1
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Wang X, Li Y, Hou X, Li J, Ma X. Lipid metabolism reprogramming in endometrial cancer: biological functions and therapeutic implications. Cell Commun Signal 2024; 22:436. [PMID: 39256811 PMCID: PMC11385155 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-024-01792-7] [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: 05/30/2024] [Accepted: 08/15/2024] [Indexed: 09/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Endometrial cancer is one of the major gynecological cancers, with increasing incidence and mortality in the past decades. Emerging preclinical and clinical data have indicated its close association with obesity and dyslipidemia. Metabolism reprogramming has been considered as the hallmark of cancer, to satisfy the extensive need of nutrients and energy for survival and growth. Particularly, lipid metabolism reprogramming has aroused the researchers' interest in the field of cancer, including tumorigenesis, invasiveness, metastasis, therapeutic resistance and immunity modulation, etc. But the roles of lipid metabolism reprogramming in endometrial cancer have not been fully understood. This review has summarized how lipid metabolism reprogramming induces oncogenesis and progression of endometrial cancer, including the biological functions of aberrant lipid metabolism pathway and altered transcription regulation of lipid metabolism pathway. Besides, we proposed novel therapeutic strategies of targeting lipid metabolism pathway and concentrated on its potential of sensitizing immunotherapy and hormonal therapy, to further optimize the existing treatment modalities of patients with advanced/metastatic endometrial cancer. Moreover, we expect that targeting lipid metabolism plus hormone therapy may block the endometrial malignant transformation and enrich the preventative approaches of endometrial cancer. CONCLUSION Lipid metabolism reprogramming plays an important role in tumor initiation and cancer progression of endometrial cancer. Targeting the core enzymes and transcriptional factors of lipid metabolism pathway alone or in combination with immunotherapy/hormone treatment is expected to decrease the tumor burden and provide promising treatment opportunity for patients with advanced/metastatic endometrial cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangyu Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No. 1095, Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, Hubei Province, 430030, China
| | - Yinuo Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No. 1095, Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, Hubei Province, 430030, China
| | - Xin Hou
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No. 1095, Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, Hubei Province, 430030, China
| | - Jingfang Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No. 1095, Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, Hubei Province, 430030, China
| | - Xiangyi Ma
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No. 1095, Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, Hubei Province, 430030, China.
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2
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Bai R, Cui J. Regulation of fatty acid synthase on tumor and progress in the development of related therapies. Chin Med J (Engl) 2024; 137:1894-1902. [PMID: 38273440 PMCID: PMC11332710 DOI: 10.1097/cm9.0000000000002880] [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: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT Fatty acid synthase (FASN) is an essential molecule in lipid metabolic pathways, which are crucial for cancer-related studies. Recent studies have focused on a comprehensive understanding of the novel and important regulatory effects of FASN on malignant biological behavior and immune-cell infiltration, which are closely related to tumor occurrence and development, immune escape, and immune response. FASN-targeting antitumor treatment strategies are being developed. Therefore, in this review, we focused on the effects of FASN on tumor and immune-cell infiltration and reviewed the progress of related anti-tumor therapy development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jiuwei Cui
- Cancer Center, the First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021, China
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3
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Chan ASL, Zhu H, Narita M, Cassidy LD, Young ARJ, Bermejo-Rodriguez C, Janowska AT, Chen HC, Gough S, Oshimori N, Zender L, Aitken SJ, Hoare M, Narita M. Titration of RAS alters senescent state and influences tumour initiation. Nature 2024:10.1038/s41586-024-07797-z. [PMID: 39112713 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07797-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2024] [Indexed: 08/17/2024]
Abstract
Oncogenic RAS-induced senescence (OIS) is an autonomous tumour suppressor mechanism associated with premalignancy1,2. Achieving this phenotype typically requires a high level of oncogenic stress, yet the phenotype provoked by lower oncogenic dosage remains unclear. Here we develop oncogenic RAS dose-escalation models in vitro and in vivo, revealing a RAS dose-driven non-linear continuum of downstream phenotypes. In a hepatocyte OIS model in vivo, ectopic expression of NRAS(G12V) does not induce tumours, in part owing to OIS-driven immune clearance3. Single-cell RNA sequencing analyses reveal distinct hepatocyte clusters with typical OIS or progenitor-like features, corresponding to high and intermediate levels of NRAS(G12V), respectively. When titred down, NRAS(G12V)-expressing hepatocytes become immune resistant and develop tumours. Time-series monitoring at single-cell resolution identifies two distinct tumour types: early-onset aggressive undifferentiated and late-onset differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma. The molecular signature of each mouse tumour type is associated with different progenitor features and enriched in distinct human hepatocellular carcinoma subclasses. Our results define the oncogenic dosage-driven OIS spectrum, reconciling the senescence and tumour initiation phenotypes in early tumorigenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adelyne S L Chan
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Haoran Zhu
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Masako Narita
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Liam D Cassidy
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Andrew R J Young
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Aleksandra T Janowska
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Hung-Chang Chen
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Sarah Gough
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Naoki Oshimori
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Cancer Biology, Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Lars Zender
- Department of Medical Oncology and Pneumology, University Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
- German Cancer Research Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Tübingen, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- iFIT Cluster of Excellence EXC 2180 Image Guided and Functionally Instructed Tumor Therapies, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
- Tuebingen Center for Academic Drug Discovery and Development (TüCAD2), Tübingen, Germany
| | - Sarah J Aitken
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Medical Research Council Toxicology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Histopathology, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK
| | - Matthew Hoare
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Early Cancer Institute, Hutchison Research Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Masashi Narita
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
- Tokyo Tech World Research Hub Initiative (WRHI), Institute of Innovative Research, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokohama, Japan.
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4
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Vechalapu SK, Kumar R, Chatterjee N, Gupta S, Khanna S, Thimmappa PY, Senthil S, Eerlapally R, Joshi MB, Misra SK, Draksharapu A, Allimuthu D. Redox modulator iron complexes trigger intrinsic apoptosis pathway in cancer cells. iScience 2024; 27:109899. [PMID: 38799569 PMCID: PMC11126827 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109899] [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: 01/22/2024] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
The emergence of multidrug resistance in cancer cells necessitates the development of new therapeutic modalities. One way cancer cells orchestrate energy metabolism and redox homeostasis is through overloaded iron pools directed by iron regulatory proteins, including transferrin. Here, we demonstrate that targeting redox homeostasis using nitrogen-based heterocyclic iron chelators and their iron complexes efficiently prevents the proliferation of liver cancer cells (EC50: 340 nM for IITK4003) and liver cancer 3D spheroids. These iron complexes generate highly reactive Fe(IV)=O species and accumulate lipid peroxides to promote oxidative stress in cells that impair mitochondrial function. Subsequent leakage of mitochondrial cytochrome c activates the caspase cascade to trigger the intrinsic apoptosis pathway in cancer cells. This strategy could be applied to leverage the inherent iron overload in cancer cells to selectively promote intrinsic cellular apoptosis for the development of unique iron-complex-based anticancer therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sai Kumari Vechalapu
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh 208016, India
| | - Rakesh Kumar
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh 208016, India
| | - Niranjan Chatterjee
- Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh 208016, India
| | - Sikha Gupta
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh 208016, India
| | - Shweta Khanna
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh 208016, India
| | - Pooja Yedehalli Thimmappa
- Department of Ageing Research, Manipal School of Life Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, India
| | - Sathyapriya Senthil
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh 208016, India
| | - Raju Eerlapally
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh 208016, India
| | - Manjunath B. Joshi
- Department of Ageing Research, Manipal School of Life Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, India
| | - Santosh K. Misra
- Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh 208016, India
| | - Apparao Draksharapu
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh 208016, India
| | - Dharmaraja Allimuthu
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh 208016, India
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5
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Gnocchi D, Nikolic D, Paparella RR, Sabbà C, Mazzocca A. Crithmum maritimum Extract Restores Lipid Homeostasis and Metabolic Profile of Liver Cancer Cells to a Normal Phenotype. PLANT FOODS FOR HUMAN NUTRITION (DORDRECHT, NETHERLANDS) 2024; 79:417-424. [PMID: 38710924 PMCID: PMC11178603 DOI: 10.1007/s11130-024-01188-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an alarming epidemiological clinical problem worldwide. Pharmacological approaches currently available do not provide adequate responses due to poor effectiveness, high toxicity, and serious side effects. Our previous studies have shown that the wild edible plant Crithmum maritimum L. inhibits the growth of liver cancer cells and promotes liver cell differentiation by reducing lactic acid fermentation (Warburg effect). Here, we aimed to further characterise the effects of C. maritimum on lipid metabolism and markers of cellular metabolic health, such as AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), and Sirtuin 3 (SIRT3), as well as the insulin signalling pathway. To better mimic the biological spectrum of HCC, we employed four HCC cell lines with different degrees of tumorigenicity and lactic acid fermentation/Warburg phenotype. Lipid accumulation was assessed by Oil Red O (ORO) staining, while gene expression was measured by real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). The activation of AMPK and insulin signalling pathways was determined by Western blotting. Results indicate that C. maritimum prevents lipid accumulation, downregulates lipid and cholesterol biosynthesis, and modulates markers of metabolic health, such as AMPK, SIRT1 and SIRT3. This modulation is different amongst HCC cell lines, revealing an important functional versatility of C. maritimum. Taken together, our findings corroborate the importance of C. maritimum as a valuable nutraceutical, reinforcing its role for the improvement of metabolic health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Gnocchi
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari School of Medicine, Piazza G. Cesare, 11 - 70124, Bari, Italy
| | - Dragana Nikolic
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari School of Medicine, Piazza G. Cesare, 11 - 70124, Bari, Italy
| | - Rosa Rita Paparella
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari School of Medicine, Piazza G. Cesare, 11 - 70124, Bari, Italy
| | - Carlo Sabbà
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari School of Medicine, Piazza G. Cesare, 11 - 70124, Bari, Italy
| | - Antonio Mazzocca
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari School of Medicine, Piazza G. Cesare, 11 - 70124, Bari, Italy.
