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Li H, Liu Y, Jiang W, Xue J, Cheng Y, Wang J, Yang R, Zhang X. Icaritin promotes apoptosis and inhibits proliferation by down-regulating AFP gene expression in hepatocellular carcinoma. BMC Cancer 2021; 21:318. [PMID: 33765973 PMCID: PMC7992931 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-021-08043-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2020] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Icaritin, an active ingredient of the Chinese herb Epimedium, plays an anti-tumor role in liver cancer by inhibiting the proliferation of hepatocellular cells and promoting their apoptosis. In China, phase II and a large phase III clinical trial of icaritin reagent for the treatment of hepatocellular cancer is under-going, but the specific mechanism of icaritin action was unclear. Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), an oncofetal protein, produced in the healthy fetal liver and yolk sac. Intracellular AFP promoted cellular proliferation and inhibited cellular apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The study was aimed to investigate the effect of icaritin on HCC through p53/AFP pathway. Methods Real-time RT PCR and western blot were used to detect p53 and AFP expression levels in HCC cells treated with icaritin. The mechanism of icaritin affecting p53 expression was verified by ubiquitination experiment, and the binding activity of icaritin on p53 in AFP promoter region was verified by luciferase experiment. EdU, MTT and flow cytometry were used to determine whether icaritin affected HCC cellular proliferation and apoptosis through p53/ AFP pathway. Expression levels of p53 and AFP in xenograft mouse model were determined by western blotting. Results Our results showed icaritin inhibited AFP expression at mRNA and protein level. AFP was also identified as the target gene of the p53 transcription factor. Icaritin abrogated murine double minute (Mdm) 2-mediated p53 ubiquitination degradation to improve the stability of p53. Up-regulated p53 protein levels then transcriptionally inhibited the AFP promoter. Icaritin-mediated decrease of AFP through Mdm2/p53 pathways inhibited HCC cellular proliferation and promoted HCC cellular apoptosis. Conclusion Our findings revealed the mechanism of icaritin in promoting apoptosis and inhibiting proliferation in liver cancer cells. The regulatory mechanism of icaritin in AFP protein down-regulation provides a theoretical and experimental basis for further research into new drugs for the treatment of liver cancer. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12885-021-08043-9.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing Key Laboratory of Protein Posttranslational Modifications and Cell Function, Peking University Health Science Center, 100191, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yujuan Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing Key Laboratory of Protein Posttranslational Modifications and Cell Function, Peking University Health Science Center, 100191, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Jiang
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing Key Laboratory of Protein Posttranslational Modifications and Cell Function, Peking University Health Science Center, 100191, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Junhui Xue
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing Key Laboratory of Protein Posttranslational Modifications and Cell Function, Peking University Health Science Center, 100191, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuning Cheng
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing Key Laboratory of Protein Posttranslational Modifications and Cell Function, Peking University Health Science Center, 100191, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiyin Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing Key Laboratory of Protein Posttranslational Modifications and Cell Function, Peking University Health Science Center, 100191, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Ruixiang Yang
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing Key Laboratory of Protein Posttranslational Modifications and Cell Function, Peking University Health Science Center, 100191, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaowei Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing Key Laboratory of Protein Posttranslational Modifications and Cell Function, Peking University Health Science Center, 100191, Beijing, People's Republic of China
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Hepatocellular carcinoma-targeting oncolytic adenovirus overcomes hypoxic tumor microenvironment and effectively disperses through both central and peripheral tumor regions. Sci Rep 2018; 8:2233. [PMID: 29396500 PMCID: PMC5797125 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-20268-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2017] [Accepted: 01/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer-specific promoter driven replication of oncolytic adenovirus (Ad) is cancer-specific, but shows low transcriptional activity. Thus, we generated several chimeric α-fetoprotein (AFP) promoter variants, containing reconstituted enhancer and silencer regions, to preferentially drive Ad replication in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Modified AFP promoter, containing 2 enhancer A regions and a single enhancer B region (a2bm), showed strong and HCC-specific transcription. In AFP-positive HCCs, gene expression was 43- to 456-fold higher than those of control AFP promoter lacking enhancers. a2bm promoter was further modified by inserting multiple hypoxia-responsive elements (HRE) to generate Ha2bm promoter, which showed stronger transcriptional activity than a2bm promoter under hypoxic conditions. Ha2bm promoter-regulated oncolytic Ad (Ha2bm-d19) showed a stronger antitumor and proapoptotic effect than did a2bm promoter-regulated oncolytic Ad (a2bm-d19) in HCC xenograft tumors. Systemically administered Ha2bm-d19 caused no observable hepatotoxicity, whereas control replication-competent Ad, lacking cancer specificity (d19), induced significant hepatic damage. Ha2bm-d19 caused significantly lower expression of interleukin-6 than d19, showing that HCC-targeted delivery of Ad attenuates induction of the innate immune response against Ad. This chimeric AFP promoter enabled Ad to overcome the hypoxic tumor microenvironment and target HCC with high specificity, rendering it a promising candidate for the treatment of aggressive HCCs.
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TGF- β Signaling Cooperates with AT Motif-Binding Factor-1 for Repression of the α -Fetoprotein Promoter. JOURNAL OF SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION 2014; 2014:970346. [PMID: 25105025 PMCID: PMC4106063 DOI: 10.1155/2014/970346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2014] [Accepted: 05/23/2014] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
α-Fetoprotein (AFP) is known to be highly produced in fetal liver despite its barely detectable level in normal adult liver. On the other hand, hepatocellular carcinoma often shows high expression of AFP. Thus, AFP seems to be an oncogenic marker. In our present study, we investigated how TGF-β signaling cooperates with AT motif-binding factor-1 (ATBF1) to inhibit AFP transcription. Indeed, the expression of AFP mRNA in HuH-7 cells was negatively regulated by TGF-β signaling. To further understand how TGF-β suppresses the transcription of the AFP gene, we analyzed the activity of the AFP promoter in the presence of TGF-β. We found that the TGF-β signaling and ATBF1 suppressed AFP transcription through two ATBF1 binding elements (AT-motifs). Using a heterologous reporter system, both AT-motifs were required for transcriptional repression upon TGF-β stimulation. Furthermore, Smads were found to interact with ATBF1 at both its N-terminal and C-terminal regions. Since the N-terminal (ATBF1N) and C-terminal regions of ATBF1 (ATBF1C) lack the ability of DNA binding, both truncated mutants rescued the cooperative inhibitory action by the TGF-β signaling and ATBF1 in a dose-dependent manner. Taken together, these findings indicate that TGF-β signaling can act in concert with ATBF1 to suppress the activity of the AFP promoter through direct interaction of ATBF1 with Smads.
