1
|
Wang J, Yang K, Yang X, Jin T, Tian Y, Dai C, Xu F. HHLA2 promotes hepatoma cell proliferation, migration, and invasion via SPP1/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Mol Carcinog 2024; 63:1275-1287. [PMID: 38578157 DOI: 10.1002/mc.23723] [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: 12/01/2023] [Revised: 03/02/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) stands as one of the most malignant tumors characterized by poor prognosis and high mortality rates. Emerging evidence underscores the crucial role of the B7 protein family in various cancers, including HCC. However, the involvement of the human endogenous retrovirus H long-terminal repeat-associated protein 2 (HHLA2, or B7-H5) in HCC remains unclear. Immunohistochemistry was employed to assess the differential expression of HHLA2 between HCC and normal liver tissues. A battery of assays, including CCK8, EdU, tablet clone-forming, Transwell, and wound healing assays, were conducted to elucidate the function and potential mechanisms of HHLA2 in the malignant biological behaviors of HCC. Additionally, a xenograft mouse model was established to evaluate the tumorigenicity of hepatoma cell lines exhibiting different HHLA2 expression levels in vivo. Western blot analysis was used to analyze HHLA2, secretory phosphoprotein 1 (SPP1), and PI3K/AKT/mTOR levels. HHLA2 exhibited elevated expression in HCC tissues, correlating with poor tumor differentiation and shortened overall survival in HCC patients. In vitro experiments demonstrated that HHLA2 overexpression (OE) promoted the proliferation, migration, and invasion of hepatoma cells, while in vivo experiments revealed that HHLA2 OE enhanced HCC tumor growth. Conversely, inhibition of HHLA2 expression yielded the opposite effect. Downregulation of SPP1 inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion induced by HHLA2 OE, and this effect was linked to the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. Our findings indicate that HHLA2 promotes the proliferation, migration, and invasion of hepatoma cells via the SPP1/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, establishing it as a potential therapeutic target for HCC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Junqi Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Ke Yang
- Department of Tradition Chinese Medicine, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Xin Yang
- Department of General Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Tianqiang Jin
- Department of General Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Yu Tian
- Department of General Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Chaoliu Dai
- Department of General Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Feng Xu
- Department of General Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Rafaqat S, Radoman Vujacic I, Behnoush AH, Sharif S, Klisic A. Role of Cardiac Biomarkers in Hepatic Disorders: A Literature Review. Metab Syndr Relat Disord 2024; 22:251-262. [PMID: 38377607 DOI: 10.1089/met.2023.0282] [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] [Indexed: 02/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Various studies have reported the association between cardiac markers and hepatic disorders. The main objective of this review article was to elucidate the significance of important cardiac indicators such as ischemia-modified albumin, cardiac troponin, cardiac natriuretic peptides, creatine kinase, creatine kinase-MB, lactate dehydrogenase, heart-type fatty acid-binding protein, osteopontin, soluble suppression of tumorigenicity 2, C-reactive protein, and lipoprotein(a) in the development of hepatic disorders. In addition, it highlighted recent notable discoveries and accomplishments in this field and identified areas requiring further investigation, ongoing discussions, and potential avenues for future research. Early identification and control of these cardiac markers might be helpful to control the prevalence of hepatic disorders associated with cardiovascular diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Saira Rafaqat
- Department of Zoology (Molecular Physiology), Lahore College for Women University, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Irena Radoman Vujacic
- Department of Internal Medicine, Clinical Center of Montenegro, University of Montenegro-Faculty of Medicine, Podgorica, Montenegro
| | | | - Saima Sharif
- Department of Zoology (Molecular Physiology), Lahore College for Women University, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Aleksandra Klisic
- University of Montenegro-Faculty of Medicine, Podgorica, Montenegro
- Center for Laboratory Diagnostics, Primary Health Care Center, Podgorica, Montenegro
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Wei H, Li W, Yang M, Fang Q, Nian J, Huang Y, Wei Q, Huang Z, Liu G, Xu Z, Hu A, Pu J. METTL3/16-mediated m 6A modification of ZNNT1 promotes hepatocellular carcinoma progression by activating ZNNT1/osteopontin/S100A9 positive feedback loop-mediated crosstalk between macrophages and tumour cells. Clin Immunol 2024; 261:109924. [PMID: 38310994 DOI: 10.1016/j.clim.2024.109924] [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] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/06/2024]
Abstract
Macrophages are the major components of tumour microenvironment, which play critical roles in tumour development. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) also contributes to tumour progression. However, the potential roles of m6A in modulating macrophages in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are poorly understood. Here, we identified ZNNT1 as an HCC-related m6A modification target, which was upregulated and associated with poor prognosis of HCC. METTL3 and METTL16-mediated m6A modification contributed to ZNNT1 upregulation through stabilizing ZNNT1 transcript. ZNNT1 exerted oncogenic roles in HCC. Furthermore, ZNNT1 recruited and induced M2 polarization of macrophages via up-regulating osteopontin (OPN) expression and secretion. M2 Macrophages-recruited by ZNNT1-overexpressed HCC cells secreted S100A9, which further upregulated ZNNT1 expression in HCC cells via AGER/NF-κB signaling. Thus, this study demonstrates that m6A modification activated the ZNNT1/OPN/S100A9 positive feedback loop, which promoted macrophages recruitment and M2 polarization, and enhanced malignant features of HCC cells. m6A modification-triggered ZNNT1/OPN/S100A9 feedback loop represents potential therapeutic target for HCC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Huamei Wei
- Department of Pathology, Affiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise, China
| | - Wenchuan Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise, China
| | - Meng Yang
- Graduate College of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise, China
| | - Quan Fang
- Graduate College of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise, China
| | - Jiahui Nian
- Graduate College of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise, China
| | - Youguan Huang
- Graduate College of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise, China
| | - Qing Wei
- Graduate College of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise, China
| | - Zihua Huang
