GP73, a novel Golgi-localized protein upregulated by viral infection

Golgi protein 73 in liver fibrosis

Golgi protein 73 (GP73) is implicated in key pathogenic processes, particularly those related to inflammation and fibrogenesis. In the last years, its measurement has emerged as a promising biomarker for detection of liver fibrosis (LF), a common consequence of chronic liver disease that can progress to cirrhosis and eventually hepatocellular carcinoma. GP73 concentrations in blood appear significantly increased in LF patients, correlating with disease severity, making this biomarker a possible non-invasive alternative for detecting and monitoring this condition regardless of etiology. Understanding the molecular mechanisms involving GP73 expression could also lead to new therapeutic strategies aimed at modulating its synthesis or function to prevent or reverse LF. Despite its clinical potential, GP73 as a LF biomarker faces several challenges. The lack of demonstrated comparability among different assays as well as the lack of knowledge of individual variability can make difficult the result interpretation. Further research is therefore needed focusing on robust clinical validation of GP73 as a LF biomarker. Addressing analytical, biological, and clinical limitations will be critical to exploiting its potential for improving detection and monitoring of advanced LF.

GOLM1 dictates acquired Lenvatinib resistance by a GOLM1-CSN5 positive feedback loop upon EGFR signaling activation in hepatocellular carcinoma

Lenvatinib is a multiple receptor tyrosine kinases inhibitor (TKI) authorized for first-line treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, Lenvatinib resistance is common in HCC clinical treatment, highlighting the urgent need to understand mechanisms of resistance. Here, we identified Golgi membrane protein 1 (GOLM1), a type II transmembrane protein originally located in the Golgi apparatus, as a novel regulator of Lenvatinib resistance. We found GOLM1 was overexpressed in Lenvatinib resistant human HCC cell lines, blood and HCC samples. Additionally, GOLM1 overexpression contributes to Lenvatinib resistance and HCC progression in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, GOLM1 upregulates CSN5 expression through EGFR-STAT3 pathway. Reversely, CSN5 deubiquitinates and stabilizes GOLM1 protein by inhibiting ubiquitin-proteasome pathway of GOLM1. Furthermore, clinical specimens of HCC showed a positive correlation between the activation of the GOLM1-EGFR-STAT3-CSN5 axis. Finally, GOLM1 knockdown was found to act in synergy with Lenvatinib in subcutaneous and orthotopic mouse model. Overall, these findings identify a mechanism of resistance to Lenvatinib treatment for HCC, highlight an effective predictive biomarker of Lenvatinib response in HCC and show that targeting GOLM1 may improve the clinical benefit of Lenvatinib.

The first structure of human Golm1 coiled coil domain reveals an unexpected tetramer and highlights its structural diversity

Golgi membrane protein 1 (Golm1), a transmembrane protein with diverse subcellular localizations, has garnered significant attention in recent years due to its strong association with the development and progression of liver diseases and numerous cancers. Interestingly, although Golm1 is a membrane protein, the C-terminal of Golm1, which contains a coiled coil domain and a flexible acid region, can also be detected in the plasma of patients with various liver diseases. Notably, the coiled coil domain of serum Golm1 is postulated to play a pivotal role in physiological and pathological functions. However, little is currently known about the structure of this coiled coil domain and the full-length protein, which may limit our understanding of Golm1. Therefore, this study aims to address this gap in knowledge and reports the first crystal structure of the coiled coil domain of Golm1 at a resolution of 2.28 Å. Meanwhile, we have also confirmed that the Golm1 coiled coil domain in solution can form tetramer. Our results reveal that Golm1 can form a novel tetrameric structure that differs from the previous reported dimeric structure Golm1 could assemble, which may provide novel insights into the diversity of physiological functions and pathological roles.

Preclinical human and murine models of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most frequent liver cancer, which account for more than 90 % of all liver cancer cases. It is the fifth leading cause of cancer globally and the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality in men. The availability of competent HCC preclinical models is fundamental to the success of mechanistic studies, molecular target identification, and drug testing. However, there are challenges associated with the use of these models. In this review, we provided updates on various cell lines, animals, and human HCC models, their specific preclinic use and associated potential challenges. Overall, the understanding of the merits and demerits of a particular HCC model will improve model selection for various preclinical studies.

Development of a diagnostic nomogram for alpha-fetoprotein-negative hepatocellular carcinoma based on serological biomarkers

BACKGROUND

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Serum biomarkers play an important role in the early diagnosis and prognosis of HCC. Because a certain percentage of HCC patients are negative for alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), the diagnosis of AFP-negative HCC is essential to improve the detection rate of HCC.

AIM

To establish an effective model for diagnosing AFP-negative HCC based on serum tumour biomarkers.

METHODS

A total of 180 HCC patients were enrolled in this study. The expression levels of GP73, des-γ-carboxyprothrombin (DCP), CK18-M65, and CK18-M30 were detected by a fully automated chemiluminescence analyser. The variables were selected by logistic regression analysis. Several models were constructed using stepwise backward logistic regression. The performance of the models was compared using the C statistic, integrated discrimination improvement, net reclassification improvement, and calibration curves. The clinical utility of the nomogram was assessed using decision curve analysis (DCA).

RESULTS

The results showed that the expression levels of GP73, DCP, CK18-M65, and CK18-M30 were significantly greater in AFP-negative HCC patients than in healthy controls (P < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that GP73, DCP, and CK18-M65 were independent factors for diagnosing AFP-negative HCC. By comparing the diagnostic performance of multiple models, we included GP73 and CK18-M65 as the model variables, and the model had good discrimination ability (area under the curve = 0.946) and good goodness of fit. The DCA curves indicated the good clinical utility of the nomogram.

CONCLUSION

Our study identified GP73 and CK18-M65 as serum biomarkers with certain application value in the diagnosis of AFP-negative HCC. The diagnostic nomogram based on CK18-M65 combined with GP73 demonstrated good performance and effectively identified high-risk groups of patients with HCC.

Development of a diagnostic nomogram for alpha-fetoprotein-negative hepatocellular carcinoma based on serological biomarkers

BACKGROUND

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Serum biomarkers play an important role in the early diagnosis and prognosis of HCC. Because a certain percentage of HCC patients are negative for alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), the diagnosis of AFP-negative HCC is essential to improve the detection rate of HCC.

AIM

To establish an effective model for diagnosing AFP-negative HCC based on serum tumour biomarkers.

METHODS

A total of 180 HCC patients were enrolled in this study. The expression levels of GP73, des-γ-carboxyprothrombin (DCP), CK18-M65, and CK18-M30 were detected by a fully automated chemiluminescence analyser. The variables were selected by logistic regression analysis. Several models were constructed using stepwise backward logistic regression. The performance of the models was compared using the C statistic, integrated discrimination improvement, net reclassification improvement, and calibration curves. The clinical utility of the nomogram was assessed using decision curve analysis (DCA).

RESULTS

The results showed that the expression levels of GP73, DCP, CK18-M65, and CK18-M30 were significantly greater in AFP-negative HCC patients than in healthy controls (P < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that GP73, DCP, and CK18-M65 were independent factors for diagnosing AFP-negative HCC. By comparing the diagnostic performance of multiple models, we included GP73 and CK18-M65 as the model variables, and the model had good discrimination ability (area under the curve = 0.946) and good goodness of fit. The DCA curves indicated the good clinical utility of the nomogram.

CONCLUSION

Our study identified GP73 and CK18-M65 as serum biomarkers with certain application value in the diagnosis of AFP-negative HCC. The diagnostic nomogram based on CK18-M65 combined with GP73 demonstrated good performance and effectively identified high-risk groups of patients with HCC.

The transmembrane and cytosolic domains of equine herpesvirus type 1 glycoprotein D determine Golgi retention by regulating vesicle formation

Accumulating evidence underscores the pivotal role of envelope proteins in viral secondary envelopment. However, the intricate molecular mechanisms governing this phenomenon remain elusive. To shed light on these mechanisms, we investigated a Golgi-retained gD of EHV-1 (gDEHV-1), distinguishing it from its counterparts in Herpes Simplex Virus-1 (HSV-1) and Pseudorabies Virus (PRV). To unravel the specific sequences responsible for the Golgi retention phenotype, we employed a gene truncation and replacement strategy. The results suggested that Golgi retention signals in gDEHV-1 exhibiting a multi-domain character. The extracellular domain of gDEHV-1 was identified as an endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-resident domain, the transmembrane domain and cytoplasmic tail (TM-CT) of gDEHV-1 were integral in facilitating the protein's residence within the Golgi complex. Deletion or replacement of either of these dual domains consistently resulted in the mutant gDEHV-1 being retained in an ER-like structure. Moreover, (TM-CT)EHV-1 demonstrated a preference for binding to endomembranes, inducing the generation of a substantial number of vesicles, potentially originate from the Golgi complex or the ER-Golgi intermediate compartment. In conclusion, our findings provide insights into the intricate molecular mechanisms governing the Golgi retention of gDEHV-1, facilitating the comprehension of the processes underlying viral secondary envelopment.

