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Barjesteh F, Heidari-Kalvani N, Alipourfard I, Najafi M, Bahreini E. Testosterone, β-estradiol, and hepatocellular carcinoma: stimulation or inhibition? A comparative effect analysis on cell cycle, apoptosis, and Wnt signaling of HepG2 cells. NAUNYN-SCHMIEDEBERG'S ARCHIVES OF PHARMACOLOGY 2024; 397:6121-6133. [PMID: 38421409 DOI: 10.1007/s00210-024-03019-5] [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: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Unlike breast and prostate cancers, which are specifically affected by estrogens or androgens, hepatocellular carcinoma has been reported to be influenced by both sex hormones. Given the coincidental differences of hepatocellular carcinoma in men and women, we investigated the effects of β-estradiol and testosterone on the cell cycle, apoptosis, and Wnt signaling in a model of hepatocellular carcinoma to understand the sex hormone-related etiology. To determine the effective concentration of both hormones, an MTT assay was performed. The effects of β-estradiol and testosterone on cell proliferation and death were evaluated by specific staining and flow cytometry. In addition, gene expression levels of estimated factors involved in GPC3-Wnt survival signaling were analyzed using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Both hormones inhibited hepatic cell proliferation through arresting the cell cycle at S/G2 and increased the apoptosis rate in HepG2 cells. Both hormones dose-dependently decreased GPC3, Wnt, and DVL expression levels as activators of the Wnt-signaling pathway. In the case of Wnt-signaling inhibitors, the effects of both hormones on WIF were negligible, but they increased DKK1 levels in a dose-dependent manner. In each of the effects mentioned above, β-estradiol was notably more potent than testosterone. In contrast to the primary hypothesis of the project, in which testosterone was considered a stimulating carcinogenic factor in HCC pathogenesis, testosterone inhibited the occurrence of HCC similarly to β-estradiol. However, this inhibitory effect was weaker than that of β-estradiol and requires further study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fereshteh Barjesteh
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, 1449614525, Iran
| | - Nafiseh Heidari-Kalvani
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, 1449614525, Iran
| | - Iraj Alipourfard
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Mohammad Najafi
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, 1449614525, Iran
| | - Elham Bahreini
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, 1449614525, Iran.
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2
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Rathee M, Umar SM, Dev AJR, Kashyap A, Mathur SR, Gogia A, Mohapatra P, Prasad CP. Canonical WNT/β-catenin signaling upregulates aerobic glycolysis in diverse cancer types. Mol Biol Rep 2024; 51:788. [PMID: 38970704 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-024-09694-0] [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: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 07/08/2024]
Abstract
Despite many efforts, a comprehensive understanding and clarification of the intricate connections within cancer cell metabolism remain elusive. This might pertain to intracellular dynamics and the complex interplay between cancer cells, and cells with the tumor stroma. Almost a century ago, Otto Warburg found that cancer cells exhibit a glycolytic phenotype, which continues to be a subject of thorough investigation. Past and ongoing investigations have demonstrated intricate mechanisms by which tumors modulate their functionality by utilizing extracellular glucose as a substrate, thereby sustaining the essential proliferation of cancer cells. This concept of "aerobic glycolysis," where cancer cells (even in the presence of enough oxygen) metabolize glucose to produce lactate plays a critical role in cancer progression and is regulated by various signaling pathways. Recent research has revealed that the canonical wingless-related integrated site (WNT) pathway promotes aerobic glycolysis, directly and indirectly, thereby influencing cancer development and progression. The present review seeks to gather knowledge about how the WNT/β-catenin pathway influences aerobic glycolysis, referring to relevant studies in different types of cancer. Furthermore, we propose the concept of impeding the glycolytic phenotype of tumors by employing specific inhibitors that target WNT/β-catenin signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meetu Rathee
- Department of Medical Oncology Lab, DR BRA IRCH, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), 4thFloor, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi, 110029, India
| | - Sheikh Mohammad Umar
- Department of Medical Oncology Lab, DR BRA IRCH, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), 4thFloor, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi, 110029, India
| | - Arundhathi J R Dev
- Department of Medical Oncology Lab, DR BRA IRCH, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), 4thFloor, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi, 110029, India
| | - Akanksha Kashyap
- Department of Medical Oncology Lab, DR BRA IRCH, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), 4thFloor, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi, 110029, India
| | - Sandeep R Mathur
- Department of Pathology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, 110029, India
| | - Ajay Gogia
- Department of Medical Oncology, DR BRA IRCH, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, 110029, India
| | | | - Chandra Prakash Prasad
- Department of Medical Oncology Lab, DR BRA IRCH, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), 4thFloor, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi, 110029, India.
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Szilveszter RM, Muntean M, Florea A. Molecular Mechanisms in Tumorigenesis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma and in Target Treatments-An Overview. Biomolecules 2024; 14:656. [PMID: 38927059 PMCID: PMC11201617 DOI: 10.3390/biom14060656] [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: 04/30/2024] [Revised: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common primary malignancy of the liver, with hepatocellular differentiation. It is ranked sixth among the most common cancers worldwide and is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths. The most important etiological factors discussed here are viral infection (HBV, HCV), exposure to aflatoxin B1, metabolic syndrome, and obesity (as an independent factor). Directly or indirectly, they induce chromosomal aberrations, mutations, and epigenetic changes in specific genes involved in intracellular signaling pathways, responsible for synthesis of growth factors, cell proliferation, differentiation, survival, the metastasis process (including the epithelial-mesenchymal transition and the expression of adhesion molecules), and angiogenesis. All these disrupted molecular mechanisms contribute to hepatocarcinogenesis. Furthermore, equally important is the interaction between tumor cells and the components of the tumor microenvironment: inflammatory cells and macrophages-predominantly with a pro-tumoral role-hepatic stellate cells, tumor-associated fibroblasts, cancer stem cells, extracellular vesicles, and the extracellular matrix. In this paper, we reviewed the molecular biology of hepatocellular carcinoma and the intricate mechanisms involved in hepatocarcinogenesis, and we highlighted how certain signaling pathways can be pharmacologically influenced at various levels with specific molecules. Additionally, we mentioned several examples of recent clinical trials and briefly described the current treatment protocol according to the NCCN guidelines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raluca-Margit Szilveszter
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400340 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (M.M.); (A.F.)
- Cluj County Emergency Clinical Hospital, 400340 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Mara Muntean
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (M.M.); (A.F.)
| | - Adrian Florea
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (M.M.); (A.F.)
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Prasad M, Tamil Selvan S, Shanmugam R, Murugan R, Fareed M. Analysing the Anticancer Properties of Pterostilbene Through Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, and Excretion (ADME) and Molecular Docking Studies. Cureus 2024; 16:e58425. [PMID: 38756274 PMCID: PMC11097614 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.58425] [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: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Aim The aim of this study is to examine the possible therapeutic effect of pterostilbene (PTS), a chemical present in grapes and blueberries, in the treatment of liver cancer by analysing its interactions with important proteins linked to the wingless/integrated (Wnt) signaling system. Objective Using computational techniques like molecular docking and absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) studies, this research focuses on examining the pharmacokinetics and molecular interactions of PTS with proteins such as vimentin (Vim), glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK3-β), epithelial cadherin (E-cadherin), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and Wnt, all of which are connected to the Wnt signaling pathway in liver cancer. Methods The study includes the synthesis of proteins and ligands, ADME investigations for PTS, and AutoDock Vina molecular docking simulations to evaluate binding affinities and interactions. PTS is obtained from PubChem, while protein structures are obtained from the Protein Data Bank. Results Strong binding affinities between PTS and essential proteins in the Wnt signaling cascade are shown by molecular docking, which also highlights noteworthy hydrogen bonds, hydrophobic interactions, and electrostatic contacts. According to an ADME study, PTS has advantageous pharmacokinetic properties, such as moderate solubility, membrane permeability, and a minimal chance of drug interactions. Conclusion The extensive study highlights PTS's potential as a viable treatment option for liver cancer. The study promotes its investigation in cutting-edge liver cancer therapy approaches and urges more investigation into the molecular mechanisms, underpinning its anticancer properties. This paper sheds important light on the role of natural chemicals in cancer therapy and emphasizes the need for computational methods in drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monisha Prasad
- Centre for Global Health Research, Saveetha Medical College and Hospital, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai, IND
| | - Silambarasan Tamil Selvan
- Centre for Global Health Research, Saveetha Medical College and Hospital, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai, IND
| | - Rajeshkumar Shanmugam
- Nanobiomedicine Lab, Centre for Global Health Research, Saveetha Medical College and Hospital, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai, IND
| | - Ramadurai Murugan
- Centre for Global Health Research, Saveetha Medical College and Hospital, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai, IND
| | - Mohammad Fareed
- Centre for Global Health Research, Saveetha Medical College and Hospital, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai, IND
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S M N Mydin RB, Azlan A, Okekpa SI, Gooderham NJ. Regulatory role of miRNAs in nasopharyngeal cancer involving PTEN/PI3K/AKT, TGFβ/SMAD, RAS/MAPK, Wnt/β-catenin and pRB-E2F signaling pathways: A review. Cell Biochem Funct 2024; 42:e3945. [PMID: 38362935 DOI: 10.1002/cbf.3945] [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: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNA) are small and conserved noncoding RNA molecules that regulate gene expression at the posttranscriptional level. These groups of RNAs are crucial in various cellular processes, especially in mediating disease pathogenesis, particularly cancer. The dysregulation of miRNAs was reported in many cancer types, including nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC), which is a malignant tumor of the nasopharynx. In this review, miRNAs involvement in crucial signaling pathways associated with NPC such as PTEN/PI3K/AKT, TGFβ/SMAD, RAS/MAPK, Wnt/β-catenin and pRB-E2F was investigated. miRNAs could function as tumor suppressor-miR or onco-miR in NPC profoundly influenced cell cycle, apoptosis, proliferation, migration, and metastasis. This comprehensive review of current literature provided a thorough profile of miRNAs and their interplay with the aforementioned signaling pathways in NPC. Understanding these molecular interactions could remarkably impact the diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutic strategies for NPC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rabiatul Basria S M N Mydin
- Department of Biomedical Science, Advanced Medical and Dental Institute, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kepala Batas, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion, and Reproduction, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Adam Azlan
- Department of Biomedical Science, Advanced Medical and Dental Institute, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kepala Batas, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
- School of General and Foundation Studies, Asian Institute of Medicine, Science and Technology (AIMST University), Bedong, Kedah, Malaysia
| | - Simon I Okekpa
- Department of Biomedical Science, Advanced Medical and Dental Institute, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kepala Batas, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria
| | - Nigel J Gooderham
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion, and Reproduction, Imperial College London, London, UK
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Ahmad A, Tiwari RK, Siddiqui S, Chadha M, Shukla R, Srivastava V. Emerging trends in gastrointestinal cancers: Targeting developmental pathways in carcinogenesis and tumor progression. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2024; 385:41-99. [PMID: 38663962 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ircmb.2023.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Gastrointestinal carcinomas are a group of cancers associated with the digestive system and its accessory organs. The most prevalent cancers related to the gastrointestinal tract are colorectal, gall bladder, gastric, hepatocellular, and esophageal cancers, respectively. Molecular aberrations in different signaling pathways, such as signal transduction systems or developmental pathways are the chief triggering mechanisms in different cancers Though a massive advancement in diagnostic and therapeutic interventions results in improved survival of patients with gastrointestinal cancer; the lower malignancy stages of these carcinomas are comparatively asymptomatic. Various gastrointestinal-related cancers are detected at advanced stages, leading to deplorable prognoses and increased rates of recurrence. Recent molecular studies have elucidated the imperative roles of several signaling pathways, namely Wnt, Hedgehog, and Notch signaling pathways, play in the progression, therapeutic responsiveness, and metastasis of gastrointestinal-related cancers. This book chapter gives an interesting update on recent findings on the involvement of developmental signaling pathways their mechanistic insight in gastrointestinalcancer. Subsequently, evidences supporting the exploration of gastrointestinal cancer related molecular mechanisms have also been discussed for developing novel therapeutic strategies against these debilitating carcinomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Afza Ahmad
- Department of Biosciences, Integral University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Rohit Kumar Tiwari
- Department of Clinical Research, Sharda School of Allied Health Sciences, Sharda University, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Saleha Siddiqui
- Department of Biotechnology, Delhi Technological University, Delhi, India
| | - Muskan Chadha
- Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Sharda School of Allied Health Sciences, Sharda University, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Ratnakar Shukla
- Department of Clinical Research, Sharda School of Allied Health Sciences, Sharda University, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Vivek Srivastava
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Sharda School of Basic Sciences & Research, Sharda University, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India.
