Endoplasmic reticulum stress in diethylnitrosamine-induced rat liver cancer

Ablation of the sperm-associated antigen 11A (SPAG11A) protein by active immunization promotes epididymal oncogenesis in the rat

Incidence of cancer in the epididymis is very rare. It is proposed that proteins specific to this organ may contribute to this unique property. We previously demonstrated that siRNA-mediated knockdown of SPAG11A mRNA resulted in increased proliferation of epididymal epithelial cells, whereas overexpression of this gene caused reduced proliferation in immortalized cell lines. In this study, we evaluated the oncogenesis-related anatomical and transcriptome changes in the epididymis of SPAG11A-immunized rats challenged with a low dose of diethyl nitrosamine (DEN). DEN treatment or SPAG11A immunization alone did not cause any histopathological changes in the epididymis. Interestingly, indications of oncogenesis were observed in SPAG11A-immunized + DEN-treated rats. Using high throughput sequencing, we observed that 3549 transcripts that were differentially expressed in the caput epididymis of DEN only-treated rats displayed similar differential expression in the caput epididymis of SPAG11A-immunized rats, indicating that the microenvironment that contributes to oncogenesis sets in when SPAG11A protein is ablated. Differential expression of genes that are involved in 10 major cancer related pathways was also analyzed. Majority of the genes related to these pathways that were differentially expressed in the caput epididymis of DEN only-treated rats also showed similar pattern in the caput epididymis of SPAG11A-immunized rats. For the first time, results of our study demonstrate that ablation of SPAG11A by active immunization renders the epididymis susceptible to oncogenesis and that this protein may be one of the factors that contributes to the rarity of epididymal cancer.

Bee venom-loaded EGFR-targeting peptide-coupled chitosan nanoparticles for effective therapy of hepatocellular carcinoma by inhibiting EGFR-mediated MEK/ERK pathway

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the world's most risky diseases due to the lack of clear and cost-effective therapeutic targets. Currently, the toxicity of conventional chemotherapeutic medications and the development of multidrug resistance is driving research into targeted therapies. The nano-biomedical field's potential for developing an effective therapeutic nano-sized drug delivery system is viewed as a significant pharmaceutical trend for the encapsulation and release of numerous anticancer therapies. In this regard, current research is centered on the creation of biodegradable chitosan nanoparticles (CSNPs) for the selective and sustained release of bee venom into liver cancer cells. Furthermore, surface modification with polyethylene glycol (PEG) and GE11 peptide-conjugated bee venom-CSNPs allows for the targeting of EGFR-overexpressed liver cancer cells. A series of in vitro and in vivo cellular analyses were used to investigate the antitumor effects and mechanisms of targeted bee venom-CSNPs. Targeted bee venom-CSNPs, in particular, were found to have higher cytotoxicity against HepG2 cells than SMMC-7721 cells, as well as stronger cellular uptake and a substantial reduction in cell migration, leading to improved cancer suppression. It also promotes cancer cell death in EGFR overexpressed HepG2 cells by boosting reactive oxygen species, activating mitochondria-dependent pathways, inhibiting EGFR-stimulated MEK/ERK pathway, and elevating p38-MAPK in comparison to native bee venom. In hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)-induced mice, it has anti-cancer properties against tumor tissue. It also improved liver function and architecture without causing any noticeable toxic side effects, as well as inhibiting tumor growth by activating the apoptotic pathway. The design of this cancer-targeted nanoparticle establishes GE11-bee venom-CSNPs as a potential chemotherapeutic treatment for EGFR over-expressed malignancies. Finally, our work elucidates the molecular mechanism underlying the anticancer selectivity of targeted bee venom-CSNPs and outlines therapeutic strategies to target liver cancer.

Curcumae Ameliorates Diethylnitrosamine-Induced Hepatocellular Carcinoma via Alteration of Oxidative Stress, Inflammation and Gut Microbiota

BACKGROUND

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) increased the risk factor of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). NAFLD induces the hepatic-related cancer deaths mostly in middle-aged men. NAFLD enhanced the inflammatory reaction and oxidative stress in the hepatic tissue. Curcumae exhibited the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. In this study, we made an attempt to scrutinize the protective effect of curcumae on obesity-induced HCC via alteration of inflammation, oxidative stress and gut microbiota.

METHODS

The rats used in this experiment were Wistar rats, 100 mg/kg intraperitoneal injection of diethylnitrosamine (hepatic carcinogen) was used at 2 weeks. After 6 weeks of the experimental study, the rats were randomly divided into high-fat diet (HFD) with or without curcumae-treated group rats and received the treatment for 22 weeks. Hepatic, non-hepatic, cardiac, antioxidant, pro-inflammatory and inflammatory were estimated at the end of the study. The stools of the experimental rats were collected for estimating the gut microbiota.

