Novel mutations in transthyretin gene associated with hepatocellular carcinoma

Elevated expression of ISY1, APOA-1, SYNE1, MTG1, and MMP10 at HCC initiation: HCC specific protein network involving interactions of key regulators of lipid metabolism, EGFR signaling, MAPK, and splicing pathways

Identification of molecular regulators of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) initiation and progression is not well understood. We chemically induced HCC in male Wistar rats by administration of diethyl nitrosamine (DEN) and 2-acetylaminofluorene (2-AFF). Using 2D-electrophoresis and MALDI-TOF-MS/MS analyses, we characterized differentially expressed proteins in liver tissues at early stage of HCC progression. Using RT-PCR analysis, we quantified the mRNA expression of the characterized proteins and validated the transcript expression with tumor tissues of clinically confirmed HCC patients. Using bioinformatic tools, we analyzed a network among the introduced proteins that identified their interacting partners and analyzed the molecular mechanisms associated with signaling pathways during HCC progression. We characterized a protein, namely, pre-mRNA splicing factor 1 homolog (ISY1), which is upregulated at both transcriptome and proteome levels at HCC initiation, progression, and tumor stages. We analyzed the interacting partners of ISY1, namely, APOA-1, SYNE1, MMP10, and MTG1. Real-time PCR analysis confirmed elevated expression of APOA-1 mRNA at HCC initiation, progression, and tumor stages in animals undergoing tumorigenesis. The mRNA expression of the interacting partners was validated with tumor tissues of clinically confirmed liver cancer patients; the analysis revealed significant elevation in expression of transcripts. The transcriptome and proteome analyses complement each other and dysregulation in mRNA and protein expression of these regulators may play critical role in HCC initiation and progression.

Midnolin Regulates Liver Cancer Cell Growth In Vitro and In Vivo

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) ranks worldwide as one of the most lethal cancers. In spite of the vast existing knowledge about HCC, the pathogenesis of HCC is not completely understood. Discovery of novel genes that contribute to HCC pathogenesis will provide new insights for better understanding and treating HCC. The relatively obscure gene midnolin has been studied for over two decades; however, its biological roles are largely unknown. Our study is the first to demonstrate the functional significance of midnolin in HCC/cancer: Midnolin expression correlates with poor prognosis in HCC patients, and suppression of midnolin severely inhibits tumorigenicity of HCC cells in vitro and in mice and disrupts retinoic acid/lipid metabolism in these cells.

Elevated expression of sepiapterin reductase, regulator of G protein signaling 1, hypothetical protein CXorf58 homolog, and zinc finger and BTB domain-containing protein 21 isoform X2 is associated with progression of hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common cancers associated with high mortality rate. Understanding of events leading to HCC pathophysiology is essential for its better management. We earlier reported development of a novel rodent model by administrating chemical carcinogens, DEN, and 2-AAF for study of HCC at very early stage. 2D-Electrophoresis analysis of total serum proteins identified several differentially expressed proteins in animals undergoing tumorigenesis. MALDI-TOF-MS/MS analyses were performed to characterize the differentially expressed proteins. Further real-time PCR analyses were taken place to quantify the transcript expression for the identified proteins at HCC initiation and tumor stages. Considering protein-protein interactions among the experimentally identified proteins and their interacting neighbors, a protein network has been analyzed that provided further insight into molecular events taking place during HCC development. Histological changes confirmed HCC initiation and hepatotumorigenesis at 1 and 4 months post carcinogen treatment, respectively. Four differentially expressed proteins were identified which were further characterized as regulator of G protein signaling 1 (RGS1), sepiapterin reductase (SPR), similar to zinc finger and BTB domain-containing protein 21 isoform X2 (ZNF295), and a hypothetical protein CXorf58 homolog. Quantification of transcripts for these proteins revealed elevation in their expression both at initiation and tumorigenesis stages. The study deciphers the regulatory role of these proteins during HCC progression.

Effect and Mechanism of Transthyretin over-Expression on Proliferation and Cell Cycle of Lung Cancer A549 Cells

Background

The effects of transthyretin (TTR) over-expression on the proliferation and cell cycle of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) A549 cells and its possible mechanism were verified.

