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Zhu Z, Cao H, Yan H, Liu H, Hong Z, Sun A, Liu T, Mao F. Prognostic iron-metabolism signature robustly stratifies single-cell characteristics of hepatocellular carcinoma. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2024; 23:929-941. [PMID: 38375529 PMCID: PMC10875160 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2024.01.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapy has shown to be a promising method in treating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but suboptimal responses in patients are attributed to cellular and molecular heterogeneity. Iron metabolism-related genes (IRGs) are important in maintaining immune system homeostasis and have the potential to help develop new strategies for HCC treatment. Herein, we constructed and validated the iron-metabolism gene prognostic index (IPX) using univariate Cox proportional hazards regression and LASSO Cox regression analysis, successfully categorizing HCC patients into two groups with distinct survival risks. Then, we performed single-sample gene set enrichment analysis, weighted correlation network analysis, gene ontology enrichment analysis, cellular lineage analysis, and SCENIC analysis to reveal the key determinants underlying the ability of this model based on bulk and single-cell transcriptomic data. We identified several driver transcription factors specifically activated in specific malignant cell sub-populations to contribute to the adverse survival outcomes in the IPX-high subgroup. Within the tumor microenvironment (TME), T cells displayed significant diversity in their cellular characteristics and experienced changes in their developmental paths within distinct clusters identified by IPX. Interestingly, the proportion of Treg cells was increased in the high-risk group compared with the low-risk group. These results suggest that iron-metabolism could be involved in reshaping the TME, thereby disrupting the cell cycle of immune cells. This study utilized IRGs to construct a novel and reliable model, which can be used to assess the prognosis of patients with HCC and further clarify the molecular mechanisms of IRGs in HCC at single-cell resolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhipeng Zhu
- Institute of Medical Innovation and Research, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
- Cancer Center, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Huang Cao
- School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361100, China
| | - Hongyu Yan
- School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361100, China
- Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Gastrointestinal Cancer, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350122, China
| | - Hanzhi Liu
- The Third Clinical Medical College, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi 341000, China
| | - Zaifa Hong
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361103, China
| | - Anran Sun
- Oncology Research Center, Foresea Life Insurance Guangzhou General Hospital, Guangzhou, Guangdong 511300, China
- Research Center for Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361003, China
| | - Tong Liu
- Institute of Medical Innovation and Research, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
- Cancer Center, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Fengbiao Mao
- Institute of Medical Innovation and Research, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
- Cancer Center, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
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2
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Tufail M, Jiang CH, Li N. Altered metabolism in cancer: insights into energy pathways and therapeutic targets. Mol Cancer 2024; 23:203. [PMID: 39294640 PMCID: PMC11409553 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-024-02119-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2024] [Accepted: 09/09/2024] [Indexed: 09/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer cells undergo significant metabolic reprogramming to support their rapid growth and survival. This study examines important metabolic pathways like glycolysis, oxidative phosphorylation, glutaminolysis, and lipid metabolism, focusing on how they are regulated and their contributions to the development of tumors. The interplay between oncogenes, tumor suppressors, epigenetic modifications, and the tumor microenvironment in modulating these pathways is examined. Furthermore, we discuss the therapeutic potential of targeting cancer metabolism, presenting inhibitors of glycolysis, glutaminolysis, the TCA cycle, fatty acid oxidation, LDH, and glucose transport, alongside emerging strategies targeting oxidative phosphorylation and lipid synthesis. Despite the promise, challenges such as metabolic plasticity and the need for combination therapies and robust biomarkers persist, underscoring the necessity for continued research in this dynamic field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Tufail
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Center of Stomatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Can-Hua Jiang
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Center of Stomatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Institute of Oral Precancerous Lesions, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Research Center of Oral and Maxillofacial Tumor, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Ning Li
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Center of Stomatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
- Institute of Oral Precancerous Lesions, Central South University, Changsha, China.
- Research Center of Oral and Maxillofacial Tumor, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
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3
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Shaha A, Wang Y, Wang X, Wang D, Guinovart D, Liu B, Kang N. CMTM6 mediates the Warburg effect and promotes the liver metastasis of colorectal cancer. Exp Mol Med 2024:10.1038/s12276-024-01303-1. [PMID: 39218981 DOI: 10.1038/s12276-024-01303-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2024] [Revised: 06/06/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Liver metastasis of colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of death among cancer patients. The overexpression of glucose transporter 1 (Glut1) and enhanced glucose uptake that are associated with the Warburg effect are frequently observed in CRC liver metastases, but the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. CKLF-like MARVEL transmembrane domain-containing protein 6 (CMTM6) regulates the intracellular trafficking of programmed death-ligand-1 (PD-L1); therefore, we investigated whether CMTM6 regulates Glut1 trafficking and the Warburg effect in CRC cells. We found that knocking down of CMTM6 by shRNA induced the lysosomal degradation of Glut1, decreased glucose uptake and glycolysis in CRC cells, and suppressed subcutaneous CRC growth in nude mice and liver metastasis in C57BL/6 mice. Mechanistically, CMTM6 forms a complex with Glut1 and Rab11 in the endosomes of CRC cells, and this complex is required for the Rab11-dependent transport of Glut1 to the plasma membrane and for the protection of Glut1 from lysosomal degradation. Multiomics revealed global transcriptomic changes in CMTM6-knockdown CRC cells that affected the transcriptomes of adjacent cancer-associated fibroblasts from CRC liver metastases. As a result of these transcriptomic changes, CMTM6-knockdown CRC cells exhibited a defect in the G2-to-M phase transition, reduced secretion of 60 cytokines/chemokines, and inability to recruit cancer-associated fibroblasts to support an immunosuppressive CRC liver metastasis microenvironment. Analysis of TCGA data confirmed that CMTM6 expression was increased in CRC patients and that elevated CMTM6 expression was associated with worse patient survival. Together, our data suggest that CMTM6 plays multiple roles in regulating the Warburg effect, transcriptome, and liver metastasis of CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurpita Shaha
- Tumor Microenvironment and Metastasis, the Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, Austin, MN, USA
| | - Yuanguo Wang
- Tumor Microenvironment and Metastasis, the Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, Austin, MN, USA
| | - Xianghu Wang
- Tumor Microenvironment and Metastasis, the Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, Austin, MN, USA
- The School of Medicine, Taizhou University, Taizhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Dong Wang
- Transcription and Gene Regulation, the Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, Austin, MN, USA
| | - David Guinovart
- Mathematical, Computational, and Statistical Modeling, the Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, Austin, MN, USA
| | - Bin Liu
- Transcription and Gene Regulation, the Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, Austin, MN, USA
| | - Ningling Kang
- Tumor Microenvironment and Metastasis, the Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, Austin, MN, USA.
