1
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Parol‐Kulczyk M, Durślewicz J, Blonkowska L, Wujec R, Gzil A, Piątkowska D, Ligmanowska J, Grzanka D. Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) predicts survival in patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma. J Pathol Clin Res 2024; 10:e12365. [PMID: 38436543 PMCID: PMC10910479 DOI: 10.1002/2056-4538.12365] [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: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is one of the most common subtypes of renal cancer, with 30% of patients presenting with systemic disease at diagnosis. This aggressiveness is a consequence of the activation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) caused by many different inducers or regulators, signaling cascades, epigenetic regulation, and the tumor environment. Alterations in EMT-related genes and transcription factors are associated with poor prognosis in ccRCC. EMT-related factors suppress E-cadherin expression and are associated with tumor progression, local invasion, and metastasis. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression levels and prognostic significance of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), β-catenin, and E-cadherin in ccRCC patients. We examined these proteins immunohistochemically in tumor areas and adjacent normal tissues resected from patients with ccRCC. Analysis of the cancer genome atlas (TCGA) cohort was performed to verify our results. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that median overall survival (OS) was significantly shorter in patients with tumors exhibiting high MIFn and MIFm-c levels compared to those with low MIFn and MIFm-c levels (p = 0.03 and p = 0.007, respectively). In the TCGA cohort, there was a significant correlation between MIF expression and OS (p < 0.0001). In conclusion, this study provides further evidence for the biological and prognostic value of MIF in the context of EMT as a potential early prognostic marker for advanced-stage ccRCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martyna Parol‐Kulczyk
- Department of Clinical Pathomorphology, Faculty of Medicine, Collegium Medicum in BydgoszczNicolaus Copernicus UniversityTorunPoland
| | - Justyna Durślewicz
- Department of Clinical Pathomorphology, Faculty of Medicine, Collegium Medicum in BydgoszczNicolaus Copernicus UniversityTorunPoland
| | - Laura Blonkowska
- Department of Clinical Pathomorphology, Faculty of Medicine, Collegium Medicum in BydgoszczNicolaus Copernicus UniversityTorunPoland
| | - Radosław Wujec
- Department of Clinical Pathomorphology, Faculty of Medicine, Collegium Medicum in BydgoszczNicolaus Copernicus UniversityTorunPoland
| | - Arkadiusz Gzil
- Department of Clinical Pathomorphology, Faculty of Medicine, Collegium Medicum in BydgoszczNicolaus Copernicus UniversityTorunPoland
| | - Daria Piątkowska
- Department of Clinical Pathomorphology, Faculty of Medicine, Collegium Medicum in BydgoszczNicolaus Copernicus UniversityTorunPoland
| | - Joanna Ligmanowska
- Department of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Collegium Medicum in BydgoszczNicolaus Copernicus UniversityTorunPoland
| | - Dariusz Grzanka
- Department of Clinical Pathomorphology, Faculty of Medicine, Collegium Medicum in BydgoszczNicolaus Copernicus UniversityTorunPoland
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2
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Al-Hawary SIS, Ruzibakieva M, Gupta R, Malviya J, Toama MA, Hjazi A, Alkhayyat MRR, Alsaab HO, Hadi A, Alwaily ER. Detailed role of microRNA-mediated regulation of PI3K/AKT axis in human tumors. Cell Biochem Funct 2024; 42:e3904. [PMID: 38102946 DOI: 10.1002/cbf.3904] [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: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
The regulation of signal transmission and biological processes, such as cell proliferation, apoptosis, metabolism, migration, and angiogenesis are greatly influenced by the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Highly conserved endogenous non-protein-coding RNAs known as microRNAs (miRNAs) have the ability to regulate gene expression by inhibiting mRNA translation or mRNA degradation. MiRNAs serve key role in PI3K/AKT pathway as upstream or downstream target, and aberrant activation of this pathway contributes to the development of cancers. A growing body of research shows that miRNAs can control the PI3K/AKT pathway to control the biological processes within cells. The expression of genes linked to cancers can be controlled by the miRNA/PI3K/AKT axis, which in turn controls the development of cancer. There is also a strong correlation between the expression of miRNAs linked to the PI3K/AKT pathway and numerous clinical traits. Moreover, PI3K/AKT pathway-associated miRNAs are potential biomarkers for cancer diagnosis, therapy, and prognostic evaluation. The role and clinical applications of the PI3K/AKT pathway and miRNA/PI3K/AKT axis in the emergence of cancers are reviewed in this article.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Malika Ruzibakieva
- Cell Therapy Department, Institute of Immunology and Human Genomics, Uzbekistan Academy of Science, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
| | - Reena Gupta
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Research, GLA University, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Jitendra Malviya
- Department of Life Sciences and Biological Sciences, IES University, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Mariam Alaa Toama
- College of Pharmacy, National University of Science and Technology, Dhi Qar, Iraq
| | - Ahmed Hjazi
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia
| | - Murtadha Raad Radhi Alkhayyat
- Department of Islamic Studies, College of Art, The Islamic University of Najaf, Najaf, Iraq
- Department of Islamic Studies, College of Art, The Islamic University of Babylon, Babylon, Iraq
- Department of Islamic Studies, College of Art, The Islamic University of Al Diwaniyah, Diwaniyah, Iraq
| | - Hashem O Alsaab
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ali Hadi
- Department of Medical Laboratories Techniques, Imam Ja'afar Al-Sadiq University, Al-Muthanna, Iraq
| | - Enas R Alwaily
- Microbiology Research Group, Al-Ayen University, Thi-Qar, Iraq
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3
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Elewa MAF, Eldehna WM, Hamdan AME, Abd El-Kawi SH, El-Kalaawy AM, Majrashi TA, Barghash RF, Abdel-Aziz HA, Hashem KS, Al-Gayyar MMH. WRH-2412 alleviates the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma through regulation of TGF-β/β-catenin/α-SMA pathway. J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem 2023; 38:2185761. [PMID: 36912230 PMCID: PMC10013371 DOI: 10.1080/14756366.2023.2185761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma is considered one of the most lethal cancers, which is characterised by increasing prevalence associated with high level of invasion and metastasis. The novel synthetic pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine compound, WRH-2412, was reported to exhibit in vitro antitumor activity. This study was conducted to evaluate the antitumor activity of WRH-2412 in HCC induced in rats through affecting the TGF-β/β-catenin/α-SMA pathway. Antitumor activity of WRH-2412 was evaluated by calculating the rat's survival rate and by assessment of serum α-fetoprotein. Protein expression of TGF-β, β-catenin, E-cadherin, fascin and gene expression of SMAD4 and α-SMA were determined in hepatic tissue of rats. WRH-2412 produced antitumor activity by significantly increasing the rats' survival rate and decreasing serum α-fetoprotein. WRH-2412 significantly reduced an HCC-induced increase in hepatic TGF-β, β-catenin, SMAD4, fascin and α-SMA expression. In addition, WRH-2412 significantly increased hepatic E-cadherin expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed A F Elewa
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafr El-Sheikh, Egypt
| | - Wagdy M Eldehna
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafrelsheikh, Egypt.,Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Salman International University (KSIU), South Sinai, Egypt
| | - Ahmed M E Hamdan
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia
| | - Samraa H Abd El-Kawi
- Department of Medical Histology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, Egypt
| | - Asmaa M El-Kalaawy
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, Egypt
| | - Taghreed A Majrashi
- Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia
| | - Reham F Barghash
- Institute of Chemical Industries Research, National Research Centre, Dokki, Giza, Egypt
| | - Hatem A Abdel-Aziz
- Department of Applied Organic Chemistry, National Research Center, Dokki, Giza, Egypt
| | - Khalid S Hashem
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, Egypt
| | - Mohammed M H Al-Gayyar
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.,Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia
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4
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Zhang Y, Luo L, Fu C, Hu W, Li Y, Xiong J. CDC23 knockdown suppresses the proliferation, migration and invasion of liver cancer via the EMT process. Oncol Lett 2023; 26:291. [PMID: 37274472 PMCID: PMC10236262 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2023.13877] [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: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver cancer (LC) is a malignant tumour that is associated with high mortality rates worldwide. Cell division cycle 23 (CDC23) acts as an oncogene in papillary thyroid cancer. In addition, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is frequently involved in the malignant metastasis of various cancer types. Therefore, we hypothesized that CDC23 may regulate the malignant biological behaviours of LC cells through EMT. Proliferation, colony formation and Transwell assays, western blotting and xenograft experiments were performed. The results of the present study showed that CDC23 was highly expressed in LC cell lines. In addition, it was found via multiple in vitro assays that CDC23 knockdown reduced the proliferation, migration and invasion of LC cell lines. Finally, an in vivo study confirmed that CDC23 knockdown inhibited the growth of xenograft LC in nude mice. More importantly, the changes in the levels of EMT-related marker proteins were analysed in the sh-CDC23 group compared with the sh-NC group of cells and xenografts. E-cadherin was upregulated, and N-cadherin and vimentin were significantly downregulated after CDC23 silencing. Taken together, these results revealed that the knockdown of CDC23 inhibits the progression of LC by regulating EMT and that CDC23 may be a novel therapeutic target for LC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China
- Laboratory of Digestive Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China
| | - Lianghua Luo
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China
- Laboratory of Digestive Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China
| | - Chengchao Fu
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China
- Laboratory of Digestive Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China
| | - Wang Hu
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China
- Laboratory of Digestive Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China
| | - Yong Li
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China
- Laboratory of Digestive Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China
| | - Jianbo Xiong
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China
- Laboratory of Digestive Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China
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5
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El-Daly SM, El-Bana MA, Abd El-Rahman SS, Latif YA, Medhat D. Dynamic expression of H19 and MALAT1 and their correlation with tumor progression biomarkers in a multistage hepatocarcinogenesis model. Cell Biochem Funct 2023; 41:331-343. [PMID: 36861261 DOI: 10.1002/cbf.3785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 12/29/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progresses sequentially in a stepwise pattern. Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) can regulate the complex cascade of hepatocarcinogenesis. Our study aimed to elucidate the expression profile of H19 and MALAT1 during the different stages of hepatocarcinogenesis and the correlation between H19 and MALAT1 with the genes implicated in the carcinogenesis cascade. We employed a chemically induced hepatocarcinogenesis murine model to mimic the successive stages of human HCC development. Using real-time PCR, we analyzed the expression patterns of H19 and MALAT1, as well as the expression of biomarkers implicated in the Epithelial-Mesenchymal transition (EMT). The protein expression of the mesenchymal marker vimentin was also evaluated using immunohistochemistry in the stepwise induced stages. The histopathological evaluation of the liver tissue sections revealed significant changes during the experiment, with HCC developing at the final stage. Throughout the stages, there was a dynamic significant increase in the expression of H19 and MALAT1 compared to the normal control. Nevertheless, there was no significant difference between each stage and the preceding one. The tumor progression biomarkers (Matrix Metalloproteinases, vimentin, and β-catenin) exhibited the same trend of steadily increasing levels. However, in the case of Zinc finger E-box-binding homeobox 1 and 2 (ZEB1 and ZEB2), the significant elevation was only detected at the last stage of induction. The correlation between lncRNAs and the tumor progression biomarkers revealed a strong positive correlation between the expression pattern of H19 and MALAT1 with Matrix Metalloproteinases 2 and 9 and vimentin. Our findings imply that genetic and epigenetic alterations influence HCC development in a stepwise progressive pattern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sherien M El-Daly
- Medical Biochemistry Department, National Research Centre, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt.,Cancer Biology and Genetics Laboratory, Centre of Excellence for Advanced Sciences, National Research Centre, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Mona A El-Bana
- Medical Biochemistry Department, National Research Centre, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Sahar S Abd El-Rahman
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
| | - Yasmin Abdel Latif
- Medical Biochemistry Department, National Research Centre, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt.,Faculty of Biotechnology, October University for Modern Sciences and Arts, 6th October, Giza, Egypt
| | - Dalia Medhat
- Medical Biochemistry Department, National Research Centre, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt
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6
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Stein RA, Thompson LM. Epigenetic changes induced by pathogenic Chlamydia spp. Pathog Dis 2023; 81:ftad034. [PMID: 38031337 DOI: 10.1093/femspd/ftad034] [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: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Chlamydia trachomatis, C. pneumoniae, and C. psittaci, the three Chlamydia species known to cause human disease, have been collectively linked to several pathologies, including conjunctivitis, trachoma, respiratory disease, acute and chronic urogenital infections and their complications, and psittacosis. In vitro, animal, and human studies also established additional correlations, such as between C. pneumoniae and atherosclerosis and between C. trachomatis and ovarian cancer. As part of their survival and pathogenesis strategies as obligate intracellular bacteria, Chlamydia spp. modulate all three major types of epigenetic changes, which include deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) methylation, histone post-translational modifications, and microRNA-mediated gene silencing. Some of these epigenetic changes may be implicated in key aspects of pathogenesis, such as the ability of the Chlamydia spp. to induce epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, interfere with DNA damage repair, suppress cholesterol efflux from infected macrophages, act as a co-factor in human papillomavirus (HPV)-mediated cervical cancer, prevent apoptosis, and preserve the integrity of mitochondrial networks in infected host cells. A better understanding of the individual and collective contribution of epigenetic changes to pathogenesis will enhance our knowledge about the biology of Chlamydia spp. and facilitate the development of novel therapies and biomarkers. Pathogenic Chlamydia spp. contribute to epigenetically-mediated gene expression changes in host cells by multiple mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard A Stein
- NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, 6 MetroTech Center, Brooklyn, NY 11201, United States
| | - Lily M Thompson
- NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, 6 MetroTech Center, Brooklyn, NY 11201, United States
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7
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Kihara A, Amano Y, Fukushima N, Fujiwara H, Niki T. ZEB1 expression is frequently detected in undifferentiated and dedifferentiated carcinomas, but is not specific among endometrial carcinomas. Histopathology 2022; 81:108-118. [PMID: 35478361 DOI: 10.1111/his.14671] [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: 02/20/2022] [Revised: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
AIMS The pathological diagnosis of undifferentiated and dedifferentiated endometrial carcinomas (UC/DCs) is prognostically important. However, undifferentiated components may be confused with other subtypes, particularly grade 3 endometrioid carcinomas (G3ECs). ZEB1 has recently been identified as a promising marker because it is frequently expressed in the undifferentiated components of UC/DCs, but not in other carcinomas. Therefore, we herein evaluated the diagnostic utility of ZEB1 with an emphasis on distinguishing between UC/DCs and G3ECs using an expanded cohort of endometrial carcinomas and carcinosarcomas. METHODS AND RESULTS Immunostaining for ZEB1 was performed on whole-tissue sections of 19 UC/DCs, 194 non-UC/DC endometrial carcinomas, and 29 carcinosarcomas. Staining was defined as negative (<5%), focal (5-50%), and diffuse expression (>50%). ZEB1 was expressed in 84% of the undifferentiated components of UC/DCs (diffuse in 14, focal in two). Focal expression was observed in eight non-UC/DC endometrial carcinomas and diffuse expression in seven, with the latter comprising G3ECs (4/76), serous carcinoma (1/37), clear cell carcinoma (1/21), and neuroendocrine carcinoma (1/3). Epithelial differentiation was morphologically and immunohistochemically less evident in G3ECs and neuroendocrine carcinoma with diffuse ZEB1 expression. All carcinosarcomas showed diffuse ZEB1 expression in their sarcomatous components. CONCLUSION Immunostaining for ZEB1 was sufficiently sensitive to detect undifferentiated components. Diffuse ZEB1 expression showed high specificity for distinguishing between undifferentiated components and G3ECs; however, ZEB1 expression was not entirely specific to UC/DCs. The integration of ZEB1 into the diagnosis of UC/DCs requires careful examinations to exclude other tumours, such as less differentiated G3ECs, neuroendocrine carcinomas, and carcinosarcomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atsushi Kihara
- Department of Pathology, Jichi Medical University, Tochigi, Japan
| | - Yusuke Amano
- Department of Pathology, Jichi Medical University, Tochigi, Japan
| | | | - Hiroyuki Fujiwara
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Jichi Medical University, Tochigi, Japan
| | - Toshiro Niki
- Department of Pathology, Jichi Medical University, Tochigi, Japan
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8
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Takamaru N, Fukuda N, Akita K, Kudoh K, Miyamoto Y. Association of PD‑L1 and ZEB‑1 expression patterns with clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis in oral squamous cell carcinoma. Oncol Lett 2022; 23:75. [DOI: 10.3892/ol.2022.13195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Natsumi Takamaru
- Department of Oral Surgery, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University Graduate School, Tokushima 770‑8504, Japan
| | - Naoyuki Fukuda
- Department of Oral Surgery, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University Graduate School, Tokushima 770‑8504, Japan
| | - Kazuya Akita
- Department of Oral Surgery, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University Graduate School, Tokushima 770‑8504, Japan
| | - Keiko Kudoh
- Department of Oral Surgery, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University Graduate School, Tokushima 770‑8504, Japan
| | - Youji Miyamoto
- Department of Oral Surgery, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University Graduate School, Tokushima 770‑8504, Japan
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9
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Piorońska W, Nwosu ZC, Han M, Büttner M, Ebert MP, Dooley S, Meyer C. Dysregulated paired related homeobox 1 impacts on hepatocellular carcinoma phenotypes. BMC Cancer 2021; 21:1006. [PMID: 34496784 PMCID: PMC8424914 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-021-08637-3] [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: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major cause of cancer-related death. Paired related homeobox 1 (PRRX1) is a transcription factor that regulates cell growth and differentiation, but its importance in HCC is unclear. METHODS We examined the expression pattern of PRRX1 in nine microarray datasets of human HCC tumour samples (n > 1100) and analyzed its function in HCC cell lines. In addition, we performed gene set enrichment, Kaplan-Meier overall survival analysis, metabolomics and functional assays. RESULTS PRRX1 is frequently upregulated in human HCC. Pathway enrichment analysis predicted a direct correlation between PRRX1 and focal adhesion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition. High expression of PRRX1 and low ZEB1 or high ZEB2 significantly predicted better overall survival in HCC patients. In contrast, metabolic processes correlated inversely and transcriptional analyses revealed that glycolysis, TCA cycle and amino acid metabolism were affected. These findings were confirmed by metabolomics analysis. At the phenotypic level, PRRX1 knockdown accelerated proliferation and clonogenicity in HCC cell lines. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that PRRX1 controls metabolism, has a tumour suppressive role, and may function in cooperation with ZEB1/2. These findings have functional relevance in HCC, including in understanding transcriptional control of distinct cancer hallmarks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weronika Piorońska
- Department of Medicine II, Section Molecular Hepatology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Zeribe Chike Nwosu
- Department of Medicine II, Section Molecular Hepatology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167, Mannheim, Germany.,Current address: Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, Rogel Cancer Centre, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Mei Han
- Department of Medicine II, Section Molecular Hepatology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167, Mannheim, Germany.,Current address: Department of Internal Medicine, the Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Shahekou District, Dalian City, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Michael Büttner
- The Metabolomics Core Technology Platform of the University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 360, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Matthias Philip Ebert
- Department of Medicine II, Section Molecular Hepatology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Steven Dooley
- Department of Medicine II, Section Molecular Hepatology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Christoph Meyer
- Department of Medicine II, Section Molecular Hepatology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167, Mannheim, Germany.
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10
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Snail Upregulates Transcription of FN, LEF, COX2, and COL1A1 in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A General Model Established for Snail to Transactivate Mesenchymal Genes. Cells 2021; 10:cells10092202. [PMID: 34571852 PMCID: PMC8467536 DOI: 10.3390/cells10092202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2021] [Revised: 08/14/2021] [Accepted: 08/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
SNA is one of the essential EMT transcriptional factors capable of suppressing epithelial maker while upregulating mesenchymal markers. However, the mechanisms for SNA to transactivate mesenchymal markers was not well elucidated. Recently, we demonstrated that SNA collaborates with EGR1 and SP1 to directly upregulate MMP9 and ZEB1. Remarkably, a SNA-binding motif (TCACA) upstream of EGR/SP1 overlapping region on promoters was identified. Herein, we examined whether four other mesenchymal markers, lymphoid enhancer-binding factor (LEF), fibronectin (FN), cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2), and collagen type alpha I (COL1A1) are upregulated by SNA in a similar fashion. Expectedly, SNA is essential for expression of these mesenchymal genes. By deletion mapping and site directed mutagenesis coupled with dual luciferase promoter assay, SNA-binding motif and EGR1/SP1 overlapping region are required for TPA-induced transcription of LEF, FN, COX2 and COL1A1. Consistently, TPA induced binding of SNA and EGR1/SP1 on relevant promoter regions of these mesenchymal genes using ChIP and EMSA. Thus far, we found six of the mesenchymal genes are transcriptionally upregulated by SNA in the same fashion. Moreover, comprehensive screening revealed similar sequence architectures on promoter regions of other SNA-upregulated mesenchymal markers, suggesting that a general model for SNA-upregulated mesenchymal genes can be established.
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11
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Li H, Luo D, Huttad L, Zhang M, Wang Y, Feng J, Ding Y, Han B. RIPK4 Suppresses the Invasion and Metastasis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Inhibiting the Phosphorylation of STAT3. Front Mol Biosci 2021; 8:654766. [PMID: 34222329 PMCID: PMC8249771 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.654766] [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: 01/17/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Receptor interacting serine/threonine kinase 4 (RIPK4) is a member of the threonine/serine protein kinase family; it plays related functions in a variety of tumours, but its biological function has not been fully revealed. It has been reported that it is differentially expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Our research aimed to reveal the role of RIPK4 in the progression of HCC and to reveal the biological behaviour of RIPK4 in HCC. We analysed the differences in RIPK4 expression in HCC by using a publicly available data set. By using PCR, Western blotting and immunohistochemical staining methods, we detected the expression level of RIPK4 in HCC patient specimens and studied the relationship between the expression of RIPK4 and the clinicopathological features of HCC patients. The prognostic data were combined to analyse the relationship between RIPK4 and HCC patient survival and tumour recurrence. We found that the expression level of RIPK4 in nontumour tissues was significantly higher than that in tumour tissues, and the level of RIPK4 was significantly positively correlated with postoperative survival and recurrence in HCC patients. Further, our study found that RIPK4 inhibits the progression of HCC by influencing the invasion and metastasis of HCC and that overexpression of RIPK4 reduces the invasion and metastasis of HCC by inhibiting epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and the STAT3 pathway. In in vivo experiments, overexpression of RIPK4 stably inhibited HCC metastasis. To summarize, our research revealed the relationship between RIPK4 and the prognosis of patients with HCC. We discovered that RIPK4 affects the invasion and metastasis of HCC through the EMT and STAT3 pathways. Targeted inhibition of the RIPK4 gene and the STAT3 pathway may be potential therapeutic strategies for inhibiting the postoperative recurrence and metastasis of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haoran Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Dingan Luo
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Lakshmi Huttad
- Asian Liver Center, Department of Surgery, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, United States
| | - Mao Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Youpeng Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Juan Feng
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Yunfeng Ding
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Bing Han
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
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12
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Chen H, Kong M, Chen Y, Jiang Y, Wen M, Zhang X. Prognostic significance of miR-203 and ZEB1 expression in early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma. J Cancer 2021; 12:4810-4818. [PMID: 34234851 PMCID: PMC8247376 DOI: 10.7150/jca.57819] [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: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Approximately one-quarter of patients with early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) suffer from tumor recurrence within the first year after hepatectomy. Identification of patients at high risk of recurrence and new therapeutic approaches are crucial to improve clinical outcome. This study aimed to assess the prognostic significance of miR-203 and Zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1) in early-stage HCC and explore the association between the expression of ZEB1 and miR-203 in HCC. Methods: Tissue microarray-based immunohistochemistry (IHC) and in situ hybridization (ISH) were performed to investigate ZEB1 and miR-203 expression in 73 patients with early-stage HCC and their correlation with clinicopathological features and prognosis of patients were analyzed. The prognostic value of the two factors was also measured by public KM plotter database. Quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) assays were conducted to study the relationship between miR-203 and ZEB1. Transwell assays, Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assays were performed to detect the roles of miR-203 in migration, invasion and proliferation of HCC cells. Results: We found low expression of miR-203 was associated significantly with tumor recurrence (P<0.001) and poor survival (P=0.020) of patients with early-stage HCC. Multivariate analysis revealed that low miR-203 expression was a poor prognostic factor for both overall survival (OS) (P=0.036) and recurrence free survival (RFS) (P=0.017). ZEB1 did not show any prognostic significance in our cohort. Correlation analysis indicated that there was no significant correlation between miR-203 and ZEB1 on both mRNA and protein levels. Furthermore, functional studies indicated that miR-203 repressed migration, invasion and proliferation of HCC cells in vitro. Conclusion: Our study suggested that miR-203 could be a novel predictor in early-stage HCC and might also be a potential molecular target for HCC therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongyuan Chen
- Department of General Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong 250021 China
| | - Meng Kong
- Department of General Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong 250021 China
| | - Ying Chen
- Department of Gynaecology, People' Hospital of Rizhao, Rizhao, Shandong 276800 China
| | - Yugang Jiang
- Department of General Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong 250021 China
| | - Mingxin Wen
- Department of Human Anatomy and Key Laboratory of Experimental Teratology, School of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012 China
| | - Xinke Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012 China
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13
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Combined inhibition of CD73 and ZEB1 by Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD)-targeted nanoparticles inhibits tumor growth. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces 2021; 197:111421. [DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2020.111421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2020] [Revised: 10/09/2020] [Accepted: 10/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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14
