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Zhang P, Xue S, Guo R, Liu J, Bai B, Li D, Hyraht A, Sun N, Shao H, Fan Y, Ji W, Yang S, Yu Y, Tan T. Mapping developmental paths of monkey primordial germ-like cells differentiation from pluripotent stem cells by single cell ribonucleic acid sequencing analysis†. Biol Reprod 2022; 107:237-249. [PMID: 35766401 PMCID: PMC9310512 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioac133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Revised: 06/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The induction of primordial germ-like cells (PGCLCs) from pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) provides a powerful system to study the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying germline specification, which are difficult to study in vivo. The studies reveal the existence of a species-specific mechanism underlying PGCLCs between humans and mice, highlighting the necessity to study regulatory networks in more species, especially in primates. Harnessing the power of single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis, the detailed trajectory of human PGCLCs specification in vitro has been achieved. However, the study of nonhuman primates is still needed. Here, we applied an embryoid body (EB) differentiation system to induce PGCLCs specification from cynomolgus monkey male and female PSCs, and then performed high throughput scRNA-seq analysis of approximately 40 000 PSCs and cells within EBs. We found that EBs provided a niche for PGCLCs differentiation by secreting growth factors critical for PGCLC specification, such as bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2), BMP4, and Wnt Family Member 3. Moreover, the developmental trajectory of PGCLCs was reconstituted, and gene expression dynamics were revealed. Our study outlines the roadmap of PGCLC specification from PSCs and provides insights that will improve the differentiation efficiency of PGCLCs from PSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Puyao Zhang
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology and Assisted Reproductive Technology and Key Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction, Ministry of Education, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Sengren Xue
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Rongrong Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Jian Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Bing Bai
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Dexuan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Ahjol Hyraht
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Nianqin Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Honglian Shao
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Yong Fan
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Key Laboratory for Major Obstetric Diseases of Guangdong Province, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Weizhi Ji
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Shihua Yang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yang Yu
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology and Assisted Reproductive Technology and Key Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction, Ministry of Education, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Tao Tan
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
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Castro ANC, Díaz MC, Mendoza Torres GJ, Moreno Burgos B, Zanuzzi C, Illia MC, Lendez PA, Carril J, Ghezzi MD, Bodiola Diez JJ, Barbeito CG. Patterns of proliferation and cell differentiation during hepatic ontogeny in the alpaca. Tissue Cell 2021; 71:101589. [PMID: 34274592 DOI: 10.1016/j.tice.2021.101589] [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: 04/05/2021] [Revised: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
The liver has multiple functions that change throughout ontogeny. South American camelids (SAC) have unique characteristics related to adaptation to extreme environments and metabolism. However, the process of hepatic cell differentiation has not been studied in any SAC. We study the patterns of cell differentiation and proliferation in the liver of the alpaca at different times of the ontogeny, excluding the hematopoietic components. Immunohistochemical techniques were performed in 66 specimens, including embryos, fetuses, neonates and adults. Supplementary analyses were performed by lectinhistochemistry. The hepatocytic differentiation was performed by the identification of Hepatocyte (Clone: OCH1ES Dako®). It began in the specimens of 1.8-2.5 cm of crown to rump length (CRL), from Days 25-29 (ovulation = Day 0), continued during gestation and intensified towards its end. The cholangiocytic differentiation was performed by the identification of cytokeratin 7 (CK7, Dako®). It was manifested at the final of gestation (specimens of 28.4 cm CRL, from Day 223 onwards). Parenchymal cells underwent a process of gradual differentiation (differentiation of hepatocytes preceded that of cholangiocytes). Cell proliferation was observed along gestation using the nuclear proliferation antigen (PCNA) and Ki-67. Hepatic organogenesis in the alpacas shares similar differentiation and proliferation mechanisms with other altricial, but phylogenetically distant, species.
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Affiliation(s)
- A N C Castro
- Laboratorio de Anatomía, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, Campus Universitario (7000), Tandil, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - M C Díaz
- Laboratorio de Embriología, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, Campus Universitario (7000), Tandil, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - G J Mendoza Torres
- Laboratorio de Anatomía, Facultad de Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Av. Honorio Delgado 430, Distrito San Martín de Porres, Lima, Perú
| | - B Moreno Burgos
- Departamento de Patología Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Zaragoza, Av. Miguel Servet 177, Zaragoza, España
| | - C Zanuzzi
- Laboratorio de Histología y Embriología Descriptiva, Experimental y Comparada. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, CONICET, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Calle 60 y 118, La Plata, 1900, Argentina
| | - M Carrica Illia
- Laboratorio de Anatomía, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, Campus Universitario (7000), Tandil, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - P A Lendez
- Laboratorio de Anatomía, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, Campus Universitario (7000), Tandil, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - J Carril
- Laboratorio de Histología y Embriología Descriptiva, Experimental y Comparada. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, CONICET, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Calle 60 y 118, La Plata, 1900, Argentina
| | - M D Ghezzi
- Laboratorio de Anatomía, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, Campus Universitario (7000), Tandil, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - J J Bodiola Diez
- Departamento de Patología Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Zaragoza, Av. Miguel Servet 177, Zaragoza, España
| | - C G Barbeito
- Laboratorio de Histología y Embriología Descriptiva, Experimental y Comparada. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, CONICET, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Calle 60 y 118, La Plata, 1900, Argentina.
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Wang JW, Chen Y, Liu QC, Liu GZ, Zhang SY, Guo YJ, Li DH, Chen XT, Lin C, Gao F. HNF-1 binding point mutation of the AFP gene promotes cirrhosis in post-menopausal women. Int J Biol Markers 2020; 35:41-46. [PMID: 31992114 DOI: 10.1177/1724600819900510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE α-fetoprotein (AFP) expression is activated during the embryonic stage or hepatocellular carcinogenesis, so it is presumed that AFP is a key endogenous molecule to promote cell proliferation or differentiation. We carried out gene screening in an unknown family with hyper-alpha-fetoproteinemia and some sporadic menopausal women, and discussed the relationship between AFP expression and liver cirrhosis. METHODS Peripheral blood samples from family members, patients with malignant liver tumors, and normal controls were collected. Full-length sequence of AFP was amplified and directly sequenced, and compared with normal controls. HNF-1α and HNF-1β in plasma levels of family members, patients with liver cancer, newborns, pregnant women, and normal subjects were detected by ELISA, and the relationship between HNF-1 and AFP mutation or high expression was evaluated. RESULTS There was a mutation in AFP promoter region at c.-200 C>T, which was located at the binding site of AFP hepatocyte nuclear factor 1 (HNF-1). AFP was higher than 4000 ng/L in all members carrying the mutation, but liver cancer was excluded in the family with hyper-alpha-fetoprotein. However, cirrhosis occurred in post-menopausal women. The cases reviewed showed that unknown hyper-alpha-fetoprotein was closely related to HNF-1 binding point of AFP in post-menopausal women with cirrhosis (7/11), while the plasma levels of HNF-1α and HNF-1β were not significantly different. CONCLUSION The mutation of the HNF-1 binding point of AFP may lead to an abnormal high expression of AFP by altering the binding of HNF transcription factors, which is closely related to cirrhosis in menopausal women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing-Wen Wang
- Department of Pathology, 1st Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Yong Chen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Mindong Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuan, China
| | - Qi-Cai Liu
- Department of Reproductive Medicine Centre, 1st Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Guo-Zhong Liu
- Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, 1st Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Shu-Yu Zhang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical Technology and Engineering College, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Yu-Jia Guo
- Department of Reproductive Medicine Centre, 1st Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Dong-Hong Li
- Department of Reproductive Medicine Centre, 1st Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Xing-Ting Chen
- Department of Reproductive Medicine Centre, 1st Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Chen Lin
- Department of Reproductive Medicine Centre, 1st Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Feng Gao
- Department of Pathology, 1st Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
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Zhang H, Shi JH, Jiang H, Wang K, Lu JY, Jiang X, Ma X, Chen YX, Ren AJ, Zheng J, Xie Z, Guo S, Xu X, Zhang WJ. ZBTB20 regulates EGFR expression and hepatocyte proliferation in mouse liver regeneration. Cell Death Dis 2018; 9:462. [PMID: 29700307 PMCID: PMC5920068 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-018-0514-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2017] [Revised: 03/21/2018] [Accepted: 03/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Liver has a unique regenerative capacity, however, its regulatory mechanism is not fully defined. We have established the zinc-finger protein ZBTB20 as a key transcriptional repressor for alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) gene in liver. As a marker of hepatic differentiation, AFP expression is closely associated with hepatocyte proliferation. Unexpectedly, here we showed that ZBTB20 acts as a positive regulator of hepatic replication and is required for efficient liver regeneration. The mice specifically lacking ZBTB20 in hepatocytes exhibited a remarkable defect in liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy, which was characterized by impaired hepatocyte proliferation along with delayed cyclin D1 induction and diminished AKT activation. Furthermore, we found that epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression was dramatically reduced in the liver in the absence of ZBTB20, thereby substantially attenuating the activation of EGFR signaling pathway in regenerating liver. Adenovirus-mediated EGFR overexpression in ZBTB20-deficient hepatocytes could largely restore AKT activation in response to EGFR ligands in vitro, as well as hepatocyte replication in liver regeneration. Furthermore, ZBTB20 overexpression could significantly restore hepatic EGFR expression and cell proliferation after hepatectomy in ZBTB20-deficient liver. Taken together, our data point to ZBTB20 as a critical regulator of EGFR expression and hepatocyte proliferation in mouse liver regeneration, and may serve as a potential therapeutic target in clinical settings of liver regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hai Zhang
- Department of Pathophysiology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Jian-Hui Shi
- Department of Pathophysiology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Hui Jiang
- Department of Pathophysiology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Kejia Wang
- Department of Pathophysiology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Jun-Yu Lu
- Department of Pathophysiology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Xuchao Jiang
- Department of Pathophysiology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Xianhua Ma
- Department of Pathophysiology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Yu-Xia Chen
- Department of Pathophysiology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - An-Jing Ren
- Department of Pathophysiology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Jianming Zheng
- Department of Pathology, Changhai Hospital, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Zhifang Xie
- Department of Pathophysiology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Shaodong Guo
- Department of Nutrition and Metabolism, Texas University of Agriculture and Mechanics, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Xiongfei Xu
- Department of Pathophysiology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China.
| | - Weiping J Zhang
- Department of Pathophysiology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China.
