Expression of GP73, a resident Golgi membrane protein, in viral and nonviral liver disease

GOLM1 Promotes Pulmonary Fibrosis through Upregulation of NEAT1

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

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

BACKGROUND

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

METHODS

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

RESULTS

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

CONCLUSIONS

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

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

INTRODUCTION

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

MATERIALS AND METHODS

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

RESULTS

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

CONCLUSIONS

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

Interleukin-6 in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Dualistic Point of View

Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) is a pressing health concern, demanding a deep understanding of various mediators' roles in its development for therapeutic progress. Notably, interleukin-6 (IL-6) has taken center stage in investigations due to its intricate and context-dependent functions. This review delves into the dual nature of IL-6 in HCC, exploring its seemingly contradictory roles as both a promoter and an inhibitor of disease progression. We dissect the pro-tumorigenic effects of IL-6, including its impact on tumor growth, angiogenesis, and metastasis. Concurrently, we examine its anti-tumorigenic attributes, such as its role in immune response activation, cellular senescence induction, and tumor surveillance. Through a comprehensive exploration of the intricate interactions between IL-6 and the tumor microenvironment, this review highlights the need for a nuanced comprehension of IL-6 signaling in HCC. It underscores the importance of tailored therapeutic strategies that consider the dynamic stages and diverse surroundings within the tumor microenvironment. Future research directions aimed at unraveling the multifaceted mechanisms of IL-6 in HCC hold promise for developing more effective treatment strategies and improving patient outcomes.

The potential value of serum GP73 in the ancillary diagnosis and grading of liver cirrhosis

This study is to evaluate the potential value of serum GP73 in ancillary cirrhosis diagnosis. 150 cirrhotic subjects and healthy subjects were retrospectively analyzed, and the two groups were compared in terms of Child‒Pugh grade. Serum GP73 was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Receiver operating characteristic curves were drawn to evaluate the diagnostic value of GP73, and the quantitative relationship between cirrhosis and GP73 was verified by logistic regression. The result showed in regard to serum biomarkers related to cirrhosis, the serum levels of GP73, TBIL, DBIL, and PT were higher and the ALB and PLT were lower in the cirrhosis group than in the control group (p = 0.000), and the area under the ROC curve of GP73 for diagnosing cirrhosis was 0.823 (p = 0.000), the cutoff value was 135 ng/ml, the sensitivity was 60.0%, and the specificity was 88.67%. Logistic regression analysis showed that GP73 > 135 ng/ml had an odds ratio of 11.735 (β= 2.463, 95% CI: 6.432-21.411, p = 0.000) for diagnosing cirrhosis. Additionally, the Child‒Pugh A, B, and C groups had different levels of GP73 (χ² =17.840, p = 0.000). A pairwise comparison between the groups showed that there was a significant difference between grades A and B (p = 0.004) and between grades A and C (p = 0.002), but there was no significant difference between grades B and C (p = 1.000). We found serum GP73 levels were elevated in patients with cirrhosis. When the GP73 level was >135 ng/ml, the potential risk of a cirrhosis diagnosis increased approximately 12-fold.

GP73 blockade alleviates abnormal glucose homeostasis in diabetic mice

Golgi protein 73 (GP73), also called Golgi membrane protein 1 (GOLM1), is a resident Golgi type II transmembrane protein and is considered as a serum marker for the detection of a variety of cancers. A recent work revealed the role of the secreted GP73 in stimulating liver glucose production and systemic glucose homeostasis. Since exaggerated hepatic glucose production plays a key role in the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), GP73 may thus represent a potential therapeutic target for treating diabetic patients with pathologically elevated levels. Here, in this study, we found that the circulating GP73 levels were significantly elevated in T2DM and positively correlated with hemoglobin A1c. Notably, the aberrantly upregulated GP73 levels were indispensable for the enhanced protein kinase A signaling pathway associated with diabetes. In diet-induced obese mouse model, GP73 siRNA primarily targeting liver tissue was potently effective in alleviating abnormal glucose metabolism. Ablation of GP73 from whole animals also exerted a profound glucose-lowering effect. Importantly, neutralizing circulating GP73 improved glucose metabolism in streptozotocin (STZ) and high-fat diet/STZ-induced diabetic mice. We thus concluded that GP73 was a feasible therapeutic target for the treatment of diabetes.

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

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

HCC biomarkers - state of the old and outlook to future promising biomarkers and their potential in everyday clinical practice

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common and deadly tumors worldwide. Management of HCC depends on reliable biomarkers for screening, diagnosis, and monitoring of the disease, as well as predicting response towards therapy and safety. To date, imaging has been the established standard technique in the diagnosis and follow-up of HCC. However, imaging techniques have their limitations, especially in the early detection of HCC. Therefore, there is an urgent need for reliable, non/minimal invasive biomarkers. To date, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is the only serum biomarker used in clinical practice for the management of HCC. However, AFP is of relatively rather low quality in terms of specificity and sensitivity. Liquid biopsies as a source for biomarkers have become the focus of clinical research. Our review highlights alternative biomarkers derived from liquid biopsies, including circulating tumor cells, proteins, circulating nucleic acids, and exosomes, and their potential for clinical application. Using defined combinations of different biomarkers will open new perspectives for diagnosing, treating, and monitoring HCC.