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6
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Xiao M, Ruan Y, Huang J, Dai L, Xu J, Xu H. Association analysis between Acetyl-Coenzyme A Acyltransferase-1 gene polymorphism and growth traits in Xiangsu pigs. Front Genet 2024; 15:1346903. [PMID: 38756449 PMCID: PMC11096523 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2024.1346903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Acetyl-Coenzyme A Acyltransferase-1 (ACAA1) is a peroxisomal acyltransferase involved in fatty acid metabolism. Current evidence does not precisely reveal the effect of the ACAA1 gene on pig growth performance. Methods The present study assessed the mRNA expression levels of the ACAA1 gene in the heart, liver, spleen, lung, kidney of 6-month-old Xiangsu pigs and in the longissimus dorsi muscle at different growth stages (newborn, 6 months and 12 months of age) using RT-qPCR. The relationship between single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of ACAA1 gene and growth traits in 6-month-old and 12-month-old Xiangsu pigs was investigated on 184 healthy Xiangsu pigs using Sanger sequencing. Results The ACAA1 gene was expressed in heart, liver, spleen, lung, kidney, and longissimus dorsi muscle of 6-month-old pigs, with the highest level of expression in the liver. ACAA1 gene expression in the longissimus dorsi muscle decreased with age (p < 0.01). In addition, four SNPs were identified in the ACAA1 gene, including exon g.48810 A>G (rs343060194), intron g.51546 T>C (rs319197012), exon g.55035 T>C (rs333279910), and exon g.55088 C>T (rs322138947). Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (p > 0.05) was found for the four SNPs, and linkage disequilibrium (LD) analysis revealed a strong LD between g.55035 T>C (rs333279910) and g.55088 C>T (rs322138947) (r 2 = 1.000). Association analysis showed that g.48810 A>G (rs343060194), g.51546 T>C (rs319197012), g.55035 T>C (rs333279910), and g.55088 C>T (rs322138947) varied in body weight, body length, body height, abdominal circumference, leg and hip circumference and living backfat thickness between 6-month-old and 12-month-old Xiangsu pigs. Conclusion These findings strongly demonstrate that the ACAA1 gene can be exploited for marker-assisted selection to improve growth-related phenotypes in Xiangsu pigs and present new candidate genes for molecular pig breeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meimei Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction in the Plateau Mountainous Region, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
- Guizhou Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
- College of Animal Science, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
| | - Yong Ruan
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction in the Plateau Mountainous Region, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
- Guizhou Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
- College of Animal Science, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
| | - Jiajin Huang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction in the Plateau Mountainous Region, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
- Guizhou Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
- College of Animal Science, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
| | - Lingang Dai
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction in the Plateau Mountainous Region, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
- Guizhou Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
- College of Animal Science, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
| | - Jiali Xu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction in the Plateau Mountainous Region, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
- Guizhou Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
- College of Animal Science, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
| | - Houqiang Xu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction in the Plateau Mountainous Region, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
- Guizhou Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
- College of Animal Science, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
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7
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Mohamed FEZA, Dewidar B, Lin T, Ebert MP, Dooley S, Meindl‐Beinker NM, Hammad S. TGFβR1 inhibition drives hepatocellular carcinoma proliferation through induction of toll-like-receptor signalling. Int J Exp Pathol 2024; 105:64-74. [PMID: 38328944 PMCID: PMC10951419 DOI: 10.1111/iep.12501] [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: 08/24/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β and toll-like receptors (TLRs) have been shown to independently modulate the proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Since a direct cross-talk between these two signalling pathways in HCC has not been clearly described before, we aimed here to explore the possibility of such interaction. A human HCC tissue array (n = 20 vs. four control samples), human HCC samples (n = 10) and steatohepatitis-driven murine HCC samples (control, NASH and HCC; n = 6/group) were immunostained for TGFβR1, pSMAD2, TRAF6, IRAK1 and PCNA. The results were confirmed by immunoblotting. Effects of constant activation of the SMAD pathway by constitutive expression of ALK5 or knockdown of mediators of TLR signalling, IRAK1 and MyD88, on HCC proliferation, were investigated in the HCC cell line (HUH-7) after treatment with TGFβ1 cytokine or TGFβR1 kinase inhibitor (LY2157299) using PCNA and MTS assay. TGFβR1 expression is decreased in human and murine HCC and associated with downregulated pSMAD2, but increased IRAK1, TRAF6 and PCNA staining. TGFβR1 kinase inhibition abolished the cytostatic effects of TGFβ1 and led to the induction of IRAK1, pIRAK1 and elevated mRNA levels of TLR-9. Overexpression of ALK5 and knockdown of MyD88 or IRAK1 augmented the cytostatic effects of TGFβ1 on HUH-7. In another epithelial HCC cell line, that is, HepG2, TGFβR1 kinase inhibitor similarly elevated cellular proliferation. There is a balance between the canonical SMAD-driven tumour-suppressing arm and the non-canonical tumour-promoting arm of TGFβ signalling. Disruption of this balance, by inhibition of the canonical pathway, induces HCC proliferation through TLR signalling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatma El Zahraa Ammar Mohamed
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of MedicineMinia UniversityMiniaEgypt
- Molecular Hepatology Section, Department of Medicine II, Medical Faculty MannheimHeidelberg UniversityMannheimGermany
| | - Bedair Dewidar
- Molecular Hepatology Section, Department of Medicine II, Medical Faculty MannheimHeidelberg UniversityMannheimGermany
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of PharmacyTanta UniversityTantaEgypt
- Institute for Clinical Diabetology, German Diabetes CenterLeibniz Center for Diabetes Research at Heinrich‐Heine‐University DüsseldorfDüsseldorfGermany
| | - Tao Lin
- Molecular Hepatology Section, Department of Medicine II, Medical Faculty MannheimHeidelberg UniversityMannheimGermany
| | - Matthias P. Ebert
- Department of Medicine II, University Medical Center Mannheim, Medical Faculty MannheimHeidelberg UniversityMannheimGermany
- Mannheim Institute for Innate Immunoscience (MI3), University Medical Center Mannheim, Medical Faculty MannheimHeidelberg UniversityMannheimGermany
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Healthy Metabolism, Center of Preventive Medicine and Digital Health, University Medical Center Mannheim, Medical Faculty MannheimHeidelberg UniversityMannheimGermany
| | - Steven Dooley
- Molecular Hepatology Section, Department of Medicine II, Medical Faculty MannheimHeidelberg UniversityMannheimGermany
| | - Nadja M. Meindl‐Beinker
- Department of Medicine II, University Medical Center Mannheim, Medical Faculty MannheimHeidelberg UniversityMannheimGermany
| | - Seddik Hammad
- Molecular Hepatology Section, Department of Medicine II, Medical Faculty MannheimHeidelberg UniversityMannheimGermany
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Badekila AK, Pai V, Vijayan V, Kini S. Engineering alginate/carboxymethylcellulose scaffolds to establish liver cancer spheroids: Evaluation of molecular variances between 2D and 3D models. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 254:128058. [PMID: 37956801 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.128058] [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: 06/20/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Natural polymeric hydrogels represent an optimal framework for 3D culture development. This study demonstrates a freeze-thaw-based ionic crosslinking technique for fabricating alginate/carboxymethylcellulose scaffold for culturing human hepatocellular carcinoma, Huh-7 cells to generate 3D spheroids. Consolidating morphological and biomechanical characterization of Alg/CMC scaffolds shows the formation of uniform hydrogels with significant crosslinking (ATR-FTIR), multiscale pores (FE-SEM), swelling/water absorbance, softer texture, viscoelasticity (rheology), spreading nature (contact angle), and degradation rate optimal for 3D culture establishment. The influence of cell seeding density and time with spheroid formation reveals a maximal size of 250-300 μm on day 7. Calcein AM and Propidium iodide staining confirm that a culmination of viable and dead cells generates spheroidal heterogeneity. RT-qPCR in 3D culture against RPL-13 and 2D culture controls indicate an upregulation of E-cadherin, N-cadherin, fibronectin, and integrin α9/β6. Further, western blotting and immunofluorescence confirm the collective display of cellular interactions in 3D spheroids. Thus, the expression profile signifies the role of key genes during the assembly and formation of 3D spheroids in 1%Alg/1%CMC scaffolds with a profound epithelial characteristic. In the future, this study will bring a 3D spheroid model in a platter for elucidating epithelial to mesenchymal transition of cells during in vitro disease modeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anjana Kaveri Badekila
- Nitte (Deemed to be University), Department of Bio & Nano Technology, Nitte University Centre for Science Education and Research, Mangalore 575018, Karnataka, India
| | - Vishruta Pai
- Nitte (Deemed to be University), Department of Bio & Nano Technology, Nitte University Centre for Science Education and Research, Mangalore 575018, Karnataka, India
| | - Vijeesh Vijayan
- Nitte (Deemed to be University), Department of Mechanical Engineering, NMAM Institute of Technology (NMAMIT), Nitte 574110, India
| | - Sudarshan Kini
- Nitte (Deemed to be University), Department of Bio & Nano Technology, Nitte University Centre for Science Education and Research, Mangalore 575018, Karnataka, India.
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9
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Wang Q, Liu J, Chen Z, Zheng J, Wang Y, Dong J. Targeting metabolic reprogramming in hepatocellular carcinoma to overcome therapeutic resistance: A comprehensive review. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 170:116021. [PMID: 38128187 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.116021] [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: 09/18/2023] [Revised: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) poses a heavy burden on human health with high morbidity and mortality rates. Systematic therapy is crucial for advanced and mid-term HCC, but faces a significant challenge from therapeutic resistance, weakening drug effectiveness. Metabolic reprogramming has gained attention as a key contributor to therapeutic resistance. Cells change their metabolism to meet energy demands, adapt to growth needs, or resist environmental pressures. Understanding key enzyme expression patterns and metabolic pathway interactions is vital to comprehend HCC occurrence, development, and treatment resistance. Exploring metabolic enzyme reprogramming and pathways is essential to identify breakthrough points for HCC treatment. Targeting metabolic enzymes with inhibitors is key to addressing these points. Inhibitors, combined with systemic therapeutic drugs, can alleviate resistance, prolong overall survival for advanced HCC, and offer mid-term HCC patients a chance for radical resection. Advances in metabolic research methods, from genomics to metabolomics and cells to organoids, help build the HCC metabolic reprogramming network. Recent progress in biomaterials and nanotechnology impacts drug targeting and effectiveness, providing new solutions for systemic therapeutic drug resistance. This review focuses on metabolic enzyme changes, pathway interactions, enzyme inhibitors, research methods, and drug delivery targeting metabolic reprogramming, offering valuable references for metabolic approaches to HCC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
| | - Juan Liu
- Research Unit of Precision Hepatobiliary Surgery Paradigm, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100021, China; Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Center, Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, School of Clinical Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 102218, China; Institute for Organ Transplant and Bionic Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 102218, China; Key Laboratory of Digital Intelligence Hepatology (Ministry of Education/Beijing), School of Clinical Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
| | - Ziye Chen
- Clinical Translational Science Center, Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, Tsinghua University, Beijing 102218, China
| | - Jingjing Zheng
- Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Center, Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, School of Clinical Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 102218, China
| | - Yunfang Wang
- Research Unit of Precision Hepatobiliary Surgery Paradigm, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100021, China; Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Center, Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, School of Clinical Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 102218, China; Institute for Organ Transplant and Bionic Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 102218, China; Clinical Translational Science Center, Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, Tsinghua University, Beijing 102218, China; Key Laboratory of Digital Intelligence Hepatology (Ministry of Education/Beijing), School of Clinical Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
| | - Jiahong Dong
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China; Research Unit of Precision Hepatobiliary Surgery Paradigm, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100021, China; Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Center, Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, School of Clinical Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 102218, China; Institute for Organ Transplant and Bionic Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 102218, China; Key Laboratory of Digital Intelligence Hepatology (Ministry of Education/Beijing), School of Clinical Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
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10
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Liang JJ, Zhou XF, Long H, Li CY, Wei J, Yu XQ, Guo ZY, Zhou YQ, Deng ZS. Recent advance of ATP citrate lyase inhibitors for the treatment of cancer and related diseases. Bioorg Chem 2024; 142:106933. [PMID: 37890210 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2023.106933] [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: 07/14/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023]
Abstract
ATP citrate lyase (ACLY), a strategic metabolic enzyme that catalyzes the glycolytic to lipidic metabolism, has gained increasing attention as an attractive therapeutic target for hyperlipidemia, cancers and other human diseases. Despite of continual research efforts, targeting ACLY has been very challenging. In this field, most reported ACLY inhibitors are "substrate-like" analogues, which occupied with the same active pockets. Besides, some ACLY inhibitors have been disclosed through biochemical screening or high throughput virtual screening. In this review, we briefly summarized the cancer-related functions and the recent advance of ACLY inhibitors with a particular focus on the SAR studies and their modes of action. We hope to provide a timely and updated overview of ACLY and the discovery of new ACLY inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian-Jia Liang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Natural Products Research and Development, Key Laboratory of Functional Yeast, China National Light Industry, College of Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China
| | - Xiang-Feng Zhou
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Natural Products Research and Development, Key Laboratory of Functional Yeast, China National Light Industry, College of Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China
| | - Hui Long
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Natural Products Research and Development, Key Laboratory of Functional Yeast, China National Light Industry, College of Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China
| | - Chun-Yun Li
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Natural Products Research and Development, Key Laboratory of Functional Yeast, China National Light Industry, College of Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China
| | - Jing Wei
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Natural Products Research and Development, Key Laboratory of Functional Yeast, China National Light Industry, College of Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China
| | - Xiao-Qin Yu
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Natural Products Research and Development, Key Laboratory of Functional Yeast, China National Light Industry, College of Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China
| | - Zhi-Yong Guo
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Natural Products Research and Development, Key Laboratory of Functional Yeast, China National Light Industry, College of Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China
| | - Yi-Qing Zhou
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Natural Products Research and Development, Key Laboratory of Functional Yeast, China National Light Industry, College of Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China; CAS Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Zhang-Shuang Deng
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Natural Products Research and Development, Key Laboratory of Functional Yeast, China National Light Industry, College of Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China.
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11
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Peng H, Liu Y, Song Z. SPP2 plays a role in the tumorigenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma: A bioinformatic based analysis. ZHONG NAN DA XUE XUE BAO. YI XUE BAN = JOURNAL OF CENTRAL SOUTH UNIVERSITY. MEDICAL SCIENCES 2023; 48:1779-1792. [PMID: 38448371 PMCID: PMC10930748 DOI: 10.11817/j.issn.1672-7347.2023.230077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients at the same stage exhibit different prognosis, and the underlying molecular mechanism remains unclear. This study aims to identify the key genes impacting the prognosis of HCC patients. METHODS Differentially expressed gene analyses were performed between HCC samples and normal ones, and between patients with long overall survival (OS) and those with short OS, in TCGA-LIHC and GSE14520 datasets. The Kaplan-Meier method with log-rank test was used to evaluate the role of secreted phosphoprotein 2 (SPP2) in the prognosis of HCC patients. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was used to understand the difference of enriched signaling pathways between SPP2-stratified HCC subgroups. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses were performed to predict the potential functional pathways in which SPP2 might participate. RESULTS SPP2 was significantly down-regulated in tumors when compared with normal tissues, or in tumor samples with short OS when compared with those with long OS [fold change (FC)>2 and false discovery rate (FDR)<0.05]. Low expression of SPP2 was associated with worse clinicopathological features like vascular invasion (P=1.6e-05), poor cancer status (with tumor, P=0.021), advanced T stage (T3 or T4, P=4.5e-04), advanced TNM stage (stage III or IV, P=3.1e-04), and with unfavorable prognosis (shorter OS, P=0.002). Gene enrichment analyses revealed that SPP2 might involve in the metabolic homeostasis of HCC and in the development of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. CONCLUSIONS SPP2 might inhibit the development of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis and the tumorigenesis of HCC, and analogs of SPP2 might be potential drugs in the prevention of these diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Honghua Peng
- Department of Oncology, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410013.
| | - Yang Liu
- Department of Pathology, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China
| | - Zewen Song
- Department of Oncology, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410013.
