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Zhang QY, Ding W, Mo JS, Ou-Yang SM, Lin ZY, Peng KR, Liu GP, Lu JJ, Yue PB, Lei JP, Wang YD, Zhang XL. Novel STAT3 oligonucleotide compounds suppress tumor growth and overcome the acquired resistance to sorafenib in hepatocellular carcinoma. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2024; 45:1701-1714. [PMID: 38609562 PMCID: PMC11272795 DOI: 10.1038/s41401-024-01261-4] [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: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) plays an important role in the occurrence and progression of tumors, leading to resistance and poor prognosis. Activation of STAT3 signaling is frequently detected in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but potent and less toxic STAT3 inhibitors have not been discovered. Here, based on antisense technology, we designed a series of stabilized modified antisense oligonucleotides targeting STAT3 mRNA (STAT3 ASOs). Treatment with STAT3 ASOs decreased the STAT3 mRNA and protein levels in HCC cells. STAT3 ASOs significantly inhibited the proliferation, survival, migration, and invasion of cancer cells by specifically perturbing STAT3 signaling. Treatment with STAT3 ASOs decreased the tumor burden in an HCC xenograft model. Moreover, aberrant STAT3 signaling activation is one of multiple signaling pathways involved in sorafenib resistance in HCC. STAT3 ASOs effectively sensitized resistant HCC cell lines to sorafenib in vitro and improved the inhibitory potency of sorafenib in a resistant HCC xenograft model. The developed STAT3 ASOs enrich the tools capable of targeting STAT3 and modulating STAT3 activity, serve as a promising strategy for treating HCC and other STAT3-addicted tumors, and alleviate the acquired resistance to sorafenib in HCC patients. A series of novel STAT3 antisense oligonucleotide were designed and showed potent anti-cancer efficacy in hepatocellular carcinoma in vitro and in vivo by targeting STAT3 signaling. Moreover, the selected STAT3 ASOs enhance sorafenib sensitivity in resistant cell model and xenograft model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi-Yi Zhang
- National-Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Druggability and New Drug Evaluation, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Chiral Molecule and Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Wen Ding
- National-Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Druggability and New Drug Evaluation, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Chiral Molecule and Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Jian-Shan Mo
- National-Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Druggability and New Drug Evaluation, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Chiral Molecule and Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Shu-Min Ou-Yang
- National-Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Druggability and New Drug Evaluation, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Chiral Molecule and Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Zi-You Lin
- National-Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Druggability and New Drug Evaluation, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Chiral Molecule and Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Ke-Ren Peng
- National-Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Druggability and New Drug Evaluation, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Chiral Molecule and Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Guo-Pin Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Jin-Jian Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China
| | - Pei-Bin Yue
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology-Oncology, and Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Jin-Ping Lei
- National-Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Druggability and New Drug Evaluation, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Chiral Molecule and Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Yan-Dong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510060, China.
| | - Xiao-Lei Zhang
- National-Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Druggability and New Drug Evaluation, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Chiral Molecule and Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
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Alzahrani MS, Almutairy B, Althobaiti YS, Alsaab HO. Recent Advances in RNA Interference-Based Therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Emphasis on siRNA. Cell Biochem Biophys 2024:10.1007/s12013-024-01395-6. [PMID: 38987439 DOI: 10.1007/s12013-024-01395-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/30/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024]
Abstract
Even though RNA treatments were first proposed as a way to change aberrant signaling in cancer, research in this field is currently ongoing. The term "RNAi" refers to the use of several RNAi technologies, including ribozymes, riboswitches, Aptamers, small interfering RNA (siRNA), antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs), and CRISPR/Cas9 technology. The siRNA therapy has already achieved a remarkable feat by revolutionizing the treatment arena of cancers. Unlike small molecules and antibodies, which need administration every three months or even every two years, RNAi may be given every quarter to attain therapeutic results. In order to overcome complex challenges, delivering siRNAs to the targeted tissues and cells effectively and safely and improving the effectiveness of siRNAs in terms of their action, stability, specificity, and potential adverse consequences are required. In this context, the three primary techniques of siRNA therapies for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are accomplished for inhibiting angiogenesis, decreasing cell proliferation, and promoting apoptosis, are discussed in this review. We also deliberate targeting issues, immunogenic reactions to siRNA therapy, and the difficulties with their intrinsic chemistry and transportation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad S Alzahrani
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif21944, Saudi Arabia
| | - Bandar Almutairy
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Shaqra University, Shaqra 11961, Saudi Arabia
| | - Yusuf S Althobaiti
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif21944, Saudi Arabia
- Addiction and Neuroscience Research Unit, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif21944, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hashem O Alsaab
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif21944, Saudi Arabia.
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Ali FEM, Abdel-Reheim MA, Hassanein EHM, Abd El-Aziz MK, Althagafy HS, Badran KSA. Exploring the potential of drug repurposing for liver diseases: A comprehensive study. Life Sci 2024; 347:122642. [PMID: 38641047 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2024.122642] [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: 02/09/2024] [Revised: 03/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/21/2024]
Abstract
Drug repurposing involves the investigation of existing drugs for new indications. It offers a great opportunity to quickly identify a new drug candidate at a lower cost than novel discovery and development. Despite the importance and potential role of drug repurposing, there is no specific definition that healthcare providers and the World Health Organization credit. Unfortunately, many similar and interchangeable concepts are being used in the literature, making it difficult to collect and analyze uniform data on repurposed drugs. This research was conducted based on understanding general criteria for drug repurposing, concentrating on liver diseases. Many drugs have been investigated for their effect on liver diseases even though they were originally approved (or on their way to being approved) for other diseases. Some of the hypotheses for drug repurposing were first captured from the literature and then processed further to test the hypothesis. Recently, with the revolution in bioinformatics techniques, scientists have started to use drug libraries and computer systems that can analyze hundreds of drugs to give a short list of candidates to be analyzed pharmacologically. However, this study revealed that drug repurposing is a potential aid that may help deal with liver diseases. It provides available or under-investigated drugs that could help treat hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, Wilson disease, liver cancer, and fatty liver. However, many further studies are needed to ensure the efficacy of these drugs on a large scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fares E M Ali
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, Assiut 71524, Egypt; Michael Sayegh, Faculty of Pharmacy, Aqaba University of Technology, Aqaba 77110, Jordan
| | - Mustafa Ahmed Abdel-Reheim
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Shaqra University, Shaqra 11961, Saudi Arabia; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Beni-Suef University, Beni Suef 62521, Egypt.
| | - Emad H M Hassanein
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, Assiut 71524, Egypt.
| | - Mostafa K Abd El-Aziz
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, Assiut 71524, Egypt
| | - Hanan S Althagafy
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Jeddah, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Khalid S A Badran
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, Assiut 71524, Egypt
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Molenda S, Sikorska A, Florczak A, Lorenc P, Dams-Kozlowska H. Oligonucleotide-Based Therapeutics for STAT3 Targeting in Cancer-Drug Carriers Matter. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:5647. [PMID: 38067351 PMCID: PMC10705165 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15235647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2024] Open
Abstract
High expression and phosphorylation of signal transducer and transcription activator 3 (STAT3) are correlated with progression and poor prognosis in various types of cancer. The constitutive activation of STAT3 in cancer affects processes such as cell proliferation, apoptosis, metastasis, angiogenesis, and drug resistance. The importance of STAT3 in cancer makes it a potential therapeutic target. Various methods of directly and indirectly blocking STAT3 activity at different steps of the STAT3 pathway have been investigated. However, the outcome has been limited, mainly by the number of upstream proteins that can reactivate STAT3 or the relatively low specificity of the inhibitors. A new branch of molecules with significant therapeutic potential has emerged thanks to recent developments in the regulatory function of non-coding nucleic acids. Oligonucleotide-based therapeutics can silence target transcripts or edit genes, leading to the modification of gene expression profiles, causing cell death or restoring cell function. Moreover, they can reach untreatable targets, such as transcription factors. This review briefly describes oligonucleotide-based therapeutics that found application to target STAT3 activity in cancer. Additionally, this review comprehensively summarizes how the inhibition of STAT3 activity by nucleic acid-based therapeutics such as siRNA, shRNA, ASO, and ODN-decoy affected the therapy of different types of cancer in preclinical and clinical studies. Moreover, due to some limitations of oligonucleotide-based therapeutics, the importance of carriers that can deliver nucleic acid molecules to affect the STAT3 in cancer cells and cells of the tumor microenvironment (TME) was pointed out. Combining a high specificity of oligonucleotide-based therapeutics toward their targets and functionalized nanoparticles toward cell type can generate very efficient formulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Molenda
- Department of Cancer Immunology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 15 Garbary St., 61-866 Poznan, Poland; (S.M.); (A.S.); (A.F.); (P.L.)
- Department of Diagnostics and Cancer Immunology, Greater Poland Cancer Centre, 15 Garbary St., 61-866 Poznan, Poland
| | - Agata Sikorska
- Department of Cancer Immunology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 15 Garbary St., 61-866 Poznan, Poland; (S.M.); (A.S.); (A.F.); (P.L.)
- Department of Diagnostics and Cancer Immunology, Greater Poland Cancer Centre, 15 Garbary St., 61-866 Poznan, Poland
| | - Anna Florczak
- Department of Cancer Immunology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 15 Garbary St., 61-866 Poznan, Poland; (S.M.); (A.S.); (A.F.); (P.L.)
- Department of Diagnostics and Cancer Immunology, Greater Poland Cancer Centre, 15 Garbary St., 61-866 Poznan, Poland
| | - Patryk Lorenc
- Department of Cancer Immunology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 15 Garbary St., 61-866 Poznan, Poland; (S.M.); (A.S.); (A.F.); (P.L.)
- Department of Diagnostics and Cancer Immunology, Greater Poland Cancer Centre, 15 Garbary St., 61-866 Poznan, Poland
| | - Hanna Dams-Kozlowska
- Department of Cancer Immunology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 15 Garbary St., 61-866 Poznan, Poland; (S.M.); (A.S.); (A.F.); (P.L.)
