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Sansone V, Le Grazie M, Roselli J, Polvani S, Galli A, Tovoli F, Tarocchi M. Telomerase reactivation is associated with hepatobiliary and pancreatic cancers. Hepatobiliary Pancreat Dis Int 2020; 19:420-428. [PMID: 32386990 DOI: 10.1016/j.hbpd.2020.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2019] [Accepted: 04/15/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) and its components play a significant role in cancer progression, but recent data demonstrated that telomeres and telomerase alterations could be found in other diseases; increasing evidence suggests a key role of this enzyme in the fields of hepatobiliary and pancreatic diseases. DATA SOURCES We performed a PubMed search with the following keywords: telomerase, hepatocellular carcinoma, cholangiocarcinoma, pancreatic adenocarcinoma by December 2019. We reviewed the relevant publications that analyzed the correlation between telomerase activity and hepatobiliary and pancreatic diseases. RESULTS Telomerase reactivation plays a significant role in the development and progression of hepatobiliary and pancreatic tumors and could be used as a diagnostic biomarker for hepatobiliary and pancreatic cancers, as a predictor for prognosis and a promising therapeutic target. CONCLUSIONS Our review summarized the evidence about the critical role of hTERT in cancerous and precancerous lesions of the alteration and its activity in hepatobiliary and pancreatic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vito Sansone
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
| | - Marco Le Grazie
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, 50139 Firenze, Italy
| | - Jenny Roselli
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, 50139 Firenze, Italy
| | - Simone Polvani
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, 50139 Firenze, Italy
| | - Andrea Galli
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, 50139 Firenze, Italy
| | - Francesco Tovoli
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Mirko Tarocchi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, 50139 Firenze, Italy
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in der Stroth L, Tharehalli U, Günes C, Lechel A. Telomeres and Telomerase in the Development of Liver Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:E2048. [PMID: 32722302 PMCID: PMC7464754 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12082048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Revised: 07/16/2020] [Accepted: 07/22/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver cancer is one of the most common cancer types worldwide and the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death. Liver carcinoma is distinguished by a high heterogeneity in pathogenesis, histopathology and biological behavior. Dysregulated signaling pathways and various gene mutations are frequent in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA), which represent the two most common types of liver tumors. Both tumor types are characterized by telomere shortening and reactivation of telomerase during carcinogenesis. Continuous cell proliferation, e.g., by oncogenic mutations, can cause extensive telomere shortening in the absence of sufficient telomerase activity, leading to dysfunctional telomeres and genome instability by breakage-fusion-bridge cycles, which induce senescence or apoptosis as a tumor suppressor mechanism. Telomerase reactivation is required to stabilize telomere functionality and for tumor cell survival, representing a genetic risk factor for the development of liver cirrhosis and liver carcinoma. Therefore, telomeres and telomerase could be useful targets in hepatocarcinogenesis. Here, we review similarities and differences between HCC and iCCA in telomere biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lena in der Stroth
- Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Ulm, 89081 Ulm, Germany; (L.i.d.S.); (U.T.)
| | - Umesh Tharehalli
- Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Ulm, 89081 Ulm, Germany; (L.i.d.S.); (U.T.)
| | - Cagatay Günes
- Department of Urology, University Hospital Ulm, 89081 Ulm, Germany;
| | - André Lechel
- Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Ulm, 89081 Ulm, Germany; (L.i.d.S.); (U.T.)
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Abstract
HCC (hepatocellular carcinoma) is the second leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide, with several etiologic causes, mostly inflammation-associated. Different inflammatory responses in the liver can be triggered by different etiological agents. The inflammatory process can be resolved or be persistent, depending on the etiology and multiple other factors. Chronic inflammation, tissue remodeling, genetic alterations, and modifications in cellular signaling are considered to be key processes promoting immunosuppression. The progressive immunosuppression leads to the inactivation of anti-tumor immunity involved in HCC carcinogenesis and progression. Tumor cellular processes including DNA damage, necrosis, and ER (endoplasmic reticulum) stress can affect both immune-surveillance and cancer-promoting inflammation, supporting a mutual interdependence. Here, we review the current understanding of how chronic liver injury and inflammation is triggered and sustained, and how inflammation is linked to HCC. The identification of many hepatic microenvironmental inflammatory processes and their effector molecules, has resulted in extensive translational work and promising clinical trials of new immunomodulatory agents.
