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Shang X, Chen Z, Liu J, Xu S, Li L, Yang Z, Cui Y, Ruan P, Peng X. Physalin A Induces Apoptosis and Autophagy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma via Inhibition of PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathway. Biochem Genet 2024; 62:633-644. [PMID: 37400742 DOI: 10.1007/s10528-023-10429-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023]
Abstract
Physalin A (PA) is a bioactive withanolide with multiple pharmacological properties and has been indicated to be cytotoxic to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell line HepG2. This study aims to explore the mechanisms underlying PA antitumor activity in HCC. HepG2 cells were exposed to various concentrations of PA. Cell counting kit-8 assay and flow cytometry were implemented for evaluating cell viability and apoptosis, respectively. Immunofluorescence staining was utilized for detecting autophagic protein LC3. Western blotting was employed for measuring levels of autophagy-, apoptosis- and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt) signaling-related proteins. A xenograft mouse model was established to verify the antitumor activity of PA in vivo. PA impaired HepG2 cell viability, and triggered apoptosis as well as autophagy. Inhibiting autophagy augmented PA-evoked HepG2 cell apoptosis. PA repressed PI3K/Akt signaling in HCC cells and activating PI3K/Akt reversed PA-triggered apoptosis and autophagy. PA treatment inhibited tumor growth in tumor-bearing mice. PA triggers HCC cell apoptosis and autophagy by inactivating PI3K/Akt signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Shang
- Department of Interventional Radiology, Ningde Municipal Hospital of Ningde Normal University, Ningde, 352100, China
| | - Zhen Chen
- Department of Emergency, The Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430014, China
| | - Jianxiong Liu
- Department of Interventional Radiology, Ningde Municipal Hospital of Ningde Normal University, Ningde, 352100, China
| | - Shuguo Xu
- Department of Interventional Radiology, Ningde Municipal Hospital of Ningde Normal University, Ningde, 352100, China
| | - Longbiao Li
- Department of Interventional Radiology, Ningde Municipal Hospital of Ningde Normal University, Ningde, 352100, China
| | - Zhihong Yang
- Department of Interventional Radiology, Ningde Municipal Hospital of Ningde Normal University, Ningde, 352100, China
| | - Yuansheng Cui
- Department of Interventional Radiology, Ningde Municipal Hospital of Ningde Normal University, Ningde, 352100, China
| | - Pingzhao Ruan
- Department of Interventional Radiology, Ningde Municipal Hospital of Ningde Normal University, Ningde, 352100, China
| | - Xiaolan Peng
- Department of Radiology, Ningde Municipal Hospital of Ningde Normal University, 13 Mindong East Road, Jiaocheng District, Ningde, 352100, China.
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Seydi H, Nouri K, Rezaei N, Tamimi A, Hassan M, Mirzaei H, Vosough M. Autophagy orchestrates resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 161:114487. [PMID: 36963361 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.114487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Revised: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Treatment resistance is one of the major barriers for therapeutic strategies in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Many studies have indicated that chemotherapy and radiotherapy induce autophagy machinery (cell protective autophagy) in HCC cells. In addition, many experiments report a remarkable crosstalk between treatment resistance and autophagy pathways. Thus, autophagy could be one of the key factors enabling tumor cells to hinder induced cell death after medical interventions. Therefore, extensive research on the molecular pathways involved in resistance induction and autophagy have been conducted to achieve the desired therapeutic response. The key molecular pathways related to the therapy resistance are TGF-β, MAPK, NRF2, NF-κB, and non-coding RNAs. In addition, EMT, drug transports, apoptosis evasion, DNA repair, cancer stem cells, and hypoxia could have considerable impact on the hepatoma cell's response to therapies. These mechanisms protect tumor cells against various treatments and many studies have shown that each of them is connected to the molecular pathways of autophagy induction in HCC. Hence, autophagy inhibition may be an effective strategy to improve therapeutic outcome in HCC patients. In this review, we further highlight how autophagy leads to poor response during treatment through a complex molecular network and how it enhances resistance in primary liver cancer. We propose that combinational regimens of approved HCC therapeutic protocols plus autophagy inhibitors may overcome drug resistance in HCC therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Homeyra Seydi
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
| | - Kosar Nouri
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
| | - Niloufar Rezaei
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran; Department of Biotechnology, School of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
| | - Atena Tamimi
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
| | - Moustapha Hassan
- Experimental Cancer Medicine, Institution for Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Hamed Mirzaei
- Research Center for Biochemistry and Nutrition in Metabolic Diseases, Institute for Basic Sciences, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Islamic Republic of Iran.
