Transforming growth factor-beta 1-induced apoptosis is blocked by beta 1-integrin-mediated mitogen-activated protein kinase activation in human hepatoma cells

Cell Death in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Pathogenesis and Therapeutic Opportunities

Simple Summary

The progression of liver tumors is highly influenced by the interactions between cancer cells and the surrounding environment, and, consequently, can determine whether the primary tumor regresses, metastasizes, or establishes micrometastases. In the context of liver cancer, cell death is a double-edged sword. On one hand, cell death promotes inflammation, fibrosis, and angiogenesis, which are tightly orchestrated by a variety of resident and infiltrating host cells. On the other hand, targeting cell death in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma could represent an attractive therapeutic approach for limiting tumor growth. Further studies are needed to investigate therapeutic strategies combining current chemotherapies with novel drugs targeting either cell death or the tumor microenvironment.

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most prevalent primary liver cancer and the third leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Closely associated with liver inflammation and fibrosis, hepatocyte cell death is a common trigger for acute and chronic liver disease arising from different etiologies, including viral hepatitis, alcohol abuse, and fatty liver. In this review, we discuss the contribution of different types of cell death, including apoptosis, necroptosis, pyroptosis, or autophagy, to the progression of liver disease and the development of HCC. Interestingly, inflammasomes have recently emerged as pivotal innate sensors with a highly pathogenic role in various liver diseases. In this regard, an increased inflammatory response would act as a key element promoting a pro-oncogenic microenvironment that may result not only in tumor growth, but also in the formation of a premetastatic niche. Importantly, nonparenchymal hepatic cells, such as liver sinusoidal endothelial cells, hepatic stellate cells, and hepatic macrophages, play an important role in establishing the tumor microenvironment, stimulating tumorigenesis by paracrine communication through cytokines and/or angiocrine factors. Finally, we update the potential therapeutic options to inhibit tumorigenesis, and we propose different mechanisms to consider in the tumor microenvironment field for HCC resolution.

The Multifaceted Role of TGF-β in Gastrointestinal Tumors

Simple Summary

The transforming growth factor β signaling pathway elicits a broad range of physiological re-sponses, and its misregulation has been related to cancer. The secreted cytokine TGFβ exerts a tumor-suppressive effect that counteracts malignant transformation. However, once tumor has developed, TGFβ can support tumor progression regulating epithelial to mesenchymal transition, invasion and metastasis, stimulating fibrosis, angiogenesis and immune suppression. Here we review the dichotomous role of TGF-β in the progression of gastrointestinal tumors, as well as its intricate crosstalk with other signaling pathways. We also discuss about the therapeutic strate-gies that are currently explored in clinical trials to counteract TGF-β functions.

Abstract

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) is a secreted cytokine that signals via serine/threonine kinase receptors and SMAD effectors. Although TGF-β acts as a tumor suppressor during the early stages of tumorigenesis, it supports tumor progression in advanced stages. Indeed, TGF-β can modulate the tumor microenvironment by modifying the extracellular matrix and by sustaining a paracrine interaction between neighboring cells. Due to its critical role in cancer development and progression, a wide range of molecules targeting the TGF-β signaling pathway are currently under active clinical development in different diseases. Here, we focused on the role of TGF-β in modulating different pathological processes with a particular emphasis on gastrointestinal tumors.

The dichotomous role of TGF-β in controlling liver cancer cell survival and proliferation

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the major form of primary liver cancer and one of the most prevalent and life-threatening malignancies globally. One of the hallmarks in HCC is the sustained cell survival and proliferative signals, which are determined by the balance between oncogenes and tumor suppressors. Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) is an effective growth inhibitor of epithelial cells including hepatocytes, through induction of cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, cellular senescence, or autophagy. The antitumorigenic effects of TGF-β are bypassed during liver tumorigenesis via multiple mechanisms. Furthermore, along with malignant progression, TGF-β switches to promote cancer cell survival and proliferation. This dichotomous nature of TGF-β is one of the barriers to therapeutic targeting in liver cancer. Thereafter, understanding the underlying molecular mechanisms is a prerequisite for discovering novel antitumor drugs that may specifically disable the growth-promoting branch of TGF-β signaling or restore its tumor-suppressive arm. This review summarizes how TGF-β inhibits or promotes liver cancer cell survival and proliferation, highlighting the functional switch mechanisms during the process.