- Department of Diagnostics and Cancer Immunology, Greater Poland Cancer Centre, 15 Garbary St., 61-866 Poznan, Poland
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Tang S, Xu B, Pang H, Xiao L, Mei Q, He X. Ozonated Water Inhibits Hepatocellular Carcinoma Invasion and Metastasis by Regulating the HMGB1/NF-κB/STAT3 Signaling Pathway. J Hepatocell Carcinoma 2023; 10:203-215. [PMID: 36798740 PMCID: PMC9926998 DOI: 10.2147/jhc.s394074] [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: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the deadliest cancers worldwide. High-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), a highly conserved chromosome protein, is considered as a potential therapeutic target and novel biomarker because of its regulation in the proliferation and metastasis of HCC. Ozone has been shown to be beneficial in the treatment of cancer. The objective of this study was to explore the effects and molecular mechanism of ozonated water on the proliferation, migration, and invasion of BEL7402 HCC cells. Materials and Methods We assessed cell proliferation using a CCK-8 assay kit and flow cytometry; we performed wound healing and transwell assays to evaluate the effects of ozonated water treatment on cell invasion and migration. We determined reactive oxygen species (ROS) values by flow cytometry and used ELISAs to detect cytokines HMGB1, IL-6, and TNF-α. In addition, we assessed mRNA and protein cytokine expressions using RT-qPCR and Western blot. Results Ozonated water decreased the viability of the HCC cells; the IC50 of ozonated water at 24 h was approximately 1.5 μg/mL. Compared with control groups, ozone treated cells revealed reduced mobility on wound healing assays and decreased invasion in transwell assays. HMGB1, IL-6, and TNF-α cytokines were found at lower levels in ozone treated cells than in control cells. Ozonated water-induced ROS accumulation. Likewise, the expressions of phosphorylated nuclear factor Kappa B (NF-κB), p65, NF-κB, P-STAT3, IL-6, JAK2, Slug, Twist, vimentin, MMP-2, MMP-9, and HMGB1 were decreased in the treated cells. Conclusion Our findings suggest that ozonated water inhibits the proliferation, invasion, and metastasis of HCC cells via regulation of the HMGB1/NF-κB/STAT3 signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuiying Tang
- Division of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Department of General Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, People’s Republic of China
| | - Bihong Xu
- Interventional Radiology and Pathology, Nanfang Hospital, Department of Pathology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, People’s Republic of China
| | - Huajin Pang
- Division of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Department of General Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, People’s Republic of China
| | - Lijun Xiao
- Division of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Department of General Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, People’s Republic of China
| | - Quelin Mei
- Division of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Department of General Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiaofeng He
- Division of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Department of General Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, People’s Republic of China,Correspondence: Xiaofeng He, Email
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Quiroz Reyes AG, Lozano Sepulveda SA, Martinez-Acuña N, Islas JF, Gonzalez PD, Heredia Torres TG, Perez JR, Garza Treviño EN. Cancer Stem Cell and Hepatic Stellate Cells in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Technol Cancer Res Treat 2023; 22:15330338231163677. [PMID: 36938618 PMCID: PMC10028642 DOI: 10.1177/15330338231163677] [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] [Indexed: 03/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common liver cancer. It is highly lethal and has high recurrence. Death among HCC patients occur mainly due to tumor progression, recurrence, metastasis, and chemoresistance. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are cell subpopulations within the tumor that promote invasion, recurrence, metastasis, and drug resistance. Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are important components of the tumor microenvironment (TME) responsible for primary secretory ECM proteins during liver injury and inflammation. These cells promote fibrogenesis, infiltrate the tumor stroma, and contribute to HCC development. Interactions between HSC and CSC and their microenvironment help promote carcinogenesis through different mechanisms. This review summarizes the roles of CSCs and HSCs in establishing the TME in primary liver tumors and describes their involvement in HCC chemoresistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana G Quiroz Reyes
- Facultad de Medicina, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, 27771Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon, Monterrey, Mexico
| | - Sonia A Lozano Sepulveda
- Facultad de Medicina, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, 27771Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon, Monterrey, Mexico
| | - Natalia Martinez-Acuña
- Facultad de Medicina, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, 27771Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon, Monterrey, Mexico
| | - Jose F Islas
- Facultad de Medicina, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, 27771Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon, Monterrey, Mexico
| | - Paulina Delgado Gonzalez
- Facultad de Medicina, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, 27771Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon, Monterrey, Mexico
| | - Tania Guadalupe Heredia Torres
- Facultad de Medicina, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, 27771Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon, Monterrey, Mexico
| | - Jorge Roacho Perez
- Facultad de Medicina, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, 27771Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon, Monterrey, Mexico
| | - Elsa N Garza Treviño
- Facultad de Medicina, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, 27771Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon, Monterrey, Mexico
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Lu K, Fan Q, Zou X. Antisense oligonucleotide is a promising intervention for liver diseases. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:1061842. [PMID: 36569303 PMCID: PMC9780395 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.1061842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
As the body's critical metabolic organ, the liver plays an essential role in maintaining proper body homeostasis. However, as people's living standards have improved and the number of unhealthy lifestyles has increased, the liver has become overburdened. These have made liver disease one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Under the influence of adverse factors, liver disease progresses from simple steatosis to hepatitis, to liver fibrosis, and finally to cirrhosis and cancer, followed by increased mortality. Until now, there has been a lack of accepted effective treatments for liver disease. Based on current research, antisense oligonucleotide (ASO), as an alternative intervention for liver diseases, is expected to be an effective treatment due to its high efficiency, low toxicity, low dosage, strong specificity, and additional positive characteristics. In this review, we will first introduce the design, modification, delivery, and the mechanisms of ASO, and then summarize the application of ASO in liver disease treatment, including in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), hepatitis, liver fibrosis, and liver cancer. Finally, we discuss challenges and perspectives on the transfer of ASO drugs into clinical use. This review provides a current and comprehensive understanding of the integrative and systematic functions of ASO for its use in liver disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kailing Lu
- College of Chinese Materia Medica and Yunnan Key Laboratory of Southern Medicinal Utilization, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Qijing Fan
- Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Xiaoju Zou
- College of Chinese Materia Medica and Yunnan Key Laboratory of Southern Medicinal Utilization, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming, Yunnan, China,*Correspondence: Xiaoju Zou,
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Abu El-Makarem MA, Kamel MF, Mohamed AA, Ali HA, Mohamed MR, Mohamed AEDM, El-Said AM, Ameen MG, Hassnine AA, Hassan HA. Down-regulation of hepatic expression of GHR/STAT5/IGF-1 signaling pathway fosters development and aggressiveness of HCV-related hepatocellular carcinoma: Crosstalk with Snail-1 and type 2 transforming growth factor-beta receptor. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0277266. [PMID: 36374927 PMCID: PMC9662744 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0277266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and aims So far, few clinical trials are available concerning the role of growth hormone receptor (GHR)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 (STAT5)/insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) axis in hepatocarcinogenesis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the hepatic expression of GHR/STAT5/IGF-1 signaling pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients and to correlate the results with the clinico-pathological features and disease outcome. The interaction between this signaling pathway and some inducers of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), namely Snail-1 and type 2 transforming growth factor-beta receptor (TGFBR2) was studied too. Material and methods A total of 40 patients with HCV-associated HCC were included in this study. They were compared to 40 patients with HCV-related cirrhosis without HCC, and 20 healthy controls. The hepatic expression of GHR, STAT5, IGF-1, Snail-1 and TGFBR2 proteins were assessed by immunohistochemistry. Results Compared with cirrhotic patients without HCC and healthy controls, cirrhotic patients with HCC had significantly lower hepatic expression of GHR, STAT5, and IGF-1proteins. They also displayed significantly lower hepatic expression of TGFBR2, but higher expression of Snail-1 versus the non-HCC cirrhotic patients and controls. Serum levels of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) showed significant negative correlations with hepatic expression of GHR (r = -0.31; p = 0.029) and STAT5 (r = -0.29; p = 0.04). Hepatic expression of Snail-1 also showed negative correlations with GHR, STAT5, and IGF-1 expression (r = -0.55, p = 0.02; r = -0.472, p = 0.035, and r = -0.51, p = 0.009, respectively), whereas, hepatic expression of TGFBR2 was correlated positively with the expression of all these proteins (r = 0.47, p = 0.034; 0.49, p = 0.023, and r = 0.57, p<0.001, respectively). Moreover, we reported that decreased expression of GHR was significantly associated with serum AFP level>100 ng/ml (p = 0.048), increased tumor size (p = 0.02), vascular invasion (p = 0.002), and advanced pathological stage (p = 0.01). Similar significant associations were found between down-regulation of STAT5 expression and AFP level > 100 ng/ml (p = 0.006), vascular invasion (p = 0.009), and advanced tumor stage (p = 0.007). Also, attenuated expression of IGF-1 showed a significant association with vascular invasion (p < 0.001). Intriguingly, we detected that lower expression of GHR, STAT5 and IGF-1 were considered independent predictors for worse outcome in HCC. Conclusion Decreased expression of GHR/STAT5/IGF-1 signaling pathway may have a role in development, aggressiveness, and worse outcome of HCV-associated HCC irrespective of the liver functional status. Snail-1 and TGFBR2 as inducers of EMT may be key players. However, large prospective multicenter studies are needed to validate these results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mona A. Abu El-Makarem
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Minia University, Minia, Egypt
- * E-mail:
| | - Mariana F. Kamel
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Minia University, Minia, Egypt
- Department of Pathology, Minia Oncology Center, Minia, Egypt
| | - Ahmed A. Mohamed
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Minia University, Minia, Egypt
| | - Hisham A. Ali
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Minia University, Minia, Egypt
| | - Mahmoud R. Mohamed
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Minia University, Minia, Egypt
| | | | - Ahmed M. El-Said
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Minia University, Minia, Egypt
| | - Mahmoud G. Ameen
- Department of Pathology, South Egypt Cancer Institute, Assuit University, Assuit, Egypt
| | - Alshymaa A. Hassnine
- Department of Tropical Medicine and Gastroenterology, School of Medicine, Minia University, Minia, Egypt
| | - Hatem A. Hassan
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Minia University, Minia, Egypt
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Makino Y, Hikita H, Kato S, Sugiyama M, Shigekawa M, Sakamoto T, Sasaki Y, Murai K, Sakane S, Kodama T, Sakamori R, Kobayashi S, Eguchi H, Takemura N, Kokudo N, Yokoi H, Mukoyama M, Tatsumi T, Takehara T. STAT3 is Activated by CTGF-mediated Tumor-stroma Cross Talk to Promote HCC Progression. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol 2022; 15:99-119. [PMID: 36210625 PMCID: PMC9672888 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmgh.2022.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Revised: 09/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is known as a pro-oncogenic transcription factor. Regarding liver carcinogenesis, however, it remains controversial whether activated STAT3 is pro- or anti-tumorigenic. This study aimed to clarify the significance and mechanism of STAT3 activation in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS Hepatocyte-specific Kras-mutant mice (Alb-Cre KrasLSL-G12D/+; KrasG12D mice) were used as a liver cancer model. Cell lines of hepatoma and stromal cells including stellate cells, macrophages, T cells, and endothelial cells were used for culture. Surgically resected 12 HCCs were used for human analysis. RESULTS Tumors in KrasG12D mice showed up-regulation of phosphorylated STAT3 (p-STAT3), together with interleukin (IL)-6 family cytokines, STAT3 target genes, and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF). Hepatocyte-specific STAT3 knockout (Alb-Cre KrasLSL-G12D/+ STAT3fl/fl) downregulated p-STAT3 and CTGF and suppressed tumor progression. In coculture with stromal cells, proliferation, and expression of p-STAT3 and CTGF, were enhanced in hepatoma cells via gp130/STAT3 signaling. Meanwhile, hepatoma cells produced CTGF to stimulate integrin/nuclear factor kappa B signaling and up-regulate IL-6 family cytokines from stromal cells, which could in turn activate gp130/STAT3 signaling in hepatoma cells. In KrasG12D mice, hepatocyte-specific CTGF knockout (Alb-Cre KrasLSL-G12D/+ CTGFfl/fl) downregulated p-STAT3, CTGF, and IL-6 family cytokines, and suppressed tumor progression. In human HCC, single cell RNA sequence showed CTGF and IL-6 family cytokine expression in tumor cells and stromal cells, respectively. CTGF expression was positively correlated with that of IL-6 family cytokines and STAT3 target genes in The Cancer Genome Atlas. CONCLUSIONS STAT3 is activated by CTGF-mediated tumor-stroma crosstalk to promote HCC progression. STAT3-CTGF positive feedback loop could be a therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuki Makino
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Hayato Hikita
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Seiya Kato
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Masaya Sugiyama
- Genome Medical Sciences Project, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Ichikawa, Japan
| | - Minoru Shigekawa
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Tatsuya Sakamoto
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yoichi Sasaki
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Murai
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Sadatsugu Sakane
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Takahiro Kodama
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Ryotaro Sakamori
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Shogo Kobayashi
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Hidetoshi Eguchi
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Nobuyuki Takemura
- Department of Surgery, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Norihiro Kokudo
- Department of Surgery, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hideki Yokoi
- Department of Nephrology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Masashi Mukoyama
- Department of Nephrology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan; Department of Nephrology, Kumamoto University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Tomohide Tatsumi
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Tetsuo Takehara
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.
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10
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RNA splicing: a dual-edged sword for hepatocellular carcinoma. MEDICAL ONCOLOGY (NORTHWOOD, LONDON, ENGLAND) 2022; 39:173. [PMID: 35972700 DOI: 10.1007/s12032-022-01726-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 10/15/2022]
Abstract
RNA splicing is the fundamental process that brings diversity at the transcriptome and proteome levels. The spliceosome complex regulates minor and major processes of RNA splicing. Aberrant regulation is often associated with different diseases, including diabetes, stroke, hypertension, and cancer. In the majority of cancers, dysregulated alternative RNA splicing (ARS) events directly affect tumor progression, invasiveness, and often lead to poor survival of the patients. Alike the rest of the gastrointestinal malignancies, in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which alone contributes to ~ 75% of the liver cancers, a large number of ARS events have been observed, including intron retention, exon skipping, presence of alternative 3'-splice site (3'SS), and alternative 5'-splice site (5'SS). These events are reported in spliceosome and non-spliceosome complexes genes. Molecules such as MCL1, Bcl-X, and BCL2 in different isoforms can behave as anti-apoptotic or pro-apoptotic, making the spliceosome complex a dual-edged sword. The anti-apoptotic isoforms of such molecules bring in resistance to chemotherapy or cornerstone drugs. However, in contrast, multiple malignant tumors, including HCC that target the pro-apoptotic favoring isoforms/variants favor apoptotic induction and make chemotherapy effective. Herein, we discuss different splicing events, aberrations, and antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) in modulating RNA splicing in HCC tumorigenesis with a possible therapeutic outcome.
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11
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Prete F, Rotelli M, Stella A, Calculli G, Sgaramella LI, Amati A, Resta N, Testini M, Gurrado A. Intraabdominal sporadic desmoid tumors and inflammation: an updated literature review and presentation and insights on pathogenesis of synchronous sporadic mesenteric desmoid tumors occurring after surgery for necrotizing pancreatitis. Clin Exp Med 2022:10.1007/s10238-022-00849-6. [PMID: 35913675 DOI: 10.1007/s10238-022-00849-6] [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: 03/05/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Sporadic intra-abdominal desmoid tumors are rare and known to potentially occur after trauma including previous surgery, although knowledge of the underlying pathogenetic mechanism is still limited. We reviewed the recent literature on sporadic intraabdominal desmoids and inflammation as we investigated the mutational and epigenetic makeup of a case of multiple synchronous mesenterial desmoids occurring after necrotizing pancreatitis. A 62-year-old man had four mesenteric masses up to 4.8 cm diameter detected on CT eighteen months after laparotomy for peripancreatic collections from necrotizing pancreatitis. All tumors were excised and diagnosed as mesenteric desmoids. DNA from peripheral blood was tested for a multigene panel. The tumour DNA was screened for three most frequent β-catenin gene mutations T41A, S45F and S45P. Expression levels of miR-21-3p and miR-197-3-p were compared between the desmoid tumors and other wild-type sporadic desmoids. The T41A CTNNB1 mutation was present in all four desmoid tumors. miR-21-3p and miR-197-3p were respectively upregulated and down-regulated in the mutated sporadic mesenteric desmoids, with respect to wild-type lesions. The patient is free from recurrence 34 months post-surgery. The literature review did not show similar studies. To our knowledge, this is the first study to interrogate genetic and epigenetic signature of multiple intraabdominal desmoids to investigate potential association with abdominal inflammation following surgery for necrotizing pancreatitis. We found mutational and epigenetic features that hint at potential activation of inflammation pathways within the desmoid tumor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Prete
- Academic General Surgery Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, University of Bari "Aldo Moro" Medical School, 11, Piazza Giulio Cesare, 70124, Bari, Italy.
