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Xu Y, Liao W, Wang T, Zhang L, Zhang H. Comprehensive bioinformatics analysis of integrator complex subunits: expression patterns, immune infiltration, and prognostic signature, validated through experimental approaches in hepatocellular carcinoma. Discov Oncol 2024; 15:246. [PMID: 38926181 PMCID: PMC11208364 DOI: 10.1007/s12672-024-01118-6] [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: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common gastrointestinal malignancy with a high incidence and poor prognosis. The subunits of the integrator complex (INTS1-14) play a crucial role in regulating genes dependent on RNA Polymerase II, which may be associated with cancer. However, the role of INTSs in HCC remains unclear. This study aims to comprehensively analyze the clinical value and potential role of INTS family genes in HCC through systematic bioinformatics analysis. METHODS We employed various public databases, including UALCAN, HPA, Kaplan-Meier Plotter, GEPIA2, TNMplot, STRING, TIMER, and TISIDB, to investigate the expression levels, clinicopathological correlations, diagnostic and prognostic value, genetic alterations, co-expression network, molecular targets, and immune infiltration of INTSs in HCC. Additionally, Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) were utilized to investigate the biological functions of genes associated with INTSs. Furthermore, Western blot, real-time fluorescence quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), and immunohistochemistry techniques were employed to assess the expression of relevant proteins and genes. The proliferation of HCC cells was evaluated using the CCK8 assay. RESULTS We found that in HCC, there was a significant upregulation of INTSs at the transcriptional level, particularly INTS1, INTS4, INTS7, and INTS8. Additionally, the protein levels of INTS1 and INTS8 were notably elevated. The overexpression of these INTSs was strongly correlated with tumor stages in HCC patients. INTS1, INTS4, INTS7, and INTS8 exhibited significant diagnostic and prognostic value in HCC. Moreover, their expression was associated with immune infiltrations and activated status, including B cells, CD8 + T cells, CD4 + T cells, NK cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells. Functional predictions indicated that INTS1, INTS4, INTS7, and INTS8 were involved in various cancer-related signaling pathways, such as TRAIL, IFN-gamma, mTOR, CDC42, Apoptosis, and the p53 pathway. Furthermore, we observed a significant upregulation of INTS1, INTS4, INTS7, and INTS8 expression in HCC cell lines compared to normal liver cell lines. The level of INTS1 protein was higher in cancerous tissues compared to adjacent non-cancerous tissues (n = 16), and the suppression of INTS1 resulted in a significant decrease in the proliferation of Huh7 cells. CONCLUSION These findings indicate the potential of INTS family genes as diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets in HCC. Further research is needed to understand the underlying mechanisms and explore clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifei Xu
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Wenlian Liao
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Ting Wang
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Liwei Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361101, Fujian, China.
| | - Hui Zhang
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China.
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Zhou L, Li Y, Zheng D, Zheng Y, Cui Y, Qin L, Tang Z, Peng D, Wu Q, Long Y, Yao Y, Wong N, Lau J, Li P. Bispecific CAR-T cells targeting FAP and GPC3 have the potential to treat hepatocellular carcinoma. MOLECULAR THERAPY. ONCOLOGY 2024; 32:200817. [PMID: 38882528 PMCID: PMC11179089 DOI: 10.1016/j.omton.2024.200817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024]
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy has demonstrated robust efficacy against hematological malignancies, but there are still some challenges regarding treating solid tumors, including tumor heterogeneity, antigen escape, and an immunosuppressive microenvironment. Here, we found that SNU398, a hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell line, exhibited high expression levels of fibroblast activation protein (FAP) and Glypican 3 (GPC3), which were negatively correlated with patient prognosis. The HepG2 HCC cell line highly expressed GPC3, while the SNU387 cell line exhibited high expression of FAP. Thus, we developed bispecific CAR-T cells to simultaneously target FAP and GPC3 to address tumor heterogeneity in HCC. The anti-FAP-GPC3 bispecific CAR-T cells could recognize and be activated by FAP or GPC3 expressed by tumor cells. Compared with anti-FAP CAR-T cells or anti-GPC3 CAR-T cells, bispecific CAR-T cells achieved more robust activity against tumor cells expressing FAP and GPC3 in vitro. The anti-FAP-GPC3 bispecific CAR-T cells also exhibited superior antitumor efficacy and significantly prolonged the survival of mice compared with single-target CAR-T cells in vivo. Overall, the use of anti-FAP-GPC3 bispecific CAR-T cells is a promising treatment approach to reduce tumor recurrence caused by tumor antigen heterogeneity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linfu Zhou
- China-New Zealand Joint Laboratory of Biomedicine and Health, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, the CUHK-GIBH Joint Research Laboratory on Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yao Li
- China-New Zealand Joint Laboratory of Biomedicine and Health, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, the CUHK-GIBH Joint Research Laboratory on Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Diwei Zheng
- China-New Zealand Joint Laboratory of Biomedicine and Health, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, the CUHK-GIBH Joint Research Laboratory on Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yongfang Zheng
- China-New Zealand Joint Laboratory of Biomedicine and Health, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, the CUHK-GIBH Joint Research Laboratory on Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yuanbin Cui
- China-New Zealand Joint Laboratory of Biomedicine and Health, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, the CUHK-GIBH Joint Research Laboratory on Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Le Qin
- China-New Zealand Joint Laboratory of Biomedicine and Health, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, the CUHK-GIBH Joint Research Laboratory on Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Health, Hong Kong Institute of Science & Innovation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Guangdong Zhaotai Cell Biology Technology Ltd., Foshan, China
| | - Zhaoyang Tang
- Guangdong Zhaotai Cell Biology Technology Ltd., Foshan, China
| | - Dongdong Peng
- China-New Zealand Joint Laboratory of Biomedicine and Health, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, the CUHK-GIBH Joint Research Laboratory on Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Qiting Wu
- China-New Zealand Joint Laboratory of Biomedicine and Health, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, the CUHK-GIBH Joint Research Laboratory on Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Youguo Long
- China-New Zealand Joint Laboratory of Biomedicine and Health, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, the CUHK-GIBH Joint Research Laboratory on Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yao Yao
- China-New Zealand Joint Laboratory of Biomedicine and Health, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, the CUHK-GIBH Joint Research Laboratory on Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Nathalie Wong
- Department of Surgery of the Faculty of Medicine, the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), Hong Kong, China
| | - James Lau
- Department of Surgery of the Faculty of Medicine, the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), Hong Kong, China
| | - Peng Li
- China-New Zealand Joint Laboratory of Biomedicine and Health, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, the CUHK-GIBH Joint Research Laboratory on Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Health, Hong Kong Institute of Science & Innovation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Department of Surgery of the Faculty of Medicine, the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), Hong Kong, China
- Key Laboratory of Biological Targeting Diagnosis, Therapy and Rehabilitation of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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Wu W, Bao Z, Zhu K, Song D, Yang W, Luo J, Zheng J, Shao G, Huang J. XCR1: A promising prognostic marker that pinpoints targeted and immune-based therapy in hepatocellular carcinoma. Heliyon 2024; 10:e31968. [PMID: 38868008 PMCID: PMC11167355 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e31968] [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: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Objectives The lymphotactin receptor X-C motif chemokine receptor 1 (XCR1) is an essential member of the chemokine receptor family and is related to tumor development and progression. Nevertheless, further investigation is required to explore its expression patterns, prognostic values, and functions related to target or immune therapies in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Materials and methods The differential expression patterns of XCR1 and its prognostic influences were performed through The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) databases. Subsequently, immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining and univariate and multivariate Cox regressions were performed to validate the prognostic values in different subgroups. Furthermore, the potential roles of XCR1 in predicting target and immune therapeutic responses were also investigated. Results Increased expression level of XCR1 was associated with favorable overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS). Subgroup analysis revealed that a high expression level of XCR1 or positive immune cell proportion score (iCPS) were associated with favorable OS in the HCC patients with favorable tumor characteristics. In addition, the enhanced XCR1 expression was associated with the tumor environment scores, immune cell infiltration levels, and the expression levels of immune checkpoint genes. Further analysis revealed that improved expression of XCR1 was linked to better OS and RFS in HCC patients who received sorafenib. Conclusion This study identified that XCR1 is a valuable prognostic biomarker in the HCC population, especially in those with favorable tumor characteristics. The combination of iCPS status and BCLC status has a synergistic effect on stratifying patients' OS and RFS. Further analyses showed that XCR1 has the potential ability to predict treatment responses to sorafenib and immune-based therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Wu
- Department of Pathology, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Institute of Basic Medicine and Cancer (IBMC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310022, China
| | - Zhen Bao
- Department of Pathology, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Institute of Basic Medicine and Cancer (IBMC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310022, China
| | - Kai Zhu
- Department of Liver Surgery, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of Ministry of Education, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Danjun Song
- Department of Interventional Therapy, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Institute of Basic Medicine and Cancer (IBMC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310022, China
| | - Weijian Yang
- Department of Interventional Therapy, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Institute of Basic Medicine and Cancer (IBMC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310022, China
- Department of General Surgery, The People's Hospital of Pingyang County, Pingyang Hospital Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325400, China
| | - Jun Luo
- Department of Interventional Therapy, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Institute of Basic Medicine and Cancer (IBMC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310022, China
| | - Jiaping Zheng
- Department of Interventional Therapy, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Institute of Basic Medicine and Cancer (IBMC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310022, China
| | - Guoliang Shao
- Department of Interventional Therapy, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Institute of Basic Medicine and Cancer (IBMC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310022, China
| | - Junfeng Huang
- Liver Surgery Intensive Care Unit, Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
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Hu D, Shen X, Gao P, Mao T, Chen Y, Li X, Shen W, Zhuang Y, Ding J. Multi-omic profiling reveals potential biomarkers of hepatocellular carcinoma prognosis and therapy response among mitochondria-associated cell death genes in the context of 3P medicine. EPMA J 2024; 15:321-343. [PMID: 38841626 PMCID: PMC11147991 DOI: 10.1007/s13167-024-00362-8] [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: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
Background Cancer cell growth, metastasis, and drug resistance are major challenges in treating liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC). However, the lack of comprehensive and reliable models hamper the effectiveness of the predictive, preventive, and personalized medicine (PPPM/3PM) strategy in managing LIHC. Methods Leveraging seven distinct patterns of mitochondrial cell death (MCD), we conducted a multi-omic screening of MCD-related genes. A novel machine learning framework was developed, integrating 10 machine learning algorithms with 67 different combinations to establish a consensus mitochondrial cell death index (MCDI). This index underwent rigorous evaluation across training, validation, and in-house clinical cohorts. A comprehensive multi-omics analysis encompassing bulk, single-cell, and spatial transcriptomics was employed to achieve a deeper insight into the constructed signature. The response of risk subgroups to immunotherapy and targeted therapy was evaluated and validated. RT-qPCR, western blotting, and immunohistochemical staining were utilized for findings validation. Results Nine critical differentially expressed MCD-related genes were identified in LIHC. A consensus MCDI was constructed based on a 67-combination machine learning computational framework, demonstrating outstanding performance in predicting prognosis and clinical translation. MCDI correlated with immune infiltration, Tumor Immune Dysfunction and Exclusion (TIDE) score and sorafenib sensitivity. Findings were validated experimentally. Moreover, we identified PAK1IP1 as the most important gene for predicting LIHC prognosis and validated its potential as an indicator of prognosis and sorafenib response in our in-house clinical cohorts. Conclusion This study developed a novel predictive model for LIHC, namely MCDI. Incorporating MCDI into the PPPM framework will enhance clinical decision-making processes and optimize individualized treatment strategies for LIHC patients. Graphical Abstract Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13167-024-00362-8.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dingtao Hu
- Clinical Cancer Institute, Center for Translational Medicine, Naval Medical University, 800 Xiangyin Road, Shanghai, 200433 China
| | - Xu Shen
- Clinical Cancer Institute, Center for Translational Medicine, Naval Medical University, 800 Xiangyin Road, Shanghai, 200433 China
| | - Peng Gao
- Clinical Cancer Institute, Center for Translational Medicine, Naval Medical University, 800 Xiangyin Road, Shanghai, 200433 China
| | - Tiantian Mao
- Department of Emergency, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, Tongji University, School of Medicine, 301 Yanchang Middle Road, Shanghai, 200072 China
| | - Yuan Chen
- Clinical Cancer Institute, Center for Translational Medicine, Naval Medical University, 800 Xiangyin Road, Shanghai, 200433 China
- University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200093 China
| | - Xiaofeng Li
- Department of Emergency, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, Tongji University, School of Medicine, 301 Yanchang Middle Road, Shanghai, 200072 China
| | - Weifeng Shen
- The Department of Hepatic Surgery, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yugang Zhuang
- Department of Emergency, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, Tongji University, School of Medicine, 301 Yanchang Middle Road, Shanghai, 200072 China
| | - Jin Ding
- Clinical Cancer Institute, Center for Translational Medicine, Naval Medical University, 800 Xiangyin Road, Shanghai, 200433 China
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Balakrishnan K, Chen Y, Dong J. Amplification of Hippo Signaling Pathway Genes Is Governed and Implicated in the Serous Subtype-Specific Ovarian Carcino-Genesis. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:1781. [PMID: 38730733 PMCID: PMC11082992 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16091781] [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: 04/13/2024] [Revised: 04/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Among women, ovarian cancer ranks as the fifth most common cause of cancer-related deaths. This study examined the impact of Hippo signaling pathway on ovarian carcinogenesis. Therefore, the signatures related to Hippo signaling pathway were derived from the molecular signatures database (MSigDB) and were used for further analysis. The Z score-based pathway activation scoring method was employed to investigate the expression patterns of these signatures in the mRNA expression profiles of ovarian cancer cohorts. Compared to other subtype tumors, the results of this study show that the Hippo signaling pathway signatures are dysregulated prominently in serous subtype-specific ovarian carcinogenesis. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve-based results of the Hippo gene set, yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1), and mammalian sterile 20-like kinases 1 (MST1) genes can predict the serous subtype tumors by higher specificity and sensitivity with significant areas under the curve values also further reconfirmed these signaling dysregulations. Moreover, these gene sets were studied further for mutation analysis in the profile of high-grade serous ovarian adenocarcinoma in the cBioPortal database. The OncoPrint results reveal that these Hippo signaling pathway genes are amplified highly during the grade three and stage third or fourth of serous type ovarian tumors. In addition, the results of the Dependency Map (DepMap) plot also clearly show that these genes are amplified significantly across the ovarian cancer cell lines. Finally, overall survival (OS) curve plot investigations also revealed that these gene expressions show poor survival patterns linked to highly expressed conditions in serous subtypes of ovarian cancer patients with significant p-values (p < 0.05). Thus, the current finding would help to develop the targeted therapies treatment for serous subtype ovarian carcinogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jixin Dong
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA; (K.B.); (Y.C.)
