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Su X, Li Y, Ren Y, Cao M, Yang G, Luo J, Hu Z, Deng H, Deng M, Liu B, Yao Z. A new strategy for overcoming drug resistance in liver cancer: Epigenetic regulation. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 176:116902. [PMID: 38870626 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116902] [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: 03/09/2024] [Revised: 05/30/2024] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Drug resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma has posed significant obstacles to effective treatment. Recent evidence indicates that, in addition to traditional gene mutations, epigenetic recoding plays a crucial role in HCC drug resistance. Unlike irreversible gene mutations, epigenetic changes are reversible, offering a promising avenue for preventing and overcoming drug resistance in liver cancer. This review focuses on various epigenetic modifications relevant to drug resistance in HCC and their underlying mechanisms. Additionally, we introduce current clinical epigenetic drugs and clinical trials of these drugs as regulators of drug resistance in other solid tumors. Although there is no clinical study to prevent the occurrence of drug resistance in liver cancer, the development of liquid biopsy and other technologies has provided a bridge to achieve this goal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaorui Su
- Department of Hepatobiliary-Pancreatic-Splenic Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510630, China
| | - Yuxuan Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510630, China
| | - Yupeng Ren
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510630, China
| | - Mingbo Cao
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510630, China
| | - Gaoyuan Yang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510630, China
| | - Jing Luo
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510630, China
| | - Ziyi Hu
- Department of Hepatobiliary-Pancreatic-Splenic Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510630, China
| | - Haixia Deng
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510630, China
| | - Meihai Deng
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510630, China
| | - Bo Liu
- Department of Hepatobiliary-Pancreatic-Splenic Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510630, China
| | - Zhicheng Yao
- Department of Hepatobiliary-Pancreatic-Splenic Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510630, China.
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Fu S, Debes JD, Boonstra A. DNA methylation markers in the detection of hepatocellular carcinoma. Eur J Cancer 2023; 191:112960. [PMID: 37473464 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2023.112960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver malignancy and has a poor prognosis. Epigenetic modification has been shown to be deregulated during HCC development by dramatically impacting the differentiation, proliferation, and function of cells. One important epigenetic modification is DNA methylation during which methyl groups are added to cytosines without changing the DNA sequence itself. Studies found that methylated DNA markers can be specific for detection of HCC. On the basis of these findings, the utility of methylated DNA markers as novel biomarkers for early-stage HCC has been measured in blood, and indeed superior sensitivity and specificity have been found in several studies when compared to current surveillance methods. However, a variety of factors currently limit the immediate application of these exciting biomarkers. In this review, we provide a detailed rationalisation of the approach and basis for the use of methylation biomarkers for HCC detection and summarise recent studies on methylated DNA markers in HCC focusing on the importance of the aetiological cause of liver disease in the mechanisms leading to cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siyu Fu
- Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - José D Debes
- Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - André Boonstra
- Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
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3
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Zhang C, Zhang W, Yuan Z, Yang W, Hu X, Duan S, Wei Q. Contribution of DNA methylation to the risk of hepatitis C virus-associated hepatocellular carcinoma: A meta-analysis. Pathol Res Pract 2022; 238:154136. [PMID: 36155324 DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2022.154136] [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: 04/21/2022] [Revised: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
DNA methylation is a crucial epigenetic modification in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and hepatitis C virus (HCV) can induce hepatocarcinogenesis. Nevertheless, the interaction mechanism between DNA methylation and HCV infection in HCC is still ambiguous. In this study, we performed a comprehensive meta-analysis to assess the contribution of DNA methylation in HCV-associated HCC. After four steps of literature screening, we finally obtained 33 qualified case-control studies for this meta-analysis. These studies consisted of 587 HCV-positive cancer tissues and 326 HCV-negative cancer tissues. Our results revealed that four genes (p16, GSTP1, APC, and RUNX3) were more hypermethylated in the HCV-positive liver cancer tissues than in the HCV-negative liver cancer tissues. In addition, the p16 gene was more hypermethylated in the HCV-positive paracancerous tissues than in the HCV-negative paracancerous tissues. Subgroup meta-analysis by geographical populations showed that p16 methylation was significantly higher in HCV-positive cancerous tissues from Japanese and Chinese. Besides, p16 methylation was significantly higher among patients (> 60 years) but not among the others (≤ 60 years). However, there was no obvious association between DNA methylation and other clinicopathological characteristics, including gender, tumor size, differentiation, and clinical stage. Our study suggested that DNA methylation could become potential biomarkers for HCV-associated HCC. DNA methylation contributed to the risk of HCV-associated HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Zhang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, China National Ministry of Education, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Department of Medical Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Wangjian Zhang
