1
|
Tang M, Zhang S, Yang M, Feng R, Lin J, Chen X, Xu Y, Yu R, Liao X, Li Z, Li X, Li M, Zhang Q, Chen S, Qian W, Liu Y, Song L, Li J. Infiltrative Vessel Co-optive Growth Pattern Induced by IQGAP3 Overexpression Promotes Microvascular Invasion in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Clin Cancer Res 2024; 30:2206-2224. [PMID: 38470497 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-23-2933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Microvascular invasion (MVI) is a major unfavorable prognostic factor for intrahepatic metastasis and postoperative recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the intervention and preoperative prediction for MVI remain clinical challenges due to the absent precise mechanism and molecular marker(s). Herein, we aimed to investigate the mechanisms underlying vascular invasion that can be applied to clinical intervention for MVI in HCC. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN The histopathologic characteristics of clinical MVI+/HCC specimens were analyzed using multiplex immunofluorescence staining. The liver orthotopic xenograft mouse model and mechanistic experiments on human patient-derived HCC cell lines, including coculture modeling, RNA-sequencing, and proteomic analysis, were used to investigate MVI-related genes and mechanisms. RESULTS IQGAP3 overexpression was correlated significantly with MVI status and reduced survival in HCC. Upregulation of IQGAP3 promoted MVI+-HCC cells to adopt an infiltrative vessel co-optive growth pattern and accessed blood capillaries by inducing detachment of activated hepatic stellate cells (HSC) from the endothelium. Mechanically, IQGAP3 overexpression contributed to HCC vascular invasion via a dual mechanism, in which IQGAP3 induced HSC activation and disruption of the HSC-endothelial interaction via upregulation of multiple cytokines and enhanced the trans-endothelial migration of MVI+-HCC cells by remodeling the cytoskeleton by sustaining GTPase Rac1 activity. Importantly, systemic delivery of IQGAP3-targeting small-interfering RNA nanoparticles disrupted the infiltrative vessel co-optive growth pattern and reduced the MVI of HCC. CONCLUSIONS Our results revealed a plausible mechanism underlying IQGAP3-mediated microvascular invasion in HCC, and provided a potential target to develop therapeutic strategies to treat HCC with MVI.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Miaoling Tang
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shuxia Zhang
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Meisongzhu Yang
- Department of Biochemistry, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Rongni Feng
- Department of Biochemistry, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jinbin Lin
- Department of Biochemistry, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaohong Chen
- Department of Biochemistry, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yingru Xu
- Molecular Diagnosis and Gene Testing Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ruyuan Yu
- Molecular Diagnosis and Gene Testing Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xinyi Liao
- Department of Biochemistry, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ziwen Li
- Department of Biochemistry, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xincheng Li
- Department of Biochemistry, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Man Li
- Department of Biochemistry, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qiliang Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Suwen Chen
- Department of Biochemistry, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wanying Qian
- Department of Biochemistry, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuanji Liu
- Department of Biochemistry, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Libing Song
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jun Li
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Biochemistry, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Xu C, Fang T, Qu J, Miao Y, Tian L, Zhang M, Zhuang H, Sun B, Chen L. RASSF4 Attenuates Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease Progression via Hippo Signaling and Suppresses Hepatocarcinogenesis. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol 2024; 18:101348. [PMID: 38697356 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmgh.2024.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Revised: 04/20/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a dynamic chronic liver disease closely related to metabolic abnormalities such as diabetes and obesity. MASLD can further progress to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), fibrosis, cirrhosis, and even hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the mechanisms underlying the progression of MASLD and further progression to liver fibrosis and liver cancer are unknown. METHODS In this study, we performed transcriptome analysis in livers from mice with MASLD and found suppression of a potential anti-oncogene, RAS association domain protein 4 (RASSF4). RASSF4 expression levels were measured in liver or tumor tissues of patients with MASH or HCC, respectively. We established RASSF4 overexpression and knockout mouse models. The effects of RASSF4 were evaluated by quantitative polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting, histopathological analysis, wound healing assays, Transwell assays, EdU incorporation assays, colony formation assays, sorafenib sensitivity assays, and tumorigenesis assays. RESULTS RASSF4 was significantly down-regulated in MASH and HCC samples. Using liver-specific RASSF4 knockout mice, we demonstrated that loss of hepatic RASSF4 exacerbated hepatic steatosis and fibrosis. In contrast, RASSF4 overexpression prevented steatosis in MASLD mice. In addition, RASSF4 in hepatocytes suppressed the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) by reducing transforming growth factor beta secretion. Moreover, we found that RASSF4 is an independent prognostic factor for HCC. Mechanistically, we found that RASSF4 in the liver interacts with MST1 to inhibit YAP nuclear translocation through the Hippo pathway. CONCLUSIONS These findings establish RASSF4 as a therapeutic target for MASLD and HCC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chaofei Xu
- NHC Key Laboratory of Hormones and Development, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Metabolic Diseases, Chu Hsien-I Memorial Hospital & Tianjin Institute of Endocrinology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Ting Fang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Hormones and Development, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Metabolic Diseases, Chu Hsien-I Memorial Hospital & Tianjin Institute of Endocrinology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Jingru Qu
- NHC Key Laboratory of Hormones and Development, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Metabolic Diseases, Chu Hsien-I Memorial Hospital & Tianjin Institute of Endocrinology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Yahui Miao
- NHC Key Laboratory of Hormones and Development, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Metabolic Diseases, Chu Hsien-I Memorial Hospital & Tianjin Institute of Endocrinology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Lei Tian
- NHC Key Laboratory of Hormones and Development, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Metabolic Diseases, Chu Hsien-I Memorial Hospital & Tianjin Institute of Endocrinology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Man Zhang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Hormones and Development, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Metabolic Diseases, Chu Hsien-I Memorial Hospital & Tianjin Institute of Endocrinology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Hao Zhuang
- Department of Hepatobiliopancreatic Surgery, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University & Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Bei Sun
- NHC Key Laboratory of Hormones and Development, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Metabolic Diseases, Chu Hsien-I Memorial Hospital & Tianjin Institute of Endocrinology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.
| | - Liming Chen
- NHC Key Laboratory of Hormones and Development, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Metabolic Diseases, Chu Hsien-I Memorial Hospital & Tianjin Institute of Endocrinology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Ni X, Wei Y, Li X, Pan J, Fang B, Zhang T, Lu Y, Ye D, Zhu Y. From biology to the clinic - exploring liver metastasis in prostate cancer. Nat Rev Urol 2024:10.1038/s41585-024-00875-x. [PMID: 38671281 DOI: 10.1038/s41585-024-00875-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Liver metastases from prostate cancer are associated with an aggressive disease course and poor prognosis. Results from autopsy studies indicate a liver metastasis prevalence of up to 25% in patients with advanced prostate cancer. Population data estimate that ~3-10% of patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer harbour liver metastases at the baseline, rising to 20-30% in post-treatment cohorts, suggesting that selective pressure imposed by novel therapies might promote metastatic spread to the liver. Liver metastases are associated with more aggressive tumour biology than lung metastases. Molecular profiling of liver lesions showed an enrichment of low androgen receptor, neuroendocrine phenotypes and high genomic instability. Despite advancements in molecular imaging modalities such as prostate-specific membrane antigen PET-CT, and liquid biopsy markers such as circulating tumour DNA, early detection of liver metastases from prostate cancer remains challenging, as both approaches are hampered by false positive and false negative results, impeding the accurate identification of early liver lesions. Current therapeutic strategies showed limited efficacy in this patient population. Emerging targeted radionuclide therapies, metastasis-directed therapy, and novel systemic agents have shown preliminary activity against liver metastases, but require further validation. Treatment with various novel prostate cancer therapies might lead to an increase in the prevalence of liver metastasis, underscoring the urgent need for coordinated efforts across preclinical and clinical researchers to improve characterization, monitoring, and management of liver metastases from prostate cancer. Elucidating molecular drivers of liver tropism and interactions with the liver microenvironment might ultimately help to identify actionable targets to enhance survival in this high-risk patient group.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xudong Ni
- Department of Urology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Genitourinary Cancer Institute, Shanghai, China
| | - Yu Wei
- Department of Urology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Genitourinary Cancer Institute, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaomeng Li
- Department of Urology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Genitourinary Cancer Institute, Shanghai, China
| | - Jian Pan
- Department of Urology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Genitourinary Cancer Institute, Shanghai, China
| | - Bangwei Fang
- Department of Urology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Genitourinary Cancer Institute, Shanghai, China
| | - Tingwei Zhang
- Department of Urology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Genitourinary Cancer Institute, Shanghai, China
| | - Ying Lu
- Key Laboratory of Metabolism and Molecular Medicine of the Ministry of Education, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Dingwei Ye
- Department of Urology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Genitourinary Cancer Institute, Shanghai, China
| | - Yao Zhu
- Department of Urology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China.
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
- Shanghai Genitourinary Cancer Institute, Shanghai, China.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Salminen A, Kaarniranta K, Kauppinen A. Tissue fibroblasts are versatile immune regulators: An evaluation of their impact on the aging process. Ageing Res Rev 2024; 97:102296. [PMID: 38588867 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2024.102296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
Fibroblasts are abundant stromal cells which not only control the integrity of extracellular matrix (ECM) but also act as immune regulators. It is known that the structural cells within tissues can establish an organ-specific immunity expressing many immune-related genes and closely interact with immune cells. In fact, fibroblasts can modify their immune properties to display both pro-inflammatory and immunosuppressive activities in a context-dependent manner. After acute insults, fibroblasts promote tissue inflammation although they concurrently recruit immunosuppressive cells to enhance the resolution of inflammation. In chronic pathological states, tissue fibroblasts, especially senescent fibroblasts, can display many pro-inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties and stimulate the activities of different immunosuppressive cells. In return, immunosuppressive cells, such as M2 macrophages and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC), evoke an excessive conversion of fibroblasts into myofibroblasts, thus aggravating the severity of tissue fibrosis. Single-cell transcriptome studies on fibroblasts isolated from aged tissues have confirmed that tissue fibroblasts express many genes coding for cytokines, chemokines, and complement factors, whereas they lose some fibrogenic properties. The versatile immune properties of fibroblasts and their close cooperation with immune cells indicate that tissue fibroblasts have a crucial role in the aging process and age-related diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Antero Salminen
- Department of Neurology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, Kuopio FI-70211, Finland.
