Arsenic trioxide-induced upregulation of miR-1294 suppresses tumor growth in hepatocellular carcinoma by targeting TEAD1 and PIM1

The interaction between miRNAs and hazardous materials

Toxic agents are broadly present in the environment, households, and workplaces. Contamination of food and drinking water with these agents results in entry of these materials to the body. The crosstalk between these agents and microRNAs (miRNAs) affects pathoetiology of several disorders. These agents can influence the redox status, release of inflammatory cytokines and mitochondrial function. Altered expression of miRNA is involved in the dysregulation of several pathophysiological conditions and signaling pathways. These molecules are also implicated in the adaption to environmental stimuli. Thus, the interactions between miRNAs and toxic materials might participate in the hazardous effects of these materials in the body. This review describes the effects of the toxic materials on miRNAs and the consequences of these interactions on the human health.

TEA Domain Transcription Factor 1 Inhibits Ferroptosis and Sorafenib Sensitivity of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells

BACKGROUND

Ferroptosis, as a unique form of cell death, plays crucial negative roles in tumorigenesis and progression. This study aimed to investigate the role and molecular mechanism of TEA domain transcription factor 1 (TEAD1) in HCC and its effect on sorafenib-induced ferroptosis.

METHODS

TEAD1 expression was analyzed in HCC tissues using quantitative PCR, and western blot. The effects on cell proliferation, migration and invasion were determined by CCK-8, wound healing and Transwell assays. Intracellular iron, reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA) and GSH measurement was used to assess ferroptosis. Chromatin immunoprecipitation and luciferase reporter gene assays were performed to verify the relationship between TEAD1 and solute carrier family 3 member 2 (SLC3A2). Expression of mTOR, ribosomal protein S6, glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) and SLC3A2 was analyzed by western blot. Tumor xenografts were used assess the effect of TEAD1 on tumor growth in vivo.

RESULTS

TEAD1 was more abundant in HCC compared with normal tissues. Overexpression of TEAD1 enhanced the proliferation, migration, and invasion of HCC cells, while knockdown of TEAD1 inhibited these cell behaviors. Further, TEAD1 inhibited ferroptosis, which was demonstrated by decreased intracellular Fe²⁺ content, ROS, and MDA levels, and increased GSH activity. Mechnistically, TEAD1 promotes the transcription of SLC3A2 and activates the mTOR signaling. Additionally, silenced TEAD1 restrained tumor growth and enhance sorafenib-induced antitumor activity in vivo.

CONCLUSIONS

TEAD1 confers resistance of HCC cells to ferroptosis, thereby promoting the progression of HCC, suggesting the potential value of TEAD1 in the diagnosis and treatment of HCC.

Metabolic and genetic derangement: a review of mechanisms involved in arsenic and lead toxicity and genotoxicity

Urbanisation and industrialisation are on the rise all over the world. Environmental contaminants such as potentially toxic elements (PTEs) are directly linked with both phenomena. Two PTEs that raise greatest concern are arsenic (As) and lead (Pb) as soil and drinking water contaminants, whether they are naturally occurring or the consequence of human activities. Both elements are potential carcinogens. This paper reviews the mechanisms by which As and Pb impair metabolic processes and cause genetic damage in humans. Despite efforts to ban or limit their use, due to high persistence both continue to pose a risk to human health, which justifies the need for further toxicological research.

Nanocarrier-based delivery of arsenic trioxide for hepatocellular carcinoma therapy

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) poses a severe threat to human health and economic development. Despite many attempts at HCC treatment, most are inevitably affected by the genetic instability and variability of tumor cells. Arsenic trioxide (ATO) has shown to be effective in HCC. However, time-consuming challenges, especially the optimal concentration in tumor tissue and bioavailability of ATO, remain to be overcome for its transition from the bench to the bedside. To bypass these issues, nanotechnology-based delivery systems have been developed for prevention, diagnosis, monitoring and treatment in recent years. This article is a systematic overview of the latest contributions and detailed insights into ATO-loaded nanocarriers, with particular attention paid to strategies for improving the efficacy of nanocarriers of ATO.

