1
|
Tan Y, Tan S, Ren T, Yu L, Li P, Xie G, Chen C, Yuan M, Xu Q, Chen Z. Transcriptomics Reveals the Mechanism of Rosa roxburghii Tratt Ellagitannin in Improving Hepatic Lipid Metabolism Disorder in db/db Mice. Nutrients 2023; 15:4187. [PMID: 37836471 PMCID: PMC10574348 DOI: 10.3390/nu15194187] [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: 08/17/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/23/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
A complex metabolic disorder, type 2 diabetes, was investigated to explore the impact of ellagitannin, derived from Rosa roxburghii Tratt (RTT), on liver lipid metabolism disorders in db/db mice. The findings demonstrated that both RTT ellagitannin (C1) and RTT ellagic acid (C4) considerably decelerated body mass gain in db/db mice, significantly decreased fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels, and mitigated the aggregation of hepatic lipid droplets. At LDL-C levels, C1 performed substantially better than the C4 group, exhibiting no significant difference compared to the P (positive control) group. An RNA-seq analysis further disclosed that 1245 differentially expressed genes were identified in the livers of experimental mice following the C1 intervention. The GO and KEGG enrichment analysis revealed that, under ellagitannin intervention, numerous differentially expressed genes were significantly enriched in fatty acid metabolic processes, the PPAR signaling pathway, fatty acid degradation, fatty acid synthesis, and other lipid metabolism-related pathways. The qRT-PCR and Western blot analysis results indicated that RTT ellagitannin notably upregulated the gene and protein expression levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ). In contrast, it downregulated the gene and protein expression levels of sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP), recombinant fatty acid synthase (FASN), and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC). Therefore, RTT ellagitannin can activate the PPAR signaling pathway, inhibit fatty acid uptake and de novo synthesis, and ameliorate hepatic lipid metabolism disorder in db/db mice, thus potentially aiding in maintaining lipid homeostasis in type 2 diabetes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yunyun Tan
- School of Liquor and Food Engineering, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Shuming Tan
- School of Liquor and Food Engineering, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Tingyuan Ren
- School of Liquor and Food Engineering, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
- The Key Laboratory of Plant Resources Conservation and Germplasm Innovation in Mountainous Region (Ministry of Education), Institute of Agro-Bioengineering and College of Life Sciences, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Lu Yu
- School of Liquor and Food Engineering, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Pei Li
- School of Liquor and Food Engineering, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
- Qiandongnan Engineering and Technology Research Center for Comprehensive Utilization of National Medicine, Kaili University, Kaili 556018, China
| | - Guofang Xie
- School of Liquor and Food Engineering, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Chao Chen
- School of Liquor and Food Engineering, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Meng Yuan
- School of Liquor and Food Engineering, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Qing Xu
- School of Liquor and Food Engineering, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Zhen Chen
- School of Liquor and Food Engineering, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Qu H, Liu J, Zhang D, Xie R, Wang L, Hong J. Glycolysis in Chronic Liver Diseases: Mechanistic Insights and Therapeutic Opportunities. Cells 2023; 12:1930. [PMID: 37566009 PMCID: PMC10417805 DOI: 10.3390/cells12151930] [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: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic liver diseases (CLDs) cover a spectrum of liver diseases, ranging from nonalcoholic fatty liver disease to liver cancer, representing a growing epidemic worldwide with high unmet medical needs. Glycolysis is a conservative and rigorous process that converts glucose into pyruvate and sustains cells with the energy and intermediate products required for diverse biological activities. However, abnormalities in glycolytic flux during CLD development accelerate the disease progression. Aerobic glycolysis is a hallmark of liver cancer and is responsible for a broad range of oncogenic functions including proliferation, invasion, metastasis, angiogenesis, immune escape, and drug resistance. Recently, the non-neoplastic role of aerobic glycolysis in immune activation and inflammatory disorders, especially CLD, has attracted increasing attention. Several key mediators of aerobic glycolysis, including HIF-1α and pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2), are upregulated during steatohepatitis and liver fibrosis. The pharmacological inhibition or ablation of PKM2 effectively attenuates hepatic inflammation and CLD progression. In this review, we particularly focused on the glycolytic and non-glycolytic roles of PKM2 in the progression of CLD, highlighting the translational potential of a glycolysis-centric therapeutic approach in combating CLD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Jian Hong
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; (H.Q.)