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

Background

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

Methods

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

Results

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

Conclusions

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

Supplementary Information

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

LincRNAs and snoRNAs in Breast Cancer Cell Metastasis: The Unknown Players

Recent advances in research have led to earlier diagnosis and targeted therapies against breast cancer, which has resulted in reduced breast cancer-related mortality. However, the majority of breast cancer-related deaths are due to metastasis of cancer cells to other organs, a process that has not been fully elucidated. Among the factors and genes implicated in the metastatic process regulation, non-coding RNAs have emerged as crucial players. This review focuses on the role of long intergenic noncoding RNAs (lincRNAs) and small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) in breast cancer cell metastasis. LincRNAs are transcribed between two protein-coding genes and are longer than 200 nucleotides, they do not code for a specific protein but function as regulatory molecules in processes such as cell proliferation, apoptosis, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, migration, and invasion while most of them are highly elevated in breast cancer tissues and seem to function as competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) inhibiting relevant miRNAs that specifically target vital metastasis-related genes. Similarly, snoRNAs are 60-300 nucleotides long and are found in the nucleolus being responsible for the post-transcriptional modification of ribosomal and spliceosomal RNAs. Most snoRNAs are hosted inside intron sequences of protein-coding and non-protein-coding genes, and they also regulate metastasis-related genes affecting related cellular properties.

Possible roles of Golgi protein-73 in liver diseases

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

Involvement of microRNAs and their potential diagnostic, therapeutic, and prognostic role in hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accounts for 85%-90% of primary liver cancer. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression by targeting the 3'UTR of mRNA. Abnormal expression and regulation of miRNAs are involved in the occurrence and progression of HCC, and miRNAs can also play a role in the diagnosis and treatment of HCC as oncogenes or tumor suppressors.

METHODS

In the past decades, a large number of studies have shown that miRNAs play an essential regulatory role in HCC and have potential as biomarkers for HCC. We reviewed the literature to summarize these studies.

RESULTS

By reviewing the literature, we retrospected the roles of miRNAs in the development, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of HCC, and put forward prospects for the further research on miRNAs in the precision treatment of HCC.

CONCLUSION

MicroRNAs are important regulators and biomarkers in the occurrence, progression, outcome, and treatment of HCC, and can provide new targets and strategies for improving the therapeutic effect of HCC.

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

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

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

METHODS

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

RESULTS

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

CONCLUSIONS

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

Application and progress of the detection technologies in hepatocellular carcinoma

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

Diagnostic Value of Serum Golgi Protein 73 for Liver Inflammation in Patients with Autoimmune Hepatitis and Primary Biliary Cholangitis

Background. There is lack of reliable serum biomarkers to reflect the severity of liver necroinflammation for those who suffer autoimmune liver diseases (AILDs). In this study, a previously established patient cohort was used to explore the potential of serum Golgi protein 73 (GP73) as a noninvasive marker of AILD-related liver necroinflammation. Methods. Serum GP73 concentration was measured in a retrospective cohort of 168 AILD patients, which included 74 patients with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) and 94 with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) who had undergone liver biopsy. Spearman’s correlation and multivariate analysis were used to evaluate the relationship between serum GP73 and liver necroinflammation. A receiver operating characteristic curve was constructed to evaluate the value of GP73 for the prediction of moderate or severe liver necroinflammation. The diagnostic value of serum GP73 was also compared with that of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in patients with PBC. Histologically, immunohistochemical analysis was performed to assess hepatic GP73 expression. Results. Both the serum level and hepatic tissue expression of GP73 protein were aberrantly elevated and correlated well with the severity of necroinflammation in both AIH ( $\text{rho}=0.655$ , $P<0.001$ ) and PBC ( $\text{rho}=0.547$ , $P<0.001$ ) patients. The results here suggested that serum GP73 could be an independent biomarker to reflect the severity of liver necroinflammation. The AUROCs for GP73 to predict moderate necroinflammation (≥G2) and severe necroinflammation (≥G3) in patients with AIH were 0.828 and 0.832, respectively. Moreover, the AUROCs of serum GP73 for the identification of moderate necroinflammation (≥G2) ( $\text{AUROC}=0.820$ , $P<0.001$ ) and severe necroinflammation (≥G3) ( $\text{AUROC}=0.803$ , $P<0.001$ ) were superior to those of ALP (≥G2: $\text{AUROC}=0.607$ , $P=0.028$ and ≥G3: $\text{AUROC}=0.559$ , $P=0.357$ ) in patients with PBC. Mechanically, interlukin-6 (IL-6), the proinflammatory and prohepatic regenerating cytokine, could transcriptionally upregulate GP73 gene expression. Conclusion. Serum GP73 is a potential noninvasive biomarker to evaluate the severity of liver necroinflammation in patients with AILDs.

Cell-free DNA methylation markers for differential diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Aberrant DNA methylation may offer opportunities in revolutionizing cancer screening and diagnosis. We sought to identify a non-invasive DNA methylation-based screening approach using cell-free DNA (cfDNA) for early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODS

Differentially, DNA methylation blocks were determined by comparing methylation profiles of biopsy-proven HCC, liver cirrhosis, and normal tissue samples with high throughput DNA bisulfite sequencing. A multi-layer HCC screening model was subsequently constructed based on tissue-derived differentially methylated blocks (DMBs). This model was tested in a cohort consisting of 120 HCC, 92 liver cirrhotic, and 290 healthy plasma samples including 65 hepatitis B surface antigen-seropositive (HBsAg+) samples, independently validated in a cohort consisting of 67 HCC, 111 liver cirrhotic, and 242 healthy plasma samples including 56 HBsAg+ samples.