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Milosevic I, Todorovic N, Filipovic A, Simic J, Markovic M, Stevanovic O, Malinic J, Katanic N, Mitrovic N, Nikolic N. HCV and HCC Tango-Deciphering the Intricate Dance of Disease: A Review Article. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16048. [PMID: 38003240 PMCID: PMC10671156 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242216048] [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: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accounting for around one-third of all HCC cases. Prolonged inflammation in chronic hepatitis C (CHC), maintained through a variety of pro- and anti-inflammatory mediators, is one of the aspects of carcinogenesis, followed by mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress. Immune response dysfunction including the innate and adaptive immunity also plays a role in the development, as well as in the recurrence of HCC after treatment. Some of the tumor suppressor genes inhibited by the HCV proteins are p53, p73, and retinoblastoma 1. Mutations in the telomerase reverse transcriptase promoter and the oncogene catenin beta 1 are two more important carcinogenic signaling pathways in HCC associated with HCV. Furthermore, in HCV-related HCC, numerous tumor suppressor and seven oncogenic genes are dysregulated by epigenetic changes. Epigenetic regulation of gene expression is considered as a lasting "epigenetic memory", suggesting that HCV-induced changes persist and are associated with liver carcinogenesis even after cure. Epigenetic changes and immune response dysfunction are recognized targets for potential therapy of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivana Milosevic
- Faculty of Medicine, Department for Infectious Diseases, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (I.M.); (M.M.); (O.S.); (J.M.); (N.M.)
- University Clinic for Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University Clinical Center of Serbia, Bulevar Oslobodjenja 16, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (N.T.); (A.F.); (J.S.); (N.K.)
| | - Nevena Todorovic
- University Clinic for Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University Clinical Center of Serbia, Bulevar Oslobodjenja 16, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (N.T.); (A.F.); (J.S.); (N.K.)
| | - Ana Filipovic
- University Clinic for Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University Clinical Center of Serbia, Bulevar Oslobodjenja 16, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (N.T.); (A.F.); (J.S.); (N.K.)
| | - Jelena Simic
- University Clinic for Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University Clinical Center of Serbia, Bulevar Oslobodjenja 16, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (N.T.); (A.F.); (J.S.); (N.K.)
| | - Marko Markovic
- Faculty of Medicine, Department for Infectious Diseases, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (I.M.); (M.M.); (O.S.); (J.M.); (N.M.)
- University Clinic for Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University Clinical Center of Serbia, Bulevar Oslobodjenja 16, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (N.T.); (A.F.); (J.S.); (N.K.)
| | - Olja Stevanovic
- Faculty of Medicine, Department for Infectious Diseases, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (I.M.); (M.M.); (O.S.); (J.M.); (N.M.)
- University Clinic for Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University Clinical Center of Serbia, Bulevar Oslobodjenja 16, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (N.T.); (A.F.); (J.S.); (N.K.)
| | - Jovan Malinic
- Faculty of Medicine, Department for Infectious Diseases, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (I.M.); (M.M.); (O.S.); (J.M.); (N.M.)
- University Clinic for Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University Clinical Center of Serbia, Bulevar Oslobodjenja 16, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (N.T.); (A.F.); (J.S.); (N.K.)
| | - Natasa Katanic
- University Clinic for Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University Clinical Center of Serbia, Bulevar Oslobodjenja 16, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (N.T.); (A.F.); (J.S.); (N.K.)
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Pristina Situated in Kosovska Mitrovica, 28000 Kosovska Mitrovica, Serbia
| | - Nikola Mitrovic
- Faculty of Medicine, Department for Infectious Diseases, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (I.M.); (M.M.); (O.S.); (J.M.); (N.M.)
- University Clinic for Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University Clinical Center of Serbia, Bulevar Oslobodjenja 16, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (N.T.); (A.F.); (J.S.); (N.K.)
| | - Natasa Nikolic
- Faculty of Medicine, Department for Infectious Diseases, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (I.M.); (M.M.); (O.S.); (J.M.); (N.M.)
- University Clinic for Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University Clinical Center of Serbia, Bulevar Oslobodjenja 16, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (N.T.); (A.F.); (J.S.); (N.K.)
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Azbazdar Y, Demirci Y, Heger G, Ipekgil D, Karabicici M, Ozhan G. Comparative membrane lipidomics of hepatocellular carcinoma cells reveals diacylglycerol and ceramide as key regulators of Wnt/β-catenin signaling and tumor growth. Mol Oncol 2023; 17:2314-2336. [PMID: 37699867 PMCID: PMC10620124 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.13520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Revised: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/09/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is largely associated with aberrant activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Nevertheless, how membrane lipid composition is altered in HCC cells with abnormal Wnt signaling remains elusive. Here, by exploiting comprehensive lipidome profiling, we unravel the membrane lipid composition of six different HCC cell lines with mutations in components of Wnt/β-catenin signaling, leading to differences in their endogenous signaling activity. Among the differentially regulated lipids are diacylglycerol (DAG) and ceramide, which were downregulated at the membrane of HCC cells after Wnt3a treatment. DAG and ceramide enhanced Wnt/β-catenin signaling by inducing caveolin-mediated endocytosis of the canonical Wnt-receptor complex, while their depletion suppressed the signaling activity along with a reduction of caveolin-mediated endocytosis in SNU475 and HepG2 cells. Moreover, depletion of DAG and ceramide significantly impeded the proliferation, tumor growth, and in vivo migration capacity of SNU475 and HepG2 cells. This study, by pioneering plasma membrane lipidome profiling in HCC cells, exhibits the remarkable potential of lipids to correct dysregulated signaling pathways in cancer and stop abnormal tumor growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yagmur Azbazdar
- Izmir Biomedicine and Genome Center (IBG)Dokuz Eylul University Health CampusIzmirTurkey
- Izmir International Biomedicine and Genome Institute (IBG‐Izmir)Dokuz Eylul UniversityIzmirTurkey
- Present address:
Department of Biological ChemistryUniversity of California Los AngelesCAUSA
| | - Yeliz Demirci
- Izmir Biomedicine and Genome Center (IBG)Dokuz Eylul University Health CampusIzmirTurkey
- Izmir International Biomedicine and Genome Institute (IBG‐Izmir)Dokuz Eylul UniversityIzmirTurkey
- Present address:
Wellcome Sanger InstituteCambridgeUK
| | | | - Dogac Ipekgil
- Izmir Biomedicine and Genome Center (IBG)Dokuz Eylul University Health CampusIzmirTurkey
- Izmir International Biomedicine and Genome Institute (IBG‐Izmir)Dokuz Eylul UniversityIzmirTurkey
| | - Mustafa Karabicici
- Izmir Biomedicine and Genome Center (IBG)Dokuz Eylul University Health CampusIzmirTurkey
- Izmir International Biomedicine and Genome Institute (IBG‐Izmir)Dokuz Eylul UniversityIzmirTurkey
- Present address:
Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine InstituteCedars‐Sinai Medical CenterLos AngelesCAUSA
| | - Gunes Ozhan
- Izmir Biomedicine and Genome Center (IBG)Dokuz Eylul University Health CampusIzmirTurkey
- Izmir International Biomedicine and Genome Institute (IBG‐Izmir)Dokuz Eylul UniversityIzmirTurkey
- Present address:
Department of Molecular Biology and GeneticsIzmir Institute of TechnologyTurkey
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Tsai HW, Cheng SW, Chen CC, Chen IW, Ho CL. A combined bioinformatics and experimental approach identifies RMI2 as a Wnt/β-catenin signaling target gene related to hepatocellular carcinoma. BMC Cancer 2023; 23:1025. [PMID: 37875822 PMCID: PMC10594864 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-023-10655-2] [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: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway plays an important role in embryogenesis and tumorigenesis. In human cancer, abnormal activity of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway induces overexpressed of downstream genes, and initiate oncogene. There are several target genes known to be key players in tumorigenesis, such as c-myc, cyclin D1, MMPs or survivin. Therefore, identifying the target genes of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is important to understanding Wnt/β-catenin-mediated carcinogenesis. In this study, we developed a combined bioinformatics and experimental approach to find potential target genes. METHODS Luciferase reporter assay was used to analyze the promoter activity of RMI2. WST1 cell proliferation assays and transwell assays were performed to determine the proliferation and migration capacities of RMI2 overexpressing or knockdown stable hepatic cells. Finally, xenograft experiments were performed to measure the tumor formation capacity in vivo. RESULTS The results showed that RMI2 mRNA was upregulated after LiCl treatment and Wnt3a-conditioned medium in a culture of SK-hep-1 cell lines. A chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay showed that the β-catenin/T cell-specific factor (TCF) complex binds to the putative TCF binding site of the RMI2 promoter. We then found a TCF binding site at - 333/- 326 of the RMI2 promoter, which is crucial for β-catenin responsiveness in liver cell lines. RMI2 was overexpressed in hepatoma tissue and cell lines, and it promoted the migration and invasion of HCC cells. Moreover, RMI2 upregulated the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers and the Wnt3a/β-catenin-related genes, but silencing RMI2 had the opposite effects. Notably, the expression of RMI2 was positively correlated with the clinical data of HCC patients who had significantly shorter overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) (Both: P < 0.05). In addition, a total of 373 HCC patients' data from the Caner Genome Atlas project (TCGA) were used to validate our findings. CONCLUSIONS Taking all these findings together, we determined that RMI2 was a new target gene of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. We also found that RMI2 promotes EMT markers, HCC cell invasion, and metastasis, which indicated that RMI2 is a potential target for preventing or at least mitigating the progression of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hung-Wen Tsai
- Department of Pathology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, 138 Sheng-Li Road, Tainan City, 704, Taiwan
| | - Shu-Wen Cheng
- Department of Pathology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, 138 Sheng-Li Road, Tainan City, 704, Taiwan
| | - Chou-Cheng Chen
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
- Department of Business Management, CTBC Business School, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - I-Wen Chen
- Department of Pathology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, 138 Sheng-Li Road, Tainan City, 704, Taiwan
| | - Chung-Liang Ho
- Department of Pathology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, 138 Sheng-Li Road, Tainan City, 704, Taiwan.