| | - MariaTeresa Rotelli
- General Surgery and Liver Transplantation Unit, Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation, University of Bari "Aldo Moro" Medical School, Bari, Italy
| | - Alessandro Stella
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, University of Bari "Aldo Moro" Medical School, Bari, Italy
| | - Giovanna Calculli
- Academic General Surgery Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, University of Bari "Aldo Moro" Medical School, 11, Piazza Giulio Cesare, 70124, Bari, Italy
| | - Lucia Ilaria Sgaramella
- Academic General Surgery Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, University of Bari "Aldo Moro" Medical School, 11, Piazza Giulio Cesare, 70124, Bari, Italy
| | - Antonio Amati
- Division of Pathology, Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation, University of Bari "Aldo Moro" Medical School, Bari, Italy
| | - Nicoletta Resta
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, University of Bari "Aldo Moro" Medical School, Bari, Italy
| | - Mario Testini
- Academic General Surgery Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, University of Bari "Aldo Moro" Medical School, 11, Piazza Giulio Cesare, 70124, Bari, Italy
| | - Angela Gurrado
- Academic General Surgery Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, University of Bari "Aldo Moro" Medical School, 11, Piazza Giulio Cesare, 70124, Bari, Italy
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12
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Wang H, Man Q, Huo F, Gao X, Lin H, Li S, Wang J, Su F, Cai, L, Shi Y, Liu, B, Bu L. STAT3 pathway in cancers: Past, present, and future. MedComm (Beijing) 2022; 3:e124. [PMID: 35356799 PMCID: PMC8942302 DOI: 10.1002/mco2.124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Revised: 02/13/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), a member of the STAT family, discovered in the cytoplasm of almost all types of mammalian cells, plays a significant role in biological functions. The duration of STAT3 activation in normal tissues is a transient event and is strictly regulated. However, in cancer tissues, STAT3 is activated in an aberrant manner and is induced by certain cytokines. The continuous activation of STAT3 regulates the expression of downstream proteins associated with the formation, progression, and metastasis of cancers. Thus, elucidating the mechanisms of STAT3 regulation and designing inhibitors targeting the STAT3 pathway are considered promising strategies for cancer treatment. This review aims to introduce the history, research advances, and prospects concerning the STAT3 pathway in cancer. We review the mechanisms of STAT3 pathway regulation and the consequent cancer hallmarks associated with tumor biology that are induced by the STAT3 pathway. Moreover, we summarize the emerging development of inhibitors that target the STAT3 pathway and novel drug delivery systems for delivering these inhibitors. The barriers against targeting the STAT3 pathway, the focus of future research on promising targets in the STAT3 pathway, and our perspective on the overall utility of STAT3 pathway inhibitors in cancer treatment are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han‐Qi Wang
- The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology (Hubei‐MOST) & Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of EducationSchool & Hospital of StomatologyWuhan UniversityWuhanChina
| | - Qi‐Wen Man
- The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology (Hubei‐MOST) & Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of EducationSchool & Hospital of StomatologyWuhan UniversityWuhanChina
- Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Head Neck OncologySchool & Hospital of StomatologyWuhan UniversityWuhanChina
| | - Fang‐Yi Huo
- The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology (Hubei‐MOST) & Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of EducationSchool & Hospital of StomatologyWuhan UniversityWuhanChina
| | - Xin Gao
- The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology (Hubei‐MOST) & Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of EducationSchool & Hospital of StomatologyWuhan UniversityWuhanChina
| | - Hao Lin
- The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology (Hubei‐MOST) & Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of EducationSchool & Hospital of StomatologyWuhan UniversityWuhanChina
| | - Su‐Ran Li
- The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology (Hubei‐MOST) & Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of EducationSchool & Hospital of StomatologyWuhan UniversityWuhanChina
| | - Jing Wang
- The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology (Hubei‐MOST) & Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of EducationSchool & Hospital of StomatologyWuhan UniversityWuhanChina
| | - Fu‐Chuan Su
- The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology (Hubei‐MOST) & Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of EducationSchool & Hospital of StomatologyWuhan UniversityWuhanChina
| | - Lulu Cai,
- Personalized Drug Therapy Key Laboratory of Sichuan ProvinceDepartment of PharmacySchool of MedicineSichuan Provincial People's HospitalUniversity of Electronic Science and Technology of ChinaChengduChina
| | - Yi Shi
- Sichuan Provincial Key Laboratory for Human Disease Gene Study and Department of Laboratory MedicineSichuan Provincial People's HospitalUniversity of Electronic Science and Technology of ChinaChengduChina
| | - Bing Liu,
- The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology (Hubei‐MOST) & Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of EducationSchool & Hospital of StomatologyWuhan UniversityWuhanChina
- Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Head Neck OncologySchool & Hospital of StomatologyWuhan UniversityWuhanChina
| | - Lin‐Lin Bu
- The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology (Hubei‐MOST) & Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of EducationSchool & Hospital of StomatologyWuhan UniversityWuhanChina
- Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Head Neck OncologySchool & Hospital of StomatologyWuhan UniversityWuhanChina
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13
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Sartorius K, Antwi SO, Chuturgoon A, Roberts LR, Kramvis A. RNA Therapeutic Options to Manage Aberrant Signaling Pathways in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Dream or Reality? Front Oncol 2022; 12:891812. [PMID: 35600358 PMCID: PMC9115561 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.891812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the early promise of RNA therapeutics as a magic bullet to modulate aberrant signaling in cancer, this field remains a work-in-progress. Nevertheless, RNA therapeutics is now a reality for the treatment of viral diseases (COVID-19) and offers great promise for cancer. This review paper specifically investigates RNAi as a therapeutic option for HCC and discusses a range of RNAi technology including anti-sense oligonucleotides (ASOs), Aptamers, small interfering RNA (siRNA), ribozymes, riboswitches and CRISPR/Cas9 technology. The use of these RNAi based interventions is specifically outlined in three primary strategies, namely, repressing angiogenesis, the suppression of cell proliferation and the promotion of apoptosis. We also discuss some of the inherent chemical and delivery problems, as well as targeting issues and immunogenic reaction to RNAi interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kurt Sartorius
- Hepatitis Virus Diversity Research Unit, School of Internal Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.,The Africa Hepatopancreatobiliary Cancer Consortium (AHPBCC), Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, United States.,Department of Surgery, KZN Kwazulu-Natal (UKZN) Gastrointestinal Cancer Research Centre, Durban, South Africa
| | - Samuel O Antwi
- The Africa Hepatopancreatobiliary Cancer Consortium (AHPBCC), Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, United States.,Division of Epidemiology, Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, United States
| | - Anil Chuturgoon
- Discipline of Medical Biochemistry, School of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Sciences, College of Health Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Lewis R Roberts
- The Africa Hepatopancreatobiliary Cancer Consortium (AHPBCC), Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, United States.,Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Anna Kramvis
- Hepatitis Virus Diversity Research Unit, School of Internal Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
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14
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Pan F, Lin XR, Hao LP, Chu XY, Wan HJ, Wang R. The Role of RNA Methyltransferase METTL3 in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Results and Perspectives. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:674919. [PMID: 34046411 PMCID: PMC8144501 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.674919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the 6th most prevalent cancer and the 4th leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Mechanisms explaining the carcinogenesis of HCC are not clear yet. In recent years, rapid development of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification provides a fresh approach to disclosing this mystery. As the most prevalent mRNA modification in eukaryotes, m6A modification is capable to post-transcriptionally affect RNA splicing, stability, and translation, thus participating in a variety of biological and pathological processes including cell proliferation, apoptosis, tumor invasion and metastasis. METTL3 has been recognized as a pivotal methyltransferase and essential to the performance of m6A modification. METTL3 can regulate RNA expression in a m6A-dependent manner and contribute to the carcinogenesis, tumor progression, and drug resistance of HCC. In the present review, we are going to make a clear summary of the known roles of METTL3 in HCC, and explicitly narrate the potential mechanisms for these roles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fan Pan
- Department of Medical Oncology, Affiliated Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xin-Rong Lin
- Department of Medical Oncology, Affiliated Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Li-Ping Hao
- Department of Medical Oncology, Affiliated Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiao-Yuan Chu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Affiliated Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Hai-Jun Wan
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Affiliated Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Rui Wang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Affiliated Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
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15
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Shen Z, Liu B, Wu B, Zhou H, Wang X, Cao J, Jiang M, Zhou Y, Guo F, Xue C, Wu ZS. FMRP regulates STAT3 mRNA localization to cellular protrusions and local translation to promote hepatocellular carcinoma metastasis. Commun Biol 2021; 4:540. [PMID: 33972660 PMCID: PMC8110961 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-02071-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2019] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Most hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)-associated mortalities are related to the metastasis of cancer cells. The localization of mRNAs and their products to cell protrusions has been reported to play a crucial role in the metastasis. Our previous findings demonstrated that STAT3 mRNA accumulated in the protrusions of metastatic HCC cells. However, the underlying mechanism and functional significance of this localization of STAT3 mRNA has remained unexplored. Here we show that fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP) modulates the localization and translation of STAT3 mRNA, accelerating HCC metastasis. The results of molecular analyses reveal that the 3′UTR of STAT3 mRNA is responsible for the localization of STAT3 mRNA to cell protrusions. FMRP is able to interact with the 3′UTR of STAT3 mRNA and facilitates its localization to protrusions. Importantly, FMRP could promote the IL-6-mediated translation of STAT3, and serine 114 of FMRP is identified as a potential phosphorylation site required for IL-6-mediated STAT3 translation. Furthermore, FMRP is highly expressed in HCC tissues and FMRP knockdown efficiently suppresses HCC metastasis in vitro and in vivo. Collectively, our findings provide further insights into the mechanism of HCC metastasis associated with the regulation of STAT3 mRNA localization and translation. Shen et al. propose a mechanism for the metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells through the localization and translation modulation of the STAT3 oncogene by fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP). To this end, the authors also find that FMRP knockdown efficiently suppresses HCC metastasis in vitro and in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhifa Shen
- Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Ministry of Education of China, and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China. .,Cancer Metastasis Alert and Prevention Center, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Cancer Metastasis Chemoprevention and Chemotherapy, National & Local Joint Biomedical Engineering Research Center on Photodynamic Technologies, State Key Laboratory of Photocatalysis on Energy and Environment, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, China.
| | - Bowen Liu
- Research Center for Molecular Oncology and Functional Nucleic Acids, School of Laboratory Medicine, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan, China
| | - Biting Wu
- Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Ministry of Education of China, and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Hongyin Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Ministry of Education of China, and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Xiangyun Wang
- Research Center for Molecular Oncology and Functional Nucleic Acids, School of Laboratory Medicine, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan, China
| | - Jinling Cao
- Research Center for Molecular Oncology and Functional Nucleic Acids, School of Laboratory Medicine, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan, China
| | - Min Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Ministry of Education of China, and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Yingying Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Ministry of Education of China, and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Feixia Guo
- Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Ministry of Education of China, and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Chang Xue
- Cancer Metastasis Alert and Prevention Center, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Cancer Metastasis Chemoprevention and Chemotherapy, National & Local Joint Biomedical Engineering Research Center on Photodynamic Technologies, State Key Laboratory of Photocatalysis on Energy and Environment, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Zai-Sheng Wu
- Cancer Metastasis Alert and Prevention Center, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Cancer Metastasis Chemoprevention and Chemotherapy, National & Local Joint Biomedical Engineering Research Center on Photodynamic Technologies, State Key Laboratory of Photocatalysis on Energy and Environment, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, China.
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16
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Wang H, Hou W, Perera A, Bettler C, Beach JR, Ding X, Li J, Denning MF, Dhanarajan A, Cotler SJ, Joyce C, Yin J, Ahmed F, Roberts LR, Qiu W. Targeting EphA2 suppresses hepatocellular carcinoma initiation and progression by dual inhibition of JAK1/STAT3 and AKT signaling. Cell Rep 2021; 34:108765. [PMID: 33626345 PMCID: PMC7954228 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.108765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2020] [Revised: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains one of the deadliest malignancies worldwide. One major obstacle to treatment is a lack of effective molecular-targeted therapies. In this study, we find that EphA2 expression and signaling are enriched in human HCC and associated with poor prognosis. Loss of EphA2 suppresses the initiation and growth of HCC both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, CRISPR/CAS9-mediated EphA2 inhibition significantly delays tumor development in a genetically engineered murine model of HCC. Mechanistically, we discover that targeting EphA2 suppresses both AKT and JAK1/STAT3 signaling, two separate oncogenic pathways in HCC. We also identify a small molecule kinase inhibitor of EphA2 that suppresses tumor progression in a murine HCC model. Together, our results suggest EphA2 as a promising therapeutic target for HCC.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology
- Benzamides/pharmacology
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/drug therapy
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/enzymology
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/genetics
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/pathology
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Databases, Genetic
- Female
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
- Humans
- Janus Kinase 1/genetics
- Janus Kinase 1/metabolism
- Liver Neoplasms/drug therapy
- Liver Neoplasms/enzymology
- Liver Neoplasms/genetics
- Liver Neoplasms/pathology
- Male
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Molecular Targeted Therapy
- Niacinamide/analogs & derivatives
- Niacinamide/pharmacology
- Phosphorylation
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism
- Receptor, EphA2/antagonists & inhibitors
- Receptor, EphA2/genetics
- Receptor, EphA2/metabolism
- Retrospective Studies
- STAT3 Transcription Factor/genetics
- STAT3 Transcription Factor/metabolism
- Signal Transduction
- Tumor Burden/drug effects
- Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
- Mice
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Wang
- Department of Surgery, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, IL, USA; Department of Cancer Biology, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, IL, USA
| | - Wei Hou
- Department of Surgery, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, IL, USA; Department of Cancer Biology, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, IL, USA
| | - Aldeb Perera
- Department of Surgery, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, IL, USA; Department of Cancer Biology, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, IL, USA
| | - Carlee Bettler
- Department of Surgery, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, IL, USA; Department of Cancer Biology, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, IL, USA
| | - Jordan R Beach
- Department of Cell and Molecular Physiology, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, IL, USA
| | - Xianzhong Ding
- Department of Pathology, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, IL, USA
| | - Jun Li
- Department of Applied and Computational Mathematics and Statistics, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA
| | - Mitchell F Denning
- Department of Cancer Biology, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, IL, USA
| | - Asha Dhanarajan
- Department of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, IL, USA
| | - Scott J Cotler
- Department of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, IL, USA
| | - Cara Joyce
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, IL, USA
| | - Jun Yin
- Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Fowsiyo Ahmed
- Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | | | - Wei Qiu
- Department of Surgery, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, IL, USA; Department of Cancer Biology, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, IL, USA.
