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Trinh VQH, Lee TF, Lemoinne S, Ray KC, Ybanez MD, Tsuchida T, Carter JK, Agudo J, Brown BD, Akat KM, Friedman SL, Lee YA. Hepatic stellate cells maintain liver homeostasis through paracrine neurotrophin-3 signaling that induces hepatocyte proliferation. Sci Signal 2023; 16:eadf6696. [PMID: 37253090 PMCID: PMC10367116 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.adf6696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Organ size is maintained by the controlled proliferation of distinct cell populations. In the mouse liver, hepatocytes in the midlobular zone that are positive for cyclin D1 (CCND1) repopulate the parenchyma at a constant rate to preserve liver mass. Here, we investigated how hepatocyte proliferation is supported by hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), pericytes that are in close proximity to hepatocytes. We used T cells to ablate nearly all HSCs in the murine liver, enabling the unbiased characterization of HSC functions. In the normal liver, complete loss of HSCs persisted for up to 10 weeks and caused a gradual reduction in liver mass and in the number of CCND1+ hepatocytes. We identified neurotrophin-3 (Ntf-3) as an HSC-produced factor that induced the proliferation of midlobular hepatocytes through the activation of tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB). Treating HSC-depleted mice with Ntf-3 restored CCND1+ hepatocytes in the midlobular region and increased liver mass. These findings establish that HSCs form the mitogenic niche for midlobular hepatocytes and identify Ntf-3 as a hepatocyte growth factor.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ting-Fang Lee
- Department of Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center; Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Sara Lemoinne
- Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai; New York, NY, USA
| | - Kevin C. Ray
- Department of Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center; Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Maria D. Ybanez
- Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai; New York, NY, USA
| | - Takuma Tsuchida
- Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai; New York, NY, USA
| | - James K. Carter
- Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai; New York, NY, USA
| | - Judith Agudo
- Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, USA
| | - Brian D. Brown
- Icahn Genomics Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Precision Immunology Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kemal M. Akat
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center; Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Scott L. Friedman
- Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai; New York, NY, USA
| | - Youngmin A. Lee
- Department of Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center; Nashville, TN, USA
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Wang Q, Xu L, Wu Q, Zhang M, Zhang J. Association between the risk of hepatitis virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma and EGF polymorphism: A PRISMA-compliant updated meta-analysis. Medicine (Baltimore) 2022; 101:e31280. [PMID: 36281156 PMCID: PMC9592407 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000031280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The study aims to provide a comprehensive account of the association between the epidermal growth factor (EGF) + 61A/G polymorphism (rs4444903) and susceptibility to virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS Electronic searching of the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, Chinese Scientific Journal Database (VIP), PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase was conducted to select eligible studies. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were calculated to assess the strength of the association. RESULTS In this study, a total of 18 articles were included with 2692 cases and 5835 controls for assessing the association between rs4444903 and HCC risk. The pooled results showed that the EGF + 61A/G polymorphism was significantly associated with the risk of virus-related HCC in all genetic models. Stratified analyses were conducted based on ethnicity, study quality, source of controls, type of controls, number of cases and genotyping method. The results showed that EGF + 61A/G polymorphisms significantly affect HCC susceptibility in different stratified populations. High heterogeneity was observed across included studies, and meta-regression analysis demonstrated that race, type of controls, and study quality contribute to the observed heterogeneity. CONCLUSION This pooled analysis found that EGF + 61A/G polymorphism was significantly associated with the risk of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qinjing Wang
- Department of Geriatric Oncology, Jiangnan Hospital Affiliated to Zhejiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Xiaoshan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine), Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Lingling Xu
- Department of Pediatrics, Tongde Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Qianbo Wu
- Department of Pediatrics, Tongde Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Min Zhang
- Department of Pediatrics, Tongde Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- Department of Oncology, Jiangnan Hospital Affiliated to Zhejiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Xiaoshan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine), Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- *Correspondence: Jing Zhang, Department of Oncology, Jiangnan Hospital Affiliated to Zhejiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Xiaoshan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine), Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310016, China (e-mail: )
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3
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Mohamed AA, Hakeem GL, Babrs GM, Abolfotoh LE, Shehata NM, Maher SE, Mousa SM, Ismail AM, Ezzat D, Habib AG, Ghaith DM, Fawazy N, Khattab RA, Habib EES, El-Hassib DMA, Abd-Elsalam S, El-damasy DA. Epidermal Growth Factor rs4444903 A>G Gene Polymorphism Association with Chronic Hepatitis B Liver Disease Progression among Egyptian Children: A Multicenter Study. THE OPEN BIOMARKERS JOURNAL 2021; 11:63-68. [DOI: 10.2174/1875318302111010063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2021] [Revised: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2021] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
Background:
Polymorphisms of genes encoding the pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines can affect the clinical presentation of the infection. We aimed to assess the role of EGF gene single-nucleotide polymorphism in the outcome of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in children.
Methods:
One hundred HBV-infected children and 75 healthy matched controls were enrolled in this prospective study. Patients included 18 chronic inactive and 82 chronic active carriers. EGF rs4444903 A>G genotypes were determined using allele-specific amplification.
Results:
Significant differences regarding EGF genotypic frequency (p=0.001) in patients compared to controls (p=0.001). Eighteen percent were inactive, and 82% were active carriers. AA, AG and GG genotypic frequency were 66.7%, 33.3%, 0% and were 3.7%, 37.8% and 58.5% in the inactive and active carriers, respectively, with significant differences regarding AA, AG, GG genotypic frequency (p=0.001 for all). EGF AA, AG, GG genotypes frequency were 1.9%, 33.3%, and 64.8%, respectively, with significant differences between cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic patients regarding AA, AG, GG genotypic frequency (p=0.001 for all).
Conclusion:
Increased G allele frequency in EGF rs4444903 A > G polymorphism in HBV- Egyptian children is associated with worse outcomes.
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Cook D, Achanta S, Hoek JB, Ogunnaike BA, Vadigepalli R. Cellular network modeling and single cell gene expression analysis reveals novel hepatic stellate cell phenotypes controlling liver regeneration dynamics. BMC SYSTEMS BIOLOGY 2018; 12:86. [PMID: 30285726 PMCID: PMC6171157 DOI: 10.1186/s12918-018-0605-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2018] [Accepted: 08/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Background Recent results from single cell gene and protein regulation studies are starting to uncover the previously underappreciated fact that individual cells within a population exhibit high variability in the expression of mRNA and proteins (i.e., molecular variability). By combining cellular network modeling, and high-throughput gene expression measurements in single cells, we seek to reconcile the high molecular variability in single cells with the relatively low variability in tissue-scale gene and protein expression and the highly coordinated functional responses of tissues to physiological challenges. In this study, we focus on relating the dynamic changes in distributions of hepatic stellate cell (HSC) functional phenotypes to the tightly regulated physiological response of liver regeneration. Results We develop a mathematical model describing contributions of HSC functional phenotype populations to liver regeneration and test model predictions through isolation and transcriptional characterization of single HSCs. We identify and characterize four HSC transcriptional states contributing to liver regeneration, two of which are described for the first time in this work. We show that HSC state populations change in vivo in response to acute challenges (in this case, 70% partial hepatectomy) and chronic challenges (chronic ethanol consumption). Our results indicate that HSCs influence the dynamics of liver regeneration through steady-state tissue preconditioning prior to an acute insult and through dynamic control of cell state balances. Furthermore, our modeling approach provides a framework to understand how balances among cell states influence tissue dynamics. Conclusions Taken together, our combined modeling and experimental studies reveal novel HSC transcriptional states and indicate that baseline differences in HSC phenotypes as well as a dynamic balance of transitions between these phenotypes control liver regeneration responses. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12918-018-0605-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Cook
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA.,Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Sirisha Achanta
- Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jan B Hoek
- Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Babatunde A Ogunnaike
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| | - Rajanikanth Vadigepalli
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA. .,Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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5
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Cole BK, Feaver RE, Wamhoff BR, Dash A. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) models in drug discovery. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2017; 13:193-205. [PMID: 29190166 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2018.1410135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The progressive disease spectrum of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which includes non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), is a rapidly emerging public health crisis with no approved therapy. The diversity of various therapies under development highlights the lack of consensus around the most effective target, underscoring the need for better translatable preclinical models to study the complex progressive disease and effective therapies. Areas covered: This article reviews published literature of various mouse models of NASH used in preclinical studies, as well as complex organotypic in vitro and ex vivo liver models being developed. It discusses translational challenges associated with both kinds of models, and describes some of the studies that validate their application in NAFLD. Expert opinion: Animal models offer advantages of understanding drug distribution and effects in a whole body context, but are limited by important species differences. Human organotypic in vitro and ex vivo models with physiological relevance and translatability need to be used in a tiered manner with simpler screens. Leveraging newer technologies, like metabolomics, proteomics, and transcriptomics, and the future development of validated disease biomarkers will allow us to fully utilize the value of these models to understand disease and evaluate novel drugs in isolation or combination.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Ajit Dash
- b Early Development Safety , Genentech Inc , South San Francisco , CA , USA
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6
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Hepatic stellate cells: fibrogenic, regenerative or both? Heterogeneity and context are key. Hepatol Int 2016; 10:902-908. [PMID: 27578210 DOI: 10.1007/s12072-016-9758-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2016] [Accepted: 07/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Since their original identification, our understanding of the role of hepatic stellate cells in both health and disease continues to grow. Numerous studies have delineated the role of stellate cell activation in contributing to the pool of myofibroblasts responsible for liver fibrosis, and these have resulted in the development of a number of anti-fibrotic strategies targeting this cell. However, their potential role in liver regeneration, both initiation and termination, is also emerging and needs to be contemplated when considering targeted therapy. Perhaps what is most striking is the increasing recognition that this is not just one cell, but rather, a heterogenous population made up of a number of different subsets of cells, each with differentiated and specific functions. The tools are emerging for this dissection and are greatly needed to truly develop targeted therapies that will inhibit fibrosis while promoting liver regeneration and repair.
