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Yang K, Nong J, Xie H, Wan Z, Zhou X, Liu J, Qin C, Luo J, Zhu G, Peng T. DPF2 overexpression correlates with immune infiltration and dismal prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma. J Cancer 2024; 15:4668-4685. [PMID: 39006087 PMCID: PMC11242344 DOI: 10.7150/jca.97437] [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: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: Double plant homeodomain finger 2 (DPF2), belonging to the d4 family of structural domains, has been associated with various human malignancies. However, its impact on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unclear. The objective of this study is to elucidate the role of DPF2 in the diagnosis and prognosis of HCC. Methods: DPF2 gene expression in HCC and adjacent tissues was analyzed using Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) databases, validated by immunohistochemical staining of Guangxi specimens and data from the Human Protein Atlas (HPA). Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genome (KEGG), and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) were used to identify DPF2's potential pathways and functions in HCC. DPF2's mutation and methylation statuses were assessed via cBioPortal and MethSurv. The association between DPF2 and immune infiltration was investigated by TIMER. The prognostic value of DPF2 in HCC was established through Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses. Results: DPF2 levels were significantly higher in HCC than normal tissues (p<0.001), correlating with more severe HCC features (p<0.05). Higher DPF2 expression predicted poorer overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS), and progression-free interval (PFI). DPF2 involvement was noted in critical signaling pathways including the cell cycle and Wnt. It also correlated with T helper cells, Th2 cells, and immune checkpoints like CTLA-4, PD-1, and PD-L1. Conclusion: High DPF2 expression, associated with poor HCC prognosis, may disrupt tumor immune balance and promote immune evasion. DPF2 could potentially be utilized as a biomarker for diagnosing and prognosticating hepatocellular carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kejian Yang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Enhanced Recovery after Surgery for Gastrointestinal Cancer, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of early Prevention & Treatment for regional High Frequency Tumor (Guangxi Medical University), Ministry of Education, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Jusen Nong
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Enhanced Recovery after Surgery for Gastrointestinal Cancer, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of early Prevention & Treatment for regional High Frequency Tumor (Guangxi Medical University), Ministry of Education, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Haixiang Xie
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Enhanced Recovery after Surgery for Gastrointestinal Cancer, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of early Prevention & Treatment for regional High Frequency Tumor (Guangxi Medical University), Ministry of Education, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Zuyin Wan
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Enhanced Recovery after Surgery for Gastrointestinal Cancer, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of early Prevention & Treatment for regional High Frequency Tumor (Guangxi Medical University), Ministry of Education, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Xin Zhou
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Enhanced Recovery after Surgery for Gastrointestinal Cancer, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of early Prevention & Treatment for regional High Frequency Tumor (Guangxi Medical University), Ministry of Education, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Junqi Liu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Enhanced Recovery after Surgery for Gastrointestinal Cancer, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of early Prevention & Treatment for regional High Frequency Tumor (Guangxi Medical University), Ministry of Education, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Chongjiu Qin
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Enhanced Recovery after Surgery for Gastrointestinal Cancer, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of early Prevention & Treatment for regional High Frequency Tumor (Guangxi Medical University), Ministry of Education, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Jianzhu Luo
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Enhanced Recovery after Surgery for Gastrointestinal Cancer, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of early Prevention & Treatment for regional High Frequency Tumor (Guangxi Medical University), Ministry of Education, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Guangzhi Zhu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Enhanced Recovery after Surgery for Gastrointestinal Cancer, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of early Prevention & Treatment for regional High Frequency Tumor (Guangxi Medical University), Ministry of Education, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Tao Peng
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Enhanced Recovery after Surgery for Gastrointestinal Cancer, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of early Prevention & Treatment for regional High Frequency Tumor (Guangxi Medical University), Ministry of Education, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