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17
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Elbehairi SEI, Ismail LA, Alfaifi MY, Elshaarawy RF, Hafez HS. Chitosan nano-vehicles as biocompatible delivering tools for a new Ag(I)curcuminoid-Gboxin analog complex in cancer and inflammation therapy. Int J Biol Macromol 2020; 165:2750-2764. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2020.10.153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2020] [Revised: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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18
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Hin Tang JJ, Hao Thng DK, Lim JJ, Toh TB. JAK/STAT signaling in hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepat Oncol 2020; 7:HEP18. [PMID: 32273976 PMCID: PMC7137178 DOI: 10.2217/hep-2020-0001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2020] [Accepted: 02/28/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver cancer is the second most lethal cancer in the world with limited treatment options. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which accounts for more than 80% of all liver cancers, has had increasing global incidence over the past few years. There is an urgent need for novel and better therapeutic intervention for HCC patients. The JAK/STAT signaling pathway plays a multitude of important biological functions in both normal and malignant cells. In a subset of HCC, JAK/STAT signaling is aberrantly activated, leading to dysregulation of downstream target genes that controls survival, angiogenesis, stemness, immune surveillance, invasion and metastasis. In this review, we will focus on the role of JAK/STAT signaling in HCC and discuss the current clinical status of several JAK/STAT inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin Jit Hin Tang
- The N.1 Institute for Health (N.1), National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Dexter Kai Hao Thng
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jhin Jieh Lim
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Tan Boon Toh
- The N.1 Institute for Health (N.1), National University of Singapore, Singapore
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19
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Arshad S, Naveed M, Ullia M, Javed K, Butt A, Khawar M, Amjad F. Targeting STAT-3 signaling pathway in cancer for development of novel drugs: Advancements and challenges. Genet Mol Biol 2020; 43:e20180160. [PMID: 32167126 PMCID: PMC7198026 DOI: 10.1590/1678-4685-gmb-2018-0160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2018] [Accepted: 10/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 (STAT-3) is a transcription
factor that regulates the gene expression of several target genes. These factors
are activated by the binding of cytokines and growth factors with STAT-3
specific receptors on cell membrane. Few years ago, STAT-3 was considered an
acute phase response element having several cellular functions such as
inflammation, cell survival, invasion, metastasis and proliferation, genetic
alteration, and angiogenesis. STAT-3 is activated by several types of
inflammatory cytokines, carcinogens, viruses, growth factors, and oncogenes.
Thus, the STAT3 pathway is a potential target for cancer therapeutics. Abnormal
STAT-3 activity in tumor development and cellular transformation can be targeted
by several genomic and pharmacological methodologies. An extensive review of the
literature has been conducted to emphasize the role of STAT-3 as a unique cancer
drug target. This review article discusses in detail the wide range of STAT-3
inhibitors that show antitumor effects both in vitro and
in vivo. Thus, targeting constitutive STAT-3 signaling is a
remarkable therapeutic methodology for tumor progression. Finally, current
limitations, trials and future perspectives of STAT-3 inhibitors are also
critically discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sundas Arshad
- University of Lahore, Department of Allied Health Sciences, Gujrat Campus, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Naveed
- University of Central Punjab, Faculty of life sciences, Department of Biotechnology, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Mahad Ullia
- University of Gujrat, Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology Sialkot sub Campus, Pakistan
| | - Khadija Javed
- University of Gujrat, Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology Sialkot sub Campus, Pakistan
| | - Ayesha Butt
- University of Gujrat, Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology Sialkot sub Campus, Pakistan
| | - Masooma Khawar
- University of Gujrat, Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology Sialkot sub Campus, Pakistan
| | - Fazeeha Amjad
- University of Gujrat, Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology Sialkot sub Campus, Pakistan
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20
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Targeting STAT3 in Cancer with Nucleotide Therapeutics. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11111681. [PMID: 31671769 PMCID: PMC6896109 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11111681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2019] [Revised: 10/22/2019] [Accepted: 10/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) plays a critical role in promoting the proliferation and survival of tumor cells. As a ubiquitously-expressed transcription factor, STAT3 has commonly been considered an "undruggable" target for therapy; thus, much research has focused on targeting upstream pathways to reduce the expression or phosphorylation/activation of STAT3 in tumor cells. Recently, however, novel approaches have been developed to directly inhibit STAT3 in human cancers, in the hope of reducing the survival and proliferation of tumor cells. Several of these agents are nucleic acid-based, including the antisense molecule AZD9150, CpG-coupled STAT3 siRNA, G-quartet oligodeoxynucleotides (GQ-ODNs), and STAT3 decoys. While the AZD9150 and CpG-STAT3 siRNA interfere with STAT3 expression, STAT3 decoys and GQ-ODNs target constitutively activated STAT3 and modulate its ability to bind to target genes. Both STAT3 decoy and AZD9150 have advanced to clinical testing in humans. Here we will review the current understanding of the structures, mechanisms, and potential clinical utilities of the nucleic acid-based STAT3 inhibitors.
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21
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Lee C, Cheung ST. STAT3: An Emerging Therapeutic Target for Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11111646. [PMID: 31731457 PMCID: PMC6895841 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11111646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2019] [Revised: 10/21/2019] [Accepted: 10/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major global health problem and its treatment options have been limited. Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is a transcription factor important for various cellular processes. Overexpression and constitutive activation of STAT3 have been frequently found in HCC and associated with poor prognosis. Ample evidence has shown that STAT3 plays pivotal roles in the initiation, progression, metastasis and immune suppression of HCC. Thus, STAT3 has attracted attention as a novel therapeutic target in HCC. Clinical trials have investigated STAT3-targeted therapeutics either as monotherapy or in combination with chemotherapeutic agents, immune checkpoint inhibitors and alternative targeted drugs. Some of these studies have yielded encouraging results. Particularly, napabucasin—a cancer stemness inhibitor targeting STAT3-driven gene transcription—has stood out with its promising clinical efficacy and safety profile. Nonetheless, clinical investigations of STAT3-targeted therapies in HCC are limited and more efforts are strongly urged to evaluate their clinical performance in HCC. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of the roles of STAT3 in HCC and follow by comprehensive analysis of STAT3 targeted strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carol Lee
- Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China;
| | - Siu Tim Cheung
- Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China;
- Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +852-3505-1121
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22
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Li M, Wan G, Yu H, Xiong W. High-intensity focused ultrasound inhibits invasion and metastasis of colon cancer cells by enhancing microRNA-124-mediated suppression of STAT3. FEBS Open Bio 2019; 9:1128-1136. [PMID: 30980700 PMCID: PMC6551491 DOI: 10.1002/2211-5463.12642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2019] [Revised: 03/31/2019] [Accepted: 04/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Metastasis is the primary contributor to colorectal cancer mortality. High‐intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is an emerging technology for tumor therapy that exerts its effects through tumor ablation, mechanical disruption, and enhancement of immune responses. However, it remains unclear whether HIFU can influence tumor metastasis. Here, we examined the effect of HIFU on tumor metastasis of colorectal cancer cells and the underlying mechanisms. HIFU was observed to inhibit migration of HCT‐116 cells in vitro and suppress lung metastasis in a mouse model of colon cancer. In addition, HIFU up‐regulated microRNA (miR) ‐124 expression, which inhibited the activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and inhibited migration of HCT‐116 cells. Treatment with an inhibitor of miR‐124 reversed the effect of HIFU on cell migration. In conclusion, our results suggest that HIFU exerts anti‐metastatic effects in colon cancer, and this effect is possibly mediated via up‐regulation of miR‐124 and subsequent miR‐124‐mediated STAT3 suppression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meiying Li
- Department of Ultrasound, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated PUTUO Hospital, China
| | - Guangsheng Wan
- Oncology Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated PUTUO Hospital, China
| | - Hongjie Yu
- Oncology Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated PUTUO Hospital, China
| | - Wei Xiong
- Department of Ultrasound, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated PUTUO Hospital, China
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23
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Modulation of the IL-6-Signaling Pathway in Liver Cells by miRNAs Targeting gp130, JAK1, and/or STAT3. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2019; 16:419-433. [PMID: 31026677 PMCID: PMC6479786 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2019.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2018] [Revised: 03/22/2019] [Accepted: 03/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Interleukin-6 (IL-6)-type cytokines share the common receptor glycoprotein 130 (gp130), which activates a signaling cascade involving Janus kinases (JAKs) and signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) transcription factors. IL-6 and/or its signaling pathway is often deregulated in diseases, such as chronic liver diseases and cancer. Thus, the identification of compounds inhibiting this pathway is of interest for future targeted therapies. We established novel cellular screening systems based on a STAT-responsive reporter gene (Cypridina luciferase). Of a library containing 538 microRNA (miRNA) mimics, several miRNAs affected hyper-IL-6-induced luciferase activities. When focusing on candidate miRNAs specifically targeting 3′ UTRs of signaling molecules of this pathway, we identified, e.g., miR-3677-5p as a novel miRNA affecting protein expression of both STAT3 and JAK1, whereas miR-16-1-3p, miR-4473, and miR-520f-3p reduced gp130 surface expression. Interestingly, combination treatment with 2 or 3 miRNAs targeting gp130 or different signaling molecules of the pathway did not increase the inhibitory effects on phospho-STAT3 levels and STAT3 target gene expression compared to treatment with single mimics. Taken together, we identified a set of miRNAs of potential therapeutic value for cancer and inflammatory diseases, which directly target the expression of molecules within the IL-6-signaling pathway and can dampen inflammatory signal transduction.
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24
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Gong QZ, Xiao D, Gong GY, Xu J, Wen XD, Feng F, Qu W. EH-42: A Novel Small Molecule Induces Apoptosis and Inhibits Migration and Invasion of Human Hepatoma Cells through Suppressing STAT3 Signaling Pathway. Curr Cancer Drug Targets 2018; 19:583-593. [PMID: 30585547 DOI: 10.2174/1568009619666181226094814] [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: 08/26/2018] [Revised: 11/23/2018] [Accepted: 12/14/2018] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Since signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is aberrantly activated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and plays a key role in this tumor progression. Inhibition of the STAT3 signaling pathway has been considered as an effective therapeutic strategy for suppressing HCC development. OBJECTIVE In this study, we investigated the anti-cancer effects of EH-42 on HCC cells and tried to explain the underlying mechanism. METHODS MTT assay, colon formation assay and AnnexinV-FITC/PI double-staining assay were performed to assess the effects of EH-42 on cell growth and survival. Wound healing assay and transwell invasion assay were performed to assess the effects of EH-42 on cell migration and invasion. Western blotting assay was performed to analyze the effects of EH-42 on relative proteins. RESULTS According to the MTT assay, colon formation assay and AnnexinV-FITC/PI doublestaining assay, EH-42 could suppress the growth and induce apoptosis of HCC cells in a dosedependent manner. Further western blotting assay showed that the inhibitory effects of EH-42 on cell growth and survival were caused by activating caspase 3/9, suppressing the phospho-STAT3 (Tyr 705) and downregulating anti-apoptotic proteins like Bcl-2/Bcl-xL. Moreover, migration and invasion abilities of HCC cells were also inhibited by EH-42 in the wound healing assay and transwell invasion assay. The potential mechanism was that EH-42 could inhibit HCC metastasis via reversing epithelial-mesenchymal transition and downregulating the secretion of MMPs. CONCLUSION Taken together, these findings suggested that EH-42 could be a potential therapeutic agent for HCC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi-Zhe Gong
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Di Xiao
- Department of Natural Medicinal Chemistry, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Gui-Yi Gong
- Department of Natural Medicinal Chemistry, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Jian Xu
- Department of Natural Medicinal Chemistry, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Xiao-Dong Wen
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Feng Feng
- Department of Natural Medicinal Chemistry, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China.,Key Laboratory of Biomedical Functional Materials, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China.,Jiangsu Food and Pharmaceutical Science College, Huaian 223003, China
| | - Wei Qu
- Department of Natural Medicinal Chemistry, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China.,Key Laboratory of Biomedical Functional Materials, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China
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25
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Hou JY, Wu HY, He RQ, Lin P, Dang YW, Chen G. Clinical and prognostic value of chaperonin containing T-complex 1 subunit 3 in hepatocellular carcinoma: A Study based on microarray and RNA-sequencing with 4272 cases. Pathol Res Pract 2018; 215:177-194. [PMID: 30473171 DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2018.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2018] [Revised: 10/25/2018] [Accepted: 11/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Liver cancer is one of the few tumors with a steadily increasing morbidity and mortality; hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of primary liver cancer. We combined the expression profiles of Chaperonin Containing T-complex 1 Subunit 3 (CCT3) in HCC tissues based on microarray and RNA-sequencing data. The CCT3 expression levels were extracted and examined based on 421 samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) (HCC, n = 371; non-HCC, n = 50) and 3851 samples from 31 microarray or RNA-sequencing datasets (HCC, n = 1975; non-tumor = 1876). We used a variety of meta-analytic methods, including SMD forest maps, sensitivity analysis, subgroup analysis and sROC curves, to confirm the final results. Meanwhile, database-derived immunohistochemistry data was used for validation. We also further explained the potential mechanism of CCT3 in HCC through signal pathway analyses and PPI network construction with the CCT3 co-expressed genes. The mRNA and protein expression of CCT3 in HCC tissues were higher than in non-HCC tissues. The expression of CCT3 differed between groups when grouped according to clinicopathological parameters, such as race, family history, and histological grade. The results of standardised mean difference (SMD) forest map and summary receiver operating characteristic (sROC) curve revealed that CCT3 was highly expressed in HCC tissues and had a high ability to distinguish between cancer tissues and non-cancer tissues. The main form of CCT3 gene alteration in HCC was mRNA up-regulation and amplification (23%), and the most common mutation type was missense. The mRNA expression of CCT3 in HCC was negatively correlated with DNA methylation. According to the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis, CCT3 can influence HCC occurrence and development through cell cycle and DNA replication pathways. In summary, this study carries out the staging and prognostic analysis of HCC. It suggests that CCT3 might play an important part in the tumorigenesis and progression of HCC and may have a certain prognostic value in HCC. Moreover, CCT3 might represent a promising biomarker for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia-Yin Hou
- Department of Pathology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region 530021, China
| | - Hua-Yu Wu
- Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, School of Preclinical Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region 530021, China
| | - Rong-Quan He
- Department of Medical Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region 530021, China
| | - Peng Lin
- Department of Ultrasonography, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region 530021, China
| | - Yi-Wu Dang
- Department of Pathology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region 530021, China
| | - Gang Chen
- Department of Pathology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region 530021, China.