RESULTS

Curcumae-treated group rats exposed reduction of the hepatic nodules in hepatic tissue. Curcumae significantly (P<0.001) diminished the level of hepatic parameters and antioxidant parameters in the serum. Curcumae significantly (P<0.001) suppressed the pro-inflammatory cytokines level, viz. interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-7 (IL-7) and augmented the level of interleukin-10 (IL-10) in the serum and hepatic tissue. Curcumae significantly (P<0.001) suppressed inflammatory mediators including cyclooxygenase (COX-2), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) in the serum and hepatic tissue. Furthermore, curcumae increased the gut microbial diversity and richness and decreased the relative abundance of genus Mucispirillum and Clostridium, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Curcumae prevents HFD-induced inflammation during the hepatic carcinoma by modulating the oxidative stress, inflammatory reaction and gut microbiota.

The Role of Fibroblast Growth Factor 19 in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common type of cancer and the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Liver resection or liver transplantation is the most effective therapy for HCC because drugs approved by the US Food and Drug Administration to treat patients with unresectable HCC have an unfavorable overall survival rate. Therefore, the development of biomarkers for early diagnosis and effective therapy strategies are still necessary to improve patient outcomes. Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 19 was amplified in patients with HCC from various studies, including patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas. FGF19 plays a syngeneic function with other signaling pathways in primary liver cancer development, such as epidermal growth factor receptor, Wnt/β-catenin, the endoplasmic reticulum-related signaling pathway, STAT3/IL-6, RAS, and extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase, among others. The current review presents a comprehensive description of the FGF19 signaling pathway involved in liver cancer development. The use of big data and bioinformatic analysis can provide useful clues for further studies of the FGF19 pathway in HCC, including its application as a biomarker, targeted therapy, and combination therapy strategies.

Phyllanthin prevents diethylnitrosamine (DEN) induced liver carcinogenesis in rats and induces apoptotic cell death in HepG2 cells

Liver cancer is a critical clinical condition with augmented malignancy, rapid progression, and poor prognosis. Liver cancer often initiates as fibrosis, develops as cirrhosis, and results in cancer. For centuries, medicinal plants have been incorporated in various liver-associated complications, and recently, research has recognized that many bioactive compounds from medicinal plants may interact with targets related to liver disorders. Phyllanthin from the Phyllanthus species is one such compound extensively used by folklore practitioners for various health benefits. However, most practices continue to be unrecognized scientifically. Hence, in this work, we investigated the protective role of phyllanthin on diethylnitrosamine (DEN) induced liver carcinoma in Wistar Albino rats and the anti-tumor potential on human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) HepG2 cells. The DEN-challenged liver cancer in experimental rats caused increased liver weight, 8-OHD, hepatic tissue injury marker, lipid peroxidation, and tumor markers levels. Remarkably, phyllanthin counteracted the DEN effect by ameliorating all the liver function enzymes, oxidative DNA damage, and tumor-specific markers by enhanced anti-oxidant capacity and induced caspase-dependent apoptosis through the mTOR/ PI3K signaling pathway. MTT assay demonstrated that phyllanthin inhibited the HepG2 cell growth in a dose-dependent manner. Fascinatingly, phyllanthin did not demonstrate any substantial effect on the normal cell line, HL7702. In addition, HepG2 cells were found in the late apoptotic stage upon treatment with phyllanthin as depicted by acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining. Overall, this work offers scientific justification that phyllanthin can be claimed to be a safe candidate with potential chemotherapeutic activity against HCC.

Ginsenoside Compound K Regulates HIF-1α-Mediated Glycolysis Through Bclaf1 to Inhibit the Proliferation of Human Liver Cancer Cells