RESULTS

Based on methylation profiling of tissue samples, 2321 DMBs were identified, which were subsequently used to construct a cfDNA-based HCC screening model, achieved a sensitivity of 86% and specificity of 98% in the training cohort and a sensitivity of 84% and specificity of 96% in the independent validation cohort. This model obtained a sensitivity of 76% in 37 early-stage HCC (Barcelona clinical liver cancer [BCLC] stage 0-A) patients. The screening model can effectively discriminate HCC patients from non-HCC controls, including liver cirrhotic patients, asymptomatic HBsAg+ and healthy individuals, achieving an AUC of 0.957(95% CI 0.939-0.975), whereas serum α-fetoprotein (AFP) only achieved an AUC of 0.803 (95% CI 0.758-0.847). Besides detecting patients with early-stage HCC from non-HCC controls, this model showed high capacity for distinguishing early-stage HCC from a high risk population (AUC=0.934; 95% CI 0.905-0.963), also significantly outperforming AFP. Furthermore, our model also showed superior performance in distinguishing HCC with normal AFP (< 20ng ml-1) from high risk population (AUC=0.93; 95% CI 0.892-0.969).

CONCLUSIONS

We have developed a sensitive blood-based non-invasive HCC screening model which can effectively distinguish early-stage HCC patients from high risk population and demonstrated its performance through an independent validation cohort.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

The study was approved by the ethic committee of The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University (KYLL2018072) and Chongqing University Cancer Hospital (2019167). The study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov(# NCT04383353 ).

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

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

Research on Gut Microbiota-Derived Secondary Bile Acids in Cancer Progression

The interaction between gut microbiota-derived metabolites and the body plays a significant role in the occurrence and development of cancer. Secondary bile acids (BAs) are the important products produced from gut microbial fermentation of primary BAs, mainly deoxycholic acid (DCA) and lithocholic acid (LCA). In the gut, they can influence the structure of the microbial communities. Several studies have demonstrated that secondary BAs, as signaling molecules, can activate a variety of signaling pathways. They can inhibit the apoptosis of cancer cells, induce the progression of cancer cell cycles, enhance the ability of metastasis and invasion of cancer cells, and promote the transformation of cells into cancer stem cells (CSCs). Moreover, secondary BAs promote cancer by regulating the function of immune cells. Therefore, targeted manipulation of gut microbial and secondary BAs has the potential to be developed as for treatment and prevention of various cancers.

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

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

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

Objective

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

Methods

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

Results

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

Conclusion

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

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

Simple Summary

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

Abstract

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

Liver fibrosis promotes immune escape in hepatocellular carcinoma via GOLM1-mediated PD-L1 upregulation

Immune checkpoint blockade is considered a breakthrough in cancer treatment. However, with the low response rates and therapeutic resistance of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the challenges facing the application of this treatment are tremendous. Liver fibrosis is a key driver of tumor immune escape, the underlying mechanism has never been clarified. This study sought to explore the role of liver fibrosis in regulating tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and inducing tumor immunosuppression. Ninety-nine fixed HCC tissue samples were used to analyze the association between liver fibrosis and immune escape using immunohistochemistry. In HCC patients, low FIB-4 values and high CD8⁺ T cell infiltration were correlated with prolonged survival. Elevated expression of immune checkpoints and attenuated antitumor immunity were observed in CCl₄-induced mice liver fibrosis models and human fibrotic livers compared to control group. GOLM1 levels were increased in livers of patients with fibrosis and mice in response to CCl₄-induced liver fibrosis. CD8⁺ T cell infiltrations were significantly decreased and PD-L1 expression was significantly increased in tumor tissues from hepatocyte-specific GOLM1 transgenic mice (Alb/GOLM1 mice) inducing chemical carcinogenesis compared to their corresponding control WT mice. GOLM1 induced PD-L1 expression via EGFR pathway activation. EGFR inhibitors, especially together with anti-PD-L1 therapy, improved the efficacy of immunotherapy in HCC. These findings illustrate the importance of liver fibrosis-induced immunosuppression as a tumor-promoting mechanism. GOLM1, which is highly upregulated in the fibrotic liver, regulates tumor microenvironmental immune escape via the EGFR/PD-L1 signaling pathway. EGFR blockade may bolster the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors for HCC treatment.

Long non-coding RNA TP73-AS1 promotes pancreatic cancer growth and metastasis through miRNA-128-3p/GOLM1 axis

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have suggested that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA) TP73-AS1 is significantly upregulated in several cancers. However, the biological role and clinical significance of TP73-AS1 in pancreatic cancer (PC) remain unclear.

AIM

To investigate the role of TP73-AS1 in the growth and metastasis of PC.

METHODS

The expression of lncRNA TP73-AS1, miR-128-3p, and GOLM1 in PC tissues and cells was detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The bioinformatics prediction software ENCORI was used to predict the putative binding sites of miR-128-3p. The regulatory roles of TP73-AS1 and miR-128-3p in cell proliferation, migration, and invasion abilities were verified by Cell Counting Kit-8, wound-healing, and transwell assays, as well as flow cytometry and Western blot analysis. The interactions among TP73-AS1, miR-128-3p, and GOLM1 were explored by bioinformatics prediction, luciferase assay, and Western blot.

RESULTS

The expression of TP73-AS1 and miRNA-128-3p was dysregulated in PC tissues and cells. High TP73-AS1 expression was correlated with a poor prognosis. TP73-AS1 silencing inhibited PC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro as well as suppressed tumor growth in vivo. Mechanistically, TP73-AS1 was validated to promote PC progression through GOLM1 upregulation by competitively binding to miR-128-3p.