PTEN deficiency potentiates HBV-associated liver cancer development through augmented GP73/GOLM1

BACKGROUND

Although hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major risk factor for hepatic cancer, the majority of HBV carriers do not develop this lethal disease. Additional molecular alterations are thus implicated in the process of liver tumorigenesis. Since phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) is decreased in approximately half of liver cancers, we investigated the significance of PTEN deficiency in HBV-related hepatocarcinogenesis.

METHODS

HBV-positive human liver cancer tissues were checked for PTEN expression. Transgenic HBV, Alb-Cre and Ptenfl/fl mice were inter-crossed to generate WT, HBV, Pten-/- and HBV; Pten-/- mice. Immunoblotting, histological analysis and qRT-PCR were used to study these livers. Gp73-/- mice were then mated with HBV; Pten-/- mice to illustrate the role of hepatic tumor biomarker golgi membrane protein 73 (GP73)/ golgi membrane protein 1 (GOLM1) in hepatic oncogenesis.

RESULTS

Pten deletion and HBV transgene synergistically aggravated liver injury, inflammation, fibrosis and development of mixed hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). GP73 was augmented in HBV; Pten-/- livers. Knockout of GP73 blunted the synergistic effect of deficient Pten and transgenic HBV on liver injury, inflammation, fibrosis and cancer development.

CONCLUSIONS

This mixed HCC-ICC mouse model mimics liver cancer patients harboring HBV infection and PTEN/AKT signaling pathway alteration. Targeting GP73 is a promising therapeutic strategy for cancer patients with HBV infection and PTEN alteration.

GOLM1 Promotes Pulmonary Fibrosis through Upregulation of NEAT1

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a lethal progressive disease with elusive molecular mechanisms and limited therapeutic options. Aberrant activation of fibroblasts is a central hallmark of lung fibrosis. Here, we report that Golgi membrane protein 1 (GOLM1, also known as GP73 or GOLPH2) was increased in the lungs of patients with pulmonary fibrosis and mice with bleomycin (BLM)-induced pulmonary fibrosis. Loss of GOLM1 inhibited proliferation, differentiation, and extracellular matrix deposition of fibroblasts, whereas overexpression of GOLM1 exerted the opposite effects. Similarly, worsening pulmonary fibrosis after BLM treatment was observed in GOLM1-knock-in mice, whereas BLM-treated Golm1-knockout mice exhibited alleviated pulmonary fibrosis and collagen deposition. Furthermore, we identified long noncoding RNA NEAT1 downstream of GOLM1 as a potential mediator of pulmonary fibrosis through increased GOLM1 expression. Depletion of NEAT1 inhibited fibroblast proliferation and extracellular matrix production and reversed the profibrotic effects of GOLM1 overexpression. Additionally, we identified KLF4 as a downstream mediator of GOLM1 signaling to NEAT1. Our findings suggest that GOLM1 plays a pivotal role in promoting pulmonary fibrosis through the GOLM1-KLF4-NEAT1 signaling axis. Targeting GOLM1 and its downstream pathways may represent a novel therapeutic strategy for treating pulmonary fibrosis.

microRNA profilings identify plasma biomarkers and targets associated with pediatric epilepsy patients

BACKGROUND

Although previous studies show that microRNAs (miRNAs) can potentially be used as diagnostic markers for epilepsy, there are very few analyses of pediatric epilepsy patients.

METHODS

miRNA profiles using miRNA-seq was performed on plasma samples from 14 pediatric epileptic patients and 14 healthy children. miRNA miR-27a-3p that were significantly changed between two groups were further evaluated. The potential target genes of miR-27a-3p were screened through unbiased mRNA-seq and further validated using Western blot and immunohistochemistry in HEK-293T cells and in the brains of mice with epilepsy induced by lithium chloride-pilocarpine.

RESULTS

We found 82 upregulated and 76 downregulated miRNAs in the plasma from pediatric patients compared with controls (p < 0.01), of which miR-27a-3p exhibited a very low p value (p < 0.0001) and validated in additional plasma samples. Two genes, GOLM1 and LIMK1, whose mRNA levels were decreased (p < 0.001) with the increase of miR-27a-3p were further validated in both HEK-293T cells and in epileptic mice.

CONCLUSIONS

MiR-27a-3p exhibits potential as a diagnostic and therapeutic marker for epilepsy. We postulate that additional studies on the downstream targets of miR-27a-3p will unravel its roles in epileptogenesis or disease progression.

IMPACT

A total of 158 differentially expressed miRNAs were detected in plasma between epileptic and control children. Plasma miR-27a-3p was one of the miRNAs with a low p value. GOLM1 and LIMK1 were validated as downstream target genes of miR-27a-3p. miR-27a-3p has potential as a diagnostic and therapeutic marker for epilepsy.

Platelet-Derived Apoptotic Vesicles Promote Bone Regeneration via Golgi Phosphoprotein 2 (GOLPH2)-AKT Signaling Axis

Apoptotic vesicles (apoVs) are apoptotic-cell-derived nanosized vesicles that take on dominant roles in regulating bone homeostasis. We have demonstrated that mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-derived apoVs are promising therapeutic agents for bone regeneration. However, clinical translation of MSC-derived apoVs has been hindered due to cell expansion and nuclear substance. As another appealing source for apoV therapy, blood cells could potentially eliminate these limitations. However, whether blood cells can release apoVs during apoptosis is uncertain, and the detailed characteristics and biological properties of respective apoVs are not elucidated. In this study, we showed that platelets (PLTs) could rapidly release abundant apoVs during apoptosis in a short time. To recognize the different protein expressions between PLT-derived apoVs and PLTs, we established their precise protein landscape. Furthermore, we identified six proteins specifically enriched in PLT-derived apoVs, which could be considered as specific biomarkers. More importantly, PLT-derived apoVs promoted osteogenesis of MSCs and rescued bone loss via Golgi phosphoprotein 2 (GOLPH2)-induced AKT phosphorylation, therefore, leading to the emergence of their potential in bone regeneration. In summary, we comprehensively determined characteristics of PLT-derived apoVs and confirmed their roles in bone metabolism through previously unrecognized GOPLH2-dependent AKT signaling, providing more understanding for exploring apoV-based therapy in bone tissue engineering.

Validation of the novel GLAS algorithm as an aid in the detection of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis based on GP73, LG2m, age, and sex

BACKGROUND

Diagnosis of liver disease at earlier stages can improve outcomes and reduce the risk of progression to malignancy. Liver biopsy is the gold standard for diagnosis of liver disease, but is invasive and sample acquisition errors are common. Serum biomarkers for liver function and fibrosis, combined with patient factors, may allow for noninvasive detection of liver disease. In this pilot study, we tested and validated the performance of an algorithm that combines GP73 and LG2m serum biomarkers with age and sex (GLAS) to differentiate between patients with liver disease and healthy individuals in two independent cohorts.

METHODS

To develop the algorithm, prototype immunoassays were used to measure GP73 and LG2m in residual serum samples collected between 2003 and 2016 from patients with staged fibrosis and cirrhosis of viral or non-viral etiology (n = 260) and healthy subjects (n = 133). The performance of five predictive models using combinations of age, sex, GP73, and/or LG2m from the development cohort were tested. Residual samples from a separate cohort with liver disease (fibrosis, cirrhosis, or chronic liver disease; n = 395) and healthy subjects (n = 106) were used to validate the best performing model.

RESULTS

GP73 and LG2m concentrations were higher in patients with liver disease than healthy controls and higher in those with cirrhosis than fibrosis in both the development and validation cohorts. The best performing model included both GP73 and LG2m plus age and sex (GLAS algorithm), which had an AUC of 0.92 (95% CI: 0.90-0.95), a sensitivity of 88.8%, and a specificity of 75.9%. In the validation cohort, the GLAS algorithm had an estimated an AUC of 0.93 (95% CI: 0.90-0.95), a sensitivity of 91.1%, and a specificity of 80.2%. In both cohorts, the GLAS algorithm had high predictive probability for distinguishing between patients with liver disease versus healthy controls.

CONCLUSIONS

GP73 and LG2m serum biomarkers, when combined with age and sex (GLAS algorithm), showed high sensitivity and specificity for detection of liver disease in two independent cohorts. The GLAS algorithm will need to be validated and refined in larger cohorts and tested in longitudinal studies for differentiating between stable versus advancing liver disease over time.