A Complex and Evolutive Character: Two Face Aspects of ECM in Tumor Progression

Tumor microenvironment, including extracellular matrix (ECM) and stromal cells, is a key player during tumor development, from initiation, growth and progression to metastasis. During all of these steps, remodeling of matrix components occurs, changing its biochemical and physical properties. The global and basic cancer ECM model is that tumors are surrounded by activated stromal cells, that remodel physiological ECM to evolve into a stiffer and more crosslinked ECM than in normal conditions, thereby increasing invasive capacities of cancer cells. In this review, we show that this too simple model does not consider the complexity, specificity and heterogeneity of each organ and tumor. First, we describe the general ECM in context of cancer. Then, we go through five invasive and most frequent cancers from different origins (breast, liver, pancreas, colon, and skin), and show that each cancer has its own specific matrix, with different stromal cells, ECM components, biochemical properties and activated signaling pathways. Furthermore, in these five cancers, we describe the dual role of tumor ECM: as a protective barrier against tumor cell proliferation and invasion, and as a major player in tumor progression. Indeed, crosstalk between tumor and stromal cells induce changes in matrix organization by remodeling ECM through invadosome formation in order to degrade it, promoting tumor progression and cell invasion. To sum up, in this review, we highlight the specificities of matrix composition in five cancers and the necessity not to consider the ECM as one general and simple entity, but one complex, dynamic and specific entity for each cancer type and subtype.

Detection of Novel Fusion Transcript VTI1A-CFAP46 in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Background

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is now the second-highest cause of cancer death worldwide. Recent studies have discovered a wide range of somatic mutations in HCC. These mutations involve various vital signaling pathways such as: Wnt/β-Catenin, p53, telome-rase reverse transcriptase (TERT), chromatin remodeling, RAS/MAPK signaling, and oxidative stress. However, fusion transcripts have not been broadly explored in HCC.

Methods

To identify novel fusion transcripts in HCC, in the first phase of our study, we performed targeted RNA sequencing (in HCC and paired non-HCC tissues) on 6 patients with a diagnosis of HCC undergoing liver transplantation.

Results

As a result of these studies, we discovered the novel fusion transcript, VTI1A-CFAP46. In the second phase of our study, we measured the expression of wild-type VTI1A in 21 HCC specimens, which showed that 10 of 21 exhibited upregulation of wild-type VTI1A in their tumors. VTI1A (Vesicle Transport via Interaction with t-SNARE homolog 1A) is a member of the Soluble N-ethylmaleimide-Sensitive Factor (NSF) attachment protein receptor (SNARE) gene family, which is essential for membrane trafficking and function in endocytosis, autophagy, and Golgi transport. Notably, it is known that autophagy is involved in HCC.

Conclusions

The link between novel fusion transcript VTI1A-CFAP46 and autophagy as a potential therapeutic target in HCC patients deserves further investigation. Moreover, this study shows that fusion transcripts are worthy of additional exploration in HCC.

Src inhibition attenuates polyglutamine-mediated neuromuscular degeneration in spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy

Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) is a neuromuscular disease caused by an expanded CAG repeat in the androgen receptor (AR) gene. Here, we perform a comprehensive analysis of signaling pathways in a mouse model of SBMA (AR-97Q mice) utilizing a phosphoprotein assay. We measure the levels of 17 phosphorylated proteins in spinal cord and skeletal muscle of AR-97Q mice at three stages. The level of phosphorylated Src (p-Src) is markedly increased in the spinal cords and skeletal muscles of AR-97Q mice prior to the onset. Intraperitoneal administration of a Src kinase inhibitor improves the behavioral and histopathological phenotypes of the transgenic mice. We identify p130Cas as an effector molecule of Src and show that the phosphorylated p130Cas is elevated in murine and cellular models of SBMA. These results suggest that Src kinase inhibition is a potential therapy for SBMA.

Regulation of interferon signaling and HCV‑RNA replication by extracellular matrix

Although interferon (IFN)‑based treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is widely applied, treatment resistance is often observed in patients with advanced liver fibrosis. Given that the molecular mechanisms of IFN resistance in liver fibrosis remain elusive, the present study investigated the effects of extracellular matrix (ECM) on IFN signaling in hepatic cells. The native HuH‑7 human hepatoma cell line and HuH‑7 cells were stably transfected with full‑length HCV‑RNA fused with Renilla luciferase (OR6 cells) were cultured on ECM‑coated dishes or non‑coated plastic dishes (NDs), and treated with human IFN‑α. In Huh‑7 cells cultured on coated dishes, the IFN‑stimulated response element (ISRE) luciferase activity was measured following ISRE plasmid transfection and the expression of IFN‑stimulated genes (ISG) were significantly lower than those in cells cultured on NDs. In addition, after IFN‑α treatment, the amount of HCV‑RNA and viral protein produced by OR6 cells cultured on coated dishes was higher than that produced by cells cultured on NDs. When cells were treated with β1‑integrin‑blocking antibody to disrupt the cell‑matrix interaction, the ISRE luciferase activity was restored, and the protein expression of ISG was increased, while that of HCV proteins was suppressed. Treatment of cells with integrin‑linked kinase (ILK) inhibitor or focal adhesion kinase (FAK) inhibitor restored the ISRE luciferase activity and expression of ISG proteins. These results suggested that β1‑integrin‑mediated signals affected the IFN signaling and promoted HCV replication. Therefore, the accumulation of ECM in liver fibrosis may impair IFN signaling through β1‑integrin‑mediated signaling involving ILK and FAK.

