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Nishikawa Y. Aberrant differentiation and proliferation of hepatocytes in chronic liver injury and liver tumors. Pathol Int 2024; 74:361-378. [PMID: 38837539 DOI: 10.1111/pin.13441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2024] [Revised: 04/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
Chronic liver injury induces liver cirrhosis and facilitates hepatocarcinogenesis. However, the effects of this condition on hepatocyte proliferation and differentiation are unclear. We showed that rodent hepatocytes display a ductular phenotype when they are cultured within a collagenous matrix. This process involves transdifferentiation without the emergence of hepatoblastic features and is at least partially reversible. During the ductular reaction in chronic liver diseases with progressive fibrosis, some hepatocytes, especially those adjacent to ectopic ductules, demonstrate ductular transdifferentiation, but the majority of increased ductules originate from the existing bile ductular system that undergoes extensive remodeling. In chronic injury, hepatocyte proliferation is weak but sustained, and most regenerative nodules in liver cirrhosis are composed of clonally proliferating hepatocytes, suggesting that a small fraction of hepatocytes maintain their proliferative capacity in chronic injury. In mouse hepatocarcinogenesis models, hepatocytes activate the expression of various fetal/neonatal genes, indicating that these cells undergo dedifferentiation. Hepatocyte-specific somatic integration of various oncogenes in mice demonstrated that hepatocytes may be the cells of origin for a broad spectrum of liver tumors through transdifferentiation and dedifferentiation. In conclusion, the phenotypic plasticity and heterogeneity of mature hepatocytes are important for understanding the pathogenesis of chronic liver diseases and liver tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuji Nishikawa
- President's Office, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Hokkaido, Japan
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Ando Y, Munetsuna E, Yamada H, Ikeya M, Teshigawara A, Kageyama I, Nouchi Y, Wakasugi T, Yamazaki M, Mizuno G, Tsuboi Y, Ishikawa H, Ohgami N, Suzuki K, Ohashi K. Impact of maternal fructose intake on liver stem/progenitor cells in offspring: Insights into developmental origins of health and disease. Life Sci 2024; 336:122315. [PMID: 38035994 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2023.122315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
AIMS The developmental origin of health and disease (DOHaD) theory postulates that poor nutrition during fetal life increases the risk of disease later in life. Excessive fructose intake has been associated with obesity, diabetes, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and maternal fructose intake during pregnancy has been shown to affect offspring health. In this study, we investigated the effects of high maternal fructose intake on the liver stem/progenitor cells of offspring. MAIN METHOD A fructose-based DOHaD model was established using Sprague-Dawley rats. Small hepatocytes (SHs), which play an important role in liver development and regeneration, were isolated from the offspring of dams that were fed a high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) diet. The gene expression and DNA methylation patterns were analyzed on postnatal day (PD) 21 and 60. KEY FINDINGS Maternal HFCS intake did not affect body weight or caloric intake, but differences in gene expression and DNA methylation patterns were observed in the SHs of offspring. Functional analysis revealed an association between metabolic processes and ion transport. SIGNIFICANCE These results suggest that maternal fructose intake affects DNA methylation and gene expression in the liver stem/progenitor cells of offspring. Furthermore, the prolonged retention of these changes in gene expression and DNA methylation in adulthood (PD 60) suggests that maternal fructose intake may exert lifelong effects. These findings provide insights into the DOHaD for liver-related disorders and highlight the importance of maternal nutrition for the health of the next generation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshitaka Ando
- Department of Informative Clinical Medicine, Fujita Health University School of Medical Sciences, 1-98 Dengakugakubo, Kutsukake-cho, Toyoake, Aichi 470-1192, Japan
| | - Eiji Munetsuna
- Department of Animal Science and Biotechnology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu University, 1-17-71 Fuchinobe, Chuo-ku, Sagamihara-shi, Kanagawa 252-5201, Japan
| | - Hiroya Yamada
- Department of Hygiene, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, 1-98 Dengakugakubo, Kutsukake-cho, Toyoake, Aichi 470-1192, Japan.
