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Liu Y, Zhou Q, Zou G, Zhang W. Inhibin subunit beta B (INHBB): an emerging role in tumor progression. J Physiol Biochem 2024:10.1007/s13105-024-01041-y. [PMID: 39183219 DOI: 10.1007/s13105-024-01041-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/30/2024] [Indexed: 08/27/2024]
Abstract
The gene inhibin subunit beta B (INHBB) encodes the inhibin βB subunit, which is involved in forming protein members of the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) superfamily. The TGF-β superfamily is extensively involved in cell proliferation, differentiation, adhesion, movement, metabolism, communication, and death. Activins and inhibins, which belong to the TGF-β superfamily, were first discovered in ovarian follicular fluid. They were initially described as regulators of pituitary follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) secretion both in vivo and in vitro. Later studies found that INHBB is expressed not only in reproductive organs such as the ovary, uterus, and testis but also in numerous other organs, including the brain, spinal cord, liver, kidneys, and adrenal glands. This wide distribution implies its involvement in the normal physiological functions of various organs; however, the mechanisms underlying these functions have not yet been fully elucidated. Recent studies suggest that INHBB plays a significant, yet complex role in tumorigenesis. It appears to have dual effects, promoting tumor progression in some contexts while inhibiting it in others, although these roles are not yet fully understood. In this paper, we review the different expression patterns, functions, and mechanisms of INHBB in normal and tumor tissues to illustrate the research prospects of INHBB in tumor progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Liu
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Tongzipo Road 172, Yuelu District, Changsha, 410013, Hunan Province, People's Republic of China
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Zhengzhou Orthopedic Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan, People's Republic of China
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Qing Zhou
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, First Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, Guizhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Guoying Zou
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Brain Hospital of Hunan Province, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenling Zhang
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Tongzipo Road 172, Yuelu District, Changsha, 410013, Hunan Province, People's Republic of China.
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China.
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Cheng Z, Li S, Yang S, Long H, Wu H, Chen X, Cheng X, Wang T. Endoplasmic reticulum stress promotes hepatocellular carcinoma by modulating immunity: a study based on artificial neural networks and single-cell sequencing. J Transl Med 2024; 22:658. [PMID: 39010084 PMCID: PMC11247783 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-024-05460-9] [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: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 07/17/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is characterized by the complex pathogenesis, limited therapeutic methods, and poor prognosis. Endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) plays an important role in the development of HCC, therefore, we still need further study of molecular mechanism of HCC and ERS for early diagnosis and promising treatment targets. METHOD The GEO datasets (GSE25097, GSE62232, and GSE65372) were integrated to identify differentially expressed genes related to HCC (ERSRGs). Random Forest (RF) and Support Vector Machine (SVM) machine learning techniques were applied to screen ERSRGs associated with endoplasmic reticulum stress, and an artificial neural network (ANN) diagnostic prediction model was constructed. The ESTIMATE algorithm was utilized to analyze the correlation between ERSRGs and the immune microenvironment. The potential therapeutic agents for ERSRGs were explored using the Drug Signature Database (DSigDB). The immunological landscape of the ERSRGs central gene PPP1R16A was assessed through single-cell sequencing and cell communication, and its biological function was validated using cytological experiments. RESULTS An ANN related to the ERS model was constructed based on SRPX, THBS4, CTH, PPP1R16A, CLGN, and THBS1. The area under the curve (AUC) of the model in the training set was 0.979, and the AUC values in three validation sets were 0.958, 0.936, and 0.970, respectively, indicating high reliability and effectiveness. Spearman correlation analysis suggests that the expression levels of ERSRGs are significantly correlated with immune cell infiltration and immune-related pathways, indicating their potential as important targets for immunotherapy. Mometasone was predicted to be the most promising treatment drug based on its highest binding score. Among the six ERSRGs, PPP1R16A had the highest mutation rate, predominantly copy number mutations, which may be the core gene of the ERSRGs model. Single-cell analysis and cell communication indicated that PPP1R16A is predominantly distributed in liver malignant parenchymal cells and may reshape the tumor microenvironment by enhancing macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF)/CD74 + CXCR4 signaling pathways. Functional experiments revealed that after siRNA knockdown, the expression of PPP1R16A was downregulated, which inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion capabilities of HCCLM3 and Hep3B cells in vitro. CONCLUSION The consensus of various machine learning algorithms and artificial intelligence neural networks has established a novel predictive model for the diagnosis of liver cancer associated with ERS. This study offers a new direction for the diagnosis and treatment of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaorui Cheng
- Department of Emergency, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat- sen University, Shenzhen, 518003, Guangdong, P. R. China
| | - Shuangmei Li
- Department of Emergency, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat- sen University, Shenzhen, 518003, Guangdong, P. R. China
| | - Shujun Yang
- Department of Emergency, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat- sen University, Shenzhen, 518003, Guangdong, P. R. China
| | - Huibao Long
- Department of Emergency, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat- sen University, Shenzhen, 518003, Guangdong, P. R. China
| | - Haidong Wu
- Department of Emergency, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat- sen University, Shenzhen, 518003, Guangdong, P. R. China
| | - Xuxiang Chen
- Department of Emergency, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat- sen University, Shenzhen, 518003, Guangdong, P. R. China
| | - Xiaoping Cheng
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330000, Jiangxi, P. R. China
| | - Tong Wang
- Department of Emergency, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat- sen University, Shenzhen, 518003, Guangdong, P. R. China.