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Huang GQ, Xie YY, Zhu PW, Wang XD, Lin Z, Wang Y, Ye JP, Wang YM, Chen YX, Jin XZ, Van Poucke S, Chen YP, Zheng MH. Stratified alpha-fetoprotein pattern accurately predicts mortality in patients with acute-on-chronic hepatitis B liver failure. Expert Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 2018; 12:295-302. [PMID: 29300103 DOI: 10.1080/17474124.2018.1424540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) has been shown to predict the prognosis of liver disease in several studies. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of stratified AFP in patients with acute-on-chronic hepatitis B liver failure (ACHBLF). METHODS A total of 192 patients were included and AFP were categorized into quartiles. The prognostic value was determined for overall survival (OS) and assessed by Kaplan-Meier analysis. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analyses studied the association of all independent parameters with disease prognosis. RESULTS The optimal cut-off points of AFP were: (Q1) 252.3-4800.0 ng/ml, (Q2) 76.0-252.2 ng/ml, (Q3) 18.6-75.9 ng/ml, and (Q4) 0.7-18.5 ng/ml. Based on the Kaplan-Meier analysis of the OS, each AFP quartile revealed a progressively worse OS and apparent separation (log-rank P = 0.006). The second-highest quartiles of AFP (Q2) always demonstrated an extremely favorable short-term survival. Combining the lowest AFP quartiles with a serum sodium < 131mmol/L or an INR ≥ 3.3 showed a poor outcome (90-days survival of 25.0% and 11.9% respectively). CONCLUSIONS Stratified AFP could strengthen the predictive power for short-term survival of patients with ACHBLF. Combining AFP quartiles with low serum sodium and high INR may better predict poor outcome in ACHBLF patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gui-Qian Huang
- a Department of Hepatology, Liver Research Center , The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University , Wenzhou , China.,b Department of Neurology , The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University , Wenzhou , China
| | - Yao-Yao Xie
- c Department of Clinical Laboratory , The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University , Wenzhou , China
| | - Pei-Wu Zhu
- c Department of Clinical Laboratory , The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University , Wenzhou , China
| | - Xiao-Dong Wang
- a Department of Hepatology, Liver Research Center , The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University , Wenzhou , China.,d Institute of Hepatology , Wenzhou Medical University , Wenzhou , China
| | - Zhuo Lin
- a Department of Hepatology, Liver Research Center , The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University , Wenzhou , China.,d Institute of Hepatology , Wenzhou Medical University , Wenzhou , China
| | - Yan Wang
- a Department of Hepatology, Liver Research Center , The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University , Wenzhou , China
| | - Jiang-Pin Ye
- a Department of Hepatology, Liver Research Center , The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University , Wenzhou , China
| | - Yu-Min Wang
- c Department of Clinical Laboratory , The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University , Wenzhou , China
| | - Ying-Xiao Chen
- a Department of Hepatology, Liver Research Center , The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University , Wenzhou , China
| | - Xiao-Zhi Jin
- a Department of Hepatology, Liver Research Center , The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University , Wenzhou , China
| | - Sven Van Poucke
- e Department of Anesthesiology, Intensive Care, Emergency Medicine and Pain Therapy , Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg , Genk , Belgium
| | - Yong-Ping Chen
- a Department of Hepatology, Liver Research Center , The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University , Wenzhou , China.,d Institute of Hepatology , Wenzhou Medical University , Wenzhou , China
| | - Ming-Hua Zheng
- a Department of Hepatology, Liver Research Center , The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University , Wenzhou , China.,d Institute of Hepatology , Wenzhou Medical University , Wenzhou , China
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De Mees C, Bakker J, Szpirer J, Szpirer C. Alpha-Fetoprotein: From a Diagnostic Biomarker to a Key Role in Female Fertility. Biomark Insights 2017. [DOI: 10.1177/117727190600100002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is a well-known diagnostic biomarker used in medicine to detect fetal developmental anomalies such as neural tube defects or Down's syndrome, or to follow up the development of tumors such as hepatocellular carcinomas. However, and despite the fact that the protein was discovered almost half a century ago, little was known about its physiological function. The study of Afp knock-out mice uncovered a surprising function of AFP: it is essential for female fertility and for expression of normal female behaviors, and this action is mediated through its estrogen binding capacity. AFP sequestrates estrogens and by so doing protects the female developing brain from deleterious (defeminizing/masculinizing) effects of these hormones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christelle De Mees
- Université Libre de Bruxelles, Institut de Biologie et de Médecine Moléculaires, Rue Profs Jeener & Brachet, 12; B-6041 Gosselies (Charleroi), Belgium
| | - Julie Bakker
- University of Liège, Center for Cellular & Molecular Neurobiology, Avenue de l'Hopital 1, B36; B-4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - Josiane Szpirer
- Université Libre de Bruxelles, Institut de Biologie et de Médecine Moléculaires, Rue Profs Jeener & Brachet, 12; B-6041 Gosselies (Charleroi), Belgium
| | - Claude Szpirer
- Université Libre de Bruxelles, Institut de Biologie et de Médecine Moléculaires, Rue Profs Jeener & Brachet, 12; B-6041 Gosselies (Charleroi), Belgium
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Jeon Y, Choi YS, Jang ES, Kim JW, Jeong SH. Persistent α-Fetoprotein Elevation in Healthy Adults and Mutational Analysis of α-Fetoprotein Promoter, Enhancer, and Silencer Regions. Gut Liver 2017; 11:136-141. [PMID: 27609486 PMCID: PMC5221871 DOI: 10.5009/gnl16069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2016] [Revised: 04/02/2016] [Accepted: 04/21/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background/Aims α-Fetoprotein (AFP) is normally <10 ng/mL in adults without malignancy or liver regeneration. However, hereditary or nonhereditary persistence of AFP in healthy adults may be encountered in clinical practice. This study describes four cases of persistent AFP elevation in healthy adults and investigates mutations in key transcription regulatory regions of the AFP gene as potential drivers of AFP overexpression. Methods Four healthy adults with persistently elevated AFP levels (12.1 to 186.1 ng/mL) for >1 year, and 20 controls with low AFP levels (<0.61 to 2.9 ng/mL) were included in the study. AFP levels were collected from the families of two of the patients. We sequenced five regions that are critical for AFP expression: a promoter, two enhancers, and two silencers. Results One of the two cases in which family information was represented is the first case of hereditary persistence of AFP in South Korea. Mutations related to AFP overexpression were not found in the transcription regulatory regions among the four patients. Conclusions Persistent AFP elevation is a heterogeneous condition with or without a hereditary pattern and may be caused by factors outside of transcription regulatory region changes. Further research on the mechanism of AFP elevation is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yejoo Jeon
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea
| | - Yun Suk Choi
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea
| | - Eun Sun Jang
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea
| | - Jin Wook Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea
| | - Sook-Hyang Jeong
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea
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Gebert C, Rong Q, Jeong S, Iben J, Pfeifer K. H19ICR mediated transcriptional silencing does not require target promoter methylation. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2016; 476:121-6. [PMID: 27178213 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2016.05.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2016] [Accepted: 05/03/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Transcription of the reciprocally imprinted genes Insulin-like growth factor 2 (Igf2) and H19 is orchestrated by the 2.4-kb H19 Imprinting Control Region (H19ICR) located upstream of H19. Three known functions are associated with the H19ICR: (1) it is a germline differentially methylated region, (2) it is a transcriptional insulator, and (3) it is a transcriptional silencer. The molecular mechanisms of the DMR and insulator functions have been well characterized but the basis for the ICR's silencer function is less well understood. In order to study the role the H19ICR intrinsically plays in gene silencing, we transferred the 2.4-kb H19ICR to a heterologous non-imprinted location on chromosome 5, upstream of the alpha fetoprotein (Afp) promoter. Independent of its orientation, the 2.4-kb H19ICR silences transcription from the paternal Afp promoter. Thus silencing is a function intrinsic to this DNA element. Further, ICR mediated silencing is a developmental process that, unexpectedly, does not occur through DNA methylation at the target promoter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Gebert
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Qi Rong
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Sangkyun Jeong
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - James Iben
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Karl Pfeifer
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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Zhang YM, Liu ZR, Cui ZL, Yang C, Yang L, Li Y, Shen ZY. Interleukin-22 contributes to liver regeneration in mice with concanavalin A-induced hepatitis after hepatectomy. World J Gastroenterol 2016; 22:2081-91. [PMID: 26877612 PMCID: PMC4726680 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v22.i6.2081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2015] [Revised: 07/21/2015] [Accepted: 10/23/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM To investigate the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of interleukin (IL)-22 in liver regeneration in mice with concanavalin A (ConA)-induced liver injury following 70% hepatectomy. METHODS Mice were injected intravenously with ConA at 10 μg/g body weight 4 d before 70% hepatectomy to create a hepatitis model, and recombinant IL-22 was injected at 0.125 μg/g body weight 30 min prior to 70% hepatectomy to create a therapy model. Control animals received an intravenous injection of an identical volume of normal saline. RESULTS IL-22 treatment prior to 70% hepatectomy performed under general anesthesia resulted in reductions in the biochemical and histological evidence of liver injury, earlier proliferating cell nuclear antigen expression and accelerated recovery of liver mass. IL-22 pretreatment also significantly induced signal transducer and activator of transcription factor 3 (STAT3) activation and increased the expression of a variety of mitogenic proteins, such as Cyclin D1. Furthermore, alpha fetal protein mRNA expression was significantly elevated after IL-22 treatment. CONCLUSION In this study, we demonstrated that IL-22 is a survival factor for hepatocytes and prevents and repairs liver injury by enhancing pro-growth pathways via STAT3 activation. Treatment with IL-22 protein may represent a novel therapeutic strategy for preventing liver injury in patients with liver disease who have undergone hepatectomy.