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Wang Y, Wang X, Bai B, Shaha A, He X, He Y, Ye Z, Shah VH, Kang N. Targeting Src SH3 domain-mediated glycolysis of HSC suppresses transcriptome, myofibroblastic activation, and colorectal liver metastasis. Hepatology 2024; 80:578-594. [PMID: 38271673 PMCID: PMC11266532 DOI: 10.1097/hep.0000000000000763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGFβ1) induces HSC activation into metastasis-promoting cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), but how the process is fueled remains incompletely understood. We studied metabolic reprogramming induced by TGFβ1 in HSCs. APPROACHES AND RESULTS Activation of cultured primary human HSCs was assessed by the expression of myofibroblast markers. Glucose transporter 1 (Glut1) of murine HSC was disrupted by Cre recombinase/LoxP sequence derived from bacteriophage P1 recombination (Cre/LoxP). Plasma membrane (PM) Glut1 and glycolysis were studied by biotinylation assay and the Angilent Seahorse XFe96 Analyzer. S.c. HSC/tumor co-implantation and portal vein injection of MC38 colorectal cancer cells into HSC-specific Glut1 knockout mice were performed to determine in vivo relevance. Transcriptome was obtained by RNA sequencing of HSCs and spatialomics with MC38 liver metastases. TGFβ1-induced CAF activation of HSCs was accompanied by elevation of PM Glut1, glucose uptake, and glycolysis. Targeting Glut1 or Src by short hairpin RNA, pharmacologic inhibition, or a Src SH3 domain deletion mutant abrogated TGFβ1-stimulated PM accumulation of Glut1, glycolysis, and CAF activation. Mechanistically, binding of the Src SH3 domain to SH3 domain-binding protein 5 led to a Src/SH3 domain-binding protein 5/Rab11/Glut1 complex that activated Rab11-dependent Glut1 PM transport under TGFβ1 stimulation. Deleting the Src SH3 domain or targeting Glut1 of HSCs by short hairpin RNA or Cre recombinase/LoxP sequence derived from bacteriophage P1 recombination suppressed CAF activation in mice and MC38 colorectal liver metastasis. Multi-omics revealed that Glut1 deficiency in HSCs/CAFs suppressed HSC expression of tumor-promoting factors and altered MC38 transcriptome, contributing to reduced MC38 liver metastases. CONCLUSION The Src SH3 domain-facilitated metabolic reprogramming induced by TGFβ1 represents a target to inhibit CAF activation and the pro-metastatic liver microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanguo Wang
- Tumor Microenvironment and Metastasis, the Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, Austin, Minnesota, USA
| | - Xianghu Wang
- Tumor Microenvironment and Metastasis, the Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, Austin, Minnesota, USA
- The School of Medicine, Taizhou University, Taizhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Bing Bai
- Tumor Microenvironment and Metastasis, the Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, Austin, Minnesota, USA
| | - Aurpita Shaha
- Tumor Microenvironment and Metastasis, the Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, Austin, Minnesota, USA
| | - Xipu He
- Tumor Microenvironment and Metastasis, the Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, Austin, Minnesota, USA
- The School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Yingzi He
- Tumor Microenvironment and Metastasis, the Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, Austin, Minnesota, USA
- The School of Environmental and Life Sciences, Nanning Normal University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Zhenqing Ye
- Department of Population Health Science, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Vijay H. Shah
- GI Research Unit and Cancer Cell Biology Program, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Ningling Kang
- Tumor Microenvironment and Metastasis, the Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, Austin, Minnesota, USA
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Rennert C, Hofmann M. The Q for immune evasion in HCC: ER stress in myeloid cells. Gut 2024:gutjnl-2024-333249. [PMID: 39209522 DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2024-333249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2024] [Accepted: 08/19/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Rennert
- Department of Medicine II, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
| | - Maike Hofmann
- Department of Medicine II, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
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Gou H, Zeng R, Lau HCH, Yu J. Gut microbial metabolites: Shaping future diagnosis and treatment against gastrointestinal cancer. Pharmacol Res 2024; 208:107373. [PMID: 39197712 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2024.107373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2024] [Revised: 08/01/2024] [Accepted: 08/22/2024] [Indexed: 09/01/2024]
Abstract
Gastrointestinal cancer is a worldwide health challenge due to its dramatically increasing prevalence and as a leading cause of cancer-related mortality. Increasing evidence has illustrated the vital role of gut microbes-derived metabolites in gastrointestinal cancer progression and treatment. Microbial metabolites are produced by the gut microbiota that utilizes both extrinsic dietary components and intrinsic host-generated compounds. Meanwhile, certain categories of metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids, bile acids, tryptophan, and indole derivatives, are linked to gastrointestinal malignancy. In this review, the major classes of microbial metabolites and their impacts on various gastrointestinal cancers including colorectal cancer, gastric cancer, and hepatocellular carcinoma, have been introduced. The application of microbial metabolites as predictive biomarkers for early diagnosis and prognosis of gastrointestinal cancer has also been explored. In addition, therapeutic potential of strategies that target microbial metabolites against gastrointestinal cancer is further evaluated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongyan Gou
- Institute of Digestive Disease and Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, CUHK Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Ruijie Zeng
- Institute of Digestive Disease and Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, CUHK Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Harry Cheuk Hay Lau
- Institute of Digestive Disease and Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, CUHK Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Jun Yu
- Institute of Digestive Disease and Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, CUHK Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR.
