1
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Wang K, Chen XY, Zhang RWY, Yue Y, Wen XL, Yang YS, Han CY, Ma Y, Liu HJ, Zhu HL. Multifunctional fluorescence/photoacoustic bimodal imaging of γ-glutamyltranspeptidase in liver disorders under different triggering conditions. Biomaterials 2024; 310:122635. [PMID: 38810386 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2024.122635] [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: 01/28/2024] [Revised: 05/17/2024] [Accepted: 05/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) seriously threatens the human health. Previous investigations revealed that γ-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT) was tightly associated with the chronic injury, hepatic fibrosis, and the development of HCC, therefore might act as a potential indicator for monitoring the HCC-related processes. Herein, with the contribution of a structurally optimized probe ETYZE-GGT, the bimodal imaging in both far red fluorescence (FL) and photoacoustic (PA) modes has been achieved in multiple HCC-related models. To our knowledge, this work covered the most comprehensive models including the fibrosis and developed HCC processes as well as the premonitory induction stages (autoimmune hepatitis, drug-induced liver injury, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease). ETYZE-GGT exhibited steady and practical monitoring performances on reporting the HCC stages via visualizing the GGT dynamics. The two modes exhibited working consistency and complementarity with high spatial resolution, precise apparatus and desirable biocompatibility. In cooperation with the existing techniques including testing serum indexes and conducting pathological staining, ETYZE-GGT basically realized the universal application for the accurate pre-clinical diagnosis of as many HCC stages as possible. By deeply exploring the mechanically correlation between GGT and the HCC process, especially during the premonitory induction stages, we may further raise the efficacy for the early diagnosis and treatment of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Wang
- Affiliated Children's Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214023, China; State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Xu-Yang Chen
- Affiliated Children's Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214023, China; State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Ren-Wei-Yang Zhang
- Affiliated Children's Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214023, China
| | - Ying Yue
- Affiliated Children's Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214023, China
| | - Xiao-Lin Wen
- Affiliated Children's Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214023, China
| | - Yu-Shun Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Chen-Yang Han
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, 314001, China
| | - Yuan Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, China.
| | - Hong-Ji Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, China.
| | - Hai-Liang Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China.
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2
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Shen Y, Chen J, Zhou Z, Wu J, Hu X, Xu Y, Li J, Wang L, Wang S, Yu S, Feng L, Xu X. Matrix stiffness-related extracellular matrix signatures and the DYNLL1 protein promote hepatocellular carcinoma progression through the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. BMC Cancer 2024; 24:1211. [PMID: 39350022 PMCID: PMC11440708 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-024-12973-5] [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: 05/03/2024] [Accepted: 09/20/2024] [Indexed: 10/04/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treatment, first-line targeted therapy in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has improved patient prognosis, but the 5-year survival rate is far from satisfactory. Studies have shown that the extracellular matrix (ECM) is an essential part of the tumour microenvironment (TME) and participates in the progression of malignant tumours. ECM remodelling can enhance matrix stiffness in cirrhosis patients, induce an immunosuppressive microenvironment network, and affect the efficacy of targeted therapies and ICIs for treating HCC. However, the exact mechanism is still unclear. METHODS We downloaded data from public databases, selected differentially expressed ECM proteins associated with matrix stiffness, constructed and validated a prognostic model of HCC using Lasso Cox regression, and investigated the roles and mechanism of one of the ECM proteins, dynein light chain LC8-type 1 (DYNLL1), in HCC proliferation, migration, and apoptosis via in vitro experiments. RESULTS In this study, the risk score of the matrix stiffness-related ECM protein model effectively predicted the prognosis of HCC patients. The high- and low-risk subgroups of the model also showed differences in immune cells, immune functions, and drug sensitivity. DYNLL1 promoted HCC cell progression and migration and inhibited HCC cell apoptosis through the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in vitro. CONCLUSION The expression of matrix stiffness-related ECM proteins could be an independent predictor of HCC prognosis. DYNLL1, an oncogenic gene in HCC, has the potential to be a new target for HCC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Shen
- Cancer Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Jiayu Chen
- Cancer Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Zhuolin Zhou
- Cancer Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Jingyu Wu
- Cancer Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Xinyao Hu
- Cancer Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Yangtao Xu
- Cancer Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Jiayi Li
- Cancer Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Ling Wang
- Cancer Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Siyu Wang
- Cancer Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Shuhong Yu
- Cancer Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Ling Feng
- Cancer Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China.
| | - Ximing Xu
- Cancer Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China.
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3
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Zhang Y, Yu B, Ming W, Zhou X, Wang J, Chen D. SpaTopic: A statistical learning framework for exploring tumor spatial architecture from spatially resolved transcriptomic data. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadp4942. [PMID: 39331720 PMCID: PMC11430467 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adp4942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 08/21/2024] [Indexed: 09/29/2024]
Abstract
Tumor tissues exhibit a complex spatial architecture within the tumor microenvironment (TME). Spatially resolved transcriptomics (SRT) is promising for unveiling the spatial structures of the TME at both cellular and molecular levels, but identifying pathology-relevant spatial domains remains challenging. Here, we introduce SpaTopic, a statistical learning framework that harmonizes spot clustering and cell-type deconvolution by integrating single-cell transcriptomics and SRT data. Through topic modeling, SpaTopic stratifies the TME into spatial domains with coherent cellular organization, facilitating refined annotation of the spatial architecture with improved performance. We assess SpaTopic across various tumor types and show accurate prediction of tertiary lymphoid structures and tumor boundaries. Moreover, marker genes derived from SpaTopic are transferrable and can be applied to mark spatial domains in other datasets. In addition, SpaTopic enables quantitative comparison and functional characterization of spatial domains across SRT datasets. Overall, SpaTopic presents an innovative analytical framework for exploring, comparing, and interpreting tumor SRT data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuelei Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, National Resource Center for Mutant Mice, State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Bianjiong Yu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, National Resource Center for Mutant Mice, State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Wenxuan Ming
- Department of Gastroenterology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, National Resource Center for Mutant Mice, State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiaolong Zhou
- Department of Gastroenterology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, National Resource Center for Mutant Mice, State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jin Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, National Resource Center for Mutant Mice, State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Dijun Chen
- Department of Gastroenterology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, National Resource Center for Mutant Mice, State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
- Central Laboratory of Stomatology, Nanjing Stomatological Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
- Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
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4
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Gan L, Lu T, Lu Y, Song H, Zhang J, Zhang K, Lu S, Wu X, Nie F, Di S, Han D, Yang F, Qin W, Wen W. Endosialin-positive CAFs promote hepatocellular carcinoma progression by suppressing CD8 + T cell infiltration. J Immunother Cancer 2024; 12:e009111. [PMID: 39260826 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2024-009111] [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] [Accepted: 07/27/2024] [Indexed: 09/13/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Endosialin, also known as tumor endothelial marker1 or CD248, is a transmembrane glycoprotein that is mainly expressed in cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Our previous study has found that endosialin-positive CAFs could recruit and induce the M2 polarization of macrophages in HCC. However, whether they may regulate other types of immune cells to promoting HCC progression is not known. APPROACH AND RESULTS The growth of both subcutaneous and orthotopic HCC tumors was significantly inhibited in endosialin knockout (ENKO) mice. Single-cell sequencing and flow cytometry analysis showed that tumor tissues from ENKO mice had increased CD8+ T cell infiltration. Mixed HCC tumor with Hepa1-6 cells and endosialin knockdown fibroblasts also showed inhibited growth and increased CD8+ T cell infiltration. Data from in vitro co-culture assay, chemokine array and antibody blocking assay, RNA-seq and validation experiments showed that endosialin inhibits the phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of STAT1 in CAFs. This inhibition leads to a decrease in CXCL9/10 expression and secretion, resulting in the suppression of CD8+ T cell infiltration. High level of endosialin protein expression was correlated with low CD8+ T infiltration in the tumor tissue of HCC patients. The combination therapy of endosialin antibody and PD-1 antibody showed synergistic antitumor effect compared with either antibody used individually. CONCLUSIONS Endosialin could inhibit CD8+ T cell infiltration by inhibiting the expression and secretion of CXCL9/10 in CAFs, thus promote HCC progression. Combination therapy with endosialin antibody could increase the antitumor effect of PD-1 antibody in HCC, which may overcome the resistance to PD-1 blockade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lunbiao Gan
- Xi'an Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Medical Research, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Tong Lu
- Department of Urology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yu Lu
- Xi'an Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Medical Research, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Hongtao Song
- Department of Urology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Jiayu Zhang
- Department of Urology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Keying Zhang
- Department of Urology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Shiqi Lu
- Xi'an Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Medical Research, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Xinjie Wu
- Xi'an Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Medical Research, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Fengze Nie
- Xi'an Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Medical Research, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Sijia Di
- Xi'an Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Medical Research, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Donghui Han
- Department of Urology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Fa Yang
- Department of Urology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Weijun Qin
- Department of Urology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Weihong Wen
- Xi'an Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Medical Research, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, China
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5
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Gupta V, Sehrawat TS, Pinzani M, Strazzabosco M. Portal Fibrosis and the Ductular Reaction: Pathophysiological Role in the Progression of Liver Disease and Translational Opportunities. Gastroenterology 2024:S0016-5085(24)05455-6. [PMID: 39251168 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2024.07.044] [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: 03/18/2024] [Revised: 06/27/2024] [Accepted: 07/20/2024] [Indexed: 09/11/2024]
Abstract
A consistent feature of chronic liver diseases and the hallmark of pathologic repair is the so-called "ductular reaction." This is a histologic abnormality characterized by an expansion of dysmorphic cholangiocytes inside and around portal spaces infiltrated by inflammatory, mesenchymal, and vascular cells. The ductular reaction is a highly regulated response based on the reactivation of morphogenetic signaling mechanisms and a complex crosstalk among a multitude of cell types. The nature and mechanism of these exchanges determine the difference between healthy regenerative liver repair and pathologic repair. An orchestrated signaling among cell types directs mesenchymal cells to deposit a specific extracellular matrix with distinct physical and biochemical properties defined as portal fibrosis. Progression of fibrosis leads to vast architectural and vascular changes known as "liver cirrhosis." The signals regulating the ecology of this microenvironment are just beginning to be addressed. Contrary to the tumor microenvironment, immune modulation inside this "benign" microenvironment is scarcely known. One of the reasons for this is that both the ductular reaction and portal fibrosis have been primarily considered a manifestation of cholestatic liver disease, whereas this phenomenon is also present, albeit with distinctive features, in all chronic human liver diseases. Novel human-derived cellular models and progress in "omics" technologies are increasing our knowledge at a fast pace. Most importantly, this knowledge is on the edge of generating new diagnostic and therapeutic advances. Here, we will critically review the latest advances, in terms of mechanisms, pathophysiology, and treatment prospects. In addition, we will delineate future avenues of research, including innovative translational opportunities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vikas Gupta
- Liver Center and Section of Digestive Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Tejasav S Sehrawat
- Liver Center and Section of Digestive Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Massimo Pinzani
- University College London Institute for Liver and Digestive Health, Royal Free Hospital, London, UK; University of Pittsburgh Medical Center-Istituto Mediterraneo per i Trapianti e Terapie ad Alta Specializzazione, Palermo, Italy
| | - Mario Strazzabosco
- Liver Center and Section of Digestive Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut.
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6
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Hong K, Cao J, Jiang W, Deng W, Huang G, Huang T, Fang J, Wang Y. A nanodrug provokes antitumor immune responses via synchronous multicellular regulation for enhanced cancer immunotherapy. J Colloid Interface Sci 2024; 678:750-762. [PMID: 39265345 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2024.09.016] [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: 05/27/2024] [Revised: 09/02/2024] [Accepted: 09/02/2024] [Indexed: 09/14/2024]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) exhibits a low response to immunotherapy due to the dense extracellular matrix (ECM) filled with immunosuppressive cells including dendritic cells (DCs) of blocked maturation. Herein, we develop a nanoprodrug self-assembled from polyethylene glycol-poly-4-borono-l-phenylalanine (mPEG-PBPA) conjugating with quercetin (QUE) via boronic ester bonds. In addition, an immune adjuvant of imiquimod (R837) is incorporated. The nanodrug (denoted as Q&R@NPs) is prepared from a simple mixing means with a high loading content of QUE reaching more than 30%. Owing to the acid and reactive oxygen species (ROS) sensitivities of boronic ester bonds, Q&R@NPs can respond to the tumor microenvironment (TME) and release QUE and R837 to synchronously exert multicellular regulation functions. Specifically, QUE inhibits the activation state of hepatic stellate cells and reduces highly expressed programmed death receptor ligand 1 (PD-L1) on tumor cells, meanwhile R837 exposes calreticulin on tumor cell surface as an "eat me" signal and leads to a large number of DCs maturing for enhanced antigen presentation. Consequently, the cooperative immune regulation results in a remodeled TME with high infiltration of cytotoxic T lymphocytes for enhanced HCC immunotherapy, which demonstrates an effective immunotherapy paradigm for dense ECM characterized solid tumors with high PD-L1 expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keze Hong
- College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Jianrong Cao
- College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Weiting Jiang
- College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Wei Deng
- College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Guohong Huang
- College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Tao Huang
- Department of Minimally Invasive Interventional Radiology, and Laboratory of Interventional Radiology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510260, China.
| | - Jin Fang
- Department of Radiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou 510630, China.
| | - Yong Wang
- College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.