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2D DIGE proteomic analysis highlights delayed postnatal repression of α-fetoprotein expression in homocystinuria model mice. FEBS Open Bio 2015. [PMID: 26199862 PMCID: PMC4506956 DOI: 10.1016/j.fob.2015.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Cystathionine β-synthase-deficient (Cbs (-/-)) mice, an animal model for homocystinuria, exhibit hepatic steatosis and juvenile semilethality via as yet unknown mechanisms. The plasma protein profile of Cbs (-/-) mice was investigated by proteomic analysis using two-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight/mass spectrometry. We found hyperaccumulation of α-fetoprotein (AFP) and downregulation of most other plasma proteins. AFP was highly expressed in fetal liver, but its expression declined dramatically via transcriptional repression after birth in both wild-type and Cbs (-/-) mice. However, the repression was delayed in Cbs (-/-) mice, causing high postnatal AFP levels, which may relate to transcriptional repression of most plasma proteins originating from liver and the observed hepatic dysfunction.
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Key Words
- 2D DIGE
- 2D DIGE, two-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis
- AFP, α-fetoprotein
- CBS, cystathionine β-synthase
- CTH, cystathionine γ-lyase
- Cystathionine β-synthase
- DTT, dithiothreitol
- HCC, hepatocellular carcinoma
- IEF, isoelectric focusing
- IPG, immobilized pH gradient
- MALDI-TOF/MS
- MALDI-TOF/MS, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight/mass spectrometry
- NAFLD, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
- PAGE, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis
- Proteomics
- Transcriptional regulation
- qPCR, quantitative polymerase chain reaction
- α-Fetoprotein
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11
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Zhang H, Cao D, Zhou L, Zhang Y, Guo X, Li H, Chen Y, Spear BT, Wu JW, Xie Z, Zhang WJ. ZBTB20 is a sequence-specific transcriptional repressor of alpha-fetoprotein gene. Sci Rep 2015; 5:11979. [PMID: 26173901 PMCID: PMC4648434 DOI: 10.1038/srep11979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2014] [Accepted: 06/12/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) represents a classical model system to study developmental gene regulation in mammalian cells. We previously reported that liver ZBTB20 is developmentally regulated and plays a central role in AFP postnatal repression. Here we show that ZBTB20 is a sequence-specific transcriptional repressor of AFP. By ELISA-based DNA-protein binding assay and conventional gel shift assay, we successfully identified a ZBTB20-binding site at −104/−86 of mouse AFP gene, flanked by two HNF1 sites and two C/EBP sites in the proximal promoter. Importantly, mutation of the core sequence in this site fully abolished its binding to ZBTB20 in vitro, as well as the repression of AFP promoter activity by ZBTB20. The unique ZBTB20 site was highly conserved in rat and human AFP genes, but absent in albumin genes. These help to explain the autonomous regulation of albumin and AFP genes in the liver after birth. Furthermore, we demonstrated that transcriptional repression of AFP gene by ZBTB20 was liver-specific. ZBTB20 was dispensable for AFP silencing in other tissues outside liver. Our data define a cognate ZBTB20 site in AFP promoter which mediates the postnatal repression of AFP gene in the liver.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hai Zhang
- 1] Department of Pathophysiology, Second Military Medical University, 800 Xiangyin Road, Shanghai 200433, China [2]
| | - Dongmei Cao
- 1] Department of Pathophysiology, Second Military Medical University, 800 Xiangyin Road, Shanghai 200433, China [2]
| | - Luting Zhou
- 1] Department of Pathophysiology, Second Military Medical University, 800 Xiangyin Road, Shanghai 200433, China [2]
| | - Ye Zhang
- Department of Pathophysiology, Second Military Medical University, 800 Xiangyin Road, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Xiaoqin Guo
- Department of Pathophysiology, Second Military Medical University, 800 Xiangyin Road, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Hui Li
- Department of Pathophysiology, Second Military Medical University, 800 Xiangyin Road, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Yuxia Chen
- Department of Pathophysiology, Second Military Medical University, 800 Xiangyin Road, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Brett T Spear
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology &Molecular Genetics, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, 800 Rose Street, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
| | - Jia-Wei Wu
- MOE Key Laboratory for Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Zhifang Xie
- Department of Pathophysiology, Second Military Medical University, 800 Xiangyin Road, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Weiping J Zhang
- Department of Pathophysiology, Second Military Medical University, 800 Xiangyin Road, Shanghai 200433, China
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12
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Marchio A, Bertani S, Rojas Rojas T, Doimi F, Terris B, Deharo E, Dejean A, Ruiz E, Pineau P. A peculiar mutation spectrum emerging from young peruvian patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. PLoS One 2014; 9:e114912. [PMID: 25502816 PMCID: PMC4263719 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0114912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2014] [Accepted: 11/15/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma usually afflicts individuals in their later years following longstanding liver disease. In Peru, hepatocellular carcinoma exists in a unique clinical presentation, which affects patients around age 25 with a normal, healthy liver. In order to deepen our understanding of the molecular processes ongoing in Peruvian liver tumors, mutation spectrum analysis was carried out on hepatocellular carcinomas from 80 Peruvian patients. Sequencing analysis focused on nine genes typically altered during liver carcinogenesis, i.e. ARID2, AXIN1, BRAF, CTNNB1, NFE2L2, H/K/N-RAS, and TP53. We also assessed the transcription level of factors involved in the control of the alpha-fetoprotein expression and the Hippo signaling pathway that controls contact inhibition in metazoans. The mutation spectrum of Peruvian patients was unique with a major class of alterations represented by Insertions/Deletions. There were no changes at hepatocellular carcinoma-associated mutation hotspots in more than half of the specimens analyzed. Furthermore, our findings support the theory of a consistent collapse in the Hippo axis, as well as an expression of the stemness factor NANOG in high alpha-fetoprotein-expressing hepatocellular carcinomas. These results confirm the specificity of Peruvian hepatocellular carcinoma at the molecular genetic level. The present study emphasizes the necessity to widen cancer research to include historically neglected patients from South America, and more broadly the Global South, where cancer genetics and tumor presentation are divergent from canonical neoplasms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnès Marchio
- Institut Pasteur, Unité Organisation Nucléaire et Oncogenèse, Paris, France
- INSERM, U993, Paris, France
| | - Stéphane Bertani
- Université de Toulouse, UPS, UMR152 PHARMADEV, Université Toulouse 3, Toulouse, France
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, UMR152 PHARMADEV, Lima, Peru
| | - Teresa Rojas Rojas
- Aix-Marseille Université, UMR912 SESSTIM INSERM-IRD-AMU, Centre d′Epidémiologie et de Santé Publique des Armées, Marseille, France
| | - Franco Doimi
- Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Neoplásicas, Departamento de Patología, Banco de Tejidos Tumorales, Lima, Peru
| | - Benoît Terris
- Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Cochin, Service d'Anatomie et Cytologie Pathologiques, Paris, France
| | - Eric Deharo
- Université de Toulouse, UPS, UMR152 PHARMADEV, Université Toulouse 3, Toulouse, France
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, UMR152 PHARMADEV, Vientiane, Laos
| | - Anne Dejean
- Institut Pasteur, Unité Organisation Nucléaire et Oncogenèse, Paris, France
- INSERM, U993, Paris, France
| | - Eloy Ruiz
- Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Neoplásicas, Departamento de Cirugía en Abdomen, Lima, Peru
| | - Pascal Pineau
- Institut Pasteur, Unité Organisation Nucléaire et Oncogenèse, Paris, France
- INSERM, U993, Paris, France
- * E-mail:
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13
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Luan F, Liu P, Ma H, Yue X, Liu J, Gao L, Liang X, Ma C. Reduced nucleic ZHX2 involves in oncogenic activation of glypican 3 in human hepatocellular carcinoma. Int J Biochem Cell Biol 2014; 55:129-35. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biocel.2014.08.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2014] [Revised: 08/23/2014] [Accepted: 08/27/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and cholangiolocellular carcinoma in cirrhosis and chronic viral hepatitis. Surg Today 2014; 45:682-7. [PMID: 25253466 DOI: 10.1007/s00595-014-1031-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2014] [Accepted: 06/15/2014] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is the second most common primary liver cancer. Cirrhosis and chronic viral hepatitis are known to be important risk factors for ICC, especially the mass-forming (MF) type of ICC at the periphery of the liver. Cholangiolocellular carcinoma (CoCC) is a rare type of primary liver cancer, which is thought to originate from hepatic progenitor or stem cells. CoCC often exhibits the similar MF type at the periphery of the liver, as ICC, and CoCC is also associated with cirrhosis or chronic viral hepatitis. Better survival rates after surgery have been reported for ICC patients with chronic viral hepatitis than for those without chronic viral hepatitis, although survival rates did not differ significantly in relation to cirrhosis. On the other hand, patients with CoCC had better surgical results than those with MF-type ICC. This review summarizes the clinical characteristics and surgical outcomes of ICC and CoCC associated with cirrhosis or chronic viral hepatitis.