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
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Quarshie JT, Fosu K, Offei NA, Sobo AK, Quaye O, Aikins AR. Cryptolepine Suppresses Colorectal Cancer Cell Proliferation, Stemness, and Metastatic Processes by Inhibiting WNT/β-Catenin Signaling. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:1026. [PMID: 37513937 PMCID: PMC10383422 DOI: 10.3390/ph16071026] [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: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 06/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most frequent cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally. Evidence shows that over 90% of CRC cases are initiated by a deregulated Wingless Integrated Type-1 (WNT)/β-catenin signaling pathway. The WNT/β-catenin pathway also promotes CRC cell proliferation, stemness, and metastasis. Therefore, modulators of the WNT/β-catenin pathway may serve as promising regimens for CRC. This study investigated the effect of cryptolepine-a plant-derived compound-on the WNT/β-catenin pathway in CRC. Two CRC cell lines, COLO205 and DLD1, were treated with cryptolepine or XAV 939 (a WNT inhibitor) in the presence or absence of WNT3a (a WNT activator). Using a tetrazolium-based assay, cryptolepine was found to reduce cell viability in a dose- and time-dependent manner and was a more potent inhibitor of viability than XAV 939. RT-qPCR analyses showed that cryptolepine reverses WNT3a-induced expression of β-catenin, c-MYC, and WISP1, suggesting that cryptolepine inhibits WNT3a-mediated activation of WNT/β-catenin signaling. Cryptolepine also repressed WNT3a-induced OCT4 and CD133 expression and suppressed colony formation of the cells, indicating that cryptolepine inhibits the stemness of CRC cells. Additionally, cryptolepine inhibited WNT3a-induced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition by reducing the expression of SNAI1 and TWIST1 genes. In a wound healing assay, cryptolepine was found to suppress cell migration under unstimulated and WNT3a-stimulated conditions. Moreover, cryptolepine downregulated WNT3a-induced expression of MMP2 and MMP9 genes, which are involved in cancer cell invasion. Altogether, cryptolepine suppresses CRC cell proliferation, stemness, and metastatic properties by inhibiting WNT3a-mediated activation of the WNT/β-catenin signaling pathway. These findings provide a rationale for considering cryptolepine as a potential WNT inhibitor in CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jude Tetteh Quarshie
- West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP), Department of Biochemistry Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Ghana, Accra P.O. Box LG 54, Ghana
| | - Kwadwo Fosu
- West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP), Department of Biochemistry Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Ghana, Accra P.O. Box LG 54, Ghana
| | - Nicholas Awuku Offei
- West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP), Department of Biochemistry Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Ghana, Accra P.O. Box LG 54, Ghana
| | - Augustine Kojo Sobo
- West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP), Department of Biochemistry Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Ghana, Accra P.O. Box LG 54, Ghana
| | - Osbourne Quaye
- West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP), Department of Biochemistry Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Ghana, Accra P.O. Box LG 54, Ghana
| | - Anastasia Rosebud Aikins
- West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP), Department of Biochemistry Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Ghana, Accra P.O. Box LG 54, Ghana
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Yu S, Zhao R, Zhang B, Lai C, Li L, Shen J, Tan X, Shao J. Research progress and application of the CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing technology based on hepatocellular carcinoma. Asian J Pharm Sci 2023; 18:100828. [PMID: 37583709 PMCID: PMC10424087 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajps.2023.100828] [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: 12/07/2022] [Revised: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is now a common cause of cancer death, with no obvious change in patient survival over the past few years. Although the traditional therapeutic modalities for HCC patients mainly involved in surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, which have achieved admirable achievements, challenges are still existed, such as drug resistance and toxicity. The emerging gene therapy of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat/CRISPR-associated nuclease 9-based (CRISPR/Cas9), as an alternative to traditional treatment methods, has attracted considerable attention for eradicating resistant malignant tumors and regulating multiple crucial events of target gene-editing. Recently, advances in CRISPR/Cas9-based anti-drugs are presented at the intersection of science, such as chemistry, materials science, tumor biology, and genetics. In this review, the principle as well as statues of CRISPR/Cas9 technique were introduced first to show its feasibility. Additionally, the emphasis was placed on the applications of CRISPR/Cas9 technology in therapeutic HCC. Further, a broad overview of non-viral delivery systems for the CRISPR/Cas9-based anti-drugs in HCC treatment was summarized to delineate their design, action mechanisms, and anticancer applications. Finally, the limitations and prospects of current studies were also discussed, and we hope to provide comprehensively theoretical basis for the designing of anti-drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shijing Yu
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Cancer Metastasis Chemoprevention and Chemotherapy, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China
| | - Ruirui Zhao
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Cancer Metastasis Chemoprevention and Chemotherapy, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China
| | - Bingchen Zhang
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Cancer Metastasis Chemoprevention and Chemotherapy, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China
| | - Chunmei Lai
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Cancer Metastasis Chemoprevention and Chemotherapy, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China
| | - Linyan Li
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Cancer Metastasis Chemoprevention and Chemotherapy, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China
| | - Jiangwen Shen
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Cancer Metastasis Chemoprevention and Chemotherapy, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China
| | - Xiarong Tan
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Cancer Metastasis Chemoprevention and Chemotherapy, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China
| | - Jingwei Shao
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Cancer Metastasis Chemoprevention and Chemotherapy, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China
- College of Materials and Chemical Engineering, Minjiang University, Fuzhou 350108, China
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12
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Selvaggi F, Catalano T, Lattanzio R, Cotellese R, Aceto GM. Wingless/It/β-catenin signaling in liver metastasis from colorectal cancer: A focus on biological mechanisms and therapeutic opportunities. World J Gastroenterol 2023; 29:2764-2783. [PMID: 37274070 PMCID: PMC10237106 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v29.i18.2764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The liver is the most common site of metastases in patients with colorectal cancer. Colorectal liver metastases (CRLMs) are the result of molecular mechanisms that involve different cells of the liver microenvironment. The aberrant activation of Wingless/It (Wnt)/β-catenin signals downstream of Wnt ligands initially drives the oncogenic transformation of the colon epithelium, but also the progression of metastatization through the epithelial-mesenchymal transition/mesenchymal-epithelial transition interactions. In liver microenvironment, metastatic cells can also survive and adapt through dormancy, which makes them less susceptible to pro-apoptotic signals and therapies. Treatment of CRLMs is challenging due to its variability and heterogeneity. Advances in surgery and oncology have been made in the last decade and a pivotal role for Wnt/β-catenin pathway has been re-cognized in chemoresistance. At the state of art, there is a lack of clear understanding of why and how this occurs and thus where exactly the opportunities for developing anti-CRLMs therapies may lie. In this review, current knowledge on the involvement of Wnt signaling in the development of CRLMs was considered. In addition, an overview of useful biomarkers with a revision of surgical and non-surgical therapies currently accepted in the clinical practice for colorectal liver metastasis patients were provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Selvaggi
- Department of Surgical, ASL2 Lanciano-Vasto-Chieti, Ospedale Clinicizzato SS Annunziata of Chieti, Chieti 66100, Italy
| | - Teresa Catalano
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina 98125, Italy
| | - Rossano Lattanzio
- Department of Innovative Technologies in Medicine & Dentistry, University “G. d’Annunzio” Chieti-Pescara, Chieti 66100, Italy
| | - Roberto Cotellese
- Department of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, University “G. d’Annunzio” Chieti-Pescara, Chieti 66100, Italy
- Villa Serena Foundation for Research, Villa Serena - Del Dott. L. Petruzzi, Città Sant’Angelo 65013, Pescara, Italy
| | - Gitana Maria Aceto
- Department of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, “G. d’Annunzio” University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti 66100, Italy
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Wu K, Liu M, Wang H, Rajput SA, Al Zoubi OM, Wang S, Qi D. Effect of zearalenone on aflatoxin B1-induced intestinal and ovarian toxicity in pregnant and lactating rats. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2023; 258:114976. [PMID: 37148750 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.114976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2023] [Revised: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and zearalenone (ZEN) cause serious damage to mammals, but few studies have investigated the impacts of these toxins on pregnant and lactating mammals. This study investigated the effects of ZEN on AFB1-induced intestinal and ovarian toxicity in pregnant and lactating rats. Based on the results, AFB1 reduces the digestion, absorption, and antioxidant capacity in the intestine, increases intestinal mucosal permeability, destroys intestinal mechanical barriers, and increases pathogenic bacteria' relative abundances. Simultaneously, ZEN can exacerbate the intestinal injury caused by AFB1. The intestines of the offspring were also damaged, but the damage was less severe than that observed for the dams. While AFB1 activates various signalling pathways in the ovary and affects genes related to endoplasmic reticulum stress, apoptosis, and inflammation, ZEN may exacerbate or antagonize the AFB1 toxicity on gene expression in the ovary through key node genes and abnormally expressed genes. Our study found that mycotoxins can not only directly damage the ovaries and affect gene expression in the ovaries but can also impact ovarian health by disrupting intestinal microbes. Mycotoxins are an important environmental pathogenic factor for intestinal and ovarian disease in pregnancy and lactation mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuntan Wu
- Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Minjie Liu
- Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Huanbin Wang
- Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Shahid Ali Rajput
- Department of Animal Feed and Production, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Muhammad Nawaz Shareef University of Agriculture, Multan 60000, Pakistan
| | - Omar Mahmoud Al Zoubi
- Biology Department, Faculty of Science Yanbu, Taibah University, Yanbu El-Bahr 46423, Saudi Arabia
| | - Shuai Wang
- Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; Shenzhen Institute of Nutrition and Health, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen 518120, China.
| | - Desheng Qi
- Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.
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Patel DK, Kesharwani R, Verma A, Al-Abbasi FA, Anwar F, Kumar V. Scope of Wnt signaling in the precise diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. Drug Discov Today 2023:103597. [PMID: 37100166 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2023.103597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 03/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 04/28/2023]
Abstract
Malignant breast cancers are responsible for a growing number of deaths among women globally. The latest research has demonstrated that Wnt signaling is pivotal in this disease, regulating a safe microenvironment for the growth and proliferation of cancer cells {AuQ: Edit OK?}, sustained stemness, resistance to therapy, and aggregate formation. The three highly conserved {AuQ: Edit OK?} Wnt signaling pathways, Wnt-planar cell polarity (PCP), Wnt/β-catenin signaling and Wnt-Ca2+ signaling, assume various roles in the maintenance and amelioration of breast cancer. In this review, we examine ongoing studies on the Wnt signaling pathways and discuss how dysregulation of these pathways promotes breast cancers. We also look at how Wnt dysregulation could be exploited to foster new treatments for malignant breast cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dilip K Patel
- Department of Pharmacy, Government Polytechnic Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Roohi Kesharwani
- Chandra Shekhar Singh College of Pharmacy, Koilaha, Kaushambi, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Amita Verma
- Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Fahad A Al-Abbasi
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, King Abdul-Aziz University, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Firoz Anwar
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, King Abdul-Aziz University, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Vikas Kumar
- Natural Product Drug Discovery Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Naini, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India.
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15
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Singh AK, Singh SV, Kumar R, Kumar S, Senapati S, Pandey AK. Current therapeutic modalities and chemopreventive role of natural products in liver cancer: Progress and promise. World J Hepatol 2023; 15:1-18. [PMID: 36744169 PMCID: PMC9896505 DOI: 10.4254/wjh.v15.i1.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2022] [Revised: 07/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver cancer is a severe concern for public health officials since the clinical cases are increasing each year, with an estimated 5-year survival rate of 30%–35% after diagnosis. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) constitutes a significant subtype of liver cancer (approximate75%) and is considered primary liver cancer. Treatment for liver cancer mainly depends on the stage of its progression, where surgery including, hepatectomy and liver transplantation, and ablation and radiotherapy are the prime choice. For advanced liver cancer, various drugs and immunotherapy are used as first-line treatment, whereas second-line treatment includes chemotherapeutic drugs from natural and synthetic origins. Sorafenib and lenvatinib are first-line therapies, while regorafenib and ramucirumab are second-line therapy. Various metabolic and signaling pathways such as Notch, JAK/ STAT, Hippo, TGF-β, and Wnt have played a critical role during HCC progression. Dysbiosis has also been implicated in liver cancer. Drug-induced toxicity is a key obstacle in the treatment of liver cancer, necessitating the development of effective and safe medications, with natural compounds such as resveratrol, curcumin, diallyl sulfide, and others emerging as promising anticancer agents. This review highlights the current status of liver cancer research, signaling pathways, therapeutic targets, current treatment strategies and the chemopreventive role of various natural products in managing liver cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amit Kumar Singh
- Department of Botany, Government Naveen Girls College, Balod (Hemchand Yadav University), Durg, Chattisgarh, India
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Allahabad, Prayagraj 211002, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Shiv Vardan Singh
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Allahabad, Prayagraj 211002, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Ramesh Kumar
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Allahabad, Prayagraj 211002, Uttar Pradesh, India
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Basic and Applied Sciences, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda 151401, Punjab, India
| | - Shashank Kumar
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Basic and Applied Sciences, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda 151401, Punjab, India
| | - Sabyasachi Senapati
- Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Medicine, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda 151401, Punjab, India
| | - Abhay K Pandey
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Allahabad, Prayagraj 211002, Uttar Pradesh, India
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Liu LJ, Lv Z, Xue X, Xing ZY, Zhu F. Canonical WNT Signaling Activated by WNT7B Contributes to L-HBs-Mediated Sorafenib Resistance in Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Inhibiting Mitophagy. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:5781. [PMID: 36497264 PMCID: PMC9741164 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14235781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Revised: 11/20/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third leading cause of cancer death globally, with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection accounting for over half of all cases. HBV leads to the development of HCC according to a body of literature. Our previous research and other studies also suggest that HBV causes chemotherapeutic treatment resistance, however, the mechanism is uncertain. The WNT family, which encodes secreted signaling molecules, has been linked to carcinogenesis in a variety of malignancies, including HCC. However, little is known regarding WNT7B, a WNT ligand, in the development of HCC and HBV-induced chemoresistance. In this study, the bioinformatics analysis and immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining of clinical samples revealed that WNT7B was overexpressed in HBV-associated HCC tissues versus nontumor liver tissues, which was related to HCC patient survival. Further study in vitro showed that WNT7B and its receptor frizzled-4 (FZD4) were upregulated in response to large hepatitis B surface antigens (L-HBs). L-HBs increased canonical WNT signaling in HCC cells through WNT7B/FZD4. According to functional experiments, WNT7B enhanced the cell proliferation and metastasis in HCC. In vivo and in vitro studies investigated whether L-HBs induced sorafenib resistance by WNT7B in HCC. Interestingly, L-HBs suppressed sorafenib-induced mitophagy by increasing WNT7B/CTNNB1 signaling, resulting in chemoresistance. The findings revealed that WNT7B could be a promising molecular therapeutic target as well as a predictor of sorafenib resistance in HBV-related HCC. The suppression of HBV structural proteins such as L-HBs may play a crucial role in systemic chemotherapy resistance in HBV-associated HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Fan Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology and Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Allergy & Immunology, Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Medicine, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