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26
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Yoo C, Kang J, Lim HY, Kim JH, Lee MA, Lee KH, Kim TY, Ryoo BY. Phase I Dose-Finding Study of OPB-111077, a Novel STAT3 Inhibitor, in Patients with Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Cancer Res Treat 2018; 51:510-518. [PMID: 29898591 PMCID: PMC6473286 DOI: 10.4143/crt.2018.226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2018] [Accepted: 06/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose The signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling pathway might be a promising therapeutic target for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Materials and Methods This study was a multicenter, open-label, non-comparative, dose escalating phase I study of OPB-111077, an oral STAT3 inhibitor, in patients with advanced HCC who failed on sorafenib. Continuous dosing (daily administration, 50 to 400 mg) and intermittent dosing (4-days on/3-days off administration: 300 to 900 mg) regimens were evaluated and the dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs), maximum tolerated dose (MTD), and recommended dose (RD) were the primary endpoints. Results A total of 33 patients (19 for continuous dosing and 14 for intermittent dosing) were enrolled. One patient experienced a DLT with grade 3 dizziness, but the MTD was identified in neither the continuous nor the intermittent dosing cohorts. The RDs were determined to be 250 mg for the continuous dosing regimen and 600 mg for the intermittent dosing regimen. There was no treatment-related death; five patients (15.2%) had grade 3-4 toxicities including thrombocytopenia (6%), fatigue (3%), and dizziness (3%). No patients achieved complete or partial responses and the median progression-free survival was 1.4 months (95% confidence interval, 0.8 to 2.8). Conclusion OPB-111077 was well tolerated in patients with advanced HCC after sorafenib failure, but only showed limited preliminary efficacy outcomes. Further investigation of the role of the STAT3 signaling pathway in HCC and the development of biomarkers for STAT3 inhibitors are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changhoon Yoo
- Department of Oncology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jihoon Kang
- Department of Oncology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Ho Yeong Lim
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jee Hyun Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea
| | - Myung-Ah Lee
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
| | - Kyung-Hun Lee
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Tae-You Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Baek-Yeol Ryoo
- Department of Oncology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
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27
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Tsai WC, Bai LY, Chen YJ, Chu PC, Hsu YW, Sargeant AM, Weng JR. OSU-A9 inhibits pancreatic cancer cell lines by modulating p38-JAK-STAT3 signaling. Oncotarget 2018; 8:29233-29246. [PMID: 28418923 PMCID: PMC5438726 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.16450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2016] [Accepted: 02/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is an aggressive malignancy that is the fourth leading cause of death worldwide. Since there is a dire need for novel and effective therapies to improve the poor survival rates of advanced pancreatic cancer patients, we analyzed the antitumor effects of OSU-A9, an indole-3-carbinol derivative, on pancreatic cancer cell lines in vitro and in vivo. OSU-A9 exhibited a stronger antitumor effect than gemcitabine on two pancreatic cancer cell lines, including gemcitabine-resistant PANC-1 cells. OSU-A9 treatment induced apoptosis, the down-regulation of Akt phosphorylation, up-regulation of p38 phosphorylation and decreased phosphorylation of JAK and STAT3. Cell migration and invasiveness assays showed that OSU-A9 reduced cancer cell aggressiveness and inhibited BxPC-3 xenograft growth in nude mice. These results suggest that OSU-A9 modulates the p38-JAK-STAT3 signaling module, thereby inducing cytotoxicity in pancreatic cancer cells. Continued evaluation of OSU-A9 as a potential therapeutic agent for pancreatic cancer thus appears warrented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wan-Chi Tsai
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan.,Center for Infectious Disease and Cancer Research, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
| | - Li-Yuan Bai
- College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan.,Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40447, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Jin Chen
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
| | - Po-Chen Chu
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11574, Taiwan.,Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70101, Taiwan
| | - Ya-Wen Hsu
- Department of Hospital and Health Care Administration, Chia Nan University of Pharmacy & Science, Tainan 71745, Taiwan
| | - Aaron M Sargeant
- Charles River Laboratories, Safety Assessment, Spencerville, OH 45887, USA
| | - Jing-Ru Weng
- Department of Marine Biotechnology and Resources, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung 80424, Taiwan
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28
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Xie Y, Li J, Zhang C. STAT3 promotes the proliferation and migration of hepatocellular carcinoma cells by regulating AKT2. Oncol Lett 2017; 15:3333-3338. [PMID: 29435076 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2017.7681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2017] [Accepted: 11/20/2017] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to investigate the correlation of STAT3 and AKT in HCC cells. HCC cells were transfected with si-STAT3 and si-AKT2 in vitro and the mRNA expression of STAT3 and AKT was detected by RT-PCR, and the protein expression was measured by western blot. MTT assays were used to evaluate cell proliferation, and Transwell assays were performed to detect the ability of migration and invasion. The relationship between STAT3 and AKT was analyzed by ChIP and Dual-luciferase reporter (DLR) assays. A nude mice experiment was used to verify the correlation. In the present study, we found that the expression of p-AKT2 and its downstream molecules were reduced in HCC cells transfected with si-STAT3, and the expression of p-STAT3 and its downstream molecules was decreased in HCC cells transfected with si-AKT2. Moreover, the ability of HCC cells proliferation, migration and invasion was decreased in si-STAT3 transfection group, but AKT2 reversed the role of si-STAT3 in HCC cells. The ChIP experiment found that STAT3 could bind to the AKT2 promoter in HCC cells. The DLR assay showed that the luciferase activity of AKT2 promoter was enhanced in HCC cells treated by IL-6. The nude mice experiment found that the tumor grew slowly after transfection with the STAT3-siRNA lentiviral vector, while AKT2 reversed the effect. STAT3 and AKT2 had mutual regulatory relationship, and STAT3 promoted the occurrence and development of HCC by regulating AKT2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Xie
- Department of Endoscopic Treatment and Research Center, People Hospital of Henan Zhengzhou, Zhengzhou, Henan 450003, P.R. China
| | - Jianmin Li
- Department of Endoscopic Treatment and Research Center, People Hospital of Henan Zhengzhou, Zhengzhou, Henan 450003, P.R. China
| | - Chao Zhang
- Department of Endoscopic Treatment and Research Center, People Hospital of Henan Zhengzhou, Zhengzhou, Henan 450003, P.R. China
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29
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Zhang Q, Su J, Wang Z, Qi H, Ge Z, Li Z, Chen WD, Wang YD. MicroRNA-149* suppresses hepatic inflammatory response through antagonizing STAT3 signaling pathway. Oncotarget 2017; 8:65397-65406. [PMID: 29029439 PMCID: PMC5630339 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.18541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2016] [Accepted: 06/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic inflammation is increasingly recognized as an important component of tumorigenesis and metabolic diseases. The roles of microRNA149* (miRNA149*) in inflammation remain poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that miR-149* is a suppressor of STAT3-mediated inflammation. MiR-149*−/− mice were generated with CRISPR/CAS9 technique. In a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation model, miR-149*−/− mice show more severe liver injury and inflammation, compared with wild-type (WT) mice. MiR-149*−/− mice also displayed elevated messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of interleukin (IL)-6, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), complement C3 (C3) and IL-4 in response to LPS. Then miR-149* agomir administration is largely able to alleviate the LPS-induced some inflammatory gene expression in WT mouse liver. In vitro, miR-149* mimics inhibited expression of STAT3-meidated inflammatory mediators induced by LPS and suppresses the phosphorylation of STAT3 and its transcription activity in HepG2 cells. These findings identify miR-149* as a negative mediator of inflammation that may serve as an attractive therapeutic tool for immune and inflammatory liver diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiqi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Jia Su
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Ziwei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Hui Qi
- Key Laboratory of Receptors-Mediated Gene Regulation and Drug Discovery, School of Medicine, Henan University, Kaifeng, P. R. China
| | - Zeyong Ge
- Key Laboratory of Receptors-Mediated Gene Regulation and Drug Discovery, School of Medicine, Henan University, Kaifeng, P. R. China
| | - Zhijun Li
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Pathology, School of Basic Medical Science, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, P. R. China
| | - Wei-Dong Chen
- Key Laboratory of Receptors-Mediated Gene Regulation and Drug Discovery, School of Medicine, Henan University, Kaifeng, P. R. China.,Key Laboratory of Molecular Pathology, School of Basic Medical Science, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, P. R. China
| | - Yan-Dong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, P. R. China
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30
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Kasai Y, Toriguchi K, Hatano E, Nishi K, Ohno M, Yoh T, Fukuyama K, Nishio T, Okuno M, Iwaisako K, Seo S, Taura K, Kurokawa M, Kunichika M, Uemoto S, Nishi E. Nardilysin promotes hepatocellular carcinoma through activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3. Cancer Sci 2017; 108:910-917. [PMID: 28207963 PMCID: PMC5448622 DOI: 10.1111/cas.13204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2016] [Revised: 02/06/2017] [Accepted: 02/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Nardilysin (NRDC) is a metalloendopeptidase of the M16 family. We previously showed that NRDC activates inflammatory cytokine signaling, including interleukin‐6‐signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling. NRDC has been implicated in the promotion of breast, gastric and esophageal cancer, as well as the development of liver fibrosis. In this study, we investigated the role of NRDC in the promotion of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), both clinically and experimentally. We found that NRDC expression was upregulated threefold in HCC tissue compared to the adjacent non‐tumor liver tissue, which was confirmed by immunohistochemistry and western blotting. We also found that high serum NRDC was associated with large tumor size (>3 cm, P = 0.016) and poor prognosis after hepatectomy (median survival time 32.0 vs 73.9 months, P = 0.003) in patients with hepatitis C (n = 120). Diethylnitrosamine‐induced hepatocarcinogenesis was suppressed in heterozygous NRDC‐deficient mice compared to their wild‐type littermates. Gene silencing of NRDC with miRNA diminished the growth of Huh‐7 and Hep3B spheroids in vitro. Notably, phosphorylation of STAT3 was decreased in NRDC‐depleted Huh‐7 spheroids compared to control spheroids. The effect of a STAT3 inhibitor (S3I‐201) on the growth of Huh‐7 spheroids was reduced in NRDC‐depleted cells relative to controls. Our results show that NRDC is a promising prognostic marker for HCC in patients with hepatitis C, and that NRDC promotes tumor growth through activation of STAT3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yosuke Kasai
- Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Kan Toriguchi
- Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,Department of Surgery, Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Etsuro Hatano
- Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,Department of Surgery, Hyogo College of Medicine, Nishinomiya, Japan
| | - Kiyoto Nishi
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Mikiko Ohno
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Tomoaki Yoh
- Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Keita Fukuyama
- Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Takahiro Nishio
- Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Masayuki Okuno
- Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Keiko Iwaisako
- Department of Target Therapy and Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Satoru Seo
- Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Kojiro Taura
- Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | | | | | - Shinji Uemoto
- Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Eiichiro Nishi
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,Department of Pharmacology, Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu, Japan
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31
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Xiong Q, Wu S, Wang J, Zeng X, Chen J, Wei M, Guan H, Fan C, Chen L, Guo D, Sun G. Hepatitis B virus promotes cancer cell migration by downregulating miR-340-5p expression to induce STAT3 overexpression. Cell Biosci 2017; 7:16. [PMID: 28413603 PMCID: PMC5389182 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-017-0144-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2017] [Accepted: 04/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, and infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a leading cause of HCC. Previous studies have demonstrated that expression of the tumor inhibitor miR-340 is significantly downregulated in HCC tissues compared with normal liver tissues. However, the precise biological role of miR-340-5p in HBV–HCC and its molecular mechanism of action remain unknown. Results Expression of miR-340-5p was downregulated in HBV-associated HCC liver tissue and HBV-infected cells, facilitating migration of liver cancer cells. Signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)3 was found to be a direct functional target of miR-340-5p. The regulation of STAT3 expression by miR-340-5p was assessed using qRT-PCR and western blotting, and the effects of exogenous miR-340-5p and STAT3 on the migration of HBV-infected cells were evaluated in vitro using Transwell® and wound-healing assays. The expression of E-cadherin and vimentin, associated with epithelial–mesenchymal transition, was also assessed using Western blotting after transfection of miR-340-5p mimics and/or STAT3 expression vectors. Overexpression of STAT3 resulted in rescue of HBV effects, decreased E-cadherin expression, increased vimentin expression, and ultimately, enhanced cell migration. Re-introduction of the STAT3 CDS led to marked reversal of the inhibition of cell migration in HBV-infected cells mediated by miR-340-5p. Conclusions Hepatitis B virus promotes the migration of liver cancer cells by downregulating miR-340-5p expression to induce STAT3 overexpression. Our results show that STAT3 plays a key role in regulating cell migration in HBV–HCC involving miR-340-5p.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiushuang Xiong
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072 People's Republic of China
| | - Shaoshuai Wu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072 People's Republic of China
| | - Jingwen Wang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072 People's Republic of China
| | - Xianhuang Zeng
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072 People's Republic of China
| | - Jianwen Chen
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072 People's Republic of China
| | - Mingcong Wei
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072 People's Republic of China
| | - Haotong Guan
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072 People's Republic of China
| | - Chengpeng Fan
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072 People's Republic of China
| | - Lang Chen
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072 People's Republic of China.,Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Allergy and Immunology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Deyin Guo
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072 People's Republic of China.,Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Allergy and Immunology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Guihong Sun
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072 People's Republic of China.,Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Allergy and Immunology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
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32
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Li B, Huang C. Regulation of EMT by STAT3 in gastrointestinal cancer (Review). Int J Oncol 2017; 50:753-767. [PMID: 28098855 DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2017.3846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2016] [Accepted: 11/10/2016] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Gastrointestinal (GI) cancer is characterized by its aggressiveness and tendency to metastasize at early stage. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), commonly known as the preparing step of metastasis, may account for the aggressive phenotype of GI cancer cells. The process of EMT is finely orchestrated by multiple layers of regulators. Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is a transcription factor constitutively activated in diverse malignancies. Recent studies have suggested an involvement of STAT3 in GI cancer EMT. In this review, we first take an insight into the oncogenic functions of STAT3 in GI cancer, and then summarize the possible mechanisms by which STAT3 regulates the EMT process. Through the extensive interactions with EMT-inducing transcription factors and non-coding RNAs, and crosstalk with other signaling pathways, STAT3 has been demonstrated to promote the mesenchymal and invasive phenotype of GI cancer, which provides rationales for specifically targeting STAT3 to prevent and reverse the progression of GI cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Li
- Department of General Surgery, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200080, P.R. China
| | - Chen Huang
- Department of General Surgery, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200080, P.R. China
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33
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Fu ZG, Wang L, Cui HY, Peng JL, Wang SJ, Geng JJ, Liu JD, Feng F, Song F, Li L, Zhu P, Jiang JL, Chen ZN. A novel small-molecule compound targeting CD147 inhibits the motility and invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Oncotarget 2017; 7:9429-47. [PMID: 26882566 PMCID: PMC4891050 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.6990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2015] [Accepted: 01/17/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
