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Zheng X, Wang Y, Qiu X. Comprehensive analysis of MAPK genes in the prognosis, immune characteristics, and drug treatment of renal clear cell carcinoma using bioinformatic analysis and Mendelian randomization. Eur J Pharmacol 2024; 980:176840. [PMID: 39038636 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2024.176840] [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: 01/23/2024] [Revised: 07/18/2024] [Accepted: 07/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024]
Abstract
Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signalling is vitally important in tumour development and progression. This study is the first to comprehensively analyse the role of MAPK-family genes in the progression, prognosis, immune-cell infiltration, methylation, and potential therapeutic value drug candidates in ccRCC. We identified a novel prognostic panel of six MAPK-signature genes (MAP3K12, MAP3K1, MAP3K5, MAPK1, MAPK8, MAPK9), and introduced a robust MAPK-signature risk model for predicting ccRCC prognosis. Model construction, evaluation, and external validation using datasets from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database demonstrated its stability, as well as high sensitivity and specificity. Enrichment analysis suggested the participation of immune-mediated mechanism in MAPK dysregulation in ccRCC. Immune-infiltration analysis confirmed the relationship and revealed that the MAPK-signature risk model might stratify immunotherapy response in ccRCC, which was verified in drug sensitivity analysis and validated in external ccRCC immunotherapy dataset (GSE67501). Potential therapeutic drug predictions for key MAPKs using DSigDB, Network Analyst, CTD, and DGIdb were subsequently verified by molecular docking with AutoDock Vina and PyMol. Mendelian randomization further demonstrated the possibilities of the MAPK-signature genes as targets for therapeutic drugs in ccRCC. Methylation analysis using UALCAN and MethSurv revealed the participation of epigenetic modifications in dysregulation and survival difference of MAPK pathway in ccRCC. Among the key MAPKs, MAP3K12 exhibited the highest significance, indicating its independent prognostic value as single gene in ccRCC. Knockout and overexpression validation experiments in vitro and in vivo found that MAP3K12 acted as a promoter of tumour progression in RCC, suggesting a pivotal role for MAP3K12 in the proliferation, migration, and invasion of RCC cells. Our findings proposed the potential of MAPK-signature genes as biomarkers for prognosis and therapy response, as well as targets for therapeutic drugs in ccRCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyi Zheng
- Department of Pharmacy, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, 12 Middle Urumqi Road, Shanghai, 200040, China
| | - Yiqiu Wang
- Department of Urology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200127, China; State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Department of Urology, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, China.
| | - Xiaoyan Qiu
- Department of Pharmacy, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, 12 Middle Urumqi Road, Shanghai, 200040, China.
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2
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Ikumawoyi VO, Lynch KD, Iverson DT, Call MR, Yue GE, Prasad B, Clarke JD. Microcystin-LR activates serine/threonine kinases and alters the phosphoproteome in human HepaRG cells. Toxicon 2024; 249:108072. [PMID: 39154757 PMCID: PMC11402562 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2024.108072] [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: 05/07/2024] [Revised: 08/09/2024] [Accepted: 08/14/2024] [Indexed: 08/20/2024]
Abstract
Microcystin-LR (MCLR) exposure has been associated with development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Many of the carcinogenic mechanisms for MCLR have been attributed to the induction of cell survival and proliferation through altered protein phosphorylation pathways by inhibition of protein phosphatases 1 (PP1) and PP2A. The current study determined MCLR effects on the phosphoproteome in human HepaRG cells. Differentiated HepaRG cells were treated with either vehicle or MCLR followed by phosphoproteomic analysis and Western blotting of MAPK-activated proteins. MCLR decreased cell viability at 24 h at doses as low as 0.03 μM. MCLR also caused a dose-dependent increase in phosphorylation of signaling and stress kinases. The number of decreased phosphosites by 0.1 μM MCLR was similar between the 2 h (212) and 24 h (154) timepoints. In contrast, a greater number of phosphosites were increased at 24 h (567) versus the 2 h timepoint (136), indicating the hyperphosphorylation state caused by MCLR-mediated inhibition of PPs is time-dependent. A kinase perturbation analysis predicted that MCLR exposure at both 2 h and 24 h increased the function of aurora kinase B (AURKB), checkpoint kinase 1 (CHEK1), and serum and glucocorticoid-regulated kinase 1 (SGK1). STRING database analysis of the phosphosites altered by MCLR exposure revealed pathways associated with cell proliferation and survival, including ribosomal protein S6 kinase (RSK), and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR2)-mediated vascular permeability. In addition, several cancer-related KEGG pathways were enriched at both 2 h and 24 h timepoints, and multiple cancer-related disease-gene associations were identified at the 24 h timepoint. Many of the kinases and pathways described above play crucial roles in the development of HCC by affecting processes such as invasion and metastasis. Overall, our data indicate that MCLR-mediated changes in protein phosphorylation involve biological pathways related to carcinogenesis that may contribute to the development of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor O Ikumawoyi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Washington State University, Spokane, WA, 99202, United States
| | - Katherine D Lynch
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Washington State University, Spokane, WA, 99202, United States
| | - Dayne T Iverson
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Washington State University, Spokane, WA, 99202, United States
| | - M Ridge Call
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Washington State University, Spokane, WA, 99202, United States
| | - Guihua Eileen Yue
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Washington State University, Spokane, WA, 99202, United States
| | - Bhagwat Prasad
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Washington State University, Spokane, WA, 99202, United States
| | - John D Clarke
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Washington State University, Spokane, WA, 99202, United States.
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3
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Wu S, Miao J, Zhu S, Wu X, Shi J, Zhou J, Xing Y, Hu K, Ren J, Yang H. Pongamol Prevents Neurotoxicity via the Activation of MAPKs/Nrf2 Signaling Pathway in H 2O 2-Induced Neuronal PC12 Cells and Prolongs the Lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans. Mol Neurobiol 2024; 61:8219-8233. [PMID: 38483657 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-024-04110-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2024] [Indexed: 09/21/2024]
Abstract
Despite tremendous advances in modern medicine, effective prevention or therapeutic strategies for age-related neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) remain limited. Growing evidence now suggests that oxidative stress and apoptosis are increasingly associated with AD as promising therapeutic targets. Pongamol, a flavonoid, is the main constituent of pongamia pinnata and possesses a variety of pharmacological activities such as antioxidant, anti-aging and anti-inflammatory. In the present study, we investigated the antioxidant effects and mechanisms of pongamol in H2O2-induced PC12 cells and Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans). Our findings revealed that pongamol reduced cellular damage and apoptosis in H2O2-induced PC12 cells. Furthermore, pongamol reduced levels of apoptosis-related proteins Bax, Cyto C, Cleaved Caspase-3, and Cleaved PARP1, and increased the level of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2. Pongamol also effectively attenuated the level of oxidative stress markers such as glutathione (GSH) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in H2O2-induced PC12 cells. Additionally, pongamol possessed antioxidant activity in H2O2-induced PC12 cells through the MAPKs/Nrf2 signaling pathway. Furthermore, pongamol exerted neuroprotective and anti-aging effects in C. elegans. All together, these results suggested that pongamol has a potential neuroprotective effect through the modulation of MAPKs/Nrf2 signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaojun Wu
- School of Pharmacy, Changzhou University, No. 1. Gehu Middle Road, Changzhou, 213164, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jie Miao
- School of Pharmacy, Changzhou University, No. 1. Gehu Middle Road, Changzhou, 213164, Jiangsu, China
| | - Susu Zhu
- School of Pharmacy, Changzhou University, No. 1. Gehu Middle Road, Changzhou, 213164, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xinyuan Wu
- School of Pharmacy, Changzhou University, No. 1. Gehu Middle Road, Changzhou, 213164, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jindan Shi
- School of Pharmacy, Changzhou University, No. 1. Gehu Middle Road, Changzhou, 213164, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jichao Zhou
- School of Pharmacy, Changzhou University, No. 1. Gehu Middle Road, Changzhou, 213164, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yi Xing
- School of Pharmacy, Changzhou University, No. 1. Gehu Middle Road, Changzhou, 213164, Jiangsu, China
| | - Kun Hu
- School of Pharmacy, Changzhou University, No. 1. Gehu Middle Road, Changzhou, 213164, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jie Ren
- School of Pharmacy, Changzhou University, No. 1. Gehu Middle Road, Changzhou, 213164, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Hao Yang
- Department of Pharmacy, the Affiliated Changzhou No. 2 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, No. 68. Gehu Middle Road, Changzhou, 213164, Jiangsu, China.
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4
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Wang L, Huang C, Lin W, Zhou Z, Li J, Chen M, Zhang L, Ye Y. EIF3B affects the invasion and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma cells via the TGFBI/MAPK/ERK pathway. Ann Hepatol 2024:101564. [PMID: 39276983 DOI: 10.1016/j.aohep.2024.101564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 06/26/2024] [Accepted: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 09/17/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES To study the effect of eukaryotic initiation factor 3B (EIF3B) on the invasion and migration of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and its potential mechanism. MATERIALS AND METHODS The clinical significance of EIF3B expression was studied with The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Profiling Interaction Analysis datasets. Immunohistochemical staining and western blotting were used to examine EIF3B expression in cell lines and tissues from HCC patients. The scratch assay and transwell assay were used to measure the invasion and metastasis of different HCC cell lines in vitro. The molecular mechanism of EIF3B was determined using RNA-seq and identification of dysregulated signaling pathways. Western blotting was used to verify the alterations of EIF3B signaling functioned in the promotion of HCC progression. RESULTS Elevated expression of EIF3B in HCC correlated significantly with aggressive clinicopathologic characteristics, including advanced tumor grade and poor prognosis. Studies with cultured cells indicated that EIF3B knockdown inhibited HCC cell invasion and metastasis by depressing the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). EIF3B also activated the TGFBI/MAPK/ERK signaling pathway by increasing the levels of pMEK and pERK. CONCLUSIONS Our results indicate that EIF3B functions as an oncogene in HCC that accelerates cell invasion, metastasis, and the EMT by stimulation of the TGFBI/MAPK/ERK signaling pathway. EIF3B is a potential target for the treatment of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Wang
- Laboratory of Immuno-Oncology, Clinical Oncology School of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Cancer Hospital, Fuzhou 350014,China; Fujian Key Laboratory of Translational Cancer Medicine, Fuzhou 350014, China
| | - Chuanzhong Huang
- Laboratory of Immuno-Oncology, Clinical Oncology School of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Cancer Hospital, Fuzhou 350014,China; Fujian Key Laboratory of Translational Cancer Medicine, Fuzhou 350014, China
| | - Wansong Lin
- Laboratory of Immuno-Oncology, Clinical Oncology School of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Cancer Hospital, Fuzhou 350014,China; Fujian Key Laboratory of Translational Cancer Medicine, Fuzhou 350014, China
| | - Zhifeng Zhou
- Laboratory of Immuno-Oncology, Clinical Oncology School of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Cancer Hospital, Fuzhou 350014,China; Fujian Key Laboratory of Translational Cancer Medicine, Fuzhou 350014, China
| | - Jieyu Li
- Laboratory of Immuno-Oncology, Clinical Oncology School of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Cancer Hospital, Fuzhou 350014,China; Fujian Key Laboratory of Translational Cancer Medicine, Fuzhou 350014, China
| | - Mingshui Chen
- Laboratory of Immuno-Oncology, Clinical Oncology School of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Cancer Hospital, Fuzhou 350014,China; Fujian Key Laboratory of Translational Cancer Medicine, Fuzhou 350014, China
| | - Lingyu Zhang
- Laboratory of Immuno-Oncology, Clinical Oncology School of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Cancer Hospital, Fuzhou 350014,China; Fujian Key Laboratory of Translational Cancer Medicine, Fuzhou 350014, China
| | - Yunbin Ye
- Laboratory of Immuno-Oncology, Clinical Oncology School of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Cancer Hospital, Fuzhou 350014,China; Fujian Key Laboratory of Translational Cancer Medicine, Fuzhou 350014, China.
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5
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Wang S, Guo S, Guo J, Du Q, Wu C, Wu Y, Zhang Y. Cell death pathways: molecular mechanisms and therapeutic targets for cancer. MedComm (Beijing) 2024; 5:e693. [PMID: 39239068 PMCID: PMC11374700 DOI: 10.1002/mco2.693] [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: 04/08/2024] [Revised: 07/24/2024] [Accepted: 07/28/2024] [Indexed: 09/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Cell death regulation is essential for tissue homeostasis and its dysregulation often underlies cancer development. Understanding the different pathways of cell death can provide novel therapeutic strategies for battling cancer. This review explores several key cell death mechanisms of apoptosis, necroptosis, autophagic cell death, ferroptosis, and pyroptosis. The research gap addressed involves a thorough analysis of how these cell death pathways can be precisely targeted for cancer therapy, considering tumor heterogeneity and adaptation. It delves into genetic and epigenetic factors and signaling cascades like the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin (PI3K/AKT/mTOR) and mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MAPK/ERK) pathways, which are critical for the regulation of cell death. Additionally, the interaction of the microenvironment with tumor cells, and particularly the influence of hypoxia, nutrient deprivation, and immune cellular interactions, are explored. Emphasizing therapeutic strategies, this review highlights emerging modulators and inducers such as B cell lymphoma 2 (BCL2) homology domain 3 (BH3) mimetics, tumour necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), chloroquine, and innovative approaches to induce ferroptosis and pyroptosis. This review provides insights into cancer therapy's future direction, focusing on multifaceted approaches to influence cell death pathways and circumvent drug resistance. This examination of evolving strategies underlines the considerable clinical potential and the continuous necessity for in-depth exploration within this scientific domain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaohui Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Ethnic Medicine Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Chengdu China
| | - Sa Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Chengdu China
| | - Jing Guo
- College of Clinical Medicine Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Chengdu China
| | - Qinyun Du
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Chengdu China
| | - Cen Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Chengdu China
| | - Yeke Wu
- College of Clinical Medicine Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Chengdu China
| | - Yi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Ethnic Medicine Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Chengdu China
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6
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Zhou C, Basnet R, Zhen C, Ma S, Guo X, Wang Z, Yuan Y. Trimethylamine N-oxide promotes the proliferation and migration of hepatocellular carcinoma cell through the MAPK pathway. Discov Oncol 2024; 15:346. [PMID: 39133354 PMCID: PMC11319703 DOI: 10.1007/s12672-024-01178-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 07/18/2024] [Indexed: 08/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Trimethylamine-n-oxide (TMAO) is a metabolite of intestinal flora following the consumption of phosphatidylcholine-rich foods. Clinical cohort studies have shown that plasma TMAO may be a risk factor for cancer development, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but fundamental research data supporting this hypothesis are lacking. In this study, HCC cells were treated with TMAO in vivo and in vitro to evaluate the effect on some indicators related to the malignancy degree of HCC, and the relevant molecular mechanisms were explored. In vitro, TMAO promoted the proliferation and migration of HCC cells and significantly upregulated the expression of proteins related to epithelial-mesenchymal transformation (EMT). In vivo, after HCC cells were inoculated subcutaneously in nude mice given water containing TMAO, the tumors grew faster and larger than those in the mice given ordinary water. The immunohistochemistry analysis showed that proliferation, migration and EMT-related proteins in the tumor tissues were significantly upregulated by TMAO. Furthermore, TMAO obviously enhanced the phosphorylation of MAPK signaling molecules in vivo and in vitro. In conclusion, TMAO promotes the proliferation, migration and EMT of HCC cells by activating the MAPK pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunfang Zhou
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Embryonic Stem Cell Research, Hubei Provincial Clinical Research Center for Umbilical Cord Blood Hematopoietic Stem Cells, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Renmin Road 32, Shiyan, Hubei, 442000, People's Republic of China
- Department of Gastroenterology, Renmin Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Chaoyang Road 39, Shiyan, Hubei, 442000, People's Republic of China
| | - Rina Basnet
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Embryonic Stem Cell Research, Hubei Provincial Clinical Research Center for Umbilical Cord Blood Hematopoietic Stem Cells, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Renmin Road 32, Shiyan, Hubei, 442000, People's Republic of China
- Department of Gastroenterology, Renmin Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Chaoyang Road 39, Shiyan, Hubei, 442000, People's Republic of China
| | - Chenxiang Zhen
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Embryonic Stem Cell Research, Hubei Provincial Clinical Research Center for Umbilical Cord Blood Hematopoietic Stem Cells, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Renmin Road 32, Shiyan, Hubei, 442000, People's Republic of China
| | - Shinan Ma
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Embryonic Stem Cell Research, Hubei Provincial Clinical Research Center for Umbilical Cord Blood Hematopoietic Stem Cells, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Renmin Road 32, Shiyan, Hubei, 442000, People's Republic of China
| | - Xingrong Guo
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Embryonic Stem Cell Research, Hubei Provincial Clinical Research Center for Umbilical Cord Blood Hematopoietic Stem Cells, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Renmin Road 32, Shiyan, Hubei, 442000, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhongxia Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Renmin Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Chaoyang Road 39, Shiyan, Hubei, 442000, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yahong Yuan
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Embryonic Stem Cell Research, Hubei Provincial Clinical Research Center for Umbilical Cord Blood Hematopoietic Stem Cells, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Renmin Road 32, Shiyan, Hubei, 442000, People's Republic of China.
