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Bakrania A, Mo Y, Zheng G, Bhat M. RNA nanomedicine in liver diseases. Hepatology 2024:01515467-990000000-00569. [PMID: 37725757 DOI: 10.1097/hep.0000000000000606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023]
Abstract
The remarkable impact of RNA nanomedicine during the COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the expansive therapeutic potential of this field in diverse disease contexts. In recent years, RNA nanomedicine targeting the liver has been paradigm-shifting in the management of metabolic diseases such as hyperoxaluria and amyloidosis. RNA nanomedicine has significant potential in the management of liver diseases, where optimal management would benefit from targeted delivery, doses titrated to liver metabolism, and personalized therapy based on the specific site of interest. In this review, we discuss in-depth the different types of RNA and nanocarriers used for liver targeting along with their specific applications in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, liver fibrosis, and liver cancers. We further highlight the strategies for cell-specific delivery and future perspectives in this field of research with the emergence of small activating RNA, circular RNA, and RNA base editing approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anita Bakrania
- Department of Medicine, Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Medicine, Ajmera Transplant Program, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Yulin Mo
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Gang Zheng
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mamatha Bhat
- Department of Medicine, Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Medicine, Ajmera Transplant Program, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, University Health Network and University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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2
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Wang M, Chen Q, Wang S, Xie H, Liu J, Huang R, Xiang Y, Jiang Y, Tian D, Bian E. Super-enhancers complexes zoom in transcription in cancer. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2023; 42:183. [PMID: 37501079 PMCID: PMC10375641 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-023-02763-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Super-enhancers (SEs) consist of multiple typical enhancers enriched at high density with transcription factors, histone-modifying enzymes and cofactors. Oncogenic SEs promote tumorigenesis and malignancy by altering protein-coding gene expression and noncoding regulatory element function. Therefore, they play central roles in the treatment of cancer. Here, we review the structural characteristics, organization, identification, and functions of SEs and the underlying molecular mechanism by which SEs drive oncogenic transcription in tumor cells. We then summarize abnormal SE complexes, SE-driven coding genes, and noncoding RNAs involved in tumor development. In summary, we believe that SEs show great potential as biomarkers and therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- MengTing Wang
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, 678 Fu Rong Road, Hefei, 230601, Anhui Province, China
- Institute of Orthopaedics, Research Center for Translational Medicine, The Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230601, China
- School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China
| | - QingYang Chen
- Department of Clinical MedicineThe Second School of Clinical Medical, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - ShuJie Wang
- Department of Clinical MedicineThe Second School of Clinical Medical, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Han Xie
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, 678 Fu Rong Road, Hefei, 230601, Anhui Province, China
- Institute of Orthopaedics, Research Center for Translational Medicine, The Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230601, China
| | - Jun Liu
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, 678 Fu Rong Road, Hefei, 230601, Anhui Province, China
- Institute of Orthopaedics, Research Center for Translational Medicine, The Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230601, China
| | - RuiXiang Huang
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, 678 Fu Rong Road, Hefei, 230601, Anhui Province, China
- Institute of Orthopaedics, Research Center for Translational Medicine, The Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230601, China
| | - YuFei Xiang
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, 678 Fu Rong Road, Hefei, 230601, Anhui Province, China
- Institute of Orthopaedics, Research Center for Translational Medicine, The Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230601, China
| | - YanYi Jiang
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Medical Physics and Technology, Institute of Health and Medical Technology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, 230031, China.
- Hefei Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, 230031, China.
| | - DaSheng Tian
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, 678 Fu Rong Road, Hefei, 230601, Anhui Province, China.
- Institute of Orthopaedics, Research Center for Translational Medicine, The Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230601, China.
| | - ErBao Bian
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, 678 Fu Rong Road, Hefei, 230601, Anhui Province, China.
- Institute of Orthopaedics, Research Center for Translational Medicine, The Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230601, China.
- School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China.
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3
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Yang Z, Liu Y, Cheng Q, Chen T. Targeting super enhancers for liver disease: a review. PeerJ 2023; 11:e14780. [PMID: 36726725 PMCID: PMC9885865 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.14780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Super enhancers (SEs) refer to the ultralong regions of a gene accompanied by multiple transcription factors and cofactors and strongly drive the expression of cell-type-related genes. Recent studies have demonstrated that SEs play crucial roles in regulating gene expression related to cell cycle progression and transcription. Aberrant activation of SEs is closely related to the occurrence and development of liver disease. Liver disease, especially liver failure and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), constitutes a major class of diseases that seriously endanger human health. Currently, therapeutic strategies targeting SEs can dramatically prevent disease progression and improve the prognosis of animal models. The associated new approaches to the treatment of related liver disease are relatively new and need systematic elaboration. Objectives In this review, we elaborate on the features of SEs and discuss their function in liver disease. Additionally, we review their application prospects in clinical practice in the future. The article would be of interest to hepatologists, molecular biologists, clinicians, and all those concerned with targeted therapy and prognosis of liver disease. Methodology We searched three bibliographic databases (Web of Science Core Collection, Embase, PubMed) from 01/1981 to 06/2022 for peer-reviewed scientific publications focused on (1) gene treatment of liver disease; (2) current status of SE research; and (3) targeting SEs for liver disease. We included English language original studies only. Results The number of published studies considering the role of enhancers in liver disease is considerable. Since SEs were just defined in 2013, the corresponding data on SEs are scarce: approximately 50 papers found in bibliographic databases on the correlation between enhancers (or SEs) and liver disease. Remarkably, half of these papers were published in the past three years, indicating the growing interest of the scientific community in this issue. Studies have shown that treatments targeting components of SEs can improve outcomes in liver disease in animal and clinical trials. Conclusions The treatment of liver disease is facing a bottleneck, and new treatments are needed. Therapeutic regimens targeting SEs have an important role in the treatment of liver disease. However, given the off-target effect of gene therapy and the lack of clinical trials, the available experimental data are still fragmented and controversial.
