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Chiodi V, Rappa F, Lo Re O, Chaldakov GN, Lelouvier B, Micale V, Domenici MR, Vinciguerra M. Deficiency of histone variant macroH2A1.1 is associated with sexually dimorphic obesity in mice. Sci Rep 2023; 13:19123. [PMID: 37926763 PMCID: PMC10625986 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-46304-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Obesity has a major socio-economic health impact. There are profound sex differences in adipose tissue deposition and obesity-related conditions. The underlying mechanisms driving sexual dimorphism in obesity and its associated metabolic disorders remain unclear. Histone variant macroH2A1.1 is a candidate epigenetic mechanism linking environmental and dietary factors to obesity. Here, we used a mouse model genetically depleted of macroH2A1.1 to investigate its potential epigenetic role in sex dimorphic obesity, metabolic disturbances and gut dysbiosis. Whole body macroH2A1 knockout (KO) mice, generated with the Cre/loxP technology, and their control littermates were fed a high fat diet containing 60% of energy derived from fat. The diet was administered for three months starting from 10 to 12 weeks of age. We evaluated the progression in body weight, the food intake, and the tolerance to glucose by means of a glucose tolerance test. Gut microbiota composition, visceral adipose and liver tissue morphology were assessed. In addition, adipogenic gene expression patterns were evaluated in the visceral adipose tissue. Female KO mice for macroH2A1.1 had a more pronounced weight gain induced by high fat diet compared to their littermates, while the increase in body weight in male mice was similar in the two genotypes. Food intake was generally increased upon KO and decreased by high fat diet in both sexes, with the exception of KO females fed a high fat diet that displayed the same food intake of their littermates. In glucose tolerance tests, glucose levels were significantly elevated upon high fat diet in female KO compared to a standard diet, while this effect was absent in male KO. There were no differences in hepatic histology. Upon a high fat diet, in female adipocyte cross-sectional area was larger in KO compared to littermates: activation of proadipogenic genes (ACACB, AGT, ANGPT2, FASN, RETN, SLC2A4) and downregulation of antiadipogenic genes (AXIN1, E2F1, EGR2, JUN, SIRT1, SIRT2, UCP1, CCND1, CDKN1A, CDKN1B, EGR2) was detected. Gut microbiota profiling showed increase in Firmicutes and a decrease in Bacteroidetes in females, but not males, macroH2A1.1 KO mice. MacroH2A1.1 KO mice display sexual dimorphism in high fat diet-induced obesity and in gut dysbiosis, and may represent a useful model to investigate epigenetic and metabolic differences associated to the development of obesity-associated pathological conditions in males and females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Chiodi
- National Centre for Drug Research and Evaluation, Istituto Superiore di Sanita', Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Rappa
- Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics (BiND), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Oriana Lo Re
- Department of Translational Stem Cell Biology, Research Institute of the Medical University, Varna, Bulgaria
- International Clinical Research Center (FNUSA-ICRC), St'Anne University Hospital, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - George N Chaldakov
- Department of Translational Stem Cell Biology, Research Institute of the Medical University, Varna, Bulgaria
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Research Institute of the Medical University, Varna, Bulgaria
| | | | - Vincenzo Micale
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Maria Rosaria Domenici
- National Centre for Drug Research and Evaluation, Istituto Superiore di Sanita', Rome, Italy
| | - Manlio Vinciguerra
- Department of Translational Stem Cell Biology, Research Institute of the Medical University, Varna, Bulgaria.
- International Clinical Research Center (FNUSA-ICRC), St'Anne University Hospital, Brno, Czech Republic.
- Liverpool Centre for Cardiovascular Science (LCCS), Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK.
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Yang F, Hilakivi-Clarke L, Shaha A, Wang Y, Wang X, Deng Y, Lai J, Kang N. Metabolic reprogramming and its clinical implication for liver cancer. Hepatology 2023; 78:1602-1624. [PMID: 36626639 PMCID: PMC10315435 DOI: 10.1097/hep.0000000000000005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Cancer cells often encounter hypoxic and hypo-nutrient conditions, which force them to make adaptive changes to meet their high demands for energy and various biomaterials for biomass synthesis. As a result, enhanced catabolism (breakdown of macromolecules for energy production) and anabolism (macromolecule synthesis from bio-precursors) are induced in cancer. This phenomenon is called "metabolic reprogramming," a cancer hallmark contributing to cancer development, metastasis, and drug resistance. HCC and cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) are 2 different liver cancers with high intertumoral heterogeneity in terms of etiologies, mutational landscapes, transcriptomes, and histological representations. In agreement, metabolism in HCC or CCA is remarkably heterogeneous, although changes in the glycolytic pathways and an increase in the generation of lactate (the Warburg effect) have been frequently detected in those tumors. For example, HCC tumors with activated β-catenin are addicted to fatty acid catabolism, whereas HCC tumors derived from fatty liver avoid using fatty acids. In this review, we describe common metabolic alterations in HCC and CCA as well as metabolic features unique for their subsets. We discuss metabolism of NAFLD as well, because NAFLD will likely become a leading etiology of liver cancer in the coming years due to the obesity epidemic in the Western world. Furthermore, we outline the clinical implication of liver cancer metabolism and highlight the computation and systems biology approaches, such as genome-wide metabolic models, as a valuable tool allowing us to identify therapeutic targets and develop personalized treatments for liver cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flora Yang
- BA/MD Joint Admission Scholars Program, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Leena Hilakivi-Clarke
- Food Science and Nutrition Section, The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, Austin, Minnesota
| | - Aurpita Shaha
- Tumor Microenvironment and Metastasis Section, the Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, Austin, Minnesota
| | - Yuanguo Wang
- Tumor Microenvironment and Metastasis Section, the Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, Austin, Minnesota
| | - Xianghu Wang
- Tumor Microenvironment and Metastasis Section, the Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, Austin, Minnesota
| | - Yibin Deng
- Department of Urology, Masonic Cancer Center, The University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Jinping Lai
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Kaiser Permanente Sacramento Medical Center, Sacramento, California
| | - Ningling Kang
- Tumor Microenvironment and Metastasis Section, the Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, Austin, Minnesota
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3
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Buzova D, Frohlich J, Zapletalova D, Raffaele M, Lo Re O, Tsoneva DK, Sterba J, Cerveny J, Vinciguerra M. Detection of cell-free histones in the cerebrospinal fluid of pediatric central nervous system malignancies by imaging flow cytometry. Front Mol Biosci 2023; 10:1254699. [PMID: 38028540 PMCID: PMC10646437 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1254699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Pediatric brain tumours (PBT) are one of the most common malignancies during childhood, with variable severity according to the location and histological type. Certain types of gliomas, such a glioblastoma and diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), have a much higher mortality than ependymoma and medulloblastoma. Early detection of PBT is essential for diagnosis and therapeutic interventions. Liquid biopsies have been demonstrated using cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), mostly restricted to cell free DNA, which display limitations of quantity and integrity. In this pilot study, we sought to demonstrate the detectability and robustness of cell free histones in the CSF. Methods: We collected CSF samples from a pilot cohort of 8 children with brain tumours including DIPG, medulloblastoma, glioblastoma, ependymoma and others. As controls, we collected CSF samples from nine children with unrelated blood malignancies and without brain tumours. We applied a multichannel flow imaging approach on ImageStream(X) to image indiviual histone or histone complexes on different channels. Results: Single histones (H2A, macroH2A1.1, macroH2A1.2 H2B, H3, H4 and histone H3 bearing the H3K27M mutation), and histone complexes are specifically detectable in the CSF of PBT patients. H2A and its variants macroH2A1.1/macroH2A1/2 displayed the strongest signal and abundance, together with disease associated H3K27M. In contrast, mostly H4 is detectable in the CSF of pediatric patients with blood malignancies. Discussion: In conclusion, free histones and histone complexes are detectable with a strong signal in the CSF of children affected by brain tumours, using ImageStream(X) technology and may provide additive diagnostic and predictive information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Buzova
- Department of Adaptive Biotechnologies, Global Change Research Institute CAS, Brno, Czechia
| | - Jan Frohlich
- International Clinical Research Center, St Anne’s University Hospital, Brno, Czechia
| | - Danica Zapletalova
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Marco Raffaele
- International Clinical Research Center, St Anne’s University Hospital, Brno, Czechia
| | - Oriana Lo Re
- International Clinical Research Center, St Anne’s University Hospital, Brno, Czechia
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Transplantology, Research Institute of the Medical University of Varna, Varna, Bulgaria
| | - Desislava K. Tsoneva
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Transplantology, Research Institute of the Medical University of Varna, Varna, Bulgaria
- Department of Medical Genetics, Medical University of Varna, Varna, Bulgaria
| | - Jaroslav Sterba
- International Clinical Research Center, St Anne’s University Hospital, Brno, Czechia
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, University Hospital Brno and Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Jan Cerveny
- Department of Adaptive Biotechnologies, Global Change Research Institute CAS, Brno, Czechia
| | - Manlio Vinciguerra
- International Clinical Research Center, St Anne’s University Hospital, Brno, Czechia
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Transplantology, Research Institute of the Medical University of Varna, Varna, Bulgaria
- Faculty of Health, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom
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Kong W, Gao Y, Zhao S, Yang H. Cancer stem cells: advances in the glucose, lipid and amino acid metabolism. Mol Cell Biochem 2023:10.1007/s11010-023-04861-6. [PMID: 37882986 DOI: 10.1007/s11010-023-04861-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a class of cells with self-renewal and multi-directional differentiation potential, which are present in most tumors, particularly in aggressive tumors, and perform a pivotal role in recurrence and metastasis and are expected to be one of the important targets for tumor therapy. Studies of tumor metabolism in recent years have found that the metabolic characteristics of CSCs are distinct from those of differentiated tumor cells, which are unique to CSCs and contribute to the maintenance of the stemness characteristics of CSCs. Moreover, these altered metabolic profiles can drive the transformation between CSCs and non-CSCs, implying that these metabolic alterations are important markers for CSCs to play their biological roles. The identification of metabolic changes in CSCs and their metabolic plasticity mechanisms may provide some new opportunities for tumor therapy. In this paper, we review the metabolism-related mechanisms of CSCs in order to provide a theoretical basis for their potential application in tumor therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weina Kong
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Xijing Hospital, Air Forth Military Medical University, 127 Changle West Road, Xincheng District, Xi'an City, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Yunge Gao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Xijing Hospital, Air Forth Military Medical University, 127 Changle West Road, Xincheng District, Xi'an City, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Shuhua Zhao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Xijing Hospital, Air Forth Military Medical University, 127 Changle West Road, Xincheng District, Xi'an City, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Hong Yang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Xijing Hospital, Air Forth Military Medical University, 127 Changle West Road, Xincheng District, Xi'an City, Shaanxi Province, China.