A meta-analysis of the prognostic impact of tissue golgi protein 73 (tGP73) in hepatocellular carcinoma

INTRODUCTION

To date, an increasing number of studies have revealed that GP73 may have prognostic value in liver cancer. However, most of the studies evaluated serum GP73, and the results regarding the prognostic value of tGP73 in liver cancer are still controversial. Therefore, in this meta-analysis, we aimed to determine whether tGP73 has any prognostic value in patients with HCC.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Relevant publications were searched for in PubMed, EMBASE, OVID, the Cochrane Library, and the Web of Science databases up to March 2023. The hazard ratio (HR) or odds ratio (OR) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) of eligible studies were assessed by fixed-effects or random-effects models. In addition, subgroup analyses were conducted to investigate the possible causes of heterogeneity, and publication bias analysis was also performed to assess the reliability of the meta-analysis results.

RESULTS

A total of 10 studies were included. These studies included 1569 HCC patients, and a meta-analysis was performed. The results of our meta-analysis showed that higher GP73 expression levels were significantly associated with poorer OS (HR = 1.87, 95% CI: 1.41-2.48, P < 0.0001, I2 = 58%). However, there was no significant correlation between high GP73 expression and disease-free survival (DFS) (HR: 1.43, 95% CI: 0.93-2.33, P = 0.100). In addition, abnormal GP73 expression was also related to higher tumour tissue differentiation grade (OR = 3.03, 95% CI = 2.01-4.57, P < 0.0001, I2 = 89%), later tumour stage (OR = 5.89, 95% CI = 2.31-14.99, P < 0.0001, I2 = 0%), vascular invasion (OR = 1.72, 95% CI = 1.12-2.64, P = 0.010, I2 = 0%), multiple tumours (OR = 2.44, 95% CI = 1.37-3.68, P = 0.001, I2 = 44%) and early postoperative tumour recurrence (OR = 1.92, 95% CI = 1.10-3.28, P = 0.020, I2 = 62%).

CONCLUSIONS

The meta-analysis showed that the overexpression of GP73 may be related to a poor prognosis of HCC, and it may also have a predictive effect on the invasion and metastasis of HCC.

GP73 enhances the ox-LDL-induced inflammatory response in THP-1 derived macrophages via affecting NLRP3 inflammasome signaling

BACKGROUND

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease with its molecular basis incompletely understood. Here, we determined whether the Golgi phosphoprotein 73 (GP73), a novel protein highly related to inflammation and disrupted lipid metabolism, was involved in the development of atherosclerosis.

METHODS

Public microarray databases of human vascular samples were analyzed for expression patterns. Apolipoprotein-E-gene-deficient (ApoE-/-) mice (8-week-old) were randomly assigned to either a chow diet group or a high-fat diet group. The levels of serum GP73, lipid profiles and key inflammatory cytokines were determined by ELISA. The aortic root plaque was isolated and used for by Oil Red O staining. PMA-differentiated THP-1 macrophages were transfected with GP73 small interfering RNA (siRNA) or infected with adenovirus expressing GP73, and then stimulated with oxidized low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL). The expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines and signal pathway key targets were determined by ELISA kit and Western blot respectively. In addition, ichloro-dihydro-fluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) was used to measure the intracellular ROS levels.

RESULTS

The expressions of GP73 and NLRP3 were substantially upregulated in human atherosclerotic lesions. There were significant linear correlations between GP73 and inflammatory cytokines expressions. High-fat diet-induced atherosclerosis and increased levels of plasma inflammatory mediators (IL-1β, IL-18, and TNF-α) were observed in ApoE-/- mice. Besides, the expressions of GP73 in the aorta and serum were significantly upregulated and positively correlated with the NLRP3 expression. In the THP-1 derived macrophages, ox-LDL treatment upregulated the expressions of GP73 and NLRP3 proteins and activated the inflammatory responses in a concentration-dependent and time-dependent manner. Silencing of GP73 attenuated the inflammatory response and rescued the decreased migration induced by ox-LDL, inhibiting the NLRP3 inflammasome signaling and the ROS and p-NF-κB activation.

CONCLUSIONS

We demonstrated that GP73 promoted the ox-LDL-induced inflammation in macrophages by affecting the NF-κB/NLRP3 inflammasome signaling, and may play a role in atherosclerosis.

Unveiling the impact of GOLM1/GP73 on cytokine production in cancer and infectious disease

The Golgi membrane protein GOLM1/GP73/GOLPH2 has been found to impact cytokine production in both infectious disease and cancer. In viral infections, GOLM1 levels are increased, and this lowers the production of type I interferons and other inflammatory cytokines. However, elevated GOLM1 expression levels due to mutations are linked to a higher production of interleukin (IL)-6 during Candida infections, potentially explaining an increased susceptibility to candidemia in individuals carrying these mutations. In cancer, the protease Furin produces a soluble form of GOLM1 that has oncogenic properties by promoting the production of the chemokine CCL2 and suppressing the production of inflammatory cytokines such as IL-12 and interferon gamma. This review will focus on the role of GOLM1 in cytokine production, highlighting how it can both promote and inhibit cytokine production. It is crucial to understand this in order to effectively target GOLM1 for therapeutic purposes in diseases associated with abnormal cytokine production, including cancer and infectious disease.

GP73 is a promising indicator in HIV diagnosis and treatment: a one-year follow-up study

Golgi protein 73 (GP73) has been recognized as a biomarker for evaluating liver diseases, although the serum profile of patients with HIV remains unclear. This study was designed to investigate the diagnostic values of serum GP73 in patients with HIV. A total of 92 patients with HIV and 60 healthy participants were selected, and serum samples were collected; 51 of 92 patients were followed up and all indicators were re-tested after 1 year. Patients with HIV had significantly lower GP73 concentration, lower viral load, and higher CD4+ T cell counts after antiretroviral treatment. A significant correlation between the changes of GP73 level and CD4+ T cell count was observed. The CD4+ T cell count was significantly correlated with the glycosylated GP73 level. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) of GP73 to predict negative viral load-negative conversion alone was 0.705. When the cut-off value was set at 146.7 ng/mL, the sensitivity and specificity were 73% and 70% respectively. These results indicate that serum GP73 may have predictive ability for negative viral load-negative conversion.

GOLM1 and FAM49B: Potential Biomarkers in HNSCC Based on Bioinformatics and Immunohistochemical Analysis

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide. We aimed to identify potential genetic markers that could predict the prognosis of HNSCC. A total of 44 samples of GSE83519 from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets and 546 samples of HNSCC from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) were adopted. The differently expressed genes (DEGs) of the samples were screened by GEO2R. We integrated the expression information of DEGs with clinical data from GES42743 using the weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). A total of 17 hub genes were selected by the module membership (|MM| > 0.8), and the gene significance (|GS| > 0.3) was selected from the turquoise module. GOLM1 and FAM49B genes were chosen based on single-gene analysis results. Survival analysis showed that the higher expression of GOLM1 and FAM49B genes was correlated with a worse prognosis of HNSCC patients. Immunohistochemistry and multiplex immunofluorescence techniques verified that GOLM1 and FAM49B genes were highly expressed in HNSCC cells, and high expressions of GOLM1 were associated with the pathological grades of HNSCC. In conclusion, our study illustrated a new insight that GOLM1 and FAM49B genes might be used as potential biomarkers to determine the development of HNSCC, while GOLM1 and FAM49B have the possibility to be prognostic indicators for HNSCC.

GOLM1 is related to the inflammatory/immune nature of uveal melanoma and acts as a promising indicator for prognosis and immunotherapy response

Purpose: Inflammatory/immune-related features are associated with the immunotherapy and prognosis of uveal melanoma (UVM). In this study, we systematically analyzed the correlation between GOLM1 and the inflammatory/immune nature of UVM and explored its potential value in predicting prognosis and guiding immunotherapy for UVM patients.

Methods: A total of 143 UVM patients were enrolled in the current study. The differentially expressed genes between the GOLM1-low expression (LEXP) and GOLM1-high expression (HEXP) subgroups were calculated by the “limma” package and further annotated to reveal the key pathways by the “ClusterProfiler” package. Immunocyte infiltration was evaluated by single-sample gene set enrichment analysis, while the potential response to immunotherapy was realized by subclass mapping analysis. Moreover, tumor tissue sections from 23 UVM patients were collected and stained for GOLM1 (1:300; cat# DF8100, Affinity Biosciences), PD-L1 (1:250; cat# ab213524, Abcam), PD-1 (1:100; cat# ab52587, Abcam), CTLA-4 (1:300; cat# DF6793, Affinity Biosciences), and IFN-γ (1:300; cat# DF6045, Affinity Biosciences).