CD147, a type I transmembrane glycoprotein, is highly expressed in various cancer types and plays important roles in tumor progression, especially by promoting the motility and invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. These crucial roles make CD147 an attractive target for therapeutic intervention in HCC, but no small-molecule inhibitors of CD147 have been developed to date. To identify a candidate inhibitor, we used a pharmacophore model derived from the structure of CD147 to virtually screen over 300,000 compounds. The 100 highest-ranked compounds were subjected to biological assays, and the most potent one, dubbed AC-73 (ID number: AN-465/42834501), was studied further. We confirmed that AC-73 targeted CD147 and further demonstrated it can specifically disrupt CD147 dimerization. Moreover, molecular docking and mutagenesis experiments showed that the possible binding sites of AC-73 on CD147 included Glu64 and Glu73 in the N-terminal IgC2 domain, which two residues are located in the dimer interface of CD147. Functional assays revealed that AC-73 inhibited the motility and invasion of typical HCC cells, but not HCC cells that lacked the CD147 gene, demonstrating on-target action. Further, AC-73 reduced HCC metastasis by suppressing matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 via down-regulation of the CD147/ERK1/2/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling pathway. Finally, AC-73 attenuated progression in an orthotopic nude mouse model of liver metastasis, suggesting that AC-73 or its derivatives have potential for use in HCC intervention. We conclude that the novel small-molecule inhibitor AC-73 inhibits HCC mobility and invasion, probably by disrupting CD147 dimerization and thereby mainly suppressing the CD147/ERK1/2/STAT3/MMP-2 pathways, which are crucial for cancer progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi-guang Fu
- Cell Engineering Research Center & Department of Cell Biology, State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, National Key Discipline of Cell Biology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, P.R. China
| | - Li Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Department of Pharmacogenomics, School of Pharmacy, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, P.R. China
| | - Hong-yong Cui
- Cell Engineering Research Center & Department of Cell Biology, State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, National Key Discipline of Cell Biology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, P.R. China
| | - Jian-long Peng
- Drug Discovery and Design Center, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Shi-jie Wang
- Cell Engineering Research Center & Department of Cell Biology, State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, National Key Discipline of Cell Biology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, P.R. China
| | - Jie-jie Geng
- Cell Engineering Research Center & Department of Cell Biology, State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, National Key Discipline of Cell Biology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, P.R. China
| | - Ji-de Liu
- Cell Engineering Research Center & Department of Cell Biology, State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, National Key Discipline of Cell Biology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, P.R. China
| | - Fei Feng
- Cell Engineering Research Center & Department of Cell Biology, State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, National Key Discipline of Cell Biology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, P.R. China
| | - Fei Song
- Cell Engineering Research Center & Department of Cell Biology, State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, National Key Discipline of Cell Biology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, P.R. China
| | - Ling Li
- Cell Engineering Research Center & Department of Cell Biology, State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, National Key Discipline of Cell Biology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, P.R. China
| | - Ping Zhu
- Department of Clinical Immunology, PLA Specialized Research Institute of Rheumatology & Immunology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, P.R. China
| | - Jian-li Jiang
- Cell Engineering Research Center & Department of Cell Biology, State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, National Key Discipline of Cell Biology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, P.R. China
| | - Zhi-nan Chen
- Cell Engineering Research Center & Department of Cell Biology, State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, National Key Discipline of Cell Biology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, P.R. China
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34
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Allegra A, Innao V, Russo S, Gerace D, Alonci A, Musolino C. Anticancer Activity of Curcumin and Its Analogues: Preclinical and Clinical Studies. Cancer Invest 2016; 35:1-22. [PMID: 27996308 DOI: 10.1080/07357907.2016.1247166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Curcumin has been shown to have a wide variety of therapeutic effects, ranging from anti-inflammatory, chemopreventive, anti-proliferative, and anti-metastatic. This review provides an overview of the recent research conducted to overcome the problems with the bioavailability of curcumin, and of the preclinical and clinical studies that have reported success in combinatorial strategies coupling curcumin with other treatments. Research on the signaling pathways that curcumin treatment targets shows that it potently acts on major intracellular components involved in key processes such as genomic modulations, cell invasion and cell death pathways. Curcumin is a promising molecule for the prevention and treatment of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Allegra
- a Division of Hematology, Department of General Surgery, Oncology and Pathological Anatomy , University of Messina , Messina , Italy
| | - Vanessa Innao
- a Division of Hematology, Department of General Surgery, Oncology and Pathological Anatomy , University of Messina , Messina , Italy
| | - Sabina Russo
- a Division of Hematology, Department of General Surgery, Oncology and Pathological Anatomy , University of Messina , Messina , Italy
| | - Demetrio Gerace
- a Division of Hematology, Department of General Surgery, Oncology and Pathological Anatomy , University of Messina , Messina , Italy
| | - Andrea Alonci
- a Division of Hematology, Department of General Surgery, Oncology and Pathological Anatomy , University of Messina , Messina , Italy
| | - Caterina Musolino
- a Division of Hematology, Department of General Surgery, Oncology and Pathological Anatomy , University of Messina , Messina , Italy
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35
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Dai X, Ahn KS, Wang LZ, Kim C, Deivasigamni A, Arfuso F, Um JY, Kumar AP, Chang YC, Kumar D, Kundu GC, Magae J, Goh BC, Hui KM, Sethi G. Ascochlorin Enhances the Sensitivity of Doxorubicin Leading to the Reversal of Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Mol Cancer Ther 2016; 15:2966-2976. [PMID: 27765853 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-16-0391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2016] [Revised: 08/31/2016] [Accepted: 09/19/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Increasing evidence has indicated that epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) at the advanced stage of liver cancer not only has the ability to self-renew and progress cancer, but also enables greater resistance to conventional chemo- and radiotherapies. Here, we report that ascochlorin (ASC), an isoprenoid antibiotic, could potentiate the cytotoxic effect of doxorubicin on HCCLM3, SNU387, SNU49, and SK-Hep-1 hepatocellular carcinoma cells, which had a predominantly mesenchymal signature with low expression of E-cadherin but high expression of N-cadherin. Co-administration of ASC reduced doxorubicin-induced invasion/migration and modulated EMT characteristics in mesenchymal cells. This process was probably mediated by the E-cadherin repressors Snail and Slug. In addition, ASC increased sensitivity to doxorubicin treatment by directly inhibiting STAT3 binding to the Snail promoter. We also observed that ASC significantly enhanced the effect of doxorubicin against tumor growth and inhibited metastasis in an HCCLM3_Luc orthotopic mouse model. Collectively, our data demonstrate that ASC can increase sensitivity to doxorubicin therapy and reverse the EMT phenotype via the downregulation of STAT3-Snail expression, which could form the basis of a novel therapeutic approach against hepatocellular carcinoma. Mol Cancer Ther; 15(12); 2966-76. ©2016 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyun Dai
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Kwang Seok Ahn
- College of Oriental Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Ling Zhi Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.,Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, Centre for Translational Medicine, Singapore
| | - Chulwon Kim
- College of Oriental Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Amudha Deivasigamni
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Research, Humphrey Oei Institute of Cancer Research, National Cancer Centre, Singapore
| | - Frank Arfuso
- Stem Cell and Cancer Biology Laboratory, School of Biomedical Sciences, Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University, Perth, Australia
| | - Jae-Young Um
- Department of Science in Korean Medicine, Graduate School and College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Alan Prem Kumar
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.,Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, Centre for Translational Medicine, Singapore.,School of Biomedical Sciences, Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia.,Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Texas, Denton, Texas
| | - Young-Chae Chang
- Department of Cell Biology, Catholic University of Daegu, School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea
| | - Dhiraj Kumar
- Laboratory of Tumor Biology, Angiogenesis and Nanomedicine Research, National Centre for Cell Science, Pune, India
| | - Gopal C Kundu
- Laboratory of Tumor Biology, Angiogenesis and Nanomedicine Research, National Centre for Cell Science, Pune, India
| | | | - Boon Cher Goh
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.,Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, Centre for Translational Medicine, Singapore.,Department of Haematology-Oncology, National University Health System, Singapore
| | - Kam Man Hui
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Research, Humphrey Oei Institute of Cancer Research, National Cancer Centre, Singapore. .,Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, A*STAR, Biopolis Drive Proteos, Singapore.,Cancer and Stem Cell Biology Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Graduate Medical School, Singapore.,Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Gautam Sethi
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore. .,School of Biomedical Sciences, Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia
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36
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Guo C, Su J, Li Z, Xiao R, Wen J, Li Y, Zhang M, Zhang X, Yu D, Huang W, Chen WD, Wang YD. The G-protein-coupled bile acid receptor Gpbar1 (TGR5) suppresses gastric cancer cell proliferation and migration through antagonizing STAT3 signaling pathway. Oncotarget 2016; 6:34402-13. [PMID: 26417930 PMCID: PMC4741461 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.5353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2014] [Accepted: 09/11/2015] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Gpbar1 (TGR5), a membrane-bound bile acid receptor, is well known for its roles in regulation of energy homeostasis and glucose metabolism. Here we show that TGR5 is a suppressor of gastric cancer cell proliferation and migration through antagonizing STAT3 signaling pathway. We firstly show that TGR5 activation greatly inhibited proliferation and migration of human gastric cancer cells and strongly induced gastric cancer cell apoptosis. We then found that TGR5 activation antagonized STAT3 signaling pathway through suppressing the phosphorylation of STAT3 and its transcription activity induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or interleukin-6. TGR5 overexpression with ligand treatment inhibited gene expression mediated by STAT3. It suggests that TGR5 antagonizes gastric cancer proliferation and migration at least in part by inhibiting STAT3 signaling. These findings identify TGR5 as a suppressor of gastric cancer cell proliferation and migration that may serve as an attractive therapeutic tool for human gastric cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cong Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Jia Su
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Zhijun Li
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Pathology, School of basic medical science, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, P. R. China
| | - Rui Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Pathology, School of basic medical science, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, P. R. China
| | - Jianxun Wen
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Pathology, School of basic medical science, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, P. R. China
| | - Yanyan Li
- Key Laboratory of Receptors-Mediated Gene Regulation and Drug Discovery, School of Medicine, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, P. R. China
| | - Meng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Xueting Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Donna Yu
- Department of Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases Research, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California, USA
| | - Wendong Huang
- Department of Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases Research, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California, USA
| | - Wei-Dong Chen
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Pathology, School of basic medical science, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, P. R. China.,Key Laboratory of Receptors-Mediated Gene Regulation and Drug Discovery, School of Medicine, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, P. R. China
| | - Yan-Dong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, P. R. China
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37
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Galani V, Kastamoulas M, Varouktsi A, Lampri E, Mitselou A, Arvanitis DL. IFNs-signaling effects on lung cancer: an up-to-date pathways-specific review. Clin Exp Med 2016; 17:281-289. [PMID: 27416926 DOI: 10.1007/s10238-016-0432-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2016] [Accepted: 07/07/2016] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
IFNs have found important applications in clinical medicine, including the treatment of lung malignancies. The biological effect of the IFN-receptor signaling is regulated essentially by three factors: the expression profile of the IFN itself, the profile of the receptor, and the expression of target genes. IFNs initiate their signaling by binding to specific receptors. The activated IFNs can directly induce gene transcription and/or multiple downstream signaling that both induce diverse cellular responses including the cell cycle arrest and the apoptosis in tumor cells. We provided evidence that IFN-γ enhances the pro cell death effects of Fas/CD95 in human neoplastic alveolar epithelial cell line, A549. We also found that p27 protein plays a pivotal role in the inducing cell death of IFNγ-CH-11-treated A549 cells, since it is involved in the Ras/Raf signaling pathway. This article discusses recent insights into these possible additional functions of IFNs in lung cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vasiliki Galani
- Department of Anatomy-Histology-Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ioannina, 45110, Ioannina, Greece.
| | - Michalis Kastamoulas
- Department of Anatomy-Histology-Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ioannina, 45110, Ioannina, Greece
| | | | - Evangeli Lampri
- Department of Cancer Biobank Center, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Antigoni Mitselou
- Department of Forensic Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Dimitrios L Arvanitis
- Department of Anatomy-Histology-Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece
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38
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Hepatitis C Virus-Induced Upregulation of MicroRNA miR-146a-5p in Hepatocytes Promotes Viral Infection and Deregulates Metabolic Pathways Associated with Liver Disease Pathogenesis. J Virol 2016; 90:6387-6400. [PMID: 27147737 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00619-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2016] [Accepted: 04/23/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED Hepatitis C virus (HCV)-induced chronic liver disease is a leading cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the molecular mechanisms underlying HCC development following chronic HCV infection remain poorly understood. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play an important role in homeostasis within the liver, and deregulation of miRNAs has been associated with liver disease, including HCC. While host miRNAs are essential for HCV replication, viral infection in turn appears to induce alterations of intrahepatic miRNA networks. Although the cross talk between HCV and liver cell miRNAs most likely contributes to liver disease pathogenesis, the functional involvement of miRNAs in HCV-driven hepatocyte injury and HCC remains elusive. Here we combined a hepatocyte-like cell-based model system, high-throughput small RNA sequencing, computational analysis, and functional studies to investigate HCV-miRNA interactions that may contribute to liver disease and HCC. Profiling analyses indicated that HCV infection differentially regulated the expression of 72 miRNAs by at least 2-fold, including miRNAs that were previously described to target genes associated with inflammation, fibrosis, and cancer development. Further investigation demonstrated that the miR-146a-5p level was consistently increased in HCV-infected hepatocyte-like cells and primary human hepatocytes, as well as in liver tissue from HCV-infected patients. Genome-wide microarray and computational analyses indicated that miR-146a-5p overexpression modulates pathways that are related to liver disease and HCC development. Furthermore, we showed that miR-146a-5p has a positive impact on late steps of the viral replication cycle, thereby increasing HCV infection. Collectively, our data indicate that the HCV-induced increase in miR-146a-5p expression both promotes viral infection and is relevant for pathogenesis of liver disease. IMPORTANCE HCV is a leading cause of chronic liver disease and cancer. However, how HCV induces liver cancer remains poorly understood. There is accumulating evidence that a viral cure does not eliminate the risk for HCC development. Thus, there is an unmet medical need to develop novel approaches to predict and prevent virus-induced HCC. miRNA expression is known to be deregulated in liver disease and cancer. Furthermore, miRNAs are essential for HCV replication, and HCV infection alters miRNA expression. However, how miRNAs contribute to HCV-driven pathogenesis remains elusive. Here we show that HCV induces miRNAs that may contribute to liver injury and carcinogenesis. The miR-146a-5p level was consistently increased in different cell-based models of HCV infection and in HCV patient-derived liver tissue. Furthermore, miR-146a-5p increased HCV infection. Collectively, our data are relevant to understanding viral pathogenesis and may open perspectives for novel biomarkers and prevention of virus-induced liver disease and HCC.
