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Liu W, Zhang Y, Huang F, Ma Q, Li C, Liu S, Liang Y, Shi L, Yao Y. The Polymorphism and Expression of EGFL7 and miR-126 Are Associated With NSCLC Susceptibility. Front Oncol 2022; 12:772405. [PMID: 35494025 PMCID: PMC9046731 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.772405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Previous investigations have reported that microRNA-126 (miR-126) and its host gene, epidermal growth factor-like domain-containing protein 7 (EGFL7) are involved in lung cancer progression, suggesting EGFL7 and miR-126 play a joint role in lung cancer development. In this study, we analyzed the methylation-associated regulation of EGFL7 and miR-126 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and further investigated the association between EGFL7/miR-126 polymorphisms and NSCLC susceptibility in the Han Chinese population. Based on our data, relative to those in adjacent normal tissue, both EGFL7 expression and miR-126 expression were decreased significantly in lung cancer tissue (P = 3x10-4 and P < 1x10-4), and the expression of EGFL7 mRNA and miR-126 was significantly correlated in both NSCLC tissue n = 46, r = 0.43, P = 0.003 and adjacent normal tissue n = 46, r = 0.37, P = 0.011. Differential methylation analysis indicated that methylation levels of multiple CG loci in EGFL7 were significantly higher in the lung cancer samples than in the normal samples (P < 0.01). Moreover, EGFL7 mRNA and miR-126 were significantly upregulated after treatment with the DNA demethylating agent 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine (5-Aza-CdR) in lung cancer cell lines. In addition, the A allele of rs2297538 was significantly associated with a decreased NSCLC risk (OR = 0.68, 95% CI: 0.52~0.88), and the expression of EGFL7 and miR-126 was significantly lower in rs2297538 homozygous G/G tumor tissue than in A/G+A/A tumor tissue (P = 0.01 and P = 0.002). Our findings suggest that the expression of EGFL7 and miR-126 in NSCLC can be concomitantly downregulated through methylation and the EGFL7/miR-126 polymorphism rs2297538 is correlated with NSCLC risk. Together, these results provide new insights into the pathogenesis of NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weipeng Liu
- Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Kunming, China
| | - Yunyun Zhang
- Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Kunming, China
| | - Fengdan Huang
- Graduate School of Yunnan University, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
| | - Qianli Ma
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The 3rd Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
| | - Chuanyin Li
- Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Kunming, China
| | - Shuyuan Liu
- Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Kunming, China
| | - Yan Liang
- Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Kunming, China
| | - Li Shi
- Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Kunming, China
- *Correspondence: Li Shi, ; Yufeng Yao, ;
| | - Yufeng Yao
- Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Kunming, China
- *Correspondence: Li Shi, ; Yufeng Yao, ;
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2
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El-Mahdy HA, Sallam AAM, Ismail A, Elkhawaga SY, Elrebehy MA, Doghish AS. miRNAs inspirations in hepatocellular carcinoma: Detrimental and favorable aspects of key performers. Pathol Res Pract 2022; 233:153886. [PMID: 35405621 DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2022.153886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Revised: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. HCC initiation, progression, and therapy failure are all influenced by various variables, including microRNAs (miRNAs). miRNAs are short non-coding RNA sequences that modulate target mRNA expression by deteriorating or repressing translation. miRNAs play an imperative role in HCC pathogenesis by triggering the induction of cancer stem cells (CSCs) and their proliferation, while also delaying apoptosis, sustaining the cell cycle, and inspiring angiogenesis, invasion, and metastasis. Additionally, miRNAs modulate crucial HCC-related molecular pathways such as the p53 pathway, the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, VEGFR2, and PTEN/PI3K/AKT pathway. Consequently, the goal of this review was to give an up-to-date overview of oncogenic and tumor suppressor (TS) miRNAs, as well as their potential significance in HCC pathogenesis and treatment responses, highlighting their underpinning molecular pathways in HCC initiation and progression. Similarly, the biological importance and clinical application of miRNAs in HCC are summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hesham A El-Mahdy
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy (Boys), Al-Azhar University, Nasr City 11231, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Al-Aliaa M Sallam
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Badr University in Cairo (BUC), Badr City, Cairo 11829, Egypt
| | - Ahmed Ismail
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy (Boys), Al-Azhar University, Nasr City 11231, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Samy Y Elkhawaga
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy (Boys), Al-Azhar University, Nasr City 11231, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Mahmoud A Elrebehy
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Badr University in Cairo (BUC), Badr City, Cairo 11829, Egypt
| | - Ahmed S Doghish
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Badr University in Cairo (BUC), Badr City, Cairo 11829, Egypt.