| | - Kai Kaarniranta
- Department of Ophthalmology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, Kuopio FI-70211, Finland; Department of Ophthalmology, Kuopio University Hospital, P.O. Box 100, KYS FI-70029, Finland
| | - Anu Kauppinen
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, Kuopio FI-70211, Finland
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Charles L, Sekar S, Osooly M, Javed S, Williams KC, Welch I, Barta I, Saatchi K, Häfeli UO. Development of an immunosuppressed orthotopic hepatocellular carcinoma rat model for the evaluation of chemo- and radioembolization therapies. Eur J Pharm Biopharm 2024; 196:114180. [PMID: 38237643 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpb.2024.114180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/19/2024]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is widely known to be chemo-resistant and presents with significant liver disease resulting in low tolerability to systemic chemotherapy. As a counter measure, more targeted therapies such as trans-arterial chemoembolization (TACE) and trans-arterial radioembolization (TARE) have been developed. To further optimize these therapies, animal models are critical in elucidating the molecular events in disease progression and test new treatment options. The present study focuses on the development of a hepatoma bearing rat model. N1S1 rat hepatoma cells were transfected by a lentiviral method and injected into the liver of Sprague Dawley (SD) and Rowett Nude (RNU) rats. Longitudinal tumor growth was observed by bioluminescence imaging (BLI) and liver/tumor histology. In both models, tumors were visible within 4 days post cell inoculation. Tumor take rates were 52 % and 73 % for male and female SD rats, respectively, and 100 % for male RNU rats. By day 12 and 15 post inoculation, we recorded complete tumor regression in male and female SD rats. Liver histology showed advanced fibrosis in the tumor regressed SD rats, whilst RNU rats exhibited the characteristic sheet pattern of Novikoff tumor with mild liver fibrosis. Increased CD3 and TUNEL staining observed in SD rat livers may be key factors for tumor regression. Our data reveal that the immunocompetent SD rats are not recommended as a model for therapeutic investigations. The immunosuppressed RNU rats, however, are characterized by consistent and reliable tumor growth and thus a desirable model for future therapeutic investigations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lovelyn Charles
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2405 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, CANADA
| | - Sathiya Sekar
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2405 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, CANADA
| | - Maryam Osooly
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2405 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, CANADA
| | - Sumreen Javed
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2405 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, CANADA
| | - Karla C Williams
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2405 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, CANADA
| | - Ian Welch
- Centre of Comparative Medicine, University of British Columbia, 4145 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1W5, CANADA
| | - Ingrid Barta
- Centre of Comparative Medicine, University of British Columbia, 4145 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1W5, CANADA
| | - Katayoun Saatchi
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2405 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, CANADA.
| | - Urs O Häfeli
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2405 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, CANADA; Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Pessino G, Scotti C, Maggi M, Immuno-Hub Consortium. Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Old and Emerging Therapeutic Targets. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:901. [PMID: 38473265 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16050901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Liver cancer, predominantly hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), globally ranks sixth in incidence and third in cancer-related deaths. HCC risk factors include non-viral hepatitis, alcohol abuse, environmental exposures, and genetic factors. No specific genetic alterations are unequivocally linked to HCC tumorigenesis. Current standard therapies include surgical options, systemic chemotherapy, and kinase inhibitors, like sorafenib and regorafenib. Immunotherapy, targeting immune checkpoints, represents a promising avenue. FDA-approved checkpoint inhibitors, such as atezolizumab and pembrolizumab, show efficacy, and combination therapies enhance clinical responses. Despite this, the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains a challenge, as the complex tumor ecosystem and the immunosuppressive microenvironment associated with it hamper the efficacy of the available therapeutic approaches. This review explores current and advanced approaches to treat HCC, considering both known and new potential targets, especially derived from proteomic analysis, which is today considered as the most promising approach. Exploring novel strategies, this review discusses antibody drug conjugates (ADCs), chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy (CAR-T), and engineered antibodies. It then reports a systematic analysis of the main ligand/receptor pairs and molecular pathways reported to be overexpressed in tumor cells, highlighting their potential and limitations. Finally, it discusses TGFβ, one of the most promising targets of the HCC microenvironment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Greta Pessino
- Unit of Immunology and General Pathology, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Claudia Scotti
- Unit of Immunology and General Pathology, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Maristella Maggi
- Unit of Immunology and General Pathology, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Immuno-Hub Consortium
- Unit of Immunology and General Pathology, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Karan S, Jung E, Boone C, Steinmetz NF. Synergistic combination therapy using cowpea mosaic virus intratumoral immunotherapy and Lag-3 checkpoint blockade. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2024; 73:51. [PMID: 38349406 PMCID: PMC10864561 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-024-03636-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024]
Abstract
Immune checkpoint therapy (ICT) for cancer can yield dramatic clinical responses; however, these may only be observed in a minority of patients. These responses can be further limited by subsequent disease recurrence and resistance. Combination immunotherapy strategies are being developed to overcome these limitations. We have previously reported enhanced efficacy of combined intratumoral cowpea mosaic virus immunotherapy (CPMV IIT) and ICT approaches. Lymphocyte-activation gene-3 (LAG-3) is a next-generation inhibitory immune checkpoint with broad expression across multiple immune cell subsets. Its expression increases on activated T cells and contributes to T cell exhaustion. We observed heightened efficacy of a combined CPMV IIT and anti-LAG-3 treatment in a mouse model of melanoma. Further, LAG-3 expression was found to be increased within the TME following intratumoral CPMV administration. The integration of CPMV IIT with LAG-3 inhibition holds significant potential to improve treatment outcomes by concurrently inducing a comprehensive anti-tumor immune response, enhancing local immune activation, and mitigating T cell exhaustion.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sweta Karan
- Department of Nanoengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Eunkyeong Jung
- Department of Nanoengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Christine Boone
- Department of Radiology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
| | - Nicole F Steinmetz
- Department of Nanoengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
- Department of Radiology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
- Shu and K.C. Chien and Peter Farrell Collaboratory, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
- Center for Nano-ImmunoEngineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
- Institute for Materials Discovery and Design, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
- Center for Engineering in Cancer, Institute of Engineering Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Wang J, Liu C, Hu R, Wu L, Li C. Statin therapy: a potential adjuvant to immunotherapies in hepatocellular carcinoma. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1324140. [PMID: 38362156 PMCID: PMC10867224 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1324140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most prevalent cancers worldwide and accounts for more than 90% of primary liver cancer. The advent of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-related therapies combined with angiogenesis inhibition has revolutionized the treatment of HCC in late-stage and unresectable HCC, as ICIs alone were disappointing in treating HCC. In addition to the altered immune microenvironment, abnormal lipid metabolism in the liver has been extensively characterized in various types of HCC. Stains are known for their cholesterol-lowering properties and their long history of treating hypercholesterolemia and reducing cardiovascular disease risk. Apart from ICI and other conventional therapies, statins are frequently used by advanced HCC patients with dyslipidemia, which is often marked by the abnormal accumulation of cholesterol and fatty acids in the liver. Supported by a body of preclinical and clinical studies, statins may unexpectedly enhance the efficacy of ICI therapy in HCC patients through the regulation of inflammatory responses and the immune microenvironment. This review discusses the abnormal changes in lipid metabolism in HCC, summarizes the clinical evidence and benefits of stain use in HCC, and prospects the possible mechanistic actions of statins in transforming the immune microenvironment in HCC when combined with immunotherapies. Consequently, the use of statin therapy may emerge as a novel and valuable adjuvant for immunotherapies in HCC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiao Wang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Wuhan Hospital of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Chengyu Liu
- Department of Transfusion Medicine, Wuhan Hospital of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Ronghua Hu
- Department of Transfusion Medicine, Wuhan Hospital of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Licheng Wu
- School of Clinical Medicine, Nanchang Medical College, Nanchang, China
| | - Chuanzhou Li
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Liu S, Jia M, Dai R. Deciphering the tumour immune microenvironment of hepatocellular carcinoma. Scand J Immunol 2023; 98:e13327. [PMID: 38441331 DOI: 10.1111/sji.13327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 08/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
Current treatments for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are less effective and prone to recurrence after surgery, so it's needed to seek new ideas for its therapy. Tumour immune microenvironment (TME) is crucial for the pathogenesis, development and metastasis of HCC. Interactions between immune cells and tumour cells significantly impact responses to immunotherapies and patient prognosis. In recent years, immunotherapies for HCC have shown promising potential, but the response rate is still unsatisfactory. Understanding their cross-talks is helpful for selecting potential therapeutic targets, predicting immunotherapy responses, determining immunotherapy efficacy, identifying prognostic markers and selecting individualized treatment options. In this paper, we reviewed the research advances on the roles of immune cells and multi-omic research associated with HCC pathogenesis and therapy, and future perspectives on TME.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sha Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
- Department of Pain, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Man Jia
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Rongyang Dai
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Luo P, Zhang Q, Shen S, An Y, Yuan L, Wong YK, Huang S, Huang S, Huang J, Cheng G, Tian J, Chen Y, Zhang X, Li W, He S, Wang J, Du Q. Mechanistic engineering of celastrol liposomes induces ferroptosis and apoptosis by directly targeting VDAC2 in hepatocellular carcinoma. Asian J Pharm Sci 2023; 18:100874. [PMID: 38149060 PMCID: PMC10749887 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajps.2023.100874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2023] [Revised: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of most common and deadliest malignancies. Celastrol (Cel), a natural product derived from the Tripterygium wilfordii plant, has been extensively researched for its potential effectiveness in fighting cancer. However, its clinical application has been hindered by the unclear mechanism of action. Here, we used chemical proteomics to identify the direct targets of Cel and enhanced its targetability and anti-tumor capacity by developing a Cel-based liposomes in HCC. We demonstrated that Cel selectively targets the voltage-dependent anion channel 2 (VDAC2). Cel directly binds to the cysteine residues of VDAC2, and induces cytochrome C release via dysregulating VDAC2-mediated mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) function. We further found that Cel induces ROS-mediated ferroptosis and apoptosis in HCC cells. Moreover, coencapsulation of Cel into alkyl glucoside-modified liposomes (AGCL) improved its antitumor efficacy and minimized its side effects. AGCL has been shown to effectively suppress the proliferation of tumor cells. In a xenograft nude mice experiment, AGCL significantly inhibited tumor growth and promoted apoptosis. Our findings reveal that Cel directly targets VDAC2 to induce mitochondria-dependent cell death, while the Cel liposomes enhance its targetability and reduces side effects. Overall, Cel shows promise as a therapeutic agent for HCC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Piao Luo
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine and School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Qian Zhang
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine and School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Shuo Shen
- State Key Laboratory for Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-di Herbs, Artemisinin Research Center, and Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Yehai An
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine and School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Lixia Yuan
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine and School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Yin-Kwan Wong
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117543, Singapore
| | - Sizhe Huang
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine and School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Shaohui Huang
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine and School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Jingnan Huang
- Department of Nephrology, Shenzhen key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases, and Shenzhen Clinical Research Centre for Geriatrics, Shenzhen People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518020, China
| | - Guangqing Cheng
- State Key Laboratory for Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-di Herbs, Artemisinin Research Center, and Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Jiahang Tian
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine and School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Yu Chen
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine and School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Xiaoyong Zhang
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine and School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Weiguang Li
- Department of Health Technology and Informatics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong 100872, China
| | - Songqi He
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine and School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Jigang Wang
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine and School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
- State Key Laboratory for Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-di Herbs, Artemisinin Research Center, and Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
- Department of Nephrology, Shenzhen key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases, and Shenzhen Clinical Research Centre for Geriatrics, Shenzhen People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518020, China
- Department of Oncology, the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, China
- National Pharmaceutical Engineering Center for Solid Preparation of Chinese Herbal Medicine, Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanchang 330006, China
| | - Qingfeng Du
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine and School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Tsilimigras DI, Ntanasis-Stathopoulos I, Pawlik TM. Molecular Mechanisms of Colorectal Liver Metastases. Cells 2023; 12:1657. [PMID: 37371127 DOI: 10.3390/cells12121657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The liver is the most frequently target for metastasis among patients with colorectal cancer mainly because of the portal vein circulation that directly connects the colon and rectum with the liver. The liver tumor microenvironment consists of different cell types each with unique characteristics and functions that modulate the antigen recognition and immune system activation. Primary tumors from other sites "prime" the liver prior to the seeding of cancer cells, creating a pre-metastatic niche. Following invasion into the liver, four different phases are key to the development of liver metastases: a microvascular phase in which cancer cells infiltrate and become trapped in sinusoidal vessels; an extravascular, pre-angiogenic phase; an angiogenic phase that supplies oxygen and nutrients to cancer cells; and a growth phase in which metastatic cells multiply and enlarge to form detectable tumors. Exosomes carry proteins, lipids, as well as genetic information that can create a pre-metastatic niche in distant sites, including the liver. The complexity of angiogenic mechanisms and the exploitation of the vasculature in situ by cancer cells have limited the efficacy of currently available anti-angiogenic therapies. Delineating the molecular mechanisms implicated in colorectal liver metastases is crucial to understand and predict tumor progression; the development of distant metastases; and resistance to chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Diamantis I Tsilimigras
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and James Comprehensive Cancer Center, 395 W. 12th Ave., Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Ioannis Ntanasis-Stathopoulos
- Department of Clinical Therapeutics, School of Medicine, Alexandra General Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Timothy M Pawlik
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and James Comprehensive Cancer Center, 395 W. 12th Ave., Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Shao M, Wang Y, Dong H, Wang L, Zhang X, Han X, Sang X, Bao Y, Peng M, Cao G. From liver fibrosis to hepatocarcinogenesis: Role of excessive liver H2O2 and targeting nanotherapeutics. Bioact Mater 2023; 23:187-205. [PMID: 36406254 PMCID: PMC9663332 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2022.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2022] [Revised: 10/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Liver fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have been worldwide threats nowadays. Liver fibrosis is reversible in early stages but will develop precancerosis of HCC in cirrhotic stage. In pathological liver, excessive H2O2 is generated and accumulated, which impacts the functionality of hepatocytes, Kupffer cells (KCs) and hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), leading to genesis of fibrosis and HCC. H2O2 accumulation is associated with overproduction of superoxide anion (O2•−) and abolished antioxidant enzyme systems. Plenty of therapeutics focused on H2O2 have shown satisfactory effects against liver fibrosis or HCC in different ways. This review summarized the reasons of liver H2O2 accumulation, and the role of H2O2 in genesis of liver fibrosis and HCC. Additionally, nanotherapeutics targeting H2O2 were summarized for further consideration of antifibrotic or antitumor therapy. Liver fibrosis and HCC are closely related because ROS induced liver damage and inflammation, especially over-cumulated H2O2. Excess H2O2 diffusion in pathological liver was due to increased metabolic rate and diminished cellular antioxidant systems. Freely diffused H2O2 damaged liver-specific cells, thereby leading to fibrogenesis and hepatocarcinogenesis. Nanotherapeutics targeting H2O2 are summarized for treatment of liver fibrosis and HCC, and also challenges are proposed.