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Chen J, Zeng F, Forrester SJ, Eguchi S, Zhang MZ, Harris RC. Expression and Function of the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor in Physiology and Disease. Physiol Rev 2016; 96:1025-1069. [DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00030.2015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is the prototypical member of a family of membrane-associated intrinsic tyrosine kinase receptors, the ErbB family. EGFR is activated by multiple ligands, including EGF, transforming growth factor (TGF)-α, HB-EGF, betacellulin, amphiregulin, epiregulin, and epigen. EGFR is expressed in multiple organs and plays important roles in proliferation, survival, and differentiation in both development and normal physiology, as well as in pathophysiological conditions. In addition, EGFR transactivation underlies some important biologic consequences in response to many G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) agonists. Aberrant EGFR activation is a significant factor in development and progression of multiple cancers, which has led to development of mechanism-based therapies with specific receptor antibodies and tyrosine kinase inhibitors. This review highlights the current knowledge about mechanisms and roles of EGFR in physiology and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianchun Chen
- Departments of Medicine, Cancer Biology, and Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and Nashville Veterans Affairs Hospital, Nashville, Tennessee; and Cardiovascular Research Center, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Fenghua Zeng
- Departments of Medicine, Cancer Biology, and Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and Nashville Veterans Affairs Hospital, Nashville, Tennessee; and Cardiovascular Research Center, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Steven J. Forrester
- Departments of Medicine, Cancer Biology, and Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and Nashville Veterans Affairs Hospital, Nashville, Tennessee; and Cardiovascular Research Center, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Satoru Eguchi
- Departments of Medicine, Cancer Biology, and Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and Nashville Veterans Affairs Hospital, Nashville, Tennessee; and Cardiovascular Research Center, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Ming-Zhi Zhang
- Departments of Medicine, Cancer Biology, and Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and Nashville Veterans Affairs Hospital, Nashville, Tennessee; and Cardiovascular Research Center, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Raymond C. Harris
- Departments of Medicine, Cancer Biology, and Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and Nashville Veterans Affairs Hospital, Nashville, Tennessee; and Cardiovascular Research Center, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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8
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Li Y, Lu L, Qian S, Fung JJ, Lin F. Hepatic Stellate Cells Directly Inhibit B Cells via Programmed Death-Ligand 1. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2016; 196:1617-25. [PMID: 26755818 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1501737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2015] [Accepted: 12/06/2015] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
We demonstrated previously that mouse hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) suppress T cells via programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), but it remains unknown whether they exert any effects on B cells, the other component of the adaptive immune system. In this study, we found that mouse HSCs directly inhibited B cells and that PD-L1 was also integrally involved. We found that HSCs inhibited the upregulation of activation markers on activated B cells, as well as the proliferation of activated B cells and their cytokine/Ig production in vitro, and that pharmaceutically or genetically blocking the interaction of PD-L1 with programmed cell death protein 1 impaired the ability of HSCs to inhibit B cells. To test the newly discovered B cell-inhibitory activity of HSCs in vivo, we developed a protocol of intrasplenic artery injection to directly deliver HSCs into the spleen. We found that local delivery of wild-type HSCs into the spleens of mice that had been immunized with 4-hydroxy-3-nitrophenylacetyl-Ficoll, a T cell-independent Ag, significantly suppressed Ag-specific IgM and IgG production in vivo, whereas splenic artery delivery of PD-L1-deficient HSCs failed to do so. In conclusion, in addition to inhibiting T cells, mouse HSCs concurrently inhibit B cells via PD-L1. This direct B cell-inhibitory activity of HSCs should contribute to the mechanism by which HSCs maintain the liver's immune homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Li
- Department of Immunology, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195; and
| | - Lina Lu
- Department of Immunology, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195; and Digestive Disease Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195
| | - Shiguang Qian
- Department of Immunology, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195; and Digestive Disease Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195
| | - John J Fung
- Digestive Disease Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195
| | - Feng Lin
- Department of Immunology, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195; and
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9
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Ren W, Wang X, Zhang A, Li C, Chen G, Ge X, Pan K, Dong JH. Selective bowel decontamination improves the survival of 90% hepatectomy in rats. J Surg Res 2015; 195:454-64. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jss.2015.01.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2014] [Revised: 12/12/2014] [Accepted: 01/13/2015] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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10
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Jiang G, Yu K, Shao L, Yu X, Hu C, Qian P, Xie H, Li J, Zheng J, Zheng S. Association between epidermal growth factor gene +61A/G polymorphism and the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma: a meta-analysis based on 16 studies. BMC Cancer 2015; 15:314. [PMID: 25927412 PMCID: PMC4418097 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-015-1318-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2014] [Accepted: 04/16/2015] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The association between epidermal growth factor (EGF) gene +61A/G polymorphism (rs4444903) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) susceptibility has been widely reported, but the results were inconsistent. To clarify the effect of this polymorphism on HCC risk, a meta-analysis was performed. Methods The PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Chinese BioMedical Literature (CBM), Wanfang and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) databases were systematically searched to identify relevant studies published up to December 2013. Data were extracted independently by two authors. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated to assess the strength of association. Results A total of 16 studies including 2475 HCC cases and 5381 controls were included in this meta-analysis. Overall, a significantly increased HCC risk was observed under all genetic models (G vs. A: OR = 1.383, P < 0.001, 95% CI: 1.174-1.629; GG vs. GA + AA: OR = 1.484, P < 0.001, 95% CI: 1.198-1.838; GG + GA vs. AA: OR = 1.530, P < 0.001, 95% CI: 1.217-1.924; GG vs. AA: OR = 1.958, P < 0.001, 95% CI: 1.433-2.675; GA vs. AA: OR = 1.215, P = 0.013, 95% CI: 1.041-1.418). In the subgroup analyses by ethnicity, a significant association with HCC risk was found in Asian populations (G vs. A: OR = 1.151, P = 0.001, 95% CI: 1.056-1.255), European populations (G vs. A: OR = 1.594, P = 0.027, 95% CI: 1.053-2.413, and African populations (G vs. A: OR = 3.599, P < 0.001, 95% CI: 2.550-5.080), respectively. Conclusions Our study shows that EGF +61A/G polymorphism is significantly associated with the increased HCC risk, especially in Asian populations. Further large-scale and well-designed studies are required to confirm this conclusion. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12885-015-1318-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guoping Jiang
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 79 Qingchun Rd, Hangzhou, 310003, China. .,Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-organ Transplantation of Ministry of Public Health, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Ke Yu
- Zhejiang-California International Nanosystems Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310029, China.
| | - Lifang Shao
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 79 Qingchun Rd, Hangzhou, 310003, China.
| | - Xiaobo Yu
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 79 Qingchun Rd, Hangzhou, 310003, China. .,Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-organ Transplantation of Ministry of Public Health, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Chen Hu
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 79 Qingchun Rd, Hangzhou, 310003, China.
| | - Pei Qian
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 79 Qingchun Rd, Hangzhou, 310003, China. .,Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-organ Transplantation of Ministry of Public Health, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Haiyang Xie
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 79 Qingchun Rd, Hangzhou, 310003, China. .,Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-organ Transplantation of Ministry of Public Health, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Jinjun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Shanghai, China.
| | - Jie Zheng
- Zhejiang-California International Nanosystems Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310029, China.
| | - Shusen Zheng
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 79 Qingchun Rd, Hangzhou, 310003, China. .,Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-organ Transplantation of Ministry of Public Health, Hangzhou, China.
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Abstract
Hepatic stellate cells are resident perisinusoidal cells distributed throughout the liver, with a remarkable range of functions in normal and injured liver. Derived embryologically from septum transversum mesenchyme, their precursors include submesothelial cells that invade the liver parenchyma from the hepatic capsule. In normal adult liver, their most characteristic feature is the presence of cytoplasmic perinuclear droplets that are laden with retinyl (vitamin A) esters. Normal stellate cells display several patterns of intermediate filaments expression (e.g., desmin, vimentin, and/or glial fibrillary acidic protein) suggesting that there are subpopulations within this parental cell type. In the normal liver, stellate cells participate in retinoid storage, vasoregulation through endothelial cell interactions, extracellular matrix homeostasis, drug detoxification, immunotolerance, and possibly the preservation of hepatocyte mass through secretion of mitogens including hepatocyte growth factor. During liver injury, stellate cells activate into alpha smooth muscle actin-expressing contractile myofibroblasts, which contribute to vascular distortion and increased vascular resistance, thereby promoting portal hypertension. Other features of stellate cell activation include mitogen-mediated proliferation, increased fibrogenesis driven by connective tissue growth factor, and transforming growth factor beta 1, amplified inflammation and immunoregulation, and altered matrix degradation. Evolving areas of interest in stellate cell biology seek to understand mechanisms of their clearance during fibrosis resolution by either apoptosis, senescence, or reversion, and their contribution to hepatic stem cell amplification, regeneration, and hepatocellular cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan E Puche
- Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, New York, New York
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12
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Integrated Computational Model of Intracellular Signaling and microRNA Regulation Predicts the Network Balances and Timing Constraints Critical to the Hepatic Stellate Cell Activation Process. Processes (Basel) 2014. [DOI: 10.3390/pr2040773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
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13
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Li D, Fan J, Li Z, Xu C. DNA methylation dynamics in the rat EGF gene promoter after partial hepatectomy. Genet Mol Biol 2014; 37:439-43. [PMID: 25071410 PMCID: PMC4094617 DOI: 10.1590/s1415-47572014000300017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2013] [Accepted: 03/18/2014] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Epidermal growth factor (EGF), a multifunctional growth factor, is a regulator in a wide variety of physiological processes. EGF plays an important role in the regulation of liver regeneration. This study was aimed at investigating the methylation level of EGF gene throughout liver regeneration. DNA of liver tissue from control rats and partial hepatectomy (PH) rats at 10 time points was extracted and a 354 bp fragment including 10 CpG sites from the transcription start was amplified after DNA was modified by sodium bisulfate. The result of sequencing suggested that methylation ratio of four CpG sites was found to be significantly changed when PH group was compared to control group, in particular two of them were extremely striking. mRNA expression of EGF was down-regulated in total during liver regeneration. We think that the rat EGF promoter region is regulated by variation in DNA methylation during liver regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deming Li
- Key Laboratory for Cell Differentiation Regulation , Xinxiang , China . ; College of Life Science , Henan Normal University , Xinxiang , China
| | - Jinyu Fan
- Key Laboratory for Cell Differentiation Regulation , Xinxiang , China . ; College of Life Science , Henan Normal University , Xinxiang , China
| | - Ziwei Li
- Key Laboratory for Cell Differentiation Regulation , Xinxiang , China . ; College of Life Science , Henan Normal University , Xinxiang , China
| | - Cunshuan Xu
- Key Laboratory for Cell Differentiation Regulation , Xinxiang , China . ; College of Life Science , Henan Normal University , Xinxiang , China
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14
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Abstract
Our understanding of the patho-physiology of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is still much fragmented making difficult the improvement of the clinical outcome for the majority of HCC patients. Discovery of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with individual susceptibility to HCC may enable the persons at risk to adapt their lifestyle and legitimate implementation by their doctors of surveillance programs facilitating early detection and subsequent management of the disease. To shed light on the influence of human genetic variation on HCC, we conducted a review of the meta-analyses of candidate SNPs and genome wide association studies (GWAS) performed for HCC by search of PubMed and Google Scholar databases. Genetic variations occurring in pathways historically considered as instrumental for liver tumorigenesis (TP53/MDM2, HLA, glutathione-S-transferases/cytochrome P540, TNFα/TGFβ, etc…) are discussed. An immense majority of the data has been produced in Eastern Asia (China, Japan, Korea). These meta-analyses indicate that the TP53, the MDM2 SNP309 G and the GSTT1 null genotype contribute to an increased risk of HCC both in Asians and Caucasians. Significant differences of odds ratios are, however, commonly observed between Eastern-Asians and other populations. Amazingly, GWAS studies performed so far exclusively with HCC patients from Eastern Asia produced drastically different outcomes pointing at unrelated biological pathways. The small magnitude of the risk associated with the genetic variants raises the question of their future utility as markers in clinical practice. An assessment of their impact on tumor progression (vascular invasion, metastases) remains, however, to be done and may prove to be more useful for clinicians. Finally, the evaluation of these variants is not available for various populations of the world and particularly for Subsaharan Africans who are especially affected by HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sayeh Ezzikouri
- Viral Hepatitis Laboratory, Pasteur Institute of Morocco, Casablanca, Morocco. .,Virology Unit, Viral Hepatitis Laboratory, Institut Pasteur du Maroc 1, Place Louis Pasteur, 20360, Casablanca, Morocco.