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Gregory GL, Copple IM. Modulating the expression of tumor suppressor genes using activating oligonucleotide technologies as a therapeutic approach in cancer. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2022; 31:211-223. [PMID: 36700046 PMCID: PMC9840112 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2022.12.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Tumor suppressor genes (TSGs) are frequently downregulated in cancer, leading to dysregulation of the pathways that they control. The continuum model of tumor suppression suggests that even subtle changes in TSG expression, for example, driven by epigenetic modifications or copy number alterations, can lead to a loss of gene function and a phenotypic effect. This approach to exploring tumor suppression provides opportunities for alternative therapies that may be able to restore TSG expression toward normal levels, such as oligonucleotide therapies. Oligonucleotide therapies involve the administration of exogenous nucleic acids to modulate the expression of specific endogenous genes. This review focuses on two types of activating oligonucleotide therapies, small-activating RNAs and synthetic mRNAs, as novel methods to increase the expression of TSGs in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgina L. Gregory
- Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Institute of Systems, Molecular & Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GE, UK
| | - Ian M. Copple
- Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Institute of Systems, Molecular & Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GE, UK
- Corresponding author: Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Institute of Systems, Molecular & Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GE, UK.
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5
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Genetic Polymorphisms of lncRNA LINC00673 as Predictors of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Progression in an Elderly Population. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232112737. [PMID: 36361527 PMCID: PMC9654806 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232112737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Revised: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Long noncoding (lnc)RNAs are reported to be key regulators of tumor progression, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The lncRNA long intergenic noncoding RNA 00673 (LINC00673) was indicated to play an important role in HCC progression, but the impacts of genetic variants (single-nucleotide polymorphisms, SNPs) of LINC00673 on HCC remain unclear. A TaqMan allelic discrimination assay was performed to analyze the genotypes of three tagging SNPs, viz., rs9914618 G > A, rs6501551 A > G, and rs11655237 C > T, of LINC00673 in 783 HCC patients and 1197 healthy subjects. Associations of functional SNPs of LINC00673 with HCC susceptibility and clinicopathologic variables were analyzed by logistic regression models. After stratification by confounding factor, we observed that elderly patients (≥60 years) with the LINC00673 rs9914618 A allele had an increased risk of developing HCC under a codominant model (p = 0.025) and dominant model (p = 0.047). Moreover, elderly patients carrying the GA + AA genotype of rs9914618 exhibited a higher risk of having lymph node metastasis compared to those who were homozygous for the major allele (p = 0.013). Genotype screening of rs9914618 in HCC cell lines showed that cells carrying the AA genotype expressed higher LINC00673 levels compared to the cells carrying the GG genotype. Further analyses of clinical datasets from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) showed that LINC00673 expressions were upregulated in HCC tissues compared to normal tissues, and were correlated with advanced clinical stages and poorer prognoses. In conclusions, our results suggested that the LINC00673 rs9914618 polymorphism may be a promising HCC biomarker, especially in elderly populations.
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Zhao Y, Dong Y, Hong W, Jiang C, Yao K, Cheng C. Computational modeling of chromatin accessibility identified important epigenomic regulators. BMC Genomics 2022; 23:19. [PMID: 34996354 PMCID: PMC8742372 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-021-08234-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Chromatin accessibility is essential for transcriptional activation of genomic regions. It is well established that transcription factors (TFs) and histone modifications (HMs) play critical roles in chromatin accessibility regulation. However, there is a lack of studies that quantify these relationships. Here we constructed a two-layer model to predict chromatin accessibility by integrating DNA sequence, TF binding, and HM signals. By applying the model to two human cell lines (GM12878 and HepG2), we found that DNA sequences had limited power for accessibility prediction, while both TF binding and HM signals predicted chromatin accessibility with high accuracy. According to the HM model, HM features determined chromatin accessibility in a cell line shared manner, with the prediction power attributing to five core HM types. Results from the TF model indicated that chromatin accessibility was determined by a subset of informative TFs including both cell line-specific and generic TFs. The combined model of both TF and HM signals did not further improve the prediction accuracy, indicating that they provide redundant information in terms of chromatin accessibility prediction. The TFs and HM models can also distinguish the chromatin accessibility of proximal versus distal transcription start sites with high accuracy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanding Zhao
- Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Room ICTR 100D, One Baylor Plaza, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- The Institute for Clinical and Translational Research, Baylor College of Medicine, Room ICTR 100D, One Baylor Plaza, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Yadong Dong
- Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Room ICTR 100D, One Baylor Plaza, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- The Institute for Clinical and Translational Research, Baylor College of Medicine, Room ICTR 100D, One Baylor Plaza, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Wei Hong
- Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Room ICTR 100D, One Baylor Plaza, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- The Institute for Clinical and Translational Research, Baylor College of Medicine, Room ICTR 100D, One Baylor Plaza, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Chongming Jiang
- Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Room ICTR 100D, One Baylor Plaza, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- The Institute for Clinical and Translational Research, Baylor College of Medicine, Room ICTR 100D, One Baylor Plaza, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Kevin Yao
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Chao Cheng
- Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Room ICTR 100D, One Baylor Plaza, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
- The Institute for Clinical and Translational Research, Baylor College of Medicine, Room ICTR 100D, One Baylor Plaza, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
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The "Janus" Role of C/EBPs Family Members in Cancer Progression. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21124308. [PMID: 32560326 PMCID: PMC7352866 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21124308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2020] [Revised: 06/11/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
CCAAT/enhancer-binding proteins (C/EBPs) constitute a family of transcription factors composed of six members that are critical for normal cellular differentiation in a variety of tissues. They promote the expression of genes through interaction with their promoters. Moreover, they have a key role in regulating cellular proliferation through interaction with cell cycle proteins. C/EBPs are considered to be tumor suppressor factors due to their ability to arrest cell growth (contributing to the terminal differentiation of several cell types) and for their role in cellular response to DNA damage, nutrient deprivation, hypoxia, and genotoxic agents. However, C/EBPs can elicit completely opposite effects on cell proliferation and cancer development and they have been described as both tumor promoters and tumor suppressors. This "Janus" role of C/EBPs depends on different factors, such as the type of tumor, the isoform/s expressed in cells, the type of dimerization (homo- or heterodimerization), the presence of inhibitory elements, and the ability to inhibit the expression of other tumor suppressors. In this review, we discuss the implication of the C/EBPs family in cancer, focusing on the molecular aspects that make these transcription factors tumor promoters or tumor suppressors.