- Hubei Provincial Clinical Research Center for Precise Diagnosis and Treatment of Liver Cancer, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Renmin Road 32, Shiyan, Hubei, 442000, People's Republic of China.
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7
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Kassem PH, Montasser IF, Mahmoud RM, Ghorab RA, AbdelHakam DA, Fathi MESA, Wahed MAA, Mohey K, Ibrahim M, Hadidi ME, Masssoud YM, Salah M, Abugable A, Bahaa M, Khamisy SE, Meteini ME. Genomic landscape of hepatocellular carcinoma in Egyptian patients by whole exome sequencing. BMC Med Genomics 2024; 17:202. [PMID: 39123171 PMCID: PMC11311965 DOI: 10.1186/s12920-024-01965-w] [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: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver cancer. Chronic hepatitis and liver cirrhosis lead to accumulation of genetic alterations driving HCC pathogenesis. This study is designed to explore genomic landscape of HCC in Egyptian patients by whole exome sequencing. METHODS Whole exome sequencing using Ion Torrent was done on 13 HCC patients, who underwent surgical intervention (7 patients underwent living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) and 6 patients had surgical resection}. RESULTS Mutational signature was mostly S1, S5, S6, and S12 in HCC. Analysis of highly mutated genes in both HCC and Non-HCC revealed the presence of highly mutated genes in HCC (AHNAK2, MUC6, MUC16, TTN, ZNF17, FLG, MUC12, OBSCN, PDE4DIP, MUC5b, and HYDIN). Among the 26 significantly mutated HCC genes-identified across 10 genome sequencing studies-in addition to TCGA, APOB and RP1L1 showed the highest number of mutations in both HCC and Non-HCC tissues. Tier 1, Tier 2 variants in TCGA SMGs in HCC and Non-HCC (TP53, PIK3CA, CDKN2A, and BAP1). Cancer Genome Landscape analysis revealed Tier 1 and Tier 2 variants in HCC (MSH2) and in Non-HCC (KMT2D and ATM). For KEGG analysis, the significantly annotated clusters in HCC were Notch signaling, Wnt signaling, PI3K-AKT pathway, Hippo signaling, Apelin signaling, Hedgehog (Hh) signaling, and MAPK signaling, in addition to ECM-receptor interaction, focal adhesion, and calcium signaling. Tier 1 and Tier 2 variants KIT, KMT2D, NOTCH1, KMT2C, PIK3CA, KIT, SMARCA4, ATM, PTEN, MSH2, and PTCH1 were low frequency variants in both HCC and Non-HCC. CONCLUSION Our results are in accordance with previous studies in HCC regarding highly mutated genes, TCGA and specifically enriched pathways in HCC. Analysis for clinical interpretation of variants revealed the presence of Tier 1 and Tier 2 variants that represent potential clinically actionable targets. The use of sequencing techniques to detect structural variants and novel techniques as single cell sequencing together with multiomics transcriptomics, metagenomics will integrate the molecular pathogenesis of HCC in Egyptian patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Perihan Hamdy Kassem
- Clinical Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Iman Fawzy Montasser
- Tropical Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
| | - Ramy Mohamed Mahmoud
- Clinical Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Rasha Ahmed Ghorab
- Clinical Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Dina A AbdelHakam
- Clinical Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | | | - Marwa A Abdel Wahed
- Clinical Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Khaled Mohey
- Clinical Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Mariam Ibrahim
- Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Mohamed El Hadidi
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham Dubai Campus, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- Bioinformatics Group, Center for Informatics Science(CIS), School of Information Technology and Computer Science(ITCS), Nile University, Giza, Egypt
| | - Yasmine M Masssoud
- Tropical Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Manar Salah
- Tropical Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Arwa Abugable
- School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Mohamad Bahaa
- Hepato-Pancreatico-Biliary Surgery Department and liver Transplantation, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | | | - Mahmoud El Meteini
- Hepato-Pancreatico-Biliary Surgery Department and liver Transplantation, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
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8
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de Sousa C, Eksteen C, Riedemann J, Engelbrecht AM. Highlighting the role of CD44 in cervical cancer progression: immunotherapy's potential in inhibiting metastasis and chemoresistance. Immunol Res 2024; 72:592-604. [PMID: 38816670 PMCID: PMC11347469 DOI: 10.1007/s12026-024-09493-6] [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: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
Cervical cancer affects thousands of women globally with recurring high-risk HPV infections being at the centre of cervical pathology. Oncological treatment strategies are continually challenged by both chemoresistance and metastasis within patients. Although both work hand-in-hand, targeting their individual mechanisms could prove highly beneficial for treatment outcomes. Such targets include the metastatic-promoting stem cell marker, CD44, which is abundant in cervical cancer cells and is common to both chemoresistance and metastatic mechanisms. Seeing that many existing advanced-stage cervical cancer treatment regimes, such as platinum-based chemotherapy regimens, remain limited and are rarely curative, alternative treatment options within the field of immunology are being considered. The use of immune checkpoint inhibition therapy, which targets immune checkpoints, CTLA-4 and PD-1/PD-L1, has shown promise as an alternate standard of care for patients suffering from advanced-stage cervical cancer. Therefore, this review aims to assess whether immune checkpoint inhibition can mitigate the pathological effects of CD44-induced EMT, metastasis, and chemoresistance in cervical cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cayleigh de Sousa
- Department of Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Stellenbosch University, Mike de Vries Building, C/o Merriman and Bosman Street, Stellenbosch, 7600, South Africa
| | - Carla Eksteen
- Department of Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Stellenbosch University, Mike de Vries Building, C/o Merriman and Bosman Street, Stellenbosch, 7600, South Africa
| | | | - Anna-Mart Engelbrecht
- Department of Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Stellenbosch University, Mike de Vries Building, C/o Merriman and Bosman Street, Stellenbosch, 7600, South Africa.
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9
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Wu Z, Li W, Jiang K, Lin Z, Qian C, Wu M, Xia Y, Li N, Zhang H, Xiao H, Bai J, Geng D. Regulation of bone homeostasis: signaling pathways and therapeutic targets. MedComm (Beijing) 2024; 5:e657. [PMID: 39049966 PMCID: PMC11266958 DOI: 10.1002/mco2.657] [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: 09/12/2023] [Revised: 06/22/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024] Open
Abstract
As a highly dynamic tissue, bone is continuously rebuilt throughout life. Both bone formation by osteoblasts and bone resorption by osteoclasts constitute bone reconstruction homeostasis. The equilibrium of bone homeostasis is governed by many complicated signaling pathways that weave together to form an intricate network. These pathways coordinate the meticulous processes of bone formation and resorption, ensuring the structural integrity and dynamic vitality of the skeletal system. Dysregulation of the bone homeostatic regulatory signaling network contributes to the development and progression of many skeletal diseases. Significantly, imbalanced bone homeostasis further disrupts the signaling network and triggers a cascade reaction that exacerbates disease progression and engenders a deleterious cycle. Here, we summarize the influence of signaling pathways on bone homeostasis, elucidating the interplay and crosstalk among them. Additionally, we review the mechanisms underpinning bone homeostatic imbalances across diverse disease landscapes, highlighting current and prospective therapeutic targets and clinical drugs. We hope that this review will contribute to a holistic understanding of the signaling pathways and molecular mechanisms sustaining bone homeostasis, which are promising to contribute to further research on bone homeostasis and shed light on the development of targeted drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zebin Wu
- Department of OrthopedicsThe First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversitySuzhouJiangsuChina
| | - Wenming Li
- Department of OrthopedicsThe First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversitySuzhouJiangsuChina
| | - Kunlong Jiang
- Department of OrthopedicsThe First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversitySuzhouJiangsuChina
| | - Zhixiang Lin
- Department of OrthopedicsThe First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversitySuzhouJiangsuChina
| | - Chen Qian
- Department of OrthopedicsThe First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversitySuzhouJiangsuChina
| | - Mingzhou Wu
- Department of OrthopedicsThe First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversitySuzhouJiangsuChina
| | - Yu Xia
- Department of OrthopedicsThe First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversitySuzhouJiangsuChina
| | - Ning Li
- Department of OrthopedicsCentre for Leading Medicine and Advanced Technologies of IHMDivision of Life Sciences and MedicineThe First Affiliated Hospital of USTCUniversity of Science and Technology of ChinaHefeiChina
| | - Hongtao Zhang
- Department of OrthopedicsThe First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversitySuzhouJiangsuChina
| | - Haixiang Xiao
- Department of OrthopedicsThe First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversitySuzhouJiangsuChina
- Department of OrthopedicsJingjiang People's HospitalSeventh Clinical Medical School of Yangzhou UniversityJingjiangJiangsu ProvinceChina
| | - Jiaxiang Bai
- Department of OrthopedicsCentre for Leading Medicine and Advanced Technologies of IHMDivision of Life Sciences and MedicineThe First Affiliated Hospital of USTCUniversity of Science and Technology of ChinaHefeiChina
| | - Dechun Geng
- Department of OrthopedicsThe First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversitySuzhouJiangsuChina
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10
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Wang M, Xie Y, Liu J, Li A, Chen L, Stromberg A, Arnold SM, Liu C, Wang C. A Probabilistic Approach to Estimate the Temporal Order of Pathway Mutations Accounting for Intra-Tumor Heterogeneity. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:2488. [PMID: 39001551 PMCID: PMC11240401 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16132488] [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: 06/10/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
The development of cancer involves the accumulation of somatic mutations in several essential biological pathways. Delineating the temporal order of pathway mutations during tumorigenesis is crucial for comprehending the biological mechanisms underlying cancer development and identifying potential targets for therapeutic intervention. Several computational and statistical methods have been introduced for estimating the order of somatic mutations based on mutation profile data from a cohort of patients. However, one major issue of current methods is that they do not take into account intra-tumor heterogeneity (ITH), which limits their ability to accurately discern the order of pathway mutations. To address this problem, we propose PATOPAI, a probabilistic approach to estimate the temporal order of mutations at the pathway level by incorporating ITH information as well as pathway and functional annotation information of mutations. PATOPAI uses a maximum likelihood approach to estimate the probability of pathway mutational events occurring in a specific sequence, wherein it focuses on the orders that are consistent with the phylogenetic structure of the tumors. Applications to whole exome sequencing data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) illustrate our method's ability to recover the temporal order of pathway mutations in several cancer types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Menghan Wang
- Department of Statistics, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
| | - Yanqi Xie
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40508, USA
| | - Jinpeng Liu
- Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
- Division of Cancer Biostatistics, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
| | - Austin Li
- Department of Computer Science, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08540, USA
| | - Li Chen
- Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
- Division of Cancer Biostatistics, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
| | - Arnold Stromberg
- Department of Statistics, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
| | - Susanne M Arnold
- Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
| | - Chunming Liu
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40508, USA
- Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
| | - Chi Wang
- Department of Statistics, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
- Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
- Division of Cancer Biostatistics, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
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11
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Lotfi M, Maharati A, Hamidi AA, Taghehchian N, Moghbeli M. MicroRNA-532 as a probable diagnostic and therapeutic marker in cancer patients. Mutat Res 2024; 829:111874. [PMID: 38986233 DOI: 10.1016/j.mrfmmm.2024.111874] [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: 08/18/2023] [Revised: 07/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024]
Abstract
The high mortality rate in cancer patients is always one of the main challenges of the health systems globally. Several factors are involved in the high rate of cancer related mortality, including late diagnosis and drug resistance. Cancer is mainly diagnosed in the advanced stages of tumor progression that causes the failure of therapeutic strategies and increases the death rate in these patients. Therefore, assessment of the molecular mechanisms associated with the occurrence of cancer can be effective to introduce early tumor diagnostic markers. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) as the stable non-coding RNAs in the biological body fluids are involved in regulation of cell proliferation, migration, and apoptosis. MiR-532 deregulation has been reported in different tumor types. Therefore, in the present review we discussed the role of miR-532 during tumor growth. It has been shown that miR-532 has mainly a tumor suppressor role through the regulation of transcription factors, chemokines, and signaling pathways such as NF-kB, MAPK, PI3K/AKT, and WNT. In addition to the independent role of miR-532 in regulation of cellular processes, it also functions as a mediator of lncRNAs and circRNAs. Therefore, miR-532 can be considered as a non-invasive diagnostic/prognostic marker as well as a therapeutic target in cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malihe Lotfi
- Medical Genetics Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Amirhosein Maharati
- Student Research Committee, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Amir Abbas Hamidi
- Medical Genetics Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Negin Taghehchian
- Medical Genetics Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Meysam Moghbeli
- Department of Medical Genetics and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
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12
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Gong F, Cui Y, Lv P, Liu J, Sun X, Han P, Zhou L, Xia T, Cao W. Role of ESCCAL-1 in regulating exocytosis of AuNPs in human esophageal squamous carcinoma cells. NANOMEDICINE : NANOTECHNOLOGY, BIOLOGY, AND MEDICINE 2024; 59:102754. [PMID: 38797223 DOI: 10.1016/j.nano.2024.102754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2023] [Revised: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Exocytosis is a critical factor for designing efficient nanocarriers and determining cytotoxicity. However, the research on the exocytosis mechanism of nanoparticles, especially the role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), has not been reported. In this study, the exocytosis of AuNPs in the KYSE70 cells and the involved molecular pathways of exocytosis are analyzed. It demonstrates that nanoparticles underwent time-dependent release from the cells by exocytosis, and the release of β-hexosaminidase confirms that AuNPs are excreted through lysosomes. Mechanistic studies reveal that lncRNA ESCCAL-1 plays a vital role in controlling the exocytosis of AuNPs through activation of the MAPK pathway, including the phosphorylation of ERK and JNK. The study implies that the ESCCAL-1-mediated pathway plays an important role in the exocytosis of AuNPs in KYSE70 cells. This finding has implications for the role of ESCCAL-1 on the drug resistance of esophagus cancer by controlling lysosome-mediated exocytosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fenfen Gong
- Translational Medical Center, Zhengzhou Central Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450007, China
| | - Yuanbo Cui
- Translational Medical Center, Zhengzhou Central Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450007, China
| | - Pengju Lv
- Translational Medical Center, Zhengzhou Central Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450007, China
| | - Jia Liu
- Translational Medical Center, Zhengzhou Central Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450007, China
| | - Xiaoyan Sun
- Translational Medical Center, Zhengzhou Central Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450007, China
| | - Pengli Han
- Translational Medical Center, Zhengzhou Central Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450007, China
| | - Lijuan Zhou
- Translational Medical Center, Zhengzhou Central Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450007, China
| | - Tian Xia
- Division of NanoMedicine, Department of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, 90095 Los Angeles, CA, United States.
| | - Wei Cao
- Translational Medical Center, Zhengzhou Central Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450007, China; Henan Province Joint International Laboratory for Bioconjugation and Antibody Coupling, Zhengzhou, Henan 450001, China.