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7
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Fu CL, Zhao ZW, Zhang QN. The crosstalk between cellular survival pressures and N6-methyladenosine modification in hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatobiliary Pancreat Dis Int 2024:S1499-3872(24)00109-7. [PMID: 39155161 DOI: 10.1016/j.hbpd.2024.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 08/09/2024] [Indexed: 08/20/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Within the tumor microenvironment, survival pressures are prevalent with potent drivers of tumor progression, angiogenesis, and therapeutic resistance. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) methylation has been recognized as a critical post-transcriptional mechanism regulating various aspects of mRNA metabolism. Understanding the intricate interplay between survival pressures and m6A modification provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression and highlights the potential for targeting the survival pressures-m6A axis in HCC diagnosis and treatment. DATA SOURCES A literature search was conducted in PubMed, MEDLINE, and Web of Science for relevant articles published up to April 2024. The keywords used for the search included hepatocellular carcinoma, cellular survival, survival pressure, N6-methyladenosine, tumor microenvironment, stress response, and hypoxia. RESULTS This review delves into the multifaceted roles of survival pressures and m6A RNA methylation in HCC, highlighting how survival pressures modulate the m6A landscape, the impact of m6A modification on survival pressure-responsive gene expression, and the consequent effects on HCC cell survival, proliferation, metastasis, and resistance to treatment. Furthermore, we explored the therapeutic potential of targeting this crosstalk, proposing strategies that leverage the understanding of survival pressures and m6A RNA methylation mechanisms to develop novel, and more effective treatments for HCC. CONCLUSIONS The interplay between survival pressures and m6A RNA methylation emerges as a complex regulatory network that influences HCC pathogenesis and progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chu-Li Fu
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510623, China
| | - Zheng-Wei Zhao
- Biomedicine Research Center, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Major Obstetric Disease, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510150, China
| | - Qiang-Nu Zhang
- Biomedicine Research Center, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Major Obstetric Disease, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510150, China.
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8
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Yamauchi T, Okano Y, Terada D, Yasukochi S, Tsuruta A, Tsurudome Y, Ushijima K, Matsunaga N, Koyanagi S, Ohdo S. Epigenetic repression of de novo cysteine synthetases induces intra-cellular accumulation of cysteine in hepatocarcinoma by up-regulating the cystine uptake transporter xCT. Cancer Metab 2024; 12:23. [PMID: 39113116 PMCID: PMC11304919 DOI: 10.1186/s40170-024-00352-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 07/30/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The metabolic reprogramming of amino acids is critical for cancer cell growth and survival. Notably, intracellular accumulation of cysteine is often observed in various cancers, suggesting its potential role in alleviating the oxidative stress associated with rapid proliferation. The liver is the primary organ for cysteine biosynthesis, but much remains unknown about the metabolic alterations of cysteine and their mechanisms in hepatocellular carcinoma cells. METHODS RNA-seq data from patients with hepatocarcinoma were analyzed using the TNMplot database. The underlying mechanism of the oncogenic alteration of cysteine metabolism was studied in mice implanted with BNL 1ME A.7 R.1 hepatocarcinoma. RESULTS Database analysis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma revealed that the expression of enzymes involved in de novo cysteine synthesis was down-regulated accompanying with increased expression of the cystine uptake transporter xCT. Similar alterations in gene expression have also been observed in a syngeneic mouse model of hepatocarcinoma. The enhanced expression of DNA methyltransferase in murine hepatocarcinoma cells caused methylation of the upstream regions of cysteine synthesis genes, thereby repressing their expression. Conversely, suppression of de novo cysteine synthesis in healthy liver cells induced xCT expression by up-regulating the oxidative-stress response factor NRF2, indicating that reduced de novo cysteine synthesis repulsively increases cystine uptake via enhanced xCT expression, leading to intracellular cysteine accumulation. Furthermore, the pharmacological inhibition of xCT activity decreased intracellular cysteine levels and suppressed hepatocarcinoma tumor growth in mice. CONCLUSIONS Our findings indicate an underlying mechanism of the oncogenic alteration of cysteine metabolism in hepatocarcinoma and highlight the efficacy of alteration of cysteine metabolism as a viable therapeutic target in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomoaki Yamauchi
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Yumi Okano
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Daishu Terada
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Sai Yasukochi
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Akito Tsuruta
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Yuya Tsurudome
- Division of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sanyo-Onoda City University, Yamaguchi, Japan
| | - Kentaro Ushijima
- Division of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sanyo-Onoda City University, Yamaguchi, Japan
| | - Naoya Matsunaga
- Department of Clinical Pharmacokinetics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Satoru Koyanagi
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
| | - Shigehiro Ohdo
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
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Zang Y, Wang A, Zhang J, Xia M, Jiang Z, Jia B, Lu C, Chen C, Wang S, Zhang Y, Wang C, Cao X, Niu Z, He C, Bai X, Tian S, Zhai G, Cao H, Chen Y, Zhang K. Hypoxia promotes histone H3K9 lactylation to enhance LAMC2 transcription in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. iScience 2024; 27:110188. [PMID: 38989468 PMCID: PMC11233973 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.110188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2024] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Hypoxia promotes tumorigenesis and lactate accumulation in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Lactate can induce histone lysine lactylation (Kla, a recently identified histone marks) to regulate transcription. However, the functional consequence of histone Kla under hypoxia in ESCC remains to be explored. Here, we reveal that hypoxia facilitates histone H3K9la to enhance LAMC2 transcription for proliferation of ESCC. We found that global level of Kla was elevated under hypoxia, and thus identified the landscape of histone Kla in ESCC by quantitative proteomics. Furthermore, we show a significant increase of H3K9la level induced by hypoxia. Next, MNase ChIP-seq and RNA-seq analysis suggest that H3K9la is enriched at the promoter of cell junction genes. Finally, we demonstrate that the histone H3K9la facilitates the expression of LAMC2 for ESCC invasion by in vivo and in vitro experiments. Briefly, our study reveals a vital role of histone Kla triggered by hypoxia in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Zang
- The Province and Ministry Co-sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Disease (Ministry of Education), Tianjin Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China
| | - Aiyuan Wang
- The Province and Ministry Co-sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Disease (Ministry of Education), Tianjin Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China
| | - Jianji Zhang
- The Province and Ministry Co-sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Disease (Ministry of Education), Tianjin Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China
| | - Mingxin Xia
- The Province and Ministry Co-sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Disease (Ministry of Education), Tianjin Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China
| | - Zixin Jiang
- The Province and Ministry Co-sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Disease (Ministry of Education), Tianjin Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China
| | - Bona Jia
- The Province and Ministry Co-sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Disease (Ministry of Education), Tianjin Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China
| | - Congcong Lu
- Frontier Center for Cell Response, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Chen Chen
- The Province and Ministry Co-sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Disease (Ministry of Education), Tianjin Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China
| | - Siyu Wang
- The Province and Ministry Co-sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Disease (Ministry of Education), Tianjin Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China
| | - Yingao Zhang
- The Province and Ministry Co-sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Disease (Ministry of Education), Tianjin Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China
| | - Chen Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin Institute of Digestive Diseases, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Digestive Diseases, Tianjin, China
| | - Xinyi Cao
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Ionic-Molecular Function of Cardiovascular Disease, Department of Cardiology, Tianjin Institute of Cardiology, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Ziping Niu
- The Province and Ministry Co-sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Disease (Ministry of Education), Tianjin Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China
