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Yang Z, Zhang P, Zhao Y, Guo R, Hu J, Wang Q, Zhao Z, Liu H, Lv S, Ren Z, Hu Y, Cui D. DRD4 promotes chemo-resistance and cancer stem cell-like phenotypes by mediating the activation of the Akt/β-catenin signaling axis in liver cancer. Br J Cancer 2024:10.1038/s41416-024-02811-7. [PMID: 39174739 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-024-02811-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 07/13/2024] [Accepted: 07/25/2024] [Indexed: 08/24/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Liver cancer stem cells (LCSCs) significantly impact chemo-resistance and recurrence in liver cancer. Dopamine receptor D4 (DRD4) is known to enhance the cancer stem cell (CSC) phenotype in glioblastoma and correlates with poor prognosis in some non-central nervous system tumors; however, its influence on LCSCs remains uncertain. METHODS To investigate the gene and protein expression profiles of DRD4 in LCSCs and non-LCSCs, we utilized transcriptome sequencing and Western blotting analysis. Bioinformatics analysis and immunohistochemistry were employed to assess the correlation between DRD4 expression levels and the pathological characteristics of liver cancer patients. The impact of DRD4 on LCSC phenotypes and signaling pathways were explored using pharmacological or gene-editing techniques. Additionally, the effect of DRD4 on the protein expression and intracellular localization of β-catenin were examined using Western blotting and immunofluorescence. RESULTS DRD4 expression is significantly elevated in LCSCs and correlates with short survival in liver cancer. The expression and activity of DRD4 are positive to resistance, self renewal and tumorigenicity in HCC. Mechanistically, DRD4 stabilizes β-catenin and promotes its entry into the nucleus via activating the PI3K/Akt/GSK-3β pathway, thereby enhancing LCSC phenotypes. CONCLUSIONS Inhibiting DRD4 expression and activation offers a promising targeted therapy for eradicating LCSCs and relieve chemo-resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengyan Yang
- Henan International Joint Laboratory for Nuclear Protein Regulation, Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, 475004, China
- Medical and Industrial Interdisciplinary Research Institute, Henan University, Kaifeng, 475004, China
| | - Pai Zhang
- Joint National Laboratory for Antibody Drug Engineering, Henan University, Kaifeng, 475004, China
- Genetics and Prenatal Diagnosis Department, Luoyang Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Luoyang, 471023, China
| | - Yiwei Zhao
- Henan International Joint Laboratory for Nuclear Protein Regulation, Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, 475004, China
- Joint National Laboratory for Antibody Drug Engineering, Henan University, Kaifeng, 475004, China
| | - Ran Guo
- Henan International Joint Laboratory for Nuclear Protein Regulation, Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, 475004, China
| | - Jinglin Hu
- Henan International Joint Laboratory for Nuclear Protein Regulation, Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, 475004, China
| | - Qi Wang
- Henan International Joint Laboratory for Nuclear Protein Regulation, Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, 475004, China
- Medical and Industrial Interdisciplinary Research Institute, Henan University, Kaifeng, 475004, China
| | - Zhi Zhao
- Henan University-affiliated Zhengzhou Yihe Hospital, Zhengzhou, 450000, China
| | - Handi Liu
- Henan International Joint Laboratory for Nuclear Protein Regulation, Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, 475004, China
| | - Shuangyu Lv
- Henan International Joint Laboratory for Nuclear Protein Regulation, Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, 475004, China
- Medical and Industrial Interdisciplinary Research Institute, Henan University, Kaifeng, 475004, China
| | - Zhiguang Ren
- Henan International Joint Laboratory for Nuclear Protein Regulation, Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, 475004, China.
- Medical and Industrial Interdisciplinary Research Institute, Henan University, Kaifeng, 475004, China.
- Key Laboratory of Clinical Resources Translation, The First Affiliated Hospital, Henan University, Kaifeng, 475004, China.
| | - Yanzhong Hu
- Joint National Laboratory for Antibody Drug Engineering, Henan University, Kaifeng, 475004, China.
| | - Daxiang Cui
- Medical and Industrial Interdisciplinary Research Institute, Henan University, Kaifeng, 475004, China.
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Heat-Shock Proteins in Leukemia and Lymphoma: Multitargets for Innovative Therapeutic Approaches. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15030984. [PMID: 36765939 PMCID: PMC9913431 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15030984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Heat-shock proteins (HSPs) are powerful chaperones that provide support for cellular functions under stress conditions but also for the homeostasis of basic cellular machinery. All cancer cells strongly rely on HSPs, as they must continuously adapt to internal but also microenvironmental stresses to survive. In solid tumors, HSPs have been described as helping to correct the folding of misfolded proteins, sustain oncogenic pathways, and prevent apoptosis. Leukemias and lymphomas also overexpress HSPs, which are frequently associated with resistance to therapy. HSPs have therefore been proposed as new therapeutic targets. Given the specific biology of hematological malignancies, it is essential to revise their role in this field, providing a more adaptable and comprehensive picture that would help design future clinical trials. To that end, this review will describe the different pathways and functions regulated by HSP27, HSP70, HSP90, and, not least, HSP110 in leukemias and lymphomas.
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