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Chen K, Li Q, Li Y, Jiang D, Chen L, Jiang J, Li S, Zhang C. Tetraspanins in digestive‑system cancers: Expression, function and therapeutic potential (Review). Mol Med Rep 2024; 30:200. [PMID: 39239742 PMCID: PMC11411235 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2024.13324] [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: 07/01/2024] [Accepted: 08/06/2024] [Indexed: 09/07/2024] Open
Abstract
The tetraspanin family of membrane proteins is essential for controlling different biological processes such as cell migration, penetration, adhesion, growth, apoptosis, angiogenesis and metastasis. The present review summarized the current knowledge regarding the expression and roles of tetraspanins in different types of cancer of the digestive system, including gastric, liver, colorectal, pancreatic, esophageal and oral cancer. Depending on the type and context of cancer, tetraspanins can act as either tumor promoters or suppressors. In the present review, the importance of tetraspanins in serving as biomarkers and targets for different types of digestive system‑related cancer was emphasized. Additionally, the molecular mechanisms underlying the involvement of tetraspanins in cancer progression and metastasis were explored. Furthermore, the current challenges are addressed and future research directions for advancing investigations related to tetraspanins in the context of digestive system malignancies are proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kexin Chen
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, P.R. China
| | - Qiuhong Li
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, P.R. China
| | - Yangyi Li
- Department of Medical Imaging, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, P.R. China
| | - Donghui Jiang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, P.R. China
| | - Ligang Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, P.R. China
| | - Jun Jiang
- Department of General Surgery (Thyroid Surgery), The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, P.R. China
| | - Shengbiao Li
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, P.R. China
| | - Chunxiang Zhang
- Department of Cardiology, Institute of Cardiovascular Research, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, P.R. China
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Chia ZJ, Cao YN, Little PJ, Kamato D. Transforming growth factor-β receptors: versatile mechanisms of ligand activation. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2024; 45:1337-1348. [PMID: 38351317 PMCID: PMC11192764 DOI: 10.1038/s41401-024-01235-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/28/2024] [Indexed: 02/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling is initiated by activation of transmembrane TGF-β receptors (TGFBR), which deploys Smad2/3 transcription factors to control cellular responses. Failure or dysregulation in the TGF-β signaling pathways leads to pathological conditions. TGF-β signaling is regulated at different levels along the pathways and begins with the liberation of TGF-β ligand from its latent form. The mechanisms of TGFBR activation display selectivity to cell types, agonists, and TGF-β isoforms, enabling precise control of TGF-β signals. In addition, the cell surface compartments used to release active TGF-β are surprisingly vibrant, using thrombospondins, integrins, matrix metalloproteinases and reactive oxygen species. The scope of TGFBR activation is further unfolded with the discovery of TGFBR activation initiated by other signaling pathways. The unique combination of mechanisms works in series to trigger TGFBR activation, which can be explored as therapeutic targets. This comprehensive review provides valuable insights into the diverse mechanisms underpinning TGFBR activation, shedding light on potential avenues for therapeutic exploration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng-Jie Chia
- School of Pharmacy, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4102, Australia
- Discovery Biology, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, 4111, Australia
- Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, 4111, Australia
| | - Ying-Nan Cao
- Department of Pharmacy, Guangzhou Xinhua University, Guangzhou, 510520, China
| | - Peter J Little
- School of Pharmacy, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4102, Australia
- Department of Pharmacy, Guangzhou Xinhua University, Guangzhou, 510520, China
| | - Danielle Kamato
- School of Pharmacy, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4102, Australia.
- Discovery Biology, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, 4111, Australia.
- Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, 4111, Australia.
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3
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Amofa KY, Patterson KM, Ortiz J, Kumar S. Dissecting TGF-β-induced glioblastoma invasion with engineered hyaluronic acid hydrogels. APL Bioeng 2024; 8:026125. [PMID: 38894960 PMCID: PMC11184968 DOI: 10.1063/5.0203213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Glioma stem cells (GSCs) contribute to rapid cellular invasion in glioblastoma (GBM). Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) has been strongly implicated in supporting key GSC functions, including stemness, immunosuppression, and resistance. Although TGF-β is well-known as a driver of cancer invasion, how TGF-β supports the invasion of GSCs is not well understood. Progress in understanding mechanisms of TGF-β-driven invasion in GSC-derived tumors has been limited by an absence of three-dimensional (3D) culture systems that support TGF-β-stimulated invasion. Here, we show that 3D hyaluronic acid (HA) matrices can address this need. We perform bioinformatic analysis of human glioma datasets, which reveals progressive enrichment of TGF-β-related gene expression with increasingly aggressive glioma grade and GBM subtype. We then experimentally screen the invasion of a panel of human GSC spheroids through a set of 3D matrix systems, including collagen I, Matrigel, and HA, and find that only HA recapitulates TGF-β-induced invasion. We then show that GSCs differ in their ability to invade HA in a way that can be predicted from TGF-β receptor 2 expression and SMAD2 phosphorylation. GSC spheroid invasion depends strongly on the presence of RGD peptides on the HA backbone but is surprisingly independent of matrix metalloprotease degradability. Finally, we demonstrate that TGF-β stimulates invasion through SMAD-dependent signaling, consistent with recent observations that TGF-β/SMAD signals drive tumor microtube formation and invasion. Our work supports further development of HA as a matrix platform for dissecting contributions of TGF-β and other cytokines to GBM invasion and screening of cytokine-dependent invasion in human tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Sanjay Kumar
- Author to whom correspondence should be addressed:
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4
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Binabaj MM, Asgharzadeh F, Rahmani F, Al-Asady AM, Hashemzehi M, Soleimani A, Avan A, Mehraban S, Ghorbani E, Ryzhikov M, Khazaei M, Hassanian SM. Vactosertib potently improves anti-tumor properties of 5-FU for colon cancer. Daru 2023; 31:193-203. [PMID: 37740873 PMCID: PMC10624787 DOI: 10.1007/s40199-023-00474-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: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Several studies have shown that the TGF-β signaling pathway plays a critical role in colorectal cancer (CRC) pathogenesis. The aim of the current study is to investigate the therapeutic potential of Vactosertib (EW-7197), a selective inhibitor of TGF-β receptor type I, either alone or in combination with the standard first-line chemotherapeutic treatment, 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU), in CRC progression in both cellular and animal models. METHODS Real-Time PCR, Zymography, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) tissue staining, and Flow cytometry techniques were applied to determine the anti-tumor properties of this novel TGF-β inhibitor in in vitro (CT-26 cell line) and in vivo (inbred BALB/C mice) samples. RESULTS Our findings showed that Vactosertib decreased cell proliferation and induced spheroid shrinkage. Moreover, this inhibitor suppressed the cell cycle and its administration either alone or in combination with 5-FU induced apoptosis by regulating the expression of p53 and BAX proteins. It also improved 5-FU anti-cancer effects by decreasing the tumor volume and weight, increasing tumor necrosis, and regulating tumor fibrosis and inflammation in an animal model. Vactosertib also enhanced the inhibitory effect of 5-FU on invasive behavior of CRC cells by upregulating the expression of E-cadherin and inhibiting MMP-9 enzymatic activity. CONCLUSION This study demonstrating the potent anti-tumor effects of Vactosertib against CRC progression. Our results clearly suggest that this inhibitor could be a promising agent reducing CRC tumor progression when administered either alone or in combination with standard treatment in CRC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Moradi Binabaj
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Fereshteh Asgharzadeh
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Farzad Rahmani
- Kashmar School of Nursing, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Abdulridha Mohammed Al-Asady
- Department of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Nursing, University of Warith Al-Anbiyaa, Kerbala, Iraq
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
- Department of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Kerbala, Kerbala, Iraq
| | | | - Atena Soleimani
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Amir Avan
- Department of Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
- Metabolic Syndrome Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Saeedeh Mehraban
- Immunology Research Center, Inflammation and Inflammatory Diseases Division, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Elnaz Ghorbani
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | | | - Majid Khazaei
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
- Metabolic Syndrome Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
| | - Seyed Mahdi Hassanian
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
- Metabolic Syndrome Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
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5
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Lee JE, Lee P, Yoon YC, Han BS, Ko S, Park MS, Lee YJ, Kim SE, Cho YJ, Lim JH, Ryu JK, Shim S, Kim DK, Jung KH, Hong SS. Vactosertib, TGF-β receptor I inhibitor, augments the sensitization of the anti-cancer activity of gemcitabine in pancreatic cancer. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 162:114716. [PMID: 37086509 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.114716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2023] [Revised: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) exhibits a pronounced extracellular matrix (ECM)-rich response, which is produced by an excessive amount of transforming growth factor β (TGF-β), resulting in tumor progression and metastasis. In addition, TGF-β signaling contributes to rapidly acquired resistance and incomplete response to gemcitabine. Recently, selective inhibitors of the TGF-β signaling pathway have shown promise in PDAC treatment, particularly as an option for augmenting responses to chemotherapy. Here, we investigated the synergistic anticancer effects of a small-molecule TGF-β receptor I kinase inhibitor (vactosertib/EW-7197) in the presence of gemcitabine, and its mechanism of action in pancreatic cancer. Vactosertib sensitized pancreatic cancer cells to gemcitabine by synergistically inhibiting their viability. Importantly, the combination of vactosertib and gemcitabine significantly attenuated the expression of major ECM components, including collagens, fibronectin, and α-SMA, in pancreatic cancer compared with gemcitabine alone. This resulted in potent induction of mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis, gemcitabine-mediated cytotoxicity, and inhibition of tumor ECM by vactosertib. Additionally, the combination decreased metastasis through inhibition of migration and invasion, and exhibited synergistic anti-cancer activity by inhibiting the TGF-β/Smad2 pathway in pancreatic cancer cells. Furthermore, co-treatment significantly suppressed tumor growth in orthotopic models. Therefore, our findings demonstrate that vactosertib synergistically increased the antitumor activity of gemcitabine via inhibition of ECM component production by inhibiting the TGF-β/Smad2 signaling pathway. This suggests that the combination of vactosertib and gemcitabine may be a potential treatment option for patients with pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji Eun Lee
- Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, and Program in Biomedical Science & Engineering, Inha University, 3-ga, Sinheung-dong, Jung-gu, Incheon 22332, Republic of Korea
| | - Pureunchowon Lee
- Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, and Program in Biomedical Science & Engineering, Inha University, 3-ga, Sinheung-dong, Jung-gu, Incheon 22332, Republic of Korea
| | - Young-Chan Yoon
- Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, and Program in Biomedical Science & Engineering, Inha University, 3-ga, Sinheung-dong, Jung-gu, Incheon 22332, Republic of Korea
| | - Beom Seok Han
- Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, and Program in Biomedical Science & Engineering, Inha University, 3-ga, Sinheung-dong, Jung-gu, Incheon 22332, Republic of Korea
| | - Soyeon Ko
- Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, and Program in Biomedical Science & Engineering, Inha University, 3-ga, Sinheung-dong, Jung-gu, Incheon 22332, Republic of Korea
| | - Min Seok Park
- Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, and Program in Biomedical Science & Engineering, Inha University, 3-ga, Sinheung-dong, Jung-gu, Incheon 22332, Republic of Korea
| | - Yun Ji Lee
- Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, and Program in Biomedical Science & Engineering, Inha University, 3-ga, Sinheung-dong, Jung-gu, Incheon 22332, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang Eun Kim
- Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, and Program in Biomedical Science & Engineering, Inha University, 3-ga, Sinheung-dong, Jung-gu, Incheon 22332, Republic of Korea
| | - Ye Jin Cho
- Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, and Program in Biomedical Science & Engineering, Inha University, 3-ga, Sinheung-dong, Jung-gu, Incheon 22332, Republic of Korea
| | - Joo Han Lim
- Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, and Program in Biomedical Science & Engineering, Inha University, 3-ga, Sinheung-dong, Jung-gu, Incheon 22332, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji-Kan Ryu
- Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, and Program in Biomedical Science & Engineering, Inha University, 3-ga, Sinheung-dong, Jung-gu, Incheon 22332, Republic of Korea
| | - Soyeon Shim
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Ewha Womans University, 52, Ewhayeodae-gil, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 03760, Republic of Korea
| | - Dae-Kee Kim
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Ewha Womans University, 52, Ewhayeodae-gil, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 03760, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung Hee Jung
- Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, and Program in Biomedical Science & Engineering, Inha University, 3-ga, Sinheung-dong, Jung-gu, Incheon 22332, Republic of Korea.
| | - Soon-Sun Hong
- Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, and Program in Biomedical Science & Engineering, Inha University, 3-ga, Sinheung-dong, Jung-gu, Incheon 22332, Republic of Korea.