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15
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Wu ZF, Yang N, Li DY, Zhang HB, Yang GS. Characteristics of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma in patients with hepatitis B virus infection: clinicopathologic study of resected tumours. J Viral Hepat 2013; 20:306-10. [PMID: 23565611 DOI: 10.1111/jvh.12005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2012] [Accepted: 07/01/2012] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Recent efforts suggest an aetiological role of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). The purpose of this study was to clarify the clinicopathologic characteristics and surgical outcomes of patients with HBV-associated ICC. All patients with chronic HBV infection were identified from a database of patients with ICC that underwent surgical resection between 1 January 2005 and 31 December 2006. Their clinicopathologic and survival characteristics were compared with ICC patients without chronic HBV infection. The age of the HBV-associated ICC patients tend to be younger than that of ICC patients without chronic HBV infection. HBV-associated ICC patients tend to have higher abnormal α-fetoprotein levels and lower abnormal serum carbohydrate antigen19-9 (CA19-9), r-glutamyltransferase (r-GT) and alkaline phosphatase levels. The pathologic features of the resected specimens revealed that HBV-associated ICC patients tended to be of the mass-forming type have a lower prevalence of lymphatic involvement and poorer tumour differentiation, and a higher prevalence of capsule formation and liver cirrhosis. Patients with HBV-associated ICC had a significantly better survival than patients without chronic HBV infection. The clinicopathological features of HBV-associated ICC patients showed significant differences from ICC patients without HBV infection. These tumours are characterized by the mass-forming growth pattern and appeared to have a more favourable prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Z-F Wu
- Fifth Department of Hepatic Surgery, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200438, China
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16
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Park JH, Kim KI, Lee YJ, Lee TS, Kim KM, Nahm SS, Park YS, Cheon GJ, Lim SM, Kang JH. Non-invasive monitoring of hepatocellular carcinoma in transgenic mouse with bioluminescent imaging. Cancer Lett 2011; 310:53-60. [PMID: 21741167 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2011.06.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2011] [Revised: 05/27/2011] [Accepted: 06/09/2011] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
A small animal imaging system for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)-specific reporter gene expression will enable monitoring of carcinogenesis or therapeutic intervention in vivo. Transgenic mouse was developed in which firefly luciferase (fLuc) expression was controlled by the AFP enhancer/promoter. The bioluminescent signals of the transgenic neonates were strong at their liver region and decreased after birth. Bioluminescent imaging (BLI) of a transgenic mouse treated with N-nitrosodiethylamine revealed distinct fLuc activity in the liver and an increased pattern with time. The transgenic mouse model can be used to monitor AFP producing HCC by a chemical carcinogen in a live animal by BLI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ju Hui Park
- Molecular Imaging Research Center, Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences (KIRAMS), Seoul 139-706, Republic of Korea
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17
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Peterson ML, Ma C, Spear BT. Zhx2 and Zbtb20: novel regulators of postnatal alpha-fetoprotein repression and their potential role in gene reactivation during liver cancer. Semin Cancer Biol 2011; 21:21-7. [PMID: 21216289 PMCID: PMC3313486 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2011.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2010] [Revised: 12/22/2010] [Accepted: 01/04/2011] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The mouse alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) gene is abundantly expressed in the fetal liver, normally silent in the adult liver but is frequently reactivated in hepatocellular carcinoma. The basis for AFP expression in the fetal liver has been studied extensively. However, the basis for AFP reactivation during hepatocarcinogenesis is not well understood. Two novel factors that control postnatal AFP repression, Zhx2 and Zbtb20, were recently identified. Here, we review the transcription factors that regulate AFP in the fetal liver, as well as Zhx2 and Zbtb20, and raise the possibility that the loss of these postnatal repressors may be involved in AFP reactivation in liver cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martha L Peterson
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics and Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
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18
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Peng NF, Li LQ, Qin X, Guo Y, Peng T, Xiao KY, Chen XG, Yang YF, Su ZX, Chen B, Su M, Qi LN. Evaluation of risk factors and clinicopathologic features for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma in Southern China: a possible role of hepatitis B virus. Ann Surg Oncol 2011; 18:1258-66. [PMID: 21207172 DOI: 10.1245/s10434-010-1458-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2010] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recent efforts suggest an etiologic role of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) and the involvement of hepatic progenitor cell in ICC development, without definitive conclusions. This case-control study was undertaken to investigate risk factors for ICC, and clinicopathological features of HBV-associated ICC were analyzed. METHODS The report comprised 98 patients with pathologically confirmed ICC and 196 healthy control subjects. Logistic regression was used to determine odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. The sex and age distributions of HBV-related and unrelated ICC patients were compared respectively with those of 882 HBV-associated hepatocellular carcinoma patients from a random selection, and the clinicopathological data of 62 ICC patients with or without HBV infection undergoing surgical resection were compared. RESULTS There was an association between ICC and each of HBV infection, liver cirrhosis, hepatolithiasis, and liver fluke infestation with the odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) of 2.75 (1.27-5.95), 8.42 (2.50-28.37), 22.81 (7.16-72.68), and 3.55 (1.60-7.89), respectively, with a marked synergism of cirrhosis and HBV infection (20.67; 5.40-79.06). Compared with HBV-unrelated ICC patients, HBV-related ICC patients were more common in male and younger subjects, had a higher incidence of abnormal serum alfa-fetoprotein level, cirrhosis, and neutrophilic infiltration, and had a lower proportion of elevated carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) values. CONCLUSIONS The independent association of HBV infection with ICC, synergy between cirrhosis and HBV infection, and some clinicopathological similarities between HBV-related ICC and hepatocellular carcinoma suggests that both may share similar or common tumorigenic process and may possibly originate from malignant transformation of hepatic progenitor cell.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning-Fu Peng
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Guangxi Medical University, Guangxi Province, China
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19
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Li W, Qin J, Li X, Zhang L, Liu C, Chen F, Wang Z, Zhang L, Zhang X, Lahn BT, Xiang AP. A versatile tool for tracking the differentiation of human embryonic stem cells. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2010. [DOI: 10.1007/s11515-010-0870-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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20
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Pillich RT, Scarsella G, Risuleo G. Regeneration and DNA demethylation do not trigger PDX-1 expression in rat hepatocytes. World J Biol Chem 2010; 1:281-5. [PMID: 21537485 PMCID: PMC3083974 DOI: 10.4331/wjbc.v1.i9.281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2010] [Revised: 06/22/2010] [Accepted: 06/29/2010] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM: To explore the possibility that PDX-1 gene is reactivated as a consequence of molecular events that occur during liver regeneration.
METHODS: Rat hepatocytes were maintained in DMEM-F12, 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS), penicillin/streptomycin and geneticin when applicable. Rat insulinoma RIN 1046-38 cells were maintained in M-199-10% FBS and penicillin/streptomycin. The final concentration of glucose was 11.1 mmol/L. During regeneration, lateral and medial liver lobes of adult male Wistar rats were surgically removed, with up 70% loss of liver mass. In methylation experiments, 5-aza-deoxycytidine (5-aza-dC) was used. Primer3 software was used for polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Quantitative real time PCR (qRT-PCR) was performed using SYBR Green technology; primers were designed by Beacon Designer 6 software. Western blotting and SDS-PAGE were performed according to standard procedures. Antibodies were purchased from commercial suppliers.
RESULTS: We explored the possibility that liver regeneration could trigger PDX-1 expression, and hence insulin production. Twenty-four hours after surgical liver removal, regeneration was active as demonstrated by the increased proliferating cell nuclear antigen; however, all the other checked genes (involved in insulin gene expression): PC-1, Ngn3, NeuroD1, Btc, PDX-1 and Ins-1, were not related to the molecular events caused by this process. The only marker detected in regenerating liver was E47: a transcription factor of the the basic helix-loop-helix family known to be expressed ubiquitously in mammalian cells. In the rat pancreas, almost all of the tested genes were expressed as shown by RT-PCR, except for Ngn3, which was silenced 2 d after birth. Therefore, the molecular events in liver regeneration are not sufficient to promote PDX-1 expression. DNA methylation is a known mechanism to achieve stable repression of gene expression in mammals: Hxk 2 gene is silenced through this mechanism in normal hepatocytes. The administration of 5-aza-dC to cultured cells is in fact able to upregulate Hxk 2 mRNA. We investigated whether PDX-1 silencing in liver cells could be exerted through methylation of CpG islands in both the promoter and the gene coding regions. The results show that the drug increased the expression level of the Hxk 2 control gene but failed to rescue the expression of PDX-1, thus DNA demethylation is not sufficient to override repression of the PDX-1 gene.
CONCLUSION: During liver regeneration, PDX-1 gene is not reactivated. Demethylation does not de-repress PDX-1 gene expression. Therefore gene silencing is not achieved through this epigenetic mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rudolf T Pillich
- Rudolf T Pillich, Gianfranco Scarsella, Gianfranco Risuleo, Department of Biology and Biotechnologies "Charles Darwin", Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
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21
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Alpha-fetoprotein producing cells act as cancer progenitor cells in human cholangiocarcinoma. Cancer Lett 2010; 294:25-34. [PMID: 20149523 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2010.01.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2009] [Revised: 01/12/2010] [Accepted: 01/18/2010] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
We aimed to demonstrate that alpha-fetoprotein (AFP)-producing cells in cholangiocarcinomas possessed cancer stem cell (CSC)-like properties. AFP enhancer/promoter-driven EGFP gene was transfected into human cholangiocarcinoma cell lines. One cell line, RBE, expressed both AFP and EGFP. Clonal analyses revealed that one EGFP-positive cell generated both EGFP-positive and EGFP-negative cell fractions. However, one EGFP-negative cell never produced EGFP-positive cells. The EGFP-positive cells had a greater tumorigenic potential. Only the EGFP-positive cells expressed Notch1. AFP and Notch1 expression was observed in clinical intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas. The AFP-producing cells were suggested to be CSCs. The Notch pathway might play an important role in maintaining the CSC characteristics.
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H19 imprinting control region methylation requires an imprinted environment only in the male germ line. Mol Cell Biol 2009; 30:1108-15. [PMID: 20038532 DOI: 10.1128/mcb.00575-09] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The 2.4-kb H19 imprinting control region (H19ICR) is required to establish parent-of-origin-specific epigenetic marks and expression patterns at the Igf2/H19 locus. H19ICR activity is regulated by DNA methylation. The ICR is methylated in sperm but not in oocytes, and this paternal chromosome-specific methylation is maintained throughout development. We recently showed that the H19ICR can work as an ICR even when inserted into the normally nonimprinted alpha fetoprotein locus. Paternal but not maternal copies of the ICR become methylated in somatic tissue. However, the ectopic ICR remains unmethylated in sperm. To extend these findings and investigate the mechanisms that lead to methylation of the H19ICR in the male germ line, we characterized novel mouse knock-in lines. Our data confirm that the 2.4-kb element is an autonomously acting ICR whose function is not dependent on germ line methylation. Ectopic ICRs become methylated in the male germ line, but the timing of methylation is influenced by the insertion site and by additional genetic information. Our results support the idea that DNA methylation is not the primary genomic imprint and that the H19ICR insertion is sufficient to transmit parent-of-origin-dependent DNA methylation patterns independent of its methylation status in sperm.