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Identification of the possible therapeutic targets in the insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor pathway in a cohort of Egyptian hepatocellular carcinoma complicating chronic hepatitis C type 4. Drug Target Insights 2020; 14:1-11. [PMID: 33132693 PMCID: PMC7597224 DOI: 10.33393/dti.2020.1548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2020] [Accepted: 01/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Molecular targeted drugs are the first line of treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) due to its chemo- and radioresistant nature. HCC has several well-documented etiologic factors that drive hepatocarcinogenesis through different molecular pathways. Currently, hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a leading cause of HCC. Therefore, we included a unified cohort of HCV genotype 4-related HCCs to study the expression levels of genes involved in the insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R) pathway, which is known to be involved in all aspects of cancer growth and progression. Aim: Determine the gene expression patterns of IGF1R pathway genes in a cohort of Egyptian HCV-related HCCs. Correlate them with different patient/tumor characteristics. Determine the activity status of involved pathways. Methods: Total ribonucleic acid (RNA) was extracted from 32 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues of human HCV-related HCCs and 6 healthy liver donors as controls. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) using RT2 Profiler PCR Array for Human Insulin Signaling Pathway was done to determine significantly up- and downregulated genes with identification of most frequently coregulated genes, followed by correlation of gene expression with different patient/tumor characteristics. Finally, canonical pathway analysis was performed using the Ingenuity Pathway Analysis software. Results: Six genes – AEBP1, AKT2, C-FOS, PIK3R1, PRKCI, SHC1 – were significantly overexpressed. Thirteen genes – ADRB3, CEBPA, DUSP14, ERCC1, FRS3, IGF2, INS, IRS1, JUN, MTOR, PIK3R2, PPP1CA, RPS6KA1 – were significantly underexpressed. Several differentially expressed genes were related to different tumor/patient characteristics. Nitric oxide and reactive oxygen species production pathway was significantly activated in the present cohort, while the growth hormone signaling pathway was inactive. Conclusions: The gene expression patterns identified in this study may serve as possible therapeutic targets in HCV-related HCCs. The most frequently coregulated genes may serve to guide combined molecular targeted therapies. The IGF1R pathway showed evidence of inactivity in the present cohort of HCV-related HCCs, so targeting this pathway in therapy may not be effective.
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The Expression/Methylation Profile of Adipogenic and Inflammatory Transcription Factors in Adipose Tissue Are Linked to Obesity-Related Colorectal Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11111629. [PMID: 31652933 PMCID: PMC6893417 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11111629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2019] [Revised: 10/04/2019] [Accepted: 10/21/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Obesity is well accepted as crucial risk factor that plays a critical role in the initiation and progression of colorectal cancer (CRC). More specifically, visceral adipose tissue (VAT) in people with obesity could produce chronic inflammation and an altered profile expression of key transcription factors that promote a favorable microenvironment to colorectal carcinogenesis. For this, the aim of this study was to explore the relationship between adipogenic and inflammatory transcription factors in VAT from nonobese, obese, and/or CRC patients. To test this idea, we studied the expression and methylation of CCAAT-enhancer binding protein type alpha (C/EBP-α), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-α (PGC-1α) and nuclear factor κ-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) in VAT from non-obese control, non-obese CRC subjects, overweight/obese control, and overweight/obese CRC patients and their correlation with anthropometric and biochemical variables. We found decreased expression of C/EBP-α in overweight/obese CRC patients in comparison with overweight/obese control subjects. PGC-1α and NF-κB were overexpressed in CRC patients independently of the BMI. NF-κB promoter was hypomethylated in overweight/obese CRC patients when compared to overweight/obese control individuals. In addition, multiple significant correlations between expression, methylation, and biochemical parameters were found. Finally, linear regression analysis showed that the expression of C/EBP-α and NF-κB and that NF-κB methylation were associated with CRC and able to explain up to 55% of CRC variability. Our results suggest that visceral adipose tissue may be a key factor in tumor development and inflammatory state. We propose C/EBP-α, PGC-1α and NF-κB to be interesting candidates as potential biomarkers in adipose tissue for CRC patients.