| | - Chaoran He
- The Province and Ministry Co-sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Disease (Ministry of Education), Tianjin Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China
| | - Xue Bai
- The Province and Ministry Co-sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Disease (Ministry of Education), Tianjin Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China
| | - Shanshan Tian
- The Province and Ministry Co-sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Disease (Ministry of Education), Tianjin Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China
| | - Guijin Zhai
- The Province and Ministry Co-sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Disease (Ministry of Education), Tianjin Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China
| | - Hailong Cao
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin Institute of Digestive Diseases, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Digestive Diseases, Tianjin, China
| | - Yupeng Chen
- The Province and Ministry Co-sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Disease (Ministry of Education), Tianjin Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China
- Tianjin Institute of Urology, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Kai Zhang
- The Province and Ministry Co-sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Disease (Ministry of Education), Tianjin Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin Institute of Digestive Diseases, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Digestive Diseases, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Retinal Functions and Diseases, Eye Institute and School of Optometry, Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China
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Kong R, Wang N, Zhou C, Zhou Y, Guo X, Wang D, Shi Y, Wan R, Zheng Y, Lu J. Sanguinarine Induces Necroptosis of HCC by Targeting PKM2 Mediated Energy Metabolism. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:2533. [PMID: 39061173 PMCID: PMC11274805 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16142533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2024] [Revised: 07/04/2024] [Accepted: 07/09/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUNDS Abnormal metabolism is the hallmark of hepatocellular carcinoma. Targeting energy metabolism has become the major focus of cancer therapy. The natural product, sanguinarine, displays remarkable anti-tumor properties by disturbing energy homeostasis; however, the underlying mechanism has not yet been elucidated. METHODS The anticancer activity of sanguinarine was determined using CCK-8 and colony formation assay. Morphological changes of induced cell death were observed under electron microscopy. Necroptosis and apoptosis related markers were detected using western blotting. PKM2 was identified as the target by transcriptome sequencing. Molecular docking assay was used to evaluate the binding affinity of sanguinarine to the PKM2 molecule. Furthermore, Alb-CreERT2; PKM2loxp/loxp; Rosa26RFP mice was used to construct the model of HCC-through the intervention of sanguinarine in vitro and in vivo-to accurately explore the regulation effect of sanguinarine on cancer energy metabolism. RESULTS Sanguinarine inhibited tumor proliferation, metastasis and induced two modes of cell death. Molecular docking of sanguinarine with PKM2 showed appreciable binding affinity. PKM2 kinase activity and aerobic glycolysis rate declined, and mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation was inhibited by sanguinarine application; these changes result in energy deficits and lead to necroptosis. Additionally, sanguinarine treatment prevents the translocation of PKM2 into the nucleus and suppresses the interaction of PKM2 with β-catenin; the transcriptional activity of PKM2/β-catenin signaling and its downstream genes were decreased. CONCLUSIONS Sanguinarine showed remarkable anti-HCC activity via regulating energy metabolism by PKM2/β-catenin signaling. On the basis of these investigations, we propose that sanguinarine might be considered as a promising compound for discovery of anti-HCC drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Kong
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou 215000, China
| | - Nan Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200072, China
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200080, China;
| | - Chunli Zhou
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou 215000, China
| | - Yuqing Zhou
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou 215000, China
| | - Xiaoyan Guo
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gongli Hospital of Shanghai Pudong New Area, Shanghai 200135, China
| | - Dongyan Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gongli Hospital of Shanghai Pudong New Area, Shanghai 200135, China
| | - Yihai Shi
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gongli Hospital of Shanghai Pudong New Area, Shanghai 200135, China
| | - Rong Wan
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200080, China;
| | - Yuejuan Zheng
- The Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai Institute of Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Jie Lu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200080, China;
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gongli Hospital of Shanghai Pudong New Area, Shanghai 200135, China
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11
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Lv X, Lan G, Zhu L, Guo Q. Breaking the Barriers of Therapy Resistance: Harnessing Ferroptosis for Effective Hepatocellular Carcinoma Therapy. J Hepatocell Carcinoma 2024; 11:1265-1278. [PMID: 38974015 PMCID: PMC11227329 DOI: 10.2147/jhc.s469449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Ferroptosis is a type of cell death that relies on iron and is distinguished by the occurrence of lipid peroxidation and the buildup of reactive oxygen species. Ferroptosis has been demonstrated to have a significant impact on the advancement and resistance to treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), thereby highlighting its potential as a viable therapeutic target. Ferroptosis was observed in HCC tissues in contrast to normal liver tissue. The inhibition of ferroptosis has been found to increase the viability of HCC cells and decrease their susceptibility to various anticancer therapies, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immune checkpoint blockade. The administration of drugs that directly modulate ferroptosis regulators or induce excessive production of lipid-reactive oxygen species has demonstrated the potential to enhance the responsiveness of drug-resistant HCC cells to treatment. However, the precise mechanism underlying this phenomenon remains ambiguous. This review presents a comprehensive overview of the crucial role played by ferroptosis in enhancing the efficacy of treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The main aim of this study is to examine the feasibility of utilizing ferroptosis as a therapeutic approach to improve the efficacy of HCC treatment and overcome drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianmei Lv
- Department of Radiotherapy, Jinhua People’s Hospital, Jinhua, Zhejiang, 321000, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, 362000, People’s Republic of China
| | - Gaochen Lan
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Affiliated Jinhua Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Jinhua, Zhejiang, 321000, People’s Republic of China
| | - Lujian Zhu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Affiliated Jinhua Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Jinhua, Zhejiang, 321000, People’s Republic of China
| | - Qiusheng Guo
- Department of Radiotherapy, Jinhua People’s Hospital, Jinhua, Zhejiang, 321000, People’s Republic of China
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12
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Xie Q, Zeng Y, Zhang X, Yu F. The significance of lipid metabolism reprogramming of tumor-associated macrophages in hepatocellular carcinoma. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2024; 73:171. [PMID: 38954021 PMCID: PMC11220057 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-024-03748-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
In the intricate landscape of the tumor microenvironment, tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) emerge as a ubiquitous cellular component that profoundly affects the oncogenic process. The microenvironment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is characterized by a pronounced infiltration of TAMs, underscoring their pivotal role in modulating the trajectory of the disease. Amidst the evolving therapeutic paradigms for HCC, the strategic reprogramming of metabolic pathways presents a promising avenue for intervention, garnering escalating interest within the scientific community. Previous investigations have predominantly focused on elucidating the mechanisms of metabolic reprogramming in cancer cells without paying sufficient attention to understanding how TAM metabolic reprogramming, particularly lipid metabolism, affects the progression of HCC. In this review article, we intend to elucidate how TAMs exert their regulatory effects via diverse pathways such as E2F1-E2F2-CPT2, LKB1-AMPK, and mTORC1-SREBP, and discuss correlations of TAMs with these processes and the characteristics of relevant pathways in HCC progression by consolidating various studies on TAM lipid uptake, storage, synthesis, and catabolism. It is our hope that our summary could delineate the impact of specific mechanisms underlying TAM lipid metabolic reprogramming on HCC progression and provide useful information for future research on HCC and the development of new treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingjian Xie
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yuan Zeng
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiangting Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Fujun Yu
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.