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Zhao N, Zhang Y, Cheng R, Zhang D, Li F, Guo Y, Qiu Z, Dong X, Ban X, Sun B, Zhao X. Spatial maps of hepatocellular carcinoma transcriptomes highlight an unexplored landscape of heterogeneity and a novel gene signature for survival. Cancer Cell Int 2022; 22:57. [PMID: 35109839 PMCID: PMC8812006 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-021-02430-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) often presents with satellite nodules, rendering current curative treatments ineffective in many patients. The heterogeneity of HCC is a major challenge in personalized medicine. The emergence of spatial transcriptomics (ST) provides a powerful strategy for delineating the complex molecular landscapes of tumours. Methods In this study, the heterogeneity of tissue-wide gene expression in tumour and adjacent nonneoplastic tissues using ST technology were investigated. The transcriptomes of nearly 10,820 tissue regions and identified the main gene expression clusters and their specific marker genes (differentially expressed genes, DEGs) in patients were analysed. The DEGs were analysed from two perspectives. First, two distinct gene profiles were identified to be associated with satellite nodules and conducted a more comprehensive analysis of both gene profiles. Their clinical relevance in human HCC was validated with Kaplan–Meier (KM) Plotter. Second, DEGs were screened with The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database to divide the HCC cohort into high- and low-risk groups according to Cox analysis. HCC patients from the International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) cohort were used for validation. KM analysis was used to compare the overall survival (OS) between the high- and low-risk groups. Univariate and multivariate Cox analyses were applied to determine the independent predictors for OS. Results Novel markers for the prediction of satellite nodules were identified and a tumour clusters-specific marker gene signature model (6 genes) for HCC prognosis was constructed. Conclusion The establishment of marker gene profiles may be an important step towards an unbiased view of HCC, and the 6-gene signature can be used for prognostic prediction in HCC. This analysis will help us to clarify one of the possible sources of HCC heterogeneity and uncover pathogenic mechanisms and novel antitumour drug targets. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12935-021-02430-9.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Zhao
- Department of Pathology, Tianjin Medical University, No. 22 Qixiangtai Road, Heping District, Tianjin, 300070, China.,Department of Pathology, General Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300052, China
| | - Yanhui Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Cancer Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300060, China
| | - Runfen Cheng
- Department of Pathology, Cancer Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300060, China
| | - Danfang Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Tianjin Medical University, No. 22 Qixiangtai Road, Heping District, Tianjin, 300070, China.,Department of Pathology, General Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300052, China
| | - Fan Li
- Department of Pathology, Tianjin Medical University, No. 22 Qixiangtai Road, Heping District, Tianjin, 300070, China.,Department of Pathology, General Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300052, China
| | - Yuhong Guo
- Department of Pathology, Cancer Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300060, China
| | - Zhiqiang Qiu
- Department of Pathology, Cancer Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300060, China
| | - Xueyi Dong
- Department of Pathology, Tianjin Medical University, No. 22 Qixiangtai Road, Heping District, Tianjin, 300070, China.,Department of Pathology, General Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300052, China
| | - Xinchao Ban
- Department of Pathology, Tianjin Medical University, No. 22 Qixiangtai Road, Heping District, Tianjin, 300070, China.,Department of Pathology, General Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300052, China
| | - Baocun Sun
- Department of Pathology, Tianjin Medical University, No. 22 Qixiangtai Road, Heping District, Tianjin, 300070, China. .,Department of Pathology, Cancer Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300060, China. .,Department of Pathology, General Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300052, China.
| | - Xiulan Zhao
- Department of Pathology, Tianjin Medical University, No. 22 Qixiangtai Road, Heping District, Tianjin, 300070, China. .,Department of Pathology, General Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300052, China.