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39
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Wang DD, Chen X, Yu DD, Yang SJ, Shen HY, Sha HH, Zhong SL, Zhao JH, Tang JH. miR-197: A novel biomarker for cancers. Gene 2016; 591:313-9. [PMID: 27320730 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2016.06.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2016] [Revised: 06/06/2016] [Accepted: 06/15/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
microRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs that could regulate post-transcription level through binding to 3' untranslated region (3'UTR) of target messenger RNAs (mRNAs), which were reported to be related with the incidence and development of diverse neoplasms. Among them, miR-197 was confirmed to play a vital role of oncogene or anti-oncogene in different cancers via targeting key tumorigenic or tumor-suppressive genes. Additionally, miR-197 had extensively been studied in carcinogenesis progression of cancers through various mechanisms, including apoptosis, proliferation, angiogenesis, metastasis, drug resistance and tumor suppressor, and also played a role in prognosis of cancers. In this review, we summarized the roles of miR-197 in cancers and considered it as a potentially novel biomarker for different cancers, offering an alternatively secure and effective tool in molecular targeting cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan-Dan Wang
- The First Clinical School of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210009, China; The Forth Clinical School of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Xiu Chen
- The Forth Clinical School of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210009, China; Department of General Surgery, Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Cancer Hospital Cancer Institute of Jiangsu Province, Baiziting 42, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Dan-Dan Yu
- The First Clinical School of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210009, China; Department of General Surgery, Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Cancer Hospital Cancer Institute of Jiangsu Province, Baiziting 42, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Su-Jin Yang
- The Forth Clinical School of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210009, China; Department of General Surgery, Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Cancer Hospital Cancer Institute of Jiangsu Province, Baiziting 42, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Hong-Yu Shen
- The Forth Clinical School of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210009, China; Department of General Surgery, Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Cancer Hospital Cancer Institute of Jiangsu Province, Baiziting 42, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Huan-Huan Sha
- The Forth Clinical School of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210009, China; Department of General Surgery, Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Cancer Hospital Cancer Institute of Jiangsu Province, Baiziting 42, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Shan-Liang Zhong
- Center of Clinical Laboratory, Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Cancer Hospital Cancer Institute of Jiangsu Province, Baiziting 42, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Jian-Hua Zhao
- Center of Clinical Laboratory, Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Cancer Hospital Cancer Institute of Jiangsu Province, Baiziting 42, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Jin-Hai Tang
- Department of General Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China; Department of General Surgery, Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Cancer Hospital Cancer Institute of Jiangsu Province, Baiziting 42, Nanjing 210009, China.
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40
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Wang Q, Luan W, Warren L, Kadri H, Kim KW, Goz V, Blank S, Isabel Fiel M, Hiotis SP. Autologous Tumor Cell Lysate-Loaded Dendritic Cell Vaccine Inhibited Tumor Progression in an Orthotopic Murine Model for Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Ann Surg Oncol 2016; 23:574-582. [PMID: 26786094 DOI: 10.1245/s10434-015-5035-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The immune status of the tumor microenvironment influences tumor progression, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with an immunosuppressive signature often is associated with a poor prognosis. This study examined the impact of a bone marrow-derived dendritic cell (DC) vaccine loaded with autologous tumor cell lysate on tumor progression and the tumor microenvironment using an orthotopic murine HCC model. An orthotopic murine HCC was established by implantation of Hepa1-6 cells in the liver. The impact of DC vaccine loaded with Hepa1-6 cell lysate on tumor progression, survival, and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and cytokines was examined. Treating mice with DC vaccine loaded with Hepa1-6 cell lysate inhibited the progression of murine HCC generated through orthotopic implantation of Hepa1-6 cells and resulted in a 90 % survival rate by day 60 compared with a survival rate lower than 5 % for untreated mice. This anti-tumor response was associated with inhibition of STAT3 phosphorylation within the tumor. The DC vaccine reduced accumulation of Foxp3+CD4+ regulatory T cells within the tumor microenvironment and prevented TGF-β production from the tumor tissue. Tumor cell lysate-loaded DC vaccine prevented HCC progression in a clinically relevant orthotopic murine HCC model. The effect of DC vaccine on the accumulation of Foxp3+CD4+ regulatory T cells within the tumor microenvironment and on the production of TGF-β suggests that tumor regression by DC vaccination may be associated with an altered immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qin Wang
- Department of Surgery, The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Wei Luan
- Department of Surgery, The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Leslie Warren
- Department of Surgery, The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Hena Kadri
- Department of Surgery, The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ki Won Kim
- Department of Surgery, The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Vadim Goz
- Department of Surgery, The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sima Blank
- Department of Surgery, The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - M Isabel Fiel
- Department of Pathology, The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Spiros P Hiotis
- Department of Surgery, The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
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41
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Abstract
Liver cancer, primarily hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), is a major cause of cancer-related death worldwide. HCC is a suitable model of inflammation-induced cancer because more than 90% of HCC cases are caused by liver damage and chronic inflammation. Several inflammatory response pathways, such as NF-κB and JAK/STAT3 signaling pathways, play roles in the crosstalk between inflammation and HCC. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are evolutionarily conserved, short endogenous, non-coding single-stranded RNAs that are involved in various biological and pathological processes by regulating gene expression and protein translation. Evidence showed that miRNAs play a pivotal role in hepatitis virus infection and serve as promoters or inhibitors of inflammatory response. Aberrant miRNA was observed during liver inflammation and HCC. Many dysregulated miRNAs modulate the initiation and progression of inflammation-induced HCC. This review summarizes the role and functions of miRNAs in inflammation-associated HCC, as well as the designed therapeutics targeting miRNAs to treat liver inflammation and HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Huan
- Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Lin-Hui Liang
- Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Xiang-Huo He
- Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
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42
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Zhang J, Du J, Liu Q, Zhang Y. Down-regulation of STAT3 expression using vector-based RNA interference promotes apoptosis in Hepatocarcinoma cells. ARTIFICIAL CELLS NANOMEDICINE AND BIOTECHNOLOGY 2015; 44:1201-5. [PMID: 26134753 DOI: 10.3109/21691401.2015.1029628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
In this study, we followed a DNA vector-based RNAi approach to silence the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) expression in Bel-7402 cells, to explore how the Janus kinase (JAK)/STAT3 signaling pathway influences the apoptosis of hepatocarcinoma cells. According to GenBank's STAT3 cDNA, the plasmid pGCsi.U6/neoRFP STAT3, which was designed for expression of STAT3 small interfering RNA (siRNA), was constructed and synthesized, and then transfected into Bel-7402 cells using Lipofectamine 2000. Cells with or without siRNA transfection were treated in wells. The apoptotic rate was detected by flow cytometry (FCM) and by staining with the Annexin V/propidium iodide (PI) apoptosis detection kit. Simultaneously, the mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) was visualized by JC-1 fluorescence staining and observed using the inverted fluorescence microscope. Furthermore, the expression of caspase-3 protein was analyzed by Western blotting. The results showed that treatment with STAT3 siRNA displayed effects in the Bel-7402 cells, causing a significantly increased apoptotic ratio (P < 0.05). The mitochondrial membrane potential of the STAT3 siRNA group, observed by the JC-1 fluorescence staining, decreased significantly. The protein expression of active caspase-3 increased with STAT3 siRNA treatment, and was significantly higher than that of the control group (P < 0.05). STAT3 gene-silencing significantly improves the apoptotic effect against Bel-7402 cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junwei Zhang
- a Institute of Oncology, Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Shandong University , Jinan , P.R. China.,b Department of Oncology , The Central Hospital of Panjin , Panjin , P.R. China
| | - Jiajun Du
- c Department of thoracic surgery , Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Shandong University , Jinan , P.R. China
| | - Qi Liu
- a Institute of Oncology, Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Shandong University , Jinan , P.R. China
| | - Yi Zhang
- d Department of General Surgery , The Central Hospital of Panjin , Panjin , P.R. China
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43
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Wang J, Yin D, Xie C, Zheng T, Liang Y, Hong X, Lu Z, Song X, Song R, Yang H, Sun B, Bhatta N, Meng X, Pan S, Jiang H, Liu L. The iron chelator Dp44mT inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma metastasis via N-Myc downstream-regulated gene 2 (NDRG2)/gp130/STAT3 pathway. Oncotarget 2015; 5:8478-91. [PMID: 25261367 PMCID: PMC4226698 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.2328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Here we showed that hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines with high metastatic potential had low levels of NDRG2. The iron chelator Dp44mT up-regulated NDRG2, suppressed epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and inhibited tumor metastasis in HCC having high metastatic potential. Also Dp44mT attenuated the TGF-β1-induced EMT in HCC having low metastatic potential. In agreement, silencing endogenous NDRG2 with shNDRG2 in HCC cells attenuated the effect of Dp44mT. We showed that the NDRG2/gp130/STAT3 pathway can mediate Dp44mT effects. In agreement, we found that a combination of NDRG2 expression and p-STAT3 levels is a strong predictor of prognosis in HCC patients. We suggest that up-regulation of NDRG2 by Dp44mT is a promising therapeutic approach in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiabei Wang
- Department of Hepatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Key Laboratory of Hepatosplenic Surgery, Ministry of Education, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China. These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Dalong Yin
- Department of Hepatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Key Laboratory of Hepatosplenic Surgery, Ministry of Education, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China. These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Changming Xie
- Department of Hepatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Key Laboratory of Hepatosplenic Surgery, Ministry of Education, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China. These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Tongsen Zheng
- Department of Hepatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Key Laboratory of Hepatosplenic Surgery, Ministry of Education, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China. These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Yingjian Liang
- Department of Hepatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Key Laboratory of Hepatosplenic Surgery, Ministry of Education, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China
| | - Xuehui Hong
- Department of Hepatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Key Laboratory of Hepatosplenic Surgery, Ministry of Education, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China
| | - Zhaoyang Lu
- Department of Hepatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Key Laboratory of Hepatosplenic Surgery, Ministry of Education, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China
| | - Xuan Song
- Department of Hepatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Key Laboratory of Hepatosplenic Surgery, Ministry of Education, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China
| | - Ruipeng Song
- Department of Hepatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Key Laboratory of Hepatosplenic Surgery, Ministry of Education, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China
| | - Haiyan Yang
- Department of Hepatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Key Laboratory of Hepatosplenic Surgery, Ministry of Education, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China
| | - Boshi Sun
- Department of Hepatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Key Laboratory of Hepatosplenic Surgery, Ministry of Education, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China
| | - Nishant Bhatta
- Department of Hepatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Key Laboratory of Hepatosplenic Surgery, Ministry of Education, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China
| | - Xianzhi Meng
- Department of Hepatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Key Laboratory of Hepatosplenic Surgery, Ministry of Education, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China
| | - Shangha Pan
- Department of Hepatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Key Laboratory of Hepatosplenic Surgery, Ministry of Education, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China
| | - Hongchi Jiang
- Department of Hepatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Key Laboratory of Hepatosplenic Surgery, Ministry of Education, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China
| | - Lianxin Liu
- Department of Hepatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Key Laboratory of Hepatosplenic Surgery, Ministry of Education, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China. Department of Pharmacology (the State-Province Key Laboratories of Biomedicine-Pharmaceutics of China, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Research, Ministry of Education), Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
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44
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Wang H, Su X, Yang M, Chen T, Hou J, Li N, Cao X. Reciprocal control of miR-197 and IL-6/STAT3 pathway reveals miR-197 as potential therapeutic target for hepatocellular carcinoma. Oncoimmunology 2015; 4:e1031440. [PMID: 26451302 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2015.1031440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2015] [Revised: 03/13/2015] [Accepted: 03/14/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is one of the key players in liver cancer. Increased levels of phosphorylated STAT3 (p-STAT3) have been detected in many cancers including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and are usually associated with a more aggressive phenotype and poor prognosis. In addition to aberrant activation of STAT3, upregulation of total STAT3 was also detected in HCC, for which the underlying mechanisms and significance remain to be fully elucidated. Here we report that a reciprocal regulation exists between miR-197 and the IL-6/STAT3 inflammatory signaling pathway in HCC. We found that IL-6 stimulation increased total STAT3 expression at protein level but not mRNA level in HCC cells, suggesting the existence of post-transcriptional regulation of STAT3. Our study showed that IL-6/STAT3 pathway decreases expression of miR-197 in HCC, which amplifies IL-6/STAT3 pathway and contributes to HCC progression. miR-197 can significantly inhibit HCC growth both in vitro and in vivo. In addition, IL-6/STAT3-induced downregulation of miR-197 in HCC may be via affecting Drosha binding to primary miR-197 (pri-miR-197) and thus reducing mature miR-197 generation. Our study suggests that miR-197 may serve as a potential therapeutic target for interfering with the IL-6/STAT3 inflammatory pathway in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huamin Wang
- Institute of Immunology; Zhejiang University School of Medicine ; Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoping Su
- National Key Laboratory of Medical Immunology & Institute of Immunology; Second Military Medical University ; Shanghai, China
| | - Mingjin Yang
- National Key Laboratory of Medical Immunology & Institute of Immunology; Second Military Medical University ; Shanghai, China ; National Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology & Department of Immunology; Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences; Institute of Basic Medical Sciences ; Beijing, China