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Ma XJ, Huang R, Kuang AR. AFP promoter enhancer increased specific expression of the human sodium iodide symporter (hNIS) for targeted radioiodine therapy of hepatocellular carcinoma. Cancer Invest 2009; 27:673-81. [PMID: 19241193 DOI: 10.1080/07357900802620885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
The sodium iodide symporter (NIS) present in the membranes of thyroid cells is responsible for the capacity of the thyroid to concentrate iodide. This allows treatment of thyroid cancers with (131)I. We propose to enlarge the therapeutic strategy to hepatocellular carcinomas by using hepatoma-specific promoter and enhancer for targeted radiotherapy. We constructed a recombinant adenovirus encoding hNIS gene under the control of AFP promoter and enhancer (AdPLEN). After being infected with AdPLEN, HepG2 cells (high AFP-expression hepatoma cells) showed 6 times greater perchlorate-sensitive (125)I uptake than did SMMC7721 cells (low/no AFP-expression hepatoma cells), 30 times higher than Hela (human cervix tumor cells), and noninfected HepG2 cells. These results demonstrate that the AdPLEN vector can function in high AFP expression hepatoma cells. In addition, AdPLEN-infected tumor cells were selectively killed by exposure to (131)I, as revealed by clonogenic assays. To assess the efficiency of this target gene therapy strategy in vivo, we injected the AdPLEN vector in human tumors (HepG2 cells) established in nude mice. Western blotting analysis confirmed the expression of the NIS protein in the tumor. Two days after intratumoral injection, AdPLEN-treated tumors could specifically accumulate (131)I, as revealed by imaging experiments. Altogether, these data indicate that AdPLEN is very efficient in triggering and enlarging significant iodide uptake by hepatocellular carcinomas, outlining the potential of this novel cancer gene therapy approach for a targeted radiotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Juan Ma
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
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Xiong A, Austin TW, Lagasse E, Uchida N, Tamaki S, Bordier BB, Weissman IL, Glenn JS, Millan MT. Isolation of human fetal liver progenitors and their enhanced proliferation by three-dimensional coculture with endothelial cells. Tissue Eng Part A 2009. [PMID: 19230124 DOI: 10.1089/tea.2007.0087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Liver progenitor cells, characterized by the coexpression of biliary and hepatocyte lineage markers and the ability to form colonies in culture, were isolated by flow cytometry from primary human fetal livers. These prospectively isolated liver progenitor cells supported hepatitis D virus infection, expressed, and produced albumin and alpha-fetoprotein, as tracked by albumin- and alpha-fetoprotein-driven lentiviral promoter reporter constructs and measured by ELISA, respectively. Coculture in three-dimensional (3D) fibrin gel with endothelial cells resulted in the formation of vascular structures by the endothelial cells and increased proliferation of liver progenitors. The enhanced proliferation of liver progenitors that was observed when liver progenitors and endothelial cells were cultured in direct contact was not achieved when liver progenitors and endothelial cells were cultured on adjacent but separate matrices and when they were cultured across transwell membranes. In conclusion, coculture of liver progenitors and endothelial cells in three-dimensional matrix resulted in enhanced liver progenitor proliferation and function. This coculture methodology offers a novel coculture system that could be applied for the development of engineered liver tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anming Xiong
- Department of Surgery, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
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Yano H, Basaki Y, Oie S, Ogasawara S, Momosaki S, Akiba J, Nishida N, Kojiro S, Ishizaki H, Moriya F, Kuratomi K, Fukahori S, Kuwano M, Kojiro M. Effects of IFN-alpha on alpha-fetoprotein expressions in hepatocellular carcinoma cells. J Interferon Cytokine Res 2007; 27:231-8. [PMID: 17348822 DOI: 10.1089/jir.2006.0135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
We investigated the effects of pegylated (PEG)-IFN-alpha2b on alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) expression as demonstrated by protein and mRNA levels in six human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines. The number of KIM-1 cells in culture with PEG-IFN-alpha2b decreased between 24 amd 240 h, whereas the levels of intracellular and secreted AFP per cellular protein increased (except at 192 h), with levels 1.9-fold and 2.9-fold higher at maximum, respectively, than cells without PEG-IFN-alpha2b (control). The mRNA level increased between 72 and 192 h, when the level was 3-fold higher than that of the control. In the 72-h culture with 40-5000 IU/mL PEG-IFN-alpha2b, there were dose-dependent increases in AFP protein and mRNA expression and dose-dependent decrease in cell number resulting from apoptosis and blockage of the cell cycle at the S-phase. The rate of fucosylated AFP in the cell lysate decreased in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner. In the PEG-IFN-alpha2b culture of the other five HCC cell lines, cell proliferation was suppressed, but the expressions of AFP protein and mRNA increased in only two cell lines, and suppression of cell proliferation was not related to the increase in AFP expressions. Our findings demonstrated that PEG-IFN-alpha2b induces an increase in AFP expression at both the protein and mRNA levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hirohisa Yano
- Department of Pathology, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Japan.
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Li HM, Ikeda H, Nakabayashi H, Nishi S, Sakai M. Identification of CCAAT enhancer binding protein α binding sites on the human α-fetoprotein gene. Gene 2007; 389:128-35. [PMID: 17188819 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2006.10.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2006] [Revised: 10/11/2006] [Accepted: 10/25/2006] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Development- and tissue-specific alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) gene expression is controlled by various transcription factors including hepatocyte nuclear factors (HNFs), and a number of cis-acting elements. We recently identified multiple CCAAT/enhancer binding protein (C/EBP) binding sites in the enhancer of the human AFP gene. In this study, we have identified and functionally characterized seven C/EBPalpha-binding sites in the promoter and enhancer regions. An electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) and DNase I footprinting analysis identified two and five C/EBPalpha-binding sites located in the promoter and enhancer regions, respectively. Chromatin immunoprecipitation analyses showed that C/EBPalpha binds both enhancer and promoter regions of the AFP gene in human AFP-producing hepatoma and stomach cancer cells, but not in non-AFP-producing cells. Reporter transfection assays showed that transcription was stimulated by C/EBPalpha binding to each of the elements. These results indicate that C/EBPalpha regulates AFP gene expression through direct binding to multiple sites in the human AFP gene in cultured human cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Mei Li
- Department of Biochemistry, Hokkaido Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
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Abstract
PURPOSE Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is generally considered as a sex hormone-dependent tumor, and hormonal therapy has been proposed as a strategy for the treatment of HCC. The aim of the study is to investigate the effect of megestrol acetate, a synthetic progesteronal agent, on growth of HepG2 cells in vitro and in vivo. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Cell growth in vitro was assessed by a colormetric method, and cell growth in vivo was assessed by tumor volumetrics. RESULTS Megestrol acetate was shown to inhibit the growth of HepG2 cells in vitro in dose- and time-dependent manners with an IC (50) of 260 microm (24-h incubation). The growth of HepG2 cell-transplanted tumors in nude mice was also inhibited by i.p. injection of megestrol acetate (10 mg/kg/day). The tumor volumes of the megestrol acetate-treated group regressed to 59% of controls by week 6 and to 41% of controls by week 13. Apoptosis following G(1) arrest was observed in megestrol acetate-treated cells and may be a mechanism through which megestrol acetate inhibits HepG2 cells. Megestrol acetate was also demonstrated to have a beneficial effect on the weight gain of tumor-bearing nude mice, and the mean weight of the megestrol acetate-treated animals was higher than that of controls from week 4 of the treatment period, and the differences were statistically significant in week 5 and 6 (P < 0.05, compared with controls). No significant survival advantage was, however, demonstrated in the treatment group. CONCLUSIONS This study showed that megestrol acetate inhibited the growth of HepG2 cells grown in vitro and in vivo. These data provide useful information for clinical study of megestrol acetate for the treatment of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Zhang
- Department of Experimental Surgery and Department of General Surgery, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.