The concomitant apoptosis and EMT underlie the fundamental functions of TGF-β

TGF-β's multipotent cellular effects and their relations are critical for TGF-β's pathophysiological functions. However, these effects may appear to be paradoxical in understanding TGF-β's functions. Apoptosis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) are two fundamental events that are deeply linked to various physiological and disease-related processes. These two major cellular fates are subtly regulated and can be potently stimulated by TGF-β, which profoundly contribute to the biological roles of TGF-β. Moreover, these two events are also indirectly and directly correlated with TGF-β-mediated growth inhibition and are relevant to the current understanding of the roles of TGF-β in tumorigenesis and cancer progression. Although TGF-β-induced apoptosis and EMT can be singly independent cellular events, they can also be mutually exclusive but interrelated concomitant events in various cases. Thus, the modulation of apoptosis and EMT is essential for the seemingly paradoxical functions of TGF-β. However, the concomitant effect of TGF-β on apoptosis and EMT, the balance and regulated alterations of them are still been ignored or underestimated. This review focuses on the TGF-β-induced concomitant apoptosis and EMT. We aim to provide an insight in understanding their significance, balance, and modulation in TGF-β-mediated biological functions.

Galectin-1 Controls the Proliferation and Migration of Liver Sinusoidal Endothelial Cells and Their Interaction With Hepatocarcinoma Cells

Galectin-1 (Gal1), a β-galactoside-binding protein elevated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and its expression correlates with HCC growth, invasiveness, and metastasis. During the early stages of HCC, transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1 ) acts as a tumor suppressor; however in advanced stages, HCC cells lose their cytostatic response to TGF-β1 and undergo EMT. Here, we investigated the role of Gal1 on liver endothelial cell biology, and the interplay between Gal1 and TGF-β1 in HCC progression. By Western blot and immunofluorescence, we analyzed Gal1 expression, secretion and localization in HepG2 and HuH-7 human HCC cells, and in SK-HEP-1 human liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (SECs). We used loss-of-function and gain-of-function experiments to down- or up-regulate Gal1 expression, respectively, in HepG2 cells. We cultured SK-HEP-1 cells with conditioned media from HCC cells secreting different levels of Gal1, and demonstrated that Gal1 derived from tumor hepatocytes induced its own expression in SECs. Colorimetric and scratch-wound assays revealed that secretion of Gal1 by HCC cells induced SEC proliferation and migration. Moreover, by fluorescence microscopy we demonstrated that Gal1 promoted glycan-dependent heterotypic adhesion of HepG2 cells to SK-HEP-1 SECs. Furthermore, TGF-β1 induced Gal1 expression and secretion by HCC cells, and promoted HepG2 cell adhesion to SK-HEP-1 SECs through a Gal1-dependent mechanism. Finally, Gal1 modulated HepG2 cell proliferation and sensitivity to TGF-β1 -induced growth inhibition. Our results suggest that Gal1 and TGF-β1 might function coordinately within the HCC microenvironment to regulate tumor growth, invasion, metastasis, and angiogenesis.

MAPK inhibitors modulate Smad2/3/4 complex cyto-nuclear translocation in myofibroblasts via Imp7/8 mediation

Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway-dependent linker phosphorylation of Smad2/3 and subsequent formation of Smad2/3/4 complex and its nuclear translocation are crucial for dysregulated transforming growth factor beta (TGF)-β/Smad signaling in liver fibrosis. Abrogation of this critical step of TGF-β/Smad signaling leading to liver fibrosis could provide new insights for future therapy, but the mechanisms remain incompletely understood. In pursuit, we investigated the subcellular expression and nuclear trafficking of the rate limiting Smad2/3/4 complex in exogenous TGF-β1-stimulated myofibroblasts (MFBs) using three MAPK-specific inhibitors. Our results showed that exogenous TGF-β1 stimulation of MFBs produced both increased protein expression and nuclear translocation of phosphorylated (p)-Smad2C/L, oncogenic pSmad3L, Smad4, importin7/8 (Imp7/8), and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)-1 (Protein and mRNA), while decreased Smad7 protein expression. However, the MAPK-specific inhibitors differentially reversed these observations; for instance, ERK-specific inhibitor blocked the expression and nuclear translocation of pSmad2C/L, while both JNK and p38-specific inhibitors blocked the expression and nuclear translocation of pSmad2C/L and oncogenic pSmad3L. The MAPK-specific inhibitors had no significant effect on the total protein expression of Smad4, but rather significantly blocked its nuclear translocation. All the MAPK-specific inhibitors restored Smad7 expression and also decreased Imp7/8 and PAI-1 (Protein and mRNA) expression. Evidently, the MAPK-specific inhibitors blocked Smad2/3/4 complex formation via restoration of inhibitory Smad7 expression and blockade of Smad3L phosphorylation, while they blocked nuclear translocation of Smad2/3/4 complex through inhibition of Imp7/8 leading to decreased PAI-1 (Protein and mRNA) expression.