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Katoch A, Jamwal VL, Faheem MM, Kumar S, Senapati S, Yadav G, Gandhi SG, Goswami A. Overlapping targets exist between the Par-4 and miR-200c axis which regulate EMT and proliferation of pancreatic cancer cells. Transl Oncol 2020; 14:100879. [PMID: 33045679 PMCID: PMC7557890 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2020.100879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2020] [Accepted: 08/20/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The last decade has witnessed a substantial expansion in the field of microRNA (miRNA) biology, providing crucial insights into the role of miRNAs in disease pathology, predominantly in cancer progression and its metastatic spread. The discovery of tumor-suppressing miRNAs represents a potential approach for developing novel therapeutics. In this context, through miRNA microarray analysis, we examined the consequences of Prostate apoptosis response-4 (Par-4), a well-established tumor-suppressor, stimulation on expression of different miRNAs in Panc-1 cells. The results strikingly indicated elevated miR-200c levels in these cells upon Par-4 overexpression. Intriguingly, the Reverse Phase Protein Array (RPPA) analysis revealed differentially expressed proteins (DEPs), which overlap between miR200c- and Par-4-transfected cells, highlighting the cross-talks between these pathways. Notably, Phospho-p44/42 MAPK; Bim; Bcl-xL; Rb Phospho-Ser807, Ser811; Akt Phospho-Ser473; Smad1/5 Phospho-Ser463/Ser465 and Zyxin scored the most significant DEPs among the two data sets. Furthermore, the GFP-Par-4-transfected cells depicted an impeded expression of critical mesenchymal markers viz. TGF-β1, TGF-β2, ZEB-1, and Twist-1, concomitant with augmented miR-200c and E-cadherin levels. Strikingly, while Par-4 overexpression halted ZEB-1 at the transcriptional level; contrarily, silencing of endogenous Par-4 by siRNA robustly augmented the Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers, along with declining miR-200c levels. The pharmacological Par-4-inducer, NGD16, triggered Par-4 expression which corresponded with increased miR-200c resulting in the ZEB-1 downregulation. Noteworthily, tumor samples obtained from the syngenic mouse pancreatic cancer model revealed elevated miR-200c levels in the NGD16-treated mice that positively correlated with the Par-4 and E-cadherin levels in vivo; while a negative correlation was evident with ZEB-1 and Vimentin. Prostate apoptosis response-4 (Par-4) stimulation elevates the endogenous miR-200c levels Par-4- mediated miR-200c induction modulates the ZEB-1/miR-200c axis Pharmacological Par-4 inducer, NGD16, boosts the miR-200c and E-cadherin levels in vivo. Overlapping targets between miR 200c and Par-4 signaling axis highlight the cross-talks between these pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Archana Katoch
- Academy of Scientific & Innovative Research (AcSIR), New Delhi, India; Cancer Pharmacology Division, Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (CSIR), Canal Road, Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir 180001, India
| | - Vijay Lakshmi Jamwal
- Academy of Scientific & Innovative Research (AcSIR), New Delhi, India; Plant Biotechnology and System Biology Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu 180001, India
| | - Mir Mohd Faheem
- Cancer Pharmacology Division, Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (CSIR), Canal Road, Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir 180001, India
| | - Sriram Kumar
- Department of Biotechnology, Rajalakshmi Engineering College (Anna University), Rajalakshmi Nagar, Thandalam, Chennai 602105, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Shantibhusan Senapati
- Tumor Microenvironment and Animal Models Lab, Institute of Life Sciences (ILS), Nalco Square Bhubaneswar, Orissa 751023, India
| | - Govind Yadav
- Central Laboratory Animal Facility (Animal House), CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu 180001, India
| | - Sumit G Gandhi
- Academy of Scientific & Innovative Research (AcSIR), New Delhi, India; Plant Biotechnology and System Biology Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu 180001, India.
| | - Anindya Goswami
- Academy of Scientific & Innovative Research (AcSIR), New Delhi, India; Cancer Pharmacology Division, Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (CSIR), Canal Road, Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir 180001, India.
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15
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Liu Y, Guo F, Zhu X, Guo W, Fu T, Wang W. Death Domain-Associated Protein Promotes Colon Cancer Metastasis through Direct Interaction with ZEB1. J Cancer 2020; 11:750-758. [PMID: 31942198 PMCID: PMC6959037 DOI: 10.7150/jca.34233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2019] [Accepted: 09/12/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Death domain-associated protein (DAXX) is a tumor suppressor and its loss has been found in a variety of cancer types. Dysregulation of DAXX is strongly correlated with cancer metastasis. However, the role and functions of DAXX in colorectal cancer (CRC) metastasis are not fully understood. Methods: We validated the mRNA and protein expression of DAXX in CRC specimens and CRC cell lines using real-time reverse transcription-PCR and Western blot, respectively. The overexpression plasmids of ZEB1 and E-cadherin and the siRNAs for DAXX and ZEB1 knockdown were constructed to study the impact of these factors on cells. Wound-healing assay and Transwell assay were performed to examine the cell motility and cell migration and invasion abilities, respectively. Luciferase assay was performed to assess the E-cadherin promoter activity. Immunoprecipitation assay was performed to investigate the interaction between proteins. The rescue experiment was carried out to verify whether the effect of DAXX on E-cadherin expression is depended on ZEB1. Results: DAXX expression was lower in liver metastases than in primary colon cancer tissues. Our results demonstrated that DAXX directly interacted with ZEB1 and suppressed its inhibitory effect on promoter activity of E-cadherin through a ZEB1-dependent manner, and thus suppresses the cell motility, migration, and invasion of CRC cell lines. Conclusion: In sum, these findings supported that the loss of DAXX is associated with cancer cell metastases in CRC. ZEB1-mediated transcriptional suppression of E-cadherin is a possible mechanism. DAXX/ZEB-1 pathway could be a potential therapeutic target for preventing cancer metastasis in CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanliang Liu
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery II, Key Laboratory of Hubei Province for Digestive System Disease, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
| | - Fengqin Guo
- Department of Gynaecology and obstetrics II, Key Laboratory of Hubei Province for Digestive System Disease, Renmin Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
| | - Xu Zhu
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery II, Key Laboratory of Hubei Province for Digestive System Disease, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
| | - Wenyi Guo
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery II, Key Laboratory of Hubei Province for Digestive System Disease, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
| | - Tao Fu
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery II, Key Laboratory of Hubei Province for Digestive System Disease, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
| | - Weixing Wang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery II, Key Laboratory of Hubei Province for Digestive System Disease, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China.,Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
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16
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Sanguinarine inhibits epithelial-mesenchymal transition via targeting HIF-1α/TGF-β feed-forward loop in hepatocellular carcinoma. Cell Death Dis 2019; 10:939. [PMID: 31819036 PMCID: PMC6901539 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-019-2173-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2019] [Revised: 11/26/2019] [Accepted: 11/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays a crucial role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression. Hypoxia and excessive transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) have been identified as inducers and target for EMT in HCC. Here, we show hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and TGF-β form a feed-forward loop to induce EMT in HCC cells. Further mechanistic study indicates under both hypoxia and TGF-β stimulation, Smad and PI3K-AKT pathways are activated. We show sanguinarine, a natural benzophenanthridine alkaloid, impairs the proliferation of nine kinds of HCC cell lines and the colony formation of HCC cells. In hypoxic and TGF-β cell models, sanguinarine inhibits HIF-1α signaling and the expression of EMT markers, translocation of Snail and activation of both Smad and PI3K-AKT pathways. Sanguinarine could also inhibit TGF-β-induced cell migration in HCC cells. In vivo studies reveal that the administration of sanguinarine inhibits tumor growth and HIF-1α signaling, inhibits the expression changes of EMT markers as well as Smad and PI3K-AKT pathway proteins. Our findings suggest that sanguinarine is a promising candidate targeting HIF-1α/TGF-β signaling to improve the treatment for HCC patients.
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17
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Sun S, Gong Q. The expressions and prognostic implications of Twist and E-cadherin in adenocarcinomas of the gastroesophageal junction and proximal gastric carcinoma. Medicine (Baltimore) 2019; 98:e18449. [PMID: 31876727 PMCID: PMC6946287 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000018449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Twist and E-cadherin are crucial for the development of different types of cancer; however, their clinical significance in adenocarcinoma of the gastroesophageal junction (AGE) remains unknown. Here, we investigated the correlation between the expression of Twist and E-cadherin and their impact on the clinical outcomes and prognosis of patients with AGE and proximal gastric carcinoma (PGC).Using immunohistochemistry, we determined the expression of Twist and E-cadherin in the tissue samples of patients with AGE and PGC. The correlation of the expression of Twist and E-cadherin with the clinicopathological factors was assessed by using the chi-square test, Fisher exact test, and non-parametric Mann-Whitney U test. The Kaplan-Meier method along with the log-rank test and Cox proportional-hazards model were used to evaluate the correlation of Twist and E-cadherin expression with the overall survival (OS) of patients.Overall, 94 patients with AGE (n = 45, 47.87%) or PGC (n = 49, 52.13%) who underwent primary tumor resection were included in this study. The median follow-up period was 40.5 months. We observed a significant difference in the smoking status (P < .001) and differentiation grade (P = .004) between patients with AGE and PGC. There was a significant association of a high Twist expression with T stage (only in PGC, P = .008), lymph node metastasis (AGE, P = .075; PGC, P = .051), and advanced pathological stages (AGE, P = .019; PGC, P = .006). A low E-cadherin expression showed similar results; however, it was not significantly associated with the advanced pathological stages of AGE (P = .372). A low E-cadherin expression was significantly associated with a low differentiation grade of AGE (P = .002). In addition, a significant inverse relationship was observed between Twist and E-cadherin expression. The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox regression analysis revealed that a high Twist expression and low E-cadherin expression were independent prognostic factors for short OS of patients with AGE or PGC.A high Twist expression or low E-cadherin expression was associated with unfavorable clinicopathological factors and independently predicted short OS of patients with AGE or PGC.
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18
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Chen B, Chen B, Zhu Z, Ye W, Zeng J, Liu G, Wang S, Gao J, Xu G, Huang Z. Prognostic value of ZEB-1 in solid tumors: a meta-analysis. BMC Cancer 2019; 19:635. [PMID: 31248382 PMCID: PMC6598232 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-019-5830-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2018] [Accepted: 06/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Zinc-finger E-box binding homeobox 1 (ZEB-1) plays crucial roles in epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition during tumor carcinogenesis. Published studies have examined the potential value of ZEB-1 as a biomarker for the prognosis of cancer. Nevertheless, the prognostic significance of ZEB-1 in human solid tumor remains inconclusive. Therefore, we performed the present meta-analysis to evaluate the prognostic value of ZEB-1 in patients with solid tumors. Methods The 13 included studies (1616 patients) were exact electronic searched from Web of Science, PubMed and EBSCO until September 2018. Pooled hazard ratios (HR) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) for overall survival (OS) were analyzed through random or fixed effects models. Univariate and multivariate analyses were independently performed. Subgroup analyses, heterogeneity and publication bias were investigated to further enhance reliability. Results This research indicated that elevated expression of ZEB-1 significantly predicted worse OS in patients with solid tumors. In the univariate analysis, the pooled HR for OS was 1.66 (95% CI: 1.45–1.90; P < 0.01). Meanwhile, in multivariate analysis, the pooled HR for OS was 2.28 (95% CI: 1.58–3.30; P < 0.01). Begg’s funnel plot and Begg’s test did not show evidence of significant publication bias, both in univariate analysis and multivariate analysis. Conclusions High expression of ZEB-1 was associated with poorer OS, suggesting that ZEB-1 may be a potential biomarker for the prediction of prognosis, and a novel therapeutic target in human solid tumors. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12885-019-5830-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Borong Chen
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Xiamen Cancer Hospital of The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, 55 Zhen Hai Road, Si Ming District, Xiamen, 361003, Fujian Province, China
| | - Baisheng Chen
- Department of Endoscopy Center, Xiamen Branch of Affiliated Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Zhipeng Zhu
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Xiamen Cancer Hospital of The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, 55 Zhen Hai Road, Si Ming District, Xiamen, 361003, Fujian Province, China
| | - Weipeng Ye
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, First Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Junjie Zeng
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Xiamen Cancer Hospital of The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, 55 Zhen Hai Road, Si Ming District, Xiamen, 361003, Fujian Province, China
| | - Gang Liu
- Department of Breast Surgery, The Third Hospital of Nanchang City, Key Laboratory of Breast Diseases, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Shengjie Wang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Xiamen Cancer Hospital of The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, 55 Zhen Hai Road, Si Ming District, Xiamen, 361003, Fujian Province, China
| | - Jin Gao
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Xiamen Cancer Hospital of The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, 55 Zhen Hai Road, Si Ming District, Xiamen, 361003, Fujian Province, China
| | - Guoxing Xu
- Department of Endoscopy Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.
| | - Zhengjie Huang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Xiamen Cancer Hospital of The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, 55 Zhen Hai Road, Si Ming District, Xiamen, 361003, Fujian Province, China. .,Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, First Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China.
