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Ventura E, Ducci G, Benot Dominguez R, Ruggiero V, Belfiore A, Sacco E, Vanoni M, Iozzo RV, Giordano A, Morrione A. Progranulin Oncogenic Network in Solid Tumors. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15061706. [PMID: 36980592 PMCID: PMC10046331 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15061706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Progranulin is a pleiotropic growth factor with important physiological roles in embryogenesis and maintenance of adult tissue homeostasis. While-progranulin deficiency is associated with a broad range of pathological conditions affecting the brain, such as frontotemporal dementia and neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis, progranulin upregulation characterizes many tumors, including brain tumors, multiple myeloma, leiomyosarcoma, mesothelioma and epithelial cancers such as ovarian, liver, breast, bladder, adrenal, prostate and kidney carcinomas. The increase of progranulin levels in tumors might have diagnostic and prognostic significance. In cancer, progranulin has a pro-tumorigenic role by promoting cancer cell proliferation, migration, invasiveness, anchorage-independent growth and resistance to chemotherapy. In addition, progranulin regulates the tumor microenvironment, affects the function of cancer-associated fibroblasts, and modulates tumor immune surveillance. However, the molecular mechanisms of progranulin oncogenic function are not fully elucidated. In bladder cancer, progranulin action relies on the activation of its functional signaling receptor EphA2. Notably, more recent data suggest that progranulin can also modulate a functional crosstalk between multiple receptor-tyrosine kinases, demonstrating a more complex and context-dependent role of progranulin in cancer. Here, we will review what is currently known about the function of progranulin in tumors, with a focus on its molecular mechanisms of action and regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Ventura
- Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Center for Biotechnology, Department of Biology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA
- Correspondence: (E.V.); (A.M.); Tel.: +1-215-204-2450 (A.M.)
| | - Giacomo Ducci
- Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Center for Biotechnology, Department of Biology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20126 Milan, Italy
- SYSBIO (Centre of Systems Biology), ISBE (Infrastructure Systems Biology Europe), 20126 Milan, Italy
| | - Reyes Benot Dominguez
- Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Center for Biotechnology, Department of Biology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA
| | - Valentina Ruggiero
- Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Center for Biotechnology, Department of Biology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Master Program in Pharmaceutical Biotechnologies, University of Padua, 35131 Padua, Italy
| | - Antonino Belfiore
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Endocrinology Unit, University of Catania, Garibaldi-Nesima Hospital, 95122 Catania, Italy
| | - Elena Sacco
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20126 Milan, Italy
- SYSBIO (Centre of Systems Biology), ISBE (Infrastructure Systems Biology Europe), 20126 Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Vanoni
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20126 Milan, Italy
- SYSBIO (Centre of Systems Biology), ISBE (Infrastructure Systems Biology Europe), 20126 Milan, Italy
| | - Renato V. Iozzo
- Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Translational Cellular Oncology Program, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Antonio Giordano
- Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Center for Biotechnology, Department of Biology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA
- Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Andrea Morrione
- Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Center for Biotechnology, Department of Biology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA
- Correspondence: (E.V.); (A.M.); Tel.: +1-215-204-2450 (A.M.)
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Yan ZJ, Chen L, Wang HY. To be or not to be: The double-edged sword roles of liver progenitor cells. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2023; 1878:188870. [PMID: 36842766 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2023.188870] [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: 11/23/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/28/2023] [Indexed: 02/28/2023]
Abstract
Given the liver's remarkable and unique regenerative capacity, researchers have long focused on liver progenitor cells (LPCs) and liver cancer stem cells (LCSCs). LPCs can differentiate into both hepatocytes and cholangiocytes. However, the mechanism underlying cell conversion and its distinct contribution to liver homeostasis and tumorigenesis remain unclear. In this review, we discuss the complicated conversions involving LPCs and LCSCs. As the critical intermediate state in malignant transformation, LPCs play double-edged sword roles. LPCs are not only involved in hepatic wound-healing responses by supplementing liver cells and bile duct cells in the damaged liver but may transform into LCSCs under dysregulation of key signaling pathways, resulting in refractory malignant liver tumors. Because LPC lineages are temporally and spatially dynamic, we discuss crucial LPC subgroups and summarize regulatory factors correlating with the trajectories of LPCs and LCSCs in the liver tumor microenvironment. This review elaborates on the double-edged sword roles of LPCs to help understand the liver's regenerative potential and tumor heterogeneity. Understanding the sources and transformations of LPCs is essential in determining how to exploit their regenerative capacity in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zi-Jun Yan
- International Cooperation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital/National Center for Liver Cancer, Shanghai 200438, PR China; Key Laboratory of Signaling Regulation and Targeting Therapy of Liver Cancer (SMMU), Ministry of Education, Shanghai 200438, PR China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary Tumor Biology (EHBH), Shanghai 200438, PR China
| | - Lei Chen
- International Cooperation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital/National Center for Liver Cancer, Shanghai 200438, PR China; Key Laboratory of Signaling Regulation and Targeting Therapy of Liver Cancer (SMMU), Ministry of Education, Shanghai 200438, PR China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary Tumor Biology (EHBH), Shanghai 200438, PR China.
| | - Hong-Yang Wang
- International Cooperation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital/National Center for Liver Cancer, Shanghai 200438, PR China; Key Laboratory of Signaling Regulation and Targeting Therapy of Liver Cancer (SMMU), Ministry of Education, Shanghai 200438, PR China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary Tumor Biology (EHBH), Shanghai 200438, PR China.
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3
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Kashyap SN, Boyle NR, Roberson ED. Preclinical Interventions in Mouse Models of Frontotemporal Dementia Due to Progranulin Mutations. Neurotherapeutics 2023; 20:140-153. [PMID: 36781744 PMCID: PMC10119358 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-023-01348-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Heterozygous loss-of-function mutations in progranulin (GRN) cause frontotemporal dementia (FTD), a leading cause of early-onset dementia characterized clinically by behavioral, social, and language deficits. There are currently no FDA-approved therapeutics for FTD-GRN, but this has been an active area of investigation, and several approaches are now in clinical trials. Here, we review preclinical development of therapies for FTD-GRN with a focus on testing in mouse models. Since most FTD-GRN-associated mutations cause progranulin haploinsufficiency, these approaches focus on raising progranulin levels. We begin by considering the disorders associated with altered progranulin levels, and then review the basics of progranulin biology including its lysosomal, neurotrophic, and immunomodulatory functions. We discuss mouse models of progranulin insufficiency and how they have been used in preclinical studies on a variety of therapeutic approaches. These include approaches to raise progranulin expression from the normal allele or facilitate progranulin production by the mutant allele, as well as approaches to directly increase progranulin levels by delivery across the blood-brain barrier or by gene therapy. Several of these approaches have entered clinical trials, providing hope that new therapies for FTD-GRN may be the next frontier in the treatment of neurodegenerative disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shreya N Kashyap
- Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics, Alzheimer's Disease Center, Medical Scientist Training Program, Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
| | - Nicholas R Boyle
- Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics, Alzheimer's Disease Center, Medical Scientist Training Program, Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
| | - Erik D Roberson
- Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics, Alzheimer's Disease Center, Medical Scientist Training Program, Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA.