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12
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Kozlova A, Sarygina E, Deinichenko K, Radko S, Ptitsyn K, Khmeleva S, Kurbatov L, Spirin P, Prassolov V, Ilgisonis E, Lisitsa A, Ponomarenko E. Comparison of Alternative Splicing Landscapes Revealed by Long-Read Sequencing in Hepatocyte-Derived HepG2 and Huh7 Cultured Cells and Human Liver Tissue. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:1494. [PMID: 38132320 PMCID: PMC10740679 DOI: 10.3390/biology12121494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
The long-read RNA sequencing developed by Oxford Nanopore Technologies provides a direct quantification of transcript isoforms, thereby making it possible to present alternative splicing (AS) profiles as arrays of single splice variants with different abundances. Additionally, AS profiles can be presented as arrays of genes characterized by the degree of alternative splicing (the DAS-the number of detected splice variants per gene). Here, we successfully utilized the DAS to reveal biological pathways influenced by the alterations in AS in human liver tissue and the hepatocyte-derived malignant cell lines HepG2 and Huh7, thus employing the mathematical algorithm of gene set enrichment analysis. Furthermore, analysis of the AS profiles as abundances of single splice variants by using the graded tissue specificity index τ provided the selection of the groups of genes expressing particular splice variants specifically in liver tissue, HepG2 cells, and Huh7 cells. The majority of these splice variants were translated into proteins products and appeal to be in focus regarding further insights into the mechanisms underlying cell malignization. The used metrics are intrinsically suitable for transcriptome-wide AS profiling using long-read sequencing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Kozlova
- Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, Pogodinskaya Street 10, 119121 Moscow, Russia (S.R.)
| | - Elizaveta Sarygina
- Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, Pogodinskaya Street 10, 119121 Moscow, Russia (S.R.)
| | - Kseniia Deinichenko
- Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, Pogodinskaya Street 10, 119121 Moscow, Russia (S.R.)
| | - Sergey Radko
- Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, Pogodinskaya Street 10, 119121 Moscow, Russia (S.R.)
| | - Konstantin Ptitsyn
- Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, Pogodinskaya Street 10, 119121 Moscow, Russia (S.R.)
| | - Svetlana Khmeleva
- Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, Pogodinskaya Street 10, 119121 Moscow, Russia (S.R.)
| | - Leonid Kurbatov
- Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, Pogodinskaya Street 10, 119121 Moscow, Russia (S.R.)
| | - Pavel Spirin
- Department of Cancer Cell Biology, Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Vavilova 32, 119991 Moscow, Russia; (P.S.); (V.P.)
| | - Vladimir Prassolov
- Department of Cancer Cell Biology, Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Vavilova 32, 119991 Moscow, Russia; (P.S.); (V.P.)
| | - Ekaterina Ilgisonis
- Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, Pogodinskaya Street 10, 119121 Moscow, Russia (S.R.)
| | - Andrey Lisitsa
- Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, Pogodinskaya Street 10, 119121 Moscow, Russia (S.R.)
| | - Elena Ponomarenko
- Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, Pogodinskaya Street 10, 119121 Moscow, Russia (S.R.)
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13
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Badekila AK, Pai V, Vijayan V, Kini S. Engineering alginate/carboxymethylcellulose scaffolds to establish liver cancer spheroids: Evaluation of molecular variances between 2D and 3D models. Int J Biol Macromol 2023:128058. [DOI: https:/doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.128058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2023]
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14
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Al-Gazally ME, Khan R, Imran M, Ramírez-Coronel AA, Alshahrani SH, Altalbawy FMA, Turki Jalil A, Romero-Parra RM, Zabibah RS, Shahid Iqbal M, Karampoor S, Mirzaei R. The role and mechanism of action of microRNA-122 in cancer: Focusing on the liver. Int Immunopharmacol 2023; 123:110713. [PMID: 37523968 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2023.110713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Revised: 07/08/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023]
Abstract
microRNA-122 (miR-122) is a highly conserved microRNA that is predominantly expressed in the liver and plays a critical role in the regulation of liver metabolism. Recent studies have shown that miR-122 is involved in the pathogenesis of various types of cancer, particularly liver cancer. In this sense, The current findings highlighted the potential role of miR-122 in regulating many vital processes in cancer pathophysiology, including apoptosis, signaling pathway, cell metabolism, immune system response, migration, and invasion. These results imply that miR-122, which has been extensively studied for its biological functions and potential therapeutic applications, acts as a tumor suppressor or oncogene in cancer development. We first provide an overview and summary of the physiological function and mode of action of miR-122 in liver cancer. We will examine the various signaling pathways and molecular mechanisms through which miR-122 exerts its effects on cancer cells, including the regulation of oncogenic and tumor suppressor genes, the modulation of cell proliferation and apoptosis, and the regulation of metastasis. Most importantly, we will also discuss the potential diagnostic and therapeutic applications of miR-122 in cancer, including the development of miRNA-based biomarkers for cancer diagnosis and prognosis, and the potential use of miR-122 as a therapeutic target for cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ramsha Khan
- MBBS, Nawaz Sharif Medical College, Gujrat, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Imran
- MBBS, Multan Medical and Dental College, Multan, Pakistan
| | | | | | - Farag M A Altalbawy
- National Institute of Laser Enhanced Sciences (NILES), University of Cairo, Giza 12613, Egypt; Department of Chemistry, University College of Duba, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abduladheem Turki Jalil
- Medical Laboratories Techniques Department, Al-Mustaqbal University College, Babylon, Hilla 51001, Iraq
| | | | - Rahman S Zabibah
- Medical Laboratory Technology Department, College of Medical Technology, The Islamic University, Najaf, Iraq
| | - Muhammad Shahid Iqbal
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, 11942 Alkharj, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sajad Karampoor
- Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Rasoul Mirzaei
- Venom and Biotherapeutics Molecules Lab, Medical Biotechnology Department, Biotechnology Research Center, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.
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15
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Zheng P, Mao Z, Luo M, Zhou L, Wang L, Liu H, Liu W, Wei S. Comprehensive bioinformatics analysis of the solute carrier family and preliminary exploration of SLC25A29 in lung adenocarcinoma. Cancer Cell Int 2023; 23:222. [PMID: 37775731 PMCID: PMC10543265 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-023-03082-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/01/2023] Open
Abstract
According to the latest epidemiological investigation, lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is one of the most fatal cancer among both men and women. Despite continuous advancements in treatment approaches in recent years, the prognosis for LUAD remains relatively poor. Given the crucial role of the solute carrier (SLC) family in maintaining cellular energy metabolism stability, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of the association between SLC genes and LUAD prognosis. In the present study, we identified 71 genes among the SLC family members, of which 32 were downregulated and 39 were upregulated in LUAD samples. Based on these differentially expressed genes, a prognostic risk scoring model was established that was composed of five genes (SLC16A7, SLC16A4, SLC16A3, SLC12A8, and SLC25A15) and clinical characteristics; this model could effectively predict the survival and prognosis of patients in the cohort. Notably, SLC2A1, SLC25A29, and SLC27A4 were identified as key genes associated with survival and tumor stage. Further analysis revealed that SLC25A29 was underexpressed in LUAD tissue and regulated the phenotype of endothelial cells. Endothelial cell proliferation and migration increased and apoptosis decreased with a decrease in SLC25A29 expression. Investigation of the upstream regulatory mechanisms of SLC25A29 revealed that SLC25A29 expression gradually decreased as the lactate concentration increased. This phenomenon suggested that the expression of SLC25A29 may be related to lactylation modification. ChIP-qPCR experiments confirmed the critical regulatory role played by H3K14la and H3K18la modifications in the promoter region of SLC25A29. In conclusion, this study confirmed the role of SLC family genes in LUAD prognosis and revealed the role of SLC25A29 in regulating endothelial cell phenotypes. These study results provided important clues to further understand LUAD pathogenesis and develop appropriate therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengdou Zheng
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Key Laboratory of Pulmonary Diseases of Health Ministry, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 430030, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhenyu Mao
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Key Laboratory of Pulmonary Diseases of Health Ministry, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 430030, Wuhan, China
| | - Miao Luo
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Key Laboratory of Pulmonary Diseases of Health Ministry, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 430030, Wuhan, China
| | - Ling Zhou
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Key Laboratory of Pulmonary Diseases of Health Ministry, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 430030, Wuhan, China
| | - Lingling Wang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Key Laboratory of Pulmonary Diseases of Health Ministry, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 430030, Wuhan, China
| | - Huiguo Liu
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Key Laboratory of Pulmonary Diseases of Health Ministry, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 430030, Wuhan, China
| | - Wei Liu
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Key Laboratory of Pulmonary Diseases of Health Ministry, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 430030, Wuhan, China.
- Department of Geriatrics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 430030, Wuhan, China.
| | - Shuang Wei
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Key Laboratory of Pulmonary Diseases of Health Ministry, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 430030, Wuhan, China.
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16
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Jin H, Zhang C, Zwahlen M, von Feilitzen K, Karlsson M, Shi M, Yuan M, Song X, Li X, Yang H, Turkez H, Fagerberg L, Uhlén M, Mardinoglu A. Systematic transcriptional analysis of human cell lines for gene expression landscape and tumor representation. Nat Commun 2023; 14:5417. [PMID: 37669926 PMCID: PMC10480497 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41132-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Cell lines are valuable resources as model for human biology and translational medicine. It is thus important to explore the concordance between the expression in various cell lines vis-à-vis human native and disease tissues. In this study, we investigate the expression of all human protein-coding genes in more than 1,000 human cell lines representing 27 cancer types by a genome-wide transcriptomics analysis. The cell line gene expression is compared with the corresponding profiles in various tissues, organs, single-cell types and cancers. Here, we present the expression for each cell line and give guidance for the most appropriate cell line for a given experimental study. In addition, we explore the cancer-related pathway and cytokine activity of the cell lines to aid human biology studies and drug development projects. All data are presented in an open access cell line section of the Human Protein Atlas to facilitate the exploration of all human protein-coding genes across these cell lines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Jin
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Protein Science, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Cheng Zhang
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Protein Science, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Martin Zwahlen
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Protein Science, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Kalle von Feilitzen
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Protein Science, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Max Karlsson
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Protein Science, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mengnan Shi
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Protein Science, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Meng Yuan
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Protein Science, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Xiya Song
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Protein Science, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Xiangyu Li
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Protein Science, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Hong Yang
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Protein Science, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Hasan Turkez
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Atatürk University, Erzurum, Turkey
| | - Linn Fagerberg
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Protein Science, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mathias Uhlén
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Protein Science, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden.
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Adil Mardinoglu
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Protein Science, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden.
- Centre for Host-Microbiome Interactions, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, King's College London, London, UK.