MAPK inhibitors differently modulate TGF-β/Smad signaling in HepG2 cells

The aim of this study was to investigate the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, which crosstalk with TGF-β/Smad signaling via linker phosphorylation of Smad2/3 to promote hepatocarcinogenesis. After DEN-induced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in rats showed increased phosphorylation of JNK1/2, p38, and ERK1/2, we next antagonized TGF-β1-induced phosphorylation of JNK1/2, p38, ERK1/2, Smad2/3 signaling in HepG2 cells using SP600125, SB203580, and PD98059, respectively. Cell proliferation and invasion were assessed by MTT assay and transwell invasion chambers, respectively. Smad2/3, Smad4, and Smad7 expressions and PAI-1 messenger RNA (mRNA) transcription were measured by using immuno-precipitation/immuno-blotting and real-time RT-PCR, respectively. All the MAPK-specific inhibitors suppressed cell invasion, while all but PD98059 suppressed cell proliferation. Both SP600125 and SB203580 blocked pSmad2C/L and oncogenic pSmad3L. PD98059 blocked pSmad2L but had no effect on elevated pSmad2C and oncogenic pSmad3L. All but PD98059 blocked Smad2/3/4 complex formation and restored Smad7 expression, while all the three MAPK-Specific inhibitors repressed PAI-1 mRNA transcription. Both SP600125 and SB203580 inhibited HepG2 cells' proliferation and invasion by blocking oncogenic pSmad3L and Smad2/3/4 complex formation. PD98059 repressed PAI-1 mRNA by an unknown mechanism.

Furin overexpression suppresses tumor growth and predicts a better postoperative disease-free survival in hepatocellular carcinoma

Furin is a member of the pro-protein convertase family. It processes several growth regulatory proteins into their active forms, which are critical to tumor progression, metastasis, and angiogenesis. Furin over-expression could occur in liver cancer and a previous study showed that over-expression of furin promoted HepG2 cell invasion in tail vein xenograft models. However, the clinical relevance of furin expression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remained unknown. Surprisingly, in a postoperative survival analysis for HCC patients, it was found that the tumor/non-tumor (T/N) ratio of furin expression ≥ 3.5 in HCC tissues predicted a better postoperative disease-free survival (DFS) (P = 0.010; log-rank test). Furthermore, subcutaneous xenograft experiments demonstrated a significant suppression effect of tumor growth in the furin-overexpressed xenografts (Huh7-Furin) compared to the mock control. Administration of a synthetic furin inhibitor for inhibition of the pro-protein convertase activity, decanoyl-Arg-Val-Lys-Arg-chloromethylketone (decRVKR-CMK), to the Huh7-Furin xenograft bearing mice restored the repression effect of tumor growth. In contrast, administration of decRVKR-CMK to the mock Huh7 xenograft bearing mice showed no change in growth rate. In conclusion, furin overexpression inhibited HCC tumor growth in a subcutaneous xenograft model and predicted a better postoperative DFS in clinical analysis.

Regulation of TGF-β1-Induced Pro-Apoptotic Signaling by Growth Factor Receptors and Extracellular Matrix Receptor Integrins in the Liver

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) often arises from chronically diseased livers. Persistent liver inflammation causes the accumulation of excessive extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins and impairs the liver function, finally leading to the development of HCC. A pleiotropic cytokine, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, plays critical roles throughout the process of fibrogenesis and hepatocarcinogenesis. In the liver, TGF-β1 inhibits the proliferation of hepatocytes and stimulates the production of ECM from hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) to maintain tissue homeostasis. During disease progression, both growth factors/cytokines and the ECM alter the TGF-β1 signals by modifying the phosphorylation of Smad proteins at their C-terminal and linker regions. TGF-β1 stimulates the expression of integrins, cellular receptors for ECM, along with an increase in ECM accumulation. The activation of integrins by the ECM modulates the response to TGF-β1 in hepatic cells, resulting in their resistance to TGF-β1-induced growth suppression in hepatocytes and the sustained production of ECM proteins in activated HSCs/myofibroblasts. Both growth factor receptors and integrins modify the expression and/or functions of the downstream effectors of TGF-β1, resulting in the escape of hepatocytes from TGF-β1-induced apoptosis. Recent studies have revealed that the alterations of Smad phosphorylation that occur as the results of the crosstalk between TGF-β1, growth factors and integrins could change the nature of TGF-β1 signals from tumor suppression to promotion. Therefore, the modification of Smad phosphorylation could be an attractive target for the prevention and/or treatment of HCC.