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Zhang H, Xia P, Yang Z, Liu J, Zhu Y, Huang Z, Zhang Z, Yuan Y. Cullin-associated and neddylation-dissociated 1 regulate reprogramming of lipid metabolism through SKP1-Cullin-1-F-box FBXO11 -mediated heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A2/B1 ubiquitination and promote hepatocellular carcinoma. Clin Transl Med 2023; 13:e1443. [PMID: 37837399 PMCID: PMC10576442 DOI: 10.1002/ctm2.1443] [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: 06/12/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Enhanced de novo lipogenesis is essential for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Abnormally high cullin-associated and neddylation-dissociated 1 (CAND1) expression is associated with poor clinical prognosis in HCC. The SKP1-Cullin-1-F-box (SCF) complex consists of the SKP1, Cullin-1 and F-box proteins (FBPs) and performs multiple functions including adipogenesis. SCF complex was modulated by CAND1, but Whether and how the CAND1 promotes HCC by regulating SCF complex and lipogenesis are unknown. METHODS HCC samples were used to analyze the correlations between CAND1 expression and clinicopathological characteristics such as survival and prognosis. The in vitro functions of CAND1, FBXO11 and heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A2/B1 (hnRNPA2B1) were measured by cell proliferation, colony formation and migration assays. The in vivo functions were tested in multiple mouse liver cancer models including patient-derived xenograft (PDX), cell line-derived xenograft and AKT/NRASV12-induced primary liver cancer models. Injections of adeno-associated virus targeting CAND1 (AAV-shCAND1) were performed to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of targeting CAND1. RNA-Seq and lipidomic assays followed by serial biochemical experiments including mass spectrometry, immunoprecipitation and GST pull-down were performed to dissect the underlying mechanisms. RESULTS CAND1 promoted the expression of lipid synthesis genes by disrupting SCF complex assembly and lipid accumulation. Furthermore, we identified hnRNPA2B1 as a novel F-box protein 11 (FBXO11)-binding partner. FBXO11 directly bound to hnRNPA2B1 and promoted hnRNPA2B1 ubiquitination and subsequent degradation. Our evaluations of the therapeutic efficacy of AAV-shCAND1 injections confirmed that targeting the CAND1-SCFFBXO11 -hnRNPA2B1A signalling axis was therapeutically effective. CAND1 downregulation significantly reduced the tumour burden in a primary mouse liver cancer model and a PDX model. CONCLUSIONS Our results highlight that CAND1 is associated with poor prognosis in HCC and regulates lipid metabolic reprogramming by dissociating the SCF complex. Targeting the CAND1-SCFFBXO11 -hnRNPA2B1 axis may be a novel strategy for HCC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic SurgeryZhongnan Hospital of Wuhan UniversityWuhanChina
- Clinical Medicine Research Center for Minimally Invasive Procedure of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Diseases of Hubei ProvinceWuhanChina
- Department of Organ TransplantationQilu Hospital of Shandong UniversityJinanChina
| | - Peng Xia
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic SurgeryZhongnan Hospital of Wuhan UniversityWuhanChina
- Clinical Medicine Research Center for Minimally Invasive Procedure of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Diseases of Hubei ProvinceWuhanChina
| | - Zhangshuo Yang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic SurgeryZhongnan Hospital of Wuhan UniversityWuhanChina
- Clinical Medicine Research Center for Minimally Invasive Procedure of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Diseases of Hubei ProvinceWuhanChina
- Department of Breast SurgeryAffiliated Hospital of Hebei UniversityBaodingChina
| | - Jie Liu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic SurgeryZhongnan Hospital of Wuhan UniversityWuhanChina
- Clinical Medicine Research Center for Minimally Invasive Procedure of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Diseases of Hubei ProvinceWuhanChina
- TaiKang Center for Life and Medical SciencesWuhan UniversityWuhanChina
| | - Yimin Zhu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic SurgeryZhongnan Hospital of Wuhan UniversityWuhanChina
- Clinical Medicine Research Center for Minimally Invasive Procedure of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Diseases of Hubei ProvinceWuhanChina
| | - Zan Huang
- College of Life SciencesWuhan UniversityWuhanChina
| | - Zhonglin Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic SurgeryZhongnan Hospital of Wuhan UniversityWuhanChina
- Clinical Medicine Research Center for Minimally Invasive Procedure of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Diseases of Hubei ProvinceWuhanChina
| | - Yufeng Yuan
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic SurgeryZhongnan Hospital of Wuhan UniversityWuhanChina
- Clinical Medicine Research Center for Minimally Invasive Procedure of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Diseases of Hubei ProvinceWuhanChina
- TaiKang Center for Life and Medical SciencesWuhan UniversityWuhanChina
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Liorni N, Napoli A, Castellana S, Giallongo S, Řeháková D, Re OL, Koutná I, Mazza T, Vinciguerra M. Integrative CUT&Tag-RNA-Seq analysis of histone variant macroH2A1-dependent orchestration of human induced pluripotent stem cell reprogramming. Epigenomics 2023; 15:863-877. [PMID: 37846557 DOI: 10.2217/epi-2023-0267] [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] [Indexed: 10/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Aim: Human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are inefficiently derived from somatic cells by overexpression of defined transcription factors. Overexpression of H2A histone variant macroH2A1.1, but not macroH2A1.2, leads to increased iPSC reprogramming by unclear mechanisms. Materials & methods: Cleavage under targets and tagmentation (CUT&Tag) allows robust epigenomic profiling of a low cell number. We performed an integrative CUT&Tag-RNA-Seq analysis of macroH2A1-dependent orchestration of iPSCs reprogramming using human endothelial cells. Results: We demonstrate wider genome occupancy, predicted transcription factors binding, and gene expression regulated by macroH2A1.1 during reprogramming, compared to macroH2A1.2. MacroH2A1.1, previously associated with neurodegenerative pathologies, specifically activated ectoderm/neural processes. Conclusion: CUT&Tag and RNA-Seq data integration is a powerful tool to investigate the epigenetic mechanisms occurring during cell reprogramming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niccolò Liorni
- Bioinformatics Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza,71013, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
| | - Alessandro Napoli
- Bioinformatics Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza,71013, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
| | - Stefano Castellana
- Bioinformatics Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza,71013, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
| | - Sebastiano Giallongo
- International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University Hospital, 65691, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Biomedical & Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, 95123, Catania, Italy
| | - Daniela Řeháková
- International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University Hospital, 65691, Brno, Czech Republic
- Institute of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, 62500, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Oriana Lo Re
- International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University Hospital, 65691, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Translational Stem Cell Biology, Research Institute, Medical University of Varna (RIMUV), 9002, Varna, Bulgaria
| | - Irena Koutná
- International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University Hospital, 65691, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Histology & Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, 62500, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Tommaso Mazza
- Bioinformatics Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza,71013, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
| | - Manlio Vinciguerra
- International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University Hospital, 65691, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Translational Stem Cell Biology, Research Institute, Medical University of Varna (RIMUV), 9002, Varna, Bulgaria
- Faculty of Health, Liverpool John Moores University, L2 2ER, Liverpool, UK
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Human centenarian-associated SIRT6 mutants modulate hepatocyte metabolism and collagen deposition in multilineage hepatic 3D spheroids. GeroScience 2022; 45:1177-1196. [PMID: 36534275 PMCID: PMC9886743 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-022-00713-1] [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: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), encompassing fatty liver and its progression into nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), is one of the rapidly rising health concerns worldwide. SIRT6 is an essential nuclear sirtuin that regulates numerous pathological processes including insulin resistance and inflammation, and recently it has been implicated in the amelioration of NAFLD progression. SIRT6 overexpression protects from formation of fibrotic lesions. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms are not fully delineated. Moreover, new allelic variants of SIRT6 (N308K/A313S) were recently associated with the longevity in Ashkenazi Jews by improving genome maintenance and DNA repair, suppressing transposons and killing cancer cells. Whether these new SIRT6 variants play different or enhanced roles in liver diseases is currently unknown. In this study, we aimed to clarify how these new centenarian-associated SIRT6 genetic variants affect liver metabolism and associated diseases. We present evidence that overexpression of centenarian-associated SIRT6 variants dramatically altered the metabolomic and secretomic profiles of unchallenged immortalized human hepatocytes (IHH). Most amino acids were increased in the SIRT6 N308K/A313S overexpressing IHH when compared to IHH transfected with the SIRT6 wild-type sequence. Several unsaturated fatty acids and glycerophospholipids were increased, and ceramide tended to be decreased upon SIRT6 N308K/A313S overexpression. Furthermore, we found that overexpression of SIRT6 N308K/A313S in a 3D hepatic spheroid model formed by the co-culture of human immortalized hepatocytes (IHH) and hepatic stellate cells (LX2) inhibited collagen deposition and fibrotic gene expression in absence of metabolic or dietary challenges. Hence, our findings suggest that novel longevity associated SIRT6 N308K/A313S variants could favor the prevention of NASH by altering hepatocyte proteome and lipidome.