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13
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Ye G, Wang J, Xia J, Zhu C, Gu C, Li X, Li J, Ye M, Jin X. Low protein expression of LZTR1 in hepatocellular carcinoma triggers tumorigenesis via activating the RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK signaling. Heliyon 2024; 10:e32855. [PMID: 38994114 PMCID: PMC11237970 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e32855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 06/10/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024] Open
Abstract
LZTR1 is a substrate specific adaptor for E3 ligase involved in the ubiquitination and degradation of RAS GTPases, which inhibits the RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK signaling to suppress the pathogenesis of Noonan syndrome and glioblastoma. However, it's still unknown whether LZTR1 destabilizes RAS GTPases to suppress HCC progression by inhibiting these signaling pathway. Lenvatinib is the first-line drug for the treatment of advanced HCC, however, it has high drug resistance. To explore the roles of LZTR1 in HCC progression and the underlying mechanisms of lenvatinib resistance, techniques such as bioinformatics analysis, immunohistochemical staining, RT-qPCR, Western blot, cell functional experiments, small interfering RNA transfection and cycloheximide chase assay were applied in our study. Among these, bioinformatics analysis and immunohistochemical staining results indicated that LZTR1 protein was aberrantly expressed at low levels in HCC tissues, and low protein expression of LZTR1 was associated with poor prognosis of HCC patients. In vitro functional experiments confirmed that low expression of LZTR1 promoted HCC cell proliferation and migration via the aberrant activation of the RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK signaling due to the dysregulation of LZTR1-induced KRAS ubiquitination and degradation. Transwell assays revealed that blocking of LZTR1-mediated KRAS degradation could induce lenvatinib resistance in HCC cells. In conclusion, our study revealed that LZTR1 knockdown promoted HCC cell proliferation and migration, and induced lenvatinib resistance via activating the RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK signaling, which may provide new ideas for HCC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ganghui Ye
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Health Science Center, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China
- Department of Oncology, The First Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315020, China
| | - Jie Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Health Science Center, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China
- Department of Oncology, The First Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315020, China
| | - Jingyi Xia
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Health Science Center of Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China
| | - Chenlu Zhu
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Health Science Center of Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China
| | - Chaoyu Gu
- Department of Oncology, The First Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315020, China
| | - Xinming Li
- Department of Oncology, The First Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315020, China
| | - Jingyun Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Health Science Center, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China
- Department of Oncology, The First Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315020, China
| | - Meng Ye
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Health Science Center, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China
- Department of Oncology, The First Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315020, China
| | - Xiaofeng Jin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Health Science Center, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China
- Department of Oncology, The First Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315020, China
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14
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Tufail M, Hu JJ, Liang J, He CY, Wan WD, Huang YQ, Jiang CH, Wu H, Li N. Hallmarks of cancer resistance. iScience 2024; 27:109979. [PMID: 38832007 PMCID: PMC11145355 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
This review explores the hallmarks of cancer resistance, including drug efflux mediated by ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, metabolic reprogramming characterized by the Warburg effect, and the dynamic interplay between cancer cells and mitochondria. The role of cancer stem cells (CSCs) in treatment resistance and the regulatory influence of non-coding RNAs, such as long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), microRNAs (miRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs), are studied. The chapter emphasizes future directions, encompassing advancements in immunotherapy, strategies to counter adaptive resistance, integration of artificial intelligence for predictive modeling, and the identification of biomarkers for personalized treatment. The comprehensive exploration of these hallmarks provides a foundation for innovative therapeutic approaches, aiming to navigate the complex landscape of cancer resistance and enhance patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Tufail
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Center of Stomatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Jia-Ju Hu
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Center of Stomatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Jie Liang
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Center of Stomatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Cai-Yun He
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Center of Stomatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Wen-Dong Wan
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Center of Stomatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yu-Qi Huang
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Center of Stomatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Can-Hua Jiang
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Center of Stomatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Institute of Oral Precancerous Lesions, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Research Center of Oral and Maxillofacial Tumor, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Hong Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Powder Metallurgy, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China
| | - Ning Li
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Center of Stomatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Institute of Oral Precancerous Lesions, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Research Center of Oral and Maxillofacial Tumor, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
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15
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Cui L, Perini G, Augello A, Palmieri V, De Spirito M, Papi M. Plant-derived extracellular nanovesicles: a promising biomedical approach for effective targeting of triple negative breast cancer cells. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2024; 12:1390708. [PMID: 38952670 PMCID: PMC11215178 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2024.1390708] [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: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), a highly aggressive subtype accounting for 15-20% of all breast cancer cases, faces limited treatment options often accompanied by severe side effects. In recent years, natural extracellular nanovesicles derived from plants have emerged as promising candidates for cancer therapy, given their safety profile marked by non-immunogenicity and absence of inflammatory responses. Nevertheless, the potential anti-cancer effects of Citrus limon L.-derived extracellular nanovesicles (CLENs) for breast cancer treatment is still unexplored. Methods: In this study, we investigated the anti-cancer effects of CLENs on two TNBC cell lines (4T1 and HCC-1806 cells) under growth conditions in 2D and 3D culture environments. The cellular uptake efficiency of CLENs and their internalization mechanism were evaluated in both cells using confocal microscopy. Thereafter, we assessed the effect of different concentrations of CLENs on cell viability over time using a dual approach of Calcein-AM PI live-dead assay and CellTiter-Glo bioluminescence assay. We also examined the influence of CLENs on the migratory and evasion abilities of TNBC cells through wound healing and 3D Matrigel drop evasion assays. Furthermore, Western blot analysis was employed to investigate the effects of CLENs on the phosphorylation levels of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), protein kinase B (AKT), and extracellular signal- regulated kinase (ERK) expression. Results: We found that CLENs were internalized by the cells via endocytosis, leading to decreased cell viability, in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Additionally, the migration and evasion abilities of TNBC cells were significantly inhibited under exposed to 40 and 80 μg/mL CLENs. Furthermore, down-regulated expression levels of phosphorylated phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), protein kinase B (AKT), and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), suggesting that the inhibition of cancer cell proliferation, migration, and evasion is driven by the inhibition of the PI3K/AKT and MAPK/ERK signaling pathways. Discussion: Overall, our results demonstrate the anti-tumor efficiency of CLENs against TNBC cells, highlighting their potential as promising natural anti-cancer agents for clinical applications in cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lishan Cui
- Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Giordano Perini
- Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCSS, Rome, Italy
| | - Alberto Augello
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCSS, Rome, Italy
| | - Valentina Palmieri
- Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
- Istituto dei Sistemi Complessi, Consiglio nazionale delle ricerche (C.N.R.), Rome, Italy
| | - Marco De Spirito
- Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCSS, Rome, Italy
| | - Massimiliano Papi
- Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCSS, Rome, Italy
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16
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Du J, Zhang Y, Chen J, Jin L, Pan L, Lei P, Lin S. Phenethyl isothiocyanate inhibits the carcinogenic properties of hepatocellular carcinoma Huh7.5.1 cells by activating MAPK/PI3K-Akt/p53 signaling pathways. PeerJ 2024; 12:e17532. [PMID: 38873643 PMCID: PMC11172670 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.17532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an aggressive malignancy with limited effective treatment options. Phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC) is a bioactive substance present primarily in the cruciferous vegetables. PEITC has exhibited anti-cancer properties in various cancers, including lung, bile duct, and prostate cancers. It has been demonstrated that PEITC can inhibit the proliferation, invasion, and metastasis of SK-Hep1 cells, while effectively inducing apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in HepG2 cells. However, knowledge of its anti-carcinogenic effects on Huh7.5.1 cells and its underlying mechanism remains elusive. In the present study, we aim to evaluate the anti-carcinogenic effects of PEITC on human HCC Huh7.5.1 cells. Methods MTT assay and colony formation assay was performed to investigate the anti-proliferative effects of PEITC against Huh7.5.1 cells. The pro-apoptosis effects of PEITC were determined by Annexin V-FITC/PI double staining assay by flow cytometry (FCM), mitochondrial transmembrane potential (MMP) measurement, and Caspase-3 activity detection. A DAPI staining and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay was conducted to estimate the DNA damage in Huh7.5.1 cells induced by PEITC. Cell cycle progression was determined by FCM. Transwell invasion assay and wound healing migration assay were performed to investigate the impact of PEITC on the migration and invasion of Huh7.5.1 cells. In addition, transcriptome sequencing and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) were used to explore the potential molecular mechanisms of the inhibitory effects of PEITC on HCC. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis was performed to verify the transcriptome data. Results MTT assay showed that treatment of Huh7.5.1 cells with PEITC resulted in a dose-dependent decrease in viability, and colony formation assay further confirmed its anti-proliferative effect. Furthermore, we found that PEITC could induce mitochondrial-related apoptotic responses, including a decrease of mitochondrial transmembrane potential, activation of Caspase-3 activity, and generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species. It was also observed that PEITC caused DNA damage and cell cycle arrest in the S-phase in Huh7.5.1 cells. In addition, the inhibitory effect of PEITC on the migration and invasion ability of Huh7.5.1 cells was assessed. Transcriptome sequencing analysis further suggested that PEITC could activate the typical MAPK, PI3K-Akt, and p53 signaling pathways, revealing the potential mechanism of PEITC in inhibiting the carcinogenic properties of Huh7.5.1 cells. Conclusion PEITC exhibits anti-carcinogenic activities against human HCC Huh7.5.1 cells by activating MAPK/PI3K-Akt/p53 signaling pathways. Our results suggest that PEITC may be useful for the anti-HCC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiao Du
- College of Life and Environmental Science, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yuting Zhang
- College of Life and Environmental Science, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jiajia Chen
- College of Life and Environmental Science, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Libo Jin
- Institute of Life Sciences, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Liying Pan
- College of Life and Environmental Science, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Pengyu Lei
- College of Life and Environmental Science, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Sue Lin
- College of Life and Environmental Science, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
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17
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Mou L, Zhang L, Qiu Y, Liu M, Wu L, Mo X, Chen J, Liu F, Li R, Liu C, Tian M. Endogenous Hormone Levels and Transcriptomic Analysis Reveal the Mechanisms of Bulbil Initiation in Pinellia ternata. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:6149. [PMID: 38892337 PMCID: PMC11173086 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25116149] [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: 03/10/2024] [Revised: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Pinellia ternata is a medicinal plant that has important pharmacological value, and the bulbils serve as the primary reproductive organ; however, the mechanisms underlying bulbil initiation remain unclear. Here, we characterized bulbil development via histological, transcriptomic, and targeted metabolomic analyses to unearth the intricate relationship between hormones, genes, and bulbil development. The results show that the bulbils initiate growth from the leaf axillary meristem (AM). In this stage, jasmonic acid (JA), abscisic acid (ABA), isopentenyl adenosine (IPA), and salicylic acid (SA) were highly enriched, while indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), zeatin, methyl jasmonate (MeJA), and 5-dexoxystrigol (5-DS) were notably decreased. Through OPLS-DA analysis, SA has emerged as the most crucial factor in initiating and positively regulating bulbil formation. Furthermore, a strong association between IPA and SA was observed during bulbil initiation. The transcriptional changes in IPT (Isopentenyltransferase), CRE1 (Cytokinin Response 1), A-ARR (Type-A Arabidopsis Response Regulator), B-ARR (Type-B Arabidopsis Response Regulator), AUX1 (Auxin Resistant 1), ARF (Auxin Response Factor), AUX/IAA (Auxin/Indole-3-acetic acid), GH3 (Gretchen Hagen 3), SAUR (Small Auxin Up RNA), GA2ox (Gibberellin 2-oxidase), GA20ox (Gibberellin 20-oxidase), AOS (Allene oxide synthase), AOC (Allene oxide cyclase), OPR (Oxophytodienoate Reductase), JMT (JA carboxy l Methyltransferase), COI1 (Coronatine Insensitive 1), JAZ (Jasmonate ZIM-domain), MYC2 (Myelocytomatosis 2), D27 (DWARF27), SMAX (Suppressor of MAX2), PAL (Phenylalanine Ammonia-Lyase), ICS (Isochorismate Synthase), NPR1 (Non-expressor of Pathogenesis-related Genes1), TGA (TGACG Sequence-specific Binding), PR-1 (Pathogenesis-related), MCSU (Molybdenium Cofactor Sulfurase), PP2C (Protein Phosphatase 2C), and SnRK (Sucrose Non-fermenting-related Protein Kinase 2) were highly correlated with hormone concentrations, indicating that bulbil initiation is coordinately controlled by multiple phytohormones. Notably, eight TFs (transcription factors) that regulate AM initiation have been identified as pivotal regulators of bulbil formation. Among these, WUS (WUSCHEL), CLV (CLAVATA), ATH1 (Arabidopsis Thaliana Homeobox Gene 1), and RAX (Regulator of Axillary meristems) have been observed to exhibit elevated expression levels. Conversely, LEAFY demonstrated contrasting expression patterns. The intricate expression profiles of these TFs are closely associated with the upregulated expression of KNOX(KNOTTED-like homeobox), suggesting a intricate regulatory network underlying the complex process of bulbil initiation. This study offers a profound understanding of the bulbil initiation process and could potentially aid in refining molecular breeding techniques specific to P. ternata.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Mengliang Tian
- College of Agronomy, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China; (L.M.); (L.Z.); (Y.Q.); (M.L.); (L.W.); (X.M.); (J.C.); (F.L.); (R.L.); (C.L.)
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18
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Jin H, Wen G, Zhu J, Liu J, Li J, Yao S, Zhao Z, Dong Z, Zhang X, An J, Liu X, Tuo B. Pantoprazole suppresses carcinogenesis and growth of hepatocellular carcinoma by inhibiting glycolysis and Na +/H + exchange. Drug Dev Res 2024; 85:e22198. [PMID: 38764200 DOI: 10.1002/ddr.22198] [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: 01/17/2024] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/21/2024]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the deadliest cancers. The prevention and therapy for this deadly disease remain a global medical challenge. In this study, we investigated the effect of pantoprazole (PPZ) on the carcinogenesis and growth of HCC. Both diethylnitrosamine (DEN) plus CCl4-induced and DEN plus high fat diet (HFD)-induced HCC models in mice were established. Cytokines and cell proliferation-associated gene in the liver tissues of mice and HCC cells were analyzed. Cellular glycolysis and Na+/H+ exchange activity were measured. The preventive administration of pantoprazole (PPZ) at a clinically relevant low dose markedly suppressed HCC carcinogenesis in both DEN plus CCl4-induced and HFD-induced murine HCC models, whereas the therapeutic administration of PPZ at the dose suppressed the growth of HCC. In the liver tissues of PPZ-treated mice, inflammatory cytokines, IL1, CXCL1, CXCL5, CXCL9, CXCL10, CCL2, CCL5, CCL6, CCL7, CCL20, and CCL22, were reduced. The administration of CXCL1, CXCL5, CCL2, or CCL20 all reversed PPZ-suppressed DEN plus CCL4-induced HCC carcinogenesis in mice. PPZ inhibited the expressions of CCNA2, CCNB2, CCNE2, CDC25C, CDCA5, CDK1, CDK2, TOP2A, TTK, AURKA, and BIRC5 in HCC cells. Further results showed that PPZ reduced the production of these inflammatory cytokines and the expression of these cell proliferation-associated genes through the inhibition of glycolysis and Na+/H+ exchange. In conclusion, PPZ suppresses the carcinogenesis and growth of HCC, which is related to inhibiting the production of inflammatory cytokines and the expression of cell proliferation-associated genes in the liver through the inhibition of glycolysis and Na+/H+ exchange.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hai Jin
- Department of Gastroenterology, Digestive Disease Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
| | - Guorong Wen
- Department of Gastroenterology, Digestive Disease Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
| | - Jiaxing Zhu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Digestive Disease Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
| | - Jielong Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Digestive Disease Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
| | - Jingguo Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, Digestive Disease Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
| | - Shun Yao
- Department of Gastroenterology, Digestive Disease Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
| | - Zhenglan Zhao
- Department of Gastroenterology, Digestive Disease Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
| | - Zhiqi Dong
- Department of Gastroenterology, Digestive Disease Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
| | - Xue Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Digestive Disease Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
| | - Jiaxing An
- Department of Gastroenterology, Digestive Disease Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
| | - Xuemei Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Digestive Disease Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
| | - Biguang Tuo
- Department of Gastroenterology, Digestive Disease Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
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19
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Xue Y, Ruan Y, Wang Y, Xiao P, Xu J. Signaling pathways in liver cancer: pathogenesis and targeted therapy. MOLECULAR BIOMEDICINE 2024; 5:20. [PMID: 38816668 PMCID: PMC11139849 DOI: 10.1186/s43556-024-00184-0] [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: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Liver cancer remains one of the most prevalent malignancies worldwide with high incidence and mortality rates. Due to its subtle onset, liver cancer is commonly diagnosed at a late stage when surgical interventions are no longer feasible. This situation highlights the critical role of systemic treatments, including targeted therapies, in bettering patient outcomes. Despite numerous studies on the mechanisms underlying liver cancer, tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are the only widely used clinical inhibitors, represented by sorafenib, whose clinical application is greatly limited by the phenomenon of drug resistance. Here we show an in-depth discussion of the signaling pathways frequently implicated in liver cancer pathogenesis and the inhibitors targeting these pathways under investigation or already in use in the management of advanced liver cancer. We elucidate the oncogenic roles of these pathways in liver cancer especially hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), as well as the current state of research on inhibitors respectively. Given that TKIs represent the sole class of targeted therapeutics for liver cancer employed in clinical practice, we have particularly focused on TKIs and the mechanisms of the commonly encountered phenomena of its resistance during HCC treatment. This necessitates the imperative development of innovative targeted strategies and the urgency of overcoming the existing limitations. This review endeavors to shed light on the utilization of targeted therapy in advanced liver cancer, with a vision to improve the unsatisfactory prognostic outlook for those patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yangtao Xue
- Key Laboratory of Laparoscopic Technology of Zhejiang Province, Department of General Surgery, Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310016, China
- National Engineering Research Center of Innovation and Application of Minimally Invasive Instruments, Hangzhou, 310016, China
- Zhejiang Minimal Invasive Diagnosis and Treatment Technology Research Center of Severe Hepatobiliary Disease, Zhejiang Research and Development Engineering Laboratory of Minimally Invasive Technology and Equipment, Hangzhou, 310016, China
- Zhejiang University Cancer Center, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University Medical Center, Hangzhou, 311121, China
| | - Yeling Ruan
- Key Laboratory of Laparoscopic Technology of Zhejiang Province, Department of General Surgery, Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310016, China
- National Engineering Research Center of Innovation and Application of Minimally Invasive Instruments, Hangzhou, 310016, China
- Zhejiang Minimal Invasive Diagnosis and Treatment Technology Research Center of Severe Hepatobiliary Disease, Zhejiang Research and Development Engineering Laboratory of Minimally Invasive Technology and Equipment, Hangzhou, 310016, China
- Zhejiang University Cancer Center, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University Medical Center, Hangzhou, 311121, China
| | - Yali Wang
- Key Laboratory of Laparoscopic Technology of Zhejiang Province, Department of General Surgery, Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310016, China
- National Engineering Research Center of Innovation and Application of Minimally Invasive Instruments, Hangzhou, 310016, China
- Zhejiang Minimal Invasive Diagnosis and Treatment Technology Research Center of Severe Hepatobiliary Disease, Zhejiang Research and Development Engineering Laboratory of Minimally Invasive Technology and Equipment, Hangzhou, 310016, China
- Zhejiang University Cancer Center, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University Medical Center, Hangzhou, 311121, China
| | - Peng Xiao
- Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310016, China.
| | - Junjie Xu
- Key Laboratory of Laparoscopic Technology of Zhejiang Province, Department of General Surgery, Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310016, China.