Targeting integrins in hepatocellular carcinoma

INTRODUCTION

Integrins, which are heterodimeric membrane glycoproteins, consist of a family of cell-surface receptors mediating cell-matrix and cell-cell adhesion. Analysis of tumor-associated integrins has revealed an important relationship between integrins and tumor development, bringing new insights into integrin-based cancer therapies. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most malignant tumors worldwide and integrins appeal to be a novel group of potential therapeutic targets for HCC.

AREAS COVERED

This review summarizes the current knowledge of integrins involved in HCC and the potential of integrin-targeted drugs in HCC therapy. A brief introduction on the structure, biological function and regulatory mechanism of integrins is given. The distinct expression patterns and biological functions of HCC-associated integrins are described. Finally, the current situation of integrin-based therapies in HCC and other tumor types are extensively discussed in the light of their implications in preclinical and clinical trials.

EXPERT OPINION

To date, increasing numbers of integrin-targeted drugs are undergoing development and they exhibit diverse effects in cancer clinical trials. Tumor heterogeneity should be emphasized in developing effective integrin-targeted drugs specific for HCC. A better understanding of how integrins cooperatively function in HCC will assist in designing more successful integrin-targeted therapeutic drugs and corresponding approaches.

Integrin signalling adaptors: not only figurants in the cancer story

Current evidence highlights the ability of adaptor (or scaffold) proteins to create signalling platforms that drive cellular transformation upon integrin-dependent adhesion and growth factor receptor activation. The understanding of the biological effects that are regulated by these adaptors in tumours might be crucial for the identification of new targets and the development of innovative therapeutic strategies for human cancer. In this Review we discuss the relevance of adaptor proteins in signalling that originates from integrin-mediated cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) adhesion and growth factor stimulation in the context of cell transformation and tumour progression. We specifically underline the contribution of p130 Crk-associated substrate (p130CAS; also known as BCAR1), neural precursor cell expressed, developmentally down-regulated 9 (NEDD9; also known as HEF1), CRK and the integrin-linked kinase (ILK)-pinch-parvin (IPP) complex to cancer, along with the more recently identified p140 Cas-associated protein (p140CAP; also known as SRCIN1).

Regulation of tumor suppressor PDCD4 by novel protein kinase C isoforms

Transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) induces apoptosis in normal hepatocytes and hepatoma cells. PDCD4 is involved in TGF-beta1-induced apoptosis via the Smad pathway. The tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbor-13-acetate (TPA), a protein kinase C stimulator, inhibits TGF-beta1-induced apoptosis. However, the mechanisms of TPA action on PDCD4 expression remain to be elucidated. Therefore. the regulatory mechanism of PDCD4 expression by PKC was investigated. The treatment of the human hepatoma cell line, Huh7 with TPA suppressed PDCD4 protein expression and TGF-beta1 failed to increase the PDCD4 protein expression. PKC inhibitors Ro-31-8425 or bisindolylmaleimide-1-hydrocholoride (pan-PKC inhibitors) and rottlerin (PKCdelta inhibitor), but not Go6976 (PKCalpha inhibitor), enhanced the induction of PDCD4 protein by TGF-beta1. Furthermore, siRNA-mediated knockdown of PKCdelta and epsilon, but not PKCalpha, augmented the TGF-beta1-stimulated PDCD4 protein expression. However, TPA or pan-PKC inhibitor did not alter the PDCD4 mRNA expression either under basal- and TGF-beta1-treated conditions. The down-regulation of PDCD4 by TPA was restored by treatment with the proteasome inhibitor MG132. These data suggest that two isoforms of PKCs are involved in the regulation of the PDCD4 protein expression related to the proteasomal degradation pathway.

Compound Astragalus and Salvia miltiorrhiza extract inhibits cell invasion by modulating transforming growth factor-beta/Smad in HepG2 cell

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Compound Astragalus and Salvia miltiorrhiza extract (CASE) is made up of astragalosides, astragalus polysaccharide and salvianolic acids extracted from Astragalus membranaceus Bunge (Leguminosae) and Salvia miltiorhiza Bunge (Lamiaceae) with a standard ratio. Previous reports showed that CASE inhibited hepatic fibrosis by mediating transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta/Smad signaling. This study further investigated the effect of CASE on hepatoma HepG2 cells stimulated by TGF-beta(1) and its potential action mechanisms by TGF-beta/Smad signaling.

METHODS

Cell proliferation was studied by MTT assay and cell invasion was evaluated by measuring cell migration through Matrigel. Protein expression in hepatoma HepG2 cells stimulated by TGF-beta(1) was analyzed by western blotting and plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1) transcriptional activity in HepG2 cells was evaluated.