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Buzova D, Braghini MR, Bianco SD, Lo Re O, Raffaele M, Frohlich J, Kisheva A, Crudele A, Mosca A, Sartorelli MR, Balsano C, Cerveny J, Mazza T, Alisi A, Vinciguerra M. Profiling of cell-free DNA methylation and histone signatures in pediatric NAFLD: A pilot study. Hepatol Commun 2022; 6:3311-3323. [PMID: 36264206 PMCID: PMC9701487 DOI: 10.1002/hep4.2082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Revised: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become the most common chronic liver disease in children and adolescents, increasing the risk of its progression toward nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), cirrhosis, and cancer. There is an urgent need for noninvasive early diagnostic and prognostic tools such as epigenetic marks (epimarks), which would replace liver biopsy in the future. We used plasma samples from 67 children with biopsy-proven NAFLD, and as controls we used samples from 20 children negative for steatosis by ultrasound. All patients were genotyped for patatin-like phospholipase domain containing 3 (PNPLA3), transmembrane 6 superfamily member 2 (TM6SF2), membrane bound O-acyltransferase domain containing 7 (MBOAT7), and klotho-β (KLB) gene variants, and data on anthropometric and biochemical parameters were collected. Furthermore, plasma cell-free DNA (cfDNA) methylation was quantified using a commercially available kit, and ImageStream(X) was used for the detection of free circulating histone complexes and variants. We found a significant enrichment of the levels of histone macroH2A1.2 in the plasma of children with NAFLD compared to controls, and a strong correlation between cfDNA methylation levels and NASH. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis demonstrated that combination of cfDNA methylation, PNPLA3 rs738409 variant, coupled with either high-density lipoprotein cholesterol or alanine aminotransferase levels can strongly predict the progression of pediatric NAFLD to NASH with area under the curve >0.87. Conclusion: Our pilot study combined epimarks and genetic and metabolic markers for a robust risk assessment of NAFLD development and progression in children, offering a promising noninvasive tool for the consistent diagnosis and prognosis of pediatric NAFLD. Further studies are necessary to identify their pathogenic origin and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Buzova
- Department of Adaptive BiotechnologiesGlobal Change Research Institute CASBrnoCzech Republic
| | - Maria Rita Braghini
- Unit of Molecular Genetics of Complex PhenotypesBambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCSRomeItaly
| | - Salvatore Daniele Bianco
- Laboratory of BioinformaticsFondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della SofferenzaSan Giovanni Rotondo (FG)Italy
| | - Oriana Lo Re
- International Clinical Research CenterSt. Anne's University HospitalBrnoCzech Republic,Department of Translational Stem Cell BiologyResearch Institute of the Medical University of VarnaVarnaBulgaria
| | - Marco Raffaele
- International Clinical Research CenterSt. Anne's University HospitalBrnoCzech Republic
| | - Jan Frohlich
- International Clinical Research CenterSt. Anne's University HospitalBrnoCzech Republic
| | - Antoniya Kisheva
- Department of Internal Diseases IMedical University of VarnaVarnaBulgaria
| | - Annalisa Crudele
- Unit of Molecular Genetics of Complex PhenotypesBambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCSRomeItaly
| | - Antonella Mosca
- Hepatology, Gastroenterology and Nutrition UnitBambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCSRomeItaly
| | - Maria Rita Sartorelli
- Hepatology, Gastroenterology and Nutrition UnitBambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCSRomeItaly
| | - Clara Balsano
- Department of LifeHealth & Environmental Sciences‐ MESVA‐School of Emergency and Urgency Medicine, University of L'AquilaL'AquilaItaly
| | - Jan Cerveny
- Department of Adaptive BiotechnologiesGlobal Change Research Institute CASBrnoCzech Republic
| | - Tommaso Mazza
- Laboratory of BioinformaticsFondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della SofferenzaSan Giovanni Rotondo (FG)Italy
| | - Anna Alisi
- Unit of Molecular Genetics of Complex PhenotypesBambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCSRomeItaly
| | - Manlio Vinciguerra
- International Clinical Research CenterSt. Anne's University HospitalBrnoCzech Republic,Department of Translational Stem Cell BiologyResearch Institute of the Medical University of VarnaVarnaBulgaria,Liverpool Center for Cardiovascular ScienceLiverpool Johns Moore UniversityLiverpoolUK
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9
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Wang SY, Hu QC, Wu T, Xia J, Tao XA, Cheng B. Abnormal lipid synthesis as a therapeutic target for cancer stem cells. World J Stem Cells 2022; 14:146-162. [PMID: 35432735 PMCID: PMC8963380 DOI: 10.4252/wjsc.v14.i2.146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2021] [Revised: 05/19/2021] [Accepted: 02/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) comprise a subpopulation of cancer cells with stem cell properties, which exhibit the characteristics of high tumorigenicity, self-renewal, and tumor initiation and are associated with the occurrence, metastasis, therapy resistance, and relapse of cancer. Compared with differentiated cells, CSCs have unique metabolic characteristics, and metabolic reprogramming contributes to the self-renewal and maintenance of stem cells. It has been reported that CSCs are highly dependent on lipid metabolism to maintain stemness and satisfy the requirements of biosynthesis and energy metabolism. In this review, we demonstrate that lipid anabolism alterations promote the survival of CSCs, including de novo lipogenesis, lipid desaturation, and cholesterol synthesis. In addition, we also emphasize the molecular mechanism underlying the relationship between lipid synthesis and stem cell survival, the signal trans-duction pathways involved, and the application prospect of lipid synthesis reprogramming in CSC therapy. It is demonstrated that the dependence on lipid synthesis makes targeting of lipid synthesis metabolism a promising therapeutic strategy for eliminating CSCs. Targeting key molecules in lipid synthesis will play an important role in anti-CSC therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Si-Yu Wang
- Department of Oral Medicine, Hospital of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510000, Guangdong Province, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510000, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Qin-Chao Hu
- Department of Oral Medicine, Hospital of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510000, Guangdong Province, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510000, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Tong Wu
- Department of Oral Medicine, Hospital of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510000, Guangdong Province, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510000, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Juan Xia
- Department of Oral Medicine, Hospital of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510000, Guangdong Province, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510000, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Xiao-An Tao
- Department of Oral Medicine, Hospital of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510000, Guangdong Province, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510000, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Bin Cheng
- Department of Oral Medicine, Hospital of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510000, Guangdong Province, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510000, Guangdong Province, China
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10
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Reddy D, Bhattacharya S, Shah S, Rashid M, Gupta S. DNA methylation mediated downregulation of histone H3 variant H3.3 affects cell proliferation contributing to the development of HCC. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2022; 1868:166284. [PMID: 34626773 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2021.166284] [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: 06/14/2021] [Revised: 09/19/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Chromatin alterations brought by histone variants and modifications potentially regulate gene transcription from tumor initiation to progression. Histone H3.3 variant is one such epigenetic player important for disease progression and development. Though many studies have implicated H3.3 role in cancer progression and metastasis, its regulation, importance of specific modifications and chaperones have been not understood yet. We report DNA methylation mediated downregulation of histone H3 variant H3.3 in HCC and a concomitant increase in the level of the H3.2 variant. The loss of H3.3 in cancer tissues correlates with a decrease in the histone modifications associated with active transcription like H3K9/K14/K27Ac and H3K4Me3. The ectopic overexpression of H3.3 and H3.2 did not affect global PTMs and cell physiology, probably owing to the deregulation of specific histone chaperones CAF-1 (for H3.2) and HIRA (for H3.3) as observed in HCC tissues. Notably, knockdown of P150, a subunit of CAF-1 leads to a cell cycle arrest in S-phase in a neoplastic rat liver cell line, possibly due to the decrease in the histone levels necessary for DNA packaging. Remarkably, modulation of H3.3 in pre-neoplastic rat liver cells lead to an increase in cell proliferation and a decreased transcription of tumor suppressor genes, recapitulating the tumor cell phenotype. Our data suggests, inhibition of DNA methylation and histone deacetylation leads to the restoration of histone H3 variant expression in tumor cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Divya Reddy
- Epigenetics and Chromatin Biology Group, Gupta Lab, Cancer Research Institute, Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC), Tata Memorial Centre, Kharghar, Navi Mumbai 410210, MH, India; Homi Bhabha National Institute, Training School Complex, Anushakti Nagar, Mumbai, MH 400085, India.
| | - Saikat Bhattacharya
- Epigenetics and Chromatin Biology Group, Gupta Lab, Cancer Research Institute, Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC), Tata Memorial Centre, Kharghar, Navi Mumbai 410210, MH, India; Homi Bhabha National Institute, Training School Complex, Anushakti Nagar, Mumbai, MH 400085, India.
| | - Sanket Shah
- Epigenetics and Chromatin Biology Group, Gupta Lab, Cancer Research Institute, Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC), Tata Memorial Centre, Kharghar, Navi Mumbai 410210, MH, India; Homi Bhabha National Institute, Training School Complex, Anushakti Nagar, Mumbai, MH 400085, India.
| | - Mudasir Rashid
- Epigenetics and Chromatin Biology Group, Gupta Lab, Cancer Research Institute, Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC), Tata Memorial Centre, Kharghar, Navi Mumbai 410210, MH, India; Homi Bhabha National Institute, Training School Complex, Anushakti Nagar, Mumbai, MH 400085, India.
| | - Sanjay Gupta
- Epigenetics and Chromatin Biology Group, Gupta Lab, Cancer Research Institute, Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC), Tata Memorial Centre, Kharghar, Navi Mumbai 410210, MH, India; Homi Bhabha National Institute, Training School Complex, Anushakti Nagar, Mumbai, MH 400085, India.