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6
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Fabre T, Barron AMS, Christensen SM, Asano S, Bound K, Lech MP, Wadsworth MH, Chen X, Wang C, Wang J, McMahon J, Schlerman F, White A, Kravarik KM, Fisher AJ, Borthwick LA, Hart KM, Henderson NC, Wynn TA, Dower K. Identification of a broadly fibrogenic macrophage subset induced by type 3 inflammation. Sci Immunol 2023; 8:eadd8945. [PMID: 37027478 DOI: 10.1126/sciimmunol.add8945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 63.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/09/2023]
Abstract
Macrophages are central orchestrators of the tissue response to injury, with distinct macrophage activation states playing key roles in fibrosis progression and resolution. Identifying key macrophage populations found in human fibrotic tissues could lead to new treatments for fibrosis. Here, we used human liver and lung single-cell RNA sequencing datasets to identify a subset of CD9+TREM2+ macrophages that express SPP1, GPNMB, FABP5, and CD63. In both human and murine hepatic and pulmonary fibrosis, these macrophages were enriched at the outside edges of scarring and adjacent to activated mesenchymal cells. Neutrophils expressing MMP9, which participates in the activation of TGF-β1, and the type 3 cytokines GM-CSF and IL-17A coclustered with these macrophages. In vitro, GM-CSF, IL-17A, and TGF-β1 drive the differentiation of human monocytes into macrophages expressing scar-associated markers. Such differentiated cells could degrade collagen IV but not collagen I and promote TGF-β1-induced collagen I deposition by activated mesenchymal cells. In murine models blocking GM-CSF, IL-17A or TGF-β1 reduced scar-associated macrophage expansion and hepatic or pulmonary fibrosis. Our work identifies a highly specific macrophage population to which we assign a profibrotic role across species and tissues. It further provides a strategy for unbiased discovery, triage, and preclinical validation of therapeutic targets based on this fibrogenic macrophage population.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Ju Wang
- Pfizer Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Andrew J Fisher
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Lee A Borthwick
- Newcastle Fibrosis Research Group, Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | | | - Neil C Henderson
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Centre for Inflammation Research, the Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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Liu P, Kong L, Liu Y, Li G, Xie J, Lu X. A key driver to promote HCC: Cellular crosstalk in tumor microenvironment. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1135122. [PMID: 37007125 PMCID: PMC10050394 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1135122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver cancer is the third greatest cause of cancer-related mortality, which of the major pathological type is hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accounting for more than 90%. HCC is characterized by high mortality and is predisposed to metastasis and relapse, leading to a low five-year survival rate and poor clinical prognosis. Numerous crosstalk among tumor parenchymal cells, anti-tumor cells, stroma cells, and immunosuppressive cells contributes to the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME), in which the function and frequency of anti-tumor cells are reduced with that of associated pro-tumor cells increasing, accordingly resulting in tumor malignant progression. Indeed, sorting out and understanding the signaling pathways and molecular mechanisms of cellular crosstalk in TME is crucial to discover more key targets and specific biomarkers, so that develop more efficient methods for early diagnosis and individualized treatment of liver cancer. This piece of writing offers insight into the recent advances in HCC-TME and reviews various mechanisms that promote HCC malignant progression from the perspective of mutual crosstalk among different types of cells in TME, aiming to assist in identifying the possible research directions and methods in the future for discovering new targets that could prevent HCC malignant progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengyue Liu
- Clinical Medical College, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, China
| | - Lingyu Kong
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, China
| | - Ying Liu
- Department of Clinical Skills Training Center, Tangshan Gongren Hospital, Tangshan, China
| | - Gang Li
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Tangshan Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Tangshan, China
| | - Jianjia Xie
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Tangshan Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Tangshan, China
| | - Xin Lu
- Clinical Medical College, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, China
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Tangshan Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Tangshan, China
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8
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Eckfeld C, Schoeps B, Häußler D, Frädrich J, Bayerl F, Böttcher JP, Knolle P, Heisz S, Prokopchuk O, Hauner H, Munkhbaatar E, Demir IE, Hermann CD, Krüger A. TIMP-1 is a novel ligand of Amyloid Precursor Protein and triggers a proinflammatory phenotype in human monocytes. J Cell Biol 2023; 222:213799. [PMID: 36629908 PMCID: PMC9837626 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.202206095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Revised: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The emerging cytokine tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1) correlates with the progression of inflammatory diseases, including cancer. However, the effects of TIMP-1 on immune cell activation and underlying molecular mechanisms are largely unknown. Unbiased ligand-receptor-capture-screening revealed TIMP-1-interaction with Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP) family members, namely APP and Amyloid Precursor-like Protein-2 (APLP2), which was confirmed by pull-down assays and confocal microscopy. We found that TIMP-1 triggered glucose uptake and proinflammatory cytokine expression in human monocytes. In cancer patients, TIMP-1 expression positively correlated with proinflammatory cytokine expression and processes associated with monocyte activation. In pancreatic cancer, TIMP-1 plasma levels correlated with the monocyte activation marker sCD163, and the combined use of both clinically accessible plasma proteins served as a powerful prognostic indicator. Mechanistically, TIMP-1 triggered monocyte activation by its C-terminal domain and via APP as demonstrated by in vitro interference, in silico docking, and the employment of recombinant TIMP-1 variants. Identification of TIMP-1 as a trigger of monocyte activation opens new therapeutic perspectives for inflammatory diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Celina Eckfeld
- https://ror.org/02kkvpp62School of Medicine, Institute of Experimental Oncology and Therapy Research, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Benjamin Schoeps
- https://ror.org/02kkvpp62School of Medicine, Institute of Experimental Oncology and Therapy Research, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Daniel Häußler
- https://ror.org/02kkvpp62School of Medicine, Institute of Experimental Oncology and Therapy Research, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Julian Frädrich
- https://ror.org/02kkvpp62School of Medicine, Institute of Experimental Oncology and Therapy Research, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Felix Bayerl
- School of Medicine, Institute of Molecular Immunology, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Jan Philipp Böttcher
- School of Medicine, Institute of Molecular Immunology, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Percy Knolle
- School of Medicine, Institute of Molecular Immunology, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Simone Heisz
- School of Life Sciences, Else Kröner-Fresenius-Center for Nutritional Medicine, Chair of Nutritional Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Freising-Weihenstephan, Germany
| | - Olga Prokopchuk
- https://ror.org/02kkvpp62School of Medicine, Institute of Experimental Oncology and Therapy Research, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany,Department of Surgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Hans Hauner
- School of Life Sciences, Else Kröner-Fresenius-Center for Nutritional Medicine, Chair of Nutritional Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Freising-Weihenstephan, Germany,School of Life Sciences, Institute for Nutritional Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Enkhtsetseg Munkhbaatar
- Department of Surgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Ihsan Ekin Demir
- Department of Surgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Chris D. Hermann
- https://ror.org/02kkvpp62School of Medicine, Institute of Experimental Oncology and Therapy Research, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Achim Krüger
- https://ror.org/02kkvpp62School of Medicine, Institute of Experimental Oncology and Therapy Research, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany,Correspondence to Achim Krüger:
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9
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Tabakhiyan F, Mir A, Vahedian V. Potential tumor marker for hepatocellular carcinoma identification: PI3K and pro-inflammatory cytokines (TGF-β, IL-1, and IL-6). Horm Mol Biol Clin Investig 2022; 43:389-396. [PMID: 35709206 DOI: 10.1515/hmbci-2022-0028] [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: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common form of liver cancer, is a leading cause of tumor-associated mortality worldwide. Diagnosis based upon non-invasive criteria is currently challenged by the need for molecular information that requires tissue or liquid biopsies. The progression of HCC is often associated with chronic inflammation, expression levels of inflammatory mediators, chemokine, and cytokines. In this study, we try to evaluate the PI3K and pro-inflammatory cytokines, TGF-β, IL-1, and IL-6 expression level in patients with liver cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS The kupffer cells were isolated from patient's specimens. Real-time PCR was applied to evaluate the expression level of PI3K in cell lines or tumors. The concentrations of TGF-β, IL-1, and IL-6 were measured by the quantitative ELISA kit. RESULTS PI3K mRNA expression in cancer cells was increased markedly vs. normal cells. The ELISA results demonstrated over expression of TGF-β, IL-1, and IL-6 in patients and positive correlation between tumor size and stage. DISCUSSION This study suggests that targeting the expression level of PI3K and pro-inflammatory chemokine and cytokines, TGF-β, IL-1, and IL-6, may be a potential diagnostic strategy in HCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Amirabbas Mir
- Institute of Nano Science and Nano Technology, University of Kashan, Kashan, Islamic Republic of Iran
| | - Vahid Vahedian
- Cancer Biology Research Group, Faculty of Medicine Institute of Biotechnology (FMB-IBTEC) Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), Sao Paulo, Brazil
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10
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Maharjan BR, McLennan SV, Twigg SM, Williams PF. The Effect of TGFβ1 in Adipocyte on Inflammatory and Fibrotic Markers at Different Stages of Adipocyte Differentiation. PATHOPHYSIOLOGY 2022; 29:640-649. [PMID: 36548206 PMCID: PMC9788619 DOI: 10.3390/pathophysiology29040050] [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: 10/20/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) is a versatile cytokine. Although a profibrotic role of TGFβ is well established, its effect on tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMPs) and inflammatory mediators are incompletely described. This study investigates the profibrotic and pro-inflammatory role of TGFβ1 during adipocyte differentiation. NIH3T3L1 cells were used for the in vitro study and were differentiated by adding a standard differentiation mix either with rosiglitazone (R-Diff) or without (S-Diff). Recombinant TGFβ1 (2 ng/mL) was added to the undifferentiated preadipocyte during the commitment stage and at the terminal differentiation stage. TGFβ1 treatment significantly decreased adiponectin mRNA at both early commitment (>300 fold) and terminal differentiated cells [S-Diff (~33%) or R-Diff (~20%)]. TGFβ1 upregulated collagen VI mRNA and its regulators connective tissue growth factor (CCN2/CTGF), TIMP1 and TIMP3 mRNA levels in undifferentiated preadipocytes and adipocytes at commitment stage. But in the terminal differentiated adipocytes, changes in mRNA and protein of collagen VI and TIMP3 mRNA were not observed despite an increase in CCN2/CTGF, TIMP1 mRNA. Although TGFβ1 upregulated interleukin-6 (IL6) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP1) mRNA at all stages of differentiation, decreased tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) mRNA was observed early in adipocyte differentiation. This study highlights the complex role of TGFβ1 on extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling and inflammatory markers in stimulating both synthetic and inhibitory markers of fibrosis at different stages of adipocyte differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Babu Raja Maharjan
- Greg Brown Diabetes & Endocrinology Laboratory, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
- School of Medicine, Department of Biochemistry, Patan Academy of Health Sciences, Lalitpur 44700, Nepal
- Correspondence: (B.R.M.); (P.F.W.); Tel.: +61-2-8627-1889 (B.R.M. & P.F.W.)
| | - Susan V. McLennan
- Greg Brown Diabetes & Endocrinology Laboratory, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
- New South Wales Health Pathology, Sydney, NSW 2050, Australia
| | - Stephen M. Twigg
- Greg Brown Diabetes & Endocrinology Laboratory, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
- Department of Endocrinology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Paul F. Williams
- Greg Brown Diabetes & Endocrinology Laboratory, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
- Correspondence: (B.R.M.); (P.F.W.); Tel.: +61-2-8627-1889 (B.R.M. & P.F.W.)
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11
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Small Molecule Inhibitors for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Advances and Challenges. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27175537. [PMID: 36080304 PMCID: PMC9457820 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27175537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 08/20/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
According to data provided by World Health Organization, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the sixth most common cause of deaths due to cancer worldwide. Tremendous progress has been achieved over the last 10 years developing novel agents for HCC treatment, including small-molecule kinase inhibitors. Several small molecule inhibitors currently form the core of HCC treatment due to their versatility since they would be more easily absorbed and have higher oral bioavailability, thus easier to formulate and administer to patients. In addition, they can be altered structurally to have greater volumes of distribution, allowing them to block extravascular molecular targets and to accumulate in a high concentration in the tumor microenvironment. Moreover, they can be designed to have shortened half-lives to control for immune-related adverse events. Most importantly, they would spare patients, healthcare institutions, and society as a whole from the burden of high drug costs. The present review provides an overview of the pharmaceutical compounds that are licensed for HCC treatment and other emerging compounds that are still investigated in preclinical and clinical trials. These molecules are targeting different molecular targets and pathways that are proven to be involved in the pathogenesis of the disease.