Arsenic trioxide inhibits angiogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma after insufficient radiofrequency ablation via blocking paracrine angiopoietin-1 and angiopoietin-2

OBJECTIVES

Angiogenesis occurs during tumor progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after insufficient radiofrequency ablation (RFA). Arsenic trioxide (ATO) shows promising therapeutic potential in advanced HCC. Whether ATO regulates angiogenesis and can be used to prevent tumor progression in HCC after insufficient RFA is still unknown.

METHODS

Insufficient RFA was simulated using a water bath. MTT assay and tube formation assay were used to evaluate the effects of ATO on viability and proangiogenic abilities of SMMC7721 and HepG2 cells after insufficient RFA in vitro. The molecular changes with the treatment of ATO were evaluated through Western blot. An ectopic nude mice model was used to evaluate the effect of ATO on the tumor of SMMC7721 cells in vivo after insufficient RFA.

RESULTS

In this study, HepG2 and SMMC7721 cells after insufficient RFA (named HepG2-H and SMMC7721-H, respectively) showed higher proliferation than the untreated cells and promoted tube formation of endothelial cells in a paracrine manner. ATO eliminated the difference in proliferation between untreated and RFA-treated cells and suppressed angiogenesis induced by HCC cells after insufficient RFA through the Ang-1 (angiopoietin-1)/Ang-2 (angiopoietin-2)/Tie2 pathway. Hif-1α overexpression abolished the inhibitory effect of ATO on angiogenesis in HCC after insufficient RFA. ATO inhibited tumor growth and angiogenesis in HCC after insufficient RFA.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results demonstrate that ATO blocks the paracrine signaling of Ang-1 and Ang-2 by inhibiting p-Akt/Hif-1α and further suppresses the angiogenesis of HCC after insufficient RFA.

Circ_0000854 regulates the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma through miR-1294 /IRGQ axis

BACKGROUND

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common cancer disease with the second highest mortality. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been shown to play key roles in many tumors, including HCC. However, the function of circ_0000854 in the progression of HCC has not been clarified.

METHODS

Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to detect the expression levels of circ_0000854, microRNA-1294 (miR-1294) and immunity related GTPase Q (IRGQ) in HCC cells and tissues. Western blot was used for protein expression analysis. Cell processes were detected by 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium Bromide (MTT) assay, thymidine analog 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) assay, transwell assay, flow cytometry, and wound healing assay. Mechanically, the interaction of miR-1294 with circ_0000854 or IRGQ was notarized by dual-luciferase reporter assay and RNA pull-down assay. The xenotransplantation model was established to study the role of circ_0000854 in vivo.

RESULTS

Circ_0000854 and IRGQ were highly expressed in HCC tissues and cells, while miR-1294 was downregulated. Silencing circ_0000854 suppressed HCC cell malignant behaviors, including proliferation, cell cycle progression, migration and invasion. Circ_0000854 exhibited sponge effect on miR-1294 and miR-1294 inhibition reversed function of circ_0000854 knockdown. In addition, miR-1294 targeted IRGQ and circ_0000854 sponged miR-1294 to upregulate IRGQ. Overexpression of IRGQ restored miR-1294-induced anti-tumor regulation in HCC cells. Animal experiments confirmed that silencing circ_0000854 inhibited tumor growth and metastasis of HCC via mediating miR-1294 and IRGQ levels in vivo.

CONCLUSION

Circ_0000854 accelerated HCC progression via the miR-1294/IRGQ axis, providing a novel regulatory mechanism for HCC pathogenesis.

CircCDK17 knockdown inhibits tumor progression and cell glycolysis by downregulaing YWHAZ expression through sponging miR-1294 in cervical cancer

BACKGROUND

Cervical cancer (CC) is the fourth aggressive tumor affecting women worldwide. Circular RNA (circRNA) is enrolled in CC process. This study aims to unveil the profiles of circ_101119 (circCDK17) in cell proliferation, migration, invasion, apoptosis and glycolysis in CC.

