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Ippolito F, Consalvi V, Noce V, Battistelli C, Cicchini C, Tripodi M, Amicone L, Marchetti A. Extracellular signal-Regulated Kinase 5 (ERK5) is required for the Yes-associated protein (YAP) co-transcriptional activity. Cell Death Dis 2023; 14:32. [PMID: 36650140 PMCID: PMC9845357 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-023-05569-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Revised: 12/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
YES-associated protein (YAP) is a transcriptional cofactor with a key role in the regulation of several physio-pathological cellular processes, by integrating multiple cell autonomous and microenvironmental cues. YAP is the main downstream effector of the Hippo pathway, a tumor-suppressive signaling able to transduce several extracellular signals. The Hippo pathway acts restraining YAP activity, since its activation induces YAP phosphorylation and cytoplasmic sequestration. However, recent observations indicate that YAP activity can be also modulated by Hippo independent/integrating pathways, still largely unexplored. In this study, we demonstrated the role of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase 5 (ERK5)/mitogen-activated protein kinase in the regulation of YAP activity. By means of ERK5 inhibition/silencing and overexpression experiments, and by using as model liver stem cells, hepatocytes, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines, we provided evidence that ERK5 is required for YAP-dependent gene expression. Mechanistically, ERK5 controls the recruitment of YAP on promoters of target genes and its physical interaction with the transcriptional partner TEAD; moreover, it mediates the YAP activation occurring in cell adhesion, migration, and TGFβ-induced EMT of liver cells. Furthermore, we demonstrated that ERK5 signaling modulates YAP activity in a LATS1/2-independent manner. Therefore, our observations identify ERK5 as a novel upstream Hippo-independent regulator of YAP activity, thus unveiling a new target for therapeutic approaches aimed at interfering with its function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Ippolito
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Veronica Consalvi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Valeria Noce
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Carla Cicchini
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Tripodi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- National Institute for Infectious Diseases L. Spallanzani, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Amicone
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
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2
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Palao N, Sequera C, Cuesta ÁM, Baquero C, Bragado P, Gutierrez-Uzquiza A, Sánchez A, Guerrero C, Porras A. C3G down-regulation enhances pro-migratory and stemness properties of oval cells by promoting an epithelial-mesenchymal-like process. Int J Biol Sci 2022; 18:5873-5884. [PMID: 36263169 PMCID: PMC9576514 DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.73192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Previous data indicate that C3G (RapGEF1) main isoform is highly expressed in liver progenitor cells (or oval cells) compared to adult mature hepatocytes, suggesting it may play an important role in oval cell biology. Hence, we have explored C3G function in the regulation of oval cell properties by permanent gene silencing using shRNAs. We found that C3G knock-down enhanced migratory and invasive ability of oval cells by promoting a partial epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT). This is likely mediated by upregulation of mRNA expression of the EMT-inducing transcription factors, Snail1, Zeb1 and Zeb2, induced in C3G-silenced oval cells. This EMT is associated to a higher expression of the stemness markers, CD133 and CD44. Moreover, C3G down-regulation increased oval cells clonogenic capacity by enhancing cell scattering. However, C3G knock-down did not impair oval cell differentiation into hepatocyte lineage. Mechanistic studies revealed that HGF/MET signaling and its pro-invasive activity was impaired in oval cells with low levels of C3G, while TGF-β signaling was increased. Altogether, these data suggest that C3G might be tightly regulated to ensure liver repair in chronic liver diseases such as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. Hence, reduced C3G levels could facilitate oval cell expansion, after the proliferation peak, by enhancing migration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nerea Palao
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense de Madrid; 28040 Madrid, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdISSC), 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Celia Sequera
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense de Madrid; 28040 Madrid, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdISSC), 28040 Madrid, Spain.,Aix-Marseille Univ, CNRS, Developmental Biology Institute of Marseille (IBDM), Turing Center for Living Systems, Parc Scientifique de Luminy, 13009 Marseille, France
| | - Ángel M Cuesta
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense de Madrid; 28040 Madrid, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdISSC), 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Cristina Baquero
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense de Madrid; 28040 Madrid, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdISSC), 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Paloma Bragado
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense de Madrid; 28040 Madrid, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdISSC), 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Alvaro Gutierrez-Uzquiza
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense de Madrid; 28040 Madrid, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdISSC), 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Aránzazu Sánchez
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense de Madrid; 28040 Madrid, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdISSC), 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Carmen Guerrero
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer (IBMCC), Universidad de Salamanca-CSIC, 37007 Salamanca, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), 37007 Salamanca, Spain.,Departamento de Medicina, Universidad de Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain.,✉ Corresponding authors: A. Porras, Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Farmacia, UCM, Ciudad Universitaria, Madrid, Spain. Tel.: +34 913941627; E-mail: . Co-correspondence: C. Guerrero, Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, Campus Unamuno s/n, Salamanca, Spain. Tel.: +34 923294801; Fax.: +34 923294795; e-mail:
| | - Almudena Porras
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense de Madrid; 28040 Madrid, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdISSC), 28040 Madrid, Spain.,✉ Corresponding authors: A. Porras, Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Farmacia, UCM, Ciudad Universitaria, Madrid, Spain. Tel.: +34 913941627; E-mail: . Co-correspondence: C. Guerrero, Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, Campus Unamuno s/n, Salamanca, Spain. Tel.: +34 923294801; Fax.: +34 923294795; e-mail:
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Riccioni V, Trionfetti F, Montaldo C, Garbo S, Marocco F, Battistelli C, Marchetti A, Strippoli R, Amicone L, Cicchini C, Tripodi M. SYNCRIP Modulates the Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Hepatocytes and HCC Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23020913. [PMID: 35055098 PMCID: PMC8780347 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23020913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins (hnRNPs) control gene expression by acting at multiple levels and are often deregulated in epithelial tumors; however, their roles in the fine regulation of cellular reprogramming, specifically in epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), remain largely unknown. Here, we focused on the hnRNP-Q (also known as SYNCRIP), showing by molecular analysis that in hepatocytes it acts as a “mesenchymal” gene, being induced by TGFβ and modulating the EMT. SYNCRIP silencing limits the induction of the mesenchymal program and maintains the epithelial phenotype. Notably, in HCC invasive cells, SYNCRIP knockdown induces a mesenchymal–epithelial transition (MET), negatively regulating their mesenchymal phenotype and significantly impairing their migratory capacity. In exploring possible molecular mechanisms underlying these observations, we identified a set of miRNAs (i.e., miR-181-a1-3p, miR-181-b1-3p, miR-122-5p, miR-200a-5p, and miR-let7g-5p), previously shown to exert pro- or anti-EMT activities, significantly impacted by SYNCRIP interference during EMT/MET dynamics and gathered insights, suggesting the possible involvement of this RNA binding protein in their transcriptional regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronica Riccioni
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (V.R.); (F.T.); (S.G.); (F.M.); (C.B.); (A.M.); (R.S.); (L.A.)
| | - Flavia Trionfetti
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (V.R.); (F.T.); (S.G.); (F.M.); (C.B.); (A.M.); (R.S.); (L.A.)
