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Wu X, Xu Z, Li W, Lu Y, Pu J. HIF‑1α and RACGAP1 promote the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma in a mutually regulatory way. Mol Med Rep 2023; 28:218. [PMID: 37772389 PMCID: PMC10568255 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2023.13105] [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: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Hypoxia, a condition characterized by low oxygen levels, serves an important role in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the precise molecular mechanisms underlying hypoxia‑induced HCC progression are yet to be fully elucidated. The present study assessed the involvement of two key factors, hypoxia‑inducible factor‑1α (HIF‑1α) and Rac GTPase activating protein 1 (RACGAP1), in HCC development under hypoxic conditions. HIF‑1α and RACGAP1 genes were overexpressed and knocked down in Hep3B and Huh7 cells using lentiviral transduction and the levels of HIF‑1α and RACGAP1 in the cells were assessed using quantitative PCR, western blotting and immunofluorescence. Co‑immunoprecipitation experiments were performed to evaluate the interaction between HIF‑1α and RACGAP1. Subsequently, the proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion of Hep3B and Huh7 cells were assessed using the Cell Counting Kit‑8 assay, flow cytometry, Transwell assay and migration experiments. The expression levels of HIF‑1α and RACGAP1 in normal and HCC tumor samples were analyzed utilizing the Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis database. Furthermore, correlations between HIF‑1α/RACGAP1 gene expression levels and patient survival outcomes were evaluated using the Kaplan‑Meier plotter. Knockdown of HIF‑1α resulted in a significant decrease in RACGAP1 expression, whilst overexpression of HIF‑1α resulted in a significant increase in RACGAP1 expression. Moreover, overexpression and knockdown of RACGAP1 had the same effect on HIF‑1α expression. Additionally, it was demonstrated that HIF‑1α and RACGAP1 interacted directly within a complex. Overexpression of HIF‑1α or RACGAP1 significantly increased proliferation, invasion and migration, and significantly decreased the proportion of apoptotic Hep3B and Huh7 cells. Conversely, knockdown of HIF‑1α or RACGAP1 significantly decreased proliferation, invasion and migration, and significantly increased the proportion of apoptotic Hep3B and Huh7 cells. In addition, the combined knockdown or overexpression of HIF‑1α and RACGAP1 had a more pronounced effect on HCC cell migration compared with knockdown of HIF‑1α alone. Furthermore, there was a significant positive correlation between the expression levels of HIF‑1α and RACGAP1 in HCC tissues and patients with HCC and upregulation of both HIF‑1α and RACGAP1 demonstrated a lower overall survival probability. In conclusion, HIF‑1α and RACGAP1 may synergistically contribute to the development of HCC, highlighting their potential as valuable targets for HCC therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianjian Wu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise, Guangxi 533000, P.R. China
| | - Zuoming Xu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise, Guangxi 533000, P.R. China
| | - Wenchuan Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise, Guangxi 533000, P.R. China
| | - Yuan Lu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise, Guangxi 533000, P.R. China
| | - Jian Pu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise, Guangxi 533000, P.R. China
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Chiang CC, Yeh H, Lim SN, Lin WR. Transcriptome analysis creates a new era of precision medicine for managing recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma. World J Gastroenterol 2023; 29:780-799. [PMID: 36816628 PMCID: PMC9932421 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v29.i5.780] [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: 10/17/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The high incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence negatively impacts outcomes of patients treated with curative intent despite advances in surgical techniques and other locoregional liver-targeting therapies. Over the past few decades, the emergence of transcriptome analysis tools, including real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR, microarrays, and RNA sequencing, has not only largely contributed to our knowledge about the pathogenesis of recurrent HCC but also led to the development of outcome prediction models based on differentially expressed gene signatures. In recent years, the single-cell RNA sequencing technique has revolutionized our ability to study the complicated crosstalk between cancer cells and the immune environment, which may benefit further investigations on the role of different immune cells in HCC recurrence and the identification of potential therapeutic targets. In the present article, we summarized the major findings yielded with these transcriptome methods within the framework of a causal model consisting of three domains: primary cancer cells; carcinogenic stimuli; and tumor microenvironment. We provided a comprehensive review of the insights that transcriptome analyses have provided into diagnostics, surveillance, and treatment of HCC recurrence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun-Cheng Chiang
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, United States
| | - Hsuan Yeh
- School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, United States
| | - Siew-Na Lim
- Department of Neurology, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
- College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
| | - Wey-Ran Lin
- College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
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Liu C, Ding Q, Kong X. Integrated Analysis of the miRNA-mRNA Regulatory Network Involved in HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorder. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11040407. [PMID: 35456082 PMCID: PMC9031331 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11040407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Revised: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/26/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND) is an array of neurocognitive changes associated with HIV infection, and the roles of microRNAs in HAND have not yet been completely revealed. Based on published data and publicly available databases, we constructed an integrated miRNA-mRNA network involved in HAND. Bioinformatics analyses, including gene ontology, network analysis, and KEGG pathway analysis, were applied for further study of the network and the genes of the network. The axon guidance KEGG pathway, three genes NTNG1, EFNB2, CXCL12, and 17 miRNAs which regulate these genes are spotlighted in our study. This study provides new perspectives to the knowledge of miRNAs’ roles in the progression of HAND, and our findings provide potential therapeutic targets and clues of HAND.