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Zhang Z, Yamashita H, Toyama T, Sugiura H, Ando Y, Mita K, Hamaguchi M, Kawaguchi M, Miura Y, Iwase H. ATBF1-A Messenger RNA Expression Is Correlated with Better Prognosis in Breast Cancer. Clin Cancer Res 2005. [DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.193.11.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Purpose: The AT motif-binding factor 1 (ATBF1) gene was first identified as a suppressor of the α-fetoprotein (AFP) gene through its binding to an AT-rich enhancer element of this gene. The gene is located at chromosome 16q22.3-q23.1 where loss of heterozygosity has been observed in various malignant tumors, especially in breast cancer. It was also found that in highly malignant AFP-producing gastric cancer cells the expression of AFP is inhibited by ATBF1-A. This led us to hypothesize that there was a link between levels of ATBF1 expression and the metastatic potential of breast cancer and also, therefore, the prognosis of these patients.
Experimental Design: In the present study, the level of ATBF1-A mRNA expression was analyzed using quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase-PCR, in 153 female patients with invasive carcinoma of the breast. ATBF1-A protein expression was also determined by immunohistochemistry from available 90 cases of paired tissues. An association was sought between ATBF1-A expression and various clinicopathologic factors.
Results: ATBF1-A mRNA was expressed at significantly higher levels in breast cancer patients with no axillary lymph node involvement, with small tumors measuring <2 cm and in estrogen receptor-α–positive tumors. By contrast, no relationship was found between ATBF1-A mRNA expression and ATBF1-A protein expression, and also no relationship was found between ATBF1-A protein expression and any of the other clinicopathologic factors. Patients expressing high levels of ATBF1-A mRNA tended to have a better prognosis than those expressing low levels. Univariate and multivariate prognostic analyses showed that ATBF1-A mRNA expression is an independent prognostic factor for disease-free survival.
Conclusions: In breast cancer, levels of ATBF1-A mRNA may serve as a predictive indicator of lymph node metastasis. The results of this study also imply that ATBF1-A gene expression may have potential both as a marker of endocrine responsiveness and also as a prognostic indicator for breast cancer progression.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Keiko Mita
- 1Breast and Endocrine Surgery and Departments of
| | | | - Makoto Kawaguchi
- 3Department of Pathology, Niigata Rosai Hospital, Japan Labor Health and Welfare Organization, Niigata, Japan
| | - Yutaka Miura
- 2Bioregulation Research, Nagoya City University Medical School, Nagoya, Japan and
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Selective and enhanced transgene expression in hepatocellular carcinoma cells by asialofetuin-labelled liposomes and AFP promoter. J Drug Deliv Sci Technol 2005. [DOI: 10.1016/s1773-2247(05)50031-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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Nakabayashi H, Koyama Y, Suzuki H, Li HM, Sakai M, Miura Y, Wong NCW, Nishi S. Functional mapping of tissue-specific elements of the human alpha-fetoprotein gene enhancer. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2004; 318:773-85. [PMID: 15144905 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2004.04.096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2004] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients and expression of the protein in cultured HCC cell lines are highly variable. These observations may arise from features correlated with tissue-specific expression of the gene. Extremely strong and potent liver-specific enhancer activity is confined from -4.1 to -3.3 kb upstream to the human AFP gene in contrast with that of the rodent which exists in three widely separated regions. To understand the tissue-specific expression of AFP, we examined cis-acting elements in the enhancer. Results revealed binding sites for selected liver-enriched transcription factors (LETFs) in both domains A (-4120 to -3756 bp) and B (-3492 to -3300 bp) of the gene. These sites included: one hepatocyte nuclear factor (HNF)-1 and HNF-4, two HNF-3, and two C/EBP binding sites in domain A. An adjacent domain B contained one HNF-3 site and three C/EBP sites plus a previously identified HNF-1 site. Each of these elements alone has the ability to stimulate heterogeneous promoter activity in a dose-dependent manner when transfected into AFP producing cells. A comparative study showed that the presence of two HNF-1 and one HNF-4 site is a characteristic feature of human but not rodent AFP enhancer. The mRNA levels of the liver-enriched transcription factors (LETFs) were variable in individual HCC cell lines and together with silencer activities may underlie differential expression of the AFP gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hidekazu Nakabayashi
- Department of Biochemistry, Hokkaido University School of Medicine, Sapporo 060-8638, Japan.
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Lu SY, Sui YF, Li ZS, Pan CE, Ye J, Wang WY. Construction of a regulable gene therapy vector targeting for hepatocellular carcinoma. World J Gastroenterol 2003; 9:688-91. [PMID: 12679911 PMCID: PMC4611429 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v9.i4.688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM: To construct a gene modified hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) specific EGFP expression vector regulated by abbreviated cis-acting element of AFP gene.
METHODS: The minimal essential DNA segments of AFP gene enhancer and promoter were synthesized through PCR from Genome DNA of HepG2 cells. Gene fragments were then cloned into the multiple cloning site of non-promoter EGFP vector pEGFP-1. Recombinant plasmid was transferred into positive or negative AFP cell lines by means of lipofectamine. The expression of EGFP was tested by fluorescence microscope and flow cytometry. The effect of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) on the expression of EGFP was tested in different concentrations.
RESULTS: By the methods of restriction digestion and sequence analyses we confirmed that the length, position and orientation of inserted genes of cis-acting element of AFP were all correct. The transcription of EGFP was under the control of AFP cis-acting element. The expressing EGFP can only been detected in AFP producing hepatoma cells. The expression rate of EGFP in G418 screened cell line was 34.9% ± 4.1%. 48 h after adding 1 × 10-7 M retinoic acid, EGFP expression rate was 14.7% ± 3.5%. The activity of AFP gene promoter was significantly suppressed by addition of 1 × 10-7 M retinoic acid (P < 0.05, P = 0.003, t = 6.488).