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Shang T, Jiang T, Cui X, Pan Y, Feng X, Dong L, Wang H. Diverse functions of SOX9 in liver development and homeostasis and hepatobiliary diseases. Genes Dis 2024; 11:100996. [PMID: 38523677 PMCID: PMC10958229 DOI: 10.1016/j.gendis.2023.03.035] [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: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/19/2023] [Indexed: 03/26/2024] Open
Abstract
The liver is the central organ for digestion and detoxification and has unique metabolic and regenerative capacities. The hepatobiliary system originates from the foregut endoderm, in which cells undergo multiple events of cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation to form the liver parenchyma and ductal system under the hierarchical regulation of transcription factors. Studies on liver development and diseases have revealed that SRY-related high-mobility group box 9 (SOX9) plays an important role in liver embryogenesis and the progression of hepatobiliary diseases. SOX9 is not only a master regulator of cell fate determination and tissue morphogenesis, but also regulates various biological features of cancer, including cancer stemness, invasion, and drug resistance, making SOX9 a potential biomarker for tumor prognosis and progression. This review systematically summarizes the latest findings of SOX9 in hepatobiliary development, homeostasis, and disease. We also highlight the value of SOX9 as a novel biomarker and potential target for the clinical treatment of major liver diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taiyu Shang
- School of Life Sciences, Institute of Metabolism and Integrative Biology, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Tianyi Jiang
- National Center for Liver Cancer, The Naval Medical University, Shanghai 201805, China
- International Cooperation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Institute, The Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Xiaowen Cui
- National Center for Liver Cancer, The Naval Medical University, Shanghai 201805, China
| | - Yufei Pan
- National Center for Liver Cancer, The Naval Medical University, Shanghai 201805, China
| | - Xiaofan Feng
- National Center for Liver Cancer, The Naval Medical University, Shanghai 201805, China
- International Cooperation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Institute, The Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Liwei Dong
- National Center for Liver Cancer, The Naval Medical University, Shanghai 201805, China
- International Cooperation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Institute, The Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Hongyang Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Institute of Metabolism and Integrative Biology, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
- National Center for Liver Cancer, The Naval Medical University, Shanghai 201805, China
- International Cooperation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Institute, The Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200438, China
- Laboratory of Signaling Regulation and Targeting Therapy of Liver Cancer, Second Military Medical University & Ministry of Education, Shanghai 200438, China
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Zhao X, Li X, Miao Z. Identification and validation of regulatory T cell-associated gene signatures to predict colon adenocarcinoma prognosis. Int Immunopharmacol 2024; 132:112034. [PMID: 38588631 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.112034] [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: 01/07/2024] [Revised: 03/17/2024] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
Colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) is a common cause of cancer-related death. Due to the difficulty in early diagnosis and drug resistance, conventional treatments are difficult to be effective. Some studies have found that the functional recovery of T cells in the tumor microenvironment, especially regulatory T cells (Tregs), plays an important role in the progression of cancer. This study used the TCGA data set, clinical information and RNA-seq data of COAD patients to construct a Tregs-related risk score (TRS) through methods such as WGCNA, single-factor Cox, multi-factor Cox and random survival forest (RSF). Moreover, we also used the TCGA test set and internal validation set to verify the predictive ability of TRS, and used functional enrichment analysis and somatic mutation analysis to mine genes related to TRS, such as like thrombin/trypsin receptor 2 (F2RL2), inhibin subunit beta B (INHBB) and melanoma antigen family A12 (MAGEA12). Moreover, this study confirmed the expression of these prognostic genes using scRNA-seq data. We also performed qPCR analysis of various genes in normal and cancerous colon cancer cell lines to verify that these genes indeed play a role in CODA patients. We also constructed a mouse CODA model to study and evaluate the impact of key genes such as MAGEA12 on tumor growth in mice. This study explores the important role of Treg cells in the prognosis of COAD and discovers some potential biomarkers for the occurrence and development of COAD, which provides some new ideas for the treatment of COAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaomeng Zhao
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, PR China
| | - Xuanwen Li
- Department of Nutritional, Tianjin Beichen Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, PR China
| | - Zhi Miao
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, PR China.
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Wang P, Jie Y, Yao L, Sun YM, Jiang DP, Zhang SQ, Wang XY, Fan Y. Cells in the liver microenvironment regulate the process of liver metastasis. Cell Biochem Funct 2024; 42:e3969. [PMID: 38459746 DOI: 10.1002/cbf.3969] [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: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/10/2024]
Abstract
The research of liver metastasis is a developing field. The ability of tumor cells to invade the liver depends on the complicated interactions between metastatic cells and local subpopulations in the liver (including Kupffer cells, hepatic stellate cells, liver sinusoidal endothelial cells, and immune-related cells). These interactions are mainly mediated by intercellular adhesion and the release of cytokines. Cell populations in the liver microenvironment can play a dual role in the progression of liver metastasis through different mechanisms. At the same time, we can see the participation of liver parenchymal cells and nonparenchymal cells in the process of liver metastasis of different tumors. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to summarize the relationship between cellular components of liver microenvironment and metastasis and emphasize the importance of different cells in the occurrence or potential regression of liver metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei Wang
- Cancer Institute, The Affiliated People's Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yu Jie
- Cancer Institute, The Affiliated People's Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China
| | - Lin Yao
- Cancer Institute, The Affiliated People's Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yi-Meng Sun
- Cancer Institute, The Affiliated People's Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China
| | - Da-Peng Jiang
- Cancer Institute, The Affiliated People's Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China
| | - Shi-Qi Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Affiliated Suqian First People's Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Suqian, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiao-Yan Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Affiliated Suqian First People's Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Suqian, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yu Fan
- Cancer Institute, The Affiliated People's Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China
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Jiang J, Wang Y, Sun M, Luo X, Zhang Z, Wang Y, Li S, Hu D, Zhang J, Wu Z, Chen X, Zhang B, Xu X, Wang S, Xu S, Huang W, Xia L. SOX on tumors, a comfort or a constraint? Cell Death Discov 2024; 10:67. [PMID: 38331879 PMCID: PMC10853543 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-024-01834-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
The sex-determining region Y (SRY)-related high-mobility group (HMG) box (SOX) family, composed of 20 transcription factors, is a conserved family with a highly homologous HMG domain. Due to their crucial role in determining cell fate, the dysregulation of SOX family members is closely associated with tumorigenesis, including tumor invasion, metastasis, proliferation, apoptosis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, stemness and drug resistance. Despite considerable research to investigate the mechanisms and functions of the SOX family, confusion remains regarding aspects such as the role of the SOX family in tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) and contradictory impacts the SOX family exerts on tumors. This review summarizes the physiological function of the SOX family and their multiple roles in tumors, with a focus on the relationship between the SOX family and TIME, aiming to propose their potential role in cancer and promising methods for treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junqing Jiang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Institute of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei Province, China
| | - Yufei Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Institute of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei Province, China
| | - Mengyu Sun
- Department of Gastroenterology, Institute of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei Province, China
| | - Xiangyuan Luo
- Department of Gastroenterology, Institute of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei Province, China
| | - Zerui Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Institute of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei Province, China
| | - Yijun Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Institute of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei Province, China
| | - Siwen Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, Institute of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei Province, China
| | - Dian Hu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Institute of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei Province, China
| | - Jiaqian Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Institute of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei Province, China
| | - Zhangfan Wu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Institute of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei Province, China
| | - Xiaoping Chen
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases; Hepatic Surgery Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology; Clinical Medicine Research Center for Hepatic Surgery of Hubei Province; Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Public Health, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, China
| | - Bixiang Zhang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases; Hepatic Surgery Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology; Clinical Medicine Research Center for Hepatic Surgery of Hubei Province; Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Public Health, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, China
| | - Xiao Xu
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Oncology and Intelligent Medicine of Zhejiang Province, Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310006, China
| | - Shuai Wang
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Oncology and Intelligent Medicine of Zhejiang Province, Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310006, China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Oncology and Intelligent Medicine of Zhejiang Province, Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Westlake university school of medicine, Hangzhou, 310006, China
| | - Shengjun Xu
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Oncology and Intelligent Medicine of Zhejiang Province, Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310006, China
| | - Wenjie Huang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases; Hepatic Surgery Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology; Clinical Medicine Research Center for Hepatic Surgery of Hubei Province; Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Public Health, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, China.
| | - Limin Xia
- Department of Gastroenterology, Institute of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei Province, China.