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17
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Leung RWH, Lee TKW. Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling as a Driver of Stemness and Metabolic Reprogramming in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14215468. [PMID: 36358885 PMCID: PMC9656505 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14215468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2022] [Revised: 10/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Aberrant Wnt/β-catenin signaling has been reported to play crucial role in pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this review, we focus on the regulatory role of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in cancer stemness and metabolic reprogramming, which are two emerging hallmarks of cancer. Understanding the role of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in regulation of the above processes reveals novel therapeutic strategy against this deadly disease. Abstract Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major cause of cancer death worldwide due to its high rates of tumor recurrence and metastasis. Aberrant Wnt/β-catenin signaling has been shown to play a significant role in HCC development, progression and clinical impact on tumor behavior. Accumulating evidence has revealed the critical involvement of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in driving cancer stemness and metabolic reprogramming, which are regarded as emerging cancer hallmarks. In this review, we summarize the regulatory mechanism of Wnt/β-catenin signaling and its role in HCC. Furthermore, we provide an update on the regulatory roles of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in metabolic reprogramming, cancer stemness and drug resistance in HCC. We also provide an update on preclinical and clinical studies targeting Wnt/β-catenin signaling alone or in combination with current therapies for effective cancer therapy. This review provides insights into the current opportunities and challenges of targeting this signaling pathway in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rainbow Wing Hei Leung
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Terence Kin Wah Lee
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +852-3400-8799; Fax: +852-2364-9932
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18
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Prognostic potential and mechanism of
SORT1
and its co‐expressed genes in hepatocellular carcinoma based on integrative analysis of multiple database. PRECISION MEDICAL SCIENCES 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/prm2.12084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
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19
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Wu SY, Wu FG, Chen X. Antibody-Incorporated Nanomedicines for Cancer Therapy. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2022; 34:e2109210. [PMID: 35142395 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202109210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2021] [Revised: 02/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Antibody-based cancer therapy, one of the most significant therapeutic strategies, has achieved considerable success and progress over the past decades. Nevertheless, obstacles including limited tumor penetration, short circulation half-lives, undesired immunogenicity, and off-target side effects remain to be overcome for the antibody-based cancer treatment. Owing to the rapid development of nanotechnology, antibody-containing nanomedicines that have been extensively explored to overcome these obstacles have already demonstrated enhanced anticancer efficacy and clinical translation potential. This review intends to offer an overview of the advancements of antibody-incorporated nanoparticulate systems in cancer treatment, together with the nontrivial challenges faced by these next-generation nanomedicines. Diverse strategies of antibody immobilization, formats of antibodies, types of cancer-associated antigens, and anticancer mechanisms of antibody-containing nanomedicines are provided and discussed in this review, with an emphasis on the latest applications. The current limitations and future research directions on antibody-containing nanomedicines are also discussed from different perspectives to provide new insights into the construction of anticancer nanomedicines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shun-Yu Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, 2 Sipailou Road, Nanjing, 210096, P. R. China
| | - Fu-Gen Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, 2 Sipailou Road, Nanjing, 210096, P. R. China
| | - Xiaoyuan Chen
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine and Faculty of Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 119077, Singapore
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20
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Neogi K, Murumkar PR, Sharma P, Yadav P, Tewari M, Karunagaran D, Nayak PK, Yadav MR. Design, synthesis and evaluation of 4,7-disubstituted 8-methoxyquinazoline derivatives as potential cytotoxic agents targeting β-catenin/TCF4 signaling pathway. Transl Oncol 2022; 19:101395. [PMID: 35325837 PMCID: PMC8938628 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2022.101395] [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: 11/07/2021] [Revised: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Overactivation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling by accumulated β-catenin in the nucleus has been shown to play a crucial role in the etiology of cancer. Interaction of β-catenin with Transcription factor 4 (TCF4) is a key step for the activation of Wnt genes in response to upstream signals of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Hence, down regulation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling or targeting downstream events by selective β-catenin/TCF4 protein-protein interaction inhibitors could be a potential therapeutic strategy against such cancers. In this study structure-based drug design approach was followed to design novel 4,7-disubstituted 8-methoxyquinazoline-based derivatives which could act as potential cytotoxic agents inhibiting the β-catenin/TCF4 protein-protein interactions. Fifteen compounds possessing 4,7-disubstituted 8-methoxyquinazoline scaffold were synthesized. Cytotoxic potential of the synthesised derivatives were determined against constitutively activated β-catenin/TCF4 signaling pathway cancer cells (HCT116 and HepG2) using the sulforhodamine B assay. The most potent compound (18B) was selected for detailed biological evaluation. Cell morphology, Hoechst 33342 and Annexin V/PI staining were used to detect apoptosis, while inhibition of cell migration was assessed by in vitro wound healing assay against HCT116 and HepG2 cells. Effect on β-catenin/TCF mediated transcriptional activity was assessed by TOPFlash/FOPFlash assay, TCF4 and β-catenin protein expression by immunocytofluorescence, and Wnt target genes (like c-MYC and Cyclin D1) mRNA levels by RT-PCR against HCT116 cells. Cytotoxic potency of the most potential compound (18B) against primary human gallbladder cancer cells was also evaluated. The derivatives showed interactions with active site residues of β-catenin and were capable of hindering the TCF4 binding, thereby disrupting β-catenin/TCF4 interactions. Cytotoxic potencies (IC50) of these derivatives ranged from 5.64 ± 0.68 to 23.18 ± 0.45 μM against HCT116 and HepG2 cells respectively. Compound (18B), the most potent compound among the series, induced apoptosis and inhibited cell migration against HCT116 and HepG2 cells. Mechanistic studies indicated that compound (18B) downregulated β-catenin/TCF4 signaling pathway, β-catenin and TCF4 protein expression, and mRNA levels of c-MYC andCyclin D1 in HCT116 cells and showed cytotoxicity against primary human gallbladder cancer cells with IC50 value of 8.50 ± 1.44 μM. Thus, novel 4,7-disubstituted 8-methoxyquinazoline derivatives were identified as potential cytotoxic agents with potencies comparable to that of imatinib mesylate. Compound (18B) represents a promising lead molecule as anticancer agent against colon, hepatocellular and gallbladder cancers targeting β-catenin/TCF4 signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaushik Neogi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering and Technorlogy, Indian Institute of Technology (Banaras Hindu University), Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Prashant R Murumkar
- Faculty of Pharmacy, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara, Gujarat, India
| | - Priyanshu Sharma
- Department of Biotechnology, Bhupat and Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Poonam Yadav
- Department of Biotechnology, Bhupat and Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Mallika Tewari
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Devarajan Karunagaran
- Department of Biotechnology, Bhupat and Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Prasanta Kumar Nayak
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering and Technorlogy, Indian Institute of Technology (Banaras Hindu University), Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.
| | - Mange Ram Yadav
- Centre of Research for Development, Parul University, Vadodara, Gujarat, India.
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Winkler S, Winkler I, Figaschewski M, Tiede T, Nordheim A, Kohlbacher O. De novo identification of maximally deregulated subnetworks based on multi-omics data with DeRegNet. BMC Bioinformatics 2022; 23:139. [PMID: 35439941 PMCID: PMC9020058 DOI: 10.1186/s12859-022-04670-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background With a growing amount of (multi-)omics data being available, the extraction of knowledge from these datasets is still a difficult problem. Classical enrichment-style analyses require predefined pathways or gene sets that are tested for significant deregulation to assess whether the pathway is functionally involved in the biological process under study. De novo identification of these pathways can reduce the bias inherent in predefined pathways or gene sets. At the same time, the definition and efficient identification of these pathways de novo from large biological networks is a challenging problem. Results We present a novel algorithm, DeRegNet, for the identification of maximally deregulated subnetworks on directed graphs based on deregulation scores derived from (multi-)omics data. DeRegNet can be interpreted as maximum likelihood estimation given a certain probabilistic model for de-novo subgraph identification. We use fractional integer programming to solve the resulting combinatorial optimization problem. We can show that the approach outperforms related algorithms on simulated data with known ground truths. On a publicly available liver cancer dataset we can show that DeRegNet can identify biologically meaningful subgraphs suitable for patient stratification. DeRegNet can also be used to find explicitly multi-omics subgraphs which we demonstrate by presenting subgraphs with consistent methylation-transcription patterns. DeRegNet is freely available as open-source software. Conclusion The proposed algorithmic framework and its available implementation can serve as a valuable heuristic hypothesis generation tool contextualizing omics data within biomolecular networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Winkler
- Applied Bioinformatics, Department of Computer Science, University of Tuebingen, Tübingen, Germany. .,International Max Planck Research School (IMPRS) "From Molecules to Organism", Tübingen, Germany.
| | - Ivana Winkler
- International Max Planck Research School (IMPRS) "From Molecules to Organism", Tübingen, Germany.,Interfaculty Institute for Cell Biology (IFIZ), University of Tuebingen, Tübingen, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Mirjam Figaschewski
- Applied Bioinformatics, Department of Computer Science, University of Tuebingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Thorsten Tiede
- Applied Bioinformatics, Department of Computer Science, University of Tuebingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Alfred Nordheim
- Interfaculty Institute for Cell Biology (IFIZ), University of Tuebingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Leibniz Institute on Aging (FLI), Jena, Germany
| | - Oliver Kohlbacher
- Applied Bioinformatics, Department of Computer Science, University of Tuebingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Institute for Bioinformatics and Medical Informatics, University of Tuebingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Translational Bioinformatics, University Hospital Tuebingen, Tübingen, Germany
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22
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Selvaggi F, Catalano T, Cotellese R, Aceto GM. Targeting Wnt/β-Catenin Pathways in Primary Liver Tumours: From Microenvironment Signaling to Therapeutic Agents. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14081912. [PMID: 35454818 PMCID: PMC9024538 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14081912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Revised: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Primary liver cancers (PLCs) are steadily increasing in incidence and mortality in the world. They have a poor prognosis due to their silent nature, late discovery and resistance to common chemotherapy. At present, there are limited treatment alternatives, and the understanding of PLC molecular aspects is essential to develop more efficient drugs and therapeutic surgical and loco-regional strategies. A clear causal link with liver damage, inflammation, and regeneration has been found in the occurrence of PLC over the last few decades. Physiologically, Wingless/It (Wnt)-β-catenin signaling plays a key role in liver development, metabolic zonation and regeneration. Loss of functional homeostasis of this pathway appears to be a major driver of carcinogenesis in the liver parenchyma. In the hepatic microenvironment, molecular deregulations that exceed the Wnt signaling biological capacity can induce tumor initiation and progression. Indeed, somatic mutations are identified in key components of canonical and non-canonical Wnt signaling and in PLCs and precancerous lesions. In this review, the altered functions of Wnt/β-catenin signaling are considered in human PLCs, with emphasis on hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC), cholangiocarcinomas (CCA) and hepatoblastomas (HB). Based on recent literature, we also focused on liver cancerogenesis through Wnt deregulation. An overview of preclinical and clinical studies on approved and experimental drugs, targeting the Wnt/β-catenin cascade in PLCs, is proposed. In addition, the clinical implication of molecule inhibitors that have been shown to possess activity against the Wnt pathway in association with conventional surgical and loco-regional therapies are reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Selvaggi
- Unit of General Surgery, Ospedale Floraspe Renzetti, 66034 Lanciano, Chieti, Italy;
| | - Teresa Catalano
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria, 98125 Messina, Italy;
| | - Roberto Cotellese
- Department of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, University “G. d’Annunzio” Chieti-Pescara, Via dei Vestini 31, 66100 Chieti, Italy;
- Villa Serena Foundation for Research, 65013 Città Sant’Angelo, Pescara, Italy
| | - Gitana Maria Aceto
- Department of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, University “G. d’Annunzio” Chieti-Pescara, Via dei Vestini 31, 66100 Chieti, Italy;
- Correspondence:
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Cinnamaldehyde Relieves Induced Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Rat Model via Targeting Wnt/β-Catenin Pathway. Sci Pharm 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/scipharm90020022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Cinnamaldehyde (CA) is a natural compound that has promising biological activity. The current study investigates the antitumor activity of CA in thioacetamide induced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in rats through targeting the Wnt/β-catenin pathway and evaluates the capability of CA to relieve hepatocytes oxidative stress in the HCC-rat model. After 16 weeks of HCC induction by thioacetamide (TAA), rats were treated for 7 consecutive weeks with CA daily; i.p. injection, Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level, necroinflammatory score and fibrosis percentage were measured to assess HCC development. The Wnt/β-catenin pathway was evaluated by measuring the hepatic protein level of Wnt-3a, β-catenin, cyclin D, matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Furthermore, hepatocytes’ oxidative stress was assessed by measuring hepatic GSH and MDA contents. Results showed that CA was significantly inhibiting the Wnt/β-catenin pathway through the downregulation of hepatic Wnt-3a, β-catenin, cyclin D, MMP-9, and VEGF. Moreover, CA ameliorates hepatocytes’ oxidative stress via lowering hepatic MDA content and rising hepatic GSH content. Thus, in conclusion, CA is a promising treatment for HCC. It not only has an effective antitumor activity but also ameliorates hepatocytes’ oxidative stress.
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24
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Guz M, Jeleniewicz W, Cybulski M. An Insight into miR-1290: An Oncogenic miRNA with Diagnostic Potential. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:1234. [PMID: 35163157 PMCID: PMC8835968 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23031234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
For more than two decades, the view of the roles of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) has been radically changing. These RNA molecules that are transcribed from our genome do not have the capacity to encode proteins, but are critical regulators of gene expression at different levels. Our knowledge is constantly enriched by new reports revealing the role of these new molecular players in the development of many pathological conditions, including cancer. One of the ncRNA classes includes short RNA molecules called microRNAs (miRNAs), which are involved in the post-transcriptional control of gene expression affecting various cellular processes. The aberrant expression of miRNAs with oncogenic and tumor-suppressive function is associated with cancer initiation, promotion, malignant transformation, progression and metastasis. Oncogenic miRNAs, also known as oncomirs, mediate the downregulation of tumor-suppressor genes and their expression is upregulated in cancer. Nowadays, miRNAs show promising application in diagnosis, prediction, disease monitoring and therapy response. Our review presents a current view of the oncogenic role of miR-1290 with emphasis on its properties as a cancer biomarker in clinical medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Małgorzata Guz
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of Lublin, 20-093 Lublin, Poland; (W.J.); (M.C.)