CONCLUSION: This recombinant expression vector can be used as a gene therapy vector for HCC. The expression of tumor killing gene will be confined within the site of tumor and the activity of which can be regulated by retinoic acid.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shao-Ying Lu
- Department of Pathology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, China
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Abstract
Although resection is currently the only curative approach for metastatic liver cancer, only a small number of cases are suitable for this procedure. In the past few years, gene therapy has emerged as an appealing treatment option for liver cancer. Phase I and II clinical trials have been conducted in patients with either primary or secondary liver cancer using a variety of genes including tumor-suppressor gene p53, suicide genes, immune genes, and replication-competent oncolytic adenoviruses. The results have shown that, although gene therapy has been well tolerated and toxicity has been low, the clinical benefit has so far been marginal. Gene therapy as a definitive treatment for liver metastases remains limited, at least for the time being, but it may be useful as an adjuvant treatment in combination with radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and/or surgery to achieve disease-free survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roman Havlik
- Liver Surgery Section, Department of Surgical Oncology and Technology, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, London, UK
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Ninomiya T, Mihara K, Fushimi K, Hayashi Y, Hashimoto-Tamaoki T, Tamaoki T. Regulation of the alpha-fetoprotein gene by the isoforms of ATBF1 transcription factor in human hepatoma. Hepatology 2002; 35:82-7. [PMID: 11786962 DOI: 10.1053/jhep.2002.30420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/07/2022]
Abstract
We investigated mechanisms regulating expression of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in 3 human hepatoma cell lines, HuH-7, HepG2, and huH-1, producing high, medium, and low levels of AFP, respectively. The silencer, a negative cis-acting element of the AFP gene, was highly activated in huH-1 and HepG2 to repress AFP enhancer activity by 91%, whereas only 26% repression was observed in HuH-7. To account for the difference in AFP production between HepG2 and huH-1, we investigated the roles of two isoforms of the AT motif-binding factor 1 (ATBF1) transcription factor, ATBF1-A and -B. Cotransfection assays showed that the ATBF1 isoforms regulated the AFP gene differently in HepG2 and huH-1. In huH-1 and HuH-7, both ATBF1 isoforms suppressed strongly enhancer activity and slightly promoter activity. In HepG2, on the other hand, ATBF1-A suppressed the enhancer and promoter activities, but surprisingly, ATBF1-B was found to stimulate enhancer activity while showing no effect on the promoter. Levels of ATBF1-A mRNA were similar in all 3 cell lines, whereas the expression ATBF1-B mRNA varied greatly, with the highest level seen in HepG2 followed by huH-1 and HuH-7. These results suggest that, in HepG2, ATBF1-B may have a dominant negative effect to relieve the transcriptional repression caused by its isoform. In support of this view, we found that the N-terminal region specific to the ATBF1-A molecule possessed transcriptional repressor activity. Thus, the use of the ATBF1 variants as well as the silencer may provide a unique mechanism that contributes to the determination of AFP levels in human hepatoma cell lines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toshiaki Ninomiya
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
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Nakabayashi H, Koyama Y, Sakai M, Li HM, Wong NC, Nishi S. Glucocorticoid stimulates primate but inhibits rodent alpha-fetoprotein gene promoter. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2001; 287:160-72. [PMID: 11549270 DOI: 10.1006/bbrc.2001.5564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Glucocorticoids inhibit rodent alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) gene activity but stimulate expression of the human homologue. Like human, activity of the AFP promoter from other primates was stimulated by the synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone (Dex) in various cell lines. A glucocorticoid responsive element (GRE) is located within 180 bp upstream of the transcription initiation site of all AFP genes examined. Comparative analysis of the GRE in the two different groups of promoters revealed a common 3' hexamer, 5'-TGTCCT-3', but the 5' hexamers were different. This difference converts the rodent GRE to a DR-1 motif. DR-1 is a binding site for members of the nuclear receptor superfamily including the orphan receptor hepatocyte nuclear factor-4 (HNF-4). The presence of DR-1 in the rodent but not human may underlie the opposite actions of Dex on the AFP promoter. We tested this hypothesis using a transient transfection assay. In hepatoma cells that expressed GR and HNF-4, reporter-activity was inhibited by Dex. The same construct in nonhepatoma cells was strongly induced by over expression of HNF-4 and the induced activity was inhibited by Dex. The findings show that Dex induction of human AFP is mediated by a GRE. But Dex repression of the rodent promoter requires a DR-1 motif that interacts with GR and HNF-4.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Nakabayashi
- Department of Biochemistry, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, N15 W7, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-8638, Japan.
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Cao G, Kuriyama S, Gao J, Nakatani T, Chen Q, Yoshiji H, Zhao L, Kojima H, Dong Y, Fukui H, Hou J. Gene therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma based on tumour-selective suicide gene expression using the alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) enhancer and a housekeeping gene promoter. Eur J Cancer 2001; 37:140-7. [PMID: 11165141 DOI: 10.1016/s0959-8049(00)00344-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to examine whether the human alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) enhancer could be used to induce hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)-selective expression of the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSV-tk) gene which is under the control of the phosphoglycerate kinase (pgk) promotor. The human AFP enhancer was linked with the non-tissue-specific, human housekeeping pgk promoter in a retroviral vector. AFP-producing HCC cells infected with retroviruses carrying the HSV-tk gene under the control of the AFP enhancer/pgk promoter were much more susceptible to the prodrug, ganciclovir (GCV), than those infected with the same retroviruses without the AFP enhancer. Non-HCC cells infected with retroviruses carrying the HSV-tk gene under the control of the AFP enhancer/pgk promoter exhibited profoundly increased resistance to GCV compared with those infected with the same retroviruses without the AFP enhancer. Northern blot analysis revealed that the AFP enhancer caused enhanced HSV-tk expression in AFP-producing HCC cells and suppressed HSV-tk expression in non-HCC cells. Our results indicate that the AFP enhancer could give HCC selectivity to the pgk promoter, and that this novel strategy may be useful for HCC-selective cancer gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Cao
- Department of Microbiology, Second Military Medical University, 800 Xiang Yin Road, Shanghai 200433, China
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17
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Tamaoki T. Human alpha-fetoprotein transcriptional regulatory sequences. Application to gene therapy. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2000; 465:47-56. [PMID: 10810614 DOI: 10.1007/0-306-46817-4_5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The AFP regulatory sequences are among the best known tumor-specific transcriptional regulators. A number of groups have demonstrated that a variety of genes can be expressed in an HCC-specific manner under the control of the AFP regulatory sequences in vitro and in vivo. It would appear that, with the development of a suitable delivery system, HCC-directed gene therapy using the AFP regulatory sequences holds a promising future.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Tamaoki
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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18
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Mitry RR, Mansour MR, Havlík R, Habib NA. Gene therapy for liver tumours. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2000; 465:193-205. [PMID: 10810627 DOI: 10.1007/0-306-46817-4_18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- R R Mitry
- Liver Surgery Section, Imperial College School of Medicine, London, United Kingdom
