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Mo JQ, Zhang SY, Li Q, Chen MX, Zheng YQ, Xie X, Zhang R, Wang SS. Immunomodulation of cuproptosis and ferroptosis in liver cancer. Cancer Cell Int 2024; 24:22. [PMID: 38200525 PMCID: PMC10777659 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-023-03207-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
According to statistics, the incidence of liver cancer is increasing yearly, and effective treatment of liver cancer is imminent. For early liver cancer, resection surgery is currently the most effective treatment. However, resection does not treat the disease in advanced patients, so finding a method with a better prognosis is necessary. In recent years, ferroptosis and cuproptosis have been gradually defined, and related studies have proved that they show excellent results in the therapy of liver cancer. Cuproptosis is a new form of cell death, and the use of cuproptosis combined with ferroptosis to inhibit the production of hepatocellular carcinoma cells has good development prospects and is worthy of in-depth discussion by researchers. In this review, we summarize the research progress on cuproptosis combined with ferroptosis in treating liver cancer, analyze the value of cuproptosis and ferroptosis in the immune of liver cancer, and propose potential pathways in oncotherapy with the combination of cuproptosis and ferroptosis, which can provide background knowledge for subsequent related research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia-Qian Mo
- School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guang Dong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 51006, China
| | - Shen-Yan Zhang
- School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guang Dong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 51006, China
| | - Qiang Li
- School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guang Dong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 51006, China
| | - Mo-Xian Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China and College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, China
| | - Yue-Qing Zheng
- Guang Zhou Zengcheng District Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Guang Dong, 511300, China
| | - Xin Xie
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Shaoxing University, Shaoxing, 312000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Rongxin Zhang
- School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guang Dong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 51006, China.
| | - Shan-Shan Wang
- School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guang Dong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 51006, China.
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Tang H, Li P, Guo X. Ferroptosis-Mediated Immune Microenvironment and Therapeutic Response in Inflammatory Bowel Disease. DNA Cell Biol 2023; 42:720-734. [PMID: 37943983 DOI: 10.1089/dna.2023.0260] [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: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory disorder characterized by dysregulated immune responses in the gastrointestinal tract. One intriguing aspect of IBD is the potential involvement of ferroptosis, but the mechanism remains incompletely understood. In this study, 27 ferroptosis-related genes (FRGs) were identified differentially expressed between IBD and non-IBD control samples. We used CIBERSORT to compare alterations in the mucosal immune microenvironment between the above two group samples, and found that M1 macrophages and neutrophil infiltration increased in IBD. Two clusters based on consensus clustering of 27 FRGs led to significant changes in the abundance of CD4 memory resting T cells, M2 macrophages, and resting mast cells. Subsequently, 23 hub genes were identified, which could distinguish IBD samples into two distinct clusters with noticeable differences in immune therapy response. Furthermore, scRNA sequencing data based on these 23 hub genes uncovered the highest ferroptosis scores in CD8+ T effector memory (Tem) cells, and their expression underwent significant changes along the differentiation trajectory of CD8+ Tem cells. The random forest model identified eight decisive genes, out of which ferroptosis-related hub genes (SEMA3E, SLC46A1, AC092652.1, DACT2, IL17C, and KRTAP5.2) were confirmed by RT-qPCR in the IBD mouse model. This study reveals ferroptosis-mediated immune microenvironment in IBD and provides multiple potential targets for IBD treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiming Tang
- Department of Anorectal Surgery, Shanghai Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Peng Li
- Department of Anorectal Surgery, Shanghai Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiutian Guo
- Department of Anorectal Surgery, Shanghai Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
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Cheng X, Zhao F, Ke B, Chen D, Liu F. Harnessing Ferroptosis to Overcome Drug Resistance in Colorectal Cancer: Promising Therapeutic Approaches. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:5209. [PMID: 37958383 PMCID: PMC10649072 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15215209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Drug resistance remains a significant challenge in the treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC). In recent years, the emerging field of ferroptosis, a unique form of regulated cell death characterized by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation, has offered new insights and potential therapeutic strategies for overcoming drug resistance in CRC. This review examines the role of ferroptosis in CRC and its impact on drug resistance. It highlights the distinctive features and advantages of ferroptosis compared to other cell death pathways, such as apoptosis and necrosis. Furthermore, the review discusses current research advances in the field, including novel treatment approaches that target ferroptosis. These approaches involve the use of ferroptosis inducers, interventions in iron metabolism and lipid peroxidation, and combination therapies to enhance the efficacy of ferroptosis. The review also explores the potential of immunotherapy in modulating ferroptosis as a therapeutic strategy. Additionally, it evaluates the strengths and limitations of targeting ferroptosis, such as its selectivity, low side effects, and potential to overcome resistance, as well as challenges related to treatment specificity and drug development. Looking to the future, this review discusses the prospects of ferroptosis-based therapies in CRC, emphasizing the importance of further research to elucidate the interaction between ferroptosis and drug resistance. It proposes future directions for more effective treatment strategies, including the development of new therapeutic approaches, combination therapies, and integration with emerging fields such as precision medicine. In conclusion, harnessing ferroptosis represents a promising avenue for overcoming drug resistance in CRC. Continued research efforts in this field are crucial for optimizing therapeutic outcomes and providing hope for CRC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofei Cheng
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China; (B.K.); (D.C.)
| | - Feng Zhao
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310030, China;
| | - Bingxin Ke
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China; (B.K.); (D.C.)
| | - Dong Chen
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China; (B.K.); (D.C.)
| | - Fanlong Liu
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China; (B.K.); (D.C.)