This study aimed to demonstrate that ginsenoside compound K (20 (S)-ginsenoside CK; CK) downregulates Bcl-2-associated transcription factor 1 (Bclaf1), which inhibits the hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α)-mediated glycolysis pathway to inhibit the proliferation of liver cancer cells. Treatment of hepatoma cells (Bel-7404 and Huh7) under hypoxic conditions with different concentrations of CK showed that CK inhibited the proliferation of hepatoma cells in a time- and concentration-dependent manner; furthermore, the ability of the cells to form colonies was reduced, and cell growth was blocked in the G0/G1 phase. CK promoted the degradation of HIF-1α ubiquitination in liver cancer cells by regulating the expression of HIF-1α and related ubiquitination proteins; moreover, it reduced the activity of key enzymes involved in glycolysis, the pressure of cellular glycolysis, and the rate of real-time ATP production, thereby inhibiting the glycolysis pathway. It also decreased the expression of Bclaf1 in hypoxic liver cancer cells and thus reduced the ability of Bclaf1 to bind to HIF-1α. CK treatment of Bel-7404 and Huh7 cells with CRISPR/Cas9-engineered knock out of Bclaf1 gene under hypoxic conditions further suppressed the expression of HIF-1α, promoted HIF-1α ubiquitination, and inhibited the glycolysis pathway. In a rat model of primary liver cancer induced by diethylnitrosamine, positron emission tomography and computed tomography scans showed that after CK administration, tumor tissue volumes were reduced and glucose uptake capacity decreased. Increased Bclaf1 and HIF-1α expression promoted the ubiquitination of HIF-1α and inhibited the glycolysis pathway, thereby inhibiting the proliferation of liver cancer cells. In summary, this study confirmed by in vitro and in vivo experiments that in hypoxic liver cancer cells CK downregulates the expression of Bclaf1, inhibits the HIF-1α-mediated glycolysis pathway, and inhibits cell proliferation, suggesting that the CK-mediated effects on Bclaf1 may represent a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of liver cancer patients.

Effect of protocatechuic acid-layered double hydroxide nanoparticles on diethylnitrosamine/phenobarbital-induced hepatocellular carcinoma in mice

Researchers investigating cancer chemotherapy and management continue to search for agents that selectively kill malignant cells and leave healthy neighboring cells intact. Natural products provide relevant resources for anti-cancer drug discovery. However, the physicochemical properties of these compounds limit their efficient uptake and bioavailability. We introduced a nanocarrier system, namely, zinc-aluminum-layered double hydroxide (ZnAl-LDH) intercalated with protocatechuic acid. In this study, the efficacy and toxicity of protocatechuic acid intercalated in zinc aluminum-layered double hydroxide nanoparticles (PCA-ZnAl) against diethylnitrosamine/phenobarbital (DEN/PB)-induced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in BALB/c mice was evaluated. HCC in male mice was induced by a single-dose intraperitoneal administration of DEN and was promoted by the introduction of PB via drinking water for 12 weeks. HCC induction was confirmed after the DEN/PB introduction period by measurement of the elevated level of serum α-feto protein (AFP). The results showed that the level of α-fetoprotein was significantly reduced in PCA-ZnAl (350±43.90 ng/mL), doxorubicin (DOX) (290±20.52 ng/mL) and ZnAl-LDH (390±19.65 ng/mL) treated animals compared to HCC mice treated with normal saline (580.4± 52.04 ng/mL). Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione (GSH) levels were significantly increased, whereas the level of lipid peroxidation was significantly decreased in HCC mice treated with DOX, PCA-ZnAl and ZnAl-LDH compared with those in HCC mice treated with saline. Restoration of hepatocyte morphology was observed following treatment that was comparable to that in the normal control group. Deterioration of hepatic cells and a significant increase of aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were observed in the cancer-induced untreated group compared with that in the groups treated with nanoparticles. The histopathological features of the liver obtained from PCA-ZnAl-treated mice showed a uniform size with a similar distribution of the nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio and nucleus centrally located in the cytoplasm, similar to the normal liver cells. The results underscored the potential of PCA-ZnAl for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi extract protects against alcohol‑induced acute liver injury in mice and affects the mechanism of ER stress

The aims of the present study were to examine the hepatoprotective effect of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi extract (Scutellariae Radix extract; SRE) against acute alcohol-induced liver injury in mice, and investigate the mechanism of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. High performance liquid chromatography was used for the phytochemical analysis of SRE. Animals were administered orally with 50% alcohol (12 ml/kg) 4 h following administration of doses of SRE every day for 14 days, with the exception of normal control group. The protective effect was investigated by measuring the levels of aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transferase (ALT) and triglyceride (TG) in the serum, and the levels of glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in liver tissues. The levels of glucose-related protein 78 (GRP78) were detected using immunohistochemical localization and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Hepatocyte apoptosis was assessed using terminal-deoxynucleoitidyl transferase mediated nick end labeling. The SRE contained 31.2% baicalin. Pretreatment with SRE had a marked protective effect by reversing the levels of biochemical markers and levels of GRP78 in a dose-dependent manner. The results of the present study demonstrated that pretreatment with SRE exerted a marked hepatoprotective effect by downregulating the expression of GRP78, which is a marker of ER stress.