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The role of telomeres and telomerase in cirrhosis and liver cancer. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 2019; 16:544-558. [PMID: 31253940 DOI: 10.1038/s41575-019-0165-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 275] [Impact Index Per Article: 55.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Telomerase is a key enzyme for cell survival that prevents telomere shortening and the subsequent cellular senescence that is observed after many rounds of cell division. In contrast, inactivation of telomerase is observed in most cells of the adult liver. Absence of telomerase activity and shortening of telomeres has been implicated in hepatocyte senescence and the development of cirrhosis, a chronic liver disease that can lead to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development. During hepatocarcinogenesis, telomerase reactivation is required to enable the uncontrolled cell proliferation that leads to malignant transformation and HCC development. Part of the telomerase complex, telomerase reverse transcriptase, is encoded by TERT, and several mechanisms of telomerase reactivation have been described in HCC that include somatic TERT promoter mutations, TERT amplification, TERT translocation and viral insertion into the TERT gene. An understanding of the role of telomeres and telomerase in HCC development is important to develop future targeted therapies and improve survival of this disease. In this Review, the roles of telomeres and telomerase in liver carcinogenesis are discussed, in addition to their potential translation to clinical practice as biomarkers and therapeutic targets.
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Carloni V, Lulli M, Madiai S, Mello T, Hall A, Luong TV, Pinzani M, Rombouts K, Galli A. CHK2 overexpression and mislocalisation within mitotic structures enhances chromosomal instability and hepatocellular carcinoma progression. Gut 2018; 67:348-361. [PMID: 28360097 DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2016-313114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2016] [Revised: 03/02/2017] [Accepted: 03/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Chromosomal instability (CIN) is the most common form of genomic instability, which promotes hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression by enhancing tumour heterogeneity, drug resistance and immunity escape. CIN per se is an important factor of DNA damage, sustaining structural chromosome abnormalities but the underlying mechanisms are unknown. DESIGN DNA damage response protein checkpoint kinase 2 (Chk2) expression was evaluated in an animal model of diethylnitrosamine-induced HCC characterised by DNA damage and elevated mitotic errors. Chk2 was also determined in two discrete cohorts of human HCC specimens. To assess the functional role of Chk2, gain on and loss-of-function, mutagenesis, karyotyping and immunofluorescence/live imaging were performed by using HCT116, Huh7 and human hepatocytes immortalised with hTERT gene (HuS). RESULTS We demonstrate that mitotic errors during HCC tumorigenesis cause lagging chromosomes/DNA damage and activation of Chk2. Overexpression/phosphorylation and mislocalisation within the mitotic spindle of Chk2 contributes to induce lagging chromosomes. Lagging chromosomes and mitotic activity are reversed by knockdown of Chk2. Furthermore, upregulated Chk2 maintains mitotic activity interacting with Aurora B kinase for chromosome condensation and cytokinesis. The forkhead-associated domain of Chk2 is required for Chk2 mislocalisation to mitotic structures. In addition, retinoblastoma protein phosphorylation contributes to defective mitoses. A cohort and independent validation cohort show a strong cytoplasm to nuclear Chk2 translocation in a subset of patients with HCC. CONCLUSIONS The study reveals a new mechanistic insight in the coinvolvement of Chk2 in HCC progression. These findings propose Chk2 as a putative biomarker to detect CIN in HCC providing a valuable support for clinical/therapeutical management of patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinicio Carloni
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Matteo Lulli
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, General Pathology Unit, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Stefania Madiai
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Tommaso Mello
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, Gastroenterology Unit, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Andrew Hall
- Department of Cellular Pathology, Royal Free Hospital, London, UK
| | - Tu Vinh Luong
- Department of Cellular Pathology, Royal Free Hospital, London, UK
| | - Massimo Pinzani
- University College London (UCL) Institute for Liver & Digestive Health, London, UK
| | - Krista Rombouts
- University College London (UCL) Institute for Liver & Digestive Health, London, UK
| | - Andrea Galli
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, Gastroenterology Unit, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