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Hsu HT, Lin YM, Hsing MT, Yeh KT, Lu JW, Yang SF. Correlation Between Low Cytoplasmic Expression of XBP1 and the Likelihood of Surviving Hepatocellular Carcinoma. In Vivo 2024; 38:1316-1324. [PMID: 38688649 PMCID: PMC11059868 DOI: 10.21873/invivo.13571] [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: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM Our objectives in this study were to (i) evaluate the clinical significance of X-box-binding protein 1 (XBP1) expression in cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and (ii) assess the potential of XBP1 to be used as a prognostic biomarker. PATIENTS AND METHODS The expression of XBP1 protein in 267 HCC tissue specimens was measured using immunohistochemistry in order to characterize the associations among XBP1 expression, clinicopathological factors and survival outcomes. Survival analysis using follow-up data was used to assess the prognostic value of XBP1 in cases of HCC. Immunohistochemistry revealed a significant decrease in cytoplasmic XBP1 protein expression in HCC tumor tissue. RESULTS Immunoreactivity results showed that low cytoplasmic XBP1 expression was significantly associated with vascular invasion, as well as poor 5-year overall survival and long-term disease-specific (DSS) and disease-free (DFS) survival rates. Kaplan-Meier survival curves further confirmed a significant association between low cytoplasmic XBP1 protein expression and poor DSS and DFS. Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that XBP1 expression, tumor differentiation, vascular invasion, tumor stage, and the rate of recurrence were linked to DSS, while low cytoplasmic XBP1 expression remained an independent predictor of poor DSS. Our analysis also revealed that XBP1 expression, tumor differentiation, vascular invasion, and T classification were linked to DFS, while low cytoplasmic XBP1 expression remained an independent predictor of poor DFS. CONCLUSION Low cytoplasmic XBP1 protein expression may play an important role in the pathogenesis of HCC, which suggests that XBP1 could potentially be targeted to benefit therapeutic strategies for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui-Ting Hsu
- Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan, R.O.C
- School of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan, R.O.C
- Department of Pathology, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan, R.O.C
| | - Yueh-Min Lin
- Department of Pathology, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan, R.O.C
- School of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan, R.O.C
| | - Ming-Tai Hsing
- Department of Neurosurgery, Show Chwan Memorial Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan, R.O.C
| | - Kun-Tu Yeh
- Department of Pathology, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan, R.O.C
- School of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan, R.O.C
| | - Jeng-Wei Lu
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark;
- The Finsen Laboratory, Rigshospitalet/National University Hospital, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Shun-Fa Yang
- Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan, R.O.C.;
- Department of Medical Research, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan, R.O.C
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Chou JC, Liu CC, Lee MF. Apigenin Suppresses MED28-Mediated Cell Growth in Human Liver Cancer Cells. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2024. [PMID: 38619972 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.3c09276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
Flavonoids exhibit health-promoting benefits against multiple chronic diseases, including cancer. Apigenin (4',5,7-trihydroxyflavone), one flavonoid present in fruits and vegetables, is potentially applicable to chemoprevention. Despite considerable progress in the therapeutic regimen of liver cancer, its prognosis remains poor. MED28, a Mediator subunit for transcriptional activation, is implicated in the development of several types of malignancy; however, its role in liver cancer is unknown at present. In liver cancer, the AKT/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is one major pathway involved in the oncogenic process. The aim of this study is to investigate the role of apigenin and MED28 in AKT/mTOR signaling in liver cancer. We first identified a connectivity score of 92.77 between apigenin treatment and MED28 knockdown in several cancer cell lines using CLUE, a cloud-based software platform to assess connectivity among compounds and genetic perturbagens. Higher expression of MED28 predicted a poorer survival prognosis; MED28 expression in liver cancer tissue was significantly higher than that of normal tissue, and it was positively correlated with tumor stage and grade in The Cancer Genome Atlas Liver Cancer (TCGA-LIHC) data set. Knockdown of MED28 induced cell cycle arrest and suppressed the AKT/mTOR signaling in two human liver cancer cell lines, HepG2 and Huh 7, accompanied by less lipid accumulation and lower expression and nuclear localization of sterol regulatory element binding protein 1 (SREBP1). Apigenin inhibited the expression of MED28, and the effect of apigenin mimicked that of the MED28 knockdown. On the other hand, the AKT/mTOR signaling was upregulated when MED28 was overexpressed. These data indicated that MED28 was associated with the survival prognosis and the progression of liver cancer by regulating AKT/mTOR signaling and apigenin appeared to inhibit cell growth through MED28-mediated mTOR signaling, which may be applicable as an adjuvant of chemotherapy or chemoprevention in liver cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jou-Chia Chou
- Department of Nutrition, China Medical University, Taichung 406040, Taiwan
| | - Chen-Chia Liu
- Department of Nutrition, China Medical University, Taichung 406040, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Fen Lee
- Department of Nutrition, China Medical University, Taichung 406040, Taiwan
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Breitenecker K, Heiden D, Demmer T, Weber G, Primorac AM, Hedrich V, Ortmayr G, Gruenberger T, Starlinger P, Herndler-Brandstetter D, Barozzi I, Mikulits W. Tumor-Extrinsic Axl Expression Shapes an Inflammatory Microenvironment Independent of Tumor Cell Promoting Axl Signaling in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4202. [PMID: 38673795 PMCID: PMC11050718 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25084202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2024] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The activation of the receptor tyrosine kinase Axl by Gas6 is a major driver of tumorigenesis. Despite recent insights, tumor cell-intrinsic and -extrinsic Axl functions are poorly understood in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Thus, we analyzed the cell-specific aspects of Axl in liver cancer cells and in the tumor microenvironment. We show that tumor-intrinsic Axl expression decreased the survival of mice and elevated the number of pulmonary metastases in a model of resection-based tumor recurrence. Axl expression increased the invasion of hepatospheres by the activation of Akt signaling and a partial epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). However, the liver tumor burden of Axl+/+ mice induced by diethylnitrosamine plus carbon tetrachloride was reduced compared to systemic Axl-/- mice. Tumors of Axl+/+ mice were highly infiltrated with cytotoxic cells, suggesting a key immune-modulatory role of Axl. Interestingly, hepatocyte-specific Axl deficiency did not alter T cell infiltration, indicating that these changes are independent of tumor cell-intrinsic Axl. In this context, we observed an upregulation of multiple chemokines in Axl+/+ compared to Axl-/- tumors, correlating with HCC patient data. In line with this, Axl is associated with a cytotoxic immune signature in HCC patients. Together these data show that tumor-intrinsic Axl expression fosters progression, while tumor-extrinsic Axl expression shapes an inflammatory microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina Breitenecker
- Center for Cancer Research, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria (D.H.); (T.D.); (G.W.); (V.H.); (G.O.); (D.H.-B.); (I.B.)
| | - Denise Heiden
- Center for Cancer Research, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria (D.H.); (T.D.); (G.W.); (V.H.); (G.O.); (D.H.-B.); (I.B.)
| | - Tobias Demmer
- Center for Cancer Research, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria (D.H.); (T.D.); (G.W.); (V.H.); (G.O.); (D.H.-B.); (I.B.)
| | - Gerhard Weber
- Center for Cancer Research, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria (D.H.); (T.D.); (G.W.); (V.H.); (G.O.); (D.H.-B.); (I.B.)
| | - Ana-Maria Primorac
- Center for Cancer Research, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria (D.H.); (T.D.); (G.W.); (V.H.); (G.O.); (D.H.-B.); (I.B.)
| | - Viola Hedrich
- Center for Cancer Research, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria (D.H.); (T.D.); (G.W.); (V.H.); (G.O.); (D.H.-B.); (I.B.)
| | - Gregor Ortmayr
- Center for Cancer Research, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria (D.H.); (T.D.); (G.W.); (V.H.); (G.O.); (D.H.-B.); (I.B.)
| | - Thomas Gruenberger
- Department of Surgery, HPB Center, Viennese Health Network, Clinic Favoriten and Sigmund Freud Private University, 1100 Vienna, Austria
| | - Patrick Starlinger
- Department of Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
- Centre of Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Dietmar Herndler-Brandstetter
- Center for Cancer Research, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria (D.H.); (T.D.); (G.W.); (V.H.); (G.O.); (D.H.-B.); (I.B.)
| | - Iros Barozzi
- Center for Cancer Research, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria (D.H.); (T.D.); (G.W.); (V.H.); (G.O.); (D.H.-B.); (I.B.)
| | - Wolfgang Mikulits
- Center for Cancer Research, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria (D.H.); (T.D.); (G.W.); (V.H.); (G.O.); (D.H.-B.); (I.B.)
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9
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Meng Z, Cheng S, Wang W, Wei Z, Guo Z, Zhao X, Wu B, Chang H, Wang N. Up-regulation of MIC19 promotes growth and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma by activating ROS/NF-κB signaling. Transl Oncol 2024; 42:101906. [PMID: 38350286 PMCID: PMC10876907 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2024.101906] [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: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 01/13/2024] [Accepted: 02/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mitochondrial malfunction has been well-recognized as a critical step in the pathogenesis of many types of diseases, including cancer. MIC19 is a core a subunit of the MICOS complex that plays a critical role in maintaining the normal function of mitochondria. However, the biological functions of MIC19 in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain unclear. METHODS The expression level of MIC19 in HCC was evaluated by bioinformatics analysis, quantitative real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry staining assays. Cell growth and metastasis experiments were used to assess the biological functions of MIC19 in HCC cells. FINDINGS MIC19 expression was frequently upregulated in both human HCC specimens and cell lines, and its upregulation is closely associated with patients' survival. Results from loss-of-function and gain-of-function experiments demonstrated that knockdown of MIC19 significantly attenuated, while overexpression of MIC19 enhanced, the proliferation, colony formation, migration and invasion abilities of HCC cells. Mechanistically, we found that MIC19 has no effect on mitochondrial energy production, while activated ROS/NF-κB signaling, which was required for MIC19-promoted HCC growth and metastasis. INTERPRETATION Our findings suggest that MIC19 play a critical oncogenic role in HCC, implying that MIC19 may serve as a potential therapeutic target in the treatment of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhanbing Meng
- College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, China
| | - Shixia Cheng
- College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, China
| | - Weifang Wang
- College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, China
| | - Zhouxia Wei
- Department of General Surgery (part II), LanZhou Second People's Hospital, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Zheng Guo
- Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery, Tangdu Hospital, the Air Force Medical University, Xi'an 710038, China
| | - Xuying Zhao
- College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, China
| | - Bing Wu
- Department of Geriatrics, The 940th Hospital of Joint Logistics Support Force of Chinese People's Liberation Army, Lanzhou 730050, China
| | - Hulin Chang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Xi'an 710061, Shaanxi, China
| | - Nan Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Tangdu Hospital, the Air Force Medical University, Xi'an 710038, China.
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10
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Njoku K, Pierce A, Chiasserini D, Geary B, Campbell AE, Kelsall J, Reed R, Geifman N, Whetton AD, Crosbie EJ. Detection of endometrial cancer in cervico-vaginal fluid and blood plasma: leveraging proteomics and machine learning for biomarker discovery. EBioMedicine 2024; 102:105064. [PMID: 38513301 PMCID: PMC10960138 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2024.105064] [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: 12/13/2022] [Revised: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The anatomical continuity between the uterine cavity and the lower genital tract allows for the exploitation of uterine-derived biomaterial in cervico-vaginal fluid for endometrial cancer detection based on non-invasive sampling methodologies. Plasma is an attractive biofluid for cancer detection due to its simplicity and ease of collection. In this biomarker discovery study, we aimed to identify proteomic signatures that accurately discriminate endometrial cancer from controls in cervico-vaginal fluid and blood plasma. METHODS Blood plasma and Delphi Screener-collected cervico-vaginal fluid samples were acquired from symptomatic post-menopausal women with (n = 53) and without (n = 65) endometrial cancer. Digitised proteomic maps were derived for each sample using sequential window acquisition of all theoretical mass spectra (SWATH-MS). Machine learning was employed to identify the most discriminatory proteins. The best diagnostic model was determined based on accuracy and model parsimony. FINDINGS A protein signature derived from cervico-vaginal fluid more accurately discriminated cancer from control samples than one derived from plasma. A 5-biomarker panel of cervico-vaginal fluid derived proteins (HPT, LG3BP, FGA, LY6D and IGHM) predicted endometrial cancer with an AUC of 0.95 (0.91-0.98), sensitivity of 91% (83%-98%), and specificity of 86% (78%-95%). By contrast, a 3-marker panel of plasma proteins (APOD, PSMA7 and HPT) predicted endometrial cancer with an AUC of 0.87 (0.81-0.93), sensitivity of 75% (64%-86%), and specificity of 84% (75%-93%). The parsimonious model AUC values for detection of stage I endometrial cancer in cervico-vaginal fluid and blood plasma were 0.92 (0.87-0.97) and 0.88 (0.82-0.95) respectively. INTERPRETATION Here, we leveraged the natural shed of endometrial tumours to potentially develop an innovative approach to endometrial cancer detection. We show proof of principle that endometrial cancers secrete unique protein signatures that can enable cancer detection via cervico-vaginal fluid assays. Confirmation in a larger independent cohort is warranted. FUNDING Cancer Research UK, Blood Cancer UK, National Institute for Health Research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelechi Njoku
- Division of Cancer Sciences, University of Manchester, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, 5th Floor Research, St Mary's Hospital, Road, Manchester, M13 9WL, UK; Stoller Biomarker Discovery Centre, Institute of Cancer Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK; Department of Clinical Oncology, Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK.
| | - Andrew Pierce
- North Wales Medical School, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DG, UK
| | - Davide Chiasserini
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Section of Physiology and Biochemistry, University of Perugia, 06132, Perugia, Italy
| | - Bethany Geary
- Medical Research Council Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dow Street, Dundee, DD1 5EH, UK
| | - Amy E Campbell
- Stoller Biomarker Discovery Centre, Institute of Cancer Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Janet Kelsall
- Stoller Biomarker Discovery Centre, Institute of Cancer Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Rachel Reed
- Stoller Biomarker Discovery Centre, Institute of Cancer Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Nophar Geifman
- School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, GU2 7XH, UK
| | - Anthony D Whetton
- Veterinary Health Innovation Engine, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, GU2 7XH, UK
| | - Emma J Crosbie
- Division of Cancer Sciences, University of Manchester, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, 5th Floor Research, St Mary's Hospital, Road, Manchester, M13 9WL, UK.
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11
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Yoshida M, Matsuzaki J, Fujita K, Kimura M, Umezu T, Tokuda N, Yamaguchi T, Kuroda M, Ochiya T, Saito Y, Kimura K. Plasma extracellular vesicle microRNAs reflecting the therapeutic effect of the CBP/β-catenin inhibitor PRI-724 in patients with liver cirrhosis. Sci Rep 2024; 14:6266. [PMID: 38491114 PMCID: PMC10943077 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-56942-1] [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: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024] Open
Abstract
There is an unmet need for antifibrotic therapies to prevent the progression of liver cirrhosis. Previously, we conducted an exploratory trial to assess the safety and antifibrotic efficacy of PRI-724, a selective CBP/β-catenin inhibitor, in patients with liver cirrhosis. PRI-724 was well tolerated and exerted a potential antifibrotic effect. Here, we investigated whether the profiles of circulating microRNAs packaged in extracellular vesicles (EV-miRNAs) are associated with responses to liver fibrosis treatments. Eighteen patients who received PRI-724 for 12 weeks in a phase 1/2a study were classified as responders (n = 10) or non-responders (n = 8) based on changes in liver stiffness. Plasma samples were obtained before and after PRI-724 administration and the levels of EV-miRNAs were analyzed. Three miRNAs (miR-6510-5p, miR-6772-5p, and miR-4261) were identified as predictors of response or non-response to PRI-724, and the levels of three other miRNAs (miR-939-3p, miR-887-3p, and miR-7112-5p) correlated with the efficacy of treatment. Expression of miR-887-3p was detected in hepatocytes and was decreased significantly in liver tissue following PRI-724 treatment. In addition, transfection of a miR-887-3p mimic activated hepatic stellate cells. Thus, decreases in the miR-887-3p level in blood may reflect recovery from liver fibroses in patients with liver cirrhosis treated with PRI-724, although further validation studies are warranted to confirm this.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mayu Yoshida
- Division of Pharmacotherapeutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Keio University, 1-5-30 Shibakoen, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 105-8512, Japan
| | - Juntaro Matsuzaki
- Division of Pharmacotherapeutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Keio University, 1-5-30 Shibakoen, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 105-8512, Japan.