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Circulating EGFL7 distinguishes between IUGR and PE: an observational case-control study. Sci Rep 2021; 11:17919. [PMID: 34504270 PMCID: PMC8429426 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-97482-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Accepted: 08/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Isolated intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and preeclampsia (PE) share common placental pathogenesis. Differently from IUGR, PE is a systemic disorder which may also affect liver and brain. Early diagnosis of these conditions may optimize maternal and fetal management. Aim of this study was to assess whether Epidermal Growth Factor-Like domain 7 (EGFL7) dosage in maternal blood discriminates between isolated IUGR and PE. A total of 116 women were enrolled in this case–control study: 12 non-pregnant women, 34 healthy pregnant women, 34 women presenting with isolated IUGR and 36 presenting with PE. Levels of circulating EGFL7 and other known pro- and anti-angiogenic factors were measured by ELISA at different gestational ages (GA). Between 22–25 weeks of gestation, EGFL7 levels in early-onset PE (e-PE) plasma samples were significantly higher than those measured in controls or isolated IUGR samples (69.86 ± 6.17 vs. 19.8 ± 2.5 or 18.8 ± 2.8 µg/ml, respectively). Between 26–34 weeks, EGFL7 levels remained significantly higher in e-PE compared to IUGR. At term, circulating and placental EGFL7 levels were comparable between IUGR and late-onset PE (l-PE). In contrast, circulating levels of PlGF were decreased in both IUGR- and PE- complicated pregnancies, while levels of both sFLT-1 and sENDOGLIN were increased in both conditions. In conclusion, EGFL7 significantly discriminates between isolated IUGR and PE.
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5
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Zhen Z, Shen Z, Hu Y, Sun P. Screening and identification of angiogenesis-related genes as potential novel prognostic biomarkers of hepatocellular carcinoma through bioinformatics analysis. Aging (Albany NY) 2021; 13:17707-17733. [PMID: 34252885 PMCID: PMC8312452 DOI: 10.18632/aging.203260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2020] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a malignant tumor with high morbidity and mortality, which makes the prognostic prediction challenging. Angiogenesis appears to be of critical importance in the progression and metastasis of HCC. Some of the angiogenesis-related genes promote this process, while other anti-angiogenesis genes suppress tumor growth and metastasis. Therefore, the comprehensive prognostic value of multiple angiogenesis-related genes in HCC needs to be further clarified. In this study, the mRNA expression profile of HCC patients and the corresponding clinical data were acquired from multiple public databases. Univariate Cox regression analysis was utilized to screen out differentially expressed angiogenesis-related genes with prognostic value. A multigene signature was established with the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator Cox regression in the Cancer Genome Atlas cohort, and validated through an independent cohort. The results suggested that a total of 16 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were associated with overall survival (OS) and a 7-gene signature was constructed. The risk score of each patient was calculated using this signature, the median value of which was used to divide these patients into a high-risk group and a low-risk group. Compared with the low-risk group, the patients in the high-risk group had a poor prognosis. The risk score was an independent predictor for OS through multivariate Cox regression analysis. Then, unsupervised learning was used to verify the validity of this 7-gene signature. A nomogram by further integrating clinical information and the prognostic signature was utilized to predict prognostic risk and individual OS. Functional enrichment analyses demonstrated that these DEGs were enriched in the pathways of cell proliferation and mitosis, and the immune cell infiltration was significantly different between the two risk groups. In summary, a novel angiogenesis-related genes signature could be used to predict the prognosis of HCC and for targeted therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zili Zhen