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7
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Matchett KP, Paris J, Teichmann SA, Henderson NC. Spatial genomics: mapping human steatotic liver disease. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 2024; 21:646-660. [PMID: 38654090 DOI: 10.1038/s41575-024-00915-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD, formerly known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease) is a leading cause of chronic liver disease worldwide. MASLD can progress to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH, formerly known as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis) with subsequent liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma formation. The advent of current technologies such as single-cell and single-nuclei RNA sequencing have transformed our understanding of the liver in homeostasis and disease. The next frontier is contextualizing this single-cell information in its native spatial orientation. This understanding will markedly accelerate discovery science in hepatology, resulting in a further step-change in our knowledge of liver biology and pathobiology. In this Review, we discuss up-to-date knowledge of MASLD development and progression and how the burgeoning field of spatial genomics is driving exciting new developments in our understanding of human liver disease pathogenesis and therapeutic target identification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kylie P Matchett
- Centre for Inflammation Research, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, Edinburgh BioQuarter, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Jasmin Paris
- Centre for Inflammation Research, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, Edinburgh BioQuarter, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Sarah A Teichmann
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Physics, Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Neil C Henderson
- Centre for Inflammation Research, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, Edinburgh BioQuarter, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
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8
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Ahamed F, Eppler N, Jones E, Zhang Y. Understanding Macrophage Complexity in Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease: Transitioning from the M1/M2 Paradigm to Spatial Dynamics. LIVERS 2024; 4:455-478. [PMID: 39328386 PMCID: PMC11426415 DOI: 10.3390/livers4030033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) encompasses metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver (MASL) and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), with MASH posing a risk of progression to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The global prevalence of MASLD is estimated at approximately a quarter of the population, with significant healthcare costs and implications for liver transplantation. The pathogenesis of MASLD involves intrahepatic liver cells, extrahepatic components, and immunological aspects, particularly the involvement of macrophages. Hepatic macrophages are a crucial cellular component of the liver and play important roles in liver function, contributing significantly to tissue homeostasis and swift responses during pathophysiological conditions. Recent advancements in technology have revealed the remarkable heterogeneity and plasticity of hepatic macrophage populations and their activation states in MASLD, challenging traditional classification methods like the M1/M2 paradigm and highlighting the coexistence of harmful and beneficial macrophage phenotypes that are dynamically regulated during MASLD progression. This complexity underscores the importance of considering macrophage heterogeneity in therapeutic targeting strategies, including their distinct ontogeny and functional phenotypes. This review provides an overview of macrophage involvement in MASLD progression, combining traditional paradigms with recent insights from single-cell analysis and spatial dynamics. It also addresses unresolved questions and challenges in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Forkan Ahamed
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutics, University of Kansas Medical Center, MS 1018, 3901 Rainbow Boulevard, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA
| | - Natalie Eppler
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutics, University of Kansas Medical Center, MS 1018, 3901 Rainbow Boulevard, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA
| | - Elizabeth Jones
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutics, University of Kansas Medical Center, MS 1018, 3901 Rainbow Boulevard, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA
| | - Yuxia Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutics, University of Kansas Medical Center, MS 1018, 3901 Rainbow Boulevard, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA
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9
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Sun Q, Gao R, Lin Y, Zhou X, Wang T, He J. Leveraging single-cell RNA-seq for uncovering naïve B cells associated with better prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma. MedComm (Beijing) 2024; 5:e563. [PMID: 39252823 PMCID: PMC11381656 DOI: 10.1002/mco2.563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 09/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a typical highly heterogeneous solid tumor with high morbidity and mortality worldwide, especially in China; however, the immune microenvironment of HCC has not been clarified so far. Here, we employed single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) on diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced mouse HCC model to dissect the immune cell dynamics during tumorigenesis. Our findings reveal distinct immune profiles in both precancerous and cancerous lesions, indicating early tumor-associated immunological alterations. Notably, specific T and B cell subpopulations are preferentially enriched in the HCC tumor microenvironment (TME). Furthermore, we identified a subpopulation of naïve B cells with high CD83 expression, correlating with improved prognosis in human HCC. These signature genes were validated in The Cancer Genome Atlas HCC RNA-seq dataset. Moreover, cell interaction analysis revealed that subpopulations of B cells in both mouse and human samples are activated and may potentially contribute to oncogenic processes. In summary, our study provides insights into the dynamic immune microenvironment and cellular networks in HCC pathogenesis, with a specific emphasis on naïve B cells. These findings emphasize the significance of targeting TME in HCC patients to prevent HCC pathological progression, which may give a new perspective on the therapeutics for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingjia Sun
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery The China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University Changchun China
| | - Rui Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer Center for Single-Cell Omics School of Public Health Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Shanghai China
| | - Yingxin Lin
- School of Mathematics and Statistics The University of Sydney Sydney Australia
| | - Xianchao Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer Center for Single-Cell Omics School of Public Health Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Shanghai China
| | - Tao Wang
- Univ Lyon, Univ Jean Monnet Saint-Etienne, INSA Lyon, Univ Lyon 2 Université Claude Roanne France
| | - Jian He
- State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer Center for Single-Cell Omics School of Public Health Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Shanghai China
- Key Laboratory of Systems Biomedicine Ministry of Education and Collaborative Innovation Center of Systems Biomedicine Shanghai Center for Systems Biomedicine Shanghai Jiao Tong University Shanghai China
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10
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Shan X, Zhao Z, Lai P, Liu Y, Li B, Ke Y, Jiang H, Zhou Y, Li W, Wang Q, Qin P, Xue Y, Zhang Z, Wei C, Ma B, Liu W, Luo C, Lu X, Lin J, Shu L, Jie Y, Xian X, Delcassian D, Ge Y, Miao L. RNA nanotherapeutics with fibrosis overexpression and retention for MASH treatment. Nat Commun 2024; 15:7263. [PMID: 39191801 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-51571-8] [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: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 08/07/2024] [Indexed: 08/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) poses challenges for targeted delivery and retention of therapeutic proteins due to excess extracellular matrix (ECM). Here we present a new approach to treat MASH, termed "Fibrosis overexpression and retention (FORT)". In this strategy, we design (1) retinoid-derivative lipid nanoparticle (LNP) to enable enhanced mRNA overexpression in fibrotic regions, and (2) mRNA modifications which facilitate anchoring of therapeutic proteins in ECM. LNPs containing carboxyl-retinoids, rather than alcohol- or ester-retinoids, effectively deliver mRNA with over 10-fold enhancement of protein expression in fibrotic livers. The carboxyl-retinoid rearrangement on the LNP surface improves protein binding and membrane fusion. Therapeutic proteins are then engineered with an endogenous collagen-binding domain. These fusion proteins exhibit increased retention in fibrotic lesions and reduced systemic toxicity. In vivo, fibrosis-targeting LNPs encoding fusion proteins demonstrate superior therapeutic efficacy in three clinically relevant male-animal MASH models. This approach holds promise in fibrotic diseases unsuited for protein injection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinzhu Shan
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhiqiang Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Wuya College of Innovation, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Pingping Lai
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and State Key Laboratory of Vascular Homeostasis and Remodeling, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yuxiu Liu
- Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China
| | - Buyao Li
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yubin Ke
- China Spallation Neutron Source, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Science, Dongguan, China
| | - Hanqiu Jiang
- China Spallation Neutron Source, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Science, Dongguan, China
| | - Yilong Zhou
- Department of Surgery, Nantong Tumor Hospital, Tumor Hospital Affiliated to Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Wenzhe Li
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Qian Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Pengxia Qin
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yizhe Xue
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Zihan Zhang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Chenlong Wei
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Bin Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Liu
- Keymed Biosciences (Chengdu) Limited, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Cong Luo
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Wuya College of Innovation, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Xueguang Lu
- Key Laboratory of Colloid, Interface and Chemical Thermodynamics, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jiaqi Lin
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bio-Intelligent Manufacturing, School of Bioengineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China
| | - Li Shu
- Interdisplinary Research Center on Biology and Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Yin Jie
- Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China
| | - Xunde Xian
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and State Key Laboratory of Vascular Homeostasis and Remodeling, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | | | - Yifan Ge
- Interdisplinary Research Center on Biology and Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Lei Miao
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China.
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China.
- Peking University-Yunnan Baiyao International Medical Research Center, Beijing, China.
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11
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Vu HT, Nguyen VD, Ikenaga H, Matsubara T. Application of PPAR Ligands and Nanoparticle Technology in Metabolic Steatohepatitis Treatment. Biomedicines 2024; 12:1876. [PMID: 39200340 PMCID: PMC11351628 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12081876] [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: 07/29/2024] [Revised: 08/10/2024] [Accepted: 08/13/2024] [Indexed: 09/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease/steatohepatitis (MASLD/MASH) is a major disease worldwide whose effective treatment is challenging. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) belong to the nuclear receptor superfamily and function as ligand-activated transcription factors. To date, three distinct subtypes of PPARs have been characterized: PPARα, PPARβ/δ, and PPARγ. PPARα and PPARγ are crucial regulators of lipid metabolism that modulate the transcription of genes involved in fatty acid (FA), bile acid, and cholesterol metabolism. Many PPAR agonists, including natural (FAs, eicosanoids, and phospholipids) and synthetic (fibrate, thiazolidinedione, glitazar, and elafibranor) agonists, have been developed. Furthermore, recent advancements in nanoparticles (NPs) have led to the development of new strategies for MASLD/MASH therapy. This review discusses the applications of specific cell-targeted NPs and highlights the potential of PPARα- and PPARγ-targeted NP drug delivery systems for MASLD/MASH treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hung Thai Vu
- Department of Anatomy and Regenerative Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka Metropolitan University, Osaka 545-8585, Osaka, Japan; (H.T.V.); (V.D.N.)
| | - Vien Duc Nguyen
- Department of Anatomy and Regenerative Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka Metropolitan University, Osaka 545-8585, Osaka, Japan; (H.T.V.); (V.D.N.)
| | - Hiroko Ikenaga
- Department of Hepatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka Metropolitan University, Osaka 545-8585, Osaka, Japan
| | - Tsutomu Matsubara
- Department of Anatomy and Regenerative Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka Metropolitan University, Osaka 545-8585, Osaka, Japan; (H.T.V.); (V.D.N.)
- Research Institute for Light-induced Acceleration System (RILACS), Osaka Metropolitan University, Sakai 599-8570, Osaka, Japan
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12
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Jing SY, Liu D, Feng N, Dong H, Wang HQ, Yan X, Chen XF, Qu MC, Lin P, Yi B, Feng F, Chen L, Wang HY, Li H, He YF. Spatial multiomics reveals a subpopulation of fibroblasts associated with cancer stemness in human hepatocellular carcinoma. Genome Med 2024; 16:98. [PMID: 39138551 PMCID: PMC11320883 DOI: 10.1186/s13073-024-01367-8] [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: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/23/2024] [Indexed: 08/15/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are the prominent cell type in the tumor microenvironment (TME), and CAF subsets have been identified in various tumors. However, how CAFs spatially coordinate other cell populations within the liver TME to promote cancer progression remains unclear. METHODS We combined multi-region proteomics (6 patients, 24 samples), 10X Genomics Visium spatial transcriptomics (11 patients, 25 samples), and multiplexed imaging (92 patients, 264 samples) technologies to decipher the expression heterogeneity, functional diversity, spatial distribution, colocalization, and interaction of fibroblasts. The newly identified CAF subpopulation was validated by cells isolated from 5 liver cancer patients and in vitro functional assays. RESULTS We identified a liver CAF subpopulation, marked by the expression of COL1A2, COL4A1, COL4A2, CTGF, and FSTL1, and named F5-CAF. F5-CAF is preferentially located within and around tumor nests and colocalizes with cancer cells with higher stemness in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Multiplexed staining of 92 patients and the bulk transcriptome of 371 patients demonstrated that the abundance of F5-CAFs in HCC was associated with a worse prognosis. Further in vitro experiments showed that F5-CAFs isolated from liver cancer patients can promote the proliferation and stemness of HCC cells. CONCLUSIONS We identified a CAF subpopulation F5-CAF in liver cancer, which is associated with cancer stemness and unfavorable prognosis. Our results provide potential mechanisms by which the CAF subset in the TME promotes the development of liver cancer by supporting the survival of cancer stem cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Si-Yu Jing
- CAS Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, People's Republic of China
| | - Dan Liu
- Molecular Pathology Laboratory, National Center for Liver Cancer, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Shanghai, 201800, People's Republic of China
- Cancer Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, People's Republic of China
| | - Na Feng
- Molecular Pathology Laboratory, National Center for Liver Cancer, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Shanghai, 201800, People's Republic of China
| | - Hui Dong
- Department of Pathology, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Shanghai, 200438, People's Republic of China
| | - He-Qi Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, People's Republic of China
| | - Xi Yan
- CAS Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, People's Republic of China
| | - Xu-Feng Chen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, People's Republic of China
| | - Min-Cheng Qu
- Molecular Pathology Laboratory, National Center for Liver Cancer, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Shanghai, 201800, People's Republic of China
| | - Ping Lin
- CAS Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, People's Republic of China
| | - Bin Yi
- Department of Organ Transplantation, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Shanghai, 201800, People's Republic of China
| | - Feiling Feng
- Department of Biliary Tract Surgery I, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Shanghai, 201800, People's Republic of China
| | - Lei Chen
- National Center for Liver Cancer and International Cooperation Laboratory On Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Institute/Hospital, Shanghai, 200438, People's Republic of China.
| | - Hong-Yang Wang
- National Center for Liver Cancer and International Cooperation Laboratory On Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Institute/Hospital, Shanghai, 200438, People's Republic of China.
- Key Laboratory of Signaling Regulation and Targeting Therapy of Liver Cancer, Ministry of Education and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary Tumor Biology, Shanghai, 200438, People's Republic of China.
| | - Hong Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yu-Fei He
- Molecular Pathology Laboratory, National Center for Liver Cancer, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Shanghai, 201800, People's Republic of China.