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Xu N, Wu J, Wang W, Sun S, Sun M, Bian Y, Zhang H, Liu S, Yu G. Anti-tumor therapy of glycyrrhetinic acid targeted liposome co-delivery of doxorubicin and berberine for hepatocellular carcinoma. Drug Deliv Transl Res 2024:10.1007/s13346-023-01512-7. [PMID: 38236508 DOI: 10.1007/s13346-023-01512-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
During the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), hepatic stellate cells undergo activation and transform into cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) due to the influence of tumor cells. The interaction between CAFs and tumor cells can compromise the effectiveness of chemotherapy drugs and promote tumor proliferation, invasion, and metastasis. This study explores the potential of glycyrrhetinic acid (GA)-modified liposomes (lip-GA) as a strategy for co-delivery of berberine (Ber) and doxorubicin (Dox) to treat HCC. The characterizations of liposomes, including particle size, zeta potential, polydispersity index, stability and in vitro drug release, were investigated. The study evaluated the anti-proliferation and anti-migration effects of Dox&Ber@lip-GA on the Huh-7 + LX-2 cell model were through MTT and wound-healing assays. Additionally, the in vivo drug distribution and anti-tumor efficacy were investigated using the H22 + NIH-3T3-bearing mouse model. The results indicated that Dox&Ber@lip-GA exhibited a nanoscale particle size, accumulated specifically in the tumor region, and was efficiently taken up by tumor cells. Compared to other groups, Dox&Ber@lip-GA demonstrated higher cytotoxicity and lower migration rates. Additionally, it significantly reduced the deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) and inhibited tumor angiogenesis, thereby suppressing tumor growth. In conclusion, Dox&Ber@lip-GA exhibited superior anti-tumor effects both in vitro and in vivo, highlighting its potential as an effective therapeutic strategy for combating HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na Xu
- School of Clinical Medicine, Weifang Medicine University, Weifang, China
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Weifang Medical College: Weifang People's Hospital, Weifang, China
| | - Jingliang Wu
- School of Nursing, Weifang University of Science and Technology, Weifang, China.
| | - Weihao Wang
- School of Clinical Medicine, Weifang Medicine University, Weifang, China
| | - Shujie Sun
- School of Nursing, Weifang University of Science and Technology, Weifang, China
| | - Mengmeng Sun
- School of Clinical Medicine, Weifang Medicine University, Weifang, China
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Weifang Medical College: Weifang People's Hospital, Weifang, China
| | - Yandong Bian
- School of Clinical Medicine, Weifang Medicine University, Weifang, China
| | - Huien Zhang
- School of Clinical Medicine, Weifang Medicine University, Weifang, China
| | - Shuzhen Liu
- School of Clinical Medicine, Weifang Medicine University, Weifang, China
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Weifang Medical College: Weifang People's Hospital, Weifang, China
| | - Guohua Yu
- School of Clinical Medicine, Weifang Medicine University, Weifang, China.
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Weifang Medical College: Weifang People's Hospital, Weifang, China.
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Chung YY, Cheng SJ, Ko HH, Shie WY, Elizabeth Chou HY. Evaluation of the prognostic and therapeutic potential of inhibin beta B for oral squamous cell carcinoma. J Dent Sci 2024; 19:448-454. [PMID: 38303818 PMCID: PMC10829639 DOI: 10.1016/j.jds.2023.07.014] [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: 05/18/2023] [Revised: 07/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Background/purpose Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a common cancer worldwide, and its metastasis is difficult to predict and prevent. Inhibin beta B (INHBB) protein has been linked to cancer prognosis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). However, previous study about INHBB expression focused on patients in a single region while the risk factors vary among regions. This study aimed to provide a broader perspective on INHBB expression in OSCC. Materials and methods Tissue micro-arrays comprising 118 specimens were subjected to immunohistochemistry, and all slides were quantified using StrataQuest software. Results The ratio of INHBB-positive cells to total cells was significantly higher in OSCC samples than in normal samples, and the intensity of INHBB expression was significantly greater in the late-stage OSCC. After classifying specimens into high and low INHBB expression groups, a significant association with clinical staging was found. Though a previous study suggested that menin regulates INHBB, menin expression was not detected in specimens. Conclusion The ratio of INHBB-positive cells in OSCC may be druggable for targeting tumor cells or assisting in diagnosis, and the intensity of INHBB expression may provide prognostic information for predicting potential metastasis. Moreover, the regulatory mechanism of INHBB in OSCC remains unclear and requires further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao-Yu Chung
- Graduate Institute of Oral Biology, School of Dentistry, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
- School of Dentistry, College of Oral Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Shih-Jung Cheng
- Graduate Institute of Oral Biology, School of Dentistry, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Dentistry, National Taiwan University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Dentistry, School of Dentistry, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hui-Hsin Ko
- Department of Dentistry, National Taiwan University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Dentistry, School of Dentistry, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Dentistry, National Taiwan University Hospital Hsin-Chu Branch, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Hsin-Chu, Taiwan
| | - Wan-Yi Shie
- Graduate Institute of Oral Biology, School of Dentistry, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Han-Yi Elizabeth Chou
- Graduate Institute of Oral Biology, School of Dentistry, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Dentistry, National Taiwan University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Center for Biotechnology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
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Jin Y, Cai Q, Wang L, Ji J, Sun Y, Jiang J, Wang C, Wu J, Zhang B, Zhao L, Qi F, Yu B, Zhang J. Paracrine activin B-NF-κB signaling shapes an inflammatory tumor microenvironment in gastric cancer via fibroblast reprogramming. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2023; 42:269. [PMID: 37858201 PMCID: PMC10585924 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-023-02861-4] [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: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Important roles of INHBB in various malignancies are increasingly identified. The underlying mechanisms in gastric cancer (GC) microenvironment are still greatly unexplored. METHODS The clinical significance of INHBB and the correlation between INHBB and p-p65 in GC were assessed through analyzing publicly available databases and human paraffin embedded GC tissues. The biological crosstalk of INHBB between GC cells and fibroblasts was explored both in vitro and in vivo. RNA-seq analyses were performed to determine the mechanisms which regulating fibroblasts reprogramming. Luciferase reporter assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation (CHIP) assay were used to verify the binding relationship of p65 and INHBB in GC cells. RESULTS Our study showed that INHBB level was significantly higher in GC, and that increased INHBB was associated with poor survival. INHBB positively regulates the proliferation, migration, and invasion of GC cells in vitro. Also, activin B promotes the occurrence of GC by reprogramming fibroblasts into cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). The high expression of INHBB in GC cells activates the NF-κB pathway of normal gastric fibroblasts by secreting activin B, and promotes fibroblasts proliferation, migration, and invasion. In addition, activin B activates NF-κB pathway by controlling TRAF6 autoubiquitination to induce TAK1 phosphorylation in fibroblasts. Fibroblasts activated by activin B can induce the activation of p65 phosphorylation of GC cells by releasing pro-inflammatory factors IL-1β. p65 can directly bind to the INHBB promoter and increase the INHBB transcription of GC cells, thus establishing a positive regulatory feedback loop to promote the progression of GC. CONCLUSIONS GC cells p65/INHBB/activin B and fibroblasts p65/IL-1β signal loop led to the formation of a whole tumor-promoting inflammatory microenvironment, which might be a promising therapeutic target for GC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yangbing Jin
- Department of Oncology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 197 Ruijin er Road, 200025, Shanghai, China
| | - Qu Cai
- Department of Oncology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 197 Ruijin er Road, 200025, Shanghai, China
| | - Lingquan Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 197 Ruijin er Road, 200025, Shanghai, China
- Department of General Surgery, Shanghai Institute of Digestive Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 197 Ruijin er Road, 200025, Shanghai, China
| | - Jun Ji
- Department of General Surgery, Shanghai Institute of Digestive Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 197 Ruijin er Road, 200025, Shanghai, China
| | - Ying Sun
- Department of Oncology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 197 Ruijin er Road, 200025, Shanghai, China
| | - Jinling Jiang
- Department of Oncology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 197 Ruijin er Road, 200025, Shanghai, China
| | - Chao Wang
- Department of Oncology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 197 Ruijin er Road, 200025, Shanghai, China
| | - Junwei Wu
- Department of Oncology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 197 Ruijin er Road, 200025, Shanghai, China
| | - Benyan Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 197 Ruijin er Road, 200025, Shanghai, China
| | - Liqin Zhao
- Department of Oncology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 197 Ruijin er Road, 200025, Shanghai, China
| | - Feng Qi
- Department of Oncology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 197 Ruijin er Road, 200025, Shanghai, China
| | - Beiqin Yu
- Department of General Surgery, Shanghai Institute of Digestive Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 197 Ruijin er Road, 200025, Shanghai, China.