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10
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Nacht AS, Ferrari R, Zaurin R, Scabia V, Carbonell-Caballero J, Le Dily F, Quilez J, Leopoldi A, Brisken C, Beato M, Vicent GP. C/EBPα mediates the growth inhibitory effect of progestins on breast cancer cells. EMBO J 2019; 38:e101426. [PMID: 31373033 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2018101426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2018] [Revised: 06/21/2019] [Accepted: 06/24/2019] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Steroid hormones are key gene regulators in breast cancer cells. While estrogens stimulate cell proliferation, progestins activate a single cell cycle followed by proliferation arrest. Here, we use biochemical and genome-wide approaches to show that progestins achieve this effect via a functional crosstalk with C/EBPα. Using ChIP-seq, we identify around 1,000 sites where C/EBPα binding precedes and helps binding of progesterone receptor (PR) in response to hormone. These regions exhibit epigenetic marks of active enhancers, and C/EBPα maintains an open chromatin conformation that facilitates loading of ligand-activated PR. Prior to hormone exposure, C/EBPα favors promoter-enhancer contacts that assure hormonal regulation of key genes involved in cell proliferation by facilitating binding of RAD21, YY1, and the Mediator complex. Knockdown of C/EBPα disrupts enhancer-promoter contacts and decreases the presence of these architectural proteins, highlighting its key role in 3D chromatin looping. Thus, C/EBPα fulfills a previously unknown function as a potential growth modulator in hormone-dependent breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Silvina Nacht
- Center for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona, Spain.,Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Roberto Ferrari
- Center for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona, Spain.,Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Roser Zaurin
- Center for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona, Spain.,Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Valentina Scabia
- Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research, School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - José Carbonell-Caballero
- Center for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona, Spain.,Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Francois Le Dily
- Center for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona, Spain.,Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Javier Quilez
- Center for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona, Spain.,Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alexandra Leopoldi
- Center for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona, Spain.,Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Cathrin Brisken
- Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research, School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Miguel Beato
- Center for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona, Spain.,Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain.,Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Guillermo P Vicent
- Center for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona, Spain.,Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain
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11
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Zhou J, Li H, Xia X, Herrera A, Pollock N, Reebye V, Sodergren MH, Dorman S, Littman BH, Doogan D, Huang KW, Habib R, Blakey D, Habib NA, Rossi JJ. Anti-inflammatory Activity of MTL-CEBPA, a Small Activating RNA Drug, in LPS-Stimulated Monocytes and Humanized Mice. Mol Ther 2019; 27:999-1016. [PMID: 30852139 PMCID: PMC6520465 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2019.02.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2018] [Revised: 02/19/2019] [Accepted: 02/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Excessive or inappropriate inflammatory responses can cause serious and even fatal diseases. The CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha (CEBPA) gene encodes C/EBPα, a transcription factor that plays a fundamental role in controlling maturation of the myeloid lineage and is also expressed during the late phase of inflammatory responses when signs of inflammation are decreasing. MTL-CEBPA, a small activating RNA targeting for upregulation of C/EBPα, is currently being evaluated in a phase 1b trial for treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. After dosing, subjects had reduced levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and we therefore hypothesized that MTL-CEBPA has anti-inflammatory potential. The current study was conducted to determine the effects of C/EBPα saRNA - CEBPA-51 - on inflammation in vitro and in vivo after endotoxin challenge. CEBPA-51 led to increased expression of the C/EBPα gene and inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines in THP-1 monocytes previously stimulated by E. coli-derived lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Treatment with MTL-CEBPA in an LPS-challenged humanized mouse model upregulated C/EBPα mRNA, increased neutrophils, and attenuated production of several key pro-inflammatory cytokines, including TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, and IFN-γ. In addition, a Luminex analysis of mouse serum revealed that MTL-CEBPA reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines and increased the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. Collectively, the data support further investigation of MTL-CEBPA in acute and chronic inflammatory diseases where this mechanism has pathogenic importance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiehua Zhou
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
| | - Haitang Li
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
| | - Xin Xia
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
| | - Alberto Herrera
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010, USA; Irell and Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
| | - Nicolette Pollock
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010, USA; Irell and Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
| | - Vikash Reebye
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London SW7 5NH, UK
| | - Mikael H Sodergren
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London SW7 5NH, UK
| | - Stephanie Dorman
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London SW7 5NH, UK
| | - Bruce H Littman
- Translational Medicine Associates, LLC, Savannah, GA 31302, USA
| | | | - Kai-Wen Huang
- Department of Surgery and Hepatitis Research Center, National Taiwan University Hospital, College of Medicine, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
| | | | | | - Nagy A Habib
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London SW7 5NH, UK; MiNA Therapeutics, Ltd., London W12 0BZ, UK.
| | - John J Rossi
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010, USA; Irell and Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010, USA.
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12
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Voutila J, Reebye V, Roberts TC, Protopapa P, Andrikakou P, Blakey DC, Habib R, Huber H, Saetrom P, Rossi JJ, Habib NA. Development and Mechanism of Small Activating RNA Targeting CEBPA, a Novel Therapeutic in Clinical Trials for Liver Cancer. Mol Ther 2017; 25:2705-2714. [PMID: 28882451 PMCID: PMC5768526 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2017.07.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2017] [Revised: 07/31/2017] [Accepted: 07/31/2017] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Small activating RNAs (saRNAs) are short double-stranded oligonucleotides that selectively increase gene transcription. Here, we describe the development of an saRNA that upregulates the transcription factor CCATT/enhancer binding protein alpha (CEBPA), investigate its mode of action, and describe its development into a clinical candidate. A bioinformatically directed nucleotide walk around the CEBPA gene identified an saRNA sequence that upregulates CEBPA mRNA 2.5-fold in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells. A nuclear run-on assay confirmed that this upregulation is a transcriptionally driven process. Mechanistic experiments demonstrate that Argonaute-2 (Ago2) is required for saRNA activity, with the guide strand of the saRNA shown to be associated with Ago2 and localized at the CEBPA genomic locus using RNA chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays. The data support a sequence-specific on-target saRNA activity that leads to enhanced CEBPA mRNA transcription. Chemical modifications were introduced in the saRNA duplex to prevent activation of the innate immunity. This modified saRNA retains activation of CEBPA mRNA and downstream targets and inhibits growth of liver cancer cell lines in vitro. This novel drug has been encapsulated in a liposomal formulation for liver delivery, is currently in a phase I clinical trial for patients with liver cancer, and represents the first human study of an saRNA therapeutic.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Vikash Reebye
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Hans Huber
- BioTD Strategies, LLC, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Pal Saetrom
- Department of Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - John J Rossi
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Nagy A Habib
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London, UK.