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Akl MG, Widenmaier SB. Immunometabolic factors contributing to obesity-linked hepatocellular carcinoma. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 10:1089124. [PMID: 36712976 PMCID: PMC9877434 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.1089124] [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: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major public health concern that is promoted by obesity and associated liver complications. Onset and progression of HCC in obesity is a multifactorial process involving complex interactions between the metabolic and immune system, in which chronic liver damage resulting from metabolic and inflammatory insults trigger carcinogenesis-promoting gene mutations and tumor metabolism. Moreover, cell growth and proliferation of the cancerous cell, after initiation, requires interactions between various immunological and metabolic pathways that provide stress defense of the cancer cell as well as strategic cell death escape mechanisms. The heterogenic nature of HCC in addition to the various metabolic risk factors underlying HCC development have led researchers to focus on examining metabolic pathways that may contribute to HCC development. In obesity-linked HCC, oncogene-induced modifications and metabolic pathways have been identified to support anabolic demands of the growing HCC cells and combat the concomitant cell stress, coinciding with altered utilization of signaling pathways and metabolic fuels involved in glucose metabolism, macromolecule synthesis, stress defense, and redox homeostasis. In this review, we discuss metabolic insults that can underlie the transition from steatosis to steatohepatitis and from steatohepatitis to HCC as well as aberrantly regulated immunometabolic pathways that enable cancer cells to survive and proliferate in the tumor microenvironment. We also discuss therapeutic modalities targeted at HCC prevention and regression. A full understanding of HCC-associated immunometabolic changes in obesity may contribute to clinical treatments that effectively target cancer metabolism.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- May G. Akl
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada,Department of Physiology, University of Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Scott B. Widenmaier
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada,*Correspondence: Scott B. Widenmaier,
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Ji X, Chen X, Sheng L, Deng D, Wang Q, Meng Y, Qiu Z, Zhang B, Zheng G, Hu J. Metabolomics profiling of AKT/c-Met-induced hepatocellular carcinogenesis and the inhibitory effect of Cucurbitacin B in mice. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:1009767. [PMID: 36506561 PMCID: PMC9728611 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.1009767] [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: 08/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common kind of liver cancer, accounts for the majority of liver cancer diagnoses and fatalities. Clinical aggressiveness, resistance to traditional therapy, and a high mortality rate are all features of this disease. Our previous studies have shown that co-activation of AKT and c-Met induces HCC development, which is the malignant biological feature of human HCC. Cucurbitacin B (CuB), a naturally occurring tetracyclic triterpenoid compound with potential antitumor activity. However, the metabolic mechanism of AKT/c-Met-induced Hepatocellular Carcinogenesis and CuB in HCC remains unclear. In this study, we established an HCC mouse model by hydrodynamically transfecting active AKT and c-Met proto-oncogenes. Based on the results of hematoxylin-eosin (H&E), oil red O (ORO) staining, and immunohistochemistry (IHC), HCC progression was divided into two stages: the early stage of HCC (3 weeks after AKT/c-Met injection) and the formative stage of HCC (6 weeks after AKT/c-Met injection), and the therapeutic effect of CuB was evaluated. Through UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS metabolomics, a total of 26 distinct metabolites were found in the early stage of HCC for serum samples, while in the formative stage of HCC, 36 distinct metabolites were found in serum samples, and 13 different metabolites were detected in liver samples. 33 metabolites in serum samples and 11 in live samples were affected by CuB administration. Additionally, metabolic pathways and western blotting analysis revealed that CuB influences lipid metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and glucose metabolism by altering the AKT/mTORC1 signaling pathway, hence decreasing tumor progression. This study provides a metabolic basis for the early diagnosis, therapy, and prognosis of HCC and the clinical application of CuB in HCC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiangyu Ji