CONCLUSION

Our results demonstrated that TP73-AS1 promotes PC progression by regulating the miR-128-3p/GOLM1 axis, which might provide a potential treatment strategy for patients with PC.

LINC01977 Promotes Breast Cancer Progression and Chemoresistance to Doxorubicin by Targeting miR-212-3p/GOLM1 Axis

Long non-coding RNAs(lncRNAs) play an important role in cancer initiation and progression. However, hub lncRNAs involved in breast cancer still remain underexplored. In this study, integrated bioinformatics analysis was used to define LINC01977 as a key oncogenic driver in breast cancer. Subsequently, in vitro assays showed that LINC01977 could significantly promote breast cancer progression and chemoresistance to doxorubicin. To further investigate its biological mechanism, we performed dual-luciferase reporter assay, real-time PCR, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP), and rescue assay. Our results indicated that LINC01977 may function as ceRNA to prevent GOLM1 gene from miRNA-mediated repression by sponging miR-212-3p. Overall, LINC01977 can serve as a novel prognostic indicator, and help develop more effective therapeutic approaches for breast cancer patients.

The miR-139-5p/peripheral myelin protein 22 axis modulates TGF-β-induced hepatic stellate cell activation and CCl4-induced hepatic fibrosis in mice

Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are the major source of extracellular matrix (ECM)-producing myofibroblasts. When activated by multiple injuries, HSCs become proliferative, contractile, inflammatory and chemotactic and are characterized by enhanced ECM production, which plays a central role in hepatic fibrosis initiation and progression. In the present study, through bioinformatics analysis, we identified the abnormal upregulation of Peripheral Myelin Protein 22 (PMP22) in fibrotic murine liver. In CCl₄-induced hepatic fibrosis model in mice and TGF-β-activated hHSCs, PMP22 was observed remarkably upregulated. In TGF-β-stimulated hHSCs, PMP22 silencing hindered, whereas PMP22 overexpression aggravated TGF-β-induced hHSC activation. In CCl₄-induced hepatic fibrosis model in mice, PMP22 silencing improved CCl₄-caused liver damage and fibrotic changes. Through online tools prediction and experimental validation, miR-139-5p was found to bind to the 3'UTR of PMP22 and negatively regulate the expression of PMP22. In contrast to PMP22 silencing, miR-139-5p inhibition enhanced TGF-β-induced hHSC activation; the effects of miR-139-5p inhibition on TGF-β-induced hHSC activation were partially reversed by PMP22 silencing. In conclusion, we identify the abnormal upregulation of PMP22 in TGF-β-activated HSCs and CCl₄-induced hepatic fibrosis model in mice, as well as the pro-fibrotic role of PMP22 through aggravating TGF-β-induced HSCs activation. miR-139-5p targets the 3'UTR of PMP22 and inhibits PMP22 expression; miR-139-5p hinders TGF-β-induced HSCs activation through targeting PMP22.

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

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

Risk Factors and Biomarkers for Chronic Hepatitis B Associated Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Globally, hepatitis B virus (HBV) related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the major causes of cancer-related mortality. This is, in part, due to delayed diagnosis and limited therapeutic options with more advanced stages of the disease. Given the prognostic importance of early diagnosis, novel methods for early detection are in need. Unlike most other cancer types, tissue is not required to diagnose HCC and is frequently avoided given the inherent risks of liver biopsy, so less invasive methods of obtaining tumor material are currently under investigation. Material shed from tumors into the periphery are being investigated for their potential to both surveil and diagnose patients for HCC. These materials include circulating tumor cells, DNA, RNA, and exosomes, and are collectively termed a “liquid biopsy”. In this review article, we discuss the evolving literature regarding the different risk factors for HCC and the types of emerging novel biomarkers that show promise in the prevention and early diagnosis of HCC within the context of HBV infection.

The diagnostic value of golgi protien-73 and DICKKOPF-1 in hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Early detection of HCC is essential for improved prognosis and long-term survival. Golgi protein-73 (GP73) and Dickkopf-1 (DKK1), can be used as noninvasive biomarkers for early diagnosis of HCC. Aim of the work: measure and assess the clinical utility of Golgi protein-73 and Dickkopf-1 as noninvasive biomarkers for early diagnosis of HCC. This study included 60 patients: 30 patients with HCC, 30 patients with cirrhosis together with 30 healthy controls. There was a highly significant difference in GP73 and DKK1 between all the studied groups. There was a highly significant positive correlation between GP73 and DKK1 and a significant negative correlation between (GP73 and albumin) and (DKK1 and ALT) in group I. GP73, DKK-1 correlated with the number, overall size, and lymph node metastasis. GP73 and DKK1 can serve as diagnostic serologic markers for early HCC as they had high sensitivity and specificity, correlated with the aggressiveness of the tumor superior to AFP. The combined use of GP73, DKK-1, and AFP increased the sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of HCC than each one alone.

Golgi protein 73, hepatocellular carcinoma and other types of cancers

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

Dynamic expression of hepatic GP73 mRNA and protein and circulating GP73 during hepatocytes malignant transformation

BACKGROUND

Hepatic Golgi protein-73 (GP73) expression is related to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression. The aim of this study was to investigate the dynamic expression of GP73 mRNA and protein during hepatocytes malignant transformation.

