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Li X, Zhou L, Xu X, Liu X, Wu W, Feng Q, Tang Z. Metabolic reprogramming in hepatocellular carcinoma: a bibliometric and visualized study from 2011 to 2023. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1392241. [PMID: 39086383 PMCID: PMC11289777 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1392241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Background and aims Metabolic reprogramming has been found to be a typical feature of tumors. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a cancer with high morbidity and mortality, has been extensively studied for its metabolic reprogramming-related mechanisms. Our study aims to identify the hotspots and frontiers of metabolic reprogramming research in HCC and to provide guidance for future scientific research and decision-making in HCC metabolism. Methods Relevant studies on the metabolic reprogramming of HCC were derived from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) database up until November 2023. The bibliometrix tools in R were used for scientometric analysis and visualization. Results From 2011 to 2023, a total of 575 publications were obtained from WoSCC that met the established criteria. These publications involved 3,904 researchers and 948 organizations in 37 countries, with an average annual growth rate of 39.11% in research. These studies were published in 233 journals, with Cancers (n = 29) ranking first, followed by Frontiers in Oncology (n = 20) and International Journal of Molecular Sciences (n = 19). The top ten journals accounted for 26% of the 575 studies. The most prolific authors were Wang J (n = 14), Li Y (n = 12), and Liu J (n = 12). The country with the most publications is China, followed by the United States, Italy, and France. Fudan University had the largest percentage of research results with 15.48% (n = 89). Ally A's paper in Cell has the most citations. A total of 1,204 keywords were analyzed, with the trend themes such as "glycolysis," "tumor microenvironment," "Warburg effect," "mitochondria," "hypoxia ," etc. Co-occurrence network and cluster analysis revealed the relationships between keywords, authors, publications, and journals. Moreover, the close collaboration between countries in this field was elucidated. Conclusion This bibliometric and visual analysis delves into studies related to metabolic reprogramming in HCC between 2012 and 2023, elucidating the characteristics of research in this field, which has gradually moved away from single glycolipid metabolism studies to the integration of overall metabolism in the body, pointing out the trend of research topics, and the dynamics of the interaction between the tumor microenvironment and metabolic reprogramming will be the future direction of research, which provides blueprints and inspirations for HCC prevention and treatment programs to the researchers in this field. Systematic Review Registration: [https://www.bibliometrix.org].
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Affiliation(s)
- Xia Li
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Liping Zhou
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Xinyi Xu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiyang Liu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Wenjun Wu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Quansheng Feng
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Ziwei Tang
- The Beibei Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, The Ninth People’s Hospital of Chongqing, Chongqing, China
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2
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Yuan X, Yang L, Gao J, Mao X, Zhang Y, Yuan W. Identification of a novel matrix metalloproteinases-related prognostic signature in hepatocellular carcinoma. Aging (Albany NY) 2024; 16:8667-8686. [PMID: 38761174 PMCID: PMC11164509 DOI: 10.18632/aging.205832] [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: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/20/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver cancer worldwide. Cancer cells' local infiltration, proliferation, and spread are mainly influenced by the protein hydrolyzing function of different matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). However, no study has determined the relationship between MMPs and prognostic prediction in HCC. METHODS Expression profiles of mRNA and MMPs-related genes were obtained from publicly available databases. Cox regression and LASSO Cox regression analysis were used to identify and predict MMPs-related prognostic signature and construct predictive models for overall survival (OS). A nomogram was used to validate the accuracy of the prediction model. Drug prediction was performed using the Genomics of Drug Sensitivity in Cancer (GDSC) dataset, and single-cell clustering analysis was performed to further understand the significance of the MMPs-related signature. RESULTS A MMPs-related prognostic signature (including RNPEPL1, ADAM15, ADAM18, ADAMTS5, CAD, YME1L1, AMZ2, PSMD14, and COPS6) was identified. Using the median value, HCC patients in the high-risk group showed worse OS than those in the low-risk group. Immune microenvironment analysis showed that patients in the high-risk group had higher levels of M0 and M2 macrophages. Drug sensitivity analysis revealed that the IC50 values of sorafenib, cisplatin, and cytarabine were higher in the high-risk group. Finally, the single-cell cluster analysis results showed that YME1L1 and COPS6 were the major genes expressed in the monocyte cluster. CONCLUSIONS A novel MMPs-related signature can be used to predict the prognosis of HCC. The findings of this research could potentially impact the predictability of the prognosis and treatment of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingxing Yuan