- College of Pharmacy, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Xin Chen
- College of Pharmacy, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Lei Sheng
- College of Pharmacy, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Dongjie Deng
- College of Pharmacy, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Qi Wang
- College of Pharmacy, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Yan Meng
- College of Pharmacy, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Zhenpeng Qiu
- College of Pharmacy, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Baohui Zhang
- College of Pharmacy, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Guohua Zheng
- College of Pharmacy, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, Hubei, China,Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Resource and Compound Prescription, Ministry of Education, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, Hubei, China,*Correspondence: Guohua Zheng, ; Junjie Hu,
| | - Junjie Hu
- College of Pharmacy, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, Hubei, China,*Correspondence: Guohua Zheng, ; Junjie Hu,
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Metformin Actions on the Liver: Protection Mechanisms Emerging in Hepatocytes and Immune Cells against NASH-Related HCC. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22095016. [PMID: 34065108 PMCID: PMC8126028 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22095016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Revised: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is strongly linked to the global epidemic of obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Notably, NAFLD can progress from the mildest form of simple steatosis to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) that increases the risk for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which is a malignancy with a dismal prognosis and rising incidence in the United States and other developed counties, possibly due to the epidemic of NAFLD. Metformin, the first-line drug for T2DM, has been suggested to reduce risks for several types of cancers including HCC and protect against NASH-related HCC, as revealed by epidemical studies on humans and preclinical studies on animal models. This review focuses on the pathogenesis of NASH-related HCC and the mechanisms by which metformin inhibits the initiation and progression of NASH-related HCC. Since the functional role of immune cells in liver homeostasis and pathogenesis is increasingly appreciated in developing anti-cancer therapies on liver malignancies, we discuss both the traditional targets of metformin in hepatocytes and the recently defined effects of metformin on immune cells.
Collapse
|
6
|
Glucose and fatty acid metabolism involved in the protective effect of metformin against ulipristal-induced endometrial changes in rats. Sci Rep 2021; 11:8863. [PMID: 33893356 PMCID: PMC8065147 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-88346-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Ulipristal acetate (UPA) is effective in the treatment of uterine fibroids. However, its clinical use is hampered by the development of pathologic progesterone receptor modulator-associated endometrial changes (PAECs). The current study was designed to test the hypothesis that UPA-induced PAECs are associated with deranged expression of some metabolic genes. In addition, metformin can mitigate UPA-induced PAECs through modulating the expression of these genes. In the present study, twenty-eight female non-pregnant, nulligravid Wistar rats were treated with UPA (0.1 mg/kg/day, intragastric) and/or metformin (50 mg/kg/day, intragastric) for 8 weeks. Our results demonstrated that co-treatment with metformin significantly reduced UPA-induced PAECs. In addition, co-treatment with metformin and UPA was associated with significant increase in the Bax and significant reduction in Bcl-2, PCNA, Cyclin-D1and ER-α as compared to treatment with UPA alone. Furthermore, treatment with UPA alone was associated with deranged expression of 3-phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (3-PHGDH), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), transketolase (TKT), fatty acid synthase (FAS) and CD36. Most importantly, co-treatment with metformin markedly reduced UPA-induced altered expression of these metabolic genes in endometrial tissues. In conclusion, UPA-induced PAECs are associated with altered expression of genes involved in cell proliferation, apoptosis, estrogen receptor, glucose metabolism and lipid metabolism. Co-treatment with metformin abrogated UPA-induced PAECs most likely through the modulation of the expression of these genes.