- National Engineering Research Center of Innovation and Application of Minimally Invasive Instruments, Hangzhou, 310016, China.
- Zhejiang Minimal Invasive Diagnosis and Treatment Technology Research Center of Severe Hepatobiliary Disease, Zhejiang Research and Development Engineering Laboratory of Minimally Invasive Technology and Equipment, Hangzhou, 310016, China.
- Zhejiang University Cancer Center, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
- Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University Medical Center, Hangzhou, 311121, China.
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20
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Heumann P, Albert A, Gülow K, Tümen D, Müller M, Kandulski A. Insights in Molecular Therapies for Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:1831. [PMID: 38791911 PMCID: PMC11120383 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16101831] [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: 04/03/2024] [Revised: 05/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
We conducted a comprehensive review of the current literature of published data and clinical trials (MEDLINE), as well as published congress contributions and active recruiting clinical trials on targeted therapies in hepatocellular carcinoma. Combinations of different agents and medical therapy along with radiological interventions were analyzed for the setting of advanced HCC. Those settings were also analyzed in combination with adjuvant situations after resection or radiological treatments. We summarized the current knowledge for each therapeutic setting and combination that currently is or has been under clinical evaluation. We further discuss the results in the background of current treatment guidelines. In addition, we review the pathophysiological mechanisms and pathways for each of these investigated targets and drugs to further elucidate the molecular background and underlying mechanisms of action. Established and recommended targeted treatment options that already exist for patients are considered for systemic treatment: atezolizumab/bevacizumab, durvalumab/tremelimumab, sorafenib, lenvatinib, cabozantinib, regorafenib, and ramucirumab. Combination treatment for systemic treatment and local ablative treatment or transarterial chemoembolization and adjuvant and neoadjuvant treatment strategies are under clinical investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Heumann
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology, Rheumatology, and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauß-Allee 11, 93053 Regensburg, Germany (K.G.); (D.T.)
| | | | | | | | | | - Arne Kandulski
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology, Rheumatology, and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauß-Allee 11, 93053 Regensburg, Germany (K.G.); (D.T.)
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21
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Iksen, Witayateeraporn W, Hardianti B, Pongrakhananon V. Comprehensive review of Bcl-2 family proteins in cancer apoptosis: Therapeutic strategies and promising updates of natural bioactive compounds and small molecules. Phytother Res 2024; 38:2249-2275. [PMID: 38415799 DOI: 10.1002/ptr.8157] [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: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
Cancer has a considerably higher fatality rate than other diseases globally and is one of the most lethal and profoundly disruptive ailments. The increasing incidence of cancer among humans is one of the greatest challenges in the field of healthcare. A significant factor in the initiation and progression of tumorigenesis is the dysregulation of physiological processes governing cell death, which results in the survival of cancerous cells. B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) family members play important roles in several cancer-related processes. Drug research and development have identified various promising natural compounds that demonstrate potent anticancer effects by specifically targeting Bcl-2 family proteins and their associated signaling pathways. This comprehensive review highlights the substantial roles of Bcl-2 family proteins in regulating apoptosis, including the intricate signaling pathways governing the activity of these proteins, the impact of reactive oxygen species, and the crucial involvement of proteasome degradation and the stress response. Furthermore, this review discusses advances in the exploration and potential therapeutic applications of natural compounds and small molecules targeting Bcl-2 family proteins and thus provides substantial scientific information and therapeutic strategies for cancer management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iksen
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Pharmacy, Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Kesehatan Senior Medan, Medan, Indonesia
| | - Wasita Witayateeraporn
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Besse Hardianti
- Laboratory of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Almarisah Madani University, South Sulawesi, Indonesia
| | - Varisa Pongrakhananon
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Preclinical Toxicity and Efficacy Assessment of Medicines and Chemicals Research Unit, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
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22
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Cai H, Meng Z, Yu F. The involvement of ROS-regulated programmed cell death in hepatocellular carcinoma. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2024; 197:104361. [PMID: 38626849 DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2024.104361] [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: 11/04/2023] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Reactive oxidative species (ROS) is a crucial factor in the regulation of cellular biological activity and function, and aberrant levels of ROS can contribute to the development of a variety of diseases, particularly cancer. Numerous discoveries have affirmed that this process is strongly associated with "programmed cell death (PCD)," which refers to the suicide protection mechanism initiated by cells in response to external stimuli, such as apoptosis, autophagy, ferroptosis, etc. Research has demonstrated that ROS-induced PCD is crucial for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). These activities serve a dual function in both facilitating and inhibiting cancer, suggesting the existence of a delicate balance within healthy cells that can be disrupted by the abnormal generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), thereby influencing the eventual advancement or regression of a tumor. In this review, we summarize how ROS regulates PCD to influence the tumorigenesis and progression of HCC. Studying how ROS-induced PCD affects the progression of HCC at a molecular level can help develop better prevention and treatment methods and facilitate the design of more effective preventative and therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanchen Cai
- The First Afliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, Zhejiang Province, China; The Second School of Medicine, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Ziqi Meng
- The Second School of Medicine, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, Zhejiang Province, China; The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Fujun Yu
- Department of Gastroenterology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, Zhejiang Province, China.
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Zhang H, Hu S, Sanches JGP, Li Y, Wei Y, Pu C, Zhang J. Sorcin promotes proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma by regulating VEGFA/B via PI3K pathway. J Physiol Biochem 2024; 80:381-392. [PMID: 38536659 DOI: 10.1007/s13105-024-01011-4] [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: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly vascularized tumor, one of the most common and lethal cancer-related tumor deaths worldwide, with cell proliferation playing a key role. In this study our western blot results and data from TAGC demonstrate a strong association between Sorcin (SRI) overexpression and poor outcomes in HCC. Moreover, SRI overexpression was remarkably effective in promoting proliferation in vitro and increasing tumor growth in vivo, which were attenuated by knocking down SRI. Mechanistically, SRI regulated vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) and vascular endothelial growth factor B (VEGFB) through PI3K/Akt/FOXO1 signal pathway. Overall, our study indicates that SRI stimulates HCC growth by controlling VEGFA/B, which presents a fresh insight into the pathogenesis of hepatocarcinogenesis and a new therapeutic target for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Zhang
- Department of Pathology and Forensic Medicine, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, China
| | - Shanshan Hu
- Department of Pathology and Forensic Medicine, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, China
| | - Jaceline Gislaine Pires Sanches
- Department of Pathology and Forensic Medicine, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, China
| | - Yizi Li
- Department of Pathology and Forensic Medicine, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, China
| | - Yuanyi Wei
- Key Laboratory of Tumor Metastasis of Liaoning Province, Dalian, 116044, China
| | - Chunwen Pu
- Dalian Public Health Clinical Center, Dalian Municipal Research Institute for Public Health, Dalian, 116031, China.
| | - Jun Zhang
- Department of Pathology and Forensic Medicine, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, China.
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24
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Lu M, Yan Z, Qu Q, Zhu G, Xu L, Liu M, Jiang J, Gu C, Chen Y, Zhang T, Zhang X. Diagnostic Model for Proliferative HCC Using LI-RADS: Assessing Therapeutic Outcomes in Hepatectomy and TKI-ICI Combination. J Magn Reson Imaging 2024. [PMID: 38647041 DOI: 10.1002/jmri.29400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 04/06/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Proliferative hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), aggressive with poor prognosis, and lacks reliable MRI diagnosis. PURPOSE To develop a diagnostic model for proliferative HCC using liver imaging reporting and data system (LI-RADS) and assess its prognostic value. STUDY TYPE Retrospective. POPULATION 241 HCC patients underwent hepatectomy (90 proliferative HCCs: 151 nonproliferative HCCs), divided into the training (N = 167) and validation (N = 74) sets. 57 HCC patients received combination therapy with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE 3.0 T, T1- and T2-weighted, diffusion-weighted, in- and out-phase, T1 high resolution isotropic volume excitation and dynamic gadoxetic acid-enhanced imaging. ASSESSMENT LI-RADS v2018 and other MRI features (intratumoral artery, substantial hypoenhancing component, hepatobiliary phase peritumoral hypointensity, and irregular tumor margin) were assessed. A diagnostic model for proliferative HCC was established, stratifying patients into high- and low-risk groups. Follow-up occurred every 3-6 months, and recurrence-free survival (RFS), progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in different groups were compared. STATISTICAL TESTS Fisher's test or chi-square test, t-test or Mann-Whitney test, logistic regression, Harrell's concordance index (C-index), Kaplan-Meier curves, and Cox proportional hazards. Significance level: P < 0.05. RESULTS The diagnostic model, incorporating corona enhancement, rim arterial phase hyperenhancement, infiltrative appearance, intratumoral artery, and substantial hypoenhancing component, achieved a C-index of 0.823 (training set) and 0.804 (validation set). Median follow-up was 32.5 months (interquartile range [IQR], 25.1 months) for postsurgery patients, and 16.8 months (IQR: 13.2 months) for combination-treated patients. 99 patients experienced recurrence, and 30 demonstrated tumor nonresponse. Differences were significant in RFS and OS rates between high-risk and low-risk groups post-surgery (40.3% vs. 65.8%, 62.3% vs. 90.1%, at 5 years). In combination-treated patients, PFS rates differed significantly (80.6% vs. 7.7% at 2 years). DATA CONCLUSION The MR-based model could pre-treatment identify proliferative HCC and assist in prognosis evaluation. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4 TECHNICAL EFFICACY Stage 2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengtian Lu
- Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
- Department of Radiology, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong Third People's Hospital, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zuyi Yan
- Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
- Department of Radiology, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong Third People's Hospital, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Qi Qu
- Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
- Department of Radiology, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong Third People's Hospital, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Guodong Zhu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong Third People's Hospital, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Lei Xu
- Department of Radiology, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong Third People's Hospital, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Maotong Liu
- Department of Radiology, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong Third People's Hospital, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jifeng Jiang
- Department of Radiology, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong Third People's Hospital, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Chunyan Gu
- Department of Pathology, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong Third People's Hospital, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ying Chen
- Department of Radiology, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong Third People's Hospital, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Tao Zhang
- Department of Radiology, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong Third People's Hospital, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xueqin Zhang
- Department of Radiology, Affiliated Nantong Hospital 3 of Nantong University, Nantong Third People's Hospital, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
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25
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Zheng D, Wei Z, Zhang C, Liu W, Gong C, Wu F, Guo W. ZNF692 promotes osteosarcoma cell proliferation, migration, and invasion through TNK2-mediated activation of the MEK/ERK pathway. Biol Direct 2024; 19:28. [PMID: 38650011 PMCID: PMC11034355 DOI: 10.1186/s13062-024-00472-3] [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: 02/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Osteosarcoma is a diverse and aggressive bone tumor. Driver genes regulating osteosarcoma initiation and progression remains incompletely defined. Zinc finger protein 692 (ZNF692), a kind of Krüppel C2H2 zinc finger transcription factor, exhibited abnormal expression in different types of malignancies and showed a correlation with the clinical prognosis of patients as well as the aggressive characteristics of cancer cells. Nevertheless, its specific role in osteosarcoma is still not well understood. METHODS We investigated the dysregulation and clinical significance of ZNF692 in osteosarcoma through bioinformatic method and experimental validation. A range of in vitro assays, including CCK-8, colony formation, EdU incorporation, wound healing, and transwell invasion tests, were conducted to assess the impact of ZNF692 on cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in osteosarcoma. A xenograft mouse model was established to evaluate the effect of ZNF692 on tumor growth in vivo. Western blot assay was used to measure the protein levels of MEK1/2, P-MEK1/2, ERK1/2, and P-ERK1/2 in cells that had been genetically modified to either reduce or increase the expression of ZNF692. The relationship between ZNF692 and tyrosine kinase non-receptor 2 (TNK2) were validated by qRT-PCR, chromatin immunoprecipitation and luciferase reporter assays. RESULTS Expression of ZNF692 was increased in both human osteosarcoma tissues and cell lines. Furthermore, the expression of ZNF692 served as an independent predictive biomarker in osteosarcoma. The results of the survival analysis indicated that increased expression of ZNF692 was associated with worse outcome. Downregulation of ZNF692 inhibits the proliferation, migration, and invasion of osteosarcoma cells, whereas upregulation of ZNF692 has the opposite impact. Western blot assay indicates that reducing ZNF692 decreases phosphorylation of MEK1/2 and ERK1/2, whereas increasing ZNF692 expression enhances their phosphorylation. U0126, a potent inhibitor specifically targeting the MEK/ERK signaling pathway, partially counteracts the impact of ZNF692 overexpression on the proliferation, migration, and invasion of osteosarcoma cells. In addition, ZNF692 specifically interacts with the promoter region of TNK2 and stimulates the transcription of TNK2 in osteosarcoma cells. Forcing the expression of TNK2 weakens the inhibitory impact of ZNF692 knockdown on P-MEK1/2 and P-ERK1/2. Similarly, partly inhibiting TNK2 counteracts the enhancing impact of ZNF692 overexpression on the phosphorylation of MEK1/2 and ERK1/2. Functional tests demonstrate that the suppressive effects of ZNF692 knockdown on cell proliferation, migration, and invasion are greatly reduced when TNK2 is overexpressed. In contrast, the reduction of TNK2 hinders the ability of ZNF692 overexpression to enhance cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. CONCLUSION ZNF692 promotes the proliferation, migration, and invasion of osteosarcoma cells via the TNK2-dependent stimulation of the MEK/ERK signaling pathway. The ZNF692-TNK2 axis might potentially function as a possible predictive biomarker and a promising target for novel therapeutics in osteosarcoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Di Zheng
- Department of Orthopedics, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, 430060, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhun Wei
- Department of Orthopedics, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, 430060, Wuhan, China
| | - Chong Zhang
- Department of Orthopedics, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, 430060, Wuhan, China
| | - Wenda Liu
- Department of Orthopedics, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, 430060, Wuhan, China
| | - Changtian Gong
- Department of Orthopedics, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, 430060, Wuhan, China
| | - Fei Wu
- Department of Orthopedics, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, 430060, Wuhan, China.
| | - Weichun Guo
- Department of Orthopedics, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, 430060, Wuhan, China.