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12
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Duch P, Díaz-Valdivia N, Ikemori R, Gabasa M, Radisky ES, Arshakyan M, Gea-Sorlí S, Mateu-Bosch A, Bragado P, Carrasco JL, Mori H, Ramírez J, Teixidó C, Reguart N, Fillat C, Radisky DC, Alcaraz J. Aberrant TIMP-1 overexpression in tumor-associated fibroblasts drives tumor progression through CD63 in lung adenocarcinoma. Matrix Biol 2022; 111:207-225. [PMID: 35787446 PMCID: PMC9667815 DOI: 10.1016/j.matbio.2022.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Revised: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) is an important regulator of extracellular matrix turnover that has been traditionally regarded as a potential tumor suppressor owing to its inhibitory effects of matrix metalloproteinases. Intriguingly, this interpretation has been challenged by the consistent observation that increased expression of TIMP-1 is associated with poor prognosis in virtually all cancer types including lung cancer, supporting a tumor-promoting function. However, how TIMP-1 is dysregulated within the tumor microenvironment and how it drives tumor progression in lung cancer is poorly understood. We analyzed the expression of TIMP-1 and its cell surface receptor CD63 in two major lung cancer subtypes: lung adenocarcinoma (ADC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and defined the tumor-promoting effects of their interaction. We found that TIMP-1 is aberrantly overexpressed in tumor-associated fibroblasts (TAFs) in ADC compared to SCC. Mechanistically, TIMP-1 overexpression was mediated by the selective hyperactivity of the pro-fibrotic TGF-β1/SMAD3 pathway in ADC-TAFs. Likewise, CD63 was upregulated in ADC compared to SCC cells. Genetic analyses revealed that TIMP-1 secreted by TGF-β1-activated ADC-TAFs is both necessary and sufficient to enhance growth and invasion of ADC cancer cells in culture, and that tumor cell expression of CD63 was required for these effects. Consistently, in vivo analyses revealed that ADC cells co-injected with fibroblasts with reduced SMAD3 or TIMP-1 expression into immunocompromised mice attenuated tumor aggressiveness compared to tumors bearing parental fibroblasts. We also found that high TIMP1 and CD63 mRNA levels combined define a stronger prognostic biomarker than TIMP1 alone. Our results identify an excessive stromal TIMP-1 within the tumor microenvironment selectively in lung ADC, and implicate it in a novel tumor-promoting TAF-carcinoma crosstalk, thereby pointing to TIMP-1/CD63 interaction as a novel therapeutic target in lung cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Duch
- Unit of Biophysics and Bioengineering, Department of Biomedicine, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona 08036, Spain
| | - Natalia Díaz-Valdivia
- Unit of Biophysics and Bioengineering, Department of Biomedicine, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona 08036, Spain
| | - Rafael Ikemori
- Unit of Biophysics and Bioengineering, Department of Biomedicine, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona 08036, Spain
| | - Marta Gabasa
- Unit of Biophysics and Bioengineering, Department of Biomedicine, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona 08036, Spain; Thoracic Oncology Unit, Hospital Clinic Barcelona, Barcelona 08036, Spain
| | - Evette S Radisky
- Department of Cancer Biology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL 32224, United States
| | - Marselina Arshakyan
- Unit of Biophysics and Bioengineering, Department of Biomedicine, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona 08036, Spain
| | - Sabrina Gea-Sorlí
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona 08036, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Madrid 08029, Spain
| | - Anna Mateu-Bosch
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona 08036, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Madrid 08029, Spain
| | - Paloma Bragado
- Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias San Carlos (IdISSC), Madrid, 28040, Spain; Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Josep Lluís Carrasco
- Unit of Biostatistics, Department of Basic Clinical Practice, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Hidetoshi Mori
- Center for Immunology and Infectious Diseases, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, United States
| | - Josep Ramírez
- Thoracic Oncology Unit, Hospital Clinic Barcelona, Barcelona 08036, Spain; Pathology Service, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona 08036, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Respiratorias (CIBERES), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid 28029, Spain
| | - Cristina Teixidó
- Thoracic Oncology Unit, Hospital Clinic Barcelona, Barcelona 08036, Spain; Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona 08036, Spain; Pathology Service, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona 08036, Spain
| | - Noemí Reguart
- Thoracic Oncology Unit, Hospital Clinic Barcelona, Barcelona 08036, Spain; Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona 08036, Spain
| | - Cristina Fillat
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona 08036, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Madrid 08029, Spain; Department of Medicine, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Derek C Radisky
- Department of Cancer Biology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL 32224, United States
| | - Jordi Alcaraz
- Unit of Biophysics and Bioengineering, Department of Biomedicine, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona 08036, Spain; Thoracic Oncology Unit, Hospital Clinic Barcelona, Barcelona 08036, Spain; Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona 08028, Spain.
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13
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Nakai N, Hara M, Takahashi H, Shiga K, Hirokawa T, Maeda Y, Yanagita T, Ando N, Takasu K, Suzuki T, Maeda A, Ogawa R, Matsuo Y, Takiguchi S. Cancer cell‑induced tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase‑1 secretion by cancer‑associated fibroblasts promotes cancer cell migration. Oncol Rep 2022; 47:112. [PMID: 35485275 DOI: 10.3892/or.2022.8323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2019] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer‑associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are one of the major components of the cancer stroma in the tumor microenvironment. The interaction between cancer cells and CAFs (cancer‑stromal interaction; CSI) promotes tumor progression, including metastasis. Recently, the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase‑1 (TIMP‑1) was reported to promote cancer cell migration and metastasis, which is contrary to its anticancer role as an inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase. Moreover, CAF‑derived TIMP‑1 is reported to regulate CAF activity. In the present study, we investigated the effect of TIMP‑1 on colon cancer cell migration in vitro. The TIMP‑1 secretion levels from the CAFs and cancer cell lines were comparatively measured to determine the main source of TIMP‑1. Furthermore, the effect of CSI on TIMP‑1 secretion was investigated using the Transwell co‑culture system. Cancer cell migration was evaluated using the wound‑healing assay. The results demonstrated that TIMP‑1 promoted the migration of LoVo cells, a colon cancer cell line, whereas TIMP‑1 neutralization inhibited the enhanced migration. The TIMP‑1 levels secreted from the cancer cells were approximately 10 times less than those secreted from the CAFs. TIMP‑1 secretion was higher in CAFs co‑cultured with cancer cells than in monocultured CAFs. Furthermore, the migration of LoVo cells increased upon co‑culturing with the CAFs. TIMP‑1 neutralization partially inhibited this enhanced migration. These results suggest that CAFs are the primary source of TIMP‑1 and that the TIMP‑1 production is enhanced through CSI in the tumor microenvironment, which promotes cancer cell migration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nozomu Nakai
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Science, Mizuho‑cho, Mizuho‑ku, Nagoya 467‑8601, Japan
| | - Masayasu Hara
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Science, Mizuho‑cho, Mizuho‑ku, Nagoya 467‑8601, Japan
| | - Hiroki Takahashi
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Science, Mizuho‑cho, Mizuho‑ku, Nagoya 467‑8601, Japan
| | - Kazuyoshi Shiga
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Science, Mizuho‑cho, Mizuho‑ku, Nagoya 467‑8601, Japan
| | - Takahisa Hirokawa
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Science, Mizuho‑cho, Mizuho‑ku, Nagoya 467‑8601, Japan
| | - Yuzo Maeda
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Science, Mizuho‑cho, Mizuho‑ku, Nagoya 467‑8601, Japan
| | - Takeshi Yanagita
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Science, Mizuho‑cho, Mizuho‑ku, Nagoya 467‑8601, Japan
| | - Nanako Ando
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Science, Mizuho‑cho, Mizuho‑ku, Nagoya 467‑8601, Japan
| | - Korehito Takasu
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Science, Mizuho‑cho, Mizuho‑ku, Nagoya 467‑8601, Japan
| | - Takuya Suzuki
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Science, Mizuho‑cho, Mizuho‑ku, Nagoya 467‑8601, Japan
| | - Anri Maeda
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Science, Mizuho‑cho, Mizuho‑ku, Nagoya 467‑8601, Japan
| | - Ryo Ogawa
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Science, Mizuho‑cho, Mizuho‑ku, Nagoya 467‑8601, Japan
| | - Yoichi Matsuo
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Science, Mizuho‑cho, Mizuho‑ku, Nagoya 467‑8601, Japan
| | - Shuji Takiguchi
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Science, Mizuho‑cho, Mizuho‑ku, Nagoya 467‑8601, Japan
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14
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The Bright and the Dark Side of TGF-β Signaling in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Mechanisms, Dysregulation, and Therapeutic Implications. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14040940. [PMID: 35205692 PMCID: PMC8870127 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14040940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2021] [Revised: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) signaling is a preeminent regulator of diverse cellular and physiological processes. Frequent dysregulation of TGF-β signaling has been implicated in cancer. In hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most prevalent form of primary liver cancer, the autocrine and paracrine effects of TGF-β have paradoxical implications. While acting as a potent tumor suppressor pathway in the early stages of malignancy, TGF-β diverts to a promoter of tumor progression in the late stages, reflecting its bright and dark natures, respectively. Within this context, targeting TGF-β represents a promising therapeutic option for HCC treatment. We discuss here the molecular properties of TGF-β signaling in HCC, attempting to provide an overview of its effects on tumor cells and the stroma. We also seek to evaluate the dysregulation mechanisms that mediate the functional switch of TGF-β from a tumor suppressor to a pro-tumorigenic signal. Finally, we reconcile its biphasic nature with the therapeutic implications. Abstract Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is associated with genetic and nongenetic aberrations that impact multiple genes and pathways, including the frequently dysregulated transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) signaling pathway. The regulatory cytokine TGF-β and its signaling effectors govern a broad spectrum of spatiotemporally regulated molecular and cellular responses, yet paradoxically have dual and opposing roles in HCC progression. In the early stages of tumorigenesis, TGF-β signaling enforces profound tumor-suppressive effects, primarily by inducing cell cycle arrest, cellular senescence, autophagy, and apoptosis. However, as the tumor advances in malignant progression, TGF-β functionally switches to a pro-tumorigenic signal, eliciting aggressive tumor traits, such as epithelial–mesenchymal transition, tumor microenvironment remodeling, and immune evasion of cancer cells. On this account, the inhibition of TGF-β signaling is recognized as a promising therapeutic strategy for advanced HCC. In this review, we evaluate the functions and mechanisms of TGF-β signaling and relate its complex and pleiotropic biology to HCC pathophysiology, attempting to provide a detailed perspective on the molecular determinants underlying its functional diversion. We also address the therapeutic implications of the dichotomous nature of TGF-β signaling and highlight the rationale for targeting this pathway for HCC treatment, alone or in combination with other agents.
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Yeung V, Sriram S, Tran JA, Guo X, Hutcheon AEK, Zieske JD, Karamichos D, Ciolino JB. FAK Inhibition Attenuates Corneal Fibroblast Differentiation In Vitro. Biomolecules 2021; 11:1682. [PMID: 34827680 PMCID: PMC8616004 DOI: 10.3390/biom11111682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Revised: 11/05/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Corneal fibrosis (or scarring) occurs in response to ocular trauma or infection, and by reducing corneal transparency, it can lead to visual impairment and blindness. Studies highlight important roles for transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 and -β3 as modulators in corneal wound healing and fibrosis, leading to increased extracellular matrix (ECM) components and expression of α-smooth muscle actin (αSMA), a myofibroblast marker. In this study, human corneal fibroblasts (hCF) were cultured as a monolayer culture (2D) or on poly-transwell membranes to generate corneal stromal constructs (3D) that were treated with TGF-β1, TGF-β3, or TGF-β1 + FAK inhibitor (FAKi). Results show that hCF 3D constructs treated with TGF-β1 or TGF-β3 impart distinct effects on genes involved in wound healing and fibrosis-ITGAV, ITGB1, SRC and ACTA2. Notably, in the 3D construct model, TGF-β1 enhanced αSMA and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) protein expression, whereas TGF-β3 did not. In addition, in both the hCF 2D cell and 3D construct models, we found that TGF-β1 + FAKi attenuated TGF-β1-mediated myofibroblast differentiation, as shown by abrogated αSMA expression. This study concludes that FAK signaling is important for the onset of TGF-β1-mediated myofibroblast differentiation, and FAK inhibition may provide a novel beneficial therapeutic avenue to reduce corneal scarring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Yeung
- Department of Ophthalmology, Schepens Eye Research Institute of Mass Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA; (S.S.); (J.A.T.); (X.G.); (A.E.K.H.); (J.D.Z.); (J.B.C.)
| | - Sriniwas Sriram
- Department of Ophthalmology, Schepens Eye Research Institute of Mass Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA; (S.S.); (J.A.T.); (X.G.); (A.E.K.H.); (J.D.Z.); (J.B.C.)
| | - Jennifer A. Tran
- Department of Ophthalmology, Schepens Eye Research Institute of Mass Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA; (S.S.); (J.A.T.); (X.G.); (A.E.K.H.); (J.D.Z.); (J.B.C.)
| | - Xiaoqing Guo
- Department of Ophthalmology, Schepens Eye Research Institute of Mass Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA; (S.S.); (J.A.T.); (X.G.); (A.E.K.H.); (J.D.Z.); (J.B.C.)
| | - Audrey E. K. Hutcheon
- Department of Ophthalmology, Schepens Eye Research Institute of Mass Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA; (S.S.); (J.A.T.); (X.G.); (A.E.K.H.); (J.D.Z.); (J.B.C.)
| | - James D. Zieske
- Department of Ophthalmology, Schepens Eye Research Institute of Mass Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA; (S.S.); (J.A.T.); (X.G.); (A.E.K.H.); (J.D.Z.); (J.B.C.)
| | - Dimitrios Karamichos
- North Texas Eye Research Institute, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Blvd, Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA;
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Blvd, Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Blvd, Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA
| | - Joseph B. Ciolino
- Department of Ophthalmology, Schepens Eye Research Institute of Mass Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA; (S.S.); (J.A.T.); (X.G.); (A.E.K.H.); (J.D.Z.); (J.B.C.)
