The Pivotal Role of Long Noncoding RNA RAB5IF in the Proliferation of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Via LGR5 Mediated β-Catenin and c-Myc Signaling

The Wnt signaling pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma: Regulatory mechanisms and therapeutic prospects

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a malignant tumor that arises from hepatocytes. Multiple signaling pathways play a regulatory role in the occurrence and development of HCC, with the Wnt signaling pathway being one of the primary regulatory pathways. In normal hepatocytes, the Wnt signaling pathway maintains cell regeneration and organ development. However, when aberrant activated, the Wnt pathway is closely associated with invasion, cancer stem cells(CSCs), drug resistance, and immune evasion in HCC. Among these factors, the development of drug resistance is one of the most important factors affecting the efficacy of HCC treatment. These mechanisms form the basis for tumor cell adaptation and evolution within the body, enabling continuous changes in tumor cells, resistance to drugs and immune system attacks, leading to metastasis and recurrence. In recent years, there have been numerous new discoveries regarding these mechanisms. An increasing number of drugs targeting the Wnt signaling pathway have been developed, with some already entering clinical trials. Therefore, this review encompasses the latest research on the role of the Wnt signaling pathway in the onset and progression of HCC, as well as advancements in its therapeutic strategies.

WNT/β-catenin signaling in hepatocellular carcinoma: The aberrant activation, pathogenic roles, and therapeutic opportunities

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a liver cancer, highly heterogeneous both at the histopathological and molecular levels. It arises from hepatocytes as the result of the accumulation of numerous genomic alterations in various signaling pathways, including canonical WNT/β-catenin, AKT/mTOR, MAPK pathways as well as signaling associated with telomere maintenance, p53/cell cycle regulation, epigenetic modifiers, and oxidative stress. The role of WNT/β-catenin signaling in liver homeostasis and regeneration is well established, whereas in development and progression of HCC is extensively studied. Herein, we review recent advances in our understanding of how WNT/β-catenin signaling facilitates the HCC development, acquisition of stemness features, metastasis, and resistance to treatment. We outline genetic and epigenetic alterations that lead to activated WNT/β-catenin signaling in HCC. We discuss the pivotal roles of CTNNB1 mutations, aberrantly expressed non-coding RNAs and complexity of crosstalk between WNT/β-catenin signaling and other signaling pathways as challenging or advantageous aspects of therapy development and molecular stratification of HCC patients for treatment.

Identification and analysis of mitochondria-related central genes in steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head, along with drug prediction

Purpose

Steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head (SONFH) is a refractory orthopedic hip joint disease that primarily affects middle-aged and young individuals. SONFH may be caused by ischemia and hypoxia of the femoral head, where mitochondria play a crucial role in oxidative reactions. Currently, there is limited literature on whether mitochondria are involved in the progression of SONFH. Here, we aim to identify and validate key potential mitochondrial-related genes in SONFH through bioinformatics analysis. This study aims to provide initial evidence that mitochondria play a role in the progression of SONFH and further elucidate the mechanisms of mitochondria in SONFH.

Methods

The GSE123568 mRNA expression profile dataset includes 10 non-SONFH (non-steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head) samples and 30 SONFH samples. The GSE74089 mRNA expression profile dataset includes 4 healthy samples and 4 samples with ischemic necrosis of the femoral head. Both datasets were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. The mitochondrial-related genes are derived from MitoCarta3.0, which includes data for all 1136 human genes with high confidence in mitochondrial localization based on integrated proteomics, computational, and microscopy approaches. By intersecting the GSE123568 and GSE74089 datasets with a set of mitochondrial-related genes, we screened for mitochondrial-related genes involved in SONFH. Subsequently, we used the good Samples Genes method in R language to remove outlier genes and samples in the GSE123568 dataset. We further used WGCNA to construct a scale-free co-expression network and selected the hub gene set with the highest connectivity. We then intersected this gene set with the previously identified mitochondrial-related genes to select the genes with the highest correlation. A total of 7 mitochondrial-related genes were selected. Next, we performed Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis on the selected mitochondrial-related genes using R software. Furthermore, we performed protein network analysis on the differentially expressed proteins encoded by the mitochondrial genes using STRING. We used the GSEA software to group the genes within the gene set in the GSE123568 dataset based on their coordinated changes and evaluate their impact on phenotype changes. Subsequently, we grouped the samples based on the 7 selected mitochondrial-related genes using R software and observed the differences in immune cell infiltration between the groups. Finally, we evaluated the prognostic significance of these features in the two datasets, consisting of a total of 48 samples, by integrating disease status and the 7 gene features using the cox method in the survival R package. We performed ROC analysis using the roc function in the pROC package and evaluated the AUC and confidence intervals using the ci function to obtain the final AUC results.