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Sugawara M, Okamoto K, Kadowaki T, Kusano K, Fukamizu A, Yoshimura T. Expressions of cytochrome P450, UDP-glucuronosyltranferase, and transporter genes in monolayer carcinoma cells change in subcutaneous tumors grown as xenografts in immunodeficient nude mice. Drug Metab Dispos 2009; 38:526-33. [PMID: 20007293 DOI: 10.1124/dmd.109.030668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Human tumors grown as xenografts in immunodeficient nude mice are widely used to investigate the pharmacological activities of anticancer drugs. Drug-metabolizing enzymes and transporters are expressed in tumor cell lines and changes in drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics (DMPK)-related gene expression after inoculation of the tumor cell may affect the pharmacological activity of the drug under consideration. The aims of the current study were to characterize DMPK-related gene expression profiles and responses to typical cytochrome P450 inducers in monolayer carcinoma cells grown in tissue culture versus those inoculated into a xenograft model. We used the human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line PLC/PRF/5 for this study and comprehensively assessed changes in DMPK-related gene expression by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction quantitation. CYP3A4 and UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1A protein amounts were also analyzed by immunoprecipitation followed by immunoblotting. We found that the expression of many DMPK-related genes was elevated in the inoculated tumor compared with the monolayer carcinoma cells, indicating changes in their gene regulation pathways, presumably due to modulation of the nuclear receptor family of transcription factors. In addition, monolayer carcinoma versus inoculated tumor cells showed different responses to rifampicin, but similar responses to dexamethasone or 3-methylcholanthrene. These results suggest that inoculation of tumor cells results in the activation of drug metabolism and transport function, leading to changes in the responses to pregnane X receptor ligands and consequent discrepancies in the pharmacological activities between in vitro monolayer carcinoma cells and in vivo xenograft models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michiko Sugawara
- Tsukuba Research Laboratories, Eisai Co., Ltd., Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
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24
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The alpha-fetoprotein enhancer region activates the albumin and alpha-fetoprotein promoters during liver development. Dev Biol 2009; 336:294-300. [PMID: 19782060 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2009.09.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2009] [Revised: 09/15/2009] [Accepted: 09/15/2009] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The four members of the albumin gene family encode the serum transport proteins albumin, alpha-fetoprotein, alpha-albumin, and vitamin D-binding protein. These genes are transcribed primarily in the liver with each having a different pattern of developmental expression. The tight linkage of these genes, particularly that of albumin, alpha-fetoprotein and alpha-albumin, and their liver-specific expression, has led to the suggestion that these genes share common regulatory elements. To directly examine whether the alpha-fetoprotein enhancer region could regulate the albumin gene family, expression of these genes was monitored in mice in which this region was deleted by homologous recombination. Our data indicate that this enhancer region is required for alpha-fetoprotein and albumin activation early in liver development and alpha-fetoprotein reactivation during liver regeneration, but that albumin, alpha-albumin, and vitamin D-binding protein expression later in hepatic development is not affected by the absence of these enhancers. We also demonstrate that RNA polymerase II loading on the alpha-fetoprotein and albumin promoters is reduced in the absence of this enhancer region, indicating a direct role for these enhancers in the assembly of the RNA Polymerase II complex during liver development.
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25
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Alpha-fetoprotein related gene (ARG): a new member of the albumin gene family that is no longer functional in primates. Gene 2009; 449:95-102. [PMID: 19733224 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2009.08.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2009] [Revised: 07/21/2009] [Accepted: 08/19/2009] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The serum albumin gene family is comprised of albumin, alpha-fetoprotein, alpha-albumin (afamin), and the more distantly related Vitamin D binding protein. These genes arose from a common ancestor through a series of duplication events, are expressed primarily in the liver and tightly linked in all species where this has been investigated. Here, we describe a fifth member of the albumin gene family that we have named Alpha-fetoprotein Related Gene (ARG) since it exhibits greatest similarity to this family member. ARG is activated in the liver perinatally, but is expressed at very low levels. The ARG gene is present and intact in the mouse, rat, dog and horse genomes. In contrast, the ARG gene in human, chimpanzee, rhesus monkey, and marmoset contains a number of mutations common to all four species, indicating that this gene has been an inactive pseudogene in primates for at least 40 million years. Low expression and aberrant splicing of the ARG gene in the mouse liver suggests that ARG may have less functional significance than other members of the serum albumin gene family even in species where it is still intact.
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Momose Y, Matsunaga T, Murai K, Takezawa T, Ohmori S. Differentiation of monkey embryonic stem cells into hepatocytes and mRNA expression of cytochrome p450 enzymes responsible for drug metabolism: comparison of embryoid body formation conditions and matrices. Biol Pharm Bull 2009; 32:619-26. [PMID: 19336894 DOI: 10.1248/bpb.32.619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
We investigated the effects of embryoid body (EB) forming conditions on the expression of hepatocyte marker genes such as alpha-fetoprotein, albumin and CYP7A1 in cells cultured on Matrigel-coated plates for 15 d. The expression levels of hepatocyte marker genes in the cells cultured for 2 d for EB formation from cynomolgus monkey embryonic stem (cmES) cells was higher than those in cells cultured for 5 d. However, the fragment-size of cmES colonies did not markedly affect the expression levels. The expression levels of hepatocyte marker genes, and CYP1A1 and CYP2C43 in cells cultured on Matrigel were considerably higher than those on Matrigel reduced and collagen I. CYP1A1 and CYP3A8 mRNAs were significantly induced by 3-methylcholanthrene and rifampicin, respectively. However, CYP2C43 and CYP2D17 were not induced by these compounds. These results suggested that the differentiation into hepatocytes is affected by the incubation period for EB formation, and that Matrigel successfully promoted in vitro differentiation of cmES cells to hepatocytes.
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27
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Tsai WW, Nguyen TT, Shi Y, Barton MC. p53-targeted LSD1 functions in repression of chromatin structure and transcription in vivo. Mol Cell Biol 2008; 28:5139-46. [PMID: 18573881 PMCID: PMC2519740 DOI: 10.1128/mcb.00287-08] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite years of study focused on the tumor suppressor p53, little is understood about its functions in normal, differentiated cells. We found that p53 directly interacts with lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1) to alter chromatin structure and confer developmental repression of the tumor marker alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and sequential ChIP of developmentally staged liver showed that p53 and LSD1 cooccupy a p53 response element, concomitant with dimethylated histone H3 lysine 4 (H3K4me2) demethylation and postnatal repression of AFP transcription. In p53-null mice, LSD1 binding is depleted, H3K4me2 is increased, and H3K9me2 remains unchanged compared to those of the wild type, underscoring the specificity of p53-LSD1 complexes in demethylation of H3K4me2. We performed partial hepatectomy of wild-type mouse liver and induced a regenerative response, which led to a loss of p53, increased H3K4me2, and decreased LSD1 interaction at AFP chromatin, in parallel with reactivation of AFP expression. In contrast, nuclear translocation of p53 in mouse embryonic fibroblasts led to p53 interaction with p21/CIP1 chromatin, without recruitment of LSD1, and to activation of p21/CIP1. These findings reveal that LSD1 is targeted to chromatin by p53, likely in a gene-specific manner, and define a molecular mechanism by which p53 mediates transcription repression in vivo during differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Wei Tsai
- Dept. of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Box 1000, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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Dominant and Redundant Functions of TFIID Involved in the Regulation of Hepatic Genes. Mol Cell 2008; 31:531-543. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2008.07.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2007] [Revised: 04/18/2008] [Accepted: 07/25/2008] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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Ishii T, Fukumitsu K, Yasuchika K, Adachi K, Kawase E, Suemori H, Nakatsuji N, Ikai I, Uemoto S. Effects of extracellular matrixes and growth factors on the hepatic differentiation of human embryonic stem cells. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 2008; 295:G313-21. [PMID: 18535293 DOI: 10.1152/ajpgi.00072.2008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocytes derived from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) are a potential cell source for regenerative medicine. However, the definitive factors that are responsible for hepatic differentiation of hESCs remain unclear. We aimed to evaluate the effects of various extracellular matrixes and growth factors on endodermal differentiation and to optimize the culture conditions to induce hepatic differentiation of hESCs. The transgene vector that contained enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) under the control of human alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) enhancer/promoter was transfected into hESC lines. The transgenic hESCs were cultured on extracellular matrixes (collagen type I, laminin, and Matrigel) in the presence or absence of growth factors including hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), bone morphogenetic protein 4, fibroblast growth factor 4, all-trans-retinoic acid, and activin A. The expression of AFP-EGFP was measured by flow cytometry. The culture on Matrigel-coated dishes with 100 ng/ml activin A showed 19.5% of EGFP-positive proportions. Moreover, the sequential addition of 100 ng/ml activin A and 20 ng/ml HGF resulted in 21.7% and produced a higher yield of EGFP-positive cells than the group stimulated by activin A alone. RT-PCR and immunocytochemical staining revealed these EGFP-positive cells to differentiate into mesendoderm-like cells by use of activin A and then into hepatic endoderm cells by use of HGF. Two other hESC lines also differentiated into endoderm on the hepatic lineage by our method. In conclusion, we therefore found this protocol to effectively differentiate multiple hESC lines to early hepatocytes using activin A and HGF on Matrigel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takamichi Ishii
- Laboratory of Embryonic Stem Cell Research, Stem Cell Research Center, Institute for Frontier Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Japan.