- National Institute for Infectious Diseases L. Spallanzani, IRCCS, 00149 Rome, Italy;
| | - Claudia Montaldo
- National Institute for Infectious Diseases L. Spallanzani, IRCCS, 00149 Rome, Italy;
| | - Sabrina Garbo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (V.R.); (F.T.); (S.G.); (F.M.); (C.B.); (A.M.); (R.S.); (L.A.)
| | - Francesco Marocco
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (V.R.); (F.T.); (S.G.); (F.M.); (C.B.); (A.M.); (R.S.); (L.A.)
| | - Cecilia Battistelli
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (V.R.); (F.T.); (S.G.); (F.M.); (C.B.); (A.M.); (R.S.); (L.A.)
| | - Alessandra Marchetti
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (V.R.); (F.T.); (S.G.); (F.M.); (C.B.); (A.M.); (R.S.); (L.A.)
| | - Raffaele Strippoli
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (V.R.); (F.T.); (S.G.); (F.M.); (C.B.); (A.M.); (R.S.); (L.A.)
- National Institute for Infectious Diseases L. Spallanzani, IRCCS, 00149 Rome, Italy;
| | - Laura Amicone
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (V.R.); (F.T.); (S.G.); (F.M.); (C.B.); (A.M.); (R.S.); (L.A.)
| | - Carla Cicchini
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (V.R.); (F.T.); (S.G.); (F.M.); (C.B.); (A.M.); (R.S.); (L.A.)
- Correspondence: (C.C.); (M.T.)
| | - Marco Tripodi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (V.R.); (F.T.); (S.G.); (F.M.); (C.B.); (A.M.); (R.S.); (L.A.)
- National Institute for Infectious Diseases L. Spallanzani, IRCCS, 00149 Rome, Italy;
- Correspondence: (C.C.); (M.T.)
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Montaldo C, Terri M, Riccioni V, Battistelli C, Bordoni V, D'Offizi G, Prado MG, Trionfetti F, Vescovo T, Tartaglia E, Strippoli R, Agrati C, Tripodi M. Fibrogenic signals persist in DAA-treated HCV patients after sustained virological response. J Hepatol 2021; 75:1301-1311. [PMID: 34271004 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2021.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Revised: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Patients with HCV who achieve a sustained virological response (SVR) on direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy still need to be monitored for signs of liver disease progression. To this end, the identification of both disease biomarkers and therapeutic targets is necessary. METHODS Extracellular vesicles (EVs) purified from plasma of 15 healthy donors (HDs), and 16 HCV-infected patients before (T0) and after (T6) DAA treatment were utilized for functional and miRNA cargo analysis. EVs purified from plasma of 17 HDs and 23 HCV-infected patients (T0 and T6) were employed for proteomic and western blot analyses. Functional analysis in LX2 cells measured fibrotic markers (mRNAs and proteins) in response to EVs. Structural analysis was performed by qPCR, label-free liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and western blot. RESULTS On the basis of observations indicating functional differences (i.e. modulation of FN-1, ACTA2, Smad2/3 phosphorylation, collagen deposition) of plasma-derived EVs from HDs, T0 and T6, we performed structural analysis of EVs. We found consistent differences in terms of both miRNA and protein cargos: (i) antifibrogenic miR204-5p, miR181a-5p, miR143-3p, miR93-5p and miR122-5p were statistically underrepresented in T0 EVs compared to HD EVs, while miR204-5p and miR143-3p were statistically underrepresented in T6 EVs compared to HD EVs (p <0.05); (ii) proteomic analysis highlighted, in both T0 and T6, the modulation of several proteins with respect to HDs; among them, the fibrogenic protein DIAPH1 was upregulated (Log2 fold change of 4.4). CONCLUSIONS Taken together, these results highlight structural EV modifications that are conceivably causal for long-term liver disease progression in patients with HCV despite DAA-mediated SVR. LAY SUMMARY Direct-acting antivirals lead to virological cure in the majority of patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection. However, the risk of liver disease progression or complications in patients with fibrosis and cirrhosis remains in some patients even after virological cure. Herein, we show that extracellular vesicle modifications could be linked to long-term liver disease progression in patients who have achieved virological cure; these modifications could potentially be used as biomarkers or treatment targets in such patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Montaldo
- National Institute for Infectious Diseases L. Spallanzani, IRCCS, Italy
| | - Michela Terri
- National Institute for Infectious Diseases L. Spallanzani, IRCCS, Italy; Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Veronica Riccioni
- Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Cecilia Battistelli
- Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Veronica Bordoni
- National Institute for Infectious Diseases L. Spallanzani, IRCCS, Italy
| | | | - Maria Giulia Prado
- Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Flavia Trionfetti
- National Institute for Infectious Diseases L. Spallanzani, IRCCS, Italy; Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Tiziana Vescovo
- National Institute for Infectious Diseases L. Spallanzani, IRCCS, Italy
| | | | - Raffaele Strippoli
- National Institute for Infectious Diseases L. Spallanzani, IRCCS, Italy; Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Chiara Agrati
- National Institute for Infectious Diseases L. Spallanzani, IRCCS, Italy
| | - Marco Tripodi
- National Institute for Infectious Diseases L. Spallanzani, IRCCS, Italy; Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
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YAP integrates the regulatory Snail/HNF4α circuitry controlling epithelial/hepatocyte differentiation. Cell Death Dis 2019; 10:768. [PMID: 31601778 PMCID: PMC6787001 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-019-2000-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2019] [Revised: 05/29/2019] [Accepted: 06/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Yes-associated protein (YAP) is a transcriptional co-factor involved in many cell processes, including development, proliferation, stemness, differentiation, and tumorigenesis. It has been described as a sensor of mechanical and biochemical stimuli that enables cells to integrate environmental signals. Although in the liver the correlation between extracellular matrix elasticity (greatly increased in the most of chronic hepatic diseases), differentiation/functional state of parenchymal cells and subcellular localization/activation of YAP has been previously reported, its role as regulator of the hepatocyte differentiation remains to be clarified. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of YAP in the regulation of epithelial/hepatocyte differentiation and to clarify how a transducer of general stimuli can integrate tissue-specific molecular mechanisms determining specific cell outcomes. By means of YAP silencing and overexpression we demonstrated that YAP has a functional role in the repression of epithelial/hepatocyte differentiation by inversely modulating the expression of Snail (master regulator of the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and liver stemness) and HNF4α (master regulator of hepatocyte differentiation) at transcriptional level, through the direct occupancy of their promoters. Furthermore, we found that Snail, in turn, is able to positively control YAP expression influencing protein level and subcellular localization and that HNF4α stably represses YAP transcription in differentiated hepatocytes both in cell culture and in adult liver. Overall, our data indicate YAP as a new member of the HNF4/Snail epistatic molecular circuitry previously demonstrated to control liver cell state. In this model, the dynamic balance between three main transcriptional regulators, that are able to control reciprocally their expression/activity, is responsible for the induction/maintenance of different liver cell differentiation states and its modulation could be the aim of therapeutic protocols for several chronic liver diseases.