RESULTS

CASE (40 microg/mL) markedly suppressed cell invasion triggered by TGF-beta(1). Smad3 phosphorylation at the linker region (pSmad3L) and Samd2 phosphorylation at the C-terminal region (pSmad2C) were significantly reduced by CASE. Mild elevated Smad3 phosphorylation at C-terminal (pSmade3C) region was enhanced by CASE at 20 microg/mL. In addition, treatment of CASE decreased the level of Smad2/3/4 complex at 80 microg/mL, but upregulated the expression of Smad7 in a dose-dependent manner. CASE also showed inhibitory effect on PAI-1 transcriptional activity.

CONCLUSION

All these results suggest that CASE exerts anti-HepG2 cell invasion effect by modulating TGF-beta/Smad signaling.

Inhibitory effect of fucoidan on Huh7 hepatoma cells through downregulation of CXCL12

The aim of this study is to assess whether fucoidan modulates the expression of chemokine ligand 12 (CXCL12)/chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) and exerts antitumor activity toward Huh7 hepatoma cells. According to 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays, fucoidan inhibited the growth of Huh7 cells and HepG2 cells in a dose-dependent manner, with a 50% inhibition of cell growth (IC50) of 2.0 and 4.0 mg/ml, respectively. alpha-fetoprotein levels in medium collected from fucoidan-treated cells were significantly decreased in Huh7 cells but not in HepG2 cells. Western blotting revealed that the amount of alpha-fetoprotein was decreased by 1.0 mg/ml of fucoidan in Huh7 cells, whereas it was unchanged in HepG2 cells. In Huh7 cells, CXCL12 mRNA expression was significantly downregulated by 1.0 mg/ml of fucoidan, whereas CXCR4 mRNA expression was unchanged by fucoidan. CXCL12 and CXCR4 mRNA were barely expressed in HepG2 cells. In addition, 1.0 mg/ml of fucoidan mildly arrested the cell cycle and induced apoptosis in Huh7 cells. The findings suggest that fucoidan exhibits antitumor activity toward Huh7 cells through the downregulation of CXCL12 expression.

Repression of PKR mediates palmitate-induced apoptosis in HepG2 cells through regulation of Bcl-2

In the present study we found that double-stranded RNA-dependent protein kinase (PKR) regulates the protein expression level and the phosphorylation of Bcl-2 and exploits an anti-apoptotic role in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HepG2). Saturated free fatty acids (FFAs), e.g. palmitate, have been shown to induce cellular apoptosis in various types of cells by different mechanisms. We found palmitate down-regulates the activity of PKR, and thereby decreases the protein level of Bcl-2, mediated, in part, by the NF-κB transcription factor. In addition to the protein level of Bcl-2, the phosphorylation of Bcl-2 at different amino acid residues, such as Ser70 and Ser87, is also important in regulating cellular apoptosis. The decrease in the phosphorylation of Bcl-2 at Ser70 upon exposure to palmitate is mediated by PKR and possibly JNK, while the phosphorylation of Bcl-2 at Ser87 is not affected by palmitate or PKR. In summary, PKR mediates the regulation of the protein level and the phosphorylation status of Bcl-2, providing a novel mechanism of palmitate-induced apoptosis in HepG2 cells.

Mechanical forces and TGFbeta1 reduce podocyte adhesion through alpha3beta1 integrin downregulation

BACKGROUND

Podocyturia is a marker of diabetic nephr- opathy, a possible determinant of its progression and a powerful risk factor for cardiovascular disease. A reduction in podocyte adhesion to the glomerular basement membrane (GBM) via downregulation of alpha3beta1 integrin expression, the main podocyte anchoring dimer to the GBM, may represent one of the mechanisms of podocyturia in glomerular disease. This study investigated the role of mechanical forces and transforming growth factor beta1 (TGFbeta1) in podocyte adhesion and integrin expression.

METHODS

Conditionally immortalized murine podocytes were exposed to mechanical stretch and/or TGFbeta1 for 48 h. Podocyte adhesion, apoptosis and alpha3beta1 integrin expression were assessed.

RESULTS

Stretch and TGFbeta1 significantly reduced podocyte adhesion and alpha3beta1 integrin expression, events paralleled by increased apoptosis. Blockade of beta1 integrin, with a specific antibody, demonstrated a reduced podocyte adhesion indicating that beta1 integrin downregulation was required for the loss of podocyte adhesion. This was linked to an increase in podocyte apoptosis. The role of apoptosis in podocyte adhesion was further investigated using caspase-3 inhibitors. Podocyte apoptosis inhibition did not affect stretch- and TGFbeta1-mediated integrin downregulation and the loss of podocyte adhesion, suggesting that alpha3beta1 integrin downregulation is sufficient to alter cell adhesion. Although stretch significantly increased podocyte TGFbeta type I, II and III receptors but not podocyte TGFbeta1 secretion, the combination of stretch and TGFbeta1 did not show any additive or synergistic effects on podocyte adhesion and alpha3beta1 integrin expression.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that downregulation of alpha3beta1 integrin expression, by mechanical forces or TGFbeta1, is per se sufficient to reduce podocyte adhesion. Apoptosis may represent a parallel important determinant of the podocyte loss from the GBM.