Collapse
|
13
|
Ezhilarasan D, Najimi M. Deciphering the possible reciprocal loop between hepatic stellate cells and cancer cells in the tumor microenvironment of the liver. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2023; 182:103902. [PMID: 36621514 DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2022.103902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Revised: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs)/myofibroblasts are the important sources of cancer-associated fibroblasts in the liver tumor microenvironment (TME). The crosstalk between activated HSCs and tumor cells mediates HCC progression, metastasis, tumor cell survival, angiogenesis and chemoresistance. In TME, HCC cells secrete various soluble factors responsible for the phenotypic activation of quiescent HSCs. Tumor cells use activated HSC-derived extracellular matrix (ECM) for migration and invasion. Further, in liver TME, activated HSCs and sinusoidal endothelial cells engage in a crosstalk that causes the secretion of angiogenesis and metastasis-related growth factors and cytokines. Activated HSCs and immune cells crosstalk to decrease immune surveillance in the liver TME by increasing the population of T regulatory cells and M2 macrophages or myeloid-derived suppressor cells. Thus, HSCs play a vital role in liver TME cell interactions. Therefore, a deep understanding of HSCs activation and their crosstalk with cancer and immune cells in TME may lead to the development of novel therapeutic strategies to target HCC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Devaraj Ezhilarasan
- Department of Pharmacology, Saveetha Dental College, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600077, India.
| | - Mustapha Najimi
- Laboratory of Pediatric Hepatology and Cell Therapy, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), UCLouvain, Brussels 1200, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Ezhilarasan D, Najimi M. Intercellular communication among liver cells in the perisinusoidal space of the injured liver: Pathophysiology and therapeutic directions. J Cell Physiol 2023; 238:70-81. [PMID: 36409708 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.30915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Revised: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) in the perisinusoidal space are surrounded by hepatocytes, liver sinusoidal endothelial cells, Kupffer cells, and other resident immune cells. In the normal liver, HSCs communicate with these cells to maintain normal liver functions. However, after chronic liver injury, injured hepatocytes release several proinflammatory mediators, reactive oxygen species, and damage-associated molecular patterns into the perisinusoidal space. Consequently, such alteration activates quiescent HSCs to acquire a myofibroblast-like phenotype and express high amounts of transforming growth factor-β1, angiopoietins, vascular endothelial growth factors, interleukins 6 and 8, fibril forming collagens, laminin, and E-cadherin. These phenotypic and functional transdifferentiation lead to hepatic fibrosis with a typical abnormal extracellular matrix synthesis and disorganization of the perisinusoidal space of the injured liver. Those changes provide a favorable environment that regulates tumor cell proliferation, migration, adhesion, and survival in the perisinusoidal space. Such tumor cells by releasing transforming growth factor-β1 and other cytokines, will, in turn, activate and deeply interact with HSCs via a bidirectional loop. Furthermore, hepatocellular carcinoma-derived mediators convert HSCs and macrophages into protumorigenic cell populations. Thus, the perisinusoidal space serves as a critical hub for activating HSCs and their interactions with other cell types, which cause a variety of liver diseases such as hepatic inflammation, fibrosis, cirrhosis, and their complications, such as portal hypertension and hepatocellular carcinoma. Therefore, targeting the crosstalk between activated HSCs and tumor cells/immune cells in the tumor microenvironment may also support a promising therapeutic strategy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Devaraj Ezhilarasan
- Department of Pharmacology, Molecular Medicine and Toxicology Lab, Saveetha Dental College, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Mustapha Najimi
- Laboratory of Pediatric Hepatology and Cell Therapy, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Research (IREC), UCLouvain, Brussels, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Mancarella S, Gigante I, Serino G, Pizzuto E, Dituri F, Valentini MF, Wang J, Chen X, Armentano R, Calvisi DF, Giannelli G. Crenigacestat blocking notch pathway reduces liver fibrosis in the surrounding ecosystem of intrahepatic CCA viaTGF-β inhibition. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2022; 41:331. [PMID: 36443822 PMCID: PMC9703776 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-022-02536-6] [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: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) is a highly malignant tumor characterized by an intensive desmoplastic reaction due to the exaggerated presence of the extracellular (ECM) matrix components. Liver fibroblasts close to the tumor, activated by transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 and expressing high levels of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), become cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). CAFs are deputed to produce and secrete ECM components and crosstalk with cancer cells favoring tumor progression and resistance to therapy. Overexpression of Notch signaling is implicated in CCA development and growth. The study aimed to determine the effectiveness of the Notch inhibitor, Crenigacestat, on the surrounding microenvironment of iCCA. METHODS We investigated Crenigacestat's effectiveness in a PDX model of iCCA and human primary culture of CAFs isolated from patients with iCCA. RESULTS In silico analysis of transcriptomic profiling from PDX iCCA tissues treated with Crenigacestat highlighted "liver fibrosis" as one of the most modulated pathways. In the iCCA PDX model, Crenigacestat treatment significantly (p < 0.001) reduced peritumoral liver fibrosis. Similar results were obtained in a hydrodynamic model of iCCA. Bioinformatic prediction of the upstream regulators related to liver fibrosis in the iCCA PDX treated with Crenigacestat revealed the involvement of the TGF-β1 pathway as a master regulator gene showing a robust connection between TGF-β1 and Notch pathways. Consistently, drug treatment significantly (p < 0.05) reduced TGF-β1 mRNA and protein levels in tumoral tissue. In PDX tissues, Crenigacestat remarkably inhibited TGF-β signaling and extracellular matrix protein gene expression and reduced α-SMA expression. Furthermore, Crenigacestat synergistically increased Gemcitabine effectiveness in the iCCA PDX model. In 31 iCCA patients, TGF-β1 and α-SMA were upregulated in the tumoral compared with peritumoral tissues. In freshly isolated CAFs from patients with iCCA, Crenigacestat significantly (p < 0.001) inhibited Notch signaling, TGF-β1 secretion, and Smad-2 activation. Consequently, Crenigacestat also inactivated CAFs reducing (p < 0.001) α-SMA expression. Finally, CAFs treated with Crenigacestat produced less (p < 005) ECM components such as fibronectin, collagen 1A1, and collagen 1A2. CONCLUSIONS Notch signaling inhibition reduces the peritumoral desmoplastic reaction in iCCA, blocking the TGF-β1 canonical pathway.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Serena Mancarella
- grid.489101.50000 0001 0162 6994National Institute of Gastroenterology “S. De Bellis” Research Hospital, Via Turi 27, 70013 Castellana Grotte, BA Italy
| | - Isabella Gigante
- grid.489101.50000 0001 0162 6994National Institute of Gastroenterology “S. De Bellis” Research Hospital, Via Turi 27, 70013 Castellana Grotte, BA Italy
| | - Grazia Serino
- grid.489101.50000 0001 0162 6994National Institute of Gastroenterology “S. De Bellis” Research Hospital, Via Turi 27, 70013 Castellana Grotte, BA Italy
| | - Elena Pizzuto
- grid.489101.50000 0001 0162 6994National Institute of Gastroenterology “S. De Bellis” Research Hospital, Via Turi 27, 70013 Castellana Grotte, BA Italy
| | - Francesco Dituri
- grid.489101.50000 0001 0162 6994National Institute of Gastroenterology “S. De Bellis” Research Hospital, Via Turi 27, 70013 Castellana Grotte, BA Italy
| | - Maria F. Valentini
- grid.7644.10000 0001 0120 3326Department of Emergency and Organ Transplant, University of Bari Medical School, Bari, Italy
| | - Jingxiao Wang
- grid.266102.10000 0001 2297 6811Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences and Liver Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143 USA
| | - Xin Chen
- grid.266102.10000 0001 2297 6811Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences and Liver Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143 USA
| | - Raffaele Armentano
- grid.489101.50000 0001 0162 6994National Institute of Gastroenterology “S. De Bellis” Research Hospital, Via Turi 27, 70013 Castellana Grotte, BA Italy
| | - Diego F. Calvisi
- grid.7727.50000 0001 2190 5763Institute of Pathology, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Gianluigi Giannelli
- grid.489101.50000 0001 0162 6994National Institute of Gastroenterology “S. De Bellis” Research Hospital, Via Turi 27, 70013 Castellana Grotte, BA Italy
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Liu C, Mohan SC, Wei J, Seki E, Liu M, Basho R, Giuliano AE, Zhao Y, Cui X. Breast cancer liver metastasis: Pathogenesis and clinical implications. Front Oncol 2022; 12:1043771. [PMID: 36387238 PMCID: PMC9641291 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.1043771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 09/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is the most common malignant disease in female patients worldwide and can spread to almost every place in the human body, most frequently metastasizing to lymph nodes, bones, lungs, liver and brain. The liver is a common metastatic location for solid cancers as a whole, and it is also the third most common metastatic site for breast cancer. Breast cancer liver metastasis (BCLM) is a complex process. Although the hepatic microenvironment and liver sinusoidal structure are crucial factors for the initial arrest of breast cancer and progression within the liver, the biological basis of BCLM remains to be elucidated. Importantly, further understanding of the interaction between breast cancer cells and hepatic microenvironment in the liver metastasis of breast cancer will suggest ways for the development of effective therapy and prevention strategies for BCLM. In this review, we provide an overview of the recent advances in the understanding of the molecular mechanisms of the hepatic microenvironment in BCLM formation and discuss current systemic therapies for treating patients with BCLM as well as potential therapeutic development based on the liver microenvironment-associated signaling proteins governing BCLM.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cuiwei Liu
- Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Srivarshini C. Mohan
- Department of Surgery, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Jielin Wei
- Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Ekihiro Seki
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Manran Liu
- Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medical Diagnostics, Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Reva Basho
- Department of Surgery, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- The Lawrence J. Ellison Institute for Transformative Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Armando E. Giuliano
- Department of Surgery, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Yanxia Zhao
- Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaojiang Cui
- Department of Surgery, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Guizhen Z, Guanchang J, Liwen L, Huifen W, Zhigang R, Ranran S, Zujiang Y. The tumor microenvironment of hepatocellular carcinoma and its targeting strategy by CAR-T cell immunotherapy. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:918869. [PMID: 36093115 PMCID: PMC9452721 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.918869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the major subtype of liver cancer, which ranks sixth in cancer incidence and third in mortality. Although great strides have been made in novel therapy for HCC, such as immunotherapy, the prognosis remains less than satisfactory. Increasing evidence demonstrates that the tumor immune microenvironment (TME) exerts a significant role in the evolution of HCC and has a non-negligible impact on the efficacy of HCC treatment. In the past two decades, the success in hematological malignancies made by chimeric antigen receptor-modified T (CAR-T) cell therapy leveraging it holds great promise for cancer treatment. However, in the face of a hostile TME in solid tumors like HCC, the efficacy of CAR-T cells will be greatly compromised. Here, we provide an overview of TME features in HCC, discuss recent advances and challenges of CAR-T immunotherapy in HCC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhang Guizhen
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Presion Medicine Cencter Gene Hospital of Henan Province, Zhengzhou, China
- Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Ji Guanchang
- Department of Urology People’s Hospital of Puyang, Puyang, China
| | - Liu Liwen
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Presion Medicine Cencter Gene Hospital of Henan Province, Zhengzhou, China
- Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Wang Huifen
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Presion Medicine Cencter Gene Hospital of Henan Province, Zhengzhou, China
- Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Ren Zhigang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Sun Ranran
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yu Zujiang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Presion Medicine Cencter Gene Hospital of Henan Province, Zhengzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Yang S, Cai C, Wang H, Ma X, Shao A, Sheng J, Yu C. Drug delivery strategy in hepatocellular carcinoma therapy. Cell Commun Signal 2022; 20:26. [PMID: 35248060 PMCID: PMC8898478 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-021-00796-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors worldwide, with high rates of recurrence and death. Surgical resection and ablation therapy have limited efficacy for patients with advanced HCC and poor liver function, so pharmacotherapy is the first-line option for those patients. Traditional antitumor drugs have the disadvantages of poor biological distribution and pharmacokinetics, poor target selectivity, high resistance, and high toxicity to nontargeted tissues. Recently, the development of nanotechnology has significantly improved drug delivery to tumor sites by changing the physical and biological characteristics of drugs and nanocarriers to improve their pharmacokinetics and biological distribution and to selectively accumulate cytotoxic agents at tumor sites. Here, we systematically review the tumor microenvironment of HCC and the recent application of nanotechnology in HCC.