METHODS

The expression levels of circCDK17, microRNA-1294 (miR-1294) and tyrosine 3-monooxygenase/tryptophan 5-monooxygenase activation protein zeta (YWHAZ) mRNA were detected by quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The protein expression levels of YWHAZ, recombinant glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) and hexokinase 2 (HK2) were determined by western blot. Cell proliferation, migratory and invasive abilities and apoptosis were illustrated by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, transwell assay and flow cytometry analysis, respectively. Cell lactate production, glucose uptake and adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) level were severally elucidated by lactate assay kit, glucose assay kit and ATP detection kit.

RESULTS

CircCDK17 expression and the mRNA and protein expression levels of YWHAZ were dramatically upregulated, while miR-1294 expression was obviously downregulated in CC tissues or cells compared with control groups. CircCDK17 silencing suppressed cell proliferation, migration, invasion and glycolysis, and induced cell apoptosis in CC; however, miR-1294 inhibitor restrained these effects. Additionally, circCDK17 was a sponge of miR-1294 and miR-1294 bound to YWHAZ. Furthermore, circCDK17 knockdown inhibited tumor formation in vivo.

CONCLUSION

CircCDK17 knockdown repressed cell proliferation, migration, invasion and glycolysis, and promoted cell apoptosis via miR-1294/YWHAZ axis in CC. This finding provides a theoretical basis in studying circRNA-mediated therapy in CC.

MiR-597-5p suppresses the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma via targeting transcriptional enhancer associate domain transcription factor 1 (TEAD1)

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver cancer with high incidence and mortality. MiR-597-5p is downregulated in tumor tissues of HCC compared with non-tumor tissues. However, its role in HCC is still unknown. This study aims to assess the function of miR-597-5p in HCC development and investigate the underlying mechanism. To perform gain- and loss-of-function studies, SK-HEP-1 cells and Huh-7 cells were transfected with miR-597-5p mimics and inhibitor, respectively. MiR-597-5p markedly reduced the cell viability and the expression of Ki-67 in HCC cells. MiR-597-5p also repressed the cell cycle progression of HCC cells and the protein levels of cyclin D1 and CDK2. Moreover, miR597-5p inhibited the migration and invasion of HCC cells and decreased MMP2 and MMP9 levels. Transcriptional enhancer associate domain transcription factor 1 (TEAD1) was identified as a target of miR-597-5p by luciferase reporter assay. TEAD1 and its downstream target genes, CTGF and CYR61, were downregulated by miR-597-5p in HCC cells. Furthermore, miR-597-5p was demonstrated to function in HCC progression by targeting TEAD1 via TEAD1 expression gain and loss. Our study demonstrates that miR-597-5p represses the proliferation, migration, and invasion of HCC cells through targeting TEAD1, which provides a therapeutic target for HCC treatment.

Hepatocellular Carcinoma Differentiation: Research Progress in Mechanism and Treatment

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary malignant tumor of the liver. Although progress has been made in diagnosis and treatment, morbidity and mortality continue to rise. Chronic liver disease and liver cirrhosis are still the most important risk factors for liver cancer. Although there are many treatments, it can only be cured by orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) or surgical resection. And the worse the degree of differentiation, the worse the prognosis of patients with liver cancer. Then it can be considered that restoring a better state of differentiation may improve the prognosis. The differentiation treatment of liver cancer is to reverse the dedifferentiation process of hepatocytes to liver cancer cells by means of drugs, improve the differentiation state of the tumor, and restore the normal liver characteristics, so as to improve the prognosis. Understanding the mechanism of dedifferentiation of liver cancer can provide ideas for drug design. Liver enrichment of transcription factors, imbalance of signal pathway and changes of tumor microenvironment can promote the occurrence and development of liver cancer, and restoring its normal level can inhibit the malignant behavior of tumor. At present, some drugs have been proved to be effective, but more clinical data are needed to support the effectiveness and reliability of drugs. The differentiation treatment of liver cancer is expected to become an important part of the treatment of liver cancer in the future.

Exploring the Mechanisms of Arsenic Trioxide (Pishuang) in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Based on Network Pharmacology

Objective

Arsenic trioxide (Pishuang, Pishi, arsenolite, As₂O₃, and CAS 1327-53-3), a naturally occurring and toxic mineral as a drug for more than 2000 years in China, has been found to have a valuable function in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in recent years. However, its exact mechanism remains to be elucidated. Therefore, this study was intended to explore the potential anti-HCC mechanism of arsenic trioxide through network pharmacology.

