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Cigliano A, Liao W, Deiana GA, Rizzo D, Chen X, Calvisi DF. Preclinical Models of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Current Utility, Limitations, and Challenges. Biomedicines 2024; 12:1624. [PMID: 39062197 PMCID: PMC11274649 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12071624] [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: 06/14/2024] [Revised: 07/16/2024] [Accepted: 07/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the predominant primary liver tumor, remains one of the most lethal cancers worldwide, despite the advances in therapy in recent years. In addition to the traditional chemically and dietary-induced HCC models, a broad spectrum of novel preclinical tools have been generated following the advent of transgenic, transposon, organoid, and in silico technologies to overcome this gloomy scenario. These models have become rapidly robust preclinical instruments to unravel the molecular pathogenesis of liver cancer and establish new therapeutic approaches against this deadly disease. The present review article aims to summarize and discuss the commonly used preclinical models for HCC, evaluating their strengths and weaknesses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Cigliano
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Pharmacy, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (A.C.); (G.A.D.); (D.R.)
| | - Weiting Liao
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences and Liver Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; (W.L.); (X.C.)
- Cancer Biology Program, University of Hawaii Cancer Center, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA
| | - Giovanni A. Deiana
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Pharmacy, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (A.C.); (G.A.D.); (D.R.)
| | - Davide Rizzo
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Pharmacy, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (A.C.); (G.A.D.); (D.R.)
| | - Xin Chen
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences and Liver Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; (W.L.); (X.C.)
- Cancer Biology Program, University of Hawaii Cancer Center, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA
| | - Diego F. Calvisi
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Pharmacy, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (A.C.); (G.A.D.); (D.R.)
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2
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Mahapatra D, Maronpot R. Translational Relevance of Rodent Models to Predict Human Liver Disease. Toxicol Pathol 2023; 51:482-486. [PMID: 38494947 DOI: 10.1177/01926233241230543] [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] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Animals models are essential to understand the complex pathobiology of human diseases. George Box's aphorism based on statistics "All models are wrong, but some are useful" certainly applies to animal models of disease. In this session, the translational relevance of various animal models applicable to human liver disease was explored starting with a historic overview of the rodent cancer bioassay with emphasis on hepatocarcinogenesis from early work at the National Cancer Institute, refinement by the National Toxicology Program and contemporary efforts to identify potential mechanisms and their relevance to human cancer risk. Subsequently, recently elucidated understanding of the molecular drivers and signaling mechanisms of liver pathophysiology and liver cancer, including factors associated with liver regeneration, metabolic hepatocellular zonation, and the role of macrophages and their crosstalk with stellate cells in understanding human liver disease was discussed. Next, our contemporary understanding of the role of nuclear receptors in hepatic homeostasis and drug response highlighting nuclear receptor activation and crosstalk in modulating biological responses associated with liver damage and neoplastic response were discussed. Finally, an overview and translational relevance of different drug-induced liver injury (DILI) rodent model systems focused on pathology and mechanisms with commentary on current relevant Food and Drug Administration (FDA) perspective were summarized with closing remarks.