Collapse
|
19
|
Zhao W, Dai S, Yue L, Xu F, Gu J, Dai X, Qian X. Emerging mechanisms progress of colorectal cancer liver metastasis. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:1081585. [PMID: 36568117 PMCID: PMC9772455 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.1081585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common malignancy and the second most common cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. A total of 20% of CRC patients present with distant metastasis. The hepatic portal venous system, responsible for collecting most intestinal blood, makes the liver the most common site of CRC metastasis. The formation of liver metastases from colorectal cancer is a long and complex process. It involves the maintenance of primary tumors, vasculature invasion, distant colonization, and metastasis formation. In this review, we serve on how the CRC cells acquire stemness, invade the vascular, and colonize the liver. In addition, we highlight how the resident cells of the liver and immune cells interact with CRC cells. We also discuss the current immunotherapy approaches and challenges we face, and finally, we look forward to finding new therapeutic targets based on novel sequencing technologies.
Collapse
|
20
|
Argemi J, Ponz-Sarvise M, Sangro B. Immunotherapies for hepatocellular carcinoma and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: Current and developing strategies. Adv Cancer Res 2022; 156:367-413. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.acr.2022.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
|
21
|
Immunotherapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: New Prospects for the Cancer Therapy. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:life11121355. [PMID: 34947886 PMCID: PMC8704694 DOI: 10.3390/life11121355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Revised: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. HCC patients may benefit from liver transplantation, hepatic resection, radiofrequency ablation, transcatheter arterial chemoembolization, and targeted therapies. The increased infiltration of immunosuppressive immune cells and the elevated expression of immunosuppressive factors in the HCC microenvironment are the main culprits of the immunosuppressive nature of the HCC milieu. The immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment can substantially attenuate antitumoral immune responses and facilitate the immune evasion of tumoral cells. Immunotherapy is an innovative treatment method that has been promising in treating HCC. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), adoptive cell transfer (ACT), and cell-based (primarily dendritic cells) and non-cell-based vaccines are the most common immunotherapeutic approaches for HCC treatment. However, these therapeutic approaches have not generally induced robust antitumoral responses in clinical settings. To answer to this, growing evidence has characterized immune cell populations and delineated intercellular cross-talk using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) technologies. This review aims to discuss the various types of tumor-infiltrating immune cells and highlight their roles in HCC development. Besides, we discuss the recent advances in immunotherapeutic approaches for treating HCC, e.g., ICIs, dendritic cell (DC)-based vaccines, non-cell-based vaccines, oncolytic viruses (OVs), and ACT. Finally, we discuss the potentiality of scRNA-seq to improve the response rate of HCC patients to immunotherapeutic approaches.
Collapse
|
22
|
Li T, Liu J, Wang Y, Zhou C, Shi Q, Huang S, Yang C, Chen Y, Bai Y, Xiong B. Liver fibrosis promotes immunity escape but limits the size of liver tumor in a rat orthotopic transplantation model. Sci Rep 2021; 11:22846. [PMID: 34819565 PMCID: PMC8613241 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-02155-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Liver fibrosis plays a crucial role in promoting tumor immune escape and tumor aggressiveness for liver cancer. However, an interesting phenomenon is that the tumor size of liver cancer patients with liver fibrosis is smaller than that of patients without liver fibrosis. In this study, 16 SD rats were used to establish orthotopic liver tumor transplantation models with Walker-256 cell lines, respectively on the fibrotic liver (n = 8, LF group) and normal liver (n = 8, control group). MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) was used to monitor the size of the tumors. All rats were executed at the third week after modeling, and the immunohistochemical staining was used to reflect the changes in the tumor microenvironment. The results showed that, compared to the control group, the PD-L1 (programmed cell death protein receptor-L1) expression was higher, and the neutrophil infiltration increased while the effector (CD8+) T cell infiltration decreased in the LF group. Additionally, the expression of MMP-9 (matrix metalloproteinase-9) of tumor tissue in the LF group increased. Three weeks after modeling, the size of tumors in the LF group was significantly smaller than that in the control group (382.47 ± 195.06 mm3 vs. 1736.21 ± 657.25 mm3, P < 0.001). Taken together, we concluded that liver fibrosis facilitated tumor immunity escape but limited the expansion of tumor size.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tongqiang Li
- Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Jiefang Avenue #1277, Wuhan, 430022, China
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Jiacheng Liu
- Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Jiefang Avenue #1277, Wuhan, 430022, China
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Yingliang Wang
- Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Jiefang Avenue #1277, Wuhan, 430022, China
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Chen Zhou
- Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Jiefang Avenue #1277, Wuhan, 430022, China
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Qin Shi
- Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Jiefang Avenue #1277, Wuhan, 430022, China
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Songjiang Huang
- Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Jiefang Avenue #1277, Wuhan, 430022, China
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Chongtu Yang
- Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Jiefang Avenue #1277, Wuhan, 430022, China
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Yang Chen
- Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Jiefang Avenue #1277, Wuhan, 430022, China
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Yaowei Bai
- Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Jiefang Avenue #1277, Wuhan, 430022, China
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Bin Xiong
- Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Jiefang Avenue #1277, Wuhan, 430022, China.
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan, 430022, China.
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Ezhilarasan D. Hepatic stellate cells in the injured liver: Perspectives beyond hepatic fibrosis. J Cell Physiol 2021; 237:436-449. [PMID: 34514599 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.30582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Revised: 08/22/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Over the last two decades, our understanding of the pathological role of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) in fibrotic liver disease has increased dramatically. As HSCs are identified as the principal collagen-producing cells in the injured liver, several experimental and clinical studies have targeted HSCs to treat liver fibrosis. However, HSCs also play a critical role in developing nonfibrotic liver diseases such as cholestasis, portal hypertension, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Therefore, this review exclusively focuses on the role of activated HSCs beyond hepatic fibrosis. In cholestasis conditions, elevated bile salts and bile acids activate HSCs to secrete collagen and other extracellular matrix products, which cause biliary fibrosis and cholangitis. In the chronically injured liver, autocrine and paracrine signaling from liver sinusoidal endothelial cells activates HSCs to induce portal hypertension via endothelin-1 release. In the tumor microenvironment (TME), activated HSCs are the major source of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF). The crosstalk between activated HSC/CAF and tumor cells is associated with tumor cell proliferation, migration, metastasis, and chemoresistance. In TME, activated HSCs convert macrophages to tumor-associated macrophages and induce the differentiation of dendritic cells (DCs) and monocytes to regulatory DCs and myeloid-derived suppressor cells, respectively. This differentiation, in turn, increases T cells proliferation and induces their apoptosis leading to reduced immune surveillance in TME. Thus, HSCs activation in chronically injured liver is a critical process involved in the progression of cholestasis, portal hypertension, and liver cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Devaraj Ezhilarasan
- Department of Pharmacology, The Blue Lab, Molecular Medicine and Toxicology Division, Saveetha Dental College, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Li X, Ramadori P, Pfister D, Seehawer M, Zender L, Heikenwalder M. The immunological and metabolic landscape in primary and metastatic liver cancer. Nat Rev Cancer 2021; 21:541-557. [PMID: 34326518 DOI: 10.1038/s41568-021-00383-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 199] [Impact Index Per Article: 66.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The liver is the sixth most common site of primary cancer in humans, and generally arises in a background of cirrhosis and inflammation. Moreover, the liver is frequently colonized by metastases from cancers of other organs (particularly the colon) because of its anatomical location and organization, as well as its unique metabolic and immunosuppressive environment. In this Review, we discuss how the hepatic microenvironment adapts to pathologies characterized by chronic inflammation and metabolic alterations. We illustrate how these immunological or metabolic changes alter immunosurveillance and thus hinder or promote the development of primary liver cancer. In addition, we describe how inflammatory and metabolic niches affect the spreading of cancer metastases into or within the liver. Finally, we review the current therapeutic options in this context and the resulting challenges that must be surmounted.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xin Li
- Division of Chronic Inflammation and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Pierluigi Ramadori
- Division of Chronic Inflammation and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Dominik Pfister
- Division of Chronic Inflammation and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Marco Seehawer
- Department of Medical Oncology and Pneumology (Internal Medicine VIII), University Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Lars Zender
- Department of Medical Oncology and Pneumology (Internal Medicine VIII), University Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence iFIT (EXC 2180) "Image-Guided and Functionally Instructed Tumor Therapies", University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
- German Cancer Research Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Tübingen, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Mathias Heikenwalder
- Division of Chronic Inflammation and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Disparity of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Tumor Microenvironment-Related Genes and Infiltrating Immune Cells between Asian and Non-Asian Populations. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12081274. [PMID: 34440448 PMCID: PMC8392256 DOI: 10.3390/genes12081274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Revised: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common cause of primary liver cancer deaths worldwide. The major risk factors for liver cancer development are cirrhosis, hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, and chronic alcohol abuse. HCC displays heterogeneity in terms of biology, etiology, and epidemiology. In Southeast Asia and Africa, chronic HBV infection is a major risk factor for HCC, whereas chronic HCV infection is a risk factor for HCC in western countries and Japan. Environmental and genetic conditions also play a role in the regional and temporal variations in the incidence of HCC. In this study, we used the ESTIMATE (ESTIMATE, Estimation of stromal and immune cells in malignant tumor tissues using expression data) algorithm and the CIBERSOFT tool to analyze gene expression profiles and infiltrating immune cells in HCC between Asian and non-Asian patients. The results showed that stromal and immune scores were dependent on overall survival (OS) in non-Asian patients but not in Asian patients. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed four differentially expressed genes (DEGs) that were significantly associated with OS in non-Asian patients only. CIBERSORT (CIBERSORT, Cell type identification by estimating relative subsets of known RNA transcripts) analysis indicated that the composition of infiltrating immune cells was significantly different between Asian and non-Asian patients. By parsing the subclasses of HCC, the ability to predict prognosis and guide therapeutic targets for potentially actionable HCC may be improved.