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Doloff JC, Waxman DJ. Adenoviral vectors for prodrug activation-based gene therapy for cancer. Anticancer Agents Med Chem 2014; 14:115-26. [PMID: 23869779 DOI: 10.2174/18715206113139990309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2012] [Revised: 01/09/2013] [Accepted: 04/10/2013] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Cancer cell heterogeneity is a common feature - both between patients diagnosed with the same cancer and within an individual patient's tumor - and leads to widely different response rates to cancer therapies and the potential for the emergence of drug resistance. Diverse therapeutic approaches have been developed to combat the complexity of cancer, including individual treatment modalities designed to target tumor heterogeneity. This review discusses adenoviral vectors and how they can be modified to replicate in a cancer-specific manner and deliver therapeutic genes under multi-tiered regulation to target tumor heterogeneity, including heterogeneity associated with cancer stem cell-like subpopulations. Strategies that allow for combination of prodrug-activation gene therapy with a novel replication-conditional, heterogeneous tumor-targeting adenovirus are discussed, as are the benefits of using adenoviral vectors as tumor-targeting oncolytic vectors. While the anticancer activity of many adenoviral vectors has been well established in preclinical studies, only limited successes have been achieved in the clinic, indicating a need for further improvements in activity, specificity, tumor cell delivery and avoidance of immunogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - David J Waxman
- Department of Cell and Molecular, Biology, Boston University, 5 Cummington Mall, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
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Yoon SM, Gerasimidou D, Kuwahara R, Hytiroglou P, Yoo JE, Park YN, Theise ND. Epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) marks hepatocytes newly derived from stem/progenitor cells in humans. Hepatology 2011; 53:964-73. [PMID: 21319194 DOI: 10.1002/hep.24122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 135] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2010] [Accepted: 12/02/2010] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) is a surface marker on human hepatic stem/progenitor cells that is reported as absent on mature hepatocytes. However, it has also been noted that in cirrhotic livers of diverse causes, many hepatocytes have EpCAM surface expression; this may represent aberrant EpCAM expression in injured hepatocytes or, as we now hypothesize, persistence of EpCAM in hepatocytes that have recently derived from hepatobiliary progenitors. To evaluate this concept, we investigated patterns of EpCAM expression in hepatobiliary cell compartments of liver biopsy specimens from patients with all stages of chronic hepatitis B and C, studying proliferation, senescence and telomere lengths. We found that EpCAM(+) hepatocytes were rare in early stages of disease, became increasingly prominent in later stages in parallel with the emergence of ductular reactions, and were consistently arrayed around the periphery of cords of keratin 19(+) hepatobiliary cells of the ductular reaction, with which they shared EpCAM expression. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (proliferation marker) and p21 (senescence marker) were both higher in hepatocytes in cirrhosis than in normal livers, but ductular reaction hepatobiliary cells had the highest proliferation rate, in keeping with being stem/progenitor cell-derived transit amplifying cells. Telomere lengths in EpCAM(+) hepatocytes in cirrhosis were higher than EpCAM(-) hepatocytes (P < 0.046), and relatively shorter than those in the corresponding ductular reaction hepatobiliary cells (P = 0.057). CONCLUSION These morphologic, topographic, immunophenotypic, and molecular data support the concept that EpCAM(+) hepatocytes in chronic viral hepatitis are recent progeny of the hepatobiliary stem/progenitor cell compartment through intermediates of the transit amplifying, ductular reaction hepatobiliary cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- So-Mi Yoon
- Department of Pathology, Brain Korea 21 Project for Medical Science, Center for Chronic Metabolic Disease, Yonsei University Health System, Seoul, South Korea
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Dai W, Chen H, Yu R, He L, Chen B, Chen X. Effects of cadmium on telomerase activity, expressions of TERT, c-myc and P53, and apoptosis of rat hepatocytes. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2010; 30:709-13. [PMID: 21181359 DOI: 10.1007/s11596-010-0645-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2010] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
This study investigated the effect of cadmium on the telomerase activity, the expression of TERT, c-myc and p53 and the apoptosis of rat hepatocytes. The rats were administrated 5, 10 and 20 μmol/kg cadmium chloride intraperitoneally and sacrificed 48 h after the initial treatment. The telomerase activity of the rat hepatocytes was measured by the telomeric repeat amplification protocol (TRAP), and apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. The mRNA expressions of TERT, c-myc and p53 were measured by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). C-myc and P53 proteins were determined by immunochemistry. The results showed that cadmium chloride increased the hepatocellular telomerase activity in a dose-dependant manner and induced the apoptosis of hepatocytes significantly. The value of relative coefficient between the telomerase activity and the apoptosis rate was 0.9398. RT-PCR revealed that specific bands corresponding to the TERT mRNA, c-myc mRNA, and p53 mRNA were displayed at 185, 342 and 538 bp respectively. Cadmium chloride could substantially increase the mRNA expressions of TERT, c-myc and p53 in rat hepatocytes, as compared with control. Moreover, cadmium chloride at the doses of 5, 10 and 20 μmol/kg could increase the content of P53 protein in rat hepatocytes obviously, but only that at the doses of 10 and 20 μmol/kg substantially promoted the c-myc protein level in rat hepatocytes. Our study herein suggested that cadmium may contribute to the carcinogenesis by activating telomerase, and overexpressing the mRNAs of TERT, c-myc and p53, and causing apoptosis of normal cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wentao Dai
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Guangdong Key Lab of Molecular Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510310, China.
