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Awad AM, Dabous E, Alalem M, Alalem N, Nasr ME, Elawdan KA, Nasr GM, Said W, El Khashab K, Basiouny MS, Guirgis AA, Khalil H. MicroRNA-141-regulated KLK10 and TNFSF-15 gene expression in hepatoblastoma cells as a novel mechanism in liver carcinogenesis. Sci Rep 2024; 14:13492. [PMID: 38866875 PMCID: PMC11169620 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-63223-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Liver cancer is one of the most pivotal global health problems, leading hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with a significant increase in cases worldwide. The role of non-coding-RNA in cancer proliferation and carcinogenesis has attracted much attention in the last decade; however, microRNAs (miRNAs), as non-coding RNA, are considered master mediators in various cancer progressions. Yet the role of miR-141 as a modulator for specific cellular processes in liver cancer cell proliferation is still unclear. This study identified the role of miR-141 and its potential functions in liver carcinogenesis. The level of miR-141 in HepG2 and HuH7 cells was assessed using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and compared with its expression in normal hepatocytes. A new miR-141 construct has been performed in a CMV promoter vector tagged with GFP. Using microarray analysis, we identified the potentially regulated genes by miR-141 in transfected HepG2 cells. The protein profile of the kallikrein-related peptidase 10 (KLK10) and tumor necrosis factor TNFSF-15 was investigated in HepG2 cells transfected with either an inhibitor, antagonist miR-141, or miR-141 overexpression vector using immunoblotting and flow cytometry assay. Finally, ELISA assay has been used to monitor the produced inflammatory cytokines from transfected HepG2 cells. Our findings showed that the expression of miR-141 significantly increased in HepG2 and HuH7 cells compared to the normal hepatocytes. Transfection of HepG2 cells with an inhibitor, antagonist miR-141, showed a significant reduction of HepG2 cell viability, unlike the transfection of miR-141 overexpression vector. The microarray data of HepG2 cells overexpressed miR-141 provided a hundred downregulated genes, including KLK10 and TNFSF-15. Furthermore, the expression profile of KLK10 and TNFSF-15 markedly depleted in HepG2 cells transfected with miR-141 overexpression accompanied by a decreasing level of interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), indicating the role of miR-141 in HepG2 cell proliferation and programmed cell death. Interestingly, the experimental rats with liver cancer induced by Diethylnitrosamine injection further confirmed the upregulation of miR-141 level, IL-10, and TNF-α and the disturbance in KLK10 and TNFSF-15 gene expression compared with their expression in normal rats. The in-silico online tools, IntaRNA and miRWalk were used to confirm the direct interaction and potential binding sites between miR-141 and identified genes. Thus, the seeding regions of potential targeted sequences was cloned upstream of luciferase reporter gene in pGL3 control vector. Interestingly, the luciferase activities of constructed vectors were significantly decreased in HepG2 cells pre-transfected with miR-141 overexpression vector, while increasing in cells pre-transfected with miR-141 specific inhibitor. In summary, these data suggest the crucial role of miR-141 in liver cancer development via targeting KLK10 and TNFSF-15 and provide miR-141 as an attractive candidate in liver cancer treatment and protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed M Awad
- Department of Molecular Biology, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute, University of Sadat City, 32897, Sadat City, Egypt
- Department of Molecular Diagnosis, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute, University of Sadat City, Sadat City, Egypt
| | - Emad Dabous
- Department of Molecular Biology, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute, University of Sadat City, 32897, Sadat City, Egypt
- Department of Molecular Diagnosis, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute, University of Sadat City, Sadat City, Egypt
| | - Mai Alalem
- Department of Molecular Biology, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute, University of Sadat City, 32897, Sadat City, Egypt
- Department of Molecular Diagnosis, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute, University of Sadat City, Sadat City, Egypt
| | - Nedaa Alalem
- Department of Molecular Biology, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute, University of Sadat City, 32897, Sadat City, Egypt
- Department of Molecular Diagnosis, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute, University of Sadat City, Sadat City, Egypt
| | - Mahmoud E Nasr
- Department of Molecular Biology, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute, University of Sadat City, 32897, Sadat City, Egypt
- Department of Molecular Diagnosis, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute, University of Sadat City, Sadat City, Egypt
| | - Khaled A Elawdan
- Department of Molecular Biology, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute, University of Sadat City, 32897, Sadat City, Egypt
- Department of Molecular Diagnosis, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute, University of Sadat City, Sadat City, Egypt
| | - Ghada M Nasr
- Molecular Diagnostics Department, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute, University of Sadat City, Sadat City, Egypt
| | - Walid Said
- Microbiology and Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Benha University, Benha, Egypt
| | - Kareem El Khashab
- Medical Laboratory Department, High Technology Institute of Applied Health Science, Badr Academy for Science and Technology, Badr City, Egypt
| | - Mohamed S Basiouny
- School of Biotechnology, Badr University in Cairo, Badr City, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Adel A Guirgis
- Department of Molecular Biology, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute, University of Sadat City, 32897, Sadat City, Egypt
- Department of Molecular Diagnosis, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute, University of Sadat City, Sadat City, Egypt
| | - Hany Khalil
- Department of Molecular Biology, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute, University of Sadat City, 32897, Sadat City, Egypt.
- Department of Molecular Diagnosis, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute, University of Sadat City, Sadat City, Egypt.
