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Yoeli D, Mack CL, Luo Y, Chaidez A, De La Rosa NL, Wang Z, Cervantes-Alvarez E, Huang CA, Navarro-Alvarez N. Galectin-3 in biliary atresia and other pediatric cholestatic liver diseases. Hepatol Res 2024; 54:392-402. [PMID: 37950561 DOI: 10.1111/hepr.13987] [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: 08/02/2023] [Revised: 10/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
AIMS Biliary atresia (BA) is characterized by intrahepatic inflammation and rapid progression of liver fibrosis. Galectin-3, a beta-galactoside binding protein, is a key regulator of inflammation and fibrosis. The aim of this study was to characterize circulating and hepatic Galectin-3 levels in children with BA. METHODS Plasma and liver samples were obtained from children with early BA at time of Kasai hepatoportoenterostomy, late BA at time of transplant, early and late other cholestatic liver diseases (CLD), and controls. Plasma Galectin-3 was measured using standard enzyme-linked immunoassay. Liver tissue was analyzed with multiplex immunohistochemistry and quantified using whole slide analysis. Statistical comparisons were made using nonparametric testing. RESULTS Plasma Galectin-3 in late BA was significantly higher than in early BA (20.82 [12.45-30.46] vs. 11.30 [8.74-16.83] ng/mL, p = 0.0096). Galectin-3 levels correlated with markers of disease severity and interleukin-6. There were significantly more Galectin-3+ M2 macrophages in late BA in comparison to late other CLD (162 [157-233] vs. 49 [33-59] cells/mm2, p = 0.03). The number of Galectin-3+ M2 macrophages correlated with the number of activated hepatic stellate cells and bile duct proliferation. CONCLUSIONS Plasma Galectin-3 is higher in late BA at time of transplant in comparison to early BA at time of Kasai. The number of Galectin-3 expressing M2 macrophages in late BA is elevated relative to late other CLD and was associated with other prognostic histological findings. Galectin-3 targeted therapy may be beneficial in slowing disease progression to cirrhosis in children with BA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dor Yoeli
- Division of Transplant Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Cara L Mack
- Section of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital Colorado, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
- Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Wisconsin, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Yuhuan Luo
- Section of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital Colorado, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Alexander Chaidez
- Section of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital Colorado, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Nathaly Limon De La Rosa
- Division of Transplant Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Zhaohui Wang
- Division of Transplant Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Eduardo Cervantes-Alvarez
- Department of Gastroenterology, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Christene A Huang
- Division of Transplant Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Nalu Navarro-Alvarez
- Division of Transplant Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
- Department of Gastroenterology, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico
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Zheng Q, Li M, Chen L, Zhang C, Zhao Y, Liu G, Yang F, Zhan J. Potential therapeutic target of EGF on bile duct ligation model and biliary atresia children. Pediatr Res 2023; 94:1297-1307. [PMID: 37138025 DOI: 10.1038/s41390-023-02592-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Revised: 02/26/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The pathogenesis of liver fibrosis in biliary atresia (BA) is unclear. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) plays a vital role in liver fibrosis. This study aims to investigate the expression of EGF and the mechanisms of its pro-fibrotic effects in BA. METHODS EGF levels in serum and liver samples of BA and non-BA children were detected. Marker proteins of EGF signaling and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in liver sections were evaluated. Effects of EGF on intrahepatic cells and the underlying mechanisms were explored in vitro. Bile duct ligation (BDL) mice with/without EGF antibody injection were used to verify the effects of EGF on liver fibrosis. RESULTS Serum levels and liver expression of EGF elevated in BA. Phosphorylated EGF receptor (p-EGFR) and extracellular regulated kinase 1/2 (p-ERK1/2) increased. In addition, EMT and proliferation of biliary epithelial cells were present in BA liver. In vitro, EGF induced EMT and proliferation of HIBEpic cells and promoted IL-8 expression in L-02 cells by phosphorylating ERK1/2. And EGF activated LX-2 