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17
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Ye Y, Yu B, Wang H, Yi F. Glutamine metabolic reprogramming in hepatocellular carcinoma. Front Mol Biosci 2023; 10:1242059. [PMID: 37635935 PMCID: PMC10452011 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1242059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a lethal disease with limited management strategies and poor prognosis. Metabolism alternations have been frequently unveiled in HCC, including glutamine metabolic reprogramming. The components of glutamine metabolism, such as glutamine synthetase, glutamate dehydrogenase, glutaminase, metabolites, and metabolite transporters, are validated to be potential biomarkers of HCC. Increased glutamine consumption is confirmed in HCC, which fuels proliferation by elevated glutamate dehydrogenase or upstream signals. Glutamine metabolism also serves as a nitrogen source for amino acid or nucleotide anabolism. In addition, more glutamine converts to glutathione as an antioxidant in HCC to protect HCC cells from oxidative stress. Moreover, glutamine metabolic reprogramming activates the mTORC signaling pathway to support tumor cell proliferation. Glutamine metabolism targeting therapy includes glutamine deprivation, related enzyme inhibitors, and transporters inhibitors. Together, glutamine metabolic reprogramming plays a pivotal role in HCC identification, proliferation, and progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanyan Ye
- Department of Ultrasound, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Bodong Yu
- The Second Clinical Medical College of Nanchang University, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
- Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Hua Wang
- Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
- Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Clinical and Translational Cancer Research, Nanchang, China
| | - Fengming Yi
- Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
- Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Clinical and Translational Cancer Research, Nanchang, China
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18
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Hu Q, Lei J, Cheng Z, Xu J, Wang L, Yuan Y, Gan M, Wang Y, Xie Y, Yao L, Wang K, Liu Y, Xun W, Wang JB, Han T. STUB1-mediated ubiquitination regulates the stability of GLUD1 in lung adenocarcinoma. iScience 2023; 26:107151. [PMID: 37416474 PMCID: PMC10319899 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107151] [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: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The dysregulation of glutamine metabolism provides survival advantages for tumors by supplementing tricarboxylic acid cycle. Glutamate dehydrogenase 1 (GLUD1) is one of the key enzymes in glutamine catabolism. Here, we found that enhanced protein stability was the key factor for the upregulation of GLUD1 in lung adenocarcinoma. We discovered that GLUD1 showed a high protein expression in lung adenocarcinoma cells or tissues. We elucidated that STIP1 homology and U-box-containing protein 1 (STUB1) was the key E3 ligase responsible for ubiquitin-mediated proteasomal degradation of GLUD1. We further showed that lysine 503 (K503) was the main ubiquitination site of GLUD1, inhibiting the ubiquitination at this site promoted the proliferation and tumor growth of lung adenocarcinoma cells. Taken together, this study clarifies the molecular mechanism of GLUD1 in maintaining protein homeostasis in lung adenocarcinoma, which provides a theoretical basis for the development of anti-cancer drugs targeting GLUD1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qifan Hu
- Jiangxi Institute of Respiratory Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang City, Jiangxi 330006, China
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang City, Jiangxi 330031, China
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affifiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang City, Jiangxi 330006, China
| | - Jiapeng Lei
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang City, Jiangxi 330031, China
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanchang Medical College, Nanchang City, Jiangxi 330000, China
| | - Zhujun Cheng
- Department of Burn, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang City, Jiangxi 330006, China
| | - Jing Xu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang City, Jiangxi 330031, China
| | - Lei Wang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang City, Jiangxi 330031, China
| | - Yi Yuan
- School of Huankui Academy, Nanchang University, Nanchang City, Jiangxi 330031, China
| | - Mingxi Gan
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang City, Jiangxi 330031, China
| | - Yanan Wang
- Jiangxi Institute of Respiratory Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang City, Jiangxi 330006, China
| | - Yilin Xie
- School of Queen Mary, Nanchang University, Nanchang City, Jiangxi 330031, China
| | - Lu Yao
- School of Huankui Academy, Nanchang University, Nanchang City, Jiangxi 330031, China
| | - Keru Wang
- School of Huankui Academy, Nanchang University, Nanchang City, Jiangxi 330031, China
| | - Yuhan Liu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang City, Jiangxi 330031, China
| | - Wenze Xun
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang City, Jiangxi 330031, China
| | - Jian-Bin Wang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang City, Jiangxi 330031, China
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affifiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang City, Jiangxi 330006, China
| | - Tianyu Han
- Jiangxi Institute of Respiratory Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang City, Jiangxi 330006, China
- Jiangxi Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases, Nanchang City, Jiangxi 330006, China
- China-Japan Friendship Jiangxi Hospital, National Regional Center for Respiratory Medicine, Nanchang City, Jiangxi 330200, China
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19
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Zhang R, Chen J, Wang S, Zhang W, Zheng Q, Cai R. Ferroptosis in Cancer Progression. Cells 2023; 12:1820. [PMID: 37508485 PMCID: PMC10378139 DOI: 10.3390/cells12141820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2023] [Revised: 07/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/08/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Ferroptosis is a newly discovered iron-dependent form of regulated cell death driven by phospholipid peroxidation and associated with processes including iron overload, lipid peroxidation, and dysfunction of cellular antioxidant systems. Ferroptosis is found to be closely related to many diseases, including cancer at every stage. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in malignant tumors that originate from epithelia promotes cancer-cell migration, invasion, and metastasis by disrupting cell-cell and cell-cell matrix junctions, cell polarity, etc. Recent studies have shown that ferroptosis appears to share multiple initiators and overlapping pathways with EMT in cancers and identify ferroptosis as a potential predictor of various cancer grades and prognoses. Cancer metastasis involves multiple steps, including local invasion of cancer cells, intravasation, survival in circulation, arrest at a distant organ site, extravasation and adaptation to foreign tissue microenvironments, angiogenesis, and the formation of "premetastatic niche". Numerous studies have revealed that ferroptosis is closely associated with cancer metastasis. From the cellular perspective, ferroptosis has been implicated in the regulation of cancer metastasis. From the molecular perspective, the signaling pathways activated during the two events interweave. This review briefly introduces the mechanisms of ferroptosis and discusses how ferroptosis is involved in cancer progression, including EMT, cancer angiogenesis, invasion, and metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rongyu Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Cell Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Jinghong Chen
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Cell Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Saiyang Wang
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Cell Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Wenlong Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Cell Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Quan Zheng
- Center for Singl-Cell Omics, School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Rong Cai
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Cell Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
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Chiu Y, Ni C, Huang Y. Deconvolution of bulk gene expression profiles reveals the association between immune cell polarization and the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma patients. Cancer Med 2023; 12:15736-15760. [PMID: 37366298 PMCID: PMC10417088 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.6197] [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: 04/13/2022] [Revised: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Many studies have utilized computational methods, including cell composition deconvolution (CCD), to correlate immune cell polarizations with the survival of cancer patients, including those with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, currently available cell deconvolution estimated (CDE) tools do not cover the wide range of immune cell changes that are known to influence tumor progression. RESULTS A new CCD tool, HCCImm, was designed to estimate the abundance of tumor cells and 16 immune cell types in the bulk gene expression profiles of HCC samples. HCCImm was validated using real datasets derived from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and HCC tissue samples, demonstrating that HCCImm outperforms other CCD tools. We used HCCImm to analyze the bulk RNA-seq datasets of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA)-liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC) samples. We found that the proportions of memory CD8+ T cells and Tregs were negatively associated with patient overall survival (OS). Furthermore, the proportion of naïve CD8+ T cells was positively associated with patient OS. In addition, the TCGA-LIHC samples with a high tumor mutational burden had a significantly high abundance of nonmacrophage leukocytes. CONCLUSIONS HCCImm was equipped with a new set of reference gene expression profiles that allowed for a more robust analysis of HCC patient expression data. The source code is provided at https://github.com/holiday01/HCCImm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yen‐Jung Chiu
- Institute of Biomedical InformaticsNational Yang Ming Chiao Tung UniversityTaipeiTaiwan
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringMing Chuan UniversityTaoyuanTaiwan
| | - Chung‐En Ni
- Institute of Biomedical InformaticsNational Yang Ming Chiao Tung UniversityTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Yen‐Hua Huang
- Institute of Biomedical InformaticsNational Yang Ming Chiao Tung UniversityTaipeiTaiwan
- Center for Systems and Synthetic BiologyNational Yang Ming Chiao Tung UniversityTaipeiTaiwan
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21
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Stern S, Wang H, Sadrieh N. Microphysiological Models for Mechanistic-Based Prediction of Idiosyncratic DILI. Cells 2023; 12:1476. [PMID: 37296597 PMCID: PMC10253021 DOI: 10.3390/cells12111476] [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: 03/13/2023] [Revised: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is a major contributor to high attrition rates among candidate and market drugs and a key regulatory, industry, and global health concern. While acute and dose-dependent DILI, namely, intrinsic DILI, is predictable and often reproducible in preclinical models, the nature of idiosyncratic DILI (iDILI) limits its mechanistic understanding due to the complex disease pathogenesis, and recapitulation using in vitro and in vivo models is extremely challenging. However, hepatic inflammation is a key feature of iDILI primarily orchestrated by the innate and adaptive immune system. This review summarizes the in vitro co-culture models that exploit the role of the immune system to investigate iDILI. Particularly, this review focuses on advancements in human-based 3D multicellular models attempting to supplement in vivo models that often lack predictability and display interspecies variations. Exploiting the immune-mediated mechanisms of iDILI, the inclusion of non-parenchymal cells in these hepatoxicity models, namely, Kupffer cells, stellate cells, dendritic cells, and liver sinusoidal endothelial cells, introduces heterotypic cell-cell interactions and mimics the hepatic microenvironment. Additionally, drugs recalled from the market in the US between 1996-2010 that were studies in these various models highlight the necessity for further harmonization and comparison of model characteristics. Challenges regarding disease-related endpoints, mimicking 3D architecture with different cell-cell contact, cell source, and the underlying multi-cellular and multi-stage mechanisms are described. It is our belief that progressing our understanding of the underlying pathogenesis of iDILI will provide mechanistic clues and a method for drug safety screening to better predict liver injury in clinical trials and post-marketing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sydney Stern
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, 20 Penn Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA;
| | - Hongbing Wang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, 20 Penn Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA;
| | - Nakissa Sadrieh
- Office of New Drugs, Center of Drug Evaluation and Research, FDA, 10903 New Hampshire Ave, Silver Spring, MD 20993, USA
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Fan WJ, Ding H, Chen XX, Yang L. Comprehensive Analysis of the Expression and Prognosis for Lipid Metabolism-Related Genes in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. South Asian J Cancer 2023; 12:126-134. [PMID: 37969675 PMCID: PMC10635763 DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1757560] [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] [Indexed: 11/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Hao DingBackground This study aimed to screen potential key genes associated with lipid metabolism and to evaluate their expressions and prognosis values in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods Data sets GSE6764, GSE14520, and GSE112790 were used to identify the common differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed by STRING database. Hub genes in PPI network were identified and subjected to functional enrichment analysis to screen lipid metabolism-related genes. The expressions of selected genes and their associations with prognosis were analyzed using UALCAN, The Human Protein Atlas, and Kaplan-Meier plotter databases. The transcriptional factor (TF)-gene regulatory network was constructed using NetworkAnalyst. Results A total of 331 common DEGs including 106 upregulated and 225 downregulated genes were identified. PPI network analysis showed that 76 genes with high degrees were identified as hub genes, among which 14 genes were lipid metabolism-related genes. PON1, CYP2C9, and SPP1 were found to be the independent prognostic markers. Key TFs with close interactions with these prognostic genes, including HINFP, SRF, YY1, and NR3C1, were identified from the TF-gene regulatory network. Conclusion This study presented evidence for the prognostic capabilities of lipid metabolism-related genes in HCC, and newly identified HINFP and NR3C1 as potential biomarkers for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Jie Fan
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, People's Republic of China
| | - Hao Ding
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiang-Xun Chen
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, People's Republic of China
| | - Lin Yang
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, People's Republic of China
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23
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Wang M, Yue S, Yang Z. Downregulation of PSAT1 inhibits cell proliferation and migration in uterine corpus endometrial carcinoma. Sci Rep 2023; 13:4081. [PMID: 36906716 PMCID: PMC10008565 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-31325-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Phosphoserine aminotransferase 1 (PSAT1) has been associated with the occurrence and development of various carcinomas; however, its function in uterine corpus endometrial carcinoma (UCEC) is unknown. We aimed to explore the relationship between PSAT1 and UCEC using The Cancer Genome Atlas database and functional experiments. PSAT1 expression levels in UCEC were employed using the paired sample t-test, Wilcoxon rank-sum test, the Clinical Proteomic Tumor Analysis Consortium database, and the Human Protein Atlas database, while survival curves were constructed using the Kaplan-Meier plotter. We performed Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis to explore the possible functions and related pathways of PSAT1. Furthermore, single-sample gene set enrichment analysis was performed to detect the relationship between PSAT1 and tumor immune infiltration. StarBase and quantitative PCR were used to predict and verify the interactions between miRNAs and PSAT1. The Cell Counting Kit-8, EdU assay, clone formation assay, western blotting and flow cytometry were used to evaluate cell proliferation. Finally, Transwell and Wound healing assays were used to assess cell invasion and migration. Our study found that PSAT1 was significantly overexpressed in UCEC, and this high expression was associated with a worse prognosis. A high level of PSAT1 expression was associated with a late clinical stage and, histological type. In addition, the results of GO and KEGG enrichment analysis showed that PSAT1 was mainly involved in the regulation of cell growth, immune system and cell cycle in UCEC. In addition, PSAT1 expression was positively correlated with Th2 cells and negatively correlated with Th17 cells. Furthermore, we also found that miR-195-5P negatively regulated the expression of PSAT1 in UCEC. Finally, the knockdown of PSAT1 resulted in the inhibition of cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro. Overall, PSAT1 was identified as a potential target for the diagnosis and immunotherapy of UCEC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Wang
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400010, China
| | - Song Yue
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400010, China
| | - Zhu Yang
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400010, China.
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Gnocchi D, Sabbà C, Mazzocca A. Crithmum maritimum Improves Sorafenib Sensitivity by Decreasing Lactic Acid Fermentation and Inducing a Pro-Hepatocyte Marker Profile in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. PLANT FOODS FOR HUMAN NUTRITION (DORDRECHT, NETHERLANDS) 2023; 78:230-232. [PMID: 36525173 DOI: 10.1007/s11130-022-01037-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Edible plants are gaining importance as an integrative therapy for many chronic diseases, including cancer. We first reported that the edible wild plant Crithmum maritimum L. inhibits the growth of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells by exerting a multitarget action on cellular metabolism and bioenergetic profile. Here, we show that Crithmum maritimum ethyl acetate extract significantly increases the responsiveness of HCC cells to the chemotherapeutic drug sorafenib by reducing lactic acid fermentation and inducing a pro-hepatocyte biomarker profile. Our findings strengthen the role of Crithmum maritimum L. as a valuable nutraceutical tool to support pharmacological therapeutic interventions in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Gnocchi
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari School of Medicine, Piazza G. Cesare, 11 - 70124, Bari, Italy
| | - Carlo Sabbà
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari School of Medicine, Piazza G. Cesare, 11 - 70124, Bari, Italy
| | - Antonio Mazzocca
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari School of Medicine, Piazza G. Cesare, 11 - 70124, Bari, Italy.
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Yang P, Lu J, Zhang P, Zhang S. Comprehensive Analysis of Prognosis and Immune Landscapes Based on Lipid-Metabolism- and Ferroptosis-Associated Signature in Uterine Corpus Endometrial Carcinoma. Diagnostics (Basel) 2023; 13:diagnostics13050870. [PMID: 36900015 PMCID: PMC10000778 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics13050870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: The effect of tumor immunotherapy is influenced by the immune microenvironment, and it is unclear how lipid metabolism and ferroptosis regulate the immune microenvironment of uterine corpus endometrial carcinoma (UCEC). (2) Methods: Genes associated with lipid metabolism and ferroptosis (LMRGs-FARs) were extracted from the MSigDB and FerrDb databases, respectively. Five hundred and forty-four UCEC samples were obtained from the TCGA database. The risk prognostic signature was constructed by consensus clustering, univariate cox, and LASSO analyses. The accuracy of the risk modes was assessed through receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, nomogram, calibration,, and C-index analyses. The relationship between the risk signature and immune microenvironment was detected by the ESTIMATE, EPIC, TIMER, xCELL, quan-TIseq, and TCIA databases. The function of a potential gene, PSAT1, was measured by in vitro experiments. (3) Results: A six-gene (CDKN1A, ESR1, PGR, CDKN2A, PSAT1, and RSAD2) risk signature based on MRGs-FARs was constructed and evaluated with high accuracy in UCEC. The signature was identified as an independent prognostic parameter and it divided the samples into high- and low-risk groups. The low-risk group was positively associated with good prognosis, high mutational status, upregulated immune infiltration status, high expression of CTLA4, GZMA and PDCD1, anti-PD-1 treatment sensitivity, and chemoresistance. (4) Conclusions: We constructed a risk prognostic model based on both lipid metabolism and ferroptosis and evaluated the relationship between the risk score and tumor immune microenvironment in UCEC. Our study has provided new ideas and potential targets for UCEC individualized diagnosis and immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pusheng Yang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Gynecology Oncology, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200127, China
| | - Jiawei Lu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 201620, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Diseases, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 201620, China
| | - Panpan Zhang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Gynecology Oncology, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200127, China
| | - Shu Zhang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Gynecology Oncology, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200127, China
- Correspondence:
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Expression and Function of BMP and Activin Membrane-Bound Inhibitor (BAMBI) in Chronic Liver Diseases and Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24043473. [PMID: 36834884 PMCID: PMC9964332 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BAMBI (bone morphogenetic protein and activin membrane-bound inhibitor) is a transmembrane pseudoreceptor structurally related to transforming growth factor (TGF)-β type 1 receptors (TGF-β1Rs). BAMBI lacks a kinase domain and functions as a TGF-β1R antagonist. Essential processes such as cell differentiation and proliferation are regulated by TGF-β1R signaling. TGF-β is the best-studied ligand of TGF-βRs and has an eminent role in inflammation and fibrogenesis. Liver fibrosis is the end stage of almost all chronic liver diseases, such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and at the moment, there is no effective anti-fibrotic therapy available. Hepatic BAMBI is downregulated in rodent models of liver injury and in the fibrotic liver of patients, suggesting that low BAMBI has a role in liver fibrosis. Experimental evidence convincingly demonstrated that BAMBI overexpression is able to protect against liver fibrosis. Chronic liver diseases have a high risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and BAMBI was shown to exert tumor-promoting as well as tumor-protective functions. This review article aims to summarize relevant studies on hepatic BAMBI expression and its role in chronic liver diseases and HCC.