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Homeobox Genes and Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11050621. [PMID: 31058850 PMCID: PMC6562709 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11050621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2019] [Revised: 04/27/2019] [Accepted: 04/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the sixth most common type of cancer, and is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths each year. It involves a multi-step progression and is strongly associated with chronic inflammation induced by the intake of environmental toxins and/or viral infections (i.e., hepatitis B and C viruses). Although several genetic dysregulations are considered to be involved in disease progression, the detailed regulatory mechanisms are not well defined. Homeobox genes that encode transcription factors with homeodomains control cell growth, differentiation, and morphogenesis in embryonic development. Recently, more aberrant expressions of Homeobox genes were found in a wide variety of human cancer, including HCC. In this review, we summarize the currently available evidence related to the role of Homeobox genes in the development of HCC. The objective is to determine the roles of this conserved transcription factor family and its potential use as a therapeutic target in future investigations.
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Nie Y, Hu S, Liu S, Fang N, Guo F, Yang L, Liang X. WASF3 expression correlates with poor prognosis in gastric cancer patients. Future Oncol 2019; 15:1605-1615. [PMID: 31038356 DOI: 10.2217/fon-2018-0516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim: WASF3 has been shown to be required for invasion and metastasis in different cancers, this study is to explore the prognostic value of WASF3 in gastric cancer. Materials & methods: The coexpression of WASF3 and E-cadherin in gastric cancer patients and cells were evaluated. Results: WASF3 was overexpressed and the expression of E-cadherin was decreased in gastric cancer tissues compared with normal tissues (p < 0.001). WASF3 expression is associated with decreased expression of E-cadherin (p = 0.002). Patients with WASF3-positive expression had a poorer prognosis. The multivariate analysis showed that WASF3 expression is an independent prognostic factor related to overall survival (p = 0.027). Conclusion: Our analysis demonstrates that WASF3 expression correlates with poor outcomes and is a potential prognostic factor in gastric cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanli Nie
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The Hubei Cancer Hospital, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan 430079, PR China
| | - Sheng Hu
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The Hubei Cancer Hospital, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan 430079, PR China
| | - Sanhe Liu
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The Hubei Cancer Hospital, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan 430079, PR China
| | - Na Fang
- Department of Pathology, The Hubei Cancer Hospital, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan 430079, PR China
| | - Fang Guo
- Department of Pathology, The Hubei Cancer Hospital, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan 430079, PR China
| | - Liu Yang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The Hubei Cancer Hospital, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan 430079, PR China
| | - Xinjun Liang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The Hubei Cancer Hospital, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan 430079, PR China
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Li QH, Liu Y, Chen S, Zong ZH, Du YP, Sheng XJ, Zhao Y. circ-CSPP1 promotes proliferation, invasion and migration of ovarian cancer cells by acting as a miR-1236-3p sponge. Biomed Pharmacother 2019; 114:108832. [PMID: 30965236 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2019.108832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2018] [Revised: 02/15/2019] [Accepted: 03/29/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Circular RNAs are known to participate in tumorigenesis through a variety of pathways, and as such, have potential to serve as molecular markers in tumor diagnosis and treatment. Here, using quantitative reverse transcription (qRT)-PCR, we showed that circ-CSPP1 is highly expressed in ovarian cancer (OC) tissues. Particularly, we detected circ-CSPP1 expression in three OC cell lines; of which, OVCAR3 and A2780 demonstrated higher levels of circ-CSPP1 expression, and CAOV3 showed lower circ-CSPP1 expression level. Subsequent silencing of circ-CSPP1 in OVCAR3 and A2780 cell lines revealed decreased cell growth, migration and invasion, while overexpression of circ-CSPP1 caused opposite results We also found that miR-1236-3p is a target of circ-CSPP1. Circ-CSPP1 silencing increased the expression of miR-1236-3p, and circ-CSPP1 overexpression decreased miR-1236-3p expression. MiR-1236-3p reportedly plays a tumor-suppressor role in OC by targeting zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1). In agreement with this, we showed that silencing circ-CSPP1 significantly decreased ZEB1 expression at both RNA and protein levels, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) related markers (E-cadherin and N-cadherin) varied with ZEB1 expression. Circ-CSPP1 silencing also caused decreased expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA), both of which are related to tumorigenesis. Overexpression of circ-CSPP1 had opposite effects. In addition, we indicated that the tumor-promoting effect was inhibited after we transfected miR-1236-3p into circ-CSPP1 overexpressing OC cells. Altogether, our findings suggest that by acting as a miR-1236-3p sponge, circ-CSPP1 impairs the inhibitory effect of miR-1236-3p on ZEB1, which subsequently promotes EMT and OC development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian-Hui Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Key Laboratory for Major Obstetric Diseases of Guangdong Province, Key Laboratory of Reproduction and Genetics of Guangdong Higher Education Institute in Guangdong Province, Guangzhou, 510150, China
| | - Yao Liu
- Department of Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110001, China
| | - Shuo Chen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Key Laboratory for Major Obstetric Diseases of Guangdong Province, Key Laboratory of Reproduction and Genetics of Guangdong Higher Education Institute in Guangdong Province, Guangzhou, 510150, China
| | - Zhi-Hong Zong
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Basic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110001, China
| | - Yu-Ping Du
- Department of Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110001, China
| | - Xiu-Jie Sheng
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Key Laboratory for Major Obstetric Diseases of Guangdong Province, Key Laboratory of Reproduction and Genetics of Guangdong Higher Education Institute in Guangdong Province, Guangzhou, 510150, China.
| | - Yang Zhao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Key Laboratory for Major Obstetric Diseases of Guangdong Province, Key Laboratory of Reproduction and Genetics of Guangdong Higher Education Institute in Guangdong Province, Guangzhou, 510150, China.
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Wu Z, Zhang L, Xu S, Lin Y, Yin W, Lu J, Sha R, Sheng X, Zhou L, Lu J. Predictive and prognostic value of ZEB1 protein expression in breast cancer patients with neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Cancer Cell Int 2019; 19:78. [PMID: 30976202 PMCID: PMC6441148 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-019-0793-2] [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: 10/17/2018] [Accepted: 03/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1) is a molecule involved in the progression of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in various kinds of cancers. Here, we aimed to determine whether the expression of the ZEB1 protein is related to the response of patients to neoadjuvant therapy as well as their survival outcome. Methods Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed on paraffin-embedded tumor samples from core needle biopsy before neoadjuvant therapy (NAT). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to analyze the associations between the protein expression of ZEB1 and the pathological complete response (pCR) outcome. Kaplan-Meier plots and log-rank tests were used to compare disease-free survival (DFS) between groups. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to calculate the adjusted hazard ratio (HR) with a 95% confidential interval (95% CI). Results A total of 75 patients were included in the IHC test. High ZEB1 protein expression was associated with a low pCR rate in both univariate (OR = 0.260, 95% CI 0.082-0.829, p = 0.023) and multivariate (OR = 0.074, 95% CI 0.011-0.475, p = 0.006) logistic regression analyses. High ZEB1 protein expression was also associated with a short DFS according to both the log-rank test (p = 0.023) and Cox proportional hazard model (HR = 9.025, 95% CI 1.024-79.519, p = 0.048). In hormone receptor positive (HorR-positive) patients, high ZEB1 protein expression was also associated with a lower pCR (OR = 0.054, 95% CI 0.007-0.422, p = 0.005) and a poorer DFS (HR = 10.516, 95% CI 1.171-94.435, p = 0.036) compared with low ZEB1 protein expression. In HER2-overexpressing patients, ZEB1 protein expression was also associated with poor survival (p = 0.042). Conclusions Our results showed that high ZEB1 protein expression was a negative predictive marker of pCR and DFS in neoadjuvant therapy in breast cancer patients and in HorR-positive and HER2-overexpressing subgroups.Trial registration NCT, NCT02199418. Registered 24 July 2014-Retrospectively registered, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02199418?term=NCT02199418&rank=1. NCT, NCT 02221999. Registered 21 August 2014-Retrospectively registered, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02221999?term=NCT02221999&rank=1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziping Wu
- Department of Breast Surgery, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, No. 160 Pujian Road, Pudong New District, Shanghai, 200127 People's Republic of China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Department of Breast Surgery, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, No. 160 Pujian Road, Pudong New District, Shanghai, 200127 People's Republic of China
| | - Shuguang Xu
- Department of Breast Surgery, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, No. 160 Pujian Road, Pudong New District, Shanghai, 200127 People's Republic of China
| | - Yanping Lin
- Department of Breast Surgery, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, No. 160 Pujian Road, Pudong New District, Shanghai, 200127 People's Republic of China
| | - Wenjin Yin
- Department of Breast Surgery, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, No. 160 Pujian Road, Pudong New District, Shanghai, 200127 People's Republic of China
| | - Jinglu Lu
- Department of Breast Surgery, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, No. 160 Pujian Road, Pudong New District, Shanghai, 200127 People's Republic of China
| | - Rui Sha
- Department of Breast Surgery, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, No. 160 Pujian Road, Pudong New District, Shanghai, 200127 People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaonan Sheng
- Department of Breast Surgery, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, No. 160 Pujian Road, Pudong New District, Shanghai, 200127 People's Republic of China
| | - Liheng Zhou
- Department of Breast Surgery, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, No. 160 Pujian Road, Pudong New District, Shanghai, 200127 People's Republic of China
| | - Jinsong Lu
- Department of Breast Surgery, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, No. 160 Pujian Road, Pudong New District, Shanghai, 200127 People's Republic of China
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Fouani L, Kovacevic Z, Richardson DR. Targeting Oncogenic Nuclear Factor Kappa B Signaling with Redox-Active Agents for Cancer Treatment. Antioxid Redox Signal 2019; 30:1096-1123. [PMID: 29161883 DOI: 10.1089/ars.2017.7387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
SIGNIFICANCE Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling is essential under physiologically relevant conditions. However, aberrant activation of this pathway plays a pertinent role in tumorigenesis and contributes to resistance. Recent Advances: The importance of the NF-κB pathway means that its targeting must be specific to avoid side effects. For many currently used therapeutics and those under development, the ability to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) is a promising strategy. CRITICAL ISSUES As cancer cells exhibit greater ROS levels than their normal counterparts, they are more sensitive to additional ROS, which may be a potential therapeutic niche. It is known that ROS are involved in (i) the activation of NF-κB signaling, when in sublethal amounts; and (ii) high levels induce cytotoxicity resulting in apoptosis. Indeed, ROS-induced cytotoxicity is valuable for its capabilities in killing cancer cells, but establishing the potency of ROS for effective inhibition of NF-κB signaling is necessary. Indeed, some cancer treatments, currently used, activate NF-κB and may stimulate oncogenesis and confer resistance. FUTURE DIRECTIONS Thus, combinatorial approaches using ROS-generating agents alongside conventional therapeutics may prove an effective tactic to reduce NF-κB activity to kill cancer cells. One strategy is the use of thiosemicarbazones, which form redox-active metal complexes that generate high ROS levels to deliver potent antitumor activity. These agents also upregulate the metastasis suppressor, N-myc downstream regulated gene 1 (NDRG1), which functions as an NF-κB signaling inhibitor. It is proposed that targeting NF-κB signaling may proffer a new therapeutic niche to improve the efficacy of anticancer regimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leyla Fouani
- Molecular Pharmacology and Pathology Program, Department of Pathology and Bosch Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Zaklina Kovacevic
- Molecular Pharmacology and Pathology Program, Department of Pathology and Bosch Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Des R Richardson
- Molecular Pharmacology and Pathology Program, Department of Pathology and Bosch Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
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24
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Li L, Yu S, Wu Q, Dou N, Li Y, Gao Y. KLF4-Mediated CDH3 Upregulation Suppresses Human Hepatoma Cell Growth and Migration via GSK-3β Signaling. Int J Biol Sci 2019; 15:953-961. [PMID: 31182916 PMCID: PMC6535787 DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.30857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2018] [Accepted: 02/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