| | - Soumaya Benjelloun
- Viral Hepatitis Laboratory, Pasteur Institute of Morocco, Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Pascal Pineau
- Unité Organisation Nucléaire et Oncogenèse, INSERM U993, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
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Wu J, Zhang W, Xu A, Zhang L, Yan T, Li Z, Wu X, Zhu X, Ma J, Li K, Li H, Liu Y. Association of epidermal growth factor and epidermal growth factor receptor polymorphisms with the risk of hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma in the population of North China. Genet Test Mol Biomarkers 2013; 17:595-600. [PMID: 23790025 DOI: 10.1089/gtmb.2013.0031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common solid malignant tumor occurring worldwide that leads to the third largest cause of death compared to other cancers. Genetic and environmental factors are involved in the pathogenesis of HCC. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) can stimulate the proliferation of epidermal and epithelial cells. The EGF signal pathway has a relationship with the growth of the embryo, tissue repairing, and tumorigenesis. METHODS In this study, 416 patients with hepatitis B virus infection (HBV)-related HCC and 645 individuals who had never been infected with HBV of the Chinese Han population were enrolled. Eight single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), whose minor allele frequency >20% in the EGF and EGFR genes, were genotyped to examine their associations with hepatocarcinogenesis. Genotyping experiments were carried out using TaqMan. RESULTS There were significant differences in genotype distributions (p=0.005) and allele frequencies (p=0.001, odds ratio [OR]=1.43, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.15-1.79) of rs11569017 in the EGF gene between the HCC and control groups. After binary logistic regression to determine independent factors for susceptibility to HCC under an additive model, rs11569017 was still independently associated with the susceptibility to HCC (p=0.021, OR=1.48, 95% CI=1.06-2.07), but no significant differences in other SNPs were found. Additionally, the haplotype T-G constructed by rs11569017 and rs4444903 of the EGF gene might increase the risk of HBV-related HCC (p=0.002, OR=1.44, 95% CI=1.15-1.82). CONCLUSION The rs11569017 T allele was associated with susceptibility to HBV-related HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Wu
- National Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People's Republic of China
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Yuan JM, Fan Y, Ognjanovic S, Wang R, Van Den Berg D, Govindarajan S, Yu MC. Genetic polymorphisms of epidermal growth factor in relation to risk of hepatocellular carcinoma: two case-control studies. BMC Gastroenterol 2013; 13:32. [PMID: 23419149 PMCID: PMC3621500 DOI: 10.1186/1471-230x-13-32] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2012] [Accepted: 02/05/2013] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Earlier, we reported a highly statistically significant association between T-helper 1 (Th1) and Th2 cytokine genotypes and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) risk among natives of southern Guangxi, China, a hyperendemic region for HCC. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) plays a critical role in malignant transformation of hepatocytes and tumor progression. A polymorphism in the EGF gene (61A > G) results in elevation of EGF in liver tissues and blood. Epidemiological data are sparse on the possible association between EGF genetic polymorphism and HCC risk. METHODS The EGF 61A > G polymorphism, multiple Th1 and Th2 genotypes, and environmental risk factors for HCC were determined on 117 HCC cases and 225 healthy control subjects among non-Asians of Los Angeles County, California, a low-risk population for HCC, and 250 HCC cases and 245 controls of southern Guangxi, China. RESULTS Following adjustment for all known or suspected HCC risk factors, non-Asians in Los Angeles who possessed at least one copy of the high activity 61*G allele of the EGF gene showed a statistically non-significant, 78% increased risk of HCC compared with those possessing the EGF A/A genotype. This EGF-HCC risk association significantly strengthened among heavy users of alcohol [odds ratio (OR) = 3.44, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.93-12.76, P = 0.065)], and among individuals carrying the high-risk Th1/Th2 genotypes for HCC (OR = 3.34, 95% CI = 1.24-9.03, P = 0.017). No association between EGF genotype and HCC risk was observed among Chinese in southern Guangxi, China. CONCLUSION Genetic polymorphism in the EGF gene resulting in elevated level of EGF, may contribute to HCC risk among low-risk non-Asians in Los Angeles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian-Min Yuan
- Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, UPMC Cancer Pavilion, Suite 4C, 5150 Centre Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15232, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, A529 Crabtree Hall, 130 DeSoto Street, Pittsburgh, PA, 15261, USA
| | - Yunhua Fan
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, 554 CCRB, 425 East River Road, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Simona Ognjanovic
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, 1-185 Moos Tower, 515 Delaware Street SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Renwei Wang
- Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, UPMC Cancer Pavilion, Suite 4C, 5150 Centre Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15232, USA
| | - David Van Den Berg
- The USC/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 1441 Eastlake Avenue, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | - Sugantha Govindarajan
- Department of Pathology, Rancho Los Amingo Medical Center, 7601 E. Imperial Highway, JPI Building Basement, Downey, CA, 90242, USA
| | - Mimi C Yu
- The USC/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 1441 Eastlake Avenue, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
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Epidermal growth factor induces tumour marker AKR1B10 expression through activator protein-1 signalling in hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Biochem J 2012; 442:273-82. [PMID: 22329800 DOI: 10.1042/bj20111322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
AKR1B10 (aldo-keto reductase 1B10) is overexpressed in liver and lung cancer, and plays a critical role in tumour development and progression through promoting lipogenesis and eliminating cytotoxic carbonyls. AKR1B10 is a secretory protein and potential tumour marker; however, little is known about the regulatory mechanism of AKR1B10 expression. The present study showed that AKR1B10 is induced by mitogen EGF (epidermal growth factor) and insulin through the AP-1 (activator protein-1) signalling pathway. In human HCC (hepatocellular carcinoma) cells (HepG2 and Hep3B), EGF (50 ng/ml) and insulin (10 nM) stimulated endogenous AKR1B10 expression and promoter activity. In the AKR1B10 promoter, a putative AP-1 element was found at bp -222 to -212. Deletion or mutation of this AP-1 element abrogated the basal promoter activity and response to EGF and AP-1 proteins. This AP-1 element bound to nuclear proteins extracted from HepG2 cells, and this binding was stimulated by EGF and insulin in a dose-dependent manner. Chromatin immunoprecipitation showed that the AP-1 proteins c-Fos and c-Jun were the predominant factors bound to the AP-1 consensus sequence, followed by JunD and then JunB. The same order was followed in the stimulation of endogenous AKR1B10 expression by AP-1 proteins. Furthermore, c-Fos shRNA (short hairpin RNA) and AP-1 inhibitors/antagonists (U0126 and Tanshinone IIA) inhibited endogenous AKR1B10 expression and promoter activity in HepG2 cells cultured in vitro or inoculated subcutaneously in nude mice. U0126 also inhibited AKR1B10 expression induced by EGF. Taken together, these results suggest that AKR1B10 is up-regulated by EGF and insulin through AP-1 mitogenic signalling and may be implicated in hepatocarcinogenesis.
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Epidermal growth factor gene polymorphism 61A/G in patients with chronic liver disease for early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma: a pilot study. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2012; 24:458-63. [PMID: 22293333 DOI: 10.1097/meg.0b013e3283508d45] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Overexpression of epidermal growth factor (EGF) in the liver induces transformation into hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in animal models. Polymorphisms in the EGF gene modulate EGF levels. OBJECTIVES To evaluate the effect of EGF gene single nucleotide polymorphism and to assess its correlation with the risk of HCC in patients with chronic liver diseases. PATIENTS AND METHODS The present study included 80 participants divided into four groups: group 1 included 20 asymptomatic healthy control volunteers, group 2 included 20 patients with chronic hepatitis C viral (HCV) infection, group 3 included 20 patients with liver cirrhosis, and group 4 included 20 patients with HCC. For all participants, the following investigations were performed: routine laboratory investigations including complete blood count, liver function tests, sero markers of hepatitis viruses HBsAg, HCV-RNA by quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and α-fetoprotein. DNA was extracted from whole blood for detection of single nucleotide polymorphism of the EGF by polymerase chain reaction, followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism. RESULTS We found a significant difference between both patients with HCC and HCV versus controls in terms of the G carrier (GG and GA; 80 vs. 40%, P<0.05). In addition, the cirrhotic and chronic hepatitis C patients with GG had three-fold and 2.3-fold odds ratio for developing HCC, respectively. CONCLUSION The EGF 61GG genotype might be associated with a high risk for the development of HCC in Egyptian patients with chronic liver disease.