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16
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TIMP1 and TIMP2 Downregulate TGFβ Induced Decidual-like Phenotype in Natural Killer Cells. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13194955. [PMID: 34638439 PMCID: PMC8507839 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13194955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2021] [Revised: 09/26/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Cancer patients are characterized by NK cells with altered surface markers, such as CD56 brightness, CD9, CD49a (pro-angiogenic) and PD-1, and TIM-3 (exhaustion), that favor immune escape. Transforming growth factor-beta (TGFβ) is a major tumor-derived cytokine that favors cancer growth and supports pro-angiogenic activities in NK cells by inducing pro-angiogenic molecules. TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 play a crucial role in extracellular matrix (ECM) regulation, wound healing, pregnancy and cancer, and there is increasing evidence that they are immune-modulatory. We found that recombinant TIMP-1 and -2 can partially contrast the induction of pro-tumor/pro-angiogenic decidual-like polarization of NK cells by TGFβ. Abstract Natural Killer (NK) cells have been found to be anergic, exhausted and pro-angiogenic in cancers. NK cell from healthy donors, exposed to TGFβ, acquire the CD56brightCD9+CD49a+ decidual-like-phenotype, together with decreased levels of NKG2D activation marker, increased levels of TIM-3 exhaustion marker, similar to cancer-associated NK cells. Tissue inhibitors of metalloproteases (TIMPs) exert dual roles in cancer. The role of TIMPs in modulating immune cells is a very novel concept, and the present is the first report studying their ability to contrast TGFβ action on NK cells. Here, we investigated the effects of TIMP1 and TIMP2 recombinant proteins in hindering decidual-like markers in NK cells, generated by polarizing cytolytic NK cells with TGFβ. The effects of TIMP1 or TIMP2 on NK cell surface antigens were determined by multicolor flow cytometry. We found that TIMP1 and TIMP2 were effective in interfering with TGFβ induced NK cell polarization towards a decidual-like-phenotype. TIMP1 and TIMP2 counteracted the effect of TGFβ in increasing the percentage of CD56bright, CD16−, CD9+ and CD49a+, and restoring normal levels for TIMP 1 and 2 also inhibited decrease levels of the activation marker NKG2D induced by TGFβ and decreased the TGFβ upregulated exhaustion marker TIM-3. NK cell degranulation capabilities against K562 cells were also decreased by TGFβ and not by TIMP1 or TIMP2. TIMP1 treatment could partially restore degranulation marker CD107a expression. Treatment with recombinant TIMP-1 or TIMP-2 showed a trend, although not statistically significant, to decrease CD49a+ and TIM-3+ expression and increase NKG2D in peripheral blood NK cells exposed to conditioned media from colon cancer cell lines. Our results suggest a potential role of TIMPs in controlling the tumor-associated cytokine TGFβ-induced NK cell polarization. Given the heterogeneity of released factors within the TME, it is clear that TGFβ stimulation represents a model to prove TIMP’s new properties, but it cannot be envisaged as a soloist NK cell polarizing agent. Therefore, further studies from the scientific community will help defining TIMPs immunomodulatory activities of NK cells in cancer, and their possible future diagnostic–therapeutic roles.
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17
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Cai S, Deng Y, Peng H, Shen J. Role of Tetraspanins in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Front Oncol 2021; 11:723341. [PMID: 34540692 PMCID: PMC8446639 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.723341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is characterized by high prevalence, morbidity, and mortality. Liver cancer is the sixth most common cancer worldwide; and its subtype, HCC, accounts for nearly 80% of cases. HCC progresses rapidly, and to date, there is no efficacious treatment for advanced HCC. Tetraspanins belong to a protein family characterized by four transmembrane domains. Thirty-three known tetraspanins are widely expressed on the surface of most nucleated cells and play important roles in different biological processes. In our review, we summarize the functions of tetraspanins and their underlying mechanism in the life cycle of HCC, from its initiation, progression, and finally to treatment. CD9, TSPAN15, and TSPAN31 can promote HCC cell proliferation or suppress apoptosis. CD63, CD151, and TSPAN8 can also facilitate HCC metastasis, while CD82 serves as a suppressor of metastasis. TSPAN1, TSPAN8, and CD151 act as prognosis indicators and are inversely correlated to the overall survival rate of HCC patients. In addition, we discuss the potential of role of the tetraspanin family proteins as novel therapeutic targets and as an approach to overcome drug resistance, and also provide suggestions for further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sicheng Cai
- Department of Gastroenterology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.,Department of Human Anatomy, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yue Deng
- Department of Human Anatomy, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.,Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Huiming Peng
- Department of Human Anatomy, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jian Shen
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
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18
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Wang B, Li H, Zhao X, Zhang W, Zhao G, Wu Z, Zhang R, Dong P, Watari H, Tigyi G, Li W, Yue J. A Luminacin D Analog HL142 Inhibits Ovarian Tumor Growth and Metastasis by Reversing EMT and Attenuating the TGFβ and FAK Pathways. J Cancer 2021; 12:5654-5663. [PMID: 34405025 PMCID: PMC8364639 DOI: 10.7150/jca.61066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is known to contribute to tumor metastasis and chemoresistance. Reversing EMT using small molecule inhibitors to target EMT associated gene expression represents an effective strategy for cancer treatment. The purpose of this study is to test whether a new luminacin D analog HL142 reverses EMT in ovarian cancer (OC) and has the therapeutic potential for OC. We chemically synthesized HL142 and tested its functions in OC cells in vitro and its efficacy in inhibiting ovarian tumor growth and metastasis in vivo using orthotopic OC mouse models. We first demonstrate that ASAP1 is co-amplified and interacts with the focal adhesion kinase (FAK) protein in serous ovarian carcinoma. HL142 inhibits ASAP1 and its interaction protein FAK in highly invasive OVCAR8 and moderately invasive OVCAR3 cells. HL142 inhibits EMT phenotypic switch, accompanied by upregulating epithelial marker E-cadherin and cytokeratin-7 and downregulating mesenchymal markers vimentin, β-catenin, and snail2 in both cell lines. Functionally, HL142 inhibits proliferation, colony formation, migration, and invasion. HL142 also sensitizes cell responses to chemotherapy drug paclitaxel treatment and inhibits ovarian tumor growth and metastasis in orthotopic OC mouse models. We further show that HL142 attenuates the TGFβ and FAK pathways in vitro using OC cells and in vivo using orthotopic mouse models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baojin Wang
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Third Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China.,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, 38163, USA.,Center for Cancer Research, College of Medicine, the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, 38163, USA
| | - Hanxuan Li
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, 38163, USA
| | - Xinxin Zhao
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Third Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China.,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, 38163, USA.,Center for Cancer Research, College of Medicine, the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, 38163, USA
| | - Wenjing Zhang
- Department of Genetics, Genomics & Informatics, College of Medicine, the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, 38163, USA
| | - Guannan Zhao
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, 38163, USA.,Center for Cancer Research, College of Medicine, the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, 38163, USA
| | - Zhongzhi Wu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, 38163, USA
| | - Ruitao Zhang
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China
| | - Peixin Dong
- Department of Gynecology, Hokkaido University School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Hidemichi Watari
- Department of Gynecology, Hokkaido University School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Gabor Tigyi
- Center for Cancer Research, College of Medicine, the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, 38163, USA.,Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, 38163, USA
| | - Wei Li
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, 38163, USA
| | - Junming Yue
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, 38163, USA.,Center for Cancer Research, College of Medicine, the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, 38163, USA
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19
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The TGF-β Pathway: A Pharmacological Target in Hepatocellular Carcinoma? Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13133248. [PMID: 34209646 PMCID: PMC8268320 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13133248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Revised: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Transforming Growth Factor-beta (TGF-β) superfamily members are essential for tissue homeostasis and consequently, dysregulation of their signaling pathways contributes to the development of human diseases. In the liver, TGF-β signaling participates in all the stages of disease progression from initial liver injury to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). During liver carcinogenesis, TGF-β plays a dual role on the malignant cell, behaving as a suppressor factor at early stages, but contributing to later tumor progression once cells escape from its cytostatic effects. Moreover, TGF-β can modulate the response of the cells forming the tumor microenvironment that may also contribute to HCC progression, and drive immune evasion of cancer cells. Thus, targeting the TGF-β pathway may constitute an effective therapeutic option for HCC treatment. However, it is crucial to identify biomarkers that allow to predict the response of the tumors and appropriately select the patients that could benefit from TGF-β inhibitory therapies. Here we review the functions of TGF-β on HCC malignant and tumor microenvironment cells, and the current strategies targeting TGF-β signaling for cancer therapy. We also summarize the clinical impact of TGF-β inhibitors in HCC patients and provide a perspective on its future use alone or in combinatorial strategies for HCC treatment.
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20
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Associations between TGF- β1 Levels and Markers of Hemolysis, Inflammation, and Tissue Remodeling in Pediatric Sickle Cell Patients. Mediators Inflamm 2021; 2021:4651891. [PMID: 33790690 PMCID: PMC7984885 DOI: 10.1155/2021/4651891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) is a cytokine with important involvement in biological processes related to the pathogenesis of sickle cell disease (SCD), including endothelial and vascular dysfunction, inflammation, and hematopoietic homeostasis. This study is aimed at investigating associations between levels of TGF-β1 and classical laboratory biomarkers and inflammatory mediators, as well as the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteases-1 (TIMP-1) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), in pediatric patients (n = 123) with SCD in steady state: 84 with sickle cell anemia (HbSS) and 39 with hemoglobin SC disease (HbSC). A healthy control (HC) group of 59 individuals was also included. Hematological and biochemical analyses were carried out using electronic methods. TGF-β1, TIMP-1, and MMP-9 plasma quantifications were performed by ELISA. TGF-β1 plasma levels were higher in HbSS individuals than in HbSC and HC. In individuals with HbSS, TGF-β1 levels were positively correlated with red blood cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit, platelets, and TIMP-1. In addition, HbSS individuals with TGF-β1 levels above the median (≥72.29 ng/mL) also presented increased monocyte counts and decreased albumin levels. In patients with HbSC, TGF-β1 levels were positively correlated with leukocytes, eosinophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, and platelets, as well as levels of TIMP-1, VLDL-C, triglycerides, heme, and AST. Additionally, HbSC individuals with TGF-β1 levels above the median (≥47.80 ng/mL) presented increased leukocyte and platelet counts, as well as increased levels of triglycerides, VLDL-C, MMP-9, and TIMP-1, and decreased HDL-C. Our findings suggest that TGF-β1 may play important roles in vascular remodeling, vasculopathy, angiogenesis, and inflammation in pediatric patients with SCD.