Results

Identification and analysis of 7 intersecting DEGs (differentially expressed genes) were obtained among peripheral blood, cartilage samples, hub genes, and mitochondrial-related genes. These 7 DEGs include FTH1, LACTB, PDK3, RAB5IF, SOD2, and SQOR, all of which are upregulated genes with no intersection in the downregulated gene set. Subsequently, GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis revealed that the upregulated DEGs are primarily involved in processes such as oxidative stress, release of cytochrome C from mitochondria, negative regulation of intrinsic apoptotic signaling pathway, cell apoptosis, mitochondrial metabolism, p53 signaling pathway, and NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity. GSEA also revealed enriched pathways associated with hub genes. Finally, the diagnostic value of these key genes for hormone-related ischemic necrosis of the femoral head (SONFH) was confirmed using ROC curves.

Conclusion

BID, FTH1, LACTB, PDK3, RAB5IF, SOD2, and SQOR may serve as potential diagnostic mitochondrial-related biomarkers for SONFH. Additionally, they hold research value in investigating the involvement of mitochondria in the pathogenesis of ischemic necrosis of the femoral head.

MYC in liver cancer: mechanisms and targeted therapy opportunities

MYC, a major oncogenic transcription factor, regulates target genes involved in various pathways such as cell proliferation, metabolism and immune evasion, playing a critical role in the tumor initiation and development in multiple types of cancer. In liver cancer, MYC and its signaling pathways undergo significant changes, exerting a profound impact on liver cancer progression, including tumor proliferation, metastasis, dedifferentiation, metabolism, immune microenvironment, and resistance to comprehensive therapies. This makes MYC an appealing target, despite it being previously considered an undruggable protein. In this review, we discuss the role and mechanisms of MYC in liver physiology, chronic liver diseases, hepatocarcinogenesis, and liver cancer progression, providing a theoretical basis for targeting MYC as an ideal therapeutic target for liver cancer. We also summarize and prospect the strategies for targeting MYC, including direct and indirect approaches to abolish the oncogenic function of MYC in liver cancer.

Superoxide dismutase ameliorates oxidative stress and regulates liver transcriptomics to provide therapeutic benefits in hepatic inflammation

Background

Oxidative stress refers to the imbalance between oxidants and antioxidants in organisms and often induces hepatic inflammation. Supplementing exogenous superoxide dismutase is an effective way to alleviate oxidative stress; however, the effects and mechanisms by which superoxide dismutase alleviates hepatic inflammation remain unclear.

Methods

This study established a Kunming mouse model to verify and investigate the oxidative stress and hepatic inflammation-alleviating effects of the superoxide dismutase oral supplement that was prepared by our research group in a previous study.

Results

The superoxide dismutase product significantly restored the body weight and liver alanine transaminase, aspartate aminotransferase, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione, and glutathione peroxidase levels of oxidative stress induced mice. Moreover, exogenous superoxide dismutase significantly inhibited interleukin 1β and interleukin 6 mRNA expression in the livers of mice with hepatic inflammation. Transcriptomic analysis indicated that superoxide dismutase had a significant inhibitory effect on Endog expression, alleviating oxidative stress damage, and mediating liver cell apoptosis by regulating the expression of Rab5if, Hnrnpab, and Ifit1.

Conclusion

Our research verified the oxidative stress remediation effects of superoxide dismutase and its therapeutic role against hepatic inflammation. This study can lay a foundation for investigating the mechanism by which superoxide dismutase alleviates hepatic disease.

Identifying In Vitro Cultured Human Hepatocytes Markers with Machine Learning Methods Based on Single-Cell RNA-Seq Data

Cell transplantation is an effective method for compensating for the loss of liver function and improve patient survival. However, given that hepatocytes cultivated in vitro have diverse developmental processes and physiological features, obtaining hepatocytes that can properly function in vivo is difficult. In the present study, we present an advanced computational analysis on single-cell transcriptional profiling to resolve the heterogeneity of the hepatocyte differentiation process in vitro and to mine biomarkers at different periods of differentiation. We obtained a batch of compressed and effective classification features with the Boruta method and ranked them using the Max-Relevance and Min-Redundancy method. Some key genes were identified during the in vitro culture of hepatocytes, including CD147, which not only regulates terminally differentiated cells in the liver but also affects cell differentiation. PPIA, which encodes a CD147 ligand, also appeared in the identified gene list, and the combination of the two proteins mediated multiple biological pathways. Other genes, such as TMSB10, TMEM176B, and CD63, which are involved in the maturation and differentiation of hepatocytes and assist different hepatic cell types in performing their roles were also identified. Then, several classifiers were trained and evaluated to obtain optimal classifiers and optimal feature subsets, using three classification algorithms (random forest, k-nearest neighbor, and decision tree) and the incremental feature selection method. The best random forest classifier with a 0.940 Matthews correlation coefficient was constructed to distinguish different hepatic cell types. Finally, classification rules were created for quantitatively describing hepatic cell types. In summary, This study provided potential targets for cell transplantation associated liver disease treatment strategies by elucidating the process and mechanism of hepatocyte development at both qualitative and quantitative levels.