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Zhong JH, You XM, Gong WF, Ma L, Zhang Y, Mo QG, Wu LC, Xiao J, Li LQ. Epidermal growth factor gene polymorphism and risk of hepatocellular carcinoma: a meta-analysis. PLoS One 2012; 7:e32159. [PMID: 22403631 PMCID: PMC3293888 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0032159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2011] [Accepted: 01/20/2012] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatocarcinogenesis is a complex process that may be influenced by many factors, including polymorphism in the epidermal growth factor (EGF) gene. Previous work suggests an association between the EGF 61*A/G polymorphism (rs4444903) and susceptibility to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but the results have been inconsistent. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis of several studies covering a large population to address this controversy. METHODS PubMed, EMBASE, Google Scholar and the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure databases were systematically searched to identify relevant studies. Data were abstracted independently by two reviewers. A meta-analysis was performed to examine the association between EGF 61*A/G polymorphism and susceptibility to HCC. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated. RESULTS Eight studies were chosen in this meta-analysis, involving 1,304 HCC cases (1135 Chinese, 44 Caucasian and 125 mixed) and 2,613 controls (1638 Chinese, 77 Caucasian and 898 mixed). The EGF 61*G allele was significantly associated with increased risk of HCC based on allelic contrast (OR = 1.29, 95% CI = 1.16-1.44, p<0.001), homozygote comparison (OR = 1.79, 95% CI = 1.39-2.29, p<0.001) and a recessive genetic model (OR = 1.34, 95% CI = 1.16-1.54, p<0.001), while patients carrying the EGF 61*A/A genotype had significantly lower risk of HCC than those with the G/A or G/G genotype (A/A vs. G/A+G/G, OR = 0.66, 95% CI = 0.53-0.83, p<0.001). CONCLUSION The 61*G polymorphism in EGF is a risk factor for hepatocarcinogenesis while the EGF 61*A allele is a protective factor. Further large and well-designed studies are needed to confirm this conclusion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian-Hong Zhong
- Hepatobiliary Surgery Department, Guangxi Medical University, Tumor Hospital, Nanning, People's Republic of China
| | - Xue-Mei You
- Hepatobiliary Surgery Department, Guangxi Medical University, Tumor Hospital, Nanning, People's Republic of China
| | - Wen-Feng Gong
- Hepatobiliary Surgery Department, Guangxi Medical University, Tumor Hospital, Nanning, People's Republic of China
| | - Liang Ma
- Hepatobiliary Surgery Department, Guangxi Medical University, Tumor Hospital, Nanning, People's Republic of China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Hepatobiliary Surgery Department, Guangxi Medical University, Tumor Hospital, Nanning, People's Republic of China
| | - Qin-Guo Mo
- Breast Surgery Department, Guangxi Medical University, Tumor Hospital, Nanning, People's Republic of China
| | - Liu-Cheng Wu
- Gastrointestinal Surgery Department, Guangxi Medical University, Tumor Hospital, Nanning, People's Republic of China
| | - Jun Xiao
- Gastrointestinal Surgery Department, Guangxi Medical University, Tumor Hospital, Nanning, People's Republic of China
| | - Le-Qun Li
- Hepatobiliary Surgery Department, Guangxi Medical University, Tumor Hospital, Nanning, People's Republic of China
- * E-mail:
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Cmet S, Fabris C, Fattovich G, Falleti E, Bitetto D, Cussigh A, Fontanini E, Fornasiere E, Pirisi M, Toniutto P. Carriage of the EGF rs4444903 A>G functional polymorphism associates with disease progression in chronic HBV infection. Clin Exp Immunol 2012; 167:296-302. [PMID: 22236006 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2249.2011.04497.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Because epidermal growth factor (EGF) up-regulation is characteristic of the cirrhotic liver, we hypothesised that the EGF rs4444903 A > G functional polymorphism might be associated with a worse disease course in patients with chronic HBV infection. To verify this hypothesis, 170 HBV-positive patients (125 males) with a median age of 52 years were studied. Sixty-two of these patients were followed longitudinally for a median time of 21 years. Genotyping for the EGF rs4444903 A > G polymorphism was performed by the polymerase chain reaction-based restriction fragment length polymorphism assay. In the cross-sectional study, the EGF rs4444903 A > G polymorphism genotypic frequencies significantly differed between transplant patients (A/A = 20·4%, A/G = 52·3%, G/G = 27·3%) and HBsAg+ carriers (active and inactive: A/A = 35·7%, A/G = 47·6%, G/G = 16·7%, P = 0·036 for the linear trend). In the longitudinal study, the EGF rs4444903 A > G polymorphism was found to be an independent predictor of cirrhosis development (O.R. 7·73, 95% C.I. 1·21-49·5, P = 0·007). Three groups of patients were identified: A/A female homozygotes (n = 9), A/A male homozygotes (n = 13) and carriers of the G allele of either gender (n = 40). Cirrhosis did not occur among A/A females (n = 0/9), seldom occurred among A/A males (n = 2/13) and reached the highest frequency among G/* patients (n = 13/40, P = 0·026). In conclusion, the EGF rs4444903 A > G polymorphism appears to be associated with an unfavourable disease course of chronic HBV infection and cirrhosis development. This effect might be modulated, at least in part, by the gender of the patient.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Cmet
- Laboratory Medicine, Department of Medical Sciences, Clinical and Experimental, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
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21
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Reinehr R, Häussinger D. CD95 death receptor and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in liver cell apoptosis and regeneration. Arch Biochem Biophys 2011; 518:2-7. [PMID: 22182753 DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2011.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2011] [Revised: 11/29/2011] [Accepted: 12/04/2011] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Recent evidence suggests that signaling pathways towards cell proliferation and cell death are much more interconnected than previously thought. Whereas not only death receptors such as CD95 (Fas, APO-1) can couple to both, cell death and proliferation, also growth factor receptors such as the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) are involved in these opposing kinds of cell fate. EGFR is briefly discussed as a growth factor receptor involved in liver cell proliferation during liver regeneration. Then the role of EGFR in activating CD95 death receptor in liver parenchymal cells (PC) and hepatic stellate cells (HSC), which represent a liver stem/progenitor cell compartment, is described summarizing different ways of CD95- and EGFR-dependent signaling in the liver. Here, depending on the hepatic cell type (PC vs. HSC) and the respective signaling context (sustained vs. transient JNK activation) CD95-/EGFR-mediated signaling ends up in either liver cell apoptosis or cell proliferation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roland Reinehr
- Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Clinic for Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, Germany.
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22
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Falleti E, Cmet S, Fabris C, Bitetto D, Cussigh A, Fornasiere E, Bignulin E, Feruglio C, Mosanghini E, Fontanini E, Pirisi M, Toniutto P. Association between the epidermal growth factor rs4444903 G/G genotype and advanced fibrosis at a young age in chronic hepatitis C. Cytokine 2011; 57:68-73. [PMID: 22122913 DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2011.10.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2011] [Revised: 07/05/2011] [Accepted: 10/22/2011] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The epidermal growth factor (EGF) rs4444903 A>G polymorphism has been associated with the development of liver cancer, which commonly complicates cirrhosis of viral origin; however, whether this polymorphism might be associated with fibrosis progression in chronic viral hepatitis is unknown. The present study was performed to assess the allelic and genotypic frequencies of the rs4444903 A>G polymorphism in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus HCV infection and to ascertain whether this polymorphism might be an independent predictor of the degree of fibrosis. METHODS An RFLP-PCR technique was used to genotype 645 patients (211 with cirrhosis); 528 were referred for the diagnosis and treatment of chronic hepatitis C, and 117 were transplanted for HCV-related end stage liver disease. A group of 428 healthy subjects served as a control. All the subjects were of Caucasian ethnicity. RESULTS The EGF rs4444903 A>G polymorphism genotype frequencies in HCV chronic infected patients were as follows: A/A=227 (35.3%), A/G=328 (50.9%), and G/G=90 (14.8%). Genotype frequencies were found to differ between patients with an Ishak staging score⩽2 (A/A=117, A/G=157, G/G=34) and patients with a score>2 (A/A=110, A/G=171, G/G=56, p=0.038). A highly significant linear relationship between increasing stage scores and EGF genotype was detected in younger patients (A/A: 2.02±0.18, A/G: 2.55±0.17, G/G: 3.00±0.32, p=0.008). However, no significant association was detected between the stage score and EGF genotype in older patients (A/A: 3.79±0.19, A/G: 3.64±0.15, G/G: 3.98±0.30 p=0.579). CONCLUSIONS The EGF rs4444903 A>G polymorphism may facilitate liver fibrosis progression in Caucasian patients with chronic hepatitis C, especially in younger patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edmondo Falleti
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Udine, Italy
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Abstract
Multiple etiologies of liver disease lead to liver fibrosis through integrated signaling networks that regulate the deposition of extracellular matrix. This cascade of responses drives the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) into a myofibroblast-like phenotype that is contractile, proliferative and fibrogenic. Collagen and other extracellular matrix (ECM) components are deposited as the liver generates a wound-healing response to encapsulate injury. Sustained fibrogenesis leads to cirrhosis, characterized by a distortion of the liver parenchyma and vascular architecture. Uncovering the intricate mechanisms that underlie liver fibrogenesis forms the basis for efforts to develop targeted therapies to reverse the fibrotic response and improve the outcomes of patients with chronic liver disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ursula E Lee
- Division of Liver Diseases, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, 1425 Madison Ave, Room 11-76, New York, NY 10029, USA.