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Cheung PF, Yang J, Fang R, Borgers A, Krengel K, Stoffel A, Althoff K, Yip CW, Siu EHL, Ng LWC, Lang KS, Cham LB, Engel DR, Soun C, Cima I, Scheffler B, Striefler JK, Sinn M, Bahra M, Pelzer U, Oettle H, Markus P, Smeets EMM, Aarntzen EHJG, Savvatakis K, Liffers ST, Lueong SS, Neander C, Bazarna A, Zhang X, Paschen A, Crawford HC, Chan AWH, Cheung ST, Siveke JT. Progranulin mediates immune evasion of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma through regulation of MHCI expression. Nat Commun 2022; 13:156. [PMID: 35013174 PMCID: PMC8748938 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27088-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2021] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Immune evasion is indispensable for cancer initiation and progression, although its underlying mechanisms in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) are not fully known. Here, we characterize the function of tumor-derived PGRN in promoting immune evasion in primary PDAC. Tumor- but not macrophage-derived PGRN is associated with poor overall survival in PDAC. Multiplex immunohistochemistry shows low MHC class I (MHCI) expression and lack of CD8+ T cell infiltration in PGRN-high tumors. Inhibition of PGRN abrogates autophagy-dependent MHCI degradation and restores MHCI expression on PDAC cells. Antibody-based blockade of PGRN in a PDAC mouse model remarkably decelerates tumor initiation and progression. Notably, tumors expressing LCMV-gp33 as a model antigen are sensitized to gp33-TCR transgenic T cell-mediated cytotoxicity upon PGRN blockade. Overall, our study shows a crucial function of tumor-derived PGRN in regulating immunogenicity of primary PDAC. Immune responses to pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma can be inhibited by cancer cells. Here the authors show that high levels of progranulin in PDAC inhibits immune responses by reducing MHC class I antigen presentation through enhanced degradation of MHC class I via autophagy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phyllis F Cheung
- Bridge Institute of Experimental Tumor Therapy, West German Cancer Center, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.,Division of Solid Tumor Translational Oncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK, partner site Essen) and German Cancer Research Center, DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - JiaJin Yang
- Bridge Institute of Experimental Tumor Therapy, West German Cancer Center, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.,Division of Solid Tumor Translational Oncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK, partner site Essen) and German Cancer Research Center, DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Rui Fang
- Bridge Institute of Experimental Tumor Therapy, West German Cancer Center, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.,Division of Solid Tumor Translational Oncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK, partner site Essen) and German Cancer Research Center, DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Arianna Borgers
- Bridge Institute of Experimental Tumor Therapy, West German Cancer Center, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.,Division of Solid Tumor Translational Oncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK, partner site Essen) and German Cancer Research Center, DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Kirsten Krengel
- Bridge Institute of Experimental Tumor Therapy, West German Cancer Center, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.,Division of Solid Tumor Translational Oncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK, partner site Essen) and German Cancer Research Center, DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Anne Stoffel
- Bridge Institute of Experimental Tumor Therapy, West German Cancer Center, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.,Division of Solid Tumor Translational Oncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK, partner site Essen) and German Cancer Research Center, DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Kristina Althoff
- Bridge Institute of Experimental Tumor Therapy, West German Cancer Center, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.,Division of Solid Tumor Translational Oncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK, partner site Essen) and German Cancer Research Center, DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Chi Wai Yip
- Department of Surgery, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Elaine H L Siu
- Department of Surgery, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Linda W C Ng
- Department of Surgery, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Karl S Lang
- Institute of Immunology, Medical Faculty, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Lamin B Cham
- Institute of Immunology, Medical Faculty, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Daniel R Engel
- Department of Immunodynamics, Institute of Experimental Immunology and Imaging, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Camille Soun
- Department of Immunodynamics, Institute of Experimental Immunology and Imaging, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Igor Cima
- DKFZ-Division Translational Neurooncology at the WTZ, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK partner site Essen/Düsseldorf), Essen, Germany
| | - Björn Scheffler
- DKFZ-Division Translational Neurooncology at the WTZ, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK partner site Essen/Düsseldorf), Essen, Germany
| | - Jana K Striefler
- Universitätsmedizin Charité Berlin, CONKO Study Group, Department of Medical Oncology, Haematology and Tumorimmunology, Berlin, Germany
| | - Marianne Sinn
- Universitätsmedizin Charité Berlin, CONKO Study Group, Department of Medical Oncology, Haematology and Tumorimmunology, Berlin, Germany
| | - Marcus Bahra
- Department of Surgical Oncology and Robotics, Krankenhaus Waldfriede, Berlin, Germany
| | - Uwe Pelzer
- Medical Department, Division of Hematology, Oncology and Tumor Immunology, Charité University Hospital, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Peter Markus
- Department of General, Visceral and Trauma Surgery, Elisabeth Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Esther M M Smeets
- Department of Medical Imaging, Radboud university medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Erik H J G Aarntzen
- Department of Medical Imaging, Radboud university medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Konstantinos Savvatakis
- Bridge Institute of Experimental Tumor Therapy, West German Cancer Center, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.,Division of Solid Tumor Translational Oncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK, partner site Essen) and German Cancer Research Center, DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sven-Thorsten Liffers
- Bridge Institute of Experimental Tumor Therapy, West German Cancer Center, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.,Division of Solid Tumor Translational Oncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK, partner site Essen) and German Cancer Research Center, DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Smiths S Lueong
- Bridge Institute of Experimental Tumor Therapy, West German Cancer Center, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.,Division of Solid Tumor Translational Oncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK, partner site Essen) and German Cancer Research Center, DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Christian Neander
- Bridge Institute of Experimental Tumor Therapy, West German Cancer Center, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.,Division of Solid Tumor Translational Oncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK, partner site Essen) and German Cancer Research Center, DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Anna Bazarna
- Bridge Institute of Experimental Tumor Therapy, West German Cancer Center, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.,Division of Solid Tumor Translational Oncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK, partner site Essen) and German Cancer Research Center, DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Xin Zhang
- Bridge Institute of Experimental Tumor Therapy, West German Cancer Center, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.,Division of Solid Tumor Translational Oncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK, partner site Essen) and German Cancer Research Center, DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Annette Paschen
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Howard C Crawford
- Rogel Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Anthony W H Chan
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Siu Tim Cheung
- Department of Surgery, Prince of Wales Hospital, 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.
| | - Jens T Siveke
- Bridge Institute of Experimental Tumor Therapy, West German Cancer Center, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany. .,Division of Solid Tumor Translational Oncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK, partner site Essen) and German Cancer Research Center, DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany.