Methods

The potential targets of arsenic trioxide were collected from PubChem and TargetNet. HCC targets were obtained from the GeneCards database. Then, a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of arsenic trioxide and HCC common targets was established using STRING. GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses were performed by the Database for Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated Discovery (DAVID). Finally, an arsenic trioxide-target-pathway-HCC network was built by Cytoscape 3.2.1, and network topological analysis was carried out to screen the key candidate targets.

Results

A total of 346 corresponding targets of arsenic trioxide and 521 HCC-related targets were collected. After target mapping, a total of 52 common targets were obtained. GO analysis showed that the biological process was mainly involved in the negative regulation of cellular senescence, response to tumor necrosis factor, and cellular response to hypoxia. Molecular functions included NF-kappa B binding, enzyme binding, p53 binding, and transcription factor binding. Cellular components mainly were replication fork, ESC/E(Z) complex, RNA polymerase II transcription factor complex, and organelle membrane. KEGG pathways were mainly enriched in the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, VEGF signaling pathway, p53 signaling pathway, HIF-1 signaling pathway, TNF signaling pathway, AMPK signaling pathway, NF-kappa B signaling pathway, FoxO signaling pathway, ErbB signaling pathway, and MAPK signaling pathway. In the arsenic trioxide-target-pathway-HCC network, targets such as AKT1, RAF1, RELA, TP53, and PTEN had a higher degree. Conclusions. Our study showed that key targets of arsenic trioxide were mainly involved in multiple biological processes and pathways. It provided a theoretical basis for the screening of drug targets.

circ-PRKCI targets miR-1294 and miR-186-5p by downregulating FOXK1 expression to suppress glycolysis in hepatocellular carcinoma

Numerous human circular RNAs (circRNAs/circ) have been functionally characterized. However, the potential role of circ-protein kinase C iota (PRKCI) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unknown. The effects of each transfection and expression levels of circ-PRKCI, microRNA (miR)-1294, miR-186-5p and forkhead box K1 (FOXK1) in HCC cells were analyzed using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR analysis. The interactions between circ-PRKCI and miR-1294 or miR-186-5p, and miR-1294 or miR-186-5p and FOXK1 were validated using dual luciferase reporter assays. The viability, invasion and migration of HCC cells were determined using Cell Counting Kit-8, Transwell and wound healing assays, respectively. The expression levels of FOXK1, hexokinase-2 (HK2), glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) and lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA) in HCC cells were analyzed using western blotting. The levels of glucose and lactic acid in the cultured supernatant were detected using commercially available kits. The results of the present study revealed that miR-1294 and miR-186-5p expression levels were downregulated in the HCC cell line, HCCLM3, and were subsequently downregulated by circ-PRKCI overexpression and upregulated by the knockdown of circ-PRKCI. circ-PRKCI overexpression promoted the viability, invasion and migration of HCCLM3 cells, which was also reversed by the overexpression of miR-1294 and miR-186-5p. In addition, the overexpression of circ-PRKCI upregulated FOXK1 expression levels, while the overexpression of miR-1294 and miR-186-5p downregulated FOXK1 expression levels. Conversely, the knockdown of circ-PRKCI expression downregulated FOXK1 expression levels, while the knockdown of miR-1294 and miR-186-5p upregulated FOXK1 expression levels. Furthermore, circ-PRKCI was identified to target miR-1294 and miR-186-5p, and miR-1294 and miR-186-5p were subsequently found to target FOXK1. The overexpression of circ-PRKCI also increased glucose and lactic acid levels, while the knockdown of FOXK1 decreased glucose and lactic acid levels. The knockdown of circ-PRKCI decreased glucose and lactic acid levels, which were reversed by FOXK1 overexpression. In conclusion, the findings of the present study suggested that circ-PRKCI may promote the viability, invasion and migration of HCC cells by sponging miR-1294 and miR-186-5p to upregulate FOXK1 expression levels.