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Cao G, Kuriyama S, Tsujinoue H, Chen Q, Mitoro A, Qi Z. A novel approach for inducing enhanced and selective transgene expression in hepatocellular-carcinoma cells. Int J Cancer 2000. [DOI: 10.1002/1097-0215(20000715)87:2<247::aid-ijc16>3.0.co;2-c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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20
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Miyoshi E, Noda K, Yamaguchi Y, Inoue S, Ikeda Y, Wang W, Ko JH, Uozumi N, Li W, Taniguchi N. The alpha1-6-fucosyltransferase gene and its biological significance. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA 1999; 1473:9-20. [PMID: 10580126 DOI: 10.1016/s0304-4165(99)00166-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 166] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
GDP-L-Fuc:N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminide alpha1-6-fucosyltransferase (alpha1-6FucT) catalyzes the transfer of fucose from GDP-Fuc to N-linked type complex glycoproteins. This enzyme was purified from a human fibroblast cell line, porcine brain, a human gastric cancer cell line and human blood platelets. cDNA cloning of porcine and human alpha1-6FucT was performed from a porcine brain and gastric cancer cell cDNA libraries, respectively. Their homology is 92.2% at the nucleotide level and 95.7% at the amino acid level. No putative N-glycosylation sites were found in the predicted amino acid sequence. No homology to other fucosyltransferases such as alpha1-2FucT, alpha1-3FucT and alpha1-4FucT was found except for a region consisting of nine amino acids. The alpha1-6FucT gene is located at chromosome 14q24.3, which is also a different location from other fucosyltransferases reported to date. The alpha1-6FucT gene is the oldest gene family in the phylogenic trees among the nine cloned fucosyltransferase genes. alpha1-6FucT is widely expressed in various rat tissues and the expression of alpha1-6FucT in the liver is enhanced during hepatocarcinogenesis of LEC rats which develop hereditary hepatitis and hepatomas. In cases of human liver diseases, alpha1-6FucT is expressed in both hepatoma tissues and their surrounding tissues with chronic liver disease, but not in the case of normal liver. Serum alpha1-6-fucosylated alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) has been employed for an early diagnosis of patients with hepatoma. The mechanisms by which alpha1-6 fucosylation of AFP occurs in the hepatoma is not due to the up-regulation of alpha1-6FucT alone. Interestingly, when the alpha1-6FucT gene is transfected into Hep3B, a human hepatoma cell line, tumor formation in the liver of nude mice after splenic injection is dramatically suppressed. In this review, we focus on alpha1-6FucT and summarize its properties, gene expression and biological significance.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Miyoshi
- Department of Biochemistry, Osaka University Medical School, Room B-1, 2-2 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, Japan
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21
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Nakamura T, Fox-Robichaud A, Kikkawa R, Kashiwagi A, Kojima H, Fujimiya M, Wong NC. Transcription factors and age-related decline in apolipoprotein A-I expression. J Lipid Res 1999. [DOI: 10.1016/s0022-2275(20)33418-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
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22
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Mazume H, Nakata K, Hida D, Hamasaki K, Tsuruta S, Nakao K, Kato Y, Eguchi K. Effect of simvastatin, a 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitor, on alpha-fetoprotein gene expression through interaction with the ras-mediated pathway. J Hepatol 1999; 30:904-10. [PMID: 10365819 DOI: 10.1016/s0168-8278(99)80146-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS The ras proto-oncogene encodes a small GTP-binding protein (Ras) which regulates cell growth and differentiation by relaying signals from the cell surface to the nucleus. In the present study, the role of Ras signal transduction pathway in alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) gene expression was evaluated in HuH-7 human hepatoma cells using simvastatin, a 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitor, which blocks Ras function through inhibition of farnesylation, and the ras(val-12) expression vector. METHODS The HuH-7 cells were treated with simvastatin (10 micromol/l), or both simvastatin and mevalonate (300 micromol/l), and numbers of viable cells were counted after treatment. To elucidate the effects of simvastatin on AFP gene expression and the interactive effect of simvastatin on Ras signal transduction pathway, Northern blotting and transient chloramphenicol acetyltransferase plasmid transfection assays were performed. RESULTS Cell growth was inhibited by simvastatin, and this growth inhibition was restored by addition of mevalonate. Levels of AFP mRNA but not albumin mRNA were elevated by simvastatin in a dose-dependent manner (1-10 micromol/l). AFP promoter and enhancer activities were stimulated by simvastatin. In contrast, both activities were repressed by transfection with the ras(val-12) expression vector. The ras(val-12)-mediated repression was restored by simvastatin and returned to the repressed level by simvastatin plus mevalonate. CONCLUSIONS These results indicate that the Ras signal transduction pathway functions to down-regulate the AFP gene transcription in human hepatoma cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Mazume
- The First Department of Internal Medicine, Nagasaki University School of Medicine, Japan
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Chao Y, Chan WK, Wang SS, Lai KH, Chi CW, Lin CY, Chan A, Whang-Peng J, Lui WY, Lee SD. Phase II study of megestrol acetate in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. J Gastroenterol Hepatol 1997; 12:277-81. [PMID: 9195366 DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-1746.1997.tb00421.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
This is a report of a phase II study of megestrol acetate (160 mg/day, orally) in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Forty-six patients with advanced HCC were studied and tumour response, changes in appetite, bodyweight, a feeling of well-being, survival and toxicity were evaluated. Thirty-two patients were able to be evaluated for response; there were no complete responders or partial responders. Twelve patients (38%) had stable disease and seven of these patients had a minor response with a median size reduction in the tumour of 18%. Twenty patients (62%) had progressive disease. Five of 24 (21%) patients had a median reduction in alpha-fetoprotein levels of 59 ng/mL. The overall median survival was 4 months (range 1 week to 27 months). Twenty of 32 (62%) patients had an increased appetite and feeling of well-being. Fourteen of 22 (64%) patients had a median lean bodyweight gain of 5 kg (range 1-14 kg). Toxicities were minimal. Tests for glucocorticoid receptors were performed in 10 patients. Four of five patients who were positive for glucocorticoid receptors in the tumour had a stable disease and all five patients who were negative for glucocorticoid receptors had progressive disease. Megestrol acetate had no significant effect on the tumour in HCC patients. However, megestrol acetate is useful in the palliative management of HCC patients, with improvements in appetite, bodyweight and a feeling of well-being with minimal side effects. Some patients had stable disease, a minor reduction of tumour size and a prolonged survival after megestrol acetate treatment and this response may be related to the presence of glucocorticoid receptors in the HCC tumour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Chao
- Department of Medicine, Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
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24