METHODS

Human GP73 expressions in 88 HCC tissues and their self-control surrounding tissues were examined by immunohistochemistry, and survival time of HCC patients was evaluated by the Kaplan-Meier method. HCC model of Sprague-Dawley rats was made by diet containing 2-fluorenylacetamide. The rats were divided into the control, hepatocyte degeneration, precanceration, and HCC groups to observe GP73 protein and mRNA alterations during hepatocytes malignant transformation.

RESULTS

The GP73 expression was significantly higher in the cancerous tissues than that in the surrounding tissues, with shorter survival time, and the positive rates of GP73 protein in human HCC tissues were 53.3% at stage I, 84.0% at stage II, 84.6% at stage III, and 60.0% at stage IV, respectively. The positive rates of hepatic GP73 protein and mRNA in the rat models were none in the control group, 66.7% and 44.4% in the hepatocytes degeneration group, 88.9% and 77.8% in the hepatocytes precanceration group, and 100% in the HCC group, respectively. There was a positive correlation (r = 0.91, P<0.01) between hepatic GP73 and serum GP73 during rat hepatocytes malignant transformation.

CONCLUSIONS

Abnormal GP73 expression may be a sensitive and valuable biomarker in hepatocarcinogensis.

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

BACKGROUND

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

AIM

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

METHODS

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

RESULTS

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

CONCLUSION

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

Molecular approaches to equine sarcoids

Sarcoids are the most commonly diagnosed skin tumours in equines. Bovine papillomaviruses (BPVs) are the primary causative agent of sarcoids. There has been intensive research to discover the molecular mechanisms that may contribute to the aetiopathogenesis of this disease and tumour suppressors and proto-oncogenes known to play a role in human neoplastic conditions have been investigated in equine sarcoids. Current approaches include the identification of gene expression profiles, characterising sarcoid and normal skin tissues, and an assessment of epigenetic alterations such as microRNA differential expression and DNA methylation status. This review focuses on selected groups of genes that contribute to the molecular mechanisms of sarcoid formation. These genes have the potential to complement current clinical examinations of equine sarcoid disease in diagnosis, prognosis, therapeutic response and screening.

Shotgun proteome analysis of seminal plasma differentiate boars by reproductive performance

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

MiR-559 targets GP73 to suppress proliferation and invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma in vitro

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the common malignant tumors with poor overall prognosis. As a tumor suppressor, the function of miR-559 in HCC is not clear. In this study, quantitative real-time PCR was carried out to measure the expression of miR-559 in HCC cell lines. The effects of miR-559 on HCC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were evaluated through a series of functional assays. The mechanism through which miR-559 regulates HCC cells was investigated by dual-luciferase reporter assay and functional experiments. The results revealed that miR-559 expression was low in HCC cell lines. Upregulation of miR-559 suppressed HCC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Dual-luciferase reporter assay confirmed Golgi membrane protein 73 (GP73) as a target gene of miR-559. Moreover, miR-559 could negatively regulate GP73 expression in HCC cells. These results demonstrated that low-level expression of miR-559 was associated with HCC, and overexpression of miR-559 could inhibit HCC cell growth and invasion via targeting GP73.

Combined and sequential non-invasive approach to diagnosing non-alcoholic steatohepatitis in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and persistently normal alanine aminotransferase levels

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Imaging-confirmed non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) with normal alanine aminotransferase (nALT) levels is infrequently the subject for further evaluation. Early diagnosis of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is needed to prevent disease progression. Thus, we tested the clinical utility of serum Golgi protein 73 (GP73) levels and developed a new non-invasive score to diagnose NASH in patients with biopsy-confirmed NAFLD and persistent nALT levels.

METHODS

Serum GP73 and cytokeratin-18 M30 fragments (CK18-M30) levels were measured in 345 patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD. We developed a new score, named G-NASH model (by incorporating serum GP73), and combined it with serum CK18-M30 measurement in a sequential non-invasive approach to accurately identify NASH among patients with NAFLD and persistent nALT levels.

RESULTS

105 (30.4%) patients had persistent nALT, 53 of whom had histologically confirmed NASH. Both serum GP73 and CK18-M30 levels alone had poor diagnostic accuracy in identifying NASH (55.2% and 51.6%, respectively) in these patients. Conversely, G-NASH model performed better than other established non-invasive scoring systems, and by using our proposed sequential non-invasive approach 82.9% of patients with NASH were correctly identified.

CONCLUSIONS

NASH is highly prevalent in patients with NAFLD with persistent nALT levels. The G-NASH model accurately identifies NASH in this patient group.

Serum Golgi Protein 73 as a Potential Biomarker for Hepatic Necroinflammation in Population with Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis

Aims

Persistent hepatic necroinflammatory damage almost always results in fibrosis/cirrhosis or even hepatocellular carcinoma. Therefore, the presence of active necroinflammation in the liver suggests that nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) patients are in urgent need of treatment. Unfortunately, alanine transaminase (ALT), a routine indicator of liver inflammatory damage, showed a poor performance in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) patients. Thus, it will be valuable to find an alternative indicator to identify patients with hepatic necroinflammatory damage. In this study, we evaluated the diagnostic value of serum Golgi protein 73 (GP73) for hepatic necroinflammatory damage in patients with NASH.

Methods

The clinical data of 201 patients with NASH diagnosed by liver biopsy according to the Brunt staging system were collected retrospectively. The in situ expression of GP73 protein was measured by immunohistochemistry. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to calculate the area under the ROC curve (AUROC) of serum GP73 for diagnosing hepatic necroinflammatory damage.