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13
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Long F, Zhong W, Zhao F, Xu Y, Hu X, Jia G, Huang L, Yi K, Wang N, Si H, Wang J, Wang B, Rong Y, Yuan Y, Yuan C, Wang F. DAB2 + macrophages support FAP + fibroblasts in shaping tumor barrier and inducing poor clinical outcomes in liver cancer. Theranostics 2024; 14:4822-4843. [PMID: 39239526 PMCID: PMC11373629 DOI: 10.7150/thno.99046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 07/31/2024] [Indexed: 09/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are the key components of the immune barrier in liver cancer. Therefore, gaining a deeper understanding of the heterogeneity and intercellular communication of CAFs holds utmost importance in boosting immunotherapy effectiveness and improving clinical outcomes. Methods: A comprehensive analysis by combing single-cell, bulk, and spatial transcriptome profiling with multiplexed immunofluorescence was conducted to unravel the complexities of CAFs in liver cancer. Results: Through an integrated approach involving 235 liver cancer scRNA-seq samples encompassing over 1.2 million cells, we found that CAFs were particularly increased in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). FAP + fibroblasts were identified as the dominant subtype of CAFs, and which were mainly involved in extracellular matrix organization and angiogenesis. These CAFs were enriched in the tumor boundary of HCC, but diffusely scattered within ICC. The DAB2 + and SPP1 + tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) reinforce the function of FAP + CAFs through signals such as TGF-β, PDGF, and ADM. Notably, the interaction between DAB2 + TAMs and FAP + CAFs promoted the formation of immune barrier and correlated with poorer patient survival, non-response to immunotherapy in HCC. High FAP and DAB2 immunohistochemical scores predicted shorter survival and higher serum AFP concentration in a local clinical cohort of 90 HCC patients. Furthermore, this communication pattern might be applicable to other solid malignancies as well. Conclusions: The interaction between DAB2 + TAMs and FAP + CAFs appears crucial in shaping the immune barrier. Strategies aimed at disrupting this communication or inhibiting the functions of FAP + CAFs could potentially enhance immunotherapy effectiveness and improve clinical outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Long
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Center for Single-Cell Omics and Tumor Liquid Biopsy, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Wei Zhong
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Center for Single-Cell Omics and Tumor Liquid Biopsy, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Faming Zhao
- Center for Single-Cell Omics and Tumor Liquid Biopsy, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yaqi Xu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Center for Single-Cell Omics and Tumor Liquid Biopsy, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xin Hu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Center for Single-Cell Omics and Tumor Liquid Biopsy, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Gaihua Jia
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Center for Single-Cell Omics and Tumor Liquid Biopsy, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Lanxiang Huang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Center for Single-Cell Omics and Tumor Liquid Biopsy, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Kezhen Yi
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Center for Single-Cell Omics and Tumor Liquid Biopsy, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Na Wang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Center for Single-Cell Omics and Tumor Liquid Biopsy, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Huaqi Si
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Center for Single-Cell Omics and Tumor Liquid Biopsy, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jun Wang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Wuhan Children's Hospital (Wuhan Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital), Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Bicheng Wang
- Department of Pathology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yuan Rong
- Center for Single-Cell Omics and Tumor Liquid Biopsy, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yufeng Yuan
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Chunhui Yuan
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Wuhan Children's Hospital (Wuhan Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital), Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Fubing Wang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Center for Single-Cell Omics and Tumor Liquid Biopsy, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Wuhan Research Center for Infectious Diseases and Cancer, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Wuhan, China
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14
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Kang S, Antoniewicz MR, Hay N. Metabolic and transcriptomic reprogramming during contact inhibition-induced quiescence is mediated by YAP-dependent and YAP-independent mechanisms. Nat Commun 2024; 15:6777. [PMID: 39117624 PMCID: PMC11310444 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-51117-y] [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: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Metabolic rewiring during the proliferation-to-quiescence transition is poorly understood. Here, using a model of contact inhibition-induced quiescence, we conducted 13C-metabolic flux analysis in proliferating (P) and quiescent (Q) mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) to investigate this process. Q cells exhibit reduced glycolysis but increased TCA cycle flux and mitochondrial respiration. Reduced glycolytic flux in Q cells correlates with reduced glycolytic enzyme expression mediated by yes-associated protein (YAP) inhibition. The increased TCA cycle activity and respiration in Q cells is mediated by induced mitochondrial pyruvate carrier (MPC) expression, rendering them vulnerable to MPC inhibition. The malate-to-pyruvate flux, which generates NADPH, is markedly reduced by modulating malic enzyme 1 (ME1) dimerization in Q cells. Conversely, the malate dehydrogenase 1 (MDH1)-mediated oxaloacetate-to-malate flux is reversed and elevated in Q cells, driven by high mitochondrial-derived malate levels, reduced cytosolic oxaloacetate, elevated MDH1 levels, and a high cytoplasmic NAD+/NADH ratio. Transcriptomic analysis revealed large number of genes are induced in Q cells, many of which are associated with the extracellular matrix (ECM), while YAP-dependent and cell cycle-related genes are repressed. The results suggest that high TCA cycle flux and respiration in Q cells are required to generate ATP and amino acids to maintain de-novo ECM protein synthesis and secretion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soeun Kang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | | | - Nissim Hay
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
- Research and Development Section, Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA.
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15
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Affὸ S, Sererols-Viñas L, Garcia-Vicién G, Cadamuro M, Chakraborty S, Sirica AE. Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts in Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma: Insights into Origins, Heterogeneity, Lymphangiogenesis, and Peritoneal Metastasis. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2024:S0002-9440(24)00279-7. [PMID: 39117110 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2024.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2024] [Revised: 07/11/2024] [Accepted: 07/19/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024]
Abstract
Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) denotes a rare, highly malignant, and heterogeneous class of primary liver adenocarcinomas exhibiting phenotypic characteristics of cholangiocyte differentiation. Among the distinctive pathological features of iCCA, one that differentiates the most common macroscopic subtype (eg, mass-forming type) of this hepatic tumor from conventional hepatocellular carcinoma, is a prominent desmoplastic reaction manifested as a dense fibro-collagenous-enriched tumor stroma. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) represent the most abundant mesenchymal cell type in the desmoplastic reaction. Although the protumor effects of CAFs in iCCA have been increasingly recognized, more recent cell lineage tracing studies, advanced single-cell RNA sequencing, and expanded biomarker analyses have provided new awareness into their ontogeny, as well as underscored their biological complexity as reflected by the presence of multiple subtypes. In addition, evidence has been described to support CAFs' potential to display cancer-restrictive roles, including immunosuppression. However, CAFs also play important roles in facilitating metastasis, as exemplified by lymph node metastasis and peritoneal carcinomatosis, which are common in iCCA. Herein, the authors provide a timely appraisal of the origins and phenotypic and functional complexity of CAFs in iCCA, together with providing mechanistic insights into lymphangiogenesis and peritoneal metastasis relevant to this lethal human cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Affὸ
- Tumor Microenvironment Plasticity and Heterogeneity Research Group, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Laura Sererols-Viñas
- Tumor Microenvironment Plasticity and Heterogeneity Research Group, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Gemma Garcia-Vicién
- Tumor Microenvironment Plasticity and Heterogeneity Research Group, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Sanjukta Chakraborty
- Department of Medical Physiology, School of Medicine, Texas A&M Health Science Center, Bryan, Texas
| | - Alphonse E Sirica
- Department of Pathology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia.
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16
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Fan W, Bradford TM, Török NJ. Metabolic dysfunction-associated liver disease and diabetes: Matrix remodeling, fibrosis, and therapeutic implications. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2024; 1538:21-33. [PMID: 38996214 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.15184] [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] [Indexed: 07/14/2024]
Abstract
Metabolic dysfunction-associated liver disease (MASLD) and steatohepatitis (MASH) are becoming the most common causes of chronic liver disease in the United States and worldwide due to the obesity and diabetes epidemics. It is estimated that by 2030 close to 100 million people might be affected and patients with type 2 diabetes are especially at high risk. Twenty to 30% of patients with MASLD can progress to MASH, which is characterized by steatosis, necroinflammation, hepatocyte ballooning, and in advanced cases, fibrosis progressing to cirrhosis. Clinically, it is recognized that disease progression in diabetic patients is accelerated and the role of various genetic and epigenetic factors, as well as cell-matrix interactions in fibrosis and stromal remodeling, have recently been recognized. While there has been great progress in drug development and clinical trials for MASLD/MASH, the complexity of these pathways highlights the need to improve diagnosis/early detection and develop more successful antifibrotic therapies that not only prevent but reverse fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiguo Fan
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
- Palo Alto VA Medical Center, Palo Alto, California, USA
| | - Toby M Bradford
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Natalie J Török
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
- Palo Alto VA Medical Center, Palo Alto, California, USA
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17
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Coursier D, Calvo F. CAFs vs. TECs: when blood feuds fuel cancer progression, dissemination and therapeutic resistance. Cell Oncol (Dordr) 2024; 47:1091-1112. [PMID: 38453816 PMCID: PMC11322395 DOI: 10.1007/s13402-024-00931-z] [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] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Neoplastic progression involves complex interactions between cancer cells and the surrounding stromal milieu, fostering microenvironments that crucially drive tumor progression and dissemination. Of these stromal constituents, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) emerge as predominant inhabitants within the tumor microenvironment (TME), actively shaping multiple facets of tumorigenesis, including cancer cell proliferation, invasiveness, and immune evasion. Notably, CAFs also orchestrate the production of pro-angiogenic factors, fueling neovascularization to sustain the metabolic demands of proliferating cancer cells. Moreover, CAFs may also directly or indirectly affect endothelial cell behavior and vascular architecture, which may impact in tumor progression and responses to anti-cancer interventions. Conversely, tumor endothelial cells (TECs) exhibit a corrupted state that has been shown to affect cancer cell growth and inflammation. Both CAFs and TECs are emerging as pivotal regulators of the TME, engaging in multifaceted biological processes that significantly impact cancer progression, dissemination, and therapeutic responses. Yet, the intricate interplay between these stromal components and the orchestrated functions of each cell type remains incompletely elucidated. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of the dynamic interrelationships between CAFs and TECs, discussing the challenges and prospects for leveraging their interactions towards therapeutic advancements in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diane Coursier
- Instituto de Biomedicina y Biotecnología de Cantabria (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad de Cantabria), Santander, Spain
| | - Fernando Calvo
- Instituto de Biomedicina y Biotecnología de Cantabria (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad de Cantabria), Santander, Spain.
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18
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Lu J, Tai Z, Wu J, Li L, Zhang T, Liu J, Zhu Q, Chen Z. Nanomedicine-induced programmed cell death enhances tumor immunotherapy. J Adv Res 2024; 62:199-217. [PMID: 37743016 PMCID: PMC11331180 DOI: 10.1016/j.jare.2023.09.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There has been widespread concern about the high cancer mortality rate and the shortcomings of conventional cancer treatments. Immunotherapy is a novel oncology therapy with high efficiency and low side effects, which is a revolutionary direction for clinical oncology treatment. However, its clinical effectiveness is uneven. Based on the redefinition and reclassification of programmed cell death (PCD) (divided into necroptosis, ferroptosis, pyroptosis, and autophagy), the role of nanomedicine-induced PCD in cancer therapy has also received significant attention. Clinical and preclinical studies have begun to combine PCD with immunotherapy. AIM OF REVIEW In this article, we present recent research in tumor immunotherapy, provide an overview of how nanomedicine-induced PCD is involved in tumor therapy, and review how nanomedicine-induced PCD can improve the limitations of immunotherapy to enhance tumor immunotherapy. The future development of nanomedicine-mediated PCD tumor therapy and tumor immunotherapy is also proposed Key scientific concepts of overview Nanomedicine-induced PCD is a prospective method of tumor immunotherapy. Nanomedicines increase tumor site penetration and targeting ability, and nanomedicine-mediated PCD activation can stimulate powerful anti-tumor immune effects, which has a good contribution to immunotherapy of tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaye Lu
- School of Medicine, Shanghai University, 99 Shangda Road, Shanghai 200444, China; Shanghai Skin Disease Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, 1278 Baode Road, Shanghai 200443, China
| | - Zongguang Tai
- Shanghai Skin Disease Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, 1278 Baode Road, Shanghai 200443, China
| | - Junchao Wu
- School of Medicine, Shanghai University, 99 Shangda Road, Shanghai 200444, China; Shanghai Skin Disease Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, 1278 Baode Road, Shanghai 200443, China
| | - Lisha Li
- School of Medicine, Shanghai University, 99 Shangda Road, Shanghai 200444, China; Shanghai Skin Disease Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, 1278 Baode Road, Shanghai 200443, China
| | - Tingrui Zhang
- School of Medicine, Shanghai University, 99 Shangda Road, Shanghai 200444, China; Shanghai Skin Disease Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, 1278 Baode Road, Shanghai 200443, China
| | - Jun Liu
- Shanghai Skin Disease Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, 1278 Baode Road, Shanghai 200443, China
| | - Quangang Zhu
- Shanghai Skin Disease Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, 1278 Baode Road, Shanghai 200443, China.
| | - Zhongjian Chen
- School of Medicine, Shanghai University, 99 Shangda Road, Shanghai 200444, China; Shanghai Skin Disease Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, 1278 Baode Road, Shanghai 200443, China.