P-cadherin (CDH3), a classical cell adhesion molecule involved in tissue integrity and cell localization, has been implicated in many types of cancer. However, little is known about its function and regulatory mechanism in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Here we report that CDH3 was positively regulated by kr¨uppel-like transcription factor 4 (KLF4), which is a crucial tumor suppressor gene in HCC, at mRNA level in HCC cell lines. Luciferase reporter assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation assay indicated that KLF4 directly bound to CDH3 promoter and transcriptionally activated CDH3 expression. Consistently, CDH3 expression was closely related with KLF4 expression in patients' samples and both proteins exhibited a downregulated expression pattern in cancer samples. Functionally, enforced CDH3 expression suppressed and silenced CDH3 expression promoted HCC cell growth and migration in vitro. Mechanistically, we observed that GSK-3β was regulated by CDH3 and may function as a possible downstream effector of CDH3. Knockdown of GSK-3β showed a similar phenotype with CDH3 silencing. Taken together, these findings establish the KLF4/CDH3/GSK-3β axis as an important regulatory mechanism in HCC development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Li
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200120, China
| | - Shijun Yu
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200120, China
| | - Qiong Wu
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200120, China
| | - Ning Dou
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200120, China
| | - Yandong Li
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200120, China.,Research Center for Translational Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Shanghai 200120, China
| | - Yong Gao
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200120, China
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Vireak C, Seo AN, Han MH, Park TI, Kim YJ, Jeong JY. Aquaporin 5 expression correlates with tumor multiplicity and vascular invasion in hepatocellular carcinoma. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL PATHOLOGY 2019; 12:516-527. [PMID: 31933856 PMCID: PMC6945080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2018] [Accepted: 12/20/2018] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Aquaporins (AQPs) are a family of water channel transmembrane proteins that play a key role in transcellular water movement and transport. Recent studies have reported that AQPs are involved in cancer biology and can be a novel biomarker for predicting prognosis. The aim of this study was to identify clinical significance and prognostic impact of AQP5 in surgically resected hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs). We analyzed the association between the expression of AQP5, Ki-67, and E-cadherin. Immunohistochemical stains for AQP5, KI-67, and E-cadherin were performed on 72 surgically resected HCCs. As a result, 46 patients (63.9%) showed AQP5 expression, 46 patients (63.9%) revealed high expression of Ki-67, and E-cadherin loss was identified in 8 patients (11.1%). No significant relationship among the three markers was found (all P > 0.05). AQP5 expression was associated with tumor multiplicity (P = 0.039), microvascular invasion (P = 0.040), and major vessel invasion (P = 0.044). High expression of Ki-67 was related to high serum AFP level (P = 0.006), tumor grade (P = 0.002), and microvascular invasion (P = 0.040). AQP5 expression tended to be associated with worse overall survival (OS) (P = 0.093) in the univariate analysis, but no significance was found in the multivariate survival analysis. High expression of Ki-67 was associated with shorter recurrence-free survival (RFS) in both univariate (P = 0.012) and multivariate analysis (P = 0.020). In conclusion, AQP5 might be a prognostic marker in HCC based on its association with tumor multiplicity, microvascular invasion, and major vessel invasion; and Ki-67 is an independent prognostic factor in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chhun Vireak
- Department of Pathology, Kyungpook National University, School of MedicineDaegu, Korea
| | - An Na Seo
- Department of Pathology, Kyungpook National University Chilgok Hospital, Kyungpook National University, School of MedicineDaegu, Korea
| | - Man-Hoon Han
- Department of Pathology, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Kyungpook National University, School of MedicineDaegu, Korea
| | - Tae-In Park
- Department of Pathology, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Kyungpook National University, School of MedicineDaegu, Korea
| | - Yong Jin Kim
- Department of Pathology, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Kyungpook National University, School of MedicineDaegu, Korea
| | - Ji Yun Jeong
- Department of Pathology, Kyungpook National University Chilgok Hospital, Kyungpook National University, School of MedicineDaegu, Korea
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Abbastabar M, Sarfi M, Golestani A, Khalili E. lncRNA involvement in hepatocellular carcinoma metastasis and prognosis. EXCLI JOURNAL 2018; 17:900-913. [PMID: 30564069 PMCID: PMC6295623 DOI: 10.17179/excli2018-1541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2018] [Accepted: 08/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Eukaryotic lncRNAs are RNA molecules defined to be greater than 200 bp in length that are not translated to a protein and operate through several mechanisms, including participating in chromatin remodeling and methylation, influencing the integrity and stability of proteins and complexes, or acting as a sponge for miRNA inhibition. A number of recent studies have concentrated on the relationship between long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and cancer. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most prevalent histological type of liver tumors, accounting for about 80 % of the cases worldwide. Lack of proper molecular markers for diagnosis of HCC and treatment evaluation is a significant problem. Dysregulated expression of HCC-related lncRNAs such as MEG-3, MALAT1, HULC, HOTAIR, and H19 have been identified and closely related with tumorigenesis, metastasis, prognosis and diagnosis. In this review, we summarized recent highlighted functions and molecular mechanisms of the most extensively studied lncRNAs in the pathophysiology of hepatocellular carcinoma and their potential for serving as probable therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Abbastabar
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, I.R. Iran
| | - Mohammad Sarfi
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, I.R. Iran
| | - Abolfazl Golestani
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, I.R. Iran
| | - Ehsan Khalili
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, I.R. Iran
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27
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Yamanaka C, Wada H, Eguchi H, Hatano H, Gotoh K, Noda T, Yamada D, Asaoka T, Kawamoto K, Nagano H, Doki Y, Mori M. Clinical significance of CD13 and epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers in hepatocellular carcinoma. Jpn J Clin Oncol 2018; 48:52-60. [PMID: 29145632 DOI: 10.1093/jjco/hyx157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2017] [Accepted: 10/31/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background & Aims To improve prognosis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the molecular mechanisms of tumor thrombus formation and metastasis must be clarified. The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cancer stem cells (CSCs) play crucial roles in tumor invasion and metastasis. This study aimed to reveal the clinical significance of the expression of the functional CSC marker, CD13, and investigate the correlation between CD13 expression and two EMT markers, E-cadherin and vimentin. Methods We acquired clinical samples from 86 patients with HCC that underwent radical liver resections. We performed immunohistochemistry to evaluate CD13, E-cadherin and vimentin expression. We investigated the relationships among protein expression levels, clinicopathological factors and prognosis. Results Based on CD13 expression, patients were categorized into CD13high (n = 30, 34.9%) and CD13low (n = 56, 65.1%) groups. The mean tumor size was significantly larger in the CD13high group than in the CD13low group (P = 0.049). Compared with the CD13low group, the CD13high group showed significantly earlier recurrences and shorter survival times. In the multivariate analysis, CD13high was an independent prognostic factor for overall survival (hazard ratio, 1.98; P = 0.044). The disease-free survival time was shorter in the vimentin-positive group than that in the vimentin-negative group (P = 0.014). In an analysis of the relationship between CD13 and EMT, there was no significant correlation between CD13 and EMT markers. Conclusions Our findings suggested that CD13 enrichment was correlated with early recurrences, and poor prognosis in patients with HCC and that vimentin was associated with early recurrences. CD13 represents a potential therapeutic target for HCC, because CSC regulation and EMT suppression are essential in cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chihiro Yamanaka
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Wada
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Hidetoshi Eguchi
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Hisanori Hatano
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Kunihito Gotoh
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Takehiro Noda
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Daisaku Yamada
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Tadafumi Asaoka
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Koichi Kawamoto
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Nagano
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yuichiro Doki
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Masaki Mori
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
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MYC associated zinc finger protein promotes the invasion and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma by inducing epithelial mesenchymal transition. Oncotarget 2018; 7:86420-86432. [PMID: 27861158 PMCID: PMC5349923 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.13416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2016] [Accepted: 11/09/2016] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
MYC associated zinc finger protein (MAZ) plays a key role in regulation of gene expression and tumor development. Studies have shown that deregulated expression of MAZ is closely related to the progression of tumors such as glioblastoma, breast cancer, prostate cancer and liposarcoma. However, the role of MAZ in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has not been fully elucidated. Here, we found that expression of MAZ was increased in HCC and correlated to the distant metastasis of HCC. Moreover, we found that MAZ had a relationship with zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1 and 2 (ZEB1 and ZEB2), two important mesenchymal markers in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) that were over-expressed in HCC. After knocking-down MAZ expression in HCC cell lines using RNA interruption, HCC cell proliferation, tumorigenesis, invasion and migration were significantly inhibited. In addition, we found that expression of other EMT markers was also changed besides ZEB1 and ZEB2 by decreasing MAZ expression, both detected in vivo and in vitro assays. Therefore, we conclude that MAZ can promote the invasion and metastasis of HCC by inducing EMT.
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29
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Wu WS, You RI, Cheng CC, Lee MC, Lin TY, Hu CT. Snail collaborates with EGR-1 and SP-1 to directly activate transcription of MMP 9 and ZEB1. Sci Rep 2017; 7:17753. [PMID: 29259250 PMCID: PMC5736704 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-18101-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2017] [Accepted: 12/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The Snail transcription factor plays as a master regulator of epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT), one of the steps of tumor metastasis. Snail enhances expressions of a lot of mesenchymal genes including the matrix degradation enzyme matrix metalloproteinases 9 (MMP9) and the EMT transcription factor zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1), however, the underlying mechanisms are not clarified. Herein, we investigated how Snail upregulated transcription of ZEB1 and MMP9 induced by the tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol 13-acetate (TPA) in hepatoma cell HepG2. According to deletion mapping and site directed mutagenesis analysis, the TPA-responsive elements on both MMP9 and ZEB1 promoters locate on a putative EGR1 and SP1 overlapping region coupled with an upstream proposed Snail binding motif TCACA. Consistently, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay showed TPA triggered binding of Snail, EGR1 and SP1 on MMP9 and ZEB1 promoters. Double ChIP further indicated TPA induced association of Snail with EGR1 and SP1 on both promoters. Also, electrophoresis mobility shift assay revealed TPA enhanced binding of Snail with a MMP9 promoter fragment. According to shRNA techniques, Snail was essential for gene expression of both ZEB1 and MMP9. In conclusion, Snail transactivates genes involved in tumor progression via direct binding to a specific promoter region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Sheng Wu
- Institute of medical biotechnology, college of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualein, Taiwan
| | - Ren-In You
- Institute of medical biotechnology, college of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualein, Taiwan
| | - Chuan-Chu Cheng
- Institute of medical biotechnology, college of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualein, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Che Lee
- Department of Surgery, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital, School of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan
| | - Teng-Yi Lin
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Hualien, Taiwan
| | - Chi-Tan Hu
- Research Centre for Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital and Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan.
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A kinetic model of multiple phenotypic states for breast cancer cells. Sci Rep 2017; 7:9890. [PMID: 28852133 PMCID: PMC5574983 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-10321-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2017] [Accepted: 08/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Quantitative modeling of microscopic genes regulatory mechanisms in an individual cell is a crucial step towards understanding various macroscopic physiological phenomena of cell populations. Based on the regulatory mechanisms of genes zeb1 and cdh1 in the growth and development of breast cancer cells, we propose a kinetic model at the level of single cell. By constructing the effective landscape of underlying stationary probability for the genes expressions, it is found that (i) each breast cancer cell has three phenotypic states (i.e., the stem-like, basal, and luminal states) which correspond to three attractions of the probability landscape. (ii) The interconversions between phenotypic states can be induced by the noise intensity and the property of phenotypic switching is quantified by the mean first-passage time. (iii) Under certain conditions, the probabilities of each cancer cell appearing in the three states are consistent with the macroscopic phenotypic equilibrium proportions in the breast cancer SUM159 cell line. (iv) Our kinetic model involving the TGF-β signal can also qualitatively explain several macroscopic physiological phenomena of breast cancer cells, such as the "TGF-β paradox" in tumor therapy, the five clinical subtypes of breast cancer cells, and the effects of transient TGF-β on breast cancer metastasis.