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Zinc finger protein ZBTB20 is a key repressor of alpha-fetoprotein gene transcription in liver. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2008; 105:10859-64. [PMID: 18669658 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0800647105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) gene is highly activated in fetal liver but is dramatically repressed shortly after birth. The mechanisms that underlie AFP transcriptional repression in postpartum liver are not well understood. AFP enhancer, repressor region, and promoter are implicated to be involved in AFP postnatal repression, but the major transcriptional repressor remains undefined. We previously identified a zinc finger protein gene ZBTB20. To determine its physiological functions in vivo, we have generated hepatocyte-specific ZBTB20 knockout mice by the Cre/loxP approach and demonstrated here that ZBTB20 ablation in liver led to dramatic derepression of the AFP gene in entire liver throughout adult life, although the hepatocytes were normally under nonproliferating status. Furthermore, we found that ZBTB20 was a transcriptional repressor capable of specifically inhibiting AFP promoter-driven transcriptional activity. Liver chromatin immunoprecipitation and mobility shift assays showed that ZBTB20 bound to AFP promoter directly. ZBTB20 was developmentally activated in liver after birth and inversely correlated with its AFP gene expression, suggesting that activated ZBTB20 expression in liver mediated AFP gene repression. Our data point to ZBTB20 as a key regulator governing AFP gene transcription and postulate a new model for the postnatal gene repression of AFP in liver.
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31
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Alpha-fetoprotein and human chorionic gonadotrophin-beta as prognostic markers in neuroendocrine tumour patients. Br J Cancer 2008; 99:72-7. [PMID: 18577995 PMCID: PMC2453040 DOI: 10.1038/sj.bjc.6604428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Serum chromogranin A is the most useful general and prognostic tumour marker available for neuroendocrine tumour (NET) patients. The role of other tumour markers is less clear. In order to determine the diagnostic and prognostic value of serum α-fetoprotein (AFP) and human chorionic gonadotrophin-β (hCGβ) in NETs, a database containing biochemical, histological, and survival data on 360 NET patients was constructed. This data was statistically assessed, using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, to determine the utility of commonly measured tumour markers with particular emphasis on AFP and hCGβ. α-Fetoprotein and hCGβ were raised in 9.5 and 12.3% of patients respectively and jointly raised in 9.1% of patients in whom it was measured. α-Fetoprotein levels associated strongly and positively with tumour grade, serum CgA and hCGβ levels, and worse survival. Human chorionic gonadotrophin-β levels also associated strongly and positively with serum CgA and AFP levels, and worsening survival. α-Fetoprotein and hCGβ are elevated in high-grade NETs, with a rapidly progressive course and poorer survival. They also correlate with chromogranin-A, which is known to be a marker of tumour burden and to have prognostic value. Thus AFP and hCGβ are clinically important in NETs and when elevated are poor prognostic markers.
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32
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Wang P, Zhang H, Li W, Zhao Y, An W. Promoter-defined isolation and identification of hepatic progenitor cells from the human fetal liver. Histochem Cell Biol 2008; 130:375-85. [PMID: 18478249 DOI: 10.1007/s00418-008-0439-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/21/2008] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Hepatoblasts, which are considered one type of hepatic progenitor cell, reside in the fetal liver. To selectively identify these cells, we transfected primary cultured human fetal liver cells (FLCs) with a pGL3 vector bearing the gene for the enhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP) under the control of the alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) promoter expressed in hepatoblasts. The FLCs were then sorted by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) on the basis of AFP promoter-driven EGFP expression. The EGFP-positive cells expressed AFP, albumin, and cytokeratin 19, and could be expanded in vitro. Thus, the AFP promoter-EGFP reporter system is highly useful for identification and isolation of hepatic progenitor cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Wang
- Department of Cell Biology, Municipal Laboratory for Liver Protection and Regulation of Regeneration, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
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33
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Hay DC, Zhao D, Fletcher J, Hewitt ZA, McLean D, Urruticoechea-Uriguen A, Black JR, Elcombe C, Ross JA, Wolf R, Cui W. Efficient differentiation of hepatocytes from human embryonic stem cells exhibiting markers recapitulating liver development in vivo. Stem Cells 2008; 26:894-902. [PMID: 18238852 DOI: 10.1634/stemcells.2007-0718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 333] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The potential to differentiate human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) in vitro to provide an unlimited source of human hepatocytes for use in biomedical research, drug discovery, and the treatment of liver diseases holds great promise. Here we describe a three-stage process for the efficient and reproducible differentiation of hESCs to hepatocytes by priming hESCs towards definitive endoderm with activin A and sodium butyrate prior to further differentiation to hepatocytes with dimethyl sulfoxide, followed by maturation with hepatocyte growth factor and oncostatin M. We have demonstrated that differentiation of hESCs in this process recapitulates liver development in vivo: following initial differentiation, hESCs transiently express characteristic markers of the primitive streak mesendoderm before turning to the markers of the definitive endoderm; with further differentiation, expression of hepatocyte progenitor cell markers and mature hepatocyte markers emerged sequentially. Furthermore, we have provided evidence that the hESC-derived hepatocytes are able to carry out a range of hepatocyte functions: storage of glycogen, and generation and secretion of plasma proteins. More importantly, the hESC-derived hepatocytes express several members of cytochrome P450 isozymes, and these P450 isozymes are capable of converting the substrates to metabolites and respond to the chemical stimulation. Our results have provided evidence that hESCs can be differentiated efficiently in vitro to functional hepatocytes, which may be useful as an in vitro system for toxicity screening in drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- David C Hay
- Institute of Reproductive and Developmental Biology, Imperial College London, Du Cane Rd, London W12ONN, UK
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34
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Differentiation of human embryonic stem cells along a hepatocyte lineage and its application in liver regeneration. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2008. [DOI: 10.1007/s11434-008-0026-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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35
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Perincheri S, Peyton DK, Glenn M, Peterson ML, Spear BT. Characterization of the ETnII-alpha endogenous retroviral element in the BALB/cJ Zhx2 ( Afr1 ) allele. Mamm Genome 2007; 19:26-31. [PMID: 18066620 DOI: 10.1007/s00335-007-9077-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2007] [Accepted: 10/16/2007] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Integration of mouse endogenous retroviral (MERV) elements is responsible for an estimated 10% of spontaneous mutations that have been characterized in the laboratory mouse. We recently identified a MERV integration in the first intron of the Zinc fingers and homeoboxes 2 (Zhx2) gene in BALB/cJ mice, resulting in reduced Zhx2 expression. This integration is found in BALB/cJ but not in other BALB/c substrains, indicating that it occurred after these substrains separated in the late 1930s. We have characterized this MERV element and show here that it belongs to the ETnII-alpha class of elements. Our analysis reveals that the Zhx2 ETn element lacks a 69-bp sequence compared to most other ETn elements which may be due to recombination between two identical 13-bp elements. Three mature Zhx2 transcripts are found in the liver of BALB/cJ mice. The major transcript is spliced from Zhx2 exon 1 to the 5' ETn LTR and is polyadenylated at the 3' LTR. Of the two less abundant transcripts, one is identical to the wild-type transcript, whereas the second contains 183 bp of ETn sequence spliced between Zhx2 exons 1 and 2. We have also sequenced and analyzed products from the fas ( lpr ) ETn found in MRL/lpr mice and show that it belongs to the ETnII-beta class of elements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sudhir Perincheri
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky, 40536, USA
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Morford LA, Davis C, Jin L, Dobierzewska A, Peterson ML, Spear BT. The oncofetal gene glypican 3 is regulated in the postnatal liver by zinc fingers and homeoboxes 2 and in the regenerating liver by alpha-fetoprotein regulator 2. Hepatology 2007; 46:1541-7. [PMID: 17668883 DOI: 10.1002/hep.21825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED The Glypican 3 (Gpc3) gene is expressed abundantly in the fetal liver, is inactive in the normal adult liver, and is frequently reactivated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This reactivation in HCC has led to considerable interest in Gpc3 as a diagnostic tumor marker and its possible role in tumorigenesis. Despite this interest, the basis for Gpc3 regulation is poorly understood. On the basis of the similarities between Gpc3 and alpha-fetoprotein expression in the liver, we reasoned that common factors might regulate these 2 genes. Here we identify zinc fingers and homeoboxes 2 (Zhx2) as a regulator of Gpc3. Mouse strain-specific differences in adult liver Gpc3 messenger RNA levels and transgenic mouse studies indicate that Zhx2 represses Gpc3 expression in the adult liver. We also demonstrate that Gpc3 is activated in the regenerating liver following a carbon tetrachloride treatment and that the level of Gpc3 induction is controlled by alpha-fetoprotein regulator 2 (Afr2). CONCLUSION We show that Zhx2 acts as a repressor of Gpc3 in the adult liver, and this raises the interesting possibility that Zhx2 might also be involved in Gpc3 reactivation in HCC. We also show that Gpc3 is activated in the regenerating liver in an Afr2-dependent manner. Zhx2 and Afr2 represent the first known regulators of Gpc3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorri A Morford
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY, USA
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37
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C/EBPα knock-in hepatocytes exhibit increased albumin secretion and urea production. Cell Tissue Res 2007; 330:427-35. [DOI: 10.1007/s00441-007-0505-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2007] [Accepted: 08/30/2007] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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38
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Zhang C, Li Z, Cheng Y, Jia F, Li R, Wu M, Li K, Wei L. CpG island methylator phenotype association with elevated serum alpha-fetoprotein level in hepatocellular carcinoma. Clin Cancer Res 2007; 13:944-52. [PMID: 17289889 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-06-2268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP) involves hypermethylation targeted toward the promoters of multiple genes. To gain insight into the role of epigenetic aberration of tumor-related genes in hepatocarcinogenesis, we determined a hypermethylation profile in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN We examined the promoter methylation status of nine genes in 50 HCCs, 50 paired nontumor tissues, and 6 normal liver tissues by methylation-specific PCR. CIMP+ was defined as having five genes that are concordantly methylated. RESULTS The frequency of promoter methylation of nine genes in 50 HCCs varied from 10% in P53 to 94% in c-Myc. The methylation status of P14, P15, P16, ER, RASSF1A, WT1, and c-Myc was significantly correlated with HCC and nontumor tissues (P<0.05). Hypermethylation of one or more genes was found in 96% of HCC. CIMP was more frequent in HCC than in nontumor tissues (70% and 12%, P<0.001). There is a significant association between CIMP and methylation of P14, P15, P16, ER, RSAAF1A, and WT1 (P<0.05) and serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level (P=0.017). CIMP+ was more frequent in HCC with AFP>or=30 microg/L than those with AFP<30 microg/L (P=0.005). In addition, the promoter hypermethylation of P15 and P16 was associated with elevated serum AFP levels in 35 HCC samples with CIMP+ (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Positive correlation of CIMP and AFP levels in HCC suggests that CIMP can serve as a molecular marker of late-stage HCC development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changsong Zhang
- Tumor Immunology and Gene Therapy Center, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
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Chen GG, Ho RLK, Wong J, Lee KF, Lai PBS. Single nucleotide polymorphism in the promoter region of human alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) gene and its significance in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Eur J Surg Oncol 2007; 33:882-6. [PMID: 17433605 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejso.2007.02.036] [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] [Received: 01/31/2007] [Accepted: 02/28/2007] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Variations of serum AFP levels in HCC patients and cell lines are likely due to the differential activity of enhancer/silencer elements that control AFP. To understand the potential mechanism underlying the differential expression of AFP, we have examined the sequence of the AFP promoter in HCC. METHODS Direct DNA sequencing was carried out to sequence 980 bp of AFP promoter of DNA samples isolated from 83 HCC patients. RESULTS Three novel SNPs in the promoter region of the AFP gene, which have not been previously reported, were found at positions -330, -401 and -692. The level of serum AFP was significantly higher in HCC patients with the CT genotype of 330 SNP or the AG genotype of the 401 SNP. The genotype of CG in 692 SNP was also associated with a significant elevated level of serum AFP, and further this genotype appeared to be associated with the high risk of HCC development. 401 SNP and 692 SNP were located at the positions of known binding sites for transcription factors that have a role in the production of AFP and the growth of tumors. CONCLUSIONS The novel polymorphisms identified in the promoter region of the AFP gene may be pathologically significant in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- G G Chen
- Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong.