- Center for Tumor Diagnosis and Therapy, Jinshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 201508, China.,Department of General Surgery, Jinshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 201508, China.,Department of Surgery, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Zhemin Shen
- Department of General Surgery, Jinshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 201508, China.,Department of Surgery, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Yanmei Hu
- Department of Paediatrics, the Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130041, Jilin, China
| | - Peilong Sun
- Center for Tumor Diagnosis and Therapy, Jinshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 201508, China.,Department of General Surgery, Jinshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 201508, China
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Cooperative Role of Thrombopoietin and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-A in the Progression of Liver Cirrhosis to Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22041818. [PMID: 33673041 PMCID: PMC7918121 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22041818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Revised: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Primary thrombopoietic mediator thrombopoietin (THPO) is mainly produced by the liver; it may act as a growth factor for hepatic progenitors. Principal angiogenesis inducer vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) is critical for the complex vascular network within the liver architecture. As a cross-regulatory loop between THPO and VEGF-A has been demonstrated in the hematopoietic system, the two growth factors were hypothesized to cooperatively contribute to the progression from liver cirrhosis (LC) to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The mRNA and protein expression levels of THPO, VEGF-A, and their receptors were examined, compared, and correlated in paired cancerous and LC tissues from 26 cirrhosis-related HCC patients, using qRT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. THPO and VEGF-A were alternatively silenced by small interfering RNA (siRNA) in human liver cancer cell lines Huh7 and HepG2. THPO and VEGF-A expressions significantly increased in tumor versus LC tissues. HCC and paired LC cells expressed similar levels of THPO receptor (R), whereas vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) -1 and VEGFR-2 levels were higher in HCC than in corresponding LC tissue samples. A significant linear correlation emerged between THPO and VEGF-A transcripts in HCC and, at the protein level, THPO and THPOR were significantly correlated with VEGF-A in tumor tissues. Both HCC and LC expressed similar levels of gene and protein hypoxia inducible factor (HIF)-1α. Positive cross-regulation occurred with the alternative administration of siRNAs targeting THPO and those targeting VEGF-A in hypoxic liver cancer cell lines. These results suggest THPO and VEGF-A might act as interdependently regulated autocrine and/or paracrine systems for cellular growth in HCC. This might be clinically interesting, since new classes of THPOR agonistic/antagonistic drugs may provide novel therapeutic options to correct the frequent hemostatic abnormality seen in HCC patients.
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7
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Huang G, Li L, Liang C, Yu F, Teng C, Pang Y, Wei T, Song J, Wang H, Liao X, Li Y, Yang J. Upregulated UCA1 contributes to oxaliplatin resistance of hepatocellular carcinoma through inhibition of miR-138-5p and activation of AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. Pharmacol Res Perspect 2021; 9:e00720. [PMID: 33565716 PMCID: PMC7874507 DOI: 10.1002/prp2.720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2020] [Revised: 12/24/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) inevitably developed oxaliplatin (OXA) resistance after long-term treatment, but the mechanism remains unclear. Here, we found that LncRNA UCA1 was upregulated in most of OXA-resistant HCC tissues and cells (HepG2/OXA and SMMC-7721/OXA). Follow-up analysis and online Kaplan-Meier Plotter revealed that HCC patients with high UCA1 level had a shorter survival compared with those with low expression. Overexpression of UCA1 increased OXA IC50 in HepG2 and SMMC-7721 cells, whereas knockdown of UCA1 decreased OXA IC50 in resistant counterparts. Moreover, dual luciferase reporter assay showed that co-transfection of UCA1-WT plasmid with miR-138-5p mimics enhanced