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Zhou C, Huang Y, Wu J, Wei Y, Chen X, Lin Z, Nie S. A narrative review of multiple mechanisms of progranulin in cancer: a potential target for anti-cancer therapy. Transl Cancer Res 2021; 10:4207-4216. [PMID: 35116716 PMCID: PMC8798827 DOI: 10.21037/tcr-20-2972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2020] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Progranulin (PGRN) is an autocrine growth factor and has important effects on regulation of cell growth, motility, tissue repair and embryonic development. Recent years, several researches found the expression of PGRN was at higher levels in a number of cancer cells and its high levels are associated with poor outcome of patients. More and more studies investigated the role of PGRN in cancer and found PGRN exerted various biological functions in cancer cells, such as promoting proliferation, inhibiting apoptosis, inducing migration and invasion of cells, accelerating angiogenesis and enhancing the effectiveness of chemoresistance and radiation. Now the effects of PGRN have been demonstrated in several cancers, including breast cancer, lung cancer, and bladder cancer. In addition, several signaling pathways and molecules are involved in the effects of PGRN on cancer cells, including Akt, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and cyclin D1. Therefore, PGRN is probably a significant diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for cancer and may be a potential target for anti-cancer therapy. Here, we reviewed the advancing field of PGRN in cancer as well as several signaling pathways activated by PGRN and confirmed PGRN is a key role in cancer. Moreover, future studies are still necessary to elucidate the biological functions and signaling pathways of PGRN in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenhui Zhou
- Department of Neurosurgery, Ningbo First Hospital, Ningbo Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Ningbo, China
| | - Yi Huang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Ningbo First Hospital, Ningbo Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Ningbo, China
| | - Jingmi Wu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Ningbo First Hospital, Ningbo Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Ningbo, China
| | - Yiting Wei
- Department of Neurosurgery, Ningbo First Hospital, Ningbo Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Ningbo, China
| | - Xiaosheng Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Ningbo First Hospital, Ningbo University School of Medicine, Ningbo, China
| | - Zhiqing Lin
- Department of Neurosurgery, Ningbo First Hospital, Ningbo Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Ningbo, China
| | - Sheng Nie
- Department of Neurosurgery, Ningbo First Hospital, Ningbo Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Ningbo, China
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Granulin: An Invasive and Survival-Determining Marker in Colorectal Cancer Patients. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22126436. [PMID: 34208547 PMCID: PMC8235441 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22126436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2021] [Revised: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Granulin is a secreted, glycosylated peptide—originated by cleavage from a precursor protein—which is involved in cell growth, tumor invasion and angiogenesis. However, the specific prognostic impact of granulin in human colorectal cancer has only been studied to a limited extent. Thus, we wanted to assess the expression of granulin in colorectal cancer patients to evaluate its potential as a prognostic biomarker. Methods: Expressional differences of granulin in colorectal carcinoma tissue (n = 94) and corresponding healthy colon mucosa were assessed using qRT-PCR. Immunohistochemistry was performed in colorectal cancer specimens (n = 97), corresponding healthy mucosa (n = 47) and colorectal adenomas (n = 19). Subsequently, the results were correlated with histopathological and clinical patients’ data. HCT-116 cells were transfected with siRNA for invasion and migration assays. Results: Immunohistochemistry and qRT-PCR revealed tumoral over expression of granulin in colorectal cancer specimens compared to corresponding healthy colon mucosa and adenomas. Tumoral overexpression of granulin was associated with a significantly impaired overall survival. Moreover, downregulation of granulin by siRNA significantly diminished the invasive capacities of HCT-116 cells in vitro. Conclusion: Expression of granulin differs in colorectal cancer tissue, adenomas and healthy colon mucosa. Furthermore, granulin features invasive and migrative capabilities and overexpression of granulin correlates with a dismal prognosis. This reveals its potential as a prognostic biomarker and granulin could be a worthwhile molecular target for individualized anticancer therapy.
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Guha R, Yue B, Dong J, Banerjee A, Serrero G. Anti-progranulin/GP88 antibody AG01 inhibits triple negative breast cancer cell proliferation and migration. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2021; 186:637-653. [PMID: 33616772 DOI: 10.1007/s10549-021-06120-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 01/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is characterized by invasiveness and short survival. Identifying novel TNBC-targeted therapies, to potentiate standard of care (SOC) therapy, is an unmet need. Progranulin (PGRN/GP88) is a biological driver of tumorigenesis, survival, and drug resistance in several cancers including breast cancer (BC). PGRN/GP88 tissue expression is an independent prognostic factor of recurrence while elevated serum PGRN/GP88 level is associated with poor outcomes. Since PGRN/GP88 expression is elevated in 30% TNBC, we investigated the involvement of progranulin on TNBC. METHODS The effect of inhibiting PGRN/GP88 expression in TNBC cells by siRNA was investigated. The effects of a neutralizing anti-human PGRN/GP88 monoclonal antibody AG01 on the proliferation and migration of two TNBC cell lines expressing PGRN/GP88 were then examined in vitro and in vivo. RESULTS Inhibition of GP88 expression by siRNA and AG01 treatment to block PGRN/GP88 action reduced proliferation and migration in a dose-dependent fashion in MDA-MB-231 and HS578-T cells. Western blot analysis showed decreased expression of phosphorylated protein kinases p-Src, p-AKT, and p-ERK upon AG01 treatment, as well as inhibition of tumor growth and Ki67 expression in vivo. CONCLUSION PGRN/GP88 represents a therapeutic target with companion diagnostics. Blocking PGRN/GP88 with antibody treatment may provide novel-targeted solutions in TNBC treatment which could eventually address the issue of toxicity and unresponsiveness associated with SOC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rupa Guha
- A&G Pharmaceutical Inc, 9130 Red Branch Rd Suite X, Columbia, MD, 21045, USA.,Graduate Program in Life Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 655 W. Baltimore St, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Binbin Yue
- A&G Pharmaceutical Inc, 9130 Red Branch Rd Suite X, Columbia, MD, 21045, USA
| | - Jianping Dong
- A&G Pharmaceutical Inc, 9130 Red Branch Rd Suite X, Columbia, MD, 21045, USA
| | - Aditi Banerjee
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 655 W. Baltimore St, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Ginette Serrero
- A&G Pharmaceutical Inc, 9130 Red Branch Rd Suite X, Columbia, MD, 21045, USA. .,University of Maryland Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, 22 S. Greene St, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA.
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Serrero G. Progranulin/GP88, A Complex and Multifaceted Player of Tumor Growth by Direct Action and via the Tumor Microenvironment. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2021; 1329:475-498. [PMID: 34664252 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-73119-9_22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Investigation of the role of progranulin/GP88 on the proliferation and survival of a wide variety of cells has been steadily increasing. Several human diseases stem from progranulin dysregulation either through its overexpression in cancer or its absence as in the case of null mutations in some form of frontotemporal dementia. The present review focuses on the role of progranulin/GP88 in cancer development, progression, and drug resistance. Various aspects of progranulin identification, biology, and signaling pathways will be described. Information will be provided about its direct role as an autocrine growth and survival factor and its paracrine effect as a systemic factor as well as via interaction with extracellular matrix proteins and with components of the tumor microenvironment to influence drug resistance, migration, angiogenesis, inflammation, and immune modulation. This chapter will also describe studies examining progranulin/GP88 tumor tissue expression as well as circulating level as a prognostic factor for several cancers. Due to the wealth of publications in progranulin, this review does not attempt to be exhaustive but rather provide a thread to lead the readers toward more in-depth exploration of this fascinating and unique protein.
