RNA sequencing-based analysis of gallbladder cancer reveals the importance of the liver X receptor and lipid metabolism in gallbladder cancer

C-Terminal Truncated HBx Facilitates Oncogenesis by Modulating Cell Cycle and Glucose Metabolism in FXR-Deficient Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Farnesoid X receptor (FXR) is a nuclear receptor known to play protective roles in anti-hepatocarcinogenesis and regulation of the basal metabolism of glucose, lipids, and bile acids. FXR expression is low or absent in HBV-associated hepatocarcinogenesis. Full-length HBx and HBx C-terminal truncation are frequently found in clinical HCC samples and play distinct roles in hepatocarcinogenesis by interacting with FXR or FXR signaling. However, the impact of C-terminal truncated HBx on the progression of hepatocarcinogenesis in the absence of FXR is unclear. In this study, we found that one known FXR binding protein, a C-terminal truncated X protein (HBx C40) enhanced obviously and promoted tumor cell proliferation and migration by altering cell cycle distribution and inducing apoptosis in the absence of FXR. HBx C40 enhanced the growth of FXR-deficient tumors in vivo. In addition, RNA-sequencing analysis showed that HBx C40 overexpression could affect energy metabolism. Overexpressed HSPB8 aggravated the metabolic reprogramming induced by down-regulating glucose metabolism-associated hexokinase 2 genes in HBx C40-induced hepatocarcinogenesis. Overall, our study suggests that C-terminal truncated HBx C40 synergizes with FXR deficiency by altering cell cycle distribution as well as disturbing glucose metabolism to promote HCC development.

Quantitative tissue proteome profile reveals neutrophil degranulation and remodeling of extracellular matrix proteins in early stage gallbladder cancer

Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is an aggressive malignancy of the gastrointestinal tract with a poor prognosis. It is important to understand the molecular processes associated with the pathogenesis of early stage GBC and identify proteins useful for diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Here, we have carried out an iTRAQ-based quantitative proteomic analysis of tumor tissues from early stage GBC cases (stage I, n=7 and stage II, n=5) and non-tumor controls (n=6) from gallstone disease (GSD). We identified 357 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) based on ≥ 2 unique peptides and ≥ 2 fold change with p value < 0.05. Pathway analysis using the STRING database showed, 'neutrophil degranulation' to be the major upregulated pathway that includes proteins such as MPO, PRTN3, S100A8, MMP9, DEFA1, AZU, and 'ECM organization' to be the major downregulated pathway that includes proteins such as COL14A1, COL1A2, COL6A1, COL6A2, COL6A3, BGN, DCN. Western blot and/or IHC analysis confirmed the elevated expression of MPO, PRTN3 and S100A8 in early stage of the disease. Based on the above results, we hypothesize that there is an increased neutrophil infiltration in tumor tissue and neutrophil degranulation leading to degradation of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins promoting cancer cell invasion in the early stage GBC. Some of the proteins (MPO, MMP9, DEFA1) associated with 'neutrophil degranulation' showed the presence of 'signal sequence' suggesting their potential as circulatory markers for early detection of GBC. Overall, the study presents a protein dataset associated with early stage GBC.

Correlations between serum lipid and Ki-67 levels in different breast cancer molecular subcategories

Breast cancer has the highest incidence rate among all cancer types worldwide, seriously threatening women's health. The present retrospective study explored differences in serum lipid contents in different breast cancer (BC) subcategories and their correlation with Ki-67 expression levels in patients with invasive BC with the aim of identifying novel diagnostic and prognostic indicators for personalized BC treatment. The study included 170 patients diagnosed with BC who were diagnosed with invasive BC by postoperative pathological examination. Data on patient age, body mass index and menopausal status were collected, in addition to estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) and antigen Ki-67 expression levels and pathological tumor type. Preoperative circulating lipid levels, specifically the levels of total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides (TG) and apolipoproteins A1 (ApoA1) and B (ApoB) were also obtained. Molecular subcategories of BC were grouped based on their immunohistochemistry. Differences in serum lipid levels between the groups were assessed, and correlations between serum lipid and Ki-67 expression levels were explored. While TC, LDL-C, HDL-C and ApoA1 levels differed significantly among molecular subcategories. TG and ApoB levels did not. Circulating TC and LDL-C levels were considerably higher in patients with triple-negative BC (TNBC) and HER2-positive [hormone receptor (HR)-negative] BC than in those with luminal A and B (HER2-negative) BC. Serum HDL-C levels were significantly diminished in the TNBC and HER2-positive (HR-negative) groups compared with the luminal A and B (HER2-negative) groups. ApoA1 levels were significantly reduced in cases of TNBC and HER2-positive (HR-negative) BC compared with luminal A and B BC. Ki-67 expression levels were positively correlated with circulating TC and LDL-C levels and inversely correlated with circulating HDL-C and ApoA1 levels but exhibited no correlation with serum ApoB and TG levels. The results indicate that elevated TC and LDL-C levels and diminished HDL-C and ApoA1 levels were high-risk factors in patients with TNBC and HER2-positive (HR-negative) BC, but not patients with luminal subcategories of BC. Abnormal serum lipid levels were correlated with Ki-67 expression levels, with elevated circulating TC and LDL-C levels and reduced circulating HDL-C and ApoA1 levels indicating a poor prognosis in patients with BC.