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Yan B, Liu C, Li H, Wen N, Jiao W, Wang S, Zhang Y, Zhang T, Zhang H, Lv Y, Fan H, Liu X. Reversal of HMGA1-Mediated Immunosuppression Synergizes with Immunogenic Magnetothermodynamic for Improved Hepatocellular Carcinoma Therapy. ACS NANO 2023; 17:9209-9223. [PMID: 37162457 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c00004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Magnetothermodynamic (MTD) therapy can activate antitumor immune responses by inducing potent immunogenic tumor cell death. However, tumor development is often accompanied by multifarious immunosuppressive mechanisms that can counter the efficacy of immunogenic MTD therapy. High-mobility group protein A1 (HMGA1) is overexpressed within hepatocellular carcinoma tissues and plays a crucial function in the generation of immunosuppressive effects. The reversal of HMGA1-mediated immunosuppression could enhance immunogenic tumor cell death-induced immune responses. A ferrimagnetic vortex-domain iron oxide (FVIO) nanoring-based nanovehicle was developed, which is capable of efficiently mediating an alternating magnetic field for immunogenic tumor cell death induction, while concurrently delivering HMGA1 small interfering (si)RNA (siHMGA1) to the cytoplasm of hepatocellular carcinoma Hepa 1-6 cells for HMGA1 pathway interference. Using siHMGA1-FVIO-mediated MTD therapy, the proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma Hepa 1-6 tumors was inhibited, and the survival of a mouse model was improved. We also demonstrated that siHMGA1-FVIO-mediated MTD achieved synergistic antitumor effects in a subcutaneous hepatocellular carcinoma Hepa 1-6 and H22 tumor model by promoting dendritic cell maturation, enhancing antigen-presenting molecule expression (both major histocompatibility complexes I and II), improving tumor-infiltrating T lymphocyte numbers, and decreasing immunosuppressive myeloid-derived suppressor cells, interleukin-10, and transforming growth factor-β expression. The nanoparticle system outlined in this paper has the potential to target HMGA1 and, in combination with MTD-induced immunotherapy, is a promising approach for hepatocellular carcinoma treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Yan
- Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education; Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotechnology of Shaanxi Province, Northwest University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710069, China
| | - Chen Liu
- Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education; Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotechnology of Shaanxi Province, Northwest University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710069, China
| | - Hugang Li
- Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education; Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotechnology of Shaanxi Province, Northwest University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710069, China
| | - Nana Wen
- Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education; Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotechnology of Shaanxi Province, Northwest University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710069, China
| | - Wangbo Jiao
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Natural Functional Molecule of the Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry & Materials Science, Northwest University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710127, China
| | - Siyao Wang
- Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education; Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotechnology of Shaanxi Province, Northwest University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710069, China
| | - Yihan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Natural Functional Molecule of the Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry & Materials Science, Northwest University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710127, China
| | - Tingbin Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Natural Functional Molecule of the Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry & Materials Science, Northwest University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710127, China
| | - Huan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Natural Functional Molecule of the Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry & Materials Science, Northwest University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710127, China
- Department of Radiology, Zhuhai People's Hospital (Zhuhai Hospital Affiliated with Jinan University), Zhuhai, Guangdong 519000, China
| | - Yi Lv
- Institute of Regenerative and Reconstructive Medicine, Med-X Institute, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710049, China
- National Local Joint Engineering Research Center for Precision Surgery & Regenerative Medicine, Shaanxi Provincial Center for Regenerative Medicine and Surgical Engineering, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China
| | - Haiming Fan
- Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education; Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotechnology of Shaanxi Province, Northwest University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710069, China
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Natural Functional Molecule of the Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry & Materials Science, Northwest University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710127, China
| | - Xiaoli Liu
- Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education; Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotechnology of Shaanxi Province, Northwest University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710069, China
- Institute of Regenerative and Reconstructive Medicine, Med-X Institute, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710049, China
- National Local Joint Engineering Research Center for Precision Surgery & Regenerative Medicine, Shaanxi Provincial Center for Regenerative Medicine and Surgical Engineering, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China