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Sakata J, Utsumi F, Suzuki S, Niimi K, Yamamoto E, Shibata K, Senga T, Kikkawa F, Kajiyama H. Inhibition of ZEB1 leads to inversion of metastatic characteristics and restoration of paclitaxel sensitivity of chronic chemoresistant ovarian carcinoma cells. Oncotarget 2017; 8:99482-99494. [PMID: 29245917 PMCID: PMC5725108 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.20107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2017] [Accepted: 07/25/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
ZEB1, a member of the zinc-finger E-box binding homeobox family, is considered to play a crucial role in cancer progression and metastasis. In the current study, we investigated the role of ZEB1 in metastasis and chronic chemoresistance of epithelial ovarian carcinoma (EOC) cells. Using several EOC and acquired paclitaxel (PTX)-resistant EOC cell lines, we investigated whether silencing ZEB1 led to a reversal of the chemoresistance and metastatic potential in vitro and in vivo. Subsequently, the expression of ZEB1 in EOC tissues and its association with the oncologic outcome were investigated. According to the immunohistochemical staining of EOC tissues, as the positivity of ZEB1 expression was increased, the overall survival of EOC patients became poorer (P = 0.0022 for trend). Additionally, cell migration and invasion were significantly decreased by ZEB1 silencing in both PTX-sensitive and PTX- resistant cells. Although PTX-sensitivity was not changed by silencing ZEB1 in parental EOC cells, the depletion of ZEB1 made the PTX-resistant EOC cells more sensitive to PTX treatment. In an animal model, mice injected with ZEB1-silencing PTX-resistant cells survived for longer than the control cell-injected mice. Although the intravenous injection of PTX did not affect the tumor weight of shCtrl cells, the tumor weight of shZEB1 cells was significantly reduced by PTX treatment. The current data indicate the possible involvement of ZEB1 in the metastasis and paclitaxel resistance of EOC, and suggest that targeting this molecule may reverse the malignant potential and improve the oncologic outcome for EOC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Sakata
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Fumi Utsumi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Shiro Suzuki
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Kaoru Niimi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Eiko Yamamoto
- Department of Healthcare Administration, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Kiyosumi Shibata
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Banbuntane Hotokukai, Fujita Health University, Fujita, Japan
| | - Takeshi Senga
- Division of Tumor Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Fumitaka Kikkawa
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Kajiyama
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
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Sakata J, Kajiyama H, Suzuki S, Utsumi F, Niimi K, Sekiya R, Shibata K, Senga T, Kikkawa F. Impact of positive ZEB1 expression in patients with epithelial ovarian carcinoma as an oncologic outcome-predicting indicator. Oncol Lett 2017; 14:4287-4293. [PMID: 28943941 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2017.6658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2016] [Accepted: 06/02/2017] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Several previous studies have revealed that the expression of zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1) in solid malignancies has an important significance on the clinical outcome of patients. However, the association between ZEB1 expression and survival in patients with epithelial ovarian carcinoma (EOC) remains unclear. The objective of the present study was to examine the extent of ZEB1 expression in EOC using immunohistochemical staining and investigate its association with patient outcome. A total of 40 patients with EOC initially treated with cytoreductive surgery and systematic chemotherapy were enrolled. ZEB1 expression was immunohistochemically categorized as negative, weak, moderate and strong according to the size of the staining area, and intensity. Subsequently, the associations between ZEB1 expression and recurrence/progression-free survival (RFS) rate were examined. The median age of patients in the current study was 54 years old (range, 22-72 years old). Among these patients, 15 (37.5%) exhibited International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage I disease, and 10 (25.0%), 13 (32.5%), and 2 (5%) had stage II, III, and IV disease, respectively. No patients with negative expression of ZEB1 experienced recurrence. In addition, ZEB1 expression was identified to be a significant predictor of a poorer RFS rate compared with negative expression (negative vs. weak, moderate and strong, P=0.0126). Furthermore, multivariate analyses revealed that moderate and strong ZEB1 expression levels were significant prognostic indicators of a poorer RFS rate in patients with EOC (hazard ratio, 2.265; 95% confidence interval, 1.072-8.021; P=0.0349). Confining analysis to patients with the clear-cell/mucinous histological type, those with moderate/strong ZEB1 expression demonstrated a significantly poorer RFS rate (P=0.0025). Positive ZEB1 expression may be an indicator to predict unfavorable RFS in patients with EOC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Sakata
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Kajiyama
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan
| | - Shiro Suzuki
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan
| | - Fumi Utsumi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan
| | - Kaoru Niimi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan
| | - Ryuichiro Sekiya
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan
| | - Kiyosumi Shibata
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan
| | - Takeshi Senga
- Division of Tumor Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan
| | - Fumitaka Kikkawa
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan
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Overexpression of EMT-inducing transcription factors as a potential poor prognostic factor for hepatocellular carcinoma in Asian populations: A meta-analysis. Oncotarget 2017; 8:59500-59508. [PMID: 28938653 PMCID: PMC5601749 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.18352] [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: 03/15/2017] [Accepted: 05/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and Objectives The clinical relevance of epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression has been highlighted during the last decade. The zinc finger E-box binding homeobox (ZEB) family, the zinc-finger transcriptional repressor (SNAI) family, and the basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor (Twist) family, known as the prominent EMT-inducing transcription factors (EMT-TFs), played a crucial role in the process of EMT. Here, this meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of EMT-TFs high expression in patients with HCC after hepatectomy. Results A total of 10 studies involving 1334 patients were retrieved for analysis, the synthetic date indicated that EMT-TFs overexpression was associated with poor postoperative overall survival (OS) [HR = 1.71; 95% CI: 1.40–2.08; p < 0.00001] in HCC. The subgroup analyses revealed that overexpression of each individual EMT-TF (in addition to ZEB2) tended to be associated with poor OS. Moreover, EMT-TFs overexpression correlated with TNM stage, poor histological differentiation, intrahepatic metastasis and vascular invasion. Materials and Methods Relevant literature search in the PubMed, Web of Science database and Cochrane Library was performed to retrieve all eligible studies. The pooled hazard ratio (HR) or odds ratio (OR) with its 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated to investigation clinicopathological and prognostic significance of EMT-TFs expression in HCC. Conclusions EMT-TFs overexpression indicated an unfavorable prognosis in HCC patients following curative resection.
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GABPA predicts prognosis and inhibits metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma. BMC Cancer 2017; 17:380. [PMID: 28549418 PMCID: PMC5446731 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-017-3373-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2016] [Accepted: 05/18/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Increasing evidence indicates that abnormal expression of GABPA is associated with tumor development and progression. However, the function and clinicopathological significance of GABPA in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain obscure. Methods The mRNA and protein expression of GABPA in HCC clinical specimens and cell lines was examined by real-time PCR and western blotting, respectively. Follow-up data were used to uncover the relationship between GABPA expression and the prognosis of HCC patients. HCC cell lines stably overexpressing or silencing GABPA were established to explore the function of GABPA in HCC cell migration and invasion by Transwell and wound healing assays in vitro and in a xenograft model in vivo. Restoration of function analysis was used to examine the underlying molecular mechanisms. Results GABPA was downregulated at the protein and mRNA levels in HCC tissues compared with adjacent normal tissues. Decreased GABPA expression was correlated with alpha-fetoprotein levels (P = 0.001), tumor grade (P = 0.017), and distant metastasis (P = 0.021). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that patients with lower GABPA expression had significantly shorter survival times than those with higher GABPA (P = 0.031). In vivo and in vitro assays demonstrated that GABPA negatively regulated HCC cell migration and invasion, and the effect of GABPA on HCC cell migration was mediated at least partly by the regulation of E-cadherin. Conclusions Collectively, our data indicate that GABPA inhibits HCC cell migration by modulating E-cadherin and could serve as a novel biomarker for HCC prognosis. GABPA may act as a tumor suppressor during HCC progression and metastasis, and is a potential therapeutic target in HCC. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12885-017-3373-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Chen H, Lu W, Huang C, Ding K, Xia D, Wu Y, Cai M. Prognostic significance of ZEB1 and ZEB2 in digestive cancers: a cohort-based analysis and secondary analysis. Oncotarget 2017; 8:31435-31448. [PMID: 28416756 PMCID: PMC5458220 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.15634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2016] [Accepted: 11/24/2016] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Digestive cancers are common malignancies worldwide, however there are few effective prognostic markers available. In this study we comprehensively investigated the prognostic significance of ZEB1 and ZEB2 in digestive cancers. METHODS Electronic databases were searched and studies met the selection criteria were included. Study information was recorded and quality assessment was performed according to the REMARK guideline. Hazard ratios and its corresponding 95% confidence intervals were extracted and pooled. Sensitivity analyses, subgroup analyses, cumulative meta-analyses and secondary analyses were also performed to increase the stability and reliability of our results. RESULTS 24 cohort studies were included in the study. High ZEB1 and ZEB2 levels predicted poor overall survival, meanwhile high ZEB2 levels predicted poor disease free survival for digestive cancer patients. From subgroup analyses we observed ZEB1 was found to be significantly associated with poor overall survival for patients with pancreatic cancer, gastric cancer and colorectal cancer, while ZEB2 was found to be significantly associated with poor overall survival for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and gastric cancer. Furthermore, by conducting secondary analyses we confirmed both ZEB1 and ZEB2 played important roles in gastric cancer prediction. In addition, we found high ZEB1 and ZEB2 expression were significantly associated with depth of invasion, lymph node metastasis and TNM stage in digestive cancer patients. CONCLUSIONS The present study validated the prognostic value and clinicopathological association of ZEB1 and ZEB2 in digestive cancers, especially in gastric cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huihui Chen
- Department of Oncology, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University College of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Wei Lu
- Department of Oncology, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University College of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Department of Toxicology, Zhejiang University School of Public Health, Hangzhou, China
| | - Chongjie Huang
- Department of Anorectal Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Kefeng Ding
- Department of Oncology, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University College of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Dajing Xia
- Department of Toxicology, Zhejiang University School of Public Health, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yihua Wu
- Department of Toxicology, Zhejiang University School of Public Health, Hangzhou, China
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, Zhejiang University School of Public Health, Hangzhou, China
| | - Mao Cai
- Department of Anorectal Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
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Ge X, Gong L. MiR-590-3p suppresses hepatocellular carcinoma growth by targeting TEAD1. Tumour Biol 2017; 39:1010428317695947. [PMID: 28349829 DOI: 10.1177/1010428317695947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
MicroRNA signature is altered in different disease states including cancer, and some microRNAs act as oncogenes or tumor suppressors. MiR-590-3p has been shown to be involved in human cancer progression. However, its role in hepatocellular carcinoma remains unknown. In this study, miR-590-3p level was measured, and clinicopathological features were determined in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues. The function of miR-590-3p was examined in vitro and in vivo. Real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis demonstrated downregulation of miR-590-3p in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues, and its downregulation was associated with a poor overall survival of hepatocellular carcinoma patients. Ectopic expression of miR-590-3p promoted growth of hepatocellular carcinoma cells, whereas its depletion inhibited cell growth. Transcriptional enhancer activator domain 1 was identified as a validated miR-590-3p target. Upregulation of transcriptional enhancer activator domain 1 was found in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues and inversely correlated with miR-590-3p. Our results indicate a tumor suppressor role of miR-590-3p in hepatocellular carcinoma through targeting transcriptional enhancer activator domain 1 and suggest its use in the diagnosis and prognosis of liver cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Ge
- Xiangya Hospital Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Liansheng Gong
- Xiangya Hospital Central South University, Changsha, China
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Zang H, Li N, Pan Y, Hao J. Identification of upstream transcription factors (TFs) for expression signature genes in breast cancer. Gynecol Endocrinol 2017; 33:193-198. [PMID: 27809618 DOI: 10.1080/09513590.2016.1239253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is a common malignancy among women with a rising incidence. Our intention was to detect transcription factors (TFs) for deeper understanding of the underlying mechanisms of breast cancer. Integrated analysis of gene expression datasets of breast cancer was performed. Then, functional annotation of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) was conducted, including Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment. Furthermore, TFs were identified and a global transcriptional regulatory network was constructed. Seven publically available GEO datasets were obtained, and a set of 1196 DEGs were identified (460 up-regulated and 736 down-regulated). Functional annotation results showed that cell cycle was the most significantly enriched pathway, which was consistent with the fact that cell cycle is closely related to various tumors. Fifty-three differentially expressed TFs were identified, and the regulatory networks consisted of 817 TF-target interactions between 46 TFs and 602 DEGs in the context of breast cancer. Top 10 TFs covering the most downstream DEGs were SOX10, NFATC2, ZNF354C, ARID3A, BRCA1, FOXO3, GATA3, ZEB1, HOXA5 and EGR1. The transcriptional regulatory networks could enable a better understanding of regulatory mechanisms of breast cancer pathology and provide an opportunity for the development of potential therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongyan Zang