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13
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Zhang J, Zhang Z, Wu Z, Wang Y, Zhang Z, Xia L. The switch triggering the invasion process: Lipid metabolism in the metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma. Chin Med J (Engl) 2024; 137:1271-1284. [PMID: 38738689 PMCID: PMC11191009 DOI: 10.1097/cm9.0000000000003144] [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: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT In humans, the liver is a central metabolic organ with a complex and unique histological microenvironment. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which is a highly aggressive disease with a poor prognosis, accounts for most cases of primary liver cancer. As an emerging hallmark of cancers, metabolic reprogramming acts as a runaway mechanism that disrupts homeostasis of the affected organs, including the liver. Specifically, rewiring of the liver metabolic microenvironment, including lipid metabolism, is driven by HCC cells, propelling the phenotypes of HCC cells, including dissemination, invasion, and even metastasis in return. The resulting formation of this vicious loop facilitates various malignant behaviors of HCC further. However, few articles have comprehensively summarized lipid reprogramming in HCC metastasis. Here, we have reviewed the general situation of the liver microenvironment and the physiological lipid metabolism in the liver, and highlighted the effects of different aspects of lipid metabolism on HCC metastasis to explore the underlying mechanisms. In addition, we have recapitulated promising therapeutic strategies targeting lipid metabolism and the effects of lipid metabolic reprogramming on the efficacy of HCC systematical therapy, aiming to offer new perspectives for targeted therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaqian Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Institute of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Zhicheng Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Institute of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Zhangfan Wu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Institute of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Yufei Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Institute of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Zerui Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Institute of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Limin Xia
- Department of Gastroenterology, Institute of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
- State Key Laboratory of Holistic Integrative Management of Gastrointestinal Cancers and National Clinical Research Center for Digestive Diseases, Xijing Hospital of Digestive Diseases, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710032, China
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14
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Fernández-Barrena MG, Avila MA. Sweet dreams could be made of this: carbohydrate-responsive element-binding protein (ChREBP) as a target for hepatocellular carcinoma therapy. Mol Oncol 2024. [PMID: 38837736 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.13669] [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: 04/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Rewiring of cellular metabolism is now fully recognized as a hallmark of cancer. Tumor cells reprogram metabolic pathways to meet the energetic and macromolecular demands to support unrestricted growth and survival under unfavorable conditions. It is becoming apparent that these adaptations underpin most of the traits that define a cancer cell's identity, including the ability to avoid immune surveillance, endure nutrient and oxygen restrictions, detach and migrate from their natural histological niche, and avert human-made aggressions (i.e., therapy). In a recent study, Benichou and collaborators identify carbohydrate-responsive element-binding protein (ChREBP), a master regulator of physiological glucose metabolism, as an oncogene in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development. Upregulation of ChREBP expression results in a self-stimulatory loop interconnecting PI3K/AKT signaling and glucose metabolism to feed fatty acid and nucleotide synthesis supporting tumorigenesis. Importantly, pharmacological inhibition of ChREBP activity quells in vivo HCC tumor growth without causing systemic toxicity. This study identifies novel oncometabolic pathways and open up new avenues to improve the treatment of a deadly tumor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maite G Fernández-Barrena
- Hepatology Laboratory, Solid Tumors Program, CIMA, CCUN, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
- CIBERehd, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias de Navarra IdiSNA, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Matías A Avila
- Hepatology Laboratory, Solid Tumors Program, CIMA, CCUN, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
- CIBERehd, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias de Navarra IdiSNA, Pamplona, Spain
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15
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Li CC, Liu M, Lee HP, Wu W, Ma L. Heterogeneity in Liver Cancer Immune Microenvironment: Emerging Single-Cell and Spatial Perspectives. Semin Liver Dis 2024; 44:133-146. [PMID: 38788780 DOI: 10.1055/s-0044-1787152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
Primary liver cancer is a solid malignancy with a high mortality rate. The success of immunotherapy has shown great promise in improving patient care and highlights a crucial need to understand the complexity of the liver tumor immune microenvironment (TIME). Recent advances in single-cell and spatial omics technologies, coupled with the development of systems biology approaches, are rapidly transforming the landscape of tumor immunology. Here we review the cellular landscape of liver TIME from single-cell and spatial perspectives. We also discuss the cellular interaction networks within the tumor cell community in regulating immune responses. We further highlight the challenges and opportunities with implications for biomarker discovery, patient stratification, and combination immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caiyi Cherry Li
- Cancer Data Science Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Meng Liu
- Cancer Data Science Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Hsin-Pei Lee
- Cancer Data Science Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Wenqi Wu
- Cancer Data Science Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Lichun Ma
- Cancer Data Science Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland
- Liver Cancer Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland
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16