| | - Koji Fujita
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Tokyo Medical University, 6-1-1 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8402, Japan
| | - Masamichi Kimura
- Department of Hepatology, Tokyo Metropolitan Cancer and Infectious Diseases Center, Komagome Hospital, 3-18-22 Honkomagome, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8677, Japan
| | - Tomohiro Umezu
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Tokyo Medical University, 6-1-1 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8402, Japan
| | - Noi Tokuda
- Division of Pharmacotherapeutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Keio University, 1-5-30 Shibakoen, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 105-8512, Japan
| | - Tomoko Yamaguchi
- Division of Pharmacotherapeutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Keio University, 1-5-30 Shibakoen, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 105-8512, Japan
| | - Masahiko Kuroda
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Tokyo Medical University, 6-1-1 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8402, Japan
| | - Takahiro Ochiya
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo Medical University, 6-7-1 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-0023, Japan
| | - Yoshimasa Saito
- Division of Pharmacotherapeutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Keio University, 1-5-30 Shibakoen, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 105-8512, Japan
| | - Kiminori Kimura
- Department of Hepatology, Tokyo Metropolitan Cancer and Infectious Diseases Center, Komagome Hospital, 3-18-22 Honkomagome, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8677, Japan
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12
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Shabangu CS, Su WH, Li CY, Yu ML, Dai CY, Huang JF, Chuang WL, Wang SC. Systematic integration of molecular and clinical approaches in HCV-induced hepatocellular carcinoma. J Transl Med 2024; 22:268. [PMID: 38475805 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-024-04925-1] [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: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a crucial role in gene expression and regulation, with dysregulation of miRNA function linked to various diseases, including hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). There is still a gap in understanding the regulatory relationship between miRNAs and mRNAs in HCV-HCC. This study aimed to investigate the function and effects of persistent HCV-induced miRNA expression on gene regulation in HCC. METHODS MiRNA array data were used to identify differentially expressed miRNAs and their targets, and miRNAs were analyzed via DIANA for KEGG pathways, gene ontology (GO) functional enrichment, and Ingenuity Pathways Analysis (IPA) for hepatotoxicity, canonical pathways, associated network functions, and interactive networks. RESULTS Seventeen miRNAs in L-HCV and 9 miRNAs in S-HCV were differentially expressed, and 5 miRNAs in L-HCV and 5 miRNAs in S-HCV were significantly expressed in liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC) tumors. Grouped miRNA survival analysis showed that L-HCV miRNAs were associated with survival in LIHC, and miRNA‒mRNA targets regulated viral carcinogenesis and cell cycle alteration through cancer pathways in LIHC. MiRNA-regulated RCN1 was suppressed through miRNA-oncogene interactions, and suppression of RCN1 inhibited invasion and migration in HCC. CONCLUSION Persistent HCV infection induced the expression of miRNAs that act as tumor suppressors by inhibiting oncogenes in HCC. RCN1 was suppressed while miRNAs were upregulated, demonstrating an inverse relationship. Therefore, hsa-miR-215-5p, hsa-miR-10b-5p, hsa-let-7a-5p and their target RCN1 may be ideal biomarkers for monitoring HCV-HCC progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ciniso Sylvester Shabangu
- Graduate Institute of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Center for Liquid Biopsy and Cohort Research, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, 80708, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Hsiu Su
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Center of Excellence for Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Yang Li
- Graduate Institute of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Lung Yu
- Center of Excellence for Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Faculty of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, 80708, Taiwan
- Hepatitis Research Center, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Hepatobiliary Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, 80708, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Yen Dai
- Faculty of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, 80708, Taiwan
- Hepatitis Research Center, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Hepatobiliary Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, 80708, Taiwan
| | - Jee-Fu Huang
- Faculty of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, 80708, Taiwan
- Hepatitis Research Center, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Hepatobiliary Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, 80708, Taiwan
| | - Wan-Long Chuang
- Faculty of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, 80708, Taiwan
- Hepatitis Research Center, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Hepatobiliary Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, 80708, Taiwan
| | - Shu-Chi Wang
- Center for Liquid Biopsy and Cohort Research, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, 80708, Taiwan.
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
- Center of Excellence for Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
- Department of Medical Research, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
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Zhao K, Li X, Feng Y, Wang J, Yao W. The role of kinesin family members in hepatobiliary carcinomas: from bench to bedside. Biomark Res 2024; 12:30. [PMID: 38433242 PMCID: PMC10910842 DOI: 10.1186/s40364-024-00559-z] [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: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
As a major component of the digestive system malignancies, tumors originating from the hepatic and biliary ducts seriously endanger public health. The kinesins (KIFs) are molecular motors that enable the microtubule-dependent intracellular trafficking necessary for mitosis and meiosis. Normally, the stability of KIFs is essential to maintain cell proliferation and genetic homeostasis. However, aberrant KIFs activity may destroy this dynamic stability, leading to uncontrolled cell division and tumor initiation. In this work, we have made an integral summarization of the specific roles of KIFs in hepatocellular and biliary duct carcinogenesis, referring to aberrant signal transduction and the potential for prognostic evaluation. Additionally, current clinical applications of KIFs-targeted inhibitors have also been discussed, including their efficacy advantages, relationship with drug sensitivity or resistance, the feasibility of combination chemotherapy or other targeted agents, as well as the corresponding clinical trials. In conclusion, the abnormally activated KIFs participate in the regulation of tumor progression via a diverse range of mechanisms and are closely associated with tumor prognosis. Meanwhile, KIFs-aimed inhibitors also carry out a promising tumor-targeted therapeutic strategy that deserves to be further investigated in hepatobiliary carcinoma (HBC).
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Zhao
- Department of Biliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Cancer Research Center Affiliated Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 430030, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Xiangyu Li
- Department of Thoracic Surgery Affiliated Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 430030, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Yunxiang Feng
- Department of Biliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Cancer Research Center Affiliated Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 430030, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Jianming Wang
- Department of Biliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Cancer Research Center Affiliated Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 430030, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
- Affiliated Tianyou Hospital, Wuhan University of Science & Technology, 430064, Wuhan, China.
| | - Wei Yao
- Department of Oncology Affiliated Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 430030, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
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14
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Zhou HM, Chen DH, Diao WJ, Wu YF, Zhang JG, Zhong L, Jiang ZY, Zhang X, Liu GL, Li Q. Inhibition of RhoGEF/RhoA alleviates regorafenib resistance and cancer stemness via Hippo signaling pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma. Exp Cell Res 2024; 436:113956. [PMID: 38341081 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2024.113956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
Patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are vulnerable to drug resistance. Although drug resistance has been taken much attention to HCC therapy, little is known of regorafenib and regorafenib resistance (RR). This study aimed to determine the drug resistance pattern and the role of RhoA in RR. Two regorafenib-resistant cell lines were constructed based on Huh7 and Hep3B cell lines. In vitro and in vivo assays were conducted to study RhoA expression, the activity of Hippo signaling pathway and cancer stem cell (CSC) traits. The data showed that RhoA was highly expressed, Hippo signaling was hypoactivated and CSC traits were more prominent in RR cells. Inhibiting RhoA could reverse RR, and the alliance of RhoA inhibition and regorafenib synergistically attenuated CSC phenotype. Furthermore, inhibiting LARG/RhoA increased Kibra/NF2 complex formation, prevented YAP from shuttling into the nucleus and repressed CD44 mRNA expression. Clinically, the high expression of RhoA correlated with poor prognosis. LARG, RhoA, YAP1 and CD44 show positive correlation with each other. Thus, inhibition of RhoGEF/RhoA has the potential to reverse RR and repress CSC phenotype in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- He-Ming Zhou
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 100 Haining Road, Shanghai, 200080, PR China
| | - Da-Hong Chen
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 100 Haining Road, Shanghai, 200080, PR China
| | - Wen-Jing Diao
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 100 Haining Road, Shanghai, 200080, PR China
| | - Ya-Fei Wu
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 100 Haining Road, Shanghai, 200080, PR China
| | - Ji-Gang Zhang
- Clinical Research Center, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 100 Haining Road, Shanghai, 200080, PR China
| | - Lin Zhong
- Department of General Surgery, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 100 Haining Road, Shanghai, 200080, PR China
| | - Zhong-Yi Jiang
- Department of General Surgery, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 100 Haining Road, Shanghai, 200080, PR China
| | - Xue Zhang
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 100 Haining Road, Shanghai, 200080, PR China; Shanghai Eye Diseases Prevention & Treatment Center / Shanghai Eye Hospital, Shanghai, 200040, PR China
| | - Gao-Lin Liu
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 100 Haining Road, Shanghai, 200080, PR China; Shanghai Eye Diseases Prevention & Treatment Center / Shanghai Eye Hospital, Shanghai, 200040, PR China
| | - Qin Li
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 100 Haining Road, Shanghai, 200080, PR China; Shanghai Eye Diseases Prevention & Treatment Center / Shanghai Eye Hospital, Shanghai, 200040, PR China.
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15
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Wang C, Zhang T, Sun S, Ye X, Wang Y, Pan M, Shi H. Preoperative Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound Predicts Microvascular Invasion in Hepatocellular Carcinoma as Accurately as Contrast-Enhanced MR. JOURNAL OF ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE : OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE 2024; 43:439-453. [PMID: 38070130 DOI: 10.1002/jum.16375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Both contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance (CEMR) are important imaging methods for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study aimed to establish a model using preoperative CEUS parameters to predict microvascular invasion (MVI) in HCC, and compare its predictive efficiency with that of CEMR model. METHODS A total of 93 patients with HCC (39 cases in MVI positive group and 54 cases in MVI negative group) who underwent surgery in our hospital from January 2020 to June 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Their clinical and imaging data were collected to establish CEUS and CEMR models for predicting MVI. The predictive efficiencies of both models were compared. RESULTS By the univariate and multivariate regression analyses of patients' clinical information, preoperative CEUS static and dynamic images, we found that serrated edge and time to peak were independent predictors of MVI. The CEUS prediction model achieved a sensitivity of 92.3%, a specificity of 83.3%, and an accuracy of 84.6% (Az: 0.934). By analyzing the clinical and CEMR information, we found that tumor morphology, fast-in and fast-out, peritumoral enhancement, and capsule were independent predictors of MVI. The CEMR prediction model achieved a sensitivity of 97.4%, a specificity of 77.8%, and an accuracy of 83.2% (Az: 0.900). The combination of the two models achieved a sensitivity of 84.6%, a specificity of 87.0%, and an accuracy of 86.2% (Az: 0.884). There was no significant statistical difference in the areas under the ROC curve of the three models. CONCLUSION The CEUS model and the CEMR model have similar predictive efficiencies for MVI of HCC. CEUS is also an effective method to predict MVI before operation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cuiwei Wang
- Department of Ultrasound, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Teng Zhang
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Shuwen Sun
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xinhua Ye
- Department of Ultrasound, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yali Wang
- Department of Ultrasound, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Minhong Pan
- Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Haibin Shi
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
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16
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Yi J, Luo X, Huang W, Yang W, Qi Y, He J, Xie H. PGK1 is a potential biomarker for early diagnosis and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma. Oncol Lett 2024; 27:109. [PMID: 38304170 PMCID: PMC10831403 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2024.14242] [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: 06/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a common type of liver cancer, is increasing in incidence worldwide. An early diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is still challenging: Currently, few biomarkers are available to diagnose the early stage of HCC, therefore, additional prognostic biomarkers are required to identify potential risk factors. The present study analyzed gene expression levels of HCC tissue samples and the protein expression levels obtained from the GSE46408 HCC dataset using Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analyses. The metabolically associated differentially expressed genes (DEGs), including DEGs involved in the glucose metabolism pathway, were selected for further analysis. Phosphoglycerate kinase 1 (PGK1), a glycolytic enzyme, was determined as a potential prognostic biomarker through Kaplan-Meier curve and clinical association variable analyses. This was also verified based on the expression levels of PGK1 in tumor tissue and protein expression levels in several liver cancer cell lines. PGK1 mRNA demonstrated a high level of expression in HCC tissue and was significantly associated with a poor prognosis, showing a negative association with survival time. In addition, as an independent risk factor, PGK1 may potentially be a valuable prognostic biomarker for patients with HCC. Furthermore, expression of PGK1 was associated with the early stages (stage I and T1) of HCC. Moreover, PGK1 mRNA expression levels demonstrated a positive association with progression of liver cancer. The results suggested that PGK1 mRNA may be involved in the degree of HCC malignancy and may be a future potential prognostic biomarker for HCC progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaqi Yi
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632, P.R. China
| | - Xuehua Luo
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510630, P.R. China
| | - Weijian Huang
- Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632, P.R. China
| | - Weijun Yang
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632, P.R. China
| | - Yan Qi
- Department of Market Research and Development, China Animal Husbandry Group, Beijing 100000, P.R. China
| | - Jun He
- Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632, P.R. China
| | - Huijun Xie
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632, P.R. China
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Kang X, Liu X, Li Y, Yuan W, Xu Y, Yan H. Development and evaluation of nomograms and risk stratification systems to predict the overall survival and cancer-specific survival of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Clin Exp Med 2024; 24:44. [PMID: 38413421 PMCID: PMC10899391 DOI: 10.1007/s10238-024-01296-1] [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: 12/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of primary liver cancer, and patients with HCC have a poor prognosis and low survival rates. Establishing a prognostic nomogram is important for predicting the survival of patients with HCC, as it helps to improve the patient's prognosis. This study aimed to develop and evaluate nomograms and risk stratification to predict overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) in HCC patients. Data from 10,302 patients with initially diagnosed HCC were extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database between 2010 and 2017. Patients were randomly divided into the training and validation set. Kaplan-Meier survival, LASSO regression, and Cox regression analysis were conducted to select the predictors of OS. Competing risk analysis, LASSO regression, and Cox regression analysis were conducted to select the predictors of CSS. The validation of the nomograms was performed using the concordance index (C-index), the Akaike information criterion (AIC), the Bayesian information criterion (BIC), Net Reclassification Index (NRI), Discrimination Improvement (IDI), the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, calibration curves, and decision curve analyses (DCAs). The results indicated that factors including age, grade, T stage, N stage, M stage, surgery, surgery to lymph node (LN), Alpha-Fetal Protein (AFP), and tumor size were independent predictors of OS, whereas grade, T stage, surgery, AFP, tumor size, and distant lymph node metastasis were independent predictors of CSS. Based on these factors, predictive models were built and virtualized by nomograms. The C-index for predicting 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS were 0.788, 0.792, and 0.790. The C-index for predicting 1-, 3-, and 5-year CSS were 0.803, 0.808, and 0.806. AIC, BIC, NRI, and IDI suggested that nomograms had an excellent predictive performance with no significant overfitting. The calibration curves showed good consistency of OS and CSS between the actual observation and nomograms prediction, and the DCA showed great clinical usefulness of the nomograms. The risk stratification of OS and CSS was built that could perfectly classify HCC patients into three risk groups. Our study developed nomograms and a corresponding risk stratification system predicting the OS and CSS of HCC patients. These tools can assist in patient counseling and guiding treatment decision making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xichun Kang
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, China
| | - Xiling Liu
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, China
| | - Yaoqi Li
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, China
| | - Wenfang Yuan
- Department of the Sixth Infection, The Fifth Hospital of Shijiazhuang, Shijiazhuang, 050021, China
| | - Yi Xu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Fifth Hospital of Shijiazhuang, Shijiazhuang, 050021, China
| | - Huimin Yan
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, China.
- Clinical Research Center, The Fifth Hospital of Shijiazhuang, Shijiazhuang, 050021, China.
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18
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Giraud J, Chalopin D, Ramel E, Boyer T, Zouine A, Derieppe MA, Larmonier N, Adotevi O, Le Bail B, Blanc JF, Laurent C, Chiche L, Derive M, Nikolski M, Saleh M. THBS1 + myeloid cells expand in SLD hepatocellular carcinoma and contribute to immunosuppression and unfavorable prognosis through TREM1. Cell Rep 2024; 43:113773. [PMID: 38350444 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.113773] [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: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 11/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an inflammation-associated cancer arising from viral or non-viral etiologies including steatotic liver diseases (SLDs). Expansion of immunosuppressive myeloid cells is a hallmark of inflammation and cancer, but their heterogeneity in HCC is not fully resolved and might underlie immunotherapy resistance. Here, we present a high-resolution atlas of innate immune cells from patients with HCC that unravels an SLD-associated contexture characterized by influx of inflammatory and immunosuppressive myeloid cells, including a discrete population of THBS1+ regulatory myeloid (Mreg) cells expressing monocyte- and neutrophil-affiliated genes. THBS1+ Mreg cells expand in SLD-associated HCC, populate fibrotic lesions, and are associated with poor prognosis. THBS1+ Mreg cells are CD163+ but distinguished from macrophages by high expression of triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 1 (TREM1), which contributes to their immunosuppressive activity and promotes HCC tumor growth in vivo. Our data support myeloid subset-targeted immunotherapies to treat HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Giraud
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS, ImmunoConcEpT, UMR 5164, 33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - Domitille Chalopin
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS, ImmunoConcEpT, UMR 5164, 33000 Bordeaux, France; University of Bordeaux, CNRS, IBGC, UMR 5095, 33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - Eloïse Ramel
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS, ImmunoConcEpT, UMR 5164, 33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - Thomas Boyer
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS, ImmunoConcEpT, UMR 5164, 33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - Atika Zouine
- Bordeaux University, CNRS UMS3427, INSERM US05, Flow Cytometry Facility, TransBioMed Core, 33000 Bordeaux, France
| | | | - Nicolas Larmonier
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS, ImmunoConcEpT, UMR 5164, 33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - Olivier Adotevi
- Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, INSERM, UMR1098, 25000 Besançon, France
| | - Brigitte Le Bail
- Bordeaux University Hospital, Division of Pathology, Pellegrin Hospital, 33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - Jean-Frédéric Blanc
- University of Bordeaux Hospital, Division of Gastrohepatology and Oncology, Haut Leveque Hospital, 33604 Pessac, France
| | - Christophe Laurent
- University of Bordeaux Hospital, Division of Gastrohepatology and Oncology, Haut Leveque Hospital, 33604 Pessac, France
| | - Laurence Chiche
- University of Bordeaux Hospital, Division of Gastrohepatology and Oncology, Haut Leveque Hospital, 33604 Pessac, France
| | | | - Macha Nikolski
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS, IBGC, UMR 5095, 33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - Maya Saleh
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS, ImmunoConcEpT, UMR 5164, 33000 Bordeaux, France; Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS), Armand Frappier Health & Biotechnology (AFSB) Research Center, Laval, QC H7V 1B7, Canada.