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Khalil H, Nada AH, Mahrous H, Hassan A, Rijo P, Ibrahim IA, Mohamed DD, AL-Salmi FA, Mohamed DD, Elmaksoud AIA. Amelioration effect of 18β-Glycyrrhetinic acid on methylation inhibitors in hepatocarcinogenesis -induced by diethylnitrosamine. Front Immunol 2024; 14:1206990. [PMID: 38322013 PMCID: PMC10844948 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1206990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Aim suppression of methylation inhibitors (epigenetic genes) in hepatocarcinogenesis induced by diethylnitrosamine using glycyrrhetinic acid. Method In the current work, we investigated the effect of sole GA combined with different agents such as doxorubicin (DOX) or probiotic bacteria (Lactobacillus rhamanosus) against hepatocarcinogenesis induced by diethylnitrosamine to improve efficiency. The genomic DNA was isolated from rats' liver tissues to evaluate either methylation-sensitive or methylation-dependent resection enzymes. The methylation activity of the targeting genes DLC-1, TET-1, NF-kB, and STAT-3 was examined using specific primers and cleaved DNA products. Furthermore, flow cytometry was used to determine the protein expression profiles of DLC-1 and TET-1 in treated rats' liver tissue. Results Our results demonstrated the activity of GA to reduce the methylation activity in TET-1 and DLC-1 by 33.6% and 78%, respectively. As compared with the positive control. Furthermore, the association of GA with DOX avoided the methylation activity by 88% and 91% for TET-1 and DLC-1, respectively, as compared with the positive control. Similarly, the combined use of GA with probiotics suppressed the methylation activity in the TET-1 and DLC-1 genes by 75% and 81% for TET-1 and DLC-1, respectively. Also, GA and its combination with bacteria attenuated the adverse effect in hepatocarcinogenesis rats by altering potential methylomic genes such as NF-kb and STAT3 genes by 76% and 83%, respectively. Conclusion GA has an ameliorative effect against methylation inhibitors in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by decreasing the methylation activity genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hany Khalil
- Department of Molecular Biology, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute (GEBRI) University of Sadat City, Sadat, Egypt
| | - Alaa H. Nada
- Department of Industrial Biotechnology, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute (GEBRI) University of Sadat City, Sadat, Egypt
| | - Hoda Mahrous
- Department of Industrial Biotechnology, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute (GEBRI) University of Sadat City, Sadat, Egypt
| | - Amr Hassan
- Department of Bioinformatics, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute (GEBRI) University of Sadat City, Sadat, Egypt
| | - Patricia Rijo
- Research Center for Biosciences & Health Technologies (CBIOS), Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias, Lisboa, Portugal
- Instituto de Investigação do Medicamento (iMed.ULisboa), Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Ibrahim A. Ibrahim
- Department of Plant Biotechnology, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute (GEBRI) University of Sadat City, Sadat, Egypt
| | - Dalia D. Mohamed
- Department of Molecular Biology, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute (GEBRI) University of Sadat City, Sadat, Egypt
| | - Fawziah A. AL-Salmi
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia
| | - Doaa D. Mohamed
- Department of Molecular Biology, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute (GEBRI) University of Sadat City, Sadat, Egypt
| | - Ahmed I. Abd Elmaksoud
- Department of Molecular Biology, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute (GEBRI) University of Sadat City, Sadat, Egypt
- College of Biotechnology, Misr University of Science and Technology, Giza, Egypt
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Salah A, Sleem R, Abd-Elaziz A, Khalil H. Regulation of NF-κB Expression by Thymoquinone; A Role in Regulating Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines and Programmed Cell Death in Hepatic Cancer Cells. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev 2023; 24:3739-3748. [PMID: 38019231 PMCID: PMC10772774 DOI: 10.31557/apjcp.2023.24.11.3739] [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: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The miracle herb Nigella sativa (N. sativa) is a member of the Ranunculaceae family that possesses many properties, such as antioxidant, anticancer, analgesic, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory. Thymoquinone (TQ) is the primary ingredient that makes up N. sativa, which is responsible for its many properties. So, our research focused on the biological role of TQ and its anticancer activities. METHODS A wide range of TQ concentrations (50µg/µl, 25µg/ µl, and 12.5µg µl) was prepared and evaluated for their potential regulatory role in cell lines of hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2 cell line) compared with normal hepatocytes cells, untreated and DMSO-treated cells. RESULTS The more significant level of LDH obtained after TQ treatment compared to untreated cells provides evidence of the cytotoxic effects of TQ on HepG2 cells. Notably, the normal hepatocyte cells subjected to the same concentrations of TQ showed neglected influence in cell viability rate, indicating the selective regulatory role of TQ in cancer cell proliferation. Interestingly, as a critical mediator of malignancy transformation, the nuclear factor-kappa B expression level (NF-κB) significantly decreased in a time and dose-dependent manner of TQ treatment. Furthermore, we investigated whether TQ regulates the expression of deleted liver cancer 1 (DLC1) and Caspase 3 (Casp3). Notably, the treatment with TQ showed increased expression levels of DLC1 and Casp3 upon treatment. TQ extract sufficiently mediated the secretion of the released pro-inflammatory cytokines from treated cells. This regulation of released cytokines by TQ may affect the activation of NF-κB in treated cells. CONCLUSION These results indicate that TQ mediates the activation of Casp3, DLC1, and NF-κB, providing a new function of TQ in treating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
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