Association of Methylation Signatures at Hepatocellular Carcinoma Pathway Genes with Adiposity and Insulin Resistance Phenotypes

Circ_0102543 suppresses hepatocellular carcinoma progression through the miR-942-5p/SGTB axis

Introduction

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most serious cancers. Circular RNA (circRNA) has been reported to regulate the progression of HCC. Herein, the role of circ_0102543 in HCC tumorigenesis was investigated.

Materials

The expression levels of circ_0102543, microRNA-942-5p (miR-942-5p), and small glutamine rich tetratricopeptide repeat co-chaperone beta (SGTB) were detected by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium Bromide (MTT) assay, thymidine analog 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EDU) assay, transwell assay, and flow cytometry were conducted to explore the function of circ_0102543 in HCC cells and the regulatory mechanism among circ_0102543, miR-942-5p and SGTB in HCC cells. Western blot examined the related protein levels.

Results

The expression of circ_0102543 and SGTB was decreased in HCC tissues, while the expression of miR-942-5p was increased. Circ_0102543 acted as a sponge for miR-942-5p, and SGTB was the target of miR-942-5p. Circ_0102543 up-regulation hindered tumor growth in vivo. In vitro experiments showed that overexpression of circ_0102543 significantly repressed the malignant behaviors of HCC cells, while co-transfection of miR-942-5p partially attenuated these effects mediated by circ_0102543. In addition, SGTB knockdown increased the proliferation, migration, and invasion of HCC cells inhibited by miR-942-5p inhibitor. Mechanically, circ_0102543 regulated SGTB expression in HCC cells by sponging miR-942-5p.

Conclusion

Overexpression of circ_0102543 suppressed proliferation, migration, and invasion of HCC cells by regulating the miR-942-5p/SGTB axis, suggesting that circ_0102543/miR-942-5p/SGTB axis may be a potential therapeutic target for HCC.

Peripheral Blood Markers Predictive of Progression-Free Survival in Advanced Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients Treated With PD-1 Inhibitors Plus Chemotherapy as First-Line Therapy

Aim: To determine the prognostic value of peripheral blood markers in advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) patients receiving programmed cell death protein 1 inhibitors plus chemotherapy as first-line therapy. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 54 patients with advanced ESCC was performed to assess 12 blood markers involving inflammation, nutrition, and tumor burden. Analysis of variance or Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to explore the difference in markers among different response to therapy. Survival curves were constructed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Multivariate Cox models were applied to identify independent predictors of outcome. Results: Patients who achieved response had significantly higher prealbumin, increased BMI, and lower hs-CRP levels at baseline compared with those who experienced disease progression. In the univariate analysis, ALI > 23.55, PNI > 45.175, NLR ≤ 5, and hs-CRP ≤ 6.7 mg/L were significantly associated with a better progression-free survival. Cox regression analysis revealed that ALI >23.55 (P = 0.037) and hs-CRP ≤6.7 mg/L (P = 0.043) were independently associated with superior PFS. Increased tumor abnormal protein (TAP) levels post two cycles was significantly associated with a worse prognosis (P = 0.004). Conclusions: A baseline signature of low ALI and high hs-CRP as well as an early increase in TAP in ESCC appear to be predictive of inferior PFS.

Pharmacogenomics variants are associated with BMI differences between individuals with bipolar and other psychiatric disorders

Aim: Regardless of the plethora of next-generation sequencing studies in the field of pharmacogenomics (PGx), the potential effect of covariate variables on PGx response within deeply phenotyped cohorts remains unexplored. Materials & methods: We explored with advanced statistical methods the potential influence of BMI, as a covariate variable, on PGx response in a Greek cohort with psychiatric disorders. Results: Nine PGx variants within UGT1A6, SLC22A4, GSTP1, CYP4B1, CES1, SLC29A3 and DPYD were associated with altered BMI in different psychiatric disorder groups. Carriers of rs2070959 (UGT1A6), rs199861210 (SLC29A3) and rs2297595 (DPYD) were also characterized by significant changes in the mean BMI, depending on the presence of psychiatric disorders. Conclusion: Specific PGx variants are significantly associated with BMI in a Greek cohort with psychiatric disorders.

A novel strategy for the diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, and chemoresistance of hepatocellular carcinoma: DNA methylation

The cancer mortality rate of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second highest in the world and the therapeutic options are limited. The incidence of this deadly cancer is rising at an alarming rate because of the high degree of resistance to chemo- and radiotherapy, lack of proper, and adequate vaccination to hepatitis B, and lack of consciousness and knowledge about the disease itself and the lifestyle of the people. DNA methylation and DNA methylation-induced epigenetic alterations, due to their potential reversibility, open the access to develop novel biomarkers and therapeutics for HCC. The contribution to these epigenetic changes in HCC development still has not been thoroughly summarized. Thus, it is necessary to better understand the new molecular targets of HCC epigenetics in HCC diagnosis, prevention, and treatment. This review elaborates on recent key findings regarding molecular biomarkers for HCC early diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. Currently emerging epigenetic drugs for the treatment of HCC are summarized. In addition, combining epigenetic drugs with nonepigenetic drugs for HCC treatment is also mentioned. The molecular mechanisms of DNA methylation-mediated HCC resistance are reviewed, providing some insights into the difficulty of treating liver cancer and anticancer drug development.