cells. Furthermore, EGF antibody injection reduced p-ERK1/2 levels and alleviated liver fibrosis in BDL mice. CONCLUSION EGF is overexpressed in BA. It aggravates liver fibrosis through EGF/EGFR-ERK1/2 pathway, which may be a therapeutic target for BA. IMPACT The exact pathogenesis of liver fibrosis in BA is unknown, severely limiting the advancement of BA treatment strategies. This study revealed that serum and liver tissue levels of EGF were increased in BA, and its expression in liver tissues was correlated with the degree of liver fibrosis. EGF may promote EMT and proliferation of biliary epithelial cells and induce IL-8 overexpression in hepatocytes through EGF/EGFR-ERK1/2 signaling pathway. EGF can also activate HSCs in vitro. The EGF/EGFR-ERK1/2 pathway may be a potential therapeutic target for BA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qipeng Zheng
- Graduate College, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China
- Department of General Surgery, Tianjin Children's Hospital, Tianjin, 300134, China
| | - Mengdi Li
- Graduate College, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China
- Department of General Surgery, Tianjin Children's Hospital, Tianjin, 300134, China
| | - Lingzhi Chen
- Graduate College, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China
- Department of General Surgery, Tianjin Children's Hospital, Tianjin, 300134, China
| | - Cong Zhang
- Graduate College, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China
- Department of General Surgery, Tianjin Children's Hospital, Tianjin, 300134, China
| | - Yilin Zhao
- Graduate College, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China
- Department of General Surgery, Tianjin Children's Hospital, Tianjin, 300134, China
| | - Gengxin Liu
- Graduate College, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China
- Department of General Surgery, Tianjin Children's Hospital, Tianjin, 300134, China
| | - Fang Yang
- Graduate College, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China
- Department of General Surgery, Tianjin Children's Hospital, Tianjin, 300134, China
| | - Jianghua Zhan
- Department of General Surgery, Tianjin Children's Hospital, Tianjin, 300134, China.
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Li H, Cao L, Li H. COL3A1, CXCL8, VCAN, THBS2, and COL1A2 are correlated with the onset of biliary atresia. Medicine (Baltimore) 2023; 102:e33299. [PMID: 36930067 PMCID: PMC10019104 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000033299] [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: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Biliary atresia (BA) is a devastating progressive fibro inflammatory disorder in infants. The exact etiology of BA is still unclear. This study aimed screen key genes potentially associated with the occurrence of BA. METHODS All BA data was obtained from GSE46960 dataset. The limma package in R language was used for differentially expressed gene (DEG) analyses. gene ontology and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes enrichment analysis were performed on the screened DEGs, using "clusterProfiler" package. protein-protein interaction network was built based on STRING Cytoscape software (Bethesda, Rockville, MD). The logistic regression model was constructed based on the selected DEGs. RESULTS There were totally 78 DEGs in BA samples compared with normal samples, which were significantly enriched in 200 biological process terms, 37 molecular function terms, 17 cellular component terms, and 18 Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes pathways. Among which, the top 10 genes with the highest importance in protein-protein interaction network were selected. Subsequently, on the basis of the stepwise regression method and 5-fold cross-validation, the logistic regression model constructed based on COL3A1, CXCL8, VCAN, THBS2, and COL1A2 was finally evidenced to predict the BA sample relatively reliably. CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, COL3A1, CXCL8, VCAN, THBS2, and COL1A2 are potentially crucial genes in BA. The logistic regression model constructed based on them could predict the BA sample relatively reliably.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Li
- Department of Obstetric, Tianjin First Central Hospital, Tianjin, P. R. China
| | - Lei Cao
- Biological Sample Resource Sharing Center, Tianjin First Central Hospital, Tianjin, P. R. China
| | - Hong Li
- Department of Obstetric, Tianjin First Central Hospital, Tianjin, P. R. China