Methods

A total of 196 LC patients and 20 healthy controls were enrolled at Tianjin Hospital, Tianjin, China between Apr 2017 and Oct 2017. The serum TTR content was detected by ELISA. Through lentiviral transfection method, NSCLC cells were divided into non-transfected group (group A), negative control group (group B) transfected with empty vector and experimental group (group C) transfected with TTR over-expression. Cell proliferation was detected by CCK-8 method, TTR mRNA expression was detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), and TTR protein expression was tested by Western blot (WB). Cell cycle was detected by flow cytometry, Wnt3a/β-catenin protein expression was detected by WB, and mRNA expression was detected by RT-qPCR.

Results

The serum TTR content in early, middle and late LC group was remarkably lower than that in healthy group (P<0.05). Compared with late stage, TTR content in early and middle stages of LC group was higher, and the difference was statistically marked (P < 0.05). The absorbance value of group C was lower than that of groups A and B, indicating that the cell proliferation activity dramatically decreased, with statistically marked difference (P<0.05). LC A549 cells in group C were obviously blocked in G2M, with statistical significance (P<0.05).

Conclusion

TTR over-expression can inhibit the proliferation of NSCLC A549 cells, and the expression is related to Wnt3a/β-catenin pathway. TTR in serum of patients was helpful for diagnosing LC and has certain clinical value.

Elevated Expression of A-Raf and FA2H in Hepatocellular Carcinoma is Associated with Lipid Metabolism Dysregulation and Cancer Progression

BACKGROUND

Identification of events leading to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression is essential for understanding its pathophysiology. The aims of this study are to identify and characterize differentially expressed proteins in serum of HCC-bearing rats and the corresponding controls during cancer initiation, progression and tumorigenesis.

METHODS

Chemical carcinogens, N-Nitrosodiethylamine and 2-aminoacetylfluorine are administered to induce HCC to male Wistar rats. The 2D-Electrophoresis and PD-Quest analyses are performed to identify several differentially expressed proteins in serum of HCC-bearing animals. These proteins are further characterized by MALDI-TOF-MS/MS analyses. Using pathwaylinker a HCC-specific network is analyzed among the MALDITOF- MS/MS characterized proteins and their interactors.

RESULTS

Carcinogen administration caused inflammation leading to liver injury and HCC development. Liver inflammation was confirmed by increase in the levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in carcinogen treated rats. We report significant increase in expression of two differentially expressed proteins, namely, A-Raf and Fatty Acid 2- Hydroxylase (FA2H), at early stage of HCC initiation, during its progression and at tumor stage. Real-time PCR analysis of mRNA for these proteins confirmed up-regulation of their transcripts. Further, we validated our experimental data with sera of clinically confirmed liver cancer patients.

CONCLUSION

The study suggests that FA2H and A-Raf play a major role in the progression of HCC.

Elevated Expression of Cytosolic Phospholipase A2 Delta Is Associated with Lipid Metabolism Dysregulation during Hepatocellular Carcinoma Progression

Objective

Liver cancer is the third rank amongst the common malignancies, causing maximum death in the patients diagnosed with cancers. Currently available biomarkers are not enough sensitive for early diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This makes difficult management of HCC. With the aim of finding new generation of proteomic-based biomarkers, the represented study was designed to characterize the differentially expressed proteins at different stages of HCC initiation and at progression. This could lead to find potential biomarkers for early detection of HCC.

Materials and Methods

In this experimental study, we report induction of HCC by administrating chemical carcinogens in male Wistar rats. Disease progression was monitored by histological evaluation. Serum proteomic analyses such as 2 dimensional (2D)-electrophoresis, MALDI-TOF-MS/MS and Western blot have been used to analyze and characterize the differentially expressed proteins during HCC development.

Results

HCC initiation and tumorigenesis were observed at one and four months post carcinogen treatment, respectively. One of the differentially-expressed proteins, namely, cytosolic phospholipase A2delta was significantly up-regulated at very early stage of HCC development. Its expression continued to increase during cancer progression and hepatotumorigenesis stages. Its elevated expression has been confirmed by Western blot analysis. Consistent to this, analyses of the sera in the clinically confirmed liver cancer patients showed elevated expression of this protein, further validating our experimental results.

Conclusion

This study suggests that elevation in the expression of cytosolic phospholipase A2delta is associated with progression of HCC.