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Zhengdong A, Xiaoying X, Shuhui F, Rui L, Zehui T, Guanbin S, Li Y, Xi T, Wanqian L. Identification of fatty acids synthesis and metabolism-related gene signature and prediction of prognostic model in hepatocellular carcinoma. Cancer Cell Int 2024; 24:130. [PMID: 38584256 PMCID: PMC11000322 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-024-03306-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fatty acids synthesis and metabolism (FASM)-driven lipid mobilization is essential for energy production during nutrient shortages. However, the molecular characteristics, physiological function and clinical prognosis value of FASM-associated gene signatures in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain elusive. METHODS The Gene Expression Omnibus database (GEO), the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), and International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) database were utilized to acquire transcriptome data and clinical information of HCC patients. The ConsensusClusterPlus was employed for unsupervised clustering. Subsequently, immune cell infiltration, stemness index and therapeutic response among distinct clusters were decoded. The tumor immune dysfunction and exclusion (TIDE) algorithm was utilized to anticipate the response of patients towards immunotherapy, and the genomics of drug sensitivity in cancer (GDSC) tool was employed to predict their response to antineoplastic medications. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analysis and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network were employed to construct prognostic model and identity hub gene. Single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and CellChat were used to analyze cellular interactions. The hub gene of FASM effect on promoting tumor progression was confirmed through a series of functional experiments. RESULTS Twenty-six FASM-related genes showed differential expression in HCC. Based on these FASM-related differential genes, two molecular subtypes were established, including Cluster1 and Cluster2 subtype. Compared with cluster2, Cluster1 subtype exhibited a worse prognosis, higher risk, higher immunosuppressive cells infiltrations, higher immune escape, higher cancer stemness and enhanced treatment-resistant. PPI network identified Acetyl-CoA carboxylase1 (ACACA) as central gene of FASM and predicted a poor prognosis. A strong interaction between cancer stem cells (CSCs) with high expression of ACACA and macrophages through CD74 molecule (CD74) and integrin subunit beta 1 (ITGB1) signaling was identified. Finally, increased ACACA expression was observed in HCC cells and patients, whereas depleted ACACA inhibited the stemness straits and drug resistance of HCC cells. CONCLUSIONS This study provides a resource for understanding FASM heterogeneity in HCC. Evaluating the FASM patterns can help predict the prognosis and provide new insights into treatment response in HCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ai Zhengdong
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology (Chongqing University), Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, 174 Shazheng Street, Chongqing, 400000, People's Republic of China
| | - Xing Xiaoying
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology (Chongqing University), Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, 174 Shazheng Street, Chongqing, 400000, People's Republic of China
| | - Fu Shuhui
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology (Chongqing University), Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, 174 Shazheng Street, Chongqing, 400000, People's Republic of China
| | - Liang Rui
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology (Chongqing University), Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, 174 Shazheng Street, Chongqing, 400000, People's Republic of China
| | - Tang Zehui
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology (Chongqing University), Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, 174 Shazheng Street, Chongqing, 400000, People's Republic of China
| | - Song Guanbin
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology (Chongqing University), Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, 174 Shazheng Street, Chongqing, 400000, People's Republic of China
| | - Yang Li
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology (Chongqing University), Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, 174 Shazheng Street, Chongqing, 400000, People's Republic of China
| | - Tang Xi
- Gastrointestinal Cancer Center, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, Chongqing, 400000, People's Republic of China.
| | - Liu Wanqian
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology (Chongqing University), Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, 174 Shazheng Street, Chongqing, 400000, People's Republic of China.
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17
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Gao Y, Gong Y, Lu J, Hao H, Shi X. Targeting YAP1 to improve the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors in liver cancer: mechanism and strategy. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1377722. [PMID: 38550587 PMCID: PMC10972981 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1377722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Liver cancer is the third leading of tumor death, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are yielding much for sufferers to hope for patients, but only some patients with advanced liver tumor respond. Recent research showed that tumor microenvironment (TME) is critical for the effectiveness of ICIs in advanced liver tumor. Meanwhile, metabolic reprogramming of liver tumor leads to immunosuppression in TME. These suggest that regulating the abnormal metabolism of liver tumor cells and firing up TME to turn "cold tumor" into "hot tumor" are potential strategies to improve the therapeutic effect of ICIs in liver tumor. Previous studies have found that YAP1 is a potential target to improve the efficacy of anti-PD-1 in HCC. Here, we review that YAP1 promotes immunosuppression of TME, mainly due to the overstimulation of cytokines in TME by YAP1. Subsequently, we studied the effects of YAP1 on metabolic reprogramming in liver tumor cells, including glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, lipid metabolism, arachidonic acid metabolism, and amino acid metabolism. Lastly, we summarized the existing drugs targeting YAP1 in the treatment of liver tumor, including some medicines from natural sources, which have the potential to improve the efficacy of ICIs in the treatment of liver tumor. This review contributed to the application of targeted YAP1 for combined therapy with ICIs in liver tumor patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuting Gao
- Laboratory of Integrated Medicine Tumor Immunology, Shanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Taiyuan, China
| | - Yi Gong
- Laboratory of Integrated Medicine Tumor Immunology, Shanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Taiyuan, China
| | - Junlan Lu
- Laboratory of Integrated Medicine Tumor Immunology, Shanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Taiyuan, China
| | - Huiqin Hao
- Chinese Medicine Gene Expression Regulation Laboratory, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Taiyuan, China
- Basic Laboratory of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western, Shanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Taiyuan, China
| | - Xinli Shi
- Laboratory of Integrated Medicine Tumor Immunology, Shanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Taiyuan, China
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18
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Li R, Li S, Shen L, Li J, Zhang D, Yu J, Huang L, Liu N, Lu H, Xu M. SNHG1, interacting with SND1, contributes to sorafenib resistance of liver cancer cells by increasing m6A-mediated SLC7A11 expression and promoting aerobic glycolysis. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY 2024; 39:1269-1282. [PMID: 37927237 DOI: 10.1002/tox.24014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