Collapse
|
7
|
Orlistat delays hepatocarcinogenesis in mice with hepatic co-activation of AKT and c-Met. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2020; 392:114918. [DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2020.114918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2019] [Revised: 02/06/2020] [Accepted: 02/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
|
8
|
Groisberg R, Roszik J, Conley AP, Lazar AJ, Portal DE, Hong DS, Naing A, Herzog CE, Somaiah N, Zarzour MA, Patel S, Brown RE, Subbiah V. Genomics, Morphoproteomics, and Treatment Patterns of Patients with Alveolar Soft Part Sarcoma and Response to Multiple Experimental Therapies. Mol Cancer Ther 2020; 19:1165-1172. [PMID: 32127467 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-19-0579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2019] [Revised: 12/18/2019] [Accepted: 02/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Overexpression of transcription factor 3 in alveolar soft part sarcoma(ASPS) results in upregulation of cell proliferation pathways. No standard treatment algorithm exists for ASPS; multikinase inhibitors[tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI)] and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) have shown clinical benefit. To date, no studies have reported on management strategies or sequencing of therapy. We evaluated ASPS treatment patterns and responses in an experimental therapeutics clinic. Genomic and morphoproteomic analysis was performed to further elucidate novel targets. We retrospectively reviewed patients with ASPS treated on clinical trials. Demographic and clinical next-generation sequencing (NGS) profiles were collected. AACR GENIE database was queried to further evaluate aberrations in ASPS. Morphoproteomic analysis was carried out to better define the biology of ASPS with integration of genomic and proteomic findings. Eleven patients with ASPS were identified; 7 received NGS testing and mutations in CDKN2A (n = 1) and hepatocyte growth factor (n = 1) were present. Ten patients were treated with TKIs with stable disease as best response and 4 patients with ICI (three partial responses). Within GENIE, 20 patients were identified harboring 3 called pathogenic mutations. Tumor mutation burden was low in all samples. Morphoproteomic analysis confirmed the expression of phosphorylated c-Met. In addition, fatty acid synthase and phosphorylated-STAT3 were detected in tumor cell cytoplasm and nuclei. Patients with ASPS have a quiescent genome and derive clinical benefit from VEGF-targeting TKIs. Morphoproteomic analysis has provided both additional correlative pathways and angiogenic mechanisms that are targetable for patients with ASPS. Our study suggests that sequential therapy with TKIs and immune checkpoint inhibitors is a reasonable management strategy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Roman Groisberg
- Department of Melanoma/Sarcoma Medical Oncology, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey
| | - Jason Roszik
- Department of Melanoma Medical Oncology, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Anthony P Conley
- Department of Sarcoma Medical Oncology, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Alexander J Lazar
- Department of Anatomic Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Daniella E Portal
- Department of Melanoma/Sarcoma Medical Oncology, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey
| | - David S Hong
- Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics (Phase 1 Program), Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Aung Naing
- Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics (Phase 1 Program), Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Cynthia E Herzog
- Division of Pediatrics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Neeta Somaiah
- Department of Sarcoma Medical Oncology, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Maria A Zarzour
- Department of Sarcoma Medical Oncology, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Shreyaskumar Patel
- Department of Sarcoma Medical Oncology, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Robert E Brown
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UTHealth McGovern Medical School, Houston, Texas
| | - Vivek Subbiah
- Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics (Phase 1 Program), Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas. .,Division of Pediatrics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Satriano L, Lewinska M, Rodrigues PM, Banales JM, Andersen JB. Metabolic rearrangements in primary liver cancers: cause and consequences. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 2019; 16:748-766. [PMID: 31666728 DOI: 10.1038/s41575-019-0217-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 138] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/19/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Primary liver cancer (PLC) is the fourth most frequent cause of cancer-related death. The high mortality rates arise from late diagnosis and the limited accuracy of diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. The liver is a major regulator, orchestrating the clearance of toxins, balancing glucose, lipid and amino acid uptake, managing whole-body metabolism and maintaining metabolic homeostasis. Tumour onset and progression is frequently accompanied by rearrangements of metabolic pathways, leading to dysregulation of metabolism. The limitation of current therapies targeting PLCs, such as hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma, points towards the importance of deciphering this metabolic complexity. In this Review, we discuss the role of metabolic liver disruptions and the implications of these processes in PLCs, emphasizing their clinical relevance and value in early diagnosis and prognosis and as putative therapeutic targets. We also describe system biology approaches able to reconstruct the metabolic complexity of liver diseases. We also discuss whether metabolic rearrangements are a cause or consequence of PLCs, emphasizing the opportunity to clinically exploit the rewired metabolism. In line with this idea, we discuss circulating metabolites as promising biomarkers for PLCs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Letizia Satriano
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre (BRIC) Department of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Monika Lewinska
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre (BRIC) Department of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Pedro M Rodrigues
- Biodonostia Health Research Institute, Donostia University Hospital, San Sebastian, Spain