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Exosome-Mediated Signaling in Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition and Tumor Progression. J Clin Med 2018; 8:jcm8010026. [PMID: 30591649 PMCID: PMC6352067 DOI: 10.3390/jcm8010026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2018] [Revised: 12/18/2018] [Accepted: 12/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Growing evidence points to exosomes as key mediators of cell⁻cell communication, by transferring their specific cargo (e.g., proteins, lipids, DNA and RNA molecules) from producing to receiving cells. In cancer, the regulation of the exosome-mediated intercellular communication may be reshaped, inducing relevant changes in gene expression of recipient cells in addition to microenvironment alterations. Notably, exosomes may deliver signals able to induce the transdifferentiation process known as Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT). In this review, we summarize recent findings on the role of exosomes in tumor progression and EMT, highlighting current knowledge on exosome-mediated intercellular communication in tumor-niche establishment, migration, invasion, and metastasis processes. This body of evidence suggests the relevance of taking into account exosome-mediated signaling and its multifaceted aspects to develop innovative anti-tumoral therapeutic approaches.
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Activation of Polyamine Catabolism by N¹,N 11-Diethylnorspermine in Hepatic HepaRG Cells Induces Dedifferentiation and Mesenchymal-Like Phenotype. Cells 2018; 7:cells7120275. [PMID: 30567412 PMCID: PMC6316793 DOI: 10.3390/cells7120275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2018] [Revised: 12/10/2018] [Accepted: 12/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumorigenesis is accompanied by the metabolic adaptation of cells to support enhanced proliferation rates and to optimize tumor persistence and amplification within the local microenvironment. In particular, cancer cells exhibit elevated levels of biogenic polyamines. Inhibitors of polyamine biosynthesis and inducers of their catabolism have been evaluated as antitumor drugs, however, their efficacy and safety remain controversial. Our goal was to investigate if drug-induced modulation of polyamine metabolism plays a role in dedifferentiation using differentiated human hepatocyte-like HepaRG cell cultures. N1,N11-diethylnorspermine (DENSpm), a potent inducer of polyamine catabolism, triggered an epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-like dedifferentiation in HepaRG cultures, as shown by down-regulation of mature hepatocytes markers and upregulation of classical EMT markers. Albeit the fact that polyamine catabolism produces H2O2, DENSpm-induced de-differentiation was not affected by antioxidants. Use of a metabolically stable spermidine analogue showed furthermore, that spermidine is a key regulator of hepatocyte differentiation. Comparative transcriptome analyses revealed, that the DENSpm-triggered dedifferentiation of HepaRG cells was accompanied by dramatic metabolic adaptations, exemplified by down-regulation of the genes of various metabolic pathways and up-regulation of the genes involved in signal transduction pathways. These results demonstrate that polyamine metabolism is tightly linked to EMT and differentiation of liver epithelial cells.
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Dynamism, Sensitivity, and Consequences of Mesenchymal and Stem-Like Phenotype of Cancer Cells. Stem Cells Int 2018; 2018:4516454. [PMID: 30405720 PMCID: PMC6199882 DOI: 10.1155/2018/4516454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2018] [Accepted: 08/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
There are remarkable similarities in the description of cancer stem cells (CSCs) and cancer cells with mesenchymal phenotype. Both cell types are highly tumorigenic, resistant against common anticancer treatment, and thought to cause metastatic growth. Moreover, cancer cells are able to switch between CSC and non-CSC phenotypes and vice versa, to ensure the necessary balance within the tumor. Likewise, cancer cells can switch between epithelial and mesenchymal phenotypes via well-described transition (EMT/MET) that is thought to be crucial for tumor propagation. In this review, we discuss whether, and to which extend, the CSCs and mesenchymal cancer cells are overlapping phenomena in terms of mechanisms, origin, and implication for cancer treatment. As well, we describe the dynamism of both phenotypes and involvement of the tumor microenvironment in CSC reversion and in EMT.