- Graduate College of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise, China
| | - Guoman Liu
- Graduate College of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise, China
| | - Zuoming Xu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise, China
| | - Anbin Hu
- Department of Organ Transplantation, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jian Pu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise, China; The Guangxi Clinical Medical Research Center for Hepatobiliary Diseases, No. 18 Zhongshan two Road, Baise 533000, China.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Han H, Ge X, Komakula SSB, Desert R, Das S, Song Z, Chen W, Athavale D, Gaskell H, Lantvit D, Guzman G, Nieto N. Macrophage-derived Osteopontin (SPP1) Protects From Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis. Gastroenterology 2023; 165:201-217. [PMID: 37028770 PMCID: PMC10986640 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2023.03.228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is characterized by steatosis, lobular inflammation, hepatocyte ballooning degeneration, and fibrosis, all of which increase the risk of progression to end-stage liver disease. Osteopontin (OPN, SPP1) plays an important role in macrophage (MF) biology, but whether MF-derived OPN affects NASH progression is unknown. METHODS We analyzed publicly available transcriptomic datasets from patients with NASH, and used mice with conditional overexpression or ablation of Spp1 in myeloid cells and liver MFs, and fed them a high-fat, fructose, and cholesterol diet mimicking the Western diet, to induce NASH. RESULTS This study demonstrated that MFs with high expression of SPP1 are enriched in patients and mice with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and show metabolic but not pro-inflammatory properties. Conditional knockin of Spp1 in myeloid cells (Spp1KI Mye) or in hepatic macrophages (Spp1KI LvMF) conferred protection, whereas conditional knockout of Spp1 in myeloid cells (Spp1ΔMye) worsened NASH. The protective effect was mediated by induction of arginase-2 (ARG2), which enhanced fatty acid oxidation (FAO) in hepatocytes. Induction of ARG2 stemmed from enhanced production of oncostatin-M (OSM) in MFs from Spp1KI Mye mice. OSM activated STAT3 signaling, which upregulated ARG2. In addition to hepatic effects, Spp1KI Mye also protected through sex-specific extrahepatic mechanisms. CONCLUSION MF-derived OPN protects from NASH, by upregulating OSM, which increases ARG2 through STAT3 signaling. Further, the ARG2-mediated increase in FAO reduces steatosis. Therefore, enhancing the OPN-OSM-ARG2 crosstalk between MFs and hepatocytes may be beneficial for patients with NASH.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hui Han
- Department of Pathology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Xiaodong Ge
- Department of Pathology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | | | - Romain Desert
- Department of Pathology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Sukanta Das
- Department of Pathology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Zhuolun Song
- Department of Pathology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Wei Chen
- Department of Pathology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Dipti Athavale
- Department of Pathology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Harriet Gaskell
- Department of Pathology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Daniel Lantvit
- Department of Pathology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Grace Guzman
- Department of Pathology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Natalia Nieto
- Department of Pathology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois; Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Niu ZS, Wang WH, Niu XJ. Recent progress in molecular mechanisms of postoperative recurrence and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma. World J Gastroenterol 2022; 28:6433-6477. [PMID: 36569275 PMCID: PMC9782839 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v28.i46.6433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2022] [Revised: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatectomy is currently considered the most effective option for treating patients with early and intermediate hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Unfortunately, the postoperative prognosis of patients with HCC remains unsatisfactory, predominantly because of high postoperative metastasis and recurrence rates. Therefore, research on the molecular mechanisms of postoperative HCC metastasis and recurrence will help develop effective intervention measures to prevent or delay HCC metastasis and recurrence and to improve the long-term survival of HCC patients. Herein, we review the latest research progress on the molecular mechanisms underlying postoperative HCC metastasis and recurrence to lay a foundation for improving the understanding of HCC metastasis and recurrence and for developing more precise prevention and intervention strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhao-Shan Niu
- Laboratory of Micromorphology, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, Shandong Province, China
| | - Wen-Hong Wang
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, Shandong Province, China
| | - Xiao-Jun Niu
- Department of Internal Medicine, Qingdao Shibei District People's Hospital, Qingdao 266033, Shandong Province, China
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Schlosser S, Tümen D, Volz B, Neumeyer K, Egler N, Kunst C, Tews HC, Schmid S, Kandulski A, Müller M, Gülow K. HCC biomarkers - state of the old and outlook to future promising biomarkers and their potential in everyday clinical practice. Front Oncol 2022; 12:1016952. [PMID: 36518320 PMCID: PMC9742592 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.1016952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common and deadly tumors worldwide. Management of HCC depends on reliable biomarkers for screening, diagnosis, and monitoring of the disease, as well as predicting response towards therapy and safety. To date, imaging has been the established standard technique in the diagnosis and follow-up of HCC. However, imaging techniques have their limitations, especially in the early detection of HCC. Therefore, there is an urgent need for reliable, non/minimal invasive biomarkers. To date, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is the only serum biomarker used in clinical practice for the management of HCC. However, AFP is of relatively rather low quality in terms of specificity and sensitivity. Liquid biopsies as a source for biomarkers have become the focus of clinical research. Our review highlights alternative biomarkers derived from liquid biopsies, including circulating tumor cells, proteins, circulating nucleic acids, and exosomes, and their potential for clinical application. Using defined combinations of different biomarkers will open new perspectives for diagnosing, treating, and monitoring HCC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Karsten Gülow
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology, Rheumatology, and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|