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3
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Adlat S, Vázquez Salgado AM, Lee M, Yin D, Wangensteen KJ. Emerging and potential use of CRISPR in human liver disease. Hepatology 2023:01515467-990000000-00538. [PMID: 37607734 PMCID: PMC10881897 DOI: 10.1097/hep.0000000000000578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/24/2023]
Abstract
CRISPR is a gene editing tool adapted from naturally occurring defense systems from bacteria. It is a technology that is revolutionizing the interrogation of gene functions in driving liver disease, especially through genetic screens and by facilitating animal knockout and knockin models. It is being used in models of liver disease to identify which genes are critical for liver pathology, especially in genetic liver disease, hepatitis, and in cancer initiation and progression. It holds tremendous promise in treating human diseases directly by editing DNA. It could disable gene function in the case of expression of a maladaptive protein, such as blocking transthyretin as a therapy for amyloidosis, or to correct gene defects, such as restoring the normal functions of liver enzymes fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase or alpha-1 antitrypsin. It is also being studied for treatment of hepatitis B infection. CRISPR is an exciting, evolving technology that is facilitating gene characterization and discovery in liver disease and holds the potential to treat liver diseases safely and permanently.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salah Adlat
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
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4
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Sequera C, Grattarola M, Holczbauer A, Dono R, Pizzimenti S, Barrera G, Wangensteen KJ, Maina F. MYC and MET cooperatively drive hepatocellular carcinoma with distinct molecular traits and vulnerabilities. Cell Death Dis 2022; 13:994. [PMID: 36433941 PMCID: PMC9700715 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-022-05411-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Revised: 11/05/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Enhanced activation of the transcription factor MYC and of the receptor tyrosine kinase MET are among the events frequently occurring in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Both genes individually act as drivers of liver cancer initiation and progression. However, their concomitant alteration in HCC has not been explored, nor functionally documented. Here, we analysed databases of five independent human HCC cohorts and found a subset of patients with high levels of MYC and MET (MYChigh/METhigh) characterised by poor prognosis. This clinical observation drove us to explore the functionality of MYC and MET co-occurrence in vivo, combining hydrodynamic tail vein injection for MYC expression in the R26stopMet genetic setting, in which wild-type MET levels are enhanced following the genetic deletion of a stop cassette. Results showed that increased MYC and MET expression in hepatocytes is sufficient to induce liver tumorigenesis even in the absence of pre-existing injuries associated with a chronic disease state. Intriguingly, ectopic MYC in MET tumours increases expression of the Mki67 proliferation marker, and switches them into loss of Afp, Spp1, Gpc3, Epcam accompanied by an increase in Hgma1, Vim, and Hep-Par1 levels. We additionally found a switch in the expression of specific immune checkpoints, with an increase in the Ctla-4 and Lag3 lymphocyte co-inhibitory responses, and in the Icosl co-stimulatory responses of tumour cells. We provide in vitro evidence on the vulnerability of some human HCC cell lines to combined MYC and MET targeting, which are otherwise resistant to single inhibition. Mechanistically, combined blockage of MYC and MET converts a partial cytostatic effect, triggered by individual blockage of MYC or MET, into a cytotoxic effect. Together, these findings highlight a subgroup of HCC characterised by MYChigh/METhigh, and document functional cooperativity between MYC and MET in liver tumorigenesis. Thus, the MYC-R26Met model is a relevant setting for HCC biology, patient classification and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Celia Sequera
- grid.462081.90000 0004 0598 4854Aix-Marseille Univ, CNRS, Developmental Biology Institute of Marseille (IBDM), Turing Center for Living Systems, Parc Scientifique de Luminy, Marseille, France
| | - Margherita Grattarola
- grid.462081.90000 0004 0598 4854Aix-Marseille Univ, CNRS, Developmental Biology Institute of Marseille (IBDM), Turing Center for Living Systems, Parc Scientifique de Luminy, Marseille, France ,grid.7605.40000 0001 2336 6580Department of Clinical and Biological Science, University of Turin, 10125 Turin, Italy
| | - Agnes Holczbauer
- grid.66875.3a0000 0004 0459 167XDivision of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, NY USA
| | - Rosanna Dono
- grid.462081.90000 0004 0598 4854Aix-Marseille Univ, CNRS, Developmental Biology Institute of Marseille (IBDM), Turing Center for Living Systems, Parc Scientifique de Luminy, Marseille, France
| | - Stefania Pizzimenti
- grid.7605.40000 0001 2336 6580Department of Clinical and Biological Science, University of Turin, 10125 Turin, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Barrera
- grid.7605.40000 0001 2336 6580Department of Clinical and Biological Science, University of Turin, 10125 Turin, Italy
| | - Kirk J. Wangensteen
- grid.66875.3a0000 0004 0459 167XDivision of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, NY USA
| | - Flavio Maina
- grid.462081.90000 0004 0598 4854Aix-Marseille Univ, CNRS, Developmental Biology Institute of Marseille (IBDM), Turing Center for Living Systems, Parc Scientifique de Luminy, Marseille, France
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5