- Department of Medical Statistics, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhijun Yuan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, China National Ministry of Education, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Wenjun Yang
- Department of Pathology, The Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiangrong Hu
- Department of Pathology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Shiwei Duan
- School of Medicine, Zhejiang University City College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Qichun Wei
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, China National Ministry of Education, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
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Chang ML, Chen WT, Hu JH, Chen SC, Gu PW, Chien RN. Altering retinol binding protein 4 levels in hepatitis C: Inflammation and steatosis matter. Virulence 2021; 11:1501-1511. [PMID: 33135589 PMCID: PMC7605351 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2020.1838742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Both hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) might contribute to insulin resistance (IR), how RBP4 links to IR in HCV infection remain elusive. A joint study of a prospective cohort of 842 chronically HCV-infected (CHC) patients (with 842 controls) and a line of HCV core transgenic mice was conducted. Of 842 patients, 771 had completed anti-HCV therapy and 667 had sustained virological responses (SVRs). Compared with controls, CHC patients had lower RBP4 levels. At baseline, age (95% CI β: -0.87~-0.317), BMI (0.516~2.036), triglycerides (0.03~0.127), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) (1.561~7.327), and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (-0.342~-0.149) levels were associated with RBP4 levels in CHC patients. At 24-week post-therapy, male sex (0.652~8.129), BMI (0.199~1.254), triglycerides (0.039~0.088), uric acid (0.599~3.067), eGFR (-0.247 ~-0.14) levels, and fibrosis-4 (-3.602~-0.039) scores were associated with RBP4 levels in SVR patients; compared with baseline, except genotype 3 HCV-infected patients, SVR patients had increased RBP4 levels, which were comparable with controls, while no HOMA-IR index alteration was noted after SVR. The HCV core transgenic mice exhibited nonobese hepatic steatosis, had higher hepatic RBP4 expression, higher serum levels of RBP4 and triglycerides, but comparable HOMA-IR levels than non-transgenic littermates. In conclusion, steatosis, sex, age, uric acid, NLR, and FIB-4 levels were associated with HCV-related RBP4 levels; BMI, triglycerides, and eGFR levels were associated with non-HCV-related RBP4 levels. Reversal of low RBP4 levels after SVR was evident in non-genotype 3 HCV-infected patients. Steatosis and inflammation linked with metabolic alteration other than IR, determined RBP4 levels in HCV-infected patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming-Ling Chang
- Division of Hepatology, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital , Taoyuan, Taiwan.,Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University , Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Ting Chen
- Division of Hepatology, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital , Taoyuan, Taiwan.,Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University , Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Jing-Hong Hu
- Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital , Yunlin, Taiwan
| | - Shiang-Chi Chen
- Department of Nursing, Taipei Medical University , Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Po-Wen Gu
- Department of Medical Laboratory, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital , Taoyuan, Taiwan.,Division of Biotechnology, Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University , Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Rong-Nan Chien
- Division of Hepatology, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital , Taoyuan, Taiwan.,Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University , Taoyuan, Taiwan
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Choi JH, Jeong H, Jang KL. Hepatitis B virus X protein suppresses all-trans retinoic acid-induced apoptosis in human hepatocytes by repressing p14 expression via DNA methylation. J Gen Virol 2017; 98:2786-2798. [PMID: 29068287 DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.000958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), the most biologically active metabolite of vitamin A, is known to activate p14 expression via promoter hypermethylation to induce p53-dependent apoptosis in human hepatocytes. In this study, we found that the oncogenic hepatitis B virus (HBV) X protein (HBx) of HBV, derived from both overexpression and 1.2-mer replicon systems, suppresses ATRA-induced apoptosis in p53-positive human hepatocytes. For this effect, HBx upregulated both protein and enzyme activity levels of DNA methyltransferase 1, 3a and 3b, in the presence of ATRA and thereby inhibited p14 expression via promoter hypermethylation, resulting in inactivation of the p14-mouse double minute 2 pathway and subsequent downregulation of p53 levels. As a result, HBx was able to impair the potential of ATRA to activate apoptosis-related molecules, including Bax, p53-upregulated modulator of apoptosis, caspase-9, caspase-3 and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase. In conclusion, the present study provides a new oncogenic action mechanism of HBx, namely by suppressing the anticancer potential of ATRA to induce p53-dependent apoptosis in HBV-infected hepatocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jung-Hye Choi
- Department of Microbiology, College of Natural Sciences, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyerin Jeong
- Department of Microbiology, College of Natural Sciences, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung Lib Jang
- Department of Microbiology, College of Natural Sciences, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea
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6
