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Castro V, Calvo G, Oliveros JC, Pérez-Del-Pulgar S, Gastaminza P. Hepatitis C virus-induced differential transcriptional traits in host cells after persistent infection elimination by direct-acting antivirals in cell culture. J Med Virol 2024; 96:e29787. [PMID: 38988177 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.29787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2024] [Revised: 06/11/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024]
Abstract
Chronic hepatitis C virus infection (HCV) causes liver inflammation and fibrosis, leading to the development of severe liver disease, such as cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Approval of direct-acting antiviral drug combinations has revolutionized chronic HCV therapy, with virus eradication in >98% of the treated patients. The efficacy of these treatments is such that it is formally possible for cured patients to carry formerly infected cells that display irreversible transcriptional alterations directly caused by chronic HCV Infection. Combining differential transcriptomes from two different persistent infection models, we observed a major reversion of infection-related transcripts after complete infection elimination. However, a small number of transcripts were abnormally expressed in formerly infected cells. Comparison of the results obtained in proliferating and growth-arrested cell culture models suggest that permanent transcriptional alterations may be established by several mechanisms. Interestingly, some of these alterations were also observed in the liver biopsies of virologically cured patients. Overall, our data suggest a direct and permanent impact of persistent HCV infection on the host cell transcriptome even after virus elimination, possibly contributing to the development of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria Castro
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Madrid, Spain
| | - Gema Calvo
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan Carlos Oliveros
- Bioinformatics for Genomics and Proteomics Unit, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Pablo Gastaminza
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Madrid, Spain
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Çelik FS, Güneş CE, Yavuz E, Kurar E. Apelin triggers macrophage polarization to M2 type in head and neck cancer. Immunobiology 2023; 228:152353. [PMID: 36805859 DOI: 10.1016/j.imbio.2023.152353] [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: 10/20/2022] [Revised: 11/26/2022] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
Abstract
Cancer comes after cardiovascular diseases in terms of mortality rate in the world. Chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgical interventions are the current cancer treatment. Recently, it has been observed that immunotherapeutic approaches provide a significant improvement when used along with these interventions. The mononuclear system mainly consists of macrophages that play an active role in the pathology of many diseases because of having high plasticity capacities. Previous research suggested that they can be used as an alternative to cancer treatment. Aim was to investigate the effect of apelin on macrophage polarization in the tumor microenvironment. Mouse macrophage cell line RAW264.7 cells and head and were chosen for this study. The apelin expression was knockdown in neck cell carcinoma cell line SCCL MT1 cells using shRNA technique. SCCL MT1 cells having normal or suppressed apelin expression were co-cultured with mouse macrophage RAW264.7 cells. The effect of co-culturing on the expression of inflammatory genes in RAW264.7 cells was investigated. Suppressed apelin expression in SCCL MT1 cells resulted in elevated pro-inflammatory response in co-cultured macrophages. Expression of the IL1β, IL6, and TNFα genes significantly increased, however anti-inflammatory cytokine levels were significantly decreased. However, in the control group, a downregulation was determined in pro-inflammatory genes, while an increase was observed in anti-inflammatory genes. The protein levels of these cytokines in concordance with the RT-PCR analysis. As a result of this study, apelin released from cancer cells was found to affect macrophage polarization. These results indicated that the apelin peptide may cause the intense presence of M2-type macrophages in the tumor niche, and the therapeutic approaches targeting of apelin in cancer cells may have a potential role in macrophage polarization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatma Seçer Çelik
- Department of Medical Biology, Meram Faculty of Medicine, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey; Research and Development Center for Diagnostic Kits (KIT-ARGEM), Konya Food and Agriculture University, Konya, Turkey.