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13
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A tumor suppressor role for C/EBPα in solid tumors: more than fat and blood. Oncogene 2017; 36:5221-5230. [PMID: 28504718 DOI: 10.1038/onc.2017.151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2017] [Revised: 03/29/2017] [Accepted: 04/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The transcription factor CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha (C/EBPα) plays a critical role during embryogenesis and is thereafter required for homeostatic glucose metabolism, adipogenesis and myeloid development. Its ability to regulate the expression of lineage-specific genes and induce growth arrest contributes to the terminal differentiation of several cell types, including hepatocytes, adipocytes and granulocytes. CEBPA loss of-function mutations contribute to the development of ~10% of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), stablishing a tumor suppressor role for C/EBPα. Deregulation of C/EBPα expression has also been reported in a variety of additional human neoplasias, including liver, breast and lung cancer. However, functional CEBPA mutations have not been found in solid tumors, suggesting that abrogation of C/EBPα function in non-hematopoietic tissues is regulated by alternative mechanisms. Here we review the function of C/EBPα in solid tumors and focus on the molecular mechanisms underlying its tumor suppressive role.
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14
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Zhao X, Voutila J, Ghobrial S, Habib NA, Reebye V. Treatment of Liver Cancer by C/EBPA saRNA. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2017. [PMID: 28639200 DOI: 10.1007/978-981-10-4310-9_13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The prognosis for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains poor and has not improved in over two decades. Most patients with advanced HCC who are not eligible for surgery have limited treatment options due to poor liver function or large, unresectable tumors. Although sorafenib is the standard-of-care treatment for these patients, only a small number respond. For the remaining, the outlook remains bleak. A better approach to target "undruggable" molecular pathways that reverse HCC is therefore urgently needed. Small activating RNAs (saRNAs) may provide a novel strategy to activate expression of genes that become dysregulated in chronic disease. The transcription factor CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha (C/EBPα), a critical regulator of hepatocyte function, is suppressed in many advanced liver diseases. By using an saRNA to activate C/EBPα, we can exploit the cell's own transcription machinery to enhance gene expression without relying on exogenous vectors that have been the backbone of gene therapy. saRNAs do not integrate into the host genome and can be modified to avoid immune stimulation. In preclinical models of liver disease, treatment with C/EBPα saRNA has shown reduction in tumor volume and improvement in serum markers of essential liver function such as albumin, bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine transaminase (ALT). This saRNA that activates C/EBPα for advanced HCC is the first saRNA therapy to have entered a human clinical trial. The hope is that this new tool will help break the dismal 20-year trend and provide a more positive prognosis for patients with severe liver disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyang Zhao
- Department of Surgery, Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | | | - Stephanos Ghobrial
- Department of Surgery, Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Nagy A Habib
- Department of Surgery, Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College London, London, UK.
| | - Vikash Reebye
- Department of Surgery, Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College London, London, UK
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15
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Ma WY, Jia K, Zhang Y. IL-17 promotes keratinocyte proliferation via the downregulation of C/EBPα. Exp Ther Med 2015; 11:631-636. [PMID: 26893658 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2015.2939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2014] [Accepted: 11/05/2015] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Psoriasis vulgaris is a common chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by the hyperproliferation and abnormal differentiation of keratinocytes. CCATT/enhancer binding protein α (C/EBPα) is abundant in the epidermis and is associated with the proliferation of keratinocytes. However, the role of C/EBPα in the proliferation of keratinocytes and the pathogenesis of psoriasis vulgaris are yet to be elucidated. In the present study, using two-step immunohistochemistry, the expression levels of C/EBPα and Ki-67 were examined in skin biopsies harvested from 30 patients with psoriasis vulgaris and 30 healthy control subjects. The proliferation index (PI) was calculated and the correlation between C/EBPα expression levels and the PI was assessed using Pearson's correlation coefficient. In addition, the effect on HaCaT immortalized human keratinocytic cells of treatment with various concentrations of interleukin (IL)-17 was investigated. Subsequently, cell proliferation rates were examined using a Cell Counting kit-8 assay and the mRNA and protein expression levels of C/EBPα were analyzed using semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and western blotting, respectively, in order to analyze the effects of IL-17 stimulation on C/EBPα expression levels. C/EBPα expression was predominantly detected in the cytoplasm of the keratinocytes and C/EBPα expression levels were significantly lower in the psoriatic lesions (P<0.05), as compared with the control group. An inverse correlation was detected between the expression levels of C/EBPα and the PI in the psoriatic lesions. Furthermore, a significant increase in the cell proliferation rate and significant reductions in the mRNA and protein expression levels of C/EBPα were detected in HaCaT cells following treatment with IL-17. These results demonstrated that C/EBPα may act as a downstream target of IL-17 and may be associated with the pathogenesis of psoriasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Yuan Ma
- Department of Dermatology, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, P.R.China
| | - Kun Jia
- School of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, P.R.China
| | - Yan Zhang
- School of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, P.R.China
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16