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Liang D, Luo L, Wang J, Liu T, Guo C. CENPA-driven STMN1 Transcription Inhibits Ferroptosis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. J Clin Transl Hepatol 2023; 11:1118-1129. [PMID: 37577230 PMCID: PMC10412702 DOI: 10.14218/jcth.2023.00034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/02/2023] [Indexed: 07/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Background and Aims The growing knowledge of ferroptosis has suggested the regulatory role of ferroptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but the pertinent molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Herein, this study investigated the mechanistic basis of ferroptosis-related genes (ferrGenes) in the growth of HCC. Methods Differentially expressed human ferrGenes and tumor-related transcription factors (TFs) were obtained from the The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset and the GTEx dataset. Spearman method-based correlation analysis were conducted to construct TF-ferrGene coexpression regulatory network. Key genes associated with prognosis were singled out with Lasso regression and multivariate Cox analysis to construct the prognostic risk model. Then the accuracy and independent prognostic ability of the model were evaluated. Expression of CENPA and STMN1 was determined in clinical HCC tissues and HCC cells, and their binding was analyzed with dual-luciferase and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays. Furthermore, ectopic expression and knockdown assays were performed in HCC cells to assess the effect of CENPA and STMN1 on ferroptosis and malignant phenotypes. Results The prognostic risk model constructed based on the eight TF-ferrGene regulatory network-related genes accurately predicted the prognosis of HCC patients. It was strongly related to the clinical characteristics of HCC patients. Moreover, CENPA/STMN1 might be a key TF-ferrGene regulatory network in ferroptosis of HCC. CENPA and STMN1 were overexpressed in HCC tissues and cells. Additionally, CENPA facilitated STMN1 transcription by binding to STMN1 promoter, thus facilitating the malignant phenotypes and suppressing the ferroptosis of HCC cells. Conclusions Taken together, CENPA curbs the ferroptosis of HCC cells by upregulating STMN1 transcription, thereby promoting HCC growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daomiao Liang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Normal University (Hunan Provincial People's Hospital), Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Lanzhu Luo
- Children’s Medical Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Normal University (Hunan Provincial People's Hospital), Changsha, Hunan China
| | - Jiang Wang
- Children’s Medical Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Normal University (Hunan Provincial People's Hospital), Changsha, Hunan China
| | - Tongyu Liu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Normal University (Hunan Provincial People's Hospital), Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Chao Guo
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Normal University (Hunan Provincial People's Hospital), Changsha, Hunan, China
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Gao Z, Wang D, Yang J, Li M, Ling C, Lv D, Cao Y, Chen Z, Shi C, Shen H, Tang Y. Iron deficiency in hepatocellular carcinoma cells induced sorafenib resistance by upregulating HIF-1α to inhibit apoptosis. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 163:114750. [PMID: 37087978 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.114750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Revised: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Sorafenib is the first-line therapeutic agent for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but the drug resistance has become a major impediment. Previously we found that the abnormal iron metabolism in HCC led to iron deficiency, whether it induces sorafenib resistance during the treatment of HCC is not yet disclosed. In this study, we observed the effects of iron deficiency on sorafenib resistance and explored the underlying mechanisms. The results revealed that the killing effects of sorafenib on HCC cells were weakened by iron deficiency but effectively restored by iron re-supplementation. The ferroptosis indicators, including the contents of lipid hydroperoxide (LPO) and malondialdehyde (MDA), the level of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), and the expression of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), were not significantly changed by iron deficiency in sorafenib-treated HCC cells. However, the sorafenib-induced apoptosis of HCC cells was inhibited by iron deficiency. Notably, the expression of anti-apoptotic protein B-cell lymphoma-2 (BCL-2) was elevated, and the expressions of other apoptotic proteins, BCL2-associated X (Bax), caspase-3, and caspase-9, were inhibited by iron deficiency. Mechanistically, iron deficiency upregulated hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF-1α) to increase BCL-2. Inhibition of HIF-1α suppressed the iron deficiency-induced BCL-2 and sorafenib resistance. In summary, iron deficiency in HCC cells generated sorafenib resistance by increasing HIF-1α and BCL-2, which therefore inhibited the sorafenib-induced apoptosis of HCC cells. These results identified iron deficiency as a new factor of sorafenib resistance in HCC cells, which would be an effective target to alleviate sorafenib resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zelong Gao
- Department of Nutrition, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Dongyao Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jianxin Yang
- Department of Nutrition, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Min Li
- Department of Nutrition, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Changquan Ling
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Diya Lv
- School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yan Cao
- School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhenyu Chen
- School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ce Shi
- School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hui Shen
- Department of Nutrition, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Yuxiao Tang
- Department of Nutrition, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.