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Fukazawa T, Maeda Y, Matsuoka J, Tanaka N, Tanaka H, Durbin ML, Naomoto Y. Drug-regulatable cancer cell death induced by BID under control of the tissue-specific, lung cancer-targeted TTS promoter system. Int J Cancer 2009; 125:1975-84. [PMID: 19598260 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.24584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Gene therapy and virotherapy are among the approaches currently being used to treat lung cancer. The success of cancer gene therapy depends on treatments where different types of tumors can be selectively targeted and destroyed without affecting normal cells and tissue. Previously, we described a promoter system (TTS) that we designed that is specifically targeted to lung cancer cells but which does not affect other types of cells including stem cells. In our study, we have enhanced the utility of the TTS system by inserting the pro-apoptotic gene BH3 domain interacting death agonist (Bid) into the TTS promoter system (TTS/Bid) to create a drug regulatable lung cancer-specific gene therapy. A recombinant adenoviral vector was used to introduce TTS/Bid (Ad-TTS/Bid) into lung cancer cells. BID expression and apoptosis occurred in A549 pulmonary adenocarcinoma cells but little Bid expression or apoptosis occurred in MCF7 breast cancer cells or in normal human lung fibroblasts. The use of cisplatin enhanced the processing of full length BID to t-BID which significantly increased lung cancer-specific cell death. In in vivo experiments, intraperitonal injection of cisplatin enhanced the antitumor effects of the vector in a lung cancer xeno-graft mouse model. Moreover, dexamethasone effectively suppressed exogenous BID expression and the antitumor effect of Ad-TTS/Bid both in vitro and in vivo. Here, we describe the efficacy of the use of cisplatin and dexamethasone with the anti lung cancer promoter system (Ad-TTS/Bid) for a safe and effective gene therapy against advanced lung cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takuya Fukazawa
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama 700-8558, Japan.
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Sleeping Beauty-mediated suicide gene therapy of hepatocellular carcinoma. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem 2009; 73:165-8. [PMID: 19129627 DOI: 10.1271/bbb.80581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to use gene therapy via the Sleeping Beauty (SB) system to increase telomerase promoter activity to target hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In previous studies, we identified selective and increased expression of luciferase and suicide genes controlled by the hTERT (human telomerase reverse transcriptase) promoter and the SV40 enhancer in telomerase-positive cancer cell lines. Because telomerase is activated in about 80% of HCCs, it is likely that increasing the activity of the telomerase promoter with a suicide gene will effectively eradicate HCCs. We found that the telomerase promoter mediated SB system can efficiently insert transgene into HCC genomes. Also, telomerase promoter activity was increased using a SB vector expressing suicide gene HSV-TK (herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase) controlled by the hTERT promoter and a SV40 enhancer for the induction of telomerase-positive cancer-specific cell death. HCC cell lines transfected with pT.hTp.HSV-tk.Con with active helper plasmid and ganciclovir (GCV) significantly inhibited cancer cell growth. These results indicate that Sleeping Beauty transposon mediated suicide gene expression can be used in HCC-targeted cancer gene therapy.