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Godbole N, Nyholm I, Hukkinen M, Davidson JR, Tyraskis A, Eloranta K, Andersson N, Lohi J, Heikkilä P, Kyrönlahti A, Pihlajoki M, Davenport M, Heikinheimo M, Pakarinen MP. Prognostic and Pathophysiologic Significance of IL-8 (CXCL8) in Biliary Atresia. J Clin Med 2021; 10:jcm10122705. [PMID: 34207442 PMCID: PMC8234515 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10122705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Revised: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Interleukin (IL)-8 (CXCL8), a chemokine involved in neutrophil recruitment, has been implicated in ductular reaction and liver fibrogenesis. We studied liver and serum IL-8 expression in a large biliary atresia (BA) cohort and explored its prognostic and pathophysiological potential. IL-8 expression was assessed in liver utilizing quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization and in serum using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, among 115 BA patients, 10 disease controls and 68 normal controls. Results were correlated to portoenterostomy (PE) outcomes, biochemical and histological liver injury, transcriptional markers of fibrosis and cholangiocytes, and expression of other related cytokines. IL-8 was markedly overexpressed in liver and serum of BA patients at PE (n = 88) and in serum samples obtained during postoperative follow-up (n = 40). IL-8 expression in the liver was predominantly in cholangiocytes within areas of ductular reaction. Liver IL-8 mRNA expression correlated positively with its serum concentration, bile ductular proliferation, Metavir fibrosis stage, and transcriptional markers of activated myofibroblasts (ACTA2) and cholangiocytes (KRT19). Taken together, IL-8 may mediate liver injury in BA by promoting ductular reaction and associated liver fibrogenesis. Prognostic value of serum IL-8 to predict native liver survival was limited and confined to the postoperative period after PE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nimish Godbole
- Pediatric Research Center, Children’s Hospital, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, 00029 Helsinki, Finland; (N.G.); (I.N.); (M.H.); (K.E.); (N.A.); (A.K.); (M.P.); (M.H.)
- Section of Pediatric Surgery, Pediatric Liver and Gut Research Group and Pediatric Research Center, Children’s Hospital, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, 00029 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Iiris Nyholm
- Pediatric Research Center, Children’s Hospital, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, 00029 Helsinki, Finland; (N.G.); (I.N.); (M.H.); (K.E.); (N.A.); (A.K.); (M.P.); (M.H.)
- Section of Pediatric Surgery, Pediatric Liver and Gut Research Group and Pediatric Research Center, Children’s Hospital, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, 00029 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Maria Hukkinen
- Pediatric Research Center, Children’s Hospital, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, 00029 Helsinki, Finland; (N.G.); (I.N.); (M.H.); (K.E.); (N.A.); (A.K.); (M.P.); (M.H.)
- Section of Pediatric Surgery, Pediatric Liver and Gut Research Group and Pediatric Research Center, Children’s Hospital, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, 00029 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Joseph R. Davidson
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, GOS-UCL Institute of Child Health, London WC1N 1EH, UK;
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, King’s College Hospital, London SE5 9RS, UK; (A.T.); (M.D.)
| | - Athanasios Tyraskis
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, King’s College Hospital, London SE5 9RS, UK; (A.T.); (M.D.)
| | - Katja Eloranta
- Pediatric Research Center, Children’s Hospital, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, 00029 Helsinki, Finland; (N.G.); (I.N.); (M.H.); (K.E.); (N.A.); (A.K.); (M.P.); (M.H.)
| | - Noora Andersson
- Pediatric Research Center, Children’s Hospital, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, 00029 Helsinki, Finland; (N.G.); (I.N.); (M.H.); (K.E.); (N.A.); (A.K.); (M.P.); (M.H.)
| | - Jouko Lohi
- Department of Pathology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, 00029 Helsinki, Finland; (J.L.); (P.H.)
| | - Päivi Heikkilä
- Department of Pathology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, 00029 Helsinki, Finland; (J.L.); (P.H.)
| | - Antti Kyrönlahti
- Pediatric Research Center, Children’s Hospital, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, 00029 Helsinki, Finland; (N.G.); (I.N.); (M.H.); (K.E.); (N.A.); (A.K.); (M.P.); (M.H.)
| | - Marjut Pihlajoki
- Pediatric Research Center, Children’s Hospital, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, 00029 Helsinki, Finland; (N.G.); (I.N.); (M.H.); (K.E.); (N.A.); (A.K.); (M.P.); (M.H.)
| | - Mark Davenport
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, King’s College Hospital, London SE5 9RS, UK; (A.T.); (M.D.)
| | - Markku Heikinheimo
- Pediatric Research Center, Children’s Hospital, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, 00029 Helsinki, Finland; (N.G.); (I.N.); (M.H.); (K.E.); (N.A.); (A.K.); (M.P.); (M.H.)