- a Department of Breast Surgery , Yantaishan Hospital , Yantai , China and
| | - Ning Li
- b Department of Human Anatomy , School of Basic Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine , Jinan , China
| | - Yuling Pan
- b Department of Human Anatomy , School of Basic Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine , Jinan , China
| | - Jingguang Hao
- a Department of Breast Surgery , Yantaishan Hospital , Yantai , China and
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Gan WJ, Wang JR, Zhu XL, He XS, Guo PD, Zhang S, Li XM, Li JM, Wu H. RARγ-induced E-cadherin downregulation promotes hepatocellular carcinoma invasion and metastasis. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2016; 35:164. [PMID: 27756432 PMCID: PMC5069892 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-016-0441-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2016] [Accepted: 10/08/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Aberrant expression of Retinoic acid receptor γ (RARγ) is implicated in cancer development. Our previous study identified that RARγ functions as a tumor promoter to drive hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) growth. However, its contribution to HCC invasion and metastasis remains unclear. METHODS RARγ expression in clinical HCC samples was detected by western blot and immunohistochemistry. The relationship between RARγ expression levels and the clinical characteristics were evaluated. HCC cell line MHCC-97H were stably knocked down RARγ using a lentivirus vector-based shRNA technique. The cells were analyzed by migration and invasion assays, and injected into nude mice to assess tumor metastasis. E-cadherin expression regulated by RARγ was examined by qPCR, western blot and immunofluorescence staining. RESULTS The expression of RARγ is significantly upregulated in human HCC tissues. Moreover, its expression positively correlates with tumor size, distant metastasis and TNM stage, and negatively correlates with length of survival of HCC patients. Knockdown of RARγ markedly inhibits HCC cell invasion and metastasis both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistic investigations reveal that RARγ functions through regulation of NF-κB-mediated E-cadherin downregulation to promote HCC invasion and metastasis. Notably, RARγ expression status negatively correlates with E-cadherin expression in HCC cell lines and clinical HCC samples. CONCLUSIONS These findings demonstrate that RARγ could promote HCC invasion and metastasis by regulating E-cadherin reduction, and implicate new strategies to aggressively treat HCC through targeting RARγ/E-cadherin signaling axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Juan Gan
- Pathology Center and Department of Pathology, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123 China
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006 China
| | - Jing-Ru Wang
- Pathology Center and Department of Pathology, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123 China
| | - Xiao-Li Zhu
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006 China
| | - Xiao-Shun He
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006 China
| | - Peng-Da Guo
- Pathology Center and Department of Pathology, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123 China
| | - Shen Zhang
- Pathology Center and Department of Pathology, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123 China
| | - Xiu-Ming Li
- Pathology Center and Department of Pathology, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123 China
| | - Jian-Ming Li
- Pathology Center and Department of Pathology, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123 China
| | - Hua Wu
- Pathology Center and Department of Pathology, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123 China
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Down-regulation of β-arrestin2 promotes tumour invasion and indicates poor prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma. Sci Rep 2016; 6:35609. [PMID: 27759077 PMCID: PMC5069669 DOI: 10.1038/srep35609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2016] [Accepted: 10/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
β-arrestins, including β-arrestin1 and β-arrestin2, are multifunctional adaptor proteins. β-arrestins have recently been found to play new roles in regulating intracellular signalling networks associated with malignant cell functions. Altered β-arrestin expression has been reported in many cancers, but its role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is not clear. We therefore examined the roles of β-arrestins in HCC using an animal model of progressive HCC, HCC patient samples and HCC cell lines with stepwise metastatic potential. We demonstrated that β-arrestin2 level, but not β-arrestin1 level, decreased in conjunction with liver tumourigenesis in a mouse diethylnitrosamine-induced liver tumour model. Furthermore, β-arrestin2 expression was reduced in HCC tissues compared with noncancerous tissues in HCC patients. β-arrestin2 down-regulation in HCC was significantly associated with poor patient prognoses and aggressive pathologic features. In addition, our in vitro study showed that β-arrestin2 overexpression significantly reduced cell migration and invasion in cultured HCC cells. Furthermore, β-arrestin2 overexpression up-regulated E-cadherin expression and inhibited vimentin expression and Akt activation. These results suggest that β-arrestin2 down-regulation increases HCC cell migration and invasion ability. Low β-arrestin2 expression may be indicative of a poor prognosis or early cancer recurrence in patients who have undergone surgery for HCC.
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Chung DWD, Frausto RF, Chiu S, Lin BR, Aldave AJ. Investigating the Molecular Basis of PPCD3: Characterization of ZEB1 Regulation of COL4A3 Expression. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2016; 57:4136-43. [PMID: 27537263 PMCID: PMC4991021 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.16-19533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2016] [Accepted: 06/06/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To investigate the role of the zinc finger e-box binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1) transcription factor in posterior polymorphous corneal dystrophy 3 by demonstrating its ability to regulate type IV collagen gene transcription via binding to putative E2 box motifs. METHODS Putative E2 box motifs were identified by in silico analysis within the promoter region of collagen, type IV, alpha3 (COL4A3) and collagen, type IV, alpha4 (COL4A4). To test the ability of ZEB1 to bind to each identified E2 box, electrophoretic mobility shift assays were performed by incubating ZEB1-enriched nuclear extracts with DIG-labeled probes containing one of each of the identified E2 box motifs. Dual-luciferase reporter assays were performed to test the effects of ZEB1 on the luciferase activity of COL4A3 and cadherin 1 (CDH1) promoter constructs, and to determine the effect of a ZEB1 truncating mutation on CDH1 promoter activity. RESULTS ZEB1 exhibited binding to six of the nine COL4A3 E2 box probes, whereas no binding was observed for either of the two COL4A4 E2 box probes. ZEB1 overexpression resulted in reduced activity of the COL4A3 promoter construct containing all identified E2 box motifs, whereas a truncating ZEB1 mutation led to the loss of ZEB1-dependent repression of the CDH1 promoter. CONCLUSIONS COL4A3 gene expression is negatively regulated by ZEB1 binding to E2 box motifs in the COL4A3 promoter region. Therefore, the altered expression of type IV collagens, particularly COL4A3, in the corneal endothelium in individuals with PPCD3 is likely due to reduced transcriptional repression in the setting of a single functional ZEB1 allele.
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Affiliation(s)
- Duk-Won D. Chung
- Stein Eye Institute David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, United States
| | - Ricardo F. Frausto
- Stein Eye Institute David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, United States
| | - Stephan Chiu
- Stein Eye Institute David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, United States
| | - Benjamin R. Lin
- Stein Eye Institute David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, United States
| | - Anthony J. Aldave
- Stein Eye Institute David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, United States
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Chun HW, Hong R. Significance of the hedgehog pathway-associated proteins Gli-1 and Gli-2 and the epithelial-mesenchymal transition-associated proteins Twist and E-cadherin in hepatocellular carcinoma. Oncol Lett 2016; 12:1753-1762. [PMID: 27602109 PMCID: PMC4998202 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2016.4884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2015] [Accepted: 06/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
It has been found that abnormal activation of the hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway is involved in the occurrence, invasion and metastasis of malignant tumors. In addition, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) also performs an important function in the invasion and metastasis of malignant tumors. However, the significance of the Hh signaling pathway and EMT in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unknown. In the present study, the expression of Gli family zinc finger 1 (Gli-1) and Gli family zinc finger 2 (Gli-2), which are key transcriptional factors in the Hh signaling pathway, and Twist and E-cadherin, which are two factors involved in EMT, was examined in 42 patients with HCC and 20 cases of non-tumorous liver (NTL) tissue by immunohistochemistry. Clinicopathological information was collected in order to analyze the correlation of the Hh signaling pathway with EMT. The present study aimed to examine the difference in the expression of Gli-1, Gli-2, E-cadherin and Twist in HCC and NTL to assess the diagnostic value of these factors in HCC. Additionally, the present study aimed to elucidate the correlation between those proteins and other clinicopathological parameters. Whether abnormal activation of the Hh signaling pathway is closely associated with EMT was also evaluated. Gli-1 and Twist expression was found to be significantly increased and E-cadherin expression was found to be decreased in HCC in contrast to NTL (Gli-1, P=0.019; Twist, P=0.003; E-cadherin, P<0.001). Increased Twist expression was associated with the tumor size (P=0.043), and loss of or decreased E-cadherin expression was associated with the histological type of HCC (P=0.021). There was an inverse association between the expression of Twist and E-cadherin (P=0.006). These results showed that Twist overexpression by induction of EMT changes is involved in the occurrence and progression of HCC. However, the role of Hh signaling pathway-associated proteins in HCC may require elucidation by additional studies using additional materials in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyung Wook Chun
- Department of Medicine, Graduate School, Chosun University, Gwangju 501-759, Republic of Korea
| | - Ran Hong
- Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, Chosun University, Gwangju 501-759, Republic of Korea
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Nestin overexpression in hepatocellular carcinoma associates with epithelial-mesenchymal transition and chemoresistance. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH : CR 2016; 35:111. [PMID: 27412382 PMCID: PMC4944516 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-016-0387-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2016] [Accepted: 06/30/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Background Nestin expression has been reported to be associated with the prognosis of many solid tumors including human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The present study aimed to identify the role, if any, of Nestin in the chemotherapeutic treatment of HCC. Methods We determined Nestin expression in nine HCC cell lines and 220 tissue samples of advanced HCC patients (retrospectively registered) treated with FOLFOX regimens. We examined the correlations between Nestin expression and clinicopatholgical variables and HCC prognosis. Also, we used in vitro and in vivo methods to determine the effects of Nestin expression on HCC cell invasion, migration and chemosensitivity. Results Nestin expression was significantly increased in HCC tissues and drug-resistant cell lines, and the presence of high levels of Nestin was associated with poor survival. We also showed that drug-resistance occurred in HCC cells with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), which in turn enhanced invasion ability. Nestin depletion reversed drug-resistance in the Bel-7402/5-FU and Bel-7402/ADM cell lines. Nestin knockdown enhanced chemotherapeutic efficacy in nude mice. Moreover, Nestin up-regulation in Bel-7402 was associated with the activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Conclusion Our findings suggest that Nestin inhibitors may be useful for the chemotherapy of HCC. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13046-016-0387-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Zhou DD, Wang X, Wang Y, Xiang XJ, Liang ZC, Zhou Y, Xu A, Bi CH, Zhang L. MicroRNA-145 inhibits hepatic stellate cell activation and proliferation by targeting ZEB2 through Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Mol Immunol 2016; 75:151-60. [PMID: 27289031 DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2016.05.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2016] [Revised: 05/23/2016] [Accepted: 05/24/2016] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
The activation of hepatic stellates cells (HSCs) is well believed to play a pivotal role in the development of liver fibrosis. MicroRNA-145 (miR-145) is known to suppress the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma, and is previously reported to be associated with Wnt/β-catenin pathway, but its role in the progression of hepatic fibrosis and activation of HSCs remains unknown and is warranted for investigation. In the present study, we found that the expression of miR-145 is significantly down-regulated in vivo in CCl4-induced mice liver fibrosis as well as in transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) induced HSC-T6 cell lines and human hepatic stellate cell line LX-2 in vitro. Furthermore, over-expression of miR-145 inhibited TGF-β1-induced the activation and proliferation of HSC-T6 cells in vitro. Mechanistically, we identified that zinc finger E-box-binding homeobox 2 (ZEB2), a key mediator of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, acted as a functional downstream target for miR-145. Interestingly, ZEB2 was shown to be involved in the TGF-β1-induced HSCs activation by regulating Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Taken together, our results revealed the critical regulatory role of miR-145 in HSCs activation and implied miR-145 as a potential candidate for therapy of hepatic fibrosis by regulation of Wnt/β-catenin through targeting ZEB2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan-Dan Zhou
- School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China; Institute for Liver Disease of Anhui Medical University, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Xiao Wang
- Second Clinical Medical College, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China
| | - Yang Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China; Institute for Liver Disease of Anhui Medical University, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Xin-Jian Xiang
- Second Clinical Medical College, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China
| | - Zi-Cong Liang
- Second Clinical Medical College, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China
| | - Yi Zhou
- Second Clinical Medical College, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China
| | - Ang Xu
- Second Clinical Medical College, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China
| | - Cheng-Hao Bi
- Second Clinical Medical College, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China; Institute for Liver Disease of Anhui Medical University, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China.