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Su JM, Lai XM, Lan KH, Li CP, Chao Y, Yen SH, Chang FY, Lee SD, Lee WP. X protein of hepatitis B virus functions as a transcriptional corepressor on the human telomerase promoter. Hepatology 2007; 46:402-13. [PMID: 17559154 DOI: 10.1002/hep.21675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED The X protein of hepatitis B virus (HBx) is essential for transactivation of hepatitis B viral and host cellular genes. It has been specifically implicated in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma; however, the molecular mechanism remains unknown. Telomeres, the DNA-protein complexes at the ends of eukaryotic chromosomes, protect chromosomes from degradation at the terminal regions, fusion with a broken DNA end, and inappropriate recombination. The shortening of telomeres that occurs during hepatocellular carcinogenesis has been well studied. In the present study, we isolated an HBx isoform that resulted in telomere shortening in hepatoma cell lines. We found that this HBx isoform down-regulated the expression of human telomerase by transcriptionally repressing its promoter. To further determine the molecular mechanism, we examined human telomerase promoter and identified myc-associated zinc finger protein (MAZ) as a transcriptional repressor of the promoter. We found that the HBx isoform achieved transcriptional suppression of human telomerase by enhancing MAZ binding to its consensus sequence in the promoter through physical association with MAZ. CONCLUSION The data suggest that HBx can induce telomere shortening by acting as a transcriptional corepressor of MAZ on the human telomerase promoter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiun-Ming Su
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
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12
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da Costa CET, Egeler RM, Hoogeboom M, Szuhai K, Forsyth RG, Niesters M, de Krijger RR, Tazi A, Hogendoorn PCW, Annels NE. Differences in telomerase expression by the CD1a+ cells in Langerhans cell histiocytosis reflect the diverse clinical presentation of the disease. J Pathol 2007; 212:188-97. [PMID: 17447723 DOI: 10.1002/path.2167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a disease characterized by an uncontrolled clonal proliferation of Langerhans cells, whose aetiology is still unclear. The clonal nature of LCH could support the hypothesis that it is a neoplastic disease with unlimited growth potential. One requirement for unlimited proliferation is the maintenance of telomere length. In a group of 70 patients, we set out to investigate whether a telomere maintenance mechanism is indeed active in LCH cells. This work showed that LCH cells from all restricted skin LCH lesions (6/6) expressed telomerase as assessed by human telomere reverse transcriptase (hTERT) immunohistochemistry, whereas LCH cells from the majority of the bone lesions analysed did not express hTERT (26/34). Interestingly, in contrast to the solitary bone lesions, LCH cells from lesions of multi-system patients always expressed telomerase (11/11), regardless of the lesional site. In situ telomeric repeat amplification protocol (TRAP) assays performed on different lesional sites showed that this telomerase was active. In addition, the telomere length of LCH cells from a hTERT-positive skin multi-system lesion was long and homogeneous when compared to that in the LCH cells from hTERT-negative bone single-system LCH lesions, which was heterogeneous in length. No evidence for an alternative lengthening of telomeres mechanism was found in hTERT-negative lesions. The difference in telomerase expression and telomere length at the different lesional sites and in biopsies from patients with solitary versus multi-system disease appears to reflect the diverse clinical presentation and course of this disease. The results from this study have important implications for understanding the nature of this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- C E T da Costa
- Department of Paediatric Immunology, Haematology, Oncology, Bone Marrow Transplantation and Autoimmune Diseases, Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands
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Jie X, Lang C, Jian Q, Chaoqun L, Dehua Y, Yi S, Yanping J, Luokun X, Qiuping Z, Hui W, Feili G, Boquan J, Youxin J, Jinquan T. Androgen activates PEG10 to promote carcinogenesis in hepatic cancer cells. Oncogene 2007; 26:5741-51. [PMID: 17369855 DOI: 10.1038/sj.onc.1210362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The molecular mechanism of striking higher prevalence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in male subjects has not yet been fully elucidated. Here, we report that androgen receptor (AR) is differentially expressed in different HCC cell lines. AR agonist dihydrotestosterone (DHT) enhances HCC cell growth and apoptotic resistance. Antagonist flutamide (FLU) blocks the effects of DHT on the HCC cell lines. Paternally expressed gene 10 (PEG10) is expressed in HCC cell lines at substantial high level. Using small interfering RNAs against AR and PEG10 in AR- and PEG10-expressing BEL-7404 hepatoma cells and HuH7 hepatoma cells (HuH7) cells, and AR-transfection technique in AR-lacking and PEG10-expressing HepG2 cells, we have confirmed that through upregulation and activation of PEG10, DHT enhances HCC cell growth and apoptotic resistance. We have further demonstrated that DHT upregulates expression of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) in HCC cell lines in a PEG10-dependent manner. Moreover, AR directly interacts in vivo with androgen-responsive elements in the regions of promoter and exon 2 of PEG10 gene in HCC cell lines. DHT promotes the hepatoma formation in vivo nude mice through PEG10 activation. AR antagonists (FLU and valproate) inhibit the hepatoma formation. These findings suggest that PEG10 plays an essential role in hepatocarcinogenesis. The PEG10 inhibition can be a novel approach for therapy of HCC.