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19
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Younesi FS, Miller AE, Barker TH, Rossi FMV, Hinz B. Fibroblast and myofibroblast activation in normal tissue repair and fibrosis. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2024; 25:617-638. [PMID: 38589640 DOI: 10.1038/s41580-024-00716-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
The term 'fibroblast' often serves as a catch-all for a diverse array of mesenchymal cells, including perivascular cells, stromal progenitor cells and bona fide fibroblasts. Although phenotypically similar, these subpopulations are functionally distinct, maintaining tissue integrity and serving as local progenitor reservoirs. In response to tissue injury, these cells undergo a dynamic fibroblast-myofibroblast transition, marked by extracellular matrix secretion and contraction of actomyosin-based stress fibres. Importantly, whereas transient activation into myofibroblasts aids in tissue repair, persistent activation triggers pathological fibrosis. In this Review, we discuss the roles of mechanical cues, such as tissue stiffness and strain, alongside cell signalling pathways and extracellular matrix ligands in modulating myofibroblast activation and survival. We also highlight the role of epigenetic modifications and myofibroblast memory in physiological and pathological processes. Finally, we discuss potential strategies for therapeutically interfering with these factors and the associated signal transduction pathways to improve the outcome of dysregulated healing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fereshteh Sadat Younesi
- Keenan Research Institute for Biomedical Science of the St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Andrew E Miller
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Thomas H Barker
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Fabio M V Rossi
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Boris Hinz
- Keenan Research Institute for Biomedical Science of the St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
- Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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20
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Yashaswini CN, Qin T, Bhattacharya D, Amor C, Lowe S, Lujambio A, Wang S, Friedman SL. Phenotypes and ontogeny of senescent hepatic stellate cells in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis. J Hepatol 2024; 81:207-217. [PMID: 38508241 PMCID: PMC11269047 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2024.03.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2024] [Revised: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are the key drivers of fibrosis in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), the fastest growing cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) worldwide. HSCs are heterogenous, and a senescent subset of HSCs is implicated in hepatic fibrosis and HCC. Administration of anti-uPAR (urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor) CAR T cells has been shown to deplete senescent HSCs and attenuate fibrosis in murine models. However, the comprehensive features of senescent HSCs in MASH, as well as their cellular ontogeny have not been characterized; hence, we aimed to comprehensively characterize and define the origin of HSCs in human and murine MASH. METHODS To comprehensively characterize the phenotype and ontogeny of senescent HSCs in human and murine MASH, we integrated senescence-associated beta galactosidase activity with immunostaining, flow cytometry and single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNAseq). We integrated the immunohistochemical profile with a senescence score applied to snRNAseq data to characterize senescent HSCs and mapped the evolution of uPAR expression in MASH. RESULTS Using pseudotime trajectory analysis, we establish that senescent HSCs arise from activated HSCs. While uPAR is expressed in MASH, the magnitude and cell-specificity of its expression evolve with disease stage. In early disease, uPAR is more specific to activated and senescent HSCs, while it is also expressed by myeloid-lineage cells, including Trem2+ macrophages and myeloid-derived suppressor cells, in late disease. Furthermore, we identify novel surface proteins expressed on senescent HSCs in human and murine MASH that could be exploited as therapeutic targets. CONCLUSIONS These data define features of HSC senescence in human and murine MASH, establishing an important blueprint to target these cells as part of future antifibrotic therapies. IMPACT AND IMPLICATIONS Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are the primary drivers of scarring in chronic liver diseases. As injury develops, a subset of HSCs become senescent; these cells are non-proliferative and pro-inflammatory, thereby contributing to worsening liver injury. Here we show that senescent HSCs are expanded in MASH (metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis) in humans and mice, and we trace their cellular origin from the activated HSC subset. We further characterize expression of uPAR (urokinase plasminogen activated receptor), a protein that marks senescent HSCs, and report that uPAR is also expressed by activated HSCs in early injury, and in immune cells as liver injury advances. We have integrated high-resolution single-nucleus RNA sequencing with immunostaining and flow cytometry to identify five other novel proteins expressed by senescent HSCs, including mannose receptor CD206, which will facilitate future therapeutic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chittampalli N Yashaswini
- Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States; Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States; Department of Oncological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States; The Precision Immunology Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States; Medical Scientist Training Program, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Tianyue Qin
- Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States; Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States; Department of Oncological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Dipankar Bhattacharya
- Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Corina Amor
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. Cold Spring Harbor, NY, United States
| | - Scott Lowe
- Cancer Biology and Genetics Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, United States
| | - Amaia Lujambio
- Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States; Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States; Department of Oncological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Shuang Wang
- Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States; Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States; Department of Oncological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Scott L Friedman
- Division of Liver Diseases, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States; Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States.
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21
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Kim J, Seki E. Unveiling the cancer risk nexus of the steatotic liver. Trends Endocrinol Metab 2024; 35:708-719. [PMID: 38531699 PMCID: PMC11321945 DOI: 10.1016/j.tem.2024.02.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
Steatotic liver, characterized by the accumulation of fat in the liver, poses significant health risks including metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and an elevated risk of primary liver cancer. Emerging evidence indicates a robust association between steatotic liver and increased susceptibility to extrahepatic primary cancers and their metastases. The deposition of fat induces dynamic changes in hepatic microenvironments, thereby fostering inflammation and immune responses that enhance liver metastasis from extrahepatic primary cancers. This review explores the impact of steatotic liver on hepatic carcinogenesis and metastasis from extrahepatic cancers, with a specific focus on hepatocyte-derived factors and the immune microenvironment. By emphasizing novel conclusions, this article underscores the timely relevance of understanding these intricate connections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jieun Kim
- Karsh Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Ekihiro Seki
- Karsh Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA.
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22
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Zhu Y, Gu J, Lu Y, Tao Q, Cao X, Zhu Y, Yang MQ, Liang X. IL-6 Released from Hepatic Stellate Cells Promotes Glycolysis and Migration of HCC Through the JAK1/vWF/TGFB1 Axis. J Hepatocell Carcinoma 2024; 11:1295-1310. [PMID: 38983936 PMCID: PMC11232958 DOI: 10.2147/jhc.s464880] [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: 02/24/2024] [Accepted: 06/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Purpose The crosstalk between hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells and hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) is one of the important mechanisms of liver cancer metastasis. The relationship between liver cancer metastasis and glycolysis has been extensively studied recently. However, the role of von Willebrand factor (vWF) mediated glycolysis mechanism in liver cancer metastasis is currently unknown. Methods Western blot was used to verify the expression of vWF in HCC cells. PAS staining, glycogen and L-lactate content assays were used to reflect cellular glycolysis levels. The ability of cell migration was explored by Wound-healing and Transwell assays. Besides, the effect of vWF on the progression of HCC in vivo was also studied using subcutaneous xenograft model. Results vWF derived from HCC cells promoted tumor migration by mediating glycolysis. Besides, vWF participated in the crosstalk between HCC cells and HSCs. HCC cells activated HSCs through vWF-mediated TGFB1 expression and secretion, and activated HSCs upregulated vWF expression in HCC cells through IL-6 secretion feedback. Further, in vitro and in vivo experiments also confirmed the importance of the JAK1/vWF/TGFB1 axis in regulating HSCs-derived IL-6 mediated HCC migration and growth. Conclusion In summary, this article demonstrated that IL-6 released from hepatic stellate cells enhanced glycolysis and migration ability of liver cancer cells by activating JAK1/vWF/TGFB1 axis which may also be a potential target for inhibiting liver cancer metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifei Zhu
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Optogenetic Techniques for Cell Metabolism, Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiayi Gu
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Optogenetic Techniques for Cell Metabolism, Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuxin Lu
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Optogenetic Techniques for Cell Metabolism, Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Qianying Tao
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Optogenetic Techniques for Cell Metabolism, Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Xinliang Cao
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Optogenetic Techniques for Cell Metabolism, Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Yanqing Zhu
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Optogenetic Techniques for Cell Metabolism, Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Mu-Qing Yang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgical Center, Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Xin Liang
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Optogenetic Techniques for Cell Metabolism, Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
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23
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Peng H, Yang M, Feng K, Lv Q, Zhang Y. Semaphorin 3C (Sema3C) reshapes stromal microenvironment to promote hepatocellular carcinoma progression. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2024; 9:169. [PMID: 38956074 PMCID: PMC11220018 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-024-01887-0] [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] [Revised: 05/22/2024] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024] Open
Abstract
More than 90% of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cases develop in the presence of fibrosis or cirrhosis, making the tumor microenvironment (TME) of HCC distinctive due to the intricate interplay between cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and cancer stem cells (CSCs), which collectively regulate HCC progression. However, the mechanisms through which CSCs orchestrate the dynamics of the tumor stroma during HCC development remain elusive. Our study unveils a significant upregulation of Sema3C in fibrotic liver, HCC tissues, peripheral blood of HCC patients, as well as sorafenib-resistant tissues and cells, with its overexpression correlating with the acquisition of stemness properties in HCC. We further identify NRP1 and ITGB1 as pivotal functional receptors of Sema3C, activating downstream AKT/Gli1/c-Myc signaling pathways to bolster HCC self-renewal and tumor initiation. Additionally, HCC cells-derived Sema3C facilitated extracellular matrix (ECM) contraction and collagen deposition in vivo, while also promoting the proliferation and activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Mechanistically, Sema3C interacted with NRP1 and ITGB1 in HSCs, activating downstream NF-kB signaling, thereby stimulating the release of IL-6 and upregulating HMGCR expression, consequently enhancing cholesterol synthesis in HSCs. Furthermore, CAF-secreted TGF-β1 activates AP1 signaling to augment Sema3C expression in HCC cells, establishing a positive feedback loop that accelerates HCC progression. Notably, blockade of Sema3C effectively inhibits tumor growth and sensitizes HCC cells to sorafenib in vivo. In sum, our findings spotlight Sema3C as a novel biomarker facilitating the crosstalk between CSCs and stroma during hepatocarcinogenesis, thereby offering a promising avenue for enhancing treatment efficacy and overcoming drug resistance in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Peng
- Medical School, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Meng Yang
- Department of Ultrasound, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical. Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Kun Feng
- Hepatopancreatobiliary Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Qingpeng Lv
- Hepatopancreatobiliary Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Yewei Zhang
- Hepatopancreatobiliary Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210009, China.