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Xue M, Li X, Chen W. Hypoxia regulates the expression and localization of CCAAT/enhancer binding protein α by hypoxia inducible factor-1α in bladder transitional carcinoma cells. Mol Med Rep 2015; 12:2121-7. [PMID: 25824695 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2015.3563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2013] [Accepted: 03/16/2015] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) is overexpressed in various types of solid tumor in humans, including bladder cancer. HIF-1α regulates the expression of a series of genes, which are involved in cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, migration and invasion and represents a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of human cancer. Despite extensive investigation of the effects of HIF-1α in the progression and metastasis of bladder cancer, the possible regulatory mechanisms underlying the effects of HIF-1α on bladder cancer cell proliferation and differentiation remain to be elucidated. It has been suggested that the transcription factor CCAAT/enhancer binding protein α (C/EBPα) acts as a tumor suppressor in several types of cancer cell, which are involved in regulating cell differentiation, proliferation and apoptosis. The present study confirmed that, in bladder cancer cells, the expression and localization of C/EBPα was regulated by hypoxia through an HIF-1α -dependent mechanism, which may be significant in bladder cancer cell proliferation and differentiation. The 5637 and T24 bladder cancer cell lines were incubated under normoxic and hypoxic conditions. The expression levels of HIF-1α and C/EBPα were detected by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction, western blotting and immunofluorescence analysis. The results revealed that, under hypoxic conditions, the protein expression levels of HIF-1α were markedly upregulated, but the mRNA levels were not altered. However, the mRNA and protein levels of C/EBPα were significantly reduced. The present study further analyzed the subcellular localization of C/EBPα, which was markedly decreased in the nuclei under hypoxic conditions. Following HIF-1α small interference RNA silencing of HIF-1α, downregulation of C/EBPα was prevented in the bladder cancer cells cultured under hypoxic conditions. In addition, groups of cells treated with 3-(5'-hydroxymethyl-2'-furyl)-1-benzylindazole, which inhibits the expression of HIF-1α in hypoxia, contributed to the inhibited expression of HIF-1α and enhanced expression of C/EBPα in hypoxic bladder cancer cells. These results suggested that C/EBPα was a downstream effector regulated by HIF-1α in hypoxic bladder cancer cells and that this regulatory pathway may represent a potential therapeutic target in the treatment of bladder cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei Xue
- Center for Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, P.R. China
| | - Xu Li
- Center for Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, P.R. China
| | - Wei Chen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, P.R. China
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17
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Wang K. Molecular mechanisms of hepatic apoptosis regulated by nuclear factors. Cell Signal 2014; 27:729-38. [PMID: 25499978 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2014.11.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2014] [Accepted: 11/21/2014] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Apoptosis is a prominent characteristic in the pathogenesis of liver disease. The mechanism of hepatic apoptosis is not well understood. Hepatic apoptosis alters relative levels of nuclear factors such as Foxa2, NF-κB, C/EBPβ, and p53. Regulation of nuclear factors modulates the degree of hepatic apoptosis and the progression of liver disease. Nuclear factors have distinctive mechanisms to mediate hepatic apoptosis. The modification of nuclear factors is a novel therapeutic strategy for liver disease as demonstrated by pre-clinical models and clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kewei Wang
- Departments of Surgery, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Peoria, IL 61605, USA.
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18
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Sarma NJ, Tiriveedhi V, Subramanian V, Shenoy S, Crippin JS, Chapman WC, Mohanakumar T. Hepatitis C virus mediated changes in miRNA-449a modulates inflammatory biomarker YKL40 through components of the NOTCH signaling pathway. PLoS One 2012; 7:e50826. [PMID: 23226395 PMCID: PMC3511274 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0050826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2012] [Accepted: 10/25/2012] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Liver disease due to hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is an important health problem worldwide. HCV induced changes in microRNAs (miRNA) are shown to mediate inflammation leading to liver fibrosis. Gene expression analyses identified dysregulation of miRNA-449a in HCV patients but not in alcoholic and non-alcoholic liver diseases. By sequence analysis of the promoter for YKL40, an inflammatory marker upregulated in patients with chronic liver diseases with fibrosis, adjacent binding sites for nuclear factor of Kappa B/P65 and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha (CEBPα) were identified. P65 interacted with CEBPα to co-operatively activate YKL40 expression through sequence specific DNA binding. In vitro analysis demonstrated that tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) mediated YKL40 expression is regulated by miRNA-449a and its target NOTCH1 in human hepatocytes.NOTCH1 facilitated nuclear localization of P65 in response to TNFα. Further, HCV patients demonstrated upregulation of NOTCH1 along with downregulation of miRNA-449a. Taken together it is demonstrated that miRNA-449a plays an important role in modulating expression of YKL40 through targeting the components of the NOTCH signaling pathway following HCV infection. Therefore, defining transcriptional regulatory mechanisms which control inflammatory responses and fibrosis will be important towards developing strategies to prevent hepatic fibrosis especially following HCV recurrence in liver transplant recipients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nayan J. Sarma
- Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Venkataswarup Tiriveedhi
- Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Vijay Subramanian
- Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Surendra Shenoy
- Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Jeffrey S. Crippin
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - William C. Chapman
- Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Thalachallour Mohanakumar
- Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri, United States of America
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri, United States of America
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19
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Yin Yang-1 suppresses differentiation of hepatocellular carcinoma cells through the downregulation of CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha. J Mol Med (Berl) 2012; 90:1069-77. [PMID: 22391813 DOI: 10.1007/s00109-012-0879-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2011] [Revised: 01/29/2012] [Accepted: 01/30/2012] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
As a member of the GLI-Kruppel family of transcriptional factors, Yin Yang-1 (YY1) functions as an oncogene in various types of cancers. However, the role of YY1 in hepatocellular carcinogenesis remains unknown. In this report, we investigated the relevance of YY1 to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development. We found that YY1 was upregulated in HCC cell lines. Ectopic YY1 expression promoted the growth of non-tumor liver cells that expressed low level of YY1. In contrast, YY1 depletion inhibited the growth of HCC cells which was accompanied with distinct morphological changes. Moreover, the phenotypic changes induced by YY1 depletion were attributed to cellular differentiation rather than cellular senescence. CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha (CEBPA) which was important to regulate differentiation of hepatocytes was found as the direct target downregulated by YY1. Restoration of CEBPA in YY1-expressing HCC cells induced cellular differentiation and growth inhibition while knockdown of CEBPA expression in non-tumor liver cells promoted cell growth. In summary, our study demonstrated that YY1 could promote hepatocellular carcinogenesis and inhibit cellular differentiation through the downregulation of CEBPA expression.