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Chen J, Zhao Y, Zhang F, Li J, Boland JA, Cheng NC, Liu K, Tiffen JC, Bertolino P, Bowen DG, Krueger A, Lisowski L, Alexander IE, Vadas MA, El-Omar E, Gamble JR, McCaughan GW. Liver-specific deletion of miR-181ab1 reduces liver tumour progression via upregulation of CBX7. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:443. [PMID: 35867177 PMCID: PMC9307539 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-022-04452-6] [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: 03/24/2022] [Revised: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
MiR-181 expression levels increased in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) compared to non-cancerous tissues. MiR-181 has been widely reported as a possible driver of tumourigenesis but also acts as a tumour suppressor. In addition, the miR-181 family regulates the development and function of immune and vascular cells, which play vital roles in the progression of tumours. More complicatedly, many genes have been identified as miR-181 targets to mediate the effects of miR-181. However, the role of miR-181 in the development of primary tumours remains largely unexplored. We aimed to examine the function of miR-181 and its vital mediators in the progression of diethylnitrosamine-induced primary liver cancers in mice. The size of liver tumours was significantly reduced by 90% in global (GKO) or liver-specific (LKO) 181ab1 knockout mice but not in hematopoietic and endothelial lineage-specific knockout mice, compared to WT mice. In addition, the number of tumours was significantly reduced by 50% in GKO mice. Whole-genome RNA-seq analysis and immunohistochemistry showed that epithelial-mesenchymal transition was partially reversed in GKO tumours compared to WT tumours. The expression of CBX7, a confirmed miR-181 target, was up-regulated in GKO compared to WT tumours. Stable CBX7 expression was achieved with an AAV/Transposase Hybrid-Vector System and up-regulated CBX7 expression inhibited liver tumour progression in WT mice. Hepatic CBX7 deletion restored the progression of LKO liver tumours. MiR-181a expression was the lowest and CBX7 expression the highest in iClust2 and 3 subclasses of human HCC compared to iClust1. Gene expression profiles of GKO tumours overlapped with low-proliferative peri-portal-type HCCs. Liver-specific loss of miR-181ab1 inhibited primary liver tumour progression via up-regulating CBX7 expression, but tumour induction requires both hepatic and non-hepatic miR-181. Also, miR-181ab1-deficient liver tumours may resemble low-proliferative periportal-type human HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinbiao Chen
- Liver Injury and Cancer Program Centenary Institute and Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2050, Australia
| | - Yang Zhao
- Vascular Biology Program Centenary Institute and Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2050, Australia.,School of Medicine and Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Fan Zhang
- UNSW Microbiome Research Centre, School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW Medicine and Health, St George and Sutherland Clinical Campuses, Kogarah, NSW, 2217, Australia
| | - Jia Li
- Vascular Biology Program Centenary Institute and Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2050, Australia.,Centre for Motor Neuron Disease, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Jade A Boland
- Liver Injury and Cancer Program Centenary Institute and Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2050, Australia
| | - Ngan Ching Cheng
- Liver Injury and Cancer Program Centenary Institute and Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2050, Australia.,Vascular Biology Program Centenary Institute and Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2050, Australia
| | - Ken Liu
- Liver Injury and Cancer Program Centenary Institute and Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2050, Australia.,Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Missenden Road, Camperdown, NSW, 2050, Australia
| | - Jessamy C Tiffen
- Melanoma Epigenetics Lab Centenary Institute and Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2050, Australia
| | - Patrick Bertolino
- Liver Immunology Program Centenary Institute and Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2050, Australia
| | - David G Bowen
- Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Missenden Road, Camperdown, NSW, 2050, Australia.,Liver Immunology Program Centenary Institute and Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2050, Australia
| | - Andreas Krueger
- Molecular Immunology, Faculty of Biology and Chemistry, Justus Liebig University Gießen, Schubertstr 81, 35392, Giessen, Germany.,Institute for Molecular Medicine, Frankfurt Cancer Institute, Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Leszek Lisowski
- Translational Vectorology Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW, 2145, Australia.,Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Innovative Therapies, Military Institute of Medicine, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Ian E Alexander
- Gene Therapy Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney and Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, Westmead, NSW, 2145, Australia
| | - Mathew A Vadas
- Vascular Biology Program Centenary Institute and Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2050, Australia
| | - Emad El-Omar
- UNSW Microbiome Research Centre, School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW Medicine and Health, St George and Sutherland Clinical Campuses, Kogarah, NSW, 2217, Australia
| | - Jennifer R Gamble
- Vascular Biology Program Centenary Institute and Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2050, Australia
| | - Geoffrey W McCaughan
- Liver Injury and Cancer Program Centenary Institute and Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2050, Australia. .,Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Missenden Road, Camperdown, NSW, 2050, Australia.