A novel prognostic signature based on four glycolysis-related genes predicts survival and clinical risk of hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common cancer with limited cure and poor survival. In our study, a bioinformatic analysis was conducted to investigate the role of glycolysis in the pathogenesis and progression of HCC.

METHODS

Single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGESA) was used to calculate enrichment scores for each sample in TCGA-LIHC and GEO14520 according to the glycolysis gene set. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis identified a gene module closely related to glycolysis, and their function was investigated. Prognostic biomarkers were screened from these genes. Cox proportional hazard model and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression were used to construct the prognostic signature. Kaplan-Meier (KM) and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses evaluated the prediction performance of the prognostic signature in TCGA-LIHC and ICGC-LIRI-JP. Combination analysis data of clinical features and prognostic signature constructed a nomogram. Area under ROC curves and decision curve analysis were used to compare the nomogram and its components.

RESULTS

The glycolysis pathway was upregulated in HCC and was unfavorable for survival. The determined gene module was mainly enriched in cell proliferation. A prognostic signature (CDCA8, RAB5IF, SAP30, and UCK2) was developed and validated. KM and ROC curves showed a considerable predictive effect. The risk score derived from the signature was an independent prognostic factor. The nomogram increased prediction efficiency by combining risk signature and TNM stage and performed better than component factors in net benefit.

CONCLUSION

The gene signature may contribute to individual risk estimation, survival prognosis, and clinical management.

Inhibition of STAT3/PD-L1 and Activation of miR193a-5p Are Critically Involved in Apoptotic Effect of Compound K in Prostate Cancer Cells

Since the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3)/programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) signaling plays an important role in tumor-immune microenvironments, in the present study, the role of STAT3/PD-L1 signaling in the apoptotic mechanism of an active ginseng saponin metabolite compound K (CK) was investigated in human prostate cancer cells. Here, CK exerted significant cytotoxicity without hurting RWPE1 normal prostate epithelial cells, increased sub-G1 and cleavage of Poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) and attenuated the expression of pro-PARP and Pro-cysteine aspartyl-specific protease3 (pro-caspase-3) in LANCap, PC-3 and DU145 cells. Further, CK attenuated the expression of p-STAT3 and PD-L1 in DU145 cells along with disrupted the binding of STAT3 to PD-L1. Furthermore, CK effectively abrogated the expression of p-STAT3 and PD-L1 in interferon-gamma (INF-γ)-stimulated DU145cells. Additionally, CK suppressed the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and interleukin 10 (IL-10) as immune escape-related genes in DU145 cells. Likewise, as STAT3 targets genes, the expression of CyclinD1, c-Myc and B-cell lymphoma-extra-large (Bcl-xL) was attenuated in CK-treated DU145 cells. Notably, CK upregulated the expression of microRNA193a-5p (miR193a-5p) in DU145 cells. Consistently, miR193a-5p mimic suppressed p-STAT3, PD-L1 and pro-PARP, while miR193a-5p inhibitor reversed the ability of CK to attenuate the expression of p-STAT3, PD-L1 and pro-PARP in DU145 cells. Taken together, these findings support evidence that CK induces apoptosis via the activation of miR193a-5p and inhibition of PD-L1 and STAT3 signaling in prostate cancer cells.

Upregulation of long noncoding RNA W42 promotes tumor development by binding with DBN1 in hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a malignancy found globally. Accumulating studies have shown that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play critical roles in HCC. However, the function of lncRNA in HCC remains poorly understood.

AIM

To understand the effect of lncRNA W42 on HCC and dissect the underlying molecular mechanisms.

METHODS

We measured the expression of lncRNA W42 in HCC tissues and cells (Huh7 and SMMC-7721) by quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to assess the sensitivity and specificity of lncRNA W42 expression. HCC cells were transfected with pcDNA3.1-lncRNA W42 or shRNA-lncRNA W42. Cell functions were detected by cell counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), colony formation, flow cytometry and Transwell assays. The interaction of lncRNA W42 and DBN1 was confirmed by RNA immunoprecipitation and RNA pull down assays. An HCC xenograft model was used to assess the role of lncRNA W42 on tumor growth in vivo. The Kaplan-Meier curve was used to evaluate the overall survival and recurrence-free survival after surgery in patients with HCC.