Collapse
|
26
|
Wu M, Miao H, Fu R, Zhang J, Zheng W. Hepatic Stellate Cell: A Potential Target for Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Curr Mol Pharmacol 2021; 13:261-272. [PMID: 32091349 DOI: 10.2174/1874467213666200224102820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2019] [Revised: 01/11/2020] [Accepted: 01/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Liver cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, in which hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accounts for the majority. Despite the progression in treatment, the prognosis remains extremely poor for HCC patients. The mechanisms of hepatocarcinogenesis are complex, of which fibrosis is acknowledged as the pre-cancerous stage of HCC. Approximately, 80-90% of HCC develops in the fibrotic or cirrhotic livers. Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), the main effector cells of liver fibrosis, could secret various biological contents to maintain the liver inflammation. By decades, HSCs are increasingly correlated with HCC in the tumor microenvironment. In this review, we summarized the underlying mechanisms that HSCs participated in the genesis and progression of HCC. HSCs secrete various bioactive contents and regulate tumor-related pathways, subsequently contribute to metastasis, angiogenesis, immunosuppression, chemoresistance and cancer stemness. The study indicates that HSC plays vital roles in HCC progression, suggesting it as a promising therapeutic target for HCC treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mengna Wu
- Research Center of Clinical Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, 20 Xisi Road, 226001 Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Huajie Miao
- Research Center of Clinical Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, 20 Xisi Road, 226001 Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Rong Fu
- Department of Pathology, Affiliated Haian Hospital of Nantong University, 17 Zhongba Road, 226600, Haian, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jie Zhang
- Department of Chemotherapy, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, 20 Xisi Road, 226001 Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Wenjie Zheng
- Research Center of Clinical Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, 20 Xisi Road, 226001 Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Yang W, Feng Y, Zhou J, Cheung OKW, Cao J, Wang J, Tang W, Tu Y, Xu L, Wu F, Tan Z, Sun H, Tian Y, Wong J, Lai PBS, Chan SL, Chan AWH, Tan PBO, Chen Z, Sung JJY, Yip KYL, To KF, Cheng ASL. A selective HDAC8 inhibitor potentiates antitumor immunity and efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade in hepatocellular carcinoma. Sci Transl Med 2021; 13:13/588/eaaz6804. [PMID: 33827976 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aaz6804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2019] [Revised: 09/26/2020] [Accepted: 03/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Insufficient T cell infiltration into noninflamed tumors, such as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), restricts the effectiveness of immune-checkpoint blockade (ICB) for a subset of patients. Epigenetic therapy provides further opportunities to rewire cancer-associated transcriptional programs, but whether and how selective epigenetic inhibition counteracts the immune-excluded phenotype remain incompletely defined. Here, we showed that pharmacological inhibition of histone deacetylase 8 (HDAC8), a histone H3 lysine 27 (H3K27)-specific isozyme overexpressed in a variety of human cancers, thwarts HCC tumorigenicity in a T cell-dependent manner. The tumor-suppressive effect of selective HDAC8 inhibition was abrogated by CD8+ T cell depletion or regulatory T cell adoptive transfer. Chromatin profiling of human HDAC8-expressing HCCs revealed genome-wide H3K27 deacetylation in 1251 silenced enhancer-target gene pairs that are enriched in metabolic and immune regulators. Mechanistically, down-regulation of HDAC8 increased global and enhancer acetylation of H3K27 to reactivate production of T cell-trafficking chemokines by HCC cells, thus relieving T cell exclusion in both immunodeficient and humanized mouse models. In an HCC preclinical model, selective HDAC8 inhibition increased tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cells and potentiated eradication of established hepatomas by anti-PD-L1 therapy without evidence of toxicity. Mice treated with HDAC8 and PD-L1 coblockade were protected against subsequent tumor rechallenge as a result of the induction of memory T cells and remained tumor-free for greater than 15 months. Collectively, our study demonstrates that selective HDAC8 inhibition elicits effective and durable responses to ICB by co-opting adaptive immunity through enhancer reprogramming.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Weiqin Yang
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
| | - Yu Feng
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
| | - Jingying Zhou
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China.,Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
| | - Otto Ka-Wing Cheung
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
| | - Jianquan Cao
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
| | - Jing Wang
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
| | - Wenshu Tang
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
| | - Yalin Tu
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
| | - Liangliang Xu
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
| | - Feng Wu
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
| | - Zhiwu Tan
- AIDS Institute, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China.,Department of Microbiology and Research Center for Infection and Immunity, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
| | - Hanyong Sun
- Department of Liver Surgery, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127, China
| | - Yuan Tian
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Genome Stability and Human Disease Prevention, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen 518061, China
| | - John Wong
- Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
| | - Paul Bo-San Lai
- Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
| | - Stephen Lam Chan
- Department of Clinical Oncology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China.,State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
| | - Anthony Wing-Hung Chan
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
| | - Patrick Boon-Ooi Tan
- Program in Cancer and Stem Cell Biology, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore.,Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117599, Singapore.,Cancer Therapeutics and Stratified Oncology, Genome Institute of Singapore, Singapore 138672, Singapore.,SingHealth/Duke-NUS Institute of Precision Medicine, National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore 169857, Singapore.,Cellular and Molecular Research, National Cancer Centre, Singapore 169610, Singapore.,Singapore Gastric Cancer Consortium, Singapore 119228, Singapore
| | - Zhiwei Chen
- AIDS Institute, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China.,Department of Microbiology and Research Center for Infection and Immunity, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
| | - Joseph Jao-Yiu Sung
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798, Singapore.,State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China.,Institute of Precision Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Kevin Yuk-Lap Yip
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
| | - Ka-Fai To
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China.,State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
| | - Alfred Sze-Lok Cheng
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China.
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Peng L, Zhang Y, Wang Z. Immune Responses against Disseminated Tumor Cells. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:2515. [PMID: 34063848 PMCID: PMC8196619 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13112515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Revised: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Most cancer-related deaths are a consequence of metastases, a series of linear events, notably the invasion-metastasis cascade. The current understanding of cancer immune surveillance derives from studies in primary tumors, but disseminated cancer cells acquire mutations and, in some cases, appear to progress independently after spreading from primary sites. An early step in this process is micrometastatic dissemination. As such, the equilibrium between the immune system and disseminated cancer cells controls the fate of the cancer. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) exhibit significant clinical activity in patients, but the efficacy of ICIs depends on both the tumor and its microenvironment. Data often suggest that disseminated cancer cells are not adequately targeted by the immune system. In this review, we summarize the main basic findings of immune responses against disseminated tumor cells and their organ-specific characteristics. Such studies may provide new directions for cancer immune therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ling Peng
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital, Hangzhou 310014, China
| | - Yongchang Zhang
- Lung Cancer and Gastrointestinal Unit, Department of Medical Oncology, Hunan Cancer Hospital, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Changsha 410013, China;
| | - Zibing Wang
- Department of Immunotherapy, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University & Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou 450008, China
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Abstract
Liver metastases are commonly detected in a range of malignancies including colorectal cancer (CRC), pancreatic cancer, melanoma, lung cancer and breast cancer, although CRC is the most common primary cancer that metastasizes to the liver. Interactions between tumour cells and the tumour microenvironment play an important part in the engraftment, survival and progression of the metastases. Various cells including liver sinusoidal endothelial cells, Kupffer cells, hepatic stellate cells, parenchymal hepatocytes, dendritic cells, resident natural killer cells as well as other immune cells such as monocytes, macrophages and neutrophils are implicated in promoting and sustaining metastases in the liver. Four key phases (microvascular, pre-angiogenic, angiogenic and growth phases) have been identified in the process of liver metastasis. Imaging modalities such as ultrasonography, CT, MRI and PET scans are typically used for the diagnosis of liver metastases. Surgical resection remains the main potentially curative treatment among patients with resectable liver metastases. The role of liver transplantation in the management of liver metastasis remains controversial. Systemic therapies, newer biologic agents (for example, bevacizumab and cetuximab) and immunotherapeutic agents have revolutionized the treatment options for liver metastases. Moving forward, incorporation of genetic tests can provide more accurate information to guide clinical decision-making and predict prognosis among patients with liver metastases.
Collapse
|
30
|
Sufleţel RT, Melincovici CS, Gheban BA, Toader Z, Mihu CM. Hepatic stellate cells - from past till present: morphology, human markers, human cell lines, behavior in normal and liver pathology. ROMANIAN JOURNAL OF MORPHOLOGY AND EMBRYOLOGY 2021; 61:615-642. [PMID: 33817704 PMCID: PMC8112759 DOI: 10.47162/rjme.61.3.01] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Hepatic stellate cell (HSC), initially analyzed by von Kupffer, in 1876, revealed to be an extraordinary mesenchymal cell, essential for both hepatocellular function and lesions, being the hallmark of hepatic fibrogenesis and carcinogenesis. Apart from their implications in hepatic injury, HSCs play a vital role in liver development and regeneration, xenobiotic response, intermediate metabolism, and regulation of immune response. In this review, we discuss the current state of knowledge regarding HSCs morphology, human HSCs markers and human HSC cell lines. We also summarize the latest findings concerning their roles in normal and liver pathology, focusing on their impact in fibrogenesis, chronic viral hepatitis and liver tumors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rada Teodora Sufleţel
- Discipline of Histology, Department of Morphological Sciences, Iuliu Haţieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania;
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
31
|
Immunity as Cornerstone of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: The Contribution of Oxidative Stress in the Disease Progression. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22010436. [PMID: 33406763 PMCID: PMC7795122 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22010436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2020] [Revised: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is considered the hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome and has become the major cause of chronic liver disease, especially in western countries. NAFLD encompasses a wide spectrum of hepatic histological alterations, from simple steatosis to steatohepatitis and cirrhosis with a potential development of hepatocellular carcinoma. Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is characterized by lobular inflammation and fibrosis. Several studies reported that insulin resistance, redox unbalance, inflammation, and lipid metabolism dysregulation are involved in NAFLD progression. However, the mechanisms beyond the evolution of simple steatosis to NASH are not clearly understood yet. Recent findings suggest that different oxidized products, such as lipids, cholesterol, aldehydes and other macromolecules could drive the inflammation onset. On the other hand, new evidence indicates innate and adaptive immunity activation as the driving force in establishing liver inflammation and fibrosis. In this review, we discuss how immunity, triggered by oxidative products and promoting in turn oxidative stress in a vicious cycle, fuels NAFLD progression. Furthermore, we explored the emerging importance of immune cell metabolism in determining inflammation, describing the potential application of trained immune discoveries in the NASH pathological context.