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11
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The metabolic flexibility of quiescent CSC: implications for chemotherapy resistance. Cell Death Dis 2021; 12:835. [PMID: 34482364 PMCID: PMC8418609 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-021-04116-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Revised: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Quiescence has been observed in stem cells (SCs), including adult SCs and cancer SCs (CSCs). Conventional chemotherapies mostly target proliferating cancer cells, while the quiescent state favors CSCs escape to chemotherapeutic drugs, leaving risks for tumor recurrence or metastasis. The tumor microenvironment (TME) provides various signals that maintain resident quiescent CSCs, protect them from immune surveillance, and facilitates their recurrence potential. Since the TME has the potential to support and initiate stem cell-like programs in cancer cells, targeting the TME components may prove to be a powerful modality for the treatment of chemotherapy resistance. In addition, an increasing number of studies have discovered that CSCs exhibit the potential of metabolic flexibility when metabolic substrates are limited, and display increased robustness in response to stress. Accompanied by chemotherapy that targets proliferative cancer cells, treatments that modulate CSC quiescence through the regulation of metabolic pathways also show promise. In this review, we focus on the roles of metabolic flexibility and the TME on CSCs quiescence and further discuss potential treatments of targeting CSCs and the TME to limit chemotherapy resistance.
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12
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Carbone A, De Santis E, Cela O, Giambra V, Miele L, Marrone G, Grieco A, Buschbeck M, Capitanio N, Mazza T, Mazzoccoli G. The Histone Variant MacroH2A1 Impacts Circadian Gene Expression and Cell Phenotype in an In Vitro Model of Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Biomedicines 2021; 9:biomedicines9081057. [PMID: 34440260 PMCID: PMC8391426 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9081057] [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: 08/04/2021] [Revised: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 08/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. A foremost risk factor for HCC is obesity/metabolic syndrome-related non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which is prompted by remarkable changes in transcription patterns of genes enriching metabolic, immune/inflammatory, and circadian pathways. Epigenetic mechanisms play a role in NAFLD-associated HCC, and macroH2A1, a variant of histone H2A, is involved in the pathogenesis modulating the expression of oncogenes and/or tumor suppressor genes and interacting with SIRT1, which crucially impacts the circadian clock circuitry. Hence, we aimed to appraise if and how macroH2A1 regulated the expression patterns of circadian genes in the setting of NAFLD-associated HCC. We took advantage of an in vitro model of liver cancer represented by HepG2 (human hepatocarcinoma) cells stably knocked down for macroH2A1 and conducted whole transcriptome profiling and deep phenotyping analysis. We found up-regulation of PER1 along with several deregulated circadian genes, enriching several important pathways and functions related to cancer onset and progression, such as epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, cell cycle deregulation, and DNA damage. PER1 silencing partially mitigated the malignant phenotype induced by the loss of macroH2A1 in HCC cells. In conclusion, our findings suggest a modulatory role for the core circadian protein PER1 in liver carcinogenesis in the context of a lack of the macroH2A1 epigenetic and transcriptional landscape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annalucia Carbone
- Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Internal Medicine and Chronobiology Laboratory, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, 71013 San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy;
| | - Elisabetta De Santis
- Institute for Stem Cell Biology, Regenerative Medicine and Innovative Therapies (ISBReMIT), Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, 71013 San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy; (E.D.S.); (V.G.)
| | - Olga Cela
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, 71100 Foggia, Italy; (O.C.); (N.C.)
| | - Vincenzo Giambra
- Institute for Stem Cell Biology, Regenerative Medicine and Innovative Therapies (ISBReMIT), Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, 71013 San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy; (E.D.S.); (V.G.)
| | - Luca Miele
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli-IRCCS, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy; (L.M.); (G.M.); (A.G.)
| | - Giuseppe Marrone
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli-IRCCS, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy; (L.M.); (G.M.); (A.G.)
| | - Antonio Grieco
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli-IRCCS, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy; (L.M.); (G.M.); (A.G.)
| | - Marcus Buschbeck
- Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute, IJC Building, Can Ruti Campus Ctra de Can Ruti, Camí de les Escoles s/n, 08916 Badalona, Spain;
| | - Nazzareno Capitanio
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, 71100 Foggia, Italy; (O.C.); (N.C.)
| | - Tommaso Mazza
- Bioinformatics Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, 71013 San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy;
| | - Gianluigi Mazzoccoli
- Department of Medical Sciences, Division of Internal Medicine and Chronobiology Laboratory, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, 71013 San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy;
- Correspondence: ; Tel./Fax: +39-(0882)-410-255
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13
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Otero-Albiol D, Carnero A. Cellular senescence or stemness: hypoxia flips the coin. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH : CR 2021; 40:243. [PMID: 34325734 PMCID: PMC8323321 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-021-02035-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Cellular senescence is a complex physiological state whose main feature is proliferative arrest. Cellular senescence can be considered the reverse of cell immortalization and continuous tumor growth. However, cellular senescence has many physiological functions beyond being a putative tumor suppressive trait. It remains unknown whether low levels of oxygen or hypoxia, which is a feature of every tissue in the organism, modulate cellular senescence, altering its capacity to suppress the limitation of proliferation. It has been observed that the lifespan of mammalian primary cells is increased under low oxygen conditions. Additionally, hypoxia promotes self-renewal and pluripotency maintenance in adult and embryonic stem cells (ESCs), induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and cancer stem cells (CSCs). In this study, we discuss the role of hypoxia facilitating senescence bypass during malignant transformation and acquisition of stemness properties, which all contribute to tumor development and cancer disease aggressiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Otero-Albiol
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla, IBIS, Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío, Universidad de Sevilla, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Avda. Manuel Siurot s/n, 41013, Seville, Spain.,CIBER de CANCER, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
| | - Amancio Carnero
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla, IBIS, Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío, Universidad de Sevilla, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Avda. Manuel Siurot s/n, 41013, Seville, Spain. .,CIBER de CANCER, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain.
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14
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Phosphorylation within Intrinsic Disordered Region Discriminates Histone Variant macroH2A1 Splicing Isoforms-macroH2A1.1 and macroH2A1.2. BIOLOGY 2021; 10:biology10070659. [PMID: 34356514 PMCID: PMC8301376 DOI: 10.3390/biology10070659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Revised: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Simple Summary MacroH2A1, a histone H2A variant, is present as two alternative splicing isoforms, macroH2A1.1 and macroH2A1.2, which are finely regulated through several mechanisms, including post-translational modifications (PTM). In this article, the authors provide the PTM pattern of macroH2A1.1 and macroH2A1.2 in the same experimental setting through mass spec analysis. They report a different phosphorylation level in their intrinsically disordered linker region, which can be responsible for their different biological role, as computational analysis shows. Abstract Background: Gene expression in eukaryotic cells can be governed by histone variants, which replace replication-coupled histones, conferring unique chromatin properties. MacroH2A1 is a histone H2A variant containing a domain highly similar to H2A and a large non-histone (macro) domain. MacroH2A1, in turn, is present in two alternatively exon-spliced isoforms: macroH2A1.1 and macroH2A1.2, which regulate cell plasticity and proliferation in a remarkably distinct manner. The N-terminal and the C-terminal tails of H2A histones stem from the nucleosome core structure and can be target sites for several post-translational modifications (PTMs). MacroH2A1.1 and macroH2A1.2 isoforms differ only in a few amino acids and their ability to bind NAD-derived metabolites, a property allegedly conferring their different functions in vivo. Some of the modifications on the macroH2A1 variant have been identified, such as phosphorylation (T129, S138) and methylation (K18, K123, K239). However, no study to our knowledge has analyzed extensively, and in parallel, the PTM pattern of macroH2A1.1 and macroH2A1.2 in the same experimental setting, which could facilitate the understanding of their distinct biological functions in health and disease. Methods: We used a mass spectrometry-based approach to identify the sites for phosphorylation, acetylation, and methylation in green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged macroH2A1.1 and macroH2A1.2 expressed in human hepatoma cells. The impact of selected PTMs on macroH2A1.1 and macroH2A1.2 structure and function are demonstrated using computational analyses. Results: We identified K7 as a new acetylation site in both macroH2A1 isoforms. Quantitative comparison of histone marks between the two isoforms revealed significant differences in the levels of phosphorylated T129 and S170. Our computational analysis provided evidence that the phosphorylation status in the intrinsically disordered linker region in macroH2A1 isoforms might represent a key regulatory element contributing to their distinct biological responses. Conclusions: Taken together, our results report different PTMs on the two macroH2A1 splicing isoforms as responsible for their distinct features and distribution in the cell.