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25
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Qu C, Ma T, Yan X, Li X, Li Y. Overexpressed PAQR4 predicts poor overall survival and construction of a prognostic nomogram based on PAQR family for hepatocellular carcinoma. MATHEMATICAL BIOSCIENCES AND ENGINEERING : MBE 2022; 19:3069-3090. [PMID: 35240821 DOI: 10.3934/mbe.2022142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We aimed to explore the expression and clinical prognostic significance of PAQR4 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS We obtained the gene expression matrix and clinical data of HCC from the cancer genome atlas (TCGA) and international cancer genome consortium (ICGC) databases. The prognostic value of PAQR4 in HCC was evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses. PAQR4-related pathways were explored by gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). A clinical nomogram prognostic model based on the PAQR family was constructed using Cox proportional hazards models. RESULTS We found that PAQR4 is overexpressed in HCC from multiple databases; additionally, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) validated the upregulation of PAQR4 in HCC. PAQR4 expression was related to age, grade, alpha fetoprotein (AFP), T classification and clinical stage of HCC patients. High PAQR4 expression was associated with poor overall survival and was an independent prognostic factor for HCC patients through Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox regression analysis, respectively. In addition, GSEA identified that the high PAQR4 expression phenotype was involved in the cell cycle, Notch signaling pathway, mTOR signaling pathway, etc. Finally, three PAQR family genes (PAQR4, PAQR8 and PAQR9) were associated with the prognosis of patients with HCC. A clinical nomogram prediction model was verified in TCGA training and ICGC validation sets, and it exerted dramatic predictive efficiency in this study. CONCLUSIONS PAQR4 may be regarded as a promising prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caihao Qu
- Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou 730030, China
- Key Laboratory of Digestive System Tumors of Gansu Province, Lanzhou 730030, China
| | - Tengda Ma
- Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou 730030, China
- Key Laboratory of Digestive System Tumors of Gansu Province, Lanzhou 730030, China
| | - Xin Yan
- Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou 730030, China
- Key Laboratory of Digestive System Tumors of Gansu Province, Lanzhou 730030, China
| | - Xiaomei Li
- Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou 730030, China
- Key Laboratory of Digestive System Tumors of Gansu Province, Lanzhou 730030, China
| | - Yumin Li
- Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou 730030, China
- Key Laboratory of Digestive System Tumors of Gansu Province, Lanzhou 730030, China
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Nayak P, Neogi K, Tewari M, Singh A, Sharma K, Tej GVC, Verma S, Gupta S. Transcription factor 4 expression and correlation with tumor progression in gallbladder cancer. J Cancer Res Ther 2022; 18:668-676. [DOI: 10.4103/jcrt.jcrt_1381_21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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27
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Chang YM, Chen PC, Hsu CP, Ma PF, Chen HL, Hsu SH. Loss of hepatic miR-194 promotes liver regeneration and protects from acetaminophen-induced acute liver injury. Biochem Pharmacol 2022; 195:114862. [PMID: 34843716 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2021.114862] [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: 09/20/2021] [Revised: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The two microRNAs miR-192 and miR-194 are abundantly expressed in the liver and are considered serum biomarkers of liver injury. However, their role in the development of liver injury has not yet been determined. In this study, we generated miR-192/194 mutant mice and determined the effect of miR-192/194 loss on acetaminophen (APAP)-induced acute liver injury. With genetic depletion of miR-192/194, mutant mice were fertile and normally developed. No spontaneous liver injuries were observed in mutant mice. After APAP administration, mutant mice developed less severe liver damage than control mice. Specifically, mutant mice exhibited significantly lower serum alanine transaminase (ALT) levels and pericentral necrosis/apoptosis than control mice receiving APAP. β-catenin signaling was activated during the early phase of liver injury. Activated β-catenin signaling led to faster cellular proliferation and higher expression of AXIN2 and glutamine synthetases. After partial hepatectomy, the miR-192/194 mutant hepatocytes were more regenerative than control hepatocytes (as shown by BrdU incorporation). Moreover, in vitro experiments indicated that miR-194, but not miR-192, specifically repressed β-catenin signaling, while animal experiments revealed that chemical-mediated knockdown of β-catenin signaling compromised APAP resistance that liver protected from miR-192/194 genetic depletion. Collectively, our data indicated that the loss of miR-194 promoted liver regeneration and protected the liver from APAP-induced injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Ming Chang
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Po-Chun Chen
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan; Division of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Ren-Ai Branch, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chien-Peng Hsu
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Peng-Fang Ma
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Huey-Ling Chen
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University College of Medicine and National Taiwan University Children's Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Shu-Hao Hsu
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
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Dashti F, Mirazimi SMA, Rabiei N, Fathazam R, Rabiei N, Piroozmand H, Vosough M, Rahimian N, Hamblin MR, Mirzaei H. The role of non-coding RNAs in chemotherapy for gastrointestinal cancers. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2021; 26:892-926. [PMID: 34760336 PMCID: PMC8551789 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2021.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers, including colorectal, gastric, hepatic, esophageal, and pancreatic tumors, are responsible for large numbers of deaths around the world. Chemotherapy is the most common approach used to treat advanced GI cancer. However, chemoresistance has emerged as a critical challenge that prevents successful tumor elimination, leading to metastasis and recurrence. Chemoresistance mechanisms are complex, and many factors and pathways are involved. Among these factors, non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are critical regulators of GI tumor development and subsequently can induce resistance to chemotherapy. This occurs because ncRNAs can target multiple signaling pathways, affect downstream genes, and modulate proliferation, apoptosis, tumor cell migration, and autophagy. ncRNAs can also induce cancer stem cell features and affect the epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Thus, ncRNAs could possibly act as new targets in chemotherapy combinations to treat GI cancer and to predict treatment response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatemeh Dashti
- School of Medicine, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
- Student Research Committee, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
| | - Seyed Mohammad Ali Mirazimi
- School of Medicine, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
- Student Research Committee, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
| | - Nikta Rabiei
- School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Reza Fathazam
- School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Negin Rabiei
- School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Haleh Piroozmand
- Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Massoud Vosough
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Neda Rahimian
- Endocrine Research Center, Institute of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Iran University of Medical Sciences (IUMS), Tehran, Iran
| | - Michael R. Hamblin
- Laser Research Centre, Faculty of Health Science, University of Johannesburg, Doornfontein 2028, South Africa
- Radiation Biology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamed Mirzaei
- Research Center for Biochemistry and Nutrition in Metabolic Diseases, Institute for Basic Sciences, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
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29
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Navaeian M, Ahmadpour-Yazdi H, Asadian S, Gheibi N. The effect of ANGPTL8 protein on proliferation and apoptosis in HepG2 hepatocellular carcinoma cell line. GENE REPORTS 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.genrep.2021.101306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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30
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Hu X, Yuan G, Li Q, Huang J, Cheng X, Chen J. DEAH-box polypeptide 32 promotes hepatocellular carcinoma progression via activating the β-catenin pathway. Ann Med 2021; 53:437-447. [PMID: 33729094 PMCID: PMC7971220 DOI: 10.1080/07853890.2021.1898674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is refractory cancer with high morbidity and high mortality. DEAH-box polypeptide 32 (DHX32) was upregulated in several types of malignancies and predicted poor prognosis. Herein, we investigated the role of DHX32 in HCC progression. METHODS The expression of DHX32, β-catenin, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related makers were determined by Western blot and quantitative real-time PCR assays. Cell proliferation was tested by EdU cell proliferation assay. The effect of DHX32 and β-catenin on cell migration and invasion were detected by wound-healing and Traswell invasion assays. Tumour xenografts were performed to determine the effect of DHX32 on HCC tumour growth. RESULTS High level of DHX32 expression was associated with reduced overall survival in HCC patients. DHX32 expression was upregulated in human HCC cells and ectopic expression of DHX32 induced EMT, promoted the mobility and proliferation of HCC cells, and enhanced tumour growth in vivo. Silencing DHX32 reversed EMT, inhibited the malignancy behaviors of HCC cells, and suppressed tumour growth. Mechanistically, silencing DHX32 decreased the expression of β-cateninin in nucleus and β-catenin siRNA abrogated DHX32-mediated HCC progression. CONCLUSION DHX32 was an attractive regulator of HCC progression and indicated DHX32 canserve as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for HCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyun Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis Research, Department of Infectious Diseases and Department of Radiation Oncology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Guosheng Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis Research, Department of Infectious Diseases and Department of Radiation Oncology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qi Li
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis Research, Department of Infectious Diseases and Department of Radiation Oncology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jing Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis Research, Department of Infectious Diseases and Department of Radiation Oncology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiao Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis Research, Department of Infectious Diseases and Department of Radiation Oncology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jinzhang Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis Research, Department of Infectious Diseases and Department of Radiation Oncology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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Rahadiani N, Andhini Retnowulan I, Stephanie M, Rini Handjari D, Krisnuhoni E. β-Catenin Expression and Its Association with Prognostic Factors in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Study on Alpha-fetoprotein, Histologic Grade, and Microvascular Invasion. Open Access Maced J Med Sci 2021. [DOI: 10.3889/oamjms.2021.6123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Background. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common primary liver cancer. In addition to its high incidence, the disease burden is high due to its poor prognosis and high recurrence rate. Some of the currently known clinicopathologic prognostic factors include alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level, histologic grade, and microvascular invasion. At the molecular level, β-catenin is one of the most common driver mutation found in HCC. The Wnt/β-catenin pathway regulates cellular processes related to initiation, growth, survival, migration, differentiation, and apoptosis. Although the underlying pathogenesis of hepatocarcinogenesis is known, clinical application warrants a greater understanding of the molecular characteristics and tumor phenotype, especially for determining the prognosis. This study aims to analyze the expression of β-catenin and its association with AFP, histologic grade, and microvascular invasion. Materials and methods. Thirty-five samples of surgically resected HCCs at Cipto Mangunkusumo National Referral Hospital were examined. Diagnoses were made based on histopathological and immunohistochemical findings followed by β-catenin staining. β-catenin expression was analyzed to determine difference between variables. Results and conclusions. Here we show that β-catenin expression is significantly associated with low serum alpha-fetoprotein and well to moderate differentiation Implications. Strong nuclear β-catenin expression implies better prognosis in HCC.
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Sakai H, Yamada Y, Kubota M, Imai K, Shirakami Y, Tomita H, Hara A, Shimizu M. The phosphorylated retinoid X receptor-α promotes diethylnitrosamine-induced hepatocarcinogenesis in mice through the activation of β-catenin signaling pathway. Carcinogenesis 2021; 43:254-263. [PMID: 34668523 PMCID: PMC9036992 DOI: 10.1093/carcin/bgab099] [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: 06/15/2021] [Revised: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous studies have shown that phosphorylation of the retinoid X receptor-α (RXRα) is associated with the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, these findings were revealed using HCC cell lines that express phosphorylated-RXRα (p-RXRα) proteins; therefore, it remains unclear whether p-RXRα affects hepatocarcinogenesis in vivo. Therefore, to investigate the biological function of p-RXRα in vivo, we developed a doxycycline-inducible ES cell line and transgenic mouse, both of which overexpress the phosphomimetic mutant form of RXRα, T82D/S260D, in a doxycycline-dependent manner. We found that the development of liver tumors, especially high-grade adenoma and HCC, was enhanced in diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced T82D/S260D-inducible mice. Moreover, the increased incidence of liver tumors in the transgenic mice was attributable to the promotion of cell cycle progression. Interestingly, the expression of β-catenin protein and its target gene cyclin D1 was elevated in the liver tumors of DEN-treated T82D/S260D-inducible mice, concurrent with increased cytoplasmic and nuclear β-catenin protein expression, indicating its stabilization and transcriptional activation. These results indicate that p-RXRα promotes DEN-induced hepatocarcinogenesis in mice through the activation of the β-catenin signaling pathway, suggesting that p-RXRα may serve as a possible therapeutic target for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroyasu Sakai
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Yamada
- Division of Stem Cell Pathology, Center for Experimental Medicine and Systems Biology, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masaya Kubota
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, Japan
| | - Kenji Imai
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, Japan
| | - Yohei Shirakami
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Tomita
- Department of Tumor Pathology, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, Japan
| | - Akira Hara
- Department of Tumor Pathology, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, Japan
| | - Masahito Shimizu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, Japan
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Liu LJ, Liao JM, Zhu F. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen clamp associated factor, a potential proto-oncogene with increased expression in malignant gastrointestinal tumors. World J Gastrointest Oncol 2021; 13:1425-1439. [PMID: 34721775 PMCID: PMC8529917 DOI: 10.4251/wjgo.v13.i10.1425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Revised: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers, including malignancies in the gastrointestinal tract and accessory organs of digestion, represent the leading cause of death worldwide due to the poor prognosis of most GI cancers. An investigation into the potential molecular targets of prediction, diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy in GI cancers is urgently required. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) clamp associated factor (PCLAF), which plays an essential role in cell proliferation, apoptosis, and cell cycle regulation by binding to PCNA, is a potential molecular target of GI cancers as it contributes to a series of malignant properties, including tumorigenesis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, migration, and invasion. Furthermore, PCLAF is an underlying plasma prediction target in colorectal cancer and liver cancer. In addition to GI cancers, PCLAF is also involved in other types of cancers and autoimmune diseases. Several pivotal pathways, including the Rb/E2F pathway, NF-κB pathway, and p53-p21 cascade, are implicated in PCLAF-mediated diseases. PCLAF also contributes to some diseases through dysregulation of the p53 pathway, WNT signal pathway, MEK/ERK pathway, and PI3K/AKT/mTOR signal cascade. This review mainly describes in detail the role of PCLAF in physiological status and GI cancers. The signaling pathways involved in PCLAF are also summarized. Suppression of the interaction of PCLAF/PCNA or the expression of PCLAF might be potential biological therapeutic strategies for GI cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Juan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology and Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Allergy & Immunology, Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Medicine, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, Hubei Province, China