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Abstract
Fibrosis of the liver is an inherent wound healing response to chronic liver injury. Regeneration of liver epithelium and restoration of normal liver structure were generally involved in this process. Although the liver has a striking capacity to adapt to damage through tissue repair, excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix during this process often leads to scar tissue formation and subsequent fibrosis. Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) enables a polarized epithelial cell to undergo multiple changes biochemically and to bear a mesenchymal cell phenotype. EMT plays a critical role in tissue and organ development and embryogenesis. In the liver, it is proposed that epithelial cells can acquire fibroblastic phonotype via EMT and contribute to fibrogenesis. This made EMT a potential target for antifibrotic strategies. Following an original passion, many investigators devote themselves to exploring this mechanism in liver fibrosis. However, as research continues, this hypothesis became highly controversial. The exact contribution of EMT to fibrogenesis was challenged due to the contradictory results from related studies. In this review, we summarized the recent advances regarding EMT in hepatic fibrosis and discussed the potentially involved liver cell types and pathways in order to reach rational and helpful conclusions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kangkang Yu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Qian Li
- Department of General Surgery, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, Qingdao, People's Republic of China
| | - Guangfeng Shi
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Ning Li
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China,Address for correspondence: Dr. Ning Li, Department of Infectious Diseases, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai – 200040, People's Republic of China. E-mail:
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Santangelo L, Giurato G, Cicchini C, Montaldo C, Mancone C, Tarallo R, Battistelli C, Alonzi T, Weisz A, Tripodi M. The RNA-Binding Protein SYNCRIP Is a Component of the Hepatocyte Exosomal Machinery Controlling MicroRNA Sorting. Cell Rep 2017; 17:799-808. [PMID: 27732855 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2016.09.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 400] [Impact Index Per Article: 57.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2016] [Revised: 07/06/2016] [Accepted: 09/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite clear evidence that exosomal microRNAs (miRNAs) are able to modulate the cellular microenvironment and that exosomal RNA cargo selection is deregulated in pathological conditions, the mechanisms controlling specific RNA sorting into extracellular vesicles are still poorly understood. Here, we identified the RNA binding protein SYNCRIP (synaptotagmin-binding cytoplasmic RNA-interacting protein; also known as hnRNP-Q or NSAP1) as a component of the hepatocyte exosomal miRNA sorting machinery. SYNCRIP knockdown impairs sorting of miRNAs in exosomes. Furthermore, SYNCRIP directly binds to specific miRNAs enriched in exosomes sharing a common extra-seed sequence (hEXO motif). The hEXO motif has a role in the regulation of miRNA localization, since embedment of this motif into a poorly exported miRNA enhances its loading into exosomes. This evidence provides insights into the mechanisms of miRNA exosomal sorting process. Moreover, these findings open the way for the possible selective modification of the miRNAs exosomal cargo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Santangelo
- Department of Cellular Biotechnologies and Haematology, Istituto Pasteur Italia, Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy; National Institute for Infectious Diseases L. Spallanzani, IRCCS, Via Portuense 292, 00149 Rome, Italy
| | - Giorgio Giurato
- Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Genomics, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, Schola Medica Salernitana, University of Salerno, Via Salvador Allende 1, 84081 Baronissi, Italy
| | - Carla Cicchini
- Department of Cellular Biotechnologies and Haematology, Istituto Pasteur Italia, Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Claudia Montaldo
- National Institute for Infectious Diseases L. Spallanzani, IRCCS, Via Portuense 292, 00149 Rome, Italy
| | - Carmine Mancone
- Department of Cellular Biotechnologies and Haematology, Istituto Pasteur Italia, Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy; National Institute for Infectious Diseases L. Spallanzani, IRCCS, Via Portuense 292, 00149 Rome, Italy
| | - Roberta Tarallo
- Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Genomics, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, Schola Medica Salernitana, University of Salerno, Via Salvador Allende 1, 84081 Baronissi, Italy
| | - Cecilia Battistelli
- Department of Cellular Biotechnologies and Haematology, Istituto Pasteur Italia, Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Tonino Alonzi
- National Institute for Infectious Diseases L. Spallanzani, IRCCS, Via Portuense 292, 00149 Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandro Weisz
- Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Genomics, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, Schola Medica Salernitana, University of Salerno, Via Salvador Allende 1, 84081 Baronissi, Italy
| | - Marco Tripodi
- Department of Cellular Biotechnologies and Haematology, Istituto Pasteur Italia, Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy; National Institute for Infectious Diseases L. Spallanzani, IRCCS, Via Portuense 292, 00149 Rome, Italy.
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11
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Enane FO, Shuen WH, Gu X, Quteba E, Przychodzen B, Makishima H, Bodo J, Ng J, Chee CL, Ba R, Seng Koh L, Lim J, Cheong R, Teo M, Hu Z, Ng KP, Maciejewski J, Radivoyevitch T, Chung A, Ooi LL, Tan YM, Cheow PC, Chow P, Chan CY, Lim KH, Yerian L, Hsi E, Toh HC, Saunthararajah Y. GATA4 loss of function in liver cancer impedes precursor to hepatocyte transition. J Clin Invest 2017; 127:3527-3542. [PMID: 28758902 DOI: 10.1172/jci93488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2017] [Accepted: 06/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The most frequent chromosomal structural loss in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is of the short arm of chromosome 8 (8p). Genes on the remaining homologous chromosome, however, are not recurrently mutated, and the identity of key 8p tumor-suppressor genes (TSG) is unknown. In this work, analysis of minimal commonly deleted 8p segments to identify candidate TSG implicated GATA4, a master transcription factor driver of hepatocyte epithelial lineage fate. In a murine model, liver-conditional deletion of 1 Gata4 allele to model the haploinsufficiency seen in HCC produced enlarged livers with a gene expression profile of persistent precursor proliferation and failed hepatocyte epithelial differentiation. HCC mimicked this gene expression profile, even in cases that were morphologically classified as well differentiated. HCC with intact chromosome 8p also featured GATA4 loss of function via GATA4 germline mutations that abrogated GATA4 interactions with a coactivator, MED12, or by inactivating mutations directly in GATA4 coactivators, including ARID1A. GATA4 reintroduction into GATA4-haploinsufficient HCC cells or ARID1A reintroduction into ARID1A-mutant/GATA4-intact HCC cells activated hundreds of hepatocyte genes and quenched the proliferative precursor program. Thus, disruption of GATA4-mediated transactivation in HCC suppresses hepatocyte epithelial differentiation to sustain replicative precursor phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francis O Enane
- Translational Hematology and Oncology Research, Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Wai Ho Shuen
- Division of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore
| | - Xiaorong Gu