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MESH Headings
- Androgen Antagonists/pharmacology
- Animals
- Apoptosis
- Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins
- Blotting, Northern
- Blotting, Western
- Carcinogens/pharmacology
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/genetics
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/metabolism
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/pathology
- Cell Proliferation
- Chromatin Immunoprecipitation
- DNA-Binding Proteins
- Dihydrotestosterone/pharmacology
- Flow Cytometry
- Flutamide/pharmacology
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
- Humans
- Liver Neoplasms/genetics
- Liver Neoplasms/metabolism
- Liver Neoplasms/pathology
- Mice
- Mice, Nude
- Proteins/genetics
- RNA, Small Interfering/pharmacology
- RNA-Binding Proteins
- Receptors, Androgen/metabolism
- Response Elements/genetics
- Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Telomerase/metabolism
- Transfection
- Tumor Cells, Cultured
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Affiliation(s)
- X Jie
- Department of Immunology, and Laboratory of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Institute of Allergy and Immune-related Diseases and Medical Research Center, Wuhan University School of Medicine, Wuhan, China
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14
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Fukazawa T, Maeda Y, Durbin ML, Nakai T, Matsuoka J, Tanaka H, Naomoto Y, Tanaka N. Pulmonary adenocarcinoma-targeted gene therapy by a cancer- and tissue-specific promoter system. Mol Cancer Ther 2007; 6:244-52. [PMID: 17237283 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-06-0408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Gene therapy is one of the approaches used to treat lung cancer. The benefit of cancer gene therapy is that different types of tumors can be selectively targeted by tumor-specific expression of therapeutic genes that include an apoptosis gene to destroy the tumor. Previously, we described a promoter (TTS promoter) that we designed that is specifically targeted to lung cancer cells but not to other types of cancer or normal cells including stem cells. In this pursuit, we further characterize the specificity of the TTS promoter in four types of lung cancer cells (squamous cell lung carcinoma, pulmonary adenocarcinoma, small-cell lung carcinoma, large-cell lung carcinoma). The TTS promoter is highly active only in pulmonary adenocarcinoma cells but not in the other three types of lung cancer cells. The specificity seems to be derived from transcription factor thyroid transcription factor 1-associating cofactors that affect human surfactant protein A1 promoter activity in pulmonary adenocarcinoma. We inserted the proapoptotic gene Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) into the TTS promoter (TTS/Bax). The TTS/Bax selectively causes BAX expression and cell death in pulmonary adenocarcinoma but not in other cells. Cell death caused by the BAX expression was also observed in pulmonary adenocarcinoma that is resistant to the anticancer drug gefitinib (epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor). BAX expression and cell death can be suppressed by dexamethasone (a glucocorticoid) treatment through negative glucocorticoid elements in the TTS promoter. Here we report a drug-controllable TTS/Bax system targeting pulmonary adenocarcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takuya Fukazawa
- First Department of Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine and Dentistry, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Okayama 700-8558, Japan.
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Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma is among the most lethal and prevalent cancers in the human population. Despite its significance, there is only an elemental understanding of the molecular, cellular and environmental mechanisms that drive disease pathogenesis, and there are only limited therapeutic options, many with negligible clinical benefit. This Review summarizes the current state of knowledge of this, the most common and dreaded liver neoplasm, and highlights the principal challenges and scientific opportunities that are relevant to controlling this accelerating global health crisis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paraskevi A Farazi
- Department of Genetics, Division of Medical Sciences, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
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Detection of telomerase activity by the TRAP assay and its variants and alternatives. Clin Chim Acta 2006; 371:25-31. [PMID: 16616059 DOI: 10.1016/j.cca.2006.02.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2006] [Revised: 02/23/2006] [Accepted: 02/23/2006] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Telomerase activity is closely connected to problems of cellular immortality, proliferative capacity, differentiation, cancer and aging. Correspondingly, techniques for its detection have been essential for progress in telomere biology and are of still increasing importance in molecular diagnostics and therapy of cancer. This article reviews the development of the telomere repeat amplification protocol (TRAP) and its various modifications as the most widespread assay to detect and measure telomerase activity. Alternative possibilities of telomerase activity detection are also discussed which make it possible to omit the PCR-mediated amplification of telomerase products. These approaches are based on recent advances in highly sensitive detection systems.