- Department of Gastroenterology, Heilongjiang Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China
- Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China
| | - Liuxin Yang
- Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China
| | - Jiawei Gao
- Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China
| | - Xu Mao
- Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China
| | - Yali Zhang
- Zhang Yali Famous Traditional Chinese Medicine Expert Studio, Harbin, China
| | - Wei Yuan
- Department of Hepatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Changsha, China
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3
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Cholico GN, Fling RR, Sink WJ, Nault R, Zacharewski T. Inhibition of the urea cycle by the environmental contaminant 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin increases serum ammonia levels in mice. J Biol Chem 2024; 300:105500. [PMID: 38013089 PMCID: PMC10731612 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.105500] [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: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor is a ligand-activated transcription factor known for mediating the effects of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and related compounds. TCDD induces nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)-like pathologies including simple steatosis that can progress to steatohepatitis with fibrosis and bile duct proliferation in male mice. Dose-dependent progression of steatosis to steatohepatitis with fibrosis by TCDD has been associated with metabolic reprogramming, including the disruption of amino acid metabolism. Here, we used targeted metabolomic analysis to reveal dose-dependent changes in the level of ten serum and eleven hepatic amino acids in mice upon treatment with TCDD. Bulk RNA-seq and protein analysis showed TCDD repressed CPS1, OTS, ASS1, ASL, and GLUL, all of which are associated with the urea cycle and glutamine biosynthesis. Urea and glutamine are end products of the detoxification and excretion of ammonia, a toxic byproduct of amino acid catabolism. Furthermore, we found that the catalytic activity of OTC, a rate-limiting step in the urea cycle was also dose dependently repressed. These results are consistent with an increase in circulating ammonia. Collectively, the repression of the urea and glutamate-glutamine cycles increased circulating ammonia levels and the toxicity of TCDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovan N Cholico
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Institute for Integrative Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Russell R Fling
- Institute for Integrative Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Microbiology & Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Warren J Sink
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Institute for Integrative Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Rance Nault
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Institute for Integrative Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Tim Zacharewski
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Institute for Integrative Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA.
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4
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Wu H, Kren BT, Lane AN, Cassel TA, Higashi RM, Fan TWM, Scaria GS, Shekels LL, Klein MA, Albrecht JH. Cyclin D1 extensively reprograms metabolism to support biosynthetic pathways in hepatocytes. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:105407. [PMID: 38152849 PMCID: PMC10687208 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.105407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2023] [Revised: 10/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Cell proliferation requires metabolic reprogramming to accommodate biosynthesis of new cell components, and similar alterations occur in cancer cells. However, the mechanisms linking the cell cycle machinery to metabolism are not well defined. Cyclin D1, along with its main partner cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (Cdk4), is a pivotal cell cycle regulator and driver oncogene that is overexpressed in many cancers. Here, we examine hepatocyte proliferation to define novel effects of cyclin D1 on biosynthetic metabolism. Metabolomic studies reveal that cyclin D1 broadly promotes biosynthetic pathways including glycolysis, the pentose phosphate pathway, and the purine and pyrimidine nucleotide synthesis in hepatocytes. Proteomic analyses demonstrate that overexpressed cyclin D1 binds to numerous metabolic enzymes including