Collapse
|
32
|
Shen S, Du M, Liu Q, Gao P, Wang J, Liu S, Gu L. Development of GLUT1-targeting alkyl glucoside-modified dihydroartemisinin liposomes for cancer therapy. NANOSCALE 2020; 12:21901-21912. [PMID: 33108431 DOI: 10.1039/d0nr05138a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The antitumor activity of artemisinin derivatives has attracted much attention. However, lack of tumor targeting limits the anti-tumor activity of artemisinin derivatives. It is reported that tumor cells acquire energy through the glycolysis pathway. To meet their elevated glucose requirements, high expressions of glucose transporters (GLUTs) are observed in many malignant cells. On this basis, novel alkyl glycoside-modified dihydroartemisinin liposomes were successfully prepared with GLUT1 as the target and the glucose segment of an alkyl glycoside as the targeting head on the surface of liposomes. The particle size of the liposomes was 100.67 ± 1.25 nm, zeta potential was -22.93 ± 0.92 mV and encapsulation efficiency was 75.28 ± 0.73%, meanwhile the liposomes had good stability. In vitro targeting of liposomes was evaluated by fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry. Compared with human L02 hepatocyte cells, the liposomes showed better targeting ability to human liver carcinoma cells HepG2 with the help of the glucose segment modified on the liposomes. In vivo targeting evaluation also showed that the tumor targeting of alkyl glycoside-modified liposomes was significantly improved, as well as the anti-tumor activity. These findings provide a research and theoretical basis for the development of artemisinin derivatives and other drug targeted antitumor nano-agents.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shuo Shen
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
33
|
Wang W, Huang X, Fan X, Yan J, Luan J. Progress in evaluating the status of hepatitis C infection based on the functional changes of hepatic stellate cells (Review). Mol Med Rep 2020; 22:4116-4124. [PMID: 33000255 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2020.11516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2020] [Accepted: 08/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a global public health problem. Cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma are the main causes of death in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) infection. Liver fibrosis is an important cause of cirrhosis and end‑stage liver disease after CHC infection. Along with the course of infection, liver fibrosis exhibits a progressive exacerbation. Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are involved in both physiological and pathological processes of the liver. During the chronic liver injury process, the activated HSCs transform into myofibroblasts, which are important cells in the development of liver fibrosis. At present, HCV infection still lacks specific markers for the accurate detection of the disease condition and progression. Therefore, the present review focused on HSCs, which are closely related to HCV‑infected liver fibrosis, and analyzed the changes in the HSCs, including their surface‑specific markers, cytokine production, activation, cell function and morphological structure. The present review aimed to propose novel diagnostic markers, at both the cellular and molecular level, which would be of great significance for the timely diagnosis of the disease. According to this aim, the characteristic changes of HSCs during HCV infection were reviewed in the present article.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wei Wang
- Department of Blood Transfusion Medicine, School of Medicine, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210002, P.R. China
| | - Xuelian Huang
- Department of Blood Transfusion Medicine, School of Medicine, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210002, P.R. China
| | - Xuzhou Fan
- Department of Blood Transfusion Medicine, School of Medicine, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210002, P.R. China
| | - Jingmei Yan
- Department of Blood Transfusion Medicine, School of Medicine, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210002, P.R. China
| | - Jianfeng Luan
- Department of Blood Transfusion Medicine, School of Medicine, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210002, P.R. China
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Barry AE, Baldeosingh R, Lamm R, Patel K, Zhang K, Dominguez DA, Kirton KJ, Shah AP, Dang H. Hepatic Stellate Cells and Hepatocarcinogenesis. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:709. [PMID: 32850829 PMCID: PMC7419619 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.00709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are a significant component of the hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tumor microenvironment (TME). Activated HSCs transform into myofibroblast-like cells to promote fibrosis in response to liver injury or chronic inflammation, leading to cirrhosis and HCC. The hepatic TME is comprised of cellular components, including activated HSCs, tumor-associated macrophages, endothelial cells, immune cells, and non-cellular components, such as growth factors, proteolytic enzymes and their inhibitors, and other extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. Interactions between HCC cells and their microenvironment have become topics under active investigation. These interactions within the hepatic TME have the potential to drive carcinogenesis and create challenges in generating effective therapies. Current studies reveal potential mechanisms through which activated HSCs drive hepatocarcinogenesis utilizing matricellular proteins and paracrine crosstalk within the TME. Since activated HSCs are primary secretors of ECM proteins during liver injury and inflammation, they help promote fibrogenesis, infiltrate the HCC stroma, and contribute to HCC development. In this review, we examine several recent studies revealing the roles of HSCs and their clinical implications in the development of fibrosis and cirrhosis within the hepatic TME.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna E Barry
- Department of Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States.,Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Rajkumar Baldeosingh
- Department of Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States.,Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Ryan Lamm
- Department of Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Keyur Patel
- Department of Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Kai Zhang
- Department of Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States.,Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Dana A Dominguez
- Department of General Surgery, UCSF East Bay, Oakland, CA, United States
| | - Kayla J Kirton
- Department of Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Ashesh P Shah
- Department of Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Hien Dang
- Department of Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States.,Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Abstract
Chronic liver injury due to viral hepatitis, alcohol abuse, and metabolic disorders is a worldwide health concern. Insufficient treatment of chronic liver injury leads to fibrosis, causing liver dysfunction and carcinogenesis. Most cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) develop in the fibrotic liver. Pathological features of liver fibrosis include extracellular matrix (ECM) accumulation, mesenchymal cell activation, immune deregulation, and angiogenesis, all of which contribute to the precancerous environment, supporting tumor development. Among liver cells, hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and macrophages play critical roles in fibrosis and HCC. These two cell types interplay and remodel the ECM and immune microenvironment in the fibrotic liver. Once HCC develops, HCC-derived factors influence HSCs and macrophages to switch to protumorigenic cell populations, cancer-associated fibroblasts and tumor-associated macrophages, respectively. This review aims to summarize currently available data on the roles of HSCs and macrophages in liver fibrosis and HCC, with a focus on their interaction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michitaka Matsuda
- Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California
| | - Ekihiro Seki
- Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Qin XS, Zhang CL, Huang ZS. Influence of tumor microenvironment on angiogenesis in hepatocellular carcinoma. Shijie Huaren Xiaohua Zazhi 2020; 28:493-500. [DOI: 10.11569/wcjd.v28.i12.493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver cancer is one of the main malignant tumors that endanger human health, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common histological type of this heterogeneous cancer. The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a dynamic system composed of tumor cells and tumor-related stroma. HCC can form tumor-related blood vessels through a variety of angiogenesis modes. Previous studies have shown that various components of TME mediate HCC angiogenesis in multiple ways, which brings big challenges to clinical anti-angiogenesis therapy. This article reviews the research progress of HCC angiogenesis model and the role of TME in the regulation of HCC angiogenesis, with an aim to provide a reference for basic and clinical research of liver cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Shan Qin
- Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise 533000, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China,Graduate School of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise 533000, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
| | - Cai-Ling Zhang
- Graduate School of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise 533000, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
| | - Zan-Song Huang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise 533000, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China,Guangxi Clinical Research Center for Hepatobiliary Diseases, Baise 533000, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Ciner AT, Jones K, Muschel RJ, Brodt P. The unique immune microenvironment of liver metastases: Challenges and opportunities. Semin Cancer Biol 2020; 71:143-156. [PMID: 32526354 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2020.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2020] [Revised: 06/04/2020] [Accepted: 06/05/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Liver metastases from gastrointestinal and non-gastrointestinal malignancies remain a major cause of cancer-related mortality and a major clinical challenge. The liver has unique properties that facilitate metastatic expansion, including a complex immune system that evolved to dampen immunity to neoantigens entering the liver from the gut, through the portal circulation. In this review, we describe the unique microenvironment encountered by cancer cells in the liver, focusing on elements of the innate and adaptive immune response that can act as a double-edge sword, contributing to the elimination of cancer cells on the one hand and promoting their survival and growth, on the other. We discuss this microenvironment in a clinical context, particularly for colorectal carcinoma, and highlight how a better understanding of the role of the microenvironment has spurred an intense effort to develop novel and innovative strategies for targeting liver metastatic disease, some of which are currently being tested in the clinic.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aaron T Ciner
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, United States
| | - Keaton Jones
- Oxford Institute for Radiation Oncology, Department of Surgery, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Ruth J Muschel
- Oxford Institute for Radiation Oncology, Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Pnina Brodt
- Departments of Surgery, Medicine and Oncology, McGill University, and the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center, Montreal, QC, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Bustamante P, Piquet L, Landreville S, Burnier JV. Uveal melanoma pathobiology: Metastasis to the liver. Semin Cancer Biol 2020; 71:65-85. [PMID: 32450140 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2020.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2020] [Revised: 05/04/2020] [Accepted: 05/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Uveal melanoma (UM) is a type of intraocular tumor with a propensity to disseminate to the liver. Despite the identification of the early driver mutations during the development of the pathology, the process of UM metastasis is still not fully comprehended. A better understanding of the genetic, molecular, and environmental factors participating to its spread and metastatic outgrowth could provide additional approaches for UM treatment. In this review, we will discuss the advances made towards the understanding of the pathogenesis of metastatic UM, summarize the current and prospective treatments, and introduce some of the ongoing research in this field.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Prisca Bustamante
- Cancer Research Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montréal, Canada; Experimental Pathology Unit, Department of Pathology, McGill University, Montréal, Canada
| | - Léo Piquet
- Département d'ophtalmologie et d'ORL-CCF, Faculté de médecine, Université Laval, Quebec City, Canada; CUO-Recherche and Axe médecine régénératrice, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Quebec City, Canada; Centre de recherche sur le cancer de l'Université Laval, Quebec City, Canada; Centre de recherche en organogénèse expérimentale de l'Université Laval/LOEX, Quebec City, Canada
| | - Solange Landreville
- Département d'ophtalmologie et d'ORL-CCF, Faculté de médecine, Université Laval, Quebec City, Canada; CUO-Recherche and Axe médecine régénératrice, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Quebec City, Canada; Centre de recherche sur le cancer de l'Université Laval, Quebec City, Canada; Centre de recherche en organogénèse expérimentale de l'Université Laval/LOEX, Quebec City, Canada
| | - Julia V Burnier
- Cancer Research Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montréal, Canada; Experimental Pathology Unit, Department of Pathology, McGill University, Montréal, Canada; Gerald Bronfman Department Of Oncology, McGill University, Montréal, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Obrador E, Salvador R, López-Blanch R, Jihad-Jebbar A, Alcácer J, Benlloch M, Pellicer JA, Estrela JM. Melanoma in the liver: Oxidative stress and the mechanisms of metastatic cell survival. Semin Cancer Biol 2020; 71:109-121. [PMID: 32428715 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2020.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2020] [Revised: 05/03/2020] [Accepted: 05/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Metastatic melanoma is a fatal disease with a rapid systemic dissemination. The most frequent target sites are the liver, bone, and brain. Melanoma metastases represent a heterogeneous cell population, which associates with genomic instability and resistance to therapy. Interaction of melanoma cells with the hepatic sinusoidal endothelium initiates a signaling cascade involving cytokines, growth factors, bioactive lipids, and reactive oxygen and nitrogen species produced by the cancer cell, the endothelium, and also by different immune cells. Endothelial cell-derived NO and H2O2 and the action of immune cells cause the death of most melanoma cells that reach the hepatic microvascularization. Surviving melanoma cells attached to the endothelium of pre-capillary arterioles or sinusoids may follow two mechanisms of extravasation: a) migration through vessel fenestrae or b) intravascular proliferation followed by vessel rupture and microinflammation. Invading melanoma cells first form micrometastases within the normal lobular hepatic architecture via a mechanism regulated by cross-talk with the stroma and multiple microenvironment-related molecular signals. In this review special emphasis is placed on neuroendocrine (systemic) mechanisms as potential promoters of liver metastatic growth. Growing metastatic cells undergo functional and metabolic changes that increase their capacity to withstand oxidative/nitrosative stress, which favors their survival. This adaptive process also involves upregulation of Bcl-2-related antideath mechanisms, which seems to lead to the generation of more resistant cell subclones.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elena Obrador
- Department of Physiology, University of Valencia, 46010, Valencia, Spain
| | - Rosario Salvador
- Department of Physiology, University of Valencia, 46010, Valencia, Spain
| | | | - Ali Jihad-Jebbar
- Department of Physiology, University of Valencia, 46010, Valencia, Spain
| | - Javier Alcácer
- Pathology Laboratory, Quirón Hospital, 46010, Valencia, Spain
| | - María Benlloch
- Department of Health & Functional Valorization, San Vicente Martir Catholic University, 46001, Valencia, Spain
| | - José A Pellicer
- Department of Physiology, University of Valencia, 46010, Valencia, Spain
| | - José M Estrela
- Department of Physiology, University of Valencia, 46010, Valencia, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Origin and role of hepatic myofibroblasts in hepatocellular carcinoma. Oncotarget 2020; 11:1186-1201. [PMID: 32284794 PMCID: PMC7138168 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.27532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2019] [Accepted: 03/03/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver cancer and is the second leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Fibrosis and cirrhosis are important risk factors for the development of HCC. Hepatic myofibroblasts are the cells responsible for extracellular matrix deposition, which is the hallmark of liver fibrosis. It is believed that myofibroblasts are predominantly derived from hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), also known as Ito cells. Nevertheless, depending on the nature of insult to the liver, it is thought that myofibroblasts may also originate from a variety of other cell types such as the portal fibroblasts (PFs), fibrocytes, hepatocytes, hepatic progenitor cells (HPCs), and mesothelial cells. Liver myofibroblasts are believed to transform into cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) while HCC is developing. There is substantial evidence suggesting that activated HSCs (aHSCs)/cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) may play an important role in HCC initiation and progression. In this paper, we aim to review current literature on cellular origins of myofibroblasts with a focus on hepatitis B virus (HBV)- and hepatitis C virus (HCV)-induced hepatic fibrosis. We also address the role of aHSCs/CAFs in HCC progression through the regulation of immune cells as well as mechanisms of evolvement of drug resistance.