LINE-1 in Obesity and Cardiometabolic Diseases: A Systematic Review

Epigenetic mechanisms may play an important role in the etiology of obesity and cardiometabolic diseases, by activating or silencing the related-genes. Scientific evidence has suggested that LINE-1 methylation is associated with body composition and obesity-related diseases, including insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and cardiovascular disease (CVD). It also has been evaluated as predictor of weight loss. The studies' results are still conflicting, and positive and negative associations have been found to LINE-1 methylation regarding adiposity and cardiometabolic markers. Overall, this review presents observational (cross-sectional and longitudinal) studies and interventions (diet, exercises, and bariatric surgery) that evaluated the relationship of the LINE-1 methylation with obesity, weight loss, dyslipidemias, hypertension, insulin resistance, CVD, and metabolic syndrome. TEACHING POINTS Epigenetic mechanisms may play an important role in the etiology of obesity and cardiometabolic diseases. Many studies have related methylation of LINE-1 with cardiometabolic diseases; however, the results are still controversial. The relationship between the etiology of chronic diseases and the methylation of LINE-1 is not fully elucidated. With advances in epigenetic studies, related mechanisms may be early biomarkers in weight change and cardiometabolic risk.

Obesity-Related Epigenetic Changes After Bariatric Surgery

Objective: In recent years, an increasing number of studies have begun focusing on epigenetics as a link between environmental factors and a greater predisposition to the development of obesity and its comorbidities. An important challenge in this field is the evaluation of the possibility of the reversal of obesity-related epigenetic marks by means of therapy to induce weight loss and if the beneficial effects of therapy in reducing obesity are mediated by epigenetic mechanisms. We aimed to offer an outline of the current results regarding to the impact of bariatric surgery on epigenetic regulation, as well as to show if the beneficial effect of this intervention could be mediated by epigenetic mechanisms. Methods: A review of the scientific publications in PubMed was performed by using key words related to obesity, epigenetics and bariatric surgery to provide an update of recent findings in this area of research. The most relevant and recently published articles and abstracts were selected to frame this review. Results: Previous studies have demonstrated the presence of differential DNA methylation after bariatric surgery and the differential expression of non-coding RNAs. Therefore, epigenetic regulation could mediate the benefit of bariatric surgery on body weight and the metabolic disturbances associated with excess body weight, such as insulin resistance, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease. This evidence is relatively new as epigenetic regulation was first evaluated in the obesity field only a few years ago. However, there is an urgent need to perform longitudinal studies to evaluate the capacity of epigenetic marks in the prediction of bariatric surgery response. Conclusions: Bariatric surgery appears to be capable of partially reversing the obesity-related epigenome. The identification of potential epigenetic biomarkers predictive for the success of bariatric surgery may open new doors to personalized therapy for severe obesity.

Interaction Among Sex, Aging, and Epigenetic Processes Concerning Visceral Fat, Insulin Resistance, and Dyslipidaemia

The distribution of adipose tissue is influenced by gender and by age, shifting from subcutaneous to visceral depots with longevity, increasing the development of several aging-related diseases and manifestations such as obesity, metabolic syndrome, and insulin resistance. Epigenetics might have an important role in aging processes. The aim of this research was to investigate the interactions between aging and epigenetic processes and the role of visceral adipose tissue, insulin resistance, and dyslipidaemia. Two different study samples of 366 and 269 adult participants were analyzed. Anthropometric, biochemical (including the triglycerides-glucose (TyG) index), and blood pressure measurements were assessed following standardized methods. Body composition measurements by Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) were also performed for the second sample. Methylation data were assessed by Infinium Human Methylation BeadChip (Illumina) in peripheral white blood cells. Epigenetic age acceleration was calculated using the methods DNAmAge (AgeAcc) and GrimAge (AgeAccGrim). Age acceleration (AgeAccGrim) showed better correlations than AgeAcc with most of the measured variables (waist circumference, glucose, HOMA-IR, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, and TyG index) for the first sample. In the second sample, all the previous correlations were confirmed, except for HOMA-IR. In addition, many of the anthropometrical measurements assessed by DXA and C-reactive protein (CRP) were also statistically associated with AgeAccGrim. Associations separated by sex showed statistically significant correlations between AgeAccGrim and HDL-cholesterol or CRP in women, whereas, in men, the association was with visceral adipose tissue mass DXA, triglycerides and TyG index. Linear regression models (model 1 included visceral adipose tissue mass DXA and TyG index and model 2 included HDL-cholesterol and CRP) showed a significant association for men concerning visceral adipose tissue mass DXA and TyG index, while HDL-cholesterol and CRP were associated in women. Moreover, structural equation modeling showed that the TyG index was mediating the majority of the visceral adipose tissue mass action on age acceleration. Collectively, these findings showed that there are different mechanisms affecting epigenetic age acceleration depending on sex. The identified relationships between epigenetic age acceleration and disease markers will contribute to the understanding of the development of age-related diseases.