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19
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Long G, Wu Z, Wang D, Mi X, Hu K, Zhou L, Tang J. UCHL3 inhibits ferroptosis by stabilizing β-catenin and maintains stem-like properties of hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Free Radic Biol Med 2024; 212:162-173. [PMID: 38092274 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2023.11.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 11/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/31/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of primary hepatic liver cancer. Dysregulated Wnt/β-catenin activation is closely related to the progression of cancer. Nevertheless, the mechanism that sustains the abnormal expression of β-catenin in HCC has yet to be identified. In this study, we find that UCHL3 is overexpressed in HCC tissues and correlated with β-catenin protein level. High expression of UCHL3 is associated with poor prognosis. UCHL3 knockdown markedly reduces the protein level of β-catenin in HCC cells. TOP-luciferase activity and β-catenin target genes expression are also decreased upon UCHL3 depletion. We find that the ARM domain of β-catenin is required for the interaction with UCHL3. UCHL3 increases β-catenin protein stability via removing K48-specific poly-ubiquitin chains from β-catenin protein. Furthermore, the depletion of UCHL3 induces ferroptosis and hinders the growth, invasion, and stem cell properties of HCC cells. These impacts could be restored by the overexpression of β-catenin. In addition, the UCHL3 inhibitor TCID inhibits the aggressive phenotype of HCC through the degradation of β-catenin. In general, our results indicates that UCHL3 increases the stability of β-catenin, which in turn facilitates tumorigenesis of HCC, suggesting that targeting UCHL3 may be a promising approach for the treatment of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guo Long
- Department of Liver Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China; National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410008, China
| | - Zheyu Wu
- Department of Orthopedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200000, China
| | - Dong Wang
- Liver Disease Center, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266000, Shandong, China
| | - Xingyu Mi
- Department of Liver Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China; National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410008, China
| | - Kuan Hu
- Department of Liver Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China; National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410008, China.
| | - Ledu Zhou
- Department of Liver Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China; National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410008, China.
| | - Jianing Tang
- Department of Liver Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China; National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410008, China.
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20
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Choudhury C, Gill MK, McAleese CE, Butcher NJ, Ngo ST, Steyn FJ, Minchin RF. The Arylamine N-Acetyltransferases as Therapeutic Targets in Metabolic Diseases Associated with Mitochondrial Dysfunction. Pharmacol Rev 2024; 76:300-320. [PMID: 38351074 DOI: 10.1124/pharmrev.123.000835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
In humans, there are two arylamine N-acetyltransferase genes that encode functional enzymes (NAT1 and NAT2) as well as one pseudogene, all of which are located together on chromosome 8. Although they were first identified by their role in the acetylation of drugs and other xenobiotics, recent studies have shown strong associations for both enzymes in a variety of diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. There is growing evidence that this association may be causal. Consistently, NAT1 and NAT2 are shown to be required for healthy mitochondria. This review discusses the current literature on the role of both NAT1 and NAT2 in mitochondrial bioenergetics. It will attempt to relate our understanding of the evolution of the two genes with biologic function and then present evidence that several major metabolic diseases are influenced by NAT1 and NAT2. Finally, it will discuss current and future approaches to inhibit or enhance NAT1 and NAT2 activity/expression using small-molecule drugs. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: The arylamine N-acetyltransferases (NATs) NAT1 and NAT2 share common features in their associations with mitochondrial bioenergetics. This review discusses mitochondrial function as it relates to health and disease, and the importance of NAT in mitochondrial function and dysfunction. It also compares NAT1 and NAT2 to highlight their functional similarities and differences. Both NAT1 and NAT2 are potential drug targets for diseases where mitochondrial dysfunction is a hallmark of onset and progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chandra Choudhury
- School of Biomedical Sciences (C.C., M.K.G., C.E.M., N.J.B., F.J.S., R.F.M.) and Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (S.T.N.), University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Melinder K Gill
- School of Biomedical Sciences (C.C., M.K.G., C.E.M., N.J.B., F.J.S., R.F.M.) and Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (S.T.N.), University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Courtney E McAleese
- School of Biomedical Sciences (C.C., M.K.G., C.E.M., N.J.B., F.J.S., R.F.M.) and Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (S.T.N.), University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Neville J Butcher
- School of Biomedical Sciences (C.C., M.K.G., C.E.M., N.J.B., F.J.S., R.F.M.) and Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (S.T.N.), University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Shyuan T Ngo
- School of Biomedical Sciences (C.C., M.K.G., C.E.M., N.J.B., F.J.S., R.F.M.) and Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (S.T.N.), University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Frederik J Steyn
- School of Biomedical Sciences (C.C., M.K.G., C.E.M., N.J.B., F.J.S., R.F.M.) and Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (S.T.N.), University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Rodney F Minchin
- School of Biomedical Sciences (C.C., M.K.G., C.E.M., N.J.B., F.J.S., R.F.M.) and Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (S.T.N.), University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
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21
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Ge LL, Wang H, Zhang YH, Wang HJ, Li L. Lycorine inhibits migration and proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma cells by reducing transketonase expression. J Cancer 2024; 15:1826-1836. [PMID: 38434975 PMCID: PMC10905394 DOI: 10.7150/jca.93026] [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: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: Previous studies have showed that lycorine can restrain the development of multiple tumor types, containing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. Methods: We assessed the impact of lycorine on hepatocellular cancer cell proliferation, migration, colony formation, cell cycle, and apoptosis. The possible inhibitory effect of lycorine on the activity of HCC cells was analyzed by RNA-seq, and transketolase (TKT) expression in HCC and nontumorous tissues was detected using RT-PCR. The expression of TKT protein in HCC and tumor adjacent non-cancerous tissues was detected by immunohistochemistry. We evaluated the association of expression of TKT in HCC tissues with prognosis, and investigated the inhibitory effect of lycorine on tumor growth in vivo. Results: Lycorine significantly inhibited the proliferation, invasion, migration, colony formation, cell cycle of HCC cells, but had no obvious impact on apoptosis. Twenty-eight genes were found to be down-regulated in HuH7 and HepG2 cells after lycorine treatment, and the difference of TKT gene expression was significantly. The expression of TKT protein was significantly higher in HCC than in non-tumorous tissues. The expression of TKT was correlated with tumor size, Edmondson grade, AFP, and overall survival. Survival analysis suggested that high expression of TKT was associated with a poor survival. The average tumor volume and weight were significantly reduced in the lycorine injection group, but the body weights of the mice did not change significantly. Conclusion: Lycorine can restrict the migration and proliferation of HCC cells by down-regulating TKT expression, and it may be a potential meaningful drug for the prevention and treatment of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Li Ge
- Department of Nursing,Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital), Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Hui Wang
- Department of Ultrasound, Taian Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Taian 310014, Shandong Province, China
| | - Yi-Hong Zhang
- General Surgery, Cancer Center, Department of Gastrointestinal and Pancreatic Surgery, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital), Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Hui-Ju Wang
- General Surgery, Cancer Center, Department of Gastrointestinal and Pancreatic Surgery, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital), Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Li Li
- General Surgery, Cancer Center, Department of Gastrointestinal and Pancreatic Surgery, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital), Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
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22
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Lin Z, Ji X, Tian N, Gan Y, Ke L. APOB is a potential prognostic biomarker in hepatocellular carcinoma. Discov Oncol 2024; 15:28. [PMID: 38310202 PMCID: PMC10838261 DOI: 10.1007/s12672-024-00877-6] [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: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is significantly associated with adverse prognostic outcomes. The development and progression of different types of human tumors are significantly influenced by APOB. Nevertheless, the significance and pathomechanisms of APOB in HCC have not been conclusively determined. We assessed APOB expression levels in HCC using three publicly available databases of TIMER2.0, UALCAN and Human Protein Atlas. To identify the biological function of APOB, we conducted enrichment analysis via LinkedOmics. Moreover, UALCAN was employed to assess the relationship between APOB expression and clinicopathological features among HCC patients. Additionally, the Kaplan-Meier plotter was utilized to investigate the prognostic relevance of APOB in HCC. To explore potential regulatory ncRNAs that could bind to APOB, we utilized StarBase and GEPIA. Furthermore, the correlation between APOB expression and immune cell infiltration, as well as immune checkpoint genes, was investigated using Spearman's correlation analysis in TISIDB, GEPIA, and TIMER2.0. The findings of our investigation showed a notable decrease in the expression levels of APOB among individuals diagnosed with HCC. Moreover, a noteworthy correlation was observed between the expression of APOB and immune checkpoint genes, alongside the occurrence of immune cell infiltration. The levels of APOB expression in HCC tissues also showed correlations with various clinicopathological features. According to Cox regression analysis, decreased APOB expression emerged as a potential autonomous predictor for OS, RFS, DSS, and PFS among HCC patients. Furthermore, we identified six potential pathways associated with non-coding RNA (ncRNA) as the most promising pathway for APOB in HCC. Our results illuminate the possible involvement of APOB in HCC and offer understanding into its governing mechanisms and medical importance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhifeng Lin
- Department of Medical Record; Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Major Obstetric Diseases, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Xiaohui Ji
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Nana Tian
- Department of Medical Record, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yu Gan
- Department of Medical Record, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Li Ke
- Department of Medical Record; Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Major Obstetric Diseases, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
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23
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Ma Q, Yang Y, Chen S, Cheng H, Gong P, Hao J. Ribosomal protein S6 kinase 2 (RPS6KB2) is a potential immunotherapeutic target for cancer that upregulates proinflammatory cytokines. Mol Biol Rep 2024; 51:229. [PMID: 38281249 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-023-09134-5] [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: 08/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cancer is still a leading cause of mortality. Over the years, cancer therapy has undergone significant advances driven by advancements in science and technology. A promising area of drug discovery in this field involves the development of therapeutic targets for cancer treatment. The urgent need to identify new pharmacological targets arises from the impact of tumor resistance on the effectiveness of current medications. Specifically, the RPS6KB2 gene on chromosome 11 has been implicated in cell cycle regulation and exhibits higher expression levels in tumor tissue. Given this association, there is a potential for this gene to serve as a target for cancer treatment. METHODS We conducted an analysis using the GTEx, TCGA, and CCLE databases to explore the relationship between RPS6KB2 and immune infiltration, the tumor microenvironment (TME), microsatellite instability (MSI), and more. Cell proliferation was assessed using EDU detection, while cell invasion and migration were evaluated via wound healing and Transwell assays. Additionally, western blot analysis was employed to measure expression of Bax, Bcl-2, MMP2, MMP9, PCNA, and proinflammatory factors. RESULTS Through data analysis and molecular biology methods, our study carefully examined the potential role of RPS6KB2 in cancer therapy. The data revealed that RPS6KB2 is aberrantly expressed in most cancers and is associated with poor prognosis. Further analysis indicated its involvement in cancer cell apoptosis and migration, as well as its role in cancer immune processes. We validated the significance of RPS6KB2 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), highlighting its capacity to upregulate proinflammatory cytokines. CONCLUSION Our research indicates that RPS6KB2 is a prognostic biomarker associated with immune infiltration in cancer that can affect antitumor immunity by increasing secretion of proinflammatory factors, providing a potential drug target for cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Ma
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Yipin Yang
- The First Clinical Medical College of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Shuwen Chen
- The First Clinical Medical College of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Hao Cheng
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Peng Gong
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.
| | - Jiqing Hao
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.
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24
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Lv H, Zong Q, Chen C, Lv G, Xiang W, Xing F, Jiang G, Yan B, Sun X, Ma Y, Wang L, Wu Z, Cui X, Wang H, Yang W. TET2-mediated tumor cGAS triggers endothelial STING activation to regulate vasculature remodeling and anti-tumor immunity in liver cancer. Nat Commun 2024; 15:6. [PMID: 38177099 PMCID: PMC10766952 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43743-9] [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: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Induction of tumor vascular normalization is a crucial measure to enhance immunotherapy efficacy. cGAS-STING pathway is vital for anti-tumor immunity, but its role in tumor vasculature is unclear. Herein, using preclinical liver cancer models in Cgas/Sting-deficient male mice, we report that the interdependence between tumor cGAS and host STING mediates vascular normalization and anti-tumor immune response. Mechanistically, TET2 mediated IL-2/STAT5A signaling epigenetically upregulates tumor cGAS expression and produces cGAMP. Subsequently, cGAMP is transported via LRRC8C channels to activate STING in endothelial cells, enhancing recruitment and transendothelial migration of lymphocytes. In vivo studies in male mice also reveal that administration of vitamin C, a promising anti-cancer agent, stimulates TET2 activity, induces tumor vascular normalization and enhances the efficacy of anti-PD-L1 therapy alone or in combination with IL-2. Our findings elucidate a crosstalk between tumor and vascular endothelial cells in the tumor immune microenvironment, providing strategies to enhance the efficacy of combinational immunotherapy for liver cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongwei Lv
- International Co-operation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai, 200438, China
- National Center for Liver Cancer, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai, 201805, China
- Cancer Research Center, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230027, China
| | - Qianni Zong
- International Co-operation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai, 200438, China
- National Center for Liver Cancer, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai, 201805, China
| | - Cian Chen
- International Co-operation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai, 200438, China
- National Center for Liver Cancer, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai, 201805, China
| | - Guishuai Lv
- International Co-operation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai, 200438, China
- National Center for Liver Cancer, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai, 201805, China
| | - Wei Xiang
- Cancer Research Center, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230027, China
| | - Fuxue Xing
- Cancer Research Center, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230027, China
| | - Guoqing Jiang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Clinical Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225000, China
| | - Bing Yan
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Clinical Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225000, China
| | - Xiaoyan Sun
- Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450000, China
| | - Yue Ma
- Cancer Research Center, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230027, China
| | - Liang Wang
- International Co-operation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai, 200438, China
- National Center for Liver Cancer, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai, 201805, China
| | - Zixin Wu
- Cancer Research Center, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230027, China
| | - Xiuliang Cui
- International Co-operation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai, 200438, China
- National Center for Liver Cancer, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai, 201805, China
| | - Hongyang Wang
- International Co-operation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai, 200438, China.
- National Center for Liver Cancer, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai, 201805, China.
- Cancer Research Center, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230027, China.
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Hepato-biliary Tumor Biology, Shanghai, 200438, China.
- Key Laboratory of Signaling Regulation and Targeting Therapy of Liver Cancer, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, 200438, China.
| | - Wen Yang
- International Co-operation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai, 200438, China.
- National Center for Liver Cancer, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai, 201805, China.
- Cancer Research Center, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230027, China.
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Hepato-biliary Tumor Biology, Shanghai, 200438, China.
- Key Laboratory of Signaling Regulation and Targeting Therapy of Liver Cancer, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, 200438, China.