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Peeters F, Cappuyns S, Piqué-Gili M, Phillips G, Verslype C, Lambrechts D, Dekervel J. Applications of single-cell multi-omics in liver cancer. JHEP Rep 2024; 6:101094. [PMID: 39022385 PMCID: PMC11252522 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhepr.2024.101094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Primary liver cancer, more specifically hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), remains a significant global health problem associated with increasing incidence and mortality. Clinical, biological, and molecular heterogeneity are well-known hallmarks of cancer and HCC is considered one of the most heterogeneous tumour types, displaying substantial inter-patient, intertumoural and intratumoural variability. This heterogeneity plays a pivotal role in hepatocarcinogenesis, metastasis, relapse and drug response or resistance. Unimodal single-cell sequencing techniques have already revolutionised our understanding of the different layers of molecular hierarchy in the tumour microenvironment of HCC. By highlighting the cellular heterogeneity and the intricate interactions among cancer, immune and stromal cells before and during treatment, these techniques have contributed to a deeper comprehension of tumour clonality, hematogenous spreading and the mechanisms of action of immune checkpoint inhibitors. However, major questions remain to be elucidated, with the identification of biomarkers predicting response or resistance to immunotherapy-based regimens representing an important unmet clinical need. Although the application of single-cell multi-omics in liver cancer research has been limited thus far, a revolution of individualised care for patients with HCC will only be possible by integrating various unimodal methods into multi-omics methodologies at the single-cell resolution. In this review, we will highlight the different established single-cell sequencing techniques and explore their biological and clinical impact on liver cancer research, while casting a glance at the future role of multi-omics in this dynamic and rapidly evolving field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frederik Peeters
- Digestive Oncology, Department of Gastroenterology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory of Clinical Digestive Oncology, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory for Translational Genetics, Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- VIB Centre for Cancer Biology, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sarah Cappuyns
- Digestive Oncology, Department of Gastroenterology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory of Clinical Digestive Oncology, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory for Translational Genetics, Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- VIB Centre for Cancer Biology, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Marta Piqué-Gili
- Liver Cancer Translational Research Laboratory, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Hospital Clínic, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Gino Phillips
- Laboratory for Translational Genetics, Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- VIB Centre for Cancer Biology, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Chris Verslype
- Digestive Oncology, Department of Gastroenterology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory of Clinical Digestive Oncology, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Diether Lambrechts
- Laboratory for Translational Genetics, Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- VIB Centre for Cancer Biology, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jeroen Dekervel
- Digestive Oncology, Department of Gastroenterology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory of Clinical Digestive Oncology, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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25
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Du K, Wang L, Jun JH, Dutta RK, Maeso-Díaz R, Oh SH, Ko DC, Diehl AM. Aging promotes metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease by inducing ferroptotic stress. NATURE AGING 2024; 4:949-968. [PMID: 38918603 DOI: 10.1038/s43587-024-00652-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024]
Abstract
Susceptibility to the biological consequences of aging varies among organs and individuals. We analyzed hepatocyte transcriptomes of healthy young and aged male mice to generate an aging hepatocyte gene signature, used it to deconvolute transcriptomic data from humans and mice with metabolic dysfunction-associated liver disease, validated findings with functional studies in mice and applied the signature to transcriptomic data from other organs to determine whether aging-sensitive degenerative mechanisms are conserved. We discovered that the signature enriches in diseased livers in parallel with degeneration. It is also enriched in failing human hearts, diseased kidneys and pancreatic islets from individuals with diabetes. The signature includes genes that control ferroptosis. Aged mice develop more hepatocyte ferroptosis and liver degeneration than young mice when fed diets that induce metabolic stress. Inhibiting ferroptosis shifts the liver transcriptome of old mice toward that of young mice and reverses aging-exacerbated liver damage, identifying ferroptosis as a tractable, conserved mechanism for aging-related tissue degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuo Du
- Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Liuyang Wang
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Ji Hye Jun
- Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Rajesh K Dutta
- Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | - Seh Hoon Oh
- Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Dennis C Ko
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Anna Mae Diehl
- Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
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26
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McAndrews KM, Mahadevan KK, Kalluri R. Mouse Models to Evaluate the Functional Role of the Tumor Microenvironment in Cancer Progression and Therapy Responses. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med 2024; 14:a041411. [PMID: 38191175 PMCID: PMC11216184 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a041411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a complex ecosystem of both cellular and noncellular components that functions to impact the evolution of cancer. Various aspects of the TME have been targeted for the control of cancer; however, TME composition is dynamic, with the overall abundance of immune cells, endothelial cells (ECs), fibroblasts, and extracellular matrix (ECM) as well as subsets of TME components changing at different stages of progression and in response to therapy. To effectively treat cancer, an understanding of the functional role of the TME is needed. Genetically engineered mouse models have enabled comprehensive insight into the complex interactions within the TME ecosystem that regulate disease progression. Here, we review recent advances in mouse models that have been employed to understand how the TME regulates cancer initiation, progression, metastasis, and response to therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen M McAndrews
- Department of Cancer Biology, Metastasis Research Center, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77054, USA
| | - Krishnan K Mahadevan
- Department of Cancer Biology, Metastasis Research Center, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77054, USA
| | - Raghu Kalluri
- Department of Cancer Biology, Metastasis Research Center, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77054, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77251, USA
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
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27
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Feng X, Liu H, Sheng Y, Li J, Guo J, Song W, Li S, Liu Z, Zhou H, Wu N, Wang R, Chu J, Han X, Hu B, Qi Y. Yinchen gongying decoction mitigates CCl 4-induced chronic liver injury and fibrosis in mice implicated in inhibition of the FoxO1/TGF-β1/ Smad2/3 and YAP signaling pathways. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 327:117975. [PMID: 38432576 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2024.117975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2023] [Revised: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Liver fibrosis (LF) is a common reversible consequence of chronic liver damage with limited therapeutic options. Yinchen Gongying decoction (YGD) composed of two homologous plants: (Artemisia capillaris Thunb, Taraxacum monochlamydeum Hand.-Mazz.), has a traditionally application as a medicinal diet for acute icteric hepatitis. However, its impact on LF and underlying mechanisms remain unclear. AIM OF THE STUDY This study aims to assess the impact of YGD on a carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced liver fibrosis and elucidate its possible mechanisms. The study seeks to establish an experimental foundation for YGD as a candidate drug for hepatic fibrosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS LC-MS/MS identified 11 blood-entry components in YGD, and network pharmacology predicted their involvement in the FoxO signaling pathway, insulin resistance, and PI3K-AKT signaling pathway. Using a CCl4-induced LF mouse model, YGD's protective effects were evaluated in comparison to a positive control and a normal group. The underlying mechanisms were explored through the assessments of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) activation, fibrotic signaling, and inflammation. RESULTS YGD treatment significantly improved liver function, enhanced liver morphology, and reduced liver collagen deposition in CCl4-induced LF mice. Mechanistically, YGD inhibited HSC activation, elevated MMPs/TIMP1 ratios, suppressed the FoxO1/TGF-β1/Smad2/3 and YAP pathways, and exhibited anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Notably, YGD improved the insulin signaling pathway. CONCLUSION YGD mitigates LF in mice by modulating fibrotic and inflammatory pathways, enhancing antioxidant responses, and specifically inhibiting FoxO1/TGF-β1/Smad2/3 and YAP signal pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyi Feng
- School of Pharmacy, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan 063210, China
| | - Hengxu Liu
- School of Pharmacy, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan 063210, China
| | - Yifei Sheng
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan 063210, China
| | - Jiaqi Li
- School of Pharmacy, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan 063210, China
| | - Jiyuan Guo
- School of Pharmacy, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan 063210, China
| | - Wenxuan Song
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan 063210, China
| | - Sha Li
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan 063210, China
| | - Zixuan Liu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan 063210, China
| | - Haoyu Zhou
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan 063210, China
| | - Naijun Wu
- Department of Endocrinology, North China University of Science and Technology Affiliated Hospital, Tangshan 063210, China
| | - Rui Wang
- School of Pharmacy, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan 063210, China
| | - Jinxiu Chu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan 063210, China; Hebei Key Laboratory for Chronic Diseases, School of Basic Medical Sciences, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan 063210, China
| | - Xiaolei Han
- Qian 'an Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Tangshan 063210, China
| | - Baofeng Hu
- Qian 'an Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Tangshan 063210, China
| | - Yajuan Qi
- School of Pharmacy, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan 063210, China; School of Basic Medical Sciences, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan 063210, China; School of Public Health, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan 063210, China; Tangshan Key Laboratory of Basic Research in Medicine Development, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan 063210, China; Hebei Key Laboratory for Chronic Diseases, School of Basic Medical Sciences, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan 063210, China; Department of Endocrinology, North China University of Science and Technology Affiliated Hospital, Tangshan 063210, China.
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28
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Li A, Wang R, Zhao Y, Zhao P, Yang J. Crosstalk between Epigenetics and Metabolic Reprogramming in Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease-Induced Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A New Sight. Metabolites 2024; 14:325. [PMID: 38921460 PMCID: PMC11205353 DOI: 10.3390/metabo14060325] [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: 04/30/2024] [Revised: 06/01/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic and metabolic reprogramming alterations are two important features of tumors, and their reversible, spatial, and temporal regulation is a distinctive hallmark of carcinogenesis. Epigenetics, which focuses on gene regulatory mechanisms beyond the DNA sequence, is a new entry point for tumor therapy. Moreover, metabolic reprogramming drives hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) initiation and progression, highlighting the significance of metabolism in this disease. Exploring the inter-regulatory relationship between tumor metabolic reprogramming and epigenetic modification has become one of the hot directions in current tumor metabolism research. As viral etiologies have given way to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD)-induced HCC, it is urgent that complex molecular pathways linking them and hepatocarcinogenesis be explored. However, how aberrant crosstalk between epigenetic modifications and metabolic reprogramming affects MASLD-induced HCC lacks comprehensive understanding. A better understanding of their linkages is necessary and urgent to improve HCC treatment strategies. For this reason, this review examines the interwoven landscape of molecular carcinogenesis in the context of MASLD-induced HCC, focusing on mechanisms regulating aberrant epigenetic alterations and metabolic reprogramming in the development of MASLD-induced HCC and interactions between them while also updating the current advances in metabolism and epigenetic modification-based therapeutic drugs in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anqi Li
- College of Basic Medical Science, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin 150040, China; (A.L.); (Y.Z.); (P.Z.)
| | - Rui Wang
- College of Pharmacy, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin 150040, China;
- Key Laboratory of Basic and Application Research of Beiyao, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Ministry of Education, Harbin 150040, China
| | - Yuqiang Zhao
- College of Basic Medical Science, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin 150040, China; (A.L.); (Y.Z.); (P.Z.)
| | - Peiran Zhao
- College of Basic Medical Science, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin 150040, China; (A.L.); (Y.Z.); (P.Z.)
| | - Jing Yang
- College of Basic Medical Science, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin 150040, China; (A.L.); (Y.Z.); (P.Z.)
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Zhang Y, Xing M, Meng F, Zhu L, Huang Q, Ma T, Fang H, Gu X, Huang S, Wu X, Lv G, Guo J, Wu L, Liu X, Chen Z. The mechanical mechanism of angiotensin II induced activation of hepatic stellate cells promoting portal hypertension. Eur J Cell Biol 2024; 103:151427. [PMID: 38820882 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejcb.2024.151427] [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: 01/20/2024] [Revised: 05/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024] Open
Abstract
In the development of chronic liver disease, the hepatic stellate cell (HSC) plays a pivotal role in increasing intrahepatic vascular resistance (IHVR) and inducing portal hypertension (PH) in cirrhosis. Our research demonstrated that HSC contraction, prompted by angiotensin II (Ang II), significantly contributed to the elevation of type I collagen (COL1A1) expression. This increase was intimately associated with enhanced cell tension and YAP nuclear translocation, mediated through α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) expression, microfilaments (MF) polymerization, and stress fibers (SF) assembly. Further investigation revealed that the Rho/ROCK signaling pathway regulated MF polymerization and SF assembly by facilitating the phosphorylation of cofilin and MLC, while Ca2+ chiefly governed SF assembly via MLC. Inhibiting α-SMA-MF-SF assembly changed Ang II-induced cell contraction, YAP nuclear translocation, and COL1A1 expression, findings corroborated in cirrhotic mice models. Overall, our study offers insights into mitigating IHVR and PH through cell mechanics, heralding potential breakthroughs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiheng Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Mulan Xing
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Fansheng Meng
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Ling Zhu
- State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base For TCM Quality and Efficacy, School of Medicine and Life Science, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Qingchuan Huang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Tianle Ma
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Huihua Fang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China; Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210004, China
| | - Xujing Gu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Suzhou Huang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Xinyu Wu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Gaohong Lv
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Jun Guo
- State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base For TCM Quality and Efficacy, School of Medicine and Life Science, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Li Wu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China; Engineering Center of State Ministry of Education for Standardization of Chinese Medicine Processing, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China.
| | - Xin Liu
- Department of Pharmacy, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou 215002, China.
| | - Zhipeng Chen
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China; Engineering Center of State Ministry of Education for Standardization of Chinese Medicine Processing, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China.
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30
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Matchett KP, Wilson-Kanamori JR, Portman JR, Kapourani CA, Fercoq F, May S, Zajdel E, Beltran M, Sutherland EF, Mackey JBG, Brice M, Wilson GC, Wallace SJ, Kitto L, Younger NT, Dobie R, Mole DJ, Oniscu GC, Wigmore SJ, Ramachandran P, Vallejos CA, Carragher NO, Saeidinejad MM, Quaglia A, Jalan R, Simpson KJ, Kendall TJ, Rule JA, Lee WM, Hoare M, Weston CJ, Marioni JC, Teichmann SA, Bird TG, Carlin LM, Henderson NC. Multimodal decoding of human liver regeneration. Nature 2024; 630:158-165. [PMID: 38693268 PMCID: PMC11153152 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07376-2] [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: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
The liver has a unique ability to regenerate1,2; however, in the setting of acute liver failure (ALF), this regenerative capacity is often overwhelmed, leaving emergency liver transplantation as the only curative option3-5. Here, to advance understanding of human liver regeneration, we use paired single-nucleus RNA sequencing combined with spatial profiling of healthy and ALF explant human livers to generate a single-cell, pan-lineage atlas of human liver regeneration. We uncover a novel ANXA2+ migratory hepatocyte subpopulation, which emerges during human liver regeneration, and a corollary subpopulation in a mouse model of acetaminophen (APAP)-induced liver regeneration. Interrogation of necrotic wound closure and hepatocyte proliferation across multiple timepoints following APAP-induced liver injury in mice demonstrates that wound closure precedes hepatocyte proliferation. Four-dimensional intravital imaging of APAP-induced mouse liver injury identifies motile hepatocytes at the edge of the necrotic area, enabling collective migration of the hepatocyte sheet to effect wound closure. Depletion of hepatocyte ANXA2 reduces hepatocyte growth factor-induced human and mouse hepatocyte migration in vitro, and abrogates necrotic wound closure following APAP-induced mouse liver injury. Together, our work dissects unanticipated aspects of liver regeneration, demonstrating an uncoupling of wound closure and hepatocyte proliferation and uncovering a novel migratory hepatocyte subpopulation that mediates wound closure following liver injury. Therapies designed to promote rapid reconstitution of normal hepatic microarchitecture and reparation of the gut-liver barrier may advance new areas of therapeutic discovery in regenerative medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- K P Matchett
- Centre for Inflammation Research, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - J R Wilson-Kanamori
- Centre for Inflammation Research, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - J R Portman
- Centre for Inflammation Research, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - C A Kapourani
- Centre for Inflammation Research, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- MRC Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- School of Informatics, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - F Fercoq
- Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Glasgow, UK
| | - S May
- Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Glasgow, UK
| | - E Zajdel
- Centre for Inflammation Research, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - M Beltran
- Centre for Inflammation Research, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - E F Sutherland
- Centre for Inflammation Research, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - J B G Mackey
- Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Glasgow, UK
| | - M Brice
- Centre for Inflammation Research, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - G C Wilson
- Centre for Inflammation Research, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - S J Wallace
- Centre for Inflammation Research, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - L Kitto