those involved in glycolysis and pyrimidine synthesis. In the glycolysis pathway, cyclin D1 activates aldolase and GAPDH, and these proteins are phosphorylated by cyclin D1/Cdk4 in vitro. De novo pyrimidine synthesis is particularly dependent on cyclin D1. Cyclin D1/Cdk4 phosphorylates the initial enzyme of this pathway, carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase 2, aspartate transcarbamylase, and dihydroorotase (CAD), and metabolomic analysis indicates that cyclin D1 depletion markedly reduces the activity of this enzyme. Pharmacologic inhibition of Cdk4 along with the downstream pyrimidine synthesis enzyme dihydroorotate dehydrogenase synergistically inhibits proliferation and survival of hepatocellular carcinoma cells. These studies demonstrate that cyclin D1 promotes a broad network of biosynthetic pathways in hepatocytes, and this model may provide insights into potential metabolic vulnerabilities in cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heng Wu
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Betsy T Kren
- Research Service, Minneapolis VA Health Care System, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Andrew N Lane
- Center for Environmental and Systems Biochemistry, Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology, and Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
| | - Teresa A Cassel
- Center for Environmental and Systems Biochemistry, Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology, and Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
| | - Richard M Higashi
- Center for Environmental and Systems Biochemistry, Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology, and Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
| | - Teresa W M Fan
- Center for Environmental and Systems Biochemistry, Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology, and Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
| | - George S Scaria
- Hematology and Oncology Division, Minneapolis VA Health Care System, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Laurie L Shekels
- Research Service, Minneapolis VA Health Care System, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Mark A Klein
- Hematology and Oncology Division, Minneapolis VA Health Care System, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Jeffrey H Albrecht
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
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5
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Rajcic D, Kromm F, Hernández-Arriaga A, Brandt A, Baumann A, Staltner R, Camarinha-Silva A, Bergheim I. Supplementing L-Citrulline Can Extend Lifespan in C. elegans and Attenuate the Development of Aging-Related Impairments of Glucose Tolerance and Intestinal Barrier in Mice. Biomolecules 2023; 13:1579. [PMID: 38002262 PMCID: PMC10669166 DOI: 10.3390/biom13111579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
L-Citrulline (L-Cit) is discussed to possess a protective effect on intestinal barrier dysfunction but also to diminish aging-associated degenerative processes. Here, the effects of L-Cit on lifespan were assessed in C. elegans, while the effects of L-Cit on aging-associated decline were determined in C57BL/6J mice. For lifespan analysis, C. elegans were treated with ±5 mM L-Cit. Twelve-month-old male C57BL/6J mice (n = 8-10/group) fed a standard chow diet received drinking water ± 2.5 g/kg/d L-Cit or 5 g/kg/d hydrolyzed soy protein (Iso-N-control) for 16 or 32 weeks. Additionally, 4-month-old C57BL/6J mice were treated accordingly for 8 weeks. Markers of senescence, glucose tolerance, intestinal barrier function, and intestinal microbiota composition were analyzed in mice. L-Cit treatment significantly extended the lifespan of C. elegans. The significant increase in markers of senescence and signs of impaired glucose tolerance found in 16- and 20-month-old control mice was attenuated in L-Cit-fed mice, which was associated with protection from intestinal barrier dysfunction and a decrease in NO2- levels in the small intestine, while no marked differences in intestinal microbiota composition were found when comparing age-matched groups. Our results suggest that pharmacological doses of L-Cit may have beneficial effects on lifespan in C. elegans and aging-associated decline in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dragana Rajcic
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Molecular Nutritional Science, University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Franziska Kromm
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Molecular Nutritional Science, University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Annette Brandt
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Molecular Nutritional Science, University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Anja Baumann
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Molecular Nutritional Science, University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Raphaela Staltner
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Molecular Nutritional Science, University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Amélia Camarinha-Silva
- Institute of Animal Science, University of Hohenheim, 70593 Stuttgart, Germany (A.C.-S.)