fluorescence signals, whereas co-transfection of UCA1-Mut plasmid and miR-138-5p mimics did not induce any changes. Consistently, UCA1 levels in HepG2/OXA and SMMC-7721/OXA cells were downregulated after transfected with miR-138-5p mimics. UCA1 silencing or transfection of miR-138-5p mmics inhibited the activation of AKT and mTOR in HepG2/OXA and SMMC-7721/OXA cells, whereas UCA1 overexpression increased the phosphorylated AKT and mTOR levels in parental counterparts. Rapamycin or miR-138-5p mimics similarly suppressed the activation of AKT and mTOR, whereas UCA1 overexpression exert opposite roles. Interestingly, administration of rapamycin or miR-138-5p mimics apparently antagonized the effects of UCA1 on AKT and mTOR activation. Besides, depletion of UCA1 triggered more dramatic regression of HepG2 xenografts than that of HepG2/OXA xenografts with OXA treatment and impaired the p-AKT and p-mTOR levels in vivo. In conclusion, our findings provide the evidence that UCA1 may contribute to OXA resistance via miR-138-5p-mediated AK /mTOR activation, suggesting that UCA1 is a potential therapeutic target for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guolin Huang
- Department of PharmacologySchool of PharmacyGuangxi Medical UniversityNanningGuangxiPeople’s Republic of China
| | - Li Li
- Department of PharmacologySchool of PharmacyGuangxi Medical UniversityNanningGuangxiPeople’s Republic of China
| | - Chaoyong Liang
- Department of ChemotherapyAffiliated Cancer HospitalGuangxi Medical UniversityNanningGuangxiPeople’s Republic of China
| | - Fei Yu
- Department of PharmacologySchool of PharmacyGuangxi Medical UniversityNanningGuangxiPeople’s Republic of China
| | - Cuifang Teng
- Department of PharmacologySchool of PharmacyGuangxi Medical UniversityNanningGuangxiPeople’s Republic of China
| | - Yingxing Pang
- Department of PharmacologySchool of PharmacyGuangxi Medical UniversityNanningGuangxiPeople’s Republic of China
| | - Tongtong Wei
- Department of PharmacologySchool of PharmacyGuangxi Medical UniversityNanningGuangxiPeople’s Republic of China
| | - Jinjing Song
- Department of PharmacologySchool of PharmacyGuangxi Medical UniversityNanningGuangxiPeople’s Republic of China
| | - Hanlin Wang
- Department of Internal MedicineFirst Affiliated HospitalGuangxi Medical UniversityNanningGuangxiPeople’s Republic of China
| | - Xiaoli Liao
- Department of ChemotherapyAffiliated Cancer HospitalGuangxi Medical UniversityNanningGuangxiPeople’s Republic of China
| | - Yongqiang Li
- Department of ChemotherapyAffiliated Cancer HospitalGuangxi Medical UniversityNanningGuangxiPeople’s Republic of China
| | - Jie Yang
- Department of PharmacologySchool of PharmacyGuangxi Medical UniversityNanningGuangxiPeople’s Republic of China
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de Oliveira ARCP, Castanhole-Nunes MMU, Biselli-Chicote PM, Pavarino ÉC, da Silva RDCMA, da Silva RF, Goloni-Bertollo EM. Differential expression of angiogenesis-related miRNAs and VEGFA in cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Arch Med Sci 2020; 16:1150-1157. [PMID: 32864004 PMCID: PMC7444729 DOI: 10.5114/aoms.2020.97967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2017] [Accepted: 01/24/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Liver cirrhosis (LC) is a heterogeneous liver disease, the last stage of liver fibrosis, and the major risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Our study aimed to evaluate the expression of microRNAs and the endothelial vascular growth factor (VEGFA) gene in LC and HCC. MATERIAL AND METHODS The sample group consisted of 46 tissue samples: 21 of LC, 15 of HCC, and 10 of non-tumoural and non-cirrhotic liver tissue (control group). MiRNAs were chosen based on a mirDIP prediction database as regulators of the VEGFA gene. Gene expression of VEGF and miRNAs was quantified by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. VEGFA protein expression was evaluated by ELISA. RESULTS VEGFA gene expression was significantly overexpressed in LC compared to the control group (p < 0.0001). Hsa-miR-206 (p = 0.0313) and hsa-miR-637 (p = 0.0156) were down-expressed in LC. In HCC, hsa-miR-15b (p = 0.0010), hsa-miR-125b (p = 0.0010), hsa-miR-423-3p (p = 0.0010), hsa-miR-424 (p = 0.0313), hsa-miR-494 (p < 0.0001), hsa-miR-497 (p < 0.0001), hsa-miR-612 (p = 0.0078), hsa-miR-637 (p < 0.0001), and hsa-miR-1255b (p = 0.0156) presented down-expression. CONCLUSIONS Overexpression of VEGFA in LC suggests impairment of angiogenesis in this tissue. The differential expression of microRNAs in LC and HCC observed in our study can lead to the evaluation of possible biomarkers for these diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- André R C P de Oliveira