| | - Miyuki Ikeya
- Department of Informative Clinical Medicine, Fujita Health University School of Medical Sciences, 1-98 Dengakugakubo, Kutsukake-cho, Toyoake, Aichi 470-1192, Japan
| | - Atsushi Teshigawara
- Department of Preventive Medical Sciences, Fujita Health University School of Medical Sciences, 1-98 Dengakugakubo, Kutsukake-cho, Toyoake, Aichi 470-1192, Japan
| | - Itsuki Kageyama
- Department of Preventive Medical Sciences, Fujita Health University School of Medical Sciences, 1-98 Dengakugakubo, Kutsukake-cho, Toyoake, Aichi 470-1192, Japan
| | - Yuki Nouchi
- Department of Preventive Medical Sciences, Fujita Health University School of Medical Sciences, 1-98 Dengakugakubo, Kutsukake-cho, Toyoake, Aichi 470-1192, Japan
| | - Takuya Wakasugi
- Department of Hygiene, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, 1-98 Dengakugakubo, Kutsukake-cho, Toyoake, Aichi 470-1192, Japan
| | - Mirai Yamazaki
- Department of Medical Technology, Kagawa Prefectural University of Health Sciences, 281-1 Hara, Mure-cho Takamatsu, Kagawa 761-0123, Japan
| | - Genki Mizuno
- Department of Medical Technology, Tokyo University of Technology School of Health Sciences, 5-23-22 Nishi-Kamata, Ota, Tokyo 144-8535, Japan
| | - Yoshiki Tsuboi
- Department of Preventive Medical Sciences, Fujita Health University School of Medical Sciences, 1-98 Dengakugakubo, Kutsukake-cho, Toyoake, Aichi 470-1192, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Ishikawa
- Department of Informative Clinical Medicine, Fujita Health University School of Medical Sciences, 1-98 Dengakugakubo, Kutsukake-cho, Toyoake, Aichi 470-1192, Japan
| | - Nobutaka Ohgami
- Department of Hygiene, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, 1-98 Dengakugakubo, Kutsukake-cho, Toyoake, Aichi 470-1192, Japan
| | - Koji Suzuki
- Department of Preventive Medical Sciences, Fujita Health University School of Medical Sciences, 1-98 Dengakugakubo, Kutsukake-cho, Toyoake, Aichi 470-1192, Japan
| | - Koji Ohashi
- Department of Informative Clinical Medicine, Fujita Health University School of Medical Sciences, 1-98 Dengakugakubo, Kutsukake-cho, Toyoake, Aichi 470-1192, Japan
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Katzengruber L, Sander P, Laufer S. MKK4 Inhibitors-Recent Development Status and Therapeutic Potential. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24087495. [PMID: 37108658 PMCID: PMC10144091 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24087495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Revised: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
MKK4 (mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 4; also referred to as MEK4) is a dual-specificity protein kinase that phosphorylates and regulates both JNK (c-Jun N-terminal kinase) and p38 MAPK (p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase) signaling pathways and therefore has a great impact on cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. Overexpression of MKK4 has been associated with aggressive cancer types, including metastatic prostate and ovarian cancer and triple-negative breast cancer. In addition, MKK4 has been identified as a key regulator in liver regeneration. Therefore, MKK4 is a promising target both for cancer therapeutics and for the treatment of liver-associated diseases, offering an alternative to liver transplantation. The recent reports on new inhibitors, as well as the formation of a startup company investigating an inhibitor in clinical trials, show the importance and interest of MKK4 in drug discovery. In this review, we highlight the significance of MKK4 in cancer development and other diseases, as well as its unique role in liver regeneration. Furthermore, we present the most recent progress in MKK4 drug discovery and future challenges in the development of MKK4-targeting drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leon Katzengruber
- Department of Pharmaceutical/Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Tuebingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Pascal Sander
- Department of Pharmaceutical/Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Tuebingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Stefan Laufer
- Department of Pharmaceutical/Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Tuebingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence iFIT (EXC 2180) 'Image-Guided & Functionally Instructed Tumor Therapies', Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
- Tübingen Center for Academic Drug Discovery, Auf der Morgenstelle 8, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
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Zhang D, Dai J, Cao Y, Wang Z, Qiao Z, Qiao Z. Nicotine exposure of male mice protects offspring against carbon tetrachloride-induced acute liver injury. J Biochem Mol Toxicol 2022; 36:e23069. [PMID: 35411647 DOI: 10.1002/jbt.23069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Revised: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Paternal nicotine exposure can cause a phenotypic change in offspring. To study whether paternal nicotine exposure influences acute liver injury and repair of the offspring, we established a paternal nicotine exposure model in mice and treated the offspring mice with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4 ) to induce acute liver injury. After the treatment of CCl4 , the levels of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase in offspring serum of paternal nicotine exposed mice are about 37.44%, and 30.21% lower than the control mice, respectively. Transcription profiling screen and bioinformatics analysis of differently expressed genes in F1 mice liver revealed that the Wnt pathway was altered. The results demonstrate that nicotine exposure in male mice could enhance the activation of the Wnt pathway in F1 mice liver. The Wnt pathway facilitates cell proliferation and tissue repair. In conclusion, our findings showed that nicotine exposure of male mice protects hepatic against CCl4 -induced acute injury in offspring by activating the Wnt pathway in the F1 liver.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong Zhang