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27
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Calitz C, Rosenquist J, Degerstedt O, Khaled J, Kopsida M, Fryknäs M, Lennernäs H, Samanta A, Heindryckx F. Influence of extracellular matrix composition on tumour cell behaviour in a biomimetic in vitro model for hepatocellular carcinoma. Sci Rep 2023; 13:748. [PMID: 36639512 PMCID: PMC9839216 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-27997-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The tumor micro-environment (TME) of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) consists out of cirrhotic liver tissue and is characterized by an extensive deposition of extracellular matrix proteins (ECM). The evolution from a reversible fibrotic state to end-stage of liver disease, namely cirrhosis, is characterized by an increased deposition of ECM, as well as changes in the exact ECM composition, which both contribute to an increased liver stiffness and can alter tumor phenotype. The goal of this study was to assess how changes in matrix composition and stiffness influence tumor behavior. HCC-cell lines were grown in a biomimetic hydrogel model resembling the stiffness and composition of a fibrotic or cirrhotic liver. When HCC-cells were grown in a matrix resembling a cirrhotic liver, they increased proliferation and protein content, compared to those grown in a fibrotic environment. Tumour nodules spontaneously formed outside the gels, which appeared earlier in cirrhotic conditions and were significantly larger compared to those found outside fibrotic gels. These tumor nodules had an increased expression of markers related to epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), when comparing cirrhotic to fibrotic gels. HCC-cells grown in cirrhotic gels were also more resistant to doxorubicin compared with those grown in fibrotic gels or in 2D. Therefore, altering ECM composition affects tumor behavior, for instance by increasing pro-metastatic potential, inducing EMT and reducing response to chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlemi Calitz
- Department of Medical Cell Biology, Uppsala University, Husargatan 3, Box 571, 75431, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jenny Rosenquist
- Polymer Chemistry, Department of Chemistry-Ångström Laboratory, Uppsala University, Box 538, 75121, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Oliver Degerstedt
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jaafar Khaled
- Department of Medical Cell Biology, Uppsala University, Husargatan 3, Box 571, 75431, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Maria Kopsida
- Department of Medical Cell Biology, Uppsala University, Husargatan 3, Box 571, 75431, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Mårten Fryknäs
- Department of Medical Sciences, Cancer Pharmacology and Computational Medicine, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Hans Lennernäs
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ayan Samanta
- Polymer Chemistry, Department of Chemistry-Ångström Laboratory, Uppsala University, Box 538, 75121, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Femke Heindryckx
- Department of Medical Cell Biology, Uppsala University, Husargatan 3, Box 571, 75431, Uppsala, Sweden.
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Gnocchi D, Sabbà C, Mazzocca A. Lactic acid fermentation: A maladaptive mechanism and an evolutionary throwback boosting cancer drug resistance. Biochimie 2023; 208:180-185. [PMID: 36638953 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2023.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Revised: 12/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
After four decades of research primarily focused on tumour genetics, the importance of metabolism in tumour biology is receiving renewed attention. Cancer cells undergo energy, biosynthetic and metabolic rewiring, which involves several pathways with a prevalent change from oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) to lactic acid fermentation, known as the Warburg effect. During carcinogenesis, microenvironmental changes can trigger the transition from OXPHOS to lactic acid fermentation, an ancient form of energy supply, mimicking the behaviour of certain anaerobic unicellular organisms according to "atavistic" models of cancer. However, the role of this transition as a mechanism of cancer drug resistance is unclear. Here, we hypothesise that the metabolic rewiring of cancer cells to fermentation can be triggered, enhanced, and sustained by exposure to chronic or high-dose chemotherapy, thereby conferring resistance to drug therapy. We try to expand on the idea that metabolic reprogramming from OXPHOS to lactate fermentation in drug-resistant tumour cells occurs as a general phenotypic mechanism in any type of cancer, regardless of tumour cell heterogeneity, biodiversity, and genetic characteristics. This metabolic response may therefore represent a common feature in cancer biology that could be exploited for therapeutic purposes to overcome chemotherapy resistance, which is currently a major challenge in cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Gnocchi
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari School of Medicine, Piazza G. Cesare, 11, 70124, Bari, Italy
| | - Carlo Sabbà
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari School of Medicine, Piazza G. Cesare, 11, 70124, Bari, Italy
| | - Antonio Mazzocca
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari School of Medicine, Piazza G. Cesare, 11, 70124, Bari, Italy.
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Xiong W, Ge H, Shen C, Li C, Zhang X, Tang L, Shen Y, Lu S, Zhang H, Wang Z. PRSS37 deficiency leads to impaired energy metabolism in testis and sperm revealed by DIA-based quantitative proteomic analysis. Reprod Sci 2023; 30:145-168. [PMID: 35471551 DOI: 10.1007/s43032-022-00918-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Our previous studies have reported that a putative trypsin-like serine protease, PRSS37, is exclusively expressed in testicular germ cells during late spermatogenesis and essential for sperm migration from the uterus into the oviduct and sperm-egg recognition via mediating the interaction between PDILT and ADAM3. In the present study, the global proteome profiles of wild-type (wt) and Prss37-/- mice in testis and sperm were compared employing data independent acquisition (DIA) technology. Overall, 2506 and 459 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were identified in Prss37-null testis and sperm, respectively, when compared to control groups. Bioinformatic analyses revealed that most of DEPs were related to energy metabolism. Of note, the DEPs associated with pathways for the catabolism such as glucose via glycolysis, fatty acids via β-oxidation, and amino acids via oxidative deamination were significantly down-regulated. Meanwhile, the DEPs involved in the tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA cycle) and oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) were remarkably decreased. The DIA data were further confirmed by a markedly reduction of intermediate metabolites (citrate and fumarate) in TCA cycle and terminal metabolite (ATP) in OXPHOS system after disruption of PRSS37. These outcomes not only provide a more comprehensive understanding of the male fertility of energy metabolism modulated by PRSS37 but also furnish a dynamic proteomic resource for further reproductive biology studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenfeng Xiong
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Research Center for Experimental Medicine, Rui-Jin Hospital Affiliated To Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Haoyang Ge
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Research Center for Experimental Medicine, Rui-Jin Hospital Affiliated To Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Chunling Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Research Center for Experimental Medicine, Rui-Jin Hospital Affiliated To Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200025, China.
| | - Chaojie Li
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Research Center for Experimental Medicine, Rui-Jin Hospital Affiliated To Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Xiaohong Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Research Center for Experimental Medicine, Rui-Jin Hospital Affiliated To Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Lingyun Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Research Center for Experimental Medicine, Rui-Jin Hospital Affiliated To Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Yan Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Research Center for Experimental Medicine, Rui-Jin Hospital Affiliated To Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Shunyuan Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Research Center for Experimental Medicine, Rui-Jin Hospital Affiliated To Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Hongxin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Research Center for Experimental Medicine, Rui-Jin Hospital Affiliated To Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Zhugang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Research Center for Experimental Medicine, Rui-Jin Hospital Affiliated To Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200025, China.
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Zhang X, Zhang C, Zhao Q, Wang S, Wang L, Si Y, Su Q, Cheng S, Ding W. Inhibition of Annexin A10 Contributes to ZNF281 Mediated Aggressiveness of Hepatocellular Carcinoma. J Hepatocell Carcinoma 2023; 10:553-571. [PMID: 37041757 PMCID: PMC10083037 DOI: 10.2147/jhc.s400989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 04/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective To investigate the involvement and transcriptional targets of zinc finger protein 281 (ZNF281) in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods The expression of ZNF281 in HCC was detected in tissue microarray and cell lines. The role of ZNF281 in aggressiveness of HCC was examined using wound healing, matrigel transwell, pulmonary metastasis model and assays for expression of EMT markers. RNA-seq was used to find potential target gene of ZNF281. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay and co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) were employed to uncover the mechanism of the transcriptional regulation of ZNF281 on the target gene. Results ZNF281 was increased in tumor tissues and positively correlated with vascular invasion in HCC. Knockdown of ZNF281 suppressed the migration and invasion with significant alteration of EMT marker expression in HLE and Huh7 HCC cell lines. RNA-seq screening showed that the tumor suppressor gene Annexin A10 (ANXA10) was a most up-regulated gene in response to ZNF281 depletion and responsible for the attenuation of aggressiveness. Mechanistically, ZNF281 interacted with the ANXA10 promoter region harboring ZNF281 recognition sites, and recruited components of nucleosome remodeling and deacetylation (NuRD) complex. By knocking down such components like HDAC1 or MTA1, ANXA10 was released from transcriptional repression by ZNF281/NuRD, and in turn reversed the EMT, invasion and metastasis driven by ZNF281. Conclusion ZNF281 drives invasion and metastasis of HCC partially through transcriptional repression of tumor suppressor gene ANXA10 by recruiting NuRD complex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xialu Zhang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Chenguang Zhang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Cancer Invasion and Metastasis Mechanism Research, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
- Correspondence: Chenguang Zhang; Wei Ding, Email ;
| | - Qingfang Zhao
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Shanshan Wang
- Beijing Institute of Hepatology, Beijing You’An Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Liyong Wang
- Core Facilities for Molecular Biology, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yang Si
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Qiang Su
- Department of Oncology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Shan Cheng
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Wei Ding
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
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Chen T, Dalton G, Oh SH, Maeso-Diaz R, Du K, Meyers RA, Guy C, Abdelmalek MF, Henao R, Guarnieri P, Pullen SS, Gregory S, Locker J, Brown JM, Diehl AM. Hepatocyte Smoothened Activity Controls Susceptibility to Insulin Resistance and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol 2022; 15:949-970. [PMID: 36535507 PMCID: PMC9957752 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmgh.2022.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Revised: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), a leading cause of cirrhosis, strongly associates with the metabolic syndrome, an insulin-resistant proinflammatory state that disrupts energy balance and promotes progressive liver degeneration. We aimed to define the role of Smoothened (Smo), an obligatory component of the Hedgehog signaling pathway, in controlling hepatocyte metabolic homeostasis and, thereby, susceptibility to NASH. METHODS We conditionally deleted Smo in hepatocytes of healthy chow-fed mice and performed metabolic phenotyping, coupled with single-cell RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), to characterize the role of hepatocyte Smo in regulating basal hepatic and systemic metabolic homeostasis. Liver RNA-seq datasets from 2 large human cohorts were also analyzed to define the relationship between Smo and NASH susceptibility in people. RESULTS Hepatocyte Smo deletion inhibited the Hedgehog pathway and promoted fatty liver, hyperinsulinemia, and insulin resistance. We identified a plausible mechanism whereby inactivation of Smo stimulated the mTORC1-SREBP1c signaling axis, which promoted lipogenesis while inhibiting the hepatic insulin cascade. Transcriptomics of bulk and single Smo-deficient hepatocytes supported suppression of insulin signaling and also revealed molecular abnormalities associated with oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. Analysis of human bulk RNA-seq data revealed that Smo expression was (1) highest in healthy livers, (2) lower in livers with NASH than in those with simple steatosis, (3) negatively correlated with markers of insulin resistance and liver injury, and (4) declined progressively as fibrosis severity worsened. CONCLUSIONS The Hedgehog pathway controls insulin sensitivity and energy homeostasis in adult livers. Loss of hepatocyte Hedgehog activity induces hepatic and systemic metabolic stress and enhances susceptibility to NASH by promoting hepatic lipoxicity and insulin resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianyi Chen
- Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - George Dalton
- Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Seh-Hoon Oh
- Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | | | - Kuo Du
- Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Rachel A Meyers
- Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Cynthia Guy
- Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | | | - Ricardo Henao
- Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Paolo Guarnieri
- Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Inc, Ridgefield, Connecticut
| | - Steven S Pullen
- Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Inc, Ridgefield, Connecticut
| | - Simon Gregory
- Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Joseph Locker
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - J Mark Brown
- Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Anna Mae Diehl
- Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina.