Results: We found that higher expression of GOLM1 correlated with an unfavorable prognosis in UVM patients. Multivariate Cox regression analysis suggested that GOLM1 served as a prognostic factor independent of clinicopathological parameters. Notably, we found that the expression of PD-1, PD-L1, IFN-γ, and CTLA4 was higher in the GOLM1-high subgroup than in the GOLM1-low expression subgroup at the mRNA level and was subsequently validated at the protein level by immunohistochemistry. Gene pattern and SubMap analyses confirmed the indicator role of GOLM1 in predicting immunotherapy response in UVM.

Conclusion: Taken together, GOLM1 is a novel prognostic marker, and it can be employed to predict the overall survival outcomes and treatment responses of anti-PD-1/PD-L1 and anti-CTLA4 therapies for UVM patients.

Hepatitis B virus promotes hepatocellular carcinoma development by activating GP73 to repress the innate immune response

Background

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) causes acute and chronic infection in the clinic. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is closely linked to HBV infection. Serum Golgi protein 73 (GP73) increases during HBV infection. However, the role of GP73 during HBV infection and the occurrence of HBV-related HCC is still poorly understood.

Methods

The underlying role of HBV-induced GP73 in regulating HCC development was investigated in this study. GP73 expression in HBV-related clinical HCC tissues and in HBV-infected hepatoma cells and primary human hepatocytes was evaluated by immunohistochemistry, ELISAs, Western blotting and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis. Tumorigenicity of GP73 overexpressed cells was detected by flow cytometry, qRT-PCR, xenograft nude mouse analyses and sphere formation assays. The effects of GP73 and HBV infection on host innate immune responses in hepatocytes were further investigated by Western blotting and qRT-PCR analysis.

Results

Initially, we confirmed that HBV-positive HCC tissues had significantly higher expression of GP73. Ectopic expression of the HBV gene could induce GP73 expression in primary human hepatocytes and hepatoma cells in vitro. In addition, we discovered that GP73 promotes HCC in both normal liver cells and hepatoma cells. We also found that ectopic expression of HBV genes increases GP73 expression, suppressing the host's innate immune responses in hepatocytes.

Conclusions

Our results demonstrate that HBV facilitates HCC development by activating GP73 to repress the host's innate immune response. This study adds to our understanding of the pathogenesis of HBV infection-induced HCC. The findings also provide preclinical support for GP73 as a potential HCC prevention or treatment target.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13027-022-00462-y.

Integrative Analysis Reveals the Potential Role and Prognostic Value of GOLM1 in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Overexpression of Golgi membrane protein 1 (GOLM1) is closely associated with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) vascular invasion. How GOLM1 may be involved in angiogenesis in HCC remains unclear. We explored how GOLM1 promotes angiogenesis in HCC and potential prognostic value. Expression levels of GOLM1 in HCC patients and healthy controls were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between HCC patients and controls were compared. GOLM1 was knocked out in the HCC cell line, and RNA sequencing and DEG expression analysis were performed compared with control cells. Based on TCGA data and cell line RNA sequencing data, DEGs affected by a high expression of GOLM1 were identified. Subsequently, enrichment analysis was performed to explore the functions and pathways of the DEGs affected by a high expression of GOLM1. A relevant network analysis was built. Cox regression, genomic variance analysis scores, minimum absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression, and random forest regression models were applied to determine the best prognostic model and validated using the GSE54236 dataset from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). We determined the effect of GOLM1 expression on immune cell infiltration in liver cancer. GOLM1 was overexpressed in HCC tissues compared with controls, and its level correlated with tumor purity and prognosis. 400 DEGs affected by highly expressed GOLM1 were identified in TCGA and cell line RNA sequencing data. Enrichment analysis revealed that these DEGs may be related to biological processes of oxidative stress and angiogenesis and involved in the VEGF signaling pathway and protein processing in endoplasmic reticulum. We predicted a comprehensive regulatory network in which GOLM1 activated VEGF signaling to promote HCC angiogenesis. GOLM1 may interact with E2F1 and IGF2BP3 to promote angiogenesis. GOLM1 overexpression was associated with greater immune cell infiltration. A random forest regression model was the best prognostic model. Our study reveals a potential molecular mechanism of GOLM1 in promoting HCC. We developed two prognostic models based on DEG associated with GOLM1 overexpression to help stratify HCC prognosis and improve individualized treatment.

Golgi Protein 73 (GP73) Serum Levels Predict Outcome after Resection of Biliary Tract Cancer

Simple Summary

Biliary tract cancer (BTC) represents a rare liver malignancy with unfavorable outcome. It is often challenging to identify the ideal surgical candidates and present stratification algorithms are rarely based on the individual tumor biology. In the present manuscript, we evaluated a role of serum Golgi protein 73 (GP73) in patients with resectable BTC. We could show that elevated levels of GP73 before surgery identified a subgroup of BTC patients with a significantly reduced overall survival after tumor resection. Therefore, measurement of GP73 serum levels might become a novel tool in the challenging preoperative stratification process of patients with resectable BTC.

Abstract

Background: Tumor resection represents the only potentially curative therapy for patients with biliary tract cancer. Nevertheless, disease recurrence is observed in about 50% of patients, leading to a 5-years survival rate of less than 50%. The Golgi protein 73 (GP73), a type II Golgi transmembrane protein, exerts important functions of intracellular protein processing and transportation. Circulating GP73 has recently been suggested as a prognostic marker following resection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) but its role in the context of BTC has remained unknown. In this study, we evaluate a potential role of circulating GP73 as a novel biomarker in patients with resectable BTC. Methods: GP73 serum levels were measured by immunoassay in n = 97 BTC and n = 40 HCC patients as well as n = 31 healthy controls. Results were correlated with clinical data. Results: Serum GP73 levels were significantly elevated in BTC patients compared to healthy controls but lower compared to HCC patients. The combination of GP73/CA19-9 showed a sensitivity and specificity of 83.5% and 90.3% regarding the differentiation of BTC patients and healthy controls. BTC patients with baseline GP73 levels above the ideal cut-off value (42.47 ng/mL) showed a significantly reduced median overall survival (193 days) compared to patients with preoperative GP73 levels below this cut-off (882 days). These results were confirmed in uni- and multivariate Cox-regression analysis including several clinicopathological parameters such as age, ECOG performance status, tumor stage as well as established tumor markers and parameters of liver and kidney function. Conclusions: GP73 represents a previously unrecognized biomarker in the patients with resectable BTC that identifies patients with an impaired postoperative outcome. If larger clinical trials confirmed these findings, measurement of GP73 serum levels might become a novel tool in the challenging preoperative stratification process of patients with resectable BTC.

Possible roles of Golgi protein-73 in liver diseases

Golgi protein 73 (also known as GP73 or GOLPH2) is a transmembrane glycoprotein present in the Golgi apparatus. In diseased states, GP73 is expressed by hepatocytes rather than by bile duct epithelial cells. Many studies have reported that serum GP73 (sGP73) is a marker for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). For HCC diagnosis, the sensitivities of sGP73 were higher than that of other markers but the specificities were lower. Considering that the concentration of GP73 is consistent with the stage of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis, some studies have implied that GP73 may be a marker for liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. Increased sGP73 levels may result from hepatic inflammatory activity. During liver inflammation, GP73 facilitates liver tissue regeneration. By summarizing the studies on GP73 in liver diseases, we wish to focus on the mechanism of GP73 in diseases.

Short-term prognostic factors for hepatitis B virus-related acute-on-chronic liver failure

BACKGROUND

Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is the abrupt exacerbation of declined hepatic function in patients with chronic liver disease.

AIM

To explore the independent predictors of short-term prognosis in patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related ACLF and to establish a predictive short-term prognosis model for HBV-related ACLF.

METHODS

From January 2016 to December 2019, 207 patients with HBV-related ACLF attending the 910th Hospital of Chinese People's Liberation Army were continuously included in this retrospective study. Patients were stratified based on their survival status 3 mo after diagnosis. Information was collected regarding gender and age; coagulation function in terms of prothrombin time and international normalized ratio (INR); hematological profile in terms of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet count (PLT); blood biochemistry in terms of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, total bilirubin (Tbil), albumin, cholinesterase, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, blood glucose, and sodium (Na); tumor markers including alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and Golgi protein 73 (GP73); virological indicators including HBV-DNA, HBsAg, HBeAg, Anti-HBe, and Anti-HBc; and complications including hepatic encephalopathy, hepatorenal syndrome, spontaneous peritonitis, gastrointestinal bleeding, and pulmonary infection.