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Abstract
Secretory proteins in tumor tissues are important components of the tumor microenvironment. Secretory proteins act on tumor cells or stromal cells or mediate interactions between tumor cells and stromal cells, thereby affecting tumor progression and clinical treatment efficacy. In this paper, recent research advances in secretory proteins in malignant tumors are reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Center for Cancer Precision Medicine, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Jiajie Hao
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Center for Cancer Precision Medicine, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Yan Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Center for Cancer Precision Medicine, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Mingrong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Center for Cancer Precision Medicine, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China
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22
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Qin L, Wang Y, Yang N, Zhang Y, Zhao T, Wu Y, Jiang J. Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) as a prognostic biomarker in gastrointestinal cancer: a meta-analysis. PeerJ 2021; 9:e10859. [PMID: 33628641 PMCID: PMC7894117 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.10859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2020] [Accepted: 01/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP-1) has recently been shown to be dependent on or independent of Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in its roles in tumorigenesis and progression. This appreciation has prompted various studies assessing the prognostic value of TIMP-1 in patients with gastrointestinal cancer, however, the conclusions were still inconsistent. The aim of this study was to assess the prognostic value of TIMP-1-immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining and pretreatment serum/plasma TIMP-1 level in gastrointestinal cancer survival as well as the association between TIMP-1 and clinicopathologic features. Methods The meta-analysis was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO; Registration NO. CRD42020185407) and followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) statement. A highly sensitive literature search was performed in electronic databases including PubMed, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library. Heterogeneity analysis was conducted using both chi-square-based Q statistics and the I2 test. The pooled hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to assess the prognostic value of TIMP-1 using the fixed-effects model. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% CIs were calculated to evaluate the associations between TIMP-1 and clinicopathological characteristics. The meta-analysis was conducted using STATA 12.0 software. Results A total of 3,958 patients from twenty-two studies were included in the meta-analysis. Elevated TIMP-1 levels were significantly associated with poor survival in gastrointestinal cancer (TIMP-1-IHC staining: HR = 2.04, 95% CI [1.59–2.61], I2 = 35.7%, PQ = 0.156; pretreatment serum/plasma TIMP-1 levels: HR = 2.02, 95% CI [1.80–2.28], I2 = 0%, PQ = 0.630). Moreover, clinicopathological parameter data analysis showed that elevated TIMP-1 levels were significantly associated with lymph node metastasis (N1/N2/N3 vs N0: OR = 2.92, 95% CI [1.95–4.38]) and higher TNM stages (III/IV vs I/II: OR = 2.73, 95% CI [1.23–6.04]). Conclusion Both TIMP-1-positive IHC staining and high serum/plasma TIMP-1 levels are poor prognostic factors for the survival of gastrointestinal cancer. In addition, TIMP-1 overexpression was correlated with more advanced clinicopathological features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lili Qin
- Division of Clinical Research, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Yueqi Wang
- Division of Clinical Research, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Na Yang
- Division of Clinical Research, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Yangyu Zhang
- Division of Clinical Research, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Tianye Zhao
- Division of Clinical Research, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Yanhua Wu
- Division of Clinical Research, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Jing Jiang
- Division of Clinical Research, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
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23
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Suttapitugsakul S, Tong M, Sun F, Wu R. Enhancing Comprehensive Analysis of Secreted Glycoproteins from Cultured Cells without Serum Starvation. Anal Chem 2021; 93:2694-2705. [PMID: 33397101 PMCID: PMC8034805 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.0c05126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Glycoproteins secreted by cells play essential roles in the regulation of extracellular activities. Secreted glycoproteins are often reflective of cellular status, and thus glycoproteins from easily accessible bodily fluids can serve as excellent biomarkers for disease detection. Cultured cells have been extensively employed as models in the research fields of biology and biomedicine, and global analysis of glycoproteins secreted from these cells provides insights into cellular activities and glycoprotein functions. However, comprehensive identification and quantification of secreted glycoproteins is a daunting task because of their low abundances compared with the high-abundance serum proteins required for cell growth and proliferation. Several studies employed serum-free media to analyze secreted proteins, but it has been shown that serum starvation, even for a short period of time, can alter protein secretion. To overcome these issues, we developed a method to globally characterize secreted glycoproteins and their N-glycosylation sites from cultured cells by combining selective enrichment of secreted glycoproteins with a boosting approach. The results demonstrated the importance of the boosting sample selection and the boosting-to-sample ratio for improving the coverage of secreted glycoproteins. The method was applied to globally quantify secreted glycoproteins from THP-1 monocytes and macrophages in response to lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and from Hep G2 cells treated with TGF-β without serum starvation. We found differentially secreted glycoproteins in these model systems that showed the cellular response to the immune activation or the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. Benefiting from the selective enrichment and the signal enhancement of low-abundance secreted glycoproteins, this method can be extensively applied to study secreted glycoproteins without serum starvation, which will provide a better understanding of protein secretion and cellular activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suttipong Suttapitugsakul
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Ming Tong
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Fangxu Sun
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Ronghu Wu
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United States
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24
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Lee HJ. Recent Advances in the Development of TGF-β Signaling Inhibitors for Anticancer Therapy. J Cancer Prev 2020; 25:213-222. [PMID: 33409254 PMCID: PMC7783242 DOI: 10.15430/jcp.2020.25.4.213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Revised: 12/13/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
TGF-β is a multifunctional cytokine that plays an important role in both physiologic and pathologic processes, including cancer. Importantly, TGF-β has a dual role in tumorigenesis, acting as a tumor suppressor or a tumor promoter, depending on the stage of tumor development. The aberrantly upregulated production of TGF-β has been strongly implicated in tumor progression, angiogenesis, and metastasis, as well as immune evasion. Therefore, hyperactivated TGF-β signaling is considered a potential therapeutic target for cancer therapy. Numerous inhibitors of overactivated TGF-β signaling have been developed, and some of them are currently in clinical trials. This review focuses on the TGF-β signaling that contributes to tumor progression and immune evasion in the tumor microenvironment and presents recent achievements on TGF-β signaling inhibition as a single or combined therapeutic approach in cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ho-Jae Lee
- Department of Biochemistry, Lee Gil Ya Cancer and Diabetes Institute, Gachon University College of Medicine, Incheon, Korea
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25
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Jordan KR, Hall JK, Schedin T, Borakove M, Xian JJ, Dzieciatkowska M, Lyons TR, Schedin P, Hansen KC, Borges VF. Extracellular vesicles from young women's breast cancer patients drive increased invasion of non-malignant cells via the Focal Adhesion Kinase pathway: a proteomic approach. Breast Cancer Res 2020; 22:128. [PMID: 33225939 PMCID: PMC7681773 DOI: 10.1186/s13058-020-01363-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2019] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are small membrane particles that contribute to cancer progression and metastases by transporting biologically significant proteins and nucleic acids. They may also serve as biomarkers of various disease states or important therapeutic targets. Breast cancer EVs have the potential to change the behavior of other cells in their microenvironment. However, the proteomic content of EVs isolated from young women’s breast cancer patients and the mechanisms underlying the influence of EVs on tumor cell behavior have not yet been reported. Methods In our current translational studies, we compared the proteomic content of EVs isolated from invasive breast cancer cell lines and plasma samples from young women’s breast cancer (YWBC) patients and age-matched healthy donors using mass spectrometry. We analyzed the functionality of EVs in two dimensional tumor cell invasion assays and the gene expression changes in tumor cells after incubation with EVs. Results We found that treatment with EVs from both invasive breast cancer cell lines and plasma of YWBC patients altered the invasive properties of non-invasive breast cancer cells. Proteomics identified differences between EVs from YWBC patients and healthy donors that correlated with their altered function. Further, we identified gene expression changes in non-invasive breast cancer cells after treatment with EVs that implicate the Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK) signaling pathway as a potential targetable pathway affected by breast cancer-derived EVs. Conclusions Our results suggest that the proteome of EVs from breast cancer patients reflects their functionality in tumor motility assays and may help elucidate the role of EVs in breast cancer progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberly R Jordan
- Young Women's Breast Cancer Translational Program, Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA. .,Department of Immunology and Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA.
| | - Jessica K Hall
- Young Women's Breast Cancer Translational Program, Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Troy Schedin
- Young Women's Breast Cancer Translational Program, Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Michelle Borakove
- Young Women's Breast Cancer Translational Program, Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Jenny J Xian
- School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Monika Dzieciatkowska
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Traci R Lyons
- Young Women's Breast Cancer Translational Program, Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Pepper Schedin
- Knight Cancer Institute and Department of Cell, Developmental & Cancer Biology, Oregon Health Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Kirk C Hansen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Virginia F Borges
- Young Women's Breast Cancer Translational Program, Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA.
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Bioinformatics Analysis of Key Genes and circRNA-miRNA-mRNA Regulatory Network in Gastric Cancer. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2020; 2020:2862701. [PMID: 32908877 PMCID: PMC7463386 DOI: 10.1155/2020/2862701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Revised: 07/29/2020] [Accepted: 08/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common malignancies in the world, with morbidity and mortality ranking second among all cancers. Accumulating evidences indicate that circular RNAs (circRNAs) are closely correlated with tumorigenesis. However, the mechanisms of circRNAs still remain unclear. This study is aimed at determining hub genes and circRNAs and analyzing their potential biological functions in GC. Expression profiles of mRNAs and circRNAs were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) data sets of GC and paracancer tissues. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and differentially expressed circRNAs (DE-circRNAs) were identified. The target miRNAs of DE-circRNAs and the bidirectional interaction between target miRNAs and DEGs were predicted. Functional analysis was performed, and the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and the circRNA-miRNA-mRNA network were established. A total of 456 DEGs and 2 DE-circRNAs were identified with 3 mRNA expression profiles and 2 circRNA expression profiles. GO analysis indicated that DEGs were mainly enriched in extracellular matrix and cell adhesion, and KEGG confirmed that DEGs were mainly associated with focal adhesion, the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, extracellular matrix- (ECM)- receptor interaction, and gastric acid secretion. 15 hub DEGs (BGN, COL1A1, COL1A2, FBN1, FN1, SPARC, SPP1, TIMP1, UBE2C, CCNB1, CD44, CXCL8, COL3A1, COL5A2, and THBS1) were identified from the PPI network. Furthermore, the survival analysis indicate that GC patients with a high expression of the following 9 hub DEGs, namely, BGN, COL1A1, COL1A2, FBN1, FN1, SPARC, SPP1, TIMP1, and UBE2C, had significantly worse overall survival. The circRNA-miRNA-mRNA network was constructed based on 1 circRNA, 15 miRNAs, and 45 DEGs. In addition, the 45 DEGs included 5 hub DEGs. These results suggested that hub DEGs and circRNAs could be implicated in the pathogenesis and development of GC. Our findings provide novel evidence on the circRNA-miRNA-mRNA network and lay the foundation for future research of circRNAs in GC.
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27
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Abstract
HCC (hepatocellular carcinoma) is the second leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide, with several etiologic causes, mostly inflammation-associated. Different inflammatory responses in the liver can be triggered by different etiological agents. The inflammatory process can be resolved or be persistent, depending on the etiology and multiple other factors. Chronic inflammation, tissue remodeling, genetic alterations, and modifications in cellular signaling are considered to be key processes promoting immunosuppression. The progressive immunosuppression leads to the inactivation of anti-tumor immunity involved in HCC carcinogenesis and progression. Tumor cellular processes including DNA damage, necrosis, and ER (endoplasmic reticulum) stress can affect both immune-surveillance and cancer-promoting inflammation, supporting a mutual interdependence. Here, we review the current understanding of how chronic liver injury and inflammation is triggered and sustained, and how inflammation is linked to HCC. The identification of many hepatic microenvironmental inflammatory processes and their effector molecules, has resulted in extensive translational work and promising clinical trials of new immunomodulatory agents.
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28
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Ahlina FN, Nugraheni N, Salsabila IA, Haryanti S, Da'i M, Meiyanto E. Revealing the Reversal Effect of Galangal (Alpinia galanga L.) Extract Against Oxidative Stress in Metastatic Breast Cancer Cells and Normal Fibroblast Cells Intended as a Co- Chemotherapeutic and Anti-Ageing Agent. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev 2020; 21:107-117. [PMID: 31983172 PMCID: PMC7294026 DOI: 10.31557/apjcp.2020.21.1.107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: This study intends to explore the potential of galangal extract as a co-chemotherapeutic agent through the analysis of its cytotoxic and migratory effects on metastatic breast cancer cells and as an anti-ageing agent through its senescence inhibitory effect on normal fibroblast cells. Methods: Galangal ethanolic extract (GE) was subjected to a cytotoxicity test with the 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay alone or in combination with doxorubicin (Dox) against 4T1 cells but not in NIH-3T3 cells. Evidence of senescent cells was detected using a SA-β galactosidase based assay. In addition, the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS), apoptosis, and cell cycle were measured with a flow cytometry-based assay. Meanwhile, cell migration and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 expression after GE treatment on 4T1 cells were measured using the scratch wound healing assay and gelatin zymography assay, respectively. The metabolomic profiles of GE were traced using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. Results: GE effectively inhibited the growth of 4T1 cells with an IC50 value of 135 µg/mL and increased the cytotoxic effect of Dox at concentrations of 50 and 100 µg/mL. GE increased the number of senescent cells arrested in the G2/M phase but did not cause apoptosis. This effect is compounded by increasing intracellular levels of ROS. However, GE reduced senescence to normal in fibroblast cells (NIH 3T3 cells) under oxidative stress by Dox without any changes in the ROS level. Moreover, GE also inhibited the migration of 4T1 cells and suppressed the expression of MMP-9 induced by Dox. Conclusion: Galangal has the potential for use as a co-chemotherapeutic agent by inducing senescence in correlation with increasing intracellular ROS toward metastatic breast cancer. However, the effect of GE in decreasing the senescence phenomena toward normal fibroblast cells illustrates its potential as a promising anti-ageing agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faradiba Nur Ahlina
- Cancer Chemoprevention Research Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia
| | - Nadzifa Nugraheni
- Cancer Chemoprevention Research Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia
| | - Irfani Aura Salsabila
- Cancer Chemoprevention Research Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia
| | - Sari Haryanti
- Medicinal Plant and Traditional Medicine Research and Development Centre, Ministry of Health, Indonesia
| | - Muhammad Da'i
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta, Indonesia
| | - Edy Meiyanto
- Cancer Chemoprevention Research Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia.,Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia
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29
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Phaosri M, Jantrapirom S, Na Takuathung M, Soonthornchareonnon N, Sireeratawong S, Buacheen P, Pitchakarn P, Nimlamool W, Potikanond S. Salacia chinensis L. Stem Extract Exerts Antifibrotic Effects on Human Hepatic Stellate Cells Through the Inhibition of the TGF-β1-Induced SMAD2/3 Signaling Pathway. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20246314. [PMID: 31847284 PMCID: PMC6940887 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20246314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2019] [Revised: 12/11/2019] [Accepted: 12/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Salacia chinensis L. (SC) stems have been used as an ingredient in Thai traditional medicine for treating patients with hepatic fibrosis and liver cirrhosis. However, there is no scientific evidence supporting the antifibrotic effects of SC extract. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the antifibrotic activity of SC stem extract in human hepatic stellate cell-line called LX-2. We found that upon TGF-β1 stimulation, LX-2 cells transformed to a myofibroblast-like phenotype with a noticeable increase in α-SMA and collagen type I production. Interestingly, cells treated with SC extract significantly suppressed α-SMA and collagen type I production and reversed the myofibroblast-like characteristics back to normal. Additionally, TGF-β1 also influenced the development of fibrogenesis by upregulation of MMP-2, TIMP-1, and TIMP-2 and related cellular signaling, such as pSmad2/3, pErk1/2, and pJNK. Surprisingly, SC possesses antifibrotic activity through the suppression of TGF-β1-mediated production of collagen type 1, α-SMA, and the phosphorylation status of Smad2/3, Erk1/2, and JNK. Taken together, the present study provides accumulated information demonstrating the antifibrotic effects of SC stem extract and revealing its potential for development for hepatic fibrosis patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mattareeyapar Phaosri
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand; (M.P.); (S.J.); (M.N.T.); (S.S.); (W.N.)