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El-Ghammaz AMS, Azzazi MO, Mostafa N, Hegab HM, Mahmoud AA. Prognostic significance of serum progranulin level in de novo adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients. Clin Exp Med 2020; 20:269-276. [PMID: 32006270 DOI: 10.1007/s10238-020-00610-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2019] [Accepted: 01/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Increased expression of progranulin (PGRN) has been reported in some hematological cancers, but limited information regarding its significance in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is available. This study involved 60 subjects (40 de novo adult ALL patients and 20 controls). Serum PGRN level was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and was correlated with patient outcome. Serum PGRN level was significantly higher in patients than controls. Serum PGRN level did not correlate with age, total leukocytic count, hemoglobin, platelets, absolute blast count in peripheral blood, lactate dehydrogenase, percent of blasts in bone marrow, gender, comorbidities, the presence of central nervous system infiltration, ALL phenotype, cytogenetics and risk of the disease. High serum PGRN level was not associated with inferior overall survival (OS) on univariate analysis. Regarding cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR) and disease-free survival (DFS), high PGRN level was associated with poor results on univariate analysis. Moreover, it tended to be independent risk factor on multivariate analysis for CIR but was not an independent predictor of inferior DFS. Serum PGRN level is significantly elevated in de novo adult ALL patients and may be used as a predictor of increased relapse risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amro M S El-Ghammaz
- Clinical Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit, Internal Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
| | - Mohamed O Azzazi
- Clinical Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit, Internal Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Nevine Mostafa
- Clinical Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit, Internal Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Hany M Hegab
- Clinical Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit, Internal Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Amir A Mahmoud
- Clinical Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit, Internal Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
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Expression of GP88 (Progranulin) Protein Is an Independent Prognostic Factor in Prostate Cancer Patients. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11122029. [PMID: 31888257 PMCID: PMC6966571 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11122029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2019] [Revised: 12/05/2019] [Accepted: 12/10/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Prostate cancer, the second most common cancer, is still a major cause of morbidity and mortality among men worldwide. The expression of the survival and proliferation factor progranulin (GP88) has not yet been comprehensively studied in PCa tumors. The aim of this study was to characterize GP88 protein expression in PCa by immunohistochemistry and to correlate the findings to the clinico-pathological data and prognosis. Immunohistochemical staining for GP88 was performed by TMA with samples from 442 PCa patients using an immunoreactive score (IRS). Altogether, 233 cases (52.7%) with negative GP88 staining (IRS < 2) and 209 cases (47.3%) with positive GP88 staining (IRS ≥ 2) were analyzed. A significant positive correlation was found for the GP88 IRS with the PSA value at prostatectomy and the cytoplasmic cytokeratin 20 IRS, whereas it was negatively associated with follow-up times. The association of GP88 staining with prognosis was further studied by survival analyses (Kaplan-Meier, univariate and multivariate Cox's regression analysis). Increased GP88 protein expression appeared as an independent prognostic factor for overall, disease-specific and relapse-free survival in all PCa patients. Interestingly, in the subgroup of younger PCa patients (≤65 years), GP88 positivity was associated with a 3.8-fold (p = 0.004), a 6.0-fold (p = 0.008) and a 3.7-fold (p = 0.003) increased risk for death, disease-specific death and occurrence of a relapse, respectively. In the PCa subgroup with negative CK20 staining, GP88 positivity was associated with a 1.8-fold (p = 0.018) and a 2.8-fold increased risk for death and disease-specific death (p = 0.028). Altogether, GP88 protein positivity appears to be an independent prognostic factor for PCa patients.
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11
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Laudisi F, Cherubini F, Di Grazia A, Dinallo V, Di Fusco D, Franzè E, Ortenzi A, Salvatori I, Scaricamazza S, Monteleone I, Sakamoto N, Monteleone G, Stolfi C. Progranulin sustains STAT3 hyper-activation and oncogenic function in colorectal cancer cells. Mol Oncol 2019; 13:2142-2159. [PMID: 31361391 PMCID: PMC6763778 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.12552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2019] [Revised: 07/04/2019] [Accepted: 07/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Persistent activation of Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription (STAT)3 occurs in a high percentage of tumors, including colorectal cancer (CRC), thereby contributing to malignant cell proliferation and survival. Although STAT3 is recognized as an attractive therapeutic target in CRC, conventional approaches aimed at inhibiting its functions have met with several limitations. Moreover, the factors that sustain hyper-activation of STAT3 in CRC are not yet fully understood. The identification of tumor-specific STAT3 cofactors may facilitate the development of compounds that interfere exclusively with STAT3 activity in cancer cells. Here, we show that progranulin, a STAT3 cofactor, is upregulated in human CRC as compared to nontumor tissue/cells and its expression correlates with STAT3 activation. Progranulin physically interacts with STAT3 in CRC cells, and its knockdown with a specific antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) inhibits STAT3 activation and restrains the expression of STAT3-related oncogenic proteins, thus causing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Moreover, progranulin knockdown reduces STAT3 phosphorylation and cell proliferation induced by tumor-infiltrating leukocyte (TIL)-derived supernatants in CRC cell lines and human CRC explants. These findings indicate that CRC exhibits overexpression of progranulin, and suggest a role for this protein in amplifying the STAT3 pathway in CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Laudisi
- Department of Systems MedicineUniversity of ‘Tor Vergata’RomeItaly
| | - Fabio Cherubini
- Department of Systems MedicineUniversity of ‘Tor Vergata’RomeItaly
| | | | - Vincenzo Dinallo
- Department of Systems MedicineUniversity of ‘Tor Vergata’RomeItaly
| | - Davide Di Fusco
- Department of Systems MedicineUniversity of ‘Tor Vergata’RomeItaly
| | - Eleonora Franzè
- Department of Systems MedicineUniversity of ‘Tor Vergata’RomeItaly
| | - Angela Ortenzi
- Department of Systems MedicineUniversity of ‘Tor Vergata’RomeItaly
| | | | - Silvia Scaricamazza
- IRCCS Fondazione Santa LuciaRomeItaly
- Department of BiologyUniversity of ‘Tor Vergata’RomeItaly
| | - Ivan Monteleone
- Department of Biomedicine and PreventionUniversity of ‘Tor Vergata’RomeItaly
| | - Naoya Sakamoto
- Department of Molecular PathologyHiroshima UniversityHiroshimaJapan
| | | | - Carmine Stolfi
- Department of Systems MedicineUniversity of ‘Tor Vergata’RomeItaly
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12
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Covalent conjugates of granulin-epithelial precursor-siRNA with arginine-rich peptide for improved stability and intracellular delivery in hepatoma cells. Mol Cell Toxicol 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s13273-019-0028-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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13