RESULTS

There were 157 and 50 patients in the survival and death categories, respectively. Univariate analysis revealed significant differences in age, PLT, Tbil, BUN, NLR, HBsAg, AFP, GP73, INR, stage of liver failure, classification of liver failure, and incidence of complications (pulmonary infection, hepatic encephalopathy, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, and upper gastrointestinal bleeding) between the two groups (P < 0.05). GP73 [hazard ratio (HR): 1.009, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.005-1.013, P = 0.000], middle stage of liver failure (HR: 5.056, 95%CI: 1.792-14.269, P = 0.002), late stage of liver failure (HR: 22.335, 95%CI: 8.544-58.388, P = 0.000), pulmonary infection (HR: 2.056, 95%CI: 1.145-3.690, P = 0.016), hepatorenal syndrome (HR: 6.847, 95%CI: 1.930-24.291, P = 0.003), and HBsAg (HR: 0.690, 95%CI: 0.524-0.908, P = 0.008) were independent risk factors for short-term prognosis in patients with HBV-related ACLF. Following binary logistics regression analysis, we arrived at the following formula for predicting short-term prognosis: Logit(P) = Ln(P/1-P) = 0.013 × (GP73 ng/mL) + 1.907 × (middle stage of liver failure) + 4.146 × (late stage of liver failure) + 0.734 × (pulmonary infection) + 22.320 × (hepatorenal syndrome) - 0.529 × (HBsAg) - 5.224. The predictive efficacy of the GP73-ACLF score was significantly better than that of the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) and MELD-Na score models (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The stage of liver failure, presence of GP73, pulmonary infection, hepatorenal syndrome, and HBsAg are independent predictors of short-term prognosis in patients with HBV-related ACLF, and the GP73-ACLF model has good predictive value among these patients.

Effects of microwave ablation on serum Golgi protein 73 in patients with primary liver cancer

BACKGROUND

Microwave ablation (MWA) is an effective treatment option for patients with primary liver cancer. However, it has been reported that the MWA procedure induces a hepatic inflammatory response and injury, which may negatively affect the efficacy of MWA. As such, the discovery of reliable markers to monitor the patient’s response to MWA is needed. Golgi protein 73 (GP73) has been shown to be associated with chronic liver disease. To date, the potential value of serum GP73 in the dynamic monitoring during MWA of liver cancer remains unclear.

AIM

To examine the effects of MWA on the serum levels of GP73 in patients with primary liver cancer.

METHODS

A total of 150 primary liver cancer patients with a single small lesion (≤ 3 cm in diameter) were retrospectively enrolled spanning the period between January 2016 and October 2018. All of the patients received MWA for the treatment of primary liver cancer. Serum GP73, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), and widely used liver biochemical indicators [serum albumin, total bilirubin (TBIL), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST)] were compared before MWA and at different time points, including 1, 2, and 4 wk following the ablation procedure.

RESULTS

Complete tumor ablation was achieved in 95.33% of the patients at 1 mo after MWA. The 1-, 2-, and 3-year disease-free survival rates were 74.67%, 59.33%, and 54.00%, respectively. The serum AFP levels were significantly decreased at 1, 2, and 4 wk after MWA; they returned to the normal range at 12 wk after MWA; and they remained stable thereafter during follow-up in those cases without recurrence. In contrast, the serum GP73 levels were significantly increased at 1 and 2 wk after MWA. The serum GP73 levels reached the peak at 2 wk after MWA, started to decline after hepatoprotective treatment with glycyrrhizin and reduced glutathione, and returned to the pretreatment levels at 12 and 24 wk after MWA. Notably, the changes of serum GP73 in response to MWA were similar to those of TBIL, ALT, and AST.

CONCLUSION

Serum GP73 is markedly increased in response to MWA of liver cancer. Thus, serum GP73 holds potential as a marker to monitor MWA-induced inflammatory liver injury in need of amelioration.

GOLM1 depletion modifies cellular sphingolipid metabolism and adversely affects cell growth

Golgi membrane protein 1 (GOLM1) is a Golgi-resident type 2 transmembrane protein known to be overexpressed in several cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), as well as in viral infections. However, the role of GOLM1 in lipid metabolism remains enigmatic. In this study, we employed siRNA-mediated GOLM1 depletion in Huh-7 HCC cells to study the role of GOLM1 in lipid metabolism. Mass spectrometric lipidomic analysis in GOLM1 knockdown cells showed an aberrant accumulation of sphingolipids, such as ceramides, hexosylceramides, dihexosylceramides, sphinganine, sphingosine, and ceramide phosphate, along with cholesteryl esters. Furthermore, we observed a reduction in phosphatidylethanolamines and lysophosphatidylethanolamines. In addition, Seahorse extracellular flux analysis indicated a reduction in mitochondrial oxygen consumption rate upon GOLM1 depletion. Finally, alterations in Golgi structure and distribution were observed both by electron microscopy imaging and immunofluorescence microscopy analysis. Importantly, we found that GOLM1 depletion also affected cell proliferation and cell cycle progression in Huh-7 HCC cells. The Golgi structural defects induced by GOLM1 reduction might potentially affect the trafficking of proteins and lipids leading to distorted intracellular lipid homeostasis, which may result in organelle dysfunction and altered cell growth. In conclusion, we demonstrate that GOLM1 depletion affects sphingolipid metabolism, mitochondrial function, Golgi structure, and proliferation of HCC cells.

Genome-wide screening identifies DNA methylation sites that regulate the blood proteome

Background: Identifying DNA methylation sites that regulate the blood proteome is important for biomedical purposes. Materials & methods: Here the authors performed a genome-wide search to find DNA methylation sites that impact proteins. Results: The authors identified 165 methylation sites associated with 138 proteins. The authors noted hotspot genomic regions that control the levels of several proteins. For example, methylation of the ABO locus impacted 37 proteins and contributed to cardiometabolic comorbidities, including the severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection. The authors made these findings publicly available as a Unix software that identifies methylation sites that cause disease and reveals the underlying proteins. The authors underlined the software application by showing that components of innate immunity contribute to systolic blood pressure. Conclusion: This study provides a catalog of DNA methylation sites that regulate the proteome, and the results are available as freeware for biological insight.

Relationship between the Level of Serum Golgi Protein 73 and the Risk of Short-term Death in Patients with ALD-ACLF

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

As a hepatocellular carcinoma biomarker, serum Golgi protein 73 (GP73) is reportedly related to inflammation. Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is characterized by severe systemic inflammation. In this study, we aimed to explore the association between the GP73 level and short-term mortality in patients with alcohol-associated liver disease-related ACLF (ALD-ACLF).

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study involved 126 Chinese adults with ALD-ACLF. Baseline serum GP73 level was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Patients were followed-up for 90 d and outcomes were assessed. Data were analyzed using multivariate Cox regression and piecewise linear regression analyses. The predictive value of GP73 and classic models for the short-term prognosis of participants were evaluated and compared using receiver operating characteristic curves.

RESULTS

The serum GP73 level was independently associated with an increased mortality risk in patients with ALD-ACLF. Compared with the lowest tertile, the highest serum GP73 level predisposed patients with ALD-ACLF to a higher mortality risk in the fully adjusted model [at 28 days: hazard ratio (HR): 4.29 (0.99-18.54), p=0.0511; at 90 days: HR: 3.52 (1.15-10.79), p=0.0276]. Further analysis revealed a positive linear association. GP73 significantly improved the accuracy of the Child-Turcotte-Pugh score, model for end-stage liver disease score, and model for end-stage liver disease-sodium score in predicting short-time prognosis of patients with ALD-ACLF.

CONCLUSIONS

The serum GP73 level is a significant predictor of the subsequent risk of death in patients with ALD-ACLF. GP73 improved the predictive value of classic prognostic scores.

MiR-30a-3p Suppresses the Growth and Development of Lung Adenocarcinoma Cells Through Modulating GOLM1/JAK-STAT Signaling

A considerable amount of people succumbs to lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) due to its high incidence and mortality. This study attempted to reveal the impacts of GOLM1 on LUAD. This work analyzed GOLM1 expression in LUAD and normal tissue and studied its prognostic value utilizing data from The Cancer Genome Atlas. RNA and protein levels were, respectively, determined utilizing qRT-PCR and western blot. Cell-aggressive behaviors were assessed employing Cell Counting Kit-8, scratch healing, and Transwell assays. The targetting relationship between GOLM1 and miR-30a-3p was assayed by dual-luciferase method. GOLM1 up-regulation in LUAD was found in TCGA and it was also a negative factor for survival in patients. GOLM1 overexpression promoted cell progression in LUAD. Down-regulated miR-30a-3p in LUAD was an upstream regulatory miRNA of GOLM1 in terms of molecular mechanism. Further, rescue assays illustrated that miR-30a-3p overexpression attenuated the GOLM1 facilitating impacts on LUAD progression. Finally, we proved that miR-30a-3p/GOLM1 regulated progression of LUAD cells via JAK-STAT pathway. Collectively, the inhibitory impacts of miR-30a-3p on LUAD growth may be mediated by GOLM1/JAK-STAT, which may contribute to the diagnosis of LUAD therapy and the development of therapeutic tools.