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Fifis T, Malcontenti-Wilson C, Amijoyo J, Anggono B, Muralidharan V, Nikfarjam M, Christophi C. Changes in growth factor levels after thermal ablation in a murine model of colorectal liver metastases. HPB (Oxford) 2011; 13:246-55. [PMID: 21418130 PMCID: PMC3081625 DOI: 10.1111/j.1477-2574.2010.00278.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2010] [Accepted: 11/04/2010] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study examines changes in the expression of growth factors following thermal ablation (TA) of selected colorectal cancer (CRC) liver metastases. METHODS Using mice with established CRC liver metastases, two tumours in each animal were thermally ablated. Liver and tumour tissues were collected at various time-points (days 0, 1, 2, 3, 5 and 7) following TA treatment from the ablation site and from sites distant from ablated tumour. Changes in growth factor expression (epidermal growth factor [EGF], vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF], hepatocyte growth factor [HGF] and transforming growth factor-β[TGF-β]) in comparison with baseline levels (non-ablated) were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS Baseline TGF-β and VEGF levels in the liver parenchyma of tumour-bearing mice were significantly higher than levels in naive liver parenchyma. Levels of VEGF and HGF decreased after TA treatment in all tissues. Levels of EGF decreased in ablated and distant tumour tissues, but displayed a tendency to increase in liver tissue. Levels of TGF-β also decreased during the first 2 days following TA, but later increased in liver and tumour tissues distant from the ablation site to a level that reached significance in tumour tissue at day 7 (P < 0.001). Decreases in growth factor levels were also observed in animals that underwent laparotomy without TA treatment, which indicates that these decreases were caused by the experimental procedure. CONCLUSIONS Tumour induces upregulation of TGF-β and VEGF in liver parenchyma. Growth factors decreased after TA, but this appears to be the result of the experimental procedure rather than the TA itself. However, TA resulted in increased levels of TGF-β, which may contribute to tumour recurrence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theodora Fifis
- Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, Austin Hospital, Heidelberg, Vic, Australia.
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Mutti E, Magnaghi V, Veber D, Faroni A, Pece S, Di Fiore PP, Scalabrino G. Cobalamin deficiency-induced changes of epidermal growth factor (EGF)-receptor expression and EGF levels in rat spinal cord. Brain Res 2011; 1376:23-30. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2010.12.056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2010] [Revised: 12/15/2010] [Accepted: 12/16/2010] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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Feng YX, Wang T, Deng YZ, Yang P, Li JJ, Guan DX, Yao F, Zhu YQ, Qin Y, Wang H, Li N, Wu MC, Wang HY, Wang XF, Cheng SQ, Xie D. Sorafenib suppresses postsurgical recurrence and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma in an orthotopic mouse model. Hepatology 2011; 53:483-92. [PMID: 21274870 DOI: 10.1002/hep.24075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Surgical resection is the first-line treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with well-preserved liver function. Nevertheless, the rate of postoperative recurrence at 5 years is as high as 70%, and this gravely jeopardizes the therapeutic outcome. Clearly, new approaches are needed for preventing the relapse of this deadly disease. Taking advantage of a luciferase-labeled orthotopic xenograft model of HCC, we examined the role of sorafenib, the first systemic drug approved for advanced HCC patients, in the prevention of HCC recurrence. We found that sorafenib suppressed the development of postsurgical intrahepatic recurrence and abdominal metastasis and consequently led to prolonged postoperative survival of mice in this model. Furthermore, hyperactivity of extracellular signal-regulated kinase signaling caused by elevated levels of growth factors associated with postoperative liver regeneration enhanced the sensitivity of HCC cells to sorafenib; this provides a plausible explanation for the observation that recurrent tumors are more responsive to growth inhibition by sorafenib. CONCLUSION Our results strongly suggest that by effectively reducing postoperative recurrence, sorafenib has a potential application in early-stage HCC patients who have undergone hepatectomy with curative intention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Xiong Feng
- Center for Cancer Research, Institute for Nutritional Sciences, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
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Chen K, Wei Y, Yang H, Li B. Epidermal growth factor +61 G/A polymorphism and the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in a Chinese population. Genet Test Mol Biomarkers 2010; 15:251-5. [PMID: 21186997 DOI: 10.1089/gtmb.2010.0208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a risk factor of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in China. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) plays an important role in tumorigenesis. The association between EGF +61 G/A polymorphism and the risk of HCC is still controversial and ambiguous. AIM The objective of this study was to investigate the association between EGF +61 G/A polymorphism and the risk of HCC in a Chinese population. METHODS A hospital-based case-control study was designed in a Chinese population. EGF +61 G/A polymorphisms were determined in 120 chronic HBV-infected HCC patients, 120 chronic HBV-infected cirrhotic patients, and 120 healthy controls. The genotype frequency of this polymorphism was determined by using a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism assay. RESULTS EGF +61 GG (odds ratio=2.76, 95% confidence interval=1.03, 7.38; p=0.04) and G allele frequencies (odds ratio=1.59, 95% confidence interval=1.08, 2.34; p=0.02) in the HCC group were higher than those in the cirrhosis group. EGF +61 A and G allele frequencies in healthy subjects were 28.8% and 71.2%. No relationship between EGF +61 G/A gene polymorphism and HCC risk was found among our recruited HCC patients and healthy controls. CONCLUSION This study suggests that EGF +61 GG genotype is associated with a higher risk of chronic HBV-infected HCC in the Chinese population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kefei Chen
- Department of Surgery, Division of Liver, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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Aloia T, Cogliati B, Guerra R, Parra O, Dagli M, Hernandez-Blazquez F. Modelo de suplementação nutricional com fatores hepatotróficos aumenta proliferação celular em fígado de ratos sadios. ARQ BRAS MED VET ZOO 2010. [DOI: 10.1590/s0102-09352010000400014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Foram avaliados dois protocolos de administração, em ratos sadios, de uma solução de fatores hepatotróficos (FH), composta por aminoácidos, vitaminas, sais minerais, glicose, insulina, glucagon e triiodotironina (T3). A solução foi administrada durante 10 dias, 40mg/kg/dia, i.p., em duas, grupo 2xFH (n=15), ou três doses, grupo 3xFH (n=15), diárias. Foram observados os efeitos na proliferação celular dos hepatócitos, na angiogênese e na matriz extracelular hepática, assim como as possíveis reações adversas. Os animais dos grupos 2xFH e 3xFH apresentaram aumento da massa hepática de 30,1% e 22,5%, respectivamente, em relação ao grupo-controle (CT; n=15). O índice de proliferação hepatocelular foi maior nos grupos 2xFH (1,4%) e 3xFH (1,2%) em relação ao grupo CT (0,53%), e a densitometria relativa do fator de crescimento do endotélio vascular pelo imunoblot não revelou diferença estatística entre os três grupos. Nos grupos 2xFH e 3xFH, houve redução do colágeno intersticial em relação ao grupo CT. A solução de FH estimulou o crescimento hepático e reduziu o volume de colágeno perissinusoidal. A administração em três doses diárias resultou em mortalidade de 26,7%, possivelmente pelo excessivo estresse da manipulação e pela menor adaptação fisiológica dos ratos, o que não ocorreu nos grupos 2xFH e CT. Para esse tipo de abordagem em ratos, o procedimento experimental mais apropriado, seguro, com melhor chance de adaptação dos animais e com resultados significativos é a aplicação dos FH em duas doses diárias.
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Li Y, Xie Q, Lu F, Zhao J, Mao P, Li Z, Liu S, Zhuang H. Association between epidermal growth factor 61A/G polymorphism and hepatocellular carcinoma susceptibility in Chinese patients. Liver Int 2010; 30:112-8. [PMID: 19840254 DOI: 10.1111/j.1478-3231.2009.02134.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is an important risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development in China, while little is known of the genetic susceptibility to hepatocarcinogenesis. The epidermal growth factor (EGF) pathway plays an important role in tumorigenesis, including HCC. EGF polymorphisms are associated with susceptibility to several types of cancers. Therefore, this study aimed to assess whether EGF genetic polymorphisms can influence HCC development. METHODS A total of 338 chronic HBV-infected patients (186 HCC patients and 152 cirrhotic patients) and 186 healthy individuals were enrolled in this study. EGF 61A/G polymorphisms of all subjects and 12 cell lines were assayed with polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism and the sequencing method. Furthermore, EGF protein levels were measured in the serum and the results were compared with the different genotypes. EGF expression in the liver tissue of the HCC patients was detected by immunohistochemical analysis. RESULTS EGF 61A and 61G allele frequencies in healthy subjects were 28.76 and 71.24%. EGF 61GG and G allele frequencies in the HCC group were higher than those in the cirrhosis group. EGF protein levels with the GG genotype were significantly higher than those with either the GA or the AA genotype. About 59.09% of HCC liver tumour tissues assayed showed EGF protein expression. CONCLUSIONS The EGF 61 GG genotype might be associated with a high risk for the development of chronic HBV infection-related HCC in Chinese patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yajuan Li
- Department of Microbiology, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
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Sidhu S, Pandhi P, Malhotra S, Vaiphei K, Khanduja KL. Melatonin treatment is beneficial in pancreatic repair process after experimental acute pancreatitis. Eur J Pharmacol 2009; 628:282-9. [PMID: 19958759 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2009.11.058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2009] [Revised: 11/14/2009] [Accepted: 11/24/2009] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Current treatment options for acute pancreatitis are supportive and symptomatic. Due to lack of agents targeting the underlying pathophysiology a large amount of experimental work is going on to identify novel therapeutic agents. The present study was carried out to explore if melatonin can modulate the spontaneous regeneration process of the pancreas after experimentally induced acute pancreatitis. Rats were given two i.p. injections of l-arginine in a dose of 200mg/100g at an interval of 1h for induction of pancreatitis. After this rats were randomly divided into three groups i.e. saline, CCK-8 and melatonin. Drug treatment was started 2h after the last l-arginine injection and continued till the day of sacrifice. An additional only saline treated control group was included for comparison. Animals in each group were sacrificed at 24h, days 3, 14 and 28 after pancreatitis induction for determination of biochemical parameters (serum amylase, lipase and IL-10 and pancreatic amylase, total proteins and nucleic acid content) and histological examination. For rate of DNA synthesis and immunohistochemical studies animals were sacrificed at day 3 and day 7. Melatonin treatment was found to be beneficial in acute pancreatitis. Severity of acute pancreatitis was significantly reduced in melatonin group. Nucleic acid content, rate of DNA synthesis, pancreatic proteins and pancreatic amylase content were significantly improved. Histopathological examination showed significantly lower total scores in melatonin group. Results of melatonin group were comparable to that of positive control, CCK-8 group. Thus melatonin treatment was found to promote the spontaneous regeneration process of pancreatic tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shabir Sidhu