| | - Massoud Vosough
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran; Experimental Cancer Medicine, Institution for Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
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3
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Hashemi M, Nadafzadeh N, Imani MH, Rajabi R, Ziaolhagh S, Bayanzadeh SD, Norouzi R, Rafiei R, Koohpar ZK, Raei B, Zandieh MA, Salimimoghadam S, Entezari M, Taheriazam A, Alexiou A, Papadakis M, Tan SC. Targeting and regulation of autophagy in hepatocellular carcinoma: revisiting the molecular interactions and mechanisms for new therapy approaches. Cell Commun Signal 2023; 21:32. [PMID: 36759819 PMCID: PMC9912665 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-023-01053-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Autophagy is an evolutionarily conserved process that plays a role in regulating homeostasis under physiological conditions. However, dysregulation of autophagy is observed in the development of human diseases, especially cancer. Autophagy has reciprocal functions in cancer and may be responsible for either survival or death. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most lethal and common malignancies of the liver, and smoking, infection, and alcohol consumption can lead to its development. Genetic mutations and alterations in molecular processes can exacerbate the progression of HCC. The function of autophagy in HCC is controversial and may be both tumor suppressive and tumor promoting. Activation of autophagy may affect apoptosis in HCC and is a regulator of proliferation and glucose metabolism. Induction of autophagy may promote tumor metastasis via induction of EMT. In addition, autophagy is a regulator of stem cell formation in HCC, and pro-survival autophagy leads to cancer cell resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Targeting autophagy impairs growth and metastasis in HCC and improves tumor cell response to therapy. Of note, a large number of signaling pathways such as STAT3, Wnt, miRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs regulate autophagy in HCC. Moreover, regulation of autophagy (induction or inhibition) by antitumor agents could be suggested for effective treatment of HCC. In this paper, we comprehensively review the role and mechanisms of autophagy in HCC and discuss the potential benefit of targeting this process in the treatment of the cancer. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehrdad Hashemi
- grid.411463.50000 0001 0706 2472Department of Genetics, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran ,grid.411463.50000 0001 0706 2472Farhikhtegan Medical Convergence Sciences Research Center, Farhikhtegan Hospital Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Niloufar Nadafzadeh
- grid.411463.50000 0001 0706 2472Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Hassan Imani
- grid.411463.50000 0001 0706 2472Department of Clinical Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahr-E Kord Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Iran
| | - Romina Rajabi
- grid.411463.50000 0001 0706 2472Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Setayesh Ziaolhagh
- grid.411463.50000 0001 0706 2472Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Seyedeh Delaram Bayanzadeh
- grid.411463.50000 0001 0706 2472Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Raheleh Norouzi
- grid.411463.50000 0001 0706 2472Farhikhtegan Medical Convergence Sciences Research Center, Farhikhtegan Hospital Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Reihaneh Rafiei
- grid.411463.50000 0001 0706 2472Farhikhtegan Medical Convergence Sciences Research Center, Farhikhtegan Hospital Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zeinab Khazaei Koohpar
- grid.464599.30000 0004 0494 3188Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tonekabon Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tonekabon, Iran
| | - Behnaz Raei
- grid.411463.50000 0001 0706 2472Farhikhtegan Medical Convergence Sciences Research Center, Farhikhtegan Hospital Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Arad Zandieh
- Department of Food Hygiene and Quality Control, Division of Epidemiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Shokooh Salimimoghadam
- grid.412504.60000 0004 0612 5699Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Maliheh Entezari
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran. .,Farhikhtegan Medical Convergence Sciences Research Center, Farhikhtegan Hospital Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Afshin Taheriazam
- Farhikhtegan Medical Convergence Sciences Research Center, Farhikhtegan Hospital Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran. .,Department of Orthopedics, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Athanasios Alexiou
- Department of Science and Engineering, Novel Global Community Educational Foundation, Hebersham, Australia ,AFNP Med Austria, Vienna, Austria
| | - Marios Papadakis
- Department of Surgery II, University Hospital Witten-Herdecke, University of Witten-Herdecke, Heusnerstrasse 40, 42283, Wuppertal, Germany.
| | - Shing Cheng Tan
- grid.412113.40000 0004 1937 1557UKM Medical Molecular Biology Institute, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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Small Molecule Inhibitors for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Advances and Challenges. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27175537. [PMID: 36080304 PMCID: PMC9457820 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27175537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 08/20/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
According to data provided by World Health Organization, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the sixth most common cause of deaths due to cancer worldwide. Tremendous progress has been achieved over the last 10 years developing novel agents for HCC treatment, including small-molecule kinase inhibitors. Several small molecule inhibitors currently form the core of HCC treatment due to their versatility since they would be more easily absorbed and have higher oral bioavailability, thus easier to formulate and administer to patients. In addition, they can be altered structurally to have greater volumes of distribution, allowing them to block extravascular molecular targets and to accumulate in a high concentration in the tumor microenvironment. Moreover, they can be designed to have shortened half-lives to control for immune-related adverse events. Most importantly, they would spare patients, healthcare institutions, and society as a whole from the burden of high drug costs. The present review provides an overview of the pharmaceutical compounds that are licensed for HCC treatment and other emerging compounds that are still investigated in preclinical and clinical trials. These molecules are targeting different molecular targets and pathways that are proven to be involved in the pathogenesis of the disease.