- Centre for Inflammation Research, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - N T Younger
- Centre for Inflammation Research, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - R Dobie
- Centre for Inflammation Research, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - D J Mole
- Centre for Inflammation Research, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- University Department of Clinical Surgery, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - G C Oniscu
- Edinburgh Transplant Centre, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Division of Transplant Surgery, CLINTEC, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - S J Wigmore
- Centre for Inflammation Research, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- University Department of Clinical Surgery, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - P Ramachandran
- Centre for Inflammation Research, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - C A Vallejos
- MRC Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- The Alan Turing Institute, London, UK
| | - N O Carragher
- Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - M M Saeidinejad
- Institute for Liver and Digestive Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - A Quaglia
- Department of Cellular Pathology, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
- UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, London, UK
| | - R Jalan
- Institute for Liver and Digestive Health, University College London, London, UK
- European Foundation for the Study of Chronic Liver Failure, Barcelona, Spain
| | - K J Simpson
- Department of Hepatology, University of Edinburgh and Scottish Liver Transplant Unit, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - T J Kendall
- Centre for Inflammation Research, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - J A Rule
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - W M Lee
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - M Hoare
- Early Cancer Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - C J Weston
- NIHR Birmingham Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust and University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - J C Marioni
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Cambridge, UK
- Wellcome Genome Campus, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge, UK
| | - S A Teichmann
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Cambridge, UK
- Wellcome Genome Campus, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Physics, Cavendish Laboratory, Cambridge, UK
| | - T G Bird
- Centre for Inflammation Research, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Glasgow, UK
| | - L M Carlin
- Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Glasgow, UK
- School of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - N C Henderson
- Centre for Inflammation Research, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
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31
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Machado MV. What should be the best approach post-liver resection in non-viral non-cirrhotic hepatocellular carcinoma? Hepatobiliary Surg Nutr 2024; 13:554-556. [PMID: 38911205 PMCID: PMC11190526 DOI: 10.21037/hbsn-24-132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Verdelho Machado
- Serviço de Gastrenterologia, Hospital de Vila Franca de Xira, Lisboa, Portugal
- Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
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Wang K, Zhan HQ, Hu Y, Yuan ZY, Yang JF, Yang DS, Tao LS, Xu T. The role of interleukin-20 in liver disease: Functions, mechanisms and clinical applications. Heliyon 2024; 10:e29853. [PMID: 38699038 PMCID: PMC11064155 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e29853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Liver disease is a severe public health concern worldwide. There is a close relationship between the liver and cytokines, and liver inflammation from a variety of causes leads to the release and activation of cytokines. The functions of cytokines are complex and variable, and are closely related to their cellular origin, target molecules and mode of action. Interleukin (IL)-20 has been studied as a pro-inflammatory cytokine that is expressed and regulated in some diseases. Furthermore, accumulating evidences has shown that IL-20 is highly expressed in clinical samples from patients with liver disease, promoting the production of pro-inflammatory molecules involved in liver disease progression, and antagonists of IL-20 can effectively inhibit liver injury and produce protective effects. This review highlights the potential of targeting IL-20 in liver diseases, elucidates the potential mechanisms of IL-20 inducing liver injury, and suggests multiple viable strategies to mitigate the pro-inflammatory response to IL-20. Genomic CRISPR/Cas9-based screens may be a feasible way to further explore the signaling pathways and regulation of IL-20 in liver diseases. Nanovector systems targeting IL-20 offer new possibilities for the treatment and prevention of liver diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Wang
- School of Clinical Medicine, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China
| | - He-Qin Zhan
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China
| | - Ying Hu
- Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Anhui Institute of Innovative Drugs, School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China
| | - Zhan-Yuan Yuan
- Department of Plastic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, 230032, China
| | - Jun-Fa Yang
- Department of orthopedics, Anhui Children's Hospital, Hefei, Anhui, 230032, China
| | - Da-Shuai Yang
- Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Anhui Institute of Innovative Drugs, School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China
| | - Liang-Song Tao
- Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Anhui Institute of Innovative Drugs, School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China
| | - Tao Xu
- Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Anhui Institute of Innovative Drugs, School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China
- Institute for Liver Diseases of Anhui Medical University, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China
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33
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Sun D, Li W, Ding D, Tan K, Ding W, Wang Z, Fu S, Hou G, Zhou WP, Gu F. IL-17a promotes hepatocellular carcinoma by increasing FAP expression in hepatic stellate cells via activation of the STAT3 signaling pathway. Cell Death Discov 2024; 10:230. [PMID: 38740736 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-024-01995-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Revised: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Studies have shown that hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and interleukin-17a (IL-17a) play important roles in liver tumorigenesis. In addition, fibroblast activation protein-α (FAP) has been shown to be a key regulator of hepatic stellate cell activation. In this study, in vivo and in vitro experiments were performed to verify the promoting effects of IL-17a administration, IL-17a overexpression, and FAP upregulation in HSCs on liver fibrosis and liver tumorigenesis. The cleavage under targets & release using nuclease (CUT&RUN) technique was used to verify the binding status of STAT3 to the FAP promoter. The in vitro studies showed that IL-17a activated HSCs and promoted HCC development and progression. FAP and IL-17a overexpression also activated HSCs, promoted HCC cell proliferation and migration, and inhibited HCC cell apoptosis. The in vivo studies suggested that IL-17a and FAP overexpression in HSCs facilitated liver tumor development and progression. The CUT&RUN results indicated that FAP expression was regulated by STAT3, which could bind to the FAP promoter region and regulate its transcription status. We concluded that IL-17a promoted HCC by increasing FAP expression in HSCs via activation of the STAT3 signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dapeng Sun
- The Third Department of Hepatic Surgery, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Naval Medical University, 225 Changhai Road, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Wen Li
- The Third Department of Hepatic Surgery, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Naval Medical University, 225 Changhai Road, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Dongyang Ding
- The Third Department of Hepatic Surgery, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Naval Medical University, 225 Changhai Road, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Kunjiang Tan
- The International Cooperation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Wenbin Ding
- The Third Department of Hepatic Surgery, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Naval Medical University, 225 Changhai Road, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Zongyan Wang
- The Third Department of Hepatic Surgery, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Naval Medical University, 225 Changhai Road, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Siyuan Fu
- The Third Department of Hepatic Surgery, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Naval Medical University, 225 Changhai Road, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Guojun Hou
- The Third Department of Hepatic Surgery, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Naval Medical University, 225 Changhai Road, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Wei-Ping Zhou
- The Third Department of Hepatic Surgery, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Naval Medical University, 225 Changhai Road, Shanghai, 200438, China.
| | - Fangming Gu
- The Third Department of Hepatic Surgery, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Naval Medical University, 225 Changhai Road, Shanghai, 200438, China.
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Werner W, Kuzminskaya M, Lurje I, Tacke F, Hammerich L. Overcoming Resistance to Immune Checkpoint Blockade in Liver Cancer with Combination Therapy: Stronger Together? Semin Liver Dis 2024; 44:159-179. [PMID: 38806159 PMCID: PMC11245330 DOI: 10.1055/a-2334-8311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2024]
Abstract
Primary liver cancer, represented mainly by hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), is one of the most common and deadliest tumors worldwide. While surgical resection or liver transplantation are the best option in early disease stages, these tumors often present in advanced stages and systemic treatment is required to improve survival time. The emergence of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy has had a positive impact especially on the treatment of advanced cancers, thereby establishing immunotherapy as part of first-line treatment in HCC and CCA. Nevertheless, low response rates reflect on the usually cold or immunosuppressed tumor microenvironment of primary liver cancer. In this review, we aim to summarize mechanisms of resistance leading to tumor immune escape with a special focus on the composition of tumor microenvironment in both HCC and CCA, also reflecting on recent important developments in ICI combination therapy. Furthermore, we discuss how combination of ICIs with established primary liver cancer treatments (e.g. multikinase inhibitors and chemotherapy) as well as more complex combinations with state-of-the-art therapeutic concepts may reshape the tumor microenvironment, leading to higher response rates and long-lasting antitumor immunity for primary liver cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wiebke Werner
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Charité Universitaetsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Maria Kuzminskaya
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Charité Universitaetsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Isabella Lurje
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Charité Universitaetsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Frank Tacke
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Charité Universitaetsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Linda Hammerich
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Charité Universitaetsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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35
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Bai Y, Chen J, Zhang S, Xu G, Mao Z, Ding Y, Wang W. Inflammation-Responsive Cell Membrane-Camouflaged Nanoparticles against Liver Fibrosis via Regulating Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Oxidative Stress. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2310443. [PMID: 38372054 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202310443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
Liver fibrosis represents a reversible stage of various chronic liver diseases that progresses to cirrhosis. This condition is characterized by an imbalance between tissue damage and repair, and the production of fibers in the liver exceeds their degradation. Oxidative stress (OS) resulting from tissue injury and endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) triggered by the overproduction of proteins are pivotal factors in liver fibrosis. Melatonin demonstrates the capability to neutralize free radicals, shielding cells from oxidative harm. It is also a specific inhibitor of the ERS receptor transcription activating factor 6 (ATF6), indicating its great potential in ameliorating liver fibrosis. However, its limited water solubility and oral bioavailability of under 15% present hurdles in achieving therapeutic blood concentrations for treating liver fibrosis. The PLGA@Melatonin is constructed by loading melatonin with poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA). Platelet membranes (PM) and activated hepatic stellate cell membranes (HSCM) with high expression of the platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR) are extracted to successfully construct PM@PLGA@Melatonin and HSCM@PLGA@Melatonin, which are subsequently utilized to treat mice with liver fibrosis. The results illustrated the remarkable therapeutic effects of the two nanoparticles on liver fibrosis, along with their excellent targeting and biosafety properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Bai
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310009, China
- Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Tumor of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310009, China
- Research Center of Diagnosis and Treatment Technology for Hepatocellular Carcinoma of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310009, China
- National Innovation Center for Fundamental Research on Cancer Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310009, China
- Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, China
- ZJU-Pujian Research & Development Center of Medical Artificial Intelligence for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Disease, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, China
| | - Jiaqi Chen
- Center for Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Stomatology, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital), Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Sitong Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310009, China
- Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Tumor of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310009, China
- Research Center of Diagnosis and Treatment Technology for Hepatocellular Carcinoma of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310009, China
- National Innovation Center for Fundamental Research on Cancer Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310009, China
- Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, China
- ZJU-Pujian Research & Development Center of Medical Artificial Intelligence for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Disease, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, China
| | - Guangyu Xu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310009, China
- Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Tumor of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310009, China
- Research Center of Diagnosis and Treatment Technology for Hepatocellular Carcinoma of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310009, China
- National Innovation Center for Fundamental Research on Cancer Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310009, China
- Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, China
- ZJU-Pujian Research & Development Center of Medical Artificial Intelligence for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Disease, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, China
| | - Zhengwei Mao
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310009, China
- Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Tumor of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310009, China
- Research Center of Diagnosis and Treatment Technology for Hepatocellular Carcinoma of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310009, China
- National Innovation Center for Fundamental Research on Cancer Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310009, China
- Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, China
- ZJU-Pujian Research & Development Center of Medical Artificial Intelligence for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Disease, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, China
- MOE Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310027, China
| | - Yuan Ding
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310009, China
- Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Tumor of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310009, China
- Research Center of Diagnosis and Treatment Technology for Hepatocellular Carcinoma of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310009, China
- National Innovation Center for Fundamental Research on Cancer Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310009, China
- Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, China
- ZJU-Pujian Research & Development Center of Medical Artificial Intelligence for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Disease, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, China
| | - Weilin Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310009, China
- Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Tumor of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310009, China
- Research Center of Diagnosis and Treatment Technology for Hepatocellular Carcinoma of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310009, China
- National Innovation Center for Fundamental Research on Cancer Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310009, China
- Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, China
- ZJU-Pujian Research & Development Center of Medical Artificial Intelligence for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Disease, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, China
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36
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Su H, Karin M. Multifaceted collagen-DDR1 signaling in cancer. Trends Cell Biol 2024; 34:406-415. [PMID: 37709651 PMCID: PMC10927612 DOI: 10.1016/j.tcb.2023.08.003] [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: 05/29/2023] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
In addition to immune cells and fibroblasts, the tumor microenvironment (TME) comprises an extracellular matrix (ECM) which contains collagens (COLs) whose architecture and remodeling dictate cancer development and progression. COL receptors expressed by cancer cells sense signals generated by microenvironmental alterations in COL state to regulate cell behavior and metabolism. Discoidin domain receptor 1 (DDR1) is a key sensor of COL fiber state and composition that controls tumor cell metabolism and growth, response to therapy, and patient survival. This review focuses on DDR1 to NRF2 signaling, its modulation of autophagy and macropinocytosis (MP), and its role in cancer and other diseases. Elucidating the regulation of DDR1 activity and expression under different pathophysiological conditions will facilitate the discovery of new therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hua Su
- Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Michael Karin
- Laboratory of Gene Regulation and Signal Transduction, Departments of Pharmacology and Pathology, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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37
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Kim JW, Kim YJ. The evidence-based multifaceted roles of hepatic stellate cells in liver diseases: A concise review. Life Sci 2024; 344:122547. [PMID: 38460810 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2024.122547] [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: 12/25/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/11/2024]
Abstract
Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) play central roles in liver disease pathogenesis, spanning steatosis to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. These cells, located in the liver's sinusoidal space of Disse, transition from a quiescent, vitamin A-rich state to an activated, myofibroblast-like phenotype in response to liver injury. This activation results from a complex interplay of cytokines, growth factors, and oxidative stress, leading to excessive collagen deposition and liver fibrosis, a hallmark of chronic liver diseases. Recently, HSCs have gained recognition for their dynamic, multifaceted roles in liver health and disease. Attention has shifted toward their involvement in various liver conditions, including acute liver injury, alcoholic and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and liver regeneration. This review aims to explore diverse functions of HSCs in these acute or chronic liver pathologies, with a focus on their roles beyond fibrogenesis. HSCs exhibit a wide range of actions, including lipid storage, immunomodulation, and interactions with other hepatic and extrahepatic cells, making them pivotal in the hepatic microenvironment. Understanding HSC involvement in the progression of liver diseases can offer novel insights into pathogenic mechanisms and guide targeted therapeutic strategies for various liver conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jong-Won Kim
- Center for Pharmacogenetics and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Yu Ji Kim
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, Jeonbuk National University, Research Institute of Clinical Medicine of Jeonbuk National University - Biomedical Research Institute of Jeonbuk National University Hospital, Jeonju, South Korea.