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Zwirner S, Abu Rmilah AA, Klotz S, Pfaffenroth B, Kloevekorn P, Moschopoulou AA, Schuette S, Haag M, Selig R, Li K, Zhou W, Nelson E, Poso A, Chen H, Amiot B, Jia Y, Minshew A, Michalak G, Cui W, Rist E, Longerich T, Jung B, Felgendreff P, Trompak O, Premsrirut PK, Gries K, Muerdter TE, Heinkele G, Wuestefeld T, Shapiro D, Weissbach M, Koenigsrainer A, Sipos B, Ab E, Zacarias MO, Theisgen S, Gruenheit N, Biskup S, Schwab M, Albrecht W, Laufer S, Nyberg S, Zender L. First-in-class MKK4 inhibitors enhance liver regeneration and prevent liver failure. Cell 2024; 187:1666-1684.e26. [PMID: 38490194 PMCID: PMC11011246 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.02.023] [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: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
Diminished hepatocyte regeneration is a key feature of acute and chronic liver diseases and after extended liver resections, resulting in the inability to maintain or restore a sufficient functional liver mass. Therapies to restore hepatocyte regeneration are lacking, making liver transplantation the only curative option for end-stage liver disease. Here, we report on the structure-based development and characterization (nuclear magnetic resonance [NMR] spectroscopy) of first-in-class small molecule inhibitors of the dual-specificity kinase MKK4 (MKK4i). MKK4i increased liver regeneration upon hepatectomy in murine and porcine models, allowed for survival of pigs in a lethal 85% hepatectomy model, and showed antisteatotic and antifibrotic effects in liver disease mouse models. A first-in-human phase I trial (European Union Drug Regulating Authorities Clinical Trials [EudraCT] 2021-000193-28) with the clinical candidate HRX215 was conducted and revealed excellent safety and pharmacokinetics. Clinical trials to probe HRX215 for prevention/treatment of liver failure after extensive oncological liver resections or after transplantation of small grafts are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Zwirner
- Department of Medical Oncology and Pneumology (Internal Medicine VIII), University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen 72076, Germany; HepaRegeniX GmbH, Tübingen 72072, Germany
| | - Anan A Abu Rmilah
- William J. von Liebig Center for Transplantation and Clinical Regeneration, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Sabrina Klotz
- Department of Medical Oncology and Pneumology (Internal Medicine VIII), University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen 72076, Germany
| | - Bent Pfaffenroth
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Tübingen, Tübingen 72076, Germany
| | - Philip Kloevekorn
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Tübingen, Tübingen 72076, Germany
| | - Athina A Moschopoulou
- Department of Medical Oncology and Pneumology (Internal Medicine VIII), University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen 72076, Germany
| | - Svenja Schuette
- Department of Medical Oncology and Pneumology (Internal Medicine VIII), University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen 72076, Germany
| | - Mathias Haag
- Dr. Margarete Fischer-Bosch Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Stuttgart 70376, Germany
| | - Roland Selig
- HepaRegeniX GmbH, Tübingen 72072, Germany; Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Tübingen, Tübingen 72076, Germany
| | - Kewei Li
- William J. von Liebig Center for Transplantation and Clinical Regeneration, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Wei Zhou
- William J. von Liebig Center for Transplantation and Clinical Regeneration, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Erek Nelson
- William J. von Liebig Center for Transplantation and Clinical Regeneration, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Antti Poso
- Department of Medical Oncology and Pneumology (Internal Medicine VIII), University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen 72076, Germany; School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio 70211, Finland; iFIT Cluster of Excellence (EXC 2180) "Image-guided and Functionally Instructed Tumor Therapies", University of Tübingen, Tübingen 72076, Germany
| | - Harvey Chen
- William J. von Liebig Center for Transplantation and Clinical Regeneration, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Bruce Amiot
- William J. von Liebig Center for Transplantation and Clinical Regeneration, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Yao Jia
- William J. von Liebig Center for Transplantation and Clinical Regeneration, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Anna Minshew
- William J. von Liebig Center for Transplantation and Clinical Regeneration, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Gregory Michalak
- William J. von Liebig Center for Transplantation and Clinical Regeneration, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Wei Cui
- Department of Medical Oncology and Pneumology (Internal Medicine VIII), University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen 72076, Germany
| | - Elke Rist
- Department of Medical Oncology and Pneumology (Internal Medicine VIII), University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen 72076, Germany
| | - Thomas Longerich
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | | | - Philipp Felgendreff
- William J. von Liebig Center for Transplantation and Clinical Regeneration, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Omelyan Trompak
- Department of Medical Oncology and Pneumology (Internal Medicine VIII), University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen 72076, Germany
| | | | - Katharina Gries
- Department of Medical Oncology and Pneumology (Internal Medicine VIII), University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen 72076, Germany
| | - Thomas E Muerdter
- Dr. Margarete Fischer-Bosch Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Stuttgart 70376, Germany
| | - Georg Heinkele
- Dr. Margarete Fischer-Bosch Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Stuttgart 70376, Germany
| | - Torsten Wuestefeld
- Laboratory for In Vivo Genetics & Gene Therapy, Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A(∗)STAR), Singapore 138672, Singapore; School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University of Singapore, Singapore 637551, Singapore
| | | | | | - Alfred Koenigsrainer
- iFIT Cluster of Excellence (EXC 2180) "Image-guided and Functionally Instructed Tumor Therapies", University of Tübingen, Tübingen 72076, Germany; German Cancer Research Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg 69120, Germany; Department of General-, Visceral, and Transplant Surgery, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen 72076, Germany
| | - Bence Sipos
- Department of Medical Oncology and Pneumology (Internal Medicine VIII), University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen 72076, Germany
| | - Eiso Ab
- ZoBio B.V., Leiden 2333 CH, the Netherlands
| | | | | | | | | | - Matthias Schwab
- Dr. Margarete Fischer-Bosch Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Stuttgart 70376, Germany; iFIT Cluster of Excellence (EXC 2180) "Image-guided and Functionally Instructed Tumor Therapies", University of Tübingen, Tübingen 72076, Germany; Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Tübingen, Tübingen 72076, Germany
| | | | - Stefan Laufer
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Tübingen, Tübingen 72076, Germany; Tübingen Center for Academic Drug Discovery & Development (TüCAD(2)), Tübingen 72076, Germany.
| | - Scott Nyberg
- William J. von Liebig Center for Transplantation and Clinical Regeneration, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
| | - Lars Zender
- Department of Medical Oncology and Pneumology (Internal Medicine VIII), University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen 72076, Germany; iFIT Cluster of Excellence (EXC 2180) "Image-guided and Functionally Instructed Tumor Therapies", University of Tübingen, Tübingen 72076, Germany; German Cancer Research Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg 69120, Germany; Tübingen Center for Academic Drug Discovery & Development (TüCAD(2)), Tübingen 72076, Germany.
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Lan W, Liao H, Chen Q, Zhu L, Pan Y, Chen YPP. DeepKEGG: a multi-omics data integration framework with biological insights for cancer recurrence prediction and biomarker discovery. Brief Bioinform 2024; 25:bbae185. [PMID: 38678587 PMCID: PMC11056029 DOI: 10.1093/bib/bbae185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2024] [Revised: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Deep learning-based multi-omics data integration methods have the capability to reveal the mechanisms of cancer development, discover cancer biomarkers and identify pathogenic targets. However, current methods ignore the potential correlations between samples in integrating multi-omics data. In addition, providing accurate biological explanations still poses significant challenges due to the complexity of deep learning models. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a deep learning-based multi-omics integration method to explore the potential correlations between samples and provide model interpretability. Herein, we propose a novel interpretable multi-omics data integration method (DeepKEGG) for cancer recurrence prediction and biomarker discovery. In DeepKEGG, a biological hierarchical module is designed for local connections of neuron nodes and model interpretability based on the biological relationship between genes/miRNAs and pathways. In addition, a pathway self-attention module is constructed to explore the correlation between different samples and generate the potential pathway feature representation for enhancing the prediction performance of the model. Lastly, an attribution-based feature importance calculation method is utilized to discover biomarkers related to cancer recurrence and provide a biological interpretation of the model. Experimental results demonstrate that DeepKEGG outperforms other state-of-the-art methods in 5-fold cross validation. Furthermore, case studies also indicate that DeepKEGG serves as an effective tool for biomarker discovery. The code is available at https://github.com/lanbiolab/DeepKEGG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Lan
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Multimedia Communications and Network Technology, School of Computer, Electronic and Information, Guangxi University, No. 100 Daxue Road, Xixiangtang District, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Haibo Liao
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Multimedia Communications and Network Technology, School of Computer, Electronic and Information, Guangxi University, No. 100 Daxue Road, Xixiangtang District, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Qingfeng Chen
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Multimedia Communications and Network Technology, School of Computer, Electronic and Information, Guangxi University, No. 100 Daxue Road, Xixiangtang District, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Lingzhi Zhu
- School of Computer and Information Science, Hunan Institute of Technology, No. 18 Henghua Road, Zhuhui District, Hengyang 421002, China
| | - Yi Pan
- School of Computer Science and Control Engineering, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 1068 Xueyuan Avenue, Shenzhen University Town, Nanshan District, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Yi-Ping Phoebe Chen
- Department of Computer Science and Information Technology, La Trobe University, Plenty Rd, Bundoora, Melbourne, Victoria 3086, Australia
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Xie M, Wang C, Sun Y, Mao Q, Sun S, Wu M, Zhu J, Li W, Jiang Z. Maimendong and Qianjinweijing Tang combined with cisplatin suppressed lung cancer through targeting lncRNA-p21. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 322:117547. [PMID: 38135231 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2023.117547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2023] [Revised: 10/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Maimendong and Qianjinweijing Tang (Jin formula) is a traditional Chinese medicine formula that has been proven effective in the treatment of lung cancer in long-term clinical practice. AIM OF THE STUDY To evaluate the anti-tumor effects of Jin formula combined with cisplatin (JIN + DDP) in vivo and in vitro, as well as to explore the role of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) in the anti-lung cancer mechanism of its action. MATERIALS AND METHODS A Lewis lung cancer model was established in C57 BL/6 mice to study the in vivo anti-tumor effect of Jin formula combined with cisplatin. TUNEL staining and western blot were applied to study the effects of Jin formula combined cisplatin on apoptosis. The in vitro anti-cancer function of Jin formula combined with cisplatin was explored by cell viability assay, flow cytometry, wound healing assay and transwell assay. The changes in lncRNA expression profiles were determined by lncRNA microarray, and the differentially expressed lncRNA-p21 was verified by quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis. The expression differences of lncRNA-p21 in tumor and normal tissues were analyzed by bioinformatics, and the expression differences of lncRNA-p21 in tumor cells and normal cells were detected by qRT-PCR. The role of lncRNA-p21 in the anti-cancer effect of Jin formula combined cisplatin was investigated by knockdown or overexpression of lncRNA-p21 and a series of cell experiments. The expression of MAPK pathway-related proteins was analyzed by western blot. RESULTS Jin formula combined with cisplatin (JIN + DDP) can suppress tumor growth and promote apoptosis in Lewis lung cancer mouse model. LncRNA-p21 was significantly up-regulated in the JIN and JIN + DDP groups, and the expression of lncRNA-p21 in lung cancer tissues and cells was lower than that in normal tissues and cells. In vitro, JIN + DDP significantly induced apoptosis and inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of H460 and H1650 lung cancer cells. The above effects can be enhanced by the overexpression of lncRNA-p21 and eliminated by knock-down of lncRNA-p21. Further studies revealed that JIN + DDP inhibited the expression of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway-related proteins, whereas knock-down of lncRNA-p21 abrogated the inhibition of the MAPK signaling pathway. CONCLUSIONS This study showed that Jin formula combined with cisplatin could effectively inhibit the progression of lung cancer partially through targeting lncRNA-p21.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meiping Xie
- School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 138 Xianlin Road, Nanjing, 210023, PR China; Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine Prevention and Treatment of Tumor, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 138 Xianlin Road, Nanjing, 210023, PR China
| | - Cheng Wang
- School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 138 Xianlin Road, Nanjing, 210023, PR China; Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine Prevention and Treatment of Tumor, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 138 Xianlin Road, Nanjing, 210023, PR China
| | - Yuxia Sun
- School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 138 Xianlin Road, Nanjing, 210023, PR China; Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine Prevention and Treatment of Tumor, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 138 Xianlin Road, Nanjing, 210023, PR China
| | - Qiuyuan Mao
- School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 138 Xianlin Road, Nanjing, 210023, PR China; Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine Prevention and Treatment of Tumor, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 138 Xianlin Road, Nanjing, 210023, PR China
| | - Shasha Sun
- School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 138 Xianlin Road, Nanjing, 210023, PR China; Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine Prevention and Treatment of Tumor, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 138 Xianlin Road, Nanjing, 210023, PR China
| | - Mianhua Wu
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine Prevention and Treatment of Tumor, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 138 Xianlin Road, Nanjing, 210023, PR China
| | - Jiapeng Zhu
- School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 138 Xianlin Road, Nanjing, 210023, PR China
| | - Wenting Li
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine Prevention and Treatment of Tumor, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 138 Xianlin Road, Nanjing, 210023, PR China.
| | - Zequn Jiang
- School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 138 Xianlin Road, Nanjing, 210023, PR China; Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine Prevention and Treatment of Tumor, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 138 Xianlin Road, Nanjing, 210023, PR China.
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Elgendy SM, Zaher DM, Sarg NH, Abu Jayab NN, Alhamad DW, Al-Tel TH, Omar HA. Autophagy inhibition potentiates energy restriction-induced cell death in hepatocellular carcinoma cells. IUBMB Life 2024. [PMID: 38497226 DOI: 10.1002/iub.2816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) significantly contributes to cancer-related mortality due to the limited response of HCC to current anticancer therapies, thereby necessitating more effective treatment approaches. Energy restriction mimetic agents (ERMAs) have emerged as potential therapies in targeting the Warburg effect, a unique metabolic process in cancer cells. However, ERMAs exhibit limited efficacy when used as monotherapy. Additionally, ERMAs have been found to induce autophagy in cancer cells. The role of autophagy in cancer survival remains a subject of debate. Thus, it is crucial to ascertain whether ERMA-induced autophagy is a mechanism for cell survival or cell death in HCC. Our study aims to investigate the effect of autophagy inhibition on the survival of HCC cells treated with ERMAs while also examining the potential of combining an autophagy inhibitor such as spautin-1 with ERMAs to enhance HCC cell death. Our results suggest a cytoprotective role for ERMA-induced autophagy in HCC cells, as combining the autophagy inhibitor spautin-1 with ERMAs effectively suppressed ERMA-induced autophagy and synergistically enhanced their antitumor activity. The treatment combination promoted HCC death through apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, and inhibition of AKT and ERK activation, which are known to play a key role in cellular proliferation. Collectively, our findings highlight a potential strategy to combat HCC by combining energy restriction with autophagy inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara M Elgendy
- Research Institute for Medical and Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
- College of Pharmacy, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Dana M Zaher
- Research Institute for Medical and Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
- College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Nadin H Sarg
- Research Institute for Medical and Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
- College of Pharmacy, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Nour N Abu Jayab
- Research Institute for Medical and Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
- College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Dima W Alhamad
- Research Institute for Medical and Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
- College of Pharmacy, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Taleb H Al-Tel
- Research Institute for Medical and Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
- College of Pharmacy, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Hany A Omar
- Research Institute for Medical and Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
- College of Pharmacy, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
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Kim Y, Jung KY, Kim YH, Xu P, Kang BE, Jo Y, Pandit N, Kwon J, Gariani K, Gariani J, Lee J, Verbeek J, Nam S, Bae SJ, Ha KT, Yi HS, Shong M, Kim KH, Kim D, Jung HJ, Lee CW, Kim KR, Schoonjans K, Auwerx J, Ryu D. Inhibition of SIRT7 overcomes sorafenib acquired resistance by suppressing ERK1/2 phosphorylation via the DDX3X-mediated NLRP3 inflammasome in hepatocellular carcinoma. Drug Resist Updat 2024; 73:101054. [PMID: 38277756 PMCID: PMC10935544 DOI: 10.1016/j.drup.2024.101054] [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: 09/07/2023] [Revised: 12/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
AIMS Sirtuin 7 (SIRT7) plays an important role in tumor development, and has been characterized as a potent regulator of cellular stress. However, the effect of SIRT7 on sorafenib acquired resistance remains unclear and a possible anti-tumor mechanism beyond this process in HCC has not been clarified. We examined the therapeutic potential of SIRT7 and determined whether it functions synergistically with sorafenib to overcome chemoresistance. METHODS Cancer Genome Atlas-liver HCC data and unbiased gene set enrichment analyses were used to identify SIRT7 as a potential effector molecule in sorafenib acquired resistance. Two types of SIRT7 chemical inhibitors were developed to evaluate its therapeutic properties when synergized with sorafenib. Mass spectrometry was performed to discover a direct target of SIRT7, DDX3X, and DDX3X deacetylation levels and protein stability were explored. Moreover, an in vivo xenograft model was used to confirm anti-tumor effect of SIRT7 and DDX3X chemical inhibitors combined with sorafenib. RESULTS SIRT7 inhibition mediated DDX3X depletion can re-sensitize acquired sorafenib resistance by disrupting NLRP3 inflammasome assembly, finally suppressing hyperactive ERK1/2 signaling in response to NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated IL-1β inhibition. CONCLUSIONS SIRT7 is responsible for sorafenib acquired resistance, and its inhibition would be beneficial when combined with sorafenib by suppressing hyperactive pro-cell survival ERK1/2 signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuna Kim
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon, Republic of Korea.
| | - Kwan-Young Jung
- Therapeutics & Biotechnology Division, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Yun Hak Kim
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Pusan National University, Yangsan, Republic of Korea; Department of Biomedical Informatics, School of Medicine, Pusan National University, Yangsan, Republic of Korea
| | - Pan Xu
- Laboratory of Integrative Systems Physiology, Institute of Bioengineering, Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Baeki E Kang
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Yunju Jo
- Department of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Navin Pandit
- Therapeutics & Biotechnology Division, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeongho Kwon
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Karim Gariani
- Service of Endocrinology, Diabetes, Nutrition and Therapeutic Patient Education, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Joanna Gariani
- Department of radiology, Hirslanden Grangettes Clinic, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Junguee Lee
- Department of Pathology, Daejeon St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Jef Verbeek
- Laboratory of Hepatology, Department of Chronic Diseases and Metabolism (CHROMETA), KU Leuven, Belgium; Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospitals KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Seungyoon Nam
- Department of Genome Medicine and Science, AI Convergence Center for Medical Science, Gachon Institute of Genome Medicine and Science, Gachon University Gil Medical Center, Gachon University College of Medicine, Incheon, Republic of Korea; Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Gachon Advanced Institute for Health Sciences and Technology (GAIHST), Republic of Korea
| | - Sung-Jin Bae
- Department of Molecular Biology and Immunology, Kosin University College of Medicine, Busan, Republic of Korea
| | - Ki-Tae Ha
- Department of Korean Medical Science, Pusan National University School of Korean Medicine, Yangsan, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyon-Seung Yi
- Laboratory of Endocrinology and Immune System, Chungnam National University School of Medicine, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Minho Shong
- Research Center for Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Chungnam National University School of Medicine, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyun-Hwan Kim
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Doyoun Kim
- Therapeutics & Biotechnology Division, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Hee Jung Jung
- Therapeutics & Biotechnology Division, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Chang-Woo Lee
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Kwang Rok Kim
- Therapeutics & Biotechnology Division, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
| | - Kristina Schoonjans
- Laboratory of Integrative Systems Physiology, Institute of Bioengineering, Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - Johan Auwerx
- Laboratory of Integrative Systems Physiology, Institute of Bioengineering, Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - Dongryeol Ryu
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon, Republic of Korea; Department of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, Republic of Korea.