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25
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Xie H, Yang K, Qin C, Zhou X, Liu J, Nong J, Luo J, Wei Y, Hua H, Han C, Liao X, Yang C, Su H, Zhu G, Ye X, Peng T. Sarcosine dehydrogenase as an immune infiltration-associated biomarker for the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma. J Cancer 2024; 15:149-165. [PMID: 38164283 PMCID: PMC10751682 DOI: 10.7150/jca.89616] [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: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
This study was aimed to investigate the prognostic value and clinical significance of sarcosine dehydrogenase (SARDH) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to explore the underlying mechanisms. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), HPA and CPTAC databases were adopted to analyze the expression of SARDH mRNA and protein between normal liver tissue and HCC, and examine their relationship with clinicopathological features. Kaplan-Meier analysis, Cox regression, as well as nomogram were adopted to explore the prognostic value of SARDH in HCC. Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Gene and Genome Encyclopedia (KEGG) together with Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) were adopted to analyze the molecular mechanisms and biological functions of SARDH in HCC; while MethSurv, STRING, GeneMANIA, TIMER database data and single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) algorithm were used for other bioinformatic analysis. Furthermore, immunohistochemistry was used to verify the expression of SARDH. Compared to normal liver tissue, SARDH expression was markedly lower in HCC. A lower SARDH expression was linked with Pathologic T stage (T3&T4), pathologic stage (Stage III&IV), and histologic grade (G3&4), which further indicates worse prognosis. Besides, results of bioinformatic analysis proved that SARDH expression was correlated with immune infiltration. In addition, SARDH hypermethylation was related to a poorer prognosis. SARDH expression was related to several key genes in the Ferroptosis pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haixiang Xie
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Enhanced Recovery after Surgery for Gastrointestinal Cancer, 530021, Nanning, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of early Prevention & Treatment for regional High Frequency Tumor (Guangxi Medical University), Ministry of Education, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Kejian Yang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Enhanced Recovery after Surgery for Gastrointestinal Cancer, 530021, Nanning, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of early Prevention & Treatment for regional High Frequency Tumor (Guangxi Medical University), Ministry of Education, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Chongjiu Qin
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Enhanced Recovery after Surgery for Gastrointestinal Cancer, 530021, Nanning, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of early Prevention & Treatment for regional High Frequency Tumor (Guangxi Medical University), Ministry of Education, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Xin Zhou
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Enhanced Recovery after Surgery for Gastrointestinal Cancer, 530021, Nanning, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of early Prevention & Treatment for regional High Frequency Tumor (Guangxi Medical University), Ministry of Education, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Junqi Liu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Enhanced Recovery after Surgery for Gastrointestinal Cancer, 530021, Nanning, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of early Prevention & Treatment for regional High Frequency Tumor (Guangxi Medical University), Ministry of Education, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Jusen Nong
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Enhanced Recovery after Surgery for Gastrointestinal Cancer, 530021, Nanning, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of early Prevention & Treatment for regional High Frequency Tumor (Guangxi Medical University), Ministry of Education, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Jianzhu Luo
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Enhanced Recovery after Surgery for Gastrointestinal Cancer, 530021, Nanning, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of early Prevention & Treatment for regional High Frequency Tumor (Guangxi Medical University), Ministry of Education, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Yongguang Wei
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Enhanced Recovery after Surgery for Gastrointestinal Cancer, 530021, Nanning, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of early Prevention & Treatment for regional High Frequency Tumor (Guangxi Medical University), Ministry of Education, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Huasheng Hua
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Enhanced Recovery after Surgery for Gastrointestinal Cancer, 530021, Nanning, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of early Prevention & Treatment for regional High Frequency Tumor (Guangxi Medical University), Ministry of Education, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Chuangye Han
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Enhanced Recovery after Surgery for Gastrointestinal Cancer, 530021, Nanning, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of early Prevention & Treatment for regional High Frequency Tumor (Guangxi Medical University), Ministry of Education, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiwen Liao
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Enhanced Recovery after Surgery for Gastrointestinal Cancer, 530021, Nanning, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of early Prevention & Treatment for regional High Frequency Tumor (Guangxi Medical University), Ministry of Education, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Chengkun Yang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Enhanced Recovery after Surgery for Gastrointestinal Cancer, 530021, Nanning, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of early Prevention & Treatment for regional High Frequency Tumor (Guangxi Medical University), Ministry of Education, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Hao Su
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Enhanced Recovery after Surgery for Gastrointestinal Cancer, 530021, Nanning, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of early Prevention & Treatment for regional High Frequency Tumor (Guangxi Medical University), Ministry of Education, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Guangzhi Zhu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Enhanced Recovery after Surgery for Gastrointestinal Cancer, 530021, Nanning, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of early Prevention & Treatment for regional High Frequency Tumor (Guangxi Medical University), Ministry of Education, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Xinping Ye
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Enhanced Recovery after Surgery for Gastrointestinal Cancer, 530021, Nanning, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of early Prevention & Treatment for regional High Frequency Tumor (Guangxi Medical University), Ministry of Education, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Tao Peng
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Enhanced Recovery after Surgery for Gastrointestinal Cancer, 530021, Nanning, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of early Prevention & Treatment for regional High Frequency Tumor (Guangxi Medical University), Ministry of Education, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
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Hao X, Li J, Liu B, Jing W, Guo Y, Liu F, Li X, Chen X, Yuan Y, Ma W. Cavin1 activates the Wnt/β-catenin pathway to influence the proliferation and migration of hepatocellular carcinoma. Ann Hepatol 2024; 29:101160. [PMID: 37774837 DOI: 10.1016/j.aohep.2023.101160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/01/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES Cavin1 is a cell membrane caveolin, with controversial function in different tumors. Meanwhile, the role of Cavin1 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression remains unclear. In this study, we attempted to elucidate the significance of Cavin1 in HCC occurrence and progression. MATERIALS AND METHODS Cavin1 content was examined in HCC tissues and paired adjacent normal liver tissues by qRT-PCR and IHC among 81 HCC patients. The Cavin1-mediated regulation of HCC proliferation and metastasis was assessed through in vitro and in vivo experiments. Finally, using GSEA, we found out Cavin1 could be a potential regulator of the Wnt pathway. The alterations of the Wnt pathway-related proteins were identified by Western Blot analysis. RESULTS Cavin1 was lower expressed in HCC, which implied poor survival outcomes in HCC patients. Phenotypic experiments revealed that Cavin1 strongly suppressed HCC proliferation and migration in vitro and in vivo. Besides, altered epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related protein expressions were detected. Based on our GSEA analysis, Cavin1 activated the Wnt pathway, and Western Blot analysis revealed diminished β-catenin, c-Myc, and MMP9 contents upon Cavin1 overexpression. CONCLUSIONS Cavin1 suppresses HCC progression by modulating HCC proliferation and migration via inhibiting the Wnt/β-catenin axis activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingyuan Hao
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan Hubei, 430071, China; Clinical Medicine Research Center for Minimally Invasive Procedure of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Diseases of Hubei Province, Wuhan, Hubei, P. R. China; The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiao Tong University Yulin Hospital, Yulin, 719000, China
| | - Jinghua Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan Hubei, 430071, China; Clinical Medicine Research Center for Minimally Invasive Procedure of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Diseases of Hubei Province, Wuhan, Hubei, P. R. China
| | - Bin Liu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan Hubei, 430071, China; Clinical Medicine Research Center for Minimally Invasive Procedure of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Diseases of Hubei Province, Wuhan, Hubei, P. R. China
| | - Wei Jing
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine of Henan, Zhengzhou, 450000, China
| | - Yonghua Guo
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan Hubei, 430071, China; Clinical Medicine Research Center for Minimally Invasive Procedure of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Diseases of Hubei Province, Wuhan, Hubei, P. R. China
| | - Fusheng Liu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan Hubei, 430071, China; Clinical Medicine Research Center for Minimally Invasive Procedure of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Diseases of Hubei Province, Wuhan, Hubei, P. R. China
| | - Xiaomian Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan Hubei, 430071, China; Clinical Medicine Research Center for Minimally Invasive Procedure of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Diseases of Hubei Province, Wuhan, Hubei, P. R. China
| | - Xi Chen
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan Hubei, 430071, China; Clinical Medicine Research Center for Minimally Invasive Procedure of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Diseases of Hubei Province, Wuhan, Hubei, P. R. China
| | - Yufeng Yuan
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan Hubei, 430071, China; Clinical Medicine Research Center for Minimally Invasive Procedure of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Diseases of Hubei Province, Wuhan, Hubei, P. R. China.
| | - Weijie Ma
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan Hubei, 430071, China; Clinical Medicine Research Center for Minimally Invasive Procedure of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Diseases of Hubei Province, Wuhan, Hubei, P. R. China.
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Xu H, Liu W, He C, Mirza M, Li B. Aberrant expression of multiple glycolytic enzyme genes is significantly associated with disease progression and survival outcomes in prostate cancers. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL UROLOGY 2023; 11:530-541. [PMID: 38148940 PMCID: PMC10749383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023]
Abstract
Prostate cancer is the leading cause of cancer death after lung cancer in men. Recent studies showed that aberrant metabolic pathways are involved in prostate cancer development and progression. In this study, we performed a systemic analysis of glycolytic enzyme gene expression using the TCGA-PRAD RNAseq dataset. Our analysis revealed that among 25 genes, only four genes (HK2/GPI/PFKL/PGAM5) were significantly upregulated while nine genes (HK1/GCK/PFKM/PFKP/ALDOC/PGK1/PGAM1/ENO2/PKM) were downregulated in primary prostate cancer tissues compared to benign compartments. Among these 13 altered genes, four genes (ENO2/ALDOC/GPI/GCK) exhibited strong diagnostic potential in distinguishing malignant and benign tissues. Meanwhile, GPI expression exerted as a prognostic factor of progression-free and disease-specific survival. PFKL and PGAM5 gene expressions were associated with AR signaling scores in castration-resistant patients, and AR-targeted therapy suppressed their expression. In LuCap35 xenograft tumors, PFKL and PGAM5 expression was significantly reduced after animal castration, confirming the AR dependency. Conversely, GCK/PKLR genes were significantly associated with neuroendocrinal progression, representing two novel neuroendocrinal biomarkers for prostate cancer. In conclusion, our results suggest that GPI expression is a strong prognostic factor for prostate cancer progression and survival while GCK/PKLR are two novel biomarkers of prostate cancer progression to neuroendocrinal status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haixia Xu
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University and Shenzhen Second People’s HospitalShenzhen 518035, Guangdong, China
| | - Wang Liu
- Department of Urology, The University of Kansas Medical CenterKansas, KS 66160, USA
| | - Chenchen He
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University School of MedicineXi’an 710061, Shaanxi, China
| | - Moben Mirza
- Department of Urology, The University of Kansas Medical CenterKansas, KS 66160, USA
| | - Benyi Li
- Department of Urology, The University of Kansas Medical CenterKansas, KS 66160, USA
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Aghajanzadeh T, Talkhabi M, Zali MR, Hatami B, Baghaei K. Diagnostic potential and pathogenic performance of circulating miR-146b, miR-194, and miR-214 in liver fibrosis. Noncoding RNA Res 2023; 8:471-480. [PMID: 37434946 PMCID: PMC10331815 DOI: 10.1016/j.ncrna.2023.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Revised: 06/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver fibrosis is the excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix proteins. Due to the lack of an accurate test for an early diagnosis of liver fibrosis and the invasiveness of the liver biopsy procedure, there is an urgent need for effective non-invasive biomarkers for screening the patients. we aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of circulating miRNAs (miR-146b, -194, -214) and their related mechanisms in the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis. The expression levels of miR-146b, -194, and -214 were quantified in whole blood samples from NAFLD patients using real-time PCR. The competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network was constructed and a gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was performed for HSC activation-related genes. Also, the transcription factor (TF)-miR co-regulatory network and the survival plot for three miRNAs and core genes were illustrated. The qPCR results showed that the relative expression of miR-146b and miR-214 significantly increased in NAFLD patients, while miR-194 showed significant down-regulation. The ceRNA network analysis implicated NEAT1 and XIST as sponge candidates for these miRNAs. The GSEA results identified 15 core genes involved in HSC activation, primarily enriched in NF-κB activation and autophagy pathways. STAT3, TCF3, RELA, and RUNX1 were considered potential transcription factors connected to miRNAs in the TF-miR network. Our study elucidated three candidate circulating miRNAs differentially expressed in NAFLD that could serve as a promising non-invasive diagnostic tool for early detection strategies. Also, NF-κB activation, autophagy, and negative regulation of the apoptotic process are the main potential underlying mechanisms regulated by these miRNAs in liver fibrosis pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taha Aghajanzadeh
- Department of Animal Sciences and Marine Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
- Basic and Molecular Epidemiology of Gastrointestinal Disorders Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahmood Talkhabi
- Department of Animal Sciences and Marine Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Reza Zali
- Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Behzad Hatami
- Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Kaveh Baghaei
- Basic and Molecular Epidemiology of Gastrointestinal Disorders Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Zhou H, Sun D, Miao C, Tao J, Ge C, Chen T, Li H, Hou H. The stage-dependent prognostic role of ARID1A in hepatocellular carcinoma. Transl Cancer Res 2023; 12:3088-3104. [PMID: 38130310 PMCID: PMC10731336 DOI: 10.21037/tcr-23-645] [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: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Background Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common causes of cancer-related death. Although novel treatment currently achieves a better response, the majority of HCC patients develop resistance and cannot benefit. Hence, novel biomarkers for guiding therapy and predicting the prognosis are needed. Methods Tissue microarrays of 206 HCC patients were used, and ARID1A expression was determined by immunohistochemistry. Databases were used for the verification and expansion of our results. The "rms" package of R software was used for the construction of the nomogram. Results ARID family alterations were associated with disease-free survival (P=0.0325) and overall survival (OS) (P=0.0076). Subgroup analysis confirmed the prognostic effect of ARID1A, ARID1B, and ARID2 alterations. In addition, ARID family genomic alterations, especially ARID1A, were closely related to poor progression-free survival (ARID: P=0.0011; ARID1A: P=0.0082) and OS (ARID: P=0.0161; ARID1A: P=0.0220) after sorafenib treatment. ARID1A expression was found to display a stage-dependent effect on the prognosis, serving as a risk factor in stage I-II patients (P<0.0001) and a protective factor in stage III-IV patients (P=0.0180). Conclusions ARID1A has dual roles in HCC in a tumor stage-dependent manner, and further study is required to uncover the complex function of ARID1A in HCC development, disease progression, and therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hai Zhou
- Precision Medicine Center of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Dantong Sun
- National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Chunxiao Miao
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Junyan Tao
- Precision Medicine Center of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Chao Ge
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | | | - Hong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Helei Hou
- Precision Medicine Center of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
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30
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Xu LB, Qin YF, Su L, Huang C, Xu Q, Zhang R, Shi XD, Sun R, Chen J, Song Z, Jiang X, Shang L, Xiao G, Kong X, Liu C, Wong PP. Cathepsin-facilitated invasion of BMI1-high hepatocellular carcinoma cells drives bile duct tumor thrombi formation. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7033. [PMID: 37923799 PMCID: PMC10624910 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42930-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Bile duct tumor thrombosis (BDTT) is a complication mostly observed in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), causing jaundice and associated with poor clinical outcome. However, its underlying molecular mechanism is unclear. Here, we develop spontaneous preclinical HCC animal models with BDTT to identify the role of BMI1 expressing tumor initiating cells (BMI1high TICs) in inducing BDTT. BMI1 overexpression transforms liver progenitor cells into BMI1high TICs, which possess strong tumorigenicity and increased trans-intrahepatic biliary epithelial migration ability by secreting lysosomal cathepsin B (CTSB). Orthotopic liver implantation of BMI1high TICs into mice generates tumors and triggers CTSB mediated bile duct invasion to form tumor thrombus, while CTSB inhibitor treatment prohibits BDTT and extends mouse survival. Clinically, the elevated serum CTSB level determines BDTT incidence in HCC patients. Mechanistically, BMI1 epigenetically up-regulates CTSB secretion in TICs by repressing miR-218-1-3p expression. These findings identify a potential diagnostic and therapeutic target for HCC patients with BDTT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei-Bo Xu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA medicine, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
- Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Precise Diagnosis and Treatment of Biliary Tract Cancer, Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Yu-Fei Qin
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA medicine, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
- Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Precise Diagnosis and Treatment of Biliary Tract Cancer, Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Liangping Su
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA medicine, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
- Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Cheng Huang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA medicine, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
- Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Qiuping Xu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA medicine, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
- Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Rui Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA medicine, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
- Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Precise Diagnosis and Treatment of Biliary Tract Cancer, Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Xiang-De Shi
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA medicine, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
- Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Precise Diagnosis and Treatment of Biliary Tract Cancer, Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Ruipu Sun
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA medicine, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
- Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Jiali Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA medicine, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
- Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Zhixiao Song
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA medicine, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
- Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Precise Diagnosis and Treatment of Biliary Tract Cancer, Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Xue Jiang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA medicine, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
- Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Lihuan Shang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA medicine, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
- Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Gang Xiao
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA medicine, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
- Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Precise Diagnosis and Treatment of Biliary Tract Cancer, Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Xiangzhan Kong
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA medicine, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
- Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Chao Liu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA medicine, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China.
- Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China.
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Precise Diagnosis and Treatment of Biliary Tract Cancer, Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China.
| | - Ping-Pui Wong
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA medicine, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China.
- Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China.
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Chen Y, Xu H, Tang H, Li H, Zhang C, Jin S, Bai D. miR-9-5p expression is associated with vascular invasion and prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma, and in vitro verification. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2023; 149:14657-14671. [PMID: 37584711 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-023-05257-1] [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: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/17/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common liver malignancy. Early vascular invasion (VI) has been associated with poor prognosis in HCC patients. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a significant role in the emergence and development of many tumor types. METHODS Differential expression analysis of miRNAs related to VI was performed based on data from the TCGA database, and survival-associated miRNAs identified. We identified miR-9-5p as a survival-related miRNA and verified its expression in 61 clinical samples using quantitative real-time PCR. We further performed functional enrichment analysis, protein-protein interaction analysis, univariate and multivariate analysis of the survival-related miRNAs, and cell function assays. RESULTS In this study, we identified miR-9-5p that could predict VI and prognosis in HCC patients. Cellular experiments demonstrated that downregulation of miR‑9‑5p inhibits migration, invasion, and angiogenesis of HCC cells. Further, we explored and verified the possible mechanism through which miR-9-5p is involved in HCC progression. Univariate and multivariate analysis revealed that miR-9-5p was an independent risk factor for HCC. Finally, the nomogram based on miR-9-5p showed a good predictive value of HCC survival. CONCLUSIONS MiR-9-5p is associated with VI in HCC, and higher expression of miR-9-5p indicates poor prognosis in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Chen
- Yangzhou University Medical College, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Hao Xu
- Yangzhou University Medical College, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
- General Surgery Department of Siyang Hospital, Suqian, Jiangsu, China
| | - Hao Tang
- Yangzhou University Medical College, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Hongyuan Li
- Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - Chi Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Clinical Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Shengjie Jin
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Clinical Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Dousheng Bai
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Clinical Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China.
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Xia H, Dufour CR, Medkour Y, Scholtes C, Chen Y, Guluzian C, B'chir W, Giguère V. Hepatocyte FBXW7-dependent activity of nutrient-sensing nuclear receptors controls systemic energy homeostasis and NASH progression in male mice. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6982. [PMID: 37914694 PMCID: PMC10620240 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42785-3] [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: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is epidemiologically associated with obesity and diabetes and can lead to liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma if left untreated. The intricate signaling pathways that orchestrate hepatocyte energy metabolism and cellular stress, intrahepatic cell crosstalk, as well as interplay between peripheral tissues remain elusive and are crucial for the development of anti-NASH therapies. Herein, we reveal E3 ligase FBXW7 as a key factor regulating hepatic catabolism, stress responses, systemic energy homeostasis, and NASH pathogenesis with attenuated FBXW7 expression as a feature of advanced NASH. Multiomics and pharmacological intervention showed that FBXW7 loss-of-function in hepatocytes disrupts a metabolic transcriptional axis conjointly controlled by the nutrient-sensing nuclear receptors ERRα and PPARα, resulting in suppression of fatty acid oxidation, elevated ER stress, apoptosis, immune infiltration, fibrogenesis, and ultimately NASH progression in male mice. These results provide the foundation for developing alternative strategies co-targeting ERRα and PPARα for the treatment of NASH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Xia
- Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montréal, QC, H3A 1A3, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montréal, QC, H3G 1Y6, Canada
| | - Catherine R Dufour
- Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montréal, QC, H3A 1A3, Canada
| | - Younes Medkour
- Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montréal, QC, H3A 1A3, Canada
| | - Charlotte Scholtes
- Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montréal, QC, H3A 1A3, Canada
| | - Yonghong Chen
- Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montréal, QC, H3A 1A3, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montréal, QC, H3G 1Y6, Canada
| | - Christina Guluzian
- Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montréal, QC, H3A 1A3, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montréal, QC, H3G 1Y6, Canada
| | - Wafa B'chir
- Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montréal, QC, H3A 1A3, Canada
| | - Vincent Giguère
- Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montréal, QC, H3A 1A3, Canada.
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montréal, QC, H3G 1Y6, Canada.
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Anh NH, Long NP, Min YJ, Ki Y, Kim SJ, Jung CW, Park S, Kwon SW, Lee SJ. Molecular and Metabolic Phenotyping of Hepatocellular Carcinoma for Biomarker Discovery: A Meta-Analysis. Metabolites 2023; 13:1112. [PMID: 37999208 PMCID: PMC10672761 DOI: 10.3390/metabo13111112] [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: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Identifying and translating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) biomarkers from bench to bedside using mass spectrometry-based metabolomics and lipidomics is hampered by inconsistent findings. Here, we investigated HCC at systemic and metabolism-centric multiomics levels by conducting a meta-analysis of quantitative evidence from 68 cohorts. Blood transcript biomarkers linked to the HCC metabolic phenotype were externally validated and prioritized. In the studies under investigation, about 600 metabolites were reported as putative HCC-associated biomarkers; 39, 20, and 10 metabolites and 52, 12, and 12 lipids were reported in three or more studies in HCC vs. Control, HCC vs. liver cirrhosis (LC), and LC vs. Control groups, respectively. Amino acids, fatty acids (increased 18:1), bile acids, and lysophosphatidylcholine were the most frequently reported biomarkers in HCC. BAX and RAC1 showed a good correlation and were associated with poor prognosis. Our study proposes robust HCC biomarkers across diverse cohorts using a data-driven knowledge-based approach that is versatile and affordable for studying other diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nguyen Hoang Anh
- College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea; (N.H.A.); (Y.J.M.); (S.J.K.); (C.W.J.); (S.W.K.)
| | - Nguyen Phuoc Long
- Department of Pharmacology and PharmacoGenomics Research Center, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan 47392, Republic of Korea
| | - Young Jin Min
- College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea; (N.H.A.); (Y.J.M.); (S.J.K.); (C.W.J.); (S.W.K.)
| | - Yujin Ki
- School of Mathematics, Statistics and Data Science, Sungshin Women’s University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea; (Y.K.); (S.P.)
| | - Sun Jo Kim
- College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea; (N.H.A.); (Y.J.M.); (S.J.K.); (C.W.J.); (S.W.K.)
| | - Cheol Woon Jung
- College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea; (N.H.A.); (Y.J.M.); (S.J.K.); (C.W.J.); (S.W.K.)
| | - Seongoh Park
- School of Mathematics, Statistics and Data Science, Sungshin Women’s University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea; (Y.K.); (S.P.)
| | - Sung Won Kwon
- College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea; (N.H.A.); (Y.J.M.); (S.J.K.); (C.W.J.); (S.W.K.)
| | - Seul Ji Lee
- College of Pharmacy, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Republic of Korea
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Tian Q, Lu G, Ma Y, Ma L, Shang Y, Guo N, Huang Y, Zhu L, Du R. Integrated analysis and validation of the TRIM28-H2AX-CDK4 diagnostic model assists to predict the progression of HCC. Aging (Albany NY) 2023; 15:14617-14650. [PMID: 37870748 PMCID: PMC10781449 DOI: 10.18632/aging.205137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality in the world. However, identifying key genes that can be exploited for the effective diagnosis and management of HCC remains difficult. The study aims to examine the prognostic and diagnostic value of TRIM28-H2AX-CDK4 axis in HCC. Analysis in TCGA, GSEA and Gene expression profiling interactive analysis online tools were performed to explore the expression profiles of TRIM28, H2AX and CDK4. Data demonstrating the correlation between TRIM28 expression levels and immune infiltration states or the expression of genes associated with immune checkpoints genes were exacted from TCGA and TIMER. Genetic alteration and enrichment analysis were performed using the cBioPortal and GEPIA2 tools. Finally, the expression of these proteins in HCC was then examined and validated in an independent cohort using immunohistochemistry. TRIM28 alteration exhibited co-occurrence instead of mutual exclusivity with a large number of immune checkpoint components and tumor-infiltrating immune cells, especially B cells, were found to serve roles in patients with HCC with different TRIM28 expression levels. Higher expression levels of TRIM28, H2AX and CDK4 were associated with a poorer prognosis and recurrence in patients with HCC according to TCGA, which was validated further in an independent cohort of patients with HCC. Area under curve revealed the superior predictive power of applying this three-gene signatures in this validation cohort. The diagnostic model based on this TRIM28-H2AX-CDK4 signature is efficient and provides a novel strategy for the clinical management of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qifei Tian
- Department of Gastroenterology, Dongying People’s Hospital, Dongying, Shandong 257091, China
| | - Guofang Lu
- 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 710032, China
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, National Key Discipline of Cell Biology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an 710032, China
| | - Ying Ma
- Department of Gastroenterology, 941 Hospital of PLA, Xining, Qinghai 810007, China
| | - Lingling Ma
- Department of Gastroenterology, Dongying People’s Hospital, Dongying, Shandong 257091, China
| | - Yulong Shang
- 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 710032, China
| | - Ni Guo
- Department of Gastroenterology, Dongying People’s Hospital, Dongying, Shandong 257091, China
| | - Yan Huang
- Department of Critical Medicine, 942 Hospital of PLA, Yin Chuan, Ning Xia, China
| | - Lin Zhu
- Department of Gastroenterology, 941 Hospital of PLA, Xining, Qinghai 810007, China
| | - Rui Du
- Institute for Biomedical Sciences of Pain, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an 710038, China
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Li N, Li H, Zhou S, Zhang Q, Li G, Yi H, Liu Y, Ma Z. Overexpression of FNDC4 constrains ovarian cancer progression by promoting cell apoptosis and inhibiting cell growth. J Cancer 2023; 14:3416-3428. [PMID: 38021165 PMCID: PMC10647187 DOI: 10.7150/jca.88964] [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: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the most common malignant tumors in the world. It has been reported that fibronection type III domain containing family plays an important role in the formation and development of a variety of tumors, but the role of FNDC4 is still unclear. In our study, we found that FNDC4 was highly expressed in normal liver tissues but abnormally expressed at low levels in liver cancer tissues. Enhanced apoptosis and decreased proliferation were shown in the FNDC4 overexpression model in HepG2 cells. In addition, FNDC4 was negatively correlated with AFP, a tumor marker of HCC, and other cancer-related genes such as AHSA1, GDF1, GPC3 and MDK. In addition, we found that FNDC4 was associated with the abundance of several tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and the expression of chemokines and immunostimulators, and FNDC4 was enriched in response to transforming growth factor β. These results indicated that FNDC4 plays a key role in hepatocellular carcinoma progression and might be a promising biomarker for cancer diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ningxin Li
- Central Laboratory, Lequn Branch, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Huan Li
- Central Laboratory, Lequn Branch, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Shufen Zhou
- Central Laboratory, Lequn Branch, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Qingyu Zhang
- Central Laboratory, Lequn Branch, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Guangtao Li
- Central Laboratory, Lequn Branch, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Huanfa Yi
- Central Laboratory, Lequn Branch, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Yahui Liu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130000, China
| | - Zhanchuan Ma
- Central Laboratory, Lequn Branch, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
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Ayan D, Cagatay A. Bioinformatic analysis of genetic changes CLOCK, BMAL1, CRY1, CRY2, PER1, PER2, PER3, and NPAS2 proteins in HCC patients. HEPATOLOGY FORUM 2023; 4:108-117. [PMID: 37822309 PMCID: PMC10564247 DOI: 10.14744/hf.2023.2023.0009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
Background and Aim Genes related to the circadian rhythm control various biological processes. The aim of this study was to comprehensively investigate the mutational and mRNA profile of core circadian rhythm genes in hepatocellular cancer (HCC) samples. Materials and Methods In this study, the gene profile of a total of 369 patients with HCC was examined over the data obtained from the cancer genome atlas database through-cBioPortal. The effects of mutations on protein were examined by scoring the Polymorphism Phenotyping v2, Mutation Assessor, and SIFT-databases. While the association of genes with other genes was determined with the GeneMANIA-database, the association of expression levels in the genes with overall survival (OS) was evaluated with the Kaplan-Meier Plot database. Results As a result of the analyses, there were a total of 25 mutations. Decreased expression levels of PER1 (1.3e-05), PER3 (p=0.046), and CRY2 (p=1.8e-06) genes were found statistically associated with shorter OS. It was also found that increased expression levels of the PER2 (p=0.045) gene were associated with longer OS, and increased expression levels of the NPAS2 (p=9e-04) gene were associated with shorter OS. Conclusion In particular, changes in the PER1, PER2, CRY2, and NPAS2 genes may provide possible molecular targets in chemotherapy and immunotherapy for HCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Durmus Ayan
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Nigde Training and Research Hospital, Nigde, Turkiye
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Nigde Omer Halisdemir University, School of Medicine, Nigde, Turkiye
| | - Ak Cagatay
- Nigde Training and Research Hospital, Department of Gastroenterology, Nigde, Turkiye
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Pu J, Xu Z, Huang Y, Nian J, Yang M, Fang Q, Wei Q, Huang Z, Liu G, Wang J, Wu X, Wei H. N 6 -methyladenosine-modified FAM111A-DT promotes hepatocellular carcinoma growth via epigenetically activating FAM111A. Cancer Sci 2023; 114:3649-3665. [PMID: 37400994 PMCID: PMC10475779 DOI: 10.1111/cas.15886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Revised: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023] Open
Abstract