| | - Jian-Ming Liao
- State Key Laboratory of Virology and Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Allergy & Immunology, Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Medicine, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, Hubei Province, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, Renmin Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, Hubei Province, China
| | - Fan Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology and Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Allergy & Immunology, Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Medicine, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, Hubei Province, China
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Lioulia E, Mokos P, Panteris E, Dafou D. UBE2T promotes β-catenin nuclear translocation in hepatocellular carcinoma through MAPK/ERK-dependent activation. Mol Oncol 2021; 16:1694-1713. [PMID: 34614271 PMCID: PMC9019890 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.13111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2020] [Revised: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Ubiquitin‐conjugating enzyme E2T (UBE2T) has been implicated in many types of cancer including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) process plays a fundamental role during tumor metastasis and progression. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying EMT in HCC in accordance with UBE2T still remain unknown. In this study, we showed that UBE2T overexpression augmented the oncogenic properties and specifically EMT in HCC cell lines, while its silencing attenuated them. UBE2T affected the activation of EMT‐associated signaling pathways: MAPK/ERK, AKT/mTOR, and Wnt/β‐catenin. In addition, we revealed that the epithelial protein complex of E‐cadherin/β‐catenin, a vital regulator of signal transduction in tumor initiation and progression, was totally disrupted at the cell membrane. In particular, we observed that UBE2T overexpression led to E‐cadherin loss accompanied by a simultaneous elevation of both cytoplasmic and nuclear β‐catenin, while its silencing resulted in a strong E‐cadherin turnover at the cell membrane. Interestingly, chemical inhibition of the MAPK/ERK, AKT/mTOR, and Wnt/β‐catenin signaling pathways demonstrated that the nuclear translocation of β‐catenin and subsequent EMT was enhanced mainly by MAPK/ERK. Collectively, our findings demonstrate the UBE2T/MAPK‐ERK/β‐catenin axis as a critical regulator of cell state transition and EMT in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisavet Lioulia
- Department of Genetics, Development and Molecular Biology, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Panagiotis Mokos
- Department of Genetics, Development and Molecular Biology, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Emmanuel Panteris
- Department of Botany, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Dimitra Dafou
- Department of Genetics, Development and Molecular Biology, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece
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Huang D, Yang B, Yao Y, Liao M, Zhang Y, Zeng Y, Zhang F, Wang N, Tong G. Autophagic Inhibition of Caveolin-1 by Compound Phyllanthus urinaria L. Activates Ubiquitination and Proteasome Degradation of β-catenin to Suppress Metastasis of Hepatitis B-Associated Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:659325. [PMID: 34168559 PMCID: PMC8217966 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.659325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Compound Phyllanthus urinaria L. (CP) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula for cancer treatment in the clinic, particularly during progression of hepatitis B-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (HBV-associated HCC). Nevertheless, its anti-metastatic action and mechanisms are not well elucidated. In this study, CP was found to exert remarkable inhibitory effects on the proliferation, migration and invasion of HBV-associated HCC cells. The following network and biological analyses predicted that CP mainly targeted Caveolin-1 (Cav-1) to induce anti-metastatic effects, and Wnt/β-catenin pathway was one of the core mechanisms of CP action against HBV-associated HCC. Further experimental validation implied that Cav-1 overexpression promoted metastasis of HBV-associated HCC by stabilizing β-catenin, while CP administration induced autophagic degradation of Cav-1, activated the Akt/GSK3β-mediated proteasome degradation of β-catenin via ubiquitination activation, and subsequently attenuated the metastasis-promoting effect of Cav-1. In addition, the anti-cancer and anti-metastatic action of CP was further confirmed by in vivo and ex vivo experiments. It was found that CP inhibited the tumor growth and metastasis of HBV-associated HCC in both mice liver cancer xenograft and zebrafish xenotransplantation models. Taken together, our study not only highlights the novel function of CP formula in suppressing metastasis of HBV-associated HCC, but it also addresses the critical role of Cav-1 in mediating Akt/GSK3β/β-catenin axis to control the late-phase of cancer progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danping Huang
- Department of Hepatology, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, The Fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, China
| | - Bowen Yang
- The Research Center for Integrative Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yaoyao Yao
- The Research Center for Integrative Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Mianmian Liao
- The Research Center for Integrative Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- The Research Center for Integrative Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yihao Zeng
- The Research Center for Integrative Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Fengxue Zhang
- The Research Center for Integrative Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Neng Wang
- The Research Center for Integrative Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.,Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Guangdong Tong
- Department of Hepatology, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, The Fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, China
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Pehlivan M, Caliskan C, Yuce Z, Sercan HO. sFRP1 Expression Regulates Wnt signaling in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia K562 Cells. Anticancer Agents Med Chem 2021; 22:1354-1362. [PMID: 34030621 DOI: 10.2174/1871520621666210524162145] [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: 12/10/2020] [Revised: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Wnt signaling cascades play important roles in cell fate decisions and their deregulation has been documented in many diseases, including malignant tumors and leukemia. One mechanism of aberrant Wnt signaling is the silencing of Wnt inhibitors through epigenetic mechanisms. The sFRPs are one of the most studied Wnt inhibitors; and the sFRP1 loss is known in many hematological malignancies. Therefore, we aimed to compare the expression of Wnt related genes in the presence and absence of sFRP1 in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) cell line. OBJECTIVE It is important to understand how sFRP1 and sFRP1 perform on CML to design new agents and strategies for resistant and advanced forms of CML. MATERIALS AND METHODS We used K562 cells, which normally do not express sFRP1 and its sFRP1 expressing subclone K562s. Total RNA was isolated from K562 and K562s cell lines end converted cDNA. PCR Array experiments performed using Human Wnt Signaling Pathway Plus RT2 Profiler™ kit. Wnt signaling pathway activation was studied by western blot for downstream signaling targets. RESULTS The WNT3, LRP6, PRICKLE1 and BTRC expressions were significantly decreased in the presence of sFRP1; while WNT5B increased. The sFRP1 expression inhibited stabilization of total β-catenin protein and downstream effector phosphorylation of noncanonical Wnt/PCP signaling; whereas Ca2+/PKC signaling remained active. CONCLUSION
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Affiliation(s)
- Melek Pehlivan
- Vocational School of Health Services, Izmir Katip Celebi University, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Ceyda Caliskan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Zeynep Yuce
- Dokuz Eylul University, Department of Medical Biology and Genetics, Izmir. Turkey
| | - Hakki O Sercan
- Dokuz Eylul University, Department of Medical Biology and Genetics, Izmir. Turkey
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37
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Vilfranc CL, Che LX, Patra KC, Niu L, Olowokure O, Wang J, Shah SA, Du CY. BIR repeat-containing ubiquitin conjugating enzyme (BRUCE) regulation of β-catenin signaling in the progression of drug-induced hepatic fibrosis and carcinogenesis. World J Hepatol 2021; 13:343-361. [PMID: 33815677 PMCID: PMC8006081 DOI: 10.4254/wjh.v13.i3.343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2020] [Revised: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND BIR repeat-containing ubiquitin conjugating enzyme (BRUCE) is a liver tumor suppressor, which is downregulated in a large number of patients with liver diseases. BRUCE facilitates DNA damage repair to protect the mouse liver against the hepatocarcinogen diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-dependent acute liver injury and carcinogenesis. While there exists an established pathologic connection between fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), DEN exposure alone does not induce robust hepatic fibrosis. Further studies are warranted to identify new suppressive mechanisms contributing to DEN-induced fibrosis and HCC.
AIM To investigate the suppressive mechanisms of BRUCE in hepatic fibrosis and HCC development.
METHODS Male C57/BL6/J control mice [loxp/Loxp; albumin-cre (Alb-cre)-] and BRUCE Alb-Cre KO mice (loxp/Loxp; Alb-Cre+) were injected with a single dose of DEN at postnatal day 15 and sacrificed at different time points to examine liver disease progression.
RESULTS By using a liver-specific BRUCE knockout (LKO) mouse model, we found that BRUCE deficiency, in conjunction with DEN exposure, induced hepatic fibrosis in both premalignant as well as malignant stages, thus recapitulating the chronic fibrosis background often observed in HCC patients. Activated in fibrosis and HCC, β-catenin activity depends on its stabilization and subsequent translocation to the nucleus. Interestingly, we observed that livers from BRUCE KO mice demonstrated an increased nuclear accumulation and elevated activity of β-catenin in the three stages of carcinogenesis: Pre-malignancy, tumor initiation, and HCC. This suggests that BRUCE negatively regulates β-catenin activity during liver disease progression. β-catenin can be activated by phosphorylation by protein kinases, such as protein kinase A (PKA), which phosphorylates it at Ser-675 (pSer-675-β-catenin). Mechanistically, BRUCE and PKA were colocalized in the cytoplasm of hepatocytes where PKA activity is maintained at the basal level. However, in BRUCE deficient mouse livers or a human liver cancer cell line, both PKA activity and pSer-675-β-catenin levels were observed to be elevated.
CONCLUSION Our data support a “BRUCE-PKA-β-catenin” signaling axis in the mouse liver. The BRUCE interaction with PKA in hepatocytes suppresses PKA-dependent phosphorylation and activation of β-catenin. This study implicates BRUCE as a novel negative regulator of both PKA and β-catenin in chronic liver disease progression. Furthermore, BRUCE-liver specific KO mice serve as a promising model for understanding hepatic fibrosis and HCC in patients with aberrant activation of PKA and β-catenin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chrystelle L Vilfranc
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267, United States
| | - Li-Xiao Che
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267, United States
| | - Krushna C Patra
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267, United States
| | - Liang Niu
- Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267, United States
| | - Olugbenga Olowokure
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267, United States
| | - Jiang Wang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267, United States
| | - Shimul A Shah
- Department of Surgery, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267, United States
| | - Chun-Ying Du
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267, United States
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Hooshmand S, Mahdinezhad MR, Taraz Jamshidi S, Soukhtanloo M, Mirzavi F, Iranshahi M, Hasanpour M, Ghorbani A. Morus nigra L. extract prolongs survival of rats with hepatocellular carcinoma. Phytother Res 2021; 35:3365-3376. [PMID: 33624311 DOI: 10.1002/ptr.7056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2020] [Revised: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Morus nigra is a rich source of anthocyanins, phytochemicals that have anticancer effects. This study aimed to investigate the effects of M. nigra extract (MNE) on diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Male Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned into four groups (n = 10): control, DEN, and DEN +100 or 400 mg/kg of MNE. After 4 months, the DEN group showed a significant mortality rate, hepatic lipid peroxidation, dysplastic nodules in the cirrhotic liver, and an increase of blood bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). Also, the body weight gain, blood albumin and glucose, liver antioxidant capacity (thiol groups), and some hematological parameters (RBC, hematocrit, hemoglobin, and platelet) were significantly decreased in the DEN group. MNE significantly increased survival, reduced the size of HCC nodules, improved liver oxidant/antioxidant status, and prevented the above-mentioned changes in the blood (except ALP, glucose, and platelet). Quantitative real-time PCR showed that MNE decreased the expression of Wnt4 and β-catenin, while had no significant effect on PI3K, Akt, and PTEN expression. The MNE did not exhibit antiproliferative activity against HepG2 liver cancer cells. In conclusion, MNE exhibits a hepatoprotective effect through inhibiting oxidative stress and Wnt4/β-catenin pathway and therefore prolongs the survival of rats with HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Hooshmand
- Pharmacological Research Center of Medicinal Plants, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.,Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Mohammad Reza Mahdinezhad
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Shirin Taraz Jamshidi
- Solid Tumor Treatment Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Mohammad Soukhtanloo
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Farshad Mirzavi
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Mehrdad Iranshahi
- Biotechnology Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Maedeh Hasanpour
- Biotechnology Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Ahmad Ghorbani
- Pharmacological Research Center of Medicinal Plants, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.,Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
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39
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He S, Tang S. WNT/β-catenin signaling in the development of liver cancers. Biomed Pharmacother 2020; 132:110851. [PMID: 33080466 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2020.110851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 176] [Impact Index Per Article: 44.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2020] [Revised: 09/27/2020] [Accepted: 10/04/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The WNT/β-catenin signaling pathway is a highly conserved and tightly controlled molecular mechanism that regulates embryonic development, cellular proliferation and differentiation. Of note, accumulating evidence has shown that the aberrant of WNT/β-catenin signaling promotes the development and/or progression of liver cancer, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), the two most prevalent primary liver tumours in adults. There are two different WNT signaling pathways have been identified, which were termed non-canonical and canonical pathways, the latter involving the activation of β-catenin. β-catenin, acting as an intracellular signal transducer in the WNT signaling pathway, is encoded by CTNNB1 and plays a critical role in tumorigenesis. In the past research, most liver tumors have mutations in genes encoding key components of the WNT/β-catenin signaling pathway. In addition, several of other signaling pathways also can crosswalk with β-catenin. In this review, we discuss the most relevant molecular mechanisms of action and regulation of WNT/β-catenin signaling in the development and pathophysiology of liver cancers, as well as in the development of therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuai He
- Department of General Surgery, the Fourth Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang 110032, China
| | - Shilei Tang
- Department of General Surgery, the Fourth Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang 110032, China.