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Kwak J, Choi JH, Jang KL. Hepatitis C virus Core overcomes all- trans retinoic acid-induced apoptosis in human hepatoma cells by inhibiting p14 expression via DNA methylation. Oncotarget 2017; 8:85584-85598. [PMID: 29156743 PMCID: PMC5689633 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.20337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2016] [Accepted: 07/25/2017] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), the most biologically active metabolite of vitamin A, is known to induce p14 expression via promoter hypomethylation to activate the p14-MDM2-p53 pathway, which leads to activation of the p53-dependent apoptotic pathway and subsequent induction of apoptosis in human hepatoma cells. In the present study, we found that hepatitis C virus (HCV) Core derived from ectopic expression or HCV infection overcomes ATRA-induced apoptosis in p53-positive hepatoma cells. For this effect, HCV Core upregulated both protein levels and enzyme activities of DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1), DNMT3a, and DNMT3b and thereby repressed p14 expression via promoter hypermethylation, resulting in inactivation of the pathway leading to p53 accumulation in the presence of ATRA. As a result, HCV Core prevented ATRA from activating several apoptosis-related molecules, including Bax, p53 upregulated modulator of apoptosis, caspase-9, caspase-3, and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase. In addition, complementation of p14 in the Core-expressing cells by either ectopic expression or treatment with 5-Aza-2′dC almost completely abolished the potential of HCV Core to suppress ATRA-induced apoptosis. Based on these observations, we conclude that HCV Core executes its oncogenic potential by suppressing the p53-dependent apoptosis induced by ATRA in human hepatoma cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juri Kwak
- Department of Microbiology, College of Natural Sciences, Pusan National University, Busan 609-735, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung-Hye Choi
- Department of Microbiology, College of Natural Sciences, Pusan National University, Busan 609-735, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung Lib Jang
- Department of Microbiology, College of Natural Sciences, Pusan National University, Busan 609-735, Republic of Korea
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7
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Hepatitis C virus core protein inhibits E6AP expression via DNA methylation to escape from ubiquitin-dependent proteasomal degradation. Cancer Lett 2016; 380:59-68. [DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2016.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2016] [Revised: 06/03/2016] [Accepted: 06/13/2016] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
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8
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Huntington JT, Tang X, Kent LN, Schmidt CR, Leone G. The Spectrum of E2F in Liver Disease--Mediated Regulation in Biology and Cancer. J Cell Physiol 2016; 231:1438-49. [PMID: 26566968 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.25242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2015] [Accepted: 11/03/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Uncoordinated cell growth is one of the fundamental concepts in carcinogenesis and occurs secondary to dysregulation of the cell cycle. The E2Fs are a large family of transcription factors and are key regulators of the cell cycle. The activation of E2Fs is intimately regulated by retinoblastoma 1 (RB1). The RB pathway has been implicated in almost every human malignancy. Recently there have been exciting developments in the E2F field using animal models to better understand the role of E2Fs in vivo. Genetic mouse models have proven essential in implicating E2Fs in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and liver disease. In this review, the general structure and function of E2Fs as well as the role for E2Fs in the development of HCC and liver disease is evaluated. Specifically, what is known about E2Fs in human disease is explored in depth, and future directions are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin T Huntington
- Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Xing Tang
- Department of Molecular Virology, Immunology and Medical Genetics, College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio.,Department of Molecular Genetics, College of Biological Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio.,Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Lindsey N Kent
- Department of Molecular Virology, Immunology and Medical Genetics, College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio.,Department of Molecular Genetics, College of Biological Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio.,Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Carl R Schmidt
- Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Gustavo Leone
- Department of Molecular Virology, Immunology and Medical Genetics, College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio.,Department of Molecular Genetics, College of Biological Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio.,Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
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Minarovits J, Demcsák A, Banati F, Niller HH. Epigenetic Dysregulation in Virus-Associated Neoplasms. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2015; 879:71-90. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-24738-0_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
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10
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Mileo AM, Mattarocci S, Matarrese P, Anticoli S, Abbruzzese C, Catone S, Sacco R, Paggi MG, Ruggieri A. Hepatitis C virus core protein modulates pRb2/p130 expression in human hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines through promoter methylation. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH : CR 2015; 34:140. [PMID: 26576645 PMCID: PMC4650920 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-015-0255-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2015] [Accepted: 11/09/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Background Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection is associated with chronically evolving disease and development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), albeit the mechanism of HCC induction by HCV is still controversial. The nucleocapsid (core) protein of HCV has been shown to be directly implicated in cellular transformation and immortalization, enhancing the effect of oncogenes and decreasing the one of tumor suppressor genes, as RB1 and its protein product pRB. With the aim of identifying novel molecular mechanisms of hepatocyte transformation by HCV, we examined the effect of HCV core protein on the expression of the whole Retinoblastoma (RB) family of tumor and growth suppressor factors, i.e. pRb, p107 and pRb2/p130. Methods We used a model system consisting of the HuH-7, HCV-free, human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line and of the HuH-7-CORE cells derived from the former and constitutively expressing the HCV core protein. We determined pRb, p107 and pRb2/p130 protein and mRNA amount of the respective genes RB1, RBL1 and RBL2, RBL2 promoter activity and methylation as well as DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) and 3b (DNMT3b) expression level. The effect of pRb2/p130 over-expression on the HCV core-expressing HuH-7-CORE cells was also evaluated. Results We found that the HCV core protein expression down-regulated pRb2/p130 protein and mRNA levels in HuH-7-CORE cells by inducing promoter hyper-methylation with the concomitant up-regulation of DNMT1 and DNMT3b expression. When pRb2/p130 expression was artificially re-established in HuH-7-CORE cells, cell cycle analysis outlined an accumulation in the G0/G1 phase, as expected. Conclusions HCV core appears indeed able to significantly down-regulate the expression and the function of two out of three RB family tumor and growth suppressor factors, i.e. pRb and pRb2/p130. The functional consequences at the level of cell cycle regulation, and possibly of more complex cell homeostatic processes, may represent a plausible molecular mechanism involved in liver transformation by HCV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Maria Mileo
- Experimental Oncology, "Regina Elena" National Cancer Institute, IRCCS, Via Elio Chianesi, 53, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefano Mattarocci
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Geneva, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Paola Matarrese
- Department of Therapeutic Research and Medicines Evaluation, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Simona Anticoli
- National AIDS Center, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Claudia Abbruzzese
- Experimental Oncology, "Regina Elena" National Cancer Institute, IRCCS, Via Elio Chianesi, 53, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefania Catone
- Department of Therapeutic Research and Medicines Evaluation, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Rodolfo Sacco
- Gastroenterology and Metabolic Diseases, Department of Gastroenterology, 56124 Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy
| | - Marco G Paggi
- Experimental Oncology, "Regina Elena" National Cancer Institute, IRCCS, Via Elio Chianesi, 53, 00144, Rome, Italy.
| | - Anna Ruggieri
- Department of Veterinary Public Health & Food Safety, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161, Rome, Italy
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Anestopoulos I, Voulgaridou GP, Georgakilas AG, Franco R, Pappa A, Panayiotidis MI. Epigenetic therapy as a novel approach in hepatocellular carcinoma. Pharmacol Ther 2014; 145:103-19. [PMID: 25205159 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2014.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2014] [Accepted: 09/02/2014] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of liver malignancy and one with high fatality. Its 5-year survival rate remains low and thus, there is a need for improvement of current treatment strategies as well as development of novel targeted methodologies in order to optimize existing therapeutic protocols. To this end, only recently, it was discovered that its pathophysiology also involves epigenetic alterations in DNA methylation, histone modifications and/or non-coding microRNA patterns. Unlike genetic events, epigenetic alterations are reversible and thus potentially considered to be an alternative option in cancer treatment protocols. In this review, we describe the general characteristics and resulted major alterations of the epigenetic machinery as well as current state of progress of epigenetic therapy (via different single or combinatorial experimental approaches) in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioannis Anestopoulos
- Department of Molecular Biology & Genetics, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece
| | | | - Alexandros G Georgakilas
- School of Applied Mathematical & Physical Sciences, National Technical University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Rodrigo Franco
- Redox Biology Center, School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Redox Biology Center, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, USA
| | - Aglaia Pappa
- Department of Molecular Biology & Genetics, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece
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Chinnaswamy S. Genetic variants at the IFNL3 locus and their association with hepatitis C virus infections reveal novel insights into host-virus interactions. J Interferon Cytokine Res 2014; 34:479-97. [PMID: 24555572 PMCID: PMC4080901 DOI: 10.1089/jir.2013.0113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2013] [Accepted: 11/25/2013] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Human genetic variation plays a critical role in both spontaneous clearance of and response to interferon (IFN)-based therapies against hepatitis C virus (HCV) as shown by the success of recent genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Several GWAS and later validation studies have shown that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at the IFNL3 (formerly IL28B) locus on chromosome 19 are involved in eliminating HCV in human patients. No doubt that this information is helping clinicians worldwide in making better clinical decisions in anti-HCV therapy, but the biological mechanisms involving the SNPs leading to differential responses to therapy and spontaneous clearance of HCV remain elusive. Recent reports including the discovery of a novel IFN (IFN-λ4) gene at the IFNL3 locus and in vitro functional studies implicating 2 SNPs as causal variants lead to novel conclusions and perhaps to new directions in research. An attempt is made in this review to summarize the major findings of the GWAS, the efforts involved in the discovery of causal SNPs; and to explain the biological basis for spontaneous clearance and response to treatment in HCV infections.
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