- Graduate School, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand;
| | - Salinee Jantrapirom
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand; (M.P.); (S.J.); (M.N.T.); (S.S.); (W.N.)
| | - Mingkwan Na Takuathung
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand; (M.P.); (S.J.); (M.N.T.); (S.S.); (W.N.)
- Research Center of Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
| | - Noppamas Soonthornchareonnon
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahidol University, Thung Phaya Thai, Rajathevi, Bangkok 10400, Thailand;
| | - Seewaboon Sireeratawong
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand; (M.P.); (S.J.); (M.N.T.); (S.S.); (W.N.)
| | - Pensiri Buacheen
- Graduate School, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand;
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand;
| | - Pornsiri Pitchakarn
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand;
| | - Wutigri Nimlamool
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand; (M.P.); (S.J.); (M.N.T.); (S.S.); (W.N.)
- Research Center of Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
| | - Saranyapin Potikanond
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand; (M.P.); (S.J.); (M.N.T.); (S.S.); (W.N.)
- Research Center of Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
- Correspondence: or
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Mancarella S, Krol S, Crovace A, Leporatti S, Dituri F, Frusciante M, Giannelli G. Validation of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Experimental Models for TGF-β Promoting Tumor Progression. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:E1510. [PMID: 31600917 PMCID: PMC6826694 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11101510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2019] [Revised: 09/27/2019] [Accepted: 09/29/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) is a pleiotropic cytokine with dual role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). It acts as tumor-suppressor and tumor-promoter in the early and late stage respectively. TGF-β influences the tumor-stroma cross-talk affecting the tumoral microenvironment. Therefore, inhibiting the TGF- β mediated pathway alone and/or in combination with chemotherapeutics represents an important therapeutic option. Experimental models to dissect the role of TGF-β in HCC tumor progression as well as the effectiveness of specific inhibitors are tricky. HCC cell lines respond to TGF-β according to their epithelial phenotype. However, the mesenchymal and more aggressive HCC cell lines in vitro, do not develop tumors when transplanted in vivo, thus hampering the understanding of molecular pathways that dictate outcome. In addition, in this model the native immune system is abolished, therefore the contribution of inflammation in hepatocarcinogenesis is unreliable. Different strategies have been set up to engineer HCC animal models, including genetically modified mice, chemically induced HCC, or hydrodynamic techniques. Patient-derived xenograft is currently probably the most fascinating model, keeping in mind that models cannot mirror all the reality. In this context, we discuss the different available HCC mouse models including our experimental model treated with inhibitor of TGF-β receptor Type I kinase (Galunisertib) and a potential role of exosomes in TGF-β moderated tumor progression of HCC. Unfortunately, no positive results were obtained in our treated orthotopic model because it does not reproduce the critical tumor-stroma interactions of the HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena Mancarella
- National Institute of Gastroenterology, "S. de Bellis" Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte, Bari 70013, Italy.
| | - Silke Krol
- National Institute of Gastroenterology, "S. de Bellis" Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte, Bari 70013, Italy.
| | - Alberto Crovace
- National Institute of Gastroenterology, "S. de Bellis" Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte, Bari 70013, Italy.
| | | | - Francesco Dituri
- National Institute of Gastroenterology, "S. de Bellis" Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte, Bari 70013, Italy.
| | - Martina Frusciante
- National Institute of Gastroenterology, "S. de Bellis" Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte, Bari 70013, Italy.
| | - Gianluigi Giannelli
- National Institute of Gastroenterology, "S. de Bellis" Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte, Bari 70013, Italy.
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Dituri F, Cossu C, Mancarella S, Giannelli G. The Interactivity between TGFβ and BMP Signaling in Organogenesis, Fibrosis, and Cancer. Cells 2019; 8:E1130. [PMID: 31547567 PMCID: PMC6829314 DOI: 10.3390/cells8101130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2019] [Revised: 09/16/2019] [Accepted: 09/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The Transforming Growth Factor beta (TGFβ) and Bone Morphogenic Protein (BMP) pathways intersect at multiple signaling hubs and cooperatively or counteractively participate to bring about cellular processes which are critical not only for tissue morphogenesis and organogenesis during development, but also for adult tissue homeostasis. The proper functioning of the TGFβ/BMP pathway depends on its communication with other signaling pathways and any deregulation leads to developmental defects or diseases, including fibrosis and cancer. In this review we explore the cellular and physio-pathological contexts in which the synergism or antagonism between the TGFβ and BMP pathways are crucial determinants for the normal developmental processes, as well as the progression of fibrosis and malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Dituri
- National Institute of Gastroenterology "S. De Bellis", Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte, 70013 Bari, Italy.
| | - Carla Cossu
- National Institute of Gastroenterology "S. De Bellis", Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte, 70013 Bari, Italy.
| | - Serena Mancarella
- National Institute of Gastroenterology "S. De Bellis", Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte, 70013 Bari, Italy.
| | - Gianluigi Giannelli
- National Institute of Gastroenterology "S. De Bellis", Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte, 70013 Bari, Italy.
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Sun J, Zhou Y, Ye Z, Tan WS. Transforming growth factor-β1 stimulates mesenchymal stem cell proliferation by altering cell cycle through FAK-Akt-mTOR pathway. Connect Tissue Res 2019; 60:406-417. [PMID: 30642198 DOI: 10.1080/03008207.2019.1570171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Background: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are promising for cell therapy and regenerative medicine. An increased need for expanding of MSCs under serum-free condition to achieve a sufficient quantity for therapeutic applications is inevitable. Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) is widely used for expanding clinical-grade MSCs in vitro. This work focuses on the influence of TGF-β1 on proliferation in rat bone marrow-derived MSCs (BMSCs) and the underlying mechanism. Materials and Methods: BMSCs were isolated and cultured with or without TGF-β1 in a serum-free medium and Cell Counting Kit-8 assay was used to detect BMSCs proliferation. Cell cycle transition was also analyzed. Further, the expression levels of cyclin D1, phosphorylated focal adhesion kinase, and downstream effectors in Akt-mTOR-S6K1 signaling pathway were examined by western blotting. Results and Conclusion: TGF-β1 triggered proliferation via accelerating G1/S cell cycle transition in BMSCs. The addition of TGF-β1 can activate Akt-mTOR-S6K1 pathway. Additionally, FAK was found to be involved in the process. Upon adding the FAK inhibitor, both the activation of Akt-mTOR-S6K1 and TGF-β1-induced cell proliferation were abrogated. Together, an insight understanding of how TGF-β1 influences BMSCs proliferation is achieved. This study provides a possible strategy of supplementing TGF-β1 in serum-free medium for in vitro expansion, which eventually would advance the production of clinical-grade MSCs for regenerative medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Sun
- a State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering , East China University of Science and Technology , Shanghai , P. R. China
| | - Yan Zhou
- a State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering , East China University of Science and Technology , Shanghai , P. R. China
| | - Zhaoyang Ye
- a State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering , East China University of Science and Technology , Shanghai , P. R. China
| | - Wen-Song Tan
- a State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering , East China University of Science and Technology , Shanghai , P. R. China
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Hwang HJ, Oh MS, Lee DW, Kuh HJ. Multiplex quantitative analysis of stroma-mediated cancer cell invasion, matrix remodeling, and drug response in a 3D co-culture model of pancreatic tumor spheroids and stellate cells. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2019; 38:258. [PMID: 31200779 PMCID: PMC6567511 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-019-1225-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2019] [Accepted: 05/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a stroma-rich carcinoma, and pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) are a major component of this dense stroma. PSCs play significant roles in metastatic progression and chemoresistance through cross-talk with cancer cells. Preclinical in vitro tumor model of invasive phenotype should incorporate three-dimensional (3D) culture of cancer cells and PSCs in extracellular matrix (ECM) for clinical relevance and predictability. METHODS PANC-1 cells were cultured as tumor spheroids (TSs) using our previously developed minipillar chips, and co-cultured with PSCs, both embedded in collagen gels. Effects of PSC co-culture on ECM fiber network, invasive migration of cancer cells, and expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related proteins were examined. Conditioned media was also analyzed for secreted factors involved in cancer cell-PSC interactions. Inhibitory effect on cancer cell invasion was compared between gemcitabine and paclitaxel at an equitoxic concentration in PANC-1 TSs co-cultured with PSCs. RESULTS Co-culture condition was optimized for the growth of TSs, activation of PSCs, and their interaction. Increase in cancer cell invasion via ECM remodeling, invadopodia formation and EMT, as well as drug resistance was recapitulated in the TS-PSC co-culture, and appeared to be mediated by cancer cell-PSC interaction via multiple secreted factors, including IL-6, IL-8, IGF-1, EGF, TIMP-1, uPA, PAI-1, and TSP-1. Compared to gemcitabine, paclitaxel showed a greater anti-invasive activity, which was attributed to suppresion of invadopodia formation in cancer cells as well as to PSC-specific cytotoxicity abrogating its paracrine signaling. CONCLUSIONS Here, we established 3D co-culture of TSs of PANC-1 cells and PSCs using minipillar histochips as a novel tumoroid model of PDAC. Our results indicate usefulness of the present co-culture model and multiplex quantitative analysis method not only in studying the role of PSCs and their interactions with tumor cell towards metastatic progression, but also in the drug evaluation of stroma-targeting drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyun Ju Hwang
- Department of Biomedicine & Health Sciences, Graduate School, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Min-Suk Oh
- Department of Biomedicine & Health Sciences, Graduate School, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong Woo Lee
- Departments of Biomedical Engineering, Konyang University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
- Medical & Bio Device, #B-9, 145 Gwanggyo-ro, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyo-Jeong Kuh
- Department of Biomedicine & Health Sciences, Graduate School, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Cancer Evolution Research Center, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Medical Life Sciences, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, 222 Banpo-daero, Seocho-ku, Seoul, 06591 Republic of Korea
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Hexokinase 2 Regulates Ovarian Cancer Cell Migration, Invasion and Stemness via FAK/ERK1/2/MMP9/NANOG/SOX9 Signaling Cascades. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11060813. [PMID: 31212816 PMCID: PMC6627345 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11060813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2019] [Revised: 05/31/2019] [Accepted: 06/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Metabolic reprogramming is a common phenomenon in cancers. Thus, glycolytic enzymes could be exploited to selectively target cancer cells in cancer therapy. Hexokinase 2 (HK2) converts glucose to glucose-6-phosphate, the first committed step in glucose metabolism. Here, we demonstrated that HK2 was overexpressed in ovarian cancer and displayed significantly higher expression in ascites and metastatic foci. HK2 expression was significantly associated with advanced stage and high-grade cancers, and was an independent prognostic factor. Functionally, knockdown of HK2 in ovarian cancer cell lines and ascites-derived tumor cells hindered lactate production, cell migration and invasion, and cell stemness properties, along with reduced FAK/ERK1/2 activation and metastasis- and stemness-related genes. 2-DG, a glycolysis inhibitor, retarded cell migration and invasion and reduced stemness properties. Inversely, overexpression of HK2 promoted cell migration and invasion through the FAK/ERK1/2/MMP9 pathway, and enhanced stemness properties via the FAK/ERK1/2/NANOG/SOX9 cascade. HK2 abrogation impeded in vivo tumor growth and dissemination. Notably, ovarian cancer-associated fibroblast-derived IL-6 contributed to its up-regulation. In conclusion, HK2, which is regulated by the tumor microenvironment, controls lactate production and contributes to ovarian cancer metastasis and stemness regulation via FAK/ERK1/2 signaling pathway-mediated MMP9/NANOG/SOX9 expression. HK2 could be a potential prognostic marker and therapeutic target for ovarian cancer.
