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Gnocchi D, Nikolic D, Paparella RR, Sabbà C, Mazzocca A. Crithmum maritimum Extract Restores Lipid Homeostasis and Metabolic Profile of Liver Cancer Cells to a Normal Phenotype. PLANT FOODS FOR HUMAN NUTRITION (DORDRECHT, NETHERLANDS) 2024; 79:417-424. [PMID: 38710924 PMCID: PMC11178603 DOI: 10.1007/s11130-024-01188-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an alarming epidemiological clinical problem worldwide. Pharmacological approaches currently available do not provide adequate responses due to poor effectiveness, high toxicity, and serious side effects. Our previous studies have shown that the wild edible plant Crithmum maritimum L. inhibits the growth of liver cancer cells and promotes liver cell differentiation by reducing lactic acid fermentation (Warburg effect). Here, we aimed to further characterise the effects of C. maritimum on lipid metabolism and markers of cellular metabolic health, such as AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), and Sirtuin 3 (SIRT3), as well as the insulin signalling pathway. To better mimic the biological spectrum of HCC, we employed four HCC cell lines with different degrees of tumorigenicity and lactic acid fermentation/Warburg phenotype. Lipid accumulation was assessed by Oil Red O (ORO) staining, while gene expression was measured by real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). The activation of AMPK and insulin signalling pathways was determined by Western blotting. Results indicate that C. maritimum prevents lipid accumulation, downregulates lipid and cholesterol biosynthesis, and modulates markers of metabolic health, such as AMPK, SIRT1 and SIRT3. This modulation is different amongst HCC cell lines, revealing an important functional versatility of C. maritimum. Taken together, our findings corroborate the importance of C. maritimum as a valuable nutraceutical, reinforcing its role for the improvement of metabolic health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Gnocchi
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari School of Medicine, Piazza G. Cesare, 11 - 70124, Bari, Italy
| | - Dragana Nikolic
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari School of Medicine, Piazza G. Cesare, 11 - 70124, Bari, Italy
| | - Rosa Rita Paparella
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari School of Medicine, Piazza G. Cesare, 11 - 70124, Bari, Italy
| | - Carlo Sabbà
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari School of Medicine, Piazza G. Cesare, 11 - 70124, Bari, Italy
| | - Antonio Mazzocca
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari School of Medicine, Piazza G. Cesare, 11 - 70124, Bari, Italy.
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Dong R, Wang T, Dong W, Zhu H, Liu Q, Liang H, Chen X, Zhang B, Zhang X. Inhibition of PTPRE suppresses tumor progression and improves sorafenib response in hepatocellular carcinoma. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 173:116366. [PMID: 38458013 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 02/25/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has a poor prognosis, and the efficacy of current therapeutic strategies is extremely limited in advanced diseases. Our previous study reported that protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor epsilon (PTPRE) is a promoting factor in HCC progression. In this study, our objective was to evaluate the treatment effect of PTPRE inhibitors in different HCC preclinical models. Our results indicated that the PTPRE inhibitory compound 63 (Cpd-63) inhibited tumor cell proliferation, migration, and HCC organoid growth. Mechanism research revealed that Cpd-63 could inhibit the expression of MYC and MYC targets by inhibiting the activation of SRC. Additionally, we found that Cpd-63 could improve the response of sorafenib in HCC cells. In conclusion, we demonstrated that the PTPRE inhibitors represented a potential therapeutic agent for HCC management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renshun Dong
- Hepatic Surgery Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China; Hubei Province for the Clinical Medicine Research Center of Hepatic Surgery, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Tianci Wang
- Hepatic Surgery Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China; Hubei Province for the Clinical Medicine Research Center of Hepatic Surgery, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Wei Dong
- Hepatic Surgery Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China; Hubei Province for the Clinical Medicine Research Center of Hepatic Surgery, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China; Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Ministry of Education; NHC Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation; Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
| | - He Zhu
- Hepatic Surgery Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China; Hubei Province for the Clinical Medicine Research Center of Hepatic Surgery, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China; Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Ministry of Education; NHC Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation; Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Qiumeng Liu
- Hepatic Surgery Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China; Hubei Province for the Clinical Medicine Research Center of Hepatic Surgery, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China; Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Ministry of Education; NHC Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation; Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Huifang Liang
- Hepatic Surgery Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China; Hubei Province for the Clinical Medicine Research Center of Hepatic Surgery, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China; Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Ministry of Education; NHC Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation; Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Xiaoping Chen
- Hepatic Surgery Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China; Hubei Province for the Clinical Medicine Research Center of Hepatic Surgery, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China; Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Ministry of Education; NHC Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation; Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China.