- Departament of Molecular Biology, UPGEM - Genetics and Molecular Biology Research Unit, São José do Rio Preto Medical School - FAMERP, São José do Rio Preto, Brazil
- Study Group of Liver Tumors - GETF, Hospital de Base - São José do Rio Preto (SP) and Medical School Foundation - FUNFARME - São José do Rio Preto, Brazil
| | - Márcia M U Castanhole-Nunes
- Departament of Molecular Biology, UPGEM - Genetics and Molecular Biology Research Unit, São José do Rio Preto Medical School - FAMERP, São José do Rio Preto, Brazil
- Study Group of Liver Tumors - GETF, Hospital de Base - São José do Rio Preto (SP) and Medical School Foundation - FUNFARME - São José do Rio Preto, Brazil
| | - Patrícia M Biselli-Chicote
- Departament of Molecular Biology, UPGEM - Genetics and Molecular Biology Research Unit, São José do Rio Preto Medical School - FAMERP, São José do Rio Preto, Brazil
| | - Érika C Pavarino
- Departament of Molecular Biology, UPGEM - Genetics and Molecular Biology Research Unit, São José do Rio Preto Medical School - FAMERP, São José do Rio Preto, Brazil
| | - Rita de C M A da Silva
- Study Group of Liver Tumors - GETF, Hospital de Base - São José do Rio Preto (SP) and Medical School Foundation - FUNFARME - São José do Rio Preto, Brazil
| | - Renato F da Silva
- Study Group of Liver Tumors - GETF, Hospital de Base - São José do Rio Preto (SP) and Medical School Foundation - FUNFARME - São José do Rio Preto, Brazil
| | - Eny M Goloni-Bertollo
- Departament of Molecular Biology, UPGEM - Genetics and Molecular Biology Research Unit, São José do Rio Preto Medical School - FAMERP, São José do Rio Preto, Brazil
- Study Group of Liver Tumors - GETF, Hospital de Base - São José do Rio Preto (SP) and Medical School Foundation - FUNFARME - São José do Rio Preto, Brazil
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Zhu GZ, Liao XW, Wang XK, Gong YZ, Liu XG, Yu L, Han CY, Yang CK, Su H, Huang KT, Yu TD, Huang JL, Li J, Zeng ZM, Qin W, Liu ZQ, Zhou X, Liu JQ, Lu L, Han QF, Shang LM, Ye XP, Peng T. Comprehensive investigation of p53, p21, nm23, and VEGF expression in hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma overall survival after hepatectomy. J Cancer 2020; 11:906-918. [PMID: 31949494 PMCID: PMC6959013 DOI: 10.7150/jca.33766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2019] [Accepted: 09/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: The goal of our current study is to assess the immunohistochemical of p53, p21, nm23, and VEGF expression in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) prognosis after hepatectomy, as well as the prospective molecular mechanisms of prognostic indicator. Methods: There were 419 HBV-related HCC patients who were from southern China of Guangxi province and were used to evaluate the immunohistochemical expression for these biomarkers in prognosis. A genome-wide expression microarray dataset of HBV-related HCC were obtained from GSE14520. Results: In our study, the expression of p53, p21, and nm23 in cancer tissues of patients with hepatitis B-related hepatocellular carcinoma did not affected the clinical outcome of 2 years, 5 years or overall. Patients with high expression of VEGF had a worse overall survival after 2 years of surgery than patients with low expression (adjusted P=0.040, adjusted HR = 1.652, 95% CI = 1.024-2.665). Survival analysis of VEGF in GSE14520 cohort also demonstrated that VEGF mRNA expression also significantly associated with HBV-related HCC OS (adjusted P=0.035, adjusted HR =1.651, 95% CI =1.035-2.634). The prospective molecular mechanisms by co-expression analysis suggested that VEGF might be correlated to regulation of cell proliferation, cell growth and apoptotic process, Rap1 signaling pathway, HIF-1 signaling pathway, PPAR signaling pathway, cell cycle. Whereas the GSEA suggested that VEGF might involve in the regulation of HIF and HIF1A pathway, and TP53 regulation pathway. Conclusion: Our findings suggested that VEGF might be a prognostic indicator of HBV-related HCC, and we also identified the VEGF prospective molecular mechanisms through the whole genome co-expression and GSEA approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guang-Zhi Zhu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Xi-Wen Liao