Unravelling of the comparative Transcriptomic Profile of Gallbladder Cancer using mRNA sequencing

BACKGROUND

Gallbladder cancer (GBC) represents a wide geographical diversity as well as heterogeneity in clinical and genomic landscape. There seems to be little progress in the development of diagnostic biomarkers, targeted therapies or individualized approaches to GBC management. In this study, we investigated the whole transcriptome profile of GBC patients using RNA sequencing and identified key genes and pathways associated with gallbladder cancer using bioinformatics.

METHODOLOGY

A total of 10 cases of GBC were collected and sequenced. The raw reads of the gallbladder sample was compared with the gallbladder normal control (SRA Database ID: ERX288537: HPA RNA-seq normal tissues gallbladder). Using Gene ontology analysis the differentially expressed genes were categorized into the biological pathway, cellular component, and molecular function. Pathway enrichment analyses, protein-protein interaction, transcription factor and miRNA interaction that regulate the expression of hub genes were conducted using bioinformatics tool.

RESULTS

A total of 954 differentially expressed mRNA transcripts were identified, including overexpression of REG4, TMEM238, S100A2, LYPD2, and KRT17, as well as underexpressed genes like CCKAR, IGSF10, CHRM2, CRISP3, and FGF19. Enrichment analysis showed the metabolic pathways to be the top five cancer pathways in gallbladder carcinogenesis besides PI3k-Akt signalling pathway, cAMP signalling pathway, miRNAs in cancer, and cell adhesion profile of GBC.

CONCLUSIONS

CCKAR, CDKN2A and LRRK2 were found to be most involved genes in its progression and development through different regulatory pathways. Further, most of the genes were significantly involved in PI3k-Akt, Wnt and hedgehog signaling pathways which have a key role in gallbladder cancer development.

The role of farnesoid X receptor in metabolic diseases, and gastrointestinal and liver cancer

Farnesoid X receptor (FXR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor involved in the control of bile acid (BA) synthesis and enterohepatic circulation. FXR can influence glucose and lipid homeostasis. Hepatic FXR activation by obeticholic acid is currently used to treat primary biliary cholangitis. Late-stage clinical trials investigating the use of obeticholic acid in the treatment of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis are underway. Mouse models of metabolic disease have demonstrated that inhibition of intestinal FXR signalling reduces obesity, insulin resistance and fatty liver disease by modulation of hepatic and gut bacteria-mediated BA metabolism, and intestinal ceramide synthesis. FXR also has a role in the pathogenesis of gastrointestinal and liver cancers. Studies using tissue-specific and global Fxr-null mice have revealed that FXR acts as a suppressor of hepatocellular carcinoma, mainly through regulating BA homeostasis. Loss of whole-body FXR potentiates progression of spontaneous colorectal cancer, and obesity-induced BA imbalance promotes intestinal stem cell proliferation by suppressing intestinal FXR in Apc^min/+ mice. Owing to altered gut microbiota and FXR signalling, changes in overall BA levels and specific BA metabolites probably contribute to enterohepatic tumorigenesis. Modulating intestinal FXR signalling and altering BA metabolites are potential strategies for gastrointestinal and liver cancer prevention and treatment. In this Review, studies on the role of FXR in metabolic diseases and gastrointestinal and liver cancer are discussed, and the potential for development of targeted drugs are summarized.

RNA Sequencing Revealed Signals of Evolution From Gallbladder Stone to Gallbladder Carcinoma

Gallbladder stone is a major risk factor for gallbladder carcinoma (GBC), while there is still a controversy whether period of follow-up since newly diagnoses of asymptomatic gallstones increases the risk of GBC. In this study, 10 GBC patients and 30 patients with gallstones were admitted to our hospital. Patients with gallstones were divided into 3 groups according to the follow-up time, involving 10 patients with follow-up period of 1–3 years (GS3 group), 10 patients with follow-up period of 5–10 years (GS5 group), and 10 patients with follow-up period of more than 10 years (GS10 group). Tumor and para-tumor tissues of GBC patients, and gallbladder tissues of gallstone patients were collected. RNA sequencing was performed on the 50 samples. Besides, 1,704 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in tumors compared with para-tumor tissues of 10 GBC patients, which were enriched into some well-known cancer-related pathways, such as PI3K-Akt, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), Ras, and Wnt signaling pathways, and the most significant pathway was neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction. Patients with gallstones with periods of follow-up equal to 1–3 and > 10 years showed to have higher cancer risk than those with 5–10 years. ALPP and GPR87 are potential biomarkers for predicting cancer risk in patients with gallstones. The in vitro results revealed that GPR-87 can promote the proliferation, migration, and invasion of GBC cells. Herein, we explored the relationship between GBC patients and patients with gallstones with different periods of follow-up in transcriptome level.

Apolipoprotein A-I (ApoA-I), Immunity, Inflammation and Cancer

Apolipoprotein A-I (ApoA-I), the major protein component of high-density lipoproteins (HDL) is a multifunctional protein, involved in cholesterol traffic and inflammatory and immune response regulation. Many studies revealing alterations of ApoA-I during the development and progression of various types of cancer suggest that serum ApoA-I levels may represent a useful biomarker contributing to better estimation of cancer risk, early cancer diagnosis, follow up, and prognosis stratification of cancer patients. In addition, recent in vitro and animal studies disclose a more direct, tumor suppressive role of ApoA-I in cancer pathogenesis, which involves anti-inflammatory and immune-modulatory mechanisms. Herein, we review recent epidemiologic, clinicopathologic, and mechanistic studies investigating the role of ApoA-I in cancer biology, which suggest that enhancing the tumor suppressive activity of ApoA-I may contribute to better cancer prevention and treatment.