Aerobic glycolysis plays an important role in multidrug resistance of cancer cells. Here, we screened different expressed lncRNAs associated with sorafenib resistance of liver cancer cells, by intersecting the bioinformatics analyses of TCGA and GEO (the GSE62813 dataset) databases. Our results revealed that the 18 upregulated lncRNAs in the intersection are associated with and enriched in metabolism of small molecule organic acids, suggesting their potential in glycolysis. The lncRNA small nucleolar RNA host gene 1 (Snhg1) was chosen as a potential regulator of aerobic glycolysis in liver cancer cells, for its significant promotion on lactate production. Gain- and loss-of-function experiments mediated by Crispr-Cas9 technique in HepG2 cells indicated that Snhg1 promoted cell proliferation, invasion, sorafenib resistance, and aerobic glycolysis. In the mechanism exploration, we found that Snhg1 can interact with SND1 protein, a famous RNA binding protein and recently identified "Reader" of N6-methyladenosine (m6A). SND1 was demonstrated to be positively regulated by Snhg1 and had similar promoting effects on proliferation, invasion, sorafenib resistance, and aerobic glycolysis of HepG2 cells. SND1 bound with and promoted the expression of SLC7A11, an aerobic glycolysis regulator. Furthermore, either silencing SLC7A11 or blocking aerobic glycolysis with 2-deoxy-d-glucose (2-DG) was able to reverse the promotion of Snhg1 overexpression on malignancy, sorafenib resistance, and aerobic glycolysis of HepG2 cells. Finally, in a liver cancer xenograft mouse model, we found that formed tumors with Snhg1-knocked-down HepG2 cells were more sensitive to sorafenib administration. Altogether, SNHG1 contributes to sorafenib resistance of liver cancer cells by promoting SND1-m6A-SLC7A11-mediated aerobic glycolysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, People's Republic of China
| | - Shunle Li
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, People's Republic of China
| | - Lin Shen
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, People's Republic of China
| | - Junhui Li
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, People's Republic of China
| | - Di Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, People's Republic of China
| | - Jinmin Yu
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, People's Republic of China
| | - Lanxuan Huang
- Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Na Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, People's Republic of China
| | - Hongwei Lu
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, People's Republic of China
| | - Meng Xu
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, People's Republic of China
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19
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Wang X, Zhang L, Dong B. Molecular mechanisms in MASLD/MASH-related HCC. Hepatology 2024:01515467-990000000-00739. [PMID: 38349726 PMCID: PMC11323288 DOI: 10.1097/hep.0000000000000786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
Liver cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths and ranks as the sixth most prevalent cancer type globally. NAFLD or metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, and its more severe manifestation, NASH or metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), pose a significant global health concern, affecting approximately 20%-25% of the population. The increased prevalence of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease and MASH is parallel to the increasing rates of obesity-associated metabolic diseases, including type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, and fatty liver diseases. MASH can progress to MASH-related HCC (MASH-HCC) in about 2% of cases each year, influenced by various factors such as genetic mutations, carcinogen exposure, immune microenvironment, and microbiome. MASH-HCC exhibits distinct molecular and immune characteristics compared to other causes of HCC and affects both men and women equally. The management of early to intermediate-stage MASH-HCC typically involves surgery and locoregional therapies, while advanced HCC is treated with systemic therapies, including anti-angiogenic therapies and immune checkpoint inhibitors. In this comprehensive review, we consolidate previous research findings while also providing the most current insights into the intricate molecular processes underlying MASH-HCC development. We delve into MASH-HCC-associated genetic variations and somatic mutations, disease progression and research models, multiomics analysis, immunological and microenvironmental impacts, and discuss targeted/combined therapies to overcome immune evasion and the biomarkers to recognize treatment responders. By furthering our comprehension of the molecular mechanisms underlying MASH-HCC, our goal is to catalyze the advancement of more potent treatment strategies, ultimately leading to enhanced patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaobo Wang
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Liang Zhang
- Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Bingning Dong
- Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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Wang S, Zhang S. A Novel Eight-Gene Signature for Lipid Metabolism Predicts the Progression of Cervical Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Endocervical Adenocarcinoma. Reprod Sci 2024; 31:514-531. [PMID: 37749448 DOI: 10.1007/s43032-023-01364-z] [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: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023]
Abstract
Recently, studies on the mechanisms underlying lipid metabolic reprogramming in cancer have increased. However, its significance in cervical cancer remains unclear. In the present study, a prognostic signature was constructed for patients with cervical squamous cell carcinoma and endocervical adenocarcinoma (CESC) using the expression profiles of lipid metabolism-related genes (LMRGs). Furthermore, using various bioinformatics methods, a prognostic gene signature was developed for progression-free survival (PFS). This signature was externally validated using a cervical cancer dataset (GSE44001). The characteristics of the molecular subgroups of LMRGs were analyzed, and target LMRGs were identified via differential gene analysis of the expression profiles and weighted gene correlation network analysis. Thereafter, the identified target genes were used to develop the prognostic gene signature using univariate, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator, and multivariate Cox regression analyses. The performance of the LMRG signature was evaluated using Kaplan-Meier curves, time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curves, decision curve analysis, mutation landscapes, gene set enrichment analysis, and immune score calculation. As a result, a novel eight-LMRG signature comprising ALDH3B2, CERS3, FA2H, GLTP, NR1H3, PLIN3, SLC44A3, and SQLE was constructed. Using this gene signature, patients with CESC and significantly distinguished PFS were divided. This eight-LMRG signature exhibited independent prognostic potential and superior predictive performance compared with a previously developed 12-gene signature. Our findings suggest that our novel eight-LMRG signature contributes to the implementation of precision medicine strategies for managing patients with cervical cancer by facilitating CESC prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shasha Wang
- Assisted Reproduction Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, No.3 Qingchun East Road, Shangcheng District, Hangzhou, 310016, People's Republic of China
| | - Songying Zhang
- Assisted Reproduction Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, No.3 Qingchun East Road, Shangcheng District, Hangzhou, 310016, People's Republic of China.
- Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, No.3 Qingchun East Road, Shangcheng District, Hangzhou, 310016, People's Republic of China.
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Dysfunction Management of Zhejiang Province, No.3 Qingchun East Road, Shangcheng District, Hangzhou, 310016, People's Republic of China.
