepatocellular Carcinoma Progression via HIPK2-Mediated Autophagic Degradation of ZEB1

Autophagy is a conserved catabolic process maintaining cellular homeostasis and reportedly plays a critical role in tumor progression. Accumulating data show that autophagic activity is inhibited in hepatocellular carcinoma. However, the underlying molecular basis of impaired autophagy in HCC remains unclear. In this study, we revealed that autophagic activity was suppressed by HMGB1 in a HIPK2-dependent way. Targeting HMGB1 could inhibit the degradation of HIPK2, as a result of which, autophagic degradation of ZEB1 was enhanced by reprogramming glucose metabolism/AMPK/mTOR axis. Moreover, we demonstrated that selectively degradation of ZEB1 was responsible for HCC growth inhibition in HMGB1 deficient cells. Lastly, we found the combination therapy of HMGB1 inhibitor and rapamycin achieved a better anti-HCC effect. These results demonstrate that impaired autophagy is controlled by HMGB1 and targeting HMGB1 could suppress HCC progression via HIPK2-mediated autophagic degradation of ZEB1.

A triple-drug nanotherapy to target breast cancer cells, cancer stem cells, and tumor vasculature

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive subtype of breast cancer, accounting for the majority of breast cancer-related death. Due to the lack of specific therapeutic targets, chemotherapeutic agents (e.g., paclitaxel) remain the mainstay of systemic treatment, but enrich a subpopulation of cells with tumor-initiating capacity and stem-like characteristics called cancer stem cells (CSCs); thus development of a new and effective strategy for TNBC treatment is an unmet medical need. Cancer nanomedicine has transformed the landscape of cancer drug development, allowing for a high therapeutic index. In this study, we developed a new therapy by co-encapsulating clinically approved drugs, such as paclitaxel, verteporfin, and combretastatin (CA4) in polymer-lipid hybrid nanoparticles (NPs) made of FDA-approved biomaterials. Verteporfin is a drug used in the treatment of macular degeneration and has recently been found to inhibit the Hippo/YAP (Yes-associated protein) pathway, which is known to promote the progression of breast cancer and the development of CSCs. CA4 is a vascular disrupting agent and has been tested in phase II/III of clinical trials. We found that our new three drug-NP not only effectively inhibited TNBC cell viability and cell migration, but also significantly diminished paclitaxel-induced and/or CA4-induced CSC enrichment in TNBC cells, partially through inhibiting the upregulated Hippo/YAP signaling. Combination of verteporfin and CA4 was also more effective in suppressing angiogenesis in an in vivo zebrafish model than single drug alone. The efficacy and application potential of our triple drug-NPs were further assessed by using clinically relevant patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models. Triple drug-NP effectively inhibited the viability of PDX organotypic slide cultures ex vivo and stopped the growth of PDX tumors in vivo. This study developed an approach capable of simultaneously inhibiting bulk cancer cells, CSCs, and angiogenesis.

Hepatitis B virus P protein initiates glycolytic bypass in HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma via a FOXO3/miRNA-30b-5p/MINPP1 axis

Background

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a crucial risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, its underlying mechanism remains understudied.

Methods

Microarray analysis was conducted to compare the genes and miRNAs in liver tissue from HBV-positive and HBV-negative HCC patients. Biological functions of these biomarkers in HBV-related HCC were validated via in vitro and in vivo experiments. Furthermore, we investigated the effect of HBV on the proliferation and migration of tumor cells in HBV-positive HCC tissue. Bioinformatics analysis was then performed to validate the clinical value of the biomarkers in a large HCC cohort.

Results

We found that a gene, MINPP1 from the glycolytic bypass metabolic pathway, has an important biological function in the development of HBV-positive HCC. MINPP1 is down-regulated in HBV-positive HCC and could inhibit the proliferation and migration of the tumor cells. Meanwhile, miRNA-30b-5p was found to be a stimulator for the proliferation of tumor cell through glycolytic bypass in HBV-positive HCC. More importantly, miRNA-30b-5p could significantly downregulate MINPP1 expression. Metabolic experiments showed that the miRNA-30b-5p/MINPP1 axis is able to accelerate the conversion of glucose to lactate and 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate (2,3-BPG). In the HBV-negative HCC cells, miRNA-30b-5p/MINPP1 could not regulate the glycolytic bypass to promote the tumorigenesis. However, once HBV was introduced into these cells, miRNA-30b-5p/MINPP1 significantly enhanced the proliferation, migration of tumor cells, and promoted the glycolytic bypass. We further revealed that HBV infection promoted the expression of miRNA-30b-5p through the interaction of HBV protein P (HBp) with FOXO3. Bioinformatics analysis on a large cohort dataset showed that high expression of MINPP1 was associated with favorable survival of HBV-positive HCC patients, which could lead to a slower progress of this disease.

Conclusion

Our study found that the HBp/FOXO3/miRNA-30b-5p/MINPP1 axis contributes to the development of HBV-positive HCC cells through the glycolytic bypass. We also presented miRNA-30b-5p/MINPP1 as a novel biomarker for HBV-positive HCC early diagnosis and a potential pharmaceutical target for antitumor therapy.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13046-020-01803-8.

HN1L promotes migration and invasion of breast cancer by up-regulating the expression of HMGB1

Recent reports showed that haematological and neurological expressed 1-like (HN1L) gene participated in tumorigenesis and tumour invasion. However, the expression and role of HN1L in breast cancer remain to be investigated. Here, bioinformatics, western blot and immunohistochemistry were used to detect the expression of HN1L in breast cancer. Wound healing, transwell assay, immunofluorescence assay and mass spectrum were used to explore the role and mechanism of HN1L on the migration and invasion of breast cancer, which was confirmed in vivo using a nude mice model. Results showed that HN1L was significantly over-expressed in breast cancer tissues, which was positively correlated with M metastasis of breast cancer patients. Silencing HN1L significantly inhibited the invasion and metastasis of breast cancer cells in vitro and lung metastasis in nude mice metastasis model of breast cancer. Mechanistically, HN1L interacted with HSPA9 and affected the expression of HMGB1, playing a key role in promoting the invasion and metastasis of breast cancer cell. These results suggested that HN1L was an appealing drug target for breast cancer.

Emerging role of the Hippo pathway in autophagy

Autophagy is a dynamic circulatory system that occurs in all eukaryotic cells. Cytoplasmic material is transported to lysosomes for degradation and recovery through autophagy. This provides energy and macromolecular precursors for cell renewal and homeostasis. The Hippo-YAP pathway has significant biological properties in controlling organ size, tissue homeostasis, and regeneration. Recently, the Hippo-YAP axis has been extensively referred to as the pathophysiological processes regulating autophagy. Understanding the cellular and molecular basis of these processes is crucial for identifying disease pathogenesis and novel therapeutic targets. Here we review recent findings from Drosophila models to organisms. We particularly emphasize the regulation between Hippo core components and autophagy, which is involved in normal cellular regulation and the pathogenesis of human diseases, and its application to disease treatment.