| | - Bixiang Zhang
- Hepatic Surgery Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China; Hubei Province for the Clinical Medicine Research Center of Hepatic Surgery, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China; Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Ministry of Education; NHC Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation; Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China.
| | - Xuewu Zhang
- Hepatic Surgery Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China; Hubei Province for the Clinical Medicine Research Center of Hepatic Surgery, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China; Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Ministry of Education; NHC Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation; Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China.
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Zhou Z, Wu B, Chen J, Shen Y, Wang J, Chen X, Fei F, Zhu M. A Lactic Acid Metabolism-Related Gene Signature for Predicting Clinical Outcome and Tumor Microenvironmental Status in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Nutr Cancer 2024; 76:279-295. [PMID: 38226887 DOI: 10.1080/01635581.2024.2302202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/01/2024] [Indexed: 01/17/2024]
Abstract
This study aims to build a prognostic model based on lactic acid metabolism-related genes (LMRGs) to predict survival outcomes and tumor microenvironment status of Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. The model was used to calculate riskscores of clinical samples. Survival analysis and Cox regression analysis were conducted to verify the independence and reliability of the riskscore to determine its clinical significance in prognosis evaluation of HCC. Additionally, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of tumor mutation burden (TMB), immune cell infiltration, and gene set molecular function in the high- and low-risk groups. We obtained 134 LMRGs mainly involved in cellular calcium homeostasis and calcium signaling pathways. The LMRGs in the risk assessment model included PFKFB4, SLC16A3, ADRA2B, SLC22A1, QRFPR, and PROK1. This study discovered much shorter overall survival and median survival time of patients with higher riskscores when compared to those with lower riskscores. It was indicated that for independent prediction of patients' prognosis, the riskscore had a significant clinical value. A remarkable difference was also found regarding TMB between the two groups. Finally, cell experiments demonstrated that the knockout of PFKFB4 and SLC16A3 genes suppressed lactate. Our research demonstrated that the riskscore, established based on LMRGs, is a promising biomarker.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongcheng Zhou
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Bin Wu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Jing Chen
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Yiyu Shen
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Xujian Chen
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Faming Fei
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Mingyuan Zhu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, Zhejiang Province, China
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Gnocchi D, Nikolic D, Paparella RR, Sabbà C, Mazzocca A. Cellular Adaptation Takes Advantage of Atavistic Regression Programs during Carcinogenesis. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:3942. [PMID: 37568758 PMCID: PMC10416974 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15153942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Adaptation of cancer cells to extreme microenvironmental conditions (i.e., hypoxia, high acidity, and reduced nutrient availability) contributes to cancer resilience. Furthermore, neoplastic transformation can be envisioned as an extreme adaptive response to tissue damage or chronic injury. The recent Systemic-Evolutionary Theory of the Origin of Cancer (SETOC) hypothesizes that cancer cells "revert" to "primitive" characteristics either ontogenically (embryo-like) or phylogenetically (single-celled organisms). This regression may confer robustness and maintain the disordered state of the tissue, which is a hallmark of malignancy. Changes in cancer cell metabolism during adaptation may also be the consequence of altered microenvironmental conditions, often resulting in a shift toward lactic acid fermentation. However, the mechanisms underlying the robust adaptive capacity of cancer cells remain largely unknown. In recent years, cancer cells' metabolic flexibility has received increasing attention among researchers. Here, we focus on how changes in the microenvironment can affect cancer cell energy production and drug sensitivity. Indeed, changes in the cellular microenvironment may lead to a "shift" toward "atavistic" biologic features, such as the switch from oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) to lactic acid fermentation, which can also sustain drug resistance. Finally, we point out new integrative metabolism-based pharmacological approaches and potential biomarkers for early detection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Antonio Mazzocca
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari School of Medicine, Piazza G. Cesare, 11, 70124 Bari, Italy; (D.G.); (D.N.); (R.R.P.); (C.S.)
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