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiang-Kun Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Yi-Zhen Gong
- Department of Colorectal and Anal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiao-Guang Liu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Long Yu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Chuang-Ye Han
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Cheng-Kun Yang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Hao Su
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Ke-Tuan Huang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Ting-Dong Yu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Jian-Lu Huang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China.,Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530031, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Jia Li
- Department of Pathology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region 530021, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhi-Ming Zeng
- Department of Medical Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region 530021, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Qin
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Zheng-Qian Liu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Xin Zhou
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Jun-Qi Liu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Lei Lu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Quan-Fa Han
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Li-Ming Shang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Xin-Ping Ye
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Tao Peng
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
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10
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Viveiros P, Riaz A, Lewandowski RJ, Mahalingam D. Current State of Liver-Directed Therapies and Combinatory Approaches with Systemic Therapy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11081085. [PMID: 31370248 PMCID: PMC6721343 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11081085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2019] [Revised: 07/22/2019] [Accepted: 07/24/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The increasing set of liver-directed therapies (LDT) have become an integral part of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treatment. These range from percutaneous ablative techniques to arterial embolization, and varied radiotherapy strategies. They are now used for local disease control, symptom palliation, and bold curative strategies. The big challenge in the face of these innovative and sometimes overlapping technologies is to identify the best opportunity of use. In real practice, many patients may take benefit from LDT used as a bridge to curative treatment such as resection and liver transplantation. Varying trans-arterial embolization strategies are used, and comparison between established and developing technologies is scarce. Also, radioembolization utilizing yttrium-90 (Y-90) for locally advanced or intermediate-stage HCC needs further evidence of clinical efficacy. There is increasing interest on LDT-led changes in tumor biology that could have implications in systemic therapy efficacy. Foremost, additional to its apoptotic and necrotic properties, LDT could warrant changes in vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression and release. However, trans-arterial chemoembolization (TACE) used alongside tyrosine-kinase inhibitor (TKI) sorafenib has had its efficacy contested. Most recently, interest in associating Y-90 and TKI has emerged. Furthermore, LDT-led differences in tumor immune microenvironment and immune cell infiltration could be an opportunity to enhance immunotherapy efficacy for HCC patients. Early attempts to coordinate LDT and immunotherapy are being made. We here review LDT techniques exposing current evidence to understand its extant reach and future applications alongside systemic therapy development for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Viveiros
- Developmental Therapeutics, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Ahsun Riaz
- Department of Radiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Robert J Lewandowski
- Department of Radiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Devalingam Mahalingam
- Developmental Therapeutics, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
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11