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20
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Lu JW, Chang JG, Yeh KT, Chen RM, Tsai JJP, Hu RM. Overexpression of Thy1/CD90 in human hepatocellular carcinoma is associated with HBV infection and poor prognosis. Acta Histochem 2011; 113:833-8. [PMID: 21272924 DOI: 10.1016/j.acthis.2011.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2010] [Revised: 01/03/2011] [Accepted: 01/04/2011] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Thy1/CD90 is an important marker of many types of stem cells. It functions as a tumor suppressor in ovarian cancer and in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. In this study, the expression status of Thy1 in clinical hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissue samples was investigated. Relationships of Thy1 expression with clinical parameters and patient survival rate were analyzed. The quantities of Thy1 mRNA were statistically higher in tumor tissues than those in the adjacent non-tumor tissues (p<0.001). Immunohistochemical data confirmed that Thy1 protein was increased in 73% of HCC samples. Thy1 expression was not influenced by chronic alcohol exposure or cirrhosis. Overexpression in Thy1 was correlated with age (p=0.006), hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection (p=0.044), and histological grade (p=0.014). Patients with the highest level of Thy1 expression showed the poorest prognosis (p=0.040). In conclusion, overexpression of Thy1 may not suppress the development of HCC. Thy1 could provide a clinical prognostic marker for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeng-Wei Lu
- Department of Biotechnology, Asia University, Wufeng, Taichung, Taiwan
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21
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Lu JW, Chang JG, Yeh KT, Chen RM, Tsai JJP, Hu RM. Decreased expression of p39 is associated with a poor prognosis in human hepatocellular carcinoma. Med Oncol 2010; 28 Suppl 1:S239-45. [PMID: 20936377 DOI: 10.1007/s12032-010-9707-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2010] [Accepted: 09/25/2010] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
The aims of this study are to investigate the relationship between p39 expression and clinicopathological parameters of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to evaluate the prognostic value of p39 for HCC patients. Real-time quantitative PCR and immunohistochemistry was used to measure p39 expression in tumor and adjacent nontumor samples. Relationships of p39 expression with clinical parameters and patient survival were analyzed. Real-time quantitative RT-PCR showed that the quantity of p39 mRNA in cancerous tissue was significantly lower than that in nontumor tissue (P < 0.001). Immunohistochemistry data confirmed that p39 protein was reduced in 64% of HCC. p39 expression was not influenced by chronic alcohol exposure or cirrhosis. Reduction in p39 was correlated with the HBV (P = 0.039), HCV (P = 0.011), and histological grade (P < 0.001). HCC patients with lower p39 expression had poorer overall survival rate than that with high expression (HR, 2.868; 95% CI, 1.451-5.670; P = 0.002). Together with other results, these results reveal that p39 expression was reduced in HCC tissue. p39 could be a useful clinical prognostic marker for hepatocellular carcinoma patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeng-Wei Lu
- Department of Biotechnology, Asia University, Wufeng, Taichung 413, Taiwan.
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22
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Iakova P, Timchenko L, Timchenko NA. Intracellular signaling and hepatocellular carcinoma. Semin Cancer Biol 2010; 21:28-34. [PMID: 20850540 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2010.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2010] [Revised: 09/05/2010] [Accepted: 09/09/2010] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Liver cancer is the fifth most common cancer and the third most common cause of cancer related death in the world. The recent development of new techniques for the investigations of global change in the gene expression, signaling pathways and wide genome binding has provided novel information for the mechanisms underlying liver cancer progression. Although these studies identified gene expression signatures in hepatocellular carcinoma, the early steps of the development of hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) are not well understood. The development of HCC is a multistep process which includes the progressive alterations of gene expression leading to the increased proliferation and to liver cancer. This review summarizes recent progress in the identification of the key steps of the development of HCC with the focus on early events of carcinogenesis and on the role of translational and epigenetic alterations in the development of HCC. Quiescent stage of the liver is supported by several tumor suppressor proteins including p53, Rb and C/EBPα. Studies with chemical models of liver carcinogenesis and with human HCC have shown that the elevation of gankyrin is responsible for the elimination of these three proteins at early steps of carcinogenesis. Later stages of progression of the liver cancer are associated with alterations in many signaling pathways including translation which leads to epigenetic silencing/activation of many genes. Particularly, recent reports suggest a critical role of histone deacetylase 1, HDAC1, in the development of HCC through the interactions with transcription factors such as C/EBP family proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Polina Iakova
- Department of Pathology and Immunology and Huffington Center on Aging, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, United States
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23
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Lu GD, Leung CHW, Yan B, Tan CMY, Low SY, Aung MO, Salto-Tellez M, Lim SG, Hooi SC. C/EBPalpha is up-regulated in a subset of hepatocellular carcinomas and plays a role in cell growth and proliferation. Gastroenterology 2010; 139:632-43, 643.e1-4. [PMID: 20347819 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2010.03.051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2009] [Revised: 03/12/2010] [Accepted: 03/18/2010] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS C/EBPalpha (cebpa) is a putative tumor suppressor. However, initial results indicated that cebpa was up-regulated in a subset of human hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs). The regulation and function of C/EBPalpha was investigated in HCC cell lines to clarify its role in liver carcinogenesis. METHODS The regulation of C/EBPalpha expression was studied by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), Western blotting, immunohistochemistry, methylation-specific PCR, and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays. C/EBPalpha expression was knocked-down by small interfering RNA or short hairpin RNA. Functional assays included colony formation, methylthiotetrazole, bromodeoxyuridine incorporation, and luciferase-reporter assays. RESULTS Cebpa was up-regulated at least 2-fold in a subset (approximately 55%) of human HCCs compared with adjacent nontumor tissues. None of the up-regulated samples were positive for hepatitis C infection. The HCC cell lines Hep3B and Huh7 expressed high, PLC/PRF/5 intermediate, HepG2 and HCC-M low levels of C/EBPalpha, recapitulating the pattern of expression observed in HCCs. No mutations were detected in the CEBPA gene in HCCs and cell lines. C/EBPalpha was localized to the nucleus and functional in Hep3B and Huh7 cells; knocking-down its expression reduced target-gene expression, colony formation, and cell growth, associated with a decrease in cyclin A and CDK4 concentrations and E2F transcriptional activity. Epigenetic mechanisms including DNA methylation, and the binding of acetylated histone H3 to the CEBPA promoter-regulated cebpa expression in the HCC cells. CONCLUSIONS C/EBPalpha is up-regulated in a subset of HCCs and has growth-promoting activities in HCC cells. Novel oncogenic mechanisms involving C/EBPalpha may be amenable to epigenetic regulation to improve treatment outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guo-Dong Lu