- Department of Pharmacology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
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Chuang YH, Chuang WL, Huang SP, Huang CH. Expression of epidermal growth factor, basic fibroblast growth factor and insulin growth factor-1 and relation to myocyte regeneration of obstructed ureters in rats. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2009; 39:7-14. [PMID: 15764264 DOI: 10.1080/00365590510007649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the roles of epidermal growth factor (EGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and insulin growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in the myocyte regeneration of obstructed ureters. MATERIAL AND METHODS The expression of EGF, bFGF, IGF-1 and proliferation cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) was studied immunohistochemically in 54 female Sprague-Dawley rats. RESULTS Tissue damage to the smooth muscle layer in the obstructed ureters was aggravated during the period of obstruction. The expression of EGF, bFGF and IGF-1 in myocytes was detected using the method of concurrent immunohistochemical staining. The expression of EGF, bFGF and IGF-1 in the smooth muscle layer was found from Day 14 after ligation. The expression of EGF, bFGF and IGF-1 increased to a peak on Day 21 and then declined. The expression of PCNA in the smooth muscle layer was also found from Day 14 after ligation and increased to a peak on Day 21. The expressions of EGF, bFGF and IGF-1 were significantly correlated with the expression of PCNA in the smooth muscle layer (r=0.7982, 0.6264 and 0.5840, respectively; p-values all <0.002). Co-expression of EGF, bFGF, IGF-1 and PCNA was determined using the method of double immunofluorescence staining. Co-expression of PCNA was observed in 34% of EGF-positive myocytes, 53.6% of bFGF-positive myocytes and 41.1% of IGF-1-positive myocytes at Day 21 post-ligation. CONCLUSIONS Expression of EGF, bFGF and IGF-1 may contribute to myocyte regeneration of damaged ureters in rats with obstructive uropathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yen-Hwang Chuang
- Department of Neurology, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
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Abstract
The hepatic stellate cell has surprised and engaged physiologists, pathologists, and hepatologists for over 130 years, yet clear evidence of its role in hepatic injury and fibrosis only emerged following the refinement of methods for its isolation and characterization. The paradigm in liver injury of activation of quiescent vitamin A-rich stellate cells into proliferative, contractile, and fibrogenic myofibroblasts has launched an era of astonishing progress in understanding the mechanistic basis of hepatic fibrosis progression and regression. But this simple paradigm has now yielded to a remarkably broad appreciation of the cell's functions not only in liver injury, but also in hepatic development, regeneration, xenobiotic responses, intermediary metabolism, and immunoregulation. Among the most exciting prospects is that stellate cells are essential for hepatic progenitor cell amplification and differentiation. Equally intriguing is the remarkable plasticity of stellate cells, not only in their variable intermediate filament phenotype, but also in their functions. Stellate cells can be viewed as the nexus in a complex sinusoidal milieu that requires tightly regulated autocrine and paracrine cross-talk, rapid responses to evolving extracellular matrix content, and exquisite responsiveness to the metabolic needs imposed by liver growth and repair. Moreover, roles vital to systemic homeostasis include their storage and mobilization of retinoids, their emerging capacity for antigen presentation and induction of tolerance, as well as their emerging relationship to bone marrow-derived cells. As interest in this cell type intensifies, more surprises and mysteries are sure to unfold that will ultimately benefit our understanding of liver physiology and the diagnosis and treatment of liver disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott L Friedman
- Division of Liver Diseases, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York 10029-6574, USA.
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Kimura T, Itoh N, Sone T, Kondoh M, Tanaka K, Isobe M. Role of metal-responsive transcription factor-1 (MTF-1) in EGF-dependent DNA synthesis in primary hepatocytes. J Cell Biochem 2006; 99:485-94. [PMID: 16619271 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.20948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Metal-responsive transcription factor-1 (MTF-1), which is involved in sensing heavy metal load, induces the transcription of several protective genes. The mouse Mtf-1 gene is essential, and Mtf-1(-/-) embryos die from liver degeneration. We showed that DNA synthesis induced in hepatocytes by epidermal growth factor (EGF) was delayed by inhibition of MTF-1. To inhibit MTF-1 activity, MTFDeltaC, a C-terminal deletion mutant of MTF-1, was expressed by infection with the virus Ad5MTFDeltaC. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release and/or caspase-3/7 activation was not observed under our experimental conditions. The inhibitory effect of MTFDeltaC on EGF-dependent DNA synthesis in hepatocytes was not eliminated by zinc addition. EGF-dependent extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK) phosphorylation, an essential reaction for EGF-dependent DNA synthesis, was decreased in MTF-1-inhibited hepatocytes. Moreover, decrease of ERK phosphorylation was observed by using siRNA in MTF-1-downregulated hepatocytes. These results indicate that MTF-1 is particularly important for proper hepatocyte proliferation. This is the first report to suggest the function of MTF-1 in the ERK pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomoki Kimura
- Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Setsunan University, Hirakata, Osaka, Japan.
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Abstract
Hepatic fibrogenesis is the common result of injury to the liver. It is believed to be a critical factor that leads to hepatic dysfunction and may be important in portal hypertension. The fibrogenic response is a complex process in which accumulation of extracellular matrix proteins, tissue contraction, and alteration in blood flow are prominent. A critical event in fibrogenesis is activation of resident perisinusoidal cells that are termed "hepatic stellate cells". Stellate cell activation is characterized by many important phenotypes, including enhanced extracellular matrix synthesis and prominent contractility. Given the central role of stellate cell activation in hepatic fibrogenesis (and portal hypertension), effective therapy for hepatic fibrogenesis is most likely will be directed at this event.
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Affiliation(s)
- Don C Rockey
- Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390-8887, USA.
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Spiliotis M, Konrad C, Gelmedin V, Tappe D, Brückner S, Mösch HU, Brehm K. Characterisation of EmMPK1, an ERK-like MAP kinase from Echinococcus multilocularis which is activated in response to human epidermal growth factor. Int J Parasitol 2006; 36:1097-112. [PMID: 16793045 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2006.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2006] [Revised: 05/02/2006] [Accepted: 05/10/2006] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases are key regulators of cellular signalling systems that mediate responses to a wide variety of extracellular stimuli and should also play a central role in developmental mechanisms of parasitic helminths. Until now, however, no MAP kinase orthologue has been characterised in a member of this parasite group. Here, we report the identification and characterisation of such a molecule, EmMPK1, from the human parasitic cestode Echinococcus multilocularis. Using a degenerative PCR approach, we isolated and completely sequenced the 1.2kb cDNA for EmMPK1 which displays significant homologies to known MAP kinases of different phylogenetic origin. EmMPK1 contains all amino acid residues which are characteristic for MAP kinases, including a conserved TEY motif which identifies the protein as a member of the ERK subfamily of MAP kinases. The corresponding gene, emmpk1 (6.9 kb), was characterised and contained 10 introns. Southern blot hybridisation studies showed that emmpk1 is present as single copy locus in E. multilocularis. Using RT-PCR analyses we demonstrated that emmpk1 is expressed in form of three different transcripts which derive from alternative splice acceptor site utilisation at intron 9. Using EmMPK1-specific antibodies in Western blot studies and immunohistochemistry, we detected the Echinococcus protein and its phosphorylated form in the larval stages metacestode and protoscolex during in vitro cultivation and during an infection of the intermediate host. EmMPK1, immunoprecipitated from Echinococcus lysate, was able to phosphorylate myelin basic protein in activity assays, indicating that it is a functionally active MAP kinase. Finally, we also show that phosphorylation of EmMPK1 is specifically induced in vitro-cultivated E. multilocularis metacestode vesicles in response to exogenous host serum and upon addition of human epidermal growth factor. These data indicate that the E. multilocularis metacestode is able to sense epidermal growth factor from the host which results in an activation of the parasite's MAP kinase cascade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markus Spiliotis
- Institute of Hygiene and Microbiology, University of Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Strasse 2, D-97080 Würzburg, Germany
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Aihaiti X, Hayamizu K, Oishi K, Yoshimitsu M, Itamoto T, Asahara T. Facilitation of Survival in a Rat Fulminant Hepatic Failure Model by Combination Therapy Using Recombinant G-CSF and Tacrolimus. J Interferon Cytokine Res 2006; 26:226-34. [PMID: 16704299 DOI: 10.1089/jir.2006.26.226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The mortality rate of fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) is high because of retarded liver regeneration. Recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rHuG-CSF) and tacrolimus are known to be immunosuppressive and supportive to liver regeneration. We investigated the effects of their combination therapy in a rat FHF model with a 68% partial hepatectomy and 24% liver necrosis. All rats without drug pretreatment died within 55 h. The median time was prolonged from 37 to 52 h by rHuG-CSF (250 microg/kg/day s.c. on days -5 to 0) and to 46 h by tacrolimus (0.5 mg/kg/day i.m. on days -2 to 0). Notably, the combination therapy facilitated DNA biosynthesis and survival prolongation, with a median of 77 h. The interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) protein levels and natural killer cell (NK) activity in the liver were low at 12 h, and no further inhibition was detected by any treatment. Tacrolimus significantly upregulated the mRNA levels of insulin receptors and transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha), whereas rHuG-CSF did not. Regarding tissue remodeling-related factors, rHuG-CSF upregulated mRNA levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and matrix metalloproteinase- 9 (MMP-9), whereas tacrolimus did not. The combination treatment upregulated protein levels of both insulin receptors and VEGF. These results suggest that tacrolimus improves the hepatocyte replication and rHuG-CSF contributes to tissue reconstitution, and this combination therapy directly facilitates liver regeneration in the FHF model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuehelati Aihaiti