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40
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Abstract
Transcriptional insulators are specialized cis-acting elements that protect promoters from inappropriate activation by distal enhancers. The H19 imprinting control region (ICR) functions as a CTCF-dependent, methylation-sensitive transcriptional insulator. We analyzed several insertional mutations and demonstrate that the ICR can function as a methylation-regulated maternal chromosome-specific insulator in novel chromosomal contexts. We used chromosome conformation capture and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays to investigate the configuration of cis-acting elements at these several insertion sites. By comparing maternal and paternal organizations on wild-type and mutant chromosomes, we hoped to identify mechanisms for ICR insulator function. We found that promoter and enhancer elements invariably associate to form DNA loop domains at transcriptionally active loci. Conversely, active insulators always prevent these promoter-enhancer interactions. Instead, the ICR insulator forms novel loop domains by associating with the blocked promoters and enhancers. We propose that these associations are fundamental to insulator function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Young Soo Yoon
- Laboratory of Mammalian Genes and Development, NICHD, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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41
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Kwon GS, Fraser ST, Eakin GS, Mangano M, Isern J, Sahr KE, Hadjantonakis AK, Baron MH. Tg(Afp-GFP) expression marks primitive and definitive endoderm lineages during mouse development. Dev Dyn 2006; 235:2549-58. [PMID: 16708394 PMCID: PMC1850385 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.20843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Alpha-fetoprotein (Afp) is the most abundant serum protein in the developing embryo. It is secreted by the visceral endoderm, its derivative yolk sac endoderm, fetal liver hepatocytes, and the developing gut epithelium. The abundance of this protein suggested that Afp gene regulatory elements might serve to effectively drive reporter gene expression in developing endodermal tissues. To this end, we generated transgenic mouse lines Tg(Afp-GFP) using an Afp promoter/enhancer to drive expression of green fluorescent protein (GFP). Bright GFP fluorescence allowed the visualization, in real time, of visceral endoderm, yolk sac endoderm, fetal liver hepatocytes, and the epithelium of the gut and pancreas. Comparison of the localization of green fluorescence with that of endogenous Afp transcripts and protein indicated that the regulatory elements used to generate these mouse lines directed transgene expression in what appeared to be all Afp-expressing cells of the embryo, but only in a subset of fetal liver cells. The bright GFP signal permitted flow cytometric analysis of fetal liver hepatocytes. These mice represent a valuable resource for live imaging as well as identification, quantitation, and isolation of cells from the primitive and definitive endoderm lineages of the developing mouse embryo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gloria S. Kwon
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan-Kettering Institute, New York, NY
- Neurosciences Program, Weill Graduate School of Medical Sciences of Cornell University, New York, NY
| | - Stuart T. Fraser
- Department of Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY
| | - Guy S. Eakin
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan-Kettering Institute, New York, NY
| | - Michael Mangano
- Department of Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY
| | - Joan Isern
- Department of Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY
| | - Kenneth E. Sahr
- Department of Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY
| | - Anna-Katerina Hadjantonakis
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan-Kettering Institute, New York, NY
- * Corresponding authors: Margaret H. Baron, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Box 1079, Departments of Medicine and Molecular, Cell & Developmental Biology, 1425 Madison Avenue 11-70B, New York, NY 10029, , Anna-Katerina Hadjantonakis, Developmental Biology Program, Sloan-Kettering Institute, Box 371, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10021,
| | - Margaret H. Baron
- Department of Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY
- Department of Gene and Cell Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY
- Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY
- * Corresponding authors: Margaret H. Baron, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Box 1079, Departments of Medicine and Molecular, Cell & Developmental Biology, 1425 Madison Avenue 11-70B, New York, NY 10029, , Anna-Katerina Hadjantonakis, Developmental Biology Program, Sloan-Kettering Institute, Box 371, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10021,
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Kajiyama Y, Tian J, Locker J. Characterization of Distant Enhancers and Promoters in the Albumin-α-Fetoprotein Locus during Active and Silenced Expression. J Biol Chem 2006; 281:30122-31. [PMID: 16893898 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m603491200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The albumin and alpha-fetoprotein genes are adjacent and express closely related serum proteins. Both genes are strongly expressed in fetal liver, primarily through activation by distant enhancers, but the AFP gene selectively undergoes developmental silencing. We used chromatin immunoprecipitation to study enhancers and promoters during active and silenced gene expression. In adult phenotype cells, the silenced AFP gene was actively repressed at the promoter and two proximal enhancers, characterized by the absence of coactivators and acetylated histone 4, and the presence of corepressors and K9-methylated histone 3. Specific transcription factors, TBP, and RNA polymerase II were all detected on both active and silenced genes, indicating that both states were actively regulated. Surprisingly, promoter-specific factors were also detected on enhancers, especially with reduced chromatin shearing. Under these conditions, an enhancer-specific factor was also detected on the albumin promoter. Association of promoter- and enhancer-specific factors was confirmed by sequential immunoprecipitation. Because no binding was detected on intervening segments, these promoter-enhancer associations suggest looping.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasuo Kajiyama
- Department of Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York 10461, USA
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43
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Si S, Sun Y, Li Z, Ge W, Zhang X, Hu P, Huang Y, Chen G, Song H, Huang Y, Ma B, Li X, Sui Y. Gene therapy by membrane-expressed superantigen for α-fetoprotein-producing hepatocellular carcinoma. Gene Ther 2006; 13:1603-10. [PMID: 16855617 DOI: 10.1038/sj.gt.3302823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Staphylococcus enterotoxin A (SEA) is a powerful immunostimulant, which can stimulate T cells bearing certain T-cell receptor beta-chain variable regions, when bound to major histocompatibility complex II molecules. In vivo administration of intact superantigen in sufficient therapeutic amounts risks unwanted cytotoxicity against normal cells. In this study, we used SEA fused with CD80 transmembrane region (named as SEAtm) driven by alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) enhancer/promoter to reduce toxicity and to improve safety and efficiency in the application of SEA. We demonstrated that SEAtm by adenovirus from the AFP enhancer/promoter (AdAFPSEA) could be expressed on the surface of AFP-producing cell line Hepa1-6 instead of non-AFP-producing cell lines. Hepa1-6 infected by recombinant adenovirus stimulated proliferation of splenocytes and activated CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells in vitro. After AdAFPSEA was injected into the subcutaneously established hepatoma in vivo, the expression of SEA was detected in tumor tissues, which subsequently induced tumor-specific cytotoxic T cells in spleen. Moreover, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) xenografts were suppressed by treatment with AdAFPSEA and the survival time of treated mice was prolonged. These findings suggest that membrane-expressed SEA by adenovirus from AdAFPSEA can generate stronger local and systemic antitumor responses against HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Si
- State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Department of Pathology, XiJing Hospital, Fourth Military Medmedical University, Shanxi Province, Xi'an, People's Republic of China
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Ishii T, Yasuchika K, Fujii H, Hoppo T, Baba S, Naito M, Machimoto T, Kamo N, Suemori H, Nakatsuji N, Ikai I. In vitro differentiation and maturation of mouse embryonic stem cells into hepatocytes. Exp Cell Res 2005; 309:68-77. [PMID: 16009362 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2005.05.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2005] [Revised: 05/25/2005] [Accepted: 05/29/2005] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
It is difficult to induce the maturation of embryonic stem (ES) cells into hepatocytes in vitro. We previously reported that Thy1-positive mesenchymal cells derived from the mouse fetal liver promote the maturation of hepatic progenitor cells. Here, we isolated alpha-fetoprotein (AFP)-producing cells from mouse ES cells for subsequent differentiation into hepatocytes in vitro by coculture with Thy1-positive cells. ES cells expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) under the control of an AFP promoter were cultured under serum- and feeder layer-free culture conditions. The proportion of GFP-positive cells plateaued at 41.6 +/- 12.2% (means +/- SD) by day 7. GFP-positive cells, isolated by flow cytometry, were cultured in the presence or absence of Thy1-positive cells as a feeder layer. Isolated GFP-positive cells were stained for AFP, Foxa2, and albumin. The expression of mRNAs encoding tyrosine amino transferase, tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase, and glucose-6-phosphatase were only detected following coculture with Thy1-positive cells. Following coculture with Thy1-positive cells, the isolated cells produced and stored glycogen. Ammonia clearance activity was also enhanced following coculture. Electron microscopic analysis indicated that the cocultured cells exhibited the morphologic features of mature hepatocytes. In conclusion, coculture with Thy1-positive cells in vitro induced the maturation of AFP-producing cells isolated from ES cell cultures into hepatocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takamichi Ishii
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, 54 Kawahara-cho Shogoin, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan
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45