Results

The serum GP73 levels of NASH patients increased with the aggravation of liver necroinflammation. The median levels significantly increased from 49.98 ng/ml (31.49, 75.05) for G0-1 to 76.61 ng/ml (48.68, 110.03) for G2 and to 116.44 ng/ml (103.41, 162.17) for G3 patients (G0-1 vs. G2, P < 0.0001; G2 vs. G2, P < 0.0001; G2

Conclusions

GP73 is a valuable alternative serum marker reflecting the severity of hepatic necroinflammation in NASH patients.

The correlation and role analysis of COL4A1 and COL4A2 in hepatocarcinogenesis

Liver fibrosis biomarker, Type IV collagen, may function as hepatocarcinogenesis niche. However, among the six isoforms, the isoforms providing tumor microenvironment and their regulatory network are still unclarified. Based on bioinformatics analysis of hundreds of HCC transcriptome datasets from public databases, we found that COL4A1/2 expressions were significantly correlated with hepatocarcinogenesis, progression, and prognosis. The expressions of COL4A1/2 were significantly upregulated in the preneoplastic and HCC tissues compared with normal tissues. Moreover, the overexpression of COL4A2 was highly correlated with shorter progression-free survival in HCC patients. Bioinformatics analysis also generates an interactive regulatory network in which COL4A1/2 directly binding to integrin alpha-2/beta-1 initiates a sequentially and complicated signaling transduction, to accelerate cell cycle and promote tumorigenesis. Among those pathways, the PI3K-Akt pathway is significantly enriched in cooperative mutations and correlation analysis. This suggests that the key activated signaling is PI3K-Akt pathway which severing as the centerline linked with other pathways (Wnt and MAPK signaling) and cell behaviors signaling (cell cycle control and cytoskeleton change). Switching extracellular matrix collagen isoform may establish pro-tumorigenic and metastatic niches. The findings of COL4A1/2 and related signaling networks are valuable to be further investigated that may provide druggable targets for HCC intervention.

TGF-β in Hepatic Stellate Cell Activation and Liver Fibrogenesis-Updated 2019

Liver fibrosis is an advanced liver disease condition, which could progress to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. To date, there is no direct approved antifibrotic therapy, and current treatment is mainly the removal of the causative factor. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β is a master profibrogenic cytokine and a promising target to treat fibrosis. However, TGF-β has broad biological functions and its inhibition induces non-desirable side effects, which override therapeutic benefits. Therefore, understanding the pleiotropic effects of TGF-β and its upstream and downstream regulatory mechanisms will help to design better TGF-β based therapeutics. Here, we summarize recent discoveries and milestones on the TGF-β signaling pathway related to liver fibrosis and hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation, emphasizing research of the last five years. This comprises impact of TGF-β on liver fibrogenesis related biological processes, such as senescence, metabolism, reactive oxygen species generation, epigenetics, circadian rhythm, epithelial mesenchymal transition, and endothelial-mesenchymal transition. We also describe the influence of the microenvironment on the response of HSC to TGF-β. Finally, we discuss new approaches to target the TGF-β pathway, name current clinical trials, and explain promises and drawbacks that deserve to be adequately addressed.

c-Myc transactivates GP73 and promotes metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma cells through GP73-mediated MMP-7 trafficking in a mildly hypoxic microenvironment

Golgi phosphoprotein 73 (GP73), encoded by GOLM1, is a highly expressed factor in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells and has been regarded for several years as a remarkable serum biomarker for the diagnosis of HCC. Recently, it was found that upregulation of GP73 promotes cancer metastasis, but the mechanism is complex, and it is even unclear how the gene is transactivated in HCC cells. In this study, it was discovered that c-Myc transactivated GP73 in a mildly hypoxic microenvironment and that the activation of c-Myc upregulated the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7). Moreover, it is shown that GP73 interacted with intracellular MMP-7 in the region of the cytoplasmic domain and facilitated the trafficking and secretion of MMP-7, resulting in cell metastasis. This study indicates that GP73 is transactivated by c-Myc and serves as a transporter in the trafficking of intracellular MMP-7 in HCC cells. These findings suggest that GP73 is a potential target for combating metastatic HCC.

Exploring the Diagnostic Potential of Serum Golgi Protein 73 for Hepatic Necroinflammation and Fibrosis in Chronic HCV Infection with Different Stages of Liver Injuries

Background and Aim

Serum Golgi protein 73 (GP73) is a promising alternative biomarker of chronic liver diseases, but most data are from patients with HBV infection rather than HCV.

Materials and Methods

Two independent cohorts of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients from the 5th Medical Centre of the Chinese PLA General Hospital (n = 174) and Beijing Youan Hospital (n = 120) with different histories of HCV infection were enrolled. The correlations between serum GP73 and other biochemical indices, as well as its correlations with different stages of liver disease progression, were investigated. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was employed to evaluate the diagnostic potential of serum GP73 for liver necroinflammation and fibrosis, and comparisons of the diagnostic efficiency with traditional indices of hepatic liver injuries were further investigated.

Results

Levels of serum GP73 were found significantly elevated in patients with moderate to severe inflammatory grade (G ≥ 2) and/or with advanced fibrotic stages (F ≥ 3) in both cohorts (P < 0.05, respectively), as compared to those with a normal or mild liver lesion. Further ROC analysis demonstrated that serum GP73 was comparable to serum ALT and AST in diagnosing the liver necroinflammation grade at G ≥ 2, but its diagnostic values for advanced fibrosis (F ≥ 3) and cirrhosis (F = 4) were limited when compared to APRI and FIB-4, and FIB-4 exhibited the best performance. Notably, an obvious elevation of serum GP73 was observed after patients received PEG-IFN and ribavirin treatment.