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Liu C, Li S, Zhang Q, Guo F, Tong M, Martinez MFYM, Wang HH, Zhao Y, Shang D. Emerging Role of Chinese Herbal Medicines in the Treatment of Pancreatic Fibrosis. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CHINESE MEDICINE 2019; 47:709-726. [PMID: 31091974 DOI: 10.1142/s0192415x1950037x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic fibrosis is the main pathologic characteristic in chronic pancreatitis (CP), a common disease that arises from surgery. Pancreatitis is caused by various etiologies, but the mechanism of fibrosis is not completely understood. Existing clinical approaches mainly focus on mitigating the symptoms and therefore do not cure the phenomena. In recent years, there has been a heightened interest in the use of Chinese herbal medicine (CHMs) in the prevention and cure of CP as expressed by increasing numbers of clinical and experimental research. Despite early cell culture and animal models, CHMs are able to interact with plenty of molecular targets involved in the pathogenesis of pancreatic fibrosis mostly via the TGF- β /Smads pathway; however, integrated and up-to-date communication in this domain is unavailable. This review focuses on the research progress of CHMs against pancreatic fibrosis due to CP in vitro and in vivo and summarizes the potential mechanisms. We also outlined the toxicology of some CHMs for fibrosis treatment in order to provide a fuller understanding of drug safety. This review may provide reference for further innovative drug research and the future development of treatments for CP with pancreatic fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang Liu
- * Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, P. R. China.,† Clinical Laboratory of Integrative Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, P. R. China
| | - Shuang Li
- * Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, P. R. China.,† Clinical Laboratory of Integrative Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, P. R. China
| | - Qingkai Zhang
- * Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, P. R. China.,† Clinical Laboratory of Integrative Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, P. R. China
| | - Fangyue Guo
- * Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, P. R. China.,† Clinical Laboratory of Integrative Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, P. R. China
| | - Mengying Tong
- ‡ Department of Ultrasound, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, P. R. China
| | | | - Heather H Wang
- ¶ Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Yutong Zhao
- ¶ Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Dong Shang
- * Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, P. R. China.,† Clinical Laboratory of Integrative Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, P. R. China
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PTK2 promotes cancer stem cell traits in hepatocellular carcinoma by activating Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Cancer Lett 2019; 450:132-143. [DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2019.02.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2018] [Revised: 02/01/2019] [Accepted: 02/14/2019] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
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Grünwald B, Schoeps B, Krüger A. Recognizing the Molecular Multifunctionality and Interactome of TIMP-1. Trends Cell Biol 2019; 29:6-19. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tcb.2018.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2018] [Revised: 08/24/2018] [Accepted: 08/28/2018] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
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Yan P, He Y, Xie K, Kong S, Zhao W. In silico analyses for potential key genes associated with gastric cancer. PeerJ 2018; 6:e6092. [PMID: 30568862 PMCID: PMC6287586 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.6092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2018] [Accepted: 11/09/2018] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Understanding hub genes involved in gastric cancer (GC) metastasis could lead to effective approaches to diagnose and treat cancer. In this study, we aim to identify the hub genes and investigate the underlying molecular mechanisms of GC. METHODS To explore potential therapeutic targets for GC,three expression profiles (GSE54129, GSE33651, GSE81948) of the genes were extracted from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. The GEO2R online tool was applied to screen out differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between GC and normal gastric samples. Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery was applied to perform Gene Ontology (GO) and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of these DEGs was constructed using a STRING online software. The hub genes were identified by the CytoHubba plugin of Cytoscape software. Then, the prognostic value of these identified genes was verified by gastric cancer database derived from Kaplan-Meier plotter platform. RESULTS A total of 85 overlapped upregulated genes and 44 downregulated genes were identified. The majority of the DEGs were enriched in extracellular matrix organization, endodermal cell differentiation, and endoderm formation. Moreover, five KEGG pathways were significantly enriched, including ECM-receptor interaction, amoebiasis, AGE-RAGE signaling pathway in diabetic complications, focal adhesion, protein digestion and absorption. By combining the results of PPI network and CytoHubba, a total of nine hub genes including COL1A1, THBS1, MMP2, CXCL8, FN1, TIMP1, SPARC, COL4A1, and ITGA5 were selected. The Kaplan-Meier plotter database confirmed that overexpression levels of these genes were associated with reduced overall survival, except for THBS1 and CXCL8. CONCLUSIONS Our study suggests that COL1A1, MMP2, FN1, TIMP1, SPARC, COL4A1, and ITGA5 may be potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for GC. Further study is needed to assess the effect of THBS1 and CXCL8 on GC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Yan
- Department of Gastroenterology, Clinical College, Dali University, Dali, Yunnan, China
| | - Yingchun He
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Clinical College, Dali University, Dali, Yunnan, China
| | - Kexin Xie
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Clinical College, Dali University, Dali, Yunnan, China
| | - Shan Kong
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Clinical College, Dali University, Dali, Yunnan, China
| | - Weidong Zhao
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Clinical College, Dali University, Dali, Yunnan, China
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Lee YS, Lee CH, Bae JT, Nam KT, Moon DB, Hwang OK, Choi JS, Kim TH, Jun HO, Jung YS, Hwang DY, Han SB, Yoon DY, Hong JT. Inhibition of skin carcinogenesis by suppression of NF-κB dependent ITGAV and TIMP-1 expression in IL-32γ overexpressed condition. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2018; 37:293. [PMID: 30486830 PMCID: PMC6263970 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-018-0943-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2018] [Accepted: 10/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Interleukin-32 (IL-32) has been associated with various diseases. Previous studies have shown that IL-32 inhibited the development of several tumors. However, the role of IL-32γ, an isotype of IL-32, in skin carcinogenesis remains unknown. METHODS We compared 7,12-Dimethylbenz[a]anthracene/12-O-Tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (DMBA/TPA)-induced skin carcinogenesis in wild type (WT) and IL-32γ-overexpressing mice to evaluate the role of IL-32γ. We also analyzed cancer stemness and NF-κB signaling in skin cancer cell lines with or without IL-32γ expression by western blotting, quantitative real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry analysis. RESULTS Carcinogen-induced tumor incidence in IL-32γ mice was significantly reduced in comparison to that in WT mice. Infiltration of inflammatory cells and the expression levels of pro-inflammatory mediators were decreased in the skin tumor tissues of IL-32γ mice compared with WT mice. Using a genome-wide association study analysis, we found that IL-32 was associated with integrin αV (ITGAV) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1), which are critical factor for skin carcinogenesis. Reduced expression of ITGAV and TIMP-1 were identified in DMBA/TPA-induced skin tissues of IL-32γ mice compared to that in WT mice. NF-κB activity was also reduced in DMBA/TPA-induced skin tissues of IL-32γ mice. IL-32γ decreased cancer cell sphere formation and expression of stem cell markers, and increased chemotherapy-induced cancer cell death. IL-32γ also downregulated expression of ITGAV and TIMP-1, accompanied with the inhibition of NF-κB activity. In addition, IL-32γ expression with NF-κB inhibitor treatment further reduced skin inflammation, epidermal hyperplasia, and cancer cell sphere formation and downregulated expression levels of ITGAV and TIMP-1. CONCLUSIONS These findings indicated that IL-32γ suppressed skin carcinogenesis through the inhibition of both stemness and the inflammatory tumor microenvironment by the downregulation of TIMP-1 and ITGAV via inactivation of NF-κB signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Sun Lee
- College of Pharmacy and Medical Research Center, Chungbuk National University, Osongsaengmyeong 1-ro, Osong-eup, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju, Chungbuk 28160 Republic of Korea
| | - Chung Hee Lee
- College of Pharmacy and Medical Research Center, Chungbuk National University, Osongsaengmyeong 1-ro, Osong-eup, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju, Chungbuk 28160 Republic of Korea
- Hanbul Co, Ltd. R&D center, 634 Eon Ju-Ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jun Tae Bae
- College of Pharmacy and Medical Research Center, Chungbuk National University, Osongsaengmyeong 1-ro, Osong-eup, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju, Chungbuk 28160 Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung Tak Nam
- College of Pharmacy and Medical Research Center, Chungbuk National University, Osongsaengmyeong 1-ro, Osong-eup, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju, Chungbuk 28160 Republic of Korea
| | - Dae Bong Moon
- College of Pharmacy and Medical Research Center, Chungbuk National University, Osongsaengmyeong 1-ro, Osong-eup, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju, Chungbuk 28160 Republic of Korea
| | - Ok Kyung Hwang
- College of Pharmacy and Medical Research Center, Chungbuk National University, Osongsaengmyeong 1-ro, Osong-eup, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju, Chungbuk 28160 Republic of Korea
| | - Jeong Soon Choi
- College of Pharmacy and Medical Research Center, Chungbuk National University, Osongsaengmyeong 1-ro, Osong-eup, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju, Chungbuk 28160 Republic of Korea
| | - Tae Hoon Kim
- College of Pharmacy and Medical Research Center, Chungbuk National University, Osongsaengmyeong 1-ro, Osong-eup, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju, Chungbuk 28160 Republic of Korea
| | - Hyoung Ok Jun
- College of Pharmacy and Medical Research Center, Chungbuk National University, Osongsaengmyeong 1-ro, Osong-eup, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju, Chungbuk 28160 Republic of Korea
| | - Young Suk Jung
- College of Pharmacy and Medical Research Center, Chungbuk National University, Osongsaengmyeong 1-ro, Osong-eup, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju, Chungbuk 28160 Republic of Korea
| | - Dae Yeon Hwang
- Department of Biomaterial Science, Pusan National University, Miryang, Kyungnam 50463 Republic of Korea
| | - Sang-Bae Han
- College of Pharmacy and Medical Research Center, Chungbuk National University, Osongsaengmyeong 1-ro, Osong-eup, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju, Chungbuk 28160 Republic of Korea
| | - Do Young Yoon
- Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Bio/Molecular Informatics Center, Konkuk University, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, 05029 Republic of Korea
| | - Jin Tae Hong
- College of Pharmacy and Medical Research Center, Chungbuk National University, Osongsaengmyeong 1-ro, Osong-eup, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju, Chungbuk 28160 Republic of Korea
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Khawar IA, Park JK, Jung ES, Lee MA, Chang S, Kuh HJ. Three Dimensional Mixed-Cell Spheroids Mimic Stroma-Mediated Chemoresistance and Invasive Migration in hepatocellular carcinoma. Neoplasia 2018; 20:800-812. [PMID: 29981501 PMCID: PMC6034588 DOI: 10.1016/j.neo.2018.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2018] [Revised: 05/23/2018] [Accepted: 05/30/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Interactions between cancer cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) within the tumor microenvironment (TME) play an important role in promoting the profibrotic microenvironment and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), resulting in tumor progression and drug resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In the present study, we developed a mixed-cell spheroid model using Huh-7 HCC cells and LX-2 stellate cells to simulate the in vivo tumor environment with respect to tumor-CAF interactions. Spheroids were cultured from cancer cells alone (monospheroids) or as a mixture (mixed-cell spheroids) in ultra-low-attachment plates. Compact, well-mixed, and stroma-rich mixed-cell spheroids were successfully established with heterotypic cell-cell contacts shown by the presence of gap junctions and desmosomes. Mixed-cell spheroids showed enhanced expression of collagen type-I (Col‐I) and pro‐fibrotic factors such as, transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-β1), and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) compared to the levels expressed in mono-spheroids. The EMT phenotype was evident in mixed-cell spheroids as shown by the altered expression of E-cadherin and vimentin. Differential drug sensitivity was observed in mixed-cell spheroids, and only sorafenib and oxaliplatin showed dose-dependent antiproliferative effects. Simultaneous treatment with TGF-β inhibitors further improved sorafenib efficacy in the mixed-cell spheroids, indicating the involvement of TGF-β in the mechanism of sorafenib resistance. In 3D matrix invasion assay, mixed-cell spheroids exhibited fibroblast-led collective cell movement. Overall, our results provide evidence that mixed-cell spheroids formed with Huh-7 and LX-2 cells well represent HCC tumors and their TME in vivo and hence are useful in studying tumor-stroma interactions as mechanisms associated with drug resistance and increased cell motility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iftikhar Ali Khawar
- Department of Biomedicine & Health Sciences, Graduate School, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong Kook Park
- Department of Biomedical Science, Hallym University, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun Sun Jung
- Department of Hospital Pathology, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Myung Ah Lee
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Suhwan Chang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyo-Jeong Kuh
- Department of Medical Life Sciences, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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Cătană CS, Pichler M, Giannelli G, Mader RM, Berindan-Neagoe I. Non-coding RNAs, the Trojan horse in two-way communication between tumor and stroma in colorectal and hepatocellular carcinoma. Oncotarget 2018; 8:29519-29534. [PMID: 28392501 PMCID: PMC5438748 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.15706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2016] [Accepted: 01/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
In a continuous and mutual exchange of information, cancer cells are invariably exposed to microenvironment transformation. This continuous alteration of the genetic, molecular and cellular peritumoral stroma background has become as critical as the management of primary tumor progression events in cancer cells. The communication between stroma and tumor cells within the extracellular matrix is one of the triggers in colon and liver carcinogenesis. All non- codingRNAs including long non-coding RNAs, microRNAs and ultraconserved genes play a critical role in almost all cancers and are responsible for the modulation of the tumor microenvironment in several malignant processes such as initiation, progression and dissemination. This review details the involvement of non codingRNAs in the evolution of human colorectal carcinoma and hepatocellular carcinoma in relationship with the microenvironment. Recent research has shown that a considerable number of dysregulated non- codingRNAs could be valuable diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in cancer. Therefore, more in-depth knowledge of the role non- codingRNAs play in stroma-tumor communication and of the complex regulatory mechanisms between ultraconserved genes and microRNAs supports the validation of future effective therapeutic targets in patients suffering from hepatocellular and colorectal carcinoma, two distinctive entities which share quite a lot common non-coding RNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina- Sorina Cătană
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, ""Iuliu Haţieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Martin Pichler
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Oncology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Gianluigi Giannelli
- Department of Internal Medicine, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Section of Internal Medicine, University of Bari Medical School, Bari, Italy
| | - Robert M Mader
- Department of Medicine I, Comprehensive Cancer Center of the Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Ioana Berindan-Neagoe
- Research Center for Functional Genomics, Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, Institute of Doctoral Studies, ""Iuliu Haţieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.,Department of Experimental Pathology, "Ion Chiricuta" Institute of Oncology, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.,Medfuture Research Center for Advanced Medicine, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
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FOXO1 inhibits the invasion and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma by reversing ZEB2-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Oncotarget 2018; 8:1703-1713. [PMID: 27924058 PMCID: PMC5352090 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.13786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2016] [Accepted: 11/02/2016] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) program is critical for epithelial cell cancer progression and fibrotic diseases. FOXO1 influences a broad range of physiological and pathological processes. However, the mechanism by which FOXO1 inhibits EMT is not fully understood. In this study, we demonstrated that FOXO1 overexpression inhibited cell motility and invasiveness in vitro and inhibited lung metastasis in vivo. In addition, we found that FOXO1 couldreverse the EMT program. FOXO1 silencing by siRNA in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines enhanced the expression of mesenchymal markers and decreased the expression of the epithelial markers. Consistent with these findings, FOXO1 overexpression exerted opposite effects. Furthermore, we found that FOXO1 levels were inversely correlated with the levels of EMT inducers, including Snail, Slug, ZEB1, ZEB2 and Twist1 in HCC cells. Co-immunoprecipitation and immunohistochemistry assays revealed that an interaction between FOXO1 and ZEB2. A dual-luciferase reporter assay and a ChIP assay further demonstrated that FOXO1 binds to the ZEB2 promoter. Together, these findings suggest that FOXO1 overexpression or ZEB2 inhibition might be potential therapeutic strategies for treating HCC.