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
| | - Mikko P. Pakarinen
- Pediatric Research Center, Children’s Hospital, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, 00029 Helsinki, Finland; (N.G.); (I.N.); (M.H.); (K.E.); (N.A.); (A.K.); (M.P.); (M.H.)
- Section of Pediatric Surgery, Pediatric Liver and Gut Research Group and Pediatric Research Center, Children’s Hospital, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, 00029 Helsinki, Finland
- Correspondence:
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Yan W, Jin H, Zhang X, Long S, Xia Q, Meng D, Ding B, Li D, Ma J, Cao J, Wang S. Identification of an immune signature to predict poor clinical outcome in cervical cancer. Epigenomics 2021; 13:891-907. [PMID: 33955785 DOI: 10.2217/epi-2020-0437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim: To explore tumor immune microenvironment and identify immune prognostic-related circRNAs in cervical cancer. Materials & methods: RNA-seq in combination with bioinformatics were performed to establish a prognostic risk model and a circRNAs-miRNAs-CXCL8 network. Results: High-risk group correlated with poor survival outcome, and had lower PD-1 immunogenicity. Additionally, CXCL8 could distinguish normal tissue, low- and high-risk tumor tissues, the expression of which showed an increasing trend among the three groups. RNA-seq and bioinformatics indicated that circRNAs like hsa_circ_0025721 might upregulate CXCL8 through sponging miRNAs including hsa-miR-4428. Conclusion: We constructed an immune risk model related with CD8 T cells to predict the cervical cancer patients' prognosis and explored the abnormal expression mechanism of CXCL8 through the ceRNA mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjing Yan
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Hua Jin
- Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Nantong University (Nantong Tumor Hospital), Nantong, 226361, China
| | - Xing Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Sigui Long
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Qianqian Xia
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Dan Meng
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Bo Ding
- Department of Gynecology & Obstetrics, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Dake Li
- Department of Gynecology, Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Maternity & Child Health Care Hospital, Nanjing, 210004, China
| | - Jingru Ma
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Jian Cao
- Department of Gynecology, Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Maternity & Child Health Care Hospital, Nanjing, 210004, China
| | - Shizhi Wang
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China
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Zhang J, Luo Y, Feng M, Xia Q. Identification of Liver Immune Microenvironment-Related Hub Genes in Liver of Biliary Atresia. Front Pediatr 2021; 9:786422. [PMID: 35111704 PMCID: PMC8802228 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2021.786422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Biliary atresia (BA) is one of the most common and fatal abnormalities of newborns. Increasing evidences indicated that immunology was the critical part of the etiology. This research used a public gene expression database to explore the immune microenvironment of BA liver. Methods: The gene expression profiles GSE46960, GSE159720, and GSE15235, containing BA and normal liver gene expression data, were obtained from the Expression Omnibus Gene. We applied CIBERSORTx to quantify 22 subsets of immune cells in BA liver. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and immune cells were used to further explore their relationship with liver fibrosis and the inflammation status of BA. Results: The expression of immune-related genes CXCL6, CXCL8, CXCL10, CCL20, IL32, TGFB2, SPP1, and SLIT2 was significantly different between BA and normal liver, among which CXCL8 was the hub gene. Six of 22 immune cell proportions were significantly different between BA and normal liver. Specifically, M0 macrophages and resting memory CD4+ T cells were upregulated in BA liver compared with normal liver. Meanwhile, monocytes, resting natural killer (NK) cells, plasma cells, and regulatory T (Treg) cells were downregulated. A further correlation analysis revealed that SLIT2 and CXCL6 owned high positive correlation coefficients with fibrosis grade, while the proportion of resting NK cells was negatively correlated. Proportions of resting CD4+ memory T cells were strongly related to the inflammation grade of BA liver. Conclusion: Biliary atresia is a disease strongly correlated with immune response. Our results might provide a clue for further exploration of BA etiology, which may promote a potential prediction model based on immune infiltration features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaxu Zhang
- Department of Liver Surgery, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yi Luo
- Department of Liver Surgery, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Institute of Transplantation, Shanghai, China
| | - Mingxuan Feng
- Department of Liver Surgery, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Institute of Transplantation, Shanghai, China
| | - Qiang Xia
- Department of Liver Surgery, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Institute of Transplantation, Shanghai, China
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