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40
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Xu Y, Shen D, Liu J, Xu X, Tu J, Qin L, Jiang L, Qian H, Guo F. Long non-coding RNAs as targets for immunosuppressive drug teriflunomide in anti-cancer potential for hepatocellular carcinoma. J Mol Histol 2020; 51:659-673. [PMID: 33034797 DOI: 10.1007/s10735-020-09912-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common form of liver cancer. Because of the relatively chemotherapy-refractory nature of HCC and significant potential poor hepatic reserve, chemotherapy has not been used consistently in the treatment of HCC. Effective new drugs for HCC are urgently needed. Teriflunomide, which was approved for the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), has been identified as a potential antineoplastic drug. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a novel class of RNA molecules defined as transcripts longer than 200 nucleotides that lack protein coding potential. In this study, we investigated the ability of teriflunomide to act as an antineoplastic drug by examining the effects of teriflunomide treatment on HCC cells. Teriflunomide strongly inhibited the proliferation of HCC cells, induced cell apoptosis and induced cell accumulation in S phases of the cell cycle. LncRNA and mRNA expression profiles of HCC cells treated with teriflunomide compared with controls were performed by using microarray analysis. For comparison, the differentially expressed mRNAs were annotated by using gene ontology (GO) and pathway analyses. The microarray revealed that 2085 lncRNAs and 1561 mRNAs differed in the cells treated with teriflunomide compared with controls. Several GO terms including protein folding, mitochondrial outer membrane, transmembrane receptor protein phosphatase activity, negative regulation of cellular biosynthetic process, DNA packaging complex, and receptor signaling protein activity were enriched in gene lists, suggesting a potential correlation with the action mechanism of teriflunomide. Pathway analysis then demonstrated that JAK-STAT signaling pathway may play important roles in the cell apoptosis induced by teriflunomide. Co-expression network analysis indicated that a number of lncRNAs and mRNAs were included in the co-expression network, and p34710_v4 is the lncRNA with highest degree. Then the mRNAs associated with those differentially expressed lncRNAs were also annotated by using gene ontology (GO) and pathway analyses. The pathway analyses shows that teriflunomide significantly inhibited cell proliferation and promoted cell apoptosis partly by participating in Wnt signaling pathways. These findings suggest that teriflunomide could be a potential drug for chemotherapy and molecularly targeted therapies of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yinkai Xu
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, No. 188, Shi Zi Road, Suzhou, 215006, China
| | - Daoming Shen
- Department of Gastroenterology, Xiangcheng People's Hospital, Suzhou, 215131, China
| | - Jianxia Liu
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, No. 188, Shi Zi Road, Suzhou, 215006, China
| | - Xiaolan Xu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Xiangcheng People's Hospital, Suzhou, 215131, China
| | - Junhao Tu
- Department of General surgery, Suzhou Wuzhong People's Hospital, Suzhou, 215128, People's Republic of China
| | - Lei Qin
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, No. 188, Shi Zi Road, Suzhou, 215006, China
| | - Liyang Jiang
- Department of Intensive Care Unit, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 242 Guangji Road, Suzhou, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
| | - Haixin Qian
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, No. 188, Shi Zi Road, Suzhou, 215006, China.
| | - Fengbao Guo
- Department of Emergency Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, No. 188, Shi Zi Road, Suzhou, 215006, People's Republic of China.
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Najafi SMA. The Canonical Wnt Signaling (Wnt/β-Catenin Pathway): A Potential Target for Cancer Prevention and Therapy. IRANIAN BIOMEDICAL JOURNAL 2020; 24:269-80. [PMID: 32429632 PMCID: PMC7392137 DOI: 10.29252/ibj.24.5.264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2019] [Accepted: 11/27/2019] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Precise regulation of signal transduction pathways is crucial for normal animal development and for maintaining cellular and tissue homeostasis in adults. The Wnt/Frizzled-mediated signaling includes canonical and non-canonical signal transduction pathways. Upregulation or downregulation of the canonical Wnt signaling (or the Wnt/β-Catenin signal transduction) leads to a variety of human diseases, including cancers, neurodegenerative disorders, skin and bone diseases, and heart deficiencies. Therefore, Wnt/β-Catenin signal transduction is a potential clinical target for the treatment of not only human cancers but also some other human chronic diseases. Here, some recent results including those from my laboratory highlighting the role of Wnt/β-Catenin signal transduction in human cancers will be reviewed. After a brief overview on canonical Wnt signaling and introducing some critical β-Catenin/T-cell factor-target genes, the interaction of canonical Wnt signaling with some common human cancers will be discussed. In the end, the different segments of the aforesaid signaling pathway, which have been considered as targets for clinical purposes, will be scrutinized.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Mahmoud A Najafi
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, School of Biology, College of Sciences, University of Tehran, P.O. Box 14155-6455, Tehran, Iran
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42
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Pehlivan M, Soyoz M, Cerci B, Coven HIK, Yuce Z, Sercan HO. sFRP1 Expression Induces miRNAs That Modulate Wnt Signaling in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Cells. Mol Biol 2020. [DOI: 10.1134/s0026893320040135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
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43
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Guo C, Gao C, Zhao D, Li J, Wang J, Sun X, Liu Q, Hao L, Greenaway FT, Tian Y, Liu S, Sun MZ. A novel ETV6-miR-429-CRKL regulatory circuitry contributes to aggressiveness of hepatocellular carcinoma. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2020; 39:70. [PMID: 32326970 PMCID: PMC7178969 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-020-01559-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2019] [Accepted: 03/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tumor metastasis is one of the main causes of the high mortality of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). E-Twenty Six variant gene 6 (ETV6) is a strong transcriptional repressor, associated with the development and progression of tumors. However, the exact role and underlying mechanism of ETV6 in HCC remain unclear. METHODS Western blotting, quantitative real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry were used to detect the expression levels of ETV6, CRKL (v-crk sarcoma virus CT10 oncogene homologue (avian)-like) and miR-429 in HCC tissues and cells; Transwell chamber and F-actin cytoskeleton staining assay to examine the effects of ETV6 and CRKL deregulation on the migration, invasion and cytoskeleton of HCC cells; Co-immunoprecipitation assay to determine the interaction between CRKL and ETV6; Chromatin immunoprecipitation assay to investigate the interaction between ETV6 and miR-429. RESULTS We established a novel ETV6-miR-429-CRKL regulatory circuitry contributes to HCC metastasis. ETV6 and CRKL were frequently increased, while miR-429 was downregulated in both hepatocarcinoma tissues and hepatocarcinoma cells. Moreover, ETV6 upregulation was positively correlated with CRKL upregulation, and two negative correlations were also established for ETV6 and CRKL upregulation with miR-429 downregulation in both hepatocarcinoma patients' tumorous tissues and hepatocarcinoma cells. Functional investigations revealed that overexpression and knockdown of ETV6 was remarkably effective in promoting and suppressing HCC cell migration, invasion, cytoskeleton F-actin expression and arrangement, whereas, CRKL overexpression exhibited similar effects to the overexpression of ETV6. Mechanistically, ETV6 negatively regulates miR-429 expression by directly binding to the promoter region of miR-429; miR-429 negatively regulates CRKL expression by selectively targeting CRKL-3'-UTR; ETV6 directly binds to CRKL and positively regulates its expression, which in turn CRKL positively regulates ETV6 expression. CONCLUSIONS Our data demonstrated that ETV6 promotes migration and invasion of HCC cells by directly binding to promoter region of miR-429 via modulating CRKL expression. The newly identified ETV6-miR-429-CRKL regulatory circuitry contributes to the aggressiveness of HCC, which provides new clues for fundamental research on diagnosis and treatment parameters for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunmei Guo
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, China
| | - Chao Gao
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, China
| | - Dongting Zhao
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, China
| | - Jiahui Li
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, China
| | - Jinxia Wang
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, China
| | - Xujuan Sun
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, China
| | - Qinlong Liu
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, China
| | - Lihong Hao
- Department of Histology and Embryology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, China
| | - Frederick T Greenaway
- Carlson School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Clark University, Worcester, MA, 01610, USA
| | - Yuxiang Tian
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, China
| | - Shuqing Liu
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, China.
| | - Ming-Zhong Sun
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, China.
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Zappavigna S, Cossu AM, Grimaldi A, Bocchetti M, Ferraro GA, Nicoletti GF, Filosa R, Caraglia M. Anti-Inflammatory Drugs as Anticancer Agents. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21072605. [PMID: 32283655 PMCID: PMC7177823 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21072605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 175] [Impact Index Per Article: 43.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2020] [Revised: 04/06/2020] [Accepted: 04/07/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Inflammation is strictly associated with cancer and plays a key role in tumor development and progression. Several epidemiological studies have demonstrated that inflammation can predispose to tumors, therefore targeting inflammation and the molecules involved in the inflammatory process could represent a good strategy for cancer prevention and therapy. In the past, several clinical studies have demonstrated that many anti-inflammatory agents, including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), are able to interfere with the tumor microenvironment by reducing cell migration and increasing apoptosis and chemo-sensitivity. This review focuses on the link between inflammation and cancer by describing the anti-inflammatory agents used in cancer therapy, and their mechanisms of action, emphasizing the use of novel anti-inflammatory agents with significant anticancer activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Zappavigna
- Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy; (S.Z.); (A.M.C.); (A.G.); (M.B.); (M.C.)
| | - Alessia Maria Cossu
- Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy; (S.Z.); (A.M.C.); (A.G.); (M.B.); (M.C.)
- Biogem Scarl, Institute of Genetic Research, Laboratory of Molecular and Precision Oncology, 83031 Ariano Irpino, Italy
| | - Anna Grimaldi
- Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy; (S.Z.); (A.M.C.); (A.G.); (M.B.); (M.C.)
| | - Marco Bocchetti
- Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy; (S.Z.); (A.M.C.); (A.G.); (M.B.); (M.C.)
- Biogem Scarl, Institute of Genetic Research, Laboratory of Molecular and Precision Oncology, 83031 Ariano Irpino, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Andrea Ferraro
- Multidisciplinary Department of Medical and Dental Specialties, University of Campania, “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Plastic Surgery Unit, 80138 Naples, Italy; (G.A.F.); (G.F.N.)
| | - Giovanni Francesco Nicoletti
- Multidisciplinary Department of Medical and Dental Specialties, University of Campania, “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Plastic Surgery Unit, 80138 Naples, Italy; (G.A.F.); (G.F.N.)
| | - Rosanna Filosa
- Department of Science and Technology, University of Sannio, 82100 Benevento, Italy
- Consorzio Sannio Tech-AMP Biotec, 82030 Apollosa, Italy
- Correspondence:
| | - Michele Caraglia
- Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy; (S.Z.); (A.M.C.); (A.G.); (M.B.); (M.C.)