| | - Taoyong Chen
- National Key Laboratory of Medical Immunology & Institute of Immunology; Second Military Medical University ; Shanghai, China
| | - Jin Hou
- National Key Laboratory of Medical Immunology & Institute of Immunology; Second Military Medical University ; Shanghai, China
| | - Nan Li
- National Key Laboratory of Medical Immunology & Institute of Immunology; Second Military Medical University ; Shanghai, China
| | - Xuetao Cao
- Institute of Immunology; Zhejiang University School of Medicine ; Hangzhou, China ; National Key Laboratory of Medical Immunology & Institute of Immunology; Second Military Medical University ; Shanghai, China ; National Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology & Department of Immunology; Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences; Institute of Basic Medical Sciences ; Beijing, China
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45
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Lee D, Na J, Ryu J, Kim HJ, Nam SH, Kang M, Jung JW, Lee MS, Song HE, Choi J, Lee GH, Kim TY, Chung JK, Park KH, Kim SH, Kim H, Seo H, Kim P, Youn H, Lee JW. Interaction of tetraspan(in) TM4SF5 with CD44 promotes self-renewal and circulating capacities of hepatocarcinoma cells. Hepatology 2015; 61:1978-97. [PMID: 25627085 DOI: 10.1002/hep.27721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2014] [Accepted: 01/21/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Tumor metastasis involves circulating and tumor-initiating capacities of metastatic cancer cells. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is related to self-renewal capacity and circulating tumor cell (CTC) characteristics for tumor metastasis. Although tumor metastasis is a life-threatening, complicated process that occurs through circulation of tumor cells, mechanistic aspects of self-renewal and circulating capacities have been largely unknown. Hepatic transmembrane 4 L six family member 5 (TM4SF5) promotes EMT for malignant growth and migration, so it was rationalized that TM4SF5, as a hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) biomarker, might be important for metastatic potential. Here, self-renewal capacity by TM4SF5 was mechanistically explored using hepatocarcinoma cells with or without TM4SF5 expression, and we explored whether they became CTCs using mouse liver-orthotopic model systems. We found that TM4SF5-dependent sphere growth correlated with CD24(-) , aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity, as well as a physical association between CD44 and TM4SF5. Interaction between TM4SF5 and CD44 was through their extracellular domains with N-glycosylation modifications. TM4SF5/CD44 interaction activated proto-oncogene tyrosine-protein kinase Src (c-Src)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3)/Twist-related protein 1 (Twist1)/B-cell-specific Moloney murine leukemia virus integration site 1 (Bmi1) signaling for spheroid formation, whereas disturbing the interaction, expression, or activity of any component in this signaling pathway inhibited spheroid formation. In serial xenografts using 200∼5,000 cells per injection, TM4SF5-positive tumors exhibited subpopulations with locally increased CD44 expressions, supporting for tumor cell differentiation. TM4SF5-positive, but not TM4SF5- or CD44-knocked-down, cells were identified circulating in blood 4-6 weeks after orthotopic liver injection using in vivo laser scanning endomicroscopy. Anti-TM4SF5 reagent blocked their metastasis to distal intestinal organs. CONCLUSION TM4SF5 promotes self-renewal and CTC properties supported by TM4SF5(+) /CD44(+(TM4SF5-bound)) /ALDH(+) /CD24(-) markers during HCC metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Doohyung Lee
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Juri Na
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Cancer Research Institute, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jihye Ryu
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hye-Jin Kim
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Seo Hee Nam
- Interdisciplinary Program in Genetic Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Minkyung Kang
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jae Woo Jung
- Interdisciplinary Program in Genetic Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Mi-Sook Lee
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Haeng Eun Song
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jungeun Choi
- Interdisciplinary Program in Genetic Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Gyu-Ho Lee
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Tai Young Kim
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
| | - June-Key Chung
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Cancer Research Institute, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.,Cancer Imaging Center, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea
| | - Ki Hun Park
- Division of Applied Life Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Korea
| | - Sung-Hak Kim
- School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hyunggee Kim
- School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Howon Seo
- Graduate School of Nanoscience and Technology, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Pilhan Kim
- Graduate School of Nanoscience and Technology, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Hyewon Youn
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Cancer Research Institute, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.,Cancer Imaging Center, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jung Weon Lee
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.,Interdisciplinary Program in Genetic Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
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46
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STAT3 inhibition reduces toxicity of oncolytic VSV and provides a potentially synergistic combination therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma. Cancer Gene Ther 2015; 22:317-25. [PMID: 25930184 DOI: 10.1038/cgt.2015.23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2015] [Revised: 03/27/2015] [Accepted: 03/28/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a refractory malignancy with a high mortality and increasing worldwide incidence rates, including the United States and central Europe. In this study, we demonstrate that a specific inhibitor of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), NSC74859, efficiently reduces HCC cell proliferation and can be successfully combined with oncolytic virotherapy using vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV). The potential benefits of this combination treatment are strengthened by the ability of NSC74859 to protect primary hepatocytes and nervous system cells against virus-induced cytotoxicity, with an elevation of the VSV maximum tolerated dose in mice. Hereby we propose a strategy for improving the current regimen for HCC treatment and seek to further explore the molecular mechanisms underlying selective oncolytic specificity of VSV.
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47
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Argininosuccinate synthetase 1 suppression and arginine restriction inhibit cell migration in gastric cancer cell lines. Sci Rep 2015; 5:9783. [PMID: 25928182 PMCID: PMC4415574 DOI: 10.1038/srep09783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2014] [Accepted: 03/19/2015] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Gastric cancer metastasis remains a major cause of cancer-related deaths. There is an
urgent need to develop new therapeutic approaches targeting metastatic gastric
cancer. Argininosuccinate synthetase 1 (ASS1) expression is increased in gastric
cancer. We detected the protein expression of ASS1 in human gastric cancer cell
lines (AGS, NCI-N87, and MKN45) and in murine gastric cancer cell lines (3I and
3IB2). We used vector-mediated short hairpin RNA (shRNA) expression to silence ASS1
expression in the MKN45 and 3IB2 cell lines, and analyzed the effects of this
protein on cell migration and metastasis. We demonstrated that ASS1 silencing
suppressed cell migration in the MKN45 and 3IB2 cell lines. ASS1 knockdown
significantly reduced liver metastasis in mice after the intrasplenic implantation
of 3IB2 cancer cell clones. To determine whether arginine restriction may represent
a therapeutic approach to treat gastric cancer, the sensitivity of tumor cells to
arginine depletion was determined in gastric cancer cells. Arginine depletion
significantly inhibited cell migration in the gastric cancer cell line. The
silencing of ASS1 expression in MKN45 and 3IB2 gastric cancer cells markedly
decreased STAT3 protein expression. In conclusion, our results indicate that the
ASS1 protein is required for cell migration in gastric cancer cell lines.
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48
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Hong Y, Zhou L, Xie H, Wang W, Zheng S. Differences in antiproliferative effect of STAT3 inhibition in HCC cells with versus without HBV expression. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2015; 461:513-8. [PMID: 25899746 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2015.04.058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2015] [Accepted: 04/09/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Chronic infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) plays an important role in the etiology of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) inactivation could inhibit the tumor growth of HCC. In this study, differential antiproliferative effect of STAT3 inhibition was observed with HBV-related HCC cells being more resistant than non-HBV-related HCC cells. Resistance of HBV-related HCC cells to STAT3 inhibition was positively correlated to the expression of HBV. Enhanced ERK activation after STAT3 blockade was detected in HBV-related HCC cells but not in non-HBV-related HCC cells. Combined ERK and STAT3 inhibition eliminates the discrepancy between the two types of HCC cells. Moderate reduced HBV expression was found after STAT3 inhibition. These findings disclose a discrepancy in cellular response to STAT3 inhibition between non-HBV-related and HBV-related HCC cells and underscore the complexity of antiproliferative effect of STAT3 inactivation in HBV-related HCC cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Hong
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Qingchun Road 79, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310003, China; Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-organ Transplantation of Ministry of Public Health, Qingchun Road 79, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310003, China
| | - Lin Zhou
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Qingchun Road 79, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310003, China; Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-organ Transplantation of Ministry of Public Health, Qingchun Road 79, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310003, China
| | - Haiyang Xie
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Qingchun Road 79, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310003, China; Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-organ Transplantation of Ministry of Public Health, Qingchun Road 79, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310003, China
| | - Weilin Wang
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Qingchun Road 79, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310003, China; Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-organ Transplantation of Ministry of Public Health, Qingchun Road 79, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310003, China
| | - Shusen Zheng
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Qingchun Road 79, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310003, China; Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-organ Transplantation of Ministry of Public Health, Qingchun Road 79, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310003, China.
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49
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Kwon SM, Jung YY, Hwang CJ, Park MH, Yoon NY, Kim TM, Yu JM, Kim DH, Seo DW, Youn HS, Seo HO, Chung IS, Han SB, Hwang BY, Yoo HS, Jung JK, Lee H, Hong JT. Anti-cancer effect of N-(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-5-chloro-2,3-dihydronaphtho[1,2-b]furan-2-carboxamide, a novel synthetic compound. Mol Carcinog 2015; 55:659-70. [DOI: 10.1002/mc.22311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2014] [Revised: 12/27/2014] [Accepted: 02/18/2015] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Sun Mi Kwon
- College of Pharmacy and Medical Research Center; Chungbuk National University; Chungbuk Korea
| | - Yu Yeon Jung
- College of Pharmacy and Medical Research Center; Chungbuk National University; Chungbuk Korea
| | - Chul Ju Hwang
- College of Pharmacy and Medical Research Center; Chungbuk National University; Chungbuk Korea
| | - Mi Hee Park
- College of Pharmacy and Medical Research Center; Chungbuk National University; Chungbuk Korea
| | - Na Young Yoon
- College of Pharmacy and Medical Research Center; Chungbuk National University; Chungbuk Korea
| | - Tae Myung Kim
- College of Veterinary Medicine; Chungbuk National University; Chungbuk Korea
| | - Ji Myung Yu
- College of Veterinary Medicine; Chungbuk National University; Chungbuk Korea
| | - Dae Hwan Kim
- College of Pharmacy and Medical Research Center; Chungbuk National University; Chungbuk Korea
| | - Doo Won Seo
- College of Pharmacy and Medical Research Center; Chungbuk National University; Chungbuk Korea
| | - Hyu Seok Youn
- College of Pharmacy and Medical Research Center; Chungbuk National University; Chungbuk Korea
| | - Hyun Ok Seo
- College of Pharmacy and Medical Research Center; Chungbuk National University; Chungbuk Korea
| | - In Sung Chung
- College of Pharmacy and Medical Research Center; Chungbuk National University; Chungbuk Korea
| | - Sang Bae Han
- College of Pharmacy and Medical Research Center; Chungbuk National University; Chungbuk Korea
| | - Bang Yeon Hwang
- College of Pharmacy and Medical Research Center; Chungbuk National University; Chungbuk Korea
| | - Hwan-Soo Yoo
- College of Pharmacy and Medical Research Center; Chungbuk National University; Chungbuk Korea
| | - Jae-Kyung Jung
- College of Pharmacy and Medical Research Center; Chungbuk National University; Chungbuk Korea
| | - Heesoon Lee
- College of Pharmacy and Medical Research Center; Chungbuk National University; Chungbuk Korea
| | - Jin Tae Hong
- College of Pharmacy and Medical Research Center; Chungbuk National University; Chungbuk Korea
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50
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Oh DY, Lee SH, Han SW, Kim MJ, Kim TM, Kim TY, Heo DS, Yuasa M, Yanagihara Y, Bang YJ. Phase I Study of OPB-31121, an Oral STAT3 Inhibitor, in Patients with Advanced Solid Tumors. Cancer Res Treat 2015; 47:607-15. [PMID: 25715763 PMCID: PMC4614199 DOI: 10.4143/crt.2014.249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2014] [Accepted: 11/10/2014] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose OPB-31121 is an oral STAT3 inhibitor with a good preclinical antitumor activity. This phase I dose-escalation study of OPB-31121 was conducted to determine maximum-tolerated dose (MTD), safety, pharmacokinetics, and preliminary antitumor efficacy in patients with advanced solid tumors. Materials and Methods Patients received OPB-31121 once daily for 28 days of each cycle followed by 2 weeks rest. A standard 3+3 design was used for dose-escalation. Safety and response were evaluated by the National Cancer Institute–Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (NCI-CTCAE) ver. 3.0 and Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumor (RECIST) ver. 1.0, respectively. Results Twenty-five patients were treated with OPB-31121 at five dose levels: 100 mg (n=4), 200 mg (n=3), 400 mg (n=3), 600 mg (n=7), and 800 mg (n=8). Seven patients discontinued treatment during cycle 1 for various reasons other than study drug-related adverse events. Among 18 patients who were evaluable for dose-limiting toxicity (DLT), three DLTs were observed: one DLT (grade 3 vomiting) at 600 mg and two DLTs (grade 3 vomiting, grade 3 diarrhea) at 800 mg. The MTD was determined as 800 mg/day. Common adverse events were gastrointestinal adverse event including nausea (84%), vomiting (80%), and diarrhea (72%). Pharmacokinetics did not demonstrate dose-proportionality of OPB-31121. Eight patients had stable disease and 10 patients had disease progression. Two patients (1 colon cancer, 1 rectal cancer) showed tumor shrinkage. One gastric cancer patient continued treatment up to cycle 13 before disease progression. Conclusion This study demonstrates feasibility of STAT3 inhibition in patients with advanced solid tumor. OPB-31121, at the MTD of 800 mg/day, was safe and relatively well tolerated, and has a preliminary antitumor activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Do-Youn Oh
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.,Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Se-Hoon Lee
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.,Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Sae-Won Han
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.,Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Mi-Jung Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.,Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Tae-Min Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.,Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Tae-You Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.,Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Dae Seog Heo
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.,Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Miyuki Yuasa
- Department of Clinical Research and Development, Otsuka Pharmaceutical, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yasuo Yanagihara
- Fujii Memorial Research Institute, Otsuka Pharmaceutical, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yung-Jue Bang
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.,Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
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