| | - Ina Bergheim
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Molecular Nutritional Science, University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
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6
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Shen EYL, U MRA, Cox IJ, Taylor-Robinson SD. The Role of Mass Spectrometry in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Biomarker Discovery. Metabolites 2023; 13:1059. [PMID: 37887384 PMCID: PMC10609223 DOI: 10.3390/metabo13101059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the main liver malignancy and has a high mortality rate. The discovery of novel biomarkers for early diagnosis, prognosis, and stratification purposes has the potential to alleviate its disease burden. Mass spectrometry (MS) is one of the principal technologies used in metabolomics, with different experimental methods and machine types for different phases of the biomarker discovery process. Here, we review why MS applications are useful for liver cancer, explain the MS technique, and briefly summarise recent findings from metabolomic MS studies on HCC. We also discuss the current challenges and the direction for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Yi-Liang Shen
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Proton Therapy Center, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University, Taoyuan City 333, Taiwan
- Clinical Metabolomics Core Laboratory, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University, Taoyuan City 333, Taiwan
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London W2 1NY, UK
| | - Mei Ran Abellona U
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London W2 1NY, UK
- School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0SP, UK
| | - I. Jane Cox
- The Roger Williams Institute of Hepatology, Foundation for Liver Research, London SE5 9NT, UK
- Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King’s College London, London SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Simon D. Taylor-Robinson
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London W2 1NY, UK
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7
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Barbosa-Silva A, Magalhães M, da Silva GF, da Silva FAB, Carneiro FRG, Carels N. A Data Science Approach for the Identification of Molecular Signatures of Aggressive Cancers. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:2325. [PMID: 35565454 PMCID: PMC9103663 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14092325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Revised: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/12/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The main hallmarks of cancer include sustaining proliferative signaling and resisting cell death. We analyzed the genes of the WNT pathway and seven cross-linked pathways that may explain the differences in aggressiveness among cancer types. We divided six cancer types (liver, lung, stomach, kidney, prostate, and thyroid) into classes of high (H) and low (L) aggressiveness considering the TCGA data, and their correlations between Shannon entropy and 5-year overall survival (OS). Then, we used principal component analysis (PCA), a random forest classifier (RFC), and protein-protein interactions (PPI) to find the genes that correlated with aggressiveness. Using PCA, we found GRB2, CTNNB1, SKP1, CSNK2A1, PRKDC, HDAC1, YWHAZ, YWHAB, and PSMD2. Except for PSMD2, the RFC analysis showed a different list, which was CAD, PSMD14, APH1A, PSMD2, SHC1, TMEFF2, PSMD11, H2AFZ, PSMB5, and NOTCH1. Both methods use different algorithmic approaches and have different purposes, which explains the discrepancy between the two gene lists. The key genes of aggressiveness found by PCA were those that maximized the separation of H and L classes according to its third component, which represented 19% of the total variance. By contrast, RFC classified whether the RNA-seq of a tumor sample was of the H or L type. Interestingly, PPIs showed that the genes of PCA and RFC lists were connected neighbors in the PPI signaling network of WNT and cross-linked pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriano Barbosa-Silva
- Center for Medical Statistics, Informatics and Intelligent Systems, Institute for Artificial Intelligence, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria;
- Centre for Translational Bioinformatics, William Harvey Research Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London E14NS, UK
- ITTM S.A.—Information Technology for Translational Medicine, Esch-sur-Alzette, 4354 Luxembourg, Luxembourg
| | - Milena Magalhães
- Plataforma de Modelagem de Sistemas Biológicos, Center for Technology Development in Health (CDTS), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro 21040900, Brazil; (M.M.); (G.F.d.S.)
| | - Gilberto Ferreira da Silva
- Plataforma de Modelagem de Sistemas Biológicos, Center for Technology Development in Health (CDTS), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro 21040900, Brazil; (M.M.); (G.F.d.S.)