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Huang L, Shi Y, Hu J, Ding J, Guo Z, Yu B. Integrated analysis of mRNA-seq and miRNA-seq reveals the potential roles of Egr1, Rxra and Max in kidney stone disease. Urolithiasis 2022; 51:13. [PMID: 36484839 DOI: 10.1007/s00240-022-01384-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Nephrolithiasis is one of the most common and frequent urologic diseases worldwide. The molecular mechanism of kidney stone formation is complex and remains to be illustrated. Transcript factors (TFs) that influenced the expression pattern of multiple genes, as well as microRNAs, important posttranscriptional modulators, play vital roles in this disease progression. Datasets of nephrolithiasis mice and kidney stone patients were acquired from Gene Expression Omnibus repository. TFs were predicted from differentially expressed genes by RcisTarget. The target genes of differential-expressed microRNAs were predicted by miRWalk. MicroRNA-mRNA network and PPI network were constructed. Functional enrichment analysis was performed via Metascape and Cytoscape identified hub genes. The assay of quantitative real-time PCR (q-PCR) and immunochemistry and the datasets of oxalate diet-induced nephrolithiasis mice kidneys and kidney stone patients' samples were utilized to validate the bioinformatic results. We identified three potential key TFs (Egr1, Rxra, Max), which can be modulated by miR-181a-5p, miR-7b-3p and miR-22-3p, respectively. The TFs and their regulated hub genes influenced the progression of nephrolithiasis via altering the expression of genes enriched in the functions of fibrosis, cell proliferation and molecular transportation and metabolism. The expression changes of transcription factors were consistent in q-PCR and immunochemistry results. For regulated hub genes, they showed consistent expression changes in oxalate diet-induced nephrolithiasis mice model and human kidneys with stones. The identified and verified three TFs, which may be modulated by microRNAs in nephrolithiasis disease progression, mainly influence biological processes responding to fibrosis, proliferation and molecular transportation and metabolism. The transcript influence showed consistency in multiple nephrolithiasis mice models and kidney stone patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linxi Huang
- Department of Nephrology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), 168 Changhai Road, Shanghai, 200433, People's Republic of China
- Department of Cell Biology, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), 800 Xiangyin Road, Shanghai, 200433, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuxuan Shi
- Department of Nephrology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), 168 Changhai Road, Shanghai, 200433, People's Republic of China
| | - Junjie Hu
- Department of Cell Biology, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), 800 Xiangyin Road, Shanghai, 200433, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiarong Ding
- Department of Nephrology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), 168 Changhai Road, Shanghai, 200433, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhiyong Guo
- Department of Nephrology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), 168 Changhai Road, Shanghai, 200433, People's Republic of China.
| | - Bing Yu
- Department of Cell Biology, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), 800 Xiangyin Road, Shanghai, 200433, People's Republic of China.
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Bae SJ, Bak SB, Kim YW. Coordination of AMPK and YAP by Spatholobi Caulis and Procyanidin B2 Provides Antioxidant Effects In Vitro and In Vivo. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232213730. [PMID: 36430207 PMCID: PMC9694094 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232213730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Revised: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The liver is vulnerable to oxidative attacks from heavy metals, such as iron, as well as some drugs, including acetaminophen. It has been shown that enhanced oxidative stress in the liver leads to excessive ROS production and mitochondrial dysfunction, resulting in organ injury. The beneficial effects of Spatholobi Caulis (SC), a natural herbal medicine, include treating ischemic stroke, inhibiting tumor cell invasion, pro-angiogenic activities, and anti-inflammatory properties. Scientific studies on its effects against hepatotoxic reagents (e.g., iron and acetaminophen), as well as their underlying mechanisms, are insufficient. This study examined the antioxidant effects and mechanisms of SC in vitro and in vivo. In cells, the proinflammatory mediator, arachidonic acid (AA), plus iron, significantly induced an increase in ROS generation, the damage in mitochondrial membrane potential, and the resulting apoptosis, which were markedly blocked by SC. More importantly, SC affected the activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)-related proteins, which were vital to regulating oxidative stress in cells. In addition, SC mediated the expression of Yes-associated protein (YAP)-related proteins. Among the active compounds in SC, the procyanidin B2, but not liquiritigenin, daidzein, and genistein, significantly inhibited the cytotoxicity induced by AA + iron, and activated the LKB1-AMPK pathway. In mice, the oral administration of SC alleviated the elevations of ALT and histological changes by the acetaminophen-induced liver injury. These results reveal the potential of SC and a key bioactive component, procyanidin B2, as antioxidant candidates for hepatoprotection.
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Fang H, Li H, Zhang H, Wang S, Xu S, Chang L, Yang Y, Cui R. Short-chain L-3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase: A novel vital oncogene or tumor suppressor gene in cancers. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:1019312. [PMID: 36313354 PMCID: PMC9614034 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.1019312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The reprogramming of cellular metabolism is frequently linked to tumorigenesis. Glucose, fatty acids, and amino acids are the specific substrates involved in how an organism maintains metabolic equilibrium. The HADH gene codes for the short-chain L-3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase (HADH), a crucial enzyme in fatty acid oxidation that catalyzes the third phase of fatty acid oxidation in mitochondria. Increasing data suggest that HADH is differentially expressed in various types of malignancies and is linked to cancer development and progression. The significance of HADH expression in tumors and its potential mechanisms of action in the onset and progression of certain cancers are summarized in this article. The possible roles of HADH as a target and/or biomarker for the detection and treatment of various malignancies is also described here.
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Affiliation(s)
- He Fang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Hanyang Li
- Department of Thyroid Surgery, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Hang Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Shu Wang
- Department of Radiotherapy, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Shuang Xu
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Li Chang
- Department of Pathology, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yongsheng Yang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Ranji Cui
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory on Molecular and Chemical Genetic, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
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Autoantibody against Tumor-Associated Antigens as Diagnostic Biomarkers in Hispanic Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Cells 2022; 11:cells11203227. [PMID: 36291095 PMCID: PMC9600682 DOI: 10.3390/cells11203227] [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: 09/01/2022] [Revised: 10/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) have been investigated for many years as potential early diagnosis tools, especially for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Nonetheless, very few studies have focused on the Hispanic HCC group that may be associated with distinct etiological risk factors. In the present study, we investigated novel anti-TAA autoantibodies as diagnostic biomarkers for Hispanic HCC patients. Methods: Novel TAA targets were identified by the serological proteome analysis (SERPA) and from differentially expressed HCC driver genes via bioinformatics. The autoantibody levels were validated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: Among 19 potential TAA targets, 4 anti-TAA autoantibodies were investigated as potential diagnostic biomarkers with significantly high levels in Hispanic HCC sera, including DNA methyltransferase 3A (DNMT3A), p16, Hear shock protein 60 (Hsp60), and Heat shock protein A5 (HSPA5). The area under the ROC curve (AUC) value of the single autoantibodies varies from 0.7505 to 0.8885. After combining all 4 autoantibodies, the sensitivity of the autoantibody panel increased to 75% compared to the single one with the highest value of 45.8%. In a separate analysis of the Asian cohort, autoantibodies against HSPA5 and p16 showed significantly elevated levels in HCC compared to normal healthy controls, but not for DNMT3A or HSP60. Conclusion: Anti-DNMT3A, p16, HSPA5, and HSP60 autoantibodies have the potential to be diagnostic biomarkers for Hispanic HCC patients, of which DNMT3A and HSP60 might be exclusive for Hispanic HCC diagnosis.
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Critical Investigation of the Usability of Hepatoma Cell Lines HepG2 and Huh7 as Models for the Metabolic Representation of Resectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14174227. [PMID: 36077764 PMCID: PMC9454736 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14174227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Revised: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Metabolic alterations in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are fundamental for the development of diagnostic screening and therapeutic intervention since energy metabolism plays a central role in differentiated hepatocytes. In HCC research, hepatoma cell lines (HCLs) like HepG2 and Huh7 cells are still the gold standard. In this study, we characterized the metabolic profiles of primary human hepatoma cells (PHCs), HCLs and primary human hepatocytes (PHHs) to determine their differentiation states. PHCs and PHHs (HCC-PHHs) were isolated from surgical specimens of HCC patients and their energy metabolism was compared to PHHs from non-HCC patients and the HepG2 and Huh7 cells at different levels (transcript, protein, function). Our analyses showed successful isolation of PHCs with a purity of 50–73% (CK18+). The transcript data revealed that changes in mRNA expression levels had already occurred in HCC-PHHs. While many genes were overexpressed in PHCs and HCC-PHHs, the changes were mostly not translated to the protein level. Downregulated metabolic key players of PHCs revealed a correlation with malign transformation and were predominantly pronounced in multilocular HCC. Therefore, HCLs failed to reflect these expression patterns of PHCs at the transcript and protein levels. The metabolic characteristics of PHCs are closer to those of HCC-PHHs than to HCLs. This should be taken into account for future optimized tumor metabolism research.
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Numata Y, Akutsu N, Ishigami K, Koide H, Wagatsuma K, Motoya M, Sasaki S, Nakase H. Synergistic effect of IFN-γ and IL-1β on PD-L1 expression in hepatocellular carcinoma. Biochem Biophys Rep 2022; 30:101270. [PMID: 35573813 PMCID: PMC9095738 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrep.2022.101270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Revised: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy using anti-programmed death 1 ligand 1 (PD-L1) antibodies has shown clinical efficacy against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and is recognized as the first-line treatment for unresectable HCC. PD-L1 expression is affected by various cytokines produced by immune cells in the tumor microenvironment; however, there is limited information about the effects of cytokine interactions on PD-L1 expression. In this study, we examined how cytokines induce PD-L1 expression in HCC cells. Both interferon gamma (IFN-γ) and interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β) induced PD-L1 expression, and the two cytokines enhanced PD-L1 expression in combination compared to that when administered alone. The Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription signaling pathway activated by IFN-γ is the major pathway of PD-L1 expression. The increase in interferon regulatory factor 1 expression and IFN-γ receptor expression induced by IL-1β was associated with the synergistic effect of IFN-γ and IL-1β on PD-L1 expression. These findings strongly indicate that IFN-γ and IL-1β affect the mechanism underlying immune resistance in HCC cells. IFN-γ and IL-1β synergistically increase the expression of PD-L1 in HCC cells. IFN-γ enhances PD-L1 expression via STAT1 signaling. IL-1β enhances PD-L1 expression via the NF-κB and the p38 MAPK pathways. IRF-1 and IFNGR also contribute to the synergistic effect of IFN-γ and IL-1β in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Noriyuki Akutsu
- Corresponding author. Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine S-1, W-16, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, 060-8543, Japan.
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Chun KH. Molecular Targets and Signaling Pathways of microRNA-122 in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:1380. [PMID: 35890276 PMCID: PMC9316959 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14071380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2022] [Revised: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the leading global causes of cancer mortality. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small interfering RNAs that alleviate the levels of protein expression by suppressing translation, inducing mRNA cleavage, and promoting mRNA degradation. miR-122 is the most abundant miRNA in the liver and is responsible for several liver-specific functions, including metabolism, cellular growth and differentiation, and hepatitis virus replication. Recent studies have shown that aberrant regulation of miR-122 is a key factor contributing to the development of HCC. In this review, the signaling pathways and the molecular targets of miR-122 involved in the progression of HCC have been summarized, and the importance of miR-122 in therapy has been discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kwang-Hoon Chun
- Gachon Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Gachon University, Incheon 21936, Korea
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Huge N, Reinkens T, Buurman R, Sandbothe M, Bergmann A, Wallaschek H, Vajen B, Stalke A, Decker M, Eilers M, Schäffer V, Dittrich-Breiholz O, Gürlevik E, Kühnel F, Schlegelberger B, Illig T, Skawran B. MiR-129-5p exerts Wnt signaling-dependent tumor-suppressive functions in hepatocellular carcinoma by directly targeting hepatoma-derived growth factor HDGF. Cancer Cell Int 2022; 22:192. [PMID: 35578240 PMCID: PMC9109340 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-022-02582-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), histone deacetylases (HDACs) are frequently overexpressed. This results in chromatin compaction and silencing of tumor-relevant genes and microRNAs. Modulation of microRNA expression is a potential treatment option for HCC. Therefore, we aimed to characterize the epigenetically regulated miR-129-5p regarding its functional effects and target genes to understand its relevance for HCC tumorigenesis. METHODS Global miRNA expression of HCC cell lines (HLE, HLF, Huh7, HepG2, Hep3B) and normal liver cell lines (THLE-2, THLE-3) was analyzed after HDAC inhibition by miRNA sequencing. An in vivo xenograft mouse model and in vitro assays were used to investigate tumor-relevant functional effects following miR-129-5p transfection of HCC cells. To validate hepatoma-derived growth factor (HDGF) as a direct target gene of miR-129-5p, luciferase reporter assays were performed. Survival data and HDGF expression were analyzed in public HCC datasets. After siRNA-mediated knockdown of HDGF, its cancer-related functions were examined. RESULTS HDAC inhibition induced the expression of miR-129-5p. Transfection of miR-129-5p increased the apoptosis of HCC cells, decreased proliferation, migration and ERK signaling in vitro and inhibited tumor growth in vivo. Direct binding of miR-129-5p to the 3'UTR of HDGF via a noncanonical binding site was validated by luciferase reporter assays. HDGF knockdown reduced cell viability and migration and increased apoptosis in Wnt-inactive HCC cells. These in vitro results were in line with the analysis of public HCC datasets showing that HDGF overexpression correlated with a worse survival prognosis, primarily in Wnt-inactive HCCs. CONCLUSIONS This study provides detailed insights into the regulatory network of the tumor-suppressive, epigenetically regulated miR-129-5p in HCC. Our results reveal for the first time that the therapeutic application of mir-129-5p may have significant implications for the personalized treatment of patients with Wnt-inactive, advanced HCC by directly regulating HDGF. Therefore, miR-129-5p is a promising candidate for a microRNA replacement therapy to prevent HCC progression and tumor metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Huge
- Department of Human Genetics, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Straße 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany
| | - Thea Reinkens
- Department of Human Genetics, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Straße 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany
| | - Reena Buurman
- Department of Human Genetics, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Straße 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany
| | - Maria Sandbothe
- Department of Human Genetics, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Straße 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany
| | - Anke Bergmann
- Department of Human Genetics, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Straße 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany
| | - Hannah Wallaschek
- Department of Human Genetics, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Straße 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany
| | - Beate Vajen
- Department of Human Genetics, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Straße 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany
| | - Amelie Stalke
- Department of Human Genetics, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Straße 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany
| | - Melanie Decker
- Department of Human Genetics, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Straße 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany
| | - Marlies Eilers
- Department of Human Genetics, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Straße 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany
| | - Vera Schäffer
- Department of Human Genetics, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Straße 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany
| | | | - Engin Gürlevik
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Florian Kühnel
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Brigitte Schlegelberger
- Department of Human Genetics, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Straße 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany
| | - Thomas Illig
- Department of Human Genetics, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Straße 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany.,Hannover Unified Biobank (HUB), Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Britta Skawran
- Department of Human Genetics, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Straße 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany.