Conclusions

Serum GP73 is an important biomarker in evaluating and monitoring the disease progression including liver necroinflammation and fibrosis in patients with chronic HCV infection, but the value is limited for diagnosing advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis in comparison with APRI and FIB-4.

Effect of sample type and storage conditions on Golgi membrane protein 73 stability

GP73 is a transmembrane glycoprotein that increases in viral and non-viral liver diseases, especially in hepatocellular carcinoma. This study aims to evaluate the effect of sample type and storage conditions on GP73 concentration. Twenty subjects were enrolled in this study. Serum and citrated plasma samples were collected. Both were subjected to different time intervals and storage temperature. Baseline GP73 concentrations ranged from 1.7 to 16.9 ng/mL in serum samples, and from 1.1 to 15.3 ng/mL in citrated plasma (Mann-Whitney U test, p = .1). The acceptable change limit for GP73 was 6.1%. As the highest value of the median percentage deviation was -5.3% in both sample types at different storage condition so, deviations were within the accepted limits. But there were considerable variations in the GP-73 concentrations after 2 cycles of freezing and thawing at -20 °C. This study shows that both serum and citrated plasma can be used for the measurement of GP73 concentration. GP73 seems to be stable under common storage conditions, but it may be unstable with frequent cycles of freezing and thawing.

mTOR/miR-145-regulated exosomal GOLM1 promotes hepatocellular carcinoma through augmented GSK-3β/MMPs

Golgi membrane protein 1 (GOLM1/GP73) is a serum marker of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We have previously shown that mTOR promoted tumorigenesis of HCC through stimulating GOLM1 expression. In this study, we demonstrated that the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) was a negative regulator of microRNA-145 (miR-145) expression. miR-145 inhibited GOLM1 expression by targeting a coding sequence of GOLM1 gene. GOLM1 and miR-145 were inversely correlated in human HCC tissues. GOLM1-enriched exosomes activated the glycogen synthase kinase-3β/matrix metalloproteinases (GSK-3β/MMPs) signaling axis of recipient cells and accelerated cell proliferation and migration. In contrast, miR-145 suppressed tumorigenesis and metastasis. We suggest that mTOR/miR-145/GOLM1 signaling pathway should be targeted for HCC treatment.

Serum GP73 predicts posthepatectomy outcomes in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Serum GP73 is a useful biomarker in assessing hepatic fibrosis degree. The aim of this study was to evaluate the predictive value of serum GP73 level for posthepatectomy short-term outcomes in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients.

METHODS

A total of 280 patients undergoing liver resection for HCC between October 2015 and April 2018 were included in this study. Detailed preoperative clinicopathological data were collected and GP73 levels in serum obtained the day before hepatectomy were examined. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to calculate the optimal cutoff of GP73, and independent risk factors for postoperative outcomes was assessed by logistic regression model.

RESULTS

The mean GP73 level in patients was 111.8 ± 153.3 ng/mL. Serum GP73 levels were correlated with the METAVIR fibrosis score. Overall complications occurred in 145 patients and major complications developed in 29 patients. ROC analysis demonstrated that the predictive power of serum GP73 for postoperative outcomes was greater than the Child-Pugh score, ALBI score, FIB-4 index and APRI score. The optimal value of serum GP73 to predict overall complications and major complications was 80.9 and 79.2 respectively. Serum GP73 levels were independent factors affecting the incidence of overall complications (odds ratio [OR], 3.996; 95% CI 2.152-7.421; P < 0.001) and major complications (OR, 4.970; 95% CI 1.654-14.934; P = 0.004) by multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSION

Serum GP73 is a useful tool to stratify HCC patients and to predict short-term outcomes after hepatectomy.

Golgi protein 73 and its diagnostic value in liver diseases

Golgi protein 73 (GP73, also referred to as Golph 2) with 400 amino acids is a 73 kDa transmembrane glycoprotein typically found in the cis-Golg complex. It is primarily expressed in epithelial cells, which has been found upregulated in hepatocytes in patients suffering from both viral and non-viral liver diseases. GP73 has drawn increasing attention for its potential application in the diagnosis of liver diseases such as hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and liver cancer. Herein, we reviewed the discovery history of GP73 and summarized studies by many groups around the world, aiming at understanding its structure, expression, function, detection methods and the relationship between GP73 and liver diseases in various settings.

Serum GP73 - An Additional Biochemical Marker for Liver Inflammation in Chronic HBV Infected Patients with Normal or Slightly Raised ALT

This study aimed to assess the feasibility of GP73 as a diagnostic marker for liver inflammation and fibrosis in chronic HBV patients with normal or slightly raised ALT (<2 ULN) and to develop models based on GP73 and other biochemical parameters to improve diagnostic accuracy. Serum GP73 levels were analyzed in 220 chronic HBV patients with normal or slightly raised ALT who underwent liver biopsy. The results showed that the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) was 0.806 for predicting significant liver inflammation (≥G2), while it was 0.742 for predicting significant fibrosis (≥S2). These results suggest that GP73 has higher diagnostic value for liver inflammation than liver fibrosis. Combining GP73, AST and ALB, as a diagnostic model for predicting significant liver inflammation, resulted in superior diagnostic performance over GP73 alone (AUC value increased from 0.806 to 0.854, z = 2.299, P = 0.021). By applying this diagnostic model, over 80% of chronic HBV patients with normal or slightly raised ALT will be correctly identified and hence avoid delay in diagnosis and treatment. In conclusion, GP73 would be an additional serum marker for predicting liver inflammation and fibrosis in chronic HBV patients with normal or slightly raised ALT.