- Translational Hematology and Oncology Research, Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Ebrahem Quteba
- Translational Hematology and Oncology Research, Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Bartlomiej Przychodzen
- Translational Hematology and Oncology Research, Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Hideki Makishima
- Translational Hematology and Oncology Research, Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Juraj Bodo
- Translational Hematology and Oncology Research, Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Joanna Ng
- Division of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore
| | - Chit Lai Chee
- Division of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore
| | - Rebecca Ba
- Division of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore
| | - Lip Seng Koh
- Division of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore
| | - Janice Lim
- Division of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore
| | - Rachael Cheong
- Division of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore
| | - Marissa Teo
- Division of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore
| | - Zhenbo Hu
- Translational Hematology and Oncology Research, Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Kwok Peng Ng
- Translational Hematology and Oncology Research, Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Jaroslaw Maciejewski
- Translational Hematology and Oncology Research, Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Tomas Radivoyevitch
- Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Alexander Chung
- Department of Hepato-pancreato-biliary and Transplant Surgery and
| | | | - Yu Meng Tan
- Department of Hepato-pancreato-biliary and Transplant Surgery and
| | - Peng-Chung Cheow
- Department of Hepato-pancreato-biliary and Transplant Surgery and
| | - Pierce Chow
- Department of Hepato-pancreato-biliary and Transplant Surgery and
| | - Chung Yip Chan
- Department of Hepato-pancreato-biliary and Transplant Surgery and
| | - Kiat Hon Lim
- Department of Pathology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore
| | - Lisa Yerian
- Clinical Pathology, Pathology Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Eric Hsi
- Clinical Pathology, Pathology Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Han Chong Toh
- Division of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore
| | - Yogen Saunthararajah
- Translational Hematology and Oncology Research, Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
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12
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Abstract
Mesothelial cells (MCs) cover the surface of visceral organs and the parietal walls of cavities, and they synthesize lubricating fluids to create a slippery surface that facilitates movement between organs without friction. Recent studies have indicated that MCs play active roles in liver development, fibrosis, and regeneration. During liver development, the mesoderm produces MCs that form a single epithelial layer of the mesothelium. MCs exhibit an intermediate phenotype between epithelial cells and mesenchymal cells. Lineage tracing studies have indicated that during liver development, MCs act as mesenchymal progenitor cells that produce hepatic stellate cells, fibroblasts around blood vessels, and smooth muscle cells. Upon liver injury, MCs migrate inward from the liver surface and produce hepatic stellate cells or myofibroblast depending on the etiology, suggesting that MCs are the source of myofibroblasts in capsular fibrosis. Similar to the activation of hepatic stellate cells, transforming growth factor β induces the conversion of MCs into myofibroblasts. Further elucidation of the biological and molecular changes involved in MC activation and fibrogenesis will contribute to the development of novel approaches for the prevention and therapy of liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingrid Lua
- Southern California Research Center for ALPD and Cirrhosis, Department of Pathology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Kinji Asahina
- Southern California Research Center for ALPD and Cirrhosis, Department of Pathology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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13
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Modulating the Substrate Stiffness to Manipulate Differentiation of Resident Liver Stem Cells and to Improve the Differentiation State of Hepatocytes. Stem Cells Int 2016; 2016:5481493. [PMID: 27057172 PMCID: PMC4737459 DOI: 10.1155/2016/5481493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2015] [Revised: 10/12/2015] [Accepted: 10/13/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
In many cell types, several cellular processes, such as differentiation of stem/precursor cells, maintenance of differentiated phenotype, motility, adhesion, growth, and survival, strictly depend on the stiffness of extracellular matrix that, in vivo, characterizes their correspondent organ and tissue. In the liver, the stromal rigidity is essential to obtain the correct organ physiology whereas any alteration causes liver cell dysfunctions. The rigidity of the substrate is an element no longer negligible for the cultivation of several cell types, so that many data so far obtained, where cells have been cultured on plastic, could be revised. Regarding liver cells, standard culture conditions lead to the dedifferentiation of primary hepatocytes, transdifferentiation of stellate cells into myofibroblasts, and loss of fenestration of sinusoidal endothelium. Furthermore, standard cultivation of liver stem/precursor cells impedes an efficient execution of the epithelial/hepatocyte differentiation program, leading to the expansion of a cell population expressing only partially liver functions and products. Overcoming these limitations is mandatory for any approach of liver tissue engineering. Here we propose cell lines as in vitro models of liver stem cells and hepatocytes and an innovative culture method that takes into account the substrate stiffness to obtain, respectively, a rapid and efficient differentiation process and the maintenance of the fully differentiated phenotype.
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14
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Jolly MK, Huang B, Lu M, Mani SA, Levine H, Ben-Jacob E. Towards elucidating the connection between epithelial-mesenchymal transitions and stemness. J R Soc Interface 2015; 11:20140962. [PMID: 25339690 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2014.0962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 122] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Epithelial cells undergoing epithelial-to-mesenchymal transitions have often been shown to behave as cancer stem cells, but the precise molecular connection remains elusive. At the genetic level, stemness is governed by LIN28/let-7 double inhibition switch, whereas EMT/MET is controlled by miR-200/ZEB double inhibition circuit and LIN28 is inhibited by miR-200, coupling the two modules. Here, using a specially devised theoretical framework to investigate the dynamics of the LIN28/let-7 system, we show that it can operate as a three-way switch (between low, high and intermediate LIN28 levels termed the D, U and hybrid D/U states) similar to the three-way operation of the miR-200/ZEB circuit that allows for the existence of a hybrid epithelial/mesenchymal (E/M) phenotype. We find significant correspondence between the existence of the three states of the two circuits: E-D, M-U and E/M-D/U. Incorporating the activation of OCT4 by LIN28, we find that the hybrid E/M phenotype has high likelihood (when compared with either the E or M states) to gain stemness. Combining the LIN28/let-7 regulation by NF-κB and c-MYC, we find that NF-κB, but not c-MYC, elevates the likelihood of E/M phenotype to gain stemness. Our results are consistent with emerging concept that partial EMT can lead to stemness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohit Kumar Jolly
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005-1827, USA Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005-1827, USA