As an epitranscriptomic modulation manner, N6 -methyladenosine (m6 A) modification plays important roles in various diseases, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). m6 A modification affects the fate of RNAs. The potential contributions of m6 A to the functions of RNA still need further investigation. In this study, we identified long noncoding RNA FAM111A-DT as an m6 A-modified RNA and confirmed three m6 A sites on FAM111A-DT. The m6 A modification level of FAM111A-DT was increased in HCC tissues and cell lines, and increased m6 A level was correlated with poor survival of HCC patients. m6 A modification increased the stability of FAM111A-DT transcript, whose expression level showed similar clinical relevance to that of the m6 A level of FAM111A-DT. Functional assays found that only m6 A-modified FAM111A-DT promoted HCC cellular proliferation, DNA replication, and HCC tumor growth. Mutation of m6 A sites on FAM111A-DT abolished the roles of FAM111A-DT. Mechanistic investigations found that m6 A-modified FAM111A-DT bound to FAM111A promoter and also interacted with m6 A reader YTHDC1, which further bound and recruited histone demethylase KDM3B to FAM111A promoter, leading to the reduction of the repressive histone mark H3K9me2 and transcriptional activation of FAM111A. The expression of FAM111A was positively correlated with the m6 A level of FAM111A-DT, and the expression of methyltransferase complex, YTHDC1, and KDM3B in HCC tissues. Depletion of FAM111A largely attenuated the roles of m6 A-modified FAM111A-DT in HCC. In summary, the m6 A-modified FAM111A-DT/YTHDC1/KDM3B/FAM111A regulatory axis promoted HCC growth and represented a candidate therapeutic target for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Pu
- Department of Hepatobiliary SurgeryAffiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for NationalitiesBaiseChina
| | - Zuoming Xu
- Department of Hepatobiliary SurgeryAffiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for NationalitiesBaiseChina
| | - Youguan Huang
- Graduate College of Youjiang Medical University for NationalitiesBaiseChina
| | - Jiahui Nian
- Graduate College of Youjiang Medical University for NationalitiesBaiseChina
| | - Meng Yang
- Graduate College of Youjiang Medical University for NationalitiesBaiseChina
| | - Quan Fang
- Graduate College of Youjiang Medical University for NationalitiesBaiseChina
| | - Qing Wei
- Graduate College of Youjiang Medical University for NationalitiesBaiseChina
| | - Zihua Huang
- Graduate College of Youjiang Medical University for NationalitiesBaiseChina
| | - Guoman Liu
- Graduate College of Youjiang Medical University for NationalitiesBaiseChina
| | - Jianchu Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary SurgeryAffiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for NationalitiesBaiseChina
| | - Xianjian Wu
- Graduate College of Youjiang Medical University for NationalitiesBaiseChina
| | - Huamei Wei
- Department of PathologyAffiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for NationalitiesBaiseChina
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Ye SP, Yu HX, Lu WJ, Wang JF, Li TY, Shi J, Cheng XY. Stratifin Promotes Hepatocellular Carcinoma Progression by Modulating the Wnt/ β-Catenin Pathway. Int J Genomics 2023; 2023:9731675. [PMID: 37587914 PMCID: PMC10427227 DOI: 10.1155/2023/9731675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Revised: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Abnormal stratifin (SFN) expression is closely related to the progression of several human cancers, but the potential roles of SFN in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain largely unknown. In this study, we found that SFN was upregulated in HCC cell lines and tissues and was positively associated with tumor size, poor differentiation, Tumor Node Metastasis (TNM) stage, and vascular invasion. In addition, high expression levels of SFN were associated with poor overall survival and disease-free survival. Biologically, downregulation of SFN suppressed tumor cell proliferation, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), invasion, and migration in vitro and tumor growth in vivo. However, overexpression of SFN promoted cell proliferation, EMT, invasion, and migration in vitro and tumor growth in vivo. Mechanistically, overexpression of SFN activated the Wnt/β-catenin pathway by promoting Glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta (GSK-3β) phosphorylation, decreasing β-catenin phosphorylation, promoting β-catenin transport into the nucleus, and enhancing the expression of c-Myc, whereas depletion of SFN inhibited the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. In addition, TOPFlash/FOPFlash reporter assays showed that overexpression or downregulation of SFN obviously increased or decreased, respectively, the activity of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Our results indicated that SFN plays an important role in HCC, possibly providing a prognostic factor and therapeutic target for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan-Ping Ye
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No. 17 Yongwaizheng Street, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province 330006, China
| | - Hong-Xin Yu
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No. 17 Yongwaizheng Street, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province 330006, China
| | - Wei-Jie Lu
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No. 17 Yongwaizheng Street, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province 330006, China
| | - Jun-Fu Wang
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No. 17 Yongwaizheng Street, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province 330006, China
| | - Tai-Yuan Li
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No. 17 Yongwaizheng Street, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province 330006, China
| | - Jun Shi
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No. 17 Yongwaizheng Street, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province 330006, China
| | - Xiao-Ye Cheng
- Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No. 17 Yongwaizheng Street, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province 330006, China
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Kılcı BM, İnce V, Carr BI, Usta S, Bağ HG, Şamdancı E, Işık B, Yılmaz S. Parameters Predicting Microvascular Invasion and Poor Differentiation in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients with Normal Alpha-fetoprotein Level Before Liver Transplantation. THE TURKISH JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF TURKISH SOCIETY OF GASTROENTEROLOGY 2023; 34:753-759. [PMID: 37326153 PMCID: PMC10441150 DOI: 10.5152/tjg.2023.22538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS The aim of this study is to evaluate the parameters that might be associated with pathologically diagnosed microvascular invasion and poor differentiation, using complete blood count and routine clinical biochemistry test results, in hepatocellular carcinoma patients before liver transplantation. MATERIALS AND METHODS The data of patients who underwent liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma at our institute, between March 2006 and November 2021, was researched retrospectively. RESULTS The incidence of microvascular invasion was 28.6%, poor differentiation rate was 9.3%, hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence rate after liver transplantation was 12.1%, and median time to recurrence was 13 months, in the patients with normal alpha-fetoprotein levels. After univariate and multivariate analysis, maximum tumor diameter >4.5 cm and the number of nodules (n > 5) were found to be independent risk factors for microvascular invasion, and number of nodules >4 and mean platelet volume ≤8.6 fL were found to be independent risk factors for poor differentiation. Serum alpha-fetoprotein levels were still within the normal range at the recurrence time, in 53% of the patients who had recurrence after liver transplantation, but surprisingly were elevated in 47% of the patients at time of hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence. CONCLUSIONS In hepatocellular carcinoma patients with normal alpha-fetoprotein levels before liver transplantation, independent risk factors of the presence of microvascular invasion were maximum tumor diameter and number of nodules, and independent risk factors of poor differentiation were mean platelet volume and number of nodules. Furthermore, serum alpha-fetoprotein levels were still normal at time of recurrence in 53% of hepatocellular carcinoma patients whose alpha-fetoprotein levels were normal before liver transplantation but were elevated in 47% of the patients at recurrence time, despite having normal levels before liver transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Burak M. Kılcı
- Department of Surgery, İnönü University, Liver Transplantation Institute, Malatya, Turkey
| | - Volkan İnce
- Department of Surgery, İnönü University, Liver Transplantation Institute, Malatya, Turkey
| | - Brian I. Carr
- Department of Surgery, İnönü University, Liver Transplantation Institute, Malatya, Turkey
| | - Sertaç Usta
- Department of Surgery, İnönü University, Liver Transplantation Institute, Malatya, Turkey
| | - Harika G. Bağ
- Department of Biostatistics, İnönü University Faculty of Medicine, Malatya, Turkey
| | - Emine Şamdancı
- Department of Pathology, İnönü University Faculty of Medicine, Malatya, Turkey
| | - Burak Işık
- Department of Surgery, İnönü University, Liver Transplantation Institute, Malatya, Turkey
| | - Sezai Yılmaz
- Department of Surgery, İnönü University, Liver Transplantation Institute, Malatya, Turkey
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Li S, Hao L, Hu X, Li L. A systematic study on the treatment of hepatitis B-related hepatocellular carcinoma with drugs based on bioinformatics and key target reverse network pharmacology and experimental verification. Infect Agent Cancer 2023; 18:41. [PMID: 37393234 DOI: 10.1186/s13027-023-00520-z] [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: 05/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is the major etiology of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the mechanism of hepatitis B-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HBV-related HCC) is still unclear. Therefore, understanding the pathogenesis and searching for drugs to treat HBV-related HCC was an effective strategy to treat this disease. PURPOSE Bioinformatics was used to predict the potential targets of HBV-related HCC. The reverse network pharmacology of key targets was used to analyze the clinical drugs, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and small molecules of TCM in the treatment of HBV-related HCC. METHODS In this study, three microarray datasets totally containing 330 tumoral samples and 297 normal samples were selected from the GEO database. These microarray datasets were used to screen DEGs. And the expression profile and survival of 6 key genes were analyzed. In addition, Comparative Toxicogenomics Database and Coremine Medical database were used to enrich clinical drugs and TCM of HBV-related HCC by the 6 key targets. Then the obtained TCM were classified based on the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Among these top 6 key genes, CDK1 and CCNB1 had the most connection nodes and the highest degree and were the most significantly expressed. In general, CDK1 and CCNB1 tend to form a complex, which is conducive to cell mitosis. Hence, this study mainly studied CDK1 and CCNB1. HERB database was used to predict small molecules TCM. The inhibition effect of quercetin, celastrol and cantharidin on HepG2.2.15 cells and Hep3B cells was verified by CCK8 experiment. The effects of quercetin, celastrol and cantharidin on CDK1 and CCNB1 of HepG2.2.15 cells and Hep3B cells were determined by Western Blot. RESULTS In short, 272 DEGs (53 upregulated and 219 downregulated) were identified. Among these DEGs, 6 key genes with high degree were identified, which were AURKA, BIRC5, CCNB1, CDK1, CDKN3 and TYMS. Kaplan-Meier plotter analysis showed that higher expression levels of AURKA, BIRC5, CCNB1, CDK1, CDKN3 and TYMS were associated with poor OS. According to the first 6 key targets, a variety of drugs and TCM were identified. These results showed that clinical drugs included targeted drugs, such as sorafenib, palbociclib and Dasatinib. and chemotherapy drugs, such as cisplatin and doxorubicin. TCM, such as the TCM flavor was mainly warm and bitter, and the main meridians were liver and lung. Small molecules of TCM included flavonoids, terpenoids, alkaloids and glycosides, such as quercetin, celastrol, cantharidin, hesperidin, silymarin, casticin, berberine and ursolic acid, which have great potential in anti-HBV-related HCC. For molecular docking of chemical components, the molecules with higher scores were flavonoids, alkaloids, etc. Three representative types of TCM small molecules were verified respectively, and it was found that quercetin, celastrol and cantharidin inhibited the proliferation of HepG2.2.15 cells and Hep3B cells along concentration gradient. Quercetin, celastrol and cantharidin decreased CDK1 expression in HepG2.2.15 and Hep3B cells, but for CCNB1, only cantharidin decreased CCNB1 expression in the two strains of cells. CONCLUSION In conclusion, AURKA, BIRC5, CCNB1, CDK1, CDKN3 and TYMS could be potential targets for the diagnosis and prognosis of HBV-related HCC. Clinical drugs include chemotherapeutic and targeted drug, traditional Chinese medicine is mainly bitter and warm TCM. Small molecular of TCM including flavonoids, terpenoids and glycosides and alkaloids, which have great potential in anti-HBV-related HCC. This study provides potential therapeutic targets and novel strategies for the treatment of HBV-related HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shenghao Li
- Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 37 Shi-er-qiao Road, Chengdu, 610075, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 39 Shi-er-qiao Road, Chengdu, 610072, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Liyuan Hao
- Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 37 Shi-er-qiao Road, Chengdu, 610075, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 39 Shi-er-qiao Road, Chengdu, 610072, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoyu Hu
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 39 Shi-er-qiao Road, Chengdu, 610072, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.
| | - Luya Li
- Department of Pharmacy Department, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, NO.12, Jian Kang Road, Shijiazhuang, 050010, Hebei, People's Republic of China
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Ghufran SM, Sharma P, Roy B, Jaiswal S, Aftab M, Sengupta S, Ghose S, Biswas S. Transcriptome wide functional analysis of HBx expressing human hepatocytes stimulated with endothelial cell cross-talk. Genomics 2023; 115:110642. [PMID: 37209778 PMCID: PMC7615065 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2023.110642] [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: 01/26/2023] [Revised: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Identification of genes dysregulated during the hepatitis B virus (HBV)-host cell interaction adds to the understanding of underlying molecular mechanisms and aids in discovering effective therapies to improve prognosis in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected individuals. Through bioinformatics analyses of transcriptomics data, this study aimed to identify potential genes involved in the cross-talk of human hepatocytes expressing the HBV viral protein HBx with endothelial cells. Transient transfection of HBV viral gene X (HBx) was performed in THLE2 cells using pcDNA3 constructs. Through mRNA Sequencing (RNA Seq) analysis, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. THLE2 cells transfected with HBx (THLE2x) were further treated with conditioned medium from cultured human umbilical vein derived endothelial cells (HUVEC-CM). Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis revealed that interferon and cytokine signaling pathways were primarily enriched for the downregulated DEGs in THLE2x cells treated with HUVEC-CM. One significant module was selected following protein-protein interaction (PPI) network generation, and thirteen hub genes were identified from the module. The prognostic values of the hub genes were evaluated using Kaplan-Meier (KM) plotter, and three genes (IRF7, IFIT1, and IFITM1) correlated with poor disease specific survival (DSS) in HCC patients with chronic hepatitis. A comparison of the DEGs identified in HUVEC-stimulated THLE2x cells with four publicly available HBV-related HCC microarray datasets revealed that PLAC8 was consistently downregulated in all four HCC datasets as well as in HUVEC-CM treated THLE2x cells. KM plots revealed that PLAC8 correlated with worse relapse free survival and progression free survival in HCC patients with hepatitis B virus infection. This study provided molecular insights which may help develop a deeper understanding of HBV-host stromal cell interaction and open avenues for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Prachi Sharma
- Amity Institute of Molecular Medicine & Stem Cell Research, AUUP, Noida, India
| | - Bornika Roy
- Amity Institute of Molecular Medicine & Stem Cell Research, AUUP, Noida, India
| | - Shivani Jaiswal
- Amity Institute of Molecular Medicine & Stem Cell Research, AUUP, Noida, India
| | - Mehreen Aftab
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Oncology, National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research, Noida, India
| | - Shinjinee Sengupta
- Amity Institute of Molecular Medicine & Stem Cell Research, AUUP, Noida, India
| | - Sampa Ghose
- Department of Medical Oncology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
| | - Subhrajit Biswas
- Amity Institute of Molecular Medicine & Stem Cell Research, AUUP, Noida, India.