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Ye Y, Liu L, Feng Z, Liu Y, Miao J, Wei X, Li H, Yang J, Cao X, Zhao J. The ERK-cPLA2-ACSL4 axis mediating M2 macrophages ferroptosis impedes mucosal healing in ulcerative colitis. Free Radic Biol Med 2024; 214:219-235. [PMID: 38367927 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2024.02.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2024] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 02/19/2024]
Abstract
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic gastrointestinal disease that can be managed with 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA), the standard treatment for UC. However, the effectiveness of 5-ASA is not always optimal. Our study revealed that despite 5-ASA treatment, cells continued to experience excessive ferroptosis, which may hinder mucosal healing in UC and limit the success of this treatment approach in achieving disease remission. We found that combining 5-ASA with the ferroptosis inhibitor Fer-1 led to a significant inhibition of ferroptosis in macrophages present in the colon tissue, along with an increase in the proportion of M2 macrophages, suggesting that targeting ferroptosis in M2 macrophages could be a potential therapeutic strategy for alleviating UC. Our study also demonstrated that M2 macrophages are more susceptible to ferroptosis compared to M1 macrophages, and this susceptibility is associated with the activated arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism pathway mediated by ERK-cPLA2-ACSL4. Additionally, we found that the expression of cPLA2 gene pla2g4a was increased in the colon of UC patients compared to healthy controls. Furthermore, targeted metabolomics analysis revealed that the combination treatment group, as opposed to the 5-ASA treatment group, exhibited the ability to modulate AA metabolism. Overall, our findings emphasize the importance of addressing macrophage ferroptosis in order to enhance macrophage anti-inflammation, improve mucosal healing, and achieve better therapeutic outcomes for patients with UC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yulin Ye
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, General Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China; Tianjin Institute of Digestive Diseases, Tianjin, China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Digestive Diseases, Tianjin, China
| | - Limin Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, General Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China; Tianjin Institute of Digestive Diseases, Tianjin, China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Digestive Diseases, Tianjin, China
| | - Zelin Feng
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, General Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China; Tianjin Institute of Digestive Diseases, Tianjin, China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Digestive Diseases, Tianjin, China
| | - Yifei Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, General Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China; Tianjin Institute of Digestive Diseases, Tianjin, China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Digestive Diseases, Tianjin, China
| | - Junming Miao
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, General Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China; Tianjin Institute of Digestive Diseases, Tianjin, China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Digestive Diseases, Tianjin, China
| | - Xinyue Wei
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, General Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China; Tianjin Institute of Digestive Diseases, Tianjin, China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Digestive Diseases, Tianjin, China
| | - Huizhen Li
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, General Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China; Tianjin Institute of Digestive Diseases, Tianjin, China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Digestive Diseases, Tianjin, China
| | - Jie Yang
- Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Disease (Ministry of Education), and Key Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, The Province and Ministry Co-sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China; State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Tianjin, China.
| | - Xiaocang Cao
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, General Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China; Tianjin Institute of Digestive Diseases, Tianjin, China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Digestive Diseases, Tianjin, China.
| | - Jingwen Zhao
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, General Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China; Tianjin Institute of Digestive Diseases, Tianjin, China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Digestive Diseases, Tianjin, China.
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Bao L. Roles, underlying mechanisms and clinical significances of LINC01503 in human cancers. Pathol Res Pract 2024; 254:155125. [PMID: 38241778 DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2024.155125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/21/2024]
Abstract
Long intergenic non-coding RNA 01503 (LINC01503) is a long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) located on human chromosome 9q34.11. There is compelling evidence indicating that LINC01503 is upregulated in multiple types of tumors and functions as a tumor stimulator. The upregulation of LINC01503 was significantly associated with the risk of 12 tumors and showed a strong correlation with clinicopathological characteristics and poor prognosis in 9 tumors. The expression of LINC01503 is regulated by transcription factors such as TP63, EGR1, c-MYC, GATA1 and AR. The downstream regulatory mechanisms of LINC01503 are complex and multifaceted. LINC01503, as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA), regulates gene expression by competitively inhibiting miRNA. LINC01503 may also regulate gene expression via interacting with biomolecules or recruiting chromatin-modifying complexes. In addition, LINC01503 can abnormally activate the ERK/MAPK, PI3K/AKT and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways to enhance tumor progression. Here, this review presents an overview of the latest research progress of LINC01503 in the field of oncology, summarizes its comprehensive network involved in multiple cancer molecular mechanisms, and explores its potential applications in cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Bao
- College of Basic Medical Science, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China.
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Luo X, He X, Zhang X, Zhao X, Zhang Y, Shi Y, Hua S. Hepatocellular carcinoma: signaling pathways, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy. MedComm (Beijing) 2024; 5:e474. [PMID: 38318160 PMCID: PMC10838672 DOI: 10.1002/mco2.474] [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: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver cancer with a high mortality rate. It is regarded as a significant public health issue because of its complicated pathophysiology, high metastasis, and recurrence rates. There are no obvious symptoms in the early stage of HCC, which often leads to delays in diagnosis. Traditional treatment methods such as surgical resection, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and interventional therapies have limited therapeutic effects for HCC patients with recurrence or metastasis. With the development of molecular biology and immunology, molecular signaling pathways and immune checkpoint were identified as the main mechanism of HCC progression. Targeting these molecules has become a new direction for the treatment of HCC. At present, the combination of targeted drugs and immune checkpoint inhibitors is the first choice for advanced HCC patients. In this review, we mainly focus on the cutting-edge research of signaling pathways and corresponding targeted therapy and immunotherapy in HCC. It is of great significance to comprehensively understand the pathogenesis of HCC, search for potential therapeutic targets, and optimize the treatment strategies of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoting Luo
- Department of Radiation OncologyZhuhai People's HospitalZhuhai Hospital Affiliated with Jinan UniversityZhuhaiChina
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Interventional Diagnosis and TreatmentZhuhai People's HospitalZhuhai Hospital Affiliated with Jinan UniversityZhuhaiChina
| | - Xin He
- Department of Radiation OncologyZhuhai People's HospitalZhuhai Hospital Affiliated with Jinan UniversityZhuhaiChina
| | - Xingmei Zhang
- Department of NeurobiologySchool of Basic Medical SciencesSouthern Medical UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Xiaohui Zhao
- Department of Radiation OncologyZhuhai People's HospitalZhuhai Hospital Affiliated with Jinan UniversityZhuhaiChina
| | - Yuzhe Zhang
- Department of Radiation OncologyZhuhai People's HospitalZhuhai Hospital Affiliated with Jinan UniversityZhuhaiChina
| | - Yusheng Shi
- Department of Radiation OncologyZhuhai People's HospitalZhuhai Hospital Affiliated with Jinan UniversityZhuhaiChina
| | - Shengni Hua
- Department of Radiation OncologyZhuhai People's HospitalZhuhai Hospital Affiliated with Jinan UniversityZhuhaiChina
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Alshehri SA, Almarwani WA, Albalawi AZ, Al-Atwi SM, Aljohani KK, Alanazi AA, Ebrahim MA, Hassan HM, Al-Gayyar MM. Role of Arctiin in Fibrosis and Apoptosis in Experimentally Induced Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Rats. Cureus 2024; 16:e51997. [PMID: 38205087 PMCID: PMC10777261 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.51997] [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] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Background and objectives Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly aggressive malignant tumor with a poor prognosis. It is currently the second most common cause of cancer-related mortality. Arctiin, a compound found in plants commonly used as a vegetable in Asian countries and as an ingredient in traditional European dishes, possesses various properties, including anti-proliferative, anti-senescence, anti-oxidative, anti-tumor, toxic, anti-adipogenic, and anti-bacterial effects. Our study aims to investigate the potential antitumor activity of arctiin against HCC in rats by inhibiting cell fibrosis and apoptosis. Methods Rats were induced with HCC by administering thioacetamide. Arctiin was orally administered to some rats twice a week for 16 weeks at a dose of 30 mg/kg. The liver impairment was evaluated by measuring serum α-fetoprotein (AFP) and examining liver sections stained with Masson trichrome or anti-hypoxia-induced factor-1α (HIF-1α) antibodies. The hepatic expression of messenger RNA and protein levels of HIF-1α, protein kinase C (PKC), extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), β-catenin, and mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 4 (SMAD4) were analyzed. Results Our study demonstrated that arctiin can potentially increase the survival rate of rats. This is achieved through a reduction in serum AFP levels and hepatic nodules. We also observed that arctiin has the ability to inhibit the formation of fibrotic tissues and necrotic nodules in HCC rats. Additionally, arctiin can significantly decrease the expression of HIF-1α, PKC, ERK, β-catenin, and SMAD4. Conclusion Arctiin has demonstrated potential anti-tumor properties that could ameliorate HCC. Studies have shown that it may increase survival rates and reduce the number of tumors and AFP levels. Arctiin works by inhibiting HCC-induced hypoxia, thus blocking the expression of HIF-1α. It also helps to slow down tumor fibrosis by decreasing the expression of β-catenin and SMAD4. Furthermore, arctiin has been found to downregulate PKC and ERK, reducing hepatic tissue apoptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Mohamed A Ebrahim
- Medical Oncology, Oncology Center, Mansoura University, Mansoura, EGY
| | - Hanan M Hassan
- Pharmacology and Biochemistry, Delta University for Science and Technology, Gamasa, EGY
| | - Mohammed M Al-Gayyar
- Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Tabuk Faculty of Pharmacy, Tabuk, SAU
- Biochemistry, Mansoura University Faculty of Pharmacy, Mansoura, EGY
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Li S, Liu W, Wang TT, Chen TQ, Guo JC. Identification of peanut skin components for treating hepatocellular carcinoma via network pharmacology and in vitro experiments. Chem Biol Drug Des 2024; 103:e14428. [PMID: 38230768 DOI: 10.1111/cbdd.14428] [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: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
Peanut skin (PS) contains various flavonoids and phenols that have antitumor and antioxidant effects. However, no research has been conducted on PS and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Therefore, this study sought to explore the potential mechanism of PS in treating HCC. PS was searched for in the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform and SYMMAP databases. HCC targets were searched for in five major databases. Protein-protein interaction network, Gene Ontology, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analyses were performed. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation were used for verification. Furthermore, in vitro experiments were used to verify the regulation of PS on human HCC (HepG2) cells. Ten ingredients and 95 common targets were identified for PS and HCC, respectively. The key targets of ingredients mainly relate to pathways such as hepatitis B, lipid and atherosclerosis, advanced glycation end products (AGEs)-AGE receptors (RAGEs) signaling pathway in diabetic complications, interleukin-17 (IL-17) signaling pathway, mitogen activated kinase-like protein (MAPK) signaling pathway, the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. In addition, the molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation analysis indicated the ingredients had strong binding ability with the targets. Moreover, in vitro experiments confirmed that luteolin can promote the apoptosis of HepG2 cells by controlling the expression of phosphorylated protein-tyrosine kinase (p-AKT). This study provides preliminary evidence that PS produces a marked effect in regulating multiple signaling pathways in HCC through multiple ingredients acting on multiple core genes, including AKT serine/threonine kinase 1 (AKT1), MYC, caspase 3 (CASP3), estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), jun proto-oncogene(JUN), and provides the basis for follow-up research to verify the mechanism of action of PS in treating HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sha Li
- Department of Pharmacy, Changsha Stomatological Hospital, Changsha, China
| | - Wen Liu
- Department of Pharmacy, Hunan Provincial People's Hospital, Changsha, China
| | - Tong-Tong Wang
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Hospital of Changsha, Changsha, China
| | - Tong-Qiang Chen
- Hunan provincial institute of product and goods quality inspection, Changsha, China
| | - Jin-Cai Guo
- Department of Pharmacy, Changsha Stomatological Hospital, Changsha, China
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Ying H, Zhang B, Cao G, Wang Y, Zhang X. Role for ubiquitin-specific protease 7 (USP7) in the treatment and the immune response to hepatocellular carcinoma: potential mechanisms. Transl Cancer Res 2023; 12:3016-3033. [PMID: 38130306 PMCID: PMC10731377 DOI: 10.21037/tcr-23-153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Background Ubiquitin-specific protease 7 (USP7) is a deubiquitinating enzyme that can affect or regulate a variety of cellular activities. The purpose of this study was to investigate therapeutic and immunologic effects of USP7 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and as well to evaluate potential mechanisms of action. Methods USP7-related gene expression and clinical data were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset, International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) dataset, and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) dataset. Pathways associated with USP7 were determined by gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). The relationships among USP7, immunity, and drug therapy were also investigated and potential mechanisms of action were explored. Results TCGA database results demonstrated USP7 mRNA expression levels to be upregulated in HCC tissues. Results were validated with UALCAN, ICGC, and GSE10143 datasets, as well as immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) experiments and were consistent with TCGA database findings (all P<0.05). GSEA analysis demonstrated increased USP7 levels to be associated with CHEMOKINE, Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK-STAT), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), P53, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and wingless (WNT) signaling pathways. Based on immune correlation analysis, USP7 was dramatically associated with immune cells and immune checkpoint molecules. In terms of drug therapy, USP7 expression levels were significantly related to HCC sensitivity to ciclosporin, talazoparib, dabrafenib, trametinib, paclitaxel, sorafenib, bortezomib, sunitinib, and crizotinib. Based on these results, we mechanistically propose an association between USP7 and these four drug targets: B-Raf proto-oncogene serine/threonine protein kinase (BRAF), mitogen-activated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MEK), DNA topoisomerase I (TOPOI), and poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP). Conclusions USP7 plays a therapeutic and immunological role in HCC. The four drug targets BRAF, MEK, TOPOI, and PARP are implicated in the USP7 mechanism of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huiwen Ying
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Xuancheng People’s Hospital, Xuancheng, China
| | - Bin Zhang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Guilian Cao
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Yunan Wang
- Department of Rheumatism and Immunology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Xian Zhang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China
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Cheng Y, Yang X, Liang L, Xin H, Dong X, Li W, Li J, Guo X, Li Y, He J, Zhang C, Wang W. Elevated expression of CXCL3 in colon cancer promotes malignant behaviors of tumor cells in an ERK-dependent manner. BMC Cancer 2023; 23:1162. [PMID: 38031087 PMCID: PMC10685652 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-023-11655-y] [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: 02/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND CXC chemokine ligand 3 (CXCL3) is a member of CXC-type chemokine family that is identified as a major regulator in immune and inflammation responses. Recently, numerous evidence indicated that CXCL3 is broadly expressed in various human tumor types, and it is also known to play a critical role in mediating tumor development and progression. However, the expression profile of CXCL3 and the exact molecular mechanism behind the role of CXCL3 in colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) has not been fully elucidated. METHODS The expression and clinical significance of CXCL3 mRNA and protein in the tissues from COAD patients were estimated using bioinformatics and immunohistochemistry assays. The expression and roles of exogenous administration or overexpression of CXCL3 in HT-29 and SW480 COAD cells were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA), Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and Transwell assays. Mechanically, CXCL3-induced malignant behaviors were elucidated using western blotting assay and extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 1/2 (ERk1/2) inhibitor PD98059. RESULTS The cancer genome atlas (TCGA)-COAD data analysis revealed that CXCL3 mRNA is highly expressed and has high clinical diagnostic accuracy in COAD. Increased expression of CXCL3 mRNA was associated with patient's clinical stage, race, gender, age, histological subtype, nodal mestastasis and tumor protein 53 (TP53) mutation status. Similarly, immunohistochemistry assay also exhibited that CXCL3 protein in COAD tissues was significantly up-regulated. Gene expression associated assay implied that CXC chemokine ligand 1 (CXCL1) and CXC chemokine ligand 2 (CXCL2) were markedly correlated with CXCL3 in COAD. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis revealed that cyclin B1 (CCNB1), mitotic arrest deficient 2 like 1 (MAD2L1), H2A family member Z (H2AFZ) and CXCL2 may be the important protein molecules involved in CXCL3-related tumor biology. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) analysis revealed that CXCL3 was mainly enriched in the cell cycle, DNA replication, NOD-like receptors, NOTCH and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) Signal pathways. In vitro, exogenous administration or overexpression of CXCL3 resulted in increased malignant behaviors of HT-29 and SW480 cells, and down-regulation of CXCL3 expression inhibited the malignant behaviors of these tumor cells. In addition, overexpression of CXCL3 affected the expression of genes related to extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK) pathway, including ERK1/2, p-ERK, B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) and Cyclin D1. Finally, CXCL3-induced malignant behaviors in HT-29 and SW480 cells were obviously attenuated following treatment with ERK inhibitor PD98059. CONCLUSION CXCL3 is upregulated in COAD and plays a crucial role in the control of malignant behaviors of tumor cells, which indicated its involvement in the pathogenesis of COAD.