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, and Department of Medicine, National University Hospital Health Systems, Singapore
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24
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Wu SM, Huang YH, Lu YH, Chien LF, Yeh CT, Tsai MM, Liao CH, Chen WJ, Liao CJ, Cheng WL, Lin KH. Thyroid hormone receptor-mediated regulation of the methionine adenosyltransferase 1 gene is associated with cell invasion in hepatoma cell lines. Cell Mol Life Sci 2010; 67:1831-43. [PMID: 20146079 PMCID: PMC11115772 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-010-0281-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2009] [Revised: 01/07/2010] [Accepted: 01/20/2010] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
The thyroid hormone T(3) regulates differentiation, growth, and development. We demonstrated that methionine adenosyltransferase 1A (MAT1A) was positively regulated by T(3) identified by cDNA microarray previously. The expression of the MAT1A was upregulated by T(3) in hepatoma cell lines overexpressing thyroid hormone receptors (TRs). Additionally, these findings indicate that MAT1A may be regulated by CCAAT/enhancer binding protein (C/EBP). The critical role of the C/EBP binding sites was confirmed by the reporter or chromatin immuno-precipitation (ChIP) assay. In addition, C/EBP was upregulated in hepatoma cells after T(3) treatment and ectopic expression of MAT1A inhibited cell migration and invasion in J7 hepatoma cells. Conversely, knockdown of MAT1A expression increased cell migration. Together, these findings suggest that the expression of the MAT1A gene is mediated by C/EBP and is indirectly upregulated by T(3). Finally, TR was downregulated in a small subset of hepatocellular carcinoma cells concomitantly reduced the expression of C/EBPalpha and MAT1A.
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MESH Headings
- Base Sequence
- CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins/metabolism
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/genetics
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/metabolism
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/pathology
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Cell Movement
- Cycloheximide/pharmacology
- DNA Primers/genetics
- Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic/drug effects
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic/drug effects
- Humans
- Liver Neoplasms/genetics
- Liver Neoplasms/metabolism
- Liver Neoplasms/pathology
- Methionine Adenosyltransferase/antagonists & inhibitors
- Methionine Adenosyltransferase/genetics
- Methionine Adenosyltransferase/metabolism
- Neoplasm Invasiveness
- Protein Synthesis Inhibitors/pharmacology
- RNA, Messenger/genetics
- RNA, Messenger/metabolism
- RNA, Neoplasm/genetics
- RNA, Neoplasm/metabolism
- RNA, Small Interfering/genetics
- Receptors, Thyroid Hormone/metabolism
- Triiodothyronine/pharmacology
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheng-Ming Wu
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Chang-Gung University, 259 Wen-hwa 1 Road, Taoyuan, 333 Taiwan, ROC
| | - Ya-Hui Huang
- Medical Research Center, Chang-Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Yi-Hsin Lu
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Chang-Gung University, 259 Wen-hwa 1 Road, Taoyuan, 333 Taiwan, ROC
| | - Ling-Fang Chien
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Chang-Gung University, 259 Wen-hwa 1 Road, Taoyuan, 333 Taiwan, ROC
| | - Chau-Ting Yeh
- Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, Chang-Gung University, Taoyuan, 333 Taiwan, ROC
- Liver Research Unit, Chang-Gung Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Ming-Ming Tsai
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Chang-Gung University, 259 Wen-hwa 1 Road, Taoyuan, 333 Taiwan, ROC
- Department of Nursing, Chang-Gung Institute of Technology, Taoyuan, 333 Taiwan, ROC
| | - Chen-Hsin Liao
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Chang-Gung University, 259 Wen-hwa 1 Road, Taoyuan, 333 Taiwan, ROC
| | - Wei-Jan Chen
- First Cardiovascular Division, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Chia-Jung Liao
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Chang-Gung University, 259 Wen-hwa 1 Road, Taoyuan, 333 Taiwan, ROC
| | - Wan-Li Cheng
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Chang-Gung University, 259 Wen-hwa 1 Road, Taoyuan, 333 Taiwan, ROC
| | - Kwang-Huei Lin
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Chang-Gung University, 259 Wen-hwa 1 Road, Taoyuan, 333 Taiwan, ROC
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Tseng HH, Chang JG, Hwang YH, Yeh KT, Chen YL, Yu HS. Expression of hepcidin and other iron-regulatory genes in human hepatocellular carcinoma and its clinical implications. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2009; 135:1413-20. [PMID: 19387685 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-009-0585-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2008] [Accepted: 04/01/2009] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE We aimed to assess expression of ten iron-regulatory genes in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and its clinical implications. METHODS We used real-time polymerase chain reaction to measure ten iron-regulatory genes' mRNA and Perls' stain to assess iron stores in 50 HCCs and adjacent nontumor specimens. We compared the differences of gene expression and iron stores between tumor and nontumor specimens, and analyzed the relationships of gene expression with hepatic iron stores, patients' hemoglobin levels and clinicopathologic parameters. RESULTS Hepcidin, ceruloplasmin, transferrin, and transferrin receptor 2 were downregulated, while transferrin receptor 1 was upregulated in HCC. Hepcidin was markedly decreased in HCC but still correlated with hepatic iron stores. Iron-regulatory genes varied in their relationships of expression with clinicopathologic parameters. CONCLUSIONS Altered expression of iron-regulatory genes in HCC may disturb patient's iron balance. Hepcidin may play a role in defending the body against HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hsi-Huang Tseng
- Institute of Occupational Medicine and Industrial Hygiene, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
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