| | - Bin Huang
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005-1827, USA Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005-1827, USA
| | - Mingyang Lu
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005-1827, USA
| | - Sendurai A Mani
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA Metastasis Research Center, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Herbert Levine
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005-1827, USA Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005-1827, USA Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005-1827, USA
| | - Eshel Ben-Jacob
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005-1827, USA Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005-1827, USA School of Physics and Astronomy and The Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv 69978, Israel
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15
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Jolly MK, Boareto M, Huang B, Jia D, Lu M, Ben-Jacob E, Onuchic JN, Levine H. Implications of the Hybrid Epithelial/Mesenchymal Phenotype in Metastasis. Front Oncol 2015; 5:155. [PMID: 26258068 PMCID: PMC4507461 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2015.00155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 470] [Impact Index Per Article: 52.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2015] [Accepted: 06/29/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Transitions between epithelial and mesenchymal phenotypes – the epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) and its reverse the mesenchymal to epithelial transition (MET) – are hallmarks of cancer metastasis. While transitioning between the epithelial and mesenchymal phenotypes, cells can also attain a hybrid epithelial/mesenchymal (E/M) (i.e., partial or intermediate EMT) phenotype. Cells in this phenotype have mixed epithelial (e.g., adhesion) and mesenchymal (e.g., migration) properties, thereby allowing them to move collectively as clusters. If these clusters reach the bloodstream intact, they can give rise to clusters of circulating tumor cells (CTCs), as have often been seen experimentally. Here, we review the operating principles of the core regulatory network for EMT/MET that acts as a “three-way” switch giving rise to three distinct phenotypes – E, M and hybrid E/M – and present a theoretical framework that can elucidate the role of many other players in regulating epithelial plasticity. Furthermore, we highlight recent studies on partial EMT and its association with drug resistance and tumor-initiating potential; and discuss how cell–cell communication between cells in a partial EMT phenotype can enable the formation of clusters of CTCs. These clusters can be more apoptosis-resistant and have more tumor-initiating potential than singly moving CTCs with a wholly mesenchymal (complete EMT) phenotype. Also, more such clusters can be formed under inflammatory conditions that are often generated by various therapies. Finally, we discuss the multiple advantages that the partial EMT or hybrid E/M phenotype have as compared to a complete EMT phenotype and argue that these collectively migrating cells are the primary “bad actors” of metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohit Kumar Jolly
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University , Houston, TX , USA ; Department of Bioengineering, Rice University , Houston, TX , USA
| | - Marcelo Boareto
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University , Houston, TX , USA ; Institute of Physics, University of São Paulo , São Paulo , Brazil
| | - Bin Huang
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University , Houston, TX , USA ; Department of Chemistry, Rice University , Houston, TX , USA
| | - Dongya Jia
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University , Houston, TX , USA ; Graduate Program in Systems, Synthetic and Physical Biology, Rice University , Houston, TX , USA
| | - Mingyang Lu
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University , Houston, TX , USA
| | - Eshel Ben-Jacob
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University , Houston, TX , USA ; School of Physics and Astronomy, and The Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel-Aviv University , Tel-Aviv , Israel ; Department of Biosciences, Rice University , Houston, TX , USA
| | - José N Onuchic
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University , Houston, TX , USA ; Department of Chemistry, Rice University , Houston, TX , USA ; Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rice University , Houston, TX , USA ; Department of Biosciences, Rice University , Houston, TX , USA
| | - Herbert Levine
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University , Houston, TX , USA ; Department of Bioengineering, Rice University , Houston, TX , USA ; Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rice University , Houston, TX , USA ; Department of Biosciences, Rice University , Houston, TX , USA
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16
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Epigenetic regulation in hepatocellular carcinoma requires long noncoding RNAs. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2015; 2015:473942. [PMID: 25861629 PMCID: PMC4377435 DOI: 10.1155/2015/473942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2014] [Revised: 02/17/2015] [Accepted: 02/18/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Recent evidence has proven the relevance of epigenetic changes in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the major adult liver malignancy. Moreover, HCC onset and progression correlate with the deregulation of several long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), exhibiting great biological significance. As discussed in this review, many of these transcripts are able to specifically act as tumor suppressors or oncogenes by means of their role as molecular platforms. Indeed, these lncRNAs are able to bind and recruit epigenetic modifiers on specific genomic loci, ultimately resulting in regulation of the gene expression relevant in cancer development. The evidence presented in this review highlights that lncRNAs-mediated epigenetic regulation should be taken into account for potential targeted therapeutic approaches.
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17
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Cicchini C, Amicone L, Alonzi T, Marchetti A, Mancone C, Tripodi M. Molecular mechanisms controlling the phenotype and the EMT/MET dynamics of hepatocyte. Liver Int 2015; 35:302-10. [PMID: 24766136 PMCID: PMC4344819 DOI: 10.1111/liv.12577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2013] [Accepted: 04/19/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The complex spatial and paracrine relationships between the various liver histotypes are essential for proper functioning of the hepatic parenchymal cells. Only within a correct tissue organization, in fact, they stably maintain their identity and differentiated phenotype. The loss of histotype identity, which invariably occurs in the primary hepatocytes in culture, or in vivo in particular pathological conditions (fibrosis and tumours), is mainly because of the phenomenon of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). The EMT process, that occurs in the many epithelial cells, appears to be driven by a number of general, non-tissue-specific, master transcriptional regulators. The reverse process, the mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition (MET), as yet much less characterized at a molecular level, restores specific epithelial identities, and thus must include tissue-specific master elements. In this review, we will summarize the so far unveiled events of EMT/MET occurring in liver cells. In particular, we will focus on hepatocyte and describe the pivotal role in the control of EMT/MET dynamics exerted by a tissue-specific molecular mini-circuitry. Recent evidence, indeed, highlighted as two transcriptional factors, the master gene of EMT Snail, and the master gene of hepatocyte differentiation HNF4α, exhorting a direct reciprocal repression, act as pivotal elements in determining opposite cellular outcomes. The different balances between these two master regulators, further integrated by specific microRNAs, in fact, were found responsible for the EMT/METs dynamics as well as for the preservation of both hepatocyte and stem/precursor cells identity and differentiation. Overall, these findings impact the maintenance of stem cells and differentiated cells both in in vivo EMT/MET physio-pathological processes as well as in culture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Cicchini
- Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Cellular Biotechnologies and Haematology, Sapienza University of RomeRome, Italy
| | - Laura Amicone
- Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Cellular Biotechnologies and Haematology, Sapienza University of RomeRome, Italy
| | - Tonino Alonzi
- National Institute for Infectious Diseases L. Spallanzani, IRCCSRome, Italy
| | - Alessandra Marchetti
- Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Cellular Biotechnologies and Haematology, Sapienza University of RomeRome, Italy
| | - Carmine Mancone
- National Institute for Infectious Diseases L. Spallanzani, IRCCSRome, Italy
| | - Marco Tripodi
- Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Cellular Biotechnologies and Haematology, Sapienza University of RomeRome, Italy,National Institute for Infectious Diseases L. Spallanzani, IRCCSRome, Italy
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18
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Liu D, Yovchev MI, Zhang J, Alfieri AA, Tchaikovskaya T, Laconi E, Dabeva MD. Identification and characterization of mesenchymal-epithelial progenitor-like cells in normal and injured rat liver. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2014; 185:110-28. [PMID: 25447047 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2014.08.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2014] [Revised: 08/22/2014] [Accepted: 08/27/2014] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
In normal rat liver, thymocyte antigen 1 (Thy1) is expressed in fibroblasts/myofibroblasts and in some blood progenitor cells. Thy1-expressing cells also accumulate in the liver during impaired liver regeneration. The origin and nature of these cells are not well understood. By using RT-PCR analysis and immunofluorescence microscopy, we describe the presence of rare Thy1(+) cells in the liver lobule of normal animals, occasionally forming small collections of up to 20 cells. These cells constitute a small portion (1.7% to 1.8%) of nonparenchymal cells and reveal a mixed mesenchymal-epithelial phenotype, expressing E-cadherin, cytokeratin 18, and desmin. The most potent mitogens for mesenchymal-epithelial Thy1(+) cells in vitro are the inflammatory cytokines interferon γ, IL-1, and platelet-derived growth factor-BB, which are not produced by Thy1(+) cells. Thy1(+) cells express all typical mesenchymal stem cell and hepatic progenitor cell markers and produce growth factor and cytokine mRNA (Hgf, Il6, Tgfa, and Tweak) for proteins that maintain oval cell growth and differentiation. Under appropriate conditions, mesenchymal-epithelial cells differentiate in vitro into hepatocyte-like cells. In this study, we show that the adult rat liver harbors a small pool of endogenous mesenchymal-epithelial cells not recognized previously. In the quiescent state, these cells express both mesenchymal and epithelial cell markers. They behave like hepatic stem cells/progenitors with dual phenotype, exhibiting high plasticity and long-lasting proliferative activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daqing Liu
- Department of Medicine, Marion Bessin Liver Research Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York
| | - Mladen I Yovchev
- Department of Medicine, Marion Bessin Liver Research Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York
| | - Jinghang Zhang
- Flow Cytometry Core Facility, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York
| | - Alan A Alfieri
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York
| | - Tatyana Tchaikovskaya
- Department of Medicine, Marion Bessin Liver Research Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York
| | - Ezio Laconi
- Section of Experimental Pathology, Department of Sciences and Biomedical Technology, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Mariana D Dabeva
- Department of Medicine, Marion Bessin Liver Research Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York.
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19
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Swiderska-Syn M, Syn WK, Xie G, Krüger L, Machado MV, Karaca G, Michelotti GA, Choi SS, Premont RT, Diehl AM. Myofibroblastic cells function as progenitors to regenerate murine livers after partial hepatectomy. Gut 2014; 63:1333-44. [PMID: 24173292 PMCID: PMC4006344 DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2013-305962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Smoothened (SMO), a coreceptor of the Hedgehog (Hh) pathway, promotes fibrogenic repair of chronic liver injury. We investigated the roles of SMO+ myofibroblast (MF) in liver regeneration by conditional deletion of SMO in α smooth muscle actin (αSMA)+ cells after partial hepatectomy (PH). DESIGN αSMA-Cre-ER(T2)×SMO/flox mice were treated with vehicle (VEH) or tamoxifen (TMX), and sacrificed 24-96 h post-PH. Regenerating livers were analysed for proliferation, progenitors and fibrosis by qRT-PCR and quantitative immunohistochemistry (IHC). Results were normalised to liver segments resected at PH. For lineage-tracing studies, αSMA-Cre-ER(T2)×ROSA-Stop-flox-yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) mice were treated with VEH or TMX; livers were stained for YFP, and hepatocytes isolated 48 and 72 h post-PH were analysed for YFP by flow cytometric analysis (FACS). RESULTS Post-PH, VEH-αSMA-SMO mice increased expression of Hh-genes, transiently accumulated MF, fibrosis and liver progenitors, and ultimately exhibited proliferation of hepatocytes and cholangiocytes. In contrast, TMX-αSMA-SMO mice showed loss of whole liver SMO expression, repression of Hh-genes, enhanced accumulation of quiescent HSC but reduced accumulation of MF, fibrosis and progenitors, as well as inhibition of hepatocyte and cholangiocyte proliferation, and reduced recovery of liver weight. In TMX-αSMA-YFP mice, many progenitors, cholangiocytes and up to 25% of hepatocytes were YFP+ by 48-72 h after PH, indicating that liver epithelial cells were derived from αSMA-YFP+ cells. CONCLUSIONS Hh signalling promotes transition of quiescent hepatic stellate cells to fibrogenic MF, some of which become progenitors that regenerate the liver epithelial compartment after PH. Hence, scarring is a component of successful liver regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Swiderska-Syn
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC
| | - WK Syn
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC,Regeneration and Repair, Institute of Hepatology, Foundation for Liver Research, London
| | - G Xie
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC
| | - L Krüger
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC
| | - MV Machado
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC
| | - G Karaca
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC
| | - GA Michelotti
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC
| | - SS Choi
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC,Section of Gastroenterology, Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Durham, NC
| | - RT Premont
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC
| | - AM Diehl
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC,Corresponding author: Anna Mae Diehl, MD, Division of Gastroenterology, Duke University Medical Center, 595 LaSalle Street, Snyderman Building, Suite 1073, Durham, NC 27710, 919-684-4173,
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20