| | - Jesus M Banales
- Biodonostia Health Research Institute, Donostia University Hospital, San Sebastian, Spain.,National Institute for the Study of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases (CIBERehd), Carlos III National Institute of Health, Madrid, Spain.,IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain
| | - Jesper B Andersen
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre (BRIC) Department of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Liu X, Hu J, Song X, Utpatel K, Zhang Y, Wang P, Lu X, Zhang J, Xu M, Su T, Che L, Wang J, Evert M, Calvisi DF, Chen X. Combined Treatment with MEK and mTOR Inhibitors is Effective in In Vitro and In Vivo Models of Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11070930. [PMID: 31277283 PMCID: PMC6679026 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11070930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2019] [Revised: 06/25/2019] [Accepted: 06/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver cancer histotype, characterized by high biological aggressiveness and scarce treatment options. Recently, we have established a clinically relevant murine HCC model by co-expressing activated forms of v-akt murine thymoma viral oncogene homolog (AKT) and oncogene c-mesenchymal-epithelial transition (c-Met) proto-oncogenes in the mouse liver via hydrodynamic tail vein injection (AKT/c-MET mice). Tumor cells from these mice demonstrated high activity of the AKT/ mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and Ras/ Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling cascades, two pathways frequently co-induced in human HCC. Methods: Here, we investigated the therapeutic efficacy of sorafenib, regorafenib, the MEK inhibitor PD901 as well as the pan-mTOR inhibitor MLN0128 in the AKT/c-Met preclinical HCC model. Results: In these mice, neither sorafenib nor regorafenib demonstrated any efficacy. In contrast, administration of PD901 inhibited cell cycle progression of HCC cells in vitro. Combined PD901 and MLN0128 administration resulted in a pronounced growth constraint of HCC cell lines. In vivo, treatment with PD901 or MLN0128 alone moderately slowed HCC growth in AKT/c-MET mice. Importantly, the simultaneous administration of the two drugs led to a stable disease with limited tumor progression in mice. Mechanistically, combined mitogen-activated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MEK) and mTOR inhibition resulted in a stronger cell cycle inhibition and growth arrest both in vitro and in vivo. Conclusions: Our study indicates that combination of MEK and mTOR inhibitors might represent an effective therapeutic approach against human HCC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xianqiong Liu
- Pharmacy Faculty, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine Wuhan, Wuhan 430065, China
| | - Junjie Hu
- Pharmacy Faculty, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine Wuhan, Wuhan 430065, China
| | - Xinhua Song
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences and Liver Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
| | - Kirsten Utpatel
- Institute of Pathology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg 93053, Germany
| | - Yi Zhang
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences and Liver Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
| | - Pan Wang
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences and Liver Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition and Human Health, College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Xinjun Lu
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences and Liver Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Department of Hepatic Surgery, the First Aliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, No. 58 Zhongshan 2nd Road, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Jie Zhang
- Department of Thoracic Oncology II, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing 100142, China
| | - Meng Xu
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences and Liver Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Department of General Surgery, the Second Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, China
| | - Tao Su
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences and Liver Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Li Che
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences and Liver Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Jingxiao Wang
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences and Liver Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Matthias Evert
- Institute of Pathology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg 93053, Germany
| | - Diego F Calvisi
- Institute of Pathology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg 93053, Germany
| | - Xin Chen
- Pharmacy Faculty, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine Wuhan, Wuhan 430065, China.
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences and Liver Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
The Role of AMP-Activated Protein Kinase as a Potential Target of Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11050647. [PMID: 31083406 PMCID: PMC6562911 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11050647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2019] [Revised: 05/06/2019] [Accepted: 05/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most frequent cancer worldwide with a very high recurrence rate and very dismal prognosis. Diagnosis and treatment in HCC remain difficult, and the identification of new therapeutic targets is necessary for a better outcome of HCC treatment. AMP-Activated Protein Kinase (AMPK) is an essential intracellular energy sensor that plays multiple roles in cellular physiology and the pathological development of chronic diseases. Recent studies have highlighted the important regulation of AMPK in HCC. This review aims to comprehensively and critically summarize the role of AMPK in HCC. Methods: Original studies were retrieved from NCBI database with keywords including AMPK and HCC, which were analyzed with extensive reading. Results: Dysregulation of the kinase activity and expression of AMPK was observed in HCC, which was correlated with survival of the patients. Loss of AMPK in HCC cells may proceed cell cycle progression, proliferation, survival, migration, and invasion through different oncogenic molecules and pathways. Conclusions: We identified several AMPK activators which may possess potential anti-HCC function, and discussed the clinical perspective on the use of AMPK activators for HCC therapy.
Collapse
|