- School of Life Science and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jingbo Dai
- Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Yong Cao
- School of Life Science and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhaoxia Wang
- School of Life Science and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhiguang Qiao
- Renji Hospital
- South Campus, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhongdong Qiao
- School of Life Science and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
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Abdelgawad MA, Elkanzi NA, Nayl A, Musa A, Hadal Alotaibi N, Arafa W, Gomha SM, Bakr RB. Targeting tumor cells with pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine scaffold: A literature review on synthetic approaches, structure activity relationship, structural and target-based mechanisms. ARAB J CHEM 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.arabjc.2022.103781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
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Castro-Torres RD, Olloquequi J, Etchetto M, Caruana P, Steele L, Leighton KM, Ureña J, Beas-Zarate C, Camins A, Verdaguer E, Auladell C. Dual Mkk4 and Mkk7 Gene Deletion in Adult Mouse Causes an Impairment of Hippocampal Immature Granule Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22179545. [PMID: 34502457 PMCID: PMC8430506 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22179545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2021] [Revised: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: The c-Jun-NH2-terminal protein kinase (JNK) is a mitogen-activated protein kinase involved in regulating physiological processes in the central nervous system. However, the dual genetic deletion of Mkk4 and Mkk7 (upstream activators of JNK) in adult mice is not reported. The aim of this study was to induce the genetic deletion of Mkk4/Mkk7 in adult mice and analyze their effect in hippocampal neurogenesis. (2) Methods: To achieve this goal, Actin-CreERT2 (Cre+/-), Mkk4flox/flox, Mkk7flox/flox mice were created. The administration of tamoxifen in these 2-month-old mice induced the gene deletion (Actin-CreERT2 (Cre+/-), Mkk4∆/∆, Mkk7∆/∆ genotype), which was verified by PCR, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry techniques. (3) Results: The levels of MKK4/MKK7 at 7 and 14 days after tamoxifen administration were not eliminated totally in CNS, unlike what happens in the liver and heart. These data could be correlated with the high levels of these proteins in CNS. In the hippocampus, the deletion of Mkk4/Mkk7 induced a misalignment position of immature hippocampal neurons together with alterations in their dendritic architecture pattern and maturation process jointly to the diminution of JNK phosphorylation. (4) Conclusion: All these data supported that the MKK4/MKK7-JNK pathway has a role in adult neurogenic activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rubén Darío Castro-Torres
- Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Biology Faculty, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (R.D.C.-T.); (P.C.); (L.S.); (K.-M.L.); (J.U.); (E.V.)
- Laboratory of Neurobiotechnology CUCBA, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Universidad de Guadalajara, Jalisco 45200, Mexico;
| | - Jordi Olloquequi
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Pathology, Health Sciences Faculty, Biomedical Sciences Institute, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Talca 3460000, Chile;
| | - Miren Etchetto
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, Pharmacy and Food Sciences Faculty, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (M.E.); (A.C.)
- Centre for Biomedical Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat de Barcelona, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Pablo Caruana
- Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Biology Faculty, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (R.D.C.-T.); (P.C.); (L.S.); (K.-M.L.); (J.U.); (E.V.)
| | - Luke Steele
- Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Biology Faculty, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (R.D.C.-T.); (P.C.); (L.S.); (K.-M.L.); (J.U.); (E.V.)
| | - Kyra-Mae Leighton
- Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Biology Faculty, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (R.D.C.-T.); (P.C.); (L.S.); (K.-M.L.); (J.U.); (E.V.)
| | - Jesús Ureña
- Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Biology Faculty, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (R.D.C.-T.); (P.C.); (L.S.); (K.-M.L.); (J.U.); (E.V.)
- Centre for Biomedical Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat de Barcelona, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carlos Beas-Zarate
- Laboratory of Neurobiotechnology CUCBA, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Universidad de Guadalajara, Jalisco 45200, Mexico;
| | - Antoni Camins
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, Pharmacy and Food Sciences Faculty, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (M.E.); (A.C.)
- Centre for Biomedical Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat de Barcelona, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ester Verdaguer
- Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Biology Faculty, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (R.D.C.-T.); (P.C.); (L.S.); (K.-M.L.); (J.U.); (E.V.)
- Centre for Biomedical Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat de Barcelona, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carme Auladell
- Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Biology Faculty, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (R.D.C.-T.); (P.C.); (L.S.); (K.-M.L.); (J.U.); (E.V.)
- Centre for Biomedical Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Institut de Neurociències, Universitat de Barcelona, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
- Correspondence:
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