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Wu Y, Zhu R, Zhou M, Liu J, Dong K, Zhao S, Cao J, Wang W, Sun C, Wu S, Wang F, Shi Y, Sun Y. Homologous cancer cell membrane-camouflaged nanoparticles target drug delivery and enhance the chemotherapy efficacy of hepatocellular carcinoma. Cancer Lett 2023; 558:216106. [PMID: 36841418 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2023.216106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Revised: 02/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/27/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common digestive tract malignancy that seriously threatens human life and health. Early HCC may be treated by intervention, surgery, and internal radiotherapy, while the choice for late HCC is primarily chemotherapy to prolong patient survival. Lenvatinib (LT) is a Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved frontline drug for the treatment of advanced liver cancer and has achieved excellent clinical efficacy. However, its poor solubility and severe side effects cannot be ignored. In this study, a bionic nanodrug delivery platform was successfully constructed. The platform consists of a core of Lenvatinib wrapped with a pH-sensitive polymer, namely, poly(β-amino ester)-polyethylene glycol-amine (PAE-PEG-NH2), and a shell formed by a cancer cell membrane (CCM). The prepared nanodrugs have high drug loading capacity, long-term stability, good biocompatibility, and a long retention time. In addition, the targeting effect of tumor cell membranes and the pH-responsive characteristics of the polymer materials enable them to precisely target tumor cells and achieve responsive release in the tumor microenvironment, which makes them suitable for effective drug delivery. In vivo experiments revealed that the nanodrug showed superior tumor accumulation and therapeutic effects in subcutaneous tumor mice model and could effectively eliminate tumors within 21 days. As a result, it opens up a new way to reduce side effects and improve the specific therapeutic effect of first-line clinical medications to treat tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yahui Wu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China; Institute of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Diseases, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China; Zhengzhou Basic and Clinical Key Laboratory of Hepatopancreatobiliary Diseases, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Rongtao Zhu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China; Institute of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Diseases, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China; Zhengzhou Basic and Clinical Key Laboratory of Hepatopancreatobiliary Diseases, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Mengyang Zhou
- Department of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Jingjing Liu
- Department of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Kai Dong
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China; Institute of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Diseases, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China; Zhengzhou Basic and Clinical Key Laboratory of Hepatopancreatobiliary Diseases, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Senfeng Zhao
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China; Institute of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Diseases, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China; Zhengzhou Basic and Clinical Key Laboratory of Hepatopancreatobiliary Diseases, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Jiahui Cao
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China; Institute of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Diseases, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China; Zhengzhou Basic and Clinical Key Laboratory of Hepatopancreatobiliary Diseases, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Weijie Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China; Institute of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Diseases, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China; Zhengzhou Basic and Clinical Key Laboratory of Hepatopancreatobiliary Diseases, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Chenguang Sun
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China; Institute of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Diseases, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China; Zhengzhou Basic and Clinical Key Laboratory of Hepatopancreatobiliary Diseases, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Shitao Wu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China; Institute of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Diseases, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China; Zhengzhou Basic and Clinical Key Laboratory of Hepatopancreatobiliary Diseases, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Fan Wang
- Experimental Animal Platform in Academy of Medical Sciences of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Yupeng Shi
- Department of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China.
| | - Yuling Sun
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China; Institute of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Diseases, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China; Zhengzhou Basic and Clinical Key Laboratory of Hepatopancreatobiliary Diseases, Zhengzhou, 450052, China.
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4
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Nong JS, Zhou X, Liu JQ, Luo JZ, Huang JM, Xie HX, Yang KJ, Wang J, Ye XP, Peng T. Nucleoporin 107 is a prognostic biomarker in hepatocellular carcinoma associated with immune infiltration. Cancer Med 2023; 12:10990-11009. [PMID: 36952458 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.5807] [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: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/25/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess the diagnostic value and clinical significance of nucleoporin 107 (NUP107) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and explore the possible mechanisms. METHODS The transcriptomic and clinical data of HCC patients were retrieved from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and GEO databases. Tissue specimens were collected from HCC patients in the Guangxi area. According to the expression levels and prognostic characteristics of NUP107, ROC curves and nomogram models were constructed using the R package. RESULTS NUP107 was highly expressed in 26 human cancers including HCC, and was associated with advanced HCC staging and worse prognosis. NUP107 showed satisfactory ability to predict the prognosis of HCC patients (AUC >0.8). Results of gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) further showed that NUP107 was mainly associated with cell cycle-related pathways such as the cell cycle, DNA replication, G2M checkpoint, E2F target, and mitotic spindle. In addition, NUP107 was also associated with immune infiltration in HCC and showed significant positive correlation with immune checkpoints (PD-L1 and TIM-3).