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38
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Du K, Jun JH, Dutta RK, Diehl AM. Plasticity, heterogeneity, and multifunctionality of hepatic stellate cells in liver pathophysiology. Hepatol Commun 2024; 8:e0411. [PMID: 38619452 PMCID: PMC11019831 DOI: 10.1097/hc9.0000000000000411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024] Open
Abstract
HSCs, the resident pericytes of the liver, have consistently been at the forefront of liver research due to their crucial roles in various hepatic pathological processes. Prior literature often depicted HSCs in a binary framework, categorizing them as either quiescent or activated. However, recent advances in HSC research, particularly the advent of single-cell RNA-sequencing, have revolutionized our understanding of these cells. This sophisticated technique offers an unparalleled, high-resolution insight into HSC populations, uncovering a spectrum of diversity and functional heterogeneity across various physiological states of the liver, ranging from liver development to the liver aging process. The single-cell RNA-sequencing revelations have also highlighted the intrinsic plasticity of HSCs and underscored their complex roles in a myriad of pathophysiological processes, including liver injury, repair, and carcinogenesis. This review aims to integrate and clarify these recent discoveries, focusing on how the inherent plasticity of HSCs is central to their dynamic roles both in maintaining liver homeostasis and orchestrating responses to liver injury. Future research will clarify whether findings from rodent models can be translated to human livers and guide how these insights are harnessed to develop targeted therapeutic interventions.
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39
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Raymant M, Astuti Y, Alvaro-Espinosa L, Green D, Quaranta V, Bellomo G, Glenn M, Chandran-Gorner V, Palmer DH, Halloran C, Ghaneh P, Henderson NC, Morton JP, Valiente M, Mielgo A, Schmid MC. Macrophage-fibroblast JAK/STAT dependent crosstalk promotes liver metastatic outgrowth in pancreatic cancer. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3593. [PMID: 38678021 PMCID: PMC11055860 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47949-3] [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: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly metastatic disease for which better therapies are urgently needed. Fibroblasts and macrophages are heterogeneous cell populations able to enhance metastasis, but the role of a macrophage-fibroblast crosstalk in regulating their pro-metastatic functions remains poorly understood. Here we deconvolve how macrophages regulate metastasis-associated fibroblast (MAF) heterogeneity in the liver. We identify three functionally distinct MAF populations, among which the generation of pro-metastatic and immunoregulatory myofibroblastic-MAFs (myMAFs) critically depends on macrophages. Mechanistically, myMAFs are induced through a STAT3-dependent mechanism driven by macrophage-derived progranulin and cancer cell-secreted leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF). In a reciprocal manner, myMAF secreted osteopontin promotes an immunosuppressive macrophage phenotype resulting in the inhibition of cytotoxic T cell functions. Pharmacological blockade of STAT3 or myMAF-specific genetic depletion of STAT3 restores an anti-tumour immune response and reduces metastases. Our findings provide molecular insights into the complex macrophage-fibroblast interactions in tumours and reveal potential targets to inhibit PDAC liver metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meirion Raymant
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Ashton Street, Liverpool, L69 3GE, UK
| | - Yuliana Astuti
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Ashton Street, Liverpool, L69 3GE, UK
| | - Laura Alvaro-Espinosa
- Brain Metastasis Group, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), Madrid, Spain
| | - Daniel Green
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Ashton Street, Liverpool, L69 3GE, UK
| | - Valeria Quaranta
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Ashton Street, Liverpool, L69 3GE, UK
| | - Gaia Bellomo
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Ashton Street, Liverpool, L69 3GE, UK
| | - Mark Glenn
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Ashton Street, Liverpool, L69 3GE, UK
| | - Vatshala Chandran-Gorner
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Ashton Street, Liverpool, L69 3GE, UK
| | - Daniel H Palmer
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Ashton Street, Liverpool, L69 3GE, UK
| | - Christopher Halloran
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Ashton Street, Liverpool, L69 3GE, UK
| | - Paula Ghaneh
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Ashton Street, Liverpool, L69 3GE, UK
| | - Neil C Henderson
- Centre for Inflammation Research, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh BioQuarter, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ, UK
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Jennifer P Morton
- Cancer Research-UK Scotland Institute and School of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Switchback Road, Glasgow, G61 1BD, UK
| | - Manuel Valiente
- Brain Metastasis Group, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), Madrid, Spain
| | - Ainhoa Mielgo
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Ashton Street, Liverpool, L69 3GE, UK
| | - Michael C Schmid
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Ashton Street, Liverpool, L69 3GE, UK.
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40
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Wei Q, Luo S, He G. Mechanism study of tyrosine phosphatase shp-1 in inhibiting hepatocellular carcinoma progression by regulating the SHP2/GM-CSF pathway in TAMs. Sci Rep 2024; 14:9128. [PMID: 38644382 PMCID: PMC11033275 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-59725-w] [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: 12/25/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors worldwide. Macrophage-mediated innate immune responses play a crucial role in tumor development. This study revealed the mechanism of SHP-1 in regulating HCC progression. SHP-1 inhibits tumour development in vivo. Increasing SHP-1 expression in macrophages promotes the expression of p-SHP-1, SHP2, and p-SHP-2. In macrophages GM-CSF recruits SHP-2 to the GM-CSF receptor GM-CSFR induces p-SHP-2 dephosphorylation. GM-CSF recruits p-SHP-2 for dephosphorylation by up-regulating HoxA10HOXA10 activates the transcription of TGFβ2 by interacting with tandem cis-elements in the promoter thereby regulating the proliferation and migration of liver cancer cells. GM-CSF inhibits SHP-1 regulation of p-SHP-1, SHP2, and p-SHP-2 in macrophages. Detailed studies have shown that SHP-1 regulates SHP2 expression, and SHP-1 and SHP2 are involved in macrophage M2 polarisation. SHP-1 inhibits HOXA10 and TGFβ2 which in turn regulates the expression of the migration-associated proteins, MMP2/9, and the migration of hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Overexpression of SHP-1 inhibits macrophage M2 polarisation via the p-STAT3/6 signalling pathway Classical markers arginase-1, CD206, CD163 and regulate the expression of M2 polarisation cytokines IL-4 and IL-10. In addition, hypoxia-induced ROS inhibited SHP-1 regulation by suppressing the expression of p-SHP-1. The combined effect of GM-CSF and ROS significantly increased p-HOXA10/TGFβ2 and macrophage M2 polarisation, and the regulatory effect of ROS was significantly suppressed by GM-CSF knockdown. These findings suggest that increasing the expression of tyrosine phosphatase SHP-1 can inhibit hepatocellular carcinoma progression by modulating the SHP2/GM-CSF pathway in TAM and thus inhibit the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Wei
- Bethune International Peace Hospital of PLA Hepatobiliary Surgery, Shijiazhuang, 050082, China
| | - ShuBin Luo
- Department of General Surgery (Section 1), The First People's Hospital of Jinghong, Jinghong, 666100, China
| | - Gang He
- Bethune International Peace Hospital of PLA ICU, No. 398 West Zhongshan Road, Shijiazhuang, 050082, China.
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41
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Luo R, Liu J, Wen J, Zhou X. Single-cell Landscape of Malignant Transition: Unraveling Cancer Cell-of-Origin and Heterogeneous Tissue Microenvironment. RESEARCH SQUARE 2024:rs.3.rs-4085185. [PMID: 38645221 PMCID: PMC11030487 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-4085185/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
Understanding disease progression and sophisticated tumor ecosystems is imperative for investigating tumorigenesis mechanisms and developing novel prevention strategies. Here, we dissected heterogeneous microenvironments during malignant transitions by leveraging data from 1396 samples spanning 13 major tissues. Within transitional stem-like subpopulations highly enriched in precancers and cancers, we identified 30 recurring cellular states strongly linked to malignancy, including hypoxia and epithelial senescence, revealing a high degree of plasticity in epithelial stem cells. By characterizing dynamics in stem-cell crosstalk with the microenvironment along the pseudotime axis, we found differential roles of ANXA1 at different stages of tumor development. In precancerous stages, reduced ANXA1 levels promoted monocyte differentiation toward M1 macrophages and inflammatory responses, whereas during malignant progression, upregulated ANXA1 fostered M2 macrophage polarization and cancer-associated fibroblast transformation by increasing TGF-β production. Our spatiotemporal analysis further provided insights into mechanisms responsible for immunosuppression and a potential target to control evolution of precancer and mitigate the risk for cancer development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jiajia Liu
- The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
| | - Jianguo Wen
- School of Biomedical Informatics, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
| | - Xiaobo Zhou
- School of Biomedical Informatics, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
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42
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Kong M, Zhou J, Kang A, Kuai Y, Xu H, Li M, Miao X, Guo Y, Fan Z, Xu Y, Li Z. Histone methyltransferase Suv39h1 regulates hepatic stellate cell activation and is targetable in liver fibrosis. Gut 2024; 73:810-824. [PMID: 38176898 DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2023-329671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Liver fibrosis is a prelude to a host of end-stage liver diseases. Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), switching from a quiescent state to myofibroblasts, are the major source for excessive production of extracellular matrix proteins. In the present study, we investigated the role of Suv39h1, a lysine methyltransferase, in HSC-myofibroblast transition and the implication in liver fibrosis. DESIGN HSC-specific or myofibroblast-specific Suv39h1 deletion was achieved by crossbreeding the Suv39h1 f/f mice to the Lrat-Cre mice or the Postn-CreERT2 mice. Liver fibrosis was induced by CCl4 injection or bile duct ligation. RESULTS We report that Suv39h1 expression was universally upregulated during HSC-myofibroblast transition in different cell and animal models of liver fibrosis and in human cirrhotic liver tissues. Consistently, Suv39h1 knockdown blocked HSC-myofibroblast transition in vitro. HSC-specific or myofibroblast-specific deletion of Suv39h1 ameliorated liver fibrosis in mice. More importantly, Suv39h1 inhibition by a small-molecule compound chaetocin dampened HSC-myofibroblast transition in cell culture and mitigated liver fibrosis in mice. Mechanistically, Suv39h1 bound to the promoter of heme oxygenase 1 (HMOX1) and repressed HMOX1 transcription. HMOX1 depletion blunted the effects of Suv39h1 inhibition on HSC-myofibroblast transition in vitro and liver fibrosis in vivo. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that HMOX1 might contribute to HSC-myofibroblast transition by modulating retinol homeostasis. Finally, myofibroblast-specific HMOX1 overexpression attenuated liver fibrosis in both a preventive scheme and a therapeutic scheme. CONCLUSIONS Our data demonstrate a previously unrecognised role for Suv39h1 in liver fibrosis and offer proof-of-concept of its targetability in the intervention of cirrhosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Kong
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Department of Pharmacology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Junjing Zhou
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of JiangnanUniversity, Wuxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Aoqi Kang
- Key Laboratory of Targeted Intervention of Cardiovascular Disease and Collaborative Innovation Center for Cardiovascular Translational Medicine, Department of Pathophysiology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Yameng Kuai
- Key Laboratory of Targeted Intervention of Cardiovascular Disease and Collaborative Innovation Center for Cardiovascular Translational Medicine, Department of Pathophysiology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Huihui Xu
- Key Laboratory of Targeted Intervention of Cardiovascular Disease and Collaborative Innovation Center for Cardiovascular Translational Medicine, Department of Pathophysiology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Min Li
- Department of Pathophysiology, Jiangsu Health Vocational College, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiulian Miao
- Institute of Biomedical Research and College of Life Sciences, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng, People's Republic of China
| | - Yan Guo
- Institute of Biomedical Research and College of Life Sciences, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhiwen Fan
- Department of Pathology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Yong Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Department of Pharmacology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Zilong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Department of Pharmacology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
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43
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Ryoo H, Giovanni R, Kimmel H, Jain I, Underhill GH. Combinatorial Microgels for 3D ECM Screening and Heterogeneous Microenvironmental Culture of Primary Human Hepatic Stellate Cells. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2303128. [PMID: 38348560 PMCID: PMC11022709 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202303128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2024]
Abstract
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease affects 30% of the United States population and its progression can lead to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and increased risks for cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. NASH is characterized by a highly heterogeneous liver microenvironment created by the fibrotic activity of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). While HSCs have been widely studied in 2D, further advancements in physiologically relevant 3D culture platforms for the in vitro modeling of these heterogeneous environments are needed. In this study, the use of stiffness-variable, extracellular matrix (ECM) protein-conjugated polyethylene glycol microgels as 3D cell culture scaffolds to modulate HSC activation is demonstrated. These microgels as a high throughput ECM screening system to identify HSC matrix remodeling and metabolic activities in distinct heterogeneous microenvironmental conditions are further employed. The 6 kPa fibronectin microgels are shown to significantly increase HSC matrix remodeling and metabolic activities in single or multiple-component microenvironments. Overall, heterogeneous microenvironments consisting of multiple distinct ECM microgels promoted a decrease in HSC matrix remodeling and metabolic activities compared to homogeneous microenvironments. The study envisions this ECM screening platform being adapted to a broad number of cell types to aid the identification of ECM microenvironments that best recapitulate the desired phenotype, differentiation, or drug efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyeon Ryoo
- Department of BioengineeringUniversity of Illinois at Urbana‐ChampaignUrbanaIL61801USA
| | - Regina Giovanni
- Department of BioengineeringUniversity of Illinois at Urbana‐ChampaignUrbanaIL61801USA
| | - Hannah Kimmel
- Department of BioengineeringUniversity of Illinois at Urbana‐ChampaignUrbanaIL61801USA
| | - Ishita Jain
- Department of BioengineeringUniversity of Illinois at Urbana‐ChampaignUrbanaIL61801USA
| | - Gregory H. Underhill
- Department of BioengineeringUniversity of Illinois at Urbana‐ChampaignUrbanaIL61801USA
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44
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Zhang Q, Lou Y, Fang H, Sun S, Jin R, Ji Y, Chen Z. Cancer‑associated fibroblasts under therapy‑induced senescence in the tumor microenvironment (Review). Exp Ther Med 2024; 27:150. [PMID: 38476922 PMCID: PMC10928991 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2024.12438] [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: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Current cancer treatments target tumor cells; however, the tumor microenvironment (TME) induces therapeutic resistance, tumor development and metastasis, thus rendering these treatments ineffective. Research on the TME has therefore concentrated on nonmalignant cells. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are a major TME component, which contribute to cancer progression due to their diverse origins, phenotypes and functions, including cancer cell invasion and migration, extracellular matrix remodeling, tumor metabolism modulation and therapeutic resistance. Standard cancer treatment typically exacerbates the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) of senescent cancer cells and nonmalignant cells that actively leak proinflammatory signals in the TME. Therapy-induced senescence may impair cancer cell activity and compromise treatment responsiveness. CAFs and SASP are well-studied in the formation and progression of cancer. The present review discusses the current data on CAF senescence caused by anticancer treatment and assesses how senescence-like CAFs affect tumor formation. The development of senolytic medication for aging stromal cells is also highlighted. Combining cancer therapies with senolytics may boost therapeutic effects and provide novel possibilities for research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiuhua Zhang