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Hou Y, Zhang G. Identification of immune-infiltrating cell-related biomarkers in hepatocellular carcinoma based on gene co-expression network analysis. Diagn Pathol 2021; 16:57. [PMID: 34218795 PMCID: PMC8255019 DOI: 10.1186/s13000-021-01118-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is often caused by chronic liver infection or inflammation. Searching for potential immunotherapy targets will aid the early diagnosis and treatment of HCC. Methods Firstly, detailed HCC data were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas database. GDCRNATools was used for the comprehensive analysis of RNA sequencing data. Subsequently, the CIBERSORT package was used to estimate infiltration scores of 22 types of immune cells in complex samples. Furthermore, hub genes were identified via weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis. In addition, multiple databases were used to validate the expression of hub gene in the tumor tissue. Finally, prognostic, diagnostic and immunohistochemical analysis of key hub genes was performed. Results In the present study, 9 hub genes were identified using WGCNA and PPI network analysis. Furthermore, the expression levels of 9 genes were positively correlated with the infiltration levels of CD8-positive T (CD8+ T) cells. In multiple dataset validations, the expression levels of CCL5, CXCR6, CD3E, and LCK were decreased in cancer tissues. In addition, survival analysis revealed that patients with LCK low expression had a poor survival prognosis (P < 0.05). Immunohistochemistry results demonstrated that CCL5, CD3E and LCK were expressed at low levels in HCC cancer tissues. Conclusion The identification of CCL5, CXCR6, CD3E and LCK may be helpful in the development of early diagnosis and therapy of HCC. LCK may be a potential prognostic biomarker for immunotherapy for HCC. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13000-021-01118-y.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yinghui Hou
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second People's Hospital of Liaocheng City, No.306 Jiankang Street, Linqing City, 252600, Shandong Province, China
| | - Guizhi Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second People's Hospital of Liaocheng City, No.306 Jiankang Street, Linqing City, 252600, Shandong Province, China.
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Liu Y, Deng M, Wang Y, Wang H, Li C, Wu H. Identification of differentially expressed genes and biological pathways in para-carcinoma tissues of HCC with different metastatic potentials. Oncol Lett 2020; 19:3799-3814. [PMID: 32382332 PMCID: PMC7202278 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2020.11493] [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: 07/22/2019] [Accepted: 01/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a malignant tumor with extensive metastasis. Changes in the tumor microenvironment provide favorable conditions for tumor metastasis. However, the role of changes to the tumor microenvironment in HCC metastasis is yet to be elucidated. The Gene Expression Omnibus expression profile GSE5093 consists of 20 noncancerous tissues surrounding HCC tissues, including 9 metastasis-inclined microenvironment samples with detectable metastases and 11 metastasis-averse microenvironment samples without detectable metastases. The present study assessed 35 HCC samples to verify the results of chip analysis. In total, 712 upregulated and 459 downregulated genes were identified, with 1,033 nodes, 7,589 edges and 10 hub genes. Gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis revealed that the differentially expressed genes were significantly enriched in ‘cell-cell adhesion’, ‘cell proliferation’ and ‘protein binding’. The top 10 hub genes were identified via a protein-protein interaction analysis. The 3 most significant modules were identified from the protein-protein network. Moreover, an association between hub genes and patient prognosis was identified. In conclusion, these candidate genes and pathways may help elucidate the mechanisms underlying HCC metastasis and identify more options for targeted therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Chengdu Fifth People's Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan 611130, P.R. China
| | - Mingming Deng
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, P.R. China
| | - Yimeng Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Chengdu Fifth People's Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan 611130, P.R. China
| | - Huiqin Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Chengdu Fifth People's Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan 611130, P.R. China
| | - Changping Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, P.R. China
| | - Hao Wu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, P.R. China
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Brodeur CM, Thibault P, Durand M, Perreault JP, Bisaillon M. Dissecting the expression landscape of cytochromes P450 in hepatocellular carcinoma: towards novel molecular biomarkers. Genes Cancer 2019; 10:97-108. [PMID: 31258835 PMCID: PMC6584210 DOI: 10.18632/genesandcancer.190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths around the world. Recent advances in genomic technologies have allowed the identification of various molecular signatures in HCC tissues. For instance, differential gene expression levels of various cytochrome P450 genes (CYP450) have been reported in studies performed on limited numbers of HCC tissue samples, or focused on a small subset on CYP450s. In the present study, we monitored the expression landscape of all the members of the CYP450 family (57 genes) in more than 200 HCC tissues using RNA-Seq data from The Cancer Genome Atlas. Using stringent statistical filters and data from paired tissues, we identified significantly dysregulated CYP450 genes in HCC. Moreover, the expression level of selected CYP450s was validated by qPCR on cDNA samples from an independent cohort. Threshold values (sensitivity and specificity) based on dysregulated gene expression were also determined to allow for confident identification of HCC tissues. Finally, a global look at expression levels of the 57 members of the CYP450 family across ten different cancer types revealed specific expression signatures. Overall, this study provides useful information on the transcriptomic landscape of CYP450 genes in HCC and on new potential HCC biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille Martenon Brodeur
- Département de biochimie, Faculté de médecine et des sciences de la santé, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada
| | - Philippe Thibault
- Laboratoire de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
| | - Mathieu Durand
- Laboratoire de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
| | - Jean-Pierre Perreault
- Département de biochimie, Faculté de médecine et des sciences de la santé, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada
| | - Martin Bisaillon
- Département de biochimie, Faculté de médecine et des sciences de la santé, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada
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Clotaire DZJ, Du X, Wei Y, Yang D, Hua J. miR-19b-3p integrates Jak-Stat signaling pathway through Plzf to regulate self-renewal in dairy goat male germline stem cells. Int J Biochem Cell Biol 2018; 105:104-114. [PMID: 30393202 DOI: 10.1016/j.biocel.2018.10.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2018] [Revised: 10/19/2018] [Accepted: 10/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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