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Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 promotes cell proliferation through YAP/TAZ activation in cancer. Oncogene 2017; 37:263-270. [DOI: 10.1038/onc.2017.321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2017] [Revised: 07/25/2017] [Accepted: 08/07/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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Cheng P, Li J, Wang J, Zhang X, Zhai H. Investigations of FAK inhibitors: a combination of 3D-QSAR, docking, and molecular dynamics simulations studies. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2017; 36:1529-1549. [PMID: 28490269 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2017.1329095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is one kind of tyrosine kinases that modulates integrin and growth factor signaling pathways, which is a promising therapeutic target because of involving in cancer cell migration, proliferation, and survival. To investigate the mechanism between FAK and triazinic inhibitors and design high activity inhibitors, a molecular modeling integrated with 3D-QSAR, molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulations, and binding free energy calculations was performed. The optimum CoMFA and CoMSIA models showed good reliability and satisfactory predictability (with Q2 = 0.663, R2 = 0.987, [Formula: see text] = 0.921 and Q2 = 0.670, R2 = 0.981, [Formula: see text] = 0.953). Its contour maps could provide structural features to improve inhibitory activity. Furthermore, a good consistency between contour maps, docking, and molecular dynamics simulations strongly demonstrates that the molecular modeling is reliable. Based on it, we designed several new compounds and their inhibitory activities were validated by the molecular models. We expect our studies could bring new ideas to promote the development of novel inhibitors with higher inhibitory activity for FAK.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Cheng
- a College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering , Lanzhou University , No.222, Tianshui Road (South), Lanzhou , Gansu , 730000 , People's Republic of China
| | - Jiaojiao Li
- a College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering , Lanzhou University , No.222, Tianshui Road (South), Lanzhou , Gansu , 730000 , People's Republic of China
| | - Juan Wang
- a College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering , Lanzhou University , No.222, Tianshui Road (South), Lanzhou , Gansu , 730000 , People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoyun Zhang
- a College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering , Lanzhou University , No.222, Tianshui Road (South), Lanzhou , Gansu , 730000 , People's Republic of China
| | - Honglin Zhai
- a College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering , Lanzhou University , No.222, Tianshui Road (South), Lanzhou , Gansu , 730000 , People's Republic of China
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Panera N, Crudele A, Romito I, Gnani D, Alisi A. Focal Adhesion Kinase: Insight into Molecular Roles and Functions in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Int J Mol Sci 2017; 18:ijms18010099. [PMID: 28067792 PMCID: PMC5297733 DOI: 10.3390/ijms18010099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2016] [Revised: 12/23/2016] [Accepted: 12/30/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Due to the high incidence of post-operative recurrence after current treatments, the identification of new and more effective drugs is required. In previous years, new targetable genes/pathways involved in HCC pathogenesis have been discovered through the help of high-throughput sequencing technologies. Mutations in TP53 and β-catenin genes are the most frequent aberrations in HCC. However, approaches able to reverse the effect of these mutations might be unpredictable. In fact, if the reactivation of proteins, such as p53 in tumours, holds great promise as anticancer therapy, there are studies arguing that chronic activation of these types of molecules may be deleterious. Thus, recently the efforts on potential targets have focused on actionable mutations, such as those occurring in the gene encoding for focal adhesion kinase (FAK). This tyrosine kinase, localized to cellular focal contacts, is over-expressed in a variety of human tumours, including HCC. Moreover, several lines of evidence demonstrated that FAK depletion or inhibition impair in vitro and in vivo HCC growth and metastasis. Here, we provide an overview of FAK expression and activity in the context of tumour biology, discussing the current evidence of its connection with HCC development and progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadia Panera
- Liver Research Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Via S. Paolo, 15, 00146 Rome, Italy.
| | - Annalisa Crudele
- Liver Research Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Via S. Paolo, 15, 00146 Rome, Italy.
| | - Ilaria Romito
- Liver Research Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Via S. Paolo, 15, 00146 Rome, Italy.
| | - Daniela Gnani
- Liver Research Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Via S. Paolo, 15, 00146 Rome, Italy.
| | - Anna Alisi
- Liver Research Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Via S. Paolo, 15, 00146 Rome, Italy.
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Abstract
A compelling long-term goal of cancer biology is to understand the crucial players during tumorigenesis in order to develop new interventions. Here, we review how the four non-redundant tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) regulate the pericellular proteolysis of a vast range of matrix and cell surface proteins, generating simultaneous effects on tumour architecture and cell signalling. Experimental studies demonstrate the contribution of TIMPs to the majority of cancer hallmarks, and human cancers invariably show TIMP deregulation in the tumour or stroma. Of the four TIMPs, TIMP1 overexpression or TIMP3 silencing is consistently associated with cancer progression or poor patient prognosis. Future efforts will align mouse model systems with changes in TIMPs in patients, will delineate protease-independent TIMP function, will pinpoint therapeutic targets within the TIMP-metalloproteinase-substrate network and will use TIMPs in liquid biopsy samples as biomarkers for cancer prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hartland W Jackson
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, TMDT 301-13, 101 College Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5G IL7 Canada
- Bodenmiller Laboratory, University of Zürich, Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Winterthurstrasse 190, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Virginie Defamie
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, TMDT 301-13, 101 College Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5G IL7 Canada
| | - Paul Waterhouse
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, TMDT 301-13, 101 College Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5G IL7 Canada
| | - Rama Khokha
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, TMDT 301-13, 101 College Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5G IL7 Canada
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Mandel ER, Uchida C, Nwadozi E, Makki A, Haas TL. Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase 1 Influences Vascular Adaptations to Chronic Alterations in Blood Flow. J Cell Physiol 2016; 232:831-841. [PMID: 27430487 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.25491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2016] [Accepted: 07/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Remodeling of the skeletal muscle microvasculature involves the coordinated actions of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their endogenous inhibitors, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMPs). We hypothesized that the loss of TIMP1 would enhance both ischemia and flow-induced vascular remodeling by increasing MMP activity. TIMP1 deficient (Timp1-/- ) and wild-type (WT) C57BL/6 mice underwent unilateral femoral artery (FA) ligation or were treated with prazosin, an alpha-1 adrenergic receptor antagonist, in order to investigate vascular remodeling to altered flow. Under basal conditions, Timp1-/- mice had reduced microvascular content as compared to WT mice. Furthermore, vascular remodeling was impaired in Timp1-/- mice. Timp1-/- mice displayed reduced blood flow recovery in response to FA ligation and no arteriogenic response to prazosin treatment. Timp1-/- mice failed to undergo angiogenesis in response to ischemia or prazosin, despite maintaining the capacity to increase VEGF-A and eNOS mRNA. Vascular permeability was increased in muscles of Timp1-/- mice in response to both prazosin treatment and FA ligation, but this was not accompanied by greater MMP activity. This study highlights a previously undescribed integral role for TIMP1 in both vascular network maturation and adaptations to ischemia or alterations in flow. J. Cell. Physiol. 232: 831-841, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin R Mandel
- School of Kinesiology and Health Science and the Muscle Health Research Centre, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Cassandra Uchida
- School of Kinesiology and Health Science and the Muscle Health Research Centre, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Emmanuel Nwadozi
- School of Kinesiology and Health Science and the Muscle Health Research Centre, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Armin Makki
- School of Kinesiology and Health Science and the Muscle Health Research Centre, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Tara L Haas
- School of Kinesiology and Health Science and the Muscle Health Research Centre, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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48
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Li J, Jin W, Qin Y, Zhao W, Chang C, Xu C. Expression Profile and Function Analysis of LncRNAs during Priming Phase of Rat Liver Regeneration. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0156128. [PMID: 27326854 PMCID: PMC4915705 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0156128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2016] [Accepted: 06/06/2016] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Emerging evidences have revealed that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) functioned in a wide range of physiological and pathophysiological processes including rat liver regeneration, and could regulate gene expression in the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. However, the underlying mechanism for lncRNAs participation in liver regeneration is largely unknown. To define the mechanisms how the lncRNAs regulate LR, we performed bio-chip technology, high-throughput sequencing and RT-PCR to detect the expression of lncRNAs at 0, 2 and 6 h during LR after 2/3 hepatectomy (PH). The results indicated that 28 lncRNAs were involved in LR. Bioinformatics analysis predicated 465 co-expression target genes including 10 regulatory genes were related to these 28 lncRNAs. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) was employed to analyze the signaling pathways and physiological activities that regulated by these genes, and the results suggested that these genes were potentially related to ILK, SAPK/JNK and ERK/MAPK signaling pathways, and possibly regulate many important physiological activities in LR in terms of cell proliferation, cell differentiation, cell survival, apoptosis and necrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Li
- College of Life Science, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, Henan Province, China
- State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base for Cell Differentiation Regulation and Henan Bioengineering Key Laboratory, Henan. Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, Henan Province, China
- Henan engineering laboratory for bioengineering and drug development, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, Henan Province, China
| | - Wei Jin
- College of Life Science, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, Henan Province, China
- State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base for Cell Differentiation Regulation and Henan Bioengineering Key Laboratory, Henan. Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, Henan Province, China
- Henan engineering laboratory for bioengineering and drug development, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, Henan Province, China
| | - Yanli Qin
- College of Life Science, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, Henan Province, China
- State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base for Cell Differentiation Regulation and Henan Bioengineering Key Laboratory, Henan. Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, Henan Province, China
- Henan engineering laboratory for bioengineering and drug development, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, Henan Province, China
| | - Weiming Zhao
- College of Life Science, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, Henan Province, China
- State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base for Cell Differentiation Regulation and Henan Bioengineering Key Laboratory, Henan. Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, Henan Province, China
- Henan engineering laboratory for bioengineering and drug development, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, Henan Province, China
| | - Cuifang Chang
- College of Life Science, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, Henan Province, China
- State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base for Cell Differentiation Regulation and Henan Bioengineering Key Laboratory, Henan. Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, Henan Province, China
- Henan engineering laboratory for bioengineering and drug development, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, Henan Province, China
- * E-mail: (CFC); (CSX)
| | - Cunshuan Xu
- College of Life Science, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, Henan Province, China
- State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base for Cell Differentiation Regulation and Henan Bioengineering Key Laboratory, Henan. Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, Henan Province, China
- Henan engineering laboratory for bioengineering and drug development, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, Henan Province, China
- * E-mail: (CFC); (CSX)
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