RESULTS

In this study, we identified a novel lncRNA (lncRNA W42), and investigated its biological functions and clinical significance in HCC. LncRNA W42 expression was upregulated in HCC tissues and cells. Overexpression of lncRNA W42 notably promoted the proliferative and invasion of HCC, and inhibited cell apoptosis. LncRNA W42 directly bound to DBN1 and activated the downstream pathway. LncRNA W42 knockdown suppressed HCC xenograft tumor growth in vivo. The clinical investigation revealed that HCC patients with high lncRNA W42 expression exhibited shorter survival times.

CONCLUSION

In vitro and in vivo results suggested that the novel lncRNA W42, which is upregulated in HCC, may serve as a potential candidate prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target in HCC patients.

The Impact of Long Non-Coding RNAs in the Pathogenesis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is among the utmost deadly human malignancies. This type of cancer has been associated with several environmental, viral, and lifestyle risk factors. Among the epigenetic factors which contribute in the pathogenesis of HCC is dysregulation of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs). These transcripts modulate expression of several tumor suppressor genes and oncogenes and alter the activity of cancer-related signaling axes. Several lncRNAs such as NEAT1, MALAT1, ANRIL, and SNHG1 have been up-regulated in HCC samples. On the other hand, a number of so-called tumor suppressor lncRNAs namely CASS2 and MEG3 are down-regulated in HCC. The interaction between lncRNAs and miRNAs regulate expression of a number of mRNA coding genes which are involved in the pathogenesis of HCC. H19/miR-15b/CDC42, H19/miR-326/TWIST1, NEAT1/miR-485/STAT3, MALAT1/miR-124-3p/Slug, MALAT1/miR-195/EGFR, MALAT1/miR-22/SNAI1, and ANRIL/miR-144/PBX3 axes are among functional axes in the pathobiology of HCC. Some genetic polymorphisms within non-coding regions of the genome have been associated with risk of HCC in certain populations. In the current paper, we describe the recent finding about the impact of lncRNAs in HCC.

LncRNA influence sequential steps of hepatocellular carcinoma metastasis

As a class of new and crucial molecules involved in the regulation of biological function, long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) have obtained widespread attention in recent days. While it was thought that lncRNA would be redundant in the past, it is proved that lncRNA identify a class of molecular that regulate the homeostasis including hepatocellular carcinoma in the present. All kinds of lncRNA have been implicated in a various of diseases, particularly in tumorigenesis and metastasis. But the mechanisms how they act is still not entirely clear. Metastasis is a major factor affecting long-term survival in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. Recently, growing numbers of experiments demonstrate that there is close connection between lncRNA and HCC metastasis. Here, we will briefly introduce a series of steps (primary tumor growth, angiogenesis, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, invasion, intravasation, survival in circulatory system, extravasation, dormancy and subsequent secondary tumor growth) of tumor metastasis, its classical but promising theories, the role of lncRNA in metastasis and the possible mechanisms involved. LncRNA, as potentially new and important tumor diagnostic and therapeutic molecules, has attracted much attention in recent years.

Long Noncoding RNA LINC01134 Promotes Hepatocellular Carcinoma Metastasis via Activating AKT1S1 and NF-κB Signaling

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignancies with poor outcomes. The main causes of HCC-related deaths are recurrence and metastasis. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are recently identified as critical regulators in cancers. However, the lncRNAs involved in HCC recurrence and metastasis are poorly understood. In this study, via analyzing The Cancer Genome Atlas Liver Hepatocellular Carcinoma dataset, we identified a novel lncRNA LINC01134, which is highly expressed in HCC tissues and correlated with microvascular invasion, macrovascular invasion, recurrence, and poor overall survival of HCC patients. Functional experiments revealed that ectopic expression of LINC01134 promotes HCC cell migration and invasion in vitro and HCC liver metastasis and lung metastasis in vivo. Knockdown of LINC01134 represses HCC cell migration and invasion in vitro and HCC liver metastasis and lung metastasis in vivo. Mechanistically, we found that LINC01134 directly binds the promoter of AKT1S1 and activates AKT1S1 expression. Via activating AKT1S1, LINC01134 further activates NF-κB signaling. The expression of LINC01134 is significantly positively correlated with that of AKT1S1 in HCC tissues. In line with LINC01134, AKT1S1 is also highly expressed in HCC tissues and correlated with poor survival of HCC patients. Functional rescue experiments showed that repressing AKT1S1 or NF-κB signaling abrogates the roles of LINC01134 in HCC. Taken together, these findings recognized LINC01134 as a novel oncogenic lncRNA, which indicates vascular invasion, recurrence, and poor overall survival of HCC patients. LINC01134 promotes HCC metastasis via activating AKT1S1 expression and subsequently activating NF-κB signaling. This study suggested LINC01134 as a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for HCC.