| | - Fabricio Alves Barbosa da Silva
- Laboratório de Modelagem Computacional de Sistemas Biológicos, Scientific Computing Program, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro 21040900, Brazil;
| | - Flávia Raquel Gonçalves Carneiro
- Center for Technology Development in Health (CDTS), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro 21040900, Brazil
- Laboratório Interdisciplinar de Pesquisas Médicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro 21040900, Brazil
- Program of Immunology and Tumor Biology, Brazilian National Cancer Institute (INCA), Rio de Janeiro 20231050, Brazil
| | - Nicolas Carels
- Plataforma de Modelagem de Sistemas Biológicos, Center for Technology Development in Health (CDTS), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro 21040900, Brazil; (M.M.); (G.F.d.S.)
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8
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Blockade of AMPK-Mediated cAMP-PKA-CREB/ATF1 Signaling Synergizes with Aspirin to Inhibit Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13071738. [PMID: 33917483 PMCID: PMC8038809 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13071738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Revised: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 04/02/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Epidemiological and experimental studies have demonstrated that aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) may prevent the incidence of some types of human cancer, including colorectal cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In addition, preclinical studies indicate that aspirin in combination with other treatments may achieve a more significant anti-cancer effect for established tumors. This study aims to improve the anti-cancer effect of aspirin by targeting signaling pathways related to aspirin and its targets. We find that aspirin may induce cAMP–PKA–CREB/ATF1 signaling in HCC via AMPK and its downstream target carbamoyl-phosphate synthase 1 (CPS1). Blockade of PKA–CREB/ATF1 signaling by the natural agent berbamine could sensitize HCC to aspirin. This research indicates that the combination of two inexpensive drugs, aspirin and berbamine, holds promise in preventing and treating HCC. Abstract Aspirin can prevent or inhibit inflammation-related cancers, such as colorectal cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the effectiveness of chemotherapy may be compromised by activating oncogenic pathways in cancer cells. Elucidation of such chemoresistance mechanisms is crucial to developing novel strategies to maximize the anti-cancer effects of aspirin. Here, we report that aspirin markedly induces CREB/ATF1 phosphorylation in HCC cells, which compromises aspirin’s anti-HCC effect. Inhibition of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) abrogates the induction of CREB/ATF1 phosphorylation by aspirin. Mechanistically, activation of AMPK by aspirin results in decreased expression of the urea cycle enzyme carbamoyl-phosphate synthase 1 (CPS1) in HCC cells and xenografts. Treatment with aspirin or CPS1 knockdown stimulates soluble adenylyl cyclase expression, thereby increasing cyclic AMP (cAMP) synthesis and stimulating PKA–CREB/ATF1 signaling. Importantly, abrogation of aspirin-induced CREB/ATF1 phosphorylation could sensitize HCC to aspirin. The bis-benzylisoquinoline alkaloid berbamine suppresses the expression of cancerous inhibitor of protein phosphatase 2A (CIP2A), leading to protein phosphatase 2A-mediated downregulation of CREB/ATF1 phosphorylation. The combination of berbamine and aspirin significantly inhibits HCC in vitro and in vivo. These data demonstrate that the regulation of cAMP-PKA-CREB/ATF1 signaling represents a noncanonical function of CPS1. Targeting the PKA–CREB/ATF1 axis may be a strategy to improve the therapeutic effects of aspirin on HCC.