Graphene-Based Electrochemical Sensor for Detection of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Markers

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a group of highly lethal malignant tumors that seriously threaten human health. The main way to improve the survival quality and reduce the mortality of HCC is early diagnosis and treatment. Therefore, it will be of great significance to explore new quantitative detection methods for HCC markers. With the rapid development of electrochemical biosensors and nanomaterials, electrochemical sensors based on graphene can detect tumor markers, with the advantages of simple operation, high detection sensitivity, and specificity. Combined with the published literature in recent years, the article briefly reviews the application of graphene-based electrochemical biosensors in the detection of HCC markers, including alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), Golgi protein-73 (GP73), exosomes, and microRNA-122 (miR-122).

Application and progress of the detection technologies in hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has a very high incidence and fatality rate, and in most cases, it is already at an advanced stage when diagnosed. Therefore, early prevention and detection of HCC are two of the most effective strategies. However, the methods recommended in the practice guidelines for the detection of HCC cannot guarantee high sensitivity and specificity except for the liver biopsy, which is known as the "gold standard". In this review, we divided the detection of HCC into pre-treatment diagnosis and post-treatment monitoring, and found that in addition to the traditional imaging detection and liver biopsy, alpha fetoprotein (AFP), lens culinaris-agglutinin-reactive fraction of AFP (AFP-L3), protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist-II (PIVKA-II) and other biomarkers are excellent biomarkers for HCC, especially when they are combined together. Most notably, the emerging liquid biopsy shows great promise in detecting HCC. In addition, lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) and other relevant biomarkers may become promising biomarkers for HCC post-treatment monitoring. Through the detailed introduction of the diagnostic technology of HCC, we can have a detailed understanding of its development process and then obtain some enlightenment from the diagnosis, to improve the diagnostic rate of HCC and reduce its mortality.

GP73 links SARS-CoV-2 infection with dysglycaemia

Severe COVID-19 is often associated with detrimental elevations in blood glucose, but the mechanisms are poorly understood. In this issue of Nature Metabolism, Wan et al. identify GP73 as a SARS-CoV-2-induced secreted factor that enhances hepatic glucose production and is necessary for SARS-CoV-2-associated glucose abnormalities.

GP73 is a glucogenic hormone contributing to SARS-CoV-2-induced hyperglycemia

Severe cases of infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are associated with elevated blood glucose levels and metabolic complications. However, the molecular mechanisms for how SARS-CoV-2 infection alters glycometabolic control are incompletely understood. Here, we connect the circulating protein GP73 with enhanced hepatic gluconeogenesis during SARS-CoV-2 infection. We first demonstrate that GP73 secretion is induced in multiple tissues upon fasting and that GP73 stimulates hepatic gluconeogenesis through the cAMP/PKA signaling pathway. We further show that GP73 secretion is increased in cultured cells infected with SARS-CoV-2, after overexpression of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid and spike proteins and in lungs and livers of mice infected with a mouse-adapted SARS-CoV-2 strain. GP73 blockade with an antibody inhibits excessive glucogenesis stimulated by SARS-CoV-2 in vitro and lowers elevated fasting blood glucose levels in infected mice. In patients with COVID-19, plasma GP73 levels are elevated and positively correlate with blood glucose levels. Our data suggest that GP73 is a glucogenic hormone that likely contributes to SARS-CoV-2-induced abnormalities in systemic glucose metabolism.

Golgi Phosphoprotein 73: The Driver of Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Cancer

Golgi phosphoprotein 73 (GP73, also termed as GOLM1 or GOLPH2) is a glycosylated protein residing on cis-Golgi cisternae and highly expressed in various types of cancer tissues. Since GP73 is a secretory protein and detectable in serum derived from cancer patients, it has been regarded as a novel serum biomarker for the diagnosis of different cancers, especially hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the functional roles of GP73 in cancer development are still poorly understood. In recent years, it has been discovered that GP73 acts as a multifunctional protein-facilitating cancer progression, and strikingly, it has been identified as a leading factor promoting epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of cancer cells and causing cancer metastasis. In this review, we have overviewed the latest findings of the functional roles of GP73 in elevating cancer progression, especially in facilitating EMT and cancer metastasis through modulating expression, transactivation, and trafficking of EMT-related proteins. In addition, unsolved research fields of GP73 have been lightened, which might be helpful to elucidate the regulatory mechanisms of GP73 on EMT and provide potential approaches in therapeutics against cancer metastasis.

Use of GP73 in the diagnosis of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and the staging of hepatic fibrosis

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the utility of Golgi protein 73 (GP73) in the diagnosis of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and hepatic fibrosis (HF) staging.

METHODS

Ninety-one patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) were allocated to NAFL (n = 46) and NASH (n = 45) groups according to their NAFLD activity score (NAS), and there were 30 healthy controls. Serum GP73 was measured by ELISA, GP73 protein expression was evaluated using immunohistochemistry, and FibroScan was used to determine liver hardness.

RESULTS

The serum GP73 concentrations of the NAFL and NASH groups were significantly higher than those of controls. GP73 expression in the liver of the patients gradually progressed from absent or low to moderate or high. Serum GP73 positively correlated with liver expression, and the serum and liver GP73 of the patients positively correlated with FibroScan value and HF stage. There was a strong positive correlation of the combination of alanine aminotransferase, gamma glutamyl transferase and GP73 with NASH. The combination of serum GP73 and FibroScan value was found to predict NASH (NAS > 4) and advanced HF (stage ≥2) in patients with NAFLD using receiver operating characteristic analysis.

CONCLUSION

Serum GP73 may be useful in the diagnosis of NASH and the staging of HF.

GOLM1 Drives Colorectal Cancer Metastasis by Regulating Myeloid-derived Suppressor Cells

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the most common digestive neoplasms worldwide, metastasis and recurrence still account for the leading cause for the high mortality rate, but the exact mechanisms remain unclear. More and more evidence has indicated that the deregulation of GOLM1 plays a crucial role in cancer progression. Here, we reported a novel role of GOLM1 in promoting CRC metastasis. In this study, the expression of GOLM1 was detected in human CRC cohort. The function of GOLM1 in CRC metastasis was analyzed by in vivo cecum orthotopic model. We found that the expression of GOLM1 was significantly increased in CRC tissues than adjacent nontumor. Overexpression GOLM1 can promote CRC immune escape and metastasis by recruiting of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) at the same time. PF-04136309, a small molecule and specific inhibitor of CCR2 can largely suppressed GOLM1-mediated CRC metastasis. These results suggest that GOLM1 can promote CRC metastasis and is a prognostic biomarker in human CRC.

Suppression of GOLM1 by EGCG through HGF/HGFR/AKT/GSK-3β/β-catenin/c-Myc signaling pathway inhibits cell migration of MDA-MB-231

Golgi Membrane Protein 1 (GOLM1) has been identified as a prime target for cancer therapy because it overexpresses in many solid tumors, increases tumor growth and metastasis and leads to unfavorable survival. Though various approaches including siRNA interference and antibody targeting have been attempted, GOLM1 has remained an un-targetable molecule because of its mainly intracellular location and the lack of domains that could possibly be interfered with by small molecules. Numerous natural anti-tumoral plant substances have been identified, while their possible function on GOLM1 has never been revealed. This is the first report to study the relationship between GOLM1 downregulation and natural anti-tumoral plant substances and the possible mechanism. Among three tested possible migration-inhibiting natural substances (Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), Betulinic acid (BA) and Lupeol), EGCG showed the most potent inhibition effect on GOLM1 expression and MDA-MB-231 cell migration. Knocking down GOLM1 expression further increased the EGCG treatment effect. Molecular docking prediction and following experiments suggested that EGCG may inhibit GOLM1 expression and MDA-MB-231 cells migration through HGF/HGFR/AKT/GSK-3/β-catenin/c-Myc signaling pathway. In all, EGCG is the first identified GOLM1 downregulation natural product. Silencing GOLM1 may be a novel mechanism of potentiated anti-cancer migration effects and cytotoxic effect of EGCG. In addition, this study shed a new way for cancer therapy by combination of GOLM1 silencing and EGCG treatment in the future.