Collapse
|
41
|
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver cancer and is the second leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Fibrosis and cirrhosis are important risk factors for the development of HCC. Hepatic myofibroblasts are the cells responsible for extracellular matrix deposition, which is the hallmark of liver fibrosis. It is believed that myofibroblasts are predominantly derived from hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), also known as Ito cells. Nevertheless, depending on the nature of insult to the liver, it is thought that myofibroblasts may also originate from a variety of other cell types such as the portal fibroblasts (PFs), fibrocytes, hepatocytes, hepatic progenitor cells (HPCs), and mesothelial cells. Liver myofibroblasts are believed to transform into cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) while HCC is developing. There is substantial evidence suggesting that activated HSCs (aHSCs)/cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) may play an important role in HCC initiation and progression. In this paper, we aim to review current literature on cellular origins of myofibroblasts with a focus on hepatitis B virus (HBV)- and hepatitis C virus (HCV)-induced hepatic fibrosis. We also address the role of aHSCs/CAFs in HCC progression through the regulation of immune cells as well as mechanisms of evolvement of drug resistance.
Collapse
|
42
|
Ruan Q, Wang H, Burke LJ, Bridle KR, Li X, Zhao CX, Crawford DHG, Roberts MS, Liang X. Therapeutic modulators of hepatic stellate cells for hepatocellular carcinoma. Int J Cancer 2020; 147:1519-1527. [PMID: 32010970 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.32899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2019] [Revised: 01/14/2020] [Accepted: 01/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of primary tumor in the liver and is a leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are key components of the HCC microenvironment and play an important role in the onset and progression of HCC through the secretion of growth factors and cytokines. Current treatment modalities that include chemotherapy, radiotherapy and ablation are able to activate HSCs and remodel the tumor microenvironment. Growing evidence has demonstrated that the complex interaction between activated HSCs and tumor cells can facilitate cancer chemoresistance and metastasis. Therefore, therapeutic targeting of activated HSCs has emerged as a promising strategy to improve treatment outcomes for HCC. This review summarizes the molecular mechanisms of HSC activation triggered by treatment modalities, the function of activated HSCs in HCC, as well as the crosstalk between tumor cells and activated HSCs. Pathways of activated HSC reduction are discussed, including inhibition, apoptosis, and reversion to the inactivated state. Finally, we outline the progress and challenges of therapeutic approaches targeting activated HSCs in the development of HCC treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qi Ruan
- The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia
| | - Haolu Wang
- The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia.,Gallipoli Medical Research Institute, Greenslopes Private Hospital, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Leslie J Burke
- The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia.,Gallipoli Medical Research Institute, Greenslopes Private Hospital, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Kim R Bridle
- Gallipoli Medical Research Institute, Greenslopes Private Hospital, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Xinxing Li
- Department of General Surgery, Changzheng Hospital, The Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Chun-Xia Zhao
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Darrell H G Crawford
- Gallipoli Medical Research Institute, Greenslopes Private Hospital, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Michael S Roberts
- The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia
| | - Xiaowen Liang
- The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia.,Gallipoli Medical Research Institute, Greenslopes Private Hospital, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Xu Y, Huang Y, Xu W, Zheng X, Yi X, Huang L, Wang Y, Wu K. Activated Hepatic Stellate Cells (HSCs) Exert Immunosuppressive Effects in Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Producing Complement C3. Onco Targets Ther 2020; 13:1497-1505. [PMID: 32110047 PMCID: PMC7035898 DOI: 10.2147/ott.s234920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2019] [Accepted: 02/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are the important players in liver cirrhosis and liver cancer. They also act as critical mediators of immunosuppression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this study, we hypothesized that HSCs promote HCC progression via C3. Methods C3 in HSCs was knocked down using a shRNA retroviral plasmid. The conditioned medium from HSCs or shC3 HSCs (knockdown of C3 by shRNA in HSCs) was collected to detect their effects on bone marrow (BM) and T cells (including expansion and apoptosis) in vitro, and in an HCC in situ model in mice. Results We found that HSCs promoted T-cell apoptosis and decreased their proliferation, inhibited dendritic cell (DC) maturation, and induced myeloid-derived suppressor cell (MDSC) expansion through the C3 pathway in vitro. In addition, the knockdown of C3 suppressed HSC-promoted HCC development in the orthotopic transplantation tumor model of HCC in mice. Conclusion These findings provide more insights into the immunomodulatory roles of HSCs in HCC progression and indicate that modulation of the C3 pathway might be a novel therapeutic approach for liver cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yaping Xu
- Key Laboratory of Functional and Clinical Translational Medicine, Fujian Province University, Department of Physiology, Xiamen Medical College, Xiamen 361023, People's Republic of China.,Xiamen Key Laboratory of Respiratory Diseases, Xiamen 361023, People's Republic of China
| | - Yihao Huang
- Key Laboratory of Functional and Clinical Translational Medicine, Fujian Province University, Department of Physiology, Xiamen Medical College, Xiamen 361023, People's Republic of China
| | - Wanqiong Xu
- Key Laboratory of Functional and Clinical Translational Medicine, Fujian Province University, Department of Physiology, Xiamen Medical College, Xiamen 361023, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaohui Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Functional and Clinical Translational Medicine, Fujian Province University, Department of Physiology, Xiamen Medical College, Xiamen 361023, People's Republic of China
| | - Xue Yi
- Key Laboratory of Functional and Clinical Translational Medicine, Fujian Province University, Department of Physiology, Xiamen Medical College, Xiamen 361023, People's Republic of China.,Xiamen Key Laboratory of Respiratory Diseases, Xiamen 361023, People's Republic of China
| | - Liyue Huang
- Key Laboratory of Functional and Clinical Translational Medicine, Fujian Province University, Department of Physiology, Xiamen Medical College, Xiamen 361023, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuxiao Wang
- Key Laboratory of Functional and Clinical Translational Medicine, Fujian Province University, Department of Physiology, Xiamen Medical College, Xiamen 361023, People's Republic of China
| | - Kangni Wu
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University and Institute of Hematology, Medical College of Xiamen University, Xiamen 361003, People's Republic of China
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Shiraha H, Iwamuro M, Okada H. Hepatic Stellate Cells in Liver Tumor. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2020; 1234:43-56. [PMID: 32040854 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-37184-5_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma are the most common types of primary liver cancers. Moreover, the liver is the second most frequently involved organ in cancer metastasis after lymph nodes. The tumor microenvironment is crucial for the development of both primary and secondary liver cancers. The hepatic microenvironment consists of multiple cell types, including liver sinusoidal endothelial cells, Kupffer cells, natural killer cells, liver-associated lymphocytes, and hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). The microenvironment of a normal liver changes to a tumor microenvironment when tumor cells exist or tumor cells migrate to and multiply in the liver. Interactions between tumor cells and non-transformed cells generate a tumor microenvironment that contributes significantly to tumor progression. HSCs play a central role in the tumor microenvironment crosstalk. As this crosstalk is crucial for liver carcinogenesis and liver-tumor development, elucidating the mechanism underlying the interaction of HSCs with the tumor microenvironment could provide potential therapeutic targets for liver cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hidenori Shiraha
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Faculty of Medicine, Okayama, Japan.
| | - Masaya Iwamuro
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Faculty of Medicine, Okayama, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Okada
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Okayama University Faculty of Medicine, Okayama, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Pancreatic Stellate Cells Promote Tumor Progression by Promoting an Immunosuppressive Microenvironment in Murine Models of Pancreatic Cancer. Pancreas 2020; 49:120-127. [PMID: 31856087 DOI: 10.1097/mpa.0000000000001464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most lethal forms of cancer with poor prognosis. Pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) play a vital role in PDAC development. The aim of this study was to explore tumor microenvironment response to PSCs in an orthotopic pancreatic cancer mouse model and to assess if PSCs secreted factors that can facilitate an immunosuppressive microenvironment. METHODS Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma orthotopic tumor model, derived from coinjection of Panc02 cells plus PSCs, was used to investigate tumor proliferation, metastasis, and the population of immune cells in vivo, including regulatory T cells, M2-type macrophages, myeloid-derived suppressor cells, CD8 T cells, CD4 T cells, M1-type macrophages, natural killer (NK), and NK T cells. RESULTS Pancreatic stellate cells promoted PDAC growth not only induced cell proliferation and metastasis, but also significantly increased the suppressive immune cell population of regulatory T cells, M2-type macrophages, and myeloid-derived suppressor cells. In addition, PSCs decreased the immune cell population of CD8 T, CD4 T cells, and M1-type macrophages in the spleen and tumor tissues of the tumor-bearing mice. Moreover, PSCs decreased the population of NK and NK T cells in the tumor tissues. CONCLUSIONS Our findings support PSCs playing multiple roles in PDAC development via promoting immunosuppressive microenvironment.