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Ninomiya T, Hayashi Y, Saijoh K, Ohta K, Yoon S, Nakabayashi H, Tamaoki T, Kasuga M, Itoh H. Expression ratio of hepatocyte nuclear factor-1 to variant hepatocyte nuclear factor-1 in differentiation of hepatocellular carcinoma and hepatoblastoma. J Hepatol 1996; 25:445-53. [PMID: 8912143 DOI: 10.1016/s0168-8278(96)80203-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS Liver-specific protein genes have multiple cis-/trans-acting elements, but those accountable for hepatocytic differentiation are unclear. An AT-rich core sequence (AT motif) is essential as a cis-acting element for the hepatic transcription. Homologous proteins hepatocyte nuclear factor-1 (HNF-1) and variant HNF-1 (vHNF-1) bind to this motif. The ratio of HNF-1 to vHNF-1 mRNA was examined in various liver tissues with respect to their differentiation. METHODS The competitive reverse transcriptional polymerase chain reaction was employed to amplify HNF-1 and vHNF-1 mRNA simultaneously and to examine their expression ratio in total RNA extracted from frozen liver tissues of 37 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, five patients with hepatoblastoma, and 15 non-neoplastic liver tissues. RESULTS The ratio of HNF-1 to vHNF-1 mRNA was higher in well-differentiated cases than in poorly-differentiated and undifferentiated cases, except that one poorly-differentiated hepatoblastoma displayed a high ratio. Non-neoplastic liver tissues had low ratios similar to poorly-differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma, the reason for which remained unknown. However, chronic hepatitis and liver cirrhosis cases also demonstrated low ratios, and hence degenerative changes themselves displayed no obvious influence on such ratios. Thus, the gene expression of HNF-1 and vHNF-1 seemed to be differentially regulated in neoplastic and non-neoplastic hepatocytes. CONCLUSIONS These results suggested that the ratio of HNF-1 to vHNF-1 mRNA correlated with histological differentiation of HCC and hepatoblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Ninomiya
- First Department of Pathology, Kobe University School of Medicine, Japan
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25
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Taylor AH, Raymond J, Dionne JM, Romney J, Chan J, Lawless DE, Wanke IE, Wong NC. Glucocorticoid increases rat apolipoprotein A-I promoter activity. J Lipid Res 1996. [DOI: 10.1016/s0022-2275(20)37304-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
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26
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Hilliard CM, Fletcher S, Yeoh GC. Calcium phosphate transfection and cell-specific expression of heterologous genes in primary fetal rat hepatocytes. Int J Biochem Cell Biol 1996; 28:639-50. [PMID: 8673728 DOI: 10.1016/1357-2725(96)00007-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
In order to study transcriptional regulation of hepatic genes during development, a method for transfer of fusion genes to primary cultures of fetal hepatocytes was required. The aim of this study was to assess currently available transfection methods and optimize the best method for use with cultured fetal hepatocytes. The Rous sarcoma virus 5' long terminal repeat controlling transcription of the beta-galactosidase reporter gene (pRSV lac Z II) was used to assess electroporation, lipofection, DEAE-dextran and calcium phosphate transfection in cultured primary fetal hepatocytes. The success of transfection was determined by histochemical detection and quantitation of beta-galactosidase activity. Results showed that calcium phosphate transfection was optimal for fetal hepatocytes with respect to beta-galactosidase activity and cell survival. For maximum transfection of cells, 10 micrograms/ml DNA, HEPES buffered saline transfection buffer at pH 7.05 and a 24 hr expression period for the reporter gene were employed. Glycerol shock did not increase transfection efficiency significantly. The method was simplified by adding calcium chloride solution to DNA diluted in transfection buffer and the resulting co-precipitate added directly to the medium covering the cells. Transfection 24 hr after initial culture and a precipitate incubation time of 20 hr were optimal. The suitability of this method was confirmed with a liver-specific promoter controlling beta-galactosidase and chloramphenicol acetyltransferase expression. In conclusion this study shows that a modified calcium phosphate transfection method is most effective for transferring DNA to primary cultured fetal hepatocytes. It is concluded that this method is appropriate for use with fetal hepatocytes and will facilitate studies of gene regulation during liver development.
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Affiliation(s)
- C M Hilliard
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Australia
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27
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Christiansen M, Høgdall CK, Brihmer C. Alpha-fetoprotein and the acute phase response. A study using acute pelvic inflammatory disease as a model system. Clin Chim Acta 1995; 235:71-9. [PMID: 7543384 DOI: 10.1016/0009-8981(95)06002-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is used as a tumor marker for hepatomas and germ cell tumors. In healthy non-pregnant adults the serum concentration (S-AFP) is very low and we examined whether it was affected when the acute phase response was activated, using patients with acute pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) as a model system. In 70 PID patients the median S-AFP was 1.2 kIU/l (range: 0.5-5.9 kIU/l), within the normal range. S-AFP did not correlate with the clinical grade of disease nor with the serum concentrations of acute phase reactants and albumin. Thus, S-AFP is not significantly affected by activation of the acute phase response and presence of infection should not per se interfere with the use of S-AFP as a tumor marker. However, a negative correlation was found with the serum concentration of alpha-2-macroglobulin (P = 0.05), but whether this has any biological significance remains to be clarified.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Christiansen
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Statens Seruminstitut, Copenhagen, Denmark
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28
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Chi CW, Liu TY, Chiang SH, Cheng SL, Lin CY, Ho CK. Identification and Characterization of Glucocorticoid Receptors in Liver of Nude Mice. J Biomed Sci 1994; 1:224-228. [PMID: 11725030 DOI: 10.1007/bf02253306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Glucocorticoids regulate the expression of many liver-specific genes via glucocorticoid receptors. The presence of glucocorticoid receptors in liver has been reported in many mammalian species but not in nude mice. In the present study, we demonstrate the presence of specific glucocorticoid receptors in nude mouse liver. The binding of ligands to these receptors could be completely inhibited by RU486, and partially blocked by hydrocortisone and progesterone, whereas estrogen and testosterone had no effect. Hydrocortisone downregulated the level of glucocorticoid receptors in livers of nude mice and correspondingly enhanced the activities of tyrosine aminotransferase and gamma-glutamyltransferase. Our results indicate that glucocorticoid receptors in nude mouse liver are specific, fully functional, and present at levels 28.5-fold higher than in the liver of normal inbred mice. We suggest that the nude mouse is a valuable model for studies of hepatic glucocorticoid action and may provide a clue to a putative hepatic-thymic interaction. Copyright 1994 S. Karger AG, Basel
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Affiliation(s)
- C.-W. Chi
- Department of Medical Research, Veterans General Hospital-Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
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29
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Tsutsumi T, Ido A, Nakao K, Hamasaki K, Kato Y, Ohtsuru A, Nakata K, Tamaoki T, Nagataki S. Reciprocal regulation of alpha-fetoprotein and albumin gene expression by butyrate in human hepatoma cells. Gastroenterology 1994; 107:499-504. [PMID: 7518784 DOI: 10.1016/0016-5085(94)90177-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS Butyrate, a product of colonic bacterial flora, functions as an antiproliferative agent and induces cell differentiation in a variety of cell types. In the present study, the effects of butyrate on cell growth and expression of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and albumin genes in HuH-7 human hepatoma cells were investigated. METHODS The HuH-7 cells were treated with sodium butyrate (0-1 mmol/L), and numbers of viable cells were counted at 24, 48, and 72 hours after treatment. To elucidate the effects of sodium butyrate on AFP and albumin gene expression, Northern blotting and transient chloramphenicol acetyltransferase plasmid transfection experiments were performed. RESULTS Cell growth was dose dependently inhibited by sodium butyrate. By Northern blot analysis, the level of AFP messenger RNA was reduced by treatment with sodium butyrate, whereas the level of albumin messenger RNA was elevated by this treatment. In transient chloramphenicol acetyltransferase plasmid transfection experiments, sodium butyrate repressed the AFP promoter activity but did not change the AFP enhancer or silencer activities. In contrast, the albumin promoter activity was stimulated by sodium butyrate. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that butyrate leads to the reciprocal differentiating regulation of AFP and albumin gene expression at the transcriptional level in human hepatoma cells.