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Scaffold hopping of celastrol provides derivatives containing pepper ring, pyrazine and oxazole substructures as potent autophagy inducers against breast cancer cell line MCF-7. Eur J Med Chem 2022; 234:114254. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2022.114254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Revised: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
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Li J, Tian X, Nie Y, He Y, Wu W, Lei X, Zhang T, Wang Y, Mao Z, Zhang H, Zhang X, Song W. BTBD10 is a Prognostic Biomarker Correlated With Immune Infiltration in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 8:762541. [PMID: 35059434 PMCID: PMC8764259 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.762541] [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: 08/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: BTBD10 serves as an activator of Akt family members through decreasing the protein phosphatase 2A-mediated dephosphorylation. The present study attempted to investigate the prognostic value of BTBD10 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), specially, its relationship with tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). Methods: BTBD10 expression was evaluated in HCC using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Xijing Hospital database, and verified in HCC cell lines. Cox analyses were performed to analyze independent prognostic risk factors for HCC. The optimal cut-off value of BTBD10 was calculated, by which all patients were divided into two groups to compare the overall survival (OS). The signaling pathways were predicted, by which BTBD10 may affect the progression of HCC. To investigate the impact of BTBD10 on HCC immunotherapy, correlations between BTBD10 and TILs, immune checkpoints, m6A methylation-related genes and ferroptosis-related genes were assessed. The distribution of half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of diverse targeted drugs was observed based on the differential expression of BTBD10. Results: BTBD10 expression was higher in HCC tissues and cell lines than that of normal liver tissues and cells. The patients with high expression of BTBD10 showed a worse OS, as compared to that of BTBD10 low-expressing group. Cox analyses indicated that BTBD10 was an independent prognostic risk factor for HCC. Several molecular pathways of immune responses were activated in HCC patients with high-expressing of BTBD10. Furthermore, BTBD10 expression was demonstrated to be positively correlated with tumor-infiltrating B cells, T cells, macrophages, neutrophils and dendritic cells. Meanwhile, the expression of BTBD10 was synchronized with that of several m6A methylation-related genes, ferroptosis-related genes and immune checkpoints. The IC50 scores of Sorafenib, Navitoclax, Veliparib, Luminespib, and Imatinib were found to be lower in BTBD10 high-expressing HCC group. Conclusion: BTBD10 negatively regulates tumor immunity in HCC and exhibits adverse effect on the prognosis of HCC, which could be a potential target for immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianhui Li
- Xi'an Medical University, Xi'an, China.,Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Xiaojuan Tian
- Operating Room, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Ye Nie
- Xi'an Medical University, Xi'an, China.,Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Ying He
- Xi'an Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Wenlong Wu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | | | | | | | | | - Hong Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Xuan Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Wenjie Song
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
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7
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Abstract
Around three out of one hundred thousand people are diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme, simply called glioblastoma, which is the most common primary brain tumor in adults. With a dismal prognosis of a little over a year, receiving a glioblastoma diagnosis is oftentimes fatal. A major advancement in its treatment was made almost two decades ago when the alkylating chemotherapeutic agent temozolomide (TMZ) was combined with radiotherapy (RT). Little progress has been made since then. Therapies that focus on the modulation of autophagy, a key process that regulates cellular homeostasis, have been developed to curb the progression of glioblastoma. The dual role of autophagy (cell survival or cell death) in glioblastoma has led to the development of autophagy inhibitors and promoters that either work as monotherapies or as part of a combination therapy to induce cell death, cellular senescence, and counteract the ability of glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs) for initiating tumor recurrence. The myriad of cellular pathways that act upon the modulation of autophagy have created contention between two groups: those who use autophagy inhibition versus those who use promotion of autophagy to control glioblastoma growth. We discuss rationale for using current major therapeutics, their molecular mechanisms for modulation of autophagy in glioblastoma and GSCs, their potentials for making strides in combating glioblastoma progression, and their possible shortcomings. These shortcomings may fuel the innovation of novel delivery systems and therapies involving TMZ in conjunction with another agent to pave the way towards a new gold standard of glioblastoma treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda J Manea
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, 6439 Garners Ferry Road, Columbia, SC, 29209, USA
| | - Swapan K Ray
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, 6439 Garners Ferry Road, Columbia, SC, 29209, USA.
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