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15
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Pelizzaro F, Cardin R, Penzo B, Pinto E, Vitale A, Cillo U, Russo FP, Farinati F. Liquid Biopsy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Where Are We Now? Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:2274. [PMID: 34068786 PMCID: PMC8126224 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13092274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Revised: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 05/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the leading causes of cancer related death worldwide. Diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive biomarkers are urgently needed in order to improve patient survival. Indeed, the most widely used biomarkers, such as alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), have limited accuracy as both diagnostic and prognostic tests. Liver biopsy provides an insight on the biology of the tumor, but it is an invasive procedure, not routinely used, and not representative of the whole neoplasia due to the demonstrated intra-tumoral heterogeneity. In recent years, liquid biopsy, defined as the molecular analysis of cancer by-products, released by the tumor in the bloodstream, emerged as an appealing source of new biomarkers. Several studies focused on evaluating extracellular vesicles, circulating tumor cells, cell-free DNA and non-coding RNA as novel reliable biomarkers. In this review, we aimed to provide a comprehensive overview on the most relevant available evidence on novel circulating biomarkers for early diagnosis, prognostic stratification, and therapeutic monitoring. Liquid biopsy seems to be a very promising instrument and, in the near future, some of these new non-invasive tools will probably change the clinical management of HCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filippo Pelizzaro
- Gastroenterology Unit, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padua, 35128 Padua, Italy; (F.P.); (R.C.); (B.P.); (E.P.); (F.P.R.)
| | - Romilda Cardin
- Gastroenterology Unit, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padua, 35128 Padua, Italy; (F.P.); (R.C.); (B.P.); (E.P.); (F.P.R.)
| | - Barbara Penzo
- Gastroenterology Unit, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padua, 35128 Padua, Italy; (F.P.); (R.C.); (B.P.); (E.P.); (F.P.R.)
| | - Elisa Pinto
- Gastroenterology Unit, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padua, 35128 Padua, Italy; (F.P.); (R.C.); (B.P.); (E.P.); (F.P.R.)
| | - Alessandro Vitale
- Hepatobiliary Surgery and Liver Transplantation Unit, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padua, 35128 Padua, Italy; (A.V.); (U.C.)
| | - Umberto Cillo
- Hepatobiliary Surgery and Liver Transplantation Unit, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padua, 35128 Padua, Italy; (A.V.); (U.C.)
| | - Francesco Paolo Russo
- Gastroenterology Unit, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padua, 35128 Padua, Italy; (F.P.); (R.C.); (B.P.); (E.P.); (F.P.R.)
| | - Fabio Farinati
- Gastroenterology Unit, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padua, 35128 Padua, Italy; (F.P.); (R.C.); (B.P.); (E.P.); (F.P.R.)
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16
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Fatma H, Siddique HR. Pluripotency inducing Yamanaka factors: role in stemness and chemoresistance of liver cancer. Expert Rev Anticancer Ther 2021; 21:853-864. [PMID: 33832395 DOI: 10.1080/14737140.2021.1915137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Introduction: Liver cancer is a major cause of mortality and is characterized by the transformation of cells into an uncontrolled mass of tumor cells with many genetic and epigenetic changes, which lead to the development of tumors. A small subpopulation of cell population known as Cancer Stem Cells (CSCs) is responsible for cancer stemness and chemoresistance. Yamanaka factors [octamer-binding transcription factor 4 (OCT4), SRY (sex-determining region Y)-box 2 (SOX2), kruppel-like factor 4 (KLF4), and Myelocytomatosis (MYC); OSKM] are responsible for cancer cell stemness, chemoresistance, and recurrence.Area covered: We cover recent discoveries and investigate the role of OSKM in inducing pluripotency and stem cell-like properties in various cancers with special emphasis on liver cancer. We review Yamanaka factors' role in stemness and chemoresistance of liver cancer.Expert opinion: In CSCs, including liver CSCs, the deregulation of various signaling pathways is one of the major reasons for stemness and drug resistance and is primarily due to OSKM. OSKM are responsible for tumor heterogeneity which renders targeting drug useless after a certain period. These factors can be exploited to understand the underlying mechanism of cancer stemness and resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Homa Fatma
- Molecular Cancer Genetics & Translational Research Laboratory, Section of Genetics, Department of Zoology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh-Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Hifzur Rahman Siddique
- Molecular Cancer Genetics & Translational Research Laboratory, Section of Genetics, Department of Zoology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh-Uttar Pradesh, India
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17
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The diagnostic and prognostic value of H2AFY in hepatocellular carcinoma. BMC Cancer 2021; 21:418. [PMID: 33858382 PMCID: PMC8051056 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-021-08161-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2020] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The potential correlation between H2AFY (also known as MacroH2A1) and the clinical characteristics of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients was analysed through gene expression profiles and clinical data in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, and the diagnostic and prognostic value of H2AFY in HCC was discussed. Methods The gene expression data of HCC and the corresponding clinical characteristics of HCC patients were downloaded from the TCGA database. The differences in H2AFY in normal liver tissues and HCC were analysed. The relationship between H2AFY and clinical characteristics was analysed by Wilcoxon signed-rank test, logistic regression and Kruskal-Wallis test. The Kaplan-Meier method and the Cox regression method were used to analyse the relationship between overall survival and clinical characteristics of the patients. An ROC curve was used to predict the diagnostic value of H2AFY in HCC. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was used to analyse the pathway enrichment of H2AFY. Result Compared with normal liver tissues, H2AFY was significantly highly expressed in HCC. H2AFY was positively correlated with the age, clinical stage, G stage (grade) and T stage (tumor stage) of liver cancer patients. Higher H2AFY expression predicted a poor prognosis in HCC patients. Cox regression analysis suggested that H2AFY was an independent risk factor for the prognosis of HCC patients. The ROC curve suggested that H2AFY had certain diagnostic value in HCC. GSEA suggested that H2AFY was correlated with lipid metabolism and a variety of tumour pathways. Conclusion Our study showed that H2AFY was significantly overexpressed in HCC. H2AFY may be a potential diagnostic and prognostic marker for HCC, and high expression of H2AFY predicts a poor prognosis in patients with HCC.
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Abstract
Cancer is a complex disease characterized by loss of cellular homeostasis through genetic and epigenetic alterations. Emerging evidence highlights a role for histone variants and their dedicated chaperones in cancer initiation and progression. Histone variants are involved in processes as diverse as maintenance of genome integrity, nuclear architecture and cell identity. On a molecular level, histone variants add a layer of complexity to the dynamic regulation of transcription, DNA replication and repair, and mitotic chromosome segregation. Because these functions are critical to ensure normal proliferation and maintenance of cellular fate, cancer cells are defined by their capacity to subvert them. Hijacking histone variants and their chaperones is emerging as a common means to disrupt homeostasis across a wide range of cancers, particularly solid tumours. Here we discuss histone variants and histone chaperones as tumour-promoting or tumour-suppressive players in the pathogenesis of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Dan Filipescu
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
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19
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GDF11 rapidly increases lipid accumulation in liver cancer cells through ALK5-dependent signaling. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Biol Lipids 2021; 1866:158920. [PMID: 33684566 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbalip.2021.158920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Revised: 02/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the fastest-growing causes of cancer-related mortalities worldwide and this trend is mimicked by the surge of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Altered hepatic lipid metabolism promotes HCC development through inflammation and activation of oncogenes. GDF11 is a member of the TGF-β superfamily and recent data have implicated GDF11 as an anti-aging factor that can alleviate high-fat diet induced obesity, hyperglycemia, insulin resistance and NAFLD. However, its role in hepatic lipid metabolism is still not fully delineated. The aim of the present study was to characterize the role of GDF11 in hepatic and HCC cells lipid accumulation. To achieve this, we performed imaging, biochemical, lipidomic, and transcriptomic analyses in primary hepatocytes and in HCC cells treated with GDF11 to study the GDF11-activated signaling pathways. GDF11 treatment rapidly triggered ALK5-dependent SMAD2/3 nuclear translocation and elevated lipid droplets in HCC cells, but not in primary hepatocytes. In HCC cells, ALK5 inhibition hampered GDF11-mediated SMAD2/3 signaling and attenuated lipid accumulation. Using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry, we detected increased accumulation of longer acyl-chain di/tri-acylglycerols and glycerophospholipids. Unbiased transcriptomic analysis identified TGF-β and PI3K-AKT signaling among the top pathways/cellular processes activated in GDF11 treated HCC cells. In summary, GDF11 supplementation promotes pro-lipogenic gene expression and lipid accumulation in HCC cells. Integration of our "omics" data pointed to a GDF11-induced upregulation of de novo lipogenesis through activation of ALK5/SMAD2/3/PI3K-AKT pathways. Thus, GDF11 could contribute to metabolic reprogramming and dysregulation of lipid metabolism in HCC cells, without effects on healthy hepatocytes.
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Giallongo S, Rehakova D, Raffaele M, Lo Re O, Koutna I, Vinciguerra M. Redox and Epigenetics in Human Pluripotent Stem Cells Differentiation. Antioxid Redox Signal 2021; 34:335-349. [PMID: 32567336 DOI: 10.1089/ars.2019.7983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Significance: Since their discovery, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) had generated considerable interest in the scientific community for their great potential in regenerative medicine, disease modeling, and cell-based therapeutic approach, due to their unique characteristics of self-renewal and pluripotency. Recent Advances: Technological advances in iPSC genome-wide epigenetic profiling led to the elucidation of the epigenetic control of cellular identity during nuclear reprogramming. Moreover, iPSC physiology and metabolism are tightly regulated by oxidation-reduction events that mainly occur during the respiratory chain. In theory, iPSC-derived differentiated cells would be ideal for stem cell transplantation as autologous cells from donors, as the risks of rejection are minimal. Critical Issues: However, iPSCs experience high oxidative stress that, in turn, confers a high risk of increased genomic instability, which is most often linked to DNA repair deficiencies. Genomic instability has to be assessed before iPSCs can be used in therapeutic designs. Future Directions: This review will particularly focus on the links between redox balance and epigenetic modifications-in particular based on the histone variant macroH2A1-that determine DNA damage response in iPSCs and derived differentiated cells, and that might be exploited to decrease the teratogenic potential on iPSC transplantation. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 34, 335-349.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastiano Giallongo
- International Clinical Research Center, St' Anne's University Hospital, Brno, Czech Republic.,Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Daniela Rehakova
- International Clinical Research Center, St' Anne's University Hospital, Brno, Czech Republic.,Faculty of Informatics, Centre for Biomedical Image Analysis, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Marco Raffaele
- International Clinical Research Center, St' Anne's University Hospital, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Oriana Lo Re
- International Clinical Research Center, St' Anne's University Hospital, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Irena Koutna
- International Clinical Research Center, St' Anne's University Hospital, Brno, Czech Republic.,Faculty of Informatics, Centre for Biomedical Image Analysis, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Manlio Vinciguerra
- International Clinical Research Center, St' Anne's University Hospital, Brno, Czech Republic.,Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
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A Lipidomic Signature Complements Stemness Features Acquisition in Liver Cancer Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21228452. [PMID: 33182805 PMCID: PMC7709039 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21228452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Revised: 11/06/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Lipid catabolism and anabolism changes play a role in stemness acquisition by cancer cells, and cancer stem cells (CSCs) are particularly dependent on the activity of the enzymes involved in these processes. Lipidomic changes could play a role in CSCs’ ability to cause disease relapse and chemoresistance. The exploration of lipid composition and metabolism changes in CSCs in the context of hepatocellular cancer (HCC) is still incomplete and their lipidomic scenario continues to be elusive. We aimed to evaluate through high-throughput mass spectrometry (MS)-based lipidomics the levels of the members of the six major classes of sphingolipids and phospholipids in two HCC cell lines (HepG2 and Huh-7) silenced for the expression of histone variant macroH2A1 (favoring stemness acquisition), or silenced for the expression of focal adhesion tyrosine kinase (FAK) (hindering aggressiveness and stemness). Transcriptomic changes were evaluated by RNA sequencing as well. We found definite lipidomic and transcriptomic changes in the HCC lines upon knockdown (KD) of macroH2A1 or FAK, in line with the acquisition or loss of stemness features. In particular, macroH2A1 KD increased total sphingomyelin (SM) levels and decreased total lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) levels, while FAK KD decreased total phosphatidylcholine (PC) levels. In conclusion, in HCC cell lines knocked down for specific signaling/epigenetic processes driving opposite stemness potential, we defined a lipidomic signature that hallmarks hepatic CSCs to be exploited for therapeutic strategies.