- Department of Oncology, First Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310053, P.R. China
| | - Yijie Lou
- Department of Oncology, First Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310053, P.R. China
| | - Hao Fang
- Department of Oncology, First Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310053, P.R. China
| | - Shaopeng Sun
- Department of Oncology, First Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310053, P.R. China
| | - Rijuan Jin
- Department of Oncology, First Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310053, P.R. China
| | - Yunxi Ji
- Department of General Practice, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine), Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310003, P.R. China
| | - Zhe Chen
- Key Laboratory of Digestive Pathophysiology of Zhejiang Province, Institute of Cancer Research, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine), Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310003, P.R. China
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45
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Steffani M, Geng Y, Pajvani UB, Schwabe RF. Protective hepatocyte signals restrain liver fibrosis in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis. J Clin Invest 2024; 134:e179710. [PMID: 38557494 PMCID: PMC10977975 DOI: 10.1172/jci179710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) affects nearly 40% of the global adult population and may progress to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), and MASH-associated liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. Despite numerous studies unraveling the mechanism of hepatic fibrogenesis, there are still no approved antifibrotic therapies. The development of MASLD and liver fibrosis results from complex cell-cell interactions that often initiate within hepatocytes but remain incompletely understood. In this issue of the JCI, Yan and colleagues describe an ATF3/HES1/CEBPA/OPN pathway that links hepatocyte signals to fibrogenic activation of hepatic stellate cells and may provide new perspectives on therapeutic options for MASLD-induced liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcella Steffani
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Yana Geng
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Utpal B. Pajvani
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
- Institute of Human Nutrition, New York, New York, USA
- Columbia University Digestive and Liver Disease Research Center, New York, New York, USA
- Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Robert F. Schwabe
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
- Institute of Human Nutrition, New York, New York, USA
- Columbia University Digestive and Liver Disease Research Center, New York, New York, USA
- Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
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46
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Cantallops Vilà P, Ravichandra A, Agirre Lizaso A, Perugorria MJ, Affò S. Heterogeneity, crosstalk, and targeting of cancer-associated fibroblasts in cholangiocarcinoma. Hepatology 2024; 79:941-958. [PMID: 37018128 DOI: 10.1097/hep.0000000000000206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 04/06/2023]
Abstract
Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) comprises diverse tumors of the biliary tree and is characterized by late diagnosis, short-term survival, and chemoresistance. CCAs are mainly classified according to their anatomical location and include diverse molecular subclasses harboring inter-tumoral and intratumoral heterogeneity. Besides the tumor cell component, CCA is also characterized by a complex and dynamic tumor microenvironment where tumor cells and stromal cells crosstalk in an intricate network of interactions. Cancer-associated fibroblasts, one of the most abundant cell types in the tumor stroma of CCA, are actively involved in cholangiocarcinogenesis by participating in multiple aspects of the disease including extracellular matrix remodeling, immunomodulation, neo-angiogenesis, and metastasis. Despite their overall tumor-promoting role, recent evidence indicates the presence of transcriptional and functional heterogeneous CAF subtypes with tumor-promoting and tumor-restricting properties. To elucidate the complexity and potentials of cancer-associated fibroblasts as therapeutic targets in CCA, this review will discuss the origin of cancer-associated fibroblasts, their heterogeneity, crosstalk, and role during tumorigenesis, providing an overall picture of the present and future perspectives toward cancer-associated fibroblasts targeting CCA.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Aashreya Ravichandra
- Medical Clinic and Polyclinic II, Klinikum Rechts Der Isar, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Aloña Agirre Lizaso
- Department of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Biodonostia Research Institute, Donostia University Hospital, University of the Basque Country (UPV-EHU), Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain
| | - Maria J Perugorria
- Department of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Biodonostia Research Institute, Donostia University Hospital, University of the Basque Country (UPV-EHU), Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain
- CIBERehd, Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Nursing, University of the Basque Country, UPV/EHU, Leioa, Spain
| | - Silvia Affò
- August Pi i Sunyer Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
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47
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Liu Q, Yang Y, Pan M, Yang F, Yu Y, Qian Z. Role of the gut microbiota in tumorigenesis and treatment. Theranostics 2024; 14:2304-2328. [PMID: 38646653 PMCID: PMC11024857 DOI: 10.7150/thno.91700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024] Open
Abstract
The gut microbiota is a crucial component of the intricate microecosystem within the human body that engages in interactions with the host and influences various physiological processes and pathological conditions. In recent years, the association between dysbiosis of the gut microbiota and tumorigenesis has garnered increasing attention, as it is recognized as a hallmark of cancer within the scientific community. However, only a few microorganisms have been identified as potential drivers of tumorigenesis, and enhancing the molecular understanding of this process has substantial scientific importance and clinical relevance for cancer treatment. In this review, we delineate the impact of the gut microbiota on tumorigenesis and treatment in multiple types of cancer while also analyzing the associated molecular mechanisms. Moreover, we discuss the utility of gut microbiota data in cancer diagnosis and patient stratification. We further outline current research on harnessing microorganisms for cancer treatment while also analyzing the prospects and challenges associated with this approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingya Liu
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Yun Yang
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Meng Pan
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Fan Yang
- Department of Pharmacy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Yan Yu
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Zhiyong Qian
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
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48
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Wu X, Shen Y, Meng Y, Chen J, Zhang Y, Zeng S, Xu H. Suv39h1 contributes to activation of hepatic stellate cells in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease by enabling anaerobic glycolysis. Life Sci 2024; 341:122498. [PMID: 38340980 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2024.122498] [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: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
AIMS Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become a global epidemic. Excessive fibrogenesis, characterized by activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), is a hallmark event in late stages of NAFLD. HSC activation is metabolically programmed by anaerobic glycolysis. In the present study we investigated the involvement of suppressor of variegation 3-9 homolog 1 (Suv39h1), a lysine methyltransferase, in NAFLD-associated liver fibrosis. METHODS AND MATERIALS Liver fibrosis was induced by feeding the mice with a methionine-and-choline deficient (MCD) diet for 8 weeks. RESULTS We report that germline deletion of Suv39h1 attenuated liver fibrosis in mice fed an MCD diet. In addition, HSC conditional deletion of Suv39h1 similarly ameliorated liver fibrosis in the NAFLD mice. Interestingly, co-culturing with hepatocytes exposed to palmitate promoted glycolysis in wild type HSCs but not in Suv39h1 deficient HSCs. Mechanistically, Suv39h1 facilitated the recruitment of hypoxia induced factor (HIF-1α) to stimulate the transcription of hexokinase 2 (HK2) in HSCs thereby enhancing glycolysis. Importantly, a positive correlation between Suv39h1, HK2, and myofibroblast markers was identified in liver specimens from NAFLD patients. SIGNIFICANCE In conclusion, our data identify a novel pathway that contributes to the liver fibrosis and points to the possibility of targeting Suv39h1 for the intervention of liver fibrosis in NAFLD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyan Wu
- School of Sports and Health, Nanjing Sport Institute, Nanjing, China
| | - Yuzhou Shen
- Department of Gastroenterology, Kunshan Third People's Hospital, Kunshan, China
| | - Yufei Meng
- School of Sports and Health, Nanjing Sport Institute, Nanjing, China
| | - Jinsi Chen
- School of Sports and Health, Nanjing Sport Institute, Nanjing, China
| | - Yongchen Zhang
- School of Sports and Health, Nanjing Sport Institute, Nanjing, China
| | - Sheng Zeng
- Stem Cell Center, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
| | - Huihui Xu
- Key Laboratory of Targeted Intervention of Cardiovascular Disease and Collaborative Innovation Center for Cardiovascular Translational Medicine, Department of Pathophysiology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
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Zhi X, Wu F, Qian J, Ochiai Y, Lian G, Malagola E, Chen D, Ryeom SW, Wang TC. Nociceptive neurons interact directly with gastric cancer cells via a CGRP/Ramp1 axis to promote tumor progression. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.04.583209. [PMID: 38496544 PMCID: PMC10942283 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.04.583209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Cancer cells have been shown to exploit neurons to modulate their survival and growth, including through establishment of neural circuits within the central nervous system (CNS) 1-3 . Here, we report a distinct pattern of cancer-nerve interactions between the peripheral nervous system (PNS) and gastric cancer (GC). In multiple GC mouse models, nociceptive nerves demonstrated the greatest degree of nerve expansion in an NGF-dependent manner. Neural tracing identified CGRP+ peptidergic neurons as the primary gastric sensory neurons. Three-dimensional co-culture models showed that sensory neurons directly connect with gastric cancer spheroids through synapse-like structures. Chemogenetic activation of sensory neurons induced the release of calcium into the cytoplasm of cancer cells, promoting tumor growth and metastasis. Pharmacological ablation of sensory neurons or treatment with CGRP inhibitors suppressed tumor growth and extended survival. Depolarization of gastric tumor membranes through in vivo optogenetic activation led to enhanced calcium flux in nodose ganglia and CGRP release, defining a cancer cell-peptidergic neuronal circuit. Together, these findings establish the functional connectivity between cancer and sensory neurons, identifying this pathway as a potential therapeutic target.
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50
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Liu K, Wehling L, Wan S, Weiler SME, Tóth M, Ibberson D, Marhenke S, Ali A, Lam M, Guo T, Pinna F, Pedrini F, Damle-Vartak A, Dropmann A, Rose F, Colucci S, Cheng W, Bissinger M, Schmitt J, Birner P, Poth T, Angel P, Dooley S, Muckenthaler MU, Longerich T, Vogel A, Heikenwälder M, Schirmacher P, Breuhahn K. Dynamic YAP expression in the non-parenchymal liver cell compartment controls heterologous cell communication. Cell Mol Life Sci 2024; 81:115. [PMID: 38436764 PMCID: PMC10912141 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-024-05126-1] [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: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/30/2023] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The Hippo pathway and its transcriptional effectors yes-associated protein (YAP) and transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ) are targets for cancer therapy. It is important to determine if the activation of one factor compensates for the inhibition of the other. Moreover, it is unknown if YAP/TAZ-directed perturbation affects cell-cell communication of non-malignant liver cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS To investigate liver-specific phenotypes caused by YAP and TAZ inactivation, we generated mice with hepatocyte (HC) and biliary epithelial cell (BEC)-specific deletions for both factors (YAPKO, TAZKO and double knock-out (DKO)). Immunohistochemistry, single-cell sequencing, and proteomics were used to analyze liver tissues and serum. RESULTS The loss of BECs, liver fibrosis, and necrosis characterized livers from YAPKO and DKO mice. This phenotype was weakened in DKO tissues compared to specimens from YAPKO animals. After depletion of YAP in HCs and BECs, YAP expression was induced in non-parenchymal cells (NPCs) in a cholestasis-independent manner. YAP positivity was detected in subgroups of Kupffer cells (KCs) and endothelial cells (ECs). The secretion of pro-inflammatory chemokines and cytokines such as C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 11 (CXCL11), fms-related receptor tyrosine kinase 3 ligand (FLT3L), and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM1) was increased in the serum of YAPKO animals. YAP activation in NPCs could contribute to inflammation via TEA domain transcription factor (TEAD)-dependent transcriptional regulation of secreted factors. CONCLUSION YAP inactivation in HCs and BECs causes liver damage, and concomitant TAZ deletion does not enhance but reduces this phenotype. Additionally, we present a new mechanism by which YAP contributes to cell-cell communication originating from NPCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaijing Liu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangdong, China
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 224, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lilija Wehling
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 224, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Modeling of Biological Processes, COS Heidelberg/BioQuant, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Shan Wan
- Department of Pathology, School of Biology & Basic Medical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Sofia M E Weiler
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 224, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Marcell Tóth
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 224, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - David Ibberson
- Deep Sequencing Core Facility, CellNetworks Excellence Cluster, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Silke Marhenke
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School (MHH), Hannover, Germany
| | - Adnan Ali
- Division of Chronic Inflammation and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Macrina Lam
- Division of Signal Transduction and Growth Control, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Te Guo
- Division of Signal Transduction and Growth Control, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Federico Pinna
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 224, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Fabiola Pedrini
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 224, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Amruta Damle-Vartak
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 224, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Anne Dropmann
- Department of Medicine II, Molecular Hepatology Section, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Fabian Rose
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 224, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Silvia Colucci
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology & Immunology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Wenxiang Cheng
- Translational Medicine R&D Center, Institute of Biomedical & Health Engineering, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Michaela Bissinger
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 224, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jennifer Schmitt
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 224, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Patrizia Birner
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 224, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Tanja Poth
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 224, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Peter Angel
- Division of Signal Transduction and Growth Control, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Steven Dooley
- Department of Medicine II, Molecular Hepatology Section, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Martina U Muckenthaler
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology & Immunology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Thomas Longerich
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 224, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Arndt Vogel
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School (MHH), Hannover, Germany
| | - Mathias Heikenwälder
- Division of Chronic Inflammation and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Peter Schirmacher
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 224, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Kai Breuhahn
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 224, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
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