| | - Jun Zhang
- Department of Oncology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 197 Ruijin er Road, 200025, Shanghai, China.
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10
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Githaka JM, Pirayeshfard L, Goping IS. Cancer invasion and metastasis: Insights from murine pubertal mammary gland morphogenesis. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2023; 1867:130375. [PMID: 37150225 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2023.130375] [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: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Cancer invasion and metastasis accounts for the majority of cancer related mortality. A better understanding of the players that drive the aberrant invasion and migration of tumors cells will provide critical targets to inhibit metastasis. Postnatal pubertal mammary gland morphogenesis is characterized by highly proliferative, invasive, and migratory normal epithelial cells. Identifying the molecular regulators of pubertal gland development is a promising strategy since tumorigenesis and metastasis is postulated to be a consequence of aberrant reactivation of developmental stages. In this review, we summarize the pubertal morphogenesis regulators that are involved in cancer metastasis and revisit pubertal mammary gland transcriptome profiling to uncover both known and unknown metastasis genes. Our updated list of pubertal morphogenesis regulators shows that most are implicated in invasion and metastasis. This review highlights molecular linkages between development and metastasis and provides a guide for exploring novel metastatic drivers.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Maringa Githaka
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H7, Canada.
| | - Leila Pirayeshfard
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H7, Canada
| | - Ing Swie Goping
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H7, Canada; Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H7, Canada.
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11
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Wu J, Yang F, Zhao M, Xiao H, Chen Y, Liu X, Zheng D. Antler-derived microRNA PC-5p-1090 inhibits HCC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion by targeting MARCKS, SMARCAD1, and SOX9. Funct Integr Genomics 2023; 23:156. [PMID: 37165199 DOI: 10.1007/s10142-023-01089-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Revised: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
The capability of microRNAs (miRNAs) to regulate gene expression across species has opened new avenues for miRNA-based therapeutics. Here, we investigated the potential of PC-5p-1090 (miR-PC-1090), a miRNA found in deer antlers, to control the malignant phenotypes of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. Using Cell Counting Kit-8 and transwell assays, we found that heterologous expression of miR-PC-1090 inhibited HCC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Bioinformatics analysis indicated that predicted miR-PC-1090 targets, including MARCKS, SMARCAD1, and SOX9, were significantly elevated in HCC tissues, and their high expressions were associated with poor overall survival of HCC patients. Moreover, mechanistic investigations revealed that miR-PC-1090 promoted the degradation of MARCKS and SMARCAD1 mRNAs and hindered the translation of SOX9 mRNA by recognizing their 3' untranslated regions. Subsequent loss-of-function and rescue experiments confirmed the involvement of MARCKS, SMARCAD1, and SOX9 in miR-PC-1090-suppressed HCC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Notably, MARCKS knockdown induced the downregulation of phosphorylated MARCKS and a corresponding upregulation of phosphorylated AKT in HCC. Conversely, miR-PC-1090 repressed MARCKS phosphorylation and effectively circumvented the activation of the PI3K/AKT pathway. Furthermore, miR-PC-1090 regulates the Wnt/β-catenin pathway through SMARCAD1- and SOX9-mediated reduction of β-catenin expression. Overall, our results illustrate the tumor-suppressive activity and molecular mechanism of antler-derived miR-PC-1090 in HCC cells, indicating its potential as a multiple-target agent for HCC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Wu
- Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Biology, College of Wildlife and Protected Area, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, 150040, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Fan Yang
- Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Biology, College of Wildlife and Protected Area, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, 150040, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Mindie Zhao
- Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Biology, College of Wildlife and Protected Area, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, 150040, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Hui Xiao
- Departments of Central Laboratory, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, 215008, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yanxia Chen
- College of Ecology-Environment Engineering, Qinghai University, Xining, 810016, Qinghai, China
| | - Xuedong Liu
- Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Biology, College of Wildlife and Protected Area, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, 150040, Heilongjiang, China.
| | - Dong Zheng
- Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Biology, College of Wildlife and Protected Area, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, 150040, Heilongjiang, China.
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12
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Liu P, Kong L, Liu Y, Li G, Xie J, Lu X. A key driver to promote HCC: Cellular crosstalk in tumor microenvironment. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1135122. [PMID: 37007125 PMCID: PMC10050394 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1135122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver cancer is the third greatest cause of cancer-related mortality, which of the major pathological type is hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accounting for more than 90%. HCC is characterized by high mortality and is predisposed to metastasis and relapse, leading to a low five-year survival rate and poor clinical prognosis. Numerous crosstalk among tumor parenchymal cells, anti-tumor cells, stroma cells, and immunosuppressive cells contributes to the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME), in which the function and frequency of anti-tumor cells are reduced with that of associated pro-tumor cells increasing, accordingly resulting in tumor malignant progression. Indeed, sorting out and understanding the signaling pathways and molecular mechanisms of cellular crosstalk in TME is crucial to discover more key targets and specific biomarkers, so that develop more efficient methods for early diagnosis and individualized treatment of liver cancer. This piece of writing offers insight into the recent advances in HCC-TME and reviews various mechanisms that promote HCC malignant progression from the perspective of mutual crosstalk among different types of cells in TME, aiming to assist in identifying the possible research directions and methods in the future for discovering new targets that could prevent HCC malignant progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengyue Liu
- Clinical Medical College, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, China
| | - Lingyu Kong
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, China
| | - Ying Liu
- Department of Clinical Skills Training Center, Tangshan Gongren Hospital, Tangshan, China
| | - Gang Li
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Tangshan Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Tangshan, China
| | - Jianjia Xie
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Tangshan Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Tangshan, China
| | - Xin Lu
- Clinical Medical College, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, China
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Tangshan Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Tangshan, China
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13
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Ezhilarasan D, Najimi M. Deciphering the possible reciprocal loop between hepatic stellate cells and cancer cells in the tumor microenvironment of the liver. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2023; 182:103902. [PMID: 36621514 DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2022.103902] [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: 10/07/2022] [Revised: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs)/myofibroblasts are the important sources of cancer-associated fibroblasts in the liver tumor microenvironment (TME). The crosstalk between activated HSCs and tumor cells mediates HCC progression, metastasis, tumor cell survival, angiogenesis and chemoresistance. In TME, HCC cells secrete various soluble factors responsible for the phenotypic activation of quiescent HSCs. Tumor cells use activated HSC-derived extracellular matrix (ECM) for migration and invasion. Further, in liver TME, activated HSCs and sinusoidal endothelial cells engage in a crosstalk that causes the secretion of angiogenesis and metastasis-related growth factors and cytokines. Activated HSCs and immune cells crosstalk to decrease immune surveillance in the liver TME by increasing the population of T regulatory cells and M2 macrophages or myeloid-derived suppressor cells. Thus, HSCs play a vital role in liver TME cell interactions. Therefore, a deep understanding of HSCs activation and their crosstalk with cancer and immune cells in TME may lead to the development of novel therapeutic strategies to target HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Devaraj Ezhilarasan
- Department of Pharmacology, Saveetha Dental College, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600077, India.