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Wimmer U, Wang Y, Georgiev O, Schaffner W. Two major branches of anti-cadmium defense in the mouse: MTF-1/metallothioneins and glutathione. Nucleic Acids Res 2005; 33:5715-27. [PMID: 16221973 PMCID: PMC1253828 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gki881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2005] [Revised: 09/17/2005] [Accepted: 09/17/2005] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Metal-responsive transcription factor 1 (MTF-1) regulates expression of its target genes in response to various stress conditions, notably heavy metal load, via binding to metal response elements (MREs) in the respective enhancer/promoter regions. Furthermore, it serves a vital function in embryonic liver development. However, targeted deletion of Mtf1 in the liver after birth is no longer lethal. For this study, Mtf1 conditional knockout mice and control littermates were both mock- or cadmium-treated and liver-specific transcription was analyzed. Besides the well-characterized metallothionein genes, several new MTF-1 target genes with MRE motifs in the promoter region emerged. MTF-1 is required for the basal expression of selenoprotein W, muscle 1 gene (Sepw1) that encodes a glutathione-binding and putative antioxidant protein, supporting a role of MTF-1 in the oxidative stress response. Furthermore, MTF-1 mediates the cadmium-induced expression of N-myc downstream regulated gene 1 (Ndrg1), which is induced by several stress conditions and is overexpressed in many cancers. MTF-1 is also involved in the cadmium response of cysteine- and glycine-rich protein 1 gene (Csrp1), which is implicated in cytoskeletal organization. In contrast, MTF-1 represses the basal expression of Slc39a10, a putative zinc transporter. In a pathway independent of MTF-1, cadmium also induced the transcription of genes involved in the synthesis and regeneration of glutathione, a cadmium-binding antioxidant. These data provide strong evidence for two major branches of cellular anti-cadmium defense, one via MTF-1 and its target genes, notably metallothioneins, the other via glutathione, with an apparent overlap in selenoprotein W.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ursula Wimmer
- Institute of Molecular Biology, University of ZurichSwitzerland
| | - Ying Wang
- Institute of Molecular Biology, University of ZurichSwitzerland
| | - Oleg Georgiev
- Institute of Molecular Biology, University of ZurichSwitzerland
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Lu S, Shen KC, Wang Y, Brooks SC, Wang YA. Impaired hepatocyte survival and liver regeneration in Atm-deficient mice. Hum Mol Genet 2005; 14:3019-25. [PMID: 16141284 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddi333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Atm is a stress-induced DNA damage checkpoint protein kinase with multiple roles in cell-cycle progression. Recent evidence indicates that Atm also plays a role in stem cell maintenance and self-renewal. It is not known whether Atm has a role during tissue regeneration. Using liver regeneration as a model system, we examined the role of Atm in this process. Here, we show that the expression levels of Atm protein were gradually increased during liver regeneration and this was correlated with the onset of DNA replication. The induction of Stat3 and JNK signaling, which are essential processes in normal regeneration response, was attenuated during the early phases of liver regeneration in Atm-deficient mice. P53 was transiently phosphorylated at serine 23 during liver regeneration in an Atm-dependent manner. In addition, we found that cyclin A induction was delayed and p21 was over-expressed, both of these processes were correlated with reduced and delayed DNA replication in Atm(-/-) mice during liver regeneration. Finally, we show that increased apoptosis was observed in Atm(-/-) mice in response to partial hepatectomy, indicating that Atm is required for the survival of hepatocytes. Collectively, these data indicate that liver regeneration is impaired in Atm-deficient mice. Given that liver is the first line of defense against environmental toxins, the elucidation of the function of Atm and Atm-mediated signaling pathways in liver metabolism and in response to environmental toxins is of fundamental interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu Lu
- Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
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47
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Arsura M, Cavin LG. Nuclear factor-kappaB and liver carcinogenesis. Cancer Lett 2005; 229:157-69. [PMID: 16125305 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2005.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 140] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2005] [Accepted: 07/10/2005] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third deadliest and fifth most common human cancer worldwide. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections along with alcohol and aflatoxin B1 intake are widely recognized etiological agents in HCCs. It is anticipated that HCCs will constitute a major health problem in the next two decades because of the rising incidence of HCV infections in the US. The poor survival rate achieved by current surgical procedures and chemotherapy treatment has prompted the scientific community to gain a better understanding of the molecular events involved in hepatocarcinogenesis in order to define new targets for more effective treatment. Recent findings from several laboratories have implicated constitutive activation of the transcription factor NF-kappaB as one of the early key events involved in neoplastic progression of the liver. Data is summarized here from recently published studies illustrating a crucial role of NF-kappaB in bridging the action of growth factors and inflammation to hepatic oncogenesis. Although additional work is needed to fully understand the precise role of NF-kappaB in the regulation of the various transitions of HCC development, these new findings raise the intriguing possibility that pharmacologic inhibition of NF-kappaB in the liver could selectively eradicate malignant liver cells without affecting normal liver homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcello Arsura
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Cancer Institute, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 874 Union Avenue, Memphis, TN 38163, USA.
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Nguyen TT, Cho K, Stratton SA, Barton MC. Transcription factor interactions and chromatin modifications associated with p53-mediated, developmental repression of the alpha-fetoprotein gene. Mol Cell Biol 2005; 25:2147-57. [PMID: 15743813 PMCID: PMC1061614 DOI: 10.1128/mcb.25.6.2147-2157.2005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
We performed chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) analyses of developmentally staged solid tissues isolated from wild-type and p53-null mice to determine specific histone N-terminal modifications, histone-modifying proteins, and transcription factor interactions at the developmental repressor region (-850) and core promoter of the hepatic tumor marker alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) gene. Both repression of AFP during liver development and silencing in the brain, where AFP is never expressed, are associated with dimethylation of histone H3 lysine 9 (DiMetH3K9) and the presence of heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1). These heterochromatic markers remain localized to AFP during developmental repression but spread to the upstream albumin gene during silencing. Developmentally regulated decreases in levels of acetylated H3 (AcH3K9) and H4 (AcH4) and of di- and trimethylated H3K4 (DiMetH3K4 and TriMetH3K4) occur at both the core promoter and distal repressor regions of AFP. Hepatic expression of AFP correlates with FoxA interaction at the repressor region and the binding of RNA polymerase II and TATA-binding protein to the core promoter. p53 acts as a developmental repressor of AFP in the liver by binding to chromatin, excluding FoxA interaction and targeting mSin3A/HDAC1 to the distal repressor region. p53-null mice exhibit developmentally delayed AFP repression, concomitant with acetylation of H3K9, methylation of H3K4, and loss of DiMetH3K9, mSin3A/HDAC1, and HP1 interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thi T Nguyen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Program in Genes and Development, Graduate School of Biological Sciences, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX 77030, USA
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Verona RI, Bartolomei MS. Role of H19 3' sequences in controlling H19 and Igf2 imprinting and expression. Genomics 2005; 84:59-68. [PMID: 15203204 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2003.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2003] [Accepted: 12/02/2003] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
The regulation of H19 and Igf2 imprinting and expression depends on common elements. Using comparative analysis between human and mouse, we identified conserved regions 3' of the H19 transcription unit, including the H19/Igf2 endodermal enhancers and elements within a 4.2-kb domain between the H19 transcription unit and the enhancers. Transgene experiments implicate these elements in imprinting regulation. To establish whether they are required at the endogenous locus, first we replaced the endodermal enhancers with the alpha-fetoprotein endodermal enhancers (H19Afp). Second, we deleted the 4.2-kb region (H19delta4.2). Our analysis revealed that H19 and Igf2 imprinting and tissue-specific expression were maintained for both mutations, except for a slight reduction in paternal Igf2 expression from the H19Afp allele in liver. These results demonstrate that the H19 insulator can interact with heterologous enhancers to imprint Igf2. Furthermore, for H19, chromatin context or additional sequences possibly compensate for loss of conserved 3' elements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raluca I Verona
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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Perincheri S, Dingle RWC, Peterson ML, Spear BT. Hereditary persistence of alpha-fetoprotein and H19 expression in liver of BALB/cJ mice is due to a retrovirus insertion in the Zhx2 gene. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2005; 102:396-401. [PMID: 15626755 PMCID: PMC544306 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0408555102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2004] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and H19 genes are transcribed at high levels in the mammalian fetal liver but are rapidly repressed postnatally. This repression in the liver is controlled, at least in part, by the Afr1 gene. Afr1 was defined >25 years ago when BALB/cJ mice were found to have 5- to 20-fold higher adult serum AFP levels compared with all other mouse strains; subsequent studies showed that this elevation was due to higher Afp expression in the liver. H19, which has become a model for genomic imprinting, was identified initially in a screen for Afr1-regulated genes. The BALB/cJ allele (Afr1(b)) is recessive to the wild-type allele (Afr1(a)), consistent with the idea that Afr1 functions as a repressor. By high-resolution mapping, we identified a gene that maps to the Afr1 interval on chromosome 15 and encodes a putative zinc fingers and homeoboxes (ZHX) protein. In BALB/cJ mice, this gene contains a murine endogenous retrovirus within its first intron and produces predominantly an aberrant transcript that no longer encodes a functional protein. Liver-specific overexpression of a Zhx2 transgene restores wild-type H19 repression on a BALB/cJ background, confirming that this gene is responsible for hereditary persistence of Afp and H19 in the livers of BALB/cJ mice. Thus we have identified a genetically defined transcription factor that is involved in developmental gene silencing in mammals. We present a model to explain the liver-specific phenotype in BALB/cJ mice, even though Afr1 is a ubiquitously expressed gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sudhir Perincheri
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics and Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY 40536
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