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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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Ma Z, Li Y, Xu J, Ren Q, Yao J, Tian X. MicroRNA-409-3p regulates cell invasion and metastasis by targeting ZEB1 in breast cancer. IUBMB Life 2016; 68:394-402. [PMID: 27079864 DOI: 10.1002/iub.1494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2015] [Accepted: 02/27/2016] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
MicroRNA-409-3p (miR-409-3p) is an miRNA expressed by embryonic stem cells, and our previous study demonstrated depressed miR-409-3p expression in human breast cancer (BC) cell lines; however, its role and function in BC metastasis are still unknown. The purpose of this study was to examine the expression levels of miR-409-3p in human BC and its role in the metastasis of BC. We analyzed the status of miR-409-3p expression in BC tissues by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and its relationship to the clinicopathologic features of patients with BC. To study the role of miR-409-3p in BC metastasis, the invasion ability of BC cells was detected by transwell invasion assays and wound healing assays. WST-1 assays and colony formation assays were used to investigate cell proliferation. Luciferase reporter assays were used to verify that miR-409-3p targeted zinc-finger E-box-binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1). Western blot analyses and transwell assays were carried out to assess ZEB1 expression and its role in BC cell metastasis. The expression of miR-409-3p was lower in tumor tissues than in noncancerous breast tissues. We verified that miR-409-3p levels were downregulated and significantly correlated with poor outcomes in patients with BC. Overexpression of miR-409-3p inhibited cellular proliferation and suppressed cellular migration and invasion in vitro and in vivo. Dual-luciferase reporter assays showed that miR-409-3p binds the 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) of ZEB1, suggesting that ZEB1 is a direct target of miR-409-3p. Western blot analysis confirmed that overexpression of miR-409-3p reduced ZEB1 protein levels. These data demonstrate that miR-409-3p plays an important role in regulating the metastasis of BC, which is involved in the post-transcriptional repression of ZEB1. Our results indicate that miR-409-3p can regulate the invasion and metastasis process of BC by targeting ZEB1 and may serve as a new prognostic marker and therapeutic target for treating BC metastasis. © 2016 IUBMB Life, 68(5):394-402, 2016.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenhai Ma
- Breast Cancer Key Laboratory of Dalian, Department of Breast Disease and Reconstruction Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, People's Republic of China
| | - Yang Li
- Breast Cancer Key Laboratory of Dalian, Department of Breast Disease and Reconstruction Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, People's Republic of China
| | - Jingchao Xu
- Breast Cancer Key Laboratory of Dalian, Department of Breast Disease and Reconstruction Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, People's Republic of China
| | - Qiaozhen Ren
- Breast Cancer Key Laboratory of Dalian, Department of Breast Disease and Reconstruction Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, People's Republic of China
| | - Jihong Yao
- Department of Pharmacology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaofeng Tian
- Breast Cancer Key Laboratory of Dalian, Department of Breast Disease and Reconstruction Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, People's Republic of China
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Peng GZ, Ye QF, Wang R, Li MX, Yang ZX. Knockdown by shRNA identifies SLC44A5 as a potential therapeutic target in hepatocellular carcinoma. Mol Med Rep 2016; 13:4845-52. [PMID: 27082540 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2016.5136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2015] [Accepted: 03/02/2016] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been ranked the second leading cause of cancer‑associated mortality in China and the third leading cause of cancer‑associated mortality worldwide. A number of previous studies investigating SLC44A5 have revealed important biological insight and disease‑specific functions. Therefore, the present study investigated the expression of SLC44A5 in HCC tissues and cell lines, and assessed the effect of SLC44A5 on the viability, cell cycle, apoptosis and invasion of HCC cell lines. The mRNA expression of SLC44A5 in 35 HCC tissues was significantly higher compared with that in 35 normal tissues. The protein expression of SLC44A5 was notably high in MHCC‑97H and SMMC‑7721 cells compared with that in four other HCC cell lines. Knockdown of SLC44A5 using short hairpin RNA inhibited cell viability and arrested the cells in G1 of the cell cycle by reducing the expression of cell cycle markers, proliferating cell nuclear antigen and cyclin‑dependent kinase 2 in MHCC‑97H and SMMC‑7721 cells. Furthermore, SLC44A5 knockdown cells also exhibited cell apoptosis by reducing the expression levels of apoptosis markers, caspase‑3 and caspase‑9 in MHCC‑97H and SMMC‑7721 cells, and suppressed invasion. The present results suggested that SLC44A5 is involved in HCC carcinogenesis and progression in HCC, indicating that SLC44A5 may be a molecular target in cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gui-Zhu Peng
- Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Institute of Hepatobiliary Diseases of Wuhan University, Transplant Center of Wuhan University, Hubei Key Laboratory of Medical Technology on Transplantation, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, P.R. China
| | - Qi-Fa Ye
- Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Institute of Hepatobiliary Diseases of Wuhan University, Transplant Center of Wuhan University, Hubei Key Laboratory of Medical Technology on Transplantation, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, P.R. China
| | - Ren Wang
- Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Institute of Hepatobiliary Diseases of Wuhan University, Transplant Center of Wuhan University, Hubei Key Laboratory of Medical Technology on Transplantation, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, P.R. China
| | - Ming-Xia Li
- Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Institute of Hepatobiliary Diseases of Wuhan University, Transplant Center of Wuhan University, Hubei Key Laboratory of Medical Technology on Transplantation, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, P.R. China
| | - Zi-Xuan Yang
- Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Institute of Hepatobiliary Diseases of Wuhan University, Transplant Center of Wuhan University, Hubei Key Laboratory of Medical Technology on Transplantation, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, P.R. China
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Zhang S, Li J, Liu P, Xu J, Zhao W, Xie C, Yin Z, Wang X. Pygopus-2 promotes invasion and metastasis of hepatic carcinoma cell by decreasing E-cadherin expression. Oncotarget 2016; 6:11074-86. [PMID: 25871475 PMCID: PMC4484440 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.3570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2015] [Accepted: 02/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Pygopus-2 over-expression has been reported in several malignancies, such as ovarian, breast, lung and liver cancers. Here we demonstrated that down-regulation of Pygopus-2 by shRNA inhibited hepatic carcinoma cell invasion in vitro and metastasis in xenograft tumor models, which were promoted when Pygopus-2 was over-expressed. Pygopus-2 increased hepatic carcinoma cell invasion and metastasis, by decreasing E-cadherin. Pygopus-2 could bind to the E-cadherin promoter, increasing its methylation, and also indirectly decreased zeb2 expression. In turn these effects caused down-regulation of E-cadherin, potentiating invasion and metastasis. We suggest that targeting Pygopus-2 may potentially inhibit metastasis of hepatic carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheng Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Chronic Liver Disease and Hepatocellular Carcinoma (Xiamen University Affiliated ZhongShan Hospital), Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Jie Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Chronic Liver Disease and Hepatocellular Carcinoma (Xiamen University Affiliated ZhongShan Hospital), Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Pingguo Liu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Chronic Liver Disease and Hepatocellular Carcinoma (Xiamen University Affiliated ZhongShan Hospital), Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Jianfeng Xu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Chronic Liver Disease and Hepatocellular Carcinoma (Xiamen University Affiliated ZhongShan Hospital), Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Wenxiu Zhao
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Chronic Liver Disease and Hepatocellular Carcinoma (Xiamen University Affiliated ZhongShan Hospital), Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Chengrong Xie
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Chronic Liver Disease and Hepatocellular Carcinoma (Xiamen University Affiliated ZhongShan Hospital), Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Zhenyu Yin
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Chronic Liver Disease and Hepatocellular Carcinoma (Xiamen University Affiliated ZhongShan Hospital), Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Xiaomin Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Chronic Liver Disease and Hepatocellular Carcinoma (Xiamen University Affiliated ZhongShan Hospital), Xiamen, Fujian, China
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Huang M, Wang L, Chen J, Bai M, Zhou C, Liu S, Lin Q. Regulation of COX-2 expression and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition by hypoxia-inducible factor-1α is associated with poor prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma patients post TACE surgery. Int J Oncol 2016; 48:2144-54. [PMID: 26984380 PMCID: PMC4809660 DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2016.3421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2015] [Accepted: 02/06/2016] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Currently, it is not entirely clear whether hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) is involved in the regulation of COX-2 expression and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and whether these events affect the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients treated with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE). In this report the relationship between HIF-1α and COX-2 protein expression, EMT in tumor specimens from HCC patients after TACE surgery and the clinical significance of HIF-1α and COX-2 expression were analyzed using statistical approaches. HepG2 cells treated with CoCl2 was employed as a hypoxia cell model in vitro to study hypoxia-induced HIF-1α, COX-2 expression, and EMT alteration. The results showed that HIF-1α and COX-2 protein expression increased in HCC tissues after TACE surgery. Moreover, there was positive correlation between upregulation of HIF-1α and COX-2. Elevated expression of HIF-1α increased both Snail and Vimentin protein expression, while it reduced E-cadherin protein expression. It was further verified that hypoxia enhanced protein expression of HIF-1α and COX-2 in HepG2 cells treated with CoCl2. Upregulation of HIF-1α and COX-2, together with EMT alteration resulted in increased migration and invasion of HepG2 cells under hypoxia. In conclusion, TACE surgery results in aggravated hypoxia status, leading to increased HIF-1α protein expression in HCC tissue. To adapt to hypoxic environment, HIF-1α stimulates COX-2 protein expression and promotes EMT process in hepatocellular cancer cells, which enhances HCC invasion and metastasis, and might contribute to poor prognosis in HCC patients post TACE treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingsheng Huang
- Department of Radiology, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510630, P.R. China
| | - Long Wang
- Department of Interventional Radiology, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510630, P.R. China
| | - Junwei Chen
- Department of Radiology, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510630, P.R. China
| | - Mingjun Bai
- Department of Radiology, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510630, P.R. China
| | - Churen Zhou
- Department of Radiology, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510630, P.R. China
| | - Sujuan Liu
- Department of Radiology, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510630, P.R. China
| | - Qu Lin
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510630, P.R. China
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Hepatitis C virus core protein interacts with Snail and histone deacetylases to promote the metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma. Oncogene 2015; 35:3626-35. [PMID: 26549030 DOI: 10.1038/onc.2015.428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2014] [Revised: 09/14/2015] [Accepted: 09/28/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Downregulation of E-cadherin by the transcriptional repressor Snail is associated with acquisition of metastatic potential. Although hepatitis C virus (HCV) core protein has been implicated in hepatocarcinogenesis, it is unclear whether Snail is involved in HCV core-induced dysregulation of E-cadherin. Herein, we investigated the mechanism by which HCV core induces E-cadherin repression and the role of Snail in HCV core-mediated invasiveness and metastasis. We found that HCV infection, especially HCV core expression, effectively induced the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in hepatoma cells by repressing E-cadherin. HCV core interacted with Snail and enhanced its binding to the E-box in the promoter region of E-cadherin, leading to decreased E-cadherin promoter activity. We found that HCV core, Snail, and the histone deacetylases HDAC1/HDAC2 formed a co-repressor complex at the E-cadherin promoter. Moreover, HCV core was shown to stabilize Snail through activation of the PI3K/Akt/GSK3β pathway. Silencing Snail expression restored E-cadherin expression and inhibited HCV core-promoted tumor growth and distant lung metastasis in vivo. Collectively, these results demonstrated that HCV core induced EMT by interacting with the transcriptional repressor complex Snail/HDACs at the E-cadherin promoter, which led to E-cadherin repression and increased invasiveness of hepatoma cells. These findings increase understanding of factors regulating metastasis in hepatoma and may ultimately lead to the development of novel treatment strategies for HCV-associated hepatocellular carcinoma.
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Pang H, Zheng Y, Zhao Y, Xiu X, Wang J. miR-590-3p suppresses cancer cell migration, invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in glioblastoma multiforme by targeting ZEB1 and ZEB2. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2015; 468:739-45. [PMID: 26556542 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2015.11.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2015] [Accepted: 11/04/2015] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Invasion and migration of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a multistep process and an important phenotype that causes this disease to invade surrounding tissues in the brain. The purpose of this study was to determine the role of miR-590-3p in regulation of epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) and metastasis of GBM cells. Expression levels of miR-590-3p in 15 GBM specimens with adjacent tissues and five GBM cell lines were assessed by quantitative RT-PCR. We found that miR-590-3p was down-regulated in detected GBM tissue samples and all of the GBM cell lines. In addition, Ectopic expression of miR-590-3p suppressed and miR-590-3p-in promoted EMT, migration, and invasion in U87MG and A172 cells. Bioinformatics coupled with luciferase and Western blot assays also revealed that miR-590-3p inhibited expression of ZEB1 and ZEB2, which are master regulators of tumor metastasis. Our study first indicates that miR-590-3p functions as a suppressor of GBM EMT and metastasis by targeting ZEB1 and ZEB2, and it may be a therapeutic target for metastatic GBM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hengyuan Pang
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150086, China
| | - Yongri Zheng
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150086, China
| | - Yan Zhao
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150086, China
| | - Xiaoqing Xiu
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150086, China
| | - Jianjiao Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150086, China.
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