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Grants
- Person in charge: Xinyan Yang; has been filed, the number to be issued. Basic scientific research business cost scientific research project of Heilongjiang Provincial Colleges and Universities in 2022
- Person in charge: Xinyan Yang; has been filed, the number to be issued. Basic scientific research business cost scientific research project of Heilongjiang Provincial Colleges and Universities in 2022
- Person in charge: Xinyan Yang; has been filed, the number to be issued. Basic scientific research business cost scientific research project of Heilongjiang Provincial Colleges and Universities in 2022
- Person in charge: Xinyan Yang; has been filed, the number to be issued. Basic scientific research business cost scientific research project of Heilongjiang Provincial Colleges and Universities in 2022
- Person in charge: Xinyan Yang; has been filed, the number to be issued. Basic scientific research business cost scientific research project of Heilongjiang Provincial Colleges and Universities in 2022
- LPHGRD2022-005 Open Project Program of Key Laboratory of Preservation of Human Genetic Resources and Disease Control in China (Harbin Medical University), Ministry of Education
- LPHGRD2022-005 Open Project Program of Key Laboratory of Preservation of Human Genetic Resources and Disease Control in China (Harbin Medical University), Ministry of Education
- LPHGRD2022-005 Open Project Program of Key Laboratory of Preservation of Human Genetic Resources and Disease Control in China (Harbin Medical University), Ministry of Education
- LPHGRD2022-005 Open Project Program of Key Laboratory of Preservation of Human Genetic Resources and Disease Control in China (Harbin Medical University), Ministry of Education
- LPHGRD2022-005 Open Project Program of Key Laboratory of Preservation of Human Genetic Resources and Disease Control in China (Harbin Medical University), Ministry of Education
- LPHGRD2022-005 Open Project Program of Key Laboratory of Preservation of Human Genetic Resources and Disease Control in China (Harbin Medical University), Ministry of Education
- LPHGRD2022-005 Open Project Program of Key Laboratory of Preservation of Human Genetic Resources and Disease Control in China (Harbin Medical University), Ministry of Education
- LPHGRD2022-005 Open Project Program of Key Laboratory of Preservation of Human Genetic Resources and Disease Control in China (Harbin Medical University), Ministry of Education
- 2022J01531 Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province
- 2022J01531 Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Cheng
- Basic Medical College, Jiamusi University, Jiamusi 154002, Heilongjiang, China
- Clinical Laboratory, Beidahuang Industry Group General Hospital, Harbin 150088, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Xinyan Yang
- Basic Medical College, Jiamusi University, Jiamusi 154002, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Lichun Liang
- Basic Medical College, Jiamusi University, Jiamusi 154002, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Hua Xin
- First Affiliated Hospital, Jiamusi University, Jiamusi 154002, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Xinyu Dong
- Basic Medical College, Jiamusi University, Jiamusi 154002, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Weidong Li
- Basic Medical College, Jiamusi University, Jiamusi 154002, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Jie Li
- Basic Medical College, Jiamusi University, Jiamusi 154002, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Xiaoli Guo
- Basic Medical College, Jiamusi University, Jiamusi 154002, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Yue Li
- Basic Medical College, Jiamusi University, Jiamusi 154002, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Jian He
- Department of Medical Technology, Collaborative Innovation Center for Translation Medical Testing and Application Technology Zhangzhou, Zhang Zhou Health Vocational College, Zhangzhou 363000, Fujian Province, China
| | - Chunbin Zhang
- Department of Medical Technology, Collaborative Innovation Center for Translation Medical Testing and Application Technology Zhangzhou, Zhang Zhou Health Vocational College, Zhangzhou 363000, Fujian Province, China.
| | - Weiqun Wang
- Basic Medical College, Jiamusi University, Jiamusi 154002, Heilongjiang, China.
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Qin YY, Yang Y, Ren YH, Gao F, Wang MJ, Li G, Liu YX, Fan L. A pan-cancer analysis of the MAPK family gene and their association with prognosis, tumor microenvironment, and therapeutic targets. Medicine (Baltimore) 2023; 102:e35829. [PMID: 37960824 PMCID: PMC10637530 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000035829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The mitogen-activated protein kinases family of genes plays a crucial role in a wide range of inflammatory responses in the human body. The MAPK family of genes includes ERK, ERK5, JNK, P-38 mitogen-activated protein kinases. However, the correlation between MAPK family gene expression and pan-cancer prognosis, as well as the tumor microenvironment, has not been extensively studied. This study integrated multiple bioinformatics analysis methods to assess the expression and prognostic value of MAPK family genes, as well as their relationship with tumor microenvironment in patients with pan-cancer. The results showed that ERK, JNK, and P-38 MAPK expression were found to be significantly upregulated in rectum adenocarcinoma (READ), colon adenocarcinoma/rectum adenocarcinoma esophageal carcinoma (COADREAD), and kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC), and significantly downregulated in acute myeloid leukemia. And the results revealed good prognostic results for ERK, JNK, and P-38 MAPK in READ, COADREAD, and KIRC. We observed significant positive correlation between MAPK family gene expression and immune scores especially dendritic cells in READ, COADREAD, and KIRC. And we observed that the expression levels of MAPK family genes were significantly correlated with the expression of immune-related genes, such as CXCL1, CXCL2, CXCL8, CXCR1, CXCR2, CTLA-4, CD80, CD86, and CD28, suggesting their important role in regulating immune infiltrates and tumor progression. Therefore, our study suggested that MAPK family gene plays an important role in regulating immune infiltrates and tumor progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan-Yuan Qin
- School of Pharmacy, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Huhhot, China
| | - Yan Yang
- School of Pharmacy, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Huhhot, China
| | - Yan-Hui Ren
- School of Pharmacy, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Huhhot, China
| | - Feng Gao
- School of Pharmacy, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Huhhot, China
| | - Min-Jie Wang
- Medical Experimental Center, Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Huhhot, China
| | - Gang Li
- School of Pharmacy, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Huhhot, China
| | - Yun-Xia Liu
- School of Pharmacy, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Huhhot, China
| | - Lei Fan
- School of Pharmacy, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Huhhot, China
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Klemm S, Evert K, Utpatel K, Muggli A, Simile MM, Chen X, Evert M, Calvisi DF, Scheiter A. Identification of DUSP4/6 overexpression as a potential rheostat to NRAS-induced hepatocarcinogenesis. BMC Cancer 2023; 23:1086. [PMID: 37946160 PMCID: PMC10636894 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-023-11577-9] [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: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Upregulation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade is common in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Neuroblastoma RAS viral oncogene homolog (NRAS) is mutated in a small percentage of HCC and is hitherto considered insufficient for hepatocarcinogenesis. We aimed to characterize the process of N-Ras-dependent carcinogenesis in the liver and to identify potential therapeutic vulnerabilities. METHODS NRAS V12 plasmid was delivered into the mouse liver via hydrodynamic tail vein injection (HTVI). The resulting tumours, preneoplastic lesions, and normal tissue were characterized by NanoString® gene expression analysis, Western Blot, and Immunohistochemistry (IHC). The results were further confirmed by in vitro analyses of HCC cell lines. RESULTS HTVI with NRAS V12 plasmid resulted in the gradual formation of preneoplastic and neoplastic lesions in the liver three months post-injection. These lesions mostly showed characteristics of HCC, with some exceptions of spindle cell/ cholangiocellular differentiation. Progressive upregulation of the RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK signalling was detectable in the lesions by Western Blot and IHC. NanoString® gene expression analysis of preneoplastic and tumorous tissue revealed a gradual overexpression of the cancer stem cell marker CD133 and Dual Specificity Phosphatases 4 and 6 (DUSP4/6). In vitro, transfection of HCC cell lines with NRAS V12 plasmid resulted in a coherent upregulation of DUSP4 and DUSP6. Paradoxically, this upregulation in PLC/PRF/5 cells was accompanied by a downregulation of phosphorylated extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (pERK), suggesting an overshooting compensation. Silencing of DUSP4 and DUSP6 increased proliferation in HCC cell lines. CONCLUSIONS Contrary to prior assumptions, the G12V NRAS mutant form is sufficient to elicit hepatocarcinogenesis in the mouse. Furthermore, the upregulation of the MAPK cascade was paralleled by the overexpression of DUSP4, DUSP6, and CD133 in vivo and in vitro. Therefore, DUSP4 and DUSP6 might fine-tune the excessive MAPK activation, a mechanism that can potentially be harnessed therapeutically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Klemm
- Institute of Pathology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Katja Evert
- Institute of Pathology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Kirsten Utpatel
- Institute of Pathology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Alexandra Muggli
- Institute of Pathology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Maria M Simile
- Department of Medicine, Surgery, and Pharmacy, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Xin Chen
- Cancer Biology Program, University of Hawaii Cancer Center, Honolulu, HI, USA
| | - Matthias Evert
- Institute of Pathology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Diego F Calvisi
- Institute of Pathology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
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Hu M, Xia X, Chen L, Jin Y, Hu Z, Xia S, Yao X. Emerging biomolecules for practical theranostics of liver hepatocellular carcinoma. Ann Hepatol 2023; 28:101137. [PMID: 37451515 DOI: 10.1016/j.aohep.2023.101137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 06/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Most cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are able to be diagnosed through regular surveillance in an identifiable patient population with chronic hepatitis B or cirrhosis. Nevertheless, 50% of global cases might present incidentally owing to symptomatic advanced-stage HCC after worsening of liver dysfunction. A systematic search based on PUBMED was performed to identify relevant outcomes, covering newer surveillance modalities including secretory proteins, DNA methylation, miRNAs, and genome sequencing analysis which proposed molecular expression signatures as ideal tools in the early-stage HCC detection. In the face of low accuracy without harmonization on the analytical approaches and data interpretation for liquid biopsy, a more accurate incidence of HCC will be unveiled by using deep machine learning system and multiplex immunohistochemistry analysis. A combination of molecular-secretory biomarkers, high-definition imaging and bedside clinical indexes in a surveillance setting offers a comprehensive range of HCC potential indicators. In addition, the sequential use of numerous lines of systemic anti-HCC therapies will simultaneously benefit more patients in survival. This review provides an overview on the most recent developments in HCC theranostic platform.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miner Hu
- International Institutes of Medicine, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiaojun Xia
- International Institutes of Medicine, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu, Zhejiang, China
| | - Lichao Chen
- International Institutes of Medicine, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yunpeng Jin
- International Institutes of Medicine, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu, Zhejiang, China
| | - Zhenhua Hu
- International Institutes of Medicine, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu, Zhejiang, China; Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Fourth Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Yiwu, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Shudong Xia
- International Institutes of Medicine, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Xudong Yao
- International Institutes of Medicine, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu, Zhejiang, China.
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Liu R, Yin C, Zhao P, Guo B, Ke W, Zheng X, Xie D, Wang Y, Wang G, Jia Y, Gao Y, Hu W, Liu GL, Song Z. Nuclear respiratory factor 1 drives hepatocellular carcinoma progression by activating LPCAT1-ERK1/2-CREB axis. Biol Direct 2023; 18:67. [PMID: 37875967 PMCID: PMC10594727 DOI: 10.1186/s13062-023-00428-z] [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: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nuclear respiratory factor 1 (NRF1) is a transcription factor that participates in several kinds of tumor, but its role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains elusive. This study aims to explore the role of NRF1 in HCC progression and investigate the underlying mechanisms. RESULTS NRF1 was overexpressed and hyperactive in HCC tissue and cell lines and high expression of NRF1 indicated unfavorable prognosis of HCC patients. NRF1 promoted proliferation, migration and invasion of HCC cells both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, NRF1 activated ERK1/2-CREB signaling pathway by transactivating lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase 1 (LPCAT1), thus promoting cell cycle progression and epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) of HCC cells. Meanwhile, LPCAT1 upregulated the expression of NRF1 by activating ERK1/2-CREB signaling pathway, forming a positive feedback loop. CONCLUSIONS NRF1 is overexpressed in HCC and promotes HCC progression by activating LPCAT1-ERK1/2-CREB axis. NRF1 is a promising therapeutic target for HCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ran Liu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1277 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430022, Hubei, China
| | - Chuanzheng Yin
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1277 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430022, Hubei, China
| | - Peng Zhao
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1277 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430022, Hubei, China
| | - Bing Guo
- Insitute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medical, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Wenbo Ke
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1277 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430022, Hubei, China
| | - Xichuan Zheng
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1277 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430022, Hubei, China
| | - Dawei Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Yaofeng Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1277 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430022, Hubei, China
| | - Gengqiao Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1277 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430022, Hubei, China
| | - Yinzhao Jia
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1277 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430022, Hubei, China
| | - Yang Gao
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1277 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430022, Hubei, China
| | - Wenjun Hu
- School of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, Hubei, China
| | - Gang Logan Liu
- School of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, Hubei, China
| | - Zifang Song
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1277 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430022, Hubei, China.
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Zhang Y, Zhang C, Li K, Deng J, Liu H, Lai G, Xie B, Zhong X. Identification of Molecular Subtypes and Prognostic Characteristics of Adrenocortical Carcinoma Based on Unsupervised Clustering. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:15465. [PMID: 37895143 PMCID: PMC10607826 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242015465] [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: 09/21/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare endocrine malignancy with a poor prognosis. Increasing evidence highlights the significant role of immune-related genes (IRGs) in ACC progression and immunotherapy, but the research is still limited. Based on the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, immune-related molecular subtypes were identified by unsupervised consensus clustering. Univariate Cox analysis and Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) regression were employed to further establish immune-related gene signatures (IRGS). An evaluation of immune cell infiltration, biological function, tumor mutation burden (TMB), predicted immunotherapy response, and drug sensitivity in ACC patients was conducted to elucidate the applicative efficacy of IRGS in precision therapy. ACC patients were divided into two molecular subtypes through consistent clustering. Furthermore, the 3-gene signature (including PRKCA, LTBP1, and BIRC5) based on two molecular subtypes demonstrated consistent prognostic efficacy across the TCGA and GEO datasets and emerged as an independent prognostic factor. The low-risk group exhibited heightened immune cell infiltration, TMB, and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), associated with a favorable prognosis. Pathways associated with drug metabolism, hormone regulation, and metabolism were activated in the low-risk group. In conclusion, our findings suggest IRGS can be used as an independent prognostic biomarker, providing a foundation for shaping future ACC immunotherapy strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Biao Xie
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Yixue Road, Chongqing 400016, China; (Y.Z.); (C.Z.); (K.L.); (J.D.); (H.L.); (G.L.)
| | - Xiaoni Zhong
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Yixue Road, Chongqing 400016, China; (Y.Z.); (C.Z.); (K.L.); (J.D.); (H.L.); (G.L.)