| | - Canan Eroğlu Güneş
- Department of Medical Biology, Meram Faculty of Medicine, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey
| | - Emine Yavuz
- Advanced Technology Research and Application Center, Selçuk University, Konya, Turkey
| | - Ercan Kurar
- Department of Medical Biology, Meram Faculty of Medicine, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey
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Expression profile of adrenomedullin and its specific receptors in liver tissues from patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and in tumorigenic cell line-secreted extracellular vesicles. Pathol Res Pract 2023; 243:154383. [PMID: 36827885 DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2023.154383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023]
Abstract
The transcriptional profile of adrenomedullin (AM), a new metastasis-related factor involved in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and its specific receptors (CLR, RAMP1, RAMP3) were evaluated in liver tissues of HCV-positive HCC subjects undergoing liver transplantation (LR) and in donors (LD). AM and its specific receptor expression were also assessed in extracellular vesicles (EVs) secreted by tumorigenic (HepG2) and non-tumorigenic (WRL68) cells by Real-Time PCR. AM expression resulted significantly elevated in LR concerning LD (p = 0.0038) and, for the first time, significantly higher levels in HCC patients as a function of clinical severity (MELD score), were observed. RAMP3 and CLR expression increased in LR as a function of clinical severity while RAMP1 decreased. Positive correlations were found among AM, its receptors, and apoptotic markers. No AM mRNA expression difference was observed between HepG2 and WRL68 EVs. RAMP1 and RAMP3 resulted lower in HepG2 concerning WRL68 while significantly higher levels were observed for CLR. While results at tissue level characterize AM as a regulator of carcinogenesis-tumor progression, those obtained in EVs do not indicate AM as a target candidate, neither as a pathological biomarker nor as a marker involved in cancer therapy.
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Chen J, Li Z, Zhao Q, Chen L. Roles of apelin/APJ system in cancer: Biomarker, predictor, and emerging therapeutic target. J Cell Physiol 2022; 237:3734-3751. [DOI: 10.1002/jcp.30845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Revised: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jiawei Chen
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment Responsive Drug Research, Hengyang Medical School, Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, Institute of Pharmacy and Pharmacology University of South China Hengyang Hunan China
| | - Zhiyue Li
- Health Management Center, The Third Xiangya Hospital Central South University Changsha Hunan Province China
| | - Qun Zhao
- Department of Orthopedics Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University Changsha Hunan China
| | - Linxi Chen
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment Responsive Drug Research, Hengyang Medical School, Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, Institute of Pharmacy and Pharmacology University of South China Hengyang Hunan China
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Data mining of key genes expression in hepatocellular carcinoma: novel potential biomarkers of diagnosis prognosis or progression. Clin Exp Metastasis 2022; 39:589-602. [PMID: 35429302 PMCID: PMC9338913 DOI: 10.1007/s10585-022-10164-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the main cancer-related causes of death worldwide. The study aimed to perform a data mining analysis of the expression and regulatory role of key genes in HCC to reveal novel potential biomarkers of diagnosis prognosis, or progression since their availability is still almost lacking. Starting from data of our cohort of patients (HCV-positive HCC pts undergoing liver transplantation (LR, n = 10) and donors (LD, n = 14), deeply analyzed previously, in which apelin, osteopontin, osteoprotegerin, NOTCH-1, CASP-3, Bcl-2, BAX, PTX3, and NPTX2 were analyzed, we applied statistical analysis and in-silico tools (Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis, HCCDB database and GeneMania, UALCAN) to screen and identify the key genes. Firstly, we performed a stepwise regression analysis using our mRNA-datasets which revealed that higher expression levels of apelin and osteopontin were positively associated with the HCC and identified that the most consistently differentially expressed gene across multiple HCC expression datasets was only OPN. This comprehensive strategy of data mining evidenced that OPN might have a potential function as an important tumor marker-driven oncogenesis being associated with poor prognosis of HCC patients.