- Department of Surgery, Division of Frontier Medical Science, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
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Schoen Smith JM, Lautt WW. The role of prostaglandins in triggering the liver regeneration cascade. Nitric Oxide 2005; 13:111-7. [PMID: 16006158 PMCID: PMC2925888 DOI: 10.1016/j.niox.2005.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2005] [Revised: 05/03/2005] [Accepted: 05/12/2005] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Following injury or surgical resection, the liver has the remarkable ability to regenerate. Despite over 100 years of research, the trigger of the liver regeneration cascade has only recently been identified. Shear stress-induced nitric oxide (NO), released secondary to a hemodynamic event following partial hepatectomy (PHX), has been implicated as the trigger of the liver regeneration cascade. However, it is also known that prostaglandins (PGs) are released following PHX, and in response to shear stress. Therefore, it is hypothesized that PGs, released secondary to an increase in the blood flow-to-liver mass ratio following PHX, trigger the liver regeneration cascade, and that NO and PGs interact during the triggering event. An index of initiation of the liver regeneration cascade, c-fos mRNA expression 15 min after PHX, has been employed. As expected, c-fos mRNA expression increased 15 min after PHX and this increase was inhibited by the NO synthase antagonist, l-NAME. This inhibition was reversed by the NO donors, SIN-1 and SNAP, and by the PGs, PGE2 and PGI2. Also, the increase in c-fos mRNA expression was inhibited by indomethacin, a cyclooxygenase antagonist. This inhibition was also reversed by the NO donors, SIN-1 and SNAP, and by the PGs, PGE2 and PGI2. These results suggest that there is interaction between NO and PGs in triggering the liver regeneration cascade, and that in a situation where either NO or COX is inhibited, provision of excess exogenous NO or PGs can reverse the inhibition. This suggests that exogenous NO and/or PGs may play a role in potentiation of the liver regeneration cascade.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - W. Wayne Lautt
- Corresponding author. Fax: +1 204 975 7784. (W.W. Lautt)
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Petroianu A, Esquerdo CRM, Barbosa AJA, Alberti LR. Regeneração hepática induzida por ressecção segmentar do fígado, em rato. Rev Col Bras Cir 2004. [DOI: 10.1590/s0100-69912004000100003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJETIVO: Avaliar a regeneração progressiva do parênquima hepatocitário, nos seus aspectos macro e microscópicos, em pós-operatório imediato e tardio de ressecção segmentar do fígado. MÉTODO: Foram estudados 10 ratos machos albinos da raça Wistar, pesando entre 250 e 300 gramas, submetidos à hepatectomia parcial de lobo esquerdo, com retirada de cerca de 20% da massa total do órgão. Os animais foram divididos aleatoriamente em dois grupos (n=5) para estudo no 7º (Grupo 1) e 21º (Grupo 2) dias pós-operatórios. Decorrido o tempo de acompanhamento, avaliou-se o aspecto macroscópico e microscópico do fígado. RESULTADOS: No Grupo 1, após sete dias, os animais apresentavam a cavidade abdominal com poucas aderências. O fígado mostrava reação cicatricial no local da ressecção, porém seu tamanho já era próximo ao normal. O exame histopatológico mostrou freqüentes sinais de poliploidia dos hepatócitos, além de tecido de granulação frouxo e desordenado, acompanhado de escasso infiltrado de células inflamatórias. O Grupo 2, após 21 dias, mostrava poucas aderências na cavidade abdominal, e o fígado com aspecto e dimensões próximos ao normal. A histologia mostrou tecido cicatricial mais denso, ordenado, sem sinais inflamatórios. Observou-se apenas pequeno grau de poliploidia hepatocitária. CONCLUSÃO: Após remoção cirúrgica de 20% do parênquima hepático houve aumento temporário da renovação celular verificado por poliploidia hepatocitária.
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Crunkhorn SE, Plant KE, Gibson GG, Kramer K, Lyon J, Lord PG, Plant NJ. Gene expression changes in rat liver following exposure to liver growth agents: role of Kupffer cells in xenobiotic-mediated liver growth. Biochem Pharmacol 2004; 67:107-18. [PMID: 14667933 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2003.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Many xenobiotics are known to cause liver enlargement and hepatocarcinogenesis in rats, although the molecular mechanisms that underlie this effect remain largely undefined. Human exposure to several of these compounds, including glucocorticoids and peroxisome proliferators may be significant, due to their use in both pharmaceutical and industrial processes. It is therefore important to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying this abnormal liver enlargement in rats, as this will enable more accurate extrapolation of the possible outcomes of human exposure. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were dosed with the peroxisome proliferator Wy-14,643 and changes in liver gene expression examined using subtractive suppression hybridisation examined either 12 of 24hr later. Twenty-five transcripts were identified which showed differential gene expression in liver following exposure to Wy-14,643. Biochemical indices of liver growth (DNA synthesis, apoptosis) showed that these changes correlated with the initiation of liver enlargement. Rats were next treated with either Wy-14,643, cyproterone acetate and dexamethasone, chemically and mechanistically-distinct hepatomegalic compounds. Carboxylesterase and Kupffer cell receptor mRNA levels were seen to alter in a qualitatively similar fashion for all three compounds, and in a liver specific fashion. In addition, these changes correlated with a decrease in the density of Kupffer cells within the liver, which are known to release mitogenic cytokines, and have been linked to Wy-14,643-induced cell proliferation. We therefore propose that Kupffer cells play a role in a general mechanism of xenobiotic-mediated liver enlargement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E Crunkhorn
- Department of Biomedical & Life Sciences, University of Surrey, Surrey GU2 5XH, Guildford, UK
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Uyama N, Shimahara Y, Kawada N, Seki S, Okuyama H, Iimuro Y, Yamaoka Y. Regulation of cultured rat hepatocyte proliferation by stellate cells. J Hepatol 2002; 36:590-9. [PMID: 11983441 DOI: 10.1016/s0168-8278(02)00023-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS This study using primary culture models was aimed to reveal the stellate cell-derived factors that regulate hepatocyte proliferation. METHODS Rat hepatocytes and stellate cells were cultured in serum-free Williams-E medium. We prepared hepatocyte mono-culture and two different co-cultures of hepatocytes and stellate cells; (1) co-culture on the same surface (Co-mix.) and (2) co-culture without contact between hepatocytes and stellate cells using a culture insert (Co-sep.). The change in the number and the DNA synthesis of hepatocytes was evaluated. RESULTS The number of hepatocytes decreased to 76% of the original number after 48 h of starting mono-culture, while it remained at 106% in mixed co-culture (Co-mix.) and increased to 135% in separated co-culture (Co-sep.). The hepatocyte DNA synthesis was enhanced by carbenoxolone in Co-mix. and reduced by NK1 in each co-culture. PD153035 had no effect. Heparitinase-I (20 mU/ml) and sodium chrolate (25 mM) reduced the hepatocyte DNA synthesis in Co-sep. to 71.8 and 61.6%, respectively. Activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase was induced in hepatocytes stimulated by conditioned mediums. CONCLUSIONS Hepatocyte proliferation was stimulated in the presence of stellate cells through hepatocyte growth factor, extracellular heparan sulfate (HS), and HS proteoglycan, and might be negatively regulated by gap junction-dependent mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naoki Uyama
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, 54-Kawaracho, Shogoin, Sakyoku, Kyoto 606 8507, Japan.
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Brown JK, Jones CA, Rooney LA, Caughey GH, Hall IP. Tryptase's potent mitogenic effects in human airway smooth muscle cells are via nonproteolytic actions. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 2002; 282:L197-206. [PMID: 11792624 DOI: 10.1152/ajplung.2002.282.2.l197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
We reported previously that mast cell tryptase is a growth factor for dog tracheal smooth muscle cells. The goals of our current experiments were to determine if tryptase also is mitogenic in cultured human airway smooth muscle cells, to compare its strength as a growth factor with that of other mitogenic serine proteases, and to determine whether its proteolytic actions are required for mitogenesis. Highly purified preparations of human lung beta-tryptase (1-30 nM) caused dose-dependent increases in DNA synthesis in human airway smooth muscle cells. Maximum tryptase-induced increases in DNA synthesis far exceeded those occurring in response to coagulation cascade proteases, such as thrombin, factor Xa, or factor XII, or to other mast cell proteases, such as chymase or mastin. Irreversibly abolishing tryptase's catalytic activity did not alter its effects on increases in DNA synthesis. We conclude that beta-tryptase is a potent mitogenic serine protease in cultured human airway smooth muscle cells. However, its growth stimulatory effects in these cells occur predominantly via nonproteolytic actions.
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Affiliation(s)
- James K Brown
- Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Section, Medical Service, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco, CA 94121, USA.
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Wang G, Wang S, Xu W, Yang X. Rapid induction of mRNAs forPC3 by partial hepatectomy and epidermal growth factor. CHINESE SCIENCE BULLETIN-CHINESE 2001. [DOI: 10.1007/bf02900412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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Brown JK, Jones CA, Rooney LA, Caughey GH. Mast cell tryptase activates extracellular-regulated kinases (p44/p42) in airway smooth-muscle cells: importance of proteolytic events, time course, and role in mediating mitogenesis. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol 2001; 24:146-54. [PMID: 11159048 DOI: 10.1165/ajrcmb.24.2.4165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
We previously reported that mast cell tryptase is a potent mitogen for cultured airway smooth-muscle cells, but the early intracellular signals mediating this response are not known. In many cells, proliferative effects are mediated by a mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway involving Raf-1, MAP kinase kinases (MEKs), and extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases (ERKs) 1 and 2. Therefore, we tested for tryptase-induced activation of ERK1 and 2 in cultured dog tracheal smooth-muscle cells. Tryptase, in nanomolar concentrations which potently stimulated DNA synthesis, increased dual phosphorylation of ERKs in cellular lysates as well as ERK2 kinase activity in immunoprecipitates. Pretreatment of cells with the MEK inhibitor PD098059 abolished tryptase-induced increases in DNA synthesis and attenuated increases in ERK2 activity. Irreversible inhibition of tryptase's proteolytic activity, using p-amidino phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride, attenuated tryptase-induced increases in DNA synthesis and dual phosphorylation of ERKs by 76% and 40 to 60%, respectively. Tryptase also increased c-fos transcription as quantified in polymerase chain reactions. In concentrations that caused similar increases in DNA synthesis, tryptase and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF-BB) increased ERK activity (and c-fos transcription) with markedly different kinetics, the tryptase-induced responses being slower in onset and more sustained. We conclude that tryptase-induced mitogenesis in airway smooth-muscle cells requires activation of ERK1 and 2; that these responses depend partially, but not completely, upon tryptase's properties as a protease; and that they are slower in onset and more sustained than those induced by PDGF-BB.