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Elkabets M, Brook S. Methods to Study the Role of Progranulin in the Tumor Microenvironment. Methods Mol Biol 2019; 1806:155-176. [PMID: 29956276 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-8559-3_12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
Accurate measurement of progranulin (PGRN) in the circulation and in the tumor microenvironment is essential for understanding its role in cancer progression and metastasis. This chapter describes a number of approaches to measure the transcription level of the GRN gene and to detect and analyze PGRN expression in cancer cells and in the local environment of the tumor, in mouse and human samples. These validated protocols are utilized to investigate the functional role of PGRN in cancer. Finally, we discuss strategies to investigate the functions of PGRN in tumors using genetically modified mouse models and gene silencing techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moshe Elkabets
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
| | - Samuel Brook
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program (HOPP), Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
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14
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Yip CW, Cheung PFY, Wong NCL, Fung SW, Cheung ST. Mouse Monoclonal Antibodies Against Progranulin (PGRN/GEP) as Therapeutics in Preclinical Cancer Models. Methods Mol Biol 2019; 1806:131-144. [PMID: 29956274 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-8559-3_10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/25/2023]
Abstract
The use of monoclonal antibody (mAb) has become a unique means of targeted therapy for human cancers. mAb-based therapies have shown survival benefits by applying alone or in combination with chemotherapeutics. Being a humanized biomolecule with exquisite target specificity, mAb demonstrated effects in a relatively lower dose range with limited off-target harm to the patients. Nowadays, novel targets involved in tumorigenic mechanisms and biomarkers expressed exclusively on cancer cell surface are being constantly discovered. The potential effects of their specific mAb could be investigated in the preclinical cancer model. In this chapter, we outlined our experimental procedures in determining the feasibility of novel mAb in the preclinical cancer model, with an example of progranulin (PGRN/GEP) mAb against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tumor in mouse model. This chapter included the establishment of subcutaneous and orthotopic HCC tumor in mouse model, the injection of the mouse monoclonal antibody in combination with cytotoxic chemotherapeutics, the assessment of tumor development, and the analyses of the molecular changes of the tumor cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi Wai Yip
- Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Phyllis F Y Cheung
- Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Nicholas C L Wong
- Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Sze Wai Fung
- Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,School of Biomedical Sciences, The 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.
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15
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Cui Y, Hettinghouse A, Liu CJ. Progranulin: A conductor of receptors orchestra, a chaperone of lysosomal enzymes and a therapeutic target for multiple diseases. Cytokine Growth Factor Rev 2019; 45:53-64. [PMID: 30733059 DOI: 10.1016/j.cytogfr.2019.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2019] [Accepted: 01/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Progranulin (PGRN), a widely expressed glycoprotein with pleiotropic function, has been linked to a host of physiological processes and diverse pathological states. A series of contemporary preclinical disease models and clinical trials have evaluated various therapeutic strategies targeting PGRN, highlighting PGRN as a promising therapeutic target. Herein we summarize available knowledge of PGRN targeting in various kinds of diseases, including common neurological diseases, inflammatory autoimmune diseases, cancer, tissue repair, and rare lysosomal storage diseases, with a focus on the functional domain-oriented drug development strategies. In particular, we emphasize the role of extracellular PGRN as a non-conventional, extracellular matrix bound, growth factor-like conductor orchestrating multiple membrane receptors and intracellular PGRN as a chaperone/co-chaperone that mediates the folding and traffic of its various binding partners.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yazhou Cui
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, New York University Medical Center, New York, NY, 10003, USA; Shandong Medical Biotechnological Center, Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, 250062, China
| | - Aubryanna Hettinghouse
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, New York University Medical Center, New York, NY, 10003, USA
| | - Chuan-Ju Liu
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, New York University Medical Center, New York, NY, 10003, USA; Department of Cell Biology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10016, USA.
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16
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Upontain S, Sereerak P, Laha T, Sripa B, Tangkawatana P, Brindley PJ, Tangkawatana S. Granulin Expression in Hamsters during Opisthorchis viverrini Infection-Induced Cholangiocarcinogenesis. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev 2018; 19:2437-2445. [PMID: 30255697 PMCID: PMC6249462 DOI: 10.22034/apjcp.2018.19.9.2437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2017] [Accepted: 07/30/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The secreted growth factor granulin (GRN) is upregulated during diverse epithelial cancers. GRN stimulates cell growth and development while inhibiting apoptosis. Orthologues of vertebrate granulins evolved in other animals including the liver fluke Opisthorchis viverrini. Curiously, liver fluke granulin, termed Ov-GRN-1 promotes cholangiocarcinogenesis during chronic opisthorchiasis but, by contrast, limited information is available concerning mammalian GRN during liver fluke infection-induced cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). Here we investigated the expression of mammalian granulin in the O. viverrini-associated a hamster model of opisthorchiasis and liver fluke infection-induced CCA. Male Syrian golden hamsters were assigned to one of four treatment groups, each group included 30 hamsters: 1) normal (control), 2) infected with O. viverrini (OV); 3) exposed to N-dimethylnitrosamine in drinking water (DMN); and 4) infected with O. viverrini and exposed to DMN (OVDMN). Immunohistochemistry using an anti-granulin specific probe for mammalian granulin was undertaken to monitor expression and location in hepatobiliary tissues of the hamsters. In parallel, cognate studies of transcription of mRNA and protein. Histopathological examination revealed development of proliferative lesions from the onset and eruption of CCA onwards, an outcome that was most prominent in the OVDMN hamsters. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) index rose continuously from initiation of infection and increased with lesion progression in OV, DMN and markedly in OVDMN hamsters. Expression of GRN in biliary was elevated in biliary epithelial cells in CCA lesions in hamsters in the DMN and OVDMN groups. Expression of GRN as assayed by western blot and RT-PCR reflected the same trend as seen with PCNA. Together the histopathogical and molecular assay based findings revealed marked expression of granulin during cholangiocarcinoma in these hamsters, and highlighted the prospect that granulin represents a potential prognostic marker for cholangiocarcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Songkiad Upontain
- Graduate School, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Control of Opisthorchiasis (Southeast Asian Liver Fluke Disease)/Tropical Disease Research Center (TDRC), Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.