| | - Mustapha Najimi
- Laboratory of Pediatric Hepatology and Cell Therapy, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), UCLouvain, Brussels 1200, Belgium
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14
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Huang J, Zhao C, Zhang X, Zhao Q, Zhang Y, Chen L, Dai G. Hepatitis B virus pathogenesis relevant immunosignals uncovering amino acids utilization related risk factors guide artificial intelligence-based precision medicine. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:1079566. [PMID: 36569318 PMCID: PMC9780394 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.1079566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Although immune microenvironment-related chemokines, extracellular matrix (ECM), and intrahepatic immune cells are reported to be highly involved in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related diseases, their roles in diagnosis, prognosis, and drug sensitivity evaluation remain unclear. Here, we aimed to study their clinical use to provide a basis for precision medicine in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) via the amalgamation of artificial intelligence. Methods: High-throughput liver transcriptomes from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), NODE (https://www.bio.sino.org/node), the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), and our in-house hepatocellular carcinoma patients were collected in this study. Core immunosignals that participated in the entire diseases course of hepatitis B were explored using the "Gene set variation analysis" R package. Using ROC curve analysis, the impact of core immunosignals and amino acid utilization related gene on hepatocellular carcinoma patient's clinical outcome were calculated. The utility of core immunosignals as a classifier for hepatocellular carcinoma tumor tissue was evaluated using explainable machine-learning methods. A novel deep residual neural network model based on immunosignals was constructed for the long-term overall survival (LS) analysis. In vivo drug sensitivity was calculated by the "oncoPredict" R package. Results: We identified nine genes comprising chemokines and ECM related to hepatitis B virus-induced inflammation and fibrosis as CLST signals. Moreover, CLST was co-enriched with activated CD4+ T cells bearing harmful factors (aCD4) during all stages of hepatitis B virus pathogenesis, which was also verified by our hepatocellular carcinoma data. Unexpectedly, we found that hepatitis B virus-hepatocellular carcinoma patients in the CLSThighaCD4high subgroup had the shortest overall survival (OS) and were characterized by a risk gene signature associated with amino acids utilization. Importantly, characteristic genes specific to CLST/aCD4 showed promising clinical relevance in identifying patients with early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma via explainable machine learning. In addition, the 5-year long-term overall survival of hepatocellular carcinoma patients can be effectively classified by CLST/aCD4 based GeneSet-ResNet model. Subgroups defined by CLST and aCD4 were significantly involved in the sensitivity of hepatitis B virus-hepatocellular carcinoma patients to chemotherapy treatments. Conclusion: CLST and aCD4 are hepatitis B virus pathogenesis-relevant immunosignals that are highly involved in hepatitis B virus-induced inflammation, fibrosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Gene set variation analysis derived immunogenomic signatures enabled efficient diagnostic and prognostic model construction. The clinical application of CLST and aCD4 as indicators would be beneficial for the precision management of hepatocellular carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Huang
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China,*Correspondence: Jun Huang, ; Liping Chen, ; Guifu Dai,
| | - Chunbei Zhao
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Xinhe Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Qiaohui Zhao
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Yanting Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Liping Chen
- Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, State Key Laboratory for Oncogenes and Related Genes, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Ministry of Health, Shanghai Institute of Digestive Disease, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China,Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, China,*Correspondence: Jun Huang, ; Liping Chen, ; Guifu Dai,
| | - Guifu Dai
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China,*Correspondence: Jun Huang, ; Liping Chen, ; Guifu Dai,
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15
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Wu J, Qi C, Wang H, Wang Q, Sun J, Dong J, Yu G, Gao Z, Zhang B, Tian G. Curcumin and berberine co-loaded liposomes for anti-hepatocellular carcinoma therapy by blocking the cross-talk between hepatic stellate cells and tumor cells. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:961788. [PMID: 36188590 PMCID: PMC9515508 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.961788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are a major component of the tumor microenvironment (TME). In hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), quiescent hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) could be activated to become CAFs, which play a critical role in tumor progression and drug resistance. Therefore, recent efforts have been focused on combining anti-HSC and pro-apoptotic activities to improve anti-tumor efficacy of drugs. In this study, glycyrrhetinic acid and hyaluronic acid–modified liposomes (GA-HA-Lip) were prepared for co-delivery of curcumin (CUR) and berberine (BBR) for the treatment of HCC. Furthermore, we established the LX-2+BEL-7402 co-cultured cell model and implanted the m-HSCs+H22 cells into a mouse to evaluate the anti-tumor effect of CUR&BBR/GA-HA-Lip both in vitro and in vivo. The results showed that CUR&BBR/GA-HA-Lip could accumulate in tumor tissues and be taken up by HSCs and BEL-7402 cells simultaneously. Compared with free CUR, the combination therapy based on GA-HA-Lip exhibits stronger pro-apoptotic and anti-proliferation effect both in vitro and in vivo. The anti-tumor mechanistic study revealed that CUR&BBR/GA-HA-Lip could inhibit the activation of HSCs and restrain drug resistance of tumor cells. In summary, CUR&BBR/GA-HA-Lip could be a promising nano-sized formulation for anti-tumor therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingliang Wu
- School of Nursing, Weifang University of Science and Technology, Weifang, China
| | - Cuiping Qi
- School of Nursing, Weifang University of Science and Technology, Weifang, China
- School of Nursing, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China
| | - Hao Wang
- Department of Oncology, Weifang People’s Hospital, Weifang, China
| | - Qing Wang
- School of Bioscience and Technology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China
| | - Jingui Sun
- School of Nursing, Weifang University of Science and Technology, Weifang, China
| | - Jinping Dong
- School of Nursing, Weifang University of Science and Technology, Weifang, China
| | - Guohua Yu
- Department of Oncology, Weifang People’s Hospital, Weifang, China
| | - Zhiqin Gao
- School of Bioscience and Technology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China
| | - Bo Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China
- *Correspondence: Bo Zhang, ; Guixiang Tian,
| | - Guixiang Tian
- School of Bioscience and Technology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China
- *Correspondence: Bo Zhang, ; Guixiang Tian,
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16
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Peng H, Zhu E, Zhang Y. Advances of cancer-associated fibroblasts in liver cancer. Biomark Res 2022; 10:59. [PMID: 35971182 PMCID: PMC9380339 DOI: 10.1186/s40364-022-00406-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Liver cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors worldwide, it is ranked sixth in incidence and fourth in mortality. According to the distinct origin of malignant tumor cells, liver cancer is mainly divided into hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). Since most cases are diagnosed at an advanced stage, the prognosis of liver cancer is poor. Tumor growth depends on the dynamic interaction of various cellular components in the tumor microenvironment (TME). As the most abundant components of tumor stroma, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) have been involved in the progression of liver cancer. The interplay between CAFs and tumor cells, immune cells, or vascular endothelial cells in the TME through direct cell-to-cell contact or indirect paracrine interaction, affects the initiation and development of tumors. Additionally, CAFs are not a homogeneous cell population in liver cancer. Recently, single-cell sequencing technology has been used to help better understand the diversity of CAFs in liver cancer. In this review, we mainly update the knowledge of CAFs both in HCC and CCA, including their cell origins, chemoresistance, tumor stemness induction, tumor immune microenvironment formation, and the role of tumor cells on CAFs. Understanding the context-dependent role of different CAFs subsets provides new strategies for precise liver cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Peng
- Medical School, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Erwei Zhu
- The Second People's Hospital of Lianyungang (The Oncology Hospital of Lianyungang), Lianyungang, 222006, China
| | - Yewei Zhang
- Hepatopancreatobiliary Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210009, China.