Role of microRNA-141-3p in the progression and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma cell

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer related death worldwide. However, the mechanisms underlying HCC progression and metastasis are still in obscure. Here, we used bioinformatic analysis to identify miRNAs that regulate GP73, a specific marker for HCC diagnosis and prognosis. The correlations between miR-141-3p and clinic-pathological factors were analyzed in HCC patient samples; proliferation, migration, invasion, and colony formation were studied using established HCC cell lines. Expression levels of target genes (miR-141-3p, GP73, E-cadherin, N-cadherin, occludin, vimentin, and cytokeratin 18) were detected by either Western blot or qRT-PCR analysis. Xenograft models were established to evaluate tumor growth and metastasis. MiR-141-3p was significantly reduced in HCC tumors and cell lines, highly correlated with tumor progression. In contrast, GP73 was negatively correlated with miR-141-3p in HCC tumors. MiR-141-3p overexpression significantly decreased HCC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion by inhibiting epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). GP73 overexpression partially restored the inhibitory effects of miR-141-3p, while miR-141-3p overexpression markedly inhibited tumor growth and pulmonary metastasis, which were partially reversed by GP73 overexpression. Our findings suggest that miR-141-3p targets GP73 to reverse EMT, subsequently inhibiting HCC progression and metastasis. Thus, overexpression of miR-141-3p could serve as a therapeutic strategy to arrest HCC.

Studying the Impact of Golgi Protein 73 Serving as a Candidate Biomarker in Early Diagnosis for Hepatocellular Carcinoma among Saudi Patients

Background:

Due to the prevalence of Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Saudi Arabia, using new markers to give best diagnostic performance than alpha-feto protein (AFP) are important in early diagnosis. The aim of this work was to compare the significance between serum and mRNA Golgi glypican73 (GP-73) as newly identified diagnostic and prognostic markers for HCC among Saudi patients.

Materials and Methods:

A total of 300 subjects were divided into: 250 blood samples where 145 samples from HCC, 105 samples from chronic liver cirrhosis (CLC) and 50 normal controls were investigated for serum GP73 (sGP73) by ELISA. GP-73 mRNA from peripheral blood mononuclear cells was amplified by RT-PCR. The sensitivity and specificity of both techniques was compared.

Results:

Serum Golgi glypican 73 was significantly higher in HCC group compared to cirrhotic and normal controls (p<0.001). Sensitivity and specificity were 95% for sGP-73, 100% and 90% for Golgi glypican 73 mRNA. The combination of sensitivity between AFP and sGP73 was 80% and 95% respectively.

Conclusion:

Both serum Golgi glypican-73 and GP-73Mrna are good diagnostic biomarkers for early detection of HCC in Saudi patients. RT-PCR is more accurate and sensitive (100%) than ELISA (95%) in detecting Golgi glypican 73.

Knockdown of Golgi phosphoprotein 73 blocks the trafficking of matrix metalloproteinase-2 in hepatocellular carcinoma cells and inhibits cell invasion

Golgi phosphoprotein 73 (GP73) has been regarded as a novel serum biomarker for the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in recent years. It has been reported that the upregulation of GP73 may promote the carcinogenesis and metastasis of HCC; however, the mechanisms remain poorly understood. In this study, GP73 correlates positively with matrix metalloproteinase‐2 (MMP‐2) in HCC‐related cells and tissues. Further studies indicate that the knockdown of GP73 blocks MMP‐2 trafficking and secretion, resulting in cell invasion inhibition. Additionally, the knockdown of GP73 induces the accumulation of intracellular MMP‐2, which inhibits the phosphorylation of Src at Y416 and triggers the inhibition of SAPK/JNK and p53‐p21 signalling pathways through a negative feedback loop. Finally, the transactivation of MMP2 was inhibited by the reduction in E2F1. This study reveals that GP73 plays functional roles in the trafficking and equilibrium of epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT)‐related secretory proteins and that GP73 serves as a new potential target for combating the metastasis of HCC.

Glycosylation markers in cancer

Alteration of glycosylation, a hallmark of cancer, results in the production of tumor-associated glycans or glycoproteins. These molecules are subsequently secreted or membrane-shed into the blood stream and thus serve as tumor-associated markers. Increased glycosylation in cancer is triggered by overexpression of glycoproteins that carry certain specific glycans, increase or decrease of nucleotide sugar donors and altered expression of glycosyltransferase and glycosidase enzymes. In this chapter, the biochemistry and function of glycoprotein, glycan and enzyme markers are reviewed. These glycosylation markers, applicable for detection and monitoring of cancer, include CA19-9, CA125, CEA, PSA and AFP. Because of their specific affinity to distinct sugar moieties, lectins are useful for developing assays to detect these tumor associated glycans and glycoproteins in clinical samples. As such, various enzyme-linked lectin assays (ELLA) have been developed for diagnosis, monitoring and prognosis. Because glycosylation changes occur early in cancer, the detection of tumor associated glycosylation markers using lectin based assays is an effective strategy to improve diagnosis and treatment resulting better outcomes clinically.