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Affiliation(s)
- Ju-Sen Nong
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Early Prevention & Treatment for Regional High Frequency Tumor, Ministry of Education, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, People's Republic of China
| | - Xin Zhou
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Early Prevention & Treatment for Regional High Frequency Tumor, Ministry of Education, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, People's Republic of China
| | - Jun-Qi Liu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Early Prevention & Treatment for Regional High Frequency Tumor, Ministry of Education, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, People's Republic of China
| | - Jian-Zhu Luo
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Early Prevention & Treatment for Regional High Frequency Tumor, Ministry of Education, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, People's Republic of China
| | - Jia-Mi Huang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Early Prevention & Treatment for Regional High Frequency Tumor, Ministry of Education, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, People's Republic of China
| | - Hai-Xiang Xie
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Early Prevention & Treatment for Regional High Frequency Tumor, Ministry of Education, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, People's Republic of China
| | - Ke-Jian Yang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Early Prevention & Treatment for Regional High Frequency Tumor, Ministry of Education, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, People's Republic of China
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Early Prevention & Treatment for Regional High Frequency Tumor, Ministry of Education, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, People's Republic of China
| | - Xin-Ping Ye
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Early Prevention & Treatment for Regional High Frequency Tumor, Ministry of Education, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, People's Republic of China
| | - Tao Peng
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Early Prevention & Treatment for Regional High Frequency Tumor, Ministry of Education, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, People's Republic of China
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Zhu J, Zheng Y, Liu Y, Chen M, Liu Y, Li J. Association between HMGA1 and immunosuppression in hepatocellular carcinoma: A comprehensive bioinformatics analysis. Medicine (Baltimore) 2023; 102:e32707. [PMID: 36705364 PMCID: PMC9876027 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000032707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The high mobility group A1 (HMGA1) gene is overexpressed in malignant tumors, and its expression level correlates with the progression and metastasis of tumors. However, the specific role of HMGA1 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and relevant influencing approaches in tumor immunity remain unclear. In this study, the expression and clinical significance of HMGA1 in HCC immunity were analyzed. The expression levels of HMGA1 mRNA and protein in HCC tissue and normal liver tissue were analyzed based on the cancer genome atlas, the gene expression omnibus and the Human Protein Atlas databases. The correlation between HMGA1 and clinicopathological factors was analyzed, and survival was estimated based on the expression of HMGA1. Gene set cancer analysis and the TISIDB database were used to identify tumor-infiltrating immune cells and immune inhibitors. Gene set enrichment analysis was performed to determine the involved signaling pathway. The HMGA1 genetic alterations were identified with the cBioPortal for Cancer Genomics. The expression of HMGA1 mRNA and protein was significantly higher in HCC tissue and negatively correlated with survival. Neutrophils, Th17 cells, several immune inhibitors, and signaling pathways were positively correlated with the expression of HMGA1. Amplification was the main type of genetic alteration in HMGA1. These findings demonstrate that HMGA1 can be a therapeutic target and a potential biomarker to predict the prognosis of patients with HCC. HMGA1 may affect the progression of HCC by suppressing the immune function of these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Zhu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Yongshun Zheng
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Yuyao Liu
- Department of Burn, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Mengding Chen
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Yanyan Liu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Center for Surveillance of Bacterial Resistance, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Institute of Bacterial Resistance, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Jiabin Li
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Center for Surveillance of Bacterial Resistance, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Institute of Bacterial Resistance, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
- * Correspondence: Jiabin Li, Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Jixi road 218, Hefei, Anhui 230022, China (e-mail: )
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Yang Y, Ye X, Zhang H, Lin Z, Fang M, Wang J, Yu Y, Hua X, Huang H, Xu W, Liu L, Lin Z. A novel transcription factor-based signature to predict prognosis and therapeutic response of hepatocellular carcinoma. Front Genet 2023; 13:1068837. [PMID: 36685838 PMCID: PMC9845592 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.1068837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common aggressive malignancies with increasing incidence worldwide. The oncogenic roles of transcription factors (TFs) were increasingly recognized in various cancers. This study aimed to develop a predicting signature based on TFs for the prognosis and treatment of HCC. Methods: Differentially expressed TFs were screened from data in the TCGA-LIHC and ICGC-LIRI-JP cohorts. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were applied to establish a TF-based prognostic signature. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to assess the predictive efficacy of the signature. Subsequently, correlations of the risk model with clinical features and treatment response in HCC were also analyzed. The TF target genes underwent Gene Ontology (GO) function and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses, followed by protein-protein-interaction (PPI) analysis. Results: A total of 25 differentially expressed TFs were screened, 16 of which were related to the prognosis of HCC in the TCGA-LIHC cohort. A 2-TF risk signature, comprising high mobility group AT-hook protein 1 (HMGA1) and MAF BZIP transcription factor G (MAFG), was constructed and validated to negatively related to the overall survival (OS) of HCC. The ROC curve showed good predictive efficiencies of the risk score regarding 1-year, 2-year and 3-year OS (mostly AUC >0.60). Additionally, the risk score independently predicted OS for HCC patients both in the training cohort of TCGA-LIHC dataset (HR = 2.498, p = 0.007) and in the testing cohort of ICGC-LIRI-JP dataset (HR = 5.411, p < 0.001). The risk score was also positively correlated to progressive characteristics regarding tumor grade, TNM stage and tumor invasion. Patients with a high-risk score were more resistant to transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) treatment and agents of lapatinib and erlotinib, but sensitive to chemotherapeutics. Further enrichment and PPI analyses demonstrated that the 2-TF signature distinguished tumors into 2 clusters with proliferative and metabolic features, with the hub genes belonging to the former cluster. Conclusion: Our study identified a 2-TF prognostic signature that indicated tumor heterogeneity with different clinical features and treatment preference, which help optimal therapeutic strategy and improved survival for HCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanbing Yang
- Department of Radiology, Mengchao Hepatobiliary Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Xuenian Ye
- Department of Orthopedics, Dongguan People’s Hospital, Dongguan, China
| | - Haibin Zhang
- Department of Orthopedics, Dongguan People’s Hospital, Dongguan, China
| | - Zhaowang Lin
- Department of Radiology, Mengchao Hepatobiliary Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Min Fang
- Department of Radiology, Mengchao Hepatobiliary Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Jian Wang
- Department of Radiology, Mengchao Hepatobiliary Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Yuyan Yu
- Department of Radiology, Mengchao Hepatobiliary Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Xuwen Hua
- Department of Radiology, Mengchao Hepatobiliary Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Hongxuan Huang
- Department of Orthopedics, Dongguan People’s Hospital, Dongguan, China
| | - Weifeng Xu
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Ling Liu
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dali University, Dali, China,*Correspondence: Ling Liu, ; Zhan Lin,
| | - Zhan Lin
- Department of Radiology, Mengchao Hepatobiliary Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China,*Correspondence: Ling Liu, ; Zhan Lin,
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Wang L, Zhang J, Xia M, Liu C, Zu X, Zhong J. High Mobility Group A1 (HMGA1): Structure, Biological Function, and Therapeutic Potential. Int J Biol Sci 2022; 18:4414-4431. [PMID: 35864955 PMCID: PMC9295051 DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.72952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
High mobility group A1 (HMGA1) is a nonhistone chromatin structural protein characterized by no transcriptional activity. It mainly plays a regulatory role by modifying the structure of DNA. A large number of studies have confirmed that HMGA1 regulates genes related to tumours in the reproductive system, digestive system, urinary system and haematopoietic system. HMGA1 is rare in adult cells and increases in highly proliferative cells such as embryos. After being stimulated by external factors, it will produce effects through the Wnt/β-catenin, PI3K/Akt, Hippo and MEK/ERK pathways. In addition, HMGA1 also affects the ageing, apoptosis, autophagy and chemotherapy resistance of cancer cells, which are linked to tumorigenesis. In this review, we summarize the mechanisms of HMGA1 in cancer progression and discuss the potential clinical application of targeted HMGA1 therapy, indicating that targeted HMGA1 is of great significance in the diagnosis and treatment of malignancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Wang
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, 421001, PR China
| | - Ji Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen 518033, Guangdong, China
| | - Min Xia
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, 421001, PR China.,Cancer Research Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, 421001, PR China
| | - Chang Liu
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The First People's Hospital of Chenzhou, First School of Clinical Medicine, University of Southern Medical, Guangzhou 510515, Guangdong, China
| | - Xuyu Zu
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, 421001, PR China.,Cancer Research Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, 421001, PR China
| | - Jing Zhong
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, 421001, PR China.,Cancer Research Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, 421001, PR China
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HMGA1 Promotes Macrophage Recruitment via Activation of NF-κB-CCL2 Signaling in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. J Immunol Res 2022; 2022:4727198. [PMID: 35785026 PMCID: PMC9242763 DOI: 10.1155/2022/4727198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Revised: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are known to generate an immune-suppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) and promote tumor progression. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a devastating disease that evolves in the background of chronic inflammatory liver damage. In this study, we aimed to uncover the mechanism by which HCC cells recruit macrophages into the TME. Methods Bioinformatic analysis was performed to identify differentially expressed genes related to macrophage infiltration. An orthotopic HCC xenograft model was used to determine the role of macrophages in HCC tumor growth. Clodronate liposomes were used to delete macrophages. Western blotting analysis, quantitative real-time PCR, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were performed to determine the underlying mechanisms. Results The high mobility group A1 (HMGA1) gene was identified as a putative modulator of macrophage infiltration in HCC. Deletion of macrophages with clodronate liposomes significantly abrogated the tumor-promoting effects of HMGA1 on HCC growth. Mechanistically, HMGA1 can regulate the expression of C-C Motif Chemokine Ligand 2 (CCL2), also referred to as monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP1), which is responsible for macrophage recruitment. Moreover, NF-κB was required for HMGA1-mediated CCL2 expression. Pharmacological or genetic inhibition of NF-κB largely blocked CCL2 levels in HMGA1-overexpressing HCC cells. Conclusions This study reveals HMGA1 as a crucial regulator of macrophage recruitment by activating NF-κB-CCL2 signaling, proves that HMGA1-induced HCC aggressiveness dependents on the macrophage, and provide an attractive target for therapeutic interventions in HCC.
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