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6
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Tao J, Krutsenko Y, Moghe A, Singh S, Poddar M, Bell A, Oertel M, Singhi AD, Geller D, Chen X, Lujambio A, Liu S, Monga SP. Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 and β-Catenin Coactivation in Hepatocellular Cancer: Biological and Therapeutic Implications. Hepatology 2021; 74:741-759. [PMID: 33529367 PMCID: PMC8326305 DOI: 10.1002/hep.31730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2020] [Revised: 12/08/2020] [Accepted: 01/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS HCC remains a major unmet clinical need. Although activating catenin beta-1 (CTNNB1) mutations are observed in prominent subsets of HCC cases, these by themselves are insufficient for hepatocarcinogenesis. Coexpression of mutant CTNNB1 with clinically relevant co-occurrence has yielded HCCs. Here, we identify cooperation between β-catenin and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling in HCC. APPROACH AND RESULTS Public HCC data sets were assessed for concomitant presence of CTNNB1 mutations and either mutations in nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor-2 (NFE2L2) or Kelch like-ECH-associated protein 1 (KEAP1), or Nrf2 activation by gene signature. HCC development in mice and similarity to human HCC subsets was assessed following coexpression of T41A-CTNNB1 with either wild-type (WT)-, G31A-, or T80K-NFE2L2. Based on mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 activation in CTNNB1-mutated HCCs, response of preclinical HCC to mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor was investigated. Overall, 9% of HCC cases showed concomitant CTNNB1 mutations and Nrf2 activation, subsets of which were attributable to mutations in NFE2L2/KEAP1. Coexpression of mutated CTNNB1 with mutant NFE2L2, but not WT-NFE2L2, led to HCC development and mortality by 12-14 weeks. These HCCs were positive for β-catenin targets, like glutamine synthetase and cyclin-D1, and Nrf2 targets, like NAD(P)H quinone dehydrogenase 1 and peroxiredoxin 1. RNA-sequencing and pathway analysis showed high concordance of preclinical HCC to human HCC subset showing activation of unique (iron homeostasis and glioblastoma multiforme signaling) and expected (glutamine metabolism) pathways. NFE2L2-CTNNB1 HCC mice were treated with mTOR inhibitor everolimus (5-mg/kg diet ad libitum), which led to >50% decrease in tumor burden. CONCLUSIONS Coactivation of β-catenin and Nrf2 is evident in 9% of all human HCCs. Coexpression of mutant NFE2L2 and mutant CTNNB1 led to clinically relevant HCC development in mice, which responded to mTOR inhibitors. Thus, this model has both biological and therapeutic implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junyan Tao
- Department of PathologyUniversity of PittsburghSchool of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical CenterPittsburghPA.,Pittsburgh Liver Research CenterUniversity of PittsburghSchool of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical CenterPittsburghPA
| | - Yekaterina Krutsenko
- Department of PathologyUniversity of PittsburghSchool of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical CenterPittsburghPA.,Pittsburgh Liver Research CenterUniversity of PittsburghSchool of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical CenterPittsburghPA
| | - Akshata Moghe
- Pittsburgh Liver Research CenterUniversity of PittsburghSchool of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical CenterPittsburghPA.,Department of MedicineUniversity of PittsburghSchool of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical CenterPittsburghPA
| | - Sucha Singh
- Department of PathologyUniversity of PittsburghSchool of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical CenterPittsburghPA.,Pittsburgh Liver Research CenterUniversity of PittsburghSchool of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical CenterPittsburghPA
| | - Minakshi Poddar
- Department of PathologyUniversity of PittsburghSchool of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical CenterPittsburghPA.,Pittsburgh Liver Research CenterUniversity of PittsburghSchool of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical CenterPittsburghPA
| | - Aaron Bell
- Department of PathologyUniversity of PittsburghSchool of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical CenterPittsburghPA.,Pittsburgh Liver Research CenterUniversity of PittsburghSchool of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical CenterPittsburghPA