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17
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Abstract
The purpose of this brief overview of the progranulin protein is to provide a sense of the range and extent of the roles of progranulin in normal physiology and pathology. Progranulin has received attention due to its role in neurodegeneration, where mutation of a single copy of GRN, the gene encoding progranulin, results in frontotemporal dementia, whereas viral delivery of progranulin to the brains of mice exhibiting Parkinson's or Alzheimer's disease phenotypes inhibits the progression of the neurodegenerative phenotypes. Of equal importance, progranulin protects tissues against the harmful effects of poorly controlled inflammation and promotes tissue regeneration after injury at a multitude of sites throughout the body. Progranulin is overexpressed by many types of cancer and contributes to their progression. Given suitable analytical methods and model systems, progranulin offers a wealth of research possibilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Bateman
- Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
- Program in Metabolic Diseases and Their Complications, Centre for Translational Biology, Research Institute of McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada.
| | - 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
| | - Hugh P J Bennett
- Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Program in Metabolic Diseases and Their Complications, Centre for Translational Biology, Research Institute of McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
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18
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Cheung PFY, Cheung TT, Yip CW, Ng LWC, Fung SW, Lo CM, Fan ST, Cheung ST. Hepatic cancer stem cell marker granulin-epithelin precursor and β-catenin expression associate with recurrence in hepatocellular carcinoma. Oncotarget 2017; 7:21644-57. [PMID: 26942873 PMCID: PMC5008312 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.7803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2015] [Accepted: 02/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Granulin-epithelin precursor (GEP) has been demonstrated to confer enhanced cancer stem-like cell properties in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell line models in our previous studies. Here, we aimed to examine the GEP-expressing cells in relation to the stem cell related molecules and stem-like cell properties in the prospective HCC clinical cohort. GEP protein levels were significantly higher in HCCs than the paralleled non-tumor liver tissues, and associated with venous infiltration. GEPhigh cells isolated from clinical HCC samples exhibited higher levels of stem cell marker CD133, pluripotency-associated signaling molecules β-catenin, Oct4, SOX2, Nanog, and chemodrug transporter ABCB5. In addition, GEPhigh cells possessed preferential ability to form colonies and spheroids, and enhanced in vivo tumor-initiating ability while their xenografts were able to be serially subpassaged into secondary mouse recipients. Expression levels of GEP and pluripotency-associated genes were further examined in the retrospective HCC cohort and demonstrated significant correlation of GEP with β-catenin. Notably, HCC patients with high GEP and β-catenin levels demonstrated poor recurrence-free survival. In summary, GEP-positive HCC cells directly isolated from clinical specimens showed β-catenin elevation and cancer stem-like cell properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phyllis F Y Cheung
- Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Tan To Cheung
- Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Department of Surgery, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, China
| | - Chi Wai Yip
- Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Linda W C Ng
- Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Sze Wai Fung
- Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Chung Mau Lo
- Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Department of Surgery, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, China
| | - Sheung Tat Fan
- Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Siu Tim Cheung
- Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
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19
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Abstract
Cancer cells have defects in regulatory mechanisms that usually control cell proliferation and homeostasis. Different cancer cells share crucial alterations in cell physiology, which lead to malignant growth. Tumorigenesis or tumor growth requires a series of events that include constant cell proliferation, promotion of metastasis and invasion, stimulation of angiogenesis, evasion of tumor suppressor factors, and avoidance of cell death pathways. All these events in tumor progression may be regulated by growth factors produced by normal or malignant cells. The growth factor progranulin has significant biological effects in different types of cancer. This protein is a regulator of tumorigenesis because it stimulates cell proliferation, migration, invasion, angiogenesis, malignant transformation, resistance to anticancer drugs, and immune evasion. This review focuses on the biological effects of progranulin in several cancer models and provides evidence that this growth factor should be considered as a potential biomarker and target in cancer treatment.
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20
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Yip CW, Lam CY, Poon TCW, Cheung TT, Cheung PFY, Fung SW, Wang XQ, Leung ICY, Ng LWC, Lo CM, Tsao GSW, Cheung ST. Granulin-epithelin precursor interacts with 78-kDa glucose-regulated protein in hepatocellular carcinoma. BMC Cancer 2017; 17:409. [PMID: 28601093 PMCID: PMC5466756 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-017-3399-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2016] [Accepted: 06/01/2017] [Indexed: 08/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Granulin-epithelin precursor (GEP) is a secretory growth factor, which has been demonstrated to control cancer growth, invasion, drug resistance and immune escape. Our previous studies and others also demonstrated its potential in targeted therapy. Comprehensive characterization of GEP partner on cancer cells are warranted. We have previously shown that GEP interacted with heparan sulfate on the surface of liver cancer cells and the interaction is crucial for GEP-mediated signaling transduction. This study aims to characterize GEP protein partner at the cell membrane with the co-immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry approach. Methods The membrane fraction from liver cancer model Hep3B was used for capturing binding partner with the specific monoclonal antibody against GEP. The precipitated proteins were analyzed by mass spectrometry. After identifying the GEP binding partner, this specific interaction was validated in additional liver cancer cell line HepG2 by co-immunoprecipitation using GRP78 and GEP antibodies, respectively, as the bait. GRP78 transcript levels in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) clinical samples (n = 77 pairs) were examined by real-time quantitative RT-PCR. GEP and GRP78 protein expressions were investigated by immunohistochemistry on paraffin sections. Results We identified the GEP-binding protein as 78-kDa glucose-regulated protein (GRP78, also named heat shock 70-kDa protein 5, HSPA5). This interaction was validated in independent HCC cell lines. Increased GRP78 mRNA levels were demonstrated in liver cancer tissues compared with the paralleled liver tissues (t-test, P = 0.002). GRP78 and GEP transcript levels were significantly correlated (Spearman’s correlation, P = 0.001), and the proteins were also detectable in the cytoplasm of liver cancer cells by immunohistochemical staining. Conclusions GRP78 and GEP are interacting protein partners in liver cancer cells and may play a role in GEP-mediated cancer progression in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi Wai Yip
- Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ching Yan Lam
- Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Department of Health, The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Hong Kong, China
| | | | - Tan To Cheung
- Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Phyllis F Y Cheung
- Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Sze Wai Fung
- Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Xiao Qi Wang
- Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Idy C Y Leung
- Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Linda W C Ng
- Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Chung Mau Lo
- Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - George S W Tsao
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The 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. .,Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong.