- Biogem Scarl, Institute of Genetic Research, Laboratory of Molecular and Precision Oncology, 83031 Ariano Irpino, Italy
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Li L, Zheng Y, Zheng Q, Jiang J. Mechanism of inhibiting proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma Hepa1-6 cells by embryonic stem cell-conditioned medium. Exp Ther Med 2020; 19:2406-2414. [PMID: 32226485 PMCID: PMC7092933 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2020.8527] [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: 12/05/2018] [Accepted: 08/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The present study aimed to investigate the antiproliferative effect of embryonic stem cell-conditioned medium (ESC-CM) on the mouse liver cancer Hepa1-6 cells in vitro. Furthermore, in order to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanism, the microRNAs (miRNAs) in ESC-CM associated with the inhibition of Hepa1-6 proliferation were identified. Following the co-culture of ESC-CM and Hepa1-6 in Transwell chambers, the proliferation, cell cycle, apoptosis and associated protein expression were determined in Hepal-6 cells. Moreover, miRNA array analysis was employed to identify differentially expressed miRNAs. Based on the differentially expressed miRNAs, the target genes and potential associated signaling pathways were determined. Finally, RT-qPCR was conducted to confirm the above results. The ESC-CM inhibited Hepal-6 cell proliferation and increased the percentage of cells at G1 phase and decreased the percentage of cells at the G2/M phase of the cell cycle. The expression of cyclin D1/cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK)4/CDK6 was decreased following co-culture, with no effect on cell apoptosis. Six significantly regulated miRNAs were identified and 423 putative target genes of these regulated miRNAs were predicted. Gene ontology analysis revealed the putative target genes to be associated with the ‘DNA replication (GO: 0006260)’ GO term, ‘apoptosis’ and ‘signal transduction’. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis indicated that deregulated miRNAs were enriched in the Wnt signaling (KEGG entry: Map 04310) and Hippo signaling pathways (KEGG entry: Map 04390), pathways associated with cancer. Overall, the present study demonstrated the inhibition of Hepa1-6 cell line proliferation upon treatment with ESC-CM, by decreasing cell cycle-associated protein cyclin D1/CDK4/CDK6 expression and arresting cells in G1 phase of the cell cycle, with no effect on cell apoptosis. Furthermore, the inhibition of proliferation by ESC-CM may be mediated by miRNAs that affect cell cycle-associated mRNAs and the Wnt signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Longqin Li
- Liver Research Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350005, P.R. China
| | - Yichao Zheng
- Liver Research Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350005, P.R. China
| | - Qi Zheng
- Liver Research Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350005, P.R. China
| | - Jiaji Jiang
- Liver Research Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350005, P.R. China
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Yamamoto N, Eguchi A, Hirokawa Y, Ogura S, Sugimoto K, Iwasa M, Watanabe M, Takei Y. Expression Pattern of Plexin Domain Containing 2 in Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Monoclon Antib Immunodiagn Immunother 2020; 39:57-60. [PMID: 32202949 DOI: 10.1089/mab.2019.0050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Plexin domain containing 2 (PLXDC2) is expressed in endothelial cells of tumor stroma, neural progenitor cells, and pluripotent stem cells, but their respective tissue expression pattern is not fully understood. In this study, we investigated the expression pattern of PLXDC2 in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues using a highly specific anti-PLXDC2 rabbit monoclonal antibody, which was recently developed. PLXDC2 was expressed in human HCC tissues including HCC cells, tumor vascular endothelial cells, and some infiltrating cells. The developed anti-PLXDC2 antibody allowed for highly specific and low background staining. Based on these current findings of PLXDC2 expression in human HCC tissues, the window may now be open to explore the role of PLXDC2 in human HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Norihiko Yamamoto
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and Graduate School of Medicine, Mie University, Tsu, Japan
| | - Akiko Eguchi
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and Graduate School of Medicine, Mie University, Tsu, Japan
| | - Yoshifumi Hirokawa
- Department of Oncologic Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine, Mie University, Tsu, Japan
| | - Suguru Ogura
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and Graduate School of Medicine, Mie University, Tsu, Japan
| | - Kazushi Sugimoto
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and Graduate School of Medicine, Mie University, Tsu, Japan
| | - Motoh Iwasa
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and Graduate School of Medicine, Mie University, Tsu, Japan
| | - Masatoshi Watanabe
- Department of Oncologic Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine, Mie University, Tsu, Japan
| | - Yoshiyuki Takei
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and Graduate School of Medicine, Mie University, Tsu, Japan
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Long Y, Lu M, Cheng T, Zhan X, Zhan X. Multiomics-Based Signaling Pathway Network Alterations in Human Non-functional Pituitary Adenomas. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2019; 10:835. [PMID: 31920959 PMCID: PMC6928143 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2019.00835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2019] [Accepted: 11/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-functional pituitary adenoma (NFPA) seriously affects hypothanamus-pituitary-target organ axis system, with a series of molecule alterations in the multiple levels of genome, transcriptome, proteome, and post-translational modifications, and those molecules mutually interact in a molecular-network system. Meta analysis coupled with IPA pathway-network program was used to comprehensively analyze nine sets of documented NFPA omics data, including NFPA quantitative transcriptomics data [280 differentially expressed genes (DEGs)], NFPA quantitative proteomics data [50 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs)], NFPA mapping protein data (218 proteins), NFPA mapping protein nitration data (9 nitroproteins and 3 non-nitrated proteins), invasive NFPA quantitative transriptomics data (346 DEGs), invasive NFPA quantitative proteomics data (57 DEPs), control mapping protein data (1469 proteins), control mapping protein nitration data (8 nitroproteins), and control mapping phosphorylation data (28 phosphoproteins). A total of 62 molecular-networks with 861 hub-molecules and 519 canonical-pathways including 54 cancer-related canonical pathways were revealed. A total of 42 hub-molecule panels and 9 canonical-pathway panels were identified to significantly associate with tumorigenesis. Four important molecular-network systems, including PI3K/AKT, mTOR, Wnt, and ERK/MAPK pathway-systems, were confirmed in NFPAs by PTMScan experiments with altered expression-patterns and phosphorylations. Nineteen high-frequency hub-molecules were also validated in NFPAs with PTMScan experiment with at least 2.5-fold changes in expression or phosphorylation, including ERK, ERK1/2, Jnk, MAPK, Mek, p38 MAPK, AKT, PI3K complex, p85, PKC, FAK, Rac, Shc, HSP90, NFκB Complex, histone H3, AP1, calmodulin, and PLC. Furthermore, mTOR and Wnt pathway-systems were confirmed in NFPAs by immunoaffinity Western blot analysis, with significantly decreased expression of PRAS40 and increased phosphorylation levels of p-PRAS40 (Thr246) in mTOR pathway in NFPAs compared to controls, and with the decreased protein expressions of GSK-3β and GSK-3β, significantly increased phosphorylation levels of p-GSK3α (Ser21) and p-GSK3β (Ser9), and increased expression level of β-catenin in Wnt pathway in NFPAs compared to controls. Those findings provided a comphrensive and large-scale pathway network data for NFPAs, and offer the scientific evidence for insights into the accurate molecular mechanisms of NFPA and discovery of the effective biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis, and determination of therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Long
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Proteomics of Chinese Ministry of Health, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Hunan Engineering Laboratory for Structural Biology and Drug Design, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- State Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Anticancer Drugs, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Miaolong Lu
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Proteomics of Chinese Ministry of Health, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Hunan Engineering Laboratory for Structural Biology and Drug Design, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- State Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Anticancer Drugs, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Tingting Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Proteomics of Chinese Ministry of Health, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Hunan Engineering Laboratory for Structural Biology and Drug Design, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- State Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Anticancer Drugs, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xiaohan Zhan
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Proteomics of Chinese Ministry of Health, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Hunan Engineering Laboratory for Structural Biology and Drug Design, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- State Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Anticancer Drugs, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xianquan Zhan
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Proteomics of Chinese Ministry of Health, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Hunan Engineering Laboratory for Structural Biology and Drug Design, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- State Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Anticancer Drugs, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Department of Oncology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- National Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
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48
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Fadaka AO, Klein A, Pretorius A. In silico identification of microRNAs as candidate colorectal cancer biomarkers. Tumour Biol 2019; 41:1010428319883721. [PMID: 31718480 DOI: 10.1177/1010428319883721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The involvement of microRNA in cancers plays a significant role in their pathogenesis. Specific expressions of these non-coding RNAs also serve as biomarkers for early colorectal cancer diagnosis, but their laboratory/molecular identification is challenging and expensive. The aim of this study was to identify potential microRNAs for colorectal cancer diagnosis using in silico approach. Sequence similarity search was employed to obtain the candidate microRNA from the datasets, and three target prediction software were employed to determine their target genes. To determine the involvement of these microRNAs in colorectal cancer, the microRNA gene list obtained was used alongside with colorectal cancer expressed genes from gbCRC and CoReCG databases for gene intersection analysis. The involvement of these genes in the cancer subtype was further strengthened with the DAVID database. KEGG and Gene Ontology were used for the pathway and functional analysis, while STRING was employed for the interactions of protein network and further visualized by Cytoscape. The cBioPortal database was used to prioritize the target genes; prognostic and expression analysis were finally performed on the candidate microRNAs and the prioritized targets. This study, therefore, identified five candidate microRNAs, two hub genes (CTNNB1 and epidermal growth factor receptor), and seven significant target genes associated with colorectal cancer. The molecular validation studies are ongoing to ascertain the biological fitness of these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adewale Oluwaseun Fadaka
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa
| | - Ashwil Klein
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa
| | - Ashley Pretorius
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa
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Zheng W, Yao M, Fang M, Pan L, Wang L, Yang J, Dong Z, Yao D. Oncogenic Wnt3a: A Candidate Specific Marker and Novel Molecular Target for Hepatocellular Carcinoma. J Cancer 2019; 10:5862-5873. [PMID: 31737122 PMCID: PMC6843874 DOI: 10.7150/jca.31599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2019] [Accepted: 08/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and aim: It is of the utmost importance for the specific diagnosis and effective therapy of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Abnormality of oncogenic Wingless-type MMTV integration site family member 3a (Wnt3a) has been associated with progression of HCC. In this study, we aimed to evaluate Wnt3a as a novel biomarker and target for HCC. Methods: Circulating Wnt3a levels were quantitatively detected in a cohort of chronic liver diseases by an enzyme-linked immune-absorbent assay (ELISA). Hepatic Wnt3a expression in HCC and para-cancerous tissues was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Prognostic value of Wnt3a for HCC was discovered in the cohort from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Dynamic alterations of Wnt3a levels were detected in the hepatocarcinogenesis model induced by 2-acetylaminofluorene. Effects of Wnt3a on biological behaviors were evaluated in vitro and in vivo based on Crispr/Cas9. Results: Up-regulated Wnt3a levels were observed in serum of HCC patients with high specificity and sensitivity for HCC diagnosis. Combination of Wnt3a and AFP could improve sensitivity to 93.9% in serological detection. In addition, Wnt3a expression in HCC tissues was significantly higher than that in para-cancerous tissues. The cohort of TCGA demonstrated that high Wnt3a expression led to a poor survival of HCC patients, especially in cases at advanced stages. Furthermore, the hepatocarcinogenesis model showed that Wnt3a dynamically increased in the development of HCC. Functionally, silencing Wnt3a by Crispr/Cas9 suppressed the proliferation, colony formation, induced cell cycle arrest of HCC cells by de-activating Wnt/β-catenin pathway in vitro, and inhibited xenograft tumor growth in vivo. Conclusions: Oncogenic Wnt3a could be considered as a candidate biomarker and novel target for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjie Zheng
- Research Center of Clinical Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Min Yao
- Department of Medical Immunology, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Miao Fang
- Research Center of Clinical Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Liuhong Pan
- Research Center of Clinical Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Li Wang
- Department of Medical Informatics, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Junling Yang
- Research Center of Clinical Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Zhizhen Dong
- Department of Diagnostics, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Dengfu Yao
- Research Center of Clinical Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong 226001, Jiangsu Province, China
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50
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Bayo J, Fiore EJ, Dominguez LM, Real A, Malvicini M, Rizzo M, Atorrasagasti C, García MG, Argemi J, Martinez ED, Mazzolini GD. A comprehensive study of epigenetic alterations in hepatocellular carcinoma identifies potential therapeutic targets. J Hepatol 2019; 71:78-90. [PMID: 30880225 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2019.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2018] [Revised: 02/26/2019] [Accepted: 03/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS A causal link has recently been established between epigenetic alterations and hepatocarcinogenesis, indicating that epigenetic inhibition may have therapeutic potential. We aimed to identify and target epigenetic modifiers that show molecular alterations in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS We studied the molecular-clinical correlations of epigenetic modifiers including bromodomains, histone acetyltransferases, lysine methyltransferases and lysine demethylases in HCC using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data of 365 patients with HCC. The therapeutic potential of epigenetic inhibitors was evaluated in vitro and in vivo. RNA sequencing analysis and its correlation with expression and clinical data in the TCGA dataset were used to identify expression programs normalized by Jumonji lysine demethylase (JmjC) inhibitors. RESULTS Genetic alterations, aberrant expression, and correlation between tumor expression and poor patient prognosis of epigenetic enzymes are common events in HCC. Epigenetic inhibitors that target bromodomain (JQ-1), lysine methyltransferases (BIX-1294 and LLY-507) and JmjC lysine demethylases (JIB-04, GSK-J4 and SD-70) reduce HCC aggressiveness. The pan-JmjC inhibitor JIB-04 had a potent antitumor effect in tumor bearing mice. HCC cells treated with JmjC inhibitors showed overlapping changes in expression programs related with inhibition of cell proliferation and induction of cell death. JmjC inhibition reverses an aggressive HCC gene expression program that is also altered in patients with HCC. Several genes downregulated by JmjC inhibitors are highly expressed in tumor vs. non-tumor parenchyma, and their high expression correlates with a poor prognosis. We identified and validated a 4-gene expression prognostic signature consisting of CENPA, KIF20A, PLK1, and NCAPG. CONCLUSIONS The epigenetic alterations identified in HCC can be used to predict prognosis and to define a subgroup of high-risk patients that would potentially benefit from JmjC inhibitor therapy. LAY SUMMARY In this study, we found that mutations and changes in expression of epigenetic modifiers are common events in human hepatocellular carcinoma, leading to an aggressive gene expression program and poor clinical prognosis. The transcriptional program can be reversed by pharmacological inhibition of Jumonji enzymes. This inhibition blocks hepatocellular carcinoma progression, providing a novel potential therapeutic strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Bayo
- Gene Therapy Laboratory, Instituto de Investigaciones en Medicina Traslacional, Facultad de Ciencias Biomédicas, CONICET, Universidad Austral, Derqui-Pilar, Argentina
| | - Esteban J Fiore
- Gene Therapy Laboratory, Instituto de Investigaciones en Medicina Traslacional, Facultad de Ciencias Biomédicas, CONICET, Universidad Austral, Derqui-Pilar, Argentina
| | - Luciana M Dominguez
- Gene Therapy Laboratory, Instituto de Investigaciones en Medicina Traslacional, Facultad de Ciencias Biomédicas, CONICET, Universidad Austral, Derqui-Pilar, Argentina
| | - Alejandrina Real
- Gene Therapy Laboratory, Instituto de Investigaciones en Medicina Traslacional, Facultad de Ciencias Biomédicas, CONICET, Universidad Austral, Derqui-Pilar, Argentina
| | - Mariana Malvicini
- Gene Therapy Laboratory, Instituto de Investigaciones en Medicina Traslacional, Facultad de Ciencias Biomédicas, CONICET, Universidad Austral, Derqui-Pilar, Argentina
| | - Manglio Rizzo
- Gene Therapy Laboratory, Instituto de Investigaciones en Medicina Traslacional, Facultad de Ciencias Biomédicas, CONICET, Universidad Austral, Derqui-Pilar, Argentina
| | - Catalina Atorrasagasti
- Gene Therapy Laboratory, Instituto de Investigaciones en Medicina Traslacional, Facultad de Ciencias Biomédicas, CONICET, Universidad Austral, Derqui-Pilar, Argentina
| | - Mariana G García
- Gene Therapy Laboratory, Instituto de Investigaciones en Medicina Traslacional, Facultad de Ciencias Biomédicas, CONICET, Universidad Austral, Derqui-Pilar, Argentina
| | - Josepmaria Argemi
- Center for Liver Diseases, Pittsburgh Research Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Elisabeth D Martinez
- Department of Pharmacology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA; Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Guillermo D Mazzolini
- Gene Therapy Laboratory, Instituto de Investigaciones en Medicina Traslacional, Facultad de Ciencias Biomédicas, CONICET, Universidad Austral, Derqui-Pilar, Argentina; Liver Unit, Hospital Universitario Austral, Derqui-Pilar, Argentina.
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