Serum Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein and Golgi Protein-73: New Diagnostic and Predictive Tools for Liver Fibrosis and Hepatocellular Cancer?

Simple Summary

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) ranks as the sixth most common malignancy and represents the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths. However, most HCC cases are insidious in the early stages leading to a delay in diagnosis with limited treatment options. In patients with chronic liver diseases, advanced liver fibrosis and cirrhosis are the leading risk factors for the development of HCC. Cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) and Golgi protein-73 (GP73) are two biomarkers that have been associated with the progression of chronic liver disease, including inflammation, fibrosis, and HCC. The aim of our study was to assess the performance of the combination of these biomarkers. We confirmed, in a large cohort of 288 patients with chronic liver diseases, that the combination of GP73 and COMP had a high discriminative ability to detect severe fibrosis/cirrhosis and is efficient in predicting the development of HCC.

Abstract

The cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) and Golgi-protein-73 (GP73) have been proposed as markers of liver fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Our aim was to assess the performance of the combination of these markers in diagnosing cirrhosis and predicting HCC development. Sera from 288 consecutive patients with chronic liver diseases were investigated by using COMP and GP73-ELISAs. Dual positivity for COMP (>15 U/L) and GP73 (>20 units) was observed in 24 (8.3%) patients, while 30 (10.4%) were GP73(+)/COMP(−), 37/288 (12.8%) GP73(−)/COMP(+), and 197 (68.5%) GP73(−)/COMP(−). Positivity for both markers was associated with cirrhosis [23/24 (95.8%) for GP73(+)/COMP(+) vs. 22/30 (73.3%) for GP73(+)/COMP(−) vs. 25/37 (67.6%) for GP73(−)/COMP(+) vs. 46/197 (23.4%) for GP73(−)/COMP(−); P < 0.001]. The combination of GP73, COMP, the aspartate aminotransferase/platelets ratio index, and the Fibrosis-4 score had even higher diagnostic accuracy to detect the presence of cirrhosis [AUC (95% CI): 0.916 (0.878–0.946)] or significant liver fibrosis (METAVIR ≥ F2) [AUC (95% CI): 0.832 (0.768–0.883)] than each marker alone. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that positivity for both GP73 and COMP was associated with higher rates of HCC development (P < 0.001) and liver-related deaths (P < 0.001) during follow-up. In conclusion, the combination of GP73 and COMP seems efficient to detect cirrhosis and predict worse outcomes and the development of HCC in patients with chronic liver diseases.

GOLM1 restricts colitis and colon tumorigenesis by ensuring Notch signaling equilibrium in intestinal homeostasis

Intestinal epithelium serves as the first barrier against the infections and injuries that mediate colonic inflammation. Colorectal cancer is often accompanied with chronic inflammation. Differed from its well-known oncogenic role in many malignancies, we present here that Golgi membrane protein 1 (GOLM1, also referred to as GP73) suppresses colorectal tumorigenesis via maintenance of intestinal epithelial barrier. GOLM1 deficiency in mice conferred susceptibility to mucosal inflammation and colitis-induced epithelial damage, which consequently promoted colon cancer. Mechanistically, depletion of GOLM1 in intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) led to aberrant Notch activation that interfered with IEC differentiation, maturation, and lineage commitment in mice. Pharmacological inhibition of Notch pathway alleviated epithelial lesions and restrained pro-tumorigenic inflammation in GOLM1-deficient mice. Therefore, GOLM1 maintains IEC homeostasis and protects against colitis and colon tumorigenesis by modulating the equilibrium of Notch signaling pathway.

High GP73 Expression Correlates with Poor Response to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy and Survival in Gastric Cancer: A Tissue Microarray Study

Golgi protein 73 (GP73) is a type II Golgi transmembrane protein which is overexpressed in several cancers, however, its role in gastric cancer is still unclear. The aim of this study is to investigate if high GP73 expression is associated with pathological tumor response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy and prognosis for patients with gastric cancer. A total of 348 patients with gastric cancer, who had undergone surgery between 1999 and 2011 were retrospectively reviewed, GP73 expression was examined in tumor tissues using tissue microarray and the correlations between its expression and pathological response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy as well as patients prognosis were analyzed. We found that GP73 expression was not associated with clinicopathologic features including tumor size, differentiation and TNM stage. High expression of GP73 was associated with less pathological tumor response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy and poor survival in gastric cancer, multivariate analysis showed GP73 expression was an independent predictive factor for pathological response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy and for prognosis in patients with gastric cancer. Our results suggest that GP73 expression correlates with the effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and is a promising biomarker to identify patients with poor prognosis.

The functional landscape of Golgi membrane protein 1 (GOLM1) phosphoproteome reveal GOLM1 regulating P53 that promotes malignancy

Golgi membrane protein 1 (GOLM1) was implicated in carcinogenesis of multiple types of cancer. However, Phosphoproteome landscapes of GOLM1 overexpression in lung cancer remain largely unknown. In this study, using data from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and phosphoproteome, we systematically evaluated the feature of GOLM1 and studied its prognostic value in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The proliferation, migration, and invasion capacities in PC9 cell with GOLM1 overexpression were determined using Trans-well system assay. Tumor engrafts was visualized in mice models and confirmed by ex vivo. An increased expression of GOLM1 had shorter overall survival (OS) in patients with NSCLC in TCGA database. GOLM1 in single gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) related to adherent's junction, cell cycle, and pathway in cancer. Overexpression of GOLM1 in GOLM1OE PC9 cells promoted cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Decreased migration and invasion potential were also observed in knockdown of GOLM1 in GOLM1KD PC9 cells in migration assay. An increased expression of GOLM1 could significantly increase the growth of tumor in xenograft mice models. phosphoproteome analysis showed 239 upregulated and 331 downregulated Phosphorylated proteins in GOLM1OE PC9 cells. Overexpression of GOLM1 in GSEA was significantly related to P53 in MAPK signaling pathway. Overexpression of GOLM1enhanced the phosphorylation of P53 protein at site S315 but inhibited the formation of P53 tetramers. These results indicate that overexpression GOLM1 enhances non-small-cell carcinoma aggressiveness through inhibited the formation of P53 tetramer.

Deoxycholic Acid Upregulates Serum Golgi Protein 73 through Activating NF-κB Pathway and Destroying Golgi Structure in Liver Disease

Golgi protein 73 (GP73) is upregulated in a variety of liver diseases, yet the detailed mechanism is poorly characterized. We analyzed GP73 in a retrospective cohort including 4211 patients with chronic liver disease (CLD) or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The effect of deoxycholic acid (DCA) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) on expression and release of GP73 in Huh-7 and SMMC7721 cells were studied. A mouse study was used to confirm our findings in vivo. A positive correlation was found between serum GP73 and total bile acid (TBA) in cirrhotic patients (r = 0.540, p < 0.001), higher than that in non-cirrhotic CLD (r = 0.318, p < 0.001) and HCC (r = 0.353, p < 0.001) patients. In Huh-7 and SMMC7721 cells, DCA upregulated the expression and release of GP73 in a dose- and time-dependent manner. After overexpressing NF-κB p65, the promoter activity, GP73 messenger RNA (mRNA) level, and supernatant GP73 level were increased. The promotion effect of DCA on GP73 release was attenuated after inhibiting the NF-κB pathway. Mutating the binding sites of NF-κB in the sequence of the GP73 promoter led to a declined promoting effect of DCA on GP73. The upregulation role of DCA in GP73 expression through the NF-κB pathway was confirmed in vivo. In addition, exposure to DCA caused disassembly of Golgi apparatus. In summary, DCA upregulates the expression and release of GP73 via activating the NF-κB pathway and destroying the Golgi structure.

Introgression of Eastern Chinese and Southern Chinese haplotypes contributes to the improvement of fertility and immunity in European modern pigs

Background

Pigs were domesticated independently from European and Asian wild boars nearly 10,000 years ago. Chinese indigenous pigs have been historically introduced to improve Europe local pigs. However, the geographic origin and biological functions of introgressed Chinese genes in modern European pig breeds remain largely unknown.

Results

Here we explored whole-genome sequencing data from 266 Eurasian wild boars and domestic pigs to produce a fine-scale map of introgression between French Large White (FLW) and Chinese pigs. We show that FLW pigs had historical admixture with both Southern Chinese (SCN) and Eastern Chinese (ECN) pigs ∼200–300 years ago. Moreover, a set of SCN haplotypes was shown to be beneficial for improving disease resistance and ECN haplotypes are favorable for improved reproductive performance in FLW pigs. In addition, we confirm human-mediated introgression events at the AHR locus, at which the haplotype of most likely ECN origin contributes to increased fertility of FLW pigs.