CD133+ liver cancer stem cells from methionine adenosyl transferase 1A-deficient mice demonstrate resistance to transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta-induced apoptosis

Methionine adenosyltransferase (MAT) is an essential enzyme required for S-adenosylmethionine biosynthesis. Hepatic MAT activity falls during chronic liver injury, and mice lacking Mat1a develop spontaneous hepatocellular carcinoma by 18 months. We have previously demonstrated that CD133(+)CD45(-) oval cells isolated from 16-month-old Mat1a(-/-) mice represent a liver cancer stem cell population. The transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) pathway constitutes a central signaling network in proliferation, apoptosis, and tumorigenesis. In this study, we tested the response of tumorigenic liver stem cells to TGF-beta. CD133(+)CD45(-) oval cells were isolated from premalignant 16-month-old Mat1a(-/-) mice by flow cytometry and expanded as five clone lines derived from a single cell. All clone lines demonstrated expression of both hepatocyte and cholangiocyte markers and maintained a small population (0.5% to 2%) of CD133(+) cells in vitro, and three of five clone lines produced tumors. Although TGF-beta1 inhibited cell growth equally in CD133(-) and CD133(+) cells from each clone line, the CD133(+) population demonstrated significant resistance to TGF-beta-induced apoptosis compared with CD133(-) cells. Furthermore, CD133(+) cells demonstrated a substantial increase in mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway activation, as demonstrated by phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase levels before and after TGF-beta stimulation. MAPK inhibition using mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 1 (MEK1) inhibitor PD98059 led to a significant increase in TGF-beta-induced apoptosis in CD133(+) cells. Conversely, a constitutively active form of MEK1 blocked the apoptotic effects of TGF-beta in CD133(-) cells.

CONCLUSION

CD133(+) liver cancer stem cells exhibit relative resistance to TGF-beta-induced apoptosis. One mechanism of resistance to TGF-beta-induced apoptosis in CD133(+) cancer stem cells is an activated mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase pathway.

The integrin-coupled signaling adaptor p130Cas suppresses Smad3 function in transforming growth factor-beta signaling

Reciprocal cooperative signaling by integrins and growth factor receptors at G1 phase during cell cycle progression is well documented. By contrast, little is known about the cross-talk between integrin and transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta signaling. Here, we show that integrin signaling counteracts the inhibitory effects of TGF-beta on cell growth and that this effect is mediated by p130Cas (Crk-associated substrate, 130 kDa). Adhesion to fibronectin or laminin reduces TGF-beta-induced Smad3 phosphorylation and thus inhibits TGF-beta-mediated growth arrest; loss of p130Cas abrogates these effects. Loss and gain of function studies demonstrated that, once tyrosine-phosphorylated via integrin signaling, p130Cas binds to Smad3 and reduces phosphorylation of Smad3. That in turn leads to inhibition of p15 and p21 expression and facilitation of cell cycle progression. Thus, p130Cas-mediated control of TGF-beta/Smad signaling may provide an additional clue to the mechanism underlying resistance to TGF-beta-induced growth inhibition.

New therapies for hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), one of the most common cancers worldwide, is often diagnosed at an advanced stage when most potentially curative therapies such as resection, transplantation or percutaneous and transarterial interventions are of limited efficacy. The fact that HCC is resistant to conventional chemotherapy, and is rarely amenable to radiotherapy, leaves this disease with no effective therapeutic options and a very poor prognosis. Therefore, the development of more effective therapeutic tools and strategies is much needed. HCCs are phenotypically and genetically heterogeneous tumors that commonly emerge on a background of chronic liver disease. However, in spite of this heterogeneity recent insights into the biology of HCC suggest that certain signaling pathways and molecular alterations are likely to play essential roles in HCC development by promoting cell growth and survival. The identification of such mechanisms may open new avenues for the prevention and treatment of HCC through the development of targeted therapies. In this review we will describe the new potential therapeutic targets and clinical developments that have emerged from progress in the knowledge of HCC biology, In addition, recent advances in gene therapy and combined cell and gene therapy, together with new radiotherapy techniques and immunotherapy in patients with HCC will be discussed.