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21
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Cheung PFY, Yip CW, Ng LWC, Lo KW, Chow C, Chan KF, Cheung TT, Cheung ST. Comprehensive characterization of the patient-derived xenograft and the paralleled primary hepatocellular carcinoma cell line. Cancer Cell Int 2016; 16:41. [PMID: 27279800 PMCID: PMC4898407 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-016-0322-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2016] [Accepted: 06/03/2016] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an aggressive cancer with high mortality and morbidity worldwide. The limited clinically relevant model has impeded the development of effective HCC treatment strategy. Patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models retain most of the characteristics of original tumors and were shown to be highly predictive for clinical outcomes. Notably, primary cell line models allow in-depth molecular characterization and high-throughput analysis. Combined usage of the two models would provide an excellent tool for systematic study of therapeutic strategies. Here, we comprehensively characterized the novel PDX and the paralleled primary HCC cell line model. METHODS Tumor tissues were collected from HCC surgical specimens. HCC cells were sorted for in vivo PDX and in vitro cell line establishment by the expression of hepatic cancer stem cell marker to enhance cell viability and the rate of success on subsequent culture. The PDX and its matching primary cell line were authenticated and characterized in vitro and in vivo. RESULTS Among the successful cases for generating PDXs and primary cells, HCC40 is capable for both PDX and primary cell line establishment, which were then further characterized. The novel HCC40-PDX and HCC40-CL exhibited consistent phenotypic characteristics as the original tumor in terms of HBV protein and AFP expressions. In common with HCC40-PDX, HCC40-CL was tumorigenic in immunocompromised mice. The migration ability in vitro and metastatic properties in vivo echoed the clinical feature of venous infiltration. Genetic profiling by short tandem repeat analysis and p53 mutation pattern consolidated that both the HCC40-PDX and HCC40-CL models were derived from the HCC40 clinical specimen. CONCLUSIONS The paralleled establishment of PDX and primary cell line would serve as useful models in comprehensive studies for HCC pathogenesis and therapeutics development for personalized treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phyllis F Y Cheung
- Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong, China ; Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Chi Wai Yip
- Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong, China ; Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China ; Division of Genomic Technologies, RIKEN Center for Life Science Technologies, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Linda W C Ng
- Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong, China
| | - Kwok Wai Lo
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Chit Chow
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Kui Fat Chan
- Department of Pathology, Tuen Mun Hospital, Hong Kong, China
| | - Tan To Cheung
- Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Siu Tim Cheung
- Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong, China ; Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
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22
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Cheng Z, Li X, Ding J. Characteristics of liver cancer stem cells and clinical correlations. Cancer Lett 2015; 379:230-8. [PMID: 26272183 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2015.07.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2015] [Revised: 07/17/2015] [Accepted: 07/18/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Liver cancer is an aggressive malignant disease with a poor prognosis. Patients with liver cancer are usually diagnosed at an advanced stage and thus miss the opportunity for surgical resection. Chemotherapy and radiofrequency ablation, which target tumor bulk, have exhibited limited therapeutic efficacy to date. Liver cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a small subset of undifferentiated cells existed in liver cancer, which are considered to be responsible for liver cancer initiation, metastasis, relapse and chemoresistance. Elucidating liver CSC characteristics and disclosing their regulatory mechanism might not only deepen our understanding of the pathogenesis of liver cancer but also facilitate the development of diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic approaches to improve the clinical management of liver cancer. In this review, we will summarize the recent advances in liver CSC research in terms of the origin, identification, regulation and clinical correlation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuo Cheng
- International Cooperation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital/Institute, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China; National Center of Liver Cancer, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Xiaofeng Li
- International Cooperation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital/Institute, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China; National Center of Liver Cancer, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Jin Ding
- International Cooperation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital/Institute, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China; National Center of Liver Cancer, Shanghai 200433, China.
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23
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Saito M, Takano T, Nishimura T, Kohara M, Tsukiyama-Kohara K. 3β-hydroxysterol δ24-reductase on the surface of hepatitis C virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma cells can be a target for molecular targeting therapy. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0124197. [PMID: 25875901 PMCID: PMC4395381 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0124197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2014] [Accepted: 02/26/2015] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
In our previous study, we demonstrated that 3β-hydroxysterol Δ24-reductase (DHCR24) was overexpressed in hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and that its expression was induced by HCV. Using a monoclonal antibody against DHCR24 (2-152a MAb), we found that DHCR24 was specifically expressed on the surface of HCC cell lines. Based on these findings, we aimed to establish a novel targeting strategy using 2-152a MAb to treat HCV-related HCC. In the present study, we examined the antitumor activity of 2-152a MAb. In the presence of complement, HCC-derived HuH-7 cells were killed by treatment with 2-152a MAb, which was mediated by complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC). In addition, the antigen recognition domain of 2-152a MAb was responsible for the unique anti-HCV activity. These findings demonstrate the feasibility of using 2-152a MAb for antibody therapy against HCV-related HCC. In addition, surface DHCR24 on HCC cells exhibited a functional property, agonist-induced internalization. We showed that 2-152a MAb-mediated binding of a cytotoxic agent (a saponin-conjugated secondary antibody) to surface DHCR24 led to significant cytotoxicity. This suggests that surface DHCR24 on HCC cells can function as a carrier for internalization. Therefore, surface DHCR24 could be a valuable target for HCV-related HCC therapy, and 2-152a MAb appears to be useful for this targeted therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Makoto Saito
- Department of Experimental Phylaxiology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, 1-1-1 Honjo Kumamoto-City, Kumamoto, Japan; Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, 2-1-6 Kamikitazawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takashi Takano
- Department of Experimental Phylaxiology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, 1-1-1 Honjo Kumamoto-City, Kumamoto, Japan; Division of Veterinary Public Health, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, 1-7-1 Kyonan, Musashino, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tomohiro Nishimura
- Department of Experimental Phylaxiology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, 1-1-1 Honjo Kumamoto-City, Kumamoto, Japan; Chemo-Sero-Therapeutic Research Institute, Kikuchi Research Center, Kyokushi, Kikuchi, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Michinori Kohara
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, 2-1-6 Kamikitazawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kyoko Tsukiyama-Kohara
- Department of Experimental Phylaxiology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, 1-1-1 Honjo Kumamoto-City, Kumamoto, Japan; Transboundary Animal Diseases Center, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, 1-21-24 Korimoto, Kagoshima, Japan; Laboratory of Animal Hygiene, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, 1-21-24 Korimoto, Kagoshima, Japan
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Yung MK, Lo KW, Yip CW, Chung GTY, Tong CYK, Cheung PFY, Cheung TT, Poon RTP, So S, Fan ST, Cheung ST. Copy number gain of granulin-epithelin precursor (GEP) at chromosome 17q21 associates with overexpression in human liver cancer. BMC Cancer 2015; 15:264. [PMID: 25885205 PMCID: PMC4403714 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-015-1294-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2014] [Accepted: 03/31/2015] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Granulin-epithelin precursor (GEP), a secretory growth factor, demonstrated overexpression in various human cancers, however, mechanism remain elusive. Primary liver cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), ranks the second in cancer-related death globally. GEP controlled growth, invasion, metastasis and chemo-resistance in liver cancer. Noted that GEP gene locates at 17q21 and the region has been frequently reported to be amplified in subset of HCC. The study aims to investigate if copy number gain would associate with GEP overexpression. METHODS Quantitative Microsatellite Analysis (QuMA) was used to quantify the GEP DNA copy number, and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) was performed to consolidate the amplification status. GEP gene copy number, mRNA expression level and clinico-pathological features were analyzed. RESULTS GEP DNA copy number determined by QuMA corroborated well with the FISH data, and the gene copy number correlated with the expression levels (n = 60, r = 0.331, P = 0.010). Gain of GEP copy number was observed in 20% (12/60) HCC and associated with hepatitis B virus infection status (P = 0.015). In HCC with increased GEP copy number, tight association between GEP DNA and mRNA levels were observed (n = 12, r = 0.664, P = 0.019). CONCLUSIONS Gain of the GEP gene copy number was observed in 20% HCC and the frequency comparable to literatures reported on the chromosome region 17q. Increased gene copy number contributed to GEP overexpression in subset of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Man Kuen Yung
- Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Kwok Wai Lo
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Chi Wai Yip
- Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. .,Centre for Cancer Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Grace T Y Chung
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Carol Y K Tong
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Phyllis F Y Cheung
- Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. .,Centre for Cancer Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Tan To Cheung
- Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. .,Department of Surgery, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Ronnie T P Poon
- Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. .,Centre for Cancer Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. .,State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Samuel So
- Department of Surgery, Stanford University, Stanford, USA.
| | - Sheung Tat Fan
- Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. .,Centre for Cancer Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. .,State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Siu Tim Cheung
- Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. .,Centre for Cancer Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. .,State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. .,Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, L9-55, Laboratory Block, Faculty of Medicine Building, 21 Sassoon Road, Hong Kong, China.