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17
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Lu Y, Ma S, Ding W, Sun P, Zhou Q, Duan Y, Sartorius K. Resident Immune Cells of the Liver in the Tumor Microenvironment. Front Oncol 2022; 12:931995. [PMID: 35965506 PMCID: PMC9365660 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.931995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The liver is a central immunomodulator that ensures a homeostatic balance between protection and immunotolerance. A hallmark of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the deregulation of this tightly controlled immunological network. Immune response in the liver involves a complex interplay between resident innate, innate, and adaptive immune cells. The immune response in the liver is modulated by its continuous exposure to toxic molecules and microorganisms that requires a degree of immune tolerance to protect normal tissue from damage. In HCC pathogenesis, immune cells must balance a dual role that includes the elimination of malignant cells, as well as the repair of damaged liver tissue to maintain homeostasis. Immune response in the innate and adaptive immune systems extends to the cross-talk and interaction involving immune-regulating non-hematopoietic cells, myeloid immune cells, and lymphoid immune cells. In this review, we discuss the different immune responses of resident immune cells in the tumor microenvironment. Current FDA-approved targeted therapies, including immunotherapy options, have produced modest results to date for the treatment of advanced HCC. Although immunotherapy therapy to date has demonstrated its potential efficacy, immune cell pathways need to be better understood. In this review article, we summarize the roles of specific resident immune cell subsets and their cross-talk subversion in HCC pathogenesis, with a view to identifying potential new biomarkers and therapy options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunjie Lu
- The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Chanozhou, China
| | - Shiying Ma
- The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Chanozhou, China
| | - Wei Ding
- Department of General Surgery, Wujin Hospital Affiliated to Jiangsu University, Changzhou, China
| | - Pengcheng Sun
- The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Chanozhou, China
| | - Qi Zhou
- The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Chanozhou, China
- *Correspondence: Qi Zhou, ; Yunfei Duan, ; Kurt Sartorius,
| | - Yunfei Duan
- The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Chanozhou, China
- *Correspondence: Qi Zhou, ; Yunfei Duan, ; Kurt Sartorius,
| | - Kurt Sartorius
- Hepatitis Diversity Research Unit, School of Internal Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Africa Hepatopancreatobiliary Cancer Consortium (AHPBCC), Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, United States
- University of Kwazulu-Natal Gastrointestinal Cancer Research Unit (UKZN/GICRC), Durban, South Africa
- *Correspondence: Qi Zhou, ; Yunfei Duan, ; Kurt Sartorius,
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18
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Ren Z, Chen Y, Shi L, Shao F, Sun Y, Ge J, Zhang J, Zang Y. Sox9/CXCL5 axis facilitates tumour cell growth and invasion in hepatocellular carcinoma. FEBS J 2022; 289:3535-3549. [PMID: 35038357 DOI: 10.1111/febs.16357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2021] [Revised: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
High rates of metastasis and postsurgical recurrence contribute to the higher mortality of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), partly due to cancer stem cell (CSC)-dependent tumorigenesis and metastasis. Sex-determining region Y-box 9 (Sox9) has been previously characterized as a candidate CSC marker of HCC. Here, we observed that the increase of Sox9 significantly promoted HCC cell growth and invasion in cell cultures, whereas knockdown of Sox9 showed the opposite effects, suggesting that Sox9 may regulate the proliferation and invasion of hepatoma cells in an autocrine manner. RNA sequencing, together with functional assays and clinical analyses, identified CXCL5 as a key mediator downstream of Sox9 in HCC cells. Mechanistic studies revealed that Sox9 induced CXCL5 expression by directly binding to a promoter region. Using gain- and loss-of-function approaches, we demonstrated that the intrinsic effective role of Sox9 in hepatoma cell growth and invasion depended on CXCL5, and that blockade of CXCL5/CXCR2 signalling abolished Sox9-triggered HCC cell proliferation and migration. Furthermore, the Sox9/CXCL5 axis activated PI3K-AKT and ERK1/2 signalling which are implicated in regulating HCC cell proliferation and invasion. Finally, the Sox9/CXCL5 axis contributed to the infiltration of neutrophils and macrophages in both tumour and peritumoral tissues from the orthotopic xenograft model. In summary, our data identify the Sox9/CXCL5 axis as an endogenous factor in controlling HCC cell growth and invasion, thereby raising the possibility of pharmacologic intervention with CXCL5/CXCR2 pathway inhibitors in therapy for HCC patients with higher Sox9 expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengrong Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Science, Nanjing University, China
| | - Yu Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Science, Nanjing University, China
| | - Lei Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Science, Nanjing University, China
| | - Fang Shao
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Science, Nanjing University, China
| | - Yanyan Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Science, Nanjing University, China
| | - Jia Ge
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Science, Nanjing University, China
| | - Junfeng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Science, Nanjing University, China
| | - Yuhui Zang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Science, Nanjing University, China
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19
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Liang J, Chen W, Ye J, Ni C, Zhai W. Single-cell transcriptomics analysis reveals intratumoral heterogeneity and identifies a gene signature associated with prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma. Biosci Rep 2022; 42:BSR20212560. [PMID: 35169832 PMCID: PMC8881646 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20212560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Revised: 02/06/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tumors exhibit high heterogeneity. However, current understanding of tumor cell heterogeneity of HCC and the association with prognosis remains very limited. In the present study, we collected and examined tumor tissue from one HCC patient by single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq). We identified 5753 cells and 16 clusters including hepatocytes/cancer cells, T cells, macrophages, endothelial cells, fibroblasts, NK cells, neutrophils, and B cells. In six tumor cell subclusters, we identified a cluster of proliferative tumor cells associated with poor prognosis. We downloaded scRNA-seq data of GSE125449 from the NCBI-GEO as validation dataset, and found that a cluster of hepatocytes exhibited high proliferation activity in HCC. Furthermore, we identified a gene signature related to the proliferation of HCC cells. This gene signature is efficient to classify HCC patients into two groups with distinct prognosis in both TCGA and ICGC database cohorts. Our results reveal the intratumoral heterogeneity of HCC at single cell level and identify a gene signature associated with HCC prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jialu Liang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, P.R. China
