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Zhang X, Wang X, Jia L, Yang Y, Yang F, Xiao S. CtBP1 Mediates Hypoxia-Induced Sarcomatoid Transformation in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. J Hepatocell Carcinoma 2022; 9:57-67. [PMID: 35186805 PMCID: PMC8847960 DOI: 10.2147/jhc.s340471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Sarcomatoid hepatocellular carcinoma (sHCC), a highly aggressive subtype of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), mostly transforms from classical hepatocellular carcinoma (cHCC). The study intended to explore the role of C-terminal binding protein 1 (CtBP1) in sarcomatoid transformation of hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods Western blotting and/or immunohistochemistry were used to confirm the expression of CtBP1 and other proteins in HCC cells, xenografts and clinical tissue samples. CtBP1 shRNA-expressing lentivirus was used to infect HepG2 cells to construct CtBP1 knockdown cells. Cell migration was determined by scratch wound assays and Transwell assays. Immunofluorescence was used to label the a-tubulin cytoskeleton to evaluate cell morphology. HepG2 cells were inoculated subcutaneously in nude mice to construct xenografts and beneath the liver capsule to evaluate in vivo metastasis. Results Compared to that in the cHCC area, CtBP1 expression was significantly upregulated in the sHCC area, as shown by immunohistochemistry. HE staining showed that cells in the sHCC area were spindle-shaped, while those in the cHCC area were polygonal. Immunohistochemically, the epithelial markers pancytokeratin (CK) and E-cadherin were partially or completely lost, while the expression of the mesenchymal marker vimentin was upregulated in the sHCC area. Moreover, HepG2, an HCC cell line with high expression of CtBP1, autonomously underwent sarcomatoid transformation, showing a sarcomatoid morphology and phenotype. HIF1a expression was upregulated in epithelial cells adjacent to the sHCC area. Hypoxia upregulated CtBP1 protein expression and induced an EMT phenotype with increased migration and a spindle-shaped morphology in HepG2 cells. Knockdown of CtBP1 partially reversed the EMT phenotype induced by hypoxia. Silencing CtBP1 completely blocked the sarcomatoid transformation of subcutaneous xenografts and decreased lung metastasis in subcapsular xenografts of the liver in nude mice. Conclusion CtBP1 plays a key role in hypoxia-induced EMT and sarcomatoid transformation in HCC and could be a candidate target for the management of sHCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoling Zhang
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Science, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Microenvironmental Regulation of Guangxi, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, People’s Republic of China
- Xiaoling Zhang, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Science, Guilin Medical University, No. 1, Zhiyuan Road, Guilin, Guangxi Province, 541100, People’s Republic of China, Email
| | - Xiaoyu Wang
- Department of Pathology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, People’s Republic of China
| | - Liting Jia
- Department of Pathology, Affiliated Hospital of Hebei Engineering University, Handan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yang Yang
- Department of Pathology, General Hospital of Central Theater Command, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Fan Yang
- Department of Pathology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, People’s Republic of China
| | - Shengjun Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Microenvironmental Regulation of Guangxi, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Pathology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Pathology, Guangxi Health Commission Key Laboratory of Glucose and Lipid Metabolism Disorders, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, People’s Republic of China
- Correspondence: Shengjun Xiao, Department of Pathology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Guilin Medical University, No. 212, Renmin Road, Guilin, Guangxi Province, 541199, People’s Republic of China, Email
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Kreuzer M, Banerjee A, Birts CN, Darley M, Tavassoli A, Ivan M, Blaydes JP. Glycolysis, via NADH-dependent dimerisation of CtBPs, regulates hypoxia-induced expression of CAIX and stem-like breast cancer cell survival. FEBS Lett 2020; 594:2988-3001. [PMID: 32618367 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.13874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2019] [Revised: 06/12/2020] [Accepted: 06/17/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Adaptive responses to hypoxia are mediated by the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) family of transcription factors. These responses include the upregulation of glycolysis to maintain ATP production. This also generates acidic metabolites, which require HIF-induced carbonic anhydrase IX (CAIX) for their neutralisation. C-terminal binding proteins (CtBPs) are coregulators of gene transcription and couple glycolysis with gene transcription due to their regulation by the glycolytic coenzyme NADH. Here, we find that experimental manipulation of glycolysis and CtBP function in breast cancer cells through multiple complementary approaches supports a hypothesis whereby the expression of known HIF-inducible genes, and CAIX in particular, adapts to available glucose in the microenvironment through a mechanism involving CtBPs. This novel pathway promotes the survival of stem cell-like cancer (SCLC) cells in hypoxia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mira Kreuzer
- Cancer Sciences Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, Hants, UK.,Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, Hants, UK
| | - Arindam Banerjee
- Cancer Sciences Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, Hants, UK
| | - Charles N Birts
- Cancer Sciences Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, Hants, UK.,Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, Hants, UK
| | - Matthew Darley
- Cancer Sciences Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, Hants, UK
| | - Ali Tavassoli
- Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, Hants, UK.,School of Chemistry, University of Southampton, Southampton, Hants, UK
| | - Mircea Ivan
- Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Jeremy P Blaydes
- Cancer Sciences Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, Hants, UK.,Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, Hants, UK
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