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MESH Headings
- Albumins/genetics
- Blotting, Northern
- Butyrates/pharmacology
- Butyric Acid
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/genetics
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/metabolism
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/pathology
- Cell Division/drug effects
- Chloramphenicol O-Acetyltransferase/genetics
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic/drug effects
- Humans
- Liver Neoplasms/genetics
- Liver Neoplasms/metabolism
- Liver Neoplasms/pathology
- Plasmids/genetics
- Promoter Regions, Genetic/drug effects
- RNA, Messenger/metabolism
- Transcription, Genetic/drug effects
- Transfection
- Tumor Cells, Cultured/drug effects
- Tumor Cells, Cultured/metabolism
- Tumor Cells, Cultured/pathology
- alpha-Fetoproteins/genetics
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Affiliation(s)
- T Tsutsumi
- First Department of Internal Medicine, Nagasaki University School of Medicine, Japan
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30
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Rabek JP, Zhang DE, Torres-Ramos CA, Papaconstantinou J. Analysis of the mechanism of glucocorticoid-mediated down regulation of the mouse alpha-fetoprotein gene. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA 1994; 1218:136-44. [PMID: 7517187 DOI: 10.1016/0167-4781(94)90002-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Regulation of alpha-fetoprotein gene expression by dexamethasone was examined in vivo and in vitro using primary mouse fetal liver cell cultures. Dexamethasone accelerates the developmental down regulation of AFP mRNA pools. However, treatment of primary fetal liver cells in culture does not reduce the AFP mRNA pool and may stabilize both AFP and albumin gene expression. These results indicate that in vivo the effect of dexamethasone may require interaction with another tissue or cell type. The mechanism of the dexamethasone mediated inhibition of AFP was examined by DNase I footprinting and transient expression assays. Two protein-binding regions of the proximal promoter (III and IV) show significant homology to the GRE consensus sequence. DNase I footprinting shows that only region IV can bind purified GR and competition with GRE oligonucleotides indicate that, using adult liver nuclear proteins, no GR is bound in either region. Nuclear protein from adrenalectomized mice show the same protection as controls. These results indicate that GR may not bind to the AFP proximal promoter in the adult. AFP promoter-CAT expression vectors were used to further examine the effect of dexamethasone on AFP expression. AFP promoter-CAT constructs were inhibited by 10(-6) M dexamethasone; while linking of an AFP enhancer to the promoter abolished the effect. We conclude that the in vitro effects on transiently expressed AFP directed expression vectors may be a function of vector structure and/or characteristics of the cells used whereas the in vivo effect may reflect normal regulatory mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- J P Rabek
- Department of Human Biological Chemistry and Genetics, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston 77555-0643
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31
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Chi CW, Chang YF, Chao TW, Chiang SH, P'eng FK, Lui WY, Liu TY. Flowcytometric analysis of the effect of berberine on the expression of glucocorticoid receptors in human hepatoma HepG2 cells. Life Sci 1994; 54:2099-107. [PMID: 7516035 DOI: 10.1016/0024-3205(94)00719-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Berberine is an alkaloid found in many plants, including the Coptis chinensis and Arcangelisia flava. Berberine has been reported to have cytostatic effect on tumor growth. Previously, we have found that the level of glucocorticoid receptors (GR) was significantly higher in hepatoma than in adjacent liver tissues. Using human HepG2 hepatoma cells, we have found that GR were expressed not only in G0-G1 phases, but also in S and G2+M phases. The objective of the present study was to examine the effect of berberine on the expression of GR and its relation to cell cycle progression of HepG2 cells. Continuous exposure of HepG2 cells to various concentrations (1-50 microM) of berberine resulted in growth inhibition in a dose dependent manner. The viability of berberine-treated HepG2 cells was greater than 90% in all treatment groups. Flowcytometric analysis of berberine-treated HepG2 cells showed that the S phase fraction was significantly reduced. GR levels were higher in berberine-treated HepG2 cells than in vehicle (DMSO)-treated cells. In addition, the secretion of alpha-fetoprotein by HepG2 cells was inhibited by berberine. Finally, the berberine induced cell growth arrest was partially reversible in HepG2 cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- C W Chi
- Department of Medical Research, Veterans General Hospital-Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
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32
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Ciliberto G, Colantuoni V, De Francesco R, De Simone V, Monaci P, Nicosia A, Ramji DP, Toniatti C, Cortese R. Transcriptional Control of Gene Expression in Hepatic Cells. Gene Expr 1993. [DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4684-6811-3_7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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33
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Tsutsumi T, Nakao K, Mitsuoka S, Hamasaki K, Tsuruta S, Shima M, Nakata K, Tamaoki T, Nagataki S. Regulation of albumin and alpha-fetoprotein gene expression by colloid osmotic pressure in human hepatoma cells. Gastroenterology 1993; 104:256-62. [PMID: 7678238 DOI: 10.1016/0016-5085(93)90860-f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Colloid osmotic pressure has been thought to regulate albumin synthesis; however, the exact mechanism remains obscure. In the present study, the effect of colloid osmotic pressure on the albumin and alpha-fetoprotein gene expression in HuH-7 human hepatoma cells was analyzed. METHODS HuH-7 cells were treated with albumin or dextran (mean mol wt, 70,000), and changes in the levels of albumin and alpha-fetoprotein messenger RNA (mRNA) were analyzed by Northern blotting. Furthermore, in transient chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) plasmid transfection experiments, effects of colloid osmotic pressure on CAT activities were studied. RESULTS By Northern blot analysis, the levels of both albumin and alpha-fetoprotein mRNA were dose-dependently suppressed by the elevation of colloid osmotic pressure and returned to pretreatment levels 48 hours after the culture medium containing dextran was replaced with a dextran-free fresh medium. In transient CAT plasmid transfection experiments, the increased level of colloid osmotic pressure resulted in the repression of both albumin and alpha-fetoprotein promoter activities. In contrast, alpha-fetoprotein enhancer activity, which possibly regulates not only alpha-fetoprotein but also albumin gene expression, was not affected by changes in colloid osmotic pressure. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that colloid osmotic pressure regulates both albumin and alpha-fetoprotein gene transcription through the modulation of their promoter activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Tsutsumi
- First Department of Internal Medicine, Nagasaki University School of Medicine, Japan
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34
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Hatano M, Nakata K, Nakao K, Tsutsumi T, Ohtsuru A, Nakamura T, Tamaoki T, Nagataki S. Hepatocyte growth factor down-regulates the alpha-fetoprotein gene expression in PLC/PRF/5 human hepatoma cells. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 1992; 189:385-91. [PMID: 1280422 DOI: 10.1016/0006-291x(92)91570-g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a potent mitogen for hepatocytes; however, in certain human hepatoma cell lines, the growth is inhibited by HGF. In the present study, the effect of HGF on the alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) gene expression was analyzed in PLC/PRF/5 human hepatoma cells. HGF did not inhibit cell proliferation, but dose-dependently suppressed AFP secretion at the concentrations of 10 ng/ml or less. By Northern blot analysis, the levels of AFP mRNA were suppressed by HGF, whereas the levels of beta-actin mRNA used as a control did not show any significant changes. In the transient chloramphenicol acetyltransferase plasmid transfection assays, the AFP promoter activity was repressed by HGF, in contrast, the AFP enhancer activity was not affected by HGF. These results suggest that the AFP gene expression is down-regulated by HGF through the suppression of its promoter activity in human hepatoma cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Hatano