Collapse
|
46
|
Xu Y, Fang F, Jiao H, Zheng X, Huang L, Yi X, Zhao W. Activated hepatic stellate cells regulate MDSC migration through the SDF-1/CXCR4 axis in an orthotopic mouse model of hepatocellular carcinoma. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2019; 68:1959-1969. [PMID: 31641797 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-019-02414-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2018] [Accepted: 10/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are important stromal cells and pivotal mediators involved in the pathogenesis and immunosuppression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The liver has been demonstrated to be a site for accumulation of tumor-induced myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). We previously reported that HSCs induced an increase in the number of MDSCs in HCC. However, how MDSCs are recruited in HCC remains largely unclear. In the present study, we found that HSC-conditioned medium (HSC-CM) induced bone marrow-derived cell and splenocyte migration, especially MDSC migration. Using chemokine-neutralizing antibodies and chemokine receptor inhibitors, we found that HSCs promoted MDSC migration through the SDF-1/CXCR4 axis. Subsequently, we used an orthotopic mouse liver tumor model to determine how HSCs mediated MDSC migration to HCC in vivo. The in vivo results indicated that pretreatment of MDSCs with a CXCR4 inhibitor or injection with SDF-1-knocked down HSCs inhibited MDSC migration to the spleen and liver of the tumor-bearing mice. Together, our findings indicate a central role for HSCs in MDSC migration mediated by the SDF-1/CXCR4 axis, thus revealing a potentially effective approach for modulating the tumor microenvironment by targeting HSCs in HCC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yaping Xu
- Key Laboratory of Functional and Clinical Translational Medicine, Department of Physiology, Xiamen Medical College, Xiamen, 361023, China.,Xiamen Key Laboratory of Respiratory Diseases, Xiamen, 361023, China
| | - Fei Fang
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Chronic Liver Disease and Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Zhongshan Hospital, Xiamen University, Building 6, No. 209, South Hubin Road, Xiamen, 361004, China
| | - Hui Jiao
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Chronic Liver Disease and Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Zhongshan Hospital, Xiamen University, Building 6, No. 209, South Hubin Road, Xiamen, 361004, China
| | - Xiaohui Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Functional and Clinical Translational Medicine, Department of Physiology, Xiamen Medical College, Xiamen, 361023, China
| | - Liyue Huang
- Key Laboratory of Functional and Clinical Translational Medicine, Department of Physiology, Xiamen Medical College, Xiamen, 361023, China
| | - Xue Yi
- Key Laboratory of Functional and Clinical Translational Medicine, Department of Physiology, Xiamen Medical College, Xiamen, 361023, China.,Xiamen Key Laboratory of Respiratory Diseases, Xiamen, 361023, China
| | - Wenxiu Zhao
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Chronic Liver Disease and Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Zhongshan Hospital, Xiamen University, Building 6, No. 209, South Hubin Road, Xiamen, 361004, China.
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Animal Models of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: The Role of Immune System and Tumor Microenvironment. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11101487. [PMID: 31581753 PMCID: PMC6826986 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11101487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2019] [Revised: 09/28/2019] [Accepted: 09/30/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of liver cancer in adults and has one of the highest mortality rates of solid cancers. Ninety percent of HCCs are associated with liver fibrosis or cirrhosis developed from chronic liver injuries. The immune system of the liver contributes to the severity of the necrotic-inflammatory tissue damage, the establishment of fibrosis and cirrhosis, and the disease progression towards HCC. Immunotherapies have emerged as an exciting strategy for HCC treatment, but their effect is limited, and an extensive translation research is urgently needed to enhance anti-tumor efficacy and clinical success. Establishing HCC animal models that are analogous to human disease settings, i.e., mimicking the tumor microenvironment of HCC, is extremely challenging. Hence, this review discusses different animal models of HCC by summarizing their advantages and their limits with a specific focus on the role of the immune system and tumor microenvironment.
Collapse
|
48
|
Huang WH, Zhou MW, Zhu YF, Xiang JB, Li ZY, Wang ZH, Zhou YM, Yang Y, Chen ZY, Gu XD. The Role Of Hepatic Stellate Cells In Promoting Liver Metastasis Of Colorectal Carcinoma. Onco Targets Ther 2019; 12:7573-7580. [PMID: 31571908 PMCID: PMC6754330 DOI: 10.2147/ott.s214409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2019] [Accepted: 08/31/2019] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the most common malignancy in the gastrointestinal tract. The liver is the most common location of CRC metastases, which are the main causes of CRC-related death. However, the mechanisms underlying metastasis of CRC to the liver have not been characterized, resulting in therapeutic challenges. Methods The effects of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) on T cells were evaluated using in vitro mixed lymphocyte reactions (MLRs) and cytokine production assays. HSC-induced CT26 cell migration and proliferation were evaluated in vitro and in vivo. Results HSCs induced T cell hypo-responsiveness, promoted T cell apoptosis, and induced regulatory T cell expansion in vitro. IL-2 and IL-4 were significantly lower in MLRs incubated with HSCs. Supernatants of MLRs with HSCs promoted CT26 cell proliferation and migration. Furthermore, the presence of HSCs increased the number of liver metastases and promoted proliferation of liver metastatic tumor cells in vivo. Conclusion HSCs may contribute to an immunosuppressive liver microenvironment, resulting in a favorable environment for the colonization of CRC cells in the liver. These findings highlight a potential strategy for treatment of CRC liver metastases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Hai Huang
- Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, People's Republic of China
| | - Min-Wei Zhou
- Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, People's Republic of China
| | - Yan-Feng Zhu
- Department of Nursing, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, People's Republic of China
| | - Jian-Bin Xiang
- Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhen-Yang Li
- Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, People's Republic of China
| | - Zi-Hao Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, People's Republic of China
| | - Yi-Ming Zhou
- Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, People's Republic of China
| | - Yi Yang
- Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, People's Republic of China
| | - Zong-You Chen
- Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiao-Dong Gu
- Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, People's Republic of China
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Li J, You S, Zhang S, Hu Q, Wang F, Chi X, Zhao W, Xie C, Zhang C, Yu Y, Liu J, Zhao Y, Liu P, Zhang Y, Wei X, Li Q, Wang X, Yin Z. Elevated N-methyltransferase expression induced by hepatic stellate cells contributes to the metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma via regulation of the CD44v3 isoform. Mol Oncol 2019; 13:1993-2009. [PMID: 31294922 PMCID: PMC6717763 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.12544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2019] [Revised: 06/17/2019] [Accepted: 07/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The cross‐talk between hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and hepatic carcinoma cells contributes to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression, but the underlying mechanism is largely unknown. We report here that activated HSCs induce upregulation of nicotinamide N‐methyltransferase (NNMT), which is known to regulate multiple metabolic pathways in hepatoma cells of the liver. High levels of NNMT in HCC tissues were positively correlated with vascular invasion, increased serum HBV‐DNA levels, and distant metastasis. In addition, functional assays showed that NNMT promoted HCC cell invasion and metastasis by altering the histone H3 methylation on 27 methylation pattern and transcriptionally activating cluster of differentiation 44 (CD44). NNMT‐mediated N6‐methyladenosine modification of CD44 mRNA resulted in the formation of a CD44v3 splice variant, while its product 1‐methyl‐nicotinamide stabilized CD44 protein by preventing ubiquitin‐mediated degradation. Finally, NNMT was also shown to be a target of statins that inhibited metastasis of hepatoma cells. Taken together, our study shows for the first time that the NNMT/CD44v3 axis regulates HCC metastasis and presents NNMT as a promising prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for HCC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jie Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, ZhongShan Hospital of Xiamen University, Fujian, China.,Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Chronic Liver Disease and Hepatocellular Carcinoma, ZhongShan Hospital of Xiamen University, Fujian, China
| | - Song You
- Graduate College of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Sheng Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Hubei Cancer Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Qing Hu
- Medicine Clinical Laboratory, Xiamen Xianyue Hospital, Fujian, China
| | - Fuqiang Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, ZhongShan Hospital of Xiamen University, Fujian, China.,Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Chronic Liver Disease and Hepatocellular Carcinoma, ZhongShan Hospital of Xiamen University, Fujian, China
| | - Xiaoqin Chi
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Chronic Liver Disease and Hepatocellular Carcinoma, ZhongShan Hospital of Xiamen University, Fujian, China
| | - Wenxiu Zhao
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Chronic Liver Disease and Hepatocellular Carcinoma, ZhongShan Hospital of Xiamen University, Fujian, China
| | - Chengrong Xie
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Chronic Liver Disease and Hepatocellular Carcinoma, ZhongShan Hospital of Xiamen University, Fujian, China
| | - Changmao Zhang
- Graduate College of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Yaqi Yu
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Chronic Liver Disease and Hepatocellular Carcinoma, ZhongShan Hospital of Xiamen University, Fujian, China
| | - Jianmin Liu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, ZhongShan Hospital of Xiamen University, Fujian, China.,Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Chronic Liver Disease and Hepatocellular Carcinoma, ZhongShan Hospital of Xiamen University, Fujian, China
| | - Yue Zhao
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Chronic Liver Disease and Hepatocellular Carcinoma, ZhongShan Hospital of Xiamen University, Fujian, China
| | - Pingguo Liu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, ZhongShan Hospital of Xiamen University, Fujian, China.,Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Chronic Liver Disease and Hepatocellular Carcinoma, ZhongShan Hospital of Xiamen University, Fujian, China
| | - Yi Zhang
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Chronic Liver Disease and Hepatocellular Carcinoma, ZhongShan Hospital of Xiamen University, Fujian, China
| | - Xujin Wei
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Chronic Liver Disease and Hepatocellular Carcinoma, ZhongShan Hospital of Xiamen University, Fujian, China
| | - Qiu Li
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Chronic Liver Disease and Hepatocellular Carcinoma, ZhongShan Hospital of Xiamen University, Fujian, China
| | - Xiaomin Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, ZhongShan Hospital of Xiamen University, Fujian, China.,Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Chronic Liver Disease and Hepatocellular Carcinoma, ZhongShan Hospital of Xiamen University, Fujian, China
| | - Zhenyu Yin
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, ZhongShan Hospital of Xiamen University, Fujian, China.,Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Chronic Liver Disease and Hepatocellular Carcinoma, ZhongShan Hospital of Xiamen University, Fujian, China
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
The Role of Fibrosis and Liver-Associated Fibroblasts in the Pathogenesis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Int J Mol Sci 2019. [PMID: 30959975 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20071723.] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most aggressive types of cancer and lacks effective therapeutic approaches. Most HCC develops in the setting of chronic liver injury, hepatic inflammation, and fibrosis. Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are key players in liver fibrogenesis and hepatocarcinogenesis, respectively. CAFs, which probably derive from HSCs, activate into extracellular matrix (ECM)-producing myofibroblasts and crosstalk with cancer cells to affect tumor growth and invasion. In this review, we describe the different components which form the HCC premalignant microenvironment (PME) and the tumor microenvironment (TME), focusing on the liver fibrosis process and the biology of CAFs. We will describe the CAF-dependent mechanisms which have been suggested to promote hepatocarcinogenesis, such as the alteration of ECM, CAF-dependent production of cytokines and angiogenic factors, CAF-dependent reduction of immuno-surveillance, and CAF-dependent promotion of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). New knowledge of the fibrosis process and the role of CAFs in HCC may pave the way for new therapeutic strategies for liver cancer.
Collapse
|