| | - Michael Oertel
- Department of PathologyUniversity of PittsburghSchool of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical CenterPittsburghPA.,Pittsburgh Liver Research CenterUniversity of PittsburghSchool of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical CenterPittsburghPA
| | - Aatur D Singhi
- Department of PathologyUniversity of PittsburghSchool of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical CenterPittsburghPA.,Pittsburgh Liver Research CenterUniversity of PittsburghSchool of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical CenterPittsburghPA
| | - David Geller
- Pittsburgh Liver Research CenterUniversity of PittsburghSchool of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical CenterPittsburghPA.,Department of SurgeryUniversity of PittsburghSchool of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical CenterPittsburghPA
| | - Xin Chen
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences and Liver CenterUniversity CaliforniaSan FranciscoCA
| | - Amaia Lujambio
- Department of Oncological SciencesTisch Cancer InstitutePrecision Immunology Institute, and Liver Cancer ProgramIcahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkNY
| | - Silvia Liu
- Department of PathologyUniversity of PittsburghSchool of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical CenterPittsburghPA.,Pittsburgh Liver Research CenterUniversity of PittsburghSchool of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical CenterPittsburghPA
| | - Satdarshan P Monga
- Department of PathologyUniversity of PittsburghSchool of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical CenterPittsburghPA.,Pittsburgh Liver Research CenterUniversity of PittsburghSchool of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical CenterPittsburghPA.,Department of MedicineUniversity of PittsburghSchool of Medicine and University of Pittsburgh Medical CenterPittsburghPA
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7
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Delgado ER, Erickson HL, Tao J, Monga SP, Duncan AW, Anakk S. Scaffolding Protein IQGAP1 Is Dispensable, but Its Overexpression Promotes Hepatocellular Carcinoma via YAP1 Signaling. Mol Cell Biol 2021; 41:e00596-20. [PMID: 33526450 PMCID: PMC8088129 DOI: 10.1128/mcb.00596-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Revised: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
IQ motif-containing GTPase-activating protein 1 (IQGAP1) is a ubiquitously expressed scaffolding protein that is overexpressed in a number of cancers, including liver cancer, and is associated with protumorigenic processes, such as cell proliferation, motility, and adhesion. IQGAP1 can integrate multiple signaling pathways and could be an effective antitumor target. Therefore, we examined the role of IQGAP1 in tumor initiation and promotion during liver carcinogenesis. We found that ectopic overexpression of IQGAP1 in the liver is not sufficient to initiate tumorigenesis. Moreover, we report that the tumor burden and cell proliferation in the diethylnitrosamine-induced liver carcinogenesis model in Iqgap1-/- mice may be driven by MET signaling. In contrast, IQGAP1 overexpression enhanced YAP activation and subsequent NUAK2 expression to accelerate and promote hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in a clinically relevant model expressing activated (S45Y) β-catenin and MET. Here, increasing IQGAP1 expression in vivo does not alter β-catenin or MET activation; instead, it promotes YAP activity. Overall, we demonstrate that although IQGAP1 expression is not required for HCC development, the gain of IQGAP1 function promotes the rapid onset and increased liver carcinogenesis. Our results show that an adequate amount of IQGAP1 scaffold is necessary to maintain the quiescent status of the liver.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evan R Delgado
- Department of Pathology, McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Hanna L Erickson
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| | - Junyan Tao
- Department of Pathology, McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Satdarshan P Monga
- Department of Pathology, McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Andrew W Duncan
- Department of Pathology, McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Sayeepriyadarshini Anakk
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
- Cancer Center at Illinois, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
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