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Yang Y, Zhao W, Wang Y, Du J. Prognostic impact of MICALL1 and associates with immune infiltration in liver hepatocellular carcinoma patients. Cancer Biomark 2023:CBM220370. [PMID: 37248888 DOI: 10.3233/cbm-220370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC) is one of the most malignancy over the world. Previous studies have proven that Molecules Interacting with CasL-Like 1 (MICALL1) participated in cellular trafficking cascades, while there has no study to explore the function and carcinogenic mechanism MICALL1 in LIHC. METHODS We aimed to investigate the relationship between MICALL1 mRNA expression and LIHC using TCGA database. The expression of MICALL1 protein in clinic samples were examined by UALCAN database. Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis. Logistic regression and Cox regression were performed to evaluate the prognostic significance of MICALL1. The MICALL1-binding protein were built by the STRING tool. Enrichment analysis by GO, KEGG and GSEA was used to explore possible function of MICALL1. The ssGSEA method was used to investigate the association between MICALL1 expression and the immune infiltration level in LIHC. RESULTS The expression and prognostic value of different MICAL family members in LIHC were evaluated. The expression of MICALL1 was significantly increased at both the transcript and protein levels in LIHC tissues. Further, the LIHC patients with high MICALL1 levels showed a worse OS, DSS and PFI. Some clinicopathologic features were identified to be related to MICALL1 expression in LIHC included clinical T stage, pathologic stage, histologic grade and AFP concentration. Univariate and multivariate survival analysis showed that MICALL1 was an independent prognostic marker for OS and DSS. Further enrichment analysis revealed that the K-RAS, TNFα/NF-κB and inflammatory response were significantly enriched in the high MICALL1 expression group. Immune infiltration analysis showed that high MICALL1 expression was correlated with infiltration level of macrophage cells, Th2 cells and some other immune cell types, including TFH. CONCLUSIONS MICALL1 expression was significantly associated with immune cell infiltration and may regarded as a promising prognostic biomarker for LIHC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yixing Yang
- The First Clinical Medical College, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Weizhen Zhao
- Department of Physiology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yueyuan Wang
- The Laboratory Center for Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jun Du
- Department of Physiology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
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Walakira A, Skubic C, Nadižar N, Rozman D, Režen T, Mraz M, Moškon M. Integrative computational modeling to unravel novel potential biomarkers in hepatocellular carcinoma. Comput Biol Med 2023; 159:106957. [PMID: 37116239 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2023.106957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/16/2023] [Indexed: 04/30/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major health problem around the world. The management of this disease is complicated by the lack of noninvasive diagnostic tools and the few treatment options available. Better clinical outcomes can be achieved if HCC is detected early, but unfortunately, clinical signs appear when the disease is in its late stages. We aim to identify novel genes that can be targeted for the diagnosis and therapy of HCC. We performed a meta-analysis of transcriptomics data to identify differentially expressed genes and applied network analysis to identify hub genes. Fatty acid metabolism, complement and coagulation cascade, chemical carcinogenesis and retinol metabolism were identified as key pathways in HCC. Furthermore, we integrated transcriptomics data into a reference human genome-scale metabolic model to identify key reactions and subsystems relevant in HCC. We conclude that fatty acid activation, purine metabolism, vitamin D, and E metabolism are key processes in the development of HCC and therefore need to be further explored for the development of new therapies. We provide the first evidence that GABRP, HBG1 and DAK (TKFC) genes are important in HCC in humans and warrant further studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Walakira
- Centre for Functional Genomics and Bio-Chips, Institute for Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
| | - Cene Skubic
- Centre for Functional Genomics and Bio-Chips, Institute for Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Nejc Nadižar
- Centre for Functional Genomics and Bio-Chips, Institute for Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Damjana Rozman
- Centre for Functional Genomics and Bio-Chips, Institute for Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Tadeja Režen
- Centre for Functional Genomics and Bio-Chips, Institute for Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Miha Mraz
- Faculty of Computer and Information Science, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Miha Moškon
- Faculty of Computer and Information Science, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
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Ma XL, Nie YY, Xie SH, Zheng H, Tong Y, Wang YC, Yan TQ, Meng X, Cao JZ, Tang WG, Guo L, Lu RQ. ASAP2 interrupts c-MET-CIN85 interaction to sustain HGF/c-MET-induced malignant potentials in hepatocellular carcinoma. Exp Hematol Oncol 2023; 12:38. [PMID: 37061723 PMCID: PMC10105420 DOI: 10.1186/s40164-023-00393-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sustained activation of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)/c-MET signaling is a major driver of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression, but underlying mechanism is unclear. ArfGAP With SH3 Domain, Ankyrin Repeat And PH Domain 2 (ASAP2) can reportedly activate GTPases and promote receptor tyrosine kinase signaling. However, the exact role of ASAP2 in HCC, especially for c-MET activation, also remains elusive. METHODS ASAP2 expression levels in HCC tissues and cells were quantified using qRT-PCR, western blot (WB) analysis, and immunohistochemistry staining. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and colony formation assays were performed to evaluate cell proliferation rates. Flow cytometry assays were conducted to assess apoptosis rates. Wound healing and Transwell assays were performed to determine cell migration and invasion capacities. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related marker expression levels were also examined. Subcutaneous implantation and tail vein injection models were applied for in vivo growth and metastasis evaluations, respectively. Bioinformatics analyses of The Cancer Genome Atlas and STRING datasets were performed to explore ASAP2 downstream signaling. Co-immunoprecipitation and Cycloheximide chasing experiments were performed to assess protein-protein interactions and protein half-life, respectively. RESULTS ASAP2 had higher expression levels in HCC tissues than in normal liver, and also predicted poor prognosis. Knocking down ASAP2 significantly impaired cell proliferation, migration, and invasion capacities, but promoted apoptosis in HCC cells in vitro. However, overexpression of ASAP2 achieved the opposite effects. In vivo experiments confirmed that ASAP2 could promote HCC cell growth and facilitate lung metastasis. Interestingly, ASAP2 was essential for triggering EMT. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis demonstrated that c-MET signaling was greatly enriched in ASAP2-high HCC cases. Additionally, c-MET signaling activity was significantly decreased following ASAP knockdown, evidenced by reduced c-MET, p-AKT, and p-ERK1/2 protein levels. Importantly, ASAP2 knockdown effectively attenuated HGF/c-MET signaling-induced malignant phenotypes. c-MET and ASAP2 expression levels were positively correlated in our cohort. Mechanistically, ASAP2 can directly bind to CIN85, thereby disrupting its interaction with c-MET, and can thus antagonize CIN85-induced c-MET internalization and lysosome-mediated degradation. Notably, knocking down CIN85 can rescue the observed inhibitory effects caused by ASAP2 knockdown. CONCLUSIONS This study highlights the importance of ASAP2 in sustaining c-MET signaling, which can facilitate HCC progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Lu Ma
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical School, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Yan-Yan Nie
- Shanghai Lab. Animal Research Center, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Su-Hong Xie
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical School, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Hui Zheng
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical School, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Ying Tong
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical School, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Yan-Chun Wang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical School, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Tian-Qing Yan
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical School, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Xin Meng
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical School, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Jia-Zhen Cao
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical School, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Wei-Guo Tang
- Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Minhang Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 201100, China
| | - Lin Guo
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical School, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
| | - Ren-Quan Lu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical School, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
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Huang J, Zheng T, Liang Y, Qin Y, Wu X, Fan X. Transcriptome Analysis of Natural Killer Cells in Response to Newcastle Disease Virus Infected Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:genes14040888. [PMID: 37107646 PMCID: PMC10138298 DOI: 10.3390/genes14040888] [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: 02/24/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
When tumor cells are infected by the Newcastle disease virus (NDV), the lysis of tumor cells by natural killer (NK) cells is enhanced, which may be related to the enhanced NK cell activation effect. To better understand the intracellular molecular mechanisms involved in NK cell activation, the transcriptome profiles of NK cells stimulated by NDV-infected hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells (NDV group) and control (NC group, NK cells stimulated by HCC cells) were analyzed. In total, we identified 1568 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the NK cells of the NDV group compared to the control, including 1389 upregulated and 179 downregulated genes. Functional analysis showed that DEGs were enriched in the immune system, signal transmission, cell growth, cell death, and cancer pathways. Notably, 9 genes from the IFN family were specifically increased in NK cells upon NDV infection and identified as potential prognosis markers for patients with HCC. A qRT-PCR experiment was used to confirm the differential expression of IFNG and the other 8 important genes. The results of this study will improve our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of NK cell activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juanjuan Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Targeting Oncology, National Center for International Research of Bio-Targeting Theranostics, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Bio-Targeting Theranostics, Collaborative Innovation Center for Targeting Tumor Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China
- Department of Microbiology, School of Preclinical Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China
| | - Tingting Zheng
- Department of Microbiology, School of Preclinical Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China
| | - Ying Liang
- Department of Microbiology, School of Preclinical Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China
- Key Laboratory of Basic Research on Regional Disease, Education Department of Guangxi, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China
| | - Ying Qin
- Department of Microbiology, School of Preclinical Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China
| | - Xing Wu
- Department of Microbiology, School of Preclinical Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China
| | - Xiaohui Fan
- Department of Microbiology, School of Preclinical Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China
- Key Laboratory of Basic Research on Regional Disease, Education Department of Guangxi, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China
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Nguyen K, Hebert K, McConnell E, Cullen N, Cheng T, Awoyode S, Martin E, Chen W, Wu T, Alahari SK, Izadpanah R, Collins-Burow BM, Lee SB, Drewry DH, Burow ME. LKB1 Signaling and Patient Survival Outcomes in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Pharmacol Res 2023; 192:106757. [PMID: 37023992 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2023.106757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/02/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023]
Abstract
The liver is a major organ that is involved in essential biological functions such as digestion, nutrient storage, and detoxification. Furthermore, it is one of the most metabolically active organs with active roles in regulating carbohydrate, protein, and lipid metabolism. Hepatocellular carcinoma is a cancer of the liver that is associated in settings of chronic inflammation such as viral hepatitis, repeated toxin exposure, and fatty liver disease. Furthermore, liver cancer is the most common cause of death associated with cirrhosis and is the 3rd leading cause of global cancer deaths. LKB1 signaling has been demonstrated to play a role in regulating cellular metabolism under normal and nutrient deficient conditions. Furthermore, LKB1 signaling has been found to be involved in many cancers with most reports identifying LKB1 to have a tumor suppressive role. In this review, we use the KMPlotter database to correlate RNA levels of LKB1 signaling genes and hepatocellular carcinoma patient survival outcomes with the hopes of identifying potential biomarkers clinical usage. Based on our results STRADß, CAB39L, AMPKα, MARK2, SIK1, SIK2, BRSK1, BRSK2, and SNRK expression has a statistically significant impact on patient survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khoa Nguyen
- Department of Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Katherine Hebert
- Department of Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Emily McConnell
- Department of Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Nicole Cullen
- Department of Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Thomas Cheng
- Department of Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Susanna Awoyode
- Department of Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Elizabeth Martin
- Department of Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Weina Chen
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Tong Wu
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Suresh K Alahari
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, LSUHSC School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Reza Izadpanah
- Applied Stem Cell Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | | | - Sean B Lee
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - David H Drewry
- UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy and UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry Division, SGC-UNC, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Matthew E Burow
- Department of Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
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Chen P, Cao J, Chen L, Gao G, Xu Y, Jia P, Li Y, Li Y, Du J, Zhang S, Zhang J. Prognostic value of an eighteen-genes panel in acute myeloid leukemia by analyzing TARGET and TCGA databases. Cancer Biomark 2023; 36:287-298. [PMID: 36938728 DOI: 10.3233/cbm-220179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has a poor prognosis, and the current 5-year survival rate is less than 30%. OBJECTIVE The present study was designed to identify the significant genes closely related to AML prognosis and predict the prognostic value by constructing a risk model based on their expression. METHODS Using bioinformatics (Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways, univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis) to identify a prognostic gene signature for AML. Finally, The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database was used to validate this prognostic signature. RESULTS Based on univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis, eighteen prognostic genes were identified, and the gene signature and risk score model were constructed. Multivariate Cox analysis showed that the risk score was an independent prognostic factor [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.122, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.067-1.180, P< 0.001]. ROC analysis showed a high predictive value of the risk model with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.705. CONCLUSIONS This study evaluated a potential prognostic signature with eighteen genes and constructed a risk model significantly related to the prognosis of AML patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panpan Chen
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.,School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Jiaming Cao
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.,School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Lingling Chen
- The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Guanfei Gao
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Yuanlin Xu
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Peijun Jia
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Yan Li
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Yating Li
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Jiangfeng Du
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Shijie Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Jingxin Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
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Gao Z, Wu X, Yang L, Liu C, Wang X, Wang H, Dong K. Role of CD5 molecular-like on hepatocellular carcinoma. Chin Med J (Engl) 2023; 136:556-564. [PMID: 36939243 PMCID: PMC10106147 DOI: 10.1097/cm9.0000000000002576] [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: 11/06/2022] [Indexed: 03/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND CD5L (CD5 molecular-like) plays an important role in lipid metabolism and immune regulation. This study aimed to investigate the roles of CD5L on liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC). METHODS We analyzed the CD5L mRNA expression and its potential prognostic value based on The Cancer Genome Atlas and Gene Expression Omnibus databases. Immunohistochemical analysis was used to investigate the CD5L levels in LIHC tissues. Serum CD5L levels in LIHC were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay was used to investigate the effect of CD5L treatment on HepG2 and QSG-7701 cell proliferation. CD5L expression correlated genes were exhumed based on the LinkedOmics. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analyses for CD5L associated genes were performed. The correlation between CD5L and tumor immune infiltration was analyzed by using Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER) 2.0. RESULTS CD5L mRNA and protein levels were significantly decreased in LIHC tumor tissue compared with non-tumor control tissues. Moreover, serum CD5L levels were significantly lower in LIHC patients than that in healthy subjects. Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis 2 and Kaplan-Meier plotter analysis showed that a high-CD5L expression was correlated with favorable overall survival in LIHC patients, except the LIHC patients with hepatitis virus. CCK-8 results showed that CD5L treatment significantly decreased HepG2 cell proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner, and CD5L treatment had no effect on the proliferation of non-tumor hepatocyte line QSG-7701. CD5L associated genes were enriched in the immune response biological process, and CD5L expression levels were positively correlated with the immune infiltrates of CD8 + T cell and M1 macrophage cells but negatively correlated with CD4 + T cells and M0 macrophage cell infiltration. CONCLUSIONS Exogenous CD5L inhibits cell proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma. CD5L may act as a role of prognostic marker.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaowei Gao
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710038, China
| | - Xianan Wu
- Department of Medical Laboratory, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Military Medical University, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710038, China
| | - Lan Yang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710038, China
| | - Chong Liu
- Department of Medical Laboratory, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Military Medical University, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710038, China
| | - Xi Wang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710038, China
| | - Huiping Wang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710038, China
| | - Ke Dong
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710038, China
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Huang J, Liu W, Lin BY, Li JC, Lu J, Li BY. Scaffold protein MAPK8IP2 expression is a robust prognostic factor in prostate cancer associated with AR signaling activity. Asian J Androl 2023; 25:198-207. [PMID: 35975362 PMCID: PMC10069696 DOI: 10.4103/aja202240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Mitogen-activated protein kinase-8-interacting protein 2 (MAPK8IP2) is a scaffold protein that modulates MAPK signal cascades. Although MAPK pathways were heavily implicated in prostate cancer progression, the regulation of MAPK8IP2 expression in prostate cancer is not yet reported. We assessed MAPK8IP2 gene expression in prostate cancer related to disease progression and patient survival outcomes. MAPK8IP2 expression was analyzed using multiple genome-wide gene expression datasets derived from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) RNA-sequence project and complementary DNA (cDNA) microarrays. Multivariable Cox regressions and log-rank tests were used to analyze the overall survival outcome and progression-free interval. MAPK8IP2 protein expression was evaluated using the immunohistochemistry approach. The quantitative PCR and Western blot methods analyzed androgen-stimulated MAPK8IP2 expression in LNCaP cells. In primary prostate cancer tissues, MAPK8IP2 mRNA expression levels were significantly higher than those in the case-matched benign prostatic tissues. Increased MAPK8IP2 expression was strongly correlated with late tumor stages, lymph node invasion, residual tumors after surgery, higher Gleason scores, and preoperational serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels. MAPK8IP2 upregulation was significantly associated with worse overall survival outcomes and progression-free intervals. In castration-resistant prostate cancers, MAPK8IP2 expression strongly correlated with androgen receptor (AR) signaling activity. In cell culture-based experiments, MAPK8IP2 expression was stimulated by androgens in AR-positive prostate cancer cells. However, MAPK8IP2 expression was blocked by AR antagonists only in androgen-sensitive LNCaP but not castration-resistant C4-2B and 22RV1 cells. These results indicate that MAPK8IP2 is a robust prognostic factor and therapeutic biomarker for prostate cancer. The potential role of MAPK8IP2 in the castration-resistant progression is under further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Huang
- Center for Pathological Diagnosis and Research, The Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang 524001, China
| | - Wang Liu
- Department of Urology, The University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA
| | - Bi-Yun Lin
- Center for Pathological Diagnosis and Research, The Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang 524001, China
| | - Jean C Li
- Department of Urology, The University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA
| | - Jane Lu
- Department of Urology, The University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA
| | - Ben-Yi Li
- Department of Urology, The University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA
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Li Y, Chen J, Wang B, Xu Z, Wu C, Ma J, Song Q, Geng Q, Yu J, Pei H, Yao Y. FOXK2 affects cancer cell response to chemotherapy by promoting nucleotide de novo synthesis. Drug Resist Updat 2023; 67:100926. [PMID: 36682222 DOI: 10.1016/j.drup.2023.100926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Revised: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
AIMS Nucleotide de novo synthesis is essential to cell growth and survival, and its dysregulation leads to cancers and drug resistance. However, how this pathway is dysregulated in cancer has not been well clarified. This study aimed to identify the regulatory mechanisms of nucleotide de novo synthesis and drug resistance. METHODS By combining the ChIP-Seq data from the Cistrome Data Browser, RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) and a luciferase-based promoter assay, we identified transcription factor FOXK2 as a regulator of nucleotide de novo synthesis. To explore the biological functions and mechanisms of FOXK2 in cancers, we conducted biochemical and cell biology assays in vitro and in vivo. Finally, we assessed the clinical significance of FOXK2 in hepatocellular carcinoma. RESULTS FOXK2 directly regulates the expression of nucleotide synthetic genes, promoting tumor growth and cancer cell resistance to chemotherapy. FOXK2 is SUMOylated by PIAS4, which elicits FOXK2 nuclear translocation, binding to the promoter regions and transcription of nucleotide synthetic genes. FOXK2 SUMOylation is repressed by DNA damage, and elevated FOXK2 SUMOylation promotes nucleotide de novo synthesis which causes resistance to 5-FU in hepatocellular carcinoma. Clinically, elevated expression of FOXK2 in hepatocellular carcinoma patients was associated with increased nucleotide synthetic gene expression and correlated with poor prognoses for patients. CONCLUSION Our findings establish FOXK2 as a novel regulator of nucleotide de novo synthesis, with potentially important implications for cancer etiology and drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingge Li
- Cancer Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China; Department of Oncology, Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington DC 20057, USA
| | - Jie Chen
- Cancer Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Bin Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Ziwen Xu
- Department of Oncology, Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington DC 20057, USA
| | - Ci Wu
- Department of Oncology, Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington DC 20057, USA
| | - Junfeng Ma
- Department of Oncology, Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington DC 20057, USA
| | - Qibin Song
- Cancer Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Qing Geng
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Jinming Yu
- Cancer Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China; Department of Radiation Oncology, Shandong University Cancer Center, Jinan, Shandong 250117, China.
| | - Huadong Pei
- Department of Oncology, Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington DC 20057, USA.
| | - Yi Yao
- Cancer Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China.
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