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Tian Q, Yan X, Yang L, Liu Z, Yuan Z, Zhang Y. Long non-coding RNA BACE1-AS plays an oncogenic role in hepatocellular carcinoma cells through miR-214-3p/APLN axis. Acta Biochim Biophys Sin (Shanghai) 2021; 53:1538-1546. [PMID: 34636395 DOI: 10.1093/abbs/gmab134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACE1 antisense RNA (BACE1-AS) is implicated in promoting cell proliferation in different types of tumors. However, the function and mechanism of BACE1-AS in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are still unclear. In the present study, we found that the relative expression of BACE1-AS in HCC cell lines, HCC tissues, and serum samples of HCC patients was significantly increased, and its high expression was correlated with the poor prognosis of HCC patients. In addition, overexpression of BACE1 promoted HCC cell proliferation, cell cycle progression, migration, and invasion, but inhibited cell apoptosis, while knockdown of BACE1 exerted the opposite role. Furthermore, BACE1-AS sponged miR-214-3p and inhibited its expression, thus promoting Apelin (APLN) expression. Overexpression or knockdown of miR-214-3p could partially reverse the abnormal proliferation, cell cycle progression, migration, invasion, and apoptosis caused by overexpression or knockdown of BACE1. These findings suggest that the BACE1-AS/miR-214-3p/APLN axis is a novel signaling pathway that facilitates HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Tian
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Tianjin First Central Hospital (School of Medicine, Nankai University), Tianjin 300192, China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Tianjin 300192, China
| | - Xiaodong Yan
- The First Central Clinical College of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300192, China
| | - Long Yang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Tianjin First Central Hospital (School of Medicine, Nankai University), Tianjin 300192, China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Tianjin 300192, China
| | - Zirong Liu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Tianjin First Central Hospital (School of Medicine, Nankai University), Tianjin 300192, China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Tianjin 300192, China
| | - Zheyue Yuan
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Tianjin First Central Hospital (School of Medicine, Nankai University), Tianjin 300192, China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Tianjin 300192, China
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Qin L, Huang D, Huang J, Huang H. New biomarkers and therapeutic targets of human liver cancer: Transcriptomic findings. Biofactors 2021; 47:1016-1031. [PMID: 34379335 DOI: 10.1002/biof.1775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide, causing 782,000 deaths in 2018. Poor prognosis and lack of treatment are the reasons for the high mortality rate of HCC. In the current study, we conducted a comparative transcriptomic analysis, followed by a series of bioinformatics analyses, including Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis and Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA), aiming to unfold the detailed molecular mechanisms underlying the development of HCC. In the comparative transcriptomic analysis of 10 pairs of HCC tumoral tissues and adjunct nontumoral tissues, we identified 115 common differentially expressed genes in HCC. The GO enrichment analysis of these genes highlighted alterations in the immune response, cell proliferation and DNA damage, energetic metabolism, cell-matrix adhesion, and filament assembly in HCC. In addition, the canonical pathway analysis of IPA further showed the importance of many cell-signaling pathways involved in the carcinogenesis of HCC. The findings of this study provide a cluster of novel biomarkers and molecular therapeutic targets for HCC diagnosis and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Qin
- Department of Oncology, Liuzhou Worker's Hospital, Liuzhou, Guangxi, China
| | - Dongning Huang
- Department of Oncology, Liuzhou Worker's Hospital, Liuzhou, Guangxi, China
| | - Jian Huang
- Department of Oncology, Liuzhou Worker's Hospital, Liuzhou, Guangxi, China
| | - Haixin Huang
- Department of Oncology, Liuzhou Worker's Hospital, Liuzhou, Guangxi, China
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Elpek GO. Molecular pathways in viral hepatitis-associated liver carcinogenesis: An update. World J Clin Cases 2021; 9:4890-4917. [PMID: 34307543 PMCID: PMC8283590 DOI: 10.12998/wjcc.v9.i19.4890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2021] [Revised: 03/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of cancer among primary malignant tumors of the liver and is a consequential cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. In recent years, uncovering the molecular mechanisms involved in the development and behavior of this tumor has led to the identification of multiple potential treatment targets. Despite the vast amount of data on this topic, HCC remains a challenging tumor to treat due to its aggressive behavior and complex molecular profile. Therefore, the number of studies aiming to elucidate the mechanisms involved in both carcinogenesis and tumor progression in HCC continues to increase. In this context, the close association of HCC with viral hepatitis has led to numerous studies focusing on the direct or indirect involvement of viruses in the mechanisms contributing to tumor development and behavior. In line with these efforts, this review was undertaken to highlight the current understanding of the molecular mechanisms by which hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) participate in