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Affiliation(s)
- J K Brown
- Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Section (111-D), Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 4150 Clement St., San Francisco, CA 94121, USA.
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Tomiya T, Ogata I, Yamaoka M, Yanase M, Inoue Y, Fujiwara K. The mitogenic activity of hepatocyte growth factor on rat hepatocytes is dependent upon endogenous transforming growth factor-alpha. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2000; 157:1693-701. [PMID: 11073828 PMCID: PMC1885723 DOI: 10.1016/s0002-9440(10)64806-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Both transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) induce DNA synthesis in hepatocytes in vitro and in vivo. Hepatic and circulating levels of HGF have been reported to increase before an increase in TGF-alpha levels in several rat models of liver regeneration. In addition, serum TGF-alpha levels increase after an increase in serum HGF levels in patients with either partial hepatectomy or acute hepatitis. In this study, we investigate the significance of TGF-alpha in hepatocyte proliferation. TGF-alpha contents and DNA synthesis in cultured rat hepatocytes increased in response to HGF addition to the culture medium in a dose-related manner. These increases were suppressed by the addition of anti-sense TGF-alpha mRNA oligonucleotide. Furthermore, the addition of anti-TGF-alpha rabbit IgG suppressed the increase in DNA synthesis. When the anti-TGF-alpha antibody was administered to rats after partial hepatectomy, the number of mitotic hepatocytes was reduced in comparison to rats treated with normal rabbit IgG. These results were observed even though hepatic HGF levels were increased equally in rats given either anti-TGF-alpha antibody or normal rabbit IgG. Our results suggest that HGF stimulates TGF-alpha production in rat hepatocytes, and that the mitogenic activity of HGF depends on endogenous TGF-alpha activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Tomiya
- First Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
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Bissig KD, Marti U, Solioz M, Forestier M, Zimmermann H, Lüthi M, Reichen J. Epidermal growth factor is decreased in liver of rats with biliary cirrhosis but does not act as paracrine growth factor immediately after hepatectomy. J Hepatol 2000; 33:275-81. [PMID: 10952245 DOI: 10.1016/s0168-8278(00)80368-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS Epidermal growth factor, a potent mitogen for hepatocytes and cholangiocytes, is thought to act as an immediate-early gene after partial hepatectomy. Since regeneration is impaired in cirrhosis, we explored the expression of epidermal growth factor in cirrhotic rat liver immediately after partial hepatectomy. METHODS Cirrhosis was induced by bile duct ligation (n=21); sham-operated animals served as controls (n=21). Twenty-five days after initial surgery animals were subjected to 70% partial hepatectomy or sham operation; the liver was sampled before surgery and 20, 40 and 90 min thereafter. Epidermal growth factor mRNA levels were assessed by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Protein expression was estimated by immunohistochemistry using a polyclonal antibody against epidermal growth factor. RESULTS Before hepatectomy, epidermal growth factor mRNA averaged 70.3+/-39.9 pg/microg of total RNA in controls; this was markedly decreased to 21.9+/-12.7 pg/microg RNA in bile duct ligation (p<0.01). Epidermal growth factor mRNA did not increase after partial hepatectomy in either group, with the exception of sham-operated controls. Immunohistochemistry revealed that partial hepatectomy had no effect on epidermal growth factor expression. Hepatocytes showed uniformly cytosolic epidermal growth factor in controls, while in bile duct ligation immunostaining was faint or absent. Cholangiocytes exhibited a strong cytosolic staining in all experimental groups. CONCLUSIONS The present study shows that epidermal growth factor is reduced in the cirrhotic liver. This could contribute to the loss of parenchymal liver tissue observed in cirrhosis. The lack of up-regulation after PH sheds doubt on the role of epidermal growth factor as an immediate-early gene in hepatic regeneration. Further, we demonstrate that epidermal growth factor accumulates in cholangiocytes. This observation is strong evidence for involvement of the mitogen epidermal growth factor in the proliferation of bile ducts during cirrhogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- K D Bissig
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Bern, Switzerland
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Ostrowski J, Woszczyński M, Kowalczyk P, Trzeciak L, Hennig E, Bomsztyk K. Treatment of mice with EGF and orthovanadate activates cytoplasmic and nuclear MAPK, p70S6k, and p90rsk in the liver. J Hepatol 2000; 32:965-74. [PMID: 10898317 DOI: 10.1016/s0168-8278(00)80101-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS Although signal transduction pathways activated by EGF have been extensively studied in cultured cells, few such studies have been done in whole animals. In this study, activation of hepatic kinases, phosphatases, and DNA-binding activity of AP-1 was examined after intraperitoneal injections of either EGF or sodium orthovanadate into mice. METHODS Cytoplasmic and nuclear proteins, extracted from isolated hepatocytes or whole liver tissue, were immunoprecipitated with either anti-ERK1/2, anti-70S6k, or anti-p90rsk antibodies and kinase activities were measured using specific substrates. Kinase protein levels was evaluated by Western blot analysis. AP-1 DNA binding activity was measured by electrophoretic mobility shift assay. RESULTS Systemic administration of EGF induced simultaneous increase in the activities of cytoplasmic and nuclear MAPK, p70S6k, and p90rsk. MAPK and p70S6k were more potently activated in the cytosol while p90rsk activation was more pronounced in the nucleus. Orthovanadate also activated these kinases but to a much lesser degree than EGF. In vitro phosphatase assays showed that neither EGF nor orthovanadate induced measurable changes in phosphatase activities. EGF, but not orthovanadate, activated nuclear AP-1 DNA-binding activity in intact liver, indicating that activation of MAPK, p70S6k, and p90rsk by orthovanadate is not sufficient to activate this transcription factor. CONCLUSION These observations provide groundwork for future studies to examine the role of EGF-induced kinase cascades and transcription factors in liver regeneration and other growth factor-mediated hepatic processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Ostrowski
- Department of Gastroenterology, Medical Center for Postgraduate Education in the Maria Sklodowska-Curie Memorial Cancer Center, Walrsaw, Poland.
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Kömüves LG, Feren A, Jones AL, Fodor E. Expression of epidermal growth factor and its receptor in cirrhotic liver disease. J Histochem Cytochem 2000; 48:821-30. [PMID: 10820155 DOI: 10.1177/002215540004800610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Polypeptide growth factors, including epidermal growth factor (EGF), play a central role in regulating hepatocyte growth both in vivo and in primary culture. To characterize EGF gene expression in the pathogenesis of regenerative cirrhotic fibrosis, we employed biotinylated antisense oligonucleotide probes to localize hepatic mRNA transcripts in situ. In control tissue and regenerative hepatic nodules, EGF receptor (EGFR) mRNA transcripts were expressed constitutively. In contrast, oligonucleotide probes targeting the human EGF coding region showed that EGF transcription was extremely low in control liver but was highly elevated and localized to regenerative hepatic nodules and bile duct epithelia of cirrhotic liver. To determine whether EGF mRNA accumulation accompanied a comparable increase in the EGF peptide, we performed immunohistochemistry using an antibody specific for the nonprocessed peptide aminoterminus. We observed that positive localized EGF staining paralleled its mRNA transcript. These results indicate that EGF upregulation is a characteristic of cirrhotic liver disease and suggest that persistent de novo ligand synthesis and its signaling contribute to an autocrine-mediated hepatocyte proliferation within the regenerative nodule.
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Affiliation(s)
- L G Kömüves
- Departments of Dermatology, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94080, USA.
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Mullhaupt B, Feren A, Jones A, Fodor E. DNA sequence and functional characterization of the human and rat epidermal growth factor promoter: regulation by cell growth. Gene 2000; 250:191-200. [PMID: 10854792 DOI: 10.1016/s0378-1119(00)00178-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Epidermal growth factor (EGF) regulates cell growth and differentiation through intracellular transduction networks activated by its tyrosine kinase receptor, EGFR. In this report we describe the structure and DNA sequence of transcriptional control regions from both human and Wistar-rat single copy EGF genes and their functional analysis in epithelial cell cultures. By sequence comparison we show these proximal gene regions have remained conserved in evolution to -640 (relative to the rodent mRNA initiation site), where similarity is interrupted by a rodent interspersed-repeat element (SINE). Transcript mapping reveals complexity in EGF initiation site selection: whereas a single rat liver initiation site (+1) appears 30bp 3' to the TTTAA element, an additional upstream site is detected in kidney RNA at -14. In contrast, in human RNA a single initiation is observed, which is displaced 12bp 3' to the rodent RNA terminus. Both promoters were defined in transient expression assays. Our results show the human promoter to be at least 20-fold more active than the equivalent rodent sequence, although both are activated during cell proliferation and negatively regulated in contact inhibited and quiescent cultures. The results indicate EGF gene expression and cell division are temporally linked, suggesting its promoter comprises a growth responsive regulatory domain.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Mullhaupt
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland.
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Rockey DC. The cell and molecular biology of hepatic fibrogenesis. Clinical and therapeutic implications. Clin Liver Dis 2000; 4:319-55. [PMID: 11232195 DOI: 10.1016/s1089-3261(05)70113-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Much has been learned in the past 2 decades about the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying hepatic fibrogenesis and about potential therapeutic approaches in patients with liver disease. The central event in fibrogenesis seems to be the activation of hepatic stellate cells. Stellate cell activation is characterized by several important features, including enhanced matrix synthesis and a prominent contractile phenotype, processes that probably contribute to the physical distortion and dysfunction of the liver in advanced disease. It is important to emphasize that the factors controlling activation are multifactorial and complex. The extracellular matrix is a dynamic, active constituent of the fibrogenic response and undergoes active remodeling, including synthesis and degradation. Effective therapy for hepatic fibrogenesis will probably also be multifactorial, based on the basic mechanisms underlying the fibrogenic process. The most effective therapies will probably be directed at the stellate cell. Approaches that address matrix remodeling (i.e., by enhancing matrix degradation or by inhibiting factors that prevent matrix breakdown) may be effective.
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Affiliation(s)
- D C Rockey
- Departments of Medicine and Cell Biology, Liver Center, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA.
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