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Lua I, James D, Wang J, Wang KS, Asahina K. Mesodermal mesenchymal cells give rise to myofibroblasts, but not epithelial cells, in mouse liver injury. Hepatology 2014; 60:311-22. [PMID: 24488807 PMCID: PMC4077971 DOI: 10.1002/hep.27035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2013] [Accepted: 01/26/2014] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and portal fibroblasts (PFs) are believed to be the major source of myofibroblasts that participate in fibrogenesis by way of synthesis of proinflammatory cytokines and extracellular matrices. Previous lineage tracing studies using MesP1(Cre) and Rosa26lacZ(flox) mice demonstrated that MesP1+ mesoderm gives rise to mesothelial cells (MCs), which differentiate into HSCs and PFs during liver development. In contrast, several in vivo and in vitro studies reported that HSCs can differentiate into other cell types, including hepatocytes, cholangiocytes, and progenitor cell types known as oval cells, thereby acting as stem cells in the liver. To test whether HSCs give rise to epithelial cells in adult liver, we determined the hepatic lineages of HSCs and PFs using MesP1(Cre) and Rosa26mTmG(flox) mice. Genetic cell lineage tracing revealed that the MesP1+ mesoderm gives rise to MCs, HSCs, and PFs, but not to hepatocytes or cholangiocytes, in the adult liver. Upon carbon tetrachloride injection or bile duct ligation surgery-mediated liver injury, mesodermal mesenchymal cells, including HSCs and PFs, differentiate into myofibroblasts but not into hepatocytes or cholangiocytes. Furthermore, differentiation of the mesodermal mesenchymal cells into oval cells was not observed. These results indicate that HSCs are not sufficiently multipotent to produce hepatocytes, cholangiocytes, or oval cells by way of mesenchymal-epithelial transition in vivo. CONCLUSION Cell lineage tracing demonstrated that mesodermal mesenchymal cells including HSCs are the major source of myofibroblasts but do not differentiate into epithelial cell types such as hepatocytes, cholangiocytes, and oval cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingrid Lua
- Southern California Research Center for ALPD and Cirrhosis, Department of Pathology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California
| | - David James
- Saban Research Institute, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
| | - Jiaohong Wang
- Southern California Research Center for ALPD and Cirrhosis, Department of Pathology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California
| | - Kasper S. Wang
- Saban Research Institute, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
| | - Kinji Asahina
- Southern California Research Center for ALPD and Cirrhosis, Department of Pathology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California
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Montaldo C, Mancone C, Conigliaro A, Cozzolino AM, de Nonno V, Tripodi M. SILAC labeling coupled to shotgun proteomics analysis of membrane proteins of liver stem/hepatocyte allows to candidate the inhibition of TGF-beta pathway as causal to differentiation. Proteome Sci 2014; 12:15. [PMID: 24628804 PMCID: PMC4007997 DOI: 10.1186/1477-5956-12-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2013] [Accepted: 03/11/2014] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite extensive research on hepatic cells precursors and their differentiated states, much remains to be learned about the mechanism underlying the self-renewal and differentiation. RESULTS We apply the SILAC (stable isotope labeling by amino acids in cell culture) approach to quantitatively compare the membrane proteome of the resident liver stem cells (RLSCs) and their progeny spontaneously differentiated into epithelial/hepatocyte (RLSCdH). By means of nanoLC-MALDI-TOF/TOF approach, we identified and quantified 248 membrane proteins and 57 of them were found modulated during hepatocyte differentiation. Functional clustering of differentially expressed proteins by Ingenuity Pathway Analysis revealed that the most of membrane proteins found to be modulated are involved in cell-to-cell signaling/interaction pathways. Moreover, the upstream prediction analysis of proteins involved in cell-to-cell signaling and interaction unveiled that the activation of the mesenchymal to epithelial transition (MET), by the repression of TGFB1/Slug signaling, may be causal to hepatocyte differentiation. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, this study increases the understanding of the underlying mechanisms modulating the complex biological processes of hepatic stem cell proliferation and differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Montaldo
- National Institute for Infectious Diseases L. Spallanzani, IRCCS, via Portuense 292, 00149 Rome, Italy
| | - Carmine Mancone
- National Institute for Infectious Diseases L. Spallanzani, IRCCS, via Portuense 292, 00149 Rome, Italy.,Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Cellular Biotechnologies and Haematology, Sapienza University of Rome, Via Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Alice Conigliaro
- Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Cellular Biotechnologies and Haematology, Sapienza University of Rome, Via Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Angela Maria Cozzolino
- Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Cellular Biotechnologies and Haematology, Sapienza University of Rome, Via Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Valeria de Nonno
- Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Cellular Biotechnologies and Haematology, Sapienza University of Rome, Via Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Tripodi
- National Institute for Infectious Diseases L. Spallanzani, IRCCS, via Portuense 292, 00149 Rome, Italy.,Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Cellular Biotechnologies and Haematology, Sapienza University of Rome, Via Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy
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Xie G, Diehl AM. Evidence for and against epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in the liver. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 2013; 305:G881-90. [PMID: 24157970 PMCID: PMC3882441 DOI: 10.1152/ajpgi.00289.2013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The outcome of liver injury is determined by the success of repair. Liver repair involves replacement of damaged liver tissue with healthy liver epithelial cells (including both hepatocytes and cholangiocytes) and reconstruction of normal liver structure and function. Current dogma posits that replication of surviving mature hepatocytes and cholangiocytes drives the regeneration of liver epithelium after injury, whereas failure of liver repair commonly leads to fibrosis, a scarring condition in which hepatic stellate cells, the main liver-resident mesenchymal cells, play the major role. The present review discusses other mechanisms that might be responsible for the regeneration of new liver epithelial cells and outgrowth of matrix-producing mesenchymal cells during hepatic injury. This theory proposes that, during liver injury, some epithelial cells undergo epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), acquire myofibroblastic phenotypes/features, and contribute to fibrogenesis, whereas certain mesenchymal cells (namely hepatic stellate cells and stellate cell-derived myofibroblasts) undergo mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition (MET), revert to epithelial cells, and ultimately differentiate into either hepatocytes or cholangiocytes. Although this theory is highly controversial, it suggests that the balance between EMT and MET modulates the outcome of liver injury. This review summarizes recent advances that support or refute the concept that certain types of liver cells are capable of phenotype transition (i.e., EMT and MET) during both culture conditions and chronic liver injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guanhua Xie
- Division of Gastroenterology, Duke Univ., Snyderman Bldg., Suite 1073, 595 LaSalle St., Durham, NC 27710.
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