Expression of the cytoplasmic domain of β1 integrin induces apoptosis in adult rat ventricular myocytes (ARVM) via the involvement of caspase-8 and mitochondrial death pathway

Stimulation of beta-adrenergic receptor (beta-AR) induces cardiac myocyte apoptosis. Integrins, a family of cell-surface receptors, play an important role in the regulation of cardiac myocyte apoptosis and ventricular remodeling. Cleavage of extracellular domain of beta1 integrin, also called integrin shedding, is observed during cardiac hypertrophy and progression to early heart failure. Here we show that stimulation of beta-AR induces beta1 integrin fragmentation in mouse heart. To examine the role of intracellular domain of beta1 integrin in cardiac myocyte apoptosis, a chimeric receptor consisting of the cytoplasmic tail domain of beta(1A) integrin and the extracellular/transmembrane domain of the interleukin-2 receptor (TAC-beta1) was expressed in adult rat ventricular myocytes (ARVM) using adenoviruses. TAC-beta1 increased the percentage of apoptotic ARVM as measured by TUNEL-staining assay. TAC-beta1-induced apoptosis was found to be associated with increased cytosolic cytochrome c and decreased mitochondrial membrane potential. TAC-beta1 increased caspase-8 activity. Z-IETD-FMK, a specific caspase-8 inhibitor, significantly inhibited TAC-beta1-induced apoptosis. TAC-beta1 expression also increased cleavage of Bid, a pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family protein. These data suggest that shedding of beta1 integrin may be a mechanism of induction of apoptosis during beta-AR-stimulated cardiac remodeling.

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Involvement of programmed cell death 4 in transforming growth factor-beta1-induced apoptosis in human hepatocellular carcinoma

The programmed cell death 4 (PDCD4) gene was originally identified as a tumor-related gene in humans and acts as a tumor-suppressor in mouse epidermal carcinoma cells. However, its function and regulatory mechanisms of expression in human cancer remain to be elucidated. We therefore investigated the expression of PDCD4 in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the role of PDCD4 in human HCC cells. Downregulation of PDCD4 protein was observed in all HCC tissues tested compared with corresponding noncancerous liver, as revealed by Western blotting or immunohistochemical staining. Human HCC cell line, Huh7, transfected with PDCD4 cDNA showed nuclear fragmentation and DNA laddering characteristic of apoptotic cells associated with mitochondrial changes and caspase activation. Transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) treatment of Huh7 cells resulted in increased PDCD4 expression and occurrence of apoptosis, also concomitant with mitochondrial events and caspase activation. Transfection of Smad7, a known antagonist to TGF-beta1 signaling, protected cells from TGF-beta1-mediated apoptosis and suppressed TGF-beta1-induced PDCD4 expression. Moreover, antisense PDCD4 transfectants were resistant to apoptosis induced by TGF-beta1. In conclusion, these data suggest that PDCD4 is a proapoptotic molecule involved in TGF-beta1-induced apoptosis in human HCC cells, and a possible tumor suppressor in hepatocarcinogenesis.

Extracellular matrix remodeling in hepatocellular carcinoma: effects of soil on seed?

Extracellular matrix plays two-edged roles, inhibitor and promoter, in the carcinogenesis and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma. On the one hand, extracellular matrix provides the survival signals, and controls the proliferation, differentiation and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma. On the other hand, hepatocarcinoma cells create a permissive soil by extracellular matrix remodeling, result in high proliferation, low differentiation, apoptosis block, invasion and metastasis. These malignant phenotypes are related with the change of the capsule around hepatocarcinoma cells that composed by collagens I and IV, the cell-extracellular matrix interaction induced by laminin and its receptor-integrins, and the degradation of ECM which is regulated by proteolytic enzymes and their inhibitor. Thus, normalization of ECM may represent a novel therapeutic strategy for hepatocarcinoma cells.

Synthetic fibronectin peptide exerts neuroprotective effects on transient focal brain ischemia in rats

Leukocytes have been investigated during the past decade for their roles in secondary tissue damage after ischemia/reperfusion injury. Peptide PRARIY, a synthetic fibronectin peptide, has shown an anti-adhesion effect in in vitro studies. Previous studies have demonstrated that anti-adhesion agents lead to reductions in apoptosis. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether the peptide PRARIY displays anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and neuroprotective effects following transient focal brain ischemia in rats. Twenty-six male Sprague-Dawley rats (300-350 g) were randomly divided into three groups: phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) controls, PRARI controls, and PRARIY treatments. The right middle cerebral artery was transiently occluded using a 4-0 nylon suture. One hour later, the occluder was withdrawn, and reperfusion was maintained for 48 h. Immediately after reperfusion, the peptides (20 mg/kg, dissolved in PBS) and the same volume of PBS were continuously infused through the right external carotid artery using an osmotic minipump for 24 h. Neurological deficits were examined at 3, 24, and 48 h after ischemia. Forty-eight hours after reperfusion, the rats were sacrificed for determining infarction size, leukocyte infiltration, and apoptosis in the ischemia area. Unexpectedly, PRARIY did not influence leukocyte infiltration. However, PRARIY-treated rats showed significantly functional outcome, reduction of infarction size, decrease of TUNEL positive cells, and increase of Bcl-2 (anti-apoptotic protein) positive cells in the ischemic areas when compared to the controls. These data indicate that the peptide PRARIY exerts its neuroprotective effects via supporting neural cell survival rather than anti-leukocyte recruitment following brain ischemia/reperfusion injury.