Conclusions

This study advances our understanding of the breeding history of global domestic pigs and highlights the importance of artificial introgression in the formation of phenotypic characteristics in domestic animals.

Serum Tumor Markers for Early Diagnosis of Primary Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most frequently occurring pernicious tumors in the world. It is typically very insidious in the early stages with no obvious symptoms. Its development and metastasis are very rapid. Upon diagnosis, most patients have already reached a local advanced stage or have established distant metastases. The treatment of HCC is limited, with poor prognosis and short natural survival time. In order to improve the efficiency of early diagnosis, it is particularly significant to choose economic and effective diagnosis methods. Ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, and computed tomography are usually used in the clinic, but these methods are extremely limited in the diagnosis of HCC. Tumor markers have become the main effective early clinical diagnosis method. Potential serum tumor markers include alpha fetoprotein heterogeneity, Golgi protein 73, phosphatidylinositol proteoglycan (GPC-3), osteopontin, abnormal prothrombin, and heat shock protein. These tumor markers provide new ideas and methods for the diagnosis of HCC. A combination of multiple markers can make up for the deficiency of single marker detection and provide a new strategy for the prognosis and auxiliary diagnosis of HCC. This review introduces protein tumor markers utilized over the past five years.

Golgi protein 73, hepatocellular carcinoma and other types of cancers

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors with a low survival rate. The identification of mechanisms underlying the development of HCC helps uncover cellular and molecular targets for the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of HCC. Golgi protein 73 (GP73) level is upregulated in HCC patients and potentially can be a therapeutic target. Despite many studies devoted to GP73 as a marker for HCC early diagnosis, there is little discussion about the function of GP73 in HCC tumorigenesis. Given the poor response to currently available HCC therapies, a better understanding of the role of GP73 in HCC may provide a new therapeutic target for HCC. The current paper summarizes the role of GP73 as a diagnostic marker as well as its roles in liver carcinogenesis. Its roles in other types of cancer are also discussed.

GP73 facilitates hepatitis B virus replication by repressing the NF-κB signaling pathway

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) chronically infects approximately 350 million people worldwide, and 600 000 deaths are caused by HBV-related hepatic failure. Golgi protein 73 (GP73) is a serum biomarker for liver diseases, including chronic hepatitis B. Here, we determine the effect of HBV infection on GP73 production and characterized the role of GP73 in HBV replication. Initially, we show that GP73 is highly produced in the sera of HBV-positive patients with chronic liver diseases and in HBV-stimulated leukocytes. In addition, HBV stimulation promotes GP73 production in peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated from healthy donors and in macrophages derived from human acute monocytic leukemia cells (THP-1). Notably, the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), but not HBV replication, is required for the activation of GP73 expression. Moreover, in HepG2 cells and Huh7 cells, GP73 facilitates HBV replication and represses nuclear factor kappa B p50 expression, which in turn represses HBV replication and GP73 expression. Finally, we demonstrate that GP73 facilitates HBV replication by repressing the innate immune response and the nuclear factor kappa B signaling pathway. Taken together, we revealed a distinct positive feedback mechanism between HBV replication and GP73 production and suggest that GP73 acts as a potential antiviral target for HBV infection.

Golgi protein-73: A biomarker for assessing cirrhosis and prognosis of liver disease patients

BACKGROUND

Reliable biomarkers of cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), or progression of chronic liver diseases are missing. In this context, Golgi protein-73 (GP73) also called Golgi phosphoprotein-2, was originally defined as a resident Golgi type II transmembrane protein expressed in epithelial cells. As a result, GP73 expression was found primarily in biliary epithelial cells, with only slight detection in hepatocytes. However, in patients with acute or chronic liver diseases and especially in HCC, the expression of GP73 is significantly up-regulated in hepatocytes. So far, few studies have assessed GP73 as a diagnostic or prognostic marker of liver fibrosis and disease progression.

AIM

To assess serum GP73 efficacy as a diagnostic marker of cirrhosis and/or HCC or as predictor of liver disease progression.

METHODS

GP73 serum levels were retrospectively determined by a novel GP73 ELISA (QUANTA Lite® GP73, Inova Diagnostics, Inc., Research Use Only) in a large cohort of 632 consecutive patients with chronic viral and non-viral liver diseases collected from two tertiary Academic centers in Larissa, Greece (n = 366) and Debrecen, Hungary (n = 266). Aspartate aminotransferase (AST)/Platelets (PLT) ratio index (APRI) was also calculated at the relevant time points in all patients. Two hundred and three patients had chronic hepatitis B, 183 chronic hepatitis C, 198 alcoholic liver disease, 28 autoimmune cholestatic liver diseases, 15 autoimmune hepatitis, and 5 with other liver-related disorders. The duration of follow-up was 50 (57) mo [median (interquartile range)]. The development of cirrhosis, liver decompensation and/or HCC during follow-up were assessed according to internationally accepted guidelines. In particular, the surveillance for the development of HCC was performed regularly with ultrasound imaging and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) determination every 6 mo in cirrhotic and every 12 mo in non-cirrhotic patients.

RESULTS

Increased serum levels of GP73 (> 20 units) were detected at initial evaluation in 277 out of 632 patients (43.8%). GP73-seropositivity correlated at baseline with the presence of cirrhosis (96.4% vs 51.5%, P < 0.001), decompensation of cirrhosis (60.3% vs 35.5%, P < 0.001), presence of HCC (18.4% vs 7.9%, P < 0.001) and advanced HCC stage (52.9% vs 14.8%, P = 0.002). GP73 had higher diagnostic accuracy for the presence of cirrhosis compared to APRI score [Area under the curve (AUC) (95%CI): 0.909 (0.885-0.934) vs 0.849 (0.813-0.886), P = 0.003]. Combination of GP73 with APRI improved further the accuracy (AUC: 0.925) compared to GP73 (AUC: 0.909, P = 0.005) or APRI alone (AUC: 0.849, P < 0.001). GP73 levels were significantly higher in HCC patients compared to non-HCC [22.5 (29.2) vs 16 (20.3) units, P < 0.001) and positively associated with BCLC stage [stage 0: 13.9 (10.8); stage A: 17.1 (16.8); stage B: 19.6 (22.3); stage C: 32.2 (30.8); stage D: 45.3 (86.6) units, P < 0.001] and tumor dimensions [very early: 13.9 (10.8); intermediate: 19.6 (18.4); advanced: 29.1 (33.6) units, P = 0.004]. However, the discriminative ability for HCC diagnosis was relatively low [AUC (95%CI): 0.623 (0.570-0.675)]. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the detection of GP73 in patients with compensated cirrhosis at baseline, was prognostic of higher rates of decompensation (P = 0.036), HCC development (P = 0.08), and liver-related deaths (P < 0.001) during follow-up.

CONCLUSION

GP73 alone appears efficient for detecting cirrhosis and superior to APRI determination. In combination with APRI, its diagnostic performance can be further improved. Most importantly, the simple GP73 measurement proved promising for predicting a worse outcome of patients with both viral and non-viral chronic liver diseases.

Shotgun proteome analysis of seminal plasma differentiate boars by reproductive performance

There is a need to identify subfertile boars before they enter into the breeding herd. Seminal plasma proteins are essential for normal sperm function and transport and play an important role in fertilization. The objective of this study was to use liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry for shotgun proteome analysis to investigate whether differences in boar fertility phenotype can be differentiated by seminal plasma protein abundance. Following 50 breedings, boars were categorized into one of four phenotypes: high farrowing rate and total born (HFHB; n = 9), high farrowing rate with low total born (HFLB; n = 10), low farrowing rate and total born (LFLB; n = 9), and low farrowing rate with high total born (LFHB; n = 4) that were distinct (p < 0.05) from each other by these variables. There were 506 proteins measured in at least one sample across all animals. There were 245 high confidence proteins and 56 were differentially abundant between the high fertility phenotype (HFHB) and at least one of the three subfertile groups. Findings support that seminal plasma protein profiles are distinct between boars with different fertility phenotypes.

Recent advances of GOLM1 in hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common liver malignancies and is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Most HCC patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage and current treatments show poor therapeutic efficacy. It is particularly urgent to explore early diagnosis methods and effective treatments of HCC. There are a growing number of studies that show GOLM1 is one of the most promising markers for early diagnosis and prognosis of HCC. It is also involved in immune regulation, activation and degradation of intracellular signaling factors and promotion of epithelial-mesenchymal transition. GOLM1 can promote HCC progression and metastasis. The understanding of the GOLM1 regulation mechanism may provide new ideas for the diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of HCC.