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Wu H, Sun Y, Yang J, Gao Z, Shen H, Li M, Wang D, Tang Y. Iron deficiency downregulates ENPEP to promote angiogenesis in liver tumors. J Nutr Biochem 2023; 117:109357. [PMID: 37085059 DOI: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2023.109357] [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: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/23/2023]
Abstract
The abnormal iron metabolism in liver cancer leads to iron deficiency in tumor tissues. We previously found that iron deficiency promoted liver cancer metastasis, but the mechanisms were not fully understood. In the present study, we identified that the angiogenesis-associated glutamyl aminopeptidase (ENPEP) was consistently decreased in iron-deficient liver tissues, iron-deficient liver tumors, and iron-deprived liver cancer cells. Interestingly, the lower expression of ENPEP was correlated with the poor prognosis of liver cancer patients, while the biomarkers of angiogenesis, CD31 and CD34, were increased in tumor tissues. In vivo imaging of liver-orthotopically implanted and tail vein-injected liver cancer cells showed that iron deficiency increased the pulmonary metastasis of liver cancer. The angiogenesis in iron-deficient tumors was enhanced, and the expression of ENPEP was decreased. Silencing ENPEP expression increased the migration of liver cancer cells and the proliferation of cocultured HUVECs. By sequence analysis, we found that the transcription factor SP1 possessed abundant binding sites in the ENPEP promoter region. Its combination with ENPEP promoters was verified by chromatin immunoprecipitation. The inhibition of SP1 by mithramycin A effectively restored the expression of ENPEP, which was decreased by iron deficiency. In conclusion, these results revealed that iron deficiency in liver tumors decreased the expression of ENPEP by SP1 and increased the angiogenesis and metastasis of liver tumors, which further explained the mechanism by which iron deficiency promoted liver cancer metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huiwen Wu
- Department of Nutrition, Shanghai Chest Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yan Sun
- Department of Nutrition, Shanghai Chest Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jianxin Yang
- Department of Nutrition, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zelong Gao
- Department of Nutrition, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hui Shen
- Department of Nutrition, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Min Li
- Department of Nutrition, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Dongyao Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Yuxiao Tang
- Department of Nutrition, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.
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Gao Z, Wang D, Zhang H, Yang J, Li M, Lu H, Shen H, Tang Y. An iron-deficient diet prevents alcohol- or diethylnitrosamine-induced acute hepatotoxicity in mice by inhibiting ferroptosis. Curr Res Food Sci 2022; 5:2171-2177. [PMID: 36387594 PMCID: PMC9664348 DOI: 10.1016/j.crfs.2022.11.001] [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: 05/19/2022] [Revised: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
The liver is easily injured by exogenous chemicals through reactive oxygen species (ROS), which lead to ferroptosis, a ROS-dependent programmed cell death characterized by iron accumulation and lipid peroxidation. However, whether iron restriction has a positive role in chemicals-induced liver injuries is unknown. The present study investigated the effects of an iron-deficient diet on liver injuries induced by alcohol or diethylnitrosamine (DEN). Mice were fed an iron-deficient diet for four weeks, then treated with three doses of alcohol (5 g/kg, 24 h interval, gavage) to mimic mild liver injury or five doses of DEN (50 mg/kg, 24 h interval, i. p.) to mimic severe liver failure. The results showed that mice were iron-deficient after four weeks of feeding. Interestingly, as evaluated by H&E staining of liver slices, liver/body weight ratio, serum ALT and AST, iron deficiency significantly alleviated liver injuries triggered by alcohol or DEN. The activities of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), and the expression of CYP2E1 were increased by iron deficiency. Mechanistically, iron deficiency prevented the decrease of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), which eliminated malondialdehyde (MDA) by utilizing glutathione (GSH). In summary, alcohol- or DEN-induced liver injuries were mitigated by the iron-deficient diet by inhibiting ferroptosis, which might be a promising measure for preventing liver injuries induced by alcohol, DEN, or other exogenous chemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zelong Gao
- Department of Nutrition, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Dongyao Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hongwei Zhang
- Department of Nutrition, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
- Department of Clinical Nutrition, Zhumadian Second People's Hospital, Henan, China
| | - Jianxin Yang
- Department of Nutrition, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Min Li
- Department of Nutrition, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hongtao Lu
- Department of Nutrition, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hui Shen
- Department of Nutrition, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuxiao Tang
- Department of Nutrition, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
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