- First Department of Internal Medicine, Nagasaki University School of Medicine, Japan
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35
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Hayashi Y, Chan J, Nakabayashi H, Hashimoto T, Tamaoki T. Identification and characterization of two enhancers of the human albumin gene. J Biol Chem 1992. [DOI: 10.1016/s0021-9258(18)42080-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
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36
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Nakata K, Motomura M, Nakabayashi H, Ido A, Tamaoki T. A possible mechanism of inverse developmental regulation of alpha-fetoprotein and albumin genes. Studies with epidermal growth factor and phorbol ester. J Biol Chem 1992. [DOI: 10.1016/s0021-9258(18)48434-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022] Open
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37
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Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma is not only the leading cause of male cancer death in Taiwan, but also one of the most common cancers in the world. The survival of hepatocellular carcinoma patients is very low, mainly due to the lack of effective treatments. Radiation and chemotherapies in general are not satisfactory: surgery itself is the most effective treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma but only on small resectable tumors. The overall prognosis is still poor. Previously, we have found that the level of glucocorticoid receptor and its mRNA in hepatocellular carcinoma was significantly higher than that of the adjacent liver tissue. This correlated well with the elevated serum alpha-fetoprotein levels in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Recently, a female hormone, progesterone, has been found to inhibit the expression of alpha-fetoprotein in hepatoma cells. In addition, progesterone has been used to treat a few hepatocellular carcinoma patients with promising responses. These results together with our hypothesis that the expression of alpha-fetoprotein is regulated by glucocorticoid receptor complex in proliferating hepatocellular carcinoma cells lead to the conclusion that steroid hormones and/or their antagonists may interfere with the function of glucocorticoid receptors in tumors, consequently regulate tumor growth. The potential of hormonal therapy for treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma is worthy of further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- W Y Lui
- Department of General Surgery, Veterans General Hospital-Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
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38
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Ray K, Wang XK, Zhao M, Cooke NE. The rat vitamin D binding protein (Gc-globulin) gene. Structural analysis, functional and evolutionary correlations. J Biol Chem 1991. [DOI: 10.1016/s0021-9258(18)38107-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
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39
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Abstract
Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP) is a product of specific fetal tissues and of neoplastic cells of hepatocyte or germ cell origin in adults. This protein belongs to a gene family that is phylogenetically most closely related to serum albumin. Its primary, secondary, and tertiary structural aspects appear similar to the three-domain concept proposed for the latter protein. The primary sequence of AFP departs most widely from serum albumin in the first 135 amino acid residues, with about 42% of the remaining 590 residues of the human proteins being identical. Some evidence exists that there are limited sequence differences in the AFP of a given animal species. AFP shows considerable charge heterogeneity that appears to relate mostly to its glycoid moiety. The proteins of some species such as the rat show more pronounced heterogeneities than that of humans. The variations in extent and type of glycosylations are evidenced by differences in the binding to various lectins. These interactions are being extensively explored in attempts to differentiate the sources of the protein produced by various normal and neoplastic cells and may provide valuable diagnostic methods. AFP, like serum albumin, shows relatively strong binding affinities for a variety of ligands. The most notable difference is the strong preferential binding of polyunsaturated fatty acids by AFP. This protein may play a role in transporting these substances to developing and to malignant cells. Various agents affect the synthesis of this protein both by specific fetal tissues and by neoplastic cells. Marked differences in the responses of cells, particularly those of neoplastic types, are indicative of variations in the genetic factors responsible for control of its synthesis. The subject of the genomic repression of the synthesis of AFP seen in fetal life upon maturation of the liver and the reoccurrence of synthesis upon malignant conversion of hepatocytes and of certain germ cells are of particular interest. The regulation of the closely related AFP and albumin genes is providing a powerful and attractive model to examine molecular events in the activation and inactivation of specific genes during development and in oncogenic processes. Extensive measurements of AFP during pregnancy and in the course of neoplasias, notably hepatoma, are being made to aid in following changes in such developments. Various specific physiological roles for this protein are also being proposed. One of these is its possible action in the regulation of immune processes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
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Affiliation(s)
- H F Deutsch
- Department of Physiological Chemistry, University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison 53706
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40
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Affiliation(s)
- K Taketa
- Health Research Center, Kagawa University, Takamatsu, Japan
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41
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Yamamoto R, Sakamoto T, Nishi S, Sakai M, Morinaga T, Tamaoki T. Expression of human alpha-fetoprotein in yeast. Life Sci 1990; 46:1679-86. [PMID: 1694000 DOI: 10.1016/0024-3205(90)90383-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Human alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) was expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, with a plasmid containing the cDNA sequence for human AFP fused with the rat AFP signal peptide. The recombinant AFP was purified from the yeast lysate by DEAE-cellulose and immunoaffinity chromatography. The amino acid composition and the molecular weight of the recombinant AFP were similar to those of hepatoma AFP. N-terminal amino acids sequence analysis indicated that the signal peptide had been processed. The recombinant and hepatoma AFP reacted identically in Ouchterlony immunodiffusion and radioimmunoassay tests. These observations indicated that the yeast recombinant protein had the properties of native AFP.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Yamamoto
- Department of Biochemistry, Hokkaido University School of Medicine, Japan
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42
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Dong JM, Nordloh PW, Chiu JF. The mechanism of the bidirectional regulation of the rat alpha-fetoprotein gene by glucocorticoid hormone. Mol Cell Endocrinol 1989; 66:109-14. [PMID: 2479582 DOI: 10.1016/0303-7207(89)90054-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
pAFP-CAT, a recombinant plasmid containing 5'-flanking sequence from -7 kb to +7 bp of rat alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) gene can drive the expression of the bacterial chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene in McA-RH7777 and McA-RH8994 rat hepatoma cell lines. Dexamethasone treatment suppresses pAFP-CAT expression in McA-RH7777 cells but increases its expression in McA-RH8994 cells, which mimics the dexamethasone responses of the endogenous AFP gene in both cell lines. However, dexamethasone treatment enhanced pMMTV-CAT expression in both cell lines. These data suggest that the effects of dexamethasone on AFP gene expression may be mediated by different trans-acting factors binding to the specific cis-elements of the 5'-flanking region of the rat AFP gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- J M Dong
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Vermont, Burlington 05405
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