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Djojosubroto MW, Chin AC, Go N, Schaetzlein S, Manns MP, Gryaznov S, Harley CB, Rudolph KL. Telomerase antagonists GRN163 and GRN163L inhibit tumor growth and increase chemosensitivity of human hepatoma. Hepatology 2005; 42:1127-36. [PMID: 16114043 DOI: 10.1002/hep.20822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Most cancer cells have an immortal growth capacity as a consequence of telomerase reactivation. Inhibition of this enzyme leads to increased telomere dysfunction, which limits the proliferative capacity of tumor cells; thus, telomerase inhibition represents a potentially safe and universal target for cancer treatment. We evaluated the potential of two thio-phosphoramidate oligonucleotide inhibitors of telomerase, GRN163 and GRN163L, as drug candidates for the treatment of human hepatoma. GRN163 and GRN163L were tested in preclinical studies using systemic administration to treat flank xenografts of different human hepatoma cell lines (Hep3B and Huh7) in nude mice. The studies showed that both GRN163 and GRN163L inhibited telomerase activity and tumor cell growth in a dose-dependent manner in vitro and in vivo. The potency and efficacy of the lipid-conjugated antagonist, GRN163L, was superior to the nonlipidated parent compound, GRN163. Impaired tumor growth in vivo was associated with critical telomere shortening, induction of telomere dysfunction, reduced rate of cell proliferation, and increased apoptosis in the treatment groups. In vitro, GRN163L administration led to higher prevalence of chromosomal telomere-free ends and DNA damage foci in both hepatoma cell lines. In addition, in vitro chemosensitivity assay showed that pretreatment with GRN163L increased doxorubicin sensitivity of Hep3B. In conclusion, our data support the development of GRN163L, a novel lipidated conjugate of the telomerase inhibitor GRN163, for systemic treatment of human hepatoma. In addition to limiting the proliferative capacity of hepatoma, GRN163L might also increase the sensitivity of this tumor type to conventional chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meta W Djojosubroto
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Endocrinology, Medical School Hannover, Hannover, Germany
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Oh BK, Kim YJ, Park C, Park YN. Up-regulation of telomere-binding proteins, TRF1, TRF2, and TIN2 is related to telomere shortening during human multistep hepatocarcinogenesis. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2005; 166:73-80. [PMID: 15632001 PMCID: PMC1602303 DOI: 10.1016/s0002-9440(10)62233-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The telomeric repeat-binding factor 1 (TRF1), TRF2, and the TRF1-interacting nuclear protein 2 (TIN2) are involved in telomere maintenance. We describe the regulation of expression of these genes along with their relationship to telomere length in hepatocarcinogenesis. The transcriptional expression of these genes, TRF1 protein, and telomere length was examined in 9 normal livers, 14 chronic hepatitis, 24 liver cirrhosis, 5 large regenerative nodules, 14 low-grade dysplastic nodules (DNs), 7 high-grade DNs, 10 DNs with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) foci, and 31 HCCs. The expression of TRF1, TRF2, TIN2 mRNA, and TRF1 protein was gradually increased according to the progression of hepatocarcinogenesis with a marked increase in high-grade DNs and DNs with HCC foci and a further increase in HCCs. There was a gradual shortening of telomere during hepatocarcinogenesis with a significant reduction in length in DNs. Most nodular lesions (52 of 67) had shorter telomeres than their adjacent chronic hepatitis or liver cirrhosis, and the telomere lengths were inversely correlated with the mRNA level of these genes (P </= 0.001). This was more evident in DNs and DNs with HCC foci. In conclusion, TRF1, TRF2, and TIN2 might be involved in multistep hepatocarcinogenesis by playing crucial roles in telomere shortening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bong-Kyeong Oh
- Department of Pathology, and Brain Korea 21 Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, CPO Box 8044, Seoul, Korea
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Lechel A, Manns MP, Rudolph KL. Telomeres and telomerase: new targets for the treatment of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. J Hepatol 2004; 41:491-7. [PMID: 15336455 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2004.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- André Lechel
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Endocrinology, Medical School Hannover, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany
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Abstract
Telomere shortening limits the proliferative capacity of primary human cells and restrains the regenerative capacity of organ systems during chronic diseases and aging. Telomere shortening apparently has a dual role in tumor development and progression. On the one hand, it induces chromosomal instability and the initiation of cancer; on the other hand, tumor progression requires stabilization of telomeres. The predominant mechanism of telomere stabilization in tumor cells is the activation of the telomere-synthesizing enzyme telomerase. The potential use of telomerase activators for the treatment of regenerative disorders will ultimately depend on their effects on tumorigenesis. This review focuses on the role of telomere shortening and telomerase in carcinogenesis with a special focus on hepatocellular carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ande Satyanarayana
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Medical School of Hannover, Hannover, Germany
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Fukazawa T, Maeda Y, Sladek FM, Owen-Schaub LB. Development of a cancer-targeted tissue-specific promoter system. Cancer Res 2004; 64:363-9. [PMID: 14729646 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-03-2507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Present cancer gene therapy using proapoptotic genes has had limited success because the therapy is prone to cause side effects as a result of the lack of tissue and cancer specificity. To target cancer cells without damaging normal cells, we have designed a novel dual promoter system in which a tissue-specific transcription system under the control of a cancer-specific promoter drives expression of a therapeutic gene. The applicability of this system was demonstrated by adapting it to target lung cancer. We termed this lung cancer system TTS (TTF1 gene under the control of human telomerase reverse transcriptase promoter and human surfactant protein A1 promoter). The TTS system showed much higher promoter activity in lung cancer cells compared with other kinds of cancer and normal lung cells, including stem cells. Moreover, insertion of negative glucocorticoid responsive elements in the system allows it to be drug controllable. The approaches that we have used could be adapted to target other types of cancer. We report a novel cancer-targeted tissue-specific dual promoter system designed for gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takuya Fukazawa
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of California, Riverside, California, USA.