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25
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Cheung PF, Yip CW, Ng LW, Wong CK, Cheung TT, Lo CM, Fan ST, Cheung ST. Restoration of natural killer activity in hepatocellular carcinoma by treatment with antibody against granulin-epithelin precursor. Oncoimmunology 2015; 4:e1016706. [PMID: 26140244 PMCID: PMC4485783 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2015.1016706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2015] [Revised: 02/03/2015] [Accepted: 02/03/2015] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Impairment of natural killer (NK) cell activity is an important mechanism of tumor immunoevasion. We have previously shown that expression of granulin-epithelin precursor (GEP) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells rendered the cells resistant to NK cell immunosurveillance. Here, we examined whether targeting GEP could rescue NK activity in HCC patients. The current study demonstrated that quantities and activities of NK cells were significantly lower in HCC patients compared with healthy individuals, and were negatively correlated with GEP levels in HCC cells. NK cells demonstrated enhanced expression of the stimulatory receptors natural-killer group 2, member D (NKG2D) and CD69, increased secretion of IFN-γ and perforin, and cytotoxicity against HCC cells upon GEP suppression. Opposite phenotypes of NK cells were observed when GEP was overexpressed in HCC cells. Importantly, GEP blockage by monoclonal antibody A23 restored NK activity in HCC patients and sensitized HCC cells to NK cytotoxicity. Furthermore, A23 induced NK-mediated antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity against HCC. In summary, the activity of NK cells in HCC was impaired by GEP expression, which could be rescued by GEP antibody. This study provides new insight for treatments targeting GEP to boost NK activity in HCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phyllis Fy Cheung
- Department of Surgery ; Center for Cancer Research; The University of Hong Kong ; Hong Kong, China
| | - Chi Wai Yip
- Department of Surgery ; Center for Cancer Research; The University of Hong Kong ; Hong Kong, China
| | | | - Chun Kwok Wong
- Department of Chemical Pathology; The Chinese University of Hong Kong; Prince of Wales Hospital ; Hong Kong, China
| | - Tan To Cheung
- Department of Surgery ; Department of Surgery; Queen Mary Hospital ; Hong Kong, China
| | - Chung Mau Lo
- Department of Surgery ; Department of Surgery; Queen Mary Hospital ; Hong Kong, China
| | - Sheung Tat Fan
- Department of Surgery ; Department of Surgery; Queen Mary Hospital ; Hong Kong, China
| | - Siu Tim Cheung
- Department of Surgery ; Center for Cancer Research; The University of Hong Kong ; Hong Kong, China
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26
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Cheung PFY, Yip CW, Wong NCL, Fong DYT, Ng LWC, Wan AMY, Wong CK, Cheung TT, Ng IOL, Poon RTP, Fan ST, Cheung ST. Granulin-epithelin precursor renders hepatocellular carcinoma cells resistant to natural killer cytotoxicity. Cancer Immunol Res 2014; 2:1209-19. [PMID: 25315249 DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-14-0096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Immunoevasion is an emerging hallmark of cancer. Impairment of natural killer (NK) cytotoxicity is a mechanism to evade host immunosurveillance. Granulin-epithelin precursor (GEP) is a hepatic oncofetal protein regulating growth, invasion, and chemoresistance in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We examined the role of GEP in conferring HCC cells the ability to evade NK cytotoxicity. In HCC cell lines, GEP overexpression reduced, whereas GEP suppression enhanced sensitivity to NK cytotoxicity. GEP downregulated surface expression of MHC class I chain-related molecule A (MICA), ligand for NK stimulatory receptor NK group 2 member D (NKG2D), and upregulated human leukocyte antigen-E (HLA-E), ligand for NK inhibitory receptor CD94/NKG2A. Functionally, GEP augmented production of soluble MICA, which suppressed NK activation. Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)2 and MMP9 activity was involved partly in the GEP-regulated MICA shedding from HCC cells. In primary HCCs (n = 80), elevated GEP (P < 0.001), MICA (P < 0.001), and HLA-E (P = 0.089) expression was observed when compared with those in nontumor (n = 80) and normal livers (n = 10). Serum GEP (P = 0.010) and MICA (P < 0.001) levels were higher in patients with HCC (n = 80) than in healthy individuals (n = 30). High serum GEP and/or MICA levels were associated with poor recurrence-free survival (log-rank test, P = 0.042). Importantly, GEP blockade by mAbs sensitized HCC cells to NK cytotoxicity through MICA. In summary, GEP rendered HCC cells resistant to NK cytotoxicity by modulating MICA expression, which could be reversed by GEP blockade using antibody. Serum GEP and MICA levels are prognostic factors and can be used to stratify patients for targeted therapy.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Antibodies, Monoclonal/pharmacology
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/genetics
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/immunology
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/metabolism
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/pathology
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Cytotoxicity, Immunologic/drug effects
- Cytotoxicity, Immunologic/genetics
- Disease Models, Animal
- Gene Expression
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic/drug effects
- Histocompatibility Antigens Class I/genetics
- Histocompatibility Antigens Class I/metabolism
- Humans
- Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/genetics
- Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/metabolism
- Killer Cells, Natural/immunology
- Killer Cells, Natural/metabolism
- Liver Neoplasms/genetics
- Liver Neoplasms/immunology
- Liver Neoplasms/metabolism
- Liver Neoplasms/pathology
- Matrix Metalloproteinases/metabolism
- Mice
- Progranulins
- HLA-E Antigens
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Affiliation(s)
- Phyllis F Y Cheung
- Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. Center for Cancer Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Chi Wai Yip
- Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. Center for Cancer Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Nicholas C L Wong
- Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Daniel Y T Fong
- School of Nursing, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Linda W C Ng
- Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Angus M Y Wan
- Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Chun Kwok Wong
- Department of Chemical Pathology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong, China
| | - Tan To Cheung
- Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. Department of Surgery, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, China
| | - Irene O L Ng
- Center for Cancer Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ronnie T P Poon
- Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. Center for Cancer Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Sheung Tat Fan
- Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. Center for Cancer Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Siu Tim Cheung
- Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. Center for Cancer Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
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