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Bär SI, Dittmer A, Nitzsche B, Ter-Avetisyan G, Fähling M, Klefenz A, Kaps L, Biersack B, Schobert R, Höpfner M. Chimeric HDAC and the cytoskeleton inhibitor broxbam as a novel therapeutic strategy for liver cancer. Int J Oncol 2022; 60:73. [PMID: 35485292 PMCID: PMC9097774 DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2022.5363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Broxbam, also known as N-hydroxy-4-{1-methoxy-4-[4′-(3′-bromo-4′,5′-dimethoxyphenyl)-oxazol-5′-yl]-2-phenoxy} butanamide, is a novel chimeric inhibitor that contains two distinct pharmacophores in its molecular structure. It has been previously demonstrated to inhibit the activity of histone deacetylases (HDAC) and tubulin polymerisation, two critical components required for cancer growth and survival. In the present study, the potential suitability of broxbam for the treatment of liver cancer was investigated. The effects of broxbam on cell proliferation and apoptosis, in addition to the under-lying molecular mechanism of action, were first investigated in primary liver cancer cell lines Huh7, HepG2, TFK1 and EGI1. Real-time proliferation measurements made using the iCEL-Ligence system and viable cell number counting following crystal violet staining) revealed that broxbam time- and dose-dependently reduced the proliferation of liver cancer cell lines with IC50 values <1 µM. In addition, a significant inhibition of the growth of hepatoblastoma microtumours on the chorioallantoic membranes (CAM) of fertilised chicken eggs by broxbam was observed according to results from the CAM assay, suggesting antineoplastic potency in vivo. Broxbam also exerted apoptotic effects through p53- and mitochondria-driven caspase-3 activation in Huh7 and HepG2 cells according to data from western blotting (p53 and phosphorylated p53), mitochondrial membrane potential measurements (JC-1 assay) and fluorometric capsase-3 measurements. Notably, no contribution of unspecific cytotoxic effects mediated by broxbam were observed from LDH-release measurements. HDAC1, -2, -4 and -6 expression was measured by western blotting and the HDAC inhibitory potency of broxbam was next evaluated using subtype-specific HDAC enzymatic assays, which revealed a largely pan-HDAC inhibitory activity with the most potent inhibition observed on HDAC6. Silencing HDAC6 expression in Huh7 cells led to a drop in the expression of the proliferation markers Ki-67 and E2F3, suggesting that HDAC6 inhibition by broxbam may serve a predomi-nant role in their antiproliferative effects on liver cancer cells. Immunofluorescence staining of cytoskeletal proteins (α-tubulin & actin) of broxbam-treated HepG2 cells revealed a pronounced inhibition of tubulin polymerisation, which was accompanied by reduced cell migration as determined by wound healing scratch assays. Finally, data from zebrafish angiogenesis assays revealed marked antiangiogenic effects of broxbam in vivo, as shown by the suppression of subintestinal vein growth in zebrafish embryos. To conclude, the pleiotropic anticancer activities of this novel chimeric HDAC- and tubulin inhibitor broxbam suggest that this compound is a promising candidate for liver cancer treatment, which warrants further pre-clinical and clinical evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Isolde Bär
- Organic Chemistry Laboratory, University of Bayreuth, D-95447 Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Alexandra Dittmer
- Institute of Physiology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, D-10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Bianca Nitzsche
- Institute of Physiology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, D-10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Gohar Ter-Avetisyan
- Institute of Vegetative Physiology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, D-10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Michael Fähling
- Institute of Vegetative Physiology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, D-10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Adrian Klefenz
- Institute of Translational Immunology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University, D-55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Leonard Kaps
- Institute of Translational Immunology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University, D-55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Bernhard Biersack
- Organic Chemistry Laboratory, University of Bayreuth, D-95447 Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Rainer Schobert
- Organic Chemistry Laboratory, University of Bayreuth, D-95447 Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Michael Höpfner
- Institute of Physiology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, D-10117 Berlin, Germany
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Qian X, Yang Z, Gao L, Liu Y, Yan J. The role of complement in the clinical course of hepatocellular carcinoma. Immun Inflamm Dis 2022; 10:e569. [PMID: 34813686 PMCID: PMC8926509 DOI: 10.1002/iid3.569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Revised: 11/06/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The complement system, an innate immune system, may either play an antitumor role, or promote tumorigenesis and cancer progression in different kinds of cancer. The function of complement in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is unclear. Methods The gene expressions of the complement system were based on data obtained from TCGA and GEO. We explored gene expressions, mutation, enrichment analysis, clinicopathology, patients' outcome, and immune infiltration via Gepia2, cBioPortal, Metascape, UALCAN, Kaplan–Meier Plotter, and TIMER 2. Results Five complement genes, including C1R, C6, C7, CFP, and CFHR3, were not only found to be significantly downregulated in HCC samples compared with normal liver samples, but also found to be significantly associated with overall survival, disease‐free survival, and progress‐free survival in HCC patients. In addition, lower mRNA expression of C1R, C6, C7, and CFHR3 were found correlated with advanced cancer stages and higher tumor grades in HCC patients. Also, the expression levels of CFP were correlated with many sets of immune markers of tumor immune cells, such as those of CD8+ T cells, CD4+ T cells, B cells, M2 macrophages, neutrophils, DCs, Th1 cells, Th2 cells, and T cell exhaustion in HCC. Based on that, we developed a prognostic model for HCC patients—Riskscore = (−0.0053)*C6+(−0.0498)*C7+(−0.1045)*CFHR3. Conclusion C1R, C6, C7, CFP, and CFHR3 could be prognostic biomarkers for patients with HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinye Qian
- Center of Hepatobiliary Pancreatic Disease, Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhoujing Yang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lu Gao
- Center of Hepatobiliary Pancreatic Disease, Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Yipiao Liu
- Center of Hepatobiliary Pancreatic Disease, Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Jun Yan
- Center of Hepatobiliary Pancreatic Disease, Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
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42
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Sofer S, Lamkiewicz K, Armoza Eilat S, Partouche S, Marz M, Moskovits N, Stemmer SM, Shlomai A, Sklan EH. A genome-wide CRISPR activation screen reveals Hexokinase 1 as a critical factor in promoting resistance to multi-kinase inhibitors in hepatocellular carcinoma cells. FASEB J 2022; 36:e22191. [PMID: 35147243 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202101507rr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Revised: 12/27/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is often diagnosed at an advanced stage and is, therefore, treated with systemic drugs, such as tyrosine-kinase inhibitors (TKIs). These drugs, however, offer only modest survival benefits due to the rapid development of drug resistance. To identify genes implicated in TKI resistance, a cluster of regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 activation screen was performed in hepatoma cells treated with regorafenib, a TKI used as second-line therapy for advanced HCC. The screen results show that Hexokinase 1 (HK1), catalyzing the first step in glucose metabolism, is a top candidate for conferring TKI resistance. Compatible with this, HK1 was upregulated in regorafenib-resistant cells. Using several experimental approaches, both in vitro and in vivo, we show that TKI resistance correlates with HK1 expression. Furthermore, an HK inhibitor resensitized resistant cells to TKI treatment. Together, our data indicate that HK1 may function as a critical factor modulating TKI resistance in hepatoma cells and, therefore, may serve as a biomarker for treatment success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Summer Sofer
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Kevin Lamkiewicz
- RNA Bioinformatics and High-Throughput Analysis, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany.,European Virus Bioinformatics Center, Jena, Germany
| | - Shir Armoza Eilat
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Shirly Partouche
- Felsenstein Medical Research Center, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Hospital, Petah-Tikva, Israel
| | - Manja Marz
- RNA Bioinformatics and High-Throughput Analysis, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany.,European Virus Bioinformatics Center, Jena, Germany.,Leibniz Institute for Age Research-Fritz Lipmann Institute, Jena, Germany
| | - Neta Moskovits
- PDX Laboratory, Felsenstein Medical Research Center and the Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Salomon M Stemmer
- PDX Laboratory, Felsenstein Medical Research Center and the Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel.,Institute of Oncology, Davidoff Center, Rabin Medical Center, Petah-Tikva, Israel
| | - Amir Shlomai
- Felsenstein Medical Research Center and the Department of Medicine D, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Hospital, Petah-Tikva, Israel.,Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Ella H Sklan
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
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43
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Fibroblast-derived prolargin is a tumor suppressor in hepatocellular carcinoma. Oncogene 2022; 41:1410-1420. [PMID: 35031773 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-021-02171-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Revised: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF) are important constituents of the tumor microenvironment (TME) and are major drivers of tumorigenesis. Yet, therapies aiming at eliminating CAF have failed to cure patients. This setback has raised questions regarding whether CAF exclusively favour cancer progression, or if they may also assume tumor-suppressor functions. In the present study, we used proteomics and single cell RNA-sequencing analysis to examine the CAF landscape in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We thereby unveil three major CAF populations in HCC, one of which specifically expressing the prolargin protein. This CAF subpopulation (further termed as CAF_Port) shared a strong transcriptomic signature with portal liver fibroblasts. We further show that CAF_Port deposit prolargin in the TME and that its levels are lower in tumors as compared to the peritumoral region. Mechanistically, aggressive cancer cells degraded prolargin using matrix metalloprotease activity. Survival analysis of 188 patients revealed that high prolargin protein levels correlate with good patient outcome (HR = 0.37; p = 0.01). In vivo, co-injection of cancer cells with fibroblasts silenced for prolargin, led to faster tumor development (5-fold; p = 0.01), mainly due to stronger angiogenesis. Using protein-protein interaction study and structural modelling, we further demonstrate that prolargin binds and inhibits the activity of several pro-agiogenic proteins, including hepatocyte and fibroblast growth factors. In conclusion, prolargin is angiogenesis modulator and CAF-derived tumor suppressor in HCC. Stabilizing prolargin levels in the CAF_Port subpopulation may revert their tumor-antagonizing properties, warranting exploration in further pre-clinical studies.