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Piao YF, Shi Y, Gao PJ. Inhibitory effect of all-trans retinoic acid on human hepatocellular carcinoma cell proliferation. World J Gastroenterol 2003; 9:2117-20. [PMID: 12970919 PMCID: PMC4656687 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v9.i9.2117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM: To study the inhibitory effect of all-trans retinoic acid on human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line SMMC-7721 and to explore the mechanism of its effect.
METHODS: SMMC-7721 cells were divided into two groups, one treated with all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) for 5 days and the other as a control group. Light microscope and electron microscope were used to observe the morphological changes. Telomerase activity was analyzed with silver-stained telomere repeated assay protocal (TRAP). Expression of Caspase-3 was demonstrated with western blot.
RESULTS: ATRA-treated cells showed differentiation features including small and pyknotic nuclei, densely stained chromatin and fewer microvilli. Besides, ATRA could inhibit the activity of telomerase, promote the expression of Caspase-3 and its activation.
CONCLUSION: Telomerase activity and Caspase-3 expression are changed in human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line SMMC-7721 treated with all-trans retinioc acid. The inhibition of telomerase activity and the activation of Caspase-3 may be the key steps through which ATRA inhibits the proliferation of SMMC-7721 cell line.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun-Feng Piao
- Department of Gastroenterology, the First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, Jilin Province, China
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MESH Headings
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/etiology
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/genetics
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/pathology
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/prevention & control
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/virology
- Cell Adhesion/genetics
- Cell Transformation, Neoplastic
- Cell Transformation, Viral
- Chronic Disease
- Genes, cdc
- Genes, p53
- Growth Substances/physiology
- Hepacivirus/pathogenicity
- Hepatitis B virus/pathogenicity
- Hepatitis B, Chronic/complications
- Hepatitis B, Chronic/virology
- Hepatitis C, Chronic/complications
- Hepatitis C, Chronic/virology
- Humans
- Liver Diseases/complications
- Liver Diseases/pathology
- Liver Neoplasms/etiology
- Liver Neoplasms/genetics
- Liver Neoplasms/pathology
- Liver Neoplasms/prevention & control
- Liver Neoplasms/virology
- Neoplasm Invasiveness/genetics
- Neoplasm Metastasis
- Neovascularization, Pathologic/genetics
- Precancerous Conditions/complications
- Precancerous Conditions/pathology
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Yan P, Benhattar J, Coindre JM, Guillou L. Telomerase activity and hTERT mRNA expression can be heterogeneous and does not correlate with telomere length in soft tissue sarcomas. Int J Cancer 2002; 98:851-6. [PMID: 11948462 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.10285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
In a previous study, we showed that telomerase activity (TA) and human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) mRNA expression were undetectable in benign mesenchymal lesions and low-grade soft tissue sarcomas (STSs), but detectable in about 50% of intermediate-/high-grade STSs. We wondered if this lack of TA or hTERT mRNA expression could be related to the tumor sample examined and if there was a relationship between the former 2 parameters and telomere length. Two separate tumor samples from 37 STSs were examined for telomerase activity, using the telomerase repeat amplification protocol (TRAP) assay and for hTERT mRNA expression, using RT-PCR. Telomere length was determined in each tumor sample, using the terminal restriction fragments (TRF) technique. Significant variations in telomere length, TA and hTERT mRNA expression between 2 samples of the same tumor were observed in 27%, 11% and 27% of STSs, respectively. Telomere length did not correlate with TA or hTERT mRNA expression. Despite great intratumoral heterogeneity in telomere length, short and long telomeres were more often seen in the low/intermediate-grade and high-grade STS categories, respectively. Few STSs that showed a TRF pattern suggestive of alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) may contain ALT subpopulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pu Yan
- University Institute of Pathology, Lausanne, Switzerland
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