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Mammola CL, Vetuschi A, Pannarale L, Sferra R, Mancinelli R. Epidermal growth factor-like domain multiple 7 (EGFL7): Expression and possible effect on biliary epithelium growth in cholangiocarcinoma. Eur J Histochem 2018; 62. [PMID: 30504933 PMCID: PMC6291760 DOI: 10.4081/ejh.2018.2971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2018] [Accepted: 11/14/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is an aggressive biliary tract malignancy with limited treatment options and low survival rates. The intrahepatic subtype comprises two forms: mucin-iCCA and mixed-iCCA. Epidermal growth factor-like domain multiple (EGFL7) is overexpressed in less differentiated liver tumors. The aim of this study was to assess the presence of EGFL7 due to its possible role in the growth of CCA. Hematoxylin & Eosin and periodic acid- Schiff staining were used to evaluate the morphological aspects and glycogen deposition. Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence were performed to identify the presence of EGFL7 both in tumor sections ex vivo and in appropriate cell lines in culture. We found that EGFL7 is expressed in malignant cholangiocytes of mixed-iCCA and absent in mucin-iCCA. In conclusion the expression of EGFL7 might be useful in the classification of CCA subtypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caterina L Mammola
- Sapienza University of Rome, Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic Medicine and Orthopedics Sciences.
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12
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Gong C, Fang J, Li G, Liu HH, Liu ZS. Effects of microRNA-126 on cell proliferation, apoptosis and tumor angiogenesis via the down-regulating ERK signaling pathway by targeting EGFL7 in hepatocellular carcinoma. Oncotarget 2017; 8:52527-52542. [PMID: 28881749 PMCID: PMC5581048 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.17283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2016] [Accepted: 03/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
This study intends to explore the effects of microRNA-126 (miR-126) on cell proliferation, apoptosis, and tumor angiogenesis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by regulating epidermal growth factor-like domain 7 (EGFL7) through extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling. HCC tissues and adjacent normal tissues were obtained from 184 HCC patients. HCC cells were separately transfected with recombinant plasmids. Western blotting and qRT-PCR were applied to detect miR-126 and EGFL7, ERK, Fas/FasL, Bcl-2, Caspase mRNA and protein levels. CCK8 and TUNEL were performed to determinate cell proliferation and apoptosis. Flow cytometry was used to analyze cell cycle distribution. Rats model of HCC was constructed, and tumor weight and the number of new blood vessels were recorded after 3 weeks of tumor transplantation. Compared with the adjacent normal tissues, HCC tissues exhibited lower miR-126 expression, and higher EGFL7, and ERK mRNA and protein levels. Overexpression of miR-126 in HCC cell lines suppressed EGFL7, ERK, Bcl-2, and P-ERK, and increased apoptotic-associated proteins Fas/FasL and Caspase-3, and it inhibited cell proliferation and induced cell apoptosis. Overexpression of miR-126 in nude mice resulted in reduced tumor weight and less new blood vessels in tumors. The inhibition of miR-126 decreased cell apoptosis, and enhanced cell proliferation and tumor angiogenesis. This study demonstrates that miR-126 might decrease cell proliferation, induce apoptosis, and inhibit tumor angiogenesis in HCC by inhibiting EGFL7 via down-regulating the ERK signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Gong
- Department of General Surgery, Research Center of Digestive Diseases, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, P.R. China
| | - Jing Fang
- Department of Oncology, Wuhan Pu-Ai Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430034, P.R. China
| | - Guang Li
- Department of Oncology, Wuhan Pu-Ai Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430034, P.R. China
| | - Han-Han Liu
- Department of Pathology, Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Hubei Province, Wuhan 430070, P.R. China
| | - Zhi-Su Liu
- Department of General Surgery, Research Center of Digestive Diseases, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, P.R. China
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