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44
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Lucci A, Vera MC, Comanzo CG, Lorenzetti F, Ferretti AC, Ceballos MP, Quiroga AD, Alvarez MDL, Carrillo MC. Delta-tocotrienol enhances the antitumor effects of interferon alpha through ROS and Erk/MAPK signaling pathways in hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Can J Physiol Pharmacol 2021; 100:453-463. [PMID: 34932399 DOI: 10.1139/cjpp-2021-0606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The complexity of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) signaling and the failure of pharmacological therapeutics reveal the significance of establishing new anti-cancer strategies. Interferon alpha (IFN α) has been used as adjuvant therapy for reducing HCC recurrence and improving survival. Delta-tocotrienol (δ-tocotrienol), a natural unsaturated isoform of vitamin E, is a promising candidate for cancer treatment. In this study, we evaluated whether the combination of δ-tocotrienol with IFN α displays significant advantages in the treatment of HCC cells. Results showed that the combination significantly decreased cell viability, migration and invasion of HCC cells compared to single therapies. Combining δ-tocotrienol and IFN α enhanced the decrease in proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and matrix metalloproteinases MMP-7 and MMP-9. The combination also produced an enhancement of apoptosis together with increased Bax/Bcl-xL ratio and ROS generation. δ-tocotrienol induced Notch1 activation and changes in Erk and p38 MAPK signaling status. Blocking experiments confirmed that ROS and Erk are involved, at least in part, in the anticancer effects of the combined treatment. In conclusion, the combination of δ-tocotrienol with IFN α therapy showed promising results for HCC cells treatment, which makes the combination of cytokine-based immunotherapy with natural products a potential strategy against liver cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alvaro Lucci
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, 62873, Instituto de Fisiología Experimental (IFISE), Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina.,Rosario National University Faculty of Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 63029, Rosario, Argentina;
| | - Marina C Vera
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, 62873, Instituto de Fisiología Experimental (IFISE), Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina.,Rosario National University Faculty of Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 63029, Rosario, Argentina;
| | - Carla G Comanzo
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, 62873, Instituto de Fisiología Experimental (IFISE), Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina.,Rosario National University Faculty of Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 63029, Rosario, Argentina;
| | - Florencia Lorenzetti
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, 62873, Instituto de Fisiología Experimental (IFISE), Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina.,Rosario National University Faculty of Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 63029, Rosario, Argentina;
| | - Anabela C Ferretti
- Rosario National University Faculty of Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 63029, Rosario, Argentina;
| | - María Paula Ceballos
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, 62873, Instituto de Fisiología Experimental (IFISE), Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina.,Rosario National University Faculty of Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 63029, Rosario, Argentina;
| | - Ariel D Quiroga
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, 62873, Instituto de Fisiología Experimental (IFISE), Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina.,Rosario National University Faculty of Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 63029, Rosario, Argentina.,Universidad Abierta Interamericana, 28178, Centro de Altos Estudios en Ciencias Humanas y de la Salud. Sede Rosario, Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina;
| | - Maria de Lujan Alvarez
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, 62873, Instituto de Fisiología Experimental (IFISE), Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina.,Rosario National University Faculty of Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 63029, Morfología, Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina.,Universidad Abierta Interamericana, 28178, Centro de Altos Estudios en Ciencias Humanas y de la Salud. Sede Rosario, Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina;
| | - María Cristina Carrillo
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, 62873, Instituto de Fisiología Experimental (IFISE), Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina.,Rosario National University Faculty of Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 63029, Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina;
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A Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Oxidative Stress Pathway-Based Prognostic Signature for Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2021; 2021:9939331. [PMID: 34868460 PMCID: PMC8635875 DOI: 10.1155/2021/9939331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Revised: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Mitochondria not only are the main source of ATP synthesis but also regulate cellular redox balance and calcium homeostasis. Its dysfunction can lead to a variety of diseases and promote cancer and metastasis. In this study, we aimed to explore the molecular characteristics and prognostic significance of mitochondrial genes (MTGs) related to oxidative stress in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). A total of 75 differentially expressed MTGs were analyzed from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, including 46 upregulated and 29 downregulated MTGs. Further analysis screened 6 prognostic-related MTGs (ACAD11, ACADSB, BID, PYCR1, SLC25A27, and STAR) and was used to develop a signature. Kaplan-Meier survival and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses showed that the signature could accurately distinguish patients with poor prognosis and had good individual risk stratification and prognostic potential. Stratified analysis based on different clinical variables indicated that the signature could be used to evaluate tumor progression in ccRCC. Moreover, we found that there were significant differences in immune cell infiltration between the low- and high-risk groups based on the signature and that ccRCC patients in the low-risk group responded better to immunotherapy than those in the high-risk group (46.59% vs 35.34%, P = 0.008). We also found that the expression levels of these prognostic MTGs were significantly associated with drug sensitivity in multiple ccRCC cell lines. Our study for the first time elucidates the biological function and prognostic significance of mitochondrial molecules associated with oxidative stress and provides a new protocol for evaluating treatment strategies targeting mitochondria in ccRCC patients.
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46
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Zhou YQ, Sun Y, Luo HL, Gao ZF, Zhang HQ, Meng QG, Bai XY, Hou GG, Hou Y. Discovery of anti-hepatoma agents from 1,4,5,6,7,8-hexahydropyrido[4,3-d]pyrimidine by inhibiting PI3K/AKT/NF-κB pathway activation. Eur J Med Chem 2021; 225:113796. [PMID: 34450496 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.113796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Revised: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
In order to obtain new anti-hepatoma drugs with low toxicity, some 1,4,5,6,7,8-hexahydropyrido[4,3-d]pyrimidines (PPMs, 4a-t) were synthesized in this study. Many of them showed significant anti-hepatoma effects against HCC cells and low toxicity toward HHL-5 cells. Combined with their anti-hepatoma activity and toxicity, 4-CF3-substituted 4k was selected as an effective lead compound. Preliminary mechanistic studies revealed that 4k could up-regulate the expression levels of Bax and caspase-3 proteins, down-regulate the expression levels of Bcl-2 protein, promote significant apoptosis of HepG2, and block cells in G2-M phase to prevent cells from completing mitosis. Also, 4k could significantly inhibit the activation of PI3K/AKT/NF-κB pathway by blocking the phosphorylation of PI3K, AKT, NF-κB/p65 and IFN-γ-induced nuclear transport. Docking analysis showed that 4k could reasonably bind to the active sites of Bcl-2, NF-κB/p65, PI3K and AKT. This result suggested that 4k could be used as a new type of NF-κB inhibitor, which provides a scientific basis for further research into the treatment of hepatoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan-Qiu Zhou
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, 264003, PR China
| | - Yue Sun
- School of Pharmacy, The Key Laboratory of Prescription Effect and Clinical Evaluation of State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of China, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, 264003, PR China
| | - Han-Lin Luo
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, 264003, PR China
| | - Zhong-Fei Gao
- School of Pharmacy, The Key Laboratory of Prescription Effect and Clinical Evaluation of State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of China, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, 264003, PR China
| | - Hong-Qin Zhang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, 264003, PR China
| | - Qing-Guo Meng
- School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Evaluation (Yantai University), Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Drug Delivery System and Biotech Drugs in Universities of Shandong, Yantai University, Yantai, 264005, PR China
| | - Xian-Yong Bai
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, 264003, PR China.
| | - Gui-Ge Hou
- School of Pharmacy, The Key Laboratory of Prescription Effect and Clinical Evaluation of State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of China, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, 264003, PR China.
| | - Yun Hou
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, 264003, PR China.
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47
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Bao L, Xu T, Lu X, Huang P, Pan Z, Ge M. Metabolic Reprogramming of Thyroid Cancer Cells and Crosstalk in Their Microenvironment. Front Oncol 2021; 11:773028. [PMID: 34926283 PMCID: PMC8674491 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.773028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Metabolism differs significantly between tumor and normal cells. Metabolic reprogramming in cancer cells and metabolic interplay in the tumor microenvironment (TME) are important for tumor formation and progression. Tumor cells show changes in both catabolism and anabolism. Altered aerobic glycolysis, known as the Warburg effect, is a well-recognized characteristic of tumor cell energy metabolism. Compared with normal cells, tumor cells consume more glucose and glutamine. The enhanced anabolism in tumor cells includes de novo lipid synthesis as well as protein and nucleic acid synthesis. Although these forms of energy supply are uneconomical, they are required for the functioning of cancer cells, including those in thyroid cancer (TC). Increasing attention has recently focused on alterations of the TME. Understanding the metabolic changes governing the intricate relationship between TC cells and the TME may provide novel ideas for the treatment of TC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisha Bao
- Second Clinical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical School, Hangzhou, China
- ENT-Head & Neck Surgery Center, Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Endocrine Gland Diseases of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Hangzhou, China
| | - Tong Xu
- Clinical Pharmacy Center, Department of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xixuan Lu
- ENT-Head & Neck Surgery Center, Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Endocrine Gland Diseases of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ping Huang
- Key Laboratory of Endocrine Gland Diseases of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Hangzhou, China
- Clinical Pharmacy Center, Department of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zongfu Pan
- Key Laboratory of Endocrine Gland Diseases of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Hangzhou, China
- Clinical Pharmacy Center, Department of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China
| | - Minghua Ge
- ENT-Head & Neck Surgery Center, Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Endocrine Gland Diseases of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Hangzhou, China
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48
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Blaszczak W, Swietach P. What do cellular responses to acidity tell us about cancer? Cancer Metastasis Rev 2021; 40:1159-1176. [PMID: 34850320 PMCID: PMC8825410 DOI: 10.1007/s10555-021-10005-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The notion that invasive cancer is a product of somatic evolution is a well-established theory that can be modelled mathematically and demonstrated empirically from therapeutic responses. Somatic evolution is by no means deterministic, and ample opportunities exist to steer its trajectory towards cancer cell extinction. One such strategy is to alter the chemical microenvironment shared between host and cancer cells in a way that no longer favours the latter. Ever since the first description of the Warburg effect, acidosis has been recognised as a key chemical signature of the tumour microenvironment. Recent findings have suggested that responses to acidosis, arising through a process of selection and adaptation, give cancer cells a competitive advantage over the host. A surge of research efforts has attempted to understand the basis of this advantage and seek ways of exploiting it therapeutically. Here, we review key findings and place these in the context of a mathematical framework. Looking ahead, we highlight areas relating to cellular adaptation, selection, and heterogeneity that merit more research efforts in order to close in on the goal of exploiting tumour acidity in future therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wiktoria Blaszczak
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy & Genetics, Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PT, England
| | - Pawel Swietach
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy & Genetics, Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PT, England.
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49
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Okuda K, Umemura A, Kataoka S, Yano K, Takahashi A, Okishio S, Taketani H, Seko Y, Nishikawa T, Yamaguchi K, Moriguchi M, Nakagawa H, Liu Y, Mitsumoto Y, Kanbara Y, Shima T, Okanoue T, Itoh Y. Enhanced Antitumor Effect in Liver Cancer by Amino Acid Depletion-Induced Oxidative Stress. Front Oncol 2021; 11:758549. [PMID: 34796113 PMCID: PMC8593418 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.758549] [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: 08/14/2021] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of primary liver cancer. HCC cells consume large amounts of glutamine to survive, but can adapt to glutamine depletion in the presence of an exogenous asparagine. L-asparaginase (ASNase) converts glutamine and asparagine to glutamate and aspartate, respectively, and has been used to treat leukemia. Here we examined the effects of ASNase treatment on HCC cells and explored the potential impact of combining ASNase with the tyrosine kinase inhibitor lenvatinib (Len) for HCC treatment. Cell viability and death of HCC cell lines treated with either Len or ASNase alone or with Len and ASNase combined were determined. We assessed mRNA and protein expression levels of glutamine synthetase (GS) and asparagine synthetase (ASNS) by real-time quantitative PCR and immunoblotting. The antitumor effect of the combination therapy relative to Len or ASNase monotherapy was also evaluated in a xenograft tumor mouse model. ASNase treatment inhibited growth of SNU387 and SNU398 HCC cells, which have low GS and high ASNS expression levels, respectively, but did not clearly inhibit growth of the other cell lines. Len plus ASNase combination therapy synergistically inhibited proliferation and induced oxidative stress leading to cell death of some HCC cells lines. However, cell death of Huh7 cells, which express ASCT2, an important glutamine transporter for cancer cells, was not affected by the combination treatment. In a xenograft model, Len combined with ASNase significantly attenuated tumor development relative to mice treated with Len or ASNase alone. ASNase-mediated targeting of two amino acids, glutamine and asparagine, which are indispensable for HCC survival, induces oxidative stress and can be a novel cancer treatment option that exerts a synergistic effect when used in combination with Len.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keiichiro Okuda
- Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Atsushi Umemura
- Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Seita Kataoka
- Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Kota Yano
- Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Aya Takahashi
- Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Shinya Okishio
- Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Hiroyoshi Taketani
- Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yuya Seko
- Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Taichiro Nishikawa
- Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Kanji Yamaguchi
- Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Michihisa Moriguchi
- Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Hayato Nakagawa
- Department of Gastroenterology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yu Liu
- Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yasuhide Mitsumoto
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Saiseikai Suita Hospital, Suita, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Kanbara
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Saiseikai Suita Hospital, Suita, Japan
| | - Toshihide Shima
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Saiseikai Suita Hospital, Suita, Japan
| | - Takeshi Okanoue
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Saiseikai Suita Hospital, Suita, Japan
| | - Yoshito Itoh
- Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
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50
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Gorji-Bahri G, Moradtabrizi N, Hashemi A. Uncovering the stability status of the reputed reference genes in breast and hepatic cancer cell lines. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0259669. [PMID: 34752497 PMCID: PMC8577734 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0259669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2021] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Accurate and reliable relative gene expression analysis via the Reverse Transcription-quantitative Real Time PCR (RT-qPCR) method strongly depends on employing several stable reference genes as normalizers. Utilization of the reference genes without analyzing their expression stability under each experimental condition causes RT-qPCR analysis error as well as false output. Similar to cancerous tissues, cancer cell lines also exhibit various gene expression profiles. It is crucial to recognize stable reference genes for well-known cancer cell lines to minimize RT-qPCR analysis error. In this study, we showed the expression level and investigated the expression stability of eight common reference genes that are ACTB, YWHAZ, HPRT1, RNA18S, TBP, GAPDH, UBC, and B2M, in two sets of cancerous cell lines. One set contains MCF7, SKBR3, and MDA-MB231 as breast cancer cell lines. Another set includes three hepatic cancer cell lines, including Huh7, HepG2, and PLC-PRF5. Three excel-based softwares comprising geNorm, BestKeeper, and NormFinder, and an online tool, namely RefFinder were used for stability analysis. Although all four algorithms did not show the same stability ranking of nominee genes, the overall results showed B2M and ACTB as the least stable reference genes for the studied breast cancer cell lines. While TBP had the lowest expression stability in the three hepatic cancer cell lines. Moreover, YWHAZ, UBC, and GAPDH showed the highest stability in breast cancer cell lines. Besides that, a panel of five nominees, including ACTB, HPRT1, UBC, YWHAZ, and B2M showed higher stability than others in hepatic cancer cell lines. We believe that our results would help researchers to find and to select the best combination of the reference genes for their own experiments involving the studied breast and hepatic cancer cell lines. To further analyze the reference genes stability for each experimental condition, we suggest researchers to consider the provided stability ranking emphasizing the unstable reference genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gilar Gorji-Bahri
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Niloofar Moradtabrizi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Atieh Hashemi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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