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9
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Key Enzymes in Pyrimidine Synthesis, CAD and CPS1, Predict Prognosis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13040744. [PMID: 33670206 PMCID: PMC7916936 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13040744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2021] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have a highly variable clinical course. Therefore, there is an urgent need to identify new prognostic markers to determine prognosis and select specific therapies. Recently, it has been demonstrated that dysregulation of the urea cycle (UC) is a common phenomenon in multiple types of cancer. Upon UC dysregulation, nitrogen is diverted toward the multifunctional enzyme carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase 2, aspartate transcarbamoylase, and dihydroorotase (CAD), and increases pyrimidine synthesis. In this study, we investigated the role of CAD and carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase 1 (CPS1), a rate-limiting enzyme of the UC highly expressed in hepatocytes, in HCC. We created a tissue microarray to analyze expression of both enzymes by immunohistochemistry in a large and well-characterized overall cohort of 871 HCCs of 561 patients that underwent surgery. CAD was induced in recurrent HCCs, and high expression predicted shorter overall survival. CPS1 was downregulated in HCC and further reduced in recurrent tumors and distant metastases. Additionally, low CPS1 was associated with short overall survival. A combined score of both enzymes was an independent prognostic marker in a multivariate Cox regression model (HR = 1.37, 95% confidence interval 1.06-1.75, p = 0.014). Inhibition of pyrimidine synthesis may represent a novel therapeutic strategy for HCC.
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Feng J, Li J, Wu L, Yu Q, Ji J, Wu J, Dai W, Guo C. Emerging roles and the regulation of aerobic glycolysis in hepatocellular carcinoma. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH : CR 2020; 39:126. [PMID: 32631382 PMCID: PMC7336654 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-020-01629-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 297] [Impact Index Per Article: 74.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2020] [Accepted: 06/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Liver cancer has become the sixth most diagnosed cancer and the fourth leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is responsible for up to 75–85% of primary liver cancers, and sorafenib is the first targeted drug for advanced HCC treatment. However, sorafenib resistance is common because of the resultant enhancement of aerobic glycolysis and other molecular mechanisms. Aerobic glycolysis was firstly found in HCC, acts as a hallmark of liver cancer and is responsible for the regulation of proliferation, immune evasion, invasion, metastasis, angiogenesis, and drug resistance in HCC. The three rate-limiting enzymes in the glycolytic pathway, including hexokinase 2 (HK2), phosphofructokinase 1 (PFK1), and pyruvate kinases type M2 (PKM2) play an important role in the regulation of aerobic glycolysis in HCC and can be regulated by many mechanisms, such as the AMPK, PI3K/Akt pathway, HIF-1α, c-Myc and noncoding RNAs. Because of the importance of aerobic glycolysis in the progression of HCC, targeting key factors in its pathway such as the inhibition of HK2, PFK or PKM2, represent potential new therapeutic approaches for the treatment of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiao Feng
- Department of Gastroenterology, Putuo People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, number 1291, Jiangning road, Putuo, Shanghai, 200060, China.,Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, number 301, Middle Yanchang road, Jing'an, Shanghai, 200072, China
| | - Jingjing Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, Putuo People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, number 1291, Jiangning road, Putuo, Shanghai, 200060, China.,Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, number 301, Middle Yanchang road, Jing'an, Shanghai, 200072, China
| | - Liwei Wu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, number 301, Middle Yanchang road, Jing'an, Shanghai, 200072, China
| | - Qiang Yu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, number 301, Middle Yanchang road, Jing'an, Shanghai, 200072, China
| | - Jie Ji
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, number 301, Middle Yanchang road, Jing'an, Shanghai, 200072, China
| | - Jianye Wu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Putuo People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, number 1291, Jiangning road, Putuo, Shanghai, 200060, China.
| | - Weiqi Dai
- Department of Gastroenterology, Putuo People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, number 1291, Jiangning road, Putuo, Shanghai, 200060, China. .,Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, number 301, Middle Yanchang road, Jing'an, Shanghai, 200072, China. .,Department of Gastroenterology, Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China. .,Shanghai Institute of Liver Diseases, Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China. .,Shanghai Tongren Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200336, China.
| | - Chuanyong Guo
- Department of Gastroenterology, Putuo People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, number 1291, Jiangning road, Putuo, Shanghai, 200060, China. .,Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, number 301, Middle Yanchang road, Jing'an, Shanghai, 200072, China.
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