- Key Lab of Digestive Organ Transplantation of Henan Province, Open and Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery and Digestive Organ Transplantation at Henan Universities, Zhengzhou Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Disease and Organ Transplantation, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, P.R. China
| | - Wenhui Chen
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, P.R. China
- Key Lab of Digestive Organ Transplantation of Henan Province, Open and Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery and Digestive Organ Transplantation at Henan Universities, Zhengzhou Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Disease and Organ Transplantation, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, P.R. China
| | - Jianwen Ye
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, P.R. China
- Key Lab of Digestive Organ Transplantation of Henan Province, Open and Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery and Digestive Organ Transplantation at Henan Universities, Zhengzhou Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Disease and Organ Transplantation, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, P.R. China
| | - Chen Ni
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, P.R. China
| | - Wenlong Zhai
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, P.R. China
- Key Lab of Digestive Organ Transplantation of Henan Province, Open and Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery and Digestive Organ Transplantation at Henan Universities, Zhengzhou Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Disease and Organ Transplantation, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, P.R. China
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20
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Advance of SOX Transcription Factors in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: From Role, Tumor Immune Relevance to Targeted Therapy. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14051165. [PMID: 35267473 PMCID: PMC8909699 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14051165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2021] [Revised: 02/12/2022] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the deadliest human health burdens worldwide. However, the molecular mechanism of HCC development is still not fully understood. Sex determining region Y-related high-mobility group box (SOX) transcription factors not only play pivotal roles in cell fate decisions during development but also participate in the initiation and progression of cancer. Given the significance of SOX factors in cancer and their ‘undruggable’ properties, we summarize the role and molecular mechanism of SOX family members in HCC and the regulatory effect of SOX factors in the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) of various cancers. For the first time, we analyze the association between the levels of SOX factors and that of immune components in HCC, providing clues to the pivotal role of SOX factors in the TIME of HCC. We also discuss the opportunities and challenges of targeting SOX factors for cancer. Abstract Sex determining region Y (SRY)-related high-mobility group (HMG) box (SOX) factors belong to an evolutionarily conserved family of transcription factors that play essential roles in cell fate decisions involving numerous developmental processes. In recent years, the significance of SOX factors in the initiation and progression of cancers has been gradually revealed, and they act as potential therapeutic targets for cancer. However, the research involving SOX factors is still preliminary, given that their effects in some leading-edge fields such as tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) remain obscure. More importantly, as a class of ‘undruggable’ molecules, targeting SOX factors still face considerable challenges in achieving clinical translation. Here, we mainly focus on the roles and regulatory mechanisms of SOX family members in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), one of the fatal human health burdens worldwide. We then detail the role of SOX members in remodeling TIME and analyze the association between SOX members and immune components in HCC for the first time. In addition, we emphasize several alternative strategies involved in the translational advances of SOX members in cancer. Finally, we discuss the alternative strategies of targeting SOX family for cancer and propose the opportunities and challenges they face based on the current accumulated studies and our understanding.
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21
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Han Y, Azuma K, Watanabe S, Semba K, Nakayama J. Metastatic profiling of HER2-positive breast cancer cell lines in xenograft models. Clin Exp Metastasis 2022; 39:467-477. [PMID: 35103869 DOI: 10.1007/s10585-022-10150-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Most studies on breast cancer metastasis have been performed using triple-negative breast cancer cells; thus, subtype-dependent metastatic ability of breast cancer is poorly understood. In this research, we performed intravenous injection (IVI) and intra-caudal arterial injections using nine human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer cell lines for evaluating their metastatic abilities. Our results showed that MDA-MB-453, UACC-893, and HCC-202 had strong bone metastatic abilities, whereas HCC-2218 and HCC-1419 did not show bone metastasis. HER2-positive cell lines could hardly metastasize to the lung through IVI. From the genomic analysis, gene signatures were extracted according to the breast cancer subtypes and their metastatic preferences. The UACC-893 cell line was identified as a useful model for the metastasis study of HER2-positive breast cancer. Combined with our previous result on brain metastasis ability, we provide a characteristic metastasis profile of HER2-positive breast cancer cell lines in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxuan Han
- Department of Life Science and Medical Bioscience, School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Waseda University, TWIns, 2-2 Wakamatsu-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 162-8480, Japan
| | - Kazushi Azuma
- Department of Life Science and Medical Bioscience, School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Waseda University, TWIns, 2-2 Wakamatsu-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 162-8480, Japan
| | - Shinya Watanabe
- Translational Research Center, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Kentaro Semba
- Department of Life Science and Medical Bioscience, School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Waseda University, TWIns, 2-2 Wakamatsu-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 162-8480, Japan.,Translational Research Center, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Jun Nakayama
- Department of Life Science and Medical Bioscience, School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Waseda University, TWIns, 2-2 Wakamatsu-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 162-8480, Japan. .,Laboratory of Integrative Oncology, National Cancer Center Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan.