oncogenesis and tumor progression in HCC and summarize new findings. Cumulative evidence indicates that HBV DNA integration promotes genomic instability, resulting in the overexpression of genes related to cancer development, metastasis, and angiogenesis or inactivation of tumor suppressor genes. In addition, genetic variations in HBV itself, especially preS2 deletions, may play a role in malignant transformation. Epigenetic dysregulation caused by both viruses might also contribute to tumor formation and metastasis by modifying the methylation of DNA and histones or altering the expression of microRNAs. Similarly, viral proteins of both HBV and HCV can affect pathways that are important anticancer targets. The effects of these two viruses on the Hippo-Yap-Taz pathway in HCC development and behavior need to be investigated. Additional, comprehensive studies are also needed to determine these viruses' interaction with integrins, farnesoid X, and the apelin system in malignant transformation and tumor progression. Although the relationship of persistent inflammation caused by HBV and HCV hepatitis with carcinogenesis is well defined, further studies are warranted to decipher the relationship among inflammasomes and viruses in carcinogenesis and elucidate the role of virus-microbiota interactions in HCC development and progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gulsum Ozlem Elpek
- Department of Pathology, Akdeniz University Medical School, Antalya 07070, Turkey
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Olszańska J, Pietraszek-Gremplewicz K, Nowak D. Melanoma Progression under Obesity: Focus on Adipokines. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13092281. [PMID: 34068679 PMCID: PMC8126042 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13092281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Revised: 05/01/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Obesity is a rapidly growing public health problem and the reason for numerous diseases in the human body, including cancer. This article reviews the current knowledge of the effect of molecules secreted by adipose tissue-adipokines on melanoma progression. We also discuss the role of these factors as markers of incidence, metastasis, and melanoma patient survival. Understanding the functions of adipokines will lead to knowledge of whether and how obesity promotes melanoma growth. Abstract Obesity is a growing problem in the world and is one of the risk factors of various cancers. Among these cancers is melanoma, which accounts for the majority of skin tumor deaths. Current studies are looking for a correlation between obesity and melanoma. They suspect that a potential cause of its development is connected to the biology of adipokines, active molecules secreted by adipose tissue. Under physiological conditions, adipokines control many processes, including lipid and glucose homeostasis, insulin sensitivity, angiogenesis, and inflammations. However, when there is an increased amount of fat in the body, their secretion is dysregulated. This article reviews the current knowledge of the effect of adipokines on melanoma growth. This work focuses on the molecular pathways by which adipose tissue secreted molecules modify the angiogenesis, migration, invasion, proliferation, and death of melanoma cells. We also discuss the role of these factors as markers of incidence, metastasis, and melanoma patient survival. Understanding the functions of adipokines will lead to knowledge of whether and how obesity promotes melanoma growth. Further studies may contribute to the innovations of therapies and the use of adipokines as predictive and/or prognostic biomarkers.
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Liu L, Yi X, Lu C, Wang Y, Xiao Q, Zhang L, Pang Y, Guan X. Study Progression of Apelin/APJ Signaling and Apela in Different Types of Cancer. Front Oncol 2021; 11:658253. [PMID: 33912466 PMCID: PMC8075258 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.658253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Apelin is an endogenous ligand that binds to the G protein-coupled receptor angiotensin-like-receptor 1 (APJ). Apelin and APJ are widely distributed in organs and tissues and are involved in multiple physiological and pathological processes including cardiovascular regulation, neuroendocrine stress response, energy metabolism, etc. Additionally, apelin/APJ axis was found to play an important role in cancer development and progression. Apela is a newly identified endogenous ligand for APJ. Several studies have revealed the potential role of Apela in cancers. In this article, we review the current studies focusing on the role of apelin/APJ signaling and Apela in different cancers. Potential mechanisms by which apelin/APJ and Apela mediate the regulation of cancer development and progression were also mentioned. The Apelin/APJ signaling and Apela may serve as potential therapeutic candidates for treatment of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Longfei Liu
- Department of Urology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xiaoping Yi
- Department of Radiology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Can Lu
- Department of Nephrology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yong Wang
- Department of Urology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Qiao Xiao
- Department of Urology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Liang Zhang
- Department of Urology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yingxian Pang
- Department of Urology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xiao Guan
- Department of Urology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
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