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Lin J, Rao D, Zhang M, Gao Q. Metabolic reprogramming in the tumor microenvironment of liver cancer. J Hematol Oncol 2024; 17:6. [PMID: 38297372 PMCID: PMC10832230 DOI: 10.1186/s13045-024-01527-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/21/2024] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
The liver is essential for metabolic homeostasis. The onset of liver cancer is often accompanied by dysregulated liver function, leading to metabolic rearrangements. Overwhelming evidence has illustrated that dysregulated cellular metabolism can, in turn, promote anabolic growth and tumor propagation in a hostile microenvironment. In addition to supporting continuous tumor growth and survival, disrupted metabolic process also creates obstacles for the anticancer immune response and restrains durable clinical remission following immunotherapy. In this review, we elucidate the metabolic communication between liver cancer cells and their surrounding immune cells and discuss how metabolic reprogramming of liver cancer impacts the immune microenvironment and the efficacy of anticancer immunotherapy. We also describe the crucial role of the gut-liver axis in remodeling the metabolic crosstalk of immune surveillance and escape, highlighting novel therapeutic opportunities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Lin
- Center for Tumor Diagnosis and Therapy, Jinshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Dongning Rao
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Mao Zhang
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Qiang Gao
- Center for Tumor Diagnosis and Therapy, Jinshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
- Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics and Metabolism, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
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Kalantari L, Ghotbabadi ZR, Gholipour A, Ehymayed HM, Najafiyan B, Amirlou P, Yasamineh S, Gholizadeh O, Emtiazi N. A state-of-the-art review on the NRF2 in Hepatitis virus-associated liver cancer. Cell Commun Signal 2023; 21:318. [PMID: 37946175 PMCID: PMC10633941 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-023-01351-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
According to a paper released and submitted to WHO by IARC scientists, there would be 905,700 new cases of liver cancer diagnosed globally in 2020, with 830,200 deaths expected as a direct result. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) hepatitis C virus (HCV), and hepatitis D virus (HDV) all play critical roles in the pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), despite the rising prevalence of HCC due to non-infectious causes. Liver cirrhosis and HCC are devastating consequences of HBV and HCV infections, which are widespread worldwide. Associated with a high mortality rate, these infections cause about 1.3 million deaths annually and are the primary cause of HCC globally. In addition to causing insertional mutations due to viral gene integration, epigenetic alterations and inducing chronic immunological dysfunction are all methods by which these viruses turn hepatocytes into cancerous ones. While expanding our knowledge of the illness, identifying these pathways also give possibilities for novel diagnostic and treatment methods. Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) activation is gaining popularity as a treatment option for oxidative stress (OS), inflammation, and metabolic abnormalities. Numerous studies have shown that elevated Nrf2 expression is linked to HCC, providing more evidence that Nrf2 is a critical factor in HCC. This aberrant Nrf2 signaling drives cell proliferation, initiates angiogenesis and invasion, and imparts drug resistance. As a result, this master regulator may be a promising treatment target for HCC. In addition, the activation of Nrf2 is a common viral effect that contributes to the pathogenesis, development, and chronicity of virus infection. However, certain viruses suppress Nrf2 activity, which is helpful to the virus in maintaining cellular homeostasis. In this paper, we discussed the influence of Nrf2 deregulation on the viral life cycle and the pathogenesis associated with HBV and HCV. We summed up the mechanisms for the modulation of Nrf2 that are deregulated by these viruses. Moreover, we describe the molecular mechanism by which Nrf2 is modulated in liver cancer, liver cancer stem cells (LCSCs), and liver cancer caused by HBV and HCV. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leila Kalantari
- School of Medicine, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
| | | | - Arsalan Gholipour
- Nanotechnology Research Institute, School of Chemical Engineering, Babol Noshirvani University of Technology, Babol, Iran
| | | | - Behnam Najafiyan
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Science, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Parsa Amirlou
- Faculty of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | | | | | - Nikoo Emtiazi
- Department of Pathology, Firoozgar Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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Wang M, Yao X, Bo Z, Zheng J, Yu H, Xie X, Lin Z, Wang Y, Chen G, Wu L. Synergistic Effect of Lenvatinib and Chemotherapy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Using Preclinical Models. J Hepatocell Carcinoma 2023; 10:483-495. [PMID: 37007211 PMCID: PMC10065123 DOI: 10.2147/jhc.s395474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/11/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose The current study aimed to evaluate the synergistic efficacy of lenvatinib and FOLFOX (infusional fluorouracil (FU), folinic acid, and oxaliplatin) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) using patient-derived xenograft (PDX) and PDX-derived organotypic spheroid (XDOTS) models in vivo and in vitro. Methods PDX and matched XDOTS models originating from three patients with HCC were established. All models were divided into four groups and treated with drugs alone or in combination. Tumor growth in the PDX models was measured and recorded, and angiogenesis and phosphorylation of the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR2), rearranged during transfection (RET), and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) were detected using immunohistochemistry and Western blot assays. The proliferative ability of XDOTS was evaluated through active staining and immunofluorescence staining, and the effect of the combined medication was evaluated using the Celltiter-Glo luminescent cell viability assay. Results Three PDX models with genetic characteristics similar to those of the original tumors were successfully established. Combining lenvatinib with FOLFOX led to a higher tumor growth inhibition rate than individual therapies (P < 0.01). Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated that the combined treatment significantly inhibited the proliferation and angiogenesis of PDX tissues (P < 0.05), and Western blot analysis showed that the combined treatment significantly inhibited the phosphorylation of VEGFR2, RET, and ERK compared with single-agent treatment. Additionally, all three matched XDOTS models were successfully cultured with satisfactory activity and proliferation, and the combined therapies led to better suppression of XDOTS growth compared with individual therapy (P < 0.05). Conclusion Lenvatinib combined with FOLFOX had a synergistic antitumor effect in HCC PDX and XDOTS models by inhibiting the phosphorylation of VEGFR, RET, and ERK.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingxun Wang
- Department of Ultrasonography, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xinfei Yao
- The First Clinical College, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhiyuan Bo
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Hepato-Pancreatic Diseases of Zhejiang Province, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jiuyi Zheng
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Haitao Yu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiaozai Xie
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zixia Lin
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yi Wang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health and Management, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Gang Chen
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Hepato-Pancreatic Diseases of Zhejiang Province, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Lijun Wu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, People’s Republic of China
- Correspondence: Lijun Wu; Gang Chen, Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Fuxue Road, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325035, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86 577 55579-453, Fax +86 577 55579-555, Email ;
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