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22
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Liang F, Xu Y, Chen Y, Zhong H, Wang Z, Nong T, Zhong J. Immune Signature-Based Risk Stratification and Prediction of Immunotherapy Efficacy for Bladder Urothelial Carcinoma. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 8:673918. [PMID: 35004839 PMCID: PMC8739239 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.673918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Immune-related genes (IRGs) are closely related to tumor progression and the immune microenvironment. Few studies have investigated the effect of tumor immune microenvironment on the survival and response to immune checkpoint inhibitors of patients with bladder urothelial carcinoma (BLCA). We constructed two IRG-related prognostic signatures based on gene–immune interaction for predicting risk stratification and immunotherapeutic responses. We also verified their predictive ability on internal and overall data sets. Patients with BLCA were divided into high- and low-risk groups. The high-risk group had poor survival, enriched innate immune-related cell subtypes, low tumor mutation burden, and poor response to anti-PD-L1 therapy. Our prognostic signatures can be used as reliable prognostic biomarkers, which may be helpful to screen the people who will benefit from immunotherapy and guide the clinical decision-making of patients with BLCA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangfang Liang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Guangxi Medical University First Affiliated Hospital, Nanning, China
| | - Yansong Xu
- Emergency Department, Guangxi Medical University First Affiliated Hospital, Nanning, China
| | - Yi Chen
- College of Oncology, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Huage Zhong
- College of Oncology, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Zhen Wang
- College of Oncology, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Tianwen Nong
- Department of Medical Oncology, Guangxi Medical University First Affiliated Hospital, Nanning, China
| | - Jincai Zhong
- Department of Medical Oncology, Guangxi Medical University First Affiliated Hospital, Nanning, China
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23
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Ezhilarasan D. Hepatic stellate cells in the injured liver: Perspectives beyond hepatic fibrosis. J Cell Physiol 2021; 237:436-449. [PMID: 34514599 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.30582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Revised: 08/22/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Over the last two decades, our understanding of the pathological role of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) in fibrotic liver disease has increased dramatically. As HSCs are identified as the principal collagen-producing cells in the injured liver, several experimental and clinical studies have targeted HSCs to treat liver fibrosis. However, HSCs also play a critical role in developing nonfibrotic liver diseases such as cholestasis, portal hypertension, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Therefore, this review exclusively focuses on the role of activated HSCs beyond hepatic fibrosis. In cholestasis conditions, elevated bile salts and bile acids activate HSCs to secrete collagen and other extracellular matrix products, which cause biliary fibrosis and cholangitis. In the chronically injured liver, autocrine and paracrine signaling from liver sinusoidal endothelial cells activates HSCs to induce portal hypertension via endothelin-1 release. In the tumor microenvironment (TME), activated HSCs are the major source of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF). The crosstalk between activated HSC/CAF and tumor cells is associated with tumor cell proliferation, migration, metastasis, and chemoresistance. In TME, activated HSCs convert macrophages to tumor-associated macrophages and induce the differentiation of dendritic cells (DCs) and monocytes to regulatory DCs and myeloid-derived suppressor cells, respectively. This differentiation, in turn, increases T cells proliferation and induces their apoptosis leading to reduced immune surveillance in TME. Thus, HSCs activation in chronically injured liver is a critical process involved in the progression of cholestasis, portal hypertension, and liver cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Devaraj Ezhilarasan
- Department of Pharmacology, The Blue Lab, Molecular Medicine and Toxicology Division, Saveetha Dental College, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
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24
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Li Z, Wang F, Li Y, Wang X, Lu Q, Wang D, Qi C, Li C, Li Z, Lian B, Tian G, Gao Z, Zhang B, Wu J. Combined anti-hepatocellular carcinoma therapy inhibit drug-resistance and metastasis via targeting "substance P-hepatic stellate cells-hepatocellular carcinoma" axis. Biomaterials 2021; 276:121003. [PMID: 34273686 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2021.121003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Revised: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Peripheral nerves have emerged as the important components in tumor microenvironment (TME), which could activate hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) by secreting substance P (SP), leading to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) invasion and metastasis. Herein, we proposed a novel anti-HCC concept of blocking "SP-HSCs-HCC" axis for omnidirectional inhibition of HCC development. To pursue this aim, the novel CAP/GA-sHA-DOX NPs were developed for targeted co-delivery of capsaicin (CAP) and doxorubicin (DOX) using glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) modified sulfated-HA (sHA) as nanocarriers. Among that, CAP could inhibit the activation of HSCs as an inhibitor of SP. Notably, to real mimic "SP-HSCs-HCC" axis for in vitro and in vivo evaluation, both "SP + LX-2+BEL-7402" co-cultured cell model and "SP + m-HSC + H22" co-implantation mice model were attempted for the first time. Furthermore, in vivo anti-HCC effects were performed in three different tumor-bearing models: subcutaneous implantation of H22 or "SP + m-HSC + H22", intravenous injection of H22 for lung metastasis, and orthotopic implantation of H22 for primary HCC. Our results showed that CAP/GA-sHA-DOX NPs could be efficiently taken up by tumor cells and activated HSCs (aHSCs) simultaneously, and effectively inhibit tumor drug-resistance and migration by blocking SP-induced HSCs activation. In addition, CAP/GA-sHA-DOX NPs exhibited low ECM deposition, less tumor angiogenesis, and superior in vivo anti-HCC effects. The anti-HCC mechanisms revealed that CAP/GA-sHA-DOX NPs could down-regulate the expression level of Vimentin and P-gp, reverse epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of tumor cells. In brief, the nano-sized combination therapy based on GA-sHA-DOX polymers could effectively inhibit drug-resistance and metastasis of HCC by blocking "SP-HSCs-HCC" axis, which provides a promising approach for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhipeng Li
- School of Bioscience and Technology, Weifang Medical University, PR China
| | - Fangqing Wang
- School of Bioscience and Technology, Weifang Medical University, PR China
| | - Yanying Li
- School of Bioscience and Technology, Weifang Medical University, PR China
| | - Xiaoxue Wang
- School of Bioscience and Technology, Weifang Medical University, PR China
| | - Qiao Lu
- School of Bioscience and Technology, Weifang Medical University, PR China
| | - Di Wang
- School of Nursing, Weifang Medical University, PR China
| | - Cuiping Qi
- School of Nursing, Weifang Medical University, PR China
| | - Chenglei Li
- School of Pharmacy, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, 261053, PR China
| | - Zhaohuan Li
- School of Pharmacy, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, 261053, PR China
| | - Bo Lian
- School of Bioscience and Technology, Weifang Medical University, PR China
| | - Guixiang Tian
- School of Bioscience and Technology, Weifang Medical University, PR China
| | - Zhiqin Gao
- School of Bioscience and Technology, Weifang Medical University, PR China.
| | - Bo Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, 261053, PR China.
| | - Jingliang Wu
- School of Bioscience and Technology, Weifang Medical University, PR China.
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Development and Validation of a Robust Immune-Related Prognostic Signature for Gastric Cancer. J Immunol Res 2021; 2021:5554342. [PMID: 34007851 PMCID: PMC8110424 DOI: 10.1155/2021/5554342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2021] [Revised: 04/11/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background An increasing number of reports have found that immune-related genes (IRGs) have a significant impact on the prognosis of a variety of cancers, but the prognostic value of IRGs in gastric cancer (GC) has not been fully elucidated. Methods Univariate Cox regression analysis was adopted for the identification of prognostic IRGs in three independent cohorts (GSE62254, n = 300; GSE15459, n = 191; and GSE26901, n = 109). After obtaining the intersecting prognostic genes, the three independent cohorts were merged into a training cohort (n = 600) to establish a prognostic model. The risk score was determined using multivariate Cox and LASSO regression analyses. Patients were classified into low-risk and high-risk groups according to the median risk score. The risk score performance was validated externally in the three independent cohorts (GSE26253, n = 432; GSE84437, n = 431; and TCGA, n = 336). Immune cell infiltration (ICI) was quantified by the CIBERSORT method. Results A risk score comprising nine genes showed high accuracy for the prediction of the overall survival (OS) of patients with GC in the training cohort (AUC > 0.7). The risk of death was found to have a positive correlation with the risk score. The univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses revealed that the risk score was an independent indicator of the prognosis of patients with GC (p < 0.001). External validation confirmed the universal applicability of the risk score. The low-risk group presented a lower infiltration level of M2 macrophages than the high-risk group (p < 0.001), and the prognosis of patients with GC with a higher infiltration level of M2 macrophages was poor (p = 0.011). According to clinical correlation analysis, compared with patients with the diffuse and mixed type of GC, those with the Lauren classification intestinal GC type had a significantly lower risk score (p = 0.00085). The patients' risk score increased with the progression of the clinicopathological stage. Conclusion In this study, we constructed and validated a robust prognostic signature for GC, which may help improve the prognostic assessment system and treatment strategy for GC.
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