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22
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Li J, Zhu Y. Recent Advances in Liver Cancer Stem Cells: Non-coding RNAs, Oncogenes and Oncoproteins. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:548335. [PMID: 33117795 PMCID: PMC7575754 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.548335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2020] [Accepted: 09/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most prevalent malignancies worldwide, with high morbidity, relapse, metastasis and mortality rates. Although liver surgical resection, transplantation, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and some molecular targeted therapeutics may prolong the survival of HCC patients to a certain degree, the curative effect is still poor, primarily because of tumor recurrence and the drug resistance of HCC cells. Liver cancer stem cells (LCSCs), also known as liver tumor-initiating cells, represent one small subset of cancer cells that are responsible for disease recurrence, drug resistance and death. Therefore, understanding the regulatory mechanism of LCSCs in HCC is of vital importance. Thus, new studies that present gene regulation strategies to control LCSC differentiation and replication are under development. In this review, we provide an update on the latest advances in experimental studies on non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), oncogenes and oncoproteins. All the articles addressed the crosstalk between different ncRNAs, oncogenes and oncoproteins, as well as their upstream and downstream products targeting LCSCs. In this review, we summarize three pathways, the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) signaling pathway, and interleukin 6/Janus kinase 2/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (IL6/JAK2/STAT3) signaling pathway, and their targeting gene, c-Myc. Furthermore, we conclude that octamer 4 (OCT4) and Nanog are two important functional genes that play a pivotal role in LCSC regulation and HCC prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Li
- Department of Radiotherapy Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Ying Zhu
- Department of Infectious Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China.,Liver Disease Center of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine, Institute of Integrative Medicine, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
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23
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Buzova D, Maugeri A, Liguori A, Napodano C, Lo Re O, Oben J, Alisi A, Gasbarrini A, Grieco A, Cerveny J, Miele L, Vinciguerra M. Circulating histone signature of human lean metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD). Clin Epigenetics 2020; 12:126. [PMID: 32819448 PMCID: PMC7441674 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-020-00917-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2020] [Accepted: 08/13/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Although metabolic associate fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is associated with obesity, it can also occur in lean patients. MAFLD is more aggressive in lean patients compared to obese patients, with a higher risk of mortality. Specific biomarkers to diagnose differentially lean or overweight MAFLD are missing. Histones and nucleosomes are released in the bloodstream upon cell death. Here, we propose a new, fast, imaging and epigenetics based approach to investigate the severity of steatosis in lean MAFLD patients. Results A total of 53 non-obese patients with histologically confirmed diagnosis of MAFLD were recruited. Twenty patients displayed steatosis grade 1 (0–33%), 24 patients with steatosis grade 2 (34–66%) and 9 patients with steatosis grade 3 (67–100%). The levels of circulating nucleosomes were assayed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, while individual histones or histone dimers were assayed in serum samples by means of a new advanced flow cytometry ImageStream(X)-adapted method. Circulating nucleosome levels associated poorly with MAFLD in the absence of obesity. We implemented successfully a multi-channel flow methodology on ImageStream(X), to image single histone staining (H2A, H2B, H3, H4, macroH2A1.1 and macroH2A1.2). We report here a significant depletion of the levels of histone variants macroH2A1.1 and macroH2A1.2 in the serum of lean MAFLD patients, either individually or in complex with H2B. Conclusions In summary, we identified a new circulating histone signature able to discriminate the severity of steatosis in individuals with lean MAFLD, using a rapid and non-invasive ImageStream(X)-based imaging technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Buzova
- Department of Adaptive Biotechnologies, Global Change Research Institute CAS, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Andrea Maugeri
- International Clinical Research Center, St Anne's University Hospital, Brno, Czech Republic.,Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies "GF Ingrassia", University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Antonio Liguori
- Department of Gastroenterological, Endocrine-Metabolic and Nephro-Urological Sciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Cecilia Napodano
- Department of Gastroenterological, Endocrine-Metabolic and Nephro-Urological Sciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Oriana Lo Re
- International Clinical Research Center, St Anne's University Hospital, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jude Oben
- Institute for Liver and Digestive Health, Division of Medicine, University College London, London, UK
| | - Anna Alisi
- Research Unit of Molecular Genetics of Complex Phenotypes, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Gasbarrini
- Department of Gastroenterological, Endocrine-Metabolic and Nephro-Urological Sciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Grieco
- Department of Gastroenterological, Endocrine-Metabolic and Nephro-Urological Sciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Jan Cerveny
- Department of Adaptive Biotechnologies, Global Change Research Institute CAS, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Luca Miele
- Department of Gastroenterological, Endocrine-Metabolic and Nephro-Urological Sciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
| | - Manlio Vinciguerra
- International Clinical Research Center, St Anne's University Hospital, Brno, Czech Republic. .,Institute for Liver and Digestive Health, Division of Medicine, University College London, London, UK.
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24
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Pontini L, Marinozzi M. Shedding light on the roles of liver X receptors in cancer by using chemical probes. Br J Pharmacol 2020; 178:3261-3276. [PMID: 32673401 DOI: 10.1111/bph.15200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Revised: 07/01/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Nuclear receptors, liver X receptor-α (LXRα; NR1H3) and liver X receptor-β (LXRβ; NR1H2), are considered master regulators of lipid homeostasis. During the last couple of decades, their pivotal roles in several physiological and pathological processes ranging from energy supply, immunity, cardiovascular, neurodegenerative disorders and cancer have been highlighted. In this review, the main results achieved during more recent years about our understanding of the LXR involvement in cancer has been mainly obtained using small-molecule chemical probes. Remarkably, all these probes, albeit having different structure and biological properties, have a well demonstrated anti-tumoral activity arising from LXR modulation, indicating a high potential of LXR targeting for the treatment of cancer. LINKED ARTICLES: This article is part of a themed issue on Oxysterols, Lifelong Health and Therapeutics. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v178.16/issuetoc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Pontini
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Maura Marinozzi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
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25
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Zhou Z, Zhou Z, Huang Z, He S, Chen S. Histone-fold centromere protein W (CENP-W) is associated with the biological behavior of hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Bioengineered 2020; 11:729-742. [PMID: 32635817 PMCID: PMC8291794 DOI: 10.1080/21655979.2020.1787776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Centromere protein W (CENP-W), identified as a centromeric component, plays an important role in the cell life cycle. However, how CENPW expression affects biological processes in liver cancer cells remains unknown. In this article, we found that CENPW was overexpressed in liver cancer tissues. Low CENPW expression was correlated with a better prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients, compared to high CENPW expression. The results of qRT-PCR and western blot assay showed that CENPW was effectively knocked down in HCC cells using siRNA transfection. Cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were inhibited. Cell apoptosis rates were increased. The cells were arrested in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle. Subsequently, 127 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified based on RNA-seq data. GO and KEGG enrichment and PPI network analysis were performed. The novel DEGs were found and mainly enriched in nucleosome assembly and the complement system. In summary, our study indicated that overexpression of CENPW implied unfavorable prognosis and CENPW might be the potential predictive biomarker in liver cancer. Downregulation of CENPW might inhibit the HCC developmentby regulating the expression of the molecules in nucleosomes and the complement system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziliang Zhou
- Molecular Imaging Center, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomedical Imaging, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University , Zhuhai, China
| | - Zhechong Zhou
- Molecular Imaging Center, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomedical Imaging, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University , Zhuhai, China
| | - Zhaoxia Huang
- Molecular Imaging Center, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomedical Imaging, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University , Zhuhai, China
| | - Suhua He
- Molecular Imaging Center, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomedical Imaging, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University , Zhuhai, China
| | - Shoudeng Chen
- Molecular Imaging Center, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomedical Imaging, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University , Zhuhai, China.,Department of Experimental Medicine, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University , Zhuhai, China
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26
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Loss of macroH2A1 decreases mitochondrial metabolism and reduces the aggressiveness of uveal melanoma cells. Aging (Albany NY) 2020; 12:9745-9760. [PMID: 32401230 PMCID: PMC7288915 DOI: 10.18632/aging.103241] [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: 01/29/2020] [Accepted: 03/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Uveal melanoma (UM) is the most common primary intraocular tumour in adults. The most accurate prognostic factor of UM is classification by gene expression profiling. Currently, the role of epigenetics is much less defined compared to genetic mechanisms. We recently showed a strong prognostic role of the expression levels of histone variant macroH2A1 in UM patients. Here, we assessed the mechanistic effects of macroH2A1 on UM progression. UM cell lines were stably knocked down (KD) for macroH2A1, and proliferation and colony formation capacity were evaluated. Mitochondrial function was assayed through qPCR and HPLC analyses. Correlation between mitochondrial gene expression and cancer aggressiveness was studied using a bioinformatics approach. MacroH2A1 loss significantly attenuated UM cells proliferation and aggressiveness. Furthermore, genes involved in oxidative phosphorylation displayed a decreased expression in KD cells. Consistently, macroH2A1 loss resulted also in a significant decrease of mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) expression, suggesting impaired mitochondrial replication. Bioinformatics analyses uncovered that the expression of genes involved in mitochondrial metabolism correlates with macroH2A1 and with cancer aggressiveness in UM patients. Altogether, our results suggest that macroH2A1 controls UM cells progression and it may represent a molecular target to develop new pharmacological strategies for UM treatment.