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Piekuś-Słomka N, Mocan LP, Shkreli R, Grapă C, Denkiewicz K, Wesolowska O, Kornek M, Spârchez Z, Słomka A, Crăciun R, Mocan T. Don't Judge a Book by Its Cover: The Role of Statins in Liver Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:5100. [PMID: 37894467 PMCID: PMC10605163 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15205100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Statins, which are inhibitors of 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase, are an effective pharmacological tool for lowering blood cholesterol levels. This property makes statins one of the most popular drugs used primarily to prevent cardiovascular diseases, where hyperlipidemia is a significant risk factor that increases mortality. Nevertheless, studies conducted mainly in the last decade have shown that statins might prevent and treat liver cancer, one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide. This narrative review summarizes the scientific achievements to date regarding the role of statins in liver tumors. Molecular biology tools have revealed that cell growth and proliferation can be inhibited by statins, which further inhibit angiogenesis. Clinical studies, supported by meta-analysis, confirm that statins are highly effective in preventing and treating hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma. However, this effect may depend on the statin's type and dose, and more clinical trials are required to evaluate clinical effects. Moreover, their potential hepatotoxicity is a significant caveat for using statins in clinical practice. Nevertheless, this group of drugs, initially developed to prevent cardiovascular diseases, is now a key candidate in hepato-oncology patient management. The description of new drug-statin-like structures, e.g., with low toxicity to liver cells, may bring another clinically significant improvement to current cancer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Piekuś-Słomka
- Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Ludwik Rydygier Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Jurasza 2, 85-089 Bydgoszcz, Poland;
| | - Lavinia Patricia Mocan
- Department of Histology, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, Romania;
| | - Rezarta Shkreli
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Aldent University, 1001-1028 Tirana, Albania;
| | - Cristiana Grapă
- Department of Physiology, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania;
| | - Kinga Denkiewicz
- Department of Pathophysiology, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Ludwik Rydygier Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, 85-094 Bydgoszcz, Poland; (K.D.); (O.W.); (A.S.)
| | - Oliwia Wesolowska
- Department of Pathophysiology, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Ludwik Rydygier Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, 85-094 Bydgoszcz, Poland; (K.D.); (O.W.); (A.S.)
| | - Miroslaw Kornek
- Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Bonn of the Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-University, 53127 Bonn, Germany;
| | - Zeno Spârchez
- 3rd Medical Department, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400162 Cluj-Napoca, Romania;
| | - Artur Słomka
- Department of Pathophysiology, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Ludwik Rydygier Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, 85-094 Bydgoszcz, Poland; (K.D.); (O.W.); (A.S.)
| | - Rareș Crăciun
- 3rd Medical Department, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400162 Cluj-Napoca, Romania;
- Department of Gastroenterology, “Octavian Fodor” Institute for Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 400162 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Tudor Mocan
- Department of Gastroenterology, “Octavian Fodor” Institute for Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 400162 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- UBBMed Department, Babeș-Bolyai University, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
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Bian J, Liu Y, Zhao X, Meng C, Zhang Y, Duan Y, Wang G. Research progress in the mechanism and treatment of osteosarcoma. Chin Med J (Engl) 2023; 136:2412-2420. [PMID: 37649421 PMCID: PMC10586865 DOI: 10.1097/cm9.0000000000002800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common primary malignant bone tumor that more commonly occurs in children and adolescents. The most commonly used treatment for OS is surgery combined with chemotherapy, but the treatment outcomes are typically unsatisfactory. High rates of metastasis and post-treatment recurrence rates are major challenges in the treatment of OS. This underlines the need for studying the in-depth characterization of the pathogenetic mechanisms of OS and development of more effective therapeutic modalities. Previous studies have demonstrated the important role of the bone microenvironment and the regulation of signaling pathways in the occurrence and development of OS. In this review, we discussed the available evidence pertaining to the mechanisms of OS development and identified therapeutic targets for OS. We also summarized the available treatment modalities for OS and identified future priorities for therapeutics research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jichao Bian
- Department of Joint and Sports Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University, Jining, Shandong 272029, China
| | - Yang Liu
- Department of Pathology, The Second People's Hospital Of Jining, Jining, Shandong 272049, China
| | - Xiaowei Zhao
- Department of Joint and Sports Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University, Jining, Shandong 272029, China
| | - Chunyang Meng
- Department of Spine, The Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University, Jining, Shandong 272029, China
| | - Yuanmin Zhang
- Department of Joint and Sports Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University, Jining, Shandong 272029, China
| | - Yangmiao Duan
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of Education, Department of Cell Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China
| | - Guodong Wang
- Department of Joint and Sports Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University, Jining, Shandong 272029, China
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Wang H, Ding Y, He Y, Yu Z, Zhou Y, Gong A, Xu M. LncRNA UCA1 promotes pancreatic cancer cell migration by regulating mitochondrial dynamics via the MAPK pathway. Arch Biochem Biophys 2023; 748:109783. [PMID: 37816421 DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2023.109783] [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: 09/09/2023] [Revised: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Long non-coding RNA urothelial cancer associated 1 (UCA1) serves as an oncogene in various cancers. However, the mechanism underlying the role of UCA1 in pancreatic cancer remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the role of UCA1 in pancreatic cancer. METHODS The expression and prognosis of UCA1 were analyzed using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) databases. The results were validated by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and qRT-PCR. The biofunctions of UCA1 were analyzed using Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA). The migration abilities and mitochondrial dynamics of PC cells were examined using the Transwell assay, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and fluorescence. The mitochondrial-related protein and MAPK/ERK pathway markers were evaluated using western blotting. RESULTS UCA1 expression was significantly higher in pancreatic cancer tissues than in normal tissues. High UCA1 expression indicated poor clinical outcomes and was associated with clinical features in patients with pancreatic cancer. Additionally, high UCA1 expression is a potential independent marker for poor prognosis. Subsequently, we demonstrated that UCA1 enhanced the migration capability, increased MMP, enhanced mitochondrial fusion, and inhibited mitochondrial autophagy in pancreatic cancer cells via the MAPK/ERK pathway. CONCLUSION UCA1 promotes the migration by regulating the mitochondrial dynamics of pancreatic cancer cells via the MAPK/ERK pathway. Our findings suggest that UCA1 may serve as a potential biomarker in pancreatic cancer prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huizhi Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China.
| | - Yuntao Ding
- Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China.
| | - Yuxin He
- Department of Gastroenterology, Changzhou NO.2 People's Hospital, Changzhou, China.
| | - Zhengyue Yu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China.
| | - Yujing Zhou
- Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China.
| | - Aihua Gong
- Department of Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China.
| | - Min Xu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China.
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Li Y, Zhu J, Yu Z, Zhai F, Li H, Jin X. Regulation of apoptosis by ubiquitination in liver cancer. Am J Cancer Res 2023; 13:4832-4871. [PMID: 37970337 PMCID: PMC10636691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Apoptosis is a programmed cell death process critical to cell development and tissue homeostasis in multicellular organisms. Defective apoptosis is a crucial step in the malignant transformation of cells, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), where the apoptosis rate is higher than in normal liver tissues. Ubiquitination, a post-translational modification process, plays a precise role in regulating the formation and function of different death-signaling complexes, including those involved in apoptosis. Aberrant expression of E3 ubiquitin ligases (E3s) in liver cancer (LC), such as cellular inhibitors of apoptosis proteins (cIAPs), X chromosome-linked IAP (XIAP), and linear ubiquitin chain assembly complex (LUBAC), can contribute to HCC development by promoting cell survival and inhibiting apoptosis. Therefore, the review introduces the main apoptosis pathways and the regulation of proteins in these pathways by E3s and deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs). It summarizes the abnormal expression of these regulators in HCC and their effects on cancer inhibition or promotion. Understanding the role of ubiquitination in apoptosis and LC can provide insights into potential targets for therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxuan Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Ningbo Medical Center of LiHuiLi Hospital, Ningbo UniversityNingbo 315040, Zhejiang, P. R. China
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Health Science Center, Ningbo UniversityNingbo 315211, Zhejiang, P. R. China
| | - Jie Zhu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Ningbo Medical Center of LiHuiLi Hospital, Ningbo UniversityNingbo 315040, Zhejiang, P. R. China
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Health Science Center, Ningbo UniversityNingbo 315211, Zhejiang, P. R. China
| | - Zongdong Yu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Ningbo Medical Center of LiHuiLi Hospital, Ningbo UniversityNingbo 315040, Zhejiang, P. R. China
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Health Science Center, Ningbo UniversityNingbo 315211, Zhejiang, P. R. China
| | - Fengguang Zhai
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Health Science Center, Ningbo UniversityNingbo 315211, Zhejiang, P. R. China
| | - Hong Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Ningbo Medical Center of LiHuiLi Hospital, Ningbo UniversityNingbo 315040, Zhejiang, P. R. China
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Health Science Center, Ningbo UniversityNingbo 315211, Zhejiang, P. R. China
| | - Xiaofeng Jin
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Ningbo Medical Center of LiHuiLi Hospital, Ningbo UniversityNingbo 315040, Zhejiang, P. R. China
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Health Science Center, Ningbo UniversityNingbo 315211, Zhejiang, P. R. China
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Rashid MM, Varghese RS, Ding Y, Ressom HW. Biomarker Discovery for Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Patients with Liver Cirrhosis Using Untargeted Metabolomics and Lipidomics Studies. Metabolites 2023; 13:1047. [PMID: 37887372 PMCID: PMC10608999 DOI: 10.3390/metabo13101047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most prevalent form of liver cancer, is the third leading cause of mortality globally. Patients with HCC have a poor prognosis due to the fact that the emergence of symptoms typically occurs at a late stage of the disease. In addition, conventional biomarkers perform suboptimally when identifying HCC in its early stages, heightening the need for the identification of new and more effective biomarkers. Using metabolomics and lipidomics approaches, this study aims to identify serum biomarkers for identification of HCC in patients with liver cirrhosis (LC). Serum samples from 20 HCC cases and 20 patients with LC were analyzed using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-Q Exactive mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-Exactive-MS). Metabolites and lipids that are significantly altered between HCC cases and patients with LC were identified. These include organic acids, amino acids, TCA cycle intermediates, fatty acids, bile acids, glycerophospholipids, sphingolipids, and glycerolipids. The most significant variability was observed in the concentrations of bile acids, fatty acids, and glycerophospholipids. In the context of HCC cases, there was a notable increase in the levels of phosphatidylethanolamine and triglycerides, but the levels of fatty acids and phosphatidylcholine exhibited a substantial decrease. In addition, it was observed that all of the identified metabolites exhibited a superior area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve in comparison to alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). The pathway analysis of these metabolites revealed fatty acid, lipid, and energy metabolism as the most impacted pathways. Putative biomarkers identified in this study will be validated in future studies via targeted quantification.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Habtom W. Ressom
- Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Oncology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USA; (M.M.R.); (R.S.V.); (Y.D.)
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Chaudhary MR, Chaudhary S, Sharma Y, Singh TA, Mishra AK, Sharma S, Mehdi MM. Aging, oxidative stress and degenerative diseases: mechanisms, complications and emerging therapeutic strategies. Biogerontology 2023; 24:609-662. [PMID: 37516673 DOI: 10.1007/s10522-023-10050-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/31/2023]
Abstract
Aging accompanied by several age-related complications, is a multifaceted inevitable biological progression involving various genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. The major factor in this process is oxidative stress, caused by an abundance of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated in the mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum (ER). ROS and RNS pose a threat by disrupting signaling mechanisms and causing oxidative damage to cellular components. This oxidative stress affects both the ER and mitochondria, causing proteopathies (abnormal protein aggregation), initiation of unfolded protein response, mitochondrial dysfunction, abnormal cellular senescence, ultimately leading to inflammaging (chronic inflammation associated with aging) and, in rare cases, metastasis. RONS during oxidative stress dysregulate multiple metabolic pathways like NF-κB, MAPK, Nrf-2/Keap-1/ARE and PI3K/Akt which may lead to inappropriate cell death through apoptosis and necrosis. Inflammaging contributes to the development of inflammatory and degenerative diseases such as neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, and retinopathy. The body's antioxidant systems, sirtuins, autophagy, apoptosis, and biogenesis play a role in maintaining homeostasis, but they have limitations and cannot achieve an ideal state of balance. Certain interventions, such as calorie restriction, intermittent fasting, dietary habits, and regular exercise, have shown beneficial effects in counteracting the aging process. In addition, interventions like senotherapy (targeting senescent cells) and sirtuin-activating compounds (STACs) enhance autophagy and apoptosis for efficient removal of damaged oxidative products and organelles. Further, STACs enhance biogenesis for the regeneration of required organelles to maintain homeostasis. This review article explores the various aspects of oxidative damage, the associated complications, and potential strategies to mitigate these effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mani Raj Chaudhary
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Bioengineering and Biosciences, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab, 144411, India
| | - Sakshi Chaudhary
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Bioengineering and Biosciences, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab, 144411, India
| | - Yogita Sharma
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Bioengineering and Biosciences, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab, 144411, India
| | - Thokchom Arjun Singh
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Bioengineering and Biosciences, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab, 144411, India
| | - Alok Kumar Mishra
- Department of Microbiology, School of Bioengineering and Biosciences, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab, 144411, India
| | - Shweta Sharma
- Chitkara School of Health Sciences, Chitkara University, Chandigarh, Punjab, 140401, India
| | - Mohammad Murtaza Mehdi
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Bioengineering and Biosciences, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab, 144411, India.
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Zhao B, Qiao H, Zhao Y, Gao Z, Wang W, Cui Y, Li J, Guo Z, Chuai X, Chiu S. HBV precore G1896A mutation promotes growth of hepatocellular carcinoma cells by activating ERK/MAPK pathway. Virol Sin 2023; 38:680-689. [PMID: 37331658 PMCID: PMC10590694 DOI: 10.1016/j.virs.2023.06.004] [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: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is one of the leading causes of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The HBV genome is prone to mutate and several variants are closely related to the malignant transformation of liver disease. G1896A mutation (G to A mutation at nucleotide 1896) is one of the most frequently observed mutations in the precore region of HBV, which prevents HBeAg expression and is strongly associated with HCC. However, the mechanisms by which this mutation causes HCC are unclear. Here, we explored the function and molecular mechanisms of the G1896A mutation during HBV-associated HCC. G1896A mutation remarkably enhanced the HBV replication in vitro. Moreover, it increased tumor formation and inhibited apoptosis of hepatoma cells, and decreased the sensitivity of HCC to sorafenib. Mechanistically, the G1896A mutation could activate ERK/MAPK pathway to enhanced sorafenib resistance in HCC cells and augmented cell survival and growth. Collectively, our study demonstrates for the first time that the G1896A mutation has a dual regulatory role in exacerbating HCC severity and sheds some light on the treatment of G1896A mutation-associated HCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baoxin Zhao
- Institute of Medical and Health Science, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, China; Department of Pathogen Biology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, China
| | - Hongxiu Qiao
- Institute of Medical and Health Science, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, China; Department of Pathogen Biology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, China
| | - Yan Zhao
- Institute of Medical and Health Science, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, China; Department of Pathogen Biology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, China
| | - Zhiyun Gao
- Institute of Medical and Health Science, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, China; Department of Pathogen Biology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, China
| | - Weijie Wang
- Institute of Medical and Health Science, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, China; Department of Pathogen Biology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, China
| | - Yan Cui
- Institute of Medical and Health Science, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, China; Department of Pathogen Biology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, China
| | - Jian Li
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, China
| | - Zhanjun Guo
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050000, China.
| | - Xia Chuai
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, China; State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430207, China.
| | - Sandra Chiu
- Institute of Medical and Health Science, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, China; Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China.
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Liu MR, Shi C, Song QY, Kang MJ, Jiang X, Liu H, Pei DS. Sorafenib induces ferroptosis by promoting TRIM54-mediated FSP1 ubiquitination and degradation in hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatol Commun 2023; 7:e0246. [PMID: 37695069 PMCID: PMC10497252 DOI: 10.1097/hc9.0000000000000246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ferroptosis is a unique form of regulated cell death that provided a new opportunity for cancer therapy. Ferroptosis suppressor protein 1 (FSP1) is a key regulator in the NAD(P)H/FSP1/CoQ10 antioxidant system, which sever as an oxide redox enzyme to scavenge harmful lipid hydroperoxides and escape from ferroptosis in cells. This study aimed to investigate the role of FSP1 on sorafenib-induced ferroptosis and disclosed the underlying mechanisms. METHODS Cell viability, malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), and lipid reactive oxygen species levels were assessed using indicated assay kits. The levels of FSP1 and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) in the patients with HCC were analyzed based on the database. Western blot and quantitative real-time PCR were performed to detect the protein and mRNA expression. Co-immunoprecipitation was applied to detect the interaction between proteins. Tumor xenograft experiments were used to evaluate whether overexpression of FSP1-inhibited sorafenib-induced ferroptosis in vivo. RESULTS We verified that sorafenib-induced ferroptosis in HCC. Furthermore, we found that sorafenib decreased the protein level of FSP1, and knockdown FSP1 rendered HCC cells susceptible to sorafenib-induced ferroptosis. Co-immunoprecipitation and ubiquitination assays showed that sorafenib accelerated the TRIM54-mediated FSP1 ubiquitination and degradation. Sorafenib-induced ferroptosis was abrogated by TRIM54 suppression. Mechanically, sorafenib-promoted TRIM54 ubiquitinated and degraded FSP1 by means of the ERK pathway. Moreover, FSP1 enhanced tumor development and decreased HCC cellular susceptibility to sorafenib in vivo. CONCLUSIONS Sorafenib facilitated the TRIM54-mediated FSP1 ubiquitination through the ERK pathway, thereby inducing ferroptosis in HCC cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Man-ru Liu
- Department of Pathology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
- Department of Human Anatomy, Nanchang University Fuzhou Medical College, Fuzhou, China
| | - Ce Shi
- Department of Pathology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
- Department of Orthopedics, The Affiliated Suqian Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Suqian, China
| | - Qiu-ya Song
- Department of Pathology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Meng-jie Kang
- Department of Pathology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Xin Jiang
- Department of Pathology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Hui Liu
- Department of Ultrasound Medicine, Suqian First Hospital, Suqian, China
| | - Dong-sheng Pei
- Department of Pathology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
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