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27
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Liu XL, Liu HQ, Li J, Mao CY, He JT, Zhao X. Role of epigenetic in leukemia: From mechanism to therapy. Chem Biol Interact 2020; 317:108963. [PMID: 31978391 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2020.108963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2019] [Revised: 01/09/2020] [Accepted: 01/20/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Epigenetic variations can play remarkable roles in different normal and abnormal situations. Such variations have been shown to have a direct role in the pathogenesis of various diseases either through inhibition of tumor suppressor genes or increasing the expression of oncogenes. Enzymes involving in epigenetic machinery are the main actors in tuning the epigenetic-based controls on gene expressions. Aberrant expression of these enzymes can trigger big chaos in the cellular gene expression networks and finally lead to cancer progression. This situation has been shown in different types of leukemia, where high or low levels of an epigenetic enzyme are partly or highly responsible for the involvement or progression of a disease. DNA hypermethylation, different histone modifications, and aberrant miRNA expressions are three main epigenetic variations, which have been shown to play a role in leukemia progression. Epigenetic based treatments now are considered as novel and effective therapies in order to decrease the abnormal epigenetic modifications in patient cells. Different epigenetic-based approaches have been developed and tested to inhibit or reverse the unusual expression of epigenetic agents in leukemia. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML), the most prevalent acute leukemia in adults, is anaggressive hematological malignancy arising in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. With the exception of a few specific AML subtypes, the mainstays of treatment have not significantly changed over the last 20 years, and are still based on standard cytotoxic chemotherapy. In this review, we will discuss the recent development of therapeutics specifically targeting these key epigenetic programs in AML, describe their mechanism of action and present their current clinical development. Finally, we will discuss the opportunities presented by epigenetically targeted therapy in AML and will highlight future challenges ahead for the AML community, to ensure that this novel therapeutics are optimally translated into clinical practice and result in clinical improvement for AML patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Liang Liu
- Department of Hematology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130021, China
| | - Huan-Qiu Liu
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130021, China
| | - Ji Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130021, China
| | - Cui-Ying Mao
- Department of Cardiology, China-Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, 130033, Jilin Province, China
| | - Jin-Ting He
- Department of Neurology, China-Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, 130033, Jilin Province, China.
| | - Xin Zhao
- Department of Paediatrics, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130021, China.
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28
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Lo Re O, Mazza T, Giallongo S, Sanna P, Rappa F, Vinh Luong T, Li Volti G, Drovakova A, Roskams T, Van Haele M, Tsochatzis E, Vinciguerra M. Loss of histone macroH2A1 in hepatocellular carcinoma cells promotes paracrine-mediated chemoresistance and CD4 +CD25 +FoxP3 + regulatory T cells activation. Am J Cancer Res 2020; 10:910-924. [PMID: 31903159 PMCID: PMC6929991 DOI: 10.7150/thno.35045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2019] [Accepted: 10/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Rationale: Loss of histone macroH2A1 induces appearance of cancer stem cells (CSCs)-like cells in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). How CSCs interact with the tumor microenvironment and the adaptive immune system is unclear. Methods: We screened aggressive human HCC for macroH2A1 and CD44 CSC marker expression. We also knocked down (KD) macroH2A1 in HCC cells, and performed integrated transcriptomic and secretomic analyses. Results: Human HCC showed low macroH2A1 and high CD44 expression compared to control tissues. MacroH2A1 KD CSC-like cells transferred paracrinally their chemoresistant properties to parental HCC cells. MacroH2A1 KD conditioned media transcriptionally reprogrammed parental HCC cells activated regulatory CD4+/CD25+/FoxP3+ T cells (Tregs). Conclusions: Loss of macroH2A1 in HCC cells drives cancer stem-cell propagation and evasion from immune surveillance.
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29
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Rewiring of Lipid Metabolism and Storage in Ovarian Cancer Cells after Anti-VEGF Therapy. Cells 2019; 8:cells8121601. [PMID: 31835444 PMCID: PMC6953010 DOI: 10.3390/cells8121601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2019] [Revised: 12/02/2019] [Accepted: 12/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Anti-angiogenic therapy triggers metabolic alterations in experimental and human tumors, the best characterized being exacerbated glycolysis and lactate production. By using both Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) analysis, we found that treatment of ovarian cancer xenografts with the anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) neutralizing antibody bevacizumab caused marked alterations of the tumor lipidomic profile, including increased levels of triacylglycerols and reduced saturation of lipid chains. Moreover, transcriptome analysis uncovered up-regulation of pathways involved in lipid metabolism. These alterations were accompanied by increased accumulation of lipid droplets in tumors. This phenomenon was reproduced under hypoxic conditions in vitro, where it mainly depended from uptake of exogenous lipids and was counteracted by treatment with the Liver X Receptor (LXR)-agonist GW3965, which inhibited cancer cell viability selectively under reduced serum conditions. This multi-level analysis indicates alterations of lipid metabolism following anti-VEGF therapy in ovarian cancer xenografts and suggests that LXR-agonists might empower anti-tumor effects of bevacizumab.
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30
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Mazzoccoli G, Miele L, Marrone G, Mazza T, Vinciguerra M, Grieco A. A Role for the Biological Clock in Liver Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11111778. [PMID: 31718031 PMCID: PMC6895918 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11111778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2019] [Revised: 11/06/2019] [Accepted: 11/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The biological clock controls at the molecular level several aspects of mammalian physiology, by regulating daily oscillations of crucial biological processes such as nutrient metabolism in the liver. Disruption of the circadian clock circuitry has recently been identified as an independent risk factor for cancer and classified as a potential group 2A carcinogen to humans. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the prevailing histological type of primary liver cancer, one of the most important causes of cancer-related death worldwide. HCC onset and progression is related to B and C viral hepatitis, alcoholic and especially non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)-related milieu of fibrosis, cirrhosis, and chronic inflammation. In this review, we recapitulate the state-of-the-art knowledge on the interplay between the biological clock and the oncogenic pathways and mechanisms involved in hepatocarcinogenesis. Finally, we propose how a deeper understanding of circadian clock circuitry–cancer pathways’ crosstalk is promising for developing new strategies for HCC prevention and management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianluigi Mazzoccoli
- Department of Medical Sciences and Chronobiology Laboratory, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, 71013 San Giovanni Rotondo (FG), Italy
- Correspondence: (G.M.); (M.V.); Tel.: +0039-(0)-882-410255 (G.M.); +0042-(0)-5-11-158-277 (M.V.); Fax: +0039-(0)-882-410255 (G.M.)
| | - Luca Miele
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A Gemelli–IRCCS– Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy; (L.M.); (G.M.); (A.G.)
| | - Giuseppe Marrone
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A Gemelli–IRCCS– Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy; (L.M.); (G.M.); (A.G.)
| | - Tommaso Mazza
- Bioinformatics Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, 71013 San Giovanni Rotondo (FG), Italy;
| | - Manlio Vinciguerra
- International Clinical Research Center (FNUSA-ICRC), St. Anne’s University Hospital, 65691 Brno, Czech Republic
- Correspondence: (G.M.); (M.V.); Tel.: +0039-(0)-882-410255 (G.M.); +0042-(0)-5-11-158-277 (M.V.); Fax: +0039-(0)-882-410255 (G.M.)
| | - Antonio Grieco
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A Gemelli–IRCCS– Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy; (L.M.); (G.M.); (A.G.)
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31
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Visweswaran M, Arfuso F, Warrier S, Dharmarajan A. Aberrant lipid metabolism as an emerging therapeutic strategy to target cancer stem cells. Stem Cells 2019; 38:6-14. [PMID: 31648395 DOI: 10.1002/stem.3101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2019] [Revised: 08/25/2019] [Accepted: 09/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Emerging evidence in cancer metabolomics has identified reprogrammed metabolic pathways to be a major hallmark of cancer, among which deregulated lipid metabolism is a prominent field receiving increasing attention. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) comprise <0.1% of the tumor bulk and possess high self-renewal, tumor-initiating properties, and are responsible for therapeutic resistance, disease recurrence, and tumor metastasis. Hence, it is imperative to understand the metabolic rewiring occurring in CSCs, especially their lipid metabolism, on which there have been recent reports. CSCs rely highly upon lipid metabolism for maintaining their stemness properties and fulfilling their biomass and energy demands, ultimately leading to cancer growth and invasion. Hence, in this review we will shed light on the aberrant lipid metabolism that CSCs exploit to boost their survival, which comprises upregulation in de novo lipogenesis, lipid droplet synthesis, lipid desaturation, and β-oxidation. Furthermore, the metabolic regulators involved in the process, such as key lipogenic enzymes, are also highlighted. Finally, we also summarize the therapeutic strategies targeting the key regulators involved in CSCs' lipid metabolism, which thereby demonstrates the potential to develop powerful and novel therapeutics against the CSC lipid metabolome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malini Visweswaran
- Stem Cell and Cancer Biology Laboratory, School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Frank Arfuso
- Stem Cell and Cancer Biology Laboratory, School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Sudha Warrier
- Division of Cancer Stem Cells and Cardiovascular Regeneration, School of Regenerative Medicine, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Bangalore, India
| | - Arun Dharmarajan
- Stem Cell and Cancer Biology Laboratory, School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University, Western Australia, Australia.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Technology and Research, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Porur, Chennai, India
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32
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Ma XL, Sun YF, Wang BL, Shen MN, Zhou Y, Chen JW, Hu B, Gong ZJ, Zhang X, Cao Y, Pan BS, Zhou J, Fan J, Guo W, Yang XR. Sphere-forming culture enriches liver cancer stem cells and reveals Stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 as a potential therapeutic target. BMC Cancer 2019; 19:760. [PMID: 31370822 PMCID: PMC6676608 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-019-5963-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2018] [Accepted: 07/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUNDS The role of sphere-forming culture in enriching subpopulations with stem-cell properties in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is unclear. The present study investigates its value in enriching cancer stem cells (CSCs) subpopulations and the mechanism by which HCC CSCs are maintained. METHODS HCC cell lines and fresh primary tumor cells were cultured in serum-free and ultra-low attachment conditions to allow formation of HCC spheres. In vitro and in vivo experiments were performed to evaluate CSC characteristics. Expression levels of CSC-related genes were assessed by qRT-PCR and the correlation between sphere formation and clinical characteristics was investigated. Finally, gene expression profiling was performed to explore the molecular mechanism underlying HCC CSC maintenance. RESULTS We found that both cell lines and primary tumor cells formed spheres. HCC spheres possessed the capacity for self-renewal, proliferation, drug resistance, and contained different subpopulations of CSCs. Of interest, 500 sphere-forming Huh7 cells or 200 primary tumor cells could generate tumors in immunodeficient animals. Sphere formation correlated with size, multiple tumors, satellite lesions, and advanced stage. Further investigation identified that the PPARα-SCD1 axis plays an important role in maintenance of the CSC properties of HCC sphere cells by promoting nuclear accumulation of β-Catenin. Inhibition of SCD1 interfered with sphere formation, down-regulated expression of CSC-related markers, and reduced β-Catenin nuclear accumulation. CONCLUSIONS Sphere-forming culture can effectively enrich subpopulations with stem-cell properties, which are maintained through activation of the PPARα-SCD1 axis. Therefore, we suggest that targeting the SCD1-related CSC machinery might provide a novel insight into HCC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Lu Ma
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, 136 Yi Xue Yuan Road, Shanghai, 200032 People’s Republic of China
| | - Yun-Fan Sun
- Department of Liver Surgery, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, 136 Yi Xue Yuan Road, Shanghai, 200032 People’s Republic of China
| | - Bei-Li Wang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, 136 Yi Xue Yuan Road, Shanghai, 200032 People’s Republic of China
| | - Min-Na Shen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, 136 Yi Xue Yuan Road, Shanghai, 200032 People’s Republic of China
| | - Yan Zhou
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, 136 Yi Xue Yuan Road, Shanghai, 200032 People’s Republic of China
| | - Jian-Wen Chen
- Department of Liver Surgery, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, 136 Yi Xue Yuan Road, Shanghai, 200032 People’s Republic of China
| | - Bo Hu
- Department of Liver Surgery, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, 136 Yi Xue Yuan Road, Shanghai, 200032 People’s Republic of China
| | - Zi-Jun Gong
- Department of Liver Surgery, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, 136 Yi Xue Yuan Road, Shanghai, 200032 People’s Republic of China
| | - Xin Zhang
- Department of Liver Surgery, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, 136 Yi Xue Yuan Road, Shanghai, 200032 People’s Republic of China
| | - Ya Cao
- Cancer Research Institute, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Changsha, 410078 China
| | - Bai-shen Pan
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, 136 Yi Xue Yuan Road, Shanghai, 200032 People’s Republic of China
| | - Jian Zhou
- Department of Liver Surgery, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, 136 Yi Xue Yuan Road, Shanghai, 200032 People’s Republic of China
| | - Jia Fan
- Department of Liver Surgery, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, 136 Yi Xue Yuan Road, Shanghai, 200032 People’s Republic of China
| | - Wei Guo
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, 136 Yi Xue Yuan Road, Shanghai, 200032 People’s Republic of China
| | - Xin-Rong Yang
- Department of Liver Surgery, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, 136 Yi Xue Yuan Road, Shanghai, 200032 People’s Republic of China
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Giallongo S, Lo Re O, Vinciguerra M. Macro Histone Variants: Emerging Rheostats of Gastrointestinal Cancers. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11050676. [PMID: 31096699 PMCID: PMC6562817 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11050676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2019] [Accepted: 05/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Gastrointestinal cancers (GC) are malignancies involving the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and accessory organs of the digestive system, including the pancreas, liver, and gall bladder. GC is one of the most common cancers and contributes to more cancer-related deaths than cancers of any other system in the human body. Causative factors of GC have been consistently attributed to infections, smoking, an unhealthy diet, obesity, diabetes, and genetic factors. More recently, aberrant epigenetic regulation of gene expression has emerged as a new, fundamental pathway in GC pathogenesis. In this review, we summarize the role of the macroH2A histone family in GI cell function and malignant transformation, and highlight how this histone family may open up novel biomarkers for cancer detection, prediction, and response to treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastiano Giallongo
- International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University Hospital, 656 91 Brno, Czech Republic.
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Oriana Lo Re
- International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University Hospital, 656 91 Brno, Czech Republic.
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Manlio Vinciguerra
- International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University Hospital, 656 91 Brno, Czech Republic.
- Institute for Liver and Digestive Health, Division of Medicine, University College London (UCL), London NW32PF, UK.
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Xu J, Shi Q, Xu W, Zhou Q, Shi R, Ma Y, Chen D, Zhu L, Feng L, Cheng ASL, Morrison H, Wang X, Jin H. Metabolic enzyme PDK3 forms a positive feedback loop with transcription factor HSF1 to drive chemoresistance. Am J Cancer Res 2019; 9:2999-3013. [PMID: 31244938 PMCID: PMC6568185 DOI: 10.7150/thno.31301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2018] [Accepted: 04/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background & Aims: Dysregulation of metabolism plays an important role in the development and progression of cancers, while the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. This study aims to explore the regulation and relevance of glycolysis in chemoresistance of gastric cancer. Methods: Biochemical differences between chemoresistant and chemosensitive cancer cells were determined by metabolism profiling, microarray gene expression, PCR or western blotting. Cancer cell growth in vitro or in vivo were analyzed by viability, apoptosis and nude mice assay. Immunoprecipation was used to explore the interaction of proteins with other proteins or DNAs. Results: By metabolic and gene expression profiling, we found that pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 3 (PDK3) was highly expressed to promote glycolysis in chemoresistant cancer cells. Its genetic or chemical inhibition reverted chemoresistance in vitro and in vivo. It was transcriptionally regulated by transcription factor HSF1 (Heat shock factor 1). Interestingly, PDK3 can localize in the nucleus and interact with HSF1 to disrupt its phosphorylation by GSK3β. Since HSF1 was subjected to FBXW7-catalyzed polyubiquitination in a phosphorylation-dependent manner, PDK3 prevented HSF1 from proteasomal degradation. Thus, metabolic enzyme PDK3 and transcription factor HSF1 forms a positive feedback loop to promote glycolysis. As a result, inhibition of HSF1 impaired enhanced glycolysis and reverted chemoresistance both in vitro and in vivo. Conclusions: PDK3 forms a positive feedback loop with HSF1 to drive glycolysis in chemoresistance. Targeting this mitonuclear communication may represent a novel approach to overcome chemoresistance.
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Jin KT, Lan HR, Chen XY, Wang SB, Ying XJ, Lin Y, Mou XZ. Recent advances in carbohydrate-based cancer vaccines. Biotechnol Lett 2019; 41:641-650. [DOI: 10.1007/s10529-019-02675-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2019] [Accepted: 04/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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Nakagawa H, Hayata Y, Kawamura S, Yamada T, Fujiwara N, Koike K. Lipid Metabolic Reprogramming in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2018; 10:cancers10110447. [PMID: 30445800 PMCID: PMC6265967 DOI: 10.3390/cancers10110447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2018] [Revised: 11/10/2018] [Accepted: 11/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Metabolic reprogramming for adaptation to the local environment has been recognized as a hallmark of cancer. Although alterations in fatty acid (FA) metabolism in cancer cells have received less attention compared to other metabolic alterations such as glucose or glutamine metabolism, recent studies have uncovered the importance of lipid metabolic reprogramming in carcinogenesis. Obesity and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) are well-known risk factors of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and individuals with these conditions exhibit an increased intake of dietary FAs accompanied by enhanced lipolysis of visceral adipose tissue due to insulin resistance, resulting in enormous exogenous FA supplies to hepatocytes via the portal vein and lymph vessels. This “lipid-rich condition” is highly characteristic of obesity- and NASH-driven HCC. Although the way in which HCC cells adapt to such a condition and exploit it to aid their progression is not understood, we recently obtained new insights into this mechanism through lipid metabolic reprogramming. In addition, accumulating evidence supports the importance of lipid metabolic reprogramming in various situations of hepatocarcinogenesis. Thus, in this review, we discuss the latest findings regarding the role of FA metabolism pathways in hepatocarcinogenesis, focusing on obesity- and NASH-driven lipid metabolic reprogramming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hayato Nakagawa
- Department of Gastroenterology, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan.
| | - Yuki Hayata
- Department of Gastroenterology, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan.
| | - Satoshi Kawamura
- Department of Gastroenterology, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan.
| | - Tomoharu Yamada
- Department of Gastroenterology, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan.
| | - Naoto Fujiwara
